The masquerade ball. King William II is sitting at his thrown while couples dance before him. Prince Edmund
escorts Princess Christina inside, they begin to dance.
You dance stiffly, Princess. Not speaking to me are you? That�s alright; all I really need to hear you say is �I do.�
Enter Prince Edgar in a mask
May I cut in?
Prince Edmund steps aside
Prince Edgar and Princess Christina dance
How are you? He hasn�t hurt you, has he?
Who are you?
Do you not know? Two years together and you don�t even know me?
Edgar! What are you doing here?
I came here for you.
You can�t stay. You must leave, now.
What?
If Edmund finds out you�re here, he will pin my disappearance on you.
There is nothing he can do to me. There is no proof of his allegations.
My father will need no proof.
I cannot stand aside and watch this happen to you.
There is nothing you or I can do. Tomorrow our wedding shall commence and, I fear I shall not see the next new
moon.
I shall do something. As long as my heart is beating I shall fight for you.
But are you willing to die for her?
Prince Edmund grabs Prince Edgar
This is the man who kidnapped Christina, sir! I suggest his punishment be harsh.
You kidnapped my daughter,
No, this man did not kidnap me!
Mind yourself, Princess!
I did not kidnap her!
The law demands execution for such crimes.
No!
Then execution it shall be. Guards, take him away.
Enter Guards
Guards begin to drag Prince Edgar
Father, no, he�s innocent! I was not kidnapped; I ran away. He found me on the road and brought me to his home.
He has committed no crime.
Take him away.
Father, no! I love him!
What did you say, Christina?
Nothing, she�s delusional.
I love him, Father.
And you, son?
My love for her transcends all else.
This means nothing; he still has broken the law by coming here. Take him away!
Exit Guards with Prince Edgar
Edgar!
This presents a problem. . .
Father, you can�t let Edmund do this. Edgar has done nothing wrong!
Edmund has acted in accordance with the law, Christina. There is nothing for me to do.
He came here to see me, Father. He has no ill intentions.
Ill intentions or not he still entered this castle without clearance from the king. I will see to it that the gallows
become his home.
I won�t let you harm an innocent man!
Exit Princess Christina
She is quite upset.
Indeed, sire. What of our wedding? Shall it commence?
It shall.
The dungeons. Prince Edgar has been taken to the dungeons of King William II�s castle. Prince Edgar has been
shackled to the wall with two guards posted to watch over him.
I hope you enjoy the gallows, sonny.
For, they�ll become your new home when Prince Edmund is through.
Edmund can cause me no pain.
He may not, but we can.
Guard 1 raises his hand to hit Prince Edmund
Enter Princess Christina
You will not lay a hand on him.
Princess!
Step back. You will stand guard for Edmund. If there is any sign of him, you will come tell me immediately. Now,
leave us.
Exit Guard 1 and Guard 2
Christina. . .
Princess Christina unlocks Prince Edgar from his shackles
Thank God you�re alright.
Princess Christina and Prince Edgar hug
Come, you must get out of here.
Wait. What law have I broken?
My father and Edmund believe you�re common. Commoners are not allowed to attend balls unless specifically invited.
What kind of law is that?
I know not. I did not make the law.
Then I am falsely accused.
Yes, you were.
Then why must I flee?
My father will want proof that you are not common. Ride home, bring your parents here.
What of you? I can�t leave you.
Enter Guard 1
He is coming, Your highness.
Thank you.
Exit Guard 1
You must go, Edgar.
I love you.
And I love you.
Prince Edgar and Princess Christina kiss
Now go.
I shall return soon, my love.
Prince Edgar kisses Princess Christina
Exit Prince Edgar
Enter Prince Edmund and Guards
The prisoner, where is he?
We do not know, sire.
Leave. Now.
Exit Guards
Christina
Edmund
Where is he, Christina?
Where is who, Edmund?
Prince Edmund chokes Princess Christina
Where is he? Where is Edgar?
(gasping) I don�t know.
Prince Edmund releases Princess Christina
You are useless. Once we wed I will be rid of you quickly.
I will not marry you.
Your father says otherwise.
My father did not postpone it?
No. He said it was to commence tomorrow. And I do suggest you leave your tricks up your sleeves. I will not tolerate
anymore delays.
Exit Princess Christina
Prince Edmund and Princess Christina�s wedding day. The scene takes place in the foyer of the church. King William II
is greeting guest when Prince Edmund arrives.
Enter Prince Edmund
Good day, sir.
Good day, Edmund.
What is the matter, sir? It is the day of your daughter�s wedding. You should be happy?
This does not feel right.
Not to be bold, sir, but I have waited two years to marry Christina. And now, on the very day we are to wed, you begin
to second guess yourself? That is what is not right, sire.
My apologies, Edmund, my heart tells me that something is not right.
There is something I have not told you, sire.
Yes?
The prisoner, Edgar, escaped last night.
This is news indeed. Why did you not tell me this earlier?
I did not want to trouble your mind, sir.
Though belated as it is, thank you for telling me.
Of course, sir.
Guards!
Enter Guards
Post two men at every entrance.
Yes, sir.
Exit Guards
There, this problem is taken care of. Continue in your preparation, Edmund.
Yes, sire.
Exit Prince Edmund
Exit King William II
The wedding. King William II is waiting in the forye of the church for Princess Christina.
Enter Princess Christina
My daughter, look at you! You�re a vision of beauty!
Thank you, Father.
King William II kisses Princess Christina on the forehead
Exit King William II
Princess Christina enters the church
Princess Christina walks down the aisle
Princess Christina passes her bouquet of violets in front of Prince Edmund
Let us begin. Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony. If any here
doth protest, speak now or forever hold your peace?
Prince Edgar stands
I do!
Prince Edmund and Princess Christina turn
Edgar!
You!
You holiness, you cannot perform this marriage.
Seize this man, he has broken the law!
I have broken no law of this land!
Indeed you have. Last night, when you-
Last night, you assumed that I was common.
You are.
No, I am Prince Edgar, son of King David.
You are not common?
No, I am not, sire.
I will not allow you to foil my plans!
Prince Edmund pulls out a dagger
Prince Edmund grabs Princess Christina and points the dagger at her throat
No!
Edmund, don�t do this!
Release my daughter, Edmund!
If you attempt anything, I will kill her.
Let Christina go, Edmund. You can win no battle this way.
I no longer care for winning battles; all I care for is what is rightfully mine.
Christina does not belong to you, Edmund.
She has been mine since the day she was betrothed to me. Seven years I have waited to marry her, gain her kingdom,
and be rid of her. But now, in the final moment before success, you destroy it.
Prince Edgar attacks Prince Edmund
Prince Edgar hits Prince Edmund�s dagger away from Princess Christina
Princess Christina falls
Prince Edgar and Prince Edmund fight
Prince Edgar stabs Prince Edmund in the throat
No!
Queen Kiyome runs to Prince Edmund�s side
Edmund, Edmund!
Prince Edmund dies
So passes Prince Edmund
Christina!
Edgar!
Prince Edgar and Princess Christina hold each other
I thought you left.
I could never have left you here with him.
Is he. . .
He will never harm you again.
He may not, but I can! If I could justify killing your mother for less, I can justify killing you for this!
Queen Kiyome lunges at Princess Christina
Prince Edgar stops Queen Kiyome
Enter King David and Queen Marie
Control yourself, Kiyome.
David?
You know each other?
Guards, take Kiyome away.
What?
You are charged with the murder of my wife, the Queen, and are hereby stripped of you title. Take her away.
Exit Guards dragging Queen Kiyome
We have much to tell.
And more to explain.
Come; we shall start at the beginning.
Exit All
Scene 25
All enter another room. Queen Kiyome is not with them. Prince Edgar and Princess Christina sit together, King William II stands to the right of them, and King David and Queen Marie stand before them.
What is all of this about, Father?
It is a long tale. When I was young, Edgar, I was betrothed to Kiyome. I loved your mother, not Kiyome. My father would have released the contract binding Kiyome and me if your mother had been at the nobility.
Are you saying-?
I was of very low status.
But I saw her one day, working in her father�s field. I could not take my eyes off her, and I still cannot. We had an illicit love affair, but I was still betrothed.
I begged my father in the same manner that you did-to come here, Edgar, to attend your father�s wedding.
That is why you suddenly changed your mind?
Indeed it was, my son.
Then how is it you are together now?
My father died suddenly, shortly before the ceremony was to begin. I was to go into a period of mourning, and perform no joyous ceremonies. I was king. When my mourning period ended, I disregarded the contract, and married Marie.
When Edgar brought you to our home, we felt as though our own story was reoccurring, only at a greater severity.
Edgar, bringing you, however, caused a dilemma for us. We did not desire to harm anyone in anyway, but both paths before us would cause harm.
So, you choose the path which catered to your son�s desires.
No, we choose the path which we felt protected your daughter the most.
And she was in danger here with me?
She was in danger here with Edmund.
All Pause
We all have only attempted to do what was right, William.
I know this. (pause) I should have seen what you saw, that Edmund was at his essence, an evil man. I am sorry, Christina, for not trusting your judgment.
All is forgiven, Father.
Princess Christina and King William II hug
Is there anything else to explain, Father?
Not that I know.
Enter Queen Kiyome
How about your relationship with Edmund, David?
Kiyome!
I have no relationship between myself and Edmund.
Do not lie, David. You are Edmund�s father. Do not deny the truth!
No! Father, please tell me that horrible, wretched soul was not my brother.
David, it is not true, is it? It cannot be true.
I have suspected so for many years. In accordance with my father�s wishes, I had . . . relations . . . with Kiyome prior to our marriage. My father assumed we would wed; I do not blame him.
(softly) I murdered my brother.
Ah, you did indeed. And you shall pay.
You will first, Kiyome. Guards!
What-
Enter Guards
Arrest her, for the murder of the Queen.
No!
Exit Guards with Queen Kiyome
Why did you never tell me I had a brother? Maybe I could have saved him from becoming like, like her.
No one could have saved Edmund, Edgar.
He was doomed the day he left the womb.
You will not punish Edgar, will you, Father?
He murdered his brother, to save the princess, my daughter, from harm. No, he shall not be punished.
What is to be done now?
What shall happen to Queen Kiyome�s kingdom, for now they are leaderless?
It is yours, Edgar
Mine?
Yes, yours. Because of me, that entire kingdom belongs to you.
I am king?
Of that kingdom, yes.
I have all the kingly rights? I may do as I choose?
Yes, you have every kingly right, and you may do as you desire. Mind you, with such privilege come very great responsibilities. . .
My intentions are pure, Mother. This new found freedom will not go to my head. (to King William II) may I speak with Christina alone, sire?
But of course, sir.
Exit King William II, King David, and Queen Marie
King Edgar?
It has a certain ring to it.
Indeed it does, sire. Now you may do whatever you please.
I am still but Edgar to you. The same man that fell in love with you.
As king you may have whomever you wish. There are many girls . . .
There is but one for me. (pause) Just the woman I fell in love with.
Princess Christina smiles
Prince Edgar kneels
I love you. I desire you, beside me, every day until the day I leave this world. Would you do me the honor of being my wife? Will you marry me, Christina?
Yes, Edgar, I will marry you!
Prince Edgar and Princess Christina kiss
Let�s go.
Go where?
Get married.
Today?
Why wait? We�re here, in a church. You�re dressed; everything�s perfect.
Except for the corpse at the altar.
Do you want to wait?
Tomorrow; let us wed tomorrow.
Enter King William, King David, Queen Marie
But is tomorrow good for your parents?
Father?
Sire . . .
It is alright, Edgar. As king, you don�t have to ask . . .
You were spying on us.
Don�t be angry, we were just being parents.
Intruding parents.
If you and Christina wish to wed tomorrow, you have my blessing.
Ours as well.
Prince Edgar
Then it is settled; we shall wed tomorrow.
Come, there is much to do before tomorrow.
Exit All
Prince Edgar and Princess Christina�s wedding. Prince Edgar is standing at the altar. Camera pans to King William II then to King David and Queen Marie. The doors at the end of the aisle open and Princess Christina walks down the aisle. When she reaches Prince Edgar, they smile at each other and step before the priest.
Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join this man, and this woman, in holy matrimony. If any here doth protest, speak now or forever hold your peace. (pause) Let us begin. (to Edgar) Do you, Edgar, take Christina to be your lawfully wedded wife; to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, for better or for worse, as long as you both shall live?
I do.
And do you, Christina, take Edgar to be your lawfully wedded husband; to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, for better or for worse, as long as you both shall live?
I do.
Very well. Edgar, repeat after me, �With this ring, I thee wed.�
(slips ring onto Princess Christina�s hand) With this ring, I thee wed.
Christina, repeat after me, �With this ring, I thee wed.�
(slipping the ring onto Prince Edgar�s hand) With this ring, I thee wed.
By the power invested in me by God, I pronounce you husband and wife. (cheers) You may now kiss your bride.
Prince Edgar and Princess Christina kiss