The Woodman's Hut
(IV of XXX)
Scene opens with Hawkins holding the infant king, rocking and softly singing.
Hawkins: (sings)
I'll take you dreaming . . . through the rainy night
to a place behind the raindrops . . . where the stars are bright.
You may not find gold or silver . . . . but a richer prize
waits for you behind the raindrops . . . if you'll close your eyes.
Tonight . . . tonight
when all the world's asleep
we will tiptoe home
with a wondrous star
a star you can always keep.
And years from now when you go dreaming . . . when you're very old
though your crown be rich with rubies . . . diamonds set in gold.
None will shine as bright . . . as the star we'll find . . . tonight
Tonight . . . tonight
when all the world's asleep
we will find a star
that you can always keep
Hawkins:
His majesty's asleep, now.
Jean:
You better get some sleep, too. Over there.
Hawkins:
Uh, there's only room for one... I... I think you'd better take
it.
Jean:
We can both lie there. If you get wet and ill, you'll be no use
to his majesty at all. Lie down.
Hawkins:
Yes, captain [they lie down]
Hawkins:
Wet.
Jean:
Very. There'd be more room if you raised your arm. The other one.
Hawkins:
Sorry.
Jean:
Hawkins.
Hawkins:
Yes, captain.
Jean:
I'm sorry I... I spoke in the manner I did. I was wrong.
Hawkins:
Y-yes, captain?
Jean:
There's something else I'd like to say.
Hawkins:
Yes?
Jean:
I am a woman. And I do have feelings.
Hawkins:
I... I find it hard to believe that the captain could ever be
fond of a man who isn't a fighter.
Jean:
Sometimes tenderness and kindness can also make a man. A very
rare man.
Hawkins:
Could the captain... Could the captain ever entertain thoughts of
marriage with such a man?
Jean:
Yes, Hawkins. I think she could, and would. If things were
different.
Hawkins:
How di-different?
Jean:
The infant on the throne and... Our fight for freedom won.
Hawkins:
Why does such a little girl have to do such a big job?
Jean:
It's the way I was brought up. My father's influence. You see, my
father made me everything I am.
Hawkins:
He does beautiful work.
Jean:
He taught me how to love freedom and hate injustice. The use of
weapons and how to fight. In fact, I think he... he really wanted
me to be a boy (kisses Hawkins)
Hawkins:
Too bad. You'd've made a wonderful girl.
Jean:
No! We daren't think of ourselves until our fight is won.
Hawkins:
Yes, but that could take twenty years or more.
Jean:
Or twenty hours. If only we could put our plan into operation.
Hawkins (kissing Jean):
Plan? Do we have a p-plan?
Jean:
A handful of men could overthrow the castle in a matter of hours.
Hawkins (still kissing her)
Yes.
Jean:
You see, there's a secret passage that starts in the forest and
tunnels underneath the walls of the castle.
Hawkins (still...):
Secret passage.
Jean:
But it's locked at both ends and the key is in the king's
possession.
Hawkins:
The king's possession, yeah.
Jean:
If only we could have someone inside the castle; an intimate of
the king, with access to his chambers.
Hawkins:
Mm-hmm, with access to his chambers. But, but that's impossible.
Giacomo:
Ah, good evening! A thousand apologies for this uh intrusion, but
may I beg shelter and warmth from this miserable storm?
Jean:
Who are you?
Giacomo:
A stranger in this land, young woman, but not for long. I'm
Giacomo of the continent (?), the king's new jester.
Jean:
The court jester.
Hawkins:
Giacomo?
Giacomo:
Giacomo the incomparable! King of jesters, and jester of kings.
Jean:
Well where are you from?
Giacomo:
Most recently the Italian court. But I have entertained in all
the courts of Europe and speak a ready wit in their every tongue.
Jean:
Hawkins, we are indeed honored that our humble hut will shelter
one will tomorrow be an intimate of the king.
Hawkins:
With access to his chambers.
Jean:
But how will they know you? Are you sure that no one in the
castle has ever seen your face?
Giacomo:
Not yet! But I assure you, ere another sun has set, the entire
court of England will succumb to the charm, wit, and song of the
incomparable Giacomo, king of jesters... (Thud)
Jean:
...And jester to the king! I'll take the child to the abbey. You
must go to the castle at once. Quickly, into his clothes!
Hawkins:
W-what are we going to do about him?
Jean:
I'll notify the fox, he'll be taken care of. Now listen, listen
carefully once inside the castle, you must get to the king's chamber, and
find the key to the secret passage.
Hawkins (undressing Giacomo):
Key to the passage. Right.
Jean:
Then you must give it to the one man inside the castle who's our
confederate.
Hawkins:
Confederate. You mean we already have somebody inside the castle?
One of our own people?
Jean:
You will contact him by whistling our secret call.
Hawkins:
(Whistles)
Jean:
Whistle it, hum it, sing it.
Hawkins:
But I don't understand, if... if we already have somebody inside
the castle, why doesn't he get the key?
Jean:
You'll understand when you see him. Now, he'll hear that and
identify himself.
Hawkins:
Why can't you just tell me his name?
Jean:
Should they discover you, they might force you to reveal his
identity.
Hawkins:
Okay, I'd like to ask you one question
After months of pleading for just this kind of action, what makes
you think that anybody - anybody could make me reveal the
identity of my confederate?
Jean:
Because they'd put you on the rack, crack your every bone, scald
you with hot oil, and remove the nails off your fingers with
flaming hot pincers.
Hawkins:
I'd... Like to withdraw the question.
Jean:
Hawkins, the future of England depends on this; you cannot fail.
Hawkins:
I will not.
Jean:
Oh heaven help you. (They kiss) now remember
From this moment on, you're no longer Hubert Hawkins the carnival
entertainer; you're the incomparable Giacomo, king of jesters and
jester to the king.
Hawkins:
Jester to the king. Jester to the king. To the king!?
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