[Night]
Curtains open to the prince pacing the floors in the hall in front of the room where the princess is giving birth. Screaming is heard through the door and it gradually becomes weaker until it stops and silence hovers through the stage. (Faint crying from the baby in the background)
{Rosetta enters through the door}
Prince
Well; how is she? (Anxiously)
Rosetta
Congratulations your majesty, you've been blessed with a baby girl.
Prince
Then let me see the child-
{Rosetta steps in front of the door}
Rosetta
Uh, your majesty, I must warn you, the princess is very weak and-
Prince
Will she live until tomorrow, and the days after that? Promise me that she will make it through the night.
{Prince has a firm grip on her shoulders and is bent over to her height, and looks into her eyes until she answers.}
Rosetta
Unfortunately, I can promise you nothing, your majesty.
{Prince releases his grip and stands up right painfully}
{Prince is hesitant to enter the room}
{Prince enters the room with Rosetta behind him.}
The Princess is lying in the bed, very weak and the nurses are nursing her as she holds the baby, the princess is dying slowly but is visibly shown on her face that she is extremely weak and ill. The Prince is wobbly while entering the room.
Prince
My princess, so this is our daughter,
(Chuckles)
What a lovely child we've created.
(Prince cries in fear and joy)
How do you feel?
{Nurse takes baby from princess and The Princess smiles at the Prince.}
{Princess places her hand on his cheek and her hand slowly falls as she takes her last breath The Prince cries and murmurs in denial on her chest and kisses her forehead.}
{Prince takes the child from the Nurse}
Prince
Leave us.
Rosetta
Your majesty I-
Prince
Leave us!
{Nurses and Rosetta exit the room}
{Baby starts to cry and Prince attempts to sooth her}
Prince
I know, I know, but she was very weak, be grateful for your young age, the pain of a mother lost won't hurt you; you won't remember a thing. Unfortunately I will remember everything and hear the haunting cries every night. Now you're in need of a mother, but my darling you'll have to forgive me. I must grieve with my loss before I marry to give you a mother again, one who will love and nurture you, as your mother would have done.
{King enters, places hand on Prince's shoulder}
King
She's gone? Rosetta told me the news, just like that; I'm sorry son.
Prince
Thank you father; but I know that, that isn't what you came here to say . . . You knew didn't you?
{Prince paces the floor with the baby}
King
I knew? Knew what my boy? There are no secrets between us my so-
Prince
You knew she was withering away, and that she wouldn't survive a pregnancy, yet you allowed me to murder my princess; that is what you knew father!
{Baby begins to cry}
King
We couldn't help her son, your princess was better off dying while leaving a part of her behind, than leaving you with memories that would find a way to manipulate themselves.
{Baby begins to cry again, louder than before}
Prince
You had no right to keep away such a thing from me. My goodness, Rosetta!
{Rosetta enters}
Rosetta
Your Majesty.
Prince
Take the child, bring no attention towards her or yourself, no one will know of her for now.
Rosetta
Yes sir, her name your majesty?
Prince
What?
Rosetta
Her name?
Prince
It will be discussed later on. Leave us.
{Rosetta exits the scene with the baby.}
King
I understand that you're in pain my boy, but you are of royal blood, you can't grieve for days at a time- yet alone for a minute of a single hour. Your princess has died and the funeral will be tomorrow, but today we discuss the truth of the matter.
Prince
And that is.
King
Son, you need a new princess.
{Prince turns to face his father}
Prince
Father the one I loved has just died, and you want me to think of marriage! (Defensively)
King
I'm growing old and I will die soon myself of age, you need a princess by your side when you take over the responsibilities of the kingdom, and-
{Geoffrey enters the stages and presses his ear against the door}
Prince
That I can rule alone, without a princess by my side, I am to be king whether I am married or not!
{Geoffrey moves quickly and prince slams the door and looks at Geoffrey and walks past Geoffrey and exits stage.}
{King paces the floor}
{Geoffrey enters the room}
Geoffrey
Your majesty
(Dramatically bows low)
I couldn't help but overhear you're uh- discussion with the prince, are you sure-
King
A ball! That's what we'll have, in three days time we'll have a ball. Every unmarried women of high class will be ordered to attend the ball.
Geoffrey
To find a new princess? In such a short amount of time? The prince needs to recover from his loss your majesty.
(Makes a hand gesture towards the princess)
King
None sense, royals have responsibilities that can't be paused; put all the guards out for the next three days, no one goes home, and for once I agree with my son; let no one know of the baby until The Prince has remarried. For now, the child died with the mother.
(King walks over to the princess and touches her face)
(Speaking to the princess)
I just hope The Prince will accept a woman who he will admire as much as he admired you.
Geoffrey
(Using a lot of unnecessary hand gestures)
Your majesty, as the grand duke, I must advise you that the Prince should-
King
Geoffrey, this is one occasion that you can't change, go plan the ball, or as the king, I will be head thee.
{Geoffrey looks nervous and gulps loudly and chuckles nervously}
Geoffrey
Yes your majesty.
{Geoffrey exits the room by rushing though the door}