(UK) M. Norman
(US) T. Stoppard Fulan
/
Interior view, Rose Theater, daytime.
Subtitles appear on the background of the sky: London, summer 1593. (Note 1)
Subtitles: In the heyday of Elizabethan drama, there were two theaters fiercely competing for audiences and writers. To the north of the city is the "Big Curtain Theatre", which is the permanent venue for the most famous actor in England, Richard Burbitch (Note 2). Across the river is the "Rose Theater" created by its competitor Philip Henslow. This theater is now facing funding difficulties... The
interior of the "Rose Theater" is gradually showing up, which is a three-story auditorium. , At this time, it was a mess, and there was no one. On the ground, there is an old rough-printed poster that has been broken and stained with dirt. It says:
On September 7th and 8th, at noon on the
Riverbank Street Rose Theatre
, Mr. Edward Allaine (Note 3) leads
the admiral to enshrine the theater troupe. Performing the euphemistic tragedy "The Money Lender in Revenge"
At this time, there was a howling of a person tortured outside the painting, and the sound came from the stage behind the curtain.
Rebuke (voice-over): You bastard! I was deceived, what are you howling?
Interior view, Rose Theater, stage, daytime.
Howling is the theater owner Philip Henslow (Note 4). We saw his two feet in boots being roasted on a copper brazier, and the man tied to a chair. The scolding came from the creditor Finneman. Raising Henslow's feet on the fire was Lambert, the thug hired by Finnemann. There is another person on the stage, Fries, who is Finneman's accountant.
Finneman: You said what's wrong with me, Mr. Lambert?
Lambert: You have been deceived, Mr. Finneman.
Finneman: How much did you lie to me, Mr. Fries?
Fries: 12 pounds 1 shilling 4 pence, Mr. Finneman, plus interest.
Henslow: Ouch! I can pay you!
Finneman: When?
Henslow: Two weeks, 3 weeks at most, ouch! Please forgive me.
Finneman: Take his leg away. Where do you go...
Fries (the math genius holding a notebook): Only 16 pounds, 5 shillings and 9 pence...
Finneman: Plus 3 weeks of interest?
Henslow: I have a great new script!
Finneman: Put his legs on.
Henslow: A comedy.
Finneman: Cut off his nose for me.
Henslow: A new comedy. Written by Will Shakespeare!
Finneman: And his ears.
Henslow: Count your share. Mr. Finneman, we have become partners!
Finneman (hesitatingly): Partner!
Henslow: This play is sure to attract the audience—the characters are upside down, the ship wrecked, there is a pirate king, and a dog trick, and finally the lovers finally get married.
Lambert: I seem to have seen it. Not likable.
Henslow: This time it was written by Shakespeare.
Finneman: What is the title of the play?
Henslow: "Romeo and Ethel, Daughter of the Pirates".
Finneman: The title is good.
Finneman snapped his fingers at Fries and Lambert. Lambert loosens Henslow and Fries drafts a contract.
Finneman (continued): A play takes a lot of time. Find actors, rehearse... even if it starts in 3 weeks. So... 500 loose seats are 2 pence per person, 400 boxes are 3 pence per person, and 1 pence is added to the rental of cushions. Even if 200 cushions are used, how much is a steady income for two performances, Mr. Fries?
Fries: 20 pounds, Mr. Finneman.
Finneman: Not bad at all!
Henslow: But I still have to pay the actors and authors.
Finneman: Divide them from the surplus.
Henslow: Where can there be a surplus.
Finneman: Of course not!
Henslow (moved): Mr. Finneman, this is what you said.
Finneman "slapped" the drafted contract next to the ink bottle and quill on the table.
Finneman: Sign here.
Henslow took the quill and signed it.
Finneman (continued): "Romeo and Ethel, Daughter of the Pirates", do you think you are almost finished?
Henslow: He must be finishing off at the moment.
Interior view, Will's room, daytime.
A small attic under the roof. Various objects were piled up in a mess on the small shelves, and many crumpled paper balls fell on them. From the middle of the paper ball, we can see that there is a skull and a large pottery cup with the words "Avon River Stratford Gifts" on it.
From time to time, some crumpled paper balls were thrown on the shelf. The one throwing the paper ball was William Shakespeare, who was leaning over on the desk and writing something seriously with a quill pen.
At this time we see what he wrote: he is practicing his autographs time and time again: "Will Shakespeare", "Shakespeare", "William Shakesper" and so on. He couldn't be satisfied every time, and he was all crumpled up and tossed aside. Suddenly he became irritable, stood up abruptly, walked to the place where he usually sleeps under the inclined roof, and began to wear boots. Just then, the door opened and Henslow walked in. He was panting and limp with sore feet.
Henslow: Will! How is my script? Are you almost finished? Are you already writing? (Desperately) Have you started?
Will (wearing boots laboriously): Do you think the stars are not shining and the sun is not moving?
Henslow: No, no, we can't take care of this now. Tell me the truth, how is my script?
Will (patting his forehead with his hand, walking towards the door): Locked firmly here.
Henslow: Thank goodness! (Suddenly wondering again): Locked there?
Will: As long as I find my muse...
Location, the street outside Will's residence, during the day.
Will lives in a densely populated part of the city. Vendors are everywhere hawking their goods, newsboys are selling news pamphlets, delivery people are rushing to deliver goods, and vendors of all kinds are doing all kinds of business. Will strode forward without looking back, and Henslow ran after him.
Henslow (chasing up): Which one is this time?
Will: It's always been Aphrodite.
Henslow: Aphrodite Bagot, the woman who used the dog and the horn as a sign?
Will: Henslow, you are a soulless person. How can you understand that an empty heart needs spiritual sustenance?
Henslow: Well, I don't have a soul, and I'm terribly unlucky. The plague has kept my theatre closed for 12 weeks. My theatre company is wandering all over England, but the troupe of others, Burbich and the Minister of the Palace, were called into the palace to perform your play. A gold pound, but your play was written for my theater. You are my author. You relied on my support when you first debuted...
Will: Which play of mine? Is it Richard Humpback (Note 5)?
Henslow: No, they want a comedy, Will! It's a comedy! Just like Romeo and Ethel!
Will: Who wrote it?
Henslow: No one wrote! Aren’t you writing for me! I pay you 3 gold pounds every month.
Will: That's only half of what you should pay. You still owe me the honorarium of "The Two Gentlemen of Verona."
Location, another street, daytime.
Henslow (begging again and again): Will! What is the money between you and me? I am your patron, you are my writer! Once the plague passed, Burbich could get a new book written by Christopher Marlowe (Note 6) for the Grand Curtain Theatre, but I had nothing to play in the Rose Theatre.
Will (stops): Mr. Henslow, can you lend me 50 pounds?
Henslow (surprised): 50 pounds? do what?
Will: Burbitch asked me to buy a stake in the imperial minister to enshrine the troupe. With 50 pounds, I can no longer be a hired playwright.
Henslow: Take my heart out! Take my liver and feed the dog!
Will (answering for him): That means no way (turning into a side street).
Location, market, daytime.
Henslow and Will walked through the crowded and noisy market, where a Puritan preacher, Mekpis, was impassionedly preaching to the audience-
Mekpis: ... God will punish them! Yes, please listen to me. The theater is the devil's handmaid! Under the spleen of the big curtain theater, those actors instilled licentiousness in your wives, rebellion instilled in your servants, laziness instilled in your craftsmen, and evil instilled in your children! The Rose Theater is also all the way! Both places are full of plagues!
Will happily remembered these words as he walked by.
Location, Dr. Moss's residence, during the day.
Will turned into a narrow side street and walked towards a gate.
Henslow: Where are you going?
Will: Go do my weekly confession.
When Henslow walked to the door, the door snapped him outside. There is a sign on the door stating that this is the residence of the pharmacist, alchemist, astrologer, prophet, dreamer, and psychiatrist Dr. Moss. Henslow looked confused.
Interior view, Dr. Moss residence, daytime.
A crocodile made as a specimen hangs from the ceiling, and the room is filled with pill bottles, potion bottles, charms, star maps, and various props for inviting God. The walls are covered with various certificates and awards. Will lay on a narrow couch with his eyes closed. Dr. Moss was sitting by the couch, listening to Will tell, from time to time he jotted down something on the pad on his lap. The whole scene is a psychoanalysis of pretentiousness. There is an hourglass next to it, which is used to measure the time of a treatment.
Will: Language, language, language. I have used my inexhaustible talent to create love with words, just like a craftsman made a vessel out of clay. This love can overwhelm the country, bind two hearts together, and evoke the fire of hell with my cheap poetry, even It caused a commotion in the nun's house. But now...
Dr. Moss: You didn't tell me, did you sleep with a woman?
Will seemed a little hard to tell. Dr. Moss gave him a hint ---
Dr. Moss (continued): For example, Hugh the Black Beauty, Phoebe the Fat, Rosalind the seamstress of Burbage, Aphrodite, who uses the dog and the trumpet as her signature...
Will (interrupting him): Yes, once in a while, so what? I have lost my talent.
Dr. Moss: Let me help you. Tell me your heart.
Will: I lost my talent. (Painfully) It seems that my pen has written bald, as if my mind has dried up, as if the holy tower of my god has collapsed.
Dr. Moss: Interesting.
Will: I can't write anything.
Dr. Moss: That's interesting.
Will: It's like you are going to use a slippery loach to pry open the door lock.
Dr. Moss (slyly): Tell me, did you lose the battle during sex recently?
Will (looking up at him): How could he know this?
Dr. Moss (continued): How long has this situation been?
Will: It used to be a long time, but recently...
Dr. Moss: No, no. You have a wife, children... (The sand in the hourglass flows down quickly) There is not much time left.
Will: I was only 18 years old. Annie is already a woman, half my age (Note 7).
Dr. Moss: A rich woman?
Will (shrugs): She has a farmhouse. One day, she was 3 months pregnant, so she just...
Dr. Moss: What about your relationship?
Will: The Arden family from my mother's family is...
Dr. Moss: No, I'm asking about your husband and wife relationship.
Will: I have been out for 4 years, and she is in Stratford hundreds of miles away. In fact, since the twins were born, they have cooled down. It's better to leave.
Dr. Moss: Then you can fall in love at will now.
Will: But I have no intention of falling in love, nor can I continue to write.
Dr. Moss (takes out a glass snake-shaped bracelet): This bracelet was obtained from the Temple of Olympus Pusuke. It is very cheap, only 4p. Write your name on a piece of paper and put it in the body of this snake.
Will (looking at the snake-shaped bracelet suspiciously): Can it refresh my talents?
Dr. Moss: Whoever wears it to a woman, she will dream of you, and your talent will be rejuvenated to protect you. You will see me again in a week.
He stretched out his hand and Will gave him a gold coin and took the bracelet.
Location, outside of Dr. Moss's apartment, during the day.
Will comes out of Dr. Moss's apartment. Henslow has been waiting for him here, putting his feet in the water of a manger to relieve the pain. Will walked past him, and Henslow hurriedly pursued him.
Henslow: Where are we going now, Will?
Will: Go to Whitehall Palace.
Interior view, Whitehall Palace, backstage, daytime.
At that time, Whitehall was still very ill-formed (Note 8). We are now on a stage that is obscured by the big curtain, and people are busy preparing for the show "The Two Gentlemen of Verona". After a while, we can see that this is not a theater, but a banquet hall.
Richard Burbitch plays Prodius. A boy actor plays Silvia, and Rosalind, Burbitch's lover, is putting the finishing touches on the dressed-up Burbitch. The harlequin Lance is played by the well-known comedian Will Kemp. Lance’s puppy Kreb is led by Kemp, and it seems that he is not very obedient. There is no setting on the stage. There is only one banner that says "Verona, Wilderness" to recharge. You can hear the sound of the musicians tuning the strings. Outside the curtain is a crowd waiting anxiously. Kemp led the dog into the back of the side curtain and rummaged in an item box. He found a skull, put a foot on the box, his elbow propped his knee, and looked at the skull closely. In short, the posture was very Hamlet. We saw all this from Will's perspective—he was walking in through the backstage door.
Will (approaching): I wish you success in your performance, Mr. Kemp. I also wish you success, lovely Kreb.
Kemp: Kreb is very restless. He has never performed in the palace. Will, when will you write a tragedy for me? I will be able to act well.
Will: Forget it, you are acting in the tragedy of Senega (Note 9), and people will laugh out loud.
Will's attention was drawn to Roselin, Burbage's lover, at this time. Rosalind has high breasts, black eyes and black hair, very sexy.
Burbitch (to Rosalind): I lack a button on my sleeve, Mrs. Rosalind, where are my seamstress's eyes?
Burbitch kissed Rosalind on the mouth and patted her ass at the same time. He came over to greet William.
Burbic (continued): There are no dogs in the first act, Kemp, thank you. Will, how are you?
Will: The remuneration for this play is still owed to me, Burbage.
Burbage: Don't ask me, I just stole it. When will you transfer to the Minister of the Palace Theatre Company?
Will: Wait until I have 50 gold pounds.
Rosalind took the last few accessories from Burbitch's costume and waited on him to put them on.
Burbic: Are you still writing?
Will (nods, seems a little precautionary): I'm writing a comedy, it's almost over, a pirate comedy, it's fun.
Burbitch: Who is the protagonist?
Will: It's Romeo, a very witty man, a swordsman, and a lover.
Burbage: What's the title of the play?
Will: Romeo.
Burbitch: I will play it. Bring the notebook tomorrow.
Will: That was for Henslow. He paid me honorarium.
Burbitch: How much did you pay?
Will: 10 gold pounds.
Burbich: You are making up (take out the purse tied to the belt on the outside of the bra from under his costume).
Will: I swear, really. Henslow wanted Ned and the Admiral to enshrine the theater company to perform the play.
Will looked back and saw Henslow walking towards this side.
Burbic (continued): Here is two pounds. I will pay you two more when you show me the book.
Will: All right.
Henslow (approaching): Burbage, I hope someone condemns you for pickpocketing and hangs you.
Burbitch: This is the queen's will. She wants to watch comedy, and the palace entertainment director is happy to take care of us.
Henslow: So what kind of care does Mr. Manager get from you?
Bobby: Then you can ask him.
At this time, the palace entertainment director Tierney opened the curtain and walked in with concern.
Tierney: Here comes her old man!
He retreated outside the screen. The audience immediately quieted down, and the busy actors on the stage knew that the audience was rushing to the stage to look for a gap to peek on the stage.
Interior view, Whitehall Palace banquet hall, front of the hall and stage, during the day.
Queen Elizabeth, about 60 years old, walked into the hall and walked to the seat in the middle of the auditorium. The hall was full of high-ranking officials, prominent eunuchs and glorious ladies, bowed deeply to the queen and watched her take her seat. The queen's seat is set on a pedestal, so that the queen can watch the play unobstructed, and the audience can look at the queen unobstructed. The trumpet sounded.
The close-up shows a small piece of paper on which a quill pen writes: "Way Shakespeare". Will carefully rolled the paper into a small roll and stuffed it into the mouth of the snake bracelet.
The curtain opened, and Kandel, who played Valentin, and Burbitch, who played Prodius, began to perform.
Kander (playing as Valentin): Don’t persuade me, dear Prodius; young people stay at home and see and hear only one corner...
Interior view, Whitehall Palace banquet hall, backstage behind the side scenes, daytime.
Taking advantage of the moment that Burbage was on stage, Rosalind put her arms around Will's neck, and the two couldn't wait to kiss. After a while, Will backed away.
Rosalind: Will, when will you write a sonnet for me?
Will: All my talents are lost.
Rosalind: You dropped it on my bed. Come and find it again.
Will: Will you be my muse, Rosalind?
Rosalind: Burbitch owns me, but my heart belongs to you.
Will took out the snake-shaped bracelet and put it on her arm quickly. Rosalind looked at it, then looked up at Will. They kissed enthusiastically again, but this time Will was upset by the coughing from the audience.
Will: Did you hear that? This bunch of tuberculosis ghosts deliberately did the right thing with me. "Will Shakespeare has come up with a new play. Let's cough him from the beginning to the end."
Interior view, Whitehall Palace banquet hall, stage, daytime.
Valentin and Prodius are on stage.
Kander (playing as Valentin): I mean being in love. Distressed groans are exchanged for contempt; how many heartache sighs are exchanged for a moment of shameful autumn waves; a moment of joy is the price of 20 nights of sleeplessness.
The scene on the stage continued, when Will appeared in the back row of the auditorium and happened to stand with Henslow.
Will: There is a scene that seems to be taking shape.
Henslow: Are you talking about the pirate's daughter?
Interior view, Whitehall Palace banquet hall, back of the hall and stage, during the day.
laughter. The play has been acting for a while. It was Kemp taking his dog to perform on stage at this time. The audience yelled.
Henslow: Did you see it? comedy.
Queen (the peculiar laughter overwhelmed the others): For a good performance, Master Kleb, I will reward you.
She threw a piece of candy onto the stage, and the dog caught it and swallowed it. Everyone applauded warmly.
Henslow: Love, plus a little dog trick, this is what people want to see.
At this time we saw Viola, the hostess of the film for the first time. Viola (Note 10) De Resebu is about 25 years old and naturally beautiful. She was laughing heartily. Her seat was slightly separated from her parents, Sir Robert de Resebe and Madame Marguerite de Resebe. Her nanny is also in this group of "family portraits", but sits a little later according to her status. In another place, we see Lord Wessex, who is the villain in the film. Wessex is in his 40s, with a fierce and arrogant face. He found Viola. Viola's nanny also noticed the greedy look he was casting here.
Interior view, Whitehall official banquet hall, front of the hall and stage, during the day.
The play went on for a while. Valentin was alone on stage. The tone of his lines is much vulgar and obscene than what we hear now.
Kander (playing as Valentin): Can't see Silvia, what light is there in the world? Without Silvia, what fun is there in the world? I had to close my eyes and imagine that she was next to me, seeking a moment of intoxication with such a beautiful phantom.
At this moment, we saw that Viola obviously knew this line by heart, and she moved her lips silently following the actor's utterance.
Henslow: You see that lady can recite your script (turn to Will, he has already left).
Interior view, Will's room, daytime.
Will walked into the room, walked straight to the desk under the window, and quickly laid out the paper, pen, and ink. Then came a ritual for him to start writing: spinning one foot on the spot, rubbing the penholder tightly with both hands, and spitting on the ground. Then sat down, picked up the pen, and stared forward. Then he began to write.
Interior view, De Resebe's house, Viola's bedroom, night.
The nanny helps Viola to undress, and she often blocks the nanny. She was still immersed in excitement at the moment.
Viola: Do you like Plodius or Valentin best? Plotius said it well, and Valentin looked pretty.
Nanny: My favorite is that dog, it's so funny.
Viola: But I don't like Silvia very much. His hands are red and he probably fights a lot; he reads his lines like a schoolboy is reciting his homework. The laws of the country always make some stupid boys wear skirts to play female roles. If this is not changed, the love on the stage will never be true love! Oh, nanny, when can I watch another scene?
Nanny: That has to be the queen's will.
Viola: Can I go to the theater, nanny?
Nanny: Don't move (she is digging out her ears for Viola, one and then the other. She also has a special set of tools. Viola has to be at the mercy of her) The theater is not a place where women with status go.
Viola: I'm not an identity.
Nanny: A rich person has an identity. If you marry a good person, you have an identity even more. I saw Lord Wessex keep looking at you tonight.
Viola: None of the men in the court understand poetry. They looked at me because they looked at my father's property. My life must be poetic, have adventures, and have love. First, there must be love.
Nanny: Like Valentin and Silvia?
Viola: No...not the kind of pretentious love, but the kind of love that changes a person's life. The kind of uncontrollable love that comes from the heart is like a turmoil in the heart, leaving you with no way to destroy or ecstasy. The kind of love never seen in any drama. (Pauses) I hope to get love, or I will end my life, like a...
Nanny: Like a nanny.
Viola (kissing nanny): But I might be like Valentin and Silvia. Good nanny, God bless you and wish you a safe night. If I can dream of becoming a member of a theater troupe, then I would rather spend my life in the dream (walk to the window).
Interior view, De Resebu's house, Viola's bedroom, night.
The nurse threw a twig to Viola.
Nanny: Before you go to dream, brush your teeth clean.
Viola mechanically caught the twigs and began to brush her teeth, but her eyes kept looking at the Rose Theater in the lower reaches of the river. The nurse came to her with a jar of water and a basin.
Nanny: Throw it up.
Viola still stared longingly at the Rose Theater. At this time, a plan came into her mind.
Exterior view, the square in front of the Rose Theater, during the day.
Henslow walked out of the theater to the market, when Finneman and Lambert suddenly appeared beside him, holding him back one by one. Fries followed.
Finneman: This time we are going to take off your boots and bake you.
Henslow: What's the matter with me, Mr. Finneman?
Finneman: Because of the plague, the theaters have been closed.
Henslow: Yeah.
Finneman: That was the order of the palace entertainment director!
Henslow: Mr. Finneman, please allow me to explain the business of the theater to you. (They stop) Natural disasters are always insurmountable, and this is just one aspect of the disaster in front of them. To be honest, in the ups and downs of the theater business, closing the door because of the plague is just a trivial matter.
Finneman: So what should we do?
Henslow: There is no way. The strange thing is that it always gets better every time.
Finneman: Why?
Henslow: I don't know. This thing is very divine.
Lambert (stiffly): Let me kill him, Mr. Finneman?
At this moment, there was a ring of bells in the distance. A messenger ran up the street with a bell ringing.
Herald: The theaters reopened. The theaters are reopening (Finneman is puzzled) by the order of the master of the palace entertainment.
Fries: Mr. Finneman! Lord Tierney approved the opening of the theater.
Finneman: Yes, I heard it.
Henslow showed a proud look and took the opportunity to break free of Lambert's hold.
Henslow (to Lambert): I'm sorry (just go back to the original road).
Finneman (looking at him confusedly): What about your script?
Henslow: It will be done right away, it will be done right away.
Interior view, Will's room, daytime.
As expected, Will is struggling to write. A candle that was about to burn out was still burning, even though the sky was already bright outside the window. He apparently worked all night and wrote 10 pages. Satisfied and excited, he gathered up the manuscript, left the room, and prepared to go on business.
Location, outside Will's residence, during the day.
Will ran out of the house with the manuscript and almost knocked down Henslow who came to look for him.
Henslow: Will! The theater was approved...
Before he could finish speaking, Will raised the manuscript in his hand and waved and said———
Will: Romeo and Rosalind, Act One! My goodness, I wrote great.
Henslow: Why did you become Rosalind again? Don't you say it is Ethel?
Will has run out of sight.
Location, Burbich's residence, during the day.
Burbich lives on the other side of the city. Will slapped the door unceremoniously.
Will (screaming): Richard!
Interior view, inside Burbich's residence, during the day.
Will walked in and shouted loudly.
Will: Burbage?
Interior view, Burbage's bedroom, daytime.
Will broke into the bedroom. Rosalind was lying on the bed. The palace entertainment director is lifting his pants.
Will (stunned): Mr. Tierney...
that hapless snake bracelet gleamed on Rosalind's arm.
Tierney: I came to see him too, but he is not here!
Will: So you found the best gift this troupe can give you.
Rosalind: Will!
Will (to Rosalind): I will let you remember the Burbage I told (turned to leave) that he lost a new script by Will Shakespeare.
Tierney: Does he care about this? He is preparing to perform Marlowe's new play in the big curtain theater.
Will: Have you allowed the theaters to reopen?
Tierney: Yes, Mr. Shakespeare.
Will: But this plague...
Tierney (sighs): Yes, I know. But isn't this plague threatening us all the time.
At this moment, a bell came from outside.
Rosalind (to Will who is leaving): Will, you are my only one, Will, the only sweetheart.
Location, the street outside Burbich's residence, during the day.
Will walked out angrily. There is a burning brazier at the foot of the wall. Will threw the manuscript in his hand on the coal. He stared blankly at the manuscript paper burning.
Interior view, tavern, daytime.
Will walked into the tavern. There is a lot of jubilation here, and people are toasting to celebrate. A handsome young waiter (named Noel) walked through the crowd with a large tray of wine.
Knoll (excitedly): Mr. Henslow!
Henslow: Yes, I heard that, the theater reopened. But where is my playwright? (Picking up a seat and sitting down, taking a large glass from Noel's tray) Bill me, Noel. I want something to eat.
Knoll: Today's specialty is pork knuckles with fruit vinegar and buckwheat pancakes...
Their conversation was interrupted by Will who walked over. Will looked gloomy.
Henslow: Will! Have you finished?
Will: Yes, coming soon. (Patting his forehead) It's all locked tightly here. We have to ask Ralph to play the Pirate King. Good morning, Master Noel. You also have to play an interesting little role.
Noel yelled happily, he took off his apron and threw it into the bar. Henslow jumped up to hug Will. All the shop assistants and more than half of the customers (many of whom are actors) gathered around. Henslow patted the table hard to calm everyone down.
Henslow: Ned Elaine took the admiral to the troupe on a tour. I need to hire actors. Among you who are still unknown, this time you have a chance to become famous.
An actor: Do you have to pay, Mr. Henslow?
Henslow: There is no need for you to pay a penny! The interview will begin in half an hour!
People's chat and laughter sounded again. Henslow swaggered towards the entrance of the tavern and happened to meet Ralph Bashford, a burly and stout middle-aged actor.
Henslow: Ralph Bashford! I have a character for you, but I heard that you are a big alcoholic.
Ralph: I never drank it when I was working.
Interior view, tavern, daytime.
Will still stayed in the tavern, surprised at the trouble he had just caused. He approached the bar.
Will: Give me a glass of Mandela.
Bartender: No, Will?
Voice: Give my friend a big glass of premium brandy.
Will turned to look at the sound, and saw Christopher Marlowe at the other end of the bar.
Will: Kit (note 11)!
Marlowe: How's it going, Will?
Will: Very good, very good.
Marlowe: Burbic said you wrote a new play.
Will: Yeah, and it's showing up everywhere.
The waiter put the wine in front of him. He took out a gold coin and placed it on the bar.
Will (continued): I insisted on this --- a big glass for Mr. Marlow.
The bartender responded and poured wine.
Will (continued): I heard that you wrote a new script for the big curtain theater.
Marlowe: Not new, but my "Dr. Faust".
Will: I admire your early work very much. "It's this face that launched hundreds of warships and burnt down the towering tower of Ilion?"
Marlowe: I have a new script that will be finished soon, and it will be better. "The Paris Massacre."
Will: The title of the play is very good.
Marlowe: Where's your one?
Will: "Romeo and Ethel, Daughter of the Pirates". (Pause. Sighs disheartenedly) Yes, that's it.
Marlowe: What is the story?
Will: It's... a pirate... (tells the truth) To be honest, I haven't written a word yet.
Marlowe: Romeo should be an Italian. Is a veteran of love.
Will: Yes, it is. But once I met...
Marlowe: Ethel.
Will: Do you think?
Marlowe: The daughter of his enemy.
Will (thinkingly): The daughter of his enemy.
Marlowe: His best friend was killed by Ethel's brother or someone in a duel. The name of his friend is Mercusio.
Will: The name is good.
Noel (coming to Will in a hurry): Will, everyone is waiting for you!
Will: I will come (drink the wine from the toast). Good luck, Kit.
Marlowe: I guess your script is for Birbich.
Will: This is another one.
Marlowe (underlying questions): The other one hasn't written yet?
Will made a helpless gesture and hurried away following Noel.
Interior view, Rose Theater, floor/stage/auditorium, daytime.
Henslow and Will sat on the floor, listening to an audition by a young actor.
Young actor: "It's this face that launched hundreds of battleships and burnt down the towering towers of Ilion? Beautiful Helen, give me a kiss and let me die without regrets!"
Henslow: Thank you .
Henslow and Will showed disappointed expressions. The young actor stepped off the stage and replaced him with another actor.
Another actor: I want to recite a passage from "Faust" by Christopher Marlow.
Henslow: Very good.
Another actor: "Is it this face that launched hundreds of battleships and burned down the towering tower of Ilion?"
Henslow and Will listened patiently as he continued, but exchanged a desperate look. What follows is a series of test takers who recite these lines of Marlowe's verses in their own way, but they are all inaudible. There are also very small naughty teenagers in the middle.
Naughty boy: "...Is the towering tower of Ilion? Beautiful Helen, give me one..."
Henslow (roaring loudly): Thank you!
The naughty boy widened his eyes in anger and walked off the stage. Then came a tall and thin guy (named Wabash). Wabash stuttered badly.
Wabash: Just, just, just, this, this, this face...
Henslow (surprisingly): Very good, Mr. Wabash. Excellent. Report to the props manager.
Will looked at Henslow angrily.
Henslow (continue. I'm sorry): He is my tailor. I want to be an actor. I inevitably owe some favors. Well, everyone will be like this. Have you found the right Romeo?
Will: No.
Henslow: Okay, I'll do my business, you do yours. When can I get the book?
Will: Tomorrow...
Henslow is leaving.
Will (continued): Good luck from God.
Will sat sullenly alone for a while. Suddenly he heard someone talking to him from the stage—another actor came up.
Actor: Can I start, sir?
Will looked up the stage and saw a handsome young man with his hat low over his eyes.
Will: Name.
Viola posing as Thomas: Thomas Kent. I want to recite a line from a writer who can grasp the heart of every performer.
Will nodded bewildered.
Thomas (Viola): "I can't see Silvia, what's the light in the world? Without Silvia, what fun is there in the world? I had to close my eyes and imagine that she was next to me, using this beautiful phantom Seek a moment of intoxication."
There is no need to wait for her to finish Valentin’s four-line lines to prove to us—if any proof is needed—this Thomas is Viola. As for Will, the surprise when he heard others recite his own verses quickly turned into another emotion. He was completely conquered. He found his "Romeo".
Thomas (Viola): "Unless Silvia is with me at night, and the nightingale’s singing is just an inaudible noise; unless Silvia is in front of me during the day, my life will be a blind day Long night."
Will (interrupting "his" reading): Take off your hat.
Thomas (Viola): My hat?
Will: Where did you learn to recite these verses?
Thomas (Viola): I...
Will: Wait...
Thomas (Viola): Are you Mr. Shakespeare?
Will: Let me see you. Take off your hat.
Thomas panicked. Will jumped from the seat. Thomas fled off the stage, making Will puzzled. He hurried to catch up. We followed him across the stage, across the backstage, and then walked into the
interior, the Rose Theater, the actor's lounge, during the day.
The lounge is crowded with actors, as well as Henslow's assistant, prop manager, scribe, and a new role, backstage manager Peter.
An actor: What are we going to act?
Noel: Where is the book?
Amid the noise, Will ran in.
Will (yelling): Where is that boy?
No one understood what he was shouting. Stuttering Wabash grabbed his hand and shook it excitedly ---
Wabash: Wish, wish, wish you success, success and success!
The door to the outside moved and closed. When Will saw it, he squeezed everyone away and ran towards the door.
Location, outside the Rose Theater, Riverside Street, during the day.
Will ran out of the theater and came to the crowded street. This is an inferior neighborhood full of brothels and slums, where prostitutes, pickpockets, vendors, newsboys, rogue teenagers, and all kinds of gangsters roam around. Will ran for a while, and finally saw Thomas on a crowded and noisy street ahead. He chased all the way to the river.
Location, river bank, daytime.
When Will chased to the river, he saw Thomas sitting in a small boat, already in the middle of the river, rowing upstream against the current. A busy scene on the river. Among the many boats, there are some "rental boats" for guests. Will jumped on the nearest boat and shouted to the "taxi driver"—the boatman:
Will: Catch up with that boat!
Boatman: Yes, my lord!
Will sat down at the stern, and the boatman sat opposite him and paddled hard.
Boatman (continued): I think you are familiar. Are you an actor?
Will (Gosh, here again): Yes.
Boatman: Yes, I saw you in a play. Talk about a king.
Will: Really?
Boatman: Once, Christopher Marlowe took my boat.
Location, on the river, during the day.
after awhile. The boatman was out of breath. Will looked forward and saw Thomas' boat rowing to a pier on the far shore, which was the private pier of a luxurious mansion on the north shore. Will saw Thomas jump off the boat and run towards the house.
Will: Do you know whose house it is?
Boatman: It belongs to Sir Robert de Resebe.
Exterior view, De Resebe’s mansion, during the day.
Thomas hurried up the steps, taking off his hat as he ran. Her hair fell on her shoulders so that we could call her Viola again.
Interior view, De Resebe's house, Viola's bedroom, daytime.
Her mother, Madame de Resebe, was talking to the nanny.
Mrs. de Resebe: Where did she go? The guests are coming, and Lord Wessex is coming too, to talk about the courtship. The master intends to settle this matter tonight.
Behind her, the door of the room opened slightly, revealing Viola in a Thomas costume. The nurse caught a glimpse of it, but only for a moment. When Madame de Resebe turned around, the door closed again.
Mrs. de Resebe (continued): Tomorrow the master will take me to the country estate, and it will take three weeks to come back.
Another door to the neighboring room opened, and Viola, who quickly changed into women's clothing, walked out from there and curtseyed to her mother.
Viola: Good morning, mother. (Turning to nanny) Prepare hot water, nanny.
The nurse stared at her with eyes wide open.
Interior view, De Resebe's house, kitchen, daytime.
Under the direction of the nanny, the little man who helped cook scooped hot water into two buckets from the large pot on the stove.
Maid (outside the painting): Looking for Thomas Kent? Not here, sir.
Will (outside the painting): It's an actor...
Nanny: Who is looking for him?
Will came to the kitchen door with a letter in his hand.
Will: I am William Shakespeare, an actor, poet, and playwright at the Rose Theatre.
The nurse sent the maid to do her work.
Nanny: Mr. Kent is my nephew.
Will (hands the letter to the nanny): I am here waiting for an answer.
Nanny: God will give you good luck.
Interior view, De Resebe's house, Viola's bathroom, evening.
Viola sat in the bathtub and read the letter. The nurse filled the tub with hot water.
Viola (joyfully): He has taken a fancy to me! Romeo Montague, a young man from Verona.
Nanny (indifferent): It's Verona again.
Viola (reading the letter eagerly): This is a comedy about the reconciliation of two feuded families. Romeo was originally a child of the Capulet family and was taken away from her infant. Mrs. Montague met the pirate king. Robbery lost his beloved son, adopted Romeo and brought him up to adulthood. In the end, Romeo's identity was verified, and the two families were reconciled.
Exterior view, De Resebe's house, night.
Will waited patiently hopefully. When the kitchen door opened, a servant poured a bucket of dirty water in the direction of the ditch. Will jumped away quickly, almost being splashed all over.
Servant: Get out!
Interior view, De Resebe's house, Viola's bedroom, night.
Nanny (serving Viola in evening clothes): Your mother and your father...
Viola (happily): I will go to the countryside to live for 3 weeks from tomorrow! Do you think Mr. Shakespeare is handsome?
Nanny: I think he looks like a liar.
Viola: Where is it, nanny! He can make Thomas Kent realize the dream of Viola de Resebe.
Nanny (resolutely): My lady, this play will not produce good results. I want to tell madam.
Viola (doubly resolutely): You can't tell anyone. You love me so much, I love you so much, you will help me tie my breasts, and then buy me a boy's hair set!
Exterior view, De Resebe's house, night.
Will found a small group of musicians approaching with instruments, and he recognized them.
Will: Master Plum! What kind of work is there?
A musician: A small job for 5 shillings, Will. Play music for the prom.
Following a sudden sound of horseshoes, a knight who came galloping in has rushed to the side of the musicians, and the musicians hurried away. It turned out that Wessex came, and he maintained his usual noble posture. Will watched him strangle the horse and walked into the house.
Interior view, De Lassebe's house, banquet hall, night.
Will had already mixed in with the musicians, and played pretentiously with them sandwiched between them on a small stage. There were about a dozen guests on the dance floor, which already seemed quite crowded. Will looked around, looking for Thomas Kent. He stopped a servant who was passing by and took some food from his tray.
Servant: The musicians do not serve food, Sir Robert ordered.
Will: I'm here to find Mr. Thomas Kent.
The servant ignored it and went on walking. Side shot of Wessex and Sir Robert.
Sir Robert: She is beautiful, and my lord is worthy of a king and will not covet the dowry of a vulgar dowry.
Wessex: My plantation in Virginia is not something a vulgar can have. I come from an ancient family. In the future, your grandson will have the surname of Wessex. This will grace you. Is she healthy?
Sir Robert: She will have children. If she can't, give her back to me.
Wessex: Is she docile?
Sir Robert: It is no different from any woman in the world, but as long as you can control her, you will be extremely happy.
Wessex: I like her.
Will's side shot, he observes the dancing people. Suddenly he saw Viola from the crowd, and his blood boiled immediately. Love at first sight, there is no doubt about it. Viola didn't see him, she was doing her part as a daughter among her parents' friends. It was the guests' turn to dance the dance of exchanging partners (the kind of scene that can be seen in any kind of "Romeo and Juliet" performance).
Will (asking a musician): Please tell me, who is she?
Musician: Viola de Resebe. Have your dreams, Will.
Will stepped off the stage, staring at her in despair, sleepwalking between dancers and bystanders. Viola moved around with the dance formation, and finally, as if by fate, Will, who was in the dance queue, ran into the opposite side. Viola gasped in surprise.
Viola: Mr. Shakespeare.
Will was shocked to speak when he saw her reaction. At this time, as the formation changed, they separated again. Viola found out that the opposite of her was Wessex.
Wessex: Miss Viola.
Viola: Lord.
Wessex: I have talked with your father.
Viola: Really? I talk to him every day.
Wessex gave a sullen expression. The change in formation separated them. Viola stood opposite Will again. Will stared at her drunkenly.
Viola: Are you okay?
Will couldn't say a word.
Viola (continued): I heard that you are a poet.
Will nodded obsessively, and she smiled at him.
Viola (continued): Are you a silent poet?
Will tried to say something, but his eloquent and articulate tongue was completely useless at this time. A strong feeling of admiration makes him dumb. Suddenly, Wessex held his shoulders with a lovely smile and led him to a corner of the wall.
Wessex (smiling ill-intentioned): Poet?
Will (wake up from the obsession, but didn't realize what's wrong): I used to be a poet, but now I see a beauty who makes all my poems worthless.
To his surprise, he suddenly felt that a dagger had been placed on his neck.
Will (continued, surprised): Is there any offense to me, sir?
Wessex: You are trying to steal my property. I don't want your blood to stain her home, or I will cut your throat immediately. Do you have a name and a surname?
Will (swallows): Christopher Marlowe is underneath.
Wessex drew him to the nearest door and pushed him out.
Viola looked around looking for Will, and suddenly saw Wessex smiling at her, she immediately turned her gaze away.
Exterior view, De Resebe’s mansion, garden/Vioola bedroom balcony, night.
There were lights in the windows on the balcony. Viola and the nurse in pajamas walked past the window from time to time. Will is hiding in the garden, watching her. Soon, the lights in the room went out. Will sighed. At this moment Viola walked to the moonlight on the balcony. Will gasped in excitement. He stared at her intently. Viola sighed in confusion.
Viola: Romeo, Romeo...a young man from Verona. A comedy by William Shakespeare.
Will realized that this was a perfect hint. He walked out of the hiding place and came under the balcony.
Will (in a low voice): My lady!
Viola (surprised): Who?
Will: Will Shakespeare!
The nanny shouted "Miss!"
Viola: Come, good nanny, come. (To Will) Is it Mr. Shakespeare?
Will: Unfortunately it is.
Viola: Ah, why is it a pity?
Will: A humble actor.
Viola: What a pity, I think you are the poet who deserves my respect the most, and the scriptwriter who can conquer my soul most.
Will: Ah, of course it is!
The nurse called again indoors.
Viola (into the room): Come, come! (To Will) I'll come out later.
She went inside and stayed for a while.
Will (talking to himself): I'm so stupid, this will let luck slip from my hands, I deserve to suffer!
Viola reappeared on the balcony. Will stepped forward again.
Will: Ah, my lady, my love!
Viola: If my family sees you here, they will kill you.
Will: They will come with a word of yours.
Viola: Oh, I would never be like this.
The nurse called her again: "Miss!"
Viola: Come on, nanny!
She walked into the room. Will looked around and found that there was a very suitable tree as usual. He climbed the tree towards the balcony. When he was about to be level with the balcony, a female figure came to the balcony. Will leaned his head out of the railing forcefully and happened to meet the nanny. The nurse screamed. Will fell from the tree.
Exterior view, De Resebe's house, night.
There was a man's voice in the house, candles were lit in the windows, and the garden door opened with a bang. We saw Sir Robert walking into the garden with a candlestick in one hand and a sword in the other. At this moment Will had climbed up the wall and disappeared in a blink of an eye. Let him write this scene and he will write better.
Interior view, Will's room, dawn.
Will stayed up all night. He has written 12 pages full, just like a fountain of writing.
Interior view, Rose Theater, stage/auditorium, daytime.
The first day of the rehearsal. All the actors came to the stage. Peter passed the manuscript with his lines to a group of actors. John, James, and Noel were looking at the lines sent to them.
John: "If you are a man, pull out your sword! (to James) Gregorian, don't forget your assassin."
Noel: "Part, stupid! Put away your swords."
Will paced around the actors. Step, shaking his arms, and patting someone on the shoulder from time to time, the excitement is beyond words. Henslow flipped through the script, showing an anxious look. Next to him is Ralph Bashford.
Henslow: It was good at the beginning, but later it made some Rosalind dull. Where is the comedy, Will? Where are the dogs? (To Ralph) Do you find this interesting?
Ralph: I used to be a pirate king, but now I have become a nanny, which is very interesting.
Will (pulling Henslow aside): We are still short of at least 6 people. The existing people have to play a few corners alone. Those who are stumbling and stuttering should be dismissed. My Romeo hasn't settled yet, which really worries me. I think the situation is not good.
Henslow: We still lack at least four acts, Will, that's really bad.
Will suddenly noticed a sloppy twelve or thirteen-year-old actor. This was the naughty boy we saw earlier.
Will: What do you do, buddy?
Naughty boy: I am Ethel, the daughter of pirates, sir.
Will (furiously): You are Ethel, so I should die!
Will raised his foot and drove the naughty boy away in a panic. The naughty boy gave him a fierce look. At this time, Henslow found Finneman approaching him.
Finneman: Is it going well?
Henslow: Very good.
Finneman: There seems to be nothing.
Henslow: Yes, but very good.
Will (loudly): Everyone, thank you! welcome everybody!
Finneman: Who is that?
Henslow: It doesn't matter. Is the author of this play.
Will: We are about to start a major business.
Henslow: There are always a few words to say on the first day of the rehearsal. It doesn't matter, the authors like it.
Will: You all want to know what role you will be assigned to. Let us slowly arrange everything...
He just said here, he was suddenly interrupted by a very dramatic scene: the theater door opened with a "bang", six people walked in yelling, the first one It's Ned Elaine, an actor, with a beautiful pirate figure, a saber, and a loud voice.
Elaine: Long live! The Admiral’s Enthusiastic Troupe is back!
Their arrival caused a very different reaction. Henslow and Will cheered, and the actors they had known before also welcomed them in their own way, while others knew they were about to lose their jobs. Finneman calmed down, or tried to calm himself down.
Finneman: Who is this?
With a flick of his sword, Elaine squeezed him aside.
Elaine (thunderous voice): Be quiet, everyone! I am Hironimos! I am Timur! I am Faust! I'm Barabas, a Jew from the island of Malta, and I'm Henry VI, buddy Will. What kind of drama is being rehearsed here, what is my role?
Finneman (shocked): Wait, sir!
Elaine (thunderous voice): Who are you?
Finneman (voice trembling): I am the investor!
Elaine: Then you stand quietly and pay attention to how geniuses work miracles.
Finneman (respectfully): Thank you, sir.
Will: We are in desperate need to play Mercusio, Ned, a young nobleman from Verona.
Elaine: What is the title of the play?
Will: Mercusio...
Henslow: What?
Elaine: I'll play him!
The six people from the Admiral’s troupe will all play roles in our play. While Will shook hands with them one by one, let us get to know.
Will: Mr. Pope! Mr. Phillips! Welcome back, George Bryan! James Armitage! (Now it's Sam Goss's turn, this is the Admiral's leading troupe Danhorn) Sam! My baby! Are you going to be in love again?
Sam (voice hoarsely): Yes, Mr. Shakespeare.
Will (concernedly): Why is your voice... (hands under Sam's crotch) There is something wrong with this?
Sam (switching to the female voice): No, no, I just have a cold.
We guessed that he was probably lying, but by this time Will had already left.
Will: Mr. Henslow, your actors are all here this time.
Will walked past Finneman, who had become submissive.
Finneman: I've seen him play Timur, you know, it's great.
Will: Yes, I have seen it.
Finneman: Of course that was the style of the script. No one can beat Marlowe...
Will has long been accustomed to this. He walked on his own.
Location, by the river, during the day.
Will hurriedly came to the pier and looked in vain in the direction of De Resebe's house: Thomas could not be seen.
Exterior scene, Rose Theater, backstage door, daytime.
Will looked along the alley: Thomas still couldn't see the shadow. He turned to leave, and caught a glimpse of the naughty boy, the "dead Ethel" sitting in the alley.
Will: Good luck, boy.
Naughty Boy (shrugs): I acted in a play, in "Titus Andronicus", people had their heads cut off. If I write a play, I must be like Titus.
Will (coming with interest): Do you like this business?
Naughty boy (nodding coldly): I like beheading scenes. And chop off the girl's hands and feet.
Will: What is your name?
Naughty boy: John Webster (Note 12). Hi, cat, come here, come here.
There was a wild cat nearby, and his ears were pricked up when he heard the call. The naughty boy threw it a white rat and watched it with interest.
Naughty boy (continued): Bloody. This is worth writing.
This situation made Will uneasy, and he turned to leave.
Naughty Boy (continued): Wait, see how the cat bit its head off.
Will: I have to go back.
Interior view, Rose Theater, stage/auditorium, daytime.
On the stage, the actors are rehearsing.
Noel (playing as Benvolio): "Look, he's here; please stand aside, and wait for me to ask him what is on his mind, and see if he ignores me."
Montague: "I hope you stay Here, you can hear his true feelings. Come, madam, let's go."
On the stage, "Montagu" and "Mrs. Montagu" made the final moves. After the stage, Will appeared beside Henslow.
Will: Just fix him.
Henslow (incomprehensibly): What? who?
Will: Romeo.
Henslow: The one who got your letter?
Will: What?
Noel (playing as Benvolio, voice-over): "Good morning, brother."
Viola (playing Romeo, voice-over): "Is it still so early?"
This is Thomas' voice! Will turned and looked up on the stage and saw Thomas. Today Thomas put on a hair cover and a small beard.
Noel (playing as Benvolio): "Just after nine o'clock."
Viola (playing as Romeo): "Oh! The time spent in sorrow seems to be extraordinarily long. The one who hurriedly walked past Man, isn’t it my father?”
Noel (playing as Benvolio): “Exactly. What sorrow makes Romeo’s time so long?”
Viola (playing as Romeo): “Because I lack the Time becomes short-lived."
Will: Not bad.
Noel (playing as Benvolio): "Did you fall into the net of love?"
Viola (playing as Romeo): "I'm still wandering outside the door."
Noel (playing as Benvolio): "In love Outside of the door?"
Viola (playing as Romeo): "I can't get the favor of the person I love."
Will (interrupting the rehearsal): No, no, no. Don't take everything out at once!
Rehearsal paused.
Thomas (Viola): Yes, sir.
Will: Do you understand what I mean?
Thomas (Viola): No, sir.
Will: What he is saying now is just a foreshadowing, we haven't seen it yet! When he meets his Juliet, what else can you take out?
Henslow: Juliet? You mean Ethel.
Will (turning to him angrily): God, should I always be interrupted like this? (To Thomas) What should you do when he meets his sweetheart in the second act?
Thomas (Viola, timidly, flipping through a few pages of lines in his hand): I'm very sorry, sir. I haven't watched the second act.
Will: Of course you haven't seen it! I haven't written it yet!
In the auditorium, Finneman sat alone watching and listening, completely fascinated: this is the real drama!
Will (continued): Let's do it again!
Ned Elaine walked out from behind the scenes, frowned and looked at the table in his hand.
Elaine: Will, where is Mercusio?
Will (patting his forehead): Where is it? I left you a whole scene, Ned. Now I have to write a sonnet.
Will walked back behind the scenes and passed in front of the anxious Henslow.
Henslow: Sonnets? You mean the next scene.
Will ignored it and walked away. At this time, we saw that Viola had been completely conquered by him and fell into a state of fascination.
Interior view, De Resebe's house, stairs, daytime.
Viola was still dressed as Thomas, holding the sonnet in her hand, ran up the stairs, and ran back to her room. From the other end of the house came Wessex's tantrum shouting.
Interior view, De Resebe's house, hall, night.
Wessex has been coaxed there to wait, sprinkling anger on the nurse from time to time.
Wessex: Prayer for two hours at a time!
Nanny: My lady is very pious, my lord.
Wessex: Godly can only be used for worship! It takes two hours to pray at a time. That is not piety, it is arrogance!
Nanny: Otherwise, you'd better come back tomorrow, my lord.
Wessex: It's better to tell her to let go of her piety and show some politeness to her master during the six days except Sunday.
Viola opened the door and came in. She had changed her outfits in a hurry--it was true that she changed so quickly that the charm of her hair draped over her bare shoulders was made ridiculous by her moustache. Fortunately, the nurse found out in time, and while Wessex didn't see it, she pretended to greet her and report to her that Mr. Wessex had arrived, which happened to cover her. When the nanny stepped away from her and let her in, her moustache was gone.
Wessex (continued): My Miss Viola.
Viola: Lord Wessex, tired you have been waiting.
Wessex: The time I waited is indeed not short, but this is the prerogative of a beauty.
Viola: You are saying compliments, sir.
Wessex: No, that's what I said to Her Majesty. (Pauses) Our Wessex family members always have to get the consent of Her Majesty the Queen. Once she agrees, it becomes her will.
Viola: Are you here to beg you, sir?
Wessex: Your father will let you know. It was his old man who betrothed you to me. When he returns from the manor two weeks later, he will hold a wedding for us. (Pause) You should be happy for this.
Viola: But I don't love you, sir.
Wessex: How weird your thoughts are! Your father is a small proprietor, your child is going to serve in the military, and I will earn my wealth back. This is the only issue we are going to discuss today. You will like Virginia.
Viola: Virginia? !
Wessex: Yes! My wealth counts on my manor. To grow tobacco. I need four thousand pounds to build a boat and put the capital into operation - I think tobacco is promising. We won't stay there for long, only three or four years...
Viola: What does that have to do with me?
Wessex: For your eyes. No, for your attractive lips.
Wessex kisses Viola with passion beyond etiquette. She stepped away and slapped him.
Wessex (continued): How dare you defy your father and Her Majesty?
Viola: Is this the queen's will?
Wessex: She will also examine you. Go to Greenwich on Sunday. I hope you can be submissive, cautious, and talk less.
Viola (forced to submit): I will do my part, sir.
Interior view, De Resebe's house, Viola's bedroom, night.
She is writing to Will. Will's sonnet is on her table. We can see a fragment of it: "Let me compare you to a bright summer day..."
At this time we saw the letter Viola was writing.
Insert the scene: "Mr. Will, my most beloved poet, I beg you to erase me from your memory-I am going to marry Lord Wessex-this is the duty of a daughter. "
She shed passionate and unfortunate tears.
Interior view, Rose Theater, stage, daytime.
Sam became "Juliet" at this time. The play has clearly progressed to the fifth scene of the first act. We saw the scene of "Romeo" and "Juliet" meeting in the dance of exchanging partners. This scene is the same as we saw in Viola's house earlier, but it is slightly simplified. It was Ned Elaine who directed the dance.
Elaine: The man is backward, the woman is forward!
The dance formation was wrong because Thomas took the wrong dance steps.
Elaine (continued): The man is backward, the woman is forward! Are you a lady, Mr. Kent?
Thomas blushed and mumbled an apology. At this time, Will came to the people watching the rehearsal with a pile of lines that had just been written. He gave the manuscript paper to Peter. Elaine saw him and walked towards him, as if to argue about something.
Will (preemptively): You don't like that monologue?
Elaine: The monologue is very good. (He then read the opening line with great expression) "Ah, then it must be Chun Mengpo who came to see you!" It was written very well, and it was long enough. But then he disappeared and never showed up again.
Will (pointing exaggeratedly to the manuscript paper just handed to Peter): There was a duel with him, a confrontation of words and a performance of sword fighting. I have never written so wonderfully, and no one has written it like this. He died very heroically and poetically, and his phrase "You two hapless people!" will always linger in your ears.
Ned walked back contentedly to continue rehearsing, but he immediately returned.
Elaine: Why, he is dead?
By this time Will was long gone.
Interior view, Rose Theater, screenwriter studio, daytime.
On the top floor of the theater, Will has a small room where he can calm down and write. At this moment, we saw him doing the same set of "rituals" before he started writing: he was spinning one foot on the spot, rubbing the quill pen shaft tightly with both hands, and spitting on the ground. After doing this, he sat down and picked up the pen.
Location, street, night.
Will was walking hurriedly in a narrow alley, and suddenly ran into Burbich, who had walked out of the small hotel.
Burbage: Will!
Will walked in a hurry and didn't stop. Burbage yelled at his back.
Burbic (continued): Where is the book written for me?
Will hurried forward.
Location, by the river, the night is dim.
Viola, posing as Thomas, crossed the river in a small boat. From behind, from the direction of Hebian Avenue, there was a shout———
Will (voice-over): Did you give her my letter?
Thomas (Viola) turned and saw Will catching up in another boat. She took out a letter from her jacket and held it up high ---
Thomas (Viola, shouting): This is a reply to you.
Location, on the river, Viola's boat, night.
Will climbed into Viola's boat and opened the envelope. The content of the letter made him extremely distressed. He slumped into the seat beside Viola in the stern.
Will: Oh, Thomas! She broke my heart! I lost my soul, lost my life, completely collapsed, and now I am like a walking dead.
Boatman: Is this the writer?
Will (turning to the boatman fiercely): Row your boat.
Location, on the river, Viola's boat, night.
Will turned to Viola. A secret conversation began between them, even though it was not a secret environment. The boatman was close at hand, but they ignored it.
Will: She let me go away. She said she was going to marry Lord Wessex. what do I do?
Thomas (Viola): If you really love her, you should do what she says.
Will: Break her and my heart together?
Thomas (Viola): All you can know is your own heart.
Will: She loves me, Thomas!
Thomas (Viola): Did she say that?
Will: No. But her ink and tears flowed together, which told me this. Did she shed tears when she handed this letter to you?
Thomas (Viola): I... this letter was given to me by my aunt.
Will: Your aunt?
Thomas (Viola, take the conversation quickly): Yes, it's my aunt. However, maybe she gave it to her crying. Will, please tell me about your love for her.
Will: It seems to be sick, but also very refreshed.
Thomas (Viola): Yes, it's like rain and sunny, it's like cold and hot. (Quickly control yourself) Your sweetheart must be beautiful, right? Since I came here from the country, I haven't seen her very closely. Do you think she is beautiful?
Will: Oh, the beauty of her eyes is beyond description! I was destined to look up into her eyes and feel ashamed (looking straight into Viola's eyes. She caught his gaze, but he didn't run away).
Thomas (Viola): What about her lips?
Will: Ah, Thomas, her lips! If the flower knows how to be jealous, the rose in the morning will wither and wither as soon as she sees her lips!
Thomas (Viola): What about her voice? Is it singing like a lark?
Will: To be deeper and softer. How can those twittering skylarks compare to her. Even the Nightingale, I will drive away from her garden so as not to interrupt her singing.
Thomas (Vio
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