Date: Thu, 5 Oct 1995 09:25:47 +0100 Reply-To: Grail Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: Grail Subject: Amanda (Act Three Scene Two) ============================ Scene II. The Main Hall of the castle. ============================ Enter Hawk, Lady Peregrine, Lady Alana, Squire Peabody, Penelope Panchax, and Samuel. Hawk : Truly this has been an enjoyable time, And I do thank thee, Samuel, For thou hast provided much fun And good wine, My compliments to the chef. Lady Peregrine : Indeed, I do agree. But beloved Hawk, the fun is not gone, For Samuel hath informed me That we do have artists To perform a silent ballet And entertain us more. Samuel, good Samuel, Bring in the artists thou hast hired. Samuel : There are three, my lady, And I will fetch them hence. Exit Samuel. Squire Peabody : Penelope, dost thou enjoy This evening? Despite our earlier Argument, I would not Have thee offended or hurt. Penelope : Squire Peabody, you are nice To me only because you have Failed to get me by force. Now You try the gentle approach, But I warn you it will fail. I will not surrender to you, for I was born in France, And after seeing Frenchmen, I do have very high standards. Lady Alana, come stand by me, In between the two of us, That's right. Thank you. Lady Alana : Thou wishest for company, child? Aye, for we are older than thee, And thee must feel left-out. But - wait, who comes? Enter Helen. Helen : Mother, Mr Hawk, greetings. I see we have guests. Lady Peregrine : Daughter Helen, I did wonder where thee were. Let me show thee to my friend, Lady Alana, childhood companion. With her Squire Peabody, And young companion Penelope Panchax. Alana, friends, Meet daughter mine, Helen by name. Wait, Hawk, what ails thee? Why dost thou look so severe? Hawk : I sense...I feel...Helen, Thou hast brought others. Helen : They are friendly, sir, I will bring them in. Friends, Enter now! Enter Amanda, Richard, Magwitch and Dorinda. Amanda : Sir Hawk, I presume, From the buzzing in my head, You can only be as I am. Hawk : I am indeed. And yourself, fair lady? Amanda : I am Amanda d'Arie, Companion to Duncan Macleod, Who does seek your head Through a series of Mistakes most grievous. He is in the castle here, But I know not where. Enter Samuel. Enter three Artists. Samuel : My lady, Mr Hawk, I do - What is this? Who stands here? Why see I so many people? What gives? Hawk : Quiet, Samuel. Thy artists - Wait, I do feel a buzz once more! Amanda, I see you feel it too. One of these newcomers Must be immortal. Artists, remove your masks. The lead artist pulls off his mask. It is Duncan. Amanda : Duncan! Duncan : Amanda! Hawk : Macleod! Duncan : Hawk! Lady Peregrine : Duncan Macleod! Duncan : Come, Hawk, let me take your head! Artist : Wait! The other two artists remove their masks. It is Albarn and Gallagher. Amanda : Thugs! Albarn : Amanda! Magwitch : Albarn! Albarn : Magwitch! Samuel : Albarn! Albarn : Samuel! Dorinda : Charles! All : Who? Dorinda : It has been ages long, But I do recognise thee. Thou art Not Albarn, but my beloved Charles, DeSalvo in surname, Who did run and leave After tuna fish accident most vile. Charles, I have missed thee for so long! Charles : 'Tis my betrothed! I have missed thee too. Amanda : Wait, for I am confused. Albarn, or whatever thy name is, Thou wert betrothed to the Quaker Woman called Dorinda? Dorinda : No Quaker, nor Dorinda I, For that was but a disguise While I sought Charles. I am a medicine woman, And my name is Anne, Anne Lindsay in full. Amanda : Then not Albarn and Dorinda, But Charlie DeSalvo and Doctor Anne? Anne : Aye. Duncan : Hey, aye, never mind them, I have battle to undertake! Hawk, defend thyself, for I must Take thy head. Amanda : Duncan, no! Thou canst not, For Hawk is a peaceful man now, And hath hung up his sword. Helen here did tell me so. Duncan : Is this true? Hawk : Aye, for I do not fight. Penelope : Than I shall not hurt you either. Squire Peabody : Thee, Penelope? Penelope : Yes, me. For I am the daughter Of colonists American, Who did come from France, But were killed in the New World By this man in years past. I did seek you too, Hawk, As did Macleod and Amanda, But if you repent and are at peace, Then I must my quest abandon. Amanda : More deception! Then thou art not Penelope Panchax, But a woman French? Penelope : Oui. Je m'appelle Tessa. Duncan : I am much confused. Amanda : Thou art not alone. Albarn is not Albarn but Charlie DeSalvo, And he has long been betrothed to Dorinda, Who is not Dorinda, But Doctor Anne Lindsay. Nor is Penelope Panchax herself, But French lady Tessa, Who did seek vengeance on Hawk, But now is at peace. Duncan, art thou still Duncan? Duncan : Aye...art thou still Amanda? Amanda : I think so. Duncan : And Hawk is peaceful? Hawk : I claim so. I do not fight, but If you wish my head to take, Then I cannot stop you. Duncan : I am a Scot! I will not fight a man of peace, Not one who repents. Then Samuel did lie to me. Lady Peregrine : Samuel? Duncan : Samuel did tell me that Hawk was a man most wicked, And he helped me gain Entry to this castle. I will - But hold! Where has he gone? The villains escape! Exit Samuel and Gallagher. Hawk : Let him go, Duncan. I do not care about him now, For I know I am safe. Anne, Charles, Tessa, In revealing your identities you have Also secured your places. Tessa, I offer thee a place In this castle, to rest and live In peace, until you wish to leave. It is the least I can do. Anne and Charles, your romance Is together once more. As is mine with my dearest Alice Peregrine, most loyal lady, Who I love most dearly. Richard, why the poor face? Richard : I did fancy Dorinda - I mean, Anne, And now I cannot have her. I am sulking. Lady Peregrine : Richard, wouldst thou Go to the kitchen for me, As Samuel is not here, and Ask for victuals and wine? Please, beg my indulgence. Exit Richard. Lady Peregrine : Those new to this castle May be interested to learn, That our kitchenmaids are most beautiful. Richard will fancy someone new soon. Hawk : Marvellous plan indeed. Lady Alana, you are welcome to stay For as long as you choose. Squire Peabody, do as you please, For Tessa did tell me of your advances, And you must go home to your wife. Peabody : That is my fear, for Angela Doth nag me most severely. Duncan : Aye, sounds like you deserve it. Hawk : Duncan, Amanda, will you stay? Duncan : Hawk, we cannot, for we are poor, And must go a-hunting for money. We may return later, When we are as well as you. Hawk : I have money here. Duncan : We cannot take charity. Amanda : Quiet, Duncan. We can indeed take charity. Good Mr Hawk, your gift is accepted With alacrity on my part, And an elbow in the ribs for Duncan Should he disagree. Duncan : Amanda, we can't - ooof! Amanda : As I said, elbow in ribs. We shall stay, sir Hawk, And thank you muchly. Hawk : Ha! Then all is well. My dear Lady Peregrine, let us summon The chaplain of the village, For I have a mind not wait Until December. Let us be married now. Lady Peregrine : But 'tis so soon - Amanda : Oh, go on. I haven't seen a wedding In nigh on three centuries. I mean years. Lady Peregrine : I accept with pleasure. Charles : The chaplain may perform Two services, I think, If Anne does not mind. Anne : I would love it, as I do thee. Lady Peregrine : I must prepare. Alana, help me, choose my dress, Let me plan - oh, come, we will Sort this out together. Amanda : Before you go, Lady Peregrine, There is one thing. Helen did tell me of her secret love For this farmer Magwitch, Poor but honest. I have done you a favour tonight In saving Hawk's life for you, And I ask in return That you bless Helen and Magwitch. Duncan : That chaplain will be fair exhausted, Performing three services at once. Hawk and Lady Peregrine, Charles and Anne, Now Helen and Magwitch. Amanda, do not look at me so hopeful, For I am not the marrying kind. Amanda : A girl can dream, Macleod. Sir Hawk, I think you had best Choose your best man, The better to begin the wedding, And the same for Charles And Magwitch. Hawk : I choose Duncan. Duncan : Me? Charles : As do I. Magwitch : I would choose Amanda, Were she not female, So I must perforce agree With Charles and Hawk, And select Duncan as well. Amanda can be maid of honour. Duncan : I am honoured. Hawk : Anne, Helen, join Lady Peregrine And plan thy services. Magwitch, Charles, come with me. We will plan ours. Exeunt Helen, Anne, Hawk, Magwitch, and Charles. Squire Peabody : I shall walk to the inn, In the rain and darkness. This castle is most unfriendly To lecherous folks like me. Amanda : Aye, sounds a good idea. Exit Squire Peabody. Amanda : Ah, alone at last. Duncan : I do not think tonight has been fair, For thou hast done much, And I have done little. Amanda : True. Duncan : I have not even credit for those Things that I have done. I did repair a coach wheel, Get captured by two thugs, Get deceived by the villain, Dress up, and nearly Take a good man's head. Plus, I look a wuss. Amanda : A good summary, Duncan dear, But every woman must have her night, And tonight has been mine, Do not be jealous, do not sulk, For we are guests at three weddings, And smiles are called for. Besides, though tonight has been my night, Thou art certainly my knight, And I still love thee. Sort of. Duncan : Wordplay is it, now? Amanda, I confess to being beaten. Thou art seven centuries older than I, And I am humbled. I do apologise, And the next time we pretend, I shall be thy servant, and not thee mine. Amanda : A good idea indeed, For my knees still ache from washing The floor of that wretched inn. Duncan : Aye, well, that's alright now, Enough talk. Dost thou know where Hawk doth keep his wine? I am thirsty. Amanda : You always are. Go through that door, I'll join you soonest. Duncan : I am gone. Exit Duncan. Amanda : Well, the night is at an end, And no more story to tell, And though nobody had Quickening Most orgasmic, Good has won out. We shall have money from Hawk, And I shall take my leave of Duncan, To see the world for a while. But in the meantime, tonight at least, I'll be maid of honour at three weddings And in the morning, I shall steal Hawk's money, And escape the castle. Ah, 'tis good to be a cat burglar! Duncan : Amanda, where art thou? This is good wine. I am drunk already. Amanda : Coming, Duncan dear! Faces audience. Time for an epilogue : I may not in this dull room dwell, I have to escape from this play's spell. The plot is done, the players gone, And all questions dealt with except one. For I must know, and know for true, If the play has entertained you. For I remind you, if I may, That Shakespeare himself did say, As you would from crimes pardoned be, By your indulgence, set me free. My turn to indulgence seek, So goodbye, audience, for another week. Exit Amanda. Pause. Duncan (drunkenly) : SCOTLAND FOREVER! THE END -- //=== ||==|| //\\ || || u4d41@keele.ac.uk OR ksc15@keele.ac.uk // ||__|| //__\\ || || \\__|| || \\ // \\ || ||=== ...nearly 20 but definitely in love... =========================================================================