Stage Play / Sir Edwin and the Quest for Avalon Act I (Analysis)

England, Medieval times, summer  

Characters:

Edwin- Aspiring knight, Baron of Glastonbury
Bridgette- His sister
Robin – Thief
Thief 1- Tries to rob Edwin, Robin, and Bridgette
Thief 2- Thief 1’s partner
Herald- Announces when people come into the room
Philippa Chaucer- Geoffrey’s wife, author of the popular serial, “The Cantebury Tales”
Merlin- Old wizard
Guinevere- Arthur’s widow, Lancelot’s love
Lancelot- Arthur’s best friend, former champion of Camelot
Mordred- King of Britain, Arthur’s nephew
Sailor 1- Sailors on the Aquamarine
Sailor A
Two more sailors
William- Duke of Normandy
Mary- Keeper of the Holy Grail
Sarah- Keeper of the Holy Grail, Mary’s daughter

A Note on Setting

Acts I and III take place in a sitting room. These should have chairs and a fireplace, as well as assorted decor. Act II takes place outside. There should be a large tree in the center of the stage and a log to sit on.  

Act I
Scene One

Play opens with Edwin onstage. He is a young nobleman dressed in the very best medieval attire. Edwin is anxious, pacing, going though things, etc. There are several bags piled in the middle of the floor.

Edwin: Sister, sister! Where art thee sister?

Bridgette: (Offstage) Yes Edwin?

Edwin: Why are thee not ready yet?

Bridgette: I told you I am not going. You may go; seek your fame and glory. I will make the sacrifice of staying here and making sure that the manor doesn’t spontaneously combust whilst you are off.

Edwin: But sister-

Bridgette: Not going

Edwin: Sister, may you come here so I may at least talk to your face instead of yelling into space like an idiot?

Bridgette: (sarcastically) As you wish, my liege. (Enters right) You know, I do have a name.

Edwin: About you not wanting to go-

Bridgette: I’m not going, that is that; I have made up my mind.

Edwin: You’re a woman- since when do you get to make the decisions? Besides, when Father died I told him that I would see you married well. What better place to find you a perfect husband than the court at Camelot?

Bridgette: I don’t wish to be married well.

Edwin: Then you wish to be married to a poor man?

Bridgette: Of course not! Why would I ever want to do such a stupid thing as that?

Edwin: What are you going to do with your life if you do not get married- become a nun?

Bridgette: No, I just don’t want to be married right now, especially to a man I don’t know who is twenty years older than me.

Edwin: But Sister, it is every woman’s dream to be married to a knight of Camelot!

Bridgette: You would know that from personal experience, I assume.

Edwin: Yes, I would; (Bridgette shakes head) every knight of Camelot that I have talked to says so.

Bridgette: How would they know?

Edwin: Women are not very hard to figure out dear sister, for you are simple creatures; very simple indeed.

Bridgette: What I want is to not get married; that should be very simple for even you to figure out.

Edwin: Why?

Bridgette: I don’t want to be stuck in an arranged marriage of state like Mother and Father were. I want to love my husband, not be his humble servant. There should be excitement in my life. If I get married then all I will do is bear children and embroider all day. Where is the fulfillment in that?

Edwin: That’s why you should get married to a knight, exciting things happen in Camelot all of the time.

Bridgette: Such as…?

Edwin: Why just last week when I was talking to Lady Lucas-

Bridgette: When were you talking to Lady Lucas last week? I thought she was supposed to be in Bath on her honeymoon.

Edwin: No, Genevieve stayed home. Sir George decided at the last minute to go hunting instead of going to Bath.  Anyway, as I was saying before I was quite rudely interrupted, Genevieve told me last week that Duchess York was told by Sir Bors, who was told by Queen Isolde herself- that in Camelot there is this very old tower. The rumor was that there was a woman up there, a woman who had been cursed so that she could not look down. She devised a set of mirrors so that she could see Camelot and she immediately fell in love with Sir Lancelot. Apparently she went out of her tower, and then she died. But not before she could put herself in a boat full of flowers, and start to float down the river. Sir Lancelot is said to have thought that she was quite beautiful.  

Bridgette: That’s another of Lady Lucas’ preposterous rumors. You’re almost as bad as Lady Lucas’s embroidery circle. It seems that with every passing day the time that I will walk in and find you stitching a tapestry with those good for nothing gossips comes closer and closer. Listen, Edwin, to me, not to Lady Lucas. Queen Isolde lives in Cornwall; she has probably has never even been to Camelot. How would she have known that?

Edwin: Sir Tristan of course!

Bridgette: Sir Tristan?

Edwin: Haven’t you heard the rumors?

Bridgette: Oh, so there are rumors about poor Queen Isolde and Sir Tristan now too?

Edwin: I can’t believe you haven’t heard!

Bridgette: Well, could you elaborate then?

Edwin: I can’t tell you; it’s not right for maidenly ears.

Bridgette: Typical, typical, typical. You have a good trip to Camelot, brother. I will stay here, and tell your Genevieve and her flying monkeys where you are if they come a-calling. (Turns to leave)
        
Edwin: (Stops her) No, sister; you are not getting away that easy. I told Father you will get married, so I will see you married.

Bridgette: I promise you I will be ready to be married someday, just not now.

Edwin: If you wait any longer you will be an old maid.

Bridgette: Today I will become a nun and live in a cloister cell for the rest of my life before going off to carry some ignorant country lord’s children.

Edwin: How about I make you a deal-

Bridgette: A deal?

Edwin: A deal; you may pick any man you wish and you may turn down any man I wish. But, you must find someone who will agree to marry you in one month.

Bridgette: And if I don’t?

Edwin: Then I guess you have the choice of being a nun or doing embroidery for the rest of your life.

Bridgette: That’s not fair!

Edwin: It is not a free country. I am your lord, you do what I say.

Bridgette: It’s still not fair.

Edwin: The deal is better than nothing.

Bridgette: You said I may marry any man?

Edwin: You may marry any man that will have you.

Bridgette: Is that the best deal I will get?

Edwin: It is.

Bridgette: I guess I do not have any choice but accept your offer.

Edwin: Then to Camelot! (Exits left. Bridgette sighs, picks up a bag, looks at it)

Bridgette: No good can come of this. (Exits left).

Scene Two
At the common room of an inn later that night, same setting. Bridgette is sitting in one of the chairs. She is very tired. Lights are dim.

Bridgette: (to self) I can’t believe it; I can’t believe it; of all the idiotic things to do. (Imitating Edwin) Oh we don’t need a carriage, God’s blessed us with legs we might as well use them. We don’t need a guard; I personally can guarantee you that Sherwood Forest is the safest place in the world for any noble to pass though. (Stands up) And then what happens? We get robbed. They took the horse, my extra dresses, everything! (Fingers necklace) well, at least they had the decency to leave me with a necklace to sell so we can get to Camelot; bloody robbers; bloody Edwin. I should have stayed home and watched the manor. (Edwin enters with Robin)

Edwin: See sister, I told you I would find someone to guard us the rest of the way.

Bridgette: Edwin, you moronic- you idiotic- you- you- you- your stupidity to too grandiose to even express in words! There is not a single word in all the tongues of Europe to articulate how inept and incompetent the decision making part of your brain is, if you even have one! That is the same man who robbed us in the first place.

Robin: (eloquently) Milady, if I may be so bold, I apologize very deeply. The people of the village of Nottingham are very poor, and the new taxes have made their circumstances deepen severely. You and your brother are rich. Me and me men only steal from the rich and give to the poor, and then we only take what can be spared without any noticeable difficulty. When Baron Edwin found me and told me what had happened to you at my hands I realized that what we had taken had in fact caused you great difficulty. So, I feel it is my truest responsibility to give back to you your horse and to escort you to Camelot.  (Bows)

Bridgette: (to Edwin) He’s lying though his teeth, you know that?

Robin: (smiling) And you, milady, are snarling though yours

Edwin: I trust him.

Bridgette: You are my lord protector and in charge of my safety. (Looks up) God help me please. (To Robin) You- what did you say your name was again?

Robin: I didn’t; my name is Robert of Locksley, I go by Robin. Some of those with vast abundance of wealth have even had the humor to call me Robin Hood from time to time. (Takes Bridgette’s hand and kisses it)

Bridgette: Lady Bridgette de Merieanne; enchante. So my wayward escort, how long shall it take us to get to Camelot and end this delightful trip?

Robin: Haven’t the faintest; never been out of Sherwood Forest, Nottingham, or Locksley before; except on the crusades (cringes) I shan’t talk of that shall I? But, never been to Camelot, Baron Edwin told me that he knows that way.

Bridgette: That would be a surprise to me.

Edwin: Hey! I know how to get to Camelot.

Bridgette: I thought that you knew how to get a guard too, but you seemed to have failed miserably at that one.

Robin: Here I was thinkin’ that all you nobles were nice and put on airs, even if it were for us poor folk.

Bridgette: I would presume that it is now safe to assume otherwise, Mister Hood.

Robin: You are such a joy to be around, you know that?

Edwin: Sister dear, may you please go get us some drinks?

Bridgette: (stands up) Anything to get away from this man who claims to have a noble cause but in all reality is nothing more than a common thief who is escorting us so he will not get his hand chopped off (mimes getting hand chopped off). (To Robin) You have probably never been on crusades either.

Robin: You have no manners to speak of, do you? No man will ever want to marry you of ‘is own free will, that’s for sure, especially not any knight of Camelot. So really it is completely superfluous for either of you to go anywhere. You will either end up in a nunnery or being a fat aunt, still living with your brother, I swear by St. Hedwig. (Pause) And I have been on the crusades!

Bridgette: I have only known you for a moment, good sir, but already I can see that you are a fiend and a rouge. You are grimy and will take every penny we have and cut our throats while we sleep!

Edwin: Sister, please the drinks?

Bridgette: Get them yourself; I am going to retire now, where it will be safe for tonight at least.

Robin: My ye sleep well, milady, and be in a better temper on the morrow.

Bridgette: hmph (raises nose in air, storms out left)

Robin: Is it just me or is that lass a wee piece of work?

Edwin: She’s not normally like that. She has just had a stressful day, first she didn’t want to go and then she got robbed. But yes, she is quite a piece of work.  Just this morning she was telling me that she did not want to get married, said she would rather have excitement in her life, quite strange I think.

Robin: I’ve never known a woman to say that, but it is perfectly understandable. What man wants to be shut up in a castle all day?

Edwin: But that’s what women do; that is what they are raised to do their whole lives. Men go out and fight, women raise children.

Robin: (puts his feet on a footstool) Lad, I’ve seen a lot in my short time on this earth. I’ve seen glutinous sheriffs stealing from starving children. I’ve seen men who wish to get high in the eyes of God by killing their fellow man merely because the way the worship Him is different.  I’ve seen enough cruelty and corruption in this world to even wonder if He exists. But, I have also known many a person. Between you and me (both lean closer together, Robin whispers) Eve may have eaten the apple first, but given the chance so would Adam. Men and women are both human, what we all feel and want is not truly different. A woman wanting excitement doesn’t fall outside the realms of normal human behavior, or not at least to me.

Edwin: What nobleman would want someone like her?

Robin: You would be surprised Edwin, ye’d be surprised; those knights are exceptionally off their rocker, completely and utterly insane- one of them will have her.  

Scene Three
At a different inn the next day

Robin, Edwin and Bridgette come running in right. Robin and Edwin have swords. All look frazzled.

Robin: Edwin, are you completely out of your mind?

Edwin: What did I do?

Robin: Think about it, you announced yourself as a lord in front of everyone. Shouldn’t the state of the inn and the fact that it was so cheap possibly say to thee that there might be outlaws afoot?

Edwin: I didn’t announce it in front of everyone!

Bridgette: Usually when the room gets really quiet and everyone looks at you, you stop talking, not keep blabbering on so everyone can hear we have money.

Edwin: It’s not my fault!

Bridgette: Of course it’s not.  

Robin: and you, milady, did not make it any better by wearing that fancy dress and gems.

Bridgette: It just so happens that every other article of clothing I brought with me was stolen and distributed among the poor of the Nottingham, including my normal clothes and something to keep my necklace safe.

Edwin: Will you two shut up already? I have been listening to this all morning, all afternoon, and all evening. I hope that one of you will eventually give the other the silent treatment. (Running is heard)

Robin: Here they come again- Milady, go hide if ye know what’s good for ye. Are you ready to defend yourself, family, and honor, Baron Edwin? (Bridgette hides behind a chair.)

Edwin: (Fumbling with sword, unsteady, shaking) As ready as I’ll ever be.

Robin: (shrugs) If you say so. (Thieves rush in right. Both have swords in their hands)

Thief 1: Come here and give us ye jewels milord, it will be much easier than us havin’ to take them from ye

Thief 2: Yeah, much easier (snickers)

Edwin: Never (determined)

Thief 1: I be havin’ to take ‘em from ye. Ye leave me no choice. (Steps forward towards Edwin menacingly)

Thief 2: Yeah, no choice (does the same towards Robin)

Robin: Ye sure made my job a bloody lot harder. (They attack. Robin is really good with his sword. Edwin just plain sucks.)

Edwin:  Help! (Robin ignores him) Please? Mommy? (Man is about to overtake Edwin. Bridgette get up from her hiding spot, pulls a small knife out of her dress.)

Bridgette: Get out of the way! (She waves her knife around at the man. All stop and look at her) Well? (Edwin gives her his sword and flees left cowardly)

Thief 2: I ain’t gonna fight no lass

Thief 1: Just do it! (Fighting starts again. Bridgette is very good with sword.)

Robin: (still fighting, leans over to Bridgette, also fighting) Where did you learn to fight like that?

Bridgette: Lets just say that (duck) Edwin enjoyed skipping (block) his sword lessons and (duck) he never understood why his swordmaster (swing) never got mad at him for (back up) never showing (step forward, stab, man she’s fighting falls on face)

Robin: ah (the man he has been fighting falls. Puts sword to throat. All thieves, who are now on floor, crawl out right. Sits down. Bridgette also sits) Would this be the reason why you don’t want to get married?

Bridgette: What?

Robin: I was told by a little birdie that you did not want to get married because you wanted some excitement in your life. What I think is that you want to get married, but you do not want to give up your sword when your husband gets to play with his. You do not want to sit at home with the kiddies while he goes out on quests and adventures.

Bridgette: And how did you come to this conclusion?

Robin: Because I know, I am the same way.

Bridgette: Meaning you do not want to get married because Mrs. Hood would want you to give up thievery and take up a decent trade.

Robin: No, because I know that in more than normal doses excitement is like mead. You start and it makes you happy. You consume more and you are happy once again, but once you stop, you will have to take another drink to feel the same again.

Bridgette: So my want of excitement is the same as your alcoholism?

Robin: No, no; I was just using that as an example; hate the stuff me-self.

Bridgette: That means, Robert, that we might actually have something in common.

Robin: I’m called Robin, milady.

Bridgette: and I am called Bridgette.

Robin: (gently) You are still a spoiled brat.

Bridgette: You are still a grimy rogue. (They lean in closer to each other. Edwin runs in left. They pull back.)

Edwin: (frazzled) Are they gone, are they gone?

Bridgette: (sarcastically) No, a sorcerer turned them invisible and then they tied us to these chairs. They are still here, but you can’t see them.

Edwin: (picks up sword and waves it around in air) AHHH! (Runs out left)

Bridgette: (sighs) Sometimes I wonder if we are related at all. Things would have been much different if I was the boy and he was the girl, even better perhaps.

Robin: One wonders about why things are they are the way they are. It seems to me that there must be some rhyme or reason to how this world works.

Bridgette: That would make to much sense to actually be true.

Edwin: (wait a moment or two. enters running left, flinging sword.) Invisible thieves, you will be sorry after you mess with me! (Exits right, lights fade)

Scene Four

Court at Camelot. Same scenery minus chairs. Robin is in a monk’s habit, by himself in the corner. Philippa talks with him quietly.  

Herald:  (enters right. announcing to room, very stiffly) Baron Edwin and Lady Bridgette de Merieanne of Glastonbury (Bridgette and Edwin enter)

Edwin: So this is the court of Camelot?

Herald: It is milord. Right now it is empty, but soon the king will come.

Bridgette: Who is that person over there?

Herald: One of the Franciscans, they are here all the time, asking for things.

Edwin: What sort of things?

Herald: Not much- land, money, the Holy Grail.

Edwin: The Holy Grail is not much?

Herald: It is when you don’t have it.

Bridgette: And the woman? Is she a Franciscan?

Herald: No, just some writer, wife of an important controller of wool imports. (Bows) Good day milord (Exits right)

Edwin: I can’t believe it, we’re finally here. This is Camelot.

Bridgette: For some reason I expected it to be, I don’t know, bigger, better, shinier.

Edwin: Still, this is Camelot. This is the court where noblemen come before Arthur to be knighted; this is the center of the kingdom, the place where legends are made.

Bridgette: Pity Robin couldn’t come with us though.

Edwin: He’s a wanted man; even if he would have been let in with us someone might have recognized him. It’s all for the better that he stayed at the inn.

Bridgette: I guess it is all for the better

Herald: (enters right) Merlin (Merlin enters right, Herald exits right)

Merlin: Philippa, how lovely to see you again. You three, I have never met you before-

Edwin: Hello, I am-

Merlin: No, no don’t say it! Let me guess, I need some practice. (To Edwin) Hmmm… your name is Edwin de Merieanne, age 21, Baron of Glastonbury, cowardly, not the sharpest knife in the drawer, come here to find yourself glory, possibly a wife-

Edwin: You were right about my name and age, sir, but-

Merlin: I am right about all; I know all, I see all. Just because I need practice seeing doesn’t mean that I have lost my touch. (To Bridgette) Very interesting you are, very interesting indeed- Bridgette de Merieanne, age 18, independent, adventurous, fiery temper -

Bridgette: I do not have a temper!

Merlin: (crosses to Robin) ha ha ha. You, Brother, are what you appear to be and yet not at the same time. You have had a past, Robert Dudley of Locksley, age 23. Illegitimate son of Robert Dudley, Earl of Locksley and Leicester, mother died in childbirth. Went on crusades when you were 14, seen horrors, terrible horrors. Then you went became a monk for self-penance, but felt after awhile that life was not suited for you. You supposedly went to go start an abbey in the poor village of Nottingham, but really became an outlaw living in the nearby forest, robbing the rich and giving to the poor. You are sly and overly sarcastic, but all in all you have a soft heart.

Robin: (pulls off hood, seriously) How did you know that Merlin?

Merlin: I know all, son, I see all.

Bridgette: Robin? You are a monk?

Robin: Technically, I entered the abbey when I came back from the Holy Land, but have not lived a monistic life since I took my vows.

Philippa: How interesting. (Sticks out hand) Philippa Chaucer (Shakes hands with everyone).

Robin: Didn’t your husband write something?

Bridgette: Oh, that one serial, about the pilgrims. I love that series! It is past time that someone wrote something in English.

Philippa: No, my husband did not write them, I did. However, no monk will ever consider copying something that is written by a woman, especially something of, questionable moral content. My stupid, dull husband (mockingly) Il ne parle pas anglais, il parle seulement Normand.

Bridgette: I’m so sorry. So do you know what the next tale is going to be?

Philippa: I don’t know. I’ve been having a bad episode of writer’s block lately. So I came to Camelot to try to pick up something new.

Edwin: And what does Geoffrey think of that?

Philippa: He couldn’t care less. All he cares about is his wool. I doubt that he even notices that I am gone.

Edwin: Merlin, I have a question for you.

Merlin: I know the question; I know the answer but ask because it will make you feel surer of yourself.  

Edwin: On the way to Camelot I battled with a band of invisible bandits and the sorcerer that made them invisible. Do you think I will be knighted for this?

Bridgette: For the last time I was joking when I said that, there were no invisible bandits!

Philippa: Invisible bandits, interesting.

Merlin: The king would hear your story and consider it very brave, you are to be knighted.

Edwin: (to Bridgette) See, I told you they were real!

Merlin: I said the king would knight you, not that you deserve to be knighted.

Bridgette: Ha!

Herald: (enters right) Lady Guinevere and Sir Lancelot (Lancelot and Guinevere enter right, and talk between themselves. Herald exits right.)

Edwin: (excited) is that-?

Tuck: Yes, that is Sir Lancelot

Bridgette: Never mind that, did they just say Lady instead of Queen?

Edwin: Never mind titles; Sir Lancelot, the Lancelot, is in the same room as us.

Merlin: (ignoring Edwin) Have you not heard?

Robin: Heard?        

Merlin: About the battle?

Bridgette: No, I haven’t heard anything. Does that mean that-?

Robin: that Arthur is- ?

Bridgette and Robin: Dead?

Lancelot: Unfortunately so, Arthur is dead, and I am sorry to say that if I had been more loyal to him then he may still be with us.

Edwin: You’re… you’re…

Guinevere: Lance, be reasonable. You had nothing to do with it; things happened. If it was anybody’s fault the blame goes to Mordred.  

Edwin: You’re… you’re…

Lancelot: (to Guinevere) Yes, honey.

Edwin: You’re… you’re…

Guinevere: Who is he? Who are all of you?

Edwin: You’re Sir Lancelot!

Lancelot: Yes, thank you for telling me, I had in fact recently forgotten my name.

Bridgette: (curtsy) I apologize for my brother’s behavior. I am Bridgette de Merieanne; this is my brother Baron Edwin, and our traveling acquaintance Brother Robert.

Philippa: Philippa.

Robin: Hello, my queen (kisses hand, bows)

Guinevere: And hello to you Brother Robert.

Bridgette: So you mean the king is really dead?

Merlin: No, he is not really dead, but he has been mortally injured. I saw it myself, that day on the battlefield. Three nymph queens wept over him and took his body away from the battlefield and laid it in a boat which took him to the Isle of Avalon. There he is still sleeping in a cave, waiting, until Britain is in dire need of him, and then he and his knights will all rise again for Britain, and it shall become a good and whole nation once again.  

Guinevere: That is just nonsense. Likely someone took his body and buried it in secret so King Mordred could do no more disgrace to him.

Philippa: Actually, I’ve heard some people talking about something like that… I think that it sounds vaguely familiar.

Robin: So it has come to that- Mordred is king?

Lancelot: Yes, but many wish it were not so.

Guinevere: Don’t say such things!

Lancelot: Yes, Gwen; whatever you say, Gwen.

Edwin: How might one find this Isle of Avalon?

Merlin: It is an island that cannot be found

Philippa: Except for those who already know where it is.

Bridgette: Only an idiot of the highest tier would even consider searching for such a nonsensical thing!

Edwin: I am going to search for it. To me it sounds like Britain still needs Arthur, and Arthur needs someone to find him and bring him back from Avalon.  

Bridgette: We came to Camelot because you wanted me to get married, not for you to go gallivanting over a piece of fallaciousness!

Robin: (quietly, to Bridgette) Never look a gift horse in the mouth, milady.

Herald: (enters right) His Majesty Mordred, by the grace of God King of all Britannia (exits right, Mordred enters right)

Mordred: (sits on throne, all bow or curtsy, very bored and monotone) I guess that court for today is now in session. To start this fun adventure, are there any introductions or business of something like that?

Edwin: (steps forward. Bridgette and Robin follow) There is, your majesty.

Mordred: Introductions, or business or what?

Edwin: Introductions your majesty.

Mordred: Fine then, what are your names?

Edwin: I am Baron Edwin de Merieanne of Glastonbury, your majesty. This is my sister Lady Bridgette.

Robin: And I am their escort, Brother Robert of Locksley.

Mordred: Welcome to my court, Baron Edwin, Lady Bridgette, Brother Robert. What is your business here?

Edwin: I wish to be knighted, your majesty.

Mordred: Under what grounds?

Edwin: On our way to Camelot we came to an inn. There, seeing that we had money, some horrible thieves attacked us. Brother Robert and I tried to defend ourselves, but we could not. I went to get help, and when I came back alone Brother Robert and my sister were tied to chairs. A sorcerer had turned the thieves invisible. I attacked the thieves and killed their invisible sorcerer, so that no innocent soul may be robbed and not see who is robbing them.

Mordred: Very impressive, I must say. (stands up) Kneel, Edwin de Merieanne, Baron of Glastonbury. (Edwin kneels) Do swear your fealty to me and only me and my successors?

Edwin: Yes, your majesty!

Mordred: Do you pledge to protect the weak and downtrodden, and to always come to those in need?  

Edwin: Yes, your majesty!

Mordred: Do you promise to do what is best for Britain at all times, even if it conflicts with private interests?

Edwin: Yes, your majesty!

Mordred: Do you promise to always be pious and follow the way of God and His divine providence?

Edwin: Yes, your majesty!

Mordred: (pulls out sword, taps both shoulders with sword) arise, Sir Edwin (he rises. All clap, Mordred sits)

Edwin: I thank you, your majesty!

Mordred: Do not thank me, Sir Edwin. Not every man in my court could go against a foe they could not see. You more than deserve to become a member of the Holy Order of the Knights of Mordred’s Round Table, in my mind and certainly in the minds of your countrymen.

Edwin: Thank you, your majesty

Mordred: Very well then, is there anymore court business? (a pause) No? Good. I have no business either other than to state that as of yesterday it is illegal to have a name with an odd number of syllables. Anyone found to be living with an odd syllable name as of yesterday will be punished and tortured until they renounce such name, and as usual I feel I must go so I no longer have to be around you despicable lot.

Bridgette: Edwin, are you insane? I told you that I was joking, there were no invisible thieves.

Edwin: I can’t believe it, I’m a knight.

Lancelot: Do you realize you just swore fealty to Mordred, the evil king who killed Arthur?

Edwin: A knight, I’m Sir Edwin.

Lancelot: None of us knights have sworn yet, and I don’t think any will. You are Mordred’s first knight. You are his champion. Do you comprehend the implications of your actions?

Edwin: I’m champion- but that’s- that’s-

Lancelot: That was my title, yes, but for Arthur- never for Mordred.

Guinevere: Lancie-lot, shall we go?

Lancelot: Actually, Guinevere, I would like to talk a bit more with these people, particularly our new Sir Edwin.

Guinevere: I need an escort sir knight; I thought it was your duty to protect the weak.

Lancelot: But Edwin was talking about going on a quest to get Arthur back!

Guinevere: Why would you want to get Arthur back? With him gone we don’t have to hide anymore. Besides, Arthur was boring. I never would have married him if I wasn’t forced to by Daddy. If he comes back, then how I can be with you Lancie? (Bats eyelashes, big puppy dog eyes, etc)

Lancelot: Yes Gwen, you are right. You are always right, my love. (Both exit right)

Merlin: So will you go on this quest that is so desperately needed by our noble land?

Edwin: I will, but I do not know the way to Avalon.

Merlin: And you Brother? Will you be a traveling companion for the knight?

Robin: I will.

Philippa: And I shall join you and chronicle your quest.

Lancelot: Are you really sure? A woman might slow down the pace.

Philippa: I can guarantee you, good sir, that I will do no such thing. Instead, it shall be a challenge to keep up with me.

Bridgette: What will happen to me?

Edwin: You could stay at court.

Robin: You could go home.

Philippa: Come with us.

Edwin: No!

Merlin: I know what you truly want to do, stay at court. (Wink)

Bridgette: I don’t want to be stuck at court.

Merlin: Yes, you do (wink).

Bridgette: Why would I want to do that?

Merlin: Just trust me, you do. I can help you get settled. (WINK, WINK)

Bridgette: Ah. Yes, I want to stay here at court.

Robin: But we can’t wander the country hoping that by chance we run into Avalon.

Merlin: Ask Galahad about that, he seems good with that sort of thing.

Robin: When do we plan to leave?        

Edwin: Tomorrow morning.

Robin: Then we best be making preparations, shan’t we? (Robin and Edwin exit left)

Bridgette: (makes sure they are gone) Merlin, how did you know what I wanted?

Merlin: I know all. I see all. I see that you are not like most ladies. I know you would not be content at court, so that is why I want to help you.

Bridgette: Thank you! Thank you!

Merlin: No need to be thanking me. We best make some preparations of our own (Both exit right, lights fade).

Scene Five
Later that night, in a sitting room. Robin and Bridgette are talking in front of the fire, drinking out of mugs.

Bridgette: Of all things, why did you decide to be a monk?

Robin: I don’t really know.

Bridgette: There has to be some reason, that isn’t something you do just because you can.

Robin: I guess that I saw so many horrible, horrible things happening in the Holy Land that I felt I ought to cleanse myself, to pay penance for all of those who will not.

Bridgette: And then you went off and became a thief. You paid your penance and went off to commit more sins.  

Robin: I wouldn’t call it thievery. We, what was the word we used, ah; we aggressively solicited the financially blessed members of the community. It was all in the name of a noble cause.

Bridgette: That noble cause is robbing nobles.
        
Robin: The cause is not wealth but to help the poor of Nottingham. All we took was given way to those that needed it. People would have starved and died from not having anything to eat if we had not helped them. Not of penny of it went to us; me and me band lived like nice little poor in the forest. Everything we needed we hunted for. It was hard work, ye must understand that, but at the end of the day, we were a crew of merry men.

Bridgette: If your life was so happy, why are you leaving your beloved poor that needed you so much?

Robin: Because of what I told ye earlier- I crave excitement- it is my drug, it is my drink. I left my men in the forest. They are more than capable of taking care of Nottingham whilst I’m away.

Bridgette: So you must sacrifice your noble idolatry to quench your lust for adventure?

Robin: ‘fraid so, missy. I was dragged into this, when I left my dear Sherwood Forest, I thought this would be nothin’, now though, I’m leavin’ me home once again. One can only pray to Lord Almighty that this exploit turns out better than me last. But why are we talking about little old Robin? Ye yourself are an interesting creature, milady.

Bridgette: You are the one that has led an interesting life- crusader, monk, thief; that is why we are talking about you.  

Robin: But what about you? You are like no female I have ever met, barely a woman and you are better with a sword than any man I have ever seen. How does that not count as interesting? Is that nor an accomplishment?

Bridgette: Most would not see it as such; a man wants a woman who has skin as white as snow, hair as red as wine, who sews like magic is flowing though her fingertips, and is as patient as an ancient pine. A man wants to be dominant. Strong women are burned at the stake as witches. An accomplished woman is quiet, married, and has an heir by the time she is my age.

Robin: I am sure there are those who think that such a thing is preposterous.

Bridgette: Not among the nobility.

Robin: Why do you give a care as to what those stuffed pigeons think of you?

Bridgette: I was born one of those ‘stuffed pigeons’, that’s why. I cannot defy the world of god and seek my own future. To do what is expected of nobility- that is my future, all of it will be before the eyes of my peers and I would prefer that they approve of it.  

Robin: If you are lacking in their eyes then why put up with not being the revered figurehead God made you to be? Why put up with unhappiness and always being wrong?

Bridgette: I know what you are suggesting; I want you to know that I will never lower myself to such. Never, Robert, never; not even for you. (Stands)

Robin: If you won’t for me, would you for yourself?

Bridgette: I must marry according to my stature as to not disgrace the de Merieanne name. We have been associated with the paramount of society and power since Charlemagne’s ancestors were heathens. Hundreds of generations of de Merieannes are what I have to live up to.

Robin: (Stands) Maybe you are one of them then!

Bridgette: Have you not been listening? I am of noble birth; that will never change.

Robin: I did not mean that you weren’t of noble birth. What I meant was that I thought you were different. What law says that one can’t lead a life like mine and still be a noble?

Bridgette: It could never work.

Robin: Then I do not want it to work. I quite think, Lady de Merieanne, that I could never be with someone whose ego is bigger than they are.

Bridgette: and I could never be with someone who thinks that the order of things and the very world itself will turn upside down for his fancy. (Wipes eyes)

Robin: I think the world will turn itself upside down for me? You say you must marry according to your rank and yet you say you do not want to be married just to bear children? You want adventure but you cannot even have the adventure of considering something out of your circle of comfort?

Bridgette: I… I… (Turns to leave)

Robin: Bridgette, wait- (she stops and faces him)

Bridgette: What did you call me?

Robin: Bridgette?

Bridgette: I need to talk to Merlin. (Runs out right)

Robin: (sits back down, takes a drink) God blamed woman. Who does she thinks she is? First she tells me that she doesn’t like where she is, but then she tells me that she is unwilling to change. She’ll know eventually that what she said was a mistake. It might not be tomorrow, she might be married and have children by then, but she’ll look back she will know that she should have listened to me. She’ll know that she would have been much happier if she would have listened to dear old Robin Hood. (Slouches in chair, takes another drink)

Edwin: (enters. He is wearing armor and very happy) Look who I found!

Robin: (doesn’t look) Congratulations, I hope that you two will be happy together.

Edwin: No, no. I found Madame Chaucer again.

Philippa: I looked through my notebooks and found where Avalon is mentioned. It is in a very old poem, telling about all the ways to become immortal.  

Robin: That’s nice, did he tell you where to go? Or does finding an island that cannot be found except for those who already know where it is still an exercise in superfluous stupidity and frivolousness?

Philippa: No, the poem actually tells how to find it. (Pulls out paper and reads) To find what England is in need of most/ you shall go south unto the coast/ cross the water, if you dare/ you shall to the land of apple and pear/ west you go along the pilgrim road/ but it is not St. James’ abode/ that you seek/ Go west and find the citadel of the duke of Normandy/ it is he who grants the wish of harmony/ ask for Mary and Sarah/ it is they who keep/ the secret that is ever so deep/ but do not fret of returning with it/ for to merely see it makes you fit with glory

Robin: Wonderful. We only need to go to pear land to find Avalon. This is going to b a simple trip indeed. (Philippa exits)

Lancelot: (enters) What? What are you two doing here?

Edwin: These are the rooms that we were given.

Lancelot: Oh, I was looking for Guinevere, must have taken a left instead of a right.

Edwin: Would you like to join us on our quest?

Lancelot: I shall consider it, good sir. Guinevere would be very angry with me, but perhaps I shall, but for now, plan only on Robert accompanying you.

Edwin: Come on, Lancelot! Glory! Adventure! Riches! Think about it, if we succeed then peace will return to the kingdom.

Lancelot: There shall be no peace in the kingdom if Guinevere does not get her way.

Edwin: Yes, but think of the glory!

Lancelot: Glory I have, quiet is what I want now.

Edwin: And anyway, thank you again, even though you can’t come with us! I should get some sleep, big day tomorrow. (Exits left)

End Act I

Reviews

Showing 1 - 10 of 16
Next →