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56. EXT. RIVERBANK. DUSK VIOLA as THOMAS is being rowed across the river. From behind, in the direction of Bankside, 'he' hears shouting. (off, shouting) Did you give her my letter ? VIOLA as THOMAS turns to see WILL some way behind, following in another boat. She takes a letter from her coat and holds it aloft. (calling) And this is for you. WILL has climbed aboard VIOLA'S boat and is tearing open the letter. What he reads causes him great pain. He collapses into the stern next to VIOLA. Oh, Thomas! She has cut my strings ! I am unmanned, unmended and unmade, like a puppet in a box. Writer, is he ? WILL turns on him savagely. Row your boat. WILL turns back to VIOLA. They have their conversation intimately, disregarding the lack of intimacy. The BOATMAN is hardly an arm's length away, but they ignore him. She tells me to keep away. She is to marry Lord Wessex. What should I do ? If you love her, you must do what she asks. And break her heart and mine ? It is only yours you can know. She loves me, Thomas ! Does she say so ? No. And yet she does where the ink has run with tears. Was she weeping when she gave you this? I ... Her letter came to me by the nurse. Your aunt ? (catching up) Yes, my aunt. But perhaps she wept a little. Tell me how you love her, Will. Like a sickness and its cure together. Yes, like rain and sun, like cold and heat. (collecting herself) Is your lady beautiful ? Since I came to visit from the country, I have not seen her close. Tell me, is she beautiful ? Oh, if I could write the beauty of her eyes! I was born to look in them and know myself. He is looking into VIOLA'S eyes. She holds his look, but WILL belies his words. And her lips ? Oh, Thomas, her lips ! The early morning rose would wither on the branch, if it could feel envy ! And her voice? Like lark song ? Deeper. Softer. None of your twittering larks. I would banish the nightingales from her garden before they interrupt her song. She sings too ? Constantly. Without doubt. And plays the lute, she has a natural ear. And her bosom - did I mention her bosom? (glinting) What of her bosom ? Oh Thomas, a pair of pippons ! As round and rare as golden apples ! I think the lady is wise to keep your love at a distance. For what lady could live up to it close when her eyes and lips and voice may be no more beautiful than mine ? Besides, can lady born to wealth and noble marriage love happily with a Bankside poet and player? (fervently) Yes, by God ! Love knows nothing of rank or riverbank ! It will spark between a queen and the poor vagabond who plays the king, and their love should be minded by each, for love denied blights the soul we owe to God ! So tell my lady, William Shakespeare waits for her in the garden ! But what of Lord Wessex ? For one kiss, I would defy a thousand Wessexes ! The boat scrapes on the jetty of the DE LESSEPS house. The
bump throws Oh, Will ! She throws a coin to the BOATMAN and runs towards the house. Thank you, my lady ! (stunned) Lady ? Viola De Lesseps. Known her since she was this high. Wouldn't deceive a child. Will gets out of the boat. (reaching under his seat) Strangely enough, I'm a bit of a writer myself. The BOATMAN produces his memoirs in manuscript. It wouldn't take you long to read it, I expect you know all the booksellers ... But Will has gone.
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