Princess Etcetera

Characters:

MADELINE

SISTER

POSSIBLE SUITOR’S VOICE

 

SCENE: MADELINE, sitting at a dressing room table with a mirror showing her reflection. She has a hair piece from a SUITOR.

SUITOR: (Echoing Voice) You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen – Perfect in every way.

MADELINE: (Aloud) Perfect – (stares deeply into the mirror. Leaning forward and putting hands flat on the dressing table) – is boring!

(MADELINE throws one side of the dressing table off. She slumped over till her arms are vertical on the table. She lays her head on her arms.)

MADELINE: (Village Witch Voice) Flaws, my pretty, that is what is best. [Cackle] The more crooked – (pulls some hair out of the hair piece) – the better. There is nothing more – (shifts to Queen’s Voice) –Perfect that a piece made whole once more.

(MADELINE as Queen sits up straight in the chair, crosses her legs, and begins to straighten out hair. She looks in the reflection.)

MADELINE: (Queen’s Voice) That, my darling, is what you are.  Don’t let that – (shifts to Prince’s Voice) –sniveling waste of flesh deceive you otherwise.

(MADELINE as Prince smooths down shirt and pants, uncrossed legs and sits slouched forward, looking into the mirror.

MADELINE: (Prince’s Voice) You, my beloved princess, are a fallen piece of a star- You are the remnant of a comet. A marvel to this earth. A shattered, yet whole masterpiece, that –

(MADELINE dramatically slumps forward onto the dressing room table. She then jumps up out of the chair and pushes the other side of the dressing table off.)

MADELINE: (Guardian’s Voice) – must be protected! (MADELINE, as Guardian, puts her hands on the dressing table and looks angrily into the mirror.) Those shattered pieces are sacred and must be kept hidden. Forever! Never to be – (shifts to King’s Voice) – soiled! By any hands not deemed fit to touch my angel –

(MADELINE, as King, turns and walks around chair, stands behind it, putting hands on the back of the chair. She looks into the mirror. )

MADELINE: (King’s Voice) And there is no hand belonging.to any man alive fit for that privilege. No knight. No king. No prince or nobleman will ever be worthy- (MADELINE, as King, strokes chin thoughtfully.) – unless they were, of course, to slay a dragon.

(MADELINE stumbles and on the way down and grabs the back of the chair. MADELINE shakily sits back up.)

MADELINE: (Prince’s Voice) A dragon? For the hand of the fallen star? A flame for a flame.  Such a fitting price for the rarest of jewels. A rarity of such overall loveliness –

(Outside the room – footsteps. MADELINE crumples, slumps and straightens herself up in a Kingly pose.)

MADELINE: (King’s Voice) There is never a fitting price for my daughter’s hand, boy! Enough of your water-lily talk! Your pretty words will not win this battle, fool hearted child! Will you accept this challenge?

(MADELINE’S torso lightly convulses. Her neck twitches, her head lolls to the left. She stands up straight as Prince.)

MADELINE (Prince’s Voice): For the princess’s hand, I will do whatever it takes. I will wait under her window through the rain and cold. Sit through the sun’s violent gold. I will –

(There is a knock on the room’s door.)

MADELINE: (as all) Someone approaches.

MADELINE ‘S SISTER walks in and walks behind Madeline, who stands stiffly. Madeline’s Sister walks between mirror and chair, turns to sister, and points.

SISTER: Are you really still playing that game?

MADELINE: I don’t know what you’re talking about –

SISTER: I’m talking about you, Maddy! With your head in the clouds-

(MADELINE shakes her head and SISTER crosses arms.

MADELINE: It’s better up there –

SISTER: We’re here for you, but you’re never here for us-

MADELINE: I’m here enough, sister –

SISTER: What about your life, Maddy? You have to take care of us!! The family is counting on this union to work! You have to look your best- You have to –

(SISTER reaches out and touches Madeline’s face.)

 

MADELINE: (as Dragon) ROARS. 

(MADELINE slumps over in the chair and SISTER exits the room.  MADELINE looks up at the mirror again. She straightens up and smiles into the mirror.)

MADELINE: (as Queen) Were you talking to yourself again, my dear? We can go consult the wise woman to get rid of them for you  –

[End Scene]

– Maya Brown, 2nd Place in Script