The Plantagenets V

The Lives of Eleanor of Aquitain and Henry II and their Children, in the year of our Lord, 1170.

Dramatis Personae:

Queen Eleanor
King Henry II
Matilda (Maud) eldest daughter
Richard, son
Geoffrey, son
Angeline, Lady in Waiting
Marcus, Blacksmith
Fumi, maid


Scene One of Two.

At the barn.

Marcus: Aye, Richard, you won the race back, walk the horse around the barn to cool him off.

Richard: Okay.

Henry: (Enters with Geoffrey) Marcus, is the forge hot. This one needs a shoe.

Marcus: Right away my Lord. Was the hunt successful young Geoffrey?

Henry: He proved his merit. Here's a rabbit for the pot.

Marcus: Who shot the stag?

Henry: Richard.

Marcus: I will take it, hang it and call the butcher, my Lord.

Henry: (Richard walking horse) Richard, let us walk to the cottage.

Geoffrey: Dad, can I carry the rabbit.

Marcus: The three of you be off.

Henry: Marcus keep away from Angeline.

Marcus: (laughing)
(Scene fades)



Scene Two of Two.

(Inside the kitchen of the honeymoon/holiday cottage.)

Eleanor: I am still fond of this place Angeline, even after all these years.

Angeline: Yes milady, it is special since it is your anniversary and young Matilda is engaged to the Count of Perche.

Eleanor: Yes indeed, we must get a move on, the men will be back from hunting soon. Put that poetry book down and peel those carrots.

Angeline: Surely we can have some fun before the men return. Here let me read to you.

Matilda: You read it mother.

Eleanor: Hand me the book, please. What is the poem?

Angeline: About young love, maam.

Fumi: She is teaching me to read, my Lady.

Eleanor: Very good. Go to the garden. I need some loveage and mint for the stew.


(Fumi & Maltida exit)

Angeline: It is an adult poem about a young girl's passage into womanhood, as I know you are fretting about Maud's pending engagement and her deflowering. Is she still insistent on wanting to stay out overnight at the cotillion?

Eleanor: Yes, I'm afraid she is, my daughter is blooming into a young woman, I am at a loss with her right now, perhaps the poem will help ease my troubles.

Angeline: Yes.

(Re-enter, Fumi and Matilda with the mint)

Eleanor: (Reading aloud)


"The Flower Girl", by Mary Pashley

I am fresh, behold my fecundant will.
This is my beginning, of woman in my world.
Like Venus, I am arisen, to dance, to sing
to speak of men and the joys of spring.
(Eleanor aside: Was I like her?)
I am not old, youth is in my readying heart.
This is my womb, where I shall ripen
and come of age, to be known by a man.
My body, a peach, sweet to bite.
Like the new year's awakens strirrings
in all, Love is all.
Soon I shall dance amongst the glistening stars.
(Eleanor aside: I will try to trust her.)


Angeline: There ma'am, now you may be able to let Maud go with grace. Remembering how your youth was.

Eleanor: Yes I do, now let us march on, I hear the boys in the courtyard.

(Henry, Richard and Geoffrey enter the kitchen.)

Fumi: Oh, gosh! What are you holding with blood on it?

Henry: A rabbit. Take it outside, Geoffrey and clean it with Fumi.

Eleanor: Nice catch son.

(Exit Fumi and Geoffrey)

Richard: Mother, there will be venison when the butcher is done.

Eleanor: You were fortunate, son?

Henry: A fine stag.

Angeline: Richard, get your filthy hands out of the stew.

Richard: Maude, hand me the towel and water.

Matilda: Get it yourself, you always want to be waited on.

Eleanor: Sit, my love. There at the head of the table.

Henry: (Aside to Eleanor) The table is set so beautiful. The cottage feels warm. We have fine children. They certainly love you.
(Eleanor holds Henry’s hand)

Eleanor: Later my love.


(Scene Fades)