I Want to Be Your Canary/Script


 * ---I WANT TO BE YOUR CANARY---*


 * -SCENE I-*


 * CORNELIA:* Marcus? [A man clad in a black cloak, complete with black hood, walks on stage. Cornelia approaches him]


 * CORNELIA:* Sweet Marcus, I fear I love thee more than I should!

such as I?
 * MARCUS:* Princess... Wilt thou be happy, married to a lowly peasant

cherish me, the king's only daughter? Or is such a desire too dear to wish for!? After our nuptials, shall I become no more than a puppet? A mindless puppet, never to laugh, never to cry? I wish to live my life under the sky. At times I shall laugh, at other times cry. For no life is more insincere than that lived as a masquerade.
 * CORNELIA:* Prithee, call me 'princess' no more! Marcus, wilt thou truly

embrace] Cast away thy trappings of royalty, and I shall swaddle thou in a gown of pure love! Never again will I part from thee! Pray, my love, make me thy canary to keep forever in the cage of thy bosom! Let us embark on the first ship tomorrow, before dawn can tell of our elopement!
 * MARCUS:* So much consideration thou hast given it! But worry not! [They

throughout the world!
 * CORNELIA:* All my fortunes at thy foot, I lay, and I shall follow thee


 * MARCUS:* Neither Cloud, nor Squall shall hinder us!

[Marcus turns around and walks off stage]

is to be by my sweet Marcus's side.
 * CORNELIA:* O, love is the sweetest joy and the wildest woe. All I wish

[Blank kneels on the side of the stage, eavesdropping]

Ne'er will I let their plan come to fruition. [He walks goes to center stage, meeting with Cornelia] Good day to ye, Highness.
 * BLANK:* Fie! It shall be war again unless this marriage is stopped.


 * CORNELIA:* Good day...


 * BLANK: *Wist thee of Marcus?


 * CORNELIA:* Marcus!? What news dost thou bring?


 * BLANK: *This! [He punches her in the stomach]


 * CORNELIA: *Ugh! [She falls into his arms, and blackout]


 * --SCENE II--*

[Scene Begins with King Leo walking on stage]

walks on stage]Blank, good man! Hast thou seen Cornelia?
 * KING LEO:* Where is she!? Where has mine only daughter gone!? [Black

Schneider. Be thou at ease.
 * BLANK:* Worry not, Majesty. I shall make sure Cornelia marries Prince

Could it be... thou hast betrayed me?
 * KING LEO:* At ease, sayest thou? How can I rest, not know she is safe?


 * BLANK:* By my troth, sir, I betrayed none other than poor Marcus!

not betray me as swiftly?
 * KING LEO:* Thou had the gall to betray thy dearest friend. Wouldst thou

Blank. Blank falls to the floor, dying. King Leo turns and walks away.]
 * BLANK:* Stay thy hand, I merely... [King Leo pulls out sword and stabs


 * BLANK:* I merely sought a lasting peace between the two kingdoms!

[Benero and Zenero run on stage]


 * ZENERO:* The traitor is dead!


 * BENERO:* O, cruel fate!


 * KING LEO: * You two... Quickly, find Cornelia and bring her before me!


 * Both [Benero and Zenero]:* Yes, Your Majesty [They Exit]


 * KING LEO: * Wretched daughter! How dare she disobey her father's wishes!

[Blackout]


 * ---SCENE III---*

[Scene begins at dawn, with Marcus standing alone.]


 * MARCUS:* The time for our departure is long past. Where is Cornelia?

[Cinna enters]

peace could come to both kingdoms, as Blank so said. Speak, Marcus! She told me that she could not live without me. [A section of the sky lights up; several pictures of birds flying appear] So, the sun is our enemy, too. The eastern sky grows bright. Will we not spread our wings, as yonder birds in joyous flight? [A loud sound is heard, as the ship departs]Hark, Marcus! They cannot wait any longer! The ship departs!
 * CINNA:* Marcus, the ship soon embarks! Board ye the boat alone, and

[Cinna Exits]

false. I must have faith! She shall appear if I only believe! As the sun lends me no ear, I pray instead to the twin moons! I beseech thee, wondrous moonlight, grant me my only wish! [Marcus walks over to King Leo, Benero and Zenero, meeting them for combat.]
 * MARCUS:* Could she have betrayed me? Nay, ne'er would my love speak

[Cinna, Blank and Zidane enter]

thy love!
 * BLANK: *Bereft of father! Bereft of mother! Marcus! Thou hast lost even


 * CINNA:* Fortune hath escape'd thee! For what end shalt thou live?

heart of the wretched King Leo!
 * ZIDANE:* For the sake of our friend... Let us bury our steel in the


 * Both [Cinna And BLANK]:* Aye!

[Cinna, Blank and Zidane rush out to greet their comrade, Marcus in his battle with King Leo]


 * BLANK:* We shall back thee, Kinsman!


 * MARCUS: *Pray, sheathe thy swords! This villain is mine alone!


 * CINNA:* Nay, Kinsman! For I, too, have lost a brother to this fiend!

before the King!? All who stand in my way will be crush'd!
 * KING LEO:* What ho? Out, vermin! Away! Thou darest bare thy sword

For I shall instruct thee in his incomparable pain!
 * ZIDANE:* Treacherous Leo, my Kinsman's suffering shall not be in vain!

[Battle between Zidane, Marcus, Blank, Cinna, Benero, Zenero, and King Leo, ending in King Leo being the only survivor on his side, looking defeated lying in the center of the stage.]

[He runs away, up the stairs and away from conflict]
 * KING LEO:* Arrg ... Grrr ... Thou hast not seen the last of me, Marcus!


 * ZIDANE:* Come back!

[Zidane chases after King Leo]


 * ZIDANE: *Out of my way, Blank!

Princess Cornelia, peace would reign over both their kingdoms!
 * BLANK:* Consider this, Zidane! If Prince Schneider were to marry

in this world!
 * ZIDANE:* T'is foolishness! If all were so easy, why, none would suffer

[Both Race up the stairs and begin slashing at each other]

[Blank jumps off the stage, and lands in the aisle. Zidane follows, and engages in battle]


 * BLANK:* En garde!


 * ZIDANE:* Expect no quarter from me!

[Battle between the two, ending in a draw.]


 * ZIDANE:* We shall finish this later! [Runs up aisle, returns to backstage]


 * BLANK:* Come back here! [Follows]

[Blackout]


 * SCENE IV*

[Scene begins with King Leo coming out of his castle, laughing to himself.]

to Prince Schneider! And then Prince Schneider and his kingdom will be mine! Gwahahahaha!
 * KING LEO:* Tonight, I shall finally see my daughter Cornelia betroth'd

[Benero and Zenero bring Marcus forward.]


 * ZENERO:* Your Majesty!


 * BENERO:* We have caught an intruder!

treasure Cornelia... No matter how deeply she might believe she doth love thee... Never shall I see her marry a peasant such as thee! [A bell rings once] When the bell strikes three... Under the ax thou shall be! [The bell strikes a second time]
 * KING LEO:* Why, my poor Marcus! Hark, lad. No matter how much thou dost

[A bell strikes a third time]


 * KING LEO:* Furthermore!

Marcus!
 * CORNELIA:* [rushes in, accompanied by Zidane, and chased by Schneider.]


 * MARCUS:* [Breaks free from Benero and Zenero] Cornelia!

leave thy side. Prithee, lead me from this place!
 * CORNELIA:* Oh, Marcus! I missed you so! [Hugs Marcus] I wish never to


 * ZIDANE:* See, King Leo? Thou shouldst give them thy blessing!

I'll not allow it! Cornelia shall marry none other than this man - Prince Schneider! Is that not so, Prince Schneider?
 * KING LEO:* Never! Never leave his side, thou sayest? Foolish banter!


 * SCHNEIDER:* Aye.


 * KING LEO:* Aye! And this traitorous crew, I will put to death!

[Zidane and Marcus rush to Benero and Zenero, punching them in the stomach]


 * BENERO:* Too many of them!


 * ZENERO:* Run away!

[Zenero and Benero exit]


 * KING LEO:* Pray, sweet daughter, come home to the castle with me.


 * CORNELIA:* Nay, Father! I shan't return!

own welfare. Be mindful of that.
 * KING LEO:* Cornelia... Trouble me no more. This wedding is for thine

parents, and for my love, Cornelia... [Draws sword] I shall cut thee down!
 * MARCUS:* Not if I can help it! Now is my moment of vengeance! For my

[Marcus rushes forward, attempting to stab King Leo, but Cornelia jumps in front, being killed herself. Ending with a scream of “Cornelia!” From all]


 * MARCUS:* No... Cornelia!


 * CORNELIA:* Mar... cus, forgive me. I still love my father...


 * KING LEO:* Cornelia!


 * SCHNEIDER:* Princess!

Marcus...
 * CORNELIA:* Prithee, forgive my selfishness, Father, and spare my sweet

Am I cursed never again to feel her soft touch!? O, cruel fate! Thou hast robbed me of all I treasure!
 * MARCUS:* What have I done!? Am I never to hear her loving voice again!?

[Marcus stabs himself, and falls to the floor, dead, as King Leo sits down before his dead daughter]