Act I, Scene VIII
Continued...
Philotis: Are you concerned, Uncle?
Richardetto: Dear Philotis, Annabella’s whoredom threatens to destabilize the entire kingdom!
Philotis: Indeed?
Richardetto: Of course! Parliament would be in absolute shambles!
Philotis: Wow, I hadn’t realized! So what’s to become of her, the Princess?
Richardetto: ‘Tis the million dollar question, dear Philotis. In sooth, I know not, but you needn’t concern yourself with these... (Richardetto gets an idea) trivialities.
Philotis: Uncle?
Richardetto: Dost thee know of Signior Florio's designs to deliver his daughter's maidenhead to Soranzo?
Philotis: Yes, Uncle, I did hear of this through the royal grapevine.
Richardetto: And what dost thee think? Is Annabella enamored?
Philotis: It doesn't seem so, dear Uncle. But to be honest, from the looks of it, it doesn't appear Annabella is truly taken with any of the suitors who have made advances on her courtly chastity hence.
Richardetto: Exactly!
Philotis: Her resolve has yet to be shaken, nor stirred.
Richardetto watches Philotis smile as she starts to catch on.
Richardetto: Strange that she would find none of them appealing...
Philotis: Uncle, are you thinking what I’m thinking?
Richardetto: My god... !
Philotis: We could... hook her up, Uncle.
Richardetto: Indeed!
Philotis: We could...
Richardetto: ...Capture... the market!
Philotis: Yes!
Richardetto: Claim our spot.
Philotis: Yes.
Richardetto: And finally...
Philotis: Ultimately.
Richardetto: We can...
Philotis: We will...
Together: Inherit a fortune!
Parma is Ours!
RICHARDETTO:
CAN YOU FEEL IT, PHILOTIS?
AN OPPORTUNITY’S
ON THE HORIZON
CAN YOU SEE IT, CLEARLY?
THE TIME IS NOW
TO CASH IN, MY DEAR
WE’LL BET ON THE RIGHT HORSE
THAT WILL DEFY
THE RACE TO ANNABELLA’S HEART!
RICHARDETTO brandishes a ticket from his sleeve.
AND WHEN WE NAB
THE VICTORY
THE KINGDOM WILL BE OURS!
PHILOTIS:
UNCLE, DEAR UNCLE, I SEE IT!
YOUR VISION IS SO
CRYSTAL CLEAR!
WE’LL PACKAGE HER A SUITOR
THAT WE BET ON
TO WIN THE WAR
THE TIME IS RIPE FOR US TO TRY
RICHARDETTO: WE’LL SEE....
TO PLACE OUR BETS TONIGHT
RICHARDETTO: MONEY
WE’LL FORGE ON AND FIGHT
TO WIN THE WAR
RICHARDETTO: TO BE FREE!
AND BRING HER TO OUR CAUSE
RICHARDETTO:
WE’LL GET A LITTLE BOOST IN SALARY
PERHAPS SOME PASSIVE INCOME
PHILOTIS:
OUR NET WORTH WILL SKYROCKET
AS THE SAILORS SAY “ADIEU”
RICHARDETTO: WE LOVE YOU, WE LOVE YOU, WE
LOVE YOU!
RICHARDETTO:
WE’RE GONNA EXPAND OUR REAL ESTATE
AND BUILD OUR EMPIRE
PHILOTIS:
UNCLE, CAN WE HAVE A YACHT?
RICHARDETTO: Of course!
IMMACULATE IN STYLE
RICHARDETTO: It’s yours!
A FOUNTAIN THAT’S IN MY NAME
RICHARDETTO:
A MURAL THAT DEPICTS OUR LIVES
THE BASES ARE LOADED
AND WE’RE UP TO BAT, NIECE
TO PRESERVE THE FAMILY NAME
PHILOTIS: WE’LL BOTH BE FREE
WE’LL ENTER THE MARKET
RESERVE A SPOT AND
BOTH:
GIVE THIS THING A SHOT!
PHILOTIS:
AND THE SUITORS COME MARCHING ON
RICHARDETTO: IT IS SO FINE AS
AS THE BATTLE GOES RAGING ON
RICHARDETTO:
THE BATTLE GOES RAGING ON
RICHARDETTO:
TO THE VICTOR GO THE SPOILS, MY DEAR
PHILOTIS: IN TIME WE WILL SEE
AS THE WINNER TAKES ALL, A DREAM
PHILOTIS: AS THE WINNER TAKES ALL, A DREAM
BOTH:
IT’S OUR FINAL JOB TO STRIKE IT RICH!
TO DISRUPT THE COURTLY BALANCE!
EVEN THE SCORE
AND CHANGE OUR COURSE!
AND REVERSE THE COMING TIDES!
FOR PARMA AND BEYOND...
IS OURS!
Scheming laughter.
(To Be Continued...)