Act I, Scene iv
LOCATION: Outside the palace gates, near a park where FLORIO and DONADO are spotted on a bench, near a tree.
Both appear to be having cordial conversation. The urgency of the lyrics makes the audience members change their minds as DONADO initiates a proposition for Florio to consider.
It’s My Daughter’s Choice to Make!
DONADO:
FLORIO,
THERE IS SOMETHING YOU SHOULD KNOW
ABOUT MY NEPHEW
HE REALLY WANTS TO KNOW
IF YOUR DAUGHTER WILL TAKE HIS HAND...
FOR MARRIAGE.
I'VE GOT MONEY
RIGHT WHERE YOU NEED IT
YOU CAN HAVE IT
WHEN I'M DEAD
I'VE GOT A WHOLE ESTATE
AND SOME PAYOLA
RESERVED FOR YOU,
IF THEY WED
YOU'LL BE RICH
BEYOND YOUR WILDEST DREAMS
BUT ONLY IF THEY WED
YOU'VE COME A LONG WAY
FROM THIS HERE MOMENT
I THINK YOU ARE PREPARED
FLORIO:
DONADO!
IT IS NOT FOR ME TO CHOOSE
WHAT MY DAUGHTER, ANNABELLA
WANTS TO HAVE IN YOU
DONADO:
I know...
FLORIO:
SHE'S A GROWN WOMAN
AND SHE CAN REFUSE
THERE CAN
ONLY BE ONE...
ONLY ONE!
DONADO:
I'VE GOT MONEY RIGHT WHERE YOU NEED IT
YOU DON'T NEED TO WORRY, PA
THERE'S NO CHANCE
THAT SHE CAN GET MARRIED
WHEN MY NEPHEW'S MONEY TALKS
JUST LISTEN CLOSELY
AND I WILL DEFINE
THE SITUATION AS IT STANDS
MY NEPHEW'S SUPER-RICH
AND I'VE GOT LOTS OF MONEY
RESERVED IN COMMON STOCK
FLORIO:
DONADO,
I THINK YOU'RE GOING MAD
THIS IS NOT A CHOICE I CAN MAKE
YOU NEED TO TAKE A CHILL-PILL BUDDY
FOR I KNOW YOU KNOW NOT WHAT TO SPAKE
DONADO:
I'M SO SORRY
FOR OVERSTEPPING BOUNDARIES
I JUST WANT THINGS TO BE RIGHT
THAT IF MY NEPHEW MAKES A MOVE
TOWARD YOUR DAUGHTER
THAT YOU WILL JUST BE OKAY
FLORIO:
I AM FINE!
BUT IT'S MY DAUGHTER'S CHOICE
TO MAKE!
FLORIO exits with flourish.
DONADO waves his hand dismissively to allow FLORIO to leave.
He removes a liqueur from his sleeve.
Donado: Cheers… and to my nephew, sir. (Aside) May he triumph over himself!
DONADO drinks.
(To Be Continued... )