Act II
LOCATION: Gardens, post examination.
Annabella looks slightly frail, but perhaps feeling better out of some placebo effect.
Florio: How are you feeling this day, my precious daughter?
Annabella: A little faint, father, but better. Thank you.
There's a knock at the gate.
Florio: Come in!
DONADO enters the room with jubilation, a scroll in his right hand that he brandishes proudly in the air.
It's his letter for ANNABELLA.
Donado: I've got it!
FLORIO is startled and looks to ANNABELLA to see if she can explain what is going on.
She cannot, of course.
Florio: My word, what’s going on here?
Donado: The letter!
Florio: The letter?
Bergetto Rejects Annabella
DONADO:
IT'S REALLY GREAT
YOU’LL SEE IT TODAY
I'VE GOT THIS LETTER
TO MAKE HER DECIDE
Florio:
Donado?
DONADO:
MY GIRL IT IS FINE
AS IT HAS SUCH GREAT RHYMES
I'M SURE YOU'LL LOVE IT
WHEN YOU SEE IT NOW
FLORIO suddenly realizes what is going on, as does ANNABELLA who begins to grin.
FLORIO:
DONADO, PRODUCE THE LETTER
LET MY GIRL DECIDE
SHE'S TIED UP WITH SO MANY SUITORS
THIS MAKES HER MIND SO TIRED
ANNABELLA takes the letter in her hand.
She crosses her legs, sitting on the edge of the bench, beginning to open and read the letter.
ANNABELLA:
THIS OUGHTA BE GOOD
I'LL READ THE LETTER
MAKE MY CHOICE TONIGHT
AND FIND SENSATIONS
IN THE WORDS THAT HE'LL USE
AND SEE
WHAT EMOTIONS WILL STIR
I'M SURE THAT I'LL FIND THE RESULT THAT I NEED
WHEN I LOOK AT THE WORDS THAT HE'LL CHOOSE
AND HE NEEDS
THE OUTCOME IS CERTAIN
THE RESULT WILL BE SO CERTAIN
She reads but is soon interrupted by BERGETTO who enters.
She looks up at him as he sings. She is surprised, perhaps pleasantly, with BERGETTO’S seeming defiance.
Enter BERGETTO, singing at a distance but still walking toward her with his revelations.
POGGIO enters slowly from behind as well, but stands still during most of the performance of the song.
BERGETTO:
MY MISTRESS YOU'RE GREAT
I SEE YOU TODAY
YOU'RE READING SO WELL
I'LL MAKE YOU DECIDE
DONADO:
Bergetto!
BERGETTO:
THE TIME HAS ARRIVED
FOR ME TO DECIDE
ON MY OWN TASTES
THAT I'M SURE
THAT WILL SHAKE
THIS FOUNDATION AROUND THE KINGDOM
HAS GONE AWRY
THIS FAMILY'S OBSESSED
WITH BEING THE BIG BEST
OF ALL TIME!
BUT
I'M NOT MARRYING YOU!
DONADO:
Bergetto!
BERGETTO:
I'M NOT MARRYING YOU!
BECAUSE ANOTHER ONE HAS COME
AND SHE'S SO GREAT
SHE'S A DOCTOR'S NIECE
AND SHE'LL TAKE CARE OF ME!
DONADO:
WAS EVER AN ASSHOLE BORN?!
BERGETTO:
UNCLE!
DONADO:
GET OUT OF MY SIGHT!
To Be Continued...