The Duchess (of Malfi) by Zinnie Harris

Author:Zinnie Harris [Zinnie Harris]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780571355396
Publisher: Faber & Faber
Published: 2019-08-02T16:00:00+00:00

Act Three

The Duchess is in a makeshift cell. There is nothing in it except a chair.

Ferdinand is outside and observing her.

The Cardinal comes in to speak to Ferdinand.

Cardinal how is she?

Ferdinand as you would expect –

Cardinal still sick?

Ferdinand not sick

Cardinal sick of the soul, the soul, you said she was sick of the soul

Ferdinand she is sick of the soul

Cardinal that is why she is here in this hospital you have made for her.

Ferdinand yes yes, sick of the soul, yes

Beat.

Cardinal because if she isn’t sick, we have just –

Ferdinand she is sick

They look at her in the prison they have made.

tell me how to resolve it quicker?

Cardinal I don’t know but four years –

Ferdinand what do you suggest – she cannot go if she is not cured? For then we have achieved nothing. And that is worse. What will she say about this?

Cardinal put the light on

He looks through the glass at the Duchess.

good grief

Beat.

Ferdinand go back to your mass, and forget it, I will solve her. She must be near to her breaking point now

Cardinal surely. You need to sort this.

Bosola goes in to see the Duchess.

Bosola all comfort to you

Duchess comfort?

Bosola I just meant –

Duchess what, this my comfort? A chair. Not even a window. A trough of water to wash myself and my life dripping by.

Bosola your brother is outside

Duchess to do what?

Bosola to speak with you.

Duchess oh, he wants to talk now?

Bosola he asked me to put the lights on low so he doesn’t have to look at you

Duchess because I am disgusting?

Bosola I am just telling you what he said –

The lights dim.

Duchess okay. Okay. Here I am. Disgusting me.

are you in the room? Are you a shadow?

I must still smell, even more since I have been here.

Ferdinand so soon we get to your grievance?

Duchess you can’t keep me prisoner for ever

Ferdinand madam, this is a place of healing, I told you, we hope to cure your mania

Duchess someone will find out, I must have been missed

Ferdinand your pilgrimage idea was a good one, everyone thinks you went away and stayed there.

Duchess for all these years?

Ferdinand anyway, you aren’t held captive. You’re your own guest, have you never been to your own basement?

Duchess what?

The Duchess looks around.

Ferdinand we made a few adjustments but you are your own host

Duchess oh hell

Ferdinand I see we have much work to do. How can you call hell like that?

Duchess even in this dark room several floors beneath my own palace, I can call hell.

Ferdinand we don’t blame you, we think you are faultless. Just so you know.

your sex was the source of evil, Satan brought you to your crime

Duchess what crime?

Ferdinand adultery, what crime?!

Duchess we were married, I LOVED HIM

Ferdinand tcch, that word. I see you are still confused

Duchess let me see you

I want to see if there is any trace of you left

Ferdinand will I give you my hand? let you kiss it

Duchess I would rather gnaw at it than kiss it.

Ferdinand here. Bite it then.

Duchess put

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.