Scene Four

[Lights come up to a farm house living room. The mask OLIVIA was wearing at the ball is hanging somewhere in the room. There is a loud knock from off stage and MOTHER rushes on stage whipping her hands on her apron.]

MOTHER

I’m coming. I’m coming. Hold your horses.

[MOTHER opens the door and KING AURTHER I, PRINCE AURTHER II, and PRINCE AURTHER III step through.]

MOTHER

[Shocked at first then catching herself.]

[Curtsying and a voice with fake happiness.] Your majesties, for what do I owe the

absolute pleasure?

KING AURTHER I

Do I know you; you look awfully familiar?

PRINCE AURTHER II

That’s unimportant Father.

We are looking for information about someone who helped a thief at the ball last night.

Your daughter attended so we have some questions for her.

MOTHER

Oh my, you don’t think she had anything to do with that do you?

PRINCE AURTHER III

No mam, we just have a few questions for her.

[He looks around and notices the mask. He quickly walks to the mask and grabs it down

to hide it behind his back. He then grabs a small knickknack that is close by.]

This is quite the… uhh… thing you have here.

MOTHER

Thank you..?

[Pause.]

How about I go fetch her?

KING AURTHER I

And while you’re gone, bring us whatever smells heavenly from that oven of yours.

MOTHER

Of course, your majesty.

[Whispering to herself through a smile and clenched teeth.] Just like always, take what

you want you old bastard.

[MOTHER exits.]

PRINCE AURTHER II

We really don’t have time to eat.

KING AURTHER I

Speak for yourself, it smells exquisite.

PRINCE AURTHER III

[Pretends to just have a seat on the couch while stuffing the mask under a throw pillow.]

You’ve been dragging me around since sunrise, I’ve defiantly learned my lesson. Can we

go back to the castle now?

PRINCE AURTHER II

This isn’t only about what you did Arty, we have to find the girl that crossed our

kingdom. You have to learn this for when you become king.

[MOTHER and OLIVIA enter.]

[OLIVIA stops in a panic when she sees the royalty. She looks to where the mask was the sighs in relief when she notices it isn’t there.]

[OLIVIA curtsies.]

OLIVIA

Mother tells me that your majesties have a few questions for me.

[MOTHER begins to pass around a tray with a few small cakes.]

KING AURTHER I

Its not this one, I specifically remember her being more [Making a hand gesture.]

endowed.

PRINCE AURTHER II

Father, how many times do I have to tell you, that’s the girl on 5th street that you keep

pushing Arty to marry.

[KING AURTHER I shrugs and takes a huge bite of cake.]

PRINCE AURTHER II

[Looking at OLIVIA.]

Do you remember a thief from the ball last night?

OLIVIA

No, I left early because I wasn’t feeling well.

[MOTHER casts a suspicious look at OLIVIA. PRINCE AURTHER III also looks at her curiously. OLIVIA ignores them both and keeps her eyes on PRINCE AURTHER II.]

PRINCE AURTHER II

I didn’t get any reports of a guest leaving early.

OLIVIA

I did think it was weird there were no guards manning the front gate when I left.

PRINCE AURTHER III

You know I do remember seeing one lady leaving while two guards took advantage of

the wine table close by.

PRINCE AURTHER II

[Visibly agitated.] Father, Arty, I’ve changed my mind. We are going back to the castle at

once.

[He stomps off stage.]

KING AURTHER I

[Mouth full.]

I’ll take a few of these to go.

[He grabs a few cakes and follows PRINCE AURTHER II off stage.]

PRINCE AURTHER III

[Stops next to OLIVIA and whisper to her.]

I know your Prince Charming. It’s my sister.

OLIVIA

[Shocked.] What are you talking about?

PRINCE AURTHER III

She told me everything.

OLIVIA

That’s impossible. [Pause.] Even if it was, your sister is sick.

PRINCE AURTHER III

She isn’t sick… she’s just… unwanted?

OLIVIA

Is that a question?

PRINCE AURTHER III

Look. If you want to see her again, meet me at the castle gates tonight after sundown.

[He exits.]

MOTHER

[Abandons her smile and fake happiness.] Are you going to tell me what that was about?

OLIVIA

You heard his majesty, he wanted to ask about a thief in the ball last night.

MOTHER

Do you think I’m stupid? I know you lied to them.

OLIVIA

What? You want me to help them or not? I thought you hated royalty!

MOTHER

You come back home last night on cloud nine, hours after the ball finished, then I get a

visit from the whole royal family where the youngest member [she goes to the couch and

angerly pulls out the mask from behind the throw pillow] covers for you. And I just want

to know how long you’ve been seeing the prince.

OLIVIA

Mother! I am not seeing the prince!

MOTHER

Well there has to be an explanation, and you better start sp-

OLIVIA

[Softly.] But I think I’m seeing the princess…

[MOTHER sits heavily on the couch and sighs. She places her head in her hands.]

OLIVIA

But in my defense, I didn’t know she was royalty! …or a girl…

[OLIVIA looks at MOTHER. MOTHER doesn’t look up.]

[OLIVIA sits next to MOTHER and put her own head in her hands.]

I just don’t know what to do. I like her... A lot.

[Pause.]

Prince Aurther, the youngest one, he told me to meet him at the castle gates after

sundown if I want to see her again… I want to go see her, its just-

MOTHER

So, go see her.

OLIVIA

What? You aren’t mad?

MOTHER

[Looking at OLIVIA.] No, I’m not mad.

OLIVIA

But she’s royalty, and a girl. And its… its illegal!

MOTHER

Do you like her? And I mean really like her?

OLIVIA

Yes, I mean, I didn’t know she was a girl, but I think she did try to tell me, and-

MOTHER

Olivia.

OLIVIA

Yes, yes I do like her.

MOTHER

Then you need to go see her.

OLIVIA

Why? I mean, what-

MOTHER

It’s time I told you about my past…