Act I Scene I

(The Pond)

Lucieo Come one, come all, come one, come all, Lady’s and gentlemen, Boys and girls, and all
in between, welcome to Cair Faval, a fine place we call home, full of sunshine and rolling
hills, ruled by a fine man, The duke, Hugo, however he is away, has been for seven
years fighting some god awful war with all other brave men of this land, well mostly,
anyway, I am Lucieo, but many call me fool, I am the duke’s entertainer, though many
here are not welcoming to my talents.

Sir William (From the wings) What’s all that shouting about?

Lucieo (To the audience) Here comes a fine sewer puss for a sunny afternoon.

Enter Sir William, Lucieo try’s to sneak off.

Sir William (Points at Lucieo) You sir, stand still!

Lucieo turns to Sir William.

Lucieo Good day sir, how are you on this fine afternoon?

Sir William Never mind pleasantries sir, Who were you talking to?

Lucieo points to the audience

Sir William That’s a pond sir!

Lucieo As I have observed sir. And I was talking to the fish.

Sir William The fish! you were talking to the fish?

Lucieo Aye sir.

Sir William And pray tell me sir, What do they say to you?

Lucieo I do not hear them talk back sir, I am not crazy.

Sir William Not crazy! Then pray tell me sir, what are you?

Lucieo I, am an entertainer. (Flourishing bow)

Sir William You are a fool sir.

Lucieo I would rather be a fool, than tighter than a duck’s….

Sir William Watch your tongue sir! You have already fallen out of favour with me. (turns his back)

Lucieo makes faces behind his back.

Sir William turn’s back and points at Lucieo accusingly

Sir William You sir are a terrible influence on the company you keep, and if I had my will would be
flung into the far reaches of hell never to return.

Lucieo Ah! But you do not have your will sir, for you are just a steward.

Sir William I warn you Lucieo, when my master the duke returns from campaign, you will suffer his
wrath.

Lucieo What does thou mean by ‘when’? ‘If’ would be a more appropriate comment.

Sir William Have you not been informed fool? The war is over, and our master rides back in haste as
we speak.

Lucieo Jubilation!

Sir William Aye sir, celebrations for the duke’s return are being planed. However, I know your
reputation, if you get drunk and make a fool of yourself again, I will take great pleasure in
having you locked up.

Lucieo I am deeply offended you would think that sir.

Sir William I do not think it sir, I know it. ‘Tis your reputation.

Lucieo My reputation is an opinion forged by people who wish ill of me.

Sir William (Sarcastically) Who could possibly wish ill of you?

Lucieo Well…

Enter Patience, Isabel and Elizabeth.

Isabel Good afternoon Sir William.

Sir William (Turns to greet Patience, Isabel and Elizabeth) Good afternoon ladies.

Lucieo (Bowing) Good afternoon ladies.

Elizabeth (Looks at Lucieo with distaste) Bah! Fool!

Lucieo (To audience) Why do they all call me that?

Sir William There he goes again – talking to the fish!

Isabel You should stop that fool, ‘tis habit forming.

Lucieo So is being a monk ma’am, this is just slight insanity. You may want to try it sometime.

Isabel (Turns away in disgust) You sir make a mockery of this life.

Lucieo Why not mock at life? For if we do not we are bound by duty and have no time for
laughter.

Patience Leave him be lady, we laugh at a fool for he does give us light relief in troubled times.

Lucieo (To Patience) May the heavens keep a place for you always lady.

Patience (Produces a hamper) Come, let us eat for the food we have prepared will spoil. (Turns
to Lucieo and Sir William) Will you join us sirs?

Sir William I would be honoured lady, but…(Gestures at Lucieo) Him?

Patience All are welcome at my table sir.

All sit take out the picnic and start to eat

Elizabeth Sir William, are the repots of the war being over true?

Sir William They are my lady. The duke makes his return as we speak.

Elizabeth Does his company remain?

Sir William As far as I am aware lady, his company does remain in tact.

Patience Does Lord Trilion still ride with the duke sir?

Sir William As far as I am aware lady.

Patience smiles and blushes.

Isabel Look you there Elizabeth, the lady smiles at the name ‘Trilion’.
Elizabeth As would I, for Patience has been lord Trilion’s favourite since we were children.
However, I for one am looking forward to seeing my brother again.

Sir William Ahh the good lord Rowan

Elizabeth I have missed him sir, as he is my only family.

Sir William Then you shall have a jubilant reunion.

Enter Ricardo.

Isabel Look Patience here comes your admirer.

Ricardo (Bows) Good day ladies and gentlemen.

Sir William Good day sir, how are you today?

Ricardo I am well sir. (Turns his attention to Patience) Good day fair lady, thou does look as
radiant as ever.

Patience (With distaste) Good day sir, does thou find this afternoon pleasant?

Ricardo I always find the time pleasant when God favours me enough to let me cross paths with
thee, lady.

Ricardo kisses Patience’s hand, Patience quickly pulls it away.

Sir William (Putting his hand on Ricardo’s shoulder) Sir, we must make preparations for your
cousin the duke’s return.

Ricardo I think we must sir; hence there is no time like the present.

Sir William I agree sir; let us depart to my study. (Sir William Bows) Good day ladies

Ricardo and Sir William turn to go, but then Sir William turns back and pulls
Lucieo by the ear.

Sir William Come fool, you do impose on this good company too much.

Exit Ricardo, Sir William & Lucieo.

Elizabeth (To Patience) Tell me Madame, I saw you pull away from Lord Ricardo, he does clearly
favour you.
Patience I do not think of him lady, for he would not be a match for me.

Elizabeth Then which gentleman do you favour, Madame?

Isabel Maybe my lady, she does favour Lord Trilion.

Patience blushes and turns away.

Isabel Look you there Elizabeth, Thy lady does blush again.

Elizabeth I do see, lady.

Patience (Looks up at the sky) I feel the heavens are about to open.

Isabel Ah, a good ploy to distract our attention Elizabeth. (Looks up at the sky) But alas, I fear
my lady is correct. Come let us retire to my study.

Patience, Isabel and Elizabeth pack away there things and exit.

Act I Scene II

(The watch tower- it is raining)

Glendell is on watch

Enter Rufus

Glendell (Does not notice Rufus enter) What offence have we done to god to warrant rain such
as this?

Rufus Do not course god Glendell, For you do not want to tempt his anger.

Glendell I was not cursing god sir, merely questioning his motives.

Rufus We are in no position to question any ones motives, sir. Let alone that of God’s.

Glendell This weather still does not sit well with me sir.

Rufus Neither does it me sir. However…(Gets distracted by a light coming toward the
tower) What is that light sir? (Points)

Glendell (Dismissive) I am in no mood for your jesting, Rufus.

Rufus (Pointing) I do not jest sir, there is a light and it draws closer.
Glendell (Getting agitated) I warn thee Rufus, do not tempt my scorn.

Rufus Well then, look for thyself. (Points at the light) There.

Glendell (Produces a looking glass, Looks to where Rufus is pointing) On my life you are
right sir, they…they are horses. Quickly man, go and fetch the captain.

Exit Rufus hurriedly.

Glendell What are the intentions of these riders? Is this pleasant pastor under attack?

Enter Boswell and Rufus.

Boswell There best be reason to this interruption to my privacy at this hour, Glendell.

Glendell I my lord, riders approach this compound.

Boswell (Takes the looking glass from Glendell) Let me see. (Looks though the looking
glass) By my life sir, you are correct, but they do not make clear there allegiance, is this
a hostile force. (Turns to Rufus) Quickly man, make haste to Sir William and awaken
the guard.

Exit Rufus.

Glendell What intentions do they have in this fair town?

Boswell I wish I knew, for ‘tis a late hour and we do not expect company. This does not sit well in
my stomach.

Glendell Do we act upon this, sir?

Boswell How can we Glendell? For we do not know if they are friend or foe and if they are neither,
I do not want to risk starting open conflict by giving the wrong impression.

Enter Sir William, Rufus, Patience, Elizabeth and Isabel.

Sir William There best be reason to this interruption of our precious time Boswell.

Boswell (Handing the looking glass to Glendell) Aye sir there is, for riders approach this town.

Isabel What allegiance or intentions do they hold?

Boswell We do not know madam, they have not made themselves clear.
Sir William How many sir?

Glendell Five maybe six sir.

Sir William This may signal a bad omen. (Turns to Boswell) Call out the guard sir.

Boswell (To the wings) Call out the guard! Call out the guard!

Sir William (Turns to Isabel, Elizabeth & Patience) I fear this may not be a good situation for thee
ladies. Besides the heavens remain open.

Elizabeth Rain has not yet coursed death sir and besides we do feel safe here.

Sir William May it be then lady.

Boswell Sir!

Sir William What is it?

Boswell They are nearly upon us, and….

Sir William Well?

Boswell They have erected there colures, jubilation!

Sir William Yes?

Boswell (Happily) ‘Tis the duke’s company sir.

Sir William (Relieved) Well god be praised, open the gates!

Boswell Open the gates!

Sir William Come ladies let us go and meet these men.

Elizabeth Yes sir let’s, for I have a brother to put these arms around.

Exit Sir William, Elizabeth, Patience and Isabel.

Dear madam…

How about with this topic “”how to spot lies & use eye body language??””

Isn’t possible to use this topic for my individual speech communication??

The Worth Of Fools -
by Owen Cartwright
Characters
Trilion.......Son of a count
Patience.......Daughter of a count
Hugo.......The Duke
Lucieo.......Fool/Narrator
Sir William.......The Duke’s Steward
Isabel.......Daughter of a count
Elizabeth.......Daughter of a soldier
Ricardo.......Cousin of the duke
Glendell.......Guard
Rufus.......Guard
Boswell.......Captain of the Guard
Henry.......Servant of the duke
Marcus.......Seargent in the duke’s regiment
Virgil.......Son of a count
Sebastian.......Son of a count
Mary.......Servant of Patience
Barnard.......Servant of Ricardo
Samuel.......The Duke’s Stable master
Emma.......Servant of Elizabeth
Alleron.......Trilion’s father
Sir Michael.......Alleron’s steward
Peter.......Servant of Alleron
Rebecca.......The king’s daughter
King Constantine.......The King of Lovaria
Phillip.......Stable hand
Jack.......Orchard worker
Some peasants