ZINNIE HARRIS
The Duchess (of Malfi)
in a new version after
JOHN WEBSTER
Contents
Title Page
Premiere Production
Characters
The Ducchess of Malfi
Note on Punctuation
Act One
One: The Ducchess
Two: The Cardinal
Three: Ferdinand
Four: Bosola
Five: The Maid
Six: Antonio
Seven: Delio
Eight: Julia
Act Two
Act Three
About the Author
Also by the Author
Copyright
Programme Pages
The Duchess (of Malfi) was first performed at the Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh on 17 May 2019. The cast, in alphabetical order, was as follows:
Bosola Adam Best
Cardinal George Costigan
Musician Eleanor Kane
Antonio Graham Mackay-Bruce
Cariola / Doctor Fletcher Mathers
Ferdinand Angus Miller
Duchess Kirsty Stuart
Delio Adam Tompa
Julia Leah Walker
Director Zinnie Harris
Designer Tom Piper
Associate Designer Max Johns
Lighting Designer Ben Ormerod
Composer Oguz Kaplangi
Sound Designer M. J. McCarthy
Dramaturg Frances Poet
Assistant Director Isla Cowan
Casting Director Laura Donnelly
Characters
The Duchess
The Cardinal
Ferdinand
Antonio
Bosola
Julia
Cariola
Delio
Executioners
Doctor
Musician
THE DUCHESS (OF MALFI)
For Pauline Knowles
Note on Punctuation
The spoken lines in this text start with a lower-case letter to stop lines reading like a statement; lines are often incomplete phrases, half-thoughts or utterances that pass from one to another, and are rarely whole sentences.
In general the spoken text is laid out according to each character’s process of reasoning with each new line indicating a new thought.
Act One
ONE: THE DUCHESS
A Woman stands alone on a large stage.
She steps forward.
She looks out to the audience.
She puts her hands in front of her eyes and peers.
She starts to hum.
Someone brings her a microphone.
Woman thank you
She takes the microphone into her hand.
She takes a breath, she is about to sing.
A guitar strums a note.
She stops, she looks around.
The lights change around her. A drum gently joins in.
She starts to sing. It’s a song that feels familiar – stand nearer, breathe deeper, it’s the heat of night … talk longer, move slower, hold me tight …
She is just starting to find her confidence, to enjoy the song, when the world changes. The sides of the stage seem to close in on her.
Two men come on to the stage.
Whatever that was, it had the feeling of a dream.
Ferdinand sister
Cardinal we wish to speak to you –
She looks at them.
Duchess when did you arrive?
Cardinal you are a widow now
Duchess yes
Cardinal and a duchess, and of course royalty
Ferdinand high blood, respected
Duchess we all are
Cardinal and no doubt you’re thinking your mourning is behind you but –
Ferdinand a word of caution
Cardinal let’s not let good looks, eloquence and sweet-talking
Ferdinand turn our heads
She looks at her brothers, not sure she is following.
Duchess my head has not turned –?
Cardinal because people that dally around, we always think –
Duchess dally around?
Ferdinand marry again
Cardinal it’s like they are soiled goods, no? Their livers spotted
Ferdinand over-used
Cardinal you are a jewel of utter beauty, of course, but –
jewels actually lose their value when they’ve been bought and sold
Ferdinand yes, to pass through many hands produces a sort of tarnishing
Duchess don’t diamonds gain value that way?
Ferdinand but that means whores would be precious –
Duchess I’m not thinking about marrying again
so if that’s your worry –
Cardinal a lot of widows say that but, after a month or two, you seem changed already –
Duchess I’m exactly the same
Cardinal what we mean is, you live in comfort here, don’t you? In the court, there is a kind of honey dew, our family has status and you are attractive
Ferdinand men will come with open faces and say anything to get in your –
Cardinal watch out, dear sister! It could be poison –
Ferdinand two-faced swine are more like witches in disguise
Cardinal and yes the devil lurks beneath their skins.
Duchess this is such wise counsel –
Ferdinand oh sarcasm, yes, very witty
Cardinal and you can throw us off but in the end
everything you do, even your most private thoughts
Ferdinand some weddings are said to be executed rather than celebrated
Cardinal the marriage night an entrance to some prison
Ferdinand and will the pleasure
Cardinal the carnal pleasure
Ferdinand seem so sweet after the domestic dungeon has shut its doors?
The Duchess looks at them.
She puts her tea down.
She looks at them again.
She laughs a bit.
Ferdinand what are you doing?
She laughs a bit more.
Cardinal stop that. She laughs harder.
Duchess I’m sorry it is just –
She carries on laughing. Then she really laughs.
Ferdinand you’re an insult, you know that
She continues to laugh.
Cardinal oh please just stop it.
She stops it.
She picks up a teacup and laughs even more into it.
Ferdinand I told you she’d be like this
Cardinal sister, you have to listen to us –
Ferdinand look we brought you something
Cardinal we know officially you no longer need to wear black
but we thought –
They show her the dress. Grey and drab.
She looks at it.
She laughs even harder.
can you stop her?
Ferdinand can you suggest how?
She laughs again.
They put the dress down.
The Cardinal catches her by the hand.
Cardinal sister, please, you are the closest thing we have. And we are worried.
Duchess don’t be worried
Cardinal we used to feel we knew you
Duchess I was a mouse
Ferdinand you were who you had always been
Duchess in a cage
Cardinal we were in Naples, they’d heard of you there
Ferdinand in the square, sitting, we heard these men talking
Duchess good
Cardinal how can you say that, they knew we were nearby and still they were going on –
Duchess I’m
not afraid of people talking about me
Ferdinand you don’t want to know what they were saying?
Duchess was it nice things?
Cardinal of course it wasn’t
Duchess well never mind
Ferdinand you’re courting attention
Duchess of course I’m not
Ferdinand the young and wanton duchess. Looking for an adventure, and why not she has got all this money now
Duchess oh stop it
Ferdinand that outfit
Duchess what outfit?
Cardinal the way you walk
Ferdinand the way you flaunt
Duchess I don’t flaunt, what do I flaunt?
Beat.
Cardinal listen, we are all a little more stirred up than we intended
Duchess did you plan this whole thing, it feels kind of rehearsed?
Beat.
Cardinal we only want to protect you
Duchess be happy for me,
I’m a widow yes but I have a chance to live again. I am still young. Hooray.
I am not going to wear grey. And stay indoors.
no, sorry.
now will you stay for something to eat or not?
They look at each other.
Cardinal I can’t stay
Duchess really, brother?
Cardinal I have to get back. I have an appointment this evening
Duchess well, I wish you would come here with a smile just once. Both of you.
She kisses Ferdinand. She kisses the Cardinal.
The Cardinal leaves.
The Duchess and Ferdinand look at each other.
so was this his idea or yours?
Ferdinand you know we have a point
Duchess I was married to a bore, Ferdinand
Ferdinand a wealthy duke
Duchess he was a barnacle
he was so flimsy, I can’t tell you
Ferdinand he was rich
Duchess tedious and sombre
and in bed, I hate to say all force no fancy
Ferdinand whoa –
Duchess I’m sorry if I am not sad enough or seemly enough but really –
Ferdinand whoa whoa whoa
I wish you wouldn’t talk like this
Duchess just be happy for me then?
Ferdinand yes, happy, but we worry also.
you’re my little sister, if I can’t worry then –
Duchess hang on – little sister?
Ferdinand yes, little
Duchess but by seconds I am the older
Ferdinand ahh yes. But by my sex I am the stronger
Duchess okay but I am the richer
Ferdinand I am more powerful
Duchess more powerful? no
I have three houses now, to your one
Ferdinand I am a man
that trumps you, you’re a woman
Duchess ah but I am the Duchess
He stands up to her. For a second his face can’t be read.
Ferdinand so you are
goodnight then, duchess
Duchess is this a game? I can’t tell if you’re mucking about –
I was playing, right?
Ferdinand goodnight.
Beat.
Duchess Ferdinand? Honestly I was only –
He walks out.
Duchess oi. Come back.
we always play –
He has gone.
damn
The Duchess looks at herself in the mirror.
Moves some hair out of her eyes.
Looks again.
Looks at her contours.
what do you think, Cariola?
is this what I should wear?
She holds up the grey dress to herself.
Cariola what?
Duchess cover myself and look drab?
Cariola yuk, why would you do that?
Duchess is it my money or my shape that’s more dangerous?
The Duchess puts the dress down.
Cariola helps her get ready for bed.
The wind blows.
Duchess goodness, it’s wild out there –
Cariola shall I shut the window, madam?
Duchess no, I like it.
the restlessness suits me.
send my steward in
Cariola raises an eyebrow.
Cariola really?
Duchess I have a question for him.
Cariola I am sure, and he an answer.
Antonio knocks.
Duchess oh
yes, hello
Antonio you called for me?
Duchess well, it was –
I want to know what I am worth –
Antonio what do you mean, worth?
Duchess you’re my book-keeper, you know about assets don’t you?
Antonio what assets are we talking about?
Duchess all assets
Antonio I’m not sure I understand
Duchess I’m just wondering what I have to my name?
Antonio well, you have plenty, do you really want to talk about this now?
Duchess yes
Antonio in your room?
Duchess I happen to be in my room and so, well, we might as well talk about it now, but –
Antonio you’re in your nightie
Duchess well yes, I am in my nightie but
if I own so much how can I trust those around me?
Antonio madam?
Duchess Antonio?
Antonio what?
Duchess you know what –
Antonio well, where is everyone?
Duchess gone
Antonio sure?
Duchess yes
He looks about.
Antonio alright
well
He comes over and taps her on the arm.
your assets are fine.
it’s nice to see them
He puts an arm on her shoulder, but only briefly.
Duchess so much?
Antonio actually seriously
if we are talking about your accounts, you took on three more staff this week
Duchess I was hoping for a kiss
He kisses her.
But it’s short, a peck.
Duchess again
Antonio is it such a good idea? In your room at this time of night
Duchess you didn’t mind yesterday
Antonio that was a one-off
Duchess let’s have a second-off
She kisses him passionately.
my family is closing in, I might not be able to do this tomorrow.
Antonio what if someone sees us?
Duchess who is going to see us?
Antonio you have fourteen servants
Duchess tchhh
anyway I have fifteen servants, what do you mean, fourteen?
Antonio well, I wasn’t counting –
Duchess yourself?
well, that is a mistake.
you are the most servanty of all.
She pulls at Antonio’s shirt.
alright, if you insist on actually doing my accounts, take pen and ink, write:
Antonio what now?
Duchess yes, steward, are you ready?
Antonio yes
Duchess let’s do an audit.
Antonio takes a pen.
Antonio an audit?
He puts his shirt back up.
Duchess no leave it.
The Duchess puts her face into Antonio’s back and breathes in.
so, first column. What am I, and to whom?
write it down
Antonio well … you have three houses
Duchess it’s true I have three houses
Antonio six horses
Duchess pff
Antonio a fortune in the bank
She comes up to him.
He drops his pencil for a second.
Duchess traditionally aren’t a woman’s assets shared with her husband?
Antonio traditionally yes
Duc
hess so as my husband died we can’t account for these things
Antonio do you want me to start another column?
Duchess unless I remarry
Antonio heavens, this is a strange audit
Duchess you started it
Antonio no, it was you
Duchess perhaps you could list me the advantages
Antonio of what?
Duchess of marriage, that is what we are talking.
Antonio are we?
Duchess should I take a husband? New page, let’s make a table in your book
Antonio okay
Duchess first one
I could choose someone nice, better than last time
Antonio yes, excellent
Duchess but what about him, what would he give me?
Antonio hmm. That would depend who you chose
Duchess one of your eyes is bloodshot
Antonio I’ve been working too late, I rubbed it
Duchess use my ring to fix it
Antonio old wives’ tale
Duchess it works, a wedding ring cures lots of things
I said I would never take it off until I gave it to someone I loved
Antonio but you’re giving it to me
Duchess to help your eyesight
Antonio it’s actually made me blinder
Duchess what?
She takes the ring and looks in it.
oh, there is a saucy and ambitious devil dancing in this circle, that’s why
remove him –
Antonio how?
Duchess with your finger
poke him out
Antonio put my finger through this wedding band?
Duchess does it fit?
Antonio don’t tease me
Duchess who said I am teasing?
marry me
Antonio what?
Duchess yes. It makes perfect sense –
Antonio now wait a second
Duchess why not?
Antonio because you aren’t being serious,
Duchess of course I am
Antonio I’m your book-keeper
Duchess you’re more than you think. A book-keeper yes, but –
Antonio you don’t know what you are saying, you wouldn’t marry me
Duchess why wouldn’t I?
I love you.
and the fact that you don’t think I would makes you all the more lovely.
She kisses him.
Antonio why though, I’m nothing?
Duchess not to me.
She kisses him again.
Duchess only you should know: I sing at parties, I wear colourful dresses, I’m impulsive, headstrong, I won’t wear my hair up because you say I should, or do this because you prefer it, in fact I might do the other just to be contrary, I need to work, use my head, I get drunk I swear a lot I lose things all the time but I will be utterly and always myself.
The Duchess (of Malfi) Page 1
