A hundred years later.

A room in Prince Désiré’s castle. The prince, Nell and Bell are playing

blind-man’s-buff.

Nell and Bell (together): Blind man, blind man,

Bell: Sure you can’t see?

Nell: Turn round three times,

And try to catch me.

Bell: Turn east,

Nell: Turn west,

Catch as you can,

Bell: Did you think you’d caught me?

Nell and Bell (together): Blind, blind man!

Prince Désiré (whose eyes are covered with a blindfold): I’ve caught! It’s Nell. Let me kiss you, my sweet Nell.

Nell: Oh, no, Your Highness.

Prince Désiré: Oh, yes, honey.

Bell: And how about me?

Prince Désiré: Come here, Bell, my pussy.

Nell and Bell (together): We love you so much, Your Highness.

Good Fairy (enters the room): Prince Désiré? I have something to tell you. Something very important.

(The girls leave the room.)

Prince Désiré: Who are you, madam?

Good Fairy: Does it really matter? I’m your friend.

Prince Désiré: I don’t know you. And I’m afraid, I’m too busy now.

Good Fairy (points to the portrait of Melissa): Whose portrait is it?

Prince Désiré: It’s my great-grandmother, Queen Melissa, the beloved wife of King Aubrey VI, my great-grandfather.

Good Fairy: Right. Sit down, young man, and listen.

Prince Désiré (puts himself into an arm-chair): I give you five minutes, madam.

Good Fairy: One is enough, Prince Désiré. (Comes up to the portrait.) Lady Melissa, come over here and tell us the story of the Sleeping Beauty.

Melissa (steps out of the frame): I’m here, Good Fairy.

Prince Désiré (very scared): For God’s sake, don’t come up to me!

Melissa: Prince Désiré…

Prince Désiré (steps back): Don’t move, stay where you are or… or I’ll jump out of this window!

Melissa: Prince Désiré, are you listening to me?

Prince Désiré: Yes, granny. I’m all attention.

Melissa: You must go to the Palace behind the hedge of thorns, where the beautiful princess, called the Sleeping Beauty, has slept for a hundred years, and the King and Queen and their whole court with her. Your duty is to wake the princess.

Prince Désiré: But how can I do it?

Melissa: Just kiss her. Good-bye. (Returns into the frame and becomes a portrait again.)

Prince Désiré: Here’s a pretty business!

Good Fairy: Hurry up, young man! The Sleeping Beauty has been waiting for you for a hundred years already.

Prince Désiré: I’m going, going…

SCENE IV

Aurora’s bedroom in the King’s Palace.

Wicked Fairy (with a bunch of keys in her hand): All the doors are locked. Nobody can enter the castle. (To the sleeping princess.) Sleep tight, my dear.

Prince Désiré (knocks at the door): Hey! Is anybody in?

Wicked Fairy: Who’s there?

Prince Désiré: It’s me, Prince Désiré.

Wicked Fairy: What do you want, Prince Désiré?

Prince Désiré: I’ve come to wake the Sleeping Beauty. Let me in.

Wicked Fairy: Get out of here!

Prince Désiré: How about playing cards?

Wicked Fairy: Not a bad idea. But be sure, I’m a gambler.

Prince Désiré: So am I. Do you want to bet?

Wicked Fairy: What’s the bet?

Prince Désiré: If you win, I’ll go away. If I win, you’ll let me kiss the princess.

Wicked Fairy: It’s a go! (Takes a pack out of her pocket and they start playing.)

Prince Désiré: Aha, I see Fortune has betrayed you.

Wicked Fairy: There is still a room for hope.

Prince Désiré: Not the slightest hope!

Wicked Fairy (throws the cards away): It’s not my luck to win! The girl is yours. (Goes off.)

Prince Désiré: I did it! Great!

Good Fairy (appears suddenly): Excellent! Come up to the bed and sweep the cobwebs away.

Prince Désiré (does what she tells him to do): Done.

Good Fairy: Blow off the dust.

Prince Désiré: Done.

Good Fairy (throws him a piece of cloth.): Polish her with a soft cloth.

Prince Désiré: Done. (Looks at the princess.) Oh, how beautiful she is! Wake up, wake up, my bird! (Begins to shake her.)

Good Fairy: Not in such a way. Kiss her.

Prince Désiré: I’m afraid.

Good Fairy: Kiss her now!

Prince Désiré: Won’t she be angry with me?

Good Fairy: Kiss her immediately!

Prince Désiré: Maybe her father, the King, will be against it?

Good Fairy: Kiss her or I’ll turn you into a spider!

Prince Désiré: Wait, wait, I’m kissing her.

Aurora (opens her eyes): Oh, my prince, you are here.

Prince Désiré: Good morning, chick.

Aurora: I’m so happy to see you again, Prince Aubrey.

Prince Désiré: Désiré is my name. Aubrey is my great-grandfather.

Aurora: Really? It’s funny. But it doesn’t matter. I love you.

Prince Désiré: May I kiss you again?

Aurora: As many times as you want.

Good Fairy (waves her magic wand): Wake up, everybody!

Courtiers and Servants (together): Good morning, Good morning.

King and Queen (together): Aurora, my dear girl!

Good Fairy (points to Aurora and Prince Désiré, who are still kissing each other): I suppose, it’s just the right time to think about wedding.

King: Thank you for your help, Good Fairy.

Good Fairy: You’re welcome.

Queen (looks around): And where is this wicked woman, Melissa by name?

Good Fairy: She died many years ago. But she’d been very happy with her husband.

Aurora: And I’ll be happy with mine.

Prince Désiré (still kissing her): M-m, yes. I can promise it.

Wicked Fairy (appears suddenly): My game is lost. I’d better become a good fairy.

Good fairy: It’s very wise, dear colleague, very wise.

CURTAIN

PART TWO: ROMANTIC PLAYS

Дата добавления: 2015-11-04