CHARACTERS IN SCENE:
ARMENIA- Daughter of King Medi. Older sister to the Prince.
PRINCE OF MEDI- Son of King Medi, brother to Armenia. Around 16 years old.
King Medi’s Castle
Enter Armenia
Armenia: To be a woman? To be a woman? What means you when you profess that I am far too woman to be a blue blood? I who serve you as a loyal patron, who bow at every scrape you enter towards without even a scrap of pure hesitance or demure. I have done nothing ‘gainst you, nor never would try to harm that of family; yet it is I that lays forgotten in thy dusty corner where once you placed my dear hearted Mother.
My dearest Father, with which I place my heart unto; a monster with yellow beaked tooth and age old skin. One day you shall pass, not too long from now supposing from the fragility of your crooked mind, and yet, of course, dear faithful Armenia will’t never get her soft skin upon the crown of our mighty palace. Instead nature defers that right onto that infant upon all natures, that young babe whom my Father dotes upon. I see no future for our palace except nonsensical matters and false frowns washed upon thy faces. Twill be a good day when the rightful gains the throne, and by that I mean the ‘Venus’ he demonizes. Does thou people not see the goddess in my face? Laugh you may but no longer will I take for such jokes against my countenance. No ‘Yes m’lord’ shall seep from my lips unless it is I that believe in what words I utter.
Of course, suppose I helped My Goddess along the way of fixing things into the right manner. ‘T would be counted as an act of heroism, not one of vengeance, if I merely ‘helped’ her out of her hierarchy confusion. Evil comes from this house, leaks from windows and patters down sheets to the royal bed chambers; independents must see this, and by seeing with eyes so wide ‘t won’t be long before cutlasses are lashed. Oh! And then how the Kingdom shall crumble, leaving the hero. No! Heroine, to save the day.
Will that not be grand? Shall only take a slight of hand to make it so, and the ‘tongue’ that is hated so vile. Yes, the lips he angers will be the storm upon his Island. Easy pickings will be plucked off the freshly stuffed bird.
[Enter Prince]
Prince: Ah! Armenia, dearest sister, havest you heard the news that comes from the lands? What was said in friend Albion?
Armenia: I’m afraid I could not say my Prince.
Prince: Come now Armenia, ares’t we not of the same crest? Tell me.
Armenia: Rules must be followed for regulations to proceed.
Prince: Armenia, tell us, we must know.
Armenia: You know not much about the blood line, little brother.
Prince: Maybe so, but I know nuff ‘bout your tongue to know that it itches to declare truth. Please, my sister, do not fight with your lips, your lips are your best feature.
Armenia: [Aside] for many more reasons than you may consider.
I would not dare tell, my Prince.
Prince: Tis a shame. I had not figured Father should’ve corrupted your mind so harshly that you would act as the doting wife to him.
Armenia: Me? Wife to him? I am much afraid that the logistics of my birth affect your opinion little royal.
Prince: Not opinion, mere speculation. It seems as of late a pinny would be much more suited to your side than the regal necklace worn around your neck.
Armenia: Distasteful young boy. Manners are not taught much in your classes it seems.
Prince: Classes, bah! All they teach is how to be untruthful and cheat our allies. I do not wish to be taught all that our Father has become.
Armenia: Indeed. He was most upset towards the decision made by Albion.
Prince: So Albion is challenging Medi then? Ah, see, the tongue wins through.
Armenia: Calm yourself, brother, I merely stated that Father had been upset; I said nothing about position of the Kingdom.
Prince: You did not need to. Your tone speaks many words. So it would seem that Albion and Medi will soon be led to war. I fear I will be sent to battle and may perish afore my time. And I have such ideas for a great land. Imagine sister, in the future will be a choice for the people over who shall dictate their rules, a person to work alongside the King and watch over our subjects.
Armenia: Is that not what an Advisor is for?
Prince: Tis not the same. Advisors are picked by the King, this one will be chosen by the people. It shall be glorious.
Armenia: My Prince, a sunrise is glorious, a shackled bandit is glorious, but a choice made by fools is not what could be titled as glorious.
Prince: You think in detail brought by our ancestors. I think of future.
Armenia: Well, if war was to come we would have to see, little lord. For now, the stars tell nothing about what is in store for the next moonshines.
Prince: So you wish to speak now, my sister?
Armenia: I suppose no harm can come from telling you; your dreams spoil your chances of using them to harm.
Prince: Tis not true, but do proceed.
Armenia: A man of another flag is being sent to our Kingdom to see if what Bors’ people say is true. If Medi is found guilty then war shall soon follow, you may be sure of that.
Prince: What is the charges?
Armenia: Nothing that is not true. It is best to sit and wait it out; do not worry your precious mind with what may happen far away.
Prince: I wish it was that easy, Armenia. I inherit this nature from my Mother; timidity is my type.
Armenia: I should not have spoken.
Prince: No, ‘twas good that you did. Thank you for telling me of what is to happen. You are kind to me, my sister. I should go see Father, he is bound to wish to see me after his long trek.
Armenia: Tis true. [Exit Prince]
Ha! So young little cherub. We shall see whether your dreams last in these times of great thunder. Faretheewell true heir.
[Exeunt]
Ah, the introduction of the Prince, the biggest idealist in the entire play. And also, the introduction of my favourite soliloquy– the first time we see Armenia, a character who is never allowed to have an opinion, have her own vengeful opinions. I read this speech in an Open Mic night at University and loved reading it– and every friend I’ve ever had play Armenia in read-throughs has also loved this little speech. Armenia was always a fun character to write. She’s the antithesis of her brother. Her brother has been given nothing but good and sees only the best from people and the world (the idealism is strong with this one) but Armenia, who’s been tainted by years of verbal abuse by her father, thinks the opposite. She wants the world to burn and a new regime to take over, whilst her brother wants to build on the best of what’s already there.
I hope you enjoy this second scene. If you do, leave a like and a comment. What do you think Armenia’s going to do to get what she wants? Do you stand with Armenia or the Prince?
The Literary Onion 