The Duchess (of Malfi) Read online

  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.