Act 1 Scene 1
An English Royal Dining Hall. Enter Richard, Lady Anne, John, Edward, Katherine, Sir Jared, Henry[1], Margaret, Antony and other knights and noblemen. They are seated around a table laden with food.
RICHARD Friends, we are here on this day to mark the end of the bitter war that has plagued our houses for oh so many years. I hope you will join me, and King Henry, in toasting the eternal wealth of our two nations. May we live in harmony, and prosperity.
Everyone toasts.
HENRY Yea, and I have one further announcement to make. This is that I have chosen the lovely Margaret of Newcastle[2] for my Queen. Long may she be just and beautiful.
RICHARD So make merry, everyone! Let no plate go unscathed, and ravish this feast to your hearts' content.
They eat. Richard and Henry speak to each other.
RICHARD My fair King Henry, it seems even now so long ago that we were at each others' throats. How far we have come.
HENRY How far indeed, your majesty, and yet, we have only begun this voyage into a new era of prosperity and wonder.
RICHARD I trust the mapmakers have finished the first draft?
HENRY They have indeed. Antony!
ANTONY My lord?
HENRY Bring me the maps in all due haste.
ANTONY Right you are, majesty. Ah, here are the devils.
Henry and Richard look over the maps.
RICHARD Very well done. I admire the craftsmanship.
HENRY I was about to say the same myself. Pray tell, Antony, I trust this border is only the preliminary sketches, and that it shall be expanded final draft?
ANTONY Well, my lord, you see the mapmakers were certain this was the border conforming to your instruction.
RICHARD I see nothing wrong with the border, Henry.
HENRY I should think so! Antony, the mapmakers must have made an error. Surely we decided on Ouse as the barrier, Richard?
RICHARD I don't recall such a decision. This map is as perfect as the curl of a baby's hair, my compliments to your cartographers.
HENRY I'll give them more than your compliments, I can tell you that.
Richard and Henry part, Lady Anne and Margaret are deep engaged in conversation.
LADY ANNE Personally, I couldn't see the whole point of the War.
MARGARET I know what you mean, m'lady. 'T seems such a mannish thing, a meaningless war.
LADY ANNE Well, there you have it. Men, the root of all evils.
MARGARET Rightly said, m'lady. This being said, of course, what would we do without them?
LADY ANNE A world without men?
MARGARET Can you imagine such a place?
BOTH Bliss.
They too part. Katherine and Sir Jared are in dialogue nearby.
SIR JARED M'lady, how fare ye on such a wondrous day?
KATHERINE Wondrous, ye say? Ha! Far from wondrous, is this day, fair Sir Knight.
SIR JARED Princess, I ache to see your figure darkened so. What dark thought hath crept into your fair curl'd head?
KATHERINE My father. He would marry me off to some Lancastrian dog, to secure favour with the Tudors. I won't have it! I am faithful to my country through and through, but am not prepared to taint my offspring with filthy Lancastrian mud-blood!
SIR JARED My lady, while I share some of your sentiments, it would be wise not to express them nearly so loudly. Have you forgotten where we are? Nay, for tonight at least, be careful with your tongue.
KATHERINE Fair knight, my tongue shall not stay controlled, lest it be ripp'd from my mouth and torn into a million pieces.
SIR JARED Then I shall merely have to occupy it a while.
He kisses her.
Exeunt all.
[1] It should be noted that this tyme-line's (henceforth abbreviated TTL) Henry I is analogous to our tyme-line's (abbreviated OTL) Henry VII, Founder of the Tudor Dynasty. [2] TW's Margaret, Queen of Lancaster is unlike any historical figures in OW, at least, not to the knowledge of any historical papers I have found.