mulatto queen: the screenplay

8/8/2019 Mulatto Queen: The Screenplay

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MULATTO QUEEN: GRANDMOTHER OF ALL EUROPE

BY GARY LLOYD

PALACE REVOLUTION OF 1741

INT. WINTER PALACE BALLROOM

Winter Palace, St. Petersburg, Russia. We see a hugeballroom with many guests. At the front of the room seatedin thrones are ANNA LEOPOLDOVNA, mother and regent of herinfant son, CZAR IVAN, and her husband Peter Urlich. Thebaby Czar is in a bassinet. A general approaches the throne,bows.

GERMAN GENERALYour highness, it is so good to seeyou again.

ANNA LEOPOLDOVNAAh, General, Biron. So good to seeyou, sir. And... (looking to thebassinet) have you seen Ivan yet --no, of course, you haven't. Comeforward, please.

Anna Leopoldovna bids him forward then motions for alady-in-waiting to lift the infant from the bassinet.

GENERALAh, beautiful child -- and he'll

make a great Czar under your care,Regent Anna Leopoldovna.

He makes the sign of the cross, then bends to see the baby.

ANNA LEOPOLDOVNACome closer, General, do. I'm givento understand you have word fromthe Duke of Mecklenburg -- myfather.

GERMAN GENERAL

Indeed. I visited him. He sends hislove and promises to come here toRussia to see his grandchild, assoon as time permits.

Across the room, ELIZABETH, heiress to the throne herselfwatches. She lifts her finger and a General of thePreobrazhensky Regiment leans towards her. She whispers inhis ear.

INT.BARRICKS OF THE PREOBRAZHENSKY GUARD - NIGHT

Men arming themselves for battle. We see a long shot offighting men adjusting armor plates, swords, spears. This


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shot leads us to the head of the room where two of the guardare fitting a breastplate around Elizabeth. The General shewas talking to is at her side.

GENERALIt is all set, Your Highness. TheRegent and her husband are to bed;

their guard light and unready.

ELIZABETHI wish no unnecessary bloodshed. Iinsist on this.

GENERALWe will do our best to avoid any,you have my word on that, YourHighness.

INT.HALL OF THE WINTER PALACE -- NIGHT

Elizabeth -- now with sword and shield, leads thePreobrazhensky Guard down the hall to Regent AnnaLeopoldovna's bedroom. Three of the opposing guard run intothe hall weapons drawn.

GENERALStand fast or die!

The guards look at each other, then the general, thenElizabeth.

ELIZABETH

My cousin will not be harmed. ThisI promise you.

The three guards look at each other again, then realizingdying will accomplish nothing, stand down.

GENERALTake their weapons!

INT.ANNA LEOPOLDOVNA'S BEDROOM -- NIGHT

Anna and her husband sleep. The infant Czar sleeps betweenthem. Suddenly the door is thrown open and Elizabeth barrelsin. Anna Leopoldovna sits up with a start. She SCREAMS.

ELIZABETHDo not scream again, Anna.

Anna is now so terrified, she cannot scream.

ELIZABETHYou and the infant czar are underarrest. All will be explained toyou later. For now you must dressand pack. I've a coach waiting for

you.

ANNA LEOPOLDOVNA


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Where are you sending us?

ELIZABETHTo the fortress of Dnamnde nearRiga, Livonia

ANNA LEOPOLDOVNA

Send us to Mecklinburg to live withmy father. I have no desire forthis Regency, nor my son to beCzar. You know that, Elizabeth.I've told you so.

ELIZABETHPlease don't make this any moredifficult than it is. You must staywith baby Ivan and he certainlycan't go to Germany. Once inDunamude, I will send word by

emissary. You will not be forgottennor harmed. I promise this.

EXT. FORTRESS OF DUNAMUNDE, TWO MONTHS LATER - DAY

A coach rolls up to the fortress, stops. A fortress guardexchanges words with the driver then turns and signals toguard at tower.

FORTRESS GUARDEmissary from Empress Elizabeth!

TOWER GUARD

Emissary from Empress Elizabeth!

The captain of the guard comes rushing out and goes to thecoach opening the door. A tall, very black man in a Russiangeneral's uniform steps out of the coach.

INT. LARGE ROOM OF FORTRESS

The room is large and bare. Anna Leopoldovna sits at a roughwooden table eating a mean-looking porridge from a meanerlooking bowl. Gone are the luxurious royal clothing from twomonths earlier. Gone is the gaiety and royal bearing. AKNOCK comes at the door, it swings open and the captain ofthe guard enters.

CAPTAINMadam, the emissary from EmpressElizabeth is here.

Anna Leopoldovna jumps up excited, frightened.

ANNA LEOPOLDOVNAYes ...Yes. We will receive him.

The captain bows and leaves. A moment later the Black

General enters the room. He bows, but only slightly.

GANNIBAL


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Madam Anna Leopoldovna.

ANNA LEOPOLDOVNAGeneral Gannibal -- after all theseyears, what a pleasure to finallymeet you.

GANNIBALThe pleasure is mine, Madam, Iassure you.

ANNA LEOPOLDOVNAAnd if I may introduce my husband--

A maid walks into the room with a tray and is at once sostartled to see a man as black as Gannibal, she drops thetray.

ANNA LEOPOLDOVNAFraulein Schellenberg!

Gannibal appraises her with some interest then turns back toAnna Leopoldovna.

GANNIBALQuite alright. My skin color oftendoes that to people.

ANNA LEOPOLDOVNASir, please have a seat. Excuse theharshness here. The Empress has not

given us an allowance yet.Fraulein! Vodka for our visitor.

FRAULEIN SCHELLENBERGVodka?

ANNA LEOPOLDOVNAYes ... Well, then tea anyway.

GANNIBALTea will be fine.

CUT-TO:

INT. AT THE SUPPER TABLE -DAY

Gannibal is sitting with Anna Leopoldovna and her husband, acup of tea in front of him

ANNA LEOPOLDOVNAAll of my life I heard about you,General Gannibal, but somehow nevermet you. My mother uncles, aunts,all knew you so well. Amazing wenever met, isn't it?

GANNIBALActually, we did meet, but you


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wouldn't remember. You were a baby.At least I think it was you.Actually, I'm sure of it.

ANNA LEOPOLDOVNA(laughing)

Really? In diapers was I?

At this instant the maid returns with a baby. AnnaLeopoldovna is startled to see this.

ANNA LEOPOLDOVNAFreulein -- Not now!

FRAULEIN SCHELLENBERG(frightened by the sound inher mistress' voice)

Oh, so sorry. It's his feeding timeand I--

GANNIBALWait a minute. That's the infantCzar, isn't he?

ANNA LEOPOLDOVNA(weakly)

Yes.

GANNIBAL(to maid)

Bring him here, if you please. Iwant to see him.

The maid looks at her mistress who nods, then walks toGannibal. No other sound can be heard but the sound of herincredibly starched maid's uniform.

GANNIBAL(taking the baby)

The Czar Ivan

ANNA LEOPOLDOVNA(frightened)

We no longer call him that.

GANNIBAL(looking at her sharply)

But he is the Czar, appointed so byEmpress Catherine before her death.

ANNA LEOPOLDOVNAYes, sir.

Gannibal motions for the maid to take the child.

GANNIBALI will report to Empress Elizabeth

that he is in the pink of health.

ANNA LEOPOLDOVNA


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Yes, Herr General. And if you wouldtell her --

She looks sharply at her husband.

ANNA LEOPOLDOVNA (CONT.)Peter, if you could allow me and

the general a moment of privacy.

PETER(indignant)

What?

Anna Leopoldovna stares him down. Gannibal looks at hisfingernails. Still fuming, Peter gets up and storms from theroom. Anna waits a moment then gets up, walks to the doorand locks it.

ANNA LEOPOLDOVNA

Imbecile ... I was forced to marryhim, you know. We sleep in separatebeds. He doesn't want it that way,but there can be no other way forme with him.

Gannibal is looking at her intently. She walks to thecorner, reaches into a basket and pulls out a bottle ofvodka.

ANNA LEOPOLDOVNATa-ta! Don't tell the guards,though, Herr General.

GANNIBALI won't breath a word.

She hurriedly finds two glass and pours the vodka into them.

ANNA LEOPOLDOVNAYou really are the mostextraordinary man I've ever seen.And you heroics in battle arelegendary, Herr General.

GANNIBALGreatly exaggerated. All the realheroes are dead, I'm afraid.

They chatter like this for a while, then Anna looks aroundthe room to make sure it's secure.

ANNA LEOPOLDOVNAI never wanted my son to be czarand I told Elizabeth this from theonset. It was thrusted on him, andthe regency on me. All I everwanted, Gannibal, was to return to

my father's Palace in Mecklenburg,Germany.


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GANNIBALI've been told as much.

ANNA LEOPOLDOVNAThen you will help me Gannibal?

She looks around the room again, then slips her milk white

hand over his coal black one.

ANNA LEOPOLDOVNAI will do anything to get me and mychild to Mecklenburg ... anything.

Gannibal looks down at her milk white hand then into herbeautiful face.

EXT. 1760 MECKLENBURG-STRELITZ -- DAY (16 YEARS LATER)

Sixteen-years later. A coach hurries down the road to the

Castle of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. The driver snaps his whipover the team of four.

DRIVERMock Snell!

The horses bolt forward.

INT. INSIDE COACH - DAY

John Shackleton, Royal Painter to King George III,frantically reaches for his easels as he tumbles to thefloor.

SHACKLETONManiac!

EXT. FRONT OF THE CASTLE OF MECKLENBURG-STRELITZ -DAY

Duke Frederick of Mecklenburg-Strelitz stands on the porchin a green smoking jacket. He smiles broadly as the coachpulls in front. The door to the coach opens and Shackletontumbles out.

DUKE FREDERICKWelcome, Herr Royal Painter!

Shackleton is somewhat disoriented but quickly figures outwho the Duke is. He forces a smile.

SHACKLETONDuke Fredrick, I presume?

DUKE FREDERICKYes, of course, Mister Shackleton.So very good to see you, sir.

SHACKLETON

You speak English... We weren'tsure.


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DUKE FREDERICKBetter French.

The coach driver coughs. Shackleton turns around and giveshim a baleful stare.

SHACKLETON

Oh, yes, you.

Shackleton reaches into his pocket, takes a single coin outand tosses it to the driver. The driver stares at the thincoin and is immediately outraged. He looks at Shackleton butthe Englishman and the Duke are already entering the house.

INT. PALACE FOYER -- DAY

The Duke leads Shackleton into the foyer. CHARLOTTE andMARIA stand there waiting. Charlotte's head is covered in ascarf. Charlotte is small and decidedly ethnic-looking.

Maria is a blond German beauty. Thinking Maria is thePrincess, Shackleton smiles at her, but the Duke waves hishand toward Charlotte.

DUKE FREDERICKAnd this, Herr, Shackleton is theprincess, my sister Charlotte.

Shackleton gags, but recovers and hides his surprise.Charlotte curtsies.

CHARLOTTEWelcome to Mecklenburg, Herr Royal

Painter.

SHACKLETONThank you ever so much, PrincessCharlotte -- and I must say, you'reas lovely a princess as ever therewas.

Maria, who is a maid, peels off and the Duke, Charlotte, andShackleton walk toward the main room.

DUKE FREDERICKAre you hungry, Herr Shackleton?We've prepared a little snack foryou.

They walk into the grand room.

SHACKLETONHungry, sir? Who has time for --

They enter the room and before them is a grand table ladenwith the most glorious feast ever seen.

SHACKLETON...hunger ... Well, if you insist.


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DUKE FREDERICKDeter! A chair for the RoyalPainter! Maria -- the beer please.

Instantly, Maria thrusts a tankard into Shackleton's handsand begins pouring beer into it.

DUKE FREDERICKI think you'll like our local beer,Herr Royal Painter -- homegrown.

SHACKLETONThe best kind, no question aboutit.

DUKE FREDERICKCareful, though. It has a kick likea mule.

SHACKLETONWell, then I'll kick right back!Haw Haw

Shackleton quaffs down the tankard. The Duke waves Mariaforward to fill it again.

DUKE FREDERICKHair of the dog, Herr Shackleton!

SHACKLETONHair of the dog, indeed, sir!

The two walk to the table and begin eating and drinking likemerry old chums. While they eat the Duke makes sure Mariakeeps filling Shackleton's tankard.

DUKE FREDERICKHair of the Dog

INT. PALACE SUNROOM -- DAY

Shackleton is at his easel painting away. Charlotte isseated scarf still on her head. The duke is perched on astool nearby. Shackleton's face is now beet-red from all thebeer he's consumed. The portrait is finished all but forCharlotte's hair. Shackleton makes one more stroke, smiles,then points with his brush to the scarf on Charlotte's head.

SHACKLETONAnd now, if the Princess wouldremove her scarf, please.

The Duke is up instantly and coming to Shackleton with thepitcher of beer.

DUKE FREDERICKBut of course, Herr Royal Painter,


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but one more toast, shall we?

SHACKLETONOh, no, no -- I really shouldn't.

DUKE FREDERICKAh, but surely one more -- the last

of the pitcher. Hair of the dog, aswe say, here in Mecklenburg.

SHACKLETONHair of the dog

DUKE FREDERICKYes, a short one -- the runt of thelitter. Here we go, Herr Shackleton

Here begins pouring.

SHACKLETONYes, here we do, indeed.

Shackleton looks into the tankard as if he's seeingsomething in his future that frightens him. He shakeshimself out of it, lifts the tankard and downs the wholething.

DUKE FREDERICKThat, sir, is drinking.

SHACKLETONHair of the dog.

DUKE FREDERICKYes. Quite right.

Shackleton, blinks, hands the duke his tankard as if henever wants to see it again, burps, then steps backward tothe easel. He picks up the brush again, is about to make astroke, but stops, as if trying to remember what stroke wasnext. Then, remembering the reason why he stopped painting,he turns to Charlotte.

SHACKLETONAh, your scarf madam, can you ...Oh, you already have.

And indeed Charlotte has revealing a mane of beautifulAFRICAN hair. Perhaps not quite African, because althoughfrizzy, it is brown frizzy of the type mulattoes' possess.

SHACKLETONThank you, madam.

Smiling now, Shackleton looks back to the easel lifts hisbrush then suddenly stops. He turns and squints atCharlotte's hair. He leans his head one way then the other.

He scratches his head. He looks back to the easel. He looksforward. Finally, he reaches in his pocket for hisspectacles, puts them on and GASPS!


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DOWAGER PRINCESS AUGUSTA(giving Shackleton a sternlook)

I should hate to think otherwise.

Bute gives a laugh.

BUTENow, now ... Don't let her frightenyou, Shacketon. Her bite is worsethan her bark.

DOWAGER PRINCESS AUGUSTAStop being so clever, Bute. I toldyou before -- I'm tired of cleverpeople. Everybody is so clevernowadays and I wish to heavens wehad a few fools left.

BUTEBut we do, Your Highness.

DOWAGER PRINCESS AUGUSTAOh? And what do they talk about?

BUTEClever people, of course.

DOWAGER PRINCESS AUGUSTAThen they are indeed fools!

Bute laughs.

BUTEYou don't know this, Shackleton,but we very nearly made arragementsfor the princesses to come toLondon -- until their families werealerted and became unionizedagainst it.

DOWAGER PRINCESS AUGUSTAOh, that fiasco!

BUTEThey sent a frantic letter to ourLadyship refusing to have theirdaughters "stand on auction, asthey put it -- even if it was to bebefore the future King of England.

DOWAGER PRINCESS AUGUSTA(a cold smile at her lips)

Those old German families have nomodern sensibility to speak of.Would you believe, Mr. Shackleton,

one of them actually asked ifPrince George would travel toGermany to be INTERVIEWED by her


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daughter! Unbelievable, no? Whatwill they require of the King next-- references?!!

Bute is now staring at the first portrait in the line-up. Heturns to the Dowager.

BUTEYour highness, here's a comely lassif ever there was one.

The Dowager steps to the portrait, stares at it, then turnsto Shackleton.

DOWAGER PRINCESS AUGUSTAAnd she is --?

SHACKLETON(smiling)

Princess Sophia of BrunswickWolfenbttel, Your Highness.

The Dowager and Bute exchange frowns. And it is at this veryinstant the Page's ANNOUNCEMENT is heard.

PAGEHEAR YEE! HEAR YEE! The King andPrince George enter!

KING GEORGE II and his grandson PRINCE GEORGE enter thestudio. The men bow, the Dowager curtsies.

KING GEORGE IIWhat's going on here, RoyalPainter? Why wasn't I immediatelyinformed upon your return?

DOWAGER PRINCESS AUGUSTAWe wanted it to be a surprise,Father-in-law.

KING GEORGE III don't like surprises -- and youknow that. I commissioned Shakletonfor this job -- not you, madam, soI should have been informed of hisreturn immediately!

DOWAGER PRINCESS AUGUSTAI beg your forgiveness, Sire, forany untoward thing I might havedone. And now -- my son, if youwill?

She takes her son, Prince George, by the elbow and guideshim to the SECOND portrait.

DOWAGER PRINCESS AUGUSTA(continued)

Look, here, darling, at this lovely


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princesses the Royal Painter haspainted for your inspection.

The King throws his hands up for silence.

KING GEORGE IIWhich one is Sophia of

Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel?

DOWAGER PRINCESS AUGUSTADon't tell him yet, Mr. Shackleton.

KING GEORGE IIHe will or rue the day he didn't.

DOWAGER PRINCESS AUGUSTAFor what -- disobeying my order?

KING GEORGE II

For disobeying mine!

DOWAGER PRINCESS AUGUSTANot when I countermanded it -- thenhe is disobeying mine. Sir Bute,you're a lawyer -- isn't that so?

KING GEORGE IINot a word from you, Bute.

The Dowager tugs her son closer.

DOWAGER PRINCESS AUGUSTA

You'll take my advice on this, myson. I know German girls -- don'tforget, I'm one myself.

KING GEORGE IIAnd what am I?

DOWAGER PRINCESS AUGUSTAPray, not a German girl.

KING GEORGE IIMeasure you tongue, madam.

The Dowager bows her head.

DOWAGER PRINCESS AUGUSTAA thousand apologies, Your Majesty.

The King reaches for the Prince's elbow.

KING GEORGE IIGrandson, listen to me. I wasmarried to the best Queen ConsortEngland ever had -- the Germanprincess Caroline of

Bradenburg-Ansbach. So now askyourself, who could possibly knowGerman princesses better than I?


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But more to the point, I'm the Kingof England, and if I tell you tomarry Sophia ofBrunswick-Wolfenbuttel, you shall-- and I do! So that settles it ...

The King turns to Shackleton.

KING GEORGE II(continued)

...Providing, of course, she has nodefects uncovered by our most ableroyal painter --?

All eyes shift to Shackleton who is visibly happy the matteris finally settled. He has four index cards in his hand. Hemakes an appearance of reading the top one intently. Helooks up satisfied and confidant.

SHACKLETONNo defects at all, Your Majesty.Sophia of Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel isa most spendid princess. Besidesher obvious beauty, she is sixteenyears of age, and--

DOWAGER PRINCESS AUGUSTASixteen is too young.

KING GEORGE IIBut you were sixteen when my sonmarried you!

KING GEORGE IIAnd you tried to stop it --remember?

The King turns from her to Shackleton.

KING GEORGE IIContinue, Royal Painter.

SHACKLETONYes, Your Highness. She doesexcellent needlework, plays theharpsichord -- exceedingly well, Imight add --

DOWAGER PRINCESS AUGUSTA(sharply)

Did she play for you?

SHACKLETON(smugly ... although not toosmugly)

Yes, Your Highness. I followed theKing's instructions to the letter.

KING GEORGE IILanguages? What languages does she


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speak?

SHACKLETON(tensing up)

Well ... on that ... there may beminor deficit, Sire -- she speaksonly German.

The Dowager grabs the side of her face as if someone hasyelled plague.

DOWAGER PRINCESS AUGUSTAOnly German?!!

KING GEORGE IIDon't be ridiculous. She's only 16.Why, she'll be speaking betterEnglish than all of us in afortnight.

But by now the Dowager has moved on to the second portrait.

DOWAGER PRINCESS AUGUSTAMr. Shackleton, pray which princessis this?

SHACKLETONThat would be Princess Maria ofSaxe-Gotha.

DOWAGER PRINCESS AUGUSTA(smiling)

Oh, yes -- my cousin.

KING GEORGE IINo!

DOWAGER PRINCESS AUGUSTABut Your Majesty, dear, at leastlet Mr. Shackleton tell us abouther --

KING GEORGE IINo! There'll be no cousin-marryingon my watch. That's why half themonarchs across Europe can'tproduce healthy heirs. No, madam --no more inbreeding!

The Dowager looks at Bute who looks back powerlessly. Sheforces a smile. The King looks from the second portrait tothe third.

KING GEORGE IINow then, tell me about this nextprincess, Shackleton.

SHACKLETONYes, Sire. That would be Magdalenaof Saxe-Weissenfels and she is --


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DOWAGER PRINCESS AUGUSTANO!

The King is stunned by the violence in the Dowager's voice.He recovers.

KING GEORGE IIAt least let him finish,Daughter-in-law.

DOWAGER PRINCESS AUGUSTAI will not! I'd rather have my sonmarry an African's daughter than aSaxe-Weissenfels princess.

The King sighs.

KING GEORGE II

We'll come back to her later. Nowthis last one, Mr. Shackelton. Whois she?

Shackleton's face instantly registers shock.

SHACKLETONThis last one, sire?

KING GEORGE II(impatiently)

Yes, man -- speak up! Who is she?

SHACKLETONOh, yes, Sire, yes, yes. She isPrincess Charlotte ofMeckenburg-Strelitz, sir.

DOWAGER PRINCESS AUGUSTAWho?

SHACKLETONPrincess Charlotte ofMecklenburg-Strelitz.

KING GEORGE IIWhere on earth isMecklenburg-Strelitz?

SHACKLETONNear the Pomeranian border oppositeRatzeburg.

KING AND DOWAGERRats-burg?!!

SHACKLETONThat would be ratzeburg, Your

Highness. A tiny principality inNorthern Germany. Nothing to dowith rats at all.


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The King is staring at Charlotte's portrait as he strokeshis beard.

KING GEORGE IISpeaking of rats she does lookas fertile as one ... hmmm...

He turns to the prince.

KING GEORGE II(continued)

That's the important thing,grandson -- a queen must produceheirs like a rodent!

PRINCE GEORGEYes, grandfather.

Steeling himself, Shackleton steps forward.

SHACKLETONOh -- one thing I forgot tomention, Your Highness. The firstprincess expressed a deep interestin learning English and --

DOWAGER PRINCESS AUGUSTAWhat are her refinements?

SHACKLETON

As I said, Sophia of Brunswick is--

DOWAGER PRINCESS AUGUSTANot that one -- this Charlottegirl!

Shackleton is so tense his face looks like it's beingstretched.

SHACKLETONThis one?

DOWAGER PRINCESS AUGUSTAYes! Her refinements, man, bequick, we haven't all day.

SHACKLETONYes, indeed -- her refinements. Eh,Yes, I remember now -- nothingspecial, really ... expertneedlework, superb botanist, dancesvery skillfully, rides a horse well--

And now Prince George steps forward, his curiosity roused.

PRINCE GEORGE


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Does she have musical talents, Mr.Shackleton, sir?

Shackleton appears to be beating back a massive heartattack.

SHACKLETON

Yes, sir. She has some slightmusical ability, if memory serves.Let me see here, where did I putit?

Shackelton shuffles the cards, then not finding the one hewants, begins searching his pockets until finally pullingone out. He reads it frowning as he reads.

SHACKLETONYes, well ... she plays the violin,harpsichord, fife -- both wood and

metal -- cello, mandolin, and --

Prince George steps forward again. For some reason, he ismore than a little interested in Charlotte.

PRINCE GEORGEForgive me again, sir, but how manylanguages does Princess Charlottespeak?

Grimmacing like a man about to enter hell, Shackleton turnsthe card over and reads it. This done, he looks up his facethat of the hopelessly doomed.

SHACKLETONFive languages, sir.

EVERYONE(Astonished)

Five languages?!!

SHACKLETONSix, if you count Portuguese.

Read full novel here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00422LLS2

This comic-drama screenplay is ready for Production. Pleasecontact Author here: [email protected]


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mulatto queen: the screenplay

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