INT. the stage is split in half. On the left side there is a waltz playing and people dance to the beats joyfully. On the right side there is a small group of people talking in pairs sipping drinks and enjoying the time away from the loud dance. The lights fall on the room holding the dance, the other half of the stage is hidden from view behind darkness. Cynthia, Clara, and Chloe stand along the right wall talking and for the most part looking for a dance. The dance ends, and another is soon to begin. — 7:30pm
Cynthia
Clara, dance with the boy, he has been eyeing you all night. Go with him, lend out your hand and give him the chance for a wonderous dance.
A boy approaches from across the room from a group just standing looking at the floor. They boys are younger in age and seem to be shy looking for a nice lady to approach.
CLARA
you may have no such thing. To dance with a boy with no name, with no introduction. I would rather dance with swine.
cynthia
Clara, my good friend here may not dance with you young sir, but I would love to endulge in such an event.
Cynthia grabbed his hand and began to walk with the faceless boy toward the middle of the room where a foxtrot was playing. Her dress swirled under her torso around her ankles as she skipped and moved with the music
Lyndess
my daughter, I would like to see you smile. Dance with some boy, make his night. Don't sully your reputation as a polite girl. Give one boy at least one boy. Stand out and respectfully accept their invitation.
A Man pushes through the crowd and approaches Lyndess. This male figure is her husband and Clara's father.
Leo
My lovely lady Lyndess. Would you enchant me with your hand for a dance. I would love for you to glide on this floor with me. To set the floor on fire and shuffle through the night.
A young man dances with a girl, he has been dancing all night. He notices Clara dancing alone and approaches her. he sees nothing more than her. He is stunned by the beauty of such a lonely stander by. He walks towards her
Clara extended her hand and followed him onto the floor. She stepped bacl and rose her arms into a waltzing position and began to float.
Vincent
My dear, I have yet to fully understand your name. You have enlightened my eyes but have so sadly not enlightened my ears. Your voice is like a chime but the greatest song shall be your name.
Clara
Lord Vincent, to dance with such an idiol as your self is an honor. My name is un important. I am no more than a girl with a face and some parents. I am no diffrent than any other girl awaiting for a dance. My voice may chime and my appearance may strike you, but this shall be no more than a dance. For me to tell you my name, well that may lead to further engagement.
Vincent
You are a fistey one I can tell. Your oppinions amaze me. you seem to be one who can verbally spar with the best of debating men. which is not normally a quality you find in women these days. I like it. I am more than a little intrigued by your determination to not stay in my arms for more than one dance. How many young chaps have you turned down tonight and why was mine the only acception?
Clara
I have turned down every young sir that has come to my side requestion a dance, or a trot, or a float, or anything else they may call it. I accepted your request because of my mother. She has politely asked me to accept a young sirs offer to dance to show the end of my childhood. After tonight I will be engaged to marry. I have been given no choice. The arrangement of this marriage was not my choice. I have no concept of the kind of man he will be nor the name of my suitor. All I know is that he is in this room, and so far I have found nobody suitable.
He follows behind her and grabs at her wrist as she reaches the door way leading into the grand hall
INT. a backlight exposes a stage seperator and seperate part of the room. The grand hall has wood floors and many nice pieces of art work. There are groups of people talking and sipping on various flavours of wine and champagne. Vincent and Clara enter stage left. Nobody looks to them. It is but a low drawl or conversation fillinf the otherwise silent room — *pm
clara
please release me, I have no intention of dancing with you again. It causes no pleasure nor interest.
vincent
i have no intention of dancing with you either. your feet kept crushing mine in your barbaric angry movements. That was no such dance, it was but a sadly graceful stomp. I will be requesting a new dance later. But for now I would like to engange your comany in a brisk conversation. Please lady, you as unknown to me as the americas. I would love to be honored with your name.
clara
your charm, sir vincent is becoming. your words are large but they hold little to be desired. I am only willing to strike such a conversation with somebody whom holds my interest. Why talk to somebody if every word is full of a nautious charm.
clara
my name is Lady Clara Elizabeth Eliwood. My mother is Lady Lyndess and my father is the good Lord Leopold. This is my home and tonight I shall be engaged. I have no intention of speaking with anybody I will not be marrying. Tonight shall be my last night. My intellegence will most likely be brought down by some figure of stupidity. I have figured my counter part is a young lord with no education. So excuse my voice when I use a quick tongue. I am more than extatic.
clara
i am the lady clara, yes. my mother is lady lyndess and my father is lord leo of new wood. I am most pleasured to make your aquaintence my good sir, but please I must protest. I must proceed to my quarters. There I must be meeting my mother. My counter part is still unknown. It is the hour of my academic downfall.
vincent
my good lady clara, how could such a blessing like marriage be the down fall of academia?. I know when my parents informed me of my sculpted future with a bride whom I only knew the name I was taken back by the knowledge that they cared enough to secure my future on the throne with a bride whom would suite their fancy and produce good heirs.
vincent looks clara up and down. He imagines her in a wedding gown and glances at her hips. The lines of her dress hugged her body. He was entranced.
Vincent (CONT'D)
I knew they would choose somebody who would glow with the radiant beauty of the sun. Eyes so blue they put the deepest of all the seas to shame. Skin as pale and inviting of the moon but as soft and smooth as the richest cream.
vincent (CONT'D)
hands untouched by work. My life I have always waited. Waited for my parents to give me somebody like yourself.
clara
my good sir, once again I must decline your offer. I am to wed somebody I have never seen. to what I suspect to be a faceless boy, and i shall forever become his opinionless rpize. If you please unhand me good sir, let me go to my demise.
vincent
It is not like that. My good lady it cannot be. Somethings you are considering must not be so. your personality should never be repressed. you my fair lady are a jewel shining in a most dark hour.
clara
you sir are witty and full of charm. Such words you speak are no more that compliments to win such affection. My heart is empty, my soul is so replused but the fact that my mother the woman who was meant to love me set me up to give away my beliefs.
vincent
please lady clara hear my words. I would never condem you to such opression. your future will be free.
INT. Cynthia enters stage left from the dancing hall. The people idoly chit chatting turn to watch vincent and clara. Her voice raises as he still holds her wrist. As cynthia approaches vincent drops her hand
cynthia
clara, clara. We have searched for you all over. I saw you dance and watched you dismiss yourself from the festivities. I wondered where you ran off to. (cynthia notices vincent and whispers to clara) oh clara, who is this?
clara
a simpel boy who tried to get through my corset with his words of compassion and freedom. (turns to vincent) you sir vincent of where ever you hail from are a snake. Nothing more than split tongued and wicked, searching for a shrew to devour for your own selfish gain
lyndess
my clara; such a worrier, now if only you had such intentions to get back on time. I see you have met the young lord vincent floret of Aster.
vincent
(ignores clara's comment) My fair lady lyndess. It is a pleasure. Your daughter young clara is quite the fireball. her opinions and witty tongue are like none i have ever seen. I have been also over whlemeed but her dancing grace. (his voice holds sarcasim)
lyndess
my daughter is quite unique. her beliefs are unmeasured by any i know, she is much like her father.
Clara, gains a look of discontent as she stews over the conversation Vincent is having with her mother.
clara
your charm young lord is nothing more to than trickery useless banter. My hand in marriage is all you shall have, my heart. You shall have no pleasure in holding it.
vincent
my soon to be bride. the heart of such a woman is not mine to obtain. Your heart is your own. truly yours to keep or give away, i have no such desire to take anything from you which you do not wish to give. I ask nothing more than your hand in marriage. It is all I could ask.
cynthia
(swoons)oh clara, if only i were so lucky as to have somebody like that to hold my hand through life, it would be magical. plus I do here that the lord of Aster holds a great fortune.(turns to vincent) is that true, do you have alot of money good sir?
clara
cynthia, money is not in my eye. He could be a rich man or a poor man to me it matters not. I want ntohing mroe than an honest man who will stand by what he says and rule accordingly. Somebody with a kind heart but a swift hand for justice. When a woman is in trouble with a man I wish to have somebody who would take care of that man and send her to freedom. With a the power to condem not the innocent but the truly guilty. (turns to vincent)tell me lord Vincent Floret of aster are you such a man. If I am to become Lady Clara Elizabeth Floret I wish to know what kind of man I am going to marry. Are you truly a man of worth?
vincent
my lady clara.(gets down on one knee)to be attached to somebody as noble as your self and as rightous for self cause is an honor. I promise to give you my word that in our world wher eour powers reign there will be justice and nothing will change that. There will be equal trial for those who have commited a crime either towards the common or the crown. I will help your oppinon be heard and everybody shall listen. we shall rule with just cause. (vincents words are cut off by a halt of music in the other room and the tinkering of silverware against champagne glasses) I promise you
Lyndess
young cynthia go into the other room and inform lord leo that the new couple will be emerging for their dance and marriage announcement. Let him announce them while I try to cure these flames.
INT. Cynthia leaves stage left into the other set. The people who were once staring gather around the grand doorway that leads to the part of the stage where all the dancing was taking place. The lights on stage shine on both sides of the devider now. On the left people stand in rows leaving room for Clara and vincent to dance. Lord leo stands at the end by himself. Cynthia soeaks to him and then wuickly takes her place amoungst the crowd.
vincent
(extends his hand) my lady clara, would you so give me the honor of this dance. we will start it as aquaintences and end it as one.
INT. clara and vincent enter the left side of the stange and the lights go off on the room they were just in. They walk into the center of the people and the music begins to play. Lord Leo announces them and the music plys. They dance and as they spin Lord Leo and lady lyndess join and soon the room is spinning in celebration. END
