THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA
CHARACTERS: PRINCESS, QUEEN, PRINCE Setting: At the Palace
ACT 1 – IN THE LIVING ROOM
QUEEN: Why are you sad, my dear son?.
PRINCE: I’m not happy mother. I want to get married but I haven’t found a real princess. I’ve traveled troughout the world, visited hundreds of palaces, and I haven’t been able to find her.
QUEEN: I know. There are too many charming, beautiful, and intelligent women, but they are not real princesses.
PRINCE: I’ll keep looking, and I know that someday I will find her.
QUEEN: Meanwhile (тем временем), you must stay here at the palace. It will be a harsh (суровая) winter, and tonight the weather is terrible.
PRINCE: I hope the storm doesn’t do a lot of damage, and I’m praying (молюсь) that my people stay at home. The wind is howling [ˈhaʊlɪŋ] (воет), he thunder is rumbling overhead (гром грохочет над головой), and lightning is tearing the sky apart.
(The Princess knocks at the door)
QUEEN: Who could it be at this hour?.
PRINCE: I don’t know, but whoever it may be must be completely soaked (промокший).
(The Prince opens the door)
PRINCE: Who are you?. What are you doing in the middle of the storm?.
QUEEN: Poor girl!.
PRINCESS: I am a princess. Please help me. My clothes and my hair are all wet!.
PRINCE: Come in, please.
PRINCESS: You have to believe me. I am a princess!.
QUEEN: We believe you, dear.
PRINCE: I didn’t see your carriage. How did you get here?.
PRINCESS: It’s a long story, but I’d rather not talk about it right now.
PRINCE: You’re right.
QUEEN: You need to rest and change your clothes. Please, get near the chimney to warm up, and in a few minutes one of our maidens will take you to your room.
PRINCESS: Thanks, I really appreciate what you’re doing for me.
(The Princess gets near the chimney, while the Queen approaches the Prince)
QUEEN: She says she’s a princess, and there’s only one way to find out if she’s telling us the truth.
PRINCE: How?. She’s so beautiful that I think I’m in love with her!.
QUEEN: You’ll see. (rings a small bell. The Maiden enters the stage and approaches her) I want you to go to our guest room and place a pea on the bed. Then, go to every bedroom in the palace and gather twenty mattresses [ˈmætrɪs] and place them over the pea.
DONCELLA: Yes, your majesty [jɔː ˈmæʤɪstɪ] . (leaves the stage)
PRINCE: Why are you doing this?.
QUEEN: Princesses are very sensitive. If she’s a real princess, she won’t be able to sleep well as she will feel the pea right through the twenty mattresses.
(The Princess approaches them)
PRINCESS: I’m so tired.
QUEEN: Your bed is ready, and I’m sure you will have a good night’s sleep. My maiden will take you to your room. (Rings a small bell. The Maiden enters the stage and approaches her)
DONCELLA: Yes, your majesty.
QUEEN: Take the princess to her room.
DONCELLA: (to the Princess) Please, follow me.
QUEEN: (to the Princess) Rest well, my dear. We’ll see you in the morning in the dining room.
PRINCESS: Thank you, good night.
PRINCE: Have pleasant [pleznt] dreams.
(The Maiden and the Princess leave the stage)
QUEEN: It’s been a long day, let’s go to bed. Tomorrow we will know the truth.
(The Queen and the Prince leave the stage)
ACT 2 – IN THE DINING ROOM
(The Queen and the Prince are having breakfast. The Princess enters)
PRINCESS: Good morning (looks at the food). Everything looks so delicious and I’m so hungry!.
PRINCE: (stands) Good morning. Please join us for breakfast.
(The Princess and the Prince sit)
QUEEN: How did you sleep dear?.
PRINCESS: Oh, very badly!. I couldn’t closed my eyes all night.
QUEEN: Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.
PRINCESS: Heaven only knows what was under all those mattresses.
PRINCE: But that’s imposible!. We gave you the best bed in the palace.
PRINCESS: Well, I felt I was lying over a stone, and now all my body hurts. I feel terrible!.
PRINCE: (stands) Then you are a real princess!. Nobody but a real princess could be as sensitive and delicate as that.
QUEEN: That’s true.
PRINCE: Now I know you are the woman I’ve looking for. Since the moment I saw you my heart told me you were my princess and the love of my life. (Takes the Princess hand) Will you marry me?. (The Princess stands)
PRINCESS: (smiling) Yes, I will.
(The Prince and the Princess kiss)
THE END
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