GUERRA SIL FIUME: A DRAMA IN THREE ACTS

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GUERRA SUL FIUME
A play by A.P. Varoche
Published in 1928

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PLOT

An Illatian family is torn apart by a rebellion in the Duchy of Broglie.

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CAST

Mafalda Ferri: A noblewoman to-be-engaged to the Duke’s brother, Tussio. However, the marriage is broken off once her father, Elio, rebels against the Duke.
Elio Ferri: A nobleman and chancellor of the Duchy. Rebels against the Duke, and is killed in Act II.
Alfonsa Ferri: A pale noblewoman and the sister of Mafalda. Ripped from Mafalda and Elio in the war - turns to become a priestess of the church after the war.
Guards: Tussio’s Guardsmen.
Tussio La Fata: The Duke's son and Mafalda’s betrothed. An ignorant, and boring man twice her age.

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SETTING

Somewhere between the 1400s and 1500s in the Heartlands, where the Duchy of Broglie is located. Very Adrian-esque city.

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ACT I | Il Cancelliere

Spoiler

Curtains rise to Mafalda and Tussio in the square, squawking about the local drama in high society. It’s midday out, the sun is shining with minimal clouds in the baby blue sky. 

 

MAFALDA

Have you heard about Imelda’s affair? How unholy! To betray your husband within the confines of marriage…!

 

TUSSIO

Oh, no- I’ve not heard of it. She’ll have to answer to the Church. May God have mercy on her soul!

 

MAFALDA

It’s quite unlike her – perhaps she got possessed? (Mafalda’s cut off by her father, ELIO, entering)

 

ENTER LEFT: ELIO holding a piece of parchment. He clears his throat, repositioning himself to stand upright and announces:

 

ELIO

The Duke of Broglie has been in cohorts with followers of Iblees, granting him daemonic powers and immortality. We, the citizenry of our faithful and god-fearing Duchy have declared the Duke to abdicate his position on the following accounts. Firstly, the Duke has betrayed the holy confines of marriage with his wife – bedding a number of women. The Duke has also consorted with known Azdrazi and other unholy daemons, granting him immortality. Finally, the Duke has killed his own brother –  Giacomo after an attempt to expose him and his immoral deeds. The Duke has betrayed the Broglian people! He has threatened our people, our friends, and our allies within the Capital. Let it be known that the houses of Ferri, Vecchi, Muzio, and Gloria plan to remove the Duke by any means necessary with the help of the Pontiff.

 

ELIO quickly hurries off stage, leaving the parchment laying in the dirt streets.

 

MAFALDA & TUSSIO look at each other in shock, eyes widened as TUSSIO pushes MAFALDA. 

 

MAFALDA

What is wrong with you?

 

TUSSIO

What is wrong with you? Your father has gone insane! Accusing my father of these… these acts of insanity!

 

MAFALDA

Well, maybe they’re true if you act like this! Pushing women, gossipping! These accusations are not light and my father would never accuse his friend of these heinous acts had they not been true!

 

TUSSIO slaps MAFALDA across the face, fuming. His face is reddened and furrowed and scrunched up.

 

MAFALDA runs off stage, tears streaming down her face as she holds her cheek.

 

TUSSIO:

Lord Ferri, I swear on my fathers name I’ll find and kill you!

 

TUSSIO storms off stage.

ACT II | L'esecuzione

Spoiler

Curtains rise to MAFALDA and ALFONSA in a dimly-lit room, shoving clothes, jewels, and other items and memorabilia into a bag. Their father, ELIO barges through the door, obviously worried. He locks the door.

 

ELIO (Hushedly)

Girls! Girls, stop packing. We have to be very quiet! The Duke's Men have found us.

 

MAFALDA and ALFONSA drop what they’re holding, eyes wide in shock. The two girls look at each other, breathing heavily as all three of them stand in the room. Below them, GUARDS can be heard tearing the house apart. MAFALDA, ALFONSA, and ELIO cower together, with ELIO in front and MAFALDA and ALFONSA behind ELIO.

 

GUARDS break down the doors, and TUSSIO comes in– leading them.

 

TUSSIO

There they are! The Ferri’s, had no time to escape!

 

ELIO

It doesn’t have to come to this, Tussio! You know the claims are true, side with us.

 

TUSSIO (arrogantly)

I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.

 

ALFONSA

Tussio, please! Don’t do anything to us! We were just leaving, I promise!

 

MAFALDA lightly hits ALFONSA.

 

MAFALDA (hiss-whispering)

He didn’t know we were here!

 

TUSSIO

Mafalda? Is that you? (He points towards MAFALDA) Guards, grab her!

 

The GUARDS tear through ELIO to MAFALDA and ALFONSA, ripping them away from ELIO. ELIO lets out a scream.

 

ELIO

Don’t hurt them!

 

The GUARDS kick ELIO. He screams again.

 

MAFALDA and ALFONSA cry, as the two are dragged away by TUSSIO. 

 

TUSSIO

Drag him away! He’ll be executed first thing tomorrow morning.

 

ELIO is dragged away by the GUARDS, screaming and kicking and protesting.

 

ELIO

Mafalda, Alfonsa!

 

The curtains lower on the scene.

 

Curtains rise to ELIO’s head on a piece of wood. A GUARD holds a sword over his head, ready to strike.

 

ENTER MAFALDA and ALFONSA, quietly crying as they prepare to witness their father’s execution.

 

TUSSIO

Ladies and gentlemen! We have located the leader of the rebellion, Elio Ferri. As we prepare to execute Lord Ferri for his heinous crimes and false accusations, we would like to remind you all of what the Ferri family has done to this beloved Duchy. They have falsely planted evidence of the Duke cohorting with Azdrazi, as well as falsifying claims of adultery! The Ferri’s have attempted to uproot our peaceful Duchy, and now they will pay! Lord Ferri, any last words?

 

ELIO

God, turn me into a flower.

 

ALFONSA

Tussio, please!

 

TUSSIO

Do the honors, sir.

 

The Curtains LOWER as the GUARDs sword descends onto ELIO. Screams and Cries are heard from behind the curtain.

ACT III | La riunione

Spoiler

CURTAINS rise to MAFALDA sitting alone in a motley room. Flies buzz around the cobblestone walls as MAFALDA begins to write, reciting her words aloud as she wrote.

 

MAFALDA

Dear Alfonsa,

I’ve heard that after we escaped Broglie, you trained to become a priestess of the Church. Is this true? If so, I’m proud of you. I miss you, Alfonsa – I hope my letters are not falling on deaf ears.

With love,

Mafalda.

 

ENTER ALFONSA, facing the Audience as she recites her letter.

 

ALFONSA

Mafalda,

It’s been years since we last saw each other! I thought you died in the woods once you escaped. I made my way to Daen, down south. I met a man who encouraged me to join the church and he’s been an amazing mentor – I am now studying the sword to better protect the people of Daen. They’ve become my family now. I miss you too, please come visit.

Your sister,

Alfonsa, Mother of the Church

 

MAFALDA

To the Mother Alfonsa,

I’ll come down to Daen one day, then! I’ll bring my children with me so they can meet their aunt. One is named after you, his name is Alfonso. He will be just as strong as you one day, I hope. I’m proud of you.

Love,

Mafalda

 

ALFONSA turns to MAFALDA, smiling through tears.

 

ALFONSA

I’ve missed you, mia sorella.

 

MAFALDA (tearfully)

Alfonsa, I am so proud of you, la mia colomba.

 

The two sisters, MAFALDA and ALFONSA, embrace each other for the first time in several years as the CURTAINS descend onto them.

 

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[TheNunnery 1853]

 

"This is art! I must get the permission of this amazing playwright to produce this within the lands of the Petra and perhaps the world!" 

 

The young Halcourt af Brasca would exclaim to a maid with a smile painted on her face while the soft cool breeze would cut through her air while she sat in front of her vanity. Ada Bel would store the copy of the play into a cabinet of her grand vanity, quickly finishing up her hair to begin penning a letter to Madame du Varoche. Saying to her maid before she was dismissed, a finale remark on the subject.

 

"Perhaps Madame du Varoche and I may become great allies in the world of the arts! As it is never too bad to have artist as friends."