Scene 8

The stage is set up as an inside glance at the castle. Jason is sitting at a large desk, and he and Nate are discussing something. Lucy walks by the doorway to the room, looking saddened as Jason and Nate glance up at notice her.

Jason: *watching Lucy as she leaves* She's been like that ever since the fire swamp. *to Nate* It's my father's failing health that's upsetting her.

Nate: *nodding* Of course.

The stage goes black. As it lights up once more it is set up to look like the balcony of the castle. Jason is standing on the balcony with Nate next to him. Jason is wearing a large crown. The rest of the cast, except for Lucy, Alex and Diane are standing around a red carpet that leads down one of the aisles of the auditorium, all of them dressed up as a crowd.

Alex: *heard from off stage* The King died that very night, and before the following dawn, Buttercup and Humperdinck were married. And at noon she met her subjects again, this time as their queen.

Jason: *to anticipating crowd* My father's final words were...

The lights go off and turn to reveal where Alex and Diane are sitting, Alex glancing up from his book as Diane starts to interrupt angrily.

Diane: Hold it! Hold it! Grandpa, you read that wrong. She doesn't marry Humperdinck, she marries Westley. I'm just sure of it...after all that Westley did for her, if she didn't marry him, it wouldn't be fair.

Alex: *shrugging* Well who says life is fair? Where is that written? Life isn't always fair?

Diane: *angry* I'm telling you, you're messing up the story! Now get it right!

Alex: Do you want me to go on with this?

Diane: *apologetic* Yes.

Alex: Alright then, no more interruptions. At noon she met her subjects again, this time as their queen.

The lights fade from the two worens and go back to the stage and the group in the audience.

Jason: My father's final words were, 'Love her, as I loved her and there will be joy.' I present to you, your queen; Queen Buttercup.

Lucy comes out before the crowd. Candice, dressed up as a hideous old woman confronts her..

Candice -old woman-: *in a horrid voice* Booooooo! Booooooo! Boooooooo!

Lucy: *upset and confused* Why do you do this?

Candice: Because you had love in your hands and you gave it up!

Lucy: But they would have killed Westley if I hadn't done it.

Candice: *shocked* Your true love lives, and you marry another! *turning to the crowd* True love saved her in the fire swamp, and she treated it like garbage. And that's what she is, the Queen of Refuse. So bow down to her if you want. Bow to her. Bow to the Queen of Slime, *turning back to Lucy* the Queen of Filth, the Queen of putrescence! Boo! Boo! Rubbish! Filth! Slime! Muck! Boo! Boo! Boo!

The auditorium goes dark and when the lights come back on the stage looks like a bedroom scene. Lucy is in a large bed, sitting up and looking as if she's suddenly awoken from a nightmare.

Alex: *heard from off stage* It was ten days 'till the wedding. The king still lived, but Buttercup's nightmares were becoming steadily worse.

Diane: See? Didn't I tell you she'd never marry that rotten Humperdinck.

Alex: Yes, you're very smart. Shut up.

Lights go out and the scene changes again. As the lights turn back on the setting of a glimpse of the inside of the castle is shown again, Jason sitting at his desk still talking to Nate as Lucy rushes in to confront Jason.

Lucy: It comes to this: I love Westley, I always have - I know now I always will. If you tell me I must marry thee in ten days, please believe I will be dead by morning.

Jason: *shocked and uneasy* I could never cause you grief. Consider our wedding off. *turns to Nate* You um...returned this Westley to his ship?

Nate: *in a sly voice* Yes.

Jason: Then we will simply alert him. Beloved, *to Lucy* are you certain he still wants you? After all it was you who did the leaving in the fire swamp. Not to mention that, uh, pirates are not known as men of their words.

Lucy: *determined* My Westley will always come for me.

Jason: I suggest a deal. You write four copies of a letter. I'll send my four fastest ships, one in each direction. The Dread Pirate Roberts is always close to Florin this time of year. We'll run up the white flag and deliver your message. If Westley wants you, bless you both; if not, please consider me as an alternative to suicide. Are we agreed?

Lucy considers him for a moment before turning and stalking away. Nate and Jason exchange glances.