Everyone ready to storm the fortress?

Robert: (Smacks his hand into his palm) Oui.

Peter: Uh-huh.

Georgi: Ready.

David: So am I.

(We open onstage. Robert frowns as he watches Ronald point to where Peter and Valerie walked off to. Lord Morgan's expression changes to concern, and he and Ronald take off.)

Robert: (Turns to Georgi) That does not look good.

Georgi: *shakes his head* No, it doesn't.

Robert: We have to get out there. (He calls out to the crowd) We are going to take a ten-minute break, so don't you go anywhere. (He turns to the others.) I think Pierre is in danger.

Ursula: (As the boys join them) What?

Robert: Ronald has told Lord Morgan about Pierre and Valerea.

Ursula: Why, that jealous little fool!

Robert: We have to get in there and stop them, before they hurt Pierre. He is peasant; if Valerea saw through his disguise, others may, too.

Ursula: You're right. Come on. (They head to the main hall, where Valerea and Peter had gone to.)

(Cut to the hall. Peter blushes as Valerea leads him into a shadowy place.)

Peter: I...I think...you're so pretty....

Valerea: And I think you're rather handsome, but why are you so nervous?

Peter: I am a peasant. I could die just for looking at you. (He sighs) And I am not good with girls. They laugh at me.

Valerea: I am not laughing.

Peter: I am just...I am a musician. I have no money. I live my friends, Frou Ursula, and Frauline Laryen. I have nothing to offer you. I wish I could bring you with us, though. You're so smart and strong, nothing like me...

Valerea: Perhaps I would like to go with you.

Peter: You...you would? But you're a grand lady! You have everything you could ever want here! You know what you'd be giving up, including your father.

Valerea: And those are the exact reasons why I would rather go with you.

Peter: You'd really give up all that...for me?

Valerea: And for me. Frankly, I'm tired and bored of caring for this household. I do not wish to be forced into a marriage I don’t agree with. I love my father and respect his wishes, but I must draw the line somewhere.

Peter: I understand that. (Makes a face) Especially if your choices in suitors are all like Ronald. (He blushes) Valerea...would you mind if I....kissed you?

Valerea: I would not mind at all.

Peter: A...alright. (He does so...just as Ronald comes into the hall with Lord Morgan and Dauben. Lord Morgan frowns; Ronald looks shocked.)

Lord Morgan: Valerea, what are you doing?

Ronald: How could you let a commoner kiss you? You bring shame onto your whole family!

Lord Morgan: Stop it, Ronald. Enough melodrama. (Turns to his daughter) Just what do you think you're doing, young lady?

Valerea: I am letting this fine man kiss me.

Lord Morgan: Valerea, I don't mind having them play. They're really quite good. But he's a musician, and you're a noblewoman!

Peter: Sir, please, I didn't mean any harm! Honest!

Lord Morgan: (As the others arrive in the door) Then you shouldn't have been kissing her. Valerea, have you gone mad?

Peter: No! She's fine!

Ronald: Valerea, really. Why take a skinny little peasant like that when you can have someone like (he sniffs) me?

Dauben: (As the others arrive) If that's the case, I'd rather have a bird than him.

Robert: What is going on here?

Lord Morgan: I'm through playing games with you, young lady. I wanted you to choose a suitor tonight, but not a member of the common rabble! (Calls out) Guards! Guards!

Dauben: Morgan, no! He's not a bad lad, and she's old enough to make her choice.

Lord Morgan: (As a group of men in armor appear) Not by the laws of this kingdom, she isn't.

Guard Captain: Yes, Your Grace?

Lord Morgan: (As Peter pulls Valerea close to him) Take that boy to the dungeons. We'll decide his fate in the morning.

Robert: Non! Monseuir Lord, you are making grave mistake!

Ursula: Please, Your Lordship. Can't you see it in you to spare his life?

Valerea: Father, please, stop! I don't care what I am, or he is. If I can't love him, I don't want to be a noblewoman, or belong to Bryn Mawyr House anymore! I haven't gone mad. I'm far from mad. I feel like I'm sane for the first time in my entire life! (She turns to Ronald) And you go stick a pig! You're stuffy, stuck-up, spoiled rotten, stupid, and plain! You want a dainty little dolly who will keep house and listen to your boring talk, not a woman!

Ronald: I am not plain! (Turns to Lord Morgan) You can't let her talk to me that way! My father is Lord Firth!

Lord Morgan: (Raises an eyebrow) I can, and I will. I agree with her about you...and so does your father. Go whine to him and soak your head.

Ronald: (Runs off) MOMMY, THEY SAID MEAN THINGS ABOUT ME!

Ursula: (Shakes her head) If that's the best suitor Bryn Mawer House can offer, no wonder you want to leave so badly, dear.

Valerea: You have no idea.

Lord Morgan: This is ridiculous. You will NOT be leaving this fortress. You will stay up in the rooms in the tower until you come to your senses.

Valerea: Father!

Lord Morgan: Guards, take her to the tower. (They take Valerea by the arm and drag her away.)

Robert: (As they grab Peter) Wait! Don't hurt him!

Peter: (Wails) ROBERT!

Lord Morgan: I don't want to risk him escaping to see Valerea. He'll be in the dungeon until the morning, awaiting his fate. (Turns to the others, narrowing his eyes) And you'll share his fate if you remain or try to help him. I want you all out of here, now. (Turns to Dauben) Tell everyone in the ballroom that the celebration is over and they're all to leave at once.

Robert: Lord Morgan, they are in amour - love. How can you do this?

Lord Morgan: Love has nothing to do with it, boy. He is not of our kind.

Ursula: Someday, perhaps that won't matter so much.

Lord Morgan: Well, it matters now. I want all of you out of this manor now, and you are not to come back. Ever. If I see any of you within a hundred miles of this country, you will all be put to death.

Robert: (Narrows his eyes, angry) You are no better than that whiny petit ass Ronald. You love her daughter, but you will not let her choose for herself.

Lord Morgan: Go, before I put you all in irons! Guards, make sure they get their instruments and get out.

Ursula: (She shakes her head as the others leave) You're not a bad man, Morgan. You're protective of your daughter and of your rank. You fear someone else will try to take both your household and your oldest child from you. I'm afraid you may have lost her, whether you like it or not.

(Lord Morgan can only watch her as she follows the others out of the hall. Guests stream in her wake as we fade out on his unhappy, conflicted face.)

(Fade in on the exterior or the eastern tower at night. Valerea is on her knees in the tower room, searching for something in a large wooden chest. The room is sparsely furnished, mostly with what looks like faded cast-offs from the rest of the fortress. There are iron bars on the door and on the one window.)

Valerea: (As there's a knock on the door) Who's there?

Voice: (Attempted Welsh over obvious British) We're here to bring you your dinner, Lady Valerea.

Valerea: I'm not hungry.

Voice: Oh, but you must eat! The maid and I prepared it especially for you!

Valerea: (Stands) Very well. But only because you prepared it especially for me. I won't eat anything my father's eaten. I'm so angry with him, I could choke.

(Two women in heavy dark capes enter. One carries a tray of food. The other carries a glass of wine.)

Valerea: Who are you? You don't seem like any of the regular servants.

Ursula: (She pulls the hood off her cape with a sigh) I knew she'd figure it out, Laryen.

Laryen: *Removes her hood* I didn't doubt that she would.

Valerea: I'm so glad you're here! You can help me with my plan. (Raises an eyebrow) By the way, how DID you get up here?

Ursula: (Smirks and holds up the wine) Drugged the wine the maids were drinking and stole their cloaks. They're going to have a devil of a headache when they wake up, but they'll otherwise be unharmed. (Grins at Laryen) I knew we'd find some good use for that sleeping wine Georgi was developing.

Valerea: I have a similar plan. I want to escape the fortress for good, but I can't do it alone. You can help me.

Ursula: We'd be glad to.

Valerea: First of all, I'm looking for men's clothing. They won't look twice at you two, especially if you're dressed as maids. I'm too well-known to pass as a maid. They'll discover me in an instant. I'm going to dress as a boy. (She holds up the beautiful jewel-encrusted Topaz Scimitar) And I'm going to bring this. It belonged to my mother's family and has been passed down to the oldest son. (Grins) Well, I'm the oldest. Mother wasn't able to give Father sons before she died. I claim it. My sister is too young for it.

Ursula: It's beautiful, your ladyship. May I hold it?

Valerea: (Hands it to her) Certainly.

Ursula: (Shows it to Laryen) Look at that goldwork!

Laryen: Wow, it's gorgeous!

Valerea: The jewels came from many lands across the seas. (Ursula hands it back to her.) I'll need a weapon, and I can't raid the armory without looking suspicious. (She puts the sword in a plain leather scabbard.)

Ursula: We'll have to move quickly, Your Ladyship. They can't catch us up here.

Valerea: First of all, from now on, please don't call me "Your Ladyship" anymore. Valerea is fine. Second, I'll need to change. (Hands Laryen the sword) I want you to cut my hair. Make me look like a man. (Grins) Within reason, of course.

Laryen: *Nods* Of course. I've actually had a lot of practice with cutting hair for boys.

Valerea: Many brothers?

Laryen: Not blood brothers, but brothers nonetheless.

Valerea: Then you have a great deal of experience. (She sits down on a wobbly wooden stool) Go right ahead, then.

(We fade out on Laryen cutting Valerea's long reddish locks with the sword. Cut to another exterior night shot of the fortress, this one in the back. We see four shadows scampering in the darkness along the wall.)

Robert: We must be careful. (We hear Georgi cry out) Georgi, shh! They will hear!

Georgi: *Whimpers* Sorry...stubbed my toe...

Robert: I believe we are not seen. (Turns to the others) Everyone concentrate. This is the best way to get in the fortress without anyone catching us. Herman, you too. This requires much help.

(There's a soft blue light around the four that blends into the darkness. When it subsides, they're in what looks like the usual dungeon set seen in many stories, recently "Rescue from Demon's Castle.")Robert: Is it moi, or have we been here before?

Georgi: It's you.

Robert: (Pushes the others into the shadows; indicates the guards) We must get rid of them first. Knock them out or give them Georgi's sleeping wine. I do not want to leave a trail of bodies.

(One of the guards gets very close to Georgi and accidentally steps on his toes!)

Robert: (Puts his hand over Georgi's mouth to cover his squawk) This is tres silly. David, knock him out. I'll do the other one.

David: Gladly. *does so*

Robert: (Knocks the other guard out, then) Herman, see if you can find the keys.

Herman: Right. *sets about looking for them*

Peter: (He looks up) Herrs? You are here! I thought you left!

Robert: We could never leave our ami. We are going to get you and Valerea out.

Peter: But Lord Morgan...

Robert: Will not know until it is too late.

Peter: You must be careful! If the guards come to...

Robert: We will be gone. Herman, have you found keys yet?

Herman: *holds up the keys* I've got them right here.

Robert: Merci. (He takes the keys and puts them in the locks, trying one at a time.)

Peter: Hurry, Robert!

Robert: I am trying, Pierre!

Ronald: (Comes in with several guards just as the key clicks in the lock; smirks) So who's in control now... (Narrows his eyes) Those are his friends! They were supposed to have left the country! They're helping him escape! Guards, get them! Guards! Guar...

(Suddenly, Ronald finds himself landing on his rear while the guards climb over or around him as we launch into the fast version of "The Girl I Left Behind Me.")

*Georgi waves at him, grinning.*

(Robert forgoes his sword for fisticuffs. Peter mostly ducks under and around guards and lets them clank into each other.)

(Ronald finally gets to his feet...and is knocked down again when Robert hits two guards into him.)

(The guards try to gang up on David and Georgi, but they're too fast for them.)

(That's when more people burst into the room! There's a flurry of gold as what appears to be a young man with short reddish hair wearing a male servant's uniform throws food at the guards. A second figure in robes helps her out. )

*The second figure starts tossing guards around the room.*

Peter: (As the music ends, he takes the young man by the arms...and finds himself looking into familiar eyes) Valerea? What...but how...your hair....

Valerea: (Shakes her head) Shhh! Shhh! We're getting out of here...and I'm going with you.

Peter: I know. The others told me.

Robert: We'd all better get to the cart. We'll imagine our way out...

Lord Morgan: What's going on here? (He arrives in the dungeon with more guards.)

Lord Morgan: Who is that lad? (Points to Valerea.)

Valerea: Father, we're leaving. I can't stay here. I want to be with Peter.

Lord Morgan: Young lady, what have you done to yourself? Your beautiful hair...

Valerea: I've decided on my future. (Turns to the others) Let's go.

Robert: I like the way the mademoiselle talks. (He pulls out his sword and pushes his way through the guards.)

Valerea: Father... (She kisses him on the cheek and hurries after Robert, pulling Peter with her.)

*Laryen shoves some of the guards. Georgi sets about poking and tripping them.*

Ursula: (As they arrive in the main hall) We're going to imagine ourselves out to the cart and leave from there. Herman, perhaps you should come with us as well. We could stop in the village and tell the innkeeper that something else came up and you'll have to leave for a while.

Valerea: Imagine?

Robert: You'll see. (We hear the clanking of guards.) Let's just go. We will explain later.

(There's a blue light around the entire group. When it subsides, they're gone. The remaining guards and Lord Morgan hurry into the room.)

Guard Captain: They were here just a minute ago, Your Lordship!

Lord Morgan: Well, search for them! Turn the whole fortress upside-down! I want them found and Valerea brought back! (Sighs and looks at the entrance at the end of the hall) Oh, my darling girl... (We fade out on his sad, somewhat confused face.)