Scene 1:

Filomena (laughing as she lets her guests enter the garden)

Guest 1: The garden is magnificent, Your Highness, it is an honor to be invited to your tea party.
(Curtsy)
Filomena: Much appreciated Dear Duchess (smile lovingly)
(Everybody sits on their respective chairs)
Guest 2: Your highness, I appreciate it, and it truly is an honor to be here at your tea party, but
may I ask your purpose for holding this banquet?
Filomena: I wanted to have this; I am quite bored here at the palace you see. I also wanted to
share a story with you all, that you as the young duchess and princesses of the town, could learn
a thing or two about love and sacrifices.
Guest 3: oh! (excitedly) that is wonderful and truly exciting indeed! I can’t wait to hear it!
perhaps we could start now Your highness.
Filomena (Sips Tea): perhaps we should. I feel as though I am back in time again!
Filomena: you all know Coppo di Borghese Domenichi am I right?
(the princesses and duchesses all nod in unison)
Filomena: well, I might as well introduce him again, he is one of the most highly respected men
of our century, and has always been fond of discussing events of the past. And he once told me a
story about a young Florentine named Federigo – the son of Messer Flippo Alberighi, and a
highly spoken squire because of his deeds of chivalry and courtly manners.
Guest 4: (blushing) oh isn’t he so dreamy? (giggles)
(all the other guests laughed as well)
Filomena: He is indeed, every woman would love him. But his love was rather unrequited, he
lost his heart to a lady named Monna Giovanna – a noble lady, who, like him, was considered to
be one of the loveliest and most adorable women during her time.
(no response from the princesses and duchesses, left speechless)
(Sips Chamomile Tea)
Guest 5: But why your majesty? they sound perfect for each other!
Filomena: they are. But as people say, sometimes, we meet the perfect person at the wrong time.
Monna and Federigo are like that.
But he did everything he could to win her love. He rode at a ring, tilted, and gave sumptuous
banquets, he sent countless generous gifts and spent money without any restraint. But the lady,
Monna, did not notice the things that were done for her, or for the person who did them.
Scene 2:

Federigo: (looking at Monna lovingly) I love you, so ardently, I’ll give you the world, the stars,
and the universe if I could. My feelings for you are sincere, I admired you at the first glance I
gave you, how your hair flowed in the wind, how your eyes shone brighter than the sun above,
and how your smile could give warmth and comfort to those who see it.
Monna: (looking at Federigo sadly) I am sorry, I don’t feel the same way. I wish you would stop
spending your fortune on me, you’re barely able to afford your needs now because of me. I
wouldn’t want to be the cause of your downfall.
Federigo: (looking down and avoiding Monna’s eyes) Please don’t feel sorry for me, I don’t want
you to pity me for loving you. I give you my all and do all these things to show my admiration
for you, to prove to you that my feelings for you are genuine, and to show you that you are worth
more than you think you think you are.
Monna: (pushing Federigo out of the door) Please just leave me alone for now. I need some time
to think for myself. I am deeply sorry for pushing you away like this but you really need to leave
now.
Federigo: (leaving sadly) I understand milady. (walk away) I really can’t live here in Florence
anymore, I’ll move to Campi and live a simple life. As long as I have my trusty falcon, I’ll be
fine. I still have a farm there, which should be enough to generate an income to survive.

(SFX: New Day!!)

Scene 3:
Monna's Husband: I am already dying, dear. (holds Monna's hand who's sitting beside him)
Monna: No, you're not, you're going to fight. (sobbing) This is just an illness. (puts her hand
over her husband's)
Monna's Husband: I can't. (Tries to get up) I have thought of this for a while now (looks at
Monna and his child)
Monna: What is it, dear? (looks at him curiously)
Monna's Husband: I'm going to write my will. (attempts to get out of bed but is stopped by
Monna)
Monna: Are you serious?? (voice slightly rises)
Monna's Husband: Yes, (put's Monna's hand away) my wealth is going to be passed down to our
only son. (Stands up slowly and slowly walks up to his desk)
Monna: But, dear- (cut off by her husband)

Monna's Husband: (cuts Monna off) I assure you, dear, (sits on the chair in front of his desk)
nothing bad is going to happen, besides, it's our son who's going to be the heir of my wealth.
(looks back to look at Monna and at his son)

Monna: I don't know, dear. (stands beside her husband, just behind his shoulder) (puts her hand
on his husband's shoulder) Maybe it's too early to write a will. You'll be fine, right? You're going
to survive. (shedding tears)

Monna's Husband: (place a clean sheet of paper on the desk and holds his pen, starting to write
his will) It's not "too" early, Monna. It's already too late. We all know, I am dying. (shedding
tears) (wipes off his tear)
Monna's Husband: You can't stop me now, Monna. Let's face the fact that I'm going to die,
sooner or later. (looks at Monna) (wipes Monna's tear)

Monna: (sobbing) You can't die, dear. You can't. You will survive this. (covering her face while
crying)

Monna's Husband: (just finished writing up his will, stands up and hugs Monna) I'm so sorry.
(brushes Monna's hair with his hand) Shh... I love you always even when life and death
seperates us. (kisses her forehead) (wipes off her tears)

Monna: I love you too (still sobbing)

Monna's husband: (looks at their son) (signs the son to come and join them in a hug) I love you
both (hugs her wife and son)
Scene 4:
(SFX: New Day)
Monna: (cheerfully talking to her son) Have you packed your luggage? We’ll go on a vacation
on our estate in Campi, are you excited?
Monna’s son: (grinning from ear to ear) Yes, my dear mother! I can’t wait to explore the new
place we’re going to!!
Monna: (smiling brightly) I’m sure you’ll be delighted when we arrive there, I heard that the
scenery in that estate is a sight to behold.

Scene 5:
(SFX: Arrival of a Carriage)’
Monna’s lad: Welcome milady and young master, I know that you’re already tired from your
travels. Your rooms have been prepared, you may now rest and stay there while we prepare your
dinner.
Monna: Thank you, can you lead us to our rooms and we shall unpack our baggage?
Monna’s lad: Yes milady, now if you follow me.
(arrive at the rooms)
Monna: Thank you, you may leave us alone now.
Monna’s lad: Wow!! Federigo’s falcon never failed to amaze me. Maybe he’s out hunting again,
shall I go meet him?
(goes into the woods)
Federigo: Oh, hello there! You really are interested in my falcon huh?
Monna’s lad: Indeed! It’s just amazing how good it is at hunting. I see it brought you a snake this
time!
Federigo: HAHAHA! My trusty fellow right here is a great hunter, it hasn’t even been long since
I sent him out. It would really make me sad if someone was to take it away from me.

Scene 6:
Monna’s son:(talks weakly) Mother, I am feeling sick. My body is feeling all weak.
Monna: Oh, my poor child, what happened to you? Everything's going to be all right. Your
mother's solace words will be with you all day long. Speak what distress you and I'll move the
heaven and earth to obtain it for you.
Monna's son: I think I should start feeling better soon if you could fetch me Federigo's falcon,
mom. (leaves and goes to his room)
Monna: (taken aback) Oh my god! I know he is in love with me, but what am I gonna do?
Monna: (confused and contemplating) How am I supposed to go to him or even send someone to
ask him for this falcon, which according to all I have heard is the best falcon to ever fly and is
also the only thing keeping him alive? I must not look into his eyes! But how can I be so callous
as to rob a man of his last remaining pleasure who is so noble?