Tristan and Isolde (a modern shakesperian play)

Act I, Scene I

[The coast of Cornwall, a rocky shore beneath a castle]

Enter TRISTAN, solus, with a sword drawn

TRISTAN:
Upon this shore where waves do kiss the land I Tristan stand with heart and sword in hand the sea doth roar yet silent is my plight for love hath cast me into endless night.

[He sheathes his sword and sits]

Enter ISOLDE, with her maid BRANGAENE

ISOLDE:
What shadow hath befallen yonder knight that sits so still bereft of love's delight?

BRANGAENE:
'Tis Tristan lady of the lion heart whose sorrow seems to tear his soul apart.

ISOLDE:
O speak to me of love's ensnaring net for in his eyes a kindred pain I met.

[Tristan rises and approaches]

TRISTAN:
Fair Isolde thou art the dawn's first light yet I am bound by honor's rigid might.

ISOLDE:
Then let us weave a tapestry of dreams where love's bright thread through darkest fabric gleams.

[They exit together]

Scene II

[The court of King Mark]

Enter KING MARK and his advisor, CURVENAL

KING MARK:
What news Curvenal of my nephew's quest doth he return with Ireland's peace addressed?

CURVENAL:
My liege he hath but with a heavy cost for love hath won where battles would be lost.

KING MARK:
Speak plain what riddle doth thy tongue conspire what hath befallen Tristan my heart's fire?

CURVENAL:
He brings the fair Isolde to thy throne yet loves her as if she were his own.

KING MARK:
So stars do cross! 
But let the heavens align for love's true course I shall not undermine.

[Exeunt]

Act I, Scene III

[A garden in the castle]

Enter TRISTAN and ISOLDE, hand in hand

TRISTAN:
In this green world where nature's bounty lies I see naught but the ocean in thine eyes.
Let's steal the hours that fate would have us spend apart and in this garden let's pretend.

ISOLDE:
And in thy gaze I find my heart's reprieve for love once lost in thee I now believe that we are but two souls with single flight no king no duty just this moonlit night.

[They embrace]

Enter BRANGAENE, hastily

BRANGAENE:
My lord my lady hark! The king doth come with steps that beat like war's most urgent drum.

TRISTAN:
Then let us part as stars do from the night till morrow brings us to love's blessed light.

[Exeunt severally]

[End of Part I]

Act II, Scene I

[The gardens of King Mark's castle]

Enter TRISTAN and ISOLDE

TRISTAN:
In this lush garden where secrets are kept our love hath bloomed and many nights wept let not the morrow take thee from my side for in thy love I wish to ever abide.

ISOLDE:
Thy words my Tristan are like sweetest wine they comfort my soul with their tender line in thy embrace I find my truest home and fear no tempest nor ocean's fearsome foam.

[They walk hand in hand]

Scene II

[A corridor in the castle]

Enter KING MARK, in thought, with CURVENAL

KING MARK:
Curvenal speak true what dost thou think of love that dares the chasm's deadly brink?

CURVENAL:
My lord love is a strange and fickle flame it warms the heart yet plays a dangerous game.

KING MARK:
Aye that it does and yet I cannot quell the love that in my nephew's heart doth swell.

[They exit]

Scene III

[The castle's grand hall, during a feast]

Enter TRISTAN, ISOLDE, and COURTIER

COURTIER:
Hark Tristan! The king doth call for thee to raise thy voice in song for all to see.

TRISTAN (singing):
O love thou art a cruel and sweet pain that binds two hearts with an unseen chain.

ISOLDE (aside):
His voice doth carry his love's pure plea and every note doth resonate in me.

[Applause as Tristan finishes his song]

Scene IV

[The castle's battlements under the stars]

Enter TRISTAN and ISOLDE, in secret

ISOLDE:
The stars above they watch us with bright eyes as if to bless our love 'neath these skies.

TRISTAN:
And I would pluck each star to crown thee queen.
In thine eyes the universe I see and all its wonders existing for thee.

ISOLDE:
Let us then cherish this stolen time for love is the most sublime crime.

[They kiss]

Scene V

[Inside the castle, KING MARK's private chambers]

Enter KING MARK, alone

KING MARK:

[He looks out the window]

O heavy crown that sits upon my brow what weight of love must thou allow for Tristan's joy my own. 
I must forsake and bear this burden for his sake.
Yet if their love be true and deep then let them sow what they shall reap.

[He exits, resolved]

[End of Part II]

Act III, Scene I

[A secluded part of the castle gardens]

Enter TRISTAN and ISOLDE

TRISTAN:
In this quiet garden's gentle embrace we find a moment's peace a sacred space here let us speak of love that knows no bound for in thy heart my truest joy is found.

ISOLDE:
Thy words like softest down do comfort me and in thy love I'm bound yet flying free let not the morrow's dawn our dreams assail for in this night our love shall prevail.

[They sit entwined beneath a willow tree]

Scene II

[The castle's library]

Enter KING MARK and CURVENAL

KING MARK:
Curvenal dost thou think it wise to let such love as theirs without a fetter set?

CURVENAL:
My liege love's course is like the river's flow it finds its way no matter where it go.

KING MARK:
Then let it be for I cannot constrain the heart's desire nor love's sweet refrain.

[They exit, deep in thought]

Scene III

[A grand chamber in the castle]

Enter TRISTAN, ISOLDE, and BRANGAENE

BRANGAENE:
My lady and my lord beware the eyes that watch with envy's glare 'neath friendly guise.

ISOLDE:
Dear friend thy caution we shall keep in mind but love once kindled leaves such fears behind.

TRISTAN:
And should our secret love be brought to light we'll face the morrow with all our might.

[They part as the KING enters]

Scene IV

[The castle's grand hall, during a celebration]

Enter TRISTAN and ISOLDE, separately

TRISTAN (aside):
To see her thus amidst the throng it cuts my heart yet makes it strong.

ISOLDE (aside):
His gaze doth find me and in it I see the love that binds him ever to me.

[They join hands discreetly]

Scene V

[The castle's battlements, under the moon]

Enter TRISTAN and ISOLDE, meeting in secret

ISOLDE:
The moon doth watch us from her silver throne bearing witness to the love we've shown.
For in the darkness our love shines bright a beacon that burns through the night.

TRISTAN:
And I would rather have this moonlit hour, than all the days in a sunlit bower.
Let us then vow 'neath this celestial sphere to hold our love forever dear.

[They embrace]

Scene VI

[Inside the castle, KING MARK's private chambers]

Enter KING MARK, alone

KING MARK:

[He looks out the window]

What heavy burden must a king endure to see his kin in love's sweet lure for Tristan's bliss I bear a silent ache and don this mask for his dear sake.
Yet if their love be pure as driven snow then who am I to bid it not to grow?

[He exits, a figure of regal solitude]

[End of Part III]

Act IV, Scene I

[The castle's rose garden]

Enter TRISTAN and ISOLDE

TRISTAN:
In this rose garden full of thorn and bloom our love doth find both joy and looming gloom yet like the rose our passion's true and rare, defying pain, blooming 'neath care's stare.

ISOLDE:
Thy words my knight are as the rose's scent sweet and strong with love's own intent in every petal I see the days we've shared in every thorn the trials we've dared.

[They walk among the roses]

Scene II

[A hidden alcove in the castle]

Enter KING MARK, solus

KING MARK:
O solitude what answers dost thou hold to questions of a heart that's grown so cold for in my nephew's eyes I see a fire that speaks of love's most ardent pure desire.

[He sits, deep in thought]

Scene III

[The castle's grand hall]

Enter TRISTAN, ISOLDE, and COURTIER

COURTIER:
My lord the king requests thy presence now to discuss matters of the state and how thy recent journey to the Irish shore hath brought us peace and prospects of much more.

TRISTAN:
I shall attend his grace without delay for duty calls and I must needs obey.

[Tristan exits with the COURTIER]

ISOLDE (aside):
O fate be kind and let not duty's chain pull him from me lest all our love be vain.

[She exits in the opposite direction]

Scene IV

[The castle's library]

Enter TRISTAN and KING MARK

KING MARK:
Tristan my trusted knight what news of peace doth Ireland's queen our friendship now release?

TRISTAN:
My liege she doth and sends her fairest child Isolde as a gesture meek and mild.

KING MARK:
A noble gift and one that speaks of trust for in this world such bonds are just and just.

[They exit, discussing the alliance]

Scene V

[The castle's battlements]

Enter TRISTAN and ISOLDE, meeting in secret

ISOLDE:
The stars above they seem to dance with glee as if they know the love 'twixt thee and me yet dreams my love are fleeting as the night and with the dawn they take their silent flight.

TRISTAN:
Then let us vow to make each dream last clinging to love until the night is past and I would capture every starlit beam to light the darkness of our love's dream.

[They embrace]

Scene VI

[Inside the castle, KING MARK's private chambers]

Enter KING MARK, alone

KING MARK:
What torment 'tis to wear a crown of gold when in my heart such heavy tales are told for Tristan's love for Isolde doth grow and I in silence must my blessing show.
Yet love like the sun will have its day and who am I to stand in its way?

[He exits, a figure torn between kingly duty and personal sorrow]

[End of Part IV]

Act V, Scene I

[The royal gardens, bathed in the light of dawn]

Enter TRISTAN and ISOLDE

TRISTAN:
As dawn doth paint the sky with hues of gold our love like morning is a sight to behold yet with this light comes the end of night and with it our love must take its flight.

ISOLDE:
Fear not my Tristan for though day is here our love shall not fade with the night's last tear for in each other's hearts we've built a home that stands unshaken though tempests may roam.

[They part with a lingering embrace]

Scene II

[The castle's grand hall]

Enter KING MARK, with his advisors

KING MARK:
The sun ascends and with it duty calls to tend to matters within these walls yet my heart is heavy with a silent dread for love's sweet blossom may soon be dead.

[He addresses the court]

Scene III

[A secluded nook within the castle]

Enter ISOLDE and BRANGAENE

ISOLDE:
Brangaene dear friend the time draws near when Tristan and I must part in fear for love though strong cannot always fight the battles waged in the broad daylight.

BRANGAENE:
My lady take heart for love's true might lies not in battles but in its own light.

[They exit with determination]

Scene IV

[The castle's chapel]

Enter TRISTAN, solus

TRISTAN:
Here 'neath the gaze of saints and stone I stand a knight yet feel so alone for love has led me to this sacred place to seek the solace of divine grace.

[He prays silently]

Scene V

[The royal gardens]

Enter KING MARK, TRISTAN, and ISOLDE

KING MARK:
The time has come to speak of things unsaid of love that lives though it may tread on paths uncertain through shadows deep but in its journey true course it'll keep.

TRISTAN:
My king my uncle your words ring true for love is the guide that sees us through.

ISOLDE:
And in that love we find our strength to face the world at any length.

[They join hands, united]

KING MARK:
Then let it be known throughout the land that love once silent now takes its stand for Tristan and Isolde hearts entwined in royal blessing their love is signed.

[The court rejoices]

Scene VI

[The castle's battlements, under the stars]

Enter TRISTAN and ISOLDE, alone at last

TRISTAN:
Now stars above bear witness to our plight that love hath triumphed over darkest night.

ISOLDE:
And let the heavens and earth proclaim that Tristan and Isolde are one and the same.

[They embrace, as the curtain falls]

[End of Act V]