Fernando: The Saint, the King and the Knight

ACT 1, SCENE 1

QUEEN ISABELLA, downstage, addresses the theatre audience. She wears a floor lenght
costume, circa 1492. The stage is empty except for a table, chairs and a scrim upstage.

ISABELLA: Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen. I understand we have a number of students
in the audience. I would like to begin with a question? Who was the person or persons who
liberated Spain from the Moors?

AUDIENCE: (Shouts from the audience) "Ferdinand and Isabella. "?

ISABELLA: Not true. Ferdinand and Isabella. They took part in the re-conquest and freed
Granada. There was a Prince in Castile who paved the way for the re- conquest. He would
become known as Fernando the Third. He liberated the rest of Spain more than two hundred
years prior to Granada.

(HUBBUB in the audience.

ISABELLA: Who was this young Prince? Born in 1199 the son of King Alfonso the 9th of
of Leon and Dona Berenguera of Castile. Lady Berenguera's brother was heir to the throne
of Castile, but he died. That meant Lady Berenguera, who is my distant cousin, would
become Queen of Castile....ah, there's Lady Berenguera now and family friend, Archbisop
Jimenez.

( Enter DONA BERENGUERA and ARCHBISHOP JIMENEZ.. ISABELLA exits)

ACT ONE

SCENE ONE

                    (BERENGUERA escorts A/B GIMINEZ to a table.  He sits)

GIMINEZ.  Your Highness, I got your message just before...

                  (BERENGUERA raises hand for silence.  She crosses the stage, opens a curtain,

                  looks furtively about, shuts curtain, takes a seat close to A/B GIMINEZ)

BERENGUERA.  One can never be too careful Archbishop.

GIMINEZ.  A sign of the times,

BERENGUERA.  The death of Enrique has revealed the hearts of men, ambitious men.

GIMINEZ.  Like a few Nobles of Castile.

BERENGUERA.  A few.  That is the question?

GIMINEZ.  Madam, Why this concern.   You have overwhelming support of the Cortez.  

BERENGUERA.  (Low voice) I was not thinking of myself.  

GIMINEZ.   (Long pause)  Fernando?

BERENGUERA.  Been on my mind for some time.

GIMINEZ.  How?

BERENGUERA.  Abdicate in favor of my son.  

GIMINEZ.  (Rises). All right, I shall be candid.   Ever since Las Navas, Spain has sought

               a new El Cid.  A man destined to end Islamic rule in Iberia. I have seen him. 

               One day he will rule Castile. Until that day, Queen Berenguera will accede to 

               the throne and be sworn in at the Cortez on Monday.

BERENGUERA.  No, my Lord Archbishop, no. The ruler of Castile must build an army.

Forge an alliance with Nobles, Knights, and Military Orders like...

FERNANDO.  (ENTERS)   Like the Order of Santiago, the Order of Caltrava,

BERENGUERA.  A difficult task for a woman.

GIMINEZ.   How do you propose to recruit such historic orders?

FERNANDO.  Send an emissary they trust.  Some Churchman.  A high ranking Churchman.

GIMINEZ.  I see.  Excuse me Madam.  I need to chat with a young Prince from the Kingdom

of Castile.     

                              ( FERNANDO and ARCHBISHOP GIMINEZ EXIT

                               BERENGUERA puts the chairs back in place)

ACT 1, SCENE 2.   Archbishop Giminez at his desk in the Chancery Office.  He

is writing on a ledger.  After a while Nobleman Don Tomas of Navarre enters.

GIMINEZ.  (Rises). Good of you to come Senor Tomas.

TOMAS.  I got your message Archbishop.  I came ad soon I could.

GIMINEZ.  Thank you.  As you know my task is to document  the proceedings

of the recent Cortez.  

TOMAS.  And who supported the new...King.

GIMINEZ.  And who did not.  There was a dissenting faction.

TOMAS.  I am not privy to any faction.  I'll come directly to the point.

I did not support the Prince because he is a callow youth of 18 years.

GIMINEZ.  As you were Senor, before you made your mark at the battle of Las Navas.

TOMAS.  I was not raised at Court by servants, Maids, and tutors.   

GIMINEZ.  Its a question of Miliary prowess.?

TOMAS.  A question of character. of courage, of laying a foundation for battle...

GIMINEZ.  Come with me.  Giminez opens door.  Look out there, tell me what you see.

ACT 1, SCENE 2   (Continued)

GIMINEZ.  (To TOMAS). Look out there and tell me what you see.

TOMAS.  A Shrine, the Madonna and a boy kneeling in prayer.

GIMINEZ.  Almost everyday since he had a life threatening illness as 

a youngster. He has prayed to Jesus and the Madonna.

TOMAS.  All right, Excellency, our boy King has faith.  So do many of the 

Knights of Castile and Leon.

GIMINEZ.  No ordinary faith, Senor.  Fernando believes we can free 

every Kingdom in Iberia--if we put our trust in God, not men.

TOMAS.  Every Kingdom.  Through prayer we can win every battle, 

in Iberia.  (Laughs)

GIMINEZ.  Fernando believes that God will be with us in every battle,

and he will answer our prayers.  If we have a setback or retreat from 

the field, the Good Lord will provide something greater.

TOMAS.  Your Excellency.  I am a soldier.  I have seen many battles. I

never seen an army retreat--and receive something greater.

ACT 1, SCENE 2   (Continued)

FERNANDO: (Knelling to mother) My Queen and mother.

BERENQUERA:(Berenguera lifts up Fernando) My Lord and son. I've just relinquish my title so you are king. The Cortes just named you king.

FERNADO: I'm only 18 years old. How could you do this?

BERENQUERA: I put this burden on you because by God's providence only your sword can drive out the traitor Alvaro's armies and drive out the demon driving your father's army this way. 

FFERNADO: So as I expel the Alvaro's hordes, I am going to expel the demon driving my father.

BERENQUERA: Remember that it is Jesus who expels the demon, If you wins these wars then your greatest battle is with yourself.

TOMAS: As you ordered. We attacked three of Count Alvaro's strongholds and they quickly surrendered. What of your father?

FERNANDO: My father can wait since he is not here yet, I see red when I think of the murderer Alvaro who insulted and persecuted my mother.

BERENQUERA: Your army has captured Alvaro. They bring him to you at this moment.

FERNANDO: He deserves death!

BERENQUERA: Many deserve death, but...

FERNANDO: Did he not hang your innocent messenger? Did he not besiege you at Autillo?

FERNANDO: (Knells in silence for a moment and after a few moments stands facing his mother) In the depths of my soul I heard, "You will not sin against justice if you condemn him; but I, on the Cross, forgave." I'm not happy, but if it is God's will I'll show him mercy.

TOMAS: If you do this sire, everyone will view your benevolence as the weakness of youth.

FERNANDO: I do not fear my enemies as long as my God is on my side. I vanquish my passions, that my enemies be vanquished.

GIMINEZ: Sire, your father army is at the gate.

FERNANDO: (Writes on a piece of paper and hands it to the Archbishop as he says) I know Holy Mary will help me with him. Archbishop you are to go immediately to my father to negotiate peace.

ACT 1 SCENE 3

GIMINEZ: (To Fernando's father) Sire, it certain that if you enter in battle with your son, God will be on the side of the innocent.

KING ALFONSO: You have great courage to talk to me like this. If Alvaro were in my place he would hang you.

GIMINEZ: Your son wrote this letter for you. "This is a message to you my father from Holy Mary and me. I can not strike you because you are my father and my lord. So, I'm prepared to sit here and suffer with my troops until you come to your senses."

ALFONSO: (With a deep frowns silently for a few moments with first an expression of anger then looks down almost trembling then says with a disagreeable voice) Tell the King of Castile the war is due our kingdom not being paid 10,000 maravedis that Fernando's father never paid us for the stronghold of Santibanez.

GIMINEZ: There will be no difficulty if this will bring the peace.

Note: More to come.