War made her queen of England. Her love for a Welshman made her immortal.
Adapted from the creative non-fiction biography of the same name, Catherine de Valois tells the story of one of the 15th century's most fascinating queens, taking audiences beyond Henry V and Agincourt to discover the real woman you thought you knew from Shakespeare's "Henry V."
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ACT I, SCENE II
CHRISTMAS 1409. Paris. QUEEN ISABELLE sits at her desk in her royal apartment. Off-stage we hear lutes, recorders, and other instruments. At first the sounds are chaotic and noisy as the musicians rehearse. Slowly the noise clarifies to a single lute playing VENI, VENI. ENTER CATHERINE playfully dancing onto the stage. The off-stage lute accompanies her.
CATHERINE
(singing in medieval Latin)
VENI VENI, EMMANUEL CAPTIVUM SOLVE ISRAEL, QUI GEMIT IN EXSILIO, PRIVATUS DEI FILIO. GAUDE! GAUDE! EMMANUEL, NASCETUR PRO TE ISRAEL!
(stopping in front of her mother’s desk)
Joyeux Noël, Mama!
ISABELLE
(with arms wide)
Joyeux Noël, ma petite! Do you like your new dresses and your books?”
CATHERINE
(hugging ISABEAU)
I more than like my presents! Merci beaucoup, Mama!
ISABEAU
You are very welcome!
CATHERINE
What are you doing, Mama? It’s Christmas!
ISABEAU
Do you know how the Burgundians killed your uncle Louis two years ago?
CATHERINE
Yes. Is it true you used to go to bed with Uncle Louis sometimes?
ISABEAU
That’s not a proper question for a princess, Catherine. Why do you ask?
CATHERINE
Because everyone says you did and because I want it to not be true!
ISABEAU
Maybe someday we can talk about that, but I think you are a little young to understand. All I can tell you right now is that I loved your uncle and that your father scares me sometimes when he is sick – just like he scares you!
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Portuguese
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Already translated.
Translated by Vanisse Vaz Fernandes
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