Great Scene: “Shakespeare In Love”

Will makes a startling discovery about Thomas Kent.

In 1998, the movie Shakespeare in Love won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. The script, written by Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard, has an interesting point of origination. Norman’s son asked his father this question: What if William Shakespeare had writer’s block? That’s where the movie got its start.

There are so many fantastic scenes in the script, but here’s a great one: Viola, who has dressed as a man “Thomas Kent” in order to act in Shakespeare’s newest play, has delivered a note to Will informing him that Viola is to marry Lord Wessex. Will chases after Thomas to seek his opinion about what to do. This is a classic example of a scene where the reader / audience knows something one of the characters doesn’t, in this case Thomas Kent’s true identity — and it plays out with equal parts humor and pathos, with a deft punch line at the end provided by the Boatman, a nod to any screenwriter who’s had a cabbie toss a script their way en route from LAX (as happened to me once).

EXT. THE RIVER. VIOLA'S BOAT. NIGHT.WILL turns back to VIOLA. They have their conversation
intimately, disregarding the lack of intimacy. The BOATMAN
is hardly an arm's length away, but they ignore him.WILL
She tells me to keep away. She is to
marry Lord Wessex. What should I do?VIOLA AS THOMAS
If you love her, you must do what
she asks.WILL
And break her heart and mine?VIOLA AS THOMAS
It is only ours you can know.WILL
She loves me, Thomas!VIOLA AS THOMAS
Does she say so?WILL
No. And yet she does where the ink
has run with tears. Was she weeping
when she gave you this?VIOLA AS THOMAS
I... Her letter came to me by the
nurse.WILL
Your aunt?VIOLA AS THOMAS
(catching up)
Yes, my aunt. But perhaps she wept a
little. Tell me how you love her,
Will.WILL
Like a sickness and its cure together.VIOLA AS THOMAS
Yes, like rain and sun, like cold
and heat.
(collecting herself)
Is your lady beautiful? Since I came
to visit from the country, I have
not seen her close. Tell me, is she
beautiful?WILL
Oh, if I could write the beauty of
her eyes! I was born to look in them
and know myself.He is looking into VIOLA'S eyes. She holds his look, but
WILL belies his words.VIOLA AS THOMAS
And her lips?WILL
Oh, Thomas, her lips! The early
morning rose would wither on the
branch, if it could feel envy!VIOLA AS THOMAS
And her voice? Like lark song?WILL
Deeper. Softer. None of your
twittering larks! I would banish
nightingales from her garden before
they interrupt her song.VIOLA AS THOMAS
She sings too?WILL
Constantly. Without doubt. And plays
the lute, she has a natural ear. And
her bosom -- did I mention her bosom?VIOLA AS THOMAS
(glinting)
What of her bosom?WILL
Oh Thomas, a pair of pippins! As
round and rare as golden apples!VIOLA AS THOMAS
I think the lady is wise to keep
your love at a distance. For what
lady could live up to it close to,
when her eyes and lips and voice may
be no more beautiful than mine?
Besides, can a lady born to wealth
and noble marriage love happily with
a Bankside poet and player?WILL
(fervently)
Yes, by God! Love knows nothing of
rank or riverbank! It will spark
between a queen and the poor vagabond
who plays the king, and their love
should be minded by each, for love
denied blights the soul we owe to
God! So tell my lady, William
Shakespeare waits for her in the
garden!VIOLA AS THOMAS
But what of Lord Wessex?WILL
For one kiss, I would defy a thousand
Wessexes!The boat scrapes on the jetty of the DE LESSEPSES' house.
The bump throws THOMAS into WILL'S arms. He holds her round
the shoulders. His words have almost unmasked her. The
closeness does the rest. She kisses him on the mouth and
jumps out of the boat.VIOLA
Oh, Will!She throws a coin to the BOATMAN and runs towards the house.BOATMAN
Thank you, my lady!WILL
(stunned)
Lady?BOATMAN
Viola De Lesseps. Known her since
she was this high. Wouldn't deceive
a child.WILL gets out of the boat.BOATMAN
(reaching under his
seat)
Strangely enough, I'm a bit of a
writer myself.The BOATMAN produces his memoirs in manuscript.BOATMAN
It wouldn't take you long to read
it, I expect you know all the
booksellers...But WILL has gone.

Here is the film version of the scene:

Such a wonderful movie, especially for writers.

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