Conference, The Eagle, and Dialogue

Okay, so Friday my brother went to the video store and came home with "The Eagle".  We watched it that night, and it was great inspiration for figuring out good ways to write dialogue for a fight segment.  Saturday, I watched the morning session of General Conference and then started writing.  I have to admit, I rarely read over what I write.  I can keep a sentence in my head, and I can remember the flow and topic of what I am writing, but once I write it, it is done.  I usually get somebody else to read over my paper and edit it.  Anyway, here is the cut down version of the script for the play.

Meleager: And to you, good sir, mighty with the bow,

Having struck the Boar first, deserves this prize

To you noble sire of, what be thy name?

Atalanta:  My lord, my name is Nikon, and I plead

                That you should take this trophy for your own

                As you did deal the final blow that brought

                A final death to this ferocious beast.

Meleager: Would you dare scorn this gift that I have gi’en

                Most freely to the one who earned the prize?

                You do yourself dishonor by your words.

                Come, friend, I do not wish to tarry on.

Atalanta: Your words convince me of the wisdom found

                In thanking you for such a precious gift.

                I must accept and in good grace give thanks.

Enter Toxius and Plexipus

Toxius: My nephew that young wretch will be our deaths.

                We must destroy her whilst we have the chance

                Before returning home to those who’ll kill

Us all, as is their right and is the law.

Meleager: What madness do you speak?

Iphicles: Your uncle’s fragile reason now is lost.

                Meleager we support you in your cause,

                We’ll join with you until the bitter end

                In order to protect this our new friend.

Eurypylus: I also stand with you through thick and thin

                My liege, my lord, and most of all my friend.

The two are slowly moving towards Atalanta, with malicious intent.  At that moment, they reach her and grab her.  Iphicles pulls a knife on her.

Meleager: You fiends, who flatter whilst betraying me

Atalanta goes postal and gets knocked out.

Meleager and family:

Meleager: my uncle asks of me

                To break the sacred law of the guest rights.

Meleager: Brother will you stand with me or him?

Plexipus: I value my own life against your own.

                Dear brother, I am sorry for this end

Meleager: Not half as sorry as you soon shall be.

Fighting ensues.  Meleager kills his uncle and his brother.

Euriponditis, Iphicles, etc.

Atalanta: My thanks, but I protect myself quite well.

Meleager: Milady, I am honor bound to fight

                In your defense. 

Atalanta: I thank you for your aid.

Iphicles and Euriponditis fight, Iphicles flees into the woods and Euriponditis follows.

Meleager: You always were too quick to rise to bait

                What was your weakness now has brought your fate.

Eurypylus is cowering in fear.

Eurypydus: Meleager, please I beg you spare my life

               

Meleager: If only you shall swear upon your soul

                To never speak of what has happened here.

Eurypylus: You have my oath, twill never pass my lips.

Meleager: Then leave, and never show your face again.

Switch to Euriponditis and Iphicles.

Iphicles: You thought that you could win my lovely wife

                You fool! I would not part with her for gold.

                Though she is young she knows to mind my will.

Euriponditis:  Sweet Chloe deserves more than you would give.

                She chose to love a blacksmith o’er a lord.

                And who would blame her?

Iphicles: The whole court knows

                That you and she are lovers; they would say

                You murdered me to wed my wife. You would

                Be cast out from the midst of them and shamed.

Euriponditis: Good sir, you talk to long. Be silent now.

Kills Iphicles

Meleager comes upon him moments later.  Euriponditis is badly shaken by Iphicles’ words.

Meleager: My friend, what makes you sigh, as though a girl?

                We are victorious, champions of the hour.

Euriponditis: My lord, when it is known that I have slain

                Fair Chloe’s husband I shall then be shunned.

                I cannot ask the maid to pay that price.

                Thus I must leave before I see her face.

Meleager: This day no one shall know twas done by you.

                We’ll claim that they had tried to steal the boar,

                And as we fought I claimed Iphicles’ life.

                Now come, we must prepare a detailed lie

                To hold up under closer inspection.