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Revision10.ALL THE MARQUISDo your acting, Montfleury!!CYRANO’S VOICEHe’d better notMONTFLEURY“Happy he who shuns”Final warning!CYRANO’S VOICEMONTFLEURY(to Cyrano,furiously)In insulting me, you insult The DramaticMuse and worse; you desecrate thistheater, this crucible ofhuman.humanity! This sacred Wooden O!THEATRE BUFF nods in passionate agreement, his son stifles hislaughter.We finally see Cyrano for the first time. He's up in the Gods.He hooks his sword hilt over a rope and drops to the orchestrafloor where the groundlings part for him.CYRANONo, Sir! Untrue! I’m sorry but you lie!You’ve made this stage your personal sty!The Dramatic Muse has fled the building,She scarpered when you startedgilding the lily with your(imitates booming)‘Great Big Voice’The poor Muse had no choice!I love this place and all it means:Poetry. Romance. Terror. Truth.I’ve loved it here since early youth.I can’t stand aside while you dishonour itwith your pumping and hideous jigs,I will not abide your thumping anddreadful wigs.(sheep look nervous)Montfleury, you’ve abandoned the truth,you’ve lost your core.You can’t remember how truth feels andwhat it’s for.So now, please leave this stage, never toreturn.And I will applaud the new integrityyou’ll earn.EXIT MONTFLEURY!Pandemonium! While the Groundlings cheer, Roxanne applauds,beaming at Cyrano. He coolly nods to her. Le Bret notices thismoment.

Revision11.MONTFLEURYI am not moving one step from the centreof this stage! I am necessary. I am ateller of truths: profound, comical,tragical, mystical, whatever you bloodywantical!The Aristocrats cheer.CYRANOIf you won’t leave by invitation then I’mcompelled to use force.Cyrano vaults over the stalls gate and charges through thecrowd who part to let him pass. They're going wild.MONTFLEURYHelp me, someone! Protect me! Arrest him!Help pleaseThe theater manager (JODELET) emerges from backstage.Please Cyrano -JODELETCyrano leaps onto the stage and turns to the crowd.CYRANOWill anyone here defend this greatsausage? I will duel with any volunteerwith all the honour commensurate to hisstation! Is anyone willing to fight forMontfleury?Laughter and derision from the boxes and cheers and shoutsfrom the groundlings.MARQUISYou are no Samson!CYRANOI'm no Goliath either! But I fight likethe two combined.MARQUISI think not! Goliath was a GIANT!Cyrano draws his sword. Boxes gasp. Groundlings cheer.CYRANO(to Marquis)Care to think again?The Marquis shakes his head and hides behind his ladycompanion. The crowd laugh. But not de Guiche and Valvert wholook on in fury from their box.

Revision12.CYRANO (CONT'D)No volunteers? You came here to see himbut you won’t fight for him? Montfleury.Exit. Or face this sword.Cyrano strolls back to the stage.Sir?MONTFLEURYplease.CYRANOOn a count of three you will Exit StageRight - hurriedly.Please.One.MONTFLEURYCYRANOMONTFLEURY(to Jodelet)Do something!Two.CYRANOJODELETCyrano, please sir, for the sake of theplay?!Three!CYRANOMontfleury runs off. Cyrano looks at Roxanne and bows to her.She smiles at him warmly. De Guiche sees the exchange anddoesn’t like it.Members of the audience stand. The boxes boo. The floorapplauds Cyrano, ladies whisper from behind fans.Ladies!JODELETGentlemen! Please.A MARQUISI came to see a play!CYRANOSo did I. But that man explodes them! Firehim from a cannon and we’d win the war!People laugh and pound the boxes.THEATRE BUFFWe have paid to see a play!

Revision13.CYRANOAnd I have saved you from seeing a fiasco!THEATRE BUFFWe paid to see Montfleury!!JODELET(to Cyrano, urgently)Yes, what about their money?CYRANO(sighs)Always the money.Cyrano tosses Jodelet a bag of coins.JODELET(Opens bag,to Cyrano)At this price sir, you can close thetheater every night.(to Audience)Ladies and gentlemen, you will be refundedin full at the door.(general cheering)Clear the house! Clear the house!The chandeliers descend. The lobby doors open. The audiencebegins to leave. De Guiche pulls Valvert aside.DE GUICHEHe may be silver-tongued but hissensibility is base.VALVERTHe should learn some manners.So, teach him.Now.?DE GUICHEVALVERTDe Guiche nods, ominously.VALVERT (CONT'D)Despite his vulgarity he’s known as anaccomplished swordsman.DE GUICHEAll the more pleasure for you. He deniedus our entertainment; now make us laugh,Valvert, bring us joy. Torture the littlebeast.De Guiche smiles. Then begins to exit from the box withRoxanne and Marie while Valvert descends to the floor.

Revision14.Le Bret touches Cyrano who grins as they embrace.Le Bret!Dinner?CYRANOLE BRETCYRANOLove to! But. No money.LE BRETYou had a full bag of coins.CYRANOAll donated to the long-suffering patronsof this theater.LE BRETBut how will you eat?CYRANOThe gesture was more important.They turn to go but Valvert steps in front of Cyrano.You.Me, Sir?You’re a freak.VALVERTCYRANOVALVERTRoxanne gasps. The audience stops exiting and turns.VALVERT (CONT'D)Nothing to say, freak?CYRANOThe insult is antique but I accept it.Ha! Freak.VALVERTThe audience slowly form a circle around Cyrano and Valvertwho stare at each other. Ten yards apart.CYRANOHave you exhausted your dictionary ofscorn? Is that it?The crowd laughs and claps.

Revision15.VALVERTWho is this savage who dares to presenthimself in public without ribbons, bows orbraids?CYRANOI’m not au courant, it’s true. But thinkof my deeds as ribbons, my humour as abow, my VALVERTOh, do pipe down or else you'll drown in verbosity.CYRANOA fellow poet! Pleasure to meet you.Cyrano De Bergerac.De Guiche nods at Valvert - ‘Do it’. Valvert throws his glovein Cyrano’s face. Audience gasp.CYRANO (CONT'D)I accept your challenge.Tension. Valvert draws his sword. Cyrano draws. Roxannewatches intently.VALVERT(to crowd)I’ll make short work of this!CYRANO(to crowd)Isn’t he a hoot?Valvert lunges but Cyrano brilliantly evades him.CYRANO (CONT'D)A palpable miss.This lunge and evade continues a while. Valvert is losingface. Now he plays to the crowd for sympathy:VALVERTIt’s hard to hit a target quite so small.The man is barely four feet tall!Sudden silence. Those who know him know Cyrano won’t likethis. Cyrano stares at Valvert. Then catches Roxanne’s eye.She gives him a worried, sympathetic smile. A tension. Will heslice Valvert to ribbons of flesh? Some of the crowd step backin anticipation of blood. But Cyrano has other ideas.CYRANOHe calls me ‘freak’, ‘short’, ‘small’.It’s so.on the nose.Our language is rich,

Revision16.CYRANO (CONT'D)a jewel box, a ruby.But this perfumed boobyuses words: ‘small’?like some old marquisTakes a fall.Cyrano collapses, feebly. The crowd laugh. Cyrano groans onthe floor and then springs up bursting with life:CYRANO (CONT'D)(to Valvert)Where’s the muscle, where’s the sinew?Or should I take it that these wordsaren’t in you?God gave us all a heart and brain,opened up we’d seem the same,But when He made our outward frame,Such infinite varietybrought mostly pain.(sarcastically)Thank you, Lord!Le Bret cheers. Cyrano takes in Roxanne a moment.CYRANO (CONT'D)Some got figures tall and finebut God made others.aquiline.Valvert makes to lunge at Cyrano but De Guiche (enjoying it)prevents him.CYRANO (CONT'D)Some were blessed with a face that couldlaunch a thousand ships,(to Valvert)Others got a mug to sink them.Cyrano hunches over in curved fashion.SONG: 'When I Was Born'CYRANO (CONT'D)SIR, WHEN I WAS BORN THE NURSES LAUGHEDHYSTERICALLY.THEY’D NEVER SEEN ANYTHING QUITE LIKE MEAPPARENTLYI’LL NEVER FORGET IT. I CAN STILL HEARTHEM JOKING.ONE SAID, “MY GOODNESS WHAT HAS GOD BEENSMOKING?”AND WHEN THEY HANDED ME OVER TO MY MOTHER.SHE HANDED ME BACK AND SAID“ARE YOU SURE THERE ISN’T ANY OTHER?”Cyrano goes after him - his skill is dazzling. Cyrano keepsbesting Valvert as he sings:

Rev. 10/23/20 (Blue)17.CYRANO (CONT'D)FROM WHEN I WAS BORN I LEARNED TO CONTROLMY TEARS. WHEN THEY CARRIED ME HOMETHROUGH TOWN I LEFT A TRAIL OF BROKENMIRRORS.YES! WHEN CHILDREN SEE ME THEY SCREAM ANDRUN AWAY. YOU’RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!HALLOWEEN’S MY FAVORITE HOLIDAY.As Cyrano sings each rhyme he makes a sword strike thatprecisely removes Valvert’s ribbons, bows and wig.CYRANO (CONT'D)I AM A MONSTER! I AM A MUTANT! A FREAK OFNATURE. I’VE HEARD ALL THE UGLY HATEFULNOMENCLATURE.I TOLD A GIRL ONCE I LOVED HER. CRICKETS.SHE LOOKED AT ME AND SAID, “I SUPPOSE ICOULD SELL TICKETS.”AT SCHOOL THE ONLY THING I LEARNT IS FOLKSARE PLENTY CRUEL,THEY MADE ME PAINT MY FACE WITH WHITE ANDPLAY THE TEACHERS FOOLCAN'T YOU SEE I'M MORE THAN YOU THINKI'VE HEARD IT ALL SO MANY TIMESEVERYBODY KNOWS I'M SO MUCH MORE THAN AFREAKIF YOU WANNA TRY TO HURT ME, YOU BETTERGET IN LINEYOU JUST HAVE TO SAY IT. I GET IT. ITMAKES SENSE.WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR KIND OF TALENT FORCLEVER VICIOUS COMMENTS.MY HEART’S NOT EVEN ANGRY. IT’S JUST THEWAY IT BREAKS. AND DON’T BE SO TOUGH ONGOD. EVERYBODY MAKES MISTAKES.YES! ONE SIGHT OF ME COULD MAKE A STATUECRY!GUESS WHAT ELSE! WHEN BLUEBIRDS LAND ON METHEY SHIT THEMSELVES AND DIE!WHICHEVER WAY I LOOK AT YOU CAN'T FIND ATASTEFUL SIDE, A SPECIMEN LIKE YOU BELONGSIN FORMALDEHYDEYES! WHAT YOU’VE HEARD IS TRUE. I AM NOT ARUMOR, I’M LIVING PROOF THAT GOD HAS ASICK SENSE OF HUMOR.CAN'T YOU SEE I'M MORE THAN YOU THINKI'VE HEARD IT ALL SO MANY TIMESEVERYBODY KNOWS I'M SO MUCH MORE THAN AFREAKIF YOU WANNA TRY TO HURT ME, YOU'D BETTERGET IN LINESong over - Cyrano advances on Valvert forcing him backwards.

Revision18.CYRANO (CONT'D)(coldly)Take this and this and that.He pins Valvert at the neck with the point of his sword andholds him there.CYRANO (CONT'D)I’ll have you horizontal,Unspeakable, speechless rat.He forces Valvert to his knees and finally to the floor.Victory. Applause. Le Bret whistles. Roxanne exhales withrelief. De Guiche shakes his head.Cyrano turns and walks away. The crowd chant his name.CROWDCyrano! Cyrano! Cyrano!Cyrano bows to them with graceful humility. But Valvertsuddenly springs up and lunges at Cyrano’s back -Cyrano!ROXANNE(warning him)Her oranges fall to the floor. Cyrano turns and draws; Valvertruns onto his sword. It plunges deep into his guts andthrough. Terrified screams from the crowd.Cyrano looks at the shocked Valvert with pity - they standlocked together by the sword - almost in embrace - Cyranowhispers intimately to Valvert, no one else hears this:CYRANOYes. It all goes in.My God, how it hurts.Cyrano swiftly withdraws his sword and Valvert collapses,mortally wounded. Several Comtes rush to Valvert and crowdaround him. Le Bret pulls Cyrano away; Cyrano looks back:Quickly -LE BRETCYRANOThe poor dead fool.LE BRETYou had no choice They join the crowd exiting the theater as-

Revision819.INT. DE GUICHE’S CARRIAGE. MOMENTS LATER.De Guiche is raging.DE GUICHEHe went too far.ROXANNEValvert insulted him and then challengedhim to a duel.DE GUICHEValvert’s a Comte - or was - in myretinue.ROXANNEI assure you Cyrano took no pleasure fromit.De Guiche thinks.You know him?DE GUICHERoxanne pauses a moment.MARIEThey’re from the same town, in the SouthWest.ROXANNECyrano is my oldest friend.DE GUICHEIt would be to your advantage to end thefriendship.Marie gives Roxanne a sharp look, ‘don’t contest this’.DE GUICHE (CONT'D)I won’t wait forever.ROXANNE(nervous smile)Did I miss a proposal?De Guiche leans in to her. Holds her chin firmly.DE GUICHEDon’t push it, pretty thing.He releases her. Roxanne looks away out the window.8

Rev. 10/23/20 (Blue)9EXT.A DIFFERENT STREET.20.LATER, SAME NIGHTLe Bret and Cyrano heading home after dinner. The eating housebehind them. Both men are a little drunk and merry.CYRANOHow about a drinking song? Like soldiersdo.LE BRETWe’re better than that. At least, I am.Cyrano chuckles.LE BRET (CONT'D)May I ask a question?Anything.CYRANOLE BRET(muses)It’s a little personal.CYRANOI have no secrets from you.LE BRETAre you in love?Cyrano stops dead, completely thrown.CYRANOWhatever gives you that idea?LE BRETI knew you wouldn’t like it.CYRANODo I seem offended?LE BRETNo. But your guard is up.CYRANOIt’s just.some things are private.LE BRETWhat gave me ‘the idea’ was yourperformance at the theatre today. I sensedyou were playing to one particular memberof the audience.Oh, who?Le Bret stares at him.CYRANO9

Rev. 10/23/20 (Blue)LE BRETLet’s not continue this charade. If youwant to unburden, fine. If you don’t thenthat’s fine too.Cyrano stares back. A long time. Then smiles, softly.CYRANOYes. Yes! I am in love. I dare. My solepurpose on this earth is to love Roxanne.(slight pause)Feel better now?Do you?LE BRETSong. MADLYCYRANOHAVE YOU EVER WANTED SOMETHINGSO BADLY YOU CANNOT BREATHEHAVE YOU EVER LOVED SOMEONE MADLY?LE BRETI don’t think I have.CYRANOIsn’t she.magnificent?LE BRET(playfully)Yes she is, though perhaps a little vain?CYRANOYes but magnificently so.LE BRETThere’s some pretension in there too.CYRANOShe’s full of it!LE BRETI wasn’t sure about her hair today.CYRANOAgreed! But even her imperfections areperfect. In our little town, back in theday, she was practically worshipped. Tosome she was notorious, to me, glorious.Does she know?LE BRET21.

Rev. 10/23/20 (Blue)CYRANOYou think a person with her beauty - inmind, body and soul - doesn’t know aboutit?LE BRETI meant does she know you’re in love withher?CYRANONo! It would mortify her. Someone like me,supposing to love perfection? She’d beoffended. No, if I ever confessed she’dnever see me again.LE BRETYou don’t have a very high opinion of her.CYRANOWhat? She’s The Alps.LE BRETBut you don’t trust she has the depth tolook beyond your Careful.CYRANOLE BRETYour unique physique.Not bad.CYRANOLE BRETTo love you for who you are not for howyou look.CYRANOYes, yes, yes but don’t you see? I’msimply not worthy of her.Song resumes:CYRANO (CONT'D)I'VE HELD MY BREATH SINCE I SAW HER.I'VE TRIED TO LOOK AWAY BUT I CAN'T RESISTI KNOW EVERY DETAIL OF HER, I MADE A LISTI CAN’T TELL YOU HOW LONG I’VE THOUGHTABOUT HER. I’VE KEPT EVERYTHING SHE’SMISSED. SHE’S GONNA LAUGH AT THE ONE THATBRINGS HER LOVE LIKE THIS.HAVE YOU EVER WANTED SOMETHINGSO BADLY YOU CANNOT BREATHEHAVE YOU EVER LOVED SOMEONE MADLY?22.

Rev. 10/23/20 (Blue)23.LE BRETWhen you were fighting Valvert she wasanxious.Le Bret imitates Roxanne watching Cyrano at the theater.LE BRET (CONT'D)She turned quite pale, her lips trembledand parted, and she touched her heart Le Bret touches his heart and fans himself.LE BRET (CONT'D)You should tell her. You love her.CYRANONever. My fate is to love her from afar.To confess would be to shatter thebeautiful dream.Cyrano smiles reluctant and rueful.LE BRETYou forget, I’ve seen you in battle.You’re a fighter to the end. But in loveyou’ve raised the white flag. Have faithin her. Tell her the truth.Marie is bustling down the street towards them at speed. Shechecks no one’s watching, then:MARIE(to Cyrano)A word. Roxanne wishes to meet with you,alone.CYRANO(instantlyexhilarated)What? Why?MARIEShe won’t say, no matter how much I berateher. But she says it’s urgent.CYRANOThen take me to her at once!MARIENot now you vulgar person! At night?Then when?CYRANO

Revision24.MARIEShe’ll go to early Mass tomorrow. Aftershe leaves the church she’ll meet withyou. Somewhere discreet, she said it mustbe private.Le Bret looks at Cyrano significantly, then raises an eyebrow.MARIE (CONT'D)(to Le Bret)I’ll thank you, Captain Le Bret, to lowerthat eyebrow. There is nothing unseemlyhere.LE BRETI bow to your expertise on the matter.Marie bristles, unsure whether she’s been insulted orcomplimented.MARIE(to Cyrano, sharply)A venue, please.In his excitement, Cyrano can’t think.MARIE (CONT'D)I’ve never seen him silent before, it’squite appealing.Let me think.Where?CYRANOMARIECYRANOI’m thinking where!(to Le Bret)Where?LE BRETRagueneau’s. There’s a room upstairs.7 o’clock.I will too.MARIEShe’ll be there.CYRANOMARIEAnd so will I. Goodnight.Marie hurries back the way she came.

Revision25.CYRANO(beaming)She wants to see me! Privately.There it is.LE BRETCYRANOAlone! (Except for the crone).Cyrano is running. Le Bret laughs, trying to keep up.CYRANO (CONT'D)I must not succumb to hope! Hope ismadness. Hope is hell!Hope is life.LE BRETCYRANOI need an army to vanquish! I have tenhearts and twenty arms, I could kill ahundred men!Le Bret laughs and stops walking.LE BRETGood night my friend. And good lucktomorrow.CYRANO(hopefully)This could be it.Have faith.LE BRETLe Bret turns to leave.CYRANOWhere are you off to at this late hour?LE BRETSome things are private.Le Bret heads towards a dark alley.CYRANO(suddenly remembers)Thank you for dinner!Le Bret waves without turning. Cyrano dances away in the otherdirection.

Revision10EXT.STAIRS.26.SAME NIGHT.10Cyrano walks past a wealthy carriage and horses stopped in thestreet. The figure inside is in shadow.Suddenly Cyrano is jumped by ten men. They come at him all atonce forming a large circle. He draws his sword.CYRANOI had hoped to fight one hundred. But tenwill do.Cyrano runs a man through with his sword. He knocks anotherone into the water and then jumps in after him. The water isankle deep and shining in the moonlight. Cyrano holds the mandown with his foot while he fights off another with his sword.He lets go of the man in the water who is now dead and runsthe other through and takes his sword. He jumps out of thewater and duels with two at once, a sword in either hand, atthe water’s edge. He defeats both. He is attacked from behindand as he turns he is cut on his hand. He keeps swashbucklinguntil the remaining two attackers flee.Cyrano clenches his hand to stop bleeding. The carriage drivesoff quickly. We see De Guiche in the back. Cyrano watches thecarriage pass. Then continues his walk home.11INT. CYRANO'S ROOM, THE GARRISON - FOLLOWING MORNING. 5AM.11Cyrano’s room is spacious, minimal and very neat. A single bed(made with military corners) along a wall. A large desk neatlypiled with books and stacks of loose paper (his poetry andwriting). A straight line of ink pens on the desk. There is asingle high window and a small wash basin.Cyrano is up early. He’s writing a letter and taking greatcare over it.The wound on his hand is now bandaged.Close in on Cyrano as he writes. Nearly finished he smudges aword. He curses, puts the letter to one side and starts again.12EXT. STREET - TWENTY MINUTES LATER12Cyrano walks quickly. He’s tense with nervous energy. He stopsa moment in the empty street. Catches his breath. Breathes indeeply, steadying himself.13INT. RAGUENEAU’S SHOP - LATER, SAME MORNINGA bakery and food store. Copper pots, bowls, wooden tables.Low ceilings, brick archways, wood beams.13

Revision27.Smoked glas

CYRANO Screenplay by Erica Schmidt Based on the stage musical adapted and directed by Erica Schmidt from Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand, Music by