Shakespeare In Italy, the Bard's forbidden romance

By Paul Streitz

A romantic screenplay/play of the Bard's 1574 Bard's romance with the Italian courtesan and poet, Veronica Franco, on his 1574 tour of Italy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Paul Streitz
• Release date: Jun 7, 2014
• ISBN: 9780971349865

Paul Streitz

Paul Streitz is a graduate of Hamilton College and has an MBA from the University of Chicago. He is the co-author of two musicals, OH, JOHNNY and Madison Avenue, the subliminal musical. He is author of Oxford: Son of Queen Elizabeth I, The Great American College Tuition Rip-off and America First: Why Americans Must End Free Trade, Stop Outsourcing and Close Out Open Borders. He has lectured on the Shakespeare authorship issue at Harvard University, the University of Cambridge and the University of London. He the founder of the Oxford Institute dedicated to the notion that Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford is the writer known as "William Shakespeare." He is a member of the Shakespeare Authorship Society and the Shakespeare Fellowship.

Book preview

Shakespeare In Italy

The Bard’s Forbidden Romance

Copyright 2013 Paul Streitz

Published by Paul Streitz at Smashwords

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EXT. SCOTLAND GLASGOW UNIVERSITY - AFTERNOON

2014 students are walking to class, backpacks, males, females contemporary clothing, talking on iPhones.

OXFORD (LATE 20's) appears out of nowhere. He is dressed in a rather sporty sport coat, turtle neck, slacks.

The students walk past him without noticing. One female student walks straight toward him, closer and closer. He does not move. Then she walks through him and continues on the other side.

OXFORD

If thou didst ever hold me in thy heart

Absent thee from felicity a while,

And in this harsh world

Draw thy breath in pain

To tell my story.

Oxford turns and watches her walk away.

OXFORD

I have absented myself from felicity a while, to tell my own story, or at least a good part of it. This act of My Travels to Italia.

It begins with Professor. Ernesto Grillo, who, in the 1930's, was a professor of English literature at this Glasgow University.

Ox ford waves his arm. The students walking by are now dressed in 1930's style.

OXFORD

He accepted the position before World War II and stayed here the rest of his life.

Oxford waves his hand.

INT. SCOTLAND GLASGOW CLASSROOM - AFTERNOON

ERNESTO GRILLO (40's) speaking with an Italian accent is lecturing before a class of students.

GRILLO

William Shakespeare of Stratford-upon-Avon visited Italy. That is incontestable. The frequent use he made of Italian poems and novella points to only one conclusion, that he was fluent in both reading and speaking Italian.

Often he understands the differences in dialect between the various cities of Italy. There were no translations of many of the Italian works he used in England at the time of his writing these glorious works.

Oxford is standing at the side of the classroom. No one sees him. He nods his head in approval to what Grillo is speaking. Oxford is listening and reacting.

GRILLO

In the tales by Ser Giovanni Fiorentino, there is the whole plot of The Merchant of Venice.

In Cinthio's Hecatomiti, there is the whole plot of Othello.

In the adventures of Isabella, there is the whole plot of Measure for Measure.

OXFORD

Ah yes, the wonders of Cinthio's Novelle.

GRILLO

But the man from Stratford does more than borrow plots from the Italian poets, novelists and playwrights. He breathes the life of the Italian cities, the colors of the sky and the blue of the Mediterranean. Shakespeare's knowledge of Italy is so staggering that we can only conclude that he visited Venice. Yes, two plays staged in Venice.

And the cities of Milan, Mantua, Padua and Verona. We must also conclude that he did not visit Rome, the site of the Pope, because nowhere are there any descriptions of the Holy City. We can therefore conclude, because we know the life of William Shakespeare of Stratford-upon-Avon, that Shakespeare visited Italy in the summer of 1594 through the next year, the summer of 1595.

Oxford is at the back of the classroom.

OXFORD

T'is so. T'is so. But the dates are wrong. (Waves his arm)

INT. VENICE 1574 BALLROOM - NIGHT

A rousing, drunken affair. Much carousing, dancing, etc. More opulent and decadent than England.

Paintings, statues, tapestries. Oxford is accompanied by GIOVANNI FLORIO (30'S). Florio bows and then whispers Oxford's ear. Florio brings Oxford over to a number of women.

FLORIO

Miei cari signore, posso presentare Edward De Vere, 17 conte di Oxford.

The women curtsey. Oxford goes over to one, bows and puts out his hand. The woman takes it and they step out to dance. The music swirls.

The ball goes on. Oxford dances with many and is particularly attracted to a woman VERONICA FRANCO (late' 20's) in the yellow dress. He catches her staring at him and when he notices her. She looks the other way and runs her hand through her hair. She is interested.

Oxford ends dancing with his partner. He bows to her and returns to the side of Florio.

OXFORD

Signore Florio, the woman in the yellow dress. The one with the fan.

FLORIO

Il Vostro, Eccelenza. Lei e molto pericoloso. Veronica Franco. ..

OXFORD

I understand that she is very dangerous. But very, very.

FLORIO

Splendida.

OXFORD

Splendida. Yes, beautiful indeed.

FLORIO

Veronica Franco.

OXFORD

Veronica. Is she?

FLORIO

Niente affatto. Il più grande cortigiana a Venezia.

OXFORD

The greatest courtesan in Venice. Will you introduce me?

FLORIO

Naturalmente!

Oxford and Florio walk over to where Veronica and three women are standing.

FLORIO

Le mie signore, mi scusi, ma lasciate che mi permetta di introdurre, Edward de Vere, 17 conte di Oxford, che visita la nostra fiera Venezia dall'Inghilterra.

Oxford bows and kisses the hand of each female.

OXFORD

La signorina Veronica, vuoi mi onorare con il piacere di questa danza.

VERONICA

Naturalmente, Conte di Oxford.

The ball goes on. Musicians play. Courtiers woo ladies. Ladies respond. Oxford and Veronica drink wine and dance again.

FADE TO BLACK:

INT. VENICE BEDROOM - MORNING

The light is shining in through shuttered windows. Veronica, dressed in a nightgown, her shoulders showing, goes to the windows and opens it. Light streams into the room. She turns toward Oxford lying in the bed.

VERONICA

Conte di Oxford. Buongiorno. Buongiorno. È ora di svegliarsi. La giornata sta iniziando

Oxford is sleepy. He slowly wakes.

OXFORD

Yes, I know it is morning. After the evening comes the morning. After the wine comes the headache. After the dance.

VERONICA

Comes the bedroom.

OXFORD

Yes, comes the bedroom.

EXT. VENICE GRAND CANAL - MORNING

Florio is exiting a gondola and entering a house. He goes up the stairs.

EXT. VENICE APARTMENT OUTSIDE THE DOOR - MORNING

Florio knocks on the door.

FLORIO

Conte di Oxford. Buongiorno. Buongiorno.

INT. VENICE BEDROOM - MORNING

Oxford goes to the front door.

OXFORD

Signore Florio, what is it? What do you want? Cosa vuoi?

EXT. VENICE BEDROOM OUTSIDE THE DOOR