Little Birds

By J.L. Davis

Renowned duelist, Valtini Von Fierno, has a long history of flouting societal norms. When a local zealot decides to put her lifestyle on trial and see that she is burned as witch, she does not react kindly. Will her actions be enough to keep her safe, or will she be forced to flee the land that she calls home?

• Language: English
• Publisher: J.L. Davis
• Release date: Dec 10, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215470381

J.L. Davis

J.L. Davis currently resides in Maui Hawaii with his wife, Michelle. His hobbies include performing on stage, disc golf, and surfing.

Book preview

Little Birds

[An Original Practice fantasy play in three acts.]

by

J.L. Davis

Copyright 2023 © J.L. Davis.

Irrillania Collection. Smashwords Edition.

Cover design by J.L. Davis.

This script is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This script may not be re-sold or given away. If you would like to share this script, please purchase an additional copy. If you are reading this script and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy.

Thank you for respecting the work of this author.

CHARACTERS

[In order of appearance.]

Pompitus-Zealous bishop. [Male, 40-60.]

Valtini-Renowned duelist. [Female, 20-35.]

Fran-Socialite. [Transgender woman, 20-35.]

Traveller #1-Friendly passer-through. [Male, Any age.]

Taveller #2- Friendly passer through. [Female, Any age.]

Peasant #1-Unfriendly local. [Male, Any age.]

Peasant #2-Unfriendly local. [Female, Any age.]

Mercenary #1/No-no-An angry little man. [Male played by female, 30-50.]

Mercenary #2/Padishar/Imeel-A conscientious thief. [Male, 30-50.]

Jon-Servant of Pompitus. [Any.]

Choir Members-[Offstage.]

Bertram Bulbous Jr.-Son of the deceased. [Male, 20-30.]

Matilda-Wife of the deceased. [Female, 30-50.]

Greeter-Announce of the guests. [Any.]

Milander-A prince of Rhos. [Male, Any age.]

Gretchen-A lady of Garban. [Female, Any age.]

Lilly-A socialite. [Female, Any age.]

Marrianne-A bird in a cage.

Monrow-A jealous Count.

Servant #1-A servant of Duke Lorenzo.

Servant #2-Another servant of Duke Lorenzo.

Theodora-Valtini’s love. [Female, 25-35.]

*Most performers should play multiple parts.

*This play is written to be performed outdoor or indoor on scrolls with a single text session and minimal group rehearsals (Original Practice Shakespeare style), OR fully produced per modern standards.

*Original Practice Guidelines and General Notes are provided at the end of the script for any who wish to reference them.

SUGGESTED TRACKS

[For seven performers.]

Track 1-[Male.] Pompitus, Greeter, Servant #1.

Track 2-[Female] Valtini, Choir.

Track 3-[Transgender Woman.] Fran, Choir.

Track 4-[Female.] T1, M1/No-no, Jon, Marrianne.

Track 5-[Male.] T2, M2/Padishar/Imeel, Choir.

Track 6-[Male.] P1, Choir, BBJ, Milander, Monrow.

Track 7-[Female.] P2, Choir, Matilda, Gretchen, Servant #2, Theodora.

Prologue

[Enter Bishop Pompitus, robed, head high and weighing the audience’s souls.]

Pomp.  (Ye look an honest crowd; or close enough,

A crew conforming to the moral code

Those men of old created to keep hold

The demons raging in our mortal blood.

No unwed fornicators here I know,

Nor men nor women in the other’s clothes,

Perverting nat’ral order in the world

And damning for eternity their souls.

Do not mistake this vestment of my own,

This is no dress; they are my prelate robes.

Enough unnecessary pleasantries,

I come to warn thee of an evil beast

Who nearby has been spotted recently,

A vulgar creature lacking of a leash,

Whose escapades disgrace humanity.

A callous whore, and cunning to the core,

No common harlot but much more: a witch!

Whose twitching nose commands the killer crows,

Whose words like weapons wielded slay her foes,

Whose most unsav’ry reputation daily grows.

I speak of one Valtini Vonfierno,

Who makes a mockery of nature’s art,

A wayward soul who serv’s the world below,

A woman born, who sports a manly heart.

The daughter of a duke, a noble lord,

Most gen’rous in his dealings with the church,

He sure regrets the day she learn’d the sword,

When she would better have been serv’d with birch.

But she’s beyond her bloodlines buffer now,

For she’s o’rstepp’d all bounds that might be bought,

And slain a saintly swordsman of renown;

A feat which only Witchcraft could have wrought.

No woman born could best fair Baron Bulbous,

A hero of so many holy wars,

And so no soul will now cast doubt upon us,

For dealing as we do with demon whores.

Already are my warlike agents sent,

The wench into their custody to take;

I shall interrogate the girl myself,

Before I bid them burn her at the stake.

Ha ha ha ha,

Ha ha ha ha,

Ha ha ha ha haaaah!

[There is a loud belch offstage, followed by a drunken guffaw. Pompitus freezes.]

I’ll leave her for my men to apprehend, or grant a grand reward for any worthy soul who does. I’d offer thee a helping hand to lend, but I’m a man of peace and holy-

Val.  Have at me then my haughty host!

[Pompitus shrieks. Abandoning decorum, he hikes his robes up and flees.]

[Exit Pompitus.]

Act I, Scene 1

[Enter Valtini in flowing blouse and trousers, rapier in one hand and winesack in the other, re-enacting her earlier duel.]

Val.  Thy strokes are clumsy Baron, thy Thrusts unworthy of thy signet ring; or so thy lovely wife relay’d to me when we lay whispering.

[More dueling, followed by circling.]

Tip up and keep it firm my Lord, a worthy foe might mock a drooping