i Sebastiani-Scenario-Gone Fishing

i Sebastiani 5 - Gone Fishing

Dramatis Personae	Properties
Pantalone, a merchant	A cloak
Oratio, his son	A fishing pole
Arlecchino, his servant	A burlap bag
Dottore Gratiano, a doctor of law	A string of fish
Lucrezia, his wife
Flaminia, their oldest daughter
Isabella, their younger daughter
Franceschina, the family nurse
Capitano Spavento, a Spaniard
Pedrolino, his servant
Father Grifarosto, a priest

Argument

Pantalone's son Oratio is engaged to marry Gratiano's daughter Flaminia. The wedding will unite a great financial power with a great legal one. Flaminia is a fiery woman who rubs Oratio the wrong way. Yet, he realizes his duty and agrees to the wedding. Gratiano's other daughter, Isabella is so shy that she is hardly ever seen in public. Oratio has never met her. Oratio did not show last week when the wedding was originally scheduled. It is just a few days till the new date, and Oratio's feet are getting steadily colder.

	Act I	Ravenna, a street corner in one of the better neighborhoods, two days before the wedding of Oratio and Flaminia
1	Pantalone Dottore Gratiano	They are discussing the fact that Oratio didn't show up at his origianally planned wedding. Pantalone is apologetic, and assures Gratiano that he'll be there this time. Pantalone summons Arlecchino.
2	Arlecchino	Pantalone send Arlecchino to fetch Oratio. Arlecchino exits.
3	Arlecchino Oratio	After delivering Oratio, Arlecchino leaves. Pantalone and Gratiano berate Oratio for not showing. Oratio defends himself by saying there was no malice intended, he simply lost track of time. After chastising him some more, Gratiano leaves. Pantalone and Oratio discuss his cold feet. Oratio mentions some of Flaminia's short-comings. Pantalone tells him he'll have to stay in the house until the wedding. Oratio goes inside. Pantalone summons Arlecchino.
4	Arlecchino	Pantalone gives Arlecchino strict instructions to not let Oratio out of the house until the wedding. Having business in town, Pantalone exits.
5	Capitano Spavento Pedrolino	Spavento apologises to Pedrolino about the short rations, but explains he's been unable to find work.
6	Flaminia	Flaminia is looking for Oratio about some wedding details. Spavento greets her, and says he hasn't seen Oratio. She says she knows of no one looking for a soldier, but her father might be able to help.Arlecchino runs inside to fetch Oratio. Flaminia goes inside. Spavento and Pedrolino exit.
7	Arlecchino Oratio	Oratio asks where Flaminia is. Arlecchino says she must have left. Seeing his chance, Oratio convinces Arlecchino to let him go after her. Oratio exits.
8	Pantalone	Pantalone discovers that Arlecchino has let Oratio get away. He sends Arlecchino after him. Pantalone and Arlecchino exit in different directions.
9	Lucrezia Dottore Gratiano	They are discussing the upcoming wedding, and complain that Isabella has no prospects. They conclude it is because she is too shy.
10	Flaminia	Flaminia agrees that Isabella should marry. They run through the list of available men, and reject all of them. Flaminia praises the new Spanish Capitano. The parents send her for more information. Flaminia exits. Gratiano and Lucretia exit.
11	Isabella Franceschina	Franceschina is dragging Isabella, saying the family is deciding her future, and she should have some say in the matter. Isabella is reluctant to be in the bustling streets of Ravenna. No one is there.
12	Lucrezia Flaminia Dottore Gratiano	Flaminia is very taken with Spavento and says he would make a fine addition to the family. They tell Isabella that they will arrange the union. They harangue her about speaking up, her shyness, and other behavior details. Gratiano, Lucrezia, and Flaminia exit.
13	Oratio	Oratio is carrying a sack of fish and a pole. He asks Isabella if she likes fish. Franceschina prods her into answering. She says yes. He gives the sack to her, explaining that he has had a successful day fishing, but doesn't like to eat fish. It would be a shame to waste these fine fresh fish. Before she realizes what she is doing, Isabella asks him why does he fish if he doesn't like them. He goes on about the zen of fishing.
14	Arlecchino	He sees Oratio and begins to drag him home. Oratio says he didn't get to properly say goodbye, and doesn't even know her name. She calls out "Isabella". Oratio and Arlecchino exit.
15	Lucrezia Flaminia Dottore Gratiano Capitano Spavento	Isabella is introduced to Spavento. He greets her with great boldness. She is less than pleased. Everyone begins speaking about the wedding as if it had already happened. Isabella spontaneously grows a backbone and says she will not marry Spavento. She begins to flee, and someone asks where she is going. Isabella exits saying 'Fishing'. All assure Spavento that she is quite taken with him, and that these are normal jitters. All exit.

	Act II	A sylvan glade with a babbling brook just outside of Ravenna, the next day.
1	Lucrezia Flaminia Dottore Gratiano Capitano Spavento Pedrolino	The family is quite worried. Isabella has been missing for over a day now. Spavento concludes that she was kidnapped. He shows the trail that leads from the city to hear and beyond. He says a husband is responsible for bringing grisly death to whoever mistreats his wife. He tells the family to go back to Ravenna and wait. The family exits, with Flaminia quite impressed with Spavento. Spavento details a search strategy, and He and Pedrolino leave in opposite directions.
2	Oratio	He is carrying a small bag with his lunch in it.He sits down and begins to fish.
3	Arlecchino	He has happened upon the Oratio's secret fishing hole by pure chance. Oratio attempts by various stratagems to send Arlecchino away. Nothing works. Arlecchino demands that Oratio stays put while he fetches Pantalone. Arlecchino exits.
4	Pedrolino	Oratio becomes slightly agitated that someone else has found the fishing hole. Pedrolino assures him that he will keep the fishing hole a secret and if he can find Spavento he will lead him away from here. Pedrolino exits.
5	Capitano Spavento	He is looking for Isabella or Pedrolino. Sees neither and Spavento leaves.
6	Isabella	She is bedraggled and hungry after looking for the fishing hole all night. Oratio spies her and gives her his cloak and lunch. He asks her what could have possessed her to do this.
7	Pedrolino	[Enters unseen] She explains her plight. Oratio sympathises and explains his. She realizes he is her sister's Oratio, and he realizes she is the shy sister he's never met. Pedrolino steps forward and explains his moral quandry. He is obligated to do his masters bidding, yet he sees the current state of the betrothals is wrong. Oratio and Isabella agree. Pedrolino brightens, says he has an plan. He asks Oratio to put a few rocks in his bag, and then Pedrolino leaves. Oratio does as was asked, but doesn't know what the plan is. He then tends to Isabella making sure she is not hurt.
8	Capitano Spavento Pedrolino	Spavento fumes for a while, then draws his sword and advances on Oratio. Oratio prepares to defend himself as best he can with the fishing pole, when Pedrolino beans Spavento with the sack of rocks. Spavento goes down. Pedrolino advises Oratio to go hide out for a little while. Oratio exits. Pedrolino leaves to fetch the family, leaving Isabella a little soliloquy time.
9	Arlecchino Pantalone	They pester Isabella looking for information about Oratio. She gives them little if any useful information. The men leave.
10	Lucrezia Flaminia Dottore Gratiano Pedrolino	Pedrolino describes in epic terms the victory of Spavento. He explains that Spavento must have so strained his mortal frame that he collapsed in martial raputre. Flaminia is eating this up with a spoon Spavento is revived, and compliments and admiration all around. All exit except Isabella and Spavento. Spavento lays on a little Spanish charm. Isabella looks around for Oratio. They leave.

	Act III	The same street in Ravenna, the day of the wedding.
1	Arlecchino Pantalone	Pantalone is somewhat concrned over the absence of his son. Arlecchino assures him that he can find Oratio again and Arlecchino exits in search. Pantalone says that he'd better begin his own search. He exits.
2	Isabella Oratio	[Sneaking on] They express their affection for each other and say that the last few days have been the happiest they have ever known, but they dread the future becasue soon Oratio will have to live up to his promise and marry Flaminia. They Exit.
3	Pedrolino Franceschina	In cahoots about something.
4	Flaminia	Franceschina begins praising Spavento and musing that perhaps Isabella is too frail a woman to be suitable for him Flaminia agrees.
5	Arlecchino Pantalone	Entering from opposite directions. They begin interrogating everyone [in their own style]. Eventually, Pedrolino asks them to describe Oratio. They do. Pedrolino then says that Oratio was the man that Spavento killed. Flaminia and Franceschina run off to tell Gratiano. Pantalone grieves. Arlecchino comforts. Pedrolino exits. Eventually Pantalone and Arlecchino exit.
6	Lucrezia Dottore Gratiano	Quite stunned over the news, they wonder if Flaminia is still marriageable.
7	Pedrolino	Pedrolino assures them that Spavento finds her quite attractive. Gratiano and Lucrezia say he is engaged to Isabella. Pedrolino agrees and adds that if Spavento goes too far along a path he cannot be moved. He then adds that Gratiano and Lucrezia probably would prefer to have Flaminia around the house because she can be so entertaining. After some consideration, they send Pedrolino off to fetch Spavento, Flaminia, and a Priest. Pedrolino exits.
8	Capitano Spavento	Gratiano and Lucrezia convince him he should marry Flaminia instead.
9	Pedrolino Father Grifarosto	Gratiano and Lucrezia call for Isabella and Flaminia.
10	Isabella Flaminia	The daughters are informed that Oratio is dead, and that Flaminia will marry Spavento instead. Flaminia is pleased. jumping to the wrong conclusion, Isabella runs off. Grifarosta is somewhat hesitant about the marriage. Gratiano runs rough-shod over canon-law and somehow convinces the priest to marry Spavento to Flaminia.
11	Oratio	Pedrolino quickly pulls him aside saying that the plan isn't finished yet. He shoves Oratio off stage. Pedrolino convinces Gratiano and Lucrezia to have the wedding now. They do. Flaminia, Gratiano, Lucrezia, and Spavento exit to celebrate. Pedrolino runs off to find Oratio and Isabella. Grifarosto exits to get free food and wine.
12	Isabella	Pours out her grief and dissappointment on stage.
13	Pantalone	Pours out his grief and dissappointment on stage.
14	Arlecchino	Pours out his grief and dissappointment on stage. Isabella tells Pantalone about her love for Oratio. Pantalone regrets his mistakes.
15	Oratio	Everyone onstage joyously greets him. Pantalone regrets all his mistakes and practically orders Oratio to marry Isabella. Arlecchino is sent to get a priest. Arlecchino exits.
16	Arlecchino Father Grifarosto	The priest has obviously been researching the evils of gluttony. Pantalone begins to haggle over the price of the wedding.
17	Lucrezia Dottore Gratiano	Amazed to see Oratio alive, they join in the badgering of the priest.
18	Capitano Spavento Flaminia	They also join in the badgering of the priest. Eventually he breaks down and agrees to marry Isabella and Oratio. He does so. Everyone exits to the feast. Pantalone is last, and exits saying something witty. Finis