Wasted Lies, Miscreants and Thieves

A Play about Pirates

CHARACTERS

Lady Cordelia of Spain- She is a wealthy woman who has never married. She is twenty years of age and has turned down several offers of marriage. She is very lively, sensual, money-spender, gambler, partier, and loves horse riding. She has waist long auburn hair and is a tall olive-toned woman with a slender body and striking green eyes.

Captain Seamus O’Finney- an infamous pirate from Ireland who is treacherous across the seven seas. He shares the same amount of wealth as Lady Cordelia in Spain. He is a tall, muscular man with shabby hair and beard. His hands are like bear paws and the way his body is built makes him look like a beast. Most sea-faring traders fear him, and anyone who lives on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.

Lord Ferdinand of Spain- He is Cordelia’s father and governs most major cities of Spain. Their home is located in Barcelona. He is elegant, lustful, and loves sport-related activities. His passions are wars, weaponry, his wealth and women. He has olive toned skin and dark hair and eyes.

Daniel de Farvarerro- Cordelia’s cousin who joins Captain Seamus’ crew and accuses the Church of Rome for blasphemy and heresy. He and the pirates raid Spain and Portugal, murdering several civilians and forcing men and women into slavery.

Guy Schmidt- A French pirate who kidnaps Cordelia from her home country and causes pirates from other nations to fire an ambush at France for stealing the Spanish Flower and after the war, demanding Guy to return her to Spain.

King James II- King of England

[SCENE begins in the court of Lord Ferdinand in Barcelona. It is the summer festivals. Cordelia is happily dancing with men who have asked her. DANIEL DE FARVARERRO also is at the party, plotting to ruin the festivities and retreat with loot and Cordelia’s rare necklace—a stone that causes one to be eternally youthful—never aging or rotting. DANIEL stands near a bricked wall, where Captain Seamus O’Finney whispers to him what he must do in order to get the necklace.]

CAPTAIN SEAMUS

Listen closely, Daniel—for this must be done properly. You are her cousin and she trusts you with her life. Once she is alone, go to her and ask her to walk, take fresh air with you. Begin discussing where she had gotten that rare diamond. Ask her to see it more closely. When she hands you the necklace, as you walk, secretly slip it into your pocket.

DANIEL

She is too clever. She will know that I am trying to steal her jewel. Cordelia will know it’s an ambush on her family by pirates and she’ll send us out of Spain forever.

CAPTAIN SEAMUS

I am Irish, Daniel. And if the Irish pirates want a war, then I shall war against Spanish armada—even to the last pirate.

DANIEL

And what is your strategy when you are the last pirate, eh? [walks over to take a glass of champagne] You never succeed in your plans anyway, Cap’n, no offense intended.

CAPTAIN SEAMUS bitterly

Just go and fetch that necklace! While you do, I shall make plans with the men.

[LEAVE CAPTAIN SEAMUS and DANIEL walks over to Cordelia]

DANIEL

Good afternoon, my cousin.

CORDELIA turning to face Daniel

Hello, Daniel! It has been too long.

DANIEL

So it has. How is your father, Lord Ferdinand?

CORDELIA

He is well, thank you. Where have you been all these years?

DANIEL lying

I was doing business with King James II of England—for several years and I have been trading in England.

CORDELIA

Don’t lie to me, Daniel. I know you better than that. Please tell me the truth.

DANIEL turns away from Cordelia

The truth is too difficult for you to bear—or even hear.

CORDELIA

Tell me! We have known one another since childhood and you know I always keep your secrets, Daniel.

DANIEL

I have been recruited into piracy.

CORDELIA

WHAT? Why? How can you do such a horrible thing?

DANIEL

It’s to help my mother and sister—they’re poor. The captain promised me that loot that I find I may return to them so they can have at least little food.

CORDELIA

You could have come to me. I could have helped them!

DANIEL

Well, I did not know that then. I cannot change what I have done. The captain said that if I decide to leave his crew, he’d murder my entire family.

CORDELIA slaps Daniel

You selfish devil!

DANIEL

Please, Cordelia, forgive me…I thought I had no other choices to make.

CORDELIA bitterly

Yes you did, you just did not think! You never think!

[EXIT CORDELIA in fury]

DANIEL

I am sorry, cousin, but this must be done.

[LEAVE DANIEL to CAPTAIN SEAMUS and says]

DANIEL

We must return at night and burn this city of Barcelona. Cordelia has lost her trust in me and will no longer speak to me because of my entering piracy.

SEAMUS

Yes, pity that—but, we all must make sacrifices for something.

DANIEL

Captain, she is my cousin—whom I loved for as long as I can remember. I do not want to put her in any kind of danger. Spare her and her father. That is all I ask.

[END SCENE]

Act One: Scene Two

Cordelia’s Transformation

LADY CORDELIA to herself

If my cousin is threatening our family, then I shall do everything I can to stop him. He will surely tell those bloody pirates to ruining Barcelona. I will not have my city fall under such malicious merciless dogs.

[ENTER Lord Ferdinand]

LORD FERDINAND

My daughter, I hear you are not well.

LADY CORDELIA

I am, indeed, not well. I have had too much excursion and not enough rest, papa.

LORD FERDINAND

Will you be alright on your own if I leave for holiday?

LADY CORDELIA nods

Yes, papa, I shall.

[EXIT LORD FERDINAND]

LADY CORDELIA

What am I to do? Can I trust anyone else but my father? Tell me that! How can I go on just behaving as if nothing has happened and nothing will happen? Something terrible shall happen. I can feel it in my veins as fury boils under my skin towards pirates. St. Mary, help me through this troubled time!

[Falls on to her knees and prays with her Rosary close to her heart.]

DANIEL walks in and interrupts her prayer

Cordelia, cousin, what are you doing? We must leave!

LADY CORDELIA

I am praying, Daniel. Do be quiet! Please!

DANIEL

Cordelia, I must speak with you about the stone.

LADY CORDELIA

DANIEL! FOR GOD’S SAKE! I AM IN TERRIBLE DISTRESS AND I DO NOT WANT TO DEAL WITH ANYONE WHO HAS GIVEN THEIR LIFE TO PIRACY!

[Daniel backs away to the door and leaves.]

[Cordelia sees a dagger and grabs it as she also lets her hair down loose. She cuts off her hair to her cheek bone and borrows clothing from her cousin’s state-room]

LADY CORDELIA

This must be done.

[END SCENE]