Scene 4: A Max's room in the university
Tabby is dressed in a maid's uniform, she walks about the room cleaning. She stops at the bed that Max has clearly tried to make up. She smiles tenderly, fixing it. She pulls a small book and a number of piece of parchment from behind the pillows where they fell after another late night of work. She straightens them and puts them on his desk where she organizes his books and inkwell. She continues to dust and clean.
Max enters stage left through a door to the room. He is carrying a number of books and papers under his arm.
Max: (pointing to the table) Oh mademoiselle, you missed a spot. (he dumps the pile of books onto it and sits beside them expectantly)
Tabby grins, she puts down her duster and grabs the inkwell and sits next to him.
Max: (Shuffles a bit in his seat like an over-pleased man and smiling as such, opening the book and pointing to a passage) Now then, start from where we were before we were so rudely interrupted.
Tabby: (Slowly, as though she must think about what she says as she translates) Whatever moralists say, human understanding owes a great deal to the passions (she pauses, blushing slightly) which, by one common admission, also owe a great deal to it: it is by their activity that our reason is perfected; we seek to know only because we desire to enjoy, and it is not possible to conceive why he who has neither desires nor fears would take the trouble to reason.
Max: (beaming, he looks like he is trying to hold back clapping) Excellent! One would hardly believe two months ago you could hardly read a word of French, and now you can read Rousseau as well as any student.
Tabby: I still don't agree about his feelings on women. I don't need to be married to a man to influence him and I'm not going to "govern" him by "insinuation." A woman should be able to govern in her own right, not through a man.
Max: (chuckles slightly but with a slight flush) Speaking of passion. (moves a bottle of ink near her hand and dips a quill)
Both in unison: Write it down and I will read and correct it tonight
Max: (smiling sheepishly) I suppose I do say it rather often.
Tabby: But it is the only way I'll learn it.
She goes to take the pen and their hands touch, their eyes meet and they linger in the moment. They both stand quickly.
Tabby: (distractedly) I... I have to get back to work.
Max: (nervously) Yes, of course.
Tabby: Well, I'll see you tomorrow.
Max: Certainly.
Tabby turns to leave
Max: Tabby - (she freezes at her name) might you stop by this evening so we can talk more about... liberte?
Tabby: (looks over her shoulder) Jean-Mark won't be around?
Max: (produces a few coins from his desk drawer) I'll make sure he's at the salon until late tonight.
Tabby: Then yes, I'll come by after supper. As long as I'm back before room checks no one will miss me.
Max: I will look forward to it.
Tabby makes to leave.
Max: Oh, and Tabby?
Tabby: Yes, Maxim?
Max: You forgot your feather duster.
Tabby: (clearly embarrassed) Oh, yes.
Max gives her the feather duster and walks Tabby to the door and shuts it behind her. Tabby places a hand to her chest and leans back against the door. Max falls back into his chair with a head to his brow.
Max: Oh Maxim, what are you doing? (sigh/huff) You've started calling yourself Maxim. A Maxim speaks the truth. She was dressed less than a prostitute when you met her, you know nothing of her former life, for all you know… For all you know… For all she knows...
(The desire to live cedes before pride, the most imperious of all the passions that master the heart of man)
I am the son of a lawyer and a brewer's daughter
Before I was born they called me a sin. My life was a sin. My birth was… condoned.
Raised by my grandparents after my mother died
My father was too despondent to work, too despondent to look at his children, at her children
I swore I'd never be like that man. I'd never lose my heart as he did. Never lose my will as he did…
I threw myself into my work. My only idol, Wisdom. I studied her day and night, only with her would I share my bed.
I swore I'd never let myself be distracted by another!
These books are full of the words of the dead, the wisdom of those who were dead before I was born. My room is a mausoleum! My bed a tomb! I gaze upon the dead all day.
But she is alive… and I am alive…
Tabby: I've been in love before this, I know I have, I'm sure I have
I remind myself constantly, But somehow I can't remember them when I'm with him.
Every day with him I grow further from home
Will I live the rest of my days and nights here, in this time, in this world? Is there even a way back for me?
And if I let myself fall for him, will I want to take it?
I'm living in a world of people already dead, of history long written and forgotten. It's like I'm living in a cemetery and staring at one particular grave.
But he is alive… and I am alive…
Do I let my heart tear me from my senses?
Max: Do I let love tear wisdom from her throne?
Do I sacrifice my ambitions?
Tabby: Do I leave behind my home?
Unison: It's something I never thought could happen
Something I cannot abide
Something I never thought I wanted
Someone who makes the world alive
Tabby: My heart races inside me
His words blaze within my soul
Max: Her touch lingers on my hand
I need to feel her passion again
Unison: Whatever it costs
Whatever plans are unwound
Whatever is lost
With her/him I am found
Fade to Black
Scene 5: Max's apartment one month later.
Tabby and Max are bent over a large book. He raises his head.
Max: I daresay you have become fully proficient in French, both written and spoken.
Tabby: (Leaning in towards Max) It's because I've had such a great teacher. (The church bells ring the hour of five o'clock, Tabby stands, alarmed) Oh no! I'm late! (she throws her apron on and grabs her things, making to leave)
Max: (catching her before she gets to the door) Tabby, could you come again this evening? Tomorrow is the day of the coronation. I would be in your debt if you could listen to me rehearse my speech for the king.
Tabby: (looks up at him from his arms) Of course, Maxim.
Max: (suddenly realizing how close they are, he pulls away) Very good, thank you. (bell gongs again, she runs out, he appears quite discomfited, fade to black)
Scene 6: Max's apartment that evening
Max can be heard rehearsing behind the door. Tabby hesitates, not wanting to interrupt him, especially as he sounds angry. Then she plucks up her courage and knocks anyway.
Max: Come in.
When Tabby comes in Max is pacing about the room, sitting down, crossing out words, writing in new words, standing up pacing again and mumbling to himself.
Max: Have a seat.
Tabby sits
Max: (Song: So glad you could come)
The background sky darkens as Max pantomimes reading with varying degrees of passion and poise as Tabby watches
Max: (Throwing down the speech) I can't take it anymore! They chose wrongly when they chose me and tonight proves it. They should have picked Jean-Mark.
Tabby: (Rushing to him, she places a hand on his forearm and the other on his chest) If anything, tonight proves they chose exactly right. Would Jean-Mark be able to read it with such passion? (recites the first two lines of So glad you could come in a dull monotone, he allows a slight smile).
Max: Do you truly think so?
Tabby:(sincerely) Of course I do. There is no better speaker in all of France than you. When you speak I feel the words burning inside of me. You make me want to... to believe in something. Maxim... (their eyes meet, his arms move around her as he leans in, their lips almost meet but she spins away) I should go, they'll be missing me. If I'm not back by bed checks...
Max: Stay, please.
Tabby: But what about Jean-Mark?
Max: He took one look at me and wisely decided to spend the week elsewhere. Sings: Stay with me (he offers his hand and she puts her hand in his)
Stay with me
Until the morning comes and the dew falls
Stay with me
Until the nighttime has vanished into the marvelous dawn
Don't let this evening fade into unrequited dreams
But stay with me, away with me, hold me until the bells ring the morning's come
(Instrumental: He leads her to the couch where they sit. She nervously reaches up a hand and strokes the far side of his face. He leans into her hand, takes it in his, and kisses it)
Stay with me
Kiss me without fear of what tomorrow will bring
Stay with me
Hold me tonight and let me feel what it is to be a king
From tomorrow on you'll never have to be alone
So tonight stay with me, don't stray from me, let me be your home
(They kiss, fade to black)
Scene 7: Morning in Max's apartment
Lights go up Tabby lying wrapped in Max's arms, still on the couch, papers still on the floor around them. Tabby wakes up and rolls onto her back, waking Max who leans over her. They share a passionate kiss. The bells chime the hour.
Max: Oh dear, is it really that late? (kisses Tabby) How I wish I could spend the morning with you.
Tabby: (wraps her arms around Max) Five more minutes.
Max: (taps her on the nose) And then it will be five more and five more until the King has long passed and I am expelled for embarrassing the entire school. (pauses, looking down at Tabby) Not that the idea is without merit.
Tabby: mmm Plenty of merit.
Max: (gives her one more kiss and gets up) If only I could, but I must prepare. (Starts to dress)
Tabby: (Partially sits) Not a button unbuttoned or a hair out of place.
Max: One must look the part they wish to play. (places powdered wig on his head)
Tabby: (Teasing) So meticulous.
Max: (Looks longingly at Tabby) I hope to teach you that is a virtue not to be trifled about. Perhaps this afternoon, after the ceremony.
Tabby: mmm Maxim, I don't know if you'll ever be able to teach me.
Max: You said that about French and I intend to instruct you in very much the same way (leans in to almost touching her) - slowly and patiently.
Tabby: (seductively) I can't wait.
Max: But you shall have to.
Tabby: (sitting) I know. You have a King to impress.
Max: (tugging at his cravat, but the stress is causing him to tie it poorly) I hope so.
Tabby: I know so (stands and ties Max's cravat) He'd be a complete fool not to be. (Kisses him, Max kisses her back to the couch until she lying back down as he still stands)
Max: (Goes to leave) I'll be back soon. (smiling) Don't move.
Fade to black.
Scene 8: The road where the King's carriage is to pass.
Max and the others wait expectantly for the carriage as it pulls up.
Teacher: You'll make us proud Maximilien.
Max shakes off his nerves and approaches the carriage begins his speech with all the passion he had practiced.
Max: (So glad you could come: Reprise)
Queen: (Talking over Max though it is staged as though she is whispering to others in the carriage) Ugh! Another school! How many of these are in Paris!
King: (seems mostly weary and a bit bored) Only a few more, darling.
Queen: Good. I don't think I could stand another hour of this. I don't even know what they are saying! Who speaks Latin anymore?
King: They are showing their skills.
Queen: Showing off is more like it. They should be doing their speeches in French, then we could at least understand them.
King: It will be over soon, let's let the boy finish (he regards Max kindly).
Queen: It had better be. I'm falling asleep where I sit. (Yawns)
Max finishes his speech.
Queen: Oh thank God the noise has finally stopped.
King: (Leaning forward to address Max, still looking tired and bored) Thank you for your kind words, young man. You are a credit to France.
The carriage drives off Max's shoulders slump
Teacher: (places a hand on Max's shoulder) Nevermind that. You did well, it could have happened to anybody.
Scene 9: Max's Apartment
Tabby is sitting on the couch reading. Max comes in.
Tabby: How did it go?
Max: (falls to his knees and buries himself in her arms and mutters) He didn't even hear me.
Tabby: (Removes his wig and strokes his hair consolingly) Someday he'll listen when you speak. When it's your own words. He won't be able to help but hear you. (Sings about her belief in him and how his words have moved her to begin believing in things again)
Max: (Inspired by her he sings how his words will build and move mountains one day)
Max: Do you really believe that?
Tabby: More than anything.
They kiss and fall into the bed. Fade to black
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