AT MY LOVERS FEET

Characters:

Ayana: Means Beautiful Blossom

Azizi: Means Beloved or

Precious

Azulu: The Heavens or

Strength in Numbers

This beautiful love Story takes place early in the morning inside of the Castle in Princess Ayana’s chambers on her balcony in Ethiopia, at the same time the Coronation of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I is taking place, the day is October 27th 1935. In the middle of War World 2 Italy has invaded Ethiopia for the second time, and there’s something brewing in the palace…

(Ayana is a Princess, the most beautiful girl in the Kingdom, she’s adorned from head to toe in the proper Royal attire. Azizi is the Highest Ranking officer Commander and Chief very tall and extremely handsome with deep dimples and the most beautiful smile, his long hair is dreadlocked and he claims it to be the source of his strength he too is adorned from head to toe in Royal attire however, his uniform is decorated with every metal of honor he earned throughout his career.)

(Ayana comes up behind Azizi quietly and whispers in his ear with the sweetest voice)

Ayana: Isn't it beautiful darling?

The Sunrise...

Azizi (sighs deeply): Empress, We

can't keep meeting like this

Ayana: I know, but I just had to see

you again. I've got to know, is it

true?

Aziz: Yes Empress, the Italians are

invading Ethiopia for the second

time…and

(Ayanacuts him off abruptly)

Ayana: No Azizi, are you leaving

too? Are you going to fight against

the Italians? AGAIN

(Azizistill facing the sunset)

Azizi: Yes.

(Ayana closes her eyes and whispers)

Ayana: Why? Please tell me why?

Azizi: It has to be done

Ayana: Yes, but you've paid your

dues, you already fought in the first

invasion. Please don't do this to me,

I can't bear to see you leave l'd

rather go blind. Azizi look at me!

(Azizi turning around)

Azizi: My tender love, how can you

be so selfish to think of only

yourself when the lives of our

people are at Stake!

Ayana: Why must you be so damn

noble, what about your life? What

about me? What about us?

Azizi: Empress, you know your

mathematics and we both know 3

into 2 won't go. You're married to

my nephew The Prince Azulu, he loves

you so dearly.

Ayana: You and I were in love since I

was 16, years before the Prince was

promised my hand in marriage,

don't hold it against me for it was

my father's will to be done and not

my own. You must know that I do

not love him.

Azizi: Before he left this morning, he

asked me to look after you while he

was away. Is this how I should repay

his trust? With betrayal?

Ayana: I beg you to grant his

wishes, stay here & look after me. It

isn't betrayal. What we have existed

long before the Prince. I must

confess as I bid him farewell this

morning, in my heart I prayed that

he shouldn't return.

(Angrily grabs Ayana by the shoulders)

Azizi: Empress!

(Ayana Collapses in his arms)

Ayana: I am nothing without you.

Please don't force me to live

without you, what kind of life should

I have? You're everything, my

reason for living.

Azizi: Empress, I remember the 1st

time I laid eyes on you in the

courtyard, you were so young and

innocent, so full of life, so full of

promise, I saw you standing on top

of a little podium all of your peers

watching you attentively, hanging

on to your every word, all aspiring to

be like you. You spoke with such

eloquence, such grace, dignity,

honor, and confidence, reciting your

poems of pride and hope for the

future.

(She's sobbing in his arms he

lifts her chin w/his thumb & index

finger)

Azizi: Please Empress, don't lose

yourself like this, I admire you so.

You must know that I should always

love you, realistically how can we be

together when we are at two

separate ends of the rainbow? I'm

20 yrs. your senior, you have so

much life ahead of you not only are

we at odds but the odds are adding

up against us. When we first met

you were a devout Christian, a

Missionary! preaching the Gospel to

whomever would listen, faithful to

your savior you call Jesus. Have I

distracted you? Have you lost your

way? You know that I am a firm

believer in the opinions and

philosophy's of the Honorable

Marcus Mosiah Garvey. Everything

he prophesized is taking place,

unfolding before our very eyes. He

said that Princes would come out of

Egypt and Ethiopia would reach out

her hands unto God, I have no

doubt that it's happening now

Ethiopia is reaching out her hands

& this great Kingdom of the East

should hide no longer, but instead

rise to take its place in the world. I

must in every way uphold the hand

of Emperor Ras Tafari. Right now as

we speak the Enthronement/

Coronation of His Imperial Majesty

Emperor Haile Selassie I is taking

place right now! Empress I must go.

Ayana: I don't understand what

you're saying. Yes, I know we have different beliefs. Yes, I know that we

are years apart, I know that I am

now married. All of this is against

my will; I'Il give it all up to follow

you. You say that I am losing myself,

but if I'm losing myself in you that's

exactly where I want to be, these

differences never seemed to matter

before, why now? You promised me

that the love we have would always

be, I'm begging you not to take it

away from us, we need you.

Azizi: WE?

Ayana: I called you here this

morning; I hadn't been feeling well

for some time. Mother suggested I

go see the Mid-wife who has also

been my nanny & took care of me all

my life. She's confirmed that I am with child.

(Azizi head hangs low)

Azizi: This was to be expected,

Prince Azulu will be proud. He has

always hoped for a son to carry on

his legacy.

Ayana: It isn't Prince Azulu's seed

that's growing inside of me, but

yours instead. I was pregnant at

least 2 months already before Azulu

and I had gotten married.

Azizi: The Mid-Wife knows?

Ayana: Yes, I begged her not to say

a word.

(Azizi is silent for a moment; he

walks toward Ayana from behind he

holds her belly waiting to feel

movement, the baby kicks)

Azizi: How far along are you?

Ayana: 17 1/2 weeks

Azizi: Our love is growing inside

of you

Avana: Yes! Do you see how badly I

need you? Surely you won't leave

me.

Azizi: I blame only myself for the

pain that I've caused you.

Ayana: No regrets my love, I must

accept the good with the bad &

take the bitter with the sweet.

Azizi: For so long we've allowed

ourselves to be consumed with one

another, never thinking about the

consequences of our actions. Have

you the slightest clue what we've

done? If anyone should find out

about us it would mean the end of

us. We've committed adultery,

fornication, 20 yrs. your senior, a

Rastafarian, Chief Advisor, Uncle to

your husband The Crowned Prince Azulu, now

you're pregnant with my child?

Ayana: Our "Love Child" yes.

Azizi: That you intend to pass off as

Prince Azulu's?

(Ayana looks down in shame)

Azizi: A scandal in the eyes of every

one who looks at us, if someone

should find out.

Ayana: But they won't.

Azizi: If they should we'd be

charged accordingly. Even Your

punishment would be more

harsh than mine, we're both guilty

as sin. It's unheard of, a woman of

your caliber to commit such acts.

Ayana: For your love I wouldn't

change a thing, I'd do it all again just

the same!

Azizi: Woman Are You Insane?

Ayana: I'm In Love.

Azizi: What have I done?

Ayana: You've done nothing but love

me. My darling sweet love, that isn't

a crime. I know what I'm up against,

but don't you understand LOVE

makes it alright, Love will make all of

our wrongs right.

Azizi: But in whose eyes?

Ayana: In our eyes of love.

Azizi: Do you know what they will do

to you? Even your own father will

order you to be stoned to death!

Ayana: Your absence will kill me just

the same.

Azizi: Non-Sense! Empress, Why

are talking like this?

Ayana: What kind of life should I

have without you? In that very

moment that you should leave, my

heart will bleed for you eternally.

Every second, every minute, every

hour, every day I will sit in misery

and pain wondering if and when you

should return, please don't force me

to live this way.

Azizi: I'm sorry Ayana

(Ayana walks closely to Azizi, she

places his hands around her waist

as her arms are around his neck

now they are face to face, and nose

to nose he's forced to hold her)

Ayana: Don't push me away Azizi,

not when I need you so desperately.

How can you encourage me to go

on with my life, when our lives were

meant to be spent together? Was it

all for nothing? All the risks,

sacrifices the love we shared? Was

it all for nothing? Is this the way it

should end? If this is our last

goodbye, hold me in your arms

finally & tell me you love me, say

you need me just one last time I

need to hear it.

(Tears in his eyes, he's holding her)

Azizi: Empress……Empress, I do love

you my love, more than anything in

this world, more than the very air I

need to survive, more than my own

life.....I love you Ayana I need you.

(Azizi is holding Ayana tighter than he ever has before they’re both crying he begins to kiss her passionately for a few minutes all of a sudden there's a loud banging on the door)

Prince: Ayana, are you alright? The

door is locked, I cannot get in.

Ayana, are you alright?

Both of their hearts are pounding,

they quickly separate Azizi is back

on the balcony Ayana wipes her

face and scurries toward the door to

let Prince Azulu in, The Prince is Tall Dark and Handsome with the kindest eyes and the most beautiful smile just like his Uncle, he’s adorned from head to toe in the proper Royal attire, as he walks in he hugs her tightly and places a kiss on her forehead)

Prince: Darling, my bracelet that you

made. I left it by mistake; I should

have never taken it off to begin with, There is no way I could leave

without it, have you found it?

Ayana: Yes.

Prince: You seem troubled darling,

are you sick? Shall I call for the

nanny?

Ayana: No, Azulu I'm fine I was just a

little worried.

Prince: Don't worry yourself my

love, everything will be alright. I'll be

home soon never to leave you

again.

(Tears are rolling down her face again)

Prince: It pains me to see you

hurting, please don't cry Ayana you

must be strong the Invasion has

taken a toll on all of us. We will get

through this.

(He looks up and notices Azizi in the distance; he looks @ Ayana but walks toward Azizi slowly)

Prince: Blessings Chief

Azizi, I didn't realize you were here.

(Azizi turns around to face the Prince he gives a half kneel)

Azizi: Blessings Prince Azulu, I was just leaving.

(The Prince Looks Confused)

Prince: So Soon?

Azizi: Yes, I had only to

come to bid the young Empress

farewell and to apologize for not

upholding the promise I made to you early this

morning. I've decided to fight along

with my brothers on the front line

they need me, I apologize.

Prince: Nothing to be

sorry about, the nanny will certainly

agree to look after Ayana while we

are away. Thank you for your

gracious concern, much respect

Chief Azizi. It pleases me to call you

my Uncle. You've paid your dues

once, such humility! Together we

will fight side by side and together

we will claim victory!

(They hug each other)

Azizi: I look forward to it

as well Nephew, much respect. I

shall see you at the camp base

shortly.

(With his Head held high Azizi begins to walk away, Ayana is standing by the door as

Azizi approaches the door he

reaches for her hand as she extends

it he kisses it so soft and tenderly tears are rolling down her cheeks Azizi lifts his head and says)

Azizi: Farewell Empress, until the next time we meet. (He quickly leaves out the door)

Prince: Ayana, time is of

the essence I should be going now.

The bracelet! where is it? I dare not

leave without it this time.

(Without saying a word

she points to the bed as to say

"There it is", She walks past him

slowly with a blank stare on her

face. In the meantime the Prince is

fumbling with the seemingly

complicated bracelet, trying to put

it on by himself before he leaves.

Ayana walks slowly toward the sheer

curtains once again, she's on the

balcony now, she looks down and sees

Azizi walking away slowly his head

hanging low. He's just below the

balcony now, he knows she's there so

he turns around, her lips are moving

he can hear her talking. He stops to

listen; Ayana leans over the balcony

just a little and says)

Ayana: Honorable Chief Azizi! There is No one like you. You’ve always admired my poetry allow me to satisfy your ears just once again.

Pure as the whitest

dove, young and innocent was our

love. I was forced into marriage; I

married your blood, now I'm

subjected to hide our sweet

forbidden love. I'm being ruled and

dictated by morals and religion; l'm

helpless as a bird, yes! A caged

Pigeon. Why must I do exactly what

they say? If I can't love who I love

then I can't live this way. I love you

more than my own life, what more

can I say? Inside me grows a Love

Child, a child that I shall never bore,

because of a love you've given me

to live and die for. You just kissed

my hand so soft and sweet, saying;

"Farewell my love, until the next

time we meet". Well let today be

that day, the last day we shall meet,

as I fall to my death ‘At My Lovers

Feet.’

(Ayana Leaps over the Balcony,

landing next to Azizi's feet, he falls

to his knees hovering over her body

sobbing)

The End