The Witch Who Played Chess
By Ben Gavarré
This work has been published for free and open dissemination, although all intellectual property rights are reserved. The public use of this work requires the author's permission and in order to obtain the corresponding authorization contact bengavarre@gmail.com or gavarreunam@gmail.com (Reg. Prop. Int. Expte. Inbox)
The Witch Who Played Chess
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
· Witch Salma (The Witch): A powerful master of the arcane arts, infertile and solitary, whose strategic mind anticipates everyone's on the chessboard of life.
· Witch Samantha (The Courtesan): An ambitious and desperate witch apprentice and the King's lover, who seeks a place of power and legitimacy.
· King (The King): A monarch tormented by his past, his decisions, and the weakness of his kingdom.
· Prince Roldán (The Prince): A young man destined for royalty, but who questions his fate and his father's values.
· Yann (The Witch's Son): Salma's adopted son, an inquisitive and free-spirited soul who seeks adventure beyond the confines of his home.
SYNOPSIS
In a kingdom where power is a game of chess, a master witch orchestrates a complex plan to seize the throne. While she manipulates the King and her ambitious former apprentice, two young men, a prince and an enigmatic boy, discover that their true happiness is not found in ruling. Destiny is twisted, and the apparent victory is not what it seems in this story about ambition, unexpected love, and the search for one's own path.
Scene 1 The Pact of the Master Witch and the Apprentice
Location: Mysterious Tower. Hall. The witch Salma and the witch apprentice Samantha (Courtesan, later) are engrossed in a serious game of chess. Samantha is far along in her pregnancy and finds it hard to concentrate.
Witch Salma: Would you stop moving? As you well know, I am not given to matters of pregnancy, and I find it so irritating to see you fidget in your seat. You insist on being aggressive with your pieces when you know full well you ought to be defending your territory from the silliest advances. Do you see? I capture your bishop, and your defense is unprotected... Once more.
Witch Samantha: You do not know, great master of the arts and heretical sciences, that you should not warn or instruct me in this game of failures... I have never won against you...
Witch Salma: Nor ever shall you, I know. But, my disciple, you must endure to the very end... What gestures are those that afflict you? I do not know if you are about to give birth or if you wish to ask for leave to absent yourself.
Witch Samantha: I ask your leave to beg a great favor of you...
Witch Salma: So long as you do not desire me myself as a midwife...
Witch Samantha: I wish, my master, that you would help me to obtain a position in the kingdom.
Witch Salma: A position more than the one you already have with the sovereign? I have given you the gifts to capture his attention in every sense and, if you understand me... in every position.
Witch Samantha: It is not enough, master. The sovereign must see me as the mother of his lineage, not just his pleasure. Only a son, a son of his, can secure a place for me by his side.
Witch Salma: And the child who is about to be born is surely not his... I believe...
Witch Samantha: He is the son of the red-haired stable boy... And as he is sure to be born of this cursed color, I cannot attribute him to his majesty even if I wanted to... Besides, I would like him to see me as one of his own and not as a mere... Would you help me?
Witch Salma: Help you to have the sovereign marry you? I do not think so. It would require more than one of the powerful potions I possess. But I can make you a charm of enchantment... and so you may conceive anew, you will seduce him and you shall have a son of the king, who will, without a doubt, be unable to disown any paternity...
Witch Samantha: Ah... that pleases me... and I will sign a contract right now, whatever it takes.
Witch Salma: You know not what you say, the price is high... it is about your son...
Witch Samantha: What son? Mine? The one I have just finished forming?
Witch Salma: And from what I can see, he will not be long in leaving your womb... You must give him to me and so you shall fulfill your desire to have another son with the monarch.
Witch Samantha: You ask for much in return. You could have the son of a dragon or a titan or a storm... and you want the son of a stable boy and a...
Witch Salma: He would be a son of mine, nothing more, and I would make him a true witch's apprentice. I would change the reddish color of his hair and skin and make him in my image and likeness.
Witch Samantha: You would be like a goddess.
Witch Salma: I am like a goddess, you know it well, but an infertile goddess. Do you accept, or would you rather go and give birth elsewhere? (Pause.)
Witch Samantha: Good, I accept and with good grace. It cannot pain me to be rid of a male who has not yet been born.
Witch Salma: You know that it is a male?
Witch Samantha: You yourself informed me, by the fates, that a clever male I would give birth to. I cannot believe you when you fail to recall.
Witch Salma: Yes, I do remember... Vaguely, vaguely. Say no more. Stop making faces, or do you have another request?
Witch Samantha: The birth is drawing near, I fear. Help me, Witch Salma, your son must be born and soon.
Witch Salma: So be it, come, come to the bed that I had already prepared for him a long time ago.
Witch Samantha: You knew?
Witch Salma: I know everything and nothing escapes me. I am always three chess moves ahead, three, did you not know that? Come.
Scene 2 The King's Nightmare
Location: Night in the royal bedchamber. The King thrashes in his bed, screaming in his sleep.
King: (Sweating, whispering with terror) Go away... do not come closer... no more!
(Samantha, from here on "The Courtesan", a shadowy figure, appears in the dream, with a diabolical smile. She does not speak to him with words, but with an echo that only he can hear. The voice sounds in his head, not in the room.)
Voice of the Courtesan: I am the ghost of your lineage that drowns in pleasure, King. You must sow more of your seed in me. Do you not understand? If the current heir fails, if he were to die, the blood of royalty would be extinguished.
King: (Squeezing his eyes shut, terror in his voice) The kingdom already has an heir! Prince Roldán is of my blood...
Voice of the Courtesan: (Laughs) It is the mark of a wise man to have a second option.
King: (Jumping up abruptly, sweat running down his face) Go away, vile Courtesan! You will no longer have my body, no longer my soul. You will not be queen!
Voice of the Courtesan: (The echo fades into a cold laugh) I will not be... and you yourself will cease to be, if you do not give me the power I deserve.
(The King sits on the bed, overwhelmed. He touches his forehead, realizing that the nightmare is a faithful reflection of his life and his fears. The echo of the Courtesan's laughter still rings in his ears.)
Scene 3 "First Encounter Between Roldán and Yann"
Location: Afternoon, last rays of sun. Gloomy forest. Near the tower of the Witch Salma. Yann, the Witch's son, walks morosely and reflectively. Suddenly, Prince Roldán, a hunter with a bow and arrow, appears on a stealthy hunt. Yann looks at him with curiosity.
Prince Roldán: Be careful, you wretched, foolish vagabond. What are you doing in my father's lands?
Yann: I am but a fugitive of conscience.
Prince Roldán: A fugitive, what are you saying? I have never heard such words before.
Yann: I just said anything. I do not know what I am doing in these lands which, as I have always known, are my mother's. I think, I imagine what lies beyond.
Prince Roldán: Everything in these parts belongs to the kingdom and, therefore, to my father and ultimately to me.
Yann: I must be a little more careful. In a moment of carelessness, I too would belong to you.
Prince Roldán: That is without a doubt, if I so desired... (Pauses, observes him with the interest one gives to a rare insect) I could also cut off your head with my sword, but today I only have a bow and arrow... And you are not a deer.
Yann: I am not. And I am not yours either, even if you can cut off my head.
Prince Roldán: Do you question that, peasant?
Yann: I am not a peasant, and I am not yours. You have already heard two simple truths about what I am not.
Prince Roldán: You intrigue me, gentleman. What are you doing, then, walking in the tower's garden? Did you know a malevolent witch lives there?
Yann: She is my mother. Not malevolent with me. Perhaps with you if you get too close.
Prince Roldán: Your words bring me great pleasure, even though you try to offend me. I feel complimented.
Yann: And you, your highness, or prince, or king, what are you?
Prince Roldán: For you, I am your destiny, believe it without a doubt. I will return perhaps, if it suits the kingdom.
Yann: Why would it not suit?
Prince Roldán: I am destined to be the heir who will father new kings.
Yann: And I am destined to remain within these limits of my mother's garden. Have a good day, gentleman.
Prince Roldán: Without a doubt, you too, my now close friend.
Scene 4 The Witch Salma and Her Son Yann. A Chess Game.
Location: A sinister hall of the Forest Tower, the abode of the Witch Salma. An ivory chess set sits on a table. The afternoon light streams through the large windows. Characters: Yann and the Witch Salma.
Yann: Mother... is sudden love a mistake?
Witch: (Moves her knight with grace) If you ask me... it is a bad decision. Be careful, you might lose your rook.
Yann: (Leans over the board) You should not warn me, that makes me a bad player.
Witch: I would not be your mother if I did not care for you.
Yann: (Takes a long pause, looking at the board as if it were a map of his life) Mother. I love.
Witch: And whom do you love, if I may know? Is it perhaps a risky move?
Yann: (Takes a pawn and advances it without rhyme or reason) You could not bear it, and I do not know what spells you might unleash against her...
Witch: You have told me more than you should... that makes you a naïve player. I do not cast spells for no reason.
Yann: I know, powerful mother, but you can rest assured about my condition and my silences. My heart is not a board you can control.
Witch: (To herself, in an aside) No, of course not. But my game has always been about anticipation. And this move you propose, I do not like it, but for now I must be silent.
Scene 5 The King, His Son Prince Roldán, and the Courtesan
Location: The training room of the Royal Castle. Prince Roldán practices fencing with his reflection in the mirror. Characters: Prince Roldán, the King, and the Courtesan.
Prince Roldán: (Attacking his reflection with his sword) Ah, Prince who is myself, ill-born; some kind of crunchy vine, I must cut off your head...!
King: (Enters with a slow and heavy step, stopping at a prudent distance) My son, do not cut off your reflection's head. It is not becoming of noble gentlemen.
Prince Roldán: My heart is inflamed, father... I love... I love so, all of a sudden... and I do not know where this tragedy of loving whom I should not might end.
King: That is love. One always desires to have what one should not... But you can do as you please, you are my son.
Príncipe Roldán: You are right, my Father, and that enrages me. (And he brandishes the sword again, this time close to his father.)
King: Oh, son... I no longer know if you are enraged because one cannot always have what one should not, or because I am your father, or because you can do as you please....
Príncipe Roldán: Ugh... Those are many questions, father, you irritate me...
King: (Conciliatory, but a little afraid that his son will become more aggressive) Ah, calm down, my son... I see that you have no one to fight with. I will provide you with two to four expendable lads so that you can shake off your rage... Do you want them brought here to your room?... If you do not want simple lads, I can send you fierce guards, do you want two or three?
Príncipe Roldán: (Lowers his sword) It is not killing that I desire. In this trance, it is heartbreak that invades me.
King: (Approaches and touches the hilt of the sword) But what kind of tender nonsense turned into a mistake are you showing? Heartbreak only comes if you have received a rejection, and I do not believe that is the case... Or if you have lost your mind badly. And a prince never loses his mind.
Príncipe Roldán: And what am I to do, my Father, with this madness in my gut?
King: The object of your desire you can turn into an oil painting, a guardian dog, a magnificent tree... Or if you want something traditional and simple... into a toad or a frog... So many stories are made of us, you know... And some are true.
Príncipe Roldán: And what am I to do with an oil painting, or a magnificent tree, or a guardian dog... It seems to me, my father, that they cannot speak.
King: I know that a prince Roldán always has a way out.
Príncipe Roldán: It could be, but, to turn her into a beautiful guardian dog... I would need a witch, a fairy, a sorceress...
King: Look, here comes your wretched mother.
Príncipe Roldán: Do not call her that, she is my mother.
Courtesan: (Enters with a perfectly rehearsed smile) Are you talking about sorceresses? I had dealings with one before I met your father.
King: (His voice becomes sharp. He asks a rhetorical question.) Was that the way you approached royalty, vile Courtesan? A witch? And in return for doing you the great favor, what did she ask of you?... Perhaps your... soul, or, I know... your undeniable youth?... Or... (Pause) I can deduce, it is the Witch of the Tower, I know her, I could visit her myself as well...
Courtesan: (Ignores him completely, turns to Prince Roldán with an intimacy that irritates the King) My son, if the king approves, I myself will take you to the dangerous paths of temptation.
Príncipe Roldán: And if they are such risky territories, do you not think I should avoid temptations?
King: One must live, my son. It is just about living...
Príncipe Roldán: And what if I discover that I am not who I pretend to be?
Courtesana: (Takes his face in her hands) For once, I agree with your father... A prince Roldán always has a way out. You cannot stay here, fighting with your fat father, or with your image. Your true enemy is not a reflection. And nobody, listen to me well, nobody is what they appear to be.
Scene 6 The First Adventure
Location: The road through the Gloomy Forest. The light of the full moon illuminates the path. The air is dense and cold. Characters: Yann, alone. Then, the Courtesan, the King, and Prince Roldán. (Yann walks with determination, leaving the tower's garden behind. His face reflects a mixture of fear and euphoria. He stops at a stream and kneels. He looks at his reflection.)
Yann: I am a fugitive, I am the destiny I want to choose! I must go beyond the imposed limits. I do not know why I know it now, but I do.
(A female figure approaches from the darkness. It is Samantha, the Courtesan, in a ball gown that looks out of place in the forest.)
Courtesan: What is a boy like you doing on this path at this hour? You seem to have just escaped from captivity.
Yann: (Gets up and looks at her, mesmerized. He does not know why, but he feels a pang of familiarity.) I am not a slave. I have come out to explore. I will be the one who decides which pieces to move without my mother's intervention.
Courtesan: (Laughs with sarcasm. The laugh is cold, but has a painful echo.) Your mother... Destiny is a farce that throws an irony in our face.
(Yann takes a step towards her, not knowing why. The Courtesan does not retreat, but is shocked. She touches her forehead and her hand trembles. Nevertheless, she strokes his head and touches his hair.)
Courtesan: (In a whisper, as if a forgotten truth hit her) Your hair... that color... I remember it. I remember it red. Shouldn't it be red?
(Yann touches his hair. He still does not understand, but something has broken. The Courtesan, seized by an unexpected pain and panic, flees into the darkness of the forest. Yann stays, looking at the place where she stood, confused.)
Yann: Will all grown-ups be this strange?
(On his way back to the tower, he meets the King. The King walks at night, overwhelmed by his nightmares.)
King: (Upon seeing Yann, his eyes open wide. He stutters, as if he does not believe what he sees.) My son! What are you doing here? I thought you were the ghost... of my sins... Go back to the castle, it is not safe for you to wander out here...
Yann: (Looking intently at the King, not knowing why he feels so much compassion for him) I am not your son. I am the son of the witch.
King: (Laughing bitterly, as if he were losing his mind) I have a son... Have you seen him? (Yann makes a face of "maybe... I do not know.") How would you know him if you are only the son of a witch?
Yann: And you, you are only a man.
King: You are right, but a man is a man... And sometimes he can be a king.
Yann: That does not matter to me. I hope you find your lost son.
(The King, overwhelmed, walks away and leaves the young Yann once again bewildered.)
Yann: It is a fact, grown-ups are strange.
(On his way back to the tower, he this time meets Prince Roldán.)
Prince Roldán: I looked for you in your place and you were not there.
Yann: I have crossed the limits. My place is now the world.
Prince Roldán: Calm down, brave gentleman, do not exaggerate. Should I accompany you home? Or do you want to come with me and explore the world a little more?
Yann: I have the need to walk even more and to walk a lot before I return... We can both go if you want...
Prince Roldán: The idea is acceptable... I am going to think about it while we walk.
Yann: Oh, yes... That is a revelation... I will think about it too... (Pause, they walk away slowly and then suddenly sit down, each immersed in their thoughts. Finally Yann says something unexpected) Did you know that grown-ups are very strange?
Prince Roldán: You are a grown-up.
Yann: What are you saying?
Prince Roldán: You are a year or two older than me, of course, I have more of the world.
Yann: I can neither deny nor affirm that.
Prince Roldán: Yes, you can.
Scene 7 The Witch and the King
Location: In the tower hall. The Witch Salma is at the chessboard arranging the pieces, but the King paces back and forth. He thinks of his words and is nervous. The Witch Salma seems to be weaving a spiderweb with the chess pieces. Characters: The Witch Salma and the King.
King: (Following the thread of a conversation) ... And that is why I got ahead of myself... That is why I want you to take care of the transformation, but without her having anything to do with it.
Witch: (Approaches him) Why would I even touch a son of mine?
King: (Confused) It is difficult to explain. My son wants... Your son... They... The courtesan... You are a witch, right?... But you are also a mother... And...
Witch: My King, my beloved King... You seem not to be sure of yourself... Look: sorceresses are liars. Witches are magnificent. And mothers... something completely different. Do you desire a mother to sacrifice her own son? Not even a queen would do such a thing.
King: You, a queen? You make me laugh.
Witch: I could make you suffer if I wanted to, I could turn you into a solid portrait, a silent tree, a whining dog.
King: It will be a guardian dog...
Witch: (Ignores the correction and continues) If I were queen I would solve all your problems. But you would do me a disservice, you know it. I, with my powerful arts, am much more than you and your decadent castle.
King: Well then, since you do not want to transform your son... I want to propose to you...
Witch: I do not even want to hear it, I am sorry.
King: Well, I must speak without detours or lies, Witch... Do you truly not want to be, you, the queen of my castle? Would you truly reject such an invitation?
Witch: (Entangles him, changes the move) Do not even hint that you are inviting me to such a humiliation. I, queen of a castle that has no descendants?
King: Your son could rule, alongside mine, does that sound good to you?
Witch: A perverse plan you propose, and against the mother...
King: Do not worry about his mother... She can very well go to work in another castle, she is an upstart... You know?
Witch: Is being crowned queen not a bad move? You say my son would be the ruler...
King: And my son Prince Roldán, and you and I as well.
Witch: I can already see myself as crowned queen... the ultimate move in chess, the coronation without a doubt it is.
King: I do not know. I see you ecstatic... I am not sure right now... I would have to think about it... Could this turn into a cosmic disorder? And besides, we still need to know what our children would think.
Witch: (Sits down in a chair like a queen) Say nothing now, it is enough. I will be your queen and our sons will live eternally grateful in eternal love, they can be by each other's side while I govern.
King: (Trying to assert his power) It would be more accurate to say... While I govern... and you by my side.
Witch: (Looks at him condescendingly. With sarcasm) Oh, do not even question that.
King: And how did you know, future queen, that my son and yours loved each other?
Witch: They love each other as brothers, which is what they are, although I do not know if it is very opportune for them to know it. I knew it even before your son the prince was born.
King: How so?... Are you a soothsayer too?
Witch: I am a witch and all-powerful. I always anticipate three moves on this chessboard, I always get ahead by three, three moves. It is a fact. Now leave me alone. While I plan how the coronation I deserve will be.
King: I will leave you to plan everything, my future queen.
Queen: You will do so, I know it.
Scene 8 Months have passed. The queen's successful coronation has already taken place. Prince Roldán and Prince Yann are playing a game of chess, but neither of them is paying attention to the game. They look reflective, but not necessarily on their moves.
Location: The GARDEN OF THE mysterious TOWER. Afternoon, the last rays of sun. Yann is contemplating the horizon. Prince Roldán is no longer in his prince attire, but in simpler clothes.
Yann: Here we are.
Prince Roldán: You see.
Yann: Destiny can be very clear and fortunate for some.
Prince Roldán: (He smiles) What you say is partly true. But I wonder, has our union truly been a work of destiny... You are now a prince, I have been for a long time... My mother is now the owner of her own kingdom. My father... Well... My father...
Yann: And behind all that, my mother moving all the pieces. Always anticipating three moves ahead of all of us. Three.
Prince Roldán: I know... and I do not regret it. Ruling was never my intention, and it has not been for you either.
Yann: And yet, who will rule the kingdom once my mother has died?
Prince Roldán: That will happen someday.
Yann: I suppose.
Prince Roldán: We do not have to worry about that. The truth is that we are the masters of our own lives.
Yann: And we love each other as brothers.
Prince Roldán: A little more than that and with fewer fights than between brothers.
Prince Yann: That is what you say.
Prince Roldán: (He challenges him, smiling) That is what I affirm, or what? Do you question my words? You know it always leads to a fencing match.
Prince Yann: That is an affront, it seems to me that we should fight. (The two take out their swords and fight masterfully in a fight with no end, laughing.)
Prince Roldán: Vade retro, usurper prince.
Prince Yann: You go back, Prince without a crown.
Prince Roldán: It would be better if you gave me a hug.
Prince Yann: A fraternal hug, that pleases me.
Prince Roldán: That pleases me too, but for now let us fight, and then perhaps... perhaps we can...
Prince Yann: (He stops him in his tracks) Go to the meal my mother prepared? Do you not remember?
Prince Roldán: (He stops, his face lights up with a genuine smile) Your mother! Always your mother... and always three moves ahead.
Prince Yann: Three moves, three. It is a fact.
The End
