(A sunny day in a rural English village in the 1560’s. The town square. A fountain bubbles in the center and houses and businesses run along the perimeter. A balcony juts in from one side.)

(KAT and her MOTHER are in conference on one side. Away from them, IMBROGLODIGIO and his man-servant IDJIT enter, swords drawn. Their swords clash until IMBROGLODIGIO raises his hand.)

Master Imbroglodigio, why for art thou stopping our friendly duel?
Hark, Idjit, for there be my love Kat, a creature as lovely as this day is beautiful. With her mother in conference she be. I wonder what scheme they plot?
Perhaps of oldern times they chatter, speaking of your Kat’s childhood perhaps.
That furrowed brow tells a different tale. But their words too faint they are to hear and, although I be of noble and aristocratic birth and education, lip-reading was not a class in which I distinguished myself.
They do seem to be caught mid-scheme, master.

Oh, Mother, but to be away for a fortnight will drive my Imbroglodigio mad. Whatever will he do without me, his Kat, by his side?