Shakespeare in Love again

I recently watched "Shakespeare in Love" again. It's one of my favorite movies, though it has been several years since I have watched it beginning to end. I was reminded once again at how wonderful - truly beauitfully written, acted (less Ben Affleck), directed and photographed- that movie really is. The ending though is so good, so touching, without being overly dribbly, that I thought I'd post the script here. I'm a person who tends to romanticize too much about the world, which is why maybe I like this ending so much. Whatever the reason I find I like it, hopefully you'll find your own.

    A gaggle of the QUEEN'S favoured courtiers wait by her
    carriage. WESSEX is hurrying down the exterior staircase
    as the QUEEN emerges from the theatre. During the
    following a general egress from the Auditorium is taking
    place, including some of the actors crowding to see her
    off. WESSEX bows out of breath.

                           WESSEX
                 Your Majesty!

                           QUEEN
                 Why, Lord Wessex! Lost your wife so
              soon?

                           WESSEX
                 Indeed I am a bride short. How is this
              to end?

    VIOLA has come out of the theatre, amongst some of the
    other players. The QUEEN catches her eye.

                           QUEEN
                 As stories must when love's
              denied--with tears and a journey. Those
              whom God has joined in marriage, not
              even I can put asunder.

                           QUEEN (CONT'D)
                     (she turns to VIOLA)
              Lord Wessex, as I foretold, has lost
              his wife in the play- house--go make
              your farewell and send her out. It's
              time to settle accounts.
                  (to WESSEX)
              How much was the wager?

                           WESSEX
                 Fifty shillings.
                  (the QUEEN gives him a look)
              Pounds.

                           QUEEN
                 Give it to Master Kent. He will see it
              rightfully home. WESSEX gives his
              purse to VIOLA.

                           QUEEN (CONT'D)
                     (to VIOLA)
              And tell Shakespeare something more
              cheerful next time for Twelfth Night.

    The QUEEN proceeds towards her carriage. There is an
    enormous puddle between her and her carriage. The QUEEN
    hesitates for a fraction and then marches through the
    puddle as cloaks descend upon it.

                           QUEEN (CONT'D)
                 Too late, too late.

    She splashes her way into her carriage, which departs.

       INT. THE CURTAIN THEATRE. STAGE. DAY.

                           WILL
                     (heartbroken, testing her
                   name)
              My Lady Wessex?

    VIOLA nods, heartbroken too. For a long moment they
    cannot say anything to each other. The she holds up
    Wessex's purse.

                           VIOLA
                 A hired player no longer. Fifty
              pounds, Will, for the poet of true
              love.

                           WILL
                 I am done with theatre. The playhouse
              is for dreamers. Look where the dream
              has brought us.

                           VIOLA
                 It was we ourselves did that. And for
              my life to come I would not have it
              otherwise.

                           WILL
                 I have hurt you and I am sorry for it.

                           VIOLA
                 If my hurt is to be that you will
              write no more, then I shall be the
              sorrier.

    WILL looks at her.

                           VIOLA (CONT'D)
                 The Queen commands a comedy, Will for
              Twelfth Night.

                           WILL
                     (harshly)
              A comedy! What will my hero be but the
              saddest wretch in the kingdom, sick
              with love?

                           VIOLA
                 An excellent beginning
                  (a beat)
              Let him be…a duke. And your heroine?

                           WILL
                     (bitterly)
              Sold in marriage and half way to
              America.

                           VIOLA
                     (adjusting)
              At sea, then--a voyage to a new
              world?…she lands upon a vast and empty
              shore. She is brought to the
              duke…Orsino.

                           WILL
                     (despite himself)
              Orsino…good name

                           VIOLA
                 But fearful of her virtue, she comes
              to him dressed as a boy

                           WILL
                     (Catching it)
              and thus unable to declare her love

    Pause. They look at each other. Suddenly the conversation
    seems to be about them.

                           VIOLA
                 But all ends well.

                           WILL
                 How does it?

                           VIOLA
                 I don't know. It's a mystery

    WILL half smiles. Then he's serious. They look deeply at
    each other…and rush into each other's arm.

                           WILL (CONT'D)
                 You will never age for me, nor fade,
              nor die.

                           VIOLA
                 Nor you for me.

                           WILL
                 Good bye, my love, a thousand times
              good bye.

                           VIOLA
                 Write me well.

    She kisses him with finality. Then turns and runs from
    him. WILL watches as she goes.

       INT. WILL'S ROOM. DAY.

    A blank page. A hand is writing: TWELFTH NIGHT. We see
    WILL sitting at his table.

                           WILL (VO)
                 My story starts at sea…a perilous
              voyage to an unknown land…a shipwreck

       EXT. UNDERWATER. DAY.

    Two figures plunge into the water

                           WILL (VO)
                 the wild waters roar and heave…the
              brave vessel is dashed all to pieces,
              and all the helpless souls within her
              drowned

       INT. WILL'S ROOM. DAY.

    WILL at his table writing

                           WILL (VO)
                 all save one … a lady

       EXT. UNDERWATER. DAY.

    VIOLA in the water

                           WILL (VO)
                 whose soul is greater than the ocean …
              and her spirit stronger than the sea's
              embrace … not for her watery end, but
              a new life beginning on a stranger
              shore

       EXT. BEACH. DAY.

    VIOLA is walking up a vast and empty beach ….

                           WILL (VO CONTINUED)
                 It will be a love story … for she will
              be my heroine for all time

       INT. WILL'S ROOM. DAY.

    WILL looks up from the table.

                           WILL (VO CONTINUED)
                 and her name will be … Viola.

    He looks down at the paper, and writes: "Viola" Then:
    "What country friends is this?"

       EXT. BEACH. DAY.

    DISSOLVE slowly to VIOLA, walking away up the beach
    towards her brave new world.

                             THE END