De Brocas

Isabella of France

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Character Name:

Flaw: personal problem that needs fixing

Want: what hero thinks will fix the problem

Need: a life lesson that must be learned

Shard of Glass: origin story of your character’s flaw, buried deep within the character

Broken Compass: the wrong-way GPS  that our hero obsessively follows along their spiritual journey (duty over all else to the detriment of family. Use mission statement: “I will always follow my code” or “I will never ask for help”

Transformation Map: (Description of flawed character) learns (need or lesson learned) through (High-level overview of show’s story) and transforms into (less flawed character).

Description: 1295 – 22 August 1358. Being born into a world that doesn’t accept you forces you through the circles of hell. Have her say she never met Wallace! “I would go through hell for him” (Edward III)

Character good qualities, skills, attitudes:

 

 

Isabella’s Inferno Beat Sheet

  • Opening Image (1) – 12-year-old Isabella of France rides in a black carriage pulled by four black horses. The carriage careens towards a French Gothic cathedral, driven by what appears to be Death. Beside Isabella sits her French nurse,  Theophania. We see Isabella’s big eyes, an innocent but astute child with far too much weight being placed on her shoulders. The jeweled crown on her head is too big for her, and seems to crush her.
  • Theme Stated (5) and Set-up (1-10) – Speaking to Isabella as the carriage rushes towards the cathedral, Theophania details Isabella’s duties as the soon-to-be Queen of England, and describes Edward II, whom Isabella has never met. Her description is respectful but hardly flattering, and it’s clear Edward ‘s intelligence will be no match for Isabella’s. Theophania gives thematic statements: that Isabella must gain strength from her adversaries, that she must never give up, and that she should not fear to destroy her enemies.
  • At the wedding, we meet Isabella’s betrothed. He is hardly interested in her.
  • Catalyst (12) – At Edward’s and Isabella’s coronation, Edward’s lover Piers Gaveston wears imperial purple decorated with pearls. His coat of arms hangs beside the King’s, and Isabella is left to sit alone while Edward sits with Gaveston. In this one evening Edward humiliates Isabella, enrages the barons, and insults several members of the French royal family. He lets the world know who he cherishes most. It will never be Isabella.
  • Debate (12-25) – Isabella and her nurse argue over how to navigate Isabella’s new world.
  • Break into Two (25) – It becomes clear that Gaveston has complete control over Edward’s actions, behavior, and spending. His terrible influence causes Isabella and the barons to force Edward to banish Gaveston. Edward does so, but then secretly calls Gaveston back. Gaveston is caught and executed by the barons. It seems there will be peace in the royal household.
  • B Story (30) – Isabella has her first child, the future Edward III. Unlike most English queens, Isabella keeps her children near to her. She is invested in their upbringing and education.
  • Fun and Games (30-55) – Skip forward to year 1321 – Isabella is now 26 years old and has 4 children. She is respected by everyone, including the pope, the people, the barons, and her husband. She is the voice of wisdom on the throne. She serves as mediator between her husband and the barons, and between England and France. She has an enormous amount of influence over her husband. All is well until it becomes clear that Edward has taken another lover, the greedy Hugh Despenser, son of the Baron of Winchester. Both Despensers wants Isabella and her influence out of the picture.
  • Midpoint/false resolution (55) – Isabella beseeches the Barons to exile Despenser and his father, which they do. There is a a brief peace.
  • The Despensers return, and are worse than ever.  Edward devolves into a thieving, manipulative tyrant.
  • Bad Guys Close In (55-75) – Isabella’s brother, King Charles IV of France, seizes Edward’s French possessions in Gascony, France because Edward refused to pay him homage. This gives Hugh Despenser an excuse to treat Isabella as an enemy of the state. He convinces Edward to remove her children from her, and also to confiscate all of her English land possessions.  During an altercation, Despenser strikes Isabella. Edward doesn’t come to her defense.
  • All is Lost (something dies) (75) – at the Pope’s suggestion, Edward sends Isabella to France to negotiate with her brother. She is still bruised from Hugh Despenser’s assault. Charles, of the great Capetians, is furious. Isabella refuses to return to England despite pleas and threats from Edward and Despenser. From here on, Isabella wears only black mourning garments.
  • Dark Night of the Soul (75-85) – Isabella mourns for her marriage and her children. Charles is becoming uncomfortable supporting her financially. The pope seems to be turning against her. At a breaking point, Isabella suggests her son pay homage for Gascony in King Edward’s stead, so the 13-year-old crown Prince Edward of Windsor joins her in France. With the help of exiled Roger Mortimer, 1st earl of March, Isabella plots to overthrow Edward II. Isabella sets up a betrothal between Prince Edward and Phillipa of Hinaut in exchange for a substantial dowry. Isabella uses this money to build a mercenary army.
  • Break into Three (85) – Isabella’s army crosses the English Channel with an army of ninety five ships. While the ships are being unloaded in England, Isabella fires off letters to cities and villages saying she plans to rid the country of the Despensers. Her army is supported by almost all barons, Robert the Bruce of Scotland, magnates, and bishops. Most importantly she is supported by the English people, who greet her as a liberator. Knowing the “whole community of the realm” will declare for the queen, the King runs with the Despensers and the few barons that support them. A wild chase ensues, all the way to Wales.
  • Finale (85-110) – Isabella’s army captures Edward and Hugh Despenser at Llantrisant. Isabella is made regent for the crown prince. Edward is imprisoned at Berkeley Castle. Hugh Depsenser is executed in a most gruesome way.
  • Final Image (110) – Isabella, astride a white horse, leads her son and several barons to a celebratory feast. She wears a black velvet gown and the bejeweled crown, which now fits her perfectly. Thus ends this bold and noble enterprise, where Queen Isabella reconquers her kingdom and destroys her enemies, at which the whole country rejoices together.