The Lion in Winter
written by James Goldman
John: It's not so hard. Try saying after me; John wins, I lose.
Richard: What if John died?
John: What's that?
Richard: What if he left us suddenly?
John:You wouldn't dare.
Richard: (going for his dagger) Why on earth wouldn't I?
John: A knife! He's got a knife!
Eleanor of Aquitaine: Of course he has a knife. He always has a knife. We all have knives. It's 1183 and we're barbarians. How clear we make it. Oh, my piglets, we're the origins of war. Not history's forces nor the times nor justice nor the lack of it nor causes nor religions nor ideas nor kinds of government nor any other thing! We are the killers; we breed war. We carry it, lke syphilis, inside. Dead bodies rot in field and stream because the living ones are rotten. For the love of God, can't we love each other just a little? That's how peace begins. We have so much to love each other for. We have such possibilities, my children; we could change the world.
Kudos and much thanks go to Ilia for this monologue, it is very much appreciated.