Entrepreneuse of Dune

(Jessica is in the foyer of Caladan palace pacing back and forth. She is wearing a white robe, is barefoot, she is pulling at her hair with one hand and clutching a glass of red wine with another. She mutters to herself. Gurney enters the room).

GURNEY:
"What's wrong, Jessica? (Gurney startles Jessica, she jumps and gasps. She stares at him and goes back to pacing. Gurney raises the tone of his voice). I said, what's wrong?"

JESSICA (agitated, speech picks up):

"No Duke. No children. No grandchildren. No friends, no family, no wealth, no nothing! I'm a freak, just like my children! Worse!"

GURNEY (slowly approaching with his arms out):

"Jessica, I need you to calm down. Let's talk about what's happened."

JESSICA:

"I can't, I can't!"

GURNEY:

"Please, Jessica! I won't be angry, I promise! Let's just discuss.."

JESSICA (interrupting):

"No!"

GURNEY:

"Here, let's put this down.... (Gurney tries to take the wine glass from Jessica's hand, she smashes it on the ground. Gurney softly but firmly grasps Jessica's forearms, tries to look her in the eyes). Jessica...Jessica...".

JESSICA:

"Get off me!" (She jerks her arms out of Gurney's grip).

GURNEY:
"Let's sit down, alright? I'm right here with you!" (He stands behind her and wraps his arms around her upper body, trying to restrain her. She struggles).

JESSICA:

"No, no! You are not my husband! You are not my Duke! Get off me, I hate you!"

GURNEY:

"I know...I know. I'm not Duke Leto. I could never be half of who he was. But we must talk through this. You must tell me what's happened. Please, Jessica." (Jessica breaks free from Gurney's arms, turns towards him, starts punching his chest with her fists).

JESSICA:

"NO! NO! NO!" (Gurney grabs Jessica's wrists. She loses strength and sits full-force on the couch, buries her face in her hands, shakes, cries, hyperventilates. Gurney sits next to her. Jessica's sobs eventually subside and she exhausts herself).

GURNEY:

"So what's happened?"

JESSICA (She speaks softly and dully, she is exhausted):

"Lady Wencisia. She promised me a share of spice profits."

GURNEY:

"Spice profits? You don't need it, Jessica! You have your son's inheritance! (Jessica looks down at her hands, is deadly silent). You . . . don't have your son's inheritance. (Jessica shakes her head). How could you possibly have been using that much?!"

JESSICA:

"It's not just the using."

GURNEY:

"Then what else is it, Jessica?"

JESSICA (pauses, sighs):

"I have a bookie on Giedi Prime."

GURNEY:

"That horrible, godsforsaken place?! As if it wasn't bad enough under House Harkonnen, it's now run by mob bosses!"

JESSICA:

"I know. It's the underground gladiator rings."

GURNEY:

"Do you have any idea how much danger you could be putting yourself in?!"

JESSICA:

"So be it."

GURNEY:

"Don't you think about those who love you?"

JESSICA:

"And who might that be, Gurney? Everyone I've ever loved is dead or gone!"

GURNEY:

"I love you, Jessica! I've loved you for years!"

JESSICA:

"Love me all you like, Gurney! But you're wasting your emotions! I am incapable of feeling love. Of feeling anything, unless I'm using or gambling!"

GURNEY:

"Alright, I understand, you do not love me! You've made this abundantly clear! But tell me, Jessica, how would Lady Wencisia possibly transfer spice wealth to you? She has no rights to it!"

JESSICA:

"She's taking it."

GURNEY:

"How?"

JESSICA:

"How has it always been taken?!"

GURNEY:

"And the Fremen?"

JESSICA:

"She went through Chani."

GURNEY:

"How? Chani would never agree to this!"

JESSICA:

"She had no choice."

GURNEY:

"What do you mean, 'had no choice'?"

JESSICA:
"My grandchildren, Gurney! The Corrinos took my grandchildren!"

GURNEY:

"Why that's unspeakable! But how did they find them, Jessica? (Jessica is deadly silent, looking down). Jessica, I need to know! Please, tell me. I can't help you if you won't tell me!"

JESSICA (becoming agitated again):
"You can't help me anyway, no one can!"

GURNEY:

"Maybe not, but perhaps I can help the situation. Please, Jessica. You are safe with me. Please."

JESSICA:

"They sent me to Chani's sietch. They watched me. They promised they'd let me raise Leto alongside them. They promised me spice profits. They betrayed me."

GURNEY:

"Where are your grandchildren now?"

JESSICA:

"Wencisia's manor on Selusa. She's bringing them back to Arrakeen. Chani waits there."

GURNEY:

"And the spice? When will they come for the spice?"

JESSICA:

"I don't know, I don't know!" (Gurney stands up quickly from the couch).

GURNEY:

"Jessica, I thank you for telling me. Truly I do. (Gurney sees a servant walking at the other end of the foyer, waves to get her attention. To servant): Madam, could you please see the Lady Jessica to bed? She is quite unwell."

SERVANT:

"Yes, m'lord."

GURNEY (to the servant):

"Thank you. (To Jessica): You'll be alright, Jessica, I promise. I'll come and find you later, alright?" (Gurney nods to the servant. The servant puts her arm around Jessica and begins leading her away, upstairs. Gurney walks quickly across the foyer floor into another room).