REGINALD (intro)
I shall not yield to this false,
petty fate!

RACHEL (intro)
Didn't you hear Paul? It's not
about what we want.

The song begins.

REGINALD
My soul shall not bend
To a painter's ideal
For I am in charge of my fate
While I am real!

Reginald steps over to Rachel...

REGINALD (CONT’D)
No canvas shall check
My dreams or desires.

Reginald boldly kisses Rachel on the cheek.

REGINALD (CONT’D)
My soul shall not bend...

He gestures defiantly to show he's still 'all flesh'. Rachel
is dazed. She wants to believe him so badly, but...

RACHEL
That doesn't count.

REGINALD
Why not?!

RACHEL
It wasn't for love. You were
proving a point.

Reginald looks dejected.

RACHEL (CONT’D)
Besides, it was only on the cheek.

He takes her by surprise and kisses her full on the
lips. It's undoubtedly romantic, and sure enough, he turns to
PAINT.

He tries to hide it, but Rachel notices. They break off -- Reginald backs away ashamedly.

RACHEL (CONT’D)
(consoling)
Reginald...

REGINALD
Please spare me thy pity,
And thy maidenly sigh,
For I shall fight 'gainst this
curse till I should die!

But I must prevail
Where others may fail,
For that's what I'm painted to do!

He catches a glimpse of himself in the mirror, and walks
over.

REGINALD (CONT’D)
(mockingly)
My soul shall not bend!

He strikes a mock-defiant pose.

REGINALD (CONT’D)
Ha!

He leans in to mock his mirror counterpart but stops short, looking disconsolate.

The MUSIC becomes softer and higher as Rachel gets up and
walks towards him. He watches her through the mirror.

RACHEL
There's still time. We can figure
this out together.

REGINALD
What can we do? I must refuse my
fate, yet I have not the power to
change it.

RACHEL
But what do you really want,
Reginald?

REGINALD
You know. I yearn for new experience, yet I
must be destroyed in finding it.

RACHEL
But...

REGINALD
No. I must resign myself to my
fate.

He pulls away again. Rachel, defeated, turns away. She looks
at her books.

The MUSIC changes tentatively -- Rachel begins to form an
idea...

She walks over to the bookshelf. The MUSIC settles into a
vamp.

RACHEL
(song)
Just stay here and read,
You'll find what you need,
Unscathed by the chaos out there.

Your soul can be free
If you'll stay with me,
Exploring the stories in here.

You'll have grand adventures
And feel new emotions,
But all at a healthy remove.

Just stay here with me...

She walks over to Reginald.

RACHEL (CONT’D)
I know it's not perfect, but at least it's a life. You'll still get to learn new things.

She tries to offer him a book. Reginald considers for a beat,
then...

REGINALD
No.

The MUSIC returns to the opening vamp. Reginald resumes his
defiant stance.

REGINALD
I cannot live life
Confined by a wall;
I live to the fullest or else not at all.

And I shall prevail
Where others would fail,
For I am a "Knight of the Realm!"

He triumphantly unbuckles his neck armour, and changes his hair.

REGINALD (CONT’D)
My soul shall not bend!

He takes her by the hand.

REGINALD (CONT’D)
(more intense)
My soul shall not bend!

He kisses her on the lips. Nothing happens.

REGINALD (CONT’D)
(triumphant)
My soul shall not bend!

A Triumphant FANFARE comes in as Reginald kisses her more
fully. Rachel is buying into it as well.

He breaks off as the final CHORD comes. Suddenly he turns to
PAINT.