章 45: Chapter 45

The screenplay had been reworked in hopes of attracting a younger, more liberal audience that would enjoy the gay subplot. The duke became Oliver Orsino, a successful restauranteur who might or might not be gay. He planned to expand his business by bringing on board Katharine de la Pole, the widow of a wealthy competitor, and he was willing to go as far as he had to, even if it entailed marrying the woman. To this effect, he sent his pastry chef, Charlie, to pay a call, hoping Charlie’s decadent confections would soften the widow’s resolve to stay out of her deceased husband’s business dealings and have her willing to fall in with his plans.

As with Twelfth Night, the spanner in the works was that Charlie, who was gay, was in love with Orsino, while Katharine wound up falling head over heels for the much younger Charlie.

Nothing was ever simple in any of the Bard’s plays. However, it was going to be interesting to see what path the screenwriter had taken.