Chapter Text
Dramatis Personae
The Holders of the Miraculous
Marinette Dupain-Cheng, ladybug
Adrien Agreste, Chat Noir
Gabriel Agreste, Hawk Moth
Civilians
Alya Cesaire, amateur reporter
Nino Lahiffe, student
Mayor Bourgeois, of Paris
Chloe Bourgeois, his daughter
Sabrina, her bff
Nathalie, employed by Gabriel Agreste
Tom Dupain, baker
Sabine Cheng, baker
Kwamis
Tikki, bonded to Ladybug
Plagg, bonded to Chat Noir
Nooroo, bonded to Hawk Moth
Various citizens of Paris
Act I
Scene I: The Streets of Paris
Enter at least two citizens of Paris
Citizen: What soars above us, red against blue sky?
Not bird, not plane, but valiant Ladybug!
Citizen: And Chat Noir; these steadfast heroes ours
In face of ev’ry fight, they stand so strong
And with each triumph, Paris saved again!
Enter Alya, running
Alya: It’s here, I think, this battle’s due to end
At least, I hope, for more I cannot run
At ev’ry fight, I follow close behind
Each clip, each glimpse like music to my eyes
But still, the biggest scoop beyond my reach:
For months, I’ve searched for truth behind the masks
And someday, Ladybug and Chat Noir,
Eventually, the truth will out –
Citizen: - Look out!
Akuma lands heavily, followed by Chat Noir; Ladybug lands on the Akuma and breaks the item
Ladybug: Akuma! No more evil shall thou do!
She purifies the Akuma
Alya [aside]: And that believest I to be my cue
Oh, Ladybug!
Ladybug: Is’t Alya, of the blog?
Alya: I only have one question: do you think
The world will ever get to see your face?
Chat Noir: It is for safety’s sake our secrets must
Remain so –
Ladybug: -Truer words were never said
But when that villain Hawk Moth is no more
Consider asking me again.
Alya: My thanks.
Exit Alya, citizens of Paris
Ladybug: I’m grateful for your answer, chaton –
Chat Noir: - No!
No thanks are needed. Know, my lady, this:
A thousand secrets would I keep for you.
My doubled heart’s entirely yours till then
And, dare I say, forever after too.
Ladybug: You silly cat –
Earrings and ring beep
Chat Noir: - I guess we must be off.
Ladybug: Indeed – another time, perhaps; farewell.
Chat Noir: Another time, another place; I wait
Upon the chance to see my love again.
Exeunt
Scene II – Hawk Moth’s Tower
Enter Hawk Moth
Hawk Moth: You may defeat me now, young Ladybug
But soon the time approaches when I’ll win
This city lies before me, spread below
My feet. So many people to corrupt
To turn and curdle for my evil ways.
So many months have I wrought havoc down
Upon these victims waiting for my guide.
But now, beware; one fact has come to me
One fact to change the game, alter my plans
With Simon Says, I meant to keep myself
Much closer to my minion than before
And therefore, to you, heroes of fair Paris
A reckless web I spun, and still I lost
Miraculous still dancing just beyond
My reach, and yet, in losing this one fight
I may have lit the path to win the war.
As that day came to final close, I spied
For the first time, with my own eyes, the ring
Of Chat Noir, the source of all his strength
And later still, I found the very same
Adorning, yes, the finger of my light
My pearl, my only son, my Adrien
How can it be? Has been my enemy
This whole time; striking blows against me, then
In private life, still standing at my side.
This black cat that I sought under my roof.
I never, in my wildest dreams, could have
Foreseen such a predicament. Here stands
The supervillain brought to heel with much
Surprise and even more confoundment – but
In this dark place, this tower of my rule
Decisions have I made, and here I stand
Declare the plan I will to execute.
If Adrien is Chat Noir, well in
The end, it’s of such little consequence
And now I know where he resides, I’ll strike
A well-timed blow, right at those nearest him
And hope, before his lady luck arrives
My son depowered, cursed ring with me
And with its might, more chance the ladybug
I’ll crush; and lacking ring, my only son
Be once again belonging just to me.
Exit Hawk Moth
Scene III – The School
Enter Marinette, Alya, Nino
Alya: And that is why, I have to hope, she will
When Hawk Moth is no more, bestow to me
Exclusive interviews of her real face.
Marinette: Be careful not to raise your hopes too high
A smiling hint does not a promise make.
Alya: But I trust Ladybug not to rescind
And speaking of high hopes and plans, my friend
I seem to recall promises to act
From none but Marinette upon this day.
Nino: And I, as well; or rather, if I were
To hear of certain statements from the mouth
Of dearest Alya, I would think this
Momentous day indeed.
Marinette: You two are cruel
But for your information, I have held
To my resolve; I’ll go to the Agreste
Abode today.
Alya: And won’t forget this time
To sign your name?
Marinette: This time, I aim to tell
Him face to face.
Nino: And why not do this here?
Marinette: At school, I’m awkwardness personified
Besides, with my luck, Chloe’d ruin it.
Nino: Fair point, that; I wish you all the best.
Enter Chloe and Sabrina
Sabrina: I don’t see why you’d want to replace me!
Chloe: Sabrina, it’s not replacement, just an add
A person as adored as me deserves
Two bffs, and for the second, none
But Ladybug will do.
Marinette: As if she’d think
To EVER befriend you!
Chloe: Who speaks to me?
Oh, Marinette, the saddest of them all
As if you even need, deserve, my words
But here I stand, oh gen’rous me, to gift
You anyway: you don’t know what you talk
About – and by this afternoon, you’ll see
That Ladybug my bestest friend will be.
Exit Chloe and Sabrina
Alya: God, just when I thought she could not get worse.
But Ladybug would never be her friend.
Marinette [aside]: How right she is, and fortunate I can
Assure this sick’ning dream will never come
To pass. But dwell on Chloe’s attitude
I shan’t today, for better things I mean
To set in motion in the afternoon.
Exeunt