Ryan+W.

Ryan W. By: Ryan Wierwille
 * Leonardo Da Vinci**

(With his right hand in slight paralysis, a sickly Leonard da Vinci enters. Shuffling delicately and cautiously, he makes his way to a rickety chair and table. Gabbing a quill, ink, and paper along the way. He gently sits in the chair and begins to write his will.) With my studies of the human body, I understand that I am coming to the end. The paralysis in the right side of my body shows signs of an illness of which I am not familiar. Though this limits my ability to express my thoughts in sketches and paintings, I can still envision them in my mind. As I keep searching for the answers to the many mysteries I’ve encountered, I must endure this illness. To my rivals Raphael and Michelangelo, I bid you farewell and good luck on your future endeavors. Though I realize some of my work is controversial, I hope that one day it will be appreciated for all its worth. (Leonardo gruffly coughs to clear his throat and he wraps a blanket tightly around his frail shoulders.) King Francis I, I want to thank you for the opportunity to work with you in the grand country of France. I hope I served the title of “First Painter, architect, and engineer to the king” well. You’ve given me the chance to live out the past few years of my life in peace in your town of Cloux. I hope you keep my dear Mona Lisa safe from harm as she was my great love. In the future I see many of my drawings becoming reality. Man flying in machines, riding on wheels, tall structures lining the sky and many others. I also for see a cure for this illness, so that others do not parish from it as I. (Leonardo’s hands begin to tremor violently throwing the quill to the floor. After a moment the shaking subsides and, slowly Leonardo leans over and picks up the quill and begins to write again.) I hope that the city of Vinci prospers after I pass, it is a great city now and I hope it will forever be great. I hope that my old art instructor Verrocchio is proud of my work that I did for him, although I may have out done some of his work. I leave to the world all of my paintings, drawings, and sculptures. I hope these are remembered and kept for the children, of tomorrow to gaze upon and advance their knowledge of the universe. At the end of my time I wish to be taken to the King’s castle in cloister of San Fiorentino. That is where I wish to be buried and remain for the rest of eternity. (Leonardo gets up to find the wax and stamp to close the will, he walks over to his chest of drawers, but stops in mid-stride and clenches his chest. By getting up he over exerted him self, causing him to have a second stroke. Leonardo tumbles to the floor with a thud. His whole body begins to shake. After a few moments the shaking subsides, and now the elderly Leonardo Da Vinci is in a coma, and no one knows if he will wake again.)

//Kyle-It was good, they didn't have pens back then though. In the fisrt part of the monolog you said da Vinic picked up a feather, and then in were he has the first tremor you said pen twice. A better word at thoes two points is a quill.//

Brittany- this was a very good piece. The end of the piece though jumps straight to him fallling right after he says what he wants to say which not realistic. Maybe if he starts stuttiring his words or something will make it flow better to the ending.

Ms. Schoen -- Not too shabby Ryan. It is very well written and to the point. Your closing needs some work but other than that, well done! I would look back over again for spelling errors (there are a few). Work on the closing and the transition for it.