Act 1, Scene 1 Summary

The play opens in the garden of a Cardinal of the Catholic Church. There are two chairs, one obviously larger for His Eminence. Off to the side is a birdcage with some foliage and two bright red cardinals. A man, who we come to soon know as a lawyer, is cooing and talking to the birds, trying to engage them to interact with him. Unbeknownst to him, however, the Cardinal enters the courtyard through an iron gate and moves quietly toward the man and watches him with mild amusement.

"Saint Francis?" the Cardinal finally says as he addresses the man from behind. The lawyer turns around, sees the Cardinal and is flustered and a bit embarrassed at having been discovered cooing to the caged birds. The Cardinal ignores his discomfort and explains that Saint Francis was a friend to all animals...