Disclaimer: The usual legal assurances that I'm actually not trying to steal Captain Archer and crew, to say nothing of the ship. Of course, since I am the creator of Lt. Seamus O'Cathain, who really is an exceptional actor and should be on 'Enterprise', I decided to loan him to them. (By the way, for my non-Irish readers, there is no 'h' sound in "O'Ca-tain.")
The video performance referred to is the 1989 production of 'Henry V' starring Kenneth Branagh, which would be great to rent if you want to watch and make your own casting substitutions. It is copyright by Renaissance Pictures, all rights reserved.
Rating: G
Tease Line: O'Cathain comes up with an idea for something special for the crew. But what are his real motives?
Casting Call
by: JMK758
Prologue
"I'm not sure I can do this." Ensign Hoshi Sato protested to the guest in her quarters. She was beginning to regret ever having let him in.
"Give yourself a chance. You might surprise yourself." She looked up at him, clearly wanting to refuse. "You'll enjoy it."
"I don't know, Lieutenant. I really don't think this is a good idea."
"Trust me, you'll be marvelous. Listen, there are only three roles of any significance for women in this; Mistress Nell Quickly; Alice, the Nurse and Interpreter; and Princess Katherine."
"Well, why can't I be Alice the Interpreter? At least that makes sense."
"Sure, if you want to come off duty, and then play your 'job'. Hoshi, believe me, there is no one on board that would make a better Princess." He gave her a winning smile, halfway between encouraging and flirting. "You'll be perfect."
"Well, I don't know..."
"Hoshi, please. There are only two scenes for the Princess, one when she is trying with her Nurse/Interpreter to learn English, in preparation for a potential meeting with the English, which part can be played with great fun, as at the end it gets pretty silly; and then the final scene, when King Henry professes his love for her. There is no one more perfect for the role." He took her hand. The brogue from his Irish ancestry gave his voice a lyrical quality better than French. She thought she could listen to him all evening. And he did seem to have a winning way about him. "Believe me, you'll be wonderful. If there is anyone suitable to be a Princess, it is you." She laughed, trying not to blush at his obvious flattery.
"Sure, a Japanese French maiden."
"Originally, all parts in Shakespeare's plays were performed by men. You certainly have better qualifications there than Malcolm Reed would."
She laughed delightedly. "Now that would be worth it. Seeing Malcolm in a dress!"
"Actually, Malcolm was, if anything, more reluctant than you are. I finally talked him into playing the Duke of Burgundy; and that because he has fewer scenes than you, one speech at the end."
"Who else have you asked to play the Princess?"
"I'm not going to ask anyone. I told you, you are perfect for the part. If you turn it down, I'll leave it unfilled."
"Now that, Lieutenant, is blackmail."
"Seamus, please."
"All right, Seamus. But it is still blackmail."
"So, will you? Or will we just derail the whole project? The crew is looking forward to this. They will be very disappointed." She thought it over, her shyness contesting with his somewhat empty threat that he might actually call the whole thing off. Would he? The perfect Princess, he'd called her. Principal female role; love scene with King Henry? As she thought it over, she suddenly became aware that he was still holding her hand.
"So, who's playing Henry?" She asked, trying to sidetrack the conversation, perhaps distract him. He looked surprised.
"Why, I am. Didn't I tell you?"
"No."
"I've played the role before, about a hundred and fifty times in Dublin, which is why I feel I can carry it and the directorial job. That's why I knew you'd be perfect, the best leading lady I've ever worked with, as well as an exceptionally beautiful Princess." She looked down, smiling, this time unable to hold back the blush.
"All right. I'll do it." She agreed, not looking up, not wanting him to see her red face.
"Wonderful. You'll have a ball, believe me." He kissed her cheek, surprising her. She was so surprised; in fact, that she barely heard him tell her that he would download the script to her personal terminal, and that the rehearsals would start tomorrow evening.
He was gone, and she was alone in her quarters. Slowly, she put her hand to her cheek, touching the spot where he'd kissed her so unexpectedly. 'Love scene with King Henry?' she thought.
Chapter One
The Play's the thing.
Captain Jonathan Archer was just leaving his quarters the following morning when he spotted the Astrometrics Officer walking a few yards ahead. "Lt. O'Cathain." He called. The other officer stopped, waiting.
"Top of the morning to you, Captain. Sleep well?"
"Yes, and you?"
"Just fine."
"How goes the play?"
"I've got it about half cast, and I'm planning to start rehearsals tomorrow evening. In fact, I'm glad to run into you. How would you like to play the French King Charles?" Archer was surprised, and made no effort to hide it.
"The King? Me?"
"You'll be perfect. You've got the leadership style. There are about a half dozen scenes, as a King he would be fluent in several languages, one would expect. He actually speaks English exclusively in the play. Besides, it's the King. People would see you as a natural in the role." Archer smiled slightly to take the sting off his reply.
"I've never been swayed by flattery, Lieutenant."
"Yes, sir." O'Cathain replied, realizing he'd overstepped himself.
"I'll think it over, let you know by the end of the day. Actually, I was looking forward to just watching it from the audience."
"Yes, sir." They kept walking slowly. "Actually, I'm on my way to try to fill the part of Mistress Quickly."
"Who are you going to get?"
"Sub-Commander T'Pol."
Surprise seemed to be the dominant theme of the morning. Not unusual, Archer reflected, when dealing with O'Cathain. "T'Pol? Are you kidding?"
"No sir. Mistress Quickly would be the perfect role for her. She has one significant scene, when describing to her husband and friends the last moments of Falstaff's life. It's a very emotional scene."
"Lieutenant, I'm not sure if you've noticed, but T'Pol is a Vulcan. She's not really big on emotion."
"Precisely. You see, sir, Vulcans do have emotion, very powerful emotions actually, despite assumptions to the contrary. But they work hard to repress them. Now Mistress Quickly has just had a very emotional experience, attending the death of a good friend. And she has to communicate to the others, as well as the audience, the death that occurred off stage. If she gives in to her emotions, the scene can be lost. She is trying to hold her control, to communicate deep grief in the details of the death, while trying not to cry herself. The more she holds back, the more she has to convey the grief in her voice. I believe that T'Pol has the capability to accomplish this." He held up a data module. "But just to be safe, I'm bringing her a copy of an old video performance by Judi Dench in 1989 so she can see what I have in mind. I don't want her to copy it, just be inspired by it."
Archer thought it over. He didn't want to tell his fellow officer that he didn't think he had a snowball's chance on Vulcan. "All right, Lieutenant. Tell you what; if she agrees, then so will I."
O'Cathain grinned enthusiastically. "Thank you, sir. You won't be sorry." He turned down the corridor toward Astrometrics. Archer continued on to the Bridge, certain that he was going to be watching next month's play from the front row.
xxx
In the Mess Hall, at noon, Malcolm Reed, Commander Tucker and Ensign Sato were seated at a table when Lt. O'Cathain approached them. "Good afternoon. May I join you?" The others cleared a space, welcoming him. As he sat down, he turned to Sato. "Good Afternoon, Princess."
"You're playing the Princess?" Malcolm asked, surprised as Hoshi tried to hide her face with her hand.
"He talked me into it." She admitted.
"She'll be splendid." He assured them.
"I'm sure she will be." Malcolm said warmly.
O'Cathain turned to Tucker. "So, Commander, what do you think? Will you do it?"
"I don't know. I don't think so."
"But sir..."
"I'm sorry. I'm just not an actor. And it's too big a part."
"Who does he want you for?" Hoshi asked.
"I'm trying to talk him into the 'Duke of Exeter'."
"Oh, that's an excellent part." Malcolm said.
"Then why didn't you take it?"
"I like Burgundy. I don't even know what 'Exeter' tastes like." Hoshi giggled at the atrocious joke.
"All right, no Exeter. How about the Chorus?"
"I told you I'm a terrible actor. You don't even want to hear me try to sing!"
"No sir, the 'Chorus' is the narrator. He describes the action that takes place off stage, and fills in background information, like the treason conspiracy or the preparations for battle."
"Well, I guess I can do that."
O'Cathain smiled, not letting on that Trip had actually agreed to a significantly larger part. It was at that moment that Archer came over to the table carrying a tray. "And how's everything going here?" They looked up, O'Cathain smiling broadly.
"Just great. I have my Princess, the Duke of Burgundy and our Chorus." He enthused, indicating each in turn.
"Sounds like things are really shaping up."
"That they are." Archer looked around, but the room was pretty much full, and he did not really care to have lunch in the Captain's Mess, preferring to share the noon dining with his crew. O'Cathain stood up. "Please, sir. Take my seat. I'm on my way back to Astrometrics."
"Thank you." They traded places.
"Now remember, everyone, first rehearsal is at 1800 hours tomorrow. And Captain, don't forget to get fitted for your crown." With a broad grin, he left; leaving a bemused Archer with his officers.
