This is… another RAGAD fic I've written. This one's a little complicated. It takes a moment when Guildenstern has decided to change things, and leaves Rosencrantz on his own for a few minutes, effectively frightening his insecure friend. This focuses on Rosencrantz's reliance on Guildenstern, and toward the end, the confusion the two will suffer due to Guildenstern's actions. Read and Review…
I don't own these guys, just got thinking and decided to try it.
Change the Script
Two Elizabethans, both well-dressed, on a boat. GUILDENSTERN and ROSENCRNATZ. GUILDENSTERN (hereafter GUIL) is fidgeting and does not stay in one spot more than a few moments. ROSENCRANTZ (hereafter ROS) stands still, clutching a letter and watching GUIL. HAMLET is to the side, hidden to the two, but visible by the audience.
ROS (reviving): We can't let them kill him. He's our friend.
GUIL: So they've told us. What can we do? The letter is crucial. We can't simply lose it.
ROS: That would put a spoke in their wheel.
GUIL: And we would be the ones punished for it.
ROS: What's the worst they could do to us?
GUIL: Well, they're going to kill him….
ROS stares at GUIL, dropping to his knees on deck. He sets the letter down and reaches to the tie in his hair. Finding it missing, he looks up to GUIL.
ROS: What can we do?
GUIL (thinking a moment): Have you a blank bit of parchment?
ROS: What for?
GUIL: Why do you have to ask?
ROS: What's your plan?
GUIL: It's just an idea….
ROS (rummaging through his pack): Statement.
GUIL: Not now.
ROS (producing a piece of parchment): What are you going to do?
GUIL doesn't respond, but goes away, meeting with HAMLET, who confers silently with GUIL. ROS is alone and sniffs, trying to hold back tears. Sitting silent and waiting, the tears begin to fall and he looks about, trying to find some sense in the area around him, frightened and suddenly too alone.
ROS (crying): Where are we going? England? Is it really there, or is it a place in our imaginations? Or worse … A place in the King's mind? I've never been there myself, so it is yet to be for me…. (Looks for GUIL.) What are you doing? (Wipes his eyes, waiting for a response.)
GUIL remains silent writing on the parchment, HAMLET at his elbow. HAMLET offers silent assistance. ROS is left in silence.
ROS (pulling his cloak close about his frame): I never believed in England … nor unicorns.
GUIL glances toward ROS on mention of unicorns, but does not speak.
They are both too fantastical to be real. I mean, have you ever seen England? (Seems to wait once more for a response.) Of course you haven't. If I haven't … How long have we known each other? I can't remember….
GUIL turns to HAMLET, a faint smile on his lips. He clasps the Prince's shoulder and goes back to ROS, holding out the parchment. HAMLET pockets the original letter and joins GUIL and ROS in silence.
GUIL: We've known each other as long as I can remember, which isn't all that long. (Hands the letter to ROS.) What do you think of this?
ROS (looking away in anger, tears still present): It's a letter. Good job.
GUIL: You're bitter.
ROS: You left me.
GUIL: To save Hamlet!
ROS: I … I got lost….
GUIL: You didn't go anywhere.
ROS (crying): I can't … be alone. You know I'm only good in support!
GUIL passes his altered letter to HAMLET and drops next to ROS, trying to comfort him.
GUIL: I-I won't always be here.
ROS: You always have been.
GUIL (silent a moment, rubbing ROS'S back): There….
ROS: I don't know if I'd ever be able to-
GUIL: You can. You're just afraid.
ROS: I'm used to-
GUIL: I know. (Sighs and leans back, on his elbows.) What's your name?
ROS: I've forgotten. What did you write?
GUIL: It just says that the Lord Prince Hamlet requests refuge from Elsinore. We'll stay in England a few days, then go back.
ROS: Why go back?
GUIL (looking at HAMLET): He has something he must finish, so he says.
HAMLET nods, and turns away, watching the barrels upstage, leaving the two alone to their thoughts.
ROS: So, we'll go back, all as one?
GUIL: I won't leave you again.
ROS: Rosencrantz, to answer your question.
GUIL: What?
ROS: You asked my name. My name is Rosencrantz. And you are Guildenstern. (Wipes the last tears from his eyes.)
GUIL: Yes, I am, aren't I?
ROS (leans back on his elbows): We've known each other since childhood. We were terribly young and I'd fallen into a hole somewhere….
GUIL: No, out of a tree.
ROS (remembering): Yes, a tree. It was snowing and cold. I'd fallen from the tree, broken my leg. I thought I might die. You came and found me.
GUIL: You were howling and moaning. I though a wolf was dying.
ROS: It was a terrible break. I was laid up for weeks.
GUIL: I set the leg and half-dragged you to town.
ROS: When it healed, you climbed the tree, to prove it could be done.
GUIL: You never climbed another tree.
ROS: I was terrified. You mocked me.
GUIL: We were children. Children can be cruel.
ROS: You changed over time. Became more protective.
GUIL: Introspective.
ROS: It got hard to approach you, but you never left my side.
GUIL: We became inseparable.
ROS: I lived with you and your family after my mother died.
GUIL: My mother took to calling you, "Son."
ROS: It felt nice, being a part of that family.
GUIL: It was a simpler time.
Pause.
ROS: We haven't remembered this much since … before I can remember.
GUIL: It has been a long time, hasn't it?
The PLAYER comes out of his barrel and toward the trio. HAMLET clasps the PLAYER'S hand in greeting. Slowly, the TRAGEDIANS exit their barrels.
PLAYER: You have changed it, I see.
GUIL: Changed?
ROS: What?
PLAYER: The script.
HAMLET: And in turn, your future.
PLAYER: It's a fresh day for us all, now.
GUIL (connecting the pieces): Do you mean, we've changed the course of our lives with that letter?
HAMLET (pulling the letter from his pocket and handing it to GUIL): No.
PLAYER: You've given yourselves life.
HAMLET and the PLAYER leave the stage, followed by the TRAGEDIANS, leaving ROS and GUIL alone.
GUIL: Given ourselves life?
ROS: That's a relief.
GUIL: I suppose, but … What do we do now?
ROS looks confused a moment, looks to GUIL, then offstage. He shakes his head and looks out front, to the audience.
ROS: I don't know….