~*Act Two, Scene One*~
(Ghostwriter is all too smug when Vlad starts babbling of an angel amongst dirt-drubbers late that night, although he is slightly bemused by his joyful fanaticism. Shrugging it off, and thinking "Here we go again," he waves Vlad off as his friend disappears into the night, lost in the throes of passion, though it is obvious he is deep in thought. Figuring that Vlad just so happened to be interested in a one-night stand with some maid, Ghostwriter simply keeps his word to tell Vlad's father that he will not be returning that night. Lord Dan Montague is delighted to hear Vlad's best friend drop subtle hints of a lovely young woman, though Ghostwriter has no idea who the "maiden" is.
Vlad broods for several hours over the identity of the little angel until he can stand it no longer, and disarms the spectral alarms that the Capulets put around their home compound. Shortly after, he phases through the wall, exploring the castle yard until he comes to a beautiful garden of roses under the moonlight. Still flushed, Vlad immediately decides that he does not care that his love is a male, and is only too happy that she/he finally has a name)
Vlad: Daniel! That such a face and name
Could put these blushing young blossoms to shame
An angel in humble, human guise
Forced to adapt to telling lies…!
(Danny appears at the balcony in a pink gown, talking to himself; Vlad immediately turns invisible, hands over his heart)
(Whispering)
Vlad: Not by moonlight, sick with dread and envy-
Daniel arrives from the East, and is the sun
The envy of the angels, condemned by jealousy to live away on Earth
In a body that he hates! Oh, fie! What is that he's whispering?
I can't hear him…surely it cannot be of me.
I am sallow, sickly death, enclosed in veins.
Whereas Danny's heart beats with life
And makes him glow like the sun.
(Vlad glides up to Danny, still invisible. Danny is sitting against the balcony, looking miserable. He's leaning his cheek against his hand. Vlad trembles, and brushes an intangible hand over the boy's cheek. He notes that Danny shivers slightly.)
Vlad: Oh, to be a glove upon thy hand, to touch that cheek…
(Danny starts wildly and looks around; Vlad silences himself. After a moment of silence, Danny sighs and resumes his reverie. Vlad watches him, wringing his hands. He flies back to the ground, although he can hardly bear it.)
Vlad: I am too bold; it is not to me he speaks. The brightness of that cheek would shame the stars
And were his eyes to reside in the sky
The birds would fly and think it not night.
Danny: Aye, me!
Vlad: He speaks. Speak again, bright angel, herald of the stars,
Winged messenger of heaven and champion of the bright and good,
And turn your gentle gaze towards me
That I might live.
(Danny does not hear him. The boy begins to talk to himself again)
Danny: Oh, Vlad, Oh Vlad, wherefore art thou, Vlad?
Deny thy father and refuse thy name;
Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,
And I'll no longer be a Capulet.
(Vlad continues to listen, breathing heavily)
Danny: Tis only your name that is my enemy
You are myself, only named Montague
What is Montague? It is not a hand, nor a foot
Nor any other part belonging to a man. A rose
By any other name would smell just as sweet
So Vlad would, were he not Vladimir call'd,
Retain his dear perfection which his own
Without that title. Vlad, forget your name
And in place of your name, which is no part of thee
Take all myself.
(Danny looks ready to burst into tears. Vlad can take it no longer, and becomes tangible on the ground.)
Vlad: I take thee at thy word. Consider me newly baptized
Henceforth, I will never be Vladimir
For I will never consent to bear a name hateful to your ears.
(Danny looks around, looking frightened and annoyed.)
Danny: Who is it that who creeps under the veil of night
To give witness to my counsel?
Vlad: I am he
Who does not know what to name himself.
Dear saint, I do have a name,
But it is painful for you to hear, and loathsome unto you
Dearest, were the word written, I might tear it to pieces.
(Danny's eyes find Vlad kneeling before his balcony. Danny twists his hands over his chest.)
Danny: I have not heard a hundred words
From the voice of Vladimir Montague, and yet I know it well
Are you not Vlad, or a Montague?
Vlad: Neither, love, if either are unpleasant to you.
(Danny stares at him, in shock.)
Danny: How in the world did you find your way here?
The walls are enormous, and ghosts may not enter past mine kinsmen
Who would destroy you, knowing who thou art
Nor might you pass through stone that will burn their bones.
(Kneeling again)
Vlad: There is more danger in your eyes
Which one is at far too much peril to love.
The night afforded me with wings to approach these walls
And become their master; they will not keep love away
From an angel worthy of adoration.
(Danny is scarlet, stomach fluttering, heart racing. He fearfully looks around the yard.)
Danny: I would not for my life nor the world have them see you here.
Vlad: Look but sweet in your eye
And I shall be guarded from twenty of their spears.
I have night's cloak to hide me from their eyes,
And, but thou love me, let them find me here;
My life were better ended by their hate
Than mine suffering of your love.
Danny: How did you find direction to this place?
Vlad: Your nesting place was told to me by love
I gave him my heart, and in return, he gave me his eyes
Which then revealed unto me the great secret.
If you were to lie far across stretches of briny foam
Neither storm nor darkness nor stretches of soldiers
Love would direct me through the great darkness
Until you in my arms, I could adore again.
(Danny retreats, and buries his face in his hands. The breeze picks up, and his pink gown starts to flutter gaily in the night. Smiling softly, he replies)
Danny: Thank God the mask of night is on my face,
Else there would be a blush painted on my cheek
For that which thou hast heard me speak tonight.
But words are empty and fain
And let us farewell compliment to one another.
(Truly afraid that Danny is going to send him away, Vlad rises up in the cool night air, and alights upon the balcony. The two are barely inches apart again. Danny casts him a wistful, cautious glance.)
Danny: Do you really love me? I know thou wilt say 'Yes'
And I will take thy word. Yet, even if you swear
You may prove false, at lovers' perjuries.
(Vlad tries to speak, but Danny steps forward and places a finger upon his mouth. The young man shakes his head silently, smiling faintly.)
Danny: Oh gentle Vlad,
If you doth love me, pronounce it faithfully for my heart's sake.
(Danny moves away, looking cross. His arms are folded.)
Danny: Or if thou thinkest I am too quickly won,
I'll frown, and be perverse, and ask you to take flight
So thou wilt woo: but else, not for the world.
(Vlad immediately tries to reach for Danny, but Danny takes another step back on the stone balcony, smiling tenderly now.)
Danny: In truth, I am far too fond of you, dear Montague
To hear anything but honesty
My true-love passion, you see, you have heard
When I thought I was but alone in the night
I do not mean to impute this craving to light love
Which the dark night hath so discovered.
Vlad: My living darling, by yonder blessed moon I vow,
That tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops-
(Danny shakes his head, looks displeased)
Danny:
O, swear not by the moon, the inconstant moon,
That monthly changes in her circled orb,
Lest that thy love prove likewise variable
And likely to become eclipsed by night or storm.
(Vlad looks uncertain as to what to do next.)
Vlad: What shall I swear by, then?
Danny: Do not swear at all.
By sun, by moon, by stars
Or if thou must swear, swear by thy gracious self,
Which is the god of my adoration,
And I'll believe you.
(Vlad grants Danny a smile)
Vlad: If my heart's dear love –
(Still somewhat distrusting, Danny shakes his head again.)
Danny: Well, do not bother swearing, although I take great joy in you.
I have no joy of this contract to-night.
It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden;
Too like the lightning, which disappears far too quickly.
(Danny approaches a stunned looking Vlad, and kisses him softly on the cheek, sighing. His hand wanders down to Vlad's chest, and lays against his heart. Vlad immediately presses his hand over Danny's, keeping it there.)
Danny: I pray that this bud of love, if it is true, by summer's ripening breath,
May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet.
Good night, good night! I pray that your love
Come to thy heart as that within my breast!
(Danny moves his hand away, and makes to step inside of his bedroom. But Vlad seizes him, and tugs the startled boy around, dismayed.)
Vlad: Oh, will you leave me so unsatisfied?
(Danny looks up at the stars, coloring again. Trying to stay firm and nonchalant, he nonetheless has to swallow a few times before he can speak past the rising lump in his throat.)
Danny: W-What satisfaction do you want from me?
(Vlad pulls Danny's chin down so that the boy has no choice but to look at him in the eyes.)
Vlad: The exchange of thy love's faithful vow for mine. Please give it to me
Lest your kinsmen find me dead in your garden from a broken heart
And seal it with a kiss.
(Danny looks startled, then stands on his tiptoes to kiss the heir of Montague on the forehead. He stroked Vlad's dark hair away from his face, to soothe him.)
Danny: I gave my love before thou didst request it:
And yet I would it were to give again.
(Vlad's red eyes widen, and he drops to his knees, although he now feels anger kindling inside.)
Vlad: Wouldst thou withdraw it? For what purpose, love?
(Danny looks pained)
Danny:
But to be frank, and give it thee again.
And yet I wish but for the thing I have
I esteem you tenderly
My bounty is as boundless as the sea,
My love as deep; the more I give to thee,
The more I have, for both are infinite.
I only hope that you-
(Suddenly, both of them hear Nurse Jasmine calling for Danny behind the tapestry surrounding the balcony. Danny murmurs a quiet curse.)
Danny: If she sees you, if you are to sit foot in my room
The alarm will go off; oh dear, oh dear! They will kill you!
I hear some noise within; dear love, adieu!
(Danny kisses Vlad on the lips, but can't afford to get swept away, so he pulls away almost immediately. He calls behind himself.)
Danny: Wait! Wait a moment, good nurse!
(He gives a frantic glance to Vlad)
Danny: Sweet Montague, be true.
Stay but a little, I will come again.
(Danny disappears into his room. Out of the corner of his eye, Vlad notices a guard in red march solemnly past the garden; Vlad immediately turns intangible, and holds it until the coast is clear. He moans Danny's name, looks to the sky, and prays.)
Vlad: O blessed, blessed night! I am afraid
Being in night, all this is but a dream,
Too flattering-sweet to be substantial.
(After some cheerful, though harried-sounding arguing, Danny reappears on the balcony, face flushed. He immediately hurries for Vlad's open arms, sounding breathless when he again speaks.)
Danny: Do you really and for truly love me?
Three words, dear Vlad, and it will be a good night, indeed.
If that your proposal of love is honorable,
Your purpose marriage, send me word to-morrow,
By one that I'll send a friend to come to thee,
Where and what time someone may perform the rite.
(Danny smiles up at Vlad, eyes glittering with delight. He leans his head against Vlad shoulder.)
Danny: (In a faithful voice) And all my fortunes at thy foot I'll lay
And follow you, my lord, throughout the world.
(Nurse Jasmine, sounding annoyed)
Nurse Jasmine: Sir! Danny, you really must go to bed!
(Danny's eyes fill with tears)
Danny: (Imploringly) But if your courting is false, sir,
Please cease it, and leave me alone
To my grief.
(The specter pulls Danny closer, and says the three words in his ear. Danny pulls him into another kiss, and now it's heaven; Vlad's mouth is moving against his own, hot gasps in his ears, and then-)
Nurse Jasmine: Danny! Come along! I cannot retire to bed until you do, and I am exhausted!
(Vlad disappears as a hand reaches out through the fine tapestry, and pulls back a squawking Danny. He reappears, alone on the balcony yet again, looking dazed.)
Vlad: A thousand times the worse, to want thy light.
At what hour will this mad night end
And the sweet sun be returned to my eyes?
(Vlad hears arguing from inside Danny's room, and he soon hears a set of footsteps heading quickly towards him yet again. Worrying that it might be the nurse, Vlad disappears, but he's overjoyed to see that it's only Danny, talking in a reassuring voice to his nurse. Vlad sees her throw up her hands and leave Danny's bedroom from behind the silk curtains, and he immediately reappears. Both he and Danny immediately start laughing.)
Danny: Alas, I will be telling you goodnight
Until morning breaks.
Ah, Vlad! What would I do for a falconer's voice,
To lure this great and wonderful bird back to my arm
This bondage in the great, golden cage makes me quiet;
If I could fly, I'd find the cave where Echo doth reside
And make her airy tongue more hoarse than mine,
With repetition of my darling's name.
Vlad: It is my soul that calls upon my name
How silver-sweet sound lovers' tongues by night,
Like softest music to attending ears!
Danny: Vlad!
Vlad: My love?
Danny: At what time to-morrow
Shall I send to thee word?
Vlad: Nine.
(Danny smiles broadly; the wind picks up and starts to howl. Vlad drapes his flapping cape over Danny's shoulders. The two are beaming like idiots.)
Danny: I will not fail, though it will seem twenty years till then. Ah….um….I have forgot why I did come back.
(Vlad smirks.)
Vlad: Let me stand here till thou remember it.
(Danny sighs.)
Danny: I shall forget what message I need convey,
As I stand here remembering how I love your company.
Vlad: And I'll still stay, to have thee still forget,
Forgetting any other life but this.
Danny: (Regretfully)
'Tis almost morning; I would have thee gone safely on your way
And yet no further than a wanton lover's bird;
Who lets it hop a little from her hand,
Like a poor prisoner with a silk thread around its ankle
Who is yanked back to the hand after attempting to fly.
Vlad: I would gladly be your bird.
Danny: Precious, so would I:
Yet I should kill thee with much cherishing.
Good night, good night! Parting is such
sweet sorrow,
That I shall say good night till it be morrow.
(Danny retreats into his room, smiling gaily. Heart stretched to the brim with love, Vlad replies.)
Vlad: Sleep dwell upon thine eyes, peace in thy breast!
Would I were sleep and peace, so sweet to rest!
Hence will I to my saintly father's cell,
His help to crave, and my dear hap to tell.
End of Act II, Scene I
