"I still cannot believe you convinced me to go, Dawson." Basil said as he and his friend entered the theater in a corner of the park; they had just gotten their tickets and they even booked box seats.

"Basil, it's Shakespeare in the park. Just give it a chance." Dawson said, sitting down in his seat; Basil sat down next to him.

The detective was very reluctant; he would rather stay at home and research the killer. That was more fun for Basil than sitting around and watching a play. But he also wanted to try and be a better friend, so he decided to suck it up and go along with it.

"Very well. Only for you, doctor." He sighed as the light started to dim.

"Oh, it's starting!" Dawson said excitedly, turning his attention to the stage.

"Let's get this over with." Basil muttered under his breath.

A spotlight shown onto the stage and a mouse dressed in Shakespearean attire walked up on stage. He took out a scroll and cleared his throat.

"Two households, both alike in dignity,

In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,

From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,

Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean." He recited.

Already growing bored, Basil leaned on one hand and stared off into space as he looked down at the stage, not even paying attention to the prologue or most of what happened after it… except for one thing. When the ever so famous balcony scene came on, the actress playing Juliet appeared… and the sight of her made Basil's jaw drop in awe. She was gorgeous; she had golden hair that glistened like the sun, fur as fair as an almond nut, sparkling silver eyes, and a smile could easily dazzle anyone. Then she started to speak.

"O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?" She recited. "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."

"What do you think so far, Basil?" Dawson quietly asked before noticing his friend's expression. "Um, Basil?"

"What a charming creature." Basil whispered as he watched.

She continued. "Tis but thy name that is my enemy; thou art thyself, though not a Montague. What's Montague? It is nor hand, nor foot, nor arm, nor face, nor any other part belonging to a man. O, be some other name! What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet; so Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd, retain that dear perfection which he owes without that title. Romeo, doff thy name, and for that name which is no part of thee take all myself."

As the play went on, Basil ignored most of the other actors on stage and kept his focus on "Juliet", captivated by her beauty and eloquence. Even though he wasn't a fan of Shakespeare in general, he felt this actress captured the role perfectly. He even sat through the intermission and waited patiently for the play to resume while Dawson stepped out for a moment to stretch his legs. Then the final scene came. "Romeo" and "Juliet" had just taken their own lives and members from the Montague and Capulet families had all gathered on stage with "Friar Lawrence" to mourn the loss of the two lovers; they were lying side by side. Then "Prince Escalus" walked up to deliver the final monologue.

"A glooming peace this morning with it brings" He recited.

"The sun, for sorrow, will not show his head

Go hence to have more talk of these sad things

Some shall be pardon'd, and some punished

For never was a story of more woe

Than this of Juliet and her Romeo."

The actors hung their heads, the stage lights went out, and the curtains slowly closed before the crowd erupted in applause; Basil and Dawson stood from their seats and clapped along as the actors gathered for the curtain call.

"Brava, brava! Bravissima!" Basil cried as he saw "Juliet" take a bow with the rest of the cast.

Dawson then took a small flower out of his coat and handed it to Basil; he curiously took it before realizing what he was supposed to do with it. He threw the flower down to the stage and by some miracle, "Juliet" caught it. She took a sniff and glanced up to see Basil smiling and clapping for her; she smirked up at him. The curtains closed again and the lights flickered to life as the guests got up from their seats and started to leave; Dawson and Basil walked out together.

"That wasn't so bad, was it Basil?" The doctor asked.

"I suppose you're right, Dawson. It wasn't so bad after all." Basil said, visions of that beautiful leading actress filling his usually rational mind.

"And what did you think of the leading lady?"

Basil paused. "Excuse me?"

"The actress who played Juliet. Don't think I haven't noticed how you were staring at her for the entirety of the play."

The detective blushed and said nothing.

"…Why don't you go meet her?"

"Pardon?"

Before Dawson could answer, Basil caught a glimpse of that same actress walking past them and towards the back where the dressing rooms were. He looked at Dawson and he nodded, nonverbally giving his friend permission to go meet her. Basil smiled at him and walked in the same direction as the actress, trying to look as casual as possible. He kept a good distance so she wouldn't feel like she was being followed and yet he would be able to see which door she would go in. She then walked into a hall lined with doors on one wall; this was where the actors' dressing rooms were. Basil ducked behind a corner and saw the actress enter the door on the farther right. But just as he was about to head in that direction, a hand tapped Basil's shoulder.

"Excuse me." An unfamiliar voice said.

Bail turned around to see Miss Cunningham standing behind him with a not so pleased look on her face.

'Uh oh.' He thought.

"What do you think you're doing? Patrons are not allowed back here." Miss Cunningham said.

"Oh, I'm dreadfully sorry, madam." Basil said, staying polite. "I just came to…"

But before he could finish, Basil heard a door open followed by a voice saying,

"Wait. Miss Cunningham? What's going on out here?"

The two mice turned their heads to see the actress standing in the doorway of her dressing room wearing a floor length white robe and her golden hair down. She had a concerned look on her lovely face.

"Don't worry, Sarah. I was just about to escort this one out of here." Miss Cunningham said as she was just about ready to push Basil out of the hall.

"I'm sorry, I never meant to trespass. I just wished… to meet you, miss." Basil said.

Sarah blushed. "Me?"

"Why yes, certainly. I just wanted to say your performance this evening was phenomenal." He replied.

"Oh, well… thank you." Sarah smiled shyly before she had a thought. She reached out and took Basil's hand and pulled him closer to her. "Come here."

"Sarah, what are you doing?" Miss Cunningham asked.

"It's alright, madam. I'm sure he means no harm." Sarah said confidently before turning her attention back to Basil. "Now I don't believe we've been properly introduced. I'm Sarah Bristol."

"Bristol?" Basil recognized this name. "As in… Sir Landon Bristol? The famous actor who managed to have the Queen weep after a live private performance?"

"Yes. He's my grandfather."

"Ah. And I see you have decided to follow in your grandfather's footsteps."

"I suppose so. He was always an inspiration to me."

"Yes, yes. How sweet. And I'm sorry, but Miss Bristol needs to rest for the next show tomorrow night and I cannot allow visitors." Miss Cunningham said, tapping her foot impatiently.

"Come now, surely we can spare a little time. Wouldn't you agree, mister…?"

"Oh, Basil. I am Basil of Baker Street." The detective said, shaking Sarah's hand.

"THE Basil of Baker Street?" Sarah asked with wide eyes. "I've read about you in the newspaper. It's such a pleasure to meet you, sir."

"The pleasure is all mine, Miss Bristol." Basil said with a smile.

"Everything alright back here, Basil?" Dawson said as he approached the group.

Basil turned his head to face his friend. "Ah, Dawson. So sorry for taking so long. I was just speaking with Miss Bristol."

"And I was about to tell him to leave." Miss Cunningham said, trying not to sound annoyed or bitter.

"Oh, I do apologize, ma'am." Dawson said to the theater troupe leader. "It is getting late, Basil. Perhaps we should head back home."

"Hmm, yes. Perhaps we should, old friend." Basil said, attempting not to sound discouraged. "I'm sorry, Miss Bristol."

"Think nothing of it, Mister Basil." Sarah said kindly. "There's another show tomorrow night. Will I see you there?"

"Perhaps you will."

"Then it's a date. I'll see you then."

And with that, Sarah flashed Basil a smile and walked back into her dressing room, closing the door behind her. After a moment, Basil moved away from the door and quickly joined Dawson as they made their exit. Miss Cunningham sighed and placed a hand to her head.

"Men." She said before heading in the direction of her office.

Little did any of them know a pair of glaring eyes in the shadows watched them leave.