Scene Three
Bad Call
The week slowly passes by. Finally, after hours of excruciating memorizing and comprehenision, it is time for the students to act out the desired scene of their assigned play. Our heroes are going last, which is just fine for them; they sit patiently through acts from Romeo and Juliet, McBeath, and A Midsummer Night's Dream. Finally, it's time for MIYU and the CHINESE SHINMA, as well as the rest of their cast, to perform.
They are in their places: KIA and YOSHI stand center stage as the two Clowns, MIYU and YOTO stand a little to the right, RYUKO, TACHA, and the rest of their classmates at the far wall. KITSUNE is in her rightful place; on a stretcher that they designed when Ophelia's corpse is brought in. She pulls off the act of being dead quite well. She's also drooling and snoring.
MIYU: (Leaning over and whispering to YOTO) Really, was the chloroform necessary?
YOTO: (Whispering back) It was the only way to keep her from laughing during the scene. Remember, our grades on the line here. Besides, I don't think she has to worry about messing up now. She's a more convincing dead person than a real corpse.
TEACHER: (The TEACHER is wearing full Medieval garb that a man would wear when attending an opera at the time; he looks absolutely ridiculous.) Ah, Hamlet! One of Shake-speare's most ingenious…
KIA: (Under her breath, to Yoshi) Funny, he's said that about all the plays
TEACHER: (Not noticing) and noble…
RYUKO: (grumbling) And depressing…
TEACHER: (Still as dumb as a rock) Works of all times! And performing for us is this fine troop of young actors to give us to Graveyard scene!
(As if taking it as a cue, Kia clears her throat and begins to speak as the first clown)
KIA: "Is she to be buried in Christian burial…."
(She doesn't get too far as the TEACHER interrupts again. KIA growls)
TEACHER: I have watched them practice! Practice and rehearse to no end! They are marvelous, as well as the men and women who came before them! This is why they have agreed to perform Hamlet in its entirety before the whole school by the next full moon!
ALL STUDENTS ON STAGE: (Yelling) WHAT?!?!?!
TEACHER: That is right! You have giving me the permission to perform your breathtaking rendition of Shakespeare before us all! Why, it would be selfish of us to only keep it to ourselves! By the next full moon!
(Apparently, that is his final word. MIYU and the CHINESE SHINMA look at each other in disbelief. Obviously, they had not agreed to any such thing.)
TACHA: The man's crazy! There's no way we can learn all of Hamlet in a month!
YOSHI: Well, who says we have to, anyway? No one's making us!
TEACHER: (As if overhearing) And remember, it's still your grade!
(Stunned silence)
EVERYONE WHO'S PART OF THE HAMLET TROOP: Shit.
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Sorry is was so short…it should get better soon. And more chaotic to boot….
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