Disclaimer and A/N see chapter 1.
*****
"Hah! I shall crush you in an instant! Did I or did I not tell you that you'd be dead by dawn? Come...meet thy doom vile creature!"
"Mister Paris! Will you *please* stick to the god damned lines!"
"I was just trying to liven things up a bit." Tom replied with a perfected look of innocence.
"As enlightening as your unique insights are, I doubt very much that during the fencing scene, Hamlet would suddenly start taunting Laertes by calling 'Come on then - give me your best shot' from the balcony!"
"Maybe that was a little over the top. Guess I just got carried away."
"A little? I doubt Shakespeare would see it like that."
"Look, Doc, I've gotta give it some enthusiasm! This scene needs energy, let me give it some!"
The Doctor was enjoying his role as director immensely - that was until Paris had turned up. Well, 'turned up' wasn't, perhaps, the way to describe it, to be fair, he had practically dragged Paris along. He supposed that hassle was something you would have to put up with if trying to force Paris to do something that he didn't want to. And they were only at the auditions phase of the proceedings! It was simple, don't give Paris a part, he won't have to bother you again. Yet...
"You're not taking this seriously, are you Mister Paris."
"Me? Not take it seriously? Sorry Doc, I guess I'm just not cut out to be an actor."
"I don't believe you. I am definitely going to give you a part. The only question is which one - so unless you want to get stuck with Reynaldo, I suggest you start impressing me."
"Yes, Mr. Director."
"How about you try a more solemn scene, one where you don't have to concentrate so much on the action, but on the words, on the emotion."
"I'm not sure..."
"Act 5, scene 2, lines 337 - 352."
"But..."
"Chakotay, if you could read Horatio's three lines in the middle?"
"Of course." Chakotay replied, striding over to the Doctor's side, rather than going onto the stage with Tom, leaving his position at the back of the holographic theatre where he had been waiting his turn to audition. He wasn't there by choice of course; the Captain had 'encouraged' him to audition, the idea being to encourage others to get involved - boost morale. When suggesting that Kathryn should do the same, she had smiled and told him that you wouldn't possibly find her making a spectacle of herself in such a fashion. Captain's prerogative.
Tom coughed nervously and moved so he was more centre stage. Dropping his foil, he decided to deliver the dialogue sitting down. Fumbling with his PADD to reach the required section and taking a deep breath, he began,
"Heaven make thee free of it. I follow thee. I am dead, Horatio. Wretched Queen, adieu. You that look pale and tremble at this chance, That are but mutes or audience to this act, Had I but time - as this fell sergeant, Death, Is strict in his arrest - O, I could tell you - But let it be. Horatio, I am dead, Thou livest. Report me and my cause aright To the unsatisfied."
"Never believe it. I am more an antique Roman than a Dane. Here's yet some liquor left."
"As th'art a man Give me the cup. Let go, by Heaven I'll ha't. O God, Horatio, what a wounded name, Things standing thus unknown, shall I leave behind me. If thou didst ever hold me in thy heart, Absent thee from felicity awhile, And in this harsh world draw thy breath in pain To tell my story."
The Doctor simply blinked for a moment.
"Well...I'm speechless! I think I've found my Hamlet." He finally said with an astonished tone.
However, it couldn't rival the astonishment of Tom,
"Really? You really want to give me the lead?"
"Yes, that was...superb."
"Thank you...I think." Tom replied with a small smile, before throwing a glance at Chakotay. His cheeks darkening with embarrassment, he said a hurried goodbye and then speedily left the holodeck.
He hadn't noticed the way Chakotay had stared after him as he left, mouth still slightly open. Chakotay had never heard such raw emotion in the young pilots voice as he had heard when he was delivering those lines. In a couple of seconds, Paris had managed to transform himself into a dying young prince named Hamlet and delivered one of the most touching and heartfelt speeches that he had heard in a very long time. He vaguely remembered some mention of the Ensign's mother being on the stage, but he had never known that Paris held such a talent. But intentionally or not, Paris had demonstrated a very unique gift, delivering such a beautifully performed speech. It was a moment that Chakotay was sure he was never going to forget.
*****
"Hah! I shall crush you in an instant! Did I or did I not tell you that you'd be dead by dawn? Come...meet thy doom vile creature!"
"Mister Paris! Will you *please* stick to the god damned lines!"
"I was just trying to liven things up a bit." Tom replied with a perfected look of innocence.
"As enlightening as your unique insights are, I doubt very much that during the fencing scene, Hamlet would suddenly start taunting Laertes by calling 'Come on then - give me your best shot' from the balcony!"
"Maybe that was a little over the top. Guess I just got carried away."
"A little? I doubt Shakespeare would see it like that."
"Look, Doc, I've gotta give it some enthusiasm! This scene needs energy, let me give it some!"
The Doctor was enjoying his role as director immensely - that was until Paris had turned up. Well, 'turned up' wasn't, perhaps, the way to describe it, to be fair, he had practically dragged Paris along. He supposed that hassle was something you would have to put up with if trying to force Paris to do something that he didn't want to. And they were only at the auditions phase of the proceedings! It was simple, don't give Paris a part, he won't have to bother you again. Yet...
"You're not taking this seriously, are you Mister Paris."
"Me? Not take it seriously? Sorry Doc, I guess I'm just not cut out to be an actor."
"I don't believe you. I am definitely going to give you a part. The only question is which one - so unless you want to get stuck with Reynaldo, I suggest you start impressing me."
"Yes, Mr. Director."
"How about you try a more solemn scene, one where you don't have to concentrate so much on the action, but on the words, on the emotion."
"I'm not sure..."
"Act 5, scene 2, lines 337 - 352."
"But..."
"Chakotay, if you could read Horatio's three lines in the middle?"
"Of course." Chakotay replied, striding over to the Doctor's side, rather than going onto the stage with Tom, leaving his position at the back of the holographic theatre where he had been waiting his turn to audition. He wasn't there by choice of course; the Captain had 'encouraged' him to audition, the idea being to encourage others to get involved - boost morale. When suggesting that Kathryn should do the same, she had smiled and told him that you wouldn't possibly find her making a spectacle of herself in such a fashion. Captain's prerogative.
Tom coughed nervously and moved so he was more centre stage. Dropping his foil, he decided to deliver the dialogue sitting down. Fumbling with his PADD to reach the required section and taking a deep breath, he began,
"Heaven make thee free of it. I follow thee. I am dead, Horatio. Wretched Queen, adieu. You that look pale and tremble at this chance, That are but mutes or audience to this act, Had I but time - as this fell sergeant, Death, Is strict in his arrest - O, I could tell you - But let it be. Horatio, I am dead, Thou livest. Report me and my cause aright To the unsatisfied."
"Never believe it. I am more an antique Roman than a Dane. Here's yet some liquor left."
"As th'art a man Give me the cup. Let go, by Heaven I'll ha't. O God, Horatio, what a wounded name, Things standing thus unknown, shall I leave behind me. If thou didst ever hold me in thy heart, Absent thee from felicity awhile, And in this harsh world draw thy breath in pain To tell my story."
The Doctor simply blinked for a moment.
"Well...I'm speechless! I think I've found my Hamlet." He finally said with an astonished tone.
However, it couldn't rival the astonishment of Tom,
"Really? You really want to give me the lead?"
"Yes, that was...superb."
"Thank you...I think." Tom replied with a small smile, before throwing a glance at Chakotay. His cheeks darkening with embarrassment, he said a hurried goodbye and then speedily left the holodeck.
He hadn't noticed the way Chakotay had stared after him as he left, mouth still slightly open. Chakotay had never heard such raw emotion in the young pilots voice as he had heard when he was delivering those lines. In a couple of seconds, Paris had managed to transform himself into a dying young prince named Hamlet and delivered one of the most touching and heartfelt speeches that he had heard in a very long time. He vaguely remembered some mention of the Ensign's mother being on the stage, but he had never known that Paris held such a talent. But intentionally or not, Paris had demonstrated a very unique gift, delivering such a beautifully performed speech. It was a moment that Chakotay was sure he was never going to forget.