Nobody slept that night. It wasn't that they might be killed at dawn. It wasn't even that they might be destroyed in a dying universe. Dan was humming. He started with some tunes from a jazz festival a few days ago, moved to some 60's folk, and ended with a rousing Max Meyer arrangement. He was moving on to the Beatles when someone kicked Dan. There was silence.
When the light of dawn finally graced Verona, the students were wet, cold, and tired from their night. In the grey light, Dan R. could see Romeo and some other partygoers in the cell across from them. Judging by their disheveled looks, they too had not slept very well. Curse that other Dan with more screentime! Dan kicked Dan again. "I say, stop that! He's the only one who can get us out of here!" cried Taesup. The other students and Dan R. looked at him puzzled. Taesup told them his master plan. If this didn't work, nothing would.
Guard #52 wished he had a name. He knew his official title was Royal Penitentiary Sentinel of Fair Verona #52, but it was something of a mouthful. What sort of sick parent named their kid that anyway? But today he had a job aside from looking tough and rubbing oil on Escalus' arms. Prince Escalus had instructed him to fetch the Capulet girl and however many of those weird kids he chose for execution. #52 didn't think Friar Lawrence would be that accommodating as far as the mass poisoning was concerned, but it wasn't his job to think was it? The guard shuddered at the thought of his real job.
Royal Penitentiary Sentinel of Fair Verona #52's inner monologue was interrupted when a prisoner said, "Hi, I'm Caitlin. What's your name? Want to see my friend dance?"
There were too many words in that question for Guard #52 to comprehend. So he answered with his patented fail-safe: "Uh,"
"Excellent!" interjected Chris, "Dan, do a dirty dance!"
"But I need music. Preferably hip music."
So the entire cell started singing Vote No from the hit musical Max Meyer. (No product placement here, ladies and gentlemen, move along)
By the time Dan had his shirt off and was riding Jim around the prison, #52 had had enough. That is to say, he was on the floor in the fetal position with his eyes bleeding. Taesup looked at him condescendingly. "Poor old chap. Grab his keys."
The Veronans were a little wary of their would-be rescuers from the fight at the party and listening to Dan all night, but after witnessing that display, they were thoroughly convinced that unless they had no other choice, they would prefer to die by poison rather than follow Mr. Catagnus' seventh period class. Jim shrugged. "¡Hasta Pasta!"
The fifteen escapees soon realized the police system of Verona left something to be desired. Of the five guards standing guard over the prison, only Royal Penitentiary Sentinel of Fair Verona #9 noticed them, but after enough barking, he decided they were just dogs.
The ninth graders needed a new plan. Disrupting the natural universe had only lead to jail and mental scarring at the hands of Dan. Sadly, the mental scarring continued as Dan still wanted to act like a dog. Julie yelled at him, but all Dan did was run away, barking and howling. As all the kids ran after Dan, Reece began to slink away. This was his chance to finally set things straight. Grabbing a sword embedded in a local protester's body, Reece set off for Friar Lawrence's cell.
When the kids finally caught up with Dan, he was on the outskirts of Mantua, collapsed from exhaustion. "Well, now what?" asked a disgruntled Caitlin.