Disclaimer: TC and the Titans along with any other piece of information you may recognize, I do not own. Any new material not mentioned in the film is most likely mine
Chapter Two, In Which the Hammond Thespians Shock the New Members with Shakespeare
"Good luck Titans," The poor student selected to read announcements called cheerily over the PA system as he finished reading off the football schedule. Of course the football team would get a 'Good luck,' they were the football team. All hail.
Sidda smothered a scowl of dislike as she sat in homeroom, doodling furiously on the brown paper she'd covered her History book with, glancing up at the PA speaker as if the words would be read faster if she glanced enough. Come on, she urged the announcements, first meeting of TC drama, first meeting of TC drama.
It was the second week of school. Her predictions of the length of their summer vacation had held true. School hadn't been canceled, even with the rioting. Attending the same school with students of a different race hadn't killed anyone. No parent uprisings, no robberies, no murders. Everything was fine, even if the student body still segregated themselves. Not that Sidda minded. That's how things were supposed to be, right?
"In other activities, the science club will be having their first meeting of the year . . ."
No! Sidda allowed her mind to wander while club meeting information was read off for the science club. As well as the French and Spanish clubs.
"And finally, our drama club will be holding their first meeting today after school in the auditorium. Interested students should report at 3:00 with ideas for the winter show."
Yes! Yes! Yes! Sidda's mood soared. Excellent. The nonstop nagging of Ms. Kindely was finally paying off. As for the winter show, the possibilities were endless.
The rest of Sidda's day passed uneventfully, save for a fist fight in the lunch line. Though by this point, fist fights were a regular occurrence, so little attention was paid to the struggle.
When the school bell rang at 2:45, Sidda nearly sprinted to her locker. After successfully dumping her books, she made straight for the auditorium. Impressive. With the redistricting, they'd renovated the old Hammond building to expand for the extra students. The stage was larger. New seats had been added. The curtains that last year had been navy blue were now the crimson of TC.
Sidda wasn't alone. Obi was there. He waved enthusiastically as she approached. Chris Ellington, whose mother had protested against the integration, sat at the piano. Laura Jameson was sitting in the front row nearest the piano, chatting with Julie Walker. John Anderson was busy harassing Caroline Blake, as per usual. Everyone that hadn't graduated the previous year was present. There were a few other kids as well. Some of them were obviously new and others plainly freshman. They hadn't been at Hammond the previous year. And there were the students from GW. They were few, but they sat together in a group several seats away from the piano and the Hammond Drama members.
"Sidda-bug! There you are, m'dear! I was worried Ms. Holmes had kept you after class!" Obi called as she neared.
"Are you kidding, Masterson? Holmes loves Siddy!" John corrected. "Ever since she translated some of The Bard's work and recited it 'vith a perfict accint'!" John laughed, mocking the thick accent of their teacher.
"Jonathan dearest, I would like to remind you that that translated rendition of "To Be or Not to Be" won you an A." Sidda said, dropping down next to Caroline.
"Don't cha just love group projects?" John said thoughtfully. Everyone laughed. Well, everyone from Hammond laughed.
"Only when you're not in the group!" Caroline teased.
"Oh! Little Dragon, you know you love me! Without the presence of your beloved Sir Jonathan, you would be lost!" John teased, pinching one of Caroline freckled checks.
"Of course I love you John! Who else is willing to duel with me during shows?"
"Duel?" One of the new members asked. A freshman. No surprise there.
"Heck yeah! Caro-bear is the best swordsman in the school!" John answered cheerfully. Caroline stood on her chair and bowed, her mop of chocolaty curls bouncing happily with each movement. The Hammond Thespians applauded.
"Swordsman?" Another freshman.
"Good Sir Johnathan! Hie thyself to the prop closet to retrieve our weapons! We shall demonstrate for these naive younglings in the ways of the Booth!" Caroline ordered John. He bowed at once.
"Certainly, Lady Dragon Caroline!" He sprinted up the aisle and out the auditorium doors.
"Now," Caroline announced. "Thou all shall see the skills of the Booth Army!"
"Yeah, all two of them!" Obi teased. Caroline whirled around to glare in mock anger at the comment.
"Sir Obadiah, thy treacherous lout, why doust thou sprout such vile speech?" Caroline demanded.
"Because I enjoy listening to thy anger, Lady Caroline. 'Tis great fun!" Obi bowed. The others laughed as John returned with three wooden swords of different lengths.
"Choose thy weapon!" He ordered holding out the swords. Caroline studied them carefully before selecting the shortest of the wooden blades. Once she had chosen her weapon, John claimed the largest claymore for himself. Climbing onto the stage, both Caroline and John sent death glares to their opponents as they circled one another.
"Why, thee pest-ridden leech, doust thou truly believe that thou can best me?" John cackled.
"Indeed, fowl mouthed son of pigs!" Caroline struck first. An elaborately choreographed fencing match ensued. When Caroline dealt John the final blow, he fell to the stage clutching the 'injury'.
"'How is't, Laertes?'" Sidda called as John feigned a slow painful demise.
"'Why, as a woodcock to my own springe, Osric; I am justly kill'd with mine own treachery!'" John cried out mournfully.
"'How does the Queen?'" Caroline demanded of Obi.
"'She swoons to see them bleed.'" Obi promted.
"'No, no! The drink, the drink!—O my dear Hamlet! — the drink, the drink!—I am poison'd!'" Julie cried, standing before dropping to the floor.
"'O villany!—Ho! Let the door be lock'd: Treachery! Seek it out!'" Caroline ordered the room at large. John moaned loudly, interrupting the order.
"'It is here, Hamlet: Hamlet, thou art slain; No medicine in the world can do thee good; in thee there is not half an hour of life; The treacherous instrument is in thy hand; unbated and envenom'd: the foul practice Hath turn'd itself on me; lo, here I lie, never to rise again: thy mother's poison'd: I can no more:—the king, the king's to blame." John moaned again.
"'The point envenom'd too! — Then, venom, to thy work.'" Caroline turned to Obi and dealt him a brief jab to the stomach.
"'Treason! treason!'" Sidda shouted.
"'O, yet defend me, friends! I am but hurt.'" Obi assured her.
"'Here, thou incestuous, murderous, damned Dane, drink off this potion.—Is thy union here? Follow my mother.'" Caroline cried waving her weapon at Obi as he too fell to his knees to die.
"'He is justly serv'd; It is a poison temper'd by himself.— Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet: Mine and my father's death come not upon thee, nor thine on me!'" John said weakly before he elaborated on his demise. Once assured that John was good and dead, Caroline dropped to her knees.
"'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 liv'st; report me and my cause aright To the unsatisfied.'" Caroline cried mournfully.
"'Never believe it: I am more an antique Roman than a Dane.— Here's yet some liquor left.'" Laura stood and madder her way to the stage.
"'As thou'rt a man, Give me the cup; let go; by heaven, I'll have't.— O good Horatio, what a wounded name, Things standing thus unknown, shall live 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.— What warlike noise is this?'" Caroline asked.
"'Young Fortinbras, with conquest come from Poland, to the ambassadors of England gives this warlike volley.'" Sidda explained
"'O, I die, Horatio; The potent poison quite o'er-crows my spirit: I cannot live to hear the news from England; But I do prophesy the election lights on Fortinbras: he has my dying voice; So tell him, with the occurrents, more and less, which have solicited.—the rest is silence.'" And with a final bow, Caroline too, died a slow death. When her moans subsided, the previously deceased rose to their feet and bowed deeply.
To Sidda's surprise, nearly everyone clapped. A few of the stuffier looking freshman and a select group of the GW students looked at the Hammond Players as if they had lost their minds completely. But for the most part, everyone applauded. Perhaps this wouldn't be so bad after all. . .
Ta da! Chapter Two. Aren't you all so proud? I updated.
Things to Note About this Chapter: I wasn't sure if they built a new building for TC or used the old Hammond one. So I guessed and used the Hammond building for TC. If I'm wrong, please tell me. I'd like to correct any errors I may have made.
Most of the thespians are based off people I know. If they come off a really rather annoying, I'm sorry. I'll apologize now to my Booth Minions. I love you Tim! Keep awayfrom my keys/cell phone/wallet/any item of value your foul little mind would enjoy covering in duct tape!
A Question for the Readers: Should I add a few of the Titan football players to the drama club? I think Blue, Louie, Sunshine and maybe the Rev would fit rather nicely. Do you think that's a bit on the Mary-Sue-ish side? Or does it sound like fun? I would love to know. I warn you, I can't really update until I have at least a few good answers to this question.
Until next update,
-Tam