'Corpse Bride' Prologue – Victor Van Dort's School Dilemma
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the original Corpse Bride characters….and how it pains me! No…just joking! I'm just happy there still are people like Tim Burton out there, making life so beautiful…
Here is a little flashback on Victor's school days, in two sections and in total 4 chapters…more might follow…just keep an eye out for it…(winks)
(An old fashioned classroom, rows of wooden desks for one, with holes in them for ink pots and feathers and a compartment to open, where books are placed inside. At each is a student, all are facing the front. In front there is a huge black board and a slightly larger desk for the teacher. On it is a thin wooden cane. Next to the desk is a table with a wash basin and jug. The teacher is Pastor Galswells - since schools were run by priests in those days and the subject is currently Mathematics. Galswells is in front of the classroom, writing down figures on the board...Victor is sitting a little in front, his feather in his hand, with a dreamlike expression and looking at the blackboard, behind him Vincent is eyeing him mockingly, whilst scratching in his desk with his feather.)
Galswells: The ratio is an important way of determining similarity between two objects, for which an equation of the current symbols is necessary... (Drones on)
Victor: (utters a sigh, looks out of the window...)
Galswells: Van Dort!
Victor: (is awoken from his daydreams, accidentally kicks the table with his knees, ink pot starts swaying dangerously, Victor gets it just in time, steadies it and looks up. Vincent nudges the boy beside him)
Galswells: Um hum... You are not paying attention, Master Van Dort. I was asking you how you would best identify the similarity between these two objects you see in front of you...well?
Victor :( stands up) I... um...well...the ratio of ummm...mmm...
Vincent: (whispers over to other student) Victor Can Dort... (They start sniggering)
Victor: (his white cheeks get a tinge of scarlet) I... ummm...the similarity is determined by an equation of... (Starts twisting his tie nervously, tugging at it at times...) the...umm...
Galswells: (sighs) Please see me after this lesson, Van Dort...
Victor: (stares at the ground, mumbles, sits back down) Yes sir...
Galswells: For now, you can clean the board, get on with it...
Victor: (rushes up, knees bang his desk, ink pot topples over desk and crashes onto the floor) Ohh... (Whole class laughs)
Galswells: (mad with rage, voice like thunder) VAN DORT!
Victor: I...I...I'm so sorry...excuse me...Do forgive me...
Galswells: CLEAN IT UP AT ONCE AND GET OUT! YOU ARE DISRUPTING MY CLASS, MASTER VAN DORT; I SUPPOSE IT STRIKES YOU AS FUNNY?
Victor: Yes...I-I... mean...n-no sir, no...I'm so sorry... (Crouches down and starts to clean up the ink. Bell rings)
Galswells: (sighs) Oh, well we'll continue later then, everyone out...except you... (Points at Victor, who winces)
(Vincent laughs mockingly as he passes, waits until Victor gets up to go to the basin, puts out his foot as he walks past, Victor stumbles)
Galswells: VAN DORT! You are trying my patience...do not make me use this... (Fingers cane)
Victor: (with fearful eyes on the cane, swallows) I'm sorry sir, I...I...just tripped...
Galswells: Well, get on with it then!
Victor (returns to his desk, mops up the rest of the ink as the students enter again, Vincent laughs to himself as he passes him...)
Galswells: Quiet down, quiet down, we shall continue...now who can tell me the similarity between... (Drones on, Victor sits behind his desk carefully and stares at the floor)
1 Hour later... (Bell rings for end of school day)
Galswells: This ends our lesson...I'll see you all tomorrow...
Victor: (packs ink stained books and quill in his satchel, walks slowly out of the door. Galswells makes a disapproving noise as he passes him. Victor walks out of the school house, across two streets, round a corner, the Van Dort house comes into view. A butterfly flies near Victor, who stops and watches it glide through the air, sadly, then sighs and smiles.)
(Mayhew standing outside with the carriage smoking a pipe, coughing now and then)
Mayhew: Afternoon, Victor...
Victor (sighs): Hello, Mayhew...
Mayhew: Anything the matter?
Victor: Oh...no...Nothing... (Enters the house, climbs stairs, enters his room, opens his window, slumps on his chair and sets his satchel aside. Gets a book out and starts sketching butterflies absentmindetely.)