Disclaimer – I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! or Shakespeare

*Rated T for Teen

All's Well That Ends Well

Act II, Scene IV – Paris – The King's Palace

Helena/Joey entered the stage with Lavache/Bakura the Clown.

"My mother greets me kindly. Is she well?" Helena/Joey asked sweetly.

"She is not well, but she has her good health. She is very merry, but she is not well. Thanks be given, she is very well and wants nothing in the world, but she is not well," answered Lavache/Bakura.

Helena/Joey was confused. "If she's well and does not suffer from anything, then why is she not well?"

"Truly, she is very well indeed except for two things," Lavache/Bakura replied.

Helena/Joey looked like she was growing irritated with the brief answers Lavache/Bakura was providing. "What two things?"

"Firstly, that she's not in heaven whither God send her quickly!" Lavache/Bakura quipped. Helena/Joey raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Secondly, she is on earth from whence God send her quickly!"

"Wha-"

"Bless you, my fortunate lady!" interrupted Parolles/Duke, coming onstage majestically.

"I do hope, sir, that I have your good will in order to have my own good fortunes," replied Helena/Joey.

"You had my prayers to lead on your good fortunes. Oh! My knave!" Parolles/Duke called, indicating Lavache/Bakura. "How is my old lady?"

"So…if you had her wrinkles and I her money, I would she did as you say," answered Lavache/Bakura insultingly.

Parolles/Duke eyed him oddly. "Why, I would say nothing."

"Wow! Really? How unlike you!" declared Lavache/Bakura sarcastically. "You, Master Parolles, are a wise man who says nothing, does nothing, knows nothing, and has nothing," he laughed.

Parolles/Duke glared at him. "Go away! You are a knave!"

"You should have said, sir, before a knave, you are a knave! That is, before me you are a knave! This is the truth, sir!" announced Lavache/Bakura all-knowingly.

"Go! You are a witty fool! I have found you!" Parolled/Duke appeared quite agitated by the Clown's comments.

"Oh, did the poor little Master find me in himself, sir? Or were you taught to find me? The search must have been profitable and there is much a fool that you may find in you, even to the world's pleasure and the increase of laughter!" Lavache/Bakura roared in amusement.

"A good knave in faith and well fed," growled Parolles/Duke. He turned to face Helena/Joey. "Madam, my lord Bertram will leave tonight. He was called away on serious business. The great sanction and rite of love in your marriage bed, which, as your due, time claims, Bertram does acknowledge. He apologizes for not being able to consummate the marriage."

"Is there anything my husband wants me to do?" asked Helena/Joey.

"Yes. Bertram wants you to leave at once and carry a letter from him to his mother. But you are to tell the King where you are going," Parolles/Duke replied.

"Is there anything else he wants of me?"

Parolles/Duke nodded. "That, having this obtained, you presently attend his further pleasure."

"All right. In everything, I wait upon his will," Helena/Joey said.

"I shall report it so."

"Thank you," Helena/Joey stated as Parolles/Duke left the stage. "Come, Lavache." Helena/Joey and Lavache/Bakura left after Parolles/Duke.

End Scene