This chapter is dedicated to Dracones for the idea of a mad person, and constantlearner, who I believe is having an operation soon.

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A quote: There's a fine line between genius and insanity. I have erased this line. (Just noticed I've changed this later. Now consists of only the first sentence)

A Character: The Milkman

And a Circumstance: Trapped in a cellar with no way out.

"Right, Captain Flint, your group's up next. "Mrs Blackett announced, picking herself up off the floor, where she'd been sitting. "How long do you need to prepare?"

"Give us ten minutes for changing into costumes etc. Perhaps the other team could clear the stage of their... camel."

This set everyone off laughing again, because the last thing the pile of sheets and chairs looked like was a camel.

Eventually they recovered enough to let themselves out the room, and preparation began.

Ten minutes later the play began, rather dramatically, with the backstage/onstage curtain falling on Nancy's head as she entered the room. Once it'd been sorted, the play started.

Cast List:

C. Flint: Cowherd

Nancy: The Milkman

John: 'Mad' Scientist

Titty: Mental Person

Bridget: Scientists Daughter

Nancy, just about recovered from her episode with the curtain, took her position.

"Hello everybody!" She chorused, then looked disappointed when the response was poor. "I said, 'HELLO EVERYBODY!'"

"Hello!" Came the response, and she laughed.

"Better, we'll get there. Now, I guess you're probably wondering why we're here today. The problem is, you see, that we can't get out."

The audience looked well and truly confused.

"Let me explain..." (While Nancy had been talking the rest of the group had been finishing off preparations backstage, and the audience hadn't seen anything of them. Now C. Flint appeared, in the doorway.

"I say, I hate to interrupt you on your rounds, Mrs Milkman, sorry, Milkwoman," Captain Flint said, interrupting Nancy. (This is the start of the flashback)

"That's not a problem, sir, how may I help you?"

"Well, you see, I'm the local Cowherd, and recently my cows have been disappearing like odd socks out the washing machine! I don't know what to do. Then, as I walked past this house here, I'm sure I heard" Here he stopped what he was saying, turned to the audience and laugh "herd! Get it! Like a herd of cows..." There was no response, other than a promptly squashed chuckle from Peggy, so he sighed and returned to his narrative, "I heard the sound of a cow."

"Erm..." Everyone had to admit Nancy acted confusion very well. Either that, or Captain Flint had deviated from the script...! "And... What am I supposed to do."

"Well, you're the milkman."

"Yes..."

"So, if my cows disappear, then your milk does too, so you don't have a job."

"And..."

"Come into the house and look for the cow with me!"

Nancy, returning to narrating, sighed. "I didn't know what to do. So I thought about it for a bit, and eventually came to the conclusion that the only thing I could do was go inside with him. So I did." And Nancy linked arms with Captain Flint, and walked with him through the doorway. Here there was a massive scene change as everyone else moved onstage, spread out, but sitting down, to show they weren't important as off yet. Nancy and C. Flint reappeared in the doorway.

"Here we are, the last room we haven't checked."

"You can hardly call it a room, it's a cellar."

"Whatever it is, your cows won't be in here, come on, let's go."

Just then, Titty gave the most realistic moo she could, and C. Flint jumped and pointed, grabbing Nancy's arm.

"I told you! They're here! Come, please, let's find them."

"Alright," Nancy sighed, and they made their way into the room. Then suddenly there was a crashing noise, and the lights went out. The audience sat, frozen, unsure if this was part of the play or not.

"What on earth was that?!" Exclaimed Nancy.

"I don't know," Responded Captain Flint. "Whatever it was, let's get out of here."

"I... I can't see where the door is."

"There must be a way to get some light in this place."

"Moooooo!"

"Oh do be quiet."

The voice wasn't Nancy or C. Flints, and the pair froze. (Not that anyone could see this, it was too dark...) Then a faint light flickered on in the corner.

"Aha! I knew I had a light somewhere." And John shone his torch (a prop) around and froze, the light pointing at Nancy and C. Flint. "Who are you?!"

"I was about to ask the same thing!" Nancy gasped, "What on earth are you doing in a cellar with a cow, and why have all the lights gone out?"

"Cow? She's annoying, yes, but I think cow is taking it a bit too far. And I'm not sure why the light went out, I think it was the wind caused by my explosion slamming the door."

"She?"

"Oh, you haven't met Mildred the Mad yet? Mildred, come out here."

"Moo..." And Titty appeared, a crazed expression in her eyes, which was more from suppressed laughter than anything else. She was wearing her sheet very creatively, draped round her in a way which could only emphasise her complete insanity.

"Hello, Mildred," Nancy said, trying her hardest to be friendly.

"Mooo..." she responded cheerfully.

"Why does she sound like a cow?"

"Something went wrong when she was born, and for some reason she thinks she's a cow. She can talk English, just thinks mooing is more expressive." John explained.

"I see. Why are you here?"

"I am testing out some new experiments! What did you think I was doing? Living in the cellar by choice?"

"And why is she here, some relation to you?"

"Mildred? No. Just, when you're locked up in the dark, it is very easy to lose your grip on reality. There is a fine line between genius and reality, and having her here is a way of ensuring I know I'm on one side, and she's on the other."

The look on Nancy's face betrayed the fact she didn't quite agree.

Just then Bridget appeared with a tray and a mug.

"I brought your tea, Daddy." She said, clearly eager to remember all her lines and prove she was as good as the rest of them.

"Daddy," mused Nancy, "So she's..."

"My daughter, yes." John finished for her.

"And you keep her locked up with you?"

"She won't let me do anything else."

"Well, even if she doesn't want to get out, I do. Where's the door?"

"Well..."

"Where is the door?"

"Over there, but..."

"Okay," And she marched over to the 'door' and tried to turn the 'handle'.

"It won't open."

"I know."

"The handles jammed and..." She paused. "What do you mean, 'I know'?"

"If the door shuts and you're on the inside, you can't get out. It locks."

"So, you mean..."

"We're stuck. Yes."

"For how long?" Nancy shrieked.

"Well, the baker comes every other day, so at most, 48 hours."

"Please tell me you're joking."

"I wish I could, honestly."

"Erm... Excuse me?"

"Yes?"

"Well," Captain Flint looked nervous, "I was wondering, whilst we're trapped here, if you have anything I could eat. I'm hungry."

"Typical!" Nancy rolled her eyes. "Trapped, possibly might never see the light of day again, and he thinks of his stomach. Men!"

"They are strange creatures, aren't they?" Observed Titty, obviously deciding this would be a sentiment easier expressed without mooing.

"They are." Nancy agreed. "Sometimes I wonder if they're even human."

"Aliens!" Exclaimed Titty. "Aliens... I knew there was something odd."

At this point John reappeared, and Titty shrank back against the wall.

"Stay away from me, Demon from the sky!"

"What?! Mildred, what's going on?"

"She thinks you're an alien. Don't worry, it's not just you. Men in general."

"And where did she get that idea from?" John asked surprised.

"I don't know." Nancy answered too quickly, and the audience laughed. Just then Captain Flint reappeared, and Titty screamed and hid behind a box (one of their props).

Nancy, turning to the audience, took up the role of narrator again.

"So that's how we ended up here, trapped, in a cellar with no way out. I have often heard it said that there is a fine line between genius and insanity, and if I don't get out of here soon, I'm going to not only find the line, but probably run over it, screaming."

Here John switched the light back on, and they stood in a row and bowed, before leaving to get changed.

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Once everything was sorted, Mrs Blackett called them all back together and ordered them to tidy up, returning props and chairs to their rightful homes, and replacing the curtain in the window. Whilst they did this, she sat and added up the points. Then she called them together again, and announced the scores.

"So, before this round, Jim's team was on 800 points, and Mary's team had 970 points. Now the points stand with..."

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I realize I didn't describe the costumes in much detail in this chapter. This is because the group hadn't gone for elaborate costumes, just ones they could wear comfortably. So let your imagination run wild, it is completely up to you what you imagine them wearing.

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I am so so so sorry for the long delay, again. School and stuff got in the way. I should be doing homework now, but I felt guilty, so I did this instead.

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I need votes. Which play was the best? Who should win? By how much?

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I apologize if this play stuff wasn't to your liking, we shall return to normal life. I will do my very best to get some John/Nancy in the next chapter.

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Fergus Mason: I am really sorry for my drastic error in the last chapter, I will go and change it in a minute.

SkyeBlue: I'm pleased you're enjoying it. Keep reviewing.

constantlearner: I love the fact it made you laugh. I hope you enjoy this chapter, and that your op goes well. Mistletoe sounds like great fun! I shall see what I can do.

Pixel And Stephanie Forever: Once again, apologies for raising your hopes by accident. I will write something for you to make up for it. Thank you for your support.

Dracones: Well, here you go. Hope you liked it.