Found People To Love

ACT II

Well, I'm back! And this time the chapter's a bit longer. Thanks to my friend for the beta on this whole story—she did it so fast. Unbelievable. MVP.

Scene 1: Local Theater

[People carrying French fries and hot dogs fill the plastic chairs of an outdoor theater. OLIVER sits nine rows back and to the right, his eyes fixed on the play. He is very still. The stage is lit by the evening sunset and stage lights.]

ACTOR 1: [as HAMLET]

O, I die, Horatio.

The potent poison quite o'ercrows 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 th' occurrents, more and less,

Which have solicited. The rest is silence.

O, O, O, O.

[ACTOR 1 acts his death as HAMLET]

JAMES: [as HORATIO]

Now cracks a noble heart.

—Good night, sweet prince,

And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest!—

Why does the drum come hither?

[Actors enter from the side of the stage: FORTINBRAS, the English AMBASSADOR, a drummer, and attendants.]

ACTOR 2: [as FORTINBRAS]

Where is this sight?

JAMES: [as HORATIO] What is it ye would see?

If aught of woe or wonder, cease your search.

[In his seat, OLIVER watches as if entranced. His lips move with HORATIO's lines. He is pale. On stage, the lights move as the actors for FORTINBRAS and AMBASSADOR continue to exchange lines, but OLIVER's eyes stay locked on JAMES even when his HORATIO is not speaking.]

[JAMES as HORATIO is turned to stage-left, speaking to FORTINBRAS and AMBASSADOR, cheating out. His eyes find OLIVER and he visibly startles.]

JAMES: [as HORATIO]

Of that I shall have also cause to speak,

And from his mouth—

[JAMES pauses, shaken, staring into the audience, breaking the rhythm of HORATIO's lines.]

JAMES: [as HORATIO, speaking blankly, without drama or emphasis]

And from his mouth whose voice will draw on more.

But let this same be presently performed,

Even while men's minds are wild, lest more mischance

On plots and errors happen.

[FORTINBRAS finishes with his speech to bear HAMLET forth and his march off the stage. JAMES almost misses HORATIO's exit. OLIVER's eyes follow him. The crowd applauds, some with polite appreciation but many with real energy, and OLIVER starts, beginning to applaud several seconds too late. The actors return a moment later, their shoulders relaxed, beaming, holding hands, waving at the audience, except for JAMES, who walks woodenly on and immediately finds OLIVER. He nearly misses his bow, following ACTOR 1's. JAMES claps for his costars, stays a moment too long on stage, and gestures, subtly, stage-left. He turns and exits.]