Magic 8

What You Don't Want to know

This week ended faster than it started, and I have had enough of it. I called Maria and told her I'd be staying at the dorm, but like with Caspian, I left out all the details I should've told her. I didn't know where to begin if I wanted to tell her, so just as I started out the week, I ended it with lies. The readings lately have been much easier to handle since I talked to Caspian, though I still don't like the dialogues with Robinson. My team has my back, and I have theirs- which is far more support than they will ever realize. On this gorgeous sunny Friday, today would be my first official reading with Caspian since auditions on Monday. Winnie had all ten of us, including herself, sit at a long table together for the reading of act three. This act is arguably my favorite because of the amount of sass my character has, but I'd prefer that I didn't have to read it with Robinson. At this point in the script that Gerald, Samantha, Cheryl, and Lynn were reading from, Maurice, Belle's father, came back with horrid news that he had to give up something he values and he comes to the conclusion that it's his own daughter. "Alright, Act Three, Scene Two. Are you ready to go on? Awesome, now begin!" The scene started out just as it had when I first went through it with Robinson, but surprisingly, it got better. Between the shaming, the witty comebacks, and Maurice defending his daughter, it truly was an amazing scene. "Last scene for today, you guys. Let's keep going; Act Three, Scene 3!"

After Gweneth, the narrator, spoke her piece, I cleared my throat in preparation for my line. "This is our stop? This gloomy, ominous place is our destination?" "My daughter, I never told you the story on our way because I need you to be brave, like I know you are."
"Anything for you, Papa." "Belle, I came home early because I never made it to Paris. I accidentally took a wrong turn and wound up here. I made a horrible mistake by stealing from the master of the castle. I didn't think anything of it because what I was taking was so miniscule. According to the master, it wasn't."

Raising my voice ever so slightly, I desperately asked, "Papa, what did you steal that you must pay for?" "Ten roses that I was going to bring to you, my child. Before I could leave, he demanded that I give my most treasured item to him and part with it forever." "You must be joking! Flowers? Papa, you knew I could live without so long as you come home safe!" "I know, but I love you so much, and I was disappointed that I would miss meeting the shop owners in Paris. I just wanted to make you smile." "Then what must you give in order to to set yourself free?" "You, Belle. You have always held the highest place in my heart, and I have to do this." "Why? Can't you reason with him? Surely no one could be that cruel!" "But you didn't meet him like I did. It was either give you up or he'd kill us all! I'd rather you be alive and somewhere I can't reach you than dead because my sin condemned you. This is why you must be brave. Do this for me- if not your sisters." "Yes Papa, I will honor your wishes."

"As it says in the script, right now they are heading into the castle and the beast will not show his face until after Maurice leaves." We all understood, and I could sense that across the board, everyone found that dialogue in some way depressing.

"Master of the castle, it is I, Maurice, the one who sinned against you." "So you are a man of your word; I'm still not impressed. Have you made your choice, thief?" "I have, your Mercy. My heart's most treasured item, I have brought you, is my youngest daughter, Belle." "You'd rather hand your own noose to your daughter than stand guilty? You should be deemed a fool for such an action." "She deserves to live; there is nothing I wouldn't do to keep her safe." "By handing her over to a monster? Oh well, then let it be done. Once you leave, there is no changing your mind- there is no coming back!" "I promise, and thank you for your mercy." "Father, please don't come back for me." "You know I can't let you just be locked here with him!" "I remember what Mama once said, 'An experience is only bad when you make it so, but if you make an adventure out of it, then that's a story worth telling.' I will find a way to come back, and I will make this a story worth telling. Goodbye Papa, I love you!" "As do I, my brave Belle....goodbye."