Much Ado About Nothing at Dalton

IN DESPAIR, PROMISES OF LOVE AND REVENGE

After everyone withdrew from the church, towards their respective chambers after the tragic event, Jeff and Nick, found themselves alone in the midst of a sepulchral silence.

Nick, standing in the middle of the altar, looking lost towards the church door, where his cousin had left moments before, showed in his posture, total sadness for his cousin. Looking at the poor boy, who was trying to stop crying, he couldn't do it, Jeff says politely, "Dear Nick, have you cried all this time?" "Yes, and I will cry even longer." Nick replied without looking away from the back of the church to look at Jeff.

Trying to get Nick's attention to himself, Jeff continues "Lastimo similar perspective", which makes the young man, with his face marked by the tears that flowed, and eyes red with tears, turn to Jeff and ask, in an almost inaudible tone "Why do you regret? It is spontaneously that I do it for my cousin ".

With a sincere look, Jeff says to the boy "I am convinced that your cousin was the victim of slander created by the bastard don Sebastian!"

Abruptly wiping his face with the sleeves of his clothes, Nick sighs and responds with finality, his eyes shining with tears still in his eyes "Oh! How much would the person who would rehabilitate him rise in my concept! "

Encouraged by Nick's words, Jeff takes one of the boy's hands and sincerely asks, "Is there any way to give you such proof of friendship?" what is accepted, and answered in a serious tone "Mode exists; but a friend in that condition is not there ".

Jeff insists, holding Nick's hand firmly and looking straight into the boy's eyes "Can any man put it into practice?" and again, Nick replies seriously "Yes, whoever had the job of doing it; but that someone is not you. " And he lowers his head, looking away from Jeff.

Lifting Nick's chin, to force him to look into his eyes again, Jeff says, "I love nothing in the world like you. Isn't that weird? ", And Nick, with a half smile without any humor, replies" As weird as everything I don't know. It would also be easy for me to tell you that I love nothing in the world like you ". And again looking away, focus your eyes on the church door and continue, kind of nervously saying "... But don't give me credit, even if I'm not lying. I don't confess or deny anything. I am heartbroken because of my cousin ".

With a smile on his face, Jeff sighs, and says a little more cheerfully, "By my sword, young Nick, you have love for me." Giving Nick's hand a little squeeze, which was still in his. Nick, for his part, turns to look Jeff in the eye and replies "Don't swear by your sword; use it. "

More and more happy with the realization of Nick's feeling for him, Jeff continues "By my sword I will swear you have love for me; that way, I will force you to swallow it if you say I don't love you. "

Nick, taken aback by Jeff's statement, asks "Don't you want to swallow your word?", And Jeff, now holding Nick's two hands and forcing the boy to look him straight in the eye without subterfuge, says firmly in his voice "No ... no way ..., whatever kind of sauce can be invented just in case. I protest that I love you. "

Overwhelmed by the feeling he had imprisoned in his chest by Jeff, and by the boy's words, Nick shakes his head as if to organize his thoughts, and looking up, as if looking up at the sky says "God forgive me!"

Surprised, Jeff looks at Nick and asks, "What offense, sweet Nick?" Nick lowers his head slowly. He looks into Jeff's eyes and replies, "You interrupted me at the right time. I was at the point of protesting that I dedicated love to you."

Smiling with satisfaction, Jeff asks "Do it with all your heart", which the young man, Nick accepts and responds with equal devotion "I love you so much with my heart, that there is nothing left to protest."

Jeff, with his heart overflowing with happiness at the young Nick's confession, puts his hand on the boy's face, and says with devotion in his voice, "Tell me to do something in your praise. Anything to prove my devotion to you and your love! "

Suddenly, all the sweetness and happiness vanishes from Nick's face. A countenance of real hardness takes him, and with a hardness in his voice Nick says "Matai Kurt."

Time seems to freeze at the very moment of Nick's words. Jeff, taken by the strange request responds hesitantly "No! Not for my honor! ". It is then that Nick, abruptly pulls his hands from Jeff's hands and turns his back to the boy and says, in a cold, accusatory tone, "He killed me with that refusal. Leave me here with my demons! "

Nervous about the situation, and realizing his beloved Nick's desperation, Jeff sighs, takes two steps towards the boy, and pleads, "Wait a minute, sweet Nick." Without turning around, Nick replies with no feeling in his voice, "I'm gone, even though my body is still here. You have no true love for me. Please, let me go. Forget everything I've said so far! "...

"Nick ..." pleaded Jeff again, holding himself up not to hug the boy who was crying for his cousin again. "I'm serious: I need to leave," replied Nick impassively.

Jeff tries again to ponder with Nick, "Let's be friends first. Give me a chance ", which Nick responds with a certain venom in his words" Do you find it easier to be my friend than to fight my enemies? "

"Is Kurt your enemy?" asked Jeff sincerely to the boy, who replied with the same sincerity, but with a severe tone that frightened "Didn't he prove to be a villain to the utmost degree by slandering, humiliating and dishonoring my relative? Ah, if I were a man of arms! How could you? Keep him bound and his promises until the moment when the hands were going to be joined, to later accuse him in public, with such impudence and impiety! Oh God, if I were a soldier ... I would rip your heart out in a public square ".

Jeff, overcome by the desire to calm the boy he loved so much, reached out, turned Nick by the shoulders, forcing the boy to look at him again. "Listen to me, Nick .." but Nick was stuck in his own speech without paying attention to what Jeff was saying

"Meet on the balcony with a man in the middle of the night! Well-arranged story ". Nick continued to talk nonstop, nervously, "What a beautiful setup ..."

Trying to get the boy's attention, Jeff repeated "But Nick ...", but Nick didn't surrender "Poor Blaine! He is defamed, slandered, lost. Not knowing how to live from something you didn't even do! "...

Jeff tried again to ponder with Nick "But Nick ..." but was rudely interrupted by the boy "Princes and counts! Indeed, the testimony is princely! Very sweet, there is no doubt, this Count Almofadinha! A first rate groom! Oh! If I were a soldier, to catch him, or if I had a real friend who wanted to be a man enough to help me! "... and putting both hands in his hair, in a sign of total despair, Nick continues his speech rampant "... But virility has already melted in ceremonies and empty speeches, value in compliments; men are nothing more than tongues, and much adorned, to top it off. Nowadays, to be brave like Hercules, it is enough to tell a lie and support it. Not being able to become a soldier just with my wishes, I want to die like no one, with my sadness. " And finally, defeated by so much sadness in his chest, Nick falls on his knees and starts to cry again.

Taken by the pain of his beloved, Jeff kneels in front of Nick and says softly "Wait, kind Nick" and extending his right hand towards Nick, puts it on the boy's chest and swears "By this hand, I swear that I love you."

Nick, feeling the warmth of Jeff's hand on his chest, slowly raises his head and fixes his gaze on Jeff's eyes. In a serious and serious voice, he speaks to the officer "To prove your love to me, I used other means than oaths."

Without taking his eyes off Nick, Jeff sincerely asks the boy, "Do you really believe from the bottom of your soul that Count Kurt slandered his cousin Blaine?" With no hesitation in his voice, Nick replies, "Yes. I am as sure of that as I am of thinking and being endowed with a soul. "

Worn by events, and nervous about the situation, Jeff takes a deep breath and speaks seriously to Nick "Enough. I commit to challenge Kurt to a duel for the honor of Blaine "taking Nick's hand, and kissing her, continues" I kiss your hand and I say goodbye. For this hand, Count Kurt will give me severe accounts. He will accept the challenge on his own honor and if he does not, he will demoralize in the name of Blaine's honor. Think of me according to the news you receive. Go comfort your cousin. I will say that he is dead because of the calumnies suffered. And with that I say goodbye! "