Novel Challenge-- "The Tragedy of Nicholas, Prince of Brabant" by Dianne la Mercenaire [Scene IV. A guard platform.] _Enter Nick, Janette, and Natalie._ Nick: The air bites shrewdly; it is very cold. Natalie: (whispers) Janette: (whispers) _Nick looks blank. Janette and Natalie look at him expectantly, then at each other._ Janette: (whispered, to Natalie) Natalie: (recovers) It is a nipping and an eager air. Nick: (back on track) What hour now? Natalie: I think it lacks of twelve. Janette: (superiorly) No, it is struck. Natalie: (annoyed) Indeed? I heard it not. [Janette looks even more pityingly at her. Nat's getting ticked.] It then draws near the season Wherein the spirit held his wont to walk. _A flourish of trumpets, and two pieces go off._ [Everyone jumps out of their skin.] Natalie: What does this mean my lord? Nick: LaCroix doth wake tonight and takes his rouse Keeps wassail, and the swagg'ring upspring reels, And as he drains his draughts of AB down The kettledrum and trumpet thus bray out The triumph of his pledge. [Natalie looks questioningly at Janette, who just shrugs.] Natalie: Is it a custom? Nick: Ay, marry, is't, But to my mind, though I am native here And to the manner born, it is a custom More honored in the breach than in the observance, This heavy-headed revel east and west Makes us traduced and taxed of other nations. _Enter Gho.... They clepe us drunkards and with swinish phrase Soil our addition, and indeed it takes From our achievements, though performed at height, The pith and marrow of our attribute. [Natalie and Janette are doing their best not to doze off.] So oft it chances in particular men That for some vicious mole of nature in them, As in their birth, wherein they are _not_ guilty, (Since nature _cannot_ choose his origin) _Enter Ghos... [Nick's really getting into this now...] By the o'ergrowth of some complexion, Oft breaking down the pales and forts of reason, Or by some habit that too much o'erleavens The form of plausive manners, that (these men, Carrying I say, the stamp of _one_ defect... [Natalie and Janette both elbow him in the ribs *hard*, one from either side, forcing Nick to stop and gasp painfully for breath.] _*Enter Ghost!*_ Natalie: (relieved) Look, my lord, it comes. Nick: (takes deep, gasping breath) Angels and ministers of grace defend us! Be thou a spirit of heath or goblin damned... Natalie: (hissing in his ear) Nick: (trying to rally) Say, why is this? Wherefore? What should we do? _Ghost beckons Hamlet_ Natalie: It beckons you to go away with it, As if some impartment did desire To you alone. Janette: Look with what courteous action It waves you to a more removed ground. [exchanges conspiratorial look with Natalie] Now you go with it. Natalie: , by all means. Nick: (sensing something is slightly off, but not sure what it is) It will not speak. Then I will follow it. Natalie: [shoves him forward and off-stage...over the parapet if possible] Janette: Something is rotten in the state of Brabant. Natalie: _Exeunt._ ************************************************* Now *see* why depriving me of my server for long periods of time is a public hazard? :-) Dianne Who *still* can't read her mail yet, but snuck in on an old account just to post this stuff...aren't you *lucky*???