The Play--Alec

 

Behind the curtains of The Globe theater in London, actors ran amuck, rushing and shoving each in order to get into costumes, makeup, and wigs. It was opening night after all. Men completed their wardrobes with powdered wigs, long drape-like garments, and a white-powdered face. Amid all the chaos, Charles sat in a chair, waiting in his costume, all alone and speaking some thoughts that would calm his nerves. “They wilt love me.” “Or wilt they misprise me?” “I’m the most wondrous performer Shakespeare hath ever seen, he did doth sayeth't himself.” Charles gathered himself. Break in. Breath out. “Ev'rything is going to beest most wondrous, those gents shall loveth me. Those gents shawl.” Charles walked up and talked at the same time. That was one of his “self-described” talents. He went to the curtain as the show was beginning, and stood and listened as the crowd clapped. He heard the first line of the play and shivered as it began. The dream had begun. HIS dream had begun. “Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona,..”

Charles was playing THEE most important role in the play: Romeo. When Charles first read Shakespeare’s words, he wept. In Charles’s mind that’s what got him the part. (Coupled with his dashing looks, Justin Bieber-like hair, and ability to stand in front of an audience and emote). Charles was born to play this role, as his motto in life was “wast th're very much any oth'r option?” Charles prepared like an animal for his starring role. Going as far as staying in character as long as he could, from his waking breath to his last sight before bed. In his mind, he was Romeo, and no one was going to tell him otherwise, not even Shakespeare himself. All he needed was to find his Juliet.

Charles searched far and wide for the fairest and most beautiful girl he could call his Juliet. Charles wanted to be involved in the process when it came to casting the role. “I bethink t's imp'rtant yond we has't a relationship, a chemistry yond maketh the audience believeth we art very much in loveth.” Charles said to William. William replied with agreement, stating, “Loveth is the most real and the most ov'rall.” The search didn’t last long, as Jessica C was cast as Juliet. Jessica had long, flowering black hair, a tall and thin stature, and a head fit for a crown. He had found his perfect Juliet. All he had to do was convince her they were meant to be together, on and off the stage.

“Is the day so young?” Charles’s first line repeated over and over and over in his head. If he messed up his first line, what was the point of continuing, he thought. The moment was coming. The moment he was waiting for. This was his chance to show the world the talent that was inside of him, waiting to burst out. Charles ran out to his mark and spoke his line. He closed his eyes, spoke, then opened to nothing. No audience. No crowd. No sets. Nothing. Just him, standing in silence in the darkness. “Wh're art thee?” Charles whispered to himself and Jessica. Jessica did not speak a word, only being silent as she knew there would be hell to pay if she revealed the truth.

---

Detective William spoke on the phone to get the latest on the situation. “Alright, I’ll tell them.” William picked up the megaphone and spoke to a crowd that included the Metropolitan Police Force and a Firearms Unit, “Listen up! Suspect has been identified as Charles Pierce. Globe Theater surveillance has confirmed he has a hostage. He is considered armed and dangerous. Approach with caution!” Detective William has dealt with Mr. Pierce’s case for over a year. William would apprehend, send for psychiatric evaluation, then Pierce would get released. The cycle would just repeat itself. But this time was different. This time he was going away. For good.

---

“Whither is everyone?!” Charles was slowly coming into the revelation of reality. He just didn’t want to admit what he was doing was wrong. He was just pursuing his dream, just like everyone else. Right? Charles was fully there. Reality was the destination, and Charles was the traveler. “I hath heard those folk! Those gents wast hither! What didst thou doth!” Jessica was panicking. She knew she had to say what he wanted to hear, after all she was his Juliet. And Juliet was meant to be the other half to his Romeo. “They all probably went to relieve themselves. I mean, why would they risk having to leave in the middle of your great performance? Right?” Jessica knew who Charles was. A man who she thought was a drifter on the streets. A drifter who she saw on her drive to work, on her run through the park, and outside her kitchen window. Charles was Jessica’s Joe Goldberg, but more insane. She had filed restraining order after restraining order, but nothing could stop him from seeing her. “The Globe Theater is supposed to beest filled with the best of best of at which hour to cometh to actors. People like me!” Jessica recognized the Globe Theater. It was a sacred place in the theater community, a historical landmark if you will. She knew there were cameras everywhere, which meant the police were probably on their way. All she had to do was stall.

---

Detective William was leading a caravan of special forces down to the theater, he had already sent down a chopper to survey the area, something that may be risky but he had to do whatever he could to make sure that woman was safe from that madman. “All units create a perimeter around the theater, no one goes in or out!”

---

Jessica heard the police sirens becoming more and more clear. The darkness turned into a heaven, as the chopper was reigning down a spotlight on the two on stage. Charles was in full costume that he found backstage, and Jessica was in her workout clothes, until Charles took her, now she wore a full garment that was supposed to resemble Juliet. Charles was spooked by the spotlight, taking instinct action and holding a VERY real sword he found in a glass case in the theater museum to Jessica’s neck. “Don’t come any further!” Charles screamed. From the chopper, the message was relayed back to the detective, who was just arriving on the scene with other officers and moving in on the stage. William and his team pulled their weapons on Charles where Charles repeated himself. Charles had a revelation. The audience was filled just as he wanted, he had to give them a show, and show them what kind of talent he had. William knew he had to take action or else there would be a real tragedy on this stage. “Put your weapons down.” William ordered his task force. “Charles, I know you want the world to know you. You got that. We’re here. Just put the blade down, and you’ll be fine.” Charles removed the sword from Jessica’s neck, but still held on to her arm. Charles replied in a soft voice, “They love me. They really love me.”

A stream of red poured off the end of stage. Detective William had done his job. No matter how he got there, he had done his job. Jessica was free from the shackles of the madman and Charles was free from the pressures of the world to be the best.

A tragedy did happen on that stage that night. A tragedy that Detective William did not want to speak of for the rest of his career.

“Seal with a righteous kiss the deal I have made with death forever.”

The End.