SCENE I:
Setting: On the
set of 'Time Voyager', a new television series.
Characters: ANN -
Announcer ROMEO - Romeo
ANN: Ladies and
Gentlemen, welcome again to this week's edition of Time Voyager. In case this
is the first time you have tuned in and are unfamiliar with the concept, let me
explain it to you. Modern technology today allows us to go back in time, as you
probably know already. We do just that - go back and visit those times and
places that had so much mystery, so much darkness, and so little knowledge. Our
current model of time machine is the best that money can buy and has been
completely tested for safety so we will not... as they say... leave someone
'behind the times.' So sit back, relax, and watch as the past becomes the present.
(Lights dim,
machine hums, beam of light appears center stage. Through the beam, people are
visible, walking seemingly unaware of the new presence.)
ANN: The place is
Verona, Italy, and the year is 1523. To be precise, the third of May.
(Romeo cautiously
peers into light beam. It seems he is the only one aware of it.)
ANN: (To Romeo)
Do not be afraid, come forward. (Beckons with hand)
ROMEO: What is
this?
ANN: Sir, I
apologize for this sudden interruption of your day. Perhaps you would like me
to explain?
ROMEO: (Steps
onto stage out of light beam. Beam dies) What has happened to me? Have I died?
Is this the other world? What do you want of me?
ANN: No, you are
not dead, rather transported to another time...
ROMEO: You talk
no sense! Your head must be full of bugs and insects! And, if you do not mind,
what are those strange machines in the corner? (Points at video camera)
ANN: Those are
recorders - recording you as you are currently here speaking to us. They can
put the images - moving images - so that we may view them later. Right now,
they are sending the images through the air to millions of people...
ROMEO: What year
is this? You have many strange devices, for example, lights that have no
candles behind them, screens that record my movements, and all these strange
new materials, it is rather... mind-boggling... that is, if you are telling the
truth...
ANN: The year is
2174. Yes, I am telling the truth. We have machines that tell if you are
telling the truth now.
ROMEO: How do I
know you are telling the truth about machines that tell if you tell the truth?
You could be not telling the truth but have me under the impression that you
are telling the truth simply to put me at ease with you!
ANN: Good sir, I
do not lie on national television...
ROMEO: What sort
of words are those? Television? Why, that sounds like some kind of magical
ability to see into my soul! Back! I am forced to depart! And if you resist...
(Draws rapier. Audience goes 'Ooooohhhhh'.)
ANN: At least
tell us your name!
ROMEO: I am
surprised that you do not know that already from prying into my brain...
ANN: We are not
that good yet.
ROMEO: If you
must know, 'tis Romeo. And with that, a Montague.
ANN: I'm sorry,
did you say... Romeo? Montague?
ROMEO: Are you
hard of hearing? Have all the lies you have told clogged up your own ears too?
ANN: Then you
must be the one...
ROMEO: What
foolishness do you talk of? The one what?
ANN: The one in
love with Juliet!
ROMEO: (Face pales,
drops rapier) But how do you know? (Looks at camera.) Great. Now I suppose
millions (Gestures with hands) of people know my dirty little secret now. And
my friends, Benvolio and...
ANN: Mercutio!
ROMEO: Correct,
who was unfortunately...
ANN: ...Slain by
Tybalt!
ROMEO: ...Whom I
did slay. Alack the day.
ANN: But Romeo -
We can change all that!
ROMEO: (Very
depressed) Everybody says that, now that I have been banished.
ANN: But this is
the truth! You deserve a better life than this! Quick, technicians, set the
machine to... When did you slay Tybalt?
ROMEO: On but the
second of May.
ANN: Where shall
we put you? What year? What month? What day?
ROMEO: I have no
hope for redemption...
ANN: Have hope,
for god's sake! Life is worth living!
ROMEO: I have
been stolen from my home...
ANN: Think of
what you can live over again!
ROMEO: ...And
placed in a strange future, a thousand years later.
ANN: And Juliet!
ROMEO: This feud
that goes on shall stop all that again...
ANN: (Bold look
in face) Then we shall stop the feud!
ROMEO: (Faint bit
of hope shows) A novel idea, but...
ANN: Come, Romeo!
What year did this feud start! We shall pay a visit to the old Capulets and
Montagues!
ROMEO: I think
'twas in the year eleven hundred and thirty and nine years.
ANN: Come then!
1139! We shall go!
ROMEO: Shall I
come?
ANN: I see no
reason as to why not...
ROMEO: Wonderful!
ANN: Except that
this machine can only hold one person. (Takes Romeo's Hand) Here. You go. It is
your future and your past, not mine.
ROMEO: (Smiles)
You are too kind. Farewell! I shall go and visit mine ancestors and prevent
this filthy mess from even starting! Farewell!
(Machine hums,
lights dim, and shaft of light appears. Romeo steps into the light and laughs.)
ROMEO: My, does
this feel strange!
(Romeo
disappears)
ANN: All we can
do now is hope that Romeo comes through and stops the fight. Shall we see how
they are doing five minutes later?
(Time machine
hums, lights dim. Shaft of light appears again, showing Romeo talking to a man
in king's attire.)
ANN: Looks good
so far... Shall we try ten minutes?
(Shaft of light
fluctuates, then shows Romeo shaking the hand of a different man.)
ANN: Another one!
Let us hope that the first was Capulet, and this one Montague... Or for that
matter, the other way around! Go back! Twenty minutes!
(Shaft of light
again fluctuates, then shows Romeo standing, weeping. On the floor lie both of
the two men, dead.)
ANN: Oh my. What
a grave scene is before us here. For now, we can but make things worse...
(Romeo looks to
shaft of light and steps through it again. he is back on stage.)
ROMEO: Yes, it
did result in two deaths (Grimly) - but the quarrel is now solved! (Happily) 'Twas a simple misunderstanding, you see...
Thank you for your wonderful technology and everything else... I must return to
my home city of Verona, now.
ANN: I
understand. And the whole world (Gestures to TV camera) is with you. Farewell
again, Romeo!
ROMEO: Farewell,
my friends. (Steps through light, which has changed again to Verona street
scene, original scene. Slowly, the light dies.)
ANN: Well, there
you have it. Another daring encounter on Time Voyager - And remember - If
someone knocks on your door late at night, and no one is there... Fear not, for
it is just someone from a future edition of Time Voyager... Come to welcome you
to our show! Goodnight! (Exits to left. Applause from audience.)
SCENE II:
Setting: Verona
street, the original one. Romeo walks up in front.
Characters: ROMEO
- Romeo
ROMEO: Hmm. I
have a strange inside feeling that I did do something today... But I cannot for
the life of me remember what it was...
(Exit)
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