The Play's the thing ... (closed)

[DeliciousMaiden]

OOC:

This is a story self-indulgently British in context.
The plot is woven around the rehearsal and finally performance of a Jacobean Tragedy, staged in a London Theatre.

It stems from my love of theatre and of this play in particular.

My thanks to Poganin for indulging with in this little flight of fancy!

I hope that all who read along will enjoy this gentle tale ...

DM x

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Elizabeth Hamilton

”How wise is Alsemero in his friend!
It is a sign he makes his choice with judgment.
Then I appear in nothing more approv'd
Than making choice of him;"

Liz smoothed the copy of her script as she spoke the words softly to herself.
She closed her eyes and repeated the words, then opened and checked that she had remembered them correctly.

With a smile, Liz continued, this time with more confidence.
Her eyes closed as she murmured her speech, the first long speech she would make in the first act.

”For 'tis a principle, he that can choose
That bosom well, who of his thoughts partakes,
Proves most discreet in every choice he makes.
Methinks I love now with the eyes of judgment
And see the way to merit, clearly see it.
A true deserver like a diamond sparkles … “

She hesitated and tried desperately to remember the next.

” … like a diamond sparkles ... “

Her brow suddenly cleared as she continued, the lost words recaptured once more.

"Like a diamond sparkles:
In darkness you may see him, that's in absence,
Which is the greatest darkness falls on love;
Yet is he best discern'd then
With intellectual eyesight… “

She opened her eyes triumphantly!
Finally!
She had gotten it all this time.
For some reason that final four lines had ever evaded her!
Of course it was purely nerves.
She knew the play well enough, even if she had not yet memorised all of her lines!
There was time enough for that!
Time enough after rehearsals started fully.

But Elizabeth wanted to be prepared.
This was her first major role and although most of the company were young actors and actresses, Lizzie had only had a limited formal training and played very minor roles to date.
This, she was very conscious that she would be the most inexperienced amongst them!

But that hadn’t seemed a problem that morning.
She had been asked to arrive for the first look around the theatre at 9 am that morning and had met most of her fellow cast members.
She had been charmed by the young man who would play Alsemero, her would-be lover and found herself joking with the man who would play her betrothed, Piracquo the man “she” would have killed!
She grinned, remembering.
Her character, Beatrice-Joanna was no saint!
Liz fervently hoped she could carry off such a complex role.
And she was curious about the man she had yet to meet;
the man who would play “De Flores” opposite her.
She hoped that they would work well together, after all it was his character who would corrupt "Joanna" and bring her to her bitter end!

Liz giggled at the thought, her earlier doubts vanishing in a buzz of excitement.
What an opportunity and so unexpected!
She could hardly believe it still!
The theatre, the play, it all surpassed her wildest dreams!
She adored Shakespeare, yet it lacked strong female roles.
Heavy Jacobean Tragedy was the next best thing.

And although it seemed an unlikely choice of play, it had proved a popular choice at this London fringe theatre.
There was certainly a growing “academic” market.
The play appeared on both A level and degree syllabuses.
The matinees were already booked up for weeks in advance already!

But with that came an additional pressure.
Her audience would know the text and have their own theories about how each character should be played.
Elizabeth found the prospect daunting, but on the other hand relished the challenge!

She relaxed back on the bench as the sun dappled through the trees playing warmly over her face and began to murmur her lines once more.

”What's Piracquo
My father spends his breath for? … “

Her voice softly intonating the speech, her mind focused on the words and oblivious to her surroundings.

 

[Poganin]

Richard Gainsborough

The shrill sound of the broken alarm clock pierced the veils of Richard's dream and sent him tumbling down from the bed to the floor, entangled in sweat-soaked sheets. Richard frantically tried to hit the screaming clock with his free right hand but only managed to topple the flower vase, clumsily struggling to grab it before it hit the floor and smashed into a thousand pieces. He freed his left hand, grabbed the annoying clock from the night table and smashed it against the floor to silence the pest once and for all. Getting up, Richard unwound the sheet that clung to him and naked went to the bathroom.

Brushing his teeth he tried to recall the nightmare that tormented him overnight but carefully checking the gaze of his own hazel eyes in the mirror did not cause the memory of the dream to surface. Richard stepped into the shower cabin and washed himself clean of sweat, letting hot water drip down his body in small waterfalls for a few minutes afterwards. He shaved and sprinkled his cheeks with cologne. Quickly combing his dark hair he was still struggling to recall the detail of his dream but they just would not return. What a bummer!

He dressed quickly in casual clothes and went downstairs to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. Two toasts with marmelade, eggs and bacon, a glass of milk and a fresh newspaper were his everyday morning ritual. If any of the above factors were missing, Richard considered his day spoiled and superstitiously forsaw a terrible accident looming somewhere beyond the horizon of the afternoon. But today everything was in place so he just sat comfortably and munching on his toasts he skimmed the articles. One drew his attention: "Richmond to stage The Changeling". Not that he was terribly interested in either the play or theatre on the whole but the Richmond Theatre was located very close to the Kew Gardens where he worked as a garden architect.

Looking at the clock Richard saw that he had already spent more time that he should have and grabbing the keys he left his house, carefully locking the door and trotted to the vw golf parked in the street. Driving to the Gardens he was still trying to recall that nightmare but his thoughts turned to the Reality Avenue. Having recently returned from Moscow where he studied at the Agriculture Academy to his amazement he found out that they needed someone with his specialty at Kew. He was the happier because he managed to get the job by himself, without his father's backing and recommendations. Richard hated when his father, Charles, pulled strings to have something done for his family. Richard had enough willpower to oppose such treatment but his sister, Azalea, had eagerly given in to such treatment and grew up to be a clueless bitch who thought her dad's money would get her anything in this world.

Sneering, Richard parked in his place at the employee parking lot and slowly went towards the main entrance, enjoying the view of the tracts of green land surrounding him. Green had always been his favourite colour, even before he decided to study at the Agricultural Academy. Humming to himself he moved in the cool corridors towards the big room where he and five others worked on their projects. As he entered all eyes went towards him and he stopped dead in his tracks, trying hard not to turn to stone under the barrage of those glares.

"What the hell do you want? I'm not late!" he assured his co-workers just in case and moved toward his desk. He turned the computer on.

"Well, seems your dear dad organised you a real treat." Lisa Scott said behind his back. Richard didn't like her becase she was a real pain in the ass always prying into other people's business and she couldn't keep her mouth shut for more that a few minutes. She envied him family connections but he wondered how in hell did she get this job when she obviously was not qualified for it. Through her own connections obviously, and so she hated anyone with a famous name to back them up afraid she might be sacked.

"Get off me, Lisa. You know damn well my father had nothing to do with my coming here. What's it all about anyway?"

"They've already called from Richmond three times today asking for you directly. Seems they're... Oh, not again. Pick it up, I'm sure it's that Bergen guy again." muttered Bored Michael. Richard always called him Bored Michael behind his back because he was always talking as if nothing in the whole world interested him. But he was a real specialist and it was a pleasure to work on the same team.

Richard picked the receiver.

"Kew Gardens, Garden Architecture Department, how can I help you?"

"My name is Andrew Bergen, of the Richmond Theatre... I've already called a few times as the matter is quite urgent. May I speak to Mr Gainsborough, please."

"Speaking. How may I help you, sir?"

"Well, we've suffered an act of vandalism and our shrubberies and garden were destroyed yesterday. We'd like you to help us bring it all back to order before the staging of The Changeling."

"Of course, sir. I must ask though whether you have the plans of your original arrangement. They will be essential in recovering the original design."

"Alas no. But no matter. We'd like you to design our garden from the scratch. I hear you are quite capable in this department, no?"

"Thank you, sir. I will come today and make pictures of your garden to have something to begin the project with."

"Very well. Thank you, Mr Gainsborough. Please visit my office in the theatre and we'll discuss the formal side of this."

"I will, sir. Thank you. Have a nice day." Richard hung up.

Yes! He uttered a triumphant whoop, this would be his first serious project. He quickly grabbed a camera and a few rolls of film and ran out of the office paying no attention to his co-workers.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Elizabeth Hamilton

They had to be back at the theatre after lunch.
Lizzie thought she’d be too nervous to eat, but decided to be sensible.
Fortunately once she’d started munching at her sandwich, she felt much better.
With a final sip of her orange juice, Lizzie discarded the rubbish and picking up her script, dropped it into her haversack and made her way back to the theatre.

Slipping into the building, Liz found herself earlier than the others.
Taking the opportunity she had not had that morning, she slipped past the foyer and made her way downwards, towards the dressing rooms and then to the wings.
Taking a deep breath, she walked slowly onto the stage pausing in the middle, letting her eyes scan the myriad of seating in front of her. She caught her breath, overawed.
”So many people … all their eyes focused on her … “
She felt her stomach lurch in joint fear and excitement.

”Trying it out for size..?”

Liz jumped and then smiled broadly as she met the eyes of Mike Chambers, their director turning as he walked along the boards to meet her centre stage.

”It’s very impressive … “

She whispered and then turned to him with a slight blush.

”And more than a little bit scary!”

She enjoyed his chuckle, as he wound an arm about her and gave her a quick hug.

”You’ll do great, kid … “

He told her in a mock-American accent.
Liz nodded reassured, then turned to greet the others as they began to arrive.

The “briefing” set out the schedule and the deadlines they would all be working to.
The subplot took place almost entirely separately from the main plot, so the two would be rehearsing simultaneously at anyone time.
Fortunately Liz wasn’t involved with that!
Although as she looked at the timetable set out before her, she realised that as “leading lady” she would have her work cut out for her.

Mike went on to explain that there were rooms that could be used for individual rehearsals and that there was another main hall if that were needed.
Liz looked over at the younger co-director, Nicholas Matthews who they were told would be running the earlier rehearsals of the sub-plot.
Mike assured them that he would rehearse the main plot, but keep an overview of the play as a whole.

”So for the rest of the afternoon, I want us to break into those two groups and run through the running orders … Nick … you take the hall … “

He instructed, receiving a nod as Nick called his group together and moved off behind the stage.

Liz studied her list of characters and actors:

Main plot - Dramatis Personae

BEATRICE [Joanna], daughter to Vermandero – Elizabeth Hamilton
DIAPHANTA, her waiting woman – Zoe Leeman
VERMANDERO, father to Beatrice – Neil Gordan
DEFLORES, servant to Vermandero - John Richards

TOMAZO de Piracquo, a noble lord - Philip Myers
ALONZO de Piracquo, his brother, suitor to Beatrice – Mark Kelly
ALSEMERO, a nobleman, afterwards married to Beatrice - James Matthews
JASPERINO, friend to Alsemero (and LINK to subplot) - Ian Jennings

She glanced over at John, whose head was bowed and studying the list.
As she’d assumed he was older than most of the company, but where Neil Gordan, her ”father” had a very easy-going manner, from what she had seen this man took himself very seriously…
As if he felt her eyes on him, John glanced over and gave an answering smile to her own nervous one.
Liz was immediately reassured and watched as he made to cross over and introduce himself to her.
But just then, Mike declared that the first rehearsal session should start.

Liz glanced down at her schedule, but was interrupted by James’ voice.

”You and I, in the garden room, it seems my dear … “

Liz giggled and could not help but feel relieved.
She was not on stage immediately.
She was to rehearse the scene where Beatrice and Alsemero discuss their feelings for each other … and the fact that Alonzo stands in the way of their happiness.

” W'are so like
In our expressions, that unless I borrow
The same words, I shall never find their equals.”

Liz responded.

”Hey that’s my line … !”

James protested as Liz picked up her bag and slung it over her shoulder.

”Well … James, we both know one line … that bodes well don’t you think..?”

She responded lightly, seeing him nod before holding out his arm in mock-gallant style.

”Shall we … ?“

She nodded hooking her arm in him as they walked back along the stage and down into the wings until they came to the foyer.
They then followed the corridor around to the side, until James released her arm to push open a heavy door.

”Wow … nice room … “

Liz commented looking round the vast room, seeing the double doors that lead out to the gardens beyond.

”Yes … part of the hospitality suite … perfect place for drinks and canapés before and during performances.”

James informed her as she put down her bag and watched as he moved forward to pull open the doors, letting the breeze inside.

”Shall we start .. ?”

He suggested turning and pulling out his crumpled script from the back pocket of his slacks.
Stifling a grin, Liz nodded and opened to the scene they were to rehearse.
She took a deep breath and composed herself.

She loved this man … she was desperate to marry him and yet …
Her father insisted that she marry another.
And she, Beatrice-Joanna had not yet accepted that she would meekly follow her fathers’ wishes …
She was ready …

” I have within mine eye all my desires;
Requests that holy prayers ascend heaven for
And brings 'em down to furnish our defects
Come not more sweet to our necessities
Than thou unto my wishes.

Liz pronounced clearly, turning her eyes to James.
Trying not to look impressed by the way she switched on the character, James hardly glanced at his script before answering in kind.

” W'are so like
In our expressions, lady, that unless I borrow
The same words, I shall never find their equals.”

All humour was forgotten as he looked into her eyes drawing her near for a chaste kiss …

 

[Poganin]

Richard Gainsborough

He arrived the theatre premises later than he had initially intended. He tried to search the Gardens' archives and library looking for a plan or a blueprint of the Richmond Theatre gardens -- to no avail. There was nothing in the computers, documents, the old librarian also couldn't remember whether there had been such a thing or not. Richard decided to give up and going to his car he called Bored Michael on the mobile.

"Mike? It's Richard. Look, I've been through our archives and I couldn't find anything about the Richmond gardens. Do you have any idea who designed them... or when for that matter?... No...? Well, I don't think it was us, otherwise there would be some information available on that... Yes, yes, I know that... Listen, do me a favour and go over the archives once more, will you? If you come out empty-handed try and find out who did the project for them... What do you mean 'what for'?... We can't work on a new design without at least a sketch of the area... If you don't find anything, well, tough luck. OK, listen, I'm off. Call me when you find something useful." He cut the conversation and got into the car.

There were no free parking places near the theatre so he had to park some 200 yards farther down the street. Taking his camera with him he walked back, taking in the facade and instantly thinking what would suit this architectural style, the colour of the building and the surroundings. Indeed, the shrubbery serving as a sort of fence around the premises was devastated. Branches broken, huge patches ripped off from the ground altogether. Richard took a few pictures just to save the type and the shape of shrubs that remained intact. On a notepad he produced from his back pocket he jotted the name of the plant.

Entering the Richmond Theatre gardens and seeing the size of devastation made him dizzy. It looked as if a pack of rabid rhinos ran through here, the flowers trampled, the careful colour arrangements completely messed up beyond reconstruction, the avenues looked like they were ploughed. No wonder that Bergen wanted the garden designed anew, there was much more work to be done here than Richard had initially assumed there would be. He couldn't understand the motives driving the perpetrators to wreak such mayhem on defensless plants. Again he took a few pictures, just to show them in the office or maybe pin the to the message boards in corridors to show how senseless some people could be.

Producing his notepad again, Richard noted the estimated dimensions of the eastern part of the garden. He would have to have the guys come here and make the necessary precise measurements. He sighed heavily -- his first big assignment was proving to be quite a challenge.

Moving deeper into the garden he took more notes and pictures, happy to have found the southern part mostly untouched. He concentrated on photographing the general landscape and architecture of the garden. Richard was no shutterbug but from time to time he would take a very artistic picture he'd make a wallpaper in his computer of. When he got to the middle of the southern part he noticed that from this side the main building sported a garden-viewing room with walls made entirely of glass. He took a quick photo and thought how to use it in the design of the new garden. Just as he was making a new note, his mobile rang shrilly.

"Yes, Mike. Have you found anything? ... Nothing in the archives... ehhh... how about getting to the previous designer? ... Nothing either? Well, bummer! Ok, you know what? Make Lisa useful and have her and Clark come over here and make the measurements of this place... It seems we have our work cut out for us. It's a real mess here... The garden is in shambles... It pains my heart to see it thus... Wha? Oh, shut up! Tell them to come and do it today. I want to have the precise plan for tomorrow morning so we can start brainstorming over it. Bye."

Having finished the conversation, Richard walked to the western part and saw it completely intact, not damaged at all and was glad to see how it was arranged. He quickly took a dozen or so pictures, fearing the image might dispel any second. The counter showed that the first film was full so he rewound it and moving back towards the glass room he loaded a new one. Looking up he thought he saw some people moving inside and coming closer he indeed confirmed it. A man and a woman, scripts in their hands were probably rehearsing it for a performance. Richard stood there quietly for a moment and was astounded to see them come closer to each other and kiss. What the hell?! Was that a part of the play or were they falling for each other. He heard that such things were not uncommon and Richard could see that the actor was quite good-looking. He was standing at a good angle and before he knew what he was doing he shot a picture of the two in a theatrical pose, a bit unnatural but very appealing nonetheless.

Then they broke and the girl turned and looked up, flushed a bit, and her eyes met Richards as he was lowering the camera. He froze, he couldn't move a muscle, and it wasn't because he was caught doing something he shouldn't have but because the girl had the face of an angel. Unqestionably stunning and beautiful she had an aura of innocence about her, clearly visible in her dark eyes. Richard could only stand there, transfixed in place, oblivious to the passage of time and angry shouts of the actor directed at him.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Elizabeth Hamilton

Liz drew back from the kiss and looked deeply into James’ eyes.
Her next line was on her lips when the flash dazed her.

”What the f… ?”

James exclaimed wrenched out of character as he stared into the garden.
Liz turned her head and met the eyes of a young man as he lowered the camera with what she took to be an apologetic smile.
Beside her James put his arm about her protectively.

”Liz … do you want me to call someone … what the hell is he doing around here anyway … and with a camera… I’ll … “

Liz put a hand on his arm and eased herself free.
For some reason she didn’t feel threatened by the young man who stood watching.

”It’s OK … it’s not like we have fans already … “

She commented smoothly, smiling as she saw him relax and grin at her laughter.

”You don’t mind if we continue to rehearse, do you ?”

She asked of the young man who stood just beyond the doors.
Without waiting for a response, she turned to James and spoke the next line.

"How happy were this meeting, this embrace,
If it were free from envy! This poor kiss,
It has an enemy, a hateful one
That wishes poison to't.”

Although her mouth quirked slightly at the aptness of the line, she turned from James and continued, fully concentrating now.

“ … How well were I now
If there were none such name known as Piracquo,
Nor no such tie as the command of parents!
I should be but too much blessed. “

Following her lead, James too responded walking up to her, his hands on her shoulders and turning her to face him as he delivered his line.

”One good service
Would strike off both your fears, and I'll go near it too,
Since you are so distress'd: remove the cause,
The command ceases; so there's two fears blown out
With one and the same blast. “

Confusion played on her features as she gave her response.

”Pray let me find you, sir.
What might that service be so strangely happy? “

James turned his eye upon the still watching stranger and spoke his line harshly,

”The honourablest peace 'bout man, valour.
I'll send a challenge to Piracquo instantly.

Whether imagining the young man to be Joanna’s betrothed or to warn him away the delivery of his line prompted Lizzie into her impassioned speech.

How? Call you that extinguishing of fear
When 'tis the only way to keep it flaming?
Are not you ventured in the action … “

Unaware of whether or not they still had an audience, Lizzie continued as Joanna begging him not to consider challenging Piracquo.

Glancing at her script briefly as she turned away from ALSEMERO moving slowly towards the open doors.
In her minds eye all she could see was the“fouler visage” of DEFLORES as she raised her face to speak her “aside”, fully in role and planning the murder of her betrothed.

” … I was too blame:
I ha' marr'd so good a market with my scorn.
'T had been done questionless. The ugliest creature
Creation fram'd for some use, yet to see
I could not mark so much where it should be. “

Her line delivered, Lizzie let her eyes fall upon the garden waiting for the cue James would give her for her next line.
She realised with a start that she was staring directly into the eyes of the watching man.
His camera she noted hung forgotten from his hand.
Lizzie missed the cue, missing the next two lines she should have given in response.
Distracted by the stranger's presence, rather than her character's thoughts, Lizzie forgot about James until she felt his hands on her shoulders.

”Lady, you hear not me. “

It was ALSEMERO who spoke and who turned her around, looking deeply into her eyes.
Immediately her mind snapped back to the scene she was playing.
She looked up at him with a convincingly dazed expression as she responded emphatically.

"I do especially, sir;
The present times are not so sure of our side
As those hereafter may be; we must use 'em then
As thrifty folks their wealth, sparingly now
Till the time opens.

She paused waiting for James to respond.

”… And then we go onto the lines with Diaphanta … “

His words broke the spell.
Forgetting her character and the stranger’s presence, Liz grabbed the script and checked through it.

”Yes .. well… we can act around DIAPHANTA for this scene, but we do need JASPERINO before we can do that first scene.”

She commented thoughtfully taking a pencil and dashing a note in the margin.

”Well … it’s on today’s schedule … Shall I go and see if Ian’s around.
He was talking to Mike about the subplot I think.”

Lizzie nodded, her brow furrowing.

”Yeah …. That would help … I really don’t know that scene at all yet.
With so many characters, the lines just haven’t stuck … “

She commented worriedly, burying her nose in her script as she commented half seriously:

”… And Act one, scene one is a bit crucial to get right … “

James grinned as he reassured her.

”It’ll all fall into place when we get to the staging … I’ll be right back … “

Lizzie nodded absently, already engrossed in the script and making jottings in the margin once more.

”Sure … ok … “

She answered his departing back…

”Now … where’s my cue … ?”

She muttered to herself scanning the text before she found the intended line.

” Be better advis'd, sir:
Our eyes are sentinels unto our judgments,
And should give certain judgment what they see;
But they are rash sometimes, and tell us wonders
Of common things, which when our judgments find,
They can then check the eyes, and call them blind.”

She murmured softly to herself … unaware of the aptness of that speech for her previous audience … as she tried once more to commit more of the play to memory.

 

[Poganin]

Richard Gainsborough

As the two actors turned to each other again, continuing the interrupted rehearsal, Richard still stood rooted in his place, unable to move a muscle or speak. The camera, now completely forgotten, was slowly swinging on the strap a few inches above the unspoiled grass in this part of the garden. He felt as if he had entered a different, magical world where fairies hid among the tree branches and magic was in abundance. It felt as if entering the garden through the hole in the shrubbery and not via the customary avenue had hurled him through some thin boundary between realities and the destroyed part in the garden was the result of his own world intruding upon this magical realm, inhabited by women commanding angelic beauty. Richard could see their lips moving but enchanted as he was he couldn’t either hear or understand what they were saying. This was crazy, magic did not exist, now did it… he questioned himself and yet he couldn’t shake the feeling that he’d intruded on something truly magical and being from that other world he soiled the purity of the moment, bringing with him the foul corruption of streets.

Richard started as the girl turned again and moved towards the door leading into the garden and the spell broke, he could feel his body again, became aware of the gentle breeze on his face, the weight of the camera dangling from his hand, and most of all the girl’s strong charm as she was delivering her speech in a long forgotten accent. Then their eyes met for the second time and again he was impressed by the delicate beauty of the actress and for a moment they looked at each other, with Richard slowly slipping into reverence again, his work completely forgotten, any thoughts of it pushed from his mind.

The actors slipped from their play, returning to their real personalities and the charm was slowly fading, the magical world absorbed by Richard’s reality, forced to comply with the rules. And yet, something of that ephemeral moment remained -- the angelic presence of the girl now intently studying the script in her hand. The other person vanished, Richard didn’t even notice his departure so much he was charmed by the girl. He considered taking another picture to keep it with him as he probably would never meet or see her again, not being a theatre enthusiast but decided against it. It would be like plucking a flower -- stealing a life for the sake of being able to behold its beauty for a time shorter than its actual lifespan. So he just stood there, now consciously looking at the beautiful actress as she delivered her next speech.

”Be better advis'd, sir:
Our eyes are sentinels unto our judgments,
And should give certain judgment what they see;
But they are rash sometimes, and tell us wonders
Of common things, which when our judgments find,
They can then check the eyes, and call them blind.”

Call me blind a thousand times but let me behold you a moment longer, Richard thought, enraptured by the girl’s delicate features and soft voice. He quickly browsed in his mind the catalogue of all flowers known to man and instantly he noticed how the girl was akin to a lily, the same grace and majesty about her. Silently he backed away, not wanting to disturb her anymore, and returned to the street, the image of her face etched under his eyelids.

Just as he was leaving the garden, a Kew van passed him and dropped off Lisa and Clark, both in green work jumpsuits. They carried measuring poles, tapes and other equipment necessary for the job Richard ordered. As they neared, he could see that Lisa’s face expressed apprehension.

“What’s wrong, Lisa?” he asked. “Spilled coffee of a project again?”

“I should be asking that question… Are you allergic or something?”

“Yeah, right. Allergic and working with flowers. Get grip on yourself!”

“Well whatever, but your face is red, may be a fever or a rash starting.”

Richard touched his face with the back of his left hand… Indeed, his face was burning, hot to the touch and he could only imagine what he looked like. Embarrassed at their seeing him is such condition he produced his notepad and showed it to Clark.

“This is the general shape of the garden, the X marks the trees, I guess we’ll be leaving them as they are, the lines mark the avenues and any O is a pond… and they need cleaning too. Get to it, guys. I’ll go see this Mr Bergen and come back to help you. Do you have another jumpsuit in the van?” he asked and seeing Clark nod he pushed him in the direction of the garden. “Good, see you later.”

Still shaken by the image of the beautiful girl standing there with the script in her hand Richard entered the theatre.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Elizabeth Hamilton

James came back with news that they were wanted on stage.
It had been Mike’s intention to run through scene one “in situ” and see for himself how his cast responded to each other in these early stages.

Liz was pleased to watch from the wings as James, using his script went though his dialogue with JASPERINO before her own entrance and dialogue with James as her suitor.
Liz made a mental note to thank Mike’s clever arrangements.
Having already rehearsed with James, she found it much easier to respond to him in character and found herself totally absorbed in her role as Joanna.

”This was the man was meant me. That he should come
So near his time, and miss it!"

She lamented how she had met ALSEMERO too late.
So absorbed were she, that she totally forgot that the next lines were to be the first meeting between Joanna and DEFLORES.

"Lady, your father—"

She all but started at his opening line, but managed to respond smoothly.

"Is in health, I hope."

I few lines were exchanged before she resumed her dialogue with James.
They continued introducing DIAPHANTA and VERMANDERO, her “father”.
Before she knew it, she was at the end of the scene where the other characters had withdrawn leaving Joanna and DEFLORES centre stage.
This would be the big test.
Liz could not help but be slightly overawed by John the actor, but channelled her nervousness to show how ill-at-ease Joanna is around DEFLORES.

”Look, girl, thy glove's fall'n;
Stay, stay, Deflores, help a little.”

The cue was given for John to mime picking up the glove and offering it to her.

As Liz turned her eyes to his, she half started at the look she saw there.
His eyes seemed to roam over her body, almost as if undressing her.
She blushed and found it easy to snap out the following lines, putting him securely in his place.

"Mischief on your officious forwardness; "

She paused, longer than necessary, making her point without breaking out of character and then continuing;

”Who bade you stoop? They touch my hand no more:
There, for t'other's sake I part with this;
Take 'em and draw thine own skin off with 'em.”

So saying she swept off stage, but turned rapidly to watch Ian’s parting soliloquy.
His voice was clear, deliberate, precise, in every way the villain.
As he came to the end of his speech, rather than pronouncing his intentions towards the auditorium, he turned and caught her eye, capturing her gaze as he stated.

” …I know she hates me, yet cannot choose but love her:
No matter, if but to vex her, I'll haunt her still;
Though I get nothing else, I'll have my will. "

Liz flushed and shook her head incredulously.
The man was going to be a challenge …but exciting to work with!

”That will do very nicely … thank you people … 8 am tomorrow … breakfast ... in the garden room … “

Mike called out, his cry followed by the bustle of actors and actresses heading rapidly for the exit.
John grinned towards her, the persona dropping away.
Liz giggled and pulled her bag onto her shoulder.

”Good work … “

Mike called up to them from the footlights …

”Thanks … “

Both John and Liz responded.

”I think you two will give a very … interesting ... performance … “

He added eyeing each in turn.

Yes … he had been right … an ideal combination.
With John’s experience and confidence and Liz’s freshness and enthusiasm …
And she could act too … he had noticed that she had already been working hard on her lines and on her delivery of them … but more than that … she had an innocence what would make Beatrice-Joanna’s fall all the more tragic, and DeFlores all the more evil.

”Relax this evening you two … there will be plenty of time tomorrow for you to get to rehearse together …

He called up to them before turning away.

Liz nodded in acknowledgement of the instruction and after waving farewell to John, turned choosing to leave via the back exit of the theatre, rather than walking through the foyer to the main entrance.

Hearing the door clank heavily shut behind her, Liz blinked in the sunshine as she emerged.
It was still warm and only 6 pm.
She was hungry she realised. She had only had that light lunch.
Lizzie had been too nervous for breakfast and had no time to grab anything further that afternoon.

Picking her way carefully along the pathway that led through the gardens, Liz stepped over the torn up plants.

What on earth … !

For the first time she really looked at the gardens around her. There was no mistaking that the act had been deliberate.
How could anyone do such a thing?
Such wanton vandalism was beyond her understanding!
Sighing, Liz made her way around the building and continued along the main pathway that led out from the front entrance.
She glanced to the side and was cheered to see that a team of landscape gardeners were already hard at work trying to sort out the mess!

”It’s terrible isn’t it … so pointless such damage … “

She addressed one green-suited worker as they were bent over what had been a flowerbed filled with shrubs.

”How can anyone destroy such beauty like that?”

She asked wistfully, looking round once more.

 

[Poganin]

Richard Gainsborough

Returning from Mr Bergen’s office Richard saw Bored Michael having a smoke by the Kew Gardens van. The men nodded to each other and Michael waved for Richard to come over. From the driver’s seat he pulled a laptop and flicked the screen on.

“What’s this you’re showing me?” Richard asked.

“I dug up a map of the land plot where the theatre stands. See? This way it’ll be easier to arrange the garden without drawing a new schematic. You owe me for this, mate, I had to go to the Ministry to get this and they weren’t willing to part. I had to ask Mr Collins to back me up with credentials.”

“Thanks, Michael. You’re a great bloke to work with. Now put your arse in a jumpsuit and let’s go help Clark and Lisa measure the premises. With her abilities they won’t finish before dawn.”

As Richard got into the van and started undressing to put the green uniform on, Michael asked: “Why do you hate her so much? She’s a nice girl.”

“So she may be but first of all she’s got something against me, and hell if I know what it is, and second of all… God, mate, she has no qualifications for this job. Somebody, probably an uncle, managed to slip her in for this well-paid post and she’s doing nothing besides assuring that she won’t get sacked for incompetence. She’s nothing but trouble. Think how many graduates are there... hnrrr,” Richard sighed zipping the jumpsuit and jumping out of the van. “…looking for the job and can’t find any because of people like Lisa who mistakes chrysanthemum for an orchid. Ach, don’t even get me started! Jump in and pass me the tools.”

Richard waited for Michael to put the uniform on and carrying the necessary tools they entered the garden, Richard carefully eyeing the hole in the shrubbery for any flicker of the magical world of fairies. Bored Michael sighed in disbelief at the sight of damages and stopped for a moment, trying to calculate the cost of the damages. He just shook his head, there will be time for this later. “So what do we do?” he asked.

“Oh, the usual. Check the soil pH, classify the plants that were growing here, try to reconstruct the original layout as based on the opposite side that remains undamaged. It would have been easier if we had the help of the gardener but that man’s unavailable today so Bergen said he’d have the man come to us tomorrow. Get to it, Michael. I’ll go change Lisa and send her to help you here.”

Richard walked quickly to the south-eastern corner of the Richmond Theatre garden, casting a longing glance at the glass room, hoping against hope to see that beautiful girl there again but the door was closed and the curtains drawn. Even if she were there, he wouldn’t know about it. Lisa and Clark seemed to have trouble: the measuring tape got entangled in the branches of the shrubbery. Richard sighed in resignation and shook his head.

“Lisa, go help Michael. I’ll pick it up from here.” Damn, they wasted so much time! Lisa obediently moved away with her gaze cast down but she muttered something under her breath Richard decided to let go. “So, how are you doing, Clark?”

“This garden was done by a real pro, mate. It was measured perfectly, from here to the street we have exactly 150 yards and I mean EXACTLY. We might get maybe a half-inch error. Let’s see how we can get it in that direction…”

It took them longer than Richard expected because the far side of the garden was overgrown with weeds and was pretty much unkempt. Clark’s assumptions however were confirmed: the dimensions were very regular, easily calculable. Just for the sake of being on the safe side they measured the whole plot again only to confirm what they had taken before. Going back to Lisa and Bored Michael, Richard took his mobile and dialed the office.

“Lillian? It’s Richard. I know it’s late but please make an arrangement for the trash guys to come to Richmond tomorrow morning to rake and pick up the destroyed flowers and shrubs… yes… yes, of course, no problem… it seems like we’re going to have to do some digging and cleaning here as well… No, no… only we are to redesign the garden completely and it would be a pity to throw the undamaged flowers away. Maybe we can use them somewhere else… Smashing! Cheers, girl!” There, Richard thought, two birds with one stone.

“You guys done here?” Clark asked as they neared the entrance where Michael and Lisa sat smoking and laughing.

“Um… yeah, basically. You know… This is completely idiotic! Who would ever do such thing?” Michael commented.

“No idea. How’s the classification going?” Richard inquired noticing that some of the plants we not tagged.

“Um, we don’t know those four, so we thought to leave them up to you… boss” Lisa said defiantly.

“Fine, I’ll take a look. You guys check what the ponds need doing, okay? Thanks, great job everyone.” Richard cheered them and crouched over the flowers trying to recognize them but he quickly noticed that without a book he wouldn’t be able to do this. He heard a door open and close in some near distance but paid little attention completely absorbed by the plants before him. They were exotic and very uncommon.

”It’s terrible isn’t it … so pointless such damage … How can anyone destroy such beauty like that?” he heard a soft voice speak behind him and jumped, surprised.

Turning to see who was it he saw her, the girl from the glass room and his eyes opened wider when he recognised her. He was paralysed by her presence again and could only nod in agreement. He felt exactly the same. Why couldn’t he speak? Express himself properly? He was spoiling the chance to get to know her name at least. He felt his face become red again and heard Lisa giggle from over the pond. He glanced at the flowers around him and quickly gathered three: a yellow, orange and red one, pierced the stems through a large leaf making a makeshift bouquet and standing up handed it to the girl who stopped for a moment and pitied the destroyed garden. He smiled apologetically for the quick composition but he could remember professor Borisevitch’s words very well. “Ladies and gentlemen, the first rule of successful flower composition is this: screw all the established rules and work spontaneously. If you have at least a bit of sensitivity in you, you’ll be successful every time but when you stop to think about rules and trends you’ll only be wasting time. Simplicity is the key to triumph. Mark my words well!” Following this advice Richard quick assembled a simple, yet effective composition.

“I’m sorry for disturbing you before and taking a picture like that. But you two just looked so lovely. Please, accept this as apology.” He said, looking uncertainly at the girl’s face and turned away, seeing her look at him intently. “I guess you should avoid rehearsing in the glass room. We’ll be here for some time, getting this mess cleaned up and then rearranging everything anew so we might be disturbing you.”

God, she’s so lovely, Richard thought. Bless Mr Bergen for calling me to do the job. At least I’ll able to see her from time to time while we’re working here.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Elizabeth Hamilton

Giving another sigh, Liz turned to smile at the gardener who had straightened up.
Her eyes widened in recognition as she looked once more into the face of the young man who had gate crashed her rehearsal earlier.

So… he was a gardener was he? … Not just a gardener … obviously very specialised in what he did.
Liz admired anyone who knew so much about the complexity of plants.
She adored flowers, but was useless with them … most likely due to her forgetfulness … without water, little flourished, but just knowing that did not make her a conscientious cultivator!
She realised that they had stood staring at each other and realised that he must be embarrassed about the events earlier.
She thought she would reassure him, but had no chance to before he stooped and gathered three brightly coloured flowers and held them out to her.

As Liz looked down at them, she noted their bruised stalks, the way they had carelessly been torn up.
It was a crime indeed!

“Ladies and gentlemen, the first rule of successful flower composition is this: screw all the established rules and work spontaneously.”

Liz’s eyes danced as she heard him speak.
So he had a sense of humour.
She grinned as he continued.

”If you have at least a bit of sensitivity in you, you’ll be successful every time but when you stop to think about rules and trends you’ll only be wasting time.
Simplicity is the key to triumph. Mark my words well!”

She stood and watched with an almost comic haste, he stooped and collected still more of the fallen blooms.
She was still smiling sunnily when he straightened and became suddenly serious.

“I’m sorry for disturbing you before and taking a picture like that. But you two just looked so lovely. Please, accept this as apology.”

Liz’s hand automatically curled around the stalks as she accepted both the offering and the apology. From the first, she had felt that this man was harmless, but now … her curiosity was more than picqued! She opened her mouth to thank him, to reassure him, but again he had turned away.

“I guess you should avoid rehearsing in the glass room.
We’ll be here for some time, getting this mess cleaned up and then rearranging everything anew so we might be disturbing you.”

Liz raised the flowers to her face and breathed in the heady scent. Her eyes held his steadily as he finally turned to face her once more.

”Ohh… you didn’t disturb me … it was my first day in rehearsals … and to tell you the truth I was so nervous … your sudden appearance was a welcome distraction … “

She giggled, dimpling him a mischievous smile.

”…And you sure gave James an incentive to play the jealous lover … “

She glanced about the garden and then back at him.

”As for the glass room, I’m afraid we’ll have to continue to use that. We need the space for split rehearsals … oh… after breakfast in there tomorrow … “

She added smiling.

”That’s the most important part of the day …”

She added then blushed as her stomach audibly rumbled…

”As you can see … ! “

She giggled!

”Nerves and food didn’t mix this morning … “

She let her eyes wander over him with undisguised curiosity.
They both stood momentarily in an awkward silence.

”Well … anyhow … it was nice meeting you … “

Liz paused realising she didn’t even know his name.
No more did he know hers!

”… And don’t worry about disturbing me … that’s the place I run in all my leading men … "

She quipped softly, before adding:

"I'm not sure about their sensitivities, but I wouldn't mind having you around ... “

She blushed and averted her eyes quickly as she heard her own words.
It was true. She really wouldn't mind seeing more of him.
But ...
Liz raised her eyes to give him a shy smile as she secured her shoulder bag and held the flowers reverently.

”… see you … “

She commented softly

”And thanks … I love flowers … “

 

[Poganin]

Richard Gainsborough

Richard could only stare after the girl as she left the garden holding his hastily arranged bouquet. He could hear Clark whooping deeper in the garden and Lisa laughing out loud but he paid them little heed. The most important thing was that he was able to see that girl again and even exchange a few words… and she even accepted his flowers, from a complete stranger who had intruded upon her calm so boorishly earlier that day. Joy exploded in his heart and he danced a quick jig, smiling like a fool and breaking into laughter when he realized his childish behaviour. All his problems forgotten, Richard gathered the unknown flowers and bagged them, humming a merry tune to himself.

“So, boss, that’s the pretty flower you reacted to so strongly before, eh?” Lisa gibed as the three employees from the Kew Gardens returned from inspection of a pond and Clark broke into merry laughter.

“Real looker, eh? Eh?” Clark moved his eyebrows up down a few times which cause his ears to move as well giving him a comical appearance.

“Oh, come on, Clark. Show some understanding and hold your knavish tongue, why don’t you? Can’t you see Richard is positively enchanted by that girl. So, what’s the pretty bird’s name?” Bored Michael cut in and seeing Richard just standing there and looking in the direction the girl left punched him in the shoulder. “Did you ask her name and phone number, mate?”

“Hmmm, what?” Richard turned as asked dreamily which threw Lisa into a fit of laughter not unlike that of Clark’s. “Oh, no, I completely forgot about that, you know.” He grinned helplessly and scratched the back of his neck in embarrassment, blushing a bit. “How silly of me… Ahem, can we wrap it up here and call it a day? Excellent. Guys, thanks for your effort. I’d like the map of the area to be ready before lunch tomorrow so once you’re done come here and we’ll try to assess what to do with the eastern part once it’s cleaned up.”

“And what will you be doing at that time?” Clark asked.

“What do you think?! Trying to woo the nameless actress, what else,” Lisa cut in abruptly and Richard blushed even more after her remark. “See, see? I told you, guys!” she poked Richard’s arm merrily.

“Oi! Quit it! Let’s move. Oh, and that gardener will probably come tomorrow so ask him what he knows about the place. Any help will be useful…”

They left the garden and after putting his regular clothes back on Richard bade his co-workers farewell and walked to his car parked a little farther down the road from the theatre. He got in and sat in his seat motionlessly for a few minutes. He felt like teenager, in love for the first time, enamoured and sighing every twenty seconds. Damn, he was 26 and behaving and feeling as if he were 16. He couldn’t rid himself of the picture of the girl smiling to him so sweetly... actually he didn’t want to. He would cherish that moment when she stood and with her eyes closed inhaled the mixture of the flowers’ scents. Richard grasped the wheel tightly and rested his forehead on the knuckles sighing and breaking into a chuckle.

He ignited the engine and drove home, on his way buying some fruits for the evening fruit salad. But as he later stood in his kitchen, slicing the bananas his hand stopped cutting as he again recalled the girl standing next to him, talking and smiling, with the gentle breeze blowing through her hair she had to hold with her hand. Each of her gestures graceful, her eyes full of youthful innocence and smiling as her lips smiled. He realised that when she smiled, her whole body smiled as well. Richard felt happy that she wasn’t angry with him for his afternoon interruption, after all he behaved impolitely, spying on the two like a pervert and shooting the picture without a warning or permission. But how could he forget to ask for her name at least? He smiled widely and shook his head realising his foolishness, continuing to cut the fruits for his supper. Tomorrow would be a busy day and he should go to bed early.

Looking down at the knife flashing up and down, slicing a kiwifruit he experienced a déjà vu. What the hell? What was that? And then it struck him that his dream he also held a knife and there were two faceless bodies at his feet. Troubled by this sudden memory he ate without real appetite.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Elizabeth Hamilton

Lizzie walked the short distance to the Richmond tube station with a smile on her face.
He would be working there for a while it seemed and … she just might see him again …
As she joined the tumble of peak time commuters, Lizzie clutched her flowers carefully against her, taking care that no one crush the delicate petals.
It was with relief that she negotiated her change over at the ever-bustling Clapham Junction and sat in a thankfully quiet corner of the mainline train towards her stop just 10 minutes up the line.
This was the easier part of the journey.
At least at this hour she was going against the main commuter flow.

It was about 40 minutes after saying goodbye to the nameless gardener that Liz opened the door to her first and second floor flat and thankfully moved to the kitchen to put on the kettle. Filling a vase with water, she put the flowers carefully into it and left them on the side before walking down the landing and mounting the stairs to her bedroom.
Pulling off her clothes and discarding them in the linen basket, she pulled on a light robe and fastened it at the waist, kicking off her sandals before returning downstairs.
The kettle had boiled so she made a large mug of tea, deciding to drink it before tackling the dinner.

Taking her bag and the vase of flowers with her, Lizzie moved to the front of the house and into the comfortable lounge. She set the flowers down on the shelf above the faux fireplace and smiled approvingly at the heady scent and the splash of colour it leant to the otherwise monochrome room. She set her tea mug down on the glass coffee table, before gratefully letting herself down on the leather sofa. She stretched out and sank into its soft welcoming depths, before reading for her mug and sipping at the hot brew.

”Ummmmm … “

She sighed contentedly glancing at the clock and noting that it was already 7:30 pm! She glanced at her discarded bag. She had realised that day that she knew her lines better than most. Mike had said to relax and he seemed pleased with her, so perhaps she’d get in there extra early tomorrow and have a read through before “breakfast”. She knew she would have to be working with John tomorrow rehearsing Joanna and DEFLORES. She smiled as she drank. She admired how he could switch in and out of character. She was sure he would pull a few surprises, keep her on her toes, but that would all go to make their characterisations more convincing … the prospect did not bother her at all!

Hauling herself up reluctantly, Liz carried her mug to the kitchen and set about preparing something “nourishing”. She had eaten little that day, so fought the impulse to order takeaway. In next to no time she was stirring an aromatic Bolognese sauce, heavily laced with basil and pulling the fresh penne out of the fridge. Cutting thick slices of bread to go with her meal, she arranged the cutlery on the kitchen table, where she usually ate and pulled a wine box out of the fridge.

As she sat to eat, it wasn’t the play, or the script, or the need to arrive early that ran through her mind. She found she was remembering the way the gardener had stared at her, his guilty expression when she’d caught him taking a photograph of her … and then later, his grin and his apologetic expression as he had handed her the impromptu bouquet.
Yes … she did hope she would see him again, she thought as she cleared the table and washed up before filling up her wine glass once more and moving back to the lounge.

Switching on the CD player, Liz let the opening notes of Act three of La Boheme drift over her as she sipped at her glass contentedly.

Her first day had gone well!
She was happy; she was excited and felt challenged rather than overwhelmed by the prospect of all that hard work ahead of her.
A good first day at work, she concluded!

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Double posting - continuation posted in its place. *apologies Pog!*

Lizzie left her flat at 06:30 the next morning.
She had slept well and felt refreshed and was looking forward to the day ahead, a day during which she would work with John and maybe see the man who had featured so much in her waking thoughts.
She managed to catch the 06:57 from her own station, which took her directly to Richmond in a mere half hour journey!
She pulled her script out during the short journey, but avoided getting too engrossed in it, in case she missed her stop.
Instead she focused on just one speech:

I never see this fellow but I think
Of some harm towards me: danger's in my mind still;
I scarce leave trembling of an hour after.
The next good mood I find my father in
I'll get him quite discarded. Oh, I was
Lost in this small disturbance and forgot
Affliction's fiercer torrent that now comes,
To bear down all my comforts!

Murmuring it over and over to herself, until she reached her destination.

Once free of the station and walking u Kew Road, script in hand, Liz checked her watch.
She still had half an hour before the “breakfast” officially started!
She walked up the main pathway and then cut through the vandalised gardens and round to the glass room where preparations were being made and food was already being set out.
She sighed and glanced about her.
She needed somewhere quiet to take advantage of her free half hour.
Carefully she picked her way through the shrubs and made her way across the grass to where the pond was situated.
The sides were slightly raised, no doubt to offer some form of basic protection.
This was as good a place as any, she concluded.

And so Lizzie perched beside the pond, avoiding the still dew damp grass and opened her script selecting one of the more tricky speeches of the play …

” This fellow has undone me endlessly;
Never was bride so fearfully distress'd.
The more I think upon th' ensuing night,
And whom I am to cope with in embraces-- …”

She began to read aloud from the text in an attempt to deliver the speech correctly, even before attempting to memorise it!

 

[Poganin]

Richard Gainsborough

On the following morning it was the radio that woke Richard up as he obviously forgot to buy a new alarm clock, his last one still lying on the floor of his bedroom, spilling its metallic innards all over the carpet. The monotonous voice of the announcer reported the disgusting act of vile vandalism in the gardens of the Richmond Theatre. Scratching his chest and yawning furiously Richard shambled to the bathroom to prepare himself for the whole day of work in the gardens. While shaving he made a mental note to himself to develop the two rolls of film he’d made yesterday BEFORE going to the theatre gardens. Today he put on the spare green jumpsuit he kept at home, no need to wear regular clothes if he was to work until evening. Before eating breakfast he prepared himself a lunch he would eat around midday while having a break. When he was buttering the second toast the picture of the charming actress formed in his mind again and his hands stopped dead in their tracks. She was so lovely when she smiled that sunny smile at him. He sincerely hoped he’d have a chance to at least look at her once today. Hoping that she’d have even a minute to talk to him was hoping too much. He wished he had asked for her name, he couldn’t call her ‘actress’ or ‘girl’ in his mind all the time. His shyness be damned! Why was it that he could talk about flowers to anyone for hours but when such a beautiful girl came into the picture he could only stammer. He must have made such a fool of himself yesterday. Richard hung his head in embarrassment.

There was nothing interesting in the newspaper so he left home a bit earlier than customary, to save some time while developing the films at the Kew studio. With the thick envelope of photographs in hand Richard popped into the office to check his messages and to his surprise found Lisa sleeping in one of the chairs, her head propped on her arms folded on the desk. On the huge drawing table in the middle of the room lay the ready schematic of the Richmond Theatre garden and next to it a few A4 copies for each member of the team to make notes and stupid comments on.

Well, he was very much surprised for he did not expect the map to be ready earlier than around lunchtime. He took a few small copies with him and placed them in a red folder and also grabbed Clark’s Polaroid from his desk in case he would need to make additional pictures. Thanks to this he will have something to do in the morning besides keeping an eye on the trash team ordering the vandalised part of the garden up. Richard left a note for Bored Michael to have the team work on the initial stages of the project after the interview with the Richmond gardener. They’ll be only arguing about what flowers to choose, instead of trying to find the best arrangement of flower-beds.

In Moscow, at the Academy, professor Peskovskaya was a fanatic of feng shui and applied it even to gardening and had each of her students take at least the introductory course in feng shui before even allowing a student to take an exam in her subject. And so Richard had to take the course in bloody feng shui as well, although he considered it a crazy magic of the far East. Afterwards he noticed however that his projects have gained harmony and were more beautiful than before. There was an imperceptible order to them that seemed natural. Of course his love and passion for flowers of all kinds and things green on the whole (including frogs) only further strengthened his abilities in this field.

Having made sure that the team will have something productive to do besides listening to Clark’s “knock-knock” jokes, Richard left the Gardens and drove his golf to the Richmond Theatre arriving around 8:15. The trash boys were already there and working like busy bees, digging out the shrubbery, raking the withering plants and flowers, gathering bigger patches of grass for use somewhere else and generally trying to bring order to the overwhelming mess and destruction. He walked to the foreman and greeting him, asked how the work was proceeding.

“Quite swiftly, to be frank,” was the answer. “Orderin’ it around ‘ere is easier than diggin’ up the bloomin’ shrubbery so it seems that it’s gonna take us till mid-afternoon.” The foreman added in his thick northern accent.

“Okay, keep up the good work, gentlemen. There’ll be some of my team arriving later on so if you see any of them slacking off, do give them something to do.”

Afterwards Richard picked his way between the working men to a quieter part of the garden to think for a moment about the new design they were to prepare by themselves, without consulting it with nobody. This Bergen guy must have been a trusting bloke to let strangers do such an important job. Sitting under a tree Richard looked around and noticed some commotion in the glass room… Oh yes, the girl had said they would be having breakfast in there the following day. He put his creative thinking into the first gear and began forming ideas of how to decorate the area surrounding the glass room. It had been definitely designed for guests and spectators to watch the garden, so the most immediate surroundings had to look pleasing but at the same time not leave the farther space in its shadow. He tried to recall how the area looked from up close to the glass room but at that time his mind had been occupied by the charming girl rather that nearby plants. He would have to go there again later when it was empty and take a good, long, creative look outside… maybe even take a few shots to help him think.

Richard got up and walked to the middle of the garden, to a place equidistant from the shrubberies forming the borders of the garden and the door to the glass room. Standing there he turned round a few times, noting the geography of the garden and the current arrangement of flower-beds, ponds and trees. He also studied the glass room, the way it looked from outside in order to get at least a general idea of what it might look like to a passer by or a guest who took a stroll in the garden. The are immediately surrounding the glass room would have to be pleasing to the eye from both the inside and the outside and that was a hard task to cope with. But he would manage, alone or with help of his team he was going to make this garden the best in London.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Elizabeth Hamilton

Breakfast proved to be a merry affair… the good humour added to by the fact that we were very well provided for! Learning her lesson from yesterday, Lizzie tucked in heartily to a series of pastries, croissants, conserves and juices whilst James teased her good-naturedly adding to the general good humour all round.

As the breakfast drew to a close, Mike began circulating and issuing yet more sheets about costumes and fittings and such like. Finally he came over to where Lizzie was stood, sipping at my glass of orange as she spoke to Neil (playing her father, VERMANDERO) and handed them each a sheet of paper.

”I want to run through your scenes today, with just you and John.
We’ll do it on stage and I’ll read in the extra lines.
I want to get a feel of where we are before I let you go off and work in detail on the JOANNA – DEFLORES thing …. Ok?”

Mike told Lizzie who nodded in response.

”Sure … Do we start straight away. “

He smiled.

”Straight after breakfast … see you up there…”

Liz nodded and finishing her drink, pulled out a script and headed “upstairs” to the auditorium.

The morning proved exhausting, but Lizzie learned so much!
Mike was patient, but clear in his direction. He explained to her that this was just a read through and instructed her to use her script and make notes as they went through each scene.
Liz nodded, keen to learn and do what was necessary to improve her performance. For hours she paced the stage, jotted notes against her speeches and read through line after line until her head was spinning!

” An host of enemies entered my citadel
Could not amaze like this. Joanna, Beatrice Joanna!

Mike prompted supplying her father’s line as a cue to her long speech of explanation, a speech which summarised the events and her own downfall.

“Oh, come not near me, sir; I shall defile you.
I am that of your blood was taken from you
For your better health; look no more upon't,
But cast it to the ground regardlessly:
Let the common sewer take it from distinction…”

She began her speech with John supporting her as they both launched into their death scene. Mike remained silent, supplying only the missing lines until Joanna pronounced her final couplet:

Forgive me, Alsemero, all forgive;
'Tis time to die when 'tis a shame to live.

Before dying in DEFLORES’ wake.

All was silent in the theatre, as the two lay intertwined on the stage.
Mike watched thoughtfully until he finally said.

”Ok .. and relax … for a first read through, that was pretty good … we have lots to do … but a lot of that you two will have to work out between you … “

He paused as the two came to sit at the end of the stage.

”We’ll have plenty of rehearsal time to take it scene by scene … but … I want to try something out first … this afternoon … in the glass room … a workshop-type rehearsal … I think it will help … John… Liz… ?”

Liz glanced over, unsure if John would go for it and was surprised to see him nod emphatically.

”Sure thing … sounds like a good idea to me … “

She added her agreement.

”Whatever you think best, Mike … “

He grinned broadly.

”OK … it’s 12:30 already you two… what say we meet back there at … say … 2pm..? and go through a few warm ups …?”

Again they nodded and stood to go.

”Ohhh… John… one minute .. ?”

Liz watched as Mike called him back and hovered.

”See you at 2pm Liz …”

She continued on her way, slightly curious as to what they had to talk about alone, but largely unconcerned. Like yesterday, she found she wasn’t hungry, but had a raging thirst. She slipped around to the foyer and helped herself to the cooled water there.
After drinking several beakers, she filled a final one and took it outside.
She definitely needed air after all that.
The inevitable bag slung over her shoulder, she strolled down the main pathway and crossed the road to the expanse of green before her and began to saunter across Richmond Green. Stopping at the first shady spot under a tree, Liz sat down and sipped thoughtfully at her water before stretching out, using the bag as a pillow and shutting her eyes.
She sighed contentedly.
It would be as well to rest properly during this lunch break.
Who know what she might be asked to do this afternoon, she thought.
After all both Mike and John were … unconventional, it seemed to her … the thought making her mouth turn up in amusement.

 

[Poganin]

Richard Gainsborough

A very faint outline of the new design began forming in his mind as he stood there, in the middle of the garden and was looking around. Comparing his imaginary garden with the schematic he had in hand Richard decided that one tree would have to be extracted but such a rash decision was not to his liking and he discarded one of the new ideas. He hoped the glass room would get empty soon as he wanted to take a look outside from there, take a few pictures and start sketching before the people from his team arrived to be able to show them a few projects they would instantly discard as too romantic, too crowded or too flashy. Whatever, he would convince them anyway and they will see the light of wisdom in his arrangements.

Richard moved to the western part, produced the photographs he had made the day before and began putting the current arrangement of avenues and flower-beds on one of the schematics he had in the red folder. When done he copied them symmetrically to the eastern part, marking the flowerbeds with codes referring to the flowers used. Although the dimensions of the garden were perfect, the design wasn’t flawless. The colours were mismatched and the flower-bed shapes made the eye dance around, confusing the viewer and hurting the eyes. No, definitely it wasn’t pleasing as it should have been. Richard recalled the gardens of the Academy in Moscow and sighed, facing the memory of sheer gardening perfection. He wished he could at some time in the future attain a degree of mastery that would allow him to design and arrange such a beautiful garden that would make everyone relaxed by the floral compositions, their shapes and placing. He could always start on working on this dream by making the Richmond Theatre garden as perfect in this respect as possible with his qualifications and those of hi co-workers and co-creators.

The trash team seemed to have been done with raking and removing the dead flowers and attacked the destroyed fragments of the shrubbery fence, sometimes eradicating as much as two yards deeper than necessary. But they were specialists in their own field, so Richard did not ask questions and let them work. Additionally they marked where the avenues had been to make his job easier and he felt grateful for this.

With the glass room occupants moving inside the theatre Richard could finally start doing what he intended to do before his team arrived -- taking care of the glass room’s nearer and farther surroundings. He sat on the table and looked outside through the door, not moving a muscle, not moving his eyes either. He sat like that for a few minutes, burning the image into his mind and then turned 45 degrees to the right and again just looked outside registering the current forms and shapes and plants. Memorising what the garden looked like from inside took him an hour. To help himself he shot a few photographs with the Polaroid and laid them on the table along with other photographs he took from the envelope. On the garden schematic Richard marked three concentric half-circles spreading from the glass room and marked the innermost (between the wall and the smallest half-circle) and the outermost (between the middle and the last half-circle) for redecoration and began thinking where and how to put the avenues so that they would not be seen from the inside and yet would be clear divisions between several layers of colours and flowers.

Taking a few clean sheets of paper and a pencil from the folder he sat cross-legged in the middle of the table and started sketching a view that would present itself to visitors who wanted to behold the garden. Drawing from his own viewing perspective he soon became so engrossed in his work he became oblivious to the passage of time. Drawing fast, as new ideas appeared in his head he soon produced more than ten highly detailed drawings, each leaf and petal and grass blade drawn with different shades of grey responsible for conveying different colours in reality. To help materialise the project further he started adding men walking down avenues, men looking outside from the glass room, couples enjoying the view. In one of the pictures he drew among the flowers the pair of actors he had seen yesterday kissing. Richard stopped drawing when the final touch of the pen completed the man’s shirt. He threw the drawing behind him on the table and snatched all previous drawings and furiously started adding the charming actress in different places and poses: here, hugging the bouquet he had given her to her chest; there, standing with her head slightly tilted to one side and smiling; in another place crouching to pick up a flower; somewhere, holding a big straw hat from being blown away by the wind. Each time he completed adding the girl to the picture he would fling the sheet on the table and start anew with the next page. Working like a madman he cried in terror as his mobile rang, piercing the silence and reverence enveloping him.

“What?!” he barked into the receiver. “Oh, sorry, Lisa, the signal scared me… Yes, I got it. Thank you… What’s the problem, I’m a bit busy at the moment… What do you mean with what?!… Be serious, please… Ok then… You are all ready to come over? Fine by me. It’s high time. I did some new photos and a few drawings… What? It’s what time?” Richard looked at his watch. Almost 2pm – he had been drawing for four hours straight. Only now did he realise his right hand was all cramped from holding the pencil. “So when are you coming?… After lunch, ok. I’m waiting… Just a moment,” he broke and turned, hearing the door behind him open. It was her! He almost dropped the phone such impact seeing her again had on him. Then he realised and his gaze moved to the drawings covering the table. In a moment he would die again. “Gotta go,” he muttered and disconnected.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Elizabeth Hamilton

Lizzie managed to relax until 1:30 pm. She enjoyed her drink and dosed beneath the warmth whilst enjoying the tree’s shelter. She deliberately blocked the play from her mind and found a warm pair of brown eyes coming into her head in its place. Strange that she should still have him on her mind, she thought and then wondered if he would be working in the gardens today. Telling herself that that was NOT the reason for returning early, Liz brushed off her jeans and plain white cotton blouse and began to make her way back towards the theatre, the bag swinging jauntily on her shoulder.

Just beyond the building she halted looking up at the impressive façade. Her name would be up displayed there soon. The thought gave her a nervous thrill. She knew that there would be publicity shots, for the programmes, posters and perhaps the press. She was still overawed by the whole thing!

”Hey! … You seen Richard?”

A shout interrupted her reverie as her eyes snapped in the direction of the woman’s voice.
She took in her green overall and at the same moment saw the van behind her.

”I said, have you seen Richard this morning …
He must be mooning around here somewhere … so ... he's not with you then …? “

She retorted rolling her eyes as Liz seemed at a loss as to how to answer.

”Lisa!

Both girls turned towards the voice, a voice that sounded somewhat annoyed.

"Go help Clark … I’ll get the plans and follow you out there …”

Liz watched the girl shrug and waited until she had sauntered off before crossing the road and walking past the van towards the main pathway. Liz couldn’t help but glance around curiously, but was disappointed to discover that the young man from yesterday was nowhere to be seen.

”Sorry about that … Lisa can be … tactless … its just that we saw Richard talking to you yesterday and … “

Suddenly everything made sense!

”Richard…? That’s his name … ?”

She blushed trying not to appear too eager to know more.
Mike nodded amazed that Richard hadn’t even introduced himself!
He must have it bad!

”Well let me show more manners than that youngster who disturbed you yesterday …”

He began and held his hand out towards her.

”I’m Michael, Mike … we’ve been called over from Kew to sort out this mess … “

Liz smiled and put her hand in his.

”Nice to meet you Mike … I’m Elizabeth … Liz … we’re in rehearsal for ”The Changeling” here … “

She watched him nod and make a grimace …

” … Jacobean Tragedy… ?“

She prompted and then laughed as he shrugged.

"Well ... it's not everyone's choice of play ... but it's a good first choice if you've never seen tragedy before ... full of laughs and ... "

She saw his dubious expression and burst out laughing.

”OK ... I admit ... it's an acquired dramatic taste … "

Mike joined her in her laughter.

"Anyway ... I must run … our schedule’s pretty tight at the moment … nice meeting you Mike … “

She smiled warmly thinking how friendly he had been.

”’Bye Liz … maybe we’ll see more of you ... huh?”

Liz pinked as he teased, no doubt referring to the illusive “Richard”!
She heard him continue to chuckle as she turned up the pathway and made her way through the theatre’s main entrance.

Taking another long drink from the cooler, Liz took out her script and thumbed through the pages.

”I think we’re working towards the final scenes in Act two and three … “

John's resonant voice broke through her musings.
Liz nodded … the scenes where De Flores traps Joanna and deflowers her … that would prove ... interesting!

”Mike’ll probably want us to do some impro first … “

Liz eyed John with interest.

”You’ve worked with him before then?”

She asked watching as he grinned and helped himself from the cooler.

”Yeah … production of ”Taming of the Shrew” … he loves that improvisation stuff … he portrayed Bianca as a spiteful little brat … I played the father … you should have seen the catfight in that workshop! And I had to get between them … I got scratched up they were so into it!”

Both of them were laughing by the time John finished recounting the tale. John's eyes danced with mischief, but he became suddenly more serious as he continued.

”So… now, no matter what he asks me to do … or how weird it is … I go with it … even though I might need elastoplast later!
He’s good, is Mike … knows his stuff … “

Liz nodded, recognising that John was advising her and perhaps even forewarning her.

”I think I can cope …”

She responded softly as John grinned.

”Hell look at the time!”

He exclaimed suddenly as they both realised it was 2 pm.

”I left my script on the stage … I’ll be right along …
Don’t start without me, now …”

John teased and he dashed off, leaving Liz laughing as she saw him disappear towards the stage door.
She felt completely at her ease with him now.
She thought she’d cope with whatever Mike threw at them!
Still chuckling, she made her way swiftly to the glass room, entering it quickly and dropping down her bag as she unfolded her script.
She raised her face and started breathlessly:

”Sorry, I kept you waiting, but … “

Halting suddenly, she found herself staring into those soulful brown eyes once again.

”Ohhh… “

She gasped before she could with hold the exclamation.
Then with a slight mischievous twinkle, she looked deep into his eyes as she whispered shyly;

”Hello … Richard .. “

 

[Poganin]

Richard Gainsborough

Before he could react in any way, the girl spoke, greeting him. She smiled a bit and he couldn't help but smile back, embarassed he couldn't find the right words. So lovely, he thought, entranced by her sudden yet definitely pleasing appearance. Instantly a feeling of bliss filled him. This moment he would re-live for the rest of his life. There was a spell on Richard's heart, and he was willingly giving in to it for no woman had ever made such an impression on him, even the Russian girls, well known for their Slavonic charm.

"H-hi there... Um," he sighed and smiled apologetically. "I don't even know your name to begin with." He lowered his eyes and his gaze fell to the drawings scattered on the table. God, he had to collect them before she sees...

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Elizabeth Hamilton

Liz watched him looking at her uncertainly and then give a hesitant smile in return.

"H-hi there... I don't even know your name to begin with."

Liz walked closer to him and looked downwards noting that there were pages scattered on the table behind him.

"No ... well ... I didn't know you yours ... until that girl ... Lisa..? Told me ... "

She glanced at Richard and wondered at his reaction.
Her mind began to whirr!
The girl had been ... almost hostile ... Mike had dismissed her very quickly ... perhaps ...
Of course ... Lisa worked with him ... and she obviously ... "liked" him ... but what of Richard ... did he "like" Lisa?

Liz picked up one of the papers, the gesture a perfect action to accompany her deliberately casual comment.

"She seemed very ... concerned ... that you weren't around ... "

Again Liz's glance was speculatative, but fleeting as she turned her attention back to the drawing.

"I liked Mike ..."

She was able to comment sincerely.

"... he ... ohhh... "

The soft exlamation left her lips, before her words ground to a halt as Liz found herself staring at the paper in her hand.
Amongst the intricate drawings of the garden, the plants, flowerbeds, shrubs, Liz found herself looking at the sketch of a young woman;
a woman drawn in such detail that it was obviously supposed to be her!

Liz glanced over at Richard and then back down at the table, still strewn with sheets of paper.
She knew she should not, but Liz could not resist leaning over and picking up another sheet... then another ... with growing amazement ... increasingly overwhelmed by his flattering depiction of her.

Finally her eyes met Richard's shyly, her own cheeks blooming rosily.
She wanted to tell him how much she liked them.
She wanted to ask him why he was so obsessed with drawing her.
She wanted to ...

But she made no comment and merely handed back the assembled papers.

"My name's Elizabeth ... Liz ... "

She said simply.

 

[Poganin]

Richard Gainsborough

Richard automatically extended his hand to take the drawings, unsure of her mood. He was shocked and paralysed to see her gather the pictures and recognise herself in each of them. He knew it might seem childish, such behaviour and he would love to know whether the faint blush that coloured her cheeks was that of content. He was hoping so hearing her sigh a moment before.

"Nice meeting you, Liz" Richard said softly, a bit afraid she might angry at him after all. "I hope you don't mind my drawing you among the flowers. These are projects of the new garden may look from this glass room and I needed to see how strolling people might look. And... ah..." he stuttered. "I can't help... that is... well..." at a loss for words he looked at her imploringly and dropped his eyes, his cheeks slowly flushing. "At first they were to be anonymous people but then I thought of you and somehow couldn't help but project you in a sunlit garden, with flowers all around, happy, delicate... graceful... like a lily." Richard raised his eyes to look at Liz, once again charmed by her beauty. He wanted to tell her how beautiful she was in his eyes, how charming, how elated he was at seeing her and being able to talk to her but he just couldn't, feeling intimidated.

To cover his embarassment he tried to put the drawings into his folder but his hand shook so he just put them under the securing elastic.

"I'm sorry. I guess i should go, you'll probably be rehearsing here... and I'm finished, so I'll leave." Realising what Liz said earlier he looked at her again. "You said my team was here. I hope Lisa wasn't mean to you or anything, she's a troublesome girl sometimes. If she was rude, I'll..." what did she say about Mike? she liked him? It can't be, was he hitting on her? And most of all, was Richard feeling jealous now?

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Elizabeth Hamilton

"Nice meeting you, Liz"

Liz nodded in acknowledgement of the hesitant greeting.

"I hope you don't mind my drawing you among the flowers. These are projects of the new garden may look from this glass room and I needed to see how strolling people might look.
And... ah...I can't help... that is... well..."

Liz’s hear gave a little lurch as his eyes met hers.
He seemed to look at her so directly … and then he looked away.

"At first they were to be anonymous people but then I thought of you and somehow couldn't help but project you in a sunlit garden, with flowers all around, happy, delicate... graceful... like a lily."

Liz stood silently aghast by Richard’s image.
That is how he saw her? Like a lily?
She had read and been spun many lies and yet this awkward young man seemed nothing less than sincere.
Liz was staggered by the compliment.

"I'm sorry. I guess i should go, you'll probably be rehearsing here... and I'm finished, so I'll leave."

Liz bit back a sigh as she watched him gather his papers.
He was right though. John and Mike were due any moment.
She would have loved to keep him there talking … but she knew she couldn’t …

"You said my team was here.
I hope Lisa wasn't mean to you or anything, she's a troublesome girl sometimes.
If she was rude, I'll..."

Liz listened to his words … … troublesome girl … … she calculated that the “girl” was older than her … and if she was “troublesome” at times … perhaps she made a habit of being ... possessive?

”That’s OK …
I have the feeling she had something else to say … but Mike stepped in … “

Liz commented blithely.

”As to rehearsals … I think I’m scheduled to be in here all afternoon … we’re late starting actually … “

Liz responded smoothly as she glanced back at the door, expecting it to open any minute.
By the time she turned back, she saw Richard had gathered his things and was beginning to move towards the door that still stood open to the gardens.

”Ohh.. Richard … “

She called impetuously, then eyed him shyly as he turned to face her.

”I loved your sketches … and … lilly’s are my favourite flower … “

For a moment she held his gaze and saw him smile the first genuinely relaxed smile she had seen that afternoon.

The noisy chatter as the door opened disturbed them and almost guiltily the two stepped apart.

Mike seemed unaware of their reaction as he came forward to kiss her on the cheek and apologise.

”Sorry we’re late, Lizzie … we got waylaid on stage … we were discussing an idea for your big scene… “

John winked suggestively making Liz realise that he meant the “deflowering” scene.

”Ohhh… “

Was all Liz could think of to comment as she saw Mike recognise Richard and walk over to him.

”Mr Gainsborough … how fortunate ... I'll be needing to see you later ... if our idea works, we might need some horticultural advice … "

He went on to explain the project he had in mind ...

"I’d like to see some real foliage on stage at some point … "

Richard nodded as Mike turned to Liz.

" ... tubs of plants ... would help us make the difference between the setting of the plot and subplot ... "

She nodded in agreement smiling at him before stating with a wink.

" ... and it will provide opportunities for our two main protagonists here to stage their illicit liaisons … would you be able to help us out do you think …?”

Liz watched expecting Richard to be embarrassed, but watched amazed as his "professional persona" seemed to kick in assuring the director confidently that all things were possible and that once he was in a position to discuss his specific requirements he should arrange an appointment to go through the details.

That said, he glanced back over in her direction, his gaze lingering momentarily as he spoke softly.

"'By Liz ... "

Then pulling his eyes away he excused himself and moved hastily back out to the gardens.

”Exit stage right … ALSEMERO … “

John commented suggestively as Richard disappeared beyond sight of the window.

"John...!"

Liz berated him, then began to laugh as she saw him run his eyes lasciviously along the length of her.
Eager to change the focus of attention she asked:

”Right … so …shall we start …?”

She missed the unseen raised eyebrows that passed over her head.

”Of course …

Mike took a seat at the table Richard had just cleared.

" ... now … “

As one Liz and John pulled other chairs to sit facing him, discarding their scripts and waiting for his instructions ...

 

[Poganin]

Richard Gainsborough

As the unwilling resolution to leave surfaced in his mind and he turned, suddenly Liz called after him and he gave a start that made his heart lurch in his chest, speeding up its beat a few notches.

”Ohh.. Richard … I loved your sketches … and … lilly’s are my favourite flower … “

Richard thought he is hearing things. Did she say that she liked his drawings? He couldn’t hope for a better praise from her lips, he was really afraid he might have been too forward in doing it in the first place, not thinking about the consequences at all. However now, he was happy and not just because it could win him Liz’s favour but mainly because he could please her somehow. And when she added that lilies were her favourite flowers something clicked in his head. How could he guess or even make such a connection? It had come to him naturally the day before to make this association and he wanted to shout for joy it was correct. Humans were like flowers after all, he mused, the professor was right. A big smile grew on Richard’s face and an urge to run up to Liz and hug her welled up in him. The door opened however and two men came in… and maybe for the better as he had no idea how she would react to such forward treatment.

One of the man seemed strangely familiar, his posture, face and gait. This man walked over to Liz and kissed her on the cheek. Ok, you can go home now, Richard – he thought to himself – banish all thought and hope. Suddenly saddened at the crushing realisation he became apathetic and the man’s familiar voice calling his name brought him back.

”Mr Gainsborough … how fortunate ... I'll be needing to see you later ... if our idea works, we might need some horticultural advice … " they shook hands and from the way the man grabbed his hand, Richard finally associated face with voice: Mike Chambers and he felt the glass walls press on to him. He remembered the director from his quite frequent visits to his parents’ house, well, actually visits to his father. What could the two have in common? Father had never explained the point of the man’s visits and quite honestly Richard didn’t care but now it has changed, his interest suddenly manifesting. They had been introduced to each other but nothing besides that, it was a marvel Mike recognised him at all.

“Nice to see you too, Mr Chambers. How may I be of service?”

"I’d like to see some real foliage on stage at some point … tubs of plants ... would help us make the difference between the setting of the plot and subplot ... and it will provide opportunities for our two main protagonists here to stage their illicit liaisons … would you be able to help us out do you think …?”

“Of course, it would be a pleasure! You can count on me to share my expertise in this field but of course I’ll have to have some assumptions to work with. You can assign certain flowers to the mood of the scene but that wouldn’t do as not everyone is familiar with the language of flowers and to be frank it changes from person to person, therefore your best choice would be to make floral compositions by colour. If you could tell me what mood individual scenes convey I could think of a suitable composition for support. As soon as you are ready to discuss this we can arrange a meeting…” and in sudden drive of boldness or instinct he looked at Liz, which filled his heart with sudden passion, and added softly. “…by Liz.”

Unwillingly he drew his gaze away from her and nodding to the two men he said “If you excuse me now, I should give my team something to work on before they get lost in the garden.”

Walking away Richard had to control himself not to break into a merry trot and start jumping over the remaining flower-beds. His heart was filled with rapture at meeting Liz, getting to know her name, talking for a while, being able to look at her and securing at least one possibility to be able to talk to her again, at least for a short moment. The only black splotch on his happiness was the sign of Mike’s intimacy towards her. Nevermind, as long as he could gaze at Liz, he was happy. This surely was his day and nothing would be able to mess it up now.

Rounding the corner of the theatre Richard noticed the trash boys packing their tools up and Bored Michael talking to their foreman. Leaning on the wall, Clark was talking to Lisa and making her laugh. Next to them a portable drawing table, a huge tube containing the main schematic and additional layers of thin paper to put remarks on without spoiling the main schematic. Noticing his arrival, Lisa waved her hand and called to him.

“Hey, boss. I saw your pretty flower earlier today… guess you missed each other… or did you?” she added seeing his elated expression.

“Michael tells us her name’s Liz. Nice name for such a beaut, right?”

“Since you two are so eager to participate in the works why don’t you assemble the table over there where we can see the back and the eastern part of the garden. The first thing we need to discuss is the area immediate to the glass room in the back… Go to it, we don’t have all day!”

“And what will you be doing?” Lisa grumbled.

“Got to eat my lunch and talk to the trash team about removing the grass and flowers from the western part.”

Clark and Lisa moved to do his bidding and Richard went towards Bored Michael who was shaking hands with the foreman.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Elizabeth Hamilton

Mike raised an unseen eyebrow in John’s direction, and then took a seat at the table Richard had just cleared.
As one Liz and John pulled other chairs to sit facing him, discarding their scripts and waiting for his directions.

”Now … we need to really get you two to explore your relationship … the relationship of Joanna and DeFlores…”

Both Liz and John nodded.
Mike turned to Liz and continued in the same matter-of-fact tone.

”So … tell me … are you a virgin …?”

Liz’s mouth dropped open and shut again as she considered her reply.
She glanced over at John who was looking at her assessingly and then back to Mike’s interrogative eyes.

”Well… I … “

She began, until Mike interrupted her.

”An appropriate dose of maidenly modesty, Liz, but from now on, if anyone asks you that question, the answer is most definitely YES!”

Liz again looked from one man to the other and saw John grin.
She gave a hesitant answering smile, relieved for the moment.

”Joanna is fiercely proud of her virgin status.
She wears it like a beacon … and when DeFlores finally robs her of that virtue, all the machinations, the murder, the intrigue are all to protect ALSEMERO from the fact that he married what would have been considered a “whore”!”

Mike continued as Liz listened attentively.

”And you John … “

Mike turned towards him, with a serious face.

”DeFlores is obsessed by Joanna. He lusts after her.
He wants a part of her … his share of her … but ultimately, it is he beyond all other men who possesses her and brings her to share his untimely end.”

John nodded, and pondered.

”But … he’s not the only villain in the piece…?”

Mike glanced over at Liz.

”That is what you two have to work out.
Joanna uses DeFlores and puts herself into the position of having to yield to him.
She then comes to depend on him more and more.
By the time they murder DIAPHANTA … are they working as a team, or is she merely a helpless accomplice…?”

Liz picked up the script and turned to the page in question.
Slowly she skimmed the text and read choice speeches.

” I'm forc'd to love thee now,
'Cause thou provid'st so carefully for my honour.

Then DEFLORES answers …

'Slid, it concerns the safety of us both,
Our pleasure and continuance.

Then later she says:
Here's a man worth loving!
Oh, y'are a jewel!

I don’t think she has a choice, but to cover her tracks, but … I’d say she throws her lot in with Deflores and even intends to continue to bed him… under the pretext of ensuring his silence … “

Mike looked at his two leads and nodded.

”And so we have our work cut out for us.
Deflores is ever obsessed with you … “

Mike addressed Joanna now.

”But you have to go from loathing, to fear, to lust and finally repentance and acceptance of your fate. It’s a tough call Liz … “

Liz nodded, but set her shoulders determinedly.

”Good girl.”

Mike sat back and visibly relaxed, as if convinced that she could do it.

”I know that you and John will create something unique between you.”

He stood and put the chair back under the table.

”Now … I want us to try to explore the first half of that by bringing it up to date.
I want you to play yourselves and put it in a contemporary setting with everyday language.”

He smiled as they both nodded.

”Liz … you’re at a party … there’s a guy you fancy but … so far no dice …
His best friend … John … approaches you … you hope to act as go between.
You agree to have a “quiet” chat with him.
Only then do you realise that he in fact is pursuing you and he starts putting on the pressure…”

Liz glanced at John nervously and nodded.

”John … your aim is to bed Liz … whatever it takes … “

John shot Liz a glance, but merely stated.

”Right … “

Mike continued.

” … you start casually … then push your advantage … use any trick you can …
Liz … when he’s reached the point where you don’t want it to go any further … storm out on him stating you need some fresh air … ”

Liz watched as Mike pointed to the doors and nodded.

”OK … “

She said breathlessly.

Mike looked from one to the other, pleased that he had their full cooperation.
He knew this would only work if they entered fully into it.

”John … give her a few minutes … then follow her … apologise … be charming … offer her a drink. Liz … accept it … sip at it … it’ll have one of those “date rape” drugs in it … you’ll swallow enough just to lower your resistance … just enough for John to coax you back inside … John … you bring her back in here and … you two can adlib from there … you can bring the impro to a close at any stage from then onwards.“

Both nodded and stood up looking somewhat awkward to start with.

”John … why do you want her?”

Mike prompted.

”Because I want to prove I can take her … and to get one up on that smug mate of mine … “

He answered promptly already slipping into character.

”Liz … why don’t you want to give in to John?”

Liz blushed.

”Because … I don’t fancy him … he’s not the one I’m interested in at this party …”

She spoke hesitantly, trying to think her way into role.

”yes … you don’t want to lose your virginity to a letch like him, do you Lizzie…?”

Liz blushed and shook her head.

”Ok … when you’re ready.
Just do it at normal volume .. make it natural .. . intimate … see where it takes you … “

So saying Mike turned and perched on the table, glancing casually out of the window whilst Liz began to walk slowly around the room.
Unseen he gestured to John and beckoned him over, whispering quickly in his ear.
John raised an eyebrow and nodded.

Liz sighed and perched on a table opposite.
She was only half aware of John’s uncomfortably steady gaze on her.
In her mind's eye it was Richard whom she was pursuing, whom she hoped would notice her.
Liz turned her head towards the door, as if hoping he would enter...

”Richard was right … you are a cute looking girl … “

Liz jumped as John sidled up next to her.
She turned her head abruptly to look at him.
Why had he used that name?
It surely could not be coincidence!
She blushed rosily and looked at the floor.

”He said that about me..?”

She murmured, confused.

”Of course … and he’s right of course … “

John stated, every inch the charming gentleman.
Liz raised her eyes and gave John a shy smile.

Mike looked on, pleased with the performance thus far.

 

[Poganin]

Richard Gainsborough

Richard ate his late lunch in the car, munching hastily on quickly prepared sandwiches and thinking about Mike’s request. There would have to be lots of those flowers to make a difference and underline what Mike wants to stress in given scenes. Or very few actually, so as not to make their suggestions too obvious and insult the audience. This was one of the things to be discussed. Other would surely surface along with his thoughts about this and later on, during arrangements with Mike. That Mike… what the hell is all this about? What’s his link in all this. And he and Liz… Richard shook his head, trying not to let his imagination make up too many crazy assumptions but it was impossible. Seeing him come to her and kiss her just like that suggested they knew each other quite well, perhaps were intimate even… Oh stop it! Focus on your own tasks!

Richard got out of the car an joined his team as they were pinning his photos around the schematic. Everyone had a few projects of their own prepared so that they could choose the best. He nodded, satisfied with the location: the south-eastern corner of the garden let them observe 70% of the premises and the glass room too of course. Richard glanced over and saw people moving inside – they must be rehearsing, he thought. Picking up his own folder and producing the Polaroid pictures he added them to the collection.

“OK, so let’s see what we’ve come up with. Lisa?”

“Um, so I’ve been thinking about the flowers, their colours and where…”

“Yes, well, but that is purely cosmetic. That will come last. First of all we need the landscape of this garden: the avenues, the trees, the ponds, flower-beds, grass, pots, shrubbery, maybe a fountain but that’s cosmetic as well, I’ve no set plan for that thing. This is what we have to take care of first. Lisa, this does not mean I am rejecting your projects…” Richard had to explain seeing her pout. “I am merely postponing the choice of flowers. Oh look, I’ll be needing your help later. One of the actors said they might want some flowers on the stage to help them and I think that when I have the specifics I might want to sit with you and discuss them. You’re a woman, you’re more sensitive to this than I am…”

“Oh, you noticed!?” she cried, grabbing her breasts and shifting them, which caused Clark to gape and Michael tried not to break out laughing.

“Don’t be such a spoiled little princess. We’re in all this together. You could be more grateful, Lisa, you know that Richard does not think highly of you” Bored Michael commented seriously. “This is your chance to show him he’s very wrong.”

“Anyway, as soon as Clark can come back to us… thank you… Clark, what did you do?”

“I’ve a few ideas for avenues with me,” Clark responded, producing a few sheets of paper from a folder and spreading them on the table, everyone bent over them.

“Oh, good, interesting propositions. I’m sure we can work with those. But not this one. This is neither New York nor Through the Looking Glass,” Richard said and moved one of the projects away. “We’ll try and make some choices right away.”

“Michael, I assume you’ve prepared flower-bed arrangements. Smashing. Let’s see them. And show some enthusiasm, mate!” Richard winked at his own personal joke.

Michael glared at him with a strange look and presented his own projects. Even before anyone had a chance to say something, Lisa blurted out happily:

“This one’s no good!”

Richard started turning in her direction but Michael put a hand on his shoulder and they exchanged glances.

“Why do you think so, Lisa?” Michael asked.

“Well, since Richard rejected Clark’s square projects this design won’t fit anywhere. I’m not finished yet!” she stomped and shouted seeing Richard take the project away. He had to muster all his strength not to look amazed. “This doesn’t mean that we can’t incorporate the square design within an oval flower-bed for example and maybe even divide it by miniature avenues. For ants.” Lisa beamed and smiled at her own creativity. She looked so cute that the men started laughing as one, Clark laughed so hard tears streamed down his cheeks.

“Right. Lisa and Michael, here are some sketched I made from inside the glass room. They show what the garden might look like from there. I want each of you to take half of them and choose one you think best, then exchange sketches and choose again. This way we’ll see what fits best. And if you have any remarks, we’ll hear them. Take those drawings, visualise them, get somewhere near that room but don’t disturb the actors. Then come back when you’re ready. Clark, I want you to help me arrange avenues starting from that room.” Richard stopped, hearing an outburst of merriment from Lisa, who was some twenty feet away now. She and Michael were browsing his drawings… Duh! Liz was in each of those. Michael was looking back at him with an expression that was hard to read. Blushing, Richard turned his attention back to the table. “See, I think we can arrange that area like this…”

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Elizabeth Hamilton

”For God’s sake John… “

Liz cried out pushing at his hands and disengaging one from her breast.

” … just … get off me will ya…!”

John just grinned and moved closer.

”Come on Lizzie… Why not huh? You know you want it..?”

Lizzie squirmed and then squealed as she felt a hand moving up her thigh and pushing between her legs.

”Nooo!”

She recoiled red faced, glaring into John’s smug face.

”Just … leave me alone!”

She shouted backing away and moving quickly out of the door.
Her heart pounded, her cheeks flamed.
(This would be the difficult part.)
She blanked her mind and concentrated on keeping “in character”, feeding her memory of the liberties John had taken, the taunts and finally the passes he had made on her.
He was constant … unrelenting …
Liz paced about trying to calm down from the state she had deliberately worked herself up into.
Deep down, she began to understand now how her character would feel by DeFlores’ constant pursuit.
A pursuit more subtle, at first but no less invasive or unstoppable.


************************************************

Inside, John stood watching as Liz all but ran out into the garden, a smug smile on his lips. He turned and poured a glass of water, catching Mike’s eye as he did so. Not wanting to break out of role, he raised his eyebrows questioningly.
Mike nodded.
It had gone better than he’d thought.
The build up had been gradual and if he were honest, he had assumed that Liz would stop John way before she had.
He joined John at the doorway and looked out seeing Liz visibly struggling for composure.

” …Good girl … ”

Mike commented quietly to himself.
But he knew this was the tricky bit …

”John … if you feel it right … just slip into the final scene … not line by line … but use some of De Flores’ speeches as prompts … that should help Liz through it .. “

John drained the glass and went to pour a fresh drink.

”She’ll be fine … she’s good … very good … “

John turned to smile at Mike, and laughed at his shocked expression.
Praise indeed coming from John!
And now … into character…
Mike moved back into the room watching John as he stood once more in the doorway … watching Liz … and preparing to approach her…

************************************************

”Drink … ?”

Liz jumped and eyed John suspiciously.

”No thank you .. “

Her answer was polite and stilted.

”Awww .. come on Lizzie … look … I’m sorry about … what happened in there … “

Liz turned and eyed him speculatively.

”I was way outta line … I know that … it’s just … “

He sighed, for all the world playing the honest man, although they both knew Liz had to act a “reaction” to his proffered drink.

”Look … I know how you feel about Richard… “

He glanced over as he saw Liz blush and look at the floor.

”And … well … I was jealous … you’re a lovely girl … what man wouldn’t want to … “

Liz looked up sharply.

”John!”

John threw her a disarming smile and held out the drink.

”Yeah .. Ok .. Ok .. I know … “

He held up a hand in surrender and extended the other to hand her the glass.

Liz smiled hesitantly and nodded.

”So … I’m forgiven …?”

He grinned boyishly at her.
Liz eyed him, not at ease and turned away, sipping at the glass as a distraction.

”I guess so … “

She answered quietly.

”Great … that will make things … a lot easier around here … don’t you think, Liz…?”

John was watching her carefully as she sipped once more at the glass.

”And … you … really want to get on with me well … don’t you Lizzie .. “

Liz jumped as the glass fell from her hands.
She knew her character was only supposed to have her senses slightly dulled.
Like Joanna, she was to have to react to advances she could not stop.

What ..? Ohh.. yes… “

She nodded absently as she turned to look at John.

”Come on Lizzie… let’s get you inside .. shall we…?”

Liz nodded and did not pull away this time as John wound an arm about her and led her towards the door, his body pressing with unnecessary familiarity as he did so.
Once in the doorway, he brushed her hair back and kissed her unresisting neck.

” John … don’t … “

Her feeble protest was met with his laughter.

”And why ever not, Lizzie..?”

He crooned, leading her inside.


****************************************

Mike rose quietly and drew the drapes across the glass to blot out the bright daylight and afford a measure of privacy.
He turned and watched quietly as John continued to seduce the now only softly protesting Liz.
God … this was even beginning to make him feel horny …
He realised berating himself and struggling to remain professional.
Struggling all the more as John’s hands moved to Liz’s blouse and slowly began to unbutton it.

”Now John… the final speech … “

Mike interrupted, only just managing to get through to John as he fixed his eyes on Liz as she lay wide-eyed beneath him.

”Look but into your conscience, read me there:
'Tis a true book; you'll find me there your equal.
Push, fly not to your birth, but settle you
In what the act has made you; y'are no more now. “

John began, his hand hovering motionless between her breasts.

”You lost your first condition, and I challenge you,
As peace and innocency has turn'd you out
And made you one with me.

Liz did not respond and merely gasped as he moved his hand down to part the fabric further.
Mike knew he had started earlier in the scene than instructed, but watched without further comment as they played it out.

”If I enjoy thee not, thou ne'er enjoy'st.
I'll blast the hopes and joys of marriage;
I'll confess all, my life I rate at nothing.

Liz exclaimed and belatedly pushed John’s hand away.

” Oh, sir, hear me!

Her breathless protest drew his low laughter.

”She that in life and love refuses me,
In death and shame my partner she shall be.

The words drew Liz still further into the character of Joanna.

” Stay, hear me once for all: I make thee master
Of all the wealth I have in gold and jewels;
Let me go poor unto my bed with honour
And I am rich in all things. “

Tears pricked her eyes as she begged in desperation to be spared.
But John as DeFlores was unrelenting.

” Let this silence thee:
The wealth of all Valencia shall not buy
My pleasure from me.
Can you weep fate from its determin'd purpose?
So soon may [you] weep me. “

As Liz opened her mouth to speak her next line, John pulled her to him and pressed a rough kiss on her lips before continuing his next.

” Come, rise and shroud your blushes in my bosom;
Silence is one of pleasure's best receipts:
Thy peace is wrought forever in this yielding.

He drew her upwards, felt her sway and lean against him unsteadily.
He smiled down at her, and seeing her face hidden into his chest, hand laced possessively in her hair.

” 'Las, how the turtle pants!

He murmured before pulling her head back and forcing him to face her.

” Thou'lt love anon
What thou so fear'st and faint'st to venture on.

The silence hung heavy as their gazes locked.

The sudden daylight made them blink.

Mike had pulled the curtains back and thus broke the spell.
Drawing away from each other and smiling almost sheepishly, both Liz and John turned to look at their director.

”Well…?”

Liz asked nervously.

Was she kidding? Mike thought to himself.

Mike turned to them, remembering his own arousal.

”Look, if you two can really make it that hot … it will really give the audience something to think about. “

Liz giggled and shook her head only half believing his praise.

”Joanna is noble, beautiful and pure … but because she has a flaw … her desperation to marry ALSEMERO at any cost … it makes her attainable.
She’s not the helpless innocent, especially in the later scenes.
They’ll love seeing the change in the supposedly saintly Joanna.
I think that’s the way we’ll aim to play it.
John, DeFlores is not going to be the pure Machiavellian villain.
He’s poor, deformed and when Joanna looks on him with favour and urges him to commit murder for her … who can blame him for turning it to his advantage?

He smiled at both of them.

”I think we’re going to have a fascinating scenario here.
Well done you two … now go home … rehearsals 9 am on stage OK?”

Liz glanced at her watch. It was only 5 pm!
But the afternoon had been so intense she was ready to relax.
John moved across the floor and picked up his script.
He threw a mischievous grin at her and quipped.

”Ohh and Liz … you might want to get dressed first!”

Laughing as she blushed, her hands flying to her blouse.

”Byee … “

He chuckled as he swung out of the doors and into the gardens beyond leaving Liz to secure her blouse and make herself presentable once more.
She threw a look over at Mike who was annotating his copy of the script.
She took up her bag and swung it over her shoulder and walked over to him.
Running a nervous hand through her dischevelled hair she queried uncertainly.

”So … I was Ok then … ?”

Mike looked up, surprised at her anxious face.
She was so petite, so young and so unsure.
Impulsively he dropped his script and rose to give her a quick hug.
This girl showed such promise. He was sure she had a great future.

”You were great, Lizzie … believable, virginal and sensual … all those qualities you’ll need to give Joanna…”

Liz nodded, satisfied.

”Thanks Mike … that was … really … ummm ... interesting ... taught me a lot… “

She told him shyly then turned to leave through the garden doors.

”Lizzie …?”

She turned at his soft call.
He let his eyes take in the image of her:
Poised and graceful and yet so artless.
An alluring image that was perfect for the role he had cast her in.

"Yes..?

She enquired her face turned expectantly towards him.

”I think if you two can reproduce something that intense on stage, every man will be ready to kill for you sweetheart … “