Act One Scene One
Sub-Scene
One
The
meetings of the Guards.
Bernardo
covered in the thick heavy three-piece suit was taking small steps while he
guarded the wide long walls of the huge twenty-four rooms mansion that was
named Elsinore Castle. It was the only castle in the area, among the hugely
princely-designed manors but none rivaled the castle for its eccentric design.
It
was designed with a huge castle appearance with eight high towers that
overlooked the tall walls of the mansion. The main gate to the so-named castle
was the drawbridge over the dug-out moat that ringed the castle's outer walls.
Once you passed the main gates, there was the huge courtyard with huge tracts
of landscape with blooms and shrubs that a dozen gardeners needed to prune
daily. The driveway to the inner castle building went around it the oblong
shape and there was the main building with the H-shaped layout; with its main
west and east wings facing the driveway, and there were the personal wings of
the owners. The H-shaped designed personal abode of the castle held eight high
glass doors facing the courtyard and the inner doorways were double doors.
It
would not have been called a castle without the grand hall, which was there in
the middle of the H design but the difference was instead of a throne there was
a huge stage place set there with heavy curtains that were drawn close unless
there was a commanding event to be played.
On
that evening, the event was the laying of the coffin of its owner, King Hamlet;
the famous playwright, actor, director, and producer. The ‘King’ lies there in
the oak coffin, alone in the grand hall. There was no garland of flowers lined
there; they were told to leave it at the moat, or be darned if they are allowed
in. The earlier guests were brought in by the steam-driven cart and given the
scant glance of the dead King in his coffin before they were chauffeured off to
the courtyard for the pleasantries and condolences to the widow.
Despite
the eccentric reception, the King was not without his well-wishers to his
demise, from the royalty to the rich and the influential, and associates and of
course, the few sour pusses who wished he had died earlier.
The
guests were sent off before dusk, and the servants retired to their quarters
half a mile away on the sprawling estate ground and the family members retired
to the personal chambers.
The
King had died two weeks ago, and the Prince have not arrived.
“Who’s
there?” Barnado called out. He looked at his watch, and it showed the dreaded
hour of the dar. He reached into his left pocket of the coat and felt the
familiar feel of the metal barrel. He was left-handed and that metal piece had
been his companion for years having saved his life several times. He reached in
with his hand to his neck and felt the other familiar metal piece.
The
holy cross on the chain was his salvation for the last few nights.
“Nay,
answer me. Stand and unfold yourself.” The voice called out from the dark
shadow.
“Long
live the King!” Barnardo called out. It was the password that they adopted to
identify each other.
“Barnardo?”
The voice who called out approached Barnado. Barnado heard his name but his
fear made him hold the revolver in his left pocket.
“He,”
Barnado replied with caution in his voice. He saw them the one who was seen was
his miserable-looking friend, Francisco. The latter had on a great overcoat
over his suit and held a heavy iron poker in the right hand. He once told
Barnado, the devil fears the iron that made the poker.
“This
is now the stroke of midnight. Get thee to bed now.” Barnado told his friend.
It was not yet the hour for Francisco to be patrolling the side of the castle
walls.
“This
bitter cold and I sick at heart.” Francisco handed the canister of brandy that
he carry with him on such nights.
"Much
obliged.” Bernado reached for the canister and gulped the warm concoction.
“Have you had quiet guard?”
“Not
a mouse stirring.” Francisco took back the canister and pocketed it.
“Well,
good night. If you do meet Horatio and Marcellus; the rivals of my watch, bid
them make haste.”
“Aye,
I think I hear them.” Francisco motioned to the rear of Barnado. “Stand, ho! Who’s
there?”
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