Act Two
Act
Two Scene One
Sub
Scene One
The
concern of a father.
Polonius
got news on the departure of Laertes by the airship. He sighed in relief, to
see his son leave. He does not feel dismayed that the son of his was on his own
as assumed by the others. Little does he know that the Great Chamberlain was
never an island by himself. He held a network of allies and informers upon his
own and others. Information is the key to survival in the playwright's arena.
If you hear of a new play, the rats will descend to find its contents and if
need be, the thieving shall be done. The more stalwarts of the playwright may
cry sabotage but beneath it all, the desire runs deep in all. It’s only the raw
playwright who may get the stab in the back, or be awarded the menial role to
correct the script.
“It’s
the survival of the fittest.” Polonius once said that line in a gathering of
the playwright. “You are either with the strong or be devoured by them.”
“Some
are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon
them. You took mine for yours.” One among the audience stood up. He was a young
playwright and felt many a time, he was cheated of his genius writings.
“I
take it you did quote the true meaning of Shakespeare here …. Was it Twelfth
Night? Those words eluded me for I have not written it but I will take all
criticism like any actor. An unappreciative apprentice.” Polonius brushed the
subtle meaning of the meaning. The young writer was to rebuttal then but was
removed forcibly.
“Youngbloods
are always in a rage,” Polonius spoke to the audience. “We just have to let
them grow themselves out.”
“You
called for me?” Polonius heard the other voice while holding the headset of the
communication set courtesy of Graham Bell.
“Yes…Yes…
Reynaldo, it’s me Polonius.” The elderly man spoke into the headset. “Can you
hear me?”
“Loud
and clear, Great Chamberlain.”
“It’s
Laertes. He left for Paris last night. Did you receive him there?”
“Yes,
I had. He was met by the ship and taken to his quarters.” Reynaldo replied. “He
looked fine. Virile and raring to get back to work.”
“You
shall do marvelous wisely, good Reynaldo. Before you visit him, inquire about his
behavior?”Polonius sounded like any concerned father. “Good Reynaldo, it would
be extremely wise of you to ask around about his behavior before you visit him.”
“My
lord, I did intend it.” Reynaldo in the employ of the Great Chamberlain assured
the other. “That was my plan, my lord.”
“Marry,
well said, very well said. Look you, sir. Inquire me first what Danskers are in
Paris,And how, and who, what means, and where they keep10What company at what
expense; and findingBy this encompassment and drift of questionThat they
do know my son, come you more nearerThan your particular demands will touch
it.Take you, as ’twere, some distant knowledge of him,15As thus: “I know his
father and his friends,And, in part, him.” Do you mark this, Reynaldo?
“Excellent,
good, good. First, find out what Danish people (Danish) are in Paris. Who they
are, how much money they have, where they live, who their friends are, and how
much they spend. And if…. through this roundabout and indirect
questioning—that they happen to know my son, you’ll end up finding out much
more than if you asked specific questions about him.” Polonius read off his
demands then.
“Talk
as if you vaguely know Laertes, such as, “I know his father and his friends and
know him a little.” Do you understand all this, Reynaldo?”
“Ay,
very well, my lord.” Reynaldo listened to the usual from the concerned father.
“Yes, very well, my lord.”
“And
in part him, but,” you may say, “not well. But, if it be he I mean, he’s very
wild.” Polonius thought of his son as a wandering stud in the wild. “Addicted
so and so. —” And there put on him.”
“What
forgeries you please? Marry, none so rank as may dishonor him. Take heed of
that but, sir, such wanton, wild, and usual slips as are companions noted and must
be known to youth and liberty.” Polonius is concerned about the sowing of seeds
to unmatchable ones. “Reynaldo, you hearing me there.”
“Yes,
I heed.”
“You
should say,” As if the man was correcting the script of the play. “I know him a
little, but not well. I think, from what I’ve heard, that he’s very wild, and
addicted to this and that. From there create whatever lies about him that
you can think up. Of course, nothing so bad that it would shame him. Be careful
about that. But feel free to make up stories about the wild and crazy
things that young men who are on their own typically get into.”
“As
in gambling, my lord?” Reynaldo left the bait.
“Yes,
or drinking, dueling, swearing, fighting, going to prostitutes—that sort of
thing.”
“My
lord, that would dishonor him!” Reynaldo cried out.
“Faith,
no, as you may season it in the charge.” The old man cautioned the one he paid
to take care of his son. “If you must. Put another scandal on him. That he is
open to incontinence….. “
On
hearing that from the elderly man, Reynaldo had the vision of Laertes bent to
the tabletop on the offer.
“That’s
not my meaning but breathe his faults so quaintly.” The elderly man snapped in.
“That hey may seem the taints of liberty. He is not perfect.”
Being
bent over does stifle the freedom of movement, thought Reynaldo.
“The
flash and outbreak of a fiery mind. A savageness in unreclaimèd blood of
general assault.” Those words from the elderly man made Reynaldo pout his lips
as what a scene impact it would have made on stage; assault of the rear.
“Oh,
no, not if you say it with the right spin. You shouldn’t say that he’s sexually
indulgent, that’s not what I mean.” The elderly man pulls the reins to halt the
gallop down the hill.
“Aye,
my Lord. I know your meaning.” Reynaldo said but the elderly man was onto his ramblings.
“Instead,
just mention these faults lightly, as if you think they're nothing more than
the minor faults that sprout in someone new to freedom—like the products of a
strong mind and untamed youth—and the kind of thing that occurs in lots of
young men.” The elderly man has not paused his sentences and continues
ranting.
“Yes,
my lord. I would like to know that.”
“All
right. Here’s my idea. And I do think it's a bit clever.” The elderly man takes
claim. “As you casually mention these minor faults and small blemishes as if
everyone has heard of them, watch the person with whom you’re talking. If
whoever you’re talking to has ever seen Laertes do any of the things you
mention, he’ll mark his agreement by saying something like “good sir” or “friend”
or “gentleman”—or something like that, depending on the person’s background.”
“Very
good, my lord. I understand, sir.” Total adherence was given.
“And
then, sir, does he this, he does— What was I about to say? By the mass, I was
about to say something. Where did I leave?”
“Huh…”
Reynaldo paused to think but the elderly man was off on the track once more.
“At
“closes in the consequence.” Ay, marry he closes thus: “I know the gentleman. I
saw him yesterday”—or “it’s another day,” Or then, or then, with such or
such —“and, as you say. There was the gaming, they overtook in’s rouse. There
falling out at tennis,” or, perchance, “I saw him enter such a house of
sale”—Videlicet a brothel, or so forth. See you now, your bait of
falsehood takes this carp of truth.” The elderly man ranted on as if he was
re-writing the script.
“And
thus do we of wisdom and reach, With windlasses and with assays of bias. By
indirections find directions out. So my former lecture and advice. Shall you,
my son? You have me, have you not?”
“Absolutely…..
My lord, I have.” Reynaldo in the doubts then “Whatever it may take to get him
in line or back?”
“God
be wi’ you. Fare you well.” Polonius choose to end the call. “God bless you.
Goodbye.”
“One
last word, Reynaldo. Observe his inclination in yourself.”
“Me?
I am …”
“One
cannot be overly indulged. If you were him, music may help. It soothes him
well.”
“I
shall, my lord.” Reynaldo found himself then cut off on the line. “Let him ply
his music. I hope he’s studying his music as he’s supposed to.”
To
the young man whose father was overly concerned on, music was far from his mind
then.
“Me
overindulgence? I cared not as long as I have the means to get it.” the dues
are paid on time.” Reynaldo then dialed another number.
“Could
you send the dame earlier? I will need her services for myself. Yes, she can be
the Dame of the Ascot for all I care, as long she will take on a stud like me.
And could she sing?”
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