Act One Scene Two
Sub-Scene
Three
The
Prodigal Sons.
The
Great Chamberlain, Polonius had waited patiently for the meal to be served. It
was not hunger that prevailed in him but a sense of impatience to see the event
ends soon. He stole glances at his only son, Laertes, seated some distance from
him, unlike what a son should be when with his father. The man was with his
peers, who were unlike him having cheerful sessions, while he sat brooding in
his expression. Perhaps, he still grief for the death of the King whom he had
considered as his better father.
“Laertes
had grown more since I last saw him.” The one seated next to Polonius was the
Emperor himself, Claudis the Great as he was named.
“Yes,
I did not see him for a great many years. He was in Paris, as I was made to
know, pursuing his passion in the arts.” The father of the man declared.
“Ah,
yes. The young at heart seems to flutter far from the next.” Claudius smiled.
“I am once without a son but now with one that I have yet to know.”
“Soon,
my Emperor,” Polonius said with a smile. Laertes approached the table then. He
stood on the Emperor’s side and bowed to the one there.
And
now, Laertes, what's the news with you? You told us of some suit.” The Emperor
spoke as if he was in the play with the King playing the supporting role to ask
him of something.
“What
is it, Laertes? You mentioned that you
have a favor to ask of me. You’ll never be wasting your words by making a
reasonable request of the King of Denmark… or rather the yet-to-be-ascended
King. Ask for that I wouldn’t give you?” Claudius laughed. “Though your father
is as vital to the throne as the head is to the heart or the hand to the mouth.
What do you want, Laertes?”
“My
powerful lord,…. I duly apologize. It should be, my duly Emperor.” Laertes
bowed bis head once more. “I’d like your permission to go back to
France. Though I came willingly to Denmark to show my loyalty at your
coronation, now that my duty is done, I must admit that my thoughts are once
more directed toward France. I hope you will give me your permission to
go.”
“Do
I detect a flutter of the hearts there, Polonius?” Claudius mocked the young
man. “Surely, you are his father will know.”
“Do
you have your father’s permission?” Claudius looked at the young man. “Blood is
thicker than… mere loyalty.”
“Yes,
he has, and won my permission by asking me over and over again.” Polonius made
a weak smile. “I finally gave consent but he does have to seek yours too. Do
allow him.”
“Ah,
the courtesy of our generation. Once when we only hear the King, now we may be
asked of the Emperor.” Claudius remarked before turning to Laertes.
“Yes,
my son. You may leave when you are ready.” Claudius smiled and then looked
around. “I wonder how far my other son, Hamlet? My nephew and my ….son now. I
hope not brooding in the chamber. We missed him at the funeral.”
“I
am here, Claudius.” Hamlet appeared from behind the Emperor.
“Sneaking
on me like before, Hamlet. I do wish you were more forwarding for us to meet.”
Claudius turned to look at the peer of Laertes. Both of them are of the same
age, with closely associated passion; one on the stage and the other behind the
scenes. Peers with different talents but never a joint effort in their work.
Professional envy was the excuse said by many.
“Much
ado about nothing.” The King once remarked on the duo. The headlines played it
differently; the actors have their stage to marvel at.
“A
little more than kin and less than kind.” Hamlet stood there still dressed in
the dark tuxedo and white gloves holding eh stalk of lilac. He had known
Claudius since birth and was even considered at some stage, the doting father to the child while the King
was at his rehearsals or on the road with the plays.
“We
should reconnect again, Hamlet.” Claudius looked at the other. “I do miss you
with my plays and schedules.”
It
was remarked that one once has the three maestros shared the same stage. It was
headlined as ‘trifecta of heaven, hell and the living world’, the King with the
Emperor and leading them was the young also named Hamlet. It was by chance a
meet of the trio on stage but not since then they have not shared the stage, or
as remarked by one critic that it shall be only death that to be their next
meet.
“Why
are you so gloomy, Hamlet?”Claudius asked. “As a courtesy, we kept him here for
your return.”
“I
have been in the sun far too long,” Hamlet replied. The sun there is the
applause of the audience and hence his adoration for it. He saw then the
approaching mother.
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