Hamlet; the Noir Adaption 2023 Act 1 Subscene 2

 Act One Scene One

Sub-Scene Two

The concern of the watch

Barnado turned to look and saw the emerging twins; Horatio and Marcellus. The twins are identical in looks and choice of clothing, which to the dismay of the others who had to take turns to do the night watch. The twin's preference for the dark garbs and silent pacing adds to their unwelcomeness on such nights.

“Friends to the ground.” The one named Horatio spoke. He is the older of the twins by a gap of five minutes, held fascination with the occults, always that there are spirits abound them in the differing dimensions.

“And liegeman to the King,” Marcellus added to his brother’s words/

“The King is dead but you are not.” Barnado refused to be associated with the dead, even though he may be their boss.

“Give you good night.” Francisco decides to call it the night.

“Hello, Barnardo.” Marcellus greeted the other.

“Say what is Horatio there?” Barnado asked.

“A piece of him,” Horatio replied in his usual snide remarks. Marcellus noticed the shudder on Barnado. He was not superstitious like the others.

“What, has this thing appeared again tonight?” Marcellus asked. He was ever unfearful. When there was a death to be disposed of, you can always rely on Marcellus. There were rumors that he is a grave thief in his free time.

“I have seen nothing,” Barnado uttered before he offered a silent prayer to himself.

“Horatio says ’tis but our fantasy, and will not let belief take hold of him touching this dreaded sight twice seen of us,” Marcellus said. “Therefore I have entreated him along. With us to watch the minutes of this night, that if again this apparition comes, he may approve our eyes and speak to it.”

“Drab it, Marcellus. It will not appear.” Horatio shaped up the courage to ease his fear of Barnado.

“Set down a while,” Barnado cut in. “And let us once again assail your ears that are so fortified against our story, that we have two nights seen.”

“So be it, Barnado. We will listen to you tell us now.” Horatio stepped toward Barnado. He was not afraid of spirits. His tally was seven lives taken by him of which the spade over the head was three. He favored the sound of shattered skulls. The King has his enemies and they were of Horatio’s cause to remove them.

“Last night, when that star to the west of the North Star had traveled across the night sky to that point where it’s shining now, at one o'clock,” Barnado looked to the dark sky. It was like the other night, the stars were out. “ Marcellus and I—"

“The ghost…” Barnado called out when he took a step back. “It’s the King.”

“In the same figure as the king that’s dead.” Barnado had served the King for some years and never had he felt more intimidated than at that moment. “He is here.”

Marcellus stepped forth and stared at the ghostly apparition.

“Is it the King? Has he come back?”