The Tragedy of
Dinobot, Prince of Denmark

~~ACT ONE~~

Scene five:
[Upon a turret. Still cold and cloudy. Enter Silverbolt and Dinobot]

Dinobot: Whither wilt thou LEAD me? SPEAK! I'll go no further!

Silverbolt: ::Sweeps around, looking very noble:: Mark me!

Dinobot: Er... sure.

Silverbolt: ::Continues, oblivious:: My hour is almost come, when I to sulph'uous and tormenting flames must render up myself. ::Before Dinobot can show a reaction:: Pity me not, but lend thy serious hearing to what I shall unfold.

Dinobot: ::Blink and nods blankly::

Silverbolt: ::Poses to the sound of fanfare:: I am thy father's ghost!

Dinobot: ... Yes, well, I sort of figured.

Silverbolt: ::Deflates a bit, pouting:: Oh.

Dinobot: ::Waits:: Anything else?

Silverbolt: Oh, yes! I must ask something!

Dinobot: ::Back to overacting:: Anything, father!

Silverbolt: ::Clears throat:: If thou didst ever thy dear father love, revenge his foul and most unnatural murder!

Dinobot: Murder!

Silverbolt: ::Nods solenmly, looking pained:: 'Tis given out that, sleeping in my orchard, a serpent stung me; so the whole ear of Denmark is by a forged process of my death rankly abus'd; but know, thou noble youth, the serpent that did sting thy father's life now wears his crown...!

Dinobot: ::Stands for a second, translating it in his head:: Oh. Oh! My uncle!

Megatron: ::Off stage; claps dryly::

Dinobot: ::Growls at him::

Silverbolt: ::Oblivious:: Ay, that incestuous, that adulterate beast, with witchcraft of his wit, with traitorous gifts,--o, wicked wit and gifts, that have the power so to seduce!--won to his shameful lust the will of my most seeming-virtuous queen: o, Hamlet, what a falling-off was there! From me, whose love was--

Dinobot: ::Notices the audience is either profoundly confused or half asleep; quickly:: So what you're saying is that I should kill Claudius because he killed you and married mother, right?

Silverbolt: ::Blinks and pouts:: Well... yes. But I must ask, howsoever thou pursu'st this act, taint not thy mind, nor let thy soul contrive against thy mother aught: leave her to heaven, and to those thorns that in her bosom lodge, to prick and sting her.

Dinobot: Er... yes, father. ::Lost::

Silverbolt: ::Swishes his wings dramatically, to much fanfare:: Adieu, adieu! Hamlet, remember me!

[Exit Silverbolt]

Dinobot: ::Poses dramatically:: O, all you HOST of heaven! O, EARTH! what else? And shall I couple HELL?! O, fie!--Hold, my heart; and YOU, my sinews, grow not instant old, but bear me STIFFLY up!--Remember thee!

Megatron: ::Off stage:: Hamlet, Hamlet!

Dinobot: ::Growls and rushes along:: O, villain, villain, smiling, damned villain! My tablet, I'll write down that one may smile, and smile, and be a village--VILLAIN! At least, I am sure, it may be so--

[Enter Megatron and Airrazor, at a run. They stop, Megatron "accidentally" shouldering into Dinobot, sending him sprawling]

Airrazor: ::Whispers desperately:: We're too early!

Megatron: ::Whispers back:: Did you want to listen to the rest of that wank?

Dinobot: ::Scrambles up, glaring:: What?!

Airrazor: How is it with you, my lord?

Dinobot: I am well! I have wonderful news!

[Silence]

Megatron: ::Taps foot:: Well?

Dinobot: I cannot tell you; you'll reveal it.

Airrazor: ::Indignant:: No!

Megatron: Not unless someone payed me.

Airrazor: ::Elbows him::

Dinobot: ::Ignores Megatron:: There's a villain dwelling in Denmark, but he's an arrant knave.

Megatron: ::Snickers:: News, you said?

Dinobot: ::Glare:: Why, you're right, Horatio, and thus I think we should merely shake hands and go pray!

Airrazor: My lord, you speak madly.

Dinobot: Sorry, sorry, but I must ask you never speak of the ghost to others!

Airrazor: Heh, little late for that, my lord; Fransisco's all ready told every barmaid in Elsinore, and once they get hold of gossip, you know-- ::Notices looks and shuts up::

Megatron: ::Sighs:: We won't, my lord.

Dinobot: ::Pulls his sword:: Swear it!

Silverbolt: ::Off stage:: Swear! ::Fanfare::

Megatron: ::Growls:: I swear.

Airrazor: ::Nods:: I swear.

Dinobot: Well, well, I hear not your intent! Swear!

Megatron: ... That's not in the play.

Airrazor: ::Sighs:: We swear!

Silverbolt: ::Off stage:: Swear! ::Impressive trumpet fanfare; some wiseguy starts playing the Simpsons theme::

Dinobot: Well said, old mole! Swear!

Megatron: ::Glares and slugs Dinobot:: We bloody well swear!

Airrazor: ::Facepalms::

Dinobot: ::Rubs his jaw and glares at Megatron, but sheathes the sword::

Megatron: ::Blinks a bit:: Primus, that was gratifying.

Dinobot: ::Growls:: My friends, from now on I must act as if mad-- ::Snaps at Megatron before he can say anything:: Shut up, Horatio --but do not be unnerved for it is a disguise in which I have swept myself. Come, my friends, and still be silent. The time is out of joint; O, cursed spite, that ever I was born to set it right!

Megatron: ...

Dinobot: ::Sulks a bit:: Come, let's go together.

[Exeunt]

end of
~~ACT ONE~~