Disclaimer: This being a Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead fic, Guil and Cranz's characterization is credited to Tom Stoppard, and before that they were credited to Shakespeare. And I'm not Stoppard, nor am I Shakespeare. Or both. I'm definitely not both.
(A/N: Yes, this is another alternate-ending story. Being an R&G fan, I had a psychological need to write one, so I finally came up with this. I've also decided to continue it. I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing at the moment, but we'll see. Is this the only R&G fic to have more than one chapter? As far as I've seen. Oh, and it's slashy. Have fun, kids.)
The stage opens to darkness.
Slowly, it brightens, one light at a time. It's informal, as though the equipment's being tested. GUILDENSTERN is on stage and he watches the lights as they come on, a bit perplexed. Opposite him, ROSENCRANTZ lies still on the ground.
GUIL (still watching the lights): This is an odd way for the sun to rise. Or, perhaps it's the stars coming out, but they're very bright for stars. Although, I'm becoming inclined to believe that the phases of the day we've been perceiving are all fake. (He looks behind him.) Rosencrantz? Where's he gone off to?
And then, he spots ROS. GUIL pauses, stunned for a moment. Slowly, he makes his way to ROS and kneels.
Rosencrantz? Rosen- (GUIL shakes him a little, but there's no response.) Rosen-? You can't- You can't be… Oh, God. Rosencrantz…You're not- (Small pause.) Rosen..? (Hesitating at first, GUIL begins to caress ROS's hair gently, not sure if he's going to cry.) But, why should I be surprised? This is what's supposed to happen. "Without delay…should those bearers, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, be put to death…" (Small pause.) And yet, when I found myself still alive, I figured that we were all right, that we'd been spared. I never imagined…
Takes a breath, shifts. Pause. Takes another breath.
This isn't possible. Could it be that the king decided only to put you to death? But, why would he distinguish between us? Did he choose at random? Perhaps he meant to put me to death, but got us mixed up.
He pauses to regain composure.
Or, maybe this is hell, and somewhere you're experiencing this same scenario, trapped in a non-descript place, alone with my dead body… But, have we really done something wrong enough to deserve this? We were without free will or choice, at the mercy of the elements, pawns in a chess game, yet we're punished because we were at the wrong place at the wrong time. I suppose we… I suppose we could have tried helping Hamlet instead of making excuses to distance ourselves from the reality of his execution. I admit it wasn't very noble.
GUIL jumps up and approaches one side of the stage. He stops, turns, and approaches the other side, but doesn't like it either. He looks behind him, above him, and below him, but none of it looks any better. Lost, he retires to the center and sits down.
Maybe… this is where we're supposed to die. There is no England, no king; I never thought there was. We simply exit the scene and then depart from our earthly vessels to begin the process all over again. You just got here before me, and at any moment… (Pauses tensely, but nothing happens. GUIL becomes desperate.) It doesn't make any sense! Why am I still here? Alive, alone? (Jumps to his feet.) Perhaps I was too late, or Ros was too early? Maybe Death came for both of us, but he swung his scythe before I had arrived. I missed my appointment with Thanatos, my only chance to leave this mortal plane, and I'm doomed to walk it until Judgment Day… And… (Turns to watch ROS. Small pause, then he continues with a quiver in his voice.) And you. I ignored you, didn't I? I didn't even see you leave. Maybe if I had… (Paces.) This is no time for regrets. What's done is done. (Small pause; more pacing.) No regrets. (Even more pacing.) And yet… That's all I have! Regrets… If I wasn't so damn occupied with rationalizing things, maybe I could have gotten us out of there. You thought we should have been doing something constructive and I thought that was useless. We could have… we could have gone looking for someone, anyone, instead of waiting around. Who cares if they mixed us up and were chasing us around all night, or all week, or forever? At least we would still have been… And, maybe in the confusion, they'd have found someone else to escort Hamlet to England; someone else to doom. Being stuck in that castle forever doesn't seem so bad anymore…
Small hiatus, during which GUIL turns his attention to everything around him, one by one. But, finally, he turns his attention back to ROS.
There's no use in telling you now, but… I cared about you, a lot. You weren't always the biggest help, but I enjoyed your company, your innocent optimism, your smile… And, you cared about me, too, didn't you? All you wanted was… to make me happy. I should have told you that I appreciated it… (Getting desperate; yelling at the heavens.) Why am I stuck here?! Is this eternity?! Is this hell?! What am I supposed to be contemplating?! Am I supposed to admit it, admit my sin?! Yes, I shunned love, I denied it. He could have well loved me back, I'm almost certain, but, in the end, he never knew. Is that not enough?! Is my regret not punishment enough?! (Collapses to his knees, opposite ROS.) Fate is cruel… A constant road of regret, always headed towards a sudden stop, always towards darkness…
While GUIL is shouting these last few lines, ROS begins to stir. Just some weak movements of the head at first, but as GUIL quiets, ROS completely rolls over, though he's apparently still asleep face-first on the stage floor. GUIL takes no notice of him as he sobs, cape wrapped around mournfully. He jumps as ROS's voice reaches him, muffled by the cloak that's ended up covering his head.
ROS (softly, relaying these words through a dream): …a minor character in Shakespeare's "Hamlet"… major character in Stoppard's… literary fatality comes from… events already decided…
His dead friend not only turning over suddenly but also speaking suitably startles GUIL; yet in the same moment he's equally intrigued by what he hears. Intrigue wins and he pauses for a moment, listening.
…Though they resist accepting… human beings are doomed to die as soon as they enter the… skip that speech… go right to the killing… don't wish to imply that ALL Danes…have their college buddies executed…
At "skip that speech" the interest is lost and GUIL slowly crawls up to ROS. He gently folds the cloak off of ROS's head and is surprisingly calm compared to his actions a moment before. ROS being alive is such a relief that the how and why doesn't matter so much at the moment. His friend quiets as GUIL places a hand on ROS's forehead.
GUIL (musing quietly to himself): The fate of human mortality is a road, always headed in the same direction to the same destination. But, sometimes detours can be taken and the travel length can be altered. We'll end up in the same place eventually; we just take a different way… (Smiles sadly to himself.) I didn't even check for a pulse. I've truly become distanced from reality.
ROS opens his eyes.
ROS: Oh…wow…
GUIL: Are you all right?
ROS: I just had the most amazing feeling…
GUIL (hopefully): Of what?
ROS: …I don't really remember.
Guil (gentle sarcasm, though disappointed): Of course, why would you?
Pause.
ROS slowly sits up, gazing in wonder at his surroundings.
ROS: Where are we?
GUIL: Hard to say. We could be somewhere; although it's just as plausible that we're nowhere. (He regards ROS fondly for a moment, although ROS has become occupied with watching nothing in the completely opposite direction. GUIL then takes his hands and his attention.) Are you alive? I mean, truly? This all seems so casual. It'd be very cruel for this to be a dream or some sort of hallucination. (ROS only stares back in response, bewildered by the proposal.) Not that you would know, I suppose. Do the demons and phantoms of our mind know that they are? Of our mind, that is. I wouldn't think so, considering they're just images created by our subconscious. Which means, we ourselves are them, but don't consciously know what they are. So, therefore, hallucinations don't know that they are. The world could be just a figment of our mind and we wouldn't know it.
Small pause.
ROS: I had a dream.
GUIL: All right.
ROS: It was really something; a bit amusing, a bit tragic, very confusing. We were summoned by a king to glean what afflicted a friend, who we really didn't know, and there were players to draw his attention to, and we were on a boat, and pirates attacked it. And then, get this, we were ordered to be killed by an English king! All I can say is, I'm glad-
GUIL: -it wasn't a dream.
ROS: Excuse me?
GUIL: You're excused.
ROS: No, what you said-
GUIL: It wasn't a dream. I'm afraid your hallucinations are very real.
ROS: You can't be- (Suddenly becomes panicked at the realization.) Are we dead, then?! Is this it?! Oh, it's so empty; I don't want to stay here forever!
GUIL: (Takes ROS in his arms.) It's all right… There, now… We'll figure this out. I'll figure it out. I just need you to help me, okay? (ROS nods, nearly in tears.) Now, do you know what happened right after you disappeared? You were saying something about being relieved, and..?
ROS: I'm not sure. (Small pause.) Well, there was darkness, and… more darkness…
GUIL: There was darkness for me, too, but I didn't end up unconscious on the floor. Did something hit you? Did you feel anything?
ROS: No, I… (Pauses, growing embarrassed.) I think…
GUIL: Yes?
ROS: Well, I was so sure that I was about to die when everything went dark. I thought that, maybe, something might chop my head off or stab me at any moment. And, I think I became so scared that I…
GUIL: Yes?
ROS: I fainted.
Pause.
GUIL (flatly, acidly): You what?
ROS: And, I must have hit my head on the floor pretty hard, because I have this nasty bump-
ROS stops suddenly as GUIL brings back his arm in a quick jerk, but restrains himself right before he delivers the blow. ROS holds his breath as his terrified eyes meet GUIL's flaming ones.
GUIL (through his teeth): Do you have any idea-? I can't believe…
ROS: Did you think..?
The look GUIL gives him is answer enough. GUIL gets up and heads downstage.
GUIL: I was so stupid…
ROS (softly): I'm sorry… Guil, really, I- (ROS pauses abruptly as he realizes what this could mean. Perhaps he remembers something his subconscious heard as he slept. After a moment he rises and cautiously joins GUIL downstage.) So…so, have we decided if we're dead, yet?
GUIL: Don't be stupid.
ROS: I just wanted to… But, really, I mean, how are we supposed to know?
GUIL (giving way a little): Hard to say, really… (Small pause.) You said something earlier, in your sleep, about events already being decided, and humans not accepting their fate. Do you remember what you were dreaming about right before you woke up?
ROS: No. I thought reality had been the dream, apparently. Why?
GUIL: Because it adds to something I've just recently become aware of and… (He taps ROS's head.) I think, somewhere, deep in the recesses of your mind, you might know more than I do.
ROS (humbly): Oh, I doubt that.
GUIL: Maybe not intellectually, but intellect isn't always the best measure for intelligence… (Faltering.) What- what I'm trying to do, I guess, is apologize, for almost hitting you.
ROS (ever optimistic): That's all right.
GUIL: And, I was really upset when I thought you were gone. (Gives ROS a sincere look.) I'd really miss you. That's what I'm trying to say.
ROS (hopefully): Anything else?
Pause.
GUIL: No, not really.
ROS: Oh. (They both look at their feet, thinking the same thoughts.) So, now what should we do?
GUIL: What can we do?
ROS (looks to either side): Go off stage?
GUIL: What?
ROS (gestures towards the wings): Off stage. You know, not on stage…
GUIL: Wait, you know about us being-?
ROS: Yes.
ROS smiles at the surprised reaction he's gotten out of GUIL and quickly decides to act on the brief confidence it's given him. He rushes up and intertwines their hands.
GUIL (startled, though he can't hide his hopefulness): What are you doing?
ROS (undaunted): Nothing.
Their eyes meet; anything that they could possibly say about how they feel is relayed in this gaze. They seem to be considering a kiss, but hesitate, and after a few moments the overture begins to play. They listen in wonder. ROS sighs.
Must we go through this again?
GUIL (coming out of his stunned elation): It seems so… (He wraps his arms around ROS's waist.) However, something seems a little different this time.
ROS (playfully): Perhaps.
GUIL: Do you remember the first time we were summoned and stopped to flip coins by the side of the road?
ROS: No.
GUIL: Neither do I, because there was never a first time. It was merely an idea, and then became part of a play. It was never an actual event we experienced, it was written. Still, there must be some point where we can rewrite the script, where we can say no… But, we never realize it until it's too late.
ROS: But, think, have we ever been this conscious of our situation, (sly grin) either one?
GUIL: No, I guess not. You think there's something in that?
ROS: I do.
At his words, the overture comes to a close.
GUIL (rushed): How do you feel?
ROS: I've felt better.
GUIL: Confident?
ROS: As I'll ever be.
They wait for the curtain to rise, but it doesn't. GUIL grows anxious and pulls a coin out of his bag. He flips it over his shoulder.
GUIL: What is it?
ROS: Heads.
Pause.
GUIL repeats the process.
ROS: Tails.
Small pause as they look at each other.
GUIL: There's definitely something in that.
ROS (picks up the coins, handing them back to GUIL): What do you think it is?
GUIL (fond smile): How about you tell me for a change?
ROS (taken back): Really? All-all right. Maybe… maybe… there's nothing special about this day. (GUIL paces, as though these were his words.) Everything's normal. (GUIL nods.) And we're not going to suddenly be caught up in a bizarre scenario that leads directly to a tragic fate… But, how can this mean anything if the play hasn't even started yet?
GUIL pauses, as though the hitch were in his own thoughts.
GUIL: True. This isn't sorting out as neatly as I thought it would.
ROS falls despondently to his knees.
ROS: Where's it going to end?
GUIL comes up behind him, wrapping his arms around ROS's shoulders.
GUIL: It needs to begin before it can end.
ROS: It needs to end before it can begin.
Pause.
ROS gets up, gently separating from GUIL.
Maybe… we just need to accept things the way they are.
GUIL: What?
ROS: We have each other and eternity, don't we? Maybe we go around in circles and end up the same way every time, but if that's what we're given, then so be it.
GUIL: I thought we'd know better next time, and the time before.
ROS had stopped in front of GUIL to listen to this last musing, and he suddenly has another burst of confidence. Without hesitation, he quickly pulls GUIL into a kiss.
ROS (slowly releasing): Maybe, maybe not.
GUIL stares at ROS a moment.
GUIL: Yes… yes, I suppose I could try dealing with that. (Another stare.) Are you really Rosencrantz?
ROS (blinks): I- I suppose. Am I not acting like myself? The bump's left me feeling a little off, so I'm sorry if-
GUIL: No, no, no, it's all right. I believe I'm still experiencing a slight state of disbelief.
During this, the curtain has begun to rise, and by the time they notice it it's half way up. To their surprise, down stage is occupied by fallen bodies; it is the end of Hamlet. The Prince's body is not present, however. ROS and GUIL watch the scene in silent surprise for a moment, when a "peal of ordnance" is suddenly shot off stage. GUIL jumps; ROS screams. HORATIO re-enters, apparently drawn back by ROS's yell.
HOR: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern? I just received word of your executions, and yet, here you are. The ambassador must have been mistaken.
GUIL: Must have been.
ROS: Gravely. (This receives a strange look from GUIL.)
HOR: More than I can say for the royal household.
GUIL: That the ambassador was mistaken?
HOR: That deaths, apparent or not, were mistaken.
GUIL (understanding): That lives were spared.
ROS (watching the bodies): What could have so suddenly caused the demise of the entire royal family? And then some…
HOR: Although you were here as it happened, you're no doubt confused by all that has occurred. Come, good sirs, and I'll fulfill Lord Hamlet's last wish by repeating this tragic history…
He leads them off-stage, and ROS and GUIL follow hand-in-hand.
…The stage blacks out.
(A/N: If you're wondering why I keep switching between calling Rosencrantz "Ros" and "Cranz," it's because I don't like calling him Ros, but I do in the actual fic for consistency's sake. Cranz's random muttering in his sleep is bits borrowed from the RAGAD eNotes literature guide, except the bits after "skip that speech," which are from the Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged.)
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