Much Ado Clips

After watching the clips, I noticed that the more modern clip seemed to focus a lot more on the scandal and adulterous parts of the play. It is this way i think because that tends  to interest people the most these days in regards to what seems interesting to them or not. The older clip seemed to focus more on the play as a whole. It captured the tone of the play through the really bright music and the montage of scenes that was shown. The messages that i get from the clips are very different from one another.

The modern clip does seem to miss a rather important part of the play. There is  not much suggestion of comedy in the clip. From the clip, you can conclude that it is obviously not a serious movie, but you can not tell that it is meant to be a comedy, or a romantic comedy at that. It seems like it is just going to be a drama filled with sex and twists and turns. The older clip doesn't miss much, between the music and the different parts of the movie that they showed, you pretty much got the overall feel of the play. It was hearty and fun filled with some scandal mixed in. I think that personally, i would like the older movie better.

Free Post 3:6

I really enjoy homework sometimes. But only at certain times, i really like it whenever i know that i know what i am doing because i can usually whip through it pretty quickly.Other times, when i do not know what i am doing, i get really aggravated because i know what i am doing isn't right. I do not, however just give up and do it wrong. I do my best to find out how to do it correctly, but if i just can't figure out how to do it, then i will do it wrong, and use the corrections to make sure i understand it. I actually always use the corrections from the next day of class to understand how to do whatever it is that we are doing.

I that homework is a very important part off school for two reason. First, doing homework helps us practice the material that we just learned in class, it is an important step for our brains to process what we learned that day and it helps it to stick. The second reason that homework is important is that it helps to teach us time management. That is an important skill because in life, doing everything in a timely fashion is very importatnt and if you have not developed that skill previous to your adult life, it will be very hard for you.

Act 3 Promptbook

Cole Kennedy

Kealy Duke

English III

2.17.2014

Scene 1: 

1. Hero and her fiance Claudio are about to be married. They are in love but have only been dating a short while, the year is 2014 and things could not be more tense. Her and her bridesmaids are preparing for Hero's wedding. They know nothing of the plan to foil her marriage. the wedding is very near and Hero is in her gown walking around the garden with her friends, who are wearing their street clothes, I.E. Jeans and a top. But hero is having a little fun with Beatrice before their wedding by trying to fling together Benedick and Beatrice. The group is on the stage at a table while there is a hedge separating the two sides of the stage, Beatrice comes in on the right side and they "can't see" her. 

HERO (Knowing that Beatrice can hear, she speaks loudly to her friends, there is a tone of amusement in her voice as she loves the deed she is doing) 
Now, Ursula, when Beatrice doth come,
As we do trace this alley up and down,
Our talk must only be of Benedick.
When I do name him, let it be thy part
To praise him more than ever man did merit:
My talk to thee must be how Benedick
Is sick in love with Beatrice. Of this matter
Is little Cupid's crafty arrow made,
That only wounds by hearsay.

Enter BEATRICE, behind (From back left to center left, putting her hand to her ear to hear beyond the hedge.) 

Now begin;
For look where Beatrice, like a lapwing, runs
Close by the ground, to hear our conference.

URSULA (just as loud and deliberately) 
The pleasant'st angling is to see the fish
Cut with her golden oars the silver stream,
And greedily devour the treacherous bait:
So angle we for Beatrice; who even now
Is couched in the woodbine coverture.
Fear you not my part of the dialogue.

HERO
Then go we near her, that her ear lose nothing
Of the false sweet bait that we lay for it.

Approaching the bower

No, truly, Ursula, she is too disdainful;
I know her spirits are as coy and wild
As haggerds of the rock.

URSULA
But are you sure
That Benedick loves Beatrice so entirely?

HERO (Looking back at the hedge, smiling beacause she knows what she jsut did) 
So says the prince and my new-trothed lord.

2.  While Hero and Ursula continue to talk about how Benedick "loves" Beatrice, their dialogue becomes inaudible and the lights fade a little around them but intensify on Beatrice to really show her reactions to what they are saying. After about 15 seconds of this everyone pauses for a moment, the lights come back up and the speaking continues. Beatrice, awestruckenly sits on a bench during the silence and that is where she listens to the rest of the conversation. 

URSULA (In the same tone as before, an excited one that shows her inability to stay cool under pressure. She starts to smoke a cigarette.) 

O, do not do your cousin such a wrong.
She cannot be so much without true judgment--
Having so swift and excellent a wit
As she is prized to have--as to refuse
So rare a gentleman as Signior Benedick.

HERO (In a very complimenitive manor) 
He is the only man of Italy.
Always excepted my dear Claudio.

URSULA
I pray you, be not angry with me, madam,
Speaking my fancy: Signior Benedick,
For shape, for bearing, argument and valour,
Goes foremost in report through Italy.

HERO (Standing up and speaking with exclamation) 
Indeed, he hath an excellent good name.

URSULA
His excellence did earn it, ere he had it.
When are you married, madam?

HERO
Why, every day, to-morrow. Come, go in:
I'll show thee some attires, and have thy counsel
Which is the best to furnish me to-morrow.

URSULA
She's limed, I warrant you: we have caught her, madam.

HERO
If it proves so, then loving goes by haps:
Some Cupid kills with arrows, some with traps.

Exeunt HERO and URSULA

BEATRICE ( She rises from the bench and takes center left center stage, all the lights go down except for her spotlight and she begins. She speaks quickly as if discovering each new word as she speaks. She is overcome with joy and confusion, her emotions are all over the place.) 
[Coming forward]
What fire is in mine ears? Can this be true?
Stand I condemn'd for pride and scorn so much?
Contempt, farewell! and maiden pride, adieu!
No glory lives behind the back of such.
And, Benedick, love on; I will requite thee,
Taming my wild heart to thy loving hand:
If thou dost love, my kindness shall incite thee
To bind our loves up in a holy band;
For others say thou dost deserve, and I
Believe it better than reportingly.

(She exits to the right and the curtains draw.) 

Scene 2

3. DON PEDRO, CLAUDIO, BENEDICK, and LEONATO all enter Leonato's house, they are all dressed in suit, black, the colors of the ties vary. Benedick has just learned of Beatirce's love for him and has developed his own love for her. They are in a room huddled around a table and they are speaking loudly and heartily. The lights are bright and fill up the stage. 

BENEDICK (He stands up to draw attention to himself)
Gallants, I am not as I have been.

LEONATO ( In a joking manor) 
So say I methinks you are sadder.

CLAUDIO (Interjecting loudly) 
I hope he be in love.

DON PEDRO 

Hang him, truant! there's no true drop of blood in
him, to be truly touched with love: if he be sad,
he wants money.

BENEDICK ( Sarcastically and in an attempt to regain order) 
I have the toothache.

DON PEDRO
Draw it.

BENEDICK (He bangs the table, He is starting to get frustrated) 
Hang it!

CLAUDIO
You must hang it first, and draw it afterwards.

DON PEDRO
What! sigh for the toothache?

LEONATO
Where is but a humour or a worm.

BENEDICK
Well, every one can master a grief but he that has
it.

CLAUDIO (Standing up, as if he had just made this discovery, he says it excitedly and as if it was unexpected) 
Yet say I, he is in love.

4. Don John is about to come and stir the pot, that is all he is really there for. 

DON JOHN (With a one hundred percent fake look of concern for Claudio, Don John takes a deep breath and then makes his statement "nonchalantly". 
If it please you: yet Count Claudio may hear; for
what I would speak of concerns him.

DON PEDRO
What's the matter?

DON JOHN (With feeling) 
[To CLAUDIO] Means your lordship to be married
to-morrow?

DON PEDRO (impolitely interjecting on purpose) 
You know he does.

DON JOHN
I know not that, when he knows what I know.

CLAUDIO
If there be any impediment, I pray you discover it.

DON JOHN (Pouring out his heart to Claudio, the entire point of his character depends on his ability to convince Claudio he is right so he puts a hand on Claudio and really sells it) 
You may think I love you not: let that appear
hereafter, and aim better at me by that I now will
manifest. For my brother, I think he holds you
well, and in dearness of heart hath holp to effect
your ensuing marriage;--surely suit ill spent and
labour ill bestowed.

DON PEDRO (Again, interjecting as if he is handling his brother for Claudio. Because he is the only one don John respects.) 
Why, what's the matter?

DON JOHN
I came hither to tell you; and, circumstances
shortened, for she has been too long a talking of,
the lady is disloyal.

CLAUDIO
Who, Hero?

DON PEDRO (This is the line that really set's Claudio's mind.) 

Even she; Leonato's Hero, your Hero, every man's Hero:

After this, The speaking becomes inaudible again and the lights dim everywhere except for on Claudio so you can see his expression as the meaning of these unbelievable words is unraveled by the rest of the Group. 

5. The curtains draw, and then reopen on the local police precinct; two officers, Dogberry and Verges are talking in their uniforms. They are getting ready for a big night. 

DOGBERRY (Speaking to his lieutenant and other lower ranking officers. while pacing up and down the line they have made while sipping his coffee) 

Are you good men and true?

VERGES (Saluting) 
Yea, or else it were pity but they should suffer
salvation, body and soul.

DOGBERRY (A general briefing of the night) 
Nay, that were a punishment too good for them, if
they should have any allegiance in them, being
chosen for the prince's watch.

VERGES
Well, give them their charge, neighbour Dogberry.

DOGBERRY
First, who think you the most desertless man to be
constable?

First Watchman (In a shouting voice) 
Hugh Otecake, sir, or George Seacole; for they can
write and read.

DOGBERRY
Come hither, neighbour Seacole. God hath blessed
you with a good name: to be a well-favoured man is
the gift of fortune; but to write and read comes by nature.

Second Watchman
Both which, master constable,--

DOGBERRY
You have: I knew it would be your answer. Well,
for your favour, sir, why, give God thanks, and make
no boast of it; and for your writing and reading,
let that appear when there is no need of such
vanity. You are thought here to be the most
senseless and fit man for the constable of the
watch; therefore bear you the lantern. This is your
charge: you shall comprehend all vagrom men; you are
to bid any man stand, in the prince's name.

Second Watchman
How if a' will not stand?

DOGBERRY
Why, then, take no note of him, but let him go; and
presently call the rest of the watch together and
thank God you are rid of a knave.

VERGES (Sort of laughing under his breath, breaking rank and making it apparent that Dogberry does not have much real authority over him) 
If he will not stand when he is bidden, he is none
of the prince's subjects.

6 . all wearing suits. 

BORACHIO (Center Stage, back turned to the audience. Speaking louldy) 

Therefore know I have earned of Don John a thousand ducats.

CONRADE (Backing away slightly) 
Is it possible that any villany should be so dear?

BORACHIO (With Authority!) 
Thou shouldst rather ask if it were possible any
villany should be so rich; for when rich villains
have need of poor ones, poor ones may make what
price they will.

CONRADE (Hand on his chin to think) 
I wonder at it.

BORACHIO
That shows thou art unconfirmed. Thou knowest that
the fashion of a doublet, or a hat, or a cloak, is
nothing to a man.

CONRADE
Yes, it is apparel.

BORACHIO (understandingly) 
I mean, the fashion.

CONRADE
Yes, the fashion is the fashion.

BORACHIO
Tush! I may as well say the fool's the fool. But
seest thou not what a deformed thief this fashion
is?

Watchman (Interjecting literally with his hand) 
[Aside] I know that Deformed; a' has been a vile
thief this seven year; a' goes up and down like a
gentleman: I remember his name.

BORACHIO
Didst thou not hear somebody?

CONRADE (Yelling, making sure to assert himself) 
No; 'twas the vane on the house.

Scene IV 

7.As the troubled marriage of Hero and Claudio draws near, Hero prepares for the special day. She is joined by her maids Margaret and Beatrice and ursula.  They are all wearing robes and are deciding what their day is going to be like. They are all on couches huddled around a coffee table, the color white is happening a lot and the stage is bright. Beatrice is still sleeping however. 

HERO (Yawning, hoppily and happily asking Margaret for such a kind favor and smiling as she does it) 
Good Ursula, wake my cousin Beatrice, and desire
her to rise.

URSULA (Daintily rising and bowing as she speaks.) 
I will, lady.

HERO ( as she walks away she says this loudly but with just as much grace as her first line) 
And bid her come hither.

URSULA
Well.

Exit

MARGARET (Hero rises and puts one o her dresses that she wants to wear for the wedding against her to see how it would look.) 
Troth, I think your other rabato were better.

HERO (insisting) 
No, pray thee, good Meg, I'll wear this.

MARGARET (convincingly, she stands to try and affirm her statement.) 
By my troth, 's not so good; and I warrant your
cousin will say so.

HERO (Jokingly, she rejects the suggestion) 
My cousin's a fool, and thou art another: I'll wear
none but this.

MARGARET (exactingly, she starts the flow of compliments) 
I like the new tire within excellently, if the hair
were a thought browner; and your gown's a most rare
fashion, i' faith. I saw the Duchess of Milan's
gown that they praise so.

HERO (She takes the dress and spins around the room with it) 
O, that exceeds, they say.

MARGARET
By my troth, 's but a night-gown in respect of
yours: cloth o' gold, and cuts, and laced with
silver, set with pearls, down sleeves, side sleeves,
and skirts, round underborne with a bluish tinsel:
but for a fine, quaint, graceful and excellent
fashion, yours is worth ten on 't.

HERO
God give me joy to wear it! for my heart is
exceeding heavy.

MARGARET
'Twill be heavier soon by the weight of a man.

HERO (Shocked! and astounded) 
Fie upon thee! art not ashamed?

MARGARET (Sassy and to explain herself)
Of what, lady? of speaking honourably? Is not
marriage honourable in a beggar? Is not your lord
honourable without marriage? I think you would have
me say, 'saving your reverence, a husband:' and bad
thinking do not wrest true speaking, I'll offend
nobody: is there any harm in 'the heavier for a
husband'? None, I think, and it be the right husband
and the right wife; otherwise 'tis light, and not
heavy: ask my Lady Beatrice else; here she comes.

Enter BEATRICE

(Beatrice enters, almost skipping she is so giddy. The lights noticeably dim around the other characters but on Hero, they get brighter You simply see her get happier and happier until conversation ends and the curtains draw to a close. End Scene IV) 

Scene V

8.   It is previous to the wedding and Leonato and the policeman, Verges and Dogberry are speaking about the possible "implications" of what the wedding could hold. All dressed as previously stated of course. They are in Leonato's house and he is drinking some of his bourbon. They are just in  a room,  a few things on the wall every then and there.

LEONATO  ( not even thinking about it, while taking a sip of his drink.)
I would fain know what you have to say.

VERGES
Marry, sir, our watch to-night, excepting your
worship's presence, ha' ta'en a couple of as arrant
knaves as any in Messina.

DOGBERRY (interjects into Verges' statement, says this with a sort of pompousness) 
A good old man, sir; he will be talking: as they
say, when the age is in, the wit is out: God help
us! it is a world to see. Well said, i' faith,
neighbour Verges: well, God's a good man; an two men
ride of a horse, one must ride behind. An honest
soul, i' faith, sir; by my troth he is, as ever
broke bread; but God is to be worshipped; all men
are not alike; alas, good neighbour!

LEONATO ( Taking another sip) 
Indeed, neighbour, he comes too short of you.

DOGBERRY
Gifts that God gives.

LEONATO ( In an attempt to escape, Leonato is growing tired and reaches for the door) 
I must leave you.

DOGBERRY (In a very serious tone, he must say this in a way to make Leonato interested in it. he stops LEONATO from leaving with a hand on his shoulder.) 
One word, sir: our watch, sir, have indeed
comprehended two aspicious persons, and we would
have them this morning examined before your worship.

LEONATO (again, attempting to leave) 
Take their examination yourself and bring it me: I
am now in great haste, as it may appear unto you.

DOGBERRY
It shall be suffigance.

LEONATO
Drink some wine ere you go: fare you well.

Enter a Messenger

Messenger (intrudingly) 
My lord, they stay for you to give your daughter to
her husband.

LEONATO
I'll wait upon them: I am ready.

Exeunt LEONATO and Messenger

DOGBERRY
Go, good partner, go, get you to Francis Seacole;
bid him bring his pen and inkhorn to the gaol: we
are now to examination these men.

VERGES
And we must do it wisely.

DOGBERRY (Walking back to Leonato, then ending excitingly!) 
We will spare for no wit, I warrant you; here's
that shall drive some of them to a non-come: only
get the learned writer to set down our
excommunication and meet me at the gaol.

Exeunt ( All exit left through the door to the room.) 

Act 2 Promptbook

Cole Kennedy

Ms. Duke

English III

2.10.2014

Promptbook Act 2:

Act 1: In the 7th grade, a group of students prepare for a typical 7th grade dance, the aftermath of which is quite dramatic. The children certainly speak like they are older but they are still at the maturity level of a 12 year old. There are emotions to be felt in this scene, a portion of which happens at the dance, and there is also a lot after. Let the drama begin... (p.s. Marriage and husbands are slang for boyfriend-girlfriend stuff, they like to have pretend families as well.)

Scene 1

1. 

LEONATO(Leonato, wearing his best collared shirt and khaki pants, stands among his friends Hero and Beatrice and his twin brother Antonio, is at the dance early waiting for things to get started and extremely nervous from being the first ones there. His hair is slicked back and he is also wearing his nice deck shoes. Comfortable among his friends, conversation starts to emerge. he speaks very naturally and the four are standing center stage in a circle with the spotlights on them.)

By my troth, niece, thou wilt never get thee a
husband, if thou be so shrewd of thy tongue.

ANTONIO (Dressed similarly to Leonato but much more timid) 
In faith, she's too curst.

BEATRICE (Beatrice is the more dominant figure. She is the one who is the most dramatic out of the bunch. She is dressed in her little green flower dress with her pink flats and a headband with a bow in it. She. really. likes. to. talk.)
Too curst is more than curst: I shall lessen God's
sending that way; for it is said, 'God sends a curst
cow short horns;' but to a cow too curst he sends none.

LEONATO (in the usual tone of their quite frequent quarrels, he engages in usual conversation. there is always a little tension between Leonato and Beatrice because L is always trying to watch out for B but she doesn't really care.) 
So, by being too curst, God will send you no horns.

BEATRICE (She doesn't really mean this when she says it, she is only saying it because she wants to be different and she wants like attention, but it is sort of unrealistic, of course she wants a husband...lol)
Just, if he send me no husband; for the which
blessing I am at him upon my knees every morning and
evening. Lord, I could not endure a husband with a
beard on his face: I had rather lie in the woollen.

LEONATO ( A clever remark, he is quite pleased with himself when he says it as he steps forward and looks at the audience as he says it. Then either the laugh track plays or the crowd laughs over it.) 
You may light on a husband that hath no beard.

BEATRICE (Beatrice takes this joke a little too seriously, not in an offensive way, she just goes off on a tangent and starts to talk about how she doesn't want a boyfriend, really all this is is yapping. It doesn't mean much.)
What should I do with him? dress him in my apparel
and make him my waiting-gentlewoman? He that hath a
beard is more than a youth, and he that hath no
beard is less than a man: and he that is more than
a youth is not for me, and he that is less than a
man, I am not for him: therefore, I will even take
sixpence in earnest of the bear-ward, and lead his
apes into hell.

LEONATO (He plays off of her joke in an attempt to make the comedy roll) 
Well, then, go you into hell?

BEATRICE ( Now it is not a joke, it is an elaborate story, the details of which come to Beatrice's head right before she says it.) 
No, but to the gate; and there will the devil meet
me, like an old cuckold, with horns on his head, and
say 'Get you to heaven, Beatrice, get you to
heaven; here's no place for you maids:' so deliver
I up my apes, and away to Saint Peter for the
heavens; he shows me where the bachelors sit, and
there live we as merry as the day is long.

ANTONIO (Just chiming in, he speaks lowly and quickly to get his point across. He is the quiet one, we realize that with this line by the way he says it.) 
[To HERO] Well, niece, I trust you will be ruled
by your father.

BEATRICE (Strongly, she finishes with her last statement, she is pleased that she carried the conversation out like this, the door opens as more students begin to walk in and split up into their respective gender groups.) 
Yes, faith; it is my cousin's duty to make curtsy
and say 'Father, as it please you.' But yet for all
that, cousin, let him be a handsome fellow, or else
make another curtsy and say 'Father, as it please
me.'

LEONATO ( He is trying to be nice, He knows what she really wants, but he is sort of sneaky about it. He just kind of leaves what she has said alone as the crowd enters.) 
Well, niece, I hope to see you one day fitted with a husband.

(the lights go dim over the whole stage as the mingling of the boys with boys and the girls with girls begins. There is party music playing very loudly in the background, rendering the sounds made by the characters impossible to hear. Also, everyone puts on their elaborate masks, a combination of that and a very dark room leads to overall confusion about who people are, as well as a complete unawareness that people don't know who they are.)

2. 

(After the awkward silence is broken, pairs of dancers begin to form as they try to perform the dancing they learned in P.E. class that week. The dance music is playing quielty in the background so you can hear the talking, and while all the characters are on stage, the spotlight hits the couple that is at center stage and is talking. So like here the light is on DP and Hero. everyone else is dancing in the background)

DON PEDRO ( Don Pedro is Claudio's best friend, he is smooth with the ladies and is helping out his best bud Claudio, he kind of likes hero but sent in Pedro to see of she likes him back. So, he is super smooth, well as smooth as a seventh grader can get.) 
Lady, will you walk about with your friend?

HERO (taken somewhat by surprise, she knows that Claudio likes her so she can assume that the person dancing with her is Claudio. She acts very sweet though, like she kind of likes him) 
So you walk softly and look sweetly and say nothing,
I am yours for the walk; and especially when I walk away.

DON PEDRO (He is wearing a suit with a ruffled collar and no tie, or whatever is cool to wear at 7th grade dances.) 
With me in your company?

HERO (A beautiful young girl, dressed in a simple blue dress. She is reserved and quiet, the kind that people would really like when she gets to like high school) 
I may say so, when I please.

DON PEDRO (He is woeing her sort of, but he has figured out that she like Claudio) 
And when please you to say so?

HERO
When I like your favour; for God defend the lute
should be like the case!

DON PEDRO
My visor is Philemon's roof; within the house is Jove.

HERO
Why, then, your visor should be thatched.

DON PEDRO (He has got her for Claudio)
Speak low, if you speak love.

(they move aside, still together danging at the front left of the stage, the spotlight goes off for a few seconds while the music crescendos and decrescendos as the next couple Margaret and Balthasar come together. 

BALTHASAR (Balthasar and Margaret are the more "mature" people of the grade. They do more than any 7th grader should.)
Well, I would you did like me.

MARGARET (Margaret is dressed in a really short dress, she has received crap about it from all kinds of teachers, but her parents insisted. She has a certain, i don't care attitude.) 
So would not I, for your own sake; for I have many
ill-qualities.

BALTHASAR ( In a somewhat meaningful exchange, Balthasar and Margaret agree to like each other and this is where Balthasar lets Margaret know that he likes her. But his voice is free of nerves.)
Which is one?

MARGARET 
I say my prayers aloud.

BALTHASAR 
I love you the better: the hearers may cry, Amen.

MARGARET (She kind of shoots Balthasar down when he attempts to dance with her, so they don't dance for a very long time.)
God match me with a good dancer!

BALTHASAR 
Amen.

MARGARET 
And God keep him out of my sight when the dance is
done! Answer, clerk.

BALTHASAR 
No more words: the clerk is answere

(They move aside and talk/dance/stand next to the dancing Hero and DP. The lights get dim again as the music goes up and down as the next couple assembles in the spotlight.)

URSULA (Ursula is a pretty random girl in the grade, she is on of Hero's best friends. Antonio is just dancing with her to dance. No real meaning. Ursula is smart though. She is wearing a black dress with a mask and already knows who she is dancing with)
I know you well enough; you are Signior Antonio.

ANTONIO ( He is joking around with her, he sounds light, comedic.) 
At a word, I am not.

URSULA  (She is simply playing into a joke. Trying to provide some light humor to lessen the awkwardness of the random match up now that all the excitement in the mystery of your partner had been taken out.)
I know you by the waggling of your head.

ANTONIO ( '' Dang, you got me")
To tell you true, I counterfeit him.

URSULA ( She is pleased, and is enjoying herself)
You could never do him so ill-well, unless you were
the very man. Here's his dry hand up and down: you
are he, you are he.

ANTONIO
At a word, I am not.

URSULA
Come, come, do you think I do not know you by your
excellent wit? can virtue hide itself? Go to,
mum, you are he: graces will appear, and there's an
end.

As their talking ends, they shift from center stage to the spot next to wear Balthasar and Margaret are talking. The music transition happens again, and Beatrice and Claudio come together. under the spotlight in center stage. The three groups of revelers on the side of the stage now fade  back into the rest of the party. A grand spotlight shines on Beatrice and Bendick as they come together at the front of the center of the stage. The music really drops down now. 

3. 

(Benedick is dressed in a blue button down with light Khakis, all the light and focus is on the couple who come together to dance. Beatrice is somewhat aware of the identity of her partner, but the same cannot be said for Benedick) 

BEATRICE 

Will you not tell me who told you so?

BENEDICK
No, you shall pardon me.

BEATRICE
Nor will you not tell me who you are?

BENEDICK
Not now.

BEATRICE (Somewhat sure of her partner, she continues to talk trash about Benedick to her partner in an attempt to  continue the way she has acted towards him so far in the play.)  
That I was disdainful, and that I had my good wit
out of the 'Hundred Merry Tales:'--well this was
Signior Benedick that said so.

BENEDICK (He knows now that his partner is Beatrice, but he will not reveal it so he can know what she "really" thinks about him.) 
What's he?

BEATRICE
I am sure you know him well enough.

BENEDICK
Not I, believe me.

BEATRICE
Did he never make you laugh?

BENEDICK
I pray you, what is he?

BEATRICE (Have fun with this, you are openly bashing the guy to his face and he has to  just sit there and take it. Have fun with it!)  
Why, he is the prince's jester: a very dull fool;
only his gift is in devising impossible slanders:
none but libertines delight in him; and the
commendation is not in his wit, but in his villany;
for he both pleases men and angers them, and then
they laugh at him and beat him. I am sure he is in
the fleet: I would he had boarded me.

BENEDICK (Act sort of disappointed but still interested.)
When I know the gentleman, I'll tell him what you say.

BEATRICE
Do, do: he'll but break a comparison or two on me;
which, peradventure not marked or not laughed at,
strikes him into melancholy; and then there's a
partridge wing saved, for the fool will eat no
supper that night.

Music( The Music loudens) 

We must follow the leaders.

BENEDICK
In every good thing.

BEATRICE
Nay, if they lead to any ill, I will leave them at
the next turning.

(The dance ends with a blur of children dancing around the room and the lights come up, then all exeunt except DJ, Borcahio, and Claudio.) 

4. 

DON JOHN ( He loves to cause mischief and he wants to throw everybody trough a few loops. He is in a black button down with black pants and black shoes. He doesn't smile much but even when he does it isn't very delighting.) 

Sure my brother is amorous on Hero and hath
withdrawn her father to break with him about it.
The ladies follow her and but one visor remains.

BORACHIO (Borachio is one of Benedick's troublemaker friends, Benedick is a bully and a bully always has a couple of guys that follow him around and do bully things. Borachio is that mindless friend.)
And that is Claudio: I know him by his bearing.

DON JOHN
Are not you Signior Benedick?

CLAUDIO (Convincingly, as if his entire love life depended on it)
You know me well; I am he.

DON JOHN
Signior, you are very near my brother in his love:
he is enamoured on Hero; I pray you, dissuade him
from her: she is no equal for his birth: you may
do the part of an honest man in it.

CLAUDIO
How know you he loves her?

DON JOHN
I heard him swear his affection.

BORACHIO
So did I too; and he swore he would marry her to-night.

DON JOHN
Come, let us to the banquet.

Exeunt DON JOHN and BORACHIO

CLAUDIO (A little comedy here, a little 7th grader breaking out into a monologue like this, but in complete seriousness.) 
Thus answer I in the name of Benedick,
But hear these ill news with the ears of Claudio.
'Tis certain so; the prince wooes for himself.
Friendship is constant in all other things
Save in the office and affairs of love:
Therefore, all hearts in love use their own tongues;
Let every eye negotiate for itself
And trust no agent; for beauty is a witch
Against whose charms faith melteth into blood.
This is an accident of hourly proof,
Which I mistrusted not. Farewell, therefore, Hero!


(He drops to a knee, grabbing his heart. the lights fade and the curtains draw.) 

(Shortly after, they draw again as to not misinform the audience that the scene has ended early, Claudio still down, the spotlight reopens on him, and on benedick as he enters to comfort him) 

5. 

BENEDICK  (what's wrong my friend? He has noticed his friends distress.) 
Count Claudio?

CLAUDIO (Heartbroken, he has been royally had but has no idea. He is really down right now) 
Yea, the same.

BENEDICK
Come, will you go with me?

CLAUDIO
Whither?

BENEDICK
Even to the next willow, about your own business,
county. What fashion will you wear the garland of?
about your neck, like an usurer's chain? or under
your arm, like a lieutenant's scarf? You must wear
it one way, for the prince hath got your Hero.

CLAUDIO
I wish him joy of her.

BENEDICK ( There is disbelief in his voice, a sort of undertone of contempt for Don John, and a hint of hospitality.) 
Why, that's spoken like an honest drovier: so they
sell bullocks. But did you think the prince would
have served you thus?

CLAUDIO (Now he thinks that Benedick is messing with him too, which hurts his mood.)
I pray you, leave me.

BENEDICK ( Now he is speaking with straight up desperation, trying to convince his friend that he is wrong) 
Ho! now you strike like the blind man: 'twas the
boy that stole your meat, and you'll beat the post.

CLAUDIO
If it will not be, I'll leave you.

Exit

BENEDICK ( Struck with the same kind of heartbreak as Claudio knowing that his friend isn't seeing the truth and such a great truth!) 
Alas, poor hurt fowl! now will he creep into sedges.
But that my Lady Beatrice should know me, and not
know me! The prince's fool! Ha? It may be I go
under that title because I am merry. Yea, but so I
am apt to do myself wrong; I am not so reputed: it
is the base, though bitter, disposition of Beatrice
that puts the world into her person and so gives me
out. Well, I'll be revenged as I may.

( The Lights go down, and everyone remains in the scene talking, quietly, in the background lighting for a little. Then the music fades, the curtains draw, and Scene 1 ends) 

Scene 2

6.Scene two, After the party, Don John approaches Borachio privately. They are still dressed in their party clothing but are now indoors. They sit at a table across from each other. 


Enter DON JOHN and BORACHIO
DON JOHN (He says interestingly, as if he is upset, he sees an opportunity.) 
It is so; the Count Claudio shall marry the
daughter of Leonato.

BORACHIO (In an extremely brown nosed fashion) 
Yea, my lord; but I can cross it.

DON JOHN ( He speaks as if he doesn't really believe that he can do it.)
Any bar, any cross, any impediment will be
medicinable to me: I am sick in displeasure to him,
and whatsoever comes athwart his affection ranges
evenly with mine. How canst thou cross this marriage?

BORACHIO ( Trying to convince him as if his reputation depended on it) 
Not honestly, my lord; but so covertly that no
dishonesty shall appear in me.

DON JOHN
Show me briefly how.

BORACHIO
I think I told your lordship a year since, how much
I am in the favour of Margaret, the waiting
gentlewoman to Hero.

DON JOHN (In a dreadfully sarcastic tone.)
I remember.

BORACHIO
I can, at any unseasonable instant of the night,
appoint her to look out at her lady's chamber window.

DON JOHN
What life is in that, to be the death of this marriage?

BORACHIO ( After he finishes his statement, Don John nods and Borachio leaves the room rather hastily, he is very excited about all of this. Don John sits at the table, takes a sip of hot chocolate, smiles, and chuckles in pleasure because he likes the plan, Silently, the curtains draw and scene 2 ends) 
The poison of that lies in you to temper. Go you to
the prince your brother; spare not to tell him that
he hath wronged his honour in marrying the renowned
Claudio--whose estimation do you mightily hold
up--to a contaminated stale, such a one as Hero.


Scene 3. 


7.( This is at the same time as Don John and Borachio's encounter. All still in party attire, Benedick, Balthasar, Leonato, Claudio, and Don Pedro have gathered to hang out after the party. They're all a little tipsy and very rowdy, sitting in a garden, outside where there noise isnt a bother. 

BENEDICK (Screaming and slapping the table.) 
Now, divine air! now is his soul ravished! Is it
not strange that sheeps' guts should hale souls out
of men's bodies? Well, a horn for my money, when
all's done.

The Song

BALTHASAR (unable to perform the song correctly, Balthasar stumbles accordingly to his drunkenness towards the begging, but with feeling towards the end) 
Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more,
Men were deceivers ever,
One foot in sea and one on shore,
To one thing constant never:
Then sigh not so, but let them go,
And be you blithe and bonny,
Converting all your sounds of woe
Into Hey nonny, nonny.
Sing no more ditties, sing no moe,
Of dumps so dull and heavy;
The fraud of men was ever so,
Since summer first was leafy:
Then sigh not so, & c.

DON PEDRO (Impressed)
By my troth, a good song.

BALTHASAR (A clever joke) 
And an ill singer, my lord.

DON PEDRO (Slapping that table with a big hearty laugh) 
Ha, no, no, faith; thou singest well enough for a shift.

BENEDICK (Continuing the joke and touching DP as if he is seeking approval to add to the joke.) 
An he had been a dog that should have howled thus,
they would have hanged him: and I pray God his bad
voice bode no mischief. I had as lief have heard the
night-raven, come what plague could have come after
it.

DON PEDRO (There is some foreshadowing here with the mention of Hero's chamber and there is special emphasis put on that part of the speech.)
Yea, marry, dost thou hear, Balthasar? I pray thee,
get us some excellent music; for to-morrow night we
would have it at the Lady Hero's chamber-window.

BALTHASAR
The best I can, my lord.

DON PEDRO (AS Balthasar runs off , DP doesn't really see him off, he just turns around and continues his and Benedick's walk through the garden.)
Do so: farewell.

8. As part of their plan to throw Benedick and Beatrice together, The gang walks through the garden after the party and pretends to have a private conversation in which they know that Benedick is listening. They talk about how Beatrice "loves" him. 

LEONATO (croucing in a group as Beenedick runs across the stage jumping from cover to cover attempting to listen in on the conversation. The group walks horizontally across the stage starting off stage right. There is no spotlight, just a well lit stage in which you can see all the characters. the group stops in the middle and talks sort of loudly, to assure that Benedick hears them) 
 Come hither, Leonato. What was it you told me of
to-day, that your niece Beatrice was in love with
Signior Benedick?

CLAUDIO
O, ay: stalk on. stalk on; the fowl sits. I did
never think that lady would have loved any man.

LEONATO
No, nor I neither; but most wonderful that she
should so dote on Signior Benedick, whom she hath in
all outward behaviors seemed ever to abhor.

BENEDICK ( pooping his head out of cover to affirm his thoughts) 
Is't possible? Sits the wind in that corner?

LEONATO
By my troth, my lord, I cannot tell what to think
of it but that she loves him with an enraged
affection: it is past the infinite of thought.

DON PEDRO (almost laughing)
May be she doth but counterfeit.

CLAUDIO
Faith, like enough.

LEONATO (Thr irony of the line causes him to laugh, the laughter is very obviously inorganic to the conversation normally) 
O God, counterfeit! There was never counterfeit of
passion came so near the life of passion as she
discovers it.

DON PEDRO
Why, what effects of passion shows she?

CLAUDIO
Bait the hook well; this fish will bite.

LEONATO
What effects, my lord? She will sit you, you heard
my daughter tell you how.

CLAUDIO (Smiling, he turns to the audience to deliver the line, then the speech is muted and all you can see are the expressions on them as they sucessfully trick Benedick. 

She did, indeed.

9. After the montage of the rest of the convincing ends, the group exits through the right of the stage, and benedick takes center. the lights go down and a spotlight hits him.) 

 

Exeunt DON PEDRO, CLAUDIO, and LEONATO

BENEDICK
[Coming forward] This can be no trick: the
conference was sadly borne. They have the truth of
this from Hero. They seem to pity the lady: it
seems her affections have their full bent. Love me!
why, it must be requited. I hear how I am censured:
they say I will bear myself proudly, if I perceive
the love come from her; they say too that she will
rather die than give any sign of affection. I did
never think to marry: I must not seem proud: happy
are they that hear their detractions and can put
them to mending. They say the lady is fair; 'tis a
truth, I can bear them witness; and virtuous; 'tis
so, I cannot reprove it; and wise, but for loving
me; by my troth, it is no addition to her wit, nor
no great argument of her folly, for I will be
horribly in love with her. I may chance have some
odd quirks and remnants of wit broken on me,
because I have railed so long against marriage: but
doth not the appetite alter? a man loves the meat
in his youth that he cannot endure in his age.
Shall quips and sentences and these paper bullets of
the brain awe a man from the career of his humour?
No, the world must be peopled. When I said I would
die a bachelor, I did not think I should live till I
were married. Here comes Beatrice. By this day!
she's a fair lady: I do spy some marks of love in
her.

Enter BEATRICE

BEATRICE
Against my will I am sent to bid you come in to dinner.

BENEDICK ( Impulsively)
Fair Beatrice, I thank you for your pains.

BEATRICE (What the heck is going ??) 
I took no more pains for those thanks than you take
pains to thank me: if it had been painful, I would
not have come.

BENEDICK
You take pleasure then in the message?

BEATRICE (cut it out weirdo)
Yea, just so much as you may take upon a knife's
point and choke a daw withal. You have no stomach,
signior: fare you well.

Exit

BENEDICK
Ha! 'Against my will I am sent to bid you come in
to dinner;' there's a double meaning in that 'I took
no more pains for those thanks than you took pains
to thank me.' that's as much as to say, Any pains
that I take for you is as easy as thanks. If I do
not take pity of her, I am a villain; if I do not
love her, I am a Jew. I will go get her picture.

Exit

( He paces ferociously during this speech, he also speaks impulsively, as if every statement is a new discovery that he has made. he uses his hands a lot to show how he is feeling. there is a ton of emotion packed into this speech, he his supposed to be making a big step and like renouncing his ways so make it really big and grand)  The curtains draw about 3 seconds after he finishes and jolly fully runs around the stage. The Curtains close on him running around and cheering excitedly) 

Much Ado About Nothing

First of all, the name of the play speaks to the play as a tragicomedy. The beginning, "Much ado" suggests that there is a lot of drama and drama(in the sense that teenagers use it) is an important characteristic of Tragicomedies. Then all this drama about nothing speaks to the play's more comedic aspect; comedy being another important characteristic of a Tragicomedy. I've never really thought about it like that either.

A Tragicomedy is a play that has aspect of both a tragedy and a comedy. For instance, a play where one brother shames another and instead of killing him to get back at him( the likely ending of this story if it were a tragedy) he would put together a grand plan that would embarrass him if it wouldn't go horribly wrong. And the results of this "plan" would most likely be comedic. In the play, there are events that in a tragedy would end in death or something serious; but this play is a tragicomedy so all of the events that would normally have a tragic ending result in something comic.

The play is serious, but is lightened up with different kinds of comic relief, for example the Act 3 exchange between Verges and Dogberry. Shakespeare was trying to convey a simple message with this play, while also hiding it under different kinds of comedy. Shakespeare was trying to convey that people suck and are always going to try to get back at anyone that wrongs them, and cannot truly let anything go. Children for example, at one of the youngest stages of a person's life they will still go out of their way to get back at anybody who does them wrong. At an early age( like 5 or 6) children have not been taught to get back at everybody who does them wrong, it is just human nature and that is wast Shakespeare is trying to show here. Don John is Shakespeare's embodiment of what people are really like at the core. He is sad and grumpy because he lost a skirmish to his brother. The details of the magnitude of the fight or it's importance have been left out because he is trying to show that regardless of what is is that he lost, he is still going to eel the need to get back at whoever beat him.

Don John was defeated by his brother and his army, among his army was a young lad named Claudio who did quite well for himself during the fight. DJ wanted to get back at Claudio so he devised a plan to ruin his relationship with Hero. This could easily be the premise of a very successful tragedy, but the seriousness of it all is lightened dramatically with scenes that provide comic relief and funny dialogue. In the play, there are many different types of comedy, there are a ton of different kinds of wordplay, i.e. quibbling. There are also some prevalent comedic devices such as Buffoonery and exaggeration. To understand the comedy by reading it though, requires a careful analysis of the writing, but the comedy still holds.

This play is still relevant today because Shakespeare was writing to show how people are, and always will be quick to get back at those who wrong them ever-so-slightly. The play will always be relevant because people will always be this way, it is part of our nature to want to get back at those who wrong us. Even though the premise of so many different ideologies is to forgive those that wrong you and move on, it is very difficult to do because we were not made to do it.

Free Post

Does anyone else ever feel like they do better work at night? I used to feel that way, but then i realized, "hey, sleep is nice too." I stay up and do my work at night sometimes and i hate it, during the day i always tell myself that it is going to be easy and i'll just power through for a few hours then go to sleep. As soon as i get home that day i am still 100% on the plan because I'm thinking i am going to do it later. When later rolls around though, I start thinking of ways that i can not do my work and still be fine.Then all sorts of planning starts running through my head; I've gotten good at it but it needs to stop. It is a real problem and it causes me to suffer from loss of sleep/homework points. What i have learned from this whole little ordeal with me doing my homework at night is that i do not in fact do my best work at night, i just enjoy the night more, it is easy to get them confused.

I have a plan however to help it! My plan is to allot 2 hours at any time in the day from 4 to 9 to do homework. They do not have to be consecutive they just have to be a full two hours of focused homework. Doing that every night will assure that i can still enjoy my nights and not have to do my homework then. Also, I bet that the quality of the homework that i will be doing will increase dramatically. If i can force myself to do this every day for two weeks then i believe that that will be enough to drill it into my head so that i continue it. It would probably help me sleep more as well. According to a bunch of people that ought to know better, sleeping enough every night is very important to a teen's development. I really hope they are wrong because i don't sleep enough. But i do it by choice, there is just so much to do at night!

Thinking about what to write about?

Golf is really tough when you think too much. The absolute worst thing is whenever you hit really well on the range and you get out to hit your first shot, and you just sit over the ball for like 20 seconds making sure that you are doing  everything right, and then you yank the crap out of the ball. You feel terrible, and then you just think, "well today is going to be great..." I can't stand it! I don't know why trying to think about your shot does such bad things to it, especially whenever you are just trying to make sure that you don't forget anything, but that is always what winds up happening. After that, you are trying to make a comeback on every shot so you really think about them and take your time and that just leads to you forgetting more!

It is really bad whenever you are putting, you do your practice strokes and you look the putt, do all your little things you do to try and evaluate the putt, and right when you are about to hit the ball you start thinking. You start thinking about everything, and then you accidentally flick your wrists or you get too hands and then you screw up. And it sucks because it seems like putting should be the part of your game that you think the most about, but in actuality you aren't supposed to think. The really good players just read the putt, or set up for their shot, and swing. They don't think about it much at all, and i wish i was like that all the time, well i guess we all do.

Free Post

Ring day was really fun! I didn't realize how big of a deal it really was. I actually did not even register that Ring Day was today until yesterday whenever my mom asked me what i was going to wear and i had absolutely no idea. She actually got mad at me, apparently the clothes i was going to wear had to be pressed and neat and clean and all this stuff, i kind of didn't care. Also, i was not happy when she told me that i couldn't wear a bow-tie. I love them, but after the ceremony i realized that if it isn't black it doesn't look good whenever you try to look nice. I guess i owe her a thank you, she also picked out the tie but i like to think that i have a pretty good sense of what to wear. But anyway, yeah i thought ring day was fun!

I guess we really are almost seniors. It is sort of hitting me that soon, all the things that seniors are responsible for, leading, setting examples, that is all about to be on us. I'm excited! I mean, i don't know that i am completley ready for people to look to me for leadership but i am sure going to do my best,  and i am excited about it! I like the feeling that comes with that kind of responsibility, but i am not sure if i am equipped to handle it just yet. But i am sure that with time it will come. 

P.S. I would just like to say that Mr.McKelvin's speech was absolutely terrific and it was the most memorable part of the entire ceremony.

Act 1 Promptbook

Scene 1:

1. Beatrice is a homestead wife checking the mail and conversing with her friend Leonato, and his daughter Hero, when along comes the town messenger frantic, ecstatically announcing the arrival of the army regimen from the town:


LEONATO ( Opening the friendly conversation with an interesting piece of trivia, RC - LC)  
I learn in this letter that Don Peter of Arragon
comes this night to Messina.

Messenger (Frantic, full of excitement and barley able to speak the words from lack of breath, running from off stage left  to LC) 
He is very near by this: he was not three leagues off
when I left him.

LEONATO (not  knowing what to do, he says the only thing that comes to mind, with legitimate concern, but fear as well, sort of stepping forward towards the messenger) 
How many gentlemen have you lost in this action?

Messenger ( with a degree of reassurance, and as he says it he puts a hand to Leonato's back, to reassure him of the absence of bad news) 
But few of any sort, and none of name.

(A pause, Leonato fills with joy after the realization of the victory in the fighting)  

LEONATO ( with feeling, stepping to the front of the stage. He speaks with a sense of triumph. Loudly, from DR to front right of stage)  
A victory is twice itself when the achiever brings
home full numbers. I find here that Don Peter hath
bestowed much honour on a young Florentine called Claudio.

Messenger ( Another statement full of reassurance and explanation. He is speaking to reinforce Leonato's realization. The the war had been won, by speaking what he has heard of the people from the town. steps out to the front of the stage alongside Leonato)
Much deserved on his part and equally remembered by
Don Pedro: he hath borne himself beyond the
promise of his age, doing, in the figure of a lamb,
the feats of a lion: he hath indeed better
bettered expectation than you must expect of me to
tell you how.

LEONATO ( With excitement and a happy face, thinking out loud really.) 
He hath an uncle here in Messina will be very much
glad of it.

Messenger ( Saying what he can to continue the conversation, and adding onto what Leonato had said. Speaking quickly) 
I have already delivered him letters, and there
appears much joy in him; even so much that joy could
not show itself modest enough without a badge of
bitterness.

(A moment for Leonato to really absorb the news, a moment of silence.)

LEONATO (With legitimate feeling, a serious question. Smiling)
Did he break out into tears?

Messenger ( In a joyous reply)
In great measure.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2.. In the suburbs, Beatrice is a woman who has had a terrible experience with Benedick, who is returning from his tour in Afghanistan where he served fixing computers; she really hates that everyone views him as a war hero when all he did was fix computers. It puts Beatrice in a really bad mood. And her friend Leonato tries to calm her down as she screams at her cousin the messenger who is delivering the news. Outside of a stereotypical house in the suburbs. 

BEATRICE (stepping forward, with extreme sarcasm, texting) 
I pray you, is Signior Mountanto returned from the
wars or no?

Messenger ( With a joking sarcasm to dismiss the obvious insult and advance the conversation)
I know none of that name, lady: there was none such
in the army of any sort.

LEONATO ( Oblivious to the play on words by Beatrice, he asks stupidly. He steps up behind her but she swats him back) 
What is he that you ask for, niece?

HERO (aware of Beatrice's mood, she answers quickly and quietly to avoid a snappy remark from her)
My cousin means Signior Benedick of Padua.

Messenger ( Playing off of Beatrice's mood, making a clever joke knowing the response he will receive from Beatrice. With a smile) 
O, he's returned; and as pleasant as ever he was.

BEATRICE ( Angrily putting her phone away so she can use her hands to display her feelings about her words. She is venting everything she can come up with about Benedick. With anger and exasperation) 
He set up his bills here in Messina and challenged
Cupid at the flight; and my uncle's fool, reading
the challenge, subscribed for Cupid, and challenged
him at the bird-bolt. I pray you, how many hath he
killed and eaten in these wars? But how many hath
he killed? for indeed I promised to eat all of his killing.

LEONATO ( Stepping forward again to calm down Beatrice, as he really hates when she gets into her fits. but again he receives a deadly glare at the end of his statement and he retreats to his house, shutting the door hurriedly) 
Faith, niece, you tax Signior Benedick too much;
but he'll be meet with you, I doubt it not.

Messenger ( Tapping Beatrice to bring her back to reality and out of her imagining of all the things she could say about benedick. He tries to solicit an even more violent response with this statement, but laughing as well.) 
He hath done good service, lady, in these wars.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.  Outside of the Household of a very rich Leonato, who is very submissive only to his favorite niece Beatrice, who is almost verbally attacking the butler(messenger) when he is trying to defend a war hero who Beatrice adores but openly attacks him because she cannot have him. The waiter is holding a silver tray. Leonato is dressed in a morning suit while Beatrice is in a big dress. 

LEONATO ( apologizing to the waiter for the terrible manor of his niece, but being careful not to upset her. walking in between Beatrice and messenger) 
You must not, sir, mistake my niece. There is a
kind of merry war betwixt Signior Benedick and her:
they never meet but there's a skirmish of wit
between them.

BEATRICE ( assertively, she steps in front of her uncle, who steps aside without trouble. She is spewing all of the negative things she has to say about Benedick in a barrage of negative emotion. With anger) 
Alas! he gets nothing by that. In our last
conflict four of his five wits went halting off, and
now is the whole man governed with one: so that if
he have wit enough to keep himself warm, let him
bear it for a difference between himself and his
horse; for it is all the wealth that he hath left,
to be known a reasonable creature. Who is his
companion now? He hath every month a new sworn brother.

Messenger  ( In fake amusement as to not receive physical punishment as well as the verbal one. while putting the refreshments that Beatrice ordered from the tray onto the table)  
Is't possible?

BEATRICE ( She speaks to make messenger pay for the patronizing nature of his voice, and with the last word of the statement she knocks the tray out of his hands spilling all the drinks all over the ground.) 
Very easily possible: he wears his faith but as
the fashion of his hat; it ever changes with the
next block.

Messenger ( In a suppressed fury, he looks at Leonato in extreme disapproval for allowing his niece to act this way in his presence. He bends over to begin cleaning the mess and Leonato says nothing, he just looks back with hopelessness because there's nothing he can do about the situation) 
I see, lady, the gentleman is not in your books.

BEATRICE ( Continuing her rant) 
No; an he were, I would burn my study. But, I pray
you, who is his companion? Is there no young
squarer now that will make a voyage with him to the devil?

Messenger ( Pointing out an interesting fact to try to avoid the anger he feels towards Beatrice's behavior)
He is most in the company of the right noble Claudio.

BEATRICE ( She stops and thinks, she is disappointing. She begins to walk off and speaks as she slowly walks away, she is stating this as if Claudio has just signed up for his own death and she is just thinking, "Ehh it's his funeral.")
O Lord, he will hang upon him like a disease: he
is sooner caught than the pestilence, and the taker
runs presently mad. God help the noble Claudio! if
he have caught the Benedick, it will cost him a
thousand pound ere a' be cured.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4.    At a bar, Beatrice is a single mom who Benedick left and this is the first time that they had met since then. She saw him and saw red, this was her chance to finally let out all of the things that she had been wanting to say to him since they split.  She is furious and he is trying to carefully diffuse the situation. 

BENEDICK  (Saying in defense of himself, he is yelling while standing rather far from Beatrice. he is yelling in defense though, to assert himself but also trying to justify himself. He sort of paces first, then proceeds to speak) 
If Signior Leonato be her father, she would not
have his head on her shoulders for all Messina, as
like him as she is.

BEATRICE ( In a terribly snappy way, she talks as if surprised that his first statement proceeded hers. She is surprised at his audacity to speak first.)
I wonder that you will still be talking, Signior
Benedick: nobody marks you.

BENEDICK (As if  her speaking this way had been a constant source of conflict in their previous relationship, he comes back with an equally sarcastic comment. He puts his hand on ihs waists in exaggeration.)
What, my dear Lady Disdain! are you yet living?

BEATRICE ( Using his comment as a way to attack him again. Entirely sarcastic, she insults what he thinks of himself. She waves her hands around and speaks with bows in the tone of her voice.) 
Is it possible disdain should die while she hath
such meet food to feed it as Signior Benedick?
Courtesy itself must convert to disdain, if you come
in her presence.

BENEDICK ( At this point it is evident that this sort of argument had happened many times before and is going as usual. people pass the alley and stare at them, but it affects them not.) 
Then is courtesy a turncoat. But it is certain I
am loved of all ladies, only you excepted: and I
would I could find in my heart that I had not a hard
heart; for, truly, I love none.

BEATRICE ( She advances on him with extreme emotion, as if begging for an answer to a question that would put her at peace.)
A dear happiness to women: they would else have
been troubled with a pernicious suitor. I thank God
and my cold blood, I am of your humour for that: I
had rather hear my dog bark at a crow than a man
swear he loves me.

BENEDICK ( Trying to insult her in a way that she would understand. Trying to demean her but essentially, trying to move the focus of the conversation from him to her.)
God keep your ladyship still in that mind! so some
gentleman or other shall 'scape a predestinate
scratched face.

BEATRICE  ( absorbing and reflecting,  afterwards she smiles with a sense of accomplishment)  
Scratching could not make it worse, an 'twere such
a face as yours were.

BENEDICK (A pointless comment, as it is the only thing he can think to say. He just tries to move the awkward  silence from himself to Beatrice.)
Well, you are a rare parrot-teacher.

BEATRICE  ( taking his pointless comment and turning it into a smooth flow of insult) 
A bird of my tongue is better than a beast of yours.

BENEDICK ( He pauses for a moment while he tries to gather his thoughts, he turns around and pretends to check his phone as to not embarrass himself. He then turns and says whatever his mind can make of this broken conversation. After his statement he makes eye contact for one more instant then proceeds to walk to his car.) 
I would my horse had the speed of your tongue, and
so good a continuer. But keep your way, i' God's
name; I have done.

BEATRICE ( She knows she has won and says this to try and assert it as he walks off. She screams, then exits.)
You always end with a jade's trick: I know you of old.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. Claudio and Benedick are long-time best friends standing in the locker hall of whatever local High School they attended. Benedick is the ladies man whom everyone loves. Claudio isn't quite as extroverted as Benedick, but he certainly does want to say something when he sees a new girl in the school walk by; Her name is Hero. 

CLAUDIO (Claudio and Benedick are leaning against the lockers when Claudio notices Hero, his head follow her body as she crosses the center of the stage and exits without a word. She comes from offstage left to offstage right.)
Benedick, didst thou note the daughter of Signior Leonato?

BENEDICK ( dismissing it as regular conversation, without thinking he responds) 
I noted her not; but I looked on her.

CLAUDIO  ( Not really looking for an honest answer, he is just thinking about her out loud. ) 
Is she not a modest young lady?

BENEDICK  ( He shuts his locker and recognizes that the conversation has gone from mindless banter to a serious situation. He looks intently at Claudio when he asks this, and Claudio is still looking down the hall as if she will reappear to walk back across the hallway.)
Do you question me, as an honest man should do, for
my simple true judgment; or would you have me speak
after my custom, as being a professed tyrant to their sex?

CLAUDIO ( He finally looks back at Benedick, and he puts his hand on Benedick's shoulder and speaks as to assure him he was serious with a hint of disbelief in his voice) 
No; I pray thee speak in sober judgment.

BENEDICK  (After he realizes the serious nature of Claudio's request he stops for a second and puts his hand on his chin stroking the few hairs he recently acquired there. He then answers seriously) 
Why, i' faith, methinks she's too low for a high
praise, too brown for a fair praise and too little
for a great praise: only this commendation I can
afford her, that were she other than she is, she
were unhandsome; and being no other but as she is, I
do not like her.

CLAUDIO (Not phased by the negative reply he received from his friend, he quickly asks his next question. He did not register Benedick's first statement as a serious answer.) 
Thou thinkest I am in sport: I pray thee tell me
truly how thou likest her.

BENEDICK (  Speaking as if trying to bring his friend to an obvious realization. 
Would you buy her, that you inquire after her?

CLAUDIO  (Overcome with his new found feelings for this girl. The bell rings and both parties silently parade to class after a nod of understanding from Benedick.
Can the world buy such a jewel?

Scene 2:

1. Leonato, the father of a young and beautiful Hero, learns of some somewhat troublesome news when his brother tells him that his friend overheard the town misfit, Claudio talking to Prince about Claudio's new found love for Hero. He learns this from his brother Antonio who he hasn't seen in forever.


Enter LEONATO and ANTONIO, meeting
LEONATO (In a jolly way, he walks to his his brother and embraces him as he attempts to catch up with his brother who hasn't been around in a while.) 
How now, brother! Where is my cousin, your son?
hath he provided this music?

ANTONIO ( With an unexpectedly negative tone, as if something was amiss) 
He is very busy about it. But, brother, I can tell
you strange news that you yet dreamt not of.


(They both sit)

LEONATO (Trying to find the source of the lack of excitement.)
Are they good?

ANTONIO  (He takes a deep breath, to prepare himself to deliver news that he knew would upset his brother. After Leonatio stands and paces around the stage in frustration.)
As the event stamps them: but they have a good
cover; they show well outward. The prince and Count
Claudio, walking in a thick-pleached alley in mine
orchard, were thus much overheard by a man of mine:
the prince discovered to Claudio that he loved my
niece your daughter and meant to acknowledge it
this night in a dance: and if he found her
accordant, he meant to take the present time by the
top and instantly break with you of it.

LEONATO ( After thought, he asks quickly as to make sure the information was legitimate.)
Hath the fellow any wit that told you this?

ANTONIO (As to assure that what he was saying is true, and proving it) 
A good sharp fellow: I will send for him; and
question him yourself.

LEONATO (He stops to think. He pours himself a drink of his whiskey that he saves for special occasions. Then he has a look as if he has just hatched an absolutely brilliant idea. Then as the servants enter, Antonio jumps up and exits as Leonato finished his statement)  
No, no; we will hold it as a dream till it appear
itself: but I will acquaint my daughter withal,
that she may be the better prepared for an answer,
if peradventure this be true. Go you and tell her of it.

Enter Attendants

Cousins, you know what you have to do. O, I cry you
mercy, friend; go you with me, and I will use your
skill. Good cousin, have a care this busy time.


Scene 3: 

1. Next door to Leonato and Antonio, Don John and Comrade, are catching up. Don John reveals a certain darkness about himself, Don John is depressed and doesn't leave the house much and Comrade is trying to cheer him up.

Enter DON JOHN and CONRADE
CONRADE (In a cheery voice he enters the room after Don John, and grabs a root beer out of the fridge for him. They sit down and Comrade ignores the usual sadness of Don John and recognizes it like he has never seen it before.) 
What the good-year, my lord! why are you thus out
of measure sad?

DON JOHN (He accepts the refreshment and sets it down. He can not convey and joy as he feel none, and he just flat out answers the question, not feeling sorry for himself. He just answers the question. 
There is no measure in the occasion that breeds;
therefore the sadness is without limit.

CONRADE (  He tries to steer the conversation back in a positive direction, with a hand on Don John's shoulder, with care) 
You should hear reason.

DON JOHN (He doesn't move. He just speaks as if he wants what his friend is saying to work, but he knows that i won't) 
And when I have heard it, what blessing brings it?

CONRADE ( He gets up and, with a hint of anger)
If not a present remedy, at least a patient
sufferance.

DON JOHN (To try to get what is going on with him clear, he explains as if he had 100 times before) 
I wonder that thou, being, as thou sayest thou art,
born under Saturn, goest about to apply a moral
medicine to a mortifying mischief. I cannot hide
what I am: I must be sad when I have cause and smile
at no man's jests, eat when I have stomach and wait
for no man's leisure, sleep when I am drowsy and
tend on no man's business, laugh when I am merry and
claw no man in his humour.

CONRADE (Pacing around the room with a mixture of anger and frustration, he thinks after Don John speaks, trying to make what he has to say actually make a difference unlike the others that have tried to cheer Don John up before him) 
Yea, but you must not make the full show of this
till you may do it without controlment. You have of
late stood out against your brother, and he hath
ta'en you newly into his grace; where it is
impossible you should take true root but by the
fair weather that you make yourself: it is needful
that you frame the season for your own harvest.

DON JOHN (Effortlessly shrugs off what Comrade had to say and continues with his wallowing.)
I had rather be a canker in a hedge than a rose in
his grace, and it better fits my blood to be
disdained of all than to fashion a carriage to rob
love from any: in this, though I cannot be said to
be a flattering honest man, it must not be denied
but I am a plain-dealing villain. I am trusted with
a muzzle and enfranchised with a clog; therefore I
have decreed not to sing in my cage. If I had my
mouth, I would bite; if I had my liberty, I would do
my liking: in the meantime let me be that I am and
seek not to alter me.

CONRADE (Comrade sits down, nods and acknowledges that he cant saw Don John. he simply attempts to end the conversation. 
Can you make no use of your discontent?

DON JOHN ( Don John gets up to leave the room, stops at the door, smiles and delivers his message.) 
I make all use of it, for I use it only.
Who comes here?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Two mild friends are standing in the courtyard during a break. Don John is just sitting at a table when Borachio comes to introduce an interesting piece of information concerning Borachio's ex. He is just venting to him because Don John is the first friend that Borachio saw after he found out. 

What news, Borachio? (Don John say Borachio coming and it was obvious that something was bothering him so he figured he's ask. With an un-amused tone.)

BORACHIO (Storming to the table and sitting loudly while he exclaims his statement. He makes sure that Don John is aware of his anger.)
I came yonder from a great supper: the prince your
brother is royally entertained by Leonato: and I
can give you intelligence of an intended marriage.

DON JOHN (He offers a joke as a way to pacify his anger a bit, but the attempt is wasted, as he does not even respond to the joke. So Don John just takes a sip of his water and begins to walk off. 
Will it serve for any model to build mischief on?
What is he for a fool that betroths himself to
unquietness?

BORACHIO (Don John stops in his tracks and turns around and he stands in utter disbelief.)
Marry, it is your brother's right hand.

DON JOHN ( Don John storms back to the table to try to find out what is going on, he slams the table with his statement.) 
Who? the most exquisite Claudio?

BORACHIO (quietly, aware of the anger he has brought forth from Borachio) 
Even he.

DON JOHN (Being sarcastic and hateful)
A proper squire! And who, and who? which way looks
he?

BORACHIO (To confirm the feelings that they were both feeling. They both stand and think, then they leave, both in anger.) 
Marry, on Hero, the daughter and heir of Leonato.