THE CIRCLE - THE FILM SET

[Dr. Jar]

Ru-

"I think I like that lighting idea. When are we going to have official costumes? These are nice but they aren't really film quality, I suppose, good enough to rehearse in. What is the time period and the uniting theme of this work?"

Ru pondered on this and then rubbed his cheek with a free hand. He was glad they would have something to do but he should also carve out some time for vampire training. And what special effects they would have when they learned a little more!

"Something...fancy...."

[∆§Indea§∆]

"Uniting theme? Love! As well as hate and death, with a dash of passion and bittersweet revenge. Time is irrelevant y'all! Our film will encompass all. It'll have a modern touch of course though .Oh Wilhelm said we'd go shopping for better equipment, we can get Sophie to do character designs and go from there I reckon. Any ideas for the doctor?"

[Dr. Jar]

Ru-

"I was thinking, austere, dark, drab, and mysterious by comparison. All black, except for his face which stands out against his garb like a vulture..."

[∆§Indea§∆]

       

"Yes, but he needs a touch of fancy to ignite the passions of young Thespidia. A red scarf or bright yellow socks? I dunno, we'll work something out."

[◊◊BLOODBEASTER◊◊]

     
Chloë-
"Aw, everyone's so pretty! "

Chloë wore a ratty fur stole and a voluminous powdered wig from some Bribois styled period piece, it almost brought her up to normal human height. Jack wore a red velvet cape and a austere black Antearctan settler's hat, that almost looked witchy if you squinted at it right and tilted your head.

      
Chloë-
"These are so dusty, but it doesn't even matter. It's nice to not have allergies any more. I wonder if I'll ever miss sneezing..."

"Calling, calling! All actors to 'zeh stage...!"

The young vampires followed the distant voice past the curtain, down the steps and to a platform covered in coral-colored foam. It was a crude approximation of an alien planet, with lumpy rocks and a backdrop painted with a lavender sky. The piano was pushed up against the wood beams below, and Wilhelm and Marchese stood next to it. Plumes of dust came up as Santi dropped a spotty old canvas over the foam terrain.

Wilhelm-
"So darling. I apologize for having such scant material, it all had to be re-typed and translated and my office is such a mess. As much as I love 'zeh story, it requires quite an overhaul. So that is where you dears come in. I will set 'zis scene, but perhaps let your natural instincts continue where it begins. Originally 'zis scene had only a sleeping Desdemona, and a worried Theodosia interrogating Dr. Winterbaum."


Santi-
"Wasn't it like... Pinderbaum? Pinderland?"

  
Wilhelm-
"Whatever, anyhow... let's figure out how to involve everyone yes? I'll work with Mr. Quinn here, and August darling, here is 'zeh script."

He handed August a yellowed paper, typed with an old-fashioned typewriter, embossed deeply with reprinted letters and painted over patchily with ancient correction fluid.

SCENE--
THE TOBACCONIST. DESDEMONA HAS FAINTED TO A CHAISE AND THEODOSIA SUMMONS DR. PINDERLAND.

DR. PINDERLAND- THEODOSIA, WHY DO YOU SUMMON ME?

THEODOSIA- YOU ARE A TRUE BASTARD DOCTOR, HOW DO YOU QUESTION ME SO? MY DEAR SISTER DESDEMONA LIES DYING, THE ONLY WAY TO SAVE HER IS FOR THE TWO OF US TO WORK TOGETHER. YOU MUST TEACH ME OF DOCTORING MEDICINES.

DR. PINDERLAND- NEVER, WOMEN ARE TOO SCATTERBRAINED TO REMEMBER SUCH THINGS.

DESDEMONA - COUGH

THEODOSIA- YOU HEAR HER NOW? THIS IS A DEATH RATTLE, IN HER HEART. WE MUST PERFORM THE SURGERY.

DR. PINDERLAND - IT IS TOO LATE, THERE IS NO SAVING THIS BEAUTIFUL CREATURE.

DESDEMONA - COUGH

THEODOSIA - HOW CAN WE LET HER SLIP AWAY, HER BELOVED THADDEUS WILL NEVER RECOVER AND SURELY DIE OF THE BROKEN HEART.

DR. PINDERLAND - I CANNOT BRING MYSELF TO CONSIDER SUCH THINGS, I KNOW ONLY OF MEDICINE, SCIENCE AND PHILOSOPHY. I WILL NOW TAKE MY LEAVE.

DR. PINDERLAND EXIT. THEODOSIA FLINGS HERSELF TO ANOTHER, ADJACENT CHAISE AND SOBS.

and at the piano...

Wilhelm-
"Mr. Quinn, what sort of music can you play? Can you improvise? I was thinking of something... mn, rock and roll? Do 'zhey still say that?"

   
Wilhelm-
"You can't ' rock and roll ' with a piano, don't be silly. You need an electric organ."

[DKender]

Babette tried to look over August's shoulder to read the script. Tried and failed. Her spidery hands reached around him and grasped the air over the yellowing paper. It was pretty weird, but she was excited!

"What am I feeling? What am I feeling? I need to be in the proper state of mind. Sorrow? Joy? Disappointment? Envy?"

[Dr. Jar]

Ru-

[ Ru cranes his neck over August's other shoulder to read the script. He's curious about what exactly he is supposed to say, and maybe not hearing it secondhand from August's mouth might be helpful, and heartening.

"What does it say? Maybe I can make a copy of my part..."

Ru felt a sudden twinge of regret; his family was mourning him, and yet, yet, here he was reading a script for a ridiculous vampire movie with four others who had just lost their family...

[Sir Milo Quartermass]

Quinn went over to the piano and looked it over to see what model he was working with. He sincerely hoped it wasn't as derelict as a lot of the equipment here.
 
"You want...rock and roll? Ah yes well...technically you can achieve a BIT of classic rock on a piano but...well...it doesn't..."
He pondered a diplomatic way to say it.
"Well it all starts to sound like jazz or the blues. I can always give that a try and see if we like it.  Jazz or the blues, that is."

[∆§Indea§∆]

"Bombaroo!"

August took the script greedily and began scouring it and muttered softly to himself. He looked up over the talk over the piano.

"Quinn and I discussed it, as the director shouldn't I have say in music? I don't mean to knock ya Wil but if it's a tobacconist? They don't tend ta play rock. Soft rock, maybe? I dunno. We thought it should compliment the ladies and add intrigue. The script is ah interesting, I think we could modernise it a tad. The ideas are bombaroo but perhaps the words could change?"

((Got tripled ninja'd there but I think it still works))

[Dr. Jar]

Ru-

Ru read over August's shoulder and for a moment made a very interesting expression. Well, this scene could definitely be reworked after all. He quickly changed into a smile before anyone saw it.



"...Maybe rework the part about women not being able to know about medicine... What about... in her condition she can't learn about it... I could keep my language formal, I am a man of medicine after all!"

[DKender]

"Ru, your character believes what your character believes. As actors, we must be flexible. Perhaps Theo's ingenuity will eventually bring Doctor into the light of contemporary femmynism?"



"Quinn. You should mash your fingers against to keys to represent Desdemona's inner discord."

[◊◊BLOODBEASTER◊◊]

Wilhelm-
"You can soften rock? So be it. You know, as I think of it, 'zeh scene doesn't need to take place in a tobacconist. Especially now we don't have a set for it, perhaps a rock club! What do you think?"

    
Marchese-
"We don't have enough cast for a rock club. Maybe a very unpopular rock club."


Wilhelm-
"Can't you use computer effects for that?"


Santi-
"..."

[∆§Indea§∆]

"We are gonna get more actors aren't we? Well, I guess we could use very close shots to make it appear crowded? Doesn't that small guy from the party own a club? We could shoot there. I like this idea, gives Demonica an edge!"

[Sir Milo Quartermass]

Quinn wished he could breathe naturally again just to heave the sigh appropriate for the situation.

"Ehm, perhaps we should simply stick with the same setting for now and I'll try some classic jazz improvisations, yes?"
He sniffed at Babette's suggestion.
"It's a lovely idea, crumpet, but I'm a musician. We don't 'mash'. I'll give you some minor chords if you'd like, however."

[DKender]

"Minor chords are my absolute favorite. Do!"



"If we're hard up for cast, I know some mannequins that might enjoy being extras. They don't need to be paid. It's lovely. Plus, at least one has experience with theatre. And he kisses fabulously."