FLIGHT AND FORTUITY

A Play in Three Acts

 

CAST

 

Angelique 

Standing at the cusp of womanhood, Angelique carries herself with a confident bearing, her straight shoulders drawn back and her chin held high. A short-sleeved, slim-fitting linen dress hugs her willowy figure, finished with a snowy-white collar and cuffs. Thick reddish-gold hair cascades past her shoulders, held back with a simple hairband from her heart-shaped face. Though her nose is too long and sharp and her lips too narrow for conventional beauty, her porcelain complexion, sculpted cheekbones, and long-lashed blue eyes the colour of blooming forget-me-nots nevertheless combine into a strikingly attractive whole. Her long, tapering fingers are tipped with hardened calluses, and her entire being radiates an air of restlessness and determination.

 

Salea Clarramore

An air of warm, welcoming courtesy characterises this tall, fair trill woman clad in a sea-green gown draped in foamy lace. Time has insinuated silvery barbs amidst Salea Clarramore's flaxen feathers and creased the corners of her eyes and mouth with fine lines, but her ageless features retain their elegant symmetry, her light-boned figure still lissom and her neck still long and swan-like. A hawkish beak of a nose dominates her angular face, softened by a generous mouth and a pair of brilliant emerald-green eyes shining with kindliness and good humour. Sweeping pale-gold wings extend from her shoulder blades, framing her body with glossy plumage in the radiant hue of dawn's first light gilding the morning sky.

 

Pierre Martine

Tall and lean of build, Pierre Martine is a middle-aged man with short, wavy reddish-blond hair and a close-cropped beard. His strong, well-defined features are browned by a deep tan, and his warm brown eyes are surrounded by wrinkles inflicted by sun and time. His white hemp shirt is crisply ironed and neatly buttoned, below which he wears comfortable black pants and soft deerskin boots. He often sings or hums softly to himself in a vibrant baritone.

 

Marguerite Martine

Though a mature woman of middle age, Marguerite Martine still retains a certain lush beauty deepened by the passage of years. Her buxom figure is clothed in a deep-red linen blouse and earth-brown skirts, with a spotless white apron tied tightly around her still-trim waist. Greying chestnut hair frames her face in soft ringlets, setting off her porcelain complexion and piercing blue eyes. When she smiles, her sensuous lips part to reveal bright, even white teeth.

 

Isaac

Remarkably tall and long-limbed for a human, Isaac stands nearly equal to the average trill in height, though he carries his slender, lanky frame with wiry agility rather than airy grace. His wavy brown hair is constantly and carelessly dishevelled, one errant lock falling across his pale brow. A pair of spectacles sit perched upon his sharp, straight nose, encircling intelligent grey eyes the colour of rain falling at sea, wide and clear and subtly luminous behind their glass lenses. His features are fine-boned and very mobile, emotions fluttering across his face like moths drawn by light. A small gap between his front teeth makes him rather hesitant with his smiles, though his eyes sparkle with animation and vivacity when he does. Though mismatched and plain-looking, his clothes are sturdy and well-made, evidently chosen for comfort and practicality rather than show.

 

Professor Nann Baruwski

Though elderly and somewhat stout, this dwarf professor carries herself with an air of authority and pride. Her impeccably groomed silver-white hair is worn in an elegant bun with two sizeable braids hanging down to frame her face, neatly tied with black and crimson ribbons and topped with a small red bonnet. Her cheeks are firm and rosy, and her green eyes twinkle brightly behind delicate spectacles resting atop her round, strong nose. Clad in a comfortable red dress, tasteful black shawl, and low-heeled leather shoes, she cradles a small crystalline harp in one arm, the instrument almost like an extension of her body. Occasionally she strums the harpstrings absentmindedly, producing clear, clarion melodies as spontaneous and lilting as birdsong.

 

Conductor Fre'zik zi'Prouep

A veritable paragon of sartorial splendour and regal aloofness, this lucidian man strikes a stately figure in his lustrous black tailcoat and trousers. A silken blue bowtie is perfectly tied at his collar, and a sparkling crystal rose adorns his buttonhole. Two gleaming brass cufflinks fashioned to resemble a treble clef and bass clef glimmer upon his sleeves, providing the perfect final touch to his formal ensemble. The crystalline strands of his hair have been sculpted into a slicked-back wave, exposing high cheekbones, a cleft chin, and a strong brow constantly furrowed in concentration. His opalescent features, though classically handsome, seem eternally fixed in an expression of stern, perfectionistic intensity, giving him a rather implacable and intimidating air.

 

Winnie Wainwright

Clad in a plain but sturdily made blue-and-white checked dress, Winnie Wainwright appears every inch a farmer's wife in her middle years. Her strong, robust arms and legs, as well as her ample bust and waist, provide undeniable evidence her many decades of working hard outdoors and eating hearty farm fare. Her white-streaked brown hair is tied back into a tidy bun, and her broad face is open and honest, with a folksy warmth in her grey eyes. When she smiles, a small gap is visible between her two front teeth.

 

SCENERY

 

The Martine family parlour in Delport

Small but high-ceilinged, this cosy parlour in the Chateau d'Amour is furnished with a low couch, pots of flowering shrubs, and several side tables, all arranged with careless elegance before long windows stretching along the walls. Poised in the centre of the parlour, a brass music stand holds an open booklet full of sheet music, each thin vellum page teeming with staffs, clefs, and musical notes. Beside the music stand, a polished ravenwood piano and accompanying bench sit tucked against the wall, its gleaming black-and-white keys evidencing the loving care with which the instrument is maintained.

 

Upon the banks of the Estengare River

Beneath a gentle blue sky dotted with fluffy clouds, a charming picnic birthday party has been arranged upon the banks of the Estengare River. Sparkling in the sunshine, the clear, crystalline blue water flows over the large, smooth surfaces of submerged boulders covered in moss, rushing past with a constant, soothing susurrance. The fresh green grass along the shore is nearly covered with bright blankets and flower-wreathed picnic baskets, with a pile of beribboned, paper-wrapped presents in their midst. A crowd of colourfully dressed guests gather upon the blankets around an impressively frosted birthday cake bearing the words, "Happy Birthday, Angelique!", and the sounds of laughter, chatter, and singing fill the sunlit air.

 

The stables of Delport

Night has fallen over Delport and the luminous stars have emerged in abundant, twinkling profusion amidst the velvety black sky overhead, illuminating the slumbering village. A well-travelled paved pathway leads past the elegant edifice of the Chateau d'Amour, now only a dim silhouette in the twilit gloom, and onward to the village stables, lit by several brightly-lit torches.

 

Along the highways

The twinkling starlight from the night sky overhead provides the only illumination along this broad, ancient road paved with mortar and stone. Stretching past hills, forests, and plains, the road remains remarkably clear of grass or weeds, and any detritus that accumulates upon its surface is quickly blown clear by the cool winds sweeping down from the mountains. An occasional pilgrim or wandering bard passes by, but otherwise no fellow travellers can be found traipsing along the road at such a late hour of the night.

 

The elevator leading to the city of Hallifax

Clear, polished glass panes make up the walls and doors of this spacious elevator, large enough for several people to fit inside without squeezing. A single crystal button gleams to the right of the doors with a soft white light, and a great cloudy sphere crowns the ceiling of the elevator, churning with tempestuous fury. As the elevator rises into the air or descends toward the Emerald Road, the glass walls offer an exhilaratingly beautiful view of Avechna's Teeth and the Basin of Life below.

 

The Processing Centre of Hallifax

Multiple platforms and corridors merge here into a hub-like focal point, shielded from the winds and elements by crystal and metal walls inlaid with powerstone panels buzzing with energy and light. Illuminated by the steady glow of unusual crystalline light fixtures, lattices of gleaming gold depict magical equations and images of arcane models along the floor. Two glittering diamond desks, each as broad as a roc's wingspan, dominate the Processing Centre, with just enough space for an aisle between them for visitors and citizens to receive official authorisation to enter the city. A glass globe floats here in mid-air, identical to the one on the Emerald Road, glowing brightly with a dazzling incandescence.

 

The Harmonic School of the University of Cosmic Understanding

Meticulously engineered to foster superior acoustics, this circular chamber features a high, vaulted ceiling and soaring glass walls that drop away to display a lofty view of the firmament and the city of Hallifax. The floor is gleaming black onyx, inlaid with curling flourishes of shimmering silver in patterns reminiscent of flowing treble clefs and elaborate musical notes. A large harp crafted from golden wood rises from the centre of the floor beside a tall lecturer's podium. Before the podium, a semicircle of chairs has been arranged for audiences and students to sit, listen, and learn.

 

The fish pond beside the University

Dusk has fallen over the city of Hallifax, wreathing its platforms and spires in a softly luminous violet glow. A short distance from the University of Cosmic Understanding, a single slim bench bearing a polished bronze tag offers a comfortable place to sit, contemplate, and admire the view. Beside the bench glistens an artificial pond sculpted from clear glass to resemble frozen water, its surface seemingly rippling with miniature waves stirred by the cool breezes ever wafting through the city. Exotic koi fish crafted from colourful orange, crimson, and golden crystal float suspended within the glass pond, their jewelled bodies and fins twinkling in the ambient light in such a way that they almost seem alive, slowly drifting through their pond.

 

A corridor within the University

A series of arching doors leading to private practise rooms lines the northern wall of this long, broad corridor within the University of Cosmic Understanding, laid with onyx floor tiles patterned with gold spirals. The doors frequently swing open and closed in measured, yet unpredictable rhythms as students enter and exit the practise rooms throughout the day, carrying a variety of books, tools, or instruments and wearing a vast array of different expressions when they arrive or leave. The southern wall is adorned with a number of sophisticated clocks and calendars, all of them quietly and meticulously counting out the passage of time with remorseless precision.

 

The Conservatory of Music

Clean, airy, and sleek in its design and decor, the Conservatory of Music features lustrous floor tiles of frosted glass and crystalline white walls that glow with an internal lambency. Hanging from the ceiling are a series of delicate bells and silvery windchimes, which jingle and peal softly with every passing breeze that swirls through the room. Tall stained-glass windows filter incoming sunlight into a spectrum of prismatic rainbow hues, inset with jewel-coloured panels depicting famous theatrical and musical performances. Audition candidates await their turn to perform on white moonhart benches set along the walls, while a polished moonhart piano and bench dominates the centre of the Conservatory. A neat pile of sheet music sits on the closed top of the piano, weighted down with an ornate mandala-shaped paperweight. Beside the piano, an empty music stand awaits the presence of a musician and the weight of his or her sheet music.

 

The Library of Universal Knowledge

The ceiling of the immense Library of Universal Knowledge is literally veiled by banks of roiling clouds, conveying the sense that this library extends upwards into the very heavens. Every wall is completely covered with bookcases, with each shelf neatly organised and densely populated with books and crystalline memory discs. Clear white light shines throughout the library, reflecting almost blindingly off the wide white desks and sleek white chairs where readers may sit and study. Processing machines and memory readers adorn each desk, attached to filigreed glass screens to facilitate reading. To one side of the library, a sunken area of the floor has been arranged before a few rows of chairs, allowing for speeches or lectures to be delivered or for book clubs to meet.

 

The Northern Mountains

Grey, rugged mountain peaks rise up in every direction, with only a rough footpath delineated and trodden by countless wandering scholars, bards, and adventurers. Occasionally, the bellowing or crunching of a passing rockeater interrupts the otherwise peaceful stillness of the mountains. A sharp, bitter wind whips through the vicinity, stirring up tiny fragments of granite, ice shards, and fistfuls of snow, but the slanting, honey-golden beams of afternoon sunlight provide a pleasant warmth that makes travelling through the mountain range sufficiently comfortable.

 

Mount Seirode 

Like a spire of natural stone, the rocky peak of Mount Seirode rises high above the Northern Mountains, offering a spectacular view of the geography of the Basin of Life below. Splashes of brilliant pink and vibrant purple illuminate the evening sky as the dazzling orange sun sinks below the horizon and the brightness of day gives way to the luminous shadows of twilight. Beautiful formations of clouds, sculpted by high winds, enshroud the tips of the nearby mountains, their edges limned with a shimmering rose-gold glow. At such a high elevation, the wind blows strongly and the air is brisk and chilly, especially as night draws near and the last stray beams of sunlight fade away.

 

Mount Seirode at night 

Like a spire of natural stone, the rocky peak of Mount Seirode rises high above the Northern Mountains, offering a spectacular view of the geography of the Basin of Life below. A light veil of mist obscures the tips of the neighbouring mountains, translucent and filmy, giving the immediate surroundings a sense of hazy distance. In contrast, the night sky above seems impossibly close and reachable, with half a dozen constellations of glittering stars sparkling with dazzling brightness like trails of diamond dust across the velvet darkness. Though the wind has stopped blowing quite as hard, the night air carries a palpable chill that grows sharper as the night wears on.

 

The Grand Collectivist Ballroom 

Luminous white light blossoms from the frosted-glass petals of a crystalline lotus chandelier overhead, suffusing the high, crystalline walls of this circular ballroom with a serene, tranquil glow. Tall, arched windows encircle the ballroom, composed of clear glass bordered by narrow panes of sky-blue, so that the bright starlight shining through them casts azure bars of light in a radiant sunburst pattern across the floor. Between the windows, fluttering pennants hang from gilded poles, embroidered with the state seal of Hallifax and the sigils of the city's guilds. A series of wrap-around balustrades ornament several gilded balconies that rise up toward the domed ceiling, segmented by an elaborate mezzanine upon which a raised dais for the orchestra is elegantly showcased. Within the ballroom, Angelique's parents and brother and Madame Salea Clarramore are clearly visible, cheering her on, as are Isaac and his family.

  

ACT ONE, SCENE ONE

 

Like a luminous ribbon unfurling in the darkness, the silvery melody of a violin rises forth in a melancholy minor key. Each note is played with an expressive vibrato and emotive phrasing, but the overemphasised dynamics and occasional shaky intonation suggest the efforts of a gifted amateur, not an expert.

 

The stately chords of a piano intervene to gently anchor the violin's uneven performance, steadying and sustaining the wayward melody with patient, unfaltering harmony.

 

(enter ANGELIQUE silent)

(enter SALEA silent)

 

As the violin's melody continues, the stage brightens to reveal a small, cosy parlour in the Chateau d'Amour in the village of Delport, illuminated by slanting rays of afternoon sunlight. A human girl with red-gold hair stands in the centre with her eyes closed, wholly absorbed in playing the violin, while an elegant trill woman accompanies her on the piano.

 

ANGELIQUE sways from side to side, seemingly enraptured by the music, as her bow weaves back and forth across the violin in smooth, measured strokes.

 

The violin's melody deepens into a poignant descant, descending steadily through the instrument's registers in a tremulous rhythm akin to the cadence of a woman's sobs.

 

Although it falls quiet rather too abruptly, the volume dropping from mezzo-forte to pianissimo with barely any transition in between, the melody continues unfolding at a steady pace in slow, sombre passages underlaid with a growing sense of patience and acceptance.

 

ANGELIQUE gradually brings the plaintive melody to a close and lets out a long sigh, her bright blue eyes fluttering open.

 

SALEA also ceases playing on the piano and turns around on the bench, meeting Angelique's gaze with a warm smile.

 

ANGELIQUE: Oh, I do love this piece! It's so beautiful, but so sad! What did you think, Madame Salea? Did I play it well?

 

SALEA: Angelique, you played it very well indeed. This was one of the hardest pieces that I could find to challenge you, and you learned it in only a few days! You are a natural with the violin, probably the most talented student that I have taught since I left Hallifax.

 

SALEA draws in a deep breath and rises from her bench in a swish of velvet skirts, her smile turning wry but still affectionate.

 

SALEA: But...

 

ANGELIQUE looks up attentively, the eagerness in her eyes fading, as Salea Clarramore wags a finger at her in gentle reproof.

 

SALEA: You feel the music, yes, but you are not playing it. You focus so much on conveying emotions through your playing that you have neglected the fundamental mechanics of the violin. You still miss notes when you play, your counting is still imprecise, and you get completely carried away every time you see a crescendo or diminuendo marked in the music.

 

ANGELIQUE 's shoulders slump slightly under her teacher's reproach. She lets out a soft, resigned sigh, causing Salea's expression to soften as the trill woman gently rests a hand on her student's arm.

 

SALEA: However, I believe that is in part my fault as well, my dear.

 

SALEA: I do believe that you have progressed as far as I can teach you in terms of technique, musical theory, and interpretation. I have done my best to instil my own love for music and beauty in you, with considerable success, I must say.

 

SALEA: But if you truly wish to progress as a violinist and musician, then I will tell you what I have already recommended to your parents: that you shall have to visit my homeland, the place where I myself was trained in music and the arts, the Beacon of Harmony.

 

SALEA: The city of Hallifax.

 

ANGELIQUE: To Hallifax? Oh, that would be incredible! Do you truly think I am ready, Madame Salea?

 

SALEA: If I did not think so, dear Angelique, then I would not have said it.

 

ANGELIQUE carefully sets down her violin and bow upon the low table beside her, before rushing toward her teacher and impulsively giving her a hug, which Salea Clarramore warmly returns before before gently disentangling herself and smoothing back her feathers.

 

ANGELIQUE: Ever since you first told me about the city of your birth, with its crystal towers and the great artists and musicians who live there, I've dreamed of someday visiting the city. To study there would truly be a dream come true.

 

ANGELIQUE breaks off, blushing, and bites her lip.

 

ANGELIQUE: But it's so far away. I don't know if my parents would ever agree to send me, no matter how much I'd like to go.

 

SALEA 's eyes twinkle conspiratorially as she beckons Angelique closer and leans forward to murmur in her ear.

 

SALEA: Do not be so sure, my dear! I have it on very good authority that your parents have joined forces with Madame Sylvie d'Amour to prepare a magnificent surprise for your birthday party tomorrow.

 

SALEA: Only yesterday, I overheard them organising provisions and hiring the Tleem Transport carriage for a journey to nearly the other side of the Basin. Not to mention arranging accommodations for a lengthy stay once you have reached your mysterious destination, a place that Madame Sylvie and your parents seemed most excited about your visiting.

 

ANGELIQUE: Ooh! How intriguing! Did you hear if it was Hallifax?

 

SALEA: Alas, I did not.

 

ANGELIQUE frowns with disappointment. Her eyes feverishly bright, she begins pacing back and forth restlessly across the small parlour.

 

ANGELIQUE: Even so, that would make so much sense! If you have already told them that I should be studying music in Hallifax, then it would be foolish of them to send me anywhere else. Where else could I go that could possibly be nearly as worthwhile or as wonderful?

 

ANGELIQUE: Yes, it must be Hallifax! Oh, I'm so excited!

 

SALEA raises her hand in a cautioning gesture, looking visibly alarmed by the growing excitement on her student's face.

 

SALEA: Angelique, Angelique, you are getting much too far ahead of yourself! We are only guessing that they heeded my recommendation in the first place, when for all we know they could be planning a very different surprise.

 

SALEA: Clearly I have said too much. Please, do not get your hopes up unduly, my dear.

 

SALEA shakes her head and sighs in resignation when she sees the feverish glow still shining in her student's eyes, as Angelique pauses for a moment in thought and then dashes out the parlour door.

 

ANGELIQUE reappears at the doorway a moment later and scampers back toward her teacher with a piece of paper and pen in hand, as eager as an excited puppy.

 

ANGELIQUE: Please, Madame Salea. If it is to be Hallifax, then you must do me this favour. Will you write me a letter of introduction to your teachers at the University there?

 

ANGELIQUE: Please, just in case? It would mean so much to me!

 

SALEA smiles brightly at her student's earnestness, nodding in acquiescence as she 

accepts the pen and paper.

 

SALEA: Oh, Angelique. I will do you this favour, but only because it was my fault for putting the idea in your head in the first place.

 

SALEA bends over a corner of the piano and swiftly writes out a brief letter, folding it and handing it to her student with a wry smile.

 

SALEA: There you are. Now, shall we focus more upon the present and not the hypothetical future you have dreamed up?

 

ANGELIQUE laughs, looking half-embarrassed and half-triumphant, as she tucks the folded letter into a pocket of her dress, humming happily to herself.

 

SALEA: Come now, we have wasted far too much time in this lesson, and as we all learn very well in Hallifax, time is fleeting. You still have much practising and improvement ahead of you to improve on this dirge. 

 

SALEA: If you please, Angelique, take it from the beginning and, this time, do try to be a little less dramatic with the changes in dynamic.

 

ANGELIQUE obediently retrieves her violin and bow. Setting bow to string, she begins playing again, swaying from side to side, while her teacher resettles herself at the piano with a wry shake of her head.

 

Once more, the silvery melody of the violin swells forth with heartrending resonance in a mournful minor key, the notes echoing softly off the parlour walls.

 

(exit ANGELIQUE silent)

(exit SALEA silent)

 

The music fades as the curtains slowly draw to a close across the stage, shrouding the idyllic sunlit parlour and its musically engaged occupants from view.

 

ACT ONE, SCENE TWO

 

After a few moments, a very different melody fills the air, the sound of several voices singing a Delportoise birthday song in cheerful chorus above Angelique's happy laughter.

 

(enter ANGELIQUE silent)

(enter PIERRE silent)

(enter MARGUERITE silent)

 

The curtains part to reveal a lively picnic party beside the Estengare River, with blankets spread over the mossy banks. Angelique sits between her parents amidst a crowd of singing guests, wearing a party hat and a glowing smile as she bends forward over a frosted birthday cake lit with candles.

 

ANGELIQUE draws a deep breath as the last verses of the birthday song wind down, before letting out a mighty exhale and blowing out all the candles with a single puff.

 

MARGUERITE claps and cheers along with the rest of the guests as Angelique straightens with an air of pride, waving a wisp of candle smoke away.

 

MARGUERITE: Now, that's a fine omen indeed! What did you wish for, Angelique?

 

ANGELIQUE: Oh, just the usual. Happiness, music, and adventures throughout the Basin. And true love too, I suppose. After all, this is Delport, n'est-ce pas?

 

At that, the gathered party guests break into laughter, some rueful and others wistful, but most of them in complacent pride for their home village.

 

ANGELIQUE: Now, time for the cake. And then, the presents!

 

PIERRE exchanges a significant glance with his wife over Angelique's head and nods once, decisively, before setting down his plate.

 

PIERRE: If you all don't mind, Angelique's mother and I would like to be the first to present the birthday girl with a very special surprise. 

 

MARGUERITE: We've been preparing this gift for Angelique's eighteenth birthday for a very long time, and we worked very hard to keep it secret and make everything perfect. And now, we just can't wait to share it with her at last.

 

ANGELIQUE clasps her hands together at her heart, her mouth forming a breathless O as she listens intently.

 

PIERRE: It seems like only yesterday, our little Angelique was only a little girl no higher than my waist, playing with her dolls and singing nursery rhymes. And now, look at her! A fine young lady full of hopes and dreams, ready to take on any adventure that life could throw at her.

 

MARGUERITE: Our gift to you on your eighteenth birthday is to send you to stay for an entire year in a very special place. A place that we hope will fulfill all our fondest hopes for your success and make your own dreams come true.

 

PIERRE: We are sending you to...

 

ANGELIQUE nods rapidly and eagerly, her eyes shining with hope and anticipation, looking ready to leap to her feet in excitement.

 

MARGUERITE: Stewartsville.

 

ANGELIQUE 's face suddenly falls and she sits down abruptly on the ground, as though her legs had simply given way beneath her.

 

ANGELIQUE: Wait a moment. Why...why Stewartsville?

 

MARGUERITE: Why, Angelique, dear, we thought you would love it there! The fresh sea air, the warm weather, the charming people...

 

PIERRE: Madame Sylvie and the Countess of Stewartsville have been working to renew our ties of friendship and trade, by having our people visit each other and learn more of each other's village. Madame Sylvie herself contacted Countess Cecelia and arranged for you to stay with the family of Darcy and Winnie Wainwright.

 

MARGUERITE: They're a very respectable and well-to-do family in the village with a nice young daughter, two sons about your age, and the cutest little baby. They're such lovely and friendly people, I'm sure you will adore them.

 

ANGELIQUE 's eyes widen in surprise and then quickly narrow with suspicion as she turns to stare coldly at her parents.

 

ANGELIQUE: Two sons about my age, did you say?

 

MARGUERITE: Oh, oui! One is older than you by a year and the other is a few years younger. Both very pleasant young men, she tells me, and quite a good match for any girl, I would imagine.

 

ANGELIQUE draws in a long, hissing breath, her eyes turning flinty as a look of disbelief and indignation dawns across her face.

 

ANGELIQUE: You were...you were trying to matchmake me, weren't you, Mama? 

 

PIERRE exchanges an uneasy, even confused glance with his wife, a glance that Angelique does not fail to catch.

 

PIERRE: Well, I cannot deny that we had hopes for something like that happening. We didn't want you to end up like your brother Remy, pining away forever in the Chateau d'Amour for his true love.

 

MARGUERITE: We trust utterly in the judgement of Madame Sylvie d'Amour in deciding whom your true love will be, for we have never known her to fail in pairing couples together. She certainly succeeded perfectly with your father and me, after all!

 

MARGUERITE places a hand over her heart, tilting her head as she gazes sidelong with obvious affection at her husband.

 

PIERRE: And because of that, we want nothing more than for you to follow her instructions to the letter as well. You are our dear, beloved daughter, and we absolutely want you to experience the joy and contentment of having all your dreams come true: romance, marriage, and settling down in the village.

 

ANGELIQUE grimaces and involuntarily glances up at the sky toward the east, an expression of longing flitting across her features like a shadow.

 

ANGELIQUE: It's just that I was hoping to have more of a say in my own future, Mama and Papa. I would've liked to be consulted in my own hopes and dreams for my life! I was never looking to be matchmade. I just wanted to play the violin.

 

MARGUERITE: Well, you can bring your violin with you to Stewartsville! I'm sure the Wainwrights will dearly like hearing you play your pretty little songs. Just mind that you don't 'fiddle' away your entire stay there!

 

MARGUERITE chuckles heartily at her own joke and pats the top of her daughter's head, failing to notice the sudden tightening of Angelique's jaw or the way her hands clench into fists in her lap.

 

PIERRE: Well, I'm sure this must all come as a great shock to you, Angelique, but I assure you that everything has been taken care of. We have made all the decisions and organised all the arrangements for your future.

 

PIERRE: We've arranged for the Tleem Transport Service to take you to Stewartsville. Tomorrow at nine o'clock sharp, the carriage will pick you up at Aurore Aubertine's waystation and drop you off in front of the village of Stewartsville. From there, the Wainwrights will welcome you to your new home for the year! 

 

MARGUERITE: Everything is in place for you to make a good match with the young man. There's no need for you to worry, or strive for anything, or exert yourself in the slightest. All you'll need to do is be the best little woman you can be!

 

ANGELIQUE bites her lip and then briefly, almost imperceptibly, shakes her head in an infinitesimal but unmistakable 'no.'

 

ANGELIQUE: Non! I can't believe my own parents are just disregarding my dreams and deciding my life for me like this! 

 

ANGELIQUE abruptly climbs to her feet, startling her parents and the crowd of guests around her, and places the back of one hand rather theatrically against her temples.

 

ANGELIQUE: I'm terribly sorry, but I seem to have gotten a terrible headache. I can't stay here another moment. I really think I need to just...to just go.

 

ANGELIQUE hastily flees the riverbank without another word, not even sparing a glance at her bewildered parents or the startled crowd of birthday party guests.

 

(exit ANGELIQUE silent)

 

As Angelique quickly disappears from sight, the partygoers stare after her with their mouths open in astonishment. Pierre and Marguerite Martine look at each other with puzzlement written all over their faces.

 

(exit PIERRE silent)

(exit MARGUERITE silent)

 

Gradually, the whispers and murmurs of the partygoers begin to fill the silence. As the air resounds with sibilant speculations, the curtains slowly fall across the stage and the theatre darkens.

 

ACT ONE, SCENE THREE

 

When the curtains rise again, the warm glow of torchlight reveals the village of Delport at night. The elegant Chateau d'Amour is but a dim silhouette in the distance, but the torchlight clearly illuminates the village's stables, looking peaceful and undisturbed in the starlight.

 

(enter ANGELIQUE silent)

 

A shadowy, oddly misshapen figure detaches itself from the side of the stable and creeps stealthily toward the door on tiptoe. Approaching the torchlight, it draws aside the hood of its cloak to reveal the pale but determined face of Angelique Martine.

 

ANGELIQUE pushes her hair back from her face and begins to fumble with the latch on the stable door, looking around furtively every few seconds.

 

(enter SALEA silent)

 

Just as Angelique has unhooked the latch, the stable door suddenly swings open, causing her to jump back in alarm with a gasp of surprise. Inside the stable stands the winged figure of Salea Clarramore, her hands on her hips.

 

ANGELIQUE 's mouth drops open, her eyes going so wide that the whites shine visibly in the flickering torchlight.

 

SALEA strides forward nonchalantly with a swish of velvet skirts to block the entrance into the stable, raising both eyebrows interrogatively at her pupil.

 

SALEA: And what, pray tell, is going on here?

 

ANGELIQUE: Madame Salea, please, I can explain! It's not...it's not what it looks like, I swear!

 

SALEA: Well, it looks to me like you are sneaking into the stables in the middle of the night with your violin on your back, planning to run away on the eve of your departure for Stewartsville.

 

SALEA: In fact, it looks to me like you are turning your back on your parents' birthday gift and defying their expectations for your future, in favour of fleeing in secret to somewhere else entirely. That 'somewhere else' being, unless I miss my guess entirely, the city of Hallifax.

 

ANGELIQUE hesitates a moment, before bowing her head and letting out a laugh tinged with hysteria.

 

ANGELIQUE: All right, perhaps it is what it looks like.

 

ANGELIQUE: If you are here to change my mind, though, Madame Salea, then you are on a fool's errand. I am determined to make my way to Hallifax, and not even you can stop me.

 

SALEA: My dear, what makes you so sure that your parents are wrong? You know they only have your best interests at heart, sending you to Stewartsville.

 

ANGELIQUE heaves a deep sigh and crosses her arms tightly across her chest, her red-gold hair falling back from her face as she raises her chin resolutely.

 

ANGELIQUE: Madame Salea, you're the one who taught me that finding harmony, both in music and in life, is the key to achieving success and happiness. In Stewartsville, I would always be in disharmony with my surroundings, knowing that I always wanted to be elsewhere. I could never truly be happy in Stewartsville.

 

ANGELIQUE: For me, harmony lies in my music. If I'm to find true harmony with myself and my life, it won't be because I married some boy from Stewartsville that I've never met before. It would be because I devoted myself to playing the violin and learning everything I possibly could about music.

 

SALEA gazes searchingly at her pupil for a long moment, tilting her head thoughtfully to one side in an unconsciously avian gesture.

 

ANGELIQUE: I know that my parents will be upset that I'm not following their plans for my life, and I'm sorry for it. But I know I'm a good violinist, and I deserve at least a chance. And if I fail...

 

ANGELIQUE: (taking a deep breath) If I fail, then I will come back here. I will beg my parents' forgiveness, and I will go to Stewartsville like they want. At least, I would have tried.

 

SALEA nods slowly in agreement, and her expression unexpectedly softens into a small, but compassionate smile.

 

SALEA: Indeed you would have. And you are right, you are certainly good enough to deserve an opportunity to prove your skill.

 

SALEA: When I heard about your parents' birthday present, I too thought that it was...ill-considered. Something calculated to please them, perhaps, rather than you. But I wished to hear your own words and see for myself whether you were acting out of simple pique, or if you had truly thought about what you were doing and what the consequences would be.

 

SALEA: Angelique, you are the dearest and best pupil that I could have ever asked for, and I also want what is best for you. Even though it pains me to encourage you in wilful disobedience, I want to help you fulfill yourself through your music. I will help you run away.

 

ANGELIQUE 's eyes widen with incredulity, and with a joyous gasp she impulsively leaps forward to envelop her teacher in a grateful embrace.

 

SALEA returns the hug with a look of mingled pride and sadness, before gently freeing herself from her student's arms after a few moments. Holding a finger to her lips, she quietly turns and slips into the stable, leaving Angelique waiting outside.

 

SALEA emerges from the stable a few moments later, leading a fully saddled and bridled grey mare, laden with a small saddlebag and a filled waterskin. 

 

SALEA: I was fairly sure that I knew what you were planning, my dear, and I was also sure that you may not have planned for it as completely and thoroughly as you would need to. There is food, warm clothing, and a few useful potion vials and herbs in the saddlebag. 

 

SALEA: And a map of the city, because you will need it.

 

ANGELIQUE 's eyes mist over as she gazes up at her teacher in gratitude, laying one hand on the mare's bridle and pressing another briefly against Salea's fingertips.

 

ANGELIQUE: As always, Madame Salea, you've thought of everything. 

 

SALEA: Be careful on the road. It would be best to take the Old Imperial Road into the Oleanvir Valley and then follow the Alabaster Road southeast to Ackleberry Highway. From Ackleberry Junction, you must turn northeast onto the Emerald Road and follow it until you reach the city's elevator and take it up into the city.

 

SALEA: The letter of introduction that you had me write for you should be enough to allow you to enter the city and enroll in the University of Cosmic Understanding. That is where every citizen begins his or her formal education in Hallifax, and that is where you must go first.

 

SALEA: Now, do not delay! The sooner that you are gone from here, the sooner you will be in Hallifax fulfilling your lifelong dream.

 

ANGELIQUE gulps and gives a quick nod, her expression sobering as the gravity of her decision sinks in.

 

ANGELIQUE: Thank you, Madame Salea, for everything. I will miss you so, so much. But I will do my best to make my way with the help you've given me and the strength you've taught me.

 

ANGELIQUE smiles softly and affectionately at her teacher for a long moment, before swinging herself up onto the mare's back. Giving the mare a tap with her heels, she tugs the hood of her cloak over her head and departs the stable resolutely, without a backward glance.

 

(exit SALEA silent)

 

Following Angelique's guidance, the grey mare walks quietly through the village and then launches into a swift, steady canter once they reach the highway. The landscape around them becomes a blurring of verdant forests and rolling hills, the mare's hooves drumming rhythmically along the broad, ancient highway.

 

ANGELIQUE quietly rides the mare along the roads, hunching low over the mare's neck and gazing steadfastly eastward, even as she occasionally brushes tears from her eyes. 

 

Slowly, the landscape around them changes from forests to mountains and tidal pools, and then back to golden-boughed forests. Overhead, the stars steadily wheel across the sky, and darkness begins to dilute in the east as Angelique perseveres in riding along the highways of Lusternia.

 

ANGELIQUE breathes hard and visibly droops in the saddle as the journey begins to take its toll, pausing only now and then to take a drink from her waterskin and sometimes casting uncertain backward glances toward her home village.

 

When the mare arrives at the Ackleberry Junction, however, Angelique resolutely directs her northeast. The road beneath the mare's hooves becomes an expanse of glittering green crystal as they continue their journey.

 

Near a turn in the road, a blindingly bright white globe floats in mid-air, flickering in a complex series of signals and emanating a deep thrumming sound. Beside the glowing globe, the glass access elevator leading upward into the city of Hallifax lets out a soft hiss as its doors slowly begin sliding shut.

 

ANGELIQUE: Wait! Wait for me! I'm coming too!

 

ANGELIQUE impulsively spurs her mare forward, causing the mare to rear up onto her back legs out of sheer startlement before leaping forward through the elevator doors.

 

(enter ISAAC silent)

 

As it turns out, the only other traveller in the elevator is a tall, dark-haired young human man wearing horn-rimmed spectacles, who turns around at the clatter of the mare's hooves and raises an eyebrow quizzically in Angelique's direction.

 

ANGELIQUE and her mare plunge noisily into the elevator and land on the floor in a heap of limbs and saddlebags. As she awkwardly climbs back to her feet, the oddly shaped bundle strapped to her back begins tumbling off her shoulders toward the floor.

 

ISAAC: Oh! Watch out!", just as Angelique exclaims in alarm, "My violin!" 

 

ISAAC dashes toward Angelique just in time to catch the falling bundle in his arms, giving the girl a moment to regain her balance and make a grab for the bundle herself.

 

Their hands brush against each other as they both reach for the odd-shaped bundle, causing their eyes to meet as they instinctively glance up to look at each other.

 

ISAAC: I promise this isn't the usual way I meet new people, but it's nice to meet you. My name's Isaac.

 

ANGELIQUE: Oh, yes, it's a pleasure to meet you too. My name is Angelique. 

 

ISAAC: Angelique? That's a beautiful name.

 

ANGELIQUE: Th-thank you. And thank you for your help, Isaac. That could've been a disaster, if you hadn't caught it in time.

 

ISAAC: You're welcome! So, are you a musician, then?

 

ANGELIQUE: Yes! I'm planning to study the violin at the University of Cosmic Understanding in Hallifax.

 

ISAAC: That's fascinating. As a matter of fact, I'm planning to enroll at the University myself, in order to study temporal energy and mechanics at the Matrix Research Institute.

 

ANGELIQUE: That sounds fascinating, too! Are you going to be a scientist someday?

 

ISAAC: That's what I'm hoping for. It's always been my dream to come to Hallifax and study here with the finest minds and greatest scholars in the entire Basin of Life.

 

ANGELIQUE: That's always been my dream, too.

 

ANGELIQUE smiles softly, almost shyly, at Isaac, who slowly breaks into an answering smile full of unexpected, boyish sweetness.

 

ISAAC coughs hastily, dispelling the moment, and reaches out to push the crystal button on the side of the elevator.

 

With a soft hiss, the glass doors of the elevator slide closed behind Angelique, and gemstone lights flicker brilliantly to life around them.

 

A cold female voice fills the elevator in a stern monotone, causing both of them to jump when it announces, "One moment, please. Beginning departure, now leaving the Emerald Road. Next stop, the Processing Centre of the city of Hallifax."

 

The elevator begins to ascend with silken smoothness, floating gently upward through the clouds and revealing a stunningly beautiful view of the landscape below as the sun begins rising in the east.

 

ANGELIQUE lets out a soft "Oooh" as she stares out the glass walls, her eyes wide with incredulous delight as the elevator approaches the dazzling, austere platforms and towers of Hallifax.

 

The same cold, female voice continues in an even tone, "During your visit, please remember the laws of the city. Ignorance is no excuse - in fact, it is punishable by law. Please do not disturb the servants while they work, for they are bettering the city's advancement."

 

The cold, female voice concludes, "Now arriving, the city of Hallifax, Processing Centre. Thank you for coming to visit our fine city. Goodbye."

 

The elevator comes to a slow and comfortable halt, the glass doors quietly sliding open to reveal the bustling, yet orderly and organised Processing Centre of the city.

 

Shielded by crystal and metal walls glowing with powerstone panels, two diamond desks manned by stern-looking custodians of peace stand directly on the platform before the elevator. Indentured servants rush past, inspectors of the lower wards survey the premises, and another influx of visitors passes between the desks, all adding to the sense of quick and busy activity.

 

With remarkable efficiency, two custodians of peace swiftly approach the pair of humans and take them in hand, brusquely guiding them toward the diamond desks to be questioned and receive official identity papers and authorisation.

 

ISAAC: (shaking off his minder for a moment to turn hastily back towards Angelique) Look, come find me sometime when we're both in the University. I'd love to hear you play!

 

ANGELIQUE: Yes, of course I will! I'm sure we'll meet again soon. I'm looking forward to it, in fact!

 

(exit ISAAC silent)

 

With that, Angelique is swept before one of the diamond desks, where an austere peacekeeper questions her about her business, reads the letter of introduction from Salea Clarramore, and proceeds to enroll her into the University of Cosmic Understanding. 

 

By the time she is done, dawn has broken over Hallifax with jewel-like, rosy light. Rays of bright sunlight snake across the rapidly brightening morning sky, reflecting off the city's spires to spectacular effect. 

 

ANGELIQUE tiredly leaves her mare in the care of the Crystal Keeper and slowly makes her way toward the University of Cosmic Understanding, looking weary but still rapturous with wonder as she intently follows the directions on Salea's map.

 

The stage goes dark as Angelique is shown to her tiny dormitory room in the University, where she lovingly stores her violin under the desk and then collapses into bed, while the curtains slowly descend across the stage.

 

ACT TWO, SCENE ONE

 

The soft susurrus of conversation fills the air with male and female voices alike sharing gossip, ideas, opinions, and confidences in low murmurs, underscored by the sound of notebooks rustling and musical instruments being taken out of their cases and tuned.

 

After a moment, the stage curtains ripple and flutter as they quickly rise to reveal a glass-walled music classroom with golden treble and bass clef symbols inlaid into the gleaming onyx floor. Trill and lucidian music students sit in rows of chairs around an empty lecturer's podium, engrossed in conversation.

 

(enter NANN silent)

 

Preceded by the delicate, clear notes of a crystalline harp, an elderly, elegant dwarf lady strides to the front of the classroom, causing instant silence to fall across the chamber.

 

In near-perfect unison, the trill and lucidian music students exclaim, "Good morning, Professor Baruwski!"

 

NANN: Good morning, students. 

 

NANN: Today, we will begin by analyzing the development of the melodic line in the overture popularly known as the 'Flight of the Thunderbirds,' from one of Sublime Opus Jilai Clarramore's lesser-known operas, "The Wind Riders of War." The overture begins with a long passage for solo violin in B-flat minor...

 

(enter ANGELIQUE silent)

 

As Professor Baruwski continues her lecture, the trill and lucidian music students hurriedly open their notebooks and begin taking notes. Wholly absorbed in the day's lesson, no one hears the classroom door opening a crack to reveal Angelique peeking nervously from behind.

 

ANGELIQUE: (in a low, alarmed whisper) Oh no, the class has started already! If only I hadn't taken that wrong stair and ended up wandering around the lower wards for half an hour! 

 

ANGELIQUE cautiously tiptoes through the half-open door into the back of the classroom, evidently hoping to go unnoticed amidst the sounds of the professor's lecture and students scribbling notes.

 

Unfortunately, just before Angelique can reach the nearest empty desk, the violin case slung over her shoulder bumps into another student's chair with a clatter, causing everyone to turn their heads toward her.

 

NANN looks up immediately and stops in mid-sentence to fix the girl with an intimidating glare.

 

NANN: What have we here, then? A newcomer, arriving late to her first class, no less? Who might you be, and what do you have to say for yourself?

 

ANGELIQUE: M-my name's Angelique Martine. I'm from Delport. I-I studied violin there for twelve years with Madame Salea Clarramore, who recommended me to come here to attend the University of Cosmic Understanding. 

 

ANGELIQUE reaches into her pocket and takes out the much-folded letter of introduction from Salea Clarramore, visibly willing her trembling hand to steady into stillness as she offers the letter to Professor Nann Baruwski.

 

NANN raises her eyebrows in mild surprise as she takes the letter and begins reading. After a few moments, she glances up again to look Angelique up and down speculatively, her expression softening slightly but still skeptical.

 

NANN: Well, well, a student of Salea's, are you? We almost never see a human student here in Hallifax, but then, who am I to judge a musician based on her race? Take a seat and follow along as best you can.

 

ANGELIQUE opens her mouth as if to speak, but then closes it and obediently sits down at the empty desk, placing her violin case near her feet and taking out a battered notebook.

 

NANN clears her throat to regain everyone's attention and then, as smoothly as if nothing had interrupted her lecture, continues discussing the beginning of the operatic overture with verve and gusto.

 

NANN: As I was saying, the leitmotif from the solo violin passage is then repeated and further developed by a chorus of trumpets and horns, whose entrance is intended to portray the flock of thunderbirds descending upon the battlefield in a storm of mighty wingbeats….

 

ANGELIQUE 's jaw slowly drops as the lecture becomes increasingly technical and difficult for her to grasp, her face betraying both fascination and bewilderment as she furiously takes reams of notes.

 

NANN: If we then examine the overture as a whole, we can see its overall symmetrical rondo form with contrasting episodes united by variations on the recurring leitmotif of the soaring thunderbirds...

 

Raising his hand, a trill music student says, "But doesn't the chord progression into the D major scale indicate that it should be considered a development of a separate motif?"

 

NANN: The chord progression and change of key does create a change in symphonic mood in the second variation, it is true. However, that is not enough on its own to establish a new melodic theme…

 

NANN continues to drone on interminably about various musical techniques and themes from Jilai Clarramore's overture, while Angelique listens on with visibly mounting confusion and frustration.

 

By the time the lecture is over, Angelique appears thoroughly dumbfounded and intimidated by the unfamiliar material. While the trill and lucidian music students around her start talking and laughing again, she numbly closes her notebook and sits at her desk in a daze.

 

(enter FRE'ZIK silent)

 

The chatter quickly dies down again when another teacher enters the classroom, this time a handsome and intense-looking lucidian man impeccably dressed in a stately black suit and holding a diamond conducting baton.

 

NANN: Students, some of you may know Conductor Fre'zik zi'Prouep, the esteemed director and conductor of the State Symphony Orchestra of Hallifax. Please offer him a warm welcome.

 

ANGELIQUE murmurs a long, "Oooh!" under her breath, eyes wide with wonder, while she joins in the polite applause of the trill and lucidian music students.

 

FRE'ZIK: It is always an honour to assist the professors and students of the University of Cosmic Understanding. Today, I shall be helping Professor Baruwski evaluate all of you in the areas of solfege and sight-reading.

 

FRE'ZIK: A keen understanding of pitch, musical intervals, consonance and dissonance, and rhythm are absolutely key to becoming a truly accomplished musician.

 

FRE'ZIK produces a sheaf of thin booklets and begins passing them out to each of the trill and lucidian music students, before giving the last to Angelique with the merest quizzical tilt of his head.

 

FRE'ZIK: First, I would like to gain an understanding of your current sight-reading and interpretative skills. The booklets that I have just handed out each contain three short musical pieces or excerpts from the Symphonium's archives.

 

FRE'ZIK: Please select one of these pieces and take the next five minutes to study it. After the five minutes are over, I shall be asking each of you to perform your chosen piece before the class.

 

NANN: Excellent, Conductor. Your five minutes begin now!

 

ANGELIQUE visibly blanches with apprehension and immediately flips the booklet open, gulping nervously as she looks over each piece in turn.

 

ANGELIQUE: Oh, mon Dieu! Madame Salea was always after me to improve my sight-reading, but I always hated it. If only I'd paid more attention to her back then!

 

ANGELIQUE: Well, that sonata excerpt looks so terribly hard! So many fast passages with complicated fingerings and difficult bowings. If this were any other time I would love to learn it, but right now I must find something that will let me impress the judges and not look like a fool in front of them.

 

ANGELIQUE turns quickly to the next page of the booklet and tilts her head consideringly as she scans its contents, her furrowed brow slowly smoothing as she slowly nods to herself.

 

ANGELIQUE: Now, this slower piece I could perhaps handle. Or at least attempt. Let me see, the tempo is adagio and the key is in, umm, I think it must be E major, with all those sharps...

 

Though Angelique quickly immerses herself in studying the assigned piece, it seems as though barely any time at all has passed before Professor Nann Baruwski clears her throat and announces that the five minutes are over.

 

NANN: Come on, come on, we don't have all day! Who would like to go first?

 

A tall, sapphire-blue lucidian viola student stands up impassively. Without preamble, he launches into the difficult sonata excerpt and delivers a brilliant performance of such precision and exactitude, every challenging technique within the sonata demonstrated with such effortless virtuosity, that Angelique's mouth falls open in unabashed amazement.

 

NANN: Excellent, Kx'kix.

 

FRE'ZIK: (with a slow nod) Most impressive.

 

NANN: Next!

 

Rising from her seat, a graceful golden-winged trill lifts her violin and performs the same adagio piece that Angelique had just been studying. Her rendition is equally impeccable, equally superb, and equally dispassionate, each passage played at exactly the proper tempo and rhythm with not a note out of place.

 

NANN: Well done, Tilatea.

 

FRE'ZIK: Quite pleasant to hear.

 

NANN: Who's next? Angelique?

 

ANGELIQUE swallows heavily and climbs to her feet, tucking her violin under her chin and placing bow to string with hands made clumsy by nervousness. Glancing humbly at the two preceding students who had impressively shown their sight-reading skills, she takes a deep breath and begins playing the slower adagio piece.

 

ANGELIQUE 's bow scratches and scrapes awkwardly across the strings as she painstakingly attempts to make her way through the piece without making any mistakes or missing any details, her eyes veritably glued to the sheet music before her.

 

ANGELIQUE unconsciously closes her eyes and starts swaying along to the music as she becomes carried away by the song. As her self-control slowly slips away, her playing style fluctuates wildly back and forth across the spectrum, from rigid and uptight, to loose, flowing, and increasingly erratic.

 

ANGELIQUE bites her lip as she finally reaches the end and lowers her violin, turning to look toward her audience of teachers and fellow music students.

 

A small silence descends as the students look back at her with expressions ranging from chagrin to pity to sheer disdain, while the two professors simply shake their heads in unison.

 

NANN: Rather uneven, to say the least. Your bowing was sloppy and your intonation frequently awry, displaying a definite lack of sight-reading and solfege skills.

 

FRE'ZIK: What a shame, to so badly disgrace one of my favourite pieces from the Symphonium's entire repertoire.

 

NANN: Honestly, child, I can't imagine what Salea found so praiseworthy about you. I found very few redeeming qualities about your playing, and I strongly doubt that you have what it takes to flourish at the University.

 

ANGELIQUE reels backward slightly and her lips go white, as if she has just received a stunning blow without any warning. Before she can say anything, though, both the Professor and Conductor have already moved on to the next student.

 

NANN: Next!

 

ANGELIQUE sinks down bonelessly into her chair, her bow slipping from her fingers. She hastily bends over to pick it up, but not quickly enough to hide the tears trickling down her cheek.

 

FRE'ZIK briefly glances back toward her and leans toward Professor Nann Baruwski with a speculative look.

 

FRE'ZIK: That human girl, I thought she did show some talent, actually. There were a few moments during her sight-reading exercise where the piece really started to sing...

 

NANN: I agree, she did have good musicality. There may be a hint of potential there.

 

NANN: But it hardly matters unless she has the discipline to make that potential into a reality. If she has it in her to work very, very hard and improve a great deal, then maybe she can overcome all that clumsiness and strive for a successful musical career. 

 

Still talking, the two move away toward the next student, a loboshigaru gentleman who stands up from his desk and begins to perform the third of the sight-reading musical excerpts, a stately waltz tune, on a flute.

 

(exit Fre'zik silent)

(exit NANN silent)

(exit ANGELIQUE silent)

 

The stage slowly darkens to the sound of the music emerging graciously from the loboshigaru's flute and ringing melodiously throughout the acoustically engineered chamber, punctuated by the barely audible sound of Angelique's broken-hearted sniffles in the background.

 

ACT TWO, SCENE TWO

 

After a few minutes, the stage brightens again to reveal the immense floating platform outside the University of Cosmic Understanding. A violet dusk is falling over the city, and soft lavender rays of dying sunlight slant across the University and its surroundings, outlining the platform's structures and occupants in a luminous glow.

 

(enter ISAAC silent)

 

The University's doors swing open, and a young human and lucidian stroll out into the darkling twilight air together, engrossed in the midst of their conversation.

 

ISAAC: Ahh, so you're saying you want to join the Sentinel Company instead because you still want to study time, but you want to monitor the timestream and watch out for space-time anomalies.

 

The lucidian enthusiastically nods and is about to respond, when suddenly Isaac holds up a hand, cautioning him to silence. A cool evening breeze wafts across the platform and ruffles Isaac's hair, carrying with it the quiet but unmistakable sound of weeping.

 

ISAAC: Do you hear that?

 

ISAAC swivels his head from side to side and squints through his glasses, trying to pinpoint the source of the sound. Eventually, his gaze falls upon an artificial fish pond of glass nearby and the bench beside it.

 

(enter ANGELIQUE silent)

 

Sitting upon the bench, a human girl is huddled into a forlorn ball. Though her loosely flowing reddish-gold tresses cloak her face from sight, her slender body shakes with the force of her sobs.

 

ANGELIQUE: Why did I come here, oh why did I come here?

 

ISAAC 's eyes slowly widen with recognition and then soften in sympathy before he thoughtfully averts his gaze, as though to give her a semblance of privacy, turning back to his companion.

 

ISAAC: Listen, would you mind going on to dinner without me? There's someone I'd like to talk to first.

 

At the lucidian's bemused nod, Isaac turns away and strides purposefully towards the bench beside the glass fish pond, where he pauses to pull a clean handkerchief from his pocket and hold it out toward Angelique.

 

ISAAC: Hello again. I know we don't know each other very well, but...I just wanted to ask, what's wrong? Are you all right?

 

ANGELIQUE starts violently when she hears his voice and raises her head to stare up at him in startlement, too surprised even to wipe her eyes and nose.

 

ANGELIQUE: Oh! You're the boy from the elevator. The one who saved my violin.

 

ANGELIQUE: (hesitantly accepting the handkerchief and rubbing at her reddened eyes) I'm making a fool of myself again, I suppose?

 

ISAAC: Well, I don't know about 'again,' but--unlike our Hallifaxian friends--I don't see anything wrong with having emotions. Or expressing them, even if they're not always the most positive of emotions.

 

ISAAC: So, if you don't mind my asking, um, what set off your emotions this way? Did something happen to you at the University?

 

ANGELIQUE: No. Not really.

 

ISAAC: (the corners of his mouth turning down in a confused frown) What do you mean 'not really'?

 

ANGELIQUE: It wasn't anything in particular that happened to me today. I just...I couldn't do anything right. 

 

ANGELIQUE: Everyone just played circles around me. They're all so talented and never make any mistakes or miss even a single note, even on their first try. I couldn't keep up with anyone at anything, even the smallest tasks. All the professors were laughing at me the entire time too, I just know it.

 

ANGELIQUE gestures listlessly toward the glass fish pond beside their bench, filled with artificial crystalline fish, and blows her nose again.

 

ANGELIQUE: I feel like a river trout that got dropped into a fish pond like that one by mistake. An ugly river trout in a pond made out of crystal and diamonds. Every moment I'm floundering and flailing about and gasping wildly for breath, completely out of my element and trapped somewhere where I clearly don't belong.

 

ANGELIQUE: I never realised the world was so large and the people in it so impressive. I just...I just want to go home.

 

ISAAC purses his lips pensively and looks off into the middle distance for a moment as he pauses to formulate a careful response.

 

ISAAC: You came here because you have a dream that you wanted to chase, right? If you're anything like me, you spent years of your life thinking and planning to come to this city to study and learn.

 

ISAAC: I think it would be a huge waste for you to abandon your dream when you've only just arrived at Hallifax, when you're practically at the precipice of fulfilling it. If you gave up now and went home, you'd be throwing away all those years you spent, all those plans you made, all those dreams you dreamed.

 

ISAAC: I know that it's hard; believe me, I know. But you have to remember, the hard work doesn't end once you made it to Hallifax. The hard work is only beginning. 

 

ANGELIQUE turns her tear-stained face toward him and nods unconsciously in agreement, a look of understanding slowly dawning on her face.

 

ISAAC: But who knows? Maybe with enough hard work, even ordinary trout like you and me can swim in crystal ponds.

 

ANGELIQUE lets out a wry little chuckle and sits up straighter on the bench, her reddened eyes radiating renewed hope and a hint of humour.

 

ANGELIQUE: Didn't you tell me you came to Hallifax to be a scientist? Since when are scientists so eloquent and passionate about things? 

 

ISAAC: Hey, scientists can be eloquent too! We're not always just about numbers and cold, hard logic.

 

ISAAC: But the truth is, I don't usually go on and on like that. It's just that I can imagine all too easily what you must be feeling. Being around all these trills and lucidians who have lived here all their lives, who know exactly what to do...it came as a shock to me too. I don't think there's anything that can prepare you for the reality of being here.

 

ISAAC: You and I, though... We've both come too far not to keep on chasing our dreams. We shouldn't let anyone take those dreams away from us, least of all ourselves.

 

ANGELIQUE: You're right. I shouldn't be admitting defeat just yet. Not until they take me by the arms and throw me bodily off a platform!

 

ISAAC: That's the spirit!

 

ANGELIQUE breaks into a brilliant, grateful smile toward Isaac, who turns faintly but perceptibly pink as he meets her eyes and smiles back.

 

ANGELIQUE: Thank you so much for coming over and talking to me like this. It helps so much to know that I have a friend here who understands what I'm doing through and who is cheering for my success and happiness.

 

ISAAC: Of course! Like I said, I understand all too well how you were feeling. And it helps me just as much to know that I'm not alone either and that I could have a friend here who isn't also a rival and competitor.

 

ANGELIQUE: Friends, then?

 

ISAAC: Of course. Friends.

 

For a moment, they simply sit facing each other on the bench, smiling into each other's eyes with the look of two people discovering a kindred spirit. As the blush on both their cheeks gradually deepens, Isaac abruptly lets out an embarrassed-sounding cough and hastily glances away.

 

ISAAC: Besides, we humans should stick together amidst all these shardlings, right?

 

ANGELIQUE: Right!

 

ANGELIQUE: Come to think of it...would you mind if I suggested a way that we could help each other out with our studies, as friends?

 

ANGELIQUE: The thing is, as a musician, you have to practise practically from dawn to dusk every day if you truly want to improve. At least, that's what my teacher at home always told me. 

 

ANGELIQUE: It's always been a struggle for me to stay strict and consistent and not become lazy about practising so hard all the time, though. But I figure...scientists must have to study every day, too, don't you? 

 

ISAAC: Are you thinking that perhaps you and I should study together, somehow? But wouldn't that just be distracting if you're practising the violin while I'm trying to read?

 

ANGELIQUE: Yes! But no.

 

ANGELIQUE: I was thinking that perhaps we could agree to meet every day in the evenings after classes or dinner and take a pair of adjacent practise rooms in the University. They're supposed to be perfectly soundproof, so we could both easily practise and not distract each other.

 

ANGELIQUE: We could both practise for, oh, two or three hours every day? And then at the end, we could show each other our progress for the day. 

 

ISAAC: Well, I don't know if I would be much help to you, though. I don't know very much about music...

 

ANGELIQUE: Well, I don't know anything about time science either, believe me! But I think this way we could both learn more about different disciplines besides our own, and we'd feel much more motivated to work hard and get better when we have a partner working alongside us.

 

ISAAC pauses for a moment to ponder the idea, adjusting his spectacles upon his nose, before quickly nodding in agreement.

 

ISAAC: You know, I think that really is a great idea! We'd both work hard and get better, and we could have fun teaching each other too.

 

ISAAC: In fact, why don't we start right now? Come on, let's go do some studying!!

 

ANGELIQUE: You mean now? Right now?

 

ISAAC: Of course! What better time to establish the routine of practising than right now? And what better way to demonstrate just how dedicated we both are to improving and to proving that we deserve to be here?

 

ANGELIQUE: I suppose you're right. After all, there's no time like the present, right?

 

ISAAC: Well, technically speaking, the Master Scientists and especially the Temporal Conclave have a lot to say about that... But ahem. Basically, yes, the sooner the better.

 

ANGELIQUE nods in agreement and takes Isaac's outstretched hand with a warm smile, allowing herself to be pulled to her feet and led back inside the University of Cosmic Understanding.

 

Entering the University, they hurry up the stairs together toward a corridor with dozens of doors leading into private practise rooms. A handful of doors are closed already, with muffled sounds of writing or playing issuing from within, signalling the presence of other hardworking students in their midst.

 

ANGELIQUE takes a deep breath and puts one hand on the doorknob of an open practise room, before pausing a moment and turning back toward Isaac, who is just about to enter the empty practise room next to hers.

 

ANGELIQUE: All right, let's meet up again after two hours in my room to show off what we've worked on tonight. I'm going to be practising that adagio piece from today's class, until I can at least be sure not to disgrace it as badly as I did this morning.

 

ISAAC: I'm looking forward to it! I guess I should study those schematics of temporal resonators that we were given today, so I can identify all the parts and how they work together.

 

Exchanging encouraging smiles with each other, they close the doors of their neighbouring practise rooms behind themselves simultaneously. After a few minutes, the sounds of pages rustling, pen scratching, and confused murmuring emerge from one room, while muted strains of violin music emanate from the other.

 

At the end of two hours, Isaac promptly opens his door, goes to knock on Angelique's, and strides confidently inside. Not long after, the sounds of lecturing, questions and answers, and then a muffled violin solo echo from inside the room.

 

ISAAC and Angelique finally leave the practise room half an hour later, both laughing and talking energetically, their faces noticeably brighter and more enthused than before.

 

ISAAC: I loved the sound of your violin playing! I do think that one really slow section needs work, though, because it sounded like you were rushing it because you were getting impatient.

 

ANGELIQUE: Honestly, I was! But at least that was the only part I rushed. I actually think listening to you talk about the flow of time and the effects of timewarp actually helped me be more aware of my rhythm and pacing when I played in front of you.

 

ISAAC: Really? That's great! I never would have thought that talking about temporal resonators could possibly have a beneficial effect on playing music before…

 

(exit ANGELIQUE silent)

(exit ISAAC silent)

 

As they walk away arm-in-arm and disappear down the stairs of the University corridors, still talking happily together, the stage curtains descend across the harmonious scene with a gentle rustle and the lights go dark.

 

ACT TWO, SCENE THREE

 

As the curtains rise once more, the same corridor within the University of Cosmic Understanding stretches into view, lined on one side with doors to private practise rooms and on the other side with complex, sophisticated clocks and calendars of all shapes and sizes.

 

At first, the clocks on the wall run at a normal pace, but they gradually begin speeding up until the hour, minute, and second hands are blurring almost to the point of invisibility as they whirl furiously around the dial. Calendar pages rapidly flip up as though blown by an unseen gale, illustrating the quickened passage of time.

 

As time continues to pass as an accelerated rate, crowds of students pour through the hallway at high speeds, looking more like blurry streaks than people. Doors swing open and close as rapidly and frequently as an eye-blink.

 

Standing out prominently among the crowds of students are ANGELIQUE's shining red-gold hair and Isaac's tall, lanky figure as they meet up together every evening like clockwork outside the practise rooms.

 

When they leave the practise rooms for the day, the two human students always depart arm-in-arm together, often deep in conversation as they stroll away into the night.

 

After numerous such meetings flicker across the stage, the clocks on the wall finally begin to slow down to a normal pace and the calendar pages stop flying away, showing the current date to be four months after Angelique first arrived in Hallifax. The time is shown to be ten minutes before noon.

 

(enter ANGELIQUE silent)

 

After a few minutes, one door opens and a very determined-looking, if slightly tired, Angelique marches out of the practise room, her violin case slung across her back.

 

Calling out to her, a trill music student says to Angelique, "Angelique! Why didn't you come join us for dinner last night?"

 

ANGELIQUE looks up quickly and turns her head toward two smiling trill girls at the other end of the corridor, both carrying instrument cases and music sheet booklets like her.

 

ANGELIQUE: I'm sorry, but I had to practise yesterday evening. I'll try my best to make it tonight. 

 

As she turns around again and continues walking down the corridor, the two trill girls exchange perplexed glances and shake their heads in unison.

 

Murmuring in low tones to her friend, the trill music student says, "That girl is really something! She practises all day at school, then she needs to practise long into the evening, and today she locks herself in the practise room since the crack of dawn? She's already the most improved performer in the entire class, and I heard even Professor Baruwski's impressed with her progress. And yet…"

 

The other trill music student asserts, "She got where she is now because she's been working so hard. Can you blame her if she keeps wanting to get better as a musician?"

 

(enter ISAAC silent)

 

Still talking together, the two girls walk away as Angelique reaches the end of the corridor, still so preoccupied that she turns the corner and nearly runs straight into Isaac.

 

ISAAC and Angelique both stagger back a little from their collision, rubbing their foreheads. He recovers first, only to blink in surprise when he recognises her.

 

ISAAC: Angelique? I didn't expect to see you here! Were you studying without me?

 

ANGELIQUE: Isaac! Good morning! No, I've been practising this morning because I just wanted to be especially ready today. The auditions for the State Symphony Orchestra are this afternoon, after all. 

 

ISAAC instantly falls still and nods emphatically, his eyes widening slightly as he takes in Angelique's earnest expression and white-knuckled hands.

 

ISAAC: Of course! I can't believe I forgot about that. Well, you know I wish you the best of luck as always, Angelique. Not that you need the luck, of course. I've heard you play, and I have no doubt whatsoever that you will definitely take the judge's breath away.

 

ISAAC: And...I had a gift that I was going to give you this evening, but maybe now's the best time. That way, you can keep it with you and know someone's cheering for your success.

 

ANGELIQUE: A gift? But Isaac, you shouldn't have! I haven't gotten anything for you, after all.

 

ISAAC: (in self-deprecating, almost embarrassed tones) Oh, it's nothing very big or special. I just thought it was pretty and you might like it.

 

ISAAC takes a carefully folded package from his satchel and bashfully hands it to Angelique, who eagerly pulls off the paper wrapping to reveal a pale blue scarf of delicate, shimmering silk, embroidered with white snowflakes sparkling with tiny diamonds.

 

ANGELIQUE: Oh, Isaac, it's gorgeous! Thank you, thank you so much.

 

ANGELIQUE happily loops and ties the scarf around her neck in a stylish Delportoise knot, where the wintry blue silk contrasts prettily against her fair skin and reddish-gold tresses.

 

ISAAC: It looks even better on you than I expected! It makes your eyes look...I mean...

 

ISAAC blushes a little and stammers into silence, looking down at his feet and running a hand through his unkempt dark hair.

 

ANGELIQUE: Truly, thank you, Isaac. It means a lot to me to know that you believe in me and want me to do well.

 

ANGELIQUE pauses a moment and then rises onto her tiptoes to softly kiss his cheek.

 

ANGELIQUE: But I really must run now, or I'll be late for the audition. I'll find you afterward and tell you how it went.

 

ISAAC: You'd better!

 

ANGELIQUE beams brightly at him before turning away and rushing off down the stairs and out of the University, leaving Isaac to gaze after her, holding his hand to the cheek she kissed.

 

(exit ISAAC silent)

 

Meanwhile, Angelique dashes across the upper platforms of Hallifax, climbing up and down stairs and speeding past the Matrix, still smiling radiantly and exuding a newfound aura of confidence rather than weariness.

 

ANGELIQUE charges breathlessly through the open double doors of the Conservatory of Music, but manages to stop on the threshold in time to compose herself and catch her breath before entering at a more demure pace. 

 

(enter FRE'ZIK silent)

 

Within the Conservatory, a dozen other candidates are already seated and awaiting their turn, while Conductor Fre'zik zi'Prouep himself presides regally over the proceedings, resplendent in a stately black tail-coat and trousers.

 

FRE'ZIK makes a minute adjustment to his already perfectly knotted bow tie and clears his throat to gain the attention of the assembled audition candidates.

 

FRE'ZIK: Every year, the State Symphony Orchestra of Hallifax holds a series of auditions for select University students to become members of the Orchestra. The auditions will consist of two parts: a performance of a song or piece of your choice, followed by a sight-reading test.

 

FRE'ZIK: The order of the individual auditions has been determined randomly. While each audition is taking place, all other candidates will be asked to wait in an adjoining anteroom until their name is called.

 

FRE'ZIK: And our first candidate to audition is...Angelique Martine.

 

ANGELIQUE starts when her name is called, but takes a few deep breaths and performs a graceful, respectful curtsey toward Conductor Fre'zik zi'Prouep, while the other music students shuffle quietly out of the Conservatory.

 

FRE'ZIK gestures for Angelique to come forward and tilts his head expectantly at her, his opalescent skin shimmering with tones of light green.

 

FRE'ZIK: Greetings, Miss Angelique. Why don't you tell me the name of the piece you'll be performing today? 

 

ANGELIQUE: Of course. I'll be playing the first movement from Professor Baruwski's Sonata no. 12 for solo violin, the 'Starlight Sonata.' 

 

ANGELIQUE briefly touches the scarf around her neck, as if for luck, before gracefully tucking her violin under her chin and setting her bow to the strings.

 

After a moment's hesitation, she launches into a tender, lyrical rendition of the first movement, written in an andante cantabile tempo. In the beginning, the lilting notes emerge from the violin as daintily and distinctly as flower petals falling to the ground or motes of light twinkling in the air.

 

Gradually, the chiming notes resolve and blossom into an ariose, song-like melody reminiscent of a romantic serenade, falling and rising in dulcet cascades of sound as though plunging to the depths of uncertainty and doubt before soaring upward upon wings of hope and joy.

 

Evoking a crystalline, translucent timbre from the violin with fluid legato bow strokes, Angelique guides the movement to a rapturous, rhapsodic crescendo, suffused with all the heady, heedless euphoria of first love.

 

Throughout the movement, Angelique clearly displays her characteristic emotional richness and warmly expressive vibrato. Yet, her playing has noticeably stabilised and her musicality deepened since her arrival in Hallifax, and her phrasing is much cleaner and more delicate than before, almost elegant.

 

ANGELIQUE finishes off the movement with a neatly rendered series of glissandos and takes a step back, lowering the violin and performing an abbreviated bow.

 

FRE'ZIK: Thank you.

 

FRE'ZIK turns to the neat pile of sheet music placed upon the closed top of the piano and selects a single page, which he lays upon the music stand in front of Angelique before stepping back.

 

FRE'ZIK: This etude is the piece you will play for the sight-reading portion of the audition. You may have up to ten minutes to review it before you begin.

 

ANGELIQUE grimaces slightly, but fixes her gaze upon the musical notes, staves, and notations covering the page with unflinching intensity and focus, showing little of the anxiety and self-doubt from her first sight-reading lesson.

 

ANGELIQUE: Tempo is allegro, time signature is 4/4. It starts in D major, but watch for the change in key to G major in the second half... 

 

After a few more minutes of analysing the etude, Angelique exhales slowly and raises her violin back to her chin, brushing her fingers again across her scarf before beginning to play.

 

Consisting chiefly of arpeggiated chords at the beginning, the violin etude unfolds as a progression of slurred eighth notes that encompass at least two or three strings, prompting the bow to glide smoothly across the instrument in sweeping, undulating strokes.

 

Before either the listener or musician can be lulled by the rocking, rhythmic cadence, a sparkling, sprightly caprice arises upon the violin's D, A, and E strings, clearly intended to test the performer's ability to play the eighth notes flawlessly while creating a sense of harmonic complexity.

 

The etude culminates in a clear, ringing three-note chord that betrays only a hint of shakiness as Angelique draws out the final note, concluding a slightly jittery but admirably intrepid and mostly mistake-free performance. 

 

ANGELIQUE lowers her violin with an exuberant flourish and gives another little bow, her face flushed and eyes shining with enjoyment and no small amount of sheer relief.

 

FRE'ZIK dispassionately writes some brief notes in a small notepad and waves a hand in Angelique's direction in a general gesture of dismissal.

 

FRE'ZIK: Thank you, Miss Angelique. We will contact you through the Ministry of Postal Services later in the day regarding the results of the audition. Please send in the next applicant, if you will.

 

After Angelique packs away her instrument, gives a proper goodbye curtsey, and summons the next audition candidate, she finally has a moment to wipe the back of her hand across her brow and whisper "Phew!" as she leaves the Conservatory.

 

(exit FRE'ZIK silent)

 

From there, it is business as usual for Angelique as she hurries back to the University, attends her classes, and even manages to have dinner with the two music students from earlier, before trudging back to the University for evening practise.

 

(enter ISAAC silent)

 

Despite looking visibly tired, the adrenaline-fueled excitement of the audition having long since given way to fatigue, Angelique quickly lights up when she catches sight of Isaac coming to meet her for their usual practise sessions.

 

ISAAC: Angelique! How are you? How did you do at the orchestra audition?

 

ANGELIQUE: I'm exhausted! The audition took only an hour, but it felt like the longest hour of my life. I feel like I've aged five years since I left the Conservatory of Music this morning.

 

ISAAC: I don't know about that. You do look a little pale, but you still look as beautiful as ever.

 

ISAAC: Uhh, that is...I mean

 

ANGELIQUE and Isaac both turn pink for a moment, not meeting each other's gazes, before Angelique breaks the silence with a soft chuckle.

 

ANGELIQUE: If anyone else said that, I'd think they were just spouting some empty flattery. But from you, I believe it. I really do.

 

ANGELIQUE: But well, anyway, I think the audition went well. Or at least it went all right. I thought I played the movement from the Starlight Sonata pretty well, but I know I tripped up several times on the sight-reading test.

 

ISAAC: That doesn't sound too bad; surely they must expect you to make one or two mistakes the first time you play a new piece. When do you hear back from Conductor zi'Prouep?

 

A glowing sphere suddenly buzzes into the corridor and circles several times around Angelique's head. Glowing gemstones flash, before a door in the sphere opens up and shoots a highly ornate sheet of stationery into her hands. Then, the glowing sphere beeps several times before buzzing away out of sight.

 

ANGELIQUE: Oh, dear Gods, this is the letter from the Conductor! I recognise his stamp on the letter. I-I can't bring myself to look. Isaac, please open it for me and tell me what it says.

 

ISAAC blinks in surprise as Angelique thrusts the letter into his hands, but nods gamely in agreement and tears open the seals securing the letter. His eyes widen as he scans the contents, and then his face breaks into an enormous grin.

 

ISAAC: Congratulations, Angelique! You made it!!

 

ANGELIQUE lets out a short gasp of elation and spins in place in a happy dance, exulting in her accomplishment, while Isaac looks on in amusement.

 

ISAAC: Not that I doubted you for a moment. No one knows better than I do how hard you've worked for this and how much time and effort you've put into getting into the orchestra. You should be so proud of yourself.

 

ANGELIQUE: I just can't believe I really made it in. But maybe it was your belief in me that helped somehow ensure that they accepted me into the orchestra.

 

ISAAC: You know it's a logical fallacy to think that someone else's feelings could possibly have any effect on your success, right?

 

ANGELIQUE: Oh, shush! I'm too happy to care about logic or fallacies right now.

 

ANGELIQUE impulsively wraps her arms around Isaac in an enthusiastic hug, from which a startled Isaac at first tries to disentangle himself, only to quickly think better of it. Instead, his arms rise almost of their volition to hug her back.

 

Darkness falls upon the stage as the stage lights wink out one by one while the two of them stand stock-still in this pose, their eyes lost in each other's faces. 

 

(exit ANGELIQUE silent)

(exit ISAAC silent)

 

However, the stage curtains remain in place rather than descending, indicating that the act is not yet over.

 

(enter MARGUERITE silent)

(enter PIERRE silent)

 

When light illuminates the stage once more, it reveals not an austere university corridor but instead a cosy parlour in the Chateau d'Amour. Instead of the embracing figures of Angelique and Pierre, there is instead the tense, visibly unhappy figures of Angelique's parents, Pierre and Marguerite Martine, pacing back and forth before the windows.

 

MARGUERITE By the Gods, I still can't believe she lied to us and ran away like that, the very day after her birthday. My sweet little Angelique, I never would have suspected anything like that from her!

 

PIERRE: Well, how could we have known? After we found that note from her the next morning about how she left early on the Tleem Transport carriage, it was easy to assume that she had simply gone off to Stewartsville just as we planned.

 

MARGUERITE And she even sent a letter to us two months after she left, making it sound as though she was happy staying in Stewartsville. That deceiving little minx!

 

PIERRE: After all our plans for her too! After all the hard work that Madame Sylvie d'Amour herself put into making a good match for Angelique and pair her up with a fine young man from Stewartsville! 

 

PIERRE stops his pacing for a moment to wring his hands in exasperation, before resuming his pacing back and forth across the floor.

 

MARGUERITE And you are certain that she is in Hallifax now, mon cher?

 

PIERRE: Countess Cecelia of Stewartsville has confirmed it without a doubt. The village of Stewartvsille is currently under the influence of Hallifax, and she was able to correspond with their officials and find out that Angelique has been studying at their university.

 

MARGUERITE Well, I must confess, it is a relief to know she is somewhere safe, not wandering haphazardly and unsupervised through the wilds like a vagabond! 

 

PIERRE: But to think, living in such a bizarre and fantastic city as Hallifax! And living so far from home, no less, so different from the life that she ought to be leading.

 

MARGUERITE And we must have her marry the young Wainwright boy from Stewartsville, for Madame d'Amour is never wrong when it comes to matters of the heart. Angelique would have learned and accepted that for herself, if she hadn't been such a headstrong child about her foolish dream of wanting to play the violin.

 

PIERRE: Then I have no choice but to journey to Hallifax myself and find her. I would not subject you to the dangers of the road or the rigours of travel for the world, my love, but Angelique must come home.

 

MARGUERITE Oui, of course. She should be back where she belongs, here with us in Delport or off in Stewartsville as we had planned and dreamed for her, not fiddling about in an outlandish and faraway city like Hallifax.

 

PIERRE: Worry not, ma cherie. I promise I shall find our darling daughter and bring her home. No matter what it takes.

 

MARGUERITE reaches out to take her husband's hand in hers and echoes softly in a voice quiet but full of determination, "No matter what it takes."

 

Once more, the stage goes dark as this final, resolute pronouncement echoes throughout the theater, followed this time by the soft rustling of the curtains as they swiftly drop down across the stage.

 

ACT THREE, SCENE ONE

 

As the curtains slowly rise across the stage, a young man's raised voice drones steadily and solemnly throughout the theater in a lengthy, earnest discourse on time and mathematics, underlaid by the faint sound of papers rustling and the occasional whispered comment.

 

Bright, impersonal white light floods the stage, illuminating the interior of the Library of Universal Knowledge with its spotless ice-white desks and its immense bookshelves meticulously organised with thousands of books, scrolls, and crystal memory discs.

 

(enter ISAAC silent)

(enter ANGELIQUE silent)

 

To one side of the Library, a few rows of chairs have been lined up in front of a small speaker's podium. Atop the podium stands Isaac, looking grave and determined as he presents an experiment proposal to a group of professors, advisors, and fellow students.

 

Every now and then, he glances toward the back of the rows of chairs, where a bright-eyed--if somewhat perplexed-looking--Angelique sits listening and smiling encouragingly at him. After each glance, Isaac brightens noticeably and returns to addressing the assembled faculty with renewed confidence.

 

ISAAC: In conclusion, the identical clocks used in this proposed experiment should display statistically significant discrepancies with each other in terms of time measured, once the clock at sea level is reunited with the clocks flown around the skies of the Basin at high velocities in aerial transports, for instance in a hot-air balloon like Sepehr Skytamer's. 

 

ISAAC: This experiment should confirm the existence and effect of time dilation in regards to a change in relative position. Although the discrepancies will be minute, to the point of only being detectable by the most accurate clocks, they will provide another important factor that must be taken into account when accurately calculating the passage of time.

 

ISAAC: Furthermore, the results of this experiment can even be conflated with the experiment proposed by Junior Fellow Inarin Goldfeather, in which he puts forth the idea of measuring the passage of time on the other planes of existence, such as the Elemental Plane of Air or the Cosmic Plane of Continuum, in comparison to the passage of time on the Prime Material Plane.

 

ISAAC: The more that we learn about temporal dilation when measuring the passage of time under different circumstances and in different locations, the better we can calculate the magnitude of time dilation and perhaps even formulate an overarching theory of temporal relativity.

 

ISAAC: Thank you for your time, everyone. I hope you'll take my experiment proposal under consideration, and I look forward to answering your questions.

 

ISAAC bows deeply to the audience, adding an abbreviated flourish with his arm, as his listeners break into polite applause and Angelique beams enthusiastically at him from the back of the rows of chairs.

 

Clearing his throat deliberately, a professor from the Laboratory of the Temporal Continuum asks, "If I understand the ramifications of your proposed experiment correctly, could I posit the following theoretical scenario? Is it possible to have a situation involving identical twins, in which one twin makes an aerial journey in a high-speed zeppelin and returns to find the twin who stayed in the Basin has aged faster?"

 

ISAAC: That's a good question. Yes, that is certainly theoretically possible, especially if the travelling twin accelerates to an extremely high speed relative to the twin at rest. However, given the complications and expense, I certainly wouldn't recommend such a journey as a viable alternative to permanent deageing!

 

A round of light laughter greets his remark and the professor from the Laboratory of the Temporal Continuum nods thoughtfully, making a note in his records. 

 

An aslaran in a Sentinel's purple surcoat asks, "Are you open to considering the possibility of performing this experiment in regards to aetherspace as well?"

 

ISAAC: If these experiments confirm our predictions, Junior Fellow Inarin and I would definitely be open to measuring whether time is measured differently in aetherspace or even the different aether bubbles.

 

ANGELIQUE begins to fidget a little as increasingly esoteric, technical questions and answers are tossed back and forth between the professors and Isaac for several more minutes.

 

ISAAC finally gives a deep, sweeping bow to the audience when the University professors thank him for his presentation, bright-eyed and full of enthusiasm over his work.

 

ANGELIQUE rises to her feet and heartily joins in the applause, before hastening toward the podium while the rest of the audience gradually disperses and Isaac collects his notes.

 

ANGELIQUE: Isaac, congratulations! You were wonderful during your presentation. It made me so happy to see you give your speech for real, after all those times you rehearsed it in front of me.

 

ISAAC: Thank you! And thank you for coming to listen, especially after you probably know my proposal backwards and forwards by now. All those weeks of practising in front of you--not to mention having a friendly face in the audience--certainly made the presentation today much easier.

 

ANGELIQUE: I'm so glad. I really hope it all goes well and they give you official permission to carry out your experiment.

 

ISAAC: Me too.

 

ANGELIQUE ponders Isaac thoughtfully and looks him up and down, noting how he is still visibly vibrating with restless energy and excitement even after his presentation was finished.

 

ANGELIQUE: Well, until you hear back from the faculty, what do you say to having a celebratory picnic instead in your honour? Professor Eleesli Goldfeather took the Music History class to this beautiful peak in the Northern Mountains called Mount Seirode, and I would love to show it to you, if you're up for a somewhat long horseback ride.

 

ISAAC: A picnic in the mountains?

 

ISAAC: The thing is, I do feel like I should be utterly exhausted and worn-out after my presentation, but I'm not! I still feel full of nervous energy, so doing something that's active but relaxing at the same time--like horseback riding through the mountains and having a picnic--actually sounds perfect.

 

ANGELIQUE beams delightedly at Isaac and peremptorily takes hold of his arm, ushering him off the podium and toward the Library doors.

 

Walking together arm-in-arm, the two of them leave the Library together and navigate the city's bridges and platforms with ease, stopping now and then for Isaac to chat with a fellow student or accept congratulations on his presentation, before arriving at a quiet teahouse within the city.

 

After purchasing at least one of every treat and tea from the teahouse's dispassionate loboshigaru proprietor, who benevolently bestows upon them a complimentary picnic basket and blanket, Isaac and Angelique claim their respective mounts from the Crystal Keeper and begin riding out into the Avechna's Teeth.

 

With Angelique riding her grey mare from Delport and Isaac riding a sleek chestnut-brown stallion of clearly Stewartsville stock, they cheerfully chat and banter back and forth while navigating the narrow, rocky paths through Avechna's Teeth and the Northern Mountains.

 

By the time they reach the base of Mount Seirode, Father Sun has already begun descending toward the west, while still casting full, even golden sunlight upon the land.

 

ANGELIQUE and Isaac dismount at this point to make the ascent to the peak, where they tether their horses loosely to a large boulder and begin setting out their picnic supplies and provisions.

 

ISAAC wanders toward an outcropping of rock to exclaim over the brilliant view of the entire Basin of Life below, from the verdant forest of the north to the glistening seas and the shining cities of Lusternia.

 

ISAAC: You weren't exaggerating at all; this view is spectacular! I feel like I can see the entire world from here. I've never felt so close to the sky somehow, even up in Hallifax.

 

ANGELIQUE laughs and pats the spread-out picnic blanket beneath her invitingly. As Isaac plops down beside her, folding his long limbs into a comfortable sitting position, she pours out two steaming cups of tea and raises her own cup high in the air.

 

ANGELIQUE: First, a toast to your excellent experiment proposal! Here's to continued success and to many more clear skies and fair winds in your future!

 

ISAAC: I'll drink to that! And here's to continued health, peace, and harmony for both of us too! May we be fortuitous enough to enjoy all three things for as long as we live.

 

ANGELIQUE and Isaac exchange solemn nods of agreement and genteelly clink their tea cups together, before taking long, appreciative sips of the fragrant, steaming brew.

 

ISAAC: I say, did you happen to find those little tea sandwiches with the clotted cream and strawberry jam in the picnic basket? Those would be amazing with this cinnamon chai green tea.

 

ANGELIQUE: Of course! Wait, what are these bone-shaped cookies doing in here? They smell like...like venison. How strange! Did we buy these by mistake?

 

For a moment, all conversation stops as Isaac and Angelique happily fill their mouths alternately with aromatic tea and dainty treats, devouring the latter in quick but tidy nibbles and wiping crumbs or frosting off their lips.

 

As Father Sun slowly passes below the horizon's edge, the final stray beams of sunlight refract over the clouds and streak the pearlescent sky in brilliant shades of violet and rose.

 

When twilight descends over Mount Seirode, the deep, resonant chime of a magnificent bell reverberates through the mountains.

 

Once the sun disappears over the gilt-edged horizon, the temperature on Mount Seirode takes on a palpable chill that elicits a shiver from Angelique, who hugs herself tightly against the rapidly cooling night air.

 

ISAAC wordlessly beckons her toward him. Once she hesitantly scoots closer, he slides his arm around her and drapes his cloak over both their shoulders, while she rests her head contentedly and trustingly upon his shoulder.

 

ANGELIQUE: What a beautiful sunset! I've never seen anything so breathtaking.

 

ISAAC: I have.

 

ISAAC turns his gaze down toward Angelique and tightens his arm around her, holding her tightly against him and tilting her face up toward his.

 

ANGELIQUE: You know, perhaps I have too.

 

ANGELIQUE gently brushes her fingertips across Isaac's cheek for a moment and then leans forward to catch his lips for a kiss.

 

All around them, the violet luminance of twilight gradually gives way to the velvet blackness of night, a spectacle utterly unregarded by either Isaac and Angelique as they share their first kiss beneath the cloud-streaked sky.

 

ANGELIQUE: So, Isaac, this may come as a shock, but I think I may be falling in love with you.

 

ISAAC: It's all right. I'm pretty sure I'm falling in love with you too, Angelique.

 

ISAAC: Ever since we first met, I haven't regretted a single moment we've spent together. I've always felt so lucky to have known you and become your friend and just to have you in my life.

 

ANGELIQUE: I feel the same way about you, Isaac, ever since we first bumped into each other on the elevator. When I'm with you, I feel like I could be happy anywhere, as long as you were there with me. And I want to make you happy too, more than anything in the world.

 

ISAAC: (placing deliberate weight on each phrase) I can't imagine anyone who could possibly make me happier, let alone anything that could be more wondrous than being with you. No matter what the consequences, I would never regret us.

 

ANGELIQUE: Us. I like the sound of that.

 

ANGELIQUE: No matter what the consequences may be.

 

ISAAC smiles softly down at Angelique and takes her face gently in his hands, lowering his head toward hers for another long and tender kiss.

 

Overhead, the stars gradually emerge one by one like glittering diamonds scattered across the stygian cloak of night, twinkling brightly high above the two lovers embracing atop the lofty mountaintop.

 

(exit ANGELIQUE silent)

(exit ISAAC silent)

 

The stage lights gradually dim as if to enshroud the romantic tableau with a semblance of privacy, but the curtains remain open rather than descending across the stage.

 

When light illuminates the stage once more, it reveals the highway winding through the Basin of Life far below Mount Seirode, approaching the Ackleberry Junction. The clatter of a departing passenger carriage fades into the distance, while the green crystal of the Emerald Road glitters brightly even in the faint starlight.

 

(enter PIERRE silent)

 

Beneath the starry sky, Angelique's father Pierre Martine trudges toward the Emerald Road, lugging heavy packs and gazing intermittently toward the floating crystal city high above with apprehension and downright suspicion.

 

PIERRE: What a long journey! That carriage ride was so bumpy and the road so full of potholes, I am not sure I would not have been better off walking all this way! I will be so glad to fetch Angelique back and go home again soon.

 

PIERRE grunts as he settles his pack more comfortably across his shoulders and marches heavily along the Emerald Road in search of an entrance into the city.

 

PIERRE: Thinking back on it, I cannot help but worry that Marguerite and I may have startled poor Angelique with our grand announcement during her birthday party. But still! Even if we did break the news too suddenly, there was no reason for her to panic and run away from home to live in this...this flying madhouse!

 

PIERRE: And the boy from Stewartsville is the perfect match for her, I have no doubt of it. Madame Sylvie is never wrong when it comes to matters of the heart, even if it does sometimes take her a while to find exactly the right pairing for everyone.

 

PIERRE: She certainly didn't err with Marguerite and me, that is for certain.

 

PIERRE 's face softens as he utters his wife's name, his eyes misting over for a moment in affectionate recollection, before his expression stiffens again with renewed resolve.

 

PIERRE: And that is why I simply must force some sense into Angelique's silly little head. Even if she protests and argues, even if she fights me, I must do what I came here to do and bring her back to marry the young man that was chosen for her.

 

PIERRE: Well, in the end, it is all for her own good, isn't it?

 

Looking more determined than ever, Angelique's father sets his sights upon the shining crystalline city of Hallifax high overhead and strides along the Emerald Road with renewed firmness and purpose.

 

(exit PIERRE silent)

 

Once more the lights dim, and now the stage curtains drop across the scene, blotting out the spectacle of the heavily laden human man who seeks to reclaim his runaway daughter and leaving the theater in darkness.

 

ACT THREE, SCENE TWO

 

When the stage curtains arise once more, a radiant dawn has risen above the city of Hallifax, turning its crystal spires and arching bridges into pastel tints of lavender and rose.

 

(enter ISAAC silent)

(enter ANGELIQUE silent)

 

Holding hands and smiling into each other's eyes, Isaac and Angelique stroll into view beside the fish pond near the University of Cosmic Understanding, unmistakably and wholeheartedly swept up in each other.

 

ISAAC: I really do think that was the best picnic I've ever been to.

 

ANGELIQUE: Even when you wrapped part of your cloak around me and I spilled scone crumbs and frosting all over the bottom?

 

ISAAC: I won't say it didn't take half an hour to clean off, but your worrying about the mess was actually really adorable. Besides, I drank the last of the green tea you liked, remember?

 

ANGELIQUE: Hmph! Well, what about our getting back so late that we almost thought the university's dorms would lock us out?

 

ISAAC: That happened after the picnic, so it wouldn't have any bearing on picnic quality! But even if it did, it was still the best picnic in my life.

 

ANGELIQUE chuckles softly and leans her head against his shoulder, letting out a contented little sigh.

 

ANGELIQUE: Mine too.

 

Interrupting the moment, a glowing sphere suddenly buzzes into view and circles several times around first Isaac's, then Angelique's head. Glowing gemstones flash, before a door in the sphere opens up and shoots a letter into both Isaac and Angelique's hands. Then, the glowing sphere beeps several times before buzzing away out of sight.

 

ANGELIQUE: Letters for both of us? How eventful! At least I can easily guess what your letter must be about.

 

ISAAC: I-I'm starting to understand how you felt when you heard back from Conductor zi'Prouep about the symphony auditions and couldn't bring yourself to open the letter.

 

ISAAC takes a deep breath and unrolls the letter, his eyes rapidly scanning its contents. After a few breathless moments, his face breaks out into an enormous, relieved smile.

 

ISAAC: They accepted my experiment proposal! They want me to continue with my research on temporal dilation! Oh, this is tremendous news. I'm so glad they thought my project was worth pursuing further!

 

ANGELIQUE: Congratulations, Isaac! I'm so excited for you! I have absolutely no doubt that this will lead to many more projects and experiments for you in the future, maybe even prestigious grants from the Matrix Institute 

 

ANGELIQUE: And who knows? You could someday become a tenured professor or a Master Scientist yourself!

 

ISAAC: I think that's getting far too ahead of yourself, Angelique, but I certainly like where your train of thought is going. Now, let's see what was in your letter.

 

ANGELIQUE looks back at the letter in her hands, with the air of someone who had forgotten that she was even holding it, and quickly unrolls it to read aloud the brief message written therein.

 

ANGELIQUE: 'There appears to be a misunderstanding concerning your enrollment in the University of Cosmic Understanding. Please report to the Processing Centre at your earliest convenience. Good day.'

 

ANGELIQUE: What in the Basin could this be about? I suppose I'd better head down to the Processing Centre to clear up whatever form I probably forgot to sign or stamp properly. I'll see you tonight for practise, as usual?

 

ISAAC: Of course! See you tonight.

 

ANGELIQUE rises onto her tiptoes to plant a quick kiss on Isaac's cheek and tucks the letter into a satchel pocket, shaking her head in puzzlement over its enigmatic summons.

 

(exit ISAAC silent)

 

Muttering under her breath about the inconvenience, Angelique hurries down winding stairways and across floating platforms with an unthinking familiarity that illustrates better than words her greatly heightened comfort and knowledge with the city of Hallifax.

 

At last, the Processing Centre looms into view before her, its shielding metal and crystal walls casting a steady white glow over the two diamond desks manned by stern-looking custodians, stamping papers and questioning newcomers to the city as usual.

 

(enter PIERRE silent) 

 

ANGELIQUE looks about herself and scratches her head in confusion as she enters the Processing Centre, when suddenly her gaze alights upon a very familiar-looking man arguing with one of the custodians and her jaw falls open in astonishment.

 

ANGELIQUE: ...Papa?

 

PIERRE immediately swivels his head around at the sound of his daughter's voice and rushes toward her with arms outstretched, beaming broadly with joy and relief.

 

PIERRE: Angelique! Is that you? 

 

PIERRE: Oh, thank the Gods! Your mother and I have been so worried about you! Have you been doing all right? Are you taking care of yourself and eating all right? Have the people here been mistreating you in any way?

 

ANGELIQUE stands stock-still and stunned for a second, but manages to weather the onslaught of her father's embrace and questions, despite the sudden panic glimmering in her eyes.

 

ANGELIQUE: Papa, Papa, I'm fine! I'm perfectly all right, I promise. I'm glad to see you, but… How did you find me?

 

PIERRE 's expression slowly but inexorably darkens at her question. Pulling back from the hug, he plants his hands firmly on his hips and fixes a stern, implacable glare of pure disapprobation at his daughter.

 

PIERRE: With no help from you, Angelique, that is for certain.

 

PIERRE: Your mother and I had to write to Countess Cecelia to find out you never made it to Stewartsville at all, and she finally found out that you were somehow here instead. As soon as I arrived, I told all the busybody city officials I could find that you had no business being a student in this city, until finally someone sent a summons to get you here.

 

ANGELIQUE: Oh, so you were the cause for my receiving that strange letter about the 'misunderstanding' over my enrollment at the University of Cosmic Understanding?

 

PIERRE: Of course I was! What choice did you leave me, after all?

 

PIERRE: What possessed you to flee from home the way you did, without a word, without the slightest thought for those who cared about you and loved you most? Why did you mislead your own mother and father for almost six months, even sending fake letters to us pretending that you were all right? 

 

PIERRE: Do you know what you put your poor mother through, when she wrote to Countess Cecelia in Stewartsville to ask about your progress and the Countess wrote back to say that you had never stepped foot in Stewartsville? 

 

PIERRE: Do you know how afraid she was for you? Do you know how many nights she spent pacing back and forth in the garden because she couldn't sleep for fear of nightmares about what might have befallen you?

 

ANGELIQUE lets out a soft gasp of distress and holds one hand to her cheek, her face twisting into a mask of contrition.

 

ANGELIQUE: Oh, I'm so sorry, Father! I had no idea it would be like that. I didn't think that...

 

PIERRE: Exactly! You didn't think! Perhaps if you had been thinking properly, you would have come to your mother and me and told us how you felt, instead of vanishing into the night like a thief. Your mother and I love you very dearly, Angelique, and you should have known that you didn't have to run away from us as though we were hateful monsters.

 

ANGELIQUE bites her lip and looks down at her feet, looking at once shamefaced and remorseful.

 

ANGELIQUE: I'm so sorry, Father. I'm sorry for how deceiving you and for making both of you worry so much about me. I never meant to hurt you or Mama, and if I have, then I apologise with all my heart.

 

PIERRE: Thank you. I accept your apology and appreciate your good intentions.

 

PIERRE: Now that that's settled, we should begin our journey home. The carriage ride from Delport to here took almost a full day, so we had best leave this ludicrous city and get back to the waystation as soon as possible. Come along, Angelique, let's go.

 

PIERRE peremptorily takes his daughter's arm and begins marching back toward the glass elevator, eliciting a startled cry from Angelique as she is dragged along behind him.

 

ANGELIQUE: Papa, wait! I never said that I wanted to leave! I want to stay here in the city. I still have so much I want to do and learn here!

 

ANGELIQUE furiously yanks her arm free from her father's grasp, causing him to whirl around in his tracks and gape at her in uncomprehending disbelief.

 

PIERRE: You...you want to stay here?

 

ANGELIQUE: Yes! Yes, I do! I truly am sorry for upsetting you both, but I will never be sorry for coming to Hallifax. The city has been every bit as wonderful, challenging, and inspiring as Madame Salea said it was, and I don't regret a single moment I've spent here.

 

ANGELIQUE: And now I have a life here, Papa, with friends, teachers, loved ones, and even a position in the State Symphony Orchestra. I've worked harder than you can imagine to earn everything I have here, and I can't...I won't give them all up just because you say so!

 

PIERRE: (looking thoroughly bewildered) But Angelique, this isn't where you belong! You belong in Delport, leading a simple life like your mother's and mine, tending the fields at home and marrying the right person, the person you were always meant to be with.

 

ANGELIQUE: No, Papa. You and Mama have never understood how much I love music, how much I love playing the violin. You tried to choose my path in life for me, never asking what I wanted or realising what would make me happy. Why else do you think I decided to run away from home?

 

ANGELIQUE: Here, in this strange new city, I have found the place where I belong. Being a musician means more to me than anything else in the world, and I want to devote the rest of my life to performing music, studying it, and maybe even composing new musical works of my own.

 

ANGELIQUE: And here is where I plan to stay for the rest of my life, and nothing you say or do will ever convince me otherwise.

 

ANGELIQUE squares her shoulders, folds her arms across her chest, and plants her legs solidly on the floor, giving every impression of a young woman not planning to go anywhere.

 

PIERRE stares open-mouthed and speechless at his daughter for a long moment, visibly mulling over her declaration, before finally shaking his head and taking her arm again.

 

PIERRE: But Angelique, you don't understand. You absolutely must come back to Delport with me and meet the young man from Stewartsville, the one that Madame Sylvie declared to be your love match. Please! You'll understand when you meet him, but you absolutely must meet him!

 

ANGELIQUE: No! No, I won't go. I refuse to go back!

 

ANGELIQUE twists away from her father's outstretched hand and spins around on her heel in preparation to flee, her red-gold hair flying out behind her.

 

(exit PIERRE silent)

(enter ISAAC silent)

 

Before she takes more than a few steps, though, Angelique's headlong retreat toward a crowd of Hallifaxian custodians and citizens causes her to collide with a distracted, puzzled-looking Isaac, who is too preoccupied with scanning his surroundings to sidestep her.

 

ISAAC and Angelique crash unceremoniously into each other and stagger backward unsteadily, before exclaiming in recognition and quickly grabbing each other's hands to right themselves.

 

ISAAC: Angelique! Are you all right?

 

ANGELIQUE: I'm fine, Isaac! Thank you for catching me.

 

ISAAC: Always, Angelique.

 

ANGELIQUE: But what are you doing here? Were you looking for me?

 

ISAAC: No, they sent me the same letter that you got. Something about a misunderstanding with my University enrollment. Did you find out what's going on... 

 

ISAAC: Mother?!

 

(enter WINNIE silent)

 

ISAAC stops and stares across the platform at a matronly, brown-haired woman in a blue-and-white checked dress, who waves enthusiastically in response and eagerly scurries through the crowd toward Isaac.

 

Entirely oblivious to the presence of Angelique beside him, the woman rushes up to envelop Isaac in an exuberant hug that lasts a good ten seconds before letting him go.

 

ISAAC: Mother, not so tight! What-what are you doing here?

 

ISAAC: An-Angelique, please meet my mother, Winnie Wainwright, who seems to have invited herself to the city for a completely unexpected family visit.

 

WINNIE plants sound kisses on both of Isaac's cheeks and turns a beaming smile upon him, her eyes drinking in the sight of her son as though she had not seen him in a very long time.

 

ANGELIQUE: Wainwright? Where have I heard that name before?

 

WINNIE then waggles a finger angrily at her son right under his nose and crosses her arms across her ample chest with a reproachful huff.

 

WINNIE: How now, my boy! What do you have to say for yourself? What were ya thinking, a-running away from your hearth and home like a thief in the night? 

 

WINNIE: And all you left was that cold, formal little letter that sounded like it was written by a stranger. 'I am writing to inform you that I will be departing on a journey of unforeseen length'--who writes like that to their own family? Do we mean so little to you, Isaac?

 

ISAAC hangs his head at her words, a flush of embarrassment suffusing his skin, but stands his ground and manages at length to raise his face to meet his mother's gaze staunchly.

 

ISAAC: Mother, you know perfectly well that isn't true. I didn't leave because I love you or the rest of the family any less, but because I love something else even more. 

 

ISAAC: Well, two somethings, now. 

 

WINNIE swivels her head to follow his gaze and frowns questioningly at Isaac, before a look of sudden understanding and dismay dawns across her broad face.

 

WINNIE: Are you saying...you're in love with her? But you can't be!

 

WINNIE: You were supposed to marry that girl that we arranged you to make a match with! You remember, the girl from Delport?

 

ISAAC: No! I am not going back to marry some girl that I've never even met before! And frankly, I can't imagine that any girl could bring herself to marry a complete stranger that she's never met before either!

 

ISAAC: The girl I love, the girl I want to be with, is Angelique, and that is that!

 

ISAAC takes the dumbfounded, but not unwilling Angelique by the hand and sweeps her into his arms for a long, emphatic, loving kiss.

 

(enter PIERRE silent)

 

At this dramatic gesture, both Winnie Wainwright and a very harried-looking Pierre Martine, who has just pushed his way through a gaggle of indentured servants to reach them, instantly gasp aloud in deep chagrin.

 

WINNIE: Isaac Stephen Wainwright! Stop that right this minute! I am your mother and I'm tellin' you to come home right now! 

 

PIERRE: Angelique Juliet Martine! What is this madness? What in the Basin are you doing, kissing that boy?

 

ISAAC releases Angelique at last. The two share a tender, touching smile, before simultaneously straightening and squaring their shoulders defiantly in preparation for confronting their parents.

 

ANGELIQUE and Isaac are quickly taken aback, however, when they notice their parents' attention fastened not upon their respective children, but instead upon each other, with raised eyebrows and wide-eyed surprise.

 

For a long moment, the two parents simply look each other up and down with a lively interest, while their children gaze on uncertainly, unsure whether to speak up or to stay silent.

 

PIERRE recovers first and manages to seeps a deep bow in the direction of Isaac's mother with an elaborate flourish of his right arm.

 

PIERRE: Please allow me to introduce myself, madam. I am Pierre Martine from the village of Delport, and that young lady with the red hair is my daughter. Did I hear you say that you are the mother of the boy beside her?

 

WINNIE lets out a short gasp of elation upon hearing his full name and nods enthusiastically, a look of comprehension and happiness dawning across her face.

 

WINNIE: Why, I certainly am! I'm Winnie Wainwright from Stewartsville. It's a right pleasure to finally meet you in person, after correspondin' all this time with you and your lovely wife.

 

PIERRE beams broadly with delight and nods to himself with evident satisfaction as he and Winnie both gaze beatifically upon the young and utterly mystified-looking pair.

 

ISAAC: Wait, Mother, do you know this man?

 

ANGELIQUE: Wainwright, Wainwright... Oh! Oh, my goodness!

 

ANGELIQUE claps her free hand epiphanically to her cheek as her blue eyes flicker rapidly between Isaac, his mother, and her father with growing realisation.

 

ANGELIQUE: The family that you wanted me to stay with in Stewartsville, Papa, it was the Wainwright family, weren't they? And they had two sons close to my age, didn't they?

 

PIERRE: Oui, ma cherie. Their older son, the young man that we wished to matchmake with you...

 

ANGELIQUE: ...was the boy I ended up falling in love with.

 

WINNIE: The plan between both families and village leaders was always for the two of you to meet, get to know each other, and fall in love.

 

ISAAC and Angelique regard each other for a moment with wonder-struck, almost awed expressions, before finally turning to their parents with rueful grins full of wry admiration and irony.

 

PIERRE: And the fact that you both ran away from home, because both of you could not bear the thought of marrying someone you had never met, simply goes to show exactly how well-matched you two are. 

 

WINNIE and Pierre Martine exchange complacent nods and smiling glances bordering on smirks, which can only be described as supremely smug and pleased with themselves.

 

ISAAC: Who could have guessed we would have so much in common? Perhaps we both should have trusted you better to know with whom we belong.

 

ANGELIQUE: But perhaps you should have trusted us better to know where we belong and what we should be doing with our own lives.

 

ANGELIQUE arches an eyebrow meaningfully at her father, whose sun-browned skin flushes with colour as he clears his throat and shuffles his feet uneasily.

 

PIERRE: You are right, we should have trusted you both to know your own minds and decide your own fates. Angelique, I cannot promise that your mother and I will never meddle in your life again, but I do promise that we will always consult with you first about your own wishes and desires.

 

WINNIE: And I promise the same to you, Isaac.

 

As the four of them smile softly at each other with gratitude and joy, the golden sunlight overhead sparkles dazzlingly off the surrounding spires and mosaics and envelops them all in a radiant, all-pervasive glow.

 

ANGELIQUE: In that case, Papa and, uh, Madame Wainwright, do we now have your blessing to remain in Hallifax and continue our studies in the city, perhaps even our careers?

 

ISAAC: It would be most logical for us both to stay here, now that we have already met and fallen in love here, to continue doing what we love best alongside the person we love most.

 

PIERRE and Winnie Wainwright exchange resigned, but amused glances and nod their assent at their children, who happily squeeze each other's hands and lean their heads together happily.

 

WINNIE: Well, I suppose if you really are happier here than anywhere else...

 

PIERRE: And considering that you are clearly in love with both each other and the city...

 

WINNIE: Then all right, children, you can stay.

 

ANGELIQUE impulsively lets go of Isaac's hand and rushes toward her father to give him a warm, thankful hug, which he returns wholeheartedly.

 

ANGELIQUE: Thank you! Thank you!

 

ISAAC similarly hugs his mother, albeit with somewhat more reserve, before gently taking his mother's arm and guiding her toward a winding stairway leading up into the heart of the city.

 

ISAAC: In that case, now that neither of you are no longer planning on whisking us away from Hallifax, maybe you can stay for a visit instead! At the very least, you must come see the University. It is where Angelique and I first met, after all.

 

ANGELIQUE nods eagerly and loops her arm through her father's, following gaily after Isaac and his mother toward the upper platforms.

 

ANGELIQUE: Yes, please stay and have lunch with both of us! I would love to have all of us get to know each other better over a cup of tea.

 

ANGELIQUE: And then you simply must promise to bring Mama and Remy and perhaps even Madame Salea to the next ball in Hallifax, where I'll be playing as part of the State Symphony Orchestra! I absolutely cannot wait for you to hear our beautiful music and see how far I've come! 

 

(exit ANGELIQUE silent)

(exit ISAAC silent)

(exit PIERRE silent)

(exit WINNIE silent)

 

The four-person party of bemused parents and enthusiastic students disappears into the crowd of citizens and city officials hurrying to and fro across the bridges and platforms, their voices and footsteps gradually assimilating into the busy, purposeful bustle of the city's daily business.

 

As the stage curtains speed swiftly downward, the last that the audience sees and hears are the steady, glowing white lights of the Processing Centre and the cool, courteous voice of a city inspector saying, "Welcome to Hallifax, Beacon of Harmony! Please state your business here", before the scene is promptly obscured from view.

 

ACT THREE, SCENE THREE

 

When the stage curtains rise again in a glissade of gossamer and gold, a whirlwind of fluttering calendar pages swirls across the stage to figuratively illustrate the months afterward simply flying past.

 

At last, the blizzard of calendar pages subsides to reveal the Grand Collectivist Ballroom of Hallifax hosting a splendid ball. Dozens of beautifully dressed, bejewelled dancers saunter in slow, solemn circles around each other across the dance floor to a sombre, stately pavane.

 

(enter ANGELIQUE silent)

(enter FRE'ZIK silent)

 

Within the orchestra pit, the State Symphony Orchestra concludes their performance with a flourish under the direction of Conductor Fre'zik zi'Prouep. As the last strains of music fade into silence, the dancers part and turn their heads expectantly toward the Orchestra.

 

Sitting at fourth stand in the first violins, Angelique's distinctive red-gold hair--not to mention her way of visibly bobbing with excitement--is immediately recognisable amid her more stolid trill and lucidian comrades.

 

FRE'ZIK clears his throat in the breathless hush, nods solemnly to his orchestra, and then gives them an unexpected wink before raising his diamond baton to signal the beginning of another song.

 

After a brief pause, the State Symphony Orchestra swells to a grand crescendo as its members strike up the first notes of an elegant minuet, prompting the dancers to rejoin each other and reclaim the ballroom floor.

 

The minuet opens with a solo cello passage with rich, soulful tones punctuated by rising notes at the end, simulating the low voice of a gentleman inviting a lady to dance. In answer, a melodious solo clarinet responds with lyrical, languishing trills followed by a sweetly murmurous descant, signaling the lady's initial hesitance and evasion.

 

The musical dialogue continues between the mellifluous, persuasive cello and the delicate, demure clarinet, before the latter at last acquiesces and joins in the cello's bright D-major key. Here, the rest of the orchestra introduces the first bars of an expressive, exuberant minuet theme.

 

Alongside her fellow musicians, Angelique plays her violin with both skill and spirit as the minuet theme comes to the fore, developing into a sweeping, grandiose harmony of ebullient violins leaping to joyous heights above the sonorous, steady beat of the contrabasses and horns.

 

Throughout the minuet, the cello and clarinet melodies twine merrily around each other amid the increasingly brilliant, triumphant minuet theme, at once lively and utterly gracious, to which the dancers in the ballroom gallivant around the dance floor with their skirts and coat-tails fluttering.

 

Once the minuet theme comes to a rousing conclusion, some of the dancers pause to applaud, before realising that the cello and clarinet themes continue on in a brief, courtly coda, representing the gentleman and lady politely thanking each other for the dance and then withdrawing.

 

FRE'ZIK waves his baton in the air for one last graceful pass as the orchestra slows to a finish, the handsome lucidian turning and bowing as the performance concludes.

 

ANGELIQUE 's face shines with pure enjoyment as she lowers her violin and bow, her eyes scanning the crowd until she finds her parents and Madame Salea clapping enthusiastically among the other ball-goers.

 

FRE'ZIK: All right, everyone, you have done very well so far. Strings, you may take a half-hour interlude to rest and eat, while the woodwinds, brass, and percussion continue to play. After the half hour, we will switch off and strings will remain onstage to perform. Is that understood?

 

ANGELIQUE immediately but carefully lays her violin and bow in its case underneath her chair and hurries out of the orchestra pit, along with her fellow musicians, to enjoy a few moments of leisure.

 

Meanwhile, the wind instrument players remaining onstage begin a traditional ballroom waltz, at once rhythmic and romantic, prompting pairs of dancers throughout the ballroom to draw each other close.

 

(exit FRE'ZIK silent)

(enter PIERRE silent)

(enter MARGUERITE silent)

 

ANGELIQUE hardly has time to do more than glance around the ballroom before her parents emerge from the crowd with beaming smiles and outstretched arms, looking flushed with happiness and pride.

 

PIERRE: Your concert has been wonderful! After hearing you play, we agree that you should continue studying music here.

 

MARGUERITE Just as long as you are happy here, ma cherie. If you are ever anything less than happy here, you must promise to come straight home. Promise?

 

ANGELIQUE: Of course, Mama and Papa. For now, though, I truly am happy here, and I hope to play in hundreds more concerts like the one tonight. So, you must promise to come to all of them, oui?

 

Amid much laughter and many hugs, parents and daughter exchange many heartfelt promises before Pierre and Marguerite Martine kiss Angelique on the cheeks and shoo her affectionately away to get some food and rest.

 

(exit PIERRE silent)

(exit MARGUERITE silent)

(enter SALEA silent)

 

ANGELIQUE slips unobtrusively through the crowd, still looking this way and that, when she hears the familiar voice of Salea Clarramore behind her and whirls impulsively around to embrace her former teacher.

 

SALEA: Oh, and here I thought I would take you by surprise, my dear! You have made so much progress here, and I could not possibly be prouder of you. I am so, so glad that your journey to Hallifax has gone so well for you, Angelique.

 

ANGELIQUE: I couldn't have done it without you, Madame Salea. The music, the supplies for the journey, the discipline...all that came from you. Thank you for everything, forever and always, my teacher and my friend.

 

With fond and grateful tears in both their eyes, teacher and pupil embrace for a long moment, before Salea Clarramore disentangles herself and excuses herself to go greet some of her old friends and professors.

 

(exit SALEA silent)

(enter ISAAC silent)

 

ANGELIQUE smiles softly at the retreating, winged back of her teacher, before turning around and abruptly coming face to face with a warmly smiling Isaac, who chuckles with amusement as he holds out his arms to her.

 

ISAAC: It seems to be your night for hugs, doesn't it? How about one more?

 

ANGELIQUE automatically begins to slide into his arms, but then pulls back with a mischievous grin and instead takes his hands in hers, settling them into the proper positions for dancing the waltz.

 

ANGELIQUE: My love, there will be time and more for hugs afterward. First, Monsieur Isaac, may I have this dance?

 

ISAAC laughs aloud and tightens his arm around Angelique's waist, drawing her closer against him as they begin to sweep and revolve about the floor in the graceful, flowing motions of the ballroom waltz.

 

ANGELIQUE contentedly leans her head against his chest for a moment, before looking up at Isaac and smiling tenderly at him.

 

ANGELIQUE: It all worked out in the end, didn't it? Our parents, our running away to Hallifax, our studies...it all turned out to have a happy ending after all.

 

ISAAC: Yes, except that I don't intend for this to be an end to anything. If anything, I plan for this to be the prelude to a long, successful, and happy life for both of us in every way possible.

 

ISAAC and Angelique gaze long and deeply into each other's eyes and tilt their heads toward each other for a sweet, slow kiss in the midst of their dance.

 

Slowly, the dreamy waltz performed by the wind instruments evanesces into silence, the last silvery notes of the flutes drifting softly away into the air.

 

ANGELIQUE quickly perks up and pulls away, though not before shooting a look toward Isaac that is at once apologetic and anticipatory.

 

ANGELIQUE: Oh, I should get going!

 

ANGELIQUE: Time to have the time of my life playing music!

 

The sound of Isaac's laughter mingles with the bright, lilting gavotte that emerges from the orchestra pit as the string instrument musicians begin to play with vigour and vim.

 

As dancers whirl around the Grand Collectivist Ballroom and Angelique plays with the State Symphony Orchestra, unmistakably in her element, the stage curtains slowly descend across the scene as the play draws to an end.