Liz is dreaming and a woman is speaking … talking funny but somehow familiar … such pretty words.
“How camest thou hither, tell me, and wherefore?
The orchard walls are high and hard to climb,
and the place death, considering who thou art,
if any of my kinsmen find thee here.”
Then a man is saying,
“With love’s light wings did I o’er-perch these walls;
for stony limits cannot hold love out.”
And Liz thinks “Romeo.”
She smiles and opens her eyes and realizes her face is pressed against the metal grill work floor of the catwalk. Slam the eyes shut. Oh God.
Bad.
Very bad. Her whole body is tense with fear. How the heck does she get out of this? Not opening her eyes. No how, no way.
Better not to look. Where did this come from? It’s terrifying. Get the breathing under control. Try to breathe deeply. Listen to the words in the play. Breathe. In. Out. In. Out. Listen to the words. Concentrate on Romeo’s words.
Romeo
“I have night’s cloak to hide me from their sight,
and but thou love me, let them find me here.
My life were better ended by their hate,
than death prorogued wanting of thy love.”
Liz knows it’s the balcony scene, but she doesn’t much care.
She has to concentrate, get control. Breathe in, breathe out.
Juliet
“By whose direction found’st thou this place?”
Romeo
“By love, who first did prompt me to inquire
He lent me counsel and I lent him eyes.”
Liz remembers doing this scene in high school so long ago. She always liked the music of the words but had trouble with the reading. Eyes tight shut, Liz reaches up feeling for the rail. Waving her hand around … nothing … not a good thing to do. Heart beating too fast again. Strained like it will burst.
Breathe. Breathe. Concentrate on Juliet’s words …
Juliet
“Dost thou love me?
I know thou wilt say ‘Ay,’ And I will take thy word.
Yet if thou swear’st Thou mayst prove false;
At lover’s perjuries they say Jove laughs.
Okay, the only way out is to crawl. But which way. Think. Open eyes just now. She can see the stage just there.
Juliet
“O gentle Romeo, If thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully:
Or if thou think’st I am too quickly won,
I’ll frown and be perverse an say thee nay,
… so back is the other way … breathe … listen … breathe …
In truth fair Montague I am too fond.
And therefore thou mayst think my ‘havior light
But trust me gentleman I’ll prove more true
than those that have more cunning to be strange.
… listen … breathe … listen … concentrate … crawl …
Juliet
I should have been more strange, I must confess …
But that thou overheard’st, ere I was ware, my true love’s passion:
therefore pardon me, And not impute this yielding to light love,
Which the dark night hath so discovered.”
Liz freezes as her head bumps something solid … she pulls back and opens her eyes. Looking up she sees Jake.
Romeo
“Lady, by yonder blessed moon I swear that tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops–“
Jake reaches out a hand but Liz shakes her head violently and waves him away, convulsively gripping the edges of the catwalk floor. A little hurt, not understanding, Jake steps back.
Liz closes her eyes and breathes, listening again.
Juliet
“O, swear not by the moon!
The inconstant moon
that monthly changes in her circled orb,
Lest that thy love prove likewise variable.”
Jake is confused but he does what she wants, backing out of the doorway. Liz’s gingerly begins crawling again. Suddenly Liz feels cool tiles under her hands. Not mesh. Floor. Solid. Through the doorway then she collapses in a heap.
Romeo
“What shall I swear by?”
Jake steps around the really weird girl on the floor and carefully pushes the door closed soundlessly. With the theater closed off it’s safe to talk aloud.
“What’s wrong Liz? Should I get a doctor?”
Liz looks pretty shaky but she’s sitting up.
“Are you all right?”
“No. Yes. Sorry, Jake.” She nods, breathing deeply. “I … I think I just discovered I’m scared of heights.”
“Oh.” Jake is trying to process this. “I guess this wasn’t such a hot idea then.”
“It was an awesome idea.” Liz smiles shakily. “Maybe not for me, but I got some pictures anyway. But I’m done now. Boy am I done.” She gets shakily to her feet. “Lets just go, okay?”
They go back out and down the stairs. At the bottom Liz stops and rests against the bench just inside the rear doors. She flops down into the seat. “I’ve gotta rest a minute. You can go on, I know I’ve been a real pain, but I’m okay now.”
“It’s fine. I’ll wait. I’m sorry Liz, I didn’t know.”
Liz smiles ruefully, “That’s okay, I didn’t know either.”
Jake looks at her. “I don’t get it. How can you not know something like that?”
“I guess because I’ve never been in that kind of situation before. Flimsy railings you can’t hardly see and …” she shudders. “Huh, maybe that’s why I never liked carnival rides. That floor up there, it’s made of holes. You can see all the people underneath. It’s almost invisible.” Liz closes her eyes. “Not doing that again real soon.”
Jake points to Ethan and Oscar walking past outside. “Look, there’s Oz. I’ll just–”
“No!” snaps Liz. “Don’t tell Ethan, or anybody! Look, just don’t say anything to anybody.”
Jake frowns at her. “Why not? If you get dizzy again.”
“Now that I’m on solid ground I’m not dizzy. Just a little shaky. It’s just a delayed reaction. Really.”
“They can help me get you back to the residence.”
“You don’t have to, I’ll get myself back. I’m all right now.”
“Like I’m gonna leave you.” Jake throws up his hands in frustration. “Why you don’t want any help, it’s not a big deal.”
”People around here already think I’m enough of a freak, okay? I just don’t need the aggro.”
“You’re just talking trash now. You’re cool, Liz, nobody thinks you’re a freak.”
“That’s nice of you to say.”
Jake is examining her face, “It’s Ethan, isn’t it?”
Liz snaps, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You weren’t worried about Oz, you were worried about what Ethan thinks.” Jake grins, examining her now flushed complexion. “You like him, don’t you.”
“Time to be getting back Jake.”
“You do!”
“Just stop it. I don’t have time for guys. I have stuff I need to do with my life.”
Jake grins. “I won’t tell him.”
Liz stands up and pushes open the door. “Good.”
“But maybe I can find out if he likes you too.”
Liz is mortified. “No! Don’t even think that.”
“I’ll bet he does.”
“Look Jake, just give it a rest. Besides, what makes you think he’d be interested in a giraffe anyway?” Liz pushes through the door. Jake works hard to match her deliberately fast pace.
“You aren’t that much taller than Ethan– probably only a few inches. What does that matter?”
“I’m taller than everybody except maybe Kobe Bryant. Trust me, it matters. Just give it a rest, Jake.”
Jake stops in his tracks, watching Liz keep right on going. At least he’s no longer worried she’s going to pass out, but he is worried that she might not want to be his friend now he’s tumbled to her secret.
That is so weird, Liz doesn’t know she’s cool. Or pretty. Maybe that’s why she’s his friend, she doesn’t know any better. Come to think of it, Ethan doesn’t know he’s cool either. Hmmmm. Maybe he can fix them up. Nobody cares about how tall anybody is. After all, Krystal is taller than he is. That is not gonna stop him.
