Endgame

The chaps are now going to be running partly in 'script' form (you'll see what I mean quickly), and then the 'behind-the-scenes' normal aspects. Just so you don't get confused as to what's going on. Also in some areas I have changed the actual play text based on two things: 1. From how I remembered certain lines when I saw both versions (London and the Miami show actually which was the same one for the most part that went to Broadway eventually). In some cases where things weren't so obvious I altered the script to be more accommodating and easier to understand. and reason 2 is because I have to alter names and change any 'her', 'she', etc into 'his' and 'he' for Remus's part in the play. :)

During the 'play' itself keep in mind that italics are the 'songs', and anything in normal text or CAPS will be 'spoken' words. Bold caps are inserted during the songs to distinguish names and spoken words from 'sung' words. (You'll see what I mean it'll make sense hopefully :P)

Chapter Six: Scene One - Merano, Italy

The magically enhanced stage lights come up again, this time showing a new scenario -The Main Square of Merano, Italy where the International Chess Championship is to take place.

As you look at the stage you have to wonder if you have been transported to a place not far from paradise. The stage is filled with people wearing tirolean hats and leather pants, some are even yodeling and dancing. Snow-capped mountain peaks and icy rivers appear in the background whilst narrow, crowded, colourful streets of shops fill the stage.

Merano is known for their grapes and the benefits of their spa. The MAYOR (played by Mr. Blaise Zambini) and CITIZENS of Meranoare now lining up at what appears to be a train station. They are waiting for an important arrival, they are determined to make a celebration out of the events taking place in their little town.

THE MAYOR AND CITIZENS OF MERANO:

O light the heart
That lingers in Merano
Merano! The spa no
Connoisseur of spas would miss
So healthy
Highly recommended
Is this sweet metropolis
Mental and physical bliss!

The gods have smiled
And bless-ed is Merano
Merano! There are no
Fitter burghers to be found
Such vigour!
Take the time to taste us
We'll give you a welcome that's typically Tirol
For then we are sure of our ground
Right now we're Italian--we used to be German
The border keeps shifting around

MAYOR:

Speaking as one the patriarchs
I don't mind taking your lira or marks

CITIZENS:

Oh I get high when I saunter by the mountains of Merano
Rosy-cheeked Merano!
Flourishing to a fault
The sparkling streams, the bracing air
The therapeutic salt
I'd have to be carried away to call a halt

Oh I feel great in this bouncing state o hail to thee Merano
Hearty hale Merano
Any objections? Nein!
Where breathing in will turn you on
Where water tastes like wine
Get out your get up and go and get in line
It's living your life in a show by Rodgers and Hammerstein

O sad the soul
Who passes by Merano
Merano! so far no
Soul has ever passed us by
They love us
Why not stay forever?
Oh so many reasons why
All those in favor say "Aye"
Aye!

So sing a song
Let's hear it for Merano
Merano! Soprano
Alto, tenor, bass agree
We're wholesome
What a happy haven
This is the place where your arteries soften
Cholesterol hasn't a chance
From mountain to valley the natural goodness
Is fighting pollution's advance

MAYOR:

So come to us and feel the force
All major credit cards taken of course

CITIZENS:

Oh I get high when I saunter by the mountains of Merano
Rosy-cheeked Merano
Flourishing to a fault
The sparkling streams, the bracing air
The therapeutic salt
I'd have to be carried away to call a halt!

Once in a while all the gods will smile on little old Merano
Humble shy Merano
Suddenly hits the press
And I report with all the pride
And joy that I possess
Half of the world and his wife has our address
Our little town will be rife with games of chess!

(A whistling/orchestral interlude takes place now during which a train rushes through the station)

CITIZENS:

Get out your get up and go and get in line
It's living your life in a show...


Another train comes through the station, however this one stops. The man responsible for the enormous interest in bringing the World Chess Championship match to Merano, the current world champion FREDERICK TRUMPER from America, gets off the train.

He is flanked by his 'second' and lover SILVIUS VASSY, as well as two or three other members of his delegation. One of them is WALTER DE COURCEY, head of the American TV production company covering the event, as well as Frederick's agent.

FREDERICK quickly brushes aside the official reception disdainfully. He walks to the centre of the stage and begins to survey the town, its people and its visitors with patronising amusement.

FREDERICK:

What a scene! What a joy!
What a lovely sight
When my game is the big sensation!
Has the mob's sporting taste
Altered overnight?
Have they found new sophistication?

Not yet! They just want to see
If the nice guy beats the bum
If it's East-West
And the money's sky-high
They all come


FREDERICK : Silvius smile! (Frederick takes a quick photograph of Silvius as he gets off the train, then he continues his assessment of the events)

FREDERICK:

You can raise all you want
If you raise the roof
Scream and shout and the gate increases
Break the rules--break the bank
I'm the living proof
They don't care how I move my pieces

I know I'm the best there is
But all they want is a show
Well that's all right--I'll be glad to oblige
S.R.O., S.R.O.


FREDERICK and his entourage leave. Determined to have their welcoming ceremony, the MAYOR & CITIZENS give the full works to a bewildered stranger who happened to be on the same train.

MAYOR AND CITIZENS:

Oh I get high when I saunter by the mountains of Merano
Rosy-cheeked Merano
Flourishing to a fault
The sparkling streams the bracing air
The therapeutic salt
I'd have to be carried away to call a halt

Oh I feel great in this bouncing state o hail to thee Merano
Hearty hale Merano
Any objections? Nein!
Where breathing in will turn you on where water tastes like wine
Get up your get up and go and get in line
It's living your life in a show by Rodgers and Hammerstein!

Now for the sell
We put the ice into paradise, we are the salt of the earth
Sound as a bell
Check out the water
And check out the hygiene at which we excel
Check into a hotel
And schnell
Body and soul
Get well!

(The stage goes dark for a moment, when the lights come back up the scene has changed. You are now taken to The Palace Hotel in Merano, Frederick and Silvius's shared suite. Frederick is alone at the moment, playing chess against a computer.)

COMPUTER: Knight D 5.

FREDERICK: Bishop A 5 - check.

(Silvius enters with a bundle of newspapers in his hands and puts them down on the bed.)

SILVIUS: Well, we can't complain that you're being ignored by the press.

FREDERICK: What'd they say? What'd they say?

SILVIUS: They're not too polite.

FREDERICK: They say I'm a shit?

SILVIUS: Well...yes. They pulled you to pieces in five different languages.

(FREDERICK goes up to SILVIUS, kisses him quickly, and starts looking through
some papers)

SILVIUS: Here we are - The London Times says that you "thrive on unpleasantness".

(FREDERICK and SILVIUS both seem to find that amusing, then continue to read the other newspapers)

SILVIUS (reading a French newspaper): Le Monde says: "Frederick Trumper La Honte Des Echecs". (Frederick Trumper The Shame Of The Failures)

FREDERICK: I don't believe that they can't see my game. I'm like that tennis player, what's his name? They love to hate me, and for us that's dollars!

SILVIUS (now picks up a German newspaper): Die Welt says: "Trumper Die Gross Lecker Skandal Die Schatz!". (Trumper - The Greatest Scandal Of Chess!)

FREDERICK (looking disgruntled picks up yet another newspaper): Hey, look...here's a piece that some idiot's written on you! "Silvius Vassy, Hungarian-born Englishman - Trumper's gentle companion" - huh! If they only knew!

SILVIUS (pushes Freddie roughly onto the bed with a suggestively coy grin): What do you mean? I've always been gentle with you Freddie -

BOTH (reading the article now): "He stands by his champion- "

FREDERICK: I like this. (continues reading the sentence) "-whose demands are so infantile- " Eh? On second thought, I don't like this!

(Frederick throws the paper away in disgust)

SILVIUS (rolls off Frederick and sits up on the bed): If you don't like it then it's up to you to change it. They like the Russian, they could like you too.

FREDERICK (gives Silvius a look of disgust): Commie newspapers! Of course the bastards support the Russian!

SILVIUS: But Sergievsky seems like such a sweet opponent - so why do you abuse him all the time? Freddie, I love you very much...but just for once, don't go on about the Russians at the press conference, all right?

FREDERICK (mutters under his breath about 'the pathetic Russians' then gets off the bed): As far as I see it, all Soviets deserve abuse!

(SILVIUS watches Frederick leave the suite and shakes his head, sighing deeply. He gathers up the newspapers into a pile and the lights once again go dim)

*Backstage....*

'Where the hell is Pansy? Anyone seen Pansy?' Draco whispered angrily.

'Saw her heading to the loo a few minutes ago, Draco, why?' Gregory Goyle asked curiously.

'She's due on stage for the Press Conference scene, that's why you dolt!' Draco whispered and smacked Gregory on the forehead. 'Go get her!'

'But...but...Draco! She's in the girls loo!' Gregory whined.

'I don't care if she's in bloody China - go get her and stop whinging you oaf!' Draco whispered in exasperation. 'Tell her if she's not on stage in the next two minutes I'll make sure she spends the next fortnight in detention - with McGonagall!'

Gregory paled and then dashed off quickly. Draco watched him go with a scowl on his face, shaking his head in disgust. 'I am surrounded by complete morons,' he muttered.

'I hope not everyone surrounding you is an moron,' a voice softly chuckled as strong arms suddenly wrap themselves round Draco's waist.

Draco closed his eyes a moment and sighed in contentment, falling into the embrace eagerly. 'I take that back, all Slytherins except me are complete dolts,' he said quietly, then turned round and looked into a warm green-eyed gaze.

Harry grinned. 'Is that a compliment I hear for the Gryffindors?'

'No, that's a compliment for you, you daft git,' Draco smirked.

Harry chuckled. 'I've been upgraded to a 'git' now huh? I'm improving.'

'I reckon at the rate things are going...you'll have me saying such sappy things as 'Oh, Harry, how could I have ever lived without you!' before...mmph!' Draco began to say but was cut off by a kiss on the lips.

A few moments later Harry looked back down at Draco, his eyes shining brightly in amusement. 'I think the day that you say something like that I will worry about your sanity, Draco. Honestly though, sometimes I think that this is just one hell of a strange dream that we're having. I keep expecting to wake up, alone, angry and miserable, and that we'll be back to hating each other again,' he said quietly.

Draco nodded in agreement then put his head against Harry's chest and sighed deeply. 'I know I'm not supposed to be all 'sappy' and such but...if this is a dream...don't ever wake me up, all right?'

Harry nodded, then placed a tender kiss on Draco's forehead. 'I'll let you get away with that, only because I agree with you. It's been a hell of an odd fortnight, hasn't it.'

'That's the understatement of the year,' Draco agreed. Looking back up at Harry thoughtfully he asked, 'You think Snape knew what I felt before all this happened and he made us study our lines together?'

Harry shrugged. 'Wouldn't put it past him. I reckon he figured we'd either kill each other- '

'Or end up screwing each other senseless,' Draco finished with a huge grin.

Harry laughed softly and nodded, hugging Draco tightly. 'I'm glad we chose option number two. I think I've had my share of deaths at this point,' he said sadly.

'Don't think about that right now, Harry, please?' Draco asked softly, 'right now let's just think about the play and us. We've worked so hard for tonight, let's not spoil it. I would hate to have Lupin and Snape see all their hard work end up as nothing more than in vain.'

'Speaking about that...I think that Snape's finally figuring things out about Remus and Sirius's relationship. When I was looking for him right before we started he was looking positively spooked. I noticed that Remus had just walked away and Snape was leaning against the wall shaking, and somehow I don't think it was because of stage fright. Now that Remus told me the truth about everything that happened between all of them back then, I sort of feel bad for Snape.'

Draco snorted. 'It was his own fault, Harry. He was being a prat about the whole thing. He could have had everything, and he threw it all away because of jealousy, when there was no need to be jealous in the first place.'

'He doesn't know that though, or didn't know that back then anyway. Jealousy can make people do the oddest things, Draco. I can't imagine what I'd do now if I saw you in someone else's arms,' Harry said.

'Oh, really? Hmm...a jealous Harry Potter...fighting someone off to claim me...has an interesting ring to it,' Draco grinned.

Harry snorted and rolled his eyes. 'What makes you think I'd fight for you, let alone want to stake a claim on you?'

'Maybe because you love me?' Draco asked innocently.

'Ah...well...yeah...there is that,' Harry chuckled, then looked at Draco curiously. 'Would you do the same thing for me?'

Draco appeared to think that one over for a moment. 'I don't know...is there a reason I should?' he asked airily.

'Maybe...because you love me?' Harry asked just as innocently.

Draco laughed. 'Well, when you put it that way...I'd say that's a pretty damn good reason to fight for you, yup.'

Harry grinned. 'Good to know that you care.'

'I don't care about you,' Draco said coyly. 'Nope, not a whit. I do however love you, Harry. There's a big difference.'

Harry smiled and kissed Draco again. 'You know, it's a shame that Snape can get two enemies to fall in love with each other, not that it was all that hard mind you since you were a very good seducer, but he can't get himself to admit that he's still in love with Remus. I know he is too, he talks in his sleep.'

Draco raised an eyebrow at that comment. 'And you know this...how?'

Harry blushed. 'It's not what you're thinking, I promise. Snape lets me use his sofa sometimes when I can't take being in the dorm. It's something we worked out with Remus about a month ago when...err...well when I told them I was gay.'

'Ah, interesting. Though I would preferred it if you would come to my room instead of Snape's,' Draco said pouting a bit.

Harry shook his head. 'Not like I had the choice at first, Draco, we weren't exactly on speaking terms a month ago, remember? And in case you've forgotten, I've spent the past three nights in your bed. Or do I need to remind you of that little fact?' he said seductively.

'Advantages of being Head Boy,' Draco smirked. 'I get my own room. And oh Merlin yes I want you to remind me, as often as possible...'

'Believe me, it's something I'm more than happy to do,' Harry said eagerly, a definite glint of lust in his eyes.

'Harry, you look at me like that...and we're not going to finish the play,' Draco teased and rubbed himself up against Harry's leg.

Harry groaned. 'Draco...quit it. We'll have plenty of time for that later,' he said firmly.

'You started it!' Draco said pouting slightly. 'Oh all right. Only because I really do want to finish the play. At first I was against this but now I'm really enjoying it.'

'I know, I feel the same way. Being out there on the stage is amazing. It's like...I don't know...flying I suppose. I feel free out there, if that makes sense,' Harry said.

Draco nodded. 'I know, and it makes perfect sense. Out there we're not 'enemies' or having to deal with 'Slytherin versus Gryffindor', we're just...us. It's a great feeling honestly.'

'I know...and it gives me an idea for the future,' Harry said.

'Oh? And what idea is that?' Draco asked curiously.

Harry grinned. 'I'll tell you about it later. Meanwhile, what are we going to do about Snape and Remus? Snape will never admit to Remus that he loves him if I guess right.'

'No more than Lupin will admit he loves Snape. If you ask me they're both royally screwed up,' Draco said with a shake of his head.

'Maybe...maybe we can help them get back together...like they helped us get together?' Harry asked thoughtfully.

'No. N.O. Absolutely not, Harry,' Draco said firmly. 'You want to end up in detention for the rest of the year?'

Harry groaned. 'Not really, but I have a plan- '

'Oh no,' Draco said cutting him off. 'The last time you had a plan, remember how that turned out,' he said dryly.

'Okay, well...that one wasn't so great...but this one will work, I swear it!' Harry said pleadingly. 'Aw, come on, Draco, please hear me out?'

Draco sighs. 'Oh, all right, what's your brilliant plan?'

'Well, it has to do with when the play ends...' Harry began, and then whispered his idea into Draco's ear, a wicked glimmer in his eyes.

Draco's eyes lit up and he nodded. 'That's brilliant, Harry! You sure you're not a Slytherin? Because that's a scheme definitely worthy of one,' he said.

Harry laughs. 'You have no idea how close you are on that one, Draco.'

'What do you mean?' Draco asked puzzled.

'I'll tell you about it another time. Shoot, there's Pansy and Goyle, got to go,' Harry said releasing Draco from his arms quickly. 'See you at next scene!'

Draco nodded and watched as Harry sprints off, just in time too as Pansy and Greg walked up seconds later. 'And where they hell have you two been?' he said irritably and turned round to look at the two of them. 'Oh never mind, I don't care where you've been, just get your arses on the stage, the Press Conference is about to start. Move it...go already!'

Pansy and Gregory dashed off, and Draco once more turned back round to where Harry was recently standing. 'If I get my way, Harry, before this play is out Lupin and Snape won't be the only ones getting what they want,' he said softly and took a small black velvet box out of his costume pocket.

Opening it up he looked at the object inside for a moment, a strange glint in his grey eyes, then closed the box and put it back in his pocket. Patting the pocket a bit nervously he then headed off back towards the wings to await his cue. He hoped that when the day was over everything would turn out perfectly for everyone, and this time there would be no bittersweet endings.