Dressed In Black
In Ms. Kwan's English class, discussing The Taming of The Shrew by William Shakespeare.
Ms. Kwan: I'm offering you all a challenge. I've paired you up, and I want you to work on Act II, Scene I.
This play's been around for over 400 years, so it must be doing something right. What I want, guys, is a version that rings
true for you. Have fun with it.
(Ashley shows Jimmy her script. It has CRAIG MANNING written in red marker at the bottom. Jimmy turns his paper:
HAZEL ADEN)
(In the hallway, Ashley is walking and Craig comes up from behind her, holding what we assume is his script.)
Craig: Good morrow, Kate, for that's your name I hear.
Ashley: Hey, I was thinking about our scene.
Craig: And you wanted to shoot yourself?
Ashley: I can't believe we have to do this comedy! It's so ...
Craig: Sexist? Outdated? Unfunny?
Ashley: All three. So I was thinking -
Craig: What if we show that? And play it for what's really going on. ...Or not?
Ashley: No, totally. I'm just so glad we're on the same page.
Craig: Yeah, Kwan's gonna regret pairing us.
(Later, Ashley is by a locker trying to take a picture of herself, Craig walks up.)
Craig: Need some help with that?
Ashley: Sure. It's for Jimmy.
Craig: Yeah.
*Craig takes the picture*
Ashley: Thanks.
Craig: No problem. Hope he likes it.
*Craig walks away and Ashley goes to show Jimmy the picture*
(Later, outside Ashley is talking to Paige and Hazel, everyone is amazed because Ashley showed up for school looking
"normal" and not all goth as she had been for a while.)
Ashley: I have to go. I have to meet Craig.
*Ashley arrives at their meeting destination in the woods, Craig is rehearsing*
Craig: For I am born to tame you, Kate, and -
Ashley: Hey. Sorry I'm late.
Craig: And you are ...?
Ashley: Late. Sorry. Can we start?
Craig: Yeah, sure. Good morrow, Kate, for that's your name I hear.
Ashley: Wait.
Craig: What, not strong enough?
Ashley: No, it's just ... The way Petruchio wants to change Kate ... Isn't it out of love?
Craig: That's what he claims. So?
Ashley: So we're making him into a villain. What if we're wrong?
Craig: Ash, the guy's a sexist pig. And abusive.
Ashley: I know. I read the play, but
Craig: But nothing. Even if he wasn't, he'd still be a jerk.
Ashley: Why?
*Craig has this epiphany-like look on his face*
Craig: Because if he really loved Kate, he wouldn't want to change her. He'd love her for who she is.
*In English class, everyone is putting on their own productions. Jimmy and Hazel just finished theirs, which everyone except Ash and Craig found hilarious.*
Ms. Kwan: Good job. Okay, Ash and Craig.
Craig: You ready?
Ashley: Yeah, for real.
*Craig is dressed in a suit and he puts on black rimmed glasses; Ashley is wearing a wig and an apron.*
Craig: (he grabs Ashley's wrists) Kate in sooth you scape not so!
Ashley: I chafe you, if I tarry. Let me go!
Craig: (he throws Ashley to the ground) Thou must be married to no man but me. (he holds her by her throat) For I am born to tame you, Kate, and bring you from a wild Kate to a Kate conformable as any household Kate. I must and will have Katherine to my wife.
*Ashley cries. Craig stands up and takes off the glasses.*
Ms. Kwan: Wow. Intense.
Craig: Uh, yeah. We saw it a bit differently. Ash?
Ashley: Um, it definitely didn't seem like a comedy to us. It felt darker.
Ms. Kwan: Can you tell us why you felt that?
Ashley: It's about breaking a person, their spirit. Taming them and making them into someone they aren't. (she looks at Jimmy) Making them into a lesser version of themselves.
*Later, at the end of the episode, Ashley breaks up with Jimmy.*
back home
|
