Ic Mage Secondary: The Apothecary
A young man dressed in jeans and a black T-shirt sits in his room like any normal 17 year old boy. Except he isn't normal, won't ever be normal, and he knows that, he came to terms with that another life ago. He sits at the Cabinet, an apothecary cabinet older than he and those he travels with. A Cabinet that was old when the States were young. Upon the pull out desk built into the cabinet rest an old copy of an old play "Romeo and Juliet". Yet this was not study for an exam, or for a lead part in a school production, to him this play existed to explain, to justify his play upon the stage, his role you might say.
I do remember an apothecary,-- (5.1.37)
And hereabouts he dwells,--which late I noted
In tatter'd weeds, with overwhelming brows,
Culling of simples; meagre were his looks, (5.1.41)
Sharp misery had worn him to the bones; (5.1.41)
And in his needy shop a tortoise hung,
An alligator stuff'd, and other skins
Of ill-shaped fishes; and about his shelves (5.1.44)
A beggarly account of empty boxes,
Green earthen pots, bladders and musty seeds,
Remnants of packthread and old cakes of roses,
Were thinly scatter'd, to make up a show. (5.1.48)
(In his Mind) Yes, I remember an Apothecary, bent upon his work, ever diligant, ever alert to his task, to the needs of his patrons and never a spare penny to show. Yes, Grandfather, I rememember you, I can never forget. Tho I never knew a father or mother, or an extension of either, I knew you, i knew your hand, I knew your face. For the first 13 years of my life you toiled endlessly to see to the health of others, neglecting your own. That shop was all you ever truly had, and yes i remember the day you lost that also. Oh, How I remember them, in their suits and ties, their fancy talk and legal forms,,,, they didn't want your shop, they just wanted you to retire, to enjoy your last days, I remember the sum, grandfather, the price of your one sole possesion,,, 40,000 , oh, how large that sum to you was, you nearly lept to accept, I remember, and I remember their smiles, those thin satisfied smiles. I can never forget.
(His eyes skip down the page)
There is thy gold, worse poison to men's souls,
Doing more murders in this loathsome world,
Than these poor compounds that thou mayst not sell.
I sell thee poison; thou hast sold me none.
Farewell: buy food, and get thyself in flesh.
(Mind) I remember being glad that finally you could rest, that with the money you were given, we could eat regularly, lead a simple and happy life. I remember the night the cough started, I remember days later the trip to the hospital, the rich doctor, pretty nurses, I remember all. I remember the diagnoses, Terminal, lingering, Terminal, Drugs, treatment, MONEY, MONEY, MONEY, MONEY. Soon that is all I heard, reverbing in my head, that single word, "MONEY". The first bill arrived, and the second and the third, the fourth, never ending parade of paper. An honorable man you had me pay the bills until nothing remained, nothing for food, nothing for medicine, NOTHING
Come hither, man. I see that thou art poor:
Hold, there is forty ducats: let me have
A dram of poison, such soon-speeding gear
As will disperse itself through all the veins
That the life-weary taker may fall dead
And that the trunk may be discharged of breath
As violently as hasty powder fired
Doth hurry from the fatal cannon's womb.
I went searching for work, yet no work was to be found, none would employ such a desperate young man, none save one. I was scouring the streets for loose change and the miraculous dropped dollar when the profession of my future met me in an alley. Two men pummeled another, curses, threats, gasps for breath. The black man lay bleeding when I came to his side
"Are you ok? "Can I do anything to help?"
The man smiled "Not unless you got a drug lab hidden under that scrap of a jacket"
Confused I stood as I help him rise " A drug Lab, why do you need ones of those?"
"My chemist went and blew himself up in his lab along with my quota this month, and unless i meet it in a week, I am a dead man"
Grandfather, something broke in me that day, my desperation dies, my resolve came exploding to life
I looked at him, with young eyes of steel " Whats the Recipe?"
" Huh? what ya talking about, boy?"
" I will make your drugs, but you have to help me make the money I need"
Smoke as I learned his name looked at me in doubt at first, and then after he saw the look in my eyes he stated almost amazingly " You aren't pulling my leg, are ya kid, You can make my drugs, Can't you"
" Yes, if you know the recipe, I can do the rest, AS LONG AS YOU PAY ME"
"Kid, you cook my quota and start making my drugs, I PROMISE, You will have all the money you need"
I looked at him, grandfather, I looked at him and said " Come with me, I have work to do"
Apothecary
Such mortal drugs I have; but Mantua's law
Is death to any he that utters them.
ROMEO
Art thou so bare and full of wretchedness,
And fear'st to die? Famine is in thy cheeks, (5.1.69)
Need and oppression starveth in thine eyes,
Contempt and beggary hangs upon thy back;
The world is not thy friend nor the world's law; (5.1.72)
The world affords no law to make thee rich;
Then be not poor, but break it, and take this.
Apothecary
My poverty, but not my will, consents.
ROMEO
I pay thy poverty, and not thy will.
My 15th year of life, I was no longer called a boy on the streets, Chemist they called me, Smoke had grown in the world thanks to me, but he kept his word, money wasn't a problem, you always wondered how I paid the bills, how I managed to get your medicine no matter how many that damm doctor prescribed, how we ate so well. I am sorry grandfather, you didn't need to know, I was the man of the house then, A boy put in a man place, I did what it took. I defiled your precious workshop, the family apothecary cabinet, a tool of ancient druggists, became the tool of a Modern Druggist, A Street Apothecary. And I felt no shame.
Apothecary
Put this in any liquid thing you will,
And drink it off; and, if you had the strength
Of twenty men, it would dispatch you straight.
(Mind)Just 16 when that day came, the day I was expecting, the day I dreaded. The day you asked me to let you die. I knew the pain you suffered and yet I could think of easing it, I was selfish, I was greedy. And yet I fulfilled your wish, I went to the Cabinet,(puts hand on Cabinet) this very one, and I mixed a potion as only one born of Apothecaries can, I even used the old library to find the one that would leave no tell tale sign, the quickest deadliest mortal potion I could make. And I went your room with a cup of your favorite tea, (he looks at the cabinet where a tea cup rests) Earl gray same as mine, and I still use the same cup. I watched you smile knowing, you said " I love you, Shy, My only trace that I lived," He looked at me, drank his tea and said old words " O true apothecary! Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die. " He kissed me on the cheek, and died and the Whole world changed, Shy the boy died that day, and Apothecary the Mastigos was born into this world guided by the hands of three traveling mages.
(In a whisper a ghost would strain to hear) Smiling " Thank you, my friends, now you can't say I never said it"
I do remember an apothecary,-- (5.1.37)
And hereabouts he dwells,--which late I noted
In tatter'd weeds, with overwhelming brows,
Culling of simples; meagre were his looks, (5.1.41)
Sharp misery had worn him to the bones; (5.1.41)
And in his needy shop a tortoise hung,
An alligator stuff'd, and other skins
Of ill-shaped fishes; and about his shelves (5.1.44)
A beggarly account of empty boxes,
Green earthen pots, bladders and musty seeds,
Remnants of packthread and old cakes of roses,
Were thinly scatter'd, to make up a show. (5.1.48)
(In his Mind) Yes, I remember an Apothecary, bent upon his work, ever diligant, ever alert to his task, to the needs of his patrons and never a spare penny to show. Yes, Grandfather, I rememember you, I can never forget. Tho I never knew a father or mother, or an extension of either, I knew you, i knew your hand, I knew your face. For the first 13 years of my life you toiled endlessly to see to the health of others, neglecting your own. That shop was all you ever truly had, and yes i remember the day you lost that also. Oh, How I remember them, in their suits and ties, their fancy talk and legal forms,,,, they didn't want your shop, they just wanted you to retire, to enjoy your last days, I remember the sum, grandfather, the price of your one sole possesion,,, 40,000 , oh, how large that sum to you was, you nearly lept to accept, I remember, and I remember their smiles, those thin satisfied smiles. I can never forget.
(His eyes skip down the page)
There is thy gold, worse poison to men's souls,
Doing more murders in this loathsome world,
Than these poor compounds that thou mayst not sell.
I sell thee poison; thou hast sold me none.
Farewell: buy food, and get thyself in flesh.
(Mind) I remember being glad that finally you could rest, that with the money you were given, we could eat regularly, lead a simple and happy life. I remember the night the cough started, I remember days later the trip to the hospital, the rich doctor, pretty nurses, I remember all. I remember the diagnoses, Terminal, lingering, Terminal, Drugs, treatment, MONEY, MONEY, MONEY, MONEY. Soon that is all I heard, reverbing in my head, that single word, "MONEY". The first bill arrived, and the second and the third, the fourth, never ending parade of paper. An honorable man you had me pay the bills until nothing remained, nothing for food, nothing for medicine, NOTHING
Come hither, man. I see that thou art poor:
Hold, there is forty ducats: let me have
A dram of poison, such soon-speeding gear
As will disperse itself through all the veins
That the life-weary taker may fall dead
And that the trunk may be discharged of breath
As violently as hasty powder fired
Doth hurry from the fatal cannon's womb.
I went searching for work, yet no work was to be found, none would employ such a desperate young man, none save one. I was scouring the streets for loose change and the miraculous dropped dollar when the profession of my future met me in an alley. Two men pummeled another, curses, threats, gasps for breath. The black man lay bleeding when I came to his side
"Are you ok? "Can I do anything to help?"
The man smiled "Not unless you got a drug lab hidden under that scrap of a jacket"
Confused I stood as I help him rise " A drug Lab, why do you need ones of those?"
"My chemist went and blew himself up in his lab along with my quota this month, and unless i meet it in a week, I am a dead man"
Grandfather, something broke in me that day, my desperation dies, my resolve came exploding to life
I looked at him, with young eyes of steel " Whats the Recipe?"
" Huh? what ya talking about, boy?"
" I will make your drugs, but you have to help me make the money I need"
Smoke as I learned his name looked at me in doubt at first, and then after he saw the look in my eyes he stated almost amazingly " You aren't pulling my leg, are ya kid, You can make my drugs, Can't you"
" Yes, if you know the recipe, I can do the rest, AS LONG AS YOU PAY ME"
"Kid, you cook my quota and start making my drugs, I PROMISE, You will have all the money you need"
I looked at him, grandfather, I looked at him and said " Come with me, I have work to do"
Apothecary
Such mortal drugs I have; but Mantua's law
Is death to any he that utters them.
ROMEO
Art thou so bare and full of wretchedness,
And fear'st to die? Famine is in thy cheeks, (5.1.69)
Need and oppression starveth in thine eyes,
Contempt and beggary hangs upon thy back;
The world is not thy friend nor the world's law; (5.1.72)
The world affords no law to make thee rich;
Then be not poor, but break it, and take this.
Apothecary
My poverty, but not my will, consents.
ROMEO
I pay thy poverty, and not thy will.
My 15th year of life, I was no longer called a boy on the streets, Chemist they called me, Smoke had grown in the world thanks to me, but he kept his word, money wasn't a problem, you always wondered how I paid the bills, how I managed to get your medicine no matter how many that damm doctor prescribed, how we ate so well. I am sorry grandfather, you didn't need to know, I was the man of the house then, A boy put in a man place, I did what it took. I defiled your precious workshop, the family apothecary cabinet, a tool of ancient druggists, became the tool of a Modern Druggist, A Street Apothecary. And I felt no shame.
Apothecary
Put this in any liquid thing you will,
And drink it off; and, if you had the strength
Of twenty men, it would dispatch you straight.
(Mind)Just 16 when that day came, the day I was expecting, the day I dreaded. The day you asked me to let you die. I knew the pain you suffered and yet I could think of easing it, I was selfish, I was greedy. And yet I fulfilled your wish, I went to the Cabinet,(puts hand on Cabinet) this very one, and I mixed a potion as only one born of Apothecaries can, I even used the old library to find the one that would leave no tell tale sign, the quickest deadliest mortal potion I could make. And I went your room with a cup of your favorite tea, (he looks at the cabinet where a tea cup rests) Earl gray same as mine, and I still use the same cup. I watched you smile knowing, you said " I love you, Shy, My only trace that I lived," He looked at me, drank his tea and said old words " O true apothecary! Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die. " He kissed me on the cheek, and died and the Whole world changed, Shy the boy died that day, and Apothecary the Mastigos was born into this world guided by the hands of three traveling mages.
(In a whisper a ghost would strain to hear) Smiling " Thank you, my friends, now you can't say I never said it"