Dead In Chapter Five

You're all wet, dear, says Vello.

It's quite nice, says Belle.

You'll be shivering soon, in this aircon, says Henriette. 

I'll be fine, says Belle.

I'm wet too, says Terence.

No one takes any notice of Terence.

He goes up to Sweezus.

I'm wet TOO, says Terence.

Yeah little buddy, says Sweezus. You'll soon dry.

Not my SHORTS! says Terence. THEY won't!

Run up and down the steps outside, says Vello, and stop interrupting.

What was he interrupting ? asks Belle.

We've decided on the coming production, says Vello.

And Denis is playing Candide, says Henriette.

MAY be, says Denis.

What abour Sweezie? asks Belle. 

There are plenty of other parts, says Vello. Henriette has picked chapter five.

All the women are DEAD in chapter five, says Belle.

Sorry, says Henriette. I didn't know that.

Not actually dead, says Vello. Believed dead. 

So there's no part for me, says Belle. 

Vello grabs his old copy, and flicks through chapter five.

Candide, Pangloss, James the Anabaptist, Sailor, Girl of easy virtue....

That's a really small part, says Belle.

Citizens eating dinner in the ruins, continues Vello. Half of them could be women.

Keep going, says Belle.

Officer of the Inquisition, and his henchman, says Vello. That's it. Choose your part, dear. Any part but Candide.

Belle is feeling somewhat icy at this stage. 

Officer of the Inquisition, says Belle.

Arthur looks up from his beer.

He had imagined himself in that part. That, or the sailor.

What? asks Belle. Did you want that part Arthur?

No, says Arthur. I'll play the sailor.

You did want it though, says Belle.

Sailor suits me, says Arthur. 

It's a good part. You can ad lib a little. Insert one of your poems.

Everyone looks at Sweezus. All the good parts are going.

What? asks Sweezus.

You'd be good as James the Anabaptist, says Vello. 

No worries, says Sweezus.

Playing against type, adds Vello 

Sweezus wonders what he means.

Wasn't James the Anabaptist described by Candide as the best of men?