Show No Fear

Captain Baudin begins his narration:

On board ship,

A nuit dark and orageuse.

Near le Port de Lisbon

Trois passengers, showing no fear.

Nice touch, says Vello. Showing no fear. Note that, David.

My character never shows fear, says David. He's the ultimate optimist.

I know he is, says Vello. And I, as an Anabaptist, am a resolute type of person.

What then? says David.

Sweezus, says Vello. He might be tempted to ham it up a little.

Good point, says David. 

May I continue? asks Captin Baudin.

Le vessel pitches and tosses, les sails are torn,  

Les masts are broken and le ship is splitting.

Hey! says Terence. I'm supposed to be making that happen.

He dances in front of Captain Baudin.

D'accord, says Captain Baudin. Dancing yes, but no singing until my narration has finished.

Okay, says Terence. 

His feet make loud crashing sounds on the office floor.

Stop! says Belle. Put your socks on.

Are they ready? asks Terence.

Yes, ready, says Belle.

Terence looks at her sewing job.

She has closed the heels neatly, but that is not all. She has sewn yellow ribbons dotted with silver sequins into the seam, so that the ribbons will stream out behind Terence, when he is dancing. 

Yay! says Terence. Lightning bolts coming out from behind me!

He pulls on the socks.

Will mine be the same? asks Baby Pierre.

Yes, but smaller, says Belle.

Terence dances backwards and forwards, in his lightning bolt socks.

Careful when you dance backwards, says Belle. 

May I continue? asks Captain Baudin.

Yes, continue, says Vello. But as you've introduced us, should we be on the table?

As you wish, says Captain Baudin.

Ooh! says Vello, climbing onto the table.

David climbs on as well. 

There's not much room for Candide and the Sailor, says David.

Bring the desk over, says Belle. It'll give you more room, and also, make it easy for splitting.

An excellent idea, says Vello. Trust you to come up with it, my dear. Is it time for a coffee? Are there any chocolate biscuits? 

Captain Baudin sighs. 

He has many more lines to deliver.

And he doesn't like biscuits.