The lights come up low, softly illuminating a room set in the center stage.
All the rest is dark, focusing your attention on the weak pool of light. The ceiling of the room is curved, the walls worked into the support ribs and bulkheads that make up the hull of a Galaxy Class Starship. A low cabinet, enclosing some vital piece of equipment, juts into the room. An access hatch and status panel, one light clearly blinking, could be seen at one end of the cabinet. On top a partial wall, half solid and half hexagon mesh, extended upward, dividing the room into two separate areas. The first was obviously a work space, containing as it did a triangular shaped desk and an odd shaped computer. The second area was just as obviously intended for sleeping, with a mattress set onto a raised platform.
Further proof of the area’s function was provided by the prone figure the mattress was supporting, one arm draped across the eyes in an attempt to block what little of the dim light spilled through the mesh.
In direct defiance of normal sleeping customs the figure lay on top of any bedding the mattress may have been covered with. In further defiance of sleeping traditions the figure was still fully dressed; Gold command tunic, black trousers, and, adding insult to the already injured rules of what to wear while sleeping, black uniform boots.
In defense of these transgressions, the reclining figure reveals itself to not, as was originally thought, be sleeping. The figure twitches and stirs restlessly, and after a few minutes levers itself upright, swinging its legs off the side, and sit up on the edge of the bed. Tiredly rubbing its face with both hands, the figure looks around the room, then begins, somewhat over dramatically, to speak.
“It's been a,, hard day's night, andI'vebeen,, Working,, like a dog”
As it speaks, the figure gets to its feet, crossing the room to touch a wall panel, causing the lights to brighten. Wincing at the increased illumination, the figures eyes blink rapidly, as if adjusting to the increased light.
“It'sbeena,, HARD! day's,, night, And I Should! Be,, sleeping,, likealog
But! When I! gethometoyou I,, findthethings that, YOU, do
Will make,, ME,, feelalright”
At this, the figure crosses the room into the work area and sits behind the desk, resting its head on its hands with its elbows on the table.
“You know, I work,, all day, to get,, Shoreleave,, tobuyyouthings”
The figure looks at the screen of the computer
“And it's worth it,, just. To. Hear. You. Say. You'regoingto Give. Me. Everything!
So whyonearth,, should. I. Moan,, 'cause when I,, get back on board
You know I! Feel OK”
At this, the figure gets to its feet and begins to pace back and forth,
“WhenI'mhome,, everything,, seems,, toberight
When I'M home,, feeling YOU,, holding me,, tight… Tight…”
As it paces and speaks, the figure gestures dramatically to emphasis various words.
“It's,, beenahard,, day's night, andIbeen working,, like,, a dog!
It's been,, a,, hardday'snight,, and,, I shouldbesleeping like,, a,, log
But,, when I,, get,, hometoyou, I find the things,, thatyoudo
Make ME! Feel. Allright”
“So why, on, Earth, shouldImoan, 'causewhen I,, get back on board
You know I,, feel OK”
“When I'm home,, everything seems,, toberight
When I'M! Home,, feeling YOU,, holdingmetight”
At this point, the figure returns to stand at the desk,
“It'sbeenahard day's night, and I,, been,, working like a dog
It's been a,, hard,, day's night, I! Should! Be sleepinglikealog
But when I get,, home to you I find,, the things,, that you do
Will make me,, feel alright”
The figure lays back onto the bed with hands clasped behind it’s head.
“You know,, I feel,, alright”
Whispers “I feel alright!”
Tfigure gets toits feet and gives a dramatic bow to the audience. After a few moments a hand is raised, waiting for the applause to die down.
Once the applause had dropped to a level where it could be heard clearly the figure spoke. “With a little practice,, in dramatically ACCENTUATING certain,, words, andpausing,, in,, strange,, placeswhenyou,, speak,, Then,, you too,, can,,TALK,, likewilliamshatner,, Every,, March 22nd!”
The lights dimmed, and the figure, desk, bed and entire set disappeared in sparkling lights.
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