backstage - part i

ladders, and boxes, and blocks of wood,
ropes and pulleys. the stagehands sit at the back, waiting for their cue.
a few huddle around, sharing a cigarette break, oblivious to the peremptory sign.
and the stage manager, his piercing glare takes them in, deepening into a scowl when he sees the cloud of smoke.

and one of the stagehands begins to think:
who gives a f***, anyway? looking at those buggers prance around on stage. not like they know how hard it is to heave these damned props around. Look! night turns into day! it's stormy weather! wow! and what do they do? ooh and aah over them in the stupid makeup and idiot clothes.

a flurry of activity, fading into almost a blur. it's almost time for the curtains to come up...hurry! hurry. push and pull. the levers. the cloth. the actors taking their positions. the prompt reader looks a bit apologetic, and she gives a nervous smile.
and the stagehands, it's time for them to come out.

again, and again. why do i do this? stubbed out a cigarette. the ropes come up.

wait a minute. isn't Harry supposed to be the one to set this up? damn that bastard! he's off flirting with that chorus girl. stupid f***ers!

and then it's lights, camera, action! another day in the wonderful, exciting life of Joseph Brown, stagehand extraordinaire...

alright i m done. i let go of the rope. and then i look up, to see a new face sitting in the chorus. there's something about this face. she's not pretty. i've seen better looking dogs. but there's something about her face, and her smile. she's nervous, but she's hiding it well.
and that voice...i've never heard anything like it. i think i m starting to stare at her. what the hell?!!!