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"Do you come here often?"
Sam turned her head sharply at the sound of the intruding voice. It was a nice voice, rich and rather deep and masculine, although Sam did have to stifle a giggle at the choice of words that the stranger had decided to greet her with. The voice was connected to just as attractive a person – early-30s, tall, dark, nice smile, short dark hair, and piercing blue eyes.
She fixed the man with a very faint smile, hoping he would take the hint, but he was settling himself into the seat next to her. She had come here to see the play, not to meet men. However attractive and polite they were.
"Actually, it’s my first time here in a long time. My sister bought me a season ticket for my birthday, so now I have no excuse".
"I thought I hadn’t seen you here. It’s sure to be a great performance. I’m Jonathon, by the way".
"Hmm, oh, Samantha…Sam", Sam introduced myself, still wanting to be left alone. It wasn’t that Jonathon – who was now rambling on about the cast members and plot of the play that was about to start – wouldn’t be good company. The problem was that he was likely to be too good company. And Sam was determined to do this on her own. Her weakness had always been being too dependent on men. After David had left her, a year ago, she had felt like part of her life was over. So, she had returned to the village were she grew up, staying with her sister. Sally had bought her this ticket to their local theatre – an independently-run place promoting small, independent theatre companies and local talent - as a symbol of her new life as an independent 90s woman. She hadn’t been here since her childhood, yet now it drew her in, a strange attraction that surely had its roots in an almost-forgotten desire to be an actress. A desire that sadly died along with her childhood. But now, she was determined to make up for it.
"Sorry, what?" she asked, aware of a break in the one-sided conversation and of Jonathon’s expectant gaze.
"I asked if you wanted to see the programme", he repeated with a smile.
"Oh, sure. Thank you", she replied, slightly flustered. It was a nice smile.
He handed it over, and Sam read it, a faint smile creeping it’s way reluctantly onto her face.
An hour later, and thoroughly mesmerised by the story that was unfolding in front of her, Sam blinked into the bright light that signalled the interval.
"Enjoying the show?" Jonathon asked with a smile. Sam turned to him. She’d almost forgotten he was there, but now felt glad that there was someone there with whom to share this experience.
"It’s amazing!" she exclaimed in reply.
"Isn’t it?" he agreed.
It was a tale of doomed romance, love and loss, and bittersweet memories.
"It’s just so sad. That part about his long-lost brother, and his girlfriend…" she gushed.
"Why don’t we go and get a quick drink. We’ve got fifteen minutes until the next part", Jonathon suggested.
"Erm, Ok", she agreed, after a minute.
By the end of the interval, the two of them were like old friends. Sam found she had to revise her initial opinion of Jonathon. He wasn’t as stuffy as he’d first seemed. He was a computer software developer, and actually used to be an actor – or, at least attempted to be one. He hadn’t been terribly successful and in the end had decided it wasn’t the career for him. He was still involved behind the scenes with local theatre, though. To Sam’s surprise, they had a lot in common – they both hated herbal teas, loved science-fiction novels, and were addicted to cappuccino, white chocolate, spaghetti, and cheap Italian wine. Sam almost didn’t want the interval to end. Almost. She could definitely imagine seeing more of Jonathon. First though, she had to see what happened to poor Billy, didn’t she?!
When the show was finally over, Sam slowly shook herself back to reality. She had had a wonderful time, and was definitely determined to make good use of her season ticket from now on.
A drink in the interval led to a longer one after the performance, and to a very enjoyable end to the evening. It was turning into a perfect evening. Not that she was about to propose marriage to Jonathan, or anything. It was just nice to spend time with a gorgeous man, enjoying herself and just being herself. She could finally find out who she really was. And what she was finding out she was able to discuss with Jonathon. She even told him about her long-buried ambition to act. Unfortunately, in Sam’s view at least, the evening was over all too soon.
"I have to go. I’ve got to be at work early tomorrow….", she explained, getting ready to leave the bar. She looked at Jonathon, willing him to say something. For once, her amateur telepathy worked.
"Erm, they’re showing a version of Hamlet in a few weeks. I was planning on coming to see it. I’m sure you’d enjoy it, Sam. Maybe we could go…?" Jonathon, asked tentatively.
"Together?" she asked, smiling.
"Well, I could go one night and you the next, but I think we kind of lose the ‘we’ idea there".
"Well, ok…I’d like that." Hamlet was one of her favourite plays, although she’d never actually seen a live performance of it.
"Great. It’s a date, then. Why – Why don’t we meet here on the fifteenth? At eight. I’ll be out of town most of the time until then."
She nodded slowly, sure that he would keep the date. It was true. He did work out of town a lot. Plus, he had recently moved to the area, so that explained why she had not seen him around before.
The next few weeks passed quickly. Getting ready to leave the house on the fifteenth, Sam was surprised by how much she was looking forward to seeing Jonathon again, and hoped that maybe this was a change in her life for the better. The first real positive thing to happen to her since her split with David and return to the village. She had proven that she could go out, have fun, develop her own interests, and had even made a new friend at the same time. She grinned. Well, maybe more than a friend, she thought.
The first suspicion she had that something was not quite right at the theatre was the lack of crowds waiting to enter the small building. True, the lights were on, but it was very quiet. Also, there was no one at the ticket window. Not only that, but Jonathon was no-where to be seen. She gulped, telling herself not to panic, as she paced around outside, wondering what was going on. He wouldn’t have stood her up, surely. Would he? How did she really know? She’d only seen him once, after all. No, she refused to be stood up, she told herself. She would wait ten minutes, and if he didn’t appear, she would go in without him, even if the show had already started. She fetched her season-ticket out of her bag, clutching it to her like a shield against the dangers of the night.
She continued pacing, worried and panicking now. Maybe Jonathon had been hurt and couldn’t make it, maybe he was lying half-dead somewhere on his way there…Maybe he was just standing her up.
"Are you alright?" a voice inquired. Sam recognised it as belonging to the man who ran the ticket office.
"Erm. I’m supposed to meet…see Hamlet…Jonathon at eight o’clock…" she babbled, flustered and panicked.
"Oh, right. Come in, and go downstairs", he replied, cheerfully, holding the door open for her and pointing out the way.
"Oh. Thanks." She followed his directions, for lack of anything else to do. Besides, she didn’t want to appear rude.
Approaching the bottom of the stairs, she saw a small room, the door open. The only noise in the whole building drifted out, including what definitely sounded like Shakespearean dialect. Sam’s curiosity outweighed her nervousness and she peered into the room.
She gasped in surprise at what she saw. For there, in the centre of the room, was Jonathon. As if sensing her arrival, he looked up at her, meeting her inquisitive gaze with a large smile.
"Sam. Great, you made it! Come in and meet the cast".
"Cast?" she asked, making her way over to him.
"Yes. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I knew you wouldn’t come along if I asked you outright, but I really wanted you here. There is going to be a performance of Hamlet, but not yet. I’m directing it. This is the rest of the cast, but we’re still missing an Ophelia. I’d really like you to audition for the role. I think you’d be great".
"You do? I mean, I would…?" she questioned, instantly forgiving his deceit.
"Definitely. Why don’t you give it a go? And afterwards, I’d like to take you out in celebration", he whispered invitingly.
Despite the blush threatening to take over her whole face, Sam forced herself up onto the stage. She knew the part of Ophelia by heart. Looking down at Jonathon and the other encouraging faces, she decided to go for it. And her ticket, that small innocent piece of card that had started this whole fiasco, dropped out of her hand, as if knowing that its job was done.
