As the curtains close on the stage, Alice McBeth takes one final bow. Staring out at the blank faces in the crowd sends a chill down her spine. A final round of applause floats onstage from the already dwindling audience; most of them parents who were bribed here. In the front row, Alice spots her dad sitting next to his girlfriend of the week-Hilary. She waves excitedly at him from a small slit in the curtains. He slouches down in his seat, embarrased that his own flesh and blood had put on such a poor performance. 'Well it's not MY fault that I'm such a mess!' she mumbles to herself, as she and the rest of the cast of MacBeth walk backstage. 'He made me like this. What with all the abuse and beatings, no wonder I'm so screwed up! All I have is theater and if he is embarrassed by me then so be it!' She noticed a cardboard sword lying on one of the plastic chairs. She slowly tightened her fingers around the handle-it felt cool to the touch and at home in her hand. For one second she imagines her father, sitting helplessly in that chair-all tied up. She swung the sword around, laughing maniacally as the sword knocked down stage props and chairs. She tossed the sword in the air and watched as it came toppling down onto one of the stage hands.
"What the-?" he rubbed his balding scalp and stared at his hand, which was smeared with blood. He looked down at the sword then back at Alice, then back at the sword and finally glared furiously at Alice.
"Uh-gotta go!" Alice mumbled, and grabbed her bag and went sprinting off the stage.
***
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