Showtime was a virtual representation of one of Kassandra's genetic memories, relived by Layla Hassan through the Portable Animus HR-8.5.
Description
Kassandra faced one final challenge: the production of "Leonidas and his 300 Spartans" itself. How would she ensure the muses and the audiences were satisfied.
Dialogue
Kasandra approached Thespis and Rhodanthe, who were sitting in front of the theater, looking worried.
- Thespis: Kassandra, my muse, my helper, the one who saves my posterior. I require your assistance one last time.
- Kassandra: You've got all your actors, Thespis. Your audience is sated. So, what's the problem now?
- Thespis: Leonidas himself is the problem. Picture it—I was rehearsing a monologue, brandishing my shield, encouraging my soldiers. "Come back with your shield or under it!"
- Kassandra: I believe that's "with your shield or on it."
- Thespis: No, no, I'm sure it's under it. But just as I gestured with my shield, I slammed it into my toe. And now, I can barely stand, let alone act.
- Kassandra: It's a shame you have to cancel the play after so much work, Thespis.
- Rhodanthe: We are not cancelling the play. We'd have to give back people's drachmae.
- Thespis: The show must go on. My Leonidas is right in front of me.
Kassandra looked at Thespis, then to Rhodanthe, then realized who they meant.
- Kassandra: What, me? I'm no actor.
- Thespis: And I'm no general, but on stage, I am. Think of it. You could bring the great man's memory back to life. He could live again, through you.
- Kassandra: It's my destiny. I'll play Leonidas.
- Thespis: Excellent! So let's do a quick run-through of your lines. You already heard the first part—"Come back with your shield or under it."
- Kassandra: On! On it.
- Thespis: The next part is directed at Xerxes. "The Persians come to make slaves of us all. I have a better idea. I say we drench the gods in wine!"
- Kassandra: I'm pretty sure Leonidas said, "Drench the gods with their blood."
- Thespis: I know what I wrote. Finally, when you confront the traitor. "Today was a day the Persians will never forget. Tomorrow is a day the kings will remember!"
- Kassandra: Tomorrow is a day the world will remember." Leonidas battled for all of Hellas and its freedom, not just Sparta.
- Thespis: I'm sure you'll get it right. If you like, go rehearse with the rest of the cast. But if you feel ready, to the stage with you!
- Kassandra: I'll go rehearse with my fellow actors first.
- Nervous Actor: So good to see you. I'm sure you'll make a great Leonidas, seeing as you took care of that commander so... thoroughly.
- Kassandra: It was nothing.
- Nervous Actor So, in our scene, I'll ask you to advise the troops. Then you answer, "Come back with your shield or under it."
- Kassandra: I'm sure every Spartan general says "on it."
- Nervous Actor That's what Thespis wrote.
- Nervous Actor: It's good to see you again. I took your warning to heart, that no one can ever truly be safe. I think it can make my Dienekes more believable.
- Kassandra: I'm glad to have helped.
- Nervous Actor So, in our scene, I'll ask you to advise the troops. Then you answer, "Come back with your shield or under it."
- Kassandra: I'm sure every Spartan general says "on it."
- Nervous Actor That's what Thespis wrote.
- Taureas: I listened to you, misthios. I practiced hard, and you're going to see that hard work pay off.
- Kassandra: I look forward to it.
- Taureas So, in our scene, I'll ask you to advise the troops. Then you answer, "Come back with your shield or under it."
- Kassandra: I'm sure every Spartan general says "on it."
- Taureas That's what Thespis wrote.
She went over to "Xerxes".
- "Xerxes": You're back, good. Your words stuck with me, misthios. The public will fear and admire my Xerxes.
- Kassandra: I'm glad I could inspire you.
- "Xerxes": As King Xerxes, I'll insult you and the Spartans, the usual. So you reply, "The Persians come to make slaves of us all. I have a better idea. I say we drench the gods with wine!"
- Kassandra: I know Thespis loves his wine, but Leonidas said he'd drench the gods with blood.
- "Xerxes": He's the director, I'm sure you can make his lines work.
She then went over to Hedone.
- Hedone: Hedone, good to see you. There's a lot of people out there, aren't there? I sure hope the good word of the goddess can carry me through.
- Kassandra: I'm sure it will.
- Hedone: All right, good to see you back, Hedone. I've taken your words to heart. I will spread the good word of Hedone to these glorious people.
- Kassandra: Good to hear it.
- Hedone: Hedone, good to see you! This performance will shine with the joy of the goddess, you'll see. I trust in her to guide my words.
- Kassandra: That could be a good plan.
- Hedone: Hedone, it's good to see you. I followed your advice and tried to make the most of this opportunity. I wouldn't want to make a fool of myself or the goddess, you know.
- Kassandra: That's a good plan.
- Hedone: So I'm Ephialtes the Traitor. I'll say I'm so clever for betraying you and the Spartans. Then you say, "Today was a day the Persians will never forget. Tomorrow is a day the kings will remember!"
- Kassandra: Why would Thespis write that? Leonidas was a king himself, he wanted the whole world to remember what he did.
- Hedone: It's a work of art. Don't take the details too seriously.
- Kassandra: I'm ready. Let's start the play.
With rehearsals done, the play commences. The Master of Ceremonies steps forward and addresses the audience. Kassandra also stepped on the stage, with a Leonidas mask.
- Master of Ceremonies: Welcome to our play, the heroic tale of King Leonidas and His 300 Spartans. Behold your Leonidas.
He pointed to "Leonidas".
- Kassandra: Thank you for being here. Remember that Leonidas was not only a King of Sparta but the savior of all Greeks.
- "Dienekes": I am Dienekes, Lieutenant of the great Leonidas. I will serve him until Hades himself comes to claim him. My Commander, my king! We are outnumbered and outmaneuvered. What can I do to help?
- Master of Ceremonies: What does the Spartan general have to say to his right-hand man?
- Kassandra: Come back with your shield or under it.
- Kassandra: Come back with your shield or on it.
- "Xerxes": I am Xerxes, King of the Persians. You puny gods mean nothing to me. Kneel before my immortal self. You Spartan cur! I will grind you and your people under my sandal!
- Master of Ceremonies: How will Leonidas reply to his mortal enemy Xerxes?
- Kassandra: The Persians come to make slaves of us all. I have a better idea. I say we drench the gods with wine!
- Kassandra: The Persians come to make slaves of us all. I have a better idea. I say we drench the gods with their blood!
- "Ephialtes": I'm Ephialtes, exile and traitor. I'll bring doom down to the Spartan army by revealing a secret goat path to the Persians. The Spartans won't stand a chance!
- "Ephialtes": I have defeated your plans, Leonidas! What will you do now, fool?
- Master of Ceremonies: The traitor dares talk back to his king! What will Leonidas say to that?
- Kassandra: Today was a day the Persians will never forget. Tomorrow is a day the kings will remember!
- Kassandra: Today was a day the Persians will never forget. Tomorrow is a day the world will remember!
- "Ephialtes": All right. I'm Ephialtes, exile and traitor. You know I'll bring doom to the Spartan army by revealing a secret goat path to the Persians. Those stuck up Spartans won't stand a chance!
- "Ephialtes": I've defeated your plans, Leonidas! What are you going to do about that?
- Master of Ceremonies: The traitor dares talk back to his king! What will Leonidas say to that?
- Kassandra: Today was a day the Persians will never forget. Tomorrow is a day the kings will remember!
- Kassandra: Today was a day the Persians will never forget. Tomorrow is a day the world will remember!
- "Ephialtes": I'm Ephialtes, exile and traitor. That's me! I'll bring doom to the Spartan army by revealing a secret goat path to the Persians. The Spartans won't stand a chance!
- "Ephialtes": I've defeated your plans, Leonidas! I finally got your goat, ha!
- Master of Ceremonies: The traitor dares talk back to his king! What will Leonidas say to that?
- Kassandra: Today was a day the Persians will never forget. Tomorrow is a day the kings will remember!
- Kassandra: Today was a day the Persians will never forget. Tomorrow is a day the world will remember!
- "Ephialtes": So, I'm, um, Ephialtes. You know, the exile and traitor. My secret plan is to bring doom to the Spartan army by revealing a secret goat path... No wait, that's two secrets. Anyhow, something something Persians. The Spartans won't stand a chance!
- "Ephialtes": I've defeated your plans, Leonidas! I finally got your goat, ha! Eh? Get it?
- Master of Ceremonies: The traitor dares talk back to his king! What will Leonidas say to that?
- Kassandra: Today was a day the Persians will never forget. Tomorrow is a day the kings will remember!
- Kassandra: Today was a day the Persians will never forget. Tomorrow is a day the world will remember!
The play comes to an end, with the crowd reacting. The actors on stage take a bow.
- "Xerxes": Don't worry my friend, it happens all the time when Thespis tries to write lines. Your performance was fine!
- Kassandra: I'm going to talk to that Thespis.
- Thespis: Marvelous! Such a performance!
- Kassandra: Did you hear the crowd? I barely got out of there without a fight. Next time, listen to the advice of people who know what they're talking about. After all, Leonidas was my grandfather.
- Thespis: You never stop performing! I love that. You almost had me convinced, you joker. Here, your part of the take.
- Kassandra: Thanks. Maybe I'm more of an actor than I thought.
- "Xerxes": Great job my friend! Enjoy the crowd's reaction. Because I don't think Thespis will be happy you went off-script.
- Kassandra: I think I can take care of him.
- Thespis: I can't believe it. You ruined my perfect script!
- Kassandra: Didn't you hear the crowd? They wanted to hear the real story of Leonidas. I should know, he was my grandfather.
- Thespis: You never stop performing! I love that. You almost had me convinced, you joker. Here, your part of the take.
- Kassandra: Thanks. Maybe I'm more of an actor than I thought.
Outcome
Kassandra helped Thesis with his play.