Student's Book - Page 86 - 87

Student’s Book - Pages 86 and 87

The Time Travellers

2) Read and listen to the story to check your answers.

Helping Shakespeare

Let’s go and talk to Shakespeare,’ said Phoebe, ‘I feel sorry for him.’ How can we help him?’ answered Alex.

‘I’ve got an idea,’ Phoebe said. The friends climbed up onto the stage. Shakespeare was sitting on a big box. The children said hello.

‘I don’t know what to do,’ Shakespeare said. ‘The audience didn’t like my play.

They shouted and threw eggs and vegetables onto the stage.’ ‘Maybe we can help you,’ said Phoebe. ‘I don’t see how you can do that,’ Shakespeare answered sadly.

Suddenly they heard shouting. ‘Where is he? We want our money back!’ Two men with big sticks were in the theatre looking for Shakespeare. They looked very angry. ‘Stand at the edge of the stage,’ said Patrick. ‘Quickly, they’re coming! When they’re close, wave your arms in the air.’ Shakespeare stood next to the box at the edge of the stage. Patrick picked up an actor’s sword and he hid behind the box with Alex. When the two he hid behind the box with Alex. When the two men saw Shakespeare they ran up to him shouting, ‘Give us our money back!’

The men ran towards Shakespeare. When they were very close he waved his hands and Patrick tripped them with the sword. With a loud crash they fell off the stage. ‘Run, or I’ll get you with my sword,’ Patrick shouted. The men ran away. They were very frightened. Shakespeare was happy. ‘Thank you, you’ve just saved my life!’ he said. ‘Please come to my house and have dinner with me.’

At Shakespeare’s house the children and Shakespeare talked about Romeo and Juliet. ‘Maybe the audience didn’t like the happy ending,’ Phoebe said. ‘Why don’t you rewrite the ending so that they both die? Maybe the audience will like that ending better.’ At that moment, they heard voices outside.

Shakespeare opened the door. It was the men from the theatre with some of their friends. They looked very angry. ‘That’s him,’ said one of the men pointing at Patrick. ‘He’s the one who had the sword.’ They all started walking towards Patrick. ‘Stop!’ shouted Shakespeare. ‘Leave the boy alone or you will never know the new ending of my play.’ ‘New ending?’ said one of the men. ‘What happens?’ ‘Come and see,’ said Shakespeare ‘There are free tickets for all of you.’

The Time Travellers watched from the side of the stage. The audience were enjoying the play and Shakespeare was very happy. At the end, the audience clapped. Shakespeare looked at the kids and waved his hand for them to join him on the stage. As they walked up to it, they saw the yellow glow in front of them. They stepped through and were gone in a flash.