"No need for speeches. Great need for speech," says Laertes. He picks up a volume of the compiled Questions sur les Miracles and thumbs through it idly, not sure what he's looking for or whether he'll know it when he finds it. "There's occupation here if you make it, but the greater part of our days is spent in conversation. That's why I wanted plays," he admits. "I want to study what people say. I want to be easier to speak with."