The Blue Bird: A Fairy Play in Six Acts | Page 9

me....
TYLTYL Which way are we to go?...
THE FAIRY Over there.... You are on the threshold of the Land of Memory.... As soon as you have turned the diamond, you will see a big tree with a board on it, which will show you that you are there.... But don't forget that you are to be back, both of you, by a quarter to nine.... It is extremely important.... Now mind and be punctual, for all would be lost if you were late.... Good-bye for the present!... (Calling the CAT, the DOG, LIGHT, etc.) This way.... And the little ones that way....
(She goes out to the right, with LIGHT, the ANIMALS, etc., while the CHILDREN go out to the left.)
CURTAIN

SCENE 2.--The Land of Memory.
A thick fog, from which stands out, on the right, close to the footlights, the trunk of a large oak, with a board nailed to it. A vague, milky, impenetrable light prevails. TYLTYL and MYTYL are at the foot of the oak.
TYLTYL Here Is the tree!...
MYTYL There's the board!...
TYLTYL I can't read it.... Wait, I will climb up on this root.... That's it.... It says, "Land of Memory."
MYTYL Is this where it begins?...
TYLTYL Yes, there's an arrow....
MYTYL Well, where are grandad and granny?...
TYLTYL Behind the fog.... We shall see....
MYTYL I can see nothing at all!... I can't see my feet or my hands.... (Whimpering) I'm cold!... I don't want to travel any more.... I want to go home....
TYLTYL Come, don't keep on crying, just like Water.... You ought to be ashamed of yourself.... A great big little girl like you.... Look, the fog is lifting already.... We shall see what's behind it....
(The mist begins to move; It grows thinner and lighter, disperses, evaporates. Soon, in a more and more transparent light, appears, under a leafy vault, a cheerful little peasant's cottage, covered with creepers. The door and windows are open. There are bee-hives under a shed, flower-pots on the window-sills, a cage with a sleeping blackbird. Beside the door is a bench, on which an old peasant and his wife, TYLTYL'S grandfather and grandmother, are seated, both sound asleep.)
TYLTYL (suddenly recognising them) It's grandad and granny!...
MYTYL (clapping her hands) Yes! Yes!... So it is! So it is!...
TYLTYL (still a little distrustful) Take care!... We don't know yet if they can stir.... Let's keep behind the tree....
(GRANNY TYL opens her eyes, raises her head, stretches herself, gives a sigh and looks at GAFFER TYL, who also wakes slowly from his sleep.)
GRANNY TYL I have a notion that our grandchildren who are still alive are coming to see us today....
GAFFER TYL They are certainly thinking of as, for I feel anyhow and I have pins and needles in my legs....
GRANNY TYL I think they must be quite near, for I see tears of joy dancing before my eyes....
GAFFER TYL No, no, they are a long way off.... I still feel weak....
GRANNY TYL I tell you they are here; I am quite strong....
TYLTYL and MYTYL (rushing up from behind the oak) Here we are!... Here we are!... Gaffer! Granny!... It's we!... It's we!...
GAFFER TYL There!... You see?... What did I tell you?... I was sure they would come to-day....
GRANNY TYL Tyltyl!... Mytyl!... It's you!... It's she!... (Trying to run to meet them) I can't run!... I've still got the rheumatics!...
GAFFER TYL (hobbling along as fast as he can) No more can I.... That's because of my wooden leg, which I still wear instead of the one I broke when I fell off the big oak....
(The GRANDPARENTS and the CHILDREN exchange frantic embraces.)
GRANNY TYL How tall and strong you've grown, Tyltyl!
GAFFER TYL (stroking MYTYL'S hair) And Mytyl!... Just look at her.... What pretty hair, what pretty eyes!...
GRANNY TYL Come and kiss me again!... Come on to my lap....
GAFFER TYL And what about me?...
GRANNY TYL No, no.... Come to me first.... How are Daddy and Mummy Tyl?...
TYLTYL Quite well, granny.... They were asleep when we went out....
GRANNY TYL (gazing at them and covering them with caresses) Lord, how pretty they are and how nice and clean!... Was it mummy who washed you?... And there are no holes in your stockings!... I used to darn them once, you know.... Why don't you come to see us oftener?... It makes us so happy!... It is months and months now that you've forgotten us and that we have seen nobody....
TYLTYL We couldn't, granny; and to-day its only because of the Fairy....
GRANNY TYL We are always here, waiting for a visit from those who are alive.... They come so seldom!... The last time you were here, let me see, when was it?... It was on All-hallows, when the church-bells were ringing....
TYLTYL All-hallows?... We didn't go out that day, for we both had very bad colds....
GRANNY TYL No; but you thought of us....
TYLTYL Yes....
GRANNY TYL Well, every time