Two Plays by David Almond

Author:David Almond [Almond, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-307-54849-8
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2005-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

NARRATION Michael was wrong.

NARRATION She wasn’t dead.

NARRATION She was snoring gently.

NARRATION Her little hands were clenched beside her head.

The hospital. Dad, Mum and MICHAEL around the baby. A machine bleeps in rhythm with her heart.

MUM They said she has a heart of fire. They said there was a moment when they thought they’d lost her. But she burst into life again. Wouldn’t give in.

DAD We haven’t even named her yet.

MICHAEL Persephone.

DAD Bit of a mouthful, eh?

MUM It was the strangest thing.

DAD What was?

MUM Well, I was lying here last night, tossing and turning. Kept getting up to look at her. Kept dropping off to sleep. And the strangest of dreams…

DAD And… ?

MUM And I saw this man. Another dream, though I was sure I was wide awake. He was standing over the baby. He was filthy. All in black, an ancient dusty suit. A great hunch on his back. Hair all matted and tangled. I was terrified. I wanted to reach out to him. I wanted to push him away. I wanted to scream, Get away from our baby! I wanted to shout for the nurses and doctors. But I couldn’t move, couldn’t speak, and I was sure he was going to take her away. But then he turned and looked at me. His face as dry and white as chalk. And such tenderness in his eyes. And for some reason I knew he hadn’t come to harm her. I knew it would be all right….

DAD And… ?

MUM And then he reached right down with both hands and lifted her up. She was wide awake. They stared and stared into each other’s eyes. He started to slowly turn around…

MICHAEL Like they were dancing.

MUM That’s right. Like they were dancing. And then the strangest thing of all…The strangest thing of all, there were wings on the baby’s back. Not solid wings. Transparent, ghostly, hardly visible, but there they were. Little feathery things. It looked so funny. The strange tall man and the little baby and the wings. And that was it. He put her back down, he turned and looked at me again and it was over. I slept like a log the rest of the night. When I woke they were already getting her ready for the operation. But I wasn’t worried anymore. I kissed her and whispered to her how much we all loved her and they took her away. I knew it was going to be all right.

DAD And it is.

MUM And it is. I must have been thinking about what you asked me. What are shoulder blades for? Eh?

MICHAEL Yes. Yes.

MUM It isn’t over. You know that, don’t you? We’ll have to protect her always, especially at first.

MICHAEL I know that. We’ll love her and love her and love her.

DAD and MICHAEL prepare to leave.

MICHAEL See you tomorrow, Mum. See you tomorrow, little chick.

As they leave, MICHAEL sees Dr. McNabola with a clutch of students around him. MICHAEL hurries to him.

MICHAEL Doctor McNabola.

DR. MCNABOLA Yes.

MICHAEL I told you about my friend.

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