ACT V
SCENE I.—Before the Curtain.
Enter TYLTYL, MYTYL, LIGHT, the DOG, the CAT, BREAD, FIRE, SUGAR, WATER and MILK.
LIGHT I have received a note from the Fairy Bérylune telling me that the Blue Bird is probably here.
TYLTYL Where?...
LIGHT Here, in the graveyard behind that wall.... It appears that one of the dead in the graveyard is hiding it in his tomb.... We must find out which one it is.... We shall have to pass them under review....
TYLTYL Under review?... How is that done?...
LIGHT It is very simple: at midnight, so as not to disturb them too greatly, you will turn the diamond. We shall see them come out of the ground; or else we shall see those who do not come out lying in their tombs....
TYLTYL Will they not be angry?...
LIGHT Not at all; they will not even know.... They do not like being disturbed, but, as it is their custom, in any case, to come out at midnight, that will not inconvenience them....
TYLTYL Why are Bread, Sugar and Milk so pale and why do they say nothing?...
MILK (staggering) I feel I am going to turn....
LIGHT (aside to TYLTYL) Do not mind them.... They are afraid of the dead....
FIRE (frisking about) I'm not afraid of them!... I am used to burning them.... Time was when I burnt them all; that was much more amusing than nowadays ...
TYLTYL And why Is Tylô trembling?... Is he afraid, too?...
THE DOG I?... I'm not trembling!... I am never afraid; but if you went away, I should go too....
TYLTYL And has the Cat nothing to say?...
THE CAT (mysteriously) I know what's what....
TYLTYL (to LIGHT) Are you coming with us?...
LIGHT No; it is better that I should remain at the gate of the graveyard with the Things and the Animals.... Some of them would be too frightened and I fear that the others would misbehave.... Fire, in particular, would want to burn the dead, as of old; and that is no longer done.... I shall leave you alone with Mytyl....
TYLTYL And may not Tylô stay with us?...
THE DOG Yes, yes, I shall stay; I shall stay here I... I want to stay with my little god!...
LIGHT It is impossible.... The Fairy gave formal orders; besides, there is nothing to fear....
THE DOG Very well, very well, it makes no difference. If they are vicious, my little god, all you have to do Is this ... (he whistles) and you shall see.... It will be just as in the forest: Wow! Wow! Wow!...
LIGHT Come, good-bye, dear children ... I shall not be far away.... (She kisses the CHILDREN.) Those who love me and whom I love always find me again.... (To the THINGS and the ANIMALS) This way, all of you....
(She goes out with the THINGS and the ANIMALS. The CHILDREN remain alone in the middle of the stage. The curtain, opens and discloses the next scene.)
SCENE 2.—The Graveyard.
It is night. The moon is shining on a country graveyard.. Numerous tombstones, grassy mounds, wooden crosses, stone slabs, etc. TYLTYL and MYTYL are standing by a short stone pillar.
MYTYL I am frightened!...
TYLTYL (not too much at his ease) I am never frightened....
MYTYL I say, are the dead wicked?...
TYLTYL Why, no, they're not alive!...
MYTYL Have you ever seen one?...
TYLTYL Yes, once, long ago, when I was very young....
MYTYL What was it like, say?...
TYLTYL Quite white, very still and very cold and it didn't talk....
MYTYL Are we going to see them, say?...
TYLTYL Why, of course, Light said so....
MYTYL Where are they?...
TYLTYL Here, under the grass or under those big stones....
MYTYL Are they there all the year round?...
TYLTYL Yes.
MYTYL (pointing to the slabs) Are those the doors of their houses?...
TYLTYL Yes.
MYTYL Do they go out when it's fine?...
TYLTYL They can only go out at night....
MYTYL Why?...
TYLTYL Because they are in their shirts....
MYTYL Do they go out also when it rains?...
TYLTYL When it rains, they stay at home....
MYTYL Is it nice in their homes, say?...
TYLTYL They say it's very cramped....
MYTYL Have they any little children?...
TYLTYL Why, yes; they have all those that die....
MYTYL And what do they live on?...
TYLTYL They eat roots....
MYTYL Shall we see them?...
TYLTYL Of course; we see everything when I turn the diamond.
MYTYL And what will they say?...
TYLTYL They will say nothing, as they don't talk....
MYTYL Why don't they talk?...
TYLTYL Because they have nothing to say....
MYTYL Why have they nothing to say?...
TYLTYL You're a nuisance....
(A pause)
MYTYL When will you turn the diamond?
TYLTYL You heard Light say that I was to wait until midnight, because that disturbs them less....
MYTYL Why does that disturb them less?...
TYLTYL Because that is when they go out to take the air....
MYTYL Is it not midnight yet?...
TYLTYL Do you see the church clock?...
MYTYL Yes, I can even see the small hand....
TYLTYL Well, midnight is just going to strike.... There!... Do you hear?...
(The clock strikes twelve)
MYTYL I want to go away!...
TYLTYL Not now.... I am going to turn the diamond....
MYTYL No, no!... Don't!... I want to go away!... I am so frightened, little brother!... I am terribly frightened!...
TYLTYL But there is no danger....
MYTYL I don't want to see the dead!... I don't want to see them!...
TYLTYL Very well, you shall not see them; shut your eyes....
MYTYL (clinging to TYLTYL'S clothes) Tyltyl, I can't stay!... No, I can't possibly!... They are going to come out of the ground!...
TYLTYL Don't tremble like that.... They will only come out for a moment....
MYTYL But you're trembling, too!... They will be awful!...
TYLTYL It is time, the hour is passing....
(TYLTYL turns the diamond. A terrifying minute of silence and motionlessness elapses, after which, slowly, the crosses totter, the mounds open, the slabs rise up....)
MYTYL (cowering against TYLTYL) They are coming out!... They are there!...
(Then, from all the gaping tombs, there rises gradually an efflorescence at first frail and timid, like steam; then white and virginal and more and more tufty, more and more tall and plentiful and marvellous. Little by little, irresistibly, invading all things, it transforms the graveyard into a sort of fairy-like and nuptial garden, over which rise the first rays of the dawn. The dew glitters, the flowers open their blooms, the wind murmurs in the leaves, the bees hum, the birds wake and flood the air with the first raptures of their hymns to the sun and to life. Stunned and dazzled, TYLTYL and MYTYL, holding each other by the hand, take a few steps among the flowers while they seek for the trace of the tombs.)
MYTYL (looking in the grass) Where are the dead?....
TYLTYL (looking also) There are no dead....