ACT VI
SCENE I.—The Leave-taking.
The stage represents a wall with a small door. It is the break of day.
(Enter TYLTYL, MYTYL, LIGHT, BREAD, WATER, SUGAR, FIRE and MILK) You would never guess where we are....
TYLTYL Well, no, Light, because I don't know....
LIGHT Don't you recognise that wall and that little door?...
TYLTYL It is a red wall and a little green door.
LIGHT And doesn't that remind you of anything?...
TYLTYL It reminds me that Time shewed us the door....
LIGHT How odd people are when they dream.... They do not recognise their own hands....
TYLTYL Who is dreaming?... Am I?...
LIGHT Perhaps it's myself.... Who can tell?... However, this wall contains a house which you have seen more than once since you were born....
TYLTYL A house which I have seen more than once since I was born?...
LIGHT Why yes, sleepy-head!... It is the house which we left one evening, just a year ago, to a day....
TYLTYL Just a year ago?... Why, then....
LIGHT Come, come!... Don't open great eyes like sapphire caves.... It's the dear old house of your father and mother....
TYLTYL (going up to the door) But I think.... Yes, really.... It seems to me.... This little door.... I recognise the wooden pin.... Are they in there?... Are we near mummy?... I want to go in at once.... I want to kiss her at once!...
LIGHT One moment.... They are sound asleep; you must not wake them with a start.... Besides, the door will not open till the hour strikes....
TYLTYL What hour?... Is there long to wait?...
LIGHT Alas, no!... A few poor minutes....
TYLTYL Aren't you glad to be back?... What is it, Light?... You are quite pale, you look ill....
LIGHT It's nothing, child.... I feel a little sad, because I am leaving you....
TYLTYL Leaving us?...
LIGHT I must.... I have nothing more to do here; the year is over, the Fairy is coming back to ask you for the Blue Bird....
TYLTYL But I haven't got the Blue Bird!... The one of the Land of Memory turned quite black, the one of the Future turned quite pink, the Night's are dead and I could not catch the one in the Forest.... Is it my fault if they change colour, or die, or escape?... Will the Fairy be angry and what will she say?...
LIGHT We have done what we could.... It seems likely that the Blue Bird does not exist or that he changes colour when he is caged....
TYLTYL Where is the cage?...
BREAD Here, master.... It was entrusted to my diligent care during our long journey; to-day, now that my mission is drawing to an end, I restore it to your hands, untouched and carefully closed, as I received it.... (Like an orator making a speech) And now, in the name of all, I crave permission to add a few words....
FIRE He has not been called upon to speak!...
WATER Order!...
BREAD The malevolent interruptions of a contemptible enemy, of an envious rival....
FIRE An envious rival!... What would you be without me?... A lump of shapeless and indigestible dough....
WATER Order!...
FIRE I won't be shouted down by you! ...
(They threaten each other and are about to come to blows.)
LIGHT (raising her wand) Enough!...
BREAD The insults and the ridiculous pretensions of an element whose notorious misbehaviour and whose scandalous excesses drive the world to despair....
FIRE You fat pasty-face!
BREAD (raising his voice) Will not prevent me from doing my duty to the end.... I wish, therefore, in the name of all...
FIRE Not in mine!... I have a tongue of my own!...
BREAD In the name of all and with a restrained but simple and deep emotion, to take leave of two distinguished children, whose exalted mission ends to-day.... When bidding them farewell, with all the grief and all the fondness which a mutual esteem....
TYLTYL What?... You are bidding us farewell?... Are you leaving us too?...
BREAD Alas, needs must, since the hour when men's eyes are to be opened has not yet come.... I am leaving you, it is true; but the separation will only be apparent, you will no longer hear me speak....
FIRE That will be no loss!...
WATER Order! Silence!...
FIRE I shall keep silence when you cease babbling in the kettles, the wells, the brooks, the waterfalls and the taps....
LIGHT (threatening them with her wand) That will do, do you hear?... You are all very quarrelsome; It is the coming separation that sets your nerves on edge like this....
BREAD (with great dignity) That does not apply to me.... I was saying, you will no longer hear me speak, no longer see me in my living form.... Your eyes are about to close to the invisible life of the Things; but I shall always be there. In the bread-pan, on the shelf, on the table, beside the soup, I who am, if I may say so, with Water and Fire, the most faithful companion, the oldest friend of Man....
FIRE Well, and what about me?...
LIGHT Come, the minutes are passing, the hour is at hand which will send us back into silence.... Be quick and kiss the children....
FIRE (rushing forward) I first! I first!... (Violently kissing the CHILDREN.) Good-bye, Tyltyl and Mytyl!... Good-bye, my darlings.... Think of me if ever you want any one to set fire to anything....
MYTYL Oh! Oh!... He's burning me!...
TYLTYL Oh! Oh!... He's scorched my nose!...
LIGHT Come, Fire, moderate your transports.... Remember you're not in your chimney....
WATER What an idiot!...
BREAD What a vulgarian!...
FIRE There, look; I will put my hands in my pockets.... But don't forget me.... I am the friend of Man.... I shall always be there, in the hearth and in the oven; and I will come sometimes and put out my tongue for you when you are cold or sad.... I shall be warm in winter and roast chestnuts for you....
WATER (approaching the CHILDREN) I shall kiss you without hurting you, tenderly, my children....
FIRE Take care, you'll get wet!...
WATER I am loving and gentle; I am kind to human beings....
FIRE What about those you drown?...
WATER Love the wells, listen to the brooks.... I shall always be there....
FIRE She has flooded the whole place....
WATER When you sit down, in the evening, beside the springs—there is more than one here in the forest—try to understand what they are trying to say....
FIRE Enough! Enough!... I can't swim!...
WATER I shall no longer be able to tell you as clearly as I do to-day that I love you; but you will not forget that that is what I am saying to you when you hear my voice.... Alas!... I can say no more.... My tears choke me and prevent my speaking....
FIRE It doesn't sound like it!...
WATER Think of me when you see the water-bottle.... Alas! I have to be silent there; but my thoughts will always be of you.... You will find me also in the ewer, the watering-can, the cistern and the tap....
MILK (approaching timidly) And me in the milk-jug....
TYLTYL What, you too, my dear Milk, so shy and so good?... Is everybody going?...
SUGAR (naturally mawkish and sanctimonious) If you have a little corner left in your memory, remember sometimes that my presence was sweet to you.... That is all I have to say.... Tears are not in harmony with my temperament and they hurt me terribly when they fall on my feet....
BREAD Jesuit!...
FIRE (yelping) Sugar-plum! Lollipop! Caramel!...
TYLTYL But where are Tylette and Tylô gone to?... What are they doing?...
(The CAT is heard to utter shrill cries.)
MYTYL (alarmed) It's Tylette crying!... He is being hurt!...
(Enter the CAT, running, his hair on end and dishevelled, his clothes torn, holding his handkerchief to his cheek, as though he had the toothache. He utters angry groans and is closely pursued by the DOG, who overwhelms him with bites, blows and kicks.)
THE DOG (beating the CAT) There!... Have you had enough?... Do you want any more?... There! There! There!...
LIGHT, TYLTYL and MYTYL (rushing forward to part them) Tylô!... Are you mad?... Well, I never!... Down!... Stop that, will you?... How dare you?... Wait, wait!...
(They part the DOG and the CAT by main force.)
LIGHT What is it?... What has happened?...
THE CAT (blubbering and wiping his eyes) It's the Dog, Mrs. Light.... He insulted me, he put tin tacks in my food, he pulled my tail, he beat me; and I had done nothing, nothing, nothing at all!...
THE DOG (mimicking him) Nothing, nothing, nothing at all!... (In an undertone, with a mocking grimace) Never mind, you've had some, you've had some and you're going to have some more!...
MYTYL (pressing the CAT in her arms) My poor Tylette, where has he hurt you?... Tell me.... I shall cry too....
LIGHT (to the DOG, severely) Your conduct is all the more, unworthy since you have chosen for this disgraceful exhibition the already most painful moment when we are about to part from these poor children....
THE DOG (suddenly sobered) To part from these poor children?...
LIGHT Yes; the hour which you know of is at hand.... We are going to return to silence.... We shall no longer be able to speak to them....
THE DOG (suddenly uttering real howls of despair and flinging himself upon the CHILDREN, whom he loads with violent and tumultuous caresses.) No! No!... I refuse!... I refuse!... I shall always talk!... You will understand me now, will you not, my little god?... Yes! Yes! Yes!... And we shall tell each other everything, everything, everything!... And I shall be very good.... And I shall learn to read and write and play dominoes!... And I shall always be very clean.... And I shall never steal anything in the kitchen again.... Shall I do a wonderful trick for you?... Would you like me to kiss the Cat?...
MYTYL (to the CAT) And you, Tylette?... Have you nothing to say to us?...
THE CAT (in an affected and enigmatic tone) I love you both as much as you deserve....
LIGHT Now let me, in my turn, children, give you a last kiss....
TYLTYL and MYTYL (hanging on to LIGHT'S dress) No, no, no, Light!... Stay here with us!... Daddy won't mind.... We will tell mummy how kind you have been....
LIGHT Alas! I cannot!... This door is closed to us and I must leave you....
TYLTYL Where will you go all alone?...
LIGHT Not very far, my children; over there, to the Land of the Silence of Things....
TYLTYL No, no; I won't have you go.... We will go with you.... I shall tell mummy....
LIGHT Do not cry, my dear little ones.... I have not a voice like Water; I have only my brightness, which Man does not understand.... But I watch over him to the end of his days.... Never forget that I am speaking to you in every spreading moonbeam, in every twinkling star, in every dawn that rises, in every lamp that is lit, in every good and bright thought of your soul.... (Eight o'clock strikes behind the wall.) Listen!... The hour is striking!... Good-bye!... The door is opening!... In with you, in with you!...
(She pushes the CHILDREN through the door, which has half-opened and which closes again behind them. BREAD wipes away a furtive tear, SUGAR and WATER, etc., all in tears, flee precipitously and disappear in the wings to the right and left. The DOG howls behind the scenes. The stage remains empty for a moment and then the scenery representing the wall and the little door opens in the middle and reveals the last scene.)
SCENE 2.—The Awakening.
The same setting as in ACT I, but the objects, the walls and the atmosphere all appear incomparably and magically fresher, happier, more smiling. The daylight penetrates gaily through the chinks of the closed shutters. To the right, at the back, TYLTYL and MYTYL lie sound asleep in their little beds. The DOG, the CAT and the THINGS are in the places which they occupied in ACT I, before the arrival of the FAIRY.
Enter MUMMY TYL
MUMMY TYL (in a cheerfully scolding voice) Up, come, get up, you little lazybones!... Aren't you ashamed of yourselves?... It has struck eight and the sun is high above the trees!... Lord, how they sleep, how they sleep!... (She leans over and kisses the CHILDREN.) They are quite rosy.... Tyltyl smells of lavender and Mytyl of lilies-of-the-valley.... (Kissing them again) What sweet things children are!... Still, they can't go on sleeping till midday.... I mustn't let them grow up idle.... And, besides, I have heard that it's not very healthy.... (Gently shaking TYLTYL) Wake up, wake up, Tyltyl....
TYLTYL (waking up) What?... Light?... Where is she?... No, no, don't go away....
MUMMY TYL Light?... Why, of course it's light... Has been for ever so long.... It's as bright as noonday, though the shutters are closed.... Wait a bit till I open them.... (She pushes back the shutters and the dazzling daylight invades the room.) There! See!... What's the matter with you?... You look quite blinded....
TYLTYL (rubbing his eyes) Mummy, mummy!... It's you!...
MUMMY TYL Why, of course, it's I.... Who did you think it was?...
TYLTYL It's you.... Yes, yes, it's you!....
MUMMY TYL Yes, yes, it's I.... I haven't changed my face since last night.... Why do you stare at me in that wonderstruck way?... Is my nose turned upside down, by any chance?...
TYLTYL Oh, how nice it is to see you again!... It's so long, so long ago!... I must kiss you at once.... Again! Again! Again!... And how comfortable my bed is!... I am back at home!...
MUMMY TYL What's the matter?... Why don't you wake up?... Don't tell me you're ill.... Let me see, show me your tongue.... Come, get up and dress....
TYLTYL Hullo, I've got my shirt on!...
MUMMY TYL Of course you have.... Put on your breeches and your little jacket.... There they are, on the chair....
TYLTYL Is that what I did on the journey?...
MUMMY TYL What journey?...
TYLTYL Why, last year....
MUMMY TYL Last year?...
TYLTYL Why, yes!...At Christmas, when I went away....
MUMMY TYL When you went away?... You haven't left the room.... I put you to bed last night, and here you are this morning.... Have you dreamed all that?...
TYLTYL But you don't understand!... It was last year, when I went away with Mytyl, the Fairy, Light—how nice Light is!—Bread, Sugar, Water, Fire: they did nothing but quarrel!... You're not angry with me?... Did you feel very sad?... And what did daddy say?... I could not refuse... I left a note to explain....
MUMMY TYL What are you talking about?... For sure, either you're ill or else you're still asleep.... (She gives him a friendly shake.) There, wake up.... There, is that better?...
TYLTYL But, mummy, I assure you.... It's you that's still asleep....
MUMMY TYL What! Still asleep, am I?... Why? I've been up since six o'clock.... I've finished all the cleaning and lit the fire....
TYLTYL But ask Mytyl if it's not true.... Oh, we have had such adventures!...
MUMMY TYL Why Mytyl?... What do you mean?...
TYLTYL She was with me.... We saw grandad and granny....
MUMMY TYL (more and more bewildered) Grandad and granny?...
TYLTYL Yes, in the Land of Memory.... It was on our way.... They are dead, but they are quite well.... Granny made us a lovely plum-tart.... And then the little brothers—Robert, Jean and his top—and Madeleine and Pierrette and Pauline and Riquette, too....
MYTYL Riquette still goes about on all fours!...
TYLTYL And Pauline still has a pimple on her nose....
MUMMY TYL Have you found the key of the cupboard where daddy hides his brandy bottle?...
TYLTYL Does daddy hide a brandy bottle?...
MUMMY TYL Certainly. One has to hide everything when one has little meddlesome good-for-nothings like you.... But come, out with it, confess that you took it.... I would rather it was that.... I sha'n't tell daddy.... I sha'n't beat you....
TYLTYL But, mummy, I don't know where it is....
MUMMY TYL Just walk in front of me, so that I may see if you can walk straight.... (TYLTYL does so) No, it's not that.... Dear heaven, what is the matter with them?... I shall lose them too, as I lost the others!... (Suddenly mad with alarm, she calls out) Daddy Tyl!... Come, quick! The children are ill!...
(Enter DADDY TYL, very calmly, with an axe in his hand.)
DADDY TYL What is it?...
TYLTYL and MYTYL (running up gaily to kiss their father) Hullo, daddy!... It's daddy!... Good-morning, daddy!... Have you had plenty of work this year?...
DADDY TYL Well, what's the matter?... They don't look ill; they look very well....
MUMMY TYL (weeping) You can't trust their looks.... It will be as with the others.... They looked quite well also to the end; and then God took them.... I don't know what's the matter with them.... I put them to bed quite quietly last night; and this morning, when they woke up, everything was wrong.... They don't know what they're saying; they talk about a journey.... They have seen Light and grandad and granny, who are dead, but who are quite well....
TYLTYL But grandad still has his wooden leg....
MYTYL And granny her rheumatics....
MUMMY TYL Do you hear?... Run and fetch the doctor!...
DADDY TYL Why, no, no.... They are not dead yet.... Come, let us look into this.... (A knock at the front door.) Come in!...
(Enter NEIGHBOUR BERLINGOT, a little old woman resembling the FAIRY in ACT I and leaning on a stick.)
THE NEIGHBOUR Good-morning and a Merry Christmas to you all!...
TYLTYL It's the Fairy Bérylune!...
THE NEIGHBOUR I have come to ask for a bit of fire for my Christmas stew.... It's very chilly this morning.... Good-morning, children, how are you?...
TYLTYL Fairy Bérylune, I could not find the Blue Bird....
THE NEIGHBOUR What is he saying?...
MUMMY TYL Don't ask me, Madame Berlingot.... They don't know what they are saying.... They have been like that since they woke up.... They must have eaten something that wasn't good....
THE NEIGHBOUR Why, Tyltyl, don't you remember Goody Berlingot, your Neighbour Berlingot?...
TYLTYL Why, yes, ma'am.... You are the Fairy Bérylune.... You're not angry with us?...
THE NEIGHBOUR Béry... what? Goodness gracious me!...
TYLTYL Bérylune.
THE NEIGHBOUR Berlingot, you mean Berlingot....
TYLTYL Bérylune or Berlingot, as you please, ma'am.... But Mytyl knows....
MUMMY TYL That's the worst of it, that Mytyl also....
DADDY TYL Pooh, pooh!... That will soon go; I will give them a smack or two....
THE NEIGHBOUR Don't; It's not worth while.... I know all about it; it's only a little fit of dreaming.... They must have slept in the moonbeams.... My little girl, who is very ill, is often like that....
MUMMY TYL By the way, how is your little girl?...
THE NEIGHBOUR Only so-so.... She can't get up.... The doctor says that it's her nerves.... I know what would cure her, for all that. She was asking me for it only this morning, for her Christmas box; it's a notion she has...
MUMMY TYL Yes, I know; it's Tyltyl's bird.... Well, Tyltyl, aren't you going to give it at last to that poor little thing?...
TYLTYL What, mummy?...
MUMMY TYL Your bird.... It's no use to you.... You don't even look at it now.... And she has been dying to have it for ever so long!...
TYLTYL Hullo, that's true, my bird!... Where is he?... Oh, there's the cage!... Mytyl, do you see the cage?... It's the one which Bread carried.... Yes, yes, it's the same one, but there's only one bird in it.... Has he eaten the other, I wonder?... Hullo, why, he's blue!... But it's my turtle-dove!... But he's much bluer than when I went away!... Why, that's the blue bird we were looking for!... We went so far and he was here all the time!... Oh, but it's wonderful!... Mytyl, do you see the bird? What would Light say?... I will take down the cage.... (He climbs on a chair and takes down the cage and carries it to the NEIGHBOUR.) There, Madame Berlingot, there you are.... He's not quite blue yet, but that will come, you shall see!... Take him off quick to your little girl....
THE NEIGHBOUR Really?... Do you mean it?... Do you give it me like that, straight away and for nothing?... Lord, how happy she will be!... (Kissing TYLTYL) I must give you a kiss!... I fly!... I fly!...
TYLTYL Yes, yes; be quick.... Some of them change their colour....
THE NEIGHBOUR I will come back to tell you what she says....
(She goes out.)
TYLTYL (after taking a long look around him) Daddy, mummy, what have you done to the house?... It's just as it was, but it's much prettier....
DADDY TYL How do you mean, it's prettier?...
TYLTYL Why, yes, everything has been painted and made to look new, everything is clean and polished.... It was not like that last year....
DADDY TYL Last year?...
TYLTYL (going to the window) And look at the forest!... How big and fine it is!... One would think it was new!... How happy I feel here!... (Going to the bread-pan and opening it) Where's Bread?.... I say, the loaves are very quiet.... And then here's Tylô!... Hullo, Tylô, Tylô!... Ah, you had a fine fight!... Do you remember, in the forest?...
MYTYL And Tylette.... He knows me, but he has stopped talking....
TYLTYL Mr. Bread.... (Feeling his forehead) Hullo, the diamond's gone!... Who's taken my little green hat?... Never mind; I don't want it any more.... Ah, Fire!... He's a good one!... He crackles and laughs to make Water angry.... (Running to the tap) And Water?... Good-morning, Water!... What does she say?... She still talks, but I don't understand her as well as I did....
MYTYL I don't see Sugar....
TYLTYL Lord, how happy I am, happy, happy, happy!...
MYTYL So am I, so am I!...
MUMMY TYL What are you spinning round for like that?....
DADDY TYL Don't mind them and don't distress yourself.... They are playing at being happy....
TYLTYL I liked Light best of all.... Where's her lamp?... Can we light it?... (Looking round him again.) Goodness me, how lovely it all is and how glad I feel!...
MUMMY TYL Why?...
TYLTYL I don't know, mummy....
(A knock at the front-door.)
DADDY TYL Come in, come in!...
(Enter the NEIGHBOUR, holding by the hand a little girl of a fair and wonderful beauty, who carries TYLTYL'S dove pressed in her arms.)
THE NEIGHBOUR Do you see the miracle?...
MUMMY TYL Impossible!... Can she walk?...
THE NEIGHBOUR Can she walk?... She can run, she can dance, she can fly!... When she saw the bird, she jumped, just like that, with one bound, to the window, to see by the light if it was really Tyltyl's dove.... And then, whoosh!... Out into the street, like an angel!... It was as much as I could do to keep pace with her....
TYLTYL (going up to her, wonderstruck) Oh, how like Light she is!...
MYTYL She is much smaller....
TYLTYL Yes, indeed!... But she will grow bigger....
THE NEIGHBOUR What are they saying?... Haven't they got over it yet?...
MUMMY TYL They are better, they are mending.... It will be all right when they have had their breakfasts....
THE NEIGHBOUR (pushing the LITTLE GIRL into TYLTYL'S arms). Come along, child, come and thank Tyltyl....
(TYLTYL, suddenly frightened, takes a step back.)
MUMMY TYL Well, Tyltyl, what's the matter?.... Are you afraid of the little girl?... Come, give her a kiss, a good big kiss.... No, a better one than that.... You're not so shy as a rule!... Another one!... But what's the matter with you?... You look as if you were going to cry....
(TYLTYL, after kissing the LITTLE GIRL rather awkwardly, stands before her for a moment and the two children look at each other without speaking; then TYLTYL strokes the dove's head.)
TYLTYL Is he blue enough?...
THE LITTLE GIRL Yes, I am so pleased with him....
TYLTYL I have seen bluer ones.... But those which are quite blue, you know, do what you will, you can't catch them....
THE LITTLE GIRL That doesn't matter; he's lovely....
TYLTYL Has he had anything to eat?...
THE LITTLE GIRL Not yet.... What does he eat?...
TYLTYL Anything: corn, bread, Indian corn, grasshoppers....
THE LITTLE GIRL How does he eat, say?...
TYLTYL With his beak. You'll see, I will show you....
(He moves in order to take the bird from the LITTLE GIRL'S hands. She resists instinctively; and, taking advantage of the hesitation of their movements, the DOVE escapes and flies away.)
THE LITTLE GIRL (with a cry of despair) Mother!... He is gone!... (She bursts into sobs.)
TYLTYL Never mind.... Don't cry.... I will catch him again.... (Stepping to the front of the stage and addressing the audience.) If any of you should find him, would you be so very kind as to give him back to us?... We need him for our happiness, later on....