The Blue Bird Part 5

THE DOG (_frisking round_ TYLTYL) My little G.o.d!... I am still here!... I can still talk!... I can still kiss you!... Once more! Once more! Once more!...

THE FAIRY What, you too?... Are you there still?...

THE DOG What luck!... I was too late to return to silence; the trap closed too quickly....

THE CAT So did mine.... What is going to happen?... Is there any danger?...

THE FAIRY Well, I'm bound to tell you the truth: all those who accompany the two children will die at the end of the journey....

THE CAT (_to the_ DOG) Come, let us get back into the trap....

THE DOG No, no!... I won't!... I want to go with the little G.o.d!... I want to talk to him all the time!...

THE CAT Idiot!...

(_More knocking at the door_)

BREAD (_shedding bitter tears_) I don't want to die at the end of the journey!... I want to get back at once into my pan!...

FIRE (_who has done nothing but run madly round the room, hissing with anguish_) I can't find my chimney!...

WATER (_vainly trying to get into the tap_) I can't get into the tap!...

SUGAR (_hovering round his paper wrapper_) I've burst my packing-paper!...

MILK (_lymphatically and bashfully_) Somebody's broken my little jug!...

THE FAIRY Goodness me, what fools they are!... Fools and cowards too!... So you would rather go on living in your ugly boxes, in your traps and taps, than accompany the children in search of the bird?...

ALL (_excepting the_ DOG _and_ LIGHT) Yes, yes! Now, at once!... My tap!... My pan!... My chimney!... My trap!...

THE FAIRY (_to_ LIGHT, _who is dreamily gazing at the wreckage of her lamp_) And you, Light, what do you say?

LIGHT I will go with the children....

THE DOG (_yelling with delight_) I too!... I too!...

THE FAIRY That's right.... Besides, it's too late to go back; you have no choice now, you must all start with us.... But you, Fire, don't come near anybody; you, Dog, don't tease the Cat; and you, Water, hold yourself up and try not to run all over the place....

(_A violent knocking is again heard at the door on the right_.)

TYLTYL (_listening_) There's daddy again!... He's getting up this time; I can hear him walking....

THE FAIRY Let us go out by the window.... You shall all come to my house, where I will dress the Animals and the Things properly.... (_To_ BREAD) You, Bread, take the cage in which to put the Blue Bird.... It will be in your charge.... Quick, quick, let us waste no time....

(_The window suddenly lengthens downwards, like a door. They all go out; after which the window resumes its primitive shape and closes quite innocently. The room has become dark again and the two cots are steeped in shadow. The door on the right opens ajar and in the aperture appear the heads of_ DADDY _and_ MUMMY TYL.)

DADDY TYL It was nothing.... It's the cricket chirping....

MUMMY TYL Can you see them?...

DADDY TYL I can.... They are sleeping quite quietly....

MUMMY TYL I can hear their breathing....

(_The door closes again_)

CURTAIN

ACT II.

SCENE I.--_At the_ FAIRY'S.

_A magnificent entrance-hall in the palace of the_ FAIRY BeRYLUNE.

_Columns of gleaming marble with gold and silver capitals, staircases, porticoes, bal.u.s.trades, etc_.

_Enter from the back, on the right, sumptuously clad, the_ CAT, SUGAR _and_ FIRE. _They come from a room which emits rays of light; it is the_ FAIRY'S _wardrobe. The_ CAT _has donned the cla.s.sic costume of Puss-in-boots_; SUGAR, _a silk dress, half white and half pale-blue; and_ FIRE _wears a number of many-coloured aigrettes and a long vermilion mantle lined with gold. They cross the whole length of the hall to the front of the stage, where the_ CAT _draws them up under a portico on the right_.

THE CAT This way, I know every inch of this palace. It was left to the Fairy Berylune by Bluebeard.... Let us make the most of our last minute of liberty, while the children and Light pay their visit to the Fairy's little daughter.... I have brought you here in order to discuss the position in which we are placed.... Are we all here?...

SUGAR I see the Dog coming out of the Fairy's wardrobe....

FIRE What on earth has he got on?...

THE CAT He has put on the livery of one of the footmen of Cinderella's coach.... It was just the thing for him.... He has the soul of a flunkey.... But let us hide behind the bal.u.s.trade.... It's strange how I mistrust him.... He had better not hear what I have to say to you....

SUGAR It is too late.... He has discovered us.... Look, here is Water also coming out of the wardrobe.... Goodness me, how fine she is!...

(_The_ DOG _and_ WATER _join the first group_.)

THE DOG (_frisking about_) There! There!... Aren't we fine I.... Just look at these laces and this embroidery!... It's real gold and no mistake!...

THE CAT (_to_ WATER) Is that Catskin's "colour-of-time" dress?... I seem to recognise it....

WATER Yes, it's the one that suited me best....

FIRE (_between his teeth_) She's not brought her umbrella....

WATER What's that?...