ride? Have we got our car back?
_Everychild_
Better than that.
_Rosie_
What is it?
_Everychild_
You'll see. Maybe you'll dance out of the window.
_Mary_
Are you going to take her away?
_Everychild_
Yes, I shall keep her with me until she is well. Then she will return to
you.
(_Takes out of the bag the rosy lamp and waves it. Throws aside her
cap and pulls off goggles, wig, and beard. The back wall moves away,
revealing the first scene with the same strains of music and the
dancing children in the orchard._ EVERYCHILD _leads_ ROSIE _out to
join them._ BILLIE _and_ TOM _move after them calling: "Let us go
with you! Take us with you!"_)
_Rosie_
Oh, please take Billie and Tom!
_Everychild_
Yes, I want them, too. Come along, boys!
(_They shout and run after_ ROSIE _and_ EVERYCHILD.)
_Mary_
Oh, Jim, is this a dream? Or am I awake at last?
_Jim_ (_putting his hand to his head, dazedly_)
Perhaps this is what it ought to be for all the children of the world.
(CURTAIN FALLS)
SCENE IV: _Interior of a coal-mine, lit only by lamps on the
heads of three men and two boys, about twelve and fourteen years, the
men busy at work getting the coal down with picks, the boys shovelling
coal into a car. They work a few minutes. Distant muffled sound of a
steam-whistle. They immediately drop tools and go to corner and pick
up each a can, paper bag, or small basket, and sit down to eat._
_One Man_
Lunch-time. It feels good to rest half an hour in this bloomin' hole.
(_Takes a drink from a bottle he brings from his pocket and hands to
another._) Have a swig, Jack?
_Jack_
Don't care if I do. (_Takes a swallow._) I'll bring some next time, Joe.
_Joe_ (_passing bottle to the other_)
Here, Bert, it helps. Take some and give a swallow to the boys.
_Bert_
I'll take some and thank you, but I guess the boys are better off
without it.
_Jack_
How long you worked here, Bert?
_Bert_
Nigh on fifteen years, and a devil's job it is. I wanted to be a sailor,
but I got into this, and it paid pretty good, and then I got tangled up
with a family and just stayed on the job. But it's no place to spend a
life. (_Coughs._)
_Joe_
I been here 'bout as long as you, Bert. I ran away from the big woods
where my father was a lumberman. Thought I'd see the world, and just got
stuck here and never could make up my mind to get away.
|