Читать книгу Iron Peggy - Marie Clements - Страница 8

Lights up on three TEACHERS at the front of the stage faced toward the back wall. The tallest is MS. HALL, who sits in the middle. She is terribly tall, like a yardstick, and has a big, tight bun in the centre of her head – from behind, that is. On either side of her sit two other TEACHERS, who are round in a kind sort of way, and wearing plaid.

A beam of light draws a long hallway down from the chairs. There at the very end – the feet of a young girl. Just black shoes.

MS. HALL

Can you step forward? Please. We can’t see you.

Nothing.

MS. HALL

Peg. I’m asking you to step forward so we can see you.

PEG steps forward and into the light. Her head is lowered and she is wearing a severely messed-up York School uniform.

MS. HALL

Can you raise your head and look at us?

PEG takes a breath and finally looks up. Her black hair is all over the place, she has a black eye, and she has clearly been crying.

MS. HALL

Can you tell us who did this to you?

Nothing.

MS. HALL

We can’t help you unless you help us.

Nothing.

MS. HALL

Really Peg … you have nothing to say?

PEG just looks at the TEACHERS and then lowers her eyes.

MS. HALL

You are dismissed, then. Get yourself cleaned up.

PEG

(softly) Yes, Ms. Hall.

PEG turns to go and then walks toward them.

PEG

Has my dad sent any word for me?

MS. HALL

He’s a very busy man, Peg. I’m sure he’ll call, or send a note once he gets to America. I know you miss him.

PEG tries to smile but she can feel the tears start to fall. She looks down.

MS. HALL

Peg?

PEG

Yes.

MS. HALL

Your grandmother wrote … Here it is. Here, come get it.

PEG moves to the chairs, her eyes down.

MS. HALL

Chin up. Growing pains. Kids can be cruel, but it rarely lasts. New schools get old. You’ll see. You’ll be fine.

PEG takes her grandmother’s letter from MS. HALL. She turns and begins the long walk. She looks back – the lights have faded on the TEACHERS.

PEG is left alone as she makes her way down the hall. The walls of the hallway seem to narrow. She walks as though anything could come out from either side of the darkness – because “they” could be there. Each step is painfully taken – are “they” there in the darkness or not? PEG’s last few steps to safety quicken. PEG stops and turns into the next scene.