The Most
Beautiful Day
A play by
Dr.
Tamar Makharoblidze
Cast of characters
Dreamer - about twenty years old
George -
five years old (one
and the same person)
Witch -
lady sitting on a broomstick
Devis -
Two brothers. (Devies are form Georgian folktales rather like the genie in Arabian folktales.
They are big, with horns and sometimes many heads.
They are wicked, but rather stupid.)
Crow
Lies -
Man in multi-coloured clothes
Truth -
Man dressed in white
Father
Time
Hope
Charity
Old
Traveller
George’s
Mother
George’s
Father
Santa
Claus
Five
stars
Eight
days
Second
wife of George’s father and her small daughter
Three
Time Travellers
ACT
I
Scene 1
A
pregnant woman is cleaning the room. She seems sad and tired.
MOTHER
George! George!
(Enters a small boy.)
GEORGE
You
were calling me, Mama?
MOTHER
George, you have played long enough. Wash your face and hands and get
ready for bed.
GEORGE
Oh,
Mama, let me play a little longer! Just a little longer, please.
MOTHER
George, it’s already late, you need your sleep, and anyway I’m really not
feeling well tonight.
GEORGE
Why, what’s wrong Mama?
(Mother
sits down)
MOTHER
Oh,
it’s nothing really, I’m just tired. Daddy’s still not back from his
business trip. He hasn’t even phoned yet…
GEORGE
Don’t worry, he’ll be home soon.
MOTHER
I
really don’t feel well.
GEORGE
You’re always sad now, you never smile the way you used to.
MOTHER
/smiling/ Why George, why do you think that?
GEORGE
I
don’t know. Nothing seems to make you happy, you’re always tired and sad.
When are you going to be happy again?
MOTHER
The
day will come.
GEORGE
What day will it be?
MOTHER
It
will be the most beautiful day.
GEORGE
What is the most beautiful day, Mama?
MOTHER
Oh,
George, that’s enough. Get ready for bed.
GEORGE
But
what day will it be, Mama?
MOTHER
George, I told you I’m tired. Go to bed and I’ll tell you any
fairy tale you
want.
GEORGE
Oh,
yes!
MOTHER
Wait a minute.
(She
carries a cup of warm milk.)
MOTHER
I’m
coming. Here, drink this warm milk.
GEORGE
Oh,
no, no, Mama. I don’t want to!
MOTHER
Drink it George. If you don’t I’ll be rally upset and you’ll get no fairy
tale.
GEORGE
All
right, all right.
(He
drinks.)
MOTHER
Good boy! Now go to sleep.
GEORGE
But
what about the fairy tale?
MOTHER
Oh,
George, what fairy tale? Please, go to sleep, it’s very late.
GEORGE
You
promised, Mama.
MOTHER
All
right, all right. Listen: Once upon the time…
GEORGE
Again the same “once upon the time!’ You are going to tell me the same
story again.
MOTHER
Listen, George. Once upon the time - that’s just the beginning. There was
a very beautiful lady in a kingdom. She was more beautiful than the sun.
GEORGE
Is the sun really beautiful? I can’t look at it. It’s so bright, it hurts
my eyes.
MOTHER
Very beautiful. /Yawns/ Please don’t interrupt.
GEORGE
Sorry.
MOTHER
So,
in a kingdom there was a fairy butterfly…
GEORGE
/interrupting/ But Mama, you said there was a beautiful lady!
MOTHER
Oh,
George, I’m just telling you that there was a beautiful lady…
GEORGE
/Interrupts/ Please don’t tell me the one I know!
MOTHER
George, wait. I was saying that in one kingdom there was a beautiful lady,
in another kingdom there was a fairy butterfly, and the butterfly flew
from one kingdom to the other and told the beautiful lady…
(Mother falls asleep.)
GEORGE
Mama, What did he say? Mama? She’s asleep. She was so tired. When will
there be this Most Beautiful Day, when she will be smiling again?
(George turns off the light. Goes to bad.)
Curtain.
Music.
Scene
2
Light effects. The moon and Santa Claus - a small old man with a beard and
pointed hat. He’s surrounded by sleeping stars. As they awaken they begin
dancing.
SANTA
Wake up, Stars!
STAR I
It’s almost midnight.
(George – Dreamer enters. )
STAR II
Who
is that?
SANTA
Don’t you recognize him?
STAR III
Who
are you? What’s your name?
DREAMER
I’m
George.
STAR II
/laughing/ You aren’t George, you’re a dreamer!
DREAMER
No,
my name is George.
STARS
No,
no! You are Dreamer, Dreamer!
DREAMER
But
who are you?
STAR I
Each of us is someone’s lucky star and /he points to Santa/ he is our kind
old Santa Claus.
DREAMER
Why
do you call me Dreamer? I’ve already told you, my name is George.
STAR II
Because you have come to us in a dream.
DREAMER
In
a dream?
STARS
Yes, in a dream.
STAR V
How
old are you?
DREAMER
Me?
I’m five.
(Stars laugh.)
STAR I
/Still laughing/
Five? Look in the moon’s mirror.
(He
takes Dreamer to the moon and shows him his reflection.)
STAR III
Look you’re a big boy!
DREAMER
/Very happy/ Oh, look how big I am!
SANTA
Why
have you bothered to come here?
DREAMER
I’m
looking for the Most Beautiful Day for my mother.
STAR I
Why
does she need it?
DREAMER
I
don’t know, but she doesn’t smile any more, she is always so tired and
sad.
SANTA
Finding The Most Beautiful Day isn’t easy. You may find many problems on
the way.
DREAMER
I’m
not afraid of them.
STAR II
Look how brave he is.
SANTA
Do
you see those stars? /Pointing/ If you need their help, call them at
midnight and they will come.
STAR V
And
where are you going to look for The Most Beautiful Day?
STAR I
You
must know that The Most Beautiful Day…
(Star I is silenced by a meaningful scowl from Santa.)
DREAMER
Can
you help me?
STAR II
Why
not? Your lucky star will light your way and show you how to go.
Light effects.
STAR III
But
you must remember not to tell anyone anything when you return.
SANTA
They won’t believe you anyway. People don’t even believe in me!
STAR II
What do care if they don’t believe in you?
SANTA
How
can I not care? If no one believes in me, for whom do I exist?
STAR V
/Holding a large book/ Come on, Dreamer.
DREAMER
What’s that?
STAR V
That’s the Book of Life.
DREAMER
A
book of fairy tales?
STAR V
Yes, a book of true fairy tales.
DREAMER
What is it about?
STAR V
About lots of things.
STAR I
About everything.
STAR III
Once upon the time, there was a small boy who lived in a big city in an
enchanted country. In this city everything was just fine. Nothing
unexpected or surprising happened…
STAR II
The
small boy was bored with this very predictable life and decided…
DREAMER
What did he decide?
STAR I
He
decided to discover a fantasy!
STAR III
To
find The Most Beautiful Day?
DREAMER
Are
you making fun of me?
STAR II
/putting his hand on Dreamer’s shoulder/ Of course not.
STAR I
Look at him, he looks angry.
DREAMER
Oh,
no, but I just asked you for help and you’re making fun of me.
STAR IV
Let’s try to find the answers to your questions in this book.
DREAMER
Fine
STAR I
Come here, Dreamer, and look. /Points offstage/ Do you see why your mother
is sad? Your father lives in another town and has another wife and a
daughter. Did you know you have a sister?
DREAMER
No!
I didn’t know anything about it! No one ever told me! So, like my friend
David’s father, my father also left us and has another wife? Is that
right?
STAR IV
/Giving Dreamer binoculars/ Here, these will help you to see better.
DREAMER
/Looking through the binoculars/ So, she is my sister? She’s pretty nice.
And she’s chasing a butterfly, but she can’t catch it. I wish I could help
her… She is really nice. Maybe she knows how to find the Most Beautiful
Day.
STAR I
How
can she know? Can’t you see? She’s too young.
DREAMER
So
she can’t help me.
STARS
We
told you, your own lucky star will light your way.
DREAMER
Which of you is my lucky star, or where is my lucky star?
STARS
It
is me!
DREAMER
Which one?
STARS
You
must guess.
STAR III
It
will be the one you catch.
STAR IV
/Blindfolding Dreamer/ Try to catch one of us!
(Stars run around, Dreamer tries to catch one of them. Santa moves the moon
off stage.)
STARS
/Continuing running/ Dreamer, Dreamer!
DREAMER
I’ve got you! No!
(Dreamer catches none of them. Enter a Day, dressed in
grey. The Day stands
off to one side as Dreamer removes the blindfold.)
DREAMER
Where did the Stars go? It’s already day. How sad that I couldn’t catch
one! And besides, Papa has another family. Mama would die if she knew
that.
(Suddenly Lies runs in, chased by Truth. Lies throws stones at Truth.)
LIES
Don’t come after me!
TRUTH
What do you want, to reign everyone?
LIES
You’re choking me! Everywhere you are putting me down.
TRUTH
Yes, that’s what I am doing!
LIES
/Hands to head/ Ooh, heavens! Whenever I appear and do my best, everyone
feels fine. Then this devil appears and …
TRUTH
Oh,
to hell with your fine work.
LIES
Come on! Let’s not fight. We can divide the world between us and have a
peace.
TRUTH
I have nothing to divide with you!
LIES
Will you fight me forever, then?
(They continue to fight.)
LIES
Can’t you understand? No one likes you, no one loves you! When I appear,
people feel fine, they smile to each-other, talk of pleasant things and
everything is all right. Then you appear and everyone is disappointed and
everything goes to the dogs. Isn’t there any way to escape from you?
Please get lost.
DREAMER
Wait, wait, why are you fighting?
TRUTH
/Pointing the Lies/ He poisons everything near him.
DREAMER
I
don’t understand.
TRUTH
Look, I am Truth. He is Lies.
LIES
Can’t you help us? I only want peace.
TRUTH
No
peace! I forgive you nothing.
LIES
You
may have your place, let me have mine. You have your job. I have mine.
TRUTH
No,
no. Everything must be mine. I will find you wherever you are and ruin
your victories.
DREAMER
You
are such opposites! It seems almost impossible that there should be peace
between you.
LIES
What can we do?
DREAMER
To
tell you the truth, I don’t know.
TRUTH
Do
you hear? This boy is mine!
LIES
Why?
TRUTH
Didn’t you hear? He said: “To tell the truth.”
LIES
So
what? Everyone says that. What’s important is how he behaves.
TRUTH
His
deeds should match his words.
LIES
But
that wouldn’t be interesting.
DREAMER
Please, stop fighting for a moment and listen to my problem. You kind
people may be able to help me.
TRUTH
Who
says he is kind? /Pointing to Lies/
LIES
Tell us, we are listening.
TRUTH
You
only want to listen so you can gossip and tattle-tale. /Turning to
Dreamer/ It’s better for you not to tell him. If you do, soon you will
hear the most fantastic version of your story.
LIES
He’s always abusing me! Often he is silent, he is usually late, and then
when he does come, he fights with me.
TRUTH
So
what if I am silent? What is there to chat about? I am very simple. I can
explain everything in only a few words. That’s what makes us different.
You always start with a great, flowery introduction; and then you tell
such a sickeningly sweet story…
LIES
I’m
not supposed to be sharp-tongued or mute as you are.
TRUTH
Yes, I am mute. I am a fish and my mouth is full of water and I am silent.
But I am not blind. I see everything.
DREAMER
Oh,
please, are you going to help me or not?
TRUTH
Tell us and we’ll see.
DREAMER
I’m
trying to find The Most Beautiful Day.
LIES
How
interesting!
TRUTH
It’s difficult, but there is an answer.
LIES
Oh,
it’s very easy! I will help you. Look to the path of your own past and you
will find the Moat Beautiful day.
TRUTH
Don’t believe him! That day is in your future.
Light effects.
(Star V appears.)
STAR V
Dreamer!
DREAMER
Oh,
I know you! You are my lucky star.
STAR V
I
don’t know how lucky I am, but I am yours. Leave them, they will never
finish their endless fight. Don’t waste time. Who unravel the tangle
between Truth and Lies? It could take a lifetime. Better to go your own
way and do as your heart dictates. The most important thing is to have a
clean conscience. Leave the rest to me. Come on follow me.
(Star V leads Dreamer and they exit.
)
Curtain.
Scene
3
Witch’s house. Witch is sitting
on a broomstick, quarrelling with Crow.
DREAMER
Where are we?
STAR V
This is the house of a witch. She may have a magic ball. You should try to
get this ball, because without it you will never find the way to the
palace of Father Time.
DREAMER
What do you think: Is she very wicked?
STAR V
I don’t know, she may not be very kind; but in my opinion she is just
silly. Just look how she is playing.
DREAMER
/watching Witch in surprise/ She seems very funny.
STAR V
It
isn’t so funny. Be careful. Goodbye for now.
DREAMER
You
will come back, won’t you?
STAR V
Of course. Sneak into the house, you may hear something interesting. And
now truly, goodbye.
(Exit Star V. Dreamer hides. Witch plays before a mirror, making faces and
posing.)
WITCH
Oh,
yes, my, my. Yes, yes. /Primping/ I was such a beautiful girl, and even
now I’m not so bad, much prettier than most I know. Yes, Yes! And that
handsome prince from a distant land, how he loved me!
(Crow laughs.)
WITCH
What’s so funny? He really was crazy about me!
CROW
/Laughing and coughing/ Sure!
WITCH
Get
out!
(Exit Crow coughing and laughing. Dreamer watches smiling. Witch paws
through clothes and rags, picks up a pillow. )
WITCH
/Talking to the pillow/ Oh, my pretty prince, why did you bother to come
here? /Continues in deep voice/ Oh, most beautiful woman in the world! The
most magical of sorceresses! I came with the key to open your heart, that
I might marry you. /Continues tenderly, with a simpering woman’s voice/
Oh, no. I cannot marry you! /Basso/ why not? /With woman’s voice/ Many
even handsomer boys, than you have come to ask my hand – but No! And No!
Do you understand? /Basso/ So? Must I abduct you?
(Witch acts out an abduction of herself by the pillow. She shouts.
)
WITCH
Take your hands off me! Horrors! Help! Help me!
Dreamer laughing falls out of hid hiding place.
WITCH
What? Who is here besides us?
DREAMER
I
am Dreamer.
WITCH
Dreamer? Dreamer! Have you come from dreams to ask my hand or only to
abduct me? Oh, no, I would never marry you! Never, never, never!
DREAMER
Oh,
I would never think abducting you.
WITCH
You
insolent fellow! I know why you came, you don’t want to spill your secret.
I know that all you want is to marry me. But I won’t have it! No, no!
Better I should marry my Crow!
DREAMER
Very well, if you don’t want to marry me; but then won’t you be so kind to
help me?
WITCH
To
help you? What help? Why should I? But wait, wait! Tell me what you want,
anyway.
DREAMER
I’m
looking for The Most Beautiful day.
WITCH
Oh,
that would be a day when I marry, when the handsomest prince will persuade
me to marry him.
DREAMER
That’s right! Absolutely! But first we must find this Most Beautiful Day
and that is a very difficult task.
WITCH
In
the palace of the implacable Father Time there marches a caravan of sad
days, and each of those days is like every other one. The devil knows what
is in their hearts, no one can guess that.
DREAMER
I
will try to guess it, but I must get into palace first.
WITCH
That isn’t difficult. I will give you my ball. It will lead you. Don’t
think it is a simple think, you can’t make the first right step in the
direction of the palace without this ball.
(She
gives the ball to Dreamer.)
DREAMER
Oh,
it is very nice. Thank you.
WITCH
/Taking the ball back/ But remember, that Most Beautiful day must come to
my house first. So that the prince will marry me! And if you should betray
me or keep anything from me, I will tie you with cobwebs and torture you
so cruelly that you will wish you were dead. I will do my worst if you try
to betray me! I will do even worse than I did with those Time Travellers…
DREAMER
Oh,
never!
WITCH
So, swear, do you hear?
DREAMER
I
swear!
WITCH
Say
it three times and turn once around each time you say it.
DREAMER
/Turning round/ I swear, I swear, I swear! I almost spilled my brains!
WITCH
Oh,
Crow, dear Crow, please bring that Past traveller.
(Crow exits, returns with a man who is always looking behind himself.
)
WITCH
For
this poor fellow there is no present and no future. Take him away and
bring the future Traveller.
(Crow exits, returns with a man carrying binoculars, always craning forward
and looking ahead and upward.)
WITCH
This fellow always dreams about the future and hopes for tomorrow, never
guessing that such a tomorrow will never come.
DREAMER
Why? The day after is tomorrow.
WITCH
But
then it will be today. Take him away!
DREAMER
In
that case you can never know your life is disappearing.
WITCH
Exactly!
(Crow removes Future Traveller, brings in a third man, who is forever
looking all around himself.)
WITCH
This poor chap lives only in the present, doesn’t remember his past, and
has no future. He is very unhappy.
DREAMER
He
seems joyful.
WITCH
Yes, he does, and that is why he is unhappy. He can’t understand his own
situation. /To Crow/ Enough! It depresses me to look at them.
DREAMER
But
if it depresses you help them!
WITCH
The
help is already done! The most important thing is that they like their
situation. If you want to make someone happy, you must take away their
mind; so with my help they feel pretty well. /Laughing/And what person
could want more?
DREAMER
What an abomination!
WITCH
/Closing her eyes/ For you it better to be clever, but in another way.
(She
elbows Dreamer in the ribs.)
DREAMER
Oh,
no, my dear lady, how could I allow myself to make you angry? On the
contrary, I want to please you.
WITCH
/Pleased/ That I like! I will tell your fortune. Crow! Bring us two cups
of Turkish coffee, please.
DREAMER
Why
must you tell my fortune then?
WITCH
You
do need it! And it is what I wish to do now. /To Crow/ Quickly!
(Crow brings in coffee. Witch and Dreamer drink.)
WITCH
/To
Crow/ You may have a cup too.
(Exit Crow, who returns with a third cup of coffee.)
WITCH
Dreamer, turn your cup over. No, no, not like that; this way.
/Demonstrating/ First we will look at the cards. /Deals out
fortune-telling cards/ Oh, how I hate this card!
DREAMER
Which one?
WITCH
The
nine of clubs. When I see it stop the cards. Give me your cup.
(Dreamer gives his cup to witch. Crow having finished his coffee looks in
his cup and on seeing something in it, begins wildly flapping his wings.)
WITCH
Let’s see what is happening. Oh, such a long road. You are going very far.
And you meet someone on your way…
(Crow waves his wings, knocks over the cup and breaks it.)
CROW
Look, look, I have the most enormous frog in my cup!
WITCH
/Shouting/ What have you done? You broke a cup! Get out! Get out!
(She
chases Crow out with broomstick.)
DREAMER
He
didn’t want to do that.
WITCH
The
Crow doesn’t need you to defend him. And may follow him out!
DREAMER
Oh,
dear lady, please, don’t be angry with me.
WITCH
You
speak so sweetly! What do you want?
DREAMER
I
promised to bring you The Most beautiful Day. Don’t you remember, you were
going to give me the magic ball?
WITCH
Yes, of course I remember. And also, you remember that first of all this
day belongs to me. Do you hear?
DREAMER
Of
course.
WITCH
And
if you don’t, I shall curse you!
(Witch raises her arms and shouting, begins bringing down a curse on
Dreamer.)
DREAMER
Wait! Wait a minute! I haven’t anything yet! I’m not going to cheat you!
WITCH
No
one in the world can cheat me, so don’t try it! That’s my advice to you.
Now take this ball and hurry.
(She
gives him a ball.)
DREAMER
Thank you.
(He
turns to go.)
WITCH
Wait! Wait! First please try to amuse me somehow.
DREAMER
What would you have me do?
WITCH
I
love scary stories. Do you know any?
DREAMER
Of
course! But it’s better to do that afterward. I’m in a hurry. I’ll tell
you a very good story when I get back.
WITCH
All
right, all right. You may go – but wait! I almost forgot! If you don’t
have the magic key, you can’t open the door to Father Time’s palace. So
come here: Do you see that cave in the mountain? /pointing/ It’s the house
of two brother Devis. They have the key. Do see the cave?
DREAMER
Yes, I do.
WITCH
Sooo – I am not absolutely sure they have the key. They said they lost it,
but I don’t believe them. Try to get the key. By the way why do you need
the Most Beautiful day?
DREAMER
For
my mother.
WITCH
Oh,
that’s interesting.
DREAMER
I’ve been in heaven with the stars. They have showed me everything and I
know my father has another family. I think…
WITCH
That’s not interesting for me. Sooo- you want to find the Most Beautiful
Day. So do it! But understand, it must come here first! Do you understand
me?
DREAMER
Yes.
WITCH
Well, don’t talk so much. Get about your business!
(Exit Dreamer.)
Curtain.
Scene 4
Dreamer is in
front of the curtain with the ball. A man is sitting on a stone.
DREAMER
Who
are you? Why are you sitting on a stone? What are you doing here?
CHARITY
I
am Charity.
DREAMER
Who?
CHARITY
Charity, kindness.
DREAMER
What are you doing, sitting on a stone at the roadside?
CHARITY
I
used to meet people along the way, but they didn’t recognize me and called
me bad names. And one day I decided my place was right there. So I sit on
this stone and I’m not going to move from here. Anyway, people feel fine
without me. And you, where are you going, my good boy?
DREAMER
I’m
looking for The Most Beautiful Day.
CHARITY
Without me no day can be beautiful.
DREAMER
And
then?
CHARITY
In
the olden days when someone performed a selfless deed of kindness it was
if he left it on a stone by the wayside; just forgetting about it and
further down the road he would find another on another stone… But that was
very long ago, and now I can’t appear so simply. So you must do something
so grand that time would stop; then I would come.
DREAMER
When would that happen?
CHARITY
I’ve told you enough. Follow your way and you will see.
DREAMER
Goodbye, the, and thank you.
CHARITY
Good luck. Goodbye.
DREAMER
Now, magic ball, show me the way!
(Dreamer exits, playing with the ball.)
Music.
Scene 5
Cave of the
brother Devis
DEVI I
Are
we going to have supper? I’m starving!
DEVI II
Good idea!
DEVI I
I
couldn’t hunt very well today.
DEVI II
Nor
I.
DEVI I
I
feel down and hurt my leg. What’s wrong with you?
(Witch enters on broomstick, whistling.)
DEVIS
Hello!
WITCH
Hello, boys!
DEVIS
How
are you grandma?
WITCH
Who
is your Grandma, you robbers, you cannibals, you cuckoos!
(Shoves them with her broomstick.)
DEVI I
Enough, enough!
WITCH
What‘s that garbage you’re eating?
DEVIS
Sit
down, have some.
(Witch sticks her finger into the food, tasting it. Spits it on the floor.)
WITCH
I
have neither the urge nor the time to eat that garbage. I’m on my way to
the party given by she-devils of the woods.
DEVIS
Please take us along! It would be great fun. There will be so many guests.
WITCH
All
right. I’ll take you on one condition.
DEVIS
What condition?
WITCH
Dreamer will pass by here.
DEVIS
Dreamer?
WITCH
Yes, Dreamer. He’s looking fir The Most beautiful Day.
DEVIS
/Interested/ And then?
WITCH
When he finds it I’ll take it from him and you may enjoy him for supper,
and please me as well.
DEVI I
So,
we must catch him and eat him.
DEVI II
Is he fat?
WITCH
He
tastes all right. What do you want delicacies?
DEVIS
Oh,
all right. We’ll catch him and eat him. We can’t refuse your request.
WITCH
But
listen, you fools, not now. Wait until he gets back. Do you remember?
DEVIS
Okay, we understand and remember.
(Witch gets on broomstick.)
WITCH
Now, goodbye. I will return at midnight to take you to the party.
DEVIS
Good, we’ll be ready. Don’t forget us, we really want to go to the party a
lot.
WITCH
Goodbye!
(Exit Witch, enter Dreamer.)
DREAMER
Hello, anyone home?
DEVIS
Who’s knocking at the door?
DREAMER
Hello in there. Can you put me up for the night?
DEVIS
Why not?
DREAMER
Let
me introduce myself: I am Dreamer.
DEVIS
/Whispering/ Ah, Dreamer! /Aloud/ We are Devis.
DREAMER
I’m
sure you are very kind Devis.
DEVIS
/Very pleased, smiling/ Of course, absolutely very kind Devis.
DREAMER
And
so such kind Devis, you will permit me to spend the night here?
DEVI I
Of
course! We are kind. /Turns to Devi II/ Make up a bed for our guest.
DEVI
/To
DEVI I/ Can we eat him after he goes to sleep?
DEVI I
No!
Don’t you remember what the Witch said? Wait until he returns.
DEVI II
Oh,
yes, oh, yes.
DEVI I
Now
go make up the bed.
DEVI II
I’m
going right now.
DEVI I
So,
you are Dreamer.
DREAMER
I
am.
DEVI I
You
must be hungry. Eat something.
DREAMER
No,
thank you. There were many fruits on the trees as I come, and I have had
more than enough.
DEVI I
All
right then, let me prepare you a lunch to take for your joinery tomorrow.
/Putting the meal into a box/ I also put a bottle of water in, you may
need it.
DREAMER
Thank you very much indeed. You really are very kind Devis.
DEVI I
Sure.
DEVI II
Come, Dreamer your bed is ready now.
DREAMER
All
right, thank you. Good night.
DEVIS
Good night, Dreamer.
(Dreamer goes to bed at one corner of the stage.)
DEVI I
He’s not a bad boy. He’s really a pretty good boy. Isn’t he?
DEVI II
He
seems good, all right.
(Clock strikes midnight. Witch enters.)
WITCH
Are
you ready, boys? Let’s go!
DEVIS
Yes, we are ready!
WITCH
You
look terrible! Couldn’t you even brush your hair?
(Devis attempt to spruce up.)
WITCH
It’s hopeless, you’ll never be beautiful. Enough, enough!
DEVI I
But
Dreamer is here, we can’t leave him alone.
WITCH
Is
he spending the night here?
DEVIS
Yes!
(Dreamer listens secretly to the conversation.)
WITCH
Don’t worry. He’ll asleep, and in the morning he will go.
DEVI I
But
we have Hope in this chest here. What if he lets her go?
DEVI II
Right!
WITCH
Where is Dreamer now?
DEVIS
He is sleeping.
WITCH
Does he know it?
DEVIS
Know what?
WITCH
Does he know you have Hope in that chest?
DEVIS
No, how could we tell him such a great secret? We aren’t such fools!
WITCH
You
are fools! If you didn’t tell him, how could he know you have Hope in that
chest? Come quickly, Let’s go. We are already late.
DEVI I
That’s right, how could he know?
DEVI II
Let’s get going to the party!
(Exit Devis and Witch. Dreamer comes out of hiding and looks around. Seeing
the chest, he opens it. Hope emerges from the chest and dances.)
HOPE
Hello, Dreamer.
DREAMER
Hello, Hope.
HOPE
Thank you for freeing me, Dreamer. People need me so much. They can’t live
without me.
DREAMER
Now
you are free. Now go to troubled people and give them what they need.
HOPE
And
you will find the Most Beautiful day for your mother and she will be again
happy.
DREAMER
Thank you very much.
Noise at the door.
DREAMER
Someone is there. Go back to your chest. I’ll see who’s there and then
tell you when it’s safe to come out.
(Hope returns to the chest. Dreamer opens the door with a yawn.)
DREAMER
Who
is there?
CROW
It’s me.
DREAMER
Why
did you wake me?
CROW
Witch sent me.
DREAMER
How
come?
CROW
She just wanted to be sure you’re all right.
DREAMER
But
you had to wake me.
CROW
Please go back to sleep. I’m leaving right away.
(Dreamer returns to bed. Crow checks to be sure Hope is in the chest, then
leaves. Dreamer returns, releases Hope again.)
DREAMER
Now
it’s time. You must hurry! Devis will be back soon.
HOPE
Thank you, Dreamer.
DREAMER
Be
careful. Don’t meet them on your way.
HOPE
Don’t worry. Since I am out of this cave I will fly on swift wings.
Goodbye.
(Dreamer is seeing Hope off.)
DREAMER
Goodbye. Good luck.
(Dreamer goes to bed.)
Music.
(Devis return very happy.)
DEVI II
Wasn’t that a great party!
DEVI I
I liked the she-devil next to Grandma best.
DEVI II
No, no, the one who danced was best.
DEVI I
No, not true!
DEVI II
Don’t be ridiculous, the dancer was the best.
(Devis fight. Dreamer comes.)
DREAMER
What kind noise is this so early morning?
DEVI I
Sorry, we woke you.
DEVI II
How did you sleep?
DREAMER
Well, thanks, but Crow woke me up last night.
DEVI I
What did he want?
DREAMER
I
don’t know, but he said Witch sent him to be sure everything is all right
with me.
DEVI II
Really? /Whispering to Devi I/ Look, she’s so clever!
DREAMER
Do
you think she was really worried about me?
DEVIS
Sure.
DEVI I
/To Devi II/ Let’s see if Hope is here.
DREAMER
/Aside/ Oh, oh, I have to distract them somehow. /To Devis/ I’m glad Crow
came because ever since I was a baby I have been afraid of the dark. But
now that I’ve found this magic stone I am not afraid of anything!
DEVIS
What magic stone?
DREAMER
/showing an agate stone/ This small agate is magic. If you wear it on a
necklace you will fear nothing.
DEVIS
Can we see it?
DREAMER
If
you don’t believe it, we can check it out. I will walk across the room and
you must jump out at me and you will see that I am not afraid.
(Devis jumping and shouting trying to frighten Dreamer.)
DREAMER
You
see! Now you try that. /Giving the stone to DEVI II/ take it! /Turning to
DEVI I/ Try to frighten him.
(Devis jumping and shouting trying to frighten each-other.)
DEVI II
So great! I am not afraid at all!
DEVI I
Really?
(Crow enters frightened by noise.)
CROW
Oh,
my God! What’s going on here?
(She
flees away.)
DEVIS
/Laughing/ Look how frightened she was!
DREAMER
Because she doesn’t have such a stone!
DEVIS
Oh, Dreamer can you give us the stone?
DREAMER
Oh,
no, no, no!
How can I get along without that stone? I have far way to go and without
it how will I manage?
DEVI I
Please, give it to us and you may ask of us what you will.
DEVI II
Tell us where you’re going and we’ll follow you and do our best for you.
DREAMER
I’m
going to the palace of Father Time.
DEVI I
Sooo, you do need our help after all!
DREAMER
What do you mean?
DEVI I
Listen, we have the key to this palace and even if you travel to it, you
can’t get in without the key.
DEVI II
Just hold the key at arm’s length pointing toward the door and it will
open.
DREAMER
OK,
I agree.
DEVIS
Very well, but remember that Witch mustn’t know anything about this. She
thinks we lost the key.
(They laugh.)
DEVI I
/To
Devi II/ Bring the key!
(Devi II brings the key and gives it to dreamer.)
DEVI II
Here you are. Now give us this magic stone
DREAMER
/Giving the stone/ It’s yours. Now I must hurry. Goodbye
DEVI II
Wait a minute! Take your provisions. You will need them on your way.
DEVI I
Goodbye, Dreamer, thanks for the fine gift.
(Dreamer comes downstage with magic ball. Star V appears sees him off.
Music. Curtain falls behind Dreamer, who walks a few steps and sits.)
DREAMER
I
am very tired and thirsty. Let’s see, I must have some water here.
/Looking into the box/ Oh, it has been leaking out, there’s only a swallow
left.
(Old
traveller enters. Bowed down with a cane.)
OLD
TRAVELLER
Hello, kind boy.
DREAMER
Hello kind man.
OLD
TRAVELLER
Can
you give me some water?
DREAMER
Yes, sure, please. /Gives water/ Here’s something to eat too. /Giving the
whole box/ Enjoy yourself.
OLD
TRAVELLER
Thank you very much. What’s your name, kind boy?
DREAMER
My
name is dreamer.
OLD
TRAVELLER
What are you looking for?
DREAMER
I’m
looking for the Most Beautiful Day. I must get into the palace of Father
Time.
OLD
TRAVELLER
You
are very kind. Let me give you a piece of advice. I have spent my life
travelling and have seen many things. Don’t think I am old. I am only 20.
I remember an astrologist told me my future and I made fun of him. But
look, what has happened to me after all. I have been in many fantastic
countries and seen amazing things everywhere. And when I returned to the
people, they didn’t believe my stories. For each person who didn’t believe
me I become a year older. See how old I am?
Now listen to me: When you are at the palace of Father Time you will find
one very beautiful decorated day, but don’t choose it. It’s just a friend
of Lies. It is the non-day, the 30th of February. Remember
that, Dreamer.
DREAMER
Thank you for your kind advice! And I believe all your stories, even
without having heard them.
OLD
TRAVELLER
he believes! /He changes, becoming better/ Look I’m getting younger. My
God!
DREAMER
You’ll need someone else to believe you so you can recover your true age.
OLD
TRAVELLER
So
I will be 20 again!
(Hope enters, approaches Old Traveller.)
HOPE
Yes, you’ll be 20 again.
OLD
TRAVELLER
Thank you Dreamer, good luck to you.
DREAMER
Goodbye.
(Hope leads Old Traveller off scene. Dreamer exit and Star V in opposite
directions.)
Lights.
Music.
ACT II
Scene 6
Palace of Father Time. Clocks on walls. Caravan of sad days walking in
circle all in same dress but one is very beautiful – Decorated Day and
Lies next to it. Father Time sits in the middle in an armchair. He is
holding “worry beads”. Dreamer enters holds key out, goes into palace.
DREAMER
Hello, everyone.
FATHER TIME
Hello, everyone.
FATHER TIME
Hello human. Why you bothered to come here?
DREAMER
I’m
looking for The Most Beautiful Day.
FATHER TIME
What?
DREAMER
The
Most beautiful Day.
FATHER TIME
In
the palace of Eternity I have been Father Time from the beginning and I
have heard a lot of things. Human kids used to come with many requests of
me. They had many requests, but usually eternal life. Some wanted fame and
glory. Some wanted eternal youth or immortality. But this is the first
time I have heard this one. The Most Beautiful Day? Just one day? In
eternity all days are one-one shining sunny day without sunset - but for
some it is endless night with no hope down.
DREAMER
I
only want one single day – but The Most Beautiful Day.
FATHER TIME
All
life is one single day, no more. It depends on what you can do between
dawn and dusk. How many kind things you can do and whether you can face
the sunset squarely. All your life is just one day, nothing else. You must
do thousands of things and carry a thousand faults and a thousand times
leave a kindness on a stone; but the most important thing is not to be
afraid at the end…
DREAMER
Sorry…
FATHER TIME
The
task you are bothering with is nothing, it’s funny.
DREAMER
You
are so kind…
FATHER TIME
/Interrupting/ Don’t lie! Who said I am kind? On the contrary, every one
says I am merciless!
DREAMER
Do
you know what else people think about you?
FATHER TIME
Never mind. Lots of dirty gossip in human life. But here in this palace,
everything has its own name and the truth comes.
(Truth enters.)
TRUTH
That’s right. Only here I feel I exist. Otherwise people just give me the
boot. And you must know that the boot is not much of a breakfast for a
hungry soul. Mostly I play the role of joker with people, so people
continue to stay in their night reigns. And in this darkness bloom the
flowers or darkness – envy, evil, prostitution, homicide… and everyone
runs from me as from fire and lighting. But one day I will come to them
like a hurricane and put everything in its place and give everything its
own name.
FATHER TIME
So
we will give everything his own name. /To Dreamer/ Now tell me please…
DREAMER
Oh,
he is Truth who was fighting with Lies.
FATHER TIME
So
listen, I’m asking you… What do people say about me?
DREAMER
They say that you are the only being who has no sense of humour.
FATHER TIME
So,
I have no sense of humour? Let them look in the mirror after 70 years.
DREAMER
That’s not humour.
FATHER TIME
That’s mockery.
FATHER TIME
I
don’t care what you think.
DREAMER
Well, anyway, will you help me find the Most Beautiful Day here?
FATHER TIME
/Pointing to the days/ They are all equally beautiful and equally ugly –
make your choice.
(Dreamer comes the Days and tries to choose. He drops the ball and suddenly
Witch appears who takes the Decorated Day away with her. Lies goes along
with Witch.)
WITCH
That is The Most Beautiful Day. It’s mine.
FATHER TIME
Let
it be yours.
(Witch, Lies and Decorated Day leave.
)
TRUTH
/Laughing/ That’s is non-day, February 30. Let them wait for that day!
DREAMER
So, it was non-day.
FATHER TIME
Now
you can make your choice. I told you – all days are the same. With Charity
the day is better. You must make it so; you must do goodness to make your
days beautiful.
TRUTH
That’s right, and you must face me.
FATHER TIME
So
all your efforts were for nothing.
DREAMER
Why
for nothing? I’ve seen a lot of things on my way.
FATHER TIME
So
go back and remember that without Charity each day is ugly and Charity is
the measure of beauty. With this you can feel eternity and remember all
human life is a narrow path between Truth and Lies. /Pointing to Truth/
Don’t lose him before the night.
TRUTH
When you come to the final sunset and when you remove your baggage from
your shoulders, don’t be afraid. Your life’s light won’t go out. And this
caravan of those sad days is merely your way to eternity up to the sunset.
You make those days beautiful.
DREAMER
Now
I see.
FATHER TIME
Now
go. I hope to meet you in the future.
DREAMER
Thank you. Goodbye. Everything was useful and interesting for me. I’ll
remember all your words.
FATHER TIME
O.K. Good luck. Now you know what to do. Let’s see how beautiful you make
your days and other’s days. Goodbye.
(Dreamer goes.)
Curtain.
Scene 7
Room of Witch. Crow and Witch.
Witch making herself up in front of a mirror. Also present are Decorated
day and Lies.
WITCH
/Singing/ La, la, la… /Turning
to the Decorated day/ Now tell me, my beauty, when will you come, when
will I marry? La, la, la, la… Tell me, I’m all ears!
DECORATED DAY
I am non-day, the 30th
of February, None teen none teen.
WITCH
What? Non-day the 30th of February? When will that be?
CROW
/Laughing/ When will it be?
Wait! Wait till February 30.
WITCH
/counting on fingers/ So: March, November, August, February… February!!
Ooh, there is no February 30.
(Furious, Witch hits Lies and Decorated Day with broomstick.)
You have
deceived me!
LIES
What do you want of me? Couldn’t you see me standing next to this day?
What else could I say?
WITCH
Oh,
how awful! /Turning to Decorated Day/ Get out, you hateful, awful, ugly
thing! /Shouts at Crow/ Crow! remove this offal and put it in the cobwebs!
And get those Devis at once and bring them to me! /To Lies/ Oh, you
monster, what have you done to me!?
LIES
I’m
very sorry about my magic lady.
WITCH
No
surgery words will help you!
LIES
/Kneeling/ Please forgive me!
WITCH
If
I crown you with the broomstick I will send you at once to Cerberus!
LIES
Oh,
don’t do that! Forgive me! You know I am your best friend!
(Devis come followed by Crow.)
CROW
The
Decorated Day is among the cobwebs and covered with leaches. And here are
the Devi brothers.
DEVIS
What happened? Why have you summoned us?
WITCH
You
gawking Devils! Fools, fools! Idiots, blackhearts! Why do you have heads
the size of watermelons without a single seed of brains?
DEVIS
What do you want of us? What have we done?
WITCH
Can
you tell me, please, how could Dreamer get into Father Time’s palace
without your key?
DEVIS
He may found it somewhere in our home.
WITCH
You are enormous but you have nothing upstairs! A little boy could get the
better of you!
DEVIS
Yes, he got the better of us! He gave us this agate stone and took our key
in exchange!
WITCH
But you told me you lost it
(She
hits Devis with her broomstick.)
DEVI I
Even through I have this agate stone I am afraid – in fact, I think I’m
even more afraid than usual!
WITCH
You
are so clever! What a loose screw!
DEVI II
All that is sad but not important. The worst is that Dreamer let Hope go!
WITCH
Hope?
DEVI II
Yes! She is gone form the chest. Dreamer must have let her out. She
couldn’t have done it herself.
CROW
/To
Witch/ I told you I should have watch him all night long.
WITCH
Shut up! Upstart! If you had done exactly as I told you all would be well
now. What can we do now? If Hope goes to people they won’t be afraid of
us. Who would respect and fear us? It’s the end, the very end.
DEVIS
We are ashamed. They might not even believe in us.
WITCH
You
exist and it’s so important that you exist. What’s the difference if you
die! /Hand on heart/ Oh, my heart! Water, water!
(She
falls down into the chair. Crow and others help her. Crow brings her
water.)
CROW
How are you doing, Hon?
WITCH
/Hitting Crow with the broomstick/ Who is your Hon?
CROW
/Aside/ You should only die at once!
WITCH
What was that? I’m all right now, don’t worry anyone! Come on, let’s do
something. If Dreamer returns and tells people what happened we will be
the laughing stock of all humanity.
DEVIS
That’s right! How shameful we would hang our heads in shame! We couldn’t
face anyone!
CROW
Of
course, how could you face anyone if you are hanging your head?
WITCH
Listen well, all of you.
ALL
We
are listening.
WITCH
We
must tangle his path.
CROW
We
can’t do that, his lucky star is seeing him off.
WITCH
Or
maybe we can change his mind or please him so that he would be ours.
LIES
It’s impossible because Truth is with him.
WITCH
What can we do?
DEVIS
What can we possibly do?
CROW
We
must finish him off!
DEVIS
That’s right! We can catch him and eat him!
WITCH
A
good idea!
DEVI II
You told us not to do that until afterward. If we had done before we
wouldn’t have all this trouble.
WITCH
Don’t make noise, you fool! Let’s stop talking and act! We can ambush him
on his way.
DEVIS
O.K. We’ll catch him on his way back.
CROW
Why
should he come back?
DEVIS
Because he has to return home this way!
CROW
Idiots! Don’t you think he is enough smart not to return the dangerous way
he has already travelled? He is clever enough to know the world is round,
and by going on he will get back home!
DEVIS
That’s right! Why should he come back?
WITCH
The
only thing we can do is to overtake him.
CROW
Yes, we must catch up with him.
OTHERS
Yes, yes, we must run quickly and catch up with him.
WITCH
We
must hurry or all will be lost! Let’s go!
(All
run out single file shouting Come on! Get him! Etc.)
Curtain.
Scene 8
In one corner stands a Gray Day.
To the right a house is on fire. Light effects. Voices of woman and child
in the burning house asking for help. Crow, Witch, Devis and Lies enter
from left.
WITCH
/Approaching a Gray Day,
inspects at closely/ Another simple day.
DEVIS
What’s going on? What’s the
noise?
CROW
Look! A house is on fire!
LIES
There must be an interesting
story inside.
WITCH
This is the house where
Dreamer’s father lives with his new family!
CROW
Then that’s Dreamer’s half
sister!
DEVI I
Where is dreamer’s father?
CROW
He is not here.
DEVI II
It’s horrible to hear those
people. Let’s help them.
WITCH
I’ve been afraid of fire since I was a baby. Besides, the fire may burn my
beautiful hair. And then my wonderful prince wouldn’t love me
CROW
I’m afraid I’ll burn my
feathers. Besides, saving people is none of my business.
LIES
The fire is so beautiful!
(Dreamer enters.)
WITCH
Here comes Dreamer!
(Witch, Crow, Devis and Lies all
hide to see what Dreamer will do.)
CROW
What is he going to do?
LIES
Who knows?
WITCH
Hush!
DREAMER
Oh, It’s my father’s new family!
And there’s my new sister!
WITCH
He mustn’t help them!
DEVIS
Why should he bother?
CROW
He’s so strange, I wouldn’t be
surprised if he did help them.
WITCH
He was the one who was searching
the Most Beautiful Day for his mother, and if he dies here what kind of
day will that be for his mother?
(Dreamer rushes to help the woman
and her daughter.)
WOMAN
Oh, thank you kind sir. But I
have blinded in the fire and don’t know what to do. I’ll never again see
my beautiful daughter I love so dearly. And she is so small and needs me
so much! Look! The house is burning to the ground and we will have to
begin again from nothing. What am I to do?
DEVIS
Can he be such a fool as to give
her his eyes and himself become blind?
LIES
That would really be a great day
for his mother!
WITCH
Can’t he see that this family’s
tragedy is his own good fortune and would in fact please his mother?
(Hope comes.)
HOPE
You must not abandon someone in
trouble, even your enemy.
WITCH
Where did she come from?
DREAMER
/To woman/ I will give you my
eyes.
WOMAN
How can I thank you. What words
are there?
(Truth comes.)
TRUTH
/To Lies/ I was sure you were
here.
LIES
You have followed me again.
TRUTH
Of course.
(Truth and Hope fight Lies, Crow,
Witch and Devis as Dreamer and Woman fight the fire, Truth and Hope defeat
their enemies, who remain lying on stage.)
DEVIS
Oh, we are defeated!
(Woman and her daughter thank
Dreamer and exit. Hope comes to Dreamer.)
HOPE
/Touching his eyes/Here is Light for you.
DREAMER
I can see again!
WITCH
That’s the end!
CROW
Caw, caw! Caw! Let’s get away
from here, far away!
HOPE
Yes, go away! Far away! I want
no one to know of your existence. Go to caves in the mountains, beyond the
hearing of humans.
TRUTH
No! Nowhere on earth! It’s
impossible.
CROW
I can’t fly so far. I am too
old. Let me stay and I promise that even if I live to be a thousand years
old, I will stay out of such trouble.
(Crow exits slowly. Stars run in
interviewing Dreamer.)
STARS
A few words please…
What were you feeling in the
fire?
How could you do it risking your
life?
What do you think: Is it normal
to help your enemy?
What was the motivation?
Had you any experience?
DREAMER
I just act as my heart dictated.
I had no experience.
HOPE
Come on Dreamer, my dear boy,
tell us what to do with these creatures. You must decide their fate. /To
Stars/ Please leave us now.
(Stars exit.)
DREAMER
There is no need for your
existence on earth, and so I order you to leave it at once!
(As they are speaking Lies
quickly sneaks away.)
TRUTH
Look! Lies has escaped! How was
he able to do that?
DREAMER
Follow him! Your endless fight
must continue.
HOPE
/To Witch and Devis/
Leave the world of humans at once
(Watch and Devis exit and The
Father Time and caravan of days enter.)
FATHER TIME
/To dreamer/ What are you doing
now? Our meeting is not to be now, but a considerable time in the future.
DREAMER
You aren’t glad to see me?
FATHER TIME
No, of course I am pleased to see you, but the meeting I had in mind was
quite different. Goodbye for now.
(Father Time and caravan exit.
Charity enters approaching the Gray Day and making it beautiful.)
HOPE
Charity has come!
(Enters star V)
/To Dreamer/ That’s the Most
Beautiful Day – do you see how Charity made it beautiful?
DREAMER
It is wonderful. I love it.
STAR V
Dreamer dear, we must be going.
DREAMER
Where?
STAR V
Home, George! You must leave the dream to rejoin your parents.
DREAMER
That’s so! How I miss them.
Let’s go!
Music.
(Beautiful Day stands.
Star V accompanies Dreamer off as Hope and Charity wave goodbye.)
Curtain.
Scene 9
The same room as in Scene 1.
George’s father enters. George is sleeping.
FATHER
George! George! Wake up! Good
morning! It’s such a beautiful day.
GEORGE
/Waking/ Daddy!
FATHER
/Kisses George/ You slept a long time.
GEORGE
You
know, I helped your second family!
FATHER
What second family, George?
GEORGE
I’ve seen them in my dream.
FATHER
/Bringing George’s clothes/ What?
GEORGE
In
my dream you had another wife like David’s father, and I had a half
sister.
FATHER
/Helping George to dress/ Oh, you Dreamer!
GEORGE
Exactly! That was my name
FATHER
By the way you do have a sister, that’s true.
GEORGE
Where is she?
FATHER
I’ll show you very soon. I was delayed on my business trip and just as I
arrived, Mother was being taken to the hospital to have your baby sister.
GEORGE
/Very happy/ Oh, how nice! We must go right now!
FATHER
Of
course, we are leaving. Let’s take some of Mother’s favourite sweets.
GEORGE
How
is she?
FATHER
She
is fine – all smiles!
GEORGE
Daddy, do you know many things I have seen in my dreams? And isn’t it
great that you have no second family in dead?
FATHER
/Laughing/ Brush your hair and let’s get going!
GEORGE
/Looking in the mirror/ But one thing was very good! I was really very big
in my dream.
FATHER
Come on, Dreamer, why are you in such a hurry to be big? I wish I was your
age!
GEORGE
Daddy, why do grownups want to be little?
FATHER
So,
that they can travel in dreams as you do; and besides…
GEORGE
Besides what, Daddy?
FATHER
You
will understand when you grow up.
GEORGE
Why
can’t I understand it now?
FATHER
You
are too young for that now.
GEORGE
When I will be big enough to understand?
FATHER
The
later, the better. /Laughs/ Come on, let’s go!
GEORGE
Look! There’s a butterfly! Let me catch it for my sister.
(George tries to catch the butterfly.)
FATHER
I’m
sorry your mother was a bit upset that I was late in getting back.
GEORGE
Yes, she was sad.
FATHER
Oh,
well, anyway this is a Most Beautiful Day for her, now that she has a
daughter.
GEORGE
And
I was looking for this day in my dream!
FATHER
Come on, Dreamer.
(They Exit.)
Music.
Curtain.
Contact
Tamar Makharoblidze
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