The Blue Bird: A Fairy Play in Six Acts
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Maurice Maeterlinck >> The Blue Bird: A Fairy Play in Six Acts
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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 god!... 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, balustrades, 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 classic
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 balustrade.... 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?...
FIRE
Nothing, nothing....
WATER
I thought you might be speaking of a great red I saw the other day....
THE CAT
Come, don't let as quarrel; we have more important things to do.... We are
only waiting for Bread; where is he?
THE DOG
He was making an endless fuss about choosing his dress....
FIRE
Worth while, isn't it, for a fellow who looks a fool and carries an
enormous stomach?...
THE DOG
At last, he decided in favour of a Turkish robe, adorned with gems, a
scimitar and a turban....
THE CAT
There he is!... He has put on Bluebeard's finest dress...
_Enter_ BREAD, _in the costume described above. The silk robe is
crossed tightly over his huge stomach. In one hand he holds the hilt of a
scimitar passed through his sash and in the other the cage intended for the
Blue Bird_.
BREAD (_waddling conceitedly_)
Well?... What do you think of this?
THE DOG (_frisking round the_ LOAF)
How nice he looks! What a fool he looks! How nice he looks! How nice he
looks!...
THE CAT (_to the_ LOAF)
Are the children dressed?...
BREAD
Yes, Master Tyltyl has put on Hop-o'-my-Thumb's blue jacket and red
breeches; and Miss Mytyl has Gretel's frock and Cinderella's slippers....
But the great thing was the dressing of Light!...
THE CAT
Why?...
BREAD
The Fairy thought her so lovely that she did not want to dress her at
all!... Thereupon I protested in the name of our dignity as essential and
eminently respectable elements; and I ended by declaring that, under those
conditions, I should refuse to be seen with her....
FIRE
They ought to have bought her a lampshade!...
THE CAT
And what answer did the Fairy make?...
THE LOAF
She hit me with her stick on my head and stomach....
THE CAT
And then?...
BREAD
I allowed myself to be convinced; but, at the last moment, Light decided on
the moonbeam dress at the bottom of the chest with Catskin's treasures....
THE CAT
Come, stop chattering, time presses.... Our future is at stake.... You have
heard--the Fairy has just said so--that the end of this journey will, at
the same time, mark the end of our lives.... It is our business, therefore,
to prolong it as much as possible and by every possible means.... But there
is another thing: we must think of the fate of our race and the destiny of
our children....
BREAD
Hear, hear!... The Cat is right!...
THE CAT
Listen to me!... All of us here present, Animals, Things and Elements,
possess a soul which man does not yet know. That is why we retain a remnant
of independence; but, if he finds the Blue Bird, he will know all, he will
see all and we shall be completely at his mercy.... This is what I have
just learned from my old friend, Night, who is also the guardian of the
mysteries of Life.... It is to our interest, therefore, at all costs to
prevent the finding of that bird, even if we have to go so far as to
endanger the lives of the children themselves....
THE DOG (_indignantly_)
What's the fellow saying?... Just say that again, will you, to see if I
heard right?...
BREAD
Order! Order!... It's not your turn to speak!... I'm in the chair at this
meeting....
FIRE
Who made you chairman?...
WATER (_to_ FIRE)
Hold your tongue!... What are you interfering with?...
FIRE
I shall interfere where I choose.... And I want none of your remarks....
SUGAR (_concilatorily_)
Excuse me.... Do not let us quarrel.... This is a serious moment.... We
must, above all things, decide what measures to adopt....
BREAD
I quite agree with Sugar and the Cat....
THE DOG
This is ridiculous!... There is Man and that's all!... We have to obey him
and do as he tells us!... That is the one and only fact!... I recognise no
one but him!... Hurrah for Man!... Man for ever!... In life or death, all
for Man!... Man is God!...
BREAD
I quite agree with the Dog.
THE CAT (_to the_ DOG)
But at least give your reasons....
THE DOG
There are no reasons!... I love Man and that's enough!... If you do
anything against him, I will throttle you first and I will go and tell him
everything....
SUGAR (_intervening sweetly_)
Excuse me.... Let us not embitter the discussion.... From a certain point
of view, you are both of you right.... There is something to be said on
both sides....
BREAD
I quite agree with SUGAR!...
THE CAT
Are we not, all of us, Water, Fire you yourselves, Bread and the Dog, the
victims of a nameless tyranny?... Do you remember the time when, before the
coming of the despot, we wandered at liberty upon the face of the earth?...
Fire and Water were the sole masters of the world; and see what they have
come to!... As for us puny descendants of the great wild animals....
Look out!... Pretend to be doing nothing!... I see the Fairy and Light
coming.... Light has taken sides with Man; she is our worst enemy.... Here
they are....
_Enter, on the right, the_ FAIRY, _in the shape of an old woman,
and_ LIGHT, _followed by_ TYLTYL _and_ MYTYL.
THE FAIRY
Well?... What is it?... What are you doing in that corner?... You look like
conspirators.... It is time to start.... I have decided that Light shall be
your leader.... You will obey her as you would me and I am giving her my
wand.... The children will pay a visit to their late grandparents this
evening.... You will remain behind; that is more discreet.... They will
spend the evening in the bosom of their dead family.... Meanwhile, you will
be getting ready all that is wanted for to-morrow's journey, which will be
a long one.... Come, up, be off and every one to his post!...
THE CAT (_hypocritically_)
That is just what I was saying to them, madam.... I was encouraging them to
do their duty bravely and conscientiously; unfortunately, the Dog, who kept
on interrupting me....
THE DOG
What's that?... Just wait a bit I...
(_He is about to leap upon the_ CAT, _but_ TYLTYL _foreseeing
his intention, stops with a threatening gesture_.)
TYLTYL
Down, Tylo!... Take care; and, if ever I catch you again...
THE DOG
My little god, you don't know, it was he who...
TYLTYL (_threatening him_)
Be quiet!...
THE FAIRY
Come, that will do.... Let Bread hand the cage for this evening to
Tyltyl.... It is just possible that the Blue Bird may be hidden In the
Past, at the grandparents'.... In any case, it Is a chance which we must
not neglect.... Well, Bread, the cage?
BREAD (_solemnly_)
One moment, if you please, Mrs. Fairy....
(_Like an orator making a speech_)
I call upon all of you to bear witness that this silver cage, which was
entrusted to my care by....
THE FAIRY (_interrupting him_)
Enough!... No speeches!... We will go out this way and the children
that....
TYLTYL (_rather anxiously_)
Are we to go all alone?...
MYTYL
I feel hungry!...
TYLTYL
I, too!...
THE FAIRY (_to_ BREAD)
Open your Turkish robe and give them a slice of your good stomach....
(BREAD _opens his robe, draws his scimitar and cuts two slices out of his
stomach and hands them to the_ CHILDREN.)
SUGAR (_approaching the_ CHILDREN)
Allow me at the same time to offer you a few sugar-sticks....
(_He breaks off the five fingers of his left hand, one by one, and
presents them to the_ CHILDREN.)
MYTYL
What is he doing?... He is breaking all his fingers!...
SUGAR (_engagingly_)
Taste them, they are capital... They're made of real barley-sugar....
MYTYL (_tasting one of the fingers_)
Oh, how good they are!... Have you many of them?...
SUGAR (_modestly_)
Yes; as many as I want....
MYTYL
Does that hurt you much, when you break them off?...
SUGAR
Not at all.... On the contrary, it's a great advantage; they grow again at
once and so I always have new, clean fingers....
THE FAIRY
Come, children, don't eat too much sugar.... Don't forget that you are to
have supper presently with your grandpapa and grandmamma....
TYLTYL
Are they here?...
THE FAIRY
You shall see them at once....
TYLTYL
How can we see them, when they are dead?...
THE FAIRY
How can they be dead, when they live in your memory?... Men do not know
this secret, because they know so little; whereas you, thanks to the
diamond, are about to see that the dead who are remembered live as happily
as though they were not dead....
TYLTYL
Is Light coming with us?
THE FAIRY
No, it is more proper that this visit should be confined to the family....
I will wait near here, so as not to appear indiscreet.... They did not
invite me....
TYLTYL
Which way are we to go?...
THE FAIRY
Over there.... You are on the threshold of the Land of Memory.... As soon
as you have turned the diamond, you will see a big tree with a board on it,
which will show you that you are there.... But don't forget that you are
to be back, both of you, by a quarter to nine.... It is extremely
important.... Now mind and be punctual, for all would be lost if you were
late.... Good-bye for the present!...
(_Calling the_ CAT, _the_ DOG, LIGHT, _etc_.) This way.... And the little
ones that way....
(_She goes out to the right, with_ LIGHT, _the_ ANIMALS, _etc., while the_
CHILDREN _go out to the left_.)
CURTAIN
SCENE 2.--_The Land of Memory_.
_A thick fog, from which stands out, on the right, close to the
footlights, the trunk of a large oak, with a board nailed to it. A vague,
milky, impenetrable light prevails_. TYLTYL _and_ MYTYL _are at
the foot of the oak_.
TYLTYL
Here Is the tree!...
MYTYL
There's the board!...
TYLTYL
I can't read it.... Wait, I will climb up on this root.... That's it.... It
says, "Land of Memory."
MYTYL
Is this where it begins?...
TYLTYL
Yes, there's an arrow....
MYTYL
Well, where are grandad and granny?...
TYLTYL
Behind the fog.... We shall see....
MYTYL
I can see nothing at all!... I can't see my feet or my hands....
(_Whimpering_) I'm cold!... I don't want to travel any more.... I want
to go home....
TYLTYL
Come, don't keep on crying, just like Water.... You ought to be ashamed of
yourself.... A great big little girl like you.... Look, the fog is lifting
already.... We shall see what's behind it....
(_The mist begins to move; It grows thinner and lighter, disperses,
evaporates. Soon, in a more and more transparent light, appears, under a
leafy vault, a cheerful little peasant's cottage, covered with creepers.
The door and windows are open. There are bee-hives under a shed,
flower-pots on the window-sills, a cage with a sleeping blackbird. Beside
the door is a bench, on which an old peasant and his wife_, TYLTYL'S
_grandfather and grandmother, are seated, both sound asleep_.)
TYLTYL (_suddenly recognising them_)
It's grandad and granny!...
MYTYL (_clapping her hands_)
Yes! Yes!... So it is! So it is!...
TYLTYL (_still a little distrustful_)
Take care!... We don't know yet if they can stir.... Let's keep behind the
tree....
(GRANNY TYL _opens her eyes, raises her head, stretches herself, gives
a sigh and looks at_ GAFFER TYL, _who also wakes slowly from his
sleep_.)
GRANNY TYL
I have a notion that our grandchildren who are still alive are coming to
see us today....
GAFFER TYL
They are certainly thinking of as, for I feel anyhow and I have pins and
needles in my legs....
GRANNY TYL
I think they must be quite near, for I see tears of joy dancing before my
eyes....
GAFFER TYL
No, no, they are a long way off.... I still feel weak....
GRANNY TYL
I tell you they are here; I am quite strong....
TYLTYL _and_ MYTYL (_rushing up from behind the oak_)
Here we are!... Here we are!... Gaffer! Granny!... It's we!... It's we!...
GAFFER TYL
There!... You see?... What did I tell you?... I was sure they would come
to-day....
GRANNY TYL
Tyltyl!... Mytyl!... It's you!... It's she!... (_Trying to run to meet
them_) I can't run!... I've still got the rheumatics!...
GAFFER TYL (_hobbling along as fast as he can_)
No more can I.... That's because of my wooden leg, which I still wear
instead of the one I broke when I fell off the big oak....
(_The_ GRANDPARENTS _and the_ CHILDREN _exchange frantic
embraces_.)
GRANNY TYL
How tall and strong you've grown, Tyltyl!
GAFFER TYL (_stroking_ MYTYL'S _hair_)
And Mytyl!... Just look at her.... What pretty hair, what pretty eyes!...
GRANNY TYL
Come and kiss me again!... Come on to my lap....
GAFFER TYL
And what about me?...
GRANNY TYL
No, no.... Come to me first.... How are Daddy and Mummy Tyl?...
TYLTYL
Quite well, granny.... They were asleep when we went out....
GRANNY TYL (_gazing at them and covering them with caresses_)
Lord, how pretty they are and how nice and clean!... Was it mummy who
washed you?... And there are no holes in your stockings!... I used to darn
them once, you know.... Why don't you come to see us oftener?... It makes
us so happy!... It is months and months now that you've forgotten us and
that we have seen nobody....
TYLTYL
We couldn't, granny; and to-day its only because of the Fairy....
GRANNY TYL
We are always here, waiting for a visit from those who are alive.... They
come so seldom!... The last time you were here, let me see, when was it?...
It was on All-hallows, when the church-bells were ringing....
TYLTYL
All-hallows?... We didn't go out that day, for we both had very bad
colds....
GRANNY TYL
No; but you thought of us....
TYLTYL
Yes....
GRANNY TYL
Well, every time you think of us, we wake up and see you again....
TYLTYL
What, is it enough to...
GRANNY TYL
But come, you know that....
TYLTYL
No, I didn't know....
GRANNY TYL (_to_ GAFFER TYL)
It's astonishing, up there.... They don't know yet.... Do they never learn
anything?...
GAFFER TYL
It's as in our own time.... The Living are so stupid when they speak of the
Others....
TYLTYL
Do you sleep all the time?...
GAFFER TYL
Yes, we get plenty of sleep, while waiting for a thought of the Living to
come and wake us.... Ah, it is good to sleep when life is done.... But it
is pleasant also to wake up from time to time....
TYLTYL
So you are not really dead?...
GAFFER TYL
What do you say?... What is he saying?... Now he's using words we don't
understand.... Is it a new word, a new invention?...
TYLTYL
The word "dead"?...
GAFFER TYL
Yes, that was the word.... What does it mean?...
TYLTYL
Why, it means that one's no longer alive....
GAFFER TYL
How silly they are, up there!...
TYLTYL
Is it nice here?...
GAFFER TYL
Oh, yes; not bad, not bad; and, if one could just have a smoke....
TYLTYL
Aren't you allowed to smoke?...
GAFFER TYL
Yes, it's allowed; but I've broken my pipe....
GRANNY TYL
Yes, yes, all would be well, if only you would come and see us oftener....
Do you remember, Tyltyl?... The last time I baked you a lovely
apple-tart.... You ate such a lot of it that you made yourself ill....
TYLTYL
But I haven't eaten any apple-tart since last year.... There were no apples
this year....
GRANNY TYL
Don't talk nonsense.... Here, we have them always....
TYLTYL
That's different....
GRANNY TYL
What? That's different?... Why, nothing's different when we're able to kiss
each other....
TYLTYL (_looking first at his_ GRANDMOTHER _and then at his_ GRANDFATHER)
You haven't changed, grandad, not a bit, not a bit.... And granny hasn't
changed a bit either.... But you're better-looking....
GAFFER TYL
Well, we feel all right.... We have stopped growing older.... But you,
how tall you're growing!... Yes, you're shooting up finely.... Look,
over there, on the door, is the mark of the last time.... That was on
All-hallows.... Now then, stand up straight.... (TYLTYL _stands up
against the door_.) Four fingers taller!... That's immense!... (MYTYL
_also stands up against the door_.) And Mytyl, four and a half!...
Aha, ill weeds grow apace!... How they've grown, oh, how they've grown!...
TYLTYL (_looking around him with delight_)
Nothing is changed, everything is in its old place!... Only everything is
prettier!... There is the clock with the big hand which I broke the point
off....
GAFFER TYL
And here is the soup-tureen you chipped a corner off....
TYLTYL
And here is the hole which I made in the door, the day I found the
gimlet....
GAFFER TYL
Yes, you've done some damage in your time!... And here is the plum-tree in
which you were so fond of climbing, when I wasn't looking.... It still has
its fine red plums....
TYLTYL
But they are finer than ever!...
MYTYL
And here is the old blackbird!... Does he still sing?...
(_The blackbird wakes and begins to sing at the top of his voice_.)
GRANNY TYL
You see.... As soon as one thinks of him....
TYLTYL (_observing with amazement that the blackbird is quite blue_)
But he's blue!... Why, that's the bird, the Blue Bird which I am to take
back to the Fairy.... And you never told us that you had him here!... Oh,
he's blue, blue, blue as a blue glass marble!... (_Entreatingly_)
Grandad, granny, will you give him to me?...
GAFFER TYL
Yes, perhaps, perhaps.... What do you think, granny?...
GRANNY TYL
Certainly, certainly.... What use is he to us?... He does nothing but
sleep.... We never hear him sing....
TYLTYL
I will put him in my cage.... I say, where is my cage?... Oh, I know, I
left it behind the big tree.... (_He runs to the tree, fetches the cage
and puts the blackbird into it_.) So, really, you've really given him to
me?... How pleased the Fairy will be!... And Light too!...
GAFFER TYL
Mind you, I won't answer for the bird.... I'm afraid that he will never get
used again to the restless life up there and that he'll come back here by
the first wind that blows this way.... However, we shall see.... Leave him
there, for the present, and come and look at the cow....
TYLTYL (_noticing the hives_)
And how are the bees getting on?
GAFFER TYL
Oh, pretty well.... They are no longer alive, as you call it up there; but
they work hard....
TYLTYL (_going up to the hives_)
Oh, yes!... I can smell the honey!... How heavy the hives must be!... All
the flowers are so beautiful!... And my little dead sisters, are they here
too?...
MYTYL
And where are my three little brothers who were buried?...
(_At these words, seven little_ CHILDREN, _of different sizes, like
a set of Pan's pipes, come out of the cottage, one by one_.)
GRANNY TYL
Here they are, here they are!... As soon as you think of them, as soon as
you speak of them, they are there, the darlings!...
(TYLTYL _and_ MYTYL _run to meet the_ CHILDREN. _They hustle
and hug one another and dance and whirl about and utter screams of
joy_.)
TYLTYL
Hullo, Pierrot!... (_They clutch each other by the hair_.) Ah, so
we're going to fight again, as in the old days.... And Robert!... I say,
Jean, what's become of your top?... Madeleine and Pierette and Pauline!...
And here's Riquette!...
MYTYL
Oh, Riquette, Riquette!... She's still crawling on all fours!...
GRANNY TYL
Yes, she has stopped growing.
TYLTYL (_noticing the little_ DOG _yelping around them_)
There's Kiki, whose tail I cut off with Pauline's scissors.... He hasn't
changed either....
GAFFER TYL (_sententiously_)
No, nothing changes here....
TYLTYL
And Pauline still has a pimple on her nose....
GRANNY TYL
Yes, it won't go away; there's nothing to be done for it....
TYLTYL
Oh, how well they look, how fat and glossy they are!... What jolly cheeks
they have!... They look well fed....
GRANNY TYL
They have been much better since they ceased living.... There's nothing
more to fear, nobody is ever ill, one has no anxiety....
(_The clock inside the cottage strikes eight_.)
GRANNY TYL (_amazed_)
What's that?...
GAFFER TYL
I don't know, I'm sure.... It must be the clock....
GRANNY TYL
It can't be.... It never strikes....
GAFFER TYL
Because we no longer think of the time.... Was any one thinking of the
time?...
TYLTYL
Yes, I was.... What is the time?...
GAFFER TYL
I'm sure I can't tell.... I've forgotten how.... It struck eight times, so
I suppose it's what they call eight o'clock up there....
TYLTYL
Light expects me at a quarter to nine.... It's because of the Fairy....
It's extremely important.... I'm off!...
GRANNY TYL
Don't leave us like that, just as supper's ready!... Quick, quick, let's
lay the table outside.... I've got some capital cabbage-soup and a
beautiful plum-tart....
(_They get out the table, dishes, plates, etc., and lay for supper
outside the door, all helping_.)
TYLTYL
Well, as I've got the Blue Bird.... And then it's so long since I tasted
cabbage-soup.... Ever since I've been, travelling.... They don't have it at
the hotels....
GRANNY TYL
There!... That didn't take long!... Sit down, children.... Don't let us
lose time, if you're in a hurry....
(_They have lit the lamp and served the soup. The_ GRANDPARENTS _and
the_ CHILDREN _sit down round the table, jostling and elbowing one
another and laughing and screaming with pleasure_.)
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