Daughter of the Waves
snippets
“I never had a fixed home. Not in any one place. Gypsy, they called me. And other things. People make a lot of stupid judgments. Usually, I let it roll off me like the water. But when I heard about this Hitler fella... Oh. I wish I could have clocked him in the jaw. For starters. Don’t you see? I had to join up. My part in this war might seem like an insignificant drop of water in the vast scope of the ocean but it was my drop of water.”
“Oh, thank you, thank you, I think you’re all the luckiest people alive! Do you know that? To do what you do. I’ve seen every show you’ve done over the years, I wouldn't have missed it for the world. You’re brilliant, you are. Whenever the show came to town, I was there in the front row. You always made me so happy. You are...magic...flying in the air, dancing and singing, and making people laugh with a little thing like a suitcase. I have a souvenir. See? The clowns posed for photographs with the audience after the show. Look! There’s Hilarious. Ah, he was so funny. That little girl is me. And that’s me Da. I keep this with me always. During the dark times it reminds me that there is still some magic to be had in this world.”
EAN
Let me have a try.
(Skeptical, yet curious, Cherrie picks up the Hamlet script and begins to read.)
CHERRIE
“My lord, I have remembrances of yours, that I have longed long to redeliver; I pray you, now receive them.”
EAN
(He pulls her into an embrace.)
“No, not I; I never gave you aught.”
CHERRIE
(Pulling away from him, shocked.)
Oh! No...I...
EAN
Is that your line? I don’t think that’s in Shakespeare’s script.
CHERRIE
Yes, I know that.
EAN
Then why be saying it?
CHERRIE
Well, it’s…I…you startled me, is all. You’re so rough.
EAN
Excuse me, darlin’, I didn’t know I was.
CHERRIE
(Softening under his gaze.)
Well...you are.
EAN
If ya don’t like it, I won’t do it again.
CHERRIE
No, it’s all right. I could get used to it.
EAN
What if I hold you like this? Is that better?
CHERRIE
(Flustered. Pretending not to be.)
Fine. That’s fine.
EAN
How about this?
CHERRIE
(Small smile.)
Next you’ll be after wanting a kiss.
EAN
There’s a thought.
CHERRIE
Now don’t be getting any romantical ideas in your head.
EAN
Then stop putting ‘em there!
CHERRIE
You’re as bold as brass you are. You’re not like the other boys I’ve worked with.
EAN
I’m not a boy.
CHERRIE
No.
EAN
No.
CHERRIE
Who are you?
EAN
Name’s Ean.
CHERRIE
Where are you from, Ean?
EAN
Everywhere.
CHERRIE
Everywhere, is it?!
EAN
I was born in the mists of the faerie island—the Isle of Man. It’s said that all born there are protected by the Celtic sea god Manannan mac Lir.
CHERRIE
Oh, please! What are ya? Some magical seal? A Selkie is it?
EAN
Shhhh. It’ll be our secret, my mortal beloved. Anyway, I travel about.
CHERRIE
You travel about? Oh. You’re a gypsy.
EAN
Problem with that?
(EAN sweeps her into a dance.)
EAN & CHERRY
(They sing along with the musicians as they dance.)
RED IS THE ROSE BY YONDER GARDEN GROWS
AND FAIR IS THE LILY OF THE VALLEY
CLEAR IS THE WATER THAT FLOWS FROM THE BOYNE
BUT MY LOVE IS FAIRER THAN ANY.
CHERRIE
Whoa! You’re all hands! And why must you hold me so tight?
EAN
(With complete honesty.)
Because I love you.
CHERRIE
What?
EAN
Hamlet. He loves Ophelia. He would hold her tightly. Like this.
(He magically produces a red rose from up his sleeve and gives it to her.)
Anastazy taught me how to do that.
CHERRIE
You think you’re clever.
EAN
Well, yes.
CHERRIE
So, Ean who was born in the magical waters and who travels about distributing roses to random women he doesn’t know and professing his undying love, why are you here?
EAN
I know you.
CHERRIE
Why are you here?
EAN
I saw the show. I liked it.
CHERRIE
Well, ta, thank you very much, but why exactly are you here now?
EAN
I watched you in the show...you’re all I could see. Byrne hired me today.
CHERRIE
To do what?
EAN
A wee spot of acting. Maybe some magic tricks, some dancing. I’m light on my feet.
CHERRIE
Have you ever performed before?
EAN
Sure. The occasional exhibition of fisticuffs.
CHERRIE
You’re a fighter?!
EAN
Yes, mam. Pugilist. Bare knuckles boxing. And I’m good.
CHERRIE
I don’t care if you are!
EAN
I thought about being a jockey, because I also have a talent with horseflesh, but I like to sleep in of a morning.
CHERRIE
(mocking)
Oh, dear, the early mornings didn’t suit? How tedious for you.
EAN
(Moving closer to her)
I prefer to occupy my mornings in pursuit of more pleasurable activity. And, traveling theatre has a much better schedule.
CHERRIE
Nonetheless, you can’t work here!
EAN
I always thought of show people as a brotherhood where no distinctions were made due to race or religion. Here, there was but one test for camaraderie...ability.
CHERRIE
But you don’t have any! You don’t know what you’re doing!
EAN
I will learn. Just like you did once upon a time. And, like my father always said: “Bi kashtesko merel i yag.”
CHERRIE
What?
EAN
Without the wood the fire will die.
CHERRIE
Yeah, I don’t know what that means.
EAN
It means you need me. You are going to want me around. Someday soon you’ll ask me – beg me – to stay.
(She is speechless – a rarity.)
Knock, knock.
CHERRIE
Who’s there?
EAN
I love.
CHERRIE
I love who?
EAN
I don’t know, you tell me.
CHERRIE
I...I...I’m going to speak with Byrne, who was clearly insane when she hired you!
(EAN grabs CHERRIE and kisses her. She wanders off, quite flustered.)
EAN
Same time tomorrow, sweetheart?
BYRNE
The world is falling apart and what am I doing? Staging kick-lines and ditties. And for what? Someday the show will end, and everyone will leave, and I’ll be the only survivor, alone in some rented rooms with my few remaining souvenirs around me. Oh, Jaysus, I can’t do this anymore.
(The telegram in her hands.)
You would have gone, wouldn’t you? You would have saved as many refugees as you could. I’m not strong like you. Not anymore.
ANASTAZY
Who are we talking to?
BYRNE
(She sniffles and wipes her eyes.)
Ghosts.
ANASTAZY
Ah. Good. We will have tea with them.
(ANASTAZY hands her a handkerchief and turns to the fire.)
I came here with only my old battered suitcase, and you let me make soup. I listened to the water of the ocean dancing on the beach night after night, and one day, I was not so very battered, like suitcase, anymore. That was a good day. We do what we can, and hope it is enough to fight off the darkness. My father taught me that.
(He hands her soup. They both sip their broth in silence.)
BYRNE
There’s a storm coming. Shall we pack up?
(She starts to pack, but Anastazy’s hand reaches out to stop her. He is deep in remembering and finally wants to share.)
ANASTAZY
The rain... makes me to remember. They moved us to the ghettos in Kraków -- it makes you cry, the colors are so beautiful there, like nowhere else in the world -- I was used to deliver potatoes to the labor camp in Oświęcim. Arbeit Macht Frei. The stench hit you in the face. They were treated as if they had nothing to do with the human race. Once, when I was in the cart to go home, I remember it started to rain. My dreams are filled with the smell of that rain. The last thing I saw was a young man with his arm around an older man. He was telling the old man a joke to make him smile. It was a very bad joke. I saw only love and respect among the prisoners. Such kindnesses.
(The sorrow overwhelms. He takes a breath to recover.)
What did pony say when he went to doctor?
BYNRE
I don’t know. What did the pony say when he went to the doctor?
ANASTAZY
“I am a little horse.” Ean taught me that one, before he left us.
BYRNE
Did ya hear the news today?
ANASTAZY
No. What happened today?
BYRNE
Two peanuts –
ANASTAZY
Peanuts?
BYRNE
Yes, two peanuts...
ANASTAZY
I see. What happened to the peanuts?
BYRNE
Two peanuts were walking down the lane. One was assaulted.
(ANASTAZY contemplates the joke. Silence.)
ANASTAZY
The peanut was salted? Ah. Yes. Very amusing. You put into the show?
BYRNE
Thinking about it. Maybe we can work up a little ditty together. Yes?
