Scene 2

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_ SCENE II

SCENE II: A squalid room in a city tenement, a miserable stove, a bedraggled bed. Right, a table at which a poorly dressed man and woman are working fast and feverishly. Three children of about four, eight, and ten years sit on a bench, left, sewing as fast as they can, looking tired, depressed, weary. It is evening, the room poorly lit. Noises from the street, street calls, rumbling of vehicles, honk of autos, etc., etc.

The Younger Child.
Ma, can I go to bed? I am so tired and hungry.

Mother.
It ain't ten yet. It will be only a few minutes more. The boss is coming early in the morning and we must have the work ready. Now you be still and keep working. You don't know what a good home you got. Ain't she got a good home, John?

Father.
You bet she got a good home, and if you all work
now we get the good coffee and bread in the morning
and perhaps in a couple a weeks we all go to the movies.

Oldest Child.
Gee, I like to see that fairy play what we see once.

(Bell strikes ten.)

Mother.

Now, go right to bed, children. It is ten o'clock.

(Takes light and goes with husband into room right.
Children undress and scramble into one bed.)

(Street noises all discontinue, back of room opens out on to the orchard and the music of first scene is heard with dancing children. EVERYCHILD comes into the room with her rosy lamp. The three children sit up in bed and rub their eyes. EVERYCHILD glides all about the room and looks at the squalid place in dismay, then goes up and smiles at the children.)

Everychild.
You are some of the lost children. How did you
get in here? Come with me. I will give you some
better clothes and you can dance and sing with
all of them.

(They get out of bed and she leads
them in wonder and joy out into the orchard.)

(CURTAIN FALLS) _

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