Section 3 of 12 - Table of Contents
ANITA'S SECRET OR CHRISTMAS IN THE STEERAGE
[Illustration:
SANTA CLAUS JACK FROST ANITA HULDA
SERGIUS MEENY BIDDY MARY PADDY MIKE
TOMASSO DUTCH TWINS NEELDA AH GOO
YAKOB HANS MIEZE SANO SAN]
ANITA'S SECRET OR CHRISTMAS IN THE STEERAGE
A CHRISTMAS PLAY IN ONE ACT FOR SANTA CLAUS AND SIXTEEN CHILDREN.
CHARACTERS.
SANTA CLAUS _Adult_
JOLLY JACK FROST _Little Boy_
ANITA, _a Little Italian Immigrant_ _Aged Eight or Nine_
HULDA, _from Holland_ _Aged Ten_
SERGIUS, _from Russia_ _Aged Nine_
MEENY, _from Germany_ _Aged Seven_
BIDDY MARY, _from Ireland_ _Aged about Eight_
PADDY MIKE, _from Ireland_ _Aged about Seven_
KLINKER } _Little Dutch Twins_
SCHWILLIE WILLIE WINKUM} _Aged Four or Five_
NEELDA, _from Spain_ _Aged Five_
AH GOO, _from China_ _Little Boy_
YAKOB, _from Denmark_ _Aged Six_
HANS, _from Norway_ _Aged Four_
MIEZE, _from Germany_ _Aged Six_
SANO SAN, _from Japan_ _Little Girl_
* * * * *
TIME OF PLAYING--_About One Hour and Fifteen Minutes._
COSTUMES, ETC.
_For notes on costuming, scenery and properties, see "Remarks on the
Production of the Play" at the end of the play._
ARGUMENT.
It is the night before Christmas and the scene is on a big ocean-going
vessel many miles out at sea. Down in the lower part of the ship, in
the steerage, is a group of poor little immigrant children who are
leaving the trials and troubles of the old world behind them and are
looking forward to the golden promises held out by our own "land of
the free and the home of the brave." But the hearts of the little
immigrants are sad. It is the night before Christmas, and how could
Santa Claus ever hope to reach them away out in the middle of the
ocean? Even the sleigh and the magical reindeers could never be
expected to make such a trip.
Anita, a little Italian girl, alone has faith in the coming of the
good Saint. She is wandering around the ship when all of a sudden,
much to her surprise, she hears a mysterious noise in a great big
barrel, and who should jump out but little Jack Frost himself. Jack
assures her that Santa Claus really is coming to visit the ship, and
more than that, he is going to make an especial trip in an air ship!
And this is little Anita's secret. The children all fall asleep, but
Anita keeps watch for the mysterious aeroplane that will bring joy to
every little heart in the steerage, and, sure enough, just a little
before midnight Anita and Jack Frost look through a telescope and see
the lights of the approaching air ship.
Soon Santa Claus himself is on board, and such a time as he and Anita
and jolly Jack Frost have in arranging a wonderful Christmas surprise
for the children. As an especial favor the good Saint decides to
awaken the children himself very early on Christmas morning. The clock
strikes twelve and it is Christmas Day. The bells of merry Christmas
are heard chiming in the distance, and Santa Claus and jolly Jack
Frost hold a Christmas morning revel with the little immigrant
children away down in the steerage of the big vessel.
* * * * *
SCENE: _The steerage of a large ocean-going vessel. Entrances R. and
L. Boxes and barrels down L. Box down R. Large barrel up L.C., with_
JOLLY JACK FROST _concealed therein._ HULDA _is seated on a small
stool down R., taking care of_ KLINKER _and_ SCHWILLIE WILLIE WINKUM,
_who are standing near her._ MEENY _is seated down L. on a box; she is
knitting a woolen stocking._ SERGIUS, PADDY MIKE, TOMASSO, YAKOB _and_
AH GOO _are playing leapfrog at C. of stage._ HANS, MIEZE, NEELDA
_and_ SANO SAN _stand at rear._ BIDDY MARY _is seated near_ HULDA;
_she is peeling potatoes. All sing._
OPENING SONG.
[Music illustration:
1. The ship is sail-ing ver-y fast,
We can't go out to play;
But Christmas Day is com-ing soon,
It is-n't far a-way.
2. We're sail-ing to A-mer-i-ca,
So far a-cross the sea,
We're hap-py lit-tle im-mi-grants,
Our hearts are light and free.
3. We're hap-py lit-tle for-eign-ers,
From far a-cross the way,
But soon we will be cit-i-zens
Of dear old U.S.A.
Then clap, clap, clap to-geth-er,
Clap, clap, a-way;
The steer-age is a hap-py place--
Tomorrow's Christmas Day.]
(_On the words "clap, clap, clap together," the children hold left
hand horizontally in front of their chests, palm upward, raising the
right hand and bringing it down on the left with a sharp clap._
_Sing the first verse seated around stage. On the first four lines of
the second verse nod heads and smile at audience. On the line "We're
happy little immigrants," each one points to chest, nods head and
smiles broadly._
_For the third verse all rise and stand in couples in small groups all
around stage. On the first two lines of the third verse each one faces
his partner slightly, nods at him and shakes index finger of right
hand at partner. On "dear, old U.S.A." all make a deep bow to
audience. After third verse is completed, all form a circle and skip
around in time to the music, repeating the third verse. On "clap,
clap, clap together," they stand still and clap hands as before. When
the song is ended all resume former positions, as at the rise of the
curtain, but the boys do not play leapfrog._)
TOMASSO (_seated on floor at C._). Tomorrow comes the great, grand
festival of Christmas, is it not, Paddy Mike?
PADDY MIKE (_seated near him, nods his head_). Sure and it is. This is
the holy Christmas Eve.
MEENY (_seated down L., knitting stocking_). The night of the day
behind Christmas is always Christmas Eve, ain't it? (_Nods head._)
Sure it is.
SCHWILLIE. Und tomorrow we gets lots of Christmas presents always, me
und Klinker; don't we, Klinker?
KLINKER. Sure we do. Leedle horses and pictures und candy und other
things also; don't we, Schwillie Willie Winkum?
HULDA. That was when we were at home in Holland. It's different,
maybe, out here in this great big boat. Ven we get by the city of New
York next week then maybe we'll get some presents already.
KLINKER. But good Saint Nicholas always comes the night before
Christmas; don't he, Schwillie Willie Winkum?
SCHWILLIE. Sure. Won't he come tonight, Hulda?
HULDA. How could he get way out here on the ocean already? Do you
think he is a fish? We ain't living at home in Holland no more. We're
way out on the Atlantic Ocean in a great big ship.
MEENY. Ja, und I wish I was back at home already. So much have I been
seasick, mit der ship going oop und down, oop und down! Ach, it's
awful. (SERGIUS, TOMASSO, YAKOB, PADDY MIKE _and_ AH GOO _play
jack-stones._)
KLINKER. But Saint Nicholas ought to come tonight, Hulda. I been a
awfully good boy, isn't I, Schwillie Willie Winkum?
SCHWILLIE. Sure you is. Und I've been a awfully good boy, too. Isn't
I, Klinker?
KLINKER. Sure. We've been awfully good boys.
HULDA. Maybe even if Saint Nicholas don't come tonight, you can see
the great, big whale tomorrow. If he's a good whale he'll surely let
the leedle Dutch twins see him on Christmas Day.
MEENY. Oh, I vant to see der whale. I've looked und I've looked und
I've looked, but I ain't even so much as seen his leedle tail yet
already. Und it makes me seasick to look so much, too.
BIDDY MARY. Are ye sure it was a whale ye saw that day, Sergius boy?
SERGIUS. Of course I'm sure. It was awful big. The biggest fish I ever
saw. Even in Russia we do not have such big fish as whales. Paddy Mike
saw it, too.
PADDY MIKE. Sure and I did. And me two eyes nearly fell out of me head
with lookin' at it, it was that wonderful. He shot a big stream of
water right up out of his head, he did, and then he dived down in the
ocean again, and we didn't see him any more at all, at all. (MIEZE
_and_ SANO SAN _turn backs to audience and look over the railing into
the water._)
HULDA (_to the twins_). There! Now if you get to see the great big
whale, that's almost as good as having old Saint Nicholas come, ain't
it?
SCHWILLIE. Whales can't bring you no Christmas presents, can they,
Klinker?
KLINKER. Und whales you can see any time. I'd rather have Saint
Nicholas, wouldn't I, Schwillie Willie Winkum?
SERGIUS. Who is this Saint Nicholas they are looking for, Hulda?
HULDA (_astonished_). Why, don't you know who he is yet? He's the best
old man that ever was. Und he comes the night before Christmas und
visits all the little children in Holland.
MEENY (_proudly_). Und in Germany, too. (SERGIUS _goes to_ HULDA.)
KLINKER. Und if they're good they get candy und oranges und toys und
things, don't they, Schwillie Willie Winkum?
SCHWILLIE. Und if they're bad, they get a good big birch stick. But I
ain't been bad. I've been awfully good, isn't I, Klinker?
KLINKER. Sure. Und me also.
HULDA (_to_ SERGIUS). On Christmas Eve in Holland all the children
march around the streets, following one who carries a big silver star.
And the people who meet us give us money and gifts to help the poor.
Oh, Christmas time is just grand in Holland!
KLINKER. Und we set out our leedle wooden shoes und old Saint Nicholas
fills 'em with candy.
SCHWILLIE. Und we put a leedle bit of hay in our shoes for his good
old horsie, Sleipner. Dot makes him happy.
MEENY. In Germany we call him Santa Claus, und he comes riding in a
sleigh drawn through the sky mit reindeers. Und we have Christmas
trees all lighted mit candles und things, und full of toys und paper
stars und angels und apples. But Santa Claus could never get out here
in der middle of der ocean. If he did maybe he'd get seasick already,
und all der reindeers would get drownded in der water.
SERGIUS (_standing R.C._). In Russia there is an old woman named
Babouska who visits all the children on the night before Christmas.
She carries a big basket full of good things.
TOMASSO (_seated on floor at C._). In sunny Italy the children all go
to midnight church on Christmas Eve, and when we make ourselves awake
on Christmas morning, our shoes are all full of candy and chestnuts
and figs and oranges. But of course on a big ship like-a this we'll
not get-a nothing at all.
KLINKER (_crying_). But I want some presents already.
SCHWILLIE (_crying_). Und me also. I want some presents, too.
KLINKER. Und Saint Nicholas can't come. Oh, oh! He can't get out on
the big ocean.
SCHWILLIE. Maybe he could float out on a piece of ice yet. Could he,
Hulda?
HULDA. No. I don't think he's much of a floater.
MEENY. If he did it would make him awful seasick.
KLINKER. I wish we was landed in New York yet, so I do.
SCHWILLIE. Where is Anita? She'll know.
HULDA. Yes, Anita will know whether he is coming or not. She knows
almost everything.
PADDY MIKE (_standing at rear L._). Here comes Anita now, and sure
she's having a grand time, so she is.
ALL (_rising and going to rear, looking off L._). Here she comes.
Hurrah for Anita. (_Music: The same as for the Opening Song._)
TOMASSO (_calling_). Anita, Anita, come here quick. We want you.
ANITA (_outside L._). I'm coming. Wait a minute. I'm coming.
_Music swells louder._ ANITA _dances in from L., all sing as she
dances around, waving her tambourine._
ALL (_singing to tune of the "Opening Song"_).
We're sailing to America,
Away across the sea,
We're happy little immigrants,
Our hearts are light and free.
Then clap, clap, clap together,
(_All skip around._)
Clap, clap away;
The steerage is a happy place--
Tomorrow's Christmas Day.
ANITA (_comes forward to C. surrounded by the others_). Oh, I've just
had the grandest time. It was so superb, magnificent, sublime!
(_Extends arms in ecstasy._) I have-a been at the leetla window
watching the great, grand, magnificent ocean. It was all so blue and
so green and so purple--and the sinking sun is all shining on the
great-a, beeg waves, like-a sparkling diamonds. (_Use elaborate
gestures at all times._) And me, the poor, leetla Italian girl, gets
to see all this great-a, grand-a ocean. It is superb, magnificent,
sublime! Ah, I am so happy, I could sing and dance and kees everybody
on the great-a, grand-a earth!
MEENY (_at L._). Vot makes you so happy, Anita? Maybe I'd be happy yet
also, if I didn't get seasick once in a while.
ANITA. What makes me so happy, Meeny? It's the sun and the waves, and
the sunlight shining like diamonds on the great-a, grand-a ocean. Are
you not also happy, Biddy Mary?
BIDDY MARY (_standing by_ ANITA). I am not. Sure, I niver do be having
time to be seeing diamonds on the great big waves. I have to be hard
at work, so I do, peeling the praties for our Christmas breakfast.
ANITA. I watched the great-a red sun as he began to sink, sink, sink
way down in the ocean. And the beeg-a waves got more beeg and more
beeg and on top of them I saw long white lace fringe. The green silk
waves were all-a trimmed with white lace fringe. And sometimes I think
I see the leetla mermaid fairies dancing in the foam. Leetla green and
white mermaids with the long long-a hair.
TOMASSO (_at R._). You make-a me seek, Anita. There is-a no such
things as fairies.
ANITA. But I love to _think_ there is. It is a great, grand-a pleasure
just to think there is. Is it not, Meeny?
MEENY (_stolidly_). Oh, sure.
ANITA. And that is why we should all be so verra, verra happy. We can
think such-a lovely things. The poor leetla children at-a home, pouf!
They cannot think such things, because they have never seen such a
great, beeg-a ship, or such a great, beeg-a ocean--
SERGIUS. Or a whale.
PADDY MIKE. Or a sailor man.
HULDA. Or a nice little steerage bed built just like a shelf in the
wall.
TOMASSO. Or the great beeg-a engine that makes the ship go.
MEENY. Or the tons and tons of coal vay down deep by the cellar.
SERGIUS (_mocking her_). Way down deep by the cellar! Whoever heard of
a cellar on board of a ship? You mean--down in the hatch.
MEENY. Hatch? Vot is dot hatch? Dis ain't a chicken, it's a boat.
(_All laugh._)
KLINKER (_takes_ SCHWILLIE _by the hand and goes to_ ANITA). Anita, we
want to ask you a question.
ANITA. Well, and what is the question of the leetla Dutch twins?
SCHWILLIE. Tonight is the night before Christmas.
KLINKER. Und we want to know if the good Saint Nicholas is coming
tonight.
ANITA. I don't know. You see it would be a great beeg-a, long-a trip
way out here on the ocean.
KLINKER (_half crying_). But I want him to come. I've been a awful
good boy, isn't I, Schwillie Willie Winkum?
SCHWILLIE. Sure, you is. Und me also, ain't I, Klinker?
ANITA. If you have both been verra, verra good I think that maybe the
good Saint will come. (_Looks around._) Have you all been verra, verra
good?
OTHERS. Yes, all of us.
HANS. We're always very, very good at Christmas time.
AH GOO. Me velly, _velly_ good.
ANITA (_points off R._). See, way up there on the upper deck, are the
rich, grand-a ladies and gentlemen coming out from the great, beeg-a
dining-room. If you go and stand under the hole maybe they'll throw
you some oranges or candy. They're awful nice peoples on the upper
deck.
MEENY. Let's all go right away quick. Maybe we'll get some oranges und
candy.
KLINKER. Oh, how I do love oranges und candy, don't I, Schwillie
Willie Winkum?
SCHWILLIE. Sure, und me also, don't I, Klinker?
SERGIUS. Let us all go together. (_All come forward and sing to tune
of the Opening Song._)
We're happy little immigrants,
We'll sing our happy song,
Our hearts are light, our faces bright--
The good ship speeds along.
Then clap, clap, clap together,
Clap, clap away;
The steerage is a happy place--
Tomorrow's Christmas Day.
(_All the children except_ ANITA _go out at R., repeating the chorus
of their song._)
ANITA. Surely the good-a Saint Nicholas will come tonight, because
there are so many, many verra good children on board this-a ship.
(_Counting on fingers._) There's Hulda from Holland and her two leetla
brothers, the Dutch twins, Klinker and Schwillie Willie Winkum. They
must have a great-a beeg-a Christmas present. And there's Sergius from
Russia, and Meeny and Paddy Mike and Biddy Mary, and Neelda from
Spain, and Yakob and Hans and Ah Goo and Mieze and leetla Sano San
from afar away Japan. They must all have the great-a, grand-a
presents. Maybe I could write old Santa Claus a leetla letter and tell
how good the poor children way down in the steerage have been. And
there's my cousin Tomasso from Italy. Oh, Santa Claus must bring him a
new violin. Then he can make-a the beautiful music on the golden
streets of New York. If there is anybody at all in the whole beeg
world who should have a nice-a, beeg-a Christmas, it is the verra poor
leetla children whose mammas and papas haven't got very much money.
But sometimes the good Santa Claus forgets all about the verra poor
leetla children--and that's the mostest saddest thing of all, for they
are the verra ones he should remember. When I get to be a great-a,
beeg, grand-a, reech lady in the golden streets of New York, ah! then
I will buy presents and presents and presents, and I will-a give them
to all the verra poor leetla children in the world. I wonder why it is
that the verra good Santa Claus sometimes forgets the poor leetla
children on-a Christmas Day. He never forgets the reech leetla
children, only those who are verra, verra poor. And that is a sad
misfortune. If I had-a nice-a Christmas present, with many candies and
figs and oranges, I could never rest until I had given something nice
to all the poor leetla children in the city--for that is what makes
the mostest happy Christmas of all.
_Enter_ SERGIUS _from R. quietly. He comes down behind_ ANITA _and
places his hands over her eyes._
SERGIUS. Guess who it is.
ANITA. Sergius!
SERGIUS (_disappointed_). Why, I thought that you would think it was a
goblin.
ANITA. Goblin? What is a goblin, Sergius?
SERGIUS. It's a little, wee bit of a man with a long beard. And they
go around having a good time at night. They are always very active on
the night before Christmas. (_Looks cautiously around._) I shouldn't
be at all surprised if we should see some tonight.
ANITA (_frightened_). Oh, Sergius, will they harm us?
SERGIUS. Not very much. They just like to have a little fun, that's
all. We have lots of them in Russia. And I believe there are some down
here in the steerage.
ANITA (_grasps his arm_). Oh, Sergius! Where are they?
SERGIUS. Well, last night I could not sleep, so I got up and came in
here, and just as I was passing by that barrel (_points to barrel up
L.C. where_ JACK FROST _is concealed_), I thought I heard a noise. It
was like some one rapping on the barrel. Like this. (_Raps on another
barrel._) I thought it was a goblin and I never stopped running until
I was safe in my bunk with the bedclothes around my head.
ANITA. Pooh! I'm not afraid. No leetla goblin man can make-a me
afraid.
SERGIUS. They do wonderful things on Christmas Eve. But come; let us
go to the bottom of the stairs. The ladies and gentlemen are looking
down and Tomasso is playing his violin. Soon they will throw apples
and oranges down to us, and perhaps money. Come and see.
ANITA. No, I'd rather wait here.
SERGIUS (_crossing to door at R._). All right, but don't let the
goblin man catch you. (_Exits at R._)
ANITA. The goblin man! Poof! There is no such thing as a goblin man.
In-a Italy we do not have such goblin mans. He said he heard something
rap, rap on the inside of the barrel. Poof! Sergius must have been
having one beeg, grand-a dream. Never in all my life did I ever hear
anything go rap, rap on the inside of a barrel. (_Stands close to_
JACK FROST'S _barrel._) And if I did, I'd think it was a leetla,
weeny-teeny mouse. But a leetla, weeny-teeny mouse never could go rap,
rap on the inside of a barrel, try as hard as he could. It must have
been a dream.
JACK FROST (_raps sharply on the inside of the barrel_).
ANITA. Oh, what was that? I thought I heard something. (_Goes toward
barrel cautiously._) Maybe it is the leetla, teeny-weeny baby mouse.
(Rises on tiptoes to peer into the barrel.) I'll just peek in and see.
(_Just as she looks into the barrel_, JACK FROST _pops up his head
almost in her very face._)
JACK FROST. Hello!
ANITA (_starting back, very much frightened_). Oh!
JACK FROST. Did you say oh, or hello?
ANITA. I just said, oh.
JACK FROST. Well, then, hello. (_Climbs out of the barrel._)
ANITA. Hello.
JACK FROST (_goes to her_). You aren't frightened, are you?
ANITA (_at R._). Well, I'm a leetla frightened, but not verra much.
JACK FROST. Why? I won't hurt you.
ANITA. You came up so sudden. I never expected to find a boy in that
barrel. And you are such a queer looking boy.
JACK FROST. Boy? I'm not a boy.
ANITA. You're not? You look like a boy. You're not a girl, are you?
JACK FROST (_indignantly_). Well, I should say not! I'm just a kind of
a sort of a kind of an idea, that's all. I'm your imagination.
ANITA. I hope you're not a goblin.
JACK FROST. Oh, no. I'm not a goblin. They're old and have long
beards. I'm not old at all. (_Twirls around on toes._) See, I'm even
younger than you are. (_Makes low bow._) I'm a pixie.
ANITA. And what is a pixie?
JACK FROST. I told you before, it's just your imagination.
ANITA. You look like a boy. What is your name?
JACK FROST. My name is Claus.
ANITA. Claus! Why, what a funny leetla name. I never heard a name like
that in Italy. Claus what?
JACK FROST. Santa Claus. Haven't you ever heard of Santa Claus?
ANITA. Oh, yes; many, many times. But you _can't_ be Santa Claus.
JACK FROST (_indignantly_). I'd like to know why I can't! It's my
name, isn't it?
ANITA. But you are not the real, real truly Santa Claus. He is an old,
old man. A leetla fat old man with white-a hair just like-a the snow,
and a long, white-a beard.
JACK FROST. Ho, you must be thinking of my daddy.
ANITA. Your daddy? Is Santa Claus your daddy?
JACK FROST. Sure, he is. I'm Jack Frost Santa Claus, Jr. Most folks
call me Jolly Jack Frost. The little fat man with the white beard is
my father.
ANITA (_astonished_). Why, I didn't know Santa Claus had any leetla
boys.
JACK FROST. Sure, he has. Who do you think takes care of the reindeer,
and who waters the doll-tree and picks the dolls?
ANITA. Picks the dolls? Do the dolls grow on trees?
JACK FROST. Yes, indeed, right next door to the taffy cottage, down
Chocolate Lane. I take care of the marble bushes and the popgun trees.
You just ought to see our wonderful gardens.
ANITA. Oh, I'd love to see them.
JACK FROST. We've got a Teddy-bear garden, and a tool garden, and a
furniture garden, and a game garden, and a candy garden, though most
of the candy comes from mines.
ANITA. The mines?
JACK FROST. Sure. We dig out just the kind we want. We have caramel
mines, and vanilla mines and mines full of chocolate almonds, and
rivers of fig paste and strawberry ice cream soda. They flow right
through the picture-book garden.
ANITA. Oh, it must be the most wonderful place in the whole world.
JACK FROST. And I help take care of it. I have fourteen little
brothers, and we're all twins.
ANITA. And have you a mother, too? Has Santa Claus a nice-a, fine-a
wife?
JACK FROST (_laughs_). Of course he's got a wife. Haven't you ever
heard of my mother. Her name is Mary.
ANITA. Mary? Mary what?
JACK FROST. Why, Merry Mary Christmas, of course. I thought everyone
knew that.
ANITA. And does she go round the world with Santa Claus on the night
before Christmas?
JACK FROST. Oh, no, she's too busy for that. She stays at home and
takes care of the gardens.
ANITA. But what are you doing here on the ship? I should think you'd
be with your father.
JACK FROST. Ah, that is a secret. You mustn't tell anyone.
ANITA. How can I tell anyone when I don't know myself.
JACK FROST. Well, maybe I'll tell you.
ANITA. Oh, if you only would. I'd just love to have a great-a, beeg,
grand-a secret.
JACK FROST. You can keep a secret, can't you?
ANITA. Of course I can. Girls can always keep secrets.
JACK FROST. Some girls can't. But I believe you really can. Your
name's Anita, isn't it?
ANITA. Yes. But how did you know?
JACK FROST. Oh, we know everything. How old are you?
ANITA. If you tell me how you knew my name, I'll tell you how old I
am.
JACK FROST. Well, I just guessed it.
ANITA. Then why don't you guess how old I am?
JACK FROST. Cute, ain't you?
ANITA. Not so verra cute. I'm going on nine.
JACK FROST. Then you're old enough to keep the secret. Now, first you
must promise you won't tell until tomorrow morning.
ANITA. Cross my heart. (_She does so._)
JACK FROST (_crosses to her_). Listen, then; here's the secret. (_He
whispers in her ear._)
ANITA (_after a pause, while he is whispering_). He is? _He is?_ Oh!!
JACK FROST (_nods his head wisely_). Yes, he is.
ANITA. Honest?
JACK FROST. Honest injun!
ANITA. With his pack and presents and a Christmas tree and everything?
JACK FROST (_nods head emphatically_). Yes, ma'am, every single thing.
ANITA. Tonight?
JACK FROST. Just before the clock strikes twelve, when all the little
children in the steerage are asleep.
ANITA. But how will he get out here in the middle of the ocean?
JACK FROST. Fly.
ANITA. Fly? But he hasn't any wings. (JACK _nods._) He has? (JACK
_nods._) Really and truly wings?
JACK FROST (_nods_). Really and truly wings.
ANITA. I never knew Santa Claus had wings before.
JACK FROST. He only bought them this year.
ANITA. Bought them? (JACK _nods._) Then they didn't grow on him?
JACK FROST (_laughs_). Of course not. He's coming in an air ship.
ANITA. Why, I never knew Santa Claus had an air ship.
JACK FROST. He's got the very latest twentieth century model. He only
uses the reindeer once in a while now. He can go much faster on an air
ship. (_Sits down._) Oh, I'm tired.
ANITA. I didn't know pixies ever got tired.
JACK FROST. You ought to see the work I've done today.
ANITA. Here on the boat?
JACK FROST. Yes, ma'am, right here on the boat.
ANITA. Oh, show me.
JACK FROST. I will. But it's part of the secret. (_Goes to rear L._)
Come here and I'll show you what I've been doing.
ANITA (_goes to him_). It isn't anything scary, is it?
JACK FROST. Of course not. (_Lets her peep through the curtain that
conceals the Christmas tree from the audience._) There; what do you
think of that?
ANITA. Oh, oh! oh!! It's too great and grand and wonderful for words.
Oh, what a wonderful, wonderful secret! I'm so glad you've told me. It
is so much nicer to know all about it beforehand. I wish I could tell
Tomasso.
JACK FROST. Well, you can't. It's a secret and you mustn't tell
anybody.
ANITA. But are you really, truly sure he's coming?
JACK FROST. Of course he is. That is our secret.
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Category: Plays Sections: 12 What's this? Table of Contents |
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