The Blue Bird

Mrs. Berlingot:
Angela! Angela, close that window! You know better than that!

Angela Berlingot:
But it's Mytyl. She's got a bird.

Mrs. Berlingot:
Yes, yes, but you're sick enough, dear, without catching your death of cold. Now close the window.

Angela Berlingot:
Oh, Mother, I've always wanted a bird like this. Please ask her to give it to me.

Mrs. Berlingot:
That one, she'd never give anybody anything.

Mytyl:
Angela Berlingot wanted me to give it to her.

Mummy Tyl:
Well, why didn't you? She needs something to cheer her up. Poor child, sick in bed all winter.

Mytyl:
It's not my fault she's sick.

Mummy Tyl:
It's your fault you're selfish.

Daddy Tyl:
You have so much that she hasn't, Mytyl.

Mytyl:
What do I have?

Daddy Tyl:
Health, for one thing. You can run around and play.

Mytyl:
Oh, that isn't anything.

Tyltyl:
I wouldn't like to stay in bed all day.

Mytyl:
I wouldn't mind.

Mytyl:
Mummy, why do we have to be so poor all the time?

Mummy Tyl:
Poor? Us?

Mytyl:
Well, we are. We can't even have a party for Christmas.

Daddy Tyl:
You have a roof over your head, haven't you? And warm clothes.

Mytyl:
These old things?

Daddy Tyl:
And plenty to eat.

Mytyl:
Nothing I like! Nothing good! Not like those rich children have. Cakes, candies, dolls to play with, pretty dresses - everything! I have nothing.

Mummy Tyl:
You have plenty.

Mytyl:
What do I have?

Mummy Tyl:
A father who works hard for you.

Daddy Tyl:
And a mother who cooks and cleans and mends.

Mytyl:
Oh Daddy, I don't want you to go.

Daddy Tyl:
I have to go, darling.

Mytyl:
Why do they have to have war? What makes war, anyway?

Daddy Tyl:
The same things that make trouble everywhere. Greed. Selfishness. Those who aren't content with what they have.

Mytyl:
But you're not like that, Daddy. Why should you have to go?

Daddy Tyl:
That's what's wrong about it, Mytyl. You can't be unhappy inside yourself without making others unhappy, too.

Mytyl:
Mummy, I'm sorry for the way I behaved at supper.

Mummy Tyl:
That's what you always say, Mytyl, that you're sorry. But the next day you do the same thing right over again.

Mytyl:
I know I do, and I don't know why.

Mummy Tyl:
Well, you must find out why. Otherwise you'll always be unhappy and discontent. You don't want that, do you? You want to be happy, don't you?

Mytyl:
Yes, Mummy. Like you. You're happy all the time, aren't you?

Mummy Tyl:
Nearly all the time, dear.

Mytyl:
Don't worry, Mummy. Daddy will be back.

Mytyl:
Who are you?

Fairy Berylune:
Haven't you got eyes? Can't you see? I'm Berylune!

Mytyl:
Berylune?

Fairy Berylune:
Yes, Berylune! The fairy! Hurry now, quick! Get into your clothes and be off! You've got to find the blue bird!

Mytyl:
The blue bird?

Fairy Berylune:
Yes, the bird that's blue! The blue bird!

Mytyl:
But why? Why should we find it?

Fairy Berylune:
You want to be happy, don't you?

Mytyl:
Of course, but what do I want with an old blue bird?

Fairy Berylune:
What a stupid girl you are! Don't you know that the blue bird means happiness?

Mytyl:
Can she talk, too?

Tylette:
Well, naturally. If the dog can.

Mytyl:
Oh, Tylette, I'm so glad! We've got to find the blue bird!

Tylette:
The blue bird?

Tylo:
I'll come! I'll help you!

Tylette:
You'll come too, won't you, Tylette?

Tylette:
Why not? It might be amusing.

Tylo:
I don't like the way she said that.

Mytyl:
Why, Tylo!

Tylo:
We shouldn't take Tylette along. She's treacherous.

Fairy Berylune:
What silly children you are not to know this lady! You've seen her hundreds of times. This is Light. Light, may I present Mytyl and Tyltyl.

Mytyl:
How do you do, Light?

Tyltyl:
How do you do?

Light:
There's no need to be formal. We're old friends. Where would you like to go? I shall be your guide.

Mytyl:
We're not sure where to go.

Fairy Berylune:
Why don't you use your head? Hasn't it occurred to you that the blue bird might be hiding in the Past?

Mytyl:
But where is the Past? Do you know the way?

Light:
Why, of course. The Past is right behind us.

Tylette:
I know we've never been friends, but now we've got to work together. We can't allow the children to go through with this.

Tylo:
Why not? Why can't we?

Tylette:
Don't you see? We're free now! If they succeed and find the blue bird, we'll have to go back to what we were. Animals! Dumb slaves to man!

Tylo:
That's the way I like it! Man is the master, and we must obey him.

Tylette:
I always knew you were a fool.

Tylo:
If they want to look for a blue bird or a pink owl, I'm gonna help them!

Granny Tyl:
Somebody must be thinking of us. I feel quite strong. I think we're going to have visitors. They seem to be coming near.

Grandpa Tyl:
Maybe now I can finish my carving. I've been at this one for nearly a whole year.

Granny Tyl:
That's because we're so seldom awake.

Mytyl, Tyltyl:
Granny! Grandpa!

Granny Tyl:
It's the children! Give us a hug, dears, a big one this time.

Grandpa Tyl:
It's been months and months since you last remembered us.

Granny Tyl:
The last time was Easter morning. The church bells were ringing.

Mytyl:
Easter? Oh, we didn't go out that day. We both had very bad colds.

Granny Tyl:
But you thought of us.

Mytyl:
Yes, we missed you.

Granny Tyl:
Every time you think of us, we wake up and see you again.

Mytyl:
But we thought you were dead.

Granny Tyl:
No, dear. Only when we're forgotten.

Tylette:
Why don't you go to the Land of Luxury? There's plenty to eat there. Everything you could think of.

Mytyl:
Do you think we'd find the blue bird there?

Light:
No, dear. I don't.

Tylette:
Why not? They'll have everything they want there. Where would be a better place to look for the blue bird?

Mytyl:
We might find the blue bird there.

Light:
Very well. Go there if you want.

Mytyl:
How do we get to the Land of Luxury?

Tylette:
It's very easy. We take the first side road.

Mytyl:
Will you be waiting for us?

Light:
Yes, dear, just beyond. But don't stay too long. It's never wise to spend too much time in the Land of Luxury.

Mrs. Luxury:
Why didn't you think to get each of them a pony? Then they'd have nothing to quarrel over!

Mr. Luxury:
Why didn't you? Well, don't stand there gaping! Go and get another pony!

Footman:
Yes, sir.

Tyltyl:
All right, you can have this old pony! They'll get me a better one!

Mytyl:
Oh, no! You keep this one, and I'll take the better one!

Tyltyl:
I'll get there first!

Mytyl:
Oh no, you won't!

Mrs. Luxury:
There just seems to be no satisfying them.

Mr. Luxury:
If you ask me, they're spoiled.

Mytyl:
Nobody here is kind. Not really kind. Not like Mommy and Daddy. I wouldn't trade them for all the Mr. and Mrs. Luxuries in the world!

Tylo:
Even if they are poor.

Mytyl:
Mommy and Daddy aren't poor. They just haven't any money. There's a difference.

Tylo:
Let's say we get out of here. Where's Tyltyl?

Mytyl:
I don't know. We're not speaking.

Tylo:
What? Not speaking? What's this place doing to us all? We've got to get out of here.

Oak:
Well, I guess there are enough of us here.

Maple Tree:
Then speak up!

Tylette:
The children of the woodcutter, your mortal enemy, are on their way here, looking for the blue bird.

Pine Tree:
The blue bird?

Tylette:
I've put as many obstacles in their way as I can, but now it's up to you.

Hickory Tree:
What do you want us to do?

Tylette:
Frighten them! Terrify them! Put the fear of the devil into them! They'll forget what they came for and go back where they belong. Oak, I rely upon you.

Elm Tree:
Oh, this is going to be jolly fun!

Oak:
Jolly fun? Are you all daft? Didn't you hear what she said? They're looking for the blue bird. What good would it do to frighten them? They'll only come back again and again. We must destroy them!

Mytyl:
Lightning struck, and the whole forest went up in flames.

Light:
Lightning and Fire are my stepbrothers. They're very wicked.

Mytyl:
We nearly got burned up.

Tyltyl:
Tylette did get burned up.

Tylo:
She got what she deserved.

Mytyl:
Don't say that, Tylo! Poor Tylette.

Light:
There, there, dear. Don't be unhappy. What about the blue bird?

Mytyl:
We didn't see one, not one. We didn't have time to look.

Tylo:
If you ask me, there is no such bird.

Mytyl:
Oh, there is, Tylo. There must be!

Light:
You haven't looked everywhere. The blue bird may be in the Future.

Little Girl:
Look! Live children!

Tyltyl:
Why do they call us live children?

Mytyl:
I don't know.

Young Lad:
You're live children, aren't you?

Mytyl:
Well, of course we're alive. Aren't you alive?

Young Lad:
Not yet. We're waiting to be born.

Little Girl:
Look how funny they dress.

Mytyl:
I was thinking the same thing about you.

Little Girl:
What are those things on your feet?

Mytyl:
They're my shoes. They're for protecting your feet from thorns and stones and the cold.

Young Lad:
It's all very confusing, but I expect we'll understand it when we're born.

Mytyl:
Why don't you get born?

Young Lad:
We will, but we have to wait our turn. Is it nice on Earth?

Tyltyl:
Yeah, it's all right.

Mytyl:
It's beautiful!

Little Sister:
Mytyl, Mytyl! Oh, you're Mytyl! And Tyltyl!

Mytyl:
How do you know our names?

Little Sister:
That's not very surprising. When I'm born, I'm going to be your little sister.

Mytyl:
Our little sister! Oh, when?

Little Sister:
I don't know just when. In a year or so.

Mytyl:
Oh, that's wonderful!

Little Sister:
Yes. In a way.

Mytyl:
In a way? There will be three of us! We'll have lots of fun together!

Little Sister:
Not for very long.

Mytyl:
Why not?

Little Sister:
I'll only be with you a short while.

Mytyl:
And then you're going away?

Little Sister:
Yes.

Tyltyl:
It's hardly worthwhile you coming at all, is it?

Little Sister:
It would seem so, but we can't pick and choose.

Mummy Tyl:
There's something wrong with these children. They must have eaten something last night that disagreed with them.

Daddy Tyl:
Well, they look all right to me.

Mummy Tyl:
But they've been talking such nonsense! About seeing their grandparents!

Mytyl:
But we did, Daddy! We really did!

Tyltyl:
But we're home now.

Mytyl:
And we missed you so!

Daddy Tyl:
You mean you're going to miss me when I go to war.

Mytyl:
Oh. I had forgotten about that.

Mummy Tyl:
Your daddy got up at daybreak and made a cage for your bird. Do you like it?

Mytyl:
Oh, Tyltyl, look! My bird, look what's happened to it! It's blue! It's the blue bird!

Daddy Tyl:
The blue bird?

Mytyl:
We looked everywhere for it, and all the time it was right here!

Mrs. Berlingot:
Angela! You're up! You're walking!

Angela Berlingot:
Yes, Mother. Look, it's Mytyl's bird. She's given it to me.

Mytyl:
It's the blue bird, Mrs. Berlingot.

Mrs. Berlingot:
Oh, Angela, I can't believe it! It's a miracle. I must go and tell your father!

Angela Berlingot:
Can I hold it now, Mytyl? Oh, it's so soft and warm! Will - Oh, Mytyl, it's gone! Oh, it got away!

Mytyl:
Don't cry. We'll find it again.

Angela Berlingot:
Oh no, we can't. We can't ever.

Mytyl:
Oh yes, we can, Angela. I'm sure of it. Because now, we know where to look for it, don't we?