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RETURN FROM BIRD ISLAND by ED BALLOU

copyright Ed Ballou, 2007! ! ! ! ! ! !

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Ed Ballou edballou@icloud.com

SCENE: A rocky beach at the base of a cliff on an arid island. Ancient stone steps, large and irregular, have been cut into the cliff, leading from the beach far up and out of sight to the top. Sparse vegetation clings to the cliff. A gentle sea is suggested by light at fore stage. SOUNDS of the sea and birds. AT RISE: RALPHIE BOY tumbles down the stone steps from above, almost falling onto the beach. He anxiously runs to the edge of the water at fore stage, hand shading his eyes, and scans the sea south, looks back up at the cliff and the old stone steps, scans the sea again, then drops his hand and paces back and forth at the waters edge.

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 1 ! ! ! ! ! ! RALPHIE BOY ! ! ! ! ! ! (Stops pacing) He shouldnt of gone from us. ! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, scans sea) Said one more trip, then wed be ne. ! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, scans) Loved the sea, but up n quit it, when he got that re coal in his hand.. couldnt work th ships no more.. had ta come back here, ta th Rock.. marry Ma n work th land.. start his family, me n George n Sis.. ever mornin hed go work our plot round th hill from th house.. ! ! ! ! ! ! (Looks back up behind him) .. under th cliffs.. started takin me when I got big enough.. Id hoe n weed n water.. help out.. wed talk.. man talk!.. bout th sea n ships n stuff.. sun always blazin down.. said he always wanted ta go back!.. ta th sea.. not ta tell Ma or tothers.. thought it were just talk.. til Uncle Jimmy needed a mate fur nother trip down south.. Bird Island.. thas where they always go, th men.. git a load o bird eggs.. sell em on tother islands on th trip back.. make a few bucks, keep us all goin.. wed eat th ones left over.. if they wasnt rotten... ! ! ! ! ! ! (Looks up) That sun!.. wed eat anythin, really.. gotta eat! ! ! ! ! ! ! (Looks around, pauses, scans sea to the south) I think he jes went fer th adventure! ! ! ! ! ! ! (Scans) One last big adventure, maybe.. Ma didnt like it, cried a lot!.. didnt know how ta tell tothers.. they cried, too!.. I didnt.. he had ta go!.. I knew that.. Bird Island... ! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, scans south) Should be back about now! - him n Uncle Jimmy n tothers.. went off inna good ship! I seen it - big white one, with great white sails like wings!.. I seen him.. seen him go.. it were quick.. ! ! ! ! ! ! (Wipes an eye, holds his chin up) He just said.. Take care o yer Ma.. - then he was gone, like that... ! ! ! ! ! ! (Takes a deep breath) Be back any day, now - could be today!.. then Mall stop cryin.. n tothers.. when he returns... ! ! ! ! ! ! (Scans sea) Should be about now! ! ! ! ! ! ! (Scans south) Bird Island... ! ! ! ! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 2 ! ! ! ! ! ! RALPHIE BOY (Cont.) ! ! ! ! ! ! (Drops hand, kicks a rock, looks down at the ! ! ! ! ! ! sea hissing at his feet) Soon, soon.. this green, green ol sea.. will call ta me.. as it called him n Uncle Jimmy n them what come before us.. n I will foller.. I know I will foller... ! ! ! ! ! ! (Looks out to sea - a sudden small shower of ! ! ! ! ! ! rocks from above strikes at the base of the cliff ! ! ! ! ! ! RALPHIE BOY jumps, then crouches down, ! ! ! ! ! ! looks back up cliff fearfully - slowly backs ! ! ! ! ! ! away from cliff to seas edge, never taking his ! ! ! ! ! ! eyes off something unseen and terrible up ! ! ! ! ! ! the cliffs, nally straightens up, tense) Damn them! Damn, damn, damn them! Damn! Oughta shoot ever one o them! ! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, looking up cliff) Like he shot mine.. came home n couldnt nd lil Billarsly nowhere.. Ma silent n tothers not lookin me inna eye, him all rough-like.. went out n looked agin.. him nally callin me in ta dinner... ! ! ! ! ! ! (Still in wonderment) .. n there was Billarsly.. parts o him, anyways... I lookin up from my plate n over ta him.. him lookin all helpless... n I runs out inta th night!.. him lookin fer me, ndin me under th cliffs, grabbin me by th arm n sayin.. ! ! ! ! ! ! (Slowly) We gotta eat, boy, thas all... ! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, gazing up cliffs) Thas all.. thas all.. yeah, thas all! ! ! ! ! ! ! (ENTER the OLD SAILOR down the rock ! ! ! ! ! ! steps, with pole and sh) ! ! ! ! ! ! OLD SAILOR Ralphie Boy! - you okay, now? - yer poor Mas bin lookin fer ya, all over th Rock - shes worried! ! ! ! ! ! ! RALPHIE BOY Bin waitin down here.. waitin fer th ship! ! ! ! ! ! ! OLD SAILOR Shoulda tol her! - worry yer Ma - specially now - whats she gonna do? ! ! ! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! RALPHIE BOY Do nothin! - ships comin in - hes comin back! - itll be all right agin!

! ! ! ! ! ! OLD SAILOR Yer Uncle Jimmy always comes back.. hes a good un, good capn.. shipped wit im many a time - him n yer poor Pa... ! ! ! ! ! ! (Looks to sea, laughs, puts down pole and sh) One time we was carryin a load o salt from Puerto Rico ta New York.. shin fer dinner, we caught some.. green-lookin sh - got suspicious! - fed em ta th ships cat n her kittens.. killed em all - too bad, thas all.. copper poisinin.. them sh musta bin feedin on some stuff growin in a copper vein, way down below! ! ! ! ! ! ! (Looks out to sea, laughs) Lucky we didnt eat em, thas all! ! ! ! ! ! ! (Looks out to sea) Too bad bout them cats... ! ! ! ! ! ! RALPHIE BOY Thas not fair, thas what! None othis is fair! ! ! ! ! ! Course it aint fair, son... ! ! ! ! ! But what can ya do? ! ! ! I dont know! ! ! ! ! OLD SAILOR (Picks up pole and sh)

RALPHIE BOY

! ! ! ! ! ! OLD SAILOR Grin n bear it.. thas all ya can do, boy... ! ! ! ! ! ! (Makes to leave) ! ! ! ! ! ! Wait! ! ! ! ! ! ! Ever bin ta Bird Island, in th ol days? ! ! ! ! ! ! Bird island? ! ! ! ! ! ! RALPHIE BOY (Pauses, scans sea, turns)

OLD SAILOR (Pauses)

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 4 ! ! ! ! ! ! OLD SAILOR (Cont.) ! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, puts down pole and sh) I went once - two days sail south!.. nally come up on a spooky-lookin lil island in th middle onowhere.. cloud ringin its volcano like Napoleans hat - so quiet - no one there.. n no water! - bring yer own, or youll never make it back.. had a bad feelin as we put ashore.. that was th time we had th big trouble! - sure ya heard about it from yer Pa - some Venezualans had come up, from down South America - lookin fer them bird eggs, too - they on one side othat spooky place, n we on tother - neither knowin th others was there - met wit a bang in th middle! - big ght broke out oer them eggs they chopped one o yer uncles - Ned - wit a hatchet - we all run back ta th ship wit Ned bleedin from his head - weighed anchor quick as we could! - set course fer th Rock, here - full sail on accounta Ned! - but ran inta big storm on th way back - hadta change sails three times - rippin like cannon shots! - blowed us way off course! - ran outta water.. everbody on th Rock, here, waitin on us, wonderin - like you here, Ralphie Boy, wonderin! - took six days ta make it back, thirsty as dogs! - poor ol Ned hadta git slid inta th sea after th storm.. nothin ta be done.. but grin n bear it! ! ! ! ! ! ! (Looks at RALPHIE BOY) Grin n bear it, boy... ! ! ! ! ! ! RALPHIE BOY You come back.. hell come back - th men always come back - hell come back ta me! ! ! ! ! ! ! OLD SAILOR Sure, yer Uncle Jimmy always comes back... ! ! ! ! ! It aint about Uncle Jimmy! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Boy, you crazy as a bedbug! ! RALPHIE BOY

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OLD SAILOR (Pauses, looks at him)

! ! ! ! ! ! RALPHIE BOY Yeah? - I seen him go, wit my own eyes - on that big white ship! ! ! ! ! ! ! OLD SAILOR It were a black one, boy, they took ta Bird Island - yer Uncles ship - th Sarah Hays - an ol three-master I served on once...

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 5 ! ! ! ! ! ! RALPHIE BOY Look! I seen a white schooner wit big white sails like wings, sail up n take him on board - I seen him sail away - I was there! ! ! ! ! ! ! OLD SAILOR ! ! ! ! ! ! (Slowly) It were a black ship, Ralphie Boy - whole island knows that... ! ! ! ! ! Shut up! Shut up! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Shut up, shut up, ol man! ! ! ! RALPHIE BOY (Clapping his hands over his ears, screwing his eyes shut)

! ! ! ! ! ! OLD SAILOR ! ! ! ! ! ! (Looks at him, looks away, scans the sea south, ! ! ! ! ! ! stops scanning, points) Here come yer ship, south o Goat Rock.. n shes black as death... ! ! ! ! ! ! (Picks up his pole and sh) I gotta nd yer Ma, tell her yer here... ! ! ! ! ! ! (He EXITS slowly, climbing the rock steps. ! ! ! ! ! ! RALPHIE BOY slowly uncovers his ears, opens ! ! ! ! ! ! his eyes, slowly looks out to sea south, in the ! ! ! ! ! ! direction the OLD SAILOR has pointed) ! ! ! ! ! ! RALPHIE BOY ! ! ! ! ! ! (Slowly) Black.. as death? ! ! ! ! ! ! (Peers) But shes all white! - n Pas on her! ! ! ! ! ! ! (Shouts) Pa! ! ! ! ! ! ! (Peers) Hes comin - comin back ta me! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! (Looks up and down the rocky beach, looks ! ! ! ! ! ! back up the cliffs) I could go! He dont really need me here when he comes back - hes really comin back fer them - Ma n tothers - not fer me - I kin see him later! - what he needs me now fer is

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 6 ! ! ! ! ! ! RALPHIE BOY (Cont.) ta keep th plot tended - I fergot, I gotta weed n water! - no, what he needs me now fer is ta x a coupla things round th house - like I promised! - what he needs me now fer is ta take care o George n Sis - Im th oldest! - no, what he needs me now fer is..! ! ! ! ! ! ! (Stops helplessly) Take care o yer Ma... ! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, looks back up stone steps) Mall be all right.. she dont need me! - I could hike round th Rock, nd that ol cave, go explorin - or swimmin! - I swim good! - I could swim ta Statia! - its only a coupla miles! - not that far, not really that far... ! ! ! ! ! ! (Looks across to the next island, looks down at ! ! ! ! ! ! the sea murmuring at his feet) Last night I dream th sea ask me fer a kiss... ! ! ! ! ! ! (Leans down to the sea) A kiss... ! ! ! ! ! ! (The sea hisses as he looks down into the ! ! ! ! ! ! water - suddenly pulls himself back) Kissins fer sissies! - he didnt raise no sissy! ! ! ! ! ! ! (More rocks rattle down the cliff face - he turns ! ! ! ! ! ! and shouts back up the cliff) Shut up! Shut up! Damn! Damn you! Git a gun, kill you all! - like he done Billarsly! You seen it - I know you done seen it! - n you got even, didnt you? - didnt you! I was there! ! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, turns back to sea, spots the ship again) Come on in, Pa! ! ! ! ! ! ! (Looks back at cliff) Next time.. next time Im workin th plot.. n I look down, n thems now below me.. Ill take a lil rock - jes like they do! - n Ill roll it inta a bigger rock.. n that rockll roll inta two rocks - three! - rocks start bouncin down - git them boulders goin - tumble down, tumble down them boulders! - n crush em! - crush em all! ! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, suddenly wipes his eyes - looks ! ! ! ! ! ! around to see if anyone saw him - hears a ! ! ! ! ! ! thumping SOUND coming down the old stone ! ! ! ! ! ! steps - his mother, ESMERALDA, appears in ! ! ! ! ! ! black, dragging an old canvas sea bag down ! ! ! ! ! ! the steps) ! ! Ralph? ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ESMERALDA (She reaches the beach, drops the sea bag)

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ESMERALDA (Cont.) Bin lookin round th Rock fer ya - worried me! ! ! ! ! ! ! (Gestures at sea bag) Brought yer stuff - be needin it - sea boots n sweaters n yer pas ol peacoat... ! ! ! ! ! ! I aint goin! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

RALPHIE BOY (Walks over to sea bag, looks down - kicks it) (Walks away from bag, turns his back on her)

! ! ! ! ! ! ESMERALDA Oh, Ralph! ! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses) Got to be this way, son.. I dont want it neither! ! ! ! ! ! ! RALPHIE BOY Im waitin fer him right here! ! ! ! ! ! ! (Points south) Ships comin in!.. see her? - looks like a big white bird!.. jes pas, jes pas.. that rock there! - hes comin in! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! We talked about that, Ralph... ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Theys made it back agin! ! ! ESMERALDA (Never taking her eyes off him, quietly)

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RALPHIE BOY (Walking away from her, coming down to the edge of the sea, peering south)

! ! ! ! ! ! ESMERALDA Yer Uncle Jimmy favors ya - hell show ya th ropes... ! ! ! ! ! ! RALPHIE BOY ! ! ! ! ! ! (Peering out to sea, south) Theys dropped anchor! - puttin a skiff inna water..! ! ! ! ! ! ! (More rocks from the cliffs rattle down behind ! ! ! ! ! ! them - RALPHIE BOY whirls) Im gonna kill em! Like he killed Billarsly!

! ! ! ! ! ! ESMERALDA Ralph - he had no choice! - we was all hungry! ! ! ! ! ! ! RALPHIE BOY ! ! ! ! ! ! (Gesturing up) And thems on th cliffs watched him do it - n thas why they done him! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! UNCLE JIMMY (OFFSTAGE) What ho, Esmeralda! Ralphie Boy!! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! (The CREAKING of oars) ! ! ! ! ! ! ESMERALDA ! ! ! ! ! ! (Shouting out to sea) Jimmy! - oh, Jimmy! - so glad ta see ya! - we need ya, Jimmy! ! ! ! ! ! ! RALPHIE BOY N there he is! - right behind Uncle Jimmy - sittin low inna skiff! ! ! Ralph... ! ! ! ! ESMERALDA

! ! ! ! ! ! RALPHIE BOY ! ! ! ! ! ! (Peering) Aint that him? - amidships - rowin - rowin th two othem in! ! ! ! ! ! ! (The CREAKING of oars) ! ! ! ! ! ! ESMERALDA ! ! ! ! ! ! (Not bothering to look up) Ralph.. thas jes yer Uncle Jimmy rowin... ! ! ! ! ! ! RALPHIE BOY ! ! ! ! ! ! (Calling out) Pa! Pa! Its Ralphie Boy n Ma! Its yer Ralphie Boy! ! ! ! ! ! ! (ENTER UNCLE JIMMY wading in from the ! ! ! ! ! ! sea, holding a line to the skiff - hes wearing ! ! ! ! ! ! sea boots, a peacoat, a Captains cap on his ! ! ! ! ! ! head - the bottoms of his pants are wet)

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 9! ! ! ! ! ! ! UNCLE JIMMY Esmeralda! - Ralphie Boy, my favorite! - wheres Roland n tothers? What a trip - tell ya all about it! ! ! ! ! Tothers..? ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ESMERALDA (A little dazed)

! ! ! ! ! ! UNCLE JIMMY ! ! ! ! ! ! (Handing line to RALPHIE BOY) Secure the skiff, boy! ! ! ! ! ! ! RALPHIE BOY ! ! ! ! ! ! (Shouting) Wheres Roland? ! ! ! ! ! ! (Delighted, tying line off to some driftwood) Yer trickin me - you n Pa! - you two brothers always trickin me! - Pas hidin - down inna skiff! ! ! ! ! ! ! (Follows taut line down to the sea) I see ya, Pa! - caint hide! ! ! ! ! ! ! (Wades into sea) Caint hide from yer Ralphie Boy! ! ! ! ! ! ! (Wades OFFSTAGE) ! ! ! ! ! ! ESMERALDA ! ! ! ! ! ! (Sadly to herself, looking after her son) Ralphie Boy, thas what he called him... ! ! ! ! ! ! UNCLE JIMMY Boy got too much son, Esmeralda.. wheres Roland? - farmin, or wit tothers..? ! ! ! ! ! ! ESMERALDA ! ! ! ! ! ! (Slowly) Tothers.. wit kin... Roland.. inna earth... ! ! ! ! ! ! (Looks far away) ! ! Inna earth? ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! UNCLE JIMMY (He looks at her, then turns and looks after RALPHIE BOY)

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! UNCLE JIMMY (Cont.) What happened ta his father, Esmeralda..?

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! ! ! ! ! ! ESMERALDA ! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, deep breath) He were workin our plot under th cliffs, four days ago.. took Ralph wit him, as usual... they was workin inna hot sun, n Ralphs workin above n takes a breather.. n looks further up th cliffs.. n sees some o those.. goats above... they knocks a few rocks loose, n them tumbles down n knocks some more loose - Ralph watchin it, Roland payin no mind, workin - n them rocks keep tumblin down, bigger n bigger, n now Ralph is shoutin, Pa! - look out Pa! Pa! - n his Pa looks up at him, n a rock th size of a breadfruit hits Roland square inna head... he falls back down th hill, n jes lays there calm-like - Ralph runnin down n leanin over him.. n his Pa jes looks up in Ralphs eyes.. n then he jes.. he jes fades away... ! ! ! ! ! ! (She turns away, puts her hand to her face) I cried all th tears I had in me... ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Roland didnt say nothin, at th end..? UNCLE JIMMY (Comes up to her, comforts her)

! ! ! ! ! ! ESMERALDA Not so Ralph says.. we hadta bury him quick - th heat! - hadta hurry n gather everbody together ta.. pay their respects... in th family plot, up by th bend.. ya kin nd yer dear brother, wit them what come before... ! ! ! ! ! ! UNCLE JIMMY ! ! ! ! ! ! (Looks up cliffs) Roland.. tides turnin, Roland.. caint visit ya now.. theys loadin sugarcane.. th heat! gotta git it over ta Statia.. we all gotta eat, Roland! ! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, looks up cliffs) Be back ta ya, brother! ! ! ! ! ! ! (To ESMERALDA) Sell th sugarcane on Statia, then pick up a load o cotton - take it up ta New York - be back two, three weeks - be up ta him then, Esmeralda... ! ! ! ! ! ! (Looks away) Roland! ! ! ! ! ! ! (Goes to where skiff line is tied) Gotta load th sugarcane...

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 11 ! ! ! ! ! ! ESMERALDA ! ! ! ! ! ! (Suddenly) Take him wit ya, Jim! - Ralphie Boy - his sea bags all packed - take him on as cabin boy! - I caint feed him no more! - maybe I caint feed tother two neither now, I dunno.. hes a little queer from this thing wit his Pa - but hes a good boy, Ralph, hell be all right.. talk ta him, will ya, Jim? - I caint talk ta him no more.. yall take him wit ya, Jim, ta sea? ! ! ! ! ! ! UNCLE JIMMY ! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, looks at her, turns away and looks ! ! ! ! ! ! way out to sea) Tides turnin.. we weighs anchor soons the sugarcane n fresh stores are loaded.. hell earn thirty a month as cabin boy, hafta send it back ta you n tothers.. hell get his grub, make his bunk, pull his watch.. like me, like Roland did once, n like them what come before... ! ! ! ! ! ! (Reaches in his pocket, pulls out some money) Got a cargo oeggs from Bird Island.. already sold em fer a good price.. heres my share.. Roland would wantya ta take it... ! ! ! ! ! ! (Gives money to her - she can only accept, ! ! ! ! ! ! helplessly) Ill help out as I can.. don worry bout yer Ralphie Boy... ! ! ! ! He seen his Pa die, Jim.. ! ! ESMERALDA

! ! ! ! ! ! But he aint knowin it...! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! He werent there, were he, Ralph...

UNCLE JIMMY ! ! ! (RALPHIE BOY appears from the sea, the bottom of his trousers wet - holding onto the skiff line, he turns and looks back at the skiff OFFSTAGE, then turns and looks at them, slowly lets go of the skiff line, stands, then turns, looks far out to sea - a small shower of rocks behind him - he cocks his head, a pause)

! ! ! ! ! ! RALPHIE BOY ! ! ! ! ! ! (Weakly, grasping) Hes.. hes on th ship.. we could take th skiff.. hurry, Uncle Jimmy! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Yer Pas not on my ship, Ralphie Boy...

! ! ! UNCLE JIMMY (Slowly)

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! ! ! ! ! ! RALPHIE BOY ! ! ! ! ! ! (Weakly) Not.. not yer ship.. a big white ship.. I, I never seen her before.. I watched im sail away on her! ! ! Oh, son! ! ! ! ! ESMERALDA

! ! ! ! ! ! UNCLE JIMMY ! ! ! ! ! ! (Slowly walking over to RALPHIE BOY, gently ! ! ! ! ! ! taking hold of his arm) I know ya seen him go, Ralph.. ya seen it all happen.. and it were nobodys fault, Ralph - not yer fault, not them goats fault - it jes.. happened, thas all... ! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, looks down at RALPHIE BOY) Yer Pa didnt say nothin.. at th last? ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! He said, Pa said.. ! ! ! ! Take care o yer Ma... ! ! ! ! ! ! RALPHIE BOY (Pauses) (Looks over at his mother, pauses)

! ! ! ! ! ! UNCLE JIMMY ! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, lets go of his arm) Best way ya kin do that, Ralph.. is ta ship out - send yer Ma yer money, sos she n tothers kin eat... ! ! ! ! ! ! (Looks out to sea) Tides turnin, Ralph.. n we needs help loadin th sugarcane n stores.. untie that skiff now, sailor, we gotta watch ta pull.. God be wit you n tothers, Esmeralda!.. be back few weeks, dependin on th wind n th currents.. les shove off, Ralph... ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! (RALPHIE BOY pauses, looking at his mother she comes up to him and hugs him)

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! You go wit yer Uncle now, Ralph... ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

! ! ! ESMERALDA

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(RALPHIE BOY looks down at the seabag more rocks scuttle down, he turns and looks up the cliff face, then turns and looks south, far out to sea - turns and slowly picks up the seabag, hoists it on his shoulder, stands unsteadily from the weight - looks at mother) RALPHIE BOY (Pauses) (He hoists his sea bag up a little, turns and follows his UNCLE JIMMY, who is coiling the skiff line in his hand as they wade into the sea and disappear. ESMERALDA watches, as SOUNDS are heard of the skiff casting off and rowing away. Rocks scuttle down the face of the cliff. ESMERALDA slowly turns and begins the long slow climb back up the old stone steps. Sea SOUNDS.) CURTAIN

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Its all right about Billarsly now, Ma... ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !