Sky and above

Prologue
Two children are playing in the backyard of an old house. Marianne: I wish I were older. Edward: Why, Mari, dont you like it here, with me? Marianne: Oh, I do, I love spending my time with you, but here, at aunt Lucyits awful. Dont you wish sometimes we werent so poor? Dont you wish we had a mother to love us tenderly, a roof that holds rain outside the house, a pianoforte to play while the whole family listens? Or maybe a library from which you can see the branches of trees ready to blossom? Edward: I have a mother though Marianne: Well I dont. Edward: And what will you do when you grow up? Marianne: Maybe Ill be a writer. A famous one. Ive always wanted to be famous.

Act 2
* Seven years later, in the same backyard. Marianne: Oh, Edward, I did it! (holding a book with a leather cover) Edward: (sweeping) Did what? Marianne: I finished the book I was telling you about. The book Ive always wanted to write! I did it! I cant believe Ive written the very last paragraph a minute ago. Edward: (still sweeping) Whats it called? Marianne: Sky and above. Its about a young girl living a truly unhappy life that finally meets satisfaction, love, happiness. I myself havent been in my life so happy as I am today. Edward: What are you going to do now? Marianne: Well Ive written to a couple of publishing companies and yet no answer. But I know they will. Oh Edward, were going to be rich!

Edward:

We?

Marianne: Well Im not going to leave you here, am I? Oh, imagine us living in a huge house, and that pianoforte Ive always dreamed of! From the house: Marianne! Get in here young lady! You havent finished washing those dishes, have you? How dare you go out like this? What would your mother think of how I raised you? Marianne: Ill be right there, aunt Lucy. She runs and drops the book.

Act 3
Night in front of a big house. In the dim lights rests a girl, or a woman, dressed in ripped clothes, shivering and waiting. Housekeeper: May I help you? Woman: Oh, dear soul, will you be so kind as to let a poor woman sleep and have a bowl of food before she dies? Housekeeper: Im sorry but A beautiful woman passes behind her, saying: Oh, of course you can! Poor girl. Look at you, are you ill? Woman: No, Im just very cold. May I know the name of my benefactor, who let me in her house and treated me so kindly? Woman #2: Yes, my dear. My name is Elinor Carlisle. Woman: Miss Carlisle E.C.: Mrs. But just call me Elinor. Woman: I couldnt possibly do such a thing, mrs. Carlisle. It is so nice of you to let me stay here. I just cant thank you enough.

Act. 4

E.C., entering the dining room where her husband is already staying, reading the newspaper. E.C.: Edward, we have guests tonight. Edward: Oh, do we really? E.C.: Yes, it is the Smiths, Anna Gerrard, doctor Gerstein and his wife, perhaps Vincent Burbridge, that journalist and the Otterbournes. Oh, and of course that poor lady Edward: What poor lady? E.C.: Didnt I tell you? My memory isnt quite good, I guess. Last night she came to me asking to let her stay in. Poor her, she looked awful and it was also raining. Edward (frowning): And you let her in? E.C.: What kind of question is that? Of course I did! Was I supposed to leave her outside? And besides, I found her quite charming, she is very intelligent and I might say she reads a lot. Edward: Oh, Elinor, you are such a gullible woman! Of course you think that beggar is charming! E.C.: I am actually insulted by your words. Edward: Elinor, I didnt mean E.C.: Of course you did! You always have to judge people. She is indeed poor but nevertheless, it is not her fault. Edward: How do you know? I am just trying to protect you! E.C.: Of course (sad) Elinor walks out of the room. E.C.: Dinners at eight! (going away)

Act.5
At the dinner table, everyone is dressed in fancy clothes, except for the poor woman. Her clothes are neither of a poor woman, nor fancy. She eats while listening to the others. Vincent Burbridge: So, I am so proud to finally meet the famous Edward Carlisle. I can tell you I loved your book.what was it called? E.C.: Sky and above

Vincent Burbridge: Of course, Mrs. Carlisle. How could I forget the book that made Mr. Carlisle famous? I feel quite embarrassed. Edward: Oh, you shouldnt! Its not all its cracked up to be, after all it is just a popular book. Mr. Otterbourne: Just a popular book. It is soon going to be studied in school, for Gods sake! Edward: I am sure you are overestimating it, Mr. Otterbourne. Vincent Burbridge: And when are you going to write a new book? Edward: Well Vincent Burbridge: Im sorry to ask this but obviously all our readers are dying to know! Edward: You either go out in full glory or you live long enough to Vincent Burbridge (interrupting): Oh, God, you think its not going to be as good as the last one? That will be shocking to our readers. Edward: Mr. Burbridge, if you are dying to know, I am trying to write a new book. By the end of the following year it will be out, I hope. Vincent Burbridge: That is excellent news, Mr. Carlisle. Edward accidentally drops his wine glass over Vincent Burbridge. Edward: Oh, my goodness! I am so ashamed. Please forgive me, mister Burbridge. Vincent Burbridge: Oh, dont worry about it, it is nothing indeed. It was not even my best suit. (laughing) Edward: I assume it will be on the front page of tomorrows Tribune (laughing as well) Vincent Burbridge: Oh no, but I will not forget to mention your excellent taste in wine. Indeed, I shall put a photo of my suit next to it as a proof. (smiling) Edward: (serious) Now seriously, you must let me buy you another suit sometime! Vincent Burbridge: It is nothing, really. The poor woman: Mr. Burbridge, you should let him. One has to pay ones debts. Right, Mr. Carlisle? Everyone is silent

Edward: Thats a quote from my book. Vincent Burbridge: Yes, I remember it. It was said by that girl, Mari, right? Edward: Yes, yes indeed. (distracted, looking at the poor woman)

Act 6
Elinor Carlisle enters the room of the poor lady, a small room with flowery curtains, a bed and a desk. E.C.: I heard you were going to leave us today. (sits on the bed) Poor lady: Yes, madam. You were too kind to me and I promised to stay for two days only. E.C.: But that is absurd, you can stay how much you want here! Poor lady: Oh, I really couldnt. E.C.: But where are you to go? Poor lady: (smiling painfully) Wherever these take me to. (looking at her feet) E.C.: That is horrible. Do you have any money? Poor lady: Not a red cent. But Ill handle. That is my fate, isnt it? E.C.: Stop talking like that! (she stops and looks away) You must stay here with us! Poor lady: You are too kind, my dear. (heading for the door) E.C.: I beseech you! You must stay here with us. You could live quite comfortably. Poor lady: And live on what others have done? ( she smiles and continues her way) E.C.: You can work for us! You can take care of our children and instead of paying you, you can live with us! Seems fair enough to you? Poor lady: Please, dont be so kind to me. E.C.: You must do something for me, right? Like you said, one has to pay ones debts. Will you please stay with us in exchange for what I did for you?

Poor lady: It is so unfair. You know I could never say no. E.C.: Then it must be a yes! (she hugs the woman)

Act 7
In the garden, Elinor and Edward are watching the children left with the woman. E.C.: They have grown so much, havent they? Edward: They have, indeed. Listen, Elinor. Why do they have to stay with her? E.C.: What do you mean? Edward: I mean Look, I dont like that woman. E.C.: Here we go again! Edward: Listen to me, I have a bad feeling about her! E.C.: Why, she is nothing but a poor soul! She is good people! Edward: How do you know it? E.C.: How do you know she isnt? Did you see it in her eyes or what? Edward: Elinor! E.C.: But tell me, why are you so certain of it? What gave her away? Perhaps her breathing in which you felt the blow of the devil? Edward: Elinor, stop being sarcastic. E.C.: How am I supposed to be? You claim that you know she is a bad person. Give me one reason to believe so! Edward:(loudly) You cant let beggars take care of our children unless you are sure they are angels! *a moment of silence* E.C.:(angry, lifting to go) Look what you did! She surely heard you! Edward: I am so sorry Elinor E.C.: You dont have to apologize to me, apologize to her! Edward: But I am concerned about our children!

E.C.: I am not! I trust her. Edward: Forgive me if I dont. E.C.: I wont forgive you! You have to apologize to her! Edward: For what? E.C.: I simply cant believe this! Edward: Believe what? E.C.: You have to apologize because you called an innocent woman guilty. Edward: How do you know she is innocent? E.C.: She is innocent until proven otherwise. Anyhow, I will forgive you if and only if you give her your apology. E.C.: You know I cant do that. E.C.: Because of your pride? Think about her pride next time you are afraid for yours. Edward: Elinor E.C.: I think you have a lot to learn from her.

Act 8
In the library. Edward is sitting at his desk when the poor lady enters. P.L.: I just heard that my master called me. Edward: (coldly) I did, indeed. The poor lady walks in the library and examines the books. P.L.: What a lovely collection you have! Edward: Thank you. P.L.: And complete. That edition of Shakespeares King Lear caught my eye. Lovely leather cover. Edward: (writing something) Yes, it is a special edition. P.L.: It must have cost a fortune! The poor lady moves on in the library. P.L.: And how beautifully the cherry trees have blossomed!

Edward: (rousing from his desk) I called you here because I want to apologize. P.L.: What for? Giving me a bed to sleep in and a meal to eat? Edward: For what I said yesterday in the garden. It was inappropriate and it will not happen again, I assure you. P.L.: Is that all? Edward: Yes, you may go now. P.L.: (heading for the door) You know, Mr. Carlisle, Im not a beggar or a thief. I am the victim from which it was stolen. (goes out of the room) Act. 9 Years pass and the poor woman is still living with the Carlisle family. The children have grown up. In the same library. A knock on the door. Edward: Come in! P.L.: Mr. Carlisle, I thought youd be here. You spend an awful lot of time with your books. Edward: Well, they entertain me more than some people. P.L.: (smiling) Yes, I have the same feeling sometimes. Edward: What was it that you wanted to tell me? P.L.: Mr. Edward, you have been very nice to me when I needed it the most. You gave me shelter and food and your children to love. But I guess it wouldnt be a nice thing to abuse of your kindness. Edward: (reading a book, paying little attention to what she was saying) You know you are always welcome. P.L.: I know sir. But if it wasnt for your wife Anyway Ive come here to tell you Im leaving tomorrow. Edward: Dont be silly. And what are you to do? Youll stay here with us. Besides our children need you. P.L.: Sir, your children dont need an old babysitter, but teachers, an university to go to, trips to Europe, since they are already grown up. But you would know this if you werent spending your days doing whatever is that you do!

Edward: Mind your (calming) I am a writer and that is what I do. And my point was that they would miss you very much and they would be terribly sad to find out that you have left. P.L.: (grabing a book from the library, starting to read it) You know, I have always had mixed feelings about your children. I loved them. But every time I saw them playing, alive and kicking, I saw my daughter and a feeling of hatred blossomed in my heart. Edward: What happened to your daughter? P.L.: Sheshe died. Because I couldnt offer her what she needed most, a treatment for her illness. (nearly screaming) But she should have been your child! Edward: I am sorry. P.L.: No, you dont understand. All this (pointing to the room) should have been mine! It should have been hers. She should have been the one playing in the garden, playing the pianoforte, taking French lessons! Not in her grave already, poor thing. Edward: Its very sad indeed to burry your child. P.L.: You dont get it, do you? Havent I said enough already to make you understand? Look at me Edward! Who do you see? Does Marianne tell you anything at all? (Edward is looking at Marianne, puzzled. His elder daughter enters the room) D.: Father, dinner is ready. Neither Marianne, nor Edward say anything. D.: Father, but why are you both so serious? What is going on? (with a smile) Edward: MariNathalie is leaving us. D.: What? (laughing) You silly thing. How could you leave us? M.: It no use fretting. I shall leave and you will probably forget me. D.: How can you say such a thing? (nearly crying, leaves the room) E.: I dont understand. What do you want from me, Marianne? D.: I would have given you everything I had! All this would have been yours too! Why did you steal my book? Why?

E: Do you think I believed you? I needed desperately to break free from our aunts house. I despised being poor. I despised it! D.: And I loved being poor! I loved watching my poor girl die! You could have been rich as wellwhy steal the book? E.: Being rich was not enough. I wanted to be famous, Marianne. I hated being unknownjust a face in the crowd, just a poor boy whose life should mean being born, living and dying. M.: (with a hateful look) How cruel of you! E.: Im sorry, Marianne. I am. What do you want me to do? M.: Theres nothing left to do nowYou cant bring my child back. E: Oh, Marianne, why didnt you write to me? I would have given you money. M.: I did write to you. Apparently you only answer to letters praising your book. But one has to pay ones debts. E.: Exactly. Just tell me what you want to forgive me. M.: I have already forgiven you. Only God can punish you. But I want an apology. Not for me, but for my daughter. E.: I apologize, Marianne. Please forgive me! God is my witness: I am so sorry. M.: No, not like that. Goodbye Edward. (leaving the room)

Epilogue Nowadays, in a bookshop. Two women are searching for a book. 1: God, how hard it is to find a good book to read. I am not too fond of sciencefiction, and thats pretty much modern literature in a nutshell. 2: How about that? (holding a book in one hand) 1: Whats that? 2: Sky and above Edward Carlisles all time classic. I assume thats not science fiction. 1: (grabbing the book, proceeding to read from it) Foreword: This is the opera of a hand much softer than mine, of a pen that didnt belong to me, of a mind sharper, of a person whose talent I dont have. I am a thief and I shall stay a thief. The words you are about to read were written by a soul much better than

mine. God, that must be like a written soap-opera. Id read science fiction anytime, instead of this. 2: Well, it stood the test of time. Edward Carisle isnt a star of literature for nothing 1: Yes, why dont you tell me another book written by Edward Carlisle? 2: I dont know. This must be by far his best work if it is so known. 1: Sky and above, what a childish name for a book. It almost screams it is a bad book. 2: Well you havent read it. 1: I dont even want to. Lets just leave it here. I dont think Ill buy a book today. THE END