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The focus of this play is the lighting. When the play indicates a power cut, a light must cast a shadow of the books, the cricket bat and the cap, to create the ‘monster’, and also allow the children to be seen dimly. How can this be done? Would it be a streetlight? The team would have to ensure that the auditorium is really dark so that the audience can see the monster as clearly as the children do.]
Cast of characters: Apu, Uttara
A functionally furnished room with a sofa downstage centre whose back is to the audience. There is a round table upstage left with a couple of chairs around it. A bookshelf is at upstage right. As scene opens APU, a boy of about 8, and UTTARA, a girl of about 12, are sitting on the sofa. Only the tops of their heads are seen at first.
APU: Why did they have to go?
Silence.
APU: (louder) Why did they have to go?
UTTARA: Hmm?
APU: (very loudly) Why did Mummy and Daddy have to...
UTTARA: Stop shouting.
APU: (even louder) Why did...
UTTARA: Oh shut up. Can’t you see I’m busy?
APU: Busy? You are only reading a comic.
UTTARA: So?
Silence
APU: Anyway, it’s my comic. Give it back to me.
Silence.
APU: Give it back. Give it back.
APU tries to snatch at the comic book. UTTARA holds it up high. APU stands up on the sofa. UTTARA stands up too and jumps off. APU chases her, grabs the comic book and pulls at it.
UTTARA: There! Now you’ve torn it. (Flings the book at him) Take it. Who wants to read it now?
APU: (in tears) It’s your fault. It’s all your fault. I hate you.
UTTARA: That’s what you always say. Whom do you like anyway?
Silence.
UTTARA: (awkwardly) Sorry... (pause) Look... I’ll cellotape it for you if you like. (Pause) Here, give it to me. (Goes up to APU slowly) Hey, don’t cry. I’ll make it okay.
APU gives her the book reluctantly. UTTARA goes up to the sofa, picks up her school satchel which was lying on it and puts it on the chair near the table. She opens it and rummages inside.
APU: Why did they have to go?
UTTARA: They had to. It was an emergency.
APU: Oh. (pause) And this emer... this... thing, will it go on for a long time?
UTTARA: Might. But Mummy said dinner is all ready in the kitchen and we can eat when we are hungry.
UTTARA has managed to find a pair of scissors and the cellotape and is now beginning to mend the book. APU goes up to her.
UTTARA: You want to eat now? Or shall I finish this first?
APU: Not hungry.
UTTARA: (working busily) You know, the trouble with this kind of paper is that it tears very easily. I think comics should be made of...
APU: I’m sorry I said I hate you.
UTTARA: That’s all right. You were just angry... (pause) There! That’s done. Look! (holds up the book) Can anyone say that was a torn page?
APU: (giggling suddenly) You’ve pasted the page upside down.
UTTARA: Let me see. Oh shucks I have. Oh no! (examines the book) What do we do now? It’s going to be very difficult to... (tries to take the cellotape off) No. If I take the cellotape off, the page will tear for sure.
APU: For sure.
UTTARA: So... I better not take it off.
APU: Take it off.
UTTARA: What? But I’ve just told you. If I take it off, the page will... Oh no! You are playing the echo game.
APU: The echo game.
UTTARA: All right then. Are you hungry?
APU: Are you hungry?
UTTARA: No.
APU: No.
UTTARA: Fine. Then I’ll finish my homework. Will you let me?
APU: Will you let me?
UTTARA: Yes.
APU: Yes.
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