BOY 2 enters, carrying a large loaf of bread in a brown paper package, whistling loudly.

BOY: Ssh. Stop whistling so loudly.

BOY 2: Why?

BOY: There’s a white baby elephant sleeping behind the tree.

BOY 2: Oh.

Pause.

BOY 2: Did you say an elephant?

BOY: Yes. A white elephant.

BOY 2: Oh! And he’s sleeping...

BOY: ...behind the tree, that’s right.

BOY 2: Is he your white elephant?

BOY: Not really. He’s my friend and I’m helping him.

BOY 2: Helping him?

BOY: He wants a home. And I’m sitting on this bench thinking of a plan to help him... Do you by any chance want a white baby elephant?

BOY 2: No. I already have a baby sister.

BOY: That’s all right then. I’ll think of another plan.

Silence.

BOY 2: You think I can see him?

BOY: See him?

BOY 2: The white elephant.

BOY: Oh sure. But you must be very, very quiet. Come, I’ll show him to you.

They tiptoe to the tree.

BOY: See. That’s him. And this ocean of water is because he cried so much.

BOY 2: He’s very big.

BOY: Ssh.

BOY 2: And very very white.

BOY: Ssh... ssh...

BOY drags BOY 2 away from the tree.

BOY: I told you to be quiet. Suppose he woke up and heard you. Think how hurt he would be...

BOY 2: He can’t understand us.

BOY: Of course he can. He’s an educated elephant.

BOY 2: Oh.

They sit on the bench. BOY 2 opens the packet of bread and both boys break off pieces of the bread and eat in an abstracted way.

BOY 2: (shouts suddenly) I’ve got...

BOY: Stop shouting... Ssh.

BOY 2 coughs and splutters and BOY thumps him on the back rather harder than required.

BOY 2: Stop that. You are breaking my back. (BOY stops) Phew!

BOY: What now?

BOY 2: I was just about to say I’ve got a brilliant idea.

BOY: Then what happened?

BOY 2: Then I got a piece of bread in my wind pipe. So I coughed and...

BOY: Oh goodness. So you forgot your brilliant idea?

BOY 2: Of course not. I still remember it.

Silence.

BOY 2: Shall I tell you?

BOY: If you want to. I don’t think much of it anyway.

BOY 2: How do you know whether you like it or not before I tell you?

BOY: Tell me then.

BOY 2: I know a circus owner.

BOY: (jumps up) What!

BOY 2: Ssh! Don’t shout. I know a circus...

BOY: A circus owner! The owner of a circus! Wow!

BOY 2: I told you it was a brilliant idea.

BOY: Now all we have to do is...

To be continued