© Chris Port, 2004
SCENE: 2
CHARACTERS: KAY, GERDA
ACTION: HEART TO ICE.
- TO BECOME KAY. A SPECK OF THE MIRROR HAS LANDED IN HIS EYE.
KAY
Ouch!
GERDA
What is it?
KAY
CUPPING HIS EYE.
I don’t know. Something in my eye. A sharp bit of snow.
GERDA
GENTLY REMOVING HIS HAND FROM HIS EYE.
Here. Let me take a look. Hmm. It looks a bit bloodshot, but no real damage done.
TO AUDIENCE.
I’m sorry. How rude of me.
My name is Gerda.
KAY
TO AUDIENCE.
And mine is Kay.
CUPS HURT EYE.
It’s cold as murder!
GERDA
It’s Christmas Day!
KAY
We’re twelve years old.
GERDA
We’re out to play!
KAY
I’d never hurt her.
GERDA
KISSING HIM ON THE CHEEK.
We’ll marry some day!
KAY
RECOILING DISGUSTEDLY.
Gerda! Children don’t get married, you stupid girl!
GERDA
I said some day, you stupid boy!
COQUETTISHLY.
When we’re a few years older…
KAY
Eargh!
GERDA
LAUGHING AND RUNNING AROUND IN THE SNOW.
Oh Kay! What a beautiful Christmas morning! Look! A rose in winter. How romantic!
KAY
It’ll be dead in a few days.
GERDA
Roses bloom and cease to be, But we shall the Christ-child see.
Look all around you!
SHADING HER EYES FROM THE SUN-GLARE OF THE SNOW.
Tweezers of sunlight examine the frost.
KAY
CRUNCHING SNOW UNDERFOOT.
That peaceful explosion of glass where it’s trod.
GERDA
When the green is white and your steaming dog pours…
KAY
COCKING HIS LEG LIKE A DOG.
…his hot kettle, grinning on the mud.
GERDA
SLAPPING BOTH HER CHEEKS IN MOCK HORROR.
When a mint blue sky slaps youth into cheeks.
KAY
RUBBING COLD-NUMBED FINGERS.
When cold scratches the itching blood.
GERDA
THROWING HER ARMS WIDE.
Then God it’s good to be alive.
KAY
And Heaven when you’re young.
GERDA
The trees raw black as charcoal sketch…
KAY
DRAWING IN A LUNGFUL OF FRESH AIR, HE BREATHES IN A SPECK OF THE EVIL MAGIC MIRROR.
… the anatomy of your lungs.
GERDA
MAKING HERSELF COSY AS A CAT INDOORS.
And indoors, englassed, in warm whiskies of light…
KAY
PEERING IN THROUGH THE WINDOW.
A sun-windowed cat ignores…
GERDA
FEIGNING FELINE ARROGANCE.
… with that pinch of her eyes…
KAY
SHIVERING. SOMETHING IS WRONG.
… the bright hardships outside…
GERDA
YAWNING AND STRETCHING.
… under-roof and aloof from all chores.
KAY SUDDENLY LETS OUT A SHARP CRY OF PAIN AND SLUMPS TO HIS KNEES. GERDA RUSHES OVER TO HIM.
GERDA
Kay? What’s wrong?
KAY
CLUTCHING HIS CHEST.
My heart! It burns! Like ice!
GERDA
Oh poor Kay! Here. Let me help you up. We’ll go to grandmother’s. We’ll get a doctor.
KAY
No. I’ll be alright. Just give me a moment.
HE PLACES HIS HAND OVER HIS STRICKEN HEART, THEN TRIES TO REMOVE THE SPECK FROM HIS EYE WITH HIS FINGERS.
GERDA
Your eye still hurts as well?
KAY
A SUDDEN, CRUEL SMILE ON HIS LIPS.
No, sweet Gerda. My eyes see just fine now.
GERDA
Oh thank goodness. And your heart?
KAY
Fine, sweet Gerda. In so far as I need a heart. Other than to pump blood around, of course.
GERDA
PUZZLED.
Are you sure you didn’t bump your head, Kay? You’re speaking very strangely.
KAY
Am I? Why are you crying? There’s nothing the matter with me now. Oh, look! That winter rose of yours is worm-eaten.
HE LOOKS CLOSELY AT GERDA.
GERDA
What are you looking at me like that for?
KAY
Have I ever told you how beautiful you are, my winter rose?
GERDA
EMBARRASSED BUT FLATTERED.
No, Kay. You’ve never told me that before.
KAY
Do you want to know why I’ve never told you that before, sweet Gerda?
GERDA
GIGGLING UNCERTAINLY.
Because you were too shy and boyish?
KAY
No. Because it isn’t true. You’re ugly as a pig. Your nose is big and crooked. And hairy, like your dad’s. And the shape of your mouth… you’re like a wide-mouthed frog. And spots. I’ve never seen so many spots on one face. You look like a human pizza! I can’t take my eyes off them! Who’d want to marry a great big swamp-donkey like you?
GERDA
Oh Kay! How can you be so nasty? I never want to see you again!
SHE RUNS OFF CRYING.
KAY
CHECKING HIS HEARTBEAT.
The wheel is turning but the hamster is dead.
HE LAUGHS, WITHOUT HUMOUR.
How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable
Seem to me all the uses of this world!
HE LOOKS UP AT THE SKY.
It’s getting dark. Snow. I feel so cold.
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