a bedraggled bed. Right, a table at which a poorly dressed man and
woman are working fast and feverishly. Three children of about four,
eight, and ten years sit on a bench, left, sewing as fast as they
can, looking tired, depressed, weary. It is evening, the room poorly
lit. Noises from the street, street calls, rumbling of vehicles, honk
of autos, etc., etc._
_The Younger Child_
Ma, can I go to bed? I am so tired and hungry.
_Mother_
It ain't ten yet. It will be only a few minutes more. The boss is coming
early in the morning and we must have the work ready. Now you be still
and keep working. You don't know what a good home you got. Ain't she got
a good home, John?
_Father_
You bet she got a good home, and if you all work now we get the good
coffee and bread in the morning and perhaps in a couple a weeks we all
go to the movies.
_Oldest Child_
Gee, I like to see that fairy play what we see once.
(_Bell strikes ten._)
_Mother_
Now, go right to bed, children. It is ten o'clock.
(_Takes light and goes with husband into room right. Children undress
and scramble into one bed._)
(_Street noises all discontinue, back of room opens out on to the
orchard and the music of first scene is heard with dancing children._
EVERYCHILD _comes into the room with her rosy lamp. The three children
sit up in bed and rub their eyes._ EVERYCHILD _glides all about the
room and looks at the squalid place in dismay, then goes up and smiles
at the children._)
_Everychild_
You are some of the lost children. How did you get in here? Come with
me. I will give you some better clothes and you can dance and sing with
all of them.
(_They get out of bed and she leads them in wonder and joy out into
the orchard._)
(CURTAIN FALLS)