The Perfect Snow

MABEL: Jack, look! The first snow! It’s always magical when it snows.
JACK: Snow in Alaska is magical?
MABEL: Jack…
LOOK UP.
JACK, LOOK ALL AROUND US.
LITTLE FLAKES THAT HIDE THE GROUND
AND MAKE IT SEEM NEW.

(MABEL opens her hand to catch a few snowflakes.)

LOOK UP.
DARKNESS MAY SURROUND US.
BUT WHAT IF BEAMS OF LIGHT
ARE BECKONING YOU?

JACK: Mabel.

MABEL:
JACK, LET’S MAKE A SNOWMAN!
IT’S THE PERFECT SNOW!
FOR A MOMENT,
LET YOUR TROUBLES GO.
IT’S THE PERFECT SNOW.

JACK: We got barely enough food to last us a month, and you want to make snowmen?

MABEL: Come on with me, Jack.

JACK: The fire’s gone out.

(JACK turns to go back in and tend the fire.)

MABEL: Jack.
LOOK UP.

(When HE turns, SHE pelts him with a snowball. HE stands there, and frowns in disapproval.) 

JACK: This is no place for kids’ games.

MABEL: (Faking it)You’re right, Jack. I’m sorry.

(HE turns again to go in… and SHE hits him with another snowball. A beat.)

 JACK: Oh, you are asking for it, you are.

(HE throws a snowball at her, SHE ducks.)

MABEL: You missed! Ha!

(A snowball fight, playful and energetic. Then it ends as quickly as it began. A beat of awkward silence. THEY stand there, not sure what comes next.)

(SHE begins to make a snowman… HE watches her, still holding back…)

LOOK BACK.
JACK, DO YOU REMEMBER?
OUR FIRST YEAR OF MARRIAGE–
RIGHT AT THIS TIME OF YEAR.

 (HE turns away from her.)

JACK: Don’t, Mabel.

MABEL:
LOOK BACK.
LONG AGO, NOVEMBER.
I MADE YOU A PROMISE…
THREE OR FOUR LIFETIMES FROM HERE.

JACK: I remember.

MABEL:
HELP ME MAKE A SNOWMAN.
IT’S THE PERFECT SNOW.
CONJURE UP THAT WORLD WE USED TO KNOW.
IT’S THE PERFECT SNOW.

 (SHE continues to make the snowman.)

IF IT’S JUST GONNA BE THE TWO OF US
GETTING THROUGH THIS LIFE ON OUR OWN…

JACK:
WE ARE SURELY ON OUR OWN.

MABEL:
WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER.
WE’RE ISOLATED, BUT NOT ALONE.
Jack,
LOOK UP.

(The snowman is done.)  

What do you think?

JACK: It’s kind of puny for a snowman.

MABEL: It’s a snow child. She needs some hair.

(MABEL takes some yellow straw, places it on the snow child’s head. SHE takes off her hat and places it on the snowman to hold the straw hair in place.)

And a scarf.

(MABEL takes off her scarf, wraps it around the snow child’s neck. SHE and JACK stand back a moment to admire their handiwork.)

She’s beautiful.

JACK: I maybe wouldn’t say beautiful. Here.

(JACK uses a pocketknife to carve a rudimentary face.)

Two big brown eyes… and lips… There, now.

MABEL:
LOOK, WE MADE A SNOW CHILD!

JACK:
WE MADE A SNOW CHILD.

MABEL:
IT’S THE PERFECT SNOW.

JACK:
IT’S THE PERFECT SNOW.

MABEL:
SOMEONE ELSE TO
LOVE FROM HEAD TO TOE.

MABEL and JACK:
OH, IT’S THE PERFECT SNOW.
IT’S THE PERFECT SNOW.

(JACK takes MABEL in his arms. Lights.)