Frozen River

(MABEL stands at the edge of the forest and faces the frozen Wolverine River. A deep silence reigns over the frozen landscape.)

 MABEL:

HELLO, SILENCE…

(a pause)

HELLO, WINTER…

(a pause)

HELLO, FROZEN RIVER.

HELLO, THOUGHTS
I CAN’T STOP THINKING.
HELLO, FROZEN RIVER.
SIX MONTHS OF DARKNESS AHEAD.
HELLO.

Most every living thing has the sense to clear out of here now, before winter gets its full jaws into you. Except for me.

(CAW! The call of a raven nearby.)

And you, Raven.

HELLO, RAVEN.
LONELY SOLDIER.
HELLO, FROZEN RIVER.

(SHE takes off her scarf, lays it on the ground.)

NOVEMBER ICE
OVER FLOWING WATER.
FRAGILE, FROZEN RIVER.
THEY’LL SAY, “SHE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN.”
HELLO.

(MUSIC under and SOUNDS, eerie orchestration, more musicalized silence and fragility. Tentatively, MABEL steps out onto the frozen river, testing the ice and her resolve…)

I CAN SEE THE WATER MOVING,
RUSHING UNDER SHEETS OF ICE.
MAKES A PERSON THINK TWICE.

(SHE takes a few cautious, sliding steps and halts… A CAW! from the raven…)

RAVEN, YOU’RE MY SOLE COMPANION!
WELL, UNLESS YOU’RE COUNTING JACK…
NO, DON’T TRY TO MAKE ME TURN BACK!

(MABEL takes a step, then halts at the long, chilling SOUND of a crack in the ice. Another step and again, the SOUND of a long crack in the ice. SHE halts. SHE closes her eyes, tenses herself, expecting the ice to give way…)

AHHHHHH—
THEY SAY THE WATER IS SO COLD
YOU GO NUMB.

(But the ice holds… Baby steps now, shuffling, the ice cracking.)

ONE LESS THING
TO OVERCOME.

(SHE takes another step: ready now to let it end.)

Take me, River!

(MUSIC changes. Now a high, distant voice, a mix of wild and angelic. This is FAINA’s THEME.)

FAINA (OS):
AH AH AH AH … 

MABEL:
Listen…

FAINA (OS):
AH AH AH AH …
AH AH AH AH…

MABEL:
Raven! Do you hear that?…

(The THEME builds and swells now, the ENSEMBLE  joining. MABEL turns in amazement, looking for the source of the sound.)

FAINA and ENSEMBLE (OS):
AH AH AH AH…
AH AH AH AH…

(SHE stands and listens to the music, then joins it, full-throated, alive.) 

MABEL:
HELLO, MUSIC…
LIKE A MESSAGE
FROM THE MOUNTAINS!

FAINA AND ENSEMBLE (OS):
AH….! AH….!

MABEL:
LISTEN TO THE
SECRETS OF THIS
FROZEN RIVER!
THE SILENCE OF WINTER
ISN’T SILENT AT ALL!

FAINA (OS):
OH—

MABEL:
HELLO, MUSIC!

FAINA (OS):
OH—

MABEL:
HELLO, WINTER.

Don’t fly yet, Raven. Wait and see if this river can be merciful twice.

(SHE takes a deep breath and steps out onto the ice.)

HELLO!