From Snow Child
Collaborator: Bob Banghart (co-composer)
Associated Artists: Natalie Toro, Sally Mayes
ESTHER (to MABEL):
SOMETIMES IN A PLACE LIKE THIS
IT’S COLDER THAN IT SEEMS.
THE DARKNESS MAKES IT ALL MIX UP —
YOUR DAYLIGHT AND YOUR DREAMS.
EVEN WITH THE QUICKEST WITS
IT’S OFTEN HARD TO TELL.
I’VE SEEN IT BEFORE.
I KNOW IT WELL.
IT’S GONNA BE FINE.
THERE’S PLENTY TO DO.
JUST KEEP YOUR EYES ON
THE THINGS THAT ARE TRUE.
MABEL: No, you don’t understand. I saw her—!
ESTHER:
THE WINTER MONTHS DRAG ON;
IT’S LIKE A HAND AROUND YOUR THROAT.
SOME MORE LOGS GO ON THE FIRE,
MORE BUTTONS ON YOUR COAT.
SO MAYBE OUT YOUR WINDOW
YOU SEE SOMETHING THAT’S NOT HERE.
IT FILLS YOU WITH WANT.
IT FILLS YOU WITH FEAR.
IT’S GONNA BE FINE.
THERE’S PLENTY TO DO.
JUST KEEP YOUR EYES ON
THE THINGS THAT ARE TRUE.
MABEL: Jack, tell her. I saw the child. I told you all about it.
(JACK is silent.)
Jack, tell her!
JACK: (Reluctant) We saw some fox tracks.
GARRETT: Fox are trouble, ma’am. You see a fox, you want to shoot it right quick.
MABEL: No! No one shoots that fox, it’s hers! Do you understand me?
(A silence.)
ESTHER:
IT’S GONNA BE FINE.
THEY DON’T UNDERSTAND
I’M SURE THIS IS NOT THE KIND OF LIFE
YOU THOUGHT YOU HAD PLANNED.
IT’S GONNA BE FINE
I KNOW THIS, I DO.
JUST KEEP YOUR EYES ON
THE THINGS THAT ARE TRUE.
GEORGE: Time we headed back. It’s a good hour to get home.
(GEORGE and GARRETT exit. ESTHER lingers.)
ESTHER:
JUST KEEP YOUR EYES ON
THE THINGS THAT ARE TRUE.
