Chapter 2

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)