The Firework-Maker's Daughter Read Online Free PDF Page B

Firework-Maker needs - an unemployed elephant keeper.
    CHULAK: I’m trying... I could make some of the simpler fireworks?
    LILA: How do you make a Java light? That’s simple.
    CHULAK: I’m quick. You tell me what to do, I’ll do it.
    LILA: Teaching you will hold me up. You’re completely useless.
    CHULAK: Useless...
    LILA: Leave me alone.
    CHULAK: I could help. I could cook. Stay up late, keep you company. Tell you how well you’re doing, but I’m useless... I’ll go...
    CHULAK leaves, hurt. LILA follows.
    LILA: ( Calling .) Chulak? Sorry. Come back... What’s the use? My father is as good as dead.
3 - PRISON
    High above the stage, LALCHAND lies in a suspended cage. CHULAK sneaks into a courtyard and checks no one is around. He whistles. HAMLET follows wearing the tarpaulin with the eyeholes cut out.
    CHULAK: Why aren’t you speaking to me? I’ve got the right elephant, haven’t I? You are Hamlet.
    HAMLET nods.
    CHULAK: I’ve gone to a lot of trouble to get you here. You could be a bit pleased to see me?
    HAMLET turns away, clearly not playing.
    CHULAK: Have I done something to offend you?
    HAMLET shakes his head.
    CHULAK: Is it something to do with the King?
    HAMLET nods vigorously.
    CHULAK: Can you write it down?
    HAMLET: You want me to write as well? I’m already very gifted for an elephant, you know?
    CHULAK: I knew I could make you speak.
    HAMLET: It’s nothing to do with you. The King agreed to give Lalchand another chance in exchange for my silence.
    CHULAK: So why are you speaking?
    HAMLET: I’m in disguise.
    CHULAK: Good point. Let’s get into position.
    CHULAK leaps onto HAMLET’s shoulders and stretches to LALCHAND’s cage. He can’t reach.
    CHULAK: Higher Hamlet.
    HAMLET: This is as high as I go. Unless I stand on a ball like a circus freak?
    CHULAK: Shush... Did you hear that?
    HAMLET: What?
    Four pairs of eyes are surrounding them.
    CHULAK: Hello?
    HUNGRY PIRATE: ( Singing barber shop style .) Hello...
    CHANG: ( Singing barber shop style .) Hello...
    LITTLE PIRATE: ( Singing barber shop style .) Hello.
    RAMBASHI leaps out of the dark.
    RAMBASHI: Chulak! My dear boy!
    ( Sings .)
    Hello...
    CHULAK: Uncle Rambashi? What are you doing here?
    RAMBASHI: We’ve come to the city to make our fortune.
    CHULAK: Why were you singing?
    RAMBASHI: My new idea. It came to me in a flash. We’re entertainers. What do you think? A million rupee idea for sure?
    CHULAK: Do you only do singing?
    RAMBASHI: Only singing? Didn’t you hear? We’re entertainers! We do everything.
    CHULAK: Do you do tumbling?
    RAMBASHI: Tumbling?
    CHULAK: You know, acrobatics?
    RAMBASHI: Acrobatics? Yes, yes, yes! My brave lads will do anything for their audience.
    The brave lads don’t look too sure.
    CHANG: Acrobatics? We don’t do that, do we? Sounds dangerous?
    LITTLE PIRATE: I thought we were singers?
    HUNGRY PIRATE: I don’t care as long as there’s a hot juicy bite at the end. Or even a cold dry bite.
    CHULAK takes RAMBASHI to one side.
    CHULAK: Uncle? Do you think you could do me an acrobatic favour?
    RAMBASHI: An acrobatic favour? You’re sure you don’t want a singing favour?
    CHULAK: I need to get up there.
    CHULAK points to LALCHAND’s cage. RAMBASHI hardly hesitates at all.
    RAMBASHI: Boys! Form a pointed thingy!
    LITTLE PIRATE: A what?
    RAMBASHI: Step to it!
    CHANG: Step to what?
    RAMBASHI: Three at the bottom, two on top. That’s right. Come on. Use this excellent disguised elephant as a base.
    HAMLET, RAMBASHI and the boys form a very dodgy and unstable pyramid.
    RAMBASHI: Hold still boys! That’s it!
    CHULAK tries to climb to the summit but the pyramid keeps moving. When he makes it to the top, the pyramid becomes particularly unstable. CHULAK is now high enough to reach LALCHAND’s cage but the pyramid keeps moving.
    CHULAK: Hold it steady! Forward a little... Nearly there.
    The pyramid suddenly flies