Page 247 - Musings 2020

Edward: (touches the puppet’s hand and exclaims) Ahh! It becomes my boy when I touch it!
But it doesn’t feel like him...I have a bad feeling about this. (looks toward Ava with
apprehension in his eyes). Ava put this thing down. Let’s think this through.

Ava: (clutches the puppet tightly with one arm and extends an envelope to the Puppet Master)
I already did, here is the other half.
Puppet Master: (flourishes his hand like a magician) Congratulations! He’s yours! Now on to
the instruction manual.

(Ava stays rooted near the table with the puppet while talking to it and Edward and the
Puppet Master move on the front of the stage near the front door.)

Puppet Master: The puppet is just a medium of channelling all the spiritual energy and
emotions of the child which remains in the house. (with a pause) Outside it’s just a puppet.

Edward: (With a wary voice) Any other warnings?

Puppet Master: (with emphasis) Do not, (pauses) Do not spend longer than one hour with the
puppet in one day. Ever. It must go back to the box once the time is out for the rest of the day.
You see, my product is like a drug. Overuse it and your sanity will start to wear out. You will
start to believe that the puppet is real even without touching it. You will forget about the
accident, cancer, or whatever it was that took away your precious from you. You will even
forget about hiring me. (with a crooked smile) That’s all you need to know. Good day Sir
remember you have been warned.

(Puppet Master exits from the front door at the right corner. Edward indecisively stands there
for a few seconds and then rushes towards Ava who is now spoon-feeding the puppet some
cereal. There is a mess on the puppet’s face and body.)

Edward: (in a tender voice) Ava dear, I know that heartache from our loss is unbearable, but
we have to stay strong. You have to realize that this is not our boy. It’s all an illusion.

(Edward breaks into tears...after a brief period of silence Edward wipes his tears)

Edward: (resolutely) Ava, give me that damned thing. We must get rid of it.

Ava: (clutches the puppet to her bosom protectively and leans away from Edward) Don’t you
dare do anything to him. He will be with us forever.

(A scuffle breaks between the two with Edward trying to seize the puppet from her. Ava is
overpowered by Edward and the puppet flies away from her hands. Edward is knocked back
and hits his head on the corner of the table and lies on the floor unconscious. Ava nimbly
picks up the puppet from the floor and sits down at the front of the stage and starts singing to
the puppet in a soft voice. The lights are turned off for a moment and they light up slowly.
The clock strikes 5.)

Edward: (clasping his head in both hands and groans) Ah! What just happened! (his attention
is drawn to the tower clock from its chimes) Oh lord! It has been four hours! (in a loud,
anxious tone)

Ava! Ava! Where are you!

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