2011年04月21日
The Abbey at Ennis:a script
The Abbey at Ennis:a script for stage
Feb 2011 by Ussay Nakajima
*Basical image/tone of colours, texture
Dim blue of night sky, silver of the moonlight, dark green of woods/dense scrubs at the riverside.
The moonshine reflecting on the river, making its surface glimmer.
Quiet, poetic, yet lyrical tone throughout.
*Cast
Amannan:a monk, young and outstandingly beautiful
The Abbot:old and wise, strict but warm-hearted
the fellow monks
The Guard of the Abbey
Elda:a young waterfairy, lovely and innocent
other waterfairy families
*Stage
The riverside scene/set at the left, showing the waterfairy world.
The abbey scene/set at the right, showing the abbey people world.
Waterfairies always enter from/exit to the left.
The abbey people the right.
*
(Theme Song "The Flame of Jah" quietly starts. All the casts enter and sing)
Set me on your heart and brand there with the burning fire
Engrave my name on your arm and make it never ever fade
Everlasting tattoo
We know how strong is the strength of Love as that of Death
Never gives in just as sheol
Love is the burning fire, even a flood can never stop it
Whirlpools never kill it,
Love goes on and on through time and tide
A sparkling light in the dark, the flame of Jah
(Based on Song of Solomon 8:6)
(The casts exit. BGM quietly starts. Narrative)
This is a story once happened in Ennis, Co. Clare, the west of Ireland a thousand years ago...no, still more. It was when not long time had passed since Christianity was first brought into Ireland, and when there lived far more fairies than today in Ireland.
Ennis was just a little village at that time.
It is so lovely at the riverside of R. Fergus, which runs through the town of Ennis.
The stream of Fergus is dark and clear, runs swiftly yet quiet, floating white lines of bubbles on it.
Green shades of the woods reflecting themselves on the face of river,
Sage and valerian flowers bloom at the bank, blue herons and kingfishers fish there.
There also lived the families of otters, and of course, those of fairies.
(Dance tune "The Innocence" starts. Elda and other waterfairies enter and dance. Then exit.)
(BGM starts. The Guard enters and stand on the right. Narrative)
There was a stone-walled little abbey there at that time.
Surrounded by dense woods, almost isolated with few visitors, they lived their lives there.
Had masses, studied books, made manuscripts, grew vegetables in the rhythm of their chime of bells.
One day a newcomer arrived. His name was Amannan.
(Enters Amannan. As the narrative goes, he looks around unfamiliarly and The Guard shows him the way. After a while, other monks enter. Narrative)
But somehow he was too distinctive. Maybe too beautiful a youngster to be a monk...almost like ancient David.
His skin was snow white, noble line of his nose was like Greek sculpture. His dark blue eyes were in contrast to apple red of his lips. His curly hair was fair blonde. Monk's robe so unfitted him, and everybody looked back at him in surprise.
(BGM fade out. Fellow monks whispering each other)
Hey, look! What's that?
And he means he's gonna be a monk!
Must be some mistake!
Wonder he's got where he is!
(Enters The Abbot. Narrative)
The old Abbot felt something uneasy about him from the first. His beauty seemed almost ominous.
(The Abbot comes slowly to Amannan. They shake hands. The Abbot gazes at Amannan.)
(The Abbot) Dear young fellow Amannan. You are very welcome to here and we are all so pleased to have a new company. May this little abbey be a house of grace to you, and we hope you serve God in joy and happiness.
But dear Amannan, please, I have a question.
(Amannan) Yes, father.
(The Abbot) What made you choose this way? Any other ways wouldn't you like to choose? There must be plenty of other ways you could take. And believe me, this way can be pretty hard for a young fellow like you.
(Amannan, bit nervous, but firmly in belief) When I was born, a gipsy woman foretold that one day a woman would bring me mischief. That's why my parents entered me in this abbey. But more than that, I can say that I do love Lord. And have no regret to become a monk. Any other ways mean nothing to me. Could you believe me, father?
(The Abbot shakes his head in worry. Then stares at him again. Amannan stares back at him calmly, straightforward. After a while, The Abbot pats his back warmly. The Abbot, to himself)
Now I shall wait and see. If it's Lord's will, He will guard and guide this young man right.
(Bells ding and the mass begins. The Abbot at the alter, monks gather. Hymn, Psalm#1. The Abbot prays:)
Our Father which art in heaven...
Today here we had a new fellow. May thy grace guard him. May he stand firm in faith, and follow this way in love and loyalty to thee as we all are trying to.
(The monks) Amen.
(BGM. Exits The Abbot. The monks scatter to work in the fields. Pantomime to plough the fields. Narrative)
This is how Amannan became a member at this abbey.
It was a little abbey, yet quite busy and lively. Besides their daily services, they had to grow corn and vegetables in the garden, grind serial and bake bread, sew clothes and sandals, take care of the tools and buildings... there was no end for things to do.
Amannan seemed just unfitted and inharmonious there at first. He stood out by his beauty, and so that was often harassed and mistreated.
(As Narrative goes on, pantomime... The monks speak ill of Amannan behind his back or make funny gesture, but the moment he turns back they quickly stop and get back to their work, pretending nothing happened. Narrative)
...Yet Amannan just stood and endured that all.
He was so straight-hearted, really a good fellow. Always sincere, always hard-working. So courteous to the seniors, so kind and gentle to the juniors. As the days go by, everyone came to accept him from the heart.
(Bells ding, enters The Abbot, Amannan and other monks leave their work and gather for the mass. Hymn, Psalm#23. Then they exit patting their backs, walking arm in arm... warm, loving atmosphere.)
(Lights turn to blue, expressing moonshine. Late at night, the courtyard in the abbey. Narrative)
Just one thing mattered... he was so sensitive and delicate, that tended to be a light sleeper.
(Snoring from the right sleeve)
Gaaaaaaah!... Gaaaaaaah!...
Goooooooh!!... Gooooooooh!!...
(Amannan, awaken, turns in his bed)
Uh... mmm...
(Enters Amannan, very sleepy, half-dreaming. Walks around vacantly for a while, then begins to hum his favourite hymn Psalm#1, quietly at first, then as getting involved, gradually louder and louder.)
(The Abbot, opening his window) My good fellow.
(Amannan) Y...yes, father.
(The Abbot) Why are you not in your bed in such late?
(Amannan) I'm sorry, father. Somehow I awoke by chance and couldn't sleep since. I tried to but I couldn't, so I...
(The Abbot) That's good, Amannan, that's so devoted of you to praise Lord even while your brothers getting rest. But you know, things sound loud at night. And you could wake all the other fellows at the abbey. If you want to sing, you better go to the riverside over there, not here.
(Amannan) Yes, father. As you said.
(Amannan, to the right) Good evening, Polough.
(The Guard) Rev. Amannan. Where would you go in such late?
(Amannan) Ah... just a while to the riverside. I'll be back soon. (Exit to the right)
(Narrative) Meanwhile at the riverside.
(As the dance tune "Mischief Anneal" starts, the waterfairies enter the left and dance.
As the dance ends, they feel something coming to them. They look at the right, whispering together, then rush out to the left.
Enters Amannan the right. Knowing nothing about the scene a moment before, yet feels something interrupted. Looks around a little uneasy, then again start to sing, first quietly, then louder and louder.
A While later, Elda quietly enters the left. Then begins to listen to him from behind the woods.)
(Amannan, sigh with satisfaction) Huh... hope get to sleep easy until the morn...
(Leave to the right. Elda slowly stands up and see him off on the tip of toe.
Eversince Amannan is to greet The Guard passing by whenever he is to the river.
(Waterfairies enter the left, surround Elda.)
(Elda) I heard a beautiful song.
(Waterfairy1) Was that some night creature? Was that whispering of an owl?
(Elda) Nay, it was some creature looks much like us. It was walking to and fro at the riverside and singing a song.
(Waterfairiy2) Wonder it was some other tribe of fairies. Or was it a spirit of woods or a hobgoblin?
(Elda) It was in a long gray robe with a white cross on it.
(Waterfairiy3) Ah, it's a human! One of the monks living in the abbey over there. They sing songs there all the time. But how come they came here to sing?
(Elda) It did sing.
(Waterfairy4) Strange.
(A Child Waterfairy) Are they a tribe like us, humans?
(Waterfairy3) They might LOOK like us. But they're far mortal and shortliving. Today here, tomorrow gone. Easy-fading as summer blossom, unreliable as green grass.
(A Child Waterfairy) So, a different kind.
(Waterfairy3) Yeah.
(Exit the waterfairies. Elda stays. BGM. Narrative)
Eversince he came to here whenever he couldn't sleep at night. Slipped out of his bed walking to and fro at the riverside, singing his favourite hymns.
(As the narratove goes, Amannan enters again passing by The Guard, walk around and sing. Elda listens to him behind the woods.
Pantomime while singing... When he turns his back on her, Elda stretches out on her tiptoe, trying to see him. Amannan, feeling somehow nervous, stops singing and turns back. Then Elda quickly hides down. Amannan, still feeling uneasy, keeps singing. etc...)
(Narrative) Then, one night.
(Amannan, singing and walking around at the riverside as usual)
(Elda naturally begins to hum along with him from behind the woods)
(Amannan, still singing, looks around in wonder)
(There Amannan stops singing abruptly. Elda's voice lingers just for a moment. Amannan stands around, very surprised. Monologue)
An angel... must be singing with me. Holy Lord has sent me one of His angels according to my humble prayer.
(Amannan, so moved, prays for a while down on his knees. Elda stretches out to see what he's doing, rather embarrassed.)
(Narrative) ...And this came to occur again and again. Who's singing with him? A gentle tone of singing echo, from the woods here, from the shrubs there, really is an angel living in this riverside?
(As the Narrative goes, pantomime, Amannan singing, walking to and fro, and Elda singing together from behind. Amannan often looks around in wonder, with his hands over his ears)
(Narrative) As the days go by, Amannan thought he could no longer stay in wonder. Now he determined that he had to find it out. So, one moonlit night.
(At night, dim blue moonshine. Clouds slowly move across the surface of big silver moon. Amannan at the riverside, begins to sing. Soon of the big silver moon.
Enters Amannan and begins to sing. Soon Elda's voice follows)
(Amannan, with his hand over his ears, keeps singing just the same but slowly reaches out for the voice, his back still turned)
(Then here Amannan suddenly turns around. He and Elda, who was less alert and failed to hide down in time, there the two for the first time come face to face. Both freeze in surprise.)
(Narrative) At the river, glittering silver in the moonlight, there Amannan saw Elda the beautiful young waterfairy. Her blue eyes were as clear as lakes, her rich, flowing hair was shinning green.
(Elda, about to swim away in the river, somehow rethink and stay looking up at him. Amannan, recovering from surprise)
Miss, please forgive me for my rudeness. But you see, now is not the time for a young lady like you to stay outside. Besides you could catch a cold and die if you stay in such wet.
(Elda, after a pause, in a gentle, quiet tone)
Since the moonlight is so beautiful like this, you could be so greedy if you'd have it all on your own.
(Narrative)
It was the very voice that Amannan had heard every night. Elda the waterfairy didn't know nothing about the Lord or Christianity. She remembered the hymns as Amannan sang them every night, just because he sang so sweet.
(Elda) Could you please go on singing your songs? Listening to you, that is my joy and pleasure.
(Amannan, bit hesitant) Then... shall we?
(Amannan and Elda sing together. Amannan, surprised) You've got such a good memory! You can sing it perfect.
(Elda) I've listened to you every night. See how sweet you sing!
(Amannan, thinking for a moment) This song is a praise to our Lord. Have you heard about our Lord or Christianity?
(Elda) No.
(Amannan) I serve this holy Lord. We Irish had lived long in darkness, but the Lord got mercy to send us His apostles and let us know about His grace. Everything in the world, our holy Lord created it. This flowing of the River Fergus, these woods at the riverside, that dark sky above, that bright moonshine, you, and me.
(Elda) Me?
(Amannan) Of course! ...(got bit less confident) well, maybe.
(Elda) What is He like?
(Amannan) (Now knowing he's got so much to tell, takes deep breath) He is so, so great, loving and affectionate. (Slowly sits down wondering which to say first... Elda follows.)
(Amannan) The first two people the holy Lord created were named Adam and Eve. It was the beginning of this world...
(Pantomime goes on describing Amannan telling about the Lord. BGM. Narrative)
Fairiies, they live long for a thousand years and more, differing from the humans. But they will fade and disappear like bright bubbles on the river at the end of the world. People believed so at that time in Ireland. Somehow Amannan felt instinctively that she was not a human but some other creature. But he thought he should be kind to her anyway because, after all, she wanted to know about the Lord. So he tried to explain as simple and plain as he could.
(As the sky begins to dawn, Amannan stops talking and stands up.)
(Elda) Do you come to me tomorrow night?
(Amannan) I shall come. (leave and exit)
(Narrative) Since then, night after night, he came to visit Elda the waterfairy at the riverside. She was always there waiting for him. There he told her about the holy Lord and Cristianity. He felt responsible for her to guide this maiden into the pure light of grace.
But actually, about Elda, she didn't understand anything at all.
(Enters Amannan as the Narrative goes, holding pray books, catechism books etc. in his arm. Elda waiting for him on the left. They talk till dawn, then leaves Amannan.)
(The Guard, as Amannan passes by) I'm really impressed on your eagerness to holy Lord, Rev. Amannan, but please, take care of yourself.
(Amannan) I will. Thank you, Polough.
(The Guard, to himself) Look how eager he is!...
(Enter the waterfairies, surround Elda, one by one)
Elda, Elda! Are you in love? Are you in love?
With that human guy? With that human guy?
Be cautious! There's no creature ever as fleeting and faithless as humans.
If you love him, one day he will betray you and break your heart.
And he will not live long, you know.
Yes, a hundred years at best.
(Elda, dreamy and enchantedly) He's got beautiful songs. He tells me tales every night.
(Waterfairies) He tells you tales about what?
(Elda) Not sure. About some new gods, I guess.
(Waterfairies) Do they interest you?
(Elda, quite innocently and childlikely) Not much. Not much to do with me, anyway. I just like him talking to me. He sings lovely and he talks sweet. That's what I like.
(The waterfairies leave shrugging their shoulders with bewilderness.)
(Narrative) However, Amannan got more and more tired and exhausted as the days go by with this excess mission. He had thought it was his duty, but it was tough to visit her every night after his daily labor.
(BGM as the Narrative goes, enter Amannan and the monks. Begin working out in the fields with ploughs and things.
Amannan bends down and lays his hand on his forehead, looking quite haggard. The fellow monks worry at the sight. The monks, one by one)
He don't look well.
He looks pale.
Must be tired.
What happened to him?
(Exit the monks carrying their tools, worrying and looking back at him. Then enters The Abbot.)
(The Abbot) My dear fellow. Don't you sleep well at night? Is something clouding over your heart? Seems to me like you're coming back quite late these days.
(Amannan, staring at the front) No, that is not true.
(The Abbot) Be careful. There, R. Fergus runs deeper than it seems.
(Exits The Abbot)
(Amannan, monologue) No, I didn't tell anyone about her. I was afraid... that somebody might accuse her and mistreat her knowing that she's a waterfairy and that she's got no soul.
(Narrative) Yet now he knew that he had realized deep inside. It was not only for his eagerness to the Lord anymore to visit her every night. Flames in him burned and tortured him... A burning heart to beautiful Elda.
(BGM. If possible, here appears a short movie of a golden fire burning up in the dark background for a moment. Amannan gets down on knees, deep in his sufferings.)
(Narrative) As he tried and tried to deny, the flame burned up still more violent... It tortured him like the fires in the hell that would burn the whole world up...
(Enter The Abbot and the monks. The bells ring and the mass begins. They all sing the hymn from Psalm#38. Then people exit, leaving Amannan alone. Amannan stands still for a while. Monologue)
I'm lying to myself. "Faithless is the human heart. It lies and hides and cheats on itself. Who ever knows that?" (Jer 17:9) This mustn't be going on anymore."
(BGM. Narrative) Thus one night, after they talked as usual.
(Amannan and Elda talking. Amannan stands up to leave, then making up his mind)
(Amannan) I'm not gonna come to you anymore.
(Silence. Elda, shocked but rather calmly) Lord, why is that in the world?
(Amannan) Because I'm not quite adequate to guide you to the holy Lord. However, if it's His will, He will send you somebody else to save you.
(The two stare at each other calmly for a while. Then Amannan turns and leaves. Elda sees him off until he disappears. Then leans her face and stands still for a more while.)
(BGM. Enters Amannan. Prays on his knees turning his back on the front. Narrative)
Since then, he stopped visiting Elda. He tried to get involved in his labour at the abbey still harder, and kept on praying all night when he couldn't sleep. Yet he could never banish the image of Elda away from his heart. Suffering from the inner conflict, alas, now he got looked quite haggard...
(Enter the waterfairies, surrounding Elda)
Are you waiting again, are you waiting again?
For whom will come never again?
I bet he changed his mind, look, as we said before!
Fleeting and faithless is the humans!
How long are you gonna keep waiting all in vain?
I assure you, better forget and throw it all away!
(Elda doesn't try to argue, just looking sad and blank minded)
(Enter The Abbot and the monks. Mass. Then The Abbot prays Lord' prayer)
Our father which art in heaven...
(The monks) Amen.
(The Abbot) Support the suffering souls among us. Guide and strengthen our souls when we are lost in the darkness.
(The monks) Amen.
(Hymn, Psalm #51. While they sing, Amannan falls down from exhaustion and the sense of guilt.
After singing, the monks surround Amannan at a distance. Half-recollectively)
...Can't forget how he's suffering!
Made us feel terrible, just seeing and let him get withered and withered!...
Ah!... For what he's suffering like that!...
(Exit the monks, shaking their heads worrying. The Abbot yet stays)
(The Abbot) Amannan, I cannot help feeling that you're suffering from something. Listen, the Lord want you to serve Him with joy and happiness, not with pain and sufferings. If it's not your wish, you are not forced to stay in this little abbey. If it's guild and trade that you want, then you go to the city. If it's crops and cattle that you want, then go to the fields. And, (with a pause) if there lives somebody in your heart that you want, then go to her. Even St. Paul says, "If you cannot hold yourself, then you get married. Better get married than play with a fire." (Cor 1st, 7:9)
(As The Abbot speaks, Amannan slowly stands up and face up. After a long pause)
(Amannan) My wish, truly from my heart, is still to serve Lord, to devote myself only to the holy Lord. If my heart ever wished to commit a sin, then things have been rather easier for me. But it is not!... not!... That is what I'm suffering for.
(Exit Amannan reelingly. The Abbot sees him off, very concerned for.
The light once turned off. Then again, dim, blue light and the clouds slowly move across the big silver moon.)
(Narrative) It was a bright, moonshone night the same as the night before when he first met Elda. The evening breeze softened the remains of the severe heat during the daytime. Vapours rising trembling in the blue moonlight, the garden filled with the scents of summer flowers, everything's just unworldly like a waving waterbed.
The brightness reflected on Amannan's eyelids and opened them and then he could sleep no longer since. In a dream or not dream he didn't know, now he just wandered away from his bed like a sleepwalker, wandering down to the old riverside... He had expected nothing there anymore, time had passed long since. He just wanted to see the river face glittering in the bright moonshine again. However, behind the same woods, what he saw there... It was Elda the beautiful waterfairy, with the same light blue eyes of the lakes, with the same flowing hair shinning green.
(The two startle at the sight of each other, stare at each other freezing for a while.)
(Amannan, not too dramatic) I couldn't sleep cos I was thinking of you.
(Silence. Elda) Me, too.
(The blue light begins to wave and tremble and turn around and round and round... BGM "The Flame of Jah". The two get closer and give their arms to each other. Then Elda quietly take Amannan to the river, then begin to go round him dancing like the water whirls. Meanwhile Amannan stands there holding up one of his arms, and putting another on his throat.
Then after a while Amannan suddenly falls down on the spot. Not until then Elda realizes that something's wrong. There she knees down by him, pats and shakes him, looks around, totally upset. Then at last, as BGM ends, looks up at the sky in despair, spreading her arms up. Afterwards she withdraws a little backwards and crouches down holding her head.)
(At the gate of the abbey. Nearly dawn. The Guard treading on the spot uneasily with his arms folded. Then shakes his head looking over in the direction of the river. Monologue)
What's up with him?... Where is he?... Never has he got such late... Soon begins the morning service...
(Then he takes a lantern and light it. Wanders around to the river calling for Amannan. The light of the lantern shimmering through the woods as he moves.)
(The Guard, as walking) Rev. Amannan!... Rev. Amannan!...
(At the river, Elda hides away in a hurry hearing the voice. But peeps through from behind time to time with worry.
The Guard, after wandering quite a while, finds something in sight.)
Lord, what's that?
(As The Guard comes closer, he knows that it is Amannan fallen at the foot of a willow tree, half immersed. Then he rushes to.)
Rev. Amannan!... What, are you OK?... Oh my God!...
(The Guard holds him and pulls up to the bank, searches for his wrist, puts his ear onto his chest and then shakes his head, painfully. The Guard tries to carry the body, but it is out of his hands, with its long pleated robe all wet and soaked.)
(The Guard) No, I can't... Got to tell The Abbot, anyway...
(The Guard runs back to the abbey. Elda sees him off on the tiptoe. She may appear from behind and kneels down by Amannan once again.
The Guard, arriving at the abbey, pounds on The Abbot's door.)
(The Guard) Abbot!... Abbot!... Do wake up!... Emergency!...
(The Abbot appears with his night cap. Calmly) What happened, Polough?
(The Guard) Rev. Amannan!... He's fallen at the riverside!... Do come, please, for God's sake!...
(Then the two come down to the river. Elda hides away again to hear them.
The Abbot crosses himself to see Amannan. The Guard is too upset. The two manage to carry Amannan back to the abbey.
The monks come running to gather around them. All shocked and upset, some cover their faces with hands, others reach their arms out for heaven, and so on.)
Lord!... Our holy Lord!...
Can't be true!... No! Never!...
How come this...! ...
(The Guard kneels down by Amannan, spreading his arm toward them)
He must have slipped his foot and fallen to the river, while walking around, meditating. He's doing that all the time.
(The monks nod to each other, painfully.
The Abbot, monologue) Yes, I knew, I knew... Still I won't blame him. He was an innocent man all the same, provided he might have slipped his foot and fallen.
(Exit The Abbot and the monks, carrying Amannan)
(Elda burying her face in her arms, crying. The waterfairies surrounding her, some spread their arms, others hold her shoulders and so on, in a dancing-like movement.)
Elda, Elda, what did you do to him?
You know you held him too tight.
Didn't you know that... how fragile is the humans?
Well, that's not a big deal anyway.
No, not a big at all.
You know, humans are mortal. They're gonna be gone one day, after all.
Or just change their minds before their short lives' out.
Rather good for him, might have been, he was a lucky man.
Yeah, he was so crazy in love with you and...
See, he died in your arms!...
(Elda just keeps crying, shaking her head hopelessly.)
(The funeral mass. Enter The Abbot, the monks, The Guard and Amannan's coffin, which is simple but neat, slightly decorative. The soft sunlight through multi-coloured stained glass onto around the alter. Requiem. The Abbot prays)
Today here's our good fellow Amannan, our beloved young brother,
So gentle, earnest and kind-hearted,
Lived his short life all through in love of God, truthfully devoted himself to our holy Lord,
We shall leave him in thy hands,
May thou save him and let him rest in peace.
Amen.
(People there) Amen.
(Then they carry the coffin to the graveyard. On the half way Elda appears and follows them. She's in a long white robe all wet and dripping like she came straight from the river. Sobbing all the way.
The monks, looking back at her)
Who's that girl?
Must be one of his families. His sister, maybe... See how she's crying!...
(Hearing that, The Abbot turns around and finds her. Gazes at her strictly for quite a while, yet says nothing after all and let her pass by. The Abbot, Monologue)
No, I won't... I won't add any more burden onto her shoulder. "Lord knows everything hidden and unspoken, and He will judge them all rightly." (Eccl 12:14)... The Lord will judge all rightly.
(The funeral exits slowly.)
(Narrative) And it was once and for all... they never saw her again.
Then a thousand years and more had passed since. The old Abbot and all the good fellow monks, they had all gone and rested in peace and God's blessings. Their little, humble abbey and graveyards with Celtic crosses, they got all worn and weathered as the time passed and now we have only a remain here.
As the time passed by, Ennis got busier and busier as the capital of the county. More and more people came to live in, more and more coaches came passing to and fro.
It could no longer be a place comfortable enough for the waterfairies, so most of them left their old riverside for more rural, quieter residence.
Still Elda stayed. Her memories just kept there forever, like a ship moored at the pier.
(Enter Elda and the waterfairies. They hold Elda's hands crying, saying their good-byes. Elda crying too.)
Say you come with us!... Come with us!...
How could we ever...
Why you so insist!...
It's awful!... It's awful!...
Can't stand that, leave you here alone!...
(Dance tune "Eternity". The waterfairies other than Elda dance, expressing their sorrow. Then exit, waving at Elda.)
(Narrative) Late at night, when the silver moon shines bright, she sings still now sitting among the reeds at the old riverside. Sings her songs which used to be Amannan's favourites.
(Elda sings. Psalm#1)
(Narrative) Still she doesn't get anything about the meaning of the songs, nor about the holy Lord just as ever. She loved them just because a man in her memory loved them.
They came to say that there lived an angel at the riverside of R. Fergus, that you would hear an unworldly sweet, gentle voice singing old, old hymns when you pass by there late at night.
But I'll tell you, actually, it's not an angel. It's an waterfairy at R. Fergus, who has been in her sorrow of having lost her beloved once and forever, for a thousand years and more.
Feb 2011 by Ussay Nakajima
*Basical image/tone of colours, texture
Dim blue of night sky, silver of the moonlight, dark green of woods/dense scrubs at the riverside.
The moonshine reflecting on the river, making its surface glimmer.
Quiet, poetic, yet lyrical tone throughout.
*Cast
Amannan:a monk, young and outstandingly beautiful
The Abbot:old and wise, strict but warm-hearted
the fellow monks
The Guard of the Abbey
Elda:a young waterfairy, lovely and innocent
other waterfairy families
*Stage
The riverside scene/set at the left, showing the waterfairy world.
The abbey scene/set at the right, showing the abbey people world.
Waterfairies always enter from/exit to the left.
The abbey people the right.
*
(Theme Song "The Flame of Jah" quietly starts. All the casts enter and sing)
Set me on your heart and brand there with the burning fire
Engrave my name on your arm and make it never ever fade
Everlasting tattoo
We know how strong is the strength of Love as that of Death
Never gives in just as sheol
Love is the burning fire, even a flood can never stop it
Whirlpools never kill it,
Love goes on and on through time and tide
A sparkling light in the dark, the flame of Jah
(Based on Song of Solomon 8:6)
(The casts exit. BGM quietly starts. Narrative)
This is a story once happened in Ennis, Co. Clare, the west of Ireland a thousand years ago...no, still more. It was when not long time had passed since Christianity was first brought into Ireland, and when there lived far more fairies than today in Ireland.
Ennis was just a little village at that time.
It is so lovely at the riverside of R. Fergus, which runs through the town of Ennis.
The stream of Fergus is dark and clear, runs swiftly yet quiet, floating white lines of bubbles on it.
Green shades of the woods reflecting themselves on the face of river,
Sage and valerian flowers bloom at the bank, blue herons and kingfishers fish there.
There also lived the families of otters, and of course, those of fairies.
(Dance tune "The Innocence" starts. Elda and other waterfairies enter and dance. Then exit.)
(BGM starts. The Guard enters and stand on the right. Narrative)
There was a stone-walled little abbey there at that time.
Surrounded by dense woods, almost isolated with few visitors, they lived their lives there.
Had masses, studied books, made manuscripts, grew vegetables in the rhythm of their chime of bells.
One day a newcomer arrived. His name was Amannan.
(Enters Amannan. As the narrative goes, he looks around unfamiliarly and The Guard shows him the way. After a while, other monks enter. Narrative)
But somehow he was too distinctive. Maybe too beautiful a youngster to be a monk...almost like ancient David.
His skin was snow white, noble line of his nose was like Greek sculpture. His dark blue eyes were in contrast to apple red of his lips. His curly hair was fair blonde. Monk's robe so unfitted him, and everybody looked back at him in surprise.
(BGM fade out. Fellow monks whispering each other)
Hey, look! What's that?
And he means he's gonna be a monk!
Must be some mistake!
Wonder he's got where he is!
(Enters The Abbot. Narrative)
The old Abbot felt something uneasy about him from the first. His beauty seemed almost ominous.
(The Abbot comes slowly to Amannan. They shake hands. The Abbot gazes at Amannan.)
(The Abbot) Dear young fellow Amannan. You are very welcome to here and we are all so pleased to have a new company. May this little abbey be a house of grace to you, and we hope you serve God in joy and happiness.
But dear Amannan, please, I have a question.
(Amannan) Yes, father.
(The Abbot) What made you choose this way? Any other ways wouldn't you like to choose? There must be plenty of other ways you could take. And believe me, this way can be pretty hard for a young fellow like you.
(Amannan, bit nervous, but firmly in belief) When I was born, a gipsy woman foretold that one day a woman would bring me mischief. That's why my parents entered me in this abbey. But more than that, I can say that I do love Lord. And have no regret to become a monk. Any other ways mean nothing to me. Could you believe me, father?
(The Abbot shakes his head in worry. Then stares at him again. Amannan stares back at him calmly, straightforward. After a while, The Abbot pats his back warmly. The Abbot, to himself)
Now I shall wait and see. If it's Lord's will, He will guard and guide this young man right.
(Bells ding and the mass begins. The Abbot at the alter, monks gather. Hymn, Psalm#1. The Abbot prays:)
Our Father which art in heaven...
Today here we had a new fellow. May thy grace guard him. May he stand firm in faith, and follow this way in love and loyalty to thee as we all are trying to.
(The monks) Amen.
(BGM. Exits The Abbot. The monks scatter to work in the fields. Pantomime to plough the fields. Narrative)
This is how Amannan became a member at this abbey.
It was a little abbey, yet quite busy and lively. Besides their daily services, they had to grow corn and vegetables in the garden, grind serial and bake bread, sew clothes and sandals, take care of the tools and buildings... there was no end for things to do.
Amannan seemed just unfitted and inharmonious there at first. He stood out by his beauty, and so that was often harassed and mistreated.
(As Narrative goes on, pantomime... The monks speak ill of Amannan behind his back or make funny gesture, but the moment he turns back they quickly stop and get back to their work, pretending nothing happened. Narrative)
...Yet Amannan just stood and endured that all.
He was so straight-hearted, really a good fellow. Always sincere, always hard-working. So courteous to the seniors, so kind and gentle to the juniors. As the days go by, everyone came to accept him from the heart.
(Bells ding, enters The Abbot, Amannan and other monks leave their work and gather for the mass. Hymn, Psalm#23. Then they exit patting their backs, walking arm in arm... warm, loving atmosphere.)
(Lights turn to blue, expressing moonshine. Late at night, the courtyard in the abbey. Narrative)
Just one thing mattered... he was so sensitive and delicate, that tended to be a light sleeper.
(Snoring from the right sleeve)
Gaaaaaaah!... Gaaaaaaah!...
Goooooooh!!... Gooooooooh!!...
(Amannan, awaken, turns in his bed)
Uh... mmm...
(Enters Amannan, very sleepy, half-dreaming. Walks around vacantly for a while, then begins to hum his favourite hymn Psalm#1, quietly at first, then as getting involved, gradually louder and louder.)
(The Abbot, opening his window) My good fellow.
(Amannan) Y...yes, father.
(The Abbot) Why are you not in your bed in such late?
(Amannan) I'm sorry, father. Somehow I awoke by chance and couldn't sleep since. I tried to but I couldn't, so I...
(The Abbot) That's good, Amannan, that's so devoted of you to praise Lord even while your brothers getting rest. But you know, things sound loud at night. And you could wake all the other fellows at the abbey. If you want to sing, you better go to the riverside over there, not here.
(Amannan) Yes, father. As you said.
(Amannan, to the right) Good evening, Polough.
(The Guard) Rev. Amannan. Where would you go in such late?
(Amannan) Ah... just a while to the riverside. I'll be back soon. (Exit to the right)
(Narrative) Meanwhile at the riverside.
(As the dance tune "Mischief Anneal" starts, the waterfairies enter the left and dance.
As the dance ends, they feel something coming to them. They look at the right, whispering together, then rush out to the left.
Enters Amannan the right. Knowing nothing about the scene a moment before, yet feels something interrupted. Looks around a little uneasy, then again start to sing, first quietly, then louder and louder.
A While later, Elda quietly enters the left. Then begins to listen to him from behind the woods.)
(Amannan, sigh with satisfaction) Huh... hope get to sleep easy until the morn...
(Leave to the right. Elda slowly stands up and see him off on the tip of toe.
Eversince Amannan is to greet The Guard passing by whenever he is to the river.
(Waterfairies enter the left, surround Elda.)
(Elda) I heard a beautiful song.
(Waterfairy1) Was that some night creature? Was that whispering of an owl?
(Elda) Nay, it was some creature looks much like us. It was walking to and fro at the riverside and singing a song.
(Waterfairiy2) Wonder it was some other tribe of fairies. Or was it a spirit of woods or a hobgoblin?
(Elda) It was in a long gray robe with a white cross on it.
(Waterfairiy3) Ah, it's a human! One of the monks living in the abbey over there. They sing songs there all the time. But how come they came here to sing?
(Elda) It did sing.
(Waterfairy4) Strange.
(A Child Waterfairy) Are they a tribe like us, humans?
(Waterfairy3) They might LOOK like us. But they're far mortal and shortliving. Today here, tomorrow gone. Easy-fading as summer blossom, unreliable as green grass.
(A Child Waterfairy) So, a different kind.
(Waterfairy3) Yeah.
(Exit the waterfairies. Elda stays. BGM. Narrative)
Eversince he came to here whenever he couldn't sleep at night. Slipped out of his bed walking to and fro at the riverside, singing his favourite hymns.
(As the narratove goes, Amannan enters again passing by The Guard, walk around and sing. Elda listens to him behind the woods.
Pantomime while singing... When he turns his back on her, Elda stretches out on her tiptoe, trying to see him. Amannan, feeling somehow nervous, stops singing and turns back. Then Elda quickly hides down. Amannan, still feeling uneasy, keeps singing. etc...)
(Narrative) Then, one night.
(Amannan, singing and walking around at the riverside as usual)
(Elda naturally begins to hum along with him from behind the woods)
(Amannan, still singing, looks around in wonder)
(There Amannan stops singing abruptly. Elda's voice lingers just for a moment. Amannan stands around, very surprised. Monologue)
An angel... must be singing with me. Holy Lord has sent me one of His angels according to my humble prayer.
(Amannan, so moved, prays for a while down on his knees. Elda stretches out to see what he's doing, rather embarrassed.)
(Narrative) ...And this came to occur again and again. Who's singing with him? A gentle tone of singing echo, from the woods here, from the shrubs there, really is an angel living in this riverside?
(As the Narrative goes, pantomime, Amannan singing, walking to and fro, and Elda singing together from behind. Amannan often looks around in wonder, with his hands over his ears)
(Narrative) As the days go by, Amannan thought he could no longer stay in wonder. Now he determined that he had to find it out. So, one moonlit night.
(At night, dim blue moonshine. Clouds slowly move across the surface of big silver moon. Amannan at the riverside, begins to sing. Soon of the big silver moon.
Enters Amannan and begins to sing. Soon Elda's voice follows)
(Amannan, with his hand over his ears, keeps singing just the same but slowly reaches out for the voice, his back still turned)
(Then here Amannan suddenly turns around. He and Elda, who was less alert and failed to hide down in time, there the two for the first time come face to face. Both freeze in surprise.)
(Narrative) At the river, glittering silver in the moonlight, there Amannan saw Elda the beautiful young waterfairy. Her blue eyes were as clear as lakes, her rich, flowing hair was shinning green.
(Elda, about to swim away in the river, somehow rethink and stay looking up at him. Amannan, recovering from surprise)
Miss, please forgive me for my rudeness. But you see, now is not the time for a young lady like you to stay outside. Besides you could catch a cold and die if you stay in such wet.
(Elda, after a pause, in a gentle, quiet tone)
Since the moonlight is so beautiful like this, you could be so greedy if you'd have it all on your own.
(Narrative)
It was the very voice that Amannan had heard every night. Elda the waterfairy didn't know nothing about the Lord or Christianity. She remembered the hymns as Amannan sang them every night, just because he sang so sweet.
(Elda) Could you please go on singing your songs? Listening to you, that is my joy and pleasure.
(Amannan, bit hesitant) Then... shall we?
(Amannan and Elda sing together. Amannan, surprised) You've got such a good memory! You can sing it perfect.
(Elda) I've listened to you every night. See how sweet you sing!
(Amannan, thinking for a moment) This song is a praise to our Lord. Have you heard about our Lord or Christianity?
(Elda) No.
(Amannan) I serve this holy Lord. We Irish had lived long in darkness, but the Lord got mercy to send us His apostles and let us know about His grace. Everything in the world, our holy Lord created it. This flowing of the River Fergus, these woods at the riverside, that dark sky above, that bright moonshine, you, and me.
(Elda) Me?
(Amannan) Of course! ...(got bit less confident) well, maybe.
(Elda) What is He like?
(Amannan) (Now knowing he's got so much to tell, takes deep breath) He is so, so great, loving and affectionate. (Slowly sits down wondering which to say first... Elda follows.)
(Amannan) The first two people the holy Lord created were named Adam and Eve. It was the beginning of this world...
(Pantomime goes on describing Amannan telling about the Lord. BGM. Narrative)
Fairiies, they live long for a thousand years and more, differing from the humans. But they will fade and disappear like bright bubbles on the river at the end of the world. People believed so at that time in Ireland. Somehow Amannan felt instinctively that she was not a human but some other creature. But he thought he should be kind to her anyway because, after all, she wanted to know about the Lord. So he tried to explain as simple and plain as he could.
(As the sky begins to dawn, Amannan stops talking and stands up.)
(Elda) Do you come to me tomorrow night?
(Amannan) I shall come. (leave and exit)
(Narrative) Since then, night after night, he came to visit Elda the waterfairy at the riverside. She was always there waiting for him. There he told her about the holy Lord and Cristianity. He felt responsible for her to guide this maiden into the pure light of grace.
But actually, about Elda, she didn't understand anything at all.
(Enters Amannan as the Narrative goes, holding pray books, catechism books etc. in his arm. Elda waiting for him on the left. They talk till dawn, then leaves Amannan.)
(The Guard, as Amannan passes by) I'm really impressed on your eagerness to holy Lord, Rev. Amannan, but please, take care of yourself.
(Amannan) I will. Thank you, Polough.
(The Guard, to himself) Look how eager he is!...
(Enter the waterfairies, surround Elda, one by one)
Elda, Elda! Are you in love? Are you in love?
With that human guy? With that human guy?
Be cautious! There's no creature ever as fleeting and faithless as humans.
If you love him, one day he will betray you and break your heart.
And he will not live long, you know.
Yes, a hundred years at best.
(Elda, dreamy and enchantedly) He's got beautiful songs. He tells me tales every night.
(Waterfairies) He tells you tales about what?
(Elda) Not sure. About some new gods, I guess.
(Waterfairies) Do they interest you?
(Elda, quite innocently and childlikely) Not much. Not much to do with me, anyway. I just like him talking to me. He sings lovely and he talks sweet. That's what I like.
(The waterfairies leave shrugging their shoulders with bewilderness.)
(Narrative) However, Amannan got more and more tired and exhausted as the days go by with this excess mission. He had thought it was his duty, but it was tough to visit her every night after his daily labor.
(BGM as the Narrative goes, enter Amannan and the monks. Begin working out in the fields with ploughs and things.
Amannan bends down and lays his hand on his forehead, looking quite haggard. The fellow monks worry at the sight. The monks, one by one)
He don't look well.
He looks pale.
Must be tired.
What happened to him?
(Exit the monks carrying their tools, worrying and looking back at him. Then enters The Abbot.)
(The Abbot) My dear fellow. Don't you sleep well at night? Is something clouding over your heart? Seems to me like you're coming back quite late these days.
(Amannan, staring at the front) No, that is not true.
(The Abbot) Be careful. There, R. Fergus runs deeper than it seems.
(Exits The Abbot)
(Amannan, monologue) No, I didn't tell anyone about her. I was afraid... that somebody might accuse her and mistreat her knowing that she's a waterfairy and that she's got no soul.
(Narrative) Yet now he knew that he had realized deep inside. It was not only for his eagerness to the Lord anymore to visit her every night. Flames in him burned and tortured him... A burning heart to beautiful Elda.
(BGM. If possible, here appears a short movie of a golden fire burning up in the dark background for a moment. Amannan gets down on knees, deep in his sufferings.)
(Narrative) As he tried and tried to deny, the flame burned up still more violent... It tortured him like the fires in the hell that would burn the whole world up...
(Enter The Abbot and the monks. The bells ring and the mass begins. They all sing the hymn from Psalm#38. Then people exit, leaving Amannan alone. Amannan stands still for a while. Monologue)
I'm lying to myself. "Faithless is the human heart. It lies and hides and cheats on itself. Who ever knows that?" (Jer 17:9) This mustn't be going on anymore."
(BGM. Narrative) Thus one night, after they talked as usual.
(Amannan and Elda talking. Amannan stands up to leave, then making up his mind)
(Amannan) I'm not gonna come to you anymore.
(Silence. Elda, shocked but rather calmly) Lord, why is that in the world?
(Amannan) Because I'm not quite adequate to guide you to the holy Lord. However, if it's His will, He will send you somebody else to save you.
(The two stare at each other calmly for a while. Then Amannan turns and leaves. Elda sees him off until he disappears. Then leans her face and stands still for a more while.)
(BGM. Enters Amannan. Prays on his knees turning his back on the front. Narrative)
Since then, he stopped visiting Elda. He tried to get involved in his labour at the abbey still harder, and kept on praying all night when he couldn't sleep. Yet he could never banish the image of Elda away from his heart. Suffering from the inner conflict, alas, now he got looked quite haggard...
(Enter the waterfairies, surrounding Elda)
Are you waiting again, are you waiting again?
For whom will come never again?
I bet he changed his mind, look, as we said before!
Fleeting and faithless is the humans!
How long are you gonna keep waiting all in vain?
I assure you, better forget and throw it all away!
(Elda doesn't try to argue, just looking sad and blank minded)
(Enter The Abbot and the monks. Mass. Then The Abbot prays Lord' prayer)
Our father which art in heaven...
(The monks) Amen.
(The Abbot) Support the suffering souls among us. Guide and strengthen our souls when we are lost in the darkness.
(The monks) Amen.
(Hymn, Psalm #51. While they sing, Amannan falls down from exhaustion and the sense of guilt.
After singing, the monks surround Amannan at a distance. Half-recollectively)
...Can't forget how he's suffering!
Made us feel terrible, just seeing and let him get withered and withered!...
Ah!... For what he's suffering like that!...
(Exit the monks, shaking their heads worrying. The Abbot yet stays)
(The Abbot) Amannan, I cannot help feeling that you're suffering from something. Listen, the Lord want you to serve Him with joy and happiness, not with pain and sufferings. If it's not your wish, you are not forced to stay in this little abbey. If it's guild and trade that you want, then you go to the city. If it's crops and cattle that you want, then go to the fields. And, (with a pause) if there lives somebody in your heart that you want, then go to her. Even St. Paul says, "If you cannot hold yourself, then you get married. Better get married than play with a fire." (Cor 1st, 7:9)
(As The Abbot speaks, Amannan slowly stands up and face up. After a long pause)
(Amannan) My wish, truly from my heart, is still to serve Lord, to devote myself only to the holy Lord. If my heart ever wished to commit a sin, then things have been rather easier for me. But it is not!... not!... That is what I'm suffering for.
(Exit Amannan reelingly. The Abbot sees him off, very concerned for.
The light once turned off. Then again, dim, blue light and the clouds slowly move across the big silver moon.)
(Narrative) It was a bright, moonshone night the same as the night before when he first met Elda. The evening breeze softened the remains of the severe heat during the daytime. Vapours rising trembling in the blue moonlight, the garden filled with the scents of summer flowers, everything's just unworldly like a waving waterbed.
The brightness reflected on Amannan's eyelids and opened them and then he could sleep no longer since. In a dream or not dream he didn't know, now he just wandered away from his bed like a sleepwalker, wandering down to the old riverside... He had expected nothing there anymore, time had passed long since. He just wanted to see the river face glittering in the bright moonshine again. However, behind the same woods, what he saw there... It was Elda the beautiful waterfairy, with the same light blue eyes of the lakes, with the same flowing hair shinning green.
(The two startle at the sight of each other, stare at each other freezing for a while.)
(Amannan, not too dramatic) I couldn't sleep cos I was thinking of you.
(Silence. Elda) Me, too.
(The blue light begins to wave and tremble and turn around and round and round... BGM "The Flame of Jah". The two get closer and give their arms to each other. Then Elda quietly take Amannan to the river, then begin to go round him dancing like the water whirls. Meanwhile Amannan stands there holding up one of his arms, and putting another on his throat.
Then after a while Amannan suddenly falls down on the spot. Not until then Elda realizes that something's wrong. There she knees down by him, pats and shakes him, looks around, totally upset. Then at last, as BGM ends, looks up at the sky in despair, spreading her arms up. Afterwards she withdraws a little backwards and crouches down holding her head.)
(At the gate of the abbey. Nearly dawn. The Guard treading on the spot uneasily with his arms folded. Then shakes his head looking over in the direction of the river. Monologue)
What's up with him?... Where is he?... Never has he got such late... Soon begins the morning service...
(Then he takes a lantern and light it. Wanders around to the river calling for Amannan. The light of the lantern shimmering through the woods as he moves.)
(The Guard, as walking) Rev. Amannan!... Rev. Amannan!...
(At the river, Elda hides away in a hurry hearing the voice. But peeps through from behind time to time with worry.
The Guard, after wandering quite a while, finds something in sight.)
Lord, what's that?
(As The Guard comes closer, he knows that it is Amannan fallen at the foot of a willow tree, half immersed. Then he rushes to.)
Rev. Amannan!... What, are you OK?... Oh my God!...
(The Guard holds him and pulls up to the bank, searches for his wrist, puts his ear onto his chest and then shakes his head, painfully. The Guard tries to carry the body, but it is out of his hands, with its long pleated robe all wet and soaked.)
(The Guard) No, I can't... Got to tell The Abbot, anyway...
(The Guard runs back to the abbey. Elda sees him off on the tiptoe. She may appear from behind and kneels down by Amannan once again.
The Guard, arriving at the abbey, pounds on The Abbot's door.)
(The Guard) Abbot!... Abbot!... Do wake up!... Emergency!...
(The Abbot appears with his night cap. Calmly) What happened, Polough?
(The Guard) Rev. Amannan!... He's fallen at the riverside!... Do come, please, for God's sake!...
(Then the two come down to the river. Elda hides away again to hear them.
The Abbot crosses himself to see Amannan. The Guard is too upset. The two manage to carry Amannan back to the abbey.
The monks come running to gather around them. All shocked and upset, some cover their faces with hands, others reach their arms out for heaven, and so on.)
Lord!... Our holy Lord!...
Can't be true!... No! Never!...
How come this...! ...
(The Guard kneels down by Amannan, spreading his arm toward them)
He must have slipped his foot and fallen to the river, while walking around, meditating. He's doing that all the time.
(The monks nod to each other, painfully.
The Abbot, monologue) Yes, I knew, I knew... Still I won't blame him. He was an innocent man all the same, provided he might have slipped his foot and fallen.
(Exit The Abbot and the monks, carrying Amannan)
(Elda burying her face in her arms, crying. The waterfairies surrounding her, some spread their arms, others hold her shoulders and so on, in a dancing-like movement.)
Elda, Elda, what did you do to him?
You know you held him too tight.
Didn't you know that... how fragile is the humans?
Well, that's not a big deal anyway.
No, not a big at all.
You know, humans are mortal. They're gonna be gone one day, after all.
Or just change their minds before their short lives' out.
Rather good for him, might have been, he was a lucky man.
Yeah, he was so crazy in love with you and...
See, he died in your arms!...
(Elda just keeps crying, shaking her head hopelessly.)
(The funeral mass. Enter The Abbot, the monks, The Guard and Amannan's coffin, which is simple but neat, slightly decorative. The soft sunlight through multi-coloured stained glass onto around the alter. Requiem. The Abbot prays)
Today here's our good fellow Amannan, our beloved young brother,
So gentle, earnest and kind-hearted,
Lived his short life all through in love of God, truthfully devoted himself to our holy Lord,
We shall leave him in thy hands,
May thou save him and let him rest in peace.
Amen.
(People there) Amen.
(Then they carry the coffin to the graveyard. On the half way Elda appears and follows them. She's in a long white robe all wet and dripping like she came straight from the river. Sobbing all the way.
The monks, looking back at her)
Who's that girl?
Must be one of his families. His sister, maybe... See how she's crying!...
(Hearing that, The Abbot turns around and finds her. Gazes at her strictly for quite a while, yet says nothing after all and let her pass by. The Abbot, Monologue)
No, I won't... I won't add any more burden onto her shoulder. "Lord knows everything hidden and unspoken, and He will judge them all rightly." (Eccl 12:14)... The Lord will judge all rightly.
(The funeral exits slowly.)
(Narrative) And it was once and for all... they never saw her again.
Then a thousand years and more had passed since. The old Abbot and all the good fellow monks, they had all gone and rested in peace and God's blessings. Their little, humble abbey and graveyards with Celtic crosses, they got all worn and weathered as the time passed and now we have only a remain here.
As the time passed by, Ennis got busier and busier as the capital of the county. More and more people came to live in, more and more coaches came passing to and fro.
It could no longer be a place comfortable enough for the waterfairies, so most of them left their old riverside for more rural, quieter residence.
Still Elda stayed. Her memories just kept there forever, like a ship moored at the pier.
(Enter Elda and the waterfairies. They hold Elda's hands crying, saying their good-byes. Elda crying too.)
Say you come with us!... Come with us!...
How could we ever...
Why you so insist!...
It's awful!... It's awful!...
Can't stand that, leave you here alone!...
(Dance tune "Eternity". The waterfairies other than Elda dance, expressing their sorrow. Then exit, waving at Elda.)
(Narrative) Late at night, when the silver moon shines bright, she sings still now sitting among the reeds at the old riverside. Sings her songs which used to be Amannan's favourites.
(Elda sings. Psalm#1)
(Narrative) Still she doesn't get anything about the meaning of the songs, nor about the holy Lord just as ever. She loved them just because a man in her memory loved them.
They came to say that there lived an angel at the riverside of R. Fergus, that you would hear an unworldly sweet, gentle voice singing old, old hymns when you pass by there late at night.
But I'll tell you, actually, it's not an angel. It's an waterfairy at R. Fergus, who has been in her sorrow of having lost her beloved once and forever, for a thousand years and more.
Posted by 中島迂生 at 01:15│Comments(0)
│Scripts in English
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