Challenge: Poetry
“History doesn’t repeat itself but it often rhymes.” - a saying, surely said by someone
MARCIA’S bedroom. FIONA is four, sleeping over.
FIONA
One more story! Please! Just one more.
MARCIA
That’s what you said with the last one. Come on, it’s time for bed. I’m old and I can’t stay up much later or I’ll turn into a pumpkin!
FIONA
Just one more… a short one?
MARCIA
How about a poem?
FIONA
Okay!
MARCIA
Let me think… I know one off the top of my head!
(Does the process of tucking FIONA in while reciting)
Listen to the mustn'ts, child.
Listen to the don'ts.
Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts.
Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me...
Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.
(MARCIA kisses FIONA on the head.)
Love you. Good night.
FIONA
Good night, Grandma. Love you too!
(Lights go out. When lights come back up, MARCIA is in the bed and 25 year old FIONA is tucking her in. As she does it she recites the poem.)
FIONA
Listen to the mustn'ts, child.
Listen to the don'ts.
Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts.
Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me...
Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.
(MARCIA is snores quietly as FIONA kisses the top of her head.)
Anything…
I love you. Good night.
(FIONA goes to turn the lights off)
MARCIA
(still at least 3/4ths asleep)
I love you too.
(Lights out)