KENJI:
I have a present for you.
SADAKO:
You do?
KENJI:
Close your eyes.
(She
squinches her eyes shut, KENJI puts a piece of gold paper on the bed.)
KENJI:
Now you can look.
SADAKO: (Looking
at paper.) What
is it?
KENJI: (Laughs.)
Ive figured out a way for you to get well. Watch!
(He slowly
folds paper into origami crane. Recorded music heard earlier in the
mimed folding is heard:
SOUND CUE #4
NOTE: There
may be 3 paper cranes hidden in the bench or covered by KENJIs
satchel. He may secretly change one crane to another to show it in 2
or 3 stages of folding. At last he taps its wings and head into place
and holds the crane in the palm of his hand as if it is very precious.)
SADAKO:
Kenji, its beautiful. (Takes
crane.) But how
can this paper crane make me well?
KENJI:
Dont you remember that old story about the crane? Its
supposed to live for a thousand years. If a sick person folds one
thousand paper cranes, the gods will grant her wish and make her
healthy again. Theres your first one.
SADAKO: (Very
touched.) Oh,
Kenji. Its beautiful.
KENJI:
Make a wish.
(ACTORS make
musical sound of chimes from the music stand. SADAKO holds it out
before her, closes her eyes, and her lips move silently. She looks up
at KENJI, very moved by his gift.)
SADAKO:
Thank you, Kenji. Thank you.
KENJI:
Dont thank me. You have to fold the rest yourself.
SADAKO:
Ill start today. (Looks
around.)
But Ill need paper.
KENJI: (Putting
her on.) Now
where in the world could we get some paper? (Pretends
to think, then pulls paper out of his satchel.) Well,
what do you know? Look what I have here. (Hands
it to her.) This
ought to keep you busy.
SADAKO: (Takes
paper, smiles at his fun, becomes serious.) Kenji?
KENJI: Yes?
SADAKO: (Trying
to be strong.)
Who won the race?
KENJI: (Carefully.)
Oh, I dont remember her name. She wasnt very fast. She
was a turtle.
SADAKO:
But you always said I was a turtle.
KENJI:
Oh, well, I was only teasing when I said that. Youre much more
like that crane there. You run very fast, Sadako, like a bird. Like
the wind.
SADAKO: (Almost
ready to cry, bolsters herself.)
So if Im not a turtle, does that mean youre not a frog?
KENJI:
What? Me? A frog? Why, thats the silliest thing I ever heard...
croak! Oops! Theres that sound again. Croak! Uh-oh. Its
starting again, Sadako. Look! Croak! Im turning all green and
warty! Croak! Croak!
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