Tink.

Characters:
Svetlana
Katya
Svetlana's Mother
Young Svetlana
Valodya
Soldier/Ferryman/Townsman

*The couple that is frequently dancing is actually the characters of KATYA and VALODYA.

Tink

(A eerily haunting "music box" waltz starts to play. A soft blue light comes up. A couple, dressed in ball outfits waltz on stage, dancing in time with the music. A small girl starts to laugh. The couple dances for a bit, and then waltzes offstage. The little girl starts to cry. Lights fade.)

(Lights up on the outside of a shabby looking bakery.)

KATYA: Out! Out! Shoo! Get out! I don't ever want to see your wretched face around here ever again! Shoo! Get out!

(A teenage girl is thrown backwards out the bakery door. A few personal belongings are thrown at her face. She starts to peruse the items to confirm she has everything.)

KATYA: That's the last time you've burned the bread in this bakery!

SVETLANA: (Horrified) My music box!

KATYA: (Closing door) Hm? What?

SVETLANA: My music box! I need it!

KATYA:(Irritated) Oh, yes. That. Stay here. I'll get it. (Exit through door)

(SVETLANA sits dejectedly on the ground, wiping away tears.)

KATYA:(Enter through door, and in considerably softer tone and expression) Here. Take it. (Holds out a small, ornate, square music box.)

SVETLANA: (Standing) Thank you, Katya. (Takes box dejectedly, and starts to collect belongings)

KATYA: (Reassuring and comforting) Listen. Sveta. It's not the end of the world. You'll find a new place to live. And a new job. I promise.

SVETLANA: But why? Why do I have to go? Do you not like me anymore?

KATYA: No, no, no, no, no. It's not that I don't like you -- and I do, but I just can't have you burning the bread and the pastries left and right!

SVETLANA: I can't help it! It's just so boring. All you do is sit around and watch bread rise! I can't stand it! And what if I can't find a job?

KATYA: (Exasperated) Sveta, trust me. I'm sure you'll be fine. When I found you wandering the streets of Moscow when you were a little girl, all you had were the clothes on your back and that little music box. You still managed. It's a pity you can't remember anything, though.

SVETLANA: May I please stay?

KATYA: No. Now go.

SVETLANA: Please?

KATYA: No! Now off with you before I chase you out myself!

(SVETLANA slowly collects her things and starts to exit stage left.)

KATYA: Good luck! Maybe we'll see each other again some day!

(SVETLANA waves goodbye to KATYA, KATYA exits through the door. SVETLANA continues on her way, hanging her head dejectedly. Exit SVETLANA stage left. Lights fade.)

(Lights up on a forest scene, enter SVETLANA stage left)

SVETLANA: Where should I go? It's not as if I have a home...

KATYA: (Offstage, as though SVETLANA is remembering it) When I found you wandering the streets of Moscow when you were a little girl, all you had were the clothes on your back and that little music box...

SVETLANA: (With dawning realization) ...Of course! Moscow! Maybe someone remembers me back there. (Exits stage right)

(Lights fade)

(Lights up, enter SVETLANA stage right)

SVETLANA: (Out of breath) Phew! I wonder how close I am to Moscow. It can't be much further. Never mind that, I need to take a break. (Sits down and leans against a tree. Slowly takes out the music box from bag, begins to sing melody under her breath.) Where did you come from? And why can't I remember anything? (Opens music box, lights down sharply)

(Music starts to play, soft blue light up, aforementioned couple waltzes into the center of the stage and continues to dance throughout the flashback. Spotlight up on stage left, where a little girl is talking to an older woman)

YOUNG SVETLANA: But Mama! Why do we have to go?

SVETLANA'S MOTHER: Hush, Sveta! It's just a vacation, don't complain! We'll be back soon.

YOUNG SVETLANA: But Mama!... (Spotlight off)

(Spotlight up on stage right, where a young girl is talking to an older woman)

YOUNG SVETLANA: But Mama! Why do we have to go?

SVETLANA'S MOTHER: Shut up! They'll hear you! We have to get out of here!

(YOUNG SVETLANA begins to cry)

SVETLANA'S MOTHER: I told you to shut up! (Slaps SVETLANA, causing SVETLANA to cry even harder. SVETLANA'S MOTHER cries out in frustration, grabs SVETLANA'S arm and starts to pull her offstage. Spotlight fades.)

(Blue light fades, couple waltzes off, music fades.)

(Lights slowly up on forest, which should look exactly how it did before SVETLANA opened the music box.)

(SVETLANA seems to be in a trance, staring at the music box. Suddenly, she wakes up, jarring the music box shut.)

SVETLANA: Wha-? I certainly don't remember that happening. Then again, I don't remember a lot of things.

(Standing) Well, I might as well get going again. (Picks up things and walks off stage left. Lights fade.)

(Lights up on city set. SVETLANA wanders onstage, looking around in wonderment. She stops and, looking dazed, leans against a wall and slides down it.)

SVETLANA: Why does this look so familiar?...(Irritated) Oh, I wish I could remember something. Anything. (SVETLANA begins to look in her bag for some food. She pulls out a piece of fruit, and stops when she pulls out the music box. She stares at for a while, then lets out a sigh of frustration.) Where am I?...
(Opens music box slowly, lights drop suddenly. Melody begins to play, blue light up, couple waltzes to centerstage. Spotlight on stage right on YOUNG SVETLANA and SVETLANA'S MOTHER.)

SVETLANA'S MOTHER: Have you got everything?

SVETLANA: Yes, mama! Where are we going?

SVETLANA'S MOTHER: It's a surprise, Sveta. If I told you, it would ruin it.

SVETLANA: Aww, c'mon! You can tell me! I'll still act surprised!

SVETLANA'S MOTHER: No, Sveta.

(Spotlight off stage right, spotlight on stage left on YOUNG SVETLANA and SVETLANA'S MOTHER.)

SVETLANA'S MOTHER: Run, Sveta! Run! Get out of -- (Gunshot. SVETLANA'S MOTHER'S eyes glaze over, and she falls to the floor. YOUNG SVETLANA continues to run, sobbing hysterically. SOLDIER runs onstage to SVETLANA'S MOTHER, checks her pulse, and continues running. Spotlight fades. Couple waltzes off, blue light fades.)

(Lights up on SVETLANA slumped against wall, unconscious. TOWNSMAN enters, sees SVETLANA, rushes over to her, and checks her pulse. SVETLANA wakes with a start, panics, grabs her things and begins to run offstage.)

TOWNSMAN: No, wait! Are you alright?

(SVETLANA glances over her shoulder, looking terrified, and runs offstage. TOWNSMAN stares after her. Lights fade.)

(SVETLANA runs onstage and promptly collapses, panting.)

SVETLANA: Who was that? I feel like I'm seen him before. (Realizes she is still clutching the music box, stares at it in mild horror) And this! There's something strange about this. (Begins to open music box) I shouldn't, but... (Opens music box with full resolution)

(Melody begins to play, blue light up, couple waltzes onstage. Spotlight on stage right)

YOUNG SVETLANA: (Excited) Mama, where are we going? How are we getting there? When are we coming --

SVETLANA'S MOTHER: Svetlana, be quiet! We'll get there when we get there!

YOUNG SVETLANA: But --

SVETLANA'S MOTHER: Shush!

YOUNG SVETLANA: But I --

SVETLANA'S MOTHER: NO!

(Spotlight fades, spotlight up stage left)

YOUNG SVETLANA: (Crying) M-mama? What am I supposed to do?

TOWNSMAN: (Seeing that YOUNG SVETLANA is crying) There, there now. Stop crying. What's the matter? These are dangerous times; a little girl like you shouldn't be out by herself. Where's your mother?

YOUNG SVETLANA: I-I don't know where she is.

TOWNSMAN: What happened to her?

YOUNG SVETLANA: Well, she was telling me to run away, and then there was this really loud bang, and then she just sort of fell over, and then --

TOWNSMAN: (Sharply, solemnly) Did she give you any directions? Anything you were supposed to do?

YOUNG SVETLANA: (Pulling out two ferry tickets) She gave me these papers, but I can't read what they say.

TOWNSMAN: (Reading tickets) Alright. Here's what you're going to do. Are you listening? (YOUNG SVETLANA nods) Good. You're going to go to the town port, do you know where that is? (She nods) Point to it. (She points offstage) Right. Show them this ticket when you get there and tell them that you need to get to this ship. Got it? (She nods) Right. Now, I need you to be a big girl because I can't come with you. Now, wipe away those tears, everything will be alright. Good luck! (Spotlight fades, couple waltzes offstage, blue light fades.)

(Lights up on SVETLANA, who looks ahead, dumbstruck)

SVETLANA: Damn it! I was so close to remembering what happened! (Beat) There's something not right about this music box. (Tentatively opens music box. Lights down, melody begins to play, blue light up, couple waltzes on. Spotlight on stage right. A boardwalk is leading up the the edge of a ship. FERRYMAN is standing at the bottom on the boardwalk.)



Damn my motivation. Or lack thereof. I shall finish this at a later hour.