Twist of Gold

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Authors: Michael Morpurgo
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night – save our water. Rest up by day; march at
     night. Will you play something, set us off to rest til’ nightfall, Sean?
         He plays something melancholic. ANNIE rests. When SEAN has finished playing, he sleeps too. The COLONEL takes a long look at them, checks that they have the water bottle and then walks off into the desert, alone.
    * * *
         The moon rises. ANNIE awakes.
    ANNIE : Mister Colonel! Where are you Mister Colonel?
         SEAN awakes.
    SEAN : What is it Annie?
    ANNIE : The Colonel. He’s gone.
    SEAN : Where has he gone?
    ANNIE : He’s left us the water. I think he’s gone in order to save us. He’s left us so that we can march on with the water, helping us
     that little bit further.
    SEAN : But we can’t go on. I can’t go on. I have no strength in me any more, Annie.
    ANNIE : (Shaking him by the shoulders.) We’ll not be giving up, Sean. Not after what the Colonel has done for us. We have to try, Sean. For
     the Colonel’s sake. We have to try.
    SEAN : Oh, Annie. I think you’re right. Perhaps we should follow the Colonel?
    ANNIE : There is no trail to follow.
    SEAN : Shouldn’t we try to find him?
    ANNIE : Like he said, we’ve a heck of a way to go.
         There’s a growl.
    SEAN : What was that?
         The growl is even louder, closer.
    ANNIE : I’m not sure. But I’m not staying to find out.
         And they exit, pursued by a BEAR .
    * * *
         Dawn. SEAMUS FINN looks down across the desert from the trees, through a telescope.
    SEAMUS FINN : (To himself.) A graveyard of a place. Sure, there’s not a bear fool enough to set a foot out there. (Raises his voice to
     the non-existent bear.) You cost me a week of me life, you divil! I been trackin’ you for a week now. Don’t think you’ve seen the last of me, mister bear. You may have got
     away this time, but there’s always the next time.
         He puts his telescope to his eye for one last look – and spots something unexpected.
         (Crossing himself.) Jasus, Mary Mother of God. Will you look what is out there? Will you just look. What the divil’s a young boy like that
     doing out there all on his own? Don’t I have enough troubles without addin’ to them? No gold, no bears in my traps, and now this? ’Tis not fair on a man, not fair at all.
         SEAMUS makes his way towards SEAN and ANNIE .
        An’ where the divil did you come from, young man? An’ who is that you have with you?
    SEAN : ’Tis my sister, Annie, and she’s near dying, mister, for want of water. Would you have some water, mister?
    SEAMUS FINN : To be sure I have, young man.
         He hands SEAN his canteen and SEAN pours the water onto ANNIE ’s parched
     lips. As the water trickles down her throat, she coughs herself back to life.
    SEAN : Thank you, mister.
    SEAMUS FINN : Sure, ’tis nothing. An’ I should say you are about as lost as a young man could be. By the talk of you, you would be an
     Irishman, would you not? No, but ’tis not possible. ’Tis years since I heard those dulcet tones from a man. ’Bout here they grunt and spit more’n they talk.
     There’s no one speaks English as sweet as an Irishman. An’ that’s an Irish smile you’re wearin’. You’re never Irish, young man, are you?
    SEAN : (Smiling.) County Cork!
    SEAMUS FINN : (Laughing.) Kerry! I’m Seamus Finn from Kerry. Jasus, Mary Mother of God, it can’t be true. Out here in the middle of
     nothin’ and I run into a lad from County Cork! An’ would she be from County Cork too?
    ANNIE : ’Course I am. I’m his sister, am I not?
    SEAMUS FINN : Sure you are, darlin’ – an’ welcome back to the land of the livin’.
         SEAN takes a big glug of water.
        Now, when your brother’s finished my water, then I’ll see yous both be gettin’ out of this terrible place. You’ll be on your
     own, I suppose?
         They say nothing.
        I suppose so then. (To ANNIE .) Can you walk, or shall I be carryin’

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