Aurelia's Magic Aurelia's Magic

AURELIA'S MAGIC ______

A one-act dramedy by John Bolen

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Have a question about copyright? Please contact us by email at [email protected] or by phone at 424-703-5315. When in doubt, please ask. CAST OF CHARACTERS

SEAVUS (pronounced See-vus), male, slight, 40+. AURELIA MCCLEOD (pronounced Ah-ree-lee-ah Mc-Cloud), female, to play 14 and 21. ANNA MCCLEOD, female, Aurelia's mother, 40+ (can be double-cast with Aurelia II). COLM DUGAN, male, to play 18 & 25 (can be double-cast with Daniel). DANNY, male, son of Colm and Aurelia, 6. AURELIA II*, Aurelia grown to age 40, then 80. DANIEL*, Danny grown to age 25, then 65.

*Note: If the roles of Aurelia II and Daniel are not double-cast, then through costuming and make-up, care must be taken to give a strong resemblance of Aurelia II to Anna, and Daniel to Colm Dugan.

HISTORY

Aurelia's Magic was first produced in April 2005 under its original title, Dancing on a Grave, at the Vanguard Theatre in Fullerton, CA. A radio-play adaptation of Aurelia's Magic was first performed in January 2008 under its original title, Dancing on a Grave, by the Shoestring Radio Theatre in San Francisco, CA, and broadcast over the National Public Radio network.

Aurelia's Magic 5

SCENE 1 (The set consists of a graveyard on stage right and the side of an old farmhouse in the Southern portion of the United States, with a porch with a door, on stage left. A window looks out from the side of the farmhouse. Although the setting is in the South, accents are not important, as it is better to give the sense of anyplace. The time is somewhere in the past, although not specific, as the play takes place over a sixty-six year span and it is better to capture a sense of the timelessness of the fairy-tale world. Tombstones in the graveyard have the same last name McCleod with a fresh grave with an inscription Jarvis McCleod. The sound of a large group of people emanates from the house, but respectful as this is a wake for the recently departed. An older man named SEAVUS, slight, enters stealthily, makes his way to the fresh grave, and dances a jig. Young AURELIA, age 14, appears in the window and reacts to his antics. She comes through the door and crosses towards the graveyard.)

AURELIA: What in the world are you doing?

SEAVUS: I'm dancing.

AURELIA: I can see what you are doing.

SEAVUS: If you can see what I am doing, why ask the question?

AURELIA: What?

SEAVUS: It's obvious that I am performing a bit of terpsichorean art upon the final resting place of one Jarvis McCleod.

AURELIA: Terp...si...chore...

SEAVUS: Dancing!

AURELIA: What?

SEAVUS: I'm dancing on his grave.

AURELIA: Dancing on his...

SEAVUS: Dancing on his grave.

AURELIA: Why would you do such a thing? What is wrong with you?

SEAVUS: Why are you being so offensive?

AURELIA: I'm offensive? I'm offensive?

SEAVUS: I'm so glad you admit to it.

AURELIA: Admit to what?

SEAVUS: To being offensive.

AURELIA: Offensive?

SEAVUS: Yes, offensive.

AURELIA: My grandfather is only two hours in his grave and you're...

SEAVUS: Having the time of my life.

AURELIA: It's sacrilegious.

SEAVUS: You show me one place in the Bible where it says...

AURELIA: It's childish.

SEAVUS: Well, well. You've certainly got me there.

AURELIA: Why are you doing it?

SEAVUS: Dancing?

AURELIA: Of course the dancing.

SEAVUS: Because it feels so good.

AURELIA: That's not what I'm asking. Why are you dancing on my grandfather's grave?

SEAVUS: Well, you see, some time ago old Jarvis says to me, he says, "Seavus, you scoundrel, someone is going to put you

© John Bolen This is a perusal copy only. Absolutely no printing, copying or performance permitted. Aurelia's Magic 7 in an early grave." And I says back to him, "I'll be dancing on your grave Jarvis McCleod." And here I am, dancing and having the time of my life. (Seavus once again starts to do his jig in earnest.)

AURELIA: Your name is Seavus. Please will you stop doing that. (Seavus stops.)

Thank you. That's better. Seavus is a funny name.

SEAVUS: And what pray tell is your name, little granddaughter of Jarvis?

AURELIA: Aurelia.

SEAVUS: Well, if that's not a case of the pot calling the kettle...

AURELIA: I hate it, too. I've always hated it. I'd much rather be a Magda.

SEAVUS: And you think that is an improvement?

AURELIA: Oh, yes. I'd much rather be named Magda. It sounds so much older, and dignified.

SEAVUS: And sounding older is important?

AURELIA: Oh, yes. So much so. Why did my grandfather call you a scoundrel?

SEAVUS: Because I granted him what he wanted.

AURELIA: That doesn't make any sense.

SEAVUS: Of course it does. All perfectly good English words. Nouns, a verb, an objective...

AURELIA: Not that. It doesn't make any sense. Why would my grandfather call you a scoundrel if you gave him something that he wanted?

SEAVUS: One has to be careful of what one wishes for. © John Bolen This is a perusal copy only. Absolutely no printing, copying or performance permitted. 8 John Bolen

AURELIA: And what did he wish for?

SEAVUS: Oh, that I cannot tell.

AURELIA: Why can't you tell?

SEAVUS: Because it's against the code.

AURELIA: What code?

SEAVUS: The code of my kind.

AURELIA: What are you talking about? What kind?

SEAVUS: I'm a fairy.

AURELIA: (Pause, sarcastically:) Right.

SEAVUS: I am. I come from a proud line of fairies dating back thousands and thousands and thousands of years. Why, we go back to the mists at the beginning of...

AURELIA: (Sarcastically:) Right.

SEAVUS: But I am.

AURELIA: What? Are you saying you're a real fairy?

SEAVUS: That's me.

AURELIA: You can't be a fairy.

SEAVUS: I most certainly can.

AURELIA: You can't. Everyone knows there are no such things as fairies.

SEAVUS: Well there's one standing right in front of you this very moment.

AURELIA: You can't be.

SEAVUS: Can.

AURELIA: Can't.

SEAVUS: Can. © John Bolen This is a perusal copy only. Absolutely no printing, copying or performance permitted. Aurelia's Magic 9

AURELIA: Can't.

SEAVUS: Can.

AURELIA: Besides, fairies are only girls. Tinkerbell, the fairy godmother...

SEAVUS: If fairies were only girls, my kind would have died out long ago. How do you think baby fairies come into being?

AURELIA: There are baby fairies?

SEAVUS: Of course.

AURELIA: You're sure you're not a brownie or an elf.

SEAVUS: Don't be silly. There are no such things as brownies or elves.

AURELIA: But there are fairies.

SEAVUS: And I'm the living proof.

AURELIA: Okay. And you grant wishes?

SEAVUS: On occasion.

AURELIA: You haven't escaped from some kind of asylum or something, have you? (Aurelia's mother, ANNA, appears in the doorway.)

ANNA: Aurelia. Aurelia, who are you talking to?

AURELIA: I'm talking to him.

ANNA: What am I going to do with you? You hardly spoke to your grandfather when he was alive, and now you get up in the middle of dinner to converse with his grave.

AURELIA: I wasn't talking to grandfather. I was talking to him.

ANNA: Who?

AURELIA: Him.

ANNA: What "him"?

AURELIA: Him, him. His name is Seavus.

ANNA: As if I haven't had to deal with so much today, now my fourteen-year-old daughter is talking to an imaginary friend.

AURELIA: You don't see him?

ANNA: Now stop this silly game.

AURELIA: You really don't see him.

ANNA: Stop it Aurelia, it's rude.

AURELIA: She really doesn't see you. (Seavus winks.)

ANNA: Stop this childishness right now! Why did you get up in the middle of the meal?

AURELIA: It's so awful, Mama. You made me sit at the kids' table.

ANNA: Well, you're a kid.

AURELIA: No, I'm not anymore. I'm grown up.

ANNA: Aurelia, stop this silliness.

AURELIA: But it was terrible, Mama. Cousin Angus was making fart noises with his armpits, and little Andy was laughing so hard that milk came out of his nose. I can't sit at the little kids' table anymore.

ANNA: Of course you can. And besides, the reverend has had too much of the wine, and as well all the other men at the table, and they're starting to talk politics. Believe me you don't want to be around when things start to get ugly.

AURELIA: But Mama.

ANNA: Don't you "but Mama" me.

AURELIA: You're not listening to me. You never listen to me.

ANNA: I've listened to you and I'm done with listening to you. You come in and cooperate and sit at the table where you are assigned and stop all this childishness, or you can go without food for the rest of the day. Causing trouble on this of all days. It's time little lady for you to grow up. (Anna exits through door.)

AURELIA: (Calling after her:) I'm trying. I'm trying.

SEAVUS: Why are you trying?

AURELIA: What?

SEAVUS: Why are you trying so hard to grow up?

AURELIA: You don't know how awful it is to be treated as a kid.

SEAVUS: That's true. That's true. I only know how delightful it is to be a child. By the way, how does one make fart noises with one's armpit?

AURELIA: First your armpit has to be a little sweaty, and you put your hand... Oh, you are terrible. She really couldn't see you?

SEAVUS: No she couldn't.

AURELIA: And why is that?

SEAVUS: It was my choice. I've been around your mother Anna sometime, and I think I know her pretty well. She could never open her heart to anyone of my kind.

AURELIA: And you think I can.

SEAVUS: I have a suspicion.

AURELIA: You grant wishes, huh? © John Bolen This is a perusal copy only. Absolutely no printing, copying or performance permitted. 12 John Bolen

SEAVUS: Only to thems that open their hearts. And then, only if I'm of a mind to. It's not like I'm some genie in a bottle, forced to grant wishes to secure their freedom.

AURELIA: So, genies are real?

SEAVUS: To tell you the truth, I'm not really sure. I've never been in that part of the world.

AURELIA: So you don't know everything.

SEAVUS: Where would you get such a crazy notion. Of course I don't know everything. And anyone who says they do, is a bigger fool than me.

AURELIA: I.

SEAVUS: So you're a fool, too.

AURELIA: No, it's "a bigger fool than I."

SEAVUS: Like I was saying.

AURELIA: I'm not a fool.

SEAVUS: Well make up your mind.

AURELIA: You are so frustrating at times.

SEAVUS: It's my childish nature.

AURELIA: You can say that again.

SEAVUS: It's my childish nature.

AURELIA: What?

SEAVUS: You said to say it again, so I did. It's my childish nature.

AURELIA: Stop it.

SEAVUS: Stop it.

AURELIA: No, stop it.

SEAVUS: No, stop it.

AURELIA: Stop mimicking me.

SEAVUS: Stop mimicking me.

AURELIA: It isn't funny.

SEAVUS: It isn't funny.

AURELIA: I mean it.

SEAVUS: I mean it.

AURELIA: You're being silly.

SEAVUS: You're being silly.

AURELIA: You're ticking me off.

SEAVUS: You're ticking me off.

AURELIA: I'm an idiot.

SEAVUS: You're an idiot.

AURELIA: I'm a woman. Hah!

SEAVUS: No, you're not. You are a lovely young lady.

AURELIA: No, really. I am a woman. And that "lovely young lady" stuff is what older people try to feed you so that you won't cause waves.

SEAVUS: And why is that?

AURELIA: So they can act like they know everything.

SEAVUS: You're right, you're right. It's all a scam.

AURELIA: I hate being this age. I'd give anything to be twenty-one right now.

SEAVUS: Oh, but think of all the wonderful things you would miss. High school proms, your first kiss, sock hops...

AURELIA: Sock hops? What's a sock hop?

SEAVUS: You know. A school dance where you take off your shoes so you don't scratch up the gym floor.

AURELIA: You're really old aren't you?

SEAVUS: Old enough not to be rude.

AURELIA: Weren't you just dancing on the grave of my poor departed grandfather?

SEAVUS: (Pause.) Point taken.

AURELIA: So you can grant wishes?

SEAVUS: Like I said.

AURELIA: Then grant me my wish. Make me twenty-one years old right now.

SEAVUS: Now, why would I do that, even if I could?

AURELIA: What do you mean, even if you could?

SEAVUS: Well, it takes a lot of magic to do a physical transformation.

AURELIA: I knew you were bogus.

SEAVUS: Why are you being insulting?

AURELIA: I ask for one little wish, and you balk. Are you sure you're a fairy?

SEAVUS: Of course I'm a fairy.

AURELIA: Are not.

SEAVUS: Am, too.

AURELIA: Are not.

SEAVUS: Am, too.

AURELIA: Are not.

SEAVUS: Am, too, and I can prove it.

AURELIA: Prove it?

SEAVUS: Yes, prove it. Change the wording of your wish.

AURELIA: What do you mean?

SEAVUS: "Change" means to alter. "The wording" means use different words.

AURELIA: I'm not sure...

SEAVUS: Great. Here I am dealing with someone so anxious to grow up and she has so little comprehension of the words she's saying.

AURELIA: It's been my experience that very few adults have much comprehension of what they are saying.

SEAVUS: Well, well. You've got me there.

AURELIA: So, you'll grant me my wish?

SEAVUS: And live to be cursed by you.

AURELIA: I would never do that.

SEAVUS: It's happened before.

AURELIA: My grandfather?

SEAVUS: Yes, your grandfather.

AURELIA: What did he wish?

SEAVUS: That I cannot tell.

AURELIA: The code?

SEAVUS: Yes, the code.

AURELIA: I swear with all my heart that I will never curse you.

SEAVUS: Well, we'll see, we'll see.

AURELIA: So, you'll grant my wish if I reword it?

SEAVUS: And probably live to regret it.

AURELIA: You won't. Okay, I want to grow up right now. I want to be an adult.

SEAVUS: Granted.

AURELIA: Okay.

SEAVUS: Okay.

AURELIA: Okay?

SEAVUS: Okay.

AURELIA: So?

SEAVUS: So, what?

AURELIA: What do we do?

SEAVUS: Do?

AURELIA: You know. Isn't there some kind of ritual?

SEAVUS: Ritual?

AURELIA: Yes, ritual, for granting my wish.

SEAVUS: Ritual? Oh yes, the ritual. Of course, how could I forget the ritual?

AURELIA: So what do I do?

SEAVUS: First, you close your eyes.

AURELIA: I thought that would be first. Okay, they're closed.

SEAVUS: Then, you spin yourself around three times real fast.

AURELIA: Okay. (She spins herself around, and falls on the third spin.)

Oh dear, did I break the spell? (Seavus helps her up.)

SEAVUS: Oh no, dear. Don't worry your pretty little head about that.

AURELIA: Then, what's next?

SEAVUS: You jump up and down on only your right foot and say "Ooga-booga-booga."

AURELIA: Is that really necessary?

SEAVUS: It's mandatory.

AURELIA: Well, all right, but I sure hope no one sees me do this.

SEAVUS: I'll keep a watch out for anyone. (Aurelia jumps up and down on her right foot.)

AURELIA: Ooga-booga-booga. You satisfied? What now?

SEAVUS: Next, you hock up a giant loogie in your hand and we shake hands.

AURELIA: A loogie?

SEAVUS: Yes, a big one.

AURELIA: Well, okay. (She hocks up a loogie and spits it in her hand.)

Now then, let's shake.

SEAVUS: Ew gross. Get away from me with that thing.

AURELIA: But we have to shake hands to make the spell work so I can get my wish.

SEAVUS: I'm not going to shake hands with you. You have a giant loogie in your palm. Ew, disgusting.

AURELIA: But you told me that's what I had to do.

SEAVUS: Well, that may be, but I didn't think you'd actually do it.

AURELIA: But what about my wish?

SEAVUS: You had your wish a long time ago when I said, "Granted."

AURELIA: Then why did you make me do all that stuff?

SEAVUS: You said you wanted a ritual.

AURELIA: I didn't say that.

SEAVUS: Did, too.

AURELIA: Did not.

SEAVUS: Did, too.

AURELIA: Enough! So my wish has been granted?

SEAVUS: That it has.

AURELIA: But nothing has happened.

SEAVUS: A lot has happened.

AURELIA: But I don't feel anything different.

SEAVUS: Eventually you will.

AURELIA: Eventually I'd grow up on my own.

SEAVUS: Oh, it's going to happen a lot faster than that. (Seavus exits stage right. COLM DUGAN, a young man eighteen years old, enters from stage left. He holds a brown sack wrapped around a bottle.)

COLM: Aurelia, Aurelia.

AURELIA: Colm Dugan, I didn't see you coming. You startled me.

COLM: Did I now? Didn't mean to. Who you talking to?

AURELIA: Oh, no one. I was just thinking of the lyrics of a song.

COLM: Really. What song?

AURELIA: It's not important.

COLM: Sorry about your grandfather.

AURELIA: Thanks.

COLM: I thought I'd come by and see how you were doing.

AURELIA: Really. I didn't know you even knew I existed, you being older and having graduated and all.

COLM: Well, I've noticed you. Noticed you a lot.

AURELIA: Aren't you still seeing Lurleen Wallace?

COLM: I still see her once in a while, but what can I say, Lurleen's Lurleen.

AURELIA: Yeah, she's something.

COLM: You're something.

AURELIA: You don't really mean that.

COLM: I certainly do. I've been keeping my eye on you, and it seems like yesterday you were this little pig-tailed brat. And now, well you're something quite different.

AURELIA: I guess that's a compliment.

COLM: Oh yes, oh yes, that is definitely a compliment. (Colm takes a sip from the bottle in the sack.)

AURELIA: What's that you're drinking?

COLM: Pappy's brew.

AURELIA: What's that, some new soda pop?

COLM: No, my pappy's brew.

AURELIA: You mean moonshine.

COLM: Yes ma'am, 'shine.

AURELIA: People always said your daddy had a still, but I thought they were making it up.

COLM: No, they weren't making it up.

AURELIA: Why are you drinking that in the middle of the day?

COLM: What else is there to do on a boring Saturday afternoon?

AURELIA: Oh, come away from the house. If my mama sees you drinking that, I'll never hear the end of it.

COLM: You just lead me and I'll go anywhere you want me to go. (Aurelia takes his hand and drags him to the stage right side of the graveyard. When they get there, he continues to hold her hand.)

Have a little drink with me.

AURELIA: I can't do that. What if my mama came out?

COLM: She's not going to come out.

AURELIA: But she'd think it wrong for me to be drinking.

COLM: I know wakes, and the wine has been flowing pretty strongly for nigh on two hours, and the only thing on their minds inside is whether or not to break out the brandy.

AURELIA: I suppose you're right. I guess a little sip wouldn't hurt.

COLM: Wouldn't hurt a bit. (He hands her the bottle, she takes a sip and chokes.)

Goodness, haven't you ever had a drink before?

AURELIA: I had some champagne at a wedding once, but it was nothing like that.

COLM: No, it's nothing like that. Take another sip. The second one always goes down a bit smoother. (She does and this time only chokes a little.)

I guess it's going to take three for you to find an appreciation for it.

AURELIA: I guess. (She takes a third sip, and this time it is a much longer sip.)

COLM: Pretty good, huh?

AURELIA: Pretty good, I guess. (Anna comes out the door, and Colm quickly hides the sack behind his back.)

ANNA: Aurelia... Oh, Colm Dugan, I didn't know you were here.

COLM: Just came to pay my respects, Mrs. McCleod.

ANNA: That's very thoughtful. Thank you. How is your family?

COLM: Just fine, just fine.

ANNA: Your mother, she's out of the hospital?

COLM: Yes ma'am, she's all healed.

ANNA: So terrible to have an accident like that. What was it that happened to her?

COLM: Just fell down the stairs.

ANNA: Down the stairs, huh?

COLM: Yes ma'am, down the stairs.

ANNA: So what are you doing now that you are out of school?

COLM: Just working for my pappy now. But me and Harley Reed got us some plans to save up and build us a stock car so we can get started racing in the local circuit.

ANNA: My, how nice. Aurelia, it's time for you to be coming in now.

AURELIA: I'll be there in a minute, Mama.

ANNA: Aurelia?

AURELIA: I'll be there in a minute.

ANNA: All right, but just a minute. (Anna exits through the door.)

AURELIA: Well, I guess you better go.

COLM: Guess I better.

AURELIA: Will I see you again?

COLM: Sure, how about tonight? I could take you to the picture show.

AURELIA: Could I meet you there?

COLM: How come? You afraid your mama won't approve?

AURELIA: Something like that.

COLM: Well all right, but you've got to give me a kiss now?

AURELIA: A kiss?

COLM: Sure. Haven't you ever been kissed?

AURELIA: Certainly I've been kissed.

COLM: I'm not talking about your mama kissing you goodnight, or your Aunt Bessy just before she says "My, how you've grown." I'm talking about a real kiss with a man.

AURELIA: No, I haven't.

COLM: Then it's about time, now that you're all grown up and all.

AURELIA: I don't know.

COLM: Kiss me.

AURELIA: I...

COLM: Kiss me. (She gives him a quick kiss on the lips.)

That's definitely not it.

AURELIA: What do you mean?

COLM: It's got to be more like this. (He cups her face in his hands, and gives her a long kiss.)

AURELIA: Why'd you do that with your tongue?

COLM: It's called a French kiss. That's how men and women do it. Makes it sort of interesting, doesn't it?

AURELIA: I guess.

COLM: Well, if all you can do is guess, then we better do it again. (He kisses her again, but this time he reaches around her and pulls her tightly to his body.)

AURELIA: I'm not sure I should be doing this.

COLM: Well, if you're not sure, we better keep trying until you are sure. (He kisses her once more, and this time his hands circle around her and cup around her buttocks.)

AURELIA: (Pushing him away:) I shouldn't... I...

COLM: Maybe I was wrong? Maybe you're not grown up? Maybe you're still a little pig-tailed brat?

(He runs off, stage right.)

AURELIA: Colm, don't go. I'm a woman. (She runs off after him.)

I'm a woman. (After a short pause, Anna steps out of the door, looks around and calls.)

ANNA: Aurelia?... Aurelia! (End of Scene 1.)

SCENE 2 (Lights up finds Seavus sitting next to the graveyard, playing a small tin whistle/flute. DANNY, six years old, comes out the door, lured by the music. He sits on the porch step for a moment and then approaches Seavus.)

DANNY: What'cha doing?

SEAVUS: Isn't it obvious? I'm playing my flute.

DANNY: Why?

SEAVUS: To make beautiful music.

DANNY: Why?

SEAVUS: To soothe my nerves.

DANNY: Why?

SEAVUS: Because nosy little six-year-olds can really start to fray them.

DANNY: Oh. How did you know I'm six?

SEAVUS: Well, I know lots of things.

DANNY: Do you know my mama?

SEAVUS: That I do.

DANNY: Do you know my pappy?

SEAVUS: Yes, I do...unfortunately. But he hasn't made my acquaintance.

DANNY: Mama says I shouldn't talk to strangers.

SEAVUS: That's very good advice.

DANNY: Are you a stranger?

SEAVUS: Yes, I guess I am. Let me remedy that. My name is Seavus.

(Colm, now age twenty-five, comes out the door. A beer is in his hand.)

COLM: Danny, who you talking to?

DANNY: Him.

COLM: What him?

DANNY: That man. His name is Seavus.

COLM: You be talking to some imaginary man, people are going to think you're crazy and lock you up in a loony bin.

DANNY: He can't see you? (Seavus winks.)

COLM: You stop this nonsense right this minute.

DANNY: I'm not crazy.

COLM: You arguing with me, boy?

DANNY: No, Pappy, I'm not arguing with you.

COLM: I think you're arguing with me. Maybe you better go find a switch and bring it to me.

DANNY: No, Pappy, I don't want to find a switch.

COLM: There you go, arguing with me again. You better make that a really thick switch.

DANNY: Please, Pappy, please. I won't argue with you. Please don't make me get a switch. Please. (Aurelia, now age twenty-one, enters from stage right with a basket of vegetables. She drops the basket and kneels down.)

AURELIA: Danny, come here. (He runs into her arms.)

What's wrong? Why are you crying?

DANNY: Pappy's going to switch me.

COLM: Boy shows no respect, going on and on about some imaginary man.

AURELIA: (Just now noticing Seavus' presence:) Oh, it's you!

COLM: What? You're going to play his little game with him. Maybe more than one person around here needs a good switching.

AURELIA: Danny, he's not going to whip you with a switch. He's not going to whip anyone.

COLM: I don't need no switch to put you in your place, woman.

AURELIA: I'm so tired of your meanness and drunkenness. I wish you would just go away.

SEAVUS: Granted.

COLM: I reckon I'm just going to have to teach you a lesson. (He approaches Aurelia with his hand raised to slap her, when Seavus jumps in and slaps him on the ear.)

Ow! What the... What was that? (Seavus circles behind him and slaps him on his other ear.)

Hey... What's doing that? (Seavus circles to in front of him, and although Colm is swinging fists wildly around, stomps on his toes.)

Ouch! Ouch! Where is it? (Seavus circles back around behind Colm and pulls down his pants all the way to his knees, and Colm trips and falls.)

Arrrgh! What have you done, Aurelia? Have you summoned up some kind of demon?

AURELIA: (Laughing along with Danny:) No, it's an angel. A sweet angel.

SEAVUS: Why thank you, dear. (Seavus grabs vegetables from Aurelia's basket and starts to throw them at Colm.)

COLM: Ohhh... Ohhhhh, flying vegetables.

AURELIA: You better run, Colm.

COLM: Ahhhh...ahhhhhh. (Colm runs off, stage right, tripping over his fallen-down pants. Seavus continues to throw three more vegetables, and with each successive throw we hear offstage.)

Ow!... Oooooooo... Aieeeeeeeeeee.

AURELIA: Oh, Seavus. My knight in shining armor.

SEAVUS: Glad to be of service, Madame.

DANNY: You're a funny man.

SEAVUS: Well, I'll take that as a compliment, too.

AURELIA: Oh, but what will happen when he comes back?

SEAVUS: He won't be coming back.

AURELIA: But Seavus, you wouldn't really harm him would you?

SEAVUS: No, no, don't worry your pretty little head about that. He'll make his way into town, get himself into a real deep drunk, and start telling people what happened. And when they all cluck at him and tell him he's gone pure loco, his foolish pride will lead him to head out for other parts.

AURELIA: Are you sure?

SEAVUS: Yes, I'm sure.

AURELIA: It will be nice to find some peace, but how am I going to run the farm by myself? How am I going to support Danny and Mama and myself? I'm twenty-one years old with a six-year-old child and a note to pay.

SEAVUS: You want to undo your wish?

AURELIA: No, definitely not.

SEAVUS: That's good, because it can't be undone anyway.

AURELIA: Wishes can't be undone?

SEAVUS: No, they can't. Article Five Paragraph Six of the Code of Fairies clearly states it.

AURELIA: I should be cursing you, Seavus, for bringing Colm on me.

SEAVUS: You can't be blaming me for that. I can grant wishes, but you still make the choices.

AURELIA: You're right. You're right. It seems like just yesterday that I first met you, and yet so much has gone on. (Anna comes out the door onto the porch.)

ANNA: Aurelia, what was all of that racket?

AURELIA: Uh, there was a kind of fight with Colm.

ANNA: That no-good shiftless bum. Where is he? Let me give him a piece of my mind.

AURELIA: He's gone, Mama.

ANNA: Gone?

AURELIA: Yes, gone.

ANNA: Gone, like he'll be back after he licks his wounds, or gone gone?

AURELIA: Gone gone.

ANNA: Good riddance!

AURELIA: Mama, you surprise me. I've never heard you talk like that.

ANNA: Why? There was never any love from me for that snake-in-the-grass.

AURELIA: But I thought you wanted me to marry Colm when we knew that Danny was coming along.

ANNA: Don't blame that on me. That was your own choice.

AURELIA: Was it? I just thought it was what you wanted.

ANNA: The only thing I've ever wanted was for you to be safe and happy and know that you are loved, and none of that was possible from that miserable bully of a man. The only good thing that man has done in his entire life is to give me a beautiful grandchild.

AURELIA: Oh, Mama, what are we going to do? How are we going to get by?

ANNA: We'll just put our noses to the grindstone and make it work. Having one less mouth to feed just might make it easier.

AURELIA: Maybe I could find another father for Danny, someone good.

ANNA: Aurelia, listen to me and listen good. You don't need to define yourself with a man. If someone comes along who is kind and honorable and you truly do love, then fine and good. But it's certainly not necessary. For you are smart and strong, and come from pretty good stock, if I say so myself, and can stand on your own.

AURELIA: Do you really think we can do it?

ANNA: I know we can. Now I better start getting dinner ready.

AURELIA: All right, go on in. I'll be there in a minute to help. (Anna exits through the door.)

SEAVUS: Now tell me, Danny. Do you know how to make fart noises with your armpit?

DANNY: No.

SEAVUS: Well first, your armpit has to be a little bit sweaty and you put your hand...

AURELIA: Seavus, stop that.

SEAVUS: I was just trying to show the...

AURELIA: I know what you were trying to do.

SEAVUS: Oh, all right. A fairy can't have any fun.

DANNY: You're a funny man.

SEAVUS: Don't overdo the compliments.

AURELIA: Danny, you go inside with Grandmama. I want to talk with Seavus.

DANNY: Okey-dokey! (Danny exits through the door.)

AURELIA: Thank you, Seavus.

SEAVUS: You're sure you're not going to be cursing me?

AURELIA: I gave you my word. Mama's so brave, but times are going to be harder than she'll own up to.

SEAVUS: Did someone give you the notion that life would be easy?

AURELIA: No, I guess not. In retrospect, fourteen wasn't such a bad age to be.

SEAVUS: Don't be even thinking that. I told you. Wishes can't be taken back.

AURELIA: I know. Article Five Paragraph Six. But there must be some way to use your magic to get us through this.

SEAVUS: Don't even think about money. I don't do money.

AURELIA: No money. Why don't you do money?

SEAVUS: Well, it's simple really. You see I can't just make money appear out of thin air. That would be counterfeiting. Can't do it. Against the code. So the only way I could give you money, would be to get it from somewhere else. That would be thievery. Against the code.

AURELIA: So no money.

SEAVUS: No money.

AURELIA: This code of yours has got a lot of rules.

SEAVUS: It's been refined over centuries eternal.

AURELIA: But what if you brought me a new husband who has lots of money?

SEAVUS: Can't do it. I told you my magic doesn't work on human choices.

AURELIA: But what about Colm? Didn't you alter his choices?

SEAVUS: No, not really. I just planted a suggestion that he come by this farm. The rest you two did on your own. And you got your wish. You wanted to grow up right then and that you did. Raced by pretty fast didn't it?

AURELIA: That it did. Wait a minute. Raced by. Could that be it?

SEAVUS: I don't like what you're thinking.

AURELIA: But that's the answer. © John Bolen This is a perusal copy only. Absolutely no printing, copying or performance permitted. Aurelia's Magic 33

(Seavus sticks his index fingers in his ears.)

SEAVUS: I can't hear you.

AURELIA: But, Seavus...

SEAVUS: Na—na—na—nee—na—nee—na—nee—na—nee...

AURELIA: Seavus, stop that. (She pulls his fingers out of his ears.)

SEAVUS: I'm being assaulted here. I'm being assaulted here. And me just a kindly old man trying to do some good in this world.

AURELIA: Will you settle down? I'm not assaulting you. Just hear me out.

SEAVUS: I know what's coming, and I'm not wanting to be a party to it.

AURELIA: Just hear me out. (Anna steps out of the door.)

ANNA: Who should hear you out?

AURELIA: Oh, no one, Mama.

ANNA: Whom are you talking to?

AURELIA: Uh...oh...uh...Grandfather.

ANNA: It would have been nice if you had talked to him when he was alive.

AURELIA: I know, Mama. It's just my way of working things out.

ANNA: I thought you were going to help?

AURELIA: I will, Mama. I'll be there in a few more minutes.

ANNA: All right, but don't be talking so loud. If somebody walks by, they're going to think you've gone off the deep end.

AURELIA: Okay, Mama. I won't. (Anna exits through the door.)

AURELIA: Now, Seavus...

SEAVUS: It's ill advised.

AURELIA: How can you say that, when you haven't even heard my wish?

SEAVUS: It's easy. I just open my mouth, vibrate air in my larynx, move my lips, and the words come out.

AURELIA: Seavus!

SEAVUS: What?

AURELIA: Seavus, please!

SEAVUS: All right, all right, what's your wish?

AURELIA: Make it race by.

SEAVUS: Make what race by?

AURELIA: Life.

SEAVUS: You want the rest of your life to race by?

AURELIA: Not the rest of my life, just the hard times ahead.

SEAVUS: Which particular hard times?

AURELIA: What we are facing right now.

SEAVUS: You would have to be more specific.

AURELIA: Specific?

SEAVUS: Yes, specific. What if I fast-forwarded you too far?

AURELIA: So, you actually can do it?

SEAVUS: Of course I can do it.

AURELIA: I wasn't sure.

SEAVUS: Terrific! Here I am being asked to accomplish something of such importance, and you haven't yet decided if you believe in me.

AURELIA: Oh, Seavus, I do believe in you.

SEAVUS: Didn't sound like it.

AURELIA: But I do believe.

SEAVUS: You know fairies have feelings, too.

AURELIA: I know. I'm sorry. I really am.

SEAVUS: Well, all right. But, I still have to tell you, your wish is ill advised.

AURELIA: But, I haven't been more specific yet.

SEAVUS: It doesn't matter how specific you might be, just think of what you might fly by in time, that you might want to stop and savor for a bit.

AURELIA: That's true.

SEAVUS: In the getting of one thing, there's always something to be given.

AURELIA: I understand, but I really think we are in for some bad times. Maybe, just for a short time; maybe, just until Danny is older and can help us get by.

SEAVUS: How old is that? Fourteen?

AURELIA: No. At fourteen I wasn't much good for anything.

SEAVUS: At fourteen, that isn't what you were insisting to me.

AURELIA: I know, I know. I made a mistake.

SEAVUS: Then how old should Danny be? Twenty-one?

AURELIA: That's how old I am now.

SEAVUS: I know.

AURELIA: I really don't think I'm that capable now.

SEAVUS: Otherwise, why else would you be wishing?

AURELIA: Exactly.

SEAVUS: Then what's the magic age for Danny to be ready to help you get along?

AURELIA: That's such a hard question.

SEAVUS: It wasn't that long ago you seemed so certain.

AURELIA: You don't have to remind me.

SEAVUS: You have to be specific.

AURELIA: I know, I know.

SEAVUS: Then what is the magic age?

AURELIA: You tell me.

SEAVUS: Me?

AURELIA: Yes you.

SEAVUS: And why would you be thinking that I have any clue as to this mystery?

AURELIA: Well, you're so old.

SEAVUS: As a compliment, that one is getting to be somewhat overused. The truth of the matter is that I am three hundred forty-three years old and haven't the slightest notion of what the answer may be.

AURELIA: Are you really three hundred forty-three years old?

SEAVUS: Do you think that is something I would be making up?

AURELIA: No, I guess not. But with all those years and years and years and years...

SEAVUS: You needn't make such a point of it.

AURELIA: But with all your experience, surely you must have some idea.

SEAVUS: Humankind has been around for eons, gathering and passing wisdom during all that time, and it all boils down to neither you nor any of your kind having any comprehension as to how to answer the question.

AURELIA: But I thought you would know so much.

SEAVUS: Anyone who thinks they know everything is a bigger fool than me.

AURELIA: I.

SEAVUS: So you're a fool, too.

AURELIA: No, it's "a bigger fool than I."

SEAVUS: Like I was saying.

AURELIA: All right, I am a fool. But, I'm a determined fool, and if I have to decide, then that I will. Twenty-five.

SEAVUS: Twenty-five?

AURELIA: Yes, twenty-five years old. Fast-forward time for us, nineteen years to when Danny will be twenty-five years old. By then he'll be grown and confident and settled and we'll all be able to take care of one another. Please Seavus, give me my wish.

SEAVUS: You're sure you won't be cursing me later?

AURELIA: I swear on all I hold dear, that I will never curse you.

SEAVUS: Then we should do the ritual.

AURELIA: The ritual?

SEAVUS: Of course the ritual.

AURELIA: I think we can skip the ritual this time.

SEAVUS: But it would be lots of fun.

AURELIA: You're so terrible...and so sweet. I'm certain we can skip the ritual this time.

SEAVUS: All right then, if you're sure. Are you ready?

AURELIA: Yes, I'm ready.

SEAVUS: You're sure?

AURELIA: Yes, I'm sure.

SEAVUS: You're really, really sure?

AURELIA: Yes, I'm really, really sure. Please, Seavus. Please.

SEAVUS: Very well then... GRANTED! (Sudden black, Seavus exits, then there is a strobe that shows Aurelia involved in day-to-day tasks. Danny and Anna, who are similarly involved in menial tasks, join Aurelia. The characters speed up their movements as the strobe accelerates. Eventually, Aurelia and Anna grab both hands and start to spin in a circle. Quickly, Colm enters, grabs both of Danny's hands and they, too, start to spin. The spinning and the strobe speed up, until sudden black, in which Danny and Aurelia quickly exit, then suddenly two bright specials illuminate Colm and Anna on two sides of the stage. The idea here is that the actors portraying Colm and Anna have now been transformed into the older versions of Danny [DANIEL] and Aurelia [AURELIA II]. This may be emphasized by similarity in their costumes to those of their younger counterparts.)

DANIEL & AURELIA II: Oh, my! (End of Scene 2.)

SCENE 3 (Aurelia II is sitting on a chair on the porch. A bowl is in her lap and she is shucking peas. Seavus sneaks on from stage right, goes to the grave of Jarvis McCleod and begins to do a jig.)

AURELIA II: Why are you doing that?

SEAVUS: What?

AURELIA II: Why are you dancing on his grave?

SEAVUS: You can see me?

AURELIA II: Of course I can see you.

SEAVUS: But you're not supposed to see me.

AURELIA II: Well, I suppose I could look the other way, but that would be silly.

SEAVUS: No, you were never supposed to see me.

AURELIA II: But I've always been able to see you. Remember, "Only to thems that open their hearts."

SEAVUS: But you weren't able to.

AURELIA II: Of course I was able to.

SEAVUS: Well, Anna McCleod, I beg to differ with you.

AURELIA II: Oh you silly, I'm not Anna.

SEAVUS: You're not?

AURELIA II: No, Seavus, I'm Aurelia.

SEAVUS: You're who?

AURELIA II: I'm Aurelia.

SEAVUS: Oh my stars, oh my stars, you've turned into your mother!

AURELIA II: Have I really? Well, maybe so. That happens to a lot of women, you know. I guess it is a kind of compliment. Mama was a good person.

SEAVUS: Was?

AURELIA II: Yes, she passed a few years back. I guess it's my sin that in having time sped up, it only served to hasten her time on Earth. And sped up it did. Seavus, your magic is so strong. Have nineteen years really gone by in such a blur?

SEAVUS: That they have. And are you all the happier for it?

AURELIA II: I don't know. I miss Mama a lot.

SEAVUS: What about the other things in your life?

AURELIA II: Oh, that's simple. There's only one thing in my life, my Danny. Seavus, you should see him, so handsome and strong. The first one in our family to go to college, he's smart and oh so sweet.

SEAVUS: And is he taking care of you like you thought it would be?

AURELIA II: Yes, and then some. I don't know what I'd do without my Danny.

SEAVUS: Then you'll not be cursing me?

AURELIA II: I swore I never would.

SEAVUS: I know, I know. But I thought I should just check and see.

AURELIA II: Well now you know. Seavus, I have a question for you.

SEAVUS: Only one?

AURELIA II: Oh, I guess I have a lot of questions for you, but there's just the one that popped in my mind just now.

SEAVUS: Because I'm a rather fascinating creature if I say so myself, and I would think there would be all kinds of questions that a person might ask.

AURELIA II: Of course there are lots of questions, but just the one I was thinking about just now.

SEAVUS: You know, no fairy would want his whole experience of a lifetime with a human be summed up by one question.

AURELIA II: I'm not summing up your existence, I just want to know where you go to when your not here?

SEAVUS: What do you mean? I'm always here.

AURELIA II: You're always here?

SEAVUS: Of course.

AURELIA II: I don't understand. You're always here? I've only seen you three times in my life. What do you do the rest of the time? Are you holed up underneath the house or something?

SEAVUS: Well, you needn't be rude. I'm not lurking around if that's what you think.

AURELIA II: Then where are you the rest of the time?

SEAVUS: I guess I'll have to explain it to you. Us fairies are very ancient creatures, in comparison to a human's concept of time. But not in a fairy's sense of time.

AURELIA II: I don't understand.

SEAVUS: Think of it like this. A human's entire lifetime only consumes about two hours in the time of the fairy world. Maybe less in your case, given your proclivity to wanting life to race by.

AURELIA II: So my forty years of living?

SEAVUS: A bit less than an hour.

AURELIA II: So I'll only live to about eighty years old?

SEAVUS: Now don't be thinking like that. The conversion is not that precise.

AURELIA II: So I better slow down and savor what time I have left; enjoy every day that Danny is with me.

SEAVUS: That's the best advice I could give you.

AURELIA II: And good advice to be followed. (Daniel enters from the door of the house and walks right up to Seavus.)

DANIEL: I remember you.

SEAVUS: You can see me?

DANIEL: Of course I can see you. Why wouldn't I be able to see you?

SEAVUS: Well, if it's a fight you want, it's a fight you're going to get. (Seavus strikes an exaggerated boxer's stance and starts bobbing and weaving around Daniel.)

DANIEL: Why would I want to fight?

SEAVUS: Oh no, you're not going to trick me. Act like you're all peaceable and then jump me from behind. I may be old but I'm pretty spry and too smart for such trickery.

DANIEL: Mama, why does he want me to fight him?

SEAVUS: Mama?

AURELIA II: Yes, Seavus.

SEAVUS: You mean to say that this isn't Colm Dugan?

AURELIA II: No, silly, it's Danny.

DANIEL: Though I prefer to be called Daniel.

SEAVUS: My goodness, you're the spitting image of your father.

DANIEL: Well, I'll take that as a compliment, although the only image I have of him is of a giant hand with a switch in it. You're the one that beat him up and chased him away. You're the funny man.

SEAVUS: When you were a child that compliment was kind of cute, but it loses its charm coming from a grown bearded man. The name is Seavus.

DANIEL: I know. My mother told me all about you when I was little, but over time I thought she had just made you up.

SEAVUS: And just what did she tell you about me?

DANIEL: That you have a magical way about you.

SEAVUS: Now that's a compliment more to my liking. Your mother's told me some wonderful things about you.

DANIEL: Aw, she always brags too much.

AURELIA II: Not enough.

DANIEL: Mama, I've got terrific news to tell you.

AURELIA II: Well, tell me. Tell me.

DANIEL: Should we talk later?

AURELIA II: You can say anything you have to say. Seavus is like family to me.

DANIEL: Well you know that Wanda June and I have been seeing each other for quite some time, and...well...we're getting married.

AURELIA II: Married! Oh My!

SEAVUS: Congratulations, Daniel!

AURELIA II: Oh, Danny! (Hugging him:) I'm so happy for you. This is so sudden. Oh, there's going to be so much to do, all the planning and arrangements.

DANIEL: Wanda June's folks will do most of that.

AURELIA II: And you can live right here, in this house. We'll build me a small house out back, and...

DANIEL: Mama...

AURELIA II: ...you won't have to worry about me being around too much. I'll let you have your...

DANIEL: Mama, listen to me! There's more.

AURELIA II: More?

DANIEL: Wanda June and I have been talking about marriage for some time, but I wanted to wait until I got a good job and could provide well for her.

AURELIA II: You've always had work here, and we can provide for her.

DANIEL: But not do the things we want to do, see all the places we want to see. Mama, I didn't get a business degree to run a farm.

AURELIA II: Oh.

DANIEL: I just got a phone call. I've landed a job with Gray- Martin. They're a large communications company and the pay is really, really good. You don't have to worry about the farm because I'll hire a foreman to run things, and you can retire. Just think of that.

AURELIA II: I guess retirement would be nice. They have an office in town?

DANIEL: No, Mama. The office where I will be working is in Athens.

AURELIA II: Athens, Georgia? Why, that's over two hundred miles away.

DANIEL: Not Athens, Georgia. Athens, Greece.

AURELIA II: Oh.

DANIEL: Mama, it won't be so bad. We'll come home on the Holidays, and I get two weeks off in the summer. You'll hardly know I'm gone.

AURELIA II: Danny, now don't be worrying about me. I'll be fine. Oh, I'm so happy for you. I always knew you were destined for wonderful things. I'm so proud of you.

DANIEL: Thanks, Mama. Wanda June's just going to bust when she hears the news. I'm going to run over there right now.

AURELIA II: Not until you give me a hug. (He runs to her and hugs her.)

Oh, Danny, my Danny. My sweet, sweet Danny. (Daniel calls back as he runs off, stage right.)

DANIEL: I'll be back in time for supper.

AURELIA II: (Long pause.) What's the old adage? A daughter's a daughter all of her life. But a son's only a son 'til he takes a wife. Oh, Seavus. Oh, Seavus, I've lost my baby.

SEAVUS: Now don't be crying, Aurelia.

AURELIA II: I can't help it.

SEAVUS: I know, I know. But just think how great it is for the boy. To find a love, a love that's true. And to find success, it's all the wonderful things a mother could wish for her son.

AURELIA II: I know that. And it's terrible and selfish of me, but what am I going to do when he's gone? I'm going to be

© John Bolen This is a perusal copy only. Absolutely no printing, copying or performance permitted. 46 John Bolen alone. I've never been alone in my life. What am I going to do? How can I go on living without my Danny?

SEAVUS: Well, you'll get up in the morning and take a shower. Then you'll plan your breakfast and...

AURELIA II: You're not listening to me, Seavus.

SEAVUS: ...fix it. And there'll be chores and books to read and silly soap operas in the afternoon...

AURELIA II: Seavus!

SEAVUS: ...and maybe you could take classes and get that high school diploma you never managed to...

AURELIA II: Work your magic again.

SEAVUS: That's not a good idea.

AURELIA II: Work your magic again.

SEAVUS: Think what you'd be missing.

AURELIA II: What? Days on end of no one to talk to, no one to clean for, no one to cook for. And the nights, they will be worst of all, with nothing to hear but the creaking of the house. The last twenty-five years of my life have been spent on not one thing but my Danny.

SEAVUS: But you can involve yourself in new things, meet new people, get out into the world.

AURELIA II: What do I need of the world or the world need of me? Danny was my whole life. Work your magic again, Seavus. Make time race by. Make it speed by until I'm eighty years old and the end of my time will come.

SEAVUS: I cannot do it.

AURELIA II: If ever you have cared anything for me, do it now.

SEAVUS: I will not. This is crazy talk. © John Bolen This is a perusal copy only. Absolutely no printing, copying or performance permitted. Aurelia's Magic 47

AURELIA II: Seavus!

SEAVUS: Get the thought out of your mind.

AURELIA II: My grandfather cursed you for granting his wish, and now do I have to curse you for not granting me mine?

SEAVUS: Curse if you have to, but I'm determined and not changing my mind.

AURELIA II: No wonder he said someone's going to put you in an early grave.

SEAVUS: Well, I'll be dancing on... (Seavus stops unable to finish the sentence. Aurelia II runs into the house, crying calling back as she exits.)

AURELIA II: Curses on you, Seavus! Curses on you! (Daniel enters from stage right in time to hear her last words. Seavus turns to him.)

DANIEL: I forgot the ring for Wanda June. Why is my mama crying? What did you do?

SEAVUS: It's more what I wouldn't do.

DANIEL: I don't understand.

SEAVUS: She's angry that I wouldn't grant her wish.

DANIEL: What wish?

SEAVUS: That I can't tell you.

DANIEL: Why can't you tell me?

SEAVUS: It's against the code.

DANIEL: What code?

SEAVUS: The fairies' code.

DANIEL: You're not really taking that stuff seriously, are you?

SEAVUS: The code I take very seriously.

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