Flibbertygibbet (His Last Chance) Fantasy by Nora MacAlvay and Charlotte B. Chorpenning © The Dramatic Publishing Company Flibbertygibbet (His Last Chance) Fantasy. By Nora MacAlvay and Charlotte B. Chorpenning. Cast: 4m., 4w. Flibbertygibbet is a delicate fantasy, adapted from a Scottish folktale about an elfin character from another world who is given one last chance to bring a message of love to humanity. He works himself into the confidence of the Scottish farm folk, brings them joy, and is well on the way to accomplishing his mission when one of them, Adam, tries to bribe him to use his magic for earthly gain. Banished by man’s greed, Flibbertygibbet has nevertheless left his mark, and the guilty Adam, newly touched with understanding, goes to the end of the world in search of him. At last he finds him and leads him back. But Flibbertygibbet cannot enter into their lives again until all hearts are kind; and there is one young girl, Nannie, who will not forgive Adam for his former error. Faced with defeat by this unexpected cruelty, Flibbertygibbet begins to be whirled away forever to a sunless waste when Nannie relents and brings him back. One set. Scottish folk costumes. Approximate running time: 70 minutes. Code: FB5. ISBN-10 1-58342-831-3 ISBN-13 978-1-58342-831-3 Dramatic Publishing 311 Washington St. Woodstock, IL 60098-3308 ph: 800-448-7469 Flibbertygibbet www.dramaticpublishing.com © The Dramatic Publishing Company FLIBBERTYGIBBET (HIS LAST CHANCE) Fantasy by NORA MACALVAY and CHARLOTTE B. 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In all programs this notice must appear: “Produced by special arrangement with THE DRAMATIC PUBLISHING COMPANY of Woodstock, Illinois” For performance of any songs, music and recordings mentioned in this play which are in copyright, the permission of the copyright owners must be obtained or other songs and recordings in the public domain substituted. © MCMLII by THE CHILDREN’S THEATRE PRESS Printed in the United States of America All Rights Reserved (FLIBBERTYGIBBET) ISBN: 978-1-58342-831-3 © The Dramatic Publishing Company FLIBBERTYGIBBET (HIS LAST CHANCE) by CHARLOTTE CHORPENNING and NoRA TuLLY MAcALVAY CHARACTERS FLIBBERTY GIBBET GAYIN -owner of the farm ADAM BESS-his wife KATE PEG-her sister GRANPOP-An old man NANNIE, 8 or 9-his grandaughter TIME: Once upon a time. PLACE: An imaginary farm community somewhere in Scotland. 3 © The Dramatic Publishing Company This play has been trouped successfully by the Grace Price Produc­ tions of Pittsburgh, Pa. Black light need not be used although it is very effective. A drying-green may be substituted for the barn-loft (granary) interior in Act Two. Any tune may be composed for Flibbertygibbet's song. Bagpipe music can be found recorded to which the Highland Fling is danced. 4 © The Dramatic Publishing Company 5 © The Dramatic Publishing Company FLIBBERTYGIBBET Sun ! (He sees the well, the cover already pushed aside and peers down into it, scoops up water and lets it drip.) Water ! (Faint voices off, in various directions, startle him. He stretches out his arms toward the various sounds, eager.) People- People - People ! ECHO: People- FLIBBERTYGIBBET: Ho ! Echo. You're still there ! ECHO : -11 there. FLYIBBERTYGIBBET : (joyful) : I've come to try again ! ECHO: Try again - FLIBBERTYGI�BET (moving from the echo spot) : Whist ! Be quiet, you Flibbertygibbet. (Answering himself as if he were two people.) I can't wait to belong to people. - You must find out if it's the right time. - I can't wait ! - You must. This is your last chance ! (He darts to hide behind a clump of bushes where his eavesdropping face peers out during the following.) GAVIN (as he enters) : What's all this?- What's going on here?! (He has his hands covering his eyes, his thumbs closing his ears. He spreads his fingers to peek through, but shuts them close as a crescendo of lights greets him. He opens his ears with thumbs wide, but shuts them at once as a wail of wind and a strain of music reach him. No!­ NO!-It isn't true!-1 don't believe it ! (He turns his back on the lights and holds his ears closed with a thumb pressed against each. Nannie darts on from the cottage.) NANN IE: Gavin! See the lights. Turn around ! GAVIN: Don't pull at me! (She pulls a finger from his ear and shouts into it.) NANNIE: It's dancing the dark away. GAVIN (jerking away) : Light doesn't dance. NANNIE: Look and see. GAVIN: Let my hand alone! ! NANNIE: I want you to see the lights! I want you to hear the wind. It's like the story. It's just like the story ! GAVIN: It's ordinary wind. It's just plain daylight. NANNIE: Oh, look ! Listen! Quick ! It's going away. - Oh, It's gone. (Both wind and lights have faded entirely. Gavin uncovers his ears a little at a time and turns cautiously still peeking through his fingers, then drops his hands and looks around with dignify. GAVIN: Your granpop should teach you manners, lass. NANN IE : I wanted to show you. GAVIN: There's nothing to show. Everything's the same as ever. NANN IE: You looked too late. GAVIN (turns to leave, but stops on the stile at the sound of panic stricken voices off, up right, approaching. While his back is turned, Bess enters 6 © The Dramatic Publishing Company (HIS LAST CHANCE) running, up left, and Adam, down left. At sight of each other a secret understanding replaces their feat. Adam puts a finger on his lip, nod­ ding toward Gavin, as he lifts a basket and sickle, and as Bess crosses to him eagerly, Adam backs to the bush which conceals gibbet, and drops them out of sight, his eyes still on Gavin. Flibberty­ gibbet dodges and takes refuge behind the wall where he peers out to see what happens now and then up on the wall. Peg and Kate, up right, and Granpop, from the cottage door, enter in quick succession. They stare around at the quiet scene, terror giving way to relief. They all turn to Gavin, as if' for reassurance, as he turns back to them.) GAVIN (superior) : What's got into you all ? GRANPOP: Didn't you see the sky, Gavin? KATE : And the darkness of it? GAVIN (amused) : Ju st the edge of a cloud over the sun. KATE : And the fearsome lights ? And the sudden wind, with the crying in it? GAVIN: There was no crying. PEG ("yessing" him) : Gavin is right. It was music. GAVIN: There was no music. (Kate's triumphant toss of her head as Peg irks the latter very much.) ADAM : It was no common wind. BESS: It had a strange wail to it. GAVIN: Such a fuss, over a bit of weather. KATE : There was a voice cried out. It had a call in it. GRANPOP : Aye, I heard it. GA VII\;: Now, wait a minute. Let's have done with all this nonsense. Which of you cried out? A voice doesn't come out of no one or nothing. -Whose voice was it? PEG ("Yessing" Gavin again) : The queer turn of the weather set off your imagnation, Kate. KATE : Aye. I was wrong-as usual. · GRANPOP : There was a voice, for all that. GAVIN (laughing) : Whose voice was it, Gr<J.npop ? NANN IE: I know ! It was Flibbertygibbet ! GRANPOP : Whist, lassie. Mind your manners. NANNIE: He's come back, Grandpop ! He's come back ! BESS: Nannie, stop your nonsense. There's no such thing as Flibberty- gibbet. NANNIE: There is, so, Bess McKay. ADAM : Don't answer back. GRANDPOP : The lassie doesn't mean to be rude, Adam. She's just lost in the story. I've told it to her ever since she was a wee thing. Many a time I hear her talking to Flibbertygibbet in her play when she's by her lone.- Nay, now there's no need for you to be poking fun at her.