Secret Garden: Scene 2 (Mary Meets Ben and the Robin)

MARTHA

Mr. Craven had it shut when his wife died so sudden. He locked th' door and buried th' key.

But how can a garden be shut up? You can always walk into a garden.

MARTHA

Why don't you get out there and find out? Where are your shoes?

MARY POINTS AND STICKS OUT HER FOOT FOR MARTHA TO PUT ON HER SHOES. RELUCTANTLY, MARTHA DOES SO, THEN PUSHES HER OUT INTO THE GARDENS. WE HEAR THE SOUND OF BIRDS AND WIND. MARY BEGINS EXPLORING.

So these are the gardens? They're all so bare and gray.

Maybe in the summer it will be something... But now? It's a big shut up house on a big bare moor with big bare gardens and it's like there's no one else left in the world.

So these are the gardens? They're all so bare and gray.

Maybe in the summer it will be something... But now? It's a big shut up house on a big bare moor with big bare gardens and it's like there's no one else left in the world.

THE ROBIN STARTS TO SING. MARY TURNS TO SEE HER SITTING ON A NEARBY BRANCH.

Hello you. Are you... are you singing to me?

Hello you. Are you... are you singing to me?

[THE ROBIN] TRILLS, SHE DEFINITELY IS. MARY SMILES.

No one's ever sang to me before.

No one's ever sang to me before.

[THE ROBIN] TRILLS AN ENDING NOTE AND FLYS OFF.

Wait! Where are you going?

Wait! Where are you going?

[MARY] TRIES TO FOLLOW [THE ROBIN]

BEN WEATHERSTAFF, ACTOR 4, AN OLD GARDENER, ENTERS WHISTLING. HE WASTES NO TIME GETTING TO WORK.

You there! What is this place?

BEN WEATHERSTAFF (ACTOR 4)

One o' th' kitchen-gardens.

And what's that?

BEN WEATHERSTAFF

Another kitchen-garden.

And over—

BEN WEATHERSTAFF

Another kitchen-garden. And another and another. That way's orchards, that way's roses, and now I'm done with the tour.

I've already been in the orchard.

BEN WEATHERSTAFF

There was no dog at the door to bite thee.

And I've been through the other gardens as well.

BEN WEATHERSTAFF

Hooray for you.

But there was no door into the other garden.

BEN STOPS DIGGING.

BEN WEATHERSTAFF

...what other garden?

The one on the other side of the wall. A bird, a bird with red feathers sang to me and flew away into the treetops there.

BEN WEATHERSTAFF

Oh she did, did she?

BEN WEATHERSTAFF GIVES A SOFT, LOW WHISTLE.

THE ROBIN ANSWERS AND RETURNS, LANDING NEAR THEM.

Ah, there tha art, tha cheeky little beggar? Courtin' so early in th' season?

Will she always come when you call her?

BEN WEATHERSTAFF

Aye that she will. She's allus meddlin' about, seein' what I been plantin' and such. She's a shameless flirt.

What kind of bird is she?

BEN WEATHERSTAFF

Doesn't tha know? She's a robin redbreast, and they are th' curiousest, most meddlesome birds alive. Ah, look, she knows we're talkin' about her, so she's showing off.

Does she really know we're talking about her?

BEN WEATHERSTAFF

Ask her tha'self. I've knowed her since he was a fledgling first out the nest. The rest o' the brood scattered when they grew, but she stayed put. She's a knowin' one, an' she knew she was lonely.

I'm lonely.

BEN WEATHERSTAFF

Art tha the' little wretch from India?

Then no wonder tha'rt lonely. Tha'lt be lonelier before tha's done.

What is your name?

BEN WEATHERSTAFF

Ben Weatherstaff. I'm lonely mysel' except when she's with me. The robin's th' only friend I've got.

I have no friends at all. I never had. My Ayah didn't like me and I never played with anyone.

BEN LOOKS HER UP AND DOWN.

BEN WEATHERSTAFF

Tha an' me are a good bit alike then. We're neither of us good lookin' an' we're both of us as sour as we look. We've got the same nasty tempers, both of us, I'll warrant.

You don't know anything about me, you crass old man. I do not have a temper! I do not, I do not!

You don't know anything about me, you crass old man. I do not have a temper! I do not, I do not!

THE ROBIN SUDDENLY FLIES CLOSE TO MARY AND BURSTS INTO SONG, CUTTING OFF HER TANTRUM.

BEN LAUGHS

What did she do that for?

BEN WEATHERSTAFF

She's made up his mind to make friends with thee. Dang me if she hasn't taken a fancy to thee.

To me? But why?

BEN WEATHERSTAFF

I suppose she sees something we can't.

MARY APPROACHES THE ROBIN

Would you make friends with me? Would you?

BEN WEATHERSTAFF

Why, tha said that as nice an' human as if tha was a real human child and not a sharp nasty old woman. Who know tha had in it thyself?

THE ROBIN FLIES AWAY.

Oh! She's flown back over the wall, into the garden with no door.

BEN WEATHERSTAFF

She lives there, among th' old rose-trees.

Rose-trees? Are there rose-trees?

BEN WEATHERSTAFF

I've said too much.

Have you seen it? Have you been inside? Do you know where the door is?