Silenced On Barbour Street - Mae Lines

Nothing can hurt us at the Greatest Show on Earth.

What is this place?

Where am I? I’m afraid.

You shouldn’t be. There’s nothing to be afraid of here. We’re just waiting.

For what?

For him to tell us.

That man? To tell us what?

What happened.

I don’t understand. What happened here?

You don’t remember?

Remember what?

The fire.

The fire?

At the circus.

The fire. I had forgotten.

What’s your name?

My name is Mae. Why am I here?

And some of us don’t. But we hope to find out in time.

How will we find out?

The man. The circus man. We hope he’ll tell us.

The circus man. And who are they?

The best we can tell, they’re…his troupe

Well, why can’t we just leave? Just walk out?

Well, you can’t do that…

Why not? There’s no way out of here? No exit?

Everyone’s looked

My…my husband. Where is my husband? Is he here? I need to find him. I need to find him now.

He’s safe.

How do you know?

I know.

I don’t like this place.

Neither do I. But there are always ramifications to our choices. Aren’t there?

Wait. Where are you going? DONT LEAVE!! I want to understand! Please.

Then you must be cooperative. The answers will only come through information. Information from them…

Why do you-

And information…from you. Information I want.

Why are you doing this?

Ah, ah, ah. Again with the avoidance, with the questions. My…flights of fancy are my business.

I don’t understand what you’re asking.

And what did she say, Stuart? What did she say, Stuart?

What did she say?

Meet Robert Segee. Or Bobby as he’s more often called. He thought he could find himself in the circus. Or…escape some kind of pain.

Who is that?

I asked you a question! Who is that man?

Are you afraid to tell us?

They called us Mary One and Mary Two. I was Mary Two.

Why was that?

Mary One was the daredevil. I was the scaredy cat

Why do you say that?

And your parents will always think of you as a liar. A bad daughter.

That’s why we’re here? One little mistake, and error in judgement?!

No, I’m not.

She told you what you wanted to hear.

All right, then it’s your turn, Mae.

What about…I can’t.

He had brown hair. He was grey at the temples.

How do you know?

A solid chin.

It’s none of your business….

A woman from my office. Hannah found something Estelle-

That’s enough. No more. He’s given you enough.

Hm, hm, hm

Stop! He’s given you enough!

Yes…for now. Not to worry. We have plenty of time. My, what a scrumptious little tale, hmm?

We’ve had enough of your…abuse.

Abuse she says.

And we want your help!

I’ve been more than accommodating. Isn’t that right girls? What more could you want, my dear?

Information on a way out of here.

Maybe you’re looking in the wrong place.

Please. Give us something.

Look over there.

Do you see that?

No, we should just stay here!

Oh my God!

ELEANOR!

Hello. What’s your name? Don’t be afraid, I won’t hurt you.

I don’t remember. I don’t remember my name.

That’s all right. I’m Mae. Who do you have there?

My kitten.

She’s very pretty. May I pet her?

Mm-hm. She likes it when you scratch under her chin.

Honey…do you know where you are?

No. I don’t like it here. My head hurts. Why does my head hurt?

I don’t know sweetheart. Why don’t you come rest your head on me. Would that be all right?

Who is she Mae?

I don’t know.

Isn’t she beautiful? She must have been at the circus Why else would she be here? Does anyone know who she is?

She’s lost. Like us.

To be lost…to be forgotten…to be abandoned, is a shared and terrible fear. Isn’t it Mae?

Yes, it is.

Mae, with the wee child.

Leave me alone.

How does one…find themselves, then, hmm? How does one escape abandonment? Any ideas, Mae?

None.

In this game, you must give. You must offer something. In this game-

This isn’t a game.

Of course it is, and you have the key, Mae. So you have to play.

What do you want from me?

What do you want from me?

An answer. A reason. Something logical. Why did the fire happen?

That’s it.

Why did we die? Why am I here?

Where is your husband, Mae? In time Mae. In time. This child died in the circus fire. She was never identified and for many years was called nothing but “Little Miss” 1565. But she looked like this, even in death. Beautiful, untouched by the flames. Who is she? Who is this child?

We don’t know.

You’re all wrong. She’s a loose end. She’s a piece of this event…left untied. Unanswered. Undecided.

Who IS she?

She’ll wait until she’s taken.

Is everyone who died in the fire here?

Bravo Mae. Some of you who perished were brought here. But some are here who escaped the inferno. But…they each played a role. And they will help you find your way.

Why are you here?

That’s it? We have to say what we did, what we didn’t do…

…who we hurt.

I don’t deserve to go.

You think you’ll never get out of here, do you? Was what you did so terrible?

Yes, me! When we saw the fire Mary grabbed my hand and told me to move. I said I thought it would be safer to stay where we were. I was so afraid…

Everyone was afraid Margaret.

At first, she tried to argue with me…then she started to pull me. But I wouldn’t budge.

Maybe Mary made it out?

Not quite yet, but we’ll see each other again, real soon. I promise. And do something with your hair, will you?

What did she mean Margaret?

I guess I still have some things to sort out. Let go of. Forgive.

Forgive…

What?

Stop…I know what you want but I can’t do it.

You must… you have to Mae. You are the key.

I can’t. He will never forgive me. I was just so angry. He had lost it all. All of it. Every cent. I was so angry.

What did you tell your husband Mae?

The look on his face - I can’t - I CAN’T

The secrets we keep inside. Hurting…burning us for years. Rotting us from the inside out. Free them. Free them from that Mae. Free yourself.

I see his face in my head and it hurts.

What did he tell you Mae, when he got home that night.

I don’t remember.

He said, “I lost it Mae…I lost it all.” Isn’t that what he said?

No

I gambled every cent, every penny…

That was OUR money

I did it for you Mae. I wanted to give you the world.

I don’t want-

But I lost it Mae. I lost it all.

You could have worked harder.

I’m sorry Mae.

Taken on a second job.

I’ve been so tired.

Don’t you think I’m tired? I’ve worked myself to the bone and now you’ve thrown it all away!

I can fix this Mae.

No. Not this time. I am so tired. I can’t live like this anymore. I won’t!

Please Mae, I love you. I’m so sorry. I’ll find another job.

No! Don’t touch me! I’m leaving and I am never coming back. You will never set eyes on me again!

He came to the morgue. To find you Mae. He looked all over the city.

I know

You didn’t come home for two days. He thought you might have gone.

I know

He didn’t recognize you Mae. You were too badly burned.

I know

He never set eyes on you again. He was never sure if you died in the fire, or if you left him that day. Made it out of the fire and just left. Used the fire as a chance to escape, move to another city, live another life. He was never really sure.

I know