Secret Garden: Scene 9 (Colin in the garden)

ROBIN

Soon thereafter, Colin had a visitor.

DICKON ENTERS.

DICKON

Um, well I, er. You must be, um.

Colin, this is Dickon.

COLIN

I've never seen so many creatures, it's like a storybook come to life. Do you talk to all of them? And they understand you? However did you learn to do such a thing?

DICKON

Well, I, um, don't know. I guess, I just kind of do

Come on, then. We've no time to waste!

MARY

Come on, then. We've no time to waste!

THEY START TO WHEEL HIM OUT. MARY AND DICKON SPEAK BEHIND HIM

Are you all right, Dickon? I've never seen you so tongue-tied.

DICKON

It’s one thing to talk to the creatures, but there are some animals I don't know nothing about. I don't have much truck with boys.

Think of him as another wild thing. A sort of boy-animal.

DICKON

You've never seen springtime?

COLIN

I haven't seen a lot of things.

We're getting close now. Here's where I first saw the robin, and that’s where we found the key. And here, is the door.

ACTOR 4

The sun fell warm across his face and before their eyes they could see a soft glow of color creep over his pallid face.

There are moments when one is quite sure that one will live forever.

COLIN

I don't want the dirt! I want to go home, this is a dreadful, awful place and I hate it.

Dickon, why don't you get us some apples from the orchard. We'll have a picnic.

DICKON EXITS.

Colin, are you afraid? Is that why you don't want to get out of the chair?

COLIN

I can't.

Nonsense, I've seen you walk about your room loads of times.

COLIN

That's different. The floor is solid and straight, this is all bumpy and green. What happens if it gives way?

Gives way? What are you talking about?

SHE JUMPS.

There, steady and solid. Now, come on.

COLIN

But what if I fall? What if I land in the dirt and it gets all over me?

Then you get dirty.

COLIN

I've never been dirty! What if I'm not cut out for it? What if I'm not strong enough and it strikes me dead on the spot? I think I've had quite enough for one day. I have to go home, I want to go back to my room where it's safe!

But this is safe. It's Magic.

COLIN

What?

This whole garden, it's a...magic place. It makes things grow strong.

COLIN

What sort of Magic?

When I first came into the garden, it looked like a dead place, the gray ghosts of withered branches and tangled brush. But then, the Magic came, and it brought it all back to life, the withered dry things grew fat and ripe and burst forth with torrents and showers of bloom. Look around you, this world is full of Magic, you just need to let it work on you.

COLIN

But how?

Tha munnot be afraid.

COLIN

But I'm not—

Tha munnot be afraid. The Magic is all around thee. It's in th' wind, in th' grass, in th' earth.

SHE TAKES SOME SOIL IN HER HANDS, GRASPING IT TIGHTLY.

Tha can feel it. It gives the world life. It makes 'em stronger, and it can make thee stronger, too.

SHE PUTS IT IN HIS HAND AND CLASPS HER HANDS AROUND HIS.

Let its power move through thee. Dost tha feel it?

COLIN

I can feel it.

I knew you could!

BEN WEATHERSTAFF

YOU!

What art tha’ doin’ tha foul wretch!. I couldna’ abide thee the first time I set eyes on thee, a scrawny buttermilk-faced wench allus asking questions and pokin’ tha nose where it wasn’t wanted I allus knew thee was a bad'un.

Ben, Ben, it’s all right. The robin showed me the way.

BEN WEATHERSTAFF

That’s a fine story, laying thy badness on an innocent bird.

It’s true, stop shaking your fist at me and I’ll show you.

COLIN

I’m not broken! I’m not, and I will not die, I am going to live.

HE SLOWLY PUTS ONE FOOT DOWN AND CAREFULLY SUPPORTING HIMSELF PUTS DOWN THE OTHER, SLOWLY, SHAKILY HE STANDS TO HIS FEET.

And you are not going to tell anyone that we are in here.

BEN WEATHERSTAFF

Right you are Master Colin. I’ll nae tell a soul. Saints alive, I never thought I'd see the day. HE EXITS.

Colin, you're standing.

COLIN

So I am.

Are you making Magic?

It’s this place, it’s the garden. It’s the same Magic that made the crocuses push through the earth. It's making you push through your fear.

Colin, walk to that tree.

COLIN

But it’s so far.

Try it. It’s the Magic in the garden. I know you can.

COLIN

Wait! I can do it. I've just got to get the Magic to work.

HE SLOWLY STEADIES HIMSELF BACK UP, AND TAKES ANOTHER FEW STEPS AND FALLS AGAIN.

Colin!

COLIN

Did you see? I walked! I did it. I walked on the ground and I fell and I got dirt on me, and I 'm fine. I'm fine!

If your father could see you now...

COLIN

No! He mustn't see me. Not yet. I... I don't want him to see me fall. I don’t want him to see me until I’m the strongest fastest boy in the world. And then, maybe he won't hate to look at me. Then, maybe he'll stay.

Then we'll practice. We'll come every day and work Magic. We'll help you and the garden grow strong. We can all grow strong together.

Come on!