Read The Firework-Maker's Daughter Online
Authors: Philip Pullman
The Firework-Maker's Daughter (6 page)
KING:
The girl lit a firework that went out. By the rules of the competition she is disqualified.
The crowd hiss. There's a few boos.
DR. PUFFENFLASCH:
Please your majesty. The girl is the winner...
COLONEL SPARKINGTON:
Darn right she is. That was some display.
The KING stares until the crowd is cowed into silence. There'll be no revolt against this KING.
KING:
I say when the competition is over. I decide the winner.
Silence.
KING:
I'm glad that's understood.
The SPECIAL AND PARTICULAR BODYGUARD holds LALCHAND by the hair as he awaits the KING's order. The KING looks over. LALCHAND is about to die.
KING:
I have decided to overlook this technicality. The girl has won! Free the Firework-Maker!
The SPECIAL AND PARTICULAR BODYGUARD kicks LALCHAND away from the execution block and he escorts the KING away. LILA picks up the golden cup and her thousand crowns. There's a huge cheer.
LILA breaks away to speak to CHULAK who's with RAMBASHI.
RAMBASHI:
Chulak my boy! It's a million rupee idea. I'm the manager, you're the lead singer. My boys are the backing band. We'll call you Chulak and the Chickens.
CHULAK:
I'd like that.
RAMBASHI off.
LILA:
Is that a good idea?
CHULAK:
I think so.
LILA:
I mean the terrible name?
RAMBASHI:
It's not terrible. What could be more noble than a hen?
CHULAK:
You're the champion.
LILA:
I couldn't have done it without you and Hamlet. Where is Hamlet?
CHULAK:
He's with Frangipani. She liked him all along - she was just shy.
HAMLET and FRANGIPANI appear.
HAMLET:
Well done Lila. I knew you'd win.
LILA:
Thanks Hamlet. Nice to meet you Frangipani.
HAMLET:
She can play the saxophone. She can't speak. What do you want from us? We're elephants!
RAMBASHI:
Chulak!
LILA:
I need to speak to my father.
CHULAK goes. LILA sees LALCHAND. They move to the front of the stage as everyone else leaves in the background.
LALCHAND:
Lila, my dear, will you accept my apology?
LILA:
Do I need to?
LALCHAND:
I didn't trust you. I should have. You have the Three Gifts.
LILA:
I don't even know what they are.
LALCHAND:
They're what all Firework-Makers must have. They are equally important, and two of them are no good
without the third. The first one is talent, and you have that, my dear.
LILA:
Thank you.
LALCHAND:
The second has many names: courage, determination, will-power... It's what made you carry on climbing the mountain when everything seemed hopeless.
LILA:
And the third?
LALCHAND:
Luck. It gave you good friends like Chulak and Hamlet, and brought them to you in time. Those are the Three Gifts, and you took them and offered them to Razvani as a Firework-Maker should. And he gave you the Royal Sulphur in exchange.
LILA:
No, he didn't.
LALCHAND:
It's not a substance. I tricked you on that. The golden pot with the green lid-
LILA:
Isn't Royal Sulphur.
LALCHAND:
(
Disappointed
.) You knew?
LILA:
Of course.
LALCHAND:
I thought it might give you a little confidence...
LILA:
You did it out of love. It gave me strength. What is Royal Sulphur?
LALCHAND:
You've more Royal Sulphur than I'll ever have... It's wisdom. You gain it by suffering and risk - by taking the journey to Mount Merapi and walking into the flames. It's what the journey is for. Each of our friends the other Firework-Makers has made his own journey in a similar way, and so have Rambashi and Chulak. You didn't come home empty-handed, Lila. You brought back the Royal Sulphur.
LILA:
I see...
LALCHAND:
You know what this means?
LILA:
What does it mean?
LALCHAND:
It means you're a Firework-Maker.
LILA:
Now
, I see.
LILA throws up her hand and a huge spray of silver covers the two of them. There's a small explosion. They've disappeared.
The End.
