Scene 20 of 50

Ten candles

Your goalI can wish someone happy birthday, give a present, and say if I'm married, if I have children and where my parents live.

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Saturday. Balloons in the courtyard, a long table, a cake with ten candles. Nicky's mother, the town doctor, is here too, with the usual party questions: Are you married? Do you have children? And your parents, where do they live? Then Anne turns the photo round: a boy of ten with a trumpet and a terrible haircut, at a window of number 7. Jack grew up in your flat.

Nicky
Hello! Today is my birthday. I’m ten now!
Hello! Today is my birthday. I’m ten now!
Happy birthday! This is from Jack and me.
Happy birthday! This is from Jack and me.
Happy birthday! This is from Jack and me.
Happy birthday! This is from Jack and me.
She tears off the paper.
Nicky
A yellow sketchbook! Thank you very much!
A yellow sketchbook! Thank you very much!
May carries out a big cake with ten candles.
May
Here is the cake. Ten candles.
Here is the cake. Ten candles.
Nicky
One, two, three ... Ten!
One, two, three ... Ten!
A tall woman with a light-brown ponytail sits down next to you.
Penny
Hello. I’m Dr Penny Ellis, Nicky’s mum. Are you the new neighbour?
Hello. I’m Dr Penny Ellis, Nicky’s mum. Are you the new neighbour?
Yes. Nice to meet you, Doctor.
Yes. Nice to meet you, Doctor.
Yes. Nice to meet you, Doctor.
Yes. Nice to meet you, Doctor.
Penny
Are you married? Do you have children?
Are you married? Do you have children?
No. I’m not married and I have no children.
No. I’m not married and I have no children.
No. I’m not married and I have no children.
No. I’m not married and I have no children.
Penny
Where do your parents live?
Where do your parents live?
In Hamburg.
In Hamburg.
In Hamburg.
In Hamburg.
Anne
I already know everything. Parents in Hamburg, no children.
I already know everything. Parents in Hamburg, no children.
Penny
Of course. Mum always knows everything.
Of course. Mum always knows everything.
Anne takes out the photo that always faced the wall and turns it round: a boy of ten with a trumpet and a terrible haircut, at a window of number 7.
Anne
Nicky, you are ten now. Jack is ten in this photo too.
Nicky, you are ten now. Jack is ten in this photo too.
That is my window!
That is my window!
That is my window!
That is my window!
Jack
That is me. That flat was mine.
That is me. That flat was mine.
Nicky
A funny haircut!
A funny haircut!
Anne
That is why the photo faced the wall.
That is why the photo faced the wall.
For once, the trumpet plays in daylight, and the whole house sings.
Anne
Jack, play something for us.
Jack, play something for us.
Jack
Now? During the day?
Now? During the day?
Anne
Today you may. Happy birthday! Everyone together!
Today you may. Happy birthday! Everyone together!
Milo walks off across the courtyard with one of the candles in his mouth.
Nicky
Milo! The tenth candle!
Milo! The tenth candle!
Anne
Milo wants a birthday too.
Milo wants a birthday too.