The Quest For Father Christmas - SCENE TWO
SCENE 2 Outside a hut in a snow-clad forest An old witch is crouched in the dark doorway her face concealed. The children enter in their pyjamas looking around them. Scene One  Scene Five  Scene Two Scene Six Scene Three Scene Seven  Scene Four  Scene Eight  Author's Words Cast  Scenes Carols

PETER: I wonder where we are?
CAROLIE: That's funny, we are walking on snow but I don't feel the least cold.
JOHN: But how did we get here?
MARK: (Awed) If you ask me its a dream.
WITCH: What do you want?

The children rush into a huddle with fear

PETER: If you please, we are looking for Father Christmas.
WITCH: Father Christmas. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Where does he live? Do you know that?
PETER: Well, not really.
WITCH: (Mimicking) Not really! Ha ha ha ha ha ha! Do you know what he looks like?
JANE: Oh yes. He wears a red cloak, a red hood and he has a long white beard, and he comes down the chimney tonight because its Christmas.
WITCH: (Thoughtfully) A long white beard. When did you last see him?
JANE: Well, actually we have never seen him.
WITCH: You have never seen him! Ha ha ha ha ha ha! Then how do you know what he looks like?
JANE: But everyone knows he looks like that.
WITCH: How can they know when they have never seen him. Why are you looking for him anyway?
PETER: Well, you see, every year at Christmas he brings us presents when we hang up our stockings.
WITCH: Presents! What kind of presents?
PETER: Well, toys and games and sweets and all sorts of nice things.
WITCH: If you ask me the man is a complete fool. Do you pay for your presents?
PETER: Well, we don't pay anything. You see, he just gives them to us. He puts them in our stockings.
WITCH: Aah! Stuff and nonsense. There is no such man. I know what it is. You children are up to some mischief. What is it you want? Why have you come here?
JOHN: If you please we really are looking for Father Christmas. We just want to know who he is.
WITCH: You are just telling me a lot of fairy tales. There is no such person. You have come to steal some of my secret magic. That's what it is. If you don't all go away I will turn you into snowflakes, then I will light a big fire and you will all melt into nothing. Now be off.

She picks up her witch's broom and waves it. There are flashes of lightning and crashes of thunder and the whole scene turns from cold blue to murky green before setting into a deep fiery red. She gives another screech and a wave with her broom with the same lightning and effects whilst the scene remains red. The children run off crying with alarm followed by Cephas on crutches. The witch settles down again in the doorway.

WITCH: Father Christmas indeed! Ha ha ha ha. As though anyone would be fool enough to go round the world giving things to children. Putting nice things into their empty stockings indeed. But I wonder if this Father Christmas fellow really does exist? He must brighten things up a bit if he does. Wouldn't be a bad idea if he dropped in here once in a while. It is not much fun being a witch really. Nothing for company but a few old toads and owls and snakes and suchlike; and always bent on mischief and scaring the life out of folks with spells and charms. And they only make people miserable, whilst this Father Christmas chap, well he seems to make everybody cheerful enough. I wonder who he must be? I could do with a few nice presents myself. Wait a minute. Those children said he comes down the chimney when they hang up their stockings. That's it. Why shouldn't he come down my chimney and fill up my stocking?

She turns to the audience

WITCH: Do you think he would? Do you think he would bring me some nice presents? Well, if only he would.

She begins the carol 'In The Bleak Mid Winter' in which all join

WITCH: Well, he he heee. I am going to hang up my stocking right now:

THE CURTAIN FALLS

» Scene 3 - An empty desert two thousand years ago

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