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JOHN: Well, we still haven't found Father Christmas
and I'm getting very cold.
PETER: Yes, we ought to go home if we knew where to go.
JANE: Or even where we are. Whats that?
A light is seen approaching and a man's voice singing 'The Old Lamp-Lighter'. He advances on stage carrying his lamp and lamplighter's long rod and stops in mid-note
LAMPLIGHTER: (Heartily) Hullo, hullo, how
are you?
JANE: (With formal politeness) Very well thank
you.
LAMPLIGHTER: Well you all look pretty miserable to me.
JOHN: Alright then, how are you?
LAMPLIGHTER: How am I? Oh well, I am dying slowly you
know.
PETER: I suppose not, but do you happen to know where
we can find Father Christmas?
JANE: Yes, we have been looking for him everywhere.
LAMPLIGHTER: What a strange question. But you know, when
I was a small boy I used to wonder about that myself. The fact
is, although he is everywhere, do you know I don't think anyone
has ever seen him.
The children all greet this with open-mouthed dismay.
ALL: (Variously) What, never seen him. They
must have done. He comes every Christmas. He brings us all kinds
of things. etc.
LAMPLIGHTER: Well, he used to come to me when I were a
small boy, but I never saw him.
PETER: I suppose you are not Father Christmas are you?
LAMPLIGHTER: Ha, ha, ha, ha, I wish I were. I am just
a poor old lamplighter. I go round lighting up lamps in dark
places...
He lights the lamp
LAMPLIGHTER: ...and cheering people up with my song.
He sings 'The Old Lamp-Lighter' and all join in the chorus
JOHN: (Dispiritedly) Well, if you are not Father
Christmas. I suppose we had better be going.
LAMPLIGHTER: Don't be so unhappy about it all young fellow.
You can be sure of one thing, if you don't find Father Christmas
he will certainly find you.
CAROLIE: But we did so much want to see him.
LAMPLIGHTER: What does it matter whether you see him or
not? He won't let you down, he never does. You see for something
like this you have to really believe it inside yourself. Take
me, for example, here I am, I go round lighting up lamps...
He lights another lamp
LAMPLIGHTER: ...and it lights up. People know me,
they expect me, they look for me, they hear my song, and they
know that when I have passed by, the world will be a bit brighter
and happier. But you know, it wouldn't happen if they didn't
would it?
JOHN: Of course not. They would all just feel flat and
miserable.
LAMPLIGHTER: There you are then! If you will take my advice
you won't worry too much about finding Father Christmas. Just
make up your mind you are really going to be as happy and as
jolly as you can. And in that way you will be a kind of light
yourself. And you will help to make life brighter and happier
for others.
The children are gazing at him with rapt attention
LAMPLIGHTER: You see, when I first saw you, you all looked a pretty miserable lot, like a bunch of teddy bears with the belly ache...
They laugh
LAMPLIGHTER: ...but then you sang a song and you all felt much better didn't you?
They all nod eager assent
LAMPLIGHTER: Tell me now, can you dance?
ALL: (Variously) Oh yes. I love dancing. Let's
have a dance. Why don't we dance. etc.
LAMPLIGHTER: Well let us dance.
They rapidly form up and
dance to the music of 'The Dashing White Sergeant'.
At the finish they all relax into an informal group, obviously
exhausted by their exertions.
As they do so...
LAMPLIGHTER: Well, now, don't you feel better after
that?
ALL: (Variously) Oh yes. It was marvellous. I enjoyed
that. I like dancing. etc.
LAMPLIGHTER: Now do you know what I think?
They look at him expectantly
LAMPLIGHTER: I think you all ought to go back to
your beds. You know tomorrow is Christmas Day don't you?
ALL: (Assent variously) Oh yes. We have hung up
our stockings. We have put decorations on the Christmas tree.
It's a big day. etc.
LAMPLIGHTER: And now it's very late, isn't it?
They assent variously, readily but already a trifle wearily
LAMPLIGHTER: And tomorrow you will open all the
presents that Father Christmas is going to bring you.
ALL: Yes, yes.
LAMPLIGHTER: And then you will have a special breakfast,
of chips, crisps, popcorn, salted nuts, won't you?
The smaller ones assent to this, but the older ones are a trifle dubious.
LAMPLIGHTER: And then there will be a special service in the church with carols and the blessing of the crib. And you will remember to take some of your toys for the poor children in the hospital won't you?
They all nod dutifully
LAMPLIGHTER: And then you will all have your Christmas dinner won't you? My word what a feast you will have, with lots of plum pudding all blazing away like a bonfire, and mince pies and if you are lucky you will find a silver sixpence in yours. Did you find one last year?
They shake their heads, all obviously bewildered
LAMPLIGHTER: Well they don't seem to keep up these
old customs anymore. When I was a boy I can remember finding
a silver sixpence in my mince pie.
PETER: Didn't it break your teeth?
They all laugh
LAMPLIGHTER: Oh no, we knew some of us would be
lucky so we were looking for it you see. But perhaps there aren't
any silver sixpences any more. Never mind, perhaps you will find
a ten pound note in your Christmas cracker.
CAROLIE: My mummy bought some Christmas crackers from
Mr. Patel's shop last year. She said they cost a lot of money,
but there was nothing in them at all.
LAMPLIGHTER: Well never mind dear, perhaps this time your
mummy should try her luck at Marks & Spencer. Anyway, it's
quite clear you have a long day ahead of you, what with Christmas
dinner and the Christmas Tree and games and dancing, and I expect
you will have a big cake covered with marzipan and icing and
all sorts of coloured things for tea, isn't that right.
ALL: (Indicate assent variously)
LAMPLIGHTER: Well then, you make for your beds and
have a sound sweet sleep while I go on lighting my lamps and
keeping an eye on things. There is a lot more watching and caring
going on in the world while folks sleep than they realise. Well
now, hadn't you better be moving?
PETER: Please Mr. Lamplighter, we don't know which way
to go, you see we are lost.
LAMPLIGHTER: Bless my soul, don't you know the secret
of what to do when you are lost?
They shake their heads
JANE: Oh good, are you going to tell us a secret too?
They crowd round eagerly
LAMPLIGHTER: (Solemnly) Now then, when you are lost...
They press forward
LAMPLIGHTER: ...you must always go towards the light.
The star of Bethlehem is seen glittering and beckoning in the dark sky and with one accord the children follow it, slowly and sleepily off stage
LAMPLIGHTER: That's right, always follow the light when you are lost, if there is no light about...
He lights another lamp
LAMPLIGHTER: ...well, you try to make some light yourself.
His voice continues to be heard after he has disappeared until...
THE CURTAIN FALLS
» Scene 7 - The same city street in the time of David Copperfield
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