The Firework-Maker's Daughter by Philip Pullman Page B

disappointed.
    CHULAK: Breathing too loudly, Hamlet. Got to hold your breath!
    HAMLET snorts, then has a quick check round to see if anyone’s listening. He has two large adverts fly-posted onto his rump. One reads: EAT AT THE GOLDEN LANTERN. The other: CHANG LOVES LOTUS BLOSSOM - TRUE XXX .
    HAMLET: Hello, Lila.
    LILA: Hello, Hamlet.
    HAMLET: ( re. adverts .) Have you seen these? The obnoxious brat’s turned me into a walking billboard.
    CHULAK: Stop fussing. Chang gave me a whole rupee for the message to Lotus Blossom.
    HAMLET: The filthy shame.
    LILA: You charge people money to advertise on him?
    CHULAK: It’s a public service. It’s lucky to have your name on a White Elephant.
    (Pointed to HAMLET.)
    They’d pay even more if they knew you were a talking White Elephant.
    HAMLET: People don’t stare enough? The boy would have me dancing in a tutu for half a rupee!
    CHULAK: We were saving up to run away...
    LILA: ( s/v .) Chulak? Are you trying to lose your head? The King has spies everywhere.
    They look round the market. A spy pops his head out of the snake charmer’s basket. One of the beggars takes a photo. The King has spies everywhere.
    CHULAK: It doesn’t matter now, he doesn’t want to go. He’s fallen in love with a lady elephant at the zoo.
    HAMLET: Frangipani.
    Music plays. HAMLET looks wistful
    HAMLET: Though she won’t spare me the ghost of a dirty glance. Lila, I hope you never form an unrequited emotional attachment. There’s no greater sadness...
    LILA: I’m not sure about that.
    HAMLET: Something ails you?
    LILA: My father.
    CHULAK: Old Lalchand? He’s all right, isn’t he? Not having trouble with his ticker again?
    LILA: He doesn’t want me to be a Firework-Maker.
    CHULAK: Is that all?
    LILA: It’s serious. He’s keeping something from me.
    CHULAK: What?
    LILA: The secret of firework-making. I’ve learned all about spark repellent, glimmer-juice and salts-of-shadow. And I’ll learn about scorpion oil and thunder-grains. But there’s something else. A special secret.
    CHULAK: Tricky. Don’t worry, I’ll find it out.
    LILA: Why would he tell you, when he won’t tell me?
    CHULAK: I’m too clever for him. He won’t have a choice.
    The laid-back ELEPHANT MASTER strolls into the market.
    ELEPHANT MASTER: You’ve been at it again, haven’t you Chulak?
    CHULAK: ( innocently .) At it, Master?
    ELEPHANT MASTER: This Royal White Elephant is plastered in promotional materials.
    CHULAK: I can’t understand how it happens, Master.
    ELEPHANT MASTER: It is your job to prevent this occurrence.
    CHULAK: It’s the traffic. I watch those rickshaw-drivers like a hawk. I can’t look out for flyposters as well.
    ELEPHANT MASTER: There’s a good ten minutes work here.
On a ladder.
    CHULAK: It’s a mystery, isn’t it? Shall I clean them off?
    ELEPHANT MASTER: I would, yes. The King has a job for his animal and he needs to be absolutely sparkling. Toe to tusk.
    CHULAK starts to tear off the posters.
    CHULAK: Who’s the job?
    ELEPHANT MASTER: Lord Parakit.
    CHULAK: Lord Parakit? The Special and Particular Royal Toady?
    ELEPHANT MASTER: He was the Special and Particular Royal Toady. Sacked.
    CHULAK: But surely he’s the finest sycophant in the world?
    ELEPHANT MASTER: I’d’ve said so, he’s done some magnificent grovelling.
    Marching and trumpets are heard in the distance. The ELEPHANT MASTER is suddenly frightened and frenetic.
    ELEPHANT MASTER: Quickly, Chulak! The King!
    CHULAK finishes the job. The SPECIAL and PARTICULAR BODYGUARD marches into the market, knocking stalls out of the way.
    SPECIAL AND PARTICULAR BODYGUARD: Prostrate yourselves before your sovereign!
    All prostrate themselves as the KING (an austere and frightening man who commands immediate respect.) is carried into the market on a palanquin followed by an entourage which includes a cringing LORD PARAKIT.
    LORD