SETTING:

MIKLOS' tent. There is a bed near the center of the tent. There is a trunk near the bed and two chairs. Several circus posters hang on the sides of the tent.

AT RISE:

MIKLOS enters. HE walks slowly with the help of HIS cane. HE looks up and talks to Jaspar.

MIKLOS

So he hid in a trunk. Did you hear Terri scream? You would scream too if you opened your suitcase and it handed you a pair of socks. After Laura gets here he will wish Terri would have lost the key. Yes, I know she is going to take him away and never come back. Why should I try to stop her? The only time we get to see her is when she comes to take him away and never come back. What do you want me to do? Lock her in a trunk? Don't tell me to think of something. Let George think of something, he's her father. I'm tired. I want to sleep. Jaspar? Jaspar?

(Apparently Jaspar is gone. MIKLOS sighs.)

So many years Jaspar. So many years.

THE LEAVES GROW BRITTLE ON THE TREES,

THE COLD WIND BLOWING.

TIME TO SIT BY THE WINDOW WHERE THE SUN IS WARM

AND WATCH THE TREES TURN BARE.

MY HANDS ARE LIKE THE BRANCHES, KNOTTED AND TWISTING,

ACHING BEFORE THE WINTER.

JASPAR, THE LION WILL TAKE ME,

THE LION WILL LEAD ME AWAY.

JASPAR, I AM WAITING.

I AM OLD. I AM TIRED.

I HAVE BEEN MANY YEARS IN THIS WORLD.

I AM LIKE THE DEAD BROWN LEAF WAITING TO FALL.

DEATH IS A DREAM, A YOUNG MAN FEARS IT,

HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT IT MEANS.

I HAVE NO FEAR.

WHAT COULD I FEAR?

ANOTHER DAY OF LIVING?

MY LEGS ARE WEAK, I CANNOT WALK.

I AM A SOUL IN AN EMPTY SHELL.

JUST ONE MORE STEP.

NOW JUST ONE MORE.

THAT STEP MY LEGS WILL BEAR.

ONE BY ONE MY FRIENDS ARE GONE,

I ONLY WAIT TO FOLLOW,

I ONLY WAIT TO FOLLOW ONE STEP MORE.

(Spoken.)

I will lean on your shoulders, my hand in your mane,

One step more.

(BLACKOUT)

End of Scene 1