The Magic Can CHARACTERS LINA - a girl of eleven TINA - LINA's younger sister DAVID GLOW - the girls' father ALICE GLOW - the girls' mother LENIE-GENIE MR (JOHN) HARNOLD - the owner of an animated cartoon studio MR (JACK) WILSON - Mr Harnold's assistant JERRY TERRY 1 LINA AND TINA'S ROOM LINA IS SITTING AT THE DESK DOING HER HOMEWORK. FROM THE NEXT ROOM THERE COMES THE SOUND OF A LOUD QUARREL BETWEEN MR AND MRS GLOWS. THEN THE SHOUTS DIE OUT. THE DOOR OPENS AND THERE COMES IN TINA. LINA Tina, what's going on? Was that one more raw between Mom and Dad? TINA Yeah, the worst row I ever watched with them. Dad just said to Mom: "I'm leaving you for ever, Alice", and went outside. FROM OUTSIDE THERE COMES THE SOUND OF A CAR ENGINE STARTING. TINA Lina, look out of the window. Dad's really leaving in his car. LINA RUNS UP TO THE WINDOW. LINA He didn't even say goodby to us. And it's too late to try stopping him. TINA You think he's not going to come back? LINA Don't know... but I do want him hack. And I want Mom to make it up with him for ever. You remember, only half a year ago they were such a nice couple. They were so caring for each other. All my friends envied me having such parents. Then suddenly those awful quarrels started. Wish I could turn back time. Some kind of magic or something like that. TINA Hmm... I'm younger than you but know for sure that no magic is possible. Mom always says that you are too much of a dreamer. LINA You mean I'm not much of a not-believe-in-anything girl as you are. TINA Anyway, I'm going outside to play with girlfriends and you'd better tidy up our wardrobe. It's your turn now. TINA GOES OUT. LINA Well, sister's right. I have to take a break in doing all this maths and try to tidy up all that mess in the wardrobe. Okay, let's look inside. LINA WALKS UP TO THE WARDROBE, OPENS IT AND STARTS RUMMAGING INSIDE. LINA (with a sigh) To be true most of this stuff belongs to Tina. Yeah, those old rug dolls of hers, her worn-out dresses, all them are not mine but hers. And what's this?.. oh, a can of Cola. How did it happen to be in here? It looks old with all this washed out color. I wonder if it's safe to have a drink from it. Anyway, no harm in opening it. LINA OPENS THE CAN. THERE STARTS HISSING ACCOMPANIED BY MYSTERIOUS MUSIC. LINA SCREAMS AND DROPS THE CAN. LENIE-GENIE (annoyed) Oh, damn, what is it? I do inquire, what is it? LINA (startled) Excuse me, sir, but who are you? LENIE-GENIE Don't you see, silly girl, I'm a genie. Lenie-Genie is my full name. Anyway, you may call me just Lenie. LINA How did you get here? LENIE-GENIE No other way than from the can, and I do thank you for opening it and letting me out. But why did you throw the can onto the floor before I could get outside? I've nearly broken all my ribs. A good start for making an acquaintance! LINA From the can?! I used to think that genies dwelled in ancient bottles or lamps, not cans of Cola. LENIE-GENIE That goes with old, out-of-date genies. As for me, I'm an absolutely modern, super progressive, up-to-date genie. LINA But I've never seen genies dressed in jeans shorts and a T-shirt LENIE-GENIE Have you often seen real genies? LINA Not once. LENIE-GENIE Then don't talk rubbish. I see no sense to be dressed up like a clerk on such a hot day. So, why did you throw the can? LINA I didn't; I just dropped it. LENIE-GENIE Why? LINA I was frightened. LENIE-GENIE Frightened of what? LINA You. LENIE-GENIE Me? See no reason at all. Okay, this is a nice room. Pretty comfy. Guess you live in here and your name is LINA. LINA How do you know? LENIE-GENIE No other girl was supposed to let me out. Yes, I imagined you exactly the way you look. That dark hair and those wonderful green eyes. Do you know why I'm called Lenie-Genie? LINA No idea... LENIE-GENIE I was created to help and guard the girl named Lina, that is you, LINA. LINA Created... by who? LENIE-GENIE I'm a fantasoid - a creature born in one's fantasy. You know, all fairy-tales heroes are fantasoids and any day may became real, like me. Many years ago your parents, when they fell in love with each other, decided to call their first-born daughter this charming name - LINA and imagined me as your guardian. It was the time they were in the beginning of their professional way. Hope they've got much success by now. LINA Yes, they both work at Harnald's animation studio. Dad is a scriptwriter and Mom a cartoon artist. Most of the characters of the studio were designed by her. And most of scripts were written by Dad. LENIE-GENIE A nice couple. LINA They used to be, but not now. LENIE-GENIE What happened? LINA They've been quarrelling almost each day lately. And today Dad's left us. LENIE-GENIE Did he? LINA Yeah, and not going to come back. LENIE-GENIE Too bad. LINA But, now when I know there's a one who can help me by means of magic, I hope that... LENIE-SENIE (confused) You mean me?.. LINA Of course you. I want you to make Mom and Dad love each other again. LENIE-GENIE And how do you suppose I'm going do that? LINA You're a genie - some kind of charm, magic... LENIE-GENIE To be true... at the moment... my magic skills don't differ much from yours... LINA Then you're not a genie. You lied to me. You're just a rogue. LENIE-GENIE No, no, no... I didn't lie to you. I'm a one hundred per cent genie. LINA All genies can do wonders. Try and prove your being one of them. LENIE-GENIE You see, when your parents imagined me, I remember it was in some cosy cafe, they put me inside this can to be open in the time when LINA in trouble. But there was another can. All my magic power was put into that can. To be able to do wonders I should find it. LINA And where can it be? LENIE-GENIE Don't know. It's just got lost. LINA Maybe Mom knows where it is. Shall I ask her? LENIE-GENIE Why not. LINA Oh, it seems I hear her coming over here. Yes, those are her footsteps. THE DOOR OPENS AND THERE COMES IN MRS GLOW MRS GLOW Lina, who are you talking with? What's going on? Oh, who's that? Sir, who are you and what are you doing in my daughters' room? LINA Mom, that is Lenie-Genie. You must remember him, don't you? MRS GLOW (sceptically) Lenie-Genie? What an odd name. I've never met that man before. LINA Hey, man, you did lie to me. Mom doesn't knew you. LENIE-GENIE Wait, just wait. Just look at me Mrs Glow. Don't you remember: "Lenle-Genie from the can, what a funny, charming man." MRS GLOW What can? What do mean - "from the can"? LINA He means the only thing he CAN do is to lie. LENIE-GENIE (pleading) Lina, look at your mother. Something happened to her. She's got the same green eyes as you, but they don't shine that bright any longer. MRS GLOW That's enough, Mr whatever-your-came-from. I've not the least wish to see you in my house any longer. Get out of here right now. LINA (scornfully) Goodbye, Mr Lenie-Genie. LENIE-GENIE Okay, I'm going now. Goodbye, LINA. And you, Mrs Glow, please try to remember about the girl named Alice, who once fell down the rabbit-hole. By! 2 MR HARNOLD'S OFFICE JOHH HARNOLD IS SITTING AT HIS DESK. THE DOOR OPENS AND THERE COMES MR WILSON. MR WILSON Hi, Mr Harnold. MR HARNOLD Hi, Jack. How's our friend - Mr Glow. MR WILSON You know, yesterday he left his family... MR HARNOLD Yes, I do know that. I wanna know what he's doing today. MR WILSON Early in the morning he locked himself in his office and all the day been typing with a mad speed. No break even for a minute. MR HARNOLD Yeah, David is a brilliant writer. He's a real treasure for our studio, as well as his wife, Alice Glow. He's going to write the marvelous script for our new cartoon. Lots of terror, violence and spite. I'm full up with those kind-hearted, good-natured characters in my cartoons. We need mere hatred and malice, we need a new hero - a genie of evil powers. I've managed to find a great sponsor - Terri-Cola company. They will give us lots of money to make cartoons featuring the genie from a can of Terri-Cola. Then we'll be able to produce numerous comics, books, computer games, TV shows and even a motion picture with Terri-Genie. I'll become fabulously rich. How long I've been waiting for this day. How much of plotting and machinations I did to sow dissention in the home of the Glows. At last they hate each other. And a hateful person can't create kind-hearted heroes. Divide and rule - this is my slogan, Mr Wilson. MR WILSON And what about Mrs Glow? Will she agree to draw characters of her husband's script? MR HARNOLD She'll never know they were created by her husband. Now I'd like to introduce our new hope to you. MR HARNOLD SWITCHES OH THE INTERCOM. MR HARNOLD Jerry, please join us. JERRY TERRI In a jiffy, sir. MR HARNOLD SWITCHES OFF THE INTERCOM. MR WILSON Jerry? Who's that? MR HARNOLD A real wonder. You'll see now. THE DOOR OPENS. JERRY-TERRI May I come in? MR HARNOLD Sure, Jerry. Mr Wilson, that is our Jerry-Terri. Just look at him. This is how Terri-Genie is going to look. How do you find him? MR WILSON Awful. He looks like an idiot. A bundle of muscles with no brains at all. And what a nasty taste for dressing. That enormous, motley tie doesn't match his suit a bit. MR HARNOLD Shut up, you blockhead! You don't understand a thing in show business. We'll make a legend of this guy. Real Terri-Genie. MR WILSON By the way, Terri is his real name or a kind of nickname? MR HARNOLD Does it matter? MR WILSON With such a name he'll be good in advertising towels or babies' nappies. MR HARNOLD Do stop cracking your stupid jokes. I hope this face will very soon appear on all magazine covers. JERRY TERRI (bravely) So do I, sir. MR HARNOLD And I hope Jerry will never let us down. JERRY TERRI So do I, boss. MR WILSON He's really got not too much intellect. MR HARNOLD It isn't a vital quality... At least for him. Anyway, Jack, this guy can handle any problem we may face in the future. Are you ready to prove it right now. Jerry? JERRY TERRI With pleasure, boss. MR HARNOLD Okay, Jerry. I guess in a few minutes I'll have the first script for Terri-Genie cartoon written by Mr Glow today. Jerry, you must take it and go over to Mrs Glow. Try to make a good impression on her. MR WILSON (maliciously) Not an easy task. MR HARNOLD Mr Wllson, please don't interrupt me. So, Jerry, make a good impression and tell her you are the author of the script. I'll call her before your coming and ask her to give you all her attention. Let her read the script and persuade her to start working on the cartoon. Let her draw some pictures and sketches. Do some posing for her. Do your best, Jerry. JERRY-TERRI Don't worry, Mr Harnold. You may rely on me. I'll manage that. She'll co-operate with us. MR HARNOLD So good luck, Jerry. 3 THE DINING-ROOM IN THE GLOWS' HOUSE. MRS GLOW, LINA, TINA AND JERRY TERRI ARE SITTING AT THE TABLE, HAVING DINNER. MRS GLOW Mr Terri, I'm so glad you've agreed to have dinner in our company. JERRY TERRI Pleased to hear that, Mrs Glow. TINA Mom, I don't like this guy sitting in Dad's chair. MRS GLOW Tina, please behave yourself. Mr Terri is our guest. JERRY TERRI My dear little child, it was your Dad's decision not to sit on this chair tonight. To be true, I'm going to occupy also his chair along with his desk at Harnold's studio very soon. LINA You can't write as well as Dad. I've read the first two pages of your script, Mr Terri. It's awful. JERRY TERRI Where did you stop reading, girl? LINA The episode when Terri-Senie gives a punch to a bus conductor. JERRY TERRI Oh, it's one of my best parts. MRS GLOW And I like it too, Mr Terri. I find it very funny. TINA But one mustn't give punches to bus conductors. JERRY TERRI My hero just didn't want to pay his fare. That's the reason. TINA But one must pay his fare. JERRY TERRI Genies mustn't pay any fares. LINA Tina's right, anyone must pay their fares, including genies. JERRY TERRI Okay, if you read a bit longer, you'd find a funnier scene. Terri-Genie comes home and beats a computer repairman because the poor guy can't repair his computer. MRS GLOW By the way, we're expecting a computer repairman today, too. Something's wrong with our computer. It suddenly got out of order this morning. JERRT TBRRI If he doesn't repair it, Mrs Glow, I can beat him, too. MRS GLOW Thanks, Mr Terri, but I hope there won't be any need to. LINA Mom, Mr Terri is such an idiot and churl. MRS SLOW Lina, it's you who are a churl, Mr Terri is quite a well-bred man. And what's more he's much more corteous than that man... how did he call himself? LINA You mean Lenie-Genie? MRS GLOW Yeah, a very disgusting type. JERRY TERRI Lenie-Genie? Who's that? MRS GLOW A stranger. Yesterday he got into our house and was talking nonsense about some can. JERRY TERRI (surprised) What can? LINA A can of cola. He said it was a magic can. JERRY TERRI Magic? Where's the man now? MRS GLOW I told him leave our house and never seen him again. JERRY TERRI Hmn... a magic can... well, Mrs Glow, are you ready to to make first sketches for our new cartoon? MRS GLOW Yes, right after we finish our tea. I hope you will pose for me. JERRY TERRI With pleasure, Mrs Glow. TINA I've already finished my tea. Thank you, Mom, the dinner was very tasty. Now I'm going to our room. MRS GLOW Tina, don't forget its your turn to do the washing-up today. LINA Mom, I'll help Tina with that after you go to the attic to draw this... gentleman. Let's go,Tina. Just now they're broadcasting "Honey-Bee and Funny Bear" on channel five. It's one of the best cartoons Mom and Dad ever made. TINA Yes, Lina, let's go and watch the cartoon. LINA AND TINA STAND UP AND LEAVE THE ROOM. JERRY TERRI It seems your daughters don't like me. MRS CLOW I hope everything will change in a while, Mr Terri, and they will love you. You're so funny and clever. May I call you just Jerry? JERRY TERRI Of course, you can. By the way, I don't like "Honey-Bee and Funny bear". MRS GLOW Yes, you're right, it's not my best thing. Too naive. Hope Terri-Cenie will be a better cartoon. JERRY TERRI Far better. By the way, what about that can? Do you know something about it? MRS GLOW No.., oh, let me try... yeah, I remember something. .. JERRY TERRI (inquiringly) What do you remember? MRS GLOW Very vaguely... JERRY TERRI So,what? MRS GLOW There was some can in our family. A kind of souvenir or amulet. I don't remember exactly. JERRY TERRI And where is it now? MRS GLOW Somewhere around. It got lost since we moved in here. But why are you so interested in that trifle? JERRY TERRI (confused) No, oh no, I'm not interested in it at all. I just asked in case... Alright, maybe we'd better go to the attic and get to drawing. MRS CLOW Sure, Jerry. Come on. MRS GLOW AND JERRY TERRY STAND UP AND GO TO THE DOOR. MRS GLOW OPENS THE DOOR. MRS GLOW (shouting) Girls! We're going to the attic. You may get busy with the plates and cups. MRS GLOW AND JERRY TERRI LEAVE THE ROOM AND THERE COME LINA AND TINA TO START CLEANING UP THE TABLE. LINA To be true, Tina, I hate Mom's being friendly to that loathsome type. TINA The same with me, Lina. LINA Now I doubt if I was fair to the stranger in our room yesterday. Maybe he was a real genie. TINA No, I don't think so. LINA But he did come out of the can. I saw it with my own eyes. TINA But you said he could do no wonders. LINA No, he couldn't... but he said something about another can... a magic can. TINA Fiddles. LINA I wish he appeared here again. TINA I think he's a mere liar. Maybe even some kind of thief. No doubt he wanted to steal something in our house. LINA Hope you're wrong. At least he was nicer then that Jerry Terri. THE DOORBELL RINGS. TINA I'll go and see who is there. TINA RUNS OUT OF THE ROOM. LINA GOES ON CLEANING UP THE TABLE, SINGING. TINA COMES BACK BACK. LINA Who's that, Tina? TINA The repairman. Mom showed him to the room. He's going to repair her computer. THERE COMES IN MRS GLOW. MRS GLOW Girls, do you wanna look at my first sketch? I've just drawn it with Mr Terri's help. This is Terri-Genie coming out of a can of Terri-Cola. TINA Let me have a look. Oh, what a dreadful thing! LINA Yes, Tina's right - this is awful. A real idiot this Terri is. MRS GLOW Girls, you don t understand a thing in the cartoon busuness. THE DOOR OPENS AND THERE COMES IN JERRY TERRY. JERRY TERRI Mrs Glow, your daughters are extremely naughty, impolite girls. LINA You're wrong sir. We just say what we really think and feel about you. MRS GLOW By the way, Jerry, I feel I've seen that bearded man somewhere before. LINA What bearded man? TINA Mom means the repair man. He's got such a funny beard. A KNOCK OH THE DOOR. MRS GLOW Come in, please. THERE COMES IN THE REPAIR MAN REPAIRMAN (In a deep voice) Sorry for having disturbed you, but I'd like to ask if there is a screwdriver and pliers in this house, 'cause I've left mine in my office. JERRY TERRI So you forgot to take your tools with you. What a nice worker you are, Mr Repairman. I said I was going to trounce this lazy-bones. I'll do it right now. MRS GLOW (angrily) No, Jerry, you'd better try to tear off his false beard. I remember him now. It was him who got in our house yesterday. So-called Lenie-Genie. Tear his beard off! JERRY TERRY I ll give him what for now! LENIE-GENIE No need, Mr Terry. I'll take my beard myself. LINA Why, this is you, Lenie! Now I recognize you. You look much nicer without that beard. Sorry for being rude to you yesterday. TINA Lina, I told you he wanted to steel something in our house. He is a disguised thief! LENIE-GENIE No, dear girl, I'm no thief. It's Mr Terry who came to steel your mother's heart. I came here to prove my suspicions. Mr Harnold has plotted against your parents, girls. He managed to bewitch them both by means of computer net. They were simply programmed to quarrel with each other. MRS GLOW Do stop fooling us, sir. LENIE-GENIE It's Jerry Terry who is fooling you. He came to persuade you to draw characters for Mr Harnold's new cartoon. Mr Harnold's already persuaded your husband to write the scrpt. JERRY TERRY Shut up, scoundrel! It's me who wrote this brilliant script. No other mind could imagine such a bright thing. MRS GLOW Jerry, I can t stand that man's impudence any more. Be so kind as to show him out of the house. LENIE-GENIE Okay, I'm leaving. LINA Lenie, I'll go with you. MRS GLOW Lina, where are you going? LINA I'm going with Lenie-Genie. I think we'll go to Dad and have a talk with him. Maybe he'll beleive Lenie. MRS GLOW Lina, I don't allow you to go anywhere with this cheat. LINA Mom, don't you see that it's Jerry who's a cheat. Don't you see Lenie sincerely wants to help you. LENIE-GENIE AND LINA GO OUT OF THE ROOM. MRS GLOW Lina, do come back! LINA Bye, Mom! 4 THE PARK. LINA AND LENIE-GENIE ARE SITTING ON A BENCH. LINA Why, the guard at the entrance of the studio was so rude to us. LENIE-GENIE Yes, extremely rude. LINA He wouldn't listen to me. I told him I'm Mr Glow's daughter. LENIE-GENIE I guess Mr Harnold told the guards not to let you in. LINA Unbelievable, You're right, Lenie, it's a plot. LENIE-GENIE A terrible plot. Your parents were spellbound through the computer net. Mr Harnold made them part and now is doing his best not to let us help your Dad and Mom love each other again. LINA I think we should try ringing Dad up. LENIE-GENIE Sure, we should. LINA You know, Lenie, I'm sorry my sister thinks you're a thief. LENIE-GENIE I don't blame her. LINA No doubt when Dad and Mom make it up, she'll love you. And I do feel sorry about Mom's rude words to you. LENIE-GENIE Don't forget she's bewitched. LINA By the way, Lenie, what did you mean when talking of Alice falling down the rabbit hole? LENIE-GENIE Well.., your mother's name is Alice. I wanted.., but.., wait... wait a second. Just look over there, look! LINA Where? LENIE-GENIE Beyond those trees. You see? LINA What do you mean? LENIE-GENIE That cafe. LINA Cafe? LENIE-GENIE Yes, now I remember it very. It's the cafe I was born in. LINA Born? Are you sure? LENIE-GENIE Absolutely. Give me your hand. Let's run over there. LENIE-GENIE AND LINA GET UP AND START RUNNING THROUGH THE PARK TO THE ROAD. LINA Careful, Lenie. Don't you know one mustn't cross the road at a red light. LENIE-GENIE I'm just too excited. You're right, we must wait a bit for a green light. No wish to get to the hospital. LINA And now let's go. Hurry up. LINA AND LENIE-GENIE RUN ACROSS THE ROAD UP TO THE CAFÉ. LENIE-GENIE Yes, here it is. Let's get inside. LINA Sure, come on. LENIE-GENIE AND LINA ENTER THE CAFE. LENIE-GENIE Everything changed a lot. There are so many new things. But look, Lina, that table by the mirror. It looks the same. Yeah, I was born here, no doubt. LINA Where here? LENIE-GENIE Upon that table. LINA On the table? LENIE-GENIE Why do you smile? Your mother drew me on the paper over there. And your Dad... hmm... LINA What about Dad? LENIE-GENIE He taught me some tricks. Now I'll try to remember one. A very important trick. LINA What kind of trick? LENIE-GENIE How to travel through time. LINA Really? You can do that? LENIE-GENIE Why not. LINA But you haven't got your magic power yet. LENIE-GENIE No need at all. It s just a trick, sort of skill, not magic power. LINA Can I travel with you? LENIE-GENIE 'Cause you can. But first I have to remember it. Let me think a while. Yes, I got it now - not the rabbit hole this time, but the looking glass. Yes the mirror. LINA Lenie, I don t understand you. What mirror? LENIE-GENIE Of course that mirror, next to the table! We have to go through it like Alice did. LINA It's impossible. We're just going to break it. LENIE-GENIE There are two important points to do it - first, believe in yourself, second,see no obstacle on your way. LINA I'm afraid, Lenie! LENIE-GENIE No fear, girl. Just give me your hand. LINA No, do stop, Lenie. LENIE-GENIE Do you believe in yourself? LINA Oh, no... LENIE-GENIE Don't you? LINA Well, I do believe. LENIE-GENIE Do you see any obstacle? LINA None but the mirror. LENIE-GENIE. The mirror is no obstacle. Got it? ANGELNA Yeah, it seems I got it. LENIE-GENIE Then let's go. Come on, Lina LENIE-GENIE AND LINA RUN THROUGH THE MIRROR LINA (joyfully) Lenie, we did it! We went through the mirror! LENIE-GENIE Yes, we really did it.. LINA But where are we now? LENIE-GENIE In the cafe, don't you see? LINA. But it looks somewhat different. LENIE-GENIE No wonder it looks different. We are in the past now. A YOUNG MAN SITTING AT A TABLE Guys, can you get a half tone quiter. You came down here like a bolt from the blue and now keep disturbing me with all your shouting. Please let me read my book in peace. LENIE-GENIE Sorry, sir. (to LINA) We'd better go and occupy that vacant table in the corner and won't make any disturbance here. YOUNG MAN That'll be very nice of you. LENIE-GENIE AND LINA GO TO THE TABLE AND SIT DOWN LINA Lenie, who's that guy? It seems I've seen him before. LENIE-GENIE Why, you haven't recognized him? LINA No. LENIE-GENIE Really? That's your Dad. LINA Dad? LENIE-GENIE Yeah, that's him. LINA So young? LENIE-GENIE You think he was always of the same age. There were even days when he was a kid. Anyway we definitely overdid it. It's not the time of my birthday. Guess he even doesn't know your Mom yet at the moment. LINA So what should we do now? LENIE-GENIE Try and go again through the mirror to get to the right time. Let's get up and go. LINA Just wait, Lenie. Look over there. LENIE-GENIE Where? LINA At the door. Do you see that girl? LENIE-GENIE Oh, what a charming lass. Look, she's coming this way. LINA This time I do recognize her. LENIE-GENIE Do you? LINA Yes, it's my Mom. It can be only her. LENIE-GENIE You're right. Those wonderful green eyes. We'd better stay here and watch them both. But, please, don t talk too loud. We mustn't attract their attention. Otherwise we can change the future and no guarantee that we will be born later. Just keep silent and no interference. LINA (in an undertone) Look, she's nearing Dad. LENIE-GENIE (whispering) Okay, let's watch and see wha s going to happen. ALICE COMES UP TO THE TABLE WHERE DAVID IS SITTING ALICE Sorry to disturb you, but is this seat vacant? DAVID What? Ah.., yeah, of course you may sit here. LINA (whispering) Lenie, you see, he liked her on the very first sight. LENIE-GENIE (whispering) No wonder with such a belle as your Mom is. But hush, let's watch. ALICE Sorry for disturbing you once again, but I see you're reading this book. DAVID Yes... but why..? ALICE Why do I ask? I just think that everybody read this book in their childhood. DAVID Yeah, I've read it thousand times. You see, well, it'd be great if I knew your name. Mine's David. ALICE Mine is the same as the heroine's of the book. DAVID Really? Alice - Alice In Wonderland. Nice to meet you. ALICE It's a pity but I've never been in Wonderland. I'm just Alice. DAVID But one can imagine Wonderland and one day the dream may come true. The reason that I love reading this book is that I wanna imagine my own Land of Wonders. I'd like to become an author and write my own book about a girl and her adventures in Wonderland, a land of fantasy inhabited by fantasoids, that is, creatures born in one's fantasy. Of course I'm not gonna copy Lewis Carroll's ideas at all. I'd like my book to be something up-to-date. ALICE But why don't you try some modern means of art to make her heroine be real. For example, there might be some cartoon about her. DAVID To be true I'm not good at drawing at all. ALICE And drawing is my passion. If you like I can show you some of my drawings. I've got them with me, in this paper-case. DAVID Sure I'd like to see them. ALICE Here they are. DAVID Very nice, oh, how wonderful, wish I could draw so beautifully. ALICE I wish to become a cartoon artist and make amusing cartoons. DAVID Then why don t we try... ALICE Try what? DAVID To co-operate. I'll try to write a script and you make pictures for it. ALICE Not a bad idea. DAVID (joyfully) Okay, what about some drink and snack? I'll go to the bar and fetch something. What would you like? ALICE I think a cola and some cake will be enough. DAVID I'll be back in a minute. LINA (whispering) Great, Lenie, you see they're falling in love with each other. How nice! LENIE-GENIE Hush, your Dad's coming back. Let's watch further. DAVID Here I am. Here are cakes - one for you and one for me. And they've got only canned cola at the moment. So I've brought two cans for us. ALICE Thanks a lot. By the way, do you have the name for your heroine? DAVID Our heroine... ALICE Yes.., you're right. So, do you have the name for her? DAVID Not yet. ALICE It seems, while you were at the bar I've found one, I guess a very nice one. DAVID Please tell me it. ALICE First look at that picture above the mirror. DAVID You mean that angel. ALICE Yes, the angel. DAVID So you'd like to call her... ALICE LINA. DAVID A beautiful name. LINA who will come through the mirror to see... ALICE Many, many wonders and undergo lots of mysterious adventures. DAVID But I think she has to have some friend, a kind of magic creature, some kind of... ALICE Genie? DAVID Why not? Well, let it be a genie. And how shall we call him? ALICE Let me think a little... our genie is supposed to help and guard LINA, that is Lina, I mean her short name, so let call him Lenie-Genie. What do you think? DAVID Not bad. ALICE Well, let's have some cola and then I'll try to draw some sketches of our new-born characters. DAVID Please do stop! don't do that! ALICE Do what? DAVID Just don't open the can. ALICE But why? DAVID Any genie is supposed to dwell somewhere, in some kind of vessel, like a bottle or a lamp. ALICE Or, if I get you right, you wish him live in this can of cola. DAVID Exactly! Let him live in this can. And it's LINA who will open it when she's in trouble and let Lenie-Genie out. ALICE I agree. But we have the other can. Let's put something inside it , too. DAVID What? ALICE I think it could be the magic power that will make Lenie-Genie mighty. Let him search and find this can before he can do wonders to help LINA. It s going to be very exciting adventures. DAVID And it seems I know how this magic power is called. ALICE How? DAVID No, I just can't say it now.., later.., not now. LENIE-GENIE (loudly) Lina, I do remember all now. LINA Please a bit quieter, you've startled everybody around. LENIE-GENIE It doesn't matter now. LINA So what do you remember? LENIE-GENIE I know everything now. But first we've got to ring your Dad up. LINA But he's sitting over there. You may talk to him right now. LENIE-GENIE No, I mean another Dad. LINA I have no other Dad. LENIE-GENIE I know that. I mean your Dad in the present, or in the future from this point of view. We have to get back to that future-present time as soon as possible. LINA Again through the mirror? LENIE-GENIE No other way to get away from here, girl. Just hurry up ans give me your hand! 5 THE DINING ROOM IN THE GLOW S HOUSE. MRS GLOW IS SITTING IN THE ARMCHAIR. JERRY TERRI IS DASHING ABOUT THE ROOM. MRS GLOW Jerry, you've turned the whole house upside down. Maybe it s time to stop looking for that idiotic can. JERRY TERRI No, I can t. I must find it, I must. I know it has to be somewhere here, in the house. MRS GLOW But why do you need it so badly? I'll buy scores of cola cans for you. JERRY TERRI No, I don t need them all, even millions of them but this only one. MRS GLOW Oh, please be careful with that antique vase. It's the memory of my grandmother. JERRY TERRI But there's something inside it. Let me take a look at it. Oh, damn, what is it? A rubber ball, how did it happen to get in here? MRS GLOW Probably the girls were playing it in the room. THE DOOR OPENS AND THERE COMES IN TINA TINA What a mess! Mom, what's he doing? JERRY TERRI Tina, I think I have to do some searching in your room, too. TINA I'll never let you in our room. JERRY TERRI But, girl, the magic can may be there. TINA There's no can in there, nor magic, neither any other one. JERRY TERRI Are you sure,little girl? I guess we'd better go and have a good look. TINA Mom, now I feel sorry I was rude to Lenie-Genie. Now I see that it's this idiot, Jerry Teryy, who's a rascal and thief indeed. JERRY TERRI Girl, I'm not gonna steal that can. I'm just wanna take a look at it. TINA But why? JERRY TERRI You see.., it's.., it's filled with magic power... it will let me overcome one villain, a very dangerous, cunning type. MRS GLOW What villain? JERRY TERRI I mean Mr Harnold. MRS GLOW (surprised) Mr Harnold? JERRY TERRI Yes, Mrs Glow, he's a very crafty person. It's him and your husband who have plotted against you. The mischievious couple wants to use your talent to make a new cartoon and then fire you. But don't be afraid. Now that we re together we are sure to make their foul plans fail. MRS GLOW I can't believe that, Jerry. JERRY TERRI Yes, that's absolutely true. But Mr Harnold is silly enough to think of me as a complete oaf who's fully devoted to him. He's awfully wrong. I'm not so stupid as he may think. By means of the magic can you and me will be able to take the studio from him and become the real owners of it and all the cartoons. THE DOOR OPENS AND THERE COMES IN MR HARNOLD MR HARNOLD You are really, Jerry, are really a complete oaf. You're fired, Jerry, you, paltry liar. I don't need your assistance any longer. MRS GLOW How did you get in here, Mr Harnold, in my house? MR HARNOLD Your husband gave me the key. MRS GLOW It's so impolite of you. You might have phoned before appearing here. MR HARNOLD Sorry, but I had no time. I do have to stop this good-for-nothing blockhead immediately. JERRY TERRI Boss, I didn t mean anything evil to you. I just... just wanted to cheat her, to deceive her. MR HARNOLD You've cheated nobody but yourself, Jerry. You may go now. Just goodby. Mrs Glow will give the can to me without your help. MRS GLOW But I don't know where it is, Mr Harnold. MR HARNOLD Yes, you do know where it is and you shall tell me or I will fire you or do something... I just don't know yet what a terrible thing I ll do to you, Mrs Glow. TINA (shouting) You won't do anything bad to Mom. MR HARNOLD Yes, I will. THE DOOR OPENS AND THERE COMES IN MR GLOW, LENIE-GENIE AND LINA MR GLOW No, you won't do anything to her or I will thresh you up, Mr Harnold. LENIE-GENIE And I will help him beat you, Mr Harnold. LINA And I will, too TINA (joyfully) Lina, Dad, how glad to see you, and you, Lenie, sorry for my being so rude to you. Hope you'll forgive me. LENIE-GENIE Don't mention it, Tina. It's all Mr Harnold's intrigues. MR HARNOLD What intrigues!? And what are you doing here, Mr Glow? You are supposed to be wrighting the script for my new cartoon. MR GLOW Lina and Lenie called me to make me remember the story of the magic can. Now I know where it is. MR HARNOLD, JERRY TERRI, MRS GLOW AND TINA Where? Where is it? Tell us! Show us it! Where? MR GLOW It's on the other side of the mirror. I mean this mirror, hanging on the wall. JERRY TERRI But I've looked behind it, there's nothing there at all but the wall. MR GLOW Not behind but through the mirror. You must go through the mirror to find it. JERRY TERRI It's impossible. MR HARNOLD One can't go through a mirror. LINA Yes, one can. Lenie-Genie has taught me this kind of thing. Lenie, give me your hand - we'll show them now. LENIE-GENIE Do you remember the rules, Lina? LINA Yes, believe in yourself and see no obstacle. LENIE-GENIE Then let's go! LENIE-GENIE AND LINA JUMP INTO THE MIRROR AND DISAPPEAR BEHIND IT MRS GLOW (amazed) They've gone through the mirror! MR HARNOLD Unbelievable! JERRY TERRI They really vanished! TINA (startled) Are we going to see them again? MR GLOW Don't worry, they will be back soon. Look! LENIE-GENIE AND LINA APPEAR BACK IN THE ROOM TINA They are back! They are really back! MRS GLOW Fabulous! TINA Lina, I was afraid you vanished for good. So nice to see you again, let me kiss you. And what is it in your hand? Is this the magic can? LINA Yes, it is. We found it in Wonderland. MR HARNOLD Give it to me, girl! JERRY TERRI No! Only to me! LINIE-GENIE LINA, you'd better give it to me or they will snatch it from you. LINA Take it, Lenie. LENIE-GENIE Anyway, they won't be able to use the magic power that's inside this can. MR HARNOLD Why? JERRY TERRI Why? LENIE-GENIE First Mr Glow will tell his wife what kind of magic power is in this can. MR GLOW Alice, do you remember our first meeting in the cafe? MRS GLOW Yes, I do. MR GLOW Do you rmember how we dreamed about the girl named LINA? MRS GLOW Yes, later we called our first-born daughter that name. MR GLOW And do remember how we imagined Lenie-Genie and put him in a can of cola? MRS GLOW Of course I do. MR GLOW There were two cans. We decided to put magic power inside the second one. Lenie was supposed to find it in case LINA was in trouble. MRS GLOW I know. MR GLOW And now we've been all in trouble - LINA, TINA, you and me. I mean all the things that happened in our family lately. MRS GLOW David, I feel so sorry about all those stupid quarrels. It was like.., I feel I was bewitched. MR GLOW Yes,you really were. And so was I. But then, many years ago, in the cafe I didn't tell you what kind of power I wanted to be in the can. I felt I was falling in love with you and thought that there's only one magic power in the world. It's love. There is love there, inside the can. I love you, Alice. MRS GLOW I love you, too, David. LINA Lenie, shall we open the can? LENIE-GENIE First, I think, Mr Harnold and Jerry must leave us. MR HARNOLD Okay, I'll go now but before I say this - you're both fired, Mr an Mrs Glow. MR GLOW No problem, Mr Harnold. We'll start up our own studio and begin producing cartoons about Lenie-Genie and LINA. TINA And about me! MRS GLOW Of course, darling, and about you, dear Tina. TINA Great! Let Mom and Dad kiss each other! LINA Yeah, and you, Lenie, do open the magic can. LENIE-GENIE Now... LENIE-GENIE OPENS THE CAN. LINA AND TINA SHOUT JOYFULLY. MR AND MRS GLOW KISS EACH OTHER. THE FINAL SONG OF LOVE You may visit my website http://linapolak.com/
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