THE POSSUM TREE
A short play
By
Bruce Shearer
Melbourne
May 2013
5th Draft
Contact: Bruce Shearer
3 Young Street
Ivanhoe 3079
Australia
(613) 9499 1239
0409998112
email;
Bruce Shearer 2008
St.10
Cast
BlossomBlossom is a baby possum of 9 months.
BlissemBlissem is Blossom’s father.
LissomLissom is Blossom’s mother.
BalfourBalfour is a 4 year old boy.
MarthaMartha is Balfour’s mother.
ArthurArthur is Balfour’s father.
Synopsis
The Possum Tree is about two very close families. Lissom, Blissem and Blossom the possum family, and Martha, Arthur and Balfour the human family. It is a play about the love the members of the families feel for each other and the affection that develops between the possums and the humans when they share the same backyard.
1The Possum Tree
THE POSSUM TREE
(MOTHER LISSOM, FATHER BLISSEM AND BABY BLOSSOM, A FAMILY OF POSSUMS SIT ON A BRANCH, JUST OUTSID A DEEP AND COSY POSSUM HOLE, INSIDE AN IRON BARK TREE.)
Blissem:Our Possum Tree is one of the oldest and best homes a possum could haveBlossom.
(BLOSSOM NODS VIGOROUSLY, AS SHE SCAMPERS AROUND ON THE BRANCH. BLOSSOM IS FULL OF LIFE AND ENERGY, BUT ALL AT ONCE SHE STOPS AND LOOKS VERY SLEEPY.)
Lissom:Time for bed Blossom, you sleepy little possum.
Blissem:Sleep well Bloss.
(LIGHTS GO DOWN ON LISSOM, BLISSEM AND BLOSSOMAND COME UP ON A HUMAN FAMILY, MOTHER MARTHA, FATHER ARTHUR AND BABY BALFOUR IN THEIR GARDEN. ARTHUR TAKES BALFOUR FOR A PIGGY BACK RIDE AROUND THE BACKYARD. HE STOPS UNDER THE CREAKY OLD IRON BARK AND LOOKS UP INTO THE CLEFT OF THE POSSUM TREE WHERE LISSOM, BLISSEM AND BLOSSOM LIVE.)
Arthur:That's where the possum family lives Balfour.
Balfour:What do possums look like Arthur?
Arthur:Well they're cute furry little fellows.
They're quite shy and they generally only come out when it’sstarting to get dark.
Balfour:They come out when we go inside?
Arthur:Yes, they're nocturnal, which means they come out at night and sleep in the day.
Balfour:Oh, I’d love to see one.
Arthur:I'm sure you will.
2The Possum Tree
(LISSOM, BLISSEM AND BLOSSOM WAKE UP IN THE LATE AFTERNOON, AND EMERGE FROM THEIR POSSUM HOLE, STRETCHING AND SCRATCHING THEMSELVES SLEEPILY AS THE SUN BEGINS TO GO DOWN. BLOSSOM POINTS OVER TO THE HOUSE FROM WHICH BRIGHT LIGHTS HAVE BEGUN TO SHINE.)
Blossom:What's in there?
Lissom:Humans.
There's a human family in there.
Blossom:Their house is enormous, they must be very big!
Blissem:Yes they're a lot bigger than us.
Lissom:They've been good neighbours, and we don't mind if they take some of our fruit.
Blissem:(YAWNING)They do take rather a lot, but then again they are quite big.
(LISSOM, BLISSEM AND BLOSSOM ARE GETTING READY TO SCAMPER DOWN ONTO THE GROUND AND OVER TO THE APRICOT TREE, WHERE THE FRUIT IS ALMOST PERFECTLY RIPE. THEN OUT OF THE DOOR OF THE BIG HOUSE COMES MARTHA, ARTHUR AND BALFOUR WITH A BASKET.)
Lissom:Look, Blossom, there is the human family.
(BLOSSOM LOOKS DOWN AT MARTHA, ARTHUR AND BALFOUR, VERY INTERESTED INDEED. MARTHA LOOKES UP AND SEES LISSOM, BLISSEM AND BLOSSOM AND NUDGES BALFOUR.)
Martha:Look Balfour, there is the possum family.
3The Possum Tree
(BALFOUR RUNS OVER TO THE FOOT OF THE TREE AND LOOKS UP AT LISSOM, BLISSEM AND BLOSSOM.)
Balfour:Aren't they lovely!
(BALFOUR WAVES AT LISSOM, BLISSEM AND BLOSSOM.)
Arthur:(QUIETLY)Go and get some Apricots, Balfour.
(BALFOUR RUNS OVER TO THE APRICOT TREE AND GETS SOME APRICOTS AND THEN ARTHUR VERY CAREFULLY LIFTS HIM UP ONTO HIS SHOULDERS, SO BALFOUR IS JUST UNDER THE POSSUM FAMILY. BALFOUR STRETCHES OUT HIS HAND WHICH HOLDS A RIPE JUICY APRICOT. LISSOM, BLISSEMAND BLOSSOM HAVE SAT AND WATCHED BALFOUR GO AND COLLECT THE APRICOTS AND THEN WATCHED ARTHUR PUT BALFOUR UP ON HIS SHOULDERS
BLOSSOM WHISPERS TO LISSOM AND BLISSEM IN A WORRIED TONE.)
Blossom:What are they doing Lissom?
Lissom:I'm not sure.
Blissem:Perhaps they are offering us some food.
I hope so because my tummy is rumbling.
(AS THE JUICY APRICOT COMES CLOSER AND CLOSER, LISSOM, BLISSEM AND BLOSSOM CAN HARDLY HELP LEANING TOWARDS IT HUNGRILY, BUT THEY STAY JUST OUT OF REACH. MARTHA SPEAKS SOFTLY TO BALFOUR.)
Martha:They might be too shy to take it from your hand Balfour.
Why not just leave it on the branch.
4The Possum Tree
(BALFOUR CAREFULLY PLACES THE APRICOT ON THE BRANCH AND THEN ARTHUR SLOWLY MOVES BALFOUR BACK.)
Lissom:How kind, they've brought us one of our apricots.
Blissem:Very kind indeed!
(LISSOM, BLISSEM AND BLOSSOM SIT AND WATCH THE APRICOT FOR A WHILE AND MARTHA, ARTHUR AND BALFOUR WATCH THEM WATCHING IT.)
Blissem:Why don't you accept it on behalf of the family, Blossom?
(BLOSSOM LOOKS AT BLISSEM AND THEN AT LISSOM, WHO NODS REASSURINGLY, SO BLOSSOM SKIPS ALONG THE BRANCH, GENTLY PICKS UP THE APRICOT AND SCOOTS BACK TO LISSOM AND BLISSEM.)
Balfour:(SOFT WHISPER)Look Arthur, look Martha, the baby took it back to the others.
(MARTHA, ARTHUR AND BALFOUR WATCH IN FASCINATION WHILE LISSOM, BLISSEM AND BLOSSOM MUNCH CONTENTEDLY ON THEIR SHARED APRICOT. BALFOUR IS SO PLEASED, HE EATS ONE TOO AND MARTHA AND ARTHUR DO THE SAME. WHEN EVERYONE HAS EATEN THEIR APRICOTS, MARTHA, ARTHUR AND BALFOUR GO INSIDE, WITH BALFOUR WAVING GOODBYE.LISSOM, BLISSEM AND BLOSSOMWATCH THEM GO, AND THEN BLISSEM SPEAKS AS HE WIPES APRICOT JUICE OUT OF HIS WHISKERS. )
Blissem:Very kind indeed.
5The Possum Tree
(LIGHTS GO DOWN AND MUSIC DENOTES THE PASSAGE OF TIME. LIGHTS COME UP ON BALFOUR BRINGING OUT A PLATE OF VARIOUS FRUIT PIECES FOR THE POSSUM FAMILYWHO ARE SITTING UP ON THEIR BRANCH WAITING PATIENTLY. BALFOUR IS DRAGGING MARTHA AND ARTHUR BEHIND HIM IN HIS HASTE TO SEE THE POSSUM FAMILY.)
Lissom:They really are very generous neighbours.
(BLISSEM NODS VIGOROUSLY AS HE MUNCHES AWAY, AND BLOSSOM SCAMPERS OVER THE TOP OF LISSOM AND BLISSEMSTEALING SOME OF THE BEST BITS OF FRUIT AS THEY PUT THEM INTO THEIR MOUTHS. THE SOUND OF THE WIND WHIPPING UP IS HEARD AND THE LIMBS OF THE IRONBARK CREAK AND GROAN AS THE POSSUMS ENJOY THEIR FRUIT. LIGHTS GO DOWN AND MUSIC DENOTES THE PASSAGE OF TIME, THEN THE LIGHTS COME UP ON BLOSSOM SKIPPING AROUND BALFOUR ON THE GROUND, WHILE LISSOM, BLISSEM AND MARTHA, ARTHUR AND BALFOUR WATCHED DELIGHTEDLY. THEN BLOSSOM RACES BACK UP THE TRUNK OF THE TREE AND CUDDLES UP TO LISSOM AND BLISSEM WHILE BALFOUR WAVES BLOSSOM FAREWELL. LIGHTS GO DOWN AGAIN AND MUSIC DENOTES THE FURTHER PASSAGE OF TIME. LIGHTS COME UP ON A WILD WINTER STORM. THE ICY RAIN AND HAIL IS SO STRONG THAT MARTHA, ARTHUR AND BALFOUR ARE NOT ABLE TO COME OUT AND FEED LISSOM, BLISSEM AND BLOSSOM. BALFOUR STANDS ON A CHAIR AND LOOKS OUT OF THE LAUNDRY WINDOW AT THE POSSUM TREE AS THE WIND TOSSES ITS ANCIENT LIMBS AROUND. THE OLD TREE CREAKS
6The Possum Tree
AND GROANS AND MOANS AS IF IT IS IN PAIN. THEN THERE IS A LOUD CRACKING SOUND AND THE HEAVIEST BRANCH, THE ONE THE POSSUM FAMILY SIT ON AND LIVE AT THE END OF, THUDS TO THE GROUND. AS THE BRANCH AS HITS THE GROUND, IN THE DARKNESS LISSOM, BLISSEM AND BLOSSOM JUMP CLEAR AND THEN THE SCAMPER OFF AND CROUCH SHIVERING AGAINST THE SIDE FENCE UNDER A THICK WATTLE BUSH. MARTHA AND ARTHUR AND BALFOUR RUN OUT INTO THE YARD IN THE PELTING RAIN AND INSPECT THE BRANCH AND THE OLD TREE.)
Balfour:(SCREAMING)Where are they, where are they?
(LIGHTS GO DOWN ON BALFOUR AND COME UP ON LISSOM, BLISSEM AND BLOSSOM CROUCHED IN THE WATTLE BUSH.
Blossom:Will we have to go and find another possum tree.
Blissem:I'm afraid so, there aren't any other possum holes in our old tree.
(BLOSSOM SNUGGLES IN CLOSER TO LISSOM'S WARM BACKAS THE RAIN KEEPS BUCKETING DOWN.LIGHTS GO DOWN AND WHEN THEY COME UP THE RAIN HAS STOPPED, BUT FOR THE HUMAN FAMILY THERE IS NO SIGN OF LISSOM, BLISSEM AND BLOSSOM. BENEATH THE POSSUM TREE, ARTHUR AND BALFOUR READ A BOOK ON POSSUMS VERY CAREFULLY. THEN MARTHA AND BALFOUR MAKE A POSSUM BOX JUST LIKE THE ONE IN THE POSSUM BOOK. MARTHA AND ARTHUR TIE THE POSSUM BOX IN
7The Possum Tree
PLACE AT THE TOP OF THE LOWER TRUNK OF THE OLD TREE. IT IS A SNUG SQUARE LITTLE HOUSE, WITH ONE OF ARTHUR'S OLD BLUE WOOLLY JUMPERS INSIDE IT, FOR A READY MADE POSSUM NEST. THE LIGHTS DENOTE SUNSET AND LISSOM, BLISSEM AND BLOSSOM SLOWLY EMERGE FROM UNDER THE WATTLE BUSH AND MOVE TOWARD THE SCARRED OLD POSSUM TREE. BLOSSOM IS RUNNING AHEAD WHEN SHE STOPS.)
Blossom: What's that on the tree?
(LISSOM AND BLISSEM CATCH UP TO HER AND LOOK CAREFULLY AT THE POSSUM BOX.)
Lissom:I don't know.
Blissem:It’s very strange.
(THE CURIOUS BLOSSOM LEAPS UP THE TRUNK OF THE IRON BARK AND SITS ON TOP OF THE BOX. THEN BLOSSOM LEANS OVER THE TOP AND LOOKS INTO THE LITTLE POSSUM ENTRANCE, AND THEN JUMPS INSIDE. LISSOM AND BLISSEM ARE CONCERNED FOR A MOMENT, BUT THEN BLOSSOM'S LITTLE NOSE POKES OUT THE ENTRANCE.)
Blossom:Come inside it's very cosy in here.
(LISSOM AND BLISSEM JUMP UP INTO THE POSSUM BOX WITH BLOSSOM AND THEN THREE LITTLE NOSES ARE POKING OUT OF THE HOLE.)
Lissom:It’s almost as if it was made for us.
Blissem:You're quite right Lissom.
8The Possum Tree
(LIGHTS GO DOWN AND COME UP ON BALFOURWALKING WITH A PLATE OF CUT FRUIT, WITH MARTHA AND ARTHUR TRAILING BEHIND HIM. BALFOUR DOESN'T EXPECT TO SEE ANY POSSUMS AND IS ABSOLUTELY ECSTATIC WHEN HE LOOKS UP AND SEES LISSOM, BLISSEM AND BLOSSOM SITTING IN A ROW ON TOP OF THE POSSUM BOX.)
Arthur:It’s a time for celebration.
Martha:Fruit for everyone.
Balfour:My possums are back!
(ARTHUR LIFTS BALFOUR WHO PASSES THE PLATE OF FRUIT OVER TO THE FEEDING TABLE AT THE FRONT OF THE POSSUM HOUSE.)
Blissem:Well isn’t this marvellous.
Lissom:It’s just lovely.
Blossom:My humans are back!
(BLOSSOM AND BALFOUR ARE SCAMPERING AROUND WITH JOY AT BEING REUNITED.)
Blossom:This is so wonderful!
Balfour: