MirrorMask Page #2

Hey, bambino.

This is really good.

- What's it called?

- It's just a drawing. It's not called anything.

Okay.

Mum says you should have taken the circus

on to Scotland.

She's not the only one.

What do you think?

I don't know, Dad.

You know, everyone at the hospital

knew Mum's operation was tonight...

and nobody told me.

- They didn't want to worry you.

- Should I be worried?

No, she's going to be okay.

Really, you said before she will be...

having the operation,

and then she'll be up and about again.

- It depends on what they find tonight.

- What do you mean, what they find?

See? Now you are worried. That's why...

I wasn't worried

until you told me not to worry.

Anyway, you're worried.

You only do that when you're worried.

I wanted to go and see her tomorrow.

Can I still do that?

We'll see.

I still haven't said sorry.

Not really sorry, not so she believes me.

I shouldn't have shouted at her.

It's all my fault.

Hey, now don't say that.

It's not your fault, don't be silly.

It's not anybody's fault.

These things happen.

It's just life.

It's just stupid.

It's freezing.

Come on. Let's go back down.

Come on, you're going to catch your death.

You need to wear Dad's coat.

What about that? It's a treat.

You look like a real artist. Come on.

- Penny for your thoughts, love.

- Nothing to think.

- Good night, Nan.

- Good night, lovey.

- Well, good luck anyways.

- Sweet dreams.

Dad?

I'm only going to take 10%% off.

I'm the manager.

Okay. Fair enough.

Eric?

Quiet, please!

We must have perfect silence

while we rehearse.

Eric, is that you?

Can we also not distract our accompanist,

if we don't mind?

Some of us are rehearsing here.

- Eric, what are you doing here?

- Catch the last ball, and we stop.

And we turn and we bow...

and we say, "Can we have

a brave volunteer," blah, blah, blah...

- Hey, you. You can be the brave volunteer.

- What?

- What's your name?

- Helena.

What's wrong with your face?

- My face?

- Whatever.

- And it's music maestro, please.

- I know lots of songs.

But they all sound a bit the same.

Okay, come on, we just need some

creepy, dangerous kind of music. Go.

I know you or someone like you.

Come on, maestro, this is our big finish.

No, don't touch him.

Come on quickly. Let me try.

What are you doing? Come on!

What was that thing?

One of the many things to avoid in life.

Like, losing a comrade

and a lifelong companion and a soul mate...

while attempting to rescue little girls.

What the hell have you got on your feet?

- What?

- Is that some sort of sick joke?

Treading on little rabbity-type animals

with every step...

- that's just nasty.

- They're not real.

I'm sorry about your friends.

I thought the violinist was Eric.

He's a friend of mine.

But it wasn't.

I don't really know where I am.

You're in one of the other things

to avoid in life.

- What, a junk room?

- No, trouble.

There!

Don't irritate it!

- What is it?

- Just a sphinx.

- Throw it a book.

- What?

- Throw it a book, it likes books.

- Okay.

Finders Keepers by Joe Grey...

A Short History of Future Fruit

by Douglas Prawnhead.

Anything, it's not going to read it!

Right. Not a disaster. Okay.

Think. Okay,

grab a couple of really big books!

Okay.

- Throw it on the floor.

- But why? I like books.

Please, come on.

No, useless.

It's really got to feel

like it's being rejected.

Horrible, offensive, badly constructed book.

Right.

Nasty poorly paced book...

with a soppy ending

that I didn't believe in for one minute!

- How does this work?

- So long as they think you don't like them...

they migrate back to the city library

and we get a free ride out of this hole.

I think...

Yes, I think we may have found her.

- What did you say your name was?

- Helena.

It's a bit drab, isn't it?

You know, you should think

about changing that.

Go for something

with a bit of dignity and style...

mixed with a bit of romance.

- Something like Valentine.

- Why? What's your name?

Valentine.

We were going to leave

the city today for good...

as soon as we'd rehearsed.

- I'm so sorry.

- Musicians, you know.

I can find another fiddle player.

They're a dime a dozen.

It's Bing.

You can't replace a juggler.

No one around here can juggle.

- I can.

- Of course you can. Yeah.

Where am I going to find someone

who can juggle like that?

- I already said...

- Hopeless. It's a complete disaster.

Poor old Bing.

He was one in a million.

He was me best mate.

I'll never ever forget him.

Well, onward and upward!

- Had you known him long?

- Who?

- You can juggle.

- I said I could.

Well.

You don't have a mask. And you're very dull.

But you're certainly better than nothing,

now that what's-his-name...

- Does everyone here have a mask?

- Of course.

How do you know if you're happy or sad

without a mask?

Or angry? Or ready for dessert?

I've got a face.

So let's get out of town.

Follow the rest of these oddments.

- Where are they all going?

- I have no idea.

- Excuse me.

- Yes?

Sorry, where are you all going?

We're leaving the city. Heading for the

hills. It's not safe here any longer.

Shadows completely ate my house

yesterday.

Isn't anyone going to do anything about it?

Since the queen fell asleep,

there's not a lot they can do.

They're looking for the charm,

to sort it all out...

- but we're off out of it.

- Over the hills and far away, Bernard.

This is bizarre.

So these shadows,

where do they come from?

The Dark Lands. Over the border, over there.

You know, this used to be a nice city...

plenty of opportunities to do a deal here

and a little deal there.

I mean, you wouldn't think it to look at me,

but I'm a very important man.

- I've got a tower.

- There she is, Sergeant.

If you don't mind,

could we have a little word with you?

Careful, Constable.

She's dangerous all right.

- Look at that changeable expression.

- I'm not dangerous.

Dangerous. Not dangerous. Same thing.

- Am I under arrest?

- Not exactly, miss.

- Or should I say, "Princess"?

- This is ridiculous.

We're just making sure

you get safely to the palace.

But I don't want to go to the palace.

- And I'm not a princess.

- Excuse me, officers.

This young lady

happens to be my business partner...

juggling associate

and my close personal friend.

I think there's been some mistake.

Wait!

It's me.

I'm asleep.

This is just a dream. It's not real.

Next.

Right...

- and you reckon that's the charm?

- Yes.

I have to say, to me,

it looks rather like half a brick.

Not really.

- Well, a bit.

- It is half a brick, isn't it?

Good try. Thanks for coming.

Next.

The charm.

- No, that's actually a chicken.

- The charm!

This must be quite painful for you,

but really it is a chicken.

I keep trying to tell him.

He just doesn't listen.

Excuse me, Prime Minister.

We caught the Princess.

Goodness gracious, you caught her,

well, that's splendid.

Look at that face. Gives you the willies!

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