Roland's Revenge Roland's Revenge (2018) | Page 6

Narrator.
The children have drawn back from the swing. They stare at it as it’ s swinging slowly stops.
Paul.
Come out and show yourself. Who are you?
Roland.
I was once a boy, just like you.
Simon.
What do you mean, was?
Roland.
A hundred years ago there was no playground here. This used to be the garden of Morton House. And I used to play here.
Paul.
A hundred years ago! Are you pretending to be a ghost?
Roland.
I am not pretending.
Paul.
I don’ t believe it.
Adrian.
You can’ t be a ghost. Ghosts make people scream and runaway.
Roland.
Not always. There are some gentle ghosts.
Paul.
Go on. Admit it. This is some kind of trick, isn’ t it?
Roland.
You hear no living voice. It is as I say.
Simon.
Well then, why have you never been here before?
Roland.
I have. Often after midnight. There are few people around then. No one notices a moving
swing after midnight.
Paul.
Then what are you doing here now. It is only just after nine o’ clock.
Roland.
Tonight is the first and last time I will be allowed to be here so early.
Edward.
The last time?
Roland.
Ghosts fade. When I was first a ghost I could be seen. That passed. Then I became only a voice. At dawn tomorrow even that will disappear.
Adrian.
You’ re not going to die, are you?
Roland.
Ghosts do not die. I will go somewhere else.
Adrian.
Where?
Roland.
You would not understand even if I told you.
Adrian.
Are you sad?
Roland.
I am sad to be leaving the place I loved so well but I am happy to be moving on.
Paul.
What do you look like?
Roland.
I shall appear once more. Then I shall look like the boy I was.
Simon.
All right, appear to us now.
Edward.
Oh No!!!!
Roland.
Not yet. There is one more thing I wish to do before I go forever.
Adrian.
Did you go to school?
Roland.
I did. It was a wretched place.
Edward.
Why?