Adult Jackie: Some things never leave you. Some days I’ll be wandering around the house looking for something and then I’ll clean forget what it was I was searching for! No matter how hard I try, I can’t remember. I’ll walk around, re-trace my steps, pick up objects to prompt me, but its gone. It could be minutes later, sometimes days before I remember what I was doing. Sometimes its just plain gone.

There are nights, I stand outside and I just gaze up at the stars, I try to remember what it was like to be a kid. How I dreamt of the endless possibilities open to me. They symbolised the future. They offered me hope. They gave me dreams. If I didn’t feel so stupid, I think I would have talked to them. I’d have shared my deepest secrets with them.

But now, I guess its too late anyway. these stars - this sky, it just reminds me of what could have been. Every little light in the heaven represents someone’s dreams. Mine, yours, everybody’s.

I was doing a little light housework today, just listening to the radio you know, when I heard it. That song. It just appeared, the DJ didn’t even warn me. It sent a shiver down my spine, to hear that tune, those words.... it took me right back.

Marty: ....thirty nine, forty, forty one, forty two....

Marty: Who's there? I know you're there come out, I seen you! I SAID GET OUT!!

Jackie: Who do you think you're shouting at? You got no right, I can go where I want. This old path's a right of way. I ain't doing anything wrong!

Marty: Then why are you sneaking about back there? You ain't up to any good!

Jackie: A person's allowed to search for her missing pet ain’t she?

Marty: What pet?

Jackie: It's uh... uh a cat! My cat Rocket, he ran down this way I was chasing him, he ran into that stuff over there.

Marty: If you're chasing him, he ain't missing is he?

Jackie: He's missing now - your shouting must have scared him off!

Marty: You ain't chasing a cat, you were watching me. You were weren't you? I ain't angry, I was just surprised that's all. Why were you watching me?

Jackie: I... I wasn't watching you. I saw you were being pretty strange, but I wasn't watching you. What were you doing?

Marty: I was measuring.

Jackie: Measuring what?

Marty: Nothing in particular. I just like to come down here, its quiet, and I just measure things with my feet.

Jackie: How could you be measuring you went backwards and forwards so many times over the same ground.

Marty: I thought you wasn't watching. Anyway, if I say I was measuring, I was measuring. What's your name?

Jackie: It's Jackie.

Marty: I'm Marty, we've both got boy's names, ain't that weird?

Jackie: Marty, is that short for Martha or something?

Marty: It ain't short for anything, my mum wanted a boy and was determined to name me after my dad.

Jackie: What did your dad have to say about it?

Marty: Nothing. He doesn't even know mom got pregnant, he was only visiting this town. He was in international haulage and transport. He drove a gleaming white juggernaut and swept my mom off her feet. He was so rich and bought her anything she wanted. He loved my mom but he had to go away again, that's the international haulage and transport business you see.

Jackie: Didn't he get in touch again? I mean, if he loved your mom?

Marty: I think he died somewhere in Europe. My mom didn't like to talk about it. What you really doing here?

Jackie: I didn't want to go to school today. I needed to break out of there before it strangled me. Those teachers drive me crazy! I don't look for trouble but you can guarantee it'll find me before four o'clock and usually with a teacher just around the corner to blame me. Benson told me I was for the high jump today.

Marty: Who's Benson?

Jackie: She's about a hundred, teaches maths. Looks like she's sucking lemons all day and she hates my guts. Says I'm "maliciously rude".

Marty: What did you do?

Jackie: I forgot to call her MISS Benson. Says I lack respect!

She told me to stand in the corner and I told her to get lost.

I mean, I'm fifteen years old. Is that how you treat "young adults"? She smacked me on the back of my head, so I hit her back. Right on the nose! Knocked her flat on her butt! She told me I was for the high jump so I got out of there fast. I ain't never going back!

Marty: What NEVER?

Jackie: Not if I don't want to! Anyway why ain't you in school today?

Marty: I packed it in a year and a half ago. I ain't going back. They've got nothing left to teach me. I can read, I can write and I can count. I like measuring things. But I don't like learning other stuff like French or science. And they made me do gym, told me I had to have showers with everyone else. I ain't going back there!

Jackie: What school were you at?

Marty: Valley.

Jackie: Hey that's where I go!

Marty: Went. You said you ain't going back remember? Hey, your hand's got blood on it. Didn't you know, I mean doesn't it hurt?

Jackie: Oh yeah, well like, you know, everybody hurts! A little blood don't bother me.

Marty: Here let me do it.

Hey, don't fight! Animals use spit if they hurt themselves. It won't hurt you, you're so tough! Wait a minute... there's no cut! It ain't your blood!

Jackie: Yeah... okay, so its Benson's. I told you I got out fast.

Marty: Oh yeah... "everybody hurts"!

Jackie: Why do you carry that stupid rag doll about with you? Are you a little kid or something?

Marty: Shuttup! That's Mary and you shouldn't talk about her. You can't say anything about her! And I'm NOT a little kid!

Jackie: Little baby with a little doll!

Marty: Shuttup! SHUTTUP! SHUTTUP!!!

Jackie: Hey, stop it! Stop crying! Cut it out, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you!

Marty: Fooled you didn't I? I can act really well. I'm going to be an actress, a famous actress like my mother!

Jackie: Your mother is a famous actress?

Marty: She was. She died. My sister Mary brought me up.

Jackie: I thought Mary was your doll?

Marty: She was, I mean is. She is too. I named her after my sister. Mary gave me these clothes too. Mary's pretty cool.

Jackie: Mary the doll or Mary the sister?

Marty: Sister, stupid! She used to wear this stuff til she met Bob - her boyfriend.

Jackie: Doesn't she want them any more? I can't think why!

Marty: I told you to stop making fun of me. She went to live with Bob, they had a baby. They don't live round here any more. They've moved up North, they live with his mother.

Jackie: Well, didn't they want to take you too?

Marty: She wanted to but Bob's mother said there just wasn't the room. She couldn't take us all in. So I had to stay.

Jackie: On your own? You had to live on your own?

Marty: Oh no! I went into care but I wasn't staying there I ran away five times, no matter where they wanted to keep me. I can look after myself, I'm not a little kid.

Jackie: So where do you live? How do you live?

Marty: You know the big house up on the hill?

Jackie: You mean the old Exchange? That's been empty for years.

Marty: No, it isn't empty just condemned.

Jackie: I've heard the local junkies use it as a hangout. You live up there?

Marty: Sure. I'm safe enough, its a big house plenty of rooms.

Jackie: But they tell stories about what goes on up there. Some people say its haunted!

Marty: I never saw a ghost. Its my house. Its like a palace, with great big ballrooms and dining halls. I hold parties and receptions there.

Jackie: Don't be stupid, its falling to pieces, its dangerous. You make it sound really grand. It ain’t grand its the pits. Anyway there ain’t no electricity or gas. How could you afford to live there?

Marty: I told you I have parties. There's these guys always come up there and they bring stuff. It don't cost me nothing. They look out for me, keep me out of the sight of the authorities. They don't like me going out but I wanted to today because its Mary's birthday. Isn't it Mary?

Jackie: But the authorities will look out for you too!

Marty: No the boys said, the boys said that the authorities wouldn't let me keep Mary. They told me they'd take her away if they found us.

Jackie: That's not true, they're lying to you.

Marty: No! They're looking out for me! They give me stuff, they love me! They don't ask me for any money or anything.... they just want me. Nobody else wants me! All I have to do is dance. They love me!!!

Jackie: Dance?

Marty: We dance in the ballroom, in the hallway, in the dining room, in the bedroom....

Then they stay with me for the night. Then they lock me up safe so the social workers can't see me.

Jackie: Oh my God! You mean...

Marty: (She turns away from Jackie and concentrates on the doll) Mary needs to have her hair washed. She's been a bad girl and she's got to get clean.

Jackie: Marty, are you okay?

Marty: We don't like teachers do we Mary? Its okay to say we don't want school. We're just a big family and Daddy will be home soon. That's international haulage and transport, he'll be home soon. Mommy and Daddy love Mary don't they? Stop crying. STOP CRYING!!! STOP IT! (She slaps Mary) You are a wicked girl Mary! Go upstairs to your room! Don't come down until I tell you! BAD GIRL! (Change of mood) Don't worry Daddy will be home soon, Mommy loves Mary.

Jackie: Marty...

Marty: Turn on the radio, let's hear our favourite song again.

Jackie: I'm going to get someone to come.. I think I need to tell someone.... What's going on Marty?

Jackie: I'm going... I'd better go... I'll get someone to come...

Adult Jackie: That’s when I first met Marty, she’d been living rough for quite a while. I found Sheriff Wheat and told him. He made me get into the car and show him where I seen Marty. We looked for her but she’d gone.

I didn’t tell him where she’d been staying. I figured I’d go there myself to try and find her. Talk to her. See if I could persuade her to come back to town with me.

When I got home I got such a hiding from my Pa, the school rang him and told him what I did. Didn’t seem to matter that Sheriff Wheat was real pleased with what I’d done after I ran out of school! But I took the beating and I went up to my room. I didn’t wanna cry but I buried my head in my pillow and figured that I should plan how I was going to find Marty. I figured if I could rescue someone, that my daddy would have to admit he was proud of me. Heck, the mayor might even give me a medal or something.

So I packed a rucksack with stuff. I had a flashlight, some rope, a pen knife, some food, a bottle of soda, a waterproof and a spare sweater. I also packed a book. I figured I might need something to do if I got there and I had to wait for her. When I heard my Pa switch out the light I figured it was as good a time as any to make a move. So I carefully opened my bedroom window and dropped my bag onto the lawn below. Then, I sat on the ledge, swung my legs over the side and hung by my fingertips til I felt it was okay to drop. The ground took longer to arrive than I figured and it knocked the wind out of me when I landed. I sat dazed on the grass, looking at two deep imprints where my feet had landed and wondered how I’d explain them to my Pa the next day.

I got up and then I ran clean across town. I felt the thrill of running at night, the gentle but chill wind on my red cheeks, the sound of a distant freight train, the smell of the crops in the damp moonlight.

And then it appeared on the hill - the Exchange. It was silhouetted against the night sky. An imposing giant, silent, unmoving. I froze. Was it fear or anticipation? All I knew was I was really here, and I was on a mission. To rescue Marty.

To rescue her from what? She didn’t tell me what. I’d just assumed that it must be bad, that those guys were making her do stuff that she didn’t want to do. So, I walked up the path, trying to remain hidden from sight. I could see a flickering light coming from one of the windows, it was the light of a fire, and I could hear voices coming from inside.

Benny: Hey there little lady! Do your dance for me one time!

Charlie: Hush up Benny boy, you know Marty’s saving herself for me. So don’t give me any crap about her dancing for you. Marty, you want some beer? Well come on over here. I got a hot dog too! You want some?

Adult Jackie: I tried to see where the voices were coming from, but at least they’d told me Marty was there. I stepped up close and tried to peer in through the dirty glass. Sure enough Marty was there.(Exit adult Jackie)

Marty: Mister, are you going to let me have Mary back?

Charlie: Mary? You mean your little dolly? Well, I don’t know little lady, I just might keep her for myself.

Marty: You can’t! She’s mine. I won’t let you.

Benny: Hey, Charlie why don’t we throw the rag on the fire? It’d go up pretty damn quick.

Marty: No!

Josie: Leave the little kid alone! She ain’t doing any harm here is she?

Benny: But she could’ve landed us in trouble with the cops when she ran off this afternoon. She needs to be punished. She’s a scrawny little rat who don’t deserve the kindness we show her.

Charlie: Benny’s right Jose, she escaped today and no-one knows what could’ve happened to us if the cops had picked her up.

Marty: But I came back didn’t I? I just wanted to go for a walk with Mary, its her birthday.

Josie: Kid, you are one weird little chick!

Marty: I didn’t see anyone, how could I tell them anything? I was just minding my own business. I didn’t go far. But I tried to get some fresh air. Mary needed fresh air in her lungs.

TC: Benny, we gotta do something about her she ain’t right!

Benny: What are we gonna do? You wanna take a shovel and crack her head open? We agreed that she could identify us to the cops and that we’d all go down for several years if she tells them about what we been doing up here all this time.

Josie: She only knows about the drugs and she’s so crazy no-one’d believe her anyway.

Benny: She knows plenty. And you think she’d forget all that stuff we made her do up here?

Charlie: Hey, she wanted to do that stuff.

TC: She was doped up to the eyeballs, and anyway she’s just a kid. No judge would say she consented, she’s too young.

Charlie: So what are we gonna do?

TC: Give her that rag doll back for starters. Here, Marty, you want Mary? I think she’s crying.

Marty: Mary? You okay? Did they hurt you Mary?

Charlie: Give her some of those blues, they’re strong man, they’d finish her off over night. Nobody’d know it was us, they got nothing to link her to us. She’s a goddam orphan. Why’d you think she’s still here now? Nobody cares. Ain’t no-one looking for her cause she ain’t got no-one, except that crazy doll, and I can’t see that talking.

Benny: I don’t know I really don’t like this, I mean she’s just a kid.

Josie: Charlie’s right Benny boy, we gotta do something or else she’s going to be hanging round our necks like a mill stone forever. And you did that stuff too, ain’t one of us would get away from this clean.

TC: C’mon Benny, you know we’re right. The little runt won’t be missed by anyone, hell, the authorities will figure we did them a favour. One less street rat.

Benny: I know what you’re saying an it makes a kind of sense.. its just that I can’t do it.

TC: Charlie?

Charlie: You know I would but...

TC: God, I just can’t believe you guys pretend to be men! Its a different story when you’re flying ain’t it? Give me the damn blues, I’ll sort her out. You "men" can step aside if you don’t wanna watch.

TC: C’mon Marty, you like these pills, remember? You took them last time, remember? Just tilt your head back and I’ll pop them in...

Josie: I’ll hold her you throw them in...

Jackie: No!!! (She throws something at TC and charges in grabbing Josie. She holds her pen knife to her throat) You let her go! NOW!!! Marty, its me, Jackie. You okay?

Charlie: Kid, you better be able to run real fast because when I get hold of you I’m gonna rip your head off. Who the Hell are you?

Jackie: The cops are coming, I told Sheriff Wheat about what goes on up here. He’s on his way right now.

Benny: And you expect us to buy that? So what did he say? "You hold them off til the cavalry arrives"? You’re a lousy liar kid, now drop the knife.

Jackie: Why? So you can fill me full of drugs too? I don’t think so! Marty, c’mon let’s get out of here.

Marty: Can Mary come? I can’t leave her, its her birthday.

Jackie: Just get out of here Marty, run I’ll follow you.

Charlie: you’re dead kid did you hear me? I’m going to fill you full of chemicals and watch you explode!!!! Damn!

Marty: I can’t go on any further. Mary’s too tired. You go on Jack.

Jackie: You can’t stop running now Marty. Those guys will catch us, they’ll kill us!

Marty: I’m too tired, I can’t run any more. Maybe if we just lie here in the dark they won’t see us.

Jackie: Well, it is pretty dark. Can you lie real still? I mean you can’t pant or take deep breaths or nothing.

Marty: I can’t run any more so I guess I gotta try. Do you think they’ll see me in this top?

Jackie: I got a sweater you can put that on. Its darker than your top. Quick put it on.

Marty: Is it inside out?

Jackie: It doesn’t matter, just pull it on. That’s better, now lie still and try to get your breath back.

Marty: Jack?

Jackie: Hmm?

Marty: Do you think that they’ll kill Mary?

Jackie: I won’t let them hurt Mary.

Marty: Thanks Jack.

Jackie: Shh, I can hear something. I think they’re coming.

Benny: Who the Hell is that kid?

TC: She said her name was Jack.

Charlie: I think it was that Hamilton kid, the orthodontist’s daughter.

TC: Well, she sure can run fast. She live in town?

Charlie: I think they live just off main.

TC: That’s where we go then. We should cut them off if we go this way.

Benny: What if she ain’t going home?

Charlie: We’ve got to find them and sort them. they can’t be allowed to squeal to the cops.

Benny: Its gonna be a long night. Split up and see where they’ve gone. Here comes Josie. Hey, Jose you get that gun from the truck like I told you?

Josie: I ain’t sure about this Benny boy.

Benny: You know I don’t like it either, but I ain’t about to let two little kids ruin my life. Its us or them. Its gotta be done. Pass it here.

Charlie: Okay. Benny, you go into town, they might go to find Sheriff Wheat. If you see him first tell them that these kids tried to hold us up. Play the law-abiding citizen, just doing their civic duty.

TC, you head back to the Exchange and clean it out. There can’t be any sign we were ever there. Otherwise the cops might just believe those kids. Josie, go find Hamilton’s house and keep watch.

Josie: You want me to complain to the old man about his delinquent kid?

Charlie: That’s smart Josie, but only do it if she shows up. Don’t go waking up the neighbourhood, it ain’t too realistic. I’m going to keep going down this path see if they stopped anywhere. Okay, let’s go.

Jackie: Did you hear what they said? They’re going to get us one way or another.

Marty: Everyone in town will think that we did something wrong! The cops are going to be looking for us and they’ll send us to a children’s home.

Jackie: We can’t stay here, we’ve got to skip town.

Marty: We could hop a train out of town.

Jackie: Right, like its that easy! The station is in town where Benny’s going with the gun!

Marty: You don’t need to get on at the station. Me and Mary we hop trains all the time don’t we Mary?

Jackie: So how do we do it?

Marty: We cross that field and look for the rail tracks. If you look for the raised track, that’s the main one heading into town. You go three tracks over and look north, that’s the freight track. If you put your ear to the track you can hear when a train’s coming. Then you pick your moment, grab hold and swing on. C’mon, I’ll show you. What’s the matter, you wanna go home?

Jackie: If I go home now my old man will kill me just for being out at night. If they see him first, he’s bound to believe them not me. I got nothing to lose. Let’s go.

Charlie: Okay you lousy little street rats where are you? I know you’re around here some place.

I’m going to find you and when I find you, its all over. what are you waiting for tough guy? Why don’t you come at me with your knife? Or do you only play tough on girls? Shoot, they ain’t here. Who am I trying to kid?

Wheat: I appreciate what you’re saying Doctor Hamilton, but maybe Jackie just need to get out for a while. You know she really was out helping me this afternoon to look for that little girl that ran away a couple of weeks ago. Ain’t nobody seen her but Jackie in the last three weeks....

I realise she should’ve been in school Doctor Hamilton, she told me the whole story, and I’m sure that whole thing can be straightened out later. But if you whupped her behind, she’s probably just run out to cool off a little you shouldn’t worry she’ll come back in the morning, teenage girls can’t survive without their worldy possessions. Don’t you worry, I’ll tell the squad car to keep an eye out for her. Thank you sir.... I will. Bye bye now.

Geez, I feel like running away from that man myself!

Benny: Sheriff Wheat, I got to report something.

Wheat: Benny, what’s dragged you in here. It sure as heck wasn’t me this time.

Benny: I got to report a robbery. I was robbed.

Wheat: YOU were robbed? What did they steal, your stash?

Benny: You know I’m trying to go straight Sheriff, I ain’t got no stash. But they thought I did. They pulled a knife on me and then they stole my wallet.

Wheat: Let’s have a description then.

Benny: It was that Hamilton kid she was crazy. And the other girl, she was just wild.

Wheat: Girl? what girl?

Benny: I think she was that runaway, was on the news. She’s wild. She looked to be high on something and was trying to get her to stick me!

Wheat: Okay, Benny, you’d better come with me, where did this happen? We’ll get into this straight away.

Benny: You believe me then?

Wheat: Believe you or not I want to find those kids. I’ve got some questions to ask them myself.

Marty: Would you’ve done it?

Jackie: Done what?

Marty: Used that knife, you know if things got too much?

Jackie: I don’t know. I guess, why?

Marty: You ever stab anyone before?

Jackie: Sure, I stabbed Ned Simons at school one time.

Marty: You get into trouble?

Jackie: Nah, I guess I just slipped really. I didn’t mean to do it. He saw me playing with the knife and made a grab for it and I ripped his trousers, that’s all.

Marty: You like to pretend you’re something you ain’t huh?

Jackie: Oh and you don’t? You said your mother was a famous actress.

Marty: She could’ve been. I didn’t really know my mom.

Jackie: What about your sister?

Marty: I don’t have a sister either.

Jackie: Did you tell me anything true?

Marty: I told you we ran away from care. That’s true.

Jackie: "We"?

Marty: Me and Mary.

Jackie: So you think she’s real huh?

Marty: Stop it.

Jackie: I can’t tell, you lie too well.

Marty: I ain’t lying about Mary. It’d be like lying to the moon. You just can’t do it. Mary’s been with me as long as I can remember. You’re being a good girl now ain’t you Mary? This is Jackie, say hello to her. You look like you need a wash Mary. There’s a well around here some place. I could do with a drink too.

Jackie: I got some soda. You want some?

Marty: Thanks. You got any food?

Jackie: well, I got a cold hot dog. I think the bread’s a little crispy now. You want it?

Marty: I’ll share it with you. you gotta eat too.

Jackie: Nah, I ain’t hungry. You have it, it’d be a crime to waste it.

Marty: You sure?

Jackie: Sure.

Marty: What do you do Jack? I mean besides beating up on teachers or rescuing girls.

Jackie: I love to read. My dad says I live my whole life like I’m acting out a story in a book.

Marty: I read a book once.

Jackie: Yeah?

Marty: Don’t sound so surprised, I can read. It was The Yearling.

Jackie: I haven’t read that.

Marty: What’s your favourite book?

Jackie: I guess I like a whole lot of books. But my favourite is To Kill A Mockingbird. Its really cool. You read it?

Marty: Nah, is it a mystery?

Jackie: Its about standing up for what you believe in. Like Attacus Finch, he’s the daddy in it. He’s a lawyer that defends a black man in a trial and everyone tries to stop him.

Marty: Sounds dumb. Maybe I’ll read it someday though. If you think its worth it.

Jackie: You got ANY family really?

Marty: I got a grandma in the next county, but they won’t let me stay with her. They say she’s too old to cope with a young kid. She is my Mom’s mom. But she’s real old and a little crazy.

Jackie: Surely you’d be better off there than running away all the time?

Marty: The authorities didn’t think so. They said she can’t look after herself even. I tried to run away to stay with her twice but the cops found me and sent me back. hey maybe we could go there. The cops won’t try to find us there. They’ll think we’re still in town.

Jackie: C’mon then we’d better hurry. Get there before they think of it.

Marty: No point rushing, ain’t another freight train for an hour. We can hop on and ride into town then.

Jackie: You really know what you’re doing don’t you?

Marty: I had to look after myself. You learn.

Jackie: What do you do for money? For food?

Marty: I spare change in town and high tail it outta there when the cops show. Some people are really cool, they give you money. Then there’s the others, wouldn’t give you the time of day, but they’ll give you a lecture.

Jackie: Can you get enough change to eat?

Marty: Not always. Then you gotta go dumpster diving.

Jackie: Sorry?

Marty: You search through dumpsters to get food from bars and restaurants when they throw it out.

Jackie: But that food could have been there a week!

Marty: Nah, you develop regs, you know regular dumpsters, keep an eye for fresh stuff. I used to ring a pizza place and order some real unusual combo and tell them I was going to pick it up. When no-one shows, they wait until they have to throw it away, and guess who’s waiting at the dumpster?

Jackie: You!

Marty: Bingo! It worked a treat at the Chinese too until they caught some street kids going through the regs. Then they started to spray the waste with detergents to stop us eating it. It made me real sick, I won’t do that again in a hurry.

Jackie: Its another world.

Marty: Get used to it, its your world now.

Jackie: Marty, what are we going to do? I mean we can’t keep running can we?

Marty: See Mary, I told you he was just like all the others. He can’t take the pace. He loves his mommy and daddy too much. He wants a real bed, not a cardboard box and a newspaper.

Jackie: I... Do you really believe in Mary?

Marty: Mary’s the only one who’s always been there for me. She’s been in care, she’s been in foster homes. She’s been on the streets. She’s never let me down.

Jackie: But you talk to her. I mean she’s just a doll!

Marty: She’s real to me! It the drugs that screw me up sometimes. I don’t always know what Benny gave me.

Jackie: Benny? The guy with the gun?

Marty: He looked out for me, but he messed with my head. He gave me stuff and it plays havoc with your senses and you forget what’s real. But Mary knows don’t you Mary?

Jackie: Boy this sky is big here, you know with no buildings around it. And blue. The sky is blue.

Marty: It misses the stars.

Jackie: What?

Marty: The sky is blue cause it misses the stars.

Jackie: Wow! That’s deep.

Marty: I heard it in a song one time. What do you think the stars are?

Jackie: Well, they’re planets and suns aren’t they?

Marty: No, I mean what do you think they are. Not what it says in a book.

Jackie: Some tribes believe they are the spirits of their departed relatives watching them.

Marty: Some believe that they are holes in a giant cloth that the gods throw over the sky at night. But what do you want them to be?

Jackie: Dreams.

Marty: Dreams?

Jackie: Sure. I like to think of them as dreams hanging up there waiting to come down when we sleep. Sometimes they’re right on course and they come true, other times they’re near misses that we only see when sleep.

Marty: And you think I’m weird?

Jackie: What about you? What do you think they are?

Marty: Hope. The hope that there’s more out there than the crummy hand life has dealt me.

Jackie: Can I have the soda?

Marty: Sure.

Jackie: They’re a constant. They’re always there. My Pa used to show me the constellations when I was a kid. The only ones I could ever pick out were the Great Bear and the Little Bear... oh and Orion’s belt!

Marty: You should show me, show me tonight. We can give each other a star.

Jackie: Sorry?

Marty: Orion’s belt. That’s three stars right?

Jackie: Sure.

Marty: Are they a straight line?

Jackie: I guess.

Marty: Well, I’ll take the middle one and you and Mary can have the other two. I’m the link in the middle see?

Jackie: Well, am I the left or the right?

Marty: Mary? What do you think? She says you’re on the left, she wants to hold my right hand.

Jackie: Okay!

Marty: You got a book in that bag?

Jackie: How did you know?

Marty: I saw it when you gave me your sweater. Read something to me. I don’t care what, it’ll pass the time waiting for the freight train.

Jackie: Okay, but I gotta warn you its poetry. I’m reading it for my English class at school.

Marty: I thought you were never going back.

Jackie: And I thought your momma was a famous actress.

Marty: Fair deal. good call, just read. You like poetry?

Jackie: Some, I like some of Walt Whitman’s stuff. I like Robert Frost too. This is one of his...

Marty: Boy, that’s cool!

Jackie: You think?

Marty: Sure. I mean, don’t you see what he means? Its like us, we could have taken the obvious road back into town, but we would have been caught. We took the road less travelled to the rail track and now its made all the difference.

Jackie: I guess, but I don’t think that’s what Robert Frost was thinking of when he wrote it. I mean, how could he know that two kids would run away fifty years later with his poem in a bag?

Marty: No, that’s what it means to me now, like when you hear a song, you think back to a special time when you heard it and you remember.

Jackie: Remember?

Marty: Sure, you remember where you were, or who you were with, what you were doing. It wasn’t what the guy who wrote it was thinking of, but its what it means to you.

Jackie: You’re pretty sharp Marty. I guess you’re right, I will remember this talk when I hear that poem again.

Marty: Maybe I could teach those teachers a thing or two huh?

Jackie: We’d better go down to the tracks to see if the freight train’s on its way. Let’s take the road less travelled to see your grandma.

Wheat: I know you’ve been through this a dozen times Benny, and you’re going to go through it again. Where were you when these two kids allegedly robbed you?

Benny: Ain’t nothing alleged about it. They held me up at knife point and they ripped me off.

Wheat: Benny, you’re a bigger, older guy, why didn’t you do something to stop them? Try to take the knife maybe?

Benny: They’re crazy, wild. You could see in their eyes they were flying. They had eyes like Bambi they was flying so high.

Wheat: Both of them? You only mentioned Marty being high last night?

Benny: I guess I was still freaked out, I mean they got my wallet, my credit card everything. And I never leave home without it if you know what I mean?

Wheat: Benny, you only have a credit card to help you do lines. You can cut it better.

Benny: Sheriff Wheat, I’m insulted. Do you treat all your complainants this way? I came in here of my own accord last night to report a theft. You think I enjoy coming in here? Too many memories man...

Wheat: That’s what I can’t figure, but something smells really bad here. How come a lowlife like you can’t sort out a couple of kids himself?

Benny: I got a rep. I’d rather people don’t know that two girls high on smack ripped me off, it’d open the floodgates. I’d also appreciate it if you’d keep my name outta the limelight too.

Wheat: If it wasn’t for the fact that Jackie Hamilton was a decent kid with a few problems, I’d be letting you sort this one yourself Benny. You junkies can blow each other up no problem. Nobody’d miss you. But I got Doc Hamilton breathing down my neck and he’s an influential figure in this town. he says someone else complained to him about these two kids trying to rip them off last night, but they didn’t want to involve the police. as that tends to corroborate your story, I’ve got to follow it up. But I don’t have to believe you about what happened. Now get out of here, I’ve got real work to do. And I might want you to go over your statement again. Don’t skip town. I’ve got my eye on you.

Wheat: Janet, I’ve got to go out of town on a little business. Keep me informed of what happens with this Hamilton case, and tell Doc Hamilton I’m following up a lead or something. I’ll see you when I get back.

(He exits)

Gran: Yes?

Marty: Its me grandma!

Gran: Yes...

Marty: Its Marty, you remember grandma?

Gran: Marty...?

Marty: That’s it. Marty and this is Jackie, my friend.

Gran: Hmm, Jackie?

Jackie: Pleased to meet you.

Gran: You come to fix up my porch?

Marty: No, she’s with me grandma, she’s my friend.

Gran: The screen door keeps banging in the night...

Jackie: It must be annoying.

Gran: Hmm, you gonna fix it?

Jackie: I don’t mind having a look at it for you. (To Marty) I don’t, really. I might be able to fix it.

Marty: Don’t be long and keep an eye out. Grandma can we have some dinner?

Gran: Hello dolly! What’s your name then?

Marty: Mary, her name’s Mary.

Gran: I used to have a daughter called Mary.

Marty: I know grandma, it was my mom.

Gran: She had a daughter, be about the same age as you, had a boy’s name I think?

Marty: Marty. It was Marty. I’m Marty.

Gran: No, she never comes around. She doesn’t live around here. She lives out of state someplace.

Jackie: I had a look at your screen door, I think its cause the catch was loose. I’ve tightened it for you. I don’t think it will bang now.

Gran: Is Lisa here yet?

Jackie: Who’s Lisa?

Marty: Grandma’s home help, she comes over twice a day to help out and to cook for her. I told you she can’t really look after herself.

Gran: How much?

Jackie: Sorry?

Gran: How much do you want for fixing that door?

Jackie: Oh no, I don’t want anything for that. It was no trouble.

Gran: Your business will go to the wall if you don’t charge your customers!

Marty: She’s with me grandma. She doesn’t fix porches for a living.

Gran: Well let me give you some food to say thank you young lady.

Jackie: That’s very kind of you.

Gran: Would you like a sandwich? How about your young lady friend?

Jackie: That’s Marty. You’re granddaughter.

Gran: I won’t be two minutes, just take the weight off your feet, you’ve been working all day after all.

Marty: She isn’t always as bad as this.

Jackie: She seems real nice.

Marty: She’s always been the sweetest person, but she has trouble remembering things. Two years ago they found her unconscious on the floor, her gas oven was on but she forgot to light it. They wanted to put her in a home, but she wouldn’t be shifted. So they send Lisa over instead. She cooks and cleans, does the washing you know. Grandma couldn’t cope without her.

Jackie: So she really couldn’t be responsible for you huh?

Marty: But they won’t even let me be responsible for her. I could do it, if they let me. They just want to stick me and her in institutions.

Jackie: I’m sorry.

Marty: What for? It ain’t like its your fault. Hey look...

Marty: This is me with my mom, before she died. She was pretty huh?

Jackie: Yeah, she was really pretty Marty.

Gran: That’s my daughter with my granddaughter. She’d be about your age now. I miss them so much. Mary died, her little girl went into care they said I couldn’t look after her on my own. I talk to her every night though. I take this photo upstairs to bed with me and I talk to Marty, that’s her name, I tell her how much I miss her and how much I love her.

Jackie: I’m sure she knows how much you miss her ma’am.

Gran: I’d do anything to have her with me, but they say I just can’t cope. I made that little rag dolly for her when she was born. I took it to the hospital and placed it in the crib. She hugged it and I don’t think she ever let it go after that. Even cried when Mary took it off her to wash it.

Jackie: Hey, why don’t you go clean yourself up?

Marty: I’m sorry.

Jackie: What you sorry about, go clean your face before we eat.

Marty: Okay. I won’t be long. I’ve just got to go upstairs.

Gran: Tell me about your family young man.

Jackie: Well, my Pa is an orthodontist...

Gran: Don’t he mind a young woman working on porches for a living?

Jack: I don’t actually....

Marty: Jackie, there’s a car coming. It looks like Sheriff Wheat!

Jackie: You sure?

Marty: Course I ain’t sure but I can’t wait and see can I? We can’t make a run for it, they’d see us leave. Gran we gota hide upstairs, that okay?

Gran: You go upstairs darling, but keep it tidy please.

Wheat: Afternoon Catherine.

Gran: Afternoon Officer.

Wheat: Do you remember me? Sheriff Wheat. I came out looking for your grand daughter, Marty a few weeks ago.

Gran: Oh yes...?

Wheat: Have you seen her Catherine?

Gran: No I haven’t seen her for ages, months I think. She never visits, never calls.

Wheat: Catherine you’ve got sandwiches out on the table. Who are they for?

Gran: Oh, they’re for the young women who came to fix my porch.

Wheat: To fix your porch?

Gran: Yes, take a look, she had to fix the catch it was loose.

Wheat: Well, I can see its been tightened up recently. Why the sandwiches?

Gran: They wouldn’t accept payment from me so I offered them some food before they left.

Wheat: Okay. Well, listen, here’s my number if Marty gets in touch with you, call me. By the way, she could be travelling with a girl named Jacqueline Hamilton. Let me know if they get in touch. Take care Catherine.

Gran: you can come down now, he’s gone.

Gran: Who does he think he is calling me by my first name? He should show more respect.

Marty: What did he want?

Gran: He wanted to know if my granddaughter got in touch with me. I told him I haven’t seen her for months.

Jackie: We’d better make a move. They could be watching the house. Thanks for the food and the hospitality ma’am. C’mon, we’d better go.

Marty: Bye for now I’ll come see you again. Honest.

Gran: Bye bye now darling. Don’t forget Mary. And Jackie you look after my Marty now you hear? And keep out of that Sheriff Wheat’s way.

Marty: Grandma!

Gran: Sometimes being senile helps with the odd alibi! You take care now sweetheart and I’ll see you again. Don’t worry if my mind is wandering. Remember - I always love you.

Marty: Oh grandma! I love you too!

Gran: Such a lovely girl, the image of her mother. Now, when’s Lisa going to get here?

Charlie: Okay, we’ve persuaded the cops that those kids are high as kites and dangerous to boot.

Josie: Pretty smart of me to tell Doc Hamilton that his kid was wired huh?

Charlie: Yeah you did a good job Josie, but we’ve still gotta find them before the cops do if possible. Any ideas?

Benny: Wheat reckons they’ve skipped town.

TC: You think?

Charlie: It don’t matter what Wheat thinks, we’ve got to get to them. I ain’t going down on account of them.

Josie: You think we should try looking out of town?

Charlie: I ain’t so sure. The way I figure it is that the Hamilton kid wasn’t ready to skip town. She didn’t know what she was coming into. She’ll be back, even if its cause she misses her

momma’s home baking. We know Marty. She’s a tough little kid. But Hamilton, she’s used to the better things in life. She’ll miss the home comforts. They’ll be back, we just gotta keep watching the house and when they do we take ‘em out.

Benny: So we keep watching and waiting huh?

TC: Which part of Charlie’s speech did you fail to understand Benny? He just said so.

Benny: Hey, don’t try take it out on me. You’re talking tough now, but I didn’t see you put up much of a fight against the kid.

TC: She surprised me. She surprised all of us, you know that!

Josie: Fighting amongst ourselves isn’t going to solve our problem is it? Who’s going to keep the first watch on the Hamilton place?

Charlie: I’ll do it. Benny, hand me the heater.

Benny: What for?

Charlie: To knit a sweater for pity’s sake.

Benny: You gonna shoot them?

Charlie: Well, I’d like to hope it won’t come to that. But if it does, I’ll be ready.

TC: Each one of us should pass it on to the next watch. I’ll get it off you later Charlie. What time d’you want me to relieve you?

Charlie: Give it the morning. I’ll sit in the truck and wait. If you come by bike we can swap over.

TC: Okay, how’s the Harley sound?

Josie: What should we do in the meantime?

Benny: Keep our heads down and keep away from Sheriff Wheat. I think he still suspects us of being involved somehow. And I thought he was just a dumb cop!

Jackie: We gotta find some place to rest for the night. I can’t believe that farmer threatened to shoot us. Just for trying to find a warm place to sleep. He could see we weren’t stealing anything. Its just a good thing he didn’t call the cops and made us move on eh?

Marty: Are you feeling a bit tired now? Its been a long old day and all that travelling makes you tired don’t it?

Jackie: I ain’t exactly tired as such.

Marty: Hmm? You say something?

Jack: I was saying I ain’t exactly tired....

Marty: Its funny I was just noticing how weary Mary has gotten. I think we need to find someplace to settle. Its a pity about that barn huh?

Jackie: I can’t follow you Marty.

Marty: What do you mean?

Jackie: I can’t follow you. Sometimes I see a real nice stable person, whose been turned a little tough by the world. Other times I see a crazy person talking to her doll like it was real.

Marty: Hey! Mary has never let me down. You show me one other "real" person that hasn’t. You will.

Jackie: How do you know I will? I might not!

Marty: You will. Everybody does. You won’t stay the course. Ain’t nobody can. And you ain’t smart enough to make it on the streets. You’re too soft. You’d most likely get stuck by a hobo within a few weeks. Just for your sneakers or something, maybe that warm looking jacket. You don’t belong out here.

Jackie: Hey, I’m sorry. I didn’t think. You want my jacket? It’d warm you up some.

Marty: See what I mean? A person don’t offer his coat to someone else on the streets. Its look out for number one when you sleep rough.

Jackie: Maybe I don’t have what it takes to make it out on the streets, but why should I? I ain’t done nothing wrong. Its those psychotic junkies back at the Exchange! I just rescued you they wanted to kill you!

Marty: Maybe you should’ve let them. I ain’t worth giving up your lifestyle for. Your daddy he might have a temper, but you came to rescue me to prove something to him. Didn’t you?

Jackie: I don’t know what you mean....

Marty: Sure you do. You don’t care about me. Nobody does. You thought you could rescue me, probably thought you’d get a medal or something. Prove to daddy you ain’t a worthless bum who’s greatest achievement was to pass gym and flunk the rest of her schooling. He’s right you do try to live your life like its a story in a book.

Jackie: Where do you get off talking to me like that Marty? I put my life on the line back at the old house. Maybe I am a day dreamer, but that poem... about taking the other path? That’s what I did. I took the path less travelled by and it HAS made all the difference.

I didn’t have to come looking for you, most people would’ve thought you were crazy and walked right on by. But when I saw you talking to Mary, something scared me. I went and got Sheriff Wheat to come help you, but you’d gone. And Sheriff Wheat? He was worried too. He ignored what I did in school and came right out to find you to take you somewhere safe. So don’t say nobody cares.

And what about grandma? She talks to you every night. She loves you. She told me to take care of you.

Marty: What you want me to burst into tears of gratitude? you seen me cry at my grandma’s but you won’t see it again. I’m tough. I don’t need anybody. Go home Jack! Go home to a real bed and your momma’s apple pie.

Jackie: My momma’s dead.

Marty: You didn’t say.

Jackie: You think you’re the only one with problems Marty? Yeah, I got no momma and my Pa, he blames me. Okay. I ain’t saying any more.

Marty: Well, you oughta go home anyhow. You won’t survive out in the open. You’re shivering and you’re the one with the coat.

Jackie: I said you could have it.

Marty: What for I ain’t cold? Jack, I’m sorry about your momma.

Jackie: Forget it. Hey is that Orion? It is! That’s Orion and his belt!

Marty: That’s my star! right in the middle. Look Mary, that’s you on the right.

Jackie: And that’s mine on the left. Look I gotta get some sleep.

Wheat: Wake up kid! Move it! This is the police and you’re in trouble now, so you’d better talk.

Jack: What? I... uhh... (she is still waking up)

Wheat: Where is the girl Jackie? I know the two of you were together where is she? Have you done anything to her? Empty your pockets missy and no funny business.

Wheat: So where is she Jackie? Gone off with the drugs? Run away to leave you to go cold turkey?

Jackie: What drugs? What do you mean cold turkey? There’s no drugs. I swear. And I don’t know where she is. Look you can see I ain’t got any weapon, could you put the gun down Sheriff Wheat? I don’t want any trouble, honest.

Wheat: Okay, pack that junk away... What’s this? Homework? Kid, now I know you ain’t out to cause me trouble... Robert Frost... gee we studied that when I was at High School. Let’s start at the beginning, where have you been? Your Pa’s been worried sick about you. he ain’t stopped calling the police station for news. I swear I thought the phone would melt, he’s kept us that busy.

Jack: He probably wants to whip my behind for running away again.

Wheat: Somehow, I don’t think so. He seems to think he drove you out, he’s been out in that fancy car all hours when he ain’t on the phone to us! So, c’mon Jackie, I’ve got to find out where Marty is.

Jackie: Marty? She was here when I fell asleep, but I guess she must have left during the night. And she said I wouldn’t keep up with her?

Wheat: You know we had a couple of complaints about you kids. We been told you were flying high as a kite and ripping off wallets and purses while you were tripping.

Jackie: Its a lie! I don’t do drugs...

Wheat: That’s what I figured, but we’ve got Ben Antopolski down at the station, he swears you ripped off his wallet, all his credit cards - the works. Trouble was he tried to buy some groceries with his credit card and the store keeper refused to sell them, called me over said Benny Boy was trying to effect credit card fraud. I still don’t know the whole story but we’re keeping him in custody at present.

Jackie: Benny? He’s one of the guys been chasing us.

Wheat: Then I really think you ought to come back into town with me. We’ll keep searching for Marty, but at least I can return you safe and sound.

Marty: You hear that Mary? They know Benny done wrong! Maybe Jackie’ll tell them everything. Still we gotta see what happens to those guys. we should go back Mary. We’ll hop the next freight. I gotta know what is going to happen and I ain’t gonna hear it out here.

Wheat: These are serious allegations Jackie. Are you sure about the detail of this?

Jackie: I only know what I know. There was four of them and they were going to kill Marty before she could give evidence against them. They knew what the likely result would be otherwise. And I heard them myself, saying how they were going to make it sound like we were the criminals, that’s why we hopped a train over to see Marty’s grandma.

Wheat: Catherine? The wily old fox. I should’ve known not to trust that sweet little old lady. I was over there his morning.

Jackie: I know, we were there.

Wheat: You fixed her porch!

Jackie: There wasn’t a whole lot wrong with it.

Wheat: I saw that. Shoot, I could’ve solved a lot of problems if I’d brought the two of you back with me there and then.

Jackie: At least we’d have known where Marty was right now.

Wheat: Well, my deputy’s rounding up the others to join Benny, but we really need Marty to testify to the serious assault charges you mentioned.

Jackie: What about the threats against me?

Wheat: Oh, those will stick. Don’t you worry - but I guess Marty will need a lot of help and specialist counselling to help her deal with the traumas those dirtballs have inflicted upon her. And their kind ain’t too popular in prison.

Jackie: I’m real worried about Marty, Sheriff Wheat.

Marty: You really worried or just living for a good story Jackie?

Jackie: Marty!

Wheat: Marty, thank God you’re okay!

Marty: Jack? You there?

Jackie: I’m here Marty.

Marty: Jack? Is Mary okay?

Jackie: Sure Mary’s fine.

Marty: It hurts Jack.

Jackie: I know - try not to move.

Marty: I can’t feel my legs Jackie.

Jackie: Well, you still got two of ‘em.

Marty: I ain’t too good Jack. Jackie, I think I’m gonna die.

Jackie: You ain’t gonna die Marty. You’re gonna get better. You’re gonna come live with my Pa and me. You and me and Mary. Orion’s belt! what would a belt be without a buckle Marty?

Marty: You’re lying Jackie.

Jackie: I ain’t I swear.

Marty: You’re lying to the moon Jackie, look after Mary.

Wheat: What a waste. What a goddam waste! And scum like Antopolski will be free to walk the streets in a few years when he’s paid his debt to society. What a goddam waste!

Jackie: That’s the thing. I was a kid, I was helpless to stop it. Charlie died in the exchange of gunfire with Sheriff Wheat, Josie and TC went down for several years and Benny? He got what was coming to him. A group of convicts strung him up in prison. They don’t like scum that harm little girls.

But life moves on. I grew up. I got married I’ve got a little girl of my own now - Rebecca. She’s three, and she’s devoted to a rag doll called Mary.

But then one day I heard that song on the radio and it all came flooding back. Some things never leave you. Try looking at Orion’s belt, or take the road less travelled. And remember Marty.