31 Plays in 31 Days 2025, #28 - “The Continuity of All Things”

[breakinglight11]

This scene of The Wicker Man was tricky to write. I didn’t love the original version because I didn’t think it fit into the logic behind the scheme the locals were running. I had to come up with an adaptation that fit the logic I was using, such that once you go back after the ending, you can figure out what they’re trying to accomplish by the things they say. Tougher than I thought it would be, I think it worked out.

Day #28 - "The Continuity of All Things"
From The Wicker Man
By Phoebe Roberts

EXT. SCHOOLHOUSE – CONTINUOUS

Elise waits for the children to have departed before tearing into Miss Rose, who stands sheepishly before her.

ELISE: Well. Go on, then.

MISS ROSE: Nobody lied to you, Sergeant Woodward. May isn’t part of our class. At least, she isn’t any longer.

ELISE: And what happened to her that she is not?

MISS ROSE: We don’t know.

ELISE: And you didn’t think you ought to tell me that?

MISS ROSE: You must understand, sergeant, here on Summerisle we believe in the continuity of all things. When one form of our existence ends, it is taken back into the earth to begin again in another. We are still waiting to see what form May will take when next she emerges.

ELISE: Like some sort of reincarnation? And that means you had no concern for the disappearance of a twelve-year-old girl?

MISS ROSE: She will come back to us when the earth sets her on the next stage of her journey.

ELISE: That’s madness. Absolutely barking.

MISS ROSE: This is our belief, Sergeant. What our ancestors came to this island to practice freely without fear of judgment or persecution from the authorities. And you had best show respect to our faith while you are a guest in our house.

ELISE: Not if it means the neglect of a child who may be in danger.

MISS ROSE: We will always care for May, in all the forms she takes over the ages.

ELISE: Well, Miss Rose, unfortunately I can’t wait until she reincarnates to make certain she’s all right. I intend to look until I find her— with or without help from the likes of you.

EXT. TOWN CENTER – DAY

Elise strides purposefully away from the schoolhouse, passing by the green common as she goes. The maypole has been raised now and the children clamor around it. Cairn lifts his voice loud enough for all of them to hear.

CAIRN: “In the woods there grew a tree,
and a fine fine tree was he…”

The children grab for the ribbons and take their places, waggling them around excitedly.

CAIRN: “And on that tree, there was a limb,
And on that limb, there was a branch,
And on that branch, there was a nest,
And in that nest, there was an egg,
And in that egg, there was a bird,
And from that bird, a feather came,
And of that feather was a bed…”

They children begin to skip around the pole in an intricate pattern, weaving the ribbons in and out of one another.

CAIRN: “And on that bed, there was a girl,
And on that girl, there was a man,
And from that man, there was a seed,
And from that seed, there was a boy,
And from that boy, there was a man,
And for that man, there was a grave,
And from that grave there grew a tree…”

The children take up the chorus as they skip.

CHILDREN: “In the Summerisle, Summerisle, Summerisle, Summerisle wood…”

ELISE: (to herself) For God’s sake, does nobody work on this bloody island!? Only dance, sing, and shag out in the open!?

She hunches her shoulders and hurries past.

ELISE: Madmen, the lot of them. They can’t possibly believe this hokum. Can they? What were they about to do, wait for another baby to be born and slap May’s name on her? Ah, there, she’s back, suppose she’s all right now!

At this thought, Elise slows a moment. Then she takes off purposefully again, struck with an idea.