I’m Here (Story 4)

[MATILDA]
At night, the escapologist's daughter cried herself to sleep, alone in her room. She never said a single word about the evil aunt's bullying, as she didn't want to cause a fuss, and so she suffered in silence. This only encouraged the woman to greater cruelties, until one day, she exploded!

[MATILDA and ACROBAT'S SISTER]
"You are a useless! Filthy! Nasty little creep!"

[MATILDA]
And she beat her, threw her into a dank, dark, dusty cellar, locked the door, and went out

But that day, the escapologist happened to come home early. And when he heard the sound of his daughter's tears . . . he smashed the door open!

[ESCAPOLOGIST]
Don't cry
I am here, little girl
Please don't cry
Dry your eyes
Wipe away your tears, little girl

Forgive me
I didn't mean to desert you
Don't cry, little girl
Nothing can hurt you
You've nothing to fear
I'm here

[MATILDA and ESCAPOLOGIST]
"Have I been so wrapped up in my grief for my wife that I have forgotten the one thing that matters to us most? I love you so much, my daughter. I shall spend the rest of my life making it up to you. We shall be together, forever."

[MATILDA]
Don't cry, daddy
I'm all right, daddy
Please don't cry
Here, let me wipe away your tears

[ESCAPOLOGIST]
Forgive me

[MATILDA]
Daddy, forgive me

[ESCAPOLOGIST]
I didn't mean to desert you

[MATILDA]
I didn't want to upset you
Please, daddy, don't cry

[ESCAPOLOGIST]
Don't cry, little girl

[MATILDA]
I'll be all right

[ESCAPOLOGIST]
Nothing can hurt you

[MATILDA]
With you by my side
I have –

[MATILDA and ESCAPOLOGIST]
– nothing to fear

MATILDA [simultaneously]: You're here
ESCAPOLOGIST [simultaneously]: I'm here

[MATILDA]
But when the little girl fell asleep, the escapologist's thoughts turned to the acrobat's sister, and an almighty rage grew inside his great heart

[MATILDA and ESCAPOLOGIST]
"This demon! This villain! This monster! She has sullied the memory of my wife. She has betrayed the trust of her own sister. She has shown cruelty to the most precious reality of my marriage. Bullying children is her game, is it? Well, let us see what this creature thinks she can do when the wrath of a grown man stands before her!"

[MATILDA]
But that was the last the little girl ever saw of her father. Because he never came home ever again