Rahne
By Todd Fan
Disclaimer: "What's wrong with giving up?... and just think of the time you save!"
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ACT 15 - Bittersweet
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We open in Warren's office where he, Storm and Rahne are listening to 'The Mudges'
"Well, we was kids and poor and sick...", begins 'Shirley'.
"And dumb to leave you", adds 'Ralph'.
"But we had no choice", says 'Shirley'.
"You see, a nice man in Canada offered us a job on a farm", smiles 'Shirley'
"Logan?", asks Pietro.
"No", says 'Ralph'.
"No babies allowed", sighs 'Shirley'.
"..You sure it's not Logan?", asks Pietro, "No babies IS a rule he'd make"
"So, we had to leave you for a little while", says 'Shirley'.
"Eleven years is more than a little while", says Warren.
"Mr and Mrs Mudge", says Storm, "yours is a touching story, but..."
"But I suppose you'd like to see some I.D", says 'Ralph', pulling some papers out of his pocket, "Vell, here's our driver's licenses, and, um, Rahne's birth certificate"
Storm hands the papers to Warren
"Appears to be in order", says Warren, "Born: New York, October 28, 1922"
"That's my birthday", says Rahne
"Those are the dates in Rahne's note", sighs Storm
"Yes, but I'm still not sure", says Warren
'Shirley' gives 'Ralph' a glare)
"Finally, ve saved up enough money to come looking for our little girl", smiles 'Ralph'.
"We got into town and we went straight to where we left our little baby. And the very nice", 'Shirley' coughs, "...and very attractive lady at the orphanage said we'd find Rahne here".
"We are talking about the same lady?", blinks Storm
"...Yes", says 'Shirley', her eye twitching.
"I still can't believe ve found our baby", says 'Ralph'.
"Me either", says 'Shirley'
They both start to sob
"Mr and Mrs Mudge", says Storm, "there is one more thing"
"Oh! You know, with all the thievin' that goes on in orphanages, I bet you don't have what we left you with all those years ago", says 'Shirley'.
"You vouldn't happen to have the other half of this, vould you?", asks 'Ralph'.
He holds out half of a locket. Rahne blinks at it before pulling her locket out from under her dress.
"Look, Ralphie!", gasps 'Shirley', "She's wearing it!"
"The locket", says Warren.
'Ralph' lies his half over Rahne's his being a bit smaller, he shows it to Warren for a split second before taking it back
"Perfect fit", he says, "so, if you just get Rahne's things, ve'll be on our vay"
The pair start to leave, taking Rahne with them
"Mr Mudge", says Warren, making them pause, "What about the money?"
"Oh, of course. You'll be vanting something for having taken care of her. Vell, ve ain't got much, but..here", 'Ralph', pulls a dollar bill out of his pocket and puts it on the table in front of Warren.
"Funny, considering they had no money", says Pietro.
"You didn't know that Mr Worthington was offering a fifty thousand dollar reward for the couple who can prove they're Rahne's parents?", asks Storm.
The pair try to look surprised
"He is?", gasps 'Ralph'.
"Well, we sure don't want no money. Just...we want our little girl. Come on", 'Shirley' grimaces, "...pa".
They start to leave, before stopping just before the door
"On the other hand", says 'Ralph', "with fifty thousand dollars, ve could afford to bring Rahne up right. In what form might this money be?"
"Certified check", says Warren, "You can pick it up tomorrow, with Rahne"
They both blink
"Tomorrow?", they ask in their normal voices.
"I'd like Rahne to spend Christmas morning with us", says Warren, "If that suits you?"
"Oh, yes, please", says Rahne.
Rahne stretches out her hand, taking Warrens while 'Shirley' keeps a good hold of the other, so the poor girl is stretched, 'Ralph' comes and yanks 'Shirley's' hand off Rahne
"Ve've lived vithout her for eleven years", says 'Ralph', "I guess one more night vouldn't hurt. Come on, Shirley"
"Wait!", cries 'Shirley', "I just want one more look at my sweet angel! She's a dream, a dream!"
'Ralph' forcibly pushes 'Shirley' out of the door. When they have gone, Rahne looks sadly at Warren
"Come on, let's join the rest of the guests", sighs Warren, "Tell them your wonderful news"
They go to the main hall, where they stand on the top of the stairs. Warren prepares to make a speech, holding a champagne fluke
"Everyone, Rahne had finally found her parents", he says, "Here's to Rahne Mudge"
"To Rahne Mudge", they all say.
Everyone holds up their glasses, Rahne sniffs, before running up to her room. Storm heads off after her, finding Rahne crying by her window
"Awwww poor kid", she says.
Silly to cry
Nothing to fear
Betcha where they live's as nice as right here
Betcha your life is gonna be swell
Lookin' at them
It's easy to tell
Storm sits next to her
"Arggghhh it's a weather pun!", screams Storm.
"Tee hee", giggles Pietro, "Sing it!"
"Damn!", snaps Storm.
The sun'll come out tomorrow
Bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow
There'll be sun
Just thinkin' about tomorrow
Clears away the cobwebs and the sorrow
'Till there's none
Rahne looks at her, before going back to crying
When you're stuck with a day
That's grey and lonely
You just stick out your chin and grin
And saaaaaaay
The sun'll come out tomorrow
So you gotta hang on 'till tomorrow
Come what maaaay
She pulls Rahne into a hug, wiping away her tears
Tomorrow, tomorrow
I love ya tomorrow
You're only a day
Away
We close on Storm giving her a hug
"This is nice", smiles Storm, "I like the motherly thing"
"….I'm hiding now", says Forge.
"Just one more?", asks Storm, "please?" (1)
"No!"
"..Yeah, anyway", blinks Pietro.
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(1) – Shameless Plug for the Sidney Chronicles. Forge and Storm are married and have a kid.
Onwards, to the last chapter!