Grandad Look at all this, Kay. The Harker inheritance!

Kay Is it worth millions?

Grandad A value beyond mere money to those who know.

Kay Whatever.

Grandad Something to show you. Cheer you up. As you’re stuck here for Christmas with boring old Grandad –

Kay – I never said that. You don’t need to worry about me –

Grandad – I’m not! Want to see it for myself, too – one last time.

Kay waves some dust out of the air.

Not been up here for years.

Kay I can see why.

Grandad Too many memories!

He sits down with a thump on an old trunk, wheezing.

Kay Or maybe just the stairs.

Grandad Or maybe just the stairs!

Beat.

Come on, sit. Let me catch my breath.

Kay sits next to him. Awkward pause.

Grandad Someone’s very quiet today.

Kay I’m fine.

Grandad Come on. I’m not daft.

Kay It’s nothing! (Trying to change the subject.) What did you want to show me, anyway?

Grandad Kay. If this is about Mum and Dad –

Kay – No!

Grandad – You can talk to me. I won’t tell, honest.

Kay It’s nothing … I mean, it’s just … I don’t know … you’re gonna think I’m … but, what about … Christmas?

Grandad What about it? You’ve seen the tree, I’ve ordered the turkey, there are mince pies galore … you and me, your mum – when she gets here – we’ll have a cracking time. Can’t wait!

Kay I don’t mean that! I mean … will it be the same?

Grandad It’ll be different. You and Mum are coming to me this year, you to your dad next year. They’ll make it special, trust me.

Kay But what if they don’t?

Grandad You have to give them some time. Kay, this Christmas isn’t the first time the wolves have been running.

Kay I haven’t seen any wolves. Not in Coventry, anyway.

Grandad Do you ever dream, Kay?

Kay Everyone says I daydream too much. Teachers. Dad.

Grandad Runs in the family. I used to dream, too. So many dreams. The sign of a strong imagination.

Kay And what good is that?

Grandad Never say that! Never. It’s all the good in the world.

Kay Doesn’t change anything, though, does it?

Grandad You could not be more wrong.

I’ll show you.

Kay helps him up. They explore one of the crates under a sheet. Kay finds a 1930s stuffed dog toy and a vintage toy racing car. A train set!

Ah. This will shed some light on it for you.

The lights in the train flicker on.

Kay Grandad! Look! It’s working!

The train coils up into the air like an articulated serpent, growing, becoming bigger, louder, brighter –

What’s happening?

Grandad Like you, Kay, I have always dreamed. But no dream was as strange –

A loud rattle of wheels as the train spins around to fly straight at us –

As the one I had that Christmas!

Steam clouds explode around Kay with dazzling lights as Seekings and Grandad vanish in the roar of a train engine –

Conductor Tickets, please! Tickets for Condicote and Tatchester from Musborough Junction!

A Dog appears, like the stuffed dog from before. He paws at Kay, trying to wake him up.

Kay (stirring) Hello, boy! Where did you come from?

Conductor Tickets, please, young man.

Kay (to Dog) Good thing you woke me …

Dog agrees enthusiastically.

(Feeling his pockets.) I can’t find it.

Conductor Ticket, please, sir.

Kay I had it when we left Musborough …

Dog paws at Kay, whining.

It’s no good, dog. Unless you know where my ticket is?

Dog scrapes at the floor, barking. Kay looks and picks up his ticket.

Kay You found it! Clever dog!

Conductor About time, lad.

Conductor punches his ticket and moves on, not impressed. The train goes into a tunnel …

And there is Cole Hawlings with his showman’s trunk. He seems … familiar.

Cole I see my Barney dog has made a new friend. For this is the time that likings are made.

Kay He found my ticket! That was close.

Cole No doubt it slipped out while you rumpaged.

Kay I must have fallen asleep. He saved Christmas all right. I don’t know how to thank you.

Cole Perhaps one day I shall ask you to do the same.

Kay Do what?

Cole Save Christmas. Young Master Harker, save Christmas when the wolves are running!

Darkness as the train enters another tunnel. Is that a train whistle or a wolf howl?

When they emerge, Cole and Barney have vanished.

Instead: Charles, in a clerical dog collar, and his mate Joe, in a priest’s hat.

Charles Going home for the Christmas holidays, ha-ha, what?

Kay Yes, from school, but –

Joe Just the weather for it, too. Snow! I like snow. Do you like snow, Kay Harker?

Kay Wait. How do you know my name?

Joe Are you travelling far, my young knight?

Charles This is wild country.

Joe In such deep snow.

Charles Some say pagan country.

Kay Just to … Condicote.

Joe And then to Seekings House –

Charles By any chance, ha-ha, what?

Kay Yes, but how did you –

Joe – Charles here and I are visiting the Missionary College.

Charles At Hope-under-Chesters.

Kay looks blank.

Joe You know! The old monastery, by the lake.

Charles (crossing himself) Such a grave and holy place.

Joe Alas, we will never be as pious and good as the great Abner Brown –

Charles – Our most reverend master, ha-ha what!

Joe Here – seeing it’s the holidays, how about a little card trick? Doesn’t he have the face for card tricks, Charles?

Charles The very face, Joe, just the angle …

Kay I don’t know …

Charles Well, you soon will! Now, my young friend (Taps his nose.) ‘Follow the Lady.’

He shuffles a pack of cards.

Watch the whirling cards … they shift, they lift, they dive … and now?

He deals three face down.

Which one is she?

Kay (pointing) That one.