Children of Exile
Jose Moreno for The Man in the Hat
The Man in the Hat
The Man in the Hat is a mysterious man in his early 40s or late 60s, though nobody can ever quite settle on which one.
He always appears where he's needed, but not necessarily wanted. Elizabet, Hope, and Khadir all meet him at different times in their own way. Somehow Elizbaet and Khadir meet him on the SAME day at the SAME time.
What does he know? A friend, or is he a foe?
- male senior
- general american
- british
- generic scottish
- male adult
- irish
(ELIZABET: Oh. Hi. I didn’t hear you come in.) THE MAN IN THE HAT: I know. [A beat] (ELIZABET: What can I get you?) [He looks at the bread display like he already decided, just confirming something in his head.] THE MAN IN THE HAT: The loaf of bread over there. That one. (he points) (ELIZABET: This loaf? [She lifts it slightly.] ) THE MAN IN THE HAT: Thats the one. ELIZABET Okay… that’ll be three koina. [He reaches into his coat. Slow, precise. He places exact change on the counter before she finishes speaking.] (ELIZABET: You’re not from around here, are you?) THE MAN IN THE HAT: I’ve been here. [he places a coin...or is a it a rock, on the counter] (ELIZABET: What’s this?) THE MAN IN THE HAT: For later.
(ARJUN is being possessed and forced to fight his friends) (ARJUN: I CAN'T..STOP!) THE MAN IN THE HAT: You can. (ARJUN: I'm already resisting as best I can.) THE MAN IN THE HAT: The best YOU can. All you have to do is ask for help. (ARJUN: *crying* No...I'm- I can't rely on other people) THE MAN IN THE HAT: Arjun...You already have been...this whole time~
THE MAN IN THE HAT (wicked) : (cold and sinister) I see you've failed me... Shadow. *growly threatening whisper* One. Final. Chance. I will grant you my power. [he gives a ring to the Shadow Man] But you won't like what happens next. (he grins evilly, and quietly laughs)