Stephen Flaherty
Gliding
[LITTLE GIRL is crying.]

[TATEH, spoken]
Don't cry. Don't be afraid. I'm here. We're together. Look! Look, look what I made for you. 

(sung)
See the silhouettes
It's a little book of silhouettes
When you flip the pages, they move
Look how nice
This is you on skates
Turning pretty figure-eights
On the smooth, cool ice

We are gliding
Gliding on a pond
Close your eyes
Close your eyes
We are gliding
Gliding far beyond
Close your eyes
Close your eyes
Feel the wind as you pirouette
Are you happy yet?
Are you happy yet?
Your Mameh would tell you:
"Imagine you're fearless
Imagine you're fearless
And soon, you won't fear"
When I am afraid
I imagine your Mameh
She skates just ahead
Can you see her?
She's here

And we're gliding
Gliding far away
Pirouettes, figure-eights, silver skates
Just down the track
Glide with me, little one
Glide with your Tateh
We'll never look back

[CONDUCTOR, spoken]
My kid would like that. How much?

[TATEH, spoken]
It's not for s—
One dollar. 

[CONDUCTOR, spoken]
It's a deal. What do you call it?
[TATEH, spoken]
I, I...

[CONDUCTOR, spoken]
Oh, it's gotta have a name. I'm not paying this much for something without a name. 

[TATEH, spoken]
They move. I call them— movie— books!

Oh, your father is a smart man! With this money, we will get a clean bed and a hot bath, and tomorrow we will make more of these and we will sell them for two dollars. Tateh's Movie Books! Everyone will want them. They just don't know that yet! Ha ha ha ha ha ha!

(sung)
We are gliding
Gliding far away
Pirouettes, figure-eights, silver skates
Just down the track
Glide with me, little one
Glide with your Tateh
We'll never look back