Chalk Writing

MISS TRUNCHBULL
I can tell you that each and every one of you has failed!
(MATILDA peeks out from under her desk and extends her hands to the chalkboard. A piece of chalk starts moving upon the board.)
You see, maggots, in this world, there are two types of human being. The winners and the losers. And I –

NIGEL
The chalk! Look, the chalk!

MISS TRUNCHBULL
What?

CHILD
It's moving.

ERIC
It's moving! It's. .. It's writing something.

MISS TRUNCHBULL
What the devil? Who? Who?

CHILD
No one. No one's doing anything.

(MISS TRUNCHBULL switches off the lasers. The chalk starts writing as the CHILDREN read the words from the board.)

CHILD
Ag - a - tha. Agatha.

CHILD
This - is - Magnus.

(MISS HONEY reaches up as though to touch the letters, then looks at MATILDA.)

MISS TRUNCHBULL
He can't. He can't!

CHILD
Give - my - Jen - ny - back - her - house.

CHILD
Then - LEAVE!

MISS TRUNCHBULL
No. No, no, no, no, no.

CHILD and MISS TRUNCHBULL
Or - I - will - get - you –

CHILD and MISS TRUNCHBULL
– like - YOU - GOT - ME!

CHILDREN and MISS HONEY
Run! Run! RUN! [etc.]

(MISS TRUNCHBULL makes as though to erase the letters, but is bullied off the steps on the stage and disappears. The CHILDREN scream in triumph. BRUCE, who has until this point been silent, stands on his desk and takes out a microphone.)