Celena’s Reviews > The Bird's Child > Status Update

Ari unlocks the suitcase, filled with letters from his mother, intercepted by his aunt and saved so he might know his father Isaiah died of typhoid, his mother named him Ari - lion, beholden to no one. His surname Silver and the tattoo amulet a word to guide him "I will create as I speak".

Uncle Israel is taken to hospital, he tells Ari that his mother always loved words, calls him "his heart's son", he was too wrapped up in himself to value gifts of others, distrustful of Zipporahs amulets and blind to the love Isaiah & Zipporah had for each other.

Billy and Ari's showdown. Billy subdues Ari, his maleficence cutting Ari's hair. Ari strikes back and Billy is left in the gutter. Billy opens the envelope to discover his mothers name is Esther, of Jewish faith. He is hit by a train on his way to be with her, his light.

Lily manages to escape Billy, all too aware of his purpose. She performs her own act at the theatre to great response.

Billy begins his seduction of Lily, Ari finds a key and a scrap of his uncle's shawl. Billy's mother tattooed him, an amulet of protection.

Billy's history continues - he rtns to Sydney, found Merle, who Crisp had duped as well. Merle has a child, not Billy's and Crisp knew his mother, swindled him out of his fortune, kept him apart from her. Billy claims his box from Merle with Golden Fortune's comb.

Ari left Lily a departing gift - the red book of Houdini she liked and the words "my shekinah" meaning dwelling or settling of divine place of God. Billy swoops in with an invitation to walk in the rain in the grounds of St Stephens and shares a story of meeting Houdini.

Lily, with Ari's departure, has been "knocked senseless" as a wren which her father taught her to care for by placing the bird in a warm, dark spot to recover. Stephen was the one able to calm her mother from self harm but then he died. Billy is being Lily's warm but dark spot.

Part 2 ends with Ari stepping into his uncles shoes for prayer, troubled by the need to go look for him. Billy saw Israel in distress and further disturbed him by feigning to be a messenger, sending him on the train to the Blue Mtns. The Birdman saw him.

Ari & Lily's show goes smoothly, though Lily's momentary reveal all finale sets Billy off. We learn Crisp & his daughter Merle have used Billy to gain his deceased father's fortune. Ari & Lily kiss at Bondi only to return home to news that Ari's uncle has vanished.