Jon Fosse has been called ‘the Beckett of the 21st century’ (Le Monde), and the Royal Court production of Nightsongs was dubbed ‘Waiting for Godot without the gags’. Just as Beckett’s plays — and those of all great playwrights — grew out of their time, and influenced the current styles of drama, and were part of what brought their times forward, so do Fosse’s plays now. Fosse: Plays Six marks the culmination of this Norwegian playwright’s body of work for the stage to be published in the English language. The volume includes the plays Rambuku, Freedom, Over There, These Eyes, Girl in Yellow Raincoat, Christmas Tree Song and Sea.
Rambuku: Two people. One finds it difficult to speak. The other attempts to understand. But what is Rambuku? Or who is Rambuku? Freedom: There is a sense of otherness in Fosse’s work that challenges our notions of a concept such as ‘freedom’. This play questions if freedom, as we often understand it, is perhaps a prison. Over There: A woman follows a man to his death. But do they see the same images on the way to the top of the mountain? These Eyes: A snapshot of the dreamlike state of life. The characters exist in an in-between space which becomes their reality. Girl in Yellow Raincoat: An examination of our collective weakness, and the fragility of children. It asks questions about notions surrounding fear. Christmas Tree Song: A man celebrates Christmas alone (and reflects in a somewhat ironic way) on his life as he attempts to put up a Christmas tree. Sea: A group of people gathered in a kind of limbo, on a ship, disappearing into something unknown.
1.0 — создание файла и вёрстка (sibkron)
Twenty years ago, Jon Fosse was known as a poet and essayist in some well-read circles; his future success as a dramatist was at its very beginning. Maybe one could call him the reluctant playwright at the start of this period. His plays were being produced in Norway, although with a certain caution, later to move across the borders to insightful and quality-hungry theatres, most of them small, with underground status.
Directors were fascinated by the musical, stringent minimalism and the profundity yet apparent simpleness of his stories.
The Swedish author and critic Leif Zern, who has followed Fosse’s career from the beginning, should, eventually, write
From having been a modestly recognised author, Jon Fosse now has a weighty and luminous name as a dramatist across continents. Only India and Africa are left. His more than forty plays are translated to all the European languages as well as to Farsi, Japanese, Chinese, Korean and Russian. We know of at least 900 productions, and I believe that an unspecified number of performances take place without our knowledge and without payment of any copyright. At the beginning of the 2000s, a tsunami of Fosse plays premiered in Germany as well as France, where the wave is still rolling on. The great French director Claude Régy put Fosse on the world map with his outstanding and sensational production of
Welcome to Fosse’s illuminating darkness!
Characters
SHE
HE
RAMBUKU
The Norwegian Theatre — 2 February 2006.
Director: Kai Johnsen
Designer: Kari Gravklev
Cast:
She: Ragnhild Hilt
He: Svein Erik Brodal
Rambuku: Morten Espeland
SHE
So
yes
yes here we are
and how often haven’t we been
standing here
like this
it is as if
we have always been here
just been here
year in and year out
have you and I
been here
always
and you don’t say anything
Why don’t you say something
can’t you say something
don’t just stand there
please
you just stand there
and look and look
yes
but don’t do it
don’t just stand there
and look and look
can’t you do something
say something
why don’t you say something
surely you can say something
talk to me
can’t you
you can
can’t you
say something then
oh well
just stand there
then
just stand there
yes
yes why don’t you
but it can’t just be
like this
no
no that’s not possible
And why won’t you say anything
But do you know
yes
yes that today’s the day
when you and I
are going to Rambuku
you know that
we’re going
all the way to Rambuku
you know that
don’t you
you know that
right
but why can’t you answer
say something
say
yes say if you know it
say if you know that today you and I
are going to Rambuku
but you don’t answer
don’t say anything
no matter what I say
you don’t answer
but it’s true
that today you and I are going
to Rambuku
for you know that far away somewhere
there is Rambuku
and there we shall live
there you and I
shall live now
Yes we shall
You and I
shall live there
yes
and do you know
what it’s like in Rambuku
no
I don’t suppose you do
in Rambuku there are angels
and trees
trees that are
almost
translucent
and they sway in the wind
and there are bright birds there too
yes
there in Rambuku
and many people I know
and many people you know
are already in Rambuku
they are there
yes all those I miss
are there
all those I haven’t seen
for a long time
they’re there
yes
yes and your friends too
they too are there
yes they’re there in Rambuku
you know that
and if you don’t know it
it doesn’t matter
yes not as long as
I know it
for Rambuku exists
whether you know about it
or not
I know that
yes
And in Rambuku
there are
such big trees
and such big birds
yes
yes big birds
no the birds are not as big as houses
but they’re still big
very big
and you can hear songs
in Rambuku
fine songs
sung by voices
so very thin and light
so very deep and dark
and the songs
they swing
like the thin branches of a tree
in a strong wind
yes the voices swing
round and round
they are fine songs
and the sea there
in Rambuku
is as blue and deep
as the bluest sky
and the waves there
yes they are like clouds
and when you get there
yes to Rambuku
you don’t feel cold and you don’t feel pain
I know that
You can look forward to it
yes
yes look forward to it
It’s true
For that’s how it is
in Rambuku
And in Rambuku
there are good people
there I can be with
mum
dad
my sister
my grandparents
for they are in Rambuku
and those who live there
in Rambuku
they understand everything
yes you can see it in the light of their eyes
in the sudden light of their eyes
don’t you agree
yes I know you agree
don’t you
don’t you agree
why can’t you answer
say something
don’t just stand there
you must say something
but of course you agree
because you know
of course
that it’s like that
in Rambuku
and of course you know
that today we are going
to Rambuku
how could I think
that you don’t know that
for you and I
standing here
are ready to go to Rambuku
Everything is ready
And today it will happen
I know that
yes
for now
today
Rambuku is coming
and then we shall go
across seas
across land
across sky and sea
and all the way to Rambuku
you and I shall go
and there we shall be
and live in Rambuku’s being
there I shall live in a song
I shall live in Rambuku’s song
And we shall be together
in Rambuku
you and I
in a house
which is not a house
in a day
which is not a day
in a night
which is not a night
yes
yes there
in Rambuku
shall we be
you and I
and everything’s ready
everything
yes
everything
everything that can be done
has been done
and I’ve spent many years
getting it ready
yes you know that
You know that
But you don’t say anything
no matter what I say
you just stand there
and look and look
But you
can hear the song
from Rambuku
how could I’ve thought
that you couldn’t hear the song
and not know that today’s the day
when Rambuku will open up
Today Rambuku is coming
so now
yes
yes now it’s over
now
now this is over
now
do you understand that
now this no longer exists
for now Rambuku shall begin
and I know you can hear the song
from Rambuku
can you hear it
the song is far away
and very near
yes it is
can you hear it
can you hear Rambuku sing
yes
yes I know you can
I know you can hear Rambuku sing
for everyone who listens
can hear Rambuku sing
Rambuku shall come to us
and it’ll happen today
and then we shall no longer be
in this unbearable here
here
for I don’t want to be here
here
everyone just walks around and sees
the one they think is the other
but it’s themselves they see
they don’t see others
they see something small and petty
they see themselves
yes
here you can see neither
sky nor ocean
no one can
and the angels cannot be
here
the light cannot shine
here
and here we have been
here
here
where everything’s empty
empty and empty
and alike and alike
here it’s like that
but in Rambuku everything is
both unlike and alike
in its bursting abundance
how many years have I not been
here with you
you and I have been here
always here
year in and year out
have we been here
but we won’t be here
any longer
for after all these years
Rambuku is coming
I don’t understand it
I don’t understand myself
yes that I’ve been here
I shouldn’t have been here
with you
you and I shouldn’t have been here
for no one can be here
but why don’t you say something
why don’t you answer
say something
don’t just stand there
straight up and down
that you just stand there
and look and look
always the same
you don’t say anything
just stand there
but now
now it’s gone
now there’s nothing left
now it’s all finished
now I don’t have to watch
that you just stand there
and look and look
For it’s not like that in Rambuku
you are not like that in Rambuku
do you understand what I’m saying
you’re not like that in Rambuku
yes you know that
you understand that
don’t you
you do
you understand that
of course you understand that
and you can see that I’m beautiful
that I’ve dressed up
can’t you
I’ve dressed up for Rambuku
you do see
don’t you
that I’m beautiful
yes you do
yes of course you do
and when you come to Rambuku
you’ll see the big birds
birds as big as houses
almost
And they are
translucent
And the songs in Rambuku
they move
in the wind
like the branches of a vast tree
And they spread outwards
and stroke your hair lightly
the songs
in Rambuku
are there
for you and me
for us
Yes
And everything’s ready
you’re ready
I’m ready
and then Rambuku will come
And you just stand there
and say nothing
just stand there
and look and look
as if nothing has happened
as if nothing will happen
as if this is just an ordinary day
that’s how you stand there
But this is not just an ordinary day
Can’t you see that
But look around
don’t just stand there
look around
look
see what’s happening
see Rambuku opening up
Look
And you can see
you can can’t you
that this is not
just an ordinary day
yes you can see that
I know you can see that
you can see
that this is an extraordinary day
you can see
that this is the last day
and the first day
I know you can see that
But don’t stand there like that looking around
I don’t want to see you here
anymore
I want to see you
somewhere else
and now
yes now
now I shall finally
see you in Rambuku
finally
finally I’ll get to see you in a different light
get to see you
in Rambuku’s light
in the radiant light of Rambuku
shall you be
and there shall I be
there we shall be
and don’t just stand there
as if someone once
had placed you there
forever
that’s how you stand there
stand and stand
and look and look
So say something
yes
just say something
say something to me
say something
for I want to know
yes that you too know
that something will finish
and something else
great and bright
will begin
And now you’ll say
please do
for you’ll be saying these things
so often in Rambuku
but say it now
yes
say it now
already
say
You are a beautiful woman
please do
You can say that
can’t you
yes
yes
say it then
say after me
You
But say it then
say
You
HE
You
SHE
Good
And then you say
are a beautiful woman
HE
are a beautiful woman
SHE
That’s good
Say
You are a beautiful woman
HE
You are a beautiful woman
SHE
Thank you
Thank you so much
It makes me
yes happy
to hear you say it
And then you say
I don’t understand anything
HE
I don’t understand anything
SHE
And say
For today Rambuku
shall open up
HE
For today Rambuku
SHE
More
say the rest
say it
HE
Rambuku
SHE
Say more
say what I said
Today Rambuku shall
HE
Today Rambuku shall
SHE
Say after me
then
say
Today
HE
Today
SHE
Rambuku shall
HE
Rambuku shall
SHE
open up
HE
open up
SHE
Say all of it
HE
Today Rambuku shall
SHE
open up
Yes
Today’s the day
when Rambuku shall remove
these years
this life
and transform it to nothing
transform it to a memory
which disappears
like the landscape when it darkens
fades away
and grows black
and then Rambuku shall stand forth
in all its light
in all its
luminescent
transparent
being
it
Rambuku
should come today
so why doesn’t Rambuku come
it must come
And it comes
and then it’s over
then it’s finished
Then this is finished
Then it’s finished
say it
Say
Then it’s finished
HE
Then it’s finished
SHE
Then it’s finished
Do you understand that
that it’s finished
no
no you don’t understand that
not here
for here it’s not possible
to understand anything
here you just stand
and look and look
and say nothing
and understand nothing
and that’s how it is here
But in Rambuku it’s not like that
say it
say after me
say
In Rambuku it’s not like that
HE
In Rambuku
SHE
Yes
Say
It’s not like that
HE
It’s not like that
SHE
In Rambuku
it’s not like that
in Rambuku
you become beautiful
for no one was more beautiful than you
I could’ve had anyone I wanted
yes
I could
yes it’s true
and in Rambuku
I shall have you back
for you
yes
yes you looked like Rambuku
and I chose you
of course
for you were
like Rambuku
it was these
yes these beautiful tosses
of thoughts
they were sudden
you thought just like they think
in Rambuku
and your voice
the strange arcs that formed
suddenly
and the clouds disappeared
and the sky turned blue
and shimmering
across our life
such were the tosses
of your thoughts
you had Rambuku
in you
and your voice surged
like the waves on the sea
waves
there in Rambuku
that’s how you were
I say something beautiful about you
and you just stand there
stand there
and say nothing
just stand there
and stare and stare
straight up and down
you stand there
can’t you say something
I tell you
there were beautiful tosses in your thoughts
I tell you that
and you just stand there
and say nothing
why don’t you say something
say something
at least you can answer
when I talk to you
say something
answer
answer me
say something
Well read it then
Read it then
Read
Read what I’ve written
oh well
don’t do it then
just leave it then
just leave reading it
or
yes read it
read it at once
now
read
Read
HE
Rambuku
SHE
Thank you
thank you so much
it was
yes so beautiful to hear you say
Rambuku
Why don’t you read it one more time
Yes
yes
yes you must do that
Read
read it one more time
HE
Rambuku
SHE
And yet one more time
please
HE
Rambuku
SHE
Thank you
thank you so much
And now
Now this is soon finished
now we won’t stand here any longer
you and I
now we won’t be here any longer
you and I
now we’re going
to where everything opens wide
like a vista
over everything that exists
that’s where we’re going
you and I
yes it ended up being the two of us
and you had such a big and beautiful power
you were as beautiful as Rambuku
yes you had a power
yes a power as headstrong
as Rambuku
you were this power
this headstrong power
this power
which showed itself most of all
in your sudden tosses
from one thought
to another
just like Rambuku
yes
you were
yes exactly
yes you were
as beautiful
as Rambuku
your smile
the way you tossed your head
I think I can say
yes that I understand myself
yes that I chose you
and do I regret it
no
no I don’t think I regret it
or
yes I regret it
I regret as much as it’s possible to regret
I always feel regret
all the time
every time I see you
every time I hear you voice
I feel regret
I keep regretting it
I feel nothing but regret
and then
and then I keep saying
yes that I don’t regret it
how stupid can you be
no
no not that
no regret
just
but
but now
yes
yes won’t Rambuku come soon
he should come today
and then he doesn’t come
Why doesn’t Rambuku come
yes he’s coming
he’s coming soon
and then it’s over
then this is over
then it’s finished
He’s coming
Rambuku’s coming today
do you know that
I’m talking to you
why don’t you answer me
don’t just stand there
you must answer
do you hear me
I’m talking to you
Are you looking forward to Rambuku coming
to getting away
from here
not having to
stand here any longer
to being in
Rambuku
Answer me then
say something
You must answer me
You’re looking forward to it
But I feel so sad
that I almost begin to cry
for you
for you
for you standing there
good old you
you were always
yes so obstinately persevering
so
yes
but that’s a long time ago
a very long time ago
it doesn’t exist anymore
so why think about it
but this
no
no I
no I
I suppose I must
I
I
I
I must
I
and you
standing there
I must
No it’s too awful
It’s too awful
I must be the one I was
I can’t
I must be
the one I am
and the one I shall be
and I am beautiful
I’ve dressed up
today I’m beautiful
for today
is a big day
a day for decisions
today is Rambuku’s day
I know that
but you
you
standing there
good old you
you’re good
you with your hands
with your fingers
with your movements
you
you stand there
and I stand here
you and I
are here
the two of us
just you and I
no one else
just you and I are here
just the two of us
you and I stand here
ready
everything’s ready
for Rambuku coming
to you and me
to the two of us
and in Rambuku everything becomes a song
a song from seas and stars
where everything is large
and everything disappears
and just the two of us
are left
and everything fades
into something which is and lasts
there in Rambuku
and not even the memories
are left
of the two of us
there
there in Rambuku
they are gone
they are gone
like the sea in the darkness
so don’t just stand there
and look and look
you
say something
tell me something about Rambuku
Tell me what you know
about Rambuku
No
no don’t say anything
just stand there
Good
Say it’s good
Say yes
HE
Yes
SHE
Okay
But say it one more time
say it
Say it
Say it at once
Say it
Say it
say yes
HE
Yes
SHE
Yes
But why isn’t Rambuku coming
for something is going to happen
and you’re
quite different
my dear
it’s only here
you’re like this
in Rambuku you’re not like this
I know that
for there you are the most beautiful
of them all
not so big and strong
but with a few tosses
of your thoughts
of your soul
a few tosses
radiant in their movements
yes like Rambuku
but you just stand there
just stand there
and look and look
and we’re not going to be here
we’re going to Rambuku
come on walk
walk a little
Walk
I’m telling you
Walk
You
yes you
you rotten man
that’s right
you rotten man
for I suppose you’ve always been rotten
always
always other women
always that
and how could I stand being
with you
but I
yes indeed I took what was mine
I want you to know that
and you do know that
yes of course
you know that
or
do you
answer
answer now
and you don’t answer
why don’t you answer
why don’t you speak
say something
you don’t say anything
you don’t answer
I tell you to answer
and you don’t answer
answer
say something
and don’t just walk around
answer
say something
don’t walk
don’t walk anymore
stop
answer
say something
No
No alright
Do you want to go to Rambuku
or don’t you
I know you want to
so don’t just stand there
and look and look
Walk
Walk
For now it’s finished
now
now Rambuku shall open up
now
today
finally
do you understand
say something
do you understand
that Rambuku shall open up
and don’t just walk around
stop that
can’t you
stop walking
stop
and say say that you understand it
Say
I understand it
HE
I understand it
SHE
Good
Say
Now we’re going to Rambuku
HE
Now we’re going to Rambuku
SHE
Thank you
Thank you so much
Thank you
It felt so good
to hear you say it
to hear your voice say it
so thank you
thank you so much
thank you
Would you like to read for me
No I don’t suppose you do
You must answer me when I speak to you
say something
you used to do that
to talk to me
you were always doing it
you answered
talked
said things to me
called me whore
but now
now you just stand there
and look and look
you don’t exist
aren’t here
you just stand there
And I have lived my life with you
But you were
yes
you were beautiful
yes beautiful
like Rambuku
but if only I could’ve given you back
to the woman you left
I could’ve married
anyone
and then
and then I married you
who just stand there
and look and look
I married you
I don’t understand myself
I don’t understand what I was thinking
what made me do it
yes I understand it
Do you understand
that I understand it
no of course you don’t
but I
I understand it
because
you were such a beautiful man
there were so many nuances
in you
Rambuku
was in you
and married
yes you were married
and to a beautiful woman
and I
yes
yes you were
and she was a
Look
And read
Read loudly and clearly
Read
HE
Whore
SHE
Yes exactly
see
you could do it
you were married to
yes
yes read it one more time
loudly and clearly
yes
yes read it
Read it one more time
You were married to a
HE
Whore
SHE
Good
That’s a good boy
And then
then you must say
yes what was her name
yes her
that
that whore
yes
yes say it
why don’t you say it to me
say it
no
no don’t say it
let it be gone
let’s leave it behind
her name shall not exist
in Rambuku
of course not
for there
finally
she is gone
finally she no longer exists
there’s no room for her
in Rambuku
and soon everything’s gone
do you understand that
don’t just stand there
look around
can’t you see Rambuku is coming
but look
come look
Look
yes
yes finally the day has come
when you shall see Rambuku
you see that
don’t you
of course you see that
I know that you
can see that
I know that
so don’t
don’t
don’t look around
look at the note
But read it then
Read
HE
I’ve lived here
But soon I’ll live in Rambuku
SHE
That was good
so good to hear
Read it one more time
please
let me hear you read it again
yes
HE
I’ve lived here
But soon I’ll live in Rambuku
SHE
Thank you
Thank you that was beautiful
But you
my
my good boy
my good old boy
yes
yes that’s how we stood
do you remember
we stood like this
and then we walked inside
into the church
do you remember
this is how we walked
No
no perhaps you don’t remember
no of course you don’t
But no one can remember here
no one can be here
and we have been here
always been
always here
year in and year out
have we been here
But read what I wrote in the note
HE
Whore
SHE
And the other note
HE
I’ve lived here
But soon I’ll live in Rambuku
SHE
Read what the first note says
HE
Whore
SHE
Read it one more time
HE
Whore
SHE
Read it yet one more time
HE
Whore
SHE
Now read what the other note says
HE
I’ve lived here
But soon I’ll live in Rambuku
SHE
Yes
It makes me
yes happy
when I hear you say
that you’ll soon live
in Rambuku
Read
HE
And when she came towards me
I saw that she was the most beautiful woman
I’d ever seen
the way she moved
her eyes
the enormous song welling up in her
SHE
Yes
Keep reading
HE
I could not imagine being with
any other woman
she was the most beautiful
SHE
Keep reading
HE
To him there would never
be anyone else
He was sure of that
SHE
No
She was such a beautiful woman
She is such a beautiful woman
Yes
Read
why do you just stand there
and look and look
Read
HE
I see that the mountain opens up
and out of the mountain comes a man
a young beautiful man
and he walks quietly forwards
he is beautiful
dressed in a black suit
he stops
he stands calmly
and looks around
then he seems to become a little restless
a little worried
almost
he stands and looks down
and then a woman comes walking towards him
and he walks towards her
and when they see each other
they walk quickly towards each other
they meet
and they embrace each other
they stand like that for a long time
then they let go of each other
and the man says
It’s been such a long time
RAMBUKU
It’s been such a long time
SHE
Yes
RAMBUKU
But finally
we’re together again
SHE
Yes
Yes it has been a long time
RAMBUKU
I never thought we’d meet again
that we would find each other again
SHE
Neither did I
RAMBUKU
And now we meet
finally we meet
SHE
Yes
RAMBUKU
Yes
SHE
Where have you been
RAMBUKU
But you know that
SHE
Yes
yes I’ve missed you so
RAMBUKU
And you are so beautiful
SHE
I’ve dressed up for you
Today
this very day
I dressed up for you
and it’s you
who shall take me with you
to Rambuku
today it shall happen
today Rambuku shall
open up
yes
I knew you’d come
that today was the day
when you’d come
For Rambuku was coming
today
RAMBUKU
Yes
SHE
But
are you sure
that we’ve met before
RAMBUKU
Yes
SHE
No
no we haven’t
Read
HE
and then the man moves away from her
and he stands and looks at her
with a strange expression on his face
an expression which
yes how should I describe it
yes an expression which
SHE
Don’t stand there like that
RAMBUKU
Like
SHE
Don’t stand there like that
don’t stand there like that
now that you’re finally here
RAMBUKU
I won’t stand here like that
SHE
No
RAMBUKU
No
I’m finally here
SHE
I have waited and waited for you
And now you’re here
Read
HE
And then the man turned
and he walked away from her
and she walked after him
she stopped and looked
she stood there and looked
as he walked away
and then she stood and looked straight ahead
and she said
in a quiet voice
that finally he was there
the finally he came
she said
that finally Rambuku shall
open up
SHE
Finally Rambuku shall
open up
Read then
Keep reading
HE
And then the man came back to her
SHE
Yes
yes that’s how it is
isn’t it
isn’t it
Rambuku has come now
right
yes
Keep reading
HE
And then the man walked slowly towards her
And she walked slowly towards him
And they both stopped
they stood and looked at each other
And she said
But there you are
SHE
But there you are
RAMBUKU
You must come now
my dear
I’m waiting for you
SHE
Thank you
Thank you for being here
You came today
But you
Read
HE
I’ve lived here
But soon I’ll live in Rambuku
SHE
Yes
Yes
yes now he has come
now Rambuku has come
and then
neither you
nor I
shall live here anymore
you
I
you and I
shall live in Rambuku
It’s over now
finally
finally it’s over
Read
read what the note says
HE
I’ve lived here
But soon I’ll live in Rambuku
SHE
Yes
Characters
THE WOMAN
THE MAN
THE SECOND WOMAN
THE WOMAN
But you see
well
you do understand that
yes
yes that
Yes that I
Wanted to be free
I didn’t want to go round
with all those ties
that I had entered into
and of course I was
yes so young
yes when I became tied
yes when I entered into
yes the ties
yes the ties
you know so well
THE MAN
Yes
THE WOMAN
And I wanted to create
Yes my own ties
I wanted
THE MAN
But now you are free
THE WOMAN
Yes I suppose so
THE MAN
And now you don’t want to be free
THE WOMAN
No I don’t want to be free
THE MAN
Why don’t you want to be free
THE WOMAN
Because one
when one is free
one is not free
at all
THE MAN
Why not
THE WOMAN
Because then one
is tied
tied and tied
by just one’s self
THE MAN
Yes
THE WOMAN
And the one who is tied
by and to her self
is
THE MAN
Lonely
THE WOMAN
No
Yes
THE MAN
But the others they are there
yes they are everywhere
it is impossible to be alone
because the others
they are there
THE WOMAN
Yes
yes exactly
but in relation to the others
one doesn’t become free
and then there’s my children
THE MAN
Your children
yes your children
of course
yes
yes a child is a tie isn’t it
yes of course
THE WOMAN
Yes
THE MAN
And you want to be free
Not be tied
yes
yes to
THE WOMAN
Yes
THE MAN
And now you are free
THE WOMAN
Yes
THE MAN
And now you don’t want to be free
THE WOMAN
No
Or yes
THE MAN
Yes you can be
yes lover
yes
yes
yes with whoever you want
THE WOMAN
Yes
THE MAN
With one or the other
THE WOMAN
Yes
THE MAN
Go to bed with whoever you want
THE WOMAN
Yes
THE MAN
You are free
THE WOMAN
Yes
But I
THE MAN
Don’t you want to be free
THE WOMAN
Yes
THE MAN
Wasn’t it as you imagined
To be free
THE WOMAN
No
THE MAN
Freedom is not a good thing
THE WOMAN
No
But it is a condition
THE MAN
It is a condition
Yes like death
like loneliness
THE WOMAN
Yes
THE MAN
But it isn’t good
yes doesn’t one try
all one can
yes almost
to get away from freedom
permanent relationships
having dogs
a permanent residence
regular income
a permanent job
yes children
THE WOMAN
Freedom is a good thing too
If you are shut in
yes then you want to go where you want to go
there is nothing else you want
THE MAN
But there is something else
THE WOMAN
No
THE MAN
Another person
other people
are not a room one is
shut up in
THE WOMAN
Aren’t they
THE MAN
No
THE WOMAN
Never
THE MAN
Never
THE WOMAN
But
now
yes now I have tried being free
and now
yes now I would like to tie myself
yes that is what it is called
to tie oneself
THE MAN
Yes
THE WOMAN
To you
To the children
THE MAN
So that’s what you want
THE WOMAN
Yes
yes I regret
or
yes I regret it
I should not have gone
it was wrong of me
I shouldn’t have done it
THE MAN
And now you want to go back
THE WOMAN
Yes
THE MAN
But it’s not possible
THE WOMAN
Not possible
THE MAN
No it’s not possible
THE WOMAN
Why not
THE MAN
No
THE WOMAN
But can you not forgive
THE MAN
Yes
Yes I have no difficulties
forgiving
it’s just that
yes to see the other
like oneself
and to see that the other
THE WOMAN
Yes
THE MAN
yes is like oneself
yes that the other
Yes also has freedom
As their damned condition
THE WOMAN
Damned condition
THE MAN
Yes
THE WOMAN
What would a person be
without freedom
THE MAN
What would a person be
without death
THE WOMAN
What would a person be
without loneliness
THE MAN
Yes
THE WOMAN
A person without freedom
is
yes a stone
a tree
no that was badly put
but a person
without freedom
is not a person
THE MAN
Yes
Yes that is the condition of the soul
THE WOMAN
But I miss
THE MAN
You miss
THE WOMAN
Yes
THE MAN
What do you miss
THE WOMAN
You
THE MAN
You miss me
but it was me
you couldn’t stand
that I was close
that I was there
yes like a tie
yes like a constraint
as if I was a room
that shut you in
THE WOMAN
No
no it wasn’t like that
THE MAN
You wanted to travel
meet others
get close to others
that was what you
called freedom
THE WOMAN
Yes
yes maybe
THE MAN
But if you got too close
yes what then
THE WOMAN
Did I come too close to you
THE MAN
How could I know
THE WOMAN
And the journey
THE MAN
became the journey’s constraint
the journey’s tie
to travel
is the greatest constraint
of all
THE WOMAN
Yes
But
can’t I come back
to you
to the children
But why not
THE MAN
Because you are free
THE WOMAN
But I don’t want to be free
THE MAN
But you are free
THE WOMAN
Aren’t you
THE MAN
No
THE MAN
Yes
Yes you must say hello to
Yes my first wife
I don’t suppose you’ve met each other before
THE WOMAN
No
THE SECOND WOMAN
No never
THE WOMAN
Yes I just wanted
Yes to pop in
I
say hello
yes
THE SECOND WOMAN
Yes
You’re in old parts
yes
THE WOMAN
Yes
yes you might say so
THE SECOND WOMAN
Yes
THE WOMAN
Yes it was nice
talking to you again
THE MAN
Yes
yes it was
THE WOMAN
But I suppose I’d better go
THE SECOND WOMAN
Nice to meet you
What did she want
THE MAN
Just to say hello
THE SECOND WOMAN
She just came
THE MAN
Yes
yes there was a ring at the door
and there she stood
she just stood there
THE SECOND WOMAN
Yes
And she didn’t want
yes anything in particular
THE MAN
No
THE SECOND WOMAN
Sure
THE MAN
Yes
Characters
THE MAN
THE WOMAN
THE MAN
Do you see
but look
look over there
don’t you see anything
is there nothing to see
there
over there
don’t you see
answer me
THE WOMAN
Yes
THE MAN
There
over there
THE WOMAN
No I don’t really see anything
not anything unusual
I see
I only see what’s always been there
I see
I see the ridge
and behind the ridge I see the mountain
and beyond the mountain
yes there I see the sky
THE MAN
Yes
THE WOMAN
and I see that the sky
yes it’s like before
yes like it usually is
not blue
but grey and grey
yes
yes that’s what I see
and
then
yes
THE MAN
You don’t see anything else
THE WOMAN
No
well
well I see
I see
yes
yes over there on the ridge
yes there’s the farmhouse
yes that has always been there
and the old hay barn
oh yes that’s there too
THE MAN
Nothing else
THE WOMAN
Well what do you mean
THE MAN
No
THE WOMAN
No it was nothing
THE MAN
No maybe not
THE WOMAN
Just something you thought
But did you see something
THE MAN
No it was probably nothing
THE WOMAN
But did you see something
THE MAN
Nothing worth mentioning
THE WOMAN
But what was it
THE MAN
Just forget it
THE WOMAN
So you saw something
THE MAN
Yes
THE WOMAN
But you don’t want to say what it was
THE MAN
It’s nothing worth mentioning
THE WOMAN
Not if I didn’t see it
THE MAN
No
THE WOMAN
Because then it was only you who saw it
THE MAN
Yes
THE WOMAN
And then it doesn’t exist
THE MAN
Yes I suppose
THE WOMAN
Shall we move on
THE MAN
Yes
THE WOMAN
Don’t you want to walk any further
THE MAN
Yes
yes of course
THE WOMAN
But you don’t have to
if you don’t want to
we don’t have to walk any further
it’s quite alright
yes
of course
it has been a nice walk
yes so far
THE MAN
Yes
of course we’ll walk further
THE WOMAN
But we don’t have to walk to the very top of the mountain
not if you don’t want to
THE MAN
I said I wanted to
THE WOMAN
Yes
But still
THE MAN
Let’s go
THE WOMAN
If you want to
yes let’s go then
THE MAN
I want to
THE WOMAN
But
yes
yes what did you see
THE MAN
Don’t ask about it
THE WOMAN
Sorry
It’s just
since I didn’t see it
yes
yes I mean
THE MAN
I’m sure it was nothing
THE WOMAN
Just something you imagined
THE MAN
I’m sure
THE WOMAN
Maybe
in any case I didn’t see anything
THE MAN
Let’s sit down for a moment
THE WOMAN
Yes why not
Are you tired
THE MAN
No
THE WOMAN
But it’s nice to rest the legs
THE MAN
Yes
THE WOMAN
We’ve been walking for some time
THE MAN
Not for that long
THE WOMAN
No
no but for quite a bit
THE MAN
Yes
THE WOMAN
Do you see anything
You want something to eat
something to drink
perhaps
The weather’s not too bad
at least it’s not raining
it’s not so nice to go for a walk then
not when the sun’s burning
either
this is good weather for walking
it couldn’t have been much better
no
and wasn’t it good that we finally got to take
this walk
we’ve been talking about it for so long
yes about walking up to that mountain
I don’t even know what it’s called
and
you don’t either I suppose
no
no I don’t suppose you do
and so far
it’s been a nice walk
hasn’t it
at least that’s what I think
and wasn’t it good that we both
finally found the time to do it
perhaps we should walk a little further
yes before we have something to drink
before we stop to eat
yes we should probably do that
but it was good to sit down for a bit too
have a rest
I can feel it in my legs
yes
that we’ve been walking for some time
can’t you
can you feel it too
So it was good to sit down for a bit
Rest for while
You don’t want to sit for a bit longer
rest a bit more
yes
yes we still have quite a distance to cover
it’s a long walk all the way
to the top of the mountain
it looks pretty far
but we’ve got the whole day
that’s good isn’t it
you don’t want to rest any longer
we can just keep walking
yes
yes of course
I’ll come
too
What are you looking at
What is it you see
THE MAN
But don’t you see
THE WOMAN
No
THE MAN
Don’t you see that it shines
yes over there
THE WOMAN
No
THE MAN
there from over the mountain
and down the mountain
and then here
THE WOMAN
No
no I don’t see anything
THE MAN
That strong light
THE WOMAN
No
no nothing
I don’t see anything
THE MAN
You don’t see that awfully strong light
THE WOMAN
No
THE MAN
And you don’t see that it’s like
yes gleaming space
in the light
THE WOMAN
No
THE MAN
And that the light is like
THE WOMAN
I don’t see anything
Wait
wait for me
I’m coming
Characters
FIRST VOICE
SECOND VOICE
THE SHADOW
YOUNG WOMAN
OLD WOMAN
YOUNG MAN
OLD MAN
FIRST VOICE
I am here
I am here always
And I have always
been here
but yet
I must have
come here once
I came here
and then I was here
And now I am here
SECOND VOICE
I am always here
FIRST VOICE
I have been here always
SECOND VOICE
I’m just here
FIRST VOICE
We are just here
and this land
where we are
it is the land from our dream
SECOND VOICE
We came from the ocean
FIRST VOICE
Are we still the ocean
SECOND VOICE
We are the ocean
we too are the ocean
and we can never part
from the ocean
because we are the ocean
FIRST VOICE
And we are the sky
SECOND VOICE
We are the sky
FIRST VOICE
We are the ocean
SECOND VOICE
And even if we are not
where the ocean is
we are still the ocean
FIRST VOICE
And we are still the sky
SECOND VOICE
Yes
FIRST VOICE
Because the ocean is our dream
SECOND VOICE
And the sky is our dream
FIRST VOICE
And the ocean is in our eyes
SECOND VOICE
And the sky
is in our eyes
FIRST VOICE
And in our faces
in everything which is us
there is the ocean
SECOND VOICE
and there is the sky
FIRST VOICE
And we shall always be here
SECOND VOICE
Always shall we be here
FIRST VOICE
We are here
but I don’t want to be here anymore
SECOND VOICE
We are here always
FIRST VOICE
And we have always
been here
SECOND VOICE
Yes
where it comes
goes away
We are here
FIRST VOICE
But I don’t belong here
You can see that
Don’t you understand that
Don’t you see that
SECOND VOICE
We are the world
where it comes
goes away
FIRST VOICE
Yes
yes I belong here
with you
I belong here
SECOND VOICE
where
it comes
goes away
FIRST VOICE
Will you hold me please
SECOND VOICE
Yes I will
THE SHADOW
Here
This is where you will be
This is where you will always be
I am here
I am always here
FIRST VOICE
Oh look
look there she comes
there she is
don’t you see her
SECOND VOICE
Yes
yes I see her
FIRST VOICE
And isn’t she beautiful
SECOND VOICE
Yes
FIRST VOICE
Very beautiful
THE SHADOW
This is where you’ll be
This is where you’ll always be
FIRST VOICE
She is beautiful
SECOND VOICE
This is the world
This is the land
from our dream
THE SHADOW
This is where you’ll be
I am always here
YOUNG WOMAN
And now
and now
now
he’ll soon come now
I know that
that he’ll be here soon
THE SHADOW
I am here
SECOND VOICE
So this is the world
that we are
FIRST VOICE
This is the world
And this is where we’ll be
THE SHADOW
This is where you must always be
SECOND VOICE
This is the land from our dream
FIRST VOICE
We are the world
YOUNG WOMAN
I am here
and I am waiting
for him
THE SHADOW
I am here
Always am I here
YOUNG WOMAN
I am here now
And soon he’ll come
I know that
Because I’m born
and that’s no small thing
But why am I thinking that
I mustn’t think like that
but it’s quite a big thing
in fact
to be born
I mean
yes being born
and before that
before I was born
no
no I don’t want to think about that
but then
yes
yes before I was born
yes where was I then
I was born
and then all the other things were gone
I am just here
I am here
by the ocean
beneath the sky
SECOND VOICE
I am here
I am here always
I must always be here
FIRST VOICE
We shall never disappear
We must always be here
THE SHADOW
You must be here always
FIRST VOICE
I was just here
suddenly I was here
SECOND VOICE
here
where it comes
goes away
FIRST VOICE
We are always here
YOUNG WOMAN
I am here
And soon he’ll be
But I wasn’t anywhere was I
yes before I was born
of course
I mean
And still
yes that’s not possible
either
yes that I wasn’t anywhere
because I am here
and I must have been somewhere before
because from nothing
comes nothing
Because that’s also true
But I don’t remember anything
yes from before I was born
or
well
yes
yes
well I can’t really say I remember anything
of course not
but that’s because the word remember
yes
yes it means something else
but if I know something
surely I can say that I know something
yes
yes in its own way
in one way
I suppose I know something
yes
yes that which is me
that which thinks
which moves
around the place
which thinks itself around the place
yes that
yes that knows something
yes that was there
yes before I was born
somehow
yes
but no
no listen to me
thinking
SECOND VOICE
We are here
And we must be here
THE SHADOW
You must always be here
FIRST VOICE
We are here
and here we shall be
but
but must we be here
why must we be here
SECOND VOICE
We just have to
be here
YOUNG WOMAN
and I who
yes I who am not used to thinking
who am
yes just
who yes just
and why am I here
yes right here
right now
yes I
yes I know that
I can tell you
but I don’t want to tell you
Oh hello
You’re here already
I
I
YOUNG MAN
Yes
yes I may be a little early
YOUNG WOMAN
Yes me too
FIRST VOICE
And there he is
there he comes
but look
can’t you see
look how beautiful he is
SECOND VOICE
Yes
yes he is beautiful
FIRST VOICE
But
look
SECOND VOICE
Yes
yes I see
YOUNG MAN
Yes here we are
then
YOUNG WOMAN
Yes
yes it’s become a habit
yes to meet here
YOUNG MAN
Yes it has
YOUNG WOMAN
And it’s a nice
place
yes
YOUNG MAN
Yes
YOUNG WOMAN
Really nice
YOUNG MAN
Yes
yes I suppose that’s why
YOUNG WOMAN
Yes that we meet here
YOUNG MAN
Yes I suppose it is
YOUNG WOMAN
Any news
YOUNG MAN
No
no nothing special
or
yes
YOUNG WOMAN
Tell me
YOUNG MAN
No
YOUNG WOMAN
Yes
YOUNG MAN
No
YOUNG WOMAN
Yes
yes you must
YOUNG MAN
No
YOUNG WOMAN
Yes
YOUNG MAN
No
Yes here we are then
YOUNG WOMAN
Yes
YOUNG MAN
Yes
YOUNG WOMAN
You and I
YOUNG MAN
You and I
Do you want to go for a walk
YOUNG WOMAN
Alright
And it’s so
yes nice here
here by the sea
YOUNG MAN
Yes
YOUNG WOMAN
Here
sheltered from the ocean
YOUNG MAN
sheltered by the mountains
YOUNG WOMAN
By the tall mountains
THE SHADOW
This is where you’ll be
And I am here always
YOUNG WOMAN
But look
I’ve never quite
seen the mountains before
I see them now as if for the first time
And the rocks
I see them as if for the first time
YOUNG MAN
The mountains and the rocks
and then us
And this is where we’ll be
YOUNG WOMAN
If we want to
we’ll be here
yes
yes for here there’s air
there’s earth
YOUNG MAN
And there’s wind here
There’s always wind here
YOUNG WOMAN
And here’s where we met
YOUNG MAN
And here’s where we’ll live
here we’ll stay
YOUNG MAN
And we’ll be alright
YOUNG FIRST VOICE
Because we won’t give up
YOUNG MAN
No
And we’ll be fine
We’ll be alright
YOUNG WOMAN
We’re young and strong
YOUNG MAN
And we’re together
YOUNG WOMAN
We’ll be alright
YOUNG MAN
Everything’s fine
YOUNG WOMAN
We’re strong
YOUNG MAN
We’re young
We can do anything
YOUNG WOMAN
Yes we can do anything
YOUNG MAN
We can do it
We’ll provide fire
We’ll provide food
YOUNG WOMAN
Fire and food
for our children
YOUNG MAN
We’ll provide fire
and food
YOUNG WOMAN
For the children we’ll have
we’ll provide food
YOUNG MAN
We’ll provide shelter
YOUNG WOMAN
We’ll provide fire
We’re young and strong
YOUNG MAN
It’ll all be fine
YOUNG WOMAN
We’ll provide food
YOUNG MAN
We’ll provide shelter
YOUNG WOMAN
We are so strong
YOUNG MAN
We can do anything
YOUNG WOMAN
We can do everything
YOUNG MAN
We are strong
YOUNG WOMAN
And when we are together
we can do it
But
listen
yes I just wonder if
yes
YOUNG MAN
Just tell me
YOUNG WOMAN
Yes if
YOUNG MAN
Was there something
YOUNG WOMAN
No maybe not
YOUNG MAN
You just wanted to say something
no matter what
YOUNG WOMAN
Maybe
yes
perhaps
YOUNG MAN
Tell me
Can’t you just tell me
YOUNG WOMAN
No
YOUNG MAN
You don’t want to
YOUNG WOMAN
No
but
yes can’t you feel
yes
yes that there’s something here
that
YOUNG MAN
Everything’s right
Everything’s the way it should be
Yes
everything’s just fine
and here
here where we are
here where we walk
I’m thinking that
yes here people have
yes lived
yes for so long
YOUNG WOMAN
Not you and I
YOUNG MAN
No
no
not you and I
because we
yes we’re young
we’ve just
arrived here
but people
other people have lived here
for people must’ve lived here
for a long time
yes
YOUNG WOMAN
Yes
I’m sure
YOUNG MAN
Yes on this piece of earth
at this shore
on this coast
YOUNG WOMAN
You think so
YOUNG MAN
Don’t you think so
YOUNG WOMAN
Yes
yes of course
YOUNG MAN
But you don’t believe
yes
yes that it’s something to think about
YOUNG WOMAN
Well yes
YOUNG MAN
And we’ll live here too
YOUNG WOMAN
Yes
yes we’ll live here
YOUNG MAN
You look a little tired
you want to rest
YOUNG WOMAN
Perhaps for a bit
YOUNG MAN
Is something wrong
YOUNG WOMAN
No
YOUNG MAN
But are you tired
shall we sit down for a while
YOUNG WOMAN
Alright
YOUNG MAN
But where
YOUNG WOMAN
We can sit down
yes wherever
YOUNG MAN
Wherever
YOUNG WOMAN
Yes
why not
YOUNG MAN
As long as we can see the ocean
YOUNG WOMAN
Yes
And today
YOUNG MAN
you and I got together
Are you leaving
Can’t you stay here with me
YOUNG WOMAN
I don’t know
I think I have to go
I can’t stay here any longer
YOUNG MAN
Don’t you just want to
well stay here with me
YOUNG WOMAN
But
YOUNG MAN
You want to go
YOUNG WOMAN
I’m so jumpy
I’m so scared
THE SHADOW
You must come now
YOUNG MAN
No
you mustn’t be scared
for nothing is dangerous
Well
perhaps
yes when you mention it
perhaps there is something here
THE SHADOW
I am here
Always am I here
FIRST VOICE
I am here
Always am I here
SECOND VOICE
I am here
YOUNG MAN
But wait for me
THE SHADOW
I am here
I am here always
I am the sky
I am the shimmering
deep down inside you
You are me
I am you
I am the sky
I am the ocean
in blue
in white
YOUNG MAN
But wait
why are you going
YOUNG WOMAN
No reason
YOUNG MAN
We were having such a good time
YOUNG WOMAN
Yes
yes we were
we certainly were
YOUNG MAN
But you’re going
YOUNG WOMAN
I’m not going
YOUNG MAN
Yes you’re going
YOUNG WOMAN
No
YOUNG MAN
Yes
you’re just going
suddenly you’re just going
Is there something
Is something wrong
Have I done something wrong
YOUNG WOMAN
No
no it’s not that
But it feels
I got scared
there’s something here
YOUNG MAN
Yes
YOUNG WOMAN
it feels
yes so dangerous
to be here
I’m scared
I’m a little scared
YOUNG MAN
No
don’t be scared
THE SHADOW
I am the sky
I am the ocean
I am here
FIRST VOICE
I am here
SECOND VOICE
I am here always
YOUNG WOMAN
I think there’s something here
YOUNG MAN
But there’s no one here
Only we are here
So why are you scared
No one’s here
No one can see us
You
just you and I
are here
Come here
Come here to me
THE SHADOW
I am here
YOUNG WOMAN
I
I think maybe
yes
yes that
yes that
no I don’t know
I’m just scared
YOUNG MAN
You are here
I am here
We are here
It’s just the two of us here
so come now
come to me now
YOUNG WOMAN
But I am scared
It’s true
YOUNG MAN
You mustn’t be scared
I am here
You are here
There’s nothing
to be scared of
YOUNG WOMAN
But
yes
yes it feels in a way
yes
in a way
it doesn’t feel
as if it’s right
that we’re here
and there’s something here
YOUNG MAN
Not right
YOUNG WOMAN
No
no because
the land threatens
in a way
with its mountains
but you can’t say things like that
the land threatens
with its mould
YOUNG MAN
Don’t be silly
The mould threatens
THE SHADOW
I am here
I am here always
FIRST VOICE
I am here
SECOND VOICE
I am
here
always
YOUNG MAN
Everything’s fine
We’re here
You’re here
I’m here
It’s just the two of us here
THE SHADOW
I am here
And I shall always be here
I follow everything
I am part of everything
YOUNG WOMAN
But something’s here
Something’s looking at us
YOUNG MAN
No
no just you and I
are here
come to me now
Alright then
Do you want me to go
I can go if you like
YOUNG WOMAN
No don’t go
I don’t mean it like that
You mustn’t go
It’s not like that
YOUNG MAN
But come then
No
You don’t want to
YOUNG WOMAN
Yes
YOUNG MAN
Don’t be so silly
Always us
you know that
from now on
always us
right
YOUNG WOMAN
Yes
YOUNG MAN
Always us
YOUNG WOMAN
Always you and me
YOUNG MAN
You and me
YOUNG WOMAN
Always you and me
I’m not scared
now
not now
it’s true
truly
YOUNG MAN
You’re no longer scared
YOUNG WOMAN
No
no I’m calm now
because
for when you held me
when we kissed each other
yes then I felt it
yes that I was no longer scared
and that here
here we can be
I felt it so clearly
I saw it so clearly
YOUNG MAN
Always us
YOUNG MAN
Always us
always you and me
THE SHADOW
I am here
I am the blue movements
in the sky
the vanishing movements
I am here
I am the sky
I am the shimmering
deep down inside you
I am the ocean
FIRST VOICE
I am here
SECOND VOICE
Always am I here
and everything else
comes
goes away
FIRST VOICE
Comes
Goes away
SECOND VOICE
Is there
Goes away
FIRST VOICE
But we shall always be here
SECOND VOICE
Here where it
comes
disappears
comes
goes away
THE SHADOW
You must always be here
YOUNG WOMAN
But
there’s something here
something that’ll make us
disappear
and it’s vast
THE SHADOW
I am the sky
I am the blue
disappearing
movements
in the sky
I am there always
I am the wind
YOUNG MAN
There
can you see
YOUNG WOMAN
Yes
YOUNG MAN
Everything’s gone so fast
YOUNG WOMAN
Yes
yes where did those years go
Where have the years gone
YOUNG MAN
I don’t understand it
YOUNG WOMAN
And our children
YOUNG MAN
they’ve grown up already
they live their own lives
But can’t you see
Look
YOUNG WOMAN
I can see
YOUNG MAN
Where are you going
you mustn’t leave me
you mustn’t go away
THE SHADOW
I am here
I am here always
FIRST VOICE
I’m always here
SECOND VOICE
I’m here
YOUNG MAN
But
why are you leaving
You can’t just leave me
You and I
we’ve been together for so long
And we’ve
loved each other
And we’ve been happy
Haven’t we
We’ve been good to each other
you and I
haven’t we
we’ve looked after each other
our children
each other
SECOND VOICE
It comes
and goes away
FIRST VOICE
But we are here
We are here always
SECOND VOICE
We must always be here
OLD MAN
Everything’s so long ago
And everything’s
now
in a way
and she’s gone
and she’s here
in a way
still
no
no she’s gone
And only I am here
And I don’t want to
be here any longer
not now
I don’t want to be alone
She has to be here
she as well
as always
as always before
Because we
because she and I
the two of us were here
not me
and now
now it’s me
just me
and as me
as just me
I’ve never
belonged here
I came here
I was here
because she was here
I was here too
and now
THE SHADOW
I am here
Always am I here
SECOND VOICE
I’m here
FIRST VOICE
I’m here
OLD MAN
and everything’s
so long ago
and everything’s
just now
because we were always here
she and I
and then
and then
she was gone
we were here
all those days
all those nights
all those years
FIRST VOICE
But why must we always
be here
SECOND VOICE
We must be here
OLD MAN
I’m just here
We were just here
And then it was just me
yes who was here
THE SHADOW
I am here
I am here always
SECOND VOICE
Everything comes
goes away
FIRST VOICE
But we’ll always be here
OLD MAN
And I don’t want to be here any longer
I can’t be here
not now
not alone
I don’t belong
yes here
in this
And why doesn’t she come
I can’t
Where is she
Why don’t you come
come
please
where are you
FIRST VOICE
Was this the land
from our dream
SECOND VOICE
Perhaps this was
the land from our dream
FIRST VOICE
This was the land from our dream
OLD MAN
Why don’t you come
please come
Why are you gone
Why don’t you come
No
No I don’t want to anymore
for now
yes now
yes I’ve been here
long enough
I’ve looked
long enough
at this fjord
these shores
these islands
these mountains
And why is she gone
why did she just go away
for ever gone
But is she gone
or
and now she must come
why don’t you come
But there you are
it’s so good to see you
I’m glad you’re here
I’m glad you came
OLD WOMAN
Of course I come
I always come
Because I know
you don’t like to be alone
OLD MAN
Yes
OLD WOMAN
Yes
yes I know that
But now I’m here
Now I came
OLD MAN
Yes
thank you
Thank you for coming
OLD WOMAN
Are you hurting
are you in pain again today
OLD MAN
No
no it’s not that
OLD WOMAN
No
OLD MAN
It’s good to see you again
OLD WOMAN
You too
And here everything’s
yes the way it’s always
been
OLD MAN
I suppose it is
OLD WOMAN
And here you and I have been
yes for all those years
OLD MAN
Yes
yes we stayed here
you and I
OLD WOMAN
We’ve been here
for so very
many years
OLD MAN
That’s how it turned out
yes
THE SHADOW
This is earth
and mould
This is rock
and sea
This is air
and wind
OLD MAN
We were here
And then you were gone
OLD WOMAN
I’m gone
and I’m here
OLD MAN
Yes
OLD WOMAN
But now I’m
here with you
OLD MAN
And you must be here
OLD WOMAN
I will
I’ll always be
with you
OLD MAN
And I will
yes
I’ll disappear in this
the way you have disappeared
the way you are gone
OLD WOMAN
Yes
OLD MAN
I want to be gone in this
I want to be gone in all this
I
I
I like them
like all of them
I just like them
like you’re gone
I want to be gone too
like all those
who have been here before me
have existed here
lived here
they have all disappeared
all are gone
forever gone
my father
my mother
my grandfather
my grandmother
All of them
All of them are gone
all of them have disappeared
here
here in this landscape
have they disappeared
OLD WOMAN
And they have become
this landscape
OLD MAN
and now
now
now
no I don’t want to any longer
I don’t want to anymore
because where are you
THE SHADOW
You must come now
We’re going now
OLD MAN
I don’t want to any longer
I don’t want to any longer
no longer
be the one who sees
I see
I’m the eyes that see
And I don’t want to see
And were are you
I’m waiting for you
always
I miss you
OLD WOMAN
I’m here
You can see that
I’m here
I’m here with you
THE SHADOW
You must come now
OLD MAN
I’ve seen enough
I look and look
I am these eyes
that see
everything
and I see
and always all this talk
always I just talk
Talk and talk
OLD WOMAN
And now it’s just you
who are left here
OLD MAN
Yes
THE SHADOW
But come now
You must come now
What are you waiting for
Why don’t you come
OLD MAN
I don’t want to be here any longer
OLD WOMAN
But
OLD MAN
Yes
OLD WOMAN
But
yes do you remember when we met
here
when we got together
you and I
do you remember
OLD MAN
Yes
yes of course
OLD WOMAN
Always you and I
do you remember
OLD MAN
Yes
yes I remember
OLD WOMAN
Always you and I
Now don’t you forget that
OLD MAN
No
no I won’t
forget that
THE SHADOW
You must come now
OLD WOMAN
You and I
always you and I
OLD MAN
Yes
OLD WOMAN
Yes
And here where there was
so much life so much noise
our children
OLD MAN
Yes
OLD WOMAN
And now it’s quiet
OLD MAN
Yes
And you
you were just gone
left me
were gone
OLD WOMAN
Now everything
is quiet
but
but the islands
and the fjord
and out there
the ocean
are still the same
and the mountains
they are still the same
OLD MAN
And may it always be like that
OLD WOMAN
That’s the way it is
and the way it shall be
OLD MAN
Yes may it always be
OLD WOMAN
You’re not feeling well today
OLD MAN
No
No I don’t suppose I am
not quite
OLD WOMAN
You’ll get better
you wait
OLD MAN
I’ll get better
yes perhaps
OLD WOMAN
It always gets better
And we should be
yes be happy
that we have each other
you and I
OLD MAN
But I’m alone
You’re not here any longer
OLD WOMAN
Always you and I
you old thing
you good thing
OLD MAN
Good old thing
OLD WOMAN
You good old thing
OLD MAN
And you
you good thing
OLD WOMAN
Good thing
THE SHADOW
But you must come now
You can’t be here any longer
come now
come then
OLD WOMAN
Good thing
Good old thing
it’ll be fine
you’ll see
and I’m here with you
I am
OLD MAN
Yes
OLD WOMAN
Even when I’m not here with you
I still am
OLD MAN
Yes
yes perhaps
you are
OLD WOMAN
Good thing
you good thing
and we who were
so young
so young
and so vulnerable
fumbling
insecure
OLD MAN
Were we vulnerable
OLD WOMAN
Yes
you remember
OLD MAN
Yes
But
I’ve nothing more to say
OLD WOMAN
No
but does anything need to be said
OLD MAN
No
no perhaps not
OLD WOMAN
Nothing
needs to be said
OLD MAN
No
But
are you alright
OLD WOMAN
Yes
yes I’m alright
OLD MAN
And you’re never scared anymore
OLD WOMAN
I’m never scared anymore
THE SHADOW
You must come now
OLD MAN
I don’t understand
that you’re gone
and then suddenly
you’re there
again
OLD WOMAN
That’s just how it is
OLD MAN
I can’t understand it
OLD WOMAN
No
OLD MAN
No place
No thing
OLD WOMAN
No place
No thing
And one place
And one thing
OLD MAN
I’m tired
And I no longer want
to be here
OLD WOMAN
Yes
yes you shall be here
you shall be here
with me
always
always here
you and I
you and I together
for ever
anything else
anything else is unthinkable
anything else doesn’t exist
you
you and I
always you and I
And you see
I’m here now
OLD MAN
I don’t want to be alone
OLD WOMAN
But I’m here
THE SHADOW
You must come now
OLD MAN
Are you tired
OLD WOMAN
Yes
OLD MAN
But
my dear
my good old thing
you mustn’t go away from me
OLD WOMAN
I’m always here
OLD MAN
I’m always alone
OLD WOMAN
I’m always
where you are
OLD MAN
But I don’t want to be here any longer
I don’t want to
OLD WOMAN
You mustn’t say things like that
OLD MAN
I’ve been here for so long
OLD WOMAN
We must be here
You and I must be here
OLD WOMAN
I’m where you are
I’m always
where you are
always you and I
OLD MAN
I don’t know what to say
I don’t know what to do
THE SHADOW
I am here
Always am I here
FIRST VOICE
I’m here
I’m always with you
SECOND VOICE
I’m here always
I am you
I am the world
OLD MAN
I don’t want to be here any longer
I’ve been here long enough
THE SHADOW
I am waiting
You must come now
I am waiting for you
I am the sky
FIRST VOICE
We are always here
SECOND VOICE
Must we always be here
THE SHADOW
You must always be here
SECOND VOICE
We are here
where it comes
goes away
FIRST VOICE
They come
Disappear
SECOND VOICE
Are here
Go away
FIRST VOICE
But we must always be here
SECOND VOICE
Come
Go away
FIRST VOICE
Are born
SECOND VOICE
Are here
FIRST VOICE
Go away
SECOND VOICE
And we
we are in them
they are us
and we are them
we shall never be gone
We will never go
We are always here
FIRST VOICE
Always
SECOND VOICE
We are always here
Because we are in them
FIRST VOICE
And we shall be in them
Always be in them
We shall never go
SECOND VOICE
How can we ever go
FIRST VOICE
They come
They go away
SECOND VOICE
Come
Go away
SECOND VOICE
We are in them
We’ll never go away
FIRST VOICE
Can we never disappear
SECOND VOICE
We cannot disappear
FIRST VOICE
It cannot be like that
SECOND VOICE
It is like that
And it
comes
goes away
FIRST VOICE
They go away
SECOND VOICE
We are
the ocean
the sky
and the earth
FIRST VOICE
We are the world
But is it too late
to return
to the ocean
and to the sky
SECOND VOICE
Yes
yes it’s too late
FIRST VOICE
We cannot return
to the ocean
and to
SECOND VOICE
We’re here now
where it comes
goes away
FIRST VOICE
But I don’t want to be here
SECOND VOICE
where it comes
goes away
FIRST VOICE
I long for the ocean
I want to return to the ocean
And to the sky
SECOND VOICE
But that’s not possible
You cannot return
to the ocean
because the ocean is no longer for us
And the sky is no longer
for us
But look
they
come
go away
They live here
They live
They come
They go away
OLD MAN
I’m just here
And everything that has ever been
is here
And everything’s gone
THE SHADOW
You must come now
FIRST VOICE
But this is not where
I belong
SECOND VOICE
We are here
where it comes
goes away
We are here always
FIRST VOICE
And the ocean
is in our eyes
SECOND VOICE
And the sky is
in our eyes
FIRST VOICE
And we are the world
SECOND VOICE
We are the world
Characters
LONELY MAN
FIRST WOMAN
FIRST MAN
SECOND WOMAN
SECOND MAN
LONELY WOMAN
LONELY MAN
I am not all that old
but it feels
as if I
have been here a long time
and the same thing that has happened before
happens again
and you have to be somewhere
and now I am here
and I may as well
be here
as anywhere else
because it is not possible
not to be anywhere
everyone has to be somewhere
It’s not possible
not to be anywhere
And so I’ve been here
Everyone has to be somewhere
And it’s good to be here
everything is as it should be
here
and of course I’ve been waiting for someone
I could say that I chose
to live alone
but that’s not true
I have never chosen it
that’s just how it has turned out
that’s just how it turned out
because it’s not good to be alone
I am alone
and alone is what I
will be
FIRST WOMAN
Always here
Always am I here
And still I am
somewhere else
LONELY MAN
I am here
FIRST WOMAN
I am here
And I am
somewhere else
LONELY MAN
I’m here somehow
and I understand so little
and I don’t know
either
if I want to understand
FIRST WOMAN
I am here
And I’m not here
And he is here
LONELY MAN
I am here
FIRST WOMAN
I’m alone
I’m alone
even if he is here
and I’m so small
I’m a little girl
in a yellow raincoat
And my hair hangs straight down
I’m big
I want to be big
I’m wearing
a yellow raincoat
I’m looking
at someone
is it my father
I’m looking at
is it my brother
LONELY MAN
I
yes I wonder
yes
yes we have
been here a long time
haven’t we
I think we’ve been here a long time
yes
yes that’s what it feels like
but
but I don’t think we can say
yes
yes that we know each other
FIRST WOMAN
No
No we don’t
I don’t know you
LONELY MAN
No
no we don’t know
each other
FIRST WOMAN
We haven’t seen
each other before
or have we
LONELY MAN
I don’t think so
No I don’t think we’ve
seen each other before
FIRST WOMAN
No
No I don’t think we’ve seen each other
before now
LONELY MAN
No
no I don’t think so
FIRST WOMAN
I don’t think
so either
LONELY MAN
No
No I think that’s right
FIRST WOMAN
But there you are
LONELY MAN
I’ve been here
for some time
FIRST WOMAN
I’m glad you came
LONELY MAN
I am here
and everyone has to be somewhere
no one can be
nowhere
FIRST WOMAN
Dear
my dear
friend
I’m glad you finally came
but say something
then
don’t just stand there
Please say something
Please come
Why don’t you want to come
FIRST MAN
I’ll come
FIRST WOMAN
Well come then
FIRST WOMAN
I am here
but it’s as if
I’m still
not here
FIRST MAN
Yes
I’m here now
but you
you
just left
FIRST WOMAN
Yes well I had to
FIRST MAN
You could’ve waited
and not left me
FIRST WOMAN
But I had to leave
FIRST MAN
I don’t like to be alone
FIRST WOMAN
No
FIRST MAN
I don’t like it
when you just leave
FIRST WOMAN
But
I had to leave
FIRST MAN
Yes
FIRST WOMAN
But now we’re together
now we’re at
our place
FIRST MAN
Yes
but
FIRST WOMAN
What do you want to say
FIRST MAN
No nothing
LONELY MAN
Yes we are here
yes
and I suppose we have to
yes just be here
yes I mean
yes once we’re here
then we are here
yes
yes somehow
FIRST MAN
So you’ve been here a long time
LONELY MAN
Yes
yes quite long
FIRST WOMAN
Yes
LONELY MAN
That’s how it is
yes
FIRST WOMAN
I suppose it is
LONELY MAN
Yes
FIRST WOMAN
Must be
SECOND WOMAN
Good to be here
SECOND MAN
Yes
yes it is
SECOND WOMAN
But why are you just standing there
SECOND MAN
I’m thinking about a girl I saw
today
she was standing there alone
in a yellow raincoat
her hair was hanging straight down
she was so small
and so big
and so totally worn out
and next to her stood a man
with grey work gloves
SECOND WOMAN
Was it her father
SECOND MAN
Perhaps it was her father
I don’t know
SECOND WOMAN
Or perhaps it was her brother
SECOND MAN
Yes
SECOND WOMAN
What was wrong with her
SECOND MAN
I don’t know
SECOND WOMAN
You can picture her
SECOND MAN
Yes
SECOND WOMAN
Why
SECOND MAN
It’s just an
an image
but it’s full
of something
SECOND WOMAN
Of something sad
SECOND MAN
Yes
SECOND WOMAN
It’s very sad
SECOND MAN
Yes
SECOND WOMAN
Why
SECOND MAN
I only know
that it’s sad
SECOND WOMAN
Yes
But don’t just stand there
then
why don’t you come
SECOND MAN
I’ll come
SECOND WOMAN
So come then
SECOND MAN
I’ll come
SECOND WOMAN
So come then
you
you must come
because
yes it gets so lonely
yes
being here
on my own
come
won’t you
won’t you come to me
because
yes you and I
we
yes
we belong together
and it has been you and I
for so long
us
us two
you and I
so come
why don’t you come
SECOND MAN
Yes
but I
SECOND WOMAN
Yes
SECOND MAN
No it was nothing
SECOND WOMAN
Don’t think about
that girl anymore
about the girl you saw today
about the girl in a yellow raincoat
And it’s nice here
it’s snug
isn’t it
SECOND MAN
Yes
yes it is
SECOND WOMAN
And nice
SECOND MAN
Yes
Yes it’s nice here
SECOND WOMAN
Nice and light
SECOND MAN
Light
SECOND WOMAN
Yes don’t you think
SECOND MAN
Perhaps
SECOND WOMAN
I think
yes
yes that it’s nice and light here
It is isn’t it
SECOND MAN
Perhaps
SECOND WOMAN
It is
SECOND MAN
Yes
SECOND WOMAN
But why don’t you
yes touch me
touch me a little
hold me
hold my hand
hold my hand a little
why don’t you
why don’t you want to
you must do it
no
no alright
Thank you
thank you that feels good
Thank you
thank you my friend
thank you so much
FIRST WOMAN
But listen
FIRST MAN
Yes
FIRST WOMAN
No it was nothing
FIRST MAN
No
FIRST WOMAN
I am not here
somehow
even if I am here
FIRST MAN
You’re somewhere else
FIRST WOMAN
Yes
yes in a way
FIRST MAN
But you’ve been here
for so long
we’ve been here
for so long
FIRST WOMAN
hesitates
Yes
but that girl
she
FIRST MAN
Who do you mean
FIRST WOMAN
The girl
FIRST MAN
Yes
FIRST WOMAN
Her
FIRST MAN
Yes
FIRST WOMAN
The one who came alone
FIRST MAN
Yes
FIRST WOMAN
Did you know her
FIRST MAN
No
FIRST WOMAN
You didn’t
FIRST MAN
No
FIRST WOMAN
But then
yes
yes why did you nod
to her then
FIRST MAN
I didn’t nod to her
FIRST WOMAN
Yes
yes you did
FIRST MAN
No
I don’t think I nodded
to her
FIRST WOMAN
You know her
She kept looking at you
FIRST MAN
Who
FIRST WOMAN
That girl
her
the one who came alone
FIRST MAN
No
FIRST WOMAN
Yes
FIRST MAN
No I didn’t know her
FIRST WOMAN
So you say
FIRST MAN
Yes
FIRST WOMAN
But I saw it
of course
yes
yes that you know her
I could see it on her
FIRST MAN
How could you see it
Because I don’t know her
FIRST WOMAN
You just see things like that
I saw it in the way
she looked at you
And of course you nodded to her
FIRST MAN
No
FIRST WOMAN
No
Why do you say no
FIRST MAN
Because I didn’t know her
FIRST WOMAN
Why do you say that
FIRST MAN
Why I say that
FIRST WOMAN
I could see it on her
yes in her eyes
that she knew you
FIRST MAN
You could see it
FIRST WOMAN
Yes
FIRST MAN
How can you see
things like that
FIRST WOMAN
I just did
You just do
And you didn’t nod
to her
FIRST MAN
No
no I didn’t
I don’t think
I nodded to her
FIRST WOMAN
How do you know her
FIRST MAN
I don’t know her
You mustn’t be so scared
You don’t need to be scared
FIRST WOMAN
No
And you
SECOND WOMAN
But
SECOND MAN
Yes
SECOND WOMAN
but
yes why
SECOND MAN
why are we standing here
holding hands
SECOND WOMAN
Don’t you want to
hold my hand
SECOND MAN
Yes
yes I want to
yes of course
SECOND WOMAN
Why did you say that then
SECOND MAN
I just said it
SECOND WOMAN
Yes
FIRST MAN
I wonder
FIRST WOMAN
Yes
FIRST MAN
Yes
Yes if this could be wrong
yes if something isn’t
what it should be
It suddenly struck me
FIRST WOMAN
That something is wrong
FIRST MAN
Yes
FIRST WOMAN
I too think
something is wrong
FIRST MAN
I don’t know
But something is wrong
somehow
yes
yes something is not quite right
I shouldn’t be here
somehow
and it’s
FIRST WOMAN
You think that
FIRST MAN
Yes
FIRST WOMAN
We are here
We live here
We’ve been here a long time
FIRST MAN
Yes
FIRST WOMAN
And I suppose it’s
yes neither
right nor wrong
FIRST MAN
No
FIRST WOMAN
And then it’s wrong
all the same
FIRST MAN
Perhaps
FIRST WOMAN
Yes
LONELY MAN
Well once
FIRST MAN
Yes
But
yes
yes do you know
yes by the way
yes if this is right
LONELY MAN
If this is right
FIRST MAN
Yes
LONELY MAN
No
No I cannot know that
FIRST MAN
No
LONELY MAN
That’s just
how it is
FIRST MAN
Yes
yes of course
LONELY MAN
Of course
yes
FIRST WOMAN
So that’s how it is
LONELY MAN
Yes
FIRST WOMAN
And you
why are you standing there
why are you here
LONELY MAN
I’m just here
FIRST WOMAN
You’re just here
somehow
LONELY MAN
Yes
FIRST WOMAN
And why are you tricking us
LONELY MAN
I’m not tricking you
FIRST WOMAN
Yes you’re tricking us
LONELY MAN
No
no I’m not tricking anyone
FIRST WOMAN
No
You’re just standing there
you were just standing there
you’re just standing there
yes
somehow
yes to trick us
LONELY MAN
To trick you
no
no not at all
FIRST WOMAN
You trick people
do you
LONELY MAN
No
no of course not
FIRST WOMAN
For if that’s how you are
LONELY MAN
No
no not at all
Why are you saying that
yes
yes that I’ve tricked you
FIRST WOMAN
Is that how you are
LONELY MAN
No of course not
why should I want to do that
why would I wish for it to be like that
why want it
to be like that
FIRST WOMAN
No I don’t know
I don’t know why people are like that
why you are like that
LONELY MAN
Of course not
FIRST WOMAN
And that you are like that
LONELY MAN
Yes
FIRST WOMAN
I don’t understand it
Because I’ve always tried to do
what I should do
that’s what I’ve always done
I just want to be
yes with the others
LONELY MAN
I suppose that’s how we are
that’s how everyone is
FIRST WOMAN
And then you just turn away
Listen
I’m talking to you
I’m standing here talking to you
and you just turn away
you turn away from me
Excuse me
But
yes
yes isn’t it awful how terrible
people can be
to each other
SECOND MAN
Yes it’s
SECOND WOMAN
So someone has behaved badly
towards you
FIRST WOMAN
Yes
SECOND WOMAN
But you don’t want to talk about it
SECOND MAN
No I don’t think I feel like
talking about it
maybe
FIRST WOMAN
No it’s nothing to talk about
SECOND MAN
No of course not
SECOND WOMAN
No it can’t be very nice to talk about it
But that woman
SECOND MAN
Yes
SECOND WOMAN
Yes
yes why does she talk like that
what’s wrong with her
SECOND MAN
What’s wrong with her
SECOND WOMAN
Yes
yes why is she like that
SECOND MAN
I don’t know
SECOND WOMAN
Was she quite
right in the head
And you
why did you look at her
like that
SECOND MAN
Did I look at her
SECOND WOMAN
Yes
yes at her
the one standing there
over there
and you nodded to her
SECOND MAN
I looked at her
I nodded to her
SECOND WOMAN
Yes
SECOND MAN
Did I
SECOND WOMAN
Do you know each other
yes
from before
yes in some way
SECOND MAN
No
No I don’t know her
SECOND WOMAN
No
SECOND MAN
No
no I don’t think so
SECOND WOMAN
But you nodded to her
SECOND MAN
No
No I didn’t
SECOND WOMAN
No I can’t take this
I don’t want to be here any longer
I’m just here
I get scared
I am scared
and you
you don’t even want to
hold my hand
and why am I so scared
Tell me
you tell me
tell me
tell me why I’m so scared
why am I always
so scared
SECOND MAN
I don’t know why
you are scared
SECOND WOMAN
But I am scared
all of me
is scared
It’s as if
everything solid
is loose
inside me
I am scared
all of me
is scared
And I am loose
and I tremble
all of me trembles
and you
you were just there
suddenly you just came
were just there
suddenly you were there
were just there
and now you stand there
straight up and down
somehow you just stand there
straight up and down
and look and look
as if you don’t
see anything
and then you see a
and then you nod to her
you just stand there like that
why do you stand there like that
why don’t you want to hold my hand
why are we standing here like this
why are we here
no we must
no we can’t just be here
we must be somewhere else
I am so scared
SECOND MAN
You mustn’t be scared
SECOND WOMAN
But I am scared
SECOND MAN
It’s not dangerous
Nothing is dangerous
SECOND WOMAN
How can you know that
yes that it’s not dangerous
For I am scared
I am scared of something
SECOND MAN
Yes
SECOND WOMAN
I don’t want to be scared
But
yes
yes tell me something
say something to me
why don’t you
SECOND MAN
Once
there
SECOND WOMAN
I want to hear
I want you to tell me
SECOND MAN
That nothing is dangerous
SECOND WOMAN
Nothing is dangerous
SECOND MAN
No
SECOND WOMAN
What are you thinking about
SECOND MAN
Nothing
SECOND WOMAN
Yes
SECOND MAN
I’m thinking about something
then
SECOND WOMAN
You’re thinking about that girl
SECOND MAN
Yes
SECOND WOMAN
The girl in a yellow raincoat
SECOND MAN
Yes I am
She was so scared
To her
everything was so big
SECOND WOMAN
Yes
SECOND MAN
Life
was too big
or too small
perhaps she was too kind
too strange
too good
perhaps
SECOND WOMAN
No
Don’t just stand there
Don’t stand there like that
You just stand there
Don’t just stand there
FIRST WOMAN
What is he doing there
why is he standing there
like that
FIRST MAN
You tell me
FIRST WOMAN
Imagine just standing there
like that
Why do that
FIRST MAN
Yes
yes why is he standing there like that
he just stands there looking down
why is he doing that
FIRST WOMAN
I don’t understand it
I don’t understand
why people do the things they do
FIRST MAN
No
FIRST WOMAN
You’re just standing there
SECOND MAN
Yes
yes I suppose I am
FIRST WOMAN
Yes I saw you standing here
and then I thought
SECOND MAN
Yes
SECOND WOMAN
Yes why are you just
standing here
SECOND MAN
I don’t know
FIRST WOMAN
But
yes you and I
yes have we met each other before
It feels a bit like that
SECOND MAN
Perhaps
Could well be
FIRST WOMAN
But you don’t remember it
SECOND MAN
Not quite
no
FIRST WOMAN
I think we’ve met each other before
SECOND MAN
Yes
yes when you say it
FIRST WOMAN
How come you don’t remember
I remember
yes
yes that we’ve met before
SECOND MAN
Maybe
FIRST WOMAN
But you don’t remember me
SECOND MAN
Yes perhaps
yes let me think
you
you
you and I
FIRST WOMAN
Me and you
SECOND MAN
You and I
FIRST WOMAN
Yes you and I
SECOND MAN
You and I
we
FIRST WOMAN
No you don’t remember
SECOND MAN
I don’t seem to
FIRST WOMAN
Oh well then
SECOND WOMAN
So here you are
FIRST MAN
So you’re here too
It’s good to see you
LONELY WOMAN
Yes I’m here
I have to be
yes you know
yes you have to be somewhere
FIRST MAN
Yes
And you’re alone
LONELY WOMAN
I enjoy being alone
FIRST MAN
You like being alone
LONELY WOMAN
That’s not it
perhaps
but
yes
yes well I am alone
FIRST MAN
And we haven’t met before
LONELY WOMAN
I don’t think so
FIRST MAN
Or perhaps
LONELY WOMAN
Perhaps we have met before
FIRST MAN
But we don’t remember it
LONELY WOMAN
No
no in that case we’ve forgotten
SECOND WOMAN
I’m saying that here you are
and that it was nice to meet again
to see each other again
or wasn’t it
FIRST WOMAN
Yes
Yes it was nice
but you and I
yes have we met each other before
did we shake hands you and I
no I don’t think so
SECOND WOMAN
Let’s shake hands now
FIRST WOMAN
Yes now
now that we’ve met each other
SECOND WOMAN
Then we should
shake hands
FIRST WOMAN
Yes
yes let’s
SECOND WOMAN
Let’s shake hands
FIRST WOMAN
If you don’t want to shake hands
of course that’s fine too
SECOND WOMAN
Why should we shake hands
FIRST WOMAN
Well because
yes it’s what you do
when you meet someone
SECOND WOMAN
Yes you shake hands
FIRST WOMAN
You do don’t you
SECOND WOMAN
Yes
yes you do
FIRST WOMAN
But you don’t want to shake hands
SECOND WOMAN
I didn’t say that
FIRST WOMAN
Yes
SECOND WOMAN
Oh alright then
Why are you so nasty to me
FIRST WOMAN
I’m not nasty to you
SECOND WOMAN
Yes
yes you are
And why are you
FIRST WOMAN
I’m not
SECOND WOMAN
Yes you are
and I shall tell you
yes why you are
FIRST WOMAN
Yes
yes why don’t you
SECOND WOMAN
No I don’t want to
FIRST WOMAN
Just say it
just say what you were going to say
SECOND WOMAN
No
FIRST WOMAN
Yes say it
why don’t you say it
Oh look
look what she’s doing
SECOND MAN
Yes
FIRST WOMAN
And you think it’s fine
for her to do that kind of thing
but can’t you see
can’t you see
she and my husband
there
look
look there
look at what’s happening
don’t stand there without taking any notice
pay attention
you
yes you there
SECOND MAN
Yes
yes I see it
FIRST WOMAN
Is that fine with you
SECOND MAN
Fine and fine
FIRST WOMAN
It’s not fine with me
but you don’t pay attention to anything
you just stood there
and looked down
yes as usual
you don’t see anything
SECOND WOMAN
But what on
FIRST WOMAN
And you can say that
what are you doing
standing like that
he’s my husband
And you
you only have to clap eyes on someone
and
SECOND WOMAN
What’s wrong with you
FIRST WOMAN
What’s wrong with me
SECOND WOMAN
Yes what’s wrong with you
coming here
pulling me
yes
yes as if I was
yes just anyone
FIRST WOMAN
But he’s my husband
SECOND WOMAN
Your husband
FIRST WOMAN
Yes he is my husband
SECOND WOMAN
What are you doing here
FIRST WOMAN
What am I doing here
SECOND WOMAN
Yes what do you want
FIRST WOMAN
And you ask me that
What makes you ask me that
What gives you permission to ask me that
Do you know yourself
do you know what you’re doing here
SECOND WOMAN
Of course I know
FIRST WOMAN
He is my husband
SECOND WOMAN
Yes
FIRST WOMAN
Yes
SECOND WOMAN
Well how can anyone
how can anyone
become like you
FIRST WOMAN
Like you
like you yourself
you mean
But come
then
don’t just stand there
SECOND WOMAN
Oh stop it
FIRST WOMAN
Oh yes
I see
SECOND WOMAN
You
how can anyone
become like you
FIRST MAN
So you’re here
too
yes
SECOND MAN
Well yes
I am
FIRST MAN
And we’ll just have to
be here don’t we
SECOND MAN
There’s nothing else we can do
FIRST MAN
No we don’t have
a choice do we
SECOND MAN
No
not strictly speaking
we’ll just have to
SECOND MAN
Yes
that’s how it is
SECOND WOMAN
to The First Woman
And you
FIRST WOMAN
We
FIRST WOMAN
But
once
yes a long time ago
do you remember
SECOND WOMAN
What should I remember
FIRST WOMAN
You don’t remember anything
SECOND WOMAN
No
SECOND MAN
And you’re well
LONELY WOMAN
Yes as well I can be
SECOND MAN
That’s good to hear
LONELY WOMAN
Yes
yes everything’s fine
SECOND MAN
And you’re alone
LONELY WOMAN
Yes it seems that’s how it turned out
I’m alone it seems
but
but I’m fine
on my own
yes
SECOND MAN
Yes
all we can do is
keep going
FIRST MAN
Yes
But she’s just leaving
that woman
Did you know her
SECOND MAN
No
Or perhaps
And she’s just leaving
FIRST MAN
Yes
she’s just disappearing
she’s just leaving
SECOND MAN
Yes
yes she is
FIRST MAN
Yes
yes she’s just leaving
she’s just vanishing
she’s just disappearing
SECOND MAN
That was sad
yes that she was just leaving
FIRST MAN
Yes
SECOND MAN
She didn’t want to be here anymore
FIRST MAN
And why did she just leave
just disappear
FIRST WOMAN
But why are you leaving
you must wait
you mustn’t leave me
I didn’t mean to say anything wrong
to you
I just talk
I just say things
I just do things
yes
yes you know me
I talk and talk
I don’t mean anything with it
I don’t mean to hurt anyone
you mustn’t leave
you must come back
you mustn’t leave me
wait
wait for me
no
no don’t leave
don’t disappear
you mustn’t vanish
wait
I’m coming
I’m coming
please wait
SECOND WOMAN
He left
he just left
he just disappeared
he just vanished
FIRST WOMAN
Yes
yes he just left
he just disappeared
But imagine him just leaving
and I
I’m left here on my own
SECOND WOMAN
I’m so scared
FIRST WOMAN
He just left
LONELY MAN
And once
SECOND MAN
Once
LONELY MAN
Yes once
SECOND MAN
Once
yes
yes today
I saw a girl
in a yellow raincoat
LONELY MAN
Yes
SECOND MAN
She stood close to a man
with grey work gloves
FIRST WOMAN
And so I’m alone
because he
he just left
LONELY MAN
Yes
And you
don’t understand why
SECOND MAN
No
FIRST WOMAN
He just left
he disappeared
LONELY MAN
A girl
in a yellow raincoat
SECOND MAN
Yes
LONELY MAN
She just stood there
SECOND MAN
Yes
alone
a bit lost
perhaps
and her hair
was hanging straight down
LONELY MAN
And she was pale
SECOND MAN
Yes
SECOND WOMAN
I must go to my husband
I’m so scared
FIRST WOMAN
Yes
SECOND WOMAN
My husband’s waiting for me
FIRST WOMAN
I’m sure he is
SECOND WOMAN
Yes
FIRST WOMAN
But I
I too want to go to my husband
SECOND WOMAN
Yes
But
I must go
FIRST WOMAN
Yes
SECOND WOMAN
Yes
My husband’s waiting for me
FIRST WOMAN
Yes
yes I understand that
I too want to go to my husband
SECOND WOMAN
But can you do that
FIRST WOMAN
Why not
SECOND WOMAN
But where will you go
You can’t just go
Do you know where he is
where he went
he just left
he just disappeared
FIRST WOMAN
Perhaps
But how do you know
yes that he just left
SECOND WOMAN
No one was calling him
FIRST WOMAN
No
no not that I heard
SECOND WOMAN
Or was there someone
FIRST WOMAN
Perhaps there was someone
calling him
SECOND WOMAN
And no one came to get him
FIRST WOMAN
No
no not that I could see
SECOND WOMAN
He just left
FIRST WOMAN
He just left me
SECOND WOMAN
But how did he know
where he was going
FIRST WOMAN
Well
how would I know
SECOND WOMAN
He was your husband
FIRST WOMAN
Yes
SECOND WOMAN
But my husband’s waiting
so I must go
FIRST WOMAN
Yes of course you must
SECOND WOMAN
He’s waiting for me
FIRST WOMAN
But
yes do you remember
because it was you
wasn’t it you
yes it must’ve been you
do you remember that time
perhaps it was you
do you remember
when we
that time
when we were little
there in the rain
when we were girls
when we were little girls
when we were together
when we were together
in the rain
when we were such close friends
when we always wanted to be together
when we were inseparable
when it was always
you and me
always us
when we were always together
do you remember
SECOND WOMAN
Yes
yes it was you
and it was me
I remember
I remember everything
vividly
I remember the rain
I remember the sea
I remember the sky
FIRST WOMAN
That’s what I thought
yes that it was you
and now
now I’m sure
yes that
yes that it was you
Do you remember the rain
Do you remember how blue
the sea was
SECOND WOMAN
Yes
yes I remember us
you and I
there in the rain
there by the blue sea
And do you remember
how blue the sky was
FIRST WOMAN
Yes
yes I remember
I remember the rain
I remember the sea
I remember the sky
You and I
Always you and I
SECOND WOMAN
Always us
FIRST WOMAN
But look
Your husband
Look there
SECOND WOMAN
No don’t leave
You must wait for me
Why are you leaving
I get so scared
You mustn’t leave
I’m so scared
I’m always scared
You must wait for me
You must hold my hand
I am here
You mustn’t leave me
Wait
we came here together
we’re together
you
you and I
and we must be together
FIRST WOMAN
He just left
He too
just left
he just disappeared
he just vanished
SECOND WOMAN
Yes
He just left me
disappeared
vanished
he didn’t even say goodbye
He just left
FIRST WOMAN
Why do they just leave
Why do they just disappear
Did you say something to him
yes to my husband
did you tell him that he should go
SECOND WOMAN
No
No of course not
FIRST WOMAN
Are you sure
SECOND WOMAN
Yes of course
you were here yourself
you heard what I said
I didn’t say anything to him
to your husband
FIRST WOMAN
Yes
yes you did
now I know
now I understand
Now I know
SECOND WOMAN
No
FIRST WOMAN
Because earlier
didn’t you touch him
didn’t you stand there holding him
holding him tight
holding him
for a long time
didn’t you talk to him
didn’t you whisper something
to him
didn’t you ask him to leave
SECOND WOMAN
No not like that
FIRST WOMAN
Yes
yes I know it
yes now I understand it
SECOND WOMAN
No it’s not like that
and now at least
he is
gone
FIRST WOMAN
He just left
SECOND WOMAN
And they left
FIRST WOMAN
following her
SECOND WOMAN
They followed her
that’s how it is
And now we should
yes we can’t just
stay here
FIRST WOMAN
No
SECOND WOMAN
We should
LONELY MAN
A girl in a yellow raincoat
FIRST WOMAN
Did she look a little worn out
that girl
LONELY MAN
Yes
yes she looked a little worn out
FIRST WOMAN
And she just stood there
LONELY MAN
Yes
SECOND WOMAN
Did her hair hang straight down
LONELY MAN
Yes
yes it hung straight down
SECOND WOMAN
Were there people around her
LONELY MAN
Yes there were many people there
SECOND WOMAN
Was she pale
LONELY MAN
A little pale
and her eyes were a little scared
SECOND WOMAN
Do you know that girl
the one in the yellow raincoat
FIRST WOMAN
No
no I don’t think so
SECOND WOMAN
Me neither
FIRST WOMAN
But perhaps it was you
SECOND WOMAN
Or you
FIRST WOMAN
Perhaps it is me
SECOND WOMAN
Am I a girl
in a yellow raincoat
FIRST WOMAN
Am I a girl
in a yellow raincoat
who stands next to
a man
with grey work gloves
SECOND WOMAN
And there are many people around me
and now darkness is falling
it’s soon evening
and it’s a bit cold
and it’s raining
and I’m a bit cold
and I’m wearing a yellow raincoat
and I’m scared
a bit scared
a bit grown-up
and this
it’s just something I’m thinking
this
it’s just something I’m imagining
for this
FIRST WOMAN
And it mustn’t become dark
not now
because I mustn’t just stand there
in a yellow raincoat
and it mustn’t
become cold
And it’s soon evening
It’s raining
But he should come back soon
yes of course
of course he will
and the girl who stood there
a little scared
a little grown-up
and brave
and saw herself
as someone else
and as someone who is different
to the others
SECOND WOMAN
And then
And he
and the girl
And then
yes and then
and this
it’s
and the girl
the one who was here
she too just left
and she was here
and then she just left
just disappeared
just left
vanished
and now
I’m alone
And it’s dark
And I am a girl
in a yellow raincoat
I’m alone
And now
now
no
no
but I’m sure it’s right
I’m sure that’s how it
should be
I just came here
I’m just here
And I am
still
somewhere else
and that’s the way it is
everything’s the way it is
and cannot be changed
and that’s the way it is
night
day
light
dark
And it has to be the way it is
And it has neither colour nor smell
And it’s soon evening
It’s raining
And it’s nothing
But it
And then in
And where it goes
but then
yes
yes
yes and then
and then I suppose it was
yes
yes I suppose there’s
no one else here
or
is there someone here
are there many here
perhaps there are
many here
and then something quite different
or
just something different
I am here
It is raining
And I suppose I am
somewhere else
or
So
so there we were
we
I
I
we
were there
I
I yes
so we were
yes I
and so
yes
yes
yes it is
it’s chr
chr
chr
chr
chr
chr
chri
chri
chri
Christm
Christma
Christmas
Christmas E
Christmas Eve
and I have a Christmas tree
I shall have a Christmas tree
and I have a Christmas tree
I have a Christmas tree
I celebrate
as I shall
even if I’m alone
because I really want to
so I have a Christmas tree
and it’s a fine tree
look just look
look at the branches
look at the green
the brown
look
yes
yes look
look at the green
and at the brown
yes look at my Christmas tree
it’s a fine tree
it’s my tree
it’s my Christmas tree
well
yes I think it’s a fine Christmas tree
yes a fine tree
the way a Christmas tree should be
and that’s a fine thing
isn’t it
for I have got myself
a Christmas tree
and there
there’s the Christmas tree stand
my Christmas tree stand
there’s the Christmas tree stand
for my Christmas tree
and the Christmas tree goes into the Christmas tree stand
because of course the Christmas tree
must have a Christmas tree stand
A Christmas tree in a Christmas tree stand
A Christmas tree and a Christmas tree stand
and now it’s time to celebrate
with a Christmas tree
in a Christmas tree stand
and the Christmas tree must be decorated
and all mothers
and all children
shall be happy
around my Christmas tree
for a Saviour is born to you
A Saviour is born to you
but
I can imagine
that is if I’ll be able to
that maybe
yes that you
you my Christmas tree
yes would have been better off
there in your soil
in your soil
in your mould
in your light
in your weather
and in whatever it is
you were in
yes
than here with me
in my Christmas tree stand
you green and brown tree
with me
in my Christmas tree stand
yes green
green
green
and brown
brown
brown
and a Saviour is born to you
A Saviour is born to me
and truly
truly
yes
yes
yes
yes truly a Saviour
is born to me
no
no there is no Saviour
No
No
there’s no Saviour
But the Christmas tree
yes it’s a fine tree
green
and brown
green
and brown
a Christmas tree
in a Christmas tree stand
a Christmas tree in my Christmas tree stand
so green
and brown
so green
and brown
a Christmas tree
in a Christmas tree stand
Characters
THE SHIPMASTER
THE GUITAR PLAYER
THE WOMAN
THE OLDER MAN
THE OLDER WOMAN
THE MAN
THE SHIPMASTER
I am the shipmaster
THE GUITAR PLAYER
Who are you
THE SHIPMASTER
I am the shipmaster
I told you
and I’ve told you so many times
and you’ve asked me about it
so many times
Why can’t you remember it
That I’m the shipmaster
THE GUITAR PLAYER
You are the shipmaster
THE SHIPMASTER
Yes
yes as I said
and now I’ve said it again
And I don’t mind saying it one more time
I am the shipmaster
And now
now you’ll remember it
and you won’t ask again
you remember it now
don’t you
THE GUITAR PLAYER
I’ll remember it now
You are the shipmaster
you’re the master of ships
THE SHIPMASTER
Yes
yes that’s right
I’m the master of ships
I’m the master
of this ship
THE GUITAR PLAYER
But is this a ship
THE SHIPMASTER
Yes
THE GUITAR PLAYER
But there’s no sea here
THE SHIPMASTER
We’re on the sea
we’re on board a ship
THE GUITAR PLAYER
No
no this can’t be a ship
And we’re not on the sea
THE SHIPMASTER
Yes
yes we are
We’re on a ship
We’re on the sea
Or
or
or perhaps we’re not perhaps
or
or are you and I
the only ones here
No
no of course not
I did tell you
yes that we’re on board a ship
And I am the shipmaster
And there are many people here
It’s a big ship
And on a big ship
there are many people
THE GUITAR PLAYER
And where are the others
THE SHIPMASTER
They are here
they’ll come soon
Because they are here
THE GUITAR PLAYER
But they’re not here now
THE SHIPMASTER
They are here
they’re on board the ship
yes
like you and me
THE GUITAR PLAYER
Yes
But I don’t see anyone
THE SHIPMASTER
They’re here just the same
there are many here
there are many many here
it’s not only you and me
who are here
if that’s what you think
your mother and your father
are here
yes for instance
and my mother
and my father
are here
many
many
all
yes some people are here
THE GUITAR PLAYER
It’s not like that
it’s only you and me
who are here
THE SHIPMASTER
And you think that’s what it’s like
THE GUITAR PLAYER
Yes
THE SHIPMASTER
Yes okay
THE GUITAR PLAYER
That’s what it’s like
it’s just you and me here
No one else
THE SHIPMASTER
I hear what you’re saying
THE GUITAR PLAYER
Of course you do
But
yes which ship are we on
which ship are you the master of
THE SHIPMASTER
I’m the master of this ship
THE GUITAR PLAYER
This ship
THE SHIPMASTER
Yes
THE GUITAR PLAYER
So this is a ship
THE SHIPMASTER
I’ve told you
I told you just now
THE GUITAR PLAYER
Yes
but still
THE SHIPMASTER
Yes
THE GUITAR PLAYER
Can we talk about something else
THE SHIPMASTER
About what
THE GUITAR PLAYER
I don’t know
Where the others are for instance
THE SHIPMASTER
Where the others are
THE GUITAR PLAYER
Yes
THE SHIPMASTER
The others are around
THE GUITAR PLAYER
Yes exactly
We are here
you and I
no one else is here
Yet there are others here somehow
somewhere around
And somehow
yes
we’re on a ship
But you’ve been on board many ships
THE SHIPMASTER
Yes
THE GUITAR PLAYER
You’ve been the master of many ships
THE SHIPMASTER
Yes
THE GUITAR PLAYER
Sailing on the seven seas
THE SHIPMASTER
Yes
yes on the seven seas
THE GUITAR PLAYER
But now you’re here
yes I mean
here
here where I am
And it’s not a ship
THE SHIPMASTER
Yes I’m here
THE GUITAR PLAYER
And you’re the master of ships
that sail the seven seas
THE SHIPMASTER
Yes I am
THE GUITAR PLAYER
But you can’t do that here
THE SHIPMASTER
But we are on a ship
we are on the sea
THE GUITAR PLAYER
But there’s no sea here
And this is no ship
THE SHIPMASTER
Well then
THE GUITAR PLAYER
Well
yes
yes perhaps we are on a sea
perhaps this is the sea
because we’re on the sea
right
isn’t that right
Perhaps that’s how it is
THE SHIPMASTER
Yes
yes that’s how it is
THE GUITAR PLAYER
Yes
THE SHIPMASTER
That’s what the sea’s like
THE GUITAR PLAYER
Yes
yes perhaps that’s how it is
THE SHIPMASTER
We’re on the sea
We’re on a ship
Or perhaps we’re not
Because there’s no one else here
and on a ship
there are many people
THE GUITAR PLAYER
There’s no one else here
THE SHIPMASTER
No
or perhaps
perhaps there are some others here
THE GUITAR PLAYER
But you just said
that that there were many here
that’s what you said
and you said
yes yes that we were on the sea
I don’t understand you
It was you who said we were on the sea
that we were on board a ship
You were so sure
just now
and then
yes finally
yes I believed you
yes I believed we were on the sea
that we were on board a ship
THE SHIPMASTER
Yes
And we are
We are on a ship
That’s how it is
I’m the shipmaster
and now we’re on the sea
And if you want
I can tell you where on the sea we are
how far north we are
how far east we are
THE GUITAR PLAYER
Are we northbound
I thought we were southbound
THE SHIPMASTER
You should know things like that
not think
Haven’t you been
on the sea before
THE GUITAR PLAYER
No
no I haven’t
THE SHIPMASTER
Yet you were so sure
that this is not the sea
THE GUITAR PLAYER
Yes
THE SHIPMASTER
You shouldn’t have been
so sure about it
I am the shipmaster
I am the master of ships
big ships
I have sailed ships
across the seven seas
big ships
little ships
through storms and calm waters
THE GUITAR PLAYER
Do you like the sea
THE SHIPMASTER
I like the sea
and I don’t like it
THE GUITAR PLAYER
Don’t you want to talk about it
THE SHIPMASTER
Yes
yes of course
THE GUITAR PLAYER
So answer me
say one or the other
THE SHIPMASTER
I like the sea
THE GUITAR PLAYER
Why do you like it
THE SHIPMASTER
It’s not possible to say
why I like it
THE GUITAR PLAYER
Why not
THE SHIPMASTER
Because the sea’s not like that
the sea is
yes
yes not something you like or don’t like
yes in a way
the sea is just something that is
and it is
yes a little like I am myself
it’s as calm and happy and beautiful
yes as the calm sea
can only be
and then it’s
tricky and tough
and furious
yes as only the sea can be
and then
yes quite commonly
it’s grey and cross
and minding its own business
yes that’s the way of the sea
THE GUITAR PLAYER
And is it like that here
THE SHIPMASTER
No
THE GUITAR PLAYER
But still
yes this place does look like
the sea
still we are on the sea
THE SHIPMASTER
Yes it does
Yes we are on the sea
THE GUITAR PLAYER
But here there are neither
storms nor calm waters
here there’s just nothing
THE SHIPMASTER
But that too is the way of the sea
yes
yes in its way
that’s what it’s like
Yes perhaps it is like that
That’s the way of the sea
And I’ve been on the sea
since I was quite young
THE GUITAR PLAYER
But why are you and I
the only ones here
THE SHIPMASTER
It’s not like that
THE MAN
I’m here
THE GUITAR PLAYER
No
no perhaps it’s not like that
THE SHIPMASTER
I am the master of ships
I sail on the seven seas
THE GUITAR PLAYER
I am the guitar player
THE MAN
But how nice to see you
I’ve been waiting for you
yes it feels as if
I’ve been waiting
all these years
and then
then you just stand there
yes so suddenly
THE WOMAN
Yes good to see you
THE MAN
To think we’d meet here
THE WOMAN
Do we know each other
THE MAN
Yes
yes I suppose we do
in a way at least
we know each other
THE WOMAN
Yes
yes you’re probably right
But we’ve never met each other before
THE MAN
No
no perhaps not
THE WOMAN
No we never have
met each other have we
THE MAN
Not like this
at least
but in another way
in its own way
we have known each other
THE WOMAN
Yes
yes perhaps
THE MAN
We’ve known each other
yes
yes in the sense
that we’ve always been looking for each other
THE WOMAN
Yes
THE MAN
Always
And now
now we’ve finally
found each other
THE WOMAN
Yes
THE MAN
Now we’ve found the way to each other
THE WOMAN
Yes
yes perhaps it is like that
THE MAN
It is like that
you mustn’t doubt
for if you doubt
yes
yes then it won’t be like that
THE WOMAN
Can it really be like that
THE MAN
Yes
Yes I
you
we
we decide ourselves
how it will be
THE WOMAN
But it can’t be like that
it’ll be what it’ll be
you and I
don’t decide
it’s not like that
THE MAN
You mustn’t say that
THE WOMAN
I shouldn’t say that
THE MAN
No
You mustn’t say that
not now
not when you and I
have found each other
have finally found the way to each other
Aren’t you happy
THE WOMAN
Yes
yes I’m very happy
THE SHIPMASTER
I am the shipmaster
THE GUITAR PLAYER
And I am the guitar player
THE SHIPMASTER
But why is there no one here
just you
just me
THE GUITAR PLAYER
There’s no one here
THE SHIPMASTER
No
THE OLDER MAN
I’m here
THE SHIPMASTER
We’re on a ship
and I’m the master of the ship
THE OLDER WOMAN
I’m here
THE GUITAR PLAYER
This is not a ship
THE SHIPMASTER
And who are you
THE GUITAR PLAYER
Who I am
I’ve told you so many times
I’ve told you who I am
I am the guitar player
THE SHIPMASTER
Yes
THE GUITAR PLAYER
I play the most beautiful guitar music
THE OLDER MAN
But there you are
THE OLDER WOMAN
I’m here
I’ve been here all the time
yes
THE OLDER MAN
Good
glad you’re here
I
yes I didn’t see you
I didn’t seem to notice you
THE OLDER WOMAN
But where are we
THE OLDER MAN
I don’t know
THE OLDER WOMAN
I don’t think I’ve been here before
THE OLDER MAN
No
no it doesn’t feel familiar
I don’t think I’ve been here before
or
THE OLDER WOMAN
Me neither
But it’s good that we’re here together
you and I
you and I
like always
THE OLDER MAN
But why are you just standing
there
so far away from me
THE OLDER WOMAN
I’m just standing here
THE OLDER MAN
Why don’t you come
over here to me
THE OLDER WOMAN
Yes okay
yes of course
I could do that of course
THE OLDER MAN
Why don’t you come then
THE OLDER WOMAN
Yes I’m coming
If you weren’t here with me
I’d have been very scared
because here
because here
I haven’t been here before
and it’s so
THE OLDER MAN
But I’m with you
I’ll always be with you
yes
THE OLDER WOMAN
It’s as if I’m waking up
and suddenly I’m somewhere else
THE OLDER MAN
Is this somewhere else
THE OLDER WOMAN
Yes
yes it is isn’t it
THE OLDER MAN
Yes
THE OLDER WOMAN
Yes
it is
THE OLDER MAN
This is nowhere somehow
and then somehow it’s still
somewhere
THE OLDER WOMAN
that is and that isn’t
at the same time
THE OLDER MAN
You’re just talking now
THE OLDER WOMAN
Just talking
THE OLDER MAN
Yes you’re just saying things
THE OLDER WOMAN
There’s nothing to see here
THE OLDER MAN
No
THE OLDER WOMAN
And is there someone here
THE OLDER MAN
It doesn’t feel like it
THE OLDER WOMAN
Can you see anyone
THE OLDER MAN
No
no no one
There’s no one here
just us
THE OLDER WOMAN
I’m scared
THE OLDER MAN
It doesn’t feel dangerous
THE OLDER WOMAN
No it can’t be dangerous
can it
THE OLDER MAN
This is just somewhere to be
There’s someone here
I think there’s someone here
THE OLDER WOMAN
Yes
THE SHIPMASTER
Oh Dad
Are you here
I haven’t seen you for a long time
Dad
And you
Mum
How lovely to see you again
THE OLDER WOMAN
Why don’t you come over here to me
THE OLDER MAN
Yes okay
THE OLDER WOMAN
Touch me
I’m so scared
I must feel that I’m here
that I’m awake
THE OLDER MAN
We are awake
THE OLDER WOMAN
We’re not dreaming
THE OLDER MAN
No
no not exactly
THE OLDER WOMAN
Please won’t you touch me
THE OLDER MAN
Yes okay
THE OLDER WOMAN
But well it’s
yes so long since he disappeared
vanished
yes
THE OLDER WOMAN
It’s not him
He’s not our son
You can see that
You can hear that
THE SHIPMASTER
But Dad
But Mum
Don’t you see me
Don’t you want to talk to me
THE OLDER MAN
Come let’s go
THE SHIPMASTER
But Mum
But Dad
don’t you see me
It’s me
Your son
Don’t you see me
THE OLDER MAN
We can’t stay here
We must go
THE OLDER WOMAN
No it wasn’t him
of course not
THE OLDER MAN
No
THE OLDER WOMAN
I should recognise
my own son
THE OLDER MAN
No
it wasn’t him
but why did he call me Dad
THE OLDER WOMAN
And me Mum
THE SHIPMASTER
But Mum
but Dad
don’t you see me
It’s me
It’s your son
THE OLDER MAN
Let’s go
THE OLDER WOMAN
Yes
Let’s leave this place
We can’t stay here
And why can’t he let up
he just keeps at it
THE OLDER MAN
He’s not my son
THE OLDER WOMAN
No
no of course not
THE SHIPMASTER
But Mum
but Dad
THE OLDER WOMAN
We can’t stay here
THE SHIPMASTER
Mum
THE OLDER MAN
We must go
THE SHIPMASTER
Dad
THE OLDER MAN
But where can we go
THE OLDER WOMAN
At least we have to go
THE SHIPMASTER
Mum Dad
I’m talking to you
don’t you see me
Me
your son
It was so good to see you again
But don’t you see me
Why don’t you answer me
I’m talking to you
but you don’t answer me
what’s wrong with you
THE OLDER WOMAN
Let’s go
THE OLDER MAN
Yes
yes let’s go
THE OLDER WOMAN
Because here
we can’t stay here any longer
THE SHIPMASTER
Mum Dad
THE OLDER WOMAN
I don’t like it here
we have to go
we have to be somewhere else
THE OLDER MAN
Yes
we’ll go now
we’ll go somewhere else now
THE OLDER WOMAN
Somewhere where it’s good to be
THE OLDER MAN
Yes
THE SHIPMASTER
I’m so happy to see you
And how nice that you finally wanted to come on board my ship
THE OLDER WOMAN
We must hurry up
We must get away from here
THE OLDER MAN
Where shall we go
THE OLDER WOMAN
There’s always somewhere
to go
THE OLDER MAN
But where
THE OLDER WOMAN
I don’t know
Don’t you know where we are
THE OLDER MAN
No
THE OLDER WOMAN
You don’t know
THE OLDER MAN
No
THE OLDER WOMAN
And how did we get here
THE OLDER MAN
Where were we before we came here
THE OLDER WOMAN
We would’ve been at home at our place
THE OLDER MAN
Yes
THE OLDER WOMAN
And now we’re here
THE OLDER MAN
And there are others here
And there are no others here
THE OLDER WOMAN
I’m scared
I just don’t like it here
THE OLDER MAN
But no matter where we look
and no matter where we go
yes everything’s the same
THE OLDER WOMAN
That’s how it is
THE OLDER MAN
I don’t think we can do anything
THE OLDER WOMAN
What do you mean
THE OLDER MAN
I don’t think we can do anything about it
Everything is the way it is
THE OLDER WOMAN
But then
then we must create something else ourselves
THE OLDER MAN
But can we do that
THE OLDER WOMAN
We can imagine it
as something else
THE OLDER MAN
Can we
THE OLDER WOMAN
Yes we can
THE OLDER MAN
How
THE OLDER WOMAN
We can imagine it differently
THE OLDER MAN
Yes
THE OLDER WOMAN
We can imagine
yes what it was like
yes when he
when our son
was born
his childhood years
what they were like
he was such a beautiful child
THE OLDER MAN
And such a friendly child
THE GUITAR PLAYER
But Dad
but Mum
it’s so good to see you again
THE OLDER WOMAN
And so good and kind
THE OLDER MAN
And so
yes what can I say
somehow there’s not much to say
what there was
is not something
somehow
that can be said
THE GUITAR PLAYER
Dad
Mum
Don’t you see me
Imagine seeing you here
it’s so unexpected
THE OLDER MAN
I can’t remember what he
yes our son
looked like when he was little
THE OLDER WOMAN
No all that’s left are pictures
faded pictures
blurry
almost gone
THE OLDER MAN
And our daughter
Somehow I can’t picture her
THE OLDER WOMAN
but good pictures
yes they are
good pictures
about to disappear
I see him
I see him lying there in his bed
he lies there sleeping
in his bed
yes like that
THE OLDER WOMAN
Yes
But what there is
yes it’s a little
yes
yes like being here
THE GUITAR PLAYER
But don’t you see me
Mum
Dad
I’m here
you son
I’m here
THE OLDER WOMAN
No it’s not like that
You mustn’t say that the picture of our son
is a little like being here
No
No you mustn’t say that
THE GUITAR PLAYER
Mum
Can’t you see me
don’t you see that I’m here
THE OLDER MAN
No
no I won’t say that
THE GUITAR PLAYER
And Dad
it’s so good to see you again
THE OLDER WOMAN
It’s not like that
THE OLDER MAN
No it’s not like that
But what is it
THE OLDER WOMAN
You’ve always been the strong one
you must know that
THE OLDER MAN
I
I’ve never been
the strong one have I
THE OLDER WOMAN
Yes you have
THE OLDER MAN
No that’s you
not me
you’ve been the strong one
always
THE OLDER WOMAN
You’re not who I think you are
THE OLDER MAN
What do you mean
THE OLDER WOMAN
You can’t be the good man
I married
and the man I’ve lived with
all my life
THE OLDER MAN
I can’t
THE OLDER WOMAN
You can’t be him
Because he wasn’t like that
he was always
my good support
he supported me
in everything
THE OLDER MAN
I have always supported you
And I’m supporting you as much as I can
THE OLDER WOMAN
Yes I’m sorry
I didn’t mean it like that
I’m tired
THE OLDER MAN
I’m tired
too
THE OLDER WOMAN
We’re both tired
THE OLDER MAN
We’re both old and tired
THE OLDER WOMAN
And soon we’ll sleep
THE OLDER MAN
Soon we’ll fall asleep
THE OLDER WOMAN
Sleep forever
THE OLDER MAN
Be gone
THE OLDER WOMAN
We shall soon sleep forever
and be gone
THE OLDER MAN
Sleep and sleep
and do you see
do you see
we’re not alone
do you see the woman who stands there
her
over there
do you see
don’t you see how much she looks like
you when you were young
don’t you see
THE OLDER WOMAN
No
THE OLDER MAN
Yes
yes the woman who stands over there
You see her
You must see her
THE OLDER WOMAN
Yes
yes
yes now I see her
THE OLDER MAN
Yes
THE OLDER WOMAN
But she doesn’t look like
yes like me when I was young
THE OLDER MAN
Yes she does
I can see it
I can see that she looks like
you when you were young
oh yes she does
THE OLDER WOMAN
No
no she can’t
THE OLDER MAN
Yes
yes she does
THE OLDER WOMAN
No
THE OLDER MAN
She’s so like you
that if I didn’t know it couldn’t be
I would’ve thought it was you
when you were young
THE OLDER WOMAN
Don’t talk like that
I get scared
You mustn’t say things like that
THE OLDER MAN
I think it must be you
THE OLDER WOMAN
Don’t look at her
Now she’s looking at us
THE OLDER MAN
Yes
THE OLDER WOMAN
And now she starts to walk towards us
THE OLDER MAN
But why does she do that
THE OLDER WOMAN
And we were alone here
THE OLDER MAN
There was no one else here
THE OLDER WOMAN
And now she’s walking towards us
THE OLDER MAN
We were all alone
but now she comes walking towards us
THE OLDER WOMAN
She mustn’t come
THE OLDER MAN
What does she want from us
We must go
THE WOMAN
Please don’t go
THE OLDER WOMAN
She’s talking to us
THE WOMAN
You mustn’t go
Mum
Dad
it’s me
THE OLDER WOMAN
What does she want from us
THE WOMAN
Wait
you can’t just leave me
THE OLDER MAN
I don’t understand what she wants from us
THE WOMAN
Please don’t go
Mum
Dad
THE OLDER MAN
I don’t know her
THE OLDER WOMAN
Me neither
THE WOMAN
Can’t you wait for me
Don’t just go
THE OLDER MAN
What does she want from us
THE OLDER WOMAN
I don’t understand
what she wants from us
THE WOMAN
Don’t just go
THE SHIPMASTER
I am the shipmaster
THE OLDER MAN
We can’t be here
THE OLDER WOMAN
No
we must be somewhere else
THE GUITAR PLAYER
And I am the guitar player
THE SHIPMASTER
You’re the guitar player
THE GUITAR PLAYER
Yes
THE SHIPMASTER
So that’s what you are
THE GUITAR PLAYER
Yes
yes and I’ve told you
yes so many times
I’ve been the guitar player
I am the guitar player
THE SHIPMASTER
So that’s what you’ve been
you’ve been the guitar player
THE GUITAR PLAYER
I am the guitar player
THE SHIPMASTER
So you are the guitar player
And what is it like
yes
yes your guitar music
THE GUITAR PLAYER
No
THE SHIPMASTER
No
you can’t just say no
THE GUITAR PLAYER
I don’t say it to be difficult
THE SHIPMASTER
So why do you say it
THE GUITAR PLAYER
Because I don’t know what to say
THE SHIPMASTER
It’s not like that or like that
THE GUITAR PLAYER
No
THE MAN
I love you
THE WOMAN
And I love you
THE MAN
I was always so alone
and then I met you
THE WOMAN
Yes
THE SHIPMASTER
It’s like the sea
THE GUITAR PLAYER
But
well
yes
yes like the sea is to you
yes that’s what the guitar music is to me
it’s just something that is
it is what is
in what there is
that’s what
yes that’s what the guitar music is like
and everything else
people
events
becomes what it is
yes because the guitar music
makes it like that
THE SHIPMASTER
So that’s how it is
THE MAN
But now we’ve met each other
THE WOMAN
Yes
yes now we’ve met each other
THE MAN
And it took such a long time
before I met you
THE WOMAN
Always alone
I was always alone
THE GUITAR PLAYER
I am the guitar player
and now I shall play
I play my guitar music
I play my guitar music
for anyone who wants to listen
do I play my guitar music
my whole life I’ve played
my guitar music
from when I was a kid
and to this day
THE MAN
You my best friend
you my very best friend
THE WOMAN
And you are my very best friend
THE MAN
You’re here
and I still
miss you
THE WOMAN
I’m here
I’m always here
But listen
listen to the beautiful
guitar music
THE SHIPMASTER
But where are the others
It’s not just you and me who are here
Is it
there are so many others on board
this ship
THE GUITAR PLAYER
I am the guitar player
THE SHIPMASTER
But there’s no one here
no one who’s listening
THE GUITAR PLAYER
We’re not alone
we can’t be alone
THE OLDER MAN
I’m here
THE SHIPMASTER
But no one’s here
no one’s listening
THE OLDER WOMAN
I’m here
THE SHIPMASTER
No one’s listening
It’s just you and me here
here on this ship
THE WOMAN
I’m here
I’m listening
THE SHIPMASTER
No one is here
And what’s become of the others
they have to be there
And we’ve been here for so long
that’s what it feels like
We’ve been here for so long
here on this ship
THE GUITAR PLAYER
I play my guitar music
and it’s everything
that is
a guitar music
my guitar music
I play my guitar music
THE SHIPMASTER
No one’s here
No one’s listening
THE GUITAR PLAYER
I am the guitar player
THE SHIPMASTER
I am the shipmaster
THE GUITAR PLAYER
No one’s here
THE SHIPMASTER
Is no one here
THE GUITAR PLAYER
No one’s here
THE WOMAN
I’m here
THE MAN
Finally
finally I’ve found you
THE WOMAN
I hear the most beautiful guitar music
THE MAN
Finally I found you
THE WOMAN
But don’t talk
you must listen
you must listen to the beautiful guitar music
THE MAN
Yes
but
but aren’t you happy
THE WOMAN
Yes
Yes I’m happy
THE MAN
And now we don’t need to be alone anymore
not you
not I
THE WOMAN
No
but listen
listen to the beautiful guitar music
THE MAN
Yes
THE WOMAN
You must listen
THE OLDER MAN
And then we were here
THE OLDER WOMAN
But where are we
THE OLDER MAN
Yes
yes where are we
THE OLDER WOMAN
I’m so scared
why don’t you come over here
THE OLDER MAN
Yes
THE OLDER WOMAN
I don’t know where we are
THE GUITAR PLAYER
I am the guitar player
I play the most beautiful
guitar music
I play the most beautiful
guitar music
that I am able to play
THE WOMAN
But listen
THE MAN
I’ll listen
THE WOMAN
Yes
yes listen to the beautiful guitar music
THE MAN
I’ll listen
THE WOMAN
He plays so well
THE MAN
Does he play well
THE WOMAN
Yes
yes it’s the loveliest guitar music
I’ve ever heard
THE OLDER WOMAN
I’m so scared
THE OLDER MAN
You mustn’t be scared
THE OLDER WOMAN
But I am scared
THE OLDER MAN
Come
come let’s go
THE SHIPMASTER
I am the shipmaster
THE GUITAR PLAYER
I am the guitar player
I play the most beautiful guitar music
THE WOMAN
You must listen
THE MAN
I’m listening
THE WOMAN
Listen to the most beautiful guitar music
THE MAN
But you mustn’t leave me
Don’t go
Can’t you wait for me
Don’t go
You mustn’t leave me
You can’t leave me
I was so happy to see you
happy that you came
that you’re here
that I finally
got to meet you
THE WOMAN
It’s the most beautiful guitar music
THE MAN
You mustn’t go
because finally
finally
I met you
THE WOMAN
You must listen
THE MAN
I don’t want to listen
to the guitar music
I want to be
in you
I want to be
in all that’s yours
THE WOMAN
Listen
listen to the guitar music
THE MAN
I want to listen to you
for you
for you
are so lovely
you’re the loveliest guitar music
You mustn’t go
THE WOMAN
Don’t talk
Listen
Listen to the guitar music
THE MAN
I can’t listen
to that
THE WOMAN
But it’s so beautiful
You play so beautifully
you play the most beautiful guitar music
You play the most beautiful guitar music
I have ever heard
THE SHIPMASTER
No
No
No
THE GUITAR PLAYER
No
THE MAN
You mustn’t go
I’m so happy
that I met you
THE GUITAR PLAYER
But imagine you being here
THE WOMAN
Yes
yes I don’t quite understand it
myself
but well
yes
yes well here I am
THE GUITAR PLAYER
So here we are
both you and I
THE SHIPMASTER
You know each other
THE GUITAR PLAYER
We seem to
THE WOMAN
We know each other
a little at least
at least we knew each other
yes a little
yes a long time ago
But you
yes you know each other
you and he
yes he
THE GUITAR PLAYER
No
THE SHIPMASTER
No we don’t
THE WOMAN
But why are you here
yes together
yes if you don’t know each other
THE SHIPMASTER
You may well ask
THE GUITAR PLAYER
You may well wonder
THE WOMAN
You must know
THE SHIPMASTER
Yes we must
but we don’t
THE GUITAR PLAYER
No we don’t know
THE SHIPMASTER
We are just here
THE GUITAR PLAYER
We just are here
THE SHIPMASTER
It just happened
THE GUITAR PLAYER
We just were here
THE SHIPMASTER
We just are here
THE GUITAR PLAYER
Yes
THE SHIPMASTER
And now you are here too
THE GUITAR PLAYER
You came here just now
THE WOMAN
Yes
THE SHIPMASTER
And it’s so good to see you
Aren’t you happy to see me
THE WOMAN
Why should I be
THE SHIPMASTER
No
no it’s just
just that I was so happy to see you
THE WOMAN
But you haven’t seen me before
THE SHIPMASTER
No
no but still
still I was
yes happy to see you
THE WOMAN
It is
yes good of you
yes that
yes that you were happy to see me
THE GUITAR PLAYER
Yes
THE SHIPMASTER
But you liked
yes that guitar music of his
THE WOMAN
Yes
THE SHIPMASTER
No
no you didn’t
THE WOMAN
Yes I did
THE SHIPMASTER
You couldn’t have liked it
It’s impossible to like
that kind of guitar music
THE WOMAN
But I liked his guitar music
I did
so
yes
yes then it is possible
THE GUITAR PLAYER
You hear
She liked my guitar music
It’s only you who can never like
my guitar music
THE SHIPMASTER
You don’t mean it
yes that you liked his guitar music
it’s just something you say
yes
yes to be nice to him
to please him
THE GUITAR PLAYER
She says she liked my guitar music
because she liked it
THE SHIPMASTER
How can you know it’s like that
What I say is just as true
THE GUITAR PLAYER
No
no she says it herself
that she liked my guitar music
THE SHIPMASTER
But it could just be
something she says
THE GUITAR PLAYER
Yes of course
THE SHIPMASTER
And then
THE GUITAR PLAYER
Yes
THE SHIPMASTER
Yes then she didn’t like it
THE WOMAN
I liked his guitar music
THE GUITAR PLAYER
You hear
THE SHIPMASTER
I am the shipmaster
THE WOMAN
You are the shipmaster
THE SHIPMASTER
I sail ships on the seven seas
THE GUITAR PLAYER
And I am the guitar player
THE WOMAN
But where are we
THE SHIPMASTER
You may well ask
THE GUITAR PLAYER
We are where we are
THE WOMAN
But where is that
And is there no one else here
THE SHIPMASTER
Yes
yes there are many people here
everyone
someone
I’m here
you’re here
THE GUITAR PLAYER
I’m here
THE WOMAN
But no one else
There has to be someone else here
THE SHIPMASTER
Yes
THE OLDER WOMAN
I’m here
THE GUITAR PLAYER
We are the only ones here
THE OLDER MAN
I’m here
THE SHIPMASTER
We’re on a ship
so there are many others here
THE WOMAN
We’re on a ship
THE SHIPMASTER
Yes
THE WOMAN
We’re on the sea
THE SHIPMASTER
Yes
And I am the shipmaster
THE WOMAN
You are the shipmaster
THE GUITAR PLAYER
He is the shipmaster
THE MAN
You mustn’t leave me
THE SHIPMASTER
I sail ships on the seven seas
THE MAN
We’ve only just met each other
and then you leave me again
I’ve been waiting for you
always
always have I
been waiting for you
And finally you were there
finally you came
to me
THE WOMAN
But Mum
Dad
How good to see you again
THE GUITAR PLAYER
It was good to see you again
really good
THE SHIPMASTER
Glad you came
I was so happy to see you
THE WOMAN
But Mum
but Dad
THE MAN
You mustn’t leave me
because now we’ll be together
you and I
always you and I
THE GUITAR PLAYER
I never thought I’d see you again
THE SHIPMASTER
It was so good to see you
THE WOMAN
Mum
Dad
THE MAN
I’m so glad that I’ve finally
met you
Don’t just go
THE SHIPMASTER
Finally you were here
THE WOMAN
Mum Dad
I’m here
Don’t you see me
I
your daughter
am here
THE MAN
I never thought you’d come
for all these years
I was here on my own
yes it sounds so stupid
but then you came
and then we were together
you and I
and I was so happy
that I finally
had someone I could
be with
THE WOMAN
Mum
Dad
THE OLDER WOMAN
But don’t look at her
Come
We must go
Come
THE OLDER MAN
Yes
THE WOMAN
But don’t go
Can’t you see
It’s me
It’s your daughter
THE SHIPMASTER
You mustn’t go
That you came here now
yes that’s the best thing that has happened to me
in my life
But you can’t say things like that
It’s just the sort of thing you say
But it’s true
It is like that
so don’t go
And I want you to know
Because it’s true
You must know it
I have to say it to you
And that’s why
when I saw you
when I saw you
yes I was so happy to see you
THE GUITAR PLAYER
But why are you leaving me
you my lovely woman
you my lovely lovely woman
THE WOMAN
But Mum
but Dad
why don’t you want to talk to me
why are you leaving
I’m your daughter
I only want to talk to you
I was so happy
to see you again
THE MAN
Why are you leaving me
THE WOMAN
You’re leaving me
Mum Dad
You abandon me
You have always
abandoned me
but I don’t demand anything
I only want to talk to you
I’m not asking
for anything
THE SHIPMASTER
Don’t just go
after so many years
yes I was so happy
to see you
and then you just go
you can’t just go
THE WOMAN
Mum
You’re my mother
You must answer me
when I speak to you
THE MAN
Finally you came
I love you so much
Don’t leave me
THE WOMAN
And Dad
why are you leaving
why are you just leaving
why do you want to disappear
from me
THE GUITAR PLAYER
Don’t leave me
THE SHIPMASTER
Don’t go
THE MAN
But can’t you stay here
stay here with me
you mustn’t go
THE OLDER MAN
It’s as if I don’t know you anymore
THE OLDER WOMAN
You don’t know me
THE OLDER MAN
No
THE OLDER WOMAN
I get so scared
You scare me
THE OLDER MAN
But you become more and more unknown to me
I still know you a little
you are standing there
I can recognise you
I recognise your face
but you
but the one you are
yes you’re standing there
more and more becoming someone else
THE OLDER WOMAN
You mustn’t say that
It can’t be like that
THE OLDER MAN
I don’t know you
THE OLDER WOMAN
But you have
yes known me
for so many years
you’ve known me all these years
you remember
don’t you
THE OLDER MAN
I remember
in a way I remember like never before
Somehow I remember everything
yes everything that stands out
from things that always just happened
all that
as if it was one
and as if it was many things
I can remember
and at the same time
in the middle of it all
you’re there as someone I don’t know
and that
that I don’t know you
becomes bigger than everything else
everything I remember
and takes the place of what I remember
I don’t know you
THE OLDER WOMAN
No not like that
THE OLDER MAN
It is like that
And there’s nothing
we can do about it
THE OLDER WOMAN
No
THE OLDER MAN
And I want so much
to have known you
THE OLDER WOMAN
But you do know me
What can I do
to make you know me
THE OLDER MAN
There’s nothing you can do
to teach me to know you
THE OLDER WOMAN
There must be something I can do
THE OLDER MAN
I don’t think so
And I’m so tired of all that’s unknown
THE OLDER WOMAN
Me too
THE OLDER MAN
Nothing here is known to me
THE OLDER WOMAN
No
THE OLDER WOMAN
And I don’t even
recognise you
THE OLDER WOMAN
You don’t recognise me
THE OLDER MAN
No
THE OLDER WOMAN
I am here
THE MAN
I am so glad I met you
THE WOMAN
And you
my good friend
you my best friend
THE MAN
You are my great love
THE WOMAN
It’s so good to touch you
I feel safe
when I touch you
It makes me feel good
THE MAN
And you must never leave me
THE WOMAN
You’re my best friend
THE OLDER WOMAN
I am here
THE WOMAN
I am here
Mum Dad
can’t you see me
THE OLDER WOMAN
I don’t want to be here
THE MAN
I’m just here
I just came here
I want to be somewhere else
THE OLDER MAN
I don’t know anyone
and no one knows me
THE SHIPMASTER
I sail ships on the seven seas
THE GUITAR PLAYER
I am the guitar player
I play the most beautiful guitar music
THE WOMAN
I am here
THE OLDER WOMAN
I am here
THE GUITAR PLAYER
I am the guitar player
THE SHIPMASTER
I am the shipmaster