But Mum
but Dad
quite short pause
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
quite short pause
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
quite short pause
after so many years
yes I was so happy
to see you
and then you just go
quite short pause
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
Everyone stops, stands and looks down. Long pause
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
quite short pause
I still know you a little
you are standing there
I can recognise you
I recognise your face
quite short pause
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
quite short pause
you’ve known me all these years
quite short pause
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
quite short pause
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
Short pause
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 Man walks further away from The Older Woman and stands there alone. Pause. The Woman walks over to The Guitar Player and leans against him, starts to stroke him. Pause
THE OLDER WOMAN
I am here
Pause
THE MAN
I am so glad I met you
Short pause
THE WOMAN
To The Guitar Player
And you
my good friend
you my best friend
The Guitar Player frees himself from The Woman and goes and stands alone. Pause
THE MAN
You are my great love
Pause. The Woman goes to The Shipmaster, leans against him, strokes him
THE WOMAN
It’s so good to touch you
I feel safe
when I touch you
It makes me feel good
Pause
THE MAN
And you must never leave me
Pause
THE WOMAN
to The Shipmaster
You’re my best friend
Pause. The Shipmaster frees himself from The Woman and goes and stands alone. Short pause. The Guitar Player starts to play air guitar. Everyone listens. Very long pause. Then The Woman begins to move to the guitar music and after a while the others also begin to move to the guitar music, each on their own, each in their own way.
Long pause
THE OLDER WOMAN
I am here
Pause
THE WOMAN
I am here
Mum Dad
can’t you see me
Pause
THE OLDER WOMAN
I don’t want to be here
Pause
THE MAN
I’m just here
I just came here
I want to be somewhere else
Pause
THE OLDER MAN
I don’t know anyone
quite short pause
and no one knows me
Long pause. The Older man exits to the guitar music. Pause
THE SHIPMASTER
I sail ships on the seven seas
Short pause
THE GUITAR PLAYER
I am the guitar player
I play the most beautiful guitar music
Long pause. The Man exits moving to the guitar music.
THE WOMAN
I am here
The Woman exits moving to the guitar music. Long pause
THE OLDER WOMAN
I am here
The Older Woman exits moving to the guitar music. Long pause
THE GUITAR PLAYER
stops playing air guitar, stands motionless
I am the guitar player
Pause
THE SHIPMASTER
stands motionless
I am the shipmaster
Black