it’s just that
yes to see the other
like oneself
and to see that the other
THE WOMAN
interrupts
Yes
THE MAN
continues
yes is like oneself
yes that the other
quite short pause
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
Pause
THE WOMAN
A person without freedom
is
quite short pause
yes a stone
a tree
quite short pause
no that was badly put
quite short pause
but a person
without freedom
is not a person
THE MAN
Yes
Pause
Yes that is the condition of the soul
quite long pause
THE WOMAN
But I miss
stops
THE MAN
You miss
THE WOMAN
Yes
THE MAN
What do you miss
THE WOMAN
You
THE MAN
You miss me
quite short pause
but it was me
you couldn’t stand
that I was close
quite short pause
that I was there
yes like a tie
quite short pause
yes like a constraint
quite short pause
as if I was a room
that shut you in
THE WOMAN
No
quite short pause
no it wasn’t like that
THE MAN
You wanted to travel
meet others
get close to others
quite short pause
that was what you
called freedom
THE WOMAN
Yes
yes maybe
THE MAN
But if you got too close
quite short pause
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
continues
became the journey’s constraint
the journey’s tie
to travel
is the greatest constraint
of all
THE WOMAN
Yes
Pause
But
quite short pause
can’t I come back
to you
to the children
The Man shakes his head
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
Long pause. Footsteps are heard. The Second Woman comes in
THE MAN
To the Second Woman
Yes
Yes you must say hello to
Yes my first wife
The Woman and The Second Woman go over and take each other’s hands.
I don’t suppose you’ve met each other before
THE WOMAN
No
THE SECOND WOMAN
No never
Pause
THE WOMAN
To The Second Woman
Yes I just wanted
Yes to pop in
I
quite short pause
say hello
yes
THE SECOND WOMAN
Yes
Pause
You’re in old parts
yes
THE WOMAN
Yes
laughs briefly
yes you might say so
Pause
THE SECOND WOMAN
Yes
Pause
THE WOMAN
to The Man
Yes it was nice
talking to you again
THE MAN
Yes
yes it was
THE WOMAN
But I suppose I’d better go
Pause
THE SECOND WOMAN
Nice to meet you
Pause. The Woman goes. Long pause
What did she want
THE MAN
Just to say hello
THE SECOND WOMAN
She just came
THE MAN
Yes
quite short pause
yes there was a ring at the door
and there she stood
she just stood there
THE SECOND WOMAN
Yes
Short pause
And she didn’t want
yes anything in particular
THE MAN
No
Pause
THE SECOND WOMAN
Sure
THE MAN
Yes
Long pause. Lights down. Black
OVER THERE
Characters
THE MAN
THE WOMAN
Lights up slowly
THE MAN
stands and looks at something in the far distance
Do you see
short pause
but look
look over there
pause
don’t you see anything
pause
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
quite short pause
not anything unusual
quite short pause
I see
quite short pause
I only see what’s always been there
quite short pause
I see
quite short pause
I see the ridge
quite short pause
and behind the ridge I see the mountain
quite short pause
and beyond the mountain
yes there I see the sky
THE MAN
Yes
THE WOMAN
continues
and I see that the sky
yes it’s like before
yes like it usually is
quite short pause
not blue
but grey and grey
yes
yes that’s what I see
and
then
quite short pause
yes
THE MAN
You don’t see anything else
THE WOMAN
No
short pause
well
quite short pause
well I see
quite short pause
I see
yes
yes over there on the ridge
yes there’s the farmhouse
quite short pause
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
Pause. The Man turns and looks at The Woman
THE WOMAN
No it was nothing