Fosse: Plays Six

THESE EYES

Characters

FIRST VOICE

SECOND VOICE

THE SHADOW

YOUNG WOMAN

OLD WOMAN

YOUNG MAN

OLD MAN

FIRST VOICE

I am here

I am here always

Quite short pause

And I have always

been here

quite short pause

but yet

quite short pause

I must have

come here once

quite short pause

I came here

quite short pause

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

quite short pause

and this land

where we are

quite short pause

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

quite short pause

where the ocean is

quite short pause

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

quite short pause

in everything which is us

there is the ocean

SECOND VOICE

continues

and there is the sky

Quite short pause

FIRST VOICE

And we shall always be here

Quite short pause

SECOND VOICE

Always shall we be here

FIRST VOICE

We are here

quite short pause

but I don’t want to be here anymore

SECOND VOICE

We are here always

Pause

FIRST VOICE

And we have always

been here

SECOND VOICE

Yes

quite short pause

where it comes

goes away

Short pause

We are here

FIRST VOICE

But I don’t belong here

Pause

You can see that

Quite short pause

Don’t you understand that

Quite short pause

Don’t you see that

SECOND VOICE

We are the world

quite short pause

where it comes

goes away

Short pause

FIRST VOICE

Yes

quite short pause

yes I belong here

quite short pause

with you

I belong here

SECOND VOICE

continues

where

quite short pause

it comes

goes away

FIRST VOICE

Will you hold me please

SECOND VOICE

Yes I will

Pause. The Shadow enters

THE SHADOW

Here

This is where you will be

This is where you will always be

I am here

I am always here

Pause. The Young Woman enters and behind her The Old Woman enters

FIRST VOICE

Oh look

quite short pause

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

Pause

SECOND VOICE

wonderingly

This is the world

This is the land

from our dream

THE SHADOW

This is where you’ll be

I am always here

The Shadow looks at The Young Woman

YOUNG WOMAN

And now

quite short pause

and now

now

quite short pause

he’ll soon come now

I know that

that he’ll be here soon

THE SHADOW

I am here

SECOND VOICE

wondering

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

Short pause

Because I’m born

quite short pause

and that’s no small thing

Laughs briefly

But why am I thinking that

I mustn’t think like that

quite short pause

but it’s quite a big thing

in fact

to be born

I mean

quite short pause

yes being born

and before that

quite short pause

before I was born

quite short pause

no

quite short pause

no I don’t want to think about that

but then

yes

yes before I was born

quite short pause

yes where was I then

Short pause

I was born

and then all the other things were gone

Quite short pause

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

Questioningly

We must always be here

THE SHADOW

You must be here always

FIRST VOICE

I was just here

suddenly I was here

Pause

SECOND VOICE

continues

here

quite short pause

where it comes

goes away

FIRST VOICE

We are always here

YOUNG WOMAN

I am here

And soon he’ll be

breaks off

But I wasn’t anywhere was I

yes before I was born

of course

I mean

Short pause

And still

quite short pause

yes that’s not possible

either

yes that I wasn’t anywhere

quite intensely

because I am here

breaks off

and I must have been somewhere before

quite short pause

because from nothing

comes nothing

Because that’s also true

Quite short pause

But I don’t remember anything

yes from before I was born

quite short pause

or

well

yes

yes

quite short pause

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

quite short pause

but if I know something

quite short pause

surely I can say that I know something

she walks around a little

yes

almost dancingly

yes in its own way

in one way

I suppose I know something

yes

quite short pause

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

quite short pause

yes that was there

yes before I was born

somehow

yes

quite short pause

but no

quite short pause

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

quite short pause

and here we shall be

quite short pause

but

quite short pause

but must we be here

quite short pause

why must we be here

SECOND VOICE

We just have to

be here

YOUNG WOMAN

continues

and I who

yes I who am not used to thinking

who am

yes just

breaks off, giggles

who yes just

breaks off, giggles

and why am I here

quite short pause

yes right here

right now

quite short pause

yes I

yes I know that

quite short pause

I can tell you

quite short pause

but I don’t want to tell you

She turns around and sees The Young Man who enters, with The Old Man entering behind him

Oh hello

You’re here already

I

breaks off, becomes a little embarrassed

I

breaks off

YOUNG MAN

Yes

quite short pause

yes I may be a little early

YOUNG WOMAN

Yes me too

Pause

FIRST VOICE

And there he is

there he comes

quite short pause

but look

can’t you see

quite short pause

look how beautiful he is

SECOND VOICE

Yes

quite short pause

yes he is beautiful

Pause

FIRST VOICE

But

look

SECOND VOICE

Yes

yes I see

Short pause

YOUNG MAN

Yes here we are

then

YOUNG WOMAN

Yes

quite short pause

yes it’s become a habit

yes to meet here

YOUNG MAN

Yes it has

Pause

YOUNG WOMAN

And it’s a nice

place

yes

YOUNG MAN

Yes

Pause

YOUNG WOMAN

Really nice

YOUNG MAN

Yes

quite short pause

yes I suppose that’s why

breaks off

YOUNG WOMAN

continues

Yes that we meet here

YOUNG MAN

Yes I suppose it is

Pause. She walks around a little. Pause.

YOUNG WOMAN

Any news

YOUNG MAN

No

quite short pause

no nothing special

or

yes

YOUNG WOMAN

Tell me

YOUNG MAN

No

YOUNG WOMAN

Yes

YOUNG MAN

No

YOUNG WOMAN

Yes

quite short pause

yes you must

She nudges him

YOUNG MAN

No

YOUNG WOMAN

Yes

YOUNG MAN

No

He looks at her, and then he stretches his hand out and she takes his hand, they stand and hold hands and look down

Yes here we are then

Pause

YOUNG WOMAN

Yes

Pause

YOUNG MAN

Yes

Pause

YOUNG WOMAN

You and I

YOUNG MAN

You and I

They look at each other, smile to each other. Long pause

Do you want to go for a walk

YOUNG WOMAN

Alright

Short pause

And it’s so

yes nice here

quite short pause

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

Quite short pause

And I am here always

YOUNG WOMAN

But look

She looks at the mountains

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

quite short pause

and then us

And this is where we’ll be

YOUNG WOMAN

If we want to

we’ll be here

yes

quite short pause

yes for here there’s air

quite short pause

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

quite short pause

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

Quite short pause

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

Pause

But

quite short pause

listen

quite short pause

yes I just wonder if

breaks off

yes

YOUNG MAN

Just tell me

YOUNG WOMAN

Yes if

breaks off

YOUNG MAN

Was there something

YOUNG WOMAN

No maybe not

YOUNG MAN

You just wanted to say something

no matter what

YOUNG WOMAN

Maybe

quite short pause

yes

perhaps

Short pause

YOUNG MAN

Tell me

Can’t you just tell me

YOUNG WOMAN

No

YOUNG MAN

You don’t want to

YOUNG WOMAN

No

She lets go of his hand and walks away from him, towards The Shadow

but

short pause

yes can’t you feel

yes

quite short pause

yes that there’s something here

that

breaks off

YOUNG MAN

Everything’s right

Everything’s the way it should be

Yes

quite short pause

everything’s just fine

quite short pause

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

quite short pause

no

not you and I

because we

yes we’re young

we’ve just

arrived here

quite short pause

but people

quite short pause

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

quite short pause

on this coast

YOUNG WOMAN

You think so

YOUNG MAN

Don’t you think so

YOUNG WOMAN

Yes

quite short pause

yes of course

YOUNG MAN

But you don’t believe

yes

yes that it’s something to think about

YOUNG WOMAN

Well yes

Pause

YOUNG MAN

And we’ll live here too

Pause

YOUNG WOMAN

Yes

quite short pause

yes we’ll live here

Pause

YOUNG MAN

You look a little tired

you want to rest

YOUNG WOMAN

Perhaps for a bit

Pause

YOUNG MAN

Is something wrong

YOUNG WOMAN

No

Pause

YOUNG MAN

But are you tired

quite short pause

shall we sit down for a while

YOUNG WOMAN

Alright

Short pause

YOUNG MAN

But where

YOUNG WOMAN

We can sit down

quite short pause

yes wherever

YOUNG MAN

Wherever

YOUNG WOMAN

Yes

why not

YOUNG MAN

As long as we can see the ocean

YOUNG WOMAN

Yes

Pause

And today

YOUNG MAN

continues

you and I got together

She sits down and he comes and sits down next to her, a short distance away from her, and The Shadow walks between them and she gets up and walks after The Shadow

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

breaks off

YOUNG MAN

You want to go

YOUNG WOMAN

I’m so jumpy

I’m so scared

Short pause

THE SHADOW

You must come now

YOUNG MAN

No

quite short pause

you mustn’t be scared

for nothing is dangerous

He stands up and walks after her and The Shadow

Well

quite short pause

perhaps

quite short pause

yes when you mention it

quite short pause

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

Quite short pause

I am the shimmering

quite short pause

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

quite short pause

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

pause

you’re just going

suddenly you’re just going

Short pause

Is there something

Is something wrong

Quite short pause

Have I done something wrong

YOUNG WOMAN

No

no it’s not that

Quite short pause

But it feels

breaks off

I got scared

there’s something here

YOUNG MAN

Yes

YOUNG WOMAN

continues

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

quite short pause

I think maybe

yes

quite short pause

yes that

quite short pause

yes that

breaks off, quite short pause

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

He goes to her, stretches his hand out to her

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

quite short pause

yes

yes it feels in a way

yes

in a way

quite short pause

it doesn’t feel

as if it’s right

quite short pause

that we’re here

quite short pause

and there’s something here

YOUNG MAN

Not right

YOUNG WOMAN

No

quite short pause

no because

the land threatens

in a way

with its mountains

quite short pause

but you can’t say things like that

quite short pause

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

quite short pause

no just you and I

are here

come to me now

She remains where she is

Alright then

Do you want me to go

I can go if you like

Pause

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

Short pause

No

You don’t want to

YOUNG WOMAN

Yes

He goes and takes her hand. Short pause

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

Pause. He pulls her tightly against him, and she puts her arms around him and they kiss each other. Pause. She pulls away from him. Pause

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

quite short pause

because

for when you held me

when we kissed each other

quite short pause

yes then I felt it

yes that I was no longer scared

quite short pause

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

Short pause

THE SHADOW

I am here

quite short pause

I am the blue movements

in the sky

quite short pause

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

quite short pause

and everything else

quite short pause

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

quite short pause

comes

disappears

comes

goes away

THE SHADOW

You must always be here

YOUNG WOMAN

But

quite short pause

there’s something here

something that’ll make us

disappear

quite short pause

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

Pause. The Young Man moves towards The Old Man

YOUNG MAN

There

looks at The Old Man, points

can you see

YOUNG WOMAN

Yes

Long pause

YOUNG MAN

Everything’s gone so fast

YOUNG WOMAN

Yes

quite short pause

yes where did those years go

Where have the years gone

YOUNG MAN

I don’t understand it

YOUNG WOMAN

And our children

Short pause

YOUNG MAN

continues

they’ve grown up already

they live their own lives

Short pause

But can’t you see

Look

YOUNG WOMAN

I can see

She walks towards The Old Woman

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

Short pause

YOUNG MAN

But

quite short pause

why are you leaving

She continues to walk towards The Old Woman

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

Short pause

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

Short pause

SECOND VOICE

It comes

and goes away

FIRST VOICE

But we are here

We are here always

SECOND VOICE

We must always be here

Short pause. The Young Man walks over to The Old Man

OLD MAN

Everything’s so long ago

Quite short pause

And everything’s

now

in a way

quite short pause

and she’s gone

quite short pause

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

quite short pause

She has to be here

she as well

as always

as always before

Quite short pause

Because we

because she and I

the two of us were here

not me

quite short pause

and now

quite short pause

now it’s me

quite short pause

just me

and as me

as just me

I’ve never

belonged here

Quite short pause

I came here

I was here

quite short pause

because she was here

I was here too

quite short pause

and now

breaks off

THE SHADOW

I am here

Always am I here

SECOND VOICE

I’m here

FIRST VOICE

I’m here

OLD MAN

continues

and everything’s

so long ago

quite short pause

and everything’s

just now

because we were always here

she and I

quite short pause

and then

breaks off

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

quite short pause

I can’t be here

not now

not alone

quite short pause

I don’t belong

quite short pause

yes here

in this

quite short pause

And why doesn’t she come

quite short pause

I can’t

breaks off

Where is she

Calls

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

Quite short pause

No

Pause

No I don’t want to anymore

quite short pause

for now

quite short pause

yes now

yes I’ve been here

long enough

I’ve looked

long enough

quite short pause

resignedly

at this fjord

these shores

these islands

these mountains

Short pause

And why is she gone

why did she just go away

quite short pause

for ever gone

quite short pause

But is she gone

quite short pause

or

breaks off. Pause

and now she must come

why don’t you come

Pause. He looks at The Old Woman

But there you are

quite short pause

it’s so good to see you

quite short pause

I’m glad you’re here

I’m glad you came

OLD WOMAN

Of course I come

I always come

Quite short pause

Because I know

you don’t like to be alone

OLD MAN

Yes

OLD WOMAN

Yes

yes I know that

Pause

But now I’m here

Now I came

OLD MAN

Yes

thank you

Thank you for coming

Pause

OLD WOMAN

Are you hurting

quite short pause

are you in pain again today

OLD MAN

No

quite short pause

no it’s not that

Short pause

OLD WOMAN

No

Pause

OLD MAN

It’s good to see you again

OLD WOMAN

You too

Pause

They walk around a little

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

quite short pause

yes for all those years

OLD MAN

Yes

quite short pause

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

Pause

THE SHADOW

This is earth

and mould

This is rock

and sea

This is air

and wind

Short pause

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

Quite short pause

OLD WOMAN

I will

quite short pause

I’ll always be

with you

Pause

OLD MAN

And I will

yes

short pause

I’ll disappear in this

quite short pause

the way you have disappeared

the way you are gone

OLD WOMAN

Yes

OLD MAN

continues

I want to be gone in this

I want to be gone in all this

I

breaks off

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

quite short pause

they have all disappeared

all are gone

quite short pause

forever gone

quite short pause

my father

my mother

my grandfather

my grandmother

All of them

All of them are gone

all of them have disappeared

quite short pause

here

here in this landscape

have they disappeared

OLD WOMAN

And they have become

this landscape

OLD MAN

continues

and now

breaks off

now

now

short pause

no I don’t want to any longer

I don’t want to anymore

because where are you

THE SHADOW

to The Old Woman

You must come now

We’re going now

OLD MAN

I don’t want to any longer

Short pause

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

Quite short pause

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

to The Old Woman

You must come now

OLD MAN

I’ve seen enough

I look and look

I am these eyes

that see

everything

short pause

and I see

breaks off, quite short pause

and always all this talk

always I just talk

He starts to walk around, and The Young Man follows him

Talk and talk

OLD WOMAN

And now it’s just you

who are left here

OLD MAN

Yes

THE SHADOW

to The Old Woman

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

Quite short pause

OLD WOMAN

But

Short pause

OLD MAN

Yes

OLD WOMAN

But

quite short pause

yes do you remember when we met

quite short pause

here

when we got together

you and I

do you remember

OLD MAN

Yes

yes of course

Short pause

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

quite short pause

no I won’t

forget that

THE SHADOW

to The Old Woman

You must come now

OLD WOMAN

You and I

always you and I

OLD MAN

Yes

Short pause

OLD WOMAN

Yes

And here where there was

so much life so much noise

short pause

our children

OLD MAN

Yes

OLD WOMAN

And now it’s quiet

OLD MAN

Yes

And you

quite short pause

you were just gone

quite short pause

left me

were gone

Quite short pause

OLD WOMAN

Now everything

quite short pause

is quiet

short pause

but

quite short pause

but the islands

and the fjord

quite short pause

and out there

the ocean

are still the same

quite short pause

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

Pause

OLD MAN

Yes may it always be

Pause

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

Short pause

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

to The Old Woman

But you must come now

You can’t be here any longer

come now

come then

OLD WOMAN

Good thing

Good old thing

short pause

it’ll be fine

you’ll see

quite short pause

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

quite short pause

yes perhaps

you are

OLD WOMAN

Good thing

you good thing

short pause

and we who were

quite short pause

so young

quite short pause

so young

and so vulnerable

quite short pause

fumbling

The Young Woman and The Young Man look at each other, then they look down

insecure

OLD MAN

Were we vulnerable

OLD WOMAN

Yes

quite short pause

you remember

OLD MAN

Yes

Quite short pause

But

short pause

I’ve nothing more to say

OLD WOMAN

No

quite short pause

but does anything need to be said

OLD MAN

No

quite short pause

no perhaps not

OLD WOMAN

Nothing

needs to be said

OLD MAN

No

quite short pause

But

short pause

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

Long pause

THE SHADOW

to The Old Woman

You must come now

OLD MAN

I don’t understand

that you’re gone

quite short pause

and then suddenly

you’re there

again

OLD WOMAN

That’s just how it is

OLD MAN

questioningly

I can’t understand it

OLD WOMAN

No

Short pause

OLD MAN

questioningly

No place

No thing

OLD WOMAN

No place

No thing

Pause

And one place

And one thing

Pause

OLD MAN

I’m tired

Short pause

And I no longer want

to be here

OLD WOMAN

almost despairingly

Yes

quite short pause

yes you shall be here

quite short pause

you shall be here

with me

quite short pause

always

always here

you and I

you and I together

for ever

anything else

quite short pause

anything else is unthinkable

anything else doesn’t exist

you

quite short pause

you and I

always you and I

Quite short pause

And you see

I’m here now

Quite short pause

OLD MAN

I don’t want to be alone

OLD WOMAN

But I’m here

THE SHADOW

You must come now

Pause. The Shadow walks over to The Old Woman

OLD MAN

Are you tired

OLD WOMAN

Yes

Pause. The Shadow moves away from The Old Woman and she walks after him, followed by The Young Woman

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

Pause

I don’t want to

Short pause. The Old Man and The Young Man follow The Old Woman and The Young Woman and The Shadow

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

Pause. The Shadow stands still and The Old Woman and The Young Woman stand behind The Shadow and The Old Man and The Young Man stand behind them again

OLD WOMAN

I’m where you are

I’m always

where you are

quite short pause

always you and I

The Young Woman takes The Old Woman’s arm

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

quite short pause

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 Young Man takes The Old Man’s arm

THE SHADOW

to The Old Woman

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

quite short pause

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

quite short pause

SECOND VOICE

And we

quite short pause

we are in them

quite short pause

they are us

laughter

and we are them

quite short pause

we shall never be gone

We will never go

We are always here

FIRST VOICE

questioningly

Always

SECOND VOICE

We are always here

Quite short pause

Because we are in them

FIRST VOICE

And we shall be in them

Quite short pause

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

quite short pause

comes

goes away

Laughter. Short pause

FIRST VOICE

They go away

SECOND VOICE

We are

quite short pause

the ocean

the sky

quite short pause

and the earth

FIRST VOICE

We are the world

Quite long pause

But is it too late

to return

to the ocean

and to the sky

SECOND VOICE

Yes

quite short pause

yes it’s too late

FIRST VOICE

We cannot return

to the ocean

and to

breaks off

SECOND VOICE

We’re here now

quite short pause

where it comes

goes away

FIRST VOICE

But I don’t want to be here

SECOND VOICE

continues

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

Pause

But look

quite short pause

they

quite short pause

come

go away

Quite short pause

They live here

They live

Quite short pause

They come

They go away

Pause

OLD MAN

I’m just here

And everything that has ever been

is here

And everything’s gone

THE SHADOW

to The Old Woman

You must come now

Pause. The Shadow leaves and The Old Woman and The Young Woman and The Old Man and The Young Man follow

FIRST VOICE

But this is not where

I belong

Pause

SECOND VOICE

We are here

quite short pause

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