Fosse: Plays Six

GIRL IN YELLOW RAINCOAT

Characters

LONELY MAN

FIRST WOMAN

FIRST MAN

SECOND WOMAN

SECOND MAN

LONELY WOMAN

Lights up

The Lonely Man enters, he glances around, hesitates, he stands and looks down, he looks up

LONELY MAN

I am not all that old

but it feels

as if I

have been here a long time

quite short pause

and the same thing that has happened before

happens again

quite short pause

and you have to be somewhere

quite short pause

and now I am here

quite short pause

and I may as well

be here

as anywhere else

quite short pause

because it is not possible

not to be anywhere

quite short pause

everyone has to be somewhere

It’s not possible

not to be anywhere

And so I’ve been here

He takes a few steps forwards

Everyone has to be somewhere

Short pause. He stands straight

And it’s good to be here

everything is as it should be

here

quite short pause

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

He stands and stares straight ahead. Pause

I am alone

quite short pause

and alone is what I

will be

The First Woman enters, she hesitates, stops

FIRST WOMAN

Always here

Always am I here

And still I am

somewhere else

She turns

LONELY MAN

I am here

FIRST WOMAN

I am here

And I am

somewhere else

LONELY MAN

I’m here somehow

short pause

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

Quite short pause

And he is here

LONELY MAN

I am here

FIRST WOMAN

I’m alone

Quite short pause

I’m alone

even if he is here

quite short pause

and I’m so small

quite short pause

I’m a little girl

in a yellow raincoat

Quite short pause

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

quite short pause

is it my father

I’m looking at

quite short pause

is it my brother

Pause. The Lonely Man turns towards her

LONELY MAN

I

quite short pause

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

quite short pause

but

quite short pause

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

quite short pause

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

Pause. The First Man enters, he hesitates, stands straight and looks down

LONELY MAN

No

quite short pause

no I don’t think so

FIRST WOMAN

I don’t think

so either

Short pause

LONELY MAN

No

No I think that’s right

FIRST WOMAN

looks at The First Man

But there you are

LONELY MAN

I’ve been here

for some time

FIRST WOMAN

to The First Man

I’m glad you came

LONELY MAN

I am here

and everyone has to be somewhere

no one can be

nowhere

FIRST WOMAN

to The First Man

Dear

my dear

friend

quite short pause

I’m glad you finally came

quite short pause

but say something

then

don’t just stand there

Please say something

Please come

Why don’t you want to come

FIRST MAN

looks at her

I’ll come

FIRST WOMAN

Well come then

The First Man goes and stands next to The First Woman. Pause

FIRST WOMAN

I am here

quite short pause

but it’s as if

I’m still

not here

FIRST MAN

Yes

quite short pause

I’m here now

quite short pause

but you

quite short pause

you

just left

FIRST WOMAN

Yes well I had to

FIRST MAN

You could’ve waited

quite short pause

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

quite short pause

but

breaks off

FIRST WOMAN

What do you want to say

FIRST MAN

No nothing

Quite long pause. The Lonely Man turns to The First Man

LONELY MAN

to The First Man

Yes we are here

yes

quite short pause

and I suppose we have to

yes just be here

quite short pause

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

Short pause

FIRST WOMAN

Yes

LONELY MAN

That’s how it is

quite short pause

yes

FIRST WOMAN

I suppose it is

LONELY MAN

Yes

FIRST WOMAN

Must be

Pause. The Lonely Man turns away. Long pause. The Second Woman and The Second Man enter

SECOND WOMAN

Good to be here

SECOND MAN

Yes

yes it is

Short pause. He stops, stands and looks down.

Quite long pause

SECOND WOMAN

But why are you just standing there

SECOND MAN

looks at The Second Woman

I’m thinking about a girl I saw

today

she was standing there alone

in a yellow raincoat

her hair was hanging straight down

quite short pause

she was so small

and so big

and so totally worn out

quite short pause

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

quite short pause

an image

quite short pause

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

Short pause

But don’t just stand there

then

why don’t you come

SECOND MAN

I’ll come

He remains where he is

SECOND WOMAN

So come then

SECOND MAN

I’ll come

He remains where he is

SECOND WOMAN

So come then

quite short pause

you

you must come

because

quite short pause

yes it gets so lonely

yes

being here

on my own

quite short pause

come

quite short pause

won’t you

won’t you come to me

quite short pause

because

quite short pause

yes you and I

we

yes

we belong together

quite short pause

and it has been you and I

for so long

quite short pause

us

quite short pause

us two

quite short pause

you and I

quite short pause

so come

why don’t you come

SECOND MAN

Yes

quite short pause

but I

breaks off

SECOND WOMAN

Yes

SECOND MAN

No it was nothing

SECOND WOMAN

Don’t think about

that girl anymore

quite short pause

about the girl you saw today

quite short pause

about the girl in a yellow raincoat

Quite long pause. The Second Man goes and stands next to The Second Woman

And it’s nice here

quite short pause

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

questioningly

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

Pause

SECOND MAN

Yes

Short pause

SECOND WOMAN

But why don’t you

short pause

yes touch me

touch me a little

hold me

hold my hand

quite short pause

hold my hand a little

quite short pause

why don’t you

quite short pause

why don’t you want to

quite short pause

you must do it

quite short pause

no

no alright

The Second Man takes her hand

Thank you

quite short pause

thank you that feels good

Thank you

quite short pause

thank you my friend

thank you so much

Long pause. The Lonely Woman enters, she looks at The First Man and he nods to her and then she goes and stands straight. Long pause

FIRST WOMAN

But listen

FIRST MAN

Yes

FIRST WOMAN

No it was nothing

FIRST MAN

No

FIRST WOMAN

I am not here

somehow

quite short pause

even if I am here

FIRST MAN

You’re somewhere else

FIRST WOMAN

Yes

quite short pause

yes in a way

FIRST MAN

But you’ve been here

for so long

quite short pause

we’ve been here

for so long

FIRST WOMAN

hesitates

Yes

short pause

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

Pause

FIRST WOMAN

But then

quite short pause

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

quite short pause

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

Quite short pause

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

Quite short pause

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

Short pause

You mustn’t be so scared

You don’t need to be scared

FIRST WOMAN

No

And you

breaks off. Pause

SECOND WOMAN

But

quite short pause

SECOND MAN

Yes

SECOND WOMAN

continues

but

quite short pause

yes why

SECOND MAN

continues, a bit flippantly

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

Short pause. The Second Man lets go of her hand. Long pause

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

Short pause

FIRST WOMAN

I too think

something is wrong

FIRST MAN

I don’t know

But something is wrong

somehow

yes

quite short pause

yes something is not quite right

quite short pause

I shouldn’t be here

somehow

quite short pause

and it’s

breaks off

FIRST WOMAN

You think that

FIRST MAN

Yes

Short pause

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

Pause. The Lonely Man turns to The First Man

LONELY MAN

Well once

breaks off

FIRST MAN

Yes

Pause

But

yes

quite short pause

yes do you know

yes by the way

yes if this is right

LONELY MAN

questioningly

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

Pause

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

quite short pause

you were just standing there

quite short pause

you’re just standing there

yes

somehow

quite short pause

yes to trick us

LONELY MAN

To trick you

quite short pause

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

breaks off

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

quite short pause

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

Quite short pause

Because I’ve always tried to do

what I should do

that’s what I’ve always done

quite short pause

I just want to be

yes with the others

LONELY MAN

I suppose that’s how we are

quite short pause

that’s how everyone is

Short pause. The Lonely Man turns away

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

Short pause. The First Woman turns to The Second Man

Excuse me

But

The Second Man nods to her

yes

yes isn’t it awful how terrible

people can be

to each other

SECOND MAN

Yes it’s

breaks off

SECOND WOMAN

So someone has behaved badly

towards you

FIRST WOMAN

Yes

Short pause

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

Pause

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

Pause. The First Woman turns away. Pause

But that woman

SECOND MAN

Yes

SECOND WOMAN

Yes

yes why does she talk like that

quite short pause

what’s wrong with her

SECOND MAN

What’s wrong with her

SECOND WOMAN

Yes

quite short pause

yes why is she like that

SECOND MAN

I don’t know

SECOND WOMAN

Was she quite

right in the head

Pause

And you

quite short pause

why did you look at her

like that

SECOND MAN

Did I look at her

SECOND WOMAN

Yes

quite short pause

yes at her

the one standing there

over there

and you nodded to her

SECOND MAN

questioningly

I looked at her

I nodded to her

SECOND WOMAN

Yes

SECOND MAN

Did I

Short pause

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

Short pause

SECOND MAN

No

no I don’t think so

SECOND WOMAN

But you nodded to her

SECOND MAN

No

No I didn’t

Pause

SECOND WOMAN

quite loudly

No I can’t take this

Quite short pause

I don’t want to be here any longer

I’m just here

quite short pause

I get scared

I am scared

short pause

and you

quite short pause

you don’t even want to

hold my hand

quite short pause

and why am I so scared

Short pause

Tell me

you tell me

tell me

tell me why I’m so scared

Short pause

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

quite short pause

and you

quite short pause

you were just there

suddenly you just came

were just there

quite short pause

suddenly you were there

were just there

and now you stand there

quite short pause

straight up and down

quite short pause

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

breaks off, quite short pause

and then you nod to her

quite short pause

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

quite short pause

no we must

breaks off

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

Pause

But

quite short pause

yes

yes tell me something

quite short pause

say something to me

why don’t you

SECOND MAN

Once

quite short pause

there

breaks off

SECOND WOMAN

I want to hear

quite short pause

I want you to tell me

breaks off

SECOND MAN

continues

That nothing is dangerous

SECOND WOMAN

Nothing is dangerous

SECOND MAN

No

Pause

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

quite short pause

or too small

quite short pause

perhaps she was too kind

too strange

too good

quite short pause

perhaps

pause

SECOND WOMAN

loudly

No

Loudly

Don’t just stand there

Don’t stand there like that

You just stand there

Don’t just stand there

Pause. The Second Man moves away from The Second Woman, he stops and stands straight, looks down. The First Woman looks at him

FIRST WOMAN

to The First Man

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

quite short pause

yes why is he standing there like that

quite short pause

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

Quite long pause. The First Woman walks over to The Second Man

FIRST WOMAN

You’re just standing there

SECOND MAN

Yes

quite short pause

yes I suppose I am

FIRST WOMAN

Yes I saw you standing here

and then I thought

breaks off

SECOND MAN

looks up

Yes

SECOND WOMAN

Yes why are you just

standing here

SECOND MAN

I don’t know

FIRST WOMAN

But

quite short pause

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

quite short pause

yes let me think

you

quite short pause

you

quite short pause

you and I

FIRST WOMAN

Me and you

SECOND MAN

You and I

Short pause

FIRST WOMAN

Yes you and I

SECOND MAN

You and I

we

breaks off

FIRST WOMAN

No you don’t remember

Short pause

SECOND MAN

I don’t seem to

FIRST WOMAN

Oh well then

The Other Woman walks over to The First Woman and The Second Man

SECOND WOMAN

So here you are

Pause. The First Man moves towards The Lonely Woman

FIRST MAN

So you’re here too

Quite short pause

It’s good to see you

LONELY WOMAN

Yes I’m here

quite short pause

I have to be

quite short pause

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

quite short pause

yes

yes well I am alone

Short pause

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

Pause

SECOND WOMAN

I’m saying that here you are

quite short pause

and that it was nice to meet again

to see each other again

quite short pause

or wasn’t it

FIRST WOMAN

Yes

quite short pause

Yes it was nice

but you and I

yes have we met each other before

did we shake hands you and I

quite short pause

no I don’t think so

The First Man turns away

SECOND WOMAN

Let’s shake hands now

FIRST WOMAN

Yes now

quite short pause

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

quite short pause

of course that’s fine too

SECOND WOMAN

Why should we shake hands

FIRST WOMAN

Well because

quite short pause

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

Pause

Why are you so nasty to me

FIRST WOMAN

I’m not nasty to you

SECOND WOMAN

Yes

quite short pause

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

Short pause

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

Pause. The First Man walks towards the three of them. Pause. The Second Woman walks towards The First Man and embraces him, lays her head on his chest

To The Other Man

Oh look

quite short pause

look what she’s doing

SECOND MAN

Yes

FIRST WOMAN

And you think it’s fine

for her to do that kind of thing

quite short pause

but can’t you see

quite short pause

can’t you see

she and my husband

there

look

look there

look at what’s happening

quite short pause

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

quite short pause

but you don’t pay attention to anything

you just stood there

and looked down

yes as usual

quite short pause

you don’t see anything

She goes and takes The Other Woman’s arm, she pulls her away and The Other Woman lets go of The First Man

SECOND WOMAN

But what on

breaks off

FIRST WOMAN

And you can say that

what are you doing

standing like that

he’s my husband

To The First Man

And you

quite short pause

you only have to clap eyes on someone

and

breaks off. Pause

SECOND WOMAN

What’s wrong with you

FIRST WOMAN

What’s wrong with me

SECOND WOMAN

Yes what’s wrong with you

quite short pause

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

Short pause

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

Quite short pause

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

Short pause

To The First Man

But come

then

don’t just stand there

The First Man looks at The Second Man, they nod to each other

SECOND WOMAN

Oh stop it

FIRST WOMAN

Oh yes

I see

SECOND WOMAN

You

how can anyone

become like you

FIRST MAN

to The Second Man

So you’re here

quite short pause

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

quite short pause

not strictly speaking

quite short pause

we’ll just have to

breaks off

SECOND MAN

Yes

that’s how it is

Pause

SECOND WOMAN

to The First Woman

And you

breaks off

FIRST WOMAN

We

breaks off. Pause. The Second Man goes and stands in front of The Lonely Woman, but quite close to her

FIRST WOMAN

to The Second Woman

But

quite short pause

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

Short pause

SECOND MAN

to The Lonely Woman

And you’re well

LONELY WOMAN

Yes as well I can be

SECOND MAN

That’s good to hear

Quite short pause

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

quite short pause

but

quite short pause

but I’m fine

on my own

yes

The Other Man turns away from her. Short pause. The First Man walks over to him

SECOND MAN

To The First Man

Yes

quite long pause

all we can do is

keep going

FIRST MAN

Yes

Pause. The Lonely Woman begins to walk away and he watches her. Pause

But she’s just leaving

that woman

Short pause

Did you know her

SECOND MAN

No

Or perhaps

Quite short pause

And she’s just leaving

FIRST MAN

Yes

quite short pause

she’s just disappearing

she’s just leaving

SECOND MAN

Yes

yes she is

Short pause

FIRST MAN

Yes

quite short pause

yes she’s just leaving

quite short pause

she’s just vanishing

quite short pause

she’s just disappearing

SECOND MAN

That was sad

short pause

yes that she was just leaving

Pause. The Lonely Woman exits

FIRST MAN

Yes

SECOND MAN

She didn’t want to be here anymore

FIRST MAN

And why did she just leave

quite short pause

just disappear

Quite long pause. The First Man begins to leave.

Long pause

FIRST WOMAN

after The First Man

But why are you leaving

quite short pause

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

quite short pause

wait

quite short pause

wait for me

The First Man exits

no

no don’t leave

don’t disappear

you mustn’t vanish

wait

I’m coming

I’m coming

please wait

Short pause

SECOND WOMAN

He left

he just left

quite short pause

he just disappeared

quite short pause

he just vanished

FIRST WOMAN

Yes

yes he just left

he just disappeared

Short pause

But imagine him just leaving

quite short pause

and I

quite short pause

I’m left here on my own

SECOND WOMAN

I’m so scared

FIRST WOMAN

He just left

Pause

LONELY MAN

turns to The Second Man

And once

breaks off

SECOND MAN

Once

Short pause

LONELY MAN

Yes once

breaks off. Short pause

SECOND MAN

Once

quite short pause

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

Short pause

FIRST WOMAN

And so I’m alone

because he

he just left

LONELY MAN

Yes

Short pause

And you

don’t understand why

SECOND MAN

No

Pause

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

quite short pause

alone

a bit lost

perhaps

quite short pause

and her hair

was hanging straight down

quite short pause

LONELY MAN

And she was pale

SECOND MAN

Yes

Pause

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

quite short pause

I too want to go to my husband

SECOND WOMAN

Yes

But

I must go

breaks off

FIRST WOMAN

Yes

SECOND WOMAN

Yes

Pause

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

quite short pause

he just left

quite short pause

he just disappeared

FIRST WOMAN

Perhaps

Short pause

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

quite short pause

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

Pause

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

Pause

FIRST WOMAN

But

quite short pause

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

quite short pause

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

happily

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

quite short pause

and now

now I’m sure

quite short pause

yes that

yes that it was you

Do you remember the rain

Do you remember how blue

the sea was

The Other Man begins to leave

SECOND WOMAN

Yes

short pause

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

Quite short pause

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

quite short pause

we came here together

The Second Man exits

we’re together

you

you and I

and we must be together

Pause

FIRST WOMAN

He just left

He too

just left

he just disappeared

he just vanished

SECOND WOMAN

Yes

Almost in tears

He just left me

disappeared

vanished

he didn’t even say goodbye

He just left

Pause

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

quite short pause

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

pause

and now at least

he is

gone

FIRST WOMAN

He just left

SECOND WOMAN

And they left

FIRST WOMAN

continues

following her

SECOND WOMAN

They followed her

that’s how it is

Pause

And now we should

quite short pause

yes we can’t just

stay here

FIRST WOMAN

No

SECOND WOMAN

We should

breaks off. Pause

LONELY MAN

by himself

A girl in a yellow raincoat

Pause. The First Woman walks over to The Lonely Man and stands next to him

FIRST WOMAN

questioningly

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

Pause. The Second Woman goes and stands next to The Lonely Man, but on the other side. The Lonely Man turns to The Second Woman

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

The Lonely Man begins to leave. Pause

SECOND WOMAN

Do you know that girl

quite short pause

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

Pause. The Lonely Man exits

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

quite short pause

and now darkness is falling

it’s soon evening

quite short pause

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

quite short pause

a bit scared

a bit grown-up

quite short pause

and this

it’s just something I’m thinking

this

it’s just something I’m imagining

for this

breaks off

FIRST WOMAN

And it mustn’t become dark

not now

quite short pause

because I mustn’t just stand there

in a yellow raincoat

quite short pause

and it mustn’t

become cold

Pause

And it’s soon evening

It’s raining

But he should come back soon

quite short pause

yes of course

of course he will

and the girl who stood there

quite short pause

a little scared

a little grown-up

and brave

and saw herself

as someone else

quite short pause

and as someone who is different

to the others

SECOND WOMAN

And then

breaks off

And he

breaks off

and the girl

breaks off

And then

quite short pause

yes and then

breaks off

and this

it’s

breaks off

and the girl

the one who was here

she too just left

She turns and sees The First Woman starting to leave

and she was here

quite short pause

and then she just left

just disappeared

quite short pause

just left

vanished

quite short pause

and now

quite short pause

I’m alone

And it’s dark

And I am a girl

in a yellow raincoat

I’m alone

Short pause

And now

now

quite short pause

no

no

quite short pause

but I’m sure it’s right

I’m sure that’s how it

should be

I just came here

I’m just here

Quite short pause

And I am

still

somewhere else

quite short pause

and that’s the way it is

quite short pause

everything’s the way it is

short pause

and cannot be changed

and that’s the way it is

night

day

light

dark

Quite short pause

And it has to be the way it is

Quite short pause

And it has neither colour nor smell

And it’s soon evening

It’s raining

And it’s nothing

Long pause. The First Woman exits

But it

breaks off

And then in

breaks off

And where it goes

breaks off

but then

yes

quite short pause

yes

yes and then

quite short pause

and then I suppose it was

yes

quite short pause

yes I suppose there’s

no one else here

or

quite short pause

is there someone here

quite short pause

are there many here

quite short pause

perhaps there are

many here

quite short pause

and then something quite different

quite short pause

or

quite short pause

just something different

Quite short pause

I am here

It is raining

And I suppose I am

somewhere else

quite short pause

or

Lights down