Fosse: Plays Six (17 page)

THE GUITAR PLAYER

But here there are neither

storms nor calm waters

quite short pause

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

Short pause

Yes perhaps it is like that

Pause

That’s the way of the sea

Quite short pause

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

Pause. The Man sees The Woman and walks towards her

THE GUITAR PLAYER

No

no perhaps it’s not like that

Long pause

THE SHIPMASTER

I am the master of ships

I sail on the seven seas

THE GUITAR PLAYER

I am the guitar player

Pause

THE MAN

to The Woman

But how nice to see you

Quite short pause

I’ve been waiting for you

quite short pause

yes it feels as if

I’ve been waiting

all these years

quite short pause

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

quite short pause

yes I suppose we do

in a way at least

we know each other

THE WOMAN

Yes

quite short pause

yes you’re probably right

Short pause

But we’ve never met each other before

THE MAN

No

quite short pause

no perhaps not

THE WOMAN

No we never have

met each other have we

THE MAN

Not like this

quite short pause

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

Short pause

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

quite short pause

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

quite short pause

we decide ourselves

how it will be

Pause

THE WOMAN

But it can’t be like that

quite short pause

it’ll be what it’ll be

quite short pause

you and I

don’t decide

quite short pause

it’s not like that

THE MAN

afraid

You mustn’t say that

Pause

THE WOMAN

questioningly

I shouldn’t say that

THE MAN

No

Pause

You mustn’t say that

quite short pause

not now

not when you and I

have found each other

have finally found the way to each other

Short pause

Aren’t you happy

THE WOMAN

Yes

quite short pause

yes I’m very happy

The Woman goes to The Man and kisses his cheek and they take each other’s hands, they stand and hold hands. Pause

THE SHIPMASTER

I am the shipmaster

Pause

THE GUITAR PLAYER

And I am the guitar player

THE SHIPMASTER

But why is there no one here

quite short pause

just you

just me

THE GUITAR PLAYER

questioningly

There’s no one here

THE SHIPMASTER

No

Pause

THE OLDER MAN

I’m here

Pause

THE SHIPMASTER

We’re on a ship

and I’m the master of the ship

Pause

THE OLDER WOMAN

I’m here

Short pause

THE GUITAR PLAYER

This is not a ship

Pause

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

Pause. The Older Man looks at The Older Woman

THE GUITAR PLAYER

I play the most beautiful guitar music

Pause

THE OLDER MAN

But there you are

THE OLDER WOMAN

I’m here

I’ve been here all the time

yes

Pause

THE OLDER MAN

Good

glad you’re here

Short pause

I

quite short pause

yes I didn’t see you

quite short pause

I didn’t seem to notice you

Pause

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

quite short pause

no it doesn’t feel familiar

quite short pause

I don’t think I’ve been here before

quite short pause

or

THE OLDER WOMAN

Me neither

Quite short pause

But it’s good that we’re here together

you and I

you and I

like always

Quite short pause

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

Short pause

I could do that of course

Pause

THE OLDER MAN

Why don’t you come then

THE OLDER WOMAN

Yes I’m coming

Quite short pause

If you weren’t here with me

I’d have been very scared

quite short pause

because here

quite short pause

because here

I haven’t been here before

and it’s so

breaks off

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

continues

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

Short pause

THE OLDER WOMAN

There’s nothing to see here

THE OLDER MAN

No

Short pause

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

The Older Man walks forward a little, he looks around, stops, he turns towards The Older Woman

There’s someone here

I think there’s someone here

THE OLDER WOMAN

Yes

Pause. The Shipmaster turns towards The Older Man

THE SHIPMASTER

Oh Dad

Are you here

I haven’t seen you for a long time

Dad

The Shipmaster turns to The Older Woman

And you

Mum

How lovely to see you again

Pause. The Older Man and The Older Woman look bewildered at each other

THE OLDER WOMAN

to The Older Man

Why don’t you come over here to me

THE OLDER MAN

Yes okay

The Older Man walks over to The Older Woman

THE OLDER WOMAN

Touch me

I’m so scared

I must feel that I’m here

quite short pause

that I’m awake

THE OLDER MAN

We are awake

THE OLDER WOMAN

We’re not dreaming

THE OLDER MAN

No

no not exactly

Pause

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

breaks off, short pause

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

Quite short pause

Don’t you see me

Don’t you want to talk to me

THE OLDER MAN

Come let’s go

The Older Man takes The Older Woman’s arm. They stand there
.

Long pause
.

THE SHIPMASTER

But Mum

But Dad

quite short pause

don’t you see me

It’s me

Your son

Don’t you see me

Pause

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

short pause

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

Quite short pause

Let’s leave this place

We can’t stay here

Short pause

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

Short pause

It was so good to see you again

Short pause

But don’t you see me

Quite short pause

Why don’t you answer me

Quite short pause

I’m talking to you

but you don’t answer me

quite short pause

what’s wrong with you

THE OLDER WOMAN

Let’s go