The Ride Across Lake Constance and Other Plays (26 page)
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Authors: Peter Handke
Tags: #Fiction, #Literary
BOOK: The Ride Across Lake Constance and Other Plays
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KOERBER-KENT
(
With lowered head
) I don't envy you, Quitt. I could also tell you about myself, like the others, but that's not my way. I never talk about myself. I'm proud that I eliminated myself from my own calculations long ago. I'm not interested in
poking around the lint in my navel. I'm glad that I can be replaced.
(Pause.)
I pity you, Quitt. And I'm afraid for you. I recently saw a drawing a painter made of his dying wife: the pupils had lost almost all their color in the fever, and the iris, too, had become very pale. Nothing but a dark circle separated it from the white of the eye around it, and the centrifugal force of dying had even thickened this circle. It was as if the eyes sighed toward the observer. The artist's pencil had hatched an endless sea of sighs from a mortal seeing hole, as I called it. And the following morning the woman is supposed to have really died. (
A popping sound backstage.
) What was that?
With lowered head
) I don't envy you, Quitt. I could also tell you about myself, like the others, but that's not my way. I never talk about myself. I'm proud that I eliminated myself from my own calculations long ago. I'm not interested in
poking around the lint in my navel. I'm glad that I can be replaced.
(Pause.)
I pity you, Quitt. And I'm afraid for you. I recently saw a drawing a painter made of his dying wife: the pupils had lost almost all their color in the fever, and the iris, too, had become very pale. Nothing but a dark circle separated it from the white of the eye around it, and the centrifugal force of dying had even thickened this circle. It was as if the eyes sighed toward the observer. The artist's pencil had hatched an endless sea of sighs from a mortal seeing hole, as I called it. And the following morning the woman is supposed to have really died. (
A popping sound backstage.
) What was that?
Â
QUITT
Hans is at work. He isn't very good at uncorking bottles. There's almost always a pop when he opens the cooking wine.
Â
(
Pause
.)
Pause
.)
Â
KOERBER-KENT
Aren't you afraid to die? (
He raises his head and wants to transfix
QUITT
âbut
QUITT
happens to be standing behind him
.)
He raises his head and wants to transfix
QUITT
âbut
QUITT
happens to be standing behind him
.)
Â
QUITT
Over here.
Â
KOERBER-KENT
Don't you ever quickly push everything away from you just because you are deathly afraid? (QUITT
steps away from him and comes to a halt with his back to him.
KOERBER-KENT
lowers his head again and closes his eyes
.) Someone once told me how he dreamed he was dying. He was sitting on a sled and said: I am dying. Then he was dead, and at some point they closed the coffin lid over him. And only then did
he
become deathly afraid: he didn't want to be buried. He woke up, his heart was fibrillating. Besides, he was very ill, the dream wanted to kill him. Cause of death: a dream, you could say. (
Very loudly
) You see, dying in your sleep isn't at all peaceful, but perhaps the worst death of all.
steps away from him and comes to a halt with his back to him.
KOERBER-KENT
lowers his head again and closes his eyes
.) Someone once told me how he dreamed he was dying. He was sitting on a sled and said: I am dying. Then he was dead, and at some point they closed the coffin lid over him. And only then did
he
become deathly afraid: he didn't want to be buried. He woke up, his heart was fibrillating. Besides, he was very ill, the dream wanted to kill him. Cause of death: a dream, you could say. (
Very loudly
) You see, dying in your sleep isn't at all peaceful, but perhaps the worst death of all.
Â
(QUITT
has kept pacing around in the meantime, absentmindedly, and now stands in front of
KOERBER-KENT.)
has kept pacing around in the meantime, absentmindedly, and now stands in front of
KOERBER-KENT.)
Â
QUITT
(
Very softly
) Really?
Very softly
) Really?
Â
KOERBER-KENT
(
Is startled. Looks up at
QUITT
now
.) I know from other stories (
One can hear a key turning in a lock backstage and a door handle being pressed down
.) that a dying person keeps looking away whenever his eye catches a specific object, as though he could postpone death in this way ⦠(
He listens.
) Someone pushed down a door handle just now, no? Why don't I hear a door opening? (
Pause
.) Once during a meal I personally sat opposite a man who suddenly started putting the table in order: put the knife and fork parallel to each other, wiped the edge of the glass with his napkin, shoved the napkin into its silver ring. Then he keeled over dead.
Is startled. Looks up at
QUITT
now
.) I know from other stories (
One can hear a key turning in a lock backstage and a door handle being pressed down
.) that a dying person keeps looking away whenever his eye catches a specific object, as though he could postpone death in this way ⦠(
He listens.
) Someone pushed down a door handle just now, no? Why don't I hear a door opening? (
Pause
.) Once during a meal I personally sat opposite a man who suddenly started putting the table in order: put the knife and fork parallel to each other, wiped the edge of the glass with his napkin, shoved the napkin into its silver ring. Then he keeled over dead.
Â
QUIIT
(
Distracted
) Who kneeled on the bread?
Distracted
) Who kneeled on the bread?
Â
KOERBER-KENT
He keeled over dead, I said. (
Frightened
) You're afraid too.
Frightened
) You're afraid too.
Â
QUITT
(
Scratching his pants absentmindedly
) Damnit, the cleaner didn't get that spot out either. Yes? I'm listening.
Scratching his pants absentmindedly
) Damnit, the cleaner didn't get that spot out either. Yes? I'm listening.
Â
KOERBER-KENT
He was still smiling beforehandâ(
Two or three distinctly audible steps backstage.
) but in his deathly fear he bared his
lower
teeth instead of his upper teeth, as you would expect. Nothing wrong with a dead dwarf, that's still a vegetative process, almost. But a
fully
grown corpse, just imagine that! It's monstrous. (
He listens
.) Why doesn't he walk on? Wasn't someone just walking back there?
Two or three distinctly audible steps backstage.
) but in his deathly fear he bared his
lower
teeth instead of his upper teeth, as you would expect. Nothing wrong with a dead dwarf, that's still a vegetative process, almost. But a
fully
grown corpse, just imagine that! It's monstrous. (
He listens
.) Why doesn't he walk on? Wasn't someone just walking back there?
Â
QUITT
My baby fat starts growing back when I listen to you. You
and
your deathly fearâat the moment everything seems thinkable to me and also beside the point.
and
your deathly fearâat the moment everything seems thinkable to me and also beside the point.
Â
KOERBER-KENT
What? What?
Â
QUITT
It was just the floor creaking, I'm sure of it.
Â
(PAULA
appears in a dress and with a veil in front of her face. At the sight of her,
QUITT
unzips his fly halfway down and up again. A garbage can cover bangs loudly on a hard floor backstage
.)
appears in a dress and with a veil in front of her face. At the sight of her,
QUITT
unzips his fly halfway down and up again. A garbage can cover bangs loudly on a hard floor backstage
.)
Â
KOERBER-KENT
As I said, I've got an eye for those who are marked.
(He points
to QUITT. ) It's that thin line on the upper lip ⦠(
He notices
PAULA.) It's you! How good that you are here. Perhaps you could ⦠him ⦠(
He tries to find the word
.) What's the word?
(He points
to QUITT. ) It's that thin line on the upper lip ⦠(
He notices
PAULA.) It's you! How good that you are here. Perhaps you could ⦠him ⦠(
He tries to find the word
.) What's the word?
Â
QUITT
Congratulate him?
Â
KOERBER-KENT
No.
Â
QUITT
Work on him?
Â
Â
KOERBER-KENT
Something like that ⦠no.
Â
QUITT
Take him over your knees?
Â
KOERBER-KENT
(
Panic-stricken
) Oh, God, how did this happen? I can't find the right word any more. What are they doing to me? Come down, eclipse of the sun! Hellfire, burst forth from the earth!
Panic-stricken
) Oh, God, how did this happen? I can't find the right word any more. What are they doing to me? Come down, eclipse of the sun! Hellfire, burst forth from the earth!
Â
(QUITT
walks up to
PAULA
and whispers in her ear
.)
walks up to
PAULA
and whispers in her ear
.)
Â
PAULA
(
Loudly
) “Deathly afraid?” (To KOERBER-KENT) You are trying to make him deathly afraid? Do you think he'll admit us back into the market?
Loudly
) “Deathly afraid?” (To KOERBER-KENT) You are trying to make him deathly afraid? Do you think he'll admit us back into the market?
Â
KOERBER-KENT
(
Screams
) I know what I'm talking about. I've seen thousands die in the war. (QUITT
sighs.
KOERBER-KENT
resumes normal tone of voice at once.)
Am I keeping you from something?
Screams
) I know what I'm talking about. I've seen thousands die in the war. (QUITT
sighs.
KOERBER-KENT
resumes normal tone of voice at once.)
Am I keeping you from something?
Â
QUITT
Not at all.
Â
KOERBER-KENT
(
Screams
) I can read signs. I know why you hunch up your shoulders when you walk around. But soon you will shoulder the necessary weight of death, no matter what, Hermann Quitt. Even if you dangle your arms back and forth like that and scurry every which way. Even if you sit up straight as a
candle in your deathly fear! (
He begins walking out backward.
HANS
appears, wearing his chef's hat.
) You won't even be able to imagine the moment. There will be nothing but abrupt, animalistic, anxiety-ridden anticipation. You will be so afraid you won't even dare to swallow, and the spit will turn sour in your mouth. Your death will be gruesome beyond all imaginings, complete with moaning and bellowing. I know what I'm talking about. With moaning and bellowing. (
He walks backward into
HANS
and emits a scream. Exit
.)
Screams
) I can read signs. I know why you hunch up your shoulders when you walk around. But soon you will shoulder the necessary weight of death, no matter what, Hermann Quitt. Even if you dangle your arms back and forth like that and scurry every which way. Even if you sit up straight as a
candle in your deathly fear! (
He begins walking out backward.
HANS
appears, wearing his chef's hat.
) You won't even be able to imagine the moment. There will be nothing but abrupt, animalistic, anxiety-ridden anticipation. You will be so afraid you won't even dare to swallow, and the spit will turn sour in your mouth. Your death will be gruesome beyond all imaginings, complete with moaning and bellowing. I know what I'm talking about. With moaning and bellowing. (
He walks backward into
HANS
and emits a scream. Exit
.)
Â
(HANS
also exits.
QUITT
and
PAULA
look at one another for a long time
.)
also exits.
QUITT
and
PAULA
look at one another for a long time
.)
Â
QUITT
If you keep looking at me, I will lose the rest of my feelings.
Â
PAULA
I won.
Â
QUITT
Why?
Â
PAULA
Because you were the first to talk.
Â
QUITT
Now it's your turn.
Â
PAULA
I love you, still. (
She laughs.
)
She laughs.
)
Â
QUITT
Why are you laughing?
Â
PAULA
Because I succeeded in saying that.
Â
QUITT
I can't buy myself anything with that.
Â
PAULA
You are so artificial. You're sacrificing the truth now for a slick cliché.
Â
QUITT
Moreover, I didn't give you any excuse for it. (
Pause.
) I keep having to get used to you all over again. (
He looks her over from head to foot.
)
Pause.
) I keep having to get used to you all over again. (
He looks her over from head to foot.
)
Â
PAULA
I'm not one of those.
Â
QUITT
Who, after all, is one of those? (
Pause.
) I'm tired. When I take a step I feel as if my real body has stayed behind. I don't need you. When I saw you I was happy, but I also was a bit turned off. I took that as a sign that all my desire for you is gone.
Pause.
) I'm tired. When I take a step I feel as if my real body has stayed behind. I don't need you. When I saw you I was happy, but I also was a bit turned off. I took that as a sign that all my desire for you is gone.
Â
(
She laughs. He regards her considerately until she has finished.
)
She laughs. He regards her considerately until she has finished.
)
Â
PAULA
What you say is supposed to humiliate me. But the voice that I hear flatters me.
Â
QUITT
You've changed. You're out of breath. Before, when you used to show your feelings you used to be much more self-assured. Why can't it be that way now? Stop playing the humble woman. I only want to touch you when you talk matter-of-factly. (
Spitefully
) Incidentally, why are you by yourself and not with the team? Do you call that creative?
Spitefully
) Incidentally, why are you by yourself and not with the team? Do you call that creative?
My head hurts. Besides, I like you better when you wear pants.
Â
PAULA
Your head is also hurting me, yes, your whole life ⦠(QUITT
pats her arm
.) You pat me the way a conductor raps his baton ⦠(
She caresses him.
)
pats her arm
.) You pat me the way a conductor raps his baton ⦠(
She caresses him.
)
Â
QUITT
Your caresses tickle me.
Â
PAULA
Yes, because you don't want to enjoy them. (QUITT'S WIFE
enters. She is wearing the same dress as
PAULA.
She notices, stops, and leaves again
.) Now caress me too. (QUITT
caresses her and steps away from her
.) That was one too few. (QUITT
returns and caresses her once more
. ) Oh yes. (
Pause.
) Tell me about yourself.
enters. She is wearing the same dress as
PAULA.
She notices, stops, and leaves again
.) Now caress me too. (QUITT
caresses her and steps away from her
.) That was one too few. (QUITT
returns and caresses her once more
. ) Oh yes. (
Pause.
) Tell me about yourself.
Â
QUITT
(
Animatedly
) I was thirsty a few days ago. (
Pause
.) It just occurred to me.
Animatedly
) I was thirsty a few days ago. (
Pause
.) It just occurred to me.
Â
PAULA
Look at me, please.
Â
QUITT
I don't like to look at you.
Â
PAULA
Well, what am I like?
Â
QUITT
Unchanged.
Â
PAULA
Before I got to know you better I thought you were unfeeling and tough. I once heard you say of meâthe brunette thereâas about a whore.
Â
QUITT
You always tell yourself stories like that afterward.
Â
PAULA
What would you say I would say now? Mr. Quitt?
Â
QUITT
Don't call me that. (
She puts her hand on his shoulder. Suddenly she begins to choke him. He lets her do so for some time, then shakes her off.
QUITT'S WIFE
has returned in a different dress. She watches, giggling inaudibly, sucking her thumb.
QUITT
seats himself in the deck chair and lowers his head.
PAULA
squats down and wants to take his head in her hands. He gives her a kick. She falls down and gets up, warbling. He kicks her again. She gets up, warbling. He wants to kick her again, but she eludes him, warbling
.) Your slimy tongue. Your absurd hips.
She puts her hand on his shoulder. Suddenly she begins to choke him. He lets her do so for some time, then shakes her off.
QUITT'S WIFE
has returned in a different dress. She watches, giggling inaudibly, sucking her thumb.
QUITT
seats himself in the deck chair and lowers his head.
PAULA
squats down and wants to take his head in her hands. He gives her a kick. She falls down and gets up, warbling. He kicks her again. She gets up, warbling. He wants to kick her again, but she eludes him, warbling
.) Your slimy tongue. Your absurd hips.
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