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