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