Fosse: Plays Six

OLD MAN

Yes

quite short pause

yes we stayed here

you and I

OLD WOMAN

We’ve been here

for so very

many years

OLD MAN

That’s how it turned out

yes

Pause

THE SHADOW

This is earth

and mould

This is rock

and sea

This is air

and wind

Short pause

OLD MAN

We were here

And then you were gone

OLD WOMAN

I’m gone

and I’m here

OLD MAN

Yes

OLD WOMAN

But now I’m

here with you

OLD MAN

And you must be here

Quite short pause

OLD WOMAN

I will

quite short pause

I’ll always be

with you

Pause

OLD MAN

And I will

yes

short pause

I’ll disappear in this

quite short pause

the way you have disappeared

the way you are gone

OLD WOMAN

Yes

OLD MAN

continues

I want to be gone in this

I want to be gone in all this

I

breaks off

I

I like them

like all of them

I just like them

like you’re gone

I want to be gone too

like all those

who have been here before me

have existed here

lived here

quite short pause

they have all disappeared

all are gone

quite short pause

forever gone

quite short pause

my father

my mother

my grandfather

my grandmother

All of them

All of them are gone

all of them have disappeared

quite short pause

here

here in this landscape

have they disappeared

OLD WOMAN

And they have become

this landscape

OLD MAN

continues

and now

breaks off

now

now

short pause

no I don’t want to any longer

I don’t want to anymore

because where are you

THE SHADOW

to The Old Woman

You must come now

We’re going now

OLD MAN

I don’t want to any longer

Short pause

I don’t want to any longer

no longer

be the one who sees

I see

I’m the eyes that see

And I don’t want to see

Quite short pause

And were are you

I’m waiting for you

always

I miss you

OLD WOMAN

I’m here

You can see that

I’m here

I’m here with you

THE SHADOW

to The Old Woman

You must come now

OLD MAN

I’ve seen enough

I look and look

I am these eyes

that see

everything

short pause

and I see

breaks off, quite short pause

and always all this talk

always I just talk

He starts to walk around, and The Young Man follows him

Talk and talk

OLD WOMAN

And now it’s just you

who are left here

OLD MAN

Yes

THE SHADOW

to The Old Woman

But come now

You must come now

What are you waiting for

Why don’t you come

OLD MAN

I don’t want to be here any longer

Quite short pause

OLD WOMAN

But

Short pause

OLD MAN

Yes

OLD WOMAN

But

quite short pause

yes do you remember when we met

quite short pause

here

when we got together

you and I

do you remember

OLD MAN

Yes

yes of course

Short pause

OLD WOMAN

Always you and I

do you remember

OLD MAN

Yes

yes I remember

OLD WOMAN

Always you and I

Now don’t you forget that

OLD MAN

No

quite short pause

no I won’t

forget that

THE SHADOW

to The Old Woman

You must come now

OLD WOMAN

You and I

always you and I

OLD MAN

Yes

Short pause

OLD WOMAN

Yes

And here where there was

so much life so much noise

short pause

our children

OLD MAN

Yes

OLD WOMAN

And now it’s quiet

OLD MAN

Yes

And you

quite short pause

you were just gone

quite short pause

left me

were gone

Quite short pause

OLD WOMAN

Now everything

quite short pause

is quiet

short pause

but

quite short pause

but the islands

and the fjord

quite short pause

and out there

the ocean

are still the same

quite short pause

and the mountains

they are still the same

OLD MAN

And may it always be like that

OLD WOMAN

That’s the way it is

and the way it shall be

Pause

OLD MAN

Yes may it always be

Pause

OLD WOMAN

You’re not feeling well today

OLD MAN

No

No I don’t suppose I am

not quite

OLD WOMAN

You’ll get better

you wait

OLD MAN

I’ll get better

yes perhaps

OLD WOMAN

It always gets better

Short pause

And we should be

yes be happy

that we have each other

you and I

OLD MAN

But I’m alone

You’re not here any longer

OLD WOMAN

Always you and I

you old thing

you good thing

OLD MAN

Good old thing

OLD WOMAN

You good old thing

OLD MAN

And you

you good thing

OLD WOMAN

Good thing

THE SHADOW

to The Old Woman

But you must come now

You can’t be here any longer

come now

come then

OLD WOMAN

Good thing

Good old thing

short pause

it’ll be fine

you’ll see

quite short pause

and I’m here with you

I am

OLD MAN

Yes

OLD WOMAN

Even when I’m not here with you

I still am

OLD MAN

Yes

quite short pause