WE ARE A HUNDRED

By Jonas Hassen Khemiri 2009

Translated by Rachel Willson-Broyles 2010

WE ARE A HUNDRED
ROLES
1 young woman (also plays ARTHUR, COUPLE GIRL, CRITICAL CONFERENCE-GOER)
2 middle-aged woman (also plays COUPLE GIRL, THE CHILD, ARTHUR)
3 old woman (also plays ARTHUR, THE GIRLFRIEND, THE TRAIN MAN, 20-SECOND
GIRL, CONFERENCE-GOER)
/ indicates overlapping lines. 1/2/3 can also be played by men.

CONTENTS:

SCENE 1
SCENE 2
SCENE 3
SCENE 4
SCENE 5
SCENE 6
SCENE 7
SCENE 8
SCENE 9
SCENE 10
SCENE 11

3
6
15
20
25
34
38
43
65
71
83

SCENE 1
1, 2, and 3 onstage with clothes and hairstyles that make them look alike.
2
Were ready.
Pause.
2
Were ready! We are, right?
1 and 3 dont answer
2
We dont get dizzy we breathe calmly in out in out we look out over the city we are blinded by
the light of dawn and we are? Exactly. Ready. That is what we are.
Pause.
2 (hesitating)
We are, right?
1 and 3 nod, focused.
2
Well then. Lets do it.
Pause. 2 collects herself.
2
Lets do it now.
Pause.
2
Are we with me? Onetwo
Pause.
3

2
One.
Pause.
2
Two.
Pause.
2
Three!!!!
Nothing happens.
3
Were not doing it.
2
No, weWere not doing it.
1
Maybe were too wimpy?
3
Maybe we need more time?
1
Maybe we regret everything weve ever done?
3
No no no! No regrets here!
1 (imitating 3 with retard voice)
No regrets here. We might actually have regrets, you know.
2
Maybe we want to go back.
1
Maybe we want to do it all over.
4

3
Quit it. That again?
2
Mmhmm. Again.
1
One last time.
2
One last chance.
1
But this time it will be perfect.
3
Okay. Well start over.

SCENE 2
2
Were born.
1 is born, gasping for air.
3
We take our first breath.
1 draws a breath.
2
We scream our first scream.
1
WAAAAH!
3
Were here now.
2
Back again. Then everything goes quickly.
3
We grow.
1 grows.
2
We learn to stand.
1 gets up on wobbly legs.
3
We learn to walk.
1 (takes her first steps)
One two thwee fouw.
2
6

We start to dream.
1 (baby voice)
You know what Im gonna be when I gwow up?
2
No, tell me.
1
Im gonna be a candy pilot!
3
We start schools.
1
What do you mean no thuch thing? Who flieth all the candy?
2
We soon learn how the world works.
3
We learn to stand once again.
1 stands completely normally
3 (to 1)
NO, not like that. (to 2) Show her.
2 adjusts 1 so she stands in an exaggerated, affected manner, like a mannequin.
3
There. We learn to walk once again.
2 shows 1 how to walk sexily, her backside out, tossing her hair. Their movements mirror each
other, theyre stiff like marionettes.
3
We learn
1 (stepping out of character)
Hey, listen. Shouldnt we
7

2
Shh
3
We learn to listen to our elders.
2
We learn to wait our turn.
1 sighs, shakes her head.
3
We learn to smile.
2 and 3 smile. 1 refuses.
2 (with a threatening smile)
Hello? We learn to SMILE!?
1 reluctantly turns up her lips in a grimace.
1 (with grimacing smile)
It was supposed to be different this time.
3
Good!
2
We learn to laugh.
2 and 3 give cringe-inducing laughs and toss their hair; 1 gives a grimacing, nasty laugh.
3
We can do better!
Everyone laughs even louder. 2 and 3 stop suddenly, 1 continues a little too long. 2 and 3 give 1
an irritated look.
2
Soon we graduate.
8

1
Finally!
3
Soon we move away from home.
1
Finally!!!
2
Soonwe get news of an unexpected death.
1
FinaWhat?
3
Theres a terrible accident that leaves its mark on our lives forever.
1
I dont remember an accident.
2
Poor little thing!
3
Thats called repression.
1
ButWe have the most sheltered childhood ever. And I would definitely remember if
3 (interrupting)
QUIET! We cure our sudden loneliness with all the resources that exist.
2 takes out a bottle and gets 1 drunk in a few seconds.
1 (slurring)
Exshhcuse ush, butIzh thish sheat taken?
2
We dream of traveling abroad.
9

1 (slurring)
Parleez vous French? Anglish? Deutschan?
3
We do not travel abroad.
1 (slurring)
CHEERSSH!
2
We cure our loneliness with our own help.
1 (slurring)
Itsh sho damn lucky that you
3 (correcting)
We
1
We are here.
Pause.
2
Time goes by.
3
Year after year.
2
Then one day we meet our first love.
1 (happily)
We do?
2
Yes! One day we meetArthur.
2 points at 3, who enters the role of ARTHUR.
10

1 (reluctantly)
Not graphic design-Arthur?
2
Yes, that Arthur.
1
No, not that pent-up aggressive loser with the ironic glasses and the cold, spongy hands?
3 (defending herself)
A very pleasant young man.
2
Yes, Arthur. Who comes up to us when were drunk at a party and asks
3/ARTHUR (nervously)
UhHowSorryNot to disturb you butHowHow do you knowthe girl whosewhose
birthday it is?
1 (ironically)
Wow, original guy.
3/ARTHUR
Huh?
2 (to 1)
Shhcome on. Answer!
1 (tries to smile)
We know herthrough a friend? And you?
3/ARTHUR (happy to have something in common)
Me too! What a coincidence!

1
Super.
Embarrassing silence.
2
11

We fall madly in love.

3/ARTHUR
Wellcheers, then.
1 (sighing)
Cheers.
Embarrassing silence.
2 (prompting)
We share our life stories.
3/ARTHUR
Soare you a student then?
1
I mean, I do some of both, and stuff like that. And you?
3/ARTHUR
Same here.
1
Super.
Embarrassing silence.
2
We tell each other our plans for the future.
1
So are you guys going somewhere else after this?

3/ARTHUR
No, I dont think so. Or maybe. Havent decided. You?
1
Well see.
1 and 3 look at each other without saying anything, smiling nervously.
12

2
Then suddenly he looks deep into our eyes and says
3/ARTHUR
I mean this is probably going to sound a little sketchy butDo you sometimes feel like a bunch
of different people at once? Like there are a thousand other yous and youre just one out of many
potential alternatives and right now part of me wants to kiss you and another part wants to run
away and a third part wants to apologize for whats about to happen and a fourth part regrets
even waking up today and
1 and 2
Yes.
3/ARTHUR
Huh?
1 and 2
We understand.
3/ARTHUR
Really?
2
We nod.
3/ARTHUR
We brush against each others arms.
1, 2, and 3
We understand each other.

2
We walk home with vibrations in our chest.
1
Exaggeration.
3/ARTHUR
We walk home with the realization that everything can turn around.
13

1
Eh.
2
We walk home with the feeling of a love
3/ARTHUR
That no one else has experienced before us.
2 and 3 look at each other, 1 tries to ruin the mood.
1
Yawn.

14

SCENE 3
2
Soon we move in together.
3/ARTHUR
Soon we begin a relationship based upon
2
Mutual respect.
1
And profound hate.
2
Shh. Arthur gives us love and warmth.
1
And obnoxious nicknames.
3/ARTHUR
Sweetiekins. Are you home?
2
He gives us the security weve always wanted and
1
Lines we never said.
1 unwillingly enters the role of COUPLE GIRL. 2 stands to the side and observes.
3/ARTHUR
Hello, my little wubby! Why didnt you answer when I called?
1/COUPLE GIRL (says her line completely without feeling, as though she were reading from the
script)
Hi my little cutie-pie. Sorry I didnt hear you come in.

2
15

A little more feeling. Try again.

1 sighs.
1/COUPLE GIRL (still without feeling)
Hi my little cutie-pie. Sorry I didnt hear you come in.
3/ARTHUR
No problem, wubbykins. Shall I help you with dinner?
1/COUPLE GIRL (still without feeling)
No its okay. I got everything ready already.
3/ARTHUR
Mmm, it was so good. Thanks.
1/COUPLE GIRL (without feeling)
No, thank you. You sit, Ill take care of the dishes.
3/ARTHUR
No, cant I help, my little snookywookyookums?
1/COUPLE GIRL (without feeling)
No. Most of all I would like you to have some more wine and tell me in great detail about your
favorite font. Preferably for three hours.
1 leaves the role of COUPLE GIRL
1 (to 2)
Come on, this isnt working. We arent like this.
2
Some of us are.
1
No! What are we doing? Everything was supposed to be different this time.
2
Carry on, now.
1
16

I refuse! Do you hear me? I REFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSE!!!!

2 and 3 look at each other, shaking their heads, sighing.
2
Okay. Ill just have to do it. As usual.
2 takes over the role of COUPLE GIRL and plays it much more convincingly.
3/ARTHUR
By the way, how did it go with your computerdid you get the download to work?
2/COUPLE GIRL (baby voice)
No, I mean, Im sorry, but it just didnt work, I tried everything everything everything but I really
know absolutely nothing about all that stuff with computers, you know.
1 (whispering in 2s ear)
Liar liar liar.
3/ARTHUR
No problem, cutie-pie, Im here for you. I love to help out. By the way I heard a funny story
today. Do you know how many computer technicians it takes to screw in a light bulb?
2/COUPLE GIRL (roaring laughter)
HAHA I love your sense of humor!
1 (whispering in 2s ear)
Traitor traitor traitor.
3/ARTHUR
HeyShouldnt I help with the dishes?
COUPLE GIRL starts to speak with an over-sexed, hoarse voice.
2/COUPLE GIRL
NoIll get it. Just have some more wine and tell me about your favorite font

1 (louder and louder)

Look out look out look out
17

2/COUPLE GIRL (oversexed)

Tell me more and more and more, never stop tellingTell me deeply and IN-timately, as only
you can.
COUPLE-GIRLs words make ARTHUR horny, and he starts to chase her around. COUPLE
GIRL resists at first, jokingly; then her resistance becomes more serious.
2/COUPLE GIRL (afraid)
Eeeee! Wait, stop, stop, I dont want to for real stop now STOP! (to 1) Help! Help!
1 just watches. COUPLE GIRL is pulled down to the floor, she has sex with/is raped by
ARTHUR. She enjoys it/does her best to enjoy it (in order to not feel like shes being raped).
ARTHUR has a loud orgasm. COUPLE GIRL fakes a loud orgasm.
1 (whispering in 2s ear)
Faker faker faker.
3/ARTHUR
How was it for you?
2/COUPLE GIRL (with a lump in her throat)
Wow. I mean, just wow.
COUPLE GIRL suddenly bursts into tears. Pause. ARTHUR bursts into tears.
2/COUPLE GIRL
Arthur. Stop crying. It was my fault. I should have made it more clear that I didnt want to. Hey.
3/ARTHUR
Thanks. I love you.
2 swallows and tries to sound convincing.
1
Dont say it. DONT say it!

2/COUPLE GIRL
I love you too.

18

SCENE 4
2 leaves the role of COUPLE GIRL, 3 leaves the role of ARTHUR
3
We are on the way to a completely normal
1
Disgustingly straightjacket-y
2
Life.
3
We are wonderfully
1
Brainwashedly lobotomizedly
2
Happy.
1
But sometimes we have doubts.
2
We do?
3
Mmhmm, we do, actually.
1
Sometimes we wake up in the cold dawn and think about everything wemissed.
3
Sometimes were even tempted by the thought of ending it all ahead of time.
Pause.

2
19

ButWere definitely still happy, right?

3
Yes, were happy.
1 (ironically)
Super-duper happy.
2
Lovely.
1
Were only tempted to take the elevator up to the roof sometimes.
2 (nervously)
We are?
3
We only stand on the roof railing and look out over the city sometimes.
1
We only stand there and let ourselves be blinded by the rising sun and thinkNowNow we
will do itin extremely exceptional cases.
Pause.
2
But hey, were still lucky that we have each other! That were not alone! That we dont miss the
people wholeft us.
1
For the thousandth timeNO ONE has left us!
3
Poor little dear, doesnt remember a thing.
1
Remember what?
2
Yes, remember what?
20

3
What happened.
2
What really did happen, anyway?
3
You know, that tragic stuff. Our trauma. Thatcrazy neighbor.
2
Its all right.
1
Who?
3
You know, that crazy guy who lived next to our dear parents. The one who talked to himself and
heard evil voices in the walls and one day decided to punish the wallpaper by setting it on fire.
2
The deadly black smoke that spread through the air ducts.
3
And then the police voice that called us in the middle of the night and said that our dear parents
never had a chance.
Pause.
1 (mumbling)
They lived in a house.
3
What?
2 (to 3)
They lived in a house.
3
Maybe they traded the house for an apartment.
21

1
Maybe youre full of shit.
3
Maybe you need a knuckle sandwich?
1
Maybe you should learn to talk like a civilized person?
3
Maybe you should learn to shut your mouth?
1 and 3 start to fight, 2 intervenes and breaks it up.
2
Come on, quit it. Now make up. We are all we have. Okay?
1 and 3 reluctantly make up.
2
And when it seems darkest, we can always take out our gold-frame memories. You remember
them, right?
1 (mumbling)
Sort of, a little, vaguely.
3 (mumbling)
Not really sure
2
Yes! All the memories we saved as reasons why life is worth living. All those mental pictures
that are so nice theyre worth their own super-expensive gold frames?
Pause. 1 and 3 dont answer.

2 (enthusiastically)
What? There are so many of them! The first warm day in spring. Perfectly ripe peaches. All the
times we woke up in the middle of the night and saw Arthurs beautiful, sleeping silhouette. All
22

the times our watching woke him up, and he smiled his smile and blew his bangs up all crooked
with his lower lip and whisperedI love you so incredibly much. All the times

23

SCENE 5
1 (interrupting)
But then one night something happens that changes EVERYTHING.
2
What?
1
One night when were having Cozy Night at home
3
Oh yeah, Cozy Night!
1
We sneak up to Arthur whos sitting there with his computer and his tea and his ugly, fartsmelling
2
Cute.
1
Sweatpants.
3
We stroke the back of his neck and whisper:
2 (wheedling)
Darling, do you have a lot left, or are you coming to bed soon?
1
Thats EXACTLY how obnoxious our voice gets around him. And Arthur just
3/ARTHUR
Im coming soon, loveliest little darling you.
1
More like this:
1/ARTHUR (jerk voice)
24

Look, Im coming soon, I just have to finish up with this and youre just going to have to respect
that.
2 (wheedling)
What are you working on, darling?
1
AAAAAH our voice freaks me out, STOP talking like that!
3/ARTHUR (intellectually)
The captions for a new book of photography. The goal is to document
1
No, he actually says it like this: (ARTHUR) Its like captions for like a war book. Thats what
he says. War book. What a fucking idiot.
2 (leaning over the computer)
Butwhere are the photos?
3/ARTHUR
Im putting them in later. I cant handle seeing them while I work.
1
And we lean over his shoulder.
2
And see the blank white pages.
1
And the black captions in italics.
3
Completely neutral.
2
Family in a bread line.
1
Without a sender.
2
25

Soccer ball made of twisted plastic bags.

3
Without a name.
2
Dead soldier.
1
Unbiased words.
2
Malnourished children waiting for rehydration.
3
Words that describe photographs
2
Stacked coffins
3
that we have never seen.
2
Machetes in a pile
1
But that we still
2
Worn-out stretchers.
1
in some way have seen.
2
Three sisters in mourning.

3
Its all too late.
26

2
Empty medicine cabinets.
1
No, its all possible!
2
A school in ruins.
3
We are reminded that there are worlds beyond ours.
1
We realize that we have to get out of here!
2
Wonderful! Then what happens?
1
We break up with that damn jerk Arthur.
2
No. We do?
3
Yes.
1
We look at him and say
2 (surprised by her own aggression)
YOU CAN TAKE YOUR FUCKING NICKNAMES AND YOUR DISGUSTING
SWEATPANTS AND YOUR CLUMSY CARESSES AND YOUR OBNOXIOUS ANSWERS
AND GO TO HELL!!!! (quiet) Whoa.
3
Good! We pack a suitcase.
2 (to Arthur)
Sorry.
27

1
We leave the apartment.
2
No! Were so daring!
1
Theres a strange fuel that forces us.
3
The feeling that life must be lived before its too late.
2 (nervously)
And we dont want to go home?
1
Fuck wanting home! We want to get away!
3
We fly to the metropolises of the world.
1
We hitchhike between small villages.
3
We stay in fancy hotels.
1
We sleep on the street.
2
Do we have our travelers checks with us?
3
We see all the wonders of the world.

1
We see a thousand kinds of oppression.
28

3
We go to spa resorts.
1
We live in refugee camps.
2 (unsure)
Yes! But waitshouldnt we get vaccinated first?
3
We charm store security guards.
1
We bribe border guards.
3
We try drugs that turn the world inside out.
1
We see injustice that that that (breaks the fourth wall, to the audience, trying to buy herself
time to think) Youre with me, right? She says store security guards, I say border guards. Its kind
of a little poetic. She says all the wonders, and I say a thousand kinds of oppression. You get
it, right? Real drama! And then she saysSay it again.
3
We try drugs that turn the world inside out.
1
Exactly, and then I sayWe seewe see Yes! We see injustice that turns our stomachs
inside out!
3
We are poorer than most.
1
We are richer than anyone.
Pause.
2
Uh huh? And then?
29

1
Then? Well. WeWe start to write political poetry.
3
Yes! We start to dream up alternate worlds.
2 follows their instructions.
1
We buy berets at local markets and learn to smoke local cigarettes and wake up in strange beds in
strange countries and write poetry that imagines a world free of oppression.
3
Free from hate.
1
Free from commercialism.
3
Pets for all!
1 (stops short, to 3)
Huh?
3
Pets? Let the battle cry resound: pets for all?
1
Were only involved with political issues, okay? We dont fucking care about pets.
3 (mumbling)
Sorry then.

1 (to 2)
Read one of our poems.
2 (clears her throat, in poet voice)
My soul is black
My hair is black
30

Black is back
Capitalism is wack!
3 enters the role of THE GIRLFRIEND.
3/THE GIRLFRIEND
Oh, wow. Its amazing. You are SO talented.
2
Well thank you. Who is she?
1
One of our many girlfriends.
2
Girlfriends?
1
Yes! We have hundreds. All over the world.
2 (poet voice)
The revolution is the constitution for the peoples evolution.
3/THE GIRLFRIEND
Oh, wow. You are SO Sappho.
2
Oh, thank you. So are you!
2 and 3 kiss each other.
1
Soon our poems are translated.
2 and 3 continue to make out.
1
Soon our words are spread all over the world.
1 realizes that she has the chance to steer the future herself.
31

1
Our thoughts become sparks! Our letters shatter oppression! Our syllables shake up power
structures! The revolution is here! Thanks to us!
New lighting. The stage as 1 imagines her future. An elderly 1 starts to guide us around her
future home.
1
Hi and welcomeYes, come in, just hang up your thingsYesI dont really know where to
start, butperhaps in here? Now, step carefully where its a littletighthere is our collection
of the prizes and medals we got for our many long years of political strugglesOf course we
were involved from a young age and, well, now in the end, in the autumn of our lives like this,
its nice to be able to look back on a life that wasnthow should I put itin vain
2 and 3 continue to make out.
1
And if we continue in here thenYes, you can see for yourselveshere is where we keep of all
the thank-you letters we receive, in strict chronological order, andYes, theyre from all sorts of
people. Landless people whove gotten land, oppressed people whove become free, warring
ethnic groups whove become friendsWe can go on in here
2 and 3 stop making out and start to listen.
1
Oh, this is a little embarrassingbut here we actually have a collection of everything thats been
named after us. And as you can see there are some streetsSquares. Avenues. A few cultural
centersa satellite or twoThats how it goes. As long as you dont give in and compromise on
your dreams. We have always been the type of people who
1 stops speaking when she discovers that 2 and 3 are listening.

32

SCENE 6
New lighting; we leave 1s fantasy.
3
The type of people who?
1 (clearing her throat)
The type of people who
2
Who exaggerate a little?
1
Eh.
Pause.
2 (till 3)
So what really happens, then?
3
What?
2
What really happens? How long do we travel the world and write political poetry?
1
You know. Ten or twelve years.
3
Four months.
1 (mumbling)
Four and a half, actually.
3
And one day when we wake up in a

1
33

Delightfully authentic
2
Disgustingly flea-bitten
3
Hostel, we look in the mirror and think:
1 and 2 look at each other and move as though they are mirror-images. Reaching out her hands,
1 touches 2s wrinkles.
1 and 2
What the hell are we doing?
3
Weve become tired.
1
Nooo.
2
Weve found our first gray hair.
1
So? We dont give a shit about stuff like that.
2
Weve begun to want to go home.
1
But were the fiery fire! Were the unstoppable shock wave! Were going to change the world
with our words! We cant just go home!
3
Yes. We do. We go home.
2
And get back together with Arthur.
1
Please, I feel sick.
34

2
He forgives us.
1
Well make EXACTLY the same mistakes as last time.
3
No, we choose a different career.
2 (reading)
Are you interested in working closely with people and with an emphasis on promoting
healthfulness?
1
NOOOO!
3
Then a career in dental hygiene is the perfect choice for you?
1
We dont do it.
3
We nod our heads.
1
Tell me we dont do it.
2
We start studying to become a dental hygienist.
1
Were done for.
3
No, were not.
2
Were exactly as moderately happy as everyone else.
35

1
Were brainwashedly, lobotomizedly
3
Wonderfully, delightfully
2
Happy.

36

SCENE 7
3
Soon were all grown up.
1
Not me!
2
Were married.
1
Not me!
3
Weve adapted.
1
NOT ME!
2
Yes. You too. We have kids.
3
We have life experience.
1
We have lost our selves.
2
Bullshit.
1
And I presume that we are finished with our dork education?
2
Yes, were certified dental hygienists.
3
But were not satisfied with that!
37

2
We continue doing research.
3
We get doctorates.
2
We specialize in the advantages and disadvantages of tinted dental sealant.
1 (ironically)
Yippee! Nothing can stop us now!
Pause.
1
Butdeep down our thoughts are chafing.
3
What do you mean, chafing?
1
Because were studying teeth while an unjust world burns.
2
No, we feel splendid.
1
But you have to admit that our skin is corroding. At least a little bit?
3
No, our skin feels absolutely great, thanks for asking.
1
But we cant get any air!
2
Yes we can. Look, were breathing just like we always do.

3
In out.
38

2
In out.
1
But some days we suffocate, anyway.
3
In out.
1
When were left on our own.
2
In out.
1
When Arthur has gone away with the kids and said his I cant take it anymore and Please, for
Gods sake, cant you think of someone besides yourself?
3
In out.
1
And then the apartment is empty and the pipes rush and the wallpaper ticks and everything
echoes and soon soon were going to go completely CRA
1 is interrupted by a ringing phone. New lighting. 1, 2, and 3 look at each other. It takes some
time before anyone dares to answer.
1
Wow. This is new.
2 (hesitantly)
Yes, hello? Yes, its me.
1
Every blink a sacrifice.
2 (to 1)
Shh! (into the phone) Sorry, what did you say? Yes, of course, absolutely. Right. Exactly.
39

1
Every dawn a disappointment.
2 (into the phone, apologetically)
No, oh dear, he has? What? No, oh God! I cant believe it. How did it happen? No. A crazy
neighbor? Who heard voices from the wallpaper? And decided one day to set the wallpaper on
fire? Butthats exactly what
3 (to 1)
See? Its more common than youd think.
2
Really. An unbelievable tragedy. And why are you callingI see. Yes, really, I understand.
(suddenly happy) Really? Oh God, what fun! Id really be happy to. Two hours? And who will
the audience be? Yes, really. Super. Super. Well take care of it.
3 signals that 2 has misspoken.
2
Or I. I will take care of it. I will take care of it. Great! Then its all set. No, thank you. See you
soon. Thanks so much. Thanks, thanks.
2 ends the conversation. Looks at 1.
2 (overjoyed)
But there are some days when EVERYTHING turns around.
3
Is this one of those days?
2 nods with a big smile
1
Who was it?

2
We were just invited to speak at the annual conference!
3
40

Really? Thats huge!

1 (bored)
Super. When are we leaving?
2
Youre staying here.
1
But
3
Youre too little.
2
Youre too immature.
1
Did you think I wanted to come with or something? Just go. Go and talk at your dorky dorkconference.
2 and 3 get ready, pack up the computer, leave the stage.
1 (mumbling to herself)
To hell with you. Im not afraid of being alone. Im stronger than both of you. Youre going to
miss me. Do you hear me? Youre nothing without me. You need me. Do you hear me? Are you
still there? Did you go?
1 waits. Waits. Ties a noose in a rope. Day becomes night becomes day becomes night. 1 hears a
noise. Gets out a stool, climbs up on the stool, places the noose around her neck. Waits. Waits a
little more.
1
There are days when one of us must be sacrificed.

41

SCENE 8
New lighting. 1 hops off the stool just as 2 and 3 come back. They observe 1, put down their
baggage with a sigh, ignore her.
2
Hello?
3
Is anyone home?
Pause. 1 whimpers.
3 (soothingly)
Its okay, theyre coming soon.
2
Theyre on the way home.
3
Theyll be here any minute.
Paus. 1 whimpers more and more loudly.
2 (to 3)
And otherwise?
3
Really well, thanks. Yourself?
2
Splendid. Just got home from a conference. Big success.
3
Wow, how great. Congratulations are in order.
2
Thanks, thanks. Congratulations yourself.

3
42

Thanks.
1 roars to get their attention. 2 and 3 ignore her.
3
And your family? Everything good on the home front?
2
Yes, thanks. Its super. They aremissing at the moment, but other than that its really good.
Yourself?
3
Same here. Where can they be?
2 and 3 look up at 1, take out a knife, and, and help her down. 1 catches her breath.
1
Shit that was lucky. You guys. Its lucky you came home just now! What timing!
2 and 3 ignore her.
2
Where are they?
1
Who?
2
Arthur and the children?
3
Havent they come back?
1
Im here.
2
Yes, we see that.
3
Unfortunately.
43

2 and 3 look around the apartment.

2
Havent they called?
1
Dont know.
Pause.
1
How was it, then? At the dork thing.
2
The conference? Oh, it was fine.
1
We seem a little
2
A little?
1
Off, somehow.
3
What do you mean, off?
1 (to 2)
A little likeI dont know. Like, angry. Did we own them? Were we awesome?
3
Awesome?
1 (extremely pedagogically)
Did we get applause?
2
It was fine.
44

3
We didnt disappoint anyone.
1
Good. So now can we give notice?
3
What?
1
Now can we quit this dorky fucking tooth research and start dedicating our life to more important
things?
2
Like what?
1
Maybe a little thing called the genocide in Darfur? Or undocumented workers right to
healthcare? Or
3 (interrupting)
Please, youre so engaged.
2
Why dont you tell us exactly whats going on in Darfur. Who is killing whom?
1 (uncertain)
Like, theres someone evil in power called somethingwhich I forget right now just because you
asked. But anyway hes like collaborating withlike NATO, and ordered ethnic cleansing of all
theTutsi and Hutsi.
3
Why?
1
Its something to do with that Shia-Sunni thing, you know. Islam. But it all started with
colonialism and capitalism.
3 (ironically)
Youve been studying since last time.
45

1 (doesnt notice the irony)

Thanks! But tell me what happened. Werent you supposed to come home a long time ago? I
almost got a little nervous. Started to think aboutyou know. Our huge trauma. The crazy
neighbor. The deadly smoke.
2
Something kind offishy happened.
3 enters the role of THE TRAIN MAN, who is sitting on the train across from 2.
2
Weve just finished the lecture and it has gone so incredibly well. We have spoken for two hours,
without being nervous at all, and when were done its quiet for a few seconds. (pause) And then
we hear the first person clapping. And the next. And the next. In the end, the entire audience
stands up and cheers and they dont seem to want to stop applauding andThanks! Thank you
so much!
2 waves and blows kisses at the audience. 3 clears her throat.
2
Yesafter the lecture we say goodbye and take a taxi down to the train station.
1
Mmhmm.
2
We get on the train. Find our seat. Sit down. Look up. And sitting right across from us is a person
who.
1
Who.
2
Who. Weve never seen before.

1
Um, okay.
2
I mean. Weve never seen anyone like. Anyone like him.
46

1
A guy? But dont we like girls?
3
No, YOU like girls. We have grown out of it.
1
Cut it out, deep down we hate dudes, and you both know it. Youre just afraid of being different.
3
Youre just afraid of being ordinary.
1
Their scratchy stubble, their dick complexes, their easily-manipulated psyches.
Pause. 2 and 3 look at 1.
1
Their chips-smelling breath, their fart-smelling sweatpa.
3 (leaving her role, defending herself)
This guy is different, okay?
1
How do we know? Is he cute?
2
Cute? Not cute. This is something else. Bigger. He is. Theres something in his eyes. From the
first second its like we belong together. We just look at each other andknow. Both of us. We
feel. We feel
Pause.

1
How our cunt starts to get wet.
2 and 3 are jolted from their fantasy.
2
47

What did you say?

1
How our
2 and 3 stare at 1.
1
Sorry. Keep telling.
3 goes back into her role as THE TRAIN MAN. 2 continues to stare.
1
Sorry! I was just kidding. Go on.
2
Okay. We just feel how everything. Stops. How our gaze is the only thing that exists in the whole
world. How this day is going to change our life.
1 (to hide her fear of how 2 and 3 have experienced this important thing on their own)
Oh, we are in looooove. What happens after that?
2
I dont remember. Or yes. We get out some of the materials from the conference. Like, a flier
from a company that specializes in lingual orthodontia.
1 (ironically)
Sounds fun.
2 (doesnt notice the irony)
Its actually really interesting. You could say that its like regular braces only it goes on the
inside. There are pros and cons with the technique, but most people in the branch are generally in
agreement that
1
Hey
2
Mmhmm?
1
48

Keep telling the story instead.

2
Yes, right. So were sitting there in the compartment on the train, and the hours go by and
sometimes our eyes meet and sometimes were about to start talking to each other but
2 and 3 look deep into each others eyes.
1
But
2
It just kind of doesnt work.
2 turns toward THE TRAIN MAN a few times to try to start a conversation, but instead of saying
something pleasant about the weather, wind, or train delays, all that comes out are guttural
noises, coughs, and ahems.
1
Chicken.
2
What were we supposed to do?
1
If I had been there, we would have leaned forward, looked deep into his eyes, and then just
1 moves close to 3 and kisses THE TRAIN MAN, with tongue.
1 (whispering)
Take me, right here, right now.

2
But what if the conductor
1
We dont give a shit about conductors! Live a little! Right here, right now.
2
Eh. Thats not our style. Not anymore.
49

1
So what happens then?
2
Wethe train rolls into Stockholm. Andwe get up. He stays seated. Our eyes meet one last
time and then. It doesnt work.
1
What doesnt work?
2
Getting off. It cant be done. We cant leave the train without him.
1
So we?
2
Stay there.
1
What do you mean, stay there?
2
We dont get off. We just sit down and keep going.
1
No.
2
Yes, I swear.
1
Really?
3 nods.
2
Yes! Sothe train keeps going. Were sitting there across from each other. But no one says
anything. We have made up our mind: We dont intend to get off until he gets off. Its that
simple.
50

1
So we just keep going?
2
City after city. One hour two hours three hours.
1
And him?
2
He just sits there
THE TRAIN MAN waves.
1
And we?
2
We just sit there. Sometimes our eyes meet. Sometimes we smile a little at each other.
2 and THE TRAIN MAN smile at each other.
2
But no one says anything.
1
This is totally sick, you know.
2
Eventually we cross the border.
1
Which border?
2
The Norwegian border.
1
Oh, cut it out.
51

2
I swear. Its like ten oclock at night when we roll into Olso, which is the trains last stop.
Everyone has to get off. He gets up. We get up. We walk toward the platform. And there, right
when weve gotten off the train in the fluorescent lights of the night, we cant keep it in any
longer. We turn around and are like (to 3) Hey. I have to tell you something. I was actually
supposed to get off several hours ago. In Stockholm. And he just looks at us. And smiles. And
then he tilts his head to the side and says
3/THE TRAIN MAN
I was, too.
Pause.
1
Oh, cut it out.
2
What?
1
That is such a lie.
2
It was what happened.
1 (ironically)
Sure. And now youre like together, or?
2
Not exactly together, but you know.
3 leaves the role of THE TRAIN MAN.
3
You of all people have enough sexual experience to understand.
1
Obviously. Except not with dudes.
3
Hey, by the way?
52

1
Mmhmm?
2
Just out of sheer curiosity. How many girlfriends have we actually had?
1
Oh, we dont really keep count exactly.
3
But approximately? A thousand? Two thousand?
1
Yep. Thereabouts.
2
Why dont we remember any of them?
1
Oh, you know. Youre starting to get old. Youre starting to lose your memory. It was a long time
ago.
3
Mmhmm. We understand.
2
And of all these girls
3
How many was it again?
1
Like a thousand. Or more.
2
Exactly. Of all these girls. Were there any whoexisted in real life?
1
What do you mean?
53

3
Were there any who hadoh, you know, three dimensions.
Pause.
1
I mean, they werent fat if thats what youre trying to
2 and 3 smile at each other.
2
You are so damn dense.
3
Out of all these broads was there a single one who wasnt surfed off of the global world-net?
1
What is she talking about?
2
Was there a single one of all our girlfriends who wasnt downloaded from the internet? Were
there any we actually met?
1 mutters something inaudible.
2
Have we even had any girlfriends?
1 (mumbling)
I dont know what youre talking about.
3
You dont know?
1
No, I dont know. What is with you? What really happened at that conference?
2
Do you really want to know?
1
54

Yes. Tell me.

We are transported back to the conference. 2 and 3 are getting ready to give the speech. 3 is 2s
invisible coach, giving her a massage, calming her.
3
Listen, this is going to go really well. Do you have your notes? Dont answerjust show that
you have them.
2 shows the notes.
3
Good. Breathe calmly. In out in out. Good. We are adults we are strong. And the computer?
Hooked up and ready? Great! The PowerPoint? Set. Okay. This is really going to go very well.
Im with you the whole time, remember that. You are never alone. Never.
1 and 3 sneak down into the audience to watch 2s speech. 2 is nervous, shaking as she sets up
her PowerPoint presentation. 1 enters the role of CRITICAL CONFERENCE-GOER.
2 (nervously)
Hi there (feedback from the microphone) Wow, hi, great to see so many people here. How many
of you are out there? Well, a lot, anyway. And Im up here. By myself. Hehe.
1/CRITICAL CONFERENCE-GOER
Booo!

3
Shh!
2
Um, well, I mean yes, anyway, Im here to talk or maybe more discuss a little about my research
of or about what we call what we call yes what do we call it
3 (stage-whispers from the audience)
Tinted
2
Tinted dental sealant, right.
1/CRITICAL CONFERENCE-GOER
55

Boring!
3
Shut up!
2 (more and more nervously)
And before we get going, or yes, yeah, go ahead, or maybe begin, that probably sounds
better.get going sounds a little like Im going to put on some kind of show like with magic
tricks and sort of who wants to be sawed in half, like, haha.
Dead silent in the room, no one laughs.
2
Um, so I thought Id start with a little slideshow here, which gives a short introduction to my
field of expertise, and then Ill justLets seeNow its shut itself down here, just wait a
second(annoying computer noises that suggest the computer is screwing up) If I can just open
this then
Embarrassing silence.
2
So now it should
Suddenly from the loudspeakers come the aggressive sounds of a female porn star approaching
orgasm. We can tell from 2s nervous reaction that shes accidentally clicked on the wrong file,
she desperately tries to stop it, turn off the computer, yank out the cord, throw the computer to
the floor. Silence.
2
There. Any questions?
1 and 3 return to the stage.
1
Say youre joking.
2
No. We clicked on the wrong file. And suddenly one of our girlfriends popped up on the big
screen and just

56

3 enters the role of 20-SECOND GIRL and imitates the sounds from the film clip that we just
heard.
3/20-SECOND GIRL (a little TOO convincingly)
Yes yes yes Im coming Im coming YEESSSSSSSSS!
1 and 2 look at 3, concerned. 3, embarrassed, leaves the role of 20-SECOND GIRL. Pause.
3 (mumbling)
Sorry. Its been a long time.
1
Did anyonenotice?
2 shakes her head, smiling.
2
Excuse me? Did you just ask if anyone noticed? The conference was about odontological
prophylactics, preventative dentistry. And you wonder whether anyone noticed that we began our
lecture by showing a clip of a chick fondling herself into a backbend of ecstasy. What do you
think?
1
I think they noticed. Why didnt you turn it off?
2
I did! But a few seconds was enough.
Pause.
1
Did you blame me?
2
You?
1
Yes?
3 enters the role of CONFERENCE-GOER
57

2
Was that how we were supposed to begin? Thank you for inviting me. And if youre wondering,
this first clip was a little greeting from my younger self. She would really have liked to be here to
witness this important step in my career. But unfortunately she has to be at home studying up on
the big Sunni-Shia-NATO-Russia-war in Rwanda, so
1
Darfur.
3
Idiot.
2
in Darfur, so unfortunately she couldnt be here today. Any questions? Yes, you there?
3/CONFERENCE-GOER 1
Yes, I was just wonderingAs ahmm, at least until todaywell-respected expert in the
middle of your career, why havent you left your younger self behind you?
2
Well. Thats a difficult question. I dont really know how to answer it.
1
Stop.
2
Any other questions?
3/CONFERENCE-GOER
Could it be that youve protected her for too long?
2
Yes, that is quite possible. And you?
3/CONFERENCE-GOER
Could it be thatand this is only speculationyour younger self has done her bit? That its time
for you to
1 (to 3)
Shut up! (nervously, to 2) Seriously. Dont listen to them.
58

2
Has the conference reached a verdict?
1
You wont make it without me.
3/CONFERENCE-GOER
Yes!
2
What is the verdict?
3/CONFERENCE-GOER
We 500 conference-goers have reached the verdict thatyour younger self must die!
1
SHUT UP!
1 takes the noose with which she pretended to hang herself and strangles 3; at first it looks like
shes only pretendingpart of the play. 3 lets herself be captured and pretends that shes being
strangled. Then 1 really goes at it, and after a bit 3s face turns blue and she tries to stop 1,
signaling that shes suffocating for real, that 1 is doing it too hard. Finally 3 falls down in the
throes of death. 2 does nothing.
1
There. Now its just us left.
2
We cant take it anymore.
1
Us against the world.
2
We. Cant. Take it. Anymore.
1
Now we can do everything weve dreamt of.
2
We cant take it anymore.
59

1
We can escape. Run away. Change careers.
2
We cant take it anymore.
1
We can invent things. Learn Spanish. Grow webbed feet.
2
We cant take it anymore.
1
We can eradicate poverty. Overthrow governments. Write manifestos.
2
We cant take it anymore.
1
We can do it all all all.
2
And all we want is silence. Complete silence.
Pause. 2 picks up the knife that 2 and 3 used to cut 1s rope. 1 doesnt resist.
1
Is all of this that fucking Train Mans fault?
2 hesitates, suggesting that THE TRAIN MAN story was maybe not entirely true.
2
Maybe.
1
We meet a dorky goddamn guy on a fucking train and suddenly you can manage on your own?
You cant handle it.
2
Yes. We are adults. We are strong.
60

1
We wont last five seconds.
2
Bullshit.
1
You are nothing without us.
2
No. We are adults. We are strong.
1
And well kill ourselves at the slightest misfortune.
2
No. Its not true. We are adults we are strong.
1
And we become seriously depressed every time we get a parking ticket.
2
Stop. (mumbling). And also, that was not a loading zone.
1
We are adults we are strong and yet missing a research grant, getting locked out, losing at
Monopoly, can make us completely lose it.
2
Lay off, that was a long time ago.
1
We have every opportunity, and we still feel betrayed by life.
Pause. 2 raises the knife, getting ready to kill 1.
1
Just one last thing before youbothwe do it.
2
61

Yes?
1
Where was the conference?
2
Where?
1
Yes. Where? In which city?
2
In Vxj.1
1
So theres a train that goes from Vxj to Stockholm and then on to Oslo? That seems like sort of
a strange way for a train toBecause of course it isnt the case that we

2
No, absolutely not. We can trust each other.
1
Lovely.
2 moves closer to 1 who, doesnt protest. 2 kills 1 carefully, lovingly. Lays her down, arranges
her. Pats her cheek.
2
Good night, my dear.

Translators note: Vxj is pronounced [vk:]

62

SCENE 9
New lighting. 2 alone on the stage, playing all the roles in the family.
2
Oh, its so nice that were together again! Like a real family. You know? We still have it good,
dont we? Were happy, arent we?
No one answers.
2/THE CHILD
Mommy, mommy!
2
Yes, my darling?
2/THE CHILD
Whats does rebel groups mean?
2
Its about the same aspirates. Except without boats and peg-legs.
2/ARTHUR
Darling?
2
Mmhmm, Arthur?
2/ARTHUR
How would you define a halftone screen?
2 (rattling off as one would a lesson)
A halftone screen is a grid of squares with horizontal and vertical lines that is used to form a
pattern that produces shades of gray and colors in printing.
2/ARTHUR
Good!
2/THE CHILD
Mommy, mommy!
63

2
Yes, my darling?
2/THE CHILD
What does humanitarian disaster mean?
2
That something has gone a littlewrong in the world. Does anyone want more or should I?
2/ARTHUR
Darling?
2
Mmhmm?
2/ARTHUR
How would you define picture resolution?
2
Picture resolution refers to the density of pixels in a picture and is measured in PPIpixels per
inch.
2/THE CHILD
Mommy, mommy?
2/ARTHUR (interrupting)
Shhdont interrupt. So if a picture has 72 PPI it means
2
That a quarter-inch of the picture contains 72 pixels times 72 pixels which is five thousand, one
hundredeighty-four pixels. The more pixels there are, the higher the resolution.
2/ARTHUR
Bravo!
2
Thanks!
2/THE CHILD
Mommy, mommy!
64

2
Mmhmm?
2/THE CHILD
Whatre bloody clashes?
2
That two people happen to crash into each other a little.
2/ARTHUR
Hey, darling?
2
Mmhmm?
2/ARTHUR
Heres a tricky one. What does NCS stand for?
2
I dont remember.
2/ARTHUR
No, I thought you wouldnt! NCS stands for Natural Color System, and its an
2 and 2/ARTHUR (simultaneously(just to test 2 at ventriloquism!))
International system of color designation for specifying, communicating, and controlling color,
based entirely on how the human eye perceives color.
2/ARTHUR
Precisely! You just have to think about it, and then you know it.
2
Then Ill clear the table.
Pause.
2
No, you two sit there, Ill get it. No, sit, I said sit. Ill take care of this.
Pause.
65

2/THE CHILD
Mommy, mommy! What are civilian casualties?
2
Its people who have gotten hurt a little, by mistake, bysuperheroes in civilian clothes.
2/ARTHUR
And the CMYK color scale, youve probably forgotten that too, in that case?
Pause. Fragments of news from a current world conflict fade in in the background.
2/ARTHUR
The CMYK scale? That doesnt ring a bell in there? Hello? Anyone home? If I say: A normative
color scale for yellow, magenta, and cyan, which is used along with black for four-color
printing? Yes, that flips a little switch now, huh?
2
No, you two sit there, Ill get it.
2/THE CHILD
Mommy, mommy! Whats a stream of refugees?
2/ARTHUR
Its so typical of you not to remember things like this.
2/THE CHILD
Mommy, mommy! Whats a stream of refugees?
2/ARTHUR
To never listen.
2 (mumbling)
A river for people who travel a lot .
2/ARTHUR
To only care about yourself.
The volume of the news segment increases gradually, eventually so loud that 2 has to yell to be
heard over the news voices, the air-raid sirens, the explosions, the helicopters, the crying, the
calls for justice.
66

2/THE CHILD
Mommy, mommy!
2
Mmhmm, what is it, darling?
2/THE CHILD
Do you know what Im going to be when I grow up?
2
No, what?
2/THE CHILD
A candy pilot.
2
Haha, dumb kid. Theres no such thing as a candy pilot.
2/THE CHILD
Is too.
2
No, there definitely isnt.
2/THE CHILD
Im going to be one anyway.
2
But there IS NO SUCH THING!
Pause.
2/THE CHILD
But Im going to be one anyway.
2 attacks herself, batters herself to pieces
2
BUT THERE IS NO SUCH THING you goddamn fucking idiot, cant you get it into your tiny
little head that there is NO SUCH THING AS
67

1 and 3 come to life and stop 2 from attacking herself .The news clip is stops suddenly. 1 and 3
noticeably shocked at 2s overreaction.

68

SCENE 10
3
Sohows it going, then?
2
Us? We feel great. Really. Thanks for asking.
1
Because we seem a little
2
No, you two sit there, Ill get it. Sit, I said. SIT!
1 and 3 sit down on the floor.
2
There. Thats better. Oh, its so nice that were together again! Like a real family. Were happy,
arent we? Oh, were so happy now.
1
But if were so happy now?
2
Mmhmm?
1
Then why are we doingwhat were doing?
2
What do you mean, doing? Were not doing anything.
3
Dont play dumb, now.
2
No, but I just dont understand what you mean.
1
Why are we lying awake with that creeping feeling in our chest?
69

3
Why do we hear so many voices?
1
Why are we talking to ourselves?
2
Are we?
1
Why are we sneaking up at night and secretly watching clips of the latest bombing attacks over
and over, even though sensitive viewers are warned that there will be disgusting pictures?
2
Because ofgeneral knowledge. Keep ourselves up-to-date.
3
Why do we sit alone in the pale blue screen glow and whimper silently as marketplaces become
bloodbaths.
1
And houses become ruins.
3
And children become parentless.
1
And parents become childless.
3
And arms become stumps.
1
And eyes become bloody holes.
3
And legs become chunks of flesh.
1
And dimples become grenade craters.
70

3
And ambulances become targets.
1
And hospitals become targets.
3
And schools become targets.
1
And sheets become shrouds.
3
And cameras become weapons.
1
And politicians become marionettes.
3
And worldwide demonstration marches become yesterdays newspapers falling apart in the rain.
Pause.
2
We
1 (interrupting)
And soccer fields become fences become barbed wire becomes walls.
2
We
3 (interrupting)
And conversations become insults become threats become ice-cold silence.
2
We were happy. We are happy.
1 (more and more provoked)
Come on! In that case, why do we sneak up from sweaty sheets and pound our knuckles into
bathroom walls and cry when no ones looking? Huh?
71

2 (mumbling)
Happy happy.
1
Hello, we would like an ANSWER!
2 starts to cry.
3 (trying to calm 1)
Thats probably enough.
2 (whimpering)
We dont know.
1
I think we do know.
2
Because we cant take it anymore?
3 (trying to calm 2)
Yes, we can take it. There. Dry your tears now. We just need a little time for ourselves.
2
Because we might as well give up?
1 (stops short)
What?
2 (firmly)
Because we might as well give up.
3
No!

1
Not again.
2
72

Yes, you two are right. Well give up. Well throw in the towel.
1
On the contrary! We will become involved!
3
On the contrary! We will find our inner calm.
1
On the contrary! We will start demonstrations!
3
On the contrary! We will get pets!
2
No, youre right. This isnt working anymore. We cant handle anything more.
1
Where will we go?
2
We will be free.
3
Were not going do anything reckless, are we?
2
Freedom cant be reckless. We leave our bedrooms. We climb out through roof hatches.
3
But WAIT a second now take a few deep breaths.
1
In out in out.
2
We dont get dizzy we breathe calmly in out in out we look out over the city we are blinded by
the light of dawn and we are? Ready. Exactly. That is what we are.
1
Think of our darling Arthur.
73

2
We hate him, dont we?
1
Yes, but hes still pretty cute. When he does that thing with his bangs.
2
No, to hell with Arthur!
3
The children, think of the children!
2
Theyll be okay.
1
Butthink of us!
2
Us? We dont exist! Were just voices and we should have been silenced a long time ago. Lets
do it now. Lets. Do. It. Now. One. Two.
Pause.
3
Were not doing it.
2
No, were not doing it.
1
Why?

3
Maybe were suddenly remembering all our gold-frame memories?
2
Gold-frame what?
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1
Yes, the gold-frame memories! Of course we remember them!
2
Not me.
3
You know, all the memories that make live worth surviving? Giant bodybuilders babbling at
extremely tiny babies?
1
Thousands of black birds soaring towards grey misty skies in the worlds most beautiful pattern
formations?
2
Uh huh. Is that all?
1
No, of course not. We have tons of gold-frame memories. Right?
3
AbsolutelyThere are. There are lots. For example.
1
Well.
3
The crosswalk feeling!
1
Good!
2
Whats that?
3
Come on, we remember. That we always thought about when we were little. The feeling you get
when you come up to a crosswalk and a bunch of people are standing there waiting for the walk
sign and RIGHT before you get there the light changes so you get out onto the street ahead of the
others, just a tiny bit ahead, because youre the only one who hasnt slowed down.
75

1
The only one who kept walking without having to stop.
3
The only one who didnt hesitate.
2
Yes, now we remember.
3
Cool, huh?
2
Was that all?
3
No! Therere sunny Sunday mornings.
1
Theres putting on your socks still warm from the dryer.
3
Theres perfectly ripe peaches.
1
Therestheres
3
Theres
2 (as though it were a gold-frame memory)
Lone, melted body parts, still burning.
1 (to 3)
Help me out.
3
Theres
2 (smiling)
Charred faces that arent faces anymore.
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1
But theres alsofunny TV clips!
3
Yes! Funny clips of people hurting themselves.
2 tries to smile and be enthusiastic.
3
We love clips like that.
1
Fat kids slipping on slides.
3
Photo-snapping parents slipping on docks.
1
Dancing guys falling off stages.
2 (trying to sound happy)
Oh yeah! Moms getting scared by dogs.
1 and 3
Yes!
2
And sisters falling off bikes.
1 and 3
Yes!
2
And infinitely tiny dirty blackened corpses of children in emergency rooms on steel cots on rugs
on white sheets that will never be white again.
Pause. 1 and 3 are close to giving up.
1
But but but therere also chance encounters on trains!
77

3 (trying to steer away from THE TRAIN MAN memory)

Yes! Like that time when we were sitting on the subway and a crying girl got on with her mom
and the mom tried to console her and said there, there, stop crying now, but the girl just kept
sobbing and sniffling and disturbing all the other passengers and finally the mom said, kind of
irritated, like: But it was actually Peters video game and when youve borrowed something you
have to give it back when its owner wants it, and the little girl looked up at her mom and made
that shuddering noise children make when theyre almost but only almost done crying and then
she said: But mom, I only had one life left. Do you remember that? Do you remember? Of
course we remember! One life left!
Pause.
2 (to 1)
I dont remember that, do you?
1
No. I was thinking of a different train encounter. You know. Train. On the way home from a
certain conference. To suddenly meet eyes that are so magical that you cant get off?
2 and 3, ashamed.
1
Yes? We remember, right? When you twoOr we sat on that trainAnd went to Oslo. And had
a hot night with that guy whosename wasWhat was his name again?
Pause.
1
Because we did it, right? We didnt chicken out at the last minute, did we?
2
No, of course not.
3
Otherwise we would have regretted it our whole lives.
2
Certainly! We would lie awake night after night and think of that person.
3
78

And wonder why we didnt work up the courage.

2
Why we never dared to live.
1 (realizes that 2 and 3 are lying)
Nice! I remember it too. Oh, he was hot. A thousand times cuter than that dork Arthur.
2
Only one life left.
1, 2, and 3 look at each other.
3
And suddenly everything feels a little different.
1
A little easier.
3
A little lighter.
2
Ruins become houses chunks of flesh become legs.
1
Its like a reboot.
2
Grenade craters become dimples bloody holes become perfectly seeing eyes.
3
Its like another chance.
2
Silence becomes threats become insults become conversations. Walls become barbed wire
becomes fences become soccer fields.
1
Its like a lie.
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Pause. 2 is still standing up on the roof railing. 1 and 3 climb up beside her. They hold each
others hands. 1 and 2 jump. 3 wakes up as though from a nightmare.

80

SCENE 11
New lighting. 3 old and senile.
3
Theres only ruins left now only ruins. And then us. Us and the ruins. What? What did you say?
As though someone is talking to her.
3
Ha ha, no. No, were not going to have THAT much fun. Thats what Arthur would say before
he
As though someone is talking to her.
3
Yes, youre right about that. I agree on that. But not every day. That would be too often. Even for
us. Not too much and not too little, asasas Arne used to say.
As though someone is talking to her.
Well, I dont know. Yes, maybe. But dont call him that, please. You know how he
As though someone is talking to her.
Yes, yes, but its still too late for that now. Its too late for us. Its too late, I said. The world will
go on without us. The world will be just fine. The world will not miss us. Not a bit. Not a
1 and 2 enter (possibly the same clothes as 3 but in a different color).
3
Why, there you are!
1 and 2 look at each other hesitantly. They recognize neither each other nor 3.
3
What? I dont hear so well, so you have to speak louder if youWHAT? No! No, no. Calm
down! One at a time. We have all the time in the world.
As though someone is talking to her.
81

3
No? Hmm! I thought so.
As though someone is talking to her.
3
Yes, we have gotten old.
As though someone is talking to her.
3
Yes, we dont have much time left.
As though someone is talking to her.
3
Yes, we have lost ourwhat is it called. Those things that words are made of. Not sentences. The
other ones. The things you say. Now youre talking through your hat, yes, look here, you are. But
were still standing here. We havent given in. There are more of us than some people think
As though someone is talking to her.
3
Yes of course there are days like that, you shouldnt brush that under the carpet. Days when we
miss ourselves. Days when we think back to when we wrote poetry and ate perfectly ripe
peaches and had streets named after us and met strangers on trains and were a hit at conferences
and and and
1 (interrupting)
I believe youre thinking of someone else.
3
What?
2 (louder)
Youre probably mixing us up with some other people.
Pause.
3
What did she say?
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1 (yelling)
I THINK YOURE MIXING US UP WITH
3
No, you two dont remember it, of course. Thats the problem with youth today. They dont
remember anything. You dont remember when we were on fire? You dont remember when we
were when we were when we wereWhat were we? The envy of shock waves, thats what we
were. The fiery fire, we called ourselves.
1 gives up, stops answering.
3
You dont remember swindling barricades?
1 and 2 exit the stage. 3 alone.
3
You dont remember when we when we loved and when wewere on fire. When we lived and
died. You dont remember it. Of course.
We have become quiet now.
We have given up.
It is not too late.
It is never too late.
Never too late for people like us.
(to 1 and 2, who have exited the stage)
Remember that! Before you give up remember that the final hour is never rung and no one can
be more than us and my hair is black and black is back and
3 falls asleep standing up for a few seconds. Wakes with a start.

3
What? What did you say? WHAT? Well then dont look over here if youre not talking to me.
Look at who youre talking to, is that so difficult? No wonder I got a little confused. Were old,
we are. Were almost finished, we are.
83

3 (becomes less and less senile and more and more lucid in speaking)
We are just going to forget how to sit and forget how the world works.
We are just going to take our last steps.
We are just going to say our last words.
We are just going to die.

THE END

84