Play

Starting point: A man, about 70 years old meets a woman of the same age. They were very good friends when they were between 20 and 30 of age. Suddenly they meet each other again in a strange city in a park. On stage there is only a bank and they sit on it. Then they start to talk, but they do not react to each other. It is just one monologue of the one followed by a monologue of the other. They dont care about what the other says, though there may be a connection. The only discipline is that they stop when the other starts, and that is something beautiful.
If you are the woman, I am the man.

'Oh, yes, it was a tough time. People acted like animals. You will certainly remember Mr. McCou, well, that man was horrible to discuss with. One day I was fed up with him, and amidst the club I directed to him personally and pointed my finger towards him, and with a loud voice I said: 'You man, do not talk like that anymore, I cannot stand you and I am sure the whole club agree with me. Leave, please, and let us discuss our memories about you.' (he pauses awhile).
And then, what happened? He left and we have never seen him again. Unbelievable but it happened exactly as I tell you.'

n1. (noticing he has stopped talking, she begins)

As I walked out the front door this morning I noticed the postman talking to that woman down the street, the one that always has her nose in everyone's business. She had that dog of hers with her too, I was surprised the postman went anywhere near that mutt! One day, I think it was last week, he ran the whole block trying to get away from that dog!
So I went to the market to pick up some fruit and I ran into Beatrice. She looks wonderful! I must ask her what she's doing differently.
Oh, excuse me, I didn't mean to sit on your hat!

h2. # Oh, that is nothing, Louise. (He takes the hat and put it on the other side.)
But you are completely right about postmen. In fact, they reign the world. You receive a letter with a certain signature and the man is already winking at you, no, I try to avoid looking into his eyes, the man knows too much, 'such men are dangerous..'.
Only in England and on holidays you can look into the eyes of a postman, such a man knows that he has to act like a butler: knowing everything and be silent, he knows it is an art and he likes to be perfect by taking all his secrets into his grave. (he stops and looks into the far distance)

n2. You know, I don't believe those brits are so loyal. Iris tells me she went over to Lacy's Department Store recently and picked up one of those cute waistcoats I saw Tony Blair wearing. She bought it for Herb, remember Herb? He asks about you all the time. I told her she ought to get out more often, with the arthritis setting in on the both of them, it's terrible. Between the two of them they must be at the doctor every day. Pills for this, pills for that. Not me, I'm staying away from doctors. How about you, how is your health?

h3. # Talking about health? Let's talk about something more cheerful.. And doctors.. did you know they are also human beings? Yes, they are.
There are all kinds of, for instance the understandable species, they treat you as if you are weird and as if all illnesses are only existing in your mind. Even when you are in your grave they will say: 'Had he listened to my advice, he would have still breathed.'
And pills, you know, they have pills for all you can imagine, we live in such an extraordinary world today.
(he stops and looks as if he is dreaming, his eyes begin to shine.)

n3. I see the world a lot differently now that Herb is gone. He never wanted to discuss things such as doctors and health either.
You never did mention whether you married or not.

(She takes out a compact and glances at her reflection in the mirror, although not seeing. They both sit in silence, each seeming to be off in some different world.)

h4. # Marriage.. that is another painful subject. Through the years I begin to understand why there are so many jokes about marriage. I guess you can only laugh about marriage when you have gone through..
I remember two jokes, one is as follows: 'I'm getting married next week.' the other asks: 'Against whom?'. (she is smiling a bit, not too much, as if she heard and thought about something different.)

The second one is: 'Are you married?' The answer is: 'No, but I'm happily divorced.'
(now she looks at him and they both laugh, not fully but enough to have some pleasure..)

n4. So, what has been keeping you happy these days? For me it is taking each day as it comes, doing things to make me happy, and keeping in touch with the times. Times are always changing, I like to know what the younger generation is up to, music...technology, anything that interests them. I remember when I was younger speaking with older folks who were in their own little world, did not have any idea what was going on around them. The thing that really seemed to disturb me about this fact was that they didn't seem to even care! They were quite happy in the illusion that the world did not exist beyond their daily life. Do you think we become that way without even knowing?

h5. # Happy is a big word. As to me everybody has his happy and unhappy moments during the day.
The happiest moments do I have when I read the paper in the morning. When I read the paper I don't think I like to come into contact with the younger generation. But maybe you have grandchildren? No doubt they will enlighten you.
I have my stamp collection.

(He looks away from her as if he does not like what he said but after awhile he is himself again. She has noticed that something happened in him so she decides to wait a minute before going on.)

n5. I have no grandchildren, no. It is just myself that needs to try and be content with my surroundings. It takes some getting used to, and one must learn to ignore some things in order not to become upset, but such is the life.
A stamp collection is nice. I must find something to keep me busy like that.

h6. # You never had? It is strange in life. Some have it all and feel unhappy all the time, others have nothing and are just happy, often happily married.. they say.
When you grow older you tend to look back and what happens? I try to find the right words to capture my life but I cannot find them.
Everything is so paradoxical. And any drop of a word seems so ridiculous in comparison with the ocean of comprehension in the universe.

n6. Words can be meaningless, don't you think? In my experience they never seem to convey the intended message and things seem to get boggled somehow. If only there were some other way of communicating. Well, I suppose there is, but not everyone speaks that language.
(She gets up to stretch her legs, looks at him as if to say something very important but then sits quietly back down.)

h7. # (He ignores her signs, he looks into the far distance..)
(He is uttering a cry) 'My word, look! there, in the sky, what a strange object,. well, well, well, what a world we live in...'

n7. In the sky? Are you seeing things now? I don't see a thing. Sometimes we see things that aren't there only to conform to our way of thinking. Maybe it's in your head. But I say, if it makes you feel better, it's ok. It can't be all that bad if it makes you feel better. Sometimes in this world, because yes! What a world we live in....it is better to see things that aren't there rather than what truly is there.

h8. # About seeing things, yes, that is quite a story.
I just heard an interesting story. A man lived in an appartement and one of his neighbours decided to commit suicide. So he did. Unfortunately other people came and moved in that house and it was a disaster for our man and he has to move on his turn.
In his new house the situation did not improve, his only comfort was a girl of about 15 years old with whom he talked every day a few words in the street. Then after some months he did not see her anymore and he heard the girl committed suicide.
So he concluded, the two did not know that they did a good job for him. The one was a good neighbour and the other gave comfort by just giving respect and that is valuable.
And other people do their utmost and are often religious and they just would serve when they did nothing...
You see, this is interesting but unfortunately we cannot change so many things.
My conclusion is now, it is no use to commit suicide, because we dont know who we are serving by just being here. And as long as we live, things can change, even if everything seems hopeless. In my opinion those two people were very valuable by understanding others and if we like the two then it is a reason not to do what they did as we are valuable and I am sure we serve many things we are not aware of.

(After his talking there was another silence.)

n8. I do not think I could be so bold as to commit suicide, it would hurt many people left behind, yes. But the point you bring up about the unknown people such a thing would affect is dreadful. But it also brings to mind the thought of...yes, there are so many unseen things in this world that we may not even realize in this lifetime, but I am sure the Lord has purpose for them to be there. The good that we may do others without our even knowing is to me a somewhat comforting thought. Wouldn't it be lovely if we were helping someone without our even knowing it, bringing someone even just a small amount of happiness if just for a moment of time in their life. A very comforting thought that I should like to fall asleep tonight thinking about. Oh, I do thank you for bringing that up, it is a marvelous thought!

h9. # (He is looking at his watch.)
Time flies. I have to rest awhile.
I have to say that it was interesting to have seen you again after so many years. I suppose you live in the neighbourhood? Well, at any way, we will see each other probably again.

(He keeps sitting, however.)

n9. As if being revived from a trance she looks up and says: Yes, I do live in the neighborhood. It is my hope to see you again, yes.

(With this she turns her head, as if to look in the distance for some known existance. It was in actuality a movement to hide the tears welling up in her eyes.)

h10. # (After awhile he stands up and handed her a piece of paper.)
Here is my address and the telephone number, on this address I will be for one month, if you like to drink a cup of tea.. would be nice.

n10. Oh, how kind of you. I shall call you for tea. One month, I will write myself a note so I call before then. I find it getting more and more difficult to remember things from day to day, do you find that to be the case for you also? Nothing stays the same.