# Иов, Или Бумажные Боги

Цхакая Коба

pleys

Koba Tskhakaya


" Boomerang Job or scholastics. For fugitives and paper gods."


Characters:

Minus A near-sighted beggar. Dramatic tenor.

Plus A far-sighted beggar. Lyrical tenor.

Equals sign An ordinary beggar. Baritone.

Inspector A beggar who can see occasionally. Bass.

Question mark A beggar's daughter who can see occasionally. Mezzo-soprano.


Some monologues may be read as recitatives.

Silence. The sound of boomerang or wings is heard. One can hear boozing of a fly, joined by the second, third, forth ones. The boozing is intensified and transformed into a wordless song. Somebody is applauding, the boozing sound and the song are abruptly interrupted and replaced by a faint town noise.


Minus


I'm longing to go to Peking! Peking is my dream! The most ancient and magnificent city! They say a man always feels unsual there, on the central square! You are staying on the Square of Peking - Tall! Big! Proud! There are millions of small Pekingese around you! You can swim among them! Peking! Peking! Peking! It's my dream, my dream! Everything is different there, so different!


Plus


In what way different?


Minus


So, how to put it, somewhat different or more exactly somehow different.


( Metro carriages' noise is heard)


Equals sign


Do you feel how the earth is trembling?


Minus


No, I don't!


Equals sign


Don't you feel the walls trembling?


Plus


Imagine it, we don't feel even that!


Equals sign


That's good. That's very good, so , it means I am the only person who feels it! People like soleness!


( Silence.Asian music is heard. The sound of a crowded street)


Plus


I wonder if there are any walls in Peking?


Minus


There is no town without walls as there is no man without skin.


Plus


I can't get used to walls...Walls always frighten me... ..Walls are temples forfrightened souls!


Equals sign


I wonder if there had been anything on the earth before walls appeared?


Plus


There had been a paradise!


Equals sign


When we destroy these walls what will be then?


Minus


The hell!


( Pause. The sound of a whistle and wind. The sound of boomerang or wings. Silence).


Plus


Eh, it's so nice to have one's own Peking! ...I want to have my own Peking too! ...If I had 5 or 10 kg of Peking now no dog would envy me!(Exhales) I wish, I had 100 kg of Peking! I'd pickle 50 kg and would eat up 20 kg with all. There is nothing like fried Peking! And I'd sell out the remaining 30 kg ... and be in the bucks ...with this money I'd buy 200 kg of Peking ...open my "Peking"...settle my affairs!


( The noises of a restaurant. Pause).


Minus


Good heavens! How indefinite we are! It's probably because we are alive.Only the dead can be definite.But even they have a drawback... they are mysterious.


( Street's noises).


Equals sign


How wonderful it is to have one's own Peking in the cold! And how many people on earth are without Peking! But you'll open your wardrobe , take your Peking off the hook and cover with it your shoulders shrunk from cold! It is so warm, soft and light! It emanates a smell of calmness and bliss! Eh, there were the times I changed 3-4 Pekings a year! Now everything has changed and become complicated. Peking is nowhere to be seen. Once I saw it in a shop ... I thought it was a real one, but it appeared to be an artificial, synthetic one! I can't stand artificial - synthetic things!


Minus


( Significantly) Nothing happens all of a sudden!


( People's shouts are heard)


Minus


Shouting! Shouting is happiness of a sound, a voice .It's happy people who shout! People's happiness shouts!


Equals sign


It's difficult to explain happiness! One can only hope for happiness !


(People's shouting ceases. Silence .The sound of an old radioprogram with children's and adults' voices).


Minus


(exhales) I long for my home!


Plus


Why?


Minus


There I have at least somebody to talk to!


Plus


You mean nobody talks to you here?


Minus


( sighs heavily) No, but I hear nonsense!


Equals sign


Nonsense is heard from everywhere and even at home! Noise always raises nonsense!


Plus


(sneezes)Is there any home with clever noises around?


(Pause, grave silence falls. A melody is heard as if somebody were dancing. Rhythmic tapping of shoes, whispering, laughing. Silence)


Plus


( Shouts) I beg you to give me a bit of calmness.


Equals sign


Sometimes I think that I can't bear synthetics too!


Minus


( sharply)I! Once I saw a fig - it was lying on a shop-window!I've disliked figs since my childhood! But when Ilooked at it I wanted to taste it at once. It was lying so nicely between the grapes of amber color and overriped pear that I nearly fainted because of the feelings overwhelming me! I decided to buy it! I thought it was high time for me to make it up with figs as our bodies would merge and satisfy each other! But a seller said it was artificial, everything was natural, except for the fig! (With irritation)Sellers either cheat you or tell you the truth, but never make you happy -- never! I hate sellers, and synthetics makes me vomit!


( Child's crying)


Plus


I, for example, like it! Synthetics has a tremendous plus -- it never gets old, never fades and never rots! It always looks like an immortal dying man!


Minus


(Irritated) Again he is blaspheming! Shameless!


( Child's crying stops)


Equals sign


Personally I have experienced synthetics myself. Your words reminded me of it ...I felt it! Though everything, I say it again, depends on organs' cleanliness and fate!


( Music)


Plus


( Laughs) I remember, remember! I also had such a synthetic organ! It's a real happiness to have an organ!


Minus


Everybody must bend down before Fate. After all it's the basis for terrestrial gravitation !


( Whistle, boomerang or wings' sound. Music, but not loud, is heard)


Equals sign


Oh, reality always creates laws and reality, alas, is subjected to Time! Though all this won't touch upon the theme of our decision Oh, no, it won't touch (laughs). My synthetics -- my organ was so beautiful! Everybody was in raptures! It was the apple of my eye and I loved it beyond measure. A man cannot describe its beauty with words. I always washed it and changed oil! It was always billing and cooing. When rain started I used to wrap it into a tissue of khaki color...It was mine, mine! It always waited for me! It's a shame to say but sometimes I slept in it! Once I came to give it a new perfume, the smell of fir-grove! But it didn't meet me. It was stolen. Some scoundrel stole it! I asked everybody , everyone! I was even there, there but nothing The time was passing and at last it passed. My only beloved one, tormented without me surrendered to that dirty scoundrel, rascal , villain, got used to him and even fell in love with him. Once in the street I happened to meet this scoundrel who had taken it away from me -- it was his birthday he was standing like a fornicator and gelling on clients. My synthetics was made a whore. It was so spoiled that it didn't open the door for me. I stood looking at its disfigured feet, eyes blackened from insomnia and antisanitary conditions, the face covered with some cheap ceruse and my heart filled with joy! It dirtied me entirely. The skunks nearly strangled me ...and I mocked at it(Cries) This way I killed my organ in myself , my only synthetic organ. I killed it ! It ran with this scoundrel, rascal, villain and I killed it !!!


Minus


The beautiful and wonderful always fall in love with scoundrels, rascals, villains .


Equals sign


I was telling her on my knees : " I love you! Love you! Love you! ! Love you! ! Love you!" And she asked :" Is it really true? Look, what nice weather! Do you want me to dandle you?"


Plus


Have you ever been unfaithful to her?


Equals sign


( thinks) No, never, but I often compared her with the others. I really compared her. But she was the best, the best ! ( groans). It's a shame that I humiliated myself because of her so many a time!


Minus


( Calms him) My poor friends, love does not know humiliation. Humiliation in love is called urgent necessity! Though people invented new relationships -- without love or with minor losses, or without humiliation ,but we'll speak about it later,later... later when!


Plus


( Interrupts) I also had synthetics in my relationship to one! I always fled from this feeling, I didn't want synthetics to stand between me and somebody! But this, insidious one, like clear weather, would sneak to you, increase your pressure, fasten heart beating and then -- the end! You would write odes about synthetics! I met a woman in the street and synthetics exploded inside me like an atomic bomb! My friends, I built my family on synthetics! Despite the precepts of my parents I married a woman with synthetics, as the progress blinded me!


Equals sign


No, it's some strange happiness that made you blind!


Plus


Do you mean I was happy? No, not happy, but somewhat different! Different!


( Soft music is heard).


Minus


You see, your " somewhat different" reminds me of my childhood... My granny was fond of cooking "something different" for me. We had an orchard in the village, and there she grew thousands of kinds of "different things". When I came to her place, she used to run there and bring freshly picked up ones ...she would cut them into small-small pieces, fry with onions, then put on my plate, add sour-cream, flower with coriander and it was so tasty, so tasty!


Plus


I too had a " different one". I beg your pardon for such a hackneyed term -- but everything began rather simply! I returned from a business trip, entered the house and ... my family ruined!


Minus


Was anybody killed?


( The sound of breakage. Music).


Plus


Three men and one woman! They crashed under the moral burden of the family. My wife and 2 synthetics of male origin or her 2 lovers -- in the bedroom, and I, the third or the forth synthetics, ----at the threshold of that room were crashed on the spot ! Nobody was crashed in such a way!


Equals sign


( In a heart - rending voice). Of late people have built families on low quality basis. It's not good to go on like this. In old times families were built in a different way. Returns from business trips would not have ruined them.


( Music intensifies. Steps' sound).


Plus


Was the material good or bad, but my family was ruined. Eh ( Pause). Then I went into the street-- practically ruined -- in blood, dirt, rags. I was trailing along the street and everybody seemed to be looking at me, not taking their eyes off me as if they had never seen a man with knocked teeth, broken limbs and head, scratched out eyes... I walked and felt that a mine with a clock mechanism which I held in my healthy hand began functioning and then I understood that in a few minutes or seconds something totally new would happen to me. Being unique, inimitable, wonderful... you are within this happy state and... suddenly you hear : pee-pee or to be more exact--peep-peep! There is nobody around except for 200 curious pedestrians, 15 buses, 3 ravens and up to 70 frightened policemen. So, as I was saying, I looked to the right and saw - in a big blackberry bush which itself was looking at me very suspiciously... Yes, just from its leafy body this strange peep-peep was heard. I poked my head inside its twigs and saw ... I saw " a small, tiny" someone"... His eyes were not open yet! He was trembling and peeping, twisting his small nose


( with inspiration). Do you believe in miracles?


Equals sign


Unfortunately, I do.


Plus


That's it! That someone was trembling strangely and I began to tremble too!


Equals sign


Were you trembling?


Plus


Yes, with all my body. You can't believe it, but the human body is falsified in the highest degree and besides this body makes the greatest sound


( Different voices from the street, forest, room are heard).


Plus


( In a low voice) Do you believe that something is happening somewhere?...Yes, it is! Only somebody is making much more noise there! Or do we have a keen ear?


(Grave silence)


Plus


People are fond of mystery!


(Pause).


Minus


Do you know that I tremble sometimes. And you?


Equals sign


I , too.It makes me feverish and creepy all over . But only sometimes.


( Noise is heard followed by a ship's whistle )


Plus


And I am of the same kind. I also get covered with goose-skin sometimes. And you?


Minus


Where should I have goose-skin, I wonder?


(Bus' noise).


Equals sign


All over your body. Aren't you covered with goose-skin sometimes or have you ever been covered?


Minus


Yes, yes, I've recalled. I was!.I had it of course . ( Tragically). Besides, the whole family covered me. I nearly entered the room when my folks would cover me from all sides. Once I did quite well myself. Then I got tired and gave it up. Let them do, what of it? They only cover me, but do not plant and seed. I would never let them ...and if so, let them cover me if they want! Let them! Nothing would happen to me if something they covered me with dropped on the floor. I'd step upon it and squash it. That's it.


Equals sign


I swallow it ! When they begin to do it I open my mouth and swallow! Especially, when I don't understand why they do it. Sometimes I catch them in the air with my hand. Then I wind them together, crush and thrust into my throat. I don't even chew, I just swallow them! I used to chew them, but these words were so bitter that they burnt my throat. That's why I don't taste them now.


Plus


I prefer inletting to swallowing. I let them in one year and out at the other. Though sometimes I am covered so quickly and besides, from both sides, from 2-3 mouths, that thanks to these 2-3 mouths my ears and brain get cold and I always have quinsy and enteritis. That's why I invented the following method. I stop my ear with cotton swab and then accumulate them here inside the head, then clean them away completely. So I have clean ears and get rid of all these.


Minus


I tried even two methods. In one case I had indigestion, in the other -- severe headaches.


Equals sign


I've got such a stomach that it can digest "this" too, when it is necessary.


Minus


( Puzzled) Have you tried even "this"? Do you know "its" taste?


Plus


( outrageously) There is nothing to wonder about! All normal young people tried "this".


Equals sign


My grandpa treated himself to it at the dawn of his age. I think there is nothing strange in it.


Plus


(encouraged) So, all of us are carried away with "this".


(Military march transferred into tango melody is heard. All these sounds are stifled by the sound of military steps and eating).


Inspector


Only inspectors and men of art can think of one thing, speak another, want the third and feel the forth one. The only difference between these men is that the first have got a form, and the latter haven't got it Though sometimes one can meet men of art in the form.(With irritation) But here I deal only with the real pure art and not with unreal muddy one!(Getting calm) If you subtract one from the above mentioned signs, you'll get an average men, if you subtract another one you'll have a politician , but if you take away one more and one is left then it is a real saint...or a dead man. My God, how wonderfully I've eaten these bnnas during the talk. (Singing) How tasty you are! My lovely mummy!


Minus


You are singing incorrectly. You don't seem to have a ear for music!


Inspector


(Shouts) What are you doing here? Unauthorized persons are not admitted!


Minus


Why not?


Inspector


It's my working place. I am on the watch here!


Plus


What are you watching?


Inspector


I am watching the place! All this space! So, get out of here!


Equals sign


Why do you need to watch this space? Who would steal it?


Inspector


( With pride) Nobody has stolen it yet, because I keep watch over it!( Shouts) Get out of here!


Everybody begins to shout simultaneously


We'll never get out of here! You get out of here yourself. Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!


Inspector


(Frowning) If so, OK, I am leaving and then we'll see.


Equals sign


( Frightened) Where are you going?


Inspector


(In tears) To the hell! Then we'll see, how you'll miss me.


Plus


( Pleading) You'll come back from the hell, won't you? After all, it's your, or sorry, Your responsibility -- to return temporarily from there!


Inspector


( Frightened) Hush!


Minus


You are sure to come back, aren't you?


Inspector


( Shouts) Don't ask me! Don't ask! Otherwise I'll lose my way. My Lord, what's happening to me? I've taken too much!


Plus


What do you mean by " taking too much"?


( Noise inside the temple)


Inspector


One is used to taking too much from his parents' grave! So, I came to the grave and what did I see? The bnna tree grew out of the coffin. You imagine, it was covered with b-n-n-s. And I , as all decent children who come to their parents, was hungry and thirsty! The heart failed to endure it and I fell not upon the grave, but on it. So I ate the first, second, third, forth.( Begins to speak very quickly) and then the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth. Imagine what I did with the fourteenth , fifteenth and sixteenth ones. Of course , the same as with the seventeenth, eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth. It's impossible to describe this with words. Luckily for the twenty first, twenty second, twenty third and twenty fourth b-n-n-s together with the twenty fifth, twenty sixth, twenty seventh, twenty eighth and twenty ninth ones they were hanging a little higher. ( With pride). But I am an experienced inspector. Nothing will escape my attention! Especially when we speak about eating at parents'. You don't feel quite yourself when you think of your parents. Don't be surprised , but inspectors must have hungry eyes, a big stomach and tenacious grip. .. . The thirtieth and thirty first surrendered themselves. Are you interested in what happened to the thirty third fig?


Minus


By fig you probably mean "banana", don't you?


Inspector


( Aggressively) And do you mean "b-n-na" by fig? Do you happen to be a fruit, dropped from the tree?


Minus


( Embarrassed and frightened ) - Me?


Inspector


Into my eyes! Look into my eyes!


( The sound of breathing. Silence)


Equals sign


( Carefully) You know, I am interested in what happened to...


Inspector


Happened to what?


Plus


What did you do with the thirty third banana? Didn't you spare it either?


Inspector


( confused) I didn't know you'd feel so sorry for bnanas ( In anger). I wish they had grown on your parents' grave then I'd have seen you sympathizing with them! ( In a mysterious voice) . It is hard times for everyone. The world is divided into two parts : inspectors and bananas, which grow on parents' grave. ( Energetically) Whose hands are you playing into? Say!


Minus


( Embarrassed) What? Nobody's ... I...I spoke to you about the thirty third lamb


( The sound of a brook)


Inspector


Has it urinated? It is not water, but urine !( Laughing). If you have no water, why are you pulling my leg? The thirty third died when he thirty forth was born. You, ass. ( Sinks in reverie) As for a prey--- a lamb, a sheep, a kid, or a hibernated lamb, we may state that the life is sick with preymania. The problem is not in scurf abundance that led humankind to a desperate state. Scurf is like dead ideas which did not reach our mind. Did not reach. They had died early... Our words speak more about what we no longer can think of. The Lord doesn't love us any more. And do you know why? Because he thinks we are not alive. In this is the main power of the bananas grown on parents' graves.( With a pity). A parent cannot see us and it isn't the time to speak about bnns.


Equals sign


( With indignation) Not about bananas, but about ba-na-nas grown on the graves, a bit elongated, a bit bent creatures, which you ...


Inspector


Don't address me so formally !


Equals sign


You! You! You! You have attacked, swallowed, consumed, absorbed, soaked and there is no denying the truth , let's call a spade a spade - eaten. I am not afraid of this word any more.


Inspector


(With indignation) Let alone the memory of parents... parents ...parents. Let everybody take care of his own parents!


( Everybody' screams, cries. Among them Plus's voice is distinguished and suppresses all the other voices towards the end).


Plus


I am sorry, but what happened with the thirty third banana? You have not mentioned it at all.


Inspector


( In recitative) I am very fond of parents. A parent is the tree of desires ( In an elevated tone). A parents' grave is prematurely dug up. He, the parent, didn't die, he is only sleeping now. He made a following inscription on the grave : " He, who lies here, dug up this grave." Then he scribbled " Son. Always yours, the deceased ". The parent is very clever. I've spent all my life investigating his life. And I realized that everyone should dig up his grave himself.


( The sounds inside the temple are heard).


Plus


Everything is clear. But I am interested in what happened to the thirteenth banana.


Inspector


( Inhaling)The thirteenth bnn died.


Equals sign


( With doubt) Really? Wasn't it as tender as the others?


Plus


Tender, pure, newly baked.


Minus


( Dramatically) You poor thing, what will fill up the emptiness created after the premature death?


Inspector


This is an anecdote of life - there is always emptiness , and there is nothing to fill it with. I loved him. And he loved me. He reminded me of my youth. ( Cries). I also used to be a banana in my youth. That's why I can't call those whom I eat the same name. It seems to me that I eat myself doing so. You can come up to cannibalism, to a primitive society very soon. That's why I call bnnas!


Minus


A primitive society was good because there were no words then!


Plus


Ideas, but not words have always existed.They invented them!


Minus


They must kill them and then you'll never have it again but if they kill them, what will come of it?


Equals sign


(Calms) I wish the heart would endure it! Endure this awful idea!


( Pause. The sounds of the soft music are heard).


Inspector


In my youth I was an logopaedics specialist.


(Childish pranks)


Inspector


But I could not correct the crippled sounds leaving children's lips. Whatever means I have applied to... pliers, tongs, crows, all kinds of hooks and fishing rods, and I didn't even disdain to use our grandparents' means -- fists, slaps, kicks, but nothing helped. My heart sank. Then I was seeking something I didn't know what for a long time . Then I decided to seek something concrete . There was nothing to seek around me but I continued to seek. I've been seeking all my life and at last I found bnnas , pardon, bananas. And among them there was that thirteenth one, a little dandyish, tender, pleasant, slanting... our agent...a wonderful kind,decent spy.


Equals sign


And yet I don't understand the reason of his death


Inspector


I asked him the same too. Explain it to me why you are dying. If you don't tell me tell at least grave worms! Well, I'll tell them. Do you understand what he told me? I'll tell them, but not you, puppy! Yes! Yes! Yes! ...Now I have to wait for the apish worms for two weeks till they have fed themselves up with him, digested and then they will climb up to me to bring the news. I hate worms! They are headless and invertebrate besides! Even if you want it so much you'll never break their backs! Revolutions are always held up by such as they!


Plus


(Laughs) Worms remind me of my childhood! Earlier I used to recall my childhood when I touched a woman's stomach. But now grave worms remind me of it . It is probably because I am getting old or wise.


Minus


( Shyly) They used to call me a worm in my c


hildhood


( The sound of a brook and lulling is heard)


Equals sign


I liked to put a worm on a fishing-rod and to choke fish! I'd put the fish caught by the fishing-rod on coast and watch them choke. How they opened their mouths!They looked like people who wanted but could not say anything as they had other values and were choked with their own words! Because we don't understand them! ( Thinks over) If people don't understand each other then who we are after that?


( Sad music).


Minus


Whenever I had a cold my mother came up to me to clean my nose. She used to say : " Now I must get the worms out of your nose".


Inspector


When I listened to you, an idea came into my head and imagine that it didn't convert into the scurf , it didn't die --- Worms are very strange, they eat up those whom we don't understand any more!


Equals sign


( Laughs) Do you know what I did with dead fish?


Inspector


( Officially) What?


( The sound of strings is heard.It is followed by a ship whistle).


Equals sign


I ate them. I also ate dead pigs, hens, geese, lambs, raccoons, ostriches, plants. I ate everything that died. Then I got tired of chewing and food and passed on to swallowing lambs and sometimes I thought myself a worm.


Inspector


( Officially) Are we, what, worms of life?


(The sound of sea rougness)


Equals sign


( Sadly) Sometimes I dream of what I ate. And as if it asked me in my dream -- "How are you?" --- " It seems to me that I am dying!" --- " Don't worry, they are eating you , that's why it seems to you so." And even now I hear what they are telling me.


Minus


A man is so incomprehensible that it is impossible to understand him.


Inspector


( Thinks over) If a man never got tired with thinking about immortality he would never die!


Plus


A man is nothing without a voice, words and intonations


( The sound of oar rowing)


Equals sign


Fish never get ill! They are in constant movement -- that's why Movement frightens illness! Though a parent never gets ill either... He is everywhere in time, so illness is short of time to make a plot against him ! I am neitherfish nor parent --- this is probably also nice, as life is senseless without illnesses(with entreaty). If you have time I'll tell you a wonderful human story!


Minus


( With joy) We always have time for wonderful stories. You may freely tell us your human story!


Inspector


( Irritated) When I look at a free man I get tired! Oh, where are my handcuffs now? You are lucky they have been eaten with rust and I gavethem to clean.(Agitated). I'd arrest all of you with great pleasure! Deprivation of freedom, arrest, forcible detention -- that's what remained from justice for people telling humane wonderful stories.


Minus


( With agitation) What ? You are without handcuffs! Haven't you got spare ones?


Inspector


( Hardly restrains himself) My temporarily free friend, you may have handcuffs as well as life, motherland, parents only in one copy. They can't be married or gifted! Cohabitation of a man with handcuffs is predetermined on heaven and that's why we have arms and legs. (Sadly) My only handcuffs! Imagine it,, I sometimes hear how they call me! As if they miss me and suffer because of that. Only keys are left to hang on my neck


(Tinkling of keys)


Inspector


When my hand touches them my handcuffs seem to call me -- Where are you? Where are you?


Plus


(With sympathy) Loneliness is painful, it is a son of sadness ( light is off, it is dark) Sometimes it is better to die than to have such a son!


(A sound of siren transforms into a sad melody).


Minus


Have any of you drowned?


(Silence)


Inspector


(Sadly) It seems to me the end of the world is approaching. Then suddenly I turn around and see walls and make sure that the life has not ended. I suggest to myself that we will never disappear! The future will be interesting! (Pathetically) I believe that tomorrow will be interesting and hopeful as life cannot be different. You might be surprised at such knowledge and optimism but I stay on the border between people and non-people Though even here my main responsibility is switching off light and sitting in darkness. I can cope with light, but I don't know what to do with the sounds.(Frightened) There are thousands of words around. Accidentally, cursorily or intentionally shot words, words that didn't gain the target words that hit the mark words that turned into the target the words from the bottom of the heart It seems sometimes that it's not the objects that exist but the words which play as these objects I want to run away but then I understand that the evil is always where we are absent and from where we hear the words. It might be a regularity?


(Silence. Some unnatural sound is heard replaced by leaves rustling).


Equals sign


How strange --Job and Inspector? The both words begin with "I". It might be a regularity!


Inspector


When I hear someone say "regularity" I want to die!


Equals sign


How well I understand you! If you want to we'll kill you very nicely almost painlessly.


Plus


(With encouragement) Yes, really. Let us kill you! We'll kill you and that's all! There you'll have a little rest! You might have got no holiday for a long time!


Inspector


(Warmly) Holiday and death? I'd be thankful! Death would be the best way out for me.


Minus


And now we'll get your end nearer! Meanwhile bend down on your knees and keep silent as if you were praying without words.


Inspector


It's good praying without words (Whispers) Death -- it's another thing It is whisper and excitement! Death -- it's another thing It is whisper and excitement!It is whisper and confusion! It is whisper and excitement! It is whisper and excitement!


(Wheezing)


Minus


So, brothers, let's squeeze his neck to strangle sounds!


(Wheezing is heard).


Inspector


Death -- it's another thing It is whisper and excitement!


(Wheezing and quickened breathing is heard).


Inspector


(Wheezes) People like strangling another voice! A-a-a ( Dies)


(Silence. Unnatural voices followed by wordless singing).


Plus


What shall we do now? What are we going to do? It should have been a mere game, but we strangled him.


Equals sign


First, it's not he, it's his voice. And second, who said " the game is over"?


Minus


Really, how strange it is, Job and Inspector! Both words begin with "I"! It might be a regularity!


(String's sound followed by ship's whistle).


Equals sign


Don't pronounce these words Let the man rest!


Plus


What shall we do now? What are we going to do?


Equals sign


And what are you going to do?


Plus


Me?


Minus


Boomerang?


Plus


Boomerang!


(The sound of boomerang or wings).


Equals sign


(With alarm) Why did you say " boomerang"? Why? It returns with words!!!


Minus


Did you say?


Plus


You said!


Equals sign


Me? No!


Plus


Me, nothing


(Pause. Bird twittering, forest's sounds are heard).


Plus


Do you feel how warm the earth is?


Minus


The only thing I believe in that each falling on the earth is a rehearsal of preparation for death.


(Shot and dropping is heard).


Minus


Falling begins with a dream.


(Words are heard in echo).


Equals sign


You are waiting for this day, dreaming about this minute. It comes, but it always happens with others. As usual, it has mistaken the address. That's why you begin to wait again with the only hope -- it may again call on the wrong address and this time it will come to you. A lot of dreams are poured out into space.


Plus


Can you hear the smell coming from the earth?


Minus


A man is words and voice and may be smell and nothing more!


Equals sign


(Shouts) If I have anything good then it's my hands covered with skin!


Plus and Minus


Hush! Don't shout, shout is the tail of words. It'll surely bring them back, by all means.


Equals sign


(Shouts) Who is disturbed with my shouts? Who is disturbed ? Who? Inspectors died, freedom lost its borders --- is it a regularity? I am as natural as wind !


Minus


You didn't want us! Don't pronounce these words! Leave me alone!


Equals sign


(Shouts) Inspectors died Freedom lost its borders. Is it a regularity? I am as natural as wind!


Minus


You didn't warn us! Don't pronounce these words. Let the man rest.


Equals sign


(Shouts). Inspectors died Freedom lost its borders. Is it a regularity? I am as natural as wind!


Plus and Minus


Don't blow then!


(Silence. Wordless singing followed by unnatural sound. Gnashing of wheels, boozing. Stadium's noise. screech. Boomerang or wings' sound).


Inspector


(Weakened) Memory is the only thing that retains me in this world! Do I know you?


Plus


(In confusion) Maybe you know me! Recently we've had a contact if you can call so one of the mysteries in the world, under which murder is meant!


Inspector


(Hysterically) Take me... Take me... Take me... where it always rains, where there is always excitement! ...Where the winds always blow!


Minus


(Irritated) Why do all those having returned from the other world always speak in a high-flown manner?


Inspector


How wonderful it would be if we were dumb.


(Pause. Remote conversation is heard. Loud breathing and sneezing).


Inspector


(Sneezes) How words like to stick in the throat! Do you want me to tell you the story of my people?


(Silence. Music).


Minus


Your people? Up to now everyone has told us his own story. You may if it is interesting .


Equals sign


(With entreaty) only during narration , look at me, if it is possible...I like being looked at when somebody is telling a story (In a pretentious tone). I hate insipid stories, they strangle me...acid stories ,they burn me...fresh, unfermented stories, they make me swell.. superfluous stories, they warm me...invented, mixed stories , they cause headache...refined, red and clean stories. I take them in small quantities during a meal...A lot of stories at once are harmful to health. So, bear it in mind, there are stories that spoil my nerves!


Plus


Do you fully spoil your nerves or at least leave some contours?


Equals sign


Fully! I have to use something else instead of spoilt nerves, for example, treads, earlier I used wires, but didn't feel uncomfortable as I had no sensations at all. Now I have got strings, look at them! Sometimes they tear, but never mind, they have good sounding, besides, it's better than nothing. Touch it with your hand -- don't feel shy!


(String sound is heard).


Minus


It has really good sounding, hasn't it? If it breaks how can you join it?


Equals sign


I used to make a knot, but now I've grown bolder and when I can't find something suitable, I can do rather masterly with one nerve. Inspector, have you ever had your nerves spoilt, torn or rubbed out?


Inspector


I am sorry, but I don't want and I can't answer you. After all, I am an inspector. Once I had handcuffs Frankly speaking two times I was bereaved of them, three times I was knocked at my head with them, four times they fell down on me, five times they fled from me and I lost them six times. Sometimes I beat them , sometimes arrested . Sometimes they beat and arrested me... Penitentiary system can witness such manifestation of love, but nevertheless we were faithful to each other... Now I'll replace my shift and go to them, to the workshop I gave them for restoration... I am going give a banana to them, the so called parents' banana! I've eaten it up on the way, but never mind I'll bring them the skin! They will be glad to have it from me! (With love) Good or bad, handcuffs are necessary in life. And rubber clubs are good for women


(Pause. Music is heard)


Equals sign


( With agitation) Will you please tell us the story of your people?


Inspector


Well sir, I am ready.(Officially).Here is the story of my people .Once there lived a nomadic tribe. It carried the so called " sacred post".


(Tam-tam. Rhythmic music).


Inspector


On the surface of the post they carved mysterious figures and ornaments painted with a unique skill. Each color had its concrete meaning -- the color of sky, lilac, morning dew, dawn, ground, sea, leaves, trees, starry night, happy smile... the color of hunger, bread, pain... treachery, lie... the color of a man who became unwanted ... the color of love, hope, dream ... the color or a perished friend. The tribesmen called this post " the father of the motherland"


(A song).


Inspector


On holidays they sacrificed a basket of fruit and a young pheasant to it. Wherever they went -to the mountains, lowlands, seacoast or to the domain of stormy rivers -- they carried the "father of the motherland" with them, if they made a camp anywhere, they set around this post and lent an attentive ear to sounds ...Then in order to do honor to the post they tried to repeat these sounds as if they were an integral part of the place they were staying at. At last all these sounds transformed into a polyphonic song. They sang and sang till dawn. And in the morning this mysterious post bore a motherland to them! And the place they stopped at became their motherland even for a day and that's why wherever they went they found their native land, they felt at home everywhere, the whole world was theirs, they were neither unwanted, left nor refugees ( Cries).


(The others join him. Silence).


Plus


(Being dumb-founded his voice acquires aggressiveness) An interesting, seething life I had! Neither manner, adverbial modifier, nouns nor degrees of comparison have cheated me . My interjections have always been respectable characters. And predicates were of great use to me. Then I acquired a good object and the object as a rule is followed by good attributes.


(Tree rustle).


Plus


Here pronouns appeared. And which ones! I remember very well personal pronouns. And possessive pronouns proved useful several times. Personally I often used to be in a demonstrative one. Relative ones followed me closely


(Laughs) I also had cases! Nobody had ever dreamt of anything better and besides, in such big quantities! Then you know, what an adverbial modifier of time is.Then everything had mixed up . There appeared prepositions, conjunctions, interjections, interrogative, indicative, imperative sentences, objects and objects kept changing. Sometimes it was direct, sometimes indirect. Then numerals cheated me. Adverbs appeared from somewhere. They spelled everything ...You see how grammar or laws spoilt my life.


(A cry is heard. It is intensified , the sound of feet and confusion add to it).


Equals sign


Do you know how the sea differs from the sea of people? By feet, which the sea doesn't have! You can drown in both of them. Both scream or whisper!


Minus


They say scream is a pain of words! And how do you reckon?


Inspector


(Nervously) I want to cry! I want to cry very much! But I remember my parents' words :" If you don't cry now, you will never cry afterwards! But if you cry now you'll cry and cry all the time!".


Minus


Each time speaks its own language! If a scream is a pain of words, then the sound is a spirit of thought!


Equals sign


Inspector, I want to ask you something.


Inspector


You have no right for that, the fact that you know the story of my people means you are either enemy or friend and in both cases we aren't indifferent to each other that's why that's why (Confused) ,sorry, but I have quite forgotten what you want.


Equals sign


I want to ask you something.


Inspector


(Insidiously) Do you want me to cheat you?


Equals sign


Why?


Inspector


The man who is asked has the right to it.


Minus


I also want to put a question.


Inspector


(In confusion) Where?


Minus


Here?


Inspector


Do it. But if you have no question how will you put it?


Minus


(In confusion) You see, I haven't thought about it. I am losing myself.


(The sound of scattering on the floor is heard).


Plus


(Surprised) What has happened to you? Why did you lose yourself? How did you dare to lose yourself so quickly?


Inspector


(Shouts) Broom! Spade! Quickly!


Equals sign


I am to blame for everything. For everything. I am bringing it! I am bringing!


Minus


(Groans) I beg to collect me very quickly unless I get completely lost!


Plus


(In panic) We can't do anything. My brother, you've lost yourself completely. Take it easy, the time will come and we'll lose ourselves and transform into ashes. Then somebody will sweep us and use for wall construction!


Equals sign


(With melancholy) You have stuck to our feet, to the tongue of the others. Some even inhaled you. It is ractically impossible to collect you. You can only be mixed into walls!


Minus


(Cries) I don't want any walls. I don't like walls. A wall is a materialized face of fright. I don't want! I beg you, don't spoil my life! Life doesn't need all this. Collect me! Sweep me from the floor!


Inspector


(Gladly) I know what will help you!


Minus


What?


Equals sign


What will help him?


Inspector


A wonderful, beautiful, interesting question to which he knows the answer, but which is difficult to recall, will help him. Let's ask him a question and he will collect himself, concentrate his attention and his absent-mindedness will disappear.


Minus


Wonderful!


Plus


Brilliant!


Equals sign


It is wonderful even because you needn't sweep any more!


Inspector


Now! (Calls) where are you, my comfort?


(Pause . Festive and steppe's sounds are heard. Somebody's feet masterly knock out a rhythm).


Inspector


(Festively) Here is my question! So good, meaningful. It's a long time since you heard such a question, isn't it?


Minus


(With excitement) Good heavens!


Inspector


You see it? He isn't losing himself any more! On the contrary, he is collecting himself !


Plus


(With interest) A wonderful question! I wish it would be given an appropriate answer! As for me I'd never refuse to argue with him!


Inspector


(Carefully) You'll stay with us, won't you?


Question


(Coquettishly) You want it, don't you? Maybe the others don't want me to stay? I don't think many of you would like to stand by a question's side.


(In a sad and mysterious voice).


Minus


There is something mysterious and attractive in this question! (Thinks over). Sometimes when you think over the punctuation and life, it seems you have got somebody , maybe children, who don't let you feel lonely . But in reality... Eh! Now I convince myself more and more that a question is the best variant. At least it has no inclination to the evil. But an exclamatory mark or interrogative and exclamatory marks are not good. Inspector I envy you. But it's an envy of a male. If there exists such kind of envy! In general neither colon nor dots are good, the first is continuously chattering or enumerating something and the second never leads a thought to an end or it seems to lead...My dear question, what can you tell us about children and punctuation?


Question


(Coquettishly) Why are you asking me a question? You are not interested in the answer at any rate.


Plus


This question can drive me mad !


(Everybody laughs).


Inspector


Personally I hate dots and commas! You can never understand what it is - a dot or a comma? Besides, they've been proliferating on a large scale. Sometimes you look at a dot -- on the squats, thick but it behaves itself like a comma! Besides, it has no reaction to commas! Or you look at it and think, it's a comma, but its features betray it as a dot and it treats other commas as a dot!


Equals sign


I am not worried about this problem at all. I can do well without all these punctuation marks. The one who put too many of them or did it incorrectly, must be worried. These endless paragraphs with grammar or correctional mistakes are due to them. And it's why half-words are senseless. Laws and grammar owe their existence to the marks.


Minus


Aren't grammar and spelling a formidable force? There is no precise answer to this question (laughs). My dear question, life without a question would be rather dull, wouldn't it?


Inspector


I am too interested in what my daughter speaks about life.


(Pronounces a monologue with an interrogative intonation).


Question


You see, I don't like affirmative sentences at all? I don't like simple and complex sentences either?My element is questions? Questions? Unanswerable questions? Is there a question the answer to which may become a question? Questions are eternal and answers are subjected to Time? The future belongs to questions because the past and the present are created by them. And what do you think? Is life possible without questions? Is it possible to live without unanswerable questions ? Or tell me please, has anything changed in you since you learnt to answer questions? Don't people like questions more than answers?


Minus


(Laughs) Why do you confuse us?


Question


(Laughs)Do you like to laugh? What is funnier ---a question or an answer?


(Pause).


Inspector


The whole world has vanished together with parents. I ask a question. I ask, ask, ask, no answer is heard anywhere This is probably life of a man. Expectation!... Expectation of answers which can never be known. Maybe I am mistaken? (Laughs). Disease is a stupidity if it affects a man without a head on his shoulders.


Question


Is disease a stupidity? (Laughs) What words are you saying? Don't you know that words may conceal the truth?


Minus


(With agitation) I love you! Love you! Love you!


(Romantic music is heard).


Question


(Carefully) Really? It's lovely weather, isn't it?


Minus


(Surprised) Don't you like me ask standard questions if you can't find your place and feel ill at ease?


Question


(Sadly) Don't you all choose the place which you occupy afterwards?


Minus


(Sadly) I answer :"Yes" and add " I am a slave of my love!"


Question


(Desperately) When I look at you it seems to me you want the whole life to be unhappy. Isn't it so? Why aren't you looking into my eyes? Are you afraid to lose yourself once more? Maybe you are afraid of man's eyes? Why don't you understand that you are the one whom you see.


(Boomerang or wings' sound).


Minus


(Screeches) I've made a mistake, some mistake.


Equals sign


All of us have made a mistake. Words are coming back! What shall we do?


Plus


(With strain). We are short of words, short of words. We've stuck. We don't know what to say! We don't know what to talk about! If we don't speak they'll come back, they will revive! They will come back for the second time.


(The sound of a string followed by a ship's whistle).


Inspector


Good heavens! How difficult it is to fill such space with words! Words are like seeds scattered on the earth. We sow and sow all day long. Now I'll read it to you.


(Turns over the pages).


Inspector


Here, the book by Job: " I would speak like you if I were in your shoes. I flow you with lots of words and nod my head. Doesn't a ear feel words and doesn't the palate taste them?"


Minus


How long are you going to speak like this? Words from a mouth are like a risen wind.


Inspector


"If I speak pain doesn't disappear, if I keep silent --- it never leaves me. Is there an end to frivolous words?"


Equals sign


"What embittered us so that we give such an answer? Who said these words? Why are we giving an answer?"


Inspector


"Why should I carry on my flesh, my teeth? What's the reason in holding my soul in my hands?"


Question


" It's not accidental that Job was god fearing?"


(Silence).


Equals sign


The voice of a man is words, pauses between them and nothing more!


(Incomprehensible whisper).


Question


(Shouts) I never pay attention to what I hear!


Plus


(Whispers) What do they want from us?


Equals sign


(Whispers) Because they want it. Because they will pay us money for that


Minus


What's the reason in it?


Question


The reason is in that I'll do what they want!


Plus


It's no reason, it's slavery. These are realized wishes. Where are words?


Inspector


We are made of words ...like walls!


(Confusion. Words in different languages. Noises)


Inspector


Hush! Keep silent for at least a few minutes. Something might be born. People like listening, don't they?


Minus


Why?


Inspector


Don't you guess words have led us astray!.


Question


How can words lead us astray? Is it possible?


Inspector


Words are like wolves! They don't consider those who gave them shelter as their hosts. Words may be unfaithful, they may lie! Words are sick. Now they are discussing everything but telling nothing. They are born and die without any sense! We must find out the reasons of their sickness and then we'll understand everything. Who needed to condemn them to death? Who propagates dead words? And why are we here?


Minus


(Skeptically) You want to distinguish yourself, but you don't know how.


Inspector


(Whispers) Hush! Remember words will revenge on us as we don't use but exploit them ! Exploit! Exploit! Exploit! Exploit! Exploit! Exploit! Exploit!


Equals sign


(Skeptically) I wonder who drowns the first? He who gets tired with swimming and resistance or he who swims with the stream?


(Rustling. Thunder. Rain. Blizzard. Rough sea).


Inspector


( Gradually increases his voice) Words are not the means of normal life. It's important not to think about it, but I can't. ( Dramatically) Good heavens! We can do everything with words! Good heavens! How much force is there in life turned into words! I am afraid! I am very afraid! There was a time when I didn't know the word " afraid". There was a time when I didn't understand this word! There was a time when I laughed at the word. There was a time when I used to think over the union of these sounds a-f-r-a-I-d. My lord! Why doesn't the word die when a man who utters it dies? Why has this space filled up with homeless words? I am afraid of reasoning!


( Noise is intensified).


Inspector


I am afraid of not reasoning. I am afraid of doing it, I'm afraid of not doing ! I love, but I'm afraid. I don't love, but I am afraid! I'm happy, but I am afraid! I am unhappy, but I am afraid! I am hungry, but I am afraid. I know, but I am afraid ! Do you believe?-- I believe, but I am afraid. Are you weak? I am strong, but I am afraid !I am a man, but I am afraid. I am afraid, but I am afraid ." A-f-r-a-I-d" this is the first word created by people. I am ready for everything, but I am afraid, as I don't know what the word " everything " means. "Afraid " is the word from which everything grows: noises, silence. ( Laughs)


( Noises fade).


Inspector


Birth means fear. Love means fear. Everything means fear. I am fear myself.


( Pause. Melody is heard)


Plus


(Shyly) You've revealed very pure feelings, though a peculiar purity assumes mistakes. Unfortunately the truth depends on the condition of the body. If you told this monologue to a man standing on his head or sitting on a lavatory pan, ( Laughs) ha-ha. It would never be so impressive and let's put it in this way, logical. Though when logic is destroyed, foretellers appear. To be more precise we have no choice among falsity, deception and fear ?! ( Sings )


( Pause )


Plus


After all, everything is words. By the way, I am afraid either!


( Wordless singing is heard)


Inspector


( Excitedly) Is it true? Do you know when I looked at you, I understood at once that you are one of us. Is it a long time since you arrived from the " country of fear"?


Plus


It's one year! I miss it very much! Eh, don't you miss it?


Equals sign


( Recitative) I cannot live without it!


Inspector and Plus


( Happy) Look, he is also from that place. Bravo! Long live the country and its citizens!


Minus


( Carefully) By the way I am afraid either. Both my mother and father were afraid. Frankly speaking I was born outside the boundaries of " the country of fear". But by my flesh and blood I am similar to them. And sometimes I am not ashamed of it at all.


Inspector


(Excitedly) Thus, we, the four men, are like each other. That's very good. You know, I have always wanted to have our own talk. I wanted to speak in our own way. ( In a heart-rending way). I miss that place very much. I miss their dishes! Songs! Wine!


Minus


I know their poems. My parents taught me. And I've got their rather good literature at home.


( Friendly exclamations. Laughing).


Question


( Surprised) I've been looking at you so long, but can't understand what is going on. What's going on here?


Equals sign


We are all afraid.


Question


Father, explain to me what's going on!


Inspector


Make yourself glad, daughter! I feel fear and happiness when I state that I am really one of them!


Question


You too?


Inspector


People of my profession always have to deal with fear and desperation. That's why detached from my motherland I chose this profession. I wanted to be somehow closer to my parents' house!


Question


Yes, but father. Why didn't you let me go with my first love last year? He was also afraid. Why?


Inspector


I know why!


( Singing ceases)


Minus


( Aggressively) Don't evade the answer! You only look at him! " I am one of them! I am one of them! " Now that one comes to think of it nobody remembers his words.


Equals sign


You better put it straight that you aren't afraid any more!


Plus


How did you dare not to let her go with him? Traitor!


Inspector


( Frowns) It's difficult to give a good answer! ( With entreaty). Let me think! I beg you! I am an orphan .


The characters argue


Let's give him!- No! He is one of us. -He is a traitor!.


Equals sign


Let's give him some time to think, but only very little! This way we'll learn the truth better. You know it quite well where verbosity leads to! Don't forget about the object that mastered the trajectory of words! Boomerang!


(Boomerang or wings' sound is heard. Silence)


Minus


Let's give him time, but only one minute!


Question


Shall I switch on a stop-watch?


Plus


Do it.


( Stop - watch is heard).


Inspector


( To himself) Clocks and a man's pulse make the greatest sound! I've got an answer!


Question


Have you considered your answer well?


Inspector


Yes! Because I could have dull grandchildren! So, imagine, my daughter is a question, my son-in-law is from " the country of fear?". They would give a birth to someone who takes after the father! That's in case of one child, but what if they had twins. They would be like each other. Could you watch such grandchildren and the whole family in general for 24 hours? That one is afraid, this one is a question and their children would drive you mad. You might commit a suicide in a month, or maximum in 2 months! My daughter, such families ruin quickly and in my opinion you should marry a dot!


Question


( Aggressively) A dot? A small and round one? Is it really your paternal love? ( Shout) My lord! Why am I a question? Why? Why? Couldn't I have been at least a dash or a dotted line? If I had been born brackets then you'd have seen it!


Inspector


( Aggressively) Brackets? Don't remind me of brackets or I'll get mad. Haven't you forgotten that thanks to these brackets a sentence has become dubious? Brackets? Where? Where have you learnt these awful words?


Question


Brackets? Brackets? Brackets? Don't you want to hear? What do you think of inverted commas?


Inspector


Shut up!


( Slapping of a hand is heard. Question cries).


Plus


Instead of making so much noise you'd better have told us a hackneyed word!


Minus


How did you dare to strike Question with a hand? How terrible!


Equals sign


This way unanswerable questions are converted into orders!


(Silence. The sound of boomerang or wings is heard. One can hear boozing of a fly, joined by the second, third, forth ones. The boozing is intensified and transformed into a wordless song. Somebody is applauding, the boozing sound and the song are abruptly interrupted and replaced by a faint town noise. All dialogue be be to be sung or read (to repeat) absolute in the other context).


Equals sign


I'm longing to go to Peking! Peking is my dream! The most ancient and magnificent city! They say a man always feels unsual there, on the central square! You are staying on the Square of Peking - Tall! Big! Proud! There are millions of small Pekingese around you! You can swim among them! Peking! Peking! Peking! It's my dream, my dream! Everything is different there, so different!


Minus


In what way different?


Equals sign


So, how to put it, somewhat different or more exactly somehow different.


(Metro carriages' noise is heard)


Minus


Do you feel how the earth is trembling?


Minus


No, I don't!


Equals sign


Don't you feel the walls trembling?


Plus


Imagine it, we don't feel even that!


Equals sign


That's good. That's very good, so , it means I am the only person who feels it! People like soleness!


( Silence. Asian music is heard. The sound of a crowded street)


Plus


I wonder if there are any walls in Peking?


Minus


There is no town without walls as there is no man without skin.


Equals sign


I can't get used to walls .. .. Walls always frighten me. .. .. Walls are temples forfrightened souls!


Minus


I wonder if there had been anything on the earth before walls appeared?


Plus


There had been a paradise!


Equals sign


When we destroy these walls what will be then?


Minus


The hell!


(Pause. The sound of a whistle and wind. The sound of boomerang or wings. The end of repetition).


Plus


Again? Again? Is it possible? Shan't we be able to make a simple or another, peculiar sentence again.


(Silence. The sounds of a theatre foyer. People. Orchestra. Steps).


Inspector


(Sad) What do I watch here? I watch the space. Nobody steals the space because I watch it! Switching off light and sitting in the darkness ... Banana's skin...The thirteenth banana died! The handcuffs are alone... Words will smash the world to smithereens... The torrent of words will choke souls. The air is filled with words and phrases, it is even impossible to breath. One talks everywhere. We track silence to fill it with our words. Here at last we've found one place and overfilled it, but we did not say anything special. The others who want to splash out words will come soon and that's the end... Then where shall we find the place to say something new? We won't be able to say something new and that's all.


Equals sign


Does anything besides words exist in this world?


Question


Punctuation marks exist!


Inspector


A man's voice is reasons and words too. Words have driven us mad, and reasons made us forget the greatness of silence. Nothing more. First we learn to listen, then we speak, then walk in order to find a place for talk. We find a place, begin to speak and think that we are alive. I wish we forgot the words we had said


(Pause).


Minus


I want to shout.


Plus


The following suggestion might be of use: our weakness is in its strength!


Minus


Or may be our strength is in its weakness.


Equals sign


Let's close our eyes and imagine we are not living any more.


Minus


Of late one man has been enough create or make something new... Now we need a group for that! In art one man can do nothing! Life is in mass, it has fallen apart... One man can solve nothing! He needs co-thinkers... And then what do they do? S-p-e-a-k. Pah


Inspector


Can't you, who've got so much death, award us with anything?


Question


Can't you, which have so much silence, give us anything.


(Noise increases. People's voices are heard everywhere. Phrases with different intonations are heard. Sounds of planes as if the whole airsquadron is flying are heard).


Phrases


Silence is getting tired. The grass of the abandoned land. People are laughing in air house! Chairs are smashing people... There was life... Noise breathes with our words! The sand of tears... Abrupt dances suit crying. A fat and hungry one sees a satisfied thin one! They are born, get old and die remaining children! They put shoes on wings. Is there any time left? Who can swim on the edge of the abyss? The town of stones will deafen a dream! He who sees doesn't hear; he who hears, doesn't see! The horizon begins from a cloud... Blizzards will cry if we fail to say wordless words... He sat down to write a will but could not write... Long seconds begin! Sounds are fading... A mystery dies in birth... We cry for the past, the future has no tears! Don't mourn over the dead, mourn over those who will die today! Who can swim on the edge of the abyss? Only the others do good! Who can swim on the edge of the abyss? Prayers scratch the fog with nails. Don't say anything when crying...Prayers scratch the fog with nails. Who can swim on the edge of the abyss?


(Sounds gradually disappear. Silence).


Inspector


(Caution which at first transforms into a stubborn tone and then into hypnotizing intonations) At first we must consider something and then it will be born. At first we must consider something and then it'll be born. At first we must consider something and then it'll be born. Plus is equal to minus and question. When I was looking at you I summed you up all of a sudden and got --- plus is equal to minus and a question or visa versa --- minus is equal to plus and a question. In emptiness it will sound like this --- is plus equal to minus? Or is minus equal to plus? And the answer --- plus is equal to minus? or minus is equal to plus?


(Silence. Everybody begins to repeat words).


Everybody


Plus is equal to minus or minus is equal to plus? Andthe answer --- plus is equal to minus? or minus is equal to plus? My Lord, we are disappearing! Disappearing! Disappearing! Boomerang is dying! Boomerang is dying! Emptiness is being born! Boomerang is dying!(The pronounced sounds are unusually lengthened).Pluuuuuus is equuuual to minuuuuus? Or minus is equal to pluuuus?... Is pluuus equal to minuuus? Or is minuuus equal to pluuus?... Theeeere wheeeere theeeey disappeeeeaar heeee is boooorn. (There where they disappear he is born).


(Silence. The send sound of boiling. Silence).


Announcer


Silence is intended for your voices and words. So think it quickly with what sounds and words you'll fill it up?


(Advertising music is heard. Silence).


Announcer


(The sounds pronounced by an announcer are strangely lengthened). Pluuuuuuuus issss equaaaaaal to minuuuus? Or minus is equal to pluuus? Is pluuus equal to minuuus? Or is minus equal to pluuus? From a pareeeeeents' graaaaave eveeeerybooody piiiiicks up his shaaaaare of baaanaaanaas. Theeere wheeere theeey diiiiiiisappear, heeeee issssss boooooorn.


(Silence).


Inspector


(Whispers)Even now.... somehow .... maybe together .... you and we!.... With something! Of course, if we want. Them, he! In him! Finally, to the end! Even once! It is necessary, isn't it?


(Silence. Sound of boiling. One can hear boozing of a fly, joined by the second, third, forth ones. Somebody is applauding and the sound is interrupted. Silence. The sound of boomerang or wings.)