Александр Ермак – You were, you are, you will always be (страница 1)
Александр Ермак
You were, you are, you will always be
He: a young man in white pajamas with a red dotted line on the shaven head.
She: a middle aged woman wearing a white doctor's smock.
The room is empty except for a bed, a chair, a table, and a door.
He (sitting on the edge of the bed, sings):
"Fifteen men on the dead man’s chest-
Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!
Drink and the devil had done for the rest-
Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!"
(Pensively): Rum!.. I want some rum. Mom, I want my rum! Mommy…
She comes in, with a vase of tulips in her hands and a bag over the shoulder. Places the vase on the floor near the door, then puts the bag on the table and sits down in the chair next to the man.
She: Oh, boy… Why are you crying? (Embraces him and strokes his head.) I’m here, right next to you.
He: Mommy, I want my rum.
She: The very idea!
He: But I want…
She: Alcohol doesn't agree with you! Especially today.
He: But I feel like taking a shot of rum, Mom.
She (shaking her head, pulls a small paper bag out of her pocket): And how do you feel about taking your medicines?
He (echoes): Medicines?
She (pointing at her watch): Yes, it’s time to take your pills.
He: Those nasty bitter pills!
She: No. They are sweet this time.
He: Really? Were they made at the candy factory?
She: Yes.
He: Specially for me?
She: Yes. And they were delivered for you just a moment ago. Here you are.
He stretches out his hand. She pours out the pills into his palm.
He: So they were! They are still warm. Yellow, pink and green. (He arranges the pills in his palm.) The big one is the commander. The plump one is his kitchen maid. And these are his faithful soldiers. Brave boys are they. Always ready to fight. Ready for a flight.
He raises his hand preparing to give the pills a flick.
She (softly gripping his hand): Swallow them.
He (sighs): All right. (Saluting the pills with his free hand.) Farewell, brave front line heroes (throws the pills one by one down his throat), and you, the chubby and glorious home front worker…
She pours some water into the glass on the table and gives it to him.
He (taking the glass): Tea with raspberry jam?
She: No.
He: With milk?
She: No.
He: With honey?
She: No. You will have tea the next time, but today it’s just water. Drink up.
He (drinking the water): Sweet… From the candy factory.
She: And now it’s time you went to bed. You need your strength.
He: I've already been there.
She: Never mind. The more you sleep the better you get.
He: What for?
She: For what?
He: What should I get better for?
She: What are you carrying around in your mouth?
He: Nothing.
She (gives him the glass once again): Come on, swallow the pills, now.
He submissively drinks the water.
She puts him to bed and covers him with the white sheet.
She: Good boy! Get some sleep now. You really need your strength, we have some work to do later today.
He: Will you tell me a bedtime story about the little dragon?
She: Next time.
He: About Goldie and the three brothers?
She: After the dragon.
He: But… but.
She (sighing): No buts. Fall asleep now.
She out of the room, leaving the door ajar, and stays there spying on him.
He (looks around, bends over the edge of the bed and spits out the remaining parts of the pills onto the floor): No, no… I’ll never get well again. I’ll lie down here… till the end of the year. The next year. No, I’ll lie flat here for ten tens years, and Mommy will bring me tea with raspberry jam, and milk, and honey. And oranges, and tangerines too. And she'll buy me a gun. And a saber. And she'll hug me and call me "my lovely"… And she’ll tell me stories. About the dragon. And the three brothers. And Ali Baba. And she'll sing me songs. (Sings.) "Hush, little baby, don't say a word…" (Still bending over the edge of the bed he starts swinging. Then slowly slips down and crawls under the bed. Lying there he aims an imaginary gun at the audience.) Combat crew! Action stations! Clear for action! Hey, you there! I've got you in the sights of my gun! Surrender! I’m aiming at you. All rise! Hands up! You, yes, you, on the right, go first! Now…
She (enters): Again?
He lies still.
She pulls him out from under the bed and sits him down onto it.
She: All right. You don’t want to take your medicines, you don’t want to go to sleep. How about having some play time?
He (echoes): Play time?
She: Yes, let's try again. Once again. Let's play school.