Howard Barker: Plays Nine. Howard Barker

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СКАЧАТЬ here / apparently / but briefly / her smacked cheek like a flag of love / I didn’t see her / unfortunately /

      (He looks at the bed before mounting it.)

      ‘What’s that for?’ /

      (He laughs, peculiarly. He lies down.)

      ‘What’s that for?’ /

      (ENGINE enters, as if summoned but reluctant to attend.)

      7

      ENGINE makes a sign with his hand to THRASH, who departs. He is heavy, resolute.

      WARDROBE: I’m worried about my friend /

      (ENGINE seems to ignore this. WARDROBE senses the futility of repeating himself but proceeds to do so.)

      I’m worried about /

      ENGINE: I heard you / Mr Wardrobe /

      (WARDROBE accepts ENGINE’s denial. He is simultaneously hopeless and persistent.)

      WARDROBE: It is weeks since he wrote a single line of poetry /

      ENGINE: Or recited one /

      WARDROBE: Or recited one / yes /

      (WARDROBE labours on.)

      Or recited one / and /

      ENGINE: He is who he is / Mr Bible / nothing can alter that /

      WARDROBE: Alter it / no / not alter it / but relieve it / perhaps? /

      ENGINE: To relieve Mr Bible of the strains and stresses of being Mr Bible / were it possible / or desirable / lies outside my competence / is Mrs Thrash not satisfactory? /

      WARDROBE: Entirely satisfactory /

      ENGINE: That’s that / then /

      (WARDROBE squirms at his impotence. A pitiful cry comes from him, involuntary, shrill.)

      WARDROBE: I’M WORRIED ABOUT MY FRIEND /

      (ENGINE studies WARDROBE, sensing his deterioration, and not without pity.)

      ENGINE: I must get on /

      WARDROBE: Get on / get on / you’re always saying that / I must get on / on to what? / what is it you must get on to? /

      (ENGINE prefers not to reply. WARDROBE bites his lip. ENGINE turns to leave.)

      I like you / Captain /

      (ENGINE stops. He turns to WARDROBE.)

      ENGINE: I don’t dislike you / Mr Wardrobe /

      (WARDROBE struggles to maintain his dignity, then dissolves.)

      WARDROBE: LET ME HAVE A VIOLIN / A TENTH-RATE / SCHOOLGIRL’S VIOLIN /

      (ENGINE studies WARDROBE.)

      ENGINE: You have had violins / Mr Wardrobe /

      WARDROBE: Yes /

      ENGINE: And all of them got broken /

      WARDROBE: Yes /

      ENGINE: I say broken / in actual fact /

      WARDROBE: I smashed them /

      ENGINE: You smashed them / yes /

      WARDROBE: I smashed them / and this act of smashing /I don’t conceal it from myself / was nihilistic / and / arguably / barbaric / but not more barbaric / than the /

      ENGINE: (Gravely.) Contempt / Mr Wardrobe /

      WARDROBE: The actions which provoked /

      ENGINE: Contempt / I said /

      (WARDROBE is stilled. His hands squirm in his frustration.)

      WARDROBE: I promise /

      (He is ashamed to be so infantilized, but proceeds.)

      I promise not to break another one /

      (ENGINE does not reply.)

      Do you have another one? /

      (ENGINE remains silent.)

      Mrs Thrash / she may be wrong / of course / said there were plenty /

      (WARDROBE looks at the floor.)

      Could I borrow one? /

      (ENGINE says nothing.)

      A rotten / shapeless / for half-a-day / busted / unstrung / for half an hour even / borrow one / could I? /

      (ENGINE frowns. WARDROBE shakes his head.)

      Of course there is one / and of course you cannot lend it me /

      (He lifts his head.)

      The Emperor will be gratified to learn from your report that / entirely in conformity with his expectations / the effect of the rhapsody on my sensibility was such that I / notorious for my pride / not only submitted a request / but begged / begged for the wherewithal to play it / I did beg / didn’t I? / you are satisfied / Captain / that I begged? / if not I / oh / happily I /

      ENGINE: You begged / Mr Wardrobe /

      (WARDROBE places his hands together.)

      WARDROBE: He requires that I / I say this without contempt / become mad /

      (He lifts his eyes to ENGINE.)

      I must become mad / is that correct? /

      (ENGINE regards WARDROBE with a frank and undisguised pity.) What is the Emperor to you? / Captain? /

      (ENGINE is perturbed.)

      ENGINE: I have never met the Emperor / nor do I expect to / but if I did / and formed an opinion of him / and this opinion were unfavourable / it would not affect the rigour with which I carry out his orders /

      (WARDROBE seems to sway on his feet.)

      WARDROBE: But / Captain / I am a genius /

      ENGINE: The wind blows / Mr Wardrobe /

      (WARDROBE screws up his face.)

      WARDROBE: Yes /

      (He peers at ENGINE.)

      The wind blows / yes /

      ENGINE: On all of us /

      WARDROBE: ‘The wind blows on all of us’ / what is that? / is that philosophy? /

      (ENGINE goes to leave.)

      EXCUSE СКАЧАТЬ