Vladislava Fekete

Translation: Zuzana Flakov

Brief Connection s

Chara cters: HE R, HI M, LIL, Dara, Boro, Milija, Mum, Gary, Azra, Estate
Agent, Sran, Stranger
Th e pla y is set in the pre s e n t . Th e pa s t is m a r k e d in gre e n . Th e pa s t an d the pr e s e n t
inter t w i n e. N ot onl y in our m e m o r i e s .
There will be a lot of stage directions throughout the script. Dont let it shock you, if such
a thing is still possible
SHE is sitting and crying. But thats just fine, lots of women cry these days. And no one
knows about it. I for one, try not to cry, or at least not in front of others. (There has
already been a play that starts like this ... but then, so many things in life begin or end
with tears. So lets not worry about it too much.) SHE is sitting on the floor with piles of
clothes strewn around her. A bottle of wine sits in one hand and a glass in the other.
Untouched. And somewhere there is also an old phone, that SHE probably got from
a flea market. Its beautiful, big and shiny. Like a black exclamation mark. SHE has just
finished talking on her mobile.
***
H E R . D o e s m u m kn o w that yo ur e calli n g m e?
LIL. N o.
H E R . Y o u kn o w it co s t s to call abr o a d ?
LIL. I m calli n g fro m M Y m o b i l e. Its ne w .
H E R . A n d w h o s pa yi n g for it?
LIL. D a d.
H E R . O h, so... it do e s n t m a t t e r.
LIL. Th e lan d li n e w o u l d be ch e a p e r tha n a m o b i l e.
H E R . W h a t s that noi s e ?
LIL. I w a s flus h i n g . In the loo.
H E R . W h a t are yo u doi n g the r e ?

LIL. H a v e a gu e s s .
H E R . H o n e y , are yo u alo n e ?
LIL. N o, Im not, but I a m al o n e in her e. Th e y ca nt he a r m e.
H E R . H o n e y , hol d on, Ill call yo u ba c k!
II.
SHE thinks for a moment and then dials. From the landline. SHE always calls home
from the landline. SHE doesnt know why. No reason in particular. No one picks up. SHE
tries again. Nothing. SHE dials again.
H E R . List e n , m u p p e t , w h y di d nt yo u pic k up?
LIL. I did nt kn o w w h o it w a s. W h y did yo u call fro m a lan d l i n e ? Ar e yo u at w o r k ? S a v i n g
money?
H E R . (Ignoring her questions.) I tol d yo u Id call yo u ba c k .
LIL. I do nt ha v e thi s nu m b e r . Ju s t yo u r m o b i l e. M u m sai d not to ac c e p t call s fro m
un k n o w n nu m b e r s .
H E R . N o t to w h a t?
LIL. N o t to pic k it up, Je s u s!
H E R . O k a y . W h y did yo u call?
LIL. Ju s t to se e ho w yo u ar e.
SHE hesitates for a moment. Doesnt know what to say. Kids can ask difficult questions.
SHE sips her wine. Just in case. SHE might need some strength.

LIL. Ar e yo u ther e ?
H E R . Y e s.
LIL. S o, ho w are yo u?
H E R . W h a t yo u m e a n ?
LIL. Ar e yo u ha p p y ?
SHE fights back the tears. Lil is calling her in not exactly a good moment for answering
those kinds of questions. SHE finishes her wine. SHE likes good wine. Who doesnt?
I too, like to spoil myself with a bottle of good wine now and then. Never mind that it
costs me.

LIL. Yo u r lov e life. H o w are the m e n ther e ? Th e sa m e as her e?

H E R . Th e sa m e as ev e r y w h e r e .
LIL. M u m sa y s the sa m e .
H E R . H o w ab o u t yo u r da d, is he in tou c h ?
LIL. H e got m e a co m p u t e r .
H E R . W h a t w a s wr o n g wit h yo u r s ?
LIL. N o t h i n g .
H E R . W h a t will yo u do wit h tw o of the m ?
LIL. N o t h i n g . Ill ke e p on e in m y roo m an d w ell put the oth e r in m u m s be d r o o m .
H E R . B ut sh e s got alr e a d y got on e.
LIL. S o w ell ha v e thr e e of the m . W e ca n co n n e c t on e to the inter n e t . Yo u kn o w , vir u s e s .
An d I ca n get on Sk y p e . A n d w e ca n tal k for fre e.
H E R . D o yo u mi s s hi m ?
LIL. N o t re all y. H e w a s a dic k.
H E R . Y o u sh o u l d n t sa y that.
LIL. M u m sai d. A n d ho w ab o u t yo u, ha v e yo u m e t a nic e dic k?
H E R . Di d sh e sa y that?
LIL. S h e sa y s all m e n are dic k s.
H E R . W h y did yo u call?
LIL. Ive tol d yo u, to se e ho w yo u ar e.
SHE hesitates for a while. But hesitation doesnt really work with kids. They can tell.

H E R . Ju s t for that? An d ho w is sc h o o l ?
LIL. St u p i d qu e s t i o n , innit? Y o u kn o w I a m a cle v e r clo g s .
H E R . Y e a h ...
LIL. Y o ur e not getti n g an y yo u n g e r ...
This is too much. Every question adds insult to injury. SHEs flustered. And the wine isnt
helping.

LIL. H o w ab o u t kid s? D o nt yo u w a n t an y?

H a v e n t yo u he a r d ab o u t the biol o g i c a l

clo c k ? Y o u r s m u s t be ticki n g fast e r tha n the sp e e d of light.

H E R . Th a n k s , Mi s s. H a v i n g yo u is m o r e tha n en o u g h .

LIL. Its not the sa m e . Y o u se e m e thr e e ti m e s a ye a r. Th a t s not en o u g h . Yo u co ul d

co m e m o r e ofte n.
SHE knows that LIL is just asking big questions that she must have picked up from the
adults, but still SHEs getting more and more confused by the conversation, forgetting
that SHEs talking to a fifteen year old girl.

H E R . Dr o p it. Y o u kn o w I do nt ha v e m u c h ti m e.
LIL. An d I do? N o b o d y do e s the s e da y s . I do pi a n o , gy m n a s t i c s , Fr e n c h ... an d the n
sc h o o l as w ell.
H E R . I go to the gy m twi c e a w e e k , ha v e E n g l i s h an d sur p ri s e , sur p r i s e I w o r k, too.
SHE feels a bit better, but only for a moment.

LIL. Y o u ca nt sp e a k En g l i s h ? Ev e r y m o r o n ca n sp e a k E n g l i s h!
H E R . W e l l I a m not a m o r o n .
LIL. H a v e yo u bo u g h t a flat yet?
SHE feels awkward again.

LIL. Yo u ne e d to tak e the s e thi n g s seri o u s l y . If yo u w a n t to sta y the r e, yo u ne e d to thi n k

ab o u t yo u r fut u r e .
H E R . W h a t sh al l I bri n g yo u w h e n I co m e ?
LIL. (Right away, without thinking, though apparently thats not why she called.) Is the
late s t H a r r y Pott e r out yet?

H E R . I do nt kn o w . .. m a y b e .
LIL. G o d , yo ur e us e l e s s! C h e c k it on the w e b an d let m e kn o w . Pr o m i s e ?
H E R . Pr o m i s e .
LIL. S o, Ill be w ai ti n g for yo u.
H E R . C a n I tal k to yo u r m u m ?
LIL. S h e w e n t out wit h a ne w m a t e of her s. A B O Y F R I E N D ! A L O V E R!
(After a brief silence. Pleading, like a child.) C a n I co m e ? To visit yo u? Pl e a s e , pl e a s e!

III.
SHEs sitting and thinking. The conversation beforehand has left her properly shaken.
I guess SHE didnt expect that. At least not coming from Lil. An hour, or two, pass by.
The time is not important. In the meantime SHE tidies up her rented flat.. Its quite large
and light with loads of books and plants. SHEs giving it a proper clean, washing all the
dishes from last week. SHEs not singing or listening to music. Its quiet. Suddenly the
intercom buzzes. And again. SHE doesnt react. SHE carries on cleaning. SHE turns the
radio on, then the washing machine, and the TV too Altogether they make a proper
racket. But still, it wont silence the beep of an incoming text on her mobile. SHE texts
back without hesitation and keeps cleaning. The phone rings its her mobile.
HI M . W h y di d nt yo u op e n ?
H E R . I a m not at ho m e!
HI M . Yo u kn o w yo u ca nt lie.
HE R. And?
HI M . W h a t w a s that abr u p t text all ab o u t ?
H E R . I do nt ha v e ti m e. Im w o r k i n g .
HI M . Yo u kn o w yo u ca nt lie.
HE R. And?
HI M . D o n t yo u thi n k w e sh o u l d talk?
H E R . N o, I do nt!
HI M . So w h a t are yo u thi n k i n g ab o u t ?
H E R . Th a t I w a n t to be on m y o w n .
HI M . For ho w lon g ?
H E R . Fo r lon g en o u g h .
HI M . An d w h a t ex a c t l y will that do?
H E R . N o t h i n g . Its be e n at lea s t six m o n t h s sin c e A N Y T H I N G ha s be e n do n e .
HI M . D o nt for g e t that to m o r r o w is the do. Y o u pr o m i s e d yo ull join m e. I ca nt go on m y
o w n . Th e y w o u l d tal k. I ca nt sta n d the m as ki n g . Y o ur e still m y girlfri e n d . At lea s t in
pu b li c.
H E R . Fi n d a ne w on e. Im bu s y to m o r r o w .
HI M . Yo u kn o w yo u ca nt lie.
HE R. And?

Suddenly the phone rings. The pretty, black, shiny one. Like an exclamation mark. Not
her mobile, since SHEs still talking to him on her mobile.

HI M . So m e o n e s calli n g yo u. W h o is it?
H E R . H o w sh o u l d I kn o w ?
HI M . Yo u kn o w that no on e us e s the lan d l i n e an y m o r e . W h y do nt yo u ca n c e l it?
H E R . Bett e r I ca n c e l yo u.
SHE cuts him off, even though its a bit awkward. Especially for the other side. But not
every phone call is a pleasure. As we all know

IV.
The black shiny phone keeps ringing. SHEs wondering whether to pick it up. Its one too
many phone calls in a day SHE picks it up the moment it seems its about to stop
H E R . Hi Milij a.
MI L I J A . H o w do yo u kn o w its m e?
H E R . Be c a u s e

I do. O nl y thr e e pe o p l e ha v e got this nu m b e r . Th e littl e on e call e d

alr e a d y . Th e onl y on e left is M u m , an d sh e ne v e r call s first. Sh e text s m e. To sa y ho w

sh e is. A n d w h e r e sh e feel s pai n an d to re p o r t all the loc a l go s s i p. Th e n sh e w ait s for m e
to call her. M a y b e sh e s sa vi n g m o n e y . G o d kn o w s
MI L I J A . Is this a go o d m o m e n t ?
H E R . Fo r yo u, al w a y s .
MI L I J A . D o nt tell m e that yo ur e in a ba d m o o d . N ot yo u!
H E R . Im a g i n e , ev e n I ca n be in a ba d m o o d .
MI L I J A . H o n e y , Im fuc k e d . G a r y du m p e d m e.
H E R . H e w a s a cu n t, fuc k i n g co o k .
MI L I J A . N o t all m e n are cu n t s.
H E R . Y e s the y ar e. (SHE smiles, perhaps remembering what the little one said just a
moment ago )
MI L I J A . B ut he w a s the cu n t of m y life.
H E R . Ive tol d yo u that pr a c ti c a l l y all co o k s ar e ga y. Th e onl y on e s w h o be a t the m
stati s ti c a l l y ar e da n c e r s . Im talki n g seri o u s , lon g- ter m , e m p i r i c a l res e a r c h!

Her comment is met with a positive and noisy response.

MI L I J A . Y o ur e fab, yo u kn o w ?! Yo u al w a y s dr a g m e out of m y mi s e r y .
H E R . I kn o w , but that s not go n n a hel p m e.
MI L I J A . H o n e y , w h a t a m I goi n g to do? W h o s go n n a co o k for m e? (Laughter that has
nothing to do with a sense of humour.)
H E R . Y o u ca n eat out, in pu b s . Its ch e a p e r , Ive do n e m y m a t h s . An d its m u c h m o r e
co m f o r t a b l e . N o m e s s y dis h e s an d dirty nail s an d no fuc k i n g bori n g gr o c e r y sh o p p i n g ,
no str e s s that yo ull bur n the pl a s ti c chi c k e n .
MI L I J A . G a r y w a s the be s t.
H E R . An d so w a s Jo h n bef o r e hi m, Mi c h a e l an d Mil o r a d . Th e last on e is al w a y s the be s t
on e.
H E R . R e m e m b e r w h a t w e sai d w h e n w e w e r e lea vi n g
MI L I J A . Thi s pla c e is tou g h . N o on e giv e s a shit ab o u t im m i g r a n t s .
H E R . A n d this on e isnt?
MI L I J A . At lea s t yo u co u l d sp e a k the lan g u a g e w h e n yo u got ther e.
H E R . Y o ur e wr o n g , m y de a r. Th e y loo k e d at m e like I w a s a zo o ani m a l . O nl y I w a s
bett e r at Y p s il o n s .
MI L I J A . At w h a t?
H E R . Y gri e g a . N ot h i n g .
MI L I J A . Gr e e k w h a t ?
They are obviously enjoying the conversation. They are old mates, and they miss each
other. They are a thousand miles apart

H E R . D u n j a got m a r ri e d , sh e e m a i l e d m e.
MI L I J A . St u p i d co w. To that m o r o n ?
H E R . N o, to a diff e r e n t gu y. Al s o a m o r o n .
MI L I J A . H a v e yo u split up wit h an o t h e r gu y yet ag a i n ?
H E R . If yo u do nt su c c e e d as a sci e n t i s t yo u ca n co n s i d e r a car e e r in fort u n e t e l l i n g .
Milij a - Th e Fort u n e Tell e r. So u n d s gre a t. P o s t so m e ad v e r t s an d yo ull ha v e the Briti s h
on thei r kn e e s .
MI L I J A . Ar e yo u still bl o n d e ?
H E R . W h a t do yo u thi n k? H o w lon g is it sin c e w e last sa w ea c h oth e r ?

MI L I J A . Fiv e ye a r s . Lo n g ti m e.
H E R . W h y do nt yo u co m e ?
Silence.

H E R . D o yo u thi n k w e ll ev e r go ba c k ho m e ?
HI M . W h i c h ho m e do yo u m e a n ? Th e r e ha s be e n quit e a fe w.
H E R . Sr b s k o . Se r b i a. R e p u b l i k a Sr bij a...
MILIJA is quiet. Perhaps hes thinking. Its not a sin. People do think sometimes. It
happens to me too.

MI L I J A . D o yo u re m e m b e r the so ci o l o g i s t ? H e fail e d us bot h twi c e.

H E R . Th e sp o r t s so ci o l o g i s t. S ur e. I w o n t for g e t hi m till the da y I die. Or ev e n lon g e r
MI L I J A . H e di e d. I re a d it on the w e b.
The news makes her a bit upset. SHE has never been into sport, apart from going to her
local gym, but still. Death is always moving. Regardless of the circumstances.

H E R . I di d nt like hi m .
MI L I J A . B ut he w a n t e d yo u to joi n his de p a r t m e n t . Yo u w e r e the onl y on e ha p p y to
plo u g h thr o u g h the thir d editi o n of his m a s t e r p i e c e Ge n e r a l S o c i o l o g y wit h a Fo c u s on
Sp o r t s So c i o l o g y at Se c o n d a r y Sc h o o l s in S e r b i a. Yo u act u a l l y rea d the w h o l e thi n g. If
yo u did nt lie, that is.
H E R . I felt sorr y for hi m. C a n w e ch a n g e the topi c?
MI L I J A . I w e n t to Pol a n d .
H E R . An d yo u co u l d n t dri v e a fe w mil e s do w n the ro a d to bori n g fuc k i n g Br a ti s l a v a ?!
N o w yo u v e pis s e d m e off!
MI L I J A . D o yo u thi n k Im m a d e of m o n e y ?! It w a s a sc h o l a r s h i p .
H E R . Fu c k yo u. W o u l d ha v e be e n the first ti m e w e w o u l d n t ha v e ha d to sh a r e the sa m e
be d!!! Im re nti n g a bi g g e r flat no w.
MI L I J A . Bi g g e r flat, big g e r pr o b l e m s .
H E R . N o flat, no pr o b l e m s . But I do mi s s yo u, do yo u kn o w that?! Y o ur e the onl y m a n
I ca n sa y this to.

MI L I J A . C a u s e I a m ga y, so yo ur e saf e. Y o u kn o w I w o n t giv e yo u an y he a r t b r e a k or
an y oth e r shit.
H E R . I reall y mi s s yo u
MI L I J A . Y o ur e str a n g e . W h a t s wr o n g wit h yo u? Is ev e r y t h i n g O K at w o r k ?
H E R . D o nt yo u ha v e an y t h i n g m o r e inte r e s t i n g to sa y?
MI L I J A . D a d w a s kille d!
Pause.

MI L I J A . Fiv e ye a r s ag o. N o b o d y tol d m e!
God knows why the line cut off right then. Maybe its the distance. SHE hesitates for
a moment, not sure whether to dial his number but SHE gives up. SHE waits a bit, to
see if he calls back, and when the phone doesnt ring SHE realises that Milija wont call
either. SHE sits on the sofa, opens a book and tries to read. SHEs enjoying the silence.
Then SHE goes and sits at her computer.

HE R
. I kn e w it Milij a, I did. Fo r giv e m e. (She is crying.)
V.
BORO comes in, with a huge box in his hands. Hes a policeman but hes off duty now.
Hes still carrying his gun. He has it all the time. He doesnt feel safe without it. It gives
him security. We all need some sort of security. But I would never go that far.
B O R O . Lil, loo k w h a t D a d d y got yo u.
LIL. Y a h.
B O R O . G u e s s w h a t it is!
LIL. A co m p u t e r .
B O R O . H o w di d yo u kn o w ?
LIL. Th e bo x.
B O R O . Ar e nt yo u ha p p y ?
LIL. Y o u got us on e just like that tw o m o n t h s ag o. Is thi s a sto r a g e roo m ?
B O R O . Thi s on e is m o r e po w e r f u l . Y o ull se e.

BORO is still holding the big box and its getting uncomfortable. He looks awkward and
funny. Like every parent he wants to impress his child, especially after leaving her for his
new life. He keeps checking for his gun as he struggles not to drop the box. Its a tick
one that will never go away.

LIL. O k a y , I a m off to Fr e n c h .
B O R O . Ar e nt yo u ha p p y to se e m e?
LIL. Y o u v e as k e d that alre a d y .
B O R O . I as k e d ab o u t the co m p u t e r .
LIL. M u m will be ha p p y to se e yo u. (Little girls can be pretty cynical, particularly when
theyre in a bad mood).
LIL sits on the floor and, ties her laces while she looks up at her dad.

LIL. Si n c e w h e n do the y sell co m p u t e r s in old bo x e s ?

BORO feels embarrassed by her question. Should he come clean and tell his child that
hes bought her his old computer because he gets to keep the new laptop hes just
bought himself?

B O R O . Th e bo x m a y not be br a n d ne w, but the co m p u t e r is like ne w!

LIL. (in French). U p yo u r s, m o r o n! Fu c k yo u an d yo u r ne w lapt o p!
B O R O . W h a t ? I do nt un d e r s t a n d! Yo u r En g l i s h is im p r e s s i v e .
BORO is trying to be funny. Or maybe hes not. Maybe hes never heard French before.

LIL. Im off.
DARA appears at the door. Shes a beautiful woman. Well, or at least she would have
been, if it wasnt for certain unpleasant experiences that have taken their toll on her
looks.
D A R A . (to Lil) Ar e yo u still her e?
B O R O . (Thinks Shes talking to him. Immediately goes onto the offensive.) D o nt for g e t

that thi s flat still bel o n g s to m e too. S o I ca n sta y her e as lon g as I w a n t.

D A R A . As far as Im co n c e r n e d yo u ca n DI E her e. Lil, aft e r the cla s s, str ai g h t ho m e ,
ok a y ?
LIL. (in French) But yo ull get rid of this on e by the n, rig h t?
D A R A . (in French) N o w o r ri e s , Ill sort it out.
B O R O . So no w yo u m a d e sur e sh e sp e a k s the lan g u a g e too, so that I ca n un d e r s t a n d
fuc k all. Th a t s just gr e a t. An d w h a t s it go o d for an y w a y ? W h o ex a c t l y us e s for ei g n
lan g u a g e s ro u n d the s e part s?
D A R A . C e r t a i n l y not yo u. Fo r e i g n w e a p o n s , m o r e like.
B O R O . S u r e, m o c k m e all yo u like, Mi s s Pr o f e s s o r! If it w a s n t for m e ha n d i n g yo u
m o n e y yo u d har d l y sur v i v e on yo u r cra p p y tea c h e r s sal a r y.
D A R A . Ev e r y da y I pra y to G o d at lea s t thr e e ti m e s to tha n k hi m for all the w a r s in the
w o rl d so that yo u v e got so m e t h i n g to do an d get w ell pai d for.
B O R O . Yo u di d nt mi n d bef o r e .
D A R A . B ef o r e , ev e r y t h i n g w a s diff e r e n t. N o w go. I a m ex p e c t i n g so m e o n e .
BORO sees this as a challenge to argue.

B O R O . D o nt tell m e yo u still ha v e so m e inter e s t ?

D A R A . O h, sorr y, I for g o t to tell yo u. Ive put on at lea s t 1 5 kil o s for sta rt e r s as Ive
co m p l e t e l y giv e n up on thi n g s . Es p e c i a l l y on life. Is that w h a t yo u w a n t e d to he a r?
LIL is singing a French song and pretending that her parents argument doesnt bother
her, but it does. Every child suffers when their parents fight. Never mind that they are
exes. She makes as if to leave. Just as she is by the door, she abruptly turns and lets
out a loud, sudden Wham!, scaring BORO. His tick kicks in. He drops the box, it falls
down with a noise, he pulls out his gun and aims at her.

DA R A. BO R O!
LIL. B O R O !
LIL hides in the loo. She locks herself in and does what she always does in these
situations. She calls HER.

VI.
SHE is sitting at her computer and starts crying. Its the second time today. SHE cant
write. Then SHE gets a text. SHE looks at her watch.

S H E . M u m!
Its her mother. She gets in touch every day at seven pm. Sometimes SHE ignores her
texts but that means risking a second text, and then a third
Th e text: H o w are yo u? I re ar r a n g e d the livin g ro o m & a m on a ne w di et! M u s t sh e d 5
kilo s by su m m e r .
SHE knows, this is really important and needs to be discussed so SHE moves to the
phone. The beautiful, black shiny one. SHEs ready for the monologue. But before that
SHE saves the text SHE was working on. SHE might get back to it one day

H E R . Hi, its m e.
M O T H E R . W h o M E ? H o w ab o u t sa yi n g yo u r na m e polit el y Mi s s u s , or is it still Mis s?
H E R . M u m , dr o p it. Its ob vi o u s its m e.
M O T H E R . Yo u do nt car e ab o u t m e, rig h t?
H E R . I do, but I w a s so bu s y at w o r k.
M O T H E R . Al w a y s the sa m e . Th e sa m e old ex c u s e . Al w a y s w o r k i n g . An d do yo u do
an y t h i n g els e ap a r t fro m w o r k i n g ? C o u l d yo u m a y b e let m e kn o w an y inte r e s t i n g det a il s
fro m yo u r rich so ci a l life?
H E R . C o m e on M u m , that s a bit m u c h , do nt yo u thi n k ?! Yo u r e ex a g g e r a t i n g just a bit
SHE doesnt manage to answer SHE listens passively till the end of the conversation.
Not that SHE wouldnt have anything to say but
M O T H E R . Im a g i n e , the nei g h b o u r s do g w a s ru n ov e r. Yo u kn o w , the Al s a t i a n .( SHE
didnt have a clue about the neighbours having a new dog. After fifteen years SHE
hardly remembers the old one.) I felt sorr y, tho u g h I w a s sc a r e d of it too. W h e n I co m e
ho m e late at nig h t I al w a y s ne e d to ste e r cle a r of thei r gat e. Th e y w o u l d al w a y s sa y its
not da n g e r o u s but yo u kn o w , Al s a ti a n s ca n go nut s. An d w e ha v e little kid s pla yi n g in the
str e e t. W h a t if he ju m p s ov e r the fen c e an d m a u l s on e of the m ? Th e n w h a t? N o b o d y
se e m s

to be bot h e r e d

ab o u t it. A n d thi s frie n d of mi n e, sh e ha d her bo o k lau n c h

ye s t e r d a y . Sh e wr o t e an o t h e r bo o k . A b o u t the pa s t. I thi n k sh e s m a k i n g thi n g s up. Im

sur e sh e s not sp e n d i n g ti m e in the arc h i v e s stu d y i n g . I ne v e r se e her ther e. Sh e s goi n g
fro m on e visit to an o t h e r . I m e a n , go s s i p i n g . S h e ne v e r get s bor e d of that. Thi s on e will
be full of va g u e info r m a t i o n , just like the on e s bef o r e . An y w a y , I a m sur e no on e s
re a d i n g

it. G o o d

that ther e w a s a pr o g r a m m e

ac k n o w l e d g e d writ e r. Sh e d bett e r

on her on T V. Sh e s big no w, an

Th e old Sl o v a k tea c h e r di e d. Y o u kn o w , the on e

w h o tau g h t m e an d the n yo u. H e m u s t ha v e be e n re all y old. I do nt thi n k he w a s ill. D o

yo u re m e m b e r ? N o on e ev e r liste n e d to hi m. P o o r m a n . Th e fun e r a l is to m o r r o w . Sh a m e
yo u ca nt go. Y o u sh o u l d . (SHE wouldnt go even if she were in the country. She hates
funerals, dogs and poetry. And politics.) List e n! Yo u w o n t beli e v e thi s! A frie n d of mi n e ,
not the on e wit h the bo o k, an o t h e r on e, a clo s e frie n d

sh e ha s go n e co m p l e t e l y

bo n k e r s! S h e got inv ol v e d in politi c s. I do nt get it. P O L I T I C S! Th e y act u a l l y talk e d her

into joi ni n g the part y so no w , w h e r e v e r sh e go e s , sh e s pro m o t i n g

the m . Sh e ha s

ch a n g e d . I thi n k the pe n s i o n e r s her e just get bor e d . I gu e s s be c a u s e the y ha v e no

m o n e y . W h a t is sh e go n n a do, w h a t is it go o d for? N o w sh e ha s no ti m e, ap a r t fro m
politi c s. W e do nt ha n g out an y m o r e . W h a t if an y o n e se e s m e wit h her. Th e y will thi n k
Ive joi n e d the part y too. An d I ha v e n t tol d yo u yet w hi c h part y sh e s ca m p a i g n i n g for. I
do nt w a n t to sa y it ov e r the ph o n e . W h a t if w e ar e bu g g e d ? Ill tell yo u w h e n yo u co m e
ho m e . So, w h e n ar e yo u co m i n g ? (SHE tries to answer but doesnt get a chance.)
An d the el e c t ri ci t y ha s go n e up ag ai n . H o w will I pa y the bills? Ju s t no w it w a s the w a t e r
an d ga s an d no w, for a ch a n g e , ele c t ri c i t y. Thi s stat e is a thi ef. (SHE wanted to say that
its more or less the same shit everywhere, but SHE knows SHE wont get a chance to
get a word in.) W ell go on stri k e. I m e a n , not m e per s o n a l l y . It w o nt sort an y t h i n g . An d
ne v e r did. W e di d nt w o r k for a w e e k an d the n the ne x t tw o w e ha d to w o r k fro m du s k till
da w n . Th e r e s a ne w T V seri e s. N ati o n a l pro d u c t i o n . Its quit e de c e n t . Th e on e that yo u
like is in it too. Yo u kn o w , the on e yo u al w a y s fan ci e d . I ca nt re m e m b e r his na m e no w.
D a r k, tall, ha n d s o m e . Ive rea d he left his wif e an d kid s an d m o v e d in wit h his lov e r. M e n
in thei r fifti e s, thats w h a t yo u get. Th e y ca n lea v e the wif e an d kid s an d just start ov e r
ag a i n A n d yo u? Ar e wit h so m e o n e ? Fi n a ll y?
(Silence. Pause. Her mum waits for the answer. SHE knew that sooner or later this will
come up, but it always catches her unprepared. And SHE knows too well, that her mum
wont leave it till she gets an answer.)

H E R . I do nt kn o w .

M O T H E R . W h a t yo u m e a n yo u do nt kn o w . Y o u do nt kn o w if yo ur e se e i n g so m e o n e ?
H E R . I do nt.
M O T H E R . Yo u r e pr ett y, s m a r t, intelli g e n t , yo u sh o u l d fin all y find so m e o n e . S o m e t h i n g
seri o u s .
H E R . I do nt kn o w .
M O T H E R . D o nt kn o w w h a t ? If yo ur e prett y or if yo ur e on yo u r o w n ? An d w h a t w a s
wr o n g wit h that po o r gu y yo u br o u g h t ho m e last ti m e?
H E R . I do nt kn o w .
M O T H E R . I tho u g h t yo u w e r e getti n g seri o u s , sin c e yo u intr o d u c e d hi m to us. A n d he
sta y e d for thr e e da y s : bre a k f a s t , lun c h , di n n e r , bre a k f a s t , lun c h, di n n e r , br e a k f a s t ,
lun c h, din n e r m y de a r!
H E R . It w a s n t seri o u s . I tol d yo u w e w e r e frie n d s . A n d I did giv e yo u m o n e y for the foo d.
M O T H E R . W h y do nt yo u try wit h that on e w h a t w a s his na m e ? H e s still sin gl e. La s t
ti m e he w a s as ki n g ab o u t yo u. I thi n k he still ha s a thi n g for yo u. An d he w a s de c e n t
w h a t w a s his na m e ? H e start e d to tea c h at the sc h o o l . Th e kid s lov e hi m!
H E R . M u m , I a m not ther e! I live in a diffe r e n t co u n t r y . 600 kilo m e t r e s a w a y .
M A M A . B ut yo u m a k e it so u n d as if it w a s at lea s t 6000. Th a t s silly. All of yo u ran a w a y
to diffe r e n t pl a c e s . Th e r e is no on e her e. Th e oth e r da y I re a d in the pa p e r s that w e
suff e r fro m the hi g h e s t br ai n- drai n in the regi o n . A h, I did nt tell yo u, our nei g h b o u r is in
ho s p i t a l. Th e on e w h o live s acr o s s fro m the nei g h b o u r s wit h the do g. Th e de a d do g, I
m e a n . (Thanks God, the relationship discussion is over! Her mother keeps reporting on
whats new and what isnt. SHE moves to her computer with the phone in her hand and
starts typing. Her mother keeps talking and talking...)

VII.
A small flat on the outskirts of Birmingham. It looks like student accommodation, though
the student living in it has long graduated. He just hasnt thought of moving out yet.
Where to? And what for? And who can afford it anyway? And this is not a bad place,
with lots of light, full of books, plants and dirty dis. Milija is sitting on the sofa and facing
him is AZRA, his older sister. They dont look very happy.

A Z R A . H o w ar e yo u go n n a tell m u m ?
MI L I J A . Ill sta n d up an d an n o u n c e it: De a r m o t h e r , Ive got so m e t h i n g to tell yo u. I a m
ga y. I m e a n , ho m o s e x u a l .

A Z R A . Fo r g e t it. Th a t w o u l d kill her.

MI L I J A . If sh e sur vi v e d yo u ha vi n g a ba s t a r d chil d w h o sh e no w dot e s on like the
ha p p i e s t gra n d m a of all ti m e, sh ell sur v i v e thi s too.
A Z R A . Y o ur e bei n g cy ni c a l .
MI L I J A . Im bei n g cy ni c a l ? Y o u op e n e d yo u r leg s for the first U N P R O F O R

gu y yo u

stu m b l e d acr o s s an d Im bei n g cy ni c a l ?

A Z R A . Th a t chil d w a s bor n out of lov e!
MI L I J A . Y e p, inte r n a t i o n a l lov e eq u a l s bett e r ge n e s . Is that w h a t yo u re all y m e a n t to
sa y? W e l l, ye a h , at lea s t w er e not all sle e p i n g wit h ea c h oth e r. Is sh e pre tt y?
A Z R A . Its a bo y, Milij a. I ha v e a so n! Th a t s the lea s t yo u co u l d re m e m b e r . A bo y to
carr y on the fa m i l y na m e .
MI L I J A . Yo u se e, I kn e w I co u l d rel y on yo u for that. Im not sur e Ill ev e r ha v e a so n. Or
a da u g h t e r . (Hes teasing her and hes enjoying it.)
A Z R A . Y o u v e ch a n g e d . Y o u w e r e n t like thi s bef o r e .
MI L I J A . D e a r sist e r, Ive be e n a w a y fro m ho m e for 1 5 ye a r s . Its not m y fault that I ca nt
go ba c k.
A Z R A . B ut pe o p l e ar e co m i n g ba c k .
MI L I J A . A n d run n i n g a w a y ag ai n .
A Z R A . W e v e got a big ho u s e . An d a gar d e n . Yo u al w a y s like d it the r e. Lo o k at w h e r e
yo ur e livi n g no w .
MI L I J A . I like it like thi s. W E like it like thi s. G a r y an d I like it like this.
A Z R A . Th a t s w h y yo u di d nt w a n t us to co m e .
MI L I J A . Y o u co u l d n t.
A Z R A . B ut the n, aft e r the y op e n e d the bor d e r s , yo u still ne v e r invit e d us.
MI L I J A . B e c a u s e I kn e w ho w yo u w o u l d rea c t.
A Z R A . D o e s an y o n e kn o w ?
MI L I J A . K n o w w h a t?
A Z R A . Th a t yo u ha v e a , that yo u ar e
MI L I J A . Th a t I a m w h a t ?
A Z R A . Y o u kn o w .
MI L I J A . Y e s, pe o p l e kn o w . W E do nt ha v e to hid e in a sh el t e r, its not like ba c k ho m e .
A Z R A . H o w ab o u t taki n g ti m e out to thi n k ab o u t it, an d in the en d yo u mi g h t ev e n m e e t a
nic e girl. O n e of us!? Ive re a d that yo u v e got ple n t y of loc a l co m m u n i t y clu b s her e. W h y
do nt w e go an d ha v e a loo k?

MI L I J A . Az r a, I do nt w a n t to ch a n g e . I lov e hi m.
A Z R A . D o e s he lov e yo u ba c k ? Isnt he just usi n g yo u? D o e s he ha v e a job?
MI L I J A . Y e s, he do e s.
A Z R A . I su p p o s e yo u ca nt tell m e w h a t it is that he do e s.
MI L I J A . H e w o r k s at U ni, in the ca n t e e n .
A Z R A . At the ca n t e e n ? Y o ur e wit h a co o k ?
MI L I J A . W o u l d yo u pre f e r a thi ef or a m u r d e r e r ? I kn o w . A sol di e r. U N P R O F O R , ide a l l y.
Th a t s m o r e up yo u r str e e t.
A Z R A . Sc r e w yo u. C o m e ho m e wit h m e. I bo u g h t yo u a tick e t. H e r e .
MI L I J A . Az r a, yo u ca m e her e, wit h o u t as ki n g an d no w yo ur e ha s s l i n g m e. In m y o w n
pla c e. In m y ho m e .
A Z R A . Thi s is not yo u r ho m e! Yo u r ho m e is the r e!
MI L I J A . W h a t e v e r . I live her e an d I like it her e.
A Z R A . Thi s is w o r s e tha n a ba d dr e a m! I ne v e r dr e a m t Id find yo u like thi s an d wit h
so m e b o d y like that. I ca m e to tell yo u that m u m ne e d s yo u, be c a u s e
MI L I J A . An d da d ? D o nt tell m e hes tra n s f o r m e d into a liber a l, ga y rig ht s acti vi s t fig hti n g
for the leg a li z a t i o n of ga y m a r ri a g e s ?!
A Z R A . ... da d w a s kille d. (Pause). Fiv e ye a r s ag o! (After a brief silence.) Its ov e r. D o n t
im a g i n e its not.
***
Just as SHE finishes writing, her mother finishes talking.

M O T H E R . Yo u r e not liste n i n g to m e! W h y do I bot h e r tal ki n g to yo u?!

And she puts the phone down. Finally!

VIII.
Now SHE really doesnt know what to do. Its late evening and its dark outside. SHEs
thinking and after a while SHE takes some stuff out of the fridge for dinner. Something
light. SHE shouldnt eat so late, its not right. Definitely not for women over thirty. SHE
wouldnt want to end up like DARA. SHE brings the fitness ball and stares at it. When
the food is ready, (some microwavable ready meal), SHE sets the table for two, sits on
the ball and stares at the plates. Though SHEs been on her own for a while SHE keeps
setting the table for two. SHE doesnt want to eat on her own. SHE doesnt enjoy it that

way. And, to be honest, its also a matter of habit. You know what I mean. Anyway. The
food doesnt look that great. It looks awful actually. The intercom sounds. It must be him.
SHE holds back the tears. SHE opens the door. HE looks gorgeous. As usual.

HI M . W h o call e d yo u?
HER. Whe n?
HI M . W h e n I w a s tal ki n g to yo u.
H E R . D o nt kn o w . I did nt pic k up.
HI M . Yo u ca nt lie.
HE R. And?
HI M . Yo u r e not loo ki n g ba d.
H E R . Y o u m e a n t to sa y I loo k go o d ?
HI M . I m e a n t to sa y w h a t I sai d.
H E R . In ca s e it w a s a co m p l i m e n t , tha n k yo u.
HI M . D o yo u ha v e so m e t h i n g to eat?
SHE shows him the table. HE notices the two plates.

HI M . Ar e yo u ex p e c t i n g so m e o n e ? Th e on e w h o call e d yo u w hil e yo u tal k e d to m e?

H E R . Its the lo w- car b di et. O n e pl at e wit h prot e i n s , the oth e r wit h ve g g i e s .
Now it comes in handy that SHE cooks for two. For herself and another person who is
not there: its a good habit. After all, it wasnt such a bad idea. HEll never believe her
that SHE wasnt expecting anyone.

H E R . Di d yo u co m e to eat?
HI M . I ca m e to tell yo u Im lea v i n g yo u!
H E R . It w a s m e w h o left yo u thi s aft e r n o o n . If m y m e m o r y ser v e s m e rig ht. An d the
sa m e thi n g ye s t e r d a y aft e r n o o n , an d, no w I co m e to thi n k of it, six m o n t h s ag o!
HI M . If its ov e r the ph o n e , it do e s n t co u n t.
H E R . S o lea v e m e. Al o n e .
HI M . I ha v e a chil d.
H E R . Y e a h . O n a re m o t e co n t r o l ?
HI M . I a m seri o u s . I w a n t e d yo u to he a r it fro m m e.

H E R . C o n g r a t u l a t i o n s!
HI M . Its a girl. (Pause ) Sh e s on e.
H E R . Th e y sa y lov e rats al w a y s ha v e da u g h t e r s . So its tru e. An d it m e a n s yo u w e r e
ch e a t i n g on m e. Is that w h a t yo ur e act u a l l y tryi n g to tell m e?
HI M . N o. I did nt.
H E R . O o h, so in that ca s e sh e s not yo u r da u g h t e r . Yo u r lov e r nu m b e r

tw o ha s

pr e s e n t e d yo u wit h so m e b o d y els e s lov e chil d, w h a t a bitc h! Th a t s pat h e t i c. D o e s yo u r

wif e kn o w ?
HI M . Yo u r e pat h e t i c.
H E R . Si n c e Im wit h yo u, yo u m e a n .
SHE sits at the table and starts eating. SHE looks calm.

HI M . So w h a t will ha p p e n wit h us no w ?
This is getting too much but SHE still looks calm.

H E R . W e ca n get m a r r i e d an d live tog e t h e r till de a t h do us part!

HE leaves, SHE sits at the other plate. Starts eating the meal. Its weird but SHEs not
crying. I think I would.

IX.
The phone rings? Whats the time? Oh, not again, its

E S T A T E A G E N T . G o o d afte r n o o n .
H E R . G o o d ev e n i n g .
E S T A T E A G E N T . A p o l o g i e s for calli n g so late but I did nt get a ch a n c e bef o r e . I w a s
sn o w e d un d e r , fort u n a t e l y . (Hes trying to be funny, but hes the only one laughing at his
joke. He hangs on and then continues.)
I fou n d yo u r e m a i l. Y o ur e loo ki n g for a flat. C o n g r a t u l a t i o n s!
HE R. On what?
EST A T E

A G E N T . O n yo u r ne w pl a c e . Th a t s the be s t inv e s t m e n t . Pr o p e r t y . (Another

joke, again without the desired response.)

H E R . I ha v e n t bo u g h t an y t h i n g .
E S T A T E A G E N T . B ut yo ur e pla n n i n g to.
H E R . Im not.
The ESTATE AGENT starts feeling a bit awkward, uncomfortable. But he puts it down to
his tiredness.

E S T A T E A G E N T . B ut yo u did call m e.
H E R . I se n t yo u an e m a i l.
E S T A T E A G E N T . Y o u left yo u r co n t a c t det a il s an d a ph o n e nu m b e r .
H E R . I di d nt thi n k yo u d call ba c k. Y o u kn o w w h a t m e n are like.
E S T A T E A G E N T . B ut I a m not like the m . (He laughs. Its getting really awkward. The
ESTATE AGENT feels really awkward now.) So, yo u n g lad y, w h a t are w e loo k i n g for?
H E R . W e l l, I a m not yo u n g an y m o r e
E S T A T E A G E N T . W e l l, mi s s, w h a t ca n I do for yo u?
H E R . M a r r y m e.
E S T A T E A G E N T . A n y ti m e.
H E R . Ar e yo u fre e to m o r r o w ? An d the ne x t da y I m o v e in. An d m y ho u s i n g iss u e is
sort e d .
E S T A T E A G E N T . C a n I call yo u to m o r r o w ? Y o u do nt se e m to be in a go o d m o o d tod a y .
An d Ive call e d quit e late act u a l l y, ap o l o g i e s .
H E R . I w o nt be in the m o o d for getti n g m a r ri e d to m o r r o w .
E S T A T E A G E N T . W e l l, w e ca n try so m e oth e r da y the n. M a y b e yo ull feel like getti n g
div o r c e d an d w e ca n sort yo u r ho u s i n g situ a ti o n ag a i n.
SHE is quiet for a while. And SHE bursts out laughing. This was fun. Well, SHE might
buy a property, with her earnings SHE could afford a bigger dog kennel and thats not
really appropriate, you see.

X.
She checks her emails. She has a new one from her MOTHER.

M O T H E R . (Mail)
Im a g i n e , the nei g h b o u r s do g w a s ru n ov e r. Yo u kn o w , the Als a t i a n .( SHE didnt have a

clue about the neighbours having a new dog. After fifteen years SHE hardly remembers
the old one.) I felt sorr y, tho u g h I w a s sc a r e d of it too. W h e n I co m e ho m e late at nig h t I
al w a y s ne e d to ste e r cle a r of thei r gat e. Th e y w o u l d al w a y s sa y its not da n g e r o u s but
yo u kn o w , Als a t i a n s ca n go nut s. A n d w e ha v e littl e kid s pl a y i n g in the stre e t. W h a t if he
ju m p s ov e r the fen c e an d m a u l s on e of the m ? Th e n w h a t ? N o b o d y

se e m s

to be

bot h e r e d ab o u t it. A n d thi s frie n d of mi n e , sh e ha d her bo o k lau n c h ye s t e r d a y . Sh e wr o t e

an o t h e r bo o k . A b o u t the pa s t. I thi n k sh e s m a k i n g thi n g s up. Im sur e sh e s not sp e n d i n g
ti m e in the arc h i v e s stu d y i n g . I ne v e r se e her ther e. S h e s goi n g fro m on e visit to
an o t h e r . I m e a n , go s s i p i n g . S h e ne v e r get s bor e d of that. Thi s on e will be full of va g u e
infor m a t i o n , just like the on e s bef o r e . A n y w a y , I a m sur e no on e s re a d i n g it. G o o d that
ther e w a s a pr o g r a m m e on her on T V. S h e s big no w , an ac k n o w l e d g e d writ e r. Sh e d
bett e r Th e old Sl o v a k tea c h e r di e d. Yo u kn o w , the on e w h o tau g h t m e an d the n yo u.
H e m u s t ha v e be e n reall y old. I do nt thi n k he w a s ill. D o yo u re m e m b e r ? N o on e ev e r
liste n e d to hi m. Po o r m a n . Th e fun e r a l is to m o r r o w . S h a m e yo u ca nt go. Yo u sh o u l d .
(She w o u l d n t go ev e n if sh e w e r e in the co u n t r y . Sh e hat e s fun e r a l s , do g s an d po e t r y .
An d politi c s.) List e n! Y o u w o nt beli e v e this! A frie n d of mi n e, not the on e wit h the bo o k,
an o t h e r on e,

a clo s e frie n d

sh e ha s go n e co m p l e t e l y bo n k e r s! Sh e got inv o l v e d in

politi c s. I do nt get it. P O L I T I C S! Th e y act u a l l y tal k e d her into joi ni n g the part y so no w,
w h e r e v e r sh e go e s, sh e s pr o m o t i n g the m . S h e ha s ch a n g e d . I thi n k the pe n s i o n e r s her e
just get bor e d . I gu e s s be c a u s e the y ha v e no m o n e y . W h a t is sh e go n n a do, w h a t is it
go o d for? N o w sh e ha s no ti m e, ap a r t fro m politi c s. W e do nt ha n g out an y m o r e. W h a t if
an y o n e se e s m e wit h her. Th e y will thi n k Ive join e d the part y too. An d I ha v e n t tol d yo u
yet w hi c h part y sh e s ca m p a i g n i n g for. I do nt w a n t to sa y it ov e r the ph o n e . W h a t if w e
ar e bu g g e d ? Ill tell yo u w h e n yo u co m e ho m e . So, w h e n ar e yo u co m i n g ? (SHE tries to
answer but doesnt get a chance.) An d the ele c t ri c i t y ha s go n e up ag a i n. H o w will I pa y
the bills? Ju s t no w it w a s the w at e r an d ga s an d no w, for a ch a n g e , el e c t ri ci t y. Thi s stat e
is a thi ef. (SHE wanted to say that its more or less the same shit everywhere, but SHE
knows SHE wont get a chance to get a word in.) W ell go on stri k e. I m e a n , not m e
per s o n a l l y . It w o nt sort an y t h i n g . An d ne v e r did. W e di d nt w o r k for a w e e k an d the n the
ne x t tw o w e ha d to w o r k fro m du s k till da w n . Ive got m o r e ne w s , but Ill tell yo u all ab o u t
it w h e n yo u call. A kis s an d a hu g, M u m .
XI.
MI L I J A is on his o w n in his flat in Bir m i n g h a m . H e spri n g s into acti o n. H e w a n t s to

sur p r i s e his bo y f ri e n d the co o k by m a k i n g hi m di n n e r . A lov el y ide a! H e op e n s the frid g e

an d clo s e s it. H e w ei g h s up his opti o n s . N o, he w o nt or d e r a tak e a w a y piz z a . A
de c a d e n t tho u g h t bri efl y cro s s e s his mi n d . H e tak e s a fro z e n rea d y m e a l out an d sh o v e s
it into the mi c r o w a v e . H e start s setti n g the tabl e for tw o. H e pa y s atte n t i o n to det a il s. Th e
ca n d l e s , the wi n e, the flo w e r p o t . N o ti m e to bu y flo w e r s . H e put s on so m e Y u g o po p
m u s i c an d w ait s. An d w ait s. Th e n he pic k s up a bo o k an d pull s an ol d ph o t o g r a p h out of
it. It m u s t be a ph o t o of his da d. H e s do e s n t loo k at it, he just hol d s it in his ha n d . Fi n a l l y
G a r y tur n s up. W it h flo w e r s in his ha n d .
G A R Y . Th e s e ar e for yo u.
MI L I J A . (Looking very pleased. He puts away the flowerpot and arranges the flowers in
a vase.) W h a t are w e cel e b r a t i n g ?
G A R Y . Th e split?!
MI L I J A . I w a s n t go o d to her. Azr a do e s n t de s e r v e it. Sh e s a go o d sist e r. P at h e t i c , as
sist e r s are, but w e us e d to be clo s e.
G A R Y . (Wants to talk about something else, but there will be time.) H a s sh e go n e ?
MI L I J A . Y e a h , tw o mi n u t e s ag o. W e di d nt ex a c t l y part on go o d ter m s .
G A R Y . W h a t did sh e w a n t?
MI L I J A . M e to co m e ba c k ho m e .
G A R Y . So w h y do nt yo u go ba c k ?
MI L I J A . B a c k ?
GA R Y. Ho m e.
MI L I J A . M y ho m e do e s n t exi s t an y m o r e . It dis a p p e a r e d fro m the m a p .
G A R Y . But not fro m yo u r mi n d .
MI L I J A . I m a d e din n e r. Its no culi n a r y m a s t e r p i e c e but the bo x sa y s its or g a n i c . Y o u
kn o w , org a n i c far m i n g , ec o l o g y an d all that. (He was trying to be funny. Everyone is
trying to be funny these days.)
G A R Y . I ate at w o r k.
MI L I J A . W a s it org a n i c ? (The last time he tries to make him laugh. He knows there wont
be another chance..)
G A R Y . I thi n k yo ull ne v e r sto p thi n k i n g ab o u t yo u r ho m e . An d yo ull ne v e r feel go o d
her e.
MI L I J A . B ut I do, this feel s like ho m e .
G A R Y . Yo u v e just sai d it. LI K E ho m e .
MI L I J A . G a r y, I kn o w that Azr a off e n d e d yo u, but that s the w a y sh e is, yo u kn o w , a bit

tactl e s s .

S h e do e s n t kn o w an y t h i n g els e ap a r t fro m her villa g e . Sh e ne v e r tra v e l l e d

an y w h e r e . Thi s w a s the first ti m e. An d the last on e too.

G A R Y . Azr a is rig h t. W e A R E diff e r e n t. A n d w e co m e fro m diff e r e n t ti m e zo n e s .
MI L I J A . Its not fun n y , yo u kn o w .
G A R Y . Im not tryi n g to be fun n y .
MI L I J A . Tr o u b l e at w o r k ? C o m e on, w e ca n get thr o u g h thi s like w e al w a y s do. I do nt
ear n m u c h , but its en o u g h to tak e car e of the tw o of us.
G A R Y . C a n yo u ch a n g e the m u s i c ?
MI L I J A . W h y , I w a n t to liste n to it
G A R Y . All w e ev e r pl a y is this se n ti m e n t a l cra p of yo u r s.
MILIJA goes to the stereo and turns it off. Obviously its not him who has the upper
hand. He looks at the CDs, but doesnt know what to play. He doesnt have any other
music apart from his sentimental crap.
G A R Y . Yo u r sist e r ha s a poi n t.
MI L I J A . Azr a w a s just ex a g g e r a t i n g . Sh e ca nt im a g i n e bei n g upr o o t e d fro m on e co u n t r y
an d the n settli n g in an o t h e r . Its so m e t h i n g sh e ca nt un d e r s t a n d .
G A R Y . Yo u v e live d her e for 1 5 ye a r s an d yo u do nt ha v e an y o n e .
MI L I J A . Ive got yo u.
G A R Y . Th a t s not en o u g h , do nt yo u se e?
MI L I J A . Its en o u g h for m e. An d I tho u g h t for yo u too.
G A R Y . Th e be s t thi n g for yo u w o u l d be to go ba c k ho m e . Its ok a y no w. I re a d ab o u t it in
the pa p e r .
GARY doesnt understand that hes being a merciless bastard. Milija starts to see it.

G A R Y . Ill giv e yo u ba c k the m o n e y I o w e yo u. Y o ull ha v e en o u g h for the flig ht an d

yo ull find so m e b o d y . I a m bor e d of it bei n g just the tw o of us. A n d yo u r m u s i c, I ca nt
sta n d it. An d the ne w s fro m Y O U R ho m e l a n d . In the last fe w ye a r s I ha v e lear n t m o r e
ab o u t Bo s n i a tha n I ha v e ev e r kn o w n ab o u t Brit ai n. W it h o u t ev e r setti n g foot ther e.
MI L I J A . Y o u sh o u l d ha v e tol d m e yo u w a n t e d to go.
G A R Y . Th e r e ? Th a n k s , but no tha n k s .
MI L I J A . Is it a pr o b l e m for yo u that Im fro m Bo s n i a ?
G A R Y . N ot for m e, its a pr o b l e m for yo u.

MI L I J A . W h a t sh o u l d I do?
G A R Y . I thi n k its too late for that. G o ba c k ho m e . I thi n k yo u ne e d it. H o w lon g is it sin c e
yo u last sa w yo u r da d?
MILIJA knows that GARY doesnt know anything but he still wont forgive him.

MI L I J A . D a d w a s kille d.
GARY leaves, without saying a word. Without packing his things. Well, not that he has
lot of stuff to take. Actually he has nothing worth taking. It seems that he has no
memories worth keeping either. MILIJA sits at the table set for two. He takes the flowers
out of the vase and puts them in the bin. He sits at the table and immediately stands up
again. He lights a candle and puts the photograph of his dad on the plate. He sits
opposite, puts on some folk music and starts eating. After a while
***
MILIJA dials the long, familiar number. He knows it by heart. Whenever he needs to be
cheered up he knows who to call. But SHE doesnt pick up. The phone keeps ringing,
twice, three times Just as he is about to hang up

H E R . Ci a o Milij a.
MI L I J A . H o w do yo u kn o w its m e?
H E R . C a u s e I do. O nl y thr e e pe o p l e ha v e this nu m b e r
XII.
BORO didnt pull the trigger. But it was close. DARA is still in shock. She cant open her
mouth, which is something of a miracle in her case As it is in most women, for that
matter. LIL runs to the loo.
LIL. Ill go to m y go d m o t h e r s. Ill go ther e. Ill ne v e r co m e ba c k. Fu c k yo u! (in French,
only the last bit though).
B O R O . (After a while.) W h a t di d sh e sa y?
D A R A . Th a t sh e s sta y i n g at ho m e . (Pause) S h e s not goi n g to her Fr e n c h cla s s.
B O R O . G o o d ide a!

DARA says nothing. The situation is precarious.

B O R O . Sa y so m e t h i n g!
D A R A . G e t the fuc k out of her e! I do nt w a n t to se e yo u ev e r ag ai n! (In French)
BORO doesnt need translation. He got the message.

B O R O . O k a y , Im off. W h e r e sh al l I put the bo x?

D A R A . U p yo u r ars e.
B O R O . Yo u w o nt beli e v e m e, but Ive got no ide a w h a t ca m e ov e r m e. Im sorr y.
D A R A . Y o u r o w n chil d
B O R O . Its not m e, I ca nt reall y, re all y
D A R A . (After a while) I kn o w
Suddenly they have a moment. Just like it used to be in the past. DARA knows that
BORO the monster is just a product of their times - times that they have no control over.
Her old BORO is gone, for ever. BORO only realises now that hes still holding the gun
in his hand.

B O R O . Thr o w it a w a y!
DARA takes the gun. She holds it in her hand. She doesnt know what to do. They
embrace each other. Beware, this is not a melodramatic scene, though it might seem
like it at first. Melodrama with guns is called a war. The bell rings. Cutting short the
happy ending.

B O R O . Th e bell.
D A R A . I kn o w .
B O R O . W o n t yo u op e n ?
D A R A . I will!
SRAN appears at the door. Hes DARAs new partner. Her lover.
S R A N . (He might feel a bit awkward. There is a big box on the floor and next to it is a
dodgy looking guy, and his new lover DARA has a gun in her hand.) Di d Lil go to her

Fr e n c h cla s s ?
D A R A . S h e s in the loo. Let m e intr o d u c e yo u. Thi s is m y hu s b a n d .
B O R O . Ex hu s b a n d .
D A R A . Th a n k s . Th e ori gi n a l on e w a s not gr e y hair e d , ski n n y an d did nt carr y a gu n
ar o u n d .
S R A N . Ni c e to m e e t yo u! (He means it.)
B O R O . (After a long pause.) Lo o k afte r the m!
DARA still has the gun in her hand. She hands it to SRAN . For SRAN its the first
time in his life that he has held a gun. I swear. On my life.

B O R O . Im goi n g ...
D A R A . G o o d b y e . (In French)
B O R O . Tell LIL , Ill bri n g her the lapt o p .
BORO leaves. Now what? SRAN holds the gun in his hand and with the other hand
takes some cinema tickets out of his jacket.
S R A N . D o yo u w a n t to go to the cin e m a ?
DARA is quiet. Its a weird situation. A while ago her ex husband almost shot her
daughter. LIL is locked up in the loo, God knows how long for, and her new lover wants
to go to the cinema.

D A R A . Is it a co m e d y ?
She takes the gun from SRAN and drops it in the bin. She knocks on the loo. No
response . LIL is still on the phone.
D A R A . Lil, S R A N an d I are goi n g to the cin e m a . C all m e w h e n yo u fini s h. (In French)
S R A N . W h a t di d yo u sa y?
D A R A . I tol d her to flus h! I ne e d to re m i n d her all the ti m e.
***

In the loo.

H E R . C a n I talk to yo u r m u m ?
LIL. Sh e s go n e out wit h her ne w frie n d . B o y f r i e n d . L O V E R . C a n I co m e ? To visit yo u?
Pl e a s e , pl e a s e!
LIL starts crying, heartbreakingly as only kids can. She comes out of the loo. Next to the
door is the box with the computer. The gun is in the bin. Luckily, LIL doesnt know.

XIII.
HER.

(Everything that SHE says, SHE also does it at the same time. Its very

descriptive. So what.) Ill find an e m p t y not e b o o k . I ha v e n t writt e n an y t h i n g for ag e s.

Fu c k i n g co m p u t e r s . Ill pull a pa g e out, be s t ar e the mi d d l e on e s so that it w o n t all fall
ap a r t, an d Ill start writi n g. But first Ill find a pe n. Thi s on e isnt w o r k i n g . Let m e find
an o t h e r on e. Ill put it all do w n on pa p e r . P R O S an d C O N S . A n d the n Ill m a k e up m y
mi n d . Ill s m o k e as I a m thi n ki n g , it hel p s . Its not go n n a be too m u c h . Th e writi n g . Let
m e sta rt. To writ e. Im not go n n a dri n k, I w a n t to ha v e a cle a r mi n d . A n d to be sur e that
w h a t I ha v e writt e n do w n is m e an d not so m e b o d y els e. M y na m e , w h a t sh al l I put? Th e
w a y m y m u m call s m e or w h a t oth e r pe o p l e call m e?

Ev e r y o n e call s m e a diffe r e n t

na m e . A n d the y se e m e diffe r e n t l y too. An d I feel diffe r e n t too. S o m e t i m e s I thi n k the

col o u r of m y voi c e ch a n g e s ac c o r d i n g to w h o Im talki n g to. An d m y vo c a b u l a r y too. An d
all m y diff e r e n t ap p e a r a n c e s m e r g e into on e, into M E. I fall asl e e p wit h the m an d I w a k e
up wit h the m P urifi e d . A n d the n, duri n g

the da y I tak e the m all up ag ai n . At ti m e s I

a m ha p p y wit h all of the m , an d so m e t i m e s I hat e on e of the m , but m o s t l y I try to co m b i n e

the m . So that ea c h of M E find s its pro p e r au d i e n c e .
. O k a y , so lets start. P R O S , an d ag a i n s t the m all the C o n s .
PR O S
- I a m sin g l e

CON S
- hes m a r ri e d (this I do kn o w ab o u t)
hes got an o t h e r lov e r (her I dont kn o w

ab o u t)
- he se n d s lov el y text s
- w h e n hes dr u n k he w a n t s to m a r r y m e

- Im afr ai d to as k qu e s t i o n s ab o u t us
- w h e n Im dr u n k I w a n t to go ba c k ho m e

- w e v e be e n tog e t h e r for 3 ye a r s

- w e split up 6 m o n t h s ag o...

... Si n c e the n I ke e p se e i n g nu n s an d pre g n a n t w o m e n in the stre e t. As if ther e w a s on e

lurc h i n g rou n d ev e r y cor n e r . An d I start e d to be su p e r s t i ti o u s .
After a while SHE realizes that the columns make no sense. There is too much in them
and it doesnt make sense. It can all be positive or negative: it just depends on the point
of view.

XI V.
HER and MILIJA are sitting in the student club at a certain Serbian university in a certain
Serbian city and are drinking. To be more precise, theyre getting plastered. They keep
at it, heading straight for a blinding hangover the next morning. They are having a great
time together, both happy and not worried about a little headache This is just one of
those moments that are worth living. There wont be any more. For a long time. She
leaves the country the next day and so does he. To different countries. Incompatible
ones. But theyre not dwelling on any of that, or on the impending farewell. Although this
get together is about just that. A way of saying goodbye.

MI L I J A . D o yo u kn o w that the tor e a d o r se e k s de a t h to be c o m e im m o r t a l ?

H E R . S o yo u w a n t to be fa m o u s ? I tho u g h t yo u w a n t e d to be a sci e n ti s t....
MI L I J A . Y e s, a su p e r fa m o u s sci e n t i s t!
H E R . W e l l, that aint gonna happen her e . H e r e, yo u ca n be c o m e

at be s t a su p e r

an o n y m o u s poli c e m a n .
MI L I J A . Ev e r y t h i n g w e n t to shit . H o w co m e w e di d nt se e it co m i n g ?
H E R . W e did nt w a n t to se e it as it w a s ha p p e n i n g . Th a t s the diffe r e n c e .
MI L I J A . Fu c k, yo u re all y un d e r s t a n d m e. W h y ar e nt yo u a m a n ?
H E R . Im that bull fro m yo u r tor e a d o r stor y.
MI L I J A . Y o u w o n t ha v e it ea s y in life, girl.
H E R . Y o u kn o w I do nt car e, bo y?
MI L I J A . Ol ???
H E R . Ol !!!!
Theyre playing like children. Like best friends. Despite being completely pissed.

MI L I J A . Ar e yo u w o r ri e d ab o u t so m e t h i n g ?
H E R . H e w h o kills a bull, is like
MI L I J A . ...he w h o kills a m a n, Isai a h 66.3.
X V.
SHE is packing her stuff. It might seem a bit erratic. SHEs packing it all as if she doesnt
care in the slightest. SHEs piling up all her clothes. SHE has a lot. A woman of her
standing should have loads of dresses. Each one of them unique. A different one for
every occasion. Now all the brands are piled up on top of one another. Once SHEs
finished, SHE knocks the pile over. Then SHE sits in the middle and pulls out a bottle of
wine and a glass. SHE pours herself a glass. And she feels good. As if perched high up
on her throne. SHE snaps her fingers and nothing. Nothing at all. SHE tries again.
Nothing again. Third time lucky. The phone rings. SHE knew it!

X V I.
HER and DARA sit next to each other. Somewhere in the street. DARA has been
bleeding but is not crying. SHE is clean and crying. Its not raining, or snowing, its just
getting dark. Luckily. (At least no one witnesses this scene.) An ordinary evening. Most
people are living their ordinary lives and cant be bothered about somebody elses story.
Pretty insensitive, dare I say.

D A R A . I do nt en v y yo u.
H E R . I do nt en v y yo u eith e r. (Or myself thinks DARA to herself.)
SHE uses the handkerchief to wipe the blood off DARAs face. But you cant wipe
bruises off

with a handkerchief. Theyre not painted on. Theyre the work of a

professional. Concealed under her clothes, but still very painful. But its not the pain that
hurts the most.

D A R A . Le a v e it. Its fin e.

H E R . Its not a tro p h y . W e ne e d to tak e it off. Lil m u s t n t se e an y t h i n g .
D A R A . Its m y fault.
H E R . D o nt yo u ev e r sa y that ag a i n.
D A R A . I ke p t na g g i n g hi m that w e do nt ha v e this or that an d that Lil ne e d s to ha v e it

all stuff that w e co ul d n t do as kid s. Pi a n o , gy m n a s t i c s , Fr e n c h . ..

H E R . B ut thats not an y t h i n g un u s u a l .
D A R A . In thi s co u n t r y it is. Th a t s w h y I a m pa yi n g for it no w . M y faul t. S e r v e s m e rig ht. I
w a n t e d it all, so I got it all. All incl u s i v e , plu s a bo n u s on top.
H E R . Y o u di d nt as k for a hu s b a n d w h o s a m u r d e r e r .
D A R A . O h, I did. H e m u r d e r e d left rig h t an d ce n t r e, he m u r d e r e d ev e r y o n e he co ul d. O u r
fa m i l y too.
H E R . H e w a s n t a ba d gu y. M a y b e he did nt ha v e a ch oi c e . M a y b e the da m n e d w a r w a s
an op p o r t u n i t y he co u l d n t ref u s e . H e di d nt kn o w that in w a r its not just the pe o p l e w h o
los e thei r live s that are the victi m s , but the sur vi v o r s too.
D A R A . H e w a s gr e a t. D o yo u re m e m b e r ho w he us e d to pl a y the guit a r?
H E R . Till late at ni g h t. W e w o u l d all tell hi m so n g s to pla y. H e kn e w the m all.
D A R A . W e w e r e all ha p p y the n. Y o u, Milij a, D u n j a , B or o , an d m e W h o w o u l d ha v e
tho u g h t that this w a s w ai ti n g for us ar o u n d the cor n e r ? Th a t w e w o u l d all en d up in
diff e r e n t pla c e s ? I mi s s yo u. All of yo u.
H E R . Milij a is ha p p y in Brit ai n. Fi n a ll y he ca n w o r k on his car e e r as a sci e n t i s t. Th a t w a s
his dre a m . An d he ha s finall y fou n d a bo y f ri e n d , w h o un d e r s t a n d s hi m, ap p a r e n t l y . I
ha v e n t se e n hi m for a w hil e. B ut w e talk fro m ti m e to ti m e
D A R A . H e do e s n t writ e to m e. H e ca nt for gi v e m e that B o r o w a s in Bo s n i a .
H E R . B ut it w a s n t HI M .
D A R A . M a y b e!
H E R . In w a r yo u do nt kn o w yo u r o w n frie n d.
D A R A . It co ul d n t ha v e be e n hi m. I tho u g h t ab o u t it a tho u s a n d ti m e s. W h e n Milij a s da d
w a s kille d, Bo r o w a s n t ther e. H e w a s n t ev e n the r e! D o yo u beli e v e m e?
H E R . It w a s n t HI M!
D A R A . H e did nt ev e n kn o w hi m. Th e y ne v e r m e t ea c h oth e r. (Pause .) B ut w h a t if ...
H E R . H e w o u l d feel it. W h e n yo ur e loo ki n g de a t h in the fac e, yo u m u s t feel so m e t h i n g .
Bo r o w o u l d kn e w if it w a s Milij a s da d sta n d i n g in fro n t of hi m.
D A R A . Its go o d that yo u left.
H E R . If yo u sa y so.
D A R A . I w o u l d be gl a d if Lil co u l d sta y wit h yo u for a w hil e.
H E R . Ill tak e car e of her. W h e n e v e r .
D A R A . S h e dr e a m s of stu d y i n g lan g u a g e s . Fr e n c h .

Silence.

D A R A . It w a s n t hi m, rig ht?
H E R . (Is quiet.) It co u l d n t ha v e be e n hi m . W h e n Milij a s da d got kill e d, Bo r o w a s n t
ther e.
D A R A . If w e onl y kn e w that it w o u l d co m e to this
H E R . ... w e w o u l d ne v e r be e n bor n. W e w o u l d ha v e ref u s e d to be bor n! W e w o u l d ha v e
sai d scr e w yo u to a life like thi s!
X V I I.
HE calls again. The third attempt, this time the mobile. Only three people have the land
line number. Hes not one of them (any more.) Number three, the lucky number.

HI M . I w a s thi n k i n g ab o u t the ide a yo u ha d.

H E R . W h i c h on e? I us e d to ha v e too m a n y .
HI M . W ell get m a r r i e d an d live tog e t h e r ha p p i l y ev e r aft e r till de a t h do us part.
H E R . I di d nt m e a n it. It w a s a jok e. A n d a ba d on e, at that.
HI M . W h a t if w e m o v e d , a w a y so m e w h e r e ?
H E R . Ive alr e a d y m o v e d a w a y on c e . Im settl e d her e. Be s i d e s I do nt ha v e en o u g h
suit c a s e s .
HI M . W e do nt ne e d suit c a s e s . An d w ell lea v e the m e m o r i e s be hi n d . W h e r e v e r w er e
goi n g to, its go n n a be just yo u an d m e.
H E R . I do nt ha v e en o u g h m o n e y to fly to the m o o n . I ne e d to sa v e . Im bu y i n g a flat.
So r r y. (after a while) Yo u kn o w I lov e yo u.
This is the first time SHEs said the word. Theres nothing else to say. If you can come
up with something better, well then hats off to you!

XIII.
BORO is sitting in a pub. There are loads of pubs where he is, and people drink a lot.
Maybe theyre trying to forget. But not everything can be forgotten. Not even the
strongest whisky is strong enough for that. BORO has got a lot on his conscience. And
he drinks proportionately. To be precise, hes drinking himself to death. Hes already
pissed and sees, or at least he thinks he sees, a familiar face.

B O R O . Will yo u ha v e a gl a s s wit h m e? S o that w e ca n finall y sort it out, fac e to fac e.

M a n to m a n.
S T R A N G E R . I thi n k yo u v e mi st a k e n m e for so m e o n e els e, m a t e . (In this country, they
are all very matey and casual, its kind of cool. Only, it can be pretty inappropriate at
times. Like now.)
B O R O . D o n t pret e n d to be too co o l, for fuc k s sa k e . C o m e

her e, I m telli n g yo u.

(BOROs tick kicks in, he touches his belt, but the gun is not there. He left it at DARAs
place. Thats where its place is. In a bin. But now, he kind of needs it. Perhaps he
regrets that moment of weakness )
S T R A N G E R . Yo u m u s t ha v e mi s t a k e n m e for so m e o n e els e.
B O R O . (He staggers towards the STRANGE R.) It is yo u. D o nt pre t e n d that yo u do nt
kn o w m e. Y o u an d m e, w e ha v e be e n thr o u g h a lot tog e t h e r . Yo u, m e, the chi c k s ... W e
w o u l d n t ha v e it half ba d if it ha d n t all got scr e w e d up.
S T R A N G E R . Th a t s tru e ...
B O R O . Yo u se e. So I ne e d to dra w yo u a pict u r e to refr e s h yo u r m e m o r y .
S T R A N G E R . ... tru e that it all got scr e w e d up, I m e a n!
B O R O . So, still not hi n g ? D o yo u w a n t m e to pu n c h yo u in the fac e? W o u l d that hel p?
S T R A N G E R . Or the oth e r w a y ro u n d . I ca n pu n c h Y O U in the fac e!
B O R O . (His tongue is getting tied in knots, but he keeps talking. Nothing can stop him.
He needs to get it out.) Th a t s not a go o d ide a. I ha v e a go o d m e m o r y . Yo u fuc ki n g
ign o r a m u s .

I just ne e d to ex p l a i n w h a t reall y ha p p e n e d . W h a t e v e r yo u he a r d , its not

tru e. Th e y r e just m a k i n g it up, so that that ca n pr et e n d to be cle a n . But I a m! M y

co n s c i e n c e is cle a n . I w a s n t ev e n the r e, in the vill a g e . I got pis s e d the ni g h t bef o r e an d
felt sic k an d thr e w up the w h o l e ni g h t.
S T R A N G E R . (He feels sorry for BORO. He doesnt understand what it is that is worrying
him, but the look of him makes him feel sorry for the guy.) C a n w e agr e e on on e thi n g ?
B O R O . Yo u an d m e? An y ti m e. I kn e w yo u d un d e r s t a n d!
S T R A N G E R . Lets agr e e that I do beli e v e yo u, ev e r y w o r d yo u sa y. W h a t e v e r yo u thi n k
of sa yi n g , I beli e v e yo u. Yo u do nt ev e n ne e d to sa y it. O k a y ? A n d no w lea v e m e alo n e .
B O R O . (Considers the meaning of the STRANGE Rs words but it seems hes not
convinced.) S h o u l d n t I belt yo u on e? I re all y w a n t thi s to be cle a r. O n c e an d for all!
S T R A N G E R . Yo u do nt get it, do yo u? Im not w h o yo u thi n k I a m!
B O R O . Y o ur e taki n g the pis s, m a t e. I do nt like it. If I ha d m y gu n wit h m e, yo u d beli e v e

that yo ur e G o d if I tol d yo u so.

S T R A N G E R . An d w h a t if I A M yo u r G o d ? (The STRANGE R has changed strategy. God
knows, maybe hell get somewhere.)
B O R O . (BORO crosses himself.) W e l l, in that ca s e, liste n to m e an d for gi v e m e, Milij a!
And BORO starts talking and he talks and talks and talks

B O R O . It w a s dar k ev e r y w h e r e , w e co ul d n t se e an y t h i n g . Th a t w a s our str at e g y , not to

se e the victi m s . B ut the cri e s, I ca n still he a r the cri e s. I ca n he a r it ver y cle a r l y. Th e y
ec h o e d up in the m o u n t a i n , w hi c h s w a l l o w e d up all the suff e r i n g . N o on e kn e w w h o w e
w e r e killi n g an d w h y. A n d I w a s thr o w i n g up, sin c e the m o r n i n g , w h e n I he a r d the cry. I
he a r d the w o m e n scr e a m an d the chil d r e n too an d I kn e w I ha d to lea v e rig h t a w a y . But
it w a s pitc h dar k an d I co ul d n t sta n d up an d I w a s just thr o w i n g up. A n d lyin g ar o u n d in
m y o w n vo m i t an d blo o d an d I w a s scr e a m i n g wit h the m ... sto p it, for G o d s sa k e, sto p
the killin g, sto p it . B ut no on e he a r d m e. If the y did, m a y b e that ev e n i n g w o u l d ha v e
en d e d up diffe r e n t l y , m a y b e yo u r da d w o u l d be still aliv e, to bot h e r yo u for bei n g ga y. M y
co n s c i e n c e is cle a r. D o yo u un d e r s t a n d ? M y onl y fault is that I exi s t. Th a t I w a n t e d that
shit to fini s h as so o n as po s s i b l e an d carr y on livi n g like bef o r e . Lik e nor m a l pe o p l e .
No one pays attention to him. BORO is screaming and his whole body is twisted in pain
his mouth is foaming.

BO R O. Ame n.
XI V.
SHE is still sitting among the piles of her clothes. SHE slowly starts putting them on. All
of them, one layer after another. SHEs turning into a huge blob. It doesnt look bad. Or
good. SHE pulls her suitcase out from under the bed. SHE always keeps her suitcase
under the bed. SHE sits in it, but she cant close it....
***
THE END