Catastrophe Practice Read Online Free Page B

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—
HELENA
I remember you in your pram. You looked up to the leaves, the shadows. Children see by what they learn —
    Ariel waits. He seems to prompt her
—
ARIEL
She went for the eyes?
    Helena seems to say a wrong line
—
HELENA
— It’s been such ages —
ARIEL
Who, my mother?
    After a time Ariel moves round the stage again. Helena goes back to her stitching
.
ARIEL
And my father?
HELENA
Isn’t he in a tomb —
ARIEL
Oh, I thought it was a monastery.
    Helena puts down her stitching. She seems to be in despair
.
HELENA
How did you get in?
ARIEL
I climbed.
HELENA
No one’s ever climbed.
    Ariel comes and looks down at Helena. He seems to quote
—
ARIEL
— Except once at the time of Napoleon —
    Helena closes her eyes
.
    Ariel watches her
.
    I thought I’d come to your party.
HELENA
Oh Pree will be pleased.
ARIEL
Why do you call him Pree?
HELENA
Paris, you know; gay Paree.
    Helena seems to be overcome with embarrassment
.
    After a time Ariel moves round the stage again
.
ARIEL
What does he do — you know — in that little room —
    Helena opens her eyes. She seems to make a great effort
.
HELENA
Oh Ariel I wish I knew! He used to go out mornings and evenings. And I always knew where he was! In the fields, the factories —
    She puts a hand to her head; sways
.
    â€” Now he’s most of the time in his room —
    Ariel goes to the balustrade at the back and looks over
.
ARIEL
I thought he might give me a job.
HELENA
Oh Ariel I don’t think he does give jobs!
ARIEL
Not in his factories? I saw one on the road —
HELENA
With little flames coming out of the chimneys?
ARIEL
And ashes —
HELENA
There were ashes?
ARIEL
On the fields —
HELENA
The poor fields —
ARIEL
And men like snow.
    Ariel comes back to Helena and stands over her
.
    And people on the roads with prams,pushing.
    Helena goes on with her stitching
.
HELENA
Oh Ariel, I sometimes think —
ARIEL
It might be better if —
HELENA
Rather than —
ARIEL
— What would have been the colour of her eyes, her hair —
HELENA
Sometimes at night —
ARIEL
You can hear him?
HELENA
It’s terrible!
    Ariel walks round the stage again
.
ARIEL
You mean, how much can we say?
HELENA
How much can we know.
    Helena looks out at the wings, left. After a time Ackerman comes on through the loggia. He wears a white dressing-gown. He stands on the steps watching Ariel and Helena, who ignore him
.
    He begins to pace up and down the balustrade at the back. He declaims as if rehearsing a speech
—
ACKERMAN
Do you hear the rumble, the thunder, when the spirits come out and invade the upper air. And the young apes stir in the trees. And flop on the roads like parachutes. You tread on them they kick With wings like snow. And in the ditches breed. With eyes blown out. And in no-man’s-land at night you hear them calling — Good! — Good! — to put them out of misery. With your tongue a pistol. And their mouths, roses.
    He stops, by the wings, left, with his head up, as if hearing music
.
HELENA
Look who’s here!
ACKERMAN
Who’s here?
HELENA
Ariel. Your grandson, Ariel.
    After a time Ackerman comes to Ariel and holdshis hand out
.
ACKERMAN
You were in your pram. You looked up to the leaves, the shadows. Children see by what they learn. There was an accident! Between the rocks and the whirlpool, you had to be changed.
    Ariel frowns. Then he takes his hand
.
ARIEL
I thought I’d come to your party —
ACKERMAN
— Oh Pree will be pleased! —
ARIEL
— Why do you call him Pree? —
    They both seem to have said the wrong lines. Then Ackerman says mockingly
—
ACKERMAN
The sun doesn’t get filtered at this high altitude.
ARIEL
I wondered if you could give me a job —
ACKERMAN
Oh I don’t think I do give jobs.
ARIEL
Not in your factories —
ACKERMAN
Jokes —
ARIEL
Shit —
    They wait
.
    Ackerman goes to the balustrade