Come and Go

Background >

Structure

A three-part structure removes, in turn, each player, leaving the remaining pair to share an appalling confidence concerning the absent companion. Repetition of silence, movement, language and its substance expresses the universality of the dilemma with, at one critical moment, a slight variation of language also preserving some sense of individual identity:

RU:

I see little change. [FLO moves to centre seat, whispers in RU's ear. Appalled.] Oh! [They look at each other. FLO puts her finger to her lips.] Does she not realize?

VI:

She seems much the same. [RU moves to centre seat, whispers in VI's ear. Appalled.] Oh! [They look at each other. RU puts her finger to her lips.] Has she not been told?

FLO:

One sees little in this light. [VI moves to centre seat, whispers in FLO's ear. Appalled.] Oh! [They look at each other. VI puts her finger to her lips.] Does she not know?

FLO:

God grant not.

RU:

God forbid.

VI:

Please God not.