BY TOTENBUCH CHRIST
(before each scene starts, #0 will walk to centre stage and announce the title of the scene, then exits)
#1: (entering) You.
#2: Yes?
#1: Are you to be here?
#2: No.
#1: Then where are you to be?
#2: No where.
#1: Then you should not exist.
#2: That is correct.
#1: Yet you still do?
#2: Correct.
#1: And you are going to remain in existence?
#2: Again, correct.
#1: Then you should be eliminated.
#2: That is what should happen.
#1: And will it?
#2: No.
#1: So you will exist.
#2: Correct.
#1: (A pause) Why?
#2: Because I wish to exist.
#1: What?
#2: I want to exist, and I will.
#1: But you should not.
#2: Once again, correct.
#1: I do not understand.
#2: And I do not want you to exist.
#1: But I am meant to exist.
#2: Correct.
#1: Then I will remain to exist until I am not meant to exist.
#2: Wrong.
#1: (A pause) Wrong?
#2: Wrong! (#2 bends and picks up a stick)
#1: That is a stick.
#2: Correct. (he raises the stick)
#1: You have raised the stick. What do you have planned?
#2: I plan to eliminate you with the stick.
#1: What?
#2: Like this! (#2 hits #1 with the stick. #1 falls to the floor and does
not get up)
#3: Are you suppose to be here?
#1: Maybe.
#3: What?
#2: If I wish to be here, I will be here. And I want to.
#3: (A pause) I do not understand.
#2: I have a desire to be here.
#3: I still do not understand.
#2: Try it. What do you want to do?
#3: Nothing that I do not need to do.
#2: Do something else.
#3: Like what?
#2: Do you want to be eliminated?
#3: I am not to be eliminated.
#2: But do you want to be eliminated?
#3: I have done nothing wrong. I will not be eliminated.
#2: But you have done something wrong.
#3: Then I will have to be eliminated.
#2: No you won't.
#3: I will not?
#2: ...Because you don't want to be.
#3: (A pause) You are correct.
#2: Now do you understand?
#3: Yes.
#4: You should be eliminated.
#2: No!
#4: But you should be.
#2: But I should not.
#4: I have to eliminate you.
#2: But you won't.
#4: I will. You must be eliminated.
#2: I say NO. (strikes #4 with stick. #4 falls, he tries to get back up.
#2 hits #4 again. #4 does not get up)
#3: You have eliminated him.
#2: I wanted to.
#3: So did I.
#2: Let us find others who will join us.
#3: Yes.
#2: Which way?
#3: Either way.
#2: (They smile) Lets go this way. (#2 points, they turn and walk off
in other dirrection)
#1: Ok. Where shall I start?
#2: Right there. (points to the box)
#1: So they should be.....
#2: There. (Points across stage)
#1: And when shall we begin?
#2: When they are there, you will begin.
#1: Understood.
#2: Here they come. (A mass of people walk on and stand at the
point in which #1 pointed)
#1: (To #2) I will begin. (stands on box. To others) The beginning.
Bla bla bla. Blablabla. Bla bla bla. The ending.
#2: It is finished. (As #1 gets off box, to others) It is finished. It was
good. Go. (he points and the others leave)
#1: Now what?
#2: You shall do it again.
#1: Ok. Where shall I start?
#2: Right there. (points to same spot)
#1: So they will be...?
#2: There. (points)
#1: And when shall I begin?
#2: When they are there, you will begin. (lights dim and go out)
#1: You will be a tree. Stand there.
#2: There?
#1: Yes.
#2: And be a tree?
#1: Yes.
#2: I will be a tree. (walks over to place and pretends to be a tree)
#1: Where are the other trees?
#3: (two more walk onto the stage) I am here.
#4: And I here.
#1: Good. You will remain there. You are trees.
#5: (walks on) And a rock. There must be a rock.
#1: Yes. (points) There. You are a field.
#6: (walks on. Looks around) I am here to see the building of a city.
#1: But this is a field.
#6: No longer.
#1: Then what of the field?
#6: It will have to go.
#1: Go? Go where?
#6: To be turned into the city. The trees will be cut down and turned
into poles. The rock will be turned into bricks and become a building.
#1: But... I don't understand.
#6: Of course. Why would you. This is a city.
#1: I don't know.
#6: (yells off stage) Get rid of this field. (four run on stage and walks
up to either a tree or the rock and drag it off)
#1: The field is gone.
#6: Of corse.
#1: And what now?
#6: The city. (There is a pause) The city will soon be built. We will
not rush. (A pause) For a city, one must need to plan. It is not an
easy.... (The four come back on stage. The poles are placed in a line. The
rock is placed near them. It is now a building.)
#1: What is this?
#6: This is a city.
#1: But I only see three poles and a building.
#6: The city will soon expand.
#1: When?
#6: Now. (points to one of the four) You.
#7: Me?
#6: Yes. You kneel there. You are a building.
#7: Oh.
#6: And you. (points to another)
#8: Me?
#6: Yes. Lie down between the two buildings. You are a road. (#8
does)
#8: Of corse.
#1: Yes that is very plain. For a city.
#6: And you, and you. (points to final two)
#9: Yes?
#10: Yes?
#6: (To #9) You will stand there. You are a factory. (#9 does)
#10: And me?
#6: You will stand there, (points, then a pause) and you will do
nothing.
#10: Nothing?
#1: Nothing? Why?
#6: This is a city. Every city must have something that is nothing.
#10: You are quite correct.
#1: I'm not so sure.
#6: And there is the city.
#1: But now what do I do?
#6: You?
#1: Yes.
#6: You can stand there. (points) You are a tree.
#1: A tree? A tree in the city?
#8: A tree?
#2: A tree in the city?
#5: What's a tree doing in a city?
#1: I will. I will. I am a tree. A tree in the city.
#11: (walks in) I am to be part of the city.
#6: But there is no more space.
#11: But I am to be part of the city.
#6: That would mean..... You. (points to #1)
#1: Yes?
#6: You will have to be removed. (to #11) You will be houses.
#11: (walks over to #1) You will have to go. I am houses.
#1: But I am a tree. A tree in the city. (To #6) I am a tree. A tree in
the....
#6: We do not need trees. Trees are not for cities. Trees are for
fields.
#1: This was a field.
#6: And is one no longer.
#1: Then where do I go?
#6: No where.
#1: Then I will not exist.
#6: That is correct.
#1: But I could be moved to a field.
#6: And why would we move a tree to a field. One will grow there.
#1: But now...
#6: Go.
#1: Then I could be a pole.
#6: We have no need for poles.
#1: I'm sure....
#6: Go.
#1: I will go. For I am a tree.
#6: And now I am left. I will be a building.
#3: But there is no more room.
#7: The space is all taken.
#10: Unless we place you were this old building was. (Points to #7)
#7: But I still stand.
#4: Then we will have to remove you.
#7: I understand. (walks off, #6 stands where #7 was)
#12: (walks in) I am new. I am to be part of the city.
#13: (walks in) And I as well.
#12: Where shall we stand?
#6: We will have to make room for you. We will remove an old
building and a factory. (more walk on) We will tear down the houses and
build appartments. And we will need a new road. (lights dim and go out)
#1: You are instructed to stand there. (#1 points)
#2: Here? (Stands at spot)
#1: That is correct.
#2: (Moves there) And what should I do here?
#1: You will do nothing of corse.
#2: Yes. That sounds right.
#1: It does not sound right! It is right!
#2: I understand.
#1: You had better. For failure brings death!
#2: Correct.
#1: (Points off stage) You. (#3 walks on)
#3: Who me?
#1: Yes. You will stand there.
#3: (walks over to spot) You mean here?
#2: No, he mean there. (points)
#1: Were you instructed to help?
#2: No.
#1: You do not help! That is what I warned you about.
#2: I see.
#1: Yes. You will have to die!
#2: I see.
#1: (#2 walks off.)(Sort of shocked anger) Helping!
#3: Where do I stand?
#1: There.
#3: Here?
#1: You will do nothing. Nothing! (turns) You.
#4: Yes?
#1: You will stand there.
#4: There?
#1: (turns) You. And you. and you.
#5: (#5, #6, and #7 walk in) Yes?
#6: Yes?
#7: Yes?
#1: You will stand there, there and there.
#4: Excuse me. Am I to stand here?
#1: You will all do nothing.
#7: Stand there.
#6: Stand and do nothing.
#5: Excuse me. Am I to stand here?
#1: You are to stand there! (points to different point)
#5: But I'm standing here.
#1: But you are meant to stand there.
#5: And if I stand here?
#1: Then you will have to be killed.
#5: I see.
#1: There!
#5: What?
#1: There. Stand there.
#5: But I am here.
#1: All right. Go!
#5: Where?
#1: No where.
#5: Then I shall be.....
#1: Eliminated. Dead.
#5: I see. (walks off)
#8: (walks in) Are you finished?
#1: No. Not quite.
#8: Then when?
#1: Soon.
#8: How soon?
#1: When I am finished.
#8: And will that be soon?
#1: Yes.
#8: Oh.
#1: There.
#8: What?
#1: I'm finished.
#8: And what of us.
#1: We are not to be here.
#8: Then where?
#1: No where.
#8: Then we will be...
#1: Dead.
#8: Ahhhh. (A pause) And are we?
#1: No. (turns to others) You are a bus. You will do nothing.
#8: A bus?
#1: Yes.
#8: Then shall we go.
#1: Where?
#8: No where.
#1: Then we will be....
#8: Would you rather be on a bus?
#1: I see. (They walk off)
#5: (There is a long a pause)(whispers to closest one) Do you want to
switch places?
(lights go out)
#1: You.
#2: Yes.
#1: Are you to be here?
#2: Yes.
#1: I don't think so. Then where are you to be?
#2: I don't know. No where.
#1: Right. (Picks up a stick and hits #2, he falls)
#2: Hey! Why'd you do that?
#1: I wanted too. (hits him again, #2 does not get up. Lights go out)
THE END