WORMWOOD by Unknown

Author:Unknown
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-06-24T16:00:00+00:00

ACT TWO

The playpark as before, but darker. There are shadows from which the characters emerge, weaving the story as in a kind of pattern.

NATALIA and ARTEMIS are sitting or standing to one side. ANTON and STEFAN to the other. VIKTOR is to the rear. TANYA is seated. STEFAN comes towards her, buttoning up the jacket of his fireman’s uniform. He has been changing for work. TANYA looks up. She gestures to STEFAN who comes closer. She straightens his jacket. It is an intimate and yet habitual gesture.

TANYA. You’d better get a move on.

STEFAN. Is Anton asleep yet?

TANYA. I think so.

STEFAN. I said I’d try and help him with his project and I never did.

TANYA. It’ll just have to wait. There’s plenty of time. It doesn’t have to be in till next week.

STEFAN. All the same . . .

TANYA. Don’t go in please. You know what a light sleeper he is . . .

STEFAN. All right. I’ll see him tomorrow. Have you mentioned Kiev to him yet?

TANYA. Sort of.

STEFAN. What do you mean, sort of?

TANYA. I told him it was a possibility. It wasn’t certain yet. Just that we were thinking about it.

STEFAN. And?

TANYA. He was quite grown up. Surprised me. Said he didn’t think you’d like the city much, but he would.

STEFAN. I told you so.

TANYA. Then he said what about Sooty, and I said we’d take her with us of course. But we’d have to butter her paws.

STEFAN. Butter her paws?

TANYA. It’s what you’re supposed to do.

STEFAN. Why for God’s sake?

TANYA. I think they lick it off and get the scent of the new place with it or something.

STEFAN. Doesn’t everything get covered in butter?

TANYA. I don’t know. Maybe. Maybe she’d be better off here. We could leave her with your mother.

STEFAN. That’s the least of our worries.

TANYA. Anton hasn’t asked me why yet. But he will. Stefan, are you sure?

STEFAN. Sure I’m sure. Why? Are you beginning to have doubts?

TANYA. No. None at all.

STEFAN. So what will you say to him? When he does ask why, it’ll be you he asks. He talks more to you than he ever does to me.

TANYA. I’ll tell him the truth.

STEFAN. And what is the truth?

TANYA. That we don’t feel . . . comfortable here any more.

STEFAN. Unsettled. That’s what I feel like. A cat with buttered paws. Is there any coffee for the morning?

TANYA. A bit. I’ll save it for you. It’ll only keep me awake. Mind you, I’ve got more marking to do . . .

STEFAN. You have it. I don’t mind.

TANYA. No. It gives me nightmares.

STEFAN kisses her affectionately. She responds to him, beginning to unbutton the jacket again.

STEFAN. You and your nightmares. Oh Christ don’t. I have to go to work Tanya.

TANYA. We never seem to get any time together these days.

STEFAN. Listen. Don’t you stay up too late. Take a tablet if you have to.

TANYA. I can’t. I put them in the bin.

STEFAN. Did you?

TANYA. I don’t need them. I don’t have any trouble sleeping.

STEFAN. Well it won’t be for much longer.

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