Leaving by Vaclav Havel

Author:Vaclav Havel [Vaclav Havel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780571301393
Publisher: Faber & Faber
Published: 2013-10-19T04:00:00+00:00

Act Four

The orchard outside the Rieger villa. The same day, a short while later. The wind and the rain have died down. Rieger and Bea are hugging and kissing in the gazebo. Oswald is sleeping in the bushes not far away, but he can’t be seen.

Irena (calls from offstage) Vilem! Darling! Where are you?

Irena enters, followed by Monika. She stops close to the gazebo, then something catches her attention, and she looks inside and sees Rieger with Bea.

Vilem!

Rieger and Bea quickly emerge from the gazebo, and rearrange themselves in great embarrassment. Irena glares at Rieger for a moment, and then slaps his face.

Rieger Ow!

A short pause, then Irena slaps Rieger in the face again.

Ow!

A short pause, then Irena starts quickly slapping his face over and over, while Rieger tries to fend off the blows.

Rieger Ow – I’m sorry – I can explain … Ow!

Irena What’s there to explain? You’re a ridiculous, selfish, miserable, dirty old man. Or more precisely, you’re the parody of a dirty old man.

Bea Goodbye!

Bea exits, Rieger comes up to Irena and tries to caress her. She pushes him away.

Irena Why do you think I had the French champagne brought out? Because today is our fifteenth anniversary! I deliberately waited to see if you’d remember it. Naturally, you forgot. And not only that, you betray me on this very day, and in the very gazebo where we had such wonderful, wild times together.

Rieger You’re making too much of this. She merely kissed me – I couldn’t very well push her away, could I?

Monika leans toward Irena and whispers something to her. Irena nods and then yells in different directions.

Irena Oswald! Oswald! The onions are burning.

Oswald gets up, looks around sleepily, bows, and goes into the villa.

Have you ever thought how much I’ve given up because of you? My flat. My place as a make-up artist with the Midget Brothers. Family. My flat. My cottage. My friends. My flat. My best friend –

Rieger Best friend?

Irena You’ve never met him … My flat. I lived only for you and through you. I did everything to satisfy your needs, to make your life easy and harmonious. I accepted a role as your shadow and enhanced your career in so many ways. I patiently endured everything around you – including your mother. You say the individual is at the heart of your politics, but you haven’t a clue what love is. You’re just as cynical as all the rest of them.

Rieger Who do you mean by ‘all the rest of them’?

Irena All of you lot. Monika, we’re leaving.

Irena takes Monika by the hand and exits with her. Rieger goes to follow her.

Rieger (calling out) Irena! My dearest! Forgive me! It was just a silly little thing.

Vlasta enters with Albín.

The Voice I don’t know what it is exactly, but something bothers me about that scene. Does it disrupt the poetics of the play? Is it banal? Is it too flat? Too much of a parody? Not enough of a parody? Or, on

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