GIRL. You think too much. You shouldn’t think. There is no tomorrow. There is only today. Don’t think, OK?
HUSBAND. You think that we shouldn’t think?
GIRL. I think we should run away, that’s all.
HUSBAND. Where to?
GIRL. The important thing is not where to, but where from. Away from the place that we hate, away from here. Here where nothing is possible, where everything is forbidden, everything has to be by the rules and according to schedule. We’ll escape to a better world, where everyone is free, where nothing is forbidden, where there’s not a ceiling overhead, but a big high blue sky with big white clouds floating by. Where people laugh; where they’re happy, and sing and dance; they’re cheerful and never sick, and nobody tells them how to live or what they have to do.
HUSBAND. Is there really such a world?
GIRL. Yes, it exists! It’s a world where no one is afraid, where everybody goes to bed whenever they want to, with whomever they want to; where there is plenty of sun and plenty of sex. Where no one is boss and everyone is happy.
HUSBAND. And where will we live without money?
GIRL. Wherever we want! We’ll live on a bench. In the bushes. On a soft green meadow. In a boat. Yes, in a boat! We’ll lie in it, embracing, and it will rock gently and carry us away, always to somewhere new. A brass band will meet us on every pier, and the music will ring out, and they’ll shower us with flowers, and we’ll drift and drift and have sex, and we’ll go so far that nobody will ever find us.
HUSBAND.… Nobody will ever find us.… OK, let’s do it!.
GIRL. When?
HUSBAND. Right now.
GIRL. Perfect. Wait here for me. I’ll go get a glass of water, take a tranquilizer, and then we’ll be ready to go.
HUSBAND. Just come right back, otherwise I’ll start thinking again.
GIRL. And what then?
HUSBAND. I’ll start having second thoughts and change my mind.
GIRL. I forbid you to think. You understand? Follow my example.
HUSBAND. I’ll try.
GIRL. Sit here, don’t move, don’t do anything and don’t think. I’ll be right back, and we’ll begin a new life!
The GIRL goes out. The HUSBAND waits for her impatiently. There can be an intermission here. The HUSBAND can stay on the stage, waiting for the GIRL.
PART TWO
The action between the first and second acts can proceed without an intermission.
GIRL. Perfect. Wait here for me. I’ll go get a glass of water, take a tranquilizer, and then we’ll be ready to go.
HUSBAND. Just come right back, otherwise I’ll start thinking again.
GIRL. And what then?
HUSBAND. I’ll start having second thoughts and change my mind.
GIRL. I forbid you to think. You understand? Follow my example.
HUSBAND. I’ll try.
GIRL. Sit here, don’t move, don’t do anything and don’t think. I’ll be right back, and we’ll begin a new life!
The GIRL exits. The HUSBAND waits for her impatiently. The PROFESSOR enters.
PROFESSOR. Let’s have sex.
HUSBAND. Thanks, my pleasure.
Pause.
PROFESSOR. Well?
HUSBAND. What?
PROFESSOR. I’m waiting to see what will follow your "thanks".
HUSBAND. I thought it was a greeting.
PROFESSOR. No, it was a business offer. So?
HUSBAND. I’m willing.
PROFESSOR. Then we’ll get started.
HUSBAND. (Looking around). I don’t see any women here.
PROFESSOR. We can manage perfectly well without them.
HUSBAND. Without women?!
PROFESSOR. Certainly. There’s you, there’s me, so there is a couple. What else do we need?
