UNFINISHED BATH
PRELUDE
a shade in a shadow
in a cast iron pit
once cast from that shadow
then forever out of it
outside a pub in a hot bath in the snow in december in berlin in no particular hurry to reach the next scene
SCENE I
A thin person walks passed and frowns.
Another hurries passed and grins.
A third skates by laughing aloud.
One steps out of the pub:
"Can I help?"
"Not at all. Not today. Thank you very much."
"Do you have clothses?"
"No. Not today. Not with me. Not on me."
"No zick woolly? Long socks? It is cold out here!"
"It is not. Not yet. Leave me alone."
An hour later and the water is cool.
A police wagon pulls up.
"Hey! Sie! What's up? What's that?"
"Nothing and nothing. (Bugger off.)"
"Ausweiss bitte."
"Zu hauser."
"Where do you live?"
With the pointing of a long white finger, quickly re-dunked:
"Up there."
They stare for long moments.
"Is zis your bath?"
"It was given to me. I can't prove it."
"Papers."
"I have nothing on me."
"Where are your clothses?"
"Zu hauser."
The police women jot down some details and drive away.
"We will come back in one hour and you and your bath will be gone!"
"If you say so."
Half an hour later, the water in the bath is still liquid.
It grows dark.
A person stepping into the pub:
"Are you cold?"
"(God deliver me.)"
"Can I get you something?"
"My clothses and a towel."
A little panic:
"I mean, a drink?"
"Oh. Yes, thank you. A hot Grog with honey and a biscuit."
Relief and a nod.
"Stay there. I must first meet my man."
A seagull lands on the side of the bath and appears to wink.
"Piss off."
The person steps out again with a long gin on ice.
"My man is not there. This is for you."
"Well, thank you. (Please go away.)"
The person dallys awkwardly for long minutes then leaves.
The water solidifies and the gull, appearing bored, flies away.
A person in a Trabby bumps into the bath while attempting to park.
"Sorry! Oh.. Do you have papers?"
"Not on me."
"Wait. Here are mine."
"Do I need them?"
"For your insurance people."
"Is there damage?"
"Well.. Even so."
"Even so? I don't want your papers. Leave me alone."
"Even so!"
The person places the papers on the ice between two iceberg knee-caps.
"Thank you. (Jesus.)"
The cops return.
"We see you are still here!"
"I have just this moment returned."
"Are these your papers?"
"They are the Trabby's papers."
The policewomen examine the parked Trabby, which has a tow hook.
"We will help you to move yourself and you will not come back."
"I'm not up to it, really. But if you want to help.."
The policewomen slide the bath easily on the snow and park it behind the Trabby.
The driver returns, sheepishly ignores the policewomen, and gets into the Trabby.
The policewomen hook the bath to the Trabby, which then starts up and drives off.
SCENE II
The next morning the sun rises warmly at the sea shore.
The Trabby and the bath, no longer attached, are parked beneath a lighthouse.
The Trabby drives away.
(unfinished)
