Liv Heløe (Norway)
Thinking Time
Når du får
1.
NINA
I’m going to meet him
In two hours I’m sitting on the bus
Looking through the window
He’s standing at the bus stop
I get up go towards the door
and when the bus stops he’s there
just outside
I get off
The door closes and the bus drives off
Then there’s just us
at the bus stop
I don’t know where we’re going
I don’t know
We’re going to be together
I’m standing in my room and
looking in the wardrobe
This
dress
These shoes
Yes
The telephone rings in the hall
Three times why doesn’t she take it
Then she does
He said When you’re with me
you have to have shoes you can run in
Must be ready to run at any moment when
you’re with me
Never know who we’ll bump into
I can run in these shoes
have run in them loads of times
Even if they’re a bit high
they’re not that high
Mum knocks on the door
I hang the dress in the wardrobe
but don’t have time to put the shoes back before
(HILDE enters, holding a telephone to her ear.)
She doesn’t usually come in without me
saying she can
HILDE
Yes –
NINA
Yes what
HILDE
We’ll come – Straight away. – Thank you. – Yes, thank you very much. (She hangs up.) That was great grandma’s neighbour. She’s ill. We have to go.
NINA
Now?
HILDE
Yes.
NINA
I can’t.
HILDE
Why not?
NINA
I’ve got to meet someone.
HILDE
Then you’ll have to cancel.
NINA
I can’t.
HILDE
- You’ll have to – (Leaves. Comes back.) I don’t know how long we’ll have to stay, bring your toothbrush.
NINA
I can’t -
HILDE
Why not?
NINA
I’ve got to meet someone -
HILDE
Who?
NINA
Someone you don’t know. It’s important.
HILDE
More important than great grandma? – She might die – this evening – – The doctor said the family should come – (Short pause) Bring your toothbrush. (Leaves.)
NINA
What will he think
if I don’t come
That I don’t want to see him
He said
When you’ve had time to think
you’ll work out
that you’re better off not knowing me
You won’t come
Even if we have made an agreement
you won’t come
Of course I’ll come
I’m standing here aren’t I saying that I’ll come
I said
Look at me Does it look as if I’m lying
You can’t see if someone’s lying
he said
Anyway I don’t think you’re lying
I just think you’ll change your mind
when you’ve had time to think
I won’t change my mind
Ok See you then
he said
You get my little finger if I don’t come
My little finger
in a little box
Jees he said
I’ll remember that
Do
I said
HILDE (enters)
Are you ready?
NINA
Can’t you go, then I’ll come after.
HILDE
No.
NINA
I promise to come, I just have to -
HILDE
No.
NINA
It’s important! You don’t understand, you don’t understand that I have to -
HILDE
No, you don’t understand. It’s serious. She’s going to die. When she’s dead it’ll be too late.
NINA
For what.
HILDE
What?
NINA
Too late – for what?!
HILDE
Everything!
…
(Translated by Neil Howard)
Nina’s and Hilde’s flat: Nina (15) has a date, she is standing in her room considering what to wear. A phone rings, her mother Hilde answers. She is told that Ruth, Nina´s great-grandmother is about to die. Nina is eager to keep her appointment, but Hilde insists; they should both go to Ruth´s deathbed.
In the car: Nina considers running away when the car stops at a red traffic light. She doesn´t, however.
Ruth´s flat: Ruth dozes and dreams; during the evening she experiences her first meetings with the man she later married. The meetings take place within a few days of each other in Norway 1941: Norwegian Ruth meets the German soldier Werner. They are infatuated – they fall in love – during their third meeting, Werner proposes, Ruth accepts. With her answer, her life changes totally and for ever. She moves to Germany.
Hilde doesn´t get in contact with dying Ruth. Nina doesn´t reach the boy she´s supposed to contact by mobile phone.
Hilde is worried about the seriousness of Nina´s appointment; who is she seeing?
Nina recalls the three meetings she had with the itinerant Romanian boy Moreno. The meetings have taken place outside the building where Nina is having piano lessons.
She lies to Hilde, she says: his name is Martin, he is German and that he plays the violin.
Ruth dies. Hilde calls a doctor.
Although the time for the appointment has passed, Nina wants to go to the meeting point to see if Moreno is still there. Hilde lets Nina go.
The bus: Nina travels through town. At the building with the piano lessons, Nina´s piano-teacher enters the bus. She tells her that she experienced a robbery attempt recently. Just as Nina is about to leave the bus, her teacher recognizes Moreno at the bus-stop and tells her; he is the robber. She warns Nina not to leave the bus. Nina has to choose – should she belive in her teacher or in Moreno?
Rightholder:
© Liv Heløe l.heloe@online.no
Performances:
1st Opening Theater Junge Generation Dresden (DE), May 21, 2011
Cast:
M: 1
F: 3