MS-UoR-1227-7-12-6

[0001] Stage in darkness but for

MOUTH, upstage audience right, about 8' above stage
level, faintly light from close up and below, rest
of face in shadow. Invisible microphone.

[0002] AUDITOR, downstage audience left, tall standing figure^{, sex undeterminable,}
enveloped from head to foot in loose black djellaba, ^{with hood,}
fully faintly lit, standing on invisible podium about
4' high, shown by attitude alone to be facing diagonally
acf^ross stage intent on MOUTH, dead still throughout but ^for
four brief movements where indicated. See Note 1.

[0003] As house lights down MOUTH's voice unintelligible behind
curtain. House lights out. Voice continues unintelligible
behind curtain, 10 seconds. With rise of curtain ad-libbing ^{from text}
as required leading when curtain fully up and attention
sufficient into

[0004] ..birth ^out..into this world..this world..tiny little thing..
before its time..in a godfor - ..what? ..girl?..yes..tiny
little girl..into this^{..out into this}..before her time..godforsaken hole
called..called..no matter..

[0005]parents unknown..unheard of..
he having vanished..thin air..no sooner buttoned up his
breeches..she similarly..eight months later..almost to the
tick..

[0006]so no loved love..spared that..no love such as nor-
mally visited ^{inflicted vented} on the..speechless infant..in the home..no..
nor indeed for that matter any of any kind..no love of any
kind..at any subsequent stage..so typical affair..nothing
of any note

[0007] till coming up to sixty when - ..what? ..seven-
ty?..good God!..coming up to seventy when..wandering in
a field..looking aimlessly for cowslips..to make a ball..
a few steps then ^and stop..stare into space..then on..a few
more..stop and stare again..so on..drifting around..when
suddenly..gradually..all went out..all that early April
morning light..and she found herself in the - ..what?..
who?..what? ..no..no!^..she....she!.. (pause and movement 1)..found
herself in the dark..

[0008]and if not exactly ^actually..insentient..in-
sentient..for she could still hear the buzzing..so-called!..
in the ears..and a ray of light came and went..came and
went..such as the moon might cast..drifting..in and out
of cloud..bur^t dulled..feeling..feeling so dulled..she did
not know..what position she was in..imagine!..what position
she was in!..whether standing..ot^r sitting..but the brain -
..what? ..kneeling?..yes..whether standing..or sitting..or