THE DEAD BELOVED IS WAITING
A Coca-Cola can island. The woman takes an empty lipstick out of her pocket. She tries to take some out with her finger. She can’t. She takes a scrambled Coca-Cola can that she is sitting on and she tries to break the opener. It falls into the can. She can’t manage to take it out. She tries again. When she finally gets it, she uses it to take out the last leftovers out of the lipstick. She puts a lipstick on. She puts the can back under her dress. She takes off the shoe. She pours the sand and the soil from the shoe. The sole of the shoe is hanging. She tries to stick it. She can’t. She stares at the drainage sea.
MEETING (The Coca-Cola can island. The man is carrying the woman in his arms. She is lifeless, languid. She has only one shoe on her foot, the other is bare. The man is trying to push the water out of her lungs. She revives and wakes.)
THE MAN
How are you? I’m looking at you and I can’t trust my eyes. How did you manage to swallow all the fish from the sea. Look, there are carps, sheath– fish, sardines. Unfortunately, they are all dead, but you, as I can see, you are safe and sound. I can’t understand how such a small stomach can have all this big sea inside.
THE WOMAN
My shoe, where’s my shoe?
THE MAN
Give me your foot. You’ll be more comfortable. What a nice feet you have. Like unleavend cake, and your toes, so tiny, fat and soft like sausages. Your feet are just a little flat. You have a little twisted bone here, on your big toe, probably after your mother.
THE WOMAN
I want my shoe.
THE MAN
I’ll buy you new shoes. With modern high hills. Would you like that? Just don’t do that again.
THE WOMAN
I’m going to find my shoe.
THE MAN
Stay. I’ll go. (Pause. He is preparing to jump.) I’ll be right back. (He leaves. She is trying to find something in the man’s bag to take some lipstick out. She puts the lipstick on with a match. The man is coming back. There are wet green sea plants on his suit. In his hands he has a high hill shoe. He kneels to put it on her foot. First, he pours the mud water from the shoe and then he puts it on her foot).
THE WOMAN
My shoe!!!
THE MAN
Nice shoes. White as flour type 400. The sole is hanging a little. Are they from your wedding?
THE WOMAN
What?
THE MAN
Are they for a wedding?
THE WOMAN
For what?
THE MAN
Are you waiting for anyone?
THE WOMAN
What?
THE MAN
Are you waiting for somebody?
THE WOMAN
Who?
THE MAN
Are you waiting for somebody?
THE WOMAN
Yes, I’m.
THE MAN
Is he late?
THE WOMAN
Yes, he used to be late.
THE MAN
And you can take that? Do you like men with bad habits?
THE WOMAN
Yes, I’m waiting for him.
THE MAN
How much is he late?
THE WOMAN
Nine years.
THE MAN
He told you he would be late? (Pause) Didn’t he left you a note on the refrigerator? (Pause) Are you sure he is coming back?
THE WOMAN
I hope so.
THE MAN
What if he don’t turn out? What if he is waiting on another island another girl that is nine minutes late?
THE WOMAN
So what, she is his wife.
THE MAN
Oh, he’s your lover then.
THE WOMAN
Nine years ago he was my husband. He remarried a rich widow from the North Ice Ocean. He become fat, weighty factory owner. Now, he makes a cure for coughing, flu and Coca-Cola from the dead whales’ fat. Today people eat them instead bread and milk. No wonder his cans grow like mushrooms after rain. He is beating record in giving birth and his cans the world growth.
THE MAN
And you are still waiting for him?
THE WOMAN
I want to see him just for a second. (Pause) You have grown old. Your hair turned white. How did you find me? The sea is wide and dark. You can’t see anything from dead fish and rusty cans.
THE MAN
The whiteness of your toes lights up the sea. Just like the glow – worms we used to catch as children. Do you remember? We used their magic dust as cream on our faces in the darkness. Who else can have such white toes in such a black sea.
THE WOMAN
Look! My toes are green like stones covered with moss. Your hair turned white, your teeth recess. But you still can’t see.
THE MAN
(Pause. He takes out a can of his pocket and gives it to the woman.) Are you thirsty?
THE WOMAN
(She drinks from the can but her mouth is full with ants instead of Coca-Cola.) My mouth is full with ants. This isn’t fresh. There is not a drop of Coca-Cola left inside. The ants drank the last drops on the edges.
THE MAN
Shall I open a new one?
THE WOMAN
Nine years ago you went for wine and Coca-Cola. On the day of our anniversary you went for wine and Coca-Cola and you didn’t come back.
THE MAN
I am back. Let’s go home.
THE WOMAN
Let’s. (They stand still without a move.)