Tragedie En

8/12/2019 Tragedie En

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Jean-Claude Grumberg

Coming to You, Promised Land

(Dental Tragedy)


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CHARACTR!"

CHARL! !P#D$CLARA !P#D$

!%&A''

TH ACT#R G##D #R ALL PART!

#THR !%PR*#R

A%R*CTTCH#*R


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*nstead o+ a Prologue

CHARL!" You tal to tem.CLARA" 'o, no, * don/t.

CHARL!" #, yes, you do.

CLARA" About te 0eater, good day, good e1ening,

o0 are you...

CHARL!" !ee, you do say 2o0 are you3.

CLARA" 4ell, * do, but do not mean it.

CHARL!" You use body language.

CLARA" 5ody language6 Carles, don/t you s7are me8

CHARL!" Tey get inside, and 0ile ans0ering you

21ery 0ell, tan you3, tey use teir eyes to 9uestion

you.

CLARA" To 9uestion me6

CHARL!" 4it teir eyes...

CLARA" 'o, tey don/t.

CHARL!" And you nod and 0ring your ands.

CLARA" 'o, ne1er, ne1er. 4y 0ould you say tat6 4y6

CHARL!" You 0el7ome tem in te 0aiting-room...

CLARA" *n te 0aiting-room, yes.


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CHARL!" And ten you snea out to be 0it tem:

you all ;ull out your ander7ie+s and 0is;er

0ile 0i;ing out your eyes.

CLARA" 4at are you taling about, Carles6

CHARL!" A+ter tat, tey 7ome into te surgery, sig

0en tey see me, nod teir eads, 7limb u; te

dental 7air, sig again, 0i;e out teir eyes,

gi1e anoter sig, 0i;e teir noses, 0i;e it on7e

more, 0ile */m 0aiting +or tem to


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CLARA" * 0ould ne1er say su7 ting. 4y 0ould * do

tat6

CHARL!" !o tat our ;atients sto; so0ing me teir

+uneral-lie +a7es 0en tey 7limb on te dental7air. *s tere anyone 0aiting in te 0aiting

room6 !o tat tey may sa1e on teir

7om;assion and s;end it on ;eo;le 0o may

need it more tan 0e do: and most o+ all, to sto;

7ro0ding te 0aiting room.

CLARA" Carles, do you 0ant to 7ase a0ay te

;atients6

CHARL!" * do. * 0ant a +ull re1am; o+ my 7lientele. !o

* do8 * 0ant to see only regular, ordinary ;eo;le

sitting on tis 7air, 0it a;;y +a7es, 0o no0

noting about our li1es and our daugters:

;atients 0o do not 7are about de;ortees or

nuns. * 0ant as ;atients only old-timers, militiamen 0it de7aying teet, tootless +ormer

7ollaborators and snit7es, so tat * may ;lu7

te ner1e out o+ teir teet 0it no anesteti78

CLARA" Carles, it/s ringing at te door.

CHARL!" *t/s ringing, it/s ringing. !o, go o;en te

door8 4o is it, tis time6

CLARA" rs. !u>anne.

CHARL!" rs. !u>anne and er id 0it te de7aying

teet6 Tis id is a gold-mine to a dentist


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una0are tat is +ater 0as de;orted one

7on1oy aead o+ te one tat...

CLARA" You don/t 0ant to tae money, 0ile se is

0illing and able to ;ay: rs. !u>anne as a ?ob.

CHARL!" Tat/s a good one8 *, telling te 0ido0 o+ a

de;ortee to ;ay8 4at are you doing 0it tat

ander7ie+6

CLARA" * 7augt a 7old.

CHARL!" 4ait8 You no0 0at you are to say, don/t

you6

CLARA" Yes, * do. */ll say noting. 4e ne1er taled about

it.

CHARL!" Ten, 0y is se 7rying ea7 time se is

ere6

CLARA" You tin se as no reason, o+ er o0n, to 7ry6CHARL!" Tat damn door-bell ring dri1es me 7ra>y.

Remind me to 7ange it 0it anoter one.

!%&A''" 4at/s u;6 Didn/t e arri1e yet6

CLARA" Te id6 'o8

!%&A''" He is 7oming straigt +rom is so77er

training.

CLARA" *s e ;laying so77er6


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!%&A''" 4e sould a1e met do0nstairs, but 0en *

sa0 te a;;ointment time ad ;assed, * tougt

e must a1e 7ome u;stairs and not 0ait +or me.

CLARA" He 0ouldn/t a1e done it, rs. !u>anne, e0ouldn/t a1e done it.

CHARL!" Good day, rs. !u>anne.

!%&A''" Good day, do7tor.

CHARL!" All by yoursel+6

!%&A''" He is 7oming, e is.

CLARA" He is 7oming straigt +rom is so77er training.

CHARL!" #, e ;lays so77er... 0it is glasses8

!%&A''" He taes tem o@, do7tor, e taes tem

o@8 He already damaged t0o ;airs o+ glasses.

CHARL!" Can e see te ball 0itout 0earing tem6

!%&A''" *t/s a ell o+ a ball, do7tor.

CLARA" You a1e met Carles.

CHARL!" Let/s not 0aste time: 7ome and so0 me

your 7a1ities instead.

!%&A''" * a1e no 7a1ities, do7tor.

CHARL!" Call me Herr Pro+essor.

!%&A''" * beg your ;ardon6

CHARL!" * don/t lie being 7alled 2do7tor3.


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CLARA" 4at are you taling about6 Call im Carles,

rs. !u>anne. He is ?ust idding around 0it you.

Carles8

!%&A''" * al0ays ad good teet.

CHARL!" You a1e no 7a1ities and 0ee;6 * and my

0i+e sould 0ee;8 4at 0ere 0e to do i+ no one

ad 7a1ities6

!%&A''" * am not 0ee;ing: 0y 0ould * be 0ee;ing,

do7tor6 * 7ried enoug.

CHARL!" You 7augt te ue +rom Clara, 0en you

7ame inside. Te id is not taing a+ter you" is

teet are de7ayed. He 0ill be tootless by te

age B.

!%&A''" 4o6 y son6

CHARL!" Tat, unless e de7ides to start 0asing is

teet +rom no0 on.

!%&A''" He does 0as is teet, o+ 7ourse e does8

CHARL!" 1ery morning6

!%&A''" 1ery morning.

CHARL!" #n is teet6

!%&A''" #+ 7ourse. #n is teet in7luded8 Tat is,

unless e 0aes u; late: e doesn/t lie to be

late.

CHARL!" #ne 7an tell...


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!%&A''" * mean, +or s7ool...

CHARL!" *+ e doesn/t do it in te morning, e/s

maing u; +or it in te e1ening.

!%&A''" To 0as is teet in te e1ening6

CLARA" Tis is o0 tey do it in Ameri7a.

!%&A''" *n te e1ening e dro;s do0n aslee;: e

needs a lot o+ slee;.

CHARL!" Per+e7t. At B e 0ill a1e no toot le+t: e

0ill be


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memorable a7tion sa1ed is team +rom taing a

goal, but ended is 7areer as a so77er ;layer. At

te time e ad so many 7a1ities tat e ad to

s;end most o+ is +ree time on te dental 7airo+ r. Carles/, 0o bit u; is lo0er li; e1ery

time e rea7ed into is mout. any times o1er

e 0anted to go to anoter dentist, but is

moter e;t telling im" EHe su@ered so mu7

during te 0ar. And you su@ered too.3 !o it 0as.

5ut it seemed tat e su@ered less tan te

dentist and is 0i+e. A daugter lost in deat

7am;s tallies less tan a lost +ater6 #r as a lost

usband6 4ere 7an one anne,

0ile 0i;ing out er eyes 0it te ander7ie+

se e;t u; er slee1e. !o, be7ause e 0as still

in ;ain, t0i7e a 0ee F in tose times te toot-

ner1e 0as terminated in se1eral sessions F so,

t0i7e a 0ee, Jean Claude ad to sit on te

dental 7air, in r. Carles/ surgery. !ometimes

!u>anne too time o@ +rom er ?ob to

a77om;any er son, ;ur;ortedly to su;;ort im,

0en in +a7t se 0anted to su;;ort Clara, and


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ne1er-do-0ells tat 7ome a7ross te !;odes

;at. * 0ill also be ;art o+ te 7oir, as all non-

dental, so-7alled 7lassi7al tragedies do re9uire

one. Te time +or te ;lay is ;ost 44**: but tatyou already guessed, didn/t you6 4at6 You

eard tere 0as a !e7ond 4orld 4ar, didn/t you6

#ld story, * no0. 5ut in tose times, to te

!;odes, to !u>anne, to te autor and a +e0

oter ;eo;le, lie millions o+ tem, it 0as

someting ;retty ne0. uite an e1ent. *+ * tal to

mu7 don/t be sy" ag me do0n 0it your

0istles or get out o+ te teater-all, as

seasoned s;e7tators do tese days, +or te 44**

is ?ust an old story +or old-timers.

TH #THR!" Cut it out, tat/s enoug...

TH ACT#R" All rigt, all rigt, you/re rigt. Let/s bring it

to a 7lose. y 7olleagues get as im;atient as you

do. !o, ten, te boy 0ent inside, !u>anne

s7olded im, e sat on te dental 7air, Carles

e=amined im, dis7o1ered a ne0 7a1ity, bit is

lo0er li; and de7reed...

CHARL!" Prostesis. At B e 0ill need a dental

;rostesis.

TH ACT#R" Te 7ild nodded and ten ased" 0at/stat a ;rostesis6

Dar.


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--------- B Te Coming 5a7-----------

TH A'" Just a se7ond. Please, do 7ome in.

CHARL!" *s it ne06TH A'" * beg your ;ardon6

CHARL!" Te door-bell ring. Did you 7ange te door-

bell6 *t as an un;leasant ring.

TH A'" Are you a +ormer ;atient6 Good day. */m glad

to meet you. Ren 5ertrand. * a1e all te


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TH A'" Home6 Listen ere, tis is neiter te time

nor te ;la7e +or ?oing. */m 0oring no0.

CHARL!" Tat/s te same ting * 0ant to do.

TH 4#A'"4at a;;ened6

TH A'" Tis guy 7ame out o+ no0ere.

CHARL!" #ut o+ a 7loset, madam, out o+ te old-stu@

7loset.

TH A'" Tis man 7laims e 7ame ba7 ome.

TH 4#A'"Home6

TH A'" He/s !;ode.

TH 4#A'"4e bougt te ;ra7ti7e and te a;artment

0as 1a7ant8 All do7uments are sealed by te

Pre+e7ture, by te Poli7e Commissioner...

TH A'" 5y te Commer7ial Court, by te Coun7il +or

#rder...

CHARL!" *t seems you are not u;-to-date 0it te

ne0 de1elo;ments.

TH A'" * ne0 it8 *t ad to be me8 #ne does not see

an end to 0at tese ;eo;le 7an do. #ne

mis+ortune u;on anoter...

TH 4#A'"Tat/s enoug, get out, mister8 #r */ll 7all

te Poli7e8

CHARL!" Poli7e is no longer on your side, madam.


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TH 4#A'"4at do you mean6 *+ you don/t get out by

yoursel+, my usband 0ill i7 you out. Ren8

TH A' *t ad to be me8

CHARL!" A+ter all */1e been troug, no one 7an i7

me out: not e1en Ren.

TH 4#A'"*+ you tin tat tis is te 0ay you/ll get

yoursel+ to be a77e;ted8

CHARL!" A77e;ted by 0om, madam6

TH 4#A'"* ad1ise you against ;using +or0ard... 4ata ner1e8

TH A'" Do not try to tae on te ren7, +or

someting te Germans did to you8

TH 4#A'"4e su@ered too, you no068 #n to; o+ tat,

0e stayed in Paris, 0e did not get out to ide, as

oters did8TH A'" You snea in lie tis, you ;retend to be a

;atient. 4ell, no, no, no8

CHARL!" You a1e I days noti7e to lea1e tis ;la7e:

tat/s I days more tan * ad. * lea1e te

#7ial Ga>ette 0it you: read it: it/s an eye-

o;ener.

TH A'" 4e/ll meet in 7ourt, sir.

CHARL!" 5e 7are+ul: ?udges s0it7ed 7am; too.

TH 4#A'"4at are you taling about6


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Dar.

CH#*R"

H Te I-day noti7e lasted!H K monts.

H *n s;ite o+ all te de7rees and te inter1ention o+

te ne0ly-+ormed #7e +or te Restitution o+

Je0is Pro;erties. During te tree years o+ legal

;ro7edures, Carles 0ored ;art-time in a

medi7al 7enter +or Je0is or;ans, on !treet...

!H Paradise. Clara 0ored in a seamstress/ so; +or

male 7lotes. Tis, 0ile tey ad ;lenty o+ time

to understand te e=a7t meaning o+ te 0ord...

H 2de;ortee3.

!H !o, tey +ound out 0at a;;ened to teir

younger daugter, Jeanette. Tey told teir elderdaugter...

H in a letter...

!H be7ause te moter-su;erior, o+ te nunnery tey

too er to, told tem tat se 0as trans+erred at

te beginning o+ MM some0ere...

H in !;ain. Go to te nunnery8

H" %;on teir se7ond 1isit to te same moter-

su;erior, tey suggested to lea1e at on7e +or

!;ain, to tae teir daugter ba7 ome. uite

gingerly, moter-su;erior made tem


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understand tat sin7e teir daugter 0as

in+ormed in 0riting, in an unsuitable manner,

about er younger sister/s deat, se 0as

se1erely so7ed and, +or te time being, +eltse needed to get ba7 on er bearings in a

7alm and stable en1ironment. a7ed 0it Clara/s

and Carles/s des;eration, moter-su;erior

ad1ised tem to 0rite er a letter, +ull o+ o;e,

tat 0ould el; teir daugter get o1er tis

e=tremely ;ain+ul loss. Tey too on tis ad1i7e,

0it Clara stri1ing to 0rite ;ositi1e letters, +ull o+

o;e, tat 0ent all unans0ered to. Tis time

Carles 0ent dee;er into te legal battle +or

7laiming ba7 is ;ra7ti7e.

#THR-!%PR*#R" * a1e good ne0s +rom our

daugter F and yours. !e ased me to send to

you er lo1ing tougts.

CLARA" Tan you. 5ut 0y is se not ans0ering our

letters6

#THR-!%PR*#R" or te time-being se 7ose to

stay a0ay +rom te noise o+ te outside 0orld.

CLARA" Te ;arents are ;art o+ te noise o+ te outside

0orld6

CHARL!" 4en may 0e see er6 #r tal to er o1er

te ;one, at least6

#THR-!%PR*#R" irst o+ all, se 0ants you to

re7o1er your ;ea7e and 7alm as soon as ;ossible


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and, i+ * may add my o0n ad1ise, * suggest you

see strengt and 7ourage in ;rayer.

CHARL!" You 1ery 0ell no0 0e are not ;art o+ your

;aris.

#THR-!%PR*#R" 5ut Je0s ;ray as 0ell: so ;ray.

CHARL!" * do not ;ray: neiter to your God, nor to te

one * allegedly belong to.

#THR-!%PR*#R" * don/t get it.

CHARL!" y 0i+e and * are ateists: and e1en te0ord 2ateist3 7omes 0it a religious

7onnotation too strong +or my taste.

#THR-!%PR*#R" And you 0onder 0y...

CHARL!" * 0onder 0at6

#THR-!%PR*#R" N tat your daugter sees oter

a1enues.

CLARA" 4e are not in 0onder about anyting: 0e sim;ly

0ant to see our daugter, to old er in our

arms and 7ry togeter. * do not see o0 tis 0is

o+ ours is God/s or anybody/s else business.

#THR-!%PR*#R" Put your 0is on ;a;er, and * 0ill

gi1e it to er, 0ile in+orming er o+ your 1isitere. r. !;ode, * a;ologi>e, but tere is one

ting * do not understand. You say you don/t

belie1e in your God, and yet you 7laim to be an

*sraeli, don/t you6


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CHARL!" You may 7all me a Je0, moter-su;erior.

#THR-!%PR*#R" ine, a Je0. ay one be a Je0 0ile

not ;ro+essing te Je0is +ait6

CHARL!" adam, moter, sister, or 0ate1er you

are8 * am too ner1ous no0 to be able to engage

in a dis;ute on te matter. 4ere * not olding a

good gri; on my tem;er, * 0ould start o0ling

loud, 1ery loud.

CLARA" Carles, ;lease...

CHARL!" * do not ?oin my 0i+e in er endea1or: 0at *

0ant, 0at * 7laim is +or er to 7ome ere rigt

no0 and tell me, looing me in te eyes"

2Daddy, * mysel+ de7ided to isolate mysel+, to

0al a0ay +rom te 0orld3.

#THR-!%PR*#R" !e does not 0ant to 0al a0ay

+rom te 0orld: se 0ants to be o+ good use tote 0orld.

CLARA" 5y steering a0ay +rom er ;arents6

#THR-!%PR*#R" 5y 7oming 7loser to te #ne 0o is

one 0it +ait, lo1e, o;e, resurre7tion.

CHARL!" Per+e7t. Let er 7ome and tell me tis. * do

a1e tis rigt, and so does Clara. Tat/s all *0ant. A+ter tat 0e 0ill no longer tal about it.

5ut * 0arn you, in te most ;ea7e+ul 0ay * 7an

manage, tat se is not yet an adult.

A*CA" * 0ill gi1e er your letter.


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CLARA" 4ere is our daugter6

#THR-!%PR*#R" 4ere1er se 0ould be, se is

under His ;rote7tion. 4en you +eared +or er

li+e you gi1e er to us. 4e sielded er +romdanger as best 0e 7ould: but no0 er soul, er

balan7e are in danger: se doesn/t no0 yet

0eter se is meant +or religious li+e, se is still

sear7ing. !e is as mu7 in te dar, as you

are. #nly tat se sa0 a glim;se o+ ligt. !e


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as8 *n MB * trusted you 0it 7aring +or a

Je0is 7ild8

#THR-!%PR*#R" A young girl.

CHARL!" Je0is girl8

#THR-!%PR*#R" aitless. You said so yoursel+. !e

0ill stay a Je0is 0oman, but o+ Cristian +ait,

tat/s er 7oi7e. !e ;rays day and nigt +or

you: you sould ;ray +or er too.

CHARL!" *t/s a treat to 7at 0it you: it/s lie banging

one/s ead against te 0all8

#THR-!%PR*#R" You bang your ead against te

0all be7ause you adamantly ee; 0aling in te

dar.

CLARA" oter-su;erior, ;lease, * beg o+ you, do arrange

+or a 1isit 0it our daugter: e1en +or a sort

one.

#THR-!%PR*#R" Let/s 0ait +or te ans0er to your

letter.

CLARA" 5ut se ne1er 0rites ba78

CHARL!" 4om sould 0e beg to, Clara and mysel+,

0o sould see us tortured in ;ain, so tat 0e

get to see our daugter: te only daugter le+t

to us6

CH#*R"


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H" As +or getting ba7 te dental ;ra7ti7e, tings 7leared

out. 4it el; +rom te Dentists/ #rder, Ren

5ertrand/s ;ra7ti7e 0as mo1ed meters

a0ay, so tat e 0ould not be deemed anun+ortunate 1i7tim o+ te re-integration o+

*sraelis.

#n7e te usur;er ousted, Carles and Clara

re9uested 1ia registered mail, as one +riend

seasoned in su7 issues ad1ised tem, to a1e

teir daugter immediately returned to tem:

and tey 0aited +or te ans0er.

------------ I. onologue-----------

CHARL!" *n my ead * am along er, in te nunnery: *

am drilling a toot and yet * am alongside er,

on my nees, 0it my ands ;ut togeter in

;rayer. 4at am * doing6 Tat is not te ;la7e

+or me, tat is not te ;la7e +or er. * startdrilling again. Te ;atient/s eyes glan7e at my

mout: * try not to bite my lo0er li;: * urt im:

e 7loses is eyes, trembles 0it ;ain, but says

noting. * su@ered so mu7 during te 0ar, and *

still do. * 7ould drill all te 0ay troug is 7ee

and e 0ould say noting: e also su@ered so

mu7. He lost is 0i+e, is 7ild, is ;arents. He7omes +rom 1ery +ar a0ay to su@er a0ay

alongside me. He taes te sub0ay +rom te

!talingrad station: e is ;roud to li1e in te

!talingrad neigborood. 4o do you try to +ool6

Ho0 7ome tere is no oter dentist around your


22/56

ome6 You already told me e1eryting: 0y do

you still 7all on me6 4y are you 7oming all te

0ay +rom te Cateau-Rouge6 Tere/s not e1en

a dire7t sub0ay line8 * lie regular ;atients,normal ;eo;le. Te ind tat ;us my arm a0ay

at te sligtest ;ain, at te +aintest +eeling o+

+ear: * lie tose tat 7ry, tat are 1o7al. Yes.

4en dealing 0it tem * 7annot


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you/re in ;ain, in an our or t0o, tae a sedati1e:

do not 7e0 on tat side o+ te mout by

tonigt. 'e=t session * 0ill ill te ner1e, and

a+ter tat you 0ill ne1er +eel it urting you again.To ;lu7 a0ay te ner1e leading to my ;ain-

7enter, tere is no sedati1e, no remedy: it/s

in7essant, 0it no end in sigt: */m doomed. */m

doomed to 0ander about nunneries or su@o7ate

to deat at te +alse so0er ta;s, along

Jeanette...

Dar.


24/56

----------- . 'igt------------

CH#*R"

H Te 7ildren 0o lost teir ;arents are 7alledor;ans: but tere is no 0ord to name te

;arents or;aned o+ teir 7ildren.

!H" aybe in Yiddis tere is one su7 0ord: tere

must be: i+ tere/s not, one sould be

immediately made u;.

H" A 0ord is missing: ;arti7ularly in Yiddis, one

su7 0ord is missing: a use+ul 0ord to des7ribe

;arents 0o lost teir 7ildren.

!H" or te !;odes, te nigts 0ere longer tan te

days. 5ot 0andered about te ouse, mo1ing

+rom one room to anoter.

H" 2To a1e ouses, 0it rooms ea7, and

a bed in e1ery room, and 0ander about e1erynigt, trying one bed a+ter anoter not e1er


25/56

CLARA" You go.

CHARL!" */m reading te ne0s;a;er, * don/t as

9uestions.

CLARA" And 0at/s in te ;a;er6

CHARL!" Tal about te Tird 4orld 4ar.

CLARA" Already6

CHARL!" Already8 Tey tal about it +or monts, +or

years, and you say Ealready38 Tin tat se got

married and le+t ome. All girls lea1e teir;arents/ ome one day.

CLARA" 5ut ;arents get in return grand7ildren.

CHARL!" 4e 0on/t.

CLARA" Tey be7ome Grand;a and Grandma, E>eide3

and Eboba3. 4at a1e 0e done 0rong, Carles6

*+ 0e 0ere taen a0ay, and not Jeanette, te t0oo+ tem 0ould a1e managed. Tey bot 0ould

a1e +ound good usbands, 0ould a1e named

teir 7ildren Carles or Clara, 0ould a1e told

stories about 0at great ;arents 0e 0ere. And

tey 0ould e1en go to te Tem;le on olidays

and say te ;rayer +or te dead ;eo;le, in our

memory, on te Atonement Day. Iscor amIsruel... Tey 0ould a1e lit 7andles...

CHARL!" #ne is turned to 7inder, te oter one is

buried ali1e. Go to slee;8


26/56

*ntermission

CLARA" Do you re7all te 1a7ation 0e too at Ar7a7on,

in KQ6

CHARL!" 4e 0ere at Ar7a7on in K.

CLARA" /K: you/re rigt. You 7losed your ;ra7ti7e +or a

mont.

CHARL!" Tat 0as in /KQ, 0en 0e 0ent to Houlgate.

CLARA" Tey ne1er sto;;ed running. Tey lauged and

tre0 temsel1es in te 0a1es. And you soutedat tem e1ery t0o minutes to get out o+ te

0ater. 2Tey don/t no0 to s0im and nor do *83

You 0ere al0ays a+raid, Carles, al0ays.

CHARL!" Yes. Tat/s 0at * tougt a +ater/s ?ob 0as"

to 7onstantly 0orry and e=;e7t te 0orst, to

+oresee te 0orst.

CLARA" And te 0orst o+ all e1ils +ell u;on us. * 0as

a+raid too, you no0. * 0as al0ays in +ear +or

tem.

CHARL!" *+ ;arents/ lo1e 0ould be tallied against te

0orries tey arbor on teir 7ildren beal+, ten

no 7ild in tis 0orld 0as more lo1ed tan our

daugters 0ere8

CLARA" Carles, 0at i+ 0e 0ere to do as te nun said68

CHARL!" 4at nun6

CLARA" Te moter-su;erior.


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CHARL!" And 0at did se say 0e sould do6

CLARA" To ;ray.

CHARL!" To ;ray6CLARA" 4at i+ 0e 0ould go ba7 tere and tell tat 0e

0ant to 7on1ert... and ten ;ray, i+ tat 7ould

tae us 7loser to...

CHARL!" 4at is it you say6 4at do you mean6

CLARA" Do not sout: */m ?ust saying. !in7e 0e don/t

belie1e in anyting anymore, 0y 0ouldn/t 0e...

CHARL!" 5ut e=7use me, e=7use me, 0e do belie1e,

0e do8

CLARA" 4e do6

CHARL!" 4e belie1e tat 0e don/t belie1e8 Tat/s our

belie+, our religion" to not belie1e in anyting8

And * am a more +er1ent belie1er in tat by teday. 4at is it you really 0ant +rom me6 4e are

Je0s: Je0s, Clara8 Do you no0 0at tat

means6

CLARA" Any0ay, se said 0e 7ould still be Je0s e1en

0en 0e 7on1erted to...

CHARL!" Clara, go to bed8 Go to bed8 Lea1e mealone8 Let me o;e te Tird 4orld 4ar 0ould

7ome to bring a little bit o+ ;ea7e and serenity8

CLARA" Carles, let/s tal.


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CHARL!" 'o, no, go to bed8 Go to bed be+ore * start

o0ling8

CLARA" Carles, te neigbors are aslee;.

CHARL!" !o 0at6 Do you tin */m a+raid to 0ae

tem u;6 #ur neigbors are aslee;, aren/t tey6

!o tey 0ere 0en ;oli7e 7ame busting into our

ouse8 Tey 0ere all aslee;8 Do you 0ant me to

o;en te 0indo0 and start o0ling6

CLARA" You are im;ossible to tal 0it.

CHARL!" Yes, more so 0en you say stu;id tings.

CLARA" Carles...

CHARL!" !tu;id tings8 Do you ear yoursel+ taling6

You suggest tat * sould 7on1ert. *8 You tin

tat 0en one does not belie1e in #ne God, any

God, it 7omes easy to gi1e u; on one/s

7on1i7tion6 To s0it7 +rom te #ld to te 'e0Testament8 'o one in my +amily, no one e1er

7on1erted teir +ait: ne1er.

CLARA" 5ut tey 0ere true belie1ers, Carles. 4ereas

0e...

CHARL!" 'obody in my +amily, do you ear me6

'e1er, ne1er e1er8 You ear me6

CLARA" 'eiter did it my +ols, 0at do you tae tem

+or8

CHARL!" !o, so, so.


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CLARA" Come to bed: * 0on/t say a 0ord. Tat 0as ?ust

lie tat, +or te argument/s sae: 7ome...

---------- Q. Also during te nigt-----------

CH#*R"

H 4at is a Je06 To not +rustrate s;e7tators in

sear7 +or a 7lear and 7on7ise ans0er to te

9uestion 20at is a Je063 - ;arti7ularly 0en tat

gi1en Je0 7laims to be a non-belie1er, te autor

;resents us 0it t0o o;inions. #ne belongs to

Jean-Paul !artre, 0o allegedly said" 2A Je0 isone 0o does not deny one is a Je0, 0en one

is3. Rigt8 And te se7ond de


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gas-7amber. !e needs to belie1e tat one day

tey 0ill meet again in a better 0orld. Anoter

0orld6 Yes, se +ound a 0ay taing er 7loser to

Jeanette, but +urter a0ay +rom us. As Jeanette,se 0ill ne1er gro0 into a 0oman, se 0ill not

no0 eartly lo1e, se 0ill stay a 1irgin +ore1er,

as Jeanette 0as. 'o, no, se 7annot 7ome to

mourn er uddled in our arms. 'o, se may

not. !e no0s too 0ell tat ere, in tis ouse,

bet0een tese 0alls, te 0ord 2dead3 is a


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same ;rayers. You no0, sometimes, *

un0illingly re7all a ;rayer.

Wherever you are, whoever you are, next time

you build a world, please strive, please strive tomake it so that people would be also able to live

in it.

CHARL!" 4at are you doing6

CLARA" * ;ray. 4at about you6

CHARL!" */m going to bed.

CLARA" 4e sould be a0ae soon8 *t 0ill be a ni7e day8

Dar

----------5itter Herbs----------

CHARL!" *t is tey6

CLARA" 4o else6 You 0ouldn/t tin it 0ere a ;atient.

CHARL!" 4it is mout o;ened, a ;atient suts u;,

but tis one tals e1en 0it is mout +ull.

CLARA" He/s your 7ousin, not mine. Tey/re 7oming,

tey/re 7oming. Tae o@ your s7rubs.

CHARL!" And 0at i+ tere/s a ;atient6

CLARA" Carles8

A" Clara, Clara, let/s ug, don/t 0e6

CLARA" Let/s ug, a=.


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A" A, a, a, on a 4ednesday8

A%R*CTT" *t/s te Passo1er e1ening.

CLARA" A, yes, yes, it/s te Passo1er8A" 4e told oursel1es" tey in1ited us on te !eder,

on te Passo1er 1e8 4e 7annot de7line, 7an

0e6

CLARA" Do you eat oser6

AR*CTT" 'ot e1ery day, but on olidays...

CHARL!" Are you religious ;eo;le6

A" Religious6 4o, 0e6 'o.

A%R*CTT" 'ot really, but 0e sti7 to traditions.

A" or else, e1eryting 0ould go a0ay and 0ould

mean tat Hitler 0on.

CHARL!" He 0on on me.

CLARA" Let/s drin someting8

A" 'o, no, 0e


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a;ologi>e, auri7ette... sit do0n: te a;;eti>ers

are on te table: e/ll 7ome ba7. A, * also don/t

a1e mat>o...

CHARL!" Ready6

CLARA" * beg your ;ardon6

CHARL!" *s it done6

CLARA" 5on a;;etite8 Do you el; yoursel1es or do *

ser1e you6 *t/s not 9uite oser, but i+ you don/t

0ant ;or...

CHARL!" 4ait8 Lea1e it, * am good at tat. Por-am *

name you goose-am8 Ready. 'o0 you may eat8

AR*CTT" 5ut 0o/s eating oser tese days6 #nly

on olidays, and not e1en ten8

A" 'ot e1en ten: only 1ery seldom, yes. Guess

0o died6CHARL!" Re7ently or more distant in time6

A" Re7ently.

CHARL!" * sa0 no one * ne0 in Le onde.

CLARA" 5lumberg6

A" 'o, no, e/s only 1ery si7.

CLARA" Tat 0as my ;oint...

A" 'o, no, e/s bad, but still angs on. Do you gi1e

u; guessing6


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CLARA 4e gi1e u;, a=.

A Tannenbaum8

CLARA A, Tannenbaum8CHARL!" Te ;resident6

A" Te ;resident.

CHARL!" Roger6

A" Yes, Roger.

A%R*CTT" 4at Roger and 0at ;resident are youtaling about6

A" Roger Tannenbaum, te ;resident o+ te

5retren uture.

A%R*CTT" 5ut you didn/t tell me.

A" You ne0 im6

A%R*CTT" 4om6 Tannenbaum6 'o. 5ut * 0ould

a1e lied to no0.

A" 4at/s te status6

CLARA" 'oting ne0. Te same ting.

A" Carles, * 0ould ne1er dare gi1e you te

smallest ad1i7e, but you sould ire a la0yer.CLARA" A la0yer6

A" You sould ire a la0yer.

CHARL!" Tat/s it, */ll tae my daugter to 7ourt8


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A" 4o said to tae your daugter to 7ourt6 *t/s te

moter-su;erior and te nunnery you a77use +or

not gi1ing ba7 your 7ild.

CJARL!" !e/s : se 0ould soon turn B.

A" !e/s under B, not yet an adult: you ire a

la0yer and s7are tem sti@, belie1e me. *+ you

don/t 0ant a la0yer, go at least to meet $a;lan.

CLARA" Rabbi $a;lan6

A" Te Great Rabbi, yes. !in7e e is dealing 0it

su7 7ases, did you see 0at a big s;las e

maes8

A%R*CTT" He s;eas straigt to te Ar7biso;.

A" And e as a77ess e1en iger u;, 0it no go-

bet0een, e ?ust ;i7s u; te ;one and...

CLARA" 4at is tere to loose, Carles6CHARL!" * do not 0ant to mae a +uss, * do not 0ant

tis to be7ome a teologi7al 9uestion bet0een

te Great Rabbi and te Ar7biso;: * sim;ly

0ant +or er to 7ome ba7 be7ause se 0ants to,

;eriod.

A%R*CTT" 4at i+ tey old er against er 0ill68

CHARL!" At years o+ age6

CLARA" !e 0as only M 0en...


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CHARL!" At age , and e1en at M, se still no0s

0ere 0e li1e, 0ere se li1ed: so, i+ se 0ants

to, se 7an 7ome ba7 or at least 0rite.

CLARA" 4at i+ se is una0are tat 0e are ali1e6 4at i+se did not re7ei1e our letters6

CHARL!" Clara, sto; it8 4ere1er se may be, se

still 7an 7ome ere to 7e7 0eter 0e are

dead or ali1e.

CLARA" aybe se 0as ere 0en te 5ertrands li1ed in

our ;la7e and...

A%R*CTT" 4at i+ te nuns do not allo0 er to get

out6

CHARL!" *s tere no desert6

CLARA" Carles, 0e a1en/t e1en ad te main 7ourse.

CHARL!" 4at are you 0aiting +or, ten6 Te 5iglood6

A%R*CTT" Let me el; you.

CLARA" 'o need, * a1e only one tray to tae out o+ te

o1en.

AA%R*CTT" */ll el;.

CHARL!" * 0ould lie a little bit o+ your oser 0ine.

A" Carles, you/re being unreasonable.

CHARL!" $oser.


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A 4e may ne1er a1e a 7alm 7on1ersation: you

tae no ad1i7e...

CHARL!" 'o, no, ;arti7ularly 0en you 7ome to my

ouse to bug me 0it your stu;id ad1i7e. Hire ala0yer, go to te rabbi... a7 time * see you it/s

te same: */m 0aiting +or te day you 0ill send

me to your +ortune-teller8

A" Carles, * 7annot let you tal to me tat 0ay.

CHARL!" You 7annot6 !o 0at 0ould you do6 You/ll

send me te rabbi, or your la0yer6

A" * 7an gi1e you a ;un7 o1er your mout.

CHARL!" Tat/s a good one8 Gladly8 or a 7ou;le o+

years * 0as 0ising +or tat. !o, go aead8 Go

aead" ;un7 me o1er te mout.

A" Carles, * no0 o0 mu7 you su@ered, but *

am...

CHARL!" Cut it out 0it my su@ering: ?ust ;un7 me

o1er te mout so tat * may


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CHARL!" He maes me a ;romise to ;un7 me o1er

te mout and ten e lea1es lie sitty 7i7en.

Come, 7ome8 'o la0yer, no rabbi: ?ust ;un7 me

o1er te mout8A%R*CTT" Carles, you may not tal lie tis on

su7 an e1ening8

CHARL!" Ho0 does one tal on su7 an e1ening6

A" Come, let/s go ome. * a;ologi>e, Clara, but...

A%R*CTT" You/ll burn te table 7lot8

CHARL!" Per+e7t. Tis little interme>>o stirred my

a;;etite. Come, 0at are you doing6 You/re

eating or you/re lea1ing6 Do not e1er in1ite

anyone: not e1er more8

CLARA" * tougt you 0ould be ;leased.

CHARL!" Do you no0 0at 0ould ;lease me6CLARA" * no0, * no0... 4o/s ee;ing you +rom doing

it: you are 0ell a0are o+ te rigt ind o+

substan7es and dosage.

CHARL!" 'itrate mono=ide F a lauging gas, in

ma=imum dose: to die o+ laugter, literally.

CLARA" Tat/s an e=am;le +or you.

CHARL!" 4o 0ould gi1e me te sot6

CLARA: * 0ould, i+ tat/s all rigt 0it you.

CHARL!" Ho0 about you6


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CLARA 4at about me6

CHARL! Yes. 4o 0ould gi1e you te sot6

CLARA" * must stay beind to tae 7are o+ your burial,sut do0n te dental ;ra7ti7e...

CHARL!" And gi1e e1eryting a0ay to te ;oor8 'o,

no, * don/t 0ant to do on mysel+ 0at Hitler did

not manage to do on me: */ll 0ait.

CLARA" You/ll 0ait +or 0at6

CHARL!" or my time to 7ome. 5lessed be Tou God,aster o+ te %ni1erse, 0o made te +ruit o+

te 1ine.

CLARA" 4at did you say6

CHARL!" 'oting. */m ?ust reading te label" 5ordeau=

oser 7erti


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CHARL!" *n Jerusalem or some ;la7e else, togeter.

Dar.

---------- Te Letter ---------B July IK

#THR-!%PR*#R y dear ;arents,

A +e0 days ago * be7ame !ister arie-TrUse o+

Crist/s Resurre7tion. * tougt a lot about you: * am

tining o+ you, o+ your sadness, o+ your ;ain, o+ your

be0ilderment. * ;ray +or you: * a;ologi>e, but tis isall * 7an do. * ;ray +or Jeanette. !e stayed and 0ill

+ore1er last in my eart. *n a +e0 days */ll lea1e +or a

1ery remote ;la7e" a 7ountry 0ere 7ildren die and

;arents grie1e. * 0ant to be all o1er te ;la7es 0ere

7ildren 7ry, 0ere ;arents grie1e o1er teir lost

7ildren, to 7om+ort, 7are, el; tem 0it my +aint

strengt, but 0it God/s el;. Rest assured tat *7arry you in my soul and, 0ere1er 0e may be, 0e/ll

all stay F Jeanette, Clara, Carles and mysel+ F one

+amily: te !;odes. ay tat te Di1ine Gra7e

7om+orts you in your great sorro0 and brings you

7onsolation, strengt and 7ourage.

Your lo1ing daugter,

!ister arie-Terese

CLARA" P.!. You may 7ontinue to 0rite to me, 1ia

!ister arie-Paul, our moter-su;erior, 0o

7onstantly ;asses to me your letters, 0i7 *

read 0it boundless sadness and great ?oy.


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CHARL!" *+ you 0ant to read it again, go into te

oter room.

CLARA" To read again 0at6

CHARL!" Go into te oter room.

CLARA" You go. */m eating. 4at do you no0... e/s

allo0ed to read 0ile eating, 0ereas */m not...


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----------- Te oro77an 4oman--------

5rea+ast

CLARA" Tere/s a letter +or us.

CHARL!" Again6

CLARA" rom GisUle.

CHARL!" GisUle6 GisUle 0o6

CLARA" GisUle in Toulouse.

CHARL!" GisUle in Toulouse6

CLARA" Tat/s in *srael no0.

CHARL!" Toulouse is in *srael6

CLARA 'o. Giselle is in *srael.

CHARL!" Ten 0y do you tal about Toulouse6CLARA" */m not taling about Toulouse, */m taling about

my 7ousin, GisUle. !e 0as 7alled GisUle in

Toulouse to tell er a;art +rom my oter t0o

7ousins, 0o 0ere not +rom Toulouse and 0ere

also 7alled GisUle: tey 0ere bot de;orted.

CHARL!" !o, tere/s only one GisUle le+t6

CLARA" Rigt. Te one in Toulouse. 4o/s no0 in *srael.

4y don/t 0e go too, Carles6 4at/s olding us

ba76 Te Je0s a1e no0 a 7ountry o+ teir

o0n...


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CHARL!" * already a1e a 7ountry and 0as in dee;

trouble be7ause o+ it, tan you 1ery mu7.

CLARA" Carles...

CHARL!" 4at am * to do tere6

CLARA" Te same you do ere.

CHARL!" Tat/s te 0ay to go: mo1e to a 7ountry

0ere te dentists outnumber te de7ayed

teet.

CLARA" 4y are you taling lie tat6 4y6

CHARL!" A 7ountry deemed +or te Je0s must be

im6

CLARA" 'o, no, a Je0is 0oman +rom out tere.

CHARL!" #ut tere, 0ere6


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CLARA" oro77o8

CHARL!" !o6

CLARA" !o, 0at6CHARL!" !o, 0at/s tat to do 0it GisUle in

Toulouse6

CLARA" !e/s looing +or a dental ;ra7ti7e to rent.

CHARL!" 4o/s looing +or a dental ;ra7ti7e6

CLARA" Te oro77an +emale. Te Je0is one.

CHARL!" Tell er to go settle do0n in *srael.

CLARA" * don/t no0 er.

CHARL!" Ten 0y are you telling me about er6

CLARA" !e 0ants to settle do0n in Paris.

CHARL!" * don/t get it. *s se not doing 0ell in

oro77o6

CLARA" !e le+t tere.

CHARL!" Are tere no more rotten teet in oro77o6

CLARA" All er ;atients lea1e oro77o.

CHARL!" 4y6

CLARA" * don/t no0. You/re te one reading Le onde all

day long, not *.

HARL!" Te obituaries ;age, mostly.

CLARA" Her ;atients are lea1ing F so is se.


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CHARL!" Her ;atients are 0rong F and so is se.

CLARA" 4y are tey 0rong, Carles, 0y6 Do you no0

0at * am tining o+6

CHARL!" 4at good it does i+ you tin6

CLARA" * 7annot stand to stay ere. * see a nun 0aling

on te street and * +eel si7: * 7annot stand to

li1e ere any longer.

CH#*R"

H !o, tans to Clara/s stubbornness, Jean Claude,te autor F no0 aged M years and tree

monts F met on7e a 0ee 0it a busty

brunette, 0o s;oe 0it an a77ent, al0ays

7alming, 0earing a sort-slee1ed ;in blouse no

matter te season, 0o ne1er bit er lo0er li;

and 0o, to is great ?oy, 7ra7ed out 0it

laugter to ea7 0ord muttered by Jean-Claude.#+ten, but mostly 0en se ad to go dee; into

is mout, to te so-7alled 0isdom teet, se

ad to tou7 im, or e1en lean on is arm

;la7ing on it te most ;rominent ;art o+ er

blouse. 4en tat a;;ened, Jean-Claude did

not dare mo1e, +or +ear e 0ould loose 7onta7t

0it er. He sto;;ed being 7on7erned 0it ;ain

or +ear, and +o7used on tat strange 0armt e

+elt in a di@erent ;art o+ is anatomy. !o, 0at

!;ode 7ouldn/t a7ie1e 0it ;leas and treats,

te ;in blouse o+ te oro77an 0oman got

instantly. Jean-Claude started to +ranti7ally 0as


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is teet F ;arti7ularly on te days e ad to go

on is 0eely 1isit to te dentist. And +or

de7ades e tougt o+ a sort-slee1ed ;in

blouse to be te most eroti7 and e=7iting item ina 0oman/s 0ardrobe.


48/56

----------- B !talingrad ----------

CHARL!" !;it.!TAL*'GRAD"And 0at am * to do6

CHARL!" Tere are oter dentists in tis 7ity, you

no0.

!TAL*'GRAD"4om 7an * tal to te 0ay * tal to you6 A

dentist 0o no0s 0at li+e is, 0at ;ain is.

4at do you no08 All te dentists * no0, a;art+rom you, are &ionists, and you are te


49/56


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0orry +or me: you sould rater 0orry +or

yoursel+ and rs Clara. A, a good ?oe to tae

+or te road...

Ring.

CHARL!" * a;ologi>e, */m being 0aited +or.

!TAL*'GRAD"4ell, tis is te reason 0y you a1e a

0aiting room, a1en/t you6 Let tem 0ait8

CHARL!" * don/t lie ?oes or lea1ing my ;atients0aiting.

!TAL*'GRAD"r. Carles, a man must turn ea7 misa;

in is li+e into a little ?oe. *t on7e 0as a 5ar

mit>1a ;arty...

CLARA" Carles, te oro77an 0oman arri1ed...

CHARL!" Te legitimate usur;er 7omes to tae o1erer trone. Do you 0ant me to introdu7e you6

!TAL*'GRAD"'o. Just a sort ?oe. You tell me" salom8

Come, r. Carles, tell me salom.

CHARL!" !alom8

!TAL*'GRAD"And * 0ill ans0er you ba7" salom8 You

may laug no0, r. Carles.

CHARL!" */m lauging. *t does not so0, but * am.


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!TAL*'GRAD"1erybody ;re+ers laugter o1er 7rying.

4at is one to do6 4e all a1e to ad?ust

oursel1es, don/t 0e6

Dar


52/56

-------- K Te !i; At !ea---------

CHARL!" 4y is it ro7ing lie tat6CLARA" 4e/re at sea.

CHARL!" Tans, tans +or


53/56

CLARA" Pardon +or 0at6

CHARL!" Hebre0 is lie Cinese to me8

CLARA" You/ll learn it 1ery 9ui7ly. Tere are language7lasses a1ailable, u;on arri1al.

CHARL!" !ee6 * already no0 o0 to moan in

Hebre0...

CLARA Carles8

CHARL!" Let it be8 *t must all 7ome out, all o+ it8 #ne

needs a ne0 man +or a ne0 7ountry.

CLARA" 4at i+ you stu7 your


54/56

CHARL!" Along te boos, te ni7na7s, te toys...

CLARA" All our memories are in storage6

CHARL!" Tey 0ere to ea1y to 7arry tem along.CLARA" 5ut 0e agreed 0e 0ould ee; te ;otos, didn/t

0e6

CHARL!" *+ tey ad room enoug, * 0ould a1e

de;osited mysel+ too, in storage, along te rest

o+ trinets tere.

CLARA" Do you ear 0at * ear6

CHARL!" Yes, * ear.

CLARA" Tis is not all in my ead, is it6

CHARL!" 'o, it is in my ead too. Go and see 0at/s

going on6

CLARA" e6

CHARL!" 4o else6

CLARA. 5y mysel+6

CHARL!" * 7annot e1en 7ra0l, Clara, * 7anOt. Don/t you

see6

CLARA. Carles, tat/s a0+ul.

CHARL!" Yes, tat/s a0+ul, but * am 7almed do0n

no0, at least.

CLARA. 'uns, nuns, nuns all o1er te de7: and singing,

singing8


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CHARL!" 'uns6 4ere are tey going to6

CLARA. To te Holy Land.

CHARL!" 4i7 Holy Land6CLARA. Tere, te same ;la7e 0e go. Tat maes you

laug, doesn/t it6

CHARL!" Tales 0it nuns al0ays did.

CLARA" * +eel * am loosing my mind. Tey sing, mae

?oes, and some o+ tem e1en dan7e.

CHARL!" #ne 0ould tin te boat is ro7ing less.

CLARA" *t/s te same, only tat you got used to it.

CHARL!" Tat/s it. #ne gets used to e1eryting: or

almost e1eryting...

CLARA" Ho0 ni7e tey sing8 * go see.

CHARL!" 4om6

CLARA" #ur ;eo;le.

CHARL!" *+ you


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!H" Tey oat a0ay, and no0 noting about

te Promised Land.

CLARA" Carles8 Carles8 Come u;8 Te land is so0ing8

ui7, you/ll miss e1eryting8 Put on your sunglasses and te stra0 at8 *t/s magnie is rigt, 0e 7ould e1en see

Carles and Clara, so0n ig abo1e te stage

oor, in a glo0ing sunset F e1en toug it/s a

man-made one F as tey dis7o1er te Promised

Land, lost in te 7ro0d o+ ;eo;le o;ing to

+orget and start ane0, side by side 0it nuns,

;riests, ;astors, ;ilgrims F all taen 0itemotion, +ait, o;e.

!H" And i+ te budget is small6

H" Ten 0e 0ill slo0ly +ade te ligting on stage,

and silen7e 0ill +all. Tat is i+ no 7all o+ te

mue>>in 0ill be eard in te distan7e.

THE END

Tragedie En

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Transcript of Tragedie En