Eurydice - Father's Lines

Oh! I'm waiting for someone to meet me, I think.

Eurydice.

Do you happen to know where the bank is? I need money. I've just arrived. I need to exchange my money at the Bureau de Change. I didn't bring traveler's checks because I left in such a hurry. They didn't even let me pack my suitcase. There's nothing in it! That's funny, right? Funny--ha ha! I suppose I can buy new clothes here. I would really love a bath.

Eurydice!

What is that language you're speaking? It gives me tingles. Say it again.

Eurydice!

Oooh--it's like a fruit! Again!

Eurydice--I'm your father!

Eurydice--I'm your father. How funny! You remind me of something but I can't understand a word you're saying. Say it again!

Your father.

Shut up, shut up! She doesn't understand you. She's dead now too. You have to speak in the language of stones.

You're dead now. I'm dead, too.

Yes, that's right. I needa reservation. For the fancy hotel.

When you were alive, I was your father.

He is what we call subversive.

When you were alive, I was your tree.

Is there any entertainment at the hotel? Any dancing ladies? Like with the great big fans?

I named you Eurydice. Your mother named all the other children. But Eurydice I chose for you.

Be careful, sir.

Eurydice. I wanted to remember your name. I asked the stones. They said: Forget the names--the names make you remember.

We told you how it works!

One day it would not stop raining.

One day it would not stop raining.

I heard your name inside the rain-somewhere between the drops-I saw falling letters. Each letter of your name--I began to translate.

I heard your name inside the rain-somewhere between the drops-I saw falling letters. Each letter of your name--I began to translate.

E--I remembered elephants. U--I remembered ulcers and under. R--I remembered reindeers. I saw them putting their black noses into snow. Y--youth and yellow. D--dog, dig, daughter, day. Time poured into my head. The days of the week. Hours, months....

I feel suddenly hungry! Where is the porter who met me at the station?

Here I am.

I would likea continental breakfast, please. Maybe some rolls and butter. Oh--and jam. Please take my suitcase to my room, if you would.

I'm sorry, Miss, but there are no rooms here.

What? No rooms? Where do people sleep?

People don't sleep here.

I don't know where I am and there are all these stones and I hate them! They're horrible! I want a bath! I thought someone would meet me at the station!

Don't be sad. I'll take your luggage to your room.

Would you run a bath for me?

Yes, miss.

Scene 6 enter

There is a letter for you, miss.

A letter?

A letter. He hands her the letter. It's addressed to you.

Eurydice wipes the dirt off the letter. She opens it. She scrutinizes it. She does not know bow to read it. She puts it on the ground, takes off her shoes, stands on the letter, and shuts her eyes. She thinks, without language for the thought, the melody: There's no place like home...

Miss.

What is it?

Would you like me to read you the letter?

"Read me the letter"?

You can't do it with your feet. It's addressed to Eurydice. That's you.

That's you.

You. It says: I love you.

I love you?

It's like your tree.

Green?

It's like sitting in the shade.

Oh.

It's like sitting in the shade with no clothes on.

Oh!--yes.

I'm going to find you. I play the saddest music--

Music?

He whistles a note. It’s like that.

Go on.

You know I hate writing letters. I'll give this letter to a worm. I hope he finds you. Love, Orpheus

Orpheus?

Orpheus.

Scene 8 Enter.

Did you get my letters?

No! You wrote me letters?

Every day.

What did they say?

Oh--nothing much. The usual stuff.

Tell me the names of my mother and brothers and sisters.

I don't think that's a good idea. It will make you sad.

I want to know.

It's a long time to be sad.

Teach me another.

Ostracize.

What does it mean?

To exclude. The Greeks decided who to banish. They wrote the name of the banished person on a white piece of pottery called ostrakon.

Ostrakon. Another.

Peripatetic. From the Greek. It means to walk slowly, speaking of weighty matters, in bare feet.

Peripatetic: a learned fruit, wandering through the snow. Another.

Defunct.

Defunct.

It means dead in a very abrupt way. Not the way I died, which was slowly. But all at once, in cowboy boots.

Tell me a story of when you were little.

Well, there was the time your uncle shot at me with a bee-bee gun and I was mad at him so I swallowed a nail.

Well, there was the time your uncle shot at me with a bee-bee gun and I was mad at him so I swallowed a nail.

Then there was the time I went to a dude ranch and I was riding a horse and I lassoed a car. The lady driving the car got out and spanked me. And your grandmother spanked me too.

Remember the Christmas when she gave me a doll and I said, "If I see one more doll I'm going to throw up"?

I think grammy was a little surprised when you said that.

Tell me a story about your mother.

The most vivid recollection I have of mother was seeing her at parties and in the house playing piano. When she was younger she was extremely animated. She could really play the piano. She could play everything by ear. They called her Flaming Sally.

I never saw grammy play the piano.

She was never the same after my fathet died. My father was a very gentle man.

Tell me a story about your father.

My father and I used to duck hunt. He would call up old Frank the night before and ask, "Where are the ducks moving tonight?" Frank was a guide and a farmer. Old Frank, he could really call the ducks.

My father and I used to duck hunt. He would call up old Frank the night before and ask, "Where are the ducks moving tonight?" Frank was a guide and a farmer. Old Frank, he could really call the ducks.

It was hard for me to kill the poor little ducks, but you get caught up in the fervor of it. You'd get as many as ten ducks.

It was hard for me to kill the poor little ducks, but you get caught up in the fervor of it. You'd get as many as ten ducks.

If you went over the limit--there were only so many ducks per person-- father would throw the ducks to the side of the creek we were paddling on and make sure there was no game warden. If the warden was gone, he'd run back and get the extra ducks and throw them in the back of the car. My father was never a great conversationalist--but he loved to rhapsodize about hunting. He would always say, if I ever have to die, it's in a duck pond. And he did.

There was something I always wanted to ask you. It was--how to do something-ora story-or someone's name-I forget.

Don't worry. You'll remember. There's plenty of time.

*In the string room, the father teaches Eurydice how to read. She looks over his shoulder as be reads out loud.*

We two alone will sing like birds in the cage. When thou dost ask my blessing, I'll kneel down And ask of thee forgiveness; so we'll live, And pray and sing and tell old tales....

Tell me another story of when you were little.

Let's see. There was my first piano recital. I was playing "I Got Rhythm". I played the first few chords and I couldn't remember the rest. I ran out of the room and locked myself in the bathroom.

Then what happened?

Your grandmother pulled me out of the bathroom and made me apologize to everyone in the auditorium. I never played piano after that. But I still know the first four chords--let's see. Da Da Dee Da Da Da Dee Da Da Da Dee Da...

What are the words?

I can't remember. Let's see... Da da Dee Da Da da Dee da...

I can't remember. Let's see... Da da Dee Da Da da Dee da...

Da da Dee Da Da da Dee Da Da da Dee Da Da dee da da doo dee dee da. Da da Da da Da da Da da Da Da da Da Da da da... Da da Dee Da Da da dee da...

I'm not a very good singer.

Neither am I.

I got a letter. From Orpheus.

You sound serious. Nothing wrong I hope.

No.

What did he say?

He says he's going to come find me.

How?

I hear him at the gates! He's come to save me!

Do you want to go with him?

Oh--you'll be lonely, won't you?

No, no. You should go to your husband. You should have grandchildren. You'll all come down and meet me one day.

Are you sure?

You should love your family until the grapes grow dust on their purple faces. I'll take you to him.

Now?

It's for the best.

They see Orpheus up ahead

Is that him?

Yes--I think so--

His shoulders aren't very broad. Can he take care of you?

Eurydice nods.

Are you sure?

Yes.

There's one thing you need to know. If he turns around and sees you, you'll die a second death. Those are the rules. So step quietly. And don't cry out.

I won't.

Good-bye.

I'll come back to you. I seem to keep dying.

Don't let them dip you into the River too long, the second time. Hold your breath.

I'll look for a tree.

I'll write you letters.

Where will I find them?

I don't know yet. I'll think of something. Good-bye, Eurydice.

Like the old days. No music. No conversation. How about that.

With Eurydice gone it will be a second death for me.

We're tired.

Do you understand the love a father has for his daughter?

Dead people should be seen and not heard.

How does a person remember to forget. It's difficult.

Dip yourself in the river.

I need directions.