[Group Performance] Ambient Noise

scene #4,5

(When the lights come back up once agian they have a harsher quality than before and are shining directly at the actor, who is standing motionless in the middle of the room. He has taken off his house coat and underneath it is revelaed that he is wearing a kaki t-shirt and a pair of beat up jeans. He is waiting, impatient, nervous. The two characters are disturbing by the sound of a woman's scream.)

VOICE 2 : What's that?

VOICE 1 : Nothing. There is always some carelessness on both sides.

VOICE 2 : But that cry? A woman's cry? A call for help perhaps? It's disturbing. You hear?

VOICE 1 : I told you, you mustn't think about it anymore. And you must stop listening to the sounds from outside.

(The scream is heard again. The second character helps the first to remove the bandages that are wrapped around his face. Underneath another formless mask becomes visible.)

VOICE 1 : But I told them to be quiet. Good thing I remembered to cover the windows with padded curtains.

VOICE 2 : That wasn't a make believe scream.

VOICE 1 : How do we know? And what does it matter?

(A noise is heard, as if something has fallen in the next room, in a natural tone.)

VOICE 1 : Oh what is that? What is it? Can't they leave me in peace. What's going on?

VOICE 2 : Nothing at all. Someone must have dropped something. You're getting nervous.

VOICE 1 : May I have a look outside?

VOICE 2 : Just a quick one because it's getting late.

(Both characters move to a part of the wall stage right where the tear away pieces of the wall so that they can peer out. From behind the wall doors that open on to the theatre are pulled open and through them a very bright light shines. Penetrating the darkness of the room. Both masked character turn to the audience as the army men drop to the floor and the doors close once again blocking out the flood light from outside.)

VOICE 1 : Come over here. Come over here. Have a look outside. Have a look outside. Have a look outside.

(Taking each member of the audience by the shoulders, the masked characters direct them to little peep-holes in the walls. Through these they can see little scenarios involving toy soldiers. The audience may also listen to head phones that are playing cartoonish sounds which are stereotypically connected to war. While the audience look through the peep holes the two masked characters join hands in the centre of the room and observe the audience. Images of glorified war are projected on all walls, lighting the actor and audience simultaneously. After sometime a pink light comes up behind the wall . The room is a glow a hushed voice begins to whisper urgently. The character in the morrored mask stands up on a box and prepareds to tell a story.

-The end of scene #5-

Scene #6-1( Scene 6-1,2,3 would be overlapped in the nearly end bits)

VOICE 1 : It's evening in an apple orchard the sky is calm and pink the earth is bathed in a sudden peace. The moan of doves. The peace that precedes battles. The air is very still. An apple has fallen to the grass.

(The actor grasps the apple through the hole in the wall)

VOICE 1 : A yellow apple. Things are holding their breath. War is declared. The evening is very mild. We're at the edge of the meadows. But suddenly death has pricked my ears. Things are lit up in an ultimate goodness. The water lay motionless in pools. The wind itself was awaiting an order to unfurl the flags. Suddenly all was fire and sword! Splinters of shells had gashed the lemons. Now death was in action.

VOICE 2: Shut up! You liar! Shut up!! (Tossing the apple aside)

VOICE 1 : I wanted to disenchant. You've got to realise that. (pointing to the audience) They need me. I'm like a pool in which they behold thenselves.

VOICE 1 : When it's over, their minds are clear. I can tell from their eyes. Suddenly they understand mathematics. They love their children and their country. It brings consolation.

VOICE 2 : Hell No! None of that. That sort of thing would shoot them into a heaven of abstractions, where they'd hang permanently. You've got to leave them in their living reality. Let there be poems and pictures, but they mustn't give pleasure, they've got to sting.

VOICE 1 : Reality frightens you, doesn't it? Would it preturb you to see things as they are? To gaze at the world tranquilly and accept responsibility for your gaze, whatever it might see?

(sound of gun fire in the distance)

VOICE 2 : Who is it? Our side? Or rebels? Or...someone dreaming?

VOICE 1 : Stop listening. You seem anxious. Has anything happened?

-Scene #6-2-

(Suddenly darkness and the real mournful cries of a baby are heard from the balcony, outside of the TV studio. and it transforms into baby cries of our lives. This noise must have a different quality to all those that have preceded it as it is the sound that will end the performance. The door to the corridor leading out of the TV studio is opened and a wind machine batters the audience as they are ushered out of the TV studio by the actors.

-Scene #6-3-

VOICE 1+2 : Come along...Get out...Get along clear out of here... You've nothing further to do But you've got to leave... Your times up... I don't know what you're doing and I haven't the right to enquire...Don't laeve us alone. Gentlemen you are free. You'll leave by the narrow door that leads to the alley way.

-The end-