SINGLE ACT

Two chairs. One door on the right and one on the left. When the curtain opens, the

scene is empty. Strange, indefinite noises are heard, concrete and not concrete sounds.

concrete. The door on the left opens and LORD ONE quickly enters.

He is a mature, correct and discreetly dressed man. He is carrying a briefcase. It is noticeable

that, in the first moments, he does not look at the room, but is disturbed by what has just
happened to him.

by what has just happened to him. It seems as if he has been forced to enter. Little by little,

little by little, he starts to pull himself together: he looks around, fixes his suit. The door through

he came in has been left a little ajar. A few moments later, the LORD appears through the

LORD TWO appears through the door on the right. He is identical to LORD ONE, and is also
carrying a briefcase.

a briefcase. He behaves exactly like the other one. And his door is also

ajar.

Scene 1

1 LORD ONE - Unbelievable!

2 LORD TWO - Unbelievable!

3 LORD ONE - I was walking along so calmly…

4 LORD TWO - As I usually do…

5 LORD ONE - When all of a sudden…

6 LORD TWO - Unexpectedly…

7 LORD ONE - Where did you come from? Suddenly, he becomes aware of the presence of the
other.

8 LORD TWO - Your question should rather be: how come I'm here? am I here?

9 LORD ONE - Terrific!

Sinking back into his thoughts.

10 LORD TWO - Terrible!

11 LORD ONE - I was walking, or rather... I was on my way…

12 LORD TWO - Exactly! Very important clarification! You, surely, were on your way to.

13 LORD ONE - How could you have guessed that?

14 LORD TWO - I didn't guess, I understood. Because I was also walking, or rather, on my way. I
was on my way to, towards. Because I had a goal, a task.

15 LORD ONE -You take the words out of my mouth. Indeed, I also had my goal. My goal was
there, clear, precise, and towards it I was walking…

16 LORD TWO - You had chosen freely!

17 LORD ONE - Just so, my self-chosen goal!

18 LORD TWO - With clear brain and full discernment.

19 LORD ONE - You read my thoughts. Well, we were in that I had freely chosen my goal and was
walking towards it, straight, steady, when all of a sudden….

20 LORD TWO - Have you been beaten?

In a confidential tone.

21 LORD ONE - Oh, no... And you?

In the same tone.

22 LORD TWO - Please...! Or rather, I don't know, nooo... I don't know.

23 LORD ONE - I'm wondering what happened.

24 LORD TWO - That's the dilemma. Let's see... Humm! All of a sudden it felt as if a gigantic
elephant had clogged the street, or a riot. Although at first I thought it was a flood, and then it
seemed to me more like a kind of verbena or a football match, the noise of a crowd... but there
was so much fog...

25 LORD ONE - Exactly. It's a foggy day today, you can't see very well at four paces.

four paces, but despite this difficulty I tried to reach my target.

to reach my goal.

26 LORD TWO - That you had deliberately chosen!….

27 LORD ONE - That I had deliberately chosen! Everything

was foreseen, I had planned it in the company of my wife.

wife. For many long hours I had prepared everything, everything... We never did anything else in
our whole life...

28 LORD TWO - Everything was clear and perfectly planned in front of me as well. perfectly
planned. Ever since I was a child.

29 LORD ONE - Did you hear anything?

30 LORD TWO - Yes, I did.

31 LORD ONE - As if someone was sawing... or perhaps, rather, something violent and abrupt.

32 LORD TWO - Like a powerful electric saw!

33 LORD ONE - But, my goodness, where would that saw come from?

saw?

34 LORD TWO - Maybe it wasn't a saw... And then, then... something

knocked me to the ground!

35 LORD ONE - What something?

36 LORD TWO - That's what I wonder. The worst thing is insecurity. And why the ground?

37 LORD ONE - You have to fall somewhere. Why shouldn't it be on the floor?

38 LORD TWO - But did I really fall? Obsessive question!

What exactly does the word fall mean when it's used just like that? All I know is that I was lying...

that I had the impression of having been thrown to the ground.

And yet... and yet…

39 LORD ONE - And yet you're not completely sure.

40 LORD TWO - That's right. Otherwise, I have nothing to complain about.

Did you see anyone?

41 LORD ONE - Are there any left?

42 LORD TWO - Presumably. But this fog complicates everything.

43 LORD ONE - The worst thing is not knowing what to expect. An undefinable noise is heard.

44 LORD TWO: And what colour was it?

45 LORD ONE: What? Who?

46LORD TWO: It's hard to explain. It was something that glowed, something pink and at the same
time had grey stripes.

47LORD ONE: Bah, nonsense!

48LORD TWO - Anyway, she was beaten!

After a short pause he approaches LORD ONE.

49 LORD ONE - Me?

50 LORD TWO: Take that! Like me!

51 LORD ONE: The thing is, I couldn't get to the place I wanted to go...

52 LORD TWO - Listen, what if we were to leave now, just like that, all of a sudden… as if nothing
had happened?

53 LORD ONE - No, no!

54 LORD TWO - Are you afraid?

55 LORD ONE - Me... afraid? No! I'm just a bit nervous, a bit out of my depth.

a bit out of my depth. As there's no way of knowing nothing…

56 LORD TWO - That's because of the fog.

57 LORD ONE - Did someone say we can't leave this room?

58 LORD TWO - And who would say that?

59 LORD ONE - Can't you think of anything?

60 LORD TWO - Hey, let's change the subject!

61LORD ONE - I've decided to stay here until things are cleared up.

62 LORD TWO - And why? We can't exclude the possibility of leaving if we want, and continue
our interrupted leave if we want to, and go on our interrupted way.

After all, we don't even know if anything has happened to us. Maybe we were walking and got
lost....

63LORD ONE: Are you saying it was our fault? But, my lord, we knew the way, and we knew the
way, my lord, we knew the way, and we knew our goal!

64 LORD TWO - Of course! It couldn't have been our fault...

65 LORD ONE: No. In that case, what...

66 LORD TWO - What?

67 LORD ONE - How should I know! It's better not to talk about it, and I still

I still think it's better to stay here quietly, as God commands.

68 LORD TWO - Is that your last word…?

69 LORD ONE - That's my last word.

70 LORD TWO - Maybe you're right...? It looks as if

there's someone hanging around.

Pause. Listens attentively.

71 LORD ONE - We don't really have anything to complain about, do we?

to complain about, don't you think?

72 LORD TWO - We don't have any direct reason to complain.

complain.

73 LORD ONE - Do you mean to imply that there is some indirect reason?

indirect?

74 LORD TWO - You're not a fool, my friend!

75 LORD ONE - Let's look at the facts.

76 LORD TWO - Gladly.

77 LORD ONE - So we left our respective homes and set out, according to our plans.

we set out on our journey, according to our plans, going

towards, as you so excellently underlined, our objectives...

78 LORD TWO - It was a clear, beautiful morning….

Interrupting him.

79 LORD ONE - We both had families, wives and children, which was easy to see...

80 LORD TWO - And we knew what we wanted.

Interrupting him.

81 LORD ONE - So everything was going perfectly. We were freshly shaved…

82 LORD TWO - And we were carrying our practical and indispensable briefcases.

Interrupting him.

83 LORD ONE - We were heading towards our targets. We knew

the direction to follow and the signs that, as a precaution, we had not only engraved in our
memory, but also written down in a handy little notebook, Do you agree with everything?

84 LORD TWO - I fully agree. Point by point.

85 LORD ONE - And suddenly, attention! At one point, when we were following a route that we
had already planned in advance…

86 LORD TWO - A route that was the result of our reasonable calculations…

Interrupting him.

87 LORD ONE - A path where everything was foreseen and rethought out,

and then, lo and behold, something happened, which, I should

which, I must make it clear, came from outside, something that did not depend on us, something
that was alien to us.

88 LORD TWO - I think I must raise certain objections on this point.

this point. Since we can't be sure of the nature of what actually happened, since we can't be sure
of the nature of what really happened, since we don't even know if it actually

we don't even know whether it actually happened, either because of the fog, or because of other

the fog, or for other reasons, it follows that we cannot even say that what happened

even assert that what happened, or what did not happen, is due to external causes, which

that what happened, or what did not happen, was due to external causes, nor that they came
from us. that these causes come from us, nor that they come from

ourselves.

89 LORD ONE - You confuse me!

90 LORD TWO: I beg your pardon?

91 LORD ONE: You hinder the course of my thoughts.

92 LORD TWO - In that case, I beg your pardon.

93 LORD ONE - Unfortunately, we are not in a position to decide with a clear

to decide with clear judgement on the exact nature of what has happened.

94 LORD TWO - Well, that's what I was saying!

95 LORD ONE - In that case, kindly carry on.

96 LORD TWO - In any case, I'll try not to disturb you again.

97 LORD ONE - We can't even define to a relative approximation of the nature of what has
happened. It is impossible for us to know the elements of which it was composed…. Were you
saying something?

98 LORD TWO - No, I didn't say anything.

99 LORD ONE - As far as I'm concerned, I thought I picked up an I don't know what pertaining to
the animal kingdom, but I'm not sure... although, maybe, perhaps, it seemed to have something of
the mineral kingdom, or maybe I had the impression rather, of something more related to energy
than to matter.

So, maybe we could define it as a phenomenon related to all the smells, to all the smells,
shapes,colours, weights, lengths, widths, profiles, chiaroscuro, and so on and so on and so on.

These last sentences are said mechanically, as if reciting the multiplication table.

100 LORD TWO - Does it still hurt? As far as I'm concerned, I'm starting to feel better.

101 LORD ONE - Please don't simplify the problem.

102LORD TWO - I just wanted to ask you...

103LORD ONE - The fact is that we couldn't resist the phenomenon, partly of our own free will,
partly because we were looking for some kind of protection, partly because we were forced to go
into this room which was very close at hand at the critical moment. We were lucky that the doors
were open.

Interrupting him.

104 LORD TWO - I agree with you completely. And what conclusions do you draw?

conclusions do you draw?

105 LORD ONE - That's what I was going for, conclusions. Our main

objective, for the time being, has to be this: to keep calm, without losing our personal dignity.

In that way, we will be masters of the situation, since our freedom, in my opinion, has not been
limited in the slightest...

106 LORD TWO: You call it freedom to have to stay here?

107 LORD ONE - But, my lord, we can leave whenever we want!

We can leave at any time we want!

open!

108LORD TWO: Then let's go! We've wasted enough time!

The same noise is heard as at the

the beginning.

109LORD ONE - What was that?

110 LORD TWO - I said we're leaving.

111LORD ONE - Now?

112LORD TWO - Now.

113 LORD ONE - Right now?

114 LORD TWO - Right now, or are you afraid?

115 LORD ONE - Please, sir, not at all!

116 LORD TWO - First you say that personal dignity must be preserved, that freedom must be
preserved. personal dignity, that freedom must be preserved, and now, while there's still time, you
don't want to leave.

117 LORD ONE - To leave now, to leave immediately, would represent a restriction on the
principle of freedom.

118 LORD TWO - What exactly do you mean?

119 LORD ONE - Of course, what is freedom in essence?

Simply, the possibility to choose. While I sit here, knowing that I can walk out of either of those
two doors, I am free. But the very moment I stand up, I will have made a choice, thus limiting my
choices. made a choice, thus limiting my possibilities, I will have lost my freedom, I will have
become a slave to my act.

120 LORD TWO - But sitting here and not leaving is also a choice.

is also a choice. You choose to stay.

121 LORD ONE - Wrong, my lord! I am here, but I can still

I can still leave. On the other hand, if I leave, I exclude the possibility of staying.

122 LORD TWO - And that satisfies you?

123 LORD ONE - That satisfies me! Unlimited inner freedom, that's my answer

my answer to all this mystery that hangs over me....

me... And you, what do you intend to do?

LORD TWO stands up.

124 LORD TWO - Leave. I don't like this at all.

125 LORD ONE - I suppose you're joking.

126LORD TWO - Look, I'm a supporter of external freedom. So long!

To the eye!

127 LORD ONE - Wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute! No

We don't know what awaits us on the other side of those doors.

The two doors close.

Scene 2

128 LORD TWO: Hey! What's going on out there?

129 LORD ONE - Don't lock up! Don't lock up!

130 LORD TWO - Look what we've gained from all this talk!

We could have left.

131 LORD ONE - I don't understand why you're blaming me. If we'd

If we had sat still and stayed quiet, as God intended, the doors wouldn't have

the doors wouldn't have closed. It is you who provoked them.

132 LORD TWO - There's no one to prove that.

133 LORD ONE - It's all your fault...

134 LORD TWO - Hey, you, you outside, open up! He goes to one of the doors, and tries

in vain to open it.

135 LORD ONE: Take it easy, man!

136 LORD TWO - Why should I take it easy?

137LORD ONE - Ah... I don't know!

138 LORD TWO - Nothing! Locked! He goes to the other door and knocks on it.

knocks on it.

Listen.

139 LORD ONE: Make yourself comfortable, for God's sake!

140 LORD TWO - Well... And how is your inner freedom now?

141 LORD ONE - I have nothing to reproach myself for: my freedom is still intact.

142 LORD TWO - But now you can't leave.

143 LORD ONE - My freedom has the same possibilities as before.

as before. I have made no choice. The doors were

closed for external causes. I have not even moved...

144 LORD TWO - These doors are getting on my nerves!

145LORD ONE - My dear sir, we still have a wide range of possibilities.

of possibilities, even though of their infinite number

we have lost two alternatives. We will remain unscathed, we will not choose.

146 LORD TWO -What do you think is going to happen now?

147 LORD ONE - Do you think what will come next will be worse?

148 LORD TWO -If I start banging on the walls, there might be someone on the other side

and hear us.

150 LORD ONE -Scchhhhhhhh!... Schhhhhh!... Hey! Haven't you noticed?

He's the only one who saw the hand.

To LORD TWO, who continues
pounding on the walls.

151 LORD TWO: That's a new one!

He turns away. LORD ONE

gestures to the intruding hand.intrusive hand. The hand calls out to him, andLORD TWO approaches. The
hand points to the shoe thatLORD TWO has in his.
The hand makes a gesture that could be interpreted as a plea or as a demand. The LORD TWO, not without
hesitation first, leaves the shoe in the living hand. The hand disappears and reappears without a shoe. At a
further indication, LORD TWO takes off the other shoe and hands it to him. The hand disappears and
returns, this time to touch LORD TWO's stomach a couple of times. He thinks for a moment, takes off his
belt, and hands it to the hand. The hand disappears and returns, now without a belt. Then he makes an
inquisitive gesture in the direction of LORD ONE.

152 LORD ONE: Is it me...? But, I haven't struck any blow, do you understand... I didn't make any
choice. Although, yes, and I don't have to hide it, when this gentleman started to bang on the
walls this gentleman started banging on the walls, I didn't cease to I did have some hope. With a
bit of luck, someone would come along and... I'll admit that, even gladly...

Objection! I don't understand why I have to to get rid of my shoes... Well, but my inner freedom

is still untouched, for the record. I'm coming, I'm coming!

You can see for yourself that I've got a knot I've tied a knot... Don't get the wrong idea.

stopping from time to time,

as he speaks. The hand has not its demanding sign.

Personally, I have nothing against you and...

Now, I am determined to defend and preserve my inner freedom, unlike this gentleman.

my inner freedom, unlike this gentleman. And that I protest, I just want us to be treated
individually, each according to our own convictions... Yes, yes!

Right now! I don't think he's in such a hurry!...

There you go... No, I'm not wearing a belt, I'm wearing braces. But I don’t, I have to tell you that if
you want... Curious all this, very curious... You know what I say? Well, you should clean your nails
from time to time, you need to… Thank goodness I'm wearing clean socks!

The hand points to his shoes.

LORD ONE bends down and starts to begins to untie them.
LORD ONE leaves his shoes on the floor.
The hand points to his stomach. LORD ONE unbuttons his waistcoat and his removes his braces.
Handing over shoes and braces. The hand disappears with them, and the door closes again.

153 LORD TWO - You are a repulsive peIota, my lord.

154 LORD ONE - Have I upset you in any way?

155 LORD TWO - And what am I making noise with now?

156LORD ONE - What's it to me? I think I'm going to sit down. He sits down again.

157 LORD TWO: How handsome you look there, so still, with your inner freedom intact.

your inner freedom intact; be careful not to lose your pants too!

your trousers too!

158 LORD ONE: What about you?

159 LORD TWO - Tell me: what do you think is going to happen now?

160 LORD ONE - I repeat what I said before. The hand in question

has deprived me of the possibility of walking

to walk quietly in my shoes, and of wearing my trousers

trousers properly fastened. But what is the real importance of

What is the real importance of such a fact? Inside me, I am still totally free.

I have not allowed myself any gesture and here I am, pregnant with possibilities of action, within
the flowery field of what we could call field of what we could call possibilities.

You, however... you have already made your choice,

and you have made a fool of yourself... you are no longer free!

161 LORD TWO - You deserved a slap in the face, but we have more important things to think
about.

162 LORD ONE - Right. For example: what are they going to do with us?

163 LORD TWO - They always start with the same thing, belts,

what if shoelaces, what if braces?

164 LORD ONE - And why?

165 LORD TWO - So that we don't hang ourselves.

166 LORD ONE - Don't talk nonsense! How could I hang myself? I know I could do it, but I
haven't even thought about it. I know I could do it, but it didn't even cross my mind.

I know I could do it, but it hasn't even crossed my mind. Anyway, you know my point of view.

167 LORD TWO - A point of view I've had enough of...

168 LORD ONE - That's up to you. Well, if, as you say, the hand doesn't want us to take our lives,
that indicates it intends to keep us alive…. That's a good sign.

169 LORD TWO - That's precisely what worries me, because it seems to indicate that he

seems to indicate that you think of us according to very precise categories: life and

categories: life and... what do you call the other?

170 LORD ONE - Death, isn't it?

171 LORD TWO - That's right, death.

Pause.
172 LORD ONE - I remain calm, completely calm.

173 LORD TWO - Listen, if you felt like doing something right now, what would you do?

You should know that they've taken off your shoes and your suspenders.

your shoes and also your braces.

174 LORD ONE - Infinite variety of things! I could, for example, take off my jacket and put it on
inside out, I could roll up my trousers and pretend I'm a fisherman....

175 LORD TWO - And what else?

176 LORD ONE - Well... singing.

177LORD TWO - Thank you, that's fine. He rolls up his trousers, puts his

jacket inside out and takes off his socks.

takes off his socks.

178 LORD ONE: What are you doing? Have you gone mad?

179 LORD TWO - I'm going to play fishing, and on top of that, as a tip, I'm going to sing.

I want to make the most of all my action. It's even possible that the hand will like the people

who go fishing, and go and let us go free.

Who knows? I think you have to try everything. If I asked him about what he could do, it's
because I recognise that you have a greater capacity for imagination. I must admit that I would
never have come up with such concepts as this one of inner liiiiiiiiiiiberty.

180 LORD ONE -Do as you please, but remember that I will not move from this place.

that I will not move from this place.

181 LORD TWO - I don't care! If that amuses you...

The coasts of Levante,

beaches those of Lloret,

Blessed are the eyes

that see you again...

Humming, humming, humming...

My friends,

Marina, where is she?

For your happy arrival

She went to the temple to pray.

He's coming, Jorge, look at him…

He climbs on one of the chairs, pretends to fish, and begins to sing.

The door opens slowly, and the hand reappears.

Scene 4

182 LORD ONE: Look, there it is again, because of you! Eyes fixed on the hand.

183 LORD TWO - And what do you know if it's my fault? Maybe it's

to let me go, and, in that case, you're going to stay here alone...

here all alone... Yes, yes, I'm coming... What do you want me for this time?

This time? The jacket? With pleasure. But, Man, is it forbidden to fish here?... Listen, it was

a joke, a game, a joke, an innocent pastime,

do you understand? I'm not really a fisherman. The

The fisherman is that gentleman... No, no, no.

The trousers no... I refuse!... Well, well, if you're like that..,

well looked at... as you like!

The hand calls out to him.

The hand makes you understand that what he wants is thejacket.
The hand insists. LORD TWO hands the jacket to the hand, which
disappears with it, but instantly returns and demands the trousers.
The hand closes in a gesture LORD TWO removes his trousers.

184 LORD ONE: Maybe I also have to...?

Here, I had already taken it off. without making any resistance, I draw your

to this circumstance… Always at your disposal... Could you keep my trousers as a reward for

my magnificent spirit of spirit of collaboration... Well, well, if my

suggestion is not considered opportune, I won't be the one to create difficulties...

Uncle pig! Look what happened. all because of your foolish and absurd mania to play fishermen.

playing fishermen.
Standing up. Waiting for a reaction from the hand for a reaction that doesn'tcomes.
Resigned, he begins to take off his jacket.
Meanwhile, LORD TWO has taken off his trousers, revealing a pair of striped pants that go down to his knee.
His hand takes his pants and then immediately to point to LORD ONE. The latter hands the
jacket to the hand, which disappears, only to return a few moments later.
a few moments later.
The hand makes a negative gesture. LORD ONE takes off takes off his trousers and hands them
hands them to the hand. He is wearing identical pants to those of LORD TWO. The hand
disappears, and the door closes behind it.

185 LORD TWO - I seem to remember that the idea was your original one.

186 LORD ONE - But it was you who insisted on implementing it!

I'm cold!

187 LORD TWO - I have the impression that they would have demanded our trousers even if I
hadn’t even started playing fishermen.

188 LORD ONE - No. I'm sure it was your antics that put us in such an unfortunate situation.

You made him to look at our suits. If you had had the good taste not to roll up your trousers, we'd
still have them on.

189 LORD TWO: And what was I going to do? Fishermen always roll up their trousers...

always roll up their trousers...

190 LORD ONE: Well... But who told you to do all this nonsense?

all that nonsense?

191 LORD TWO - As you may have already observed, come on, I say, our views and our attitudes
are quite different.You don't do anything in order to keep your chances of doing everything
possible intact. I, on the other hand, try to do everything I can think of.

But apparently here you can't even keep your pants on.

192 LORD ONE - You've devoted yourself to the noble art of throwing stones at your own

own roof, my lord.

193 LORD TWO - I beg you to allow me to insist on what I said before: no one could prove that it
was I who provoked this trouser incident.

194 LORD ONE - Be that as it may, I presume you are completely convinced that my position on
the problem is far superior to yours?

195 LORD TWO - Listen, in what respect do you think your position is superior to mine?

196LORD ONE - It's obvious. With a much lower expenditure of energy, I have obtained identical
results. Even you can see that my pants have identical stripes to yours.

And what's more, I still retain my feeling of inner freedom intact...

197LORD TWO - One more word about your inner freedom and I'll kick you in the face!

198 LORD ONE - You are unjust! Every human being has the sacred right to practice whatever
philosophy he wants. By leaning back.

199 LORD TWO: Look at you! I'm going under your right... I can't stand it any longer!

I can't stand it any longer!

200 LORD ONE - I warn you that I'm not going to defend myself.

To defend myself would be to choose, and that's something that would be an attack on me...

201LORD TWO - My... what?

202LORD ONE - My freedom... Don't you lay your hand on me!

Do you hear me... Do not lay a hand on me!

LORD TWO throws himself upon

LORD ONE, who, in turn, tries to escape.
They chase each other across the stage. The door opens.
The hand reappears and beckons to them.
They both stop.

Scene 5

203 LORD TWO - Is it me?

204 LORD ONE - Is it me?

205 LORD TWO - I'm sure it's you.

206 LORD ONE - You're the one who started the fight. Now it's your turn

to accept your punishment.

207 LORD TWO: Me? You! You and your ridiculous philosophy of freedom!

208 LORD ONE - If you think you're going to be able to maintain

this absurd stance indefinitely….

The hand calls out to both of you.

209 LORD TWO - Look at that. It seems as if he wants to ask us again

something...

210 LORD ONE

LORD TWO - Something!

211LORD TWO - It's ignominious!... Shall we go?

212LORD ONE - I think we have no choice.

They approach the hand, and it binds them with handcuffs.

The hand disappears and the door closes.
LORD TWO drags LORD ONE behind him, and sits in his chair.
sits in his chair.
Pause.

213 LORD TWO: What's this all about now?

214 LORD ONE - Doesn't it seem to you that things are getting worse and worse?

For God's sake, say something!

215 LORD TWO - I'm afraid…

216 LORD ONE - What are you afraid of?

217 LORD TWO - Up to now, the hand has been gradually

limiting us in our possibilities of action.

Who can say for sure that it will not now force us into greater limitations?

once limited in space...

218 LORD ONE - What do you have left?

219 LORD TWO - Limitations in time, in our existence.

Pause.

220 LORD ONE - I don't know... Do you realise? Men of action, like

men of action, like you, use up their energy more quickly.

I, on the other hand, keep unscathed

221 LORD TWO - No!!!! He suffers an epileptic seizure.

222 LORD ONE - I'm sorry if I made you a bit nervous.

223LORD TWO - Where am I?

224 LORD ONE - Do you have a plan?

225 LORD TWO - There's only one thing we can do.

226 LORD ONE - What is it?

227 LORD TWO - To ask for forgiveness.

228 LORD ONE - Forgiveness? For what? We haven't done anything to you.

I think it is she who, if anything....

229 LORD TWO - That doesn't make sense. Forgiveness should be asked for

security reasons, forgiveness should be asked for in general, for no particular reason.

You have to know how to deal with it.

230 LORD ONE: No! Never! Such a thing... is against my principles!

Principles! I refuse! And I consider that I have no reason to give explanations for this refusal.

231 LORD TWO: It's logical, I understand perfectly. Asking for forgiveness would be a choice, and
so on, and so on, and so on.

232 LORD ONE - You're right.

233 LORD TWO - Well, as you wish. I, for one, am going to

ask for forgiveness. There is no choice but to humble oneself.

Maybe that's what the hand is waiting for.

234 MR ONE: I... I'd be happy to do it... but anyway... you must understand.

235 LORD TWO - In that case...

236 LORD ONE - Wait a minute! I think I've found the solution.

You see, you force me to go with you. In this way. There is no choice on my part. I limit myself to
being forced by force.

237 LORD TWO: Excellent! Come on!

The hand appears.

Scene 6

238 LORD ONE: Maybe the most appropriate thing would be some flowers, a box of chocolates,
you know what I mean. any little something for the hand... You first!

In a low voice. They both move

towards the hand. LORD TWO
clears his throat and prepares to
prepares to deliver his speech.

239LORD TWO - My most honoured and respected hand! I wanted to say...

your eminence, your illustrious, your lordship....

Your Highness! Starting from the obvious fact that you consider our persons to be of little or no
interest, I wanted interest in our persons, I wanted, in spite of everything,

to express in a few humble, simple and straightforward

words, coming from the depths of our hearts…

Well, what we really wanted was rather to make a kind of confession… and not only that, but also

that, but also condemned, confessed, contrite and humble, to sincerely ask for their

sincerely ask for forgiveness, because... Listen, why do we ask for forgiveness?

240 LORD ONE: Well, because we were passing this way when we were going

towards our objectives, and, then....

241 LORD TWO - Well, because we were passing by here on our way to our targets, and then...

our targets, and then... Excuse me, I'm not a speaker... The thing is that we have always...

you understand me, forgive us, because we have always been...

We will be eternally grateful to you, because we have always been...

Your Highness, our highly respected lady Hand,

you know what happens... life... We, on the other hand,

know nothing What can poor people like us know?

we are nobody... Well, and that since what has happened... what has happened, well, that..,

that... Well, we can only ask for forgiveness.

We're very sorry, we're devastated, and we ask you

and we ask you to forgive us. Allow me...

Allow me... Dare I?... Yes...

Well, allow me in the most humble

most humble, most submissive way, to have the supreme honour of kissing your august Hand.

He gives it a ceremonious kiss.

242 LORD ONE - As for me, I also entreat, though only in part, since I have been only in part,
since I have been obliged to everything by this gentleman here present... You know my

principles... Well, that's just it... that, though by force, I beg, I beg, full of humility and prostrate at
your feet, pardon and feet, and a thousand times pardon.

Ceremonial kiss. At this moment, the other door opens

and another hand with a red shirt cuff. The new hand calls out to them.
The LORD TWO is the first to notices his presence.
The two turn their backs to the first hand.

243 LORD TWO - Look there!

244 LORD ONE - Another hand!

245 LORD TWO - That's logical. Hands usually come in pairs.

246 LORD ONE - And he wants us to go.

247 LORD TWO - Shall we go?.... I don't quite understand all this.

The first hand places on

LORD TWO a comical little
vervain cap on his head.

248 LORD ONE - It's getting ugly... It's getting dark!

The second hand places a similar party hat on the head of LORD ONE

249 LORD TWO - When someone calls, you have to go.... Orders are orders!

They bump into each other.

They try to help each other.
They back up, they bump into each other again,
and they gradually move closer and closer
to the centre of the scene, thus approaching the second hand.

250 LORD ONE - The briefcases! We've forgotten the briefcases!

251 LORD TWO - That's right! Where's my briefcase?...

Always with your party hats on, they are always busily looking for their briefcases, which they had left
their briefcases, which they had left next to the chairs.
At last they finally find them, pick them up and to the second hand.
Goes dark.