A classroom.
THE PROFESSOR (thirty years old. He is reading, to his students.): Dante is a great poet. He wrote the "Divine Comedy" and ...
(Several seconds of darkness.)
THE PROFESSOR (forty years old. He is reading with a bored voice): Dante is a great poet. He wrote the "Divine Comedy" and ...
THE PROFESSOR (sixty years old. He is like a gramophone.): Dante is a great poet..
PUPIL (interrupting him): Why?
THE PROFESSOR (surprised and embarrassed): It is printed here. Sit down and be quiet. Dante is a great poet. He wrote...
CURTAIN
Act 1:
(An old man and old woman are seated at a table, facing each other. Nearby is a calendar.)
Man: How old are you?
Woman: Not bad. And you?
Man: Not bad. (Pause.) What a beautiful day tomorrow will be! (Pause.) Let's tear out the pace, as usual: 10 January 1860. (Pause.) Did you have a good digestion?
Woman: Not bad.
Man: Did you overcome your dyspepsia?
Woman: I ate rather well and digested well. How happy I am!
Man: How happy I am! (Darkness.)
Act 2:
(Same scene, same arrangement.)
Man: How are you?
Woman: Not bad. And you?
Man: Not bad. (Pause.) What a beautiful day tomorrow will be! (Pause.) Let's tear out the page as
usual: 10 January 1880. (Pause.) Did you have a good digestion?
Woman: Not bad.
Man: Did you overcome your dyspepsia?
Woman: I ate rather well and digested well. How happy I am!
Man: How happy I am! (Darkness.)
Act 3:
(Same scene, same arrangement.)
Man: How are you?
Woman: Not bad. And you?
Man: Not bad. (Pause.) What a beautiful day tomorrow will be! (Pause.) Let's tear out the page, as usual: 10 January 1910.
Woman: Oh, God! What a pain in the heart! I'm dying. . . (Falls over and remains immobile.)
Man: Oh, God! What a pain in the heart! I'm dying . . . (Falls over and remains immobile.)
CURTAIN