2017

Characters:

Elena

Mary

Jurga

Gabija

First mover

Second mover

PART I

I

A room from times of Stalin. Key turns in the lock, Elena comes in with both movers. They look around the room.

Elena

You see what a mess it is here? It needs to be moved.

Second

And thrown away?

Elena

Why to throw away a good thing? Put it somewhere, in the corridor for example.

First

Here on the wall, on the right, it’s leaking.

Elena

It rains so it is leaking. Fix it.

First

Renovation is going to cost extra.

Woman doesn’t reply. She looks around the room, goes through pages of books, piled on the table.

First

Do you understand, miss?

Second

Maybe I’ll go for the tools.

First

And take the ladder from the back.

Elena

Reads from the notebook

Oh, just listen: “With the most gentle dawns shining upon / The Old castle of Kremlin. / Every morning happily wakes up / Our free country.” Everything has stayed just the way I left it.

She opens the closet, futzes into clothes, throwing them into a pile. Second comes back with tools. They try to fix and neat the room.

First

Where to put this?

In his hands he holds a portrait of Stalin.

Elena

And what to put in its place?

Second hangs a portrait of Lenin.

Elena

As you wish, I don't care.

She finds a black dress in the pile of clothes.

Hey, don't take away the iron. Can’t you see it’s rumpled?

Second mover brigs iron to her. Woman irons the dress.

Elena

I remember, once I wore this dress to work. I was twenty two, I wanted to look cute and feminine. I had regained the weight, had boobs, angel face, short… When men are looking at women like that, they always get saliva flowing in their mouths. But they still were afraid of me.

She irons.

First

Have you noticed that as they getting older, women love to talk about their incredible beauty?

Elena

What do you mean? I’m twenty six.

First

Forty six.

Elena

Twenty six.

First

Forty six.

Elena gets angry.

Elena

These are my memories… Fuck you asshole, if I say I’m twenty six, it means I am twenty six.

Second

Wow…

Elena

During the war I talked even stronger. You sit in the forest, half in the swamp, ears up as if you’re a rabbit and curse in your head instead of praying.

First

Show us your medals.

Elena

Do your job.

Woman irons her dress. Men fix the hole in the ceiling.

Elena

Out of all the places I have lives, I remember the best this twelve square meters room with leaking roof. I remember the smell, like a freshly smashed mushrooms. They were always mold on the ceiling, I just cleaned it and here it was again. Just clean it and here it is again. Well, it’s an old humid house after all. Burgeois used to live here, then it was divided for three families.

She hangs ironed dress, takes things from the bed and sits on it.

Behind the wall I often heard Ivanovs. Both worked in ferroconcrete factory, had three children. They were whispering like a cautious rats, quietly, like through a thick carpet I heard their steps: tap tap tap. Sometimes at night I listen intently and heard springs moving in their family sized bed and I would feel so lonely, I would caress my shoulders, as if I would be caressing someone else, not me.

And didn’t have a family then. Actually, I was all alone – my brother hanged himself before the war, mother and father would share some food when I visited them, would ask how I was doing but very cautiously, too politely, as if I was a stranger. They became like this after the war. Like they were wearing plastic masks instead of normal faces. They look at me, smile but you have absolutely no idea what is going on inside of them. Ah, I decided that if they don't need me, I’ll be okay without them. That I will know how to take care of myself. I always have. (She quickly brushes a few tears) And you, go back to work, work you need to take those, too.

She stands from the bed and packs the sheets. Everyone is taking away things from the room. Elena picks a photo from the floor.

Elena

Just look, my husband… Just as I remember him, a little bald, snub-pig-nosed. Under the belly covered in dark thick hair there was a tiny piss smelling string. I was saying hello to his wife everyday. She worked as a nurse in a school. She would always kindly smile to me, her front tooth was golden.

First

You didn't really love your husband?

Elena

Well, it was always changing in a way.

Elena lifts shoes.

With these… I was wearing these shoes to the funeral of Stalin. It was a cold beginning of the spring. We were standing herded into a pile and were listening to the speeches about the death of the leader. I also had prepared one but I got nauseate and stayed in the crowd. I was standing, listening to what my colleagues were saying, nodded to acquaintances and cried right in front of the camera. Everybody was looking at me, their staring was burning my back! They were torturing us for a long time, my feet got frozen – and for good, I thought. Here, now I go and die. I came back home, ran to the bed and were lying there for a long time. I didn't drink nor eat, just lied there numb, as if I was not there. Next day I went to the woman who used to do abortions. She looked at me and said she was not doing ones so late in pregnancy, that a surgeon was needed. He would cut my belly and would take it out. Then would throw the left overs into a water bucket, if the child would still be breathing. Like a live carp. She gave me the address of the surgeon who was doing that and said goodbye after scolding me for coming so late.

The next day we went to the funeral of Valdas’ wife. Everyone was gossiping about us, I saw babas glancing at me like wild animals. As if I had killed her… But it was Valdas who started it all, I was all alone. I thought they are just going to divorce peacefully. Valdas told me they were not sleeping at the same bed for a long time. And she, the idiot… (pause) Right after that I felt as if I got a cold shower. I didn’t want anymore neither husband nor child nor home… Then I calmed down, I still had to live. Her ghost used to watch me – sometimes I would wake up at night because something was weighing my chest and I would be grasping for air. And for him nothing would be happening. He would only dream beautiful dreams. That asshole got lucky even though all was his fault.

Second

By the way, I have recently read in a book with conversations about the past that after the WWII many men didn't come back or came back crippled. Those war heroes who were most mutilated, without arms and legs were brought to the town hall to attend a ceremony were they were given medals. “Don’t take away heroes to the cripple house” asked one of the widows. And after the ceremony lonely women picked men and brought them home, they must have missed love terribly. In that memoir book is told that almost all of them later brought men back because they realized not only their body had been damaged but also devil knows what was happening in their heads…

Elena

I haven’t heard about things like that. War happened a long time ago…

(She is picking up things. She stops.)

tooth of hers Valdas took out before putting her into a casket. At least that’s what people used to say and I never dared to ask if it is true. There are many things I didn’t have time to say to him. Probably there is nothing left out of my husband’s body, just bones and pieces of cloth… It would be interesting to see it.

First looks at his cellphone.

First

Was it all you were thinking of on your last day on earth? My app is saying that now is 1973, 29th of April, five to one.

Second

As I see, we packed all the things, fixed the walled. So… It’s time to log out.

Elena

And I’m still in 1953.

First

Miss, the app says that now is 1973, 29th of April. We are late!

Elena

I used to be in 1953 often. Even that last day when I was standing in front of class of fifth graders and taught history of communist party I was smelling mycelium and remembering my youth, which had passed so quickly that I didn't even notice it, and I realized it was only going to be sadder. That day my head hurt and my tongue felt like a rock, I could barely move it. A few students were laughing, maybe they thought I was drunk? I finished the class earlier, on my way home I tripped a few times in the corridor as if legs were not mine. I neared home and felt so sorry for myself. I rarely felt like that and then the earth was splitting under me. I went straight to the phone when I got home, I needed to get a doctor – my face and hands went numb and I felt something was wrong. “I’ll just phone Mary before that” I thought and all went dark. “What? Is that it?” I wanted to ask but I’m not sure I had time for that.

Men put her to the bed.

Elena

“What? Is that it?” were my last words and then…

Men put a cloth on the woman.

Mary runs to the stage.

Mary

When I heard she passed away I couldn't believe it, it seemed like a dream. I lighted a candle and went to work and got three days off.

Men take away the bed. Mary brushes the floor and looks around the room.

Years passed by and we moved in to her apartment. We needed to do a renovation there.

II

Mary is putting things she takes from the backstage in the room.

Mary

While others drink coffee during breaks, I run to the shops to look for deficiency products. You need everything – hunters’ cotton, linen, wallpaper glue, floor paint, nails, cervelatta sausages, ribs, condensed milk, better coffee, woolen yarns, foam, child shoes, rompers, washing powder, towels, scraps of carpets, clay jugs and vases… Last week I found a beautiful wooden candlestick in the art factory, and I got into an argument with a molly, she, you see, she needed it too, out of a sudden. I gave it to her, choke on it, I was thinking, I will get a better one anyway.

I didn’t dare to take mom’s savings at first, it seemed as if I was doing something wrong. The party paid for the funeral, for the tombstone, too. So I got a man to do a fence. Algis didn't want to take my mother’s money, too. But we lacked some at the end of the month so we took a little. And then it was natural somehow…

She is putting things.

On Monday I was very pissed. Director called me to his office, I got truancy. Yesterday for half a day you were not in the office, he said. How come half a day? For around three hours. What was I doing, he asked. I confessed I was in line for wood varnish. It seems they put out some since it was going to expire soon. So I got a bucket of it and brought it home. So, I was thinking, I would just get these doors done quickly. Algis had gotten a good brush, one two and done. But, you know how it is with the varnishing – you put down the papers, you have to change… I told the director I was sorry and I would not do that again. When Algis saw my work, called me shitty hands – there and there were my hair stick to the door, he said he would have done a better work. What do I know, I wanted to do better. So now, the senior, who I guess is the one who told on me, sits and watches me so that I wouldn’t take too long to drink my coffee. Just keep getting me things to do so I wouldn’t sit still even though others are picking their noses or going for a smoke every fifteen minutes. Horrible molly, I have no words.

She is putting things and humming a melody from a motion picture “Devil’s bride”.

Yesterday I only fell asleep around four and I had to get up at seven. I feel like I’ve been hit by a car. Nerves, always the nerves. It seems, everything is okay, why to worry? I drink valerian but I still can’t shake the fear. I feel it is not going to last, that this normal life is going to end: Algis is going to fall in love with another woman or get hit by a car, I will have a miscarriage or I will die during the birth, brother will take away the apartment, the manager will set inspectors on me and I will be shamefully fired, Yankees will drop a bomb on us…

She is putting down things.

I met Algis in a dance in 25th school. He asked me to dance, then walked me home… We started going out. Mom called me a whore. According to her it was abnormal to love someone while still at school. In a year we graduated school and decided to get married. His parents gave money for the rings and my dress. Mom paid for the restaurant where we hanged out with witnesses and relatives. And that was it. At first we lived at his parents, in an unheated veranda and then I inherited an apartment… (she quiets down)

My mother didn't like Algis, he was too low for me. Well, just not trying too much in life. He likes to listen to music, play guitar, visit friends. He wasn’t even in Communist Youth league and because of that he didn’t get into college and didn’t even try again. Mom used to say that Algis was sloth and he was only using me. Sometimes I remember her words when I get angry at him, it aches.

She is putting down things.

And maybe I just don’t know how to love? Well, let's say Algis. Sometimes I feel I could do anything for him and sometimes it seems like there is nothing in common with that person. Once, when he came back home drunk, he hit me on a cheek. Of course, I’m the one to blame, I started shouting at him. We had to go to the lake next day and I knew he would have such a long hangover that probably we would just stay at home. He went to the bedroom and I went to sleep in children’s room. I heard him snoring like a tractor. All night I was thinking what to do – is he going to beat me from now on or was it just this once? What should I do if he did it again? Next day we made up and pretended nothing happened.

She is putting down things.

Today I was talking to Birutė, the neighbor from downstairs. She says she misses my mom, that she sort of, remembers Elena, that she used to love me a lot, that I was the one for her. And so goddamnly sad that Elena is not going to see her grandchild... The old lady is talking and watching if I will cry. I didn’t cry in the funeral so everyone kept waiting for my fountains of tears. I have no time to cry, I need to live my life. I would never bring my child up as she had brought up me.

It seems like I love him a lot now, before he’s even born and I’m waiting for him… I want it to be boy, it is much simpler for them in life.

Doorbell. Mary lets the movers in.

First

Hello, we got a call via app, it says you need to move.

Mary talks to the Second mover.

Mary

Jesus Christ, is it you Tom?

Second

You mixed up something.

Mary

Don't you recognize me? It’s me, Mary.

First whispers to the Second.

First

Pretend to be the one she thinks you are. It’s her memories, let it be.

Second

Aaah... Mary, yes... I didn't recognize you.

Mary

Last time I saw you, we were in seventh grade. And you look just like I remember you. I see, you have brought a friend. Sit down, lads, maybe you’d like something? Tea? Coffee? Sit down.

She makes them sit down, brings some coffee. Movers whisper to each other and shrug their shoulders.

Mary

I wanted to invite you to mom’s funeral but when I called I was told you were away. Are you travelling a lot?

Second

Yes, I do travel a lot.

Mary

You are sailing the seas, right? Since childhood you were a traveller. We buried mother where your father is buried. We changed the tombstone to a bigger one, almost as tall as me, got a fence, I planted some flowers, a maple tree. So we’re now settling in with my husband… And where do you live? Have you married?

Second

No, I rent.

Mary

I seeeee.

First

This apartment belongs to your brother too, right?

Mary is disrupted.

Mary

Do you need sugar? Take, take some cookies, I made them myself yesterday…

Pause.

First

Why are you not talking with each other?

Mary gets nervous.

Mary

He is not talking to me! Tom, you ran away to your grandma when you were teenager. Father was still alive, they went to get you back but you persisted and stayed. There you were taught that mom fucked brains to father and killed your mother. But now we are both grown ups, we can talk… You don't have to be angry at me. It was not my fault…

First

Whose fault is it then?

Mary

What?

First

Whose fault is it? Whose fault it was that a boy ran away from home and didn’t come back? Whose fault is it that he has no home anymore?

Mary

He is not talking to me!

First

So it is his fault?

Mary stands up.

Mary

Please get out of my home!

First

But this apartment belongs to you both!

Mary

Out!

First

I’m telling you, apartment belongs to you both!

Mary

Out!

First

This apartment belongs to you both!

Mary

Out! Out! Out!

Mary grabs a knife from a table and stabs Second who is closer to her. She is stabbing him until he falls down on the floor and covered in blood. First is filming this with his phone.

First

Wow, what a perpetrator…

Mary is covered in blood, she is crying.

Mary

Out! Out! Get out, leave me alone!

III

Mary is washing bloody clothes in a bowl. Second is changing his clothes.

Mary

You’re built like Algis, these trousers should fit you. And I’ll hang these in the yard. I’ve got some good washing soap with gall. You’ll see, there won’t be a spot, it will be like new.

Second

Somehow I didn't expect to be changing today.

Mary

I’ll wash it soon, will erase it and it’ll be like new…

First enters the stage, bringing exterminating poison in his hands.

First looks at Mary.

First

You could put it in machine. And you – quicker, dress up. Did you take a look at the app?

First takes his phone from the table.

First

Oh shit. 1991. We’re a bit late with our work.

Mary

1991? Well, thank God.

Mary leaves with laundry. She gets back with Lithuanian tricolor flags and portrait of Vytautas the Magnus. She hangs the portrait in the place of Lenin’s. Meanwhile movers are taking down wallpapers.

Jurga comes in.

Jurga

Mom, you’re diving into my memories again. And you are still in 70’s, gosh, how do you look! Like a youngster!

Mary

Jurga, my dear, for just a moment I went to…

Jurga

Mooooom...

Mary

Okay, okay, I’m leaving. I’m going back to 1998 and I’ll be at aunt Audrone’s who will win the lottery that year and will get a million and instead of giving me back the money she owed, she will get me a trip to Crete and for a long time I’ll be looking for someone to go there with. I fluttered and you, my darling, go to do your homework and don’t leave the house.

She leaves.

Movers are ripping away wallpapers.

Jurga

What the fuck are you doing?

Laughs.

Second

We will exterminate cockroaches. Under the wallpapers there usually are their nests, so you have to rip it and clean it.

Jurga

Yeah, there are extremely a lot when you turn on the lights, just small grains with whiskers running around. I don't find them disgusting, like pets. Everyone wants to live and we have to give them a chance… But as you wish, exterminate if mother told you to.

She gets a luggage and starts packing.

First

Where are you going?

Jurga

To Germany. Well, at first I’ll stay at Donatas’. His parents are okay, they will take me in.

First

You were to see fires?

Jurga

First night mother didn’t let me go, locked me in the room and only let me out after I broke the vase and threatened to cut my veins. But then I didn't leave because she said if I did, she would cut her veins. So to say, something like “Isaura: Slave Girl”. But my friend stood by the tanks and his head was split by a soldier so he spent a week at the hospital.

Second

Why are you running away?

Jurga

Ah, I’ve had enough. Donatas asked for political asylum, we are going to be family soon, you know. An accident, of course, I didn't tell mom yet.

Second

Aren’t you afraid to just leave everything and go away?

Jurga

I’m not afraid of anything (laughs). Seriously. I want to live my life. I’ve had enough of explaining. And mother with her tricks. After the father left, she concentrated all her energy on me, is it normal? She keeps remembering how she has looked then. And if only you saw her today – she gained like a hundred kilos, grew a moustache and started going to church. Like a martial artist flipped over her beliefs. But, anyways, mother is a living dead, like other workers of the system. And her love is the chocking kind, she won’t calm down until she gets what she wants. Even though she never asks if I need it or if I want it. I’m fed up with that, you know.

First

And how about studies?

Jurga

Okay.

She packs her things and leaves. Movers sit to rest and smoke.

First

Wanna hear a joke?

Second

Spill it out.

First

So, on a train there are Lenin, Stalin, Khrushchev, Brezhnev and Gorbachev… And bam, the train stops – the railway has ended.

Second

How come it ended?

First

ended. So every leader uses his method. Lenin gathers all the peasants and workers from the outskirts and tells them to make more rails. Stalin gets nervous that the train is standing still and beats its workers. Khrushchev rehabilitates workers Stalin has beaten and orders to dismantle railway behind them and put them in front so that the journey would go on. Lionka, pulls his eyebrows, draws the curtains and rocks back and forth imagining that train is still going. And Gorby organizes a rally by the train and everyone there with megaphones and posters are shouting “No rails! No rails!”.

Second laughs politely. They smoke in silence. Second takes out his phone and boringly scrolls through it.

First

Maybe you should call Jurga at 2017? We’ll know if we should exterminate those cockroaches or we should wait..

Second

Just a sec. (He calls) Hello, is it miss Jurga? We would like to talk?

Jurga

If not for long, we can chat.

First

How are you? Do you remember 1991? Because you ran away from home and left us alone in the apartment.

Jurga

1991… How could I forget. I was punk then, I was a hard teenager, would think of many stupid things to do. And 1991… A strong political change happened then, everyone was suddenly united, when our freedom was threatened. Nowadays there is a huge difference between rich and poor, between those who got lucky and those who have hard time to come by. That is why so many people are emigrating. We are even electing politicians to get us back to Lithuania. How many, five an hour are leaving? And then, twenty years ago we stood all like one, all in the same historical situation. For example, a bus of bandits comes and offers fried chicken to the people, watching by the buildings, they would give away packs of cigarettes. And I wouldn’t say that 13th of January was a political event and that we were fighting for some abstraction of Lithuania, kneeling by the tricolor flag. No, situation was more like a forest on fire when predators and herbivores gather to the same clearing because it is the only place where you still can breath. The circle of life stops.

First

And then you emigrated to Germany?

Jurga

Yes, right after I turned 18. For six months we lived in refugee camp. But I didn’t like it there, we were treated like a second rate people. Then I came back to Lithuania with my daughter and Donatas stayed in Germany. Gabija knows her father’s name, when she grew up she tried to find him on Facebook. She found his profile but as far as I know, she never wrote him. She must still feel grieve.

First

What did you do when you came back to Lithuania?

Jurga

What did I do? At first I was selling make up and bijouterie in the market which we were importing by buses from Poland. Gabija was growing up with my mother and I was trying make a living. But you know, everything was changing so fast. In a few years I realized I am not going to be entrepreneur so I went to study accounting. In 1999 I went to have an appendicitis surgery and there I met my new husband. He, actually, was the one doing the surgery. He saw my inner beauty straight away, so to say. (laughs) After the surgery I met him on the street, I said hello, we went for coffee… And that’s how it started. Soon we moved in together, we got married in the new millennium.

Second

I’ve read an article that said that many women fall in love with their surgeons.

Jurga

What were you saying?

Second

Nothing, continue.

Jurga

At the dawn of new millennium mother went to Norway to take care of old people. She moved to a grim island near the North Pole. And so she still lives there in a small room, decorated in varnished wood. I’ve visited her a few times, so she has travelled in Norway that much. She’s stuck in her hamster wheel… And all these gifts she sends us every month: piles of chocolate, fat cheese, candies, dresses and sweaters, bought by her taste, sausages… How many times I’ve told her, Mom, stop buying, we don't eat that much, we don’t like it, we don’t need it but she keeps sending huge packages. She probably is spending all her salary on us. This is how she understands motherly love. When we meet, she keeps going back the memory lane, there is no present or future dimensions for her. If you called her, you’d see her somewhere back in 70’s…

First

And how is your life?

Jurga

Me? I’m good. Five years ago we built a house so there’s a never ending renovation going on. Gabija got grandma’s apartment which we finally got after long trials with relatives… My husband is still doing appendicitis surgeries and does a lot of sports on his free time, he likes to ski. I am freelancing, I teach pilates for women and… I’m writing a book.

First

About what?

Jurga

About life. How to learn to organize it so you plan your time and reach your goals, to be more precise. You know, a motivational book about…

Gabija runs to the stage, screaming.

Gabija

What are you doing here? Why are you still here? Out, throw out everything! Fucking fucking cockroaches, they’re everywhere!

Jurga (on the phone)

What is going on? Gabija, dear, it’s mom, calm down. Give her the phone, give her the phone.

Movers turns the phone to Gabija. She takes it and smashes to the wall.

First mover grabs Gabija and hold her, she is trying to free herself.

Gabija

I can’t take it anymore! I can’t! Let me go, you fucking shit! They’re everywhere, everywhere!

First

Quick!

Second mover sprays extermination poison on Gabija. Stage drowns in fumes.

Part 2

I

Movers in white overalls sit by Gabija who is lying on the bed.

Second

Do you feel any better?

Gabija nods her head.

Second

Sleeping pills should work soon.

Gabija (weak)

Don’t go, don't leave me here alone.

First

Administration is doing your papers, your relatives have been informed, they will visit you when you wake up.

Second

Has anything like this happened before?

Gabija

Yes. Last year. It happened for the first time when I was working in the office. We had to create a strategy for rebranding a shopping mall. I had slept a little and worked a lot on that. And creative director rejected three ideas of mine and confirmed the worst one, which was on a spot suggested by the designer. And then everything kind of turned dark and I woke up at the hospital. They said I turned over the table and shelves, shredded director’s file… They called an ambulance for me. Then I was on medicine and everything went back to normal.

Second

So why you’re not on pills anymore?

Gabija

Because I’m not sick anymore.

Second

Did you have suicidal thoughts?

Gabija

No. I just got nervous.

First

Why this time?

Gabija

I can't really explain it… I’m getting sleepy.

First

So go to sleep.

Stands up to leave.

Gabija

No. Wait, don't go. I’ll tell you everything, just don't leave me here alone.

First

So, tell us, tell.

Gabija

Yesterday I left the dog in the suburbs.

First

What dog?

Gabija

My dog. I had taken it from the shelter, a young one, two years old or something like that. Looked like schnauzer.

First

Continue, Gabija.

Gabija

I took it from the shelter after I broke up with my boyfriend. Martynas, that was his name.

Second

Of the dog?

Gabija

Both of the dog and the boyfriend. I named the dog after my ex.

Second

Uh-uh.

Gabija

So, I broke up with Martynas… Something like three months ago. We had been together for a year, it was my longest relationship ever. We lived together for six months and bought tickets to Hong Kong in winter. We had an argument once we landed there and all the trip was shitty and we annoyed each other all the time. I was fretted that he didn't do any research on the trip and would be arguing if I would suggest to go to places I have marked I wanted to see. We got lost a few times. For the first time I scolded him and we spent a day separately. Long story short, it was a horrible trip and on our flight back he said he wanted to be alone for a while. (ironically) For eight hours we are on our flight ass to ass and he just “Let’s separate for a while”. So we broke up. The first month was very hard.

Second

Did you sleep at night?

Gabija

Not always.

Second

Did you abuse alcohol or…?

Gabija

time to time. Then I decided I needed to take care of someone, to be responsible for someone and that someone would love me unconditionally. So I took in a dog. At first I was trying but it is hard to take care of a dog if you are alone. You have to take it for a walk twice a day, you’re stuck in your schedule. Furthermore, Martynas had medical troubles so I paid a lot for vets… At night, while I was asleep, he would shit in the kitchen even though I had taken him for a walk before. Also he did damage – gnawed off the internet wire, new Nike sneakers, plinths… I realized I wasn’t strong enough to take good care of a dog.

First

So you took him to suburbs?

Gabija

There live a lot of people, someone for sure will take him in, he won’t be stray dog for long…

Second

And this act incited anger in you?

Gabija

I was angry at myself. I know it must be wrong but sometimes I justify it by saying my family is abnormal. How could I learn how to live? Everyone in my family is traumatized. No one knows how to build a relationship, no one knows how to love. (quietly) I will never have children. I don't want them to suffer as I am.

First

But are there any families without traumas?

Gabija

There are some with less.

Second

Maybe you are demonizing your relatives too much?

Gabija cries.

Gabija

I’m so ashamed. For everyone.

First

Calm down, calm down.

He injects medicine to her.

Gabija (quietly)

Can you loosen the straps? It's crushing me.

First loosens straps. They stand up.

First

By the way, did you read in delfi what kind or armor is being prepared, what kind of rockets are stationed by the borders? One fart and all Eastern Europe is done.

Second

And I read an article in English site where it was wondering if Eastern Europe as such still exists. Well, who put that term into our minds? Common experience of occupation, economic backwardness… It is disappearing little by little. Cities in Eastern Europe are the same as cities in Western Europe. People dress the same, listen to the same music, drive the same cars. And maybe Eastern Europe has never existed at all? Maybe it was just a creation of the Cold War? With the collapse of the wall, the connection of Eastern Europe collapsed, too.

First

But you are going far… (laughs) I tell you war is coming and you are telling me this place doesn’t exist.

Second

I’m just telling you we are not Eastern Europe anymore.

Ringing of a cellphone. First mover gets it.

First

Hello. Yes, conditions are stabilized, Gabija has fallen asleep. Drugs will have effect for half a day. Now her brain is covered in… How to say… Cloud, it’s numb, in other words. After she gets her sleep we will lessen the dose. She will be stoned but it has to be like this. So to say, we have to renovate her brains. Okay, okay, I’ll let you know… Bye.

He puts sheet on Gabija’s head. They leave the room.

First

It was a hard week. What are you doing on the weekend?

Second

Ah, I think I’ll go to cinema, to see that patriotic film everyone is watching now.

First

Yeah, I saw it, good one… That actress is in it… That, how’s her name, the one who looks like…

They leave the stage chatting.