Scene Three
from The Bells of Amersfoort
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 May 2019
Summary
Same as in Scene One. But Tami is not there. There is only a wine glass on the barstool, without the bottle. The trombone still lies on the floor. Enter KATJA.
KATJA: At least she keeps the room clean. Too sparkling clean if you ask me. Clinically clean. Nothing lived in about this room.
She picks up the trombone and tries to blow it. She struggles. She can only manage one rough note, which drains her, and she coughs. TAMI enters, carrying her plastic bag of wine bottles. She is not amused.
TAMI: Nobody touches my instrument, do you hear me?
KATJA: Oh, come on, Tami. It's just a trombone. I am not going to eat it.
TAMI: To you it is just a trombone. To me it is more than that.
KATJA: Still use it to attract the anger of the neighbours?
TAMI: It is the only way to get them to talk to me. When they shout and bang at the walls and scream that I am making a noise. I don't know why noise scares them so much. Noise is the essence of life. I can't help it that you Dutch people can't handle chaos. It destabilises you completely.
KATJA: You went to buy more wine.
TAMI: A very clever observation. Indeed these are two bottles of wine. What have you brought me this time?
KATJA: Nothing.
TAMI: Nothing? How can you not bring me anything? Damnit man, you always bring me something.
KATJA: Until you complained that I am making you an invalid.
TAMI: Since when do you listen to my complaints? [Moaning.] This is very cruel. You make me get used to your bringing me something to eat, and then all of a sudden you stop. First you make me feel dependent and useless and pitiful. And then all of a sudden I must strive on my own. This is very unreasonable.
KATJA [jokingly]: Now you know what I am capable of when I am pushed too far.
TAMI: You should have told me before hand, man. Then I would have made other arrangements. I would have bought stuff. You made me an invalid, now you expect me to stand up and run!
KATJA: Ja-ja, stand up and run.
TAMI defiantly turns her back on KATJA, opens a bottle of wine and pours herself a drink.
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- Information
- Fools, Bells and the Habit of EatingThree Satires, pp. 123 - 128Publisher: Wits University PressPrint publication year: 2002