The Desecration By Trudy Hayes
Elsie is sitting on a bench. She does not look up as a man approaches. He skirts around her playfully, watching her, smiling.
Paddy whistling breaks into song
‘When I fall in love, it will be forever’
He takes Elsie into his arms and waltzes her, owning her in the dance, his hands on her body. She sways to his touch. He gently seats her back on the bench.
Paddy
Happy anniversary Elsie.
Elsie
Good place for a drowning.
You’d like that, wouldn’t you?
Paddy
Yes, I’d like to see you struggle.
Elsie
But at the last minute you’d rescue me.
Paddy
Nope.
I’d hold you under the water until you went limp.
Good for the fishes.
They have to eat too, you know.
You never think about that, do you?
Elsie
Everything eats everything.
That’s the jungle for you.
Paddy
Me Tarzan, where my Jane?
Elsie
Ran for her life.
Paddy
It is not good for Tarzan to be alone.
Elsie
Bliss – the drowning experience bliss they say.
Paddy
That’s the sinking part – after all the gaspin’ and thrashing about.
Elsie
That’s what a fish does on land, you imbecile.
Pause
Paddy
D’you come here often?
Elsie
I come for the talent.
Paddy
I’d say there’s a run on you. It’ll be the lucky man gets you.
Elsie
No man will ever get me
Paddy
Ah, you’ll fall for some Lothario some day.
Elsie
I was married once.
Paddy
Did you love him?
Elsie
Sure t’was yerself.
Paddy walks to the railing and stares out to sea.
Paddy
Did you love that man?
Did you worship him with your body?
Elsie
He was a mere mortal.
Paddy
A human.
A fallen angel perhaps.
Elsie
I used to draw my wedding dress when I was a child.
Paddy
White, no doubt. Silk.
Elsie
No. It was made of shards of glass.
Paddy
Shoes, even pretty shoes?
Elsie
Yes, pretty shoes.
Paddy
Well, at least he turned up.
Elsie
Do you ever think about it?
Paddy
Often. It’s seductive, isn’t it?
Elsie
It’s where we all came from I suppose.
That great amniotic sac.
Paddy
Soothing though. Rhythmic.
And after the sea devours you,
You’re tossed back on shore by an indifferent wave,
washed up by the tide.
Elsie
Fishermen never learn to swim. Prolongs the struggle.
Paddy
Merciless
You.
Elsie
Mercy is exercised by those with power
Paddy
Pity?
Elsie
You can only pity the pitiful.
Paddy
You’d need a heart though, wouldn’t you?
Elsie
Sometimes it’s one heartbreak, – or another
Paddy
All those roses I bought you.
Elsie
I remember the roses. I didn’t think they were real.
Paddy
You just didn’t SEE them.
You can’t SEE a rose unless you LOOK at it.
Elsie
I put them on the compost heap.
Paddy
Is ANYTHING real to you? Was I real?
Did you ever even SEE me?
I know this is a revelation, but I’m actually made of flesh and blood.
What Are you made of?
Elsie
I’m actually a fish.
Paddy
You’re not a fish. You’re human.
You have a human face.
Elsie
I have fins.
Paddy
You’re a cod.
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