Lithuanian countryside:  March 1946

                                          

                                           After the excavation

                                                        1.

The stage is black.

House goes to black.

A mist of gray and hard yellow light fades in/streams between the floor to ceiling cathedral of tall bare tree trunks that are all of stage right, upstage center, and stage left (the sky cannot be seen).

A deep empty pit downstage left is open to the 4th wall.

A moment passes.

K suddenly appears (not "enters") from dead center upstage forest carrying a medium size hard-snap suitcase of the period.

K approaches the edge of the pit. Stops.

He takes off his hat.

Then stares into the pit.

An extended moment goes by, then...

H enters from a right upper mid-stage narrow, barely visible, path that fades into the forest.

H stops at the edge of the forest and waits.

(Both men wear suits, ties, overcoats and fedoras of the period.) 

Extended moment passes.

K puts his fedora back on, then turns to take in "H" who holds a packet by his side.

H approaches K, stops. A good distance remains between them.

                                                    H

.....Sorry to have kept you waiting...Took the wrong turn...Nasty weather...They said sun...Warm weather and sun...Well, where's the sun...?

(looks around)

So...This is it...Yes, this is it.

(toward the pit for a moment)

It's a little more...how do I say...? A little more, well...a little more than I had expected...Yes, well, this is it, alright.  This is it. This is certainly it.  There's no doubt that this is it.....Good to finally meet you.

H approaches K and extends his arm. A simple hand shake and it's over.

K doesn't move toward H for this ritual. 

H releases his grip, steps back so as not to be in K's space.

                        H (CONT'D)

...If you want...we can go somewhere else...please, don't hesitate.  I've got my car. Anywhere you want to go...Just show the way.

                                                    K

You insisted we meet here.

                                                    H

...I did...Yes...I did. I certainly did. Stay, we shall...I want you to know I've read your chronicle. All of it. All the pieces you sent me...I know the whole account by heart.

                                                    K

Really...?

                                                    H

I feel I know this place...Been here...Lived here...Died here...Yes. This is the place, alright. This is it. Hasn't changed one bit.

(glances toward the pit)

                                                    K

You've...been here before?

                                                    H

Of course not, but what you wrote became fixed in my mind.  The blood never dried.

                                                    K

...You're Polish?

                                                    H

Yes.

                                                    K

But...you live in England.

                                                    H

Yes.

                                                    K

So...you're an Englishman.

                                                    H

I'm a Polishman.

                                                    K

You were born here?

                                                    H

Yes.

                                                    K

...You seem English to me.

                                                    H

I'm not. But I am.  Well, neither.  I'm nothing.  I have papers.  So what?  Papers.  They're meaningless.  I'm a drifter.  Situated like a dog to a chain.  A pat.  A kick in the arse.  A bone. Bad breath and fleas. A mat to sleep on. And a shilling to wake up to...Yes, I'm a British national. Naturalized. That's what I am: Naturalized. Remade...I fit right in.

K studies H.....

                                                    K   

...Where are you from?

                                                    H

Oxford.

   

                                                    K

Poland?

                                                    H

England.

                                                    K

But you're from...?

                                                    H

Originally?

                                                    K

Yes.

           

                                                    H

Warsaw.

                                                    K

...Are you a Jew?

                                                    H

...Are...you?

                                                    K

I wouldn't be here if I were.

                                                    H

...You'd have been in there.

                                                    K

...Yes.

                                    Silence. H trying to connect, fit in.

  

                                                    H

Had a bit of trouble on the way.

                                                    K

...Really?

                                                    H

Driving trouble.

                                                    K

...Car broke down?

                                                    H

No...Fog. Mist. Couldn't see.

                                                    K

...Happens.

                                                    H

Didn't even know I was lost until I stopped for petrol and was advised that I was lost. That I was in Lithuania, not Russia. Well, this is Poland as far as I'm concerned.  I don't give a damn who owns it now.

                                                    K

...You got here...You did alright.

                                                    H

I've been through worse.  Much worse.  I was in the Polish Battalion of the English Army.  An officer. Frontline command. Wounded in action...You're from...? Here?

                                                    K

Here...?

                                                    H

I mean...you still live here?

                                                    K

No.

                                                    H

Vilnius?

                                                    K

No.

                                                    H

Warsaw?

                                                    K

I'm leaving end of the day.

                                                    H

Here?

                                                    K

Yes.

                                                     H

...I see...Well...Start out new.  Get away from all this.  Can't blame you. Though you should have told me. It's rather short notice.

                                                    K

Have you got everything?

                                                    H

...Sorry?

                                                    K

My chronicle...did you bring it?

                                                    H

Of course.

(pats his coat pocket with pride)

I have it with me. Safe and sound. Some questions. That's all. A few minor details. Tidying up loose ends.  The sort of thing I'm trained to do.

©Pickett