[In an isolated 19th century Norway village, a married
but restless ELLIDA is visited by her "spinster" friend
FANNY ARNHOLM. FANNY is very tweedy; with little change, she
could be on a contemporary college literary faculty, deconstructing
the canon.]
FANNY
We must talk, Ellida.
ELLIDA
Dearest Arnholm. Always so serious.
FANNY
I've spent so many years in silence.
ELLIDA
Don't be absurd, Fanny, you never shut up.
FANNY
Why did I? Perhaps because I knew. That your heart belonged
to another. I used to lie awake thinking -- if only I had the
courage to speak.
ELLIDA
Fanny, dear, we're friends.
FANNY
If only...
ELLIDA
And you've imagined the rest.
FANNY
Then I heard you had married Dr. Wanker. Was he the one you
were waiting for? I couldn't believe it.
ELLIDA
Wanker? (laughs a tinkling little laugh)
FANNY
I knew it!
ELLIDA
Though he is kind. What kind I'm not sure. No. It was...a
sailor.
(From far off, a tango. In blue light, a vision of THE
STRANGER appears. She's incredibly butch. Striped sailor muscle-tee,
tight pants -- like an Apache dancer.)
ELLIDA
I didn't know what was happening to me. Those rippling muscles.
Those smouldering eyes. I had never felt like such a woman before.
It was as though I had no will of my own. I was helpless to stop
myself. Ah, you'll never know the freedom I felt in that slavery.
(ELLIDA and THE STRANGER dance a passionate tango, ELLIDA
allowing herself to be dragged about like a mop.)
FANNY
But I could offer you...a life of the mind. We have so much
in common, Ellida. We can even wear the same sweaters.
ELLIDA
(as she dances) Sometimes, Fanny, a woman wants...something
hard. Sometimes she needs to be overwhelmed, knocked down like
by a pounding surf. Drowned by a will greater than her own, like
a riptide.
FANNY
No. I can't give you that. I can only offer you a life of
mutual respect. Intellectual challenge. Folk songs by Olivia
Records.
ELLIDA
Tough titty.
(As the tango fades, and ELLIDA and THE STRANGER disengage:)
ELLIDA
Someday a ship will come into that harbor, and out of the
sea it will come: My destiny. My fate. Until then, I wait.
(THE STRANGER disappears.)
ELLIDA
And wait, and wait.
(ELLIDA sighs and floats off toward the sea, pining, leaving
FANNY banging her head on the table.)
FANNY
(muttering) Why, why, why? ALWAYS the unavailable ones.
Why, why, why?
(CONTINUES)
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