ACT II SCENE 4

 

[The Garden of Remembrance. AIMÉE, in dark glasses sits reading the GURU’s latest reply. Sitar motif returns]

GURU: [voice over]

MY CHILD, YOUR LATEST LETTER

DISPLAYS A CHANGE OF MOOD
I HOPE YOU’RE FEELING BETTER

IT MAY HAVE BEEN THE FOOD
I SEE YOUR MIND HAS ALTERED

AND LEFT YOU FEELING RAW
BUT IF YOUR LOVE HAS FALTERED

YOU MUST TELL HIM THE SCORE

 

[AIMEE hides the letter as DENNIS enters]

 

DENNIS: I thought I’d find you here. Everything alright?

AIMÉE: Everything’s fine.
DENNIS: Dinner OK?
AIMÉE: Yes, thank you.
DENNIS: Did you stay – for dessert?
AIMÉE: I don’t want to discuss it. What do you want anyway?

DENNIS: [producing a bouquet that looks like a wreath] I came to give you these and say I’m sorry about last night. I hope . . . AIMÉE: Dennis. I don’t think we should see each other any more.

DENNIS: I was afraid you’d say that.
AIMÉE: What’s left for me to say? “You can support me now”
DENNIS: I know. It was stupid of me. It just came out all wrong. I was so excited to hear your news.
AIMÉE: What about you? What is this secret job of yours that you can’t tell me where you work and how much you earn?

If I’m honest, I don’t really know the first thing about you.
DENNIS: But that’s what attracts you to me.
AIMÉE: Husbands and wives shouldn’t have secrets from each other.

 

[Pause]

DENNIS: I still meant what I said.
AIMÉE: What?
DENNIS: About you and me getting married.
AIMÉE: Just forget it, Dennis. Forget you ever mentioned it.
DENNIS: But Aimee, I can’t just forget. You mean everything to me.

AIMÉE: [softening] Dennis, don’t.
DENNIS: You do. You’re – beautiful.
 

[Pause]

DENNIS: I’ve written you a poem.

 

[He hands it to her. AIMÉE reads:]

 

AIMÉE:

Who is Aimée? what is she

That all our swains commend her?

Holy, fair, and wise is she;

The heaven such grace did lend her,

That she might admirèd be.

 

[DENNIS takes the poem from her and continues to read it out loud himself]

 

DENNIS:

God set her brave eyes wide apart

And painted them with fire;

They stir the ashes of my heart

To embers of desire.
Her body is a flower, her hair

About her neck doth play;

I find her colours everywhere,

They are the pride of day.
Her little hands are soft

And when I see her fingers move,

I know in very truth that men

Have died for less than love.

 

[AIMÉE goes to leave but cannot]

 

SONG: OR SHALL WE DIE

 

 

 

 

 

DENNIS:

 

Is this the time to say goodbye

Don’t turn your back and walk away

Or have we nothing left to say

Am I to live

Or shall we die

 

I believe our souls are made in heaven

I believe in reaching for the sky

I believe in reaping seven times seven

When you try

 

Is this the time to speak of love

For if it’s true that words conceal

The truth beneath the way we feel

Let silence speak

Until we die

 

I believe forever means forever

I believe in better how than why

I believe in never to say never

Till we die

 

So teach me how to say goodbye

For if you turn and walk away

I may not see another day

Am I to live

Or shall we die

 

[They embrace. BLACKOUT]