Minding the gap - I

Skull, Andy Warhol.

Vi: When did we three last meet?
Ru: Let us not speak. [Silence]
Flo: Ru?
Ru: Yes.
Flo: What do you think of Vi?
Ru: I see little change. [FLO moves to centre seat, whispers in RU's ear]. Oh! [They look at each other. FLO puts her finger to her lips] Does she not realize?
Flo: God grant not. [FLO and RU turn back front, resume pose. Silence]. Just sit together as we used to, in the playground at Miss Wade's.
Ru: On the log. [Silence] Vi?
Vi: Yes.
Ru: How do you find FLO?
Vi: She seems much the same. [RU moves to centre seat, whispers in VI's ear]. Oh! [They look at each other. RU puts her finger to her lips]. Has she not been told?
Ru: God forbid. [Enter FLO. RU and VI turn back front, resume pose]. Holding hands . . . that way.
Flo: Dreaming of . . . love. [Silence. Exit RU right. Silence].
Vi: Flo?
Flo: Yes.
Vi: How do you think Ru is looking?
Flo: One sees little in this light. [VI moves centre seat, whispers in FLO's ear]. Oh! [They look at each other. VI puts her finger to her lips]. Does she not know?
Vi: Please God not. [Enter RU. VI and FLO turn back front, resume pose. RU sits right. Silence]. May we not speak of the old days? [Silence]. Of what came after? [Silence]. Shall we hold hands in the old way?

[After a moment they join hands as follows : VI's right hand with RU's right hand. VI's left hand with FLO's left hand, FLO's right hand with RU's left hand, VI's arms being above RU's left arm and FLO's right arm. The three pairs of clasped hands rest on the three laps. Silence].

Flo: I can feel the rings. [Silence].

Came and Go, Samuel Beckett.

*** "Night and day", U2.