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Scene 1

from Somewhere on the Border

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 June 2019

Anthony Akerman
Afterword by
Gary Baines
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Summary

A gate. Darkness. As the first strains of Jungle by the Electric Light Orchestra are heard, a subdued, nocturnal lighting is introduced. A lone sentry is on guard duty. It is LEVITT. He wears Walkman headphones. As he walks across the stage a BLACK ACTOR wearing civilian clothes walks along behind him, draws an imaginary six shooter and guns him down, then crosses upstage through the gate. LEVITT pauses. He removes the headphones and the music stops. He looks around him.

LEVITT: Halt! Who goes there? [He peers into the audience.] Is anyone there?

He replaces the headphones and we immediately hear the music again. He begins ‘composing’ a letter.

Dearest Sharon. No. Darling Sharon. My dearest, darling Sharon. Howzit? I miss you stacks. Man, I'm sorry I couldn't work a pass this weekend. Please try and understand. I only got one letter from you this week. What's going on? [Realising this sounds like a complaint he corrects himself.] No …

Pause.

Please try and understand. Keep the letters rolling, Sharon! I'll try and write every day. I think of you all the time. Where are you tonight? Are you going to Gavin's party anyway? Did that Stan Rabinowitz ask you? Just remember, Sharon, he's only after one thing and he'll have no respect for you after. Don't do it, Sharon. I need you, man. Remember I'm faithful to you, hey. I know I haven't got much choice here, but still. Fair is fair, hey. Ja, I know you get lonely, but try and see it my way. As long as I got you, Sharon, they can't break me. There's talk of us maybe going up to the border. Can you wait that long for me, Sharon? Well, spans of love. Your Dave. H O L L A N D. Hope Our Love Lives And Never Dies. [He lights a cigarette.] S I A M. Sexual Intercourse At Midnight.

MOWBRAY appears upstage and advances silently towards

LEVITT. He plucks the cigarette from Levitt's lips.

MOWBRAY: What's this, hey?

LEVITT: Hi there, Trev.

MOWBRAY: What's this? I'm asking.

Type
Chapter
Information
Somewhere on the Border , pp. 3 - 8
Publisher: Wits University Press
Print publication year: 2012

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