(The airport. Airplanes zoom overhead. The YOUNG WOMAN enters. Her
MOTHER is waiting for her. She sits with hands folded.)
YOUNG WOMAN
Mother. You do not embrace me.
(The MOTHER rises and presses her daughter to her breast.)
MOTHER
(Stepping back)
Your brother is out with the car.
YOUNG WOMAN
My husband is getting the luggage.
(Pause)
My husband . . .
MOTHER
I know.
YOUNG WOMAN
You will like him?
MOTHER
I like his parents, so I will like him.
YOUNG WOMAN
Are you happy for me?
MOTHER
Are you happy?
YOUNG WOMAN
I have never known such happiness.
(The MOTHER looks into her daughter’s eyes.)
MOTHER
Then perhaps things are not as they were. Your father . . .
YOUNG WOMAN
What about him?
MOTHER
He was a father to you. And this man . . . your husband . . .?
YOUNG WOMAN
He is . . . to me . . .
MOTHER
Good for you, dear.
(The MOTHER embraces her daughter, more casually this time.)
YOUNG WOMAN
He is coming.
MOTHER
I will meet you at the car.
(She leaves quickly. Sounds of feet on tile as strangers pass by.)
THE END.
(A room with a telephone. The YOUNG WOMAN and the MAN sit near it. THE
MAN’S MOTHER enters.)
THE MAN’S MOTHER
(In her native language)
Was that your mother?
YOUNG WOMAN
(In the other’s language)
Yes.
THE MAN’S MOTHER
(In her native language)
Do you think I should speak to her?
YOUNG WOMAN
(In the other’s language)
Not yet, thank you.
(The YOUNG WOMAN and the MAN sit stock still. Pause.)
THE MAN’S MOTHER
(In her native language)
I will check on the dinner.
YOUNG WOMAN
(In the other’s language)
I will help momentarily.
(THE MAN’S MOTHER leaves.)
YOUNG WOMAN (Continued)
(In her own language)
She sounded strange.
MAN
Your mother?
(The YOUNG WOMAN nods.)
MAN (Continued)
Did you tell her?
YOUNG WOMAN
She knows.
MAN
Is she joyful?
YOUNG WOMAN
(Shakes head, looks down)
Surely, she planned it. But now she is lukewarm. As though regretting.
MAN
She has been away from here too long.
END OF PART III.
(A brook in a field. The sun is bright. The air is crisp. There are lots of
flowers.)
GUIDE
These waters are curative.
YOUNG WOMAN
I am falling behind in my studies.
(The FLOWERS start to sing.)
THE FLOWERS
LOVE IS COMING, SUNNY HO!
LOVE IS COMING---DON’T YOU KNOW?
HOLD YOUR HORSES!
DROP YOUR FORCES!
LOVE IS COMING; HERE YOU GO!
(A beautiful MAN canters on.)
MAN
My mother told me I would find you.
YOUNG WOMAN
Is your mother my mother’s friend?
MAN
Of course.
(She grows wobbly beneath his stare. He also grows wobbly.)
YOUNG WOMAN
And they were both so right.
MAN
Both so right.
(They fall into each others’ arms.)
THE FLOWERS
LOVE IS GROWING; FEEL THE TRANCE.
LOVE IS GROWING; NOW YOU DANCE.
(The MAN and WOMAN dance. Metal instruments play. They spin around,
faster and faster, madly in love.)
YOUNG WOMAN
Mother said I’d find centrifuges---
MAN
Mother said I’d find you---
(Spinning. Spinning. Collapse to embrace.)
YOUNG WOMAN
(Panting)
A physics of desire.
GUIDE
(To the audience)
They call this place the field of love.
END OF PART II.
MOTHER
Here is a ticket. You are vacationing in the provinces.
YOUNG WOMAN
But I don’t want to go---
MOTHER
I have bought it with your father’s life insurance.
YOUNG WOMAN
I would rather stay and study centrifugal forces.
MOTHER
There are centrifuges in the provinces.
YOUNG WOMAN
Can my brother go instead?
MOTHER
It was your father’s dying wish. I will hear no more of it.
END OF PART I.
