Mr. K

CRICKETS CHIRPING

SOFT, HIGH MYSTERIOUS TONES SWELL

Every human being

is a universe within themselves.

Floating about

in eternal darkness.

THE TONES BECOME RICHER

Aimless, lonely...

So lonely.

SOFT MURMUR OVER ENCHANTING MUSIC

Or maybe it's just me.

SOFT MURMUR OVER ENCHANTING MUSIC

DRUM ROLL

CYMBALS CLANGING

SOFT MURMUR

THE MUSIC FADES AWAY

DRAMATIC, PECULIAR MUSIC

THE MUSIC BECOMES MORE BOMBASTIC BY ADDING REPETITIVE, POWERFUL VOICES

COMBINED WITH A PERPETUAL SHARP SIREN-LIKE TONE

THE MUSIC EVOLVES INTO A CALMER, MORE MYSTERIOUS CELLO PIECE

PLAYFUL TONES ARE ADDED

THE SIREN-LIKE TONE RETURNS

THE MUSIC STOPS

EATING SOUNDS

A HEAVY BUBBLING SOUND

A BIRD CHIRPING A DOOR OPENING

A DOOR SQUEAKING AND CLOSING

SOFT GROWLING

A BIRD CHIRPING

SOFT FOOTSTEPS

SOFT GROWLING

A WHISTLING SOUND THE GROWLING STOPS

A BIRD CHIRPING

THUMPING SOUND

Single room? Double room?

I'm alone.

GROWLING

THREATENING GROWL

UNEASY LAUGH

I don't think your dog likes me.

A BIRD CHIRPING

Eh... I have to be here in the morning.

Eh... It's a café. They have live acts.

Do you know it? -One thing at a time.

Is it far? I have to be there first thing in the morning. It's essential.

STAMPING SOUND

Come on.

Bed sheets are changed Monday and Thursday.

If you wish them changed any other day you will be charged extra.

There is no TV in the room.

If required, a TV can be arranged, but it's also extra charge.

That won't be necessary. I'm only staying the night.

No animals, no prostitutes, no unruly, loud or drunken behaviour.

No smoking, no music,

no running or jumping and absolutely no pounding on walls.

This is a respectable establishment.

A CREAKING DOOR CLOSING SOFTLY

CREAKING

Come on!

Toilet. The shower is down the hall.

A SOFT RATTLING OF KEYS

MR K BLOWING ENCHANTING MUSIC

Mind you, don't give us any trouble. Good night.

Good night.

DULL SOUNDS EVOLVING INTO HIGH-PITCHED THRILLING TONES

MAN PANTING

MR K GASPS

THE DOOR CLOSING WITH A BANG

HEAVY BREATHING

GIRL GASPS MR K GASPS

HEAVY BREATHING

SOFT WHISPERS

RIPPING SOUND

LIGHT DRAMATIC TONES

FOOTSTEPS, CREAKING SOUNDS, SOFT BOILING SOUNDS

A RUMBLING NOISE SWELLS

CREAKING, RUMBLING, BOILING

ALL SOUNDS STOP

ANXIOUS SIGH

CREAKING SOUND

HE SCREAMS THE WOMAN GASPS FRIGHTENEDLY

HE CHUCKLES SCORNFULLY

SHE SNIFFS OFFENDEDLY

HE BREATHES HEAVILY

THE SIREN-LIKE TONE SOUNDS SOFTLY OVER A THREATENING UNDERTONE

HE SIGHS SOFTLY

A LOUD EXHALE

A SHAKING SOUND GAINING IN INTENSITY

CREAKING, SHAKING, BOILING

LOUD BANGING

AN OMINOUS SOUND AND CREAKING

DOG PANTING

THE SHAKING AND BANGING GET LOUDER

CREAKING THE SOUND OF A HEARTBEAT

BANGING MUSIC GAINING IN INTENSITY

TAPPING, CREAKING, BANGING

HE BREATHES ANXIOUSLY

BRASS INSTRUMENTS PLAYING SEEMINGLY RANDOM CHAOTIC TONES

THREATENING LOW TONES

STRING INSTRUMENTS CHAOTICALLY PLAYING

ACCOMPANIED BY RHYTHMIC DRUMS

A THREATENING VARIATION FOLLOWED BY CHAOTIC BAND MUSIC

HE PANTS ANXIOUSLY

ANXIOUS PANTING RUSHED FOOTSTEPS

THE BAND MUSIC SOUNDS FAR AWAY

Hey.

CHAOTIC MUSIC

HE PANTS ANXIOUSLY

A THUMP

SWELLING BOILING SOUNDS THAT STOP ABRUPTLY

SOFT BACKGROUND MUSIC

HE INHALES DEEPLY AND SIGHS

Are you afraid of death?

No pain, you know. You mustn't confuse death with dying.

It's not the same thing. Not the same thing at all.

You look pale, my darling. Don't you think he looks pale?

Monchien. It's French.

You may call me Ruth, if you like.

She's Sara.

Coffee? FRENCH MUSIC PLAYING IN THE BACKGROUND

RUTH, FRUSTRATED: Oh, I hate this.

SHE WHISPERS

Lost his head in the French Revolution.

SHE MAKES A CUTTING SOUND

CUPS RATTLING

What are you? A magician?

I know a few tricks. Nothing special.

I get by if the audience are a bit drunk.

How delightful. You simply must show us something.

Do you saw people in half?

Oh...

I have to go.

HE BREATHES HEAVILY

This is only for this part of the hallway.

Oh, we're so sorry we can't be of more help.

We haven't been outside for years.

Our legs simply won't take the stairs anymore.

And besides, we have everything we need here. Don't we?

SARA MOANS CONFIRMINGLY INDISTINCT WHISPERS

RUTH, SOFTLY BUT IRRITATEDLY: Don't start. There's no such thing.

Please. Anything could help.

You could try the oracle. -Don't mind her. She's talking gibberish.

Hm?

Do you mean a psychic person?

You know how people talk. SHE CHUCKLES

All stuff and nonsense, I'm sure.

I'm afraid we cannot be of any help to you.

HE SIGHS

SARA AND RUTH GIGGLE

Oh...

SUITCASE HANDLE FLAPPING FOOTSTEPS

SOFT THREATENING MUSIC FOOTSTEPS AND CREAKING

SLIMY BOILING SOUNDS

CHILDREN GIGGLING

SIZZLING, BLINKING SOUND

A DOOR CLOSING MR K GASPS

A DOOR OPENING AND CLOSING THREATENING MUSIC

Miss.

CHILDREN GIGGLING

Hey!

Hey... Hey!

THREATENING, THUMPING MUSIC THE SOUND OF VIBRATING METAL

A DOOR CREAKING

THE THREATING BAND MUSIC RETURNING

MR K BREATHES ANXIOUSLY

THE MUSIC STOPS

SOFT MURMUR

You're just in time.

LIGHT CLASSICAL MUSIC

We have a new guest.

Eh...

I'm looking for some children. I think they came through here.

Here's my little entourage. My leeches. Suck me dry, they do.

THEY CHUCKLE

I...

Relax, they're quite safe. Give the man some food. Can't you see he's famished?

Oh no, I really need to find my things. I'm running late.

Aurora. Send someone to look for this man's children.

They're not my children. -He has lost them.

Will you excuse me for a moment? Aurora?

That's all right.

LIGHT CLASSICAL MUSIC SOFT WHISPERING

Thank you.

THE WOMAN WITH THE BLOND CURLY HAIR SPEAKING IN THE BACKGROUND

A CHAIR CREAKING

THE CHAIR CREAKING AGAIN

Are you a journalist?

No, I... THE MAN CHUCKLES

No, I...

Isn't she great? I'm writing her biography.

Fascinating material. Did you know she's half a gypsy?

That's probably where she got her artistic drive.

Although, she might just have made that part up.

THEY CHUCKLE FOOTSTEPS

Well, I really should get going.

CLINKING GLASSES

THE WOMAN SLURPING Ah.

I'm an artist, but on the whole a lot of my work has nothing to do with art.

Look around you. The little, unimportant things, those are the most essential.

The trick is to recognise what is important.