Scene 9

(Intro. music for Morivia's song is heard. The lights fade on Krator and a special slowly comes up on Morivia. She is where she was at the top of the play. She is wearing a g-string and pasties. She has a feather boa. Although she looks pretty burned out, there's something about her, you know, a weird kind of coziness with her ugly situation.).

Morivia

(Singing)

My name is Morivia Sowolicka.

I'm going to go to college someday.

I'm working my way to school.

My mother lives in Prague.

My father died before I was born.

I work at Sexyland

I am a dancer.

Every hour I have live sex

with my boyfriend.

He's from Vienna.

Little windows surround me.

The shades go up ...

the shades go down. (Krator enters and takes a seat.

It only costs one guilder He smokes and watches her.

to have a peek. Jerry comes out of the shadows

If you want to be private and observes Krator.)

it costs more.

Some day,

when I have earned enough money

I will become a doctor.

'till then I'll keep dancing.

Perhaps a beautiful stranger (The lights begin to fade.)

will find me

and we will fall in love. (Special fades on her.)

(Krator claps softly. He crosses to the stage. Jerry sits in an empty chair at Krator's table.)

Krator

(Quietly)

Bravo. Bravo.

(Krator returns to his place. He looks narrowly at Jerry and sits at his place..).

Jerry

You like her, ugh? She's a beauty, ain't she? You buy Jerry a drink? (Krator gives him a withering look) Maybe not. (Appraises Krator, then...) A man like you. A man with your appetites. A big man, like you should have fun. You deserve it. In a time like this, no more police, everyone killing, nobody there to stop it; it is dangerous. But free, yes, free. Free as a big bat, ugh? A man like you, who has risen to the top, he should have anything he wants. God knows what will happen to him, he works in such high places. You must admire him and get him what he needs. Jerry knows. He wanders the streets looking for men such as you. He knows everything. (He looks at the stage where Morivia was dancing) You like her? You want to see "more" of her. (Krator looks at Jerry. He is interested) Want to see her do things? (He stands) You come. Follow me, come to Sexyland.

Krator

You know her?

Jerry

I can tell you connoisseur. (He beckons Krator to him) Come on, come on.

(A shade drops from the ceiling. Jerry puts a tin cup on the floor under the screen.)

Jerry

You ain't seen nothin yet. Put guilder in here. (There is the sound of a coin going into the cup.. The shade goes up. We can see Krator and Jerry looking out at us.) See, stage revolves. Get to look at everything. Look, see the pretty girls snap their panties against the windows. There is a woman fucking a guy. He has pretty dick, no? Don't worry, don't mean nothing. Oops! (The shade goes down. As it does their heads follow it.) Hurry, don't miss it. (Sound of coin going into cup. The shade goes up.) He is like a young girl, yes? So sweet how he closes his eyes and fucks her. Look, his butt tightens when he thrusts into her. She must be deep. Look how she waves her legs, so slow. Who is she? (The shade goes down.) Hurry! Hurry! (From behind the closed shade.) Don't be mad with Jerry. He's just excited. You excited too? Here, here put coin in. See

Jerry (cont.)

what's happening now. Like peek-a-boo. (Sound of coin going into cup. The shade goes up.) It's her, the Goddess, the one you like. (He laughs) Very athletic. She's the most beautiful I think. Like a movie star. Look how she's got her elbows on his knees. Very classy.

(Krator is quite taken with the woman behind the screen.)

Krator

What is she saying?

Jerry

You like her?

(The shade goes down.)

Jerry (cont.)

Put coin in. (Sound of coin going into cup. The shade goes up.) She's saying in Russian, French, Italian, in Japanese, in English; "I'm not fucking him, baby, I'm fucking you." Very educated girl. You like? I can introduce you. Look, the stage is revolving her face to you. Maybe she find your eyes. Look, she looking at you!

(Krator is hypnotized by her. Jerry notices it.)

Krator

She is a complete slut.

Jerry

She like you.

Krator

What's she doing?

Jerry

Oh! She's flicking her tongue at you.

Krator

What does that mean?

Jerry

It means that she is inviting you to meet her.

(The shade comes down. Krator grabs a coin from his pocket. Jerry stops him.)

Jerry

No, no, you can meet her. Jerry knows how. You want to?

Krator

Yes.

(The shade disappears. Jerry and Krator begin walking.)

Jerry

Don't be afraid. She's very nice. 20 guilders, you talk to her. You have troubles. She's a gypsy, she got the "sight." Come on, come on. She's off the stage now. She's waiting for you. Be very disappointed if you don't show up.

(A Plexiglas private booth rolls in. We cannot see what is behind the curtain

Jerry

You go in alone. Find picture. Push button. She come out.

Krator

This is a private booth. I don't have to pay you.

Jerry

Finder's fee.

(Krator hands Jerry a bill.)Jerry

This only ten.

Krator

I give you another ten if she's in there. You want to wait around?

(Jerry laughs and runs into the dark..)

Scene 10

(Krator orients himself to the dark. He's standing before a Plexiglas booth. There are telltale stains on it's surface. There is a row of pictures of the strippers with their names and buttons beneath them. Krator finds Morivia's picture and name.)

Krator

(Reading)

"Morivia Sowolicka, 18 guilders for 5 minutes."

(He searches his pockets. He braces himself, then pushes the button. He begins pacing. He begins speaking to himself. As he does, Morivia opens the curtain. She sits on the chair watching him. She is wearing a kimono.)

Krator (cont.)

What am I doing here, she's nothing but a burned out whore.

Morivia

(Speaking with an East European accent)

And what are you, bigshot?

(Krator steps away from the glass and speaks from the shadows. Morivia takes her kimono off.)

Morivia (cont.)

Finger, 20, dildo, 35, finger and dildo 50.

Krator

I want to talk to you.

(Morivia grabs her kimono and puts it over herself.)

Morivia

You want to what?

Krator

I want to talk to you.

Morivia

I don't do that. Talk to Lisa. She talks.

Krator

I saw you...on the stage.

Morivia

Was I fucking or dancing?

Krator

Both. Did you not notice me?

Morivia

You? Why should I notice you. I don't notice anyone.

Krator

But I'm sure you noticed me. You stuck your tongue out at me. Like this.

(He flicks his tongue out at her.)

Morivia

I do that when people look stupid.

Krator

I'm not what I seem. I'm a doctor.

Morivia

Oh, goodness, I'm impressed. Are you here on a house call?

Krator

(Chuckles)

What's it like in there?

Morivia

What do you mean?

Krator

In there, behind the glass?

Morivia

It stinks like pussy, but it doesn't stink as much as it does on your side.

Krator

What is the hardest thing about your work?

Morivia

Why, do you want a job? (She looks down at the money slot.) Money talks bullshit walks. 20 guilder.

Krator

20 guilder?

Morivia

You rich bastards are always cheap.

Krator

You can tell I got money?

Morivia

Sure, you always had money.

Krator

How can you tell that?

Morivia

20 guilder.

Krator

Okay, 20 guilder. (He opens his billfold. It's stuffed with bills. He slips a bill into the slot.) How can you tell I've always had money?

Morivia

You? Because you got mommy-eyes, all big and needy like some ugly rich girl.

Krator

I would say fuck you to that.

Morivia

You pick things up and put them down like you could buy them.

Krator

Like I'm buying you right now?

Morivia

You like what you're getting from me?

Krator

I like the truth.

Morivia

"The truth" is what you make somebody swallow.

Krator

What is the hardest thing you do there?

Morivia

Do you really want to know?

Krator

Yes.

Morivia

We stay in a little room, the 5 of us. I can take it. I am strong. We are in there 14 hours a day 7 days a week. It is a gas chamber.

Krator

And then they let you out with us guys. That is all you see of the world?

Morivia

Yes, only that and the night streets. It is as it should be, the world of sunny days and cheeping birds is bogus. The sky is not blue. It is black. The stars are poison rayguns shooting evil at us.

Krator

I like to see you fuck. It is amazing to see it go in you. How big it is, how easily you take it. Who is the man?

Morivia

Eddy.

(He laughs)

Krator

Eddy?

Morivia

Don't laugh, he lived in California. He was a big porn star.

Krator

He is your man?

Morivia

My "man"? Do I look like breeding stock?

Krator

Your protector?

Morivia

Sure. Are you really a doctor?

Krator

Yes.

Morivia

A doctor of what?

Krator

Would you know the difference?

Morivia

You don't look like a doctor.

Krator

What do I look like?

Morivia

You look like an angry little fireman.

(Krator bursts into laughter.)

Krator

I'm an euthanasiest.

Morivia

Into children?

Krator

I kill people.

Morivia

That's no fucking doctor's job.

Krator

I assure you it is.

Morivia

How do you kill them?

Krator

You really want to know? Put your finger against the glass. Go ahead. (She puts her finger against the glass. He runs his fingers over hers.) We take a little ring and put it on your finger. We send a little signal. It interrupts your brain waves, gives you a little buzz and sends you on your way.

(Morivia stares down at him, fascinated.)

Morivia

On your way to what?

Krator

Oblivion.

(She takes her hand away and looks at her ring finger, then at Krator, genuinely impressed.)

Morivia

You do that?

Krator

Yes.

Morivia

Oblivion, eternal oblivion, where this horrid accident will be destroyed once and for all. (She looks deeply into his eyes.) Don't you just hate Nature? All these creatures that scream and scramble and slither and swing about the trees. But Nature is a dumb animal. It can't sense its own hideous intrusion into Oblivion, like a sliver in the eye of a blind man. It is consciousness that I abhor. No one should have to witness it, do you think? Happiness, sorrow, hope, love, these chemical baths as manic as a tub full of acid, the fantasies of crawling wads of skin. (She gazes up from her plastic window.) Look all about you, buildings and inventions, the scientific empire. What are they? An empty spectacle. The great orb of space rotates above you, the color of oblivion. I want to be free, free of everything. (She looks down at him.) How many do you do a day?

Krator

About a dozen.

Morivia

Doesn't seem like very many.

Morivia

Have you ever killed anybody with your hands?

Krator

No.

Morivia

With a gun?

Krator

No.

Morivia

Only with your ring-a-mujig?

Krator

Yes.

Morivia

I think you should have to kill them with your bare hands. That I would find sexy. But you, you might as well do it by cell-phone.

Krator

You're a real bitch for a creature that fucks in front of strangers.

Morivia

I'm not a doctor.

Krator

What would you do if I killed somebody with my hands?

Morivia

Would I find that sexy?

Krator

Yes.

Morivia

It would depend on who. I got to go.

Krator

I enjoyed our chat.

Morivia

Did you? Then give me a tip.

(Krator grins at her and pulls out his billfold. He sticks a bill into the slot. She reaches down and tries to pull it through but Krator doesn't let the bill go. Their faces are near each other. Only the glass separates them.)

Krator

I didn't think you would fall for that one.

Morivia

I didn't.

Krator

Your face is quite beautiful.

Morivia

You are a weird, kinky motherfucker.

Krator

Thank you.

Morivia

Now let go of the money.

Krator

I can see your breath on the glass like you got some hot ghost is inside of you.

Morivia

I can see your breath too. It probably stinks like old meat.

Krator

Why don't you meet me after work.

Morivia

I never go out with customers.

(Krator starts to rip the bill in half from his side.)

Krator

Well, now if I don't pay I won't be a customer.

Morivia

Don't tear the money.

Krator

I can feel your hand through the money. (Krator releases the bill.) I think I like you.

Morivia

Lucky me. I got to go.

Krator

I want to see you again.

Morivia

That might not be easy, I move a lot.

Krator

I'll find you. Maybe I'll bring you a surprise. Tot ziens.

Morivia

Tot strats.

(The booth travels out and lights fade on Morivia as a special rises on Krator. All the church bells of Amsterdam begin ringing. Krator turns and sings.)

Krator

It is strange how my heart beats tonight

like a transplant in an old body,

terrified but so full of life.     

The bells of old Amsterdam jabber in the night

no one is awake to hear them but me.

My veins swell with sweet-eyed snakes,

my tongue is a screaming lizard.

I cry to the night:

I am alive!

I am alive!

(The lights fade to black.)

Continued...