Heroines of Chaos

(Day of the Dead. Families come, they light candles, stand in respect, and later drift away.)

(Ferenc in military camouflage, with Ukraine armband, enters, carrying candles and a lighter. Ferenc lights one candle on each family grave in turn.)

(Ferenc’s phone pings, and he checks a photo from Zsófi, and texts a reply:)

(SOUNDS of war throughout this scene: explosions, gunshots.)

(The soldier jumps up, removes the camo netting, checks the machine gun, then begins firing long bursts. BANG BANG BANG BANG ... Ferenc opens a new box of ammo, feeds ammo. The soldier keeps firing, and firing non-stop, till almost all the ammo is gone. The soldier checks ammo boxes, puts protective gloves on, unclips the machine gun for transport, and takes the tripod off. Ferenc uses the glasses to scan the fields again.)

(Ferenc picks up the tripod. The soldier heaves up the heavy machine gun. Ferenc nods, it’s time to run. Both begin to exit the roofless cottage. The SOUND of an incoming artillery shell, flash, and explosion. Cut to black.)

(Delbee moves off-stage.)

(Yuvan and a younger woman, SARA, of East European ancestry, around 40 and fashionably dressed, enter together, carrying one bag each. Throughout, Sara has watchful eyes, and is always watching, usually with a hard expression, as if she is a trained operative or foreign agent.)

(They go inside and dump the bags. Then come out again, with drinks.)

(Yuvan sips water.)

(Yuvan stands, and takes his glass inside. Sara follows, turning the patio light off. From inside the unit comes the tinkle of laughter.)

(SCENE LIGHTING TEMPORARILY OFF : BLACK-OUT : Black-out. Then sun comes up and lighting returns as for daylight. The next morning.)

(A much pregnant local islander, a young female cleaner, VAIMITI comes on stage, with a trolley and cleaning materials, and knocks on door. Yuvan opens the door dressed for beach, and steps out, followed by Sara, who smiles when she sees Vaimiti is very pregnant, and stops.)

(Yuvan waits, and then wanders off toward the nearby beach.)

(Time passes: Sara and Vaimiti chat. SCENE LIGHTING TEMPORARILY OFF : BLACK-OUT : Black-out.)

(Yuvan comes back to fetch Sara.)

(Sara rejoins Yuvan, and slips her arm inside his.)

(Exit Delbee.)

(Zsófi comes out, with her backpack and hiking boots, and turns the radio off before sitting down. Yuvan gets up, remains standing.)

(Yuvan nods, and goes in. Yuvan returns with coffee, lemon/ginger, and a croissant. Yuvan offers the croissant. Zsófi gives a little head-shake.)

(Yuvan sits and begins to eat the croissant.)

(Zsófi is suddenly dejected, grumpy.)

(Zsófi stands and paces up and down.)

(Yuvan stands, staring at Zsófi, bemused.)

(Zsófi turns away and leans over the balustrade.)

(Yuvan pulls out a map of New Zealand from his own bag, spreads it on the table, and takes out a pencil.)

(Yuvan traces the route from Kirikiriroa [in upper North Island] southward, and circles Cromwell in the South Island.)

(Delbee exits. SOUND: three car doors slam. SLAM! SLAM! SLAM!)

( Realtor’s arrives with Zsófi and Yuvan. Realtor, an older male, points out the boundaries. Zsófi and Yuvan take photos.)

(Zsófi goes to give Yuvan a hug. Yuvan takes advantage. This time, with the realtor watching, Zsófi lets him.)

(They walk back toward the vehicle, and get in. Zsófi smirks. The SUV moves slowly off toward the valley below.)

(Zsófi and Yuvan arrive.)

(Yuvan nods.)

(Zsófi stands close, and lets Yuvan hug her again.)

(Zsófi, also in deshabille, comes out with a omelette pan.)

(Zsófi doesn’t know how to answer this question.)

(They eat.)

(Zsófi puts her fork down, and frowns.)

(They both smile.)

(Zsófi raises both palms.)

(Zsófi tidies and stacks the plates.)

(Inna shrugs. They both laugh.)

(Inna goes inside and comes out again dressed, ready to go. She pauses, tears welling in her eyes, and takes hold of both of Zsófi’s hands.)

(Inna kisses the back of each of Zsófi’s hands in turn.)

(Zsófi wipes away a tear.)

(Inna smiles through her tears.)

(Inna turns, and walks down the steps, looks back and waves farewell. Zsófi waves with her fingers, her other hand wiping away tears. Inna turns and raises a clenched fist salute. Zsófi forces herself to do likewise.)

(Zsófi blows a kiss.)