Sommarlek

---

SUMMER INTERLUDE

12.00:
Dress rehearsal

Swan Lake, Petrushka

- Parcel to be delivered.

- For Miss Marie. I'll see to that.

I'll take it, I'm seeing her now.

- What's your name, please?

- Nystrm, features editor.

Hello? Hold on,

I've got someone here.

- What paper?

- The Year Round.

No reporters today,

it's dress rehearsals.

But this is private.

She's expecting me.

I know that trick. No private

meetings on dress rehearsal day.

- Hack! The Year Round!

- What's that smell?

- I don't smell anything.

- You've lost your sense of smell.

Take this parcel to Miss Marie, Karl.

Be quick about it.

Call back later.

- There is a funny smell.

- That's possible.

But no upstart outsider

should be telling me.

I've been at this theatre

for 40 years!

- A letter for Miss Marie.

- Thanks, Karl.

- Get out, Karl. We're changing now.

- "We"? Never!

Oh God!

- Where's Marie?

- Ask Karlsson.

Karlsson... Karlsson!

I can't stand men who dance.

- Why aren't we starting?

- Something's up with Marie.

Something's wrong with Marie,

everyone says so.

To your places!

We're ready to go.

There's something in the air today.

I said to the missus this morning.

It's the weather and all...

And I had a funny dream.

Something will happen, you'll see.

I usually feel these things...

What the devil is this?

Let's find the fault.

What fault?

- A plug is apparently burning.

- This is bloody awful!

No, it's not good.

- How long will it take?

- I can't say.

Break!

What did I say? I can feel it

in my head and knees.

- Can I get you anything, Marie?

- No thanks.

- No?

- Oh yes, maybe some coffee.

I've never seen such hideous toes.

New ballet shoes are evil.

I'm going to complain.

What's wrong, Marie?

Are you upset?

Shall I sing to you,

or do you want to play a game?

Is it that it's autumn, or that

children now call us "madam"?

Tullan's sister did that today,

she didn't do that last spring.

Are you lovesick?

Our faces look 45,

our bodies 18.

We're 28

and the children call us madam!

Kaj...

Have you ever had a dream

and then woken up so soft inside

that you just want to cry?

And then tried hard to find

out what the dream was about...

...or just walked away from it all?

I never had anyone

to have such dreams about.

You wake up in the morning,

with the dream still present.

You're all soft inside...

- What did you say?

- Oh, nothing.

Oh, that's lovely!

We look great, of course...

But this job wears you down,

at least your toes

and your immortal soul.

DIARY:

- What's wrong, Marie?

- So many people die.

- Oh, I don't know!

- They say there's a snag.

A snag? I bet you

there'll be an evening rehearsal.

We never get to make love

at normal hours.

Out of my way, little one!

There's a snag, apparently.

- Sorry, we'll have to work tonight.

- Yes, there's a snag.

You just keep calm. I'm totally calm.

Don't lie about

where people can trip over you!

Tonight. And stay calm.

I'm calm.

Couldn't you just kill him?

- She keeps herself in shape.

- That's quite so...

- But her legs are too fat.

- It's muscle.

All classical dancers

have thick calves and thighs.

Bye-bye!

Mr Nystrm, the editor, please.

It's strange she hasn't married.

There's never even

a scrap of gossip about her.

Because for 40 years

you've been throwing out the press.

- Bye, Nisse.

- Marie!

A Mr Nystrm from The Year Round

asked for you earlier.

He seemed very keen,

but I sent him packing.

You sent him packing?

They should send you packing!

That was not nice.

Bye-bye, Nisse!

- There's something hard about her.

- She was cross.

No wonder, she's probably

seeing that hack.

- Do you enjoy scaring people?

- Were you daydreaming?

I was yawning. I'm tired, because

you won't let me sleep at night.

- You're getting old, my dear...

- Don't joke about that.

- We'll go to bed early tonight.

- We're rehearsing tonight.

But I've taken time off,

and they weren't happy.

You'll have to go out

with someone else.

- Are you sulking now?

- It's always "the theatre"...

- Let's go home.

- Now? You're crazy!

- Why not?

- I happen to have a job to go to.

Forget it,

the papers are full as it is.

Forget about your rehearsal!

See?

It's always "the paper"...

See?

Can't you think of something else

to say?

How about:

I love you all the same.

How generous.

- You're getting on my nerves.

- Why is that?

I can't stand old sourpusses.

Good day!

But I really am sad... David!

Well, get moving, little lady!

Are you coming or not?

- That was a narrow scrape.

- What?

You nearly didn't make it out

to your goats.

- What?

- Can I offer you some pop?

Marie? You don't recognise me,

but I recognise you.

- I recognise you, Father.

- It's been a long time.

We haven't met

since my confirmation.

Yes, Marie, we have.

What the devil are you doing?

Your drink's getting cold!

It was about thirteen years ago.

The ballet school spring show.

Yes, the show...

A day of joy,

a day of disappointment.

Of dashed expectations, tension,

hysteria, excitement.

A day unlike any other in the year.

Marie! Hold on.

- The orchestra played too slow.

- Don't give me that.

- It didn't go well.

- No, but it was inspired.

- I'm going home to have a good cry.

- You do that.

- Did you like it? Was it any good?

- It was lovely.

- What do you want?

- I'm seeing a friend.

- Who?

- I don't know.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes