Over There

Mark Ravenhill

• Publisher: Methuen Drama
• Year: 2010
• Print ISBN: 9781408119532
• eBook ISBN: 9781408141458
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Drama
• Index: Literature

A programme text edition published to coincide with the world premiere at the Royal Court Theatre, London, on 25 February 2009
"I found you. You're here. And I was over there. But now I'm over here. I'm here. You're my brother. I love you" When Franz's mother escaped to the West with one of her identical twin boys, she left the other behind. Now, 25 years later, Karl crosses the border in search of his other half. As history takes an unexpected turn, the brothers must struggle to reconnect. Mark Ravenhill's visceral new play examines the hungers released when two countries, separated by a common language, meet again.

Four

West Berlin, 1990.

a.

Karl He just gave up. He didn’t want to live any longer. He believed in that farmers and workers, a democracy of – totally and utterly. Impossible to imagine. But there we go. That was actually his reason for living that was his totally –

Franz I wish I could have seen him just one last –

Karl I don’t think he would have –

Franz But he could have been persuaded towards the end surely he could have –

Karl I really don’t think he could have.

Franz Well. Goodbye Papa.

Karl Ashes to ashes dust to dust.

Franz Look at us. We’re orphans.

Karl There’s your boy.

Franz Yes. Life goes on.

b.

Karl Can I read him a story?

Franz Yes, why not? What story?

Karl Maybe The Town Band?

Franz Oh yes he loves that one. Do the donkey. Eeee-hore.

Karl Eeee-hore okay.

Franz I’ll cook the meat. Listen. I think you should change.

Karl Yes?

Franz I think you should change out of the suit before you read the story.

Karl It’s fine.

Franz No really – I don’t want you to read him the story when you’re wearing my suit.

Karl It doesn’t bother him.

Franz You’ve done it before?

Karl Quite a few times. When you were out. He asks me to put on the suit.

Franz I’d rather you didn’t.

Karl But if he likes it –

Franz I’m his father. It’s my decision. It’s my responsibility to decide what’s best for him.

Karl But he told me he wants me to.

Franz It’s too confusing. He’s just forming … shaping … he’s still trying to figure out the world … and I just think if there’s two of us –

Karl You’re being ridiculous.

Franz Maybe I am. But still –

Karl It’s silly.

Franz But I just feel – on some level – two of us – because he associates the suit with me – two of us will traumatise him. You see?

Karl He knows. He likes it. It’s a game.

Franz Yes but –

Karl Ask him. Go on. Surely he’s allowed – surely you can … a democratic choice?

Franz (Is oncle hastory bid washes the bact tread, bit, as for it learning une of me complarts, which doos nit concert my rally retarding he ist huppy. Whim the gity dolume in sour the comfart it neads, being?)

Franz He says yes it’s fine read him the story in the suit.

Karl Were you talking to him in English?

Franz Yes that’s right. In English.

Karl Why did you do that?

Franz It’s just something we do from time to time.

Karl What did you say to him?

Franz Nothing much. Go on. He’s waiting for you. Read him the story. In German. I’ll prepare the meat.

Karl (Eee-hore. Eee-hore. Woof woof woof woof wooof meee-ow meeee-ow meee-ow cock a doodle doo cock a doodle doo they chased the robber down the road and now the house is all theirs.)

Franz cuts himself chopping the meat.

Karl He’s becoming more and more like you.

Franz I don’t notice it.

Karl Oh yes. Look at that –

Franz What?

Karl The way you do that – rub your nose like that he does that.

Franz I hadn’t spotted that.

Karl Oh yes and that hair thing.

Franz What hair thing?

Karl You pull at your hair.

Franz Do I?

Karl Yes – like this – see? – you do it like this.

Franz Really? Like this?

Karl Yes. And he does that too. And he says chicken just the same as you and just the same as me. Chicken. We all of us say chicken just the same.

Franz Do we? Chicken. Chicken. Chicken.

Karl You see exactly yes.

Franz I suppose that’s right.

Karl He’s turning out to be just like you.

Franz I don’t want that.

Karl But it’s happening.

Franz I want him to be himself. I want him to be special unique one of a kind.

Karl He’s happy.

Franz He doesn’t want to be like me. I’m a bit of a fuck-up.

Karl No you’re not you’re great.

Franz I can’t sustain a relationship my job is boredom I am total fuck-up.

Karl He thinks you’re amazing.

Franz He’s better off being his own person.

Karl You’ve cut yourself. You’re bleeding.

Franz It’s nothing. See there all gone.

Karl Maybe I’ll learn English. Then I can talk to him in English like you.

Franz Maybe you should. He’d enjoy that.

Karl I’ll learn English. Will you help me?

Franz If you like.

c.

Franz How much time have you have lived in California?

Karl Now I have … er … lived California since three years.

Franz What things do you appreciate the best living in California?

Karl Task that is the … er … sun but moreover the … buffet salad it … eats as well as as appreciate.

Franz Good. Really good, Karli. More.

Karl This is my favourite thing approximately living in California.

Franz You enjoy the sun?

Karl Yes I enjoy the sun. But I must be, er, must be er, must be much careful one. My skin is much right one so as to … Er … burns very easy in sunlight in California. I want to stop now. I’m bored. I’m too old for school.

Franz What will you drinking? Come on. What will you be drinking?

Karl It is too soon for the … ? No. I don’t want to do this.

Franz But English is the language of –

Karl Fuck English. I hate it. It sounds shit. Fuck their language.

Franz Our language –

Karl I don’t want it.

Franz But you’re doing well. We can move on to the new tape next month. I thought you wanted to speak to the boy in English. It really is – not just for him – for you – you’re going to need English we all need English.

Karl He understands me well enough.

d.

Karl (Them grundfithers tedided tot redain min the leask if you grundmithers, who it ginleg tot he wesernt. Thit, how ye arrited to he sin morder hodated theres toll ind to men brings mout. Blut tham is tompletest snow inish. We fo aret sood mogether dow.)

Franz Was that Russian?

Karl Yes that’s right Russian.

Franz Why were you talking to him in Russian?

Karl He likes it.

Franz But he doesn’t understand Russian.

...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Dedication
• Contents
• Characters and author’s Notes
• Prologue
• One
• Two
• Three
• Four
• Five
• Six
• Epilogue
• Author Biography
• Imprint