Literature

The Lighthouse Keeper

SCENE 5

Stage setting as before. It is not clear how much time has passed. Jason is still sitting at the table, the paper boat in his hands. The lighthouse keeper is standing near the door, his eyes on Jason, his arms folded.

KEEPER: Damn it ... what do you think you are doing?!

Jason does not look up. It takes a while until he flatly answers.

JASON: I don't understand ... just let me go ...

The lighthouse keeper smiles, knowing of his superiority; he walks up to the table and takes the paper boat from Jason's hands.

KEEPER: You are not going anywhere.

He crumples up the paper boat and throws it into a corner of the room. Jason still does not look up. When the lighthouse keeper turns his back on him for a moment, he hastily stands up, unfortunately knocking down the chair, attracting the lighthouse keeper's attention. Jason runs towards the door, but the lighthouse keeper is faster and bars his way.

KEEPER: I said, you are not going anywhere!!

Jason moves back, towards the table; the lighthouse keeper follows him, pushing him further backwards, until Jason bumps into the table.

KEEPER: Sit down.

Jason does not resist any longer. He picks up the chair and sits down at the table again, taking the quill, awaiting further orders.

KEEPER: Write. 'Dear Sirs, from this day onward' – put the date at the top –, 'from this day onward I, Jason' – what is your last name anyway? – 'take over the duty of the lighthouse keeper ...' and so on. Write that down!

Jason writes hastily. The lighthouse keeper is standing close behind him and watches, nodding in approval from time to time. Finally Jason stops, but does not dare to turn toward the lighthouse keeper.

KEEPER: Good. Now sign it.

Jason signs the letter with trembling hands. The lighthouse keeper takes the document and reads it once more. Jason sits without motion, his eyes cast down, weeping or at least not far from it. The lighthouse keeper's hand rests on his shoulder.

KEEPER: [low:] Now, my boy, you are almost through it.

He folds the letter and puts it in his pocket. Then he leaves, not taking his eyes off Jason, slowly for the door. He pauses there, again smiling, and silently looks at Jason for a while, before speaking.

KEEPER: The time to say goodbye is drawing near; let us make it short. Where is your boat? It matters not, I will find her. Do not forget the light, the way it is now, it will not burn for long, you will soon have to put on some more, so I can find my way. The sky is getting dark out there.

His hand raised as a farewell, the lighthouse keeper leaves the room. For maybe 20 seconds Jason sits, alone, motionless, at the table. Then the door opens again, the lighthouse keeper walks hastily towards the table, grabs the papers that have been written on, and leaves again, this time for good. Once more he stops at the door and turns to Jason.

KEEPER: Do not forget the light.

The lighthouse keeper is gone, Jason is left behind, alone. He takes one of the empty sheets of paper and grabs the quill, but does not know what to write. Perhaps for a minute he remains in this pose, then he puts down the quill.

JASON: I guess I should look after the light.

He makes no move to stand up, but listens into this silence. There is nothing to be heard. He looks around, towards the door, but there is nothing there. Finally he turns again towards the blank sheet of paper.

JASON: He said, it would not be burning long; and there is a storm coming up. I must look after the light.

He still remains seated, looks around again, listens. Finally he takes the paper and starts folding a boat, then turns it around in his hands for a while, thinking; then puts it down on the table. He takes another sheet of paper, divides it in halves and folds a smaller boat, turns it around for a while and finally puts it down. A third, fourth, fifth boat follow ...

JASON: [still folding paper boats:] I will — later.

Curtain.

----- back to: ----- [ The Lighthouse Keeper | Literature | Culture ] -----

Back to top ....