Jean-Claude Grumberg

Coming to You, Promised Land

(Dental Tragedy)
CHARACTR!"
CHARL! !P#D$
CLARA !P#D$
!%&A''
TH ACT#R G##D (#R ALL PART!
)#THR !%PR*#R
)A%R*CTT
CH#*R
*nstead o+ a Prologue
CHARL!" You tal, to t-em.
CLARA" 'o, no, * don/t.
CHARL!" #-, yes, you do.
CLARA" About t-e 0eat-er, good day, good e1ening,
-o0 are you...
CHARL!" !ee, you do say 2-o0 are you3.
CLARA" 4ell, * do, but do not mean it.
CHARL!" You use body language.
CLARA" 5ody language6 C-arles, don/t you s7are me8
CHARL!" T-ey get inside, and 0-ile ans0ering you
21ery 0ell, t-an, you3, t-ey use t-eir eyes to 9uestion
you.
CLARA" To 9uestion me6
CHARL!" 4it- t-eir eyes...
CLARA" 'o, t-ey don/t.
CHARL!" And you nod and 0ring your -ands.
CLARA" 'o, ne1er, ne1er. 4-y 0ould you say t-at6 4-y6
CHARL!" You 0el7ome t-em in t-e 0aiting-room...
CLARA" *n t-e 0aiting-room, yes.
CHARL!" And t-en you snea, out to be 0it- t-em:
you all ;ull out your -and,er7-ie+s and 0-is;er
0-ile 0i;ing out your eyes.
CLARA" 4-at are you tal,ing about, C-arles6
CHARL!" A+ter t-at, t-ey 7ome into t-e surgery, sig-
0-en t-ey see me, nod t-eir -eads, 7limb u; t-e
dental 7-air, sig- again, 0i;e out t-eir eyes,
gi1e anot-er sig-, 0i;e t-eir noses, 0i;e it on7e
more, 0-ile */m 0aiting +or t-em to <nally o;en
t-eir mout-s and 7lose t-eir eyes.
CLARA" C-arles, 0-o li,es 7oming to t-e dentist68 'o0,
really8
CHARL!" 'o one, * ,no0. )ore so 0-en t-e dentist
and -is 0i+e -a1e one o+ t-eir daug-ters
de;orted, and t-e ot-er one li1ing in a nunnery.
CLARA" * do not dis7uss t-is 0it- anyone. * s0ear to
you... ne1er, not e1er, 0it- no one.
CHARL!" 'e=t time 0-en you do not -a1e t-is tal,
0it- t-em, tell t-em t-ere is not-ing ne0 to tell.
T-e only t-ing, t-oug-, 0ould be to tell, +rom
no0 on, t-at 0-en our daug-ter re+uses to see
us, so 0e 0ill re+use to see -er.
CLARA" 4-y6 4-y 0ould you say t-at6
CHARL!" !o t-at you 0ould ,no0 0-at to tell 0-en
you don/t tell one 0ord.
CLARA" * 0ould ne1er say su7- t-ing. 4-y 0ould * do
t-at6
CHARL!" !o t-at our ;atients sto; s-o0ing me t-eir
+uneral-li,e +a7es 0-en t-ey 7limb on t-e dental
7-air. *s t-ere anyone 0aiting in t-e 0aiting
room6 !o t-at t-ey may sa1e on t-eir
7om;assion and s;end it on ;eo;le 0-o may
need it more t-an 0e do: and most o+ all, to sto;
7ro0ding t-e 0aiting room.
CLARA" C-arles, do you 0ant to 7-ase a0ay t-e
;atients6
CHARL!" * do. * 0ant a +ull re1am; o+ my 7lientele. !o
* do8 * 0ant to see only regular, ordinary ;eo;le
sitting on t-is 7-air, 0it- -a;;y +a7es, 0-o ,no0
not-ing about our li1es and our daug-ters:
;atients 0-o do not 7are about de;ortees or
nuns. * 0ant as ;atients only old-timers, militia
men 0it- de7aying teet-, toot-less +ormer
7ollaborators and snit7-es, so t-at * may ;lu7,
t-e ner1e out o+ t-eir teet- 0it- no anest-eti78
CLARA" C-arles, it/s ringing at t-e door.
CHARL!" *t/s ringing, it/s ringing. !o, go o;en t-e
door8 4-o is it, t-is time6
CLARA" )rs. !u>anne.
CHARL!" )rs. !u>anne and -er ,id 0it- t-e de7aying
teet-6 T-is ,id is a gold-mine to a dentist
una0are t-at -is +at-er 0as de;orted one
7on1oy a-ead o+ t-e one t-at...
CLARA" You don/t 0ant to ta,e money, 0-ile s-e is
0illing and able to ;ay: )rs. !u>anne -as a ?ob.
CHARL!" T-at/s a good one8 *, telling t-e 0ido0 o+ a
de;ortee to ;ay8 4-at are you doing 0it- t-at
-and,er7-ie+6
CLARA" * 7aug-t a 7old.
CHARL!" 4ait8 You ,no0 0-at you are to say, don/t
you6
CLARA" Yes, * do. */ll say not-ing. 4e ne1er tal,ed about
it.
CHARL!" T-en, 0-y is s-e 7rying ea7- time s-e is
-ere6
CLARA" You t-in, s-e -as no reason, o+ -er o0n, to 7ry6
CHARL!" T-at damn door-bell ring dri1es me 7ra>y.
Remind me to 7-ange it 0it- anot-er one.
!%&A''" 4-at/s u;6 Didn/t -e arri1e yet6
CLARA" T-e ,id6 'o8
!%&A''" He is 7oming straig-t +rom -is so77er
training.
CLARA" *s -e ;laying so77er6
!%&A''" 4e s-ould -a1e met do0nstairs, but 0-en *
sa0 t-e a;;ointment time -ad ;assed, * t-oug-t
-e must -a1e 7ome u;stairs and not 0ait +or me.
CLARA" He 0ouldn/t -a1e done it, )rs. !u>anne, -e
0ouldn/t -a1e done it.
CHARL!" Good day, )rs. !u>anne.
!%&A''" Good day, do7tor.
CHARL!" All by yoursel+6
!%&A''" He is 7oming, -e is.
CLARA" He is 7oming straig-t +rom -is so77er training.
CHARL!" #-, -e ;lays so77er... 0it- -is glasses8
!%&A''" He ta,es t-em o@, do7tor, -e ta,es t-em
o@8 He already damaged t0o ;airs o+ glasses.
CHARL!" Can -e see t-e ball 0it-out 0earing t-em6
!%&A''" *t/s a -ell o+ a ball, do7tor.
CLARA" You -a1e met C-arles.
CHARL!" Let/s not 0aste time: 7ome and s-o0 me
your 7a1ities instead.
!%&A''" * -a1e no 7a1ities, do7tor.
CHARL!" Call me Herr Pro+essor.
!%&A''" * beg your ;ardon6
CHARL!" * don/t li,e being 7alled 2do7tor3.
CLARA" 4-at are you tal,ing about6 Call -im C-arles,
)rs. !u>anne. He is ?ust ,idding around 0it- you.
C-arles8
!%&A''" * al0ays -ad good teet-.
CHARL!" You -a1e no 7a1ities and 0ee;6 * and my
0i+e s-ould 0ee;8 4-at 0ere 0e to do i+ no one
-ad 7a1ities6
!%&A''" * am not 0ee;ing: 0-y 0ould * be 0ee;ing,
do7tor6 * 7ried enoug-.
CHARL!" You 7aug-t t-e Aue +rom Clara, 0-en you
7ame inside. T-e ,id is not ta,ing a+ter you" -is
teet- are de7ayed. He 0ill be toot-less by t-e
age BC.
!%&A''" 4-o6 )y son6
CHARL!" T-at, unless -e de7ides to start 0as-ing -is
teet- +rom no0 on.
!%&A''" He does 0as- -is teet-, o+ 7ourse -e does8
CHARL!" 1ery morning6
!%&A''" 1ery morning.
CHARL!" #n -is teet-6
!%&A''" #+ 7ourse. #n -is teet- in7luded8 T-at is,
unless -e 0a,es u; late: -e doesn/t li,e to be
late.
CHARL!" #ne 7an tell...
!%&A''" * mean, +or s7-ool...
CHARL!" *+ -e doesn/t do it in t-e morning, -e/s
ma,ing u; +or it in t-e e1ening.
!%&A''" To 0as- -is teet- in t-e e1ening6
CLARA" T-is is -o0 t-ey do it in Ameri7a.
!%&A''" *n t-e e1ening -e dro;s do0n aslee;: -e
needs a lot o+ slee;.
CHARL!" Per+e7t. At BC -e 0ill -a1e no toot- le+t: -e
0ill be <tted a ;rost-esis 0it- +alse teet-: t-at
one 0as-es by itsel+ in a glass o+ 0ater.
TH ACT#R G##D (#R ALL" Good e1ening8 * am
t-e aut-or, Jean Claude. 4ell, * mean */m t-e
a7tor 0-o ;lays t-e aut-or in t-is s7ene, 0-ere
-e is around DD or DB, and 7omes straig-t +rom
-is so77er training. His mot-er managed to buy
-im a +ull so77er gear. T-e only t-ing missing
0ere t-e 7o1ers +or -is tibia bones. As soon as
-e got t-ose, t0o or t-ree mont-s later, -e 9uit
so77er ;laying. 4it-out -is glasses on, -e 0as
unable to ,ee; -is ;osition in t-e <eld, running
all o1er t-e ;la7e, but ne1er rea7-ing t-e ball.
4-en -e -eard 7ries o+ 2T-e -ead, t-e -ead83,
-e ,ne0 -e 0as to s-ield -is -ead 0it- bot-
arms and stay ;ut. #ne time, t-oug-, t-e ball
did -it -im in a sensiti1e ;la7e: it 0as dire7ted
0it- a strong blo0, and -e deAe7ted its 7ourse
0it- -is leg in t-e middle. (or a 0-ile -e t-oug-t
-e 0ould ne1er be able to ;ee again. His
memorable a7tion sa1ed -is team +rom ta,ing a
goal, but ended -is 7areer as a so77er ;layer. At
t-e time -e -ad so many 7a1ities t-at -e -ad to
s;end most o+ -is +ree time on t-e dental 7-air
o+ )r. C-arles/, 0-o bit u; -is lo0er li; e1ery
time -e rea7-ed into -is mout-. )any times o1er
-e 0anted to go to anot-er dentist, but -is
mot-er ,e;t telling -im" EHe su@ered so mu7-
during t-e 0ar. And you su@ered too.3 !o it 0as.
5ut it seemed t-at -e su@ered less t-an t-e
dentist and -is 0i+e. A daug-ter lost in deat-
7am;s tallies less t-an a lost +at-er6 #r as a lost
-usband6 4-ere 7an one <nd a s7ale +or tallying
su@ering, a meter +or measuring u; ;ain. E)r.
C-arles is still in ;ain3, murmured !u>anne,
0-ile 0i;ing out -er eyes 0it- t-e -and,er7-ie+
s-e ,e;t u; -er slee1e. !o, be7ause -e 0as still
in ;ain, t0i7e a 0ee, F in t-ose times t-e toot--
ner1e 0as terminated in se1eral sessions F so,
t0i7e a 0ee,, Jean Claude -ad to sit on t-e
dental 7-air, in )r. C-arles/ surgery. !ometimes
!u>anne too, time o@ +rom -er ?ob to
a77om;any -er son, ;ur;ortedly to su;;ort -im,
0-en in +a7t s-e 0anted to su;;ort Clara, and
<nd out ne0s about t-e un+olding tragedy. To
better understand t-e tragedy in 9uestion, 0-i7-
t-e aut-or, a77ording to -is o0n statement, did
not ,no0 -o0 or did not 0ant to build in a
7lassi7al manner, * must add t-at, a;art +rom t-e
aut-or as a 7-ild, * also ;lay most o+ t-e ;arts o+
ne1er-do-0ells t-at 7ome a7ross t-e !;ode,s
;at-. * 0ill also be ;art o+ t-e 7-oir, as all non-
dental, so-7alled 7lassi7al tragedies do re9uire
one. T-e time +or t-e ;lay is ;ost 44**: but t-at
you already guessed, didn/t you6 4-at6 You
-eard t-ere 0as a !e7ond 4orld 4ar, didn/t you6
#ld story, * ,no0. 5ut in t-ose times, to t-e
!;ode,s, to !u>anne, to t-e aut-or and a +e0
ot-er ;eo;le, li,e millions o+ t-em, it 0as
somet-ing ;retty ne0. Guite an e1ent. *+ * tal, to
mu7- don/t be s-y" Aag me do0n 0it- your
0-istles or get out o+ t-e t-eater--all, as
seasoned s;e7tators do t-ese days, +or t-e 44**
is ?ust an old story +or old-timers.
TH #THR!" Cut it out, t-at/s enoug-...
TH ACT#R" All rig-t, all rig-t, you/re rig-t. Let/s bring it
to a 7lose. )y 7olleagues get as im;atient as you
do. !o, t-en, t-e boy 0ent inside, !u>anne
s7olded -im, -e sat on t-e dental 7-air, C-arles
e=amined -im, dis7o1ered a ne0 7a1ity, bit -is
lo0er li; and de7reed...
CHARL!" Prost-esis. At BC -e 0ill need a dental
;rost-esis.
TH ACT#R" T-e 7-ild nodded and t-en as,ed" 0-at/s
t-at a ;rost-esis6
Dar,.
--------- B T-e Coming 5a7,-----------
TH )A'" Just a se7ond. Please, do 7ome in.
CHARL!" *s it ne06
TH )A'" * beg your ;ardon6
CHARL!" T-e door-bell ring. Did you 7-ange t-e door-
bell6 *t -as an un;leasant ring.
TH )A'" Are you a +ormer ;atient6 Good day. */m glad
to meet you. RenH 5ertrand. * -a1e all t-e <les o+
t-e do7tor be+ore me.
CHARL!" Con1enient.
TH )A'" %n+ortunately, -is ;atients don/t 7ome -ere
anymore.
CHARL!" */m not sur;rised.
TH )A'" 4ould you li,e to ta,e a seat in t-e 0aiting
room6
CHARL!" *s it in t-e same ;la7e6
TH )A'" T-e only t-ing * 7-anged 0as t-e door-bell
ring. Please, ;lease...
CHARL!" *t/s no ;oint. * am C-arles !;ode,, dentist.
TH )A'" You are -ere to 7ause a s7andal6
CHARL!" 4-at s7andal6
TH )A'" * 0ould ad1ise you against it.
CHARL!" * 7ame ba7, -ome.
TH )A'" Home6 Listen -ere, t-is is neit-er t-e time
nor t-e ;la7e +or ?o,ing. */m 0or,ing no0.
CHARL!" T-at/s t-e same t-ing * 0ant to do.
TH 4#)A'"4-at -a;;ened6
TH )A'" T-is guy 7ame out o+ no0-ere.
CHARL!" #ut o+ a 7loset, madam, out o+ t-e old-stu@
7loset.
TH )A'" T-is man 7laims -e 7ame ba7, -ome.
TH 4#)A'"Home6
TH )A'" He/s !;ode,.
TH 4#)A'"4e boug-t t-e ;ra7ti7e and t-e a;artment
0as 1a7ant8 All do7uments are sealed by t-e
Pre+e7ture, by t-e Poli7e Commissioner...
TH )A'" 5y t-e Commer7ial Court, by t-e Coun7il +or
#rder...
CHARL!" *t seems you are not u;-to-date 0it- t-e
ne0 de1elo;ments.
TH )A'" * ,ne0 it8 *t -ad to be me8 #ne does not see
an end to 0-at t-ese ;eo;le 7an do. #ne
mis+ortune u;on anot-er...
TH 4#)A'"T-at/s enoug-, get out, mister8 #r */ll 7all
t-e Poli7e8
CHARL!" Poli7e is no longer on your side, madam.
TH 4#)A'"4-at do you mean6 *+ you don/t get out by
yoursel+, my -usband 0ill ,i7, you out. RenH8
TH )A' *t -ad to be me8
CHARL!" A+ter all */1e been t-roug-, no one 7an ,i7,
me out: not e1en RenH.
TH 4#)A'"*+ you t-in, t-at t-is is t-e 0ay you/ll get
yoursel+ to be a77e;ted8
CHARL!" A77e;ted by 0-om, madam6
TH 4#)A'"* ad1ise you against ;us-ing +or0ard... 4-at
a ner1e8
TH )A'" Do not try to ta,e on t-e (ren7-, +or
somet-ing t-e Germans did to you8
TH 4#)A'"4e su@ered too, you ,no068 #n to; o+ t-at,
0e stayed in Paris, 0e did not get out to -ide, as
ot-ers did8
TH )A'" You snea, in li,e t-is, you ;retend to be a
;atient. 4ell, no, no, no8
CHARL!" You -a1e DI days noti7e to lea1e t-is ;la7e:
t-at/s DI days more t-an * -ad. * lea1e t-e
#J7ial Ga>ette 0it- you: read it: it/s an eye-
o;ener.
TH )A'" 4e/ll meet in 7ourt, sir.
CHARL!" 5e 7are+ul: ?udges s0it7-ed 7am; too.
TH 4#)A'"4-at are you tal,ing about6
Dar,.
CH#*R"
H T-e DI-day noti7e lasted
!H KC mont-s.
H *n s;ite o+ all t-e de7rees and t-e inter1ention o+
t-e ne0ly-+ormed #J7e +or t-e Restitution o+
Je0is- Pro;erties. During t-e t-ree years o+ legal
;ro7edures, C-arles 0or,ed ;art-time in a
medi7al 7enter +or Je0is- or;-ans, on !treet...
!H Paradise. Clara 0or,ed in a seamstress/ s-o; +or
male 7lot-es. T-is, 0-ile t-ey -ad ;lenty o+ time
to understand t-e e=a7t meaning o+ t-e 0ord...
H 2de;ortee3.
!H !o, t-ey +ound out 0-at -a;;ened to t-eir
younger daug-ter, Jeanette. T-ey told t-eir elder
daug-ter...
H in a letter...
!H be7ause t-e mot-er-su;erior, o+ t-e nunnery t-ey
too, -er to, told t-em t-at s-e 0as trans+erred at
t-e beginning o+ DLMM some0-ere...
H in !;ain. Go to t-e nunnery8
H" %;on t-eir se7ond 1isit to t-e same mot-er-
su;erior, t-ey suggested to lea1e at on7e +or
!;ain, to ta,e t-eir daug-ter ba7, -ome. Guite
gingerly, mot-er-su;erior made t-em
understand t-at sin7e t-eir daug-ter 0as
in+ormed in 0riting, in an unsuitable manner,
about -er younger sister/s deat-, s-e 0as
se1erely s-o7,ed and, +or t-e time being, +elt
s-e needed to get ba7, on -er bearings in a
7alm and stable en1ironment. (a7ed 0it- Clara/s
and C-arles/s des;eration, mot-er-su;erior
ad1ised t-em to 0rite -er a letter, +ull o+ -o;e,
t-at 0ould -el; t-eir daug-ter get o1er t-is
e=tremely ;ain+ul loss. T-ey too, on t-is ad1i7e,
0it- Clara stri1ing to 0rite ;ositi1e letters, +ull o+
-o;e, t-at 0ent all unans0ered to. T-is time
C-arles 0ent dee;er into t-e legal battle +or
7laiming ba7, -is ;ra7ti7e.
)#THR-!%PR*#R" * -a1e good ne0s +rom our
daug-ter F and yours. !-e as,ed me to send to
you -er lo1ing t-oug-ts.
CLARA" T-an, you. 5ut 0-y is s-e not ans0ering our
letters6
)#THR-!%PR*#R" (or t-e time-being s-e 7-ose to
stay a0ay +rom t-e noise o+ t-e outside 0orld.
CLARA" T-e ;arents are ;art o+ t-e noise o+ t-e outside
0orld6
CHARL!" 4-en may 0e see -er6 #r tal, to -er o1er
t-e ;-one, at least6
)#THR-!%PR*#R" (irst o+ all, s-e 0ants you to
re7o1er your ;ea7e and 7alm as soon as ;ossible
and, i+ * may add my o0n ad1ise, * suggest you
see, strengt- and 7ourage in ;rayer.
CHARL!" You 1ery 0ell ,no0 0e are not ;art o+ your
;aris-.
)#THR-!%PR*#R" 5ut Je0s ;ray as 0ell: so ;ray.
CHARL!" * do not ;ray: neit-er to your God, nor to t-e
one * allegedly belong to.
)#THR-!%PR*#R" * don/t get it.
CHARL!" )y 0i+e and * are at-eists: and e1en t-e
0ord 2at-eist3 7omes 0it- a religious
7onnotation too strong +or my taste.
)#THR-!%PR*#R" And you 0onder 0-y...
CHARL!" * 0onder 0-at6
)#THR-!%PR*#R" N t-at your daug-ter see,s ot-er
a1enues.
CLARA" 4e are not in 0onder about anyt-ing: 0e sim;ly
0ant to see our daug-ter, to -old -er in our
arms and 7ry toget-er. * do not see -o0 t-is 0is-
o+ ours is God/s or anybody/s else business.
)#THR-!%PR*#R" Put your 0is- on ;a;er, and * 0ill
gi1e it to -er, 0-ile in+orming -er o+ your 1isit
-ere. )r. !;ode,, * a;ologi>e, but t-ere is one
t-ing * do not understand. You say you don/t
belie1e in your God, and yet you 7laim to be an
*sraeli, don/t you6
CHARL!" You may 7all me a Je0, mot-er-su;erior.
)#THR-!%PR*#R" (ine, a Je0. )ay one be a Je0 0-ile
not ;ro+essing t-e Je0is- +ait-6
CHARL!" )adam, mot-er, sister, or 0-ate1er you
are8 * am too ner1ous no0 to be able to engage
in a dis;ute on t-e matter. 4ere * not -olding a
good gri; on my tem;er, * 0ould start -o0ling
loud, 1ery loud.
CLARA" C-arles, ;lease...
CHARL!" * do not ?oin my 0i+e in -er endea1or: 0-at *
0ant, 0-at * 7laim is +or -er to 7ome -ere rig-t
no0 and tell me, loo,ing me in t-e eyes"
2Daddy, * mysel+ de7ided to isolate mysel+, to
0al, a0ay +rom t-e 0orld3.
)#THR-!%PR*#R" !-e does not 0ant to 0al, a0ay
+rom t-e 0orld: s-e 0ants to be o+ good use to
t-e 0orld.
CLARA" 5y steering a0ay +rom -er ;arents6
)#THR-!%PR*#R" 5y 7oming 7loser to t-e #ne 0-o is
one 0it- +ait-, lo1e, -o;e, resurre7tion.
CHARL!" Per+e7t. Let -er 7ome and tell me t-is. * do
-a1e t-is rig-t, and so does Clara. T-at/s all *
0ant. A+ter t-at 0e 0ill no longer tal, about it.
5ut * 0arn you, in t-e most ;ea7e+ul 0ay * 7an
manage, t-at s-e is not yet an adult.
)A*CA" * 0ill gi1e -er your letter.
CLARA" 4-ere is our daug-ter6
)#THR-!%PR*#R" 4-ere1er s-e 0ould be, s-e is
under His ;rote7tion. 4-en you +eared +or -er
li+e you gi1e -er to us. 4e s-ielded -er +rom
danger as best 0e 7ould: but no0 -er soul, -er
balan7e are in danger: s-e doesn/t ,no0 yet
0-et-er s-e is meant +or religious li+e, s-e is still
sear7-ing. !-e is as mu7- in t-e dar,, as you
are. #nly t-at s-e sa0 a glim;se o+ lig-t. !-e
<g-ts t-e -el;lessness t-at <lled -er -eart sin7e
s-e +ound out about -er belo1ed sister/s deat-.
!-e is at a 7ross-roads, 0-ere s-e must 7-oose
bet0een +ait- and des;eration.
CHARL!" Ho0 7ould s-e ma,e a 7-oi7e: s-e is only a
7-ild: s-e ,no0s not-ing about li+e.
)#THR-!%PR*#R" T-e yello0 star on -er 7-est, t-e
;oli7e sear7-es, t-e Aig-t, -er sister dead F and
s-e ,no0s not-ing about li+e6 !-e ,no0s too
mu7- already, and needs to ;ut some meaning
in all t-ese.
CHARL!" 5ut t-ere is no meaning8
CLARA" 4-ere is our daug-ter6
)#THR-!%PR*#R" Currently s-e is in nort-ern
5elgium.
CHARL!" Damn8 Ho0 many subsidiaries you -a1e
abroad6 !-e is some ;la7e else ea7- time 0e
as,8 *n DLMB * trusted you 0it- 7aring +or a
Je0is- 7-ild8
)#THR-!%PR*#R" A young girl.
CHARL!" Je0is- girl8
)#THR-!%PR*#R" (ait-less. You said so yoursel+. !-e
0ill stay a Je0is- 0oman, but o+ C-ristian +ait-,
t-at/s -er 7-oi7e. !-e ;rays day and nig-t +or
you: you s-ould ;ray +or -er too.
CHARL!" *t/s a treat to 7-at 0it- you: it/s li,e banging
one/s -ead against t-e 0all8
)#THR-!%PR*#R" You bang your -ead against t-e
0all be7ause you adamantly ,ee; 0al,ing in t-e
dar,.
CLARA" )ot-er-su;erior, ;lease, * beg o+ you, do arrange
+or a 1isit 0it- our daug-ter: e1en +or a s-ort
one.
)#THR-!%PR*#R" Let/s 0ait +or t-e ans0er to your
letter.
CLARA" 5ut s-e ne1er 0rites ba7,8
CHARL!" 4-om s-ould 0e beg to, Clara and mysel+,
0-o s-ould see us tortured in ;ain, so t-at 0e
get to see our daug-ter: t-e only daug-ter le+t
to us6
CH#*R"
H" As +or getting ba7, t-e dental ;ra7ti7e, t-ings 7leared
out. 4it- -el; +rom t-e Dentists/ #rder, RenH
5ertrand/s ;ra7ti7e 0as mo1ed DCC meters
a0ay, so t-at -e 0ould not be deemed an
un+ortunate 1i7tim o+ t-e re-integration o+
*sraelis.
#n7e t-e usur;er ousted, C-arles and Clara
re9uested 1ia registered mail, as one +riend
seasoned in su7- issues ad1ised t-em, to -a1e
t-eir daug-ter immediately returned to t-em:
and t-ey 0aited +or t-e ans0er.
------------ I. )onologue-----------
CHARL!" *n my -ead * am along -er, in t-e nunnery: *
am drilling a toot- and yet * am alongside -er,
on my ,nees, 0it- my -ands ;ut toget-er in
;rayer. 4-at am * doing6 T-at is not t-e ;la7e
+or me, t-at is not t-e ;la7e +or -er. * start
drilling again. T-e ;atient/s eyes glan7e at my
mout-: * try not to bite my lo0er li;: * -urt -im:
-e 7loses -is eyes, trembles 0it- ;ain, but says
not-ing. * su@ered so mu7- during t-e 0ar, and *
still do. * 7ould drill all t-e 0ay t-roug- -is 7-ee,
and -e 0ould say not-ing: -e also su@ered so
mu7-. He lost -is 0i+e, -is 7-ild, -is ;arents. He
7omes +rom 1ery +ar a0ay to su@er a0ay
alongside me. He ta,es t-e sub0ay +rom t-e
!talingrad station: -e is ;roud to li1e in t-e
!talingrad neig-bor-ood. 4-o do you try to +ool6
Ho0 7ome t-ere is no ot-er dentist around your
-ome6 You already told me e1eryt-ing: 0-y do
you still 7all on me6 4-y are you 7oming all t-e
0ay +rom t-e C-ateau-Rouge6 T-ere/s not e1en
a dire7t sub0ay line8 * li,e regular ;atients,
normal ;eo;le. T-e ,ind t-at ;us- my arm a0ay
at t-e slig-test ;ain, at t-e +aintest +eeling o+
+ear: * li,e t-ose t-at 7ry, t-at are 1o7al. Yes.
4-en dealing 0it- t-em * 7annot <nd mysel+
0andering about t-e nunnery, or among t-e
nuns 0-o sing at t-e to; o+ t-eir lungs 2Closer to
You, )y Lord3: neit-er 7an * see mysel+ in t-e
same 0agon ta,ing a0ay Jeanette, or -ear t-e
bar,ing o+ t-e !! men and o+ t-eir dogs/. 'o, t-e
;atients 0-o ;us- a0ay my arm ma,e me +eel
good. 2!to;8 *t -urts83, 7ries a normal ;atient. *
li+t my +oot +rom t-e ;edal and t-e drill sto;s: *
7-ange t-e 7otton roll in -is mout- and t-an *
stare rig-t into -is eyes" 2T0o more se7onds, and
it/s done3. Rig-t8 T-at/s your dentist ;ledge,
0-ile * drill +urt-er and dee;er, sear7-ing +or t-e
;utrid stu@, and -e ?um;s, groans, moans.
2Come, do not mo1e, */ll -urt you3. He, at least,
does not 7arry a deat- senten7e. His eyes
0ander about sear7-ing +or -el;. 2Patien7e, be
;atient: any session ends, e1entually: t-e 7a1ity
gets <lled, t-e ner1e gets ;lu7,ed out: t-e 0orse
7ase s7enario is loosing t-e toot-, but t-at
means ten ot-er teet- sa1ed3. - Put me a 0-ite
one in its stead: sin7e * am ;aying +or it, at least
it s-ould s-o08 - T-at/s it, s;it, 0eOre done: i+
you/re in ;ain, in an -our or t0o, ta,e a sedati1e:
do not 7-e0 on t-at side o+ t-e mout- by
tonig-t. 'e=t session * 0ill ,ill t-e ner1e, and
a+ter t-at you 0ill ne1er +eel it -urting you again.
To ;lu7, a0ay t-e ner1e leading to my ;ain-
7enter, t-ere is no sedati1e, no remedy: it/s
in7essant, 0it- no end in sig-t: */m doomed. */m
doomed to 0ander about nunneries or su@o7ate
to deat- at t-e +alse s-o0er ta;s, along
Jeanette...
Dar,.
----------- P. 'ig-t------------
CH#*R"
H T-e 7-ildren 0-o lost t-eir ;arents are 7alled
or;-ans: but t-ere is no 0ord to name t-e
;arents or;-aned o+ t-eir 7-ildren.
!H" )aybe in Yiddis- t-ere is one su7- 0ord: t-ere
must be: i+ t-ere/s not, one s-ould be
immediately made u;.
H" A 0ord is missing: ;arti7ularly in Yiddis-, one
su7- 0ord is missing: a use+ul 0ord to des7ribe
;arents 0-o lost t-eir 7-ildren.
!H" (or t-e !;ode,s, t-e nig-ts 0ere longer t-an t-e
days. 5ot- 0andered about t-e -ouse, mo1ing
+rom one room to anot-er.
H" 2To -a1e DCC -ouses, 0it- DCC rooms ea7-, and
a bed in e1ery room, and 0ander about e1ery
nig-t, trying one bed a+ter anot-er not e1er
<nding your rest.3
!H" At nig-t, t-e !;ode,s 0ander about, 0al, one
;ast anot-er, e1en bum; into ea7- ot-er, or
tal,, as t0o -uman beings 0ould do: or ?ust
about.
CLARA" C-arles, 0-at ,ind o+ ;arents are 0e, i+ t-e only
7-ild 0e/re le+t 0it- is dri+ting a0ay +rom us6
CHARL!" *+ you -a1e no better 9uestions to as,, you/d
better go ba7, to slee;.
CLARA" You go.
CHARL!" */m reading t-e ne0s;a;er, * don/t as,
9uestions.
CLARA" And 0-at/s in t-e ;a;er6
CHARL!" Tal, about t-e T-ird 4orld 4ar.
CLARA" Already6
CHARL!" Already8 T-ey tal, about it +or mont-s, +or
years, and you say Ealready38 T-in, t-at s-e got
married and le+t -ome. All girls lea1e t-eir
;arents/ -ome one day.
CLARA" 5ut ;arents get in return grand7-ildren.
CHARL!" 4e 0on/t.
CLARA" T-ey be7ome Grand;a and Grandma, E>eide3
and Eboba3. 4-at -a1e 0e done 0rong, C-arles6
*+ 0e 0ere ta,en a0ay, and not Jeanette, t-e t0o
o+ t-em 0ould -a1e managed. T-ey bot- 0ould
-a1e +ound good -usbands, 0ould -a1e named
t-eir 7-ildren C-arles or Clara, 0ould -a1e told
stories about 0-at great ;arents 0e 0ere. And
t-ey 0ould e1en go to t-e Tem;le on -olidays
and say t-e ;rayer +or t-e dead ;eo;le, in our
memory, on t-e Atonement Day. Iscor am
Isruel... T-ey 0ould -a1e lit 7andles...
CHARL!" #ne is turned to 7inder, t-e ot-er one is
buried ali1e. Go to slee;8
*ntermission
CLARA" Do you re7all t-e 1a7ation 0e too, at Ar7a7-on,
in DLKQ6
CHARL!" 4e 0ere at Ar7a7-on in DLKR.
CLARA" /KR: you/re rig-t. You 7losed your ;ra7ti7e +or a
mont-.
CHARL!" T-at 0as in /KQ, 0-en 0e 0ent to Houlgate.
CLARA" T-ey ne1er sto;;ed running. T-ey laug-ed and
t-re0 t-emsel1es in t-e 0a1es. And you s-outed
at t-em e1ery t0o minutes to get out o+ t-e
0ater. 2T-ey don/t ,no0 to s0im and nor do *83
You 0ere al0ays a+raid, C-arles, al0ays.
CHARL!" Yes. T-at/s 0-at * t-oug-t a +at-er/s ?ob 0as"
to 7onstantly 0orry and e=;e7t t-e 0orst, to
+oresee t-e 0orst.
CLARA" And t-e 0orst o+ all e1ils +ell u;on us. * 0as
a+raid too, you ,no0. * 0as al0ays in +ear +or
t-em.
CHARL!" *+ ;arents/ lo1e 0ould be tallied against t-e
0orries t-ey -arbor on t-eir 7-ildren be-al+, t-en
no 7-ild in t-is 0orld 0as more lo1ed t-an our
daug-ters 0ere8
CLARA" C-arles, 0-at i+ 0e 0ere to do as t-e nun said68
CHARL!" 4-at nun6
CLARA" T-e mot-er-su;erior.
CHARL!" And 0-at did s-e say 0e s-ould do6
CLARA" To ;ray.
CHARL!" To ;ray6
CLARA" 4-at i+ 0e 0ould go ba7, t-ere and tell t-at 0e
0ant to 7on1ert... and t-en ;ray, i+ t-at 7ould
ta,e us 7loser to...
CHARL!" 4-at is it you say6 4-at do you mean6
CLARA" Do not s-out: */m ?ust saying. !in7e 0e don/t
belie1e in anyt-ing anymore, 0-y 0ouldn/t 0e...
CHARL!" 5ut e=7use me, e=7use me, 0e do belie1e,
0e do8
CLARA" 4e do6
CHARL!" 4e belie1e t-at 0e don/t belie1e8 T-at/s our
belie+, our religion" to not belie1e in anyt-ing8
And * am a more +er1ent belie1er in t-at by t-e
day. 4-at is it you really 0ant +rom me6 4e are
Je0s: Je0s, Clara8 Do you ,no0 0-at t-at
means6
CLARA" Any0ay, s-e said 0e 7ould still be Je0s e1en
0-en 0e 7on1erted to...
CHARL!" Clara, go to bed8 Go to bed8 Lea1e me
alone8 Let me -o;e t-e T-ird 4orld 4ar 0ould
7ome to bring a little bit o+ ;ea7e and serenity8
CLARA" C-arles, let/s tal,.
CHARL!" 'o, no, go to bed8 Go to bed be+ore * start
-o0ling8
CLARA" C-arles, t-e neig-bors are aslee;.
CHARL!" !o 0-at6 Do you t-in, */m a+raid to 0a,e
t-em u;6 #ur neig-bors are aslee;, aren/t t-ey6
!o t-ey 0ere 0-en ;oli7e 7ame busting into our
-ouse8 T-ey 0ere all aslee;8 Do you 0ant me to
o;en t-e 0indo0 and start -o0ling6
CLARA" You are im;ossible to tal, 0it-.
CHARL!" Yes, more so 0-en you say stu;id t-ings.
CLARA" C-arles...
CHARL!" !tu;id t-ings8 Do you -ear yoursel+ tal,ing6
You suggest t-at * s-ould 7on1ert. *8 You t-in,
t-at 0-en one does not belie1e in #ne God, any
God, it 7omes easy to gi1e u; on one/s
7on1i7tion6 To s0it7- +rom t-e #ld to t-e 'e0
Testament8 'o one in my +amily, no one e1er
7on1erted t-eir +ait-: ne1er.
CLARA" 5ut t-ey 0ere true belie1ers, C-arles. 4-ereas
0e...
CHARL!" 'obody in my +amily, do you -ear me6
'e1er, ne1er e1er8 You -ear me6
CLARA" 'eit-er did it my +ol,s, 0-at do you ta,e t-em
+or8
CHARL!" !o, so, so.
CLARA" Come to bed: * 0on/t say a 0ord. T-at 0as ?ust
li,e t-at, +or t-e argument/s sa,e: 7ome...
---------- Q. Also during t-e nig-t-----------
CH#*R"
H 4-at is a Je06 To not +rustrate s;e7tators in
sear7- +or a 7lear and 7on7ise ans0er to t-e
9uestion 20-at is a Je063 - ;arti7ularly 0-en t-at
gi1en Je0 7laims to be a non-belie1er, t-e aut-or
;resents us 0it- t0o o;inions. #ne belongs to
Jean-Paul !artre, 0-o allegedly said" 2A Je0 is
one 0-o does not deny one is a Je0, 0-en one
is3. Rig-t8 And t-e se7ond de<nition, +amous
be+ore t-e !-oa-" 2*t is 9uite easy to re7ogni>e a
Je0 +or 0-at -e is" -e -as a -ead, t0o eyes, one
mout-, t0o ears, but most o+ all F -e s;ea,s
Yiddis-. 1en toddlers s;ea, Yiddis-, 0-i7- goes
to s-o0 t-at o+ all languages on eart- Yiddis- is
t-e easiest to learn and s;ea,3. 4-at is a Je06
Sus is a id6
a" (or more details do a Google sear7-.
---------- R. Clara/s )onologue-----------
CLARA" C-arles, C-arles, are you aslee;6 Are you6 *
,no0, you ,no0... Yes, * ,no0. * do understand
-er and e1en a;;ro1e o+ -er, beyond my 7ontrol.
!-e sear7-es a 0ay to <nd Jeanette again, to not
let -er alone" not in t-e train-0agon, not in t-e
gas-7-amber. !-e needs to belie1e t-at one day
t-ey 0ill meet again in a better 0orld. Anot-er
0orld6 Yes, s-e +ound a 0ay ta,ing -er 7loser to
Jeanette, but +urt-er a0ay +rom us. As Jeanette,
s-e 0ill ne1er gro0 into a 0oman, s-e 0ill not
,no0 eart-ly lo1e, s-e 0ill stay a 1irgin +ore1er,
as Jeanette 0as. 'o, no, s-e 7annot 7ome to
mourn -er -uddled in our arms. 'o, s-e may
not. !-e ,no0s too 0ell t-at -ere, in t-is -ouse,
bet0een t-ese 0alls, t-e 0ord 2dead3 is a <nal
0ord: it allo0s +or no return, +or no es7a;e. To
us, t-ose le+t -ere, 7inder is 7inder and so
+ore1er 0ill stay. !-e +ound re+uge, a ;la7e
0-ere dying is only +or a 0-ile, 0-ere mer7y and
-o;e +or resurre7tion reign. *n t-e 7om+ort o+
-ig- 0alls s-e is 0aiting. !-e is a+raid: s-e is
a+raid to see our grie+: s-e is a+raid to read on
our +a7es t-at Jeanette, -er Jeanette, our
Jeanette 0ent u; in smo,e, 0-ile t-e t-ree o+ us
are ali1e. #+ 7ourse s-e is 7rossed 0it- us, and
7rossed 0it- -er. Jeanette is dead, 0-ile 0e are
ali1e: t-e t-ree o+ us are ali1e, in s;ite o+
e1eryt-ing t-at 0ent on. !-e is 7-astising us +or
t-at...
And 0-at 0ould s-e be doing -ere, 0it- us6 !-e
0ould 0ander about F a lost soul as 0e are,
C-arles F mo1ing +rom one room to t-e ne=t,
e1ery nig-t, unable to <nd -er slee;. T-ere,
be-ind t-e t-i7, 0alls, s-e 0a,es u; at da0n,
re;eats t-e same gestures, t-e same 0ords, t-e
same ;rayers. You ,no0, sometimes, *
un0illingly re7all a ;rayer.
Wherever you are, whoever you are, next time
you build a world, please strive, please strive to
make it so that people would be also able to live
in it.
CHARL!" 4-at are you doing6
CLARA" * ;ray. 4-at about you6
CHARL!" */m going to bed.
CLARA" 4e s-ould be a0a,e soon8 *t 0ill be a ni7e day8
Dar,
----------5itter Herbs----------
CHARL!" *t is t-ey6
CLARA" 4-o else6 You 0ouldn/t t-in, it 0ere a ;atient.
CHARL!" 4it- -is mout- o;ened, a ;atient s-uts u;,
but t-is one tal,s e1en 0it- -is mout- +ull.
CLARA" He/s your 7ousin, not mine. T-ey/re 7oming,
t-ey/re 7oming. Ta,e o@ your s7rubs.
CHARL!" And 0-at i+ t-ere/s a ;atient6
CLARA" C-arles8
)AT" Clara, Clara, let/s -ug, don/t 0e6
CLARA" Let/s -ug, )a=.
)AT" 4e seldom see ea7- ot-er, but 0e ,ee; us 7lose,
don/t 0e6 4-ere/s t-e big man6 *s -e still
;robing in somebody/s teet-6
CLARA" He/s 7-anging -is 7lot-es.
)AT" *s t-e business running smoot-6 Are t-ere a lot
o+ de7ayed teet-6
CLARA" )oney are in s-ort su;;ly, not 7a1ities.
)AT" T-at/s good, t-at/s 1ery good. Loo,, * managed
to get -old o+ a bottle o+ ,os-er 5ordeau= 0ine.
CLARA" )auri7ette, you s-ouldn/t -a1e -ad.
)AT" C-arles, old man. * don/t 0ant to ;ass on ad1i7e,
but * belie1e you s-ould o;en t-e bottle be+ore
dinner, to let t-e 0ine breat-e.
CLARA" *t/s ,os-er 0ine.
CHARL!" T-an it 7an breat-e t-roug- t-e 7or,.
)AT" *n an e1ening li,e t-is, one s-ould, s-ouldn/t
one6
)A%R*CTT" You 0ould <nd it +unny, but * almost
t-oug-t o+ in1iting you to our ;la7e, to do a big
7elebration, along t-e 7-ildren: 0ell, 0-ate1er, *
t-oug-t it 0as best...
)AT" *n a tig-t 7ir7le, yes: t-at/s it: * 0as mo1ed t-at
you in1ited us on su7- an e1ening...
CHARL!" #n a 4ednesday6
)AT" A-, a-, a-, on a 4ednesday8
)A%R*CTT" *t/s t-e Passo1er e1ening.
CLARA" A-, yes, yes, it/s t-e Passo1er8
)AT" 4e told oursel1es" t-ey in1ited us on t-e !eder,
on t-e Passo1er 1e8 4e 7annot de7line, 7an
0e6
CLARA" Do you eat ,os-er6
)AR*CTT" 'ot e1ery day, but on -olidays...
CHARL!" Are you religious ;eo;le6
)AT" Religious6 4-o, 0e6 'o.
)A%R*CTT" 'ot really, but 0e sti7, to traditions.
)AT" (or else, e1eryt-ing 0ould go a0ay and 0ould
mean t-at Hitler 0on.
CHARL!" He 0on on me.
CLARA" Let/s drin, somet-ing8
)AT" 'o, no, 0e <rst say t-e ;rayer +or t-e dead.
CHARL!" * go 0as- my -ands.
CLARA" 4e -a1e not-ing ready +or it...
)AT" * too, 7are o+ e1eryt-ing: * e1en broug-t bitter
-erbs.
CLARA" * did not ,no0, 0e do not ,no0 -o0 to li1e any
longer... T-e -olidays and all t-at... (prayer)
)a=, 0e better do not-ing, do not-ing at all. *
a;ologi>e, )auri7ette... sit do0n: t-e a;;eti>ers
are on t-e table: -e/ll 7ome ba7,. A-, * also don/t
-a1e mat>o-...
CHARL!" Ready6
CLARA" * beg your ;ardon6
CHARL!" *s it done6
CLARA" 5on a;;etite8 Do you -el; yoursel1es or do *
ser1e you6 *t/s not 9uite ,os-er, but i+ you don/t
0ant ;or,...
CHARL!" 4ait8 Lea1e it, * am good at t-at. Por,--am *
name you goose--am8 Ready. 'o0 you may eat8
)AR*CTT" 5ut 0-o/s eating ,os-er t-ese days6 #nly
on -olidays, and not e1en t-en8
)AT" 'ot e1en t-en: only 1ery seldom, yes. Guess
0-o died6
CHARL!" Re7ently or more distant in time6
)AT" Re7ently.
CHARL!" * sa0 no one * ,ne0 in Le )onde.
CLARA" 5lumberg6
)AT" 'o, no, -e/s only 1ery si7,.
CLARA" T-at 0as my ;oint...
)AT" 'o, no, -e/s bad, but still -angs on. Do you gi1e
u; guessing6
CLARA 4e gi1e u;, )a=.
)AT Tannenbaum8
CLARA A, Tannenbaum8
CHARL!" T-e ;resident6
)AT" T-e ;resident.
CHARL!" Roger6
)AT" Yes, Roger.
)A%R*CTT" 4-at Roger and 0-at ;resident are you
tal,ing about6
)AT" Roger Tannenbaum, t-e ;resident o+ t-e
5ret-ren (uture.
)A%R*CTT" 5ut you didn/t tell me.
)AT" You ,ne0 -im6
)A%R*CTT" 4-om6 Tannenbaum6 'o. 5ut * 0ould
-a1e li,ed to ,no0.
)AT" 4-at/s t-e status6
CLARA" 'ot-ing ne0. T-e same t-ing.
)AT" C-arles, * 0ould ne1er dare gi1e you t-e
smallest ad1i7e, but you s-ould -ire a la0yer.
CLARA" A la0yer6
)AT" You s-ould -ire a la0yer.
CHARL!" T-at/s it, */ll ta,e my daug-ter to 7ourt8
)AT" 4-o said to ta,e your daug-ter to 7ourt6 *t/s t-e
mot-er-su;erior and t-e nunnery you a77use +or
not gi1ing ba7, your 7-ild.
CJARL!" !-e/s DL: s-e 0ould soon turn BC.
)AT" !-e/s under BD, not yet an adult: you -ire a
la0yer and s7are t-em sti@, belie1e me. *+ you
don/t 0ant a la0yer, go at least to meet $a;lan.
CLARA" Rabbi $a;lan6
)AT" T-e Great Rabbi, yes. !in7e -e is dealing 0it-
su7- 7ases, did you see 0-at a big s;las- -e
ma,es8
)A%R*CTT" He s;ea,s straig-t to t-e Ar7-bis-o;.
)AT" And -e -as a77ess e1en -ig-er u;, 0it- no go-
bet0een, -e ?ust ;i7,s u; t-e ;-one and...
CLARA" 4-at is t-ere to loose, C-arles6
CHARL!" * do not 0ant to ma,e a +uss, * do not 0ant
t-is to be7ome a t-eologi7al 9uestion bet0een
t-e Great Rabbi and t-e Ar7-bis-o;: * sim;ly
0ant +or -er to 7ome ba7, be7ause s-e 0ants to,
;eriod.
)A%R*CTT" 4-at i+ t-ey -old -er against -er 0ill68
CHARL!" At DL years o+ age6
CLARA" !-e 0as only DM 0-en...
CHARL!" At age DL, and e1en at DM, s-e still ,no0s
0-ere 0e li1e, 0-ere s-e li1ed: so, i+ s-e 0ants
to, s-e 7an 7ome ba7, or at least 0rite.
CLARA" 4-at i+ s-e is una0are t-at 0e are ali1e6 4-at i+
s-e did not re7ei1e our letters6
CHARL!" Clara, sto; it8 4-ere1er s-e may be, s-e
still 7an 7ome -ere to 7-e7, 0-et-er 0e are
dead or ali1e.
CLARA" )aybe s-e 0as -ere 0-en t-e 5ertrands li1ed in
our ;la7e and...
)A%R*CTT" 4-at i+ t-e nuns do not allo0 -er to get
out6
CHARL!" *s t-ere no desert6
CLARA" C-arles, 0e -a1en/t e1en -ad t-e main 7ourse.
CHARL!" 4-at are you 0aiting +or, t-en6 T-e 5ig
(lood6
)A%R*CTT" Let me -el; you.
CLARA" 'o need, * -a1e only one tray to ta,e out o+ t-e
o1en.
)AA%R*CTT" */ll -el;.
CHARL!" * 0ould li,e a little bit o+ your ,os-er 0ine.
)AT" C-arles, you/re being unreasonable.
CHARL!" $os-er.
)AT 4e may ne1er -a1e a 7alm 7on1ersation: you
ta,e no ad1i7e...
CHARL!" 'o, no, ;arti7ularly 0-en you 7ome to my
-ouse to bug me 0it- your stu;id ad1i7e. Hire a
la0yer, go to t-e rabbi... a7- time * see you it/s
t-e same: */m 0aiting +or t-e day you 0ill send
me to your +ortune-teller8
)AT" C-arles, * 7annot let you tal, to me t-at 0ay.
CHARL!" You 7annot6 !o 0-at 0ould you do6 You/ll
send me t-e rabbi, or your la0yer6
)AT" * 7an gi1e you a ;un7- o1er your mout-.
CHARL!" T-at/s a good one8 Gladly8 (or a 7ou;le o+
years * 0as 0is-ing +or t-at. !o, go a-ead8 Go
a-ead" ;un7- me o1er t-e mout-.
)AT" C-arles, * ,no0 -o0 mu7- you su@ered, but *
am...
CHARL!" Cut it out 0it- my su@ering: ?ust ;un7- me
o1er t-e mout- so t-at * may <nally su@er +or
somet-ing8
)A%R*CTT" T-e main 7ourse8
)AT" Come, 0e/re going -ome. T-e grie+ too, a0ay
-is mind.
CHARL!" Al0ays ;romises, only ;romises...
CLARA" 4-at ;romises, C-arles6
CHARL!" He ma,es me a ;romise to ;un7- me o1er
t-e mout- and t-en -e lea1es li,e s-itty 7-i7,en.
Come, 7ome8 'o la0yer, no rabbi: ?ust ;un7- me
o1er t-e mout-8
)A%R*CTT" C-arles, you may not tal, li,e t-is on
su7- an e1ening8
CHARL!" Ho0 does one tal, on su7- an e1ening6
)AT" Come, let/s go -ome. * a;ologi>e, Clara, but...
)A%R*CTT" You/ll burn t-e table 7lot-8
CHARL!" Per+e7t. T-is little interme>>o stirred my
a;;etite. Come, 0-at are you doing6 You/re
eating or you/re lea1ing6 Do not e1er in1ite
anyone: not e1er more8
CLARA" * t-oug-t you 0ould be ;leased.
CHARL!" Do you ,no0 0-at 0ould ;lease me6
CLARA" * ,no0, * ,no0... 4-o/s ,ee;ing you +rom doing
it: you are 0ell a0are o+ t-e rig-t ,ind o+
substan7es and dosage.
CHARL!" 'itrate mono=ide F a laug-ing gas, in
ma=imum dose: to die o+ laug-ter, literally.
CLARA" T-at/s an e=am;le +or you.
CHARL!" 4-o 0ould gi1e me t-e s-ot6
CLARA: * 0ould, i+ t-at/s all rig-t 0it- you.
CHARL!" Ho0 about you6
CLARA 4-at about me6
CHARL! Yes. 4-o 0ould gi1e you t-e s-ot6
CLARA" * must stay be-ind to ta,e 7are o+ your burial,
s-ut do0n t-e dental ;ra7ti7e...
CHARL!" And gi1e e1eryt-ing a0ay to t-e ;oor8 'o,
no, * don/t 0ant to do on mysel+ 0-at Hitler did
not manage to do on me: */ll 0ait.
CLARA" You/ll 0ait +or 0-at6
CHARL!" (or my time to 7ome. 5lessed be T-ou God,
)aster o+ t-e %ni1erse, 0-o made t-e +ruit o+
t-e 1ine.
CLARA" 4-at did you say6
CHARL!" 'ot-ing. */m ?ust reading t-e label" 5ordeau=
,os-er 7erti<ed.
CLARA" $os-er s-el Pesa-. Do you re7all t-e ;rayers +or
t-e Passo1er6
CHARL!" 5lessed be T-ou God, )aster o+ t-e
%ni1erse, +or you made us -oly 0it- your
7ommandments and ordered us to eat bitter
-erbs...
CLARA" 5lessed be T-ou God, )aster o+ t-e %ni1erse,
0-o too, us out o+ gy;t, 0-ere t-e P-arao-
ensla1ed us. A+ter t-at one says (5es-ana be
Yerus-alaim)" 2'e=t year in Jerusalem63 'e=t
year, t-en...
CHARL!" *n Jerusalem or some ;la7e else, toget-er.
Dar,.
---------- DC T-e Letter ---------
BC July DLIK
)#THR-!%PR*#R )y dear ;arents,
A +e0 days ago * be7ame !ister )arie-T-HrUse o+
C-rist/s Resurre7tion. * t-oug-t a lot about you: * am
t-in,ing o+ you, o+ your sadness, o+ your ;ain, o+ your
be0ilderment. * ;ray +or you: * a;ologi>e, but t-is is
all * 7an do. * ;ray +or Jeanette. !-e stayed and 0ill
+ore1er last in my -eart. *n a +e0 days */ll lea1e +or a
1ery remote ;la7e" a 7ountry 0-ere 7-ildren die and
;arents grie1e. * 0ant to be all o1er t-e ;la7es 0-ere
7-ildren 7ry, 0-ere ;arents grie1e o1er t-eir lost
7-ildren, to 7om+ort, 7are, -el; t-em 0it- my +aint
strengt-, but 0it- God/s -el;. Rest assured t-at *
7arry you in my soul and, 0-ere1er 0e may be, 0e/ll
all stay F Jeanette, Clara, C-arles and mysel+ F one
+amily: t-e !;ode,s. )ay t-at t-e Di1ine Gra7e
7om+orts you in your great sorro0 and brings you
7onsolation, strengt- and 7ourage.
Your lo1ing daug-ter,
!ister )arie-T-erese
CLARA" P.!. You may 7ontinue to 0rite to me, 1ia
!ister )arie-Paul, our mot-er-su;erior, 0-o
7onstantly ;asses to me your letters, 0-i7- *
read 0it- boundless sadness and great ?oy.
CHARL!" *+ you 0ant to read it again, go into t-e
ot-er room.
CLARA" To read again 0-at6
CHARL!" Go into t-e ot-er room.
CLARA" You go. */m eating. 4-at do you ,no0... -e/s
allo0ed to read 0-ile eating, 0-ereas */m not...
----------- DD T-e )oro77an 4oman--------
5rea,+ast
CLARA" T-ere/s a letter +or us.
CHARL!" Again6
CLARA" (rom GisUle.
CHARL!" GisUle6 GisUle 0-o6
CLARA" GisUle in Toulouse.
CHARL!" GisUle in Toulouse6
CLARA" T-at/s in *srael no0.
CHARL!" Toulouse is in *srael6
CLARA 'o. Giselle is in *srael.
CHARL!" T-en 0-y do you tal, about Toulouse6
CLARA" */m not tal,ing about Toulouse, */m tal,ing about
my 7ousin, GisUle. !-e 0as 7alled GisUle in
Toulouse to tell -er a;art +rom my ot-er t0o
7ousins, 0-o 0ere not +rom Toulouse and 0ere
also 7alled GisUle: t-ey 0ere bot- de;orted.
CHARL!" !o, t-ere/s only one GisUle le+t6
CLARA" Rig-t. T-e one in Toulouse. 4-o/s no0 in *srael.
4-y don/t 0e go too, C-arles6 4-at/s -olding us
ba7,6 T-e Je0s -a1e no0 a 7ountry o+ t-eir
o0n...
CHARL!" * already -a1e a 7ountry and 0as in dee;
trouble be7ause o+ it, t-an, you 1ery mu7-.
CLARA" C-arles...
CHARL!" 4-at am * to do t-ere6
CLARA" T-e same you do -ere.
CHARL!" T-at/s t-e 0ay to go: mo1e to a 7ountry
0-ere t-e dentists outnumber t-e de7ayed
teet-.
CLARA" 4-y are you tal,ing li,e t-at6 4-y6
CHARL!" A 7ountry deemed +or t-e Je0s must be
<lled out 0it- do7tors and dentists.
CLARA" 5ut 0it- si7, ;eo;le too, C-arles, mostly 0it-
si7, ;eo;le. Lea1e t-e ;a;er. You already read it.
CHARL!" !o6
CLARA" !o, Giselle 0rote me about a young +emale
7oming +rom )oro77o.
CHARL!" A )oro77an 0oman6
CLARA" 'o, no, one o+ us.
CHARL!" 4-at do you mean by one o+ us6
CLARA" Je0is-.
CHARL!" As-,ena>im6
CLARA" 'o, no, a Je0is- 0oman +rom out t-ere.
CHARL!" #ut t-ere, 0-ere6
CLARA" )oro77o8
CHARL!" !o6
CLARA" !o, 0-at6
CHARL!" !o, 0-at/s t-at to do 0it- GisUle in
Toulouse6
CLARA" !-e/s loo,ing +or a dental ;ra7ti7e to rent.
CHARL!" 4-o/s loo,ing +or a dental ;ra7ti7e6
CLARA" T-e )oro77an +emale. T-e Je0is- one.
CHARL!" Tell -er to go settle do0n in *srael.
CLARA" * don/t ,no0 -er.
CHARL!" T-en 0-y are you telling me about -er6
CLARA" !-e 0ants to settle do0n in Paris.
CHARL!" * don/t get it. *s s-e not doing 0ell in
)oro77o6
CLARA" !-e le+t t-ere.
CHARL!" Are t-ere no more rotten teet- in )oro77o6
CLARA" All -er ;atients lea1e )oro77o.
CHARL!" 4-y6
CLARA" * don/t ,no0. You/re t-e one reading Le )onde all
day long, not *.
HARL!" T-e obituaries ;age, mostly.
CLARA" Her ;atients are lea1ing F so is s-e.
CHARL!" Her ;atients are 0rong F and so is s-e.
CLARA" 4-y are t-ey 0rong, C-arles, 0-y6 Do you ,no0
0-at * am t-in,ing o+6
CHARL!" 4-at good it does i+ you t-in,6
CLARA" * 7annot stand to stay -ere. * see a nun 0al,ing
on t-e street and * +eel si7,: * 7annot stand to
li1e -ere any longer.
CH#*R"
H !o, t-an,s to Clara/s stubbornness, Jean Claude,
t-e aut-or F no0 aged DM years and t-ree
mont-s F met on7e a 0ee, 0it- a busty
brunette, 0-o s;o,e 0it- an a77ent, al0ays
7alming, 0earing a s-ort-slee1ed ;in, blouse no
matter t-e season, 0-o ne1er bit -er lo0er li;
and 0-o, to -is great ?oy, 7ra7,ed out 0it-
laug-ter to ea7- 0ord muttered by Jean-Claude.
#+ten, but mostly 0-en s-e -ad to go dee; into
-is mout-, to t-e so-7alled 0isdom teet-, s-e
-ad to tou7- -im, or e1en lean on -is arm
;la7ing on it t-e most ;rominent ;art o+ -er
blouse. 4-en t-at -a;;ened, Jean-Claude did
not dare mo1e, +or +ear -e 0ould loose 7onta7t
0it- -er. He sto;;ed being 7on7erned 0it- ;ain
or +ear, and +o7used on t-at strange 0armt- -e
+elt in a di@erent ;art o+ -is anatomy. !o, 0-at
!;ode, 7ouldn/t a7-ie1e 0it- ;leas and t-reats,
t-e ;in, blouse o+ t-e )oro77an 0oman got
instantly. Jean-Claude started to +ranti7ally 0as-
-is teet- F ;arti7ularly on t-e days -e -ad to go
on -is 0ee,ly 1isit to t-e dentist. And +or
de7ades -e t-oug-t o+ a s-ort-slee1ed ;in,
blouse to be t-e most eroti7 and e=7iting item in
a 0oman/s 0ardrobe.
----------- DB !talingrad ----------
CHARL!" !;it.
!TAL*'GRAD"And 0-at am * to do6
CHARL!" T-ere are ot-er dentists in t-is 7ity, you
,no0.
!TAL*'GRAD"4-om 7an * tal, to t-e 0ay * tal, to you6 A
dentist 0-o ,no0s 0-at li+e is, 0-at ;ain is.
4-at do you ,no08 All t-e dentists * ,no0, a;art
+rom you, are &ionists, and you are t-e <rst to
lea1e +or *srael8
CHARL!" !;it.
!TAL*'GRAD"Do you ,no0 0-y a Je0is- state s-ould
-a1e ne1er been 7reated6 4e, t-e Je0s, * don/t
,no0 0-et-er you noti7ed, -a1e a lot o+
enemies: but one ,ind o+ enemy 0e -ad ne1er
-ad" t-e one o1er t-e border. 'o0, you noti7ed
already" 0e -a1e a 7ountry, -en7e 0e -a1e
borders, -en7e 0e -a1e enemies o1er t-e
borders. 5elie1e me" &ionism is li,e Communism
F it/s ni7e to be a 7ommunist in (ran7e, as long
as (ran7e is not 7ommunist. Got it6
CHARL!" !-ut u;8 #;en u;8
!TAL*'GRAD"!ee6 4-at ot-er do7tor 0ould tal, to me
li,e t-at6 T-at/s -o0 my mot-er tal,ed to me
0-en s-e 0anted me to eat: s-e said" s-ut u;8
o;en u;8
CHARL! #;en u;8
!TAL*'GRAD"!-ould * s;it6
CHARL!" 'o, stay still. T-at/s it.
!TAL*'GRAD"!-ould * s;it6
CHARL!" 'o, 7len7- your teet- tig-tly.
!TAL*'GRAD"'ot a ne0 7ountry is 0-at 0e need: 0e
need a ne0 ;lanet8 A ne0 ;lanet in a di@erent
gala=y8 You ,no0 0-i7- our ;roblem is...
CHARL!" !;it.
!TAL*'GRAD #;en u;.
CHARL! T-at/s it. 4e/re done.
!TAL*'GRAD"T-is 0as indeed our last session, t-en6 */ll
miss you, */ll miss you 1ery mu7-... * a;ologi>e,
may * s;it on7e more6
CHARL!" Please, do. T-e ;ra7ti7e 0as ta,en o1er, you
,no0...
!TAL*'GRAD"5y a +emale do7tor, * ,no0: your 0i+e told
me. 5ut do you see me 7oming to tal, about my
li+e to a 0oman 7oming +rom t-e -ot 7limates6
CHARL!" 5ut you need to 7are +or your teet-...
!TAL*'GRAD"4-at/s 0rong 0it- my teet-6 'o, no8 T-ere
are 1ery good dentists 7lose to my -ome, don/t
0orry +or me: you s-ould rat-er 0orry +or
yoursel+ and )rs Clara. A-, a good ?o,e to ta,e
+or t-e road...
Ring.
CHARL!" * a;ologi>e, */m being 0aited +or.
!TAL*'GRAD"4ell, t-is is t-e reason 0-y you -a1e a
0aiting room, -a1en/t you6 Let t-em 0ait8
CHARL!" * don/t li,e ?o,es or lea1ing my ;atients
0aiting.
!TAL*'GRAD")r. C-arles, a man must turn ea7- mis-a;
in -is li+e into a little ?o,e. *t on7e 0as a 5ar
mit>1a- ;arty...
CLARA" C-arles, t-e )oro77an 0oman arri1ed...
CHARL!" T-e legitimate usur;er 7omes to ta,e o1er
-er t-rone. Do you 0ant me to introdu7e you6
!TAL*'GRAD"'o. Just a s-ort ?o,e. You tell me" s-alom8
Come, )r. C-arles, tell me s-alom.
CHARL!" !-alom8
!TAL*'GRAD"And * 0ill ans0er you ba7," s-alom8 You
may laug- no0, )r. C-arles.
CHARL!" */m laug-ing. *t does not s-o0, but * am.
!TAL*'GRAD"1erybody ;re+ers laug-ter o1er 7rying.
4-at is one to do6 4e all -a1e to ad?ust
oursel1es, don/t 0e6
Dar,
-------- DK T-e !-i; At !ea---------
CHARL!" 4-y is it ro7,ing li,e t-at6
CLARA" 4e/re at sea.
CHARL!" T-an,s, t-an,s +or <lling me in: it/s a treat
to tra1el along a guide su7- as yoursel+.
CLARA" Do you +eel si7,6
CHARL!" 'o, * only +eel nausea. * belie1e * ate some
7ra;;y t-ing.
CLARA" * ate t-e same t-ing as you did.
CHARL!" !o 0-at6 !o 0-at6 4-at is it you 0ant to
;ro1e 0it- t-at6
CLARA" 4-at are you saying6
CHARL!" */m tal,ing to mysel+.
CLARA" And 0-at is it you tell yoursel+6
CHARL!" */m 7ursing mysel+.
CLARA" 4-ate1er +or6
CHARL!" (or * must learn to li,e t-e +a7t t-at * am
lea1ing my -ome, my 7ountry, my street, my
language... 4-at language 0ould 0e be
s;ea,ing t-ere6
CLARA. Hebre0.
CHARL!" * beg you ;ardon8
CLARA" Pardon +or 0-at6
CHARL!" Hebre0 is li,e C-inese to me8
CLARA" You/ll learn it 1ery 9ui7,ly. T-ere are language
7lasses a1ailable, u;on arri1al.
CHARL!" !ee6 * already ,no0 -o0 to moan in
Hebre0...
CLARA C-arles8
CHARL!" Let it be8 *t must all 7ome out, all o+ it8 #ne
needs a ne0 man +or a ne0 7ountry.
CLARA" 4-at i+ you stu7, your <ngers u; your t-roat6
Do you -a1e +e1er6
CHARL!" 'o, 0-y6
CLARA" Do you -a1e a -eada7-e6
CHARL!" You/d better as, me 0-ere am * not in ;ain:
0e/ll sa1e time.
CLARA" C-arles...
CHARL!" Yes, 0-at is it6
CLARA" T-e ;-otos8
CHARL!" 4-at are you tal,ing about6
CLARA" T-e ;-otos, our ;-otos, t-e ;-oto albums6
CHARL!" T-ey/re in storage.
CLARA" *n storage6
CHARL!" Along t-e boo,s, t-e ni7,na7,s, t-e toys...
CLARA" All our memories are in storage6
CHARL!" T-ey 0ere to -ea1y to 7arry t-em along.
CLARA" 5ut 0e agreed 0e 0ould ,ee; t-e ;-otos, didn/t
0e6
CHARL!" *+ t-ey -ad room enoug-, * 0ould -a1e
de;osited mysel+ too, in storage, along t-e rest
o+ trin,ets t-ere.
CLARA" Do you -ear 0-at * -ear6
CHARL!" Yes, * -ear.
CLARA" T-is is not all in my -ead, is it6
CHARL!" 'o, it is in my -ead too. Go and see 0-at/s
going on6
CLARA" )e6
CHARL!" 4-o else6
CLARA. 5y mysel+6
CHARL!" * 7annot e1en 7ra0l, Clara, * 7anOt. Don/t you
see6
CLARA. C-arles, t-at/s a0+ul.
CHARL!" Yes, t-at/s a0+ul, but * am 7almed do0n
no0, at least.
CLARA. 'uns, nuns, nuns all o1er t-e de7,: and singing,
singing8
CHARL!" 'uns6 4-ere are t-ey going to6
CLARA. To t-e Holy Land.
CHARL!" 4-i7- Holy Land6
CLARA. T-ere, t-e same ;la7e 0e go. T-at ma,es you
laug-, doesn/t it6
CHARL!" Tales 0it- nuns al0ays did.
CLARA" * +eel * am loosing my mind. T-ey sing, ma,e
?o,es, and some o+ t-em e1en dan7e.
CHARL!" #ne 0ould t-in, t-e boat is ro7,ing less.
CLARA" *t/s t-e same, only t-at you got used to it.
CHARL!" T-at/s it. #ne gets used to e1eryt-ing: or
almost e1eryt-ing...
CLARA" Ho0 ni7e t-ey sing8 * go see.
CHARL!" 4-om6
CLARA" #ur ;eo;le.
CHARL!" *+ you <nd by any 7-an7e Le )onde... * do
miss t-e obituaries.
CLARA" Sery soon you/ll read obituaries in Hebre0.
----------;ilogue-------
CH#*R"
H" T-e time -as 7ome to lea1e t-e !;ode,s: t-ey
tra1el to you, t-e Promised Land.
!H" T-ey Aoat a0ay, and ,no0 not-ing about
t-e Promised Land.
CLARA" C-arles8 C-arles8 Come u;8 T-e land is s-o0ing8
Gui7,, you/ll miss e1eryt-ing8 Put on your sun
glasses and t-e stra0 -at8 *t/s magni<7ent.
CHARL!" */m starting to +eel better...
CH#*R"
H *+ t-e s-o0 budget is -ig- -
!H" somet-ing t-e aut-or 0is-es dearly -
H" and i+ t-e stage si>e is rig-t, 0e 7ould e1en see
C-arles and Clara, s-o0n -ig- abo1e t-e stage
Aoor, in a glo0ing sunset F e1en t-oug- it/s a
man-made one F as t-ey dis7o1er t-e Promised
Land, lost in t-e 7ro0d o+ ;eo;le -o;ing to
+orget and start ane0, side by side 0it- nuns,
;riests, ;astors, ;ilgrims F all ta,en 0it-
emotion, +ait-, -o;e.
!H" And i+ t-e budget is small6
H" T-en 0e 0ill slo0ly +ade t-e lig-ting on stage,
and silen7e 0ill +all. T-at is i+ no 7all o+ t-e
mue>>in 0ill be -eard in t-e distan7e.
THE END