THE TUBE

PART II - PLEASURE AND PAIN

A tube train. MAN, English, is

sitting looking straight at
audience. WOMAN, American,
enters at the next stop. A moment
of silence. Before the dialogue
begins the lights flicker and we
hear, “Mind the Gap between the
platform and the train, you’re
riding the Bakerloo line stopping
at Queens Park.”

WOMAN
Stop staring at me!

MAN
Why?

WOMAN
Look a different way.

MAN
I like looking at you.

WOMAN
Excuse me?

MAN
I like looking at you.

WOMAN
It makes me uncomfortable.

MAN
Why?

WOMAN
What?

MAN
Why does it make you uncomfortable?

WOMAN
To have a man– a total stranger – stare at me?

MAN
Yes.
 WOMAN
It’s disconcerting!

MAN
Pardon me?

WOMAN
Disturbing.

MAN
Do you enjoy being looked at?

WOMAN
Do I?

MAN
Yes.

WOMAN
No.

MAN
You’re lying.

WOMAN
Who are you to – ?

MAN
I’m just a passenger.

WOMAN
Why am I still conversing with you?

MAN
I like that. You’re interesting. Most people would have said
conversation, or even the more mundane, “Why are we still talking?”

WOMAN
I enjoy being unique.

MAN
I see.

WOMAN
How?

MAN
I watch.

2
 WOMAN
How long have you been watching me?

MAN
Since you came in.

WOMAN
You can’t tell–

MAN
Can’t tell what?

WOMAN
Don’t look at me anymore.

MAN
I see into people.

WOMAN
Well, stop seeing into me.

MAN
No.

WOMAN
It makes me self-conscious.

MAN
No it doesn’t.

WOMAN
Stop negating–

MAN
You’re fooling yourself.

WOMAN
Is there some special reason you have for continually negating me?

MAN
Fuck you very much.

WOMAN
You’re not very endearing.

MAN
I find your body intriguing.

WOMAN
Just my body?

3
 MAN
At first.

WOMAN
Asshole!

MAN
You do like it.

WOMAN
What?

MAN
Me watching you, looking at you.

(The lights flicker and we hear, “Mind the Gap

between the platform and the train, you’re
riding the Bakerloo line stopping at Kilburn
Park.”)

WOMAN
It is a little flattering.

MAN
I wasn’t trying to flatter you.

WOMAN
Weren’t you?

MAN
Flattery will get me nowhere.

WOMAN
What are you after?

MAN
Intangible things.

WOMAN
Such as?

MAN
Who’s to say?

WOMAN
Afraid?

MAN
One cannot hate oneself.

WOMAN
A philosopher too.

4
 MAN
Pleasure and pain exist on the same plane.

WOMAN
What?

MAN
How do you feel?

WOMAN
Leave me alone.

MAN
No.

WOMAN
Please.

MAN
No.

WOMAN
Stop looking at me!

MAN
But you enjoy it.

WOMAN
I hate it.

MAN
There is pleasure in it.

WOMAN
Can someone help me?

MAN
Yes. And you love it. You want it. You need it.

WOMAN
Why me?

MAN
I saw you.

WOMAN
I wish you were blind!

MAN
You want to taste me.

5
 WOMAN
I don’t like you.

MAN
I think you do.

WOMAN
Stop denying me!

MAN
I deny you nothing.

WOMAN
You’re ugly.

MAN
There’s no need to be shameful.

WOMAN
Excuse me?

MAN
You’re not excused.

(The lights flicker and we hear, “Mind the Gap

between the platform and the train, you’re
riding the Bakerloo line stopping at Maida
Vale.”)

MAN
I excite you.

WOMAN
What?

MAN
Do you like the smell of a man?

WOMAN
Excuse- what? No.

MAN
Stop lying!

WOMAN
You have no right to –

MAN
The sweat running off of his chest. The smell of the arm pits. The
purely human male smell. Salty, aged, slightly fermented…

6
 WOMAN
Stop this.

MAN
…Musky, intoxicating…

WOMAN
I feel warm.

MAN
Yes.

WOMAN
I’m leaving.

MAN
Don’t.

WOMAN
Why should I stay on this Tube a goddamned second longer?

MAN
I need you.

WOMAN
No you don’t.

MAN
Now you are denying.

WOMAN
I’m getting off the train.

MAN
I know you’re aroused.

WOMAN
I am flattered.

MAN
Stay.

(The lights flicker and we hear, “Mind the Gap

between the platform and the train, you’re
riding the Bakerloo line stopping at Warwick
Avenue.” Pause. She stays. She makes a sexually
advancing gesture.)

WOMAN
Are you aroused?

7
 MAN
No.

WOMAN
Liar.

MAN
You don’t know me.

WOMAN
I know.

MAN
Leave me alone. This is about you.

WOMAN
No longer.

MAN
I was watching you.

WOMAN
You don’t like to be watched?

MAN
The line has been crossed.

WOMAN
Line?

MAN
The line. I am the… you’re not allowed to…

WOMAN
You like to be watched.

MAN
I… like it…

WOMAN
But not by me.

MAN
Yes.

WOMAN
I’m leaving.

MAN
Stay.

8
 WOMAN
Close your eyes.

MAN
Yes.

WOMAN
Feel me.

MAN
I can’t.

WOMAN
Imagine.

MAN
I’m not a child.

WOMAN
Aren’t you?

MAN
This is my train!

WOMAN
I want to stay.

MAN
I don’t want you here anymore.

WOMAN
Yes you do.

MAN
You have no idea what I want. Not like this.

WOMAN
Touch me.

MAN
No.

WOMAN
Look at me.

MAN
I’m afraid.

WOMAN
Touch yourself.

9
 MAN
Where?

WOMAN
Here.

MAN
I like it.

WOMAN
Think of me.

MAN
I can’t

WOMAN
Try.

MAN
(Eyes closed)
All is see is darkness. It is empty and cold. There is another
person there, but it’s not you. I can’t find you.

(The lights flicker and we hear, “Mind the Gap

between the platform and the train, you’re
riding the Bakerloo line stopping at Paddington
Station.” WOMAN gets off the train)

Where have you gone? It is another man. He is in my shadow and he

asks me to do everything I asked you to do. He does it willingly and
it makes me aroused. I feel his sweat, his palms on mine. But he is
not beautiful, he is ugly, he is deformed, he is not woman. Woman is
perfection and Man is clay, unfinished. I look again for you, and
there is nothing. So I open my eyes.

(Opens eyes)
And I see… nothing.

BLACKOUT

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