4: To love Him

The Book of Knowledge
Fundamentals of Torah
To love Him (Deu 6:5)

            VIV sits in a hospital room with their FATHER 

            they put a cup with a straw to his lips

            he drinks

            a NURSE brings in a tray of food and leaves

            VIV feeds their FATHER the food

             he grimaces as he eats

            it is not good but he eats it

            he gestures at the TV 

            they turn it on for him

            they watch for a while

FATHER
too loud
            VIV turns the volume down
too loud
            VIV turns the volume down even more
too loud 

            VIV turns the volume all the way down

            FATHER strains

            he defecates in his bedpan

VIV
let me get [someone]
            VIV goes to the hallway
hello?
            no response
hello?

             nobody comes in 

            VIV changes the bedpan for him

            they place it back under him

FATHER
you’ll need to leave a key for the repairman tomorrow

VIV
already done 

FATHER
            smiling
you’re very good

             VIV begins to clear away his food

            tucks in his sheets

FATHER
would you [sing]?

            VIV shakes their head no

            FATHER looks pleadingly at them

            VIV relents

            sits down by him

            sings so quietly we can barely hear

VIV
            singing
durme durme ijiko de madre
durme durme
sin ansia i dolor
durmre durme sin ansia i dolor 

            he begins to fall asleep

FATHER
don’t stop 

            beat

            VIV continues to sing as FATHER continues to drift

VIV
sin ansia i dolor
sin ansia i dolor
i dolor
dolor
durme durme
durme
i jiko de madre 

            FATHER is asleep

            VIV sits in silence for a moment

            VIV pulls out a pair of pliers for their pocket

            they open their FATHER’s mouth up

            he does not wake from his sleep

            VIV puts the pliers in his mouth

            VIV grabs a tooth with the pliers

            they pull and they pull until the tooth comes out 

           FATHER bleeds but he does not wake

            VIV studies the tooth

            VIV swallows the tooth

            slowly

            thoughtfully

            tenderly

            VIV hums durme durme to themself

            they begin to fall asleep

            VIV lays their head on their FATHER’s chest

            they hum themself to sleep on his chest

            END OF PLAY