64: Not to attempt to contact the dead

The Book of Knowledge
Laws of Idolatry and Paganism
Not to attempt to contact the dead (Deut. 18:11)

            a performer sits at a desk with a stack of papers and a waste basket

            they recite the following telegrams as plainly as possible

            as though they were any other monologues

MY DARLING STOP I ASSUME YOU HAVE ARRIVED BY NOW STOP I HOPE YOUR JOURNEY WAS EASY STOP I HOPE YOU ARE MAKING FRIENDS STOP I HOPE YOU ARE WELL PLEASE WRITE STOP

            the performer places a sheet of paper in the waste basket

MY DARLING STOP JAYNIE HAS GROWN TWO INCHES STOP IS THE WEATHER ALL RIGHT STOP I HOPE YOU ARE KEEPING WARM STOP PLEASE LET US KNOW HOW YOU ARE STOP JAYNIE WANTS TO KNOW

            the performer places a sheet of paper in the waste basket

MY DARLING STOP ARE YOU SERVING WITH DECENT PEOPLE STOP YOU ARE A DECENT PERSON AND I MISS YOU STOP THIS WAR IS NOT DECENT BUT I BELIEVE YOU CAN MAKE IT SO STOP I AM RATIONING OUR FLOUR STOP

            the performer places a sheet of paper in the waste basket

MY DARLING STOP THE ROOF SPRUNG A LEAK STOP I FIXED IT MYSELF STOP JAYNIE HELPED STOP THE LEAK HAS STOPPED STOP WHY WON’T YOU WRITE STOP

            the performer places a sheet of paper in the waste basket

MY DARLING STOP I AM SORRY YOU CANNOT BE HERE FOR EASTER STOP JAYNIE LIKED THE PURPLE EGGS BEST STOP SHE ASKS ABOUT YOU STOP I ASK ABOUT YOU STOP ARE YOU IN COMBAT STOP IS IT DANGEROUS STOP WE HAVEN’T HEARD STOP ARE YOU AT RISK STOP IT WILL BE EASTER AGAIN TOO SOON STOP

            the performer places a sheet of paper in the waste basket

MY DARLING STOP

            the performer places a sheet of paper in the waste basket

MY DARLING STOP

            the performer places a sheet of paper in the waste basket

MY DARLING STOP PLEASE SEND PHOTOGRAPHS STOP I WANT TO SEE WHERE YOU SLEEP STOP TELL ME WHAT FOOD YOU EAT WHAT TIME YOU WAKE HOW OFTEN YOU SHOWER AND ANYTHING ELSE YOU THINK I SHOULD KNOW STOP I WANT TO KNOW EVERYTHING STOP I WILL MAIL YOU GOODS STOP TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT STOP WE ALL MISS YOU STOP

            the performer places a sheet of paper in the waste basket

MY DARLING WE KEEP YOUR IMAGE ON THE FRIDGE STOP AND I KNOW YOU WON’T COME BACK STOP I KNOW THAT I DO STOP I LOVE YOU STOP WHY DID YOU LEAVE US STOP WHY WON’T THEY TELL US WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU STOP WHERE IS YOUR BODY STOP WAS THERE A FUNERAL STOP MY DARLING STOP MY DARLING STOP MY DARLING STOP

            the performer places a sheet of paper in the waste basket

            no more paper is left on the table

            they light a match

            they toss it in the waste basket

            the telegrams burn

            END OF PLAY