2 – Cherry time
A couple, sitting on a couch.
Her – Did you see ? The cherry tree is in flower.
Him – Another year has past…
Silence.
Her – We’re happy, aren’t we…?
Him – Yes… (After a moment) We’re bored stiff, aren’t we ?
Her – Together ?
Him – Generally.
She thinks about it.
Her – We could buy another couch…
Him – What would we do with the old one ?
Her – Take a vacation…
Him – To go where ?
Her – Organise a party…
Him – To celebrate what ?
Her – The flowering of our cherry tree !
Him – They say that Japanese people do that, in spring. Invite friends round to contemplate their cherry tree, sipping tea…
Her – We should better hurry up. Some petals are already falling…
Him – So is some of my hair…
Her – Your hair ?
Him – It starts by one, and then you go bald before you know it… (After a moment)And who would we invite ?
Her – Friends !
Him – Friends…? We’ve got friends…?
Her – Probably…
Him – Anyway, people are always busy…
Her – You just need to give them notice.
Him – You invite them for a drink, they get out their diary… Instead of having a drink, you discuss about a possible date. Then they call you back to cancel and fix a new date… When I go for a drink, it’s right on the spot. In three weeks, I might not be thirsty anymore. There is no more improvisation !
Her – Maybe because people are afraid of being bored…
Him – You’ll see ! They will be busy. They will discuss a possible date. Meanwhile, the cherry tree’s petals will have fallen down…
Her – A carpet of petals is pretty too…
Him – Today it is sunny. But what the weather will be like in a month ? In addition to matching agendas, you have to consult the weather report. Inviting friends becomes even more complicated than foreseeing an eclipse. No… Instead of taking a chance on having fun with all this people in a month, I’d rather the guarantee of being bored with you right now.
Her – That’s so sweet…
Him – A few days ago, my best friend leaves me a message. I had not heard of him for months. I call him back right away to invite him for a drink. He tells me that he is busy, that he will call me to fix a date. I am still waiting. I never knew why he called me in the first place…
Her – Maybe he felt a little down…
Him – I don’t know if he did not feel so lonely after he called… In six months, he will probably call me again, and it will be the same. Is that what we call friends, now ? The same with the web ? They tell you that it is «friendly». You don’t even say hello to the guy next door, but with your computer, you will be able to chat with the Chinese in Esperanto. Do you know many Chinese people ?
Her – When I was a child, I used to communicate with my little neighbour by night, in Morse, with electric lamps. Even then it didn’t work very well…
Him – People are overbooked all the time. What can they possibly have so interesting to do, not to have a single moment to drink a coffee with their best friend without notice. I try to stay available. But nobody else ever is. So I get bored… You never get bored ?
Her – With you, never…
Silence.
Him – What about having this drink anyway ?
Her – The two of us ?
Him – Would you be available ?
Her – When ?
Him – Right now.
Her – Why not ?
Him – I’ll get the glasses.
Her – I’ll take care of the peanuts.
Somebody rings the bell.
Him – Are we expecting somebody ?
Her – No. Who can that be ? It’s almost dinner time.
Him – People are so bad-mannered. They won’t leave you alone, even at the week-end.
Her – I’ll go to see who it is…
Him – I’m not here for anyone.
She turns to him.
Her – And what if it’s a friend ?
He thinks about it.
Him – Tell him that our Japanese cherry tree is still in flower, and that he should come back when it has cherries…