1
Jon Fosse
Too Late
Libretto
Translated by May-Brit Akerholt
2
CHARACTERS
Older Woman, around sixty-seventy years of age
Middle-Aged Woman, around forty years of age
Man, around fifty years of age
Shadow
Younger Woman, around thirty years of age
3
A bed at the front, well lit, and at the back, a painting on a wall, painting
equipment on a table next to it
OLDER WOMAN
stands by the bed
And the day has begun
quite short pause
a day like all days
All days begin like this
Short pause
Always this pain
Always this longing
Always this waiting
Short pause
And it’s all just phrases
said before
and then I should do something
I must always do something
She makes the bed
And such a lot it turned out to be
And so
breaks off. Short pause
That’s life
the way it is
you must want to
you must strive
short pause
how empty all the words are
quite short pause
want to
quite short pause
strive
A Middle-Aged Woman and a Man enter, hand in hand, behind the Man walks
another man, his Shadow. The Older Woman looks at them
And it was such a good time
Yes it was good
The Man embraces the Middle-Aged Woman
And how kind he was
quite short pause
sort of
childish
The Older Woman smiles
So simple
yes really simple
and a little stupid
yes perhaps
The Man lets go of the Middle-Aged Woman
MAN
Do I get a kiss
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
No you don’t get a kiss
4
MAN
as if disappointed
I don’t get a kiss
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
No you don’t get a kiss
Never again
MAN
Don’t I
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
No you don’t
MAN
Don’t you love me anymore
Pause. The Middle-Aged Woman walks towards the Man, they kiss each other,
a long kiss
OLDER WOMAN
They were my best years
She looks at the bed, stands motionless
My best years
Quite short pause
And why did I
breaks off
Why did I do it
Why
Because I
breaks off
because I
because
Louder voice
Because
Because
Because
Quite short pause
Because I had to
The Man and the Middle-Aged Woman let go of each other, and walk forwards
hand in hand
MAN
I love you so much
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
And I love you
MAN
And those beautiful children
we have
quite short pause
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
Two are already grown-up
5
Quite short pause
But then the little one came
Short pause
It’s quite incredible
I can't believe it
SHADOW
Everything just happens
everything becomes what it becomes
Short pause
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
And I’m so old
MAN
No
no you’re not old
But that it can happen
That we can happen
They kiss each other
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
That we could happen
MAN
That we happened
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
But we happened
SHADOW
Why do I say things like that
Quite short pause
Everything happens
everything just happens
Short pause
And I’m so tired
MAN
And then the children happened
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
And now you’re earning good money
yes you have for a long time
of course
SHADOW
Everything had just happened
short pause
and I’m so tired
just tired
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
continues
yes we have everything we need
6
We have plenty of room
We have each other
We have our children
Pause. As if a little doubtful
No how could it have happened
MAN
But it has happened
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
It has happened
But I don’t like it
when you leave me
I always want to be with you
MAN
But
quite short pause
yes you know
yes my work claims me
the day claims me
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
a little sullenly
Yes
SHADOW
Always the same
Every day the same
But soon I shall sleep
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
Yes well
MAN
So
breaks off
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
Yes
MAN
I must do
what I must
I just have to
yes earn money
so we can live
quite short pause
yes here too
yes in these rooms
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
I suppose you must
Short pause
But that
7
SHADOW
I am so tired
so tired
I just want to sleep
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
continues
yes that you go out
and are important out there
out there in the big world
quite short pause
and I
I have to stay in here
here
here in these rooms
MAN
I suppose that’s how it is
breaks off
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
You go out
quite short pause
and there are other women out there
they are young
younger than me
MAN
I only care about you
SHADOW
Always the same
again and again
But soon I shall sleep
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
I hear you say that
MAN
Always only you
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
But those young beautiful women
they are there
MAN
Yes
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
You think they are beautiful
MAN
No
not like that
short pause
8
why can’t you
breaks off
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
And I have to stay in here
always here
always here
with the children
quite short pause
they’re noisy
they’re screaming
they’re messy
they
breaks off, short pause
nappies
yes it’s a few years ago now
but now it is
exactly the same
all over again
Always nappies
Year after year
and always nappies
And you
quite short pause
you go out
out in the world
out in the world
and there you are important
important to the other women
to the young women
they look at you
quite short pause
do you wonder what they think
quite short pause
and how can I know
what you think
what you do
for I am here
you are there
I am here
in these rooms
and you are there
out there in the big world
and I am here
always here
always here
always
you are there
I am here
you are there
there with the young beautiful women
and I am here
in these rooms
I am here with the children
9
SHADOW
Always the same
The same and the same
MAN
There are almost only men there
yes out there in the big world
as you say
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
And then the young women
MAN
Yes
quite short pause
yes before
breaks off
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
Before they get locked inside
with children
with children in rooms like this
SHADOW
Always the same
But soon I shall sleep
MAN
Don’t
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
Isn’t that how it is
Why can’t I go out
and be important
in the big world
MAN
It’s
breaks off
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
It’s because
that's how it is
Quite short pause
You’re always saying that
Why can’t you say something else
MAN
I must go
I must go to work
I mustn’t be late
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
Yes well
yes you go
10
SHADOW
I must go
but tonight I can sleep
And sleep is so good
Soon I shall sleep
Just sleep
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
continues
Just go
Go
Go
MAN
Why can’t we part
leave each other
as friends
Pause
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
Yes alright then
She gives him a hug, and the Man exits. Pause. The Middle-Aged Woman stands
there looking down. The sound of a crying child. The Older Woman walks
towards the Middle-Aged Woman, stops. The Older Woman and the MiddleAged Woman look at each other, they look down, they look at each other
again. The Middle-Aged Woman exits
OLDER WOMAN
Was I right
Was I wrong
Was life better
She laughs to herself
As if life was better
Quite short pause
As if life was better
Quite short pause. The sound of a child crying stops
I did what I did
I did what I had to do
I did what
I thought
I had to do
that was all I could do
that was all I could think
I didn’t think
I could do anything else
that’s what I thought
that’s what I did
The Middle-Aged Woman enters
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
First it was my father
and then it was him
my husband
the man I’m married to
11
My mother who walked around
in those rooms
and my father who walked around
out there
in the big world
in the proud world
quite short pause
those fine things
quite short pause
those expensive things
my mother between all
those expensive and fine things
just things
just my mother and me
between those fine things
in those expensive rooms
And my father who was out there
And my mother and me
My mother who walked around there
I who walked around there
And my father who paid
for it all
and we just walked around there
quite short pause
And now
Now its’ me
me
who just walks around here
walks around here
with the children
and he who walks around out there
out there with all his money
with all those young girls
What happened to me
Short pause
I used to draw
I used to paint
I was so good at drawing
I went to art school
I wanted so much
I saw something
Quite short pause
I wanted something
I
breaks off, short pause
and then he was there
he stood there
quite short pause
and then everything was changed
everything was something else
I was no longer
myself
I was someone else
I was him
as he always says
12
I am you
and as I always answer
I am you
OLDER WOMAN
I am you
Short pause
I am me
Now I am
only me
Silly talk
I am only me
I wanted so much
and then it turned out
breaks off. The Middle-Aged Woman exits
I am too old
I was too old
I couldn’t paint
I couldn’t do it
couldn’t paint how I wanted to
It was too late
I couldn’t do it
It wasn’t how I thought it would be
It wasn’t what I wanted
quite short pause
but I tried
you could say that
yes that I tried
quite short pause
I wanted to
I tried
quite short pause
but what does it
matter
that you want to
that you try
quite short pause
that’s not how it is
The Man enters, and the Older Woman looks at him
And he was beautiful
And he was not
a bad man
But bright
quite short pause
no that he wasn’t
Perhaps he was even
a little stupid
smiles a little to herself. The Man walks around
MAN
But where are you
Aren’t you here
Pause
Don’t go and hide now
We’re not kids anymore
13
We don’t play
hide and seek anymore
where are you
The Middle-Aged Woman enters
There you are
So good to see you again
So good to be back home
SHADOW
I am so tired
so tired
And I shall soon sleep
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
And your work went well
MAN
Yes
yes everything was good
quite short pause
but tiring
it is tiring
yes as always
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
Yes
SHADOW
I am so tired
But I can soon sleep
MAN
And you
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
It’s all been as usual
I’ve got nothing to tell
quite short pause
as usual
MAN
No
no me neither
Short pause
Can I give you a hug
She doesn’t answer
You don’t want a hug
Short pause
Not a hug
Not
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
No
MAN
14
You don’t want to
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
No
The Man goes and sits down on the bed, and the Older Woman goes and stands
next to him and strokes his hair. He looks down
You are out there
between the beautiful young women
SHADOW
I am so tired so tired
But I can soon sleep
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
continues
and I walk around in here
in these rooms
in these expensive rooms
with the rowdy boisterous children
quite short pause
the same
quite short pause
day in and day out
day in and day out
SHADOW
I am so tired so tired
But sleep is so good
And I shall soon sleep
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
continues
yes I know I keep saying it
I repeat myself
and repeat myself
quite short pause
these rooms
these children
these expensive rooms
these rowdy boisterous children
quite short pause
and you who go
you who come
MAN
What can I do
What can I do
to make it better
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
What you can do
Pause. The Man stands up
MAN
What can I do
15
to make it better for you
quite short pause
we have everything we need
and more
is there something you want
shall I buy you something
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
Maybe
SHADOW
I am so tired so tired
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
continues
Yes maybe
MAN
What do you want
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
reluctantly
I don’t know
I don’t quite know
I have to think about it
MAN
Just say it
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
I want freedom
MAN
What do you mean
SHADOW
The good sleep’s freedom
short pause
the good sleep
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
continues
yes freedom
yes I want to be in the world
out there
I don’t want to be locked inside
in these rooms
Quite short pause
I want to make those paintings
I want to make
breaks off, quite short pause
MAN
But can’t you
make them here
16
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
Who’ll look after the children then
MAN
Someone else can do that
we can
breaks off. Pause
You don’t enjoy being with the children
Pause
You don’t want to be with the children
with our children
with our beautiful children
Pause. The Man walks towards the Middle-Aged Woman
Now
Now I want a hug
SHADOW
Why do I say that
I don’t mean it
I am so tired so tired
MAN
continues
And
quite short pause
tomorrow
tomorrow when I get home
I’ll bring something beautiful
something beautiful and expensive
for you
Something you’ll like
SHADOW
Why do I say that
MAN
continues
Something I know you’ll like
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
How can you know that
MAN
I know you
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
You knew me
But I’m not the one you
used to know
MAN
puzzled
I don’t know you anymore
17
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
You knew me
MAN
You’re no longer the same
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
I’ve begun to understand
MAN
You’re still young
young and beautiful
even if
breaks off
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
Even if I’m close to forty
MAN
You look much younger
Short pause
And it’s not that long ago
since our youngest child was born
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
But the others
they manage themselves
they go to school
they don’t need me anymore
MAN
Of course they need you
Pause
But now I want a hug
SHADOW
Why do I say that
I don’t mean it
The Man and the Middle-Aged Woman look at each other, he walks to her,
embraces her, she doesn’t put her arms around him.
Why do I do that
The Man lets go of her, and he leaves
OLDER WOMAN
walks to the Middle-Aged Woman
Why was I like that
Why am I like that
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
Why am I like that
Why do I say things like that
He only wants what’s best for me
OLDER WOMAN
He only wanted what was best for me
18
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
I don’t understand myself
OLDER WOMAN
I have never
understood myself
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
He only wanted a hug
OLDER WOMAN
I don’t understand me
I didn’t understand me then
and I don’t understand me now
I
breaks off
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
For he is beautiful
For he is kind
and he always says
that he is away
so much away
just to earn what we need
for me and the children
to live well
quite short pause
he is away
out there
with those beautiful young women
and I
quite short pause
I am no longer young
And what has become of me
I have walked around here
I walk around here
I can’t take it
and the children
quite short pause
yes apart from the little one
The sound of a crying child, and the Middle-Aged Woman exits.
Pause. The crying stops. The Man enters
MAN
She’s not here
But where is she
Where can she be
And why is she like that
quite short pause
before
quite short pause
yes when I came home from work
always
yes always
19
we gave each other a hug
and we kissed each other
and then
quite short pause
where is she
she is so beautiful
so good
I love her so much
SHADOW
But it isn’t true
It isn’t like that
quite short pause
It is just
breaks off. Pause. The Man walks around, and the Older Woman walks over to
him, strokes his cheek, his back, embraces him, stands and holds him. The
Middle-Aged Woman enters. The Man walks towards her, and the Older Woman
goes and sits down on the bed
MAN
Now I want a hug
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
You want a hug
MAN
Yes
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
So you want a hug
The Man goes and embraces the Middle-Aged Woman and holds her, she keeps
her arms hanging down. They stand like that for a long time
SHADOW
Why do I do such things
The Man lets go of her and leaves. The Older Woman stands up, smooths the
bedclothes, walks into the room
OLDER WOMAN
And now
quite short pause
now I’m alone
and the children
quite short pause
they
yes they
quite short pause
I don’t understand why
they visit me so rarely
why they ring me so rarely
it’s as if
there was something wrong with me
as if something was wrong
Quite short pause
And I am alone
20
Always alone
The Middle-Aged Woman exits
But I like to be alone
Of course I do
I prefer to be alone
Short pause
But that’s just something I say
Something I must say
I must say
that I prefer to be alone
I must say that I was right
I must say
that I did
the only right thing
What I had to do
The only thing I could do
The only thing
short pause
yes the only
Pause. The Man enters, hand in hand with a Younger Woman
MAN
happy
Yes this is how it is
YOUNG WOMAN
happy
My how lovely it is
such nice big rooms
MAN
Yes
Yes they’re alright
YOUNG WOMAN
It’s not
it’s not
that the rooms are important
it’s what fills the rooms
it’s love
which is the most important
SHADOW
I shall never leave you
MAN
Yes
yes
YOUNG WOMAN
And love is what we have
MAN
We have love
21
YOUNG WOMAN
And love shall we have
MAN
Love
we shall always have love
YOUNG WOMAN
We shall never part
MAN
Never shall we part
YOUNG WOMAN
I shall never leave you
Not like she did
The other one
short pause
Imagine leaving your husband
your children
But I shall never leave you
quite short pause
or the children
quite short pause
yes if we
quite short pause
have children
MAN
And I shall never leave you
YOUNG WOMAN
I shall never leave you
like the other one did
I can’t bear to think about her
the other one
SHADOW
I shall never
quite short pause
leave you
YOUNG WOMAN
continues
she who is the mother of your children
short pause, questioningly
is it really true
that suddenly she just stood there
with two suitcases
and said she wanted to leave
The Man nods
SHADOW
Don’t say her name
Short pause
22
YOUNG WOMAN
continues
And then she left
The Man nods.
I don’t want to say her name
I don’t want to remember her name
I don’t want to mention her
I don’t want to think about her
MAN
Don’t think about her
don’t say her name
YOUNG WOMAN
But the children
quite short pause
yes they remind me
breaks off
MAN
The children are themselves
That’s life
at its greatest
that is the greatness of life
that people are born
completely as themselves
quite short pause
from the time they enter this world
they are themselves
they have their own soul
look like themselves
are themselves
YOUNG WOMAN
Yes
MAN
I can’t understand it
SHADOW
It is the wonder of life
It is the light of life
It is
breaks off. Short pause
YOUNG WOMAN
No
quite short pause
no
no it is
breaks off. The Man embraces her, and she embraces him, they kiss each
other, they stand like that for a long time, they let each other go, they move
away a little.
I’m so grateful for you
23
I was so alone
all alone
and alone you are
like no one
I was no one
I was no one
until we met
MAN
And I was no one
Pause
YOUNG WOMAN
I feel whole
I feel
no not like myself
yes like myself
like myself in you
MAN
It is you
who is I
SHADOW
Always the same
quite short pause
but the same
is never the same
nothing is the same
everything changes
quite short pause
and a word never
means the same
YOUNG WOMAN
And I am you
Short pause
You said that
to the other one too
her
yes
breaks off
SHADOW
Don’t think about it
YOUNG WOMAN
questioningly
You did
MAN
Don’t think about it
YOUNG WOMAN
I can’t help it
24
SHADOW
Don’t think about it
MAN
Now it’s you
only you
who are my world
YOUNG WOMAN
Yes
They embrace each other, and exit, hand in hand. Long pause. The MiddleAged Woman enters with two suitcases, she puts them down, walks around,
looking. The Man enters
MAN
What is it
Why have you packed
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
I’m going
MAN
You’re going
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
Yes
MAN
Where are you going
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
Home to my parents
MAN
To your parents
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
Yes
Short pause
MAN
But you’ve never liked
your parents
you’re always saying
that your father
yes that he
yes treated
as you say
both you and your mother
as if you were dolls
as if
yes as if you weren’t human beings
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
25
I’m going
MAN
How long will you be gone
And who’ll look after the little one
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
You’ll have to find someone
who can look after him
one of those young women
out there in the world
one of those beautiful young women
one of those you look at
drool over
MAN
You’re going
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
I’m going
And I’m not coming back
MAN
You’re not coming back
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
I’m never coming back
I want to be alone
MAN
But the children
You have three children
quite short pause
you have a small child
The sound of a child crying
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
Do you hear what I’m saying
Don’t you understand anything
Don’t you understand a thing
You want me to say it word for word
yes I can do that
Short pause
I
short pause
am
short pause
going
short pause
and
short pause
I
short pause
am
short pause
26
never
short pause
coming
short pause
back
The Man goes and sits down on the bed, next to the Older Woman. The MiddleAged Woman picks up the suitcases and exits. Pause. The Man stands up and
exits. The Older Woman stands up, moves into the room
OLDER WOMAN
I had to
I couldn’t take it
I couldn’t bear it
it wasn’t
breaks off, quite short pause
but is it true
quite short pause
is it really true
yes that
yes that I couldn’t bear it
quite short pause
and then
quite short pause. The child stops crying
yes I don’t want to think about it
rather not
but
quite short pause
my father
He said I was mad
The OLDER WOMAN laughs
You’re not right in the head
You’re mad
Go back home
to your husband
to your children
You have a good husband
good children
Short pause
And my mother
quite short pause
she said nothing
almost nothing
just a few quiet words
Quite short pause
And my father who
quite short pause
got me two rooms
He said
I don’t want you living here
Fend for yourself
Here’s the key
Here’s the address
Quite short pause
And my mother
quite short pause
27
my mother who gave me money
She said my father had asked her
to do it
But he didn’t want to come himself
No I don’t want to think about it
Quite short pause
And here
in the rooms my father bought
here
here
short pause
always here
just always here
always here
The Older Woman walks over to the painting, begins to paint. The Man enters,
walks over to her, stands a few metres away from her
MAN
You got a better life
You set yourself free
you set yourself free
from me
from your children
And you set me free
Quite short pause
You gave me love
I look up to your strength
SHADOW
I’m not telling the truth
Why aren’t I telling the truth
I
breaks off
MAN
I look up to your ability
to do what you had to
SHADOW
Why am I lying
How can I bear to do that
But why don’t I
hurt her
as much as I can
MAN
You did what you had to
That’s all you could do
He puts a few notes on the table.
SHADOW
That is my greatest joy
She is so free so free
The Young Woman enters
28
YOUNG WOMAN
I’m so grateful for you
for our child
for our beautiful child
that it turned out like this
that it turned out to be you
and our child
MAN
And I’m so grateful for you
SHADOW
I am so grateful for you
MAN
I don’t know who to thank
yes you
yes you most of all
you
beautiful you
SHADOW
I want to thank God
MAN
continues
I shall thank you
quite short pause
but that it turned out like this
that we
of all
of all those who exist
of all those who are there
all
so many
that of all
of all those
that it should be you
that it should be you
and me
quite short pause
and our child
YOUNG WOMAN
You and our child and me
MAN
That which rules
in secrecy
that is what I thank
YOUNG WOMAN
I thank God
Pause
I must look in on our child
29
MAN
But first a kiss
YOUNG WOMAN
Yes
They kiss each other, they hug each other for a long time and she exits
MAN
I am so grateful
God
for her
for all she has given me
for the love that exist
the love that fills everything
that is in everything and everyone
the love we are
and which is why we exist
I thank you God
I thank you
for the grace
you have given me
SHADOW
I thank you God
for the grace
you have gave
The Man and the Shadow take up positions, stand and look straight ahead, into
nothingness. The Older Woman lifts up the painting, looks at it
OLDER WOMAN
It is beautiful
I was good at something
I was good at something
if only I was given the time
if only I was given the time
to do it
If I only could be on my own
I could paint
And the paintings are larger than I am
The paintings are larger than
I could be
that was what I wanted
I wanted to be larger
than myself
not to be myself
but to be something other
than myself
something totally other
I wanted to be
part of the other
part of the greater
just a part
Short pause
But was it worth it
30
How much pain
haven't I caused
And now he is dead
And my parents are dead
how ugly
quite short pause
how ugly
am I
and then the inheritance
from my father
quite short pause
yes and from my mother
of course from her too
quite short pause. The Young Woman enters and goes and takes the Man with
one hand and the Shadow with the other
and the paintings
yes how ugly
yes they are ugly
I can’t paint
and no one
almost no one
laughs
wants to buy my paintings
no one wants to exhibit them
almost no one
quite short pause
and not without reason
laughs
so I
laughs
paint over one painting
after the other
I paint one painting
And then I paint over it
I always start over again
over again
quite short pause
over again
quite short pause
over again
quite short pause
and that is right
for nothing shall remain
everything shall come into being
and everything shall disappear
short pause. She paints over the painting with white paint. Then she goes and
sits on the bed. Pause
And now he’s dead
He is gone
Forever gone
Quite short pause
It’s several years now
since he died
quite short pause
the years go so fast
31
quite short pause
and I was told
that I wasn’t
welcome at his funeral
Short pause
Everything disappears
Pause. She lies down on the bed, pulls the doona over her
MAN
You are my happiness
YOUNG WOMAN
And you mine
Only you
SHADOW
You are my happiness
I thank you
MAN
Yes
yes
yes only you
The kiss for a long time. Black