Scene Three
❦︎
The lights slowly come on, just as the sun climbs up over the Alps every morning, revealing a thick forest and a brook. A single rose is placed at SL. BRUNO enters from SR, but his eyes are pitch-black—like an animal's. He knuckle-walks on all fours before reaching out for fallen branches and fruits on the ground.
HEDY (offstage, echoing)
Bruno! Bruno!
BRUNO drops his food; his ears twitch in every direction.
HEDY (desperately)
Bruno! Please! Come back!
BRUNO
(he sniffs the air, before taking a few cautious steps back; he then quickly exits SL, pacing himself on all fours; he passes by the red rose)
HEDY (her voice becomes louder and closer until there is no longer an echo)
Bruno! Oh, Bruno, please! Wait! (enters SR, heaving, with red cheeks, her limbs shaking from exhaustion; she takes a few wobbly steps forward, leaning over, tears are in her eyes) I won't give up. I won't. I won't. I can't. I can't give up. (the woman begins jogging slowly across the stage, heading toward SL until she exits; her boots tread over the rose)
Fade to black. End of Scene Three.