Mother: Please be quiet, children. Yes,
it is best you stay over there and play. (closes door to children)
Father: My father is not long for this
world. To see him in this weakened condition pains my heart.
Mother: My dear husband, we all must
become old. Our children are growing up, but they are also growing
old. Your father has led a full life.
Father: Yes. Yes. And that is certainly
part of my remorse, for he was always fit and vigorous in
performing his duties. His absence will be felt by the entire
village.
Doctor: (enters) There is little that
can be done. He is resting now. All we can do is wait. That he is
also doing.
Mother: (takes out handkerchief and she
sniffles) Please sit. I'll see to the children. (she exits)
Doctor: Thank you. (sits near Father)
Are you... Is there...
Father: (waves hand but continues to
stare at a point in space) Doctor, you see death so frequently.
Have you accepted it as a matter of fact? What is it? Death, I
mean — does anyone truly know?
Doctor: My friend, there are numerous
views on the subject. I myself believe it to be much like a door,
a doorway. At one moment the person is living on one side of a
door, then he or she is gone... gone through the doorway, away
from our eyes and ears and touch. So, just as your wife left our
company in order to attend to her affairs by going through this
door, when a person leaves us at the time of death, that person
has departed to another sphere of activities that are beyond our
enclosure. That is the way death appears to me.
Father: Simple enough. Simple enough.
(both sigh, silence falls. There is a light rapping at the door)
Father: Hmmm... eh?! Someone's at the
door.
Doctor: Will you not see who is there?
Father: Yes, yes.
Advisor: I have come to see your father,
Sir. With your permission I should like to enter.
Father: Yes. Yes. Please enter...
Advisor: My dear Sir, I've taken the
liberty of visiting your home, for I have heard of your good
father's fine qualities, especially his loyalty to our king.
Therefore, I have brought the King to see your father.
Doctor: How marvelous!
Father: The King — here in this humble
home?! (King enters)
Mother: (enters) My, do we have guests?
Oh my!
Advisor: Allow me to present His
Highness and the Royal Princess. (all meet with bows and nods)
King: Forgive our intrusion. My advisor
here has informed me that you are exemplary citizens, and that the
head of the household is my most loyal subject. Thus I could not
refuse his suggestion that I come here.
Father: My father... he... he is your
servant and we too are yours to command. Is there anything...?
Advisor: Please, be at ease, my good
man. We've simply come to see your father.
Doctor: He will be greatly encouraged.
The old man has always cherished the thought of a personal
audience with you, Your Majesty.
King: Is that so? May we...?
Advisor: If you don't mind, before we
enter, I should like to speak to you, O King, privately — for
just one moment... (King and Advisor move aside)
King: What is it now? This is a bit
awkward, don't you think, barging into these poor people's home
out of the blue?
Advisor: They are honored to host you,
no doubt. And so your most loyal subject will be delighted to
greet you, for may I remind you, Lord, that this man has always
held you in the highest esteem. But before we see him, I have one
specific wish.
King: And what, pray tell, is it now?
Advisor: I would like you to watch your
subject's face very closely, particularly his eyes, when we enter.
King: Is that all?
Advisor: The princess should enter with
us, yet stand on the opposite side of the room.
King: Very well, very well. I shall tell
her what you desire. Now can we proceed? (Advisor bows. King talks
to his daughter)
Doctor: He is resting, but I'm sure he
will be thrilled to realize his good fortune.