- [first lines]
- Frank: Gentlemen! I don't want to tire you and especially myself by going through those many reasons which make life completely impossible in this part of the city. We all know the circumstances forced on us in our early years: crowded homes, ignorance and hunger. Not to mention the bad air conditioning in the busses with their irregular timetables. In this part of the city there are more hills than anywhere else in the world. Loose-running kids and dogs make it impossible to move in the streets. We have to hide in the back alleys like lepers. We are humiliated and spat on as if we weren't free members of a proud nation. Besides, an evil old woman kicked me in the shin one day only because I opened my mouth in the wrong place. I'm not a dog. I know that you can also respect yourselves slightly if necessary. That's why we are here today: no more crying, it's time to leave. The decision is not easy. Many of us have strong emotional ties that have bound us with this part of the city. Many must sacrifice their childhood, their memories and their families. "The branch of a rotten tree must seek a healthier trunk." We have all heard our grandparents and our parents talk about Eira, a place on the other side of the city. It's an area where the streets are wide and the air is smooth and fresh. That is our destination tonight. Before we move on to practical matters I want to be certain that everyone realizes the dangers and responsibilities of our journey. The floor is all yours, Frank.
- Frank: Thank you Frank. I have organized us transport to the extreme centre of the city. After that it's every man for himself. Some will take the southern, others the northern route some will attempt a break straight through the lines. As we are all poor we shall now share the funds our society has inherited.
- Frank the Merciless: Leave everything and come with me.
- Hotell maid: I've got a good job and a flat here. What can you offer me?
- Frank the Merciless: I'll build a house by the sea on the other side of the city. Then I'll go into business and build a career. I can think about having kids.
- Hotell maid: They don't mean anything to me. When will all this happen?
- Frank the Merciless: As soon as you tell me the way to Eira.
- Frank: [n the bank] I don't understand why a man in my position has to come here to beg like a peddler. The normal practice should be that what I need would be delivered to my home every morning. If I had home. But that doesn't change anything.
- Frank: From my childhood I can only remember my mother. She used to slap me gently with her big hands before putting me in bath.
- Psykiatri: Did you like it?
- Frank: I don't know. You feel lonely in water, especially if it's cold. It's different if it's warm. Or what do you say? Nothing.
- Psykiatri: You're doing the talking.
- Frank: Couldn't life go on without the wind? It makes everything shiver. All you see are unimportant things. Still we shiver. I wonder why?
- Psykiatri: I am feeling sad, too.
- Frank: We all feel it in our throat. You know, although I'm still young I used to be younger. So did my friends. I call them my friends even though they've rejected me. Already then, we were tormented by fear. They could've used our fear. Telling us: "This is it, we'll bury you!" And so we were afraid to run too fast. What if we'd found ourselves by an open grave, breathless. Breathless, we would've realised that we wouldn't have been able to say anything, no breath. They don't know how to teach one to feel the vibes here. We don't know the rules. It must be the Time. We should get ahead of the Time. Nobody likes me. Everybody scorns me and despises me. They only tolerate me because my parents are fairly rich. I've got myself friends by bribing them with candy and later, alcohol. But they still make fun of me. "Go home Frank, eat your porridge." What should I do?
- Psykiatri: Kill yourself!
- Hotell maid: Where are you going?
- Frank the Merciless: I told you.
- Hotell maid: Don't go. We need a doorman.
- Frank the Merciless: Woman, can't you ever understand?