SCENE: "THE ECHOING VALE"
VERSION 03: 13.04.04
[currently scene 1]

There is the sound of a large door creaking, opening and then slamming shut. The lights come up dimly and the woman is standing on the court. She is dressed in tennis gear, and has a bag, a racket and a bottle of water with her. She looks around, waits a short while, then thinking she hears a sound:

WOMAN: Hallo!

Silence. The the sound of a cat screaming in the night is heard.

WOMAN: Is anybody here?

Silence. She takes a swig of the water. A ball is shot into the net.

WOMAN: Hallo!

ECHO: Hallo!

WOMAN: Is anybody there?

ECHO: Is anybody there?

WOMAN: Stop mucking around.

ECHO : Stop it yourself.

WOMAN [frightened]: Stop it. You're frightening me.

ECHO: Stop it. You're frightening me.

WOMAN [angry]: Cut it out!

ECHO: Cut it out!

WOMAN: I didn't come here just to play games you know.

ECHO: Oh really, you could have fooled me.

WOMAN: Look, I've got better things to do with my time than ...

ECHO: Oh really, you could have fooled me.

WOMAN: That does it. I'm gonna call the manager.

ECHO: dededede ... the person you are trying to reach is not available. Leave a message after the beep.

WOMAN [really angry now. She bounces a ball on the floor, hits it really hard] Fuck this!

[A ball comes shooting out of the darkness, aimed straight at her. An explosive sound is heard - like a missile, or a bomb]

WOMAN: Okay, you win. You can have the place all to yourself, if that's want you want.

[more balls .... she has to duck to avoid them]

WOMAN: Shhhittt! What the hell do you think you're doing? You almost killed me.

ECHO: Sorry. I am a bit highly strung today. I was only trying to bring you back.

WOMAN: What? Look. I was supposed to meet someone here. A man. Tall, dark, late thirties. Have you seen him?

ECHO: A man. Tall, dark, late thirties. No strings attached?

WOMAN: Yes. That's him alright.

ECHO: Yes. That's him in a nutshell.

WOMAN: Well. Have you seen him or not?

ECHO: No. I haven't seen him, but he did leave a message for you.

WOMAN: What did he say?

ECHO: Not much really. Only a few words. But, by the way he said it, it seemed very important.

WOMAN: What did he say?

ECHO: There was something in the tone of his voice, an urgency quite beyond what you would expect from a man of his position.

WOMAN: Just cut the crap and give it to me straight.

ECHO: Okay. Let's see if I can remember ... he said to tell you that the cat's out of the bag, or something like that.

WOMAN: Is that all?

ECHO: Nope.

WOMAN: Well?

ECHO: Let me see. The fabrick is ripped, and the cat's out of the bag.

WOMAN: The fabrick is ripped, and the cat's out of the bag. And that was all he said?

ECHO: Certainly not! He said the fabrick is ripped, the cat's out of the bag and the source has been revealed.

WOMAN: [she looks astonished, confused and panicky.] Who are you?

ECHO: You can call me Venus for now because I currently render a top server speed of 128 m/hour. I am here to serve you in any way I can.

WOMAN: Come out where I can see you.

VENUS: Trust me. I am on the other side. You don't need to see me. From now on you only have to keep your eye focused on the ball.

WOMAN: [sarcastically] Well Venus, thanks for the advice. It's been great meeting you, but I really have to run.

[in a business-like fashion, she turns to leave again, and once again a ball flies over the net at her, accompanied by a louder explosion. The woman tries to avoid the ball but it hits her, she cries out]

VENUS: I'm sorry, I can't let you leave now. I am your server. I am here to serve you.

WOMAN: What are you talking about? Why won't you let me go?

VENUS: You must receive me until the work is done.

WOMAN: [she is curious] Work! What work?

VENUS: So, the cat's got guts after all!

WOMAN: Yeah! [She fiddles with the strings on her racket] And we all know what curiosity did to the cat, don't we?

VENUS: Something has happened. The rules have changed. You must upgrade your system in order to get through. Let's get started, we don't have much time.

[A ball flies over the net. This time it is accompanied by mumbling voices. They are evil-sounding, and vicious but no complete words are
discernible. The woman does not attempt to hit the ball.]

VENUS: Rumour has it that there are some dark actors in the game. You'll have to use backhanded methods to improve your chances. Try again.

[another ball - this time she hits it]

VOICE: Out!

VOICE 2: Fifteen - love

WOMAN: Shit

[another ball]

VOICE: Out!

VOICE 2: Thirty - love

VENUS: Don't think, just feel .. you can't think and feel the ball at the same time.

[another ball]

VOICE: Fault!

WOMAN: Ha!

[another ball. This time the woman hits it and the game continues.]

VOICE: Out!

VOICE 2: Forty - love

WOMAN: Hey. You cannot be serious! That ball was in. Any god damned fool could see that. Hey. You. Answer me, god damn you! That ball was in, I said.

VENUS: Control yourself, the ball was out.

WOMAN: Jesus Christ! You're supposed to be on my side.

VENUS: I can tell by the tone of your voice that you are upset. You must not show your anger at any point in the game. To do so would be to lose any sympathy you may have in the court, and trust me when I say that based on your current record you need all the sympathy you can get. Now. Rise above it. Take some deep breathes. In, out, in, out. That's right.

WOMAN: [She is doing some pretty heavy breathing] MMMmmmmm. That feels good, tastes sweet, feels nice

VENUS: Do you really think that's air you're breathing?

WOMAN: I feel light, light as a feather, like I could fly.

VENUS: Feeling better? Excellent! Now, close your eyes. The court is always the same size, with the net the same height and in the same relation to us at all times, so there's no need to look at it every moment or so to see if it has moved. Only an earthquake can change its position. Got that?

WOMAN: Yep.

VENUS: Now, as to our opponent, we don't need to look at him because his position is determined by the shot we are striving to return. We're not trying to hit him. We strive to miss him. Understand?

WOMAN: Think so.

VENUS: So, since we must watch what we strive to hit and not follow what we wish to miss, we keep our eye on the ball and let our opponent take care of himself. Now. Open your eyes, and remember, love means nothing in this game. Let us continue.

[more balls are played]

VENUS: You have now learnt to see over to the other side without having to look. It'll give you a good advantage. Now, try this ....

[another ball. The woman hits it, but the impact of the ball is so powerful that the racket flies out from her hand and falls to the floor]

BLACKOUT

[in the darkness]

VENUS: Woops! My top speed seems to be increasing.

[When the lights come on again the woman has left the court, but her racket is still lying on the floor where it fell.]