SCENE: "FABRIC"
VERSION 02: 13.04.04
(currently scene 4)

The woman is on the stage furthest away from the audience, she holds a tennis ball, and is meditating on it. A video camera is focused on the woman's face. Several tennis balls drop down around her from the ceiling, and the man enters the court, close to the audience.

VOICE: She looks lovely in that outfit. You did a great job, gave her a marvelous sense of style.

VOICE 2 (possibly the man): Thank you. She's very sensetive to certain fabrics, you know.

VOICE: It'll look gorgeous under the lights. But what'll happen when she starts to sweat?



VOICE (to the woman): You look absolutely fabulous in that outfit. It looks fantastic on you. It'll look amazing under the lights.

WOMAN: It's really pretty, but .....

VOICE: It's sensational. Let me say it for you. It's magic. It'll give you a great advantage.

WOMAN: But what happens when I start to sweat?

While the conversation is going on a TV monitor with her live image on it is being wheeled onto the court, and placed next to the man.

[No response]

WOMAN: Do you have a monitor or anything? I'm not used to doing it this way.

VOICE: No, but just you just treat it like a regular telephone conversation.

WOMAN: But he'll be able to see me, right? I want to be able to look him right in the eye.

VOICE: Sure he will. It'll be just like he's in the same room with you.

MAN: Hey! How's it going? You look a little tired.

WOMAN: I've just come straight from training.

VOICE: Okay, we're on in about one minute. When you talk to him, I want you to look straight into the camera lense. There you go, thank you.

WOMAN: Like this?

[pause]

Are you still there.

MAN: Yeah. I was just wondering.

WOMAN: Wondering what?

MAN: Wondering what it would be like to be close to you right now. You look so beautiful.

WOMAN: Really.

VOICE: Okay, are we ready to go? Are we on now? Okay. Let's get this show on the road. Let's get it on.

WOMAN: Good evening and welcome to No News, Only Rumours, the show where we ask the questions on the lips of nations. As ever, time is short, so without further ado let me introduce tonight's guest.

MAN: Hello.

WOMAN: Hello and welcome.

MAN: Thank you. It's always a pleasure to be on your show.

WOMAN: Actually, I think this is your first time.

MAN: Really! Well, you make me feel so at home.

WOMAN: Now let's get straight down to buisness. Rumour has it that there is a leak in the fabric of things. ....

MAN: Yes, I have heard such rumours.

WOMAN: ..... and a significant document has been transformed. Supposedly, the truth has been smoothed out.

MAN: Once again, merely rumours. I have no comment to make on that.

WOMAN: Just supposing there is some substance behind the rumours, no smoke without fire as the saying goes, what would be the consequence of such an incident?

MAN: Let me be perfectly clear on this issue. I am unwilling to draw any conclusions based on ungrounded rumours.

WOMAN: You have previously said that the document, the report was "sexed up". Can you confirm this for our viewers?

MAN: Now slow down there. You're putting words in my mouth. I have made no such statement.

WOMAN: You have never used the words "sexed up"?

MAN: Certainly not!

WOMAN: But last time we ....

MAN: I have no idea where you got that information. You are either misinformed like the rest of the world, or you have a very vivid imagination. I have never used that term - well, not in public, if you know what I mean, but I can assure you that I am not the source.

WOMAN: But you were responsible for supplying at least some of the information in that report.

MAN: I was merely a minor player. I have never seen the final document. My contribution was of very little significance to the final result.

WOMAN: Let's just assume - hypothetically, that it had been tampered with. How would that affect the outcome?

MAN: I am neither willing nor qualified to answer that question.

WOMAN: Come on. As a man in your position you must feel that it is your duty to at least try to help our viewers to throw some light on the situation.

MAN: Look. It is impossible to predict the outcome of such an incident, but speaking hypothetically - hypothetically you understand, it would certainly rock some significant foundations and heads would roll. I think it would be safe to say that ultimately the effect would be something verging on a major eatherquake.

WOMAN: Really?

MAN: Well, metaphorically speaking of course, yes, I think so. I think it would.

WOMAN: Would it be fair, then, to say that an incident like this could change the current view of history and that would, in turn, have a considerable impact on the future?

MAN: Sorry, I am not prepared to answer that question.

WOMAN: Don't you think that the public has a right to know the truth? After all, you have a reputation for stepping close to the edge when matters of importance are at stake.

MAN: No comment.

WOMAN: C'mon, you've got more balls than that.

MAN: No comment, I said.

WOMAN: Look. This is the show where we ask the questions that are driving everyone mad. All I am asking of you is to spread a little light on a dark spot which could possibly bring a bit of sanity back to the world.

MAN: Firstly, let me remind you that we are not talking about the truth here. Far from it. We're talking about a hypothetical situation. A hypothetical situation that you brought up. To make any further assumptions would serve no-one. Absolutely no one, do you hear. Secondly, it is not my role to tell the public what they should think, neither am I qualified to change history. My job is to check reality and record it for the sake of history. No more. No less. And thirdly I do not appreciate being subjected to this kind of ....

WOMAN: I'm sorry, I'll have to stop you there. We're out of time. Thanks for coming on the show, and by the way, you look great in that outfit!