Authors: Jon Fosse
very big
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and you can hear songs
in Rambuku
fine songs
sung by voices
so very thin and light
so very deep and dark
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and the songs
they swing
like the thin branches of a tree
in a strong wind
laughs to herself
yes the voices swing
round and round
they are fine songs
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and the sea there
in Rambuku
is as blue and deep
as the bluest sky
and the waves there
yes they are like clouds
and when you get there
yes to Rambuku
you don’t feel cold and you don’t feel pain
I know that
You can look forward to it
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yes
yes look forward to it
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It’s true
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For that’s how it is
in Rambuku
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And in Rambuku
there are good people
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there I can be with
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mum
dad
my sister
my grandparents
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for they are in Rambuku
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and those who live there
in Rambuku
they understand everything
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yes you can see it in the light of their eyes
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in the sudden light of their eyes
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don’t you agree
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yes I know you agree
don’t you
don’t you agree
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why can’t you answer
say something
don’t just stand there
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you must say something
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but of course you agree
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because you know
of course
that it’s like that
in Rambuku
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and of course you know
that today we are going
to Rambuku
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how could I think
that you don’t know that
for you and I
standing here
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are ready to go to Rambuku
Everything is ready
And today it will happen
I know that
yes
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for now
today
Rambuku is coming
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and then we shall go
across seas
across land
across sky and sea
and all the way to Rambuku
you and I shall go
and there we shall be
and live in Rambuku’s being
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there I shall live in a song
she laughs briefly to herself, quite short pause
I shall live in Rambuku’s song
She laughs a little to herself
And we shall be together
in Rambuku
you and I
in a house
which is not a house
in a day
which is not a day
in a night
which is not a night
yes
yes there
in Rambuku
shall we be
you and I
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and everything’s ready
everything
yes
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everything
everything that can be done
has been done
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and I’ve spent many years
getting it ready
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yes you know that
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You know that
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But you don’t say anything
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no matter what I say
you just stand there
and look and look
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But you
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can hear the song
from Rambuku
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how could I’ve thought
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that you couldn’t hear the song
and not know that today’s the day
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when Rambuku will open up
Short pause
Today Rambuku is coming
so now
yes
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yes now it’s over
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now
now this is over
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now
do you understand that
now this no longer exists
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for now Rambuku shall begin
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and I know you can hear the song
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from Rambuku
can you hear it
the song is far away
and very near
yes it is
can you hear it
can you hear Rambuku sing
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yes
yes I know you can
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I know you can hear Rambuku sing
for everyone who listens
can hear Rambuku sing
Quite loudly
Rambuku shall come to us
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and it’ll happen today
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and then we shall no longer be
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in this unbearable here
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here
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for I don’t want to be here
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here
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everyone just walks around and sees
the one they think is the other
but it’s themselves they see
they don’t see others
they see something small and petty
they see themselves
yes
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here you can see neither
sky nor ocean
no one can
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and the angels cannot be
here
the light cannot shine
here
and here we have been
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here
here
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where everything’s empty
empty and empty
and alike and alike
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here it’s like that
but in Rambuku everything is
both unlike and alike
in its bursting abundance
how many years have I not been
here with you
you and I have been here
always here
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year in and year out
have we been here
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but we won’t be here
any longer
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for after all these years
Rambuku is coming
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I don’t understand it
I don’t understand myself
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yes that I’ve been here
I shouldn’t have been here
with you
you and I shouldn’t have been here
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for no one can be here
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but why don’t you say something
why don’t you answer
say something
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don’t just stand there
straight up and down
that you just stand there
and look and look
always the same
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you don’t say anything
just stand there
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but now
tosses it aside
now it’s gone
now there’s nothing left
now it’s all finished
now I don’t have to watch
that you just stand there
and look and look
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For it’s not like that in Rambuku
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you are not like that in Rambuku
do you understand what I’m saying
you’re not like that in Rambuku
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yes you know that
you understand that
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don’t you
you do
you understand that
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of course you understand that
and you can see that I’m beautiful
that I’ve dressed up
can’t you
I’ve dressed up for Rambuku
you do see
don’t you
that I’m beautiful
yes you do
yes of course you do
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and when you come to Rambuku
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you’ll see the big birds
birds as big as houses
almost
And they are
translucent
And the songs in Rambuku
they move
in the wind
like the branches of a vast tree
And they spread outwards
and stroke your hair lightly
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the songs
in Rambuku
are there
for you and me
for us
Yes
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And everything’s ready
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you’re ready
I’m ready
and then Rambuku will come
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And you just stand there
and say nothing
just stand there
and look and look
as if nothing has happened
as if nothing will happen
as if this is just an ordinary day
that’s how you stand there
Loudly
But this is not just an ordinary day
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Can’t you see that
But look around
don’t just stand there
look around
look
see what’s happening
see Rambuku opening up
Look
He looks around, quite short pause
And you can see
you can can’t you
that this is not
just an ordinary day
yes you can see that
I know you can see that
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you can see
that this is an extraordinary day
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you can see
that this is the last day
and the first day
I know you can see that
Pause
But don’t stand there like that looking around
He stops looking around
I don’t want to see you here
anymore
I want to see you
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somewhere else
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and now
yes now
now I shall finally
see you in Rambuku
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finally
finally I’ll get to see you in a different light
get to see you
in Rambuku’s light
in the radiant light of Rambuku
shall you be
and there shall I be
there we shall be
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and don’t just stand there
as if someone once
had placed you there
forever
that’s how you stand there
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stand and stand
pause
and look and look
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So say something
yes
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just say something
say something to me
say something
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for I want to know
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yes that you too know
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that something will finish
and something else
great and bright
will begin
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And now you’ll say
please do
for you’ll be saying these things
so often in Rambuku
but say it now
yes
she smiles to herself
say it now
already
say
You are a beautiful woman
please do
You can say that
can’t you
yes
yes
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say it then
say after me
You
Pause
But say it then
say
You
HE
You
SHE
Good
And then you say
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are a beautiful woman
HE
are a beautiful woman
SHE
That’s good
Quite short pause
Say
Quite short pause
You are a beautiful woman
HE
You are a beautiful woman
Pause
SHE
Thank you
Thank you so much
takes his hand again, shakes it
It makes me
yes happy
quite short pause
to hear you say it
She lets go of his hand. Pause
And then you say
I don’t understand anything
HE
I don’t understand anything
SHE
And say
For today Rambuku
shall open up
HE
For today Rambuku
SHE
More
say the rest
say it
HE
Rambuku
SHE
Say more
say what I said
Today Rambuku shall
HE
Today Rambuku shall
SHE
Say after me
then
say