Synopsis
The play begins with a voice issuing forth from a dimly lit megaphone: “We are the last five.” Only four characters appear throughout the performance however, Bam, Bom, Bim, and Bem (an echo of Rimbaud’s sonnet, “Voyelles”) but the voice does not belong to a putative Bum, rather it is the “Voice of Bam”. The men are all dressed in identical grey gowns with the same long grey hair.
Before the drama proper commences there is a quick run through of the action without words. The four characters enter and exit, as they will all do later, in a style more reminiscent of Quad than the two Act Without Words mimes. Satisfied with this the Voice of Bam says, “Good,” switches off the light and prepares us for the action.
The play follows a seasonal pattern. The voice tells us that it is spring and turns on the light. Bom enters from the north and is questioned by Bam as to the results of an interrogation. We do not learn who has been subjected to his ministrations – the assumption is Bum – only that he was given “the works”, that he “wept”, “screamed” and although he “egged for mercy” he still refused to “say it”.
The voice is dissatisfied with how this scene is playing out and makes them start again. This time Bam wants to know if Bom attempted to revive the man. Bom claims that he couldn’t at which point Bam accuses him of lying saying that he had been given the information and he would also be subjected to the same grilling until he confessed.
Bim appears and asks what information he needs to extract from Bom. Bam maintains he only wants to know: “That he said it to him.” Bim wants to make sure that is all he needs to obtain and then he can stop. Bam tells him, “Yes.” Bam's voice repeats "not good, I start again". Bim then asks what is he to confess. Bam tells him that he needs to confess that he said "it" to him. Bim asks if that is all and Bam says "and where" Bim asks again and Bam says yes. Bim then calls Bom to come with him and they both exit.
The same scene is now replayed only it is summer. The Voice of Bam tells us that time has passed but no effort is made to visually convey this fact; it is simply stated. Bim reappears and is questioned. Bam wants to know if he said “it” but the voice is again unhappy and makes them start again. This time Bim is asked if he managed to find out “where” from Bom which he had not as he had not been asked to. In the end Bem appears and is told to find out “where” from Bim. Bem and Bim both exit like before.
We are again informed that time has passed. It is now autumn and Bem returns to report he has been unable to extract “where” from Bim. The voice no longer needs to hear to complete interchange and jumps to Bam accusing Bim of lying and threatening him with “the works”. Since there is no one left to carry out his orders Bam escorts Bem away himself.
The voice tells us that winter has now arrived. Bam appears from the west and waits with his head bowed. There is no one left to ask if he got the information or to accuse him of lying if he has proven as unsuccessful as the others.
The voice tells us that he is alone now, “n the present as were I still.” There are no more journeys to make and nothing to do apart from let time pass. He leaves the audience to try and make sense of things on their own and switches the light off.
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