ROS
I haven't forgotten how I used to remember my own name. And yours, as well. People knew who I was, and if they didn't they asked me.
GUIL
You remember forgetting?
ROS
I remember something. There was something before.
GUIL
But are you sure? Or are you just backfilling?
ROS
Digging up.
GUIL
Burying the truth.
ROS
It's within reach.
GUIL
No, it's not.
ROS
No, it's not.
GUIL
How can we prove that we existed before, or even more poignantly that we exist now?
ROS
(grabs GUIL's arm)
Feel that?
GUIL
I think I do. But for all I know, this is a dream and you're not really there. Or this is your dream, and I'm not here, or in the other case – worst of all – this is someone else's dream and neither of us are here.
ROS
I'm here.
GUIL
What?
ROS
I'm here for you.
GUIL
This brings up the point – you're not here. I can't trust you because the only thing I can know is that I think you're here. What if I simply wished to be comforted?
ROS
No shame in it.
GUIL
No.
ROS
(holds out his hand)
It's within reach.
GUIL
No, it's not.
ROS
(drops hand)
No, it's not.
GUIL
We've proven that only I can exist, as far as I know, but what about before?
ROS
We were flipping coins.
GUIL
BEFORE!
ROS
I suppose I knew you as a child.
GUIL
You suppose. Based on what?
ROS
Everyone always says our names together like... like it doesn't matter who is who because we're always together.
GUIL
Why not suppose we're lovers?
ROS
I think I'd know if that were the case.
GUIL
No! You wouldn't. That's my point. You can't even remember your name.
ROS
Neither can you.
GUIL
Maybe these aren't even our names. May be that Hamlet is not our friend, but has confused us with another pair.
ROS
How could he?
GUIL
He's not himself.
ROS
I'm myself.
GUIL
And who's that?
ROS
A man of the court.
GUIL
So to speak. And who am I?
ROS
Another man of the court.
GUIL
Or are we? What separates you and me from Alfred?
ROS
About fifty feet if we're lucky.
GUIL
A skirt.
ROS
Well, that's ridiculous. I would never sell myself like that.
GUIL
Or have we been sold already? Instead of providing carnality we offer ninety-odd heads and a spot of conversation.
ROS
Is that what Alfred gets paid to do?
GUIL
I should imagine conversation is included.
ROS
Then by interpretation, every single conversation is preamble to carnality, including this one.
GUIL
This can't be preamble. This is mid-amble – we were flipping coins before. There wouldn't be anything before if this were preamble.
ROS
You just said there was nothing before.
GUIL
(pauses)
Then this is all preamble. Our whole lives, as far as we can remember, have just been a rambling raving precursor? All we've done is talk.
ROS
What better?
GUIL
Those Players – blood and love and rhetoric. Is that what we should aim for? Are those our aspirations?
ROS
There's an idea.
(punches GUIL)
GUIL
(dabs bleeding nose)
What on earth is wrong with you?
ROS
There's blood. How was it?
GUIL
(makes fist)
I'll give you a go if you want.
ROS
Not necessary.
GUIL
I'm afraid I insist. The bad must be punished.
ROS
But the good are merely unlucky. As I've just helped you out with your very life's purpose, I think that makes me a saint.
GUIL
Doesn't mean I can't draw blood.
(grabs ROS by the back of the head, kisses roughly)
ROS
(shoves GUIL)
What's wrong with you?
(touches lip, finds blood)
Whose is this?
GUIL
Whose do you want it to be?
ROS
What do you think you're doing?
GUIL
Why do I have to think?
ROS
Thinking is all you care about!
GUIL
Statement. One-love.
ROS
Aren't you ashamed of yourself?
GUIL
Rhetoric. Two-love.
ROS
There it is. All three of the Players' virtues.
GUIL
Was it worth it?
ROS
Passed the time.
GUIL
Passed the time.