Vangelis Hatzigiannidis, Mud
A woman returns to settle in her native village. She is astounded to find her house taken over by a family unknown to her, with the unspoken yet catalytic consent of the small community. Who really owns the house, and who really belongs to it? The path to self-awareness goes through a strange symbiosis. In a game of mystery and subversion where nothing is like it seems, the author adopts an elliptic method devoid of all realism to explore the fine boundaries between authority and submission, the familiar and unfamiliar, possession and dependence, the self and the Others.
SCENE 20 — IN THE GARDEN
Morning. F is sitting on the ground with his back against a tree, smoking. Presently the front door opens and TH comes out of the house. She is wearing gardening gloves. F lies in waiting, grabs her and draws her body close to his.
TH: Didn’t you leave?
[F bites her neck. She stifles a cry.]
F: These are my teeth, aren’t they?
TH: Yes, they are your teeth.
F: So I didn’t leave.
[Kisses her on the mouth.]
TH: You’ll be late. You are late.
F: You want me to go?
TH: No.
[They kiss again. The rest of the scene continues amidst frantic making out.]
TH: Were you waiting for me?
F: Yes, I did.
TH: It’s been so long since I…
F: Isn’t there anyone? Waiting for you?
TH: I don’t have many friends, you know.
F: I know. You don’t get on very well with people.
TH: Stop it.
F: Isn’t it so?
TH: I don’t like… you saying this.
F: But with me it’s different.
TH: Yes.
F: With me, you want it.
TH: Yes.
F: Say it.
TH: With you, I want it.
F: You want what?
TH: Being close to you and…
F: What?
TH: I don’t know. Touching you.
F: And what else?
TH: To…
F: To order you around. Say it.
TH: To order me around.
F: You like that.
TH: Yes. You like it too.
F: I may get bored with you.
TH: No.
F: What if I do?
TH: You’ll never tire of it, and not will I. Obeying you.
F: Obeying me, Yes. That’s what you must do.
TH: I like doing it.
F: I like you saying it.
TH: I know. Shall I say it again?
F: Yes.
TH: I like obeying your commands.
F: You are made for it.
TH: I am made to obey you.
F: When shall I see you again?
TH: It’s your call.
F: I’ll tell you when.
TH: That’s how it should be.
[The sound of a phone ringing inside.]
F: I am going now.
TH: Stay a bit more.
F: I am going.
Director: Giorgos Paloubis
Actors: Maria Tsima, Ekavi Douma, Agis Chatziemmanouil, Thanos Alexiou