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Sangre lunar (2001), José Sanchis Sinisterra
Blood Moon, translated by Gwynneth Dowling
PART ONE
- Context:
- This is very near the start of the play. A press conference reveals that a young woman in a coma has been raped but the perpetrator is unknown.
- Sample text
-
- MAN’S VOICE 1:
…How come there’s no representative of the family here? I understand that there’s a lawyer… that the family’s put the case in the hands of a lawyer. Named Moret … or Morey … I’m not sure.
- DR SOTO:
Morín.
- MAN’S VOICE 1:
Oh yes, Morín. So how come he hasn’t been called to the press conference? (Silence. DR SOTO and DR CARUANA look at one another with no expression showing on their faces.) So, you’re admitting that you’ve not invited any representative of the family. What’s with you deliberately trying to give the public only one version of …
- DR SOTO:
I didn’t say that.
- MAN’S VOICE 1:
But you do acknowledge that your hospital calls a press conference, eight days after …
- DR SOTO:
That’s incorrect.
- MAN’S VOICE 1:
What’s incorrect?
- DR SOTO:
This isn’t ‘my’ hospital.
- MAN’S VOICE 1:
Okay. Medical Director …
- DR SOTO:
Clinical.
- MAN’S VOICE 1:
Clinical Director, right …
- WOMAN’S VOICE 1:
Would it be possible, Dr Soto, for you to give us some precise details about this … difficult matter?
- DR SOTO:
What exactly would you like to know?
- WOMAN’S VOICE 1:
For example, if there’s any evidence yet that this woman – this young woman in a coma – was raped by someone from the hospital.
- (Silence.)
- DR CARUANA:
We’re not ruling out any hypothesis.
- WOMAN’S VOICE 1:
So you’re admitting that there might be someone on the staff, someone who works with you, who might be a person … a man, capable of committing this terrible act?
- DR CARUANA:
Like I said, it’s one hypothesis.
- WOMAN’S VOICE 1:
And what are the others the police are considering?
- DR CARUANA:
There are several: visitors, suppliers, temporary staff, family members …
- MAN’S VOICE 2:
Are you implying that the rapist might be someone close to the victim?
- DR CARUANA:
We’re not implying anything. The police are investigating that and other hypotheses.
- Copyright
-
The above sample taken from the translation Blood Moon by Gwynneth Dowling is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
PART TWO excerpt 1
- Context:
- This scene takes place before the news of the crime and before anybody suspects Manuel, the nurse. Dr Soto catches Manuel smoking in Lucía’s room.
- Sample text
-
- DR SOTO:
What are you doing here?
- MANUEL: (Lifting his head but not getting up.)
Shift’s finished.
- DR SOTO:
So you come here to smoke. To this room.
- MANUEL: (With an ironic gesture towards the bed.)
I don’t think the smoke bothers her.
- DR SOTO: (After a pause.)
How long have you been with us, Manuel? You’re called Manuel, right?
- MANUEL:
Yes, sir. Manuel Garnero. (He stands up. Pause.) Manuel Garnero Vega.
- DR SOTO: (After a pause.)
How long?
- MANUEL:
Eight or nine months, I’m not sure. (Pause.) Ten.
- DR SOTO:
You don’t like this work, do you?
- MANUEL:
And you? (DR SOTO does not reply.) Of course, it’s not the same. (Pause.) Why wouldn’t I like it? Sometimes it’s fine … other times not so much. Like all jobs. (Pause.) Why do you say that?
- DR SOTO:
What?
- MANUEL:
That I don’t like this.
- DR SOTO:
I’m not saying that. I’m just asking you.
- MANUEL:
I see. (Pause.) Why? Why are you asking?
- DR SOTO:
I’m interested … taking the pulse of the staff … it’s one of my responsibilities.
- MANUEL:
Of course, of course. (Pause.) Well, I’m off. (He does not move.)
- DR SOTO:
What time does your shift end?
- MANUEL:
Five.
- DR SOTO: (Looks at his watch.)
It’s nearly seven.
- MANUEL:
Seven? You see … Some nights … Well it doesn’t matter. I’ve already told you that for me this job …
- DR SOTO:
Have you any family?
- MANUEL:
What? (DR SOTO does not answer.) Family, of course … But it’s … we’ve all gone our separate ways, see? I live with my brother. With a brother that’s … well, why would I tell you … The fact is that he’s not right. He drank a lot as a young man, was into everything and now … he’s not right. In the head I mean. So I’ve got him at home, a complete wreck. He’s not much trouble but … (Laughs.) Do you know what he sometimes asks me, the dirty thing? (Serious.) Well, it doesn’t matter.
- Copyright
-
The above sample taken from the translation Blood Moon by Gwynneth Dowling is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
PART TWO excerpt 2
- Context:
- These two brief scenes take place after the news of the rape and pregnancy has become known. They show Lucía’s family trying to come to terms with the crime.
- Sample text
-
- ESTELA:
Why not?
- HECTOR:
I don’t know … these kind of people, they make deals between themselves and then …
- ESTELA:
Morín is more than just a lawyer, he’s a friend. And he’s Dean of the College of …
- HECTOR:
And besides that, he’s very old.
- ESTELA:
What do you want? Do you want us to have to deal with the police, the clinic, the press?
- SABINA:
I think that …
- ESTELA:
I don’t want to dirty my hands with … even the thought of it … When my mind’s clear I can reach her. Be with her.
- SABINA:
I think …
- ESTELA:
She needs me now more than ever.
- HECTOR:
This morning in the clinic … every male nurse I saw I thought – is it him? (Pause.) They all looked so … normal people … human beings.
- SABINA:
Where am I?
- ---------------------------
- JAIME:
But is that even possible? Biologically, I mean, physically possible. Or whatever they say. A dead body. Can it hold life? You see what I mean?
- SABINA:
Lucía’s not dead.
- JAIME:
It’s as if she were, though. It’s life, but artificial. Without all those tubes, what would she be?
- SABINA:
They saved you too. Artificially.
- JAIME:
What are you talking about? That’s nothing to do with it. I was only … two or three days … unconscious.
- SABINA:
In a coma.
- JAIME:
Call it what you like. But I came out of it. I held on to life, on my own. Nature said: you will live.
- SABINA:
And she won’t.
- JAIME:
Exactly. She won’t. (Silence.)
- SABINA:
Did you at least read them? (Silence.) My letters …
- JAIME:
The things you say … (Pause.) Of course I did. And then I burned them.
- SABINA:
Whereas, as you can see, I didn’t need to burn yours.
- JAIME:
Which ones?
- Copyright
-
The above sample taken from the translation Blood Moon by Gwynneth Dowling is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
Entry written by Gwynneth Dowling. Last updated on 29 October 2011.
