Setayesh Yavari

“DON. You know, I have this theory ... I think the things we
want but can't have are probably the things that define us ...
And I've spent more time than I'd like to admit coming to this
pretty simple conclusion so I hope you don't think it's completely
ridiculous. But ... I guess I'm talking about ... I don't know ...
yearning?”
― Anna Ziegler

“ROSALIND. You know ... I think there must come a point in life when you realize you can't begin again. That you've made the
decisions you've made and then you live with them or you spend your whole life in regret.
MAURICE. And I have spent my whole life in regret. (Beat.)
ROSALIND. (Sadly.) Well then perhaps we should have seen the play together. Or gone to lunch.
MAURICE. Would that have changed things?
ROSALIND. We'll never know, will we?”
― Anna Ziegler

“MAURICE. And I wanted to join you. I got in the queue to buy a ticket.
ROSALIND. All right, so what happened?
MAURICE. It's not what happened ... It's what could happen. Now.
ROSALIND. What are you talking about, Maurice?
MAURICE. January, 1951. This time, I attend the play. And I see you across the theater. (He looks to her. She remains still unmoved)
MAURICE. This time, we make eye contact. And afterwards, we meet in the back. By the bar. (She doesn't move.) This time I say,
"Did you enjoy the performance?" (She stares at him. Says nothing.)
«Gielgud is excellent, don't you think? (Beat.)
ROSALIND. Yes, very lifelike. Very good.
MAURICE. And the incredible thing is we're both there, watching
him. Experiencing the very same thing. Together.
ROSALIND. It is incredible.
MAURICE. Boch watching.
ROSALIND. And when Hermione died, even though it was Leontes' fault, I felt for him. I truly did.
MAURICE.
Come, poor babe:
I have heard, but not believed -
ROSALIND and MAURICE.
The spirits o' the dead
May walk again.
MAURICE. And they do. I love that Hermione wasn't really dead.
That she comes back.
ROSALIND. (Sympathetically.) No, Maurice. She doesn't. Not really.
MAURICE. Of course she does.
ROSALIND. No.
MAURICE. Then how do you explain the statue coming to life?
ROSALIND. Hope. They all project it. Leontes projects life where
there is none, so he can be forgiven.
MAURICE. But don't you think he deserves to be forgiven?
ROSALIND. Do I forgive myself?
MAURICE. What? For what? (Beat.)”
― Anna Ziegler

“ROSALIND. I don't intend to spend any more time in that hospital. If I'm going to be in a dank, disgusting little room, I may as
well be here, where I might even gee some work done before I die.
MAURICE. Please don't say that.
ROSALIND. Why not? It's not pleasant? It makes you think
about your own life? The inevitability of your own death?
MAURICE. Yes. All of those things.
ROSALIND. Well, no one can protect you from those.
MAURICE. No. No I suppose not.
ROSALIND. We lose. In the end, we lose. The work is never
finished and in the meantime our bodies wind down, tick slower,
sputter out.
MAURICE. Like grandfather clocks.
ROSALIND. Well this has been a pleasant conversation.
MAURICE. Rosalind, I ...
ROSALIND. So they really got it, did they?
MAURICE. Yes.
ROSALIND. Is the model ... is it just beautiful?
MAURICE. Yes.
ROSALIND. Well. We were close, weren't we? By god, we were close.
MAURICE. But we Lost.
ROSALIND. Lost? No ... We all won. The world won, didn't it?
MAURICE. But aren't you at all ...
ROSALIND. Yes, but .. . It's not that they got it first ... It really
isn't ... It's that I didn't see it. I wish I'd been able to see it.
MAURICE. I think you would have. A few more days, even.
ROSALIND. So why didn't I get those days? Who decided I shouldn't get those days? Didn't I deserve them? (Beat.) I mean, if
I'd only ...
RAY. Been more careful around the beam.
JAMES. Collaborated.
FRANCIS. Been more open, less wary. Less self-protective.
DON. Or more wary, more self-protective.
JAMES. Been a better scientist.
DON. Been willing to take more risks, make models, go forward
without the certainty of proof.
FRANCIS. Been friendlier.
RAY. Or born at another time.
FRANCIS. Or born a man.”
― Anna Ziegler