Ivan Klima - Lovers for a Day

'You don't seem to mind acting like a robot and doing the same thing over and over again.'

'What am I then — a robot or an animal?'

'You act like a programmed animal.'

'Thank you. That's something you wouldn't have said fifteen years ago.'

'Because you used to act differently. Or you used to tell me you loved me in those days. And I hadn't heard of programming then.'

'Okay. So I'll tell you I love you.'

'I don't want you to tell me, I want you to love me.'

'But that's hardly something you can ask of me, is it?'

'Don't you love me any more then?'

'I didn't say that.'

'But you don't, do you? I'm only good for one thing.'

'It seems you're not even good for that, are you?'

'You're vile. You always were. And you only called me pussy because it sounded dirty. And it never even occurred to me at the time.'

'There was nothing wrong with the fact that I wanted every part of you.'

'Did you want me then?'

'Of course, I still do.'

'I don't only mean just below the waist.'

'I still want all of you.'

'There was only one side of me you were ever really interested in. The rest you regarded as a sort of necessary evil.'

'What do you mean by the rest?'

'The fact I had a soul. Or feelings, seeing that you don't believe in the soul.'

'I've always tried to respect them.'

'Not my feelings, you haven't. You've only thought about yourself. You know that full well.'

'What do I know full well?'

'No one has ever hurt me the way you did.'

'Me? When did I hurt you?'

'The time you didn't take precautions and you bullied me into having an abortion. Or have you forgotten?'

'But you didn't have it.'

'No, I didn't. Because I'd never do anything like that. But you wanted me to. You wanted to kill our little boy.'

'Our little boy is now fifteen and he's thriving.'

'Agreed. But you wanted me to have him killed.'

'I didn't force you into anything, did I. I simply thought the

time wasn't yet right for children. Anyway, the boy's alive, so

what's the point of talking about it?'

'Only thanks to me. You would have had him murdered.

And me along with him.'

'If he hadn't lived, another one would have.'

'How dare you say that to me? Get out! Get out of my sight!'

'Sorry, I didn't mean it that way. Even at the time.'

'You did. You disgusting creature.'

'I see. So I'm a vulture, whereas you're a. .'

'Yes, you are a vulture. And you're doing your best to make

a corpse of me.'

'I notice you're hardly in the door and you're already singing to yourself.'

'Why shouldn't I sing if I'm in a good mood?'

'You're in a good mood, then? I'm glad to hear it. What brought that on?'

'Not you, that's for sure!'

'That's obvious, seeing you've spent the day God knows where.'

'Yes, God knows, and you don't. That's what bugs you, doesn't it? Had supper already?'

'I had a slice of bread.'

'Did you butter it at least?'

'I didn't eat it dry.'

'How about the children?'

'I gave them some bread too. Buttered.'

'What else?'

'You're very curious all of a sudden. Why didn't you come and see to it yourself?'

'I'm glad you gave them their supper.'

'For the fourth time this week.'

'Is that a fact? But you told me to have the week off. It was your idea.'

'The reason I suggested it was because I couldn't stand to hear you moaning about how you sacrifice yourself for us any longer.'

'It was a nice gesture.'

'Have a good time today?'

'Splendid, thank you.'

'May I ask with whom?'

'You may. But I don't have to reply, do I?'

'It is the polite thing to reply when someone asks a question.'

'And you're someone, all of a sudden?'

'Who am I then?'

'You're my darling heart.'

'You can't mean me.'

'There's no one else here, is there?'

'I can't see anyone, but maybe in your mind's eye you can see someone else in my place.'

'I see you. You smile at me nicely, you've given the children their supper and you're even interested in who I spent the afternoon with.'

'And the evening.'

'The evening's now, with you.'

'The evening began a good while ago.'

'Could you tell me when exactly? I have to admit I'm never really sure when the evening actually begins.'

'Six o'clock, say.'

'Even now in the summer?'

'Six o'clock is the time for the family to come together.'

'So that's why you are always home on the stroke of six.'

'Whenever I'm able, I'm here. And you've not answered my question.'

'Did you ask me something?'

'You know very well what I asked you.'

'I'm afraid I've forgotten.'

'I see you don't intend to answer. That's an answer too. Aren't you even going to kiss me?'

'Of course I am, my darling.'

'Have you been drinking?'

'No. I had a glass of wine with Olga.'

'Olga who?'

'I thought you asked me who I spent the afternoon with.'

'And the evening.'

'Now I'm with you. And you know who Olga is, don't you? I must have mentioned her at least a hundred times. But then my girlfriends never did interest you, did they?'

'It's you I'm interested in, not your girlfriends.'

'You ought to know that girlfriends are part of every woman's life.'

'Wherever did you come across that bit of wisdom? You really have been drinking!'

'I've had a glass of wine.'

'Or two.'

'Or two.'

'How many?'

'I don't keep count of things like you do, my darling.'

'You're telling me. But I suppose you noticed how much you had to pay at the end. Or didn't you pay the bill?'

'Of course I paid for myself. I'd hardly let Olga pay for me.'

'That's assuming there was only Olga.'

'Do you think I'm lying to you?'

'I'm not saying you're lying to me. You told me you were with Olga, but that doesn't mean you two were alone, does it?'

'Oh, you're such a precise and logical thinker.'

'Would you mind answering then?'

'Did you ask me something?'

'I asked you if there was someone else there apart from Olga.'

'So that was a question, was it? Do men interest you, or only women?'

'What's that supposed to mean?'

'Whether you're interested in men as well as women?'

'What interests me is who you've been spending all afternoon and evening with while your family have been waiting at home for you.'

'There were about twenty people in the place. But we had a table to ourselves. There was one rather nice-looking, dark-haired man who came and asked if he could join us, but we refused him politely.'

'Who refused him?'

'I don't recall. Me, or Olga.'

'While we're on the subject of dark-haired men — this is a little embarrassing — but today my assistant told me that he saw you on Monday with a dark-haired chap.'

'According to you your assistant's a fool.'

'He may be a fool, but he's not blind.'

'I didn't say he was. Where and when did he see me?

'On Monday, at the bottom of Wenceslas Square.'

'Monday's a long day.'

'Monday's as long a day as any other and I assume you

don't spend the whole day in Wenceslas Square.'

'Ah, now I remember. It was Vašek. We just happened to bump into each other.'

'Who's Vašek?'

'A college friend.'

'What would a college friend of yours be doing at the bottom of Wenceslas Square?'

Why shouldn't he be there? Do you think my college pals are banned from the bottom of Wenceslas Square on Mondays or something?'

'I was always under the impression you went to college in Kolín.'

'But darling, most of my fellow students moved to Prague ages ago.'

'What does he do, this Vašek?'

'You're jealous, my darling.'

'I'm not, and stop calling me darling, when you'd sooner bite me.'