Irgendetwas ist passiert

Paul:

Are you coming? I’m downstairs. (Long pause; nothing happens; no answer. Silence. Paul rushes out of the house to start his jogging routine – meanwhile the revolving stage reveals Claudia, who is just about to complete her jogging routine). I can’t believe you started without me, it’s outrageous! I was waiting here for 30 minutes. As I was telling you. You must have crept past me! Your behaviour is outrageous. You’re alwas making situations like this up! It’s a shame. It is always YOU who ruins any closeness between us. It’s you, no one else but you! I’m starting to understand that more and more. It’s hurting me. (Pause) I’m off, I’m gonna go for a run now. Please let me sleep late tomorrow, will you?

Claudia:

You sick bugger. Shouting “Fuck you” at me on the street! Do you even care? I’ll have you hospitalized directly. Fuck you, you asshole with your never ending insults.

Paul:

What?! It just feels weird to be waiting for 20 minutes in my jogging clothes and then navigating the dark and quiet apartment to find that you’re not there. I didn’t hear you come downstairs either. I’m sorry for saying “screw you” impulsively. I’m also sorry for acting jealous last Sunday. On the other hand, I guess that‘s okay sometimes. You were jealous a lot in the past, even if you never want to admit it. Don’t you understand how it feels to be left behind? Didn’t even consider to come running back? I have NEVER once not waited. Always waited for you. All I can tell you now is that I really want to celebrate my birthday with you. I don’t understand any of this. I just don’t.

Claudia:

You said “fuck you”, not “screw you”!  Just out of nowhere, brutal as you are. Your fits of anger are bottomless. Unpredictable. I have been suffering so many injuries because of you. There’s so much anger every day. I’m afraid of what’s going to happen next time. I don’t feel safe in my home because you are there and I never know when you are going to lose it again. All that’s been said a thousand times. And a thousand times I have let myself get involved with you again. I can’t do it anymore, sexually even less. Too much has been ruined. And don’t you start telling me now how YOU are feeling, because I feel so devastated about us that I don’t have any capacity left for you, you and nothing but you!

(Long silence)

I want a room of my own in the flat.

With a proper bed.