"A WALK IN THE SUN" "Message for passengers on Sterling Airways'flight NB643 to Larnaca  due to depart at 08.30 A.M. There is a delay due to  a late incoming flight." "Scheduled new time of departure is 12 a.m." "I'm so awfully scared of flying, but I just have to go there..." "Thanks." "...a couple of times each year not to go insane." "Cheers!" "I have a lover down there." "A hotel owner." "You shouldn't drink so much." "What do you intend to write about while you're there?" "I don't know..." "We're now flying in over Poland and passing by Warszaw." "We are heading towards the Carpathians." "CYPRUS, 1973" "Hello!" "I'd like to welcome you all here." "My name is Marion and I am Norwegian  and will be taking care of you during this stay." "Local time is 9 p." "M  so if you've forgotten to set your watch two hours forward, do it now." "Forthose staying at the Hellas and Park hotels, I'd like to remind you  that there's a welcome drink waiting for you at the Apollo hotel at 10 p.m." "Overthere, I will provide additional information and answer questions." "So once more:" "Welcome!" "I hope you will have an enjoyable vacation." "Thank you." "Do you need any help with anything?" "You can go to hell." " What's happened?" " I knew immediately you'd be trouble." "Whom have I been bothering?" "I haven't done anything." "Do you think you're better than the rest or are you just insane?" "I don't know." " I'm not a tourist, I'm a writer." " I couldn't care less about that." "You're drunk or nuts." "You know skinny-dipping isn't allowed here." "I was only in the waterfor a minute." "I didn't see anyone on the beach." " But lots of people saw you." " In Sweden we always swim naked." "Like hell you do." "Don't try that with the police, they won't buy it either." "Stop talking now." "Is your name really Marion?" " What else?" " Marion will do." "You don't have to tell me your name because I already know it." "I'm sorry I told you to go to hell last night." "Do you need any more help?" "Can I get you a doctor?" "No, I'll... just go to bed like the police told me to." "My shoulder hurts." "There's something wrong with my arm." "But there's no need for a doctor." " Anything else?" " No, I don't think so." " What do you mean by "else"?" " How should I know?" "I'm going to bed now, like I said." "Hello." "We met at Arlanda airport." "My name is Ellen." "The woman in red is Vera from Katrineholm." "The one in a blue, flowery dress is Siv Gustavsson from Hudiksvall." "We heard you were ill and just wanted to help." " Who told you I was ill?" " The Norwegian told us." "Everyone knows you swam in the nude and the police came." "Everyone saw it  even the Brits." "Everyone's talking about it, but it's just we three... who'd like to help." "The others just seem embassed." "Is there anything we can do to help?" "Give me a glass of vodka." "I'm cold." " Vodka wouldn't help, would it...?" " I'm so cold..." "You need a hot bath." "There!" "You don't have to drink so bloody much." "This'll do you good, you'll see." "Let's get him out of there now." "Next time we'll bring shampoo." "He's completely helpless." "This won't do." "Hey!" "You write on a typewriter, don't you?" "Me, I like to weave carpets." "Can you get dressed by yourself?" " Why do I have to get dressed?" " You can't just lie here." "I'll just make a phone call." "We have to try and..." "Let's try and dress him as best we can." "A car is on its way." "One of you has to help me get him to it." "There." "Can you help me?" "Were you among those who helped me and threw me into the bathtub?" "Yes, but that's not why I'm asking." "I hope you're feeling better." "I'm Siv Gustavsson from Hudiksvall, but I'm sure you don't remember." "I live here with Vera from Katrineholm." "She's sitting in that pavement café." " Of course I'll help you." " Thank you." "Come." "You look lovely and tanned." "So you're out bathing, enjoying yourselves?" "We can't really keep up with the others." "But we've been bathing." "And we went on an excursion to those old pillars." "That was tiresome." "You're looking quite healthy yourself." "But you just keep wandering back and forth - still in your winter coat." " What was the hospital like?" " It was a nice little nuthouse." "There were only me and two other nutcases there." " But Marion should've visited me." " She did." "No, she didn't." "She's the courier, she should have visited me." "Marion hates me." "What was it you needed help with?" "My glasses broke and my eyesight is so bad." "I know that you have lost the one you love." "I lost my husband a few years ago, so I know all about grief." "I cried until my corneas were damaged and can hardly see without glasses." "I didn't recognise you on the street." "Vera told me it was you." "Ellen helped us to get to an optician this morning." "We were supposed to pick the glasses up today, but can't find our way back." " Didrt you get a receipt?" " Yes..." "I'll be right back." "He does look better, but not much." " How much did it cost?" " Nothing." "A Swedish woman had done him a favour once  so he wanted to return the favour." " Is your eyesight really that bad?" " Yes." "And it probably won't last long." "So where's Ellen?" "How's she doing with her lover -the hotel owner?" "I don't think there is one." "But she stays out late, at least that's what she says." " Have you known each other long?" " No." "We were just put in the same room." "Two old crones out in the big world for the first time." "But we stick together." "They make fun of us because we can't swim." "They call us "the ducking ducks"." "We do that when there's a wave." " Who makes fun of you?" " Those who can swim." "The young." "We'd like to be on our own." "Not now, but at dinner." "Everyone seems to know we can't speak the language and helps us." "They hardly leave us in peace." "We don't even get to choose our dinner." "They treat us like we were feeble-minded." " Who treats you like that?" " Those who know the language." "Can't that Marion make sure you get some peace and quiet?" "She's having a tough time." "Everyone's tugging at her - and complaining." " Who's complaining?" " Those who enjoy it." "But there's nothing to complain about." "And I'm sure it's not Mariors fault." "Marion hates me." "She thinks I believe I'm betterthan everyone else  just because I'm not a real tourist." "What's a real tourist?" "Maybe those ridiculous fatsos over there?" "No person is ridiculous." "But you're acting ridiculously." "You act like someone forced you to come." "I guess people come here to rest, and to see something new." " Why did you come here?" " Because I'm in mourning." "But not for one who's dead, I'm mourning for one who is alive." "My beloved doesn't want to see me anymore." "She said that, so I left." " I'm mourning the loss of love." " Things like that are hard." "Maybe you'll meet someone else here in the sun - and you'll forget." "Why don't you fall in love with Marion?" "That would suit you." "No, I don't think that would suit Marion." "Besides, I'm too weak and afraid to love anyone now." " Do I look afraid?" " You might say that." "You look like you're afraid of the sun and the sea, and you dress too warm." "Although we have seen shepherds dressed as warm." "How you dress is your own business, but you really should get a haircut." "Yes, maybe I should get a haircut." "Will you find your way back from here?" "What do you mean by wanting to be on your own?" "We'd like to go to a restaurant on our own." "That would be exciting." " But I'm sure we couldn't manage." " Oh yes, you would." "Just walk into a restaurant, talk loudly and point." " No..." " Yes, I'm sure they'll understand." " It's that simple!" " Yes..." "Bye, girls." "I think I'll go shopping every bloody day." "Damn, you've turned handsome." "Stay off the vodka now." "I'm only drinking water." "Your Irishman will be here soon." "The Irishman seems nice." "There's a lot of go in him." "Just as long as he doesn't push me down in the sand." "He can do that if he wants." "I wouldn't mind, actually." " Are you going to the nightclub?" " No, I'm going to bed." "I wanted to ask if I could cadge a sleeping pill off you." "How did you know I had sleeping pills?" "I just guessed." "Yes, of course you can." "How was the nuthouse?" "A woman there wanted me to help her escape to a musician  that she was in love with." "Couldrt you have eloped with her?" "Wouldrt you have liked that?" "Me, I'd elope with anyone." "I'm getting on." "I intend to elope with a handsome young man." "One day." " Have you written anything?" " No." "I intend to become a tourist now." "I think you'll make a boring tourist." "You were much more fun when you were a sick writer." "I'd rather be a boring tourist." "As soon as I have a tan, I intend to show it to the doctor." "He doesn't think I can stay sober." "Neither does Marion." "She says you think you're betterthan the rest of us." "So you'll remain alone." "And in your solitude, you will resort to drinking vodka again." "Marion doesn't have to worry about me." " Is Marion beautiful?" " Yes." "So are you." "Marion and you look way too similar." "You both look so bloody Nordic." "You used to look drunk in a Swedish way, now you look it in a Nordic way." "A bit silly." "No, give me a foreigner any day." "At least there's a touch of class to a Swede being drunk the way you were." " Marion is your destiny." " Marion is not my destiny." "Yes, she is." "Besides, she can't stand me since I told herto go to hell." "Marion is your destiny anyway." "She can help you to forget what it is you're trying to forget." "Maybe she can make you start writing again." "No one can do that." "No one." "See you on the beach." "There are dry cleaners here." "Would you like to know where Marion is?" "No." "Good morning." " Were you the one who bathed nude?" " Yes." "What fucking business of yours is it which way I go swimming?" "You ugly cow!" "Explain yourself or I'll smack you in the face." " You know I've been in a nuthouse." " I'm sorry, I meant no harm." "Me neither, but if you think I disgraced you just because I disgraced myself  you're wrong." "If you act like a fool you only disgrace yourself, not your country!" "See you at dinner - if you dare to sit at the same table as me." "If not, you have to go and sit where well-mannered people sit." "Didrt that young Brit get a black eye too?" "Bravo!" "You'll see that you too will find a way to make a fool of yourself." "So you've found my George?" "How long can you stay in the sun before you get burnt?" "Right now, she's going from hotel to hotel distributing night club tickets." "I'm sure she'll come to you - eventually." "She didn't visit me in the nuthouse so she needrt talk to me now!" "That's exactly what I'm saying - she loves you because she hates you." "She has feelings for you, and she's not supposed to have feelings for guests." "She's beautiful and not used to anyone telling herto go to hell." "I think I will go and look for Vera and Siv." " Did you pay for Siv's glasses?" " No, he did it for free." "Like hell he did." "Nothing in this life is for free." "I think you should have stayed in the nuthouse." "Marion is your destiny!" "It was a piece of cake." "We just pointed at the menu and nice food came in." "And we had some wine too - then we took a taxi back home." "We even managed to do that." "I want to thank you for helping me with the glasses." "I know you've just had a haircut." "Now you look like a young man should." "No, I don't." " I look like a tourist." " But that's exactly what you are." "Will you come with us to the nightclub tonight, or didn't Marion meet you?" "She was asking for you." "She's very pretty." "No, she's not pretty." "I remember her as beautiful, but maybe I'm wrong." "Ellen was out all night." "She knows how to have a good time." "But she lacks morals." "That's not for us to judge." "Ellen has helped us so much." " Why would she need morals anyway?" " I don't know." "Come on, Siv, let's go in the water." "Hello." "I've been looking for you all morning." "Where have you looked, then?" "I've been on the beach like everyone else." "Some people did walk back and forth on the avenue." " How are you?" "You look a lot better." " I'm fine." " Would you like a glass of wine?" " No, thanks." " Why didn't you come to the hospital?" " I was there, but you were sleeping." " I'm sorry for causing trouble." " You've been a bit troublesome." "I see you've bought yourself a pair of trunks." "That's nice." "How long can you stay in the sun before you get burnt?" " I look crazy, don't I?" " You are a bit crazy." "Why do you still think I'm trouble?" "You trouble me, I don't know why." "Why are you talking to me now?" "Because it's my job to give you a voucher for the nightclub." "So you're only talking to me because of a bloody voucher?" "I didn't have to do that if I didn't want to." "From noon today, someone takes overfrom me and I'm on holiday." "Then I'll be free from crazy bastards like you." "I'll just laze around for a fortnight and then I'll be going home." " How long have I been here?" " Ten days tonight." "You haven't had much fun." "But you still have ten days left." " How long have you been here?" " Six months." "But now it's over." "I'll never work as a courier again." "You must know everything about this island by now..." "No, don't tell me." " Are you planning to write anything?" " No." "As of noon today I cease to think." "I cease to be anything but a tourist." " I hardly have the energy to think." " You think you're so much better." "Why do you think that?" "It makes me mad everytime I think of you." "So you have been thinking about me?" "That's nice." "It was my job to think about you." "I thought about you yesterday and it made me mad too." "I was angry because you existed, because you exist." " You don't like me." " No, I don't." "You look like you're having a love affair with yourself." "You've had a haircut!" "I've also cut my nails." "And I bought new shoes, socks, a pair of trousers and a new shirt." "You've never really seen me before." "So you can't really know whether you like me or not." " I don't." "You are crazy and only care about yourself." "Ellen says you are my destiny, Marion." "That we are each other's destiny but not well suited to each other." "We are too similar." "I suggest that we go for an outing." "You've been guiding dimwits for six months now." "It's not a day too soon to have someone guide you around." "You know where to find green and blue grapes." "But you don't know where to find big, warm, purple grapes." "They seem to be able to fill a whole hospital room." "I will take you to a strange garden  owned by a seven foot tall taxi driver." "I have to go now." "Have lunch and a nap, and meet me at eight in your hotel bar." "I'm Erik and that is my wife, Ulla." "We're from Uppsala and go by the surname Johansson." " What's your shoesize?" " 42." " Good." "Would you do us a favour?" " Yes, what?" "Utmost quality shoes are cheap on this island." "We've bought six pairs, three pairs each for our sons." "Now we've heard you're not allowed to bring new shoes through customs." "They have to look worn." "I wear size 46, but my sons wear size 42." "My wife tells me that you walk back and forth here every day." "I wonder if you would consider breaking in the shoes for us?" "Yes, of course I can." "I think this will take about an hour and a half." "I'll walk from here to where the hotels end  and then I'll come back here and change to another pair." "That should make the shoes look worn." "Why don't you order something in the meantime?" "Were you the one who was arrested by the police?" "Yes." " Tough bloody luck." " Yeah, tough bloody luck." ""I'm an officer in the Royal Air Force."" " Hello, Marion." " Hello, Tore Andersson." "We look like brother and sister." "Where's your sweater?" "It might get colder in the evening." "I've put my sweater on the couch in the lobby." "My sweater is on top of your sweater." "I know you've been to the hairdresser to have your hair washed." "Why?" "I washed my hair because I washed my hair." "Why did you wash your hair?" "Why are you wearing a new shirt?" "Why are you wearing new shoes?" "Why did you get a shave?" "Is it to make a good impression?" " What are you having, Marion?" " The same as you." "So you're not in love with a soldier?" "Are you trying to fool me that you've been here six months without love?" "I'm not trying to fool you about anything." " Shall we sit down?" " Yes." "I saw you walking in." "You're even more beautiful than I remembered." " I remember you from the beach café." " And from the police station?" "Yes..." "Lots of people must have been drunk and swimming before me." "Not in the daytime." " Are tourists a lot of trouble?" " No." "Most of them are nice." " Do you feel sorry for yourself?" " Yes, sometimes." "There are two people living inside me - one tourist and one who is not." "There are two people living inside everyone." "But at your age, you should have figured yourself out." "No, not at my age." "Maybe at yours, but not at mine." "We're all out of money." "Do you think you could lend us some?" "Ellen said that if we're to ask anyone we should ask you." " Sure, how much do you need?" " A hundred crowns each." " Did you buy shoes?" " Yes." "Vera bought some for her grandson and I some for my son-in-law." "Did you know you're not allowed to bring unused shoes into Sweden?" "What's the size?" "I can break them in for you." "I'm so happy you finally met Marion." "Who are you?" "Look at me." "We don't look like each other." "You don't have to keep me company if you don't want to." "I'm not afraid." "You are out of your mind." "But who are you?" "My aunt's name was Hildur." "She was the first in our family to be gored by a cow." "It was pretty common in those days." "But not as seriously as Hildur." "She died, the tiny thing." "She bled to death." "She died in a long, blue skirt  a knitted cardigan, way too big, and a blue kerchief." "There's not a field in Sweden where an aunt hasn't been gored." "And not a man my age who doesn't have a cousin named Elly." "That was Hildur's daughter's name." "A common name in Sweden back then." "Theirfront teeth had black fillings and their bicycles skirt guards." "Me, I wore trouser clips and rode a borrowed black bike - too big." "I don't know what it was like in Norway back then." "Actually, I do..." "It was occupied." "So Elly and I cycled to the dances on a borrowed, too big bicycle." "It was farto go anywhere in those days." "But it actually far to go anywhere now too." "I went to Elly's funeral in August." "When we went to the dances, Elly had a brown cardigan with gold buttons." "And white shoes with snap-on buckles." "She had a dress  like the one Siv Gustavsson from Hudiksvall has." "Now you know why I care so much for Siv and Vera." " I'm tired." " You need food." "You need entertainment and you need me." "We are going to the nightclub." "I will sleep in your spare bed." "I can't stand being alone one more night." "But we'll keep the light on all night until daybreak." "You will tell me about your aunts in Norway." "I've never been to Norway." "You don't have to tell me anything." "As long as you're lying there." "I wonder if I'll ever be strong enough for us to share a bed." " Am I too tired forthe nightclub?" " Have some wine, try to smile." "We're going dancing." "I will sleep in your spare bed and we'll keep the light on all night." "I will tell you about my first bike and my aunt in Oslo." " We will never be apart again." " No." "We will never ever be apart again." "I knew it as soon as you got off the plane." "The air hostesses said you'd be trouble, and you were." "We will not be separated." " What day is it today?" " It's Sunday night." "You're going home a week from Thursday." "I'm going four days earlier." "But we will have seven days together." "For seven long days we'll be walking in the sun." "You will hold my hand as we walk east on the avenue." "I will hold your hand as we walk west." "I guess we werert a hit." "No one applauded." "Maybe they expected me to strip down and dance naked?" " You'll never leave me, will you?" " No." " I'm tired." " You've told me all about you." " You haven't asked me anything." " Lf you wish to tell me, you will." "I don't ask questions." " Were you the one who bathed nude?" " Yes." "It's people like you who give Swedes a bad name." "People like you ruin things forthe rest of us." " Do I know you?" " No." " Have you suffered for what I did?" " Everyone does if an idiot screws up." " Did you see me swim in the nude?" " No, but I've heard about it." "Hello!" "We've been watching you and you two are so cute!" "Do you mind if we join you?" "Leave him be." "He'll probably come around eventually." " I see you've changed clothes." " I felt so dressed up." "They let you in here whatever you're wearing." "I guess you've left the other dress to be cleaned?" "You haven't gone home yet, so you don't know what's to be washed yet." "The beach is long, the stars romantic and the sea..." "The sea is so tempestuous." "Use the road, not the beach, if you want to save on laundry." "What is it, Tore?" "Are you not alright?" "Help me to escape." " Would you like to go to the hotel?" " I don't know." "I feel so weak." "There's no energy left in me, yet I've never felt this happy." "I've never dressed like this, in light blue, and sported a new haircut." "Not at one and the same time." " Do you want to leave?" " Yes, I think so." "This is nice!" "It's like a Swedish summer's day, just hotter." " What do you do in the summers?" " I write crappy monologues." "No, a friend of mine has a house outside Stockholm." "He's got a sauna there." "He lets me borrow his house." "So I walk along a muddy road, binding twigs into sauna bunches." "I want you to go there with me." " Where do you spend your summers?" " Outside Narvik." "The Atlantic is cold, it's daylight all the time and it smells of seaweed." "And lots of poppies grow there." "I want you to go there with me." "You have to protect your skin so you don't burn." "I don't want you to scream if I happen to touch you." "And I will happen to touch you." "While you go and talk to the new courier" " I will try and find our seven foot tall friend." "We're going to see his garden, dammit." "We're going to see where the healing grapes grow." "He told me he was going to repaint the house and paint the door blue." "The same colour he believes the sea to have." "He wants to pass through the sea to go into his house." "Stay here." "Don't burn yourself any more." "If it takes a long time, why don't you go inside and have a nap?" "Leave the key in the door." "Don't forget the key." "Have you lost your money again?" "What's happened?" " How did you get in?" " I just opened the door." "The key was in the door." "I've been looking for you everywhere." "Are your eyes hurting?" "What's happened?" "Marion..." "She's not here, but she'll be here any moment." "We're going out to eat." "Did she send you to wake me up?" "Marion is dead." "What are you saying?" "Marion is dead." "Marion won't be coming, ever." "Yes, Marion will be here." "She just went home to change clothes." "What's happened to you?" "Vera was standing in the waves as usual." "A wave knocked her over and she couldn't get back on herfeet." "She was screaming and Marion tried to save her." "But Vera panicked and pulled Marion down under." "Marion drowned in that shallow water." "Vera got hold of her and was afraid to let go." "I've taken it upon me to tell you." "Nobody else would." "I don't understand..." "It's so hard to understand." "You have to." "I can't understand it either but that's the way it is." "Someone had to tell you." " Is Vera dead?" " No." "She's in shock." "She's in the same hospital as you were." "Vera's all right." "Marion is... dead?" "But her handbag is here." "There." "I'll take care of it." "Marion isn't dead." "What are you talking about?" "What the hell are you talking about?" " When?" " Just after three o'clock." "Vera drowned Marion." "So she won't be coming again?" "Marion is no more." "Now they'll have something else to gossip about on the beach." "What can I do for you?" "Stay with me while I get dressed." "You need to comb your hair too." "I loved her." "But I never even had time to love her." "I have another two hours before the grief sets in." " I want to see Marion." " I... don't think they'll let you." "Were you the only one who had the courage to tell me this?" "Ellen wanted to come too but she's also in shock." "She hasn't been around for as long as me." "How can I possibly help you?" "I think that you and I should visit Vera and try to console her." "Don't cry." "Your eyes can't take it." "Please forgive me." "Please forgive me." "Try to sleep now and get some rest  and we will come and pick you up tomorrow." "But if you know how to swim you can't drown." " Yes, that happens." " I know." "I know, it was all my fault." "I was just so terrified." "Please forgive me." "Don't cry, it doesn't change anything." "It doesn't change anything." "What happened was an accident." "It wasrt yourfault." "You have to look at it that way." "Please don't blame yourself." "But how will you cope?" "I really don't know."