Through a Glass Darkly - Almeida Theatre

David:What about Karin?Martin: About her health.David:I felt I should keep you up to speed, even if it interrupted your creative flow.Well?Martin: It’s not good. When she came home from the hospital, a month ago now, I asked her psychiatristwhat I should expect.David:Is that the letter you’re talking about? I got that one.Martin: No, not the first one. This was an update.David:Martin: I know.I got the letter about her stay in hospital.David: I was in the thick of it at the time. I couldn’t -Martin: So was she.David:I got that letter … a while ago.Martin: This was a different letter: an update after she left hospital.SilenceDavid:The psychiatrist said … he can’t promise any lasting improvement.How has it been since the hospital?Martin: Surprisingly all right, given she’s not on medication.David:Her hearing is over-sensitive and she hasn’t much of an appetite. I have noticed she doesn’t want tosee anyone, none of our friends. She’d rather be alone most of the time. Hence the importance of thisholiday.And she doesn’t sleep.Well, that could be said about any of us. Me, Chris, it was true of Karin’s mother too. I suppose ifyou’re looking for symptoms …Script Extract #1You’re just lucky, nothing disturbs your sleep!Martin remains silent.What does Karin know?Martin: Everything, of course. Essentially. Except that it is more or less incurable.David:More or less?Martin: There are cases of complete recovery so there’s always hope.I don’t think we need to upset her by telling her too much.David:It didn’t help her mother.Martin: You told her?David:I told her what the doctors told me.Martin waits. David is uncomfortable.And you, how are you keeping?Martin: Not so bad.David:That’s a short answer.Martin: I assumed you were being polite.Resource Pack: Through A Glass Darkly by Ingmar Bergman 48