The sound of very strange music begins
to take over the very slow rhythm of the
surf and replace it. Although strange and
unapproachable it has a certain
reassuring quality and gentle nostalgic
warmth. The only thing one can say is
that it has the soft carpeted sound of
muted brass and saxophones. With this
music is the appearance of the Conjuror.
He emerges from the semi dark, dressed
in tails and opera cloak which he
gracefully removes. He is young but
mature, beautifully self-assured and
striking to look at. He has considerable
presence. During this entrance, the
veiled Clown/Death has moved D/S and is
seated quietly conducting the orchestra.

The Conjuror walks among them quietly
and with great grace and power performs
tricks with invisible cards which he has
taken from his inside pocket. The
movements of his hands are exquisite,
commanding and hypnotic. The music
finishes. With an air of finality he
replaces the cards. The sea floods in as
if into a cave the survivors flattening
against the sand as if overcome and
submerged. Coincident with this the
Conjuror has walked D/S formally lifted
Pierette by the hand, and they both sit,
one on either side of the D/S entrance in
the seats that the Voyager and
Philosopher occupied at the beginning of
the performance.

NOTE:
During the card tricks the 3 remaining
clock people light matches and draw light
arcs in the air, which softly fall like stars,
as far off distress signals.

As the Conjuror and Pierette are doing
this, the entire company enter and lie
down as dead bodies washed up on the
sand. The three Sirens have entered and
are kneeling U/S. They are swaying from
side to side rippling their fingers. The
light has returned to opening form as has
the sound of the sea. The accompanying
music is from Benjamin Britten’s Sea
Interludes which is highly evocative of
dawn and fresh ripples. A laboured
phrase that underlies the music, is used
for Death/Clown to drag last body (the
Guru) up the beach. Death/Clown has his
hat on again, and stands S/R.

There is now a particular piece of music
which one can only try to communicate
by saying the Sirens suddenly and
beautifully rise – turn and arrange
themselves to form what is evocative of
three black rocks – they remain still –
challenging the sea – and caught with
the first gleaming drops of spray from the
sea at sunrise. The air is sharp and
vibrant. The music has wonderfully
phrased pieces of percussion.

The Scavengers now enter fro S/L. They
are rather pale-faced girls – brownish-
auburn or red-headed. Their hair is long
and half over their faces with a sad
haunting beauty. One is certainly the
‘Young Mother’. They are slight, frail
creatures and walk slightly sideways as
crabs do. They step gently over the
bodies feeling them now and again, as if
scavenging. One of them seems to have
found something – a tiny gold bell –
which she slowly lifts with quiet gentle
awe. She lifts it just above her face to
admire it in the sunlight. As she does so
the sea sound fades and Clown/Death
removes his bowler. We have the first
real and utter silence. Her hand trembles
– the sound is tiny but exquisite – pause
– the sound again – pause.

Conjuror and Pierette rise and join the
Company.

Curtain.