Reading...
Play button
Play button
Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
93 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
|
Act 1 scene 10 various times
|
A: No need to hope. Three hundred and six days and counting.
B: Or one hour, 12 minutes and three seconds C: Or so you think except for one detail. You forgot about physics |
|
|
Act 1 Scene 5 who is Sam to Elaine?
|
The man of your dreams, finally in your life
|
|
|
Act 1 Scene 5, Teasing
|
She likes him, she likes him not, she likes him!
I do not! Elaine has a crush! Elaine falls in love. Strangers in the night......exchanging glances....womdering in the night...what were the chances (together) We would fall in love before the night was through |
|
|
Actuality of Elaine's parents marriage
|
- Instead she found herself with a man caught in his own time warp
- Who continued to pursue the theory of relativity long after it went out of fashion - When she finally realised that in spite of sharing a house and a bed, they were living in completely separate time zones, she boarded a train and left. - I am perhaps the only proof that they ever loved each other. Once upon a time. |
|
|
Bears on a train, Elaine wants mommy but doesn't want daddy
|
then what about Mama Bear? How can she get to the other bears
She doesnt need to No....I want mummy no look at the three bears, see.....So cute I want mummy We're going to see Mummy soon, okay? I want mummy now Come, Daddy carry you I don't want. I don't want. I want Mummy, Stop crying okay or Daddy's going to scold you (wailing) Mummy. Stop that now. I don't want Daddy. I don't want Daddy. I don't want!!!!!! She screams as he picks her up and tries to shush her |
|
|
Blood clot personification
|
- now this blood clot loved to go a-travelling
- So its stuck there, in that artery, All dressed up and no where to go |
|
|
CLOSING THOUGHTS
|
Its not true that everything is relative. Fact is, there is one single truth that we cling to. For the theory of relativity, its the fact that light travels at a constant speed. Around that truth, all other assumptions fall apart, even the constancy of time,
Similarly, once I graso that absolute truth in my life, everything will make sense You are the one true thing in my life. The one thing that never made sense. |
|
|
Crazy Elaine Father Porridge
|
I'm not your evil stepmother okay (looks disoriented)....No luncheon meat sandwiches.....(looks at her and smiles) Good girl Elaine. Good girl. Chugga chugga choo choo
|
|
|
Did Elaine forget about physics?
|
Newton's three laws withstanding, there are ways around these things
So.... I have a theory. A completely plausible ohysics textbook sanctioned theory.....I am going to slow down time. |
|
|
Elaine and the EVIL GERBERA DAISY
|
Elaine stares tenderly at the pink daisy.
She brings it up to her nose to sniff, but theres no smell. She continues staring at it for some time A: (starts singing softly) everybody loves somebody sometime B and C walk past her, as nurses, giggling to each other. They both hold pink daisies in theor hands A : (continues) everybody's somebody's fool Elaine puts away the flower embarrassed later when father gestures quizically at the daisy she still holds in her hand Its for yiu She gives him pink dist. He grunts again. |
|
|
Elaine can't accept the truth
|
Thats not true. You're lying. You're lying to me. She doesn't want you thats all. She wants me..She wants me. She wants me. She wants me...
No....No Elaine...she doesn't |
|
|
Elaine can't do this anymore
|
I don't want you. I don't want.
I give up Pa I can't do this anymore Just like her What? Just like her |
|
|
Elaine could never have left Father
|
Truth wa, I was petrified. I couldn't do it, Pa. I couldn't leave you. I never could.
|
|
|
Elaine doesn't want porridge
|
- Don't want stupid porridge
- Don't want to stay here - Why can't I be with Mummy? - You're an evil stepmother, like that! Fine starve, see if i care |
|
|
Elaine gives Father harsh truth
|
I'm sorry, Pa. It's too late...
I want to go to Malacca It's over. You can't turn back time, Pa? Remember? |
|
|
Elaine helps Pa with reading
|
What? What is it? Pa, please. Don't. This is your life, Pa. This is what you've lived for. Don't worry, it's okay...Just don't...Don't tear them up okay? Look, if you really want to, I'll read them to you....From the Preface right through to Appendix D
|
|
|
Elaine thinks that she's terrible at taking car of Pa
|
I'm terrible at this. I can't take care of you.
Just go. Why don't you go? God know I want to leave. Not a day goes by that I don't want to go, Pa. i hate feeling that way because its true. You make me hate myself, Pa. You always have. |
|
|
Elaine to Sam: why she wants to take care of her father
|
....I really want to spend more time with my dad. Its been so easy to take him for granted all these years, but I don't want to donthat anymore....I just want to make every moment count
|
|
|
Elaine wants her Dad to get her Mom back
|
No...Then you go and het her. It's all your fault! You go! Go to Malacca. Go! Go!
|
|
|
Elaine wants to make sure her Father is okay
|
Look. One year, okay. I'm just going to take one measely year off work. Make sure you're okay. After that, who knows? Maybe I'll hire a full time nurse, maybe I'll take one more year off work, maybe you'll be dead by then. I don't know. But in the meantime, please give me the satisfaction of serving you hand and foot for just one year (pause). Thats what I should have done for Mother but I didn't. Please. I don't want to make the same mistake twice.
(long pause, then grudgingly) Fine. |
|
|
Elaine's Deja Vu
|
Like being in a dream, a certain place, a certain time. Then waking up, and entering that same place and time, but having to remember it all over again
A bit less surreal maybe |
|
|
Elaine's Father is no king
|
As far as fairy tales go , he's no king.
Although he is a tyrant some times |
|
|
Elaine's ideal romantic Ending
|
Then I would get back home, at the ripe old age of 27. Just in time to meet and marry Mr 27-year-old-doctor-of-my-dreams, have 2 kids before I hit 30, and claim a whole lifetime worth of tax rebates
|
|
|
Elaine's idealistic love
|
No, really, I mean, when I fall in love
A: (sings along) It will be forever....Or I'll never fall in love Well I happen go yhink thats a partocularly deep insight |
|
|
Elaine's mother's love of Tupperware
|
- She loved the fact that you could colour code your life and break it down into these microwavable storage compartments.
- Leftovers from dinner were kept in the round one with white covers - the sandwiches were packed in the square blue ones |
|
|
Elaine's rationale for going to Malacca
|
By train. I'm starting to like the sound of that idea. My father and I, on a train to Malacca. All the ingredients I need to put my theory into practice
|
|
|
Elaine's reaction to Sam;s true nature
|
Unbelivable. I feel as though I've just aged 10 years
|
|
|
Elaine's regrets regarding Mother
|
I didn't believe her when she told me that she was dying. I mean, she had diabetes. Who ever dies of diabetes?
...I thought she was making mountains out of molehills. I was so busy with work back then, and it was always such a hassle travelling all the way to Malacca. I always thought I had enough time left. (pause) Guess I was half right. I made it in time for thr funeral |
|
|
Elaine's Tupperware from her Mom
|
When I opened it, I found my very first Physics test paper, two of my milk teeth wrapped up in a handkerchief, the first pair of gold studs I got after my ears were pierced, and the five stones she had sewn for me when I was six. Everything was perfectly preserved. Like in a time capsule.. Who says you can't turn back time
|
|
|
Epilogue- Elaine goes to Malacca
|
- I've run out of time at last. My hours are gone, my minutes are up, I've even run out of seconds.
- But then again maybe not. It just depends on where you stand. Its not the end of the world. It's just late November... - In fact you could say that things are beginning. Once upon this time. - At first, I thought I'd take the train up to Malacca.....But now, maybe it's time to try somewhere new - One thing I know. though, I won't be leaving him behind - You know, this isn't a fairytale. But sometimes, just sometimes. You might get to live forever |
|
|
Father breaks the truth to Elaine
|
She doesn't want you okay!
So shut up. She doesn't want you, Elaine She doesn't want us. Nobody wants us okay? |
|
|
Father can't cope with Elaine's demand
|
Stop it ELaine....I can't...I can't hear you, Elaine. Can't hear you.
No...why don't you go! GO! GO! Can't hear you...Can't hear... |
|
|
Father can't cope with going to Malacca Elaine
|
Shut up, Elaine! I can't think.... Shut up, shut up
Then let me go! Why can't I stay with Mummy? Why can't I? I want Mummy...I want...I want... |
|
|
Father could have been famous
|
In its orine, my father's brain was magnificent to behold. Students fought to get into his classes, and he was invited to present at conferences all over the world
They say my father was on the brink of something big...It would have made him world famous. Nobel prize maybe. But he took a year off work..to take care of me. And it never did happen. He never did catch up after that one lost year |
|
|
FAther doesn't want to accept truth
|
Can't think...I can't think...You're stupid. So stupid.
I don't want you. I don't want....Go" |
|
|
Father is tearing books
|
- Father flings the book across the room. begins to tear up another page, muttering beneath his breath the whole time
- When Elaine snatches the book away from him, he glares at her then gropes for another book - when she pushes the rest of his books out of his reach so they clatter messily onto the floor, Father grunts wildly at first, then begins to cry softly |
|
|
Father reacting to the bad news
|
No!.....(genuinely upset), Don't do this to me.
|
|
|
Father teases Elaine in Act 2 scene 10
|
At least don't do it in front of me. I'm an old man. I'm about to dies. This kind of thing can't be good for my blood pressure.
Observation: Elaine simpers at doctor Hypothesis: Elaine likes Doctor you know I think his gene might have a good effect on the Lim family gene pool. On second thoughts, keep simpering away. |
|
|
Father wants to go to Malacca
|
Have to go....I have to go!...I'm going to miss it...The train...The train....I have to go...Malacca...Malacca
|
|
|
Father's sacrifice for Elaine
|
Elaine refused to eat.
Refused to sleep. Refused to shut up. For one whole year. One terrible year. Her father has to stop work. Take no pay leave. For one entire year Three hundred and sixty-five days of hell *can still hear Elaine muffled in the background, yelling "Go! GO!" |
|
|
Father's thoughts on time
|
- That's what time does to the best of us
- It's not the impassive witness to our decay - It's the bloody murderer Time is acid - It eats us alive - It burns into our bones, and turns them to chalk - It dissolves the flesh beneath our empty skin - Thats not the worst of it. - Time corrodes our memories, it feeds on our very thoughts, dismembering them, one by one. And when it's done with that, it'll start to devour our personality. - It eats away at the light in us, until we are nothing but a shadow of ourselves |
|
|
FINAL CONVERSATION BETWEEN ELAINE AND FATHER
|
sits by bed holding his hand
the sound of a clock ticking loudly in the back ground She doesnt say anything just sits and looks at him occasionally stretching out a hand to stroke his hair Gradually the ticking slows down until it slows to a halt., Elaine is impervious to this of course She continues to sit by his side looking at him, waiting |
|
|
First line of chapter AGING
|
Time for Fun with Definitions......And our word for today, is AGING
|
|
|
freedom through relativity
|
Only one thing is constant, Elaine.
Only one thing My father has lost his past, his future, all he has is his present. His here and now, But in his here and now, the possibilities are unlimited. He could be the idealistic father at 30, and I, the four month old baby in his arms Or the frustrated 36 year ikf on a train to Malacca with a six year old brat who won't shut up. Or the 65 year old retiree, getting on the nerves of his 35 year old spinster of a daughter I close my eyes and enter his world. Where the possibilities are endless, the variables of age, of time, of location shift and swirl about us. We love, hate, adore, annoy frustrate, confuse, worship, abhor each other. The framework shifts, but I am eternally his daughter, his princess. He is eternally my father, my king |
|
|
Getting her father on the train
|
- All I have to do is get my father on this train, going at the speed of light, amd we'll be okay.
- We'll go so fast, that time will slow down around us, - and we'll live happily ever after |
|
|
Happy ending
|
Time stops!
Time stretches out.....Forever. The moment lasts an eternity. And they all live.... Happily ever after! I like that Now time for bed, sweetheart |
|
|
How do you define a stroke
|
How do you define a stroke? A stroke is the single movement whereby a person, usually a father, runs his fingers through his daughter's hair, without waking her.
The order is occasionally reversed. Sometimes, the daughter runs her fingers through her father's hair *Father is grunting in the bed, as Elaine fusses around him as she tries to turn him over in bed |
|
|
How Elaine's Mom fell in love with her Dad
|
- When my mother was 21, she fell in love with my father's brain
- She read one of his papers, on the possibility of travelling faster than the speed of light, and in the process, travelling back in time, and in the process, travelling back in time - She loved the elegance of the equations, those graceful Greek symbols, even though she didn't understand them. - Maybe she thought that if she married him, he could bring her down the avenues of the past and future to come |
|
|
How father has influenced the way Elaine thinks about physics
|
when I think about physics, I think about bears. three bears to be specific.
when I think about light, I imagine bears. Instead of particles, I see bears hurtling through space. Instead of waves, I think of bears in a stadium at a soccer game. And instead of relativity, I think about bears running in a train |
|
|
Humor in Act 1 Scene 3
|
Hi Pa.
How you feeling now? You scared me so badly. Don't do that again okay? You think I wanted to |
|
|
Importance of Newton's laws
|
So simple, but once you put them together, you can predict the speed and position of just about everything in the universe
|
|
|
Intro to Quantum Physics
|
- Things change. Things you thought were certain, set in stone. Things become unpredictable, ambiguous. Rules are broken, and there's no turning back. Thats the story of physics. And the story of my father.
- you can pin down either the speed or the position of an electron, but never both at the same time - this is not an uncertainty that arises out of ignorance, but a fundamental uncertainty of the very universe itself universe itself - Its the price we pay for becoming participators in the universe - He believed that the universe was a divine creation, and that there was an underlying order to it, rules that stood firm no matter what we thought Like Einstein my father lost the battle - Even as I speak, his very thoughts are characterised by uncertainty. Between this moment in time and the next, I can never be sure where exactly he is. |
|
|
Metaphorical my foot!
|
well excuse me its not my fault that your biological clock is in meltdown right now, and still no boyfriend on the horizon
|
|
|
Newton's first law
|
A body at rest tends to stay at resy, a body in motion tends to remain in motion
...Up till now my father has been constant, in character and appearance I can see him still, hunched over his papers with his torchlight Like an insect caught in amber, suspended in the very material of time itself Unless of course so ething happens....like a stroke.. |
|
|
Newton's second law
|
the acceleration of a body is proportional to the force applied
and suddenly, I see my father accelerating through time. Plunging headlong into old age at breakneck speed |
|
|
Newton's Third law
|
but even then, alls not lost.
theres bite in him yet. For the third law, and my personal favourite picks himself up and charges at B and C who scamper away smiles as she turns to face father For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction |
|
|
No sleeping beauty via practical time
|
Which means I'm a full 9 years older than him. Which means so long, Prince Charming. Whoever heard of a menopausal sleeping beauty?
|
|
|
Not wanting to get off the train
|
We never went to Malacca by train again.
My father thought it was a bad idea. Instead I dreamt of trains, night after night after night - After you've been on the train too long, you never want to get off. - Because you're too scared of reaching the destination itself. - the doors slide open and you stand there, petrified. - Half of you is saying, you fool, you fool, get off, don't let it go. - And the other half of the train is wishing the train could go on forever, faster and faster. - Because according to the theory, time would begin to slow down as it approached the speed of light |
|
|
Opening of EBTB
|
Once upon a time. Thats how the fairytales always begin. Before the kings, before the Prince Charmings, even before the beautiful princesses. Before all that there is a time, once upon which the tale begins. The choice of that time is critically important. It determines how the story will unfold, and whether it will fi d its way to happily ever after
But this is not a fairytale. I'm no princess, I'm a secondary school physics teacher. Thirty six this year, and still looking for Prince Charming |
|
|
Pa teases Elaine in Act 1 Scene 3
|
Why so shy? You like him, is it?
.....Him....Dr Whats-His-Name.? Not now, Pa Then when? You're 36 years old already ......Too handsome for you, is it? |
|
|
Plot Time
|
- this play will end in 10 months and 29 days
- but is you count the flashbacks and treat this as the story of Elaine's life, then this play will take you through 36 years, plus or minus a few majot and very many minor events - of course this is only relative. from your perspective, this play will only tke one hour and 26 minutes |
|
|
Romance btwn Elaine and Sam Act 1 scene 4
|
stage directions
*he leaves. Elaine is alone again. Chorus, amused, begins to make fun of her |
|
|
Sam's a child
|
"Oh my...Miss Elaine Lim? Sec 3 Physics?...Thats so weird!...I mean I gotta call Andy tonight. Remember Andy? The fat guy that always sat next to me? Never did his homework, especially his physics homework.....The guy who kept losing his curve rule? Man, he's gonna be so surprised. I'm sorry...you don't mind right? I mean, you don;t really look that old...tHAT IS JUST UNBELIVABLE
|
|
|
Sam's admiration of Elaine
|
You know, I find that very admirable. Not many daughters would give up their work, just to take care of their dad. I mean, its different with spouses........But you don't usually find the children doing that. Usually they just hire a maid or something.......That doesn't make it any less i pressive. You're a rare find, Elaine
|
|
|
Sam, Elaine and Valentines day
|
thanks so much doctor Chen
Please call me Sam. Oh, and Elaine.... Happy Valentines Day He holds out a pink Getbera daisy oh you too (Elaine stares at the flower and makes no attempt to take it Take it its for you....just a thought...I'll catch you later okay? |
|
|
Scene 2 abrupt opening
|
Once upon a time, there was a middle aged girl called Elaine, who lived with her 66 year old father
there was a blood clot the date was 15 January 2004 |
|
|
scene 2 Elaine is familiar to him + dark humor
|
He tries to open his eyes but he can't.
Yet he senses the familiarity of her shape. He's not dying. Not yet anyway |
|
|
Scene 6: Storytime
|
Once upon a time, there was a young and beautiful princess
who lived in a tower with her father the king just the two of them and the rest of the world outside Randy young princelings up to no good Social climbing frogs hankering for a kiss Salivating wolves greedy for virgin flesh A kings gotta do what a kings gotta do So he plants thornbushes round the wall A fire-breathing dragon at the gate Deadbolts on the door and no phone calls....no parties and definately no dayes because he loved her so kuch now it is her turn to love him back Now its my turn. Call it guilt. Call it obligation. Maybe even call it love. I know what I've got to do. |
|
|
So mean to Elaine in scene 2
|
Elaine, the silly gorl, is still clueless
|
|
|
Stroke 2, what does Sam do for Elaine?
|
(nurse walks by and holds a blanket out to Elaine)
Hi, the doctor asked me to pass you this...use it. It gets pretty cold around here, especially at night....no problem I'm just following instructions |
|
|
That line about Aging
|
The inevitable. The skin crumples, the corneas cloud, the bones curl, the blood curdles, the arteries thicken, the temper shortens. Otherwise known as the process of turning into your parents
|
|
|
The chorus thinks that Elaine is crazy
|
A: Ladies and gentlemen: Elaine is mad.
B: but only marginally C: In theory A: Its possible B: To slow down time C: To halt the train of time in its tracks A: By running with it. So fast, you don't feel the passage of time anymore. B: Don't feel the minutes whistle through your hair C: or the hours brush past your cheeks A: or the days crash against your limbs B: or the months pound against your body C: or the years grind into your brain |
|
|
the inconstancy of time
|
...time is not constant in this play
Time bends itself backwards...... ....and forwards.... To fit itself into the story time speeds up slows down stands still collapses |
|
|
Unrinary incontinence
|
- You stink. The bedsheet stinks. Even the mattress stinks. And I cannot buy you a new mattress every single time you pee in your pants
- No. You need the diapers and thats that. You can't control your bladder. You don't know when you will go. You're doing it all over the place. And I'm the one that keeps cleaning up for you. - (long pause, speaks quietly) I'm not senile Elaine - (somewhat guilty at her outburst) I know Pa. But I can't keep doing this. Wringing Urine out of your clothes. At the end of the day, even my hands...They smell....They smell of your urine Pa - (pause) Fine - "If you want...I can...I can..." "no need" "Sure?" "I can do it myself" - "Laine? Laine!" "Yah" "Laine....(pause) ...Can...Can you...." "I'm coming" |
|
|
What did Elaine's father read to her during her bedtime?
|
Instead of Dr Seuss and Enid Blyton at bedtime, he read to me from Newton and Einsteain, So that I grew up with Physics in my blood
|
|
|
What does Elaine read out when she reads to Father?
|
Light always travels at a constant speed. It doesn't matter where in the world you are, or how fast you're travelling when you see it, but light always travels at the same speed.
|
|
|
What does Elaine's Dad think about all his ****
|
If you think it's shitty dealing with someone else's crap, wait till you're wallowing in your own. But you don't have the strength to clean it up yourself. To change your diaper. Your own arms, your legs are strangers to you. They don't look like they used to. They don't do what you want them to.
|
|
|
What does Father think as he's dying
|
I'm scared, Laine. I'm absolutely terrified. I'm not leaving you, Laine.....It's the other way round. You're leaving me behind. The minutes, the seconds....the very moments are passing by so slowly. And as they stretch out longer and longer, towards infinity, I don't know if I'm dying, or becoming immortal. Maybe this is what its like to live forever.
|
|
|
What does Father think of Elaine
|
Did you know that you were the one thing in my life that never made any sense?
From the day you were born, you turned my life upside down. I lost my balance and never got it back again Did you know You are the one person I have ever truly loved. All my life. The one constant I never figured out. The one thing I have never regretted Without conditions, without reason And yet. The single truth in my life. Against which everything else becomes relative grunts painfully trying to communicate Elaine as well as the chorus appears to ignore him, till the end when Elaine tucks him into bed and leans over to give him a kiss |
|
|
What does Pa want Elaine to do?
|
Tell me, Pa. What do you want me to do?
You don;t make sense....The one thing in my life ...(pause)...that never made sense... *storms out of room in frustration, Elaine stares after, dazed |
|
|
What if the spell didn't work
|
What if time won the battle, and she just got older and older, even as she slept? Older and Older.. With her hair coiling like snakes, and her skin wrinkling like a prune
|
|
|
What is the job of the chorus?
|
A: Our job is to narrate
B: And sometimes commentate C: Very occasionally even irritate....I mean participate |
|
|
What is time (Meditations on Time)
|
Time is a measure
Time os a way pf keeping track of what happens Time is a tyrant, and it constantly forces you forward Time is money Time is priceless Time is free Time is infinite Time is running out Time is...... TIME IS BRAIN |
|
|
What makes you think she wants you?
|
Of course she wants me. Just because you're mean to her doesn't mean she doesn't want me
Elaine. Its true what. Its you she doesn't want. And I don't want you either. I want her. |
|
|
What should sleeping beauty do?
|
But what if she did wake up, before he could leave?
Surely the polite thing to do, would be to pretend to be still sleeping, and let him go. Why embarrass herself further with adolescent delusions Yes...she should let him go shouldn't she? Even if deep down inside, she's wailing in desperation, screaming at what Time has done to her. But she should let him go, shouldn't she |
|
|
what you do with a bottle of wine
|
(in a fake French accent) Ees what you do with a bottle of good wine. You cork it up ptoperly and place it in your wine cellar, and you wait year after year fir time to pass. Because a good wine is like a woman. They both get better and better with age. Oh, if you wait long enough, the body ripens, it is like a fruit ripe for the picking. But be careful...if you wait too long.. It turns into vinegar
|
|
|
When Elaine starts to put her plan into action
|
So. That was easy. Formulation complete. Implementation begins...........Time to put my plan inti action, time to slow down time
|
|
|
Where does C want to go for a vacation?
|
I want to go to Malacca
|
|
|
Where does the book title come from
|
My father used to say, I don;t care what you do to my body when I'm gone. Bury me, cremate me, feed me to the piranhas, I don't care. Just make sure this. (and at this point he would tap lightly on his skull like this). Remember, Elaine. Everything but the Brain, he said.
So thats what I'll do. I will have him cremated and scatter the ashes into the MacRitche Reservoir. Everything but the Brain. |
|
|
Who does he hate time for doing damage to?
|
I hate it
I hate what its done to me (pause) And I hate what its doing to her. She shouldn't be doing this. Wasting her time on this lame excuse of a body. She hardly goes out. The highlight of her week is when we go to the hospital, for my therapy session every Tuesday. Thats the only social life she's got. |
|
|
Who is father to Elaine
|
He is the one great constant in my life
|
|
|
Why does Father want to go to Malacca
|
Don't worry Elaine, I'll bring her back.....I'll bring her back for you
|
|
|
Would Prince Charming have still saved her?
|
Would he have still pushed through the briars to wake her with a kiss? I doubt it.
I think he's shoulders would have sagged in disappointment he's do some mental sums and realise she was way past menopause He's tiptoe out of the room, making sure not to wake her as he left the way he came. Why should he have to deal with a deluded old crone, who believes she's still 16 |
