[ILONA, spoken]
You belong to a Lonely Hearts Club?
[AMALIA, spoken]
I've never done that sort of thing before
I'd seen the advertisements in the papers
[ILONA, spoken]
Well, who hasn't?
'Young man wants young lady
Young lady wants young man.'
[AMALIA, spoken]
But I've never taken them seriously
Until one day, I saw his advertisement
Even then, I tried not to answer it, really
But it just kept calling out to me
[ILONA, spoken]
He could be seventy five!
[AMALIA, spoken]
No, the advertisement says 'young man.'
[ILONA, spoken]
You haven't even asked for a photograph?!
[AMALIA]
I don't know his name or what he looks like
But I have a much more certain guide
I can tell exactly what he looks like
Inside
When I undertook this correspondence
Little did I know I'd grow so fond
Little did I know our views would so cor-
Respond
He writes me what his feelings are
On Shaw, Flaubert, Chopin, Renoir
The more I read, the more I find
We're one in mind and heart
I know the kind of home we'd share
The books, the prints, the music there
A home, a life, that's warm and full
And rich in love
And art
I don't need to see his handsome profile
I don't need to see his manly frame
All I need to know is in each letter
Each long revealing letter
I couldn't know him better
If I knew his name
(spoken)
Oh, I know him so well, Ilona
I know that he's a very successful person
And terribly well-educated
And he's gentle and kind and soft-spoken
Oh, I know all this about him, and so much more!
I've just never met him, that's all [ILONA]
If he isn't too handsome
True it doesn't much matter
But his personal habits
Are more important than his looks
Supposing he snores
Like a locomotive?
Supposing he grinds his teeth?
Supposing he's a
Knuckle cracker, Amalia?
Good luck with your books!
And another small detail
That you haven't yet mentioned
I am speaking of s**, dear
When you and he are all alone
Come to think of it
Maybe you're right
Maybe it doesn't matter at that
Maybe I'd do much better myself
With a library card
And a gramophone. [AMALIA]
He writes his deep-
Est thoughts to me
On Swift, Vermeer
And Debussy
[?]
[?]
Dumas, Ducas
Dufy
Dufay, Defoe
He thinks as I
He feels as I
He shares the same
Ideals as I
I'll never find
A man who's so
So
Simpatico
I know [AMALIA]
I don't need to see his handsome profile
[ILONA]
I was taken in by someone's profile
[AMALIA]
I don't need to see his manly frame
[ILONA]
I was taken in by someone's frame
[AMALIA]
All I need to know is in each letter, each
[ILONA]
How I could have used one
[ILONA \ AMALIA]
Long revealing letter
[AMALIA]
I couldn't know him better
[ILONA]
I hope you do much better
[AMALIA]
If I knew his name
[ILONA]
I knew his name
[ILONA \ AMALIA]
What's in a name?