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AQA A-level DRAMA AND THEATRE 7262/W Component 1 Drama and theatre Insert 2024
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AQA A-level DRAMA AND THEATRE 7262/W Component 1 Drama and theatre Insert 2024
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Your text here 1A-level
DRAMA AND THEATRE
Component 1 Drama and theatre
Insert
IB/H/Jun24/G4001/E11 7262/W
, 2
Question 15 Lorca: Yerma
From Act One, Scene Two
YERMA: Can I ask you something?
PAGAN WOMAN: Let’s see. (Looks at her.) I know what you’re going to
ask. But there’s nothing to be said. (She gets up.)
YERMA: (stopping her). Why not? Talking to you has cheered me
up. For such a long time I’ve wanted to talk to someone 5
like you. I want to understand, and you can tell me …
PAGAN WOMAN: What?
YERMA: (lowering her voice). Why am I childless? Must I
spend the best years of my life feeding the chickens or
putting up curtains? No, I shan’t! You have to tell me 10
what I need to do. I’ll do anything you say, even stick
needles into my eyes.
PAGAN WOMAN: But I know nothing. All I did was lie on my back and sing.
Children just come, like water. Now no one can say you
don’t have a beautiful body. When you go by, the horse 15
neighs at the end of the road. But best leave it, girl! I’d
rather say nothing than say too much.
YERMA: Why won’t you tell me? It’s the only thing I talk to my
husband about.
PAGAN WOMAN: Tell me. Are you fond of him? 20
YERMA: What do you mean?
PAGAN WOMAN: I mean, do you love him? Do you want to be with him?
YERMA: I don’t know.
PAGAN WOMAN: Does he make you tremble when he stands close? Do
you go weak at the knees when his lips touch yours? 25
Answer me!
YERMA: I’ve never felt like that, no.
PAGAN WOMAN: Not even when you’ve danced with him?
YERMA: (recalling). There was one time … with Victor …
PAGAN WOMAN: Go on! 30
YERMA: He took me by the waist. I couldn’t speak. I was stuck for
words. And another time … I was fourteen and he was
big and strong … he picked me up to cross a stream, and
I trembled so much my teeth were chattering. I was
always so shy. 35
PAGAN WOMAN: And with your husband?
YERMA: That’s different. My father arranged the marriage and I
agreed. Gladly, believe me! The first day that we were
engaged, I thought about … having children. I looked at
myself in his eyes, and I saw myself, so small, so 40
helpless, as if I was my own little girl.
PAGAN WOMAN: Different from me, then. It’s probably why you’ve not got
pregnant. You see, men like to have fun. They like to let
our hair down and have us drink from their mouths. It’s
the way of the world. 45
YERMA: For you, not me! Things go around in my head, lots of
things, and I know that they’ll all come true in my child. I
gave myself to my husband for him, for my child, and I’ll
go on doing it to see if he comes. But never for pleasure.
PAGAN WOMAN: That’s why you’re empty. 50
IB/H/Jun24/7262/W
, 3
YERMA: Not empty, no! I’m filling up with hate! Tell me if you
think I’m to blame. Must I look in a man for nothing more
than the man himself? If that’s the case, what must I
think when he turns away from me in bed and goes to
sleep and leaves me staring sadly at the ceiling? Must I 55
only think of him, or of the beautiful fruit this body of mine
might produce? Tell me, for pity’s sake! (She falls to her
knees.)
PAGAN WOMAN: Oh, what an open flower you are! What a beautiful
creature! But don’t make me say any more! It’s a matter 60
of honour. And I shan’t blacken anyone’s name. You’ll
find out the truth. But you have to stop being so innocent.
YERMA: (sadly.) Girls brought up in the countryside, like me … the
doors are closed on us. A hint here, a wink there …
because they think there are things we shouldn’t know. 65
You are just the same. You won’t speak, you turn your
back on me with your know-all air. You know it all, but
you refuse to help someone dying of thirst.
PAGAN WOMAN: I’d speak to someone who was calm. But not you. I know
from experience. 70
YERMA: God help me, then!
PAGAN WOMAN: No, God won’t help you. I’ve never been one for God!
When will you learn He doesn’t exist? It’s men who have
to help you out.
YERMA: Why are you telling me this? Why? 75
PAGAN WOMAN: (making to leave). Maybe there should be a God, even a
small one, so he could aim his bolts of lightning at men
with rotten seed … those who turn the joy of the fields into
putrid water.
YERMA: I don’t understand. 80
PAGAN WOMAN: I know what I’m saying. Anyway, cheer up. Hope for the
best. You are still young. What do you expect me to do?
Exit PAGAN WOMAN. Enter two GIRLS.
FIRST GIRL: I’ve never seen so many people.
YERMA: With all the work there is, the men can’t leave the olive 85
groves. We have to take them their food. Only the old
folk are left at home.
SECOND GIRL: Are you going back to the village?
YERMA: Yes.
FIRST GIRL: I’d better hurry. I left the baby asleep and there’s no one 90
else at home.
YERMA: Then get a move on! You can’t leave children alone. I
hope you don’t keep pigs!
FIRST GIRL: No, but you’re right. I’m off.
YERMA: Hurry! That’s how accidents happen. Did you make sure 95
the door was locked?
FIRST GIRL: Of course I did!
YERMA: You’ve got no idea what it is to be so small and helpless.
Something we think quite harmless could easily be the
death of him. A small needle, a sip of water. 100
FIRST GIRL: True enough. I’m going. Trouble is, I don’t always think.
YERMA: Quickly then!
IB/H/Jun24/7262/W Turn over ►
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