| VJ |
I studied architecture. Then, I did a lot of conceptual work with space and movement, materials, installation, art. |
| ND |
Then we've been working together doing this for a few years. |
| SHANTI |
And this project started from 42nd street when? |
| ND & VJ |
Fourth of July. |
| BK |
Yeah. |
| SHANTI |
And you've had wonderful weather. |
| ND |
Yes. We have. Only one thunderstorm. But we were close to a bridge. |
| SHANTI |
That was nerve-wracking? Or it was fortunate? |
| ND |
It was fortunate. We went under the bridge. It's been really nice. |
| SHANTI |
Meet some interesting people. |
| VJ |
Very interesting. |
| BK |
Yeah. |
| VJ |
We haven't had so much fun for a long time. |
| SHANTI |
How did you like it up at that park up there? |
| ND |
Innwood? |
| SHANTI |
Well - okay. That's nice. That's an interesting space, speaking of open areas. Cloisters area. |
| ND |
We had a little cookout behind the Columbia Boathouse. |
| SHANTI |
Oh, yeah? |
| VJ |
Barbecue. |
| SHANTI |
That's neat. Who sponsored that? |
| ND |
We decided to do that on the way. |
| SHANTI |
Sorry I wasn't there. I love those things. |
| ND |
Along here [poinnts to map], between the bridge and the Dyckman Marina, it's basically stoney waterfront. So, we did our mountain goat imitation along there. Sweating like uh- |
| SHANTI |
Mountain goats. |
| VJ |
Here's your card. |
| SHANTI |
Unlimited specialist. Does it have a number? A telephone number? |
| VJ |
This is the telephone number. |
| ND |
917. |
| VJ |
And this is your number - 65. |
| SHANTI |
And what's this 917 number? Is that a beeper? |
| VJ |
It's a mobile. |
| ND |
That's this phone, right here. |
| SHANTI |
So, I can call you. But, you're only gonna have that until - uhm - |
| ND |
Another day. |
| SHANTI |
Another day. Can you be reached elsewhere? Would you like to get in touch with me? |
| ND |
If you'd like to give us your number - that'd be great. |
| SHANTI |
I'd love to give you my number. My machine goes off frequently when I'm there. So, just don't hesitate, just say "The three angels checking in." Or two angels - whatever the combination is. |
| VJ |
"Angels searching for fourth angel." |
| SHANTI |
ExACTLY! 555-5555. |
| BK |
Okay. |
| VJ |
Great. |
| SHANTI |
Now, you've even got my number. Well - gee whiz! |
| VJ |
What's the name of your dog? |
| SHANTI |
I want you to know that's Toto. |
| ND |
Toto? |
| VJ |
You're now an unlimited specialist. Little do you know. |
| SHANTI |
I'd love to see some of those responses or talk with you about them sometime. They must be real interesting. |
| VJ |
It's been very interesting. |
| ND |
It's been excellent. |
| SHANTI |
And your rogues' gallery. That must be interesting, too. |
| ND |
It is. It's totally beautiful. |
| SHANTI |
Who's paying for all of this? Who are all the uhh... |
| ND |
This House of Architecture in Austria. |
| SHANTI |
They are? That's very generous of them. |
| BK |
They're really interested in these materials. They have a lot of waterfront there, too. A river... |
| SHANTI |
We probably could learn a lot from you. |
| BK |
Maybe. |
|
SHANTI |
I sincerely hope that you put the operation into effect. Particularly if you get a consensus: people who are saying, "How about a few innovative things..." |
| ND |
There seems to be... |
| SHANTI |
How many cities are they gonna do this in? |
| BK |
Five. |
| ND |
New York, Paris, London, Beijing, and Singapore. |
| SHANTI |
This your first? |
| VJ |
We are just doing this city. |
| ND |
There's other groups working in the other cities. |
| SHANTI |
You're only doing America - New York. |
| BK |
Yeah. We'll meet together in Graz. |
| SHANTI |
When? |
| ALL |
The end of September. |
| SHANTI |
That sounds like fun. How long will that meeting last? |
| ND |
We'll be there three days. |
| VJ |
[correcting him]We'll be there two weeks! |
| BK |
Two weeks! |
| SHANTI |
That's great. Now, you'll use the megaphone later on to get a crowd. |
| ND |
If people we wanna use it, we give it to them or - |
| VJ |
Or if we talk to someone far away. |
| ND |
You wanna try it? |
| VJ |
We should give you our manifesto. |
| SHANTI |
Of course! Haven't I asked you enough questions to show I'm interested? |
| ND |
[handing her a manifesto] It's a sweaty one. |
| SHANTI |
That's alright. I don't mind! Sweaty doesn't matter. It's readable. It matches your jumpsuits. |
| VJ |
That's not a coincidence. |
| SHANTI |
The only thing I want you to do is just put your name down here. |
| ND |
Okay. |
| SHANTI |
Cuz my memory for names goes. Always has. |
| VJ |
Mine, too. |
| SHANTI |
Like something like yours is Sven- Sven- Sven- |
| VJ |
Vibeke. |
| SHANTI |
Vib- Vibe- oh, Vibeke! |
| VJ |
Almost like Rebecca. |
| SHANTI |
Isn't that neat? |
| ND |
It means "little woman." |
| SHANTI |
Little woman? |
| VJ |
Vibe means woman and ke means little. |
| ND |
It's a diminutive. |
| SHANTI |
Diminutive. [to ND] So, you're learning the language. Huh? |
| ND |
No, but, I told you I studied linguistics - literature. |
| SHANTI |
Literature. Foreign language literature? |
| ND |
I know all that grammar stuff. |
| SHANTI |
Where'd you go to school? |
| ND |
Brown University and San Francisco Art Institute. |
| SHANTI |
And you didn't go into dramatic arts. |
| ND |
I studied it but, I'm a lousy actor. |
| SHANTI |
You are? |
| ND |
Good reader - lousy actor. |
| SHANTI |
Look what James Earl Jones is doing with his voice. Put your telephone on it. You have a telephone. You're gonna be in the city for how long? |
| ND |
We're leaving at the end of July. |
| SHANTI |
But, you're finished with this project. Then what do you do? Collate? |
| ND |
Then we meet and finish it in Austria. |
| SHANTI |
Are you gonna do any work here? |
| ND |
Yeah. We're gonna do some more collating here. |
| VJ |
Me and Norman are on this number. |
| SHANTI |
Norman and I. |
| VJ |
Norman and I! I don't have the language down straight yet. |
| SHANTI |
That's alright. Now, you're gonna get it straight. Norman - does he help you with your grammar? |
| VJ |
Sometimes. But, he kind of thinks it's charming that I don't speak so correct. |
| SHANTI |
That's great. Now, [indicating megaphone] can you get this to sound off to there? [points to New Jersey side of Hudson] To the other end? |
| ND |
We tried it on the water the other day and it didn't seem people were hearing us. But they were in their motorboats. They probably hear the motor louder than- |
| BK |
Yeah - that's the problem. Limited. |
| VJ |
Try to say something in it. |
| SHANTI |
"Try to say something in it." Oh, okay. |
| VJ |
Just press there. |
|
SHANTI |
And I can even control the volume. Just a second. Wow! CALLING ALL ANGELS! CALLING ALL ANGELS! Step right up and get your entertainment! That's wonderful. [to people on benches] You wanna know what this is all about? |
| MAN |
[sitting with WIFE] They look like something from outer space! |
| SHANTI |
Beg your pardon? |
| MAN |
I thought they were from outer space. |
| SHANTI |
As a matter of fact, how did you guess? They are from outer space. Really. Do you wanna speak to an angel? It doesn't cost anything. |
| MAN |
I'm married to one. |
| ALL |
[even people on nearby benches] Aaaawwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
| VJ |
Sweet! You must be one, too. Bravo! |
| ND |
Birds of a feather stick together. |
| MAN |
I know what side of the bread my peanut butter is on. |
| SHANTI |
[returning megaphone] Thank you. |
| SHANTI |
That's what you call a horny picture. |
| VJ |
We'll take a note of that. |
| SHANTI |
Yes, take a note of that. |
| VJ |
Norman is happy. He's with the angel. |
| BK |
Yes. Shining. Fantastic. |
| VJ |
Alright. |
| ND |
Thank you very much, Shanti. |
| BK |
Thank you, Shanti. |
| SHANTI |
It's been an absolute, absolute pleasure. |
| ND |
The pleasure is ours. |
| BK |
Thank you so much. |
| SHANTI |
Thank you very much. I hope I hear from you. |
| ND |
Okay. You dropped that. |
| SHANTI |
Oh, my propaganda. Right. |
| BK |
Bye. |
| SHANTI |
Okay, it's really a pleasure. Norman, friend, Vibeke. |
| BK |
Bernd. |
| SHANTI |
Bernd. |
| BK |
Yeah. |
| VJ |
She was the best! |
| ND |
She was absolutely excellent! |
| BK |
She was utopian! |
 |
 |
Modified December 23, 1997