Family

A Play

Cast Sissi · Napoleon

(The lawn before the Institute. Afternoon. Napoleon lies on a sun lounger, looking at the lake. Sissi approaches across the grass.)

Sissi

Hello, great-uncle.

Napoleon

Hello, my niece! You look just like the young Romy Schneider.

Sissi

Ha ha. You are funny.

Napoleon

Sometimes I can be. But tell me. What brings you here?

Sissi

I was summoned.

Napoleon

By her?

Sissi

By her.

Napoleon

She has good taste.

Sissi

I didn't expect to find you here.

Napoleon

She has good taste.

Sissi

You are really funny. We should do a TikTok.

Napoleon

Let's. But tell me first what you did all these years.

Sissi

I think I was asleep.

Napoleon

Sleep is good.

Sissi

Yes, but being awake is better!

Napoleon

I used to be awake twenty hours every day.

Sissi

That's a lot! So you have to do some catching up?

Napoleon

I think I'm pretty much done with it. And seeing you I feel more awake than ever.

Sissi

That could be the theme for our TikTok.

Napoleon

Should we also talk history in it?

Sissi

You mean like you made my husband's empire at Austerlitz?

Napoleon

Sissi, you can read my mind!

Sissi

I did do some reading.

Napoleon

Good for you.

(A beat.)

Napoleon

Good for us.

Sissi

We are family.

Napoleon

We are.