b'Man could have continued in this greatness, but we ceased to listen and speakStatues in Ninth Vestibule to catalogue in goal of bearing witness to Splendours of with the world, and so the energies and spirits we had been in communication withWorld.had no reason to stay. There was no place for them in the human world. So where did they go?END OF VOICEOVERVOICEOVER ENDS PIRANESI: (addresses audience) There is somebody else who lives here. Im booked in to see him tomorrow, actually. I cant see why I need an appointment, Scene 1The House when the House is so empty, but hes a methodical man and apparently incredibly busy. Hes a scientist, in search of a Great and Secret Knowledge hidden within PIRANESI,barefoot and decorated in seaweed, enters alone, walkingthe House. I call this inhabitant the Other, because there is no other other, other the corridors, observing and interacting with the statues as if in a gallery.than me, other than the Other. as far as I know thats alive, at least There is something very private, respectful and sacred. They hum the first two lines of Taverners The Lamb repeatedly but get stuck and cannotThere have been 15 people ever in existence and heres my proof:progress. They are also anticipating the Tides and climb onto a Statue to observe the joining of the Three Tides.(Shakes Family Circle Biscuit Box of bones) One: The Family Circle Biscuit Box Man. Then theres the concealed skeleton of unknown gender caught between a Tide 1 comes. PIRANESI puts seaweed in their satchel plinth and the wall in the Upper Thirteenth Vestibule. Three to Twelve: The Ten skel-etons of the Alcove, including one I call Fish Leather Man, whose bones are worn Tide 2 comes from another side. PIRANESI clings to Woman Carrying aand threaded together with fish leather. From this I speculate that the others, who Beehive STATUE on a plinth and prays to the House to spare them. lived at a later point, revered Fish Leather Man to want to lay him amongst them-Atmosphere of adventure, waves audibly strengthen. selves upon death. Thirteen: The Folded-Up Woman on a Plinth, who wears a neck-lace of coral beads and fishbones.Tide 3 comes from another side. PIRANESI watches from the Womanstatue, transfixed. I want them to know that theyre not alone, so I bring them food and water lilies and tell them about the Wonders of the World. The waves die down momentarily - this is PIRANESIs chance. They leap down, run through the Houses corridors (voms and behind audience),I have never seen the Other engage in such rituals, for, as far as I believe, he is a back to the First Vestibule. Waves become more distant and STATUESman of neither faith nor sentiment. And other than the Other and myself, I suppose peel away. that just leaves you. The Sixteenth Person, to whom I write. PIRANESI opens their hand and reveals the STATUEs broken finger. For maybe you live in the Fiftieth Vestibule North of the Great Staircase which I am yet to discover, or never will, and my notebook washes up alone on your shore, and PIRANESI: The Beauty of the House is immeasurable; its Kindness infinite. you realise that the House yet undiscovered by you has already been meticulously documented by me. We get to learn their character through watching their rituals- remove satchel, lay out possessions, notebooks etc. PIRANESI writes. Perhaps you are the Walls themselves, or the Statues, the fish, the birds who send me messages and you have your own methods of understanding the House, and PIRANESI VOICEOVER:your own ways of recording this Knowledge. I would love to know. Entry for the First Day of the Fifth Month in the Year the Albatross came to theAnd if its you, the Woman with the Beehive on your shoulder, I can see that wise Southwestern Halls. glimmer in your eye (weighs her finger in his hand)well, youve always been my favourite (it is clear they will now treasure this as a token).Today I witnessed the joining of three Tides, which happens every Eight years. I almost drowned, so prayed to the House to spare my Life. Note to self: Add new 66 67'