ACT ONE

A wharf. 
A Young Man comes with a bundle of books under his arm. 
He stops at the end of the wharf. 
He drops the bundle of books into the water.

Young Man: Not a single copy sold.

ACT TWO

The same wharf, some years later. 
A Young Woman comes to the end of the wharf.

Young Woman: When I was young and very wise…

She jumps off the end of the wharf.

ACT THREE

Under the water beneath the wharf the Young Woman has found a copy of 
the Young Man’s book and is reading it.

Young Woman: If I had known about this book, I never would have jumped.

ACT FOUR

The Young Man, no longer now a young man, has returned to the wharf 
where he threw away his unsold books.

Young Man no Longer Young: One reader would have been enough.

He jumps.

ACT FIVE

A Seal clambers up the side of the wharf and flops onto the planks.

Seal: My body bedded in sea — midmost wave
after drear days I felt again the sun

The Young Man (young again!) and the Young Woman (forever young) are 
seen walking together and reading a book on the wharf behind the Seal, who 
does not see them there.

Young Woman: Did you hear a seal bark?

CURTAIN