The Eyes Of A Woman

Arthur rides behind Belle on the scooter. The green tulle of her skirt blows up over his face

They pass the Museu de l'Erotica without stopping. Why would they?

Through a mist of green tulle Arthur thinks he sees something familiar. His bicycle, locked up to a railing.
Beating down the tulle, to see clearly, he lets go of Belle.

And rolls off the back of the scooter and into the road.

Belle! shouts Arthur.

Electric scooters are silent. When your passenger falls off the back, you can hear them call out.

Belle stops. Marie stops too.

Are you all right, Arthur? says Belle. Your knees are bleeding!

That's my bicycle, says Arthur.

It isn't, says Belle. Your bike is different.

No, says Arthur. It's mine. I lent it to Maria Goyri. She wanted to take Vello and David and Schopenhauer on a tour of Las Ramblas.

I don't believe it! says Belle They must be in the Museu de l'Erotica! How funny!

Let's go in, says Marie. How much is it?

Free, says Arthur. If you come in with me.

Arthur limps into the Museu de l'Erotica and up to the counter.

Oh Dios mio! says the woman behind it. Estas herido?

Fell off a scooter, says Arthur. Mind if I sit here?

Si, si! says the woman. Por favor, sientate.

And these are my friends, says Arthur. They will sit with me.

The woman disappears into a back room, to find a first aid kit.

Let's go, says Arthur.

But you're dripping, says Belle. At least wait for a bandage.

Arthur whips two yellow strips from his pocket. They smell faintly of oranges.

He ties them round his knees so he looks like a pirate.

They go through to the exhibition.

Eew, this is disgusting, says Belle.

Close your eyes then, says Marie. Ugh! Don't look at that horrible chair!

Arthur looks at the drawings, posters, sculptures and exhibits through his own eyes. Lame, in his judgement.

Then he tries to view the drawings, posters and exhibits through the eyes of a woman. Even more lame.

More lame? What sort of woman has he looked through the eyes of? Not a real one.

They go through to the coffee shop, where Maria Goyri, Vello, David and Schopenhauer are having coffee and cakes, and Maria Goyri is talking.

So you see the gender imbalance, says Maria Goyri.

Yes, says David, munching a pastry.

And the objectification of women, says Maria Goyri,

Yes, says Vello, chomping a cake.

Schopenhauer is wondering what he will have to agree to, when he spots Arthur, Belle and Marie.

Hello! says Schopenhauer. Fancy seeing you here!

Belle! says Vello. Marie!  I don't think you've met Maria Goyri.

Maria Goyri turns her face towards Belle and Marie.

So these are the famous girls, says Maria Goyri.

Marie and Belle like the title. Belle picks up her skirt and performs an ironical curtsey, followed by a graceful pirouette.

Oh, your pretty green dress is torn at the back, dear, says Maria Goyri. Come here. My goodness. They look like teeth marks.

Teeth marks! TEETH MARKS! It can only be Arthur.

Where is Arthur?

Gone off to find some more cakes.