Unlimited Free Space: Comprehensive Waterfront Plan

Transcripts - When it's cold outside



After their quasi-encounter with the unlimited normal space of the unidentified Riverside Esplanade jogger, USI moves forward a few steps, where they meet 87 year old SHANTI and her puppy.

SHANTI
This is unlimited free space? What? The option to jump over into the water?
BK
We're trying to find out how the idea of space is related to the waterfront, what people think about it.
VJ
And if people have ever thought about unlimited free space. What kind of ideas they have.
SHANTI
Okay. Then, when you've accumulated all this data - then what do you do with the data?
VJ
We're part of this international project. People are in London, in Paris, in Singapore, and in Beijing. They're doing research on borderlines. So, the borderline we chose to do research on is the borderline between the land and the water of Manhattan. We're doing the whole waterfront of Manhattan. This is going to be some kind of event that will happen in Graz in Austria.
SHANTI
An event?
VJ
Yeah.
SHANTI
An event for the purpose of -? Again, when you get all of this information - I mean - first of all, how do you accumulate it? Where?
ND
We have different disciplines, different backgrounds. And we're reassembling it using those different ways. I must admit, it is a somewhat theoretical process. Being a theory, it's subject to modification. So, we haven't yet decided on the nature of the presentation. Until we've collected all the different theories-
SHANTI
Whose theories?
BK
Peoples'.
ND
People that we encounter.
SHANTI
Like my theory?
ND
Yeah.
SHANTI
And how do you get my theory?
ND
Well, we answer a few of your questions and we ask you a few of ours.
SHANTI
I see. Do you intend to ask me any questions?
ND
If you don't mind.
SHANTI
I have no objections to you asking me questions. Can we stay closer to the water?
ND
Certainly.
SHANTI
Sure. I have no objections. I'm asking you questions. But, I didn't know how you were gonna collate your data. Now, I got an idea.
VJ
We have sound recording equipment. And we have a Polaroid camera. And we have another camera.
ND
We have some note pads that we write on.
VJ
We have note pads. And we have our minds - that hopefully will record some of this experience.
SHANTI
What do you do when it's cold outside?
VJ
It's not. It's summer in New York.
BK
It's not cold these days.
SHANTI
I know but-
ND
It's a joke.
SHANTI
You can tell them what I meant. It's called sarcasm.
VJ
I understand. I'm being a little slow.
SHANTI
And I was being a little sarcastic. Not rude. Just sarcastic - I was playing. I don't know how you survive. The uniform is very attractive but, they could've made it net or something for a day like this. So, what would you like to know?
ND
My name is Norman Douglas.
SHANTI
How do you do, Norman?
ND
I'm an American.
SHANTI
I'm a New Yorker.
BK
I'm Bernd from Austria.
SHANTI
Say it again-
BK
Bernd.
SHANTI
Burn?
BK
Bernd.
SHANTI
Bernd. You're burnt.
BK
I'm not burned but I'm Bernd.
SHANTI
I understand. And you're-?
VJ
Vibeke.
SHANTI
Vibeke! [reading Vibeke's ID] Vibeke Jensen!
VJ
Yeah.
SHANTI
Vibeke Jensen - from?
VJ
From Norway.
SHANTI
From Norvegia. Yes - Norvegia. Norvegia. Yes.

Modified December 23, 1997