Outside, Brangane pulls her shawl close to herself against the cold of the night. Far on the horizon a line of pink over the still water of the Baltic signals the coming dawn. She murmurs to herself, urging the lovers to waken, to make their escape, feeling the presence of fear as the night melts away into the dawn.
Gisela, eyes half open, half closed, runs a finger slowly over Tristana’s brow, stroking down the softness of her cheek to where the solitary pink pearl lies, half-buried in a sea of black curls; stroking down to the corner of her mouth; parting her lips, sliding inside, finding the wetness of her tongue. With two fingers now damply tracing the curve of her neck, seeking out the warmth of her gently rising breasts; with infinite patience touching, so gently, drawing the quietest moan from her lover. Reaching lower, feeling, sensing. Her body responding, rolling, reaching. Two faces joining; two bodies joined in the grey half-light of the dying night.
There’s a noise. Footfalls on the boards of the bathing station. Brangane stirs, hidden in the shadows. The sky turning a vivid crimson, shimmering on the swell as it rolls silently onto the whiteness of the strand. She looks from the safety of her shawl. Melot! And behind him, five paces behind him, following him, Markus!
Too late to give a warning. Too late to save her friends.
A door pulled ajar, a lamp shines in. Words quickly exchanged. A finger pointed. Tristana stirs, pulling the single sheet close, fright in her eyes; clinging to Gisela, retreating into the darkness of their corner.
“Master Markus! Was I right to accuse her? Look! See!”
The torch fills the corner with a yellow glow. The girls recoil in the sudden brightness.
“What am I seeing? What am I seeing? Is it you I see cous? You, my sister? You who brought her here to me? You who I’ve grown up with? You who I trust? Is it you? With her? With my Gisela? Is it? How can I be so betrayed!!! Get up! Get up! Both of you! Get up! What shame! Tristana!!! How could you! What shame!”
The girls stand, wrapped tightly together in their white shroud.
“Why Tristana? Why? How could you do this to me? My honour! Why Tristana?”
“Oh Markus, cousin Markus, I cannot tell you that. What you would ask you can never know.”
“You both! Both! Dress! Dress now! Tristana, I will speak with you outside. Gisela, I do not understand this Gisela…. I am saddened sweet Gisela. Tristana! Outside now!”
Tristana leans her dark hair, her pearl of black, her pearl of pink, onto Gisela’s breast, whispering almost silently.
“Will you come with me Gisela? Will you follow me?”
Gisela raises Tristana’s face to her own.
“Always my love; wherever you go my love. Eternally.”
They kiss. Once.