Story for performance #302
webcast from Sydney at 05:28PM, 18 Apr 06

machines to measure
Source: 'Merchants on the prowl in weapons bazaar’, Washington Post in Sydney Morning Herald online, 18/04/06.
Tags: diplomacy, war

If you need to beg an extension you may wish to first intensify your efforts.

If you need to beg an extension you may wish to become more organised.

If you need to beg an extension you may wish to hide those questionable missiles.

If you need to beg an extension you may want a really good excuse for your tardiness and change of heart.

If you need to beg an extension you must first define what you mean by ‘mass’ and ‘destruction’.

If you need to beg an extension you must first identify your source.

If you need to beg an extension warn your neighbour and close family members of your intentions, not to cause unneccessary alarm but to merely forewarn.

If you need to beg an extension you will need to strike a deal.

If you need to beg an extension you must demonstrate your custom.

If you need to beg an extension you must first become a customer.

If you need to beg an extension you may wish to have many influential friends on your side, a few more friends than you have right now. Someone from the right side of the family.

If you need to beg an extension you might wish to call my mobile.

If you need to beg an extension remember your deadline.

If you need to beg an extension prepare yourself, breathe deeply, calm yourself, focus and present your argument clearly. You will be heard. I am listening.

If you need to beg an extension, first you must show me your strategic arms.

If you need to beg an extension, give me a U! give me an S!

If you need to beg an extension things will need some variation.

If you need to beg an extension, make it sophisticated.

If you need to beg an extension don’t be invisible.

If you need to beg an extension you will need to be made to measure.

If you need to beg an extension, do so with machines of steel.

If you need to beg an extension we will give you the expected inventory of night-vision equipment, unmanned aircraft and (of course) missile technology.

If you need to beg an extension, it is of no concern to me.

If you need to beg an extension: (watch out!) (torpedoes!) (too fast!).

If you need to beg an extension, like aging spinsters in need of spare parts, you will find yourself on the prowl…

If you need to beg an extension you must measure the desire against the cold hard facts of reality—you may wish to watch your back…more closely. You may wish to account for your emotional stock…more closely.

If you need to beg an extension you need to take stock of what you have to offer in return, a promise of changing ways, of strengthening alliances.

If you need to beg an extension the compromises will be endless, the haggling out of control.

If you need to beg an extension, market forces will give the nod.

If you need to beg an extension, what is it that you will acquire? What is it that these tests measure?

If you need to beg an extension you will need to quicken your response time, be ready…and not so willing. Be open but guarded, be crafty but speak the lingo, agile but stand firm, be hollow but not resounding, be open to negotiation but holding the upper hand, be FOR conflict resolution but in your greatest interest, be firm be firm be firm, but not hardened like steel.

If you need to beg an extension, export or import—is that a question?

If you need to beg an extension, well, let’s think about it: does an increase in tension get you off?

If you need to beg an extension, like I said: tension on extension.

If you need to beg an extension follow through with some action which warrants this extension.

If you need to beg an extension, will it be lost in translation?

If you need to beg an extension, know we are friendly, you are amongst friends, we are not unreasonable. Your request will be heard, noted and woven into our strategy for future success…ours…and which is in turn, yours.

If you need to beg an extension, you will need to go cross-country to do so.

If you need to beg an extension, all it will take is work, nothing more, nothing less…go on, you can do it. You have been doing it for centuries.

If you need to beg an extension, nothing will be simple.

If you need to beg an extension, remember: we have left you with dinosaurs. Don’t go thinking you can get new shiny things to get us back. Sure, we’ve created the monster—but we can destroy it too.

If you need to beg an extension, the empire will inevitably strike back.

If you need to beg an extension you need to be sure of heart, made of flesh and empathetic of soul. Ask yourself where is my wealth, my well being and kinship? Which side is my bread buttered and what is my next spread?

If you need to beg an extension, you may ask yourself: is development critical?

If you need to beg an extension, you may ask yourself: can I do without this?

If you need to beg an extension, you may need to get some outside help, maybe a professional or perhaps even alternative methods, less conventional.

If you need to beg an extension, this might be your last request. Nothing lasts forever, fucker.

If you need to beg an extension, we will have to drag out those peacekeepers again to deal with this world full of misery.

If you need to beg an extension put yourself on the line and be sure of yourself, know it is your right to seek and attain ‘progress’—extend yourself and others will follow.

Adapted for performance by Barbara Campbell from a story by the Unreasonable Adults.