Authors: Gao Xingjian

Tags: #Drama, #Asian, #General, #Literary Criticism, #Chinese

The Other Shore (20 page)

Girl:

The same here. It’s really tiring talking to you.

Man:

You’re like that too. Now I’ve got a headache.

Girl:

(
Somewhat sympathetic
.) Come on, let’s change to a lighter subject, something that’ll cheer us up.

(
Having completed his previous stunt, Monk rubs his hands and starts to become enthusiastic again. He takes out an egg from inside his robe and tries to stand the egg on the tip of the stick.
)

Man:

What else shall we talk about? Something in praise of women or what? But everything that has to be said has been said already, there’s really nothing new left to say any more. Perhaps I should say that you’re young and beautiful? That you’re charming and attractive? Or that you’re sexy? By the way, these are not empty words, and they’re not meant to flatter you or to make you feel good, they’re all true.

Girl:

My dear, you seem to be more lovely when you’re not using your brain. For once can’t you just honestly talk about yourself? Tell me, how do you spend your time?

Man:

You mean right now?

Girl:

Yes, at this very moment—

Man:

Make love, if someone’s willing.

Girl:

What if there’s nobody around? Then what would you do?

Man:

I dream, when I’m doing nothing I always dream. Dreams are more real than reality itself, they’re closer to the self. Don’t you think so? (
Lights a candle.
)

Girl:

Me too, I dream almost every day. Tell me about your dreams.

Man:

One day, I dreamt that I was sinking into the ground, my whole body was trapped deep inside, there were two extremely high walls on either side of me, or should I say huge crags, no matter how hard I tried I just couldn’t climb over them and get out…What are you laughing at?

Girl:

You made it all up, you’re only thinking about women.

Man:

You can’t really tell what happens in your dream, can you? If you’re dreaming things happen in no particular order and you’re confused, when you wake up and try to talk about it, you’d simply lay it on and fabricate, or you’d deceive yourself, and later when you tell your dream to somebody, you’d add on your own fantasies for self-gratification. In a dream, you’re only living in your feelings at the time, that’s all. (
Looks at Monk.
) There’s no plot, just narration.

(
The egg falls from the tip of the stick onto the ground. Monk takes another egg from inside his robe and tries patiently to stand it on the tip of the stick again
.

Girl smiles surreptitiously.
)

Man:

It’s just wishful thinking trying to tell a dream.

Girl:

You’re an idiot.

Man:

That’s right. You’re you only when you’re dreaming.

Girl:

(
Steps back to inspect him
.) Are you saying that at this very moment you aren’t real?

Man:

Who cares if I’m real or not? You’re only concerned with how you feel, right? Only feelings can be real.

Girl:

Now you’re beginning to scare me.

Man:

You weren’t scared when that Indian guy raped you, and you’re telling me that you’re scared now? (
Walking closer to her.
)

Girl:

Don’t even try, I’m going.

Man:

You’re not going anywhere.

Girl:

Don’t try to intimidate me.

Man:

Just playing. You get scared easily when we play for real.

Girl:

Because it’s not fun.

Man:

Well then, why don’t you tell me how we should play?

Girl:

It’s got to be more relaxing, more cheerful. But you just keep annoying people.

Man:

All right. Whatever you say, I’m game. Tell me, how do you want to play?

(
Puts down the candlestick.
)

(
Again the egg falls and rolls on the ground. Monk takes out a third egg from inside his robe. He rubs it in his palms and then places it on the tip of the stick.
)

Girl:

Fine. Take off your clothes for me, take them all off! That’s what you want, right?

(
Monk turns his head as if to take a glance at them.
)

Girl:

I can’t stand your bathrobe, don’t you think it’s ugly? It makes me sick!

(
Monk turns back his head to continue with his task.

Man takes off his bathrobe and throw it on the ground.
)

Man:

Okay, now it’s your turn.

Girl:

Can’t you put it more gently?

Man:

How?

Girl:

Do I have to teach you that too?

Man:

When you’re stark naked you’re more natural, and more beautiful.

Girl:

(
Sighs
.) Your trouble is you’re lonely, so lonely that you’re dying for someone to give you a little tender loving care.

(
When Monk takes his hand away, the egg falls rolling onto the ground as before.

Girl takes off her blouse. Monk keeps looking at the egg, not knowing what to do
.)

Man:

(
At once getting excited.
) You’re a real knockout!

Girl:

You only found out just now? It sure took you long enough. You really don’t know how to appreciate what you’ve got, or how to cherish it.

Man:

It’s still not too late. Come over here…No, go stand over there!

Girl:

Where?

Man:

On the opposite side. Look at me, and put your hands down.

(
Girl drops her hands and laughs, facing him.

Monk sighs and again takes out an egg from inside his robe.
)

Man:

Spread your arms like a bird in flight. You’re a bird, a living and breathing big bird. Spread your arms for me!

Girl:

What if I don’t?

(
Monk is persisting, still trying to place the egg on the tip of the stick.
)

Man:

When I say spread, spread. Don’t you like birds?

Girl:

You’re a bird, not me.

Man:

Spread your arms!

Girl:

No.

(
Man and Girl are locked in a stalemate
.

Frustrated, Monk cracks the egg on the tip of the stick, and the egg shell finally stands on the stick
.)

Girl:

(
Begging
.) Say something nice to me.

Man:

I want you…Close your eyes.

(
Girl reluctantly spreads her arms and closes her eyes
.

Monk rubs his hands and exits satisfied
.)

Man:

(
Man quietly circles to the back of Girl.) On your knees now. (Takes a knife from inside his bathrobe
.)

Girl:

No, you’re disgusting. (
Reluctant, half kneeling and half sitting down.
)

Man:

Put your hands on the floor. We’re playing a game, are we not? (
He hides the knife behind him and pulls her hands down on the floor and holds them there with his other hand.
)

Girl:

(
Frees herself from his hand.
) No, I’m not a dog! You’re really sick. (
Gets up.
)

Man:

Are we playing or not? You wanted it, and you started it first—

Girl:

That’s enough. Can’t you just use your imagination?

Man:

(
Coaxing her.
) All right, then you’ll be a fish, now try to imagine you’re a fish, a bouncy and jumping mermaid fish dragged out of the water and landed on dry land, okay?

Girl:

To hell with you. I’m not your plaything, go play with yourself.

Man:

But you started it first. After you’ve got people interested, you turn around and say you don’t want to play any more. It just isn’t fair.

Girl:

You make me sick! You understand?

Man:

Has it ever crossed your mind that you make people sick also? Everybody’s sick of everybody! Everyone is sickening!

Girl:

You’re just a log! A rotten log, rotten to the core!

(
Man and Girl face each other in silence. Suddenly Girl laughs out loud. Man is dejected. He quietly puts the knife back inside his bathrobe
.)

Girl:

Dance for me!

Man:

(
Confounded.
) What?

Girl:

Are you playing or not?

Man:

Forget it, let’s knock it off. I’m not interested any more.

Girl:

But now I am. You forced me to play when I wasn’t interested, didn’t you? (
Pleading with him.
) Please, dance for me, just one dance, okay?

Man:

I don’t know how to.

Girl:

Then what do you know? Or do you only know how to think?

Man:

Don’t talk to me about thinking or not thinking.

Girl:

Then go and stand over there, you do know how, don’t you? Please, please do me a favour, go and stand over there.

Man:

Where?

Girl:

There, stand there like Michaelangelo’s David, but act like you’re thinking.

Man:

(
Goes to the other side reluctantly.
) You act like one of those woman executives. Do you enjoy ordering men around?

Girl:

It’d be nice if I could. Listen, David represents man at his best, I’m making it easy for you.

Man:

You’re an unqualified witch!

Girl:

That’s it! Raise your hands for me, just like a Michaelangelo.

Man:

Michaelangelo was gay.

(
Girl laughs heartily. Man reluctantly raises his hands and laughs.
)

Girl:

I like being gay. Nobody asked you to become impotent!

Man:

Gosh, what a she-devil!

Girl:

I’m going to hurt you, hurt you real bad! Run, I say run!

(
Continuous beating of the cymbal. Monk still has not entered.
)

Man:

How?

Girl:

Run in a circle around me!

Man:

Do you want everyone to run around you?

Girl:

Aren’t you the same? You won’t be happy until you turn every woman into your slave. (
Very excited.
) Raise your hand now like you’re throwing a javelin.

Man:

(
Screaming.
) I’m not a model!

Girl:

Why is it that only women can be models? Now try it and see what it’s like! Didn’t you say this is the age of women? Who told you to lose your sense of imagination? Run! I say run!

Man:

(
Running and shouting.
) If a woman became God, the world would turn into a pandemonium, much more horrible than it is now. I don’t know, maybe it’d be better, but it’d more likely be much worse, like some chick’s tantrum!

Girl:

So what if for once we were God Almighty? (
Blocks his way.
) Blindfold yourself!

Man:

Stop fooling around, I beg you. Okay?

Girl:

Oh, so you can fool around but I can’t, is that what you’re saying? If we’re going to fool around, let’s fool around together, you and I, until we both can’t take it any more!

(
Girl takes the chance to strip Man of his clothes. He kisses her, taking advantage of the situation. She wraps the clothes around his head, covering his eyes.

Monk enters beating a gong
.

Girl hurriedly takes out a pair of pantyhose from her handbag, ties it around Man’s clothes and pushes him away.
)

Girl:

Over here.

Man:

I’m going to get you! You little devil you!

(
Man chases after Girl. Both of them run in circles
.)

Man:

You pigfeet—you dirty little rat—where are you?

Girl:

Here I am…(
Quietly picks up the overcoat.
)

Man: