CUHK Series:The Other Shore: Plays by Gao Xingjian

by Xingjian Gao

  Well, there’s got to be real feelings in a book of course. That’s something every woman is capable of, as long as she expresses her personal and deeply felt feelings in her, she could, to say the least, produce an interesting book.

  Why just women?

  If a book’s only about men, nobody would want to read it.

  Including yourself?

  Yes.

  In that case your books must be only about women, if I’m not mistaken.

  Women and men, or to put it in another way, men and women.

  Men and women, women and men, they’re people all the same.

  Because people have to be either men or women, their feelings are entirely different.

  What other differences are there besides sex?

  Of course there are, for instance, you and me.

  Let’s not talk about you and me.

  I’m only interested in people who are alive.

  But I’m dead already.

  Really?

  Almost.

  Bernard, Cecile

  A door…

  What did you say?

  Nothing. Once it’s opened…

  What’s opened?

  You say you’re talking about a door…

  May I ask what are you painting?

  Oh yes, a door, once it’s opened…

  I see.

  Total darkness, so dark that you can’t see things clearly.

  Shall we turn on all the lights?

  There’s no need. Don’t attempt to do anything. See that gleam of light? Where does it come from?

  You’re asking me?

  No. It’s spreading, it’s slowly saturating the place, an illusion, a shadow…

  Are you talking about your painting?

  You say you’re talking to yourself.

  I understand it now.

  You say you don’t need to understand, just see.

  Right.

  Anne

  They didn’t even bother to close the door. If she closed the door now, they’d certainly know that she’s been here. And if she left it open she wouldn’t think it’s proper either, because at this hour of the night anything that happens in there would definitely be heard outside.

  She’s doing this for them, at least, for him, she must close the door quietly.

  Maybe he left the door ajar on purpose when he left a crack open like that. But of course she wouldn’t exactly barge in there right now, it’d be so embarrassing for everybody. Why should she do anything? Let them turn off the light in the corridor and just walked away quietly.

  Bernard, Cecile

  A shadowy image in the middle of flickering candlelight, it’s the back of a woman. You quietly approach her, hoping that she’ll turn around, but she lowers her head lazily and covers her face with her hands. So you softly put your hands on her shoulders. She turns sideways and tilts her head to face you. Oh, no, an old woman’s dry and crumbling face! The candlestick falls onto the ground…Once more you find yourself sinking into darkness, you try to pick up the candlestick, you grope around but you can only find some broken pieces…You want to see if this is a dream, so you clutch the broken glass pieces in your hands, squeeze them as hard as you can to see if you’ll bleed, and the blood keeps oozing out…Your feet feel cold, as if you’re not wearing any trousers, you bend down to touch your foot…It’s not real! It’s made of plastic!

  No kidding?

  What’s so funny?

  She says she didn’t laugh. Are you not real? She’s just asking.

  You say you’re talking about an illusion you had.

  And what about her? Is she an illusion as well? Is she not real?

  What a charming little nymph.

  That’s right, everybody is charmed.

  And charming everybody.

  Will a cat walk away from a fish?…How come you’ve stopped painting?

  Anne

  She doesn’t know if she loves him or not.

  She doesn’t know if it’s because she’s jealous.

  She’s not his wife, so there’s no need to interfere. They haven’t signed a contract or anything, so there are no restrictions. A little tramp, and she offers herself to him. His days are numbered, might as well let him do whatever his heart desires.

  The bottom line is she’s not a Madam. It’s a matter between the two of them, the giver is willing and the taker is just as willing, the feeling is mutual, what’s that got to do with her?

  But she can’t understand why she’s feeling a bit uneasy, as if she’s done something wrong. She only saw that the corridor lights were still on, so she came out and turned them off, that’s all there is to it, isn’t it?

  Daniel, Anne

  Sorry, you say you’re looking for some matches. Your lighter, you can’t remember where you put it.

  She says her books are in the sitting room, she usually reads for a while before sleeping.

  Of course, books can make people sleepy.

  It has to be an interesting book, or she wouldn’t read it in bed.

  You say you usually sleep late, and before you sleep you’ve got to smoke a cigarette, you’ve had this bad habit for years.

  She says if she can’t sleep she’d drink a small glass of whisky, you want one?

  You know that it’s only a game, but it’s the kind of game which excites you no end.

  She acts as if everything was so natural, she doesn’t think there’s anything wrong in just wearing a lingerie.

  Nothing happens by chance in this world, there’s got to be a cause, a motivation. Of course, you can say that you’re looking for matches or something, but you know, one always finds a way to say whatever he wants to say.

  She’s not particularly interested in him, no man can steal her heart any more, she knew perfectly well what’d happen even before she drank that glass of whiskey, but she still drank it anyway.

  That’s right, a woman tired of living still has to live on.

  A man will never give up the chance to seduce a woman.

  You can’t be sure who’s seducing whom, but you never change, you just want to have some fun.

  She says, stay away from me, don’t!

  Daniel

  You can’t go forward

  　and you can’t go back

  Go left

  　go right

  　　you still fall into the trap

  Therefore you

  　only think of enjoying yourself

  　　the decadent pleasure of the moment

  Afterwards

  　you still can’t be sure

  　　if there is

  　　　an afterwards…

  So there’s no need to pretend any more

  　to act the part

  　　it’ll be more true

  　　　more relaxing

  No more disciples or messengers

  　your body

  　　is still quite real

  Men

  　are destined

  　　not to lead their lives

  　　　in any other way

  A joke

  　a game of sex

  　　just like gambling

  　　　you consume yourself

  　　　　or gamble yourself away

  When thinking stops

  　listen

  　　Mozart

  　　　is he also comforted?

  Quartet No. 2

  Anne, Cecile

  How are you?

  Very well, thank you. It’s been a long time since I had a weekend like this. It’s so comfortable living in the country.

  You’ve chosen a good time to come here, it wouldn’t be as nice if it were in the winter.

  Can’t you light a fire or something? I just adore sitting in front of the fireplace.

  The studio is so big, it wouldn’t get much warmer lighting a fire.

  I like space, I feel good whenever I step into a spacious room, no matter what I do.

  What are you doing now?


  I’m a model, haven’t you noticed? He hasn’t finished his painting yet.

  I mean what do you do for a living?

  Anything, as long as it’s a job. But what I’d like best is to have my own home, then I could stay there and do nothing. You know, just like you.

  You have everything now, haven’t you? You and your friend?

  Him? He’s a writer alright, but he can’t support me, I’m not as lucky as you are, I’ve got to work.

  What kind of work do you do?

  Whatever I can lay my hands on, it’s hard to say, it isn’t easy to find meaningful work.

  Do you model as well?

  Oh no, it’s my first time, it’s quite fun, don’t you think?

  Don’t you think it’s too much trouble? When you’re posing you have to remain motionless for a long time, you can’t even move one bit.

  No, he let me move around, sometimes I could even walk to where he was and watch him paint.

  That’s true, all his models are very happy working with him.

  He’s got many models, yeah?

  Of course you won’t be the last, he changes them frequently, he paints all kinds of women.

  Does he paint you often?

  He likes young girls.

  But I think mature women are more feminine.

  That’s exactly what’s wrong with old men, the older they get the more they like to be with young girls, as long they don’t make it difficult for them.

  Me? I’m easy. I like older men, they’re so gentle, and they look after you.

  It’s good if you feel so easy towards the whole thing…In fact why don’t you go outside and take a walk in the woods? You don’t have to lock yourself up in the studio all day, you know. You’re here to enjoy yourself, if you’d come here to work, he’d even have given you some money for it.

  I didn’t come here for the money! I like to watch him paint, to see how I’d look on canvas, how I’m transformed into a woman who looks like me, and yet a woman I hardly know—

  Be careful, don’t get him too excited.

  I know—

  No, you don’t, he has high blood pressure.

  Excuse me, I’m going out to take a walk in the woods.

  Anne, Bernard

  How’s it going?

  Fine. I had a good night’s sleep.

  I mean your work, you’re happy with it?

  A vivacious girl, a little vulgar though.

  As long as you’re still interested.

  Sure, sure.

  Is everything going smoothly?

  Yeah, not bad.

  Maybe we can keep her here for a few more days.

  Perhaps. But it depends—

  She doesn’t look like she’s working and has to get back when the weekend’s over, as long as her boyfriend doesn’t say anything.

  How about him, do you find him interesting?

  What? Oh, him, he’s quite intelligent, but somewhat arrogant.

  Every writer thinks he’s the one and only.

  Aren’t you the same?

  Of course. But only few writers are interesting.

  He sure knows how to flirt.

  Really? As long as you don’t think it’s too much trouble. I don’t feel right if you think my guests are a bother.

  It’s all right, they aren’t, at least up to now.

  Then tell him to stay for two more days, if that’s not too much trouble for you.

  And his girlfriend stays too?

  Of course. Just let me know if you find them unbearable.

  You’re the master in this house.

  And you’re the mistress.

  I’m not so sure about that, I’d better not play mistress.

  Why not?

  It’d be easier for all of us.

  Why don’t you go and take a look at my painting?

  I don’t want to be in the way.

  Well, she’s quite patient, and of course she’s also a blithe spirit. She likes paintings too, she’s curious. She’s never modelled before, you know.

  That’s even better for you, isn’t it? You must find the whole thing refreshing.

  Of course, also very exciting.

  Cecile, Anne

  What are you looking at?

  A cloud. There’s something strange about this cloud.

  Why do you think that?

  It expands and spreads, and expands and spreads again, then it rolls out, and the middle gets puffed up and spreads once more, it’s all happening so fast.

  It’s going to rain.

  Like an overgrown cauliflower.

  You sure know how to talk good!

  Not really, there’s pollution everywhere, even in the clouds.

  You want me to make you some toast?

  The toaster’s on top of the oven, the coffee’s still hot.

  Daniel, Anne

  Oh, it feels great after a cold bath!

  Did you sleep well?

  Excellent, it’s so quiet, I’d still be sleeping if it weren’t for the birds singing. Did you get up early?

  I love to listen to the birds.

  Same here. Outside the windows, at the crack of dawn…It’s raining a bit, do you like listening to the rain as well?

  When I’m listening to the rain I’m at peace with myself.

  Cecile, Bernard

  I hate it when it rains, you can’t go anywhere.

  This rain won’t last. As soon as it stops you can go sunbathing in the pasture or by the river, or you can go pick some mushrooms in the wood. We’re very easy here, just do whatever you want.

  How about messing up things?

  What’s on your mind, you little devil you?

  (Softly) I want to smash something, is that allowed?

  Smash all you want, as long as you feel like it!

  Can I call you daddy too?

  Of course, I should count myself lucky with a daughter like you.

  Luck doesn’t come easily, it’ll slip away if people don’t know how to take good care of it.

  (Loudly.) Did you hear that?

  Daniel

  How can you not hear it when it’s that loud?

  Cecile, Bernard

  Never mind him, he’s a little hard of hearing.

  Are you kidding me?

  He always pretends he’s thinking.

  Anne, Daniel

  Is that right?

  I’m watching the rain now. You see, when raindrops flow on the window pane, the scenery is immediately transformed, just like a mirage…

  In the winter, if there weren’t any footprints after a snowfall, it’d be just like a graveyard…

  The feeling towards death comes exactly from the desire for life—

  Cecile, Bernard

  Oops, I’m so sorry! I’ve broken the teacup…

  Something new, something old, you won’t have any new things if you don’t get rid of the old.

  It broke while I was washing it.

  Exactly, things do get broken after you’ve used them for some time, there’s no exception, let alone a teacup.

  Men too?

  Of course, men are like things, after a while they tend to have this problem, then that problem. They just can’t seem to help it. Never mind, it’s only a teacup.

  And the heart?

  What heart?

  A man’s heart—

  That’s even more of a problem. What’s wrong, babe?

  Nothing much is wrong with this babe, except that I just cut my hand.

  Let me have a look, don’t let it get infected, you’ve got to put a dressing on it! Do we still have any bandages?

  Anne, Daniel

  A cunning cat.

  A butterfly, she attracts all kinds.

  Bernard

  Follow me, let’s put a bandage on it.

  Daniel, Anne

  He’s so full of energy though.

  It’s still early and you’re here, and on top of that, there’s a young girl with him. Normally he’ll start drinking at
noon, and when evening comes he’ll be totally exhausted, and the only sound you can hear in this big house is the sound of his snoring. I keep my door open all the time, and if I don’t hear his snoring when I get up at night, I get scared. That’s how my father died, he also drank…

  You can’t go on like this.

  What? Like what?

  For example, you two could go out sometimes—

  He drinks wherever he goes! If he takes the car by himself, who knows when…

  And you plan to go on watching over him all your life?

  The situation is not as bad as it looks. I do need a shelter, and if nothing else, he’s still a loyal old dog.

  Bernard, Anne, Daniel

  Have a look at the books in here, and take whatever you want, just as long as it’s not anything she likes. At my age, there’s nothing worth reading.

  Have you had too much to drink or something?

  He’s just telling the truth. Any book that’s worth writing has been written already.

  Then why are you still writing?

  It’s just a habit. In fact, whatever I want to say has already been said.

  Hear! Hear!

  Then how come you’re still saying it?

  Because I’m still alive.

  Can’t we talk about something else?

  Sure, right now I’m going to listen to the news to see if there’s a war going on. I certainly know what a goddam war means!

  All right, all right. Go paint your paintings.

  She’s driving me crazy.

  Women, what can you do with them?

  Cecile

  Daniel!

  Daniel

  Coming.

  Anne, Bernard

  What happened to her?

  Don’t worry, just a small cut. I’ve put a bandage on it, she’s okay.

  Don’t go too far!

  Just look at you!

  I don’t really care, it’s between you and her. I just want to remind you not to put me on the spot.

  Daniel, Cecile

  What happened to you?

  I cut myself.

  Where’s the cut, is it serious? Let me see!

  Not really, I’ve put a bandage on it.

  What were you fooling around for?

  I wasn’t fooling around, I was behaving, and very careful too. A tiny little mouse, and cats are everywhere.