The Other Shore (10 page)

Young Man:

(
Suddenly understands
.) I’ve got this fountain pen, it has a gold nib, my mother gave it to me for my birthday. (
Takes the pen out and hands it over to her
.)

Old Lady:

(
Takes the pen and inspects it carefully.
) Hmm, this is quite nice. (Stuffs the pen into her waist bag and steps aside to reveal a crack in the “wall.”) Now you can go ahead.

Young Man:

(
Hesitating.
) I’m afraid my mother might find out…

Old Lady:

Will she beat you?

Young Man:

I…I can’t say…

Old Lady:

You’ll just have to lie to her, tell her that you’ve lost it. Don’t you know how to lie?

Young Man:

Mother wouldn’t allow it.

Old Lady:

That’s why you’re still such a kid. I’m telling you, there’s no adult who doesn’t lie, and you know, without lying there’r be no more happy days. All right, just go right through.

(
Crawling, Young Man goes through the crack of the wall of people. When he looks up he sees Young Girl sobbing quietly on the other side, her hands covering her face. He tries to get up, but two thugs approach and take turns beating him up. Young Girl and the sound of chanting disappear at the same time. Only Man is left sitting on the futon and meditating with his eyes closed.
)

Plaster Seller:

Dogskin Plasters! Dogskin Plasters! Thirteen generations in the family. Give me internal wounds, external wounds, fractures, strains and contusions, give me rabies, heart-attacks, infant convulsions, geriatric strokes, lovesick young men and women, unspeakable depravity and the possessed, stick one on and you’ll be as good as new. The first don’t work, the second will... Dogskin Plasters! Dogskin Plasters! Taken junky home remedy? Swallowed the wrong drug? No problem! Infertile women, impotent men, sinners and delinquents? Sure thing! Oh yes, and the stutterers, the crooked mouthed, jealous women, avenging men, fathers who love not the mothers, sons who listen not to their old men, pockmarked faces, tinea feet, one plaster cures all. The first don’t work, the second will. Satisfaction guaranteed or your money gladly refunded…. Dogskin Plasters! Come and get the miracle Dogskin Plasters! Don’t miss this golden opportunity! Your chance in a life time!

(
Young man, on the outside of the Crowd’s circle, finally manages to get up from his feet. Mad Woman enters.
)

Mad Woman:

(
Approaching Young Man.
) They say I’m a whore, but they didn’t say anything when they sneaked into my bed to sleep with me. They say I’m bad as if they haven’t been bad before, as if they haven’t had fun with a woman’s body before!

(
Young Man retreats and hides himself from her. The Crowd turn to face them.
)

Crowd:

Here comes the mad woman.

The mad woman’s here!

The mad woman’s here!

Mad Woman:

You’re mad!

Crowd:

Look, look at her.

She’s talking crazy again.

Mad Woman:

You’re talking crazy.

(
The Crowd happily break out in laughter.
)

Plaster Seller:

(
At the same time.
) If you’ve got money, give me money, if you don’t, stay and watch the show! Dogskin Plasters for sale! (Throws a bundle of plasters on the ground.) Big sacrifice! Everything must go! Pay what you will. Cheap! Cheap! Cheap!…Pooh! You stinking whore! (
Puts away plasters and exits.
)

Mad Woman:

You’re cheap! (
The Crowd laugh at her again.
) What are you laughing at? Go laugh at yourselves! What things you wouldn’t do to get into a woman’s pants! You all look like you’re human, but actually you’re all dogs, dogs, dirty dogs.

Men in Crowd:

(
To women in the Crowd.
) Stop her wagging tongue.

Take her away.

Mad Woman:

Why? You’re scared because I’ll tell on you, right? You’re hiding something, aren’t you? Right, keep away from me, as far away as you can. I know exactly what’s going on in those shitty little heads of yours. (
Snickers.
)

Men in Crowd:

Take her away! Take her away!

(
Women in the Crowd come forward to drag Mad Woman away.
)

Mad Woman:

You’re afraid too, aren’t you? You’re afraid I’ll say that all of your husbands, every single one of them, have slept with me? Afraid because you’ll become like me, dumped by your men after they’ve gotten their rocks off? Afraid your husbands will know you’ve screwed other men? Afraid people will find out you’d lost your cherry before you got married?

Crowd:

Gag her!

With horse shit!

With bull shit!

Shut her big mouth!

Mad Woman:

(
Grappling with Women in the Crowd.
) Haven’t you got off with a man before? You’re like me, you can’t take your hands off your men after they’ve screwed you…

(
The Crowd move forward to tie up Mad Woman with ropes and gag her mouth. Crying and wailing, she becomes hy- sterical, but is finally dragged away by the Crowd. Young Man watches in astonishment and leaves with the Crowd. Man, who has been sitting and meditating on the futon, also disappears at the same time. Immediately afterwards, he returns from the other side with his Shadow. Shadow is dressed in black and has on black headgear which covers his face. Man and Shadow do not look at each other. They talk only to themselves, but their steps and movements are synchronized.
)

Man:

A seed falls on to the soil—

Shadow:

A child is born onto the world—

Man:

A gust of wind blows through the forest—

Shadow:

A horse gallops on the plateau—

Man:

A grain of sand falls into the eye—

Shadow:

An eye is crying tears—

Man:

The tears fall on the parched desert—

Shadow:

Like entering a bustling marketplace—

Man:

People squashing people, but their eyes can’t be seen—

Shadow:

Seeing dead fish one by one—

Man:

That’s a lonely city—

Shadow:

Pop singers are yelling and screaming to exhaustion—

Man:

Only the stars can hear the wind chimes ringing—

Shadow:

It is not our hearts that are ringing—

Man:

It’s the electric guitars picking your nerves—

Shadow:

You jump three times, nine times, eight times, seven times and you’re out of breath—

Man:

Just because you’re no hero—

Shadow:

More like a popular and low-minded farce—

Man:

An out-of-tune trumpet blows, blows, blows, blows and blows—

Shadow:

The conductor has to be right—

Man:

Everyone says he’s 180% painful—

Shadow:

Only one minute’s happiness—

Man:

It’s not the time for drinking beer—

Shadow:

Chicago Nuremberg—

Man:

Once there was a war—

Shadow:

Only sparrows were killed—

Man:

Soldiers didn’t fight, they only stood on guard—

Shadow:

And those standing on guard got to wear medals—

Man:

Who is the person speaking to me?

Shadow:

It is your shadow, your thoughts spoken out loud—

Man:

You’re always following me—

Shadow:

When you have lost your self—

Man:

You’ll come and remind me and double my trouble?

Shadow:

What are you looking for so desperately?

Man:

Now that you’ve reminded me! I’ve definitely lost something, can you tell me where to look for it?

Shadow:

(
Sarcastically.
) You probably do not know what you are looking for?

Man:

It appears to be…isn’t everyone looking for it?

(
The Crowd enter. They form a circle and bend down to look for something in the circle, like children at play.
)

Shadow:

It would not hurt to ask them what you are looking for. (
Takes the chance to leave and disappear.
)

Man:

Excuse me, are you looking for—

Person A:

A needle, they say you can lead a camel through the eye of this needle.

Man:

(
To another person.
) Excuse me, can you tell me what you’re looking for?

Person B:

Looking for a place where I can sit comfortably and securely. Once I’m there, I won’t leave the seat ever again. (Whispering.) I have haemorrhoids, I can’t sit on any wooden bench.

Man:

And, what are you looking for?

Person C:

(
Stuttering.
) I…I…I am…looking for a…a…mouth…which can…s…s…peak…for me. I…I…have to s…s…speak a lot…of…of…words ev…every…every day.

Man:

And you, young man?

Person D:

I’m looking for a rice bowl! You have everything, but I don’t even have a rice bowl!

Man:

Of course, I know, I know it’s very important to have a rice bowl. Go for it. Keep looking. (
To another person.
) Excuse me, I didn’t do it on purpose. (
Removes his foot.
) What are you looking for?

Person E:

I’m looking for a pair of shoes that fits. I don’t know why my shoes pinch. I want to know—

Man:

I’m also looking for—

Person E:

Do your shoes pinch too?

Man:

My shoes don’t pinch, but I don’t know where my feet should be going.

Person E:

You just have to follow other people’s footsteps.

Man:

Are you also looking for other people’s footsteps?

Person F:

(
Laughing playfully.
) I’m looking for a hole I can sneak through without anyone noticing me. And then I’ll come out on the other side swaggering.

Man:

How about you, my friend? You don’t look like the sneaky type.

Person G:

You’re right.

Man:

Can you tell me what are you looking for?

Person G:

Looking for my childhood dream.

Man:

It must be a very beautiful dream. (
To another
) And you? Are you looking for a dream too?

Person H:

No, I’m looking for a sentence.

Man:

Are you writing a poem?

Person H:

Everybody can write poetry, just like everybody knows how to make love.

Man:

Then you’re—

Person H:

Thinking! Everyone’s got a mind, but not everyone can think.

Man:

You’re right. What you’re looking for must be an epigram.

Person H:

I’m not sure if it’s an epigram. The problem is, if I didn’t find this sentence my thoughts would be cut off, and thoughts which have been cut off are like a cut-off kite, you’ll never be able to retrieve it again. Without a sentence you just can’t think, because thinking is like a chain, each ring is linked to the next one. You understand?

Man:

Young lady, how about you? What are you looking for?

Young Lady:

Take a guess.

Man:

It must be something to do with love.

Young Lady:

You’re so right! I’m waiting for a pair of eyes, tender, profound, and burning with passion—

(
He avoids the young lady, but he bumps into another person
.)

Person I:

Don’t step on my toes!

Man:

Oh, I beg your pardon.

Person I:

Never seen anyone who walks like you.

Man:

Neither have I. I’m going that way.

Person I:

Everyone’s looking here, what are you going to do over there?

Man:

There is nothing I want here.

Person I:

What are you looking for?

Man:

(
Troubled.
) I don’t know what I’m looking for.

Person I:

Everybody, look! The man is a weirdo, he doesn’t know what he’s looking for!

Person J:

He must have found it already.

(
The Crowd surround Man.
)

Man:

No, I haven’t. Really I haven’t. (
Walks away.
)

Stable Keeper:

(
Coming out from the Crowd.
) Where are you going?

Man: