Long pause between
MECHE
and
LA CHUNGA
while they watch
JOSEFINO
going down the staircase and taking up his seat again.
MECHE: Chunga, can I go now? It’ll soon be light. It must be about six, mustn’t it?
LA CHUNGA: Yes, you can go. Don’t you want to sleep a little first?
MECHE: If you don’t mind, I’d prefer to go.
LA CHUNGA: I don’t mind.
(
They go down the staircase together and head towards the exit. They stop by the rocking chair. The superstuds have finished their beers. They yawn as they play and appear not to see the two women.
)
MECHE: (
A little hesitant
) If you want me to come back again, and stay with you sometime, I mean at night …
LA CHUNGA: Of course I’d like us to spend another night together.
MECHE: Right, there’s no problem. I don’t mind, Chunga, I even …
LA CHUNGA: Wait, let me finish. I’d like to, but I don’t want to. I don’t want you to spend another night with me, nor do I want you ever to come back here.
MECHE: But why, Chunga? What have I done?
LA CHUNGA: (
Looking at her for a moment, silently, and then, drawing her face towards her as before
) Because you are very pretty. Because I like you and because you’ve made me care about you, and what happens to you. That, for me, is just as dangerous as falling in love, Meche. I told
you before I can’t let myself be distracted. I’d lose the battle. That’s why I don’t ever want to see you here again.
MECHE: I don’t understand what you’re saying, Chunga.
LA CHUNGA: I know you don’t understand. It doesn’t matter.
MECHE: Are you annoyed with me about something?
LA CHUNGA: No, I’m not annoyed about anything. (
Hands her some money
.) Here. It’s a present. For you, not for Josefino. Don’t let him have it, and don’t tell him I gave it to you.
MECHE: (
Confused
) No, I won’t tell him anything. (
Hides the money in her clothes
.) I feel ashamed to take money from you. It makes me feel …
LA CHUNGA: A whore? You may as well get used to the idea, in case you ever work in the Casa Verde. However … Do you know what you’re going to do with your life? (MECHE
is about to answer but
LA CHUNGA
stops her
.) Don’t tell me. I don’t want to know. If you leave Piura, or stay, it’s your affair. Don’t tell me. Tonight I wanted to help you, but tomorrow everything will be different. You won’t be here and everything will have changed. If you do go, and you tell me where you’re going, and Josefino holds a knife to my throat, I’ll end up by telling him everything. I told you I didn’t want to lose the battle. And if they kill me, there’ll be no more battle to lose. So come on, make a decision and do what you think best. But above all if you leave Piura, never even for a moment consider telling me or writing to me or letting me know where you are. OK?
MECHE: Right, Chunga.
Ciao,
then.
LA CHUNGA:
Ciao,
Meche. Good luck.
(MECHE
leaves the house
. LA CHUNGA
goes back to sit down on her rocking chair. She remains in the same position she was in when the curtain went up, at the beginning of the play. The superstuds’ voices are heard, beneath the smoke of the cigars. Long pause
.)
LA CHUNGA: (
Energetically
) Time! Pay up and be off. I’m closing.
EL MONO: Just five more minutes, Chunga.
LA CHUNGA: Not a second more, I said. Now, be off with the lot of you. I’m tired.
LITUMA: (
Getting up
) I’m sleepy too. Besides, they’ve completely cleaned me out, down to the very last copper.
JOSE: Yes, let’s go – the night’s become very flat all of a sudden.
EL MONO: But first let’s sing the farewell song, superstuds.
(
They sing – their voices sound flat, as at the end of a party
)
We are the superstuds.
We don’t want to work.
All we need is a little bit of skirt.
Drinking, gambling, all night long,
In Chunga’s bar where we belong.
Wine, women and song –
Wine, women and song.
And now it’s time to say ‘so long’
Goodbye, Chunguita.
(
They get up, make their way towards the rocking chair
. LA CHUNGA
gets up to take the money for the beers. They give it to her between them
. LA CHUNGA
goes with them as far as the door.
)
JOSE: (
Before crossing the threshhold, as if repeating a ritual
) Tomorrow you’ll tell me what happened that time with Mechita, Chunga?
LA CHUNGA: (
Closing the door in his face
) Go and ask your bloody mother. She’ll tell you.
(
Outside, the superstuds laugh and sing rude songs
. LA CHUNGA
bolts the door. She goes to put out the kerosene lamp which hangs over the table where the superstuds gamble. Sleepily she goes up to her room. It’s clear from the way she moves she is very tired. She lets herself fall on to the bed, hardly taking off her sandals.
)
LA CHUNGA’S VOICE: Goodnight, Mechita. See you.