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    33 views36 pages

    Untitled

    Uploaded by

    Sallie Bieterman

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
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    of 36
    ‘The Bus Stop GAO XINGJIAN ‘TRANSLATED BY SHIAO-LING YU Cuaractars SILENT MAN 9UARMA, a middle-aged man (uD aan 44, in is sites cant #4, twenty-eight years old nomuzap #F-7, nineteen years old asses AMARA, tiny years old moran 4%, frty years old ‘caxrnnen JF, forty-five years old pikecTOR Ma 5 £4, ify years old (he oges listed present each characters age at his r her it appearance) ‘Place: Abus stop inthe suburb ofa city (A bus-stop sign stands in the middle of the stage. The words on the sign are no lon 8 legible due to your ofexponure tothe element, Beside the bus-stop sign are two rove of ron railings where the passengers lineup. Th railings are shaped lie across, with euch ‘of the four posts a different length This shape is symbolic ofa crossroads, or a fork in ‘the road on the joureyof life, or a way sation inthe lives ofthe characters. The actos ‘ean come onto the stage from all directions, The SILENT MAN comes onto the stage ‘carrying a bag. He stope under the sign to wait forthe bus. The OLD MAN comes on ‘empty-handed 7A cho xINo}IAN ‘OLD aan: Did the bus just pass? (The stuzxr Man node) ‘Ae you geing to town? (The sizer bean nods) ‘When you goto town on Saturday aftemoon, you have to start out eal. Ifyou wait tillyou getoff work o catch the bis, you won't make it (The sruznr scan smiles) (Turing tis head to loo) Nota bus in sight. Would you know there would be {ewer buses on a Saturday afternoon, when everybody want to goto town? Ifyou Jeave one mite too late, you'l hit the “rush hour"—what a weird expresion! The moment everybody gets off wo, the rush begins. They all hun to squeze in, but you have tobe strong to push your way through the crowd. At my age just cant do At Wes a god thing I got an carly stat, before those who knock aff ety even get stared on their way. Idi’ even dare to take a nap. (Fels lieved aad yew) If dit have important busines in town, I wouldnt come now. (Taking ou a ciga- rma) Do you smoke? (The srr Man shakes his head) setter not to smoke, Why waste your money to get bronchitis? Besides, its ard to {get good cigarettes, The minute the Big Front Door cigarettes arrive in the stores, ‘people start ining up in the street; the line goesall the way around the commer. Each ‘customer: limited to two packs, When your tur finally come, the sles clerk tums hishead ard walks ava. Ifyou ask him a question, he doem bother answering you. 1s this “serving the customer? Its only lp sevicel All those Big Froat Door ciga- rettes have gone out the back doo! t's just ik wating forthe bus. When you stand inline according tothe rules, there re always some who don't goby the rules. They push tothe front, wave tothe drier, andthe door opens for them. They the *pre= ferred pastenger with connections” God! How I hate that term! By the time you try to get, the door is slammed shut again. That's how they “serve the passengers" ‘What can you do but stare at them in frustration? Everybody knows thishappens, but nothing i ever done abou it (Looking atthe sde ofthe stags) Hey, someone is com- ‘ng, You stand atthe heed of the line, and Yl stand behind you. In a litle while when the Eas comes, all hell wll break lose. Whoever is strongest wil get a seat. ‘That’ how people behave nowadays (The stuzeT MAN omile. The GIRL comes onstage holding a small Kandbag. She tops ata tle distance fom them. The HOTHRAD enter, and wth one lap sits down, ‘on the iron ailing He then take outa cigarette witha filter tp and Bight it with lighter) (To the srr man) Sce, that’s the fad nowadays (The siENr Max taps the iron ailing fo show his agreement) 'HoTHEAD: How long have you been waiting? (The OLD WAN pretends not to hear) How long does it take fora bus to come? (OLD aan (peevshy: Go ask the bus company. ‘THe aus stor (1985) 775 oTuieaD: That a funny answer. Tm asking you. INT MAN takes cut «book fom his bog and starts to read) ob aan: king me? Tn not the dipatcher {oTHEAD: Im asking you how long you've been waiting, (xD Man: Young man, that’s nt how you aka question. ‘MOTHEAD (realizing his mistake): Grandpa. OTHEAD(ercstically Then Your Honc. (1 wan: There no need for that. (The woven, fedlng rejected, starts to whistle while glancing a the OL MAN and swinging i legs) ‘This ming is for peopl to et theirhands on while standing in ne, It is not seat. ‘ora: You can't hurt it by siting on it. ts not made of straw ‘xp aan: Don't yousce itis ed? sori: Did make it tik ‘op man: IF everybody sits on it and rocks it, how ean it nt tt? [oTHEAD sit your private property? ‘LD MAN: I make it my busines to protet publi property. norHzAp: Don't argue with mel Why don't you go home and argue with your eld ‘woman? (He shakes the railing een more) ‘OLD MAN (trying his best to control his anger, turns tothe SILENT MAN): You ste (The suet aan has been reading; he hos paid no attention to the comvrsation. ‘CLASSES comes runing) (To thecim.): Get in line. Ina ite while ther'l be total chaos, (The ortean jumpe down from the ailing and puss forward He stands infront of the c1nt. The MOTHER aries, hurriedly lugging a big bag) Lets observe the rue of int come, ft verve. Cin. (the ox mA in an almoet inaudible oie: docs mate. jus steed her (The sound of a bus ie heard. The canrENTER arrives with big, vigorous strides, cary. ‘nga tool bag, He stands atthe end ofthe line. The sound ofthe Bu gets near, every one looks inthe diction ofthe bus. The sat MAN put his book cay Te line slowly moves forward.) (Turning back look at c1asses) Don't push (LD MAX: Get inline, everybody get in. (The sound ofthe bus moves ast them, The HorweAn suddenly gets in front ofthe ‘OLD MAN andthe SILENT MAAN end rue tothe ead ofthe Fine) commas (othe oTuaD) Hey! Hey... hey... (The bus does not stop.) ‘01: Stop! Why idee stop? Hello... (The norzAo runs afew steer the but. The sound ofthe bus fades vey) orueaD: Dama it ‘4 sax (angry: The busi not going to stp if weal et ike this 74 exo HINo}IAN MOTHER: Fey, you peopl in front—please get in line! {GLASSES (tthe HOTHEAD}: Get i line, gti ine! Can you hen? oriEAp: What’ the mater with you Afterall, Tm in front of you, orurs: There are not that many of uw, Woul'titbe beter gt onthe bus nan orderly fhion? ‘Lassi (tothe HoT EAD): You were behind her. uD man ( the sew man bed orHEaD: Youre wel-bred? ‘MoTiER: Do you think you dont have to stand inline? ‘OLD MAN (nunciating every syllable very low): Yo jump the queue when youre sup- posed to stand in line. Thats what call l-bred. orvieaD: If your fet itch, tel your old woman to serach them for you, Why ae you taking tot on me? oriten: Young man, don't be so rude. ‘ouasses: We allel you to line up. Why ae you so insensitive? oruan: Who sys I did't Tine up? The bu didnt stop, Why are you all yelling at met asses: Yeu were behind someone elie. oTuEaD: Im in font of you anyway OD MAN (embling with rage: Geta inet ¥oTHEAD: Why do you keep string up trouble? You think I'm afd of you? ‘oL0 aan: Are you looking fora fight? (The sitet maw wall over to them. Seeing that he is quite strong, the worw=AD ‘backs up «step but continues leaning against the raling so a ato appear weak) oritean: Ifyou so powerful, why didnt you make the bus top? (Ge lena ogaint he ailing and shake it some more) uD max: Young man, did't you lean anything in school? oruaD; I's none of your Busnes. If youre so learned, why set you riding in a limousine? (OLD wan: Waiting for a bus is nothing to be ashamed of it socal morality, Didn't your teaches teach you that? orieap: We neverhad sucha leston. ‘OLD man: Your parents dda teach you ithe? ¥oriteap: Your mother tught you, how come you did't get onthe bus either? (The oxo man fal silent, not knowing what to say. He glances atthe si.2NT MAN, ho has sumed reading) (Simugh)Ifyutve never gotten ona bus befor, youve lived all hes year in van ‘uasszs: Were all waiting for the bus; please be litle considers ofthe other, ¥oTHEaD: Am Ino standing in line in ight in front of ou. ‘cuss (pointing at the crn: You were behind het noriap: Sh can get on ahead of me. But when the bus comes she mut be able squeeze in cunt. (turing her back hin: How disgusting! ‘rue us stor (1983) 75 OTHEAD (othe OLD wan): Fyn can get on, jst go ahead you can, dot Blame te. And don't black th way ether Ifyote such an educated and sensible peso, you must know how to get on aus. haven'thad much schooling at Tecan get onabus (The wound ofa bis beard) ‘orien: The busi coming. Everybody gti ine. 1HoTHEAD (ill leaning cn the lng, tothe cin): Tm after you. I you cant get on later, dnt blame me fr pushing you. cm (frowning You go shead. (The sound ofthe bus pting coe. The sen Maw puts his book away The cAR- ENTER, who haa been aquting all ia tne, ands up, Everybody pushes forward along the rang) ‘LASSE (othe Gin: Tyo geton the bus fom these. Haldon to the door handle (The cin. ool at o14sse but see nating, Everybody move forard in the dic- tion ofthe bus. The wornaD stand outside the naling following righ behind the cm) oLb man: Stop Stop asses: Hello... op! orien: We've been wating along time! ‘IRL: The one before thi one dat stop. [HOTHEAD: Tat won of «bitch . ccanrenran: Hey (They al ran afer the bus and crowd to one come ofthe tage. The WOTHEAD mu: dent daha forward; cusses grabs him. The WOTHEAD evings his arm; CLASSES seizes im by hissleve The wore aD tums around and slope Lasse. The ound of ‘the bus becomes faint) cassis: How date you hit me? sorizap: So what fT ht your (The two fight) ‘uD man: Theyre fighting! Theyre fighting! more: Young people nowadays. ‘IRL (fo GLASSES): Why dot you ge out of is way? Ccuasses: That oubleraker oruzAD (using frwar) slap you again! (The sien wan andthe canrEn2x separate them) ccanrunra: You both stp! Stop! You guys have nothing better o dot ‘cuasses: Stinking ashol norieap: You son ofa ichl ‘orien: Oh, how awful. Don't you people have any shame? _HoTHEAD: Why did he pull my sleve? ‘cusses: AIIT did was giv him litle tug, Why dit you stay inline? orutzap: Don't ty to bea her in front of the womenfolk. If yout really somebody, Tet take litle walk, 6 cxo xinoyian ‘cuassx: Do you think Im scared of you? You idiot (The worweaD hinges atcLasse8 agin but the CARPENTER grab his writ, making ‘him unable move) caxpawen: Dont make any trouble. Go stand inthe back. OTHEAD: It's none of your business. ‘canrunren: Go the back! (Ee grabs him by the writ and droga him to the ear ofthe line) ‘cub an: Thats right. Don't let him ereate any more trouble. Otherwise, none of us can get on the bus. (To the SILENT man) He hs it coming. (The su.znr wan didnot hear what was said. He has tarted reading again) oriEAD: Iwas atthe font ofthe line. Do you think only you peoplecan go to town, but can't? ‘oTaten: Nobody ssid you cant go. OLD MAN (tothe WoTHiER): We all go to town for some purpose, but he only wants to ‘make trouble. There are thse “three-handed” people on the bus; we'd better watch ct for them. (Bveryne fel hie wallet except the SILENT MAN and the CARPENTER) ‘NoTitEA: What makes you think youre o important Old turtle! (The cin. and the MOTHER amile a each other. The OLD MAN glances at them disapproving) oruE (qucty changing the subject to CLASSES}: Thee’ no need fr you to getnto ‘fight with him Youre no match for him. asses (haricalh): Has anyone seen such a troublemaker? No one wil be able to get ‘on the bus because of him, Are you going to town? orien: My husband and child live inthe ety. I's such a headache tying to catch a bus on Saturdays. You have to fight your way on. ‘cLas8xS: Why don't you ak tobe transfered tothe city? ‘wore: Who does’ want tobe transfered to the ety? But youve got have connec- tions. What can we do? cunt: Two buses have posed without topping, CiAsses: Theyre already full before they leave the starting point. Are you going to town forsome busines? (The crm nods) ‘You'd do better to get on atthe starting point. Where do you lve? (The crm. look ct him with a guarded expression and does not answer hi question. asses, feling put out, adjuts hin lanes. The SILENT MAN clot hit Book and tums to lok in the drction fom which the bus had come. He appear itl anxious and buries hime in his bok again) (oL wax: I'm really worried, Ihave tobe a the Cultural Palace in the city by seven clock boron: You really havea zest fo life. Going to town to watch a show? ‘OLD MAN: No such hick Let the townspeople watch the shows; Im ging toa chess ame ‘re aes st0P (1983) 7 orien: What? ‘OLD aA: A chess game. Chariot, horse, cannon—do you understand? Checkmate! Cc: Ob, to pay chess You must be eazy about it. LD MAN: My young lady, ve played chess ll my life ‘asses: Ereryone has his interest. If people dida’t havea passion for something, life would be very dull ‘OLD maw: Wel sad Tve studied all kinds of chess manual. From Patriarch Zhang ‘Secret Methods for Chass Playing tothe recently published Solutions to One Hundred Unfinished Chess Games—I can show you all the moves without misting a single ‘one! Do you play ches too? ‘uasses: I pay occasionally. ‘OLD san: I's not enough jst to play it occasionally there’ a Tot chess. I's a special- ined learning ‘eLassEs: Ye, its nt easy to play it wel. ‘OLD MAN: Have you heard of Li Mosheng? -Moruen (sting that the canPENTER‘ bog is next o hers, she moves her bag closer to hherelf: Do you do carpentry work? ccanrenren: Mn— ‘cuasses: Which Li Mosheng? aworiten: Yeu work on Saturdays? CcaRPENTER (oo lazy fo respond): Uh (LD ma: You say you ply chess but you don't even know Li Mosheng? CLASSES (oflogeticalh: have no eclletion otuen: Do you Bx chair legs? Our— ‘cannes (interrupting her: make fine furniture, ‘ou san: Don't you read the evening news? ‘otasses Iv been busy preparing fr the collee entrance exam, ‘OLD MAN (Lng intereat): Then you donteven know the ABCs of ches MOTHER (turing tothe GIR): Does your family also live inthe cy? ‘cim.: No, Ihave todo something ther Mori (boking her up and down To meet a fiend? (The c1mt nods with embarrassment) He must be a good young man. What work does he do? (The cxnt shuffles her fo, her head bent) Tsthe wedding dte near? ‘cnt What ae you saying (Taking a handkerchief from her handbag and fang her self) How come the bus int here yet? ‘ctassts: The dispatcher mut be chatting with someone and has gotten the ime. ‘MOTHER: Is this how they “serve the passengers"? ‘LD MAN: Its the passengers who serve them. Ifthere are no peogle waiting at the bus stop, how can they prove their importance? You might x well be patient and wait ‘MoTHE®: Inthe time we've been waiting here I could have washed a big tub of dirty clothes. 7 cao xincyax cnt: You rush home on Saturday to was clothes? Morse Thisis what maried Ife sik that husband of mine only ead his books; he does know how to do anything else—caneve wash small handkerchief! When ‘you Took fra husband, don't ge bookworm like that. Amore rexoureil penton woud have moved his fail the ity long ago. ‘OLD man: But you asked frit. Why don't you have him transfered to the country? Every week you wait fo the bus, push and shove to get onthe bus. How can you stand ie ‘orate: Thaea child and must think about his fture. Asyou wel kno, rl schools ‘ue not up sandra How many ofthe graduae ge imo cleger (Nad tomar the woTHEAD) I wouldnt want my Pipe! to end up Hike that and ruin his future. (The sound ofa bis eer) ‘om: The bs is coming! ‘GLASSES: It's really coming Ws empty too. oTHER (ifing her big bag) Dont push. We en al get on and everbody wll have a seat [HOTHEAD (tothe OLD Man You'd better watch your step. you tip and lote your wal- let and ca pay for ourtcket, yl really make a foo of youre ©oLp aan: Young man, do be so sure ofyouselé Sooner alter it wil be your tur to ‘weep (To the chen) No ned torus. Everybody line upto get on the bus (They pul theives together and far net line. The sound of he bus pet close. DIRECTOR MA errs justin tie, his jacket unbuttoned, his hands swinging, He walls straight toward the bus) ‘onmens: Hey, getin line! Wh back! the matter? Don'tyou know the rues? Go standin the DIRECTOR Ma (lnagreeabljIjust want fo take Took You people line up all ou want ‘cuasses: Have you never seen a bus before? Dinrcron Ma: Ive never sen anyone lik you before (Staring at hin) Im looking fr (The sound of bu pass by ther; again the bus doesnot top, DIRECTOR Ma ane ously rum tothe front of he bu top) (Weaving repeatedly) Hey! Hey! Olé Wang! Driver Wang! Tm Old Ma ofthe general supplies storel (The group breala up andthe ll un oft the bus) ‘asses: Why dide¥itstop? Cnt: Several buses have come and gone. Stop this one quickly ‘oTiER: There were only afew passenger on the bus. Why didi stop? PIRNCTOR MA (chases the but, running and shouting): Let me on! Open your front dood Tm Old Ma of the genera supplies stor! fst take me along. ‘OLD MAN (eutng atthe dwn: How ean you act like hi? Don’ you have any concern forthe passengers? ‘eanrENTER: That son of itch ‘rue aus stor (1983) 79 ‘MoTHEAD (picking up a stone and throwing it at the Busy Tm going to smash you to pieces! (The sound of he bus becomes fainter and fntr. The sient maw gazes in the direc- tion ofthe bus) ‘DIRECTOR MA: Cay. From now on don’t you bus companies expect any favors fom me. ‘OLD MAN: Ave you Director Ma ofthe general supplies store? DIRECTOR MA (futting on ain): What about i? ‘OLD Max: You know the diver? pingcron aA: They've changed drivers. Those goddamned ingrates! ‘OLD man: Oh, tats why they don’t appreciate what youve done for them. pinzcron mA: Dart talk about it anymore, My friendly relationship with them is over. "Next time those bus company people come to me, I'l treat them just like everybody clse, (Taking eu a cigartt) Do you smoke? OLD MAN (glancing atthe brand ofthe cigarette: No, thanks. Lforgt to bring my glasses with me. pingcroR ma: Its the Big Front Door brand, (OLD maw: That brand is hard to get. DIRECTOR ma: Tha’ for sure, Day before yesterday, the bus company people came to ‘me, and I et them have twenty cartons. had no idea theyte so mean. ‘LD maw: How zbout leting me havea carton? DIRECTOR ua: That'd be tough; theyre in short supply. ‘OLD MAN: The Big Front Door has gone out the back door. No wonder these buses dor’ stop at ther stops either. pinzcro ma: What do you mean by that? (OLD man: Nothing. DbinzctoR ma: What doce “nothing” mean? (01D Man: It doesn’t have any meaning, DingcToR ma: What isthe meaning of it doesnt have any meaning”? ‘OLD MAN: It doesn’t have any meaning means it doesnt have any meaning, pingcron aA: "It doesn't have any meaning mean it doesn’thave any meaning” does have meaning, ‘OLD Man: Then what do you think t means? pingcron ma: Ws very clear. Youre saying that, as a director, Tm leading the way to ‘open back doors. Isn't that right? ‘OLD Man: You sid it yourselE (The stuzner wan paces back and forth in agitation) ‘GLASSES (reading his flash cars): Book, pig, desk, dog, pig, dog, dest, Book. > ccanrEnTER: Which country's English ae you reading? cauasses: English is English. There's no which country. Well, I'm reading American ‘English The British and American peopl both speak English, but their pronuncio- tions are different, ls just Iie the word "T” in Chinese; you say “an,” they sy “an.” Inert take the college entrance examination, we alo have to take atest in foreign fo cao xinojan languages. Ive never tied English befor. Ihave to at fom src now. eat fuststand here wing forthe bus and wasting my ime ceanrtern: Go shead and ty, Std MOTHER (eurmur tothe audene a the ame tinea the crn My Pipe’ is wating forme emake see dumplings ohm He doe ik those made with sg, bean ate, orfvekindsoft filings. He ony likes sesame ed fling cum. (n usm with he worsen: Were supped to meet at seven fen in fot of the prkentrance, scr the set, under te third steep. im to amy pute lah ed handbag and ell be leaning agains Fyng Doe bey (Fhe sites aN wall upto them and lol et hem with e melancholy expo. ‘They stop talking.) insoron un (edding the OLD wan): Do you know what neat by inshort sup"? ou man: Thing you can't by. DInKcTon wn: For consume, fs things they can't buy. For inthe commercial de- partment inufciet spp Inuficient supply creates aconradition between supply nd demand. How do ou sole this contaicton? Coup sav not the directo. DIRECTOR Wh: But oe a consumert Can ou give up smoking? (LD tnt Ie ried sever mes DIRECTOR wr: Do you know smoking ibd for our heal? ‘LD wan: Thom Dinzcron wa: You know, so why do you sil smoke? You know very wel that we say ‘one thing nd do smother. Dont we publicize fay planning ever eu? But there 10 reducion inthe number of births, and ou population continues to grow. Before owns give up smoking, youngster sl wet behind the ear tak up the hai. ‘The nurbet of smoker grom faster than tobacoleves. Tel me, how ean we sole this condition between supply and demand? (the ster wan flings hs bg onto his shoulder He i about leave, but als) ‘AASSES (wtng in elude): Open your bols| Open yur ig —nt right; open your dono ih, nt ight 1 may: Cant you produce more? DinzcTor WA: You ak the ight question! Bot tha’ the problem with the production department. How can we inthe commercial department she i You Blame me for opening the back door, but our back door can nly ake care of our od customers. (Can we epen our Font door wide tothe publi? No way! It vay been like this some pepe can get what they want, some can, If everyone could buy whatever he wanted, fiers wouldnt be any condition, woud hte? cunt: What allthis yammering? Hew annying ors: Yeu have no ides of whats annoying, Wa tl you become a mathe, then youl now what’ annoying, (The sun tn turns eound. The crn’ eye met witha and she immediately lowers hen. The SN haw does not nate fer and walla of with long wide, not ies 983) 7h ven tuning his aad. Thesund of oft at canbe heard. The mac exprene pain fly determined warch. Th x lol inthe ection he hx goe, at nui) catrawren: Excuse me fr nteoptng, (otRxctoR wa and th OLD mat tr their head) Tm mot talking to you, You two just go on with your “comic dialogue * pinscTon ma: You think i wasting my breath with comic dialogue? I'm woking on the ideology of my customer. (Continues to pervade the OLD wan) You don't under stad the tation in our commercial department. You unhappy, right? Do you thinks ay beng director? You jot ty doing my jb. (0: Ma Tem do your jo. DIRECTOR MA: Just try. (20 man Ig in. You win, DIRECTOR ma (fo the carrera}: Did you see thal? Did you se that? Canrenax: See what? You mean that teacher with ase? unssEs (nang sence): Do you ypeat English? I peck iter. . 5 "oTHEAD (rating hin, no nong wis: Ai—si—pi—heai—li-tu er unssns (angry Ar you ape? orieaD: Look who's siting! Cts Stop wl you? I can stand it anymore Canrenen: Excite me, mister, what time do you have? 1nsses (ook a is tc, shocked: Whats happened? What canrewex It stopped? ‘Assis: I wish tad topped... Why, year has passed cmt: Youre fooling us. ‘tasses (bole ati wach agin: Ws tue. WeVe been wating whole year at his bos stop. (worueA put is index finger nto his meth and whites with li strength) (um man (gars a the: Rabbis G1asses: What do you mean rubbi? Ifyou do believe me look t your watch canren en: No need to get excited M's nothing serious. oie: How come its only two fry on my match? [HOTHEAD (move over o tab a ook thas stopped ‘urn Ten: What are you yelling about (To he OLD stan) Let look t yous. OLD MAN (after much fumbling, takes out his pocket watch with a shaking hand): How come it does ook right sctitea: Youre loking att upside down. ou max: Ten pst... one. Rs stopped. oTHEAD (gloating): Se, your watch is wore than her, Your watch is jut ike you too od. DIRECTOR MA (haking his wri iter) Mine has topped too. cre: Look atthe date. Doesn't yours come with a caenda? Dinzcron wa: It says “thiseenth month, fry-

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