As promised, here is the first article about the educational world in China. As you will see, it has nothing to do with education per se; but it does have something to do with the kind of people who work in that bizarre little world: narrow-minded, petty, racist. This is my rendering of a particular vicious incidence of character assassination. It is in film (TV) format, though I also wrote it for theatre.
You will see that the characters are “letters”: there are no names but for the woman who was persecuted and ruined via rumor. Her name is Wu Youming吴有名, which could be read as Nobody Famous or The Famous Nobody (Wu being a family name that is homonomous with “nobody,” and youming meaning “famous”). It is pure and simple revenge on the part of L, M, G and C (though C is just a toady).
The irony is that by running her to ground, these character assassins actually made her famous, she wasn’t important enough to make a big deal over. The play/film was written about a year ago. I spent alot of time writing social satire, first in theatre 40 years ago, then in prose. I love Absurdism. I pull no punches.
Any filmmaker who would like to film this and show it, please do so. Anyone who wants the play script, please ask. So…The Making of Wu Youming.
The Making of 吴有名
Blank screen.
White noise.
Titles:
The Making of吴有名
Written by: James L. Secor
Directed by:
PLACE: A copse of trees. Idyllic.
TIME: Dusk.
ANGLE: From the side and behind 吴有名. Still camera.
Silence.
The only noise is that accompanying the action.
A dirty street person (woman) shuffles into the scene. This is 吴有名.
Ruffles her rags. Scratches her ass.
As she makes her way into the trees. . .
Voice Over: A formal, serious Master of Ceremonies voice telling the TV audience a secret. If he speaks too loudly, the old woman might hear him.
Voice Over
This is 吴有名. That is not her real name. That has long been forgotten. 吴有名 is how she is known. During the bad times, everyone suffered. Perhaps the richer sorts more than the others. My father knew the man who ran the local tavern so I went to work. Workers came here and the out-of-sorts due to the bad times, the better sort and the pretenders. And吴有名. No one really knew who she was. She never said. Always, it was, “I’m just nobody. A figment of your imagination. Don’t even pay attention to me.” But everyone did.
“Hey, look! Nobody’s here!” would be the inevitable shout when 吴 showed up at the door.
Sometimes, she would growl back, “If I’m nobody, how can I be here?”
And everyone laughed.
吴有名 was the local joke. Downing her was a way to make everyone else feel better. The times, they were not good.
吴 never came into the tavern. She would sit on the jamb and call for her wine. It was my job to take her her wine. She had no job that anyone knew of. It was rumored, though, she’d once been a teacher. But she gave that up. No one knew why. Some of the patrons called her “professor” on account of her past life and because she would often talk about things no one understood. When she began, everyone would egg her on and tease her and laugh at her outpourings of gibberish– gibberish to them and to a 13-year old as well. Though I laughed with the others and did not understand much at all of what 吴 said, I nevertheless felt she was somehow–different. Under my skin, I knew she knew something the rest of us didn’t. Her eyes were more intense, less dry. They should have been empty because of her situation. She was more real to me than everybody else. How can I explain that?
By this time, 吴有名 has disappeared into the woods.
ANGLE: Hold still-camera and. . .
IRIS IN TO SEPIA.
IRIS OUT.
PLACE: The bedroom of a house. Everything is white. Sparsely furnished. No windows.
TIME: Mid-day, bright and sunny.
ANGLE: From above and slightly off centre.
Voice Over
This is a bedroom.
ANGLE: Camera pans around the room.
Stops at a clothes closet.
Voice Over
This is a closet. It is dark in there. A small little room. Confining. It is a place for storing things. Usually clothes. But sometimes people live in closets.
Suddenly, the closet door flies open.
ANGLE: Close-up of a multitude of masks crowded together in the closet.
Voice Over
And on the inside of the door is written. . .
ANGLE: Slow pan around to sign on door. Fills TV screen.
SIGN READS: No Exit.
Pause.
ANGLE: Camera pulls away for a long shot of the closet with open door.
But now there are only three men crushed into the closet, their masks staring out at the camera.
ANGLE: Hold.
Voice Over
It is a very narrow world in there. But it is all the world they’ve got. Centred on themselves, they like to impose their worldview on everyone outside, anyone who doesn’t fit with their closed belief of how things are. Anyone they think threatens them is ripe for a revaluing.
The closet door slowly closes and latches itself shut.
Banging around in the closet.
SLOW FADE TO SEPIA AS. . .
Voice Over
When the door’s closed too long, it begins to smell in there.
BLACKOUT.
LIGHTS UP.
PLACE: An office. Typical office. But the desk is over-sized, as is the other furniture. The room is stark white. The furniture is brown, resembling piles of shit.
TIME: Late afternoon.
A short man sits behind the desk. He is almost lost. He wears a mask. The mask is of a well-groomed, debonnaire businessman. It is slightly too big for his head. This is Mr. L.
Sitting on the sofa is a somewhat less formally dressed man, also in a mask that is too large for his head. He is taller than Mr. L. This man is smoking. When one cigarette is finished, he lights another. This is Mr. M.
Mr. L
We have a problem.
Mr. M
We do?
L
We do.
M
What is it?
L
One of our staff is misbehaving.
M
Oh, no! Not again!
L
Different one.
M
Oh? Who?
L
Miss吴.
M
Nice Miss吴?
L
A wolf in sheep’s clothing.
M
I knew it. I just knew it.
L
Me too.
M
They’re all really too much alike.
L
So! (Stands) We must do something about it.
Mr. L goes to the chair near the sofa and sits.
L
Before things get out of hand.
Mr. L lights a cigarette. L & M smoke awhile.
As the scene progresses, the smoke haze grows thicker and thicker. They adjust by raising their voices til they are shouting at each other because they cannot see each other.
M
What do you suggest we do?
L
Find corroborating evidence.
M
You mean dig up more dirt?
L
No, no. Digging up what’s been left behind. She’s obviously hiding something.
M
Or she wouldn’t be here.
L
Exactly. If she’s really who she says she is, she wouldn’t be in this backwater.
M
Yes. Of course. It’s the way of the world.
L & M smoke for a bit, contrapuntally.
M
Why do they think we are so stupid we won’t see this?
L
Racial prejudice.
M
Ah. Yes. Always right.
L
Superior.
M
But we are not so stupid.
L
No indeed not. We are very intelligent and insightful.
M
We have a long history of intelligence and. . .stuff. Stuff like that.
L
And so we find things out.
Smoking continues.
M
How do we do it?
L
We’re missing something.
M
Yes! We are!
L
Let us take another look at her resume.
M
Yes. Let’s.
Mr. L retrieves several sheets of paper from his desk, returns to chair, hands one piece of paper to Mr. M.
They peruse the pages, holding them up against their noses. They grunt like pigs.
They switch pages and repeat.
They switch pages several times.
M
I find nothing.
L
Me neither.
M
This must not be all.
L
Hiding something.
M
As you say.
Although L & M have been lighting up before, it is necessary that they light up now, filling the air with great beginning puffs of smoke.
L
Ask for a complete resume.
M
Isn’t this it?
L
She’s obviously hiding something.
M
Ahhhh. . .yes.
L
Then we will jump on her.
M
How do you know she’ll do it?
L
They’re all the same. What do they know about subtlety and cunning? We have a long history of language ambiguity and hiding our minds behind smiling eyes and gentle winning ways.
M
Stupid to the point of ridiculousness. Easy pickings.
L
In the meantime, I’ll investigate her house.
M
How will you do that?
L
I have connections.
M
Oh. Those guys.
L
Yes. Those guys.
M
We’re bound to find something, then.
L
It’s inevitable.
FADE OUT.
FADE UP.
PLACE: A different office with the same furniture rearranged.
TIME: Late afternoon. A slant of sunlight slices through the room.
Mr. G sits at his computer. He is doing nothing. He is about the same age as Mr. M.
Mr. M appears at the open door and knocks.
Mr. G turns in his chair. He is wearing a mask. Too big for him. A dapper, superior-looking mask as befits his nattily dressed figure. He is a smooth, controlled talker.
Mr. G
Yes? Come in.
M
I’m Mr. M.
G
Ahh! Mr. M. Welcome. Welcome. Come in. Come in.
Mr. G goes to Mr. M and shakes his hand, guides him to the chair.
Mr. G stands a moment looking down on Mr. M. Mr. M looks up to Mr. G
Mr. G sits on sofa, far from Mr. M.
G
I’m glad you could come.
M
I’ve come about Miss吴.
G
Yes. Yes. I remember her well. Caused quite a stir here. Upset the smooth running of everything. Even questioned me, of all people. Can you imagine?
M
Yes. She is a problem.
G
Yes. I mean. . .who does she think she is? I’m the internationally known translator and Bible expert.
M
And Dean. G
Yes, yes. Indeed. I am that. (Pause. Claps hands together) So! What can I do for you?
M
It’s Miss吴.
G
So you said.
M
We want to know if she did anything similar down here to what she’s done up there. With us.
G
And what might that be?
M
It seems–(Coughs)–she likes little boys.
G
Is that so? Well. . .oh, yes! I do recall something like that. Seduced– sexually abused a young boy student. Yes. Very terrible, sad thing. (Pause) Is that the kind of thing you’re looking for?
M
Yes. Exactly.
G
Glad to be of help. Will there be anything else?
M
Could we see the boy?
G
Ah, no. I’m afraid not. He’s. . .not here, you know. So traumatized we had to send him home. We can’t have you disturbing the poor innocent.
M
No, no. Of course not. We would like you to come up and talk with Mr. L, my superior. And perhaps sign a statement.
G
Ahhh. No. No. I can’t do that. No, no. Too many responsibilities down here. I’m the dean, you know. People rely on me. And there’s a great school event we’re involved in carrying off. Perhaps you saw the banners. . .
M
No. I saw no banners.
G
Well. . .perhaps they’ve not gotten them up–as they should. (Goes to window and looks out) You know how some workers are. Let me see. . .I’ll just make a note of that. . . (Scribbles on a scrap of paper) Anything else
M
We are willing to make it worth your while.
G
Well, now. . .let me check my calendar. . .
Mr. G goes to computer and messes around a bit.
Turns in chair.
G
It looks like I could manage to sneak away for a day or two. I find I’m really not needed right away after all. My secretary can take care of things. Delightfully competent young lady. And quite alluring, too.
Mr. G rubs his hands together. Licks his lips.
BLACKOUT.
G
(Voice in blackout) I’ll show you to best me! I’ll ruin you! I’ll stomp you into the ground. You. . .you. . .
LIGHTS UP.
PLACE: Mr. L’s office.
TIME: Evening. Full moon visible out the window.
Mr. L and Mr. M at door, having just seen Mr. G out.
They look at each other.
They offer each other a cigarette.
They shake hands.
Mr. L. and Mr. M go to sofa and chair and light up.
M
Imagine. . .finding the filthy, dirty proof so easily.
L
Yes. We are good. But you know. . .
M
What?
L
She is so stupid to leave it lying around for all to see.
M
They are all so stupid.
L
Especially to think that we are so stupid.
M
That we would not find it.
L
Luckily Mr. G was around and had a story to tell.
M
Very convincing story, too.
L
Can you imagine even thinking you could get away with something so disgusting.
M
I would never think of such a thing. Even with Miss C.
L
Oh, yes. She is very. . .
M
Delicious.
L
Yes. Delicious.
Phone rings.
Mr. L goes to desk to answer it.
L
Yah? . . . Oh? . . . Right out in the open? . . . How disgusting. . . . Eh? You’re kidding! . . . Oh. Thank you for keeping me posted, Miss C. (Hangs up. To Mr. M) That was Miss C.
M
Ah. She is a good spy.
L
Yes, she is. And Miss吴 does not know. She tells her everything and Miss C sifts through it for the truth she knows lies hidden in there.
Mr. L and Mr. M laugh and puff their cigarettes.
Mr. L returns to his chair, carrying his phone with him.
M
What did Miss C say?
L
Miss吴 hugs the boys in public.
M
Oh. That is disgusting.
L
In the school yard where everyone can see.
M
I mean!
L
She doesn’t even try to hide it.
M
Miss C tells me they visit her house often on the weekends.
L
Oh? She tells me it is only one boy.
M
One boy?
L
The public displays of affection are only cover for what happens in her house. Of course.
M
How sneaky.
L
Devious.
Mr. L and Mr. M smoke.
L
We found spots on the bed clothes.
M
Really? Stiff white ones?
L
Of course. I don’t think she washes her sheets.
M
Likes to revel in the deed
L
Yes. Disgusting.
M
Who is the boy?
L
Little N.
M
How interesting.
L
Yes. Isn’t it.
M
You’d think he would know better.
L
Oh, you know. . .boys today. It’s the only thing they think of. She just takes advantage of the situation.
M
It must be the only thing she thinks of, too.
L
Doubtless.
M
Not like our day.
L
Certainly not.
Mr. L and Mr. M smoke.
The phone rings.
L
Yah? . . .Oh. Hi, sweet thing. . . . Hmm? . . .You must go away for another meeting? . . . I was so hoping you’d be around this weekend, I’m feeling particularly randy. . . . Yes, yes. I know. . . . Yes. I can fend for myself. I’m a big boy, you know. . . . Alright. ‘Bye, dear. (To Mr. M) That was my wife.
M
Ah. Off on another business trip?
L
Yes. So very many.
M
There is a nice young girl at the massage parlor.
L
Yes?
M
Yes. Must be all of 14 or 15. Nice pert little breasts. No stretch marks.
L
Yes?
M
Yes. Cherry red nipples that stand right up.
L
White skin?
M
Like milk.
L
Hair?
M
Shaved.
L
Ooh! How nice.
M
She’ll do anything you ask.
L
Really?
M
Yes. And not so very expensive, all things considering.
L
Pity she’s not a virgin.
M
There are no more of them at that age.
L
Not like the old days.
M
Not like our wives.
L
Yes. . .what has happened to the world? No more purity.
Phone rings.
L
Yah? . . . What?! (Jumps up) What? . . . What? . . . You’re kidding. . . . Damn! . . . Alright. You know who to talk to. (To Mr. M) She’s slipping through the net.
M
What? How could she.
L
I don’t know. We didn’t do anything to tip her off.
M
No, no, no. But she’s so disgusting, it’s hard to talk to her.
L
Yes. Or even be pleasant.
Pause.
M
How do you know?
L
Miss C’s with her now. At the train depot.
M
Damn!
L
She was going to leave without telling us.
M
That’s breaking the contract.
L
She can’t do that.
M
We can sue her.
L
Yes. . .if we can keep track of her.
M
What are you going to do?
L
Plan B.
M
Plan B?
L
Always have a contingency plan, Mr. M. You must keep in mind that things do occasionally go wrong. So. . .Miss C is going to leak the truth to a few key people. We must do the same.
M
But she might get away.
L
I can take care of that.
Mr. L and Mr. M stub out their cigarettes. Mr. M immediately lights another.
Mr. M leaves.
Mr. L picks up his phone.
SLOW SAD FADE TO BLACK.
IRIS OUT.
Sepia of opening shot.
吴有名’s voice. Over the action. She has a scratchy, alto voice.
吴有名
Some people look at life through a pirate’s spy glass and at the other end they see themselves. Their coping mechanism is putting everything into this universe’s orb. Behavior is, after all, what you see. (Snorts) To everything there is a reason. These people construct reasons for whatever disconnected bits and pieces they see and want to see in their spy glass. They commit murder. Kongzi said, Clever talk, a pretentious manner and a reverence that is only of the feet–Tso Ch’iu Ming was incapable of stooping to them, and I too could never stoop to them. (Scratches her ass. Farts) I don’t know. I just don’t know. Not any more.
IRIS IN TO BLACK
LIGHTS UP.
PLACE: Mr. L’s office.
TIME: Mid-day. Sun streams in through the window. Very, very bright.
Mr. L is at his desk, on his phone.
L
Yes, that’s right. . . . Yes. Well, you know. They are all pretty stupid. . . . Yes. Easy to pull the wool over their eyes. . . . Yes. String her along. . . . That’s right. And then dump her. . . . Yes, I know. It is disgusting. But what can we do, eh? It is our job as citizens to stop crime before it happens. . . . Ah. Yes. Well. How she escaped here is a mystery. But we have her now, yes? . . . What?! . . . She’s making friends with the girls?! . . . How utterly despicable! Boys and girls. . . . Yes. Be nice and keep your distance. . . . Alright. Thank you. (Ends call) Yes! We’ve got her! The foreign devil.
Knock at door.
L
Enter!
Mr. M comes in holding newspapers.
M
We have a problem.
L
Solved.
M
No. I don’t think so. Take a look at this.
Mr. M hands papers to Mr. L.
Mr. L. reads, exasperated. Reads another and another. Exasperation grows.
M
She has made herself so public.
L
This makes our job more difficult.
Mr. L and Mr. M sit at sofa and chair and light up. They puff awhile.
L
Those kinds of people cannot not leave a trail of slime. And she has the gall to do this!
M
You mean like they are hooked? Like on drugs?
L
Exactly.
M
And when they are high, druggies do wild and crazy things. Everybody knows that.
Mr. L and Mr. M puff on their cigarettes.
L
I have spoken to the people down there.
M
You have?
L
Yes. Miss吴 is now into girls.
M
What?! Oh, that’s horrible!
L
Yes. It is. Insatiable filth.
M
Does she do both together?
L
What a. . .thought!
Pause.
M
Grime and shit.
L
Soiled and dingy.
Mr. L and Mr. M smoke in time with their epithets.
M
Musty and messy.
L
Sloppy and untidy.
M
Foul and mucky.
L
Rotten and putrid.
M
Smutty and slimy.
L
Come and juice!
M
Tongues and fingers!
L
Front door and back door!
M
Sixty-nine!
L & M
(Shout) Mouse eats little brother!
Silence at fever pitch.
M
I wouldn’t mind getting her.
L
You filthy bastard.
M
Wouldn’t you like to get her?
Mr. L stands. Straightens clothes.
M
You know what they say. .
L
I’m a man.
M
Me too.
Mr. M lights another cigarette and sucks strongly on it.
Mr. L goes to bookcases. Rummages around. Comes out with a bottle of champagne.
L
I’ve been saving this.
M
Good stuff, huh?
L
Oh, my, yes.
Mr. M gets out paper cups.
Mr. L. goes to chair.
They stand a moment.
They take off their masks.
ANGLE: Close-up of faces.
Mr. L and Mr. M are truly disgusting looking. Their faces are distorted and almost inhuman-looking and spotted with greenish mold.
ANGLE: Tight frame on Mr. L and Mr. M and champagne.
Mr. L pops the cork. Foam billows out over bottle neck and hands. They laugh suggestively.
Mr. L pours two paper cups full. They foam over. Mr. L and Mr. M laugh again.
L
Another one bites the dust.
M
Another one bites the dust.
ANGLE: Pull away as Mr. L and Mr. M drink and laugh.
The Making of Wu Youming
By shikejianAs promised, here is the first article about the educational world in China. As you will see, it has nothing to do with education per se; but it does have something to do with the kind of people who work in that bizarre little world: narrow-minded, petty, racist. This is my rendering of a particular vicious incidence of character assassination. It is in film (TV) format, though I also wrote it for theatre.
You will see that the characters are “letters”: there are no names but for the woman who was persecuted and ruined via rumor. Her name is Wu Youming吴有名, which could be read as Nobody Famous or The Famous Nobody (Wu being a family name that is homonomous with “nobody,” and youming meaning “famous”). It is pure and simple revenge on the part of L, M, G and C (though C is just a toady).
The irony is that by running her to ground, these character assassins actually made her famous, she wasn’t important enough to make a big deal over. The play/film was written about a year ago. I spent alot of time writing social satire, first in theatre 40 years ago, then in prose. I love Absurdism. I pull no punches.
Any filmmaker who would like to film this and show it, please do so. Anyone who wants the play script, please ask. So…The Making of Wu Youming.
The Making of 吴有名
Blank screen.
White noise.
Titles:
The Making of吴有名
Written by: James L. Secor
Directed by:
PLACE: A copse of trees. Idyllic.
TIME: Dusk.
ANGLE: From the side and behind 吴有名. Still camera.
Silence.
The only noise is that accompanying the action.
A dirty street person (woman) shuffles into the scene. This is 吴有名.
Ruffles her rags. Scratches her ass.
As she makes her way into the trees. . .
Voice Over: A formal, serious Master of Ceremonies voice telling the TV audience a secret. If he speaks too loudly, the old woman might hear him.
Voice Over
This is 吴有名. That is not her real name. That has long been forgotten. 吴有名 is how she is known. During the bad times, everyone suffered. Perhaps the richer sorts more than the others. My father knew the man who ran the local tavern so I went to work. Workers came here and the out-of-sorts due to the bad times, the better sort and the pretenders. And吴有名. No one really knew who she was. She never said. Always, it was, “I’m just nobody. A figment of your imagination. Don’t even pay attention to me.” But everyone did.
“Hey, look! Nobody’s here!” would be the inevitable shout when 吴 showed up at the door.
Sometimes, she would growl back, “If I’m nobody, how can I be here?”
And everyone laughed.
吴有名 was the local joke. Downing her was a way to make everyone else feel better. The times, they were not good.
吴 never came into the tavern. She would sit on the jamb and call for her wine. It was my job to take her her wine. She had no job that anyone knew of. It was rumored, though, she’d once been a teacher. But she gave that up. No one knew why. Some of the patrons called her “professor” on account of her past life and because she would often talk about things no one understood. When she began, everyone would egg her on and tease her and laugh at her outpourings of gibberish– gibberish to them and to a 13-year old as well. Though I laughed with the others and did not understand much at all of what 吴 said, I nevertheless felt she was somehow–different. Under my skin, I knew she knew something the rest of us didn’t. Her eyes were more intense, less dry. They should have been empty because of her situation. She was more real to me than everybody else. How can I explain that?
By this time, 吴有名 has disappeared into the woods.
ANGLE: Hold still-camera and. . .
IRIS IN TO SEPIA.
IRIS OUT.
PLACE: The bedroom of a house. Everything is white. Sparsely furnished. No windows.
TIME: Mid-day, bright and sunny.
ANGLE: From above and slightly off centre.
Voice Over
This is a bedroom.
ANGLE: Camera pans around the room.
Stops at a clothes closet.
Voice Over
This is a closet. It is dark in there. A small little room. Confining. It is a place for storing things. Usually clothes. But sometimes people live in closets.
Suddenly, the closet door flies open.
ANGLE: Close-up of a multitude of masks crowded together in the closet.
Voice Over
And on the inside of the door is written. . .
ANGLE: Slow pan around to sign on door. Fills TV screen.
SIGN READS: No Exit.
Pause.
ANGLE: Camera pulls away for a long shot of the closet with open door.
But now there are only three men crushed into the closet, their masks staring out at the camera.
ANGLE: Hold.
Voice Over
It is a very narrow world in there. But it is all the world they’ve got. Centred on themselves, they like to impose their worldview on everyone outside, anyone who doesn’t fit with their closed belief of how things are. Anyone they think threatens them is ripe for a revaluing.
The closet door slowly closes and latches itself shut.
Banging around in the closet.
SLOW FADE TO SEPIA AS. . .
Voice Over
When the door’s closed too long, it begins to smell in there.
BLACKOUT.
LIGHTS UP.
PLACE: An office. Typical office. But the desk is over-sized, as is the other furniture. The room is stark white. The furniture is brown, resembling piles of shit.
TIME: Late afternoon.
A short man sits behind the desk. He is almost lost. He wears a mask. The mask is of a well-groomed, debonnaire businessman. It is slightly too big for his head. This is Mr. L.
Sitting on the sofa is a somewhat less formally dressed man, also in a mask that is too large for his head. He is taller than Mr. L. This man is smoking. When one cigarette is finished, he lights another. This is Mr. M.
Mr. L
We have a problem.
Mr. M
We do?
L
We do.
M
What is it?
L
One of our staff is misbehaving.
M
Oh, no! Not again!
L
Different one.
M
Oh? Who?
L
Miss吴.
M
Nice Miss吴?
L
A wolf in sheep’s clothing.
M
I knew it. I just knew it.
L
Me too.
M
They’re all really too much alike.
L
So! (Stands) We must do something about it.
Mr. L goes to the chair near the sofa and sits.
L
Before things get out of hand.
Mr. L lights a cigarette. L & M smoke awhile.
As the scene progresses, the smoke haze grows thicker and thicker. They adjust by raising their voices til they are shouting at each other because they cannot see each other.
M
What do you suggest we do?
L
Find corroborating evidence.
M
You mean dig up more dirt?
L
No, no. Digging up what’s been left behind. She’s obviously hiding something.
M
Or she wouldn’t be here.
L
Exactly. If she’s really who she says she is, she wouldn’t be in this backwater.
M
Yes. Of course. It’s the way of the world.
L & M smoke for a bit, contrapuntally.
M
Why do they think we are so stupid we won’t see this?
L
Racial prejudice.
M
Ah. Yes. Always right.
L
Superior.
M
But we are not so stupid.
L
No indeed not. We are very intelligent and insightful.
M
We have a long history of intelligence and. . .stuff. Stuff like that.
L
And so we find things out.
Smoking continues.
M
How do we do it?
L
We’re missing something.
M
Yes! We are!
L
Let us take another look at her resume.
M
Yes. Let’s.
Mr. L retrieves several sheets of paper from his desk, returns to chair, hands one piece of paper to Mr. M.
They peruse the pages, holding them up against their noses. They grunt like pigs.
They switch pages and repeat.
They switch pages several times.
M
I find nothing.
L
Me neither.
M
This must not be all.
L
Hiding something.
M
As you say.
Although L & M have been lighting up before, it is necessary that they light up now, filling the air with great beginning puffs of smoke.
L
Ask for a complete resume.
M
Isn’t this it?
L
She’s obviously hiding something.
M
Ahhhh. . .yes.
L
Then we will jump on her.
M
How do you know she’ll do it?
L
They’re all the same. What do they know about subtlety and cunning? We have a long history of language ambiguity and hiding our minds behind smiling eyes and gentle winning ways.
M
Stupid to the point of ridiculousness. Easy pickings.
L
In the meantime, I’ll investigate her house.
M
How will you do that?
L
I have connections.
M
Oh. Those guys.
L
Yes. Those guys.
M
We’re bound to find something, then.
L
It’s inevitable.
FADE OUT.
FADE UP.
PLACE: A different office with the same furniture rearranged.
TIME: Late afternoon. A slant of sunlight slices through the room.
Mr. G sits at his computer. He is doing nothing. He is about the same age as Mr. M.
Mr. M appears at the open door and knocks.
Mr. G turns in his chair. He is wearing a mask. Too big for him. A dapper, superior-looking mask as befits his nattily dressed figure. He is a smooth, controlled talker.
Mr. G
Yes? Come in.
M
I’m Mr. M.
G
Ahh! Mr. M. Welcome. Welcome. Come in. Come in.
Mr. G goes to Mr. M and shakes his hand, guides him to the chair.
Mr. G stands a moment looking down on Mr. M. Mr. M looks up to Mr. G
Mr. G sits on sofa, far from Mr. M.
G
I’m glad you could come.
M
I’ve come about Miss吴.
G
Yes. Yes. I remember her well. Caused quite a stir here. Upset the smooth running of everything. Even questioned me, of all people. Can you imagine?
M
Yes. She is a problem.
G
Yes. I mean. . .who does she think she is? I’m the internationally known translator and Bible expert.
M
And Dean. G
Yes, yes. Indeed. I am that. (Pause. Claps hands together) So! What can I do for you?
M
It’s Miss吴.
G
So you said.
M
We want to know if she did anything similar down here to what she’s done up there. With us.
G
And what might that be?
M
It seems–(Coughs)–she likes little boys.
G
Is that so? Well. . .oh, yes! I do recall something like that. Seduced– sexually abused a young boy student. Yes. Very terrible, sad thing. (Pause) Is that the kind of thing you’re looking for?
M
Yes. Exactly.
G
Glad to be of help. Will there be anything else?
M
Could we see the boy?
G
Ah, no. I’m afraid not. He’s. . .not here, you know. So traumatized we had to send him home. We can’t have you disturbing the poor innocent.
M
No, no. Of course not. We would like you to come up and talk with Mr. L, my superior. And perhaps sign a statement.
G
Ahhh. No. No. I can’t do that. No, no. Too many responsibilities down here. I’m the dean, you know. People rely on me. And there’s a great school event we’re involved in carrying off. Perhaps you saw the banners. . .
M
No. I saw no banners.
G
Well. . .perhaps they’ve not gotten them up–as they should. (Goes to window and looks out) You know how some workers are. Let me see. . .I’ll just make a note of that. . . (Scribbles on a scrap of paper) Anything else
M
We are willing to make it worth your while.
G
Well, now. . .let me check my calendar. . .
Mr. G goes to computer and messes around a bit.
Turns in chair.
G
It looks like I could manage to sneak away for a day or two. I find I’m really not needed right away after all. My secretary can take care of things. Delightfully competent young lady. And quite alluring, too.
Mr. G rubs his hands together. Licks his lips.
BLACKOUT.
G
(Voice in blackout) I’ll show you to best me! I’ll ruin you! I’ll stomp you into the ground. You. . .you. . .
LIGHTS UP.
PLACE: Mr. L’s office.
TIME: Evening. Full moon visible out the window.
Mr. L and Mr. M at door, having just seen Mr. G out.
They look at each other.
They offer each other a cigarette.
They shake hands.
Mr. L. and Mr. M go to sofa and chair and light up.
M
Imagine. . .finding the filthy, dirty proof so easily.
L
Yes. We are good. But you know. . .
M
What?
L
She is so stupid to leave it lying around for all to see.
M
They are all so stupid.
L
Especially to think that we are so stupid.
M
That we would not find it.
L
Luckily Mr. G was around and had a story to tell.
M
Very convincing story, too.
L
Can you imagine even thinking you could get away with something so disgusting.
M
I would never think of such a thing. Even with Miss C.
L
Oh, yes. She is very. . .
M
Delicious.
L
Yes. Delicious.
Phone rings.
Mr. L goes to desk to answer it.
L
Yah? . . . Oh? . . . Right out in the open? . . . How disgusting. . . . Eh? You’re kidding! . . . Oh. Thank you for keeping me posted, Miss C. (Hangs up. To Mr. M) That was Miss C.
M
Ah. She is a good spy.
L
Yes, she is. And Miss吴 does not know. She tells her everything and Miss C sifts through it for the truth she knows lies hidden in there.
Mr. L and Mr. M laugh and puff their cigarettes.
Mr. L returns to his chair, carrying his phone with him.
M
What did Miss C say?
L
Miss吴 hugs the boys in public.
M
Oh. That is disgusting.
L
In the school yard where everyone can see.
M
I mean!
L
She doesn’t even try to hide it.
M
Miss C tells me they visit her house often on the weekends.
L
Oh? She tells me it is only one boy.
M
One boy?
L
The public displays of affection are only cover for what happens in her house. Of course.
M
How sneaky.
L
Devious.
Mr. L and Mr. M smoke.
L
We found spots on the bed clothes.
M
Really? Stiff white ones?
L
Of course. I don’t think she washes her sheets.
M
Likes to revel in the deed
L
Yes. Disgusting.
M
Who is the boy?
L
Little N.
M
How interesting.
L
Yes. Isn’t it.
M
You’d think he would know better.
L
Oh, you know. . .boys today. It’s the only thing they think of. She just takes advantage of the situation.
M
It must be the only thing she thinks of, too.
L
Doubtless.
M
Not like our day.
L
Certainly not.
Mr. L and Mr. M smoke.
The phone rings.
L
Yah? . . .Oh. Hi, sweet thing. . . . Hmm? . . .You must go away for another meeting? . . . I was so hoping you’d be around this weekend, I’m feeling particularly randy. . . . Yes, yes. I know. . . . Yes. I can fend for myself. I’m a big boy, you know. . . . Alright. ‘Bye, dear. (To Mr. M) That was my wife.
M
Ah. Off on another business trip?
L
Yes. So very many.
M
There is a nice young girl at the massage parlor.
L
Yes?
M
Yes. Must be all of 14 or 15. Nice pert little breasts. No stretch marks.
L
Yes?
M
Yes. Cherry red nipples that stand right up.
L
White skin?
M
Like milk.
L
Hair?
M
Shaved.
L
Ooh! How nice.
M
She’ll do anything you ask.
L
Really?
M
Yes. And not so very expensive, all things considering.
L
Pity she’s not a virgin.
M
There are no more of them at that age.
L
Not like the old days.
M
Not like our wives.
L
Yes. . .what has happened to the world? No more purity.
Phone rings.
L
Yah? . . . What?! (Jumps up) What? . . . What? . . . You’re kidding. . . . Damn! . . . Alright. You know who to talk to. (To Mr. M) She’s slipping through the net.
M
What? How could she.
L
I don’t know. We didn’t do anything to tip her off.
M
No, no, no. But she’s so disgusting, it’s hard to talk to her.
L
Yes. Or even be pleasant.
Pause.
M
How do you know?
L
Miss C’s with her now. At the train depot.
M
Damn!
L
She was going to leave without telling us.
M
That’s breaking the contract.
L
She can’t do that.
M
We can sue her.
L
Yes. . .if we can keep track of her.
M
What are you going to do?
L
Plan B.
M
Plan B?
L
Always have a contingency plan, Mr. M. You must keep in mind that things do occasionally go wrong. So. . .Miss C is going to leak the truth to a few key people. We must do the same.
M
But she might get away.
L
I can take care of that.
Mr. L and Mr. M stub out their cigarettes. Mr. M immediately lights another.
Mr. M leaves.
Mr. L picks up his phone.
SLOW SAD FADE TO BLACK.
IRIS OUT.
Sepia of opening shot.
吴有名’s voice. Over the action. She has a scratchy, alto voice.
吴有名
Some people look at life through a pirate’s spy glass and at the other end they see themselves. Their coping mechanism is putting everything into this universe’s orb. Behavior is, after all, what you see. (Snorts) To everything there is a reason. These people construct reasons for whatever disconnected bits and pieces they see and want to see in their spy glass. They commit murder. Kongzi said, Clever talk, a pretentious manner and a reverence that is only of the feet–Tso Ch’iu Ming was incapable of stooping to them, and I too could never stoop to them. (Scratches her ass. Farts) I don’t know. I just don’t know. Not any more.
IRIS IN TO BLACK
LIGHTS UP.
PLACE: Mr. L’s office.
TIME: Mid-day. Sun streams in through the window. Very, very bright.
Mr. L is at his desk, on his phone.
L
Yes, that’s right. . . . Yes. Well, you know. They are all pretty stupid. . . . Yes. Easy to pull the wool over their eyes. . . . Yes. String her along. . . . That’s right. And then dump her. . . . Yes, I know. It is disgusting. But what can we do, eh? It is our job as citizens to stop crime before it happens. . . . Ah. Yes. Well. How she escaped here is a mystery. But we have her now, yes? . . . What?! . . . She’s making friends with the girls?! . . . How utterly despicable! Boys and girls. . . . Yes. Be nice and keep your distance. . . . Alright. Thank you. (Ends call) Yes! We’ve got her! The foreign devil.
Knock at door.
L
Enter!
Mr. M comes in holding newspapers.
M
We have a problem.
L
Solved.
M
No. I don’t think so. Take a look at this.
Mr. M hands papers to Mr. L.
Mr. L. reads, exasperated. Reads another and another. Exasperation grows.
M
She has made herself so public.
L
This makes our job more difficult.
Mr. L and Mr. M sit at sofa and chair and light up. They puff awhile.
L
Those kinds of people cannot not leave a trail of slime. And she has the gall to do this!
M
You mean like they are hooked? Like on drugs?
L
Exactly.
M
And when they are high, druggies do wild and crazy things. Everybody knows that.
Mr. L and Mr. M puff on their cigarettes.
L
I have spoken to the people down there.
M
You have?
L
Yes. Miss吴 is now into girls.
M
What?! Oh, that’s horrible!
L
Yes. It is. Insatiable filth.
M
Does she do both together?
L
What a. . .thought!
Pause.
M
Grime and shit.
L
Soiled and dingy.
Mr. L and Mr. M smoke in time with their epithets.
M
Musty and messy.
L
Sloppy and untidy.
M
Foul and mucky.
L
Rotten and putrid.
M
Smutty and slimy.
L
Come and juice!
M
Tongues and fingers!
L
Front door and back door!
M
Sixty-nine!
L & M
(Shout) Mouse eats little brother!
Silence at fever pitch.
M
I wouldn’t mind getting her.
L
You filthy bastard.
M
Wouldn’t you like to get her?
Mr. L stands. Straightens clothes.
M
You know what they say. .
L
I’m a man.
M
Me too.
Mr. M lights another cigarette and sucks strongly on it.
Mr. L goes to bookcases. Rummages around. Comes out with a bottle of champagne.
L
I’ve been saving this.
M
Good stuff, huh?
L
Oh, my, yes.
Mr. M gets out paper cups.
Mr. L. goes to chair.
They stand a moment.
They take off their masks.
ANGLE: Close-up of faces.
Mr. L and Mr. M are truly disgusting looking. Their faces are distorted and almost inhuman-looking and spotted with greenish mold.
ANGLE: Tight frame on Mr. L and Mr. M and champagne.
Mr. L pops the cork. Foam billows out over bottle neck and hands. They laugh suggestively.
Mr. L pours two paper cups full. They foam over. Mr. L and Mr. M laugh again.
L
Another one bites the dust.
M
Another one bites the dust.
ANGLE: Pull away as Mr. L and Mr. M drink and laugh.
MUSIC: Queen, “Another One Bites the Dust.”
SLOW FADE TO SEPIA.
Run credits.
THE END
Tags: china, hefei university of technology, racism, revenge motif, rumor, university
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