he Seventh Day(Sketch)
People often lose their directions when on the way. We have no idea what may happen in the future. Only we go ahead on our own ways. Despite the change of views and people around us, we can do nothing but go ahead. End is also a new start. A new future there will always be.
Memory, or love; and pain, or pleasure has possibly been come through. But all these for brilliant beauty-the dancers in flame, the moths under lamplights, the shooting stars in the dark night-sky, the eyelashes wet with dew, seem to blossom, to burst, to finish and to die in this short time.
What has been in our possession? What shall we lose?
Pray continue your advance, dear brothers; pray do it, dear sisters. I am from where you come. So am I where you're going.
We are walking on the way. We just need a future.
Scene:The stage on which a man lit up a cigarette with the lighter is entirely black.It is accompanied by beautiful background music.
MAN
(mazedly) What am I doing here? Six days have passed. The seventh day will come just through the moment of zero, but what am I doing here? (music stops,drops the cigarette, people walking up and down upstage)
MAN
This is a strange place. I have been here for fully six days. Why have I been here so long, where, without the taste of friendliness, the chilly wind blows and the stars dazzle? Do you know why? Tell me! (to the audience) Do you know why? Tell me! (to the passers-by) Why do you not speak? (rushes into the crowd) You must speak to me! You're walking, you're breathing, you're loving. You must speak to me. (the passers-by make their way around him with a sidelong glance at him)
MAN
(walks out of the crowd downstage) Never bother them while people are walking. Never bother them while people are breathing. The living are strange to me. I am isolated from this strange place and the people in a hurry. But what am I doing here? And for six days! Should I go or stay? Should I seek on or give up? Should I love or hate? Shall I speak to people? (the stage is black, exit the passers-by, enter the pair of lovers, the lights shine on the stage, the man is to either side)
PIAO
(terrifiedly) Xiao Luo, listen to me. I didn't really mean it. The letter had been torn up open before I got it!
LUO
(coldly) Then why did you not ask me?! Today you met my parents for the first time. What a thing you've said. What will become of us since!
PIAO
(worryingly) I didn't mean it, I have to say. How come I knew about your sister but for one missing page of the letter!
LUO
You're right. One page was missing. But it was neither the first nor the last. Didn't you find it when you read it?! Sow!
PIAO
(angrily) You... ...
MAN
(abruptly interrupts them) What are you doing here?
LUO
(surprisedly) What?
PIAO
Who are you? (walks beside Luo to protect him)
MAN
What are you doing here, I said?
PIAO
This is the avenue, not your home. Why do you care what we are doing here?
LUO
(to Piao) What are you doing?
MAN
Ah! Do you also lose yourselves? Do you know why I am here?
PIAO
You? A lunatic!
MAN
It looks like you really lose yourselves. Where are you going? Do you know your own directions?
LUO
(naughtily) And you? Where are you going?
PIAO
Xiao Luo!
MAN
I? I don't know. Neither do I know where I am. Please you tell me!
LUO
Why should I tell you?
PIAO
(laughing) Yes. Why should we tell you?
MAN
Why? I never think of it. Forget it. Go now.
LUO
Where are you from? What's your name? And your homephone number?
MAN
What? Oh (smiling). Thanks for your care. I have no name. And no home or no phone, either. I'm not lunatic but very normal. Just I've been here for six days. But I don't know why I came here. Neither do I know where it is here. I shall leave when I make it clear.
LUO
(smiling) So you've come here just by way of this place!
MAN
(smiling) You are interesting.
PIAO
Xiao Luo, we have to go now.
LUO
What's so urgent? (turns to the man) Why did you just say we lose ourselves?
MAN
Do you love each other?
LUO
We-we-
PIAO
We are, of course, in love so deeply.
MAN
Then are you happy?
PIAO
We-we-
LUO
We shall be.
MAN
(smiling) How can you be happy since in love? You've lost yourselves in your own dreams. But you're happy. Keep your sleep. I don't want to wake you.
LUO
(puzzledly) You-
PIAO
(scaredly) Lunatic! Let's go, Xiao Luo!
[exit the lovers]
MAN
(smoking) They are so lovely! The entire world will bless them! But why did they call me a lunatic? Love? Lunatic? (to the audience) Do you long for love? Lunatics!
[Enter Yan with a cigarette in his mouth.]
YAN
Hey, buddy, have you got a lighter?
[The man takes out a box of cigarettes,and then fishes out a lighter from it.]
YAN
Thank you. (takes up the box) Yo! The same brand of cigarettes as mine. I always have it. And you? (the man smiles without a word, Yan returns the box) What a terrible weather! It's too cold. Buddy, I say, you're wearing so much that you look like a little daughter-in-law in confinement. What material is this clothes made of? (stretches out to touch the man's clothes, the man doesn't speak, still staring at him while smiling)
YAN
(nervously) Why are you ever smiling?! What's wrong with me? (looks at himself, the man smiles)
YAN
(angrily) What you fucking smile for?! Lunatic! (drops the cigarette, stamps it out) Nonsense! (turns to leave)
MAN
Wait!
YAN
What?
MAN
Please return the wallet to me! There is no money left in it but one photo of my mother's, so I don't want to give you that.
YAN
(in a panic) You-you-
MAN
I'm familiar with the taste on you for once I was also a thief.
YAN
(takes out a dagger) What do you fucking want?!
MAN
I don't need the wallet anymore, all right? If only you give me back that photo. In fact, the wallet is a fake worth 5 yuan. No use even though you get it. Besides, you're holding the dagger in such a wrong pose that you easily hurt youself. And, and, remember not to stab here. That'll lead to so much blood.
YAN
You-you- (drops the dagger, takes out the wallet and throws it to the man). You'are out of mind. You're a lunatic. (staggers running off the stage)
MAN
(picks up the wallet and dagger) Lunatic? Hehe, maybe I am!
[Enter Meng]
MENG
Have you got cigarettes? I want one.
MAN
Here you are. (lights up for Meng)
MENG
How sweet this cigarette tastes! I seem to be familiar with it.
MAN
Indeed? I always have this brand. (lights up for himself)
MENG
What is your name?
MAN
I-I have no name.
MENG
How should I call you?
MAN
Call me? No need. I'm very before you. It's OK for you speaking to me.
MENG
What if you go?
MAN
You won't find me after my departure. Why worry to know my name.
MENG
No-no-. Must I know it. Must you have one.
MAN
Why? I am I. My name is my name. Be irrelated. Even I myself forsake my name, what do you have it for?
MENG
You don't understand. People and names are inseparable. Names are actually people. Someday people leave, but names stay with me. Tell me, what is your name?
MAN
OK. You can call me Yan.