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Authors: Mario Vargas Llosa
Three Plays: The Young Lady from Tacna, Kathie and the Hippopotamus, La Chunga (21 page)
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As the curtain goes up, the actors are in exactly the same position as they were at the beginning of the first act. We are now in the present – a long time after the episode with
MECHE.
The superstuds are playing dice at the table, beneath a lamp which is hanging from a beam, while
LA CHUNGA,
in her rocking chair, passes the time by gazing into space. In the coolness of the night, the sounds of the city can be heard in the distance: crickets chirp, there is the occasional noise of a car, a dog barks, a donkey brays.
MECHE.
The superstuds are playing dice at the table, beneath a lamp which is hanging from a beam, while
LA CHUNGA,
in her rocking chair, passes the time by gazing into space. In the coolness of the night, the sounds of the city can be heard in the distance: crickets chirp, there is the occasional noise of a car, a dog barks, a donkey brays.
JOSE: I’m dying to know what Chunga did that night with Meche; how much do you think it would take to get her to tell me?
LITUMA: She’ll never tell you. Not even for a million sols. Forget it, José.
JOSEFINO: If I wanted her to, she would. For free.
EL MONO: We know what a naughty boy you are, Josefino, you great crook.
JOSEFINO: I’m not joking. (
Takes out his knife and holds it so that it glints in the light of the lamp.
) Chunga may be pretty tough, but there’s no man or woman alive who wouldn’t squeal like a parrot with this at his throat.
Takes out his knife and holds it so that it glints in the light of the lamp.
) Chunga may be pretty tough, but there’s no man or woman alive who wouldn’t squeal like a parrot with this at his throat.
EL MONO: D’you hear that, Chunga?
LA CHUNGA: (
With her usual detachment
) Hurry up and finish those beers. I’m about to close.
With her usual detachment
) Hurry up and finish those beers. I’m about to close.
JOSEFINO: Don’t be frightened, Chunguita. I’d make you tell me what happened that night if I felt like it. But I don’t feel like it. So you can stuff your little secret. I don’t want to know. I don’t give a damn about Meche. She could be dead for all I care. I’ve yet to meet the woman who’d make me run after her.
(JOSE
has stood up. He moves slowly towards
LA CHUNGA’s
rocking chair, staring straight ahead of him, gaping slightly, as if walking in his sleep. The superstuds appear not to have noticed him. Throughout the following scene, they behave as
if he were still sitting in the empty seat: they clink glasses with him, take his bets, pass him the dice, slap him on the back and joke with him.
)
has stood up. He moves slowly towards
LA CHUNGA’s
rocking chair, staring straight ahead of him, gaping slightly, as if walking in his sleep. The superstuds appear not to have noticed him. Throughout the following scene, they behave as
if he were still sitting in the empty seat: they clink glasses with him, take his bets, pass him the dice, slap him on the back and joke with him.
)
JOSE: (
His voice is dry and feverish
) Nobody knows about it, Chunga, but something in my life changed that night. (
Hits himself on the head
.) I can still see it all, as if it were happening now. Everything you said and everything Meche said – I remember it all so very clearly. When you took her by the arm and led her over there, to your room, my heart was beating so hard, I thought it would leap out of my chest. (
Takes
LA CHUNGA’s
hand to his chest
.) Here, feel it now. See how strongly it’s beating. As if it were bursting to get out. That’s what happens, whenever I think of the two of you up there.
His voice is dry and feverish
) Nobody knows about it, Chunga, but something in my life changed that night. (
Hits himself on the head
.) I can still see it all, as if it were happening now. Everything you said and everything Meche said – I remember it all so very clearly. When you took her by the arm and led her over there, to your room, my heart was beating so hard, I thought it would leap out of my chest. (
Takes
LA CHUNGA’s
hand to his chest
.) Here, feel it now. See how strongly it’s beating. As if it were bursting to get out. That’s what happens, whenever I think of the two of you up there.
(LA CHUNGA’s
lips move as if she were saying something.
JOSE
leans over in an attempt to hear what it is, but regrets it immediately and draws back. For a few moments
LA CHUNGA
carries on mouthing the same words in silence. When she finally articulates, her voice is strangely subdued.
)
lips move as if she were saying something.
JOSE
leans over in an attempt to hear what it is, but regrets it immediately and draws back. For a few moments
LA CHUNGA
carries on mouthing the same words in silence. When she finally articulates, her voice is strangely subdued.
)
LA CHUNGA: You’re a wanker, José.
JOSE: (
Anxiously, impatiently, pointing towards the little room
) Please, please, tell me, Chunguita. What happened? What was it like?
Anxiously, impatiently, pointing towards the little room
) Please, please, tell me, Chunguita. What happened? What was it like?
LA CHUNGA: (
Lecturing him, but not severely – as if to a naughty child
) It’s not real women you like, José. Not women of flesh and blood, at least. The ones you really like are the ones you keep up here, in your mind – (
Touching his head as if caressing it
) – but they’re only memories, fantasies, ghosts from the past that live in your imagination, they don’t really exist. Am I right, José?
Lecturing him, but not severely – as if to a naughty child
) It’s not real women you like, José. Not women of flesh and blood, at least. The ones you really like are the ones you keep up here, in your mind – (
Touching his head as if caressing it
) – but they’re only memories, fantasies, ghosts from the past that live in your imagination, they don’t really exist. Am I right, José?
JOSE: (
Trying to make
LA CHUNGA
get up out of her rocking chair; getting more and more excited
) You took her by the arm, and you started to lead her over there. Slowly you began to climb the staircase, and you never let go of her arm for a single moment. Did you squeeze it? Did you fondle it?
Trying to make
LA CHUNGA
get up out of her rocking chair; getting more and more excited
) You took her by the arm, and you started to lead her over there. Slowly you began to climb the staircase, and you never let go of her arm for a single moment. Did you squeeze it? Did you fondle it?
(LA CHUNGA
gets up and
JOSE
takes her place in the rocking chair
.
He tilts it – so that he can see better.
LA CHUNGA
pours a glass of vermouth, goes up the staircase and into the little room which is now lit with a reddish light.
MECHE
is there.
)
gets up and
JOSE
takes her place in the rocking chair
.
He tilts it – so that he can see better.
LA CHUNGA
pours a glass of vermouth, goes up the staircase and into the little room which is now lit with a reddish light.
MECHE
is there.
)
MECHE: (
With a nervous little laugh
) So now what happens? What’s the game, Chunga?
With a nervous little laugh
) So now what happens? What’s the game, Chunga?
(
The cold woman of the previous scenes suddenly seems charged with life and sensuality.
)
The cold woman of the previous scenes suddenly seems charged with life and sensuality.
)
LA CHUNGA: It’s not a game. I’ve paid three thousand sols for you. You’re mine for the rest of the night.
MECHE: (
Defiantly
) Do you mean I’m your slave?
Defiantly
) Do you mean I’m your slave?
LA CHUNGA: For a few hours, at least. (
handling her the glass
) Here. It’ll calm your nerves.
handling her the glass
) Here. It’ll calm your nerves.
(MECHE
grasps the glass and takes a gulp.
)
grasps the glass and takes a gulp.
)
MECHE: Do you think I’m nervous? Well, you’re wrong. I’m not afraid of you. I’m doing this for Josefino. If I wanted to, I could push you aside and run out that door.
(LA CHUNGA
sits on the bed.
)
sits on the bed.
)
LA CHUNGA: But you won’t. You said you’d obey me, and you’re a woman of your word, I’m sure. Besides, you’re just dying of curiosity, aren’t you?
MECHE: (
Finishing the glass
) Do you honestly think you’re going to get me drunk on two vermouths? Don’t kid yourself. I’ve got a strong head for drink. I can go on all night without getting in the least bit tipsy. I can hold even more than Josefino.
Finishing the glass
) Do you honestly think you’re going to get me drunk on two vermouths? Don’t kid yourself. I’ve got a strong head for drink. I can go on all night without getting in the least bit tipsy. I can hold even more than Josefino.
(
Pause.
)
Pause.
)
LA CHUNGA: Do to me what you do to him when you want to excite him.
MECHE: (
With the same nervous little laugh
) I can’t. You’re a woman. You’re Chunga.
With the same nervous little laugh
) I can’t. You’re a woman. You’re Chunga.
LA CHUNGA: (
Coaxing and at the same time peremptory
) No. I am Josefino. Do to me what you do to him.
Coaxing and at the same time peremptory
) No. I am Josefino. Do to me what you do to him.
(
Soft tropical music – boleros by Leo Marini or Los Panchos – can be heard in the distance. It conjures up images of couples dancing close, in a place full of smoke and alcohol
. MECHE
starts to undress, slowly, and rather awkwardly. Her voice seems forced, and unrelaxed.
)
Soft tropical music – boleros by Leo Marini or Los Panchos – can be heard in the distance. It conjures up images of couples dancing close, in a place full of smoke and alcohol
. MECHE
starts to undress, slowly, and rather awkwardly. Her voice seems forced, and unrelaxed.
)
MECHE: You want to see me undress? Slowly, like this? This is how he likes it. Do you think I’m pretty? Do you like my legs? My breasts? I’ve got a nice firm body, look. No moles, no pimples, no flab. None of those things that make people so ugly.
(
She has stripped down to her petticoat. She feels a little faint. She screws up her face.
)
She has stripped down to her petticoat. She feels a little faint. She screws up her face.
)
I can’t, Chunga. You’re not him. I can’t believe what I’m doing or what I’m saying. I feel stupid, all this seems so unreal to me, so … .
(
She lets herself fall on the bed and stays there, face down, in a state of confusion; she is on the point of tears, but manages to restrain herself.
LA CHUNGA
gets up and sits beside her. She acts now with great sensitivity, as if moved by
MECHE’
s discomfort.
)
She lets herself fall on the bed and stays there, face down, in a state of confusion; she is on the point of tears, but manages to restrain herself.
LA CHUNGA
gets up and sits beside her. She acts now with great sensitivity, as if moved by
MECHE’
s discomfort.
)
LA CHUNGA: The truth is, I admire you for being here. You surprised me, you know? I didn’t think you would accept. (
Smoothes
MECHE’
s hair
.) Do you love Josefino that much?
Smoothes
MECHE’
s hair
.) Do you love Josefino that much?
MECHE: (
Her voice a whisper
) Yes, I love him. (
Pause
.) But I don’t think I did it just for him. But because of what you said too. I was curious. (
Turns to look at
LA CHUNGA.) You gave him three thousand
sols
. That’s a lot of money.
Her voice a whisper
) Yes, I love him. (
Pause
.) But I don’t think I did it just for him. But because of what you said too. I was curious. (
Turns to look at
LA CHUNGA.) You gave him three thousand
sols
. That’s a lot of money.
LA CHUNGA: (
Passing her hand over
MECHE’
s face, drying nonexistent tears
) You’re worth more than that.
Passing her hand over
MECHE’
s face, drying nonexistent tears
) You’re worth more than that.
(
A hint of flirtatiousness becomes apparent through
MECHE’
s resentment and embarrassment.
)
A hint of flirtatiousness becomes apparent through
MECHE’
s resentment and embarrassment.
)
MECHE: Do you really like me, Chunga?
LA CHUNGA: You know very well I do. Or perhaps you didn’t realize?
MECHE: Yes, I did. No other woman has ever looked at me like you did. You made me feel … so strange.
(LA CHUNGA
puts her hand round
MECHE’s
shoulders and draws her to her. Kisses her
. MECHE
passively allows herself to be kissed. When they separate
MECHE
gives a false little laugh
.)
puts her hand round
MECHE’s
shoulders and draws her to her. Kisses her
. MECHE
passively allows herself to be kissed. When they separate
MECHE
gives a false little laugh
.)
LA CHUNGA: You’re laughing – so it can’t have been that dreadful.
MECHE: How long have you been like this? I mean, have you always been … ? Have you always liked women?
LA CHUNGA: I don’t like
women
. I like you.
women
. I like you.
(
She embraces her and kisses her
. MECHE
lets herself be kissed, but does not respond to
LA CHUNGA’
s caresses.
LA CHUNGA
gently draws her face round and, still caressing her, orders her
.) Open your mouth, slave.
She embraces her and kisses her
. MECHE
lets herself be kissed, but does not respond to
LA CHUNGA’
s caresses.
LA CHUNGA
gently draws her face round and, still caressing her, orders her
.) Open your mouth, slave.
(MECHE
giggles nervously, and parts her lips.
LA CHUNGA
gives her a long kiss and this time
MECHE
raises her arm and puts it around
LA CHUNGA’
s neck
.)
giggles nervously, and parts her lips.
LA CHUNGA
gives her a long kiss and this time
MECHE
raises her arm and puts it around
LA CHUNGA’
s neck
.)
That’s it. I thought you didn’t know how to kiss. (
Sarcastically
) Did you see little stars?
Sarcastically
) Did you see little stars?
MECHE: (
Laughing
) Don’t make fun of me.
Laughing
) Don’t make fun of me.
LA CHUNGA: (
Holding her in her arms
) I’m not making fun of you. I want you to enjoy yourself tonight – more than you’ve ever enjoyed anything with that pimp.
Holding her in her arms
) I’m not making fun of you. I want you to enjoy yourself tonight – more than you’ve ever enjoyed anything with that pimp.
MECHE: He’s not a pimp! Don’t say that word. He’s in love with me. We may be getting married.
LA CHUNGA: He’s a pimp. He sold you to me tonight. Next, he’ll be taking you to the Casa Verde, to whore for him like all his other women.
(MECHE
tries to slip away from her arms, pretending to be more angry than she really feels, but after a short struggle, she relents
. LA CHUNGA
puts her face close to hers and talks to her, almost kissing her.
)
tries to slip away from her arms, pretending to be more angry than she really feels, but after a short struggle, she relents
. LA CHUNGA
puts her face close to hers and talks to her, almost kissing her.
)
Let’s not talk about that burn any more. Let’s just talk about you and me.
MECHE: (
More calmly
) Don’t hold me so tight, you’re hurting.
More calmly
) Don’t hold me so tight, you’re hurting.
LA CHUNGA: I can do what I want with you. You’re my slave.
(MECHE
laughs
.)
laughs
.)
Don’t laugh. Repeat: I am your slave.
(
Pause.
)
Pause.
)
MECHE: (
Laughs. Becoming serious
) It’s only a game, isn’t it? All right. I am your slave.
Laughs. Becoming serious
) It’s only a game, isn’t it? All right. I am your slave.
LA CHUNGA: I’m your slave and now I want to be your whore. (
Pause
.) Repeat.
Pause
.) Repeat.
MECHE: (
Almost in a whisper
) I’m your slave and now I want to be your whore.
Almost in a whisper
) I’m your slave and now I want to be your whore.
(LA CHUNGA
lays
MECHE
on the bed and starts to undress her
.)
lays
MECHE
on the bed and starts to undress her
.)
LA CHUNGA: So you will be.
(
The room becomes dark and disappears from view. From the rocking chair,
JOSE
keeps on gazing, mesmerized, into the darkness. At the table where the superstuds are playing dice, the noise starts up again: the noise of toasts being drunk, songs being sung and swearing.
)
The room becomes dark and disappears from view. From the rocking chair,
JOSE
keeps on gazing, mesmerized, into the darkness. At the table where the superstuds are playing dice, the noise starts up again: the noise of toasts being drunk, songs being sung and swearing.
)
The following dialogue takes place as the superstuds carry on playing dice and drinking beer.
LITUMA: Do you want to know something? I sometimes think all this about Mechita disappearing is just another of Josefino’s little stories.
EL MONO: Then maybe you’d like to explain it to me – loud and clear – because I don’t know what you’re talking about.
LITUMA: A woman can’t just vanish into thin air, overnight. After all, Piura’s only the size of a pocket handkerchief.
JOSEFINO: If she’d stayed in Piura, I’d have found her. No, she scarpered, all right. Maybe to Ecuador. Or Lima. (
Pointing to the rocking chair where
JOSE
is sitting
)
She
knows, but she’d die rather than give away her little secret, wouldn’t you, Chunguita? I lost a woman all because of you, a woman who’d have made me rich, but I don’t hold it against you, because basically I’ve got a heart of gold. Wouldn’t you agree?
Pointing to the rocking chair where
JOSE
is sitting
)
She
knows, but she’d die rather than give away her little secret, wouldn’t you, Chunguita? I lost a woman all because of you, a woman who’d have made me rich, but I don’t hold it against you, because basically I’ve got a heart of gold. Wouldn’t you agree?
EL MONO: Don’t start up about Mechita again, or you’ll give José a hard-on. (
Nudging the invisible
JOSE) It drives you crazy, doesn’t it – thinking about them up there, playing with each other?
Nudging the invisible
JOSE) It drives you crazy, doesn’t it – thinking about them up there, playing with each other?
LITUMA: (
Carrying on, unperturbed
) Someone would have seen her take the bus or a taxi. She would have said goodbye to somebody. She would have packed her things, taken them out of the house. But she left all her clothes and her suitcase behind. No one saw her go. So we can’t be so
sure about her running away. Do you know what I sometimes think, Josefino?
Carrying on, unperturbed
) Someone would have seen her take the bus or a taxi. She would have said goodbye to somebody. She would have packed her things, taken them out of the house. But she left all her clothes and her suitcase behind. No one saw her go. So we can’t be so
sure about her running away. Do you know what I sometimes think, Josefino?
EL MONO: (
Touching
LITUMA’
s head
) So you actually think! I thought donkeys only brayed, ha ha.
Touching
LITUMA’
s head
) So you actually think! I thought donkeys only brayed, ha ha.
JOSEFINO: Well. What
do
you think, Einstein?
do
you think, Einstein?
LITUMA: You beat her up, didn’t you? Don’t you beat up every woman who falls for you? Sometimes I think you go a bit too far.
JOSEFINO: (
Laughing
) So I killed her? Is that what you’re trying to say? What a profound idea, Lituma.
Laughing
) So I killed her? Is that what you’re trying to say? What a profound idea, Lituma.
EL MONO: But this poor bastard couldn’t even kill a fly. He’s all mouth, just look at him there poncing around with his knife in his hand, as if he were the king pimp. I could knock him over with a feather. Do you want to see? (
Blows.
) Go on, over you go, don’t make a fool of me in front of my friends.
Blows.
) Go on, over you go, don’t make a fool of me in front of my friends.
LITUMA: (
Very seriously, developing his idea
) You could have been jealous about Mechita spending the night with Chunga. And you’d just lost everything, down to your shirt, remember. So you were in a really filthy temper. You went home like a wild beast on the rampage. You needed to take it out on someone. Meche was there, and she was the one who got it in the neck. You could easily have gone too far.
Very seriously, developing his idea
) You could have been jealous about Mechita spending the night with Chunga. And you’d just lost everything, down to your shirt, remember. So you were in a really filthy temper. You went home like a wild beast on the rampage. You needed to take it out on someone. Meche was there, and she was the one who got it in the neck. You could easily have gone too far.
JOSEFINO: (
Amused
) And then I cut her up into little pieces and threw her in the river? Is that it? You’re a bloody genius Lituma. (
To the absent
JOSE,
handling him the dice
) Here, José, it’s your turn to win now. The dice are all yours.
Amused
) And then I cut her up into little pieces and threw her in the river? Is that it? You’re a bloody genius Lituma. (
To the absent
JOSE,
handling him the dice
) Here, José, it’s your turn to win now. The dice are all yours.
LITUMA: Poor Meche. She didn’t deserve a son of a bitch like you, Josefino.
JOSEFINO: The things one has to put up with from one’s friends. If you weren’t a superstud, I’d cut your balls off and throw them to the dogs.
EL MONO: Do you want to poison the poor little brutes? What harm have they ever done to you, for Christ’s sake?
(JOSE
goes back to his seat, as discreetly as he left it. At the same time, without the other three being aware of him,
LITUMA
gets up and leaves the table.
)
goes back to his seat, as discreetly as he left it. At the same time, without the other three being aware of him,
LITUMA
gets up and leaves the table.
)
JOSEFINO: (
To
JOSE) Why are you so quiet? What’s up, mate?
To
JOSE) Why are you so quiet? What’s up, mate?
JOSE: I’m losing and I don’t feel like talking. That’s all. Right, now my luck is going to change. (
Picks up the dice and blows on them. Puts a banknote on the table
.) There’s a hundred little sols. Who’s going to take me on? (
Addressing Lituma’s chair as if he were still there
) You, Lituma?
Picks up the dice and blows on them. Puts a banknote on the table
.) There’s a hundred little sols. Who’s going to take me on? (
Addressing Lituma’s chair as if he were still there
) You, Lituma?
(
In the two following scenes,
JOSE, EL MONO
and
JOSEFINO
behave as if
LITUMA
were still with them. But
LITUMA
is now at the foot of the small flight of stairs watching
LA CHUNGA’
s little room, which has just been lit up
.)
In the two following scenes,
JOSE, EL MONO
and
JOSEFINO
behave as if
LITUMA
were still with them. But
LITUMA
is now at the foot of the small flight of stairs watching
LA CHUNGA’
s little room, which has just been lit up
.)
BOOK: Three Plays: The Young Lady from Tacna, Kathie and the Hippopotamus, La Chunga
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