Three Plays: The Young Lady from Tacna, Kathie and the Hippopotamus, La Chunga (20 page)
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Authors: Mario Vargas Llosa
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At the superstuds’ table, the game starts to heat up. The atmosphere is becoming electric
.
.
EL MONO: (
Highly excited
) Three and four, seven, hahaha. So I was a cretin, was I, José? Down, on your knees and start praying, you pathetic creep. Have you ever seen anything like that in all your born days? Seven games on the trot without a single miss. The money’s still all there, for the real men. Anyone take me on?
Highly excited
) Three and four, seven, hahaha. So I was a cretin, was I, José? Down, on your knees and start praying, you pathetic creep. Have you ever seen anything like that in all your born days? Seven games on the trot without a single miss. The money’s still all there, for the real men. Anyone take me on?
JOSEFINO: (
Taking out a few banknotes
) I will. You think you
frighten me? Let’s see, how much is there? Two hundred, three hundred. Here’s three hundred. Come on, throw the dice, you peasant.
Taking out a few banknotes
) I will. You think you
frighten me? Let’s see, how much is there? Two hundred, three hundred. Here’s three hundred. Come on, throw the dice, you peasant.
JOSE: That’s a lot of money, Josefino. (
Lowering his voice
) You haven’t by any chance been putting Mechita out to work already, have you?
Lowering his voice
) You haven’t by any chance been putting Mechita out to work already, have you?
JOSEFINO: Shut it, if she hears you she’ll start getting all suspicious. Well, what are you waiting for, Mono? (EL MONO
passes the dice across his eyes
,
then across his lips
,
cradles them in his hands
,
as if casting a spell on them
.)
passes the dice across his eyes
,
then across his lips
,
cradles them in his hands
,
as if casting a spell on them
.)
EL MONO: Just making you squirm a bit, slum boy. And now here we go for real …
(
They all watch the dice ecstatically
.)
They all watch the dice ecstatically
.)
Eleven. There you are. This time I’ve really rammed it right down your throats. Eight on the trot. Let’s drink to that, for Christ’s sake. More beers, Chunga. We’ve got a minor miracle here to celebrate.
(JOSEFINO
checks
EL MONO,
as he is about to collect the money he’s won.
)
checks
EL MONO,
as he is about to collect the money he’s won.
)
JOSEFINO: The money stays on the table. (
The three superstuds look at him in amazement.
)
The three superstuds look at him in amazement.
)
EL MONO: If you want to carry on losing? Be my guest, mate. Go on, make yourself rich then, if you can. The money’s there. All six hundred
sols
of it. Anyone else betting?
sols
of it. Anyone else betting?
JOSEFINO: No just me.
(
He takes more money out of his pocket, counts it ostentatiously
,
places it slowly and theatrically in the kitty
.)
He takes more money out of his pocket, counts it ostentatiously
,
places it slowly and theatrically in the kitty
.)
There you are. Six hundred. The Gallinacera versus the Mangacheria.
LITUMA: Holy shit, he must have robbed a bank or something.
JOSEFINO: We leave that sort of thing to street arabs like you; we may be scavengers, in the Gallinacera, but we’re not thieves.
JOSE: Don’t kid yourself, Josefino. It’s the worst district in Piura.
LITUMA: What with the slaughterhouse and the carcasses all over the road, and the flies and the vultures – I wouldn’t brag about it too much, if I were you.
JOSEFINO: At least we’ve got tarmac streets and toilets. You lot
haven’t even got that. Nothing but donkeys and beggars. Everyone shits on the floor beside the bed. I don’t know why I have anything to do with people like you. Any day now I’ll even start to smell like you into the bargain. Hold it, Mono, don’t throw those dice yet. Mechita, here, come and bring me some luck.
haven’t even got that. Nothing but donkeys and beggars. Everyone shits on the floor beside the bed. I don’t know why I have anything to do with people like you. Any day now I’ll even start to smell like you into the bargain. Hold it, Mono, don’t throw those dice yet. Mechita, here, come and bring me some luck.
(MECHE
approaches the table
,
at the same time as
LA CHUNGA,
who is carrying two more beers
; JOSEFINO
puts his arm round
MECHE’
s waist and kisses her salaciously and ostentatiously on the mouth, forcing her to lower her face. The superstuds laugh, drink and applaud.
LA CHUNGA
looks on,
her eyes shining
.)
approaches the table
,
at the same time as
LA CHUNGA,
who is carrying two more beers
; JOSEFINO
puts his arm round
MECHE’
s waist and kisses her salaciously and ostentatiously on the mouth, forcing her to lower her face. The superstuds laugh, drink and applaud.
LA CHUNGA
looks on,
her eyes shining
.)
Right, Mono. Now throw those dice.
JOSE: (
To
JOSEFINO) You know what they say, don’t you? Lucky in love, unlucky at cards.
To
JOSEFINO) You know what they say, don’t you? Lucky in love, unlucky at cards.
EL MONO: (
Throwing the dice
) There they go, and this little superstud’s a rich man.
Throwing the dice
) There they go, and this little superstud’s a rich man.
JOSEFINO: (
Happy, exuberant
) Two ones. Start to dig your grave, Mono. (
To JOSE
) You’ve got the wrong saying, mate. It’s ‘Lucky in love, luckier at cards’. Here’s to Mechita for bringing me such good fortune. Thank you, my little one.
Happy, exuberant
) Two ones. Start to dig your grave, Mono. (
To JOSE
) You’ve got the wrong saying, mate. It’s ‘Lucky in love, luckier at cards’. Here’s to Mechita for bringing me such good fortune. Thank you, my little one.
(
He forces her to lower her head again and kisses her
.
In doing so, he looks askance at
LA CHUNGA
as if making fun of her
.) Cheers, Chunguita.
He forces her to lower her head again and kisses her
.
In doing so, he looks askance at
LA CHUNGA
as if making fun of her
.) Cheers, Chunguita.
(LA CHUNGA
doesn’t answer him. She goes back to the bar
.)
doesn’t answer him. She goes back to the bar
.)
EL MONO: (
Stretching out his hand to
JOSEFINO) I must congratulate you. It takes guts to bet the whole bank after eight straight runs. You may be from the Gallinacera, but you certainly deserve to be a superstud.
Stretching out his hand to
JOSEFINO) I must congratulate you. It takes guts to bet the whole bank after eight straight runs. You may be from the Gallinacera, but you certainly deserve to be a superstud.
JOSE: (
Mischievously
) Did you see Chunga’s face when Josefino was kissing you, Mechita? Her eyes were popping out of her head.
Mischievously
) Did you see Chunga’s face when Josefino was kissing you, Mechita? Her eyes were popping out of her head.
LITUMA: She was dying of envy.
JOSEFINO: (
Raising his voice
) Do you hear what these buggers are saying about you, Chunga?
Raising his voice
) Do you hear what these buggers are saying about you, Chunga?
LA CHUNGA: What?
JOSEFINO: That when I was kissing Meche, your eyes were popping out of your head. That you were dying of envy.
LA CHUNGA: They’re probably right. Who wouldn’t feel envious of a woman like that?
(
Laughter and shouting from the superstuds
.)
Laughter and shouting from the superstuds
.)
JOSEFINO: And you haven’t even seen her in the buff, Chunguita. Her body’s even better than her face. Isn’t that right, Meche?
MECHE: Be quiet, Josefino.
LA CHUNGA: I’ve no doubt for once in your life you’re telling the truth.
JOSEFINO: Of course I am. Lift up your skirt, love. Show her your legs, just to give her an idea.
MECHE: (
Pretending to be more embarrassed than she is
) Oh, Josefino, the things you say.
Pretending to be more embarrassed than she is
) Oh, Josefino, the things you say.
(JOSEFINO
speaks with an assurance that shouldn’t be brusque
,
but which barely conceals his superiority. He relishes his authority in front of his friends
.)
speaks with an assurance that shouldn’t be brusque
,
but which barely conceals his superiority. He relishes his authority in front of his friends
.)
JOSEFINO: (
Raising his voice a little
) Listen to me. If you and I aren’t going to fall out with each other, you’d better do what I say. Show her your legs.
Raising his voice a little
) Listen to me. If you and I aren’t going to fall out with each other, you’d better do what I say. Show her your legs.
MECHE: (
Pretending to protest, though in fact enjoying the game
) You’re so moody and bossy at times, Josefino.
Pretending to protest, though in fact enjoying the game
) You’re so moody and bossy at times, Josefino.
(
She lifts up her skirt and shows her legs
.
The superstuds cheer
.)
She lifts up her skirt and shows her legs
.
The superstuds cheer
.)
JOSEFINO: (
Laughing
) What do you think of them, Chunga?
Laughing
) What do you think of them, Chunga?
LA CHUNGA: Not bad.
JOSEFINO: (
Bristling with arrogance
) You see. I could make her strip stark naked in front of you and nothing would happen – because you’re my mates. We trust each other, eh Chunga?
Bristling with arrogance
) You see. I could make her strip stark naked in front of you and nothing would happen – because you’re my mates. We trust each other, eh Chunga?
(
He begins to gather up the money he’s just won from the pool
.)
He begins to gather up the money he’s just won from the pool
.)
EL MONO: Hold it. Only cowards draw their money out while there are people still keen to play.
JOSEFINO: You want to go for the bank? It’s one thousand, two hundred
sols
, Mono. Have you got it?
sols
, Mono. Have you got it?
(EL MONO
searches his pockets, takes out all the money he has and counts it
.)
searches his pockets, takes out all the money he has and counts it
.)
EL MONO: I’ve got five hundred. I’ll owe you the seven hundred.
JOSEFINO: You can’t borrow money in the middle of a game, it’s bad luck. (
Gripping him by the wrist
) Wait. That’s what your watch is for. I’ll take it instead of the seven hundred.
Gripping him by the wrist
) Wait. That’s what your watch is for. I’ll take it instead of the seven hundred.
LITUMA: Your watch is worth more than that.
EL MONO: (
Taking off his watch, and putting it with his five hundred
sols
in the pool
) But I’m going to win, aren’t I, for God’s sake? All right, Josefino, throw those dice and please … lose.
Taking off his watch, and putting it with his five hundred
sols
in the pool
) But I’m going to win, aren’t I, for God’s sake? All right, Josefino, throw those dice and please … lose.
(JOSEFINO
pushes
MECHE
towards the bar
.)
pushes
MECHE
towards the bar
.)
JOSEFINO: Go and keep Chunga company. I’m going to win that money and the watch, you’ll see. With the dice in my hand, I don’t need you to bring me luck, I make my own luck.
JOSE: Be careful Chunga doesn’t try to seduce you, Mechita. You’ve almost driven her crazy.
MECHE: (
Revealing a somewhat morbid curiosity
,
in a whisper
) Is she one of those?
Revealing a somewhat morbid curiosity
,
in a whisper
) Is she one of those?
LITUMA: We didn’t know she was till now. We thought she was probably sexless.
JOSE: But ever since she saw you, she’s completely lost her cool. She’s given herself away: she’s a dike.
MECHE: Is she really?
JOSEFINO: Ears burning, are they, Chunga? If you knew what they were saying about you, you’d brain the lot of them – you’d never let them set foot in here again.
LA CHUNGA: What are they saying?
JOSEFINO: José says you’ve gone all crazy since you saw Mechita, he says that you’ve given yourself away, that you’re a dike and Meche wants to know if it’s true or not.
MECHE: It’s a lie, Chunga, don’t believe him. You are a bastard, Josefino.
LA CHUNGA: Let her come and ask me. I’ll tell her in private. (
The superstuds laugh and joke.
)
The superstuds laugh and joke.
)
JOSEFINO: (
To
MECHE) Go on, my little one. Flirt with her a little, give her a thrill.
To
MECHE) Go on, my little one. Flirt with her a little, give her a thrill.
EL MONO: Are you going to throw those dice, Josefino?
(MECHE
goes towards the bar where
LA CHUNGA
is standing.
)
goes towards the bar where
LA CHUNGA
is standing.
)
MECHE: (
Confused
) Surely you didn’t believe him, did you? You know Josefino’s always joking. I didn’t say that about you. Really.
Confused
) Surely you didn’t believe him, did you? You know Josefino’s always joking. I didn’t say that about you. Really.
LA CHUNGA: Oh, don’t worry. I don’t give a damn what people say about me. They can say what they like. (
Shrugs her shoulders
). If that’s what amuses them, then let them. Just so long as I don’t hear.
Shrugs her shoulders
). If that’s what amuses them, then let them. Just so long as I don’t hear.
MECHE: Don’t you care if they say nasty things about you?
LA CHUNGA: The only thing I care about is that they don’t fight and they pay for what they drink. Provided they behave and don’t try and cheat me, they can say what they damned well like.
MECHE: Don’t you even care if they say you’re … that?
LA CHUNGA: A dike? (
Takes hold of
MECHE’
s arm.
) And what if I were? Am I frightening you?
Takes hold of
MECHE’
s arm.
) And what if I were? Am I frightening you?
MECHE: (
With a nervous little laugh; we are not sure whether she means what she says or not.
) I don’t know. I’ve never met a real dike before. I know there are supposed to be so many about, but I’ve never seen a single one. (
Looks
LA CHUNGA
over
.) I always imagined them to be butch and ugly. You’re not like that at all.
With a nervous little laugh; we are not sure whether she means what she says or not.
) I don’t know. I’ve never met a real dike before. I know there are supposed to be so many about, but I’ve never seen a single one. (
Looks
LA CHUNGA
over
.) I always imagined them to be butch and ugly. You’re not like that at all.
LA CHUNGA: What am I like?
MECHE: A little hard perhaps. But I imagine you have to be to run a place like this what with all the drunks and strange types that come in. But you’re not ugly. If you tidied yourself up a bit, you’d look quite attractive, beautiful even. Men would like you.
LA CHUNGA: (
With a dry little laugh
) I’m not interested if men like me or not. But you are, aren’t you? It’s the one thing in life that you care about, isn’t it? Tidying yourself up, putting on make-up, making yourself look pretty. Anything to excite them, to titillate them. Isn’t that it?
With a dry little laugh
) I’m not interested if men like me or not. But you are, aren’t you? It’s the one thing in life that you care about, isn’t it? Tidying yourself up, putting on make-up, making yourself look pretty. Anything to excite them, to titillate them. Isn’t that it?
MECHE: Surely that’s just being a woman?
LA CHUNGA: No. That’s being an idiot.
MECHE: Then all women are idiots.
LA CHUNGA: Most of them are. That’s why they get what they
deserve. They let themselves be abused, they become slaves. For what? To be thrown on the rubbish tip like cast-off rags when their men get tired of them.
deserve. They let themselves be abused, they become slaves. For what? To be thrown on the rubbish tip like cast-off rags when their men get tired of them.
(
Pause
.
She strokes
MECHE’
s face again.
)
Pause
.
She strokes
MECHE’
s face again.
)
I hate to think what might happen to you when Josefino gets tired of you.
MECHE: He’ll never get tired of me. I’ll always know how to keep him happy.
LA CHUNGA: Yes. I’ve noticed. By letting him twist you round his little finger. Aren’t you ashamed to let him boss you around like that?
MECHE: I enjoy doing whatever he asks me to do. For me, that’s love.
LA CHUNGA: So you’d do anything that poor sod asked you to do?
MECHE: For as long as I’m in love with him, yes. Anything. (
Pause
. LA CHUNGA
watches her in silence. She reveals
,
in spite of herself, a certain admiration for her
.
They are both distracted by the row the superstuds are making
.)
Pause
. LA CHUNGA
watches her in silence. She reveals
,
in spite of herself, a certain admiration for her
.
They are both distracted by the row the superstuds are making
.)
EL MONO: (
Euphorically, gathering fustfuls of banknotes in his hands
) Jesus Christ. This is classic. Pinch me somebody, for heaven’s sake, so I know I’m not dreaming.
Euphorically, gathering fustfuls of banknotes in his hands
) Jesus Christ. This is classic. Pinch me somebody, for heaven’s sake, so I know I’m not dreaming.
JOSE: (
Giving
JOSEFINO
a slap on the back
) The game hasn’t finished yet, Mono. Leave the money on the table.
Giving
JOSEFINO
a slap on the back
) The game hasn’t finished yet, Mono. Leave the money on the table.
EL MONO: What are you going to go on betting with? You’ve already lost two thousand
sols
, your watch and your pen. What more have you got, for Christ’s sake?
sols
, your watch and your pen. What more have you got, for Christ’s sake?
(
Pause
. JOSEFINO
looks from one side to the other. He watches
LA CHUNGA
and
MECHE
for a moment. Then, resolutely, he gets to his feet
.)
Pause
. JOSEFINO
looks from one side to the other. He watches
LA CHUNGA
and
MECHE
for a moment. Then, resolutely, he gets to his feet
.)
JOSEFINO: I have got something more.
(
He strides firmly towards
LA CHUNGA.
He has the expression of a man prepared to go to any length to satisfy his whim
.) I need three thousand
sols
to stay in the game, Chunguita.
He strides firmly towards
LA CHUNGA.
He has the expression of a man prepared to go to any length to satisfy his whim
.) I need three thousand
sols
to stay in the game, Chunguita.
LA CHUNGA: Over my dead body! You know perfectly well I never lend a cent to anyone.
JOSEFINO: I’ve got something worth more than those three thousand
sols
I’m asking you for.
sols
I’m asking you for.
(
He grips
MECHE
round the waist
.)
He grips
MECHE
round the waist
.)
MECHE: (
Taking it half as a joke, without knowing quite how to react
) What are you saying?
Taking it half as a joke, without knowing quite how to react
) What are you saying?
(LA CHUNGA
bursts out laughing.
JOSEFINO
remains very serious. The superstuds have gone quiet; they crane their necks
forward, intrigued by what is happening
.)
bursts out laughing.
JOSEFINO
remains very serious. The superstuds have gone quiet; they crane their necks
forward, intrigued by what is happening
.)
JOSEFINO: (
Holding
MECHE
against him as if he owned her
) You heard. You love me, don’t you? And I love you too. That’s why I’m asking this of you. Didn’t you swear you’d always do anything I wanted? Right then, now you’re going to prove it to me.
Holding
MECHE
against him as if he owned her
) You heard. You love me, don’t you? And I love you too. That’s why I’m asking this of you. Didn’t you swear you’d always do anything I wanted? Right then, now you’re going to prove it to me.
MECHE: (
Open-mouthed and incredulous
) But, but … have you gone mad? Do you know what you’re saying? Or have those beers gone to your head?
Open-mouthed and incredulous
) But, but … have you gone mad? Do you know what you’re saying? Or have those beers gone to your head?
JOSEFINO: (
To
LA CHUNGA) You can’t fool me, Chunga. I know you’ve been drooling over Meche ever since you first set eyes on her. So what about it?
To
LA CHUNGA) You can’t fool me, Chunga. I know you’ve been drooling over Meche ever since you first set eyes on her. So what about it?
EL MONO: Holy shit. He means it. D’you realize, superstuds?
JOSE: Christ, he’s selling her to her. It’s as simple as that.
LITUMA: You might as well buy her yourself, Mono. Or isn’t Mechita worth those three thousand
sols
?
sols
?
JOSEFINO: (
Without taking his eyes off
LA CHUNGA;
still with his arm round
MECHE) No. I wouldn’t lend her to Mono, not for all the tea in China. Nor to any other man, for that matter. (
Kissing
MECHE) It would make me jealous. I’d rip the guts out of anyone who so much as laid a finger on her. (
To
LA CHUNGA) But I’m not jealous of you. I’ll lend her to you all right, because I know that you’ll give her back to me – intact.
Without taking his eyes off
LA CHUNGA;
still with his arm round
MECHE) No. I wouldn’t lend her to Mono, not for all the tea in China. Nor to any other man, for that matter. (
Kissing
MECHE) It would make me jealous. I’d rip the guts out of anyone who so much as laid a finger on her. (
To
LA CHUNGA) But I’m not jealous of you. I’ll lend her to you all right, because I know that you’ll give her back to me – intact.
MECHE: (
Snivelling, bewildered and exasperated
) Let go of me. I want to get out of here. You miserable sod. You miserable sod.
Snivelling, bewildered and exasperated
) Let go of me. I want to get out of here. You miserable sod. You miserable sod.
JOSEFINO: (
Letting go of her
) You can go. But don’t ever come back. Because if you go now, Meche, you’d be betraying
me. I’d never forgive you for letting me down when I most needed you.
Letting go of her
) You can go. But don’t ever come back. Because if you go now, Meche, you’d be betraying
me. I’d never forgive you for letting me down when I most needed you.
MECHE: But, Josefino, do you realize what you’re asking me to do? What do you think I am?
LA CHUNGA: (
To
MECHE
, sardonically
) You see, so you wouldn’t just do anything that crook asked you, after all.
To
MECHE
, sardonically
) You see, so you wouldn’t just do anything that crook asked you, after all.
JOSEFINO: (
Clutching
MECHE) Did you really say that? Did you? Then it is true. (
Kisses
MECHE.) I love you, Meche. You and I will always be together, for as long as we both live. Don’t cry, silly. (
To
LA CHUNGA) Well, what about it then?
Clutching
MECHE) Did you really say that? Did you? Then it is true. (
Kisses
MECHE.) I love you, Meche. You and I will always be together, for as long as we both live. Don’t cry, silly. (
To
LA CHUNGA) Well, what about it then?
(LA CHUNGA
has become very serious. Long pause
.)
has become very serious. Long pause
.)
LA CHUNGA: Let her say it herself, in her own words, that she accepts. Let her say that from now until the first light of dawn she’ll do anything I want.
JOSEFINO: (
To
MECHE) Don’t let me down. I need you. She won’t do anything to you. She’s a woman. What can she do to you? Say it.
To
MECHE) Don’t let me down. I need you. She won’t do anything to you. She’s a woman. What can she do to you? Say it.
(
Trance-like pause. The superstuds and
LA CHUNGA
watch
MECHE’
s inner conflict. She stretches out her arms and looks from one to the other
.)
Trance-like pause. The superstuds and
LA CHUNGA
watch
MECHE’
s inner conflict. She stretches out her arms and looks from one to the other
.)
MECHE: (
To
LA CHUNGA,
stammering
) I’ll do anything you want until the first light of dawn.
To
LA CHUNGA,
stammering
) I’ll do anything you want until the first light of dawn.
(LA CHUNGA
goes to fetch the money from under the bar.
JOSEFINO
whispers something into
MECHE’
s ear and caresses her. The superstuds start to recover from the shock
. LA CHUNGA
hands the money to
JOSEFINO.)
goes to fetch the money from under the bar.
JOSEFINO
whispers something into
MECHE’
s ear and caresses her. The superstuds start to recover from the shock
. LA CHUNGA
hands the money to
JOSEFINO.)
EL MONO: Bloody hell, I really don’t believe this. I don’t believe my eyes.
LITUMA: I could even marry a woman like that.
JOSE: Shit. This calls for us to sing the old song again. For Mechita. She deserves it.
EL MONO: The song, superstuds – and a toast in honour of Mechita.
EL MONO, LITUMA
and
JOSE: (
Singing
)
and
JOSE: (
Singing
)
We are the superstuds.
We don’t want to work.
All we want 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.
In Chunga’s bar where we belong.
And now we’re going to drink a toast
To you, Mechita.
We don’t want to work.
All we want 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.
In Chunga’s bar where we belong.
And now we’re going to drink a toast
To you, Mechita.
(They raise their beer glasses to
MECHE
and drink.
LA CHUNGA
takes
MECHE
by the hand and leads her towards her room. They both go up the small staircase.
JOSEFINO,
counting his money, returns to the gambling table.)
MECHE
and drink.
LA CHUNGA
takes
MECHE
by the hand and leads her towards her room. They both go up the small staircase.
JOSEFINO,
counting his money, returns to the gambling table.)
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