Singathology

by Gwee Li Sui

  FATIMAH: Yes! Forty, eighty, one hundred! Correct! Oh no! This other plate is beginning to tilt too!

  WOMAN 3: The number of grains is the same! Why are these two plates heavier? Try counting the number in the other two plates.

  FATIMAH: Ten, sixty, one hundred. This one’s correct. Twenty, forty, ninety, one hundred. This one is correct too. Do the grains all weigh the same?

  WOMAN 3: They all weigh 3.142 grams. Not one is different.

  FATIMAH: Then maybe the scale itself is not equal?

  WOMAN 3: No it can’t be! I double-checked all the chemical processes and my calculations. Triple-checked even.

  FATIMAH: Did you make all the parts of the scale yourself?

  WOMAN 3: When I was making the scale, they gave me four base plates that fitted perfectly. I was curious. But, since the grains all weigh 3.142 grams, I didn’t dare ask about it.

  FATIMAH: Look! The grains are behaving strangely! The ones in the heaviest plate are jumping up and down as if they are trying to reach higher than each other! Some are even trying to prevent others from jumping!

  WOMAN 3: The ones in these plates are attracting other grains. The plate is getting heavier!

  FATIMAH: These grains are fading! You almost can’t see them.

  WOMAN 3: These grains are cute! The ones in the lightest plate, they are moving in perfect circles.

  FATIMAH: The grains from the second plate are jumping to the third and the fourth plate!

  WOMAN 3: They are pushing the grains out. Pushed out and fading. Try adding some more grains.

  FATIMAH: OK, I’ll add twenty first.

  WOMAN 3: Look at that! It’s still the same! Still being pushed and fading, it’s as if they are disappearing, vanishing.

  WOMAN 3: This can’t be. I cannot have a scale that makes grains disappear. I have to build a new scale. Make my own base plates.

  7. Regardless – A Diatribe

  “Hush The Dead Are Dreaming” plays throughout.

  EYE: Can you still hear the moan?

  EAR: Yes, it’s so constant that it’s almost silent.

  EYE: Silent?

  EAR: The silence is swallowing itself over and over.

  EYE: The darkness has woven itself within the quiet.

  EAR: A silence so deep.

  EYE: A darkness so complete.

  EYE/EAR: Laying in wait for the storm.

  Pause.

  EAR: I wonder, if the perfect mushroom cloud might be too perfect.

  EYE: Perfect only as sunlight glinting off a grenade at dusk.

  Pause.

  EAR: What if… what if one of us fails the other?

  EYE: What do you mean?

  EAR: Purity is different for each of us.

  EYE: You must trust... this is not futile.

  EAR: I… I don’t know if I can.

  EYE: I need you now more than ever. Hush…

  8. United

  MAN 3: Huan ying huan ying! Welcome! Selamat datang! Vanakam!

  FATIMAH: An animal? Mr. Minimen, where have you brought me to?

  MAN 3: Hello girl, I am Stan the Stegosaurus! Is this your first time here? This place is the best. There are roller coasters, museums, even a water theme park!

  FATIMAH: Wow! There’s a fountain, a huge swimming pool, so many shops!

  MAN 3: Ha! That’s why! Welcome to Minis Mountains – Sands by the Bay!

  FATIMAH: Minis Mountains? Is this where you live, Mr. Minismen? What a beautiful place!

  MAN 3: Special, isn’t it? Many companies submitted proposals. Obviously, the American one is the best.

  FATIMAH: So this place was built by American people? For what?

  MAN 3: For the success of the people of Singapore! This place is for us, for the economy of our country! Working for Americans is great. I’ve only worked here for five months, can buy new EVO already. My American boss said simple business means business. Survival of the fittest.

  FATIMAH: Survival? Like the show on TV?

  MAN 3 [laughs]: Good! Like the show on TV, if you want to be rich, you cannot give chance, plunder everything you can. Everyone wants to get rich. Surely, you also want to be rich, right? If rich, can live in a condo, no need to live in a flat. If rich, can have maid, no need to change channels yourself, so tiring. If rich, can take car, no need to take bus and watch TV mobile, sometimes there aren’t even subtitles.

  FATIMAH: If rich, can eat fried chicken every day, no need to eat sugared biscuits.

  MAN 3 [laughs]: That’s why! Everyone dreams of being rich. If you were rich, what would you buy?

  FATIMAH: If I were rich, I wouldn’t buy anything. I would bring ayah go out.

  MAN 3: Go out? How come?

  FATIMAH: Because every day ayah is too tired to bring me out. Watching TV also can sleep.

  MAN 3: What does your father work as?

  FATIMAH: During the day, ayah drives other peoples’ cars. On weekends, he works as security.

  MAN 3: Your family very big, is it? Is that why ayah works so hard?

  FATIMAH: Not big, just me and my brother. But the people at the court, they say ayah have to give mak money every month. If not, ayah will go jail.

  MAN 3: How old is your brother?

  FATIMAH: Six. His birthday just passed, but I haven’t given him the Pokémon I bought for him.

  MAN 3: Why not?

  FATIMAH: Mak forgot to fetch me.

  MAN 3: Forgot to fetch? You brother doesn’t stay with you?

  FATIMAH: My brother stays with mak. Mak ask me to stay with ayah. She says I must take care of ayah. If not, ayah will be alone. But ayah says its Uncle Brian who doesn’t want mak to look after me.

  MAN 3: Who’s Uncle Brian?

  FATIMAH shrugs and turns away.

  MAN 3: OK, little girl don’t be sad. Come let me help you. I teach you how to play this game. If you win, you can win a lot of money.

  FATIMAH: Money? Real money?

  MAN 3: That’s why just now I say this place is special.

  FATIMAH: The money… I… I can keep it?

  MAN 3: Of course, you can keep it! It’s your good luck if you win.

  FATIMAH: This game is by luck? Don’t want lah. My luck is not so good, surely I won’t win. Some more, ayah say if, by luck, it’s called gambling.

  MAN 3: Ah, but there are many types of gambling. This game is not like the others. The other games need a lot of money. This one cheap. Some more, a lot of Malay people come here. It’s OK lah, we are modern Malays; we must support the new economy. Muslim is Muslim, but we have to move with the times. Islam can be appropriated! Just endorse a religious edict, it’s easy! We are a free society!

  FATIMAH: Who is trapped? Who is free? Are you sure it isn’t gambling?

  MAN 3: Don’t worry! Every night, at least two or three people win this game. Now is late already, and I haven’t seen anyone win yet. Surely, if you play, you will win.

  FATIMAH: But I only have two dollars. Is that enough to play?

  MAN 3: It’s OK because I pity you. I let you play the first game for free. The two dollars I change to coins for you. Don’t worry, surely you can win.

  FATIMAH: OK, I’ll try. How do I play?

  MAN 3: Very easy! Put the coin in, pull the handle on the side. If all the fruits are the same, many coins will come out.

  FATIMAH: If all the fruits are the same, many coins come out. So easy!

  MAN 3: That’s why I say you guarantee win one! OK, you try. I have to meet other guests.

  FATIMAH: Bye, thanks! Wow, Mr. Minismen, did you hear what Stan said? This game can win a lot of money. He said guarantee I win. If I win, the money I can… treat ayah go and eat, buy my brother school shoes, buy mak a headscarf. If I win a lot of money, I can give mak, she don’t have to keep asking Uncle Brian for money. OK, I must play this game properly. Guarantee win.

  FATIMAH puts in her first coin and pulls the handle.

  FATIMAH: Apple, apple… orange… Oh no, Mr. Minismen, out of five, only two are the sam
e. Never mind, I try again. Guarantee win.

  FATIMAH puts in her second coin and pulls the handle.

  FATIMAH: Orange, orange, orange, grape. Oh no, lose again. Only three the same. The other two different. How, Mr. Minismen? I only have one coin left… I have to win… I don’t want ayah, mak to live a hard life anymore… Mr. Minismen, you have to help me. Pray with me. More powerful. Pray properly, OK? This prayer is most important.

  In the Name of God the Most Beneficent and Merciful. Dear Allah, please help me, I only have one coin left, I must win this game so that adik can have school shoes, mak can stop washing toilets for money, ayah can watch TV without falling asleep. Amen.

  FATIMAH puts in her last coin and pulls the handle.

  FATIMAH: Grape… grape… grape… grape! Just one more, Mr. Minismen, we guarantee win! Apple…

  FATIMAH cries silently.

  FATIMAH: Oh, Mr. Minismen… let’s go. Please bring me home, I’m tired, I don’t want to walk anymore. Why did you bring me to Minis Mountains? What is it that I’m supposed to find here?

  A snowflake falls on FATIMAH’s nose.

  FATIMAH: What’s this?

  Another snowflake falls on FATIMAH’s head.

  FATIMAH: Snow? Singapore where got snow? 10 p.m., snowing time.

  FATIMAH plays with the falling snowflakes.

  FATIMAH: Look, it’s as if there is a snowman!

  GIRL 1: Hey! Don’t anyhow say, OK! I’m a snowgirl, not a snowman!

  FATIMAH: How come you can talk?

  GIRL 1: I also can move! I’ve been waiting for you for a long time.

  FATIMAH: You’ve been waiting for me for a long time?

  GIRL 1: Oh sorry, I forgot.

  9. Language

  From this point, GIRL 1 and FATIMAH speak in F language.

  GIRL 1: Let me start again. My name is Fatimah.

  FATIMAH: Hey! You know my secret language!

  GIRL 1: Yes! I know everything there is to know about you!

  FATIMAH: Everything?

  GIRL 1: Everything. I even know what you pray for every day.

  FATIMAH: Really? Prove it!

  GIRL 1: You pray for ayah to get enough sleep, mak to stop working and to cook her masak merah for you everyday, adik to wear shoes to school and not his only pair of slippers. I even know that you sometimes pray that God will make Uncle Brian disappear.

  FATIMAH: Only sometimes.

  GIRL 1: Don’t be ashamed. We all pray for selfish things sometimes. What’s important is we pray for good things more often.

  FATIMAH: Why do you know everything about me? And why is your name Fatimah too?

  GIRL 1: Come on, think. You’re a smart girl.

  FATIMAH: Are you my twin?

  GIRL 1: Come on. Think!

  FATIMAH: Same name, same language… hmmm… are you my shadow?

  GIRL 1: Yes! Smart girl! I am your shadow!

  FATIMAH: Why are you waiting for me? Are you going to help me get home?

  GIRL 1: I am going to help you. But I’m not going to help you get home.

  FATIMAH: Then how can I go home? I want to go home.

  GIRL 1: You cannot go home.

  FATIMAH: I cannot go home?

  GIRL 1: No you cannot go home. Minis Mountain is your new home.

  FATIMAH: No! I don’t want to stay here. I want to go home to ayah. Ayah needs me.

  GIRL 1: Think about it. If you are not there, do you think ayah will need to work two jobs?

  FATIMAH: Well... but adik needs me. If I’m not there, who will teach him to read?

  GIRL 1: Adik has mak, and mak has adik. Mak even has Uncle Brian.

  FATIMAH: But… but I don’t want to stay here at Minis Mountain.

  GIRL 1: You don’t have a choice. You are the one who chose to ride on Mr. Minismen.

  FATIMAH: But… I will be alone.

  GIRL 1: You will have Mr. Minismen… and you will have me.

  FATIMAH: There’s nothing here for me.

  GIRL 1: Of course, there is. You can’t leave, but here you can make this place exactly how you want it to be.

  FATIMAH: Exactly how I want it to be?

  GIRL 1: You can build your own perfect world!

  FATIMAH: What’s the use of a perfect world if I can’t be with the people I love?

  GIRL 1: Come on, don’t be like that. Love will forget itself.

  Pause.

  FATIMAH: Plunder everything you can.

  GIRL 1: Good. Now be brave, not everyone gets this chance to build a perfect world for himself or herself, you know. Mr. Minismen chose you.

  FATIMAH: OK, I will. I will build a perfect world for myself. But from what?

  GIRL 1: From this snow, of course! It’s not just for fun, you know. Anyway, it’s the perfect temperature! You’ll never need air-con!

  FATIMAH: How?

  GIRL 1: First, you have to think about all the people you have met on your trip. Then you imagine what your perfect world will look like. Will it have skyscrapers? Will it be surrounded by mountains, the ocean? Will it have many movie theatres? Will there be 7-Elevens or Cheers?

  FATIMAH: And then?

  GIRL 1: Then you just close your eyes.

  FATIMAH: Close my eyes?

  GIRL 1: Yes, close your eyes and prick your ears.

  10. Regardless – A Diatribe

  “Hush The Dead Are Dreaming” plays throughout.

  EYE: There it is! I see it!

  EAR: What do you see? Tell me!

  EYE: Grey billows slowly merging into one. You should hear the first roll anytime now.

  EAR: Yes! Yes! I hear it! The first wave has just rolled in!

  EYE: The billows are clearing now. I can see the shape of a mushroom cloud!

  EAR: Oh! I can hear the second and third waves now. The sound of crystal sand drifting in with the tide is becoming much clearer! Wow!

  EYE: I never really believed this could happen. It’s so magnificent. I wish you could see it. Just as how I imagined it would be. The perfect mushroom cloud.

  EAR: Tell me, tell me, do you see the shadows yet?

  EYE: Wait, soon I think.

  Pause.

  EYE: I see them now. Just as I expected. Seven in all.

  EAR: The waves are rolling in consistently now. Seven shadows, where?

  EYE: On the roads. On the water. On walls. On ceilings.

  EAR: Now that the shadows have come finally, we can rest soon.

  Pause.

  EYE: Wait! I see one more!

  EAR: One more shadow? How can it be!

  EYE: Yes, it’s even clearer than the others.

  EAR: What is it?

  EYE: A girl.

  The music and lights build to a climax as FATIMAH puts a clenched fist to her chest with her eyes closed and cries.

  蛋糕

  作者：黄孟文

  这次，我们全家特地开车送女佣雅蒂去樟宜飞机场，乘搭印尼廉价客机 Garuda，回乡看望她那患病的母亲。她似乎很有孝心。

  办清了离境手续，从玻璃门进入了候机室。雅蒂这时好像忽然想起了什么，神色非常慌张。她霍然返身，想要再从玻璃门出来，但给守门员拦住，不得如愿。

  雅蒂显得呼吸急促，失魂落魄，匆忙对守门员说她忘了将蛋糕带来，那是她亲手制作的，必须要带回印尼去送给她的妈妈——那太重要了！太重要了！她强调。

  双方挣扎了一段时间，互不妥协。我见状赶快趋向前，把30元新加坡币递给雅蒂，嘱她在候机室里面另外买一盒蛋糕送给她的妈妈。我对她说不要坐德示冲回家去取了，时间上肯定来不及。

  雅蒂仍然拼命挣扎着要冲出去拿那盒她特别重视的蛋糕，怎样都不肯罢休。

  排队要进玻璃门去的队伍越来越长。雅蒂终于无法得偿所愿。

  我们一回到家里，就去寻找那盒雅蒂忘了带往机场的蛋糕。它很整齐地被置于冰柜上面的一个中型饭碗上。饭碗底
下放着一个空盘子，而饭碗与盘子之间盛满清水，形成一圈“护城河”，以阻挡那些可恶的微型蚂蚁前来大快朵颐。

  孩子们吵着要吃蛋糕！我们小心翼翼地将蛋糕拿下来放在桌子上，再拿来一把水果刀。哪知一刀切下去，竟然“卡”的一声发出切到硬物的声响！呵，这个硬物竟然是一颗仍然会发出亮光的钻石戒指！

  天！这不正是我在几十年前送给我妻子的那个结婚钻戒吗？怎么会被嵌在雅蒂做的蛋糕里面？

  全室寂然。大家都很惊奇，一齐张开了口，你看着我，我看着你……

  Cake

  BY WONG MENG VOON

  Translated by Jeremy Tiang

  This time, the entire family saw our maid Yati off. We drove her to Changi Airport, where she would take the Indonesian budget airline Garuda back to her hometown, to visit her ailing mother. How filial she seemed.

  After going though customs and stepping through the glass doors into the departure lounge, Yati seemed suddenly to remember something. Her face growing distraught, she turned abruptly and tried to retrace her steps through the glass doors, but the security guard stopped her.

  Yati’s breath was urgent now, and she looked terrified. Anxiously, she explained to the guard that she had forgotten to bring a cake, one she had baked with her own hands and planned to bring back to Indonesia as a gift for her mother. It was very important! Very important! She kept saying.

  The two of them tussled for a while, neither giving way. I rushed forward and handed thirty dollars to Yati, urging her to buy her mother another cake from one of the departure lounge shops. There was no point rushing home in a taxi. She was sure to miss her plane if she did that.

  Still, Yati insisted that she had to hurry back for this oh-so-important cake. No matter what we said, she wouldn’t give up.

  Meanwhile, the queue of people waiting to get through the doors was growing longer and longer. Finally, Yati had to accept that she couldn’t get her way.

  When we got home, we immediately went looking for that forgotten cake. It was sitting neatly above the fridge on a regular plate, beneath which was a large platter filled with water, creating a moat to keep away the pesky ants that might have otherwise gorged themselves.