All The World's A Stage
Page 43
O-BARA (also whispering and creeping towards the paper lantern standing on the floor) It’s you who are the fool, dear sir. The dragon’s not here, it has disappeared. If you want to live, keep your mouth shut. And don’t get in my way!
Bowing to the formidable messenger, Futoya creeps towards her, still squatting. The Inaudible One watches them, holding out his hand demandingly. He has hidden the dagger away again.
O-Bara overturns the lantern and it goes out. Darkness.
O-BARA’S VOICE Now save me, legs!
FUTOYA’S VOICE Wait! What about me?
The sound of scurrying feet.
The curtain closes.
During the mitiyuki scene
the scenery is changed.
The second mitiyuki
Caught in a patch of light, O-Bara and Futoya run along the hanamichi, without moving from the spot. Their feet seem to be sticking in sand: they run agonisingly, as people do in nightmares; their breathing is fitful and laboured. The geisha has outrun the merchant. She has thrown off her lacquered sandals and tucked the hem of her kimono in her belt so that she can run more freely.
FUTOYA It is pointless to flee! There is no way to escape them! They will find us anywhere, even on the bottom of the sea!
O-BARA (not looking round) I am not running from the Ninja, but from you, you blockhead. I did not take the dragon, and I should not have to answer for it!
Futoya runs faster and catches up with her.
FUTOYA Did you really not love me, even just a little bit?
O-BARA Yes, I loved you, of course I did. But what good is love now?
FUTOYA You are right, as you always are. And your advice is good. Let him finish you off, and I shall get away.
He grabs hold of her sleeve and flings her to the ground. Then he races ahead.
I only need to run from death today. Afterwards I shall buy the Jyonin off with money.
O-Bara grabs the hem of his kimono and he falls. They both get up and carry on running in panic, jostling each other.
STORYTELLER
Now you can see in all its fetid charm the rank love
Termed ‘infernal’ by Okasan in the first act of our play.
The lovers blaze with a bright, glowing flame,
Yet this fire does not warm, but chills their souls.
Where all scurry along in haste, pursuing profit,
Hell’s mouth gapes wide open at the end of the road …
He strikes his drum.
A beam of light picks out the Inaudible One, standing in front of the curtain. He raises a bamboo blowpipe to his mouth, and spits out a poisoned dart – and Futoya falls. Another dart – and O-Bara falls.
They squirm on the ground and then grow still.
The Inaudible One walks up to the bodies. He takes the snake-blade dagger out from behind his back, bends down and does something.
The beam of light goes out.
Darkness. We hear the Inaudible One walk back onto the stage.
The curtain rustles.
A single drumbeat.
Scene three
The deserted temple again. It is dark inside, and the Inaudible One is picked out by a solitary beam of light. He is sitting there without his mask, but his face cannot be seen, since the actor has his back to the auditorium. His arms are extended to the sides: in his left hand he holds a woman’s head, and in his right, a man’s.
STORYTELLER
An unheard-of business. Without completing his assignment,
The Sinobi has arranged a meeting with the Jyonin,
Presenting a request to be released from his commission,
Since the client has violated the conditions.
A single drumbeat.
The statue of Buddha is lit up dimly from behind. We hear a voice.
The Inaudible One places the heads on the ground, clasps his hands respectfully on his knees and lowers his head.
THE INVISIBLE ONE Inaudible One, on reading your request, I was so indignant, I could scarcely contain my wrath. If not for the great service you have rendered, I would have ordered you to put an end to your own life …
The Inaudible One takes out the snake-blade dagger and sets it to his throat, demonstrating his readiness to carry out such an order immediately.
THE INVISIBLE ONE (continuing) … And transferred the commission to another valiant warrior. The sentence must be carried out, no matter what. The client is of no importance here. And the victim likewise. We Sinobi bear a sacred duty of honour. We transgress every law of man, and rumour names us denizens of hell. Our path lies through the darkness, but a single star still guides our stealthy stride.
Man does not know why he lives in this world. He thinks up toys with which he can amuse himself. He has invented Good and Evil, Ugliness and Beauty, using them as chains to bind himself. But the Buddha alone knows what is Good and what is Evil; the Beautiful is easily transformed into the Ugly. And there is only one thing of true value: having once chosen a Way, never to stray or turn aside from it.
The Way of the Sinobi is killing. That is our craft, elevated to the high standing of an art. Always keep faith with honour. Follow the light of the star. Who are you without honour? Merely a wretched, murderous thug.
The Inaudible One lowers his head even further. Eventually he stretches out face down as a sign of unquestioning obedience.
Well then. Carry out the assignment to the letter, and I shall forgive your weakness, so be it. And one more task. Find the dragon. For that talisman you are answerable with your life …
The backlighting of the statue fades out. The Inaudible One straightens up abruptly. He sits there, motionless, precisely reproducing the silhouette of the Buddha.
STORYTELLER
Shamed by the Jyonin’s severe words,
The Inaudible One acknowledges their truth.
Why has he lived in the world? And why has he sown death?
What has it all been for, if he turns off the Way?
Such a life is bereft of honour and of meaning.
The shark and lion must shed blood to live.
And the Sinobi cannot live without allegiance to the Way.
All this he tells himself, to buttress his drooping spirits.
In the battle of love and duty, duty wins the day.
A single drumbeat.
The Inaudible One jumps up and freezes, with the snake-blade dagger glittering in his hand.
Darkness. Curtain.
The stage revolves.
Scene four
The garden in front of Izumi’s pavilion. Night. The shoji are closed, but a light is burning inside. We see the geisha’s silhouette. Izumi is melancholically plucking the strings of the shamisen.
The Invisible One creeps out stealthily. He stops in front of the engawa and takes out his dagger, then freezes motionless.
STORYTELLER
And that very same night, submissive to his fate
The Sinobi sets out to pay his debt of honour.
Today will come to pass what karma has decreed.
For man is powerless to correct the course of destiny.
And yet, setting his eyes on that familiar silhouette,
The Inaudible One has slowed his silent stride …
A single drumbeat.
Soga appears on the edge of the engawa. He sees the Inaudible One with a dagger in his hand, draws his sword and, without saying a word, attacks the assassin furiously.
An unusual duel follows: it takes place in absolute silence; both opponents move without making a single sound. The distinctive feature of a Sinobi’s swordmanship is that he defends himself from blows, not with his blade, but by rapid movements and jumps, sometimes even by turning somersaults. Soga’s long sword repeatedly slices through empty air. The Inaudible One hides his dagger away in the secret scabbard behind his back.
The duel is reminiscent of an acrobatic ballet or pantomime; musical accompaniment is provided by Izumi playing the shamisen.
The figh
t concludes in the following fashion: the Inaudible One, finding himself beside the blossoming apple tree, dodges yet another blow and Soga’s sword slices right through the trunk. The Ronin involuntarily glances round at the falling tree and that instant is enough for the Inaudible One to whip out his dagger and thrust it into Soga’s chest. At the same moment the music breaks off and the light in the pavilion goes out.
The Sinobi catches the body, as if embracing it, and slowly lowers it to the ground. After glancing round at the pavilion in almost exactly the same way as Soga in the first act, he hides the body under the engawa. The dagger is already back in its sheath.
Then the Inaudible One walks up onto the veranda. He opens the shoji slightly, slips inside and closes them together behind him.
A pause.
The Storyteller strikes his drum rapidly but quietly, imitating the sound of a pounding heart.
IZUMI’S VOICE Who is breathing here? Who is watching me in the darkness?
The lantern is lit again. We can see two silhouettes. Izumi is sitting up on her bed, with the Inaudible One standing over her. What follows is in the style of a shadow theatre.
IZUMI Ah, so it is you? I knew that you would come to me!
The Inaudible One backs away.
Now why are you embarrassed? Was your heart bold, but then turned cold? Do you think I will push you away in disgust? Then let me tell you, I was waiting here for you impatiently.
She holds her arms out to him.
I have heard so many vows of love from others, I am not ashamed to make my own confession first. I love you with all my heart, you were sent to me by destiny. And it does not matter to me whether you are ugly or not. Ah, what stupid nonsense is that? Now your face will become the ideal of heavenly beauty for me. From henceforth pretty faces will seem ugly to me, disgusting even to behold. Quickly, take off your mask! I shall accept your trust with great delight, as a most precious gift!
A single drumbeat. The Inaudible One tears off his mask.
IZUMI (in confusion) But you have not a single flaw! Your face is handsome! I do not understand, why did you hide it? My dearest chosen one is silent and handsome, like the moon in a black sky, like a bright star! Without my make-up, also without my mask, do I appear before you now. You see me, too, just as I am … let us swear that never again shall we hide our faces from each other. I do not wish to be a geisha! I shall go away with you. We shall simply be together, two of us – the same as everybody else. Or almost the same … It is no misfortune that you are dumb. You will see. I shall be talkative enough for two.
Ah, but does it really matter what will happen afterwards? Here and now we are together, my love, you and I!
He reaches out his arms to her and she pulls him onto the bed.
The light goes out in the pavilion again, and then on all the stage.
Quiet music.
Curtain
The third mitiyuki
The Inaudible One walks out onto the hanamichi, holding a lantern in his raised hand. The audience sees his face for the first time – it is impassive. Izumi walks behind the Inaudible One, carrying a bundle. Her face, with no ceruse or make-up, is lit up by a beam of light. She is dressed in a simple, dark kimono. They both freeze motionless.
STORYTELLER
In the dark hour before the dawn the two of them set out,
Leaving the house of Yanagi, casting off their former world.
Or so Izumi thinks … Which way their path lies,
She has not even asked. It leads wherever it goes.
She babbles constantly in a happy, piping voice.
The bleak night seems quite lovely to her now …
He strikes his drum.
They are both walking in ‘koaruki’ style. But the Inaudible One is taking broad strides and Izumi, in keeping with the canonical rules of femininity, is taking small steps.
IZUMI There are no stars to be seen in the sky, there is no moon. We shall disappear now, you and I, dissolve into the night. I used to think my life would streak past like a comet, trace a path across the sky and vanish without trace. But fate has prepared another destiny for me: I shall live with my beloved, just as thousands live. One leaf among the other leaves, one blade of grass among the others. With you I am happy to be like this, like everyone. But why did you tell me to bring with me the kimono in which I used to perform for an audience? (She points to the bundle.) It is too luxurious for a modest life, I cannot go out in it, or wear it for receiving guests …
Suddenly the Inaudible One stops and turns towards her.
IZUMI (putting down the bundle) Have you chosen this spot to make a halt? You’re right, it is so lovely here, with this cliff and the river down below … (She walks to the edge of the hanamichi and looks down.) That is the genuine karyukai, the world of flowers and willow trees, where Beauty lies concealed, faithful to yugen …
Meanwhile the Inaudible One takes the kimono out of the bundle and spreads it out on the ground. Then he takes a scroll of paper out of the sleeve and hands it to his companion.
IZUMI (laughing quietly) Yes, you wrote something before we left, I remember. Only you wouldn’t let me read what you had written. But I have realised now: is it love poems? Have you chosen this place to show them to me?
Taking the piece of paper in one hand and the lantern in the other, she reads. After a little while the lantern starts to tremble.
STORYTELLER
Oh, poor Izumi! This is not poetry at all.
The Sinobi confesses his accursed trade.
He writes that she is doomed to die,
And her only salvation is to disappear without a trace.
She must leave the capital, nevermore to return,
And start a new life in some distant place.
He is releasing her, rather than destroy his own honour.
Without honour a man’s life in this world is pointless,
He is bound to atone for his offence with death.
But first he wishes to throw the assassins off the trail.
Here on the clifftop they will find Izumi’s kimono,
Splattered with blood, but no body inside it.
They will think that he threw the body in the river
And the current carried the dead woman off.
It matters not if the Sinobi’s own body is found,
Everything will be clear to the Jyonin in any case.
He will think his emissary carried out the sentence,
But clearly was unable to locate the dragon
And, faithful to his vow, took his own life.
This is the action of a Ninja who values his honour.
And in the final lines of this appalling missive,
The Inaudible One gives her his final behest:
‘Run! Live! Save your own life and forget me.
Let me remain for you a shadow with no face.’
The Inaudible One puts on his mask.
Numbed to her soul, Izumi knows not what to say.
She cannot stir, she thinks this is a dream,
An absurd, senseless dream. She must awaken from it!
Her parting from the dumb man takes place without words …
He strikes the drum.
The Inaudible One pulls the snake-blade dagger out from behind his back. pierces his own throat with it, leans down so that the blood pours out onto the outspread kimono, turns round and falls over the cliff (into the dark corner between the hanamichi and the hall). We hear water splashing.
Izumi gives a piercing scream. She drops the lantern and everything is plunged into darkness.
We hear the singing of the funeral sutra to the steady beating of the drum. At this point the actress must creep behind the curtain, taking the lantern and kimono with her.
Scene five
Izumi’s room.
She is standing motionless on the threshold of the room, to which she has only just returned.
STORYTELLER
Knowing not her path and seeing nothing,
Izumi wandered blindly through the night,
But, coming to herself, she saw that her haphazard steps
Had led her back to this very same house.
Just so a theatre puppet, when the show is ended,
Is set away again, lying lifeless in its customary chest …
He strikes the drum.
Izumi slowly gazes round the room, as if seeing it for the first time, and sits down in front of the casket, in profile to the audience. She looks at the casket and raises the lid with the mirror.
STORYTELLER
Half her life she has spent before the mirror,
Admiring the reflection of a lovely face.
And now she looks into that gleaming surface
As if seeking a vision of the truth there.
‘He was an assassin, a Ninja. But who are you?
Who are you, in real truth? Why were you born?’
She interrogates the mirror avidly,