Pathway to Japanese Literature

Female

Male甲

Male乙

Others

The stage utilized its space to show three unconnected locations simultaneously, each equipped with independent installations.

The three scenes were arranged roughly in the following configuration.

A was an opulent salon belonging to the hotel’s apartment.

B was a small room equipped with a single bed in another hotel.

C is a telephone room in a certain shop.

The time is 9:00 PM.

In Room A, Male甲 leans against the sofa reading the evening newspaper.
A woman who appears to be his wife comes out from the adjacent room.

Female: Could you open the larger trunk for me?

Since I’m going to bed, why don’t you do it tomorrow?

Female: There's something I need right now.

Male甲: What do you need?

Female: Just open it for me already…

Male甲 reluctantly stands up and enters the adjacent room.
Female follows after him.

At this moment, Male乙 returns from outside to Room B.
Lies down on the bed still wearing his hat.
But he immediately gets up again and takes off the telephone receiver.

Male乙: Hello? Hello? Please connect me to the Miyako Hotel.
"Ah... Miyako Hotel."
Hello? Hello? Is this the Miyako Hotel?
“There’s someone named Kusumi there, correct?”
“Yes, that’s correct—the couple...”
“He’s there now, correct?”
"There's no need to mention my name."
“Please connect me immediately…”

The telephone in Room A rings.
Female appears at the telephone.

“Hello? Hello… Yes, that’s correct.”
“Yes, go ahead…”

“Thank you.”
“Oh, hello? Hello…”
“May I ask who is calling?”

Male乙: Good evening...
“It’s me.”

Female: Oh, right... (Glances toward the adjacent room) Where are you calling from now...?

“It’s the Station Hotel.”
“My apologies for earlier…”
“I felt guilty and stayed silent.”
“Is he there... Boss?”

“Yes, he’s here.”

“Can’t you hear my voice?”

“Yes… That’s dangerous.”
“Are you with your husband too?”
“My! I hadn’t the slightest idea.”
“Do come play sometime.”

“How’s it going? The result…”
“Doesn’t feel much like a honeymoon, man.”

“Why…”

Male甲 emerges from the adjacent room and sits back down on the sofa.
He continues reading the evening newspaper.
Occasionally, he glances up at the woman from beneath his gaze.

It’s completely accidental, us meeting in a place like this today…
“Well, I’ve finally decided to leave—tomorrow afternoon, I’m departing from Kobe.”
“Before that, I thought I’d meet up with some friends in Kyoto, so I came here.”

Female: You’ve certainly figured out that we’re staying here, haven’t you?

Male乙: “I could probably figure it out.”
“Do you think it was wrong of me to call?”

Female: “It’s not exactly good…”
“But I’m happy.”
“Still no baby yet? Huh?”
“Young lady all alone…”
“Then you must be just like Husband.”

Male乙: “I guess seeing your face really is no good after all.”
“Even just a little—I end up wanting to hear your voice.”

Female: “I do too, that…”
“If things had stayed like that, I…”
“That’s right. I’ve been that way ever since leaving school, you know.”
“But well, you’re really going away for good now, huh?”

Male乙: There’s nothing else to be done.
“Of course, I still believe the path we took was the right one.”
“You choosing such a person as your marriage partner was first and foremost wise, and me permitting it shows I know myself well enough to be a bit conceited about it—(In the middle of conversation—Yes, go ahead—) So even now, talking with you like this, I don’t hold the slightest unpleasant feeling toward your present situation. And this business of going abroad—there’s no need to think of it so tragically.”
“Well…”

“Otherwise, it would be a lie.”
“That’s not like you.”
“If Husband is being like that, then you mustn’t stay composed either…”
“But isn’t it actually better that each of us can say we’re free?”
“Speaking of my situation, I’d say I’m practically suffocating from all these constraints.”

“What’s this about…?”
“I’d like you to talk a bit more about something related to us.”
“What’s your boss doing right now?”

“Our boss is reading the newspaper right now.”
“Occasionally he looks my way with those piercing eyes.”

Male乙: Well then, let’s stop here.
“He’s probably going to bed now.”

Female: Well, that's about the size of it.

Male乙: Take your time resting.

Female: Farewell.

The woman hangs up the receiver and, just like that, approaches Male甲, peering pointlessly at the newspaper from behind him.

Male乙 keeps the receiver pressed to his ear for a while but resolutely leaves the spot.
He undresses and changes into pajamas.

“She’s a friend from school who married three years ago.”
“She said she spotted us today at Maruyama Park…”
“I’d completely forgotten about that person.”

“What sort of person is that?”

“Huh?”
“Well…”
“The place she married into was called something like…”
“Was it Tomoiwa...? Some name like that.”
“She’s a painter.”

“What about your bath?”

“I’ll do that later.”

“How late do you plan to stay up talking like this?”

“Until I get sleepy…”

Female leaves Male甲’s side and enters the adjacent room.
In Room B, Male乙 starts to get into bed but then, as if remembering something, approaches the telephone.
He starts to reach for the receiver but changes his mind, takes out a book from his bag, lies down on the bed, and begins flipping through the pages.
However, even that doesn’t last a full minute.
He immediately sits up and snatches the receiver as if lunging for it.

“Hello? Hello? Miyako Hotel again…”
“Yes… The Miyako Hotel?”
“I’m sorry, but could you connect me to Mr. Kusumi’s room once more?”
“Yes—if you’d be so kind as to page him, I’ll wait.”

The telephone in Room A rings.
The woman’s flustered emergence from the adjacent room and Male甲’s hurried pressing of the receiver to his ear occur almost simultaneously.

Male甲: Yes, yes.

Male乙: Hello? Hello… Yes…

A long silence.
The two men, each trying to be the first to discern the other’s voice, strain their ears in mutual anticipation.

Male甲: Hello? Hello? This is Kusumi.
“Who is this?”

Male乙: ...(removes the receiver from his ear, left utterly bewildered)

Male甲: Hello? Hello? Is this call for me or for my wife?

The woman timidly approaches the telephone.

Female: Here, let me have it.
“This line isn’t coming through clearly.”
(Taking the receiver from Male甲) “Hello? Hello? This is Kusumi speaking...”
“Hello? Hello…”

At this moment, Male乙 once again presses the receiver to his ear.
Male甲 returns to his seat and resumes reading the newspaper.

What's going on? I can't hear a thing.
"Maybe it's a wrong connection... Hello? Hello? Hello? Hello..."

Male乙: Ah, finally connected.
“It’s me….”
“Are you alright?”
“Just one more time, okay? This will be the end.”
“Boss hasn’t noticed a thing, has he?”

Female: Oh, is that so?
“Well, how should one put it…”

“May I speak?”
“Were you already asleep?”

“Not at all…”

“If it’s a bother, I don’t mind.”
“Please hang up on your end.”

“Oh, to call it a bother—I would never have you worry about such things… And yet…”

Male乙: “Yeah, that much I understand of course. That’s why I’m rushing like this—if I could, I’d want to say everything in one breath. I don’t want to be a nuisance to you. In every possible sense, I intend to stay as far away as I can. Yet our way of parting was too perfect. There was far too beautiful an afterglow lingering. The you who slipped from my arms as I slept—I’m still holding that you in my dreams.” How strange—phrasing it this way... But it was truly how things stood.

“I can well imagine that,” she said. “But earlier, when Madam received your call, you didn’t mention any such story at all…”

“I was holding back,” he replied. “Because I figured there was no point in saying anything.” A dry laugh escaped him. “But I’m not trying to stir up trouble—you can rest assured about that.” His voice dropped lower still. “There’s something I absolutely must tell you—no—something you need to know…”

Male甲: What’s this about… Taking forever…

Female: Just a moment, please wait…
“I'm afraid I don't quite follow your meaning, but essentially, Madam is supposed to come here, would that be correct?”
“And should Madam arrive, how would you have me proceed?”
“I can’t decide on my own, but I will consult with my husband in due course…”
“Yes, I have already fully understood that.”

So, about what we were just discussing—after thinking it through, even if I go abroad or something, you won’t leave my thoughts, and on your end too, knowing I’m alive somewhere would probably make you feel uneasy…

Female: Huh?
“What might that be?”

Male乙: It’s about your state of mind—I mean, it’s that your peace of mind would be disturbed, that’s what I’m saying.

Female: So…?

Male乙: So... I’ve made up my mind.

Male乙, while saying this, extends his right hand, takes out a pistol from the pocket of the trousers he had tossed onto the chair, and begins to fiddle with it.

Female: "As for your decision—that, I’m afraid I cannot quite imagine."

Male乙: If you saw what I’m holding in my hand right now—you’d understand right away.
“It’ll make a bit of a loud noise—so don’t be startled.”

You shouldn’t say such...joke-like things.
“What possible reason could you have for doing such a thing?”
“No—what possible reason could you have to do such a thing right before my eyes?”
“You are a cowardly person.”

Male甲: Hey, what’s wrong?

Male乙: It’s a problem if you take it that way.
“I’m simply trying to inform you of my own decision in the most convenient way—no, the way that best suits our preferences—that’s all.”
“Of course, if it’s just the result, it’ll certainly be known someday.”
“That wouldn’t be interesting, you see.”
“However, I’ll make this clear—you must maintain a calm facade no matter what happens.”
“Of course, there’s no need for you to come rushing over.”
“Since our history has closed its final page at this very moment, please go back to your husband’s side with a smile.”

Male乙, having finished saying this, fires the pistol into the air.

Female: (At that instant, moves the receiver away from her ear and unconsciously covers her eyes with one hand)

Male甲: What are you doing?
“Huh? Hey.”
“What was that sound?”

Female: (quietly hangs up the receiver and approaches Male甲) You must have mostly figured it out by now—what happened…

The ending part—I don’t quite get it.

Female: (miming shooting herself in the throat with the pistol) "He finally did it."

“That’s absurd…”

“It’s true.”

(sits down in the chair)

In Room B, Male乙 leaves the pistol tossed onto the table and begins to smoke a cigarette.

A man who appears to be the Manager opens the door and enters.
Several bellboys follow behind.

Male乙: It’s nothing.
“I made them hear the sound of a blank shot over the telephone.”
“It was just the momentum of the conversation, you know.”
“I must apologize for the disturbance.”
“Ah, and one more thing.”
“In a little while, a young woman may come calling. Please pass her off as my wife and show her in here.”

After the group exchanged glances and left, Male乙 lay down on the bed and began reading a book.

In Room A, Male甲 first folds the newspaper and stands up.

Male甲: In Kyoto, there was still something I had to show you, wasn’t there?

Female: What is it?

Male甲: “The maiko.”

Female: “I don’t care about such things.”

Male甲: “Well, observe them for your edification.”
“If you’re not sleepy yet, shall we go out now?”
“Let’s see…”
“Where should we go?”
“Well then, let me show you the place called Number One.”
(Approaches the telephone.)
(Picks up receiver) “Hello? Kyogoku 1629...”

The call bell in Room C’s telephone booth rang.

An errand boy-style youth appeared.

“Ah, hello... hello...”

“Ah, hello... hello...”
“It’s me.”
“It’s Kusumi from Tokyo.”

“Kusumi-san? Don’t know anyone like that.”

“Who... are you?”

“Me?”
“Me? I’m called Yonekichi.”

Male甲: Ah, Yonetatsu?
“It’s me.”
“Hahaha, did you get that?”
“Yeah, for a while…”
“How’s it going after that…”
“No—nothing major.”
“Actually, this time I’ve brought my wife along for sightseeing, you see.”
“It’s just that sightseeing ends up being exhausting, you see.”
“Hahaha, that won’t do.”
"I'll save that for when I come alone."
“Well, given the circumstances—and since we’re here—I was thinking of having them perform a maiko dance, so you there, could you handle selecting them?”
“Ah, the usual place will do.”
“About ten...”
“I’ll be heading out in about twenty minutes, so you go ahead and wait there for me.”
“Alright, understood.”

In Room C’s telephone booth, the errand boy vacantly pressed the receiver to his ear but eventually started dozing off still holding it.

A man who appeared to be the shop owner entered, shoved the boy aside, and pressed the receiver to his ear.

“Hello? Hello? Who might this be?”

Male甲: Huh?
“Consulting me...?”
“Hmm, that’s a problem.”
“Can’t we do this next time?”
“That’s how it is.”
“I’m well aware of that, but spare me this time, will you?”

“You daft sod—who’re you?”
“Bloody crossed line.”

“Yes, yes.”
“Right then, I’ll head out a step ahead.”
“Never you mind.”
“Well… goodbye…”

“G’night…”
“Nighty-night…”

Male甲 hangs up the receiver.

In Room C’s telephone booth as well, the shop owner roughly slammed down the telephone receiver and left.

Male甲: Well then, I’ll do it this way.
“I’ll go ahead first and have someone come pick you up later, so once you’re ready, come right away.”
“Since you’re a guest, you don’t need to go through all that fuss to get dressed up.”

Female: I don’t need to go there.

Male甲: Why….

No matter why…

This is troublesome… Bringing that up now…

You won’t be troubled.
“I said that way’s better—you go on ahead properly.”

“I already made the arrangements.”
“Then you can go by yourself.”
“You won’t get lonely?”
“I am lonely.”
“There, see?”

“But that’s alright,” she said. “I’ll manage feeling lonely. In return, do come back by midnight.” Her voice softened with practiced resignation. “I’ll be asleep, so open the door quietly. Now off you go.”

He studied her with narrowed eyes. “You’re being uncommonly agreeable.” The newspaper rustled as he stood. “Well then—I’ll take my leave.” A pause stretched between them before he added, “Ah yes—your little friend might finally deign to visit.” His thumb traced the hat brim’s edge. “In which case, perhaps I’d best cancel altogether.”

The hat left a crescent shadow on the wall as he departed.

Male乙 throws down the book and crawls into the bed.
He dims the lamp.

Room C's telephone booth darkened.

Before long, the Wife rushed into the adjacent room, prepared to go out, and emerged.
She started to make a call but stopped, then disappeared outside the room.

A knocking sound on Room B’s door.

Male乙 gets up and goes to open the door.

The Female appears.
Male乙 attempts to embrace the Female in silence, but she retreats her body.

I probably thought that would be the case.

Male乙: So why did you come here?

Female: You shouldn’t ask like that.
“Because I wanted to come, I came.”
“So you’re really going after all.”
“Aren’t you going?”

Male乙: I’m going.

Stop it already—this talk of leaving.

Male乙: If I don’t go, what’ll happen?

Female: It won’t make any difference, I tell you.
“It’s just that wherever you are makes no difference to me—that’s all I’m saying.”

“My situation won’t resolve itself like that.”

“Oh, how strange.”

“The very fact that you’re right here is why I end up dragging you out like this, isn’t it?”

“Don’t flatter yourself.”
“Your will isn’t an issue anymore.”

“You came all the way here just to say that…”

Female: You don’t have to get so worked up about it.
“I’m angry because I was startled.”

Male乙: I see.
“Well, either way’s fine—as long as you came…”
“Shall we leave the light as it is?”

Female: I told you I don’t care about the light.

Male乙: “………….”

Female: “I’m still angry, you know.”
“You’ll have to try harder to get on my good side.”

Male乙: “I see. My apologies, my apologies…”

Female: (laughing) “Well then – show me what kind of pistol it is.”

Male乙: Where did I put it….
“Ah, there it is—on the table.”

Female: (Taking the pistol and aiming it at the man) This is what made that sound?
“Can I fire it?”

Male乙: Dangerous.

The manager would come rushing again.

(Placing the pistol on the table) “What do you think of my old man?”

He’s quite plump and rather impressive, isn’t he.

“Is that all?”
“He has a fine stick, doesn’t he?”
“What else?”

Male乙: He's naturally hairy, isn't he.
"His chest must be matted with fur."

"You're spouting nonsense."
"If we meet like this, it's pointless."
"We can't have any proper heart-to-heart talk."

Male乙: This is your doing.
"You threw everything off-kilter from the start."

Female: “Oh, right—I thought of a good idea.”
“I’ll borrow the telephone.”
(Removing the receiver) “Hello? Hello? Please connect me to the Miyako Hotel…”

Male乙: "Is it okay for you to do that?"

Female: "Hello? Hello? Is this the hotel?"
"Please connect me to room 205."
"Yes, he should be there."
"I see."
"Ah, hello? Hello? Is that you?"
"It's me."
"It's... me..."
"Are you still awake?"
"Yes, I'll be back soon."
"Huh?"

“That’s not why I called—I just wondered what you were doing…”
“Hmm, I’m still worried…”
“Nothing but lies…”
“The lonely one is me.”
“When I ride alone in the car, I end up trying to talk to you as if you were right there beside me.”
“Even I find it ridiculous… Uh… Huh?”
“When I get back, I’ll give you as much as you want….”
“Oh, stop it! That’s my line.”
“Well then, goodbye.”
“Later, then.”
(With a click, she hung up the receiver.)

Male乙: That’s all you called for?
“You’re not serious.”

“This is me being serious.”

“How many days has it been since you got married?”

“Seventeenth day…”
“It’s been seventeen days since the ceremony, but we still haven’t truly married yet.”

“I didn’t ask about such a thing.”

“I’ll tell you even if you don’t ask.”
“If you think the other person is old, that’s exactly how it’ll turn out.”

“Hmm, so that’s how it is.”

"I must have changed a little..."

"You’ve become such an exasperating woman."
"Why don’t you just pick one?"
"Leave if you’re leaving."
"Stay if you’re staying…"

“Oh my, you’re the one acting awfully high and mighty.”
“If you insist that much, I’ll stay for you.”
“In return, I’ll set one condition.”
“If that person comes here to pick me up, you’ll let me be taken away without a single complaint.”

“Is the Boss coming here?”

“I’ll have him come right now.”

“Why on earth would you do such a thing?”

“I want to test how far that person’s generosity extends.”
“And then…”

“And then you want to know just how much of a pushover I am.”
“No way—I’d never do such a thing…”
“Just go back already.”

“I won’t go back.”
“Do you have any idea what you just did on the phone earlier?”
“The last bit of ‘faith in people’ I still had somewhere inside me—that completely vanished because of what you did.”

At this moment, the door to Room A opened, and Male甲 entered dejectedly.
He looked around the entire room, peered into the adjacent one, then leaned despairingly against the sofa.

Female: Until that time, I hated lying and thought how much easier it’d be if I could speak the truth.
“But now, I can’t tell the difference between lies and truth anymore.”
“Everything I thought was true until now has all been lies.”
“It must be…”
“Even the fact that that person is going there now might be a lie.”
“That’s right—just watch.”
(Facing the telephone) Hello? Miyako Hotel... Oh, excuse me.
...Ah, hello? Hello? Please connect me to 205...

The telephone in Room A rings.
Male甲 presses the telephone receiver to his ear.

“Hello? Hello?”
“I’m listening.”
“You’ve come back, haven’t you?”
“Ah, I’ve come back. Where are you?”
“Try guessing.”
“I know. Aren’t you coming back tonight?”

“Even if I wanted to return, I cannot.”
“Will you forgive me?”

“It’s not particularly bad, is it?”
“Come back quickly.”

“When you say that, I find myself even less able to return.”
“That call we received at the hotel earlier—it wasn’t from a school friend or from you.”

“I know that much...”

Female: “I suppose so.”
“I’m here at that person’s place now.”
“I’m hiding from you.”
“But I regret it.”
“I think I’ve done something irreparable.”

Male甲: “It can be undone. It’s nothing serious.”

Female: “So, I felt guilty toward you and made up my mind.”

Male甲: “Hmm, what kind of decision...”

Female: “You’ll know right now.”
(Female picked up the pistol on the table.)

Male乙: (flusteredly restraining Female’s hand) Stop it—just not that…
“It’s loaded with bullets, I tell ya.”

“That’s a lie—such a thing…”
(She presses the muzzle against her throat)

Male乙: (trying to wrest it away) Even blanks can injure you.

Female: (Upon being told this, she suddenly pointed the muzzle toward the man and fired.
(Gunshot))

Male乙 lurches forward as he is.

Female, startled, rushes forward.

Male甲: Good, good, that’s good.
“Come back quickly.”
“If you thought it was loaded with bullets, those were blanks.”
“I’ll hear that excuse of yours along with it.”
“Your acting doesn’t anger me to watch.”
“This is truly something…”