Scene Four
The stage is dark save for a single spotlight on a thick wooden door downstage right. It is the front of a house in the capitol a week later. YANG appears at the door. HE knocks. There is no response. HE knocks again, this time with considerable force. The door is opened by WAN. From within we hear sounds of a party in progress. WAN Yang!
Old friend Yang!
I could not be more surprised.
You are looking well.And you, also, Wan. YANG
The monastery, WAN
How is that beautiful place?
How often I think
Of the wonderful weeks
I spent there.We had expected you to return YANG
Before the leaves had fallen.How I wish I had! WAN
The capitol can be wearying.(We hear a WOMAN's voice rise above the clatter inside.)WOMAN'S VOICE Wan! Where are you?We had not heard from you for so long. YANG
I had imagined you were ill.No, I have not been ill. WAN
Wan! What are you doing? WOMAN'S VOICE
Yang, you must join the party! WAN
It is most fun,
And I think you shall like the people.It is late, YANG
And I must return to my room.Please stay awhile. WAN
It has been too long.Wan, are you coming back inside? WOMAN'S VOICE
Come, old friend. WAN
There is much delicious green wine.
You will enjoy yourself.Wan, did you hear me? WOMAN'S VOICE
I shall be there in a moment! WAN
(to Yang)
What say you, old friend?Then Meilan was right. YANG
Right? WAN
You have forgotten her. YANG
No, that is not so! WAN
I have thought of her often.You think of her often. YANG
But you do not write.
And you do not return.Please. WAN
We shall speak of it another time.No, we shall speak of it now! YANG
How could you do this to her?I told you I think of her often. WAN
That is true,
And with a special affection.
For Meilan was my first love.
But people grow
And while they grow
They grow away.
Someday I shall return,
But I could not marry her.Why could you not marry her? YANG
Because I could not. WAN
The woman you loved so passionately, YANG
The woman you were willing to die for.If she could give herself to me so freely, WAN
With how many others would she do the same?How can you say that! YANG
How can you speak of Meilan like that!
Now, now she sits
Alone in the garden,
Waiting till you return.
Although she knows in her heart
You shall not return.
She loves you!
Can you understand that?
She loves you!
Can you understand something
As honest and simple as love?Love! WAN
How everyone talks of love!
What is love anyway
But an awakening of youth?
Everything changes in this world.
You, of all people, know that.
The earth changes,
The sea changes,
The flesh changes,
The heart changes.Meilan was right again. YANG
There are many ways of love.Please. WAN
Let us speak of this no further.Then the willows by the western gate YANG
And all those words
Were only real for those moments?You do not understand. WAN
The words were sincere.
And the nights
Within the willows by the western gate
Are still close to my heart.You have no heart! YANG
Oh, Wan,
I look into your eyes
And hear your voice
And try to believe
That this is not the man I knew.
You have no heart.
You have no heart.Wan, are you ever coming back in? WOMAN'S VOICE
I must go back now. WAN
I cannot discuss this with you
When anything I say
Leads to such anger.
You were my friend,
And as a friend,
I thought you would understand.
Friends need no words
To speak to one another.
But I see now
I was wrong.You speak of friendship! YANG
You speak of understanding!
What has happened to you?
You were not like this before.I have always been a human being. WAN
Then if you are a human being, YANG
Meilan is a goddess!I will give you two minutes, and then I shall leave! WOMAN'S VOICE
If you could only see her face. YANG
That is enough. WAN
This conversation has been most unfortunate.
I am deeply sorry,
But I must bid you goodnight.Wait! YANG
There is one thing more!
Meilan has sent you a letter.
Here.
In it you shall find her jade ring.
Jade is the symbol of purity,
And the ring is the symbol of eternity.(YANG hands him the letter, turns quickly and walks off. WAN stares down at the envelope in his hand.)
LIGHTS DIM RAPIDLY
