sorona xomacur @ eo ithe collapsed and fll to the ground. T thought he had ‘gone to lep (housing toward segelet) Hey, you over therel You're ot allowed to bild bonfire in the ark! Come here. ve got something for you todo. (vo vaceanrs enter) Help ‘eto take tht body to the static (mee next carrying the corp) (psinaakingly arranging the cigarette bust!) One and. .one +. smake... two... (WO. -and . two. . make. four. One and one make wa, to and two make for. eee oe DAMASK DRUM e@ CHARACTERS: rwaxteits, an old janitor KAvoKo, @ girl of about 20, clerk suunosuxe royisea, a teacher of Japanese dance TOvAMA, @ young men Kanaxo, ¢ member of the Ministry of Foreign Afiirs a vance, owner of afarhionable dryzmaking etblishment ator assterant, « gil @ THE CENTER of the nage isa treet Between build ings. Windows and signboards face each other on the ‘hid floors of the buildings om either side Stageright isa third floor lew office. A mustylooking room. 5. There ineps Stagelefisa third floor contrite. room in the most den eA ami ba father. hee fia large mirror. Spring. Evening. (la theroom tothe right) (He it sweeping the room with broom, He weeps wp to ‘he window.) Out of the vay, Out of the way. You act ‘you're wing to protec the direaround you feet (She takes mirror from her cheap hendBbg and stands in the light applying a feck costing of lipatck) Justa min.raz pawase oem @ 8 ue, Tl be finshed in jst one minute now. (rwaxscnt Re rns hr om eid with rom) ih—youtre dreadful. Realy. The old men these days are geting to be horible lechers. (She finally moves ‘side (weeping) Aad what about the young lies? A. girl of rineeen or ewenty looks beter sehen her lip aren't covered with ll the paint bet your boy friend chinks (clancng at her watch) 1 can't afford expensive clothes Lipitick’s the bese 1 can do. (She looks at her watch ‘agein) Oh, Vim cell sick of it T wonder why he and 1 an‘t both get off from work at che same time. Heaven help ie i I ried eo kil time waiting for im anywhere cutsde the oe, The frst thing you know it cost money. ve never once se foot in any of thos fashionable dink ing places But they Know my face in all the counter resturant If you waat ta know where the bean soup is ‘ood, ur ask me. (pointing at the desk) Once 1 invited the boss and he said i was fret rat. coulda't have been more pleased if hed praised the bean soup in my own howe Busines has not been good for the bos lacy » e “Thee tony law. Tha' wy here more lye than anybody knows what todo with. ™ 1 wonder—when he's go such a ylish place for an ofc. ‘The boss hates anything crooked. I'm sure ofthat, (look ing ata pictwre om the wall) Te others his even if that picturefrare is a quarter ofan inch crooked. Thats why Ive decided to spend the ret of my days working for him, (opening the window) The winds died down since eve sing. (spproaching the window) | can't and that dusty wind that Blows at che beginning of sping... . The calm of cvening. Ob, therés a good amell coming from some where Ws from the Chinese resauranton the ground flor. ‘The pricesare too high forme, ‘Look at the beautiful unset. es flected in the windows of alee buildings,rue vamasx osu @ ° “Those are pigeons from the newspaper ofice. Look at them seater, Now they've formed a ctcle again. T’m glad you're in love too. Its made you young again Don't be silly. My love ir a onesided affair, net lke yours, You in love with a great lady whose name you don't even know. ‘he's the princes of the laurel, the tee tha grows in the ‘garden ofthe moon, (pointing atthe potted tree) Thats the eee you mean, ‘sai? There's nothing so wondecfl shout laurel, (Ob! Pee forgotten to water my precious lurl. (Bsiz.) (Enters with a watering can.) Lave Yn soery [forgot to water you One more effort now and youl be covered « @ rue pasase ou with glonry leave. (ds he waters the plant he strokes the leaves fondly.) Poets often talk about bair glossy 24 Teaver. ‘You sill haven't got any answer? Mam, Tall that dngusting. Ie makes me sick. Not to have the decency to send you an answer. Nobody ese but me would 9 on being your mesenger. How many letters has i been? Thirty, isn’t? Today makesexacly chi. 1 you count i ll he love letters I wrote without sending them, itd make seventy more. Por seventy dayr—every day Trot er one and everyday T burned it Thate what it was like before you were kind enough to take pity on re and become my postman. Lats se, that maker a toalof .- (Thinks) ‘A hundred, of course. Can't you count any moee? | Unrequited love isabitter thing. ‘You haven’ the sense give up.rie paMasx oxo @ Sometimes think Try to forget. But I know now that toying to forget is worse than being unable ro I mean, ven if being unable to forgets painful inthe ame way, ies bene, “How did you ever getinto such a ate wonder, (As she speaks alight is lit in the room tothe left) eanaggt ‘They've switched on the light Every day at the same time... when this room dies that one comer to life again. And in the morning when this room returns to life that one dies... Ie was thee moaths aga. Td finished sweeping and 1 just happened to look atthe room over there, with nothing particular on may mind... . Then T saw her forthe frst time. She came into the goo with hhee maid. The Madame wae vist hae the zl teed to describe to you how beautiful her face was Te was like the moon, and everything sound it was shining... . She suid few words, then the amiled. I trembled all over... She smiled.» .T stood behind the window staring at her until she went ino the itingsoom. .. . Thats when itbegan. ‘Bot sh’ not all that beatiful [e's her clother—theyte exquisie, 8 8 Love's nt that sort of SSE Inchat cae even qualify. ‘There's nothing for you to worry about! You lok like a sgreatbesuty to your boy fiend, DDoes that mean there's moon for every woman in the world? Some women are ft, and some ae thin... . Thats why ‘here's botha fll moon and a crescent. (Tiree men sppear in the room othe let. vopsa, rorava, Rasa) Tel be vine soon, Tve got to finish the rit of todays loveleter. Hurry, won't you? I'l zeada book while wait (waca goes so the desk and finishes his lter.RavoR® sieand Begin to read.)(nthe room tothe eft) — (He cri ped wrapped gma sro ath) {is Stamante Pfr Ver eet neyo How o ou do? Ms names Toyama And tise Mt income Mis af arg Ali nr tie men) Me Pj How doyouda? ao onan Me Keach scm bel ed Yeu Hewaathenme od shad ft == 6 sey? «My pp se sat w pot Ree Sine ee ce Tpehnkenid ch wold ys el kee (jay) Mo Tasik woul dota es se weer makings pot [Noy she's at like you. She's the kind who makes loses, never a profit 6 @ rue vawase pavme rey ‘Yes that’ the kind of person she ell, (femly) Tam pestctly well avare what kind of person sheis oyna (changing the subject) The plot of the danceplay is charming if must say o mysell Ae ea el In the seiga of Louis XIV they used to reeive men in their boudoirs And when a man wanted to compliment 2 woman he'd say something like "Who does the shading under you eyes?” (He aayritin French) roma. Excuse me? What wat hat? (eevee srnilates word for word. rovanen looks the ther way.) ron, Shading under s woman's cyes is lovely thing, isn't 2 skeet hoeing ude heen, you mie syths aaas one @ 6 (interested only in what he hiaslf ha 1 159) Thats the secret of ll diplomacy. To ask who did the shading under ‘a woman's eyes when you know perfectly well she did it bere Mr. Kaneko isabout to become an ambassador. Foye (Cowing) Congratulations. (nthe room tothe right) Tewritten it Is done. And very good this time, Te murtbe a tesfc strain always thinking up new things tony. ‘This isone ofthe more agreeable hardships of ove. illeaveit on my way home. Sorry tobother you, Kayoke, Please dont ose it ‘You talk at if i wasn’t jos across the stet.Teouldnt loseitevenifT wanted ta. . Good ight ” @ re vawase vevwe Good night, Kayoko, (eving the letra she stands inthe door) Maybe U wil forget shout the leter afterall I'm ina big hutry myself, youknow. ‘You must'¢tetean od man like chat (nthe room tothe et.) She extaaly i te (He stands in front of the miror and fiddler with his seektie) Me. Tekoka’s tae in necktie always runs to something lke this. I reilly hatfoud tis, rojo ‘This isa tobacco cate Mr. Taukioka gave me when I suc: ceeded as bead of the company. The netuke is more valuable than the case iself. Just have a look at it. (He holds it p tothe lght) You'd never think it was made ‘entirely of wood, would you? les excly like ivory, n't We civil ervants mse refuse all presents. Ther’ always ‘he suspicion ober. Tenvy arisrme pauase pave @ a roy. Everybody sys that (in asearfal voice) Damned old woman! Why should she have invited everybody exept me? (cut of breath) Ob excuse me.I the Madame here? ‘She went to the shop 2 couple of minutes ago. I think she had some busines todo, Now whatam going todo? Isitsomething urgent? Yeu Wea lense. 1 gine one to Madame every day, at somebody's request. (aug htiy) UL ake care oft (bescely) Wes very kind of you. « Tiacceptresponsbility * @ rue vascasx onuae Pm auch obliged. Please. (Ext: ‘What tev hurry that glial (He rests the addres on the eneelope) Well I never! I says "To the princes ofthe laure ofthe moon oyna ‘Very romani, iit? ‘You dat write yourself, by any chance? oyna You'te joking. When a dancing teacher has the time to Write love eters, heholds hands instead. “Thesende sone lwakichi royn. “Hewsites very good hand whoever ei, Jos imagine—calling the Madame a “princes of the Tnurel of the moon’ dont think Fve exer sen 3 laure Init a very big tee?rms pamase onus @ 7 roy, Only around the mide, think. “There's no accounting fk tases, i there? Lets ste (Entert, She is wnaally tl.) Yes vo good to find you allhere. Aloelerscaefryan wonder whoa fom Ths a ear pee snavbomiticeniingmeone oral an ke? Ye,datig Tec yes Yooramer mates me Dating hy Yoana ch amin ing 3 @ rue vamase oxoae roy, (dramatically) “The princess ofthe Ine of the moon,” presume? bis shat the love lence youre talking about? In that 286 isnot for me. Don’ ty to fool us. You're quite mistaken. t's for Mrs, Tsukoka. What? (iting) These eters are dvving me simply frantic. ‘They fom the janitor who works inthe building across the street. An old man almost seventy He's fallen in love With Mrs. Taukioka, from having scen her through the window. ‘That doesn't surprise me, They say that che aged tend to be fasghted. (He laughs, amused at his wm joke) T can’t wait to grow ld. Te mut be very convenient being farsighted,rus pamase orem @ s ‘The old man has sent her dozens—no, hundeds—of deere 1 he sent otal hit eters to diferent women, one of them might have been suze “There's something in what you say. Bu if afterall love were @ question of probability, the probeblty fr one ‘woman might be the same a the probability fr inmumer- able women, oyiea ive you shown her the levers? Mes. Tokiok, mean. low could I possibly show ther to her? Ayu Do comb getas diy asl that? “They're for my dogs combs Ihave five wiehaired fox terriers. They shut thee eyes in postive rapture when T comb ther. ‘Which run fater—loveoradog? 3 @ rue vamase onwee rene, ‘Which gets dirty farter? Te makes me quite giddy to talk with ruch enchanting Sidetracked aguin. What's happened tothe love leters? "This is what has happened. The one who's been deliver- Jing the leer is tae ewe gil from the olice across the vay. ‘The girl who wat just here? What's sweet about her? She's a well-behaved, good gi, and I've become so fond of er that Ive been accepting the eters everyday. But TTvenever dreamed of giving one to Mrs, Teukioks, Ie the gil new that, she'd never give you another one. YYoul ave to excuse me Just put yourself in my place (Mas. Tsukioks should read them and get upiet— (Knack athe door)rir panase pau @ 4 [Now what shall Ido? Tes Mes. Tsukioka, tention. (zasano enter Sate! ores (latching her) Weerul of you. Tobe late agin. voymn Wewere expecting youat any minut, ‘You always lok lovely, no matter how often T ste you. (ausao doer not answer, She smiingly removes her lover) (ying ote the inti) reba’ ben wating Fp ent wnt ware soe nse Welt Sut the fing at ence (She eomine Hane fom the front end from bend) A ey tel eal as your fatal gant ine bs, Mix Tokiks. But in a stng {you Sik we sly ora diet ‘Wid your gre yon cary of enthing ser. This Tine Pee been rely daring inthe ext. The lines are Simpl vn simple ust th Bares of ples on the Sila of the wan av you eggs. Very efecve in bringing ote acct» And now, wld You mind SEPPng ino the itngsoin? We ean bave a lesrly Cxpet oer aera 5 @ rue vawasx rom A love leter came for you, Mrs. Tsukioks. Gues how old ‘heman iewho seneit Twenty? Thirty? Okder? (ounaxo holds up one finger) 1No,no. He's nota highschool student. (uuazo with a smile holds up tw fingers The others ‘hake their heads. She holds up one more finger cach ‘ime until fll, with «look of incredulity on her fee, she holds wp seven.) You've guessed itt last. blushing eeventy im told he’s the janitor in che building arose the street. (Che naoases, futered, lowert the blinds, weaxset in ‘the room tothe righ, stares fizely atthe shut window, Daring the inerol eavexo hands the letter 0 Hasan She opens it.The others sand bekind her and rad over ‘er shoulder) (reads) "Please red thie thicteth expresion of my love, and take itt your hear ic sayz. Madame ben lying again. She aid there were hundreds of eters. You know, Mrs. Tsukioka, the Madame has embezzled all the pre- ious leters. (reads) "My love grows only the stronger a the days go by. To heal the sats of che whip of love which tormentsrus pastas one @ #6 sy aged body from mor tonight, Ia for one, for just fone kis.” Tent that touching? All he wants is one lide Kis, (They al burt int laughter) Tustone kiss? He's very modesin his demands. oymea Ie ealy surprise me. Tae old men nowadays are younger atheartthan wear, 1s tha the sort of thing he's been sting? 1 confess 1 haven't ead any of his other efforts. (The ler is paused rome That’sbecause we have sellespect eet? 7 @ rue vancase onus Even T can understand that mich, [SESE Yd be glad o show anyone who's willing tobe shown how much repeated suring we have to enue st in onder to feol ourselves, all of us who are living in thee de praved times royme Ther ning you can do shoe people who ae st in Sse seta ik he eel eed A romanticie Lite boys should not interfere in the conversion of grownups The argument has become serious. (She rings 4 bel.) Isnt it enchanting, Mrs. Tsukoks, how bested men getorer an argument? (os if he were delivering a speech) Uoeieve may state without fear of cantradiction that we ate convinced that cats Uke this old man aze abhorrent, and that sich ‘enttis cannot further be tolerated by weenie, that,_ The tongue admits the existence of no “genuine,” of no (a ips ne seo ae com ‘on to all men. The tongue can say: “This tates good.” ris paMaex pave @ 3 who belere in genuine feelings. Ther is nota village, 80 mater how remote, where the genuine and original Na sali spongocake is not It's far better to sl it "That makes the sale a cheat and a fraud, the eplendid product of a conscious Jhuman mind, We have tongues to recognize the taste of ‘the spange ake. Our lots begin fom the tongue. How erotic! Tis natural modenty forbids ic to ey mor tongue confines fuel to determining wl ‘or not the sponge-ake tastes good. (Enters) Did yousing? It wast for spangecake. What was it? Oh yes, please bring ive cups of coffee immediatly. ‘Yes Madame, 2 @ rue vanase nose Al questions aze relative. Love isthe architecture of the ‘motion of disbelief in genuine articles. That old man, on the ather hands impure, polluted—he's making fols of us Heidelighted with himself inflated with pride oyna Ym affaid what you say is much too dificule for some: ‘ong like myself, who's never had an education, to follow, bout Iwas told by my teacher that all disputes about who was the senior member of a company or which was the ‘oldest aition in a dance have nothing whatsoever todo with art He sid that che only true atmosphere for the ddance is one where the gesture to the front ad the gesture to the rear ean be performed in abelute freedom ‘That old man isso anxious to found a schol for hime that he (mimer dance actin) ... one and wo and cover tothe ede . neglects the fee, unconfined realms ofthe ectaay of ore, And what do you thik about al this, Mr, Taukioka? Te isn't very nice of you to keep silent. But T suppos it sne cntcelydisastful to receive lve eters even from such fan old onan at thatthe case? Say someting, laurel of themoon. Mrs. Tsuki had refined upbringing, and I'm sure she ilkes argumentsee mix paws ous @ © | But she's very fond of tormenting people all the same “Thats tate common toallesutfel women. voy ‘And one which only becomes beautiful women, they say. When it comes to colors the ones which sit her best are ‘herdficol ones like green “Those ofcourse, are the colors she doesn’ wearin public. She saves them for her nightgowns, and pretends she dloest know they become er 1 eam testify that Mrs. Toukoka never wears green night. ‘gowns, ‘You've become increasingly cheeky of lt. Come, ome. (Gus asiwcnoe enters with the cole. They all drink we ariel.) (nthe rom tothe right) & @ rue vawase rum wonder what's the matter. Why don't they open the curtains? Ob, the suspense. All T could ge was jst the barest glimpse of her... And I wats sre that tonight she would take pity on me and at least stand at the window and smile at me, lke a picrce in frame Burl'm stl not giving up hope.» « Noy won't give up hope. Un the room othe eft.) Wal, now. roy Oops. (He spllcoffee on hirlap and wipe) What sie? rome. Just now as I was drinking my cafe, a fine idea came to 1 have also been considering what we might do to teach that old man a litle Jeson, What do you say, Mes ‘Taukioka? In general roy My plan wasriz panasx oxo @ @ (oaying hime mo attention) In general, such entities are incapable of sexing the light unles they have once been sdminisered 2 yound thrashing. We need show him no pity simply beease he's an old| man. It is esential to make him realize that where he lives i a litle room no- ‘ody will ener "You mean, human beings won't goin adog’s house? (recovering hit good mood) Yes exactly roy, [My planisthis. He anflds the parcel wrapped in purple ‘ih, reveling aamall hand dram.) Do you see this? esa drum anti? roy es a prop for my forthcoming dance play. Ob, since 1 mentioned the play, T must thank yoo, Mes. Tsukioka the tickets. At any rate, about the deur. Shall {beat it for you? (Fe Best it) You se, i doesnt make the leat sound. Te looks exacly ike 2 real drum, but instead ofa skin, which is estenial of cours, i’ covered with damask, 6 @ rar ascasx onvae roy, [No,asI was saying i's prop. ‘And what do you propes todo with t? ropa To attach a note to this drum and throw it into the old man's oom, I've had the most wonderful ea about what to write inthe nee. ‘That sounds fascinating. Tellus roma In the note we should writ: “Please beat tis drum.” Do you follow me? “Please beat this drum. Ifthe snd of your drum can be heard in this room above the sret noises will gran your wish," That'll, Excellent idea! That wil tke the old man down a peg or Don’t you think you ought to add: “Ifthe sound doesn’t reach me, your wish will no be granted"run oamask prow @ % roma “There's auch thing asan implied meaning Tn diplomatic corespondence you cant be too creel soya. (excitedly) Don't you think ifs 2 good pla, Mes. Tv Eioka? Tl be glad to sacrifice this prop t protect you. For a costomer who buys a hundred tickets, what’s one dram? roma 1M thank you aot to interpret ie in that way. Mr. ‘Taukioks, you do agre, don't you? (nuaxaxo nods ami ingly) Ie wil bea great relief to me to. This will probably be the ase day the old man will other us yn Letmesoneremasaren a .—™Lrst—seSe a —Crertrts—seN hrs — % @n His room is pith dark. Are you sure the old man is there? ‘The gis who comes as his messenger says that e stares at this window uoil Mr. Takioks leaves Sill, wonder if our voce will each him, ‘Thatl be my responsibilty. Ob, does’ it look prety up hereto see the neo lights everywhere? roy, ‘Who will ehrow the drum? {will Tas quite a renowned pitcher in my high-school days. (Fe limbers his arms byway of preparation) Hey! Iwakichil Open your window! (Che windows opens. axis timidly shows himself.) Can you hear me? We'e going to throw you something, Besueetocatchit (ovate nods. oerxo throws the drum, swaxtet barely getsit He taker the drum tothe desk.)ri pamasx oxo @ 6 “What can this mean? She's sent me a drum. She's stand ing tthe window looking at me. Is strange, when she took stesighe this way it’s all can do to keep fom hiding yee L wonder if she's always hidden herself from me osuse T'sared too much... Oh, there's a note at tached. (reds) At last aay wish willbe granted! What ‘Gries beter than the sound of 2 drum, even above the tea nose? It must be ber elegant way of saying things Shh cante pronounce a imple yes, But has eo say iin Jome roundabout manne... . Ob, my heart hurts. 1s never known such joy befor. Is wea, lik che stomach ff a poor man's child before 2 feast It hurts because i’ been suck by happiness...» Theyre ll wating inthe srindow oer there Tt must be forthe fun oft. Thy think Fell be amusing to hear an old man ply the drum for the fis time. «+ Aby Te a good idea Ill ang the drum on my laurel tee and beat i there. (He kneels be- ore the ore) Laurel, lovely, deat lure forgive me. Tm fing t hang the drum in yur green hai. Heavy ist? ast be patent fora while Te becomes you. I becomes you ery well, lke a big bexutfel ornament that has fallen from heaven into your hus.» t's all right ise it? Even when I begia to beat che drum, 1 won't shake your leaves Te never before been so happy before you. When- cer ve seen you Eve thought: My unkappines has made Sou more beautiful, has made you put forth your leaves ‘more abundantly. And itr, my Inurl i ue a @ rue vawase oacwe ‘Hurry up and beat the drum. We're standing in the cold waiting for you Alig ing tobe no, ia! ek ite drm 1 makes no nd rks he her he tesa tee kes ntl et a) Ie dno mae ie Tye gen me da it Gost ates ac! ve en mae oc ere lel wih ie sinks oh and wp) Wat Sal dot What al de? Aredia pyc i kon me io weg da od tern happy happte (he prleatc wind the fag The window Cet sa) Tel Co snd and nl Laugh lyon te! Yeu le hughing whos you de ale aging hen you ro away ost happen to me Pee hoa lags dont ea ie tha «Pee ‘hoard edo ot. (ep woe Uti ack Cio o ie wind He th tots frs ily srng Bo Thon fe pacer hms sth geno crambing pee Sou om bow nara rom he sood — (inthe rom to the ef they ae al chang end lug ing. The cent he winder whch the old mn commited mide, and they ae naar wha bat pened, Suddenly the door opens.) 7rms pamasx oxo & « “The janitor from the bing acroas the way has just jumped out ofthe window and billed himself (They got up with confured oucrie Some rus to the teindow, ther a toward thesis. xno stands alone rigidly inthe center ofthe stage.) (Late at night, The sky Between the two buildings s now ful of set, A clock om a shelf in the room to the left ioe forth two delicate chimes. The room is pitch dark Presently theresa scratching round ofa key in the door. The door opens. A flashlight beam shines in. wossxo centers. She wears « halflength coat thrown over the Thonlders of ber eeening gown. In one hand she holds @ iho in the other a flashlight. She puts the hey in her handbag. She goet to the window, opens it, and stares ‘movionlesdy at the window onthe right.) (Her voices low. She tale aif 0 someone present) Ive come. You told me to come and Tve come. sipped out of Spay, even though it wat the middle ofthe night “Answer me please Aren't you there? (The window atthe back of the room tothe right open. ‘The phos of wwaxican climbs in the window rom which the jumped. He walks tothe lef. The window facing let gradually opens ashe approaces i.) You've come. ... You'erelly come. 6 @ ree vasasx pum Te been going back and forth berween your drcams and ‘his oom, Yo summoned me and I am here. But you sill do not know me. You don'tenow how Iwas able to come, Because [dew you here No. Without man stength odor ope for in Do ouintend to decive ren ghost? Where would T get the strength? My stength was enough ‘only to kill pitiful old man. And even in that all I did ‘wasto no Idi nothing ele. (want doer not enswer) ‘Can you hear me? (iwaxseitr nods) My voice caries crea when I speak 28 low a thie But when T talk to people they can't hear me unless T shout... Tt would have been better if voices had not caried between this zoom and yours, ‘The sky is flo stars. You can see the moo TESTrun pamase oxo @ ” following the moon when 1 jump ooking down at the street) Can you see the corpse of the moon anywhere? T can't. Only the allaight taxis fruising in che streets, There's a. policeman walking there. He's stopped. But T don't think chat means he's found a corpe. The policeman won't meet anything ex cept the policeman who comes from the opposite diree- tion Ishea miter, wonder? Do you think that ghost meet only ghost, andthe moon smeetsonly the moon? In the mile ofthe night that's tru of everything. (She lights acigorete:) RE an depine sy mie From what I can se, however, you sill aren't precisely the incarnation of love I don't mean to eicize your frowth of beard or your janitors uniform of you sweaty Andershirt— Theres something lncking, something your ™ @ vue amasn onuae love need before it can asume a form, ‘There's insui- cient proof that your lve i the world was real if that was the only reason why you died, emplies hit los every possesion which might have served as pro ‘am teeming with proof. A woman simply crawls with proofs of loe. When she has produced the last ne, se is full of proofs that the lve is gone. Ies boate women hha the profs that men can make love empty handed, Pleasedon't show me such things, Atle while ago T opened the door and came in, did't |? Wheredo you suppore Igoe key othe done? Please don’ ak me such things 1 sole the key from Madame’ pocket. My fingers are very nimble, you know. It gave me grest pleasure to dis ‘over my sila pckpocketing ha stil not left me.run vamase oxox @ p T understand sow, You're afraid of my tenacity, and dove eying to make me hat you, That must bet “Then shall T show you? You gave me avery appropriate rise princes ofthe moon [used ors tobe known bythe nickname of Crescent, from a tatoo on my bel Thetatto of acresent, Abb. ve wasn't that T asked to have it tattooed moe, A man ide wolenly. When {drink dhe crescent tons a bright ‘ea bt usualy is pale sa dead man’ face: SURBREIYou've made a fool of me twice. Once wasn't enough. ‘once wasnt enough. Yes, thats right, it wasn’: Fr our love tobe fulfilled or for tobe destroyed. scare poisone bs nen who werent. “Thats notsoeMen who were wile eI Iwakihi and th grt Kayoho. "She's the princets of the laure, ‘the tree that grows in the garden of the moon.” rin oamase ono @B @ rus oamase onvse Twas made a fol of because L wa Tits ota Youve ma TTD Cy (The room tothe righ Becomes red with the wrath ofthe thos. The lure tree om which the dram had been hung ‘ppeersinthe glow) Don't you fee ashamed of yours? Il place a curse on yom. ‘That doesn’t frighten me inthe last. I'm trong now. Ie because ve ben By hom? By you. ‘Toya, Fujima, the Madame, and Kaneko wate "There eters re devin me simply front.” Was it the strength of my love that made you tll the ih? Look at me ot the real me you love. (She lg) @ tHe pasease oxemris pancase one @ ” ee rere Make it sound. have come tohearit 6 @ rue oamase onus will. My lote will make a damak drum thunder, (The ahoat of rwaxscan sites the drum. 2 gives forth full ound.) 1c sounded! It sounded! You heatd it didn't ou? (oiling yy) Ueastehear ashing. ‘You can't hear this? 1s not possible. Look. 1 ake it once for every leer T wrote you. Once, twice, you ean haar it, Tenow, thee four, the drum has sounded. (The drum sounds) Tean'theaet Whereis drum sounding? You cant hear it? You're lying. You can't hear this? Ten, cleven, You can't hea this? Iean'e I eavthear any drum, esa it (ina fury) won't let you sy it—that you can’t hear what Lean, Twenty, twenty-one. I's sounded Tcan'thearit. Lean’ hea itrae pamass ono @ 6 “Thing, thirty-one thitty-wo.-«« You antsy you don't Inari The dram i Beating.’A dram that never should huave sounded is sounding. Ab, bury and sound it. My ears are longing to hear the drum, Sixty, sity.seven. . . . Could it possibly be tha only riy.ers an ear the drum? (in despair, t0 herself) Nb, he's just the same 2s living (jin eign, to. himself) Who can prove it—that she ‘ace the dram! I eantthearit illan'ehearit. (weakly) Bighty-nine, ninety, ninetyone.««« Ie wil soon be ote. Have I only imagined I heard the sound of the drum? (The drum goct om rounding.) Its useless. A waste of time. The dram won't sound ata will ie? Beat itand beat ita I may isa damask deur. ” @ rue vawase onus Hury, strike itso I cam hear. Dont give up. Hurry, so it serikes my ears. (She srctches her hand jrom the win. dow.) Don'egiveup! Nineryfour, ninetyfive, ... Completely useless. The drum does't make a sound. What’ the we of beating 2 drum thae is sent? Nintyix,ninetyseven Farewell, my lure! princess, farewell... Ninetycight, singin, Raewel Veena te handed srk «Farewell (The ghot dissppeas. The eaing ope, wssaxe stands alone, an empty look om Ber face, ronan rashes in exited.) Is that where you've been? Oh, I'm soreieved. .. . We've all been ove searching for you, What happened to you? Running of like dat in the middle of the night. What Bappeaed to you? (He shake her) Get al on oo (sin a dream) I would have heard if he had only struck