I wouldn't let you leave me. I've been preparing for a very long time. I've

studied the computer, English; I even finished a training course on love.

Now I finally have enough money. Mingming, the money is useless, but if it

can make you happy then it does have a use. It's all yours!

(The crowd cheers.)

Director: Who is Mingming? Who is Mingming? Quick, get me background

material!

Malu: What are you all cheering about? Why are you cheering? My heart's

cheering so much it's about to burst, but I dare say that we are not

cheering the same thing! Believe me, heaven favours the brave and the

strong, those full of affection for another. If you love something, desire

something, believe me, just go love it, just go desire it, so long as your

desire is strong enough you are invincible! Mingming, I want to give you

happiness! A happiness like no one has ever known!

(Mingming appears in the window.)

Mingming: I don't want it.

Director: What did she say? What did she say? I can't hear clearly.

Mingming: You're rich; the others are also rich. Why should I want your

money when I don't even want to give you the things you want from me?

Malu: No, I don't want anything from you. I must give you something. I must

give you happiness.

Mingming: Thanks, but you go and use it for yourself.

Malu: What? What are you saying?

Mingming: I said I don't want it -- your money or your happiness.

Malu: Why?

Mingming: You'd better go use the money to do things that make you happy.

Malu: The only thing that makes me happy is you!

Mingming: Then I really don't want it.

Malu: Why? Didn't you tell me that you didn't need money, that you didn't

like money, that you could get money by being someone else's mistress? Why

Is my money any different from theirs?

Mingming: I don't want your money. Can you force me to take it? I'm willing

to be a whore in order to get money, but it's got nothing to do with you. I

can't bear the pure look on your face. I don't love you. I don't want to

hear you pour out your heart out into my ears every day. I don't want it

because I don't want you to have this power over me. Do you understand?

(Mingming walks away from the window.)

Malu: Then what use is it to me?

Daxian: Don't listen to her! If some people are so naturally despicable,

that they turn the good intentions of someone into shit, then the best thing

you can do is to treat them like shit.

Toothbrush: Right! She's worthless. Even if she swears she loves you, you

should never believe her. What an attitude!

Malu: All the smells have vanished. The scent of lemon chewing gum, the

scent of photocopier on her body, the smell of the leather wallet. My nose

can't smell a thing. I'm starting to doubt myself, starting to doubt the

love I have for her, starting to doubt everything. . . What is there to show

me I'm still me? What is there to show me I'm still alive? This isn't a

question of whether to love or not, but a kind of contest. Not a contest

between her and myself, but a contest between everything and me. That I

never had anything isn't important, but now that I realize I've lost. I have

to tuck my tail between my legs and obey. I will always compromise with

life, become just another normal person in your eyes, only take those things

which life gives easily. To struggle for happiness in the shadows is

meaningless. I'd rather do nothing.

Heizi: Fool.

Malu: (Toward Mingming's room behind the window) Mingming, I know, that for

me this is a lot of money and that to others it's mere change. But they

can't compare to me in one thing: I could give it all up for you; they

can't.

(Malu finishes his speech and gently lays down the box of money. Exits. The

crowd watches him dumbfounded, then suddenly surround the box.)

Act XXI

The rhinoceros enclosure.

Malu: All the other rhinos have gone. Don't you feel lonely here? The new

rhinoceros enclosure is pretty good, spacious, bright, well ventilated.

Tana, the white rhino has settled in down there. There's a newly purchased

male rhino that is very gentle and young. He spends every day curiously

looking the place over, making careful advances toward Tana. Don't you want

to go have a look? All you have to do is go nicely into that cage full of

apples and bananas; they'll close the door and take you over there. Why do

you always go up to the cage and turn away, not willing to go in? They've

already been waiting for a whole month. I can tell that they're starting to

lose their patience. The director said that if you are still unwilling to go

into the cage by tomorrow, he's going to get the tranquillizer gun. Look,

this gun here! Do you want people to treat you like this? Poor Tula. I know

you don't get along with anyone, just like me and Daxian, Toothbrush and the

others. We only stayed together out of boredom. But now they're convinced

that I'm a lunatic and don't even give me the time of day. You should be

more like the other rhinos and bow to your destiny, then you won't be

depressed. How hard is it to obey destiny? I think most people just

naturally do that. So long as others do it you should just do the same and

it'll all be fine. That's why we're not welcomed by others. We should

probably use the tranquillizer gun. I also thought about giving up many

times, but when I thought about it, my body began to ache all over. Once I

realized that this pain would never leave me, once I realized that my eyes

would become lifeless because of it, I got scared. Loving her was the best

thing I've ever done.

(Mingming enters.)

Malu: Mingming.

Mingming: I'm leaving. I came to say goodbye.

Malu: You're leaving?

Mingming: Heaven favours the brave, the strong, those who are full of

affection for someone.

Malu: You're going to go look for that guy?

Mingming: I also thought about giving up many times, but when I thought

about it, my body began to ache all over. Once I realized that this pain

would never leave me, once I realized that the expression in my eyes would

become lifeless because of it, I got scared. Loving him was the best thing

that I've ever done.

Malu: What are you saying?

Mingming: I just heard you say that a moment ago.

Malu: Then you understand?

Mingming: I understood the whole thing.

Malu: You still want to leave?

Mingming: I'm leaving.

Malu: Then you didn't understand. I won't leave you, and I won't let you

leave me! (Malu suddenly lunges at Mingming. He grabs some rope to tie her

up. Mingming struggles with all her might.)

Malu: I told you that I'm the kind of person who always keeps my word. That

night it was you who pleaded with me to never leave you, and not let you

leave me, so you should've realized earlier that you can't escape me. I'll

chase you to the ends of the earth! Don't struggle. Struggling is useless.

We are doomed to die together!

Mingming: You're a lunatic. Let go of me. Do you still not understand? I

don't want to be with you! Help! Somebody help me!

(Malu stops her from struggling and strikes her hard on the neck. Mingming

passes out and collapses into his chest.)

Act XXII

Mingming is blindfolded and tied to a chair. Malu, is sitting beside her.

Malu: Dusk is the worst time for my vision. My eye wanders to the busy

street. All I see are pretty girls. The buildings and streets are shifting