Tussles. Collected Plays: Collected Plays

Scene 10. In Tita’s house.

37 Tussles: Collected Plays Scene 10 In Tita’s house. (Bi is dumped at some corner. Tita moves over to her.) Tita Bi Bi (Absentmindedly) Yes, Ba Tita How have you spent the day? Bi So so. Tita Did you go to work? Bi I wanted to, but I have such a heavy head! I actually bathed and got dressed but I didn’t find The spirits to get out of the house. Tita It’s wrong for you to stay locked up in the house all The time. Go out and meet other people and talk to Them. I don’t say you discuss your problems with The first person you meet. Talk about other things. Discuss things that make you see life in a different Light. When you listen to other people you will Realize that you are not carrying the world on your Head as you seem to think. Bi I understand, Ba. But I just do not feel like seeing People now. I first of all want to get myself together And see how to handle the new life that is opening up Before me and the children. Tita Good thing you are thinking of your future and that Of the children. I learnt one Chinese proverb today Which I want you to reflect on seriously. The proverb 38 The Bite Says: repress a moment’s anger and you will be Spared a hundred days of sorrow. I think there’s a lot Of practical wisdom in that saying. (With fatherly warmth) You see, anger is like a bomb. You never measure its Damage until it has exploded. Very often it explodes With such violence that it destroys beyond any hope Of repair. And we who set it off are the first to regret. We should learn at all times to sit on our anger and we Will be the happier for it. (Long pause, then affectionately) Bi. Bi Ba. Tita I’m just from seeing your husband. He and I had a Discussion which helped clear a few things in my Head. Bi (Angrily) Ba, I have told you and I still repeat, I don’t want to have anything to do with Abod Anymore. So I hope you people discussed other Things, not me. Tita We discussed your marriage, basically. Bi Ba, I have… Tita Why don’t you just listen to me? Bi If it is about Abod you want to talk then you can Be sure I will not listen. Tita It’s precisely about him I want to talk and you will Sit here and listen. Bi I will sit here, but know you are talking to a stone. Tita Not if there’s a jot of my blood in your veins. You Don’t solve a problem by running away from it. If 39 Tussles: Collected Plays This matter concerned only you and your husband, I would not worry my tired limbs over it. My Grandchildren, it’s they I am worried about. Bi Ba, if you have those children’s interest at heart then You should help hasten my divorce. I have already Found a house, I told you, and I am now looking for A van to pick up what is still left of my things in Abod’s house. I think that’s where you can help me And the children. Tita (Laughing softly) When I hear you talk you remind me very Much of your mother when she was your age. I can’t Count the number of times she packed you and your Brothers out of the house; at times just because a Thought crossed her mind that I had the intention of Considering the possibility of feeling like wanting to Look at another woman. Bi If my mother does not know how to take decisions And stick to them, that’s her cup of tea. The two of You know the game you were playing. Right now I Am not in for any game. My children and I are going And that’s the end of the matter. I can’t stand the Sight of that brute anymore. Tita I don’t know much about his being a brute, but what I know for certain is that he is a charming young man Who loves you and the children immensely. Why Don’t you see that side of him too? Think of...