Maung Kyung (Bo Kalay) - The Ham Phone That Benefits and Other Plays

( 3) years

( One-act play)

Actors involved

U Theik Khaung.. Writer, about 60 years old.

U Sein Talay.. Merchant, about 50 years old.

U Tin Lah.. Poet, about 50 years old.

U Shwe Htay.. A village elder, about 60 years old.

( Other obscure characters who come to drink tea at the tea shop).

Time: Morning.

Place: Inside a tea shop.

(Setting) .. A crowded neighborhood.

The layout should resemble a tea shop. Tables, stools, a tea-making area, and a cash register should all have their places.

( Car door open)

(People are scattered around the tables of the tea shop, with U Theik Khaung, U Sein Talay, U Tin La, and U Shwe Htay sitting at the top table, drinking tea.) U Tin La.. (Takes a sip of tea and puts the cup back down) I don't know what's going on these days.

U-Tek-Khaung.. (drinking hot water) Why?

U Tin Lah... Because I'm hearing things I've never heard before.

U Sein Talay.. Tell me. What did you hear?

U Tham La.. When we were young, we were very weak when we were told that if we were released from prison for any reason, for any crime, we would be released from prison. We didn't want to be told. Some stupid people would be afraid of being told that if they were told that, people would be afraid of them, so I've heard them say that they would be released from prison. Smart people are very afraid of being told that if they were released from prison for an accidental crime, they would be imprisoned.

Head down.. Cool.. Why now?

U Tin La.. I have met with the teacher from Le Bel Tan, Mingalar Naing Aung Maung, three or four times. When he talks, he talks about how I was in prison. He talks about how I was outside of prison, and we are not his peers, so we don't know much about him. He never said that he had been in prison before.

Head on.. (Laughing) Right?

U Tin Lah... Has he really been in prison?

U Theik Khaung.. I've been there... but he went to prison because he embezzled money from the union when he was the president of the union. I even went with his wife when I got the letter of admission. U Tin La.. I'm still talking about these things with pride.

U Sein Talay. . I have also met a friend of mine who is an artist. I had a lot of friends when I was young. That artist used to be my friend. He was handsome and successful in his art career, so I was disgusted. He was so arrogant that he had sex with someone else's wife and ended up in prison. When he got out of prison, he didn't come to me or to his close friends because he was ashamed. Now I hear about him. When we talked about him being in prison, he kept repeating that he was in prison. We didn't talk about him in front of everyone. Because we know him...

U Shwe Htay.. Yes, sir. I live in this neighborhood.

Now that I am over 60, I know about 90 out of 100 people. If it is someone who has moved from another place, I don’t know much. But if I investigate, I know. This guy named Ngwe Thein who lives on the street over there has been bad since he was young. He drinks alcohol, plays cards, and has women. He does everything from two cards to three cards and plays football. He is very stupid. He has been in and out of prison. But he has never said that he has been released from prison before. Everyone knows that. He was released from prison the other day after being granted amnesty, and it is raining. I don’t know what happened.

U Theik Khaung.. Yes. Ko Tham Lah knows the writer Akka Theik Khaung who is close to us, right?

U Tin Lah... I know. I know.

U Theik Khaung. . He was among those arrested while watching from behind during an incident. This man is a cold person, he doesn’t understand politics. He just got involved. He was released after two months because it was nothing. At that time, he was quiet. I didn’t even know he was arrested. Now, if I don’t meet the writers, I will tell you how he was in prison, who he was with in prison, who was relieved because of him. He is sharing his happiness. He was in prison for two months. I can’t stop talking. U Sein Talay. . He talks about being in prison with pride. No one talks about being tortured in prison. Well... let’s meet again the next day. It’s been a long time. Let’s clear it up (talking to the shop) Let’s clear it up, okay.

U Tin Lah.. Oh my.. They don't talk about the hardships they suffered in prison and how they felt because they are ashamed. Being in prison...

( A young waiter comes over)

Young waiter... Will you clear it, sir?

U Shwe Htay.. Cool....

Young waiter. Earlier, I heard you talking about prison. I was in prison for three years. It's not good, teachers. It's a lot of trouble. It's a lot of risk. Now, two children have come along. Just think about it.

U Theek Khaung..Huh...How did you end up in prison? Before you worked at this shop?

Young waiter.. No, sir. I've been working at this restaurant for (5) years.

The head is up.. Being in prison...

Young waiter... (3) years old.

Head up... Ha... you...

Young waiter.. I've been married for (3) years. I'm in trouble.

U-Tek-Khaung.. (irritated) Very...roh...money. Let's go, huh.

(Car rolls over)