U Nu - Four plays

Almost out of the flesh

Part - 1

Location : The room where Htein Win and his wife live in a workers’ barracks on Pyay Road, near the Kyandaw Cemetery in Yangon. The room is used for cooking, eating, and living. There is a stove on the right side of the room, and a kettle is placed on it. At the back of the room is a door. This door is the door to the bedroom. On the left is a door. This door is the door to the stairs outside the room that lead downstairs. In the middle of the room is a table. A blanket is spread over the table. There is also a cat house in the room. On the cat house is a radio. Next to the radio is a (big) alarm clock. In front of the left shelf are two armchairs.

When the curtains were drawn, the room was still dark, thanks to the dim light from the table lamp.

After a while, I heard footsteps coming up the stairs. After hearing these sounds, I heard the door unlock. The door opened and a woman entered the room. The woman turned on the lamp on the table and closed the door.

Ma Thaung Tin was about 30 years old. Her appearance had once been quite young. But now she was quite young. Ma Thaung Tin was a very brave woman, but she was trembling that night. Her clothes were very neat but cheap. She carried a small handbag in her hand.

For a second or two, Ma Thaung Tin stood with his back to the door, breathing heavily. It looked as if he had run. Then Ma Thaung Tin came to the center of the room, put his briefcase on a chair near the desk, and looked at his watch.

Ma Thaung Tin.. Oh, even if it's seven hours, it's gone. (Ma Thaung Tin entered the room quickly. As he entered, he took off his blazer. As he was taking it off, the color of the shirt he was wearing under the blazer was clearly visible. It was dark. From inside the room, a drawer was quickly opened and quickly closed. Soon, Ma Thaung Tin came out again. At that moment, the black coat he had seen while taking off his blazer was no longer there. Ma Thaung Tin came out only in a sweat shirt. He was holding a white coat in his hand. He threw the coat on a chair, turned on the stove, and put on a pot of hot water. Then, he quickly picked up the coat that had been thrown on the chair and put it on. Before he had finished putting it on, he was hastily putting the dishes on the table for dinner. While doing this, he often looked at the clock. After putting the dishes on, he calmed down. I'm not satisfied.

It's cold, that's good. (Looks at the clock again.) What's going on? He's going to be very late today.

(Ma Thaung Tin is buttoning his shirt. He picks up a newspaper on the table next to him. But his mind is racing, so he can't read it. He puts it down and walks back and forth in the room, trembling. When he reaches the staircase, he stops and listens to see if he can hear anything. But he hears nothing. After a while, he returns to the table and rearranges the dishes a little more. After doing this, he goes to the mirror on the wall of the room and looks in the mirror. He straightens his hair, which has become even more messy. While he is doing this, Htein Win

Suddenly, I heard a voice coming up the stairs, humming the Burmese song “Kabar Ma-Ka-Burma Ta-Twe” loudly. Htein Win knocked on the door.

Ma Thaung Tin ..(Walking towards the door to open it) Ko Htein Win La (opening the door for me).

Htein Win ..(Entering the room and closing the door again) Of course. I don't care who else is coming besides me.

(Htin Win is about 35 years old and a simple man. He is quite inclined towards Thakinism. He is slightly drunk. He is wearing a red shirt.)

Ma Thaung Tin ..(Holding Htein Win's arm and resting his head on Htein Win's shoulder) Oh, Htein Win.

Htein Win ..(Pulls away the arm that was wrapped around him) Hey, what's wrong? (He takes off his straw hat and throws it on the table, then takes off his coat and hangs it on the hook on the door.)

Ma Thaung Tin ..(He was holding his feet and hands) Ko Htein Win, it's so scary (He stopped talking abruptly and continued speaking quickly) I'm waiting for Ko Htein Win alone. I'm so scared. Ko Htein Win is very late today.

Htin Win .. I can't do that, sometimes I'm late like this. I have a lot of things to do tonight (making a mockingly important face) and very important things (laughing and kissing Ma Thaung Tin's forehead).

Ma Thaung Tin.. Ko Htein Win Shin, have you been drinking?

Htein Win.. I came here to have a glass of beer with a good friend. Don't you like it?

Ma Thaung Tin .. Just one cup?

Htein Win.. I drank two glasses from a small glass. (I sat down on a deck chair).

Ma Thaung Tin.. (trying hard to control her trembling) I'm not sorry that Ko Htein Win is so late. I'm just nervous, wondering if something is wrong.

Htein Win.. Something will happen to me, what will happen to me? (laughs) What will happen to me?

Ma Thaung Tin .. I can't say anything about this, but I'm worried because you're late for home. Things aren't going well now. It's just a little bit of a mess. No one can go home with confidence anymore.

Htin Win.. Well, tell me, I think my people are reading too many novels these days and are very worried. They don't prey on people like you. The people they prey on are also very thin. They only pick people who are good enough.

Ma Thaung Tin .. That's it. But isn't it very dark outside?

Htein Win.. (holding up his left hand, which was devoid of a ring) Oh, yes. There's not even enough light outside to make the diamonds on my ring shine. Hey, there's no one here. There's not even the slightest fear of being robbed by a creature like me.

Ma Thaung Tin..Well , I can't say what it is, I'm very picky. (Takes a teacup and saucer from the shelf on the right wall and wipes it with a cloth) What's the meeting place?

Htein Win .. Oh.. it's quiet, very quiet. Well, if you look at the text, you'd have to say it's very quiet.

Ma Thaung Tin .. What should I look at?

Htein Win .. If you look at the current situation and the situation, your meeting was very calm. Anyway, if you look at it from the surface, you can say that it was very calm. They didn't do anything.

Ma Thaung Tin . (with a meaning of "Yo" face) They don't do anything.

Htein Win .. I won't. Well, I won't be a rebel until after breakfast tomorrow. (Laughs)

Ma Thaung Tin .. Don't wait any longer, Ko Htein Win..

Htein Win .. What, you're thinking that something scary is going to suddenly appear? Because there's something scary going on.

Ma Thaung Tin. Do I have it? Oh, no, sir. (Brings tea plates and bowls to the table) Did you get home from the meeting?

Htein Win.. (After sitting down for a moment, he looks at Ma Thaung Tin.) Well, Ma Thaung Tin.. (Sits down at the table.) So the meeting ended very late.

Htein Win .. (Sits up from his lying position) Hey, what are you doing here? Do you think I'm just going to one bar after another and drinking?..

Not really .. No. I think it's Mr. Ho Din.

Htein Win .. (Gets up from his seat and goes to Ma Thaung Tin) Hey Ma Thaung Tin, look at me. Is it because you think of me as a childish child, or because you think of me as a free spirit and a part of the crowd here?

Ma Thaung Tin .. (intervening) I don't remember that.

Htin Win .. I can control myself. (Shrugs his shoulders slightly and smiles happily) But no matter what I say, you won't be without worries. Isn't this the way you are at home? If you're like this, it's better to take someone from the clothiers who have a little money like your father.

Thaung Tin .. I bow to Ko Htein Win, you are great.

Htein Win.. Oh, I don't pretend to be a big man. "

"I don't know if your parents remember saying, 'This guy is a drunkard, he can't even speak a few words.'"

Thaung Tin .. Sir, I followed the stolen goods, didn't I?

Htin Win .. (Patting Thaung Tin's shoulder) That's why I told you I was brave. Even if I'm not brave now, I was brave back then. Do you remember when we ran away and your father was so angry and punched you? (laughs loudly) I can still see it now. Your aunt Daw Thein also said, "Should we run away with the forest people? They must be so embarrassed." I can still see her wiping her tears with her sleeve because her handkerchief was missing (laughs loudly).

Thaung Tin .. Are you and I the same now as when you and I first ran away? Have you changed a lot?

Htein Win .. You've been terrified like a little mouse scared of a cat since you were little, haven't you? As always, you're terrified by thoughts of fear.

Thaung Tin .. (in a meaningful tone) Always.

Htein Win.. (sweetly) As always, your nerves are lacking something.