|
Kei
By Ray Virago
The location is near the train station in the Gambetta
quarter in Nice. The apartment is a studio with a separate kitchen
and a pink bathroom. The floors are white marble with black streaks
and spots. Around the bedroom/living-room a modern setup is
noticeable: a black framed king size bed, a black wooden stool, a
black half size bookcase filled with neat rows of colorful folders
and Japanese books. The window is a floor to ceiling. left to right
huge over-sized sliding door type with black hand pai
ntings on it. To the left of the window is a door accessing the
kitchen. The bathroom door is to the right of the entrance and
houses a pink sink, a pink toilet bowl, a pink bathtub, a frameless
mirror, and pink walls.
The sky outside is a crimson color and Kei is wandering
around the room with a bowl of rice in her hands and the TV and
radio both blaring nosily in the background. She is dresses in a
black top and gray stretch pants. She is also barefooted.
KEI: [Sitting on the bed, stuffing her mouth with white rice and
hijiki. She mumbles to herself.] So, what is it I'm supposed to do
now? Sit around and wait? Wait for them to decided to come by, if
they feel like it? Great, just great! Laetitia, Steve, Sonya,
they're always late, always making me wait around like a fool. Damn
them all. Shit, after all this is my apartment, not their "come by
when ever I feel like it" place. That's enough, I've been here
three hours waiting for them, and not even
a call.
[She gets up and strolls over to the kitchen. She dumps the
rest of the rice in the trash can and places the bowl under some
running water. Kei turns around and leans against the sink and
sighs. All is so quiet and calm. She closes her eyes and remembers
a scene from a month ago.]
CHRIS: So, did you have fun today? How did you like shopping on
Avenue Jean-Medecin? If you ask me, I think we enjoyed ourselves.
[He leans closer to Kei as to kiss her but she steps back at the
last minute and walks into the kitchen.]
KEI: Yeah, it was okay. Nothing great. I was out there before, you
know... it's not like I just got here yesterday.
CHRIS: [Following her into the kitchen.] Sorry, you're right,
you've been here w hole two weeks already. Anyway, how was it in
Dakar? I heard from Leatitia you had it rough there.
KEI: [Kei does not answer, instead we see a tear form in her left
eye as she faces away from Chris.] Sorta rough, but the truth is I
left all my friends back there and now I'm in France, I don't speak
the fucking language, and I'm all alone. Yeah, it was rough, but
that is why I'm here, to forget it all.
[Kei spins around and all Chris can see is a smile on her
face. She takes her top off and embraces Chris pushing her tongue
deep in his mouth. Chris unbuttons his fly and turns Kei around to
penetrate her right there in the kitchen from behind.
A few minutes later we hear Chris in the pink bathroom
washing his hands while Kei is sitting on the bed dressed, holding a
cigarette between her fingers.]
KEI: Damn fucking right. I've gotta stop this shit before I fuck up
again like I did in Dakar.
CHRIS: Did you say something? [Calling from the bathroom.]
KEI: Nothing. I have to leave, so get ready.
[Kei comes back from her flashback and splashes some water
on her face.]
KEI: It's been too long. This can't go on forever. Is it fair? Is
it? [She passes her hand over her stomach.] Fuck you, fuck you and
everything you ever wanted from me! Chris was okay, and I really
needed a good fuck that day. I needed to forget. I needed to
forget Dakar so badly. [Phone rings.] Hello. Oui c'est moi. Non,
j'n'veut plus aller. Va sans moi. Va te faire futre connard! Je
t'ai dit que j'ai envie de rester ici... bye. [The phone falls in
it's cradle.] This has got to end...
[Kei changes into a pair of jeans and walks out.]
(Sunday)
Sunday afternoon, around five o'clock. The sky outside is
once again a crimson red. the door to the apartment opens and Kei
enters dressed in light colored blue jeans, black ankle boots, and a
navy blue blazer. She removes her boots and walks over to the
kitchen. Inside the kitchen there are a few unwashed dishes and
glasses, a half empty bottle of vodka and a plastic container with
various chop sticks. Kei opens the fridge and pours herself a glass
of milk. She returns to the bedroom/living room
area.
The apartment is a little different to those who may notice.
There is an empty wine bottle with no label on the book rack,
filled with water and four black roses. On the floor, up against
one of the walls, we see a half completed painting of a white visage
on a black background.
Kei sits at the desk and pulls out of her pocket a chunk of
hash she just purchased for 200 francs at the Jardin. She takes out
a pack of Marlboro and a lighter. Kei then opens her desk drawer,
searches around a little, and finally finds a book of rolling
papers. With carefully stable hands she pulls out a sheet of paper
from the book, then she breaks open a cigarette and spreads the
tobacco on the paper. Using the lighter, Kei heats a corner of her
dark, pungently rich smelling hash and sprinkles i
t over the tobacco. With expert fingers she rolls a joint and leans
back to take her first few drags.
KEI: [Holding the joint in one hand and the glass of milk in the
other.] This is good shit, not like the last time that Arab fucker
screwed me. I needed a good joint, with all this mess just blowing
up around me. [She leans further back into the seat and props her
feet up against the desk. She downs her milk and sets the glass on
her desk.] Time to enjoy, to feel, to respire the meaning of life,
just the way I was taught. Why, I ask myself a million times, why?
Here in this shit country, in this s
hit school, in this shit hole of an apartment, stuck talking to
people I don't even care to know. Sonya, she's nice, maybe a little
too nice. I wonder what's up with her... and that Wille, he's nice
too. [Loud knock on the door.] Qui est la?
SONYA: It's me, Sonya.
[Kei quickly butts out the joint and sweeps everything from
the desk into the drawer. She goes to the door and opens it.
Stepping aside, she motions Sonya to enter.]
SONYA: How are you? A bit of an unexpected visit huh... [A wry
smile crosses her lips.] What's the smell in the air?
KEI: What do you want?
SONYA: [Takes the chair at the desk.] Nothing, just stopping by to
see how things are going, everything okay?
KEI: [Closing the door and walking over to the bed.] Yeah,
everything's just fine and dandy.
SONYA: So, can I have a hit? Or is it only for special people?
KEI: Hit of what?
SONYA: You know, the shit...
KEI: [Relieved and hesitating.] Sure. [A sigh. Kei leans back on
the bed and closes her eyes for a few minutes.] It's in the top
drawer.
SONYA: [Opens the drawer and takes out a half burnt joint. She
finds the lighter to and lights up.] Mmmm, not bad, not bad at all,
whacha pay for it?
KEI: 200 for 5 gees.
SONYA: [Gets up and walks over to the bed. She sits down beside
Kei.] What's the matter?
KEI: Nothing.
SONYA: What is it? Don't wanna talk about it?
[Sonya takes a drag of smoke and bends down toward Kei. Kei
still has her eyes closed and does not notice Sonya approaching her
face. Sonya presses her lips to Kei's and blows the smoke into
Kei's mouth. Kei's eyes rip open with surprise as she furiously
inhales not to choke. The smoke rejuvenates her and a spark of life
shoots through her body. With a sudden jerking motion she sits up
and exhales the white smoke.]
KEI: Gimme that please. [Gesturing for the joint. Sonya hands it
to her. Kei takes another drag.] So, you want to know what's my
problem? I don't like it here, and I don't particularly like you.
The truth? I've had it, that's all, I'm just tired of it all. I'm
so damn weak it's not even funny. All day I sit around, I paint a
little, I study for my bullshit classes, and I live on, hour after
hour plotting....
SONYA: [Interrupting.] Plotting...?
KEI: Making decisions for others, deciding that fate of others I
don't even know, plotting! [Kei walks around the room and enters
the kitchen.] Want a drink?
SONYA: Sure...
[Kei pours a large glass of vodka and comes back into the
room to hand it to her. Sonya takes a large gulp thinking it's
water and coughs loudly as her eyes start to water.]
KEI: Can't handle a little drink? [Kei starts laughing hysterically
as the hash begins to affect her.]
SONYA: [Coughing.] Fuck you. [Takes a small sip this time.]
KEI: What's that wrap on your wrist for?
SONYA: I hurt myself sometime ago.
KEI: How?
SONYA: With a blade.
[Kei stops walking. She is surprised, but does not want
Sonya to know. She is still not facing her.]
KEI: With a blade? What'd you try to do? Kill yourself? [A forced
smirk.]
SONYA: No. Just wanted to taste my own blood, I wanted to see my
body bleed....
KEI: Period not enough for you....
SONYA: I was making sure of my own reality. Just making sure. [She
gulps the last of her vodka and places her glass on the marble floor
beside the bed. She gets up wavering a bit and makes for the door.]
Thanks for the drink. Seeya tomorrow in class.
[Kei does not even move. Her eyes are fixed to the building
in front, the darkening sky, the blunt truth Sonya's words ringing a
familiar sound inside her confused head. the ash of her joint falls
to the ground as does the remains of the joint as her grip loosens.
Her door closes behind her. Two minutes pass by, still no movement
from her limps. Then, as by chance, she snaps out of her state.
She bends to pick the joint up and lies down on the bed kicking the
glass by mistake.
Fetish Hotel has
Tons of spanking paddle with hot xxx pictures and porno movies. spanking paddle
will be sure to give you a hard on your make your pussy wet wanting
even more spanking paddle Goto Fetish Hotel today and get more spanking paddle you
will not be sorry. Thousands of Pictures of spanking paddle. And hot sexy
movies with spanking paddle
Click Here to
Enter Fetish Hotel - #1 Site for spanking paddle
]
KEI: [Staring at the ceiling with her arms bent behind her head.] I
never would have believed it. Sonya too. This can not be
happening, all at once, so fast, so restlessly, and I'm left here
all alone as the world moves on. [She falls asleep.]
Act Two
(Monday)
Monday afternoon, around 5pm in Kei's apartment. The late
afternoon sun is streaming through the windows of a dark room. The
front door opens and Kei enters followed by Paul. The two enter:
Kei moves to the bed dropping her stuff on the floor; Paul takes the
chair at the black desk.
KEI: [Lighting a cigarette.] Do you want a drink? Maybe a gin and
tonic?
PAUL: [Making himself more comfortable.] Sure, but lots of ice.
Thanks.
[Kei moves to the kitchen.]
KEI: [From the kitchen.] So, what happened today in math class?
PAUL: Don't you think it's time you showed up? What's it been, two
weeks now?
KEI: Yeah, just after we met [says met with a little sarcasm] I
stopped going. But who cares, you tell me what's going on anyways,
and that's just as good, if you ask me.
[Kei returns holding two drinks. She gives one to Paul and sets
hers down on the desk. She goes to the bathroom to urinate but
leaves the door open.]
KEI: [From the toilet bowl with the sound of urine in the
background.] I need your help.
PAUL: To wipe your cunt?
KEI: No you idiot. With myself. [Flushing noise.] I need to talk.
[Washing her hands.]
PAUL: About...
KEI: About me... [She returns, takes her drink and walks to the
bed.]
PAUL: Well... [Sipping his g'n't.]
KEI: What do you know about Sonya?
PAUL: [Startled.] Sonya?
KEI: [Nods a yes.]
PAUL: Nothing much except what's going around. I heard she's losing
it. Father and mother are always pushing her way to fucking hard.
Then came the baby and that really did it, father almost killed her
on the spot... she aborted and then tried to do her self. But then
again this is all rumor, maybe... [Gulps his drink and lights up a
camel.]
KEI: Sounds familiar doesn't it? [Drinks, then takes another of the
many drags she's been taking all along.]
PAUL: Yeah, sure does. You never did tell me how your parents took
it...
KEI: Who fucking cares. [Finishes her drink.]
PAUL: [Forces a laugh.]
KEI: I decided I'm gonna try it.
PAUL: What?
[Kei gets up and walks to the hi-fi and places a CD in the
player. The sweet music fills the room like water pouring into a
crystal glass. she walks to the window slowly, like moving through
suryp.]
KEI: I'm going to run that little scene I told you about.
PAUL: [Jolting up.] Bullshit. There is no fucking way, get it?
We've been over it already. [Walks over to where Kei is standing.]
KEI: [Turning around to face Paul. Tears are forming in her eyes.]
I have to. Do you think this is easy for me? [Raising her voice.]
Do you? [Back to her soft voice.] [She wipes her face with her
black sleeve.] I thought it over and over and over the whole two
weeks. [Moving Paul out of the way and walking toward the desk.]
What do you think I've been doing these days at home, playing with
myself? [Opens drawer and gets an already made joint. She lights
it up using her cigarette.] Bullshit yo
u say? Yeah sure, this is bullshit, this whole fucking thing is
bullshit, this apartment, Eric is bullshit and so was the London
clinic. Look at it, all of it and tell me what you see.
PAUL: [Walking toward Kei and taking her joint. Takes a deep drag.]
I see bullshit, clear and simple. What the hell are you trying to
prove? Starve yourself, a little booze and shit, what the hell do
you think it's gonna get you?
KEI: [Calmly.] May be nothing from your point of view, but I need
it for myself. [Paul walks away from her. once again toward the
window. Before he leaves, Kei takes the joint from his hands.] For
too long now I've been feeling empty, everything around me is so
ridiculous, void. Look at this place, look at my life, what you see
is translucent, blank. [She opens a drawer in her desk. From the
drawer she removes a beautiful Japanese knife with the blade wrapper
in purple cloth. She unsheathes the k
nife. Paul is not watching, he is still looking out the window.]
Paul, look here... [Paul turns around and looks at Kei. His
immediate reaction is one of confusion, then he notices the blade.]
PAUL: Please... not around me...
[Kei places her left arm flat on the desk and glides the
knife's blade over her forearm in a long diagonal line. Then, She
crosses that line with another stroke at a 20 degree angle. Almost
immediately, the two lines turn red and blood begins to flow.]
KEI: This is real, not the garbage people theorize about and what
great intellectuals talk about. This is as real as it gets. [Kei
lifts her arm and licks the blood.]
PAUL: [He knew from talking with Kei that this was not the first
time. Even so, he is in a state of disbelief.] How does it feel?
I mean, when you cut yourself, does it hurt? [He sits on the bed.]
KEI: [Finishing the joint.] It feels like a paper cut at first,
then when the blood comes it starts to sting and then the pain goes
straight to the brain burning deep inside my arm. I want to scratch
it, but it only makes it worst.
PAUL: I don't know. I just really don't fucking know. [Shakes his
head in disbelief.]
[Phone rings. The mood is broken like a shattered pane of
glass. Kei, startled, gets up to answer, as blood is dripping down
her arm.]
KEI: Allo, oui? Oh... hi Sonya. No. Okay... okay. Look I've got
to go. No don't call later, I'm going to bed now. Look I'm tired,
I'm going now, okay? Bye-bye.
PAUL: Sonya, hum?
KEI: Yes... she wants to know why I wasn't in school today. Can you
do me a favor?
PAUL: What?
KEI: Tell Sonya and the others not to bother me for a few days....
PAUL: So you really want to go through with this?
KEI: Yes, I've decided.
PAUL: I love you.
[Kei does not answer. She stares into space.]
KEI: Please tell them, okay?
PAUL: I will. [Gets up, collects his things and leaves.]
Act Three
(Tuesday)
Morning in Kei's apartment. She wakes as the streaming
light comes in through the naked windows. Alone in her large king
size bed we see her moving, turning over, trying to postpone the
inevitable. As the clock ticks on, a raising tension is formed.
Kei finally gets up and out of bed. She is clothed in a white
negligee. Her hair is tousled. She is in disarray; lost in her
"shit hole" of an apartment.
Kei wobbles over to the kitchen and reluctantly she pours
herself a tall glass of gin, ice, and milk. She returns to the
bedroom/living-room and places herself on the bed in front of a gray
television screen. She turns it on with the remote and moves
through the channels senselessly. The French stations are blaring
back at her as she focuses, unblinkingly, at a point far behind the
screen, unconsciously sipping her concoction.
(Fade out, cut to next scene. It is afternoon.)
Afternoon, Kei is entering through the front door. She
slams the door behind her and goes over to the desk to empty her
pockets. She just went shopping and a descent amount of grass,
hash, papers, and Drum tobacco are spread out before her eyes on the
desk. In her other hand she is carrying a white plastic bag with a
bottle of gin in it. She takes the bottle to the kitchen and
returns to her desk. Preparation is about to begin. She puts on an
interesting CD to fill the room with noisy silence and
begins to work diligently.
She prepares eighteen joints of various combinations lining
them up in a small wooden pine box. She goes to the pink bathroom
and starts to draw a hot, hot bath. The sound of rushing water
mingles with the music in the room. She returns and goes into the
kitchen. Searching through the cupboards, Kei finds a can of tuna
she wants to eat. Sieving through the drawers she finds a can
opener and begins to open the can. Her finger slips and she cuts
the tip of her right index finger. The blood starts t
o run down her finger and collects in the nail. The deep gash keeps
on pouring out blood into the nail. Kei is fascinated by the blood
drip, drip, dripping from her finger. She snaps out of the trance
and walks back to the desk. She looks through her many drawings and
pulls two of them out and lays them on the desk. Then, with her
finger poised as a pen she marks some words like a Japanese
calligrapher would trace his characters on rice paper. (I forget
the words, but I'll find out.)
She picks the wooden pine box up and goes into the kitchen
to grab the gin and a glass. Kei takes everything to the pink
bathroom. By now, the tub is full and she turns the water off. She
undresses and steps cautiously into the bubble covered inferno. The
blood strays the foam leaving a mark. She lights up a joint and
pours a drink. Kei lies back inhaling and drinking, lost in the
sweetness of her situation. Time passes and her body is slowly
taking in the smoke and alcohol as the only nutrients
feeding her soul. The heat from the water speeds her heart rate
delivering those nutrients to every corner of her innards at a
higher and higher pace.
Time presses on. More of the joints are smoked, more of the
gin is drank, more of the strength is dissipated. Her inner being
emerges in a fetal form: her weak, unprotected being is like anew,
like a child raising from her depths. With every minute that ebbs
away at her life, she is coming alive with the innocence and purity
due an infant.
Still clutching lovingly at one of her joints, her arm slips
into the water as her eyes close and she falls asleep; her body's
strength evaporating with every breath. There is a loud, persistent
knock at the front door. No one ever answers it.
|