by David Hwang
Wó lăo gōng yǐ qián yé hěn xíng,
Of course, my husband was a good fuck, too.
Jiù shì wǒ men gāng rèn shí de shí hòu,
When we first met.
Bù guăn zài nár wǒ men dōu néng dà gàn yī chăng,
Oh, we would fuck everyplace.
Yóu qí wăn shàng zài gōng yuán lǐ.
Especially in the park at night.
Zài nà ge shí hòu, nà xiē hái gēn jiā lǐ rén zhù de nián qīng nán nǚ dōu dào gōng yuán qù.
In those days, all the young couples still living at home went to the park.
Wǒ kàn bú dào tā de liăn,
I couldn’t see his face,
wǒ men shèn zhì méi yǒu fā chū rèn hé shēng yīn.
and we didn’t say a word.
Dàn shì zài tuō xià wǒ chèn yī de shí hòu,
but his fingers trembled,
tā de shóu zhǐ yī zhí zài fā dǒu.
as he undid my blouse.
Zài xǔ duō rén xīn mù zhōng,
To everyone else,
tā yōu xiù, shàng jìn.
he was smart and ambitious.
Kě gēn wǒ zài gōng yuán de shí hòu,
But in the park with me,
tā huì xiàng shēng háo yī yàng dă kāi,
he broke open like an oyster,
duì wó zhăn shì tā suó yǒu de yù wàng.
and showed me all his need.
Tā yòng zuǐ ba jín jǐn hán zhù wǒ de rǔ fáng,
His lips closed around my breast,
jiù xiàng wǒ néng wèi tā tí gōng shēng mìng,
as if I could give him life itself,
zhè ràng wó găn jué dào yī zhǒng shēn qíng,
making me feel so much in love,
yī zhǒng qián suǒ wèi yǒu de, shēn qíng.
and more powerful than I ever dreamed possible.
(Lights reveal Xi and Daniel in his hotel room, she in his arms, postcoital.)
DANIEL: The first time we met? I thought you despised me.
XI: Yes!
DANIEL: No. Despise. Hate me. Did you?
XI: Bié yào wǒ shuō huà, tài lèi rén le.
Don’t ask me to talk, it’s too much work.
DANIEL: Why do you speak Chinese? When you know I can’t understand a word?
(Pause.)
Why you? Speak Chinese?
XI: I am Chinese.
DANIEL: Good point.
(Pause.)
Well, understand this: You are so beautiful. (He kisses her)
XI: Ah. Better. (She kisses him back)
DANIEL: When we met, did you ever dream we’d end up . . .?
(Pause.)
XI: Wǒ jì dé zhè zhǒng shí kè,
I remember this moment,
tā kàn jìn ní yán lǐ, yī rán zhăo dào wán měi.
when he looks into your eyes, and still sees perfection.
DANIEL: Well, I sure didn’t. Then I found out you’re married. And
I figured any husband of yours must be crazy in love with you.
XI: Hah?
DANIEL: You’re right, let’s not talk about your . . .
XI: My husband? I? Love—?
DANIEL: You don’t love your husband?
XI: Once—long time—but, no. Today, only husband.
DANIEL: Then why don’t you . . . you know, break up? Escape your marriage?
XI: Yes, escape. But. Not so easy.
DANIEL: You mean, here. In China. Marriage is hard to—?
XI: Not so easy.
(Pause.)
DANIEL: I’ve thought about that, too. Leaving my—to be honest,
I think about it all the time. But I’ve never—not like you. You’re not afraid to just . . . come out and say it.
(Pause.)
It’s crazy, but I—I feel like you know me.
(Pause.)
XI: Talk. More.
DANIEL: Like you can somehow see—into my heart. The me I want to be, that I can be, the real me. Honest man.
XI: Honest man.
(Pause.)
Nǐ shuō huà ba, wǒ jiù ài kàn zhe nǐ de zuǐ chún dòng.
When you speak, I love to watch your lips move.
(They kiss.)
Scene 7
Cai answers his cell phone.
CAI: Wèi?
Hello?
Bǐ dé lăo shī?
Teacher Peter?
Ní zěn zhī dào zhè ge hào mă?
How did you get this—?
Yǒu, dāng rán yǒu!
Yes, of course!
Wǒ jiù zhǔn bèi géi nǐ huí diàn—
I’ve been meaning to call you about—
Dāng rán ké yǐ!
Of course!
Míng tiān hăo ma? Zhōng wǔ ba?
How about tomorrow? Noon?
Hăo, nà míng tiān jiàn!
Looking forward!
(Crossfade to Cai’s office. Cai, Xi, Peter, Daniel and Bing, a male in his twenties, the new translator, are there.)
Shì shí shàng, wǒ zhèng chéng shòu zhe chén zhòng de yā lì.
The fact is, I am under a great deal of pressure.
BING: The Minister is underneath you.
CAI: Shéng wěi shū jì yǒu tā de yì xiàng wǒ néng zuò shén me ne?
The Party Secretary has his priorities, so what can I do?
BING: He also underneath his Party Secretary.
CAI: Wǒ shù shǒu wú cè!
My hands are tied!
BING: He is in bondage.
PETER: Jú zhăng, hén găn xiè nín de jiē jiàn, dàn nín de yì si shì—
Minister, we are grateful for this meeting, but are you saying—?
CAI: Bǐ dé lăo shī, zhè fèn jì huà shū wǒ bù néng pī.
Teacher Peter, I cannot approve this proposal.
BING: He cannot fulfill your desires.
PETER: Shén me?
What?
CAI: Wó hěn bào qiàn.
I am so sorry.
DANIEL: What’s going on, here?
PETER: Wǒ men bú shì gōu tōng hăo de ma!
But we had an understanding!
CAI: Wǒ huì lǚ xíng wǒ de chéng nuò! Xià yí cì ba!
And I will honor our agreement! Another time!
BING (To Daniel): Next time, he may give it to you.
PETER: Dàn shì nǐ dā ying guò, nǐ shuō—
But you promised, you said—!
CAI: Wǒ bù néng bá zhǐ shì pái de hé yuē pī géi kă fán nuò xiān sheng!
I cannot give Mr. Cavanaugh the signage contract!
Wó hěn bào qiàn!
I’m very sorry!
Qíng ní lí jiě.
You understand.
DANIEL (To Peter): What’s he saying?
BING: Teacher Peter begs the Minister for his favors—
DANIEL (To Bing): It’s OK.
(To Peter, regarding Bing) This guy’s even worse than the last one.
BING: Oh! Rudeness!
PETER (To Daniel): The Minister has rejected your proposal.
CAI: Sorry.
DANIEL: Well, I’m disappointed to hear that.
BING: Nǐ tīng dào nà lăo wài zěn yàng wú rú wǒ ma?
Did you hear that foreigner insult me?
DANIEL (Prompting for translation): Peter?
BING (To Cai): Jiù jiu?
Uncle?
(Cai shushes Bing.)
PETER: Duì yú zhè yàng tū rán de găi biàn kă fán nuò xiān sheng shí fēn shī wàng.
Mr. Cavanaugh is extremely disappointed by this sudden change of course.
CAI: Dàn nǐ néng lí jiě ba?
But you understand?
PETER: Shì de. Dāng rán.
Yes. Of course.
Xiè xie nín, jú zhăng.
Thank you, Minister.
(Cai stan
ds, prompting the others. They shake hands all around. Peter stands apart.)
DANIEL (To Cai): Who knows? Maybe we’ll do something else together.
BING: Wǒ huì gào sù wǒ mā é.
My mother will hear about this.
CAI (To Bing): Ràng wǒ qù gào sù tā!
Yes, she will!
DANIEL: Peter!
CAI (To Daniel): Zhù nǐ yí lù shùn fēng.
Travel home safely.
BING (To Daniel): Leave in haste!
(Daniel moves to Xi.)
DANIEL: Vice Minister, it has been a pleasure.
BING: Nǐ kàn! Zhè lăo wài mù guāng wéi suǒ.
Look! This white devil has lust in his eyes.
XI: Thank you.
DANIEL: C’mon, Peter, let’s—
PETER: No! Bù! Wǒ bù míng bái!
No, I do not understand!
Nǐ dā yìng guò de! Nǐ duì wǒ shuō,
You promised! You said to me,
“Zhǐ yào nǐ néng bāng wǒ ér zi, wú lùn nǐ yào shén me, wǒ dōu huì shí xiàn tā.”
“If you can only do this for my son, whatever you ask, I will make it happen.”
CAI: Zài hé lǐ de qíng kuàng xià!
Within reason!
PETER: Hé lǐ?
Reason?
Nǐ rèn wéi nà yòu hé lǐ ma?
You think it was reasonable?
Bá nǐ de ér zi sòng jìn bā sī dà xué?
To get your son admitted to Bath?
Nà xiăo zi jiăn zhí shì jiào yù jiè de zāi nàn!
That boy is an educational disaster zone!
CAI: Nǐ yīng gāi zhī dào—
You should know—!
PETER: Wǒ zhī dào! Yīn wèi wǒ shì tā de yīng yú dăo shī!
I do know! I was his English tutor!
Shàng le sān nián háo wú yì yì de kè,
After three years of pointless lessons,
tā wéi yī xué huì de yīng yǔ jiù shì:
the only English he learned was:
“My Father is a big Party official.”
CAI: Gòu le! Zhè lǐ de rén bù xiăng tīng dào—
That’s enough! These people don’t want to hear—
PETER: Kě tā men yīng gāi tīng. Tā men yīng gāi yào zhī dào—
But they should. They should know—
This is not how people behave in China!
CAI: Nǐ huó xiàng gè wú zhī de lăo wài nǐ zhī dào ma?
You’re acting like an ignorant foreigner!
PETER: Wǒ?
Me?
Wǒ ài zhè ge guó jiā!
I love this country!
Nǐ gēn wǒ zhēng qǔ de dōu yī yàng!
You and I are fighting for the same things!
Zài wǒ nèi xīn, wǒ shì zhōng guó rén!
In my heart, I am Chinese!
XI: Gòu le!
Enough!
BING (Cracking up): Qǐ yè jiè lǐ dōu shì fēng zi!
The business world is crazy!
XI: Bǐ dé lăo shī, ní biăo dá guò nǐ de yì jiàn,
You’ve had your say, Teacher Peter.
Xiăng shòu guò dăng hé xiàn fă fù yǔ de yán lùn zì yóu,
Enjoyed free speech under the Party’s laws.
Jú zhăng yào găn qù xià yí gè huì yì le.
The Minister is late for his next meeting.
(She cues Bing.)
BING: The Minister take me, going lunch.
PETER: Jú zhăng, wǒ—duì bu qǐ.
Minister, I—I’m sorry.
Wǒ bù zhī dào zì jǐ zhè shì zěn me le—
I don’t know what came over—
(Cai leaves the room.)
XI: Sorry, Peter.
(Xi exits.)
BING: Rudeness is as rudeness does.
(Bing exits.)
PETER: The Minister and I are experiencing a misunderstanding, which
I fully intend to resolve.
(Peter exits, with Daniel following.)
Scene 8
Daniel, in his hotel room. Xi enters, wearing dark glasses, an overcoat, and a shawl around her hair.
DANIEL: So what happened in there?
XI: Coat. Please.
(Daniel helps Xi remove her coat.)
DANIEL: Sorry. Seems I’ve forgotten my // manners.
XI: Zhēn dăo méi. Yào zài zhè fáng jiān lǐ tán shēng yì.
Such a shame. To talk business in this room.
Problem. Unexpected discussion.
DANIEL: Cai said “no deal.” Just like you told me he would.
XI: Yes.
DANIEL: So now, hooray?
XI: But. Teacher Peter—he acts, not in accordance.
DANIEL: Yeah, I didn’t catch all of that, but // —wow!
XI: Problem. Credible is now doubt.
DANIEL: Credibility.
XI: Yes.
DANIEL: Of my company? In doubt?
XI: Yes. No. Yes.
DANIEL: Why? Cai has seen our website, right?
(He goes to his laptop.)
In anticipation of this contract, we just added a banner in Chinese.
XI: No, not website. Website is— (Looking at the screen) Chinese?
DANIEL: With our phone number. If anyone else over here wants to reach us, they can just dial headquarters in Cleveland directly and—
XI: Translation—very bad.
DANIEL: Really? We hired a grad student from Case Western who—
XI: Dă diàn huà wǒ men kuài jié zì yóu tóu dì.
“Call us for fast free delivery.”
DANIEL: What does that mean?
XI: Never mind.
(She closes the laptop.)
Cannot have no credibility. With Peter.
DANIEL: Because he insulted // the Minister?
XI: Back door—all close. Therefore, you also must close.
DANIEL: I’ve got to get rid of Peter?
XI: Cut him.
DANIEL: If I do, will Cai change // his—?
XI: Forget Cai!
DANIEL: Peter. Is my problem?
XI: Yes.
DANIEL: Not Cai.
XI: Yes.
DANIEL: Cai is not my problem.
XI: Yes. Now, you understand.
DANIEL: I think . . .
XI: Good. So no more the business.
(She undoes his trousers, his pants fall to the floor.)
Look. (She pulls a bottle from her purse) Western luxury item.
(She hands it to Daniel)
DANIEL: “Mr. Bubble.”
XI: Yes?
DANIEL: Yeah, we use this all the time. I mean, mostly my kids, but . . .
XI (Points to bathroom): So—go.
(Daniel exits to the bathroom. We hear bath water running offstage. Xi starts to undress.
Then, going to the desk, Xi swipes her finger across the
mousepad of Daniel’s laptop. The computer comes to life.
She studies the Ohio Signage website.
She laughs:)
Kuài jié zì yóu tóu dì!
“Fast free delivery!”
Zhēn shă!
This is so silly!
(To Daniel, offstage) Eh! Chinese person call Cleveland. You have someone answer, can speak Chinese?
DANIEL (From offstage): Sorry, I can’t hear you!
(On her cell phone, she dials the number from the website. A cell phone rings in their room.
Daniel turns off the bath water. Entering the room, he picks up his pants from the floor. From his pant’s pocket, he extracts his ringing cell phone.
He sees Xi on her phone, notices his laptop awake.
She ends her call. The ringing stops.)
It’s a real company.
XI: I cannot—
DANIEL: It exists.
XI: Ringing to // your—?
DANIEL: It just doesn’t . . . look like that.
&nb
sp; XI (Examining the website): China number, U.S. number—
DANIEL: Anymore.
XI: Same. Same! Where is company?
DANIEL: In Cleveland. // Like I—
XI: In your pant? Company in your pant?
DANIEL: Like I said! Family-run firm.
XI: “Hello? Pant? You make fast free delivery?”
DANIEL: Founded 1925. It’s all true.
XI: Shit! Inside the pant. Shit!
DANIEL: Please. Let me // explain this!
XI: Company—shit!
DANIEL: Could you just calm // down?
XI: Hái yǐ wéi wǒ men shì yī huǒ de.
I thought you were my partner.
(She starts to get dressed.)
DANIEL: Please. That’s not helping.
XI: Wǒ mào duō dà fēng xiăn a.
I have taken major risks.
Risking for you!
DANIEL: Let’s at least stay in the same language.
XI: Same language? Same?
DANIEL: Yeah because—
XI: Chinese! You speak Chinese!
DANIEL: Well, that’s // a—
XI: You come here China, you speak Chinese!
DANIEL: It’s a solution, but an impossible one!
XI: Xī fāng rén zǒng shì qī piàn wǒ men,
Westerners have always fed us lies.
Suó yí wǒ xìn fèng ài guó zhǔ yì.
That’s why I’m a Chinese Nationalist.
DANIEL: I wish I could understand you, believe me—
XI: Wǒ men kuài yào dăo guò lái lì yòng nǐ!
But soon, it will be our turn to use you!