Trying to Find Chinatown: The Selected Plays of David Henry Hwang Read online

  HANNAH: All right, dear. That’s enough.

  ROBERT: Meanwhile, my secretary is having sex with my kidnapper.

  HANNAH: Kidnap! Kidnap! That’s all I ever hear about!

  ROBERT: But, Hannah, I didn’t know if I would live or die.

  HANNAH: I wish you’d never even been kidnapped.

  JOANNE: Well, what about Wilbur?

  WILBUR: Leave me out of this.

  JOANNE: Wilbur, you could be kidnapped.

  WILBUR: I know, I know. It just hasn’t happened yet, that’s all.

  HANNAH: Listen, Joanne. Count your blessings. It’s not that great a thing. If they live, they never stop talking about it.

  ROBERT: But the publicity!—I sign newspapers all the time!

  JOANNE: I’m just saying that Robert’s not the only one worth kidnapping.

  HANNAH: Joanne, no one’s saying that.

  AMA: Yes. We all desire Wilbur to be kidnapped also.

  POPO: And Robert. Again. This time, longer.

  JOANNE: I mean, Wilbur has a lot of assets.

  ROBERT: Wilbur, maybe next time you can get kidnapped.

  WILBUR: Never mind, honey.

  JOANNE: You do.

  WILBUR: I can defend myself.

  ROBERT: But it takes more than assets to be kidnapped. You have to be cosmopolitan.

  HANNAH: Hey, wait. What kind of example are we setting for Di-gou?

  ROBERT: See? That’s why I’m talking about it. To show Di-gou the greatness of America. I’m just an immigrant, Di-gou, an FOB—but in America, I get kidnapped.

  HANNAH: I mean, a Christian example.

  DI-GOU: Oh, do not worry about me. This is all very fascinating.

  JOANNE (To Robert): So, you think you’re cosmopolitan, huh?

  ROBERT: I am. Before they let me loose, those kidnappers—they respected me.

  JOANNE: They probably let you go because they couldn’t stand to have you in their car.

  POPO: Probably you sing to them.

  ROBERT: No. They said, “We’ve been kidnapping a long time, but—”

  JOANNE: Because we can’t stand to have you in our house!

  (Pause.)

  ROBERT (To Joanne): Now what kind of example are you setting for Di-gou?

  WILBUR: Joanne, just shut up, okay?

  HANNAH (To Di-gou): It’s not always like this.

  JOANNE (To Wilbur): You never let me talk! You even let (Referring to Robert) him talk, but you never let me talk!

  AMA (To Joanne, referring to Wilbur): He cannot deprive you of right to speak. Look. No gun.

  ROBERT: Joanne, I have to tell this because Di-gou is here.

  DI-GOU: Me?

  JOANNE (To Robert): You tell it to waiters!

  ROBERT: Joanne, I want (Referring to Di-gou) him to understand America. The American Dream. From rags to kidnap victim.

  JOANNE (To Robert): Well, I don’t like you making Di-gou think that Wilbur’s a bum.

  WILBUR (To Joanne): Dear, he doesn’t think that.

  JOANNE (To Di-gou): You see, don’t you, Di-gou? This house. Wilbur bought this.

  DI-GOU: It is a palace.

  JOANNE: It’s larger than Robert’s.

  HANNAH: Joanne, how can you sink to my husband’s level?

  ROBERT: My house would be larger, but we had to pay the ransom.

  POPO: Waste of money.

  JOANNE: Look, all of you always put down Wilbur. Well, look at what he’s done.

  WILBUR (To Joanne): Just shut up, all right?

  JOANNE (To Wilbur): Well, if you’re not going to say it.

  WILBUR: I don’t need you to be my PR firm.

  ROBERT (To anybody): He doesn’t have a PR firm. We do. Tops firm.

  JOANNE (To Wilbur): Let me say my mind!

  WILBUR: There’s nothing in your mind worth saying.

  JOANNE: What?

  WILBUR: Face it, honey, you’re boring.

  AMA (To Wilbur):At least she does not torture!

  WILBUR: Please! No more talking about torture, all right?

  AMA: All right. I will be quiet. No need to torture me.

  POPO (To Di-gou): This small family disagreement.

  JOANNE: So I’m boring, huh?

  WILBUR (To Joanne): Look, let’s not do this here.

  POPO (To Di-gou): But power of God will overcome this.

  JOANNE: I’m boring—that’s what you’re saying?

  HANNAH: Joanne! Not in front of Di-gou!

  JOANNE (To Di-gou): All right. You’re objective. Who do you think is more boring?

  DI-GOU: Well, I can hardly—

  WILBUR: Please, Joanne.

  POPO (To Di-gou): Do you understand how power of God will overcome this?

  JOANNE (Referring to Wilbur): He spends all his time with machines, and he calls me boring!

  AMA: Di-gou, see the trials of this world?

  WILBUR (To Joanne): Honey, I’m sorry, all right?

  JOANNE: Sure, you’re sorry.

  AMA (To Di-gou): Argument, fight, no-good husbands.

  WILBUR: “No-good husbands”?

  (Robert, in disgust, exits into the house.)

  AMA (To Di-gou): Turn your eyes from this.

  (Popo and Ama turn Di-gou’s eyes from the fight.)

  JOANNE (To Wilbur, referring to Ama): She’s right, you know.

  WILBUR: All right, honey, let’s discuss this later.

  JOANNE: Later! Oh, right.

  (Wilbur runs off into the house; Joanne yells after him:)

  When we’re with your family, that’s when you want to talk about my denting the Ferrari.

  HANNAH: Joanne! Don’t be so boring!

  JOANNE (To Hannah): With our family, it’s “later.”

  AMA (To Di-gou): Look up to God!

  (Popo and Ama force Di-gou to look up.)

  DI-GOU: Please!

  (Di-gou breaks away from the sisters’ grip, but they knock him down .)

  POPO: Now—is time to join family in Heaven.

  AMA: Time for you to return to God.

  HANNAH (To Joanne): Look—they’re converting Di-gou.

  POPO: Return. Join us for eternity.

  AMA: Pray now.

  (Popo and Ama try to guide Di-gou to the neon cross.)

  DI-GOU: Where are we going?

  AMA: He will wash you in blood of the lamb.

  POPO: Like when you are a child. Now! You bow down!

  HANNAH: Ask God for His forgiveness.

  JOANNE: You won’t regret it, Di-gou.

  DI-GOU: Do you mind? (He breaks away)

  POPO: Why will you not accept Him?

  AMA: There is no good reason.

  DI-GOU: I want to take responsibility for my own life.

  POPO: You cannot!

  AMA: Satan is rule your life now.

  DI-GOU: I am serving the people.

  AMA: You are not.

  POPO: You serve them, they all die, go to Hell. So what?

  DI-GOU: How can you abandon China for this Western religion?

  AMA: It is not.

  DI-GOU: There is no God!

  (Pause.)

  AMA: There is too much Communist demon in him. We must cast out demon.

  POPO: Now, tie him on table.

  DI-GOU: This is ridiculous. Stop this.

  (Ama and Popo grab Di-gou, tie him on the table.)

  POPO: We have too much love to allow demon to live.

  DI-GOU: What?

  POPO (To Joanne and Hannah, who are hesitating): Now!

  DI-GOU: You can’t—!

  POPO: Now! Or demon will escape!

  AMA: We must kill demon.

  POPO: Shoot him!

  AMA: Kill for good.

  POPO: Make demon into jok!

  DI-GOU: This is barbaric! You live with the barbarians, you become one yourself!

  POPO: Di-gou, if we do not punish your body, demon will never leave.

  AMA: Then you will return to China.

  POPO: And you will di
e.

  AMA: Go to Hell.

  POPO: And it will be too late.

  DI-GOU: I never expected Chinese children to tie down their elders.

  (Di-gou is now securely tied to the table.)

  HANNAH: All right. We’re ready.

  POPO: Now—give your testimony.

  DI-GOU: I’ll just lie here and listen, thank you.

  AMA: You tell of God’s mercies to you.

  JOANNE: How He let you out of China.

  AMA: Where you are torture.

  JOANNE: Whipped.

  POPO: After thirty year, He let you out. Praise Him!

  DI-GOU: I will never do such a thing!

  HANNAH: If you wait too long, He’ll lose patience.

  POPO: Now—tell of your trip with See-goh-poh.

  AMA: The trip which began your faith.

  DI-GOU: I was only eight years old. I don’t remember.

  POPO: Tell how many were convert on her tour.

  HANNAH: Tell them, Di-gou.

  DI-GOU: I cannot.

  JOANNE: Why? Just tell the truth.

  POPO: Tell how you saw the miracle of a great evangelist, great servant of God.

  HANNAH: Tell them before they lose their patience.

  DI-GOU: I’m sorry. I will not speak.

  POPO: Then we are sorry, Di-gou, but we must punish your body. Punish to drive out the demon and make you speak.

  HANNAH: Don’t make them do this, Di-gou.

  AMA: If you will not speak See-goh-poh’s stories in language you know, we will punish you until you speak in tongue of fire.

  (Ama hits Di-gou with an electrical cord, using it like a whip.)

  JOANNE: Please, Di-gou!

  HANNAH: Tell them!

  AMA: Our Lord was beat, nails drive through His body, for our sin. Your body must suffer until you speak the truth.

  (Ama hits Di-gou.)

  HANNAH: Tell them, See-goh-poh was a great evangelist.

  AMA: You were on her evangelism tour—we were not—you must remember her converts, her miracle.

  (Hit.)

  JOANNE: Just tell them and they’ll let you go!

  AMA: Think of See-goh-poh! She is sit!

  (Hit.)

  Sit beside God. He is praising her! Praise her for her work in China.

  (Chester enters the tennis court; he looks into the sunroom and sees Ama hit Di-gou.)

  She is watching you!

  (Hit. Chester tries to get into the sunroom, but the glass door is locked. He bangs on it, but everyone inside is shocked at Ama’s ritual, and no one notices him. He exits off the tennis court, running.)

  Praying for you! Want you to tell her story!

  (Hit.)

  We will keep you in float. Float for one second between life and death. Float until you lose will to hold to either—hold to anything at all.

  (Ama quickly slips the electrical cord around Di-gou’s neck, begins pulling on it. Joanne and Hannah run to get Ama off Di-gou. Chester enters from the house with Jenny close behind him. He pulls Ama off of Di-gou.)

  CHESTER: Ama! Stop it!

  (Di-gou suddenly breaks out of his bonds and rises up on the table. He grabs Chester. The barbecue bursts into flames. Di-gou, holding onto Chester, begins speaking in tongues.)

  AMA (Looking up from the ground): He is speaking in tongues! He has returned!

  (Everyone falls to their knees. As Di-gou’s babbling continues, Chester is suddenly filled with words, and begins interpreting Di-gou’s words.)

  CHESTER: Di-gou at eight goes with See-goh-poh on her first evangelism tour. Di-gou and See-goh-poh traveling through the summer heat to a small village in Fukien. Sleeping in the straw next to See-goh-poh. Hearing a sound. A human sound. A cry in my sleep. Looking up and seeing a fire. A fire and See-goh-poh. See-goh-poh is naked. Naked and screaming. Screaming with legs spread so far apart. So far that a mouth opens up. A mouth between her legs. A mouth that is throwing up blood, spitting out blood. More and more blood. See-goh-poh’s hands making a baby out of the blood. See-goh-poh hits the blood baby. Hits the baby and the baby cries. Watching the baby at See-goh-poh’s breast. Hearing the sucking.

  (Ama and Popo spring up.)

  POPO: Such a thing never happened!

  AMA: See-goh-poh never did this!

  POPO: This is not tongues. This is not God. This is demon!

  CHESTER: Sucking. Praying. Sucking. Squeezing. Crying.

  AMA: He is possess by demon!

  CHESTER: Biting. Blood. Milk.

  POPO: Both have the demon!

  CHESTER: Blood and milk. Blood and milk running down.

  AMA (To the other women): You pray.

  CHESTER: Running down, further and further down.

  POPO: We must cast out the demon!

  (Di-gou’s words slowly become English, first overlapping, then overtaking Chester’s translation. Chester becomes silent and exhausted, drops to the ground.)

  CHESTER AND DI-GOU: Down. Down and into the fire. The fire down there. The fire down there.

  (Di-gou breaks the last of his bonds, gets off the table.)

  DI-GOU (To the sisters): Your stories are dead now that you know the truth.

  AMA: We have faith. We know our true family stories.

  DI-GOU: You do not know your past.

  AMA: Are you willing to match your stories against ours?

  (Di-gou indicates his willingness to face Ama, and the two begin a ritualistic battle. Popo encourages Ama by speaking in tongues. Ama and Di-gou square off in seated positions, facing one another.)

  We will begin. How many rooms in our house in Amoy?

  DI-GOU: Eighteen. How many bedrooms?

  AMA: Ten. What year was it built?

  DI-GOU: 1893. What year was the nineteenth room added?

  AMA: 1923.

  DI-GOU: On whose instructions?

  AMA: See-goh-poh.

  DI-GOU: What year did See-goh-poh die?

  AMA: 1945. What disease?

  DI-GOU: Malaria. How many teeth was she missing?

  AMA: Three.

  DI-GOU: What villages were on See-goh-poh’s evangelism tour?

  (Silence.)

  Do you know?

  AMA: She preached to all villages in Fukien.

  DI-GOU: Name one.

  (Silence.)

  Do you know? Your stories don’t know. It never happened.

  AMA: It did! What year was she baptized?

  (Silence.)

  What year was she baptized?

  DI-GOU: She was never baptized.

  AMA: You see? You don’t remember.

  DI-GOU: Never baptized.

  AMA: It was 1921. Your stories do not remember.

  DI-GOU: Who was converted on her evangelism tour?

  AMA: Perhaps five hundred or more.

  DI-GOU: Who? Name one.

  (Silence.)

  AMA: It is not important.

  DI-GOU: You see? It never happened.

  AMA: It did.

  DI-GOU: You do not remember. You do not know the past. See-goh-poh never preached.

  AMA: How can you say this?

  DI-GOU: She traveled.

  AMA: To preach.

  DI-GOU: To travel.

  AMA: She visited many—

  DI-GOU: I was there! She was thrown out—thrown out on her evangelism tour when she tried to preach.

  (Silence.)

  AMA: It does not matter.

  DI-GOU: You forced her to invent the stories.

  AMA: We demand nothing!

  DI-GOU: You expected! Expected her to convert all Amoy!

  AMA: She did!

  DI-GOU: Expected many miracles.

  AMA: She did! She was a great—

  DI-GOU: Expected her not to have a baby.

  AMA: She had no husband. She had no baby. This is demon talk. Demon talk and lie.

  DI-GOU: She turned away from God.

  AMA: We will never believe this!

  DI-GOU: On her tours she could both p
lease you and see China.

  (Popo’s voice becomes weaker; she starts to falter.)

  AMA: See-goh-poh was a great—

  DI-GOU: Only on her tours could she see both China and her baby.

  AMA: She was a great . . . a great evangelist . . . many...

  DI-GOU: Where is she buried?

  AMA: . . . many miracles . . .

  DI-GOU: She is not buried within the walls of the church in Amoy.

  AMA: . . . many miracle, a great evangelist . . .

  (Popo collapses.)

  DI-GOU: In her last moment, See-goh-poh wanted to be buried in Chinese soil, not Christian soil. You don’t know. You were in the Philippines. (Pause) I come to bring you back to China. Come, sisters. To the soil you’ve forsaken with ways born of memories, of stories that never happened. Come, sisters. The stories written on your face are the ones you must believe.

  (Ama rises from her chair.)

  AMA: We will never believe this!

  (Ama collapses back into her chair, closes her eyes. Silence.)