Scene 1.
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Nien-hao’s emcampment.
The Scene opens with a single spot on Nien-hao. He’s
a fierce Jurchen warrior, dreseds in scarlet riding attire,
an elkhorn hat, wears wooden shoulder armor and brandishes
a sword. He has a face like a lion and scowls. The character
must be established as the spot comes on.
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NIEN-HAO
Like ants crawling
by the thousands about my feet, these soft Sung vermin make my
blood boil with hate. Death to them all. Death to their treachery.
I, Nien-hao, nephew to his majesty Emperor T’ai of Ch’in, will
not be brooked by these intolerable assholes. How dare tthey!
How dare they trick me!
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(he moves downstage
brandishing the sword)
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They think me a foolish
clown - a mere soldier without lineage or nobility. What fools,
for I have known the comforts of horseback and the luxury of the
fierce Northern winds. They are soft to my liking. So, when I
say I want a household emissary, it means I want a household emissary.
What do they send me - an Imposter and coward?
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He called himself the
Duke of Ch’i - Prince Kang, but my spies knew better. They reported
to me that the foxy old Emperor Hui sent me his cook. What an
insult! I should have stripped the skin from this cook and his
entourage and boiled up a fine porridge for his fat Majesty of
Sung, had I not more respect for cooks than I do for these Sung
nobles. At least a cook can serve a use. So, I let him go.
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He was a good actor
though. Swore he was Prince Kang the entire time. Told me that
I was mistaken, that the Emperor had reitred and that there’s
a new man in the job. Rubish! I sent him packing.
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Lights up. The
encampment has several Jurchen soldiers about. There are Yurt-style
tents in the distance and campfires. Nien-hao walks past the
soldiers who bow low to him.
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Where is Ch’in Gwei?
I trusted that monkey - that smooth tongued lizard! Where is he?
It’s hot as hell here.
(takes off his
armor and hat)
How can anyone live
in this place? Why does my Uncle want more than booty? This land
is all hills and rivers. What use can he make of it? Such is the
grand nature of royalty. He has read too many Imperial books and
now wants the finer life.
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(he goes to one
knee and looks to the heavens)
Oh devine uncle, be
content with the wonders of the northern woodlands, the partridge
and the boar. Let the gods of the yellow earth be put back on
their shelves. Let our thunderers and sky-flash lords move us
to long and winding rivers of the plains. Suet and milk is more
to the taste than noodle and tea. Women are women - and these
are quite soft and to our nature; but so are the men. My men have
made these men their women. Alike they are in the dark and the
bustle of the hayrick, ha ha.
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(stands) Great
Sung you shall be broken by my lance as I fly from the shattered
walls of T’a-tung and spill the blood of your golden city, K’ai-feng.
But before my hair is must by the force of my steed, I will have
terms for an annual tribute - I will have every copper in your
great treasury, every bolt of silk and I will have an authentic
Prince of the realm as my trophy, not your fucking Imperial cook.
Where’s Ch’in Gwei!
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(soldier drag
Ch’in Gwei in and throw him at Nien-hao’s feet. Kang Yu-wei
is also dragged in)
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CH’IN
GWEI
Your excellency, what
has happened. Why can’t I find Prince Kang?
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NIEN-HAO
Prince Kang, indeed!
Do you take me for a fool? The last man who tried to make a fool
of me lost his balls! I could oblige you easily, unless you’re
one of those common specimen of palace eunuch that lead your armies.
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CH’IN
No my lord, I am intact
and wish to remain so. But I am at a loss to understand your wrath.
We had agreed on a great sum and here I am with it. And we sent
you Prince Kang as the household emissary.
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NIEN-HAO
A cook!
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CH’IN
Beg pardon, sir, a
cook!
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NIEN-HAO
You sent me a palace
cook. He claimed to be Prince Kang, but my informers told me that
your liege was not inclined to give us one of his sons, so he
dressed up his cook as a Prince and thought we’d be fooled.
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CH’IN
I assure you, and K’ang
Yu-wei will attest, the man who was sent here is Chao Chi, the
ninth son of Emperor Hui.
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YU-WEI
Absolutely your excellency,
my protégé was with him . . .
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NIEN-HAO
The Grand Tutor? Are
you sure of this? Have I acted on misinformation.
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CH’IN
(nervously)
Acted? Where is Prince Kang, my lord? He isn’t . . .
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NIEN-HAO
No. I sent him and
his entourage packing. They should be on their way back to K’ai-feng.
But, how could my spies be wrong.
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CH’IN
(rising) Spies
are not always an honorable lot. When there’s nothing to report,
there’s no reward to earn. So, why not make it up!
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(pause)
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NIEN-HAO
(to the soldiers)
I want Jian-ku Fei-lu arrested at once. (they leave)
(to Ch’in Gwei)
At least we can watch him burn together.
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CH’IN
My apologies for this
confusion. My colleague K’ang Yu-wei would be more than delighted
to follow after Prince Kang and order him back to you at once.
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NIEN-HAO
Yes, that will be a
fine thing to do. I thought this young man was too refined to
be a cook. He was however very impressionable.
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CH’IN
Impressionable?
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NIEN-HAO
Your nobility is very
soft and subdued - like your women. This Prince was not unnerved
by me. You know I can be intiminating at times.
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CH’IN
No my lord. You are
a great warrior and must strike fear when it is deserved or needed.
Such is the design of the warrior.
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NIEN-HAO
Conqueror.
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CH’IN
Surely, not conqueror.
We are vanquished in battle and make reparations for grievances.
But surely you will leave our land when the treaty is signed.
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NIEN-HAO
But no treaty is signed
yet. So, today I feel like the conqueror.
(pause)
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You will take a leg
of venisen with us and a nice piping hot mug of mare’s wine? (to
Kang Yu-wei) Had you not better be on your journey sir?
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(Kang Yu-wei bows
and goes stage left, but does not exit yet)
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Yes, to the table,
Ch’in Gwei. I am so glad that you were not decieving me. I’m so
glad.
(Nien-hao and Ch’in
Gwei exits)
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YU-WEI
Have I lived so long
to see a man with the ambition of conquest in his heart come so
close to the central land? I am a wary man today. Very wary.
Exits
Black out
Spot on Narrator
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NARR
Farce! Mistaken characters
and miscommunications! Such they say is the sauce for comedy.
But when it lays out before a true dragon, one whose breath sears
all who see it, the sauce congeals into the pudding of tragedy.
But these things are best left to better men than me. I only know
that the fields around T’a-tung, or so they say, were running
red with good men’s blood. Now I don’t ask for pity or even tears.
I have seen so many dead men - for that matter women and children
- that I am as jaded as my robes to such things as death and pain
and sorrow. They are just another day in the life of the servant
- and since we all serve someone, no exeption is granted to anyone.
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But before you think
I am a depressing creature, let me tell you what actually happened.
My master and the good prince were engines of accomodation for
the few days before they departed for Nien-hao’s camp. In fact,
the Prince insisted that my master be given tours of all the major
sights of the city. He called it, "a gift for my new friend
and companion, who would most likely die in a few days anyway
- some dreadful death only a barbarian could devise."
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So, my master would
die happy - if he managed to die at all that week, which as you
can guess did not happen. On the day they left for the Jurchen
camp, in a frolicsome mood, the Prince decided to cook a meal.
Such an unprecedented act. It was a disaster only to be compensated
with liberal consumption of wine and . . . well my master prefers
the bed of men to women - so, I can only surmise the rest.
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Well, when they arrived
at the encampment they were treated with honor. But in private,
and in a joking manner, my master kept referring to Prince Kang
as the Imperial cook. It was a joke that could have been easily
explained. So, when Nien-hao was told he had been decieved, the
Prince explained all. But the warrior would not believe him, not
for worlds. So for that joke they were turned out. (laughs)
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They were lucky, Nien-hao
did not flay them alive. Nonetheless, they moved towards K’ai-feng
on the Lin-t’u-shih road and set up camp an equal distance between
the capital and the Jurchen encampment.
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Scene 2.
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A tent - Prince
Kang’s encampment. It is nightfall. Prince Kang is sitting
sadly center stage. Li K’ai-men is at a table writing. There’s
the music of a p’I-pa in the night air - a soldier is singing
offstage.
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SOLDIER
1
"The
storm has cleared and the moon kisses the night bird,
Oh
lovely Ch’u K’ai come to my side
Fill
the cup with the rainwater of my heart
And
let us roll together in the darkness."
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KANG
The song is lovely,
you know. Princess Chia sings to me sometimes in the evening,
but there’s nothing like a man’s voice to lift a man’s heart.
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LI
Even if it is about
a woman.
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KANG
We are women now, Nan-ya.
How can we return to my brother exploded from our duty and promise?
I was so filled with hope. I knew it would be hard and harsh,
but to be repulsed by a joke. It’s your fault you know, calling
me the fucking Imperial cook.
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LI
My lord, such language.
You have indeed been exposed to the elements.
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SOLDIER
1
"In the wind the
owl calls your name and I know
Oh Ch’u K’ai
of the winnowing floor,
As I am the chaff
to your wonderous breasts,
Drifting on quiet
dawn of Lake Hsi"
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KANG
Come here Nan-ya. Come
and be a friend.
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LI
(coming reluctantly)
My lord, I am anothers, heart and soul.
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KANG
You have been my teacher
- and you serve me now. I will permit your family ties to remain
- but, Nan-ya I need your comfort.
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LI
It is the soldier’s
song and too much wine, great Imperial cook.
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KANG
You must admit, we
have had some larks (laughs) You have seen your precious K’ai-feng
and have even tasted the great cuisine of the Palace chef. (laughs)
And even tasted the Palace chef.
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LI
My lord, surely it
was the wine.
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KANG
Was it, Nan-ya? Was
it an act of boredom and grapes? Was the act of a lonely man seeking
the world and finding only a little corner of it to hold fast
to? I am not sure what it was to you Nan-ya, but it was something
indeed to me. I rule here still, so take care not to press me
too far into analytics.
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LI
My lord. I have written
to your brother for you. I have explained the complications of
your assignment and that we have no recourse but to return to
K’ai-feng.
(goes to get
the letter).
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KANG
Must it come to this,
Nan-ya. I speak to you of our friendship, and you change the subject
so abruptly.
(Li returns)
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LI
My lord. You are my
employer and as such have the will of life and death over me.
I have only onown you a brief time - and it is not my place to
be your intimate, even though we have let the wine sawy us once.
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KANG
So, you are saying
that you are a cold soul and not the warm one I percieved that
night.
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LI
No, sire, I am a warm
soul and very warm for your company. But I fear the consequeneces
of a minion becoming so intimate with his liege. I feel it will
compromise you . . .
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KANG
. . . let me judge
that. I want your advice and friendship first. Your body was fun
and functional, but I can have any man’s body I want for eithre
price or command. We shall . . .
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Enter 3 soldiers
and K’ang Yu-wei. They all bow to Prince Kang.
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LI
K’ang Yu-wei. This
is a surprise.
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KANG
Indeed, my lord governor,
how did you know . . .
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YU-WEI
My liege, I come from
Nien-hao. He now believes you are Prince Kang and demands you
return.
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KANG
This is good news.
(excited) Li K’ai-men, tear up that letter to my brother.
We will return at once to our mission.
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LI
Slowly my lord. Why
rush back into the jaws of this man? I know the commission you
carry, but you did fulfill it.
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KANG
Howso. I am the household
emissary, but not in my place of duty.
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LI
Wherever you are is
your place of duty. I advise cuation.
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KANG
Where’s your sense
of adventure? We will return to Nien-hao.
Exits
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LI
Kang, my lord the Prince
that I serve is as volatile as a river rocket. He’s intelligent,
fast thinking, tender and kind, demanding and stubborn, like a
child and then a man. I don’t understand him sometimes.
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YU-WEI
Nan-ya, to understand
him is to understand yourself. You two are well matched.
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LI
I am sorry, dear friend
- I do not see it.
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YU-WEI
I knew you wouldn’t.
But remember who has engineered your court appointment. Wheh you
asked me about this prince, I told you he was like any othre and
gave you little information. But indeed I have tracked him throughout
his career and know quite a bit about him. I feel very strongly
that you are in many ways alike.
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LI
Then you know he has
many of the compelling personal obsessions that I do.
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YU-WEI
I do. Books, analytics,
poetry and men.
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LI
I have been compromised.
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YU-WEI
To have the love of
a royal Prince is a heavy responsibility, but if you are politic,
you will have many advantages from it.
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LI
Advantages? Right now,
my lord, I have the advantage of being on my way to my execution
far from my loved wones with a rather volative young man.
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YU-WEI:
You have a point in
hindsight, but who could have known.
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LI
Have you met this monter
Nien-hao.
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YU-WEI
I have and I am sure
he is here to end the dynasty.
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LI
What? He is not capable
of that.
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YU-WEI
He is and will. He
wants more than booty. He wants his master to rule here. So I
fear for the royal family. Most prominently, I fear for Prince
Kang. He should not return to Nien-hao’s camp.
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LI
He would never consent
to return to K’ai-feng without fulfilling his promise.
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YU-WEI
He must be convinced.
Enter Prince Kang
prepared to travel.
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KANG
Grand Tutor, prepare
for departure. Have the tents struck.
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LI
My lord, a word.
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KANG
No time. We must return
to the Jurchen camp.
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(pause)
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O very well. Quickly.
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LI
I advise we stay here,
my lord.
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KANG
Who are you to advise
me?
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LI
Your Grand Tutor.
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KANG
Well Grand Tutor -
I am not the coward. I will face death head on.
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LI
I believe you would
and die with valor. Only, it’s an act you can only perform once.
I advise we stay.
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KANG
Grand Tutor - how do
you come to this conclusion.
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LI
You have seen him ,
this Nien-hao. Does he look like a marauding brigand to you? Or
does he look more like an irrational conqueror. What if he does
not reverse his course. What if he decides to storm K’ai-feng.
We have seen his strength and power. We have also seen our soldiers
crumbled.
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KANG
So you advise to cower
in a corner.
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LI
No my lord. K’ai-feng
may just very well be a death trap for the entire royal household
. . .that is the entire household except those not within her
walls.
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KANG
Like an intransit imperial
household emissary.
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YU-WEI
Quite so, my lord.
Preservation is the hallmark of Imperial Princes in times like
these.
(pause)
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KANG
I am not convinced.
I think you all want me to return to my brother and to the sanctity
of the palace precincts. I want to enjoy myself outside those
walls for a bit longer, if you don’t mind.
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3 soldiers run
across the stage in excitement. They bow low to Prince Kang.
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What is the matter?
Do tell.
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1ST
SOLDIER
Chang Fei-lu!
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YU-WEI
What about Chang Fei-lu?
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2ND
SOLDIER
The great Chang Feo-lu
attacked the retreating armies.
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KANG
Retreating armies?
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YU-WEI
A treaty must have
been signed.
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1ST
SOLDIER
I don’t know, but I
heard that the Jurchen army was retreating, when their rear guard
was attacked by Chang Fei-lu.
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2ND
SOLDIER
My lord, there’s word
that General Tsung Tse has retreated and Nien-hao is marching
on the capital.
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KANG
(quite excited)
By Which road?
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1ST
SOLDIER
All roads.
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KANG
(to the soldiers)
What would you have me do?
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1ST
SOLDIER
We would follow you
to the ends of the earth, my lord.
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KANG
Well we cannot stay
here. And we cannot return to the capital. Grand Tutor, advise
me.
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LI
Avoid capture.
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KANG
That is certainly helpful.
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YU-WEI
Perhaps we should travel
to General Tsing Tse’s garrison.
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KANG
Better still, Han Shih-chung’s.
We share travel to Ch’I-chou.
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LI
See what I mean, he’s
like a child - volatile as a river rocket.
They exit.
Black out
Spot on Narrator
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NARR
Everything was as volatile
as a river rocket. Confusion became the byword of the day. No
one really knew went wrong - so terribly wrong. This brings me
to tell about Chang Fei-lu.
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Chang Fei-lu was born
in Hsi-t’ung-chou in Yen prefecture, not far from the very gates
of Yen-chou itself. He had been the son of a local mechanic, who
specialized in metal cart fittings and pulleys. His father had
meant to better the family by procuring a limited education for
his son; however, Chang Fei-lu was headstrong and had little patience
for books and writing.
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"Your lack of
patience," his father would say, "will be our downfall."
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Chang Fei-lu, in place
of an education in paper took up an education in steel. He preferred
the forging of swords and halberds to harnesses and levers. Soon,
he graduated from forging swords to using them — and most effectively
too. He grew muscles of steel as well and took to wearing fierce
brassets of leather and a musty uniform of wolverine. He killed
his first man at sixteen; and by the time he had his first woman,
he had six bounties on his head.
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Such men attract. Soon,
Chang Fei-lu was surrounded by a fierce pack of wolverine men,
who fought each other as hard as they fought the local gentry.
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Chang Fei-lu was not
without honor. When the Jurchen siezed Yen-chou, it was Chang
Fei-lu and his band of hardy warriors that plagued the Chin army,
moreso, than Han Shih-chung. In fact, when Han Shih-chung exercised
his patience and applied a military strategy of non-engagement,
many of his soldiers joined Chang Fei-lu in a more "honorable"
showing. In fact, after a brilliant victory at Pai-hao-t’ai-fu,
Han Shih-chung bought all the bounties against Chang Fei-lu and
burned them publicly declaring Chang a worthy soldier. Chang received
the title "defender of Yen."
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Chang Fei-lu was not
pleased with Han Shih-chung. He preferred the fire of the Western
Commanders, Tsung Tse, Yueh Fei, Li Kuang and Liu Kuang-shih.
He wrote a letter to General Tsung Tse on the ardent desires to
preserve the homeland, a letter prompting Tsung Tse to sponsor
the defender of Yen and promote him to Lieutenant General. Chang
marched his troops to Ta-ming swearing allegiance to the fierce
General Tsung Tse.
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When the Jurchen took
T’ai-tung, Chang was miserable, because his own troops received
a drubbing at the town of Hu-k’o-lin. He immediately resigned
his honors and commanded his lieutenants to beat him before the
assembled armies, an act which endeared him to his followers even
more. Chang retreated sullenly with his idle forces to the hills
surrounding Ta-ming. This apparent display of "patience"
and self-control would have endeared him to his mechanic father;
however, his sire was ultimately correct. Chang Fei-lu’s impatience
would be everyone’s downfall. With the Chin treaty nearly signed
and some of the Jurchen dogs retreating with their ransom, all
Sung armies were ordered to allow any retreating enemy safe passage.
Chang Fei-lu’s orders came directly from Tsung Tse. Nonetheless,
as the Chin rear-guard passed through the valley near Ta-ming,
they heard the cry of the wolverine and the stampede of Chang
Fei-lu’s armies.
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When Nien-hao heard
this, he immediately cried aloud the fierce cry of Treachery.
Ch’in Gwei fled quickly - while Nien-hao ordered his forces forward
to K’ai-feng.
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My master and the Prince
accompanied by K’ang Yu-wei and a small garrison of quickly degenating
soldiery fled eradically eastward toward Ch’I-chou. In K’ai-feng
- that great Imperial prison - the alarm was sounded.
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The retired-Emperor,
who had fled south initially had just returned to his palace.
The Emperor Ch’ing and the entire imperial clan was in residence
when Nien-hao made his move.
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Scene 3.
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Emperor Ch’ing’s
private quarters. He stands center stage before the portraits
of the Sung Emperors - He has his hands to his head as the
city drums are sounding the alarms.
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CH’ING
Chang Fei-lu! Why have
you done this act. I swear on your tortured bones that this will
not bring your great honors. Your hacked and unsorted limbs will
not see your ancestral home. Your name will be cursed through
the ages by the sons of Han as the destroyer of the peace and
the engines of diplomacy.
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Chang Fei-lu, you have
undone this great house - this house of Chao - a family risen
from the six houses and the direct blood stream from Li. You have
cursed heaven and heaven now curses us and withdraws her mandate.
Without discipline all is lost. Without shape all is formless,
and we slide into posterity the shadow of the great ones who rules
this place for the ages. I curse you Chang Fei-lu!
Enter Hsieh Ko-ch’ai
and Chang Pang Chang.
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CHANG
Your majesty, your
father has returned from the south.
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CH’ING
Damn the man! He fled
with fear when he thought he might be captured. Now his timing
takes him back here into the bastard’s grip. What possessed him.
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CHANG
He was told that the
treaty was nearly completed and the Jurchen were retreating.
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HSIEH
How was he to know.
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CH’ING
For his safety I told
him stay in Yang-chou. One cannot command this family. This is
a family that commands itself, but cannot see beyond afternoon
tea.
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CHANG
The Jurchen are at
the outer wals of the city.
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HSIEH
All escape routes are
in the enemy’s hand. There’s no way to leave the city. We are
all trapped.
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(pause)
Ch’ing goes to his
knees before the portraits.
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CH’ING
So I am the last Sung
Emperor. Forgive me great founders, uncles and great uncles to
my father. I was given the trust and I have abused it. I will
remain steadfast.
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(to Chang) Where
are my brothers?
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CHANG
They have assembled
in the Hall of Harmonious Peace for your instruction.
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CH’ING
Great sorrow. Had they
the intelligence to flee or scatter. If they choose to slay their
wives and babies - it would be merciful indeed. I dreamed I was
a hero for the nation. I dreamed I was the father of our people.
But I will pass the torch of heaven to the conqueror in hopes
of mercy for my family and my people.
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HSIEH
Such tragedy my lord
is reserved only for the time of heroes.
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(flames from the
city are seen glowing on the walls)
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CH’ING
Leave me. I will greet
the conqueror in the great hall. Death is always to be met with
the kindest gestures possible.
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Hsieh and Chang
exit.
As the fires glow,
the Emperor Hui enters creeping in fear. Her hides in the
corner of the room quivering.
(long pause)
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Gentle father, why
have you returned?
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HUI
I longed for a descent
cup of noodles. Yang-chou has the worst noodle shops.
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CH’ING
You were always practical
and foolish.
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HUI
(goes to his son
on his knees) It is no crime to want the best and to have
the best.
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CH’ING
Well, sire you will
have the best death possible that Nien-hao can afford and enjoy.
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HUI
(weeping) I
never wanted to rule.
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CH’ING
You never did. You
are the King of Fools - but you are my father and therefore I
respect you and love you. You are a great master of art and philosophy.
It would have been better that my uncle stayed alive, profligate
though he was. At least his progeny may have survived him and
we all could have survived them. As it is, we cannot survive ourselves.
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HUI
Surely we are not all
doomed.
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CH’ING
All your sons are here
with you. All your sons, and your daughters also, will become
the barbarian’s prize - so many royal heads for the arrion crow.
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HUI
(weeping) I
do not want to die.
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CH’ING
Death is the best you
can wish for now. If we remain alive, we may wish for that death
soon.
(Hui collapses
in tears. Ch’ing hugs and comforts him)
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Look here. We mustn’t
weep before the ancestors. What would great Shen say if he told
the Jade Emperor that his descendants died without pride and dignity?
Let’s prepare to meet this Jurchen dog like the men we should
have been.
Slowly Ch’ing helps
his father to his feet and they exit.
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Scene 4.
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The lights dim,
but the glow of the flames increase. We hear glass shattering
and the cries of men and women. We hear the shouts and whoops
of the Jurchen. The scene changes before the audience. It
becomes the Hall of Harmonious Peace, not in profile this
time. The Dragon Throne is center stage. The pillars and columns
flank the center.
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Enter Nien-hao
and a few soldiers, including the Jurchen Envoy. Nien-hao
strides over to the throne. He removes his war bonnet and
plants his sword at the foot of the throne.
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NIEN-HAO
(to the envoy)
Where are Imperial princes. Where is my great booty?
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ENVOY
My lord, most are captured
and accounted for. We are continuing a search for them all.
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NIEN-HAO
Good. Report when they
are all accounted for. They will be my trophies when I return
to our homeland. A great procession I see of the Sung Royal family,
each in their own cage.
Exit envoy. Nien-hao
examines the throne.
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NARR
Great K’ai-feng, gold
now tarnished. The great halls enflamed, the lacquer pavilions
lain waste and ashen. Like so many great cities before you, the
mighty have become the lowest rubble imagined. The fires glow.
The soldiers slash and capture. They strip the robes from all,
great and small, young and old - they mount both men and women
in the streets and defile them to great heaven.
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And heaven turns her
eye away. The ancestors close shop and eeclare a day of mourning
as the species cleanses itself once again as it has done so often
and will do again time and again to the yellow earth run red with
blood. Weep o weep, K’ai-feng - for today the sun is blotted by
the smoke of war and the bones pile high to the corqueror’s sword.
(weeps)
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Even this customary
clown of clowns cannot be composed before the memory of the sad
day the great city lost herself forever to the flames of hell.
Weep all - down the centuries weep - weep you who think you life
is filled with stress and pain. Weep you who have never heard
the name of her holy walls before this time. Weep for the hundreds
of thousands upon thousands who sank into the earth that day -
as they will meet you at the gate and tell you of the unholy hour
- the hour of your own death. So weep o weep K’ai-feng for us
all as we know weep for you.
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Enter slowly
the Emperor Ch’ing and Hui with Hsieh K’o-chia and Chang Pang
Chang. They are in a procession wheeling 2 coffins behind
them. They are dressed in full Imperial attire, including
the mortboard crown of pearls. Guards carry the flags of the
dynasty, which are Black with red floral patterns. The procession
meets Nien-hao and his soldiers.
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CH’ING
(bowing) Mighty
sir, see before you the rulers of this land - the Son of Heaven
and his father. In our last act in this life present you with
our burial biers and ask only our unsevered bodies be sent to
the ancestors as whole as the gift they have given us.
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NIEN-HAO
(laughing)
What’s this? The Emperor lad and his old fart of a father. What’s
this talk of death? You will die sir, but not today.
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CH’ING
I insist upon it!
(Ch’ing reveals
a dagger under his robes and proceeds to attempt suicide,
but Nien-hao’s soldiers wrestles him to the ground and disarms
him.)
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NIEN-HAO
Now, we’ll have no
more of that. I don’t want you carcass for a display. You do not
know the rule here. If I meant to have the people of K’ai-feng
live in terror, I would have you hacked to bits and have your
entrails displayed in the marketplace. But, I fear there are so
few inhabitants of this town left to intimadate, your entrails
are best left inside to keep you fat and healthy. No, I am a politician
at heart and parading you through the streets of Yen-chou in procession
to my uncle the Ch’in Emperor will be far more rewarding. No sir,
you shall stay alive.
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(to Hui) And
so shall you, great fart of a father - barely alive. I dispise
you most of all! At least your son has a scrap of bravery about
him. You sir, in the words of my envoy, are unfit to live. But
I will keep you in that state so you can enjoy the joys of my
homeland.
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|
(Hui weeps)
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Yes, weep little man.
You will learn to ride like the wind in the steppe lands. You
will enjoy the finest goat cheese and sleep in the draftiest tent
I can find. And when you are mad beyond conception and pray to
die, I will prolong your life by witchcraft. The shamans know
ways to keep you alive well past your date with the earth goddess.
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CH’ING
I pray you sir, leave
my father be. Let your wrath fall on me.
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NIEN-HAO
Not for worlds. Not
for worlds.
(to Chang) And
who are you.
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CHANG
My lord Nien-hao, I
am Chnag Pang Chang, privy councillor.
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NIEN-HAO
Very good. You know
this place. You have the key to every storage chest in the place.
Very good. Step away from them. You work for me now.
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CHANG
(to Ch’ing)
Forgive me, my lord.
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NIEN-HAO
In fact I think that
you would make a good new Emperor in this place.
Nien-hao removes
the mortarboard from Ch’ing and flops it on Chang Pang Chang’s
head.
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CHANG
No my lord. I cannot.
I am not worthy. I am the son of merchants from Ch’u. I cannot
be so lofty. I would die fisrt.
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NIEN-HAO
(Grabbing his sword)
Then die!
(He threatens Chang
Pang Chang, who cowers, then yields).
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CHANG
(to Ch’ing)
Forgive me my lord.
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CH’ING
Stay alive Chang Pang
Chang, for the sake of the city.
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NIEN-HAO
Very sensible.
(he bows to Chang
Pang Chang)
My lord Chang Pang
Chang - you will be the Emperor Chang of the Ch’u dynasty.
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CHANG
I am not worthy.
Enter the envoy.
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NIEN-HAO
Ah, my report.
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ENVOY
All but one. We have
all the Sung Princes but one — Prince Kang.
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NIEN-HAO
The cook! He never
did return to my camp! Shit! I want them all.
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CH’ING
Brother, you are free.
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NIEN-HAO
Be quiet. (to soldiers)
I want him captured. I want him alive for my managerie, but if
not I will take him dead. Damn!
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CH’ING
(with great excitement)
Little brother fly like the wind! A sweet heaven has been merciful
and we are not dead. We have the mandate still! Oh, sweet little,
brave brother - save us in your freedom. Fly to the eastern sea
and . . .
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HUI
What did he say?
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CH’ING
Father, one of your
sons is not harvested.
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HUI
Poor man.
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CH’ING
No, not poor. He is
free to lead or die, unlike us pinned butterflies. Go sweet brother.
Be the men we are not.
Nien-hao strikes
Ch’ing, who falls to the ground. He stretches his arm out
towards the audience.
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Now we can die with
some honor. Fly little brother. Fly!
Black out
Spot on Narrator:
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Narr:
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So ended the Dynasty
of the North under the heel of the Jurcehn dog conqueror. But
fate is a silly ass thing, you know; and what could have been
the end of a history lesson about a destroyed condition, now becomes
a valiant story of shattered plates and dishes — yes (laughing)
shattered plates and dishes.
Black out
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End Act Two
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