China marches on : a play in three acts

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ºng nº DR. C. T. WANG CHINESE EMBASSY Washington D.C. ººº THE DRAMAA O ACHINES: Dºtſºlf Smal || ººººº AUTHOR OF “POEMS OF THE CHINESE REVOLUTION". “THE HANGING ON UNION 50UARE" “AND CHINA HAS HANDS". E. C.

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China Marches On (A play in three acts) EY H. T. TSIANG THE CHARACTERS MAMA CHUNG . . . . . . . . . Mother PAPA CHUNG . . . . . . . . . . Father MU-LAN CHUNG . . . . . . . . Daughter of the Chungs NIKOCHI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Adopted son of Mama Chung JOHNNIE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Adopted son of Papa Chung MISS DRINKWATER . . . . . The foster mother of Mu-Lan Chung CAPTAIN LEE . . . . . . . . . . . Superior of Mu-Lan Chung MR. LIFE MR. DEATH Soldiers and other auxiliary characters. PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR Address: - ... H.T. IsiaNG Box 65, Station D. New York City

To L. : -Copyright 1938 by H. T. TSIANG. All Rights Reserved. First Printing, August, 1938 > _* º Ce- {}_ ( … Gºſſ |-. C. Goec(, ; c (v 6.1% (, º ºr C 92 | ** C. º º 6 C º 3. Caution: Professionals and amateurs are hereby warned that this play, China Marches On, being fully protected under the Copyright Laws of the United States of America, the British Empire, including the Dominion of Canada, and all other countries of the Copyright Union, is subject to royalty. All rights, including professional, amateur, motion picture, recitation, lecturing, public reading, radio broadcasting, and the rights of translation into foreign languages are strictly reserved. Particular emphasis is laid the question of readings, permission for which must be secured from the author in writing. Address: H. T. Tsiang Box 66, Station D, New York City Printed in the United States of Ameria : º34; ;": " : ". . . . ... : : - CT • . * * * * * * > . . . . . . . . - - - - - - - -- - - - - - * -***----------* * * * * * * * * * * - * * * ... • * * * * - - - - * - - - - - --:

§ CHINA MARCHES ON 5 . ACT I SCENE I In a Chinese farmhouse. TIME 1915. AT RISE Mama Chung, a Chinese farm house MAMA CHUNG: PAPA CHUNG: MAMA CHUNG PAPA CHUNG MAMA CHUNG PAPA CHUNG MAMA CHUNG: PAPA CHUNG MAMA CHUNG PAPA CHUNG MAMA CHUNG: PAPA CHUNG: MAMA CHUNG: PAPA CHUNG MAMA CHUNG wife; Papa Chung, the husband; and their baby of about two years of age in the cradle. The beasts are coming, go! Where?. (Lifts the baby up from the cradle and looks at her): Why don't you die? (Looks at the baby): Why did you come into this world? And come at this time? (Looks at the baby): Why don't you die? (Pushes the baby to the ground.) (Picks the baby up and puts her back into the cradle and them runs to the Kitchen God and prays): God save us! God save us! (Weeps): What shall we do? (Looks at her husband): Men are all of no use! (She runs for a kitchen knife and comes back to the baby): I must kill you! (Takes the knife away from his wife): God save us! The Kitchen God is of no more use now ! Let us ask the Foreign God to help us. (She takes up a needle and pierces the skin of the back of the baby's right hand, rubs some black ink into the tat º letterings, and then wipes the wound with a piece of cloth): I give you a new name, Mu-Lan, the name of a Chinese girl soldier in ancient times. Grow up! Be a soldier! (The baby cries.) Oh, Mu-Lan, do not cry! Now the mark will stay with you all your life! Grow up, remember 1 (She then takes the kitchen knife and runs back and looks at the baby.) (Runs to stop his wife): Do not kill her. God save us! (Uses the knife to cut a piece of white cloth from her own sleeve and then bites into her finger and with the blood writes on it): This is my last will. Keep it with you all your lifel (She puts the piece of cloth into the baby's shirt.)

4 CHINA MARCHES ON PAPA CHUNG: MAMA CHUNG: PAPA CHUNG: MAMA CHUNG: PAPA CHUNG: MAMA CHUNG: PAPA CHUNG: MAMA CHUNG: PAPA CHUNG: MAMA CHUNG: PAPA CHUNG: MAMA CHUNG: PAPA CHUNG: FIRST JAP SOLDIER: SECOND JAP SOLDIER: THIRD JAP SOLDIER: FOURTH JAP SOLDIER: FIFTH JAP SOLDIER: MAMA SHUNG: The Japanese are fighting against the Germans in our land. But why should the Japanese come to attack us Chinese? Chinese and Japanese have the same yellow face. The beasts | They are coming ! I heard that the whole village near the neighboring town was rooted out by the Japanese soldiers. What shall I do? I am a woman. Let them have their lust. But you are a man. You are of no use to them. Go, not to be killed ! Run for your life! Live and take revenge! My dear, how could I leave you? When would I ever see you again? In time of war, no one knows about tomorrow ! (She puts the baby in a basket): Leave the baby at the door of the foreign mission house. Since those people have white faces and blue eyes and they are Americans—come from the land of the Flower Flag—the Japs will not dare to touch them, and our baby might be saved through them. Why couldn't we go in there all together? The mission was filled up three days ago. more room there. I cannot leave you. Let us die together! We must save the baby. This is the only way to save the baby. And you! Die? I will not die! I will live to wait and to see revenge. If I die, the baby shall live to take revenge for us. Go! There is no Go! (She laughs. She cries.) Beasts 1 Japs (Mama Chung brandishes the knife at her husband to chase him away. He flees. The bugle is now heard clearly. Jap anese soldiers approach. One soldier knocks her down and her head hits the ground. He laughs. The second soldier takes a drink. The third soldier marches up with a Ger ºman soldier—his prisoner carrying spoils for his Jap cap tor. The Japanese soldier speaks): Let us have our lust, Or you will be dust! What are we fighting for? Here we have reached shore! I shall park my gun And have a little fun! As we are not disciples of a jealous god, I'll watch for you with my drawn sword. Let us remember: better be a hen, Or be dogs, but no Chinamen! My dear daughter, Mu-Lan Chung, Live! Revenge! BLACKOUT

CHINA MARCHES ON 5 SCENE II In the bedroom of an American mis sion house, China. TIME 1927. AT RISE Mu-Lan Chung is pacing the floor. MU-LAN CHUNG MISS DRINKWATER MU-LAN CHUNG: MISS DRINKWATER: MU-LAN CHUNG: MISS DRINKWATER: MU-LAN CHUNG: MISS DRINKWATER: MU-LAN CHUNG: MISS DRINKWATER: MU-LAN CHUNG: MISS DRINKWATER: (A Chinese girl of about 16 years of age): I kiss your forehead For you have a brain. I kiss your breast For you have a heart. I kiss your lips To cure my pain. (Comes from the outer room. The church bell rings ten): My family name, Drinkwater, gives me a good motto:— If one drinks too much milk, one might become too fat. If one drinks too much liquor, one might go crazy. Drink water! Drink water | There will be no excitement. But there will be no repentance either! That is the way God wants us to live; And it can not be better! Oh, God! What is the matter? Why do you look so sad, tonight? Nothing . . . did you have a fight again with your boy friend, Ai-Kuo? No-o-o! What a nice boy! He is so intelligent, so sincere, So polite, so artistic, And so brave! I can not understand why you should fight with him all the time? Tell me, what is the matter? Nothing . . . Ai-Kuo is such an orator! When he mounts the platform, He can sway the audience from right to left. He is a magician: Whenever he tries to get contributions, He empties the listeners' pockets. Tell me, what is the matter? Nothing . . . 'Then why should you look so sad? In the old days, Chinese marriage depended upon the selec tion of the parents. And they themselves put their children’s future in the hands Of the blind men—their fortune-tellers In modern China, the parents let their children love, According to their own tastes. Haven’t I let you have your love in your own way, Mu-Lan? I was so glad to see you enjoy life! You were as happy as the fishes

CHINA MARCHES ON MU-LAN CHUNG: MISS DRINKWATER: MU-LAN CHUNG MISS DRINKWATER: MU-LAN CHUNG: MISS DRINKWATER: MU-LAN CHUNG: MISS DRINKWATER: MU-LAN CHUNG: MISS DRINKWATER: MU-LAN CHUNG: MISS DRINKWATER: MU-LAN CHUNG: MISS DRINKWATER: MU-LAN CHUNG: MISS DRINKWATER: Roaming around in the water, Enjoying your happiness. And I was as happy as the fishes, When I was peeping Far , far away ! Tell me; you must tell me: Have you had a fight with Ai-Kuo? Every note I sent to him he put in his album. He valued them as precious stones. Sometimes I was angry and tried to take the letters back. He fought to keep them, And whenever I grabbed one, And tore it in little bits, He would take the strips back and carefully piece them together. Once there was a fire in his house. He ran back to his room against the smoke, Just to save the few letters I had written him. You love him and he loves you; Then why should you become so worried and sad? Has he got a new girl friend? Tell me something ! Say something ! (Becomes hysterical): Mother Ai-Kuo is killed ! What? Killed? The police fired at us. And a bullet pierced his heart. Horrible ! How did it happen? We were in the demonstration, the police tried to stop us. I thought you were at the movies! He was at the head of the column. He had a banner in his hand. The police attacked us. He used the bamboo stick of the flag to hit back. Then he threw away the stick, And dived forward, He staked his life. A policeman ran, Ai-Kuo followed him. I ran after. The policeman hit him with the gun butt. I rushed to shield Ai-Kuo. The police fired upon us. He shielded me with his body. I escaped, but he was killed. Oh, Mother, he really died for me! Horrible! He died for me?— No! He died for his country! Why should Chinese police kill a Chinese patriot? Aren’t they all Chinese? The general is the tool of the Japanese. The policeman was nothing but a hangman For four dollars a month. Mu-Lan Chung, be sad no more! Where there is happiness, There must be an end. It is God’s will. I loved him, And now he is dead. Horrible !

CHINA MARCHES ON 7 MU-LAN CHUNG: MISS DRINKWATER MU-LAN CHUNG MISS DRINKWATER MU-LAN CHUNG: MISS DRINKWATER: MU-LAN CHUNG: MISS DRINKWATER: MU-LAN. CHUNG: MISS DRINKWATER: MU-LAN CHUNG MISS DRINKWATER MU-LAN CHUNG: MISS DRINKWATER: MU-LAN CHUNG The Japanese tools killed my Ai-Kuo! My love, my darling ! (Patting Mu-Lan's back): What has happened, has happened. Go to sleep. (Goes to bed): They killed my love! But he shall be avenged 1 The revolutionary army is coming to this city' (Sighs, then opens a drawer of the chiffonier and takes out o blood-stained cloth, and sighs to herself): Poor girl | Her lover is dead. And her parents? Where are they now? Those Japanese soldiers! They must have killed them in 1915. (She puts back the cloth quickly into the chest.) Mother, Mother, What did you say? Japanese soldiers killed my parents? I said nothing of the sort. I heard you. I was in Shantung. Later I moved to Nanking. I heard you say something about my parents. I know nothing about them. (Gives way to a suspicious smile, followed by a penetrat ing look at the chest. She then turns on her side ready to sleep): It is midnight. Let us both go to sleep. (Goes to her bed, turns the lights out eaccept for one very small ome): Yes, it's time for bed. Mother, good-night. Good-night, Mu-Lan. (Miss Drinkwater falls asleep immediately. She snores.) (Looks at Miss Drinkwater. She then slowly, and quietly leaves her bed, and, step by step, approaches the chiffonier. She searches in the drawer and finds the blood-stained cloth. She moves nearer the light. At first, she looks at it eacultingly, them begins to read it. Suddenly, she throws the cloth on the floor and raises her hands in horror. Then she picks it up and reads it again. She holds it in one hand and, with the other, pulls her hair nervously. Again she throws the cloth on the floor. She takes the flower vase and is about to hurl it to the floor. Suddenly she realizes that she might wake her mother. She looks at Miss Drink water. Then she quietly and quickly picks up the blood stained cloth from the floor, runs to the open drawer, and quietly puts it back, and closes it slowly. Again she looks at Miss Drinkwater. Then she glides swiftly to snatch the flower out of the vase. She holds the flower, them lifts it high to have a far-off view of it. Holding the flower-stem in one hand, she crushes the petals with the other, while the small light is gradually going out, and she screams): I kiss your forehead For you have a brain. I kiss your breast For you have a heart. I kiss your lips To cure my pain. BLACKOUT

CHINA MARCHES ON -----------SCENE III An empty stage. TIME 1931-1937. AT RISE A sign with a background display ing the date in white letters slowly moves from the right of stage to the left. An announcer backstage calls out the date in the same rhythm as the movement of the sign, while the drum is beating. The sign: 1931 The voice from backstage: 1931 Japanese army occupies Manchuria. The sign: 1931 The voice from backstage: 1931 Japanese army attacks Shanghai. (The sign moves faster and the voice sounds faster and louder.) The sign: - 1932 The voice from backstage: 1932 - Japan slices off four Chinese Northern Provinces. (The sign moves faster and the voice sounds faster and louder.) The sign: 1937 The voice from backstage: 1937 War I War I Japanese army attacks Peiping! War I War I Japanese army attacks Shanghai! (The sign moves much faster, and the voice sounds much faster and much louder. As the curtain slowly falls the drum thunders.) CURTAIN

CHINA MARCHES ON ACT II SCENE I In a Chinese laundry in America. TIME 1937. AT RISE Papa Chung, ironing, while Johnnie comes in. PAPA CHUNG: Here comes my Johnnie. JOHNNIE PAPA CHUNG: JOHNNIE: PAPA CHUNG: JOHNNIE: PAPA CHUNG: JOHNNIE: PAPA CHUNG: JOHNNIE: PAPA CHUNG: JOHNNIE: PAPA CHUNG: JOHNNIE: PAPA CHUNG: JOHNNIE: PAPA CHUNG: JOHNNIE: PAPA CHUNG: JOHNNIE: PAPA CHUNG: JOHNNIE: PAPA CHUNG: JOHNNIE: PAPA CHUNG: JOHNNIE: Johnnie is wonderful. He can speak Chinese. Oh, when he dresses up in a Chinese costume, He is a peach (Entering): Hope? End of the rope. Hate? Too late. Audieu, audieu ! So glad to have met you. I saw a picture of you and me in the newspaper, Do you remember the reporter who was here a week ago? You, a Chinese; and I, a white man. That's a novelty. So we got into the paper! I was told by a customer that with the publicity we got, if we have something to back it up with and get the results of it, we can become millionaires overnight. How can we get the money to start with? We poor men have to depend upon our own labor to make a living and that is if we are lucky enough to get a job. How can we become millionaires? I am going to join the American army and go to China. I hope you will find my daughter, Mu-Lan Chung. I heard you tell that story before. How can I find her? It is like in a fairy tale. One can never tell. I had one love trouble already and that’s enough. Johnnie, remember what I have told you. Who wants to remember anything? And for what? If you wouldn’t remember what I told you, you won’t find my daughter. So what? Once is enough ! You must remember 1 Remember what? The mark 1 The laundry mark? The mark on the back of her right hand. I will do it—for you, not for me. Love? Once is enough, One can never tell! You are fooling me! During these many years, do you think that the laundry mark on her hand has not faded out yet? It's tattooed on. The whole business makes me sick. I am going. Who asks you to play around with those women. They are too smart for you. Whenever they get a hold of you, then, though you run away with your body, your mind will still cling to them. Never mind about love. When I’ll think of the dishes I washed, I will forget about this nonsense called love. When the boss needs me he calls me. When he needs me no longer, he just kicks me in the pants.

10 CHINA MARCHES ON PAPA CHUNG: You talk too much, this is not Union Square. JOHNNIE: I want to join the American army to make a job for my PAPA CHUNG: JOHNNIE: PAPA CHUNG: JOHNNIE: PAPA CHUNG: JOHNNIE: PAPA CHUNG: JOHNNIE: PAPA CHUNG: JOHNNIE: PAPA CHUNG: JOHNNIE: PAPA CHUNG: JOHNNIE: PAPA CHUNG: self and go far, far away to forget my trouble. Love—huh ! Wait a minute; you can, you can go tomorrow ! I had a dream last night that I won in the sweepstakes. I am the number one man. Just look at me! Just a minute, look at my cigar ! Father, the cigar should be in the corner of your mouth !— and not in the center. Center or corner, it is just a matter—of style ! I have washed and washed for the last twenty years and have seen how they changed the styles forwards and back wards, and it’s all the same. They thought it very smart throwing money away. Later, they got so broke, they could not even pay their laundry bills. So I always make my own style and save my money and suit my convenience. i. are like women, and if you play with them you go roke. I will go, win or no win. I want to go to China in a hurry to forget my troubles. Oh, Mu-Lan is pretty You will like her! If she likes you; then you will be my son-in-law. Father, if China is so nice, why did you ever come to America? In the year 1915 the Japanese soldiers broke up my home. They took my wife away. I ran to an American ship and I came to America. I’m glad my daughter is alive. What a world ! What a world ! If I go to China I shall know how to take care of those Japs. And how I’d like to go to China and forget my troubles. Love—huh ! I told you women are like fire; if you play with them, you will be burned. Hope? End of the rope. Hate? Too late. Audieu, audieu! So glad to have met you. But you must remember me. Oh, what a beautiful country China is when you get there. And Mu-Lan Chung was such a beautiful baby. Father, I will never forget you! And I’ll watch the Japs for you! Why did I adopt you? Because twenty years ago I left my daughter, Mu-Lan, in front of a white mission. So I am indebted to the white men, and returned my debt by adopt ing you. I thought I was paying my debt. Now I know I have made a very good investment! Ha! Ha! Ha! Papa, after all maybe you are a great philosopher. Or how could you, with such a tragic past, beam so happily all day long? Certainly, I had plenty of tears! Before whom Could I shed them? In these twenty years— I swallowed them | BLACKOUT

CHINA MARCHES ON 11 SCENE II In the living room of a Japanese home. TIME Same as previous scene. AT RISE Mother and Nikochi. NIKOCHI MAMA CHUNG: NIKOCHI MAMA CHUNG: NIKOCHI: MAMA CHUNG: NIKOCHI: MAMA CHUNG: NIKOCHI: MAMA CHUNG: NIKOCHI: MAMA CHUNG: NIKOCHI: MAMA CHUNG: NIKOCHI: MAMA CHUNG: NIKOCHI: MAMA CHUNG: (A fºund Japanese boy of about twenty-three years of age) : - Why is it that people look at me with suspicious eyes since the war in China began? You know, my son, it is time that I tell you something about you and me. You are a Japanese and I am a Chinese, though I can speak as well as any Japanese. (Looks at Mama Chung in surprise): I don't know what you mean. Are you not my mother? Yes, and no. I know what you mean by yes, but I do not know why it is no. I am only your foster mother. In the year 1915, there was a war between Japan and Ger many in Chinese territory. The Japanese soldiers raped Chinese womanhood. And your foster father brought me to Japan and kept me as his prize. The beasts | Many times I tried to die in order to save my honor. But I thought that one should live to avenge one's disgrace and right the wrong suffered instead of sacrificing one's life for nothing. I lived and waited for the opportunity. Mother, you are a great woman. But I am a woman, and I was afraid that my own strength was not great enough so I adopted you as my son. I worked hard and brought you up in my way. But you treated me so kindly. Mother, you are my mother by all means, even though you are not my mother by blood and though you are a Chinese. And Chinese and Japanese are the same when they are poor. I am so glad you are my son. But I have a daughter, Mu-Lan Chung, who is still alive; I met her last night in my dream. And she is beautiful! You are the beauty of my imagination, And you are the melody that is unsun'. I promise the moon And I promise the wind : I love only Mu-Lan; Else, I love no one. I am so glad you are my son | The man whom I called “father” for so many years was a beast, indeed. He is dead now. A dead man bears no disgrace. I remember and remember well how he threw acid in your eyes because you refused to give him money for drink. The beast! But Mama can you see anything yet? I am blind and I will never be able to see how beautiful the flowers are or how moonlight is soothing. Only when it is not cloudy and I raise my head toward the sun, I see the light yellow sky around me. My dear son, when I die I will certainly be able to see the beaming face of our Buddha as I had done nothing wrong. My dear son, haven’t you eaten?

12 CHINA MARCHES ON -º-º-º: s = * - - - - - - -- * * * -- - - - - - a = - - * * * * = - - - - - NIKOCHI: MAMA CHUNG NIKOCHI: MAMA CHUNG NIKOCHI: MAMA CHUNG NIKOCHI: MAMA CHUNG: NIKOCHI MAMA CHUNG NIKOCHI: , MAMA CHUNG: NIKOCHI MAMA CHUNG: NIKOCHI: MAMA CHUNG: NIKOCHI: MAMA CHUNG: NIKOCHI: MAMA CHUNG: NIKoCHI: s They cut our wages again, the war in China is expensive. We can only eat one bowl of dry rice and watery soup. I am young and strong but you are sick and you must eat and eat well. Here is a piece of dry fish. (Turns her head around and listems intensely): This came from the Mikado; thanks to his Majesty for this one piece of salt fish. For mother and son, one piece of salt fish. (Suddenly suspects that someone is listening. Her face ea:- presses a forced smile): Oh, yes. If the Mikado will not take China, the white men will. Yellow space should belong to the yellow race. One kind of face is as good as another kind of face. In the Soviet, there will be only one human race. (Turns her head around again, listening): º What? I think you must have let the dangerous thought get hold of you. Soviet ! Mother, have you already forgot about the insult the Jap anese soldiers offered you when you were in China” Have you already forgotten the acid thrown at you by my foster father, that beast who made you blind? Is the weather nice? Is there a bright sun shining in the sky? Let me out! To see the sun' To see the goddess of the sun 1 Seeing the goddess of the sun, I would have an audience with the Mikado, the son of our sun goddess. (Shakes his head): No. No. The Mikado is no son of the sun goddess, but a sonofabitch. (Pulls son's sleeve and whispers): Where there is a wall there might be a pair of ears. I fear nothing. Be quiet, there might be a spy around. (Makes a gesture as if he understood the situation and he them whispers): I heard that all the factory hands from the age of eighteen to twenty-three were ordered to join the army. Mother, I will not go. My dear son, here is your chance! Be a soldier of the Mikado, away! away! How can I go to fight China? I will not go! My son, how can you avoid conscription? That is the reason why I was so worried and I wanted to talk to you. The Chinese porverb says: “Without getting into the tiger's cave how could one get hold of the baby tiger?” Be gone, be gone, my dear son 1 Mother, you taught me Chinese, But I don't know enough of your Chinese wise sayings. What do you mean, by: “Without getting into a tiger's cave, One could not get the baby tiger?” If you refuse to go, Do you think The whole Japanese army Will stop marching? Yes, if all the Japanese youth, Are like me.

CHINA MARCHES ON 13 MAMA CHUNG: NIKOCHI: MAMA CHUNG: NIKOCHI: MAMA CHUNG: NIKOCHI: MAMA CHUNG: You go and get the place filled. When you refuse to fight, while you are in the army, The Japanese army will have one man less. And this missing one man may destroy the whole machine. Go, join the army Be a spy Destroy from within | Do something noble! One day's noble living Is worth more than ten thousand years' Existence as a living corpse. I will not go! I have a daughter. She must be alive in China. Go there ! You may have a chance to meet her. God al ways helps a good man. You are the beauty of my imagination And you are the melody that is unsun'. I promise the moon And I promise the wind: I love only Mu-Lan; Else, I love no one. Go! Go! Join the Japanese army Go to China! Mama, how can I leave you here alone to starve and to freeze? You are blind. My dear son Nikochi, Join the Japanese army, Go to China, Fight for the Chinese! Who am I, And why should you care for me? For, I’m just a Chinese woman Who has been whored here From across the sea! BLACKOUT --

14 CHINA MARCHES ON SCENE III. In the study room of an American mission, China. TIME 1937. AT RISE Miss Drinkwater is happily walking MISS DRINKWATER: MU-LAN CHUNG MISS DRINKWATER MU-LAN CHUNG: MISS DRINKWATER: MU-LAN CHUNG: MISS DRINKWATER MU-LAN CHUNG: MISS DRINKWATER MU-LAN CHUNG: MISS DRINKWATER: MU-LAN CHUNG: MISS DRINKWATER: MU-LAN CHUNG: MISS DRINKWATER: MU-LAN CHUNG MISS DRINKWATER MU-LAN CHUNG: MISS DRINKWATER: MU-LAN CHUNG: MISS DRINKWATER: MU-LAN CHUNG: up and down the room. She stops suddenly as Mu-Lan Chung enters. What a Child ! What a Child 1 (A Chinese girl in the twenties opens the door and enters): Mother | (Smiles): Why do you come home so late tonight? I was at the meeting. What meeting? About the war. (Hands her adopted daughter a glass of milk): Drink milk, be calm. Be calm. . . My dear Miss Drinkwater! - (Surprised): What? Am I no more your Mama that you now address me as Miss Drinkwater? Are you my mother? Yes, I am. You think because you have money, you can buy a girl of the poor to enslave her. God knows, you enslave me and I never enslave you. I love you. Ha, ha, if you enslaved my body, I would hate you. But you have enslaved my soul. Yes, you love me, but be cause you love me you made me forget what I am; and my soul is like the dust in the wind—lost in the nowhere! I feed you, bathe you, and dress you but that is nothing. What's more to me is that you cause me to shed so many tears. (Laughs cynically): If you have tears to spare, you are lucky. (Sighs): You are so pretty while you are asleep: With your hair all mussed up around your forehead, Eyes half-closed, Dimples to be seen or not to be seen, Arms stretched out relaxedly, Bare feet peeping out of the blanket, kicking, You grind your teeth, And you murmur with words that I could and could not make out and I guess at them in wonder. Are you writing poetry? Mother dear, kiss me! I know you are a nice girl, but why should you make me worried, sad and angry? Of course, you did give me some joy. But, dear me, if you gave me nothing at all, I would not be so mad about you! Alas! the happiness you gave to me, is really the fountain of my unhappiness. That is life! Why should you be so bitter? You are so nice while you are asleep. Do I have to listen to all your nonsense? Tell me the real story! º ſ

CHINA MARCHES ON 15 MISS DRINKWATER: MU-LAN CHUNG: MISS DRINKWATER: MU-LAN CHUNG MISS DRINKWATER MU-LAN CHUNG MISS DRINKWATER: MU-LAN CHUNG MISS DRINKWATER: MU-LAN CHUNG MISS DRINKWATER: MU-LAN CHUNG: MISS DRINKWATER: MU-LAN CHUNG: MISS DRINKWATER: MU-LAN CHUNG: MISS DRINKWATER: MU-LAN CHUNG: I don’t know what you mean. (Cynically): You know what I mean ' I want to know the story about my parents. I think I have to let you know the story now. (She goes in and brings out a blood-colored cloth and hands tt to Mu-Lam Chung): This is the story. (Takes the cloth and looks at it weeping): So my mother is Mama Chung and my father is Papa Chung. You Japanese—Japanese war-lords! ſº her right hand and looks at the back of the (1700. J . This is the name my parents tattoed on me: Mu-Lan Chung. (Takes the handkerchief and wipes Mu-Lan's tears): Don't be so sad. Haven't I carried out all that your parents asked me to do? (Becomes cross again, looks at Miss Drinkwater angrily): What a capitalist you are ! Capitalists are the same Near Or afar. If you really had a good heart, why didn't you show me this will without my asking for it. It was by chance I opened the drawer and found the cloth and read it. It was long ago. I feared that if I would let you know about your tragic infancy your life would become bitter. I had good intentions. Please forgive me. (Hands back the blood-colerd cloth to her mother): Now I understand. Mother, do I look pretty? Yes, dear, but you have a scar on your face. I told you you should not fight with other girls when you were young. You see! (Laughs): This is my beauty mark. Bring me that uniform, Mother dear! What uniform? The Chinese soldier's uniform I bought a few days ago. I want to join the army. Will you permit me? What! Join the army? But you are a girl! The girls of China today are different than girls of yester day. To save the country girls have the same responsi bility! My dear, some missionaries are interested in piling up money for the money-changers and they have forgotten Our Lord. But I want to help China. I love China as I love you. But I was entrusted by your parents to take care of you. And they didn’t say anything of this sort in their will. My dear child, how can I give you permission? My parents gave me the name Mu-Lan. Is that so? Do you know what my name, Mu-Lan, stands for? Mu-Lan is the name of a girl soldier in the days of old. I must be a girl soldier to live up to my parents' will, Miss Drinkwater. Drink more milk! Milk makes one become calm and sen sible. Mama, be a good Mama let me have my uniform.

16 CHINA MARCHES ON MISS DRINKWATER: MU-LAN CHUNG MISS DRINKWATER MU-LAN CHUNG MISS DRINKWATER MU-LAN CHUNG MISS DRINKWATER: MU-LAN CHUNG: MISS DRINKWATER: MU-LAN CHUNG: MISS DRINKWATER: MU-LAN CHUNG: MISS DRINKWATER: MU-LAN CHUNG: MISS DRINKWATER: MU-LAN CHUNG: Dear Mu-Lan, you had better stay with me. You are not my daughter by birth, but you are my child by all means. Forget about it. Drink milk | (With determination): Stop talking, bring me that uniform ' You know me. When ever I made up my mind, were you able to stop me? Forget about it. ſº in and takes the uniform out and hands it to Mu 10 J . God bless you, here is your uniform | You always had your way, what can I do ! (Puts on the uniform and faces the mirror and runs off to the door): So long | (Startled): Where are you going? (Comes back and says to Miss Drinkwater sweetly): Take out, not your Bible, not your good advice, but your money. I have it in the bank. But I would like it better if your money were in your pocket instead of in the bank. That's only an excuse to stop me. And you think that by delaying, you will change my mind. I thought you’re a missionary, yet you’re so tricky | I must have spoiled you, so you talk to me like that. What is the money for, and why are you in such a hurry? I want to go to the army, but it is many miles away, and you know that I can't hitch-hike there as this is not your America. I must have the money. You know the time is urgent, and I can’t blah, blah, blah with you all night long. I must go! and I must go tonight! My company is waiting for me. Where is the money? Here is the money for your fare to go to the front, but I don’t know what made you become so bitter. If you don’t know, it's too bad for you ! You are not Chinese. You don't care how China makes out I am glad to leave you. I am glad to leave you. After all these years of taking care of you, it is heart breaking to hear you say in your parting words at this hour you are glad to leave me. Forget me, hate me ! Hate me to forget me ! You wouldn’t make me hate you, You would only bury my life Far deeper In the tomb of miseryl Kiss me, good-by. Mother, I thank you. I would kiss you, And kiss you without end; But on second thought, I say no! For my unkissed last kiss Will kiss you Forever! Farewell! CURTAIN

CHINA MARCHES ON 17 ACT III SCENE I. In a Chinese warehouse of Shanghai, at night. TIME 1937. AT RISE Some Chinese soldiers are lying CAPTAIN LEE wounded on the ground, some are sitting playing Ma Jong and some are reading. Captain Lee, the com mander of the two hundred and fifty, is at the table holding a telephone in his hand. Mu-Lan Chung is on guard. (Stands up): The Order 1 All The SOLDIERS (Whisper to each other as they come to attention): MU-LAN CHUNG: CAPTAIN LEE: MU-LAN CHUNG: CAPTAIN LEE: MU-LAN CHUNG: CAPTAIN LEE: MU-LAN CHUNG: CAPTAIN LEE: MU-LAN CHUNG: CAPTAIN LEE MU-LAN CHUNG: CAPTAIN LEE: MU-LAN CHUNG: CAPTAIN LEE: MU-LAN CHUNG: CAPTAIN LEE: MU-LAN CHUNG: Yes, the order! Be quiet! All get ready | A suggestion. You are the only girl soldier among our two hundred and fifty in this warehouse. I give you the privilege. I suggest that our two hundred and fifty in this station should stay. Why? To protect the rear of the main line while they are with drawing. We shall be cut off and all be dead. Are you afraid? (Pounds the table): I am insulted. Who are you? You are only an individual, A youth ! We can not win the war While our enemy has the machinery, While our weapons are made of blood and flesh. We can not match with our enemy A unit against a unit. We must use guerrilla tactics. Each individual must form an army l Therefore, I dare to suggest, and my suggestion I expect to be accepted. The lives of two hundred and fifty— Whº i; the importance of the lives of two hundred and ifty? If our sacrifice can save the lives of our brothers-in-arms, And lift four hundred millions From slavery to freedom, It would be well worth it. I think you might be a Japanese spy bent on seeing us all die for nothing. Captain, look at my face, Am I not Chinese? w Captain, look at my eyes. Do I not back up every word of mine with a sincere readiness to give up my life? A pretty face is your instrument! And your sincerity is your best tool. Is that all? Withdrawing to the second line !

18 CHINA MARCHES ON CAPTAIN LEE: MU-LAN CHUNG: CAPTAIN LEE: MU-LAN CHUNG: CAPTAIN LEE: MU-LAN CHUNG: THE SOLDIERS: CAPTAIN LEE: MU-LAN CHUNG: CAPTAIN LEE: MU-LAN CHUNG: CAPTAIN LEE: MU-LAN CHUNG: CAPTAIN LEE: MU-LAN CHUNG: CAPTAIN LEE: MU-LAN CHUNG: CAPTAIN LEE: MU-LAN CHUNG: CAPTAIN LEE: MU-LAN CHUNG: THE SOLDIERS: You have more. You use the wind of tricky oratory, The tactics of parliaments To force me to say obediently, “Yes.” Even if I am the commander, I have to obey the command From the one who is anything But a commander | With your sharp mouth, Biting words, You are talking Just like a Communist. Out of Order! United front One should ask nothing of another's religious beliefs, Or political convictions. If you are afraid, you can go away To save your life. I am insulted 1 Then you stay here with the two hundred and forty-nine. Who are you? How do you know that the rest of the two hundred and forty-nine want to stay? My dear Captain, thank you. Now let us vote. Those who want to stay, say “I”. “I !” “I !" Mu-Lan Chung. Yes, Sir. You should go! What? Ask no questions this time. I am the commander, and this is my order. Unless you answer my question, I will not go. Whº, are you going to disobey the order of your superior? eS. Take the consequences. Yes, shoot me, I will not leave! Well, if I do answer your question and tell you the reason, would you take my order? Certainly | Because you are a Woman. I resent it. Chinese women of today are different than those of yesterday. To save China, women have the same responsibility with men. My Superior, your order is out of order. To withdraw your order, is my order. Let her stay ! BLACKOUT

CHINA MARCHES ON 19 SCENE * TIME AT MU-LAN CHUNG: II. At the lookout's post in the ware house. Three days later, midnight. RISE Mu-Lan Chung is patrolling. She leans on the gate facing the river and looking at the moon. She sings: We, the two hundred and fifty, Fight to stay, Stay to fight, Fight till death, Every one ! China marches on 1 We, the two hundred and fifty, The suicide squad, The rear guard The Japanese soldiers may kill us one by one, But we will use our bodies To trouble their marching feet! And we will use our flowing blood To wet their gun powder | China marches on 1 We, the two hundred and fifty, Fight to stay, Stay to fight, Fight till death, Every one! China marches on 1 (Mu-Lan Chung gradually dozes off leaning on her gun.) BLACKOUT

* * *---- - - - - - - - - ----------------- - - -e ºs = -ºº º a**= • ***** * *-----------------ee- see -- - - -º-º-º-º-º-º-º: -HIS COMRADE: JOHNNIE: HIS COMRADE: JOHNNIE: HIS COMRADE: JOHNNIE: HIS COMRADE: JOHNNIE: HIS COMRADE: JOHNNIE: HIS COMRADE: JOHNNIE: HIS COMRADE: JOHNNIE: THE COMRADE: I must go. 20 CHINA MARCHES ON SCENE III. A spotlight centered on left side of stage. In front of the barracks of the American soldiers stationed in Shanghai. TIME Same as the previous one. AT RISE Johnnie is being grabbed by his buddy. JOHNNIE: Leave me alone, for Heaven's sake! I got you, you ratl (another Am. soldier) What do you mean I am a rat? Don't I walk on two legs, So you are a two-legged rat! You bastard, What do you mean I am a rat? Don't I walk on two legs? Calling me two-legged rat? Haven’t I the l’ll Smack you! guts? Haven't I trusted you like a pal? But now you put every thing into a vault of secrecy, and you are deserting me. You are cheating me. How can you go to the Chinese warehouse without letting me know about it? I am a gentleman and I have never walked in the dark. What am I afraid of? I have long planned to give away my life. I am. Do wha You ratl You and you are tr I have nothing left behind me to make me hesi tate. I want to die, to sacrifice . Shoot me, kill me, here t you please! have answered me no questions whatsoever, ying to soften me with sentiment and emo tion. Why didn’t you tell me before setting out? Am I not your pal? You are my pal, but you are muddle-headed. So I went at it myself. Sorry I was discovered. A pal is a pal. Shoot it out: what is in your mind? It's not too latel Do we not hate the Japs—I mean the Japanese war lords? Yes. What is the use of sitting and just sitting around and doing nothing? We want to d o something but we can’t, because we are Americans, and we must be neutral in this Sino-Japanese affair. That's it. Whom are we going to fool—the Japs or ourselves? Why do we build more battleships? To fight the S Or the Japs? wiss? And why should we sell the Japs scrap-iron? Without iron could the Japs have anything with which to build battleships? Why should we sell the Japs oil? Without oil, would the Japs have anything with which to fly their airplanes and to run their tanks? Why should we sell the Japs chemical matter? Without chemical matter would the Japs have anything with which to make poison gas to kill Chinese women and children? And can we tell the world that we are neutral? In the Orient they have too many people, anyway. Let them kill one another,

CHINA MARCHES ON 21 JOHNNIE: HIS COMRADE: HIS COMRADE: JOHNNIE: HIS COMRADE: JOHNNIE: HIS COMRADE: JOHNNIE: HIS COMRADE: JOHNNIE: HIS COMRADE: JOHNNIE: HIS COMRADE: JOHNNIE: HIS COMRADE: JOHNNIE: HIS COMRADE: JOHNNIE: You cannot be convinced Kill me! I shall listen to you no more. You are dumb and you are a mule. Take it easy. I am your pal. We never know the word “humanity,” and “justice,” but we do know winning and losing. Shall we wait till the Japs get a hold of China as a base to give us a beating, or shall we give China our help now in order to prevent a future bloody war? Oh, now you get to the point! That’s what I wanted to know. Now, I’m with you. Here is my hand. You win For Heaven’s sake, Take me along with you, to the Chinese warehouse. No, no! I'am going to shout! No, no! Tell me why I cannot go with you. Because you are convinced; and we must have somebody to stay here to do other work, the harder work. But I want to go. Look at the muscles on your arms. you are an unspoiled, healthy man. But I’m a city slick. Let me go. My life is nothing. You stay here, and do the harder work. I go! I go! Otherwise I will shout! I go! You stay and do the harder job. Let us draw lots! Why should one trust the hand of unseen Destiny? Have we not our brains? Have we not our senses? Let's forget ourselves as one and one,— Whoever is better fitted, It is his job And for him to see it done. So you make your choice? I go! I am better fitted Why? I know Chinese. Farewell, I go! Be well ! You stay. Do the harder job! You are strong and BLACKOUT.

22 CHINA MARCHES ON SCENE IV Spotlight flashes on the right side of the stage. In front of the Japanese barricades in Shanghai. TIME Same as previous scene. AT RISE Nikochi is held by his comrade. NIKOCHI: Let me go! HIS COMRADE: (another Jap soldier) NIKOCHI: HIS COMRADE: NIKOCHI: HIS COMRADE: NIKOCHI HIS COMRADE: NIKOCHI: HIS COMRADE: NIKOCHI: HIS COMRADE: NIKOCHI: HIS COMRADE: NIKOCHI: I watched you ever since I came here. Your silence could hide your treachery, but through your sneaky peeping here and there, you made yourself very suspicious to me. Now, at this hour, you are trying to cross the lines to go to the warehouse without permission. Are you a Japanese? When a thief tries to run for escape, he is a coward. But when he is caught, he just closes his eyes and puts his hands above his head to take the beating. He is a hero! And so am I now. Yes, I am a Japanese, but I want to be a man! You are a traitor! What do you want?— My head? Take my head and exchange it for a medal. You are but a shrewd business man While you are here, you are just a soldier. But there you will get your prize—a “hero” You traitor || Here is a sword. Hara-kiri ! (Takes the sword): Thanks | You go ! Get your prize! Give me back the sword. That would be too much of an honor for you, you traitor | - This suicide squad stands here just like a thorn in one's flesh. And you were going to give them information to save them. They are a beacon in the night! What information? Don’t you know it? Ha-ha! Now we are digging a tunnel underneath. When we reach the warehouse, we shall use the dynamite to blow them up. Digging and digging. It has been going on for three days. Now with each minute's passing they are one inch nearer their death. Nikochi, I bet you are heartbroken Ha-ha, you traitor | Why can’t we wipe out our enemy's army with an open fight? Where is the glory of Shintoism. Where is the Mikado soldiers’ might? We are afraid that our bullets from the artillery and tanks will run wild into the International Settlement. We are not afraid of those Western white monkeys, but according to our late Premier Tanaka, we have to fix them later and not now. Dirty! Mean' Haven’t we used poison gas? Haven't we used dum-dum bullets? So what's wrong with digging under them, and blowing them up? What are you going to do with me now? *.*

CHINA MARCHES ON 23 HIS COMRADE NIKOCHI HIS COMRADE: NIKOCHI: HIS COMRADE: NIKOCHI: HIS COMRADE: NIKOCHI: HIS COMRADE: NIKOCHI: HIS COMRADE: NIKOCHI: HIS COMRADE: NIKOCHI: HIS COMRADE: NIKOCHI: HIS COMRADE: NIKOCHI: HIS COMRADE: NIKOCHI: HIS COMRADE: NIKOCHI: HIS COMRADE: NIKOCHI: (Hands Nikochi the sword): I will give you the sword, but not for honorable hara-kiri. Just cut your head off, so I’ll have less to carry. (Accepts the sword): Thanks! Give me back the sword. Why? Because I am with you. Who has warm blood? Let his warm blood flow to fertilize a flower. The flower of tomorrow ! Who has a red heart? Let his heart throb, Throb for the weak and the oppressed. I am with you. You are with Justice! You are with Humanity! I am with you! You have been wasting too much time. Why didn’t you tell me at the very beginning? There are so many spies! You have always kept your mouth shut. How could I know that you were with me? Waste no time. You go right away. I have to hurry back, myself. Wait a minute. You go to the warehouse, since you are a comrade, and inform them. But I’ll stay here. Why? ; to the Chinese army. Be an informer. That is an easy JOO. You are going to your friends! You will be welcomed with open arms. I stay here to do harder work, I'll be in the enemy's camp. Any minute, I may be cut into pieces. I’m glad you are my comrade. I let you take the easy job To show my appreciation. Go! Hurry! You go! You go! Let us draw lots. Why should one trust the hand of unseen Destiny? Have we not our brains, Have we not our senses? Let us forget ourselves as one and one,— Whoever is better fitted, it is his job, And for him to see it done. And so you make your choice? You gol You gol Why? You know Chinese. Farewell, I go! Be well ! You stay. Do the harder job! BLACKOUT

24 CHINA MARCHES ON SCENE W. TIME AT RISE In the bedroom of Mu-Lan Chung's dream. A few seconds later. While Mu-Lan Chung is sleeping in bed, a ghost, Mr. Life, comes in masked with a rose. He touches her and she jumps out of bed. (From here onward, the dancing of the principals and a musical refrain should accompany the dialogue.) MR. LIFE: Oh, my dear Mu-Lan Chung: You little thing! You are so nice, You are delicious indeed! I am Hope, I am the Future, I am Love, I am Mr. Life! Oh, kiss me, And kiss me hard | MU-LAN CHUNG: * No 1 No! MR. LIFE: MU-LAN CHUNG: MR. LIFE: MU-LAN CHUNG: MR. LIFE: MU-LAN CHUNG: MR. LIFE: You are nonsense! I listen to your voice I ask myself Is it music, Or is it the singing of a bird? Or is it the message of an angel? I am lost. Oh, kiss me, And kiss me hard | NO! NO! You are Temptation | I look at your eyes, What a pair of eyes! 1 have nothing to say, I am melted. Oh, kiss me, And kiss me hard | No! No 1 You are a time-killer | I look at your nose, With a bit of turning-up at the point. It makes me boil up! Oh, kiss me, And kiss me hard 1 No || No || You are a career-destroyer! Now look at your teeth, There is a little split between your two front ones In looking at them, I realize that there are such things called teeth. Your uncontrolled smile kills me! Oh, kiss me, And kiss me hard I

CHINA MARCHES ON 25 MU-LAN CHUNG: MR. LIFE: MU-LAN CHUNG: MR. DEATH: MU-LAN CHUNG: MR. DEATH: You are nonsense, You are temptation, You are a time-killer, You are a career-destroyer' Away, away! Touch me not! I thought that you were a beauty and an angel, But now I know that You are a coward, A Philistine, And a stupid ass! Why should you stay here, wasting your life for nothing? You are too pretty to be a soldier! You are too clever to be in uniformſ You are too precious to be buried in death. Come with me. . . . . . . . . . . . Go. . . . Run. . . . (Mu-Lan Chung strikes at Mr. Life! The light is owt, but the crash of the fist of Mu-Lan Chung on the shoulder of Mr. Life makes a thunderbolt. When the stage resumes its normality, Mr. Life's mask of rose petals falls off and a man with a skull is dancing around on the stage. Mr. Life is revealed as Mr. Death.) Ha! hal Who asked you to come to my room At this hour! I am undressed. You come without invitation And unannounced. But come! Mr. Death, kiss me, And kiss me hard. No! No || You are youth. You are Justice! You treat rich and poor, Beauty and ugliness. Alike. Good-hearted mothers plead to you, That you may spare their dear ones. Do you listen to them? You say, “No” Disheartened lovers beg you To take them with you, And let them live in the land of eternity. You say, “Maybe or maybe not” Oh, Mr. Death, kiss me, And kiss me hard | No! No 1 You are beautyl

26 CHINA MARCHES ON MU-LAN CHUNG: MR. DEATH: MU-LAN CHUNG: MR. DEATH: MU-LAN CHUNG: Oh, Mr. Death You are such a joy to me! Let the enemy's knife go through my neck! It would be just as soothing as a cold wind Caressing my neck. Let the enemy's bullets pierce our heads. Then we would have more eyes to see Our Chinese army march on And push our enemy into the sea. - Oh, Mr. Death, kiss me, And kiss me hard | NO! No || You are brave! Oh, Mr. Death You are so timely 1 The commander, Captain Lee, gave us orders to retreat! I suggested we stay. The whole company voted with me; The Captain yielded. But I want to show the captain I am not one with an iron mouth But with a clay foot. Death to me is the proof of my loyalty And is the best vindication for me ! Oh, Mr. Death, kiss me, And kiss me hard | You are youth, You are beauty, You are brave! How can I take you, And take you into the grave? You frighten me! Away, away! Touch me not! I thought. That you were Justice, and Pleasure, and timely Relief. But now I know that you are a coward, a Philistine, and a stupid ass! (She picks up a stick and strikes him. Mr. Death falls on her bed, dead. She looks at Mr. Death with a smile): Ha, ha! Mr. Death, Death, Death! You, too, are dead. (Mu-Lan Chung kisses Mr. Death.) BLACKOUT

CHINA MARCHES ON 27 SCENE WI. Near the lookout's post. TIME A few minutes later. AT RISE Mu-Lan Chung shakes off her dream MU-LAN CHUNG NIKOCHI MU-LAN CHUNG NIKOCHI MU-LAN CHUNG NIKOCHI MU-LAN CHUNG: NIKOCHI: MU-LAN CHUNG NIKOCHI MU-LAN CHUNG: NIKOCHI: MU-LAN CHUNG: NIKOCHI: MU-LAN CHUNG: NIKOCHI: MU-LAN CHUNG: NIKOCHI: MU-LAN CHUNG NIKOCHI: MU-LAN CHUNG: and is patrolling while Nikochi slow ly worms his way in. (Stops her pacing and points her gun. In a very low voice): See | Look! Somebody is coming in Wait, yes, a spy A Japanese spy Stop! No! (She fires a shot.) (Is wounded but he struggles to creep toward her): Be quiet. (Steps back a little, and fires another shot): You spy (Falls down but pulls himself forward with his hands): I am Nikochi. (Stops shooting): What would you get, if you had killed all of us? (Raises his head and points his right hand at his heart):. I'm your friend! Coming at this time and at this hour! On my face I’m a Japanese; In my heart I am Chinese. (Moved a little): Easy to see one's face; Hard to know one's heart. (Laughs, tears off his uniform and leaves his breast bare): This is my heart! I see not! Oh, my foster mother, Mama Chung: You know my heart! Did you say Mama Chung? Yes. How do you know her? I am her adopted son. I am Mu-Lan Chung, her daughter! How do I know? (Eartends her right hand): Here is the mark! You are the beauty of my imagination And you are the melody that is unsun'. I promised the moon And I promised the wind: I love only Mu-Lan; Else, I love no one. Though I am your foster sister, Though you are my foster brother. How do you know that I am your love? Who am I? Who am I? I am only one of the two hundred and fifty, I am no Mu-Lan. I am no Chung. My uniform is the same as any uniform.

28 CHINA MARCHES ON NIKOCHI: MU-LAN CHUNG: NIKOCHI: MU-LAN CHUNG: NIKOCHI: MU-LAN CHUNG: NIKOCHI: MU-LAN CHUNG: NIKOCHI: MU-LAN CHUNG CAPTAIN LEE: I know I was very wrong: I have converted A hymn of battle, and a song of international solidarity Into a family affair, And into a senseless lyric. There are hundreds and thousands of comrades Waiting for the time to strike. I came here, not on my own commission: Our comrades sent me here Because I know the Chinese language. Who am I? Who am I? I am not Nikochi! Yes, I, too, am only a uniform. Here is my hand—a Japanese hand. To shake your hand—a Chinese hand. A hand is a hand 1 These hands are made to work, to produce; They are not made to destroy, to kill ! Oh, Japanese hands, Chinese hands, Hold together, hold tight, Shake!— And strike! I am dying, but I die for China. I kiss your forehead For you have a brain. I kiss your breast For you have a heart. I kiss your lips To cure my pain. Information What information? The dynamite. When 2 When 2 When 2 Any minute. (Runs and shouts): The dynamite! The dynamite! The dynamite! (An eacplosion.) BLACKOUT

CHINA MARCHES ON 29 SCENE VII. (Site is littered with debris from crumbled walls of the warehouse. All are dead but the three.) TIME A few minutes later. AT RISE Nikochi is dying. Captain Lee is up CAPTAIN LEE MU-LAN CHUNG: CAPTAIN LEE: MU-LAN CHUNG: CAPTAIN LEE: CAPTAIN LEE CAPTAIN LEE: MU-LAN CHUNG: CAPTAIN LEE: MU-LAN CHUNG: CAPTAIN LEE: MU-LAN CHUNG: CAPTAIN LEE: MU-LAN CHUNG: CAPTAIN LEE: MU-LAN CHUNG: THE AUDIENCE: with his serious wound, though dy ing. Mu-Lan Chung wonders what she could do. (Badly wounded, struggles to his feet again. He walks step by step nearer to Mu-Lan Chung): The order. Yes, Sir. You’re a girl, Your honor, The Japanese army is coming in, They are beasts. Your honor What is honor While the whole nation And the whole human race Is in such disgrace? A part of this body of mine Is just a part, The same as any part Of the body of thine. Let the beasts come and have their lust! I am the wind I am the dust! * I will shoot with my last bullet. I will shed my last drop of blood. Your honor, your honor Your honor is the honor Of our two hundred and fifty! And your honor is the honor Of our four hudred million. Kill yourself before they come to attack you! (Listens to the words of her Superior nodding her head. She seems to be unsure about her attitude as a girl): What shall I do? Shoot yourself, before they enter! No, I will fight them to the last. It is of no use now. Shoot yourself My fingers are not trained to pull the trigger of the gun when it is not aimed at an enemy. I will not shoot a Chinese! I am your superior, Shoot yourself, This is my order! Yes, you are my superior But I cannot shoot myself! Are you a coward? Are you weak? I am brave. I am too strong. You must ! You must 1 You, shoot me ! That is my order! Say, leave her alone! How could she shoot herself? You, Confucius Leave her alone!

30 CHINA MARCHES ON CAPTAIN LEE: MU-LAN CHUNG: CAPTAIN LEE: MU-LAN CHUNG: CAPTAIN LEE: MU-LAN CHUNG: JOHNNIE MU-LAN CHUNG: JOHNNIE: MU-LAN CHUNG JOHNNIE MU-LAN CHUNG: JOHNNIE MU-LAN CHUNG: JOHNNIE: MU-LAN CHUNG: JOHNNIE: MU-LAN CHUNG JOHNNIE MU-LAN CHUNG: What is wrong with Confucius? Look at my wound ! Haven’t I fought? You see, here is my blood flowing ! Mu-Lan Chung, shoot yourself! The enemy's army is coming in They would attack you, They are beasts' - I would not shoot myself against my principles. But I let you shoot me to maintain the army's discipline. Go ahead, shoot me! Without discipline there will be no victory! (Captain Lee moves forward and raises his pistol. He is ready to fire but before he does so he suddenly slumps over and falls to the ground. He turns to the girl and says weakly): Mu-Lan Chung; You must keep your promise ! To carry out my order, Now it's up to you! Yes, Captain, I’ll not fail you! It's up to you! I kiss your forehead For your have a brain. I kiss your breast For you have a heart. I kiss your lips To cure my pain. (Captain dies.) (Enters amidst the ruins and dead. Rushes to Mu-Lam. Chung): I am your friend. I am wounded, but I am glad to come and help you. Take me in. No. No. The Japanese are coming in. We Chinese should die for China; you are an American, go save yourself! Go! No, no! I will stay. Your battle is our battle. (Eactends her hand to shake hands with Johnnie) : Thanks. Here is my hand. (Looks at her hand—the right hand): What is this? You are Mu-Lan Chung ! Oh, Papa Chung, I found her | What did you say? Papa Chung? Where is he? I am Mu-Lan Chung. (Looks at the mark again): Yes, the mark, the mark! Mu-Lan Chung, you are my foster sister. My darling, my love! The Japanese Army is coming Go and run for your life! I want to stay with you. Yes, yes! Will you obey the order? Yes, yes! (Laughs and hands her pistol to Johnnie): Take my pistol | (Surprised but he takes it): What for 2 Ask no questions, this is my order. Shoot me. Before the Japanese enter.

CHINA MARCHES ON 31 JOHNNIE: MU-LAN CHUNG: JOHNNIE: MU-LAN CHUNG: THE AUDIENCE: MU-LAN CHUNG: THE AUDIENCE: JOHNNIE: THE AUDIENCE: JOHNNIE: No. No. I’ll do anything, everything, But not such a thing. You are my darling, my love, And you are my superior. That is what you white people are, No matter what religions you have, Or what principles you believe in,- Because of your English language, And your big battleships, And your capitalist dollars, You must be a “Somebody”; You must be the one to broadcast on the radio And to have your pictures printed in the paper— Your service is always a business And an adventure. Are you a narrow-minded nationalist or a broad-minded internationalist? You surprise me! I came here because my comrades sent me here. My comrades send you medical aid, My comrades send you their own rations, For what?— For your courage, For your being Soldier of defense, Soldiers of peace! They sent me Because I know Chinese. I am speaking to you . As one uniform to another; Be not suspicious of me ! I am sorry. Fine ! Take the order, shoot me Shoot me. Before the Japanese Army enters. Quick, quick, Shoot me! The captain is dead. His order was wrong. I made my promise To carry out his last order! He is dead. - How can I cheat a dead person? Johnnie, leave her alone! Do not shoot her | I am a soldier, I must obey orders. Right or wrong, An order is an order! Without obedience, there would be no discipline. Without discipline, there would be no victory ! Johnnie Johnnie Stop! Stop! (While he is aiming at Mu-Lan Chung a bullet cames from the Japanese army. He falls down.) Hope? End of the rope. Hate? Too late. Audieu, audieu ! So glad to have met you.

32 CHINA MARCHES ON MU-LAN CHUNG: JOHNNIE: NIKOCHI: THE AUDIENCE: I kiss your forehead For you have a brain. I kiss your breast For you have a heart. I kiss your lips To cure my pain. China Marches on 1 China Marches on 1 Dare To Die! This is your devotion. But now you must dare to live! Charge | March 1 MU-LAN CHUNG: Have you stopped wearing silk stockings?— NIKOCHI: JOHNNIE: MU-LAN CHUNG: THE AUDIENCE: (Pulls her two wounded comrades): Charge! March 1 March 1 March 1 March into the moon. March 1 March 1 March into the Sun. March 1 March 1 March into the future. March 1 March 1 March into peace. March On 1 March On 1 China Marches On! China Marches On! CURTAIN THE END

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- THE SAM-Tº-Dº. | H. T. Tsiang was born in a small hut at Chi-Am Wil age, Nantung District, in the Province of Kiangsu in which Shanghai, the main Chinese seaport, and Nanking. the national capital, are situated. His father died when he was nine, and his mother passed on when he was thirteen. By passing competitive examinations which secured him various scholarships, he was enabled to graduate from grammar school, middle school, and the university. while in the university, he worked one year as student secretary of the Nanking Y.M.C.A., and after obtaining his B.A. in 1925, he worked as secretary to the secretary ºf Dr. Sun Yat-Sen. Later he was elected as an alter mate in the Central Executive Committee of the Right Wing Rou-Ming-Tang (The Chinese Nationalist Party). Because of his Right Wing affiliation he was ordered to be arrested by the Nationalist Government of Canton which was Left wing. He left for America. While pursuing post-graduate work in America he worked as the associate editor of the Chinese Nationalist daily, "Young China", which was a Right Wing news nºn As time passed, those Nationalists who were the “Haves” shifted from Left to Right; and the author, who was one of the “Have-Nots," was swayed in his sym pathies from Right to Left. In expressing his Left con victions, he edited and published a Chinese and English weekly, “The Chinese Guide in America." Because the paper was a Left publication, the Nationalist Govern ment at Nanking, now turned Right, again issued an order for his arrest, and this also caused the American Immigration Office to order his deportation. Due to the efforts of the International Labor Defense and of the American Civil Liberties Union, the case went to the courts, and he finally won the right to remain and continue his studies. In the Spring of 1928, Tsiang came to New York City. Here, in the last ten years, besides attending school, he wrote and published four books. As now all China united against Japanese invasion, this play was inspired by the heroic attempt of the Chinese * Dare-to Die" squad which made its stand in October, 1937 at a Shanghai warehouse. POEMS OF THE CHINESE REVOLUTION Published 1929 This young Chinese student has written inspired poetry. The spirit of revolt has so taken hold of this young man that it gives him a facile expression that needs no rules. In reading poetry of this kind it is neces sary to feel it. "He portrays the revolutionary mind of the ‘Rickshaw Boy,” “Laundry Man, Chinese students, and Chinese workers. The poem called “Canton Soviet is a lyrical drama in itself." $1.00 NEW MASSES C H IN A R. E. D. Published 1941 "I was fascinated by CHINA RED. "The wistful, sly and mischievous humour, full of so many delicate vibrations like the wind in poplar-leaves pleased me very much. "The poignancy of the conclusion and its grim implica tions did not miss the mark either with me." $2.00 JOHN COWPER POW. S. THE HANGING ON UNION SQUARE Published 1935 ... Mr. Tsiang has written a satiric allegory, a pot pourri of narrative and song, entitled “The Hanging on Union Square". . . ... The book is original in form, without being lº bored; and it is remarkable for its flashing counterpoint of almost savage sensuality and delicate pity. Through out, it is alive and evocative. ... Mr. Tsiang's fanciful and often fantastic visions of the workers on Union Square and of the parasites in neighboring night clubs and office buildings... convey more truth than a shelf of reportorial novels. $2.00 WALDO FRANº. A N D C H IN A. H. A. S. H. A. N. D. S. Published 1937 The story is told with much freshness. It is about a side of life that few people know. Wong Wan-Lee, the hero—"10,000 Fortunes Wong," the name means; Pearl Chang, offspring of a Chinese father and Negro mother —"Mo No," or No Brain, Wong frequently calls her to himself; Wong's adventures with extortionate "private detectives" who want to “protect" his little shop, and rob him when he does not do business; the city inspectors, who levy toll on him; the loan sharks, the gamblers, are all people to read about and remember. $2.00 UNITED PRESS C H IN A M A. R. C. H. E. S. O. N. Published 1938 "Interesting and instructive!" Ambassador C. T. WANG In preparation: SHANGHAI-NEW YORK-MOSCOW (An Odyssey of a Chinese Coolie) $1.00 Mail your order to: H. T. TSIANG Box 36, station D. New York City -