Trying to Find Chinatown: The Selected Plays of David Henry Hwang (17 page)

(Balls are being shot out much faster now, pummeling Wilbur and Di-gou. Ama and Popo continue to sit in the sunroom, staring away from the tennis court, peaceful and oblivious
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)

(A volley of balls drives Wilbur back. Ama and Popo hear the commotion, look over to the tennis court. The balls stop shooting out
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)

(Ama and Popo return to looking downstage. The balls begin again
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(He begins walking like a guerrilla toward the machine and finally makes it offstage. The balls stop, presumably because Wilbur reached the machine. Di-gou runs off the court.)

(Wilbur crosses back onto the tennis court and into the lanai
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(Ama and Popo get up, exit into the house, applauding Di-gou as they go, for his exercise
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(Di-gou is left alone on the tennis court. He is hit by a lone tennis ball. Then Chester enters, carrying a violin case. He has thrown that last ball
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(Silence
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(The sounds of a choir singing the “Hallelujah Chorus.” Then, the choir, consisting of Wilbur, Joanne, Robert, Hannah and Popo, enters. They are led by Ama, who stands on the base of a movable podium which is being pushed into the room by Robert and Wilbur. The choir heads for the center of the room, where the podium comes to rest, with Ama still on it, and the “Hallelujah Chorus” ends. Robert begins singing the tenor aria “Every Valley Shall Be Exalted” from Handel’s
Messiah
.)

(Everyone, except Di-gou, begins to arrange the room like a congregation hall, with the pulpit up front
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(Jenny goes over to Chester.)

(The room is set up
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(Ama flips a switch. A neon cross lights up
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(Everyone sits down except Di-gou. The rest of the family waits for him. He walks over and sits down. Ama bows down to pray. Everyone bows except Chester and Di-gou, but since all other eyes are closed, no one notices their noncompliance. Ama begins to pray.)

(Chester gets up, picks up his violin, gets Di-gou’s attention
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)

 

 

Your blessing begin many year ago in China.

 

(Chester begins playing; his music serves as underscoring to Ama’s prayer.)

 

 

See-goh-poh, she hear your word—from missionary. Your spirit, it touch her heart, she accept you, she speak in tongue of fire.

 

(Chester begins to move out of the room as he plays
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You continue, bless See-goh-poh. She become agent of God, bring light to whole family, until we are convert, we become shining light for you all through Amoy.

 

(Chester stops playing, looks at Di-gou, waves good-bye and exits. Di-gou gets up, walks to where Chester was standing before he left and waves good-bye.)

 

Let us praise your victory over Satan. Praise your power over demon. Praise miracle over our own sinful will. Praise your victory over even our very hearts. Amen.

 

(Ama conducts the choir in the ending of the “Hallelujah Chorus.” As they sing, she notices Di-gou’s chair is empty. She turns and sees him waving. Ama and Di-gou look at each other as the “Hallelujah Chorus” continues
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)