Ask the Scholar
Document scope · 1 page
Scholar
Ask about this object, its catalog metadata, its source description, or the page inventory.
For page-specific OCR and visual context, open one of the page chats.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
24823373
label
Contemporary American Theater Festival
core
doc
dtoType
document
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
24823373
sourceUrl
contentType
document
title
Contemporary American Theater Festival
citationUrl
collections
Records of the First Lady's Office (Clinton Administration)
Noa Meyer's Files
largeImageUrl
imageCount
1
hasImages
yes
source
import
hasTranscription
no
Source extras
naId
24823373
levelOfDescription
fileUnit
otherTitles
42-t-18558020-20120869S-003-020-2015
recordType
description
ocrSource
nara-archive
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
document
mediaId
5a70f738a590c31f
ocrText
Noa Meyer
Office of the First Lady-Speechwriting
Box 60f 6
Index
Sports and Race Binder
Carry the Tiger to the Mountains Binder
Contemporary American Theater Binder
Rolodex
OVERSIZE ATTACHMENTS 13011
ENCLOSURES FILED
NARA 10427
CONTEMPORARY
AMERICAN THEATER
FESTIVAL
PHOTOCOPY
CENTON RARY PHOTOCOPY
PRESERVATION
Clinton Presidential Records
Digital Records Marker
This is not a presidential record. This is used as an administrative
marker by the William J. Clinton Presidential Library Staff.
This marker identifies the place of a publication.
Publications have not been scanned in their entirety for the purpose
of digitization. To see the full publication please search online or
visit the Clinton Presidential Library's Research Room.
CONTEMPORARY
AMERICAN THEATER
FESTIVAL
extraordinary
projects
CONTEMPORARY
AMERICAN THEATER
FESTIVAL
Extraordinary projects
MAY-28-1998 15:50 FROM FRANK ARTS CENTER
TO
12024562581 P.01
CONTEMPORARY
SMERICAN THEATER
FESTIVAL
FAX
To:
Nelson Reyneri
From: Chris Kuscr
304-876-3304
Date: May 28, 1998
Re:
4 letters (following)
Shopherd College Pages: 4 + cover
Shephordstown
Please call to discuss when you get a chance. Thanks.
WV 25443
304-876-3473
ACCOMLG.WPD
Page 2
THE PRESIDENT'S INITIATIVE ON RACE:
Taking Action To Help Build One America
Summary of Major Events / Announcements
As of June 10, 1998
DEVELOPING POLICY THAT OFFERS OPPORTUNITY TO ALL THOSE WHO WORK FOR IT
Civil Rights
Increased Civil Rights Enforcement: On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, January 19, 1998, Vice
President Gore announced the Administration's proposal for the largest single increase in funding to
enforce existing civil rights laws in nearly two decades. Through new reforms and heightened
commitment to enforcement, the Administration will seek to prevent discrimination before it occurs
and to punish those who do discriminate in employment, education, housing and health care, and
against those with disabilities. The Clinton Administration's FY 1999 budget contains $602 million
for civil rights enforcement agencies and offices -- an increase of $86 million over last year's
funding.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC): The cornerstone of the improved civil
rights enforcement effort is a $37 million increase (15 percent) for the EEOC. Through
increased use of mediation, improved information technology and an expanded investigative
staff, the EEOC will reduce the average time for resolving private-sector complaints from
over 9.4 months to 6 months and cut the backlog of cases from 64,000 to 28,000, by the
year 2000.
Housing & Urban Development (HUD) -- Fair Housing: To respond to the increase in reported
cases of serious fair housing violations, HUD will double the number of its civil rights
enforcement actions by the year 2000. HUD also has committed $15 million to 67 fair
housing centers around the country to assist in fighting housing discrimination this year. In
addition, the President's budget proposes $10 million for a targeted enforcement initiative
that will use paired testing -- identical applicants of different races or genders approaching
Realtors or landlords -- to detect and eliminate housing discrimination. Also, Secretary
Cuomo now focuses on one race-based housing discrimination case each week and
conducts a community forum around each case to turn the negative experience into a
positive one that helps bring the community together.
Coordination of Civil Rights: An additional $1 million will allow the Department of Justice's
Civil Rights Division to enhance coordination of federal civil rights enforcement policy
among agencies. Improved coordination will lead to more consistent enforcement of civil
rights laws, broader dissemination of best practices and improved data collection.
Education
Hispanic Education Action Plan. Nearly one in three Hispanics between 25 and 29 years old left
school without a diploma or GED. To correct this situation, President Clinton announced an
unprecedented $600 million in the FY 99 budget to help Latino youngsters master the basics of
reading and math. The funding will also pay for programs to help them learn English, stay in
school, prepare for college and, ultimately, succeed in college.
Reducing Class Size In Early Grades. The President proposed a $12.4 billion, seven-year initiative to help
local schools reduce class size in grades 1-3 from a national average of 22 to 18 students. Through this program,
ACCOMLG.WPD
Page 3
local schools will be able to hire an additional 100,000 well-prepared teachers. Funding also will be provided to
states for teacher training and to require new teachers to pass state competency tests.
Education Opportunity Zones. The President proposed $1.5 billion, over five years, to bolster
reform efforts by high-poverty urban and rural school districts that demonstrate both a commitment
to and a track record in improving educational achievement. Funds will be used to improve
accountability, turn around failing schools, recognize outstanding teachers, deal with ineffective
ones and expand public school choice. Added investments in these communities will accelerate
progress and provide successful models of system-wide, standards-based reform.
Getting Good Teachers to Underserved Areas. Responding to the need for a diverse and excellent
teaching force, President Clinton proposed a $350 million program to attract talented people of all
backgrounds to teach at low-income schools across the nation. The funding also will be used to
dramatically improve the quality of training given to future teachers. This new program will help
bring nearly 35,000 new teachers into high-poverty schools in urban and rural areas over the next
five years. In addition, it will upgrade the quality of teacher preparation at institutions of higher
education that work in partnership with inner-city and poor rural area schools.
High Hopes for America's Youth. The High Hopes initiative would provide $140 million in FY 1999
to encourage degree-granting colleges to establish partnerships with middle and junior high schools
with large numbers of low-income children. Working with parents, community members, religious
groups, and businesses, these partnerships provide information about what it means and takes to
go to college as well as about available support services -- such as mentoring, tutoring, college
visits, summer programs, after-school activities, and counseling -- to help young people stay in
school, study hard and go on to college.
School Construction and Modernization. To address the crucial issue of school construction, the
President proposed federal tax credits to pay interest on nearly $22 billion in bonds to build and
renovate public schools largely in the 100 - 120 school districts with the greatest number of
low-income children. This more than doubles the assistance proposed last year. In addition, the
President's FY 1999 budget proposes a 59 percent increase in funding for construction, facilities
improvement, and repair of Native American schools.
Economic Opportunity
Increasing Capital to Minority Businesses. Vice President Gore announced an unprecedented
agreement between SBA and the "Big Three" U.S. automakers to increase subcontracting awards
to minority businesses by nearly $3 billion over the next three years a 50 percent increase over
current levels.
Tapping the Potential of America's Urban and Rural Communities. The President's FY 99 budget
includes $400 million nearly triple the FY 98 appropriation -- for a new Community Empowerment
Fund (CEF) that is expected to leverage an estimated $2 billion in private-sector loans to help
communities invest in businesses and create jobs.
Supporting Minority Business Communities. Vice President Gore unveiled aggressive plans to increase lending
and business services to the African-American and Hispanic business community, nationwide. The SBA has set a
goal of providing an estimated total of $1.86 billion in loans to African-American small businesses over a
three-year period and $2.5 billion worth of loans to Hispanic-owned businesses by the year 2000.
Empowerment Zones (Round III. The President's FY 99 budget provides $150 million a year for 10
years to fund 15 new urban Empowerment Zones (EZS) and $20 million a year for 10 years to fund
five new rural EZS. The funds will be used for economic and social development activities in
ACCOMLG. WPD
Page 4
distressed communities.
Access to Jobs. The Access to Jobs initiative, proposed by President Clinton, will provide
resources to assist states and communities that develop solutions such as vanpools and late-night
and weekend service -- to help individuals with job-related transportation needs. Access to Jobs
will leverage other transportation resources by requiring a dollar-for-dollar match. The transportation
bill passed by Congress provides up to $150 million a year for this initiative.
Welfare-to-Work Housing Vouchers. The President's FY 99 budget includes $283 million for
50,000 new vouchers exclusively for people who need housing assistance to make the transition
from welfare to work. Local agencies would have flexibility to design and operate the
welfare-to-work voucher program within broad national guidelines, encouraging maximum local
creativity and innovation. Families could use the housing vouchers to move closer to a new job or
secure more stable housing.
Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI). The Administration has requested a $45
million increase in CDFI funding (from $80 million to $125 million) to allow the Fund to provide
additional financial assistance and expand its training and technical assistance initiative.
Opportunity Areas for Out of School Youth. Proposed in the President's FY 1998 budget, the
Youth Opportunity Areas Initiative will provide $250 million in seed-capital grants to Empowerment
Zones, Enterprise Communities and other high-poverty areas to boost the employment rate among
out-of-school youth. The Administration is working with Congress to ensure enactment of job
training reform legislation that will secure funding for this important initiative.
Expanded Youthbuild. This program provides high school dropouts between the ages of 16 and 24
with academic and job-skills training, as well as apprenticeships building and rehabilitating
affordable housing. The President's FY 99 budget requests $45 million for Youthbuild.
Housing
Expand Low Income Housing Tax Credit by 40 Percent. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
annually allocates to each state low-income housing tax credits equal to $1.25 per resident. This
limit has not been adjusted since the credit was created in 1986. As a result, the purchasing
power of the credit has declined by 40 percent. To adjust for that, the President's FY 99 budget
calls for increasing the limit by 40 percent to $1.75 per capita, at a cost of $1.6 billion over five
years. This expansion of credit will help to develop as many as 180,000 additional affordable
rental units over the next five years.
"Play-by-the-Rules" Homeownership Initiative. The FY 99 budget for the Neighborhood
Reinvestment Corporation includes $25 million for a new initiative that would make homeownership
more accessible to families who have a good rental history but have difficulty purchasing a home.
Under this initiative, 10,000 lower-income and minority families who are currently renting would be
provided with homeownership counseling and training, assistance with down payments or closing
costs, or second mortgage loans for debt reduction.
Homeownership, Zones. The President's FY 99 budget includes $25 million for Homeownership
Zones, abandoned housing and distressed neighborhoods that communities could use the funding to
reclaim. Funds could be used for property acquisition, demolition, site preparation, housing
construction or rehabilitation, homeownership counseling, relocation, and activities to further fair
housing and homeownership.
Regional Opportunity Counseling. Under this program, public housing authorities partner with
ACCOMLG.WP
Page 5
nonprofit organizations to provide counseling to Section 8 certificate and voucher holders to ensure
that they are aware of the full range of housing options. This program recruits landlords to accept
Section 8 families. HUD allocated $36.7 million for 16 regional opportunity counseling sites in FY
96. Last year, the President unsuccessfully requested an additional $20 million to expand the
program to new sites. The Administration has again requested a $20 million increase in funding for
FY 99.
Incentive to Reduce Concentrations of Housing Certificate and Voucher Families. The President's
FY 99 budget provides HUD the option to offer bonuses to Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) for
increasing the number of Section 8 voucher and certificate holders who move to less-distressed
areas. These bonuses would encourage PHAs to identify more housing options for voucher and
certificate holders.
Crime
Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Grants to Underserved Areas. The President
announced a COPS program to increase police presence and community policing in neighborhoods
where the need is greatest. Under this initiative, 18 cities will share $106 million to hire 620 new
community policing officers. The pilot cities were selected following an analysis of crime,
demographic and economic data. The 18 cities chosen face some of the highest per population
levels of crime and/or economic distress in the United States.
Community Prosecutors: The President's FY 99 budget includes $50 million for grants to promote
community prosecution, which builds on effective community policing strategies. The funds will
enable local prosecutors across the country to play a more active role in crime fighting by spending
more time in their neighborhoods, both helping to solve crimes and preventing them before they
happen.
Fighting Hate Crimes. On November 10, 1997, the President and Attorney General Janet Reno
hosted the first White House Conference on Hate Crimes, which featured experts and law
enforcement officers from around the country. The President announced significant law
enforcement and prevention initiatives to get tough on hate crimes, including: support for
legislation to expand the federal hate crimes law to cover crimes based on sexual orientation,
gender, or disability; the creation of a network of local hate crime working groups; the addition of
approximately 50 FBI agents and federal prosecutors to enforce hate crimes laws; improved
collection of data on hate crimes; and the production of materials to educate the public -- especially
youth -- about hate crimes.
Indian Country Law Enforcement. The President's FY 99 budget proposes a $182 million initiative,
led by the Justice and Interior departments, to address the public safety crisis in Indian country.
The initiative will strengthen Indian country law enforcement, primarily, by providing anti-crime
grants to Indian jurisdictions, increasing the number of officers per capita and improving the quality
of detention facilities.
Health
Eliminating Ethnic Health Disparities. President Clinton announced a $400 million effort initiative
that sets a national goal of eliminating, by the year 2010, longstanding disparities in the health
status of racial and ethnic minority groups in six key health areas: infant mortality; diabetes;
cancer screening and management; heart disease; AIDS; and immunizations. Currently, for
example, African Americans suffer from diabetes at 70 percent higher rates than white Americans,
while Native Americans suffer from diabetes at nearly three times the average rate. Vietnamese
women suffer from cervical cancer at nearly five times the rate of white women, and Latinos have
ACCOMLG WPD
Page 6
two to three times the rate of stomach cancer as white Americans. The President announced a
five-step plan -- led by Surgeon General and Assistant Secretary for Health Dr. David Satcher to
mobilize the resources and expertise of the Federal government, the private sector, and local
communities.
Children's Health Outreach. Minority children make up a disproportionate number of the over 10
million uninsured children. African-American children make up 25 percent and Hispanic children
make up 30 percent of all uninsured children more than twice their percentage of the overall
population. The President's budget proposes options for states to access higher Federal matching
funds for outreach activities and to temporarily enroll children at sites like schools.
Child Care
Child Care and Development Block Grant. The President's budget provides $7.5 billion in block
grants to help working families afford safe, high-quality child care. These new funds will double
the number of children in low and moderate-income families receiving child care subsidies to two
million by the year 2002.
After-School Programs. The President has proposed expanding the 21st Century Learning Fund by
$800 million over five years. These start-up funds would generate additional school-community
partnerships to establish before- and after-schools programs, allowing 4,000 schools across the
country to implement programs for up to 500,000 children each year.
Early Learning Fund. The President's FY 99 budget would establish a five-year, $3 billion fund for
community grants to promote early childhood development and improve child care quality for young
children.
ENGAGING AMERICANS IN A BROAD AND CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE
Presidential Dialogues. On April 14, 1998, the President held his second national conversation on
Race in Houston, Texas. The town hall session, focusing on race and sports, was broadcast by
ESPN. President Clinton's first national dialogue on race relations took place on December 3, 1997
in Akron, Ohio, and was broadcast nationally by C-Span. Advisory Board members, Cabinet
members and senior Administration officials hosted more than ninety "watch parties," which were
organized around the nation to observe the Akron Town Meeting. On Capitol Hill, Congresswoman
Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and Congressman Tom Davis (R-VA) sponsored a mini-Town-Hall for
the D.C. area. On July 8, the President will join Jim Lehrer for a nationally televised conversation
on race on PBS.
Advisory Board. The Advisory Board to the President's Initiative on Race is actively involved in
public outreach efforts to engage Americans across the nation in this historic effort. To date, the
Advisory Board has held eight public meetings in five states and the District of Columbia. The
meetings have covered topics ranging from education and housing to employment and the
administration of justice. Board members also have individually participated in several hundred
meetings with a wide cross-section of communities and constituencies.
Studying Race. In May, the President's Initiative on Race announced that the National Research Council (NRC),
the research arm of the National Academy of Sciences, will coordinate studies by prominent researchers on a
range of topics related to race, including demographic trends. The work will include findings on whites, blacks,
American Indians, Hispanics and Asian Pacific Americans. The project will culminate with a major research
conference in October in Washington D.C.
American Indians/Alaska Natives. American Indians and Alaska Natives have been integrated into
ACCOMLG WPD
Page 7
the work of the Initiative as panelists at Advisory Board meetings and in special Tribal leaders
meetings hosted by the Initiative. Advisory Board members and Initiative staff have participated in
regional and national conferences hosted by American Indians and Alaska Natives to hear directly
from Indian country. In addition., the Administration successfully fought back proposed legislation
that would have ended sovereign immunity for tribes and, in May, the President issued an executive
order strengthening government-to-government relationships between the tribes and the US.
Presidential Meeting With Conservative Writers and Academics. When President Clinton launched
his Race Initiative, he called for a national dialogue that includes views from a wide array of people.
On December 19, President Clinton brought together a group of conservatives -- including Ward
Connerly, Abigail and Stephen Thernstrom, Linda Chavez and Elaine Chao -- to continue the
dialogue and listen to their opinions on race relations in America.
Sparking Dialogue. The Race Initiative has prompted innumerable conversations about race around
the country, highlighted by an April "Month of Dialogue." During April, 600 colleges and
universities were engaged in a campus week of dialogue, organizing hundreds of race-related
events across the nation. On April 30, 41 governors, 22 mayors and more than 100 local YWCAs
engaged in dialogues on race during a statewide day of dialogue.
Conversations That Bring Us Together. As part of the Initiative, the Administration launched a
program that enlists Administration appointees, Advisory Board members, Cabinet members and
Race Initiative staff to host conversations in cities throughout the nation. Thousands have taken
part in these conversations in cities across the country.
Super Bowl XXXII PSA. In a unique partnership, the White House and the National Football League
teamed up to create a public service announcement for President Clinton's Initiative on Race. The
PSA aired before an estimated audience of 140 million people prior to the 1998 Superbowl kick-off.
The spot highlighted examples of players from different racial and ethnic backgrounds coming
together for a common goal. President Clinton reminded all Americans that we are on the same
team and that, through working together, we can build one America.
Informing The Nation. For the first time in history, the President's Economic Report to Congress
included an entire chapter devoted to reviewing trends in racial and ethnic economic inequality.
HIGHLIGHTING PROMISING PRACTICES THAT ARE WORKING TO BUILD ONE AMERICA
Highlighting Promising Practices. One of the critical elements of the Race Initiative is identifying
and highlighting local and national efforts to promote racial reconciliation. The Race Initiative is
compiling an extensive listing of "promising practices," which are working to bring people together
as one America. To date, 150 such promising practices have been identified, and the list continues
to grow.
Making Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday A "Day On" Instead of A "Day Off." In 1994, President
Clinton signed into law the King Holiday and Service Act making the national holiday a day of
service that would bring people together, promote racial cooperation and help to solve problems
through citizen action. This year the Corporation for National Service provided $225,000 in grants
to 73 sites across the nation to help spur service projects on MLK Day. On January 19, in honor of
Martin Luther King Day, President Clinton helped paint classrooms at Cardozo High School in
Washington, D.C. Vice President Gore addressed the congregation at Ebenezer Baptist Church in
Atlanta, Georgia. The First Lady read to children in Washington, D.C. Also, 12 Cabinet
Secretaries, agency administrators, members of the Race Initiative's Advisory Board, and other
White House and Administration staff joined in celebrating Dr. King's birthday by participating in
ACCOMLG WPD
Page 8
community service events.
First Lady Highlights Boston "Team Harmony" Promising Practice. To highlight successful
community efforts, Mrs. Clinton joined forces with the Boston-based Team Harmony Foundation to
talk with high school students in Boston and Washington, D.C., about ways to prevent prejudice.
More than 8000 Boston youth participated in Mrs. Clinton's visit, and over 2,000 young people
attended the Washington, D.C. event. As a result of the First Lady's events, Team Harmony has
had requests to expand its program to New York, Chicago, Atlanta and Los Angeles.
RECRUITING LEADERS TO HELP BUILD ONE AMERICA
Calling On Wall Street To Invest In Untapped Potential Of Our Diversity. On January 15, 1998,
President Clinton joined Reverend Jesse L. Jackson for the "Wall Street Project" conference at the World Trade
Center in New York City. The President told business executives that Wall Street must "draw on the talent and
diversity of all our people in communities long bypassed by capital but full of potential." Treasury Secretary
Robert E. Rubin, Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, and Securities and Exchange Commission
Chairman Arthur Levitt Jr. also participated in the event.
Mobilizing Business Leaders. On April 2, 1998, Vice President Gore announced a series of business
roundtable discussions, during an appearance on Black Entertainment Television(BET). This series
will be chaired by the Vice President and will consist of four meetings with business leaders to
discuss issues involving minorities and the business world.
Holding Corporate Forums Across the Country. Hundreds of corporate leaders have participated in
corporate forums organized by the Initiative, in conjunction with members of the President's
Cabinet. These forums have taken place across the country from Florida to Arizona to California.
Partnering With Universities. The American Council on Education (ACE) and the Association of
American Colleges and Universities (AACU) have teamed up with the Race Initiative to encourage
colleges and universities to conduct special programs focusing on race and diversity in American
society. The combined membership of ACE and AACU includes approximately 2000 colleges and
universities, more than half of the accredited, degree-granting institutions in America.
Reaching Out To Religious Leaders. The Advisory Board has joined with the religious community
to organize the national faith community, which has so often been at the forefront of this issue.
The Initiative has sponsored forums in New Orleans and Louisville, Kentucky, for hundreds of
religious leaders.
Outreach to the American Indians. In meetings in Washington, D.C., and around the country, Tribal
leaders have offered their advice and recommendations about the unique challenges American
Indians face in building one America. The Initiative is identifying Tribal leaders who are working in
their own communities to respond to these challenges.
Public Service Announcement Released. On December 2, 1997, the President's Initiative on Race
released a public service announcement developed in conjunction with the Leadership Conference
on Education Fund and the Ad Council. The PSA challenges youth to become more active in
fighting racism and prejudice. It also encourages them to tell President Clinton what they are
doing to improve race relations in America.
Call To Action To Young Leaders. On November 28, 1997, the President sent a letter to 25,000
high school senior class presidents, college and university class presidents, and other young leaders
from national and local organizations. In the letter, President Clinton issued a call to action by
ACCOMLG WPD
Page 9
requesting young people commit to participate in at least one project aimed at moving our country
closer together. Hundreds of youth leaders from across the country have responded to the
President's call. Many of these youth activities are being highlighted as promising practices on the
One America Website at http://www.whitehouse.gov/initiatives/oneamerica.
Vice President Briefing With Youth Media. On December 1, 1997, the Vice President hosted a
briefing at the White House for youth-oriented and specialty media, such as Vibe Magazine, MTV
and Univision. At the briefing, the Vice President spoke about the Race Initiative's emphasis on
youth, and he called on the media representatives to find ways to use their creative energies to
reach young people on the subject of race.
(Accomplishments Document as of June 10, 1998)
June 22, 1998
MEMORANDUM FOR: SYLVIA MATHEWS
FROM:
NELSON REYNERI, JR.
SUBJECT:
CARRY THE TIGER TO THE MOUNTAIN
Ed Herendeen and Chris Kuser have been working hard to try to make the Town Hall on
the performing arts and race successful. Below is an update on their status, as well as some
possible ideas whereby we may support them.
Status Update on the Town Hall
IDEAS FOR ADMINISTRATION HELP
POTUS or VPOTUS video
What do you think of this idea? They would show it sometime during the Town Hall. It
would be a big thing for them and help ameliorate their feelings about not getting a principal.
Your Role
Are you still planning to attend? If so, what role, if any, do you want to play, eg, speak,
moderate, panel member. What kind of logistical needs do you anticipate, eg, place to stay,
staying for dinner, bringing a friend.
PIR role
Mike Wenger has been their main point of contact, with Lin Lui assisting. Here are some
ideas in how the PIR can help them:
- preperation: as they develop the Town Hall, the PIR can both assist them directly as well
as put them in touch with others who have developed Town Halls.
- attendance: Angela Oh
- followup:
Besides placing them
- Administration
- moderator
- Oprah
- covereage
- print
- TV
- timeline
June 19, 1998
Mr. William Ivey
Chair,
National Endowment for the Arts
Nancy Hanks Center
1100 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20506-0001
Dear Mr. Ivey:
On behalf of Cecil Underwood, Governor of West Virginia, and the trustees
of the Contemporary American Theater Festival, I respectfully invite your
participation as a panelist for an upcoming Town Hall Meeting on the
Performing Arts and Race, to be held on the afternoon of Sunday, July 19 in
Shepherdstown, West Virginia.
This Town Hall Meeting is being convened at the eighth annual Contemporary
American Theater Festival and will be hosted by Governor Cecil Underwood
Angela Oh, member of the President's Advisory Board on Race, is confirmed
to participate as a panelist, and the balance of the panel (6-8 members)
will be drawn from the nation's performing arts community. The event will
be televised on West Virginia Public Television. President Clinton is
invited.
The panel will be asked to consider the role that the performing arts must
play in advancing a national dialogue on race as well as issues of race
within the professional performing arts community. As chair of the NEA,
your participation would clearly help us to elevate the level of this
discussion to the national scope to which we aspire.
In addition to Ms. Oh, two other panelists have confirmed: George Takei
(actor, of Star Trek fame) and Helen Zia (commentator & journalist;
contributing editor, Ms. Magazine). We are working with Ben Cameron
(executive director, Theater Communications Group) and Bonnie Brooks
(executive director, Dance/USA) to identify representatives from the
theater and dance communities. We would also like a representative from
the music community, though if you should be able to join us then perhaps
you could fill that role, given your background.
The idea for this Town Hall Meeting springs from a new play, commissioned
by CATF in response to President Clinton's call for a national dialogue on
race: Carry the Tiger to the Mountain by Cherylene Lee. The play concerns
the Vincent Chin civil rights case of the 1980's, and earlier this year we
sent a copy to Sylvia Mathews, Deputy Chief of Staff at the White House.
We suggested that the President's Advisory Board on Race would make a
strong statement about the role that the arts can play in promoting a
national dialogue on race if some of its members would attend a play that
was commissioned in response to the President's Initiative on Race. This
suggestion was warmly received, and our proposal soon developed into the
current plan to convene a Town Hall Meeting on the Performing and Race
following a special matinee performance of the play. We are very
enthusiastic about this opportunity, and we are confident that both the
play and the Town Hall Meeting will make substantive contributions toward
advancing the goals of the President's Initiative on Race.
The schedule for the day is compact and, because of Shepherdstown's proximity to DC (only 60
miles out of town), would hopefully allow you to make an easy day trip of it.
Sunday, July 19 in Shepherdstown, WV
noon
luncheon for panelists and special guests (location TBA)
2-4pm
attend Carry the Tiger to the Mountain (CATF, Frank Theater)
4-4:30
break - WV Public Television sets up
4:30-6pm
Town Hall Meeting on the Performing Arts and Race (Frank Theater)
6pm
public barbecue on the lawn in front of the Frank Theater
On behalf of Governor Underwood and all of us working to make this Town
Hall Meeting on the Performing Arts and Race a success for our community
and nation, I thank you for considering this opportunity and hope you will
be able to join us on July 19. I will be eager to hear from you.
Sincerely,
Chris Kuser
Managing Director
304-876-3304 direct line
cc:
Governor Cecil Underwood
Senator Robert S. Byrd
Senator John D. Rockefeller IV
Congressman Bob Wise
ckuser @ shepherd.wvnet.edu
06/20/98 08:57:00 AM
Record Type:
Record
To:
Nelson Reyneri
CC:
Subject: invitation to William Ivey
MEMO
To:
Nelson Reyneri
Mike Wenger
From: Chris Kuser
Contemporary American Theater Festival
304-876-3304
A hard copy of the following letter is in the mail to Mr. Ivey. Any help
you can lend us in encouraging Mr. Ivey to accept this invitation would be
appreciated. If you have questions, please give me a call. Thanks. -CK
June 19, 1998
Mr. William Ivey
Chair,
National Endowment for the Arts
Nancy Hanks Center
1100 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20506-0001
Dear Mr. Ivey:
On behalf of Cecil Underwood, Governor of West Virginia, and the trustees
of the Contemporary American Theater Festival, I respectfully invite your
participation as a panelist for an upcoming Town Hall Meeting on the
Performing Arts and Race, to be held on the afternoon of Sunday, July 19 in
Shepherdstown, West Virginia.
This Town Hall Meeting is being convened at the eighth annual Contemporary
American Theater Festival and will be hosted by Governor Cecil Underwood.
Angela Oh, member of the President's Advisory Board on Race, is confirmed
to participate as a panelist, and the balance of the panel (6-8 members)
will be drawn from the nation's performing arts community. The event will
be televised on West Virginia Public Television. President Clinton is
invited.
The panel will be asked to consider the role that the performing arts must
play in advancing a national dialogue on race as well as issues of race
within the professional performing arts community. As chair of the NEA,
your participation would clearly help us to elevate the level of this
discussion to the national scope to which we aspire.
In addition to Ms. Oh, two other panelists have confirmed: George Takei
(actor, of Star Trek fame) and Helen Zia (commentator & journalist;
contributing editor, Ms. Magazine). We are working with Ben Cameron
(executive director, Theater Communications Group) and Bonnie Brooks
(executive director, Dance/USA) to identify representatives from the
theater and dance communities. We would also like a representative from
the music community, though if you should be able to join us then perhaps
you could fill that role, given your background.
The idea for this Town Hall Meeting springs from a new play, commissioned
by CATF in response to President Clinton's call for a national dialogue on
race: Carry the Tiger to the Mountain by Cherylene Lee. The play concerns
the Vincent Chin civil rights case of the 1980's, and earlier this year we
sent a copy to Sylvia Mathews, Deputy Chief of Staff at the White House.
We suggested that the President's Advisory Board on Race would make a
strong statement about the role that the arts can play in promoting a
national dialogue on race if some of its members would attend a play that
was commissioned in response to the President's Initiative on Race. This
suggestion was warmly received, and our proposal soon developed into the
current plan to convene a Town Hall Meeting on the Performing and Race
following a special matinee performance of the play. We are very
enthusiastic about this opportunity, and we are confident that both the
play and the Town Hall Meeting will make substantive contributions toward
advancing the goals of the President's Initiative on Race.
The schedule for
the day is compact and, because of Shepherdstown's proximity to DC (only 60
miles out of town), would hopefully allow you to make an easy day trip of it.
Sunday, July 19 in Shepherdstown, WV
noon
luncheon for panelists and special guests (location TBA)
2-4pm
attend Carry the Tiger to the Mountain (CATF, Frank Theater)
4-4:30
break - WV Public Television sets up
4:30-6pm
Town Hall Meeting on the Performing Arts and Race (Frank Theater)
6pm
public barbecue on the lawn in front of the Frank Theater
On behalf of Governor Underwood and all of us working to make this Town
Hall Meeting on the Performing Arts and Race a success for our community
and nation, I thank you for considering this opportunity and hope you will
be able to join us on July 19. I will be eager to hear from you.
Sincerely,
Chris Kuser
Managing Director
304-876-3304 direct line
Carry the Tiger to the Mountain
by
Cherylene Lee
All rights reserved
Contact:
Bruce Ostler
Bret Adams, Ltd.
448 W. 44th St.
New York, NY 10036
212/765-5630
CONTEMPORARY
AMERICAN THEATER
FESTIVAL
Commissioned by:
The Contemporary American Theater Festival
Ed Herendeen, Producing Director
Chris Kuser
Managing Director
P.O. Box 429
Shepherdstown
WV 25443
Ph. 304-876-3473
Fx. 304-876-9317
http://www.catf.org
CARRY THE TIGER TO THE MOUNTAIN (w.t.)
by
Cherylene Lee
CAST OF CHARACTERS
CAR SALESMAN/BOUNCER/JUDGES - white male, 40ish
DAVID CHIN/FORTUNE TELLER WONG/SIFU - Asian-American male, 70s
does Tai Chi
HANNAH HSU- Asian-American female, 27
LILY CHIN - Asian-American female, 60s, does Tai Chi
VINCENT CHIN - Asian-American male, early-mid 20s, does Tai Chi
PATTI LIN/EVA LOUIE/ FA MU LAN- Asian-American Female, mid-20s,
does Chinese sword play.
EVANS - white male, 45ish
STETZ - Evans' stepson, white male, 20ish
KATZ/CUSTOMER #1/POLICEMAN/DOCTOR - lawyer, white male, mid 30s
TOMMY/ CUSTOMER #2/CLERK- Vincents' best man, male of color, mid
20s
EDSEL GIRL/SHOWGIRL/NURSE - white female, 30ish
*Playwright's note. Once the play begins, it should be in continuous motion,
just as the movements in Tai Chi never come to a complete stop until the set
is finished. This play is based on a true incident which took place in Detroit,
1982, though some names have been changed to protect both the innocent
and the guilty.
1
PROLOGUE
(In the dark)
JUDGE (v.o.)
I hereby sentence you to three years probation, and to pay fines and court costs
totalling $3,780. Case dismissed.
(Sound of gavel. A screen lights up with a slide of a new 1982 American car.
A white car salesman in a pool of light near the screen )
CAR SALESMAN
Three thousand seven hundred and eighty dollars. That's all? Well, you
can't get a new car for that, forget it. Payments over three years, hell, that's
only (he calculates) $125 a month, hardly pays for the paper work. (The slide
disappears) But how about a used car, two years old, low mileage, mint
condition, original owners-we only sell cars from original owners, you
know. (Slides of cars appear as they're mentioned) A 1980 Oldsmobile air
conditioned, power steering, power brakes, all new upholstry. A 1980 Ford
Maverick, 4-door, AM-FM radio, power everything, including windows, a
1980 Citation, gets great gas mileage, excellent condition. And here's
something else you can get...(A slide of Vincent Chin, brain dead, head in
bandages) Uh, that was a mistake. (Slide disappears quickly. a pause ) No,
absolutely not. We don't sell any imports. This is an American dealership.
American. Got it? This is Detroit. Motor City, US of A. You want one of those
unsafe, ugly, boxy, poorly made pieces of Jap shit which are putting us all
outta work? Hey, you can take your lousy three thousand bucks and shove it
up your
2
(Fade out on car sales man. Fade up on Lily Chin, mid 60s, a Chinese-
American woman in a pool of light. She is dressed in black. She is doing Tai
Chi to calm herself, to meditate, to take her mind off her problems. She does
the first few moves slowly, trying to breathe deeply, until she gets to the Lady
Looking at the Mirror movement. She freezes, staring at her outstretched
palm)
LILY
Lady looking at Mirror. What does she see?
(Hannah, a young Chinese-American woman enters the pool of light also
dressed in black. She is gentle, respectful. Lily stays frozen in her position.)
HANNAH
Mrs. Chin. It's time.
LILY
I didn't teach him. If he knew. Must keep both feet planted, keep horse even,
shift weight, this hand goes for throat, keep tongue to roof of mouth, let life
force move to fingernail, sharp like ax to wood I didn't teach him, Hannah.
HANNAH
The limousine is outside.
LILY
Mama coming, Vincent, mama coming.
3
(Lights fade down on Lily Chin as she and Hannah exit. Music of DANCING
IN THE STREETS or identifable Motown sound. In another pool of light, two
white men, one holding baseball bat, and Vincent Chin, a young Chinese
man stand together. They start facing the audience, doing in unison the same
opening movement Lily used in Tai Chi. Then in slow motion they turn to
confront each other. They struggle in slow motion. Vincent is grabbed by one
white man, he is held with his arms behind him. The other white man
approaches with base ball bat swinging it like a sword in Chinese Opera
fashion. Lights fade.)
END OF PROLOGUE
4
ACT I
(A white car salesman dressed in 1940s clothes with a hat, stands in front of a
slide of a 1946 Packard)
CAR SALESMAN
Looking for a reliable car to fit the whole family? One that goes zero to fifty
miles per hour in less time than it takes to say, (slowly ) "We not only won
the war, we're on the road of the American Dream. " This is the car for
taking Gramps, little Martha, and your favorite nephew for a spin. Gotta a
job in the next town over? Arrive in comfort. The family automobile built
for the future in
(Lights come up on a scrim behind which stands a young Lily Chin in China,
1946, reading a letter from David, her husband to be, in America. We cannot
see Lily's face, but we see her dressed in a Chinese Wedding outfit. We hear
David's words from the letter overlapping with the CAR SALESMAN)
CAR SALESMAN/DAVID (v.o.)
This land of opportunity, promise, and hope
(Light fades on CAR SALESMAN, but remains on Lily behind the scrim as
she continues preparing her wedding dress.)
5
DAVID (v.o.)
I know you will like it here. After so many years of waiting, I am finally able
to honor our family's arrangement and bring you to America, my bride. I
will be there to welcome you when the ship docks in San Francisco. From
there, I have booked passage on the Silver Comet to Detroit where I have
started my own business, the Chin Family Laundry, a thriving enterprise to
support many future sons. I enclose a photograph of myself. Will you send
me one of you? I imagine you to be a patient, everlasting flower waiting to
bloom in these United States.
(Lights fade on Lily. Lights come up on David Chin, an infirm Chinese-
American man in his late 70s. It is 1975, the Chin home. He is dressed in a
bathrobe, barefoot, walking slowly with a cane, carrying a single sock, he has
recently had kidney stone surgery, and is somewhat delusional and cranky
from his medication, mixing up people and times. He is searching for his
sock, after a few cursory glances around)
DAVID (calling out)
Lily, I can't find my sock. (to himself) What good is one sock without its
mate? LILY. LILY.
(A few beats. Hannah enters carrying a pair of socks, David doesn't see her)
HANNAH
Will these do?
6
DAVID
You can't be Lily. You're, you're young.
HANNAH
I'm Hannah Hsu, community center volunteer, remember? Did the doctor
say you could get out of bed, Mr. Chin?
(She helps him to sit, she hands him socks, he hands them back.)
DAVID
I don't take socks from strangers.
HANNAH (handing socks back)
But you owned a laundry once, Mrs. Chin told me. Here, let me, you
shouldn't be walking barefoot.
(She begins to put socks on his feet, he refuses to let her, always doing the
opposite of what she asks.)
DAVID
I don't like strangers playing with my feet.
HANNAH
Your wife had to go out. She asked me to stay with you until she or Vincent
returned.
7
DAVID
You're nothing like the photograph at all.
HANNAH
Photograph?
DAVID
Right on the dock, in front of everyone. (mimicking a woman's voice) "But
you look so different." That meant old. I sent a picture of me at my best. To
give a young girl someone to look forward to. Young, handsome, I was
young and handsome at 21.
HANNAH
I'm sure. Left foot?
DAVID
"You look so different." Disappointed. Again.
HANNAH
Right foot?
DAVID
Was it my fault? Hard work, lots of sweat, and there was the war. So I
exaggerated a little in letters. (he looks closely at Hannah) Did you think I was
a big shot? United States citizen, a high class mucky-muck?
8
HANNAH
I'm not your wife, Mr. Chin, I'm just trying to help you-
DAVID
Were you more disappointed in me or my laundry? Or because I was not
rich?
HANNAH
Maybe you should lie down some more. You've only been out of the hospital
for a week.
DAVID
It wasn't my fault. I kept my promises as best I could. Land of opportunity,
hope. And Lily, it could have been your fault too, the doctor said but we got
Vincent anyway, eh? A fine boy, but I wish he wouldn't be so car crazy. All
the time, car this, car that, you have to tell him, (loudly) "Son, Life is not a
car."
HANNAH
Don't get all worked up, Mr. Chin. It can't be good for your stitches. Try to
stay-
DAVID
I don't want stitches, woman, I want socks. Two socks. Mates. A sock needs a
mate. Like my legs, one good, one, not so good. But without two, very hard
to get around. (Calling out) LILY? LILY-
9
HANNAH
She's not back, yet, Mr. Chin. Why don't you lie down and relax, I'll get you
some jook, Mrs. Chin made you some rice broth. Hungry?
(Lily enters, she is now in her early 60s)
LILY
Vincent not home yet, Hannah? Baba, what you doing out of bed?
DAVID
Still disappointed, huh, Lily? At least you didn't wait 20 years this time.
LILY
You talk crazy.
HANNAH
I think he's a little confused from his medication.
DAVID
Where is my mate? (he stands too quickly, a throbbing pain hits him) Oh.
(he moans, collapses onto the chair, he moans throughout the following.)
LILY
You should be in bed. Do tai-chi breathing. (she demonstrates) In, out. Slow,
in, out. It ease the pain.
10
(David moans, exhaling loudly. Vincent, at age 19 enters, carrying baseball
bat.)
VINCENT
Sorry, I'm late, Ma, you should have seen practice-(seeing Lily bent over
David) What's happened? Dad? Are you okay?
LILY
Vincent, help your father back into bed. He thinks he's young man. Doctor
say to stay in bed. He never listen. I say do tai-chi breathing, in and out. He
only want out.
VINCENT (helping David up)
Come on, Dad. Up we go, take it easy, I got you.
(As soon as Vincent touches David, David stops moaning. David leans
heavily on Vincent as they exit)
DAVID (to Lily)
Disappointed again.
HANNAH
Vincent's very good with his father.
LILY
He a good boy.
11
HANNAH
Looks like his Dad.
LILY (quickly, firmly)
No, he doesn't.
HANNAH (realizing she said a faux pas)
No maybe not. He looks like you.
LILY
You think so? Vincent always happy.
HANNAH
Like you, Mrs. Chin.
LILY
Umm. you have husband yet, Hannah?
HANNAH
No.
LILY
Boyfriend?
HANNAH
No.
12
LILY
How old?
HANNAH
I'm twenty-seven.
LILY
Not good to wait so long, Hannah. When I your age I already married,
working in Chin Family Laundry, waiting to have children. You should at
least have boyfriend by now.
HANNAH
I'm not interested in getting married Mrs. Chin. I want a career.
LILY
Career. Life is not career. Children, that is the future. You want me to find
you boyfriend? Vincent know some (pointed) older Chinese boys, have steady
jobs, engineers-
HANNAH
Thank you, but I'm still finding out what kind of work interests me.
13
LILY
In China, everyone thought I was old maid because husband didn't send for
me for twenty-four years. All my sisters had to wait for me. They couldn't
get married before me. Neighbors call us family of old maids, family of
aunties. My father thought he never see grandchildren. Whole family wait
on me to marry first.
HANNAH
And I thought I was under pressure.
LILY
Promised at three, not married until 27. (pointed) Your age. Take longer than
you think.
HANNAH
Yours was an arranged marriage? I can't imagine what that feels like.
LILY
Leave family, leave home, leave my friends to come to strange country to
marry man I don't know except for one picture? What do you think? (She
looks around to see if Vincent is listening,) Scary. But I have to keep family
promise. Husband say in letters "Land of Opportunity, American Dream" He
say we have good life together, have many children, many sons. He send me
picture, very handsome, young man, so I do my duty, I come. I leave my
home, arrive in San Francisco, but no handsome young man like picture to
greet me, only older man, one with teapot belly and hair sprouting in his
ears. Same smile, kind smile, but.
14
HANNAH
False advertising.
LILY
He was so different Laundry business not too good Detroit not so
happy we don't have children for long time
HANNAH
Until you got pregnant with Vincent. You're very lucky. (Lily remains silent)
I could never marry someone I'd never seen, let alone move to a strange
country to do it.
LILY
Better than being all alone. Old maid with career.
HANNAH
I'm not worried about that.
LILY
No? (She takes Hannah's hand, looks at her palm.) You have a good life
line. Strong like me. See? (Lily shows Hannah her palm) You live long
time. But when you my age, you see, your hands cannot work so fast, work
not enough. Career can go away. Disappear, like that (she squeezes the career
line out when the palm is bent) But see there? (she points to offspring line)
Those lines are for children, those do not disappear, no matter what.
15
(Hannah looks at her palm and compares it with Lily's)
HANNAH
Then according to your palm reading, I'm to have three children in the
future and you won't have any, but you already have Vincent. You don't
really believe in this do you? It's just superstition, Mrs. Chin.
LILY
You should find boyfriend anyway.
HANNAH
I'll pass. Call me if you need any more help with your husband. Mrs. Chin.
I'll be glad to come over.
(Hannah exits. Lily waves, then stares at her palm, looking at her children
line as lights fade.)
16
(The Car Salesman is in front of a slide of a 1956 Edsel. This time he is a
joined by a female model dressed in a 1956 evening gown as if the two were
in the 1956 Motorama in Detroit. As the car salesman speaks, the woman
poses to show off both car and her figure.)
CAR SALESMAN
This slippery-skinned sleek finned missile is powered by a dual quad V-8 rear
mounted transmission and De Dion rear suspension. Upholstered in crushed
grain Vermillion leather, it's the smoothest ride on the road, the one you've
all been waiting for. When you hold the key to this car (woman holds up car
key) you are holding your future -
CAR SALESMAN/LILY
This is your dream come true.
(Lily as a young woman in 1956 from behind the scrim. She is in western
clothes writing caligraphy to her mother in China.)
LILY
- except nothing works, mother. I do not know what is wrong. Perhaps it is
the steam of the laundry presses, perhaps the heat. I use the herbs you sent.
Mei mei says they worked for her, she has three boys now. Perhaps I am too
old. My husband is a good man, but he I am sorry I cannot come visit.
Money is scarce our savings are invested in making Edsel key chains, a sign
of good luck. I hope so. I will write if I feel any change we are still trying
17
(Lights fade on Lily. Lights up on Vincent, 20, sitting with his dad, showing
him pictures of different cars. David is in bathrobe, Vincent is dressed for his
job. It is the Chin household, 1976. David has declined further, he pays scant
attention to Vincent, he lives almost totally in the past)
VINCENT
I'm getting it with $2000 down, brand new, manual trans, fuel injection,
catalytic converter, gas mileage isn't great, but with two jobs, I can make the
payments easy, I've got insurance, ma won't even-
DAVID
NOT MY FAULT.
(David grabs the brochures from Vincent and throws them on the floor)
VINCENT
Dad-
DAVID
That Harry Teng said join the Edsel band wagon. Get an exclusive contract.
Be one of a kind. SO WHAT?
VINCENT
Dad. I didn't mean to upset you. I just wanted you to see the car I-
18
DAVID
Make the key chains of the future, he said. For the dream car, he said. You
can't go wrong with Ford, he said. Harry always made money, so I put
in
everything. EVERYTHING. Disappointed, again. (calling) Lily, LILY
(David moans as if in pain, he holds his head, Lily enters.)
VINCENT
Sorry, Ma, not one of his good days.
LILY (to David)
Close eyes, breathe slow, in, out. In, out.
(Lily uses finger accupressure on David's head)
VINCENT
I shouldn't have shown him the brochure, I just wanted him to see what I've
been saving up for-
LILY (to Vincent)
Not your fault. (to David) Not your fault. You try. That's all. (soothingly,
doing Tai Chi breathing) In, out, slowly, in, out.
(David quiets, his breathing becomes regular, he falls asleep)
LILY (to Vincent)
He say no to your car?
19
VINCENT
I don't think he knew what I was talking about.
LILY
Don't worry. Go ahead, you buy car. I help you. I get overtime at brush
factory. I get you special brush for car, I get it free.
VINCENT
Ma, you don't have to, I can pay for this. I got a second job.
LILY
Second job?
VINCENT
Frank Wong said I could wait tables at his restaurant on weekends.
LILY
Frank's father give your father restaurant job after Edsel car go downhill.
After baba lose everything. (beat, worried) What happen to first job?
VINCENT
Don't worry ma, I'm still there. Apprentice draftsman, I'm not quitting. (beat)
Wait till you see her, she rides like a dream. You and dad will be my first
passengers.
20
LILY
Don't go too fast, now, too dangerous. I never like cars go too fast. Make me
scared. That's why I never drive.
VINCENT
Well, no more buses anymore, Ma. I will take you anywhere you want to go.
Hey, I could take you and Dad on a vacation, see some sights. Wanna go to
New York? What do you think?
LILY
"See the USA, in your Chevrolet" (blows kiss) MOOAH
VINCENT
What?
LILY
You too young. You don't need take me anywhere special, Vincent. I happy
when you happy. That's all mother need. I just want you to be careful.
When you pick up car?
VINCENT
Tonight after work. Last time on the bus for me.
LILY
Never say last. Bad luck.
21
VINCENT
Okay then, my first time driving home in my own car. Finally. I can't
believe it.
LILY
Like dream come true?
VINCENT
What a pest I was when Dad drove the delivery van for the restaurant,
constantly begging him to let me sit in the drivers seat, always putting my
hands on that big steering wheel. And he told me I had to choose. I was so
little, I could either put my hands on the wheel, or I could slide down the
seat to work the pedals. Either I could make something go, or I could steer
something straight, one or the other, I couldn't do both. And it was a tough
decision, I wanted to do everything. I couldn't wait until I was old enough,
not just to reach the pedals and the steering wheel, but for the time when I'd
have my own car. Rolling down my window, putting one hand on the
steering wheel, one hand on the stickshift, one foot flooring the gas.
Knowing I could do whatever I wanted do, to finally feel feel I've waited
for so long, I can't explain it, ma.
LILY
Your feeling for car? You're like that for me. Drive safe, okay? You promise?
VINCENT
Promise.
(Lights fade)
22
(Lights up on the Car Saleman in front of a slide of a 1965 Ford Mustang.)
CAR SALESMAN
Affordable. Sporty. Fun to drive. Everything you've wanted in a car and it
looks fast just standing still. "Ford has a better idea." You asked for it
(From behind a scrim, Vincent sits completely stunned by the news of a white
female doctor. The doctor hands him a report, makes a concilliatory gesture,
Vincent doesn't respond, the doctor exits. Vincent sits alone trying to digest
the news.)
VINCENT
I asked if I could be his donor since I had two healthy kidneys. I felt so stupid
finding out from the doctor, I guess I should have realized but I was always
treated like a son-
(Lily downstage, terribly distrought, Vincent steps out from behind the scrim
to face Lily.)
LILY
YOU ARE MY SON. I don't care what doctor say. You just like flesh and
blood. Everyone say so. Everyone think you my son.
VINCENT
But I'm not, I'm adopted. Why didn't you tell me? Why did I have to find
out from a doctor?
23
LILY
Why should young boy know? Make more friends in school? Make you feel
better? Already so few Chinese here. I think maybe people tease you, say
mean things, say you are different, they stare at you like women stare at me in
China before I get married. Always whispering, gossiping, pointing,
they they pity me. I HATE IT. Old maid, no children. I pretend I don't hear. I
don't want you to feel that, feel that shame. I don't lie to you, Vincent. I
think of you as flesh and blood, I think no reason to bring it up. Does not do
you any good to hear all the bad things that happen before you come. All the
doctors, tests, how ashamed I feel. How long I wait. How long I search for
you, go agency after agency, I look for young Chinese boy, not Japanese, not
Korean, young Chinese boy. I wait six years, month after month, sometimes I
think you only dream in my head. I cannot believe you really come. My life
start when you come. When you here, we are family. I try very hard to be
good mother. I'm not bad, not bad person. You make life happy Vincent,
please do not be mad at me.
VINCENT
I'm not mad exactly, but Dad David-
LILY
Your baba, your father-
VINCENT
The man I've called Dad for the last 16 years needs a kidney. If I were his son,
his real son, I could help him.
24
LILY
You help him already. You everything to us, make us happy. You make us
family, real family. You have his name, just like flesh and blood son.
VINCENT
But my flesh and my blood don't match, Ma-(he catches himself). It's just
so
so (he's overwhelmed) I've got to think, I'm going for a drive.
(Vincent starts to leave, Lily tries to stop him)
LILY
Vincent don't drive crazy, please. I sorry I not tell you, VINCENT-
VINCENT
Don't worry, I'll be back Ma
(Vincent exits, Lily stares after him)
LILY
Promise?
(Lights fade on Lily alone)
25
(Lights up on Car Salesman. A slide of a 1979 Pontiac Firebird on the screen.
This time the Car Salesman seems, nervous, his tie is askew, he sweats, and
has to repeatedly wipe his brow. Sales of American cars are way down with
the 1979 gas shortage and rationing. Two white customers come up to the
salesman.)
CAR SALESMAN
Look at this beauty. Is she gorgeous or what? The 1979 Pontiac Firebird, bucket
seats, AM-FM stereo radio and cassette, power everything, and, and-
CUSTOMER #1
And what's the miles per gallon?
CAR SALESMAN
You can not find a more fuel efficient car on the market with this kind of-
CUSTOMER #1
The mileage?
CAR SALESMAN
Miles per gallon isn't everything, I can offer-
CUSTOMER #2
It is when you're in line at the pump.
26
CAR SALESMAN
The Firebird has class, comfort. It's safe. It's real steel, not one of those flimsey
fiberglass-
CUSTOMER #1
Less than 15?
CAR SALESMAN
We have lots of options, a dealer warranty for only-
CUSTOMER #2
Less than 12?
CAR SALESMAN
Look at the styling-
CUSTOMER #2
Who cares what the car looks like while waiting in line at the gas station?
CUSTOMER #1
How come Datsuns can do 23 miles per gallon around town when American
cars can't break 12?
(The two customers walk away, leaving the salesman staring after them.
Vincent Chin enters, looks over the car. )
27
VINCENT
Great car. I have the 1976 model. Engine still purrs.
CAR SALESMAN
You willing to testify, kid?
VINCENT
What?
CAR SALESMAN
I could really use a Japanese guy saying my car is better than any import.
VINCENT
But I'm not.
CAR SALESMAN
You just said so, you taking it back?
VINCENT
I'm not Japanese. I'm Chinese. I just want to know what the dealer trade in is
for a mint condition, pampered, waxed twice monthly, 1976 Firebird.
CAR SALESMAN
Are you a wiseass or what? I can't get rid of the new models, what the hell
would I do with an old one?
28
VINCENT
Sell it?
CAR SALESMAN
Hey, like Iaccocca says, "If you can find a better car, buy it." My motto, "If I
can't sell a better car, dump it."
VINCENT
But I don't want to dump my car, I'd just like to trade my Firebird in for
something a little less expensive-
(As soon as he hears "less expensive" the car salesman turns away from
Vincent in disgust)
CAR SALESMAN
You Japs make me sick.
(The salesman snaps his fingers and the slide of the Firebird disappears.
Vincent stands alone getting madder and madder at his dismissal by the
salesman)
VINCENT
-a little less expensive to maintain. You think I want to turn it in? You
think I like trading down? I gotta save money, my dad's really sick, I've got a
new girlfriend and and AND I'M NOT JAPANESE.
29
LILY (o.s.)
VINCENT, VINCENT, who is this Patti girl who call you all the time?
(Vincent steps into scene of Chin home, 1981. David is now in a wheelchair,
almost always unconscious. Lily pushes the wheelchair into a pool of light.
A young, pretty Chinese-American girl, Patti Lin, Vincent's soon to be fiancee
stands next to Vincent.)
VINCENT
Dad, Ma, I'd like you to meet Patti Lin.
LILY
How you do, Patti. Please excuse Vincent father, he not feeling well. (She
touches David's shoulder) David, this is one of Vincent friends, Patti.
PATTY (holding out hand)
A pleasure to meet you Mrs. Chin, Mr. Chin. Vincent's told me so much
about you.
LILY (shaking her hand)
Really? He not say too much about you.
VINCENT
Ma-
30
LILY
But Vincent hardly home these days. He work two jobs you know, always so
busy making money to take care of his father.
VINCENT
Ma-
LILY
You like cars? Where you meet Vincent?
VINCENT
Ma, Dad. I wanted you to meet Patti because, well, because she's more than a
friend to me. She's much more.
LILY
You work with Vincent? You have career?
VINCENT
Ma, I've asked Patti to marry me.
(A split second of silence)
LILY
Congratulations, children. You make me very happy. You make
grandchildren. Baba, you hear good news? Vincent marry Patti.
31
(She shakes David gently. She whispers in his ear, he seems to rouse himself
and looks directly at Patti without recognition.)
DAVID
You're not Lily. You're you're young.
(David returns to his stupor)
LILY
Don't listen to words, Patti, he confused, but he mean well. He very, very
happy for you both. I know. See how his eyes smile even when closed?
PATTI
I'm honored to become part of your family, Mr. Chin, Mrs. Chin.
VINCENT
Don't be so formal, Patti, you can call them ma and dad now.
PATTI
Thank you for your good wishes Ma.
LILY
Maybe you call me grandma instead, eh? Let me see your palm, Patti.
(Patti gives her hand to Lily)
32
LILY
Very good. Yes, very good. You have good health, strong life line, and see
here? At least three grandchildren. I help you pick names.
PATTI
Mrs. Chin Ma, we have to get married first.
LILY
You have to get married?
VINCENT
Patti means you're rushing the grandchildren a bit. We haven't even set a
date for the wedding. We'd like to have it next summer.
LILY
We go to fortune teller. He give us auspicious day for wedding. I take care of
it, don't worry.
PATTI
I'd like a June wedding, if that's all right.
LILY
June good month. Lots of people like June. We have big guest list. Four
hundred people.
PATTI
Four hundred?
33
(Patti looks at Vincent in controlled panic)
LILY
Vincent have so many friends. We have big Chinese wedding, big banquet.
Vincent, I ask Frank Wong if he close down restaurant for you so you can
have banquet there.
VINCENT
Ma, maybe we should go easy on this, even with my raise, I'm still going to-
LILY
Don't worry, I work overtime at brush factory, I help you pay for this. Can't
be cheap on wedding. How many time you get married? I want you invite all
your friends, invite their family, invite their friends, you have big, big
wedding like one your father and I couldn't have.
VINCENT
You don't have to -
LILY
When we get married, only ones there were three workers from Chin
laundry business. My family in China, David family in China, no one to
celebrate, no money for banquet. But for you, Vincent, I order all your
favorite dish, steamed bass with black bean sauce, whole roast suckling pig,
beggars chicken in clay pot, anything you and Patti want.
34
PATTI
That's very generous of you, Mrs. Chin Ma Mom.
LILY
We have special dress made for you, Patti. Show off all your gum hay,
wedding jewelry. And father have special Chinese locket for Vincent. He get
from his father to give to son for wedding day to lock out all bad fortune. (to
David) Time to give him brass locket, eh?
(Lily leans over David to whisper in his ear. David is slumped in his
wheelchair and doesn't respond. )
LILY
Time for locket, baba. Your son getting married. (she nudges him gently)
Baba? You hear? Pretty soon you be grandfather? Goon goon, eh? (no
answer) It's Lily, wake up, it's Lily, it's time-
VINCENT
Dad DAD? (to Patti) Call an ambulance, quick.
(Patti rushes out. Lily stands over David stroking his head, Vincent kneels in
front of his father. Their dialog overlaps.)
LILY
Do tai-chi breathing, In, out. Slowly. In, out. Ease pain. In, out. In, out.
35
VINCENT
Dad, it's Vincent, your son, Dad. Wait, please, not yet, please, not yet. Dad?
(The sound of a Buddhist bell is heard. Vincent and Lily freeze. The bell is
rung long and repeatedly as it would be at a funeral. During the ringing of the
bell, two men dressed as emergency ambulance workers enter and pick up
David and the wheelchair, and exit with David's body. As the bell continues,
Patti enters with a black jacket for Vincent and a black coat for Lily. Patti helps
Vincent up from his kneeling position and helps him put on his black jacket.
They embrace. Patti and Vincent help Lily put on her black coat. Patti
embraces Lily, then Vincent embraces Lily. Lily gives Vincent the Chinese
brass locket which David would have given to Vincent. She puts it around
his neck. Patti and Vincent exit, leaving Lily alone facing audience. The bell
ringing ends.)
(A moment of still silence, then in a pool of light Lily begins a set of Tai Chi,
we hear her inhaling and exhaling, as she slowly goes through the opening
moves. A light coines up on Vincent behind a scrim speaking on the phone
to Patti)
36
VINCENT
I'm worried about her, I took her for a long drive she seems sort of lost
without Dad to take care of Yeah, she says after 40 years, she misses hearing
him shout out her name whenever he was looking for something. Nights
are the worst for her, too much empty space I know, but she still wants us to
have the wedding next summer, says it will give her something to look
forward to Uh, Patti, there is one thing, Ma wants to go to a geomancer to
choose an auspicious date. I don't believe in fortune tellers either, but for
her sake, I think we should go. Is that okay with you?
(Lily should finish the first Tai Chi set as light fades down on Vincent behind
the scrim. Lily holds her arms in the opening stance. )
LILY
Not disappointed again.
(Lily steps into a scene with Vincent, Patti, and the geomancer Wong in a
fortune teller's shop represented by hanging scrolls, mirrors, incense, and a
chaotic mixture of Chinese and American knickknacks. Somewhere in the
shop a Detroit Tigers baseball cap should be visible.)
WONG
It's been many years since I saw you, Vincent, but you've grown up to be the
fine young man, I knew you would become. Do you remember me?
VINCENT
Uh Not exactly, Mr. Wong.
37
LILY
Vincent only six when I first brought him to you.
WONG
Of course, of course. You wouldn't remember that. I see you wear a brass lock
for protection, Vincent, to lock out bad fortune.
VINCENT
A gift from my father.
WONG
Perhaps you want one for your lovely bride to be? A wedding present?
(Wong starts rummaging amid his clutter looking for a locket, blowing dust
from some objects.)
PATTI
Uh, no. Brass makes my skin turn green. (sotto to Vincent) This is too weird.
VINCENT (sotto to Patti)
It's for Ma. Humor her, okay?
WONG
Then allow me to offer my warmest congratulations to you both.
38
LILY
Thank you, Mr. Wong. My husband not live to see his son and Patti marry.
WONG
I was sorry to hear of his passing Mrs. Chin. He was a respected man. My
condolences.
LILY
No more sorrow. We move ahead. Vincent start own family soon. I like to
have special fortune read for them, Mr. Wong. For their wedding.
(She pays the fortune teller.)
WONG
With pleasure. Where do you want to start, skull physiogamy? Do you have
any questions?
(Wong starts to feel the lumps on Patti's head. Patti is uncomfortable and
embarrassed. She doesn't want her fortune told.)
PATTI (to Lily)
Mom, maybe we could just ask for a good date for the wedding?
LILY
Ask whatever you want. I pay him already.
39
VINCENT
We're looking to get married next June, Mr. Wong. What would be the best
time?
(Wong looks up the dates in his book.)
PATTI
Say around the middle of the month, like June 19th?
(Wong checks, then shakes his head, no, vigorously.)
WONG
Not good. Not good date. June 19th is very, very bad.
(Wong is emphatic, Vincent and Patti are amused. Lily is concerned.)
LILY
Pick new date, quick, don't want bad luck.
VINCENT
How about the 27th? June 27th?
(Wong checks in his book. He speaks quietly.)
WONG
Day of momentous change. Especially between one and three in the
afternoon.
40
VINCENT
Then it's settled. We'll get married on June 27th, 1982. At one o'clock in the
afternoon, Patti, you'll become Mrs. Vincent Chin.
(Vincent gives Patti a kiss. Lily looks on and smiles. Lights fade.)
41
(The slide of a brand new 1982 Honda Civic appears)
CAR SALESMAN (o.s.)
Before
(The slide changes to a 1982 Honda Civic completely trashed)
CAR SALESMAN (o.s.)
After
(The slide of a new 1982 Toyota Corolla appears)
CAR SALESMAN (o.s.)
Before
(The slide changes to a completely trashed 1982 Toyota Corolla)
CAR SALESMAN (o.s.)
After.
(The Car Saleman enters with a baseball bat, swinging it as if taking batting
practice)
42
CAR SALESMAN
See that? (referring to slide) Well listen, Honda, Toyota, Datsun, Nissan, or
whatever the hell you're calling yourselves these days, Americans are mad
and we're not going to take it anymore. You think you can take over
American roads, you think you can take over American jobs, you think you
can take over America by selling cars at ridiculously cheap prices without the
American auto industry fighting back? Let me tell you, when we play ball, we
want a level playing field. Some things are sacred to us- baseball, free
enterprise, apple pie, and when my mom heard that Jap imports were
responsible for closing two Chrysler dealerships right here in Detroit, (using
baseball bat to point to the slide of battered car) well, she took this here bat,
and that is what she did to that poorly made piece of shit. My mom, bless her
heart, knows how to swing a bat, but if a 62-year old, gray-haired grandmother
could put that much damage on a two-door, subcompact, tinny, roller skate of
a car, how safe would you feel driving in one? American cars are built to last,
(Slide comes up of a 1982 Monte Carlo) "Nobody sweats the details like GM."
43
(Lily and Vincent in Chin home, 1982. Lily does Tai Chi throughout, Vincent
must constantly move to stay in front of Lily's face. )
VINCENT
Patti doesn't want to live here in Oak Park, ma. It's got nothing to do with
you, she just doesn't think it's the best area to raise kids.
LILY
I raise you here. You turn out good.
VINCENT
Times have changed, it's not as safe as it was before.
LILY
You and Patti move far away, how will I visit grandchildren?
VINCENT
We're not moving far away, we're just looking at houses in another part of
Detroit.
LILY
I don't drive, too old to take bus. Grandmother forgotten. Unwanted
intruder. That what you think of me?
44
VINCENT
Of course not. I'll pick you up, we'll bring the grandchildren to visit often.
(beat) What am I saying? Patti and I aren't even married yet. Ma, you're just
thinking too far ahead-
LILY
You want house far away. Fancy neighborhood. Where you raised not good
enough?
VINCENT
We're just starting to look, we haven't made any decision.
LILY
What's wrong with look near me? I take care of your children, built-in baby
sitter, very safe. Don't you trust own mother? Patti not trust me?
VINCENT
Of course she trusts you. Ma, it has nothing to do with you. It has to do with
where Patti and I want to live.
LILY
Far away from me.
VINCENT
Ma-
45
LILY
You think your life have nothing to do with me? Your life have everything
to do with me. I raise you in this house. When you gone, I'm all alone. I say
you and Patti marry, move in with me, save lots of money.
VINCENT
Ma-
LILY
You can't even afford wedding without my help.
VINCENT
If you weren't inviting 400 hundred people maybe Patti and I could afford the
wedding.
(Lily freezes.)
LILY
What you say? You think it my fault?
VINCENT
No, it's not your fault, it's just I-
LILY
You think it bad to have only son have big wedding celebration, bad to have
friends see you marry? Bad to make me happy when you happy?
46
VINCENT
No it isn't bad. It's just I'm Ma, I have lived with you and dad since
you adopted me.
LILY
Forget adoption. You just like flesh and blood son, we do everything for you,
father work hard in restaurant, I work hard in factory, try to give you
everything you want, give you good home, this your house—
VINCENT
I know you've done everything for me, I'm grateful, but Don't you see?
It's it's it's like my first car. You wanted to help me buy it then, but I
wouldn't let you, remember? The car was my dream, and I made it happen.
Me. I could play the radio real loud if I wanted, I could drive too fast on
freeways-
LILY
You promised me not drive fast-
VINCENT
-if I wanted. I could go wherever I wanted to go. Because that car was my
own.
LILY
Silly American idea.
47
VINCENT
But I didn't buy it because I wanted to get away from you, or because I thought
you and Dad couldn't afford it, I bought it because I wanted to. I wanted to.
LILY
Life is not a car, Vincent-
VINCENT
Ma, I'm 27. I'm getting married, I've got a new life ahead of me. It's my time.
It's my life.
(Lily turns away from Vincent.)
VINCENT
But just because I bought that car on my own didn't mean I wouldn't drive
you anyplace you wanted to go. I always took you with me, didn't I, ma?
When you asked me to?
(A long pause. Lily turns back to her son, this is the first time she's had to ask
Vincent for something important.)
LILY
Take me with you again, Vincent.
(Lights fade)
48
(From behind a scrim, lights come up on Patti who is on the phone talking to
Lily)
PATTI
I told Vincent it was okay, he's with his buddies It's a guy thing, they've
been planning June 19th as his last Saturday night of freedom.
(Lights come up on another scrim with Lily talking on phone to Patti)
LILY
Don't say last, bad luck. I don't like Vincent going to bar, drinking.
Everybody act too crazy. What kind of place best man take him to?
PATTI
Different places, sort of show places.
LILY
For cars?
PATTI
Uh, not exactly, it's a bachelor party, Mrs. Chin Mom.
LILY
I tell him come home early, too many bad drivers at night. What kind of
place show cars at night?
49
PATTI
You don't want to know.
(Lights fade on the two women. Disco, driving bass and drum music blares,
headlights of cars light a themed girly/car bar called "The Body Shop." The
car salesman is now a strip joint bouncer with a scantily clad showgirl beside
him A slide of a red Corvette comes up, the showgirl gyrates around it. A bar
with two white men, Evans and Stetz, drinking beers, obviously getting
plastered. Evans tries to dance with the showgirl in a very clumsy fashion,
constantly pawing her, until the Car Salesman separates them. Music
continues, but low)
CAR SALESMAN
Use the brakes till you find a greenlight, man.
(Salesman rubs his fingers as if asking for money)
EVANS
Fuck you.
(Tommy, Vincent's best man, enters pulling a reluctant Vincent)
TOMMY
Come on, just one more, my treat.
VINCENT
It's late, Tommy, all the other guys-
50
TOMMY
They're party poopers, it's my job as best man to take care of you, come on
one last drink.
(Showgirl approaches them)
SHOWGIRL
Hey cuties, haven't I seen you before?
VINCENT
Don't think so. My first time.
TOMMY
And his last. He gets married next week.
SHOWGIRL
Then you better floor it, honey.
(She starts to dance with Vincent, pulling him toward the slide of the
Corvette which seems to take a lot of Vincent's attention. Tommy goes to
bar.)
SHOWGIRL (shimmying at Vincent)
Like my headlights.
51
VINCENT
Uh Blinding.
(He keeps his attention on the slide of the Corvette, the dancer insisting he
pay her attention, pulling him closer to her. Evans is watching and doesn't
like what he sees.)
EVANS
Keep your hands off, Nip.
VINCENT
What?
EVANS (slanting his eyes)
No touchee the merchandise.
(Evans cuts in to dance and is pushed aside by the showgirl. Evans is pissed)
EVANS
He's a mama's boy, he don't even have a stickshift.
(Vincent tries to ignore him, but Evans gets in Vincent's face)
EVANS
You little motherfucker don't know nothing about good pussy.
52
VINCENT
Don't call me a motherfucker.
EVANS
Because of motherfuckers like you, we're out of work.
VINCENT
I'm not a motherfucker.
TOMMY (pulling Vincent away)
Hey, let it go. It's not worth it.
EVANS (following Vincent)
I don't know if you're a little fucker or a big fucker.
(Vincent strikes Evans and Stetz gets up to help his stepfather. Tommy tries
to intervene. Stetz raises a chair, Tommy goes down. Sound of screeching
brakes. Everyone in bar freezes, but the driving beat of music continues.
Lights up on scrims of Patti and Lily, a Chinese wood block picks up pulse of
disco beat)
PATTI
It's okay, Mrs. Chin Mom. We want you to live with us. You do like the
house, don't you?
LILY
I don't want to be in way. Keep big room for nursery.
53
PATTI (laughing)
We still have a week till the wedding, don't you think planning a nursery is a
little premature?
LILY
Baby need big room. I don't need much space. Just enough to do Tai Chi.
PATTI
You can do that in our garden outside.
(Lights down on Patti and Lily. Wood block stops. Bar scene unfreezes.
Driving disco beat continues. Car Salesman/Strip Joint Bouncer breaks up
fight between guys.)
CAR SALESMAN
Outside. If you're gonna fight. Take it outside.
( He takes the chair away from Stetz and moves Tommy off with Tommy
holding his head. The showgirl backs away, taking the bar with her. The car
salesman snaps his fingers, the slide of the red corvette disappears, the
driving beat continues under the sound of honking and traffic. Only the
headlights remain on stage. Stetz and Evans face off with Vincent in what is
now the parking lot.)
STETZ
We're outside now, gook. Ready?
54
(Evans goes off, returns with a baseball bat. The two men close in on
Vincent))
VINCENT
You want to fight? I'll fight, but not with a baseball bat.
EVANS
Wanna Jap sword, motherfucker?
(The driving beat gets louder. The men freeze. Lights up on scrims of Patti
and Lily. Chinese wood block takes over.)
LILY
I teach you Tai Chi, very good for pregnant woman. Move life force to new
baby.
PATTI
Does Vincent know Tai Chi?
LILY
He think Tai Chi too slow. I tell him not only help breathing, but good for
balance. Oldest of all Chinese Martial arts. I never teach him before.
(On "before" lights fade on scrims. The driving beat of Chinese wood blocks
becomes the motown sound of the Prologue. We see the three men begin the
opening moves of the Tai Chi set. The confrontation is in slow motion, the
55
bat swung around the head as in Chinese Opera movement. The positions
are stylized in the way of Chinese sword play. Stetz pins Vincents' arms, as
Evans wields the bat, thrusting and swinging it at Vincent's head. There
should be a wood block sound to emphasize each blow which should become
faster and louder until the motown sound is gone and only the Chinese wood
block is heard. Red silk ribbons representing blood should be thrown around
Vincent's head as if spurting blood. When Vincent is finally beaten to the
ground, Evans continues to bludgeon him until the stage is almost covered in
red ribbons. After the final blow, the final wood block sound, a moment of
silence. )
(Lights up on Lily's and Patti's scrims)
LILY
After wedding, Patti, I teach Vincent after.
(The lights fade to black.)
END ACT I
56
ACT II
(In place of the car salesman and the slides of American cars in ACT I, we
now see a Chinese man, a Tai Chi teacher, a Sifu, and a slide of a person in
the Tai Chi position of "Carry the Tiger to the Mountain.")
SIFU
Tai Chi Chuan, the ancient Chinese art of excercise and self defense. "Tai
Chi" refers to the whole circle, with its two complementary parts Yin and
Yang, light and dark, softness and strength. "Chuan" is combat, an integration
to harmonize antagonistic movements within oneself and with an opponent.
Here (the Sifu refers to the slide) at the beginning of the second set, we see the
move "Carry the Tiger to the Mountain." ( begins to lower volume) The
weight of the horse shifts, the right foot takes a step to the southeast, the left
foot turns its sole to face east
(Light fades down on Sifu. Sound of telephone ringing. Lights up on scrim of
Lily in her bathrobe, sleepily answering the telephone.)
LILY
Vincent, you forget key again? (a pause as Lily gets news) No, not my
son not VINCENT.
(Lily quickly leaves the scrim, lights fade down. In another pool of light
Vincent is wheeled in on a hospital bed. His head is in bandages, we hear the
sound of a ventilator, the sound of a heart monitor. He is on IV, a nurse
tends to him, then exits. From offstage, we hear a commotion, a clattering of
an overturned hospital cart)
57
LILY (o.s.)
Where Vincent, what you do with him?
NURSE (o.s.)
This is ICU, I'm sorry, you can't just barge (overlapping with Lily)-who are
you?
LILY
Mama coming, Vincent, mama coming.
(Lily enters the pool of light in a rush, but stops dead in her tracks when she
sees Vincent. For a moment, she is too horrified to move, then she goes to
his bedside, stroking his hand, his head.)
LILY
Vincent, Vincent, what happen? What they do to you?
( Lily freezes. From the darkness outside the pool of the hospital light, a
cascade of voices, each person coming into a light as in a revolving circle, the
voices should almost overlap. The voices include Tommy, the showgirl, the
car saleman/bouncer, Evans, Stetz, and a policeman)
TOMMY
Started in the bar-
58
SHOWGIRL
Called him a motherfucker-
CAR SALESMAN
Told them to take it outside-
EVANS
I had a few drinks-
STETZ
Just a bar room fight-
POLICEMAN
Last assault took place in a McDonald's parking lot-
TOMMY
Chased him for twenty minutes-
SHOWGIRL
Said his kind put them outta work-
CAR SALESMAN
I am not responsible-
EVANS
It was just in my hands, I don't know how-
59
STETZ
Wanted to teach him a lesson is all-
POLICEMAN
At least four blows to the skull with a baseball bat, Louieville slugger-
TOMMY
Called an ambulance right away-
SHOWGIRL
Called him a nip—
CAR SALESMAN
I had nothing to do with it-
EVANS
I was drunk-
STETZ
He started it-
POLICEMAN
Arrested the two immediately as an off-duty officer at the scene-,
TOMMY
Before he lost consciousness he said, "It isn't fair"-
60
SHOWGIRL
A shame, a real shame—
CAR SALESMAN
Keep me out of it-
EVANS
Arrested? But it was an accident-
STETZ
Arrested? What's the big deal here?
(The police officer is replaced by a doctor, who steps into the hospital scene
with Lily. )
DOCTOR
I'm very sorry, Mrs. Chin, we tried, we worked on him for 8 hours, but the
brain sustained too much trauma. Your son is brain dead.
LILY
Dead?
DOCTOR
All the scans show no activity in either lobe. He's being kept alive entirely
through artificial means.
61
LILY
Alive?
DOCTOR
There is nothing we can do.
LILY
Nothing?
DOCTOR
In cases like this, the hospital lets the next of kin decide when to remove the
life support. I'm sorry. There is no hope of recovery.
LILY
No hope?
DOCTOR
As his surgeon, I will respect your wishes.
LILY
If mother can not give son hope, what else can she give?
DOCTOR
Mrs. Chin, I know this is hard to accept right now-
LILY
Mother always have hope. You know better than mother? (beat) GET OUT.
62
DOCTOR
This is a very difficult time—
LILY
GET OUT.
DOCTOR
The hospital will respect your decision.
(Doctor exits. Lily bends over Vincent)
LILY
I teach you Tai Chi breathing. In, out, slow like this. (She demonstrates)
Make you better, make you well. Doctor don't know how. Mama know. I
teach you, Vincent, mama here. I stay with you. Mama always with you,
always here.
(She holds on to Vincent's hand, she touches her forehead to his hands,
lights change, as Lily freezes. A healthy Vincent appears, he does the tai chi
movement he describes.)
63
VINCENT
I'm getting it down. That move, what is it called? Clouds? Yeah, clouds.
Keep the arms in motion, hold your hands like you've got a basketball in
them, and at the end you do a single whip, which is sort of like shifting gears
in a car, transferring into fifth after crusing in fourth without changing speed.
What do you think? Am I doing it right? Ma Ma?
(Patti enters hospital light, overlapping on Vincent's "ma.")
VINCENT/PATTI
Ma?
(Lily raises her head)
PATTI
Ma Mom Mrs. Chin? It's me, Patti.
LILY
I want you to squeeze Vincent hand, Patti. Doctor say no hope, but you
squeeze his hand. Say hello. Vincent your bride to be here. Vincent open
eyes. Say hi to Patti.
PATTI
Vincent? Vincent?
64
(In silence, Patti embraces Vincent lying in the bed, she is saying goodbye. Lily
still does not accept that Vincent is brain dead. The healthy Vincent
continues to practice his tai chi throughout)
VINCENT
One of my favorite moves is "Snake creeps down" and then "golden cock
stands on one leg." And what comes next? Oh yeah, "Repulse the monkey"
Have I got the order right? Is that what comes next?
(Tommy, enters the hospital light to say good by to the Vincent in the bed.)
LILY (to Vincent in bed)
Vincent, best man here. Vincent say hello to Tommy. Vincent open eyes,
Tommy here for you. Vincent?
TOMMY (to Vincent in bed)
Buddy, I'm sorry, man. I'm so, so sorry.
(Tommy gives the Vincent in the bed a farewell handshake. He gives his
condolences to Patti, the two exit the hospital pool of light. The healthy
Vincent continues to do Tai Chi)
VINCENT
I think I missed something. "Step up to form Seven Stars?" Did I do that
already? Did I miss something? What have I missed?
(Fortune teller Wong enters the hospital light. )
65
WONG
It's time, Mrs. Chin.
LILY
Not yet. He too young. Whole life ahead. He and Patti marry, have children,
I live with them. You say June 27th, wedding day.
WONG
A day of momentous change, when the funeral takes place. The day his spirit
must leave, three days after death. It's time, Mrs. Chin.
LILY
No, no, NO.
(A nurse enters the pool of light.)
NURSE
I'll be outside, Mrs. Chin. Ring when you're ready.
(The nurse exits. Fortune teller Wong gives Lily another brass locket. The
healthy Vincent should be finishing his last set of moves, freezing with his
hands crossed in front of him in the closing position. Light on him fades.)
66
LILY
Vincent, you hear mama? You always good boy Never talk back. Always
happy, laugh, make joke. Make me smile, make me so proud. You hear
mama? Doctor say no hear, no see, no feeling. Doctor say no hope, If mama
can't give you hope what else I give? I not protect you, Vincent. I fail.
Mama fail. Vincent my Vincent Mama protect you now. Mama, keep you
safe.
(She takes the brass locket fortune teller Wong gave her, and places it on
Vincent's inert body. Wong exits to get the nurse. The nurse enters, Lily
stands aside, as the nurse disconnects the ventilator, the IV. The sound of the
ventilator should cease, the beep of the heart monitor getting slower)
NURSE
He's going fast, Mrs. Chin.
LILY (rushing to bedside)
Mama here, Vincent, Mama here.
(The flatline sound of the heart monitor signalling death should drone on
merging with the sound of a Buddhist bell heard before which signalled
David's death. The monitor sound ceases as the bell continues to ring. The
nurse, and two orderlies wheel away Vincent's body leaving Lily standing
alone. Hannah enters carrying a black coat for Lily, helping Lily to put it on.
Hannah exits Lily's pool of light joining Tommy, Fortune Teller Wong, and
Patti, all of them dressed in black. The ringing of the bell stops. In silence, in
her separate pool of light, Lily tries to do her Tai Chi exercise as in the
67
prologue. She cannot get through it, freezing at the Lady Looks at the Mirror
move.)
LILY
Lady looking at Mirror. What does she see?
( Hannah enters as in the prologue)
HANNAH
Mrs. Chin. It's time.
LILY
I didn't teach him. If he knew. Must keep both feet planted, keep horse even,
shift weight, this hand goes for throat, keep tongue to roof of mouth, let life
force move to fingernail, sharp like ax to wood I didn't teach him, Hannah
HANNAH
The limousine is outside.
LILY
Mama coming, Vincent, mama coming.
(The lights fade down as Lily and Hannah exit)
68
(Lights up on the Sifu giving another demonstration of Tai Chi. This time
the move is, "White stork cools its Wings.")
SIFU
White stork cools its wings. When opportunity and conditions of strength are
not grasped, the body is scattered and in disorder; then the fault must be
sought in the waist and in the legs. Up or down, forward or backward, left or
right, in all movements, this fault is to be guarded against.
(Lights fade down on Sifu and the Tai Chi slide. Lights up on Evans and Stetz
talking to their attorney, Katz. Both Evans and Stetz stand, Katz is seated.)
KATZ
You're lucky I got you out on bail. The boy died, you know. That makes this
murder two.
EVANS
Look, I admit I was drunk, but I didn't mean no harm--
KATZ
Mr. Evans, you were arrested in the McDonalds parking lot standing over the
victim whose head you just bashed in with a baseball bat. There were
witnesses.
STETZ
Hey, the gook started it, he sucker punched him, got us all thrown out of that
bar
69
EVANS
Son, let me tell this my way-
KATZ
Son? You two are related?
EVANS
Mark is my stepson. But he's like my flesh and blood. And he's an eye
witness, that kid hit me first.
KATZ
So it was an unprovoked attack on you which started it?
EVANS
Hell, I don't know, it was a bar fight, one thing led to another.
KATZ
Did you feel your life was in danger, is this a case of self-defense?
STETZ
Damn right, it was self-defense. Don works at Chrysler. Me too, but only part-
time. Those stinkin' Japanese think they can kick butt, take away our
livelihood—
KATZ
Mr. Stetz, Mr. Evans, Vincent Chin was Chinese-American, he was not
Japanese.
70
(pause)
EVANS
You know how it goes after a few beers, who can tell the difference. All I
know is the kid hit me, so naturally I had to stand up for myself.
KATZ
So you're saying in the heat of the battle, things got out of hand.
STETZ
Yeah, and driving around looking for that chickenshit didn't make it no
better
KATZ
You drove around looking for Chin after he left the bar?
STETZ
Yellow-skinned gook took off, scared as hell once he saw a piece of good ol
American lumber-
KATZ
How long did you drive around looking for him?
STETZ
'Bout 20 minutes or so.
71
KATZ
Twenty minutes before you confronted Chin again?
STETZ
Maybe it was 30 minutes, hell, what difference—
KATZ (overlapping)
That's not exactly the heat of battle-
STETZ (overlapping)
So what, that chink had it coming-
EVANS (to Stetz)
SHUT THE FUCK UP. KEEP YOUR DAMN MOUTH SHUT OR I'LL BUST
YOU ONE GOOD. ( Silence, then to Katz) Like I said, we'd had a few drinks,
the kid punched me, next thing I remember was some cop reading me my
rights and me holding a baseball bat. I don't remember nothing else. Now,
can you do something for us or not?
KATZ (sighing)
I'll try for a plea bargain, but I don't know if the DA will go for it. I'll try
knocking the charge down to manslaughter in exchange for a clear admission
of guilt.
72
STETZ
Hey, I'm not admitting to nothing. I didn't even hit him with the bat
(pointing to Evans) he's the one who took the cuts.
EVANS
SHUT UP, SON. (beat) Will I have to do time?
KATZ
The boy is dead.
EVANS
But I've got a wife, a family, house payments, it was an accident-
KATZ
You drove around searching for him for 20 minutes by accident?
EVANS
Well, we was driving we was driving around looking for a hospital yeah,
a hospital.
KATZ
A hospital?
EVANS
Yeah, Mark's eye was messed up bad by that kid in the bar fight, right, son?
73
STETZ
What?
EVANS
YOUR EYE-
STETZ
Uh, right. Skin above my eye was bleedin' so bad I couldn't hardly tell
Japanese from Chinese.
EVANS
Naturally when I saw my stepson hurt, we had to find a hospital. So we was
driving around and I saw that kid, and I was so mad...no, so scared about my
stepsons' eye, that I... I... and that's why it all happened in the McDonalds
parking lot. Does that explain it?
(long pause)
KATZ
Okay. (to Evans) You'll plead guilty to manslaughter. (to Stetz) And you'll
plead—
STETZ
I don't plead nothin.
EVANS
DO AS YOU'RE TOLD-
74
KATZ (to Stetz)
You'll plead: Noto contendre.
STETZ
What's that mean, huh? Nolo what?
KATZ
It means: No contest.
(Crossfade. Lights up in Chin home. Lily sits behind a scrim, zombie-like.
Hannah is helping to clear out wedding presents. Patti, also in dark clothes,
enters, carrying a carton of Chinese food.)
PATTI
I brought over some noodles, Hannah, I thought I could help out.
HANNAH
Mrs. Chin, Patti's here. Mrs. Chin? (No answer. To Patti) She's been like
this since how are you doing?
PATTI
Trying to stay busy. I thought maybe I'd come by and help Ma, have you
eaten? Ma, can I come in?
LILY
No say Ma. Vincent say Ma. I'm not your Ma.
75
PATTI
I thought I could help you sort things out, maybe together we could clean
Vincent's room-
LILY
I don't touch Vincent's room. It make me cry. I don't go into garden, it make
me cry, I don't go out-
PATTI
Then let me do something for you-
LILY
I don't want your help. You make me cry. You make me see him, see future
he never get, house he never buy, children he never have. Go away.
PATTI
Mom Ma (she stops herself) Mrs. Chin, please. I lost Vincent too. I want to
do something. Let me.
LILY
You lose Vincent, you lose a flame. I lose Vincent, I lose my whole life.
Nothing you can do. GO AWAY.
(Patti doesn't know what to say, she looks at Hannah, at the scrim of Lily, not
knowing what to do, Patti hesitates, then gives the carton to Hannah. Patti is
about to leave when Lily steps out from behind the scrim to face her)
76
LILY
Patti, you young beautiful, sweet girl. Still have whole life ahead. You marry
someday, have family, have good life. Vincent Vincent love you very
much. Goodbye.
(Lily goes back behind the scrim, back to sitting in her old position leaving
Patti staring at her.)
PATTI
Goodbye, Mom. Mrs. Chin.
(Patti rushes out. Hannah looks at the food)
HANNAH (to Lily)
You can't go on like this, you've got to eat something.
LILY
I didn't help him. I fail, Hannah. I fail Vincent, I fail my only son,
HANNAH
No you didn't. Don't punish yourself. The two men who killed Vincent are
the ones to be punished. Mrs. Chin Mrs. Chin? (beat) Wouldn't Vincent
want you to eat something?
(A beat. Then Lily comes from behind the scrim,)
77
LILY
He always worry over me. Even when little, when he first come into family,
he hold my hand crossing street, always say, watch out, car coming. Look
both ways (she looks both ways) I give him live pet rabbit for 8th birthday,
but rabbit freeze outside, not move. Little Vincent say, quick, put him in
oven, thaw him out, ma, make him well again. He he so gentle. Can't
even kill fish for supper. He go fishing, with me and Baba, he catch fish and
let it go. Baba say, "just hit fish over head with stick, Vincent, make good
dinner." Not Vincent. He can't. He say, "you do it, ma." So I hit fish. I do it
with eyes closed to make Vincent his favorite dish. Steam bass with black
bean sauce. Vincent serve me fish cheek, sweetest part. Always give me
sweetest part. I hit fish on head with stick I hit I hit the way they kill
they kill Vincent like animal like animal, Hannah.
HANNAH
They'll be punished. They'll be in jail for a long, long time. Don't worry,
they'll be punished.
(Lights fade)
78
(Lights up on Sifu, with a demonstration of Tai Chi with a healthy Vincent
and an opponent. The move is "Needle at the Bottom of the Sea" a defensive
move to ward off an opponent with a stick.)
SIFU
This move is called, "Needle at the bottom of the sea." Notice only the toe
touches the floor, the torso bends forward from the waist, the body is lowered
as much by the bending of the legs as by tipping forward. The head is held
upright, not bent down, and the eyes are looking straight ahead. A mistake of
inches, but an error of a thousand leagues, therefore the student should pay
careful heed to what is said.
(Light on Sifu fades, but the two Tai Chi students continue their movement
behind a scrim, their movements should bear some similarity to the beating
of Vincent Chin. Lights up on a Judge who sits before defense attorney Katz,
Stetz, and Evans)
JUDGE
Will the defendants please rise.
(Evans, Stetz, and their attorney rise for the sentencing)
79
JUDGE
You have pleaded guilty to the charge of manslaughter in the beating death of
Vincent Chin. Donald Evans you are a responsible man who has worked at
Chrysler for 18 years with no previous criminal record. Your stepson, Mark
Stetz, has also worked for Chrysler and also has no criminal record. Mark, I
understand you are a part-time student as well. I do not think putting either
one of you in prison would do you or society any good. In my court, you
don't make the punishment fit the crime: you make the punishment fit the
criminal. I believe you two men are still responsible citizens who would not
go out and harm anyone else. Therefore, I hereby order each of you to serve
three years probation, and to pay fines and court costs totalling $3780. You are
ordered to repay this debt to society at a rate of $125 dollars a month. Case
dismissed.
(Katz, Evans, Stetz shake hands, congratulate each other as they exit. The Tai
Chi demonstration ends, the light on them goes out as the Judge pounds the
gavel. At the sound of the gavel, as in the prologue, a slide of a new 1982
American car appears. The Judge throws off his judicial robes and reveals
himself to be the car salesman seen in the prologue)
CAR SALEMAN
Three thousand seven hundred and eighty dollars? That's all? Well, you
can't get a new car for that, forget it. No, we don't sell any imports. This is an
American dealership, American got it? This is Detroit, Motor City, US of A.
Hey, you can take your lousy three thousand bucks and shove it up your-
80
(Lights up on an outraged circle of Asian citizens and Lily, again a cascade of
voices which almost overlap)
TOMMY
Three thousand dollars? You're joking.
HANNAH
Three years probation? Outrageous.
WONG
There's a bigger punishment for dog killing-
EVA
They killed a Chinese man like an animal-
TOMMY
It's open season on Asians-
HANNAH
It's all right to kill so long as you work for Chrysler?
WONG
What do I teach my grandchildren about American Justice?
EVA
Just like Vincent's last words, "It isn't fair."
81
LILY
These men kill my son, they hold him, beat him, break his head open. They
think Vincent animal. No punishment? NOTHING? Vincent not worthless,
my son, not animal, my son good, my son, my son
(Lily collapses, she is tended to by Hannah, who helps Lily to sit in a chair in
the Chin house. A very business-like Asian lawyer carrying a briefcase, Eva
Louie, steps into Chin home pool of light. Lily sits utterly desolate.)
HANNAH
Mrs. Chin, Mrs. Chin, there's a lawyer here to see you, her name is Eva Louie.
EVA
Mrs. Chin, I'm sorry to intrude on your grief, but I want you to know, the
Asian community of Detroit is outraged by the sentence given to your son's
murderers.
LILY
My son good, Vincent not animal
EVA
Many of us want to take action against this travesty of justice.
HANNAH
Can you get the men re-tried?
82
EVA
That would be double jeopardy, that's against the law.
LILY
Law. What kind of law let killers go free?
EVA
What we can do, Mrs. Chin, is to circulate petitions against the decision, get as
many people as we know to sign them, we can call up our elected officials and
let them know this sentence stinks.
HANNAH
What will that do?
EVA
Our hope is to put public pressure on the judge, bring in the media, let him
know that Asian Americans are united against this injustice and force him to
recind his decision. We have to make waves, hold demonstrations, petition
people on the streets, and and Mrs. Chin, we'd like your support.
LILY
You want me to talk to strangers on street? Stranger not care, strangers kill
Vincent.
83
EVA
There are many, many people who want justice for Vincent. We have to take
action or we'll be condoning this kind of discrimination. Do you understand
what I'm getting at?
(Eva puts her left hand on Lily's hand. Lily notices Eva doesn't wear a
wedding band)
LILY
Not married. You have boyfriend Miss Louie?
EVA
Please call me, Eva. We'd like you to stand with us at rallies, press
conferences maybe say a few words. I know how painful-
LILY
How can you know? Only a mother know. You not even married, yet.
EVA
You would help people to understand what happened, be a symbol-
LILY
I'm the mama, I only have son. One son. Now no more. No more dream.
HANNAH
Mrs. Chin has suffered enough grief, she doesn't need to take it public.
84
EVA
She would put a face and voice to anti-Asian discrimination-
LILY
You want me to talk about Vincent. How much my heart ache for him, how
every day feel empty? You not know what it feels like to have child, watch
him grow, watch him die. You want me to tell stranger how my heart hurt,
how my tears taste? When I think of my Vincent, such a good son, his hair
always combed so nice, all gone all gone
(Lily breaks down)
HANNAH
Perhaps you should go, Eva.
(The women freeze. A healthy Vincent appears. He is doing Tai Chi. He is
practicing the end of the second set, getting ready for the third, he does the
movements as he says them. Lily is the only one aware of him.)
VINCENT
Watch this. Step up, parry and punch. Pretty good, huh? So I'm ready for
the third set, now. After carry the tiger to the mountain move, after the
single whip, part the wild horses' mane, and grasp the bird's tail, then
comes then comes what? then comes., Fair lady works at shuttles. Have I
got it?
85
LILY
Very good, Vincent. But I didn't teach you. How did you learn?
VINCENT
Fair lady works the shuttles. Yeah, it's a good one, real defense. Gotta show
the bastards. Sifu says, "When you yield to a hard force, it is called moving
away, when you take on a hard force, this is called, sticking with it."
LILY
Vincent, who taught you?
VINCENT
Fair lady works at the shuttle. "When you take on a hard force, this is called,
sticking with it." Got it.
(The healthy Vincent disappears. The other two women unfreeze.)
EVA
Thank you for seeing me, Mrs. Chin. We'll respect your privacy. My deepest
sympathy.
(Hannah starts to show Eva out when Lily calls Eva back)
LILY
Miss Louie? Eva? You want me talk to stranger, I talk. I want justice for
Vincent. I stick with it.
86
(Crossfade, lights up on five white auto workers facing audience protesting
Japanese imports. They carry protest posters "Park it in Tokyo" "US cars for
US roads" "Buy American" "Jap Cars = No Jobs." They chant.)
AUTOWORKERS
HEY, HEY, HO, HO,
JAPANESE CARS ARE PRICED TOO LOW
(The auto workers continue to chant, but one by one they are replaced by
Asian faces who takeover the posters and turn them around. The posters now
read "Justice for Vincent" "It's not fair" "Jail Racist Killers" "$3000 does not
equal human life." The Asian demonstrators chant:)
DEMONSTRATORS
HEY, HEY, HO, HO
RACIST KILLERS HAVE GOT TO GO
(Eva and Hannah are among the protestors. Eva holds a bullhorn, she
addresses the audience,)
EVA
We, the United Citizens for Justice seek a reversal of the lenient sentence
given to the murderers of Vincent Chin. There were two crimes committed
in Detroit, the first one killed Vincent, the second one let his killers go free.
Today, we stand united behind the person who has suffered the most terrible
loss imaginable, but who has chosen to speak out against these Anti-Asian
crimes, Vincent's mother, Lily Chin.
87
(Lily comes out and faces the crowd, the bullhorn is passed to her, she is shy,
uncertain how to use it, but she speaks)
LILY
I want justice for Vincent. I want justice for my son.
(The chant "We want justice, we want justice," starts and is continued as
flashbulbs go off, someone with a TV video camera comes on stage panning
the protestors and the audience. The crowd is projected on one of the scrims.
The protestors and Lily move to one side of the stage. On the other side of the
stage, Attorney Katz, Evans, and Stetz. This time Evans sits, the other two
stand.)
EVANS
What's to sweat over? The judge refused to reverse his decision, even with
all those demonstrations. He even said if he had it to do all over again, he'd
do the same thing.
KATZ
Don't you get it? The publicity has brought in the F.B.I., they're re-
investigating the way the entire case was handled. There's talk of a civil suit
and you've already admitted guilt.
STETZ
So? The judge let us go.
88
KATZ
Because you pleaded guilty. You weren't acquitted, you cut a deal.
EVANS
You think it could backfire?
STETZ
Shit, I knew it, you said it was no contest, I knew we shouldn't have pleaded
nothing-
EVANS (to Stetz)
SHUT UP. (to Katz) So what's the worst that could happen?
KATZ
You could both be tried in a Federal Court for violation of Chin's civil rights.
They're making this a racial thing.
EVANS
Oh for crying out loud-We ain't racists, it was an accident.
STETZ
I thought you said we'd be done with this shit, I'm still a part-time student-
KATZ
It's not certain things will go that far. But with all this hoopla over the Chin
woman she's been going to so many support rallies, you'd think she was
running for office.
89
EVANS
What are our chances?
KATZ
I don't know, the Feds have never tried a case like this before. Blacks, yes, but
not Asians. We might still get by if the media focussed on some other issue
besides that that that mother.
(Crossfade to Lily standing at a podium, her supporters behind her. She
addresses the audience. This time Lily is much more assured, much more
forceful in way she speaks.)
LILY
I speak to you as Vincent's mama, so no other mama have to go through
what I go through. If two Chinese kill white person, they go to jail, maybe for
whole life. My son, Chinese. Two white men kill him, beat him like animal
(her voice breaks, but she continues) they don't go to jail, only get three year
probation, pay fine, three thousand dollar. This not justice. This not fair.
Skin is different, but heart the same. A mother always want to protect
children, give children hope. No hope without justice. I want justice for
Vincent. I want justice for my son. Thank you.
(Sound of applause. Lily steps away from the podium, she is totally exhausted.
The podium is wheeled away, Hannah helps Lily to sit. )
90
HANNAH
You did great. Tired?
(Eva enters very excited)
EVA
We've got letters of support from the Mayor of Highland Park, the Attorney
General of the State of Michigan, the archdiocese of Detroit, the Roundtable of
Christians and Jews, the Latino-Amerians for Social and Economic
Development, the Anti-Defamation League, and the NAACP. And here's the
topper, Mrs Chin, I just got word that the Justice Dept. has granted us an
interview with Asst. Attorney General William Reynolds. We fly to
Washington next week. We're finally going to get a federal indictment to put
those killers away. Isn't that great?
(Eva and Hannah high-five each other. Lily stays seated, lost in her own
thoughts.)
LILY (to herself)
Vincent 29 year old today. If he live.
(This cuts short the celebration of the two younger women. Lights fade)
91
(Lights up on the Sifu. He is demonstrating "Repulse the monkey" to a
healthy Vincent who continues the movement as Sifu speaks.)
SIFU
Step back and Repulse Monkey. Often one encounters someone who even
with many years of study is still subdued by others. This is because he has not
realized the fault of "Double heaviness." To avoid this fault one must know
to stick is also to move away, to move away is also to stick. Understanding of
this is necessary in order to understand force.
(Lights fade on Sifu and Vincent up on Katz, Stetz, and Evans. This time
Stetz sits while Katz and Evans stand)
EVANS
NO WAY. No way I'm going to pay that Chin woman nothing, I don't care
how many civil suits she brings against me. And how am I supposed to pay
her when the Feds sentenced me to 25 years?
KATZ
Take it easy. We filed an appeal, you're out on bail, you don't have to pay her
anything yet.
STETZ
I hear Chrysler's rehiring. Maybe you could get your old job back-
92
EVANS
Shut your mouth. You go to work and support this family. You're the only
one found (mimicking woman Judge's voice) "Not Guilty."
STETZ
Hey, I wasn't the guy who swung the bat, I wasn't the guy who said it was
motherfuckers like him who took away our jobs, I'm only part time—
EVANS (pointing to brain)
Part-time up there.
STETZ
You could still make a few bucks before—
EVANS
Are you kidding? Every cent I make will go to that Chin woman. After what
she's put this family through? I'll starve first. It's been four fucking years,
and I'm still in fucking court. When does this thing end?
KATZ
The conviction will be declared a mistrial. We've got copies of the tapes.
EVANS
The judge didn't let you use them.
93
KATZ
That's why it's a mistrial. The tapes should have been admitted. To me they
sound suspiciously like a certain over achieving Chinese lawyer was
interfering with justice by attempting to coach witnesses. I mean what the
hell was she doing interviewing people, she's not the District Attorney?
(Cross fade to Eva Louie with Tommy, the showgirl, the car salesman. Eva
starts a tape recorder.)
EVA
In filing our brief with the Justice Department, it's important to discover
exactly what was said that night leading up to the beating. If Vincent was
interfered with because of his race while enjoying the services of a public
place.
TOMMY
Like I said, I heard Vincent saying, "I'm not a motherfucker."
EVA
In response to Evans saying to him: It's because of motherfuckers like you,
we're out of work?
TOMMY
I remember that white guy saying something like: I don't know if you're a big
fucker or a little fucker.
94
EVA
And the thing about jobs referring to being Asian?
TOMMY
Ms. Louie, the music was real loud—
SHOWGIRL
I remember hearing it, that white guy cut in and shoved Vincent out of the
way, and that's when he said motherfuckers like him took away jobs.
CAR SALESMAN
Yeah, right, like you remember everything you hear from johns.
SHOWGIRL
I am an exotic dancer in a public place and he wasn't a john.
CAR SALEMAN
And I have a car that gets a 1000 miles to the gallon.
(Eva turns to the Car Salesman)
EVA
What did you hear that night?
CAR SALESMAN
What's the matter? Afraid no one will believe little miss exotic dancer here?
95
EVA
I'm trying to make sure of the facts. There was a terrible miscarriage of
justice, and I want to help make it right.
CAR SALESMAN
You have a lot riding on this case, don't you? Helping the Justice
Department, helping the Asian community, helping that poor mother whose
face has been in every single newspaper in Detroit for the last two years.
You're just really helpful. I bet you think you can right all the wrongs of the
world, all the little slights, anytime anyone ever looked at you the wrong way.
I bet you think you're ready for the big leagues now, law school education,
standing on high ground, breathing clean air, not like some of us in Detroit
who have to sell cars for a living.
EVA
What do you remember Donald Evans saying to Vincent Chin on the night
in question?
CAR SALESMAN
Me? (he thinks, than pointed) I didn't hear anything, I just stopped a fight.
(Lights down on Tommy, Showgirl, Car Salesman. Eva steps into the Chin
home, Hannah is with Lily who is seated. Eva is exasperated.)
EVA
I'm sorry Mrs. Chin. The federal conviction was declared a mistrial. There's
going to be a new trial in... in Cincinnati.
96
HANNAH
Cincinnati? What happened?
EVA
The district court ruled there was "intolerable prejudice" created against
Evans by all the publicity surrounding Mrs. Chin, that Evans couldn't get a
fair trial in Detroit.
LILY
What "intolerable prejudice" mean?
EVA
Virulent and inflammatory in intensity and duration-
HANNAH
Like beating someone to death with a baseball bat?
EVA
I'm really, really sorry Mrs. Chin. I was sure the conviction would stick, but
we can still win.
HANNAH
Maybe the United Citizens for Justice should organize some demonstrations
in Cincinnati.
97
EVA
I don't think there will be time. They're going to retry quickly so we can't
prejudice the jury pool.
LILY
"Intolerable prejudice?" I don't understand. I have to speak out or Vincent
forgotten, killers go free. They say I speak out too much?
EVA
Once this second jury hears all the facts, they will bring a conviction. We just
have to to go through a whole new trial in Cincinnati. I'm sorry.
HANNAH (to Lily)
You'll have to listen to the evidence about what happened to Vincent again,
Mrs. Chin. You don't have to go, if that would be too painful-
LILY
No hear, no see, no feeling. The way killers leave Vincent. Brain dead. They
don't want to hear us. Don't want to see us, don't want us to feel. They want
us invisible. Brain dead. Don't be heard, don't be seen. (beat) White snake
puts out tongue.
HANNAH
What?
LILY
Like this.
98
(Lily does the Tai Chi move White Snake puts out tongue.)
LILY
This hand go for throat. Move life force to fingernail, sharp like ax to wood. I
go to Cincinnati trial. I make them see me again.
(Lights down)
99
(Lights up on Tai Chi demonstration. This time Vincent is acting as the
teacher, the Sifu is the pupil, doing "wave hands like clouds.")
VINCENT
The hand which is above descends, and the hand which is down comes up.
The leg which bears the weight becomes empty as the weight shifts to the
empty leg which in turn becomes full. The arms continually describe circles,
large or small, the hands continually move through the globe-holding
positions of Yin and Yang. No movement is complete in itself: it is always
becoming something else, moving toward its opposite. And the end is not an
end, but the beginning of another movement.
(Lights up on split scene. On one side of the stage are Katz, Evans, and Stetz,
on the other side, Hannah, Eva, and Lily. The two sides do not interact,
though they may address the audience or speak to someone on their side.)
EVANS
I know I never called him a motherfucking Nip. I told you I'm no racist.
LILY
What mean mother Fukien? I not from Fukien, I from Gaungzhou.
EVANS
I was just drunk, I didn't single him out because of race.
STETZ
He calls lots of white guys motherfuckers, too-
100
EVANS
SHUT UP MARK-
EVA
The defense is going to make it sound like race had nothing to do with it.
EVANS
He never said he wasn't Japanese cause race never came up. He said he
wasn't a motherfucker.
HANNAH
But the worst thing Evans could have said to Vincent was to call him a
motherfucker. That's a terrible insult to a Chinese son.
EVA
Vincent reacted to racial slurs.
KATZ
Chin simply over-reacted to non-racial name-calling and threw the first
punch.
HANNAH
Of course he would react. Vincent was extremely dutiful and respectful to his
mother. He was a filial son.
101
STETZ
Could have called him an asshole instead-
EVANS
SHUT UP, MARK-
EVA
A witness heard the baiting. She said it was racial-
HANNAH
It was cultural-
EVANS
It wasn't nothing personal-
STETZ
It was an accident-
KATZ
Not everything is about race.
EVA
He practically called him a Jap-
STETZ
Gook-
102
EVANS
Nip-
HANNAH
Chink-
LILY
What difference what word he use? HE KILL MY SON.
(Change in lighting. Eva, Hannah, and Lily are seated on one side of a
courtroom, Evans and Stetz, sit on the other. Katz stands, delivering his
closing address to the jury, the audience.)
(
103
KATZ
And in conclusion, the jury must see that this was a tragic event that had
nothing to do with racial hatred, but everything to do with two men who had
way too much to drink. You have seen the evidence, you have heard the
tapes. The prosecution has not delivered on its promise, to prove beyond a
reasonable doubt, that Donald Evans willfully singled out Vincent Chin
because of his race, color, or national origin. And that is all you are being
asked to decide. My client has never denied what happened on June 19th,
1982. He has never attempted to jump bail, break his probation, or tried to
run away from his responsibility in the four long years it's taken to process
this case through the justice system. He is extremely remorseful over what
happened and will continue to live with that fateful night for the rest of his
days. I ask you to judge Donald Evans as you would judge yourselves. Look
at the man before you, a man who has never had a criminal record, who has a
family to support, who like all of you, has worked all his life, tried to be a
good father, tried to make amends for his past mistakes. He has already been
sentenced for the crime he commited, he has paid his debt to society and
continues to pay every day of his life. Enough is enough. I ask you to find
Donald Evans: Not Guilty.
(The lights go back to the split scene lighting, with the two sides separate as
before)
HANNAH
What do you think the jury will do?
104
EVA
I don't know, they're inscrutable. There's not one Asian face on it.
EVANS
So what do you think?
KATZ
I think I hit a home run.
LILY
Nobody look me in eye. Look through me like invisible. They not see me,
not see Vincent.
STETZ
The white guy on the end looked right at you, Don.
HANNAH
Is there anything more we can do?
EVANS
What if I'm found guilty?
LILY
What if he go free?
EVA
This is it.
105
STETZ
Will this be it?
KATZ
This is it, as far as I'm concerned.
HANNAH
The jury's back.
EVANS
Then this is it.
(Lights change back to courtroom. Lily, Eva, Hannah seated on one side,
Evans, Stetz, and Katz on the other. A judge's bench is wheeled with the
Judge behind it.)
JUDGE
Will the defendant please rise?
(Evans and Katz rise, Stetz remains seated)
JUDGE
Will the clerk please read the verdict?
(The clerk enters )
106
CLERK
The Southern District Circuit Court of Ohio, in the case of the United States
vs. Donald Evans in violation of section 18 United States Constitution
245(b)paragraph (2)(F), on the charge of wilfully injuring, intimidating, and
interfering with Vincent Chin on account of his race or national origin, we
the jury, find the defendent, Donald Evans: Not Guilty.
JUDGE
The defendant is hereby acquitted of all charges. Mr. Evans you are free to go.
(The judge pounds his gavel. The clerk and judge exit with the judges bench.
Stetz jumps up and high fives Evans, Katz congratulates him, the three
celebrate. The three women on the other side of the aisle are stunned. Lily in
particular cannot move, she simply stares straight ahead. The three men
finish their celebration and start to exit, passing by where the three women
sit. For the first time ther 2 is actual face to face confrontation. Eva and
Hannah stand and make eye contact with the three men, Lily ignores them.
There is a tense silent moment, then the men continue on their way.)
HANNAH
There's got to be something we can do.
EVA
I don't know what to say, Mrs. Chin. I'm sorry. I'm really sorry.
107
(Lily doesn't respond to Eva or Hannah, she is in her own world)
LILY (v.o.)
How can I live in America with that kind of law? My heart is dim. How can I
live in America with that kind of law? My heart is dim. How can I live in
America with that kind of law?
(Hannah and Eva step away, leaving Lily alone. Sound of Chinese
woodblock. Lights change. Lily picks up a wooden sword to do Chinese sword
play, her moves are strong, sure, punctuated by the Chinese woodblock, and
though she starts off slowly, the sword play gathers momentum. Vincent
Chin enters the light leading Stetz and Evans with their hands tied behind
their backs and placards around their necks, in the way Chinese criminals in
the 1940s were paraded publically before their execution. Vincent leads the
two in a circle stopping before Lily and forcing them to kneel. Vincent exits.
Lily stares at the two killers sword in hand. A Chinese woman warrior enters
the light, the ledendary Fa Mu Lan who takes revenge on the killing of her
family. Fa Mu Lan takes the wooden SV ord from Lily. After circling the two
men and demonstrating her prowess with the wooden sword, she takes
batting practice, taking a few practice swings, knocking the dirt from her
slippers, spitting on her hands, then Fa Mu Lan steps up to homeplate and
with one slow motion swing, beheads Evans and Stetz. The wood block
sound stops. The lights flood red, then a rousing chorus of "Take me out to
the ball game," is heard as Fa Mu Lan raises her sword in triumph. The lights
slowly fade to black.)
108
EPILOGUE
(Lights fade up on Hannah and Lily in the Chin home, 1987. Lily has a
suitcase at her feet an airline ticket in hand.)
HANNAH (referring to suitcase)
Is this the last one?
LILY
Never say last, bad luck, Hannah.
HANNAH
You're not ever coming back?
LILY
I cannot live where my son life have no value. Nothing left for me here.
HANNAH
What are you going to do in China?
LILY
I think of something. What you going to do, Hannah? Find husband? Or
career?
109
HANNAH
Actually, I found a career. I want to work in civil rights, continue what we
started. Vincent united Asian Americans all across the country against
discrimination. He showed us that we aren't treated equal. I want to
continue to speak out, be seen, the way you said, stick with it.
LILY
Umm, I write to you, Hannah. I tell you if I find nice, Chinese boy.
(Hannah embraces Lily)
HANNAH
I'm going to miss you.
LILY
You good girl, very helpful all the time. Thank you, taw jeh.
HANNAH
Thank you. We'd better get started, you have a long journey ahead.
(Lily and Hannah exit as the lights dim. In the dim light, one by one, the
entire cast assembles. They are seen in silhouette. We hear wind chimes, an
erhu or a peipa. The ensemble stands taking the position of the opening
stance in Tai Chi. A light comes up on Hannah as she reads a letter from Lily.
Lily enters and stands in front of the ensemble, she leads them in the first set
of Tai Chi.)
110
HANNAH
Dear Hannah. Vincent Chin Recreation Center in my old village doing very
good. Many young people come. They call me Grandmother Chin, make me
smile. You find husband yet? Remember, don't wait too long. I teach young
people Tai Chi, teach them to breathe in and out, teach them balance, respect,
I teach them to use Chi, the life force. I teach them, "Carry the Tiger to the
Mountain."
(The cast continues to do Tai Chi. We can hear them inhaling and exhaling.
They continue the movement as the lights slowly fade to black.)
END OF PLAY