Frog

GUGU: History is like that, the history of thousands of years of civilised society. Those who acknowledge history are history’s materialists. Those who deny it are history’s idealists.

Gugu sits beside Qin He and wraps him in her arms like a baby. She rocks him and sings an indistinguishable song.

GUGU: My heart breaks when I think of you… I cry but without tears when I think of you… I want to write but cannot find your address… I want to sing but cannot recall the words… I want to kiss you but cannot find your lips… I want to hold you but cannot find your body…

A child in a green stomacher embroidered with a frog, his head as clean as watermelon rind, emerges from the dark cave entrance at the head of an army of frogs (played by children) in wheelchairs, on canes, their front legs wrapped in gauze. The boy shouts Collecting debts! Collecting debts! The frogs behind him produce a guttural chorus.

Gugu lets out a shrill scream, runs away from Qin He and dodges the child and the frogs.

Hao Dashou and the suddenly alert Qin He block the attack of the green boy and frogs; Gugu leaves the stage in their protection. The green boy and frogs take up the chase offstage.

Curtain

Act III

A police station waiting room. One table only, with a telephone. Certificates of merit and citations adorn the wall.

A policewoman named Wei sits behind the table, gesturing to Chen Mei to take the chair on the other side. Chen Mei is still all in black, with her veil.

WEI: (prim and proper, sounds like a student) Have a seat, visiting citizen.

CHEN MEI: (illogically) Why aren’t there two big drums at the entrance to the main hall?

WEI: Drums? What for?

CHEN MEI: That’s what they used to have, so why don’t you? Without drums how are the common people supposed to announce their complaints?

WEI: You’re talking about the yamens of the old, feudal society. In a socialist society those things have been discarded.

CHEN MEI: Not in Kaifeng Prefecture.

WEI: Did you see something like that in a TV series? Magistrate Bao sat in Kaifeng Prefecture.

CHEN MEI: Take me to see Magistrate Bao.

WEI: Citizen, you are in the public waiting room of the Binhe Road police station. I am Duty Officer Wei Ying. Tell me what you’ve come for. I’ll record it and open a case file, then I’ll report to my superior.

CHEN MEI: Only Magistrate Bao can resolve a problem as great as mine.

WEI: Citizen, Magistrate Bao isn’t in today, so tell me what your problem is, and I will be sure to relay it to the magistrate. How’s that?

CHEN MEI: Do I have your word?

WEI: You do. (gestures to the chair) Have a seat.

CHEN MEI: This common woman dares not sit.

WEI: If I say sit, you sit.

CHEN MEI: This common woman thanks you.

WEI: Would you like a glass of water?

CHEN MEI: This common woman dares not.

WEI: Citizen woman, let’s stop the TV drama, all right? What’s your name?

CHEN MEI: This common woman’s name was Chen Mei, but Chen Mei died, or shall we say, she is half dead, half alive. So this common woman does not know her name.

WEI: Are you making fun of me, Citizen? Or are you expecting me to play your games? You are in a police station, where that sort of thing is not allowed.

CHEN MEI: I once had the loveliest eyebrows in all of Northeast Gaomi Township, and that is why my name was Chen Mei, Eyebrows Chen. But they’re gone now… and not just my brows (shrilly) but even my lashes and my hair! So I no longer have the right to be called Chen Mei.

WEI: (a sudden realisation) Citizen woman, if you don’t mind, would you remove your veil?

CHEN MEI: No!

WEI: If I’m not mistaken, you were a victim of the Dongli Stuffed Animal Factory fire.

CHEN MEI: How clever of you.