YELLOW FACE

BY DAVID HENRY HVITANG

DRAMATISTS
PLAY SERVICE
INC.
 YELLOW FACE
Copyright @ 2008, David Henry Hwang In addition, the following acknowledgments must appear in all programs distributed
in connection with performances of the Play:
All Rights Reserved
"Shall We Dance?"
CAUTION: Professionals and amateurs are hereby warned that performance of Music by Richard Rodgers
YELLOW FACE is subject to payment of a royalty It is fully protected under the Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein 11
copyright laws of the United States of America, and of all countries covered by the This selecton is used by special arrangement with
International Copyright Union (including the Dominion of Canada and the rest The Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization, www.rnh.com .
of the British Commonwealth), and of all countries covered by the Pan-American
Copyright Convention, the Universal Copyright Convention, the Berne Recording of Dong Folk Songs: People and Nature in Harmony
Convention, and of all countries with which the United States has reciprocal used by permission of Joanna C. Lee and Ken Smith.
copyright relations. All tights, including without limitation professional/amateur
stage rights, motion picture, recitation, lecturing public trading, radio broadcasting, The music of the Dong people has been documented in recordings and
television, video or sound recording, all other forms of mechanical, electronic and video footage by the Western China Cultural Ecology Research Workshop
digital reproduction, transmission and distribution, such as CD, DVD, the (http://workshop.Pfmm.com ), a Hong Kong-based, non-government,
Internet, private and file-sharing networks; information storage and retrieval non-profit organization dedicated to cultural preservation and
systems, photocopying, and the rights of translation into foreign languages are socioeconomic development in the region. Its initial recording, Dong
strictly reserved. Particular emphasis is placed upon the matter of readings, per- Folk Songs: People and Nature in Harmony was honored in China's 2003
mission for which must be secured from the Author's agent in writing. Ministry of Culture Media Awards and has been broadcast both in
Europe and North America. More recently, the Workshop has garnered
The English language stork and amateur stage performance rights in the United Travel & Leisure magazine's 2008 Global Vision Award for Cultural
States, its territories, possessions and Canada for YELLOW FACE are controlled Preservation and was a featured subject in the May 2008 issue of
exclusively by DRAMATISTS PLAY SERVICE, INC., 440 Park Avenue South, National Geographic magazine.
New York, NY 10016. No professional or nonprofessional performance of the
Play may be given without obtaining in advance the written permission of SPECIAL NOTE ON SONG
DRAMATISTS PLAY SERVICE, INC., and paying the requisite fee. An additional fee of $5.00 r nonprofessional performance is required for use of
the song "Shall We Dance?
Inquiries concerning all other rights should be addressed to Paradigm, 360 Park
Avenue South, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10010. Attn: William Craver. SPECIAL NOTE ON MUSIC
A CD, Deng Folk Songs: People and Nature in Harmony containing music for this
SPECIAL NOTE Play is required for production. The cost is $20.00, plus shipping. There is no
Anyone receiving permission to produce YELLOW FACE is required to give credit additional fee for the use of this music.
to the Author as sole and exclusive Author of the Play on the title page of all
programs distributed in connection with performances of the Play and in all
instances in which the title of the Play appears for purposes of advertising,
publicizing or otherwise exploiting the Play and/or a production thereof. The
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Author. The following acknowledgments must appear on the tide page in all
programs distributed in connection with performances of the Play:

Originally produced by the Center Theatre Group,

Michael Ritchie, Artistic Director; Charles Dillingham, Managing Director,
and The Public Theater,
Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director; Mara Manus, Executive Director.

YELLOW FACE was first developed at the Lark Play Development Center,
New York City, and later was developed in collaboration with
the Stanford Institute for Creativity in the Arts, Stanford University
The Center Theatre Group production of YELLOW FACE was presented in
association with East/West Players.

2 3
 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS YELLOW FACE received its world premiere at Center Theater
Group/Mark Taper Forum (Michael Ritchie, Artistic Director;
Special thanks to: Pannill Camp, my tireless researcher, as well as Charles Dillingham, Managing Director) in Los Angeles, California,
all my sources, who so generously contributed to this play, including on May 10, 2007, in association with East West Players (Tim Dang,
those who do not appear in it: Jack Shafer, Jeff Yang, The New York Producing Artistic Director) and the Public Theater (Oskar Eustis,
Times investigative reporter who spoke to me on condition of
Artistic Director; Mara Manus, Executive Director). It was directed
anonymity Alice Young, Frank H. Wu, Wayman Wong, and by Leigh Silverman; the set design was by David Korins; the costume
Nicholas Hytner. The Dong Musical selections are taken from design was by Myung Hee Cho; the lighting design was by Donald
Dong Folk Songs: People and Nature in Harmony; thanks to Joanna Holder; and the sound design was by Darron L. West. The produc-
C. Lee and Ken Smith and Lee Wai Kit for permission. I also want tion subsequently transferred to the Public Theater in New York City,
to acknoWledge and give special thanks to Margaret Cho for an opening on December 10, 2007. The cast was as follows:
excerpt from "I'm the One That I Want," copyright © 2000 by
Cho Taussig Productions and 2001 by Margaret Cho. DHH Hoon Lee
THE ANNOUNCER; NAME WITHHELD ON ADVICE OF
COUNSEL (NWOAOC) Anthony Torn
MARCUS G. DAHLMAN (AKA MARCUS GEE) Noah Bean
LEAH ANNE CHO and others Julienne Hanzellca Kim
(FRANK CHIN; NEW YORK TIMES, JULY 13, 1990;
WASHINGTON POST, AUGUST 9, 1990; B'NAI B'RITH;
NATIONAL REVIEW; CARLA CHANG; NEW YORK TIMES,
AUGUST 17, 1990; LINDA; BOSTON GLOBE, JANUARY 1,
1993; BOSTON PHOENIX #1; GISH JEN; STUDENT #2;
MARGARET FUNG; DON MIHAIL; REPORTER #1; FRED
THOMPSON; YELLOWGURL8; OCC)
HYH and others Francis Jue
(BD WONG; BERNARD JACOBS; NEW YORK POST;
JOSEPH PAPP; PRAVDA; RODNEY HATAMIYA; BOSTON
GLOBE, JANUARY 1, 1993; BOSTON GLOBE, FEBRUARY 15,
1993; MICHAEL RIEDEL; STUDENT #1; MARGARET
CHO; SENATOR BENNETT; REPRESENTATIVE DELAY;
WEN HO LEE; PROTESTER)
STUART OSTROW; ROCCO PALMIERI
and others Lucas Caleb Rooney
(SENATOR JOHN KERRY; CAMERON MACKINTOSH;
FRANK RICH; DICK CAVETT; NEW YORK TIMES,
AUGUST 8, 1990; NEW YORK TIMES, OCTOBER 23, 1992;
MARK LINN-BAKER; CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR;
4 5
BOSTON PHOENIX #2; BOOKSTORE OWNER; WILLIAM
CRAVER; STUDENT #4; ASSOCL4TED PRESS, CHARACTERS
1993; LOS ANGEI ES TIMES; VARIETY, MARCH 15, (The following represents one possible assignment of actors to
APRIL 27, 1996; USA characters. Other combinations, involving more or fewer actors,
TODAY, JULY 9, 1997; SENATOR BROWNBACK; FBI
AGENT; PROTESTER #1; DR. PICHORAIC) might also be devised.)

JANE KRAKOWSKI; MILES NEWMAN DHH

and others
Kathryn A. Layng THE ANNOUNCER; NAME WITHHELD ON ADVICE OF
(LILY TOMLIN; VINNIE LIEF; NEW YORK TIMES,
AUGUST COUNSEL (NW0A0C)
8, 1990; NEW YORK TIMES, AUGUST 17, 1990;
NEW YORK
DAILY NEWS; GEORGE E WILL; ED KOCH; MARCUS G. DAHLMAN (AKA MARCUS GEE)
THEATER
WEEK NEW YORK TIMES, FEBRUARY 26, 1993; STUDENT
#3; BEATRICE CHANG; FRITZ FRIEDMAN; JULIA LEAH ANNE CHO and others:
DAHLMAN; NEW YORK TIMES,
SEPTEMBER 12, 1997; (FRANK CHIN; NEW YORK TIMES, JULY 13, 1990;
SENATOR SHELBY; REPRESENTATIVE JACK KINGSTON; WASHINGTON POST, AUGUST 9, 1990; WNAI B'RITH;
PROTESTER; SENATOR DOMENICI; DOROTHY HWANG; NATIONAL REVIEW, CARLA CHANG; NEW YORK TIMES,
OCC REGIONAL DIRECTOR; JUDGE JAMES PARKER) AUGUST 17, 1990; LINDA; BOSTON GLOBE, JANUARY 1,
1993; BOSTON PHOENIX #1; GISH JEN; STUDENT #2;
MARGARET FUNG; DON MIHAIL; REPORTER #1; FRED
THOMPSON; YELLOWGURL8; OCC)
HYH and others:
(BD WONG; BERNARD JACOBS; NEW YORK POST;
JOSEPH PAPP; PRAVDA; RODNEY HATAMIYA; BOSTON
GLOBE, JANUARY 1, 1993; BOSTON GLOBE, FEBRUARY
15, 1993; MICHAEL RIEDEL; STUDENT #1; MARGARET
CHO; SENATOR BENNETT; REPRESENTATIVE DELAY;
WEN HO LEE; PROTESTER)

STUART OSTROW; ROCCO PALMIERI and others:

(SENATOR JOHN KERRY; CAMERON MACKINTOSH;
FRANK RICH; DICK CAVETT; NEW YORK TIMES,
AUGUST 8, 1990; NEW YORK TIMES, OCTOBER 23, 1992;
MARK LINN-BAKER; CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR;
BOSTON PHOENIX #2; BOOKSTORE OWNER; WILLIAM
CRAVER; STUDENT #4; ASSOCIATED PRESS, MARCH 15,
1993; LOS ANGELES TIMES; VARIETY, APRIL 27, 1996; USA
TODAY, JULY 9, 1997; SENATOR BROWNBACK; FBI
AGENT; PROTESTER #1; DR PICHORAIC)
JANE ICRAKOWSKI; MILES NEWIVIAN and others:
(LILYTOMLIN; VINNIE LIFE; NEW YORK TIMES, AUGUST
6
7
.....1..01•••••••••
8, 1990; NEW YORK TIMES, AUGUST 17, 1990; NEW YORK
DAILY NEWS; GEORGE F. WILL; ED KOCH; THEATER
WEEK NEW YORK TIMES, FEBRUARY 26, 1993; STUDENT
zt3; BEATRICE CHANG; FRITZ FRIEDMAN; JULIA
DAHLMAN; NEW YORK TIMES, SEPTEMBER 12, 1997;
SENATOR SHELBY; REPRESENTATIVE JACK KINGSTON;
PROTESTER; SENATOR DOMENICI; DOROTHY HWANG;
YELLOW FACE
OCCREGIONAL DIRECTOR; JUDGE JAMES PARKER)
ACT ONE

PLACE
Darkness. We hear the Dong people singing Track #2 from the
New York City; Los Angeles; Washington, D.C.; CD Dong Folk Songs: People and Nature in Harmony; "We
Boston; San Francisco; Guizhou Province, China. Close the Village for Rituals" Lights come up on the actors,
who remain seated onstage when not playing their parts.

TIME
DHH. E-mail, received January 30, 2006, from Marcus G.
1990 to the present. Dahlman to David Henry Hwang:
MARCUS. David, you won't believe where I am. In China.
Guizhou Province, to be exact. After everything that happened in the
States, I needed to take some time off. So I came to China, hoping
to find — something real, true? I'm not even sure. All I know is, my
life back home, it used to have purpose, a direction I really believed
in — but I lost all that. (Pause.) One night in Shanghai, a city so
futuristic it makes Blade Runner look quaint, another "waiguoren"
— another "foreigner" — told me where I could find "the soul of
NOTES: China." He described this amazing village he'd just visited, and a
A standard ellipses (...) indicates a pause or hesitation as in any play; minority tribe called the Dong. (Pause.) I flew to the provincial cap-
an underlined ellipses L.) denotes a deletion within a quotation. ital of Guiyang, then traveled ten hours by bus over roads barely
paved — potholes the size of phone booths. As we climbed upwards,
rice fields appeared, everywhere — terraces, carved into the moun-
tainside, centuries ago. Finally I arrived at a village called Zhencong.
Soon as I stepped off the bus, I heard a song. The Dong call their
music "cla ge," the 'big song" — melodies that can only be sung by
the whole village — together. The Dong have a saying, "Rice feeds
the body, but song feeds the heart." (Music out.)
DHH. That was the first of Marcus' e-mails to me. More than a
few Asian Americans still wonder what happened to him. In main-
stream culture, however, Marcus, like most Asian American
celebrities, remains virtually unknown. True, at the time of his his last name wouldn't sound Asian or maybe he's one of those
downfall, a few took note. Korean adoptees, or —
THE ANNOUNCER. Senator John Kerry: BD. David, it's Jonathan Pryce. (Pause.) The producer's saying
SENATOR JOHN KERRY. It's hardened people's cynicism. they conducted this worldwide talent search, and they couldn't find
Everyone loses for that. any Asian qualified to play the part.
DHH. But for the most part, the story of a minor figure in a cou- DHH. They can't do that.
ple of discredited scandals disappeared after one or two press cycles. BD. That's what a lot of us think.
Blink and you would've missed it. As for my own role in the story, DHH. Yellow face? In this day and age? It's — it's — did someone
some Asian Americans noticed, but they chose to forgive me for suddenly turn the clock back to 1920? Are we all going to smear
my mistakes. shoe polish on our faces, and start singing "Mammy"?
THE ANNOUNCER. Playwright Frank Chin: BD. We thought if you'd be willing to write a letter —
FRANK CHIN. David Henry Hwang is a white racist asshole. DHH. You bet I will. Trust me, they won't get away with it.
DHH. Well, most of them did, anyway. After all, I was a respected (Sound of keys tapping on an IBM Selectric.) Dear Actors' Equity:
figure in the community, the first Asian playwright to have a play THE ANNOUNCER. The national union for stage actors.
produced on Broadway. I even appeared on national television — DHH. I learned some news today, which left me feeling surprised
with Lily Tomlin! (Awards ceremony entrance music.) and dismayed ...
LILYTOMLIN. And the 1988 Tony Award for Best Play goes to ... THE ANNOUNCER New York Times, July 13, 1990:
M Butterfly. Author. David Henry Hwang. Producers: Smart Ostrow IVEW YORK TIMES, JULY 13, 1990. Miss Saigon casting protested.
and David Geffen. ("Un Be! Di" music from Madama Butterfly.) Asian American[s] [have complained about) the casting of a
DHH. i From Mickey Rooney playing Japanese in Breakfast at Caucasian in one of the show's principal [Asian] roles ... David
Tiffanys to Bruce Lee being passed over in favor of David Henry Hwang, the Tony Award-winning playwright of M Butterfly,
Carradine for a TV series called Kung Fu, Asians have consistently registered his protest in a letter sent to Actors' Equity.
been caricatured, denied the right even ICI play ourselves. Well, it's DHH. I had dared to suppose that the yellow face days of Charlie
a new day in America. We're entering the 1990s, and all that stops Chan and Fu Manchu had been relegated forever to the closets of
now! (The sound of a ringing phone. Music out.) Hello? historical kitsch Mr. Pryce is an excellent actor, but I would be
BD. Hi, David, it's BD. equally upset were he cast as [an African American character like]
THE ANNOUNCER. BD Wong, Tony Award-winning star of Boy Willie in [August Wilson's play] The Piano Lesson.
At Buttetfly. June 25, 1990. THE ANNOUNCER Cameron Mackintosh, producer of Miss
DHH. Hey, Bradd, what's up? Saigon:
BD. You heard about this whole Miss Saigon business? CAMERON MACKINTOSH. This is a tempest in an Oriental
D1-1H. You mean, the musical? In London? teapot.
BD. Jonathan Pryce is playing an Asian pimp. DHH. (To the audience:)Actors' Equity Union took my side in the
DHH. Yeah, Rot Chao saw it there. Said his eyes are all taped up casting dispute and arranged a meeting with the Miss Saigon team,
and everything. That would never happen here. including producer Cameron Mackintosh.
BD. They're bringing the show to Broadway. CAMERON MACKINTOSH. The gall of it, the sheer hypocrisy!
DHH. I know. But this is America — they're not gonna cast a This is all because BD Wong wants a job, isn't it? And the fact that
white guy here. you have made a public spectacle of the issue — I don't believe we
BD. They have. can work any longer in this atmosphere. How can you support
DHH. You're sure the actor's white? Maybe he's mixed race. such a blatant restriction of artistic freedom?
Nowadays, it's so hard to tell. He could have a Caucasian father, so THE ANNOUNCER Vinnie Liff, casting director, Miss Saigon.

10 11
 VINNIE LIEF. David, if you know any Asian actor who'd be right strated yesterday in Times Square, demanding that Equity stick to
for that part — forty to fifty years old, classical training, worldwide its decision.
stature — please, give me his name. We have searched literally THE ANNOUNCER The Daily News.
around the world. NEW YORK DAILY NEWS. Yesterday, a scuffle between opposing
DHH: Actually, I called John Lone. camps in the Miss Saigon dispute broke out in the lobby of Actors'
THE ANNOUNCER. Star of The Last Emperor. Equity's offices. Pressure is mounting on Actors' Equity.
DHH. He said his manager had contacted your office to say he THE ANNOUNCER The Anti-Defamation League of B'nai Writh:
was interested in the part, but no one ever called them back. SINAI B'RITH. Casting decisions should be based on individual
THE ANNOUNCER. Bernard Jacobs, president of the Shubert talent and merit, not on race or —
Theatres: THE ANNOUNCER Columnist George F. Will:
BERNARD JACOBS. This man is trying to stir up trouble. That's GEORGE F. WILL. The trendy racism of Actors' Equity —
why you sent that letter of yours to the papers. THE ANNOUNCER_ Frank Rich, chief drama critic, New York
DHH. No, I — Times:
CAMERON MACKINTOSH. If you were really seeking to do FRANK RICH. Jonathan Pryce's brilliant performance is as essential
something constructive, why would you have turned this into a to Miss Saigon as Joel Gray's was to Cabaret. Maybe even more —
circus? THE ANNOUNCER. Producer Joseph Papp:
BERNARD JACOBS. You sent your letter to that reporter. To stir JOE PAPP. As a producer, I have concerns about anyone imposing
up trouble. conditions, but as a citizen I think Equity did the proper and
DHH. No, I — didn't. heroic —
BERNARD JACOBS. Now you're lying. This man is a liar. I don't THE ANNOUNCER. The National Review:
Icnowi why we're even listening CO him. NATIONAL REVIEW. "Producer"? "Citizen"? As if the two states
CAMERON MACKINTOSH. The atmosphere is poisoned. of being were somehow disconnected?
Unless conditions improve, I don't see how I can bring this show THE ANNOUNCER Former New York mayor Ed Koch: -
into New York. ED KOCH. Now it's Actors' Equity, playing the censor!
THE ANNOUNCER New York limes, August 8, 1990: THE ANNOUNCER Talk show host Dick Cavett:
NEW YORK TIMES, AUGUST 8, 1990. [Actors' Equity] union DICK CAVETT. The bonehead decision of the year.
bars white in Asian role. THE ANNOUNCER. Pravda:
THE ANNOUNCER Washington Post, August 9: PRAVDA. SLUchai Miss Saigon demonstRftuyet, kak Amen-
WASHINGTON POST, AUGUST 9, 1990. The Broadway pro- ICANskaye OBschestva praktiKUyet tsenZUru. (The "bee?" of a
duction of Miss Saigon has been canceled, producer Cameron phone answering machine.)
Mackintosh announced today. CARLA CHANG. David, it's Carla Chang.
DHH. It has certainly never been my intention to see a show can- THE ANNOUNCER Asian American actress and political activist.
celed. I simply felt that an important point had to be made, and CARLA CHANG. I've already left a couple of messages. We need
this his clearly been achieved. you down at Actors' Equity's offices at noon tomorrow to — (DHH
THE ANNOUNCER New York Times. picks up.)
NEW YORK TIMES, AUGUST 8, 1990. Last night, Equity DHH. Carla, it's David.
received a petition from one hundred and fifty of its members s CARLA CHANG. Screening calls?
to reconsider its decision. DHH. No! No, just washing my hair.
THE ANNOUNCER New York Post CARLA CHANG. Equity council is meeting tomorrow to recon-
NEW YORK POST. Asian American and other protesters demon- sider their decision. We're holding a rally at noon. You come down,

12 13
 fr
•

we'll give you a placard, the press will take a few pictures — HYH. I'll turn up the volume. (The feedback cranks up.)
DHH. Carla, I — don't think I can make it. DHH. Aaaah!
CARLA CHANG. What do you mean? Equity's under a lot of HYH. Your mother —
pressure. Everyone else wants them to cave, let Jonathan Pryce do DHH. Just pick up the phone!
the part — we need to stand up for Equity, make sure they stick to HYH. She didn't teach me how to work this thing.
their guns. DHH. Pick up the phone!
DHH. I feel we've made our point, and now — HYH. But that would turn off my speakerphone.
CARLA CHANG. And now we have a chance to stop yellow face DHH. Your speakerphone is shit!
forever! HYH. Why you have to talk like that? (HYH picks up the phone.
D1-1H. But the artistic freedom thing — between you and me, I The sound effect goes out.) You're right. That speakerphone is shit.
think this is starting to make us — look bad. DHH. Dad, I'm a little busy right now.
CARLA CHANG. "Look bad?" This is our Rosa Parks moment! HYH. Doing what?
Now, tomorrow, we need you to — DHH. Trying to write a new play.
DHH. Why? Why do you need me? HYH. Good idea.
CARLA CHANG. Because — you're a name the papers know DHH. What's that supposed to mean?
and — HYH. I said it was a good idea.
DHH. That's right, it's my name out there. My face in the papers DHH. It's only been three years since M. Butterfly.
— the poster child for political correctness. HYH. But you been smart. Keeping your name in the newspapers.
CARLA CHANG. Hey, I wish it were mine. That's good, son.
DHH. I can't make the rally, okay? This thing will end — howev- DHH. You mean, all that Miss Saigon stuff? Thank god, it's finally
er it's going to end — starting to die down.
CARLA CHANG. David, you can't give up now! HYH. But so many articles on you. Free publicity!
DHH. I am not giving up! I'm doing what I think is best. For the DHH. But everyone disagreed with me!
cause. HYH. Everyone! All the big-shot guys. Dick Cavett! Ed Koch!
THE ANNOUNCER. New York Times, August 17, 1990: Here, wait, this one my favorite.
NEW YORK TIMES, AUGUST 17, 1990. [Actors' Equity] union DHH. You saved the articles?
reverses Saigon vote and welcomes English star. (The sound of u HYH. "I am ashamed of my union, Actors' Equity!"
ringing telephone.) DHH. Oh, yeah — Charlton Heston.
DHH. Hello. HYH. When I was working in a laundry, could I ever have
HYH. Dave? dreamed? That one day Charlton Heston would write — about my
DHH. Hi Dad. son? I'm telling you, this is the land of opportunity. And that Miss
HYH. Wait a second — (His voice filters into an echo effect with Saigon — such a big hit.
feedback.) There!
DHH. Don't remind me, okay?
DHH. What happened to the connection? HYH. Looks so beautiful. All those girls — classy.
HYH. I'm using my new speakerphone. DHH. They're half naked! Playing prostitutes!
DHH. Well, it sounds like crap. HYH. But they're classy prostitutes.
HYH. What? DHH. You haven't even seen the show!
DHH. I said, it sounds like — HYH. But I saw pictures in the newspaper. That producer —
HYH. Could you speak up? It's hard to hear over this thing. what's his name —?
DHH. Then pick up the receiver! DHH. Cameron Mackintosh.

14 15
 HYH. He talks about the musical — so beautiful! — a young
HYH. Because you're working.
Vietnamese girl who gives up her baby to find a better life in
America. DHH. I'm trying.
DHH. Actually, she dies. HYH. What are you writing about?
HYH. What? DHH. Nothing.
HYH. Your father's just curious.
DHH. The girl — she kills herself. It's her baby who finds a bet-
ter life in America. DHH. It's about Rudyard Kipling, okay? (Pause.) The guy who
F-IYH. That's even more beautiful! wrote The Jungle Book? Kipling? I'm working on a play that decon-
DHH. It's Madame Butterfly set in Vietnam. structs his life and work. (Pause.) Dad?
HYH. I'll tell you the thing about Miss Saigon. You wanna know
HY4-1. Dave, you should do something like that. Is that what your
new play is about? Madame Butterfly set in Vietnam? why it's such a big hit?
DHH. Not really.
D1-1H. How could I possibly — it's already been done!
HYH. See, I'm just so ignorant about these things. HYH. Because it's real.
DHH. A Vietnamese prostitute falls in love with some white sol-
DHH. Besides, I already wrote a play criticizing Madame Butteifly!
HYH. What play was that? dier and kills herself so her baby can come to America?
DHH. M. Buttesfly! HYH. Things like that happen all the time.
HYH. Oh, right, right. You know, your M. Butterfly— that play DHH. How can you say — ?
is a little weird. HYH. You don't know how much people want to come to
DHH. We've been over this. America. I see that girl, and I think — she's like me.
DHH. You killed yourself?
HYH. When 1 come to New York next month, can you get me
some tickets? HYH. No, but I would've. That's how much I wanted to come
DHH. To M Butterfly? It closed last year! here. Even when I didn't know anything more about America than
HYH. No, no — Miss Saigon! I saw in Shanghai at the movies — even then, I knew my real life
DHH. I can't believe — wasn't the one I was living in China. Second son of a cheapskate
father, who didn't even know how to talk to his children. I knew
HYH. My good friend Dick Buttress, vice chairman of United
that was a fake life, and my real life was here. All those movie stars
California Bank, he told me he was in New York last month, and he
— Humphrey Bogart and Clark Gable and Frank Sinatra — they
cotildn't even get a ticket! I told him, next time you go, ask my son.
DHH. What? were the real me. So when I finally got here, I kept on pushing.
Until one day, after 1 started the bank and it became a success, I
HYH. I told him, my son, he knows the producer, they're good
friends, he worked on the show. looked around, at my office on the thirty-ninth floor, my house the
DHH. Dad, I protested the show! swankiest part of San Marino, my Mercedes, my kids all in top col-
leges — and I thought, now, I am finally living my real life — here
HYH. What's the difference? That McEnroe —
DHH. Mackintosh. in America. (Pause.) That's why the girl kills herself. Because when
you can see your real life, and it's someplace else, then what's the
HYH. Mackintosh. He knows how much you've done for his
point? If you lose hope you'll ever get there, then even if you kill
show, and I'll tell you something: He's grateful to you.
yourself it makes no difference.
DHH. Fine. I'll get you tickets. I'll get your friend tickets. Anyone
you know who can't get into Miss Saigon, just have them give me a DHH. Dad, I gotta go.
call. HYH. Sure, son. But why?
HYH. Thanks, son. But not right now. DHH. I think I know what I want to write about.
DHH. Why not? HYH. Something besides that Jungle Book guy?
f DHH. Yeah.

16
17
 HYH. Good! (Sound of typing on a computer keyboard) M. Butte,* we were looking for a Chinese transvestite who could
THE ANNOUNCER. TheaterWeek magazine, September 1992: sing and dance! And we found lots of them!
THEATREWEEK Take a look at the Face on the cover of this mag- STUART. Yes we did.
azine. Is he Chinese American, Asian American, plain American? Or DHH. So why is this so much harder? All we're looking for is a
someone in yellow face? Does any of this matter? These are some of straight, masculine Asian leading man.
the questions raised in David Henry Hwang's new farce, Face Value. STUART. I'll tell Miles to keep looking.
DHH. Is race a construct which is still useful or is it mythological? DHH. Tell him — there are hundreds of Masculine Asian leading
THE ANNOUNCER. New York Times, October 23, 1992: men out there. Dozens!
NEW YORK TIMES, OCTOBER 23, 1992. The new play, which STUART. He keeps asking if you know any.
MT. Hwang described as — DHH. Is that my job? Tell him to scour the country! Somewhere
DHH. A comedy of mistaken racial identity — out there, our star is waiting for us to find him!
NEW YORK TIMES, OCTOBER 23, 1992. — was inspired by THE ANNOUNCER. A performance of the play Go For Broke.
the fracas over the casting of Jonathan Prycc as a Eurasian pimp in At the Mann Community Center, California. Starring —
Miss Saigon. RODNEY. Rodney Hatamiya.
DHH. It's a backstage farce about a musical in which the lead MARCUS. And Marcus G. Dahlman. (Stage sound effects of gun
actor is a Caucasian playing an 'Asian. On opening night, two battle.) The Lost Battalion, Thirty-Sixth Infantry Division. From
Asian American protesters sneak in to disrupt the show — dressed the Lone Star State.
in white face. RODNEY. They're trapped?
THE ANNOUNCER July 10, 1992. Auditions for Face Value. MARCUS. Pinned down. Krauts on all sides. (Pause.) Look, I'm
Present are: not gonna lie to you boys. It's a suicide mission, to call it anything
STUART. Stuart Ostrow, producer of Face Value. else would be a damn lie.
MII.FS NEWIVIAN. Miles Newman, casting director. RODNEY. Lieutenant Grayson, I'm not sure I can do this.
RODNEY. Rodney Hatamiya, auditioning. MARCUS. Listen up, Sergeant Watanabe. Do it for your country.
LINDA. Linda, reader. RODNEY. America? Where I'll always be a foreigner? Even before
RODNEY. (Reading as Randall) He stole my job! the war, people would ask me, "Where are you from?" And I'd tell
Lli\IDA. (As reader.) He stole all our jobs! 'em, "Stockton, California." Then they'd say, "No. Where are you
RODNEY. (Reading as Randall) I really know I could've brought really from?" And now, to them — I'm just another enemy Jap.
some truth to that role. MARCUS. All right, then — do it for your family.
LINDA. (As reader)In this day and age — a Caucasian — playing RODNEY. My family? Rounded up by the U.S. government and
a Chinese! And in that horrible musical! It's racist, sexist, imperialist, thrown behind barbed wire?
misogynist — MARCUS. Sergeant, let's talk turkey. When headquarters first
RODNEY. (Reading as Randall)And I didn't even get an audition. assigned me to an all-Japanese American battalion, I was a typical
LINDA. (As reader.) Neither did I. Damn them! Texan — thinkin' all you boys were the enemy. But now — I've
STUART. Thank you. never MCI a finer group of Americans.
DHH. That was really great, fantastic, what an audition! Thank RODNEY. You're right, this is the best chance we're ever gonna get
you so much! (The actors exit the audition room.) He's not right, to show the world we're loyal Americans. My parents' generation
either. There's gotta be more Asian male actors out there. — the issei — they have a saying: "Shilcata ga nai." (Off Marcus'
STUART. How about BD? look.) It means, "Can't be helped." "Nothing to be done."
I just don't — I don't see BD in this one. This is our MARCUS. Well, then, "Shilcata ga nai" to you too. So — ready,
chince. To make some fresh Asian face into a Broadway star. For boys? Charge!

18 19
 faces come in a variety of shapes and sizes — just like any other
haven't got half as much talent as you do. And, of course, opportu-
human beings. Which we are, you know.
nities have been so limited for you.
STUART. Miles, is he Asian?
MARCUS. What's that supposed to mean?
NEWMAN. We managed to have a little conversation on the sub- JANE. Well, before this, you've probably only gotten to play wait-
ject. He's not full-blooded —
ers and laundrymen and take-out delivery boys.
DHH. He's Eurasian. You want to start discriminating against
them now? MARCUS. No, not really. Actually. I've played lots of parts.
JANE. In San Francisco, right?
STUART. David, if our leading man, who's supposed to be an
MARCUS. Just last season, at San Jose Rep, in The Glass
Asian dressing up in white face — if when he takes off his makeup,
Menagerie, I played the Gentleman Caller.
he still looks white — would that bother you?
JANE. And I'm sure you were amazing. Hey, you should see the
DHH. "Looks white" — to whom? Other white people?
kind of typecasting I have to deal with.
STUART. Just to put this on the table — you're certain you're not
MARCUS. That's my point. I don't get typecast.
jumping at this actor because we're ten days away from the start of
JANE. Cmon, Marcus, everybody gets typecast. What you mean,
rehearsals and we don't have any other choices?
is that you don't get typecast as an Asian.
DHH. I'm excited because I think Marcus could be the next John
Lone or BD Wong. MARCUS. I guess you're right. Look, Jane, I like you a lot.
STUART. At least they both look Asian. • • JANE. How much have you had to drink tonight?
MARCUS. Too much. I have to get something off my chest.
DHH. I have to cast this in a way that feels right to me. And I can
tell an Asian when I see one. JANE. Well, don't say anything you'll regret in the morning.
THE ANNOUNCER. Boston Globe, January 1, 1993. MARCUS. Jane, I'm a fake.
BOSTON GLOBE, JANUARY 1, 1993. Rehearsals have begun for JANE. Is that all?
MARCUS. Huh?
David Henry Hwang's new play, Face Value, which will have its
JANE. Welcome to the club. That comes with success. The high-
pre-Broadway tryout here, February ninth through twenty-eighth
er you get, the more you feel you don't belong there. Like they put
at the Colonial Theatre. The cast includes —
JANE. Jane 1Crakowslci. your name on the wrong list, and you somehow managed to sneak
into the party.
MARK. And Mark Linn-Baker. (To the audience:) We all enjoyed
MARCUS. That's exactly what happened!
working with Marcus immensely, he was a nice guy and very talented.
JANE. You know how many other actors auditioned for your part?
JANE. We did notice that he didn't look particularly Asian.
MARX. But it wasn't the kind of thing you come right out and ask MARCUS. Not enough? Jane, the show in Mann where they saw
someone. me — I was playing the white guy!
JANE. Just like you played the Gentleman Caller, right? (Pause.)
JANE. And everyone else said he was Asian.
Marcus, you know what I do? When I'm feeling nervous around
MARK. I did notice one other thing about Marcus, that he kind
people, I just imagine I'm playing a part.
of kept to himself all through rehearsals.
MARCUS. Yeah?
JANE. But I remember — at the opening night parry, out of town
JANE. I picture who I want to be, then I start acting. Try it some-
inkBoston — it's like he was trying to tell me something.
time, you'll be surprised.
MARCUS. You know, Jane, I — I haven't really had a chance to
MARCUS. Thanks, Jane — you've really been a big help to me.
tell you this, but you're really great in the show.
JANE. Marcus, you are a fine fine actor. You just have to believe
JANE. Thanks, you too!
MARCUS. Really? in yourself a little, that's all. (Marcus exits the party. To DHH.)
Marcus has had a lot to drink tonight.
JANE. Believe me, I've worked with some so-called stars who
DHH. Bet he never dreamed he'd end up in a Broadway show the

22
23
day he got cast as a Japanese American soldier at the Mann DHH. Do you take Visa?
Community Center. BOOKSTORE OWNER Sorry, just cash — say, aren't you David
JANE. We expecting reviews tomorrow morning? Henry Hwang?
DHH. Yeah. We still have work to do. But I think the critics will DHH. Um ...
be encouraging. BOOKSTORE OWNER Yeah! You're David Henry Hwang,
JANE. Knock on wood. (Pause.) Oh — and David, just so you aren't you? Saw your picture in the Sunday paper.
know — that show in Mann? Marcus didn't play a Japanese DHH. You know, I never get recognized. Anywhere.
American soldier. BOOKSTORE OWNER You're doing a show, right? At the
Dl-fl-1. He was in the play, I read an interview. Colonial?
JANE. Oh, he was in it, all right. But he was the white guy. • DHH. Um, yeah.
THE ANNOUNCER. Boston Globe, February 15, 1993: BOOKSTORE OWNER Face — Face —
BOSTON GLOBE, February 15, 1993. Hwang's Face Value flops DHH. Face Value.
on its farce. BOOKSTORE OWNER Yeah, Face Value. Sounds really inter-
THE ANNOUNCER. Christian Science Monitor. esting. All that race and stuff.
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR. Face Value takes on more DHH. We — didn't get such good reviews.
than it can deliver. BOOKSTORE OWNER Critics. What do they know, huh? You
THE ANNOUNCER Boston Phoenix: wrote that other one, right?
BOSTON PHOENIX 1. M. Turkey. DHH. Yeah.
THE ANNOUNCER. New York Times: BOOKSTORE OWNER. That Miss Saigon?
NEW YORK TIMES, February 26, 1993. The critical splat in DHH. No, that wasn't —
Boston of David Henry Hwang's Broadway-bound Face Value , BOOKSTORE OWNER. You're a famous man.
BOSTON GLOBE, February 15, 1993. Unsalvageable. DHH. Not usually.
NEW YORK TIMES, February 26, 1993. — has the creative team BOOKSTORE OWNER. And I'm happy to see from your choice
now engaged in revamping a show that was essentially judged con- of material that you support your people.
fusing and unfunny. DHH. Oh, those! Well I, er — yes, I try to —
BOSTON PHOENIX 2. An embarrassment that should never BOOKSTORE OWNER. How 'bout I throw in a copy of Asian
have been allowed to happen. Cravin' on the house?
THE ANNOUNCER. Michael Riedel, Theater Week: DHH. That's very kind, but —
MICHAEL RIEDEL. And where was playwright Hwang while BOOKSTORE OWNER.. My pleasure. Gotta let someone do
Ostrow was rallying the troops? In his hotel room, rewriting furi- something nice for you once in awhile — you know? Anthony
ously. Hwang, sounding upbeat for a man whose work has been Agoglia. Pleasure meeting you, Mr. Hwang.
called an embarrassment, said that he found being in trouble out DHH. David. Guess I'd better get ... back to work now.
of town — BOOKSTORE OWNER You do that. (Pause.) Oh — and
DHH. exhilarating. — Of course, I would have loved to have got- David? Screw the critics, okay?
ten good reviews, but this is the situation we're in, so we're dealing DHH. Thanks. (To the audience) I went back to my room and
with it. (1980s-style disco music. A telephone rings.) started rewriting. And yet — a little voice kept echoing in my head:
BO2KSTORE OWNER (Into store phone.) Sticky Fingers Books JANE. Oh, he was in it all right. But he was the white guy ... the
and kVideos. Yeah, we got buttplugs. Come see for yourself, bye. white guy ... the white guy ...
(Hangs up. DHH approaches the Bookstore Owner.) Hello. What've DHH. I decided to call Rodney Hatamiya, the actor who had
we got here? Oriental Pearls, Enormous Lotus Blossoms, Banzai Babes. worked with Marcus in Go For Broke. (Phone rings.)

24 25
 rare/Y.4 A -
Rim b
'
41.. _sea•—•

RODNEY. Hello?
DHH. Sammy Davis, Jr.! He was Jewish, wasn't he?
DHH. Rodney! Hi, it's David Hwang.
RODNEY. So Marcus' father is the Asian Sammy Davis, Jr.?
RODNEY. Are you in New York?
DHH. Maybe.
DHH. No, Boston.
RODNEY. David —
RODNEY. So — how's the show going? DHH. I mean, I mean, do you even know where his Jewish
DHH. Oh, well ...
ancestors carne from?
RODNEY. How's Marcus?
RODNEY. Russia.
DHH. He's doing great. Listen. I wanted to ask — DHH. Oh.
;.RODNEY. He's one lucky motherfucker. RODNEY. I think he told me once — what city —
DHH. What do you mean?
DHH. Siberia!
,RODNEY. That you're the one who cast him.
RODNEY. Huh?
DHH. I don't quite —
DHH. Marcus' father — came from Siberia.
RODNEY. Anyone else would have their balls handed back to RODNEY. Are you sure? Because —
them on a plate by our community. But fucking David Henry DHH. We talked about it! Extensively!
Hwang — he can cast
a white guy as an Asian and no one gives a RODNEY. Even if you're right — how does that make him —?
goddamn!
DHH. Marcus isn't Asian? II DHH. Don't you know where Siberia is?
RODNEY. Near the North Pole?
RODNEY. Say what?
DHH. Asia! Siberia is in Asia! Yes! And Marcus' father — is a
DHH. I could tell he's not one hundred percent. Siberian Jew!
RODNEY. Marcus is one hundred percent all right. One hundred RODNEY. But Marcus doesn't look Asian!
percent white! You mean, you thought he was—? DHH. Does Lou Diamond Phillips look Asian?
DHH. Eurasian!
RODNEY. Well, sort of, if you —
RODNEY. You got that half right. (Pause.)
Oh god, this is the DHH. Does Keanu Reeves?
thnniest thing I've ever — can you imagine? If this got into the RODNEY. ICeanu Reeves is Asian?
papers? "Leader of Miss Saigon
protest casts white guy as Asian — DHH. Eurasian. Just like Marcus. Listen, Rodney, it's a new world
by mistake!"
DHH. He's not. out there. The demographics of this country are changing so fast
RODNEY. Huh? — and sometimes we think it's only white people who gotta adjust.
But we've gotta start thinking differently, too. "Free your mind /
DHH. He's not. Marcus. He's not one hundred percent white. And the rest will follow / Be color-blind / Don't be so shallow!"
RODNEY. Cmon!
DHH. His father is Jewish. RODNEY. You're sure you're not making all this up to save your ass?
DHH. Rodney! Who stepped up to the line during the Miss
RODNEY. Last time I checked, Jewish was still white. Saigon fight?
DHH. Not necessarily.
RODNEY. Not what? RODNEY. Well, you —
DHH. Did I worry about saving my own ass then?
DHH. Judaism is a religion, not a race.
RODNEY. Sorry, I didn't mean to —
RODNEY. It's sort of both, isn't it?
DHH. And another thing, Rodney. I loved your audition.
Like the way a wave and a particle are the same, RODNEY. You did?
RODNEY. What? yet different
DHH. It was so honest. That's what I love most in the theatre —
DHH. Jews are both waves and particles.
honesty.
RODNEY. What the fuck are you talking about? RODNEY. But I never got called back!

26 27
 DHH. Lots of times, the best auditions are the ones you don't CRAVER. Because people don't generally sue someone for hiring
have to call back. You just know.
them!
RODNEY. Then ... why didn't you cast me?
DHH. Why? DHH. So I'm stuck with this guy forever, no matter what?
CRAVER. Of course you can fire him. For any reason other than
RODNEY. I mean, I thought! did a fucking good job too, but — his race.
DHH. You're too good-looking.
RODNEY. Yeah? DHH. Marcus and I have really gotta talk.
CRAVER No! Whatever you do, he can't know that you know
DHH. I'm writing this character who's insecure, unsure of his he's white. Once that happens, then you really can't ever fire him.
masculinity — and who's going to believe that about you? DHH. Shit! We're speaking to a group of Asian American students
RODNEY. He's insecure because everyone thinks Asian men are tonight. They'll see right through him. Then they'll blow the whis-
nerds with little dicks.
tle, then I won't be able to fire him, then —
DHH. Like I said, who's gonna believe that about you? CRAVER. David, David — why don't you just do all the talking
RODNEY. But, then — wouldn't it make your point even better at this event?
to cast a guy like me?
DHH. Okay, okay — I can do this. I can get through this thing
DHH. That's just what I've been thinking.
RODNEY. You have? tonight. Then, tomorrow, we can get rid of him.
CRAVER. He'll be out of your life forever.
13HH. I'm calling to check your availability. Once we get to New DHH. Great. So long as I help Marcus pass as an Asian, I can still
-York — to bring you out, maybe first to understudy, but then
eventually — to take over the part. fire him for being white.
CRAVER. Right.
RODNEY. Shit, really? You're fucking offering me —?
GISH JEN. Welcome to the Asian American Resource Center. I'm
DHH. Of course, the play would have to settle into a healthy run Gish Jen.
first.
RODNEY. Of course. DHH. Marcus, I've been doing a little thinking —
MARCUS. Yeah?
DHH. So. We just all have to do what we can — to make sure the
show's a success. (Pause.) Right? GISH JEN. I'm so pleased to see you all at tonight's event.
RODNEY. Right. DHH. About your name.
GISH JEN. An evening with the creators of Face Value.
CRAVER. But, David, you can't fire him.
DHH. Marcus G. Dahlman. Have you ever thought about taking
THE ANNOUNCER William Craver, David's agent.
a stage name?
DHH. What do you mean, I can't fire him?
MARCUS. Like what? •
CRAVER. For being white? That would be a violation of anti-dis- DHH. How 'bout just, "Marcus Gee"?
crOination laws.
DHH. How? GISH JEN. So without any further delay —
MARCUS. I never —
CRAVER. You'd be firing him because of his race.
GISH JEN. Please welcome David Henry Hwang and Marcus —
DHH. But I hired him because of his race — or what I thought
was his race! DHH. (At Gish:) Marcus Gee! (Applause.)
STUDENT #1. Your play? Man, you guys have made a beautiful
CRAVER. Everyone just sort of lets that one slide.
thing.
DHH. So —! can hire on the basis of race, but not fire for that DHH. Thank you, that's very —
same reason?
CRAVER. Right. STUDENT #1. And when! read those reviews, I thought, Shit,
DHH. Why? they're doing it to us again.
STUDENT #2. Tell 'em, brother!

28 29
 STUDENT #1. They can't stand it when a yellow man gets too
much power in their world. Oh, look, here she is — in the most recent issue of Cosmopolitan.
STUDENT #2. You got that right! (He flashes a picture of a Siberian model with very Asian features.)
STUDENT #1. So they got no choice— but to take us down! You Nowadays, we really don't "all look alike." Looks don't matter any
and Spike Lee, man! longer. Marcus is like us — he's an American.
MARCUS. Thank you. When did you see our show? STUDENT #3. Marcus, as an actor of Jewish-Siberian heritage —
STUDENT #1. I don't have to see it to know what's going on have you faced a lot of barriers?
here. DHH. (lb Marcus:) Sure you have. You can tell them.
DHH. You could tell, just by reading the reviews. MARCUS. Well, uh, before this, my career was sort of going
S,TUDENT #1. That's right! Once those white critics started beat- nowhere. I mean, directors just didn't seem to know what to do
g on your show, I knew it must be great. with me.
OHH. You can really see through the hype. (To Student #3.) STUDENT #1. Bastards!
Yes? MARCUS. Last November, I went in on this commercial call. They
STUDENT #3. I saw your show a couple of nights ago.
DHH. Yes? had me back five times. Five times! And in the end, you know what
MARCUS. Yes? they told me? They said I didn't "look right." (Gasps all around)
STUDENT #3. It was amazing. STUDENT #2. That is so racist!
DHH. Thank you. STUDENT #4. Marcus, did you celebrate Siberian traditions at
MARCUS. Thank you. home?
STUDENT #3. But I do have one question for Marcus: What are MARCUS. No, not really. Though we did have this little music
you, anyway? box on the mantle that played "Somewhere My Love," and —
DHH. You mean, what is he really? (Laughter.) DHH. Next?
MARCUS. Well, my ancestry's really mixed up, but there are some STUDENT #3. Was growing up hard for you?
who say that the Lost Tribe of Israel — DHH. (lb Marcus:) Yeah, it was, right?
DHH. Marcus is Eurasian. That's the bottom line, isn't it, Marcus? MARCUS. Well, yeah — see, when I was seven, my parents
MARCUS. Well, yes, I suppose — moved to this fancy neighborhood because it had good schools.
Yes? But that made me sort of... the poor kid in town.
STUDENT #4. Marcus, your ancestors — I mean, the Asian part, STUDENT #2. I know what that's like.
where did they come from? MARCUS. You do? Urn, thank you.
DHH. Siberia, didn't they? (Pause.) We STUDENT #1. Bastards!
spoke about that once.
(Pause.) They were Russian Siberian Asian Jews? MARCUS. You really wanna hear this?
Weren't they?
MARCUS. Yeah, sure ... DHH. Trust me, they do.
STUDENT #4. Siberian. Wow. I've never really heard of — MARCUS. See, the other kids all knew the truth about me. So on
DHH. Oh, they're a rapidly growing minority. In the next few the outside, I was trying to fit in with everyone else, but inside, urn ...
years, you're going to see an explosion of Siberian American culture STUDENT #2. You knew they were lookin' down on you!
in this country — Siberian restaurants, folk festivals, artists, and MARCUS. That's right! God, this is so weird, I've never even ...
the emergence of Little Siberia towns all over America. and in public like this ...
STUDENT #4. And Siberians — are Asians? STUDENT #2. Marcus, we've all been oppressed!
DHH. Here, I just happen to be carrying an atlas. See, it's just STUDENT #1. By the bastards! Now you say it!
north of China. Perhaps the most well-known Siberian right now MARCUS. Huh? Me? No, I —
—4 besides Marcus, of course — is a model named Irina Pantaeva. STUDENT #1. No, man, ya gotta say it!
STUDENT #2. It's the only way you're gonna rise up!

30
31
 s. tdis.....aersonassmisinsiinewhierin•

MARCUS. See, it was subtle — I mean, it wasn't like — official opening, shutting down after eight preview performances at
• STUDENT #2. Subtle sucks.
a loss of more than two million dollars. (A phone rings.)
STUDENT #1. Cmon, ya gotta say it! MARGARET FUNG. Hello?
MARCUS. Okay. Bastards. DHH. Margaret?
I STUDENT #1. That's right. Those motherfucicers. Who make us MARGARET FUNG. David?
feel like shit — they were
THE ANNOUNCER. Margaret Fung, executive director, Asian
MARCUS. Bastards! You're right, they were mean little bastards! American Legal Defense and Education Fund.
(Everyone applauds.) DHH. Yeah, it's David Hwang. David Henry Hwang.
STUDENT #2. Doesn't that feel good, Marcus? MARGARET FUNG. Are you drunk?
MARCUS. It really does! God, this is amazing, you guys don't DHH. No. No! Well, maybe just a little. Listen, I don't know if
even know me — and to welcome me like this into your dub — you heard about my show — it kinda ... closed.
DHH. Community MARGARET FUNG. Yes, you told me last night.
MARCUS. Community I feel like I've finally found — a home— DHH. Do you think I'm still an Asian American role model?
STUDENT #2. We love you, brother! MARGARET FUNG. David, it's two A.m.!
MARCUS. Do you know how special this is? Out there — in the DHH. But, Margaret —!
rest of America — everyone's on their own, fighting to stay afloat. MARGARET FUNG. Yes, David, you're still a role model. Now —
But you — you've got each other. No,
we've got each other! DHH. You know, that Legal Defense thing, the one you run —?
STUDENT #4. Marcus Gee, you are a role model for us all! MARGARET FUNG. AALDEE
'MARCUS. I wouldn't even be here today — if I hadn't had the good DHH. Yeah, that. Do you think you could give me one of your
(*fortune to be cast in a play by David Henry Hwang!
(Applause peaks. Justice in Action Awards?
Ringing phone.)
MARGARET FUNG. David, you've already received one.
'DHH. Stuart? Sorry to call so late at night. But do you think BD's DHH. But I mean, could I get another one?
still available? (Pause.) I don't think Marcus is working out.
(A MARGARET FUNG. Well, we like to think of it as kind of a life-
phone rings, followed by the "beep" of an answering machine.) time achievement award. Which means we only give out one per
MARCUS. David, it's Marcus. Er, could we talk? It's ten-thirty in lifetime.
the morning, and I just got a call from the producers. This is kind DHH. My show — I was the victim of racism,. right?
of important. Call rue. Please. (Another "beep., MARGARET FUNG. Don't you have anyone else you can call? I
It's eleven o'clock
Look, it's really important ... that you and I talk. Okay? (Another mean, we hardly know each other!
"beep.') I'm assuming you know what's going on, and — if this is
DHH. Yeah, but I've always thought — when it comes to civil
what you want, I understand. I'd just like the chance to hear it rights attorneys? — that you are ... 'Linda hot.
from you. (Another "beep.')
It's Marcus. I'm at Logan Airport. My MARGARET FUNG. I'm going to hang up now.
flight starts boarding in twenty minutes. (Another "beep.') DHH. But, Margaret —!
It's final
tall. I'm heading back to San Francisco. Look, I just wanted to MARGARET FUNG. Yes, David, you were the victim of racism.
[hank you. I've gotten to work with some wonderful artists and —
Now, goodnight. (Dong track #15, "Cicadas Are Crying, I Sigh as
and maybe even, through everything that happened — understand My Youth Passes By')
a little better who I am. Talk to you sometime, Okay? (Recording am MARCUS. Dear David, I'm still here in the Dong village — it's
delete your messages, press seven." DHH presses a key 'Messages deleted 7 been three weeks. I'd thought I would have moved on by now —
THE ANNOUNCER Associated Press,
March 15, 1993: maybe to some of the other minority communities, spread out over
ASSOCIATED PRESS, MARCH 15, 1993.
Face Value, the new China — did you know there are more than fifty groups in all? But
Broadway comedy by the author of Al. Butterfly, I think what's kept me here in Dong country — is the music.
closed before its

32 33
 (Pause.) I've done some research. Turns out, the "big song" came to HYH. You used to work in the bank! Back in college, during the
China over the Silk Road, a thousand years ago. Now I sit, in the summers, remember?
center of the village at twilight, and listen, with my eyes shut. And DHH. As a teller!
sometimes, when I'm very lucky, I can hear the whole journey — HYH. And you were a good teller too. Every night, your drawer
from the Carpathian Mountains, through the Middle East, all the balanced.
way into Asia, covering half the world. The Dong learn this music DHH. And what's my tide going CO be? "Director of Nepotism"?
frqm birth — it's so much a part of who they are — of who I'm HYH. If that's the title you want, fine, you can have it.
not. And yet all these songs once came from somewhere else — DHH. Dad, I'm not in the least qualified.
sorta like me. (A phone rings. Music out.) HYH. What do you mean, you're not qualified? You're my son,
DHH. Hello? aren't you? (Pause.) You know, we pay our board members honorar-
HYH. Hello? Son? ium for attending meetings. Just a few thousand dollars, but better
DHH. Hi, Dad. than nothing. You'll come out to L.A. every month — you can stay
HYH. I was just calling to sec how you're doing. at our house — your mother will be so happy to cook for you.
DHH. Me? I'm great. Things are great. DHH. Dad?
HYH. And how are things — money-wise? HYH. And maybe you'll even decide you like banking.
DHH. Dad — DHH. Just out of curiosity —
HYH. I thought you'd want to know — I just made a big dona- HYH. Huh?
tion — to your friend, Bill Clinton. DHH. Is that a few thousand dollars a year, or per meeting?
DHH. He's not my friend, I just — BEATRICE CHANG. And total assets as of October thirty-first
HYH. You supported him, didn't you? I talked to this guy from stand at $532,400,000.
his campaign — told him I want to start a new group: "Chinese THE ANNOUNCER. Far East National Bank board meeting.
Rebublican.Bankers for Clinton." Present are:
DHH. Would there be any other members? DON MIHAIL. Don Mihail, vice chair.
HYH. Lots! Did you hear that Par Buchanan? Wants to kick us all BEATRICE CHANG. Beatrice Chang, chief financial officer.
out of the country! The Clinton guy — he loved my idea. HYH. Henry Hwang, chairman of the board. Just like Frank. (7b
DHH. That's great, Dad. Listen, I'm — the others) I need a motion to approve the budget.
HYH. Now, I can finally become Ambassador to Great Britain. DON MIHAIL. (Eastern European accent.) So moved.
DHH. What? HYH. Second? (Pause.) Second?
HYH. Or China. I would settle for China. DHH. Oh! Second.
DHH. But you're not a diplomat! HYH. That's good, son.
HYH. I'm a businessman, aren't I? Dave, this is how things work You DON MIHAIL. He's learning fast.
scratch my back, I'll scratch yours. Wm-win! It's the American way. HYH. All in favor, say "aye."
DHH. You know you're one of the least diplomatic people in the DON MIHAIL, DHH and HYH. Aye!
world. HYH. All opposed? (Pause.) Okay, we found office space — right
HYH. I know, isn't it beautiful? I'll do it just like Frank "My Way" in the center of Beijing: Brand new building, beautiful.
Dad, I can't really think about this right now — DON MIHAIL. Henry, congratulations! This is a big deal.
HYH. I know. Son, why don't you come on the board of my bank? HYH. Don, I'm so excited! The system over there — they need
DHH. What? our help.
HYH. Marty DeLuca just died, there's an empty space to fill. DON MIHAIL. And lots of business there too!
DHH. But I don't know the first thing about banking. HYH. It's win-win! I'm telling you, I feel like a pioneer, like a

34 35
 Yankee trader. Beatrice?
BEATRICE CHANG. On Monday, we are putting out a press
release to announce the opening of our Beijing office. Far East will
become the first American bank to do business in the People's ACT TWO
Republic of China.
HYH. In Beijing — after I signed the lease — our new landlords
took me to a lcaraoke bar. And guess what I sang? You'll never guess. The lights come up on DHH, obsessively reading newspaper
DHH. "My Way." clippings. "Shall We Dance?" plays.
HYH. That's right! They were so moved, it was beautiful. —
Meeting adjourned.
DON MIHAIL. David, the wife and I went out last night — to a THE ANNOUNCER. Los Angeles Times-.
musical show. LOS ANGELES TIMES. The most significant thing about this
DHH. Yeah? What'd you see? King and I is its ethnic-authentic casting —
DON MIHAIL. The King and I. And, David — that guy who DHH. (Reading:)— and convincing South Asian look?! Aw, Jesus!
played the King — you know him! THE ANNOUNCER. Boston Globe:
DHH. I know a lot of Asian actors. What was his name? DHH. Mr. Gee's warm humanity fills this exquisite King and I.
DON MIHAIL. What was his name? He was in one of your plays. THE ANNOUNCER Seattle Times:
DHH. Which one? DI1H. Gee throws off the ghost of Yul Brenner and reinvents the
DON MIHAIL. Face the Facts, or — King for our multicultural age. (Music out.)
DHH. Face Value? HYH. Montreal, Boston, Houston, Seattle — Son, are these clip-
DON MIHAIL. Yes, yes! pings all about you?
DHH. BD Wong is in The King and I? DHH. Not really, Dad, see, I —
DON MIHAIL. No, no — that wasn't his name. HYH. Hey, it's that guy — Marcus Gee! You gave him his start,
DHH. But who else could it — no! son.
DON MIHAIL. He had a Chinese name. DHH. Don't remind me.
DHH. It can't be. HYH. (Reading:) Mmmm. Hnunmm. Mmmm. Hmmmm.
DON MIHAIL. Strange thing, though — he didn't look very DHH. What now?!
Chit:fest. ("Shall We Dance?" plays. The ensemble becomes actors tak- HYH. He's very deep Listen to this:
ing a curtain call from The King and I. Marcus, as the King, enters MARCUS. "Never let anyone-tell you that what you look like is
to take the final bow. DHH watches, aghast Lights fade.) who you are. Those are the limitations we have to fight. Even peo-
ple who look like me. Especially people who look like me."
End of Act One HYH. Beautiful!
DHH. I am going to throw up.
HYH. You know, Dave, you should say stuff like that.
DHH. I should — ? Where do you think he got it? I said those
very words! When he was in my show!
HYH. Then you teach him well, you must be so proud!
DHH. Dad, he's a disaster. I thought I got rid of him back in
Boston, but no, he keeps popping up — as if from the grave — just
M torture MC.

36 37
HYI-1. You think you gen . ing a little worked up about this? MARCUS. Face Value. Thanks for the break, buddy! (Marcus gives
DHH. Dad, his name isn't "Gee"! He's not even Asian! (Pause.) DHH a 1990s-style "soul" handshake. Cameras click.)
HY14. You know, I had that thought. When I first saw him in your REPORTERS. Marcus! Marcus!
show, I thought, "He's not Chinese." But now that I read his REPORTER #1. Marcus, your performance in The King and I has
words, who cares? Maybe, in my heart, ill can be Gary Cooper or been getting rave reviews all around the country. Did you have any
Clark Gable, then maybe — in his? — he can be Marcus Gee. reservations about taking a role that some in the community have
DHH. I didn't go through all those protests and hunger strikes labeled stereotypical?
just so some white imposter could help himself to our hard-won MARCUS. Of course I did. I feel like one of the most important
opportunities. responsibilities for any actor of color is to be true to his or her com-
HYH. You went on a hunger strike? munity, to make sure we only put out positive images. I only
DHH. Sure, back in college with the other Asian students. For agreed to be seen for the role of the King after the producers
two w,hole weeks! assured me that the hallmark of this production would be cultural
HYH. You didn't eat for two weeks? You could've been —! authenticity. (Later. DHH and Marcus.) Hey, bro!
DM1;!. Dad, I'm not stupid, of course I ate. DHH. Don't give me that "Hey bro" shit.
. But you said — MARCUS. Sorry, I didn't mean to offend.
DH14. We fasted in shifts. DHH. Well, you are. I mean, this whole thing you're doing, it's
THE, ANNOUNCER. Variety, April 27, 1996. really offensive.
VARIETY Asian kudos announced. The newly formed Asian MARCUS. Is this all about what happened in Boston?
American Artists Association announced honorees for their first DHH. Of course it's about what happened in Boston!
annual Warrior Awards. Legit scribe David Henry Hwang (M MARCUS. Dave, for me, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise!
Butterfly) will receive a "Visionary Warrior Award" from the org, DHH. You're really going to act like you don't know?
which was founded by Asian American film exec — MARCUS. I wish I could say I was acting. But I'm not that good
FRITZ. Fritz Friedman. David, sweetheart, follow me. By the way, an actor. At least, you didn't think so.
your hair looks terrific. (Pause.) We've arranged a little impromptu DHH. You're running around. Pretending to be Asian. You're
press conference with the community media. You don't mind lying! To everyone! There — can you follow that? (Pause.)
answering questions, do you? MARCUS. I am trying really hard not to lie. Okay, now and then,
DHH. Of course not. I have to mention the Siberian thing, and that's unfortunate, but,
FRITZ. Just stand here. Journalists, please welcome David Henry as much as possible — I am doing my best to speak only the truth.
Hwapg. (Light applause, cameras clicking.) DHH. Your whole life is a lie! You're letting people believe —
Dffit Pm so pleased to be honored by the Asian American Artists MARCUS. You said yourself, didn't you? It doesn't matter what
Association, or AAAA — (Pronounced “Ahhhhhh.) someone looks like on the outside.
FRITZ. Oh! Here comes another of tonight's awardees. Our DHH. I didn't mean that literally!
"Most Promising Newcomer Warrior": Marcus Gee — (Bigger MARCUS. Then how did you mean it? David, do you have a
applause, more cameras click.) — who's managed to join us tonight, problem with anything I'm saying?
despite his grueling tour schedule in The King and I. (To Marcus DHH. No, it's not what you're saying —
and DHH.) You two know each other? Well, who doesn't know MARCUS. It's that IM the one who's saying it? Doesn't that make
Marcus, right? your position kind of racist?
MARCUS. Know each other? David gave me my first job! How ya DHH. This is not that hard! In order to be Asian, you have to have
doin', bro? We haven't talked since, when...? at least some Asian blood!
DHH. Since I, uh, since you were in — MARCUS. I'm just saying some things that need to be said. Doing

38 39
 things that need to be done. I mean, someone's gotta step up. DHH. Hey, Leah — I hadn't seen you here.
DHH. What's that supposed to mean? LEAH. Surprise, surprise. (To Marcus.) Better get onstage quick.
MARCUS. To be perfectly honest, I've been attending a lot of They're about to auction off dinner with you. (Gives Marcus a kiss.)
community functions lately. And I don't see you at any of them. MARCUS. Oh, thanks. (To DHH.) DC, next week. Remember
DHH. You can't be — this name: John Huang. It's gonna be big. (Marcus exits. Leah starts
MARCUS. John Huang has founded this great new organization, to follow.)
the Asian Leadership Council. DHH. You're dating him?
DHH. You're lecturing me? On how to be Asian? LEAH. Yes. So?
MARCUS. Ies a chance for APAs to gain some real clout — by DHH. Does he know that we — you and I — that we...?
leveraging our donations to the presidential campaign. LEAH. Well, maybe, I might've mentioned — you know, it's not
DHH. I can't believe this! the first thing on my mind day and night.
MARCUS. They're honoring me next week in DC. We could real- DHH. Leah, you can't.
ly de your support. LEAH. Excuse me?
DHH. I was an Asian American role model back when you were DHH. You can't ... become his girlfriend.
still a, Caucasian! LEAH. Well, funny thing, cuz I already am.
MARCUS. David, c'mon — is this a popularity contest? DHH. When did you meet him?
DHH. No, I am not in a popularity contest with you. LEAH. It's none of your —
MARCUS. This is about collective empowerment, agreed? DHH. Was it before or after he got this job in The King and I?
DHH. Fuck. That's so easy for you to say LEAH. If you must know, we're touring together. I'm playing
MARCUS. What? Tuptim. Again, don't ask. Now if you'll excuse me —
DHH. You come in here with that, that face of yours. Call your- DHH. So he hasn't cold you.
self Asian. Everyone falls at your feet. But you don't have to live as LEAH. Told me what?
an Asian — every day of your life. No, you can just skim the cream, DHH. You think he's Asian, don't you?
you, you, you ethnic tourist! LEAH. Not one hundred percent but —
MARCUS. You're right. I don't have to live Asian every day of my DHH. I can't believe he's dating you. Of all people!
life. Jam choosing to do so. LEAH. Wait. You think he's dating me — to get back at you?
DHH. Funny thing about race. You don't get to choose. If you'd DHH. No, not just to get back at me. It's, it's, it's even weirder
beeriborn a minority, you'd know that. than that.
MARCUS. David, are you familiar with the Chinese concept of LEAH. Oh my god.
lacer? DHH. More diabolical.
DHH. Am 1— ? Of course — It's, it's, you know ... LEAH. David, listen —
MARCUS. Basically, it says that the face we choose to show the DHH. It's like, like he, he wants to become me.
world — reveals who we really are. LEAH. Whoa.
DHH. I knew that. DHH. I know this sounds crazy, I can hardly believe it myself. But
MARCUS. Well, I've chosen my face. And now I'm becoming the — but —
person I've always wanted to be. LEAH. Hey, hey! Earth to narcissist!
LEAH. (Offitage.) Marcus? (To Marcus.) There you are, what's DHH. What's that supposed to mean?
keeping you? LEAH. Yes, I did tell Marcus that you and I had been a couple. I
MARCUS. Sorry, hon. Just got talking with David. mean, how could we have avoided the subject, you fired him,
LEAH. (To DHH.) Oh, hi. remember? But, David, whatever hurt and bitterness he may have

40 41
 mm6mimi.•••mommaks..•0111•11.

LEAH. Nothing! Reading the paper, watching TV, I dunno. ROCCO. I suggest you do. Because there's something strange about
DHH. Yeah, right. (Phone ringing. Leah and Marais are making out.) your file. It seems you made your donation under a false name.
MARCUS. I should get that. MARCUS. Well, yes, I —
LEAH.' You have got to be kidding. Let the machine pick up! ROCCO. You realize this is a violation of federal campaign laws?
MARCUS. It might be something important. MARCUS. I used my stage name. I didn't know that was illegal.
LEAHA Whatever it is can wait. I can't. (Marcus picks up the phone.) ROCCO. Why did you change your name?
MARCUS. Hello? MARCUS. To more — accurately reflect the roles I was playing.
LEAH. Oh, you are in such trouble. ROCCO. And what sort of roles were those?
ROCC.O. Is this Marcus Gee? MARCUS. Asian roles.
MARCUS. Speaking. ROCCO. So is it fair to assume that your ethnicity is actually Asian?
ROCCO. I'm calling from the office of Senator Fred Thompson MARCUS. I don't have to answer that question. •
on behalf of the Committee on Governmental Affairs. ROCCO. We keep getting stuck on that one, don't we?
MARCUS. Do you realize that it's eleven-thirty at night? MARCUS. I'm going to hang up now.
ROCCO. Yes, I'm sorry. Would you mind answering some ques- ROCCO. That would be a bad idea.
tions? MARCUS. This whole conversation is a bad idea. You guys are so
MARCUS. Can you call back in the morning? on the wrong track. In fact, you know something? — you're idiots.
ROCCO. The committee would be most grateful for your coop- (Hang up.)
eration at this time. Our records show that you made a donation LEAH. We thought that would be the end of it, but now we're get-
of two 'hundred and fifty dollars. To the Asian Pacific American ting more r2lls —from the FBI, the Democratic National Committee.
Leadership Council. DHH. So wait. Lemme get this straight: The government's inves-
MAR US. Yes, at their fundraising dinner in Washington last year. tigating people who made donations to presidential campaigns —
ROC O.. Are you aware that their founder, John Huang, is under LEAH. Asians. Just Asians. Cut they think foreigners tried to
investigation? That a good number of the donations he gathered influence the elections — anyone named "Lee" or "Wong" or —
may have violated federal campaign laws? DHH. And somehow Marcus got on their list?
MARCUS. What do you want from me? LEAH. Can you believe it? He made a donation, using his stage
ROCCO. Are you an American citizen? name. There's gonna be a press conference tomorrow to expose this
MARCUS. What?! crap and — (Pause.) David? (Pause.)Why are you ... laughing?
ROCCO. Where are you from? DHH. Well, he wanted to be Asian, didn't he? "Every day of my
MARCUS. You mean, where am I really from? (Pause.) life!" Be careful what you wish for, kimosabe!
ROCCO. What do you mean by that? LEAH. I was hoping you'd show up at the press conference to help —
MARCUS. I mean — never mind, it was a joke. DHH. Moi? Marcus doesn't need my help. He's Captain Asian
ROCCO. Why was that a joke? America! A role model for us all!
MARCUS. Because Asians are always being asked, "Where are you LEAH. David, listen — Asians? Accused of being evil foreigners?
really from?" This is exactly the kind of shit they always throw at us.
ROCCO. Who else has asked you this? DHH. Well, now they're throwing it at him. And it is making my
MARtUS. You're completely clueless, aren't you? day.
ROCCO. Why don't you clue me in? What is your ancestry? LEAH. I can't believe this. You used to stand for something. Now,
MARCUS. My god, they can't even ask that at auditions! it's, it's like you've turned into some kind of fake Asian.
ROCCO. Auditions? DHH. Me? lin the fake Asian? Someone's not looking in her own
MARCUS. I don't have to answer that question. bed.

44 45
I.

LEAH. Fuck you. SENATOR SHELBY. We've got to remember the Chinese are
DHH. For your information, the reason I can't make your little everywhere , They're real. They're here. And probably , very
press :Fonference is cuz I'm doing something much more important crafty people.
for As' ian Americans. You ever hear of network television? I'm THE ANNOUNCER. Representative Tom DeLay, Republican of
working with this comedienne. On a brand-new series. She's Texas:
Koren American — just like you. (Pause.) Leah? REPRESENTATIVE DELAY. There's a high probability this is
THE ANNOUNCER On the set of All-American Girl, starring money from foreign[ers] , if you're friends with a guy named
Miss Margaret Cho! Johnny Huang [or Marcus Gee] „ and you have friend[s] by the
DHH. Margaret, hi! I've been hired to take the show in a new name of Arief and Soraya, and I cannot even pronounce [these]
direction: more Asian. So — use chopsticks. Use chopsticks! And name[s] , Cheong Am, Yogcsh Gandhi, Lap Seng Ng — (Tries
when you're done you can put them in your hair. (Pause.) And different pronounciatWns:) Ng? ... Ng?
Margaret — you're wearing shoes, which is something we don't do THE ANNOUNCER Representative Jack Kingston, Republican
in the house. Take off your shoes. We don't wear shoes in the house. of Georgia:
(Pause.) Now, I am going to leave this abacus right here ... REPRESENTATIVE KINGSTON. Illegal campaign contribu-
THE „ANNOUNCER. New York Times, September 12, 1997. tions are just the tip of the eggrofl.
NEW YORK TIMES, SEPTEMBER 12, 1997. Today, eighteen THE ANNOUNCER Senator Brownback:
Asian; American groups filed a complaint with the United States SENATOR BROWNBACK. John Huang brought in so much
Comtnission on Civil Rights. money for the Democrats, because under his salary agreement, no
MAR`CUS. I was harassed by midnight telephone calls, my integrity raise money, no get bonus.
was slandered, and my citizenship was questioned. THE ANNOUNCER New York limes. March 6, 1999: China
NEW YORK TIMES, SEPTEMBER 12, 1997. Leaders of Asian stole nuclear secrets from Los Alamos. Written by — (Sound cue:
American groups say this telephone call and twelve hundred others "Name Withheld on Advice of CounciL")
to Asian American contributors are parr of a harassment of people NAME WITHHELD ON ADVICE OF COUNCIL (NWOAOC).
of Asian descent. Government officials [have] administered lie detector tests to ... a
THE ANNOUNCER. USA Today, July 9, 1997: Los Alamos computer scientist who is Chinese American ... This
USA TODAY, JULY 9, 1997. [Congress] yesterday began long- is going to be just as bad as the Rosenbergs, Ian official] recalled
awaited hearings on the campaign finance improprieties of 1996 saying. (The sound of paper coming out of an old thermal-style fax
with , an assertion [by committee chair Fred Thompson, machine. HYH crosses to DHH, carryingfar paper.)
Republican of Tennessee] — HYH. Dave! Dave, look! A fax — for you!
FRED THOMPSON. High-level Chinese government officials DHH. So? Why are you getting all — ?
crafted a plan to increase China's influence over the U.S. political HYH. From Marcus Gee!
procciss. Our investigation suggests the plan continues today. DHH. God, get that away from me. He probably wants money or
THEANNOUNCER. Senator Bob Bennett, Republican of Utah: something.
SENATOR BENNETT. In my opinion, [these] activities are clas- MARCUS. (Reading.) Dear David —
sic aetivities on the part of an Asian who comes out of that culture. DHH. I don't want to hear it!
THE ANNOUNCER Senator Sam Brownback, Republican of HYH. Sssh! I'm reading for myself?
Kansas: MARCUS. Did you see that story in The New York limes? About
SENATOR BROWNBACK. Two Huangs don't make a right. Wen Ho Lee, the Chinese American nuclear scientist they're accus-
THE ANNOUNCER Senator Richard Shelby, Republican of ing of treason?
Alabama: HYH. Marcus says they're holding a rally to stand up for Wen Ho Lee.

46 47
 •-•••••

And they want you to join them. (Pause.) Well? Are you gonna go? FBI AGENT. Wen Ho, this is serious Do you know who the
DHH. Of course I'm not gonna go! Rosenbergs are?
HYH, But — WEN HO LEE. I heard them, yeah, I heard them mention.
DH14. Do you see what I'm doing here? I'm preparing a pitch for FBI AGENT. The Rosenbergs are the only people that never coop-
a movke project. erated with the federal government in an espionage case. You know
HYH.. But Marcus says — what happened to them? They electrocuted them, Wen Ho.
DHH. Aw, Jesus! WEN HO LEE. Yeah. I heard ,
MARCUS. I'm sorry you couldn't make our press conference FBI AGENT. The Rosenbergs professed their innocence. The
exposing the phone calls but — it's all snowballing: first, the cam- Rosenbergs weren't concerned either. The Rosenbergs are dead ...
paign finance scandals, and now, Wen Ho Lee This country is WEN HO LEE. Well, it ... my life. I accept it, okay. I will try to
gearing up to make China its next big enemy. And, as usual, who do the best I can, and I, I believe, eventually ... God. God, will
do they go after first? Asian Americans. make it his judge, judgment.
DHH. That guy is so paranoid. Hey, maybe Wen Ho Lee's actu- THE ANNOUNCER. Senator Peter Domeinici, Republican of
ally guilty. Ever think of that? And if he's not, what's Marcus so New Mexico:
worried about? Doesn't he know we have rights in this country? (To SENATOR DOMEINICI. That man Wen Ho Lee] doesn't deserve
the audience.) Only in my research for this play, did I finally read a civil liberties. (Marcus, Leah and cast members aceptfir DHH chant)
transcript of Wen Ho Lee's interrogation by the FBI, March 7, PROTESTERS. Justice for Wen Ho Lee! Justice for Wen Ho Lee!
1999:: LEAH. I'm Asian American, arrest me, too!
FBI AFENT. Washington is under the impression that you're a MARCUS. Racial Profile This!
spy. And this [New York Times] article is doing everything but com- PROTESTER #1. Asian American Does Not Equal Spy!
ing our with your name „ Everything is pointing to you , MARCUS. Who's next?
WEN HO LEE I'm just telling you, I believe truth, and I believe PROTESTERS. Who's next?
honest, and I know, I know myself. I did not tell anything ... okay? MARCUS. Who's next?
I told you more than ten times eventually something will be PROTESTERS. Who's next?
dear-cut, okay? , MARCUS. Who's next?
FBI AGENT What are you going to tell your friends? What are PROTESTERS. Who's next?
you going to tell your family? What are you going to tell your wife MARCUS. Who's next?
and son? They are going to say, you know, your father is a spy. PROTESTERS. Who's next?
WEN HO LEE. But I, I'm not a spy — MARCUS. Who's next?
FBI AGENT What if they decide, okay. We're going to poly- PROTESTERS. Who's next? (The sounds of typing on two computer
graph Your wife? keyboards.)
WEN,H0 LEE. On what? On what subject? DHH. So, Yellowgur18, where are you really from?
FBI AGENT. What difference does it make? , Your kids are YELLOWGURL8. Omaha. Growing up Vietnamese there, I felt
going ko have to live with this, okay. Your wife is going to have to so alone.
live with it. This is going to eat away at them like a cancer. Just like DHH. You're not alone.
the cancer that you had, but all the way. YELLOWGURL8. I read your plays in high school.
WEN HO LEE. Probably worse than the cancer. DHH. Which ones? (A phone rings. DHH does not pick up.)
FBI AGENT. That's right, it is worse than the cancer ... YELLOWGURL8. All of them.
WEN HO LEE. Well, okay, let's, let's stop here, 'cause I'm very DHH. So — what are you wearing? (DHH's machine picks up.)
tired DOROTHY EINVANG. Dave, it's your mother. Just want to let

48 49
you know. There's going to be an article tomorrow in The New York HYH. Not yet. But I will be — no matter what it takes!
Times. About your father. It's a big one. Front page. And it's — it's DHH. Wait, wait.
not very good. HYH. I told my lawyers — you spend whatever you have to, pull
NW0A0C. New York Times, May 11, 1999. China sent cash to all the strings you've got — get me that subpoena!
U.S. bank, with suspicions slow to rise. Written by — (Sound cue: DHH. You want to appear before the committee?
"Name Withheld on Advice of Counsel, Late in the spring of 1996, HYH. Of course!
Federal bank examiners discovered that the central bank of China DOROTHY HWANG. See, Dave? Why you have to talk to him?
was moving tens of millions of dollars into the United States, HYH. On national television! Lights, cameras, senators — and
depositing it in a maze of accounts , at a small California bank me, giving it to those guys. "You — you discriminate against
, Far East National (Pause.) [Far East National's CEO, Henry Asians! This sort of thing — must never happen in America."
Y.] Hwang, sixty-nine, is a well-known figure among Chinese- DOROTHY HWANG. Dear, it's not going to go like that.
Americans in Los Angeles , [Hwang's] office is decorated with HYH. Ssssh! All around the country, people stop what they are
photographs of himself with various American presidents, includ- doing, listen to me. And suddenly, the image of Asians is improved
ing Bill Clinton, and with a poster from M. Butterfly, the Broadway forever. An, beautiful!
hit writien by his son, David Henry Hwang, who was formerly a DOROTHY HWANG. Dave?
direc-tor'of the bank. DHH. Dad, it's very hard to make yourself look good before a
DHH./ Oh shit. (HYH, DHH, and Dorothy Hwang.) congressional investigation.
HYH. lThis reporter guy — no respect. HYH. What about 011ie North?
DHH.,.Dad — DHH. It's not impossible, but —
HYH. Alice says, "Do you have an appointment?" This guy says, HYH. What does 011ie North have that I don't? First, I become a
"No, I have to see Mr. Hwang." Then he just walks in! If I was in spokesman for Asians all around this country. Then next, who
the bathroom, bet he'd just walk in there too. No class! knows? Maybe — governor of California.
DHH. The first thing we gotta think about is — DOROTHY HWANG. Not again! He thinks he's going to
HYH. You know, son, I have a bathroom in my office — become a hero.
DHH. I know. HYH. This is my chance! To speak OM for Asians in this country!
HYH. With a shower and everything. Beautiful! Just like Marcus Gee!
DOROTHY HWANG. Henry, listen to your son. DHH. That's not so easy!
DHH. Dad! The newspaper article! HYH. This article — terrible! But the placement — very good!
HYH. Right, right. Front page of The New York Times! Dave, even you never been
DOROTHY HWANG. (To DHH.) Talk to your father. above the fold.
FIYH., Did you see the part when he called me "short"? I'm five- DHH. You really just wanna lie low and hope all this goes away.
foot-ter! That's not short! (Cell phone rings. Pause.) Hang on.
DHH. I know. HYH. Did you see my picture?
HYH. ' He called me short. You know what that means? The guy's DHH. It's my cell phone.
a racist! HYH. I was wearing Armani!
DHH. Dad! What's really important now, what you really have to DHH. (Into cell phone:) Hello?
worry about, is the Senate investigation. Are you going to have to NW0A0C. May I speak to David Henry Hwang?
testify before Shelby's banking committee? DHH. Speaking.
HYH. Of course! NW0A0C. My name is — (Sound cue: "Name Withheld on
DHH. You've already been subpoenaed? Advice of Counsel') I wrote the article in the Times this morning

50 51
about Far East National. DHH. Basically, as a favor to my father.
DHH. Oh. NWOAOC. Do you want to go on the record abciCticallY nothing
NWOAOC. I understand you were on Far East's board when all go off at any moment — just by punching this button..
this occurred. DHH. I can turn it off? ar stamp.
DHH. Well ... NWOAOC. Absolutely. -ome-
NWOAOC. I'd like the chance to prove you had nothing to do DHH. All right. (NWOAOC turns on the tape recorder) When in,
with this. If you wish, our talk could be completely off the record. father asked me, I was coming off one of the busiest years of my
DHH. ,L.Jm career. I turned him down at first.
NWOAOC. So — can we meet? (NWOAOC crosses to DHH, NWOAOC. How did he convince you?
carrying a small tape recorder Re: tape recorder) It's off. DHH. He said, "Son, I need your help." And, you know, growing
DHH. Good. Because I don't think — up in a Chinese family, you feel an intense sense of duty to your
NWOAOC. I know. And I respect that. parents. Filial piety is deeply ingrained in the culture. Dad took me
DHH. So why — ? to the grave of my Ti-Ti — my paternal grandfather — and there
NWOAOC. Just in case you suddenly feel there's something you we lit joss sticks — incense. And it was as if the voices of my ances-
want to say on the record. It's here for your benefit. You control it. tors rose up, telling me it was my filial duty — to join the bank
You just give the word. And it's ready to go. board. (Pause.) Of course, I also felt a sense of responsibility to the
DHH. You're not what I expected. I mean the way — Chinese American community.
NWOAOC. The way I look? NWOAOC. Can you explain?
DHH. Not that there's anything wrong with — DHH. Far East National served immigrants, refugees. I thought,
NWOAOC. I look like the guy who shows up to do your taxes, if I can help the bank succeed, it would help us all. As Chinese
huh? Americans, we need to empower ourselves — "By Any Means
DHH. \ I don't really know what I was expecting, but — Necessary"
NWOAOC. I suppose I should tell you about the first time I saw M. NWOAOC. This empowerment is important to you?
Buttedly. It was one of my most memorable evenings in the theatre. DHH. It's the reason for everything I do. Just a few years ago, for
DHH. Thanks. That's very kind. instance, I started to conquer a new world: network television.
NWOAOC. To be honest, it's one of the reasons it kills me to see Through which I'd be able to dig deep into the American psyche,
you mixed up in all this stuff. You don't need this. You don't wanna dispelling stereotypes, creating positive images.
go before the Senate Banking Committee, believe me. The legal NWOAOC. Your television project — was it the Margaret Cho
bills alone. show? (Pause; DHH turns off the tape recorder)
DHH. So why did you write the article? DHH. I'd rather not talk about that, all right?
NWOAOC. Can I tell you something about myself? I have no NWOAOC. You're the boss.
agenda. If I've gotten something wrong, I'm the first who's going to DHH. You know, I didn't write it. I was just brought in — to try
want to correct it. Because as a reporter, all I've got — my whole and fix it.
currency — is my reputation. NWOAOC. I understand. The whole subject. Gone. (Re: the rape
DHH.: But what if there's no story here? recorder.)May I? (Pause; NWOAOC turns the tape recorder back on.)
NWOAOC. Then that's what I'll write. David, I respect you a lot. These large deposits from China — when they started rolling into
I want ,to be corrected. Just give me a chance. (Pause.) the bank — were you aware of the size of these amounts?
DHH: All right. What do you want to know? DHH. You see, as a board member, I wasn't really all that con-
NWOAOC. You sat on the board of Far East National for quite a cerned with the bank's finances.
few years. Why? NWOAOC. No?

52 53
 1.6„,•tr,:t1/4

S -

DHH. I saw my role more as spiritual and moral compass. going to need some real meat.
NWOAOC. Could you explain that statement? DHH. Look, I'm telling the truth. I knew practically nothing
DHH. Well, you have to "fight the power." about the bank's dealings, really.
NWOAOC. What power is that? NWOAOC. I realize you were just Daddy's little rubber stamp.
DHH. To put it bluntly, white America. We have to come together But that fact puts you in a position to enlighten me about some-
and maishal our collective resources to gain influence in this country. thing far more interesting than any balance sheet.
NW040C. And so, from your position as a board member, you DHH. Like what?
sought ko use Far East's resources to gain influence — NWOAOC. I want to know — about your father. How often does
DHH.' Yes. he go to China? Who does he see there? Has he ever expressed
NWOAOC. For China. anger, bitterness, resentment towards America? Does he still have
DHH. No! I didn't say that. relatives in the old country? Friends? Anyone connected to the gov-
NWOAOC. I'm sorry, I thought you did. ernment? Or the military?
DHH. No, I was calking about gaining influence for Chinese DHH. You're asking me — to give up my father.
Americans. NWOAOC. Only if there's something to give up. David, if there's
NWOAOC. Right. one thing you care about, according to my research, it's what others
DHH. Not China. There's a difference. think of you. I believe you're a loyal American. That's what I'd write
NWOAOC. But still — about you. Just give me something to work with. (Pause.)
DHH. ,What? DHH. Why are you going after my father?
NWOAOC. Obviously if China becomes more powerful, that NWOAOC. I'm reporting — on the work of federal investigators.
strengthens the hand of the Chinese living here, wouldn't you agree? DHH. Who cleared him of this stuff— years ago.
DHI-1.1 No, I don't agree. NWOAOC. Well, now, they're reopening the case. Mr. Hwang,
NWOAOC. You don't. your father is a Chinese banker.
DHH.;4,isten, my loyalty is to America. DHH. Chinese American.
NWOAOC. But you just said you sought to "fight the power" of NWOAOC. Exactly.
white America. Isn't that true? (DHH reaches fir the tape recorder.) DHH. There's a difference.
Before you punch that bunon, I think it's only fair to tell you that NWOAOC. And it's that difference that interests me. If I were
I've already gotten everything I need for my story. End this inter- investigating Israeli espionage, I would look to the Jewish commu-
view now, and you're not doing yourself any favors. Serious charges nity — it's just logical. Does your Father see himself as more
have been leveled against Far East National: money-launderin ,vio- American, or more Chinese?
lation of campaign finance laws, aidin a fore! n power, to Ibly DHH. That question makes no sense.
even__Lina
co a ban • !rector, you are legally and NWOAOC. On the contrary, I think it's quite relevant.
financially responsible for the activities under your watch. You look DHH. How about you? Do you see yourself as more American or
at me as if I'm your enemy. But I have no agenda. Which means I more white?
could be the best friend you've got in the world right now. NWOAOC. That's not the same thing.
A
Assurriing you're innocent. Do I believe you solicited illegal DHH. No?
deposits from China? Of course not! Do I believe you knew about NWOAOC. Not in the least.
the acnyity and turned a blind eye, at least in part to further the DHH. Why not?
empowerment of your community? That's a more complicated NWOAOC. Because there's no conflict between being white and
question. But if you're innocent, I'm going to need more from you being American.
than the kind of spin you'd dish out to "Arts and Leisure." No, I'm DHH. Did you really just say that? There's a conflict — between

54 55
being Chinese and being American? DHH. What — they're supposed to put ninety-two million dollars
NW0A0C. No, of course I didn't mean — in one account?
DHH. And how convenient — we even got that on tape. NW0A0C. So you're going to sit there and tell me this entire
NW0A0C. I should've said it's not the same because white is a investigation is completely baseless?
race, and China is a nation. DHH. You know, you could've accused my Dad of a half-dozen
DHH. You should've, but you didn't. You know, you're going to other things and I would've gone, "Okay, well, maybe." But disloy-
make sa fascinating character. alty to America? A country he loves, that's been his home for the
NW AOC. What? last fifty years? How come, with Asians, the charge that always
DH When I write a play about all this. makes headlines is also the least original? (NWOAOC turns off the
NWQA0C. You're going to write a play? About me? tape recorder.)
DHH. I'm going to have to use that quote someplace. NW0A0C. Okay, I gave you your chance.
NW0A0C. You can't. DHH. I feel it's only fair to warn you — I already have everything
DHH. Why not? You're writing about me, aren't you? I need to write my play.
NWOAOC. I'm a reporter! NW0A0C. As if that's so difficult? Anything missing from your
DHH. And I'm a playwright, nice to meet you. God, I really thought story — hell, you just go make it up.
we were past all this. "Yellow peril." "Where are you really from?" DHH. Isn't that what all writers do?
NW0A0C. You are taking my slip completely out of context. NW0A0C. I search for a story to fit the facts, not the other way
DHH. No, I'm putting it in context. According to my research, around.
let's review your stories: the illegal sale of satellite technology to DHH. But you arrange the acts, decide what's important and
China, the campaign finance scandal, Wen Ho Lee, and, now, the what's not — until you find a story that makes sense to your mind.
charges against Far East National — they're all yours, aren't they? NW0A0C. You don't like my stories, fine, I present them as
NWQA0C. I wrote each one with a partner. theories.
DHE-1. Oh, don't be modest. It's amazing to think one reporter DHH. And I present mine as fiction. So what do you care if you
has bfoken all those stories — that you managed to find so many end up in my play?
evil Agians lurking in so many dark corners of this country. You NW0A0C. I'm no one! There's nothing about me in the media.
look at folks like my dad — like Wen Ho Lee — and suddenly I've kept it that way. You see, Mr. Hwang, I'm anonymous.
their eyes might as well be taped up and covered in piss-colored DHH. All the more reason for me to start writing. You really
makeup. Cuz all you see are all those bad guys in the movies who deserve a little more attention for your impressive body of work.
ever put on yellow face. You broke Whitewater, too, didn't you? And wasn't that a great
NW0A0C. You have no idea what! do or don't see. service to this country?
DHH. All right, then — as background research for my new show NW0A0C. Just understand this: If you use my real name, you
— (Grabs tape recorder.) Would you care to explain — why you see will find yourself in court. The Times is quite vigilant in matters
such a conflict between being Chinese and being American? like these.
NW0A0C. (Takes back tape recorder.) Mr. Hwang, there's ample DHH. You can't sue me if this conversation actually happened.
evidence of illegal Chinese activity in this country. Your father NW0A0C. As far as I'm concerned, it didn't.
receivied ninety-two million dollars in deposits from China. How DHH. But there's a tape.
do yqu explain that? NW0A0C. What tape?
DWI. I'd say — he was successful. DHH. No? So how will you write your story on me?
NW2A0C. Obviously. But the money was funneled into a maze NW0A0C. I won't. Fortunately, you didn't provide any useful
of accounts. information for my research.

56 57
 DHH. Funny. Cuz you provided plenty for my play. there's anything I can do to help, anything at all —
NN,V0A0C. Sorry you can't use my name. But hey, you can always DHH. Why are you torturing me?! Why won't you leave me alone?
use your own. Get out of my life? Why do you keep popping up — every place I
DHH. Don't be ridiculous. When you write an autobiographical look — being all good and noble and completely disgusting?
play, no one uses their real name. That would be self-indulgent. MARCUS. Well, er, thanks for the compliment.
NW0A0C. You talk like someone who's actually written a play DHH. Why do you do all this?
in ages. I MARCUS. Cuz it feels good. To be part of something — bigger
DHH. Well, thank you. For giving me something to say again. than myself. (Pause.) How's your dad?
NWOAQC. Have a good time before the Senate Banking DHH. Hanging around the ICU, career in tatters, trying to sur-
Commiteee. It's an experience, believe me. Maybe you can write vive an American purge — other than that, he's great.
about it. (IVIVOAOC ends the scene.) MARCUS. I read that story about him in the Times.
OCC. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. [To Henry Y. DHH. You and the rest of the world. It's all gotten too big, too
Hwang: Your] application for a charter to organize a new federal many investigations. They've gotta bag some game, or else end up
bank is denied. looking really bad. That's all Dad needs — to finish his life in prison.
OCC REGIONAL DIRECTOR. We couldn't give Henry MARCUS. What can we do to help him?
Hwang another bank charter. Not while he was under inves- DHH. You can help me — by going away.
tigation. Approval [by us, at that time] would have invited MARCUS. Sorry, I was just trying to —
serious congressional scrutiny. DHH. Yeah, well, it's easy. For you to "help." You're holding all
DR. PICHORAK David, we still have more treatment options the cards.
available for your father. But so far, his cancer markers are not MARCUS. I'm under investigation too, remember?
going doW.n, and the PET scan suggests the condition may have DHH. And all you'd have to do to save yourself— is take off your
metastasiied to his liver. Honestly, we caught that first tumor so mask. Let them know who you really are.
early — the chemo should've knocked it right out. But it seems your MARCUS. You think I don't know that? Sure, I could save myself.
father's case is — particularly aggressive. (DHH crosses to HYH) But what good would that do the community? The investigators
DHH. Listen, Dad — Mom found this new gene therapy treatment. would hush up my case, and keep going after people like your dad. -
It's experimental, but we think we can get you into the clinical — DHH. Unless —
HYH. Wait. You know, son, I used to believe in America, but now, MARCUS. What?
I don't anymore. I don't even put my money into minority banks DHH. Unless they couldn't.
anymore, because the system doesn't play fair. I put my money into MARCUS. Couldn't what?
mainstream banks, where at least it will be safe. (Pause.)When I was DHH. I mean, unless they couldn't hush it up.
a kid in Shanghai, my favorite star of all was Jimmy Stewart. He was MARCUS. I don't —
so kind, always doing things for other people. And when the chips DHH. Listen. You really want to help the community?
were down, he would give it to the bad guys, tell them off, and MARCUS. Yes, but —
everyone would listen to him. When I started the bank, I thought DHH. Then take off your mask. Not behind closed doors, or on
— now, Lean be Jimmy Stewart, too. But when I try to stop those some little cell phone call. No, do it in public. Where the bastards
guys wholare after me, I can't beat them this rime. I'm not Jimmy won't be able to make you go away. Can you imagine? How idiotic
Stewart aiiter all. (Pause.) So, Dave, I don't want any new fancy treat- all their investigations will look? Once the American public learns
ment. My,real life — it's not here anymore. I'm ready to go. And I'll that in their determination to find evil Chinese spies, this govern-
do it my way. (DHH leaves HYH. Marcus crosses to DHH) ment spent millions of taxpayer dollars — just to end up going after
MARCUS. David? I heard about your father's illness. And if ... a regular American?

58 59
 MARCUS. You want me to talk to the press? But if I go public my blunder by passing him off as a — Siberian Jew.
with who I really am — I'll have to leave the community. I mean, NW0A0C. (7b the audience:) How could I resist a story like that?
people will be so pissed, they'll never accept me again. And, David, It was just too delicious. (Pause.) You see? I told the truth. I really
I love this community! have no agenda. (Exits the play.)
DHH. Ilow much? More than yourself? DHH. After the Times ran its story unmasking Marcus, Jay Leno
MARCUS. You're talking about my whole life! And, you know, it joked in his monologue that federal investigators were now plan-
wouldn't bte just me who'd get into trouble, it'd be you, too. ning to go after Pamela and Tommy Lee, Neil Sedalca, and the lead
DHH. What do you — ? singer from Wang Chung. This marked the turning point in the
MARCUS. How could I come out as white — without explaining Chinese espionage scandals of the late 1990s. Shelby's banking
how I got mistaken as Asian? committee ended their investigation, without ever subpoenaing my
DHH. Good point. father. Fred Thompson's probe withered away. Wen Ho Lee spent
MARCUS. So we agree. nine months in solitary confinement before the charges against
DHH. All right, then I'll go with you to the interview. Explain him were finally dropped by Judge James Parker.
how this whole misunderstanding came about. That you'd never JUDGE JAMES PARKER. I sincerely apologize to you, Dr. Lee,
have been able to pass yourself off as an Asian except for me. That for the unfair manner you were held in captivity ... which has
it was all my fault. embarrassed our nation and all of its citizens. (Exits the play)
MARCUS. You would do that? (Pause.) You know, it'll make you ROCCO. Rocco Palmieri, former aide to Senator Fred Thompson,
look bad.: posting on realclearpolitics.com: So. The Chinese won the first
DHH. Marcus, do you remember th e Chinese concept of "face? round. But we were on the right track. 9/11 threw this country into
MARCUS. Yeah, but why are you — ? an extended distraction phase. Once Osama bin Laden and his
DHH. fru willing to go out there and lose my face. How 'bout you? cronies have been brought under control, this country will wake up
NW0A0C. New York Timer. Staffers probing Chinese investiga- and realize — while we've been expending our time and resources
tions cast too wide a net. Written by ... me. Officials probing in the Middle East, our real enemies have been taking advantage
accusations of illegal campaign contributions from Chinese of this window to make themselves even more formidable. The
donors are investigating a U.S. citizen with — Chinese investigations aren't over,, not by a long shot. They're
LEAH. (Overlapping)— with no Asian ancestry at all. (7b Marcus.) merely on hiatus until our next war begins — because America's real
I'm reading this in the paper. So it can't possibly be true. Right? enemy in the twenty-first century — will be China. (Exits the play)
MARCUS. Leah, please. Nothing's really changed about mc. Just HYH. New York Times. October 13, 2005. Henry Y. Hwang, who
my past, right? founded the first Asian American-owned federally chartered bank
LEAH. I see. Yes, right. Which means, everything's changed about in the continental United States, died Saturday at his home in San
you, Marcus. Did you ever tell me the truth? About anything? Marino, California. He was 77. (Exits the play.)
MARCUS. Leah, I love you — that was never a lie. You gotta DHH. My father's obituary was picked up by the wire services,
believe me. and ran in over two hundred fifty media outlets, from Mississippi
LEAH. ldo. And believing you — makes me sick to my stomach. to Taiwan. I thought he would've liked that. (Pause.) Marcus came
(Pause.) Won't touch me! (Exits the play.) to my father's memorial service. Afterwards, we went for a walk.
NW0A0t. The origins of this almost comical mishap involve a (To Marcus) I always kind of believed Dad would be able to talk
strange cast of characters, including Tony Award-winning play- his way out of anything. He was the only person I'd ever known
wright, David Henry Hwang. who went in for an IRS audit and came out with a bigger refund.
DHH. I cast Marcus as an Asian in my play, not knowing he was MARCUS. I see your point.
actually a white man. After I realized my mistake, I tried to conceal DHH. I can't believe he's really gone.

60 61
 rte.

MARCUS. I'm sorry ning around in yellow face. (Pause.)That's where you came in. To take
DHH. But here's the part that gets me. In the end, he even lost his words like "Asian" and "American," like "race" and "nation," mess
dream — and you know something? Maybe that's what really killed them up so bad no one has any idea what they even mean anymore.
him. Sick as I got of hearing his shtick, it had been Dad's whole Cuz that was Dad's dream: a world where he could be Jimmy Stewart.
life: his faith that in America, you can imagine who you want to be And a white guy — can even be an Asian. (Pause.)That's what you
— and, through sheer will and determination, become that person. do after your Ether dies. You start making his dream your own.
(Pause.) If only it were true. MARCUS. And now, you don't need me anymore. (Pause.)But do
MARCU$•:. But it is. Look at me. me a favor. Write me a happy ending, okay?
DHH. Huh? DHH. They're not my specialty ... but I'll try. I'll send you to a
MARCUS. I imagined myself as something completely different Chinese village — called Zhencong. (To us:) Final e-mail. From
from what I was — Marcus G. Dahlman to David Henry Hwang. Received ... some-
DHH. No, no, no, no. time tomorrow. (Dons track #2: "We Close the Village for Rituals."
MARCUS. And then, through sheer will and determination, just Marcus appears in a separate *ace from DHH.)
like your dad — MARCUS. Dear David, it's happened at last. Nine months after
DHH. I can't believe you're going there. Listen, you are nobody's my arrival in Dong country. Tonight, as they gathered together for
idea of the American Dream, okay? the "big song," I saw a couple of villagers gesturing for me to come
MARCUS. Then why did you create me? (Pause.) closer. I got up, and ascended the steps under the eaves to the
DHH. Uh, Marcus? pagoda. And no one stopped me. They saw who I am, and gave
MARCUS. Be honest. I'm a character. In this play you've written me "face." As I opened my mouth, the music began to speak to
about your dad, and yourself, and what happened with that, that me, in words only I could hear:
reporter viho we're not supposed to say his real name. Get over yourself.
DHH. I wasn't planning to get into this. This song is only doing
MARCUS' . I think you should. What it has always done:
DHH. No, see, I was planning to maintain the ambiguity about Taking in voices
reality versus fiction — through the end of the play. From all the lands
MARCUS. Well, I think that's intellectually dishonest. And all the peoples,
DHH. Hey, hey! If you're my creation, do what I say! Who have ever crossed its path.
MARCUS. C'mon, Dave — any characters worth their salt even- Though that road has been messy,
tually go their own way. Now tell the truth. You can do it. It made this song.
DHH. This is ... kind of humiliating. For nothing of value,
MARCUS. It's a little late in the show to start worrying about Nothing which lasts,
humiliating yourself Nothing human,
DHH. (To us.) Marcus is ... a fictional character. Created by me. Is ever pure.
MARCUS: Why? (Pause.) I joined the 'big song," and found the thing I had lost. A
DHH. Because ... I'm a writer. And, in the end, everything's reason to hope. And now, I can go home. (Musk out.)
always aWabout me. DHH. (TO the audience:) Hey, it could happen. For Marcus, the
MARCU§:, And? play ends. And I go back to work, searching for my own face.
DHH. Okay. Years ago, I discovered a face — one I could live better (Lights fade to black.)
and more fully than anything I'd ever tried. But as the years went by,
my face became my mask. And I became just another actor — run- End of Play

62 63
 PROPERTY LIST SOUND EFFECTS
Phones (optional) Awards ceremony entrance music
Papers Phone
Atlas Sound of typewriter keyboard
Picture of Irina Pancaeva Answering machine beep
Newspaper clippings Feedback
Small tape recorder Sound of computer keyboard
Gun battle
Sounds of battle
Applause
Cameras clicking
Old fax machine
1980s-style disco music
Sound cue, "Name Withheld on Advice of Counsel"

64
65
 NEW PLAYS

* GUARDIANS by Peter Morris. In this unflinching look at war, a disgraced

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*THE LAST DAYS OF JUDAS ISCARIOT by Stephen Adly Guirgis. SCE

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DRAMATISTS PLAY SERVICE, INC.

440 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016 212-683-8960 Fax 212-213-1539
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 NEW PLAYS NEW PLAYS
*THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK MUSICAL music and lyrics *AFTER ASHLEY by Gina Gionfriddo. A teenager is unwillingly thrust into
by David Nehls, book by Betsy Kelso. Pippi, a stripper on the run, has just the national spotlight when a Family tragedy becomes talk-show fodder. "A work
moved into Armadillo Acres, wreaking havoc among the tenants of Florida's that virtually any audience would find arrasible." -NY Times. "Deft character-
MOSE exclusive trailer park "Adultery, strippers, murderous a-boyfriends,
ization and caustic humor." -IVY Sun. "A smart satirical drama." -Variety. [4M,
Costco and the Ice Capades. Undeniable fun." -NY Post "Joyful and tin-
2W] ISBN: 978-0-8222-2099-2
ashamedly vulgar." -The New Yorker. "Sparkles with treasure." -New York Sun.
[2M, IVC/] ISBN: 978-0-8222-2137-1
* THE RUBY SUNRISE by Rinne Groff. Twenty-five years alter Ruby
struggles to realize her dream of inventing the first television, her daughter
* MACH by Stephen Bclber. When a young Seattle couple meet a promi- faces similar battles of faith as she works to get Ruby's story told on network
nent !skew York choreographer, they are led on a fraught journey that will change TV "Measured and intelligent, optimistic yet dear-eyed." -NY Magazine.
their lives forever. "Uproariously funny, deeply moving, enthralling theatre? "Maintains an exciting sense of ingenuity" -Village Voice. "Sinuous theatrical
-IVY Daily News. "Prolific laughs and ear-to-ear smiles." -NY Magazine. [2M,
1 W] ISBN: 978-0-8222-2020-6 flair." -Broadwaycom. [3M, 4W] ISBN: 978-0-8222-2140-1

* MR. MARMALADE by Noah liaidle. Four-year-old Lug's imaginary * MY NAME IS RACHEL COME taken from the writings of Rae:11cl
Carrie., edited by Alan Rickman and Katharine Vuter. This solo piece tells the
friend, Mr. Marmalade, doesn't have much time for her—not to mention he has story of Rachel Corrie who was killed in Gaza by an Israeli bulldozer set to demol-
a cocaine addiction and a penchant for pornography. "Alternately hilarious and
heartbreaking." -The New Yorker. "A mature and accomplished play." -LA ish a Palestinian home. "Heartbreaking urgency. An invigoratingly detailed por-
Times. "Scathingly observant comedy." -Miami Herald [4M, 2W] ISBN: 978- trait of a passionate idealist." -NY Times. "Deeply authentically human." -USA
0-8222-2142-5
Today "A stunning dramatization." -CurtainUp. [1W] ISBN: 978-0-8222-2222-4

*ALMOST, MAINE by John Cariani. This charming midwinter night's dream

* MOONLIGHT AND MAGNOLIAS by Ron Hutchinson. Three men
of a play turns romantic cliches on their ear as it chronicles the painfully hilarious
cloisterthemselves as they work tirelessly to reshape a screenplay that's just not
amorous adventures (and misadventures) of residents of a remote northern town
workin-Gone with the Wind. "Consumers of vintage Hollywood insider stories
that doesn't quite exist. "A whimsical approach to the joys and perils of romance."
will ea up Hutchinson's diverting conjecture." -Variety "A lot of fun." -NY
Post. "A Hollywood dream-factory farce." -Chicago Sun-limes. [3M, IW) -NY Times. "Sweet, poignant and witty." -NY Daily News. "Aims for the heart
ISBN:1.978-0-8222-2084-8 by way of the funny bone." -Star-Ledger. [2M, 2W] ISBN: 978-0-8222-2156-2

* THE LEARNED LADIES OF PARK AVENUE by David Grimm, trans- * Mitch Albom's TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE by Jeffrey Hatcher and
Mitch Albom, based on the book by Mitch Albom. The true story of
lated and freely adapted from Moliere's La Femmes Savantes. Dicky wants
Brandeis University professor Morrie Schwartz and his relationship with his stu-
to marry Betty, but her mother's plan is for Betty to wed a most pompous man.
dent Mitch Albom. "A touching, lifezaliSrming, deeply emotional drama." -NY
"A brave, brainy and barmy revision." -Hargrord Courant. "A rare but welcome
bird in contemporary theatre." -New Haven Register "Roll over Cole Porter."
Daio, News. "You'll laugh. You'll ay"- Variety "Moving and powerful." -NY Post.
-Boston Globe. [5M, 5W] ISBN: 978-0-8222-2135-7 12M1 ISBN: 978-04222-2188-3

* REGRETS ONLY by Paul Rudnick. A sparkling comedy of Manhattan *DOG SEES GOD: CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BLOCKHEAD by
Bert V. Royal. An abused pianist and a pyromaniac a-girlfriend contribute to
manners that explores the latest topics in marriage, friendships and squandered
the teen-angst of America's most hapless kid. "A welcome antidote to the
riches. "One of the funniest quip-meisters on the planet." -NY Times. "Precious
notion that the Peanuts gang provides merely American cuteness." -NY Times.
moments of hilarity Devastatingly accurate political and social satire." -BackStage.
"Great fun." -CurrainUp. [3M, 3W] ISBN: 978-0-8222-2223-1 "Hysterically funny." -NY Post. "The Peanuts kids have finally come out of
their shells." -Time Out [4M, 4W] ISBN: 978-0-8222-2152-4

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440 Plik Avenue South, New York, NY 10016 212-683-8960 Fax 212-213-1539
[email protected] www.dramatists.com 440 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016 212-683-8960 Fax 212-213-1539
postmasteredramatists.com www.dramatists.com
 NEW PLAYS

* RABBIT HOLE by David Lindsay-Abaire. Winner of the 2007 Pulitzer

Prize. Becca and Howie Corbett have everything a couple could want until a
life-shattering accident runts their world upside down. "An intensely emotional
examination of grief, laced with wit." —Variety. "A transcendent and deeply
affecting new play." —Entertainment Weekly "Painstakingly beautiful." —BackStage.
f2M, 3W1 ISBN: 978-0-8222-2154-8
The destination for the
t• finest plays in the English language:
*10UBT, A Parable by John Patrick Shanley. Winner of the 2005 Pulitzer
Priz and Tony Award. Sister Aloysius, a Bronx school principal, takes matters
into bet own hands when she suspects the young Father Flynn of improper rela-

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tions with one of the male students. "All the elements come invigoratingly
together rake clockwork" —Variety "Passionate, exquisite, important, engrossing."
—NY Newsday. [IM, 3W] ISBN: 978-0-8222-2219-4

* THE PILLOWMAN by Martin McDonagh. In an unnamed totalitarian

state, an author of horrific children's stories discovers that someone has been
making his stories come true. "A blindingly bright black comedy." —NY Times.
"McDonagh's least forgiving, bravest play." —Vans, "Thoroughly startling and Browse
genuinely intimidating." —Chicago Tribune. [4M, 5 bit pans (2M, 1W, 1 boy,
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* GREY GARDENS book by Doug Wright, music by Scott Frankel, lyrics
by Michael Korie. The hilarious and heartbreaking story of Big Edie and
Little Edie Bouvier Beale, the eccentric aunt and cousin ofjacqueline Kennedy Order
On4sis, once bright names on the social register who became East Hampton's acting editions, librettos, musical scores
most notorious recluses. "An experience no passionate theatergoer should and other production materials online
missi:—NY Times. "A unique and unmissable musical." —Rolling Stone. [4M,
3W,72 girls] ISBN: 978-0-8222-2181-4

* THE urrii DOG LAUGHED by Douglas Carter Beane, Mitchell

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Green could make it big as the hot new leading man in Hollywood if Diane, his for performance rights and
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*SHINING CITY by Conor McPherson. A guilt-ridden man reaches out to the Now Published Mailing List and be
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—Time Out. "A thoughtful, artful, absorbing new drama." —Star-Ledger. [3M,
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DRAMATISTS PLAY SERVICE, INC.

4/44>ark Avenue South, New York, NY 10016 212-683-8960 Fax 212-213-1539
[email protected] www.dramatists•com
 YELLOW FACE
by David Henry Hwang
2008 WINNER OF THE OBIE AWARD FOR PLAYVVRMNG
SM. 2W (flexible casting)

The lines between math and fiction blur with hilarious and loving results in David Manly Hwang's unreliable*:
memoir. Asian-American playwright DHH, fresh off his Tony Award win for M. Butterfly leads a protest
against the casting of Jonathan Pryce as the Eurasian pimp'in the original Broadway production of Ailjj
Saigon. condemning the practice as "yellowface." His position soon comes back to haunt him when he mistakes
a Caucasian actor, Marcus G. Dahlman, for mixed-race, and casts him in the lead Asian role of his own •
Broadway-bound comedy, Face Value, When DHH discovers the truth of Marcus' ethnicity, he tries to conceal,.
his blunder to protect his rePtwation 25 an Asian-American role model, by passing the actor -off as a-rt•-•
'Siberian Jew." Meanwhile, DHH's father, Henry Y. Hwang, an immigrant who loves the American Detain,
and Frank Sinatra, finds himself ensnared in the same web of late' 1990's anti-Chinese paranoia that also/
leads to the "Donorgate" scandal and the arrest of Los Alamos nuclear scientist Wen Ho Lee. As he <Ha;
to his old multicultural rhetoric, this new racist witch hunt forces DHH to confront the complex and eeer-i,
. changing role that "face" plays in American life today. ' .

"YELLOW FACE it that mrity in theater, a pungent play of idea: with a big heart. Picaresque tale brings to ai),:i
national discussion about mee three much-needed commodities: a sense of humor a mile wide, an even-handed,-
trramient and a hopeful, healing onion of a world that marl be '1 • —Variety
.• ... ., . -
. ., . ,, . . . ; • .
"The Mon invigoiuting American play I've encountered in many a month. Easily his finest play since M: Bufterflyto
. ..
The beauty of YELLOW FACE is anything bat skin deep." . - , —The Guardia (Eviridtin).

"One ofthe Year's Ten Best. Thu farcical faux documentary investigates mold and cultuml at.tt.henticiry#(41q
that knoths Whet; irony must' give way to sincerity and vice versa." • —The Los Angeles limes.
.•
•
Tabtdously inventive. Hwang offers hard-won lesions about !mania public fife with personal inVigna
—The New Iforic&
"
"Smart and delighOd. A Chinese box of deceptive amusements and crushing beauty' —New York Nein .: day

"YELLOW FACE triumphs as a laugh-out-loud comedy and an unexpectedly poignant odystry of self-eliscovOrf
—The New York Sun

"Charming, touching and cunningly organized as well asfisnrsy A mordant, reflective comedy that vtorks:itot$
only as a personal summation Luta: a pattern fir us all as we pick Our cautious way through the thicket ofclainis. -
and counterclaims that marks America': transactions with in minorities." —The VilligelMileei

'Brave and engrossing. Pan autobiography pan documnnaty pan self-parody pan protest play YELLOTA 1•1
FACE is finny and startling and moving.' —The Philadelphia Itiquirekk'

•:
Also by David Henry Hwang •
F.O.B.
GOLDEN CHILD 9000 b
M. BUTTERFLY
and many others

DRAMATISTS PLAY SERVICE, INC.