The King of Hell's Palace by Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig

Author:Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: 2019-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

Scene Four

Apartment, night. Shen is still standing on stage. Yin-Yin enters holding a basket of dry laundry. She and Shen fold bedsheets and little girl’s clothing together.

Yin-Yin It took six stories, thirty minutes of back rubbing and two cups of water, but I think she’s fallen asleep.

Shen Do you know what I enjoyed most about Rabbit’s birthday last week? My family, relaxed. Laughing together.

Yin-Yin Good performance, right? I should get a trophy.

Shen For doing your job?

Yin-Yin Last time I checked, I wasn’t a hostess.

Shen Last time I checked, we’d agreed to keep politics out of our house.

Yin-Yin We all work for the same Ministry of Health.

Shen And yet somehow my wife—who is supposed to be on the same side—

Yin-Yin I’m on the public’s side—

Shen —has contacted our buyer and said our product’s dirty.

Yin-Yin I didn’t contact Phoenix.

Shen Are you calling my cousins liars?

Yin-Yin No. But I didn’t talk to them.

Shen Then—

Yin-Yin I talked to their father.

Shen You called my uncle?

Yin-Yin He’s a very nice man. He invited us to visit him—

Shen Never talk to that traitor again! You had no right—

Yin-Yin I was a scientist first. Before I became your wife. Before I had a daughter.

Shen Priorities should change.

Yin-Yin Says who?

Shen Are there two children living in this apartment?

Yin-Yin I’m not a child just because I don’t share your values—

Shen Sometimes I think you got stuck in your nine-year-old way of seeing—

Yin-Yin Maybe it’s a more honest way to see.

Shen It’s a stupid, idiotic way that will get you killed if you’re not careful.

Yin-Yin My priorities haven’t changed.

Shen They should. You should.

Yin-Yin I never said I would change.

Shen Am I crazy for thinking that in a marriage you should consider the happiness of the other person?

Yin-Yin exits to the bedroom and returns with a red overnight bag and the styrofoam cooler.

Yin-Yin You’re crazy for thinking individual happiness matters more than the welfare of ninety million peasants.

Shen Are those the—?

Yin-Yin nods.

Shen Where are you going?

Yin-Yin I need to go to the Virology Institute in Beijing.

Shen Right now?

Yin-Yin A train leaves in two hours. There’s no time to waste. I should confirm my results to one hundred percent accuracy.

Shen It’s not a good time.

Yin-Yin It’s the perfect time.

Shen Phoenix Pharmaceutical just suspended their contract.

Yin-Yin Really?

Shen Stop smiling.

Yin-Yin But that’s great news. My action resulted in the perfect reaction!

Shen It’s terrible news, because once again, the Ministry of Health knows—the traitor is you!

A soft knock on the front door. Shen approaches, but doesn’t open it.

Jasmine (offstage) Sorry to trouble you!

Yin-Yin covers the cooler and overnight bag with laundry. Shen opens the door. Jasmine enters, nursing an infant that is concealed by a blanket. She focuses on Shen, and largely ignores Yin-Yin.

Shen Have you eaten?

Jasmine I’ll be direct. Senior health officials are very upset. The contract with Phoenix was a significant income source.

Shen We are aware of that.

Jasmine This funding is lost due to Yin-Yin’s actions.

Shen What can be done about this situation?

Jasmine Yin-Yin, I’m afraid your career at the Ministry of Health is over.

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