A Play by H.C.Hsu

SETTING: August 1988, Taipei

CHARACTERS

Feng Hui-chuan: Female, 49, divorced, mother of two, small import clothing shop co-owner

Feng Hui-chen: Female, 47, widowed, Chuan’s sister, shop co-owner

Lee Chou-hun: Male, 22, Chuan’s older son, high-school graduate, self-taught film editor’s assistant, climbed up from extra and gopher/pa to first assistant editor, makes gas deliveries on the side

Lee Chou-hsin: Male, 6, Chuan’s younger son, starting second grade in fall

Wang Ti-na (Tina): Female, 21, high-school graduate, Hun’s girlfriend, family owns gas delivery company

Hsueh Tiao-kan: Male, 55, widowed, Navy veteran, old family friend, lives in Kaohsiung, originally from Ningpo (accent)

Hsueh Song: Female, 18, Tiao’s daughter, college student studying English at National Taiwan University, overweight, near-sighted and wears glasses

Yaya: Female, young Pomeranian, age unknown, Fengs’ dog, followed Hsin home one day

ACT 1

SCENE 1

INT – FENGS’ FIFTH-FLOOR APARTMENT – CHUAN’S BEDROOM – DAY – TYPHOON

FI

(ECU Television. Silent. On the screen a bald man who looks like a Buddhist monk wearing a yellow robe is standing. Suddenly, the figure trembles. Then, in slow motion, he falls. Before his head falls below the bottom of the screen, camera cuts to LS of television, whose screen is now mostly blocked by the back of a young boy’s head, in the bedroom.

(Now one can hear the sound of wind and rain lapping against the glass sliding door on the right, which opens to the balcony.

(The room is lit by weak overhead fluorescence, three incandescent bulbs above the oval mirror of the vanity on the right, and television on desk on left. The mirror has some photos slid and held up in the seam around it.

(Hsin is sitting on the edge of the bed in a t-shirt and briefs watching tv. Chuan sits on a swivel stool in front of the vanity, applying lipstick in the mirror.

(MCU Chuan)

CHUAN: (Looking in the mirror, irritatedly) What are you watching?

(LS Hsin gets up to the tv and pushes a button to change channel.)

CHUAN: Go get dressed!

(Hsin whines and falls back on the bed, curling up with the sheet.

(The tv is now playing Doraemon.

(Chuan continues to apply makeup quietly for a moment.

(Suddenly it lightnings out, lighting up the room in flashes of brilliance, and a few seconds later thunders. MCU Chuan’s reflection being lit up, ghost-white. She turns around.)

CHUAN: Ay-yah, hurry up!

(OSS Hsin springs back up from bed. Whiney grimace.)

HSIN: I just want to wear this.

CHUAN: No way! It’s Mommy’s birthday. Can’t you listen at least this once? (She turns back to the mirror.) All the guests will laugh you. I guess you don’t mind all the guests laughing at you, is that right?

(Hsin makes a grimace.

(Doorbell rings rapidly and loudly.)

HSIN: I’ll get it! I’ll get it! (Leaps off the bed, and pulls heavy glass door open with much effort. Rain spills in. OS At the same time a dog barks.)

CHUAN: Hey! Hey!

(MS Door opens to reveal Hsin standing in the doorway. He is trying to pull his shirt down to cover his briefs. A woman seen from the back carrying a load of plastic bags in both hands goes in.

(Cut to Chuan’s POV.)

HSIN: (Running in) Auntie’s back! (Jumps onto the bed.)

(Chen comes in, and tries to nudge the glass door shut with the ball of her wrist. She is soaked.)

CHUAN: Where’s your umbrella!?

CHEN: (Rolls her eyes at Chuan) In China. Chou-hsin, help me put these bags in the kitchen. (To Chuan) You seem so leisurely, miss.

CHUAN: Did you get it?

CHEN: I ran to three different places.

CHUAN: For what? Comparison-shopping?

CHEN: (Rolls her eyes again) Right. (To Hsin) Here, take these.

(One of the bags wriggles.)

HSIN: Mom! It’s alive! (Goes out of room carrying bag.)

CHUAN: Don’t touch it!

CHEN: I hope they don’t mind getting rained on. These came on battleships.

CHUAN: Hey, (lowering her voice a bit) when did Chou-hun say they were going to get here?

CHEN: Call him.

CHUAN: They’re probably on the road already. (Worried) How’s the traffic?

CHEN: Smooth sailing. (Softens tone) I’m sure they’ll be all right.

(OS Hsin yells ‘Mom!’)

CHUAN: (Yells) Don’t touch them! (OS Hsin yells ‘Yaya! Don’t touch them!’) (To Chen) I hope the Hsuehs are all right, too. (Half-irritatedly sighs) I told you we should do it after the typhoon.

CHEN: I’m going to change. (Walking out, taking off coat, not looking at Chuan; it lightnings and thunders again, this time almost simultaneously, in an ear-splitting explosion) At this rate, we might not be here for your fifty-first!

(Lightning subsides into FO.)

SCENE 2

EXT – ARCADES – DAY – TYPHOON

(WTS A man and a woman walk rapidly in a left-slightly forward angle to camera, across storefront after storefront, while rain falls in front from the arcade awning. At the fore are mopeds, one after another, some covered and some not, parked on the side of the street. The man is holding a box wrapped in a plastic bag. Though they are under the arcade, the woman is holding an umbrella trying to cover them both, but it ends up mostly over herself.)

HUN: Walk faster!

TINA: Lee Chou-hun, slow down!

HUN: Why don’t I give you the cake, you stay here, and I’ll pull back around to pick you up?

TINA: Who told you to park so far!?

(Hun doesn’t reply. The two keep walking briskly. Tina tucks her head into her coat more.)

TINA: I told you I didn’t want to go.

(Hun is silent.)

TINA: No one wants me there, anyway. (She turns to look at Hun for a reaction.)

HUN: (Looking down) Are you finished?

TINA: (Pointedly) Lee Chou-hun.

HUN: (Softened) What?

(Pause.)

TINA: Nothing. (Moves umbrella over Hun’s head more) How are you guys going to shoot in Chiufen in this weather?

HUN: (Hands the box to Tina) Stay here.

(Tina exchanges the umbrella for the box. Camera stops.)

(Hun walks off screen. A car passes in front going right. Tina stands still looking on to the left.)

SCENE 3

INT – SONG’S APARTMENT BEDROOM – DAY – TYPHOON

(MS Song’s face. She sits at a desk, lit by a bright lamp on it. The rest of the room is dark. Sounds of wind and rain. She has an English book open next to her. She is writing something.

(OS Tiao yells ‘Song! Are you ready?’

(She continues to write. Suddenly, she stops, and is apparently thinking about something. Then, throwing her pen down, she covers her face with her hands, sighs and sinks down onto the desk.)

SCENE 4

INT – FENGS’ APARTMENT – KITCHEN – DAY – TYPHOON

(MS Chuan and Chen peel and wash vegetables at the sink. Sounds of storm, vent hood, food sizzling, boiling, peeling, running water all mixed together.)

CHEN: I’m telling you, don’t count on him.

(Chuan doesn’t respond.)

CHEN: Hey, did you hear what I said?

CHUAN: (Clears throat) Wash your daikons.

(Hsin walks over, picks up an unpeeled daikon and is going to put it in his mouth.)

CHUAN: Ay-yah! (Slaps his hand. Hsin runs away laughing.)

CHEN: (Watching Hsin smilingly, lowering her voice a little) Sons aren’t yours forever. (Seeing Chuan not responding) Hey, what do you think of that old boot?

CHUAN: What old boot, new boot?

CHEN: That old Hsueh!

CHUAN: What about him?

CHEN: You’ve left Chi-yuan for five years already, it’s not like you’re widowed.

CHUAN: Then why don’t you get together with him.

CHEN: Me?

CHUAN: He’s just like you. Water drops on burning rocks.

CHEN: Give me a break. (Looks at Chuan) Don’t tell me you still miss the bastard.

CHUAN: Hey, (shoots a glance over at Hsin and looks back at Chen) would you stop?

CHEN: (Loudly) He’s living the life in America! (Normal voice) I get angry every time I think about it—

CHUAN: Then don’t think about it.

CHEN: That Chiang Wei-lan, we both knew her too, and for how long?

(Chuan keeps peeling the daikons. She hands one to Chen. Chen takes and washes it while still keeping her eyes fixed on Chuan.

(Chuan seems expressionless.

(Chen sighs, looking down to wash the vegetables.)

CHEN: That old boondocker is kind of handsome.

(Chuan laughs, and Chen laughs, too.)

CHEN: Yaya, come here! (Tosses a bruised discolored chunk of daikon down, caught by Yaya before it hits the ground. Hsin follows Yaya in. Chuan and Chen laugh again.)

SCENE 5

EXT – BUS STOP – DAY – TYPHOON

(VWS Bus stop at a big and extremely busy intersection. The rain blown by the strong wind and water on the road continuously splashed up by the traffic paint the scene like a watercolor, daubed by inching hordes of pedestrians in bright, striking multicolored rain ponchos and an assortment of umbrellas.

(A bus pulls up. A tall thin man and a slightly shorter overweight woman both carrying umbrellas dash out of nowhere and make a beeline toward the bus, joining the crowd already enlarging and swarming around the bus front door, like insects to a bloom.)

SCENE 6

INT – GAS DELIVERY TRUCK – DAY – TYPHOON

(MCU Hun and Tina in the front seat, facing. Hun is driving. The relative quietness and sounds membraned outside directly contrast previous scene. The most audible noise is black windshield wipers sweeping past the camera at regular intervals. FEL Moving reflection of neon streets of Taipei revealed on windshield when wipers wipe away rain, only to melt away gradually again in falling rain. Hun looks around at the neon lights. Passes some blaring techno music.

(The two are silent for a while.

(Finally, Tina leans over and rests her head on Hun’s shoulder. He puts his arm around her, without taking his eyes off of the road.)

SCENE 7

INT – BUS – DAY – TYPHOON

(MCU Song and Tiao in a bus seat, facing. The bus is full. Tiao is sitting by the window. The window is not closed all the way, and rain splashes in. He gets up to try to pull it up. It’s stuck. He sits back down. A few moments later he gets up again to try to close it, without avail. He sits down, staring forward, and gets increasingly soaked.

(Song, staring forward, too, appears not to notice. She gets out a copy of Tolstoy’s War and Peace from an old army green high-school uniform/standard-issue canvas bag, and starts reading, holding the book a little off to the side toward the aisle.)

TIAO: (Looks at Song, turns back, silent, then after a few moments looks at Song again, softly and gently) You’ll ruin your eyes.

(Song keeps reading.)

TIAO: Look at this (tries to budge the window with his hand), they spend so much money and can’t even fix a window on a bus (Song looks up nonchalantly). (Pauses for a bit, then finally says) Kaohsiung’s not like this.

SONG: (Softly) I’ll switch with you, Dad.

TIAO: No, your books will get wet.

(Song puts the book back into the bag, and just sits.

(The bus stops. Some people squeeze and push their way off; some more come on, shoving their way through; a large backpack grazes past the side of Song’s face. She cowers as more people walk past her, and scoots in closer to Tiao. She feels the rain, and takes off her messenger bag.)

SONG: (Reaching across Tiao, holding the bag in her hand against the gap in the window) Dad, hold this.

TIAO: (Hesitates for a bit, but then does what she says) You should take your books out first.

(He lowers the bag and sets it between them. They take out some books. Tiao holds the bag back up; Song gathers the books and places them on her lap.

(A soft shadow is cast over Tiao and Song by the bag.

(A smile crops up almost imperceptibly, for an instant, around the corners of Song’s mouth.

(The bus moves again, more or less swaying the passengers in unison.)

FO

ACT 2

SCENE 1

INT – FENGS’ APARTMENT – DINING ROOM/KITCHEN – NIGHT – TYPHOON

FI

(MS around round dining table, filled with various foods, including steamed whole crab. The kitchen is in the background. Din of people eating, talking, laughing, occasional dog yelp. Clockwise from center: Chuan, Tiao, Song, Hun, Tina, Hsin, Chen. Chuan is mostly quiet, smiling. She forgets something from the kitchen, leaves and brings yet another dish from the kitchen to the table. Tiao quickly moves other pots and dishes aside to clear a spot for her, while saying something to her laughingly. Song eats very little, pushing small bites of rice into her mouth with her chopsticks, seemingly not interacting with anyone. Hun next to her is the same, but eats with gumption, and occasionally answers Tina, who is mostly talking to him, garrulously. Hsin keeps picking things out from his bowl that Chen has put there, when Chen’s not looking, to give to Yaya, who is weaving around under the table between people’s legs. Chen is sitting slightly askew away from Hsin in an effort to turn away from Tina despite being the most gregarious and talkative of all. Whenever Chuan tries to place something in Hsin’s bowl Chen blocks her chopsticks, telling her to mind herself and relaying the piece to Hsin’s bowl herself. As soon as she turns Hsin picks it out with his hand and sticks it under the table. Again no one notices.)

TIAO: Hui-chuan, you’ve made too much.

CHUAN: (Smilingly) It’s so rare everybody can get together.

TIAO: With Song going to school we’ll be able to see you all more often.

CHEN: Are you saying if Song wasn’t going to school you wouldn’t come at all?

TIAO: No, no…(somewhat embarrassed)

CHUAN: I’ll go get the bottle of wine.

CHEN: I’ll go. (Stands up and presses down on Chuan’s shoulder) Sit. Aren’t you going to give me a hand, old boot?

(Chen and Tiao leave the table and head toward the kitchen. Chen says something; Tiao responds. Chen hits him on the arm flirtatiously and laughs.)

TINA: (To Hun) Can’t you just stay here? I mean, isn’t it all just post-production, anyway? You said so yourself.

HUN: Everybody’s going. The editor’s going, too.

TINA: Exactly. What use will they have for you there?

HUN: It’s not like that.

TINA: My dad will have to hire temps again. Do you know how hard it is to find good temps?

(Hun reaches for something; his chopsticks cross ways with Song’s.)

SONG: Ah, sorry.

HUN: Sorry. You go first.

(Song’s face becomes a bit flushed.)

CHUAN: (Clears throat, looks at Hun) How long will you be gone this time?

HUN: One to two months.

(By now Chen and Tiao have returned. Tiao tries to pour Chuan some wine; she covers her glass with her hand and shakes her head. Tiao pours Chen and then himself some.)

TIAO: (Holding and tilting the bottle to Hun) Here, Chou-hun.

HUN: Thank you. I have to drive later.

TIAO: Oh. Miss Wang?

TINA: (Shaking her head, and smiling) No, thank you.

TIAO: Oh. (Sets bottle down, to Hun) What movie are you making?

HUN: About the 228 Massacre Incident.

TIAO: Oh…(nods, trying to flatten his smile, not knowing what to say next. Turning to others, and settles on Chen) I’ve been wanting to pay the old country a visit myself.

CHEN: The time is now.

TIAO: Probably won’t even recognize it now.

CHEN: (Sighs) Time passes too quickly. (Shifts tone) Hey! Let’s not talk about this today! How are you doing in school, Song?

SONG: Good. (Pause) Busy, the new semester just started.

CHUAN: That’s earlier than Chou-hsin’s school.

CHEN: He’s in first grade. (HSIN: (Interjecting, and holding up two fingers) Second!) That’s different. Hey, old boot, it’s not just me talking. Your daughter is really something. Right, Chuan?

CHUAN: (Nods) English is in demand these days.

CHEN: We watched both these kids grow up right in front of us with our very own eyes.

TIAO: Isn’t that the truth. Chou-hun is so remarkable, too. You must be very proud.

HSIN: What about me?

CHUAN: (Same time as Chen) You, aren’t grown up yet.

CHEN: (Same time as Chuan, to Tiao) He can’t compare!

TINA: Chou-hun is extremely good at what he does.

CHUAN: Yes, yes, he’s doing all right…

CHEN: (To Tiao, casts Song a quick glance) He needs a good influence.

(Phone rings. Chuan looks at the phone in the living room, and gets up presently. Yaya barks.)

CHEN: (Stands up and presses down on Chuan’s shoulder again) Sit. (Chuan sits back down. Chen leaves the table to go to the living room.)

(OS Phone continues to ring. Yaya is still barking.

(Sound of door shutting. Phone stops ringing. It is implied Chen has gone to her bedroom to answer the phone.

(Chuan stays at the table but appears restive.)

TIAO: (Looks to Chen’s bedroom briefly, then turns back around) How’s the shop? (Smiles.)

CHUAN: Huh?

TIAO: How is the shop?

CHUAN: Oh. Ok. Busy. (Sees Hsin sticking a piece of crab meat under the table, and realizes what is going on) Lee Chou-hsin!

(Everyone turns to follow her gaze, setting on Hsin.)

HSIN: Mom! We’re full! Can I go play Mario?

CHUAN: Go, go!

(Hsin and Yaya run off.)

TIAO: (Smiling) Kids.

CHUAN: (Sighs) He’s going to be the death of me. (Shakes her head.) That dog, too. I should have never let him bring it home.

HUN: Poms are supposed to be very smart.

TINA: (Laughs) How did she got lost then?

SONG: (Looking at the table) She could have run away.

TINA: (Looks at Hun) Oh.

TIAO: (Politely) What line of work are you in, Ms Wang?

HSIN: (OS) Old boot, come play with me! I got to the next level!

TIAO: Huh? Oh! (Laughs.)

TIAO: Huh? Oh! (Laughs.)

CHUAN: (Same time as Tina): Old boot…oh no, Uncle Hsueh’s still eating. (Song and Hun laugh. Chuan laughs sheepishly and softly taps Tiao on the arm.) That kid.

(Tiao laughs but quickly re-focuses his eyes toward Tina.

(Chen returns.)

TINA: (Same time as Chuan, smiles) Natural gas.

CHEN: (Same time as Tiao) What’s so funny?

TIAO: (Same time as Chen) Oh.

HSIN: (OS) Bro!

HUN: (Same time as Chuan) In a little while!

CHUAN: (Same time as Hun) Who was it?

CHEN: Nobody.

HUN: Should we have the cake now?

CHEN: Now? (Looks to Chuan.)

CHUAN: (Pensive, mind elsewhere) Huh? Sure, sure.

CHEN: It’s too early!

CHUAN: I’m sure people have things to do. We can’t hold them here against their will all night.

TIAO: No, no, not at all.

CHUAN: Chou-hun, the cake, it’s in the fridge.

(Hun gets up.)

CHEN: Song, can you help me clear some of these plates?

SONG: Sure, no problem. (Sets down bowl, gets up.)

CHEN: (Getting up, muttering) Jeez, what’s the big hurry. It’s not like we’re at the feeding trough.

(Chen and Song gather some plates and take them to the kitchen.)

HUN: (OS Yelling) Mom, where are the candles?

CHEN: (OS) Here.

(Some sounds of plates clattering, water running.)

HUN: (OS) We’re turning the lights off!

CHEN: (OS) Hold on, hold on.

CHUAN: Chou-hsin! Come here!

(Hsin runs over back to the table, followed by Yaya, barking.)

CHUAN: Come sit with Mom.

(Hsin sits on Chuan’s knee. Yaya snuggles up around her foot. Tiao moves over a bit.)

HUN: (OS Yells) Lights?

EVERYONE: Ok, ok!

(Lights switched off. Room dark except for candles, five, lighting cake, moving toward the table.)

CHEN: Should we sing?

(People agree and fall in sync into ‘Happy Birthday. Yaya barks.

(Song ends. Some sounds of cheers and clapping.)

TIAO: Make a wish.

CHUAN: What wish.

TIAO: Make a wish, make a wish.

CHUAN: Ok, ok. (Pause. Blows.)

(Candles blow out. Claps.)

CHEN: Turn the lights on.

(In a moment lights come back on.)

HUN: Mom, cut the cake.

(Tiao hands Chuan the knife set on the table near him.)

CHEN: Ah-hun, go get the paper plates. And the spoons.

(Hun gets up and heads to the kitchen.

(Chuan begins cutting the cake.

(Hun comes back with plates and spoons.)

CHUAN: Here. (Slides off a slice onto the top plate) Chou-hun, give this to Uncle Hsueh.

TIAO: No, no! You first. (Chuan continues cutting.) Here, Chou-hun. (Pushes the plate toward Hun instead.)

(Hun doesn’t take it.)

CHEN: (Reaches over and pushes plate back to Tiao) Don’t be so polite! Take it! (Accidentally nudges plate out of Tiao’s hand. Plate tips over, and cake falls onto floor. Yaya licks it up right away.)

CHUAN, CHEN, TIAO: (Together) Ay-yah!

TINA: Uh-oh!

CHEN: The first slice went to the dog!

(People laugh.)

TIAO: (Chuckling embarrassedly) Sorry, sorry…

CHEN: That’s ok. (Looks at Chuan) Here, (making like she’s taking the knife and cake from her) I’ll take over.

CHUAN: (Matter-of-factly) I’ll do it. (Continues cutting the cake.)

(Chen shoots her a brief look.

(Chuan divvies up the cake, and everyone eats.

(Tina gives Hun a look.)

HUN: Mom, Aunt Chen, everyone…(everyone looks up) I, Tina and I, have an announcement to make. (Everyone silent, staring.) Tina…is pregnant. (Pause) We are getting married.

(Suddenly all lights go out. Scene is utterly dark.

(Noises, voices. Scrambling, barking.)

CHEN: What!

SONG: The power’s out.

TIAO: Go, go get the candles again!

SONG: I don’t know where the lighter is…

HUN: I’ll go get it.

HSIN: Mom, I can’t see! Ah! (Yaya yelps.) Sorry, Yaya!

(Sound of a plate falling to the floor, shattering.)

TINA: Careful! Glass!

CHEN: Hsin, take my hand, get over here!

SONG: Yaya, come here. Dad, pick the dog up. Hurry.

TIAO: Huh? I can’t see.

HSIN: Oww!

CHEN: Ay-yah! What happened? How can this happen? (Pause) Hui-chuan? Hui-chuan…?

(Sound of Chuan sobbing, distinct, louder, amid increasing clamor into AFO.)

SCENE 2

INT – FENGS’ FIFTH-FLOOR APARTMENT – CHUAN’S BEDROOM – NIGHT – DRIZZLE

(Black. Silent. Knocking. WS Bedroom door opens, revealing a shape of light. Tiao stands at door. After a pause, he switches light on.

(Implied some time passed since previous scene.

(MS Chuan sitting on bed watching tv, showing Gérard Oury in dance scene of Soldati’s River Girl.

(Chuan and Tiao talk as movie plays in background.)

TIAO: Hui-chuan.

CHUAN: Do you remember the Great World Theater in Keelung?

TIAO: Great World Theater. Yes.

CHUAN: Remember?

TIAO: Mm.

CHUAN: Chi-yuan, you and me hung around the movie houses all the time. Remember, sometimes we’d try to catch three movies a day…

TIAO: (Sits on bed next to Chuan, watching tv) Yes, (laughs) because we didn’t have anything else to do.

CHUAN: Cheap, too. Twenty, thirty cents a matinee. Ta Hua, Dragon Palace, New Life, New Joy, Great World…

TIAO: Wan Kuo…

CHUAN: Wan Kuo…

TIAO: I remember it was all foreign movies.

CHUAN: There were some domestic ones.

TIAO: Mm.

CHUAN: (Sighs) Now, I hardly have the interest.

TIAO: Leave it to the kids. Let them do what they do.

(Both silent.)

TIAO: (Looks out) Looks like the rain stopped.

CHUAN: (Looks out) Can’t even see the moon.

(Tiao looks intently at Chuan as she gazes out the window.

(Cut to Tiao’s POV. All of a sudden he notices a slightly purple bruise on Chuan’s neck, barely visible, just under the collar.)

TIAO: What happened to your neck?

CHUAN: (Turns to Tiao) What?

TIAO: (Points to the bruise, almost touching it) There.

CHUAN: (Realizes) Oh…nothing. (Tries to cover neck with hand, turns away.)

TIAO: Are you hurt?

CHUAN: Nothing…it’s nothing. (Stands.)

TIAO: Let me see it. (Stands, reaching for her hand.)

CHUAN: (Tries to wrest away) It’s nothing…

TIAO: Then let me see it…(Touches and grabs her arm.)

(Chuan struggles. Tiao realizes and sees his hand touching her arm, and they both stop.

(For a moment his hand stays there. He looks at his hand/her arm, and then at Chuan.

(Chuan gazes at him.

(He lets go.

(They both slowly lower their arms, and slowly look down. Music from River Girl dance scene is playing.)

FO

ACT 3

SCENE 1

FI

INT – COURTROOM – DAY

(WS Joint wedding ceremony. Room decorated with flowers, couplets, some red décor. Very crowded. Back shot of many couples (men on left, women on right), some dressed up, some in plain garb, standing before bench with judge saying opening words. Family and friends sitting in fold-up chairs or standing in back (foreground, backs to camera, obscuring action).

(Cut to slow front TMS of couples, obscuring families. Photography flashes.

(Camera settles on Hun and Tina. Hun in black suit, Tina in black short-sleeve blouse and red knee-length very full skirt (implying pregnancy) with large black polka dots. Glimpse of Fengs, Hsuehs, Wangs in back.

(MS Chen, Chuan, Hsin, Tiao, looking ahead.

(Previous WS. Judge finishes reading. Couples turn and exchange rings. Then most bow to each other; some hug/kiss. Hun and Tina briefly hug, and kiss on the cheeks. Very formally dressed couple next to them goes to town. Cheers and applause, photo flashes. People talking, moving about.

(Previous MS. Chuan takes a handkerchief to her eyes.)

TIAO: (To Chuan) Let’s go.

(Fengs and Hsuehs leave.)

SCENE 2

EXT – COURTHOUSE STEPS – DAY

(VWS Hot bright sunny day. People walking out, (up) down steps, including Fengs and Hsuehs, Hun and Tina walking behind.

(WS)

CHEN: Ok, this is it.

(Everyone stops at/near bottom of steps, and looks at one another.)

CHEN: (Hugs Hun) Ok, Chou-hun, see you tomorrow.

(Chuan steps over and hugs Hun. Hun squats down and hugs Hsin, and stands back up. Tiao hugs and pats Hun on the back. Hun briefly looks at Song. Song is looking down. Chuan stands still, then steps over to take Tina’s hands into hers, squeezes, and looks at her. Then lets go.)

TIAO: (Smiles) We better catch our train. (Backs up with Song, stops and looks.)

CHEN: (To Chuan, smiles) See you tomorrow.

CHUAN: (Nods) Mm.

TIAO: (To everyone, waves) See you in Kaohsiung! (Takes Chen’s hand tenderly.)

(Everyone says goodbye. Chen, Tiao and Song leave (exit frame right).)

HUN: Mom, we’re going to take off. Her parents are waiting.

CHUAN: (Smiles) Ok.

(They hug again, and farewell. Hun and Tina leave (exit frame left).

(Chuan and Hsin see them off for a while.

(Car passes in front of them from left to right.)

CHUAN: (Sees road is clear, finally) Let’s go. (Picks up Hsin’s hand, smiles briefly. They cross the street, looking left and right, and leave (exit frame front left).)

(People continue to walk up and down the steps while cars pass by, for a while.)