*GHOST SCENE 1*
be an acceptable idea. Please understand.
[TouTien Cheng sits and reads records on the table]
[The light flickers]
TouTien Chang: Strange! How am I supposed to look at these cases well if
the light is flickering?
[The light steadies]
TouTien Chang: Let me look at another case or two.
[Reads the record]
TouTien Chang: “Prisoner Tou Ngo poisoned her father-in- law?” I’ve
already read this record and put it at the bottom of the pile!
[The light dims again]
TouTien Chang: [draws his sword (or whatever) and strike it on the table]
There is a ghost! You ghost! Come out and I’ll cut you in two!
[Ghost of Tou Ngo appears and speaks]
Tou Ngo: Father, it’s me, your daughter, Tou Ngo.
TouTien Chang: It cannot be! How dare you insult my daughter! Her name
is Tuan Yun and not Tou Ngo!
Tou Ngo: No father. It is really me.
TouTien Chang: Go away! I do not believe you!
Tou Ngo: Father, allow me to explain what happened to me.
*FLASHBACK 1*
MOTHER TSAI: Please come in TouT’ien Chang, I’ve been waiting you for a
long time.
TouT’ien Chang: I’ve come here to bring my daughter to you. She has
come to run chores for you. I leave my daughter here and I hope you will
look after her.
MOTHER TSAI: No worry, you are a member of my family now. You owe
me! In addition to the agreement, I shall make you a gift of ten taels for
your travelling expenses. It isn’t much!
TouT’ien Chang: Oh thank you mother Tsai! How can I pay back? Oh,
Don’t worry, one day I can repay this kindness many times over…May you
please be kind to my little daughter if she’ll be a stubborn…say only a
word or two, for she does not deserve a beating..
MOTHER TSAI: Oh, no need for you to say that, I’ll treat her as if she’s my
own, no need for you to worry..
TOU NGO[teary eyes]: You’re leaving me father?
MOTHER TSAI: Oh, don’t cry! Come with me my daughter in law, this is your
home now…
__
*FLASHBACK 2*
The scene will start after Mother Tsai have told Tou Ngo about the Changs
desire to marry them.
Donkey Chang: We’re to be married into the family today!
Tou Ngo: You desperado! Shut your senseless mouth!
I will not marry you. No one can break my vow.
Donkey Chang:Look at the pair of us! We look good together. Don’t miss
the opportunity to be my wife.
(Donkey Chang gets hold of Tou Ngo and tries to make her kneel and Tou
Ngo pushes him and he falls.)
Mother Tsai: Mr. Chang, you have been a hero of my life. I owe you my
breath and am grateful for not asking from me my wealth. But, to sacrifice
my daughter-in-law’s happiness for the sake of paying my debt will never
Donkey Chang:You bitch! Even if you’re a virgin, I hardly even touched
you! I swear to your face, if I don’t make you my wife I’m not a man.
*FLASHBACK 3*
PREFECT:I am the Prefect Evilbrute [of Ch’u-chou]. The court is now in
session.
DONKEY:I am the accuser, my name is Donkey Chang. I accuse this
woman, Tou Ngo, of poisoning and killing my father. I beg Your Honour to
see justice done, to me and to my father.
PREFECT:Who put in the poison?
DONKEY: That woman! (pointing to Tou Ngo)
TOU NGO:I had nothing to do with it. It was not I who put in the poison.
That is the truth.
PREFECT:Since you didn’t do it, someone go and beat the old woman.
TOU NGO[WITH FIERCE]: Stop, stop, stop! Don’t beat my mother-in-
law. I am willing to confess. It was I who poisoned my father-in-law.
PREFECT:Well then, take her to the death cell. Tomorrow she shall be
beheaded!
TOU NGO: (emote mode) I shall become a headless ghost burdened by
injustice. All deeds of injustice are known to Heaven and Earth. I have
fought to the end, contested to the last. Mother, if I do not die, how am I
to save you?
PREFECT: The court is dismissed.
__
*GHOST SCENE 2*
TouTien-Chang:Don’t say anything! You are such a disappointment. Didn’t
I charge you to observe my words before I left you? You disgraced your
ancestors and endangered my reputation!
Tou Ngo:Restrain your anger, father. Listen to your child. I followed all the
good deeds. I have not just served Mother Tsai when my husband died
two years after our marriage, I have saved her too. Old Chang and
Donkey Chang professed to be good spirits when they helped Mother Tsai
from Dr. Lu’s hands. But they are conspirators! Users! J It was Donkey
Chang who put poison to the soup, plotting for Mother Tsai’s life and also
because he wants to own me! Goodness sake, mother Tsai refuse the
soup and gave it to Old Chang who eventually died after drinking it.
Read this record, does it not confirm what I say?
I have done nothing wrong- I have not disgrace nor stained anyone’s
name.
Is this the payment I deserved for the faithful duties I served?
I’m grieving for injustice and my soul is not appeased.
Father, the emperor’s powers are vested in you.
Examine this record with care. The true villain must be sentenced.
TouTien-Chang:Oh my child, so wrongly put to death! This will break my
heart. When tomorrow comes you shall have justice.
__
*GHOST SCENE 3*
Tou Ngo: Father, I forgot to tell you, please take care of Mother Tsai in your
ouse and take care of her as I did when I was still alive. You see, she’s like
my own mother and I wouldn’t want her to grow old alone.
TouT’ien Chang: Go in peace, my child. Don’t fret, I will take care of your
mother-in-law like my own skin.
[Ghost of Tou Ngo exeunt]