The curtains open to reveal the actors in the same position they were in at the close of last night's performance, as though they were frozen in time.
The curtains open and reveal the actors in the same position they
were in at the close of last night's performance as though frozen in
time.
Xiao springs from her kneeling postion and bounds across
the stage in wide, graceful leaps. In the
blink of an eye she seems to appear from nowhere at her sister's side with a bowl of hot tea.
"Bai! Wake up Bai! See? I've brought you something to drink. It's your favourite scented White Peony tea!
Wake up and talk to me!"
She trickles a few drops into the corner of Bai's mouth and shakes
her.
Bai's eyes fly open and she blanches at the sight of her dead husband.
"Oh Xiao Quin, what shall I do without Xu? I wish to die too. Now I have nothing to live for. Just think..."
No more orchids in bloom
Or sharing the silvery moon
No more Little Froggy song
Or oolong, or mahjongg,
No more umbrellas in the rain
Or sharing the singing of a swain
No more dragon boat race
Xi Hu is such a lonely place!
A panicky Xiao gapes helplessly at her forlorn sister. She has never
seen Bai so broken and close to defeat.
"There must be
something to live for. What about the baby?
Can't you even try?"
"Yes, Xu's baby! But you know what befalls a human child with no
father and no name. And I'll be branded a terrible wife and mother.
No, I cannot bare the shame."
"There's me."
"Of course there's you!"
"But don't you see, Bai Su? There must be
something we can do!
If you will at least get off the floor, we have possibilities
to explore."
Xiao's "possibilities" pique Bai's interest. She tilts her head to the side, poses her fingers in the elegant lotus form and ponder's her sister's
wise words.
"Magic!" Xiao sings in the highest possible pitch of her huadan vocal training.
The audience applauds appreciably and laughs at the teahouse cat, who yowls and makes a break for the kitchen.
"No. We'd never win! The outcome would be tragic. You know necromancy
is dangerous, Xiao Quin!"
"Then what about a cure? We are famous apothecaries after all."
Bai perks up and becomes animated at Xiao's suggestion. The
sound of a gong emphasizes their moment of enlightenment.
"Brilliant Xiao! Hao! Hao! I read in
Seng Nong's Canon of
Herbs something about a miraculous mushroom called
lingzhi that grows in the clouds high
above the earth, on sacred Kunlun Mountain's trees. This mushroom is
purported to have great spiritual potency and no side effects, you
see."
"Let's go for sure! Right now!" says Xiao. It sounds like an
apothecary's dream. I'll fetch my sword," she sings.
"It really does! It was used in ancient Chinese medicine, you see, so it must
be true. But Xiao, I need you to stay here with Xu."
Xiao has run offstage and doesn't hear her sister's order to stay
home. This will naturally not please our little mischief maker, who likes to think older sisters
have all the fun. While she is gone, Bai rocks Xu and builds her hope by continuing to
sing the praises of the sacred mountain mushroom.
"Lingzhi is said bring mortals back to life. I will
go to Kunlun Mountain like any good human wife."
Xiao returns, whirling and dancing and twirling a sword in each hand.
Her face is set with exaggerated ferocity and she is ready to take on
an army, if necessary, to bring back their fungal treasure and her
beloved brother-in-law from death's door.
"Come on, Bai! Let's go now! We haven't time to spare."
"You must stay here and mind Xu little sister. He needs your loving
care. I trust you to guard him with your life."
Seeing her little sister's disappointed frown, Bai takes Xiao's chin
gently in her hand and says, "He would do the same for you."
"He would. I will! You're a good sister - and a good wife. You're no
disgrace. Now go! Take your sword and mine too, just in case. There
could be snake eaters in those hills."
The stage fades to black for the scene change. Tea and sweets are
served and the audience converses quietly while waiting to see what
will happen next.
