Trying to Find Chinatown: The Selected Plays of David Henry Hwang Read Online Free PDF Page A

America. (Pause) So, I’ve had to work real hard—real hard—to be myself. To not be a Chinese, a yellow, a slant, a gook. To be just a human being, like everyone else. (Pause) I’ve paid my dues. And that’s why I’m much better now. I’m making it, you know? I’m making it in America.
    (A napkin is thrown in front of Dale’s face from right. As it passes, the lights go up. The napkin falls on the dinner table from the last scene. Dale is in the back room. Dinner is over. Steve has thrown the napkin from where he is sitting in his chair. Dale is standing upstage of the table and had been talking to Steve.)
    So, look, will you just not be so…Couldn’t you just be a little more . . . ? I mean, we don’t have to do all this . . . You know what’s gonna happen to us tomorrow morning? (He burps) What kinda diarrhea...? Look, maybe if you could just be a little more... (He gropes) normal. Here—stand up.
     
     
    (Steve does . )
     
    Don’t smile like that. Okay. You ever see Saturday Night Fever ?
    STEVE: Oh. Saturday ...
    DALE: Yeah.
    STEVE. Oh. Saturday Night Fever . Disco.
    DALE: That’s it. Okay. You know...
    STEVE: John Travolta.
    DALE: Right. John Travolta. Now, maybe if you could just be a little more like him.
    STEVE: Uh—Bee Gees?
    DALE: Yeah, right. Bee Gees. But what I mean is...
    STEVE: You like Bee Gees?
    DALE: I dunno. They’re okay. Just stand a little more like him, you know, his walk ? (He tries to demonstrate)
    STEVE: I believe Bee Gees very good.
    DALE: Yeah. Listen.
    STEVE: You see movie name of...
    DALE: Will you listen for a sec?
    STEVE: ... Grease?
    DALE: Hold on!
    STEVE: Also Bee Gees.
    DALE: I’m trying to help you!
    STEVE: Also John Travolta?
    DALE: I’m trying to get you normal!
    STEVE: And—Oliver John-Newton.
    DALE: WILL YOU SHUT UP? I’M TRYING TO HELP YOU! I’M TRYING . . .
    STEVE: Very good!
    DALE: ...TO MAKE YOU LIKE JOHN TRAVOLTA!
    (Dale grabs Steve by the arm. Steve coldly knocks Dale’s ’s hands away. Dale picks up the last of the dirty dishes on the table and backs into the kitchen. Grace enters from the kitchen with the wrapped box from Act I. She sits in a chair and goes over the wrapping, her back to Steve. He gets up and begins to go for the box, almost reaching her. She turns around suddenly, though, and he drops to the floor. He pretends to be looking for something. Dale, confident he’s given up, goes to the kitchen. Steve resumes his attempt, but just as he reaches the kitchen door, Dale reenters with a wet sponge.)
     
     
    (To Steve) Oh, you finally willing to help? I already brought in all the dishes, you know. Here—wipe the table.
     
    (Dale gives the sponge to Steve, then returns to the kitchen. Steve throws the sponge on the floor, sits back at the table. Grace turns around, sees the sponge on the floor, picks it up and goes to wipe the table. She brings the box with her and holds it in her hand.)
    GRACE: Look—you’ve been wanting this for some time now. Okay. Here. I’ll give it to you . (She puts the box on the table) A welcome to the country. You don’t have to fight for it—I’ll give it to you instead.
    (Pause; Steve pushes the box off the table.)
     
     
    Okay. Your choice. (She wipes the table)
    DALE (Entering from kitchen; sees Grace) : What—you doing this?
    GRACE: Don’t worry, Dale.
    DALE: I asked him to do it.
    GRACE: I’ll do it.
    DALE: I asked him to do it. He’s useless! (He takes the sponge) Look, I don’t know how much English you know, but (Using a mock Chinese accent) look-ee!
    GRACE: Dale, don’t do that.
    DALE (Using sponge) : Look—makes table all clean, see?
    GRACE: You have to understand...
    DALE: Ooooh! Nice and clean!
    GRACE: ...he’s not used to this.
    DALE: Look! I can see myself!
    GRACE: Look, I can do this. Really.
    DALE: Here—now you do.
    (Dale forces Steve’s hand onto the sponge.)
     
     
    Good. Very good. Now, move it around.
     
    (Dale leads Steve’s hand.)
     
    Oh, you learn so fast. Get green