2-28: A Libretto

Libretto for an Opera About the 1947 Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist) Massacres of Taiwanese

Cast of Characters

TAIWANESE
Sudin, a student
Siuhua, Sudin's girlfriend, eventually wife
Professor Lim
A Ha, widow, contraband tobacco-seller
Passerbys 1,2
Professors 1,2,3

CHINESE
Gen. Jiang Kaishek
Gen. Tan Ge
Lieutenant
Mme. Jiang
Tan Ge's (Japanese) mistress
Corporal
Privates 1,2
Businessman
Tobacco Monopoly Agents 1, 2

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ACT ONE

Scene One 2/28/1945

Sudin, an advanced high school student, and his girlfriend Siuhua are looking at leaflets dropped by US planes.

Siuhua: God's country promises us freedom when they have driven out the Japanese.

Sudin: Driving out the Japanese will not be easy.

Siuhua: The American president Wilson supported self determination everywhere.

Sudin: Even in Taiwan? Do you think the Americans are not fighting Japan for our freedom? No! It's because the Japanese attacked them. The Americans want us to rebel against the Japanese, but they don't care what happens to us.

Siuhua: Rebellionwould be suicide. The Japanese have all the guns.

Sudin: The Japanese will lose the war. Then we shall see whether the Americans really support our freedom. We'll see if they their presidents just produce fine phrases or will do anything to ensure our right of self-determination.

Scene Two (10/12/1945)
Madame Jiang in a slinky nightgown with her black pearl slippers, Generalismo Jiang in uniform.

Mme J: There is very much wealth on Taiwan. Why are you letting Tan Ge and his gang of jackals clean its bones? You should know better than to trust him. You must know that he is feeding his gang and not us.

Gen. J: Of course they are collecting bribes. I know they are seizing what was Japanese, and not sending along all they should to the central government. Still, he has sent a lot from Taiwan since I appointed him. You must know that there are even greedier and less dependable generals than Tan Ge, and he has experience with keeping unruly semi-barbaric southerners in line.

Mme. J: At least I hope you have someone watching him and reporting back.

Gen J: Of course, of course. Don't think that I trust Tan Ge. I barely trust you!