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Small, Brief Incident involving Asian America

A Cassie Rose Situation

Crystal Liu
2303 Middlefield Rd.
Palo Alto, CA 94301

Phone: (650)339-2211
Email: crystal.liu94@gmail.com
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CHARACTERS

CASSIE ROSE, know-it-all. High-pitched, vocal fry, beat-heavy, valley-girl voice

THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF CHINA
and ASIAN AMERICA

Time: The present

Place: Here

***

SCENE 1

School bell rings. Lights up on an elementary school classroom. Settings can be indicated by
projections. Two desks; on the right, sits THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF CHINA. On the left
sits CASSIE ROSE. We know them by the nametags across the fronts of their desks.

CASSIE ROSE
(leaning over slowly) Pssst. China.
(pause) China.
(pause) China.
(a scream-whisper) CHINA!

P.R. of CHINA
Whaaaat?!

CASSIE ROSE
(clears throat) China. Did you hear what Southeast Asia said about you?

P.R. of CHINA
Whaat?

CASSIE ROSE
Did you hear. What SOUTHEAST ASIA said about you?

P.R. of CHINA
Whaaaat?!

CASSIE ROSE
They said. That you always act like youre above them.

SCENE 2

The desks have been struck. Bare stage. Cassie Rose stands by herself and addresses the
classroom.
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CASSIE ROSE
So I guess youre probably wondering why Asian America isnt here today. Or like, maybe you
havent noticed? Im not entirely sure. Like, were best friends and everything, like technically,
but, like I havent really noticed so far today. Like, theyre always kind of quiet anyway, you
know? Is that mean? Thats probably mean. Sorryyy
Anyway. They told me, to tell you, that theyre kind of not feeling good. Like, kind of.
Specifically. Theyre not, like, in a state of crisis or anything. I repeat: Asian America is not in a
state of crisis. (pause; under her breath) Cut to:

Light or sound cue to indicate flashback. ASIAN AMERICA, played by the same actor who plays
China, enters and curls up in a ball on the floor, forehead on the ground, a mouse pose. Cassie
Rose stands nearby.

ASIAN AMERICA
Nuuuur.

CASSIE ROSE
If you dont get up, youre gonna miss the bus.

ASIAN AMERICA
Cant get up.

CASSIE ROSE
I can hear the engine a block away.

ASIAN AMERICA
Too dense.

CASSIE ROSE
Itll be here really, really soon. Come on.

ASIAN AMERICA
Too heavy.

CASSIE ROSE
I cant hear you with your face like that.

With great effort, Asian America rolls onto their back.

ASIAN AMERICA
Ive become the center of a strange and foreign universe. With each second, I feel my muscles
gaining mass, but without increase in physical size. Is this what it feels like, when a star
becomes a black hole?

CASSIE ROSE
Dont be stupid, you were fine yesterday.
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ASIAN AMERICA
Yesterday was Sunday.

CASSIE ROSE
Ok, listen, this isnt fair.

ASIAN AMERICA
What isnt fair.

CASSIE ROSE
Something has to change here, and youre responsible for half of that. I can only do so much if
youre gonna lie on the ground and have stagnancy be your thing. Or quirk, or whatever.

ASIAN AMERICA
Struggling with stagnancy counts as an action.

CASSIE ROSE
Are you struggling, though?

ASIAN AMERICA
Also, what about you? Youre just standing over there being sassy and commenting on stuff,
thats not fair either.

CASSIE ROSE
Ugh, were just waiting for a bus, why do we even have to talk?

ASIAN AMERICA
Because my situation is impossible and interesting? (pause) I cant move, but you can. So do
something.

CASSIE ROSE
Like what.

ASIAN AMERICA
I dont know try and pick me up?

CASSIE ROSE
(pause) Why.

ASIAN AMERICA
One, you dont believe me, clearly. And two, something has to change.

CASSIE ROSE
(pause) Fine.
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She tries to lift Asian America. She fails. She gives up and rests, pouting, against their body as
though leaning against a wall.

ASIAN AMERICA
I told you.

CASSIE ROSE
This sucks.

ASIAN AMERICA
Theres too much theres too many.

CASSIE ROSE
Youre just being selfish.

ASIAN AMERICA
I can hear the bus coming from down here.

CASSIE ROSE
Youve always been selfish.

ASIAN AMERICA
I can hear the pneumatic release of pressure as the doors open and close, I can see the soft
supernovae of its headlights. Its heading straight for us.

CASSIE ROSE
Immoveable piece of nonsense resisting internal

She punches them in the side and immediately recoils in pain. Asian America remains
unaffected.

ASIAN AMERICA
Too many realities. Growing and dividing and creating more realities. Growing and dividing
and creating more realities. Growing and dividing

We hear a bus approaching. Lights shift.

SCENE 3
A short time later. Cassie Rose enters, dragging Asian America across the stage, inch by inch.

ASIAN AMERICA
You know what Ive been thinking?

CASSIE ROSE
Grrr what.
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ASIAN AMERICA
A lot of things. Too many things.

CASSIE ROSE
Like what.

ASIAN AMERICA
Like realism is not reality.

CASSIE ROSE
You sound like a prick.

ASIAN AMERICA
Something can be entirely realistic and have nothing whatsoever to do with the way things really
are.

CASSIE ROSE
And you get to decide how things really are? (she stops dragging Asian America when they
reach center stage)

ASIAN AMERICA
Likewise, a situation can avoid following the rules of realism and yet reveal something possibly
remotely true.

CASSIE ROSE
You know what?

ASIAN AMERICA
What?

CASSIE ROSE
I dont want to carry you anymore.

ASIAN AMERICA
Well. If you dont carry me, I cant move.

CASSIE ROSE
You make me tired.

ASIAN AMERICA
Youre my best friend. (pause) I cant live without you.

CASSIE ROSE
I know. (pause) What about reality? You were saying?

ASIAN AMERICA
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Reality is unequal to realism.

CASSIE ROSE
And what is reality.

ASIAN AMERICA
Truth.

CASSIE ROSE
And whats

ASIAN AMERICA
That which is verifiable. By multitudes. Who agree.

Pause.

CASSIE ROSE
Im tired.

ASIAN AMERICA
So am I.

As Cassie Rose continues dragging Asian America, a school bell rings, signaling the end of the
flashback. Transition.

SCENE 4

Immediately following. Back to the two desks in the elementary school classroom, P.R. of China
on the right, Cassie Rose on the left.

CASSIE ROSE
(leaning over) Psst. China.

P.R. of CHINA
Too many realities.

CASSIE ROSE
Did you hear what North Korea said about you?

P.R. of CHINA
Containment will soon be impossible.

CASSIE ROSE
Did you hear what North Korea said about you?

P.R. of CHINA
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The singular body is insufficient. But we are not in a state of crisis.

CASSIE ROSE
China.

P.R. of CHINA
We are not in a state of crisis.

CASSIE ROSE
They said that you have a lot of people.

End of play.