Overview
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- Female: 0
- Male: 2
Context
Just prior to this scene, Song has removed his makeup and costume in full view of the audience, transforming from a woman (Gallimard’s “Butterfly”) to a man. He is now on the witness stand, testifying about his espionage activities and to what extent Gallimard knew what Song was doing. More importantly, the judge is questioning Song about how he was able to convincingly portray a woman for several decades.
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Start:
JUDGE: Did he understand the extent of his activity?
SONG: He didn't ask. He knew that I needed those documents, and that was enough.
JUDGE: But he must've known he was passing classified information.
SONG: I can’t say.
[... … …]
End: JUDGE: Your armchair political theory is tenuous, Monsieur Song.
SONG: You think so? That's why you'll lose in all your dealings with the East.
JUDGE: Just answer my question: did he know you were a man?
Pause.
SONG: You know, Your Honor I never asked
For the full scene, see the script edition cited here: David Henry Hwang, M. Butterfly, Penguin Books, 1988, pp. 81-83.
Links
Howlround Theatre Commons: M. Butterfly from 1988 to 2017
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