Zian: Mah, have you forgotten that each one has a very special ability?
Mah: (now she’s annoyed) Remind me.
Yan: (standing) Don’t you remember, mother. Deng can swallow the sea.
Deng: (standing) And Chou has an iron neck.
Chou: (standing) And Jiang can stretch and stretch and stretch.
Jiang: (standing) Li cannot be burned.
Li: (standing) And Yan can hold his breath forever if need be.
Mah: Children, I know you have all these qualities, but what good are they? Have you EVER needed them?
Chou: Not so far, but you never know. They might come in handy sometime.
Mah: I’ll tell you what would come in handy – some extra money.
Zian: Your mother speaks the truth, children. Go out and see if you can make yourselves useful. Perhaps you can earn a few coins for your efforts.
Mah: (shrugs and smiles at the children and pats them as they leave) You may not be strong, but you are willing.
Parents: (exit behind the wall)
Children: (sit back to their work)
Pause (Count 15 seconds)
Yan: (standing) I’m not very willing! It’s too hot to work.
Deng: (standing) I agree.
Chou: (standing) Let’s walk by the sea a bit before we try to be useful.
Children: (walk to center stage and look to Upstage left – seaside)
Jiang: (pointing) Li, isn’t that the emperor’s new fleet of ships?
Li: (shading his eyes) You’re right. Don’t they look beautiful out there on the horizon?
Yan: Deng, we could get a better look at them if you would swallow the sea and pull them closer to shore.
Li: (getting very excited) Maybe we could even climb aboard and look around.
Deng: I’m not so sure I should. The emperor might not like it.
Jiang: How would he ever know? He’s probably up at the palace giving orders. You know how he likes to be obeyed.
“OFF WITH HER HEAD!” drifts in from off stage left.
Jiang: (nods his head) See what I mean?