Cao Yu's The Thunderstorm - Triceratops Home

Puyuan Come back here.
Chong Dad.
Puyuan You tell your mother, I've already asked Dr. Ke from Germany to come
examine her.
Chong Didn't Mom already take your medicine?
Puyuan In my opinion, your mother's mental state isn't normal. She seems fairly sick.
(turns head to Ping) I think you're the same way.
Ping Dad, I'd like to go rest a while.
Puyuan No, don't go. I've got things to say to you. (to Chong) You tell her, Dr. Ke is
a famous expert on neurological diseases, and I met him in Germany. When
he comes, tell her he must see her. Did you hear me?
Chong I heard. (walks two steps) Dad, is that all?
Puyuan Go upstairs.
[Chong exits from the dining room.
Puyuan (turns towards Sifeng) Sifeng, I remember I told you before that if you don't
have a reason to be in this room, you should leave.
Sifeng Yes, Master. (also exits from dining room)
[Lit Gui enters from study.
Gui (looking at the Master, seemingly forced, seems unable to speak) M-m-mmaster.
The—the guest is here!
Puyuan Oh, please bring him to the guest hall first.
Gui Yes, Master. (Gui exits)
Puyuan Why is this window open?
Ping My brother and I opened it.
Puyuan Well close it. (wiping his glasses) I don't want the servants coming and going
from this room as they please, I've prepared for a guest to rest here in a while.
Ping Alright.
Puyuan (wiping his glasses, looking at the Zhou compound's furniture) Most of the
furniture in this room are things that your birth mother liked. I moved from
the south to the north—I don't know how many times I've moved—and I was
never willing to give them up. (puts his glasses back on, coughs) The way this
room is set up now, I wish it looked the way it was thirty years ago. That way
it would give comfort to my eyes. (paces to the front of the table, looks at the
photographs) Your birth mother always liked to have the windows closed in
the summer.
Ping (forcing a laugh) But Dad, if you want to remember Mother there's no need
to-
Puyuan (suddenly raises his head) I've heard that you're doing something that you
should be ashamed of.
Ping (startled) W-what?
Puyuan (softly walks to stand in front of Ping) Did you know what you're doing now
is embarrassing to your father? Moreover—(stops)—it's embarrassing to your
mother?
Ping (at a loss) Dad.