Scene Four

We first hear the faint chiming of the monastery bells in the distance. Then the lights rise, and WAN is again pacing the floor of his room, only now he is wearing his very best robe. A rap on his door. HE springs to his feet and opens it, admitting BIETESEN who holds a candle  in her hand. WAN At last!

BEITESEN

We must hurry.
My mistress is waiting.
Follow me,
And I shall lead you
To the willows by the western gate. (SHE leads him out the door of his room, then in a moment, THEY appear going from the monastery door through the garden. As THEY move upstage, the willows in the background open and reveal a beautiful secluded grove. There MEILAN stands regally, her back to the audience. WAN, aglow with anticipation, approaches her.) WAN Meilan… (SHE turns to face him with a look of coldness. SHE then glances with the same frigidity at Beitesen, and BEITESEN immediately retreats, exiting stage left.) MEILAN I have asked you here tonight
To speak of a situation
Most important.

                                                              WAN
So you can speak, Cousin Meilan.

MEILAN

I ask you not to treat me
As a child.
I am not a child,
And I can speak
When there is something to say.
Tonight,
I have something to say.

WAN

I have thought of nothing else all day,
I have thought of nothing but your…

MEILAN

Please!
My mother and I are indeed grateful
To your kindness for bringing the guard
To protect our home.
My mother opened her door to you
For you were a gentleman
Or so she thought.
But you have insulted her.

WAN

I have insulted your mother?!

MEILAN

By sending me that poem.
I did not give you the slightest cause
To send me such a verse.
My mother knows nothing of this,
Nor do I plan to tell her.
She would be deeply hurt
If she knew how you have
Taken advantage of us
By what appeared at first
A kind and generous act.
You a gentleman…
                                   (cynically)
And a cousin.

WAN

Then why did you answer my poem
With a poem?
Why did you answer at all.

MEILAN

I am deeply ashamed of the poem.
It is not what I had intended.
It was done in haste,
And I ask you to forget
It was ever written.

WAN

Forget it was written?!

MEILAN

It was only a means
Of being sure
You would come tonight.
For I could not write
What I wanted to say.
And I had to see you
To tell you
That this must cease!
Though you are a cousin to my mother,
You are a stranger to me!

WAN

I do not understand.

MEILAN

It is late,
And I must leave.
If you do not understand,
Then I must repeat
What I have said.
This must cease!
I do not wish
To ever see you again.

(SHE turns abruptly and disappears through the willows.  WAN is stunned and decimated.)

LIGHTS FADE