Marriage Across Nations.doc

New version of Romeo and JulietAct The willows dance in the breeze. Gail and Mark hand in hand, walking along the lake. They have been together for 5 years, loving with each other. The day, Gail is going to ask Gail to marry himM: What a nice day it is!G: Yes, its much better than yesterday.M: Honey, do you still remember the scene of our first date?G: Of course. I will never forget it. That happened when we were in the college.M: Yes. That day was as sunny as today moreover. It was the most beautiful memory in my life. I felt not only excited but also nervous.G: Really?M: Yes, you know Im honest to you all the time. I have fell in love with each other several years and know about each other more.A short silenceM: Will you marry me?G: What? I I cant believe it.M: Dont you want to marry me?G: No! No! No! Im considering marrying you, but I must tell my parents. Do you know?M: Yeah. Im waiting for you.Act Mark and I imagined a quiet wedding. During our 5 years together we had experienced the usual ups and downs of a couple learning to know, understand, and respect each other. But through it all we had honestly confronted the weakness and strengths of each others characters.G: Oh, dear! I sometimes wonder why you and other blacks are so involved with the racial issue.M: Oh, you seem to forget the subtle forms of racial hatred in American society.G: He! He! Just because the racial and cultural differences, I can understand you. Im sorry.M: Not at all.Mark and I have no illusions about what the future held for us as a married, mixed couple in American. The continual source of our strength was our mutual trust and respect. When Gails spread the news of our wedding plans to her faming, she met with some resistance. G: Mom, Ill tell you a piece of news. That is, that is, is . I plan to marry mark. What do you think about this?M: Oh, really? As your mother, of course, Im supportive of your relationship. If you are going to get married, I can have grandchild. Oh, its amazing.G: Do you think so?M: Yes, but I should also counsel you to be really sure you are doing the right thing.G: So it was all right for me to date him, but its wrong for me to marry him. Is this color the problem, mom?M: To start with I must . Your father, very well when we married.G: But Mark and I have been together more than 5 years. Im sure that time will only confirm what we feel deeply about each other.M: You may be right. But I still think that waiting wont hurry. You are only twenty-five.Gails father is David. He basically asked the same questions as Gails mother.G: Dad, I will marry Mark. I have told my mother. What do you think of it?D: Why the haste? Who is this Mark? Whats his citizen ship status?G: He was had problems with citizenship before.D: Oh? I suspect that he is marrying you in order to remain in the United States.G: But, dad, thats too harsh.D: Then why the rush?G: He has always taken care of these problems himself. In fact, he made it very clear when we were discussing marriage that if I had any doubts about anything, I should not hesitate to cancel.D: Have you thought about the hardship your children could go through?G: Dad, are you a racist?D: No, of course not. But you have to be realistic.G: Maybe our children will have some problems, but whose children dont? But one thing theyll always have our love and devotion.D: Thats idealistic. People can be very cruel toward children from mixed marriages.G: Dad, well worry about that when the time comes. If we had to resolve all about before we little would ever get done.D: Remember, its never too late to change your mind.Act On the way to Gails homeG: You know cooking was how my mother expressed her love, her provide, her power, so, just be sure to tell her later that her cooking was the best you ever tasted.M: believe me!The end of the dinner, Gail sat in the kitchen watching her mother cook, waiting for the moment to tell her about their marriage plans, that they had decided to get married next July, about seven months away. She was cubing garlic and slicing cabbage into small pieces and chatting at the same time about auntie Suyuan.Mom: She can only cook looking at directions. My instructions are in my fingers. I know what secret ingredients to put in just by using my nose.G: Yeah, moms cook skills are always great.Gails mother was slicing so quickly, seemingly not paying attention to her sharp chopping knife, that I was afraid the tips of her fingers would become one of the ingredients of the purple vegetable and pork dish.G: Mom, how do you think of my brothers girlfriend?Mom: Its ok, shes a brilliant and beautiful girl.G: So what do you think of Mark?Gail finally asked, holding her breath.Mom: So many spots on his face.G: they are freckles. Freckles are good luck, you know.Mom: Oh?G: Yes, the more spots the better. Everybody knows that.Gails mother considered this a moment and then smiled and spoke in a Chinese dialect.Mum: Maybe this is true, when you were young, you got the chicken pox. So many spots, you had to stay home for 10 days. So lucky, you thought.Mum: Hi, this dish not salty enough, no flavor.M: You know, all it needs is a little soy sauce.M: Its ok now. Let us start eating.Act M: Oh, dear. You look unhappy. Whats wrong with you?G: Dear, you know. There are many differences about our culture.M: I know. But I think I have known more about ChineseCulture.G: No, mark. You have hurt my mom tonight.M: Why? Im A-OK tonight. Dont you think I try my best to make your mom like me.G: But my mom didnt think so. In Chi