PRODUCTION My Daughter's Wedding [Fuchun jia nu]
Data Type:production background
Title:Scene-by-Scene Synopsis
Source:My Daughter's Wedding Performance Program
Place:Taipei
Publisher:Taipei National University of the Arts [Guoli Taibei yishu daxue]
Date:2007/10/12
Pages:13; 15
Language:English
Abstract:scene-by-scene synopsis

1. HERE COMES A SPICE GIRL. (At the Carrefour in front of I-min temple in Hsinpu)
(1) Fuk-tshun and old friends were singing mountain songs. He was worried about his daughter’s wedding.
(2) Kien-khiong and Siin-i wants to pursue Li-ngiet, the younger daughter. Fuk-tshun said elder daughter Li-kiun should get married first, and all Li-ngiet needs is a computer tutor now.
(3) Li-kiun came back and her bad temper ruined everyone’s interest to sing.
(4) People laughed at Fuk-tshun, who then felt “lose face” and decided to give half of his fortune to whom marries Li-kiun. Villagers discussed how to get Li-kiun married – a wedding contest/interview.

2. INTERNET CAFÉ WORLD (in an internet café of modern city style)
(1) Iu-ka (dressed as a heavy motorist) was playing on-line game, trying to get big money by selling online game treasures.
(2) Dueling: Siin-I v.s. Iu-ka. Siin-I and Iu-ka met in on-line game.
(3) Iu-ka was Siin-I’s high school teacher. He was dismissed from the job for his creative teaching style. Siin-I told Iu-ka about the contest (which no one dares to win if one knows the prize) and Iu-ka would like to give it a try, to make granny happy and to find a job in marriage.

3. EVERYONE GOES TO THE WEDDING CONTEST (square of Liu’s family temple)
(1) Hakka elders drew up to the rules of the contest.
(2) Siin-I craftily urged honest guy Kien-khiong join the contest, and Iu-ka and Sii-in Lam (member of elder’s mountain song group) came to make a party of three.
(3) Contest: 1. Warm up and athletics (Iu-ka won); 2. Hakka song singing (Sii-in Lam can); 3. Choices of Golden/Silver/Bronze Ax – a Test of honesty (even Kien-khiong knows to choose bronze ax)
(4) Li-kiun gave a bad scold, but Iu-ka replied her with sweet talks. Fuk-tshun agreed to marry his daughter to Iu-ka.

4. LOVE OF THREE (Liu’s living room)
(1) Kien-khiong teaches Li-ngiet use computer for personal websites and blogs. Siin-I came to teach her (computer game), too.
(2) Kien-khiong and Li-ngiet talked privately through MSN.
(3) Fuk-tshun called Li-ngiet to help prepare her sister’s wedding.

5. FRUMPY BRIDEGROOM (square of Liu’s family temple)
(1) People made mochi and played ba-in for a Hakka wedding.
(2) The bridegroom appears slovenly, wearing black leather coat, because he stayed at internet café for days treasures.
(3) Li-kiun felt insulted, and Fuk-tshun regretted to marry his daughter to Iu-ka.

INTERMISSION

6. WEDDING NIGHT (Meinung Chung’s kitchen and rice drying place)
(1) Granny Chung and many other old ladies (all played by granny Chung) prepared the banquet of traditional Hakka cuisine for Iu-ka and Li-kiun, but they were late.
(2) Iu-ka and Li-kiun rode heavy motorcycle all the way from Taipei to Meinung. The motorcycle broke down, they lost their luggage, and got home confounded and late.
(3) Granny Chung insisted it was too late to do obeisance to Chung’s ancestral shrine, thus Li-kiun could not enter the Liu’s, and women should not dine with others. Li-kiun argued with Iu-ka, and refused to eat.
(4) Iu-ka entered home first. Li-kiun stayed outdoors angrily and questioned herself whether it was right to marry Iu-ka. (Granny watching.)

7. RELATIVES (Meinung Chung’s kitchen and rice drying place)
(1) At the break of day, many relatives welcomed Li-kiun. Li-kiun was not very awake when she got through the wedding ceremony and walked into Chung’s door.
(2) Many titles of relatives made Li-kiun dizzy. She asked “Why am I here?”
(3) Li-kiun was forbidden to go home (by relatives), at least for half a month and she best get pregnant soon. Relatives made beautiful traditional Hakka dress for her.
(4) Relatives sang and dance around Li-kiun while making her the dress from a piece of cloth.
(5) Li-kiun could not stand it and fought with Iu-ka. Relatives left and Granny Chung asked Li-kiun why she married Iu-ka, and if she loved him.

8. WHO DOES THIS HEART BELONG TO? (Liu’s living room)
(1) Kien-khiong and Siin-I competed in front of Fuk-tshun. Kien-khiong showed him a pile of certificates of computer engineering, and Siin-I said “My home is in New York, I am rich, and I am going to study abroad after graduate. I can afford Li-ngiet’s expensive tuition at the Juilliard School of Music.”
(2) Li-ngiet chose Kien-khiong, but her father chose Siin-i. Li-ngiet blamed her father for being old fashioned, but he said “I am not old-fashioned, it is just better for a father to choose husband for his daughter.”
(3) Fuk-tshun talked with Siin-I about the wedding. Kien-khiong asked Li-ngiet, “Do you really want to marry Siin-i? Run with me!” Li-ngiet would not let her father disappointed, and asked Kien-khiong to be the best man at her wedding.
(4) Kien-khiong left sadly. Li-ngiet sang about her hesitation upon marriage.

9. THE PRENUPTIAL AGREEMENT (Square of Liu’s family temple)
(1) At Li-ngiet’s wedding, Li-ngiet read the Prenuptial Agreement, but Siin-I refused to sign it.
(2) Kien-khiong jumped out saying he would sign the agreement. Li-ngiet told her father she would marry Kien-khiong, and Siin-I also felt his youthful life was saved from the bondage of the agreement.
(3) Li-kiun and Iu-ka came back to attend Li-ngiet’s wedding. Li-kiun said, “Why sign it? A marriage is not just a contract.” Iu-ka announced their pregnancy, and that he will find a decent job.