Chapter 5: Scene Forty

The big hall had a long table, a flag on the wall, and a colonel at the head of it who did not smile.

Three investors in good suits sat on his left. The twelve actors of the series sat along the far side with their scripts open.

Captain Ji stood behind the colonel's chair with his hands behind him.

Wanning took the last seat, next to Luo, who passed her a paper cup of hot water without a word.

"Begin," the colonel said.

Wen Zhe stood up with a printed copy of scene forty and read the first line in a low, steady voice.

He read well. He always had.

The actor playing the sergeant read opposite him, and halfway down the page the actor's voice caught.

When it ended, two of the cast were wiping their eyes.

"Moving," said the youngest investor.

Fang was glowing.

Wen Zhe sat down and did not look at Wanning.

Wanning put her hands flat on the table.

"I'm sorry," she said, and the whole table turned. "That scene is mine."

Fang's face did not change. "Wanning, we discussed this."

"I wrote it on a bus on Tuesday and sent it to nobody. It was on my drive. He read it there."

"Colonel," Wen Zhe said, almost kindly, "she's very tired. We've been working so closely."

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