SIDE 1

(As the ENSEMBLE returns to its places, CAPTAIN SHANG enters with CHINESE SOLDIERS and CHI FU. MUSHU pushes MULAN toward SHANG and then hides.)

Whoops. Excuse me, big guy. You wanna arm wrestle?

Big guy? Try Captain Shang, soldier.

Oh... oh... sorry. I'm reporting for duty, sir?

Is that a question?

Yes. No. Maybe?

(panics, gives SHANG a little sock on the arm)

Sorry about that. But you know how it is when you get those manly urges, and ya just gotta punch someone  fix things, cook outdoors.

What's your name, soldier?

My name, is a very masculine name. Incredibly masculine, really. It is definitely a man's name... if I could just think of a man's name...

(whispers in MULAN's ear)
Say anything.

Anything!

Your name is "anything"?

No. No. Not anything... it's... thing, ring, wing, ding, ping... Ping? It's Ping! My name is Fa Ping.

(The SOLDIERS chuckle.)

SIDE 2

(Wu Zhong Camp, morning. The ENSEMBLE provides a rooster crow. SHANG enters with the SOLDIERS and leads them in a Tai Chi sequence.)

Great game of mahjong last night, Ping.

Yeah. I've never seen anyone be so competitive at an ancient tile game. I lost my shirt.

And I was left with nothing but my prayer beads.

Well, you know, I like to play everything as though my life depended on it.

Silence, Ping. Tai Chi is about quieting the mind, not about loosening the mouth.

(CHI FU rushes in, holding a parchment.)

Captain Shang, we have received urgent news from your father, the General. His troops are on their way to a village at the Tung-Shao Pass.

That must mean the Huns are headed to the Imperial City. My father will need help. Fall in, men!

But Captain, your unit is not ready for battle.

We're needed. That means we have to be ready. Come, soliders! We are headed for the Tung-Shao Pass!

(The SOLDIERS fall in line, two by two.)

SIDE 3

(Tung-Shao Pass. The CHINESE SOLDIERS enter and find a village in ruins. SHANG steps out in front.)

Halt!

(The SOLDIERS look around in horror.)

There's been a terrible battle here.

The village is destroyed.

There's nothing left.

Search for survivors.

(MULAN picks up SHAN-YU's trophy doll.)

I don't understand. My father should have been here.

(CHI FU brings a military helmet to SHANG.)

The General.

Father...

(SHANG places the helmet on the ground and bows before it. MULAN puts her hand on his shoulder.)

I'm sorry.