Three act structure, framed around the progression of the Congressional hearing. It begins with Wong’s inspiring, eloquent opening speech. It begins with Wong establishing himself, then foreshadows his descent into the murky underworld of moral ambiguity, before ending with his fall from grace.
Success
Begin with Wong on the floor of Congress in 1893, testifying against the Geary Act. His opening speech is eloquent and powerful, asking, "Is it a crime to be a Chinaman?" He punctuates his moving rhetoric by presenting a collection of newspaper clippings criticizing the Geary Act. He drops the clippings on the table—
—Jump cut to the MacGregor, 1873, where a ladle-full of jook is being slopped into Wong’s bowl. He does not look particularly enthused by it. He is writing a letter to a friend in America who has been working at a factory and hopes to become foreman. In the letter, he mentions his newborn son and the wife he left behind-- saying that it is too dangerous for him to go back to China for them. Below decks, a group of girls are also getting their rations of rice-porridge. Wong goes to complain about the inedible food (or something) and catches sight of the girls. He realizes that this ship is trafficking them to America for a prostitution ring. Blows the whistle on the whole operation, catching the attention of the newspapers.
Gets famous (in the newspapers). Decides to use his newfound leverage to get his friend the promotion he wanted. First assassination attempt (at the factory), related to the McGregor girls.
Decides to leave town after the assassination attempt. Capitalizing off of his fame from his profile in the papers, he begins his lecture series. Newspaper montage of how America thinks of well-spoken, short, witty WCF.
(jump cut to him with his citizenship papers) Lies creatively on papers to get his citizenship, feels a bit nervous presenting the papers but gets them no problem. Feels more “American,” cuts off his queue. Straightens the pressed collar on his new Western suit and slicks back his hair. End on determined reflection in mirror, queue fallen on floor. (Think Mulan)
Dubious
Wong is looking confident (the same expression as before), only this time it’s not in the privacy of his own bathroom, but on the pulpit at the Congressional hearing. His smile fades as Congress starts honing in on his weak points, telling him, "Your people are not law-abiding." Wong’s answers become more vague, and he is openly classist (opposing the immigration of working class Chinese) before making some odd claims about the Chinese government (asserting that China would pay fines for illegally immigrating nationals). Cut to Wong in 1890, now in New York City.
Wong is clearly established and respected in the Chinese community (more of a look at Chinatown?). Suen Yee incident. Wong busts up vice in Chinatown again (something he’s at least semi-consistent about), and we get more of a picture of what might’ve happened to the McGregor girls after they were released (since Suen Yee is pretty parallel to them). Wong is once more nearly assassinated for doing a good deed, prompting him to denounce Chinese community, “I hate the Chinese!”
Still, the Geary Act is affecting even those Chinese who have become Americanized like Wong. Fearing this, he forms the Chinese Equal Rights League (which is highly exclusive and openly racist/classist - we can show the charter). Montage of the tongs and Chinese embassy setting the groundwork for their own plans. The Chinese embassy makes certain to tell the newspapers that Wong is not speaking on their behalf, even though he claims to be (in direct conflict with his statements during the congressional hearing). Wong gives a magnificent speech on how they’re going to reverse the Geary Act, stuttering only slightly (or not at all) over the word “unconstitutionality.” Cut to Act Three.
Failure
Wong begins to be openly anti-Cantonese during the hearing and stumbles over the word “unconstitutionality:”
Starts with Congress laughing at him because of what he said about the Cantonese. Then they ask him to clarify a statement regarding the government being indifferent to the Chinese. He explains that the majority of Chinese in America are from a small, unimportant province (Guangzhou), and as Congress hounds him his answers become increasingly desperate and anti-Cantonese. Finally, in his closing remarks, he completely flubs the word "unconstitutionality." The meeting ends. Wong is congratulated on his effort, but the Geary Act is not repealed.
From this point forward, continues chronologically:
Wong leaves a failure, and attempts a couple other sad, but pointless ventures. The Geary Act’s photo registration clause is eventually repealed anyway, because of economic pressure and the machinations of the tongs/Chinese embassy.
Wong receives a letter from his son (reminding him that he has one). He writes letters back to his son explaining what he’s been doing in the meantime and why he had to leave China in the first place (the letters are highly exaggerated, so the illustrations under the narration show what happened). Wong then decides to attempt a somewhat risky venture in Omaha. He ships in the Chinese workers for the World’s Fair (hoping that one of them will be his son, although ultimately none of them are), and all of them disappear. He knows that the American authorities will come down on him for illegal immigration, so he decides to flee back to China.
Exiled back to China, where he reunites with his son (and tries to get his money back, because he is never completely pure intentioned). Authorities come after him still angry about the putsch, he escapes into the wilderness, and dies.
Complete proposal with transcript of the hearing
Newspaper article with transcript
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