The Journey to the west

Monkey King, an arrogant and commanding monkey, who can do 72 character transforming changes and desires to be an immortal. He flies to heaven and asks Jade Emperor to complete his wish, as he wishes, he becomes a protector of horse. However, after he finds out not only he is deceived by Jade Emperor by offering a low-ranking position but also is not invited to Lady Queen Mother’s banquet; he eats all the immortal peaches. As result, Jade Emperor demands that the heaven officers and guards catch Monkey king, but none of them can defeat him. At the same time, when Monkey king is proud of himself and becomes the most powerful and eternal king of the time, the Buddha shows up.

Buddha tells Monkey King to stop, but Monkey king wont. So Buddha makes a bet with him, “As long as you can fly out of my palm, your sin will be revoked.” Monkey king takes the challenge and jumps on his Cloud Somersault. However, no matter how far and how high he has flown, he realizes there’s no way to escape from Buddha’s palm. Finally, Monkey king has plead guilty, and been under the mountain till someone who is called “Xuanzhang” releases him.

500 years pass. One day, a young and ambitious monk called Xuanzhang , whose mission is going to India and getting the scriptures back to China, passes the mountain. He hears someone calling his name and asking for help. A kind monk rescues Monkey King immediately. In order to thank Xuanzhang and also show his determination to be good, Monkey king joins the journey as Xuanzhang’s disciple; and protects him all the way to India. On their way to India, they also meet Piggy Monster, who is a part human part pig monster, and Sandie Orc, who is an orc living under the river. Piggy Monster and Sandie orc have also become Xuanzhang’s disciples and accompanies with Xuanzhang on the road.

The travel is unsafe and dangerous. All the monsters get excited about Xuanzhang’s arrival, because they want to eat Xuanzhang, so they can be more powerful. In order to bewitch Xuanzhang, the monsters transform themselves into different shapes. However, Monkey King has supernatural eyes, he sees through all the monsters and defeats them. Xuanzhang, on the other hand, is just a normal human being. He doesn’t understand those people who are defeated by Monkey King are actually monsters, and blames Monkey for killing the innocents. After an intense argument, Monkey King decides to leave Xuanzhang.

After Monkey leaves, only Piggy Monster and Sandie Orc are left to protect Xuanzhang. But neither Piggy or Sandie is capable enough to protect Xuanzhang. Piggy is lazy and bodily appertites, Sandie is slow-witted. The monsters are very happy about this, especially the demon “Yellow rope”. Yellow rope kidnaps Xuanzhang while Piggy is taking a nap!

When Piggy and Sandie find out that Xuanzhang is missing, they don’t know what to. So Piggy goes to find Monkey king and asks him to come back so they can all go to the demon’s palace and rescue Xuanzhang. Meanwhile, Yellow rope is about to kill Xuanzhang. Just as Xuanzhang is crying for help, Monkey, Piggy and Sandie break into the palace and rescue Xuanzhang successfully. After the incident, Xuangzhang apologize to Monkey king for his innocence and they continue on their journey again. Although there are some other monsters waiting for them, such as OX king and Spider beauties, Monkey can always turn peril into safety.

       Finally, they arrive in India and get the scriptures from Buddha. As they are celebrating the completion of the mission, Sandie finds out that the scripture are empty books! Everyone is confused, and Buddha appears. Budda tells them this is the final test, and ask them a question about what the real treasure of the journey is? No one has a good answer except Monkey King. When Monkey says the real treasure is the journey itself, the Buddha smiley nods. After the quiz, Buddha gives them the real scriptures. At the end of journey, they all have changed and find out the real treasure is deep down in their heart.

The Outsider

On the stage, light fades in. He is holding the mic and doing stand-up. No one is laughing but him. And what even more pathetic is, actually, probably, no one here understands English but him. However, he doesn’t give it a damn. He takes another sip of beer and carries on. “The joke. Oh, where was I? Right, family issue.” He looks at the audience, and the audience give him draining eyes like they’re falling asleep, but this is even a Saturday night.

At the moment, he can’t help wondering, how did he end up like this? This, like being a total joke. Life should be sunny and wonderful after he left America. America, the land of bitterness. He recalls when he stepped out the gate, he really thought his miserable life would be ended. Taiwan, Formosa! Before he came he assumed this is a sunny island, just like Kwan, beautiful beaches and bikini girls. But once again, life betrayed on him, just like many others before. After the first week staying in Taipei, he found out it rains like hell. Hot, humid and stuffy hell.

But he got no choices, the life has to go on, so as the show.

He takes a deep breath in and continues, “I know I can never compete with my brother. After all, my brother, he is a lawyer, making big money and working in the building. As to me, being an English teacher. Making small wages and has achieved nothing in my life. How can I defeat him? I mean, I got no chances. Everything is settled before our births. He can defeat me even when we’re sperm, with his giant tail and sweep me away.” He makes an exaggerative face, as if trying to convince the audience this is a joke. But sadly, no. People drinks like he doesn’t exist.

The stand-up is finished and he takes a bow. But no one notices that the show is over.  “Fuck it.” he thinks, “What do you guys know about humor?” He gives up, put the mic back and turns his back on. Heading toward the bar and looking for some alcohol. Suddenly, he falls. He looks down, and finds out he is trapped by the wires.

 “Ouch!” he cries out and swears. All of the sudden, people burst out laughing. Harder he tries to stand up, harder people laugh. Finally, he gives up and twines by wires, looks like a pity clown.

At the moment, he realizes that he is the biggest joke that he’s ever made. Slowly, he feels water in his eyes, and is still being trapped. “What a perfect metaphor.” He thinks, “Now I’m literally stuck in here.”