Interior Chinatown: A Novel

We are currently in a society where being Asian is scary. With the coronavirus, former President Trump called it, “China Flu,” or “Kung Fu Flu,” stating it’s because of the Chinese people, the world is infected. When a reporter calls him out for saying that inaccuracy, he decrees, “Oh, they don’t mind and they would probably agree with me.” Speaking as a proud Asian person, I can say unequivocally, I don’t agree with his assessment. Unfortunately, there are some who agree and have been openly hostile towards Asians. Hate crimes are now on the rise, as of this review. This world has suddenly become a scarier place as I once thought we have come a long way, only to find we didn’t. We just hid things better and that makes me sad.

I came across this book quite by accident. I rarely come across a book that speaks to me in such a way where it takes me for a ride and breaks my heart into many pieces only to try and mend it and make me feel like the break up was necessary. Like a phoenix who went through the fire, it rises from the ashes making me feel whole and anew. Tomorrow may not be so bad. It gives me hope during this unsettling time of the pandemic. Now enough about me, onto the story. Major spoilers so if you don't want to read them, don't read any further. Also note: I cut out several major chapters, OAM & OAW's backstories because Goodreads only gives x amount of characters and I burned through and ran out of characters. Hence the flow can be off.

To make my life easier, I will be using GAM instead of typing generic Asian Man, KFG for Kung Fu Guy, OAM in lieu of Old Asian Man, OAW for Old Asian Woman, and OB for Older Brother. SRO for those who aren’t familiar with the lingo stands for Single Room Occupancy. This book is written in several Acts.
Act 1 - Generic Asian Man
Act 2 - Int. Golden Palace
Act 3 - Ethnic Recurring
Act 4 - Striving Immigrant (this chapter is missing from my review)
Act 5 - Kung Fu Dad
Act 6 - The Case of the Missing Asian

Willis Wu is an Asian actor who’s trying to get any part, albeit bit parts as generic Asian Man, background guy but heavily desires to be front and center as Kung Fu guy. He notes the lighting for all movies or shows always cascades the perfect lighting on the Caucasians and never people of color. His mother wants him to be more than just reaching for “The Kung Fu guy.”

The Old Asian man was once upon a time Shifu (teacher). He teaches Willis how to do martial arts. He starts to become older and teaches order and simplicity and when Willis sees his master’s home in disarray, he knows something is wrong. Rumor has it, as per Fatty Choy, that he is fishing bottles and can to collect money and has food stamps to get groceries. The old man (Shifu) was once a master of Kung Fu and a proud man. Now he's fearful, waiting for x restaurant to throw out their baos (Chinese buns)at a certain time so he can grab them and eat. To once upon a time talk about nutrition but now greedily eats the cookies too fast because the stomach is so hungry. The mind cannot talk to the body for discipline. The once “lady with the Asian eyes” is now known as the Old Asian Woman.

Together and united, nobody should have starved. Separately, they all struggled. His parents are sepatated. At first, it's because Mom had to get a job so she was tired. Dad moved out of the bedroom and down the hall. Now, Willis had to visit Shifu under the pretense of learning things but it's to change his soiled mat or give him needed medicine or pick things up he dropped but can't find or remember to find. OB was what all Asian boys wanted to grow up to be. Bruce Lee was the legend that showed what Asian men could be. Older brothers' reputation grew and few to the point of confusing what's real and what's b.s.

The OB was once in a starring movie with Shifu. Some say, he was never quite comfortable becoming that star as he was supposed to be “Kung Fu Guy.” Inexplicably, they canceled him as “Kung Fu Guy” and so went his career. OB just walked away from Chinatown. He just disappeared.

Willis who is actually American born has to put on a stupid fake Chinese accent for his role in Black and White as he witnesses his father as Old Asian Man (OAM) get questioned by MilesTurner (black cop) and Sarah Green (white cop). The look on his dad’s face makes him do a montage of how dad was, in his yesteryears, and how proud and strong he was. Now, Willis sees his father reduced to the meek and minor role. He accidentally breaks out of character and says, “leave him alone. He knows nothing. He used to teach Kung Fu and was a great teacher.” Green says, “Hey, you sound like you’re without an accent” to which Willis realizes his error and has to fake his heavy accent for the show. He declares it will be him who takes them through the inner Chinatown. Green and Turner still stay in character and say, “OK, you’ll be our inside guy.” In the meantime, OAM hears his son faking the accent and looks at Willis almost say, “I wanted better for you” meaning to have a role without faking an accent. For god's sake, Willis’ SAT score was nearly perfect and he went to a very prestigious college. This saddens OAM to no end but then he slips back into the empty void he’s been going into IRL.

Next time when Willis shows up for work, the show promoted his title to “guest star” and so he shows Green and Willis around indicating how the dead guy was actually Older Brother and Older Brother was trying to give money to OAM (the father). Green and Turner start to think, “money laundering?” and try to press OAM to speak more. For the dumbest reasons, they think if Green talks to him, OAM would be more willing to speak because she’s white. Green then shouted and gesticulated wildly with her hands thinking that will somehow make OAM understand her. Willis breaks character telling them to stop humiliating his father. They shout, “who are you?” to which Willis answers emotionally and honestly, “I am no one,” as Turner keeps going for his gun and Green keeps telling him to cool it. Turner says to Willis’ character, “you put yourself through this. You didn’t have to do this if you don’t like it. Both Turner and Willis staying in character use their dialogue to speak honestly about what it’s really like, to be a person of color in this world. Turner shouts, “just because the white person takes your side, everything is alright? We are no different.” Willis’ character responds raw and unapologetic manner by now, “well at least your name is on the title. We’re just background players.” Turner responds, “what’s the name of the show? It’s called Black and White. My name is nowhere on the title. My blackness is a category. I’m a category.” Both appraising each other, the person who plays Green gets them back on track and says, “let’s get back to work.”

Willis back on cue takes them to the next scene where his friend’s on the show (Fong), plays the Mini-Boss to the gambling organization. IRL, that guy’s father just literally passed away but no matter what, he has to do his role as if nothing has happened. Willis tries to give him a look, asking his friend, “you okay?” but his friend gives no acknowledgment because the “show must go on” if he wants to earn money.

Lots happen with fired gunshots and all of a sudden, Det. Karen Wu is on the case. Willis is unsure what’s happening but when he hears the gunshots, he quickly goes autopilot with his kung fu and kicks Fatty Choy to the ground, saving the detectives and Detective Karen Wu saving “Special Guest Star” (pssst, that’s Willis’ character) and she whispers to him, let me do all the lines and just follow along. She tells them Fong (Mini-Boss) may have gotten away but the counterfeit money is in the bag. Like literally, the counterfeit is the bag and “Special Guest Star” (pssst, that’s Willis’ character) just received his bridge to the next show. Looks like he’ll be on the show a little bit longer than anyone anticipated. The plot hums along and just goes with the flow. “You and me, we’re in this together.” as per Karen Wu. Willis is all excited but then he realizes the right side of him is all wet. He’s been shot and Green proclaims, “Special Guest Star” (pssst, that’s Willis’ character) has brought honor to his parents and she won’t forget this. Turner runs to him and says, “you’re dying.” Wait, what?! Willis can’t believe this...he just got his big chance and now he’s dying?! How is this possible as he looks at Detective Karen Wu? She looks at him resignedly and says, “I wish this doesn’t have to be like this but you know how it is. You’re an Asian man. Your story was great while it lasted but now it’s done. I hope our paths cross again.” Forever the “guest star”, he’s gone. Now you can’t work for 45 days. That’s the ruling if you die on a show.

Willis continues doing his non-speaking bit parts of Black and White and starts to fall in love with Karen Lee. Karen Lee is an actress who's 1/4 Taiwanese. She's claimed by almost every ethnic group. Even white with a deep team and exotic eyes. She noticed Willis even when he wasn't in the spotlight as he was cracking jokes under his breath to Fatty Choy. "The heart of the show, Black and White is 'dunt eat too much Chinese food.'' Willis got noticed by Karen, without that special spotlight. They go out on their first date having coffee and then to a park. She remarks "how generic," to which Willis is able to laugh at himself and say, "I'm generic Asian man." They both fall in love and one day, Willis has this determined look on his face to make it out of Interior Chinatown SRO. That’s when she really falls in love and they get married and have a baby together. Their daughter’s name is Phoebe. At first, Willis is freaked out about it but he falls in love with the idea of having a child. He works extra hard to make ends meet and goes into the working mistakes of his father. He works so hard to make it as KFM. Karen one day tells him, she’s been offered a show all her own. She can even have a bit part for Willis. Willis is not happy and she cries, “but it’s a way out of Interior Chinatown SRO!” Willis’s ego is very bruised because she’s the breadwinner and her show only signifies, she’s able to assimilate whereas he can’t and thus, is just GAM.

They separate and Karen leaves for better pastures and her career with their daughter. As time passes and Willis keeps doing his bit parts, the director calls him up to say, “we want you to become KFG.” Willis is exceptionally excited and turns around to tell Karen, only to remember, she no longer lives there. We find out that they have divorced and she is living a very nice life with her daughter. Willis goes onto the set of Black and White and as he’s stuffing his pockets of food from the buffet table, just so he could eat, later on, he realizes what he is doing and that KFG is no longer what he wants. He wants his wife and daughter back. He takes Turner’s cop car and just drives it to where Karen now lives and sees his daughter has her own “alternate” show that allows her to show kids how to speak Chinese and English. When he shows up, he’s not even sure how to interact with Phoebe. Karen tells him she’s going to leave them alone so that he can bond with her and just to put SPF on Phoebe should they go outside. He finds her alternate universe where the neighbors are a bit apprehensive over their Asian neighbors but generally, very polite to them. We see Phoebe telling her castle has everybody living cohesively together and he feels there’s hope. Just as he’s getting into his role as a father, bedtime ritual comes and he sees she has his bedtime ritual. She remembered and was repeating what she saw from him when they were younger. The cops all show up and Willis is arrested for stealing the cop car.

We later see Willis in court and it turns out Older Brother, who went away, became a lawyer. OB is now representing Willis and both Turner and Green come in character for the prosecutor’s side. The court is obviously slanted against Willis as everyone is flirting with Green and Turner calls Willis a punk. OB objects to everything and finally shines as he proclaims Willis to be guilty and a victim by his own volition. “Willis killed thousands of Chinese men (gasp from the courtroom) only to be resurrected again 6 weeks later.

He's guilty of trying to be a part of a system that never wanted him.” Everyone is impressed with OB’s passionate speech where he’s not only speaking for Willis but speaking for the entire Asian community. He points out, Asians put the glass ceiling on but Black people who are always crying have it worse than Asians actually don’t. At least they are considered Americans whereas if you ask someone “what does an American look like?” you will never think of or say, “someone who’s Asian.” Turner even tells older brother he should work for the DA prosecution. OB says, "he's good."

The jury goes out to deliberate and come back relatively quickly. This obviously scares Willis who asks OB, what could that mean? Older brother replies, "I don’t know. I never represented someone for self-imprisonment before." The jury’s verdict is guilty! Everyone is in an uproar and now it’s Willis’ turn to give the monologue. Willis says "all his life, all he's ever wanted was to be a Kung Fu guy. But when he finally got it, he realized what his mother meant." His mother (OAW) used to say to him, “You can be more.” Willis realizes he has to assimilate and not put his label on himself. There are others who are more than willing to do that for him. He should be proud of being Asian but that the title, “Asian” man doesn’t define him. It’s just a character of him. “We are generic Asians but we're not. We're just Asians because societies remind us we are GAM. We are more than that. We are Americans but society didn't see that. Instead, we're reduced to roles and we just take it.” He looks at his ex-wife and sees, he still loves her. Suddenly, as if on cue and scripted, cut to the entire Chinatown dwellers who were witnessing this erupts and both Willis and OB go into their KF stands and start doing KF on everyone. As Willis suddenly “dies” from a shot, the director cries, “cut” and Turner goes to him and says, “that was some good shit.” To which Willis says, “I can’t keep doing this.” Turner nods to him understandingly and Willis leaves and goes to Karen and Phoebe to be the father and husband if Karen will have him. In the next scene, we see Willis is observing his father with Phoebe as they are having a fun time bonding. Willis also sees his father, the famed KFM trapped within his memories more and more but still coming out in time to be present for Phoebe’s grandfather. Shifu starts singing karaoke in Taiwanese, remembering the old days, some good, some bad but still the old days. Willis looks at Phoebe and sees the hope for the future and "If she could move freely between worlds, why can't you?" The End.

This was an original piece of fiction, using the screenwriting format as a storytelling tool. I really liked the world Charles Yu created in this fictional restaurant and television show. I loved how he satirizes the lack of Asian representation in film and television but gave the protagonist Wallis Wu a full character development to give the story a full picture.