From East of Suez: A Play in Seven Scenes by W. Somerset (William Somerset) Maugham

And if in our hearts we despise and detest what you have to teach us? For what reason are you so confident that you are so superior to us that it behooves us to sit humbly at your feet? Have you excelled us in arts or letters? Have our thinkers been less profound than yours? Has our civilization been less elaborate, less complicated, less refined than yours? Why, when you lived in caves and clothed yourselves with skins we were a cultured people. Do you know that we tried an experiment which is unique in the world? (GEORGE: What experiment is that?) We sought to rule this great people not by force, but by wisdom. And for centuries we succeeded. Then why does the white man despise the yellow? Shall I tell you? (GEORGE: Do.) (With a smiling contempt.) Because he has invented the machine-gun. That is your superiority. We are a defenceless horde and you can blow us into eternity. (With a tinge of sadness.) You have shattered the dream of our philosophers that the world could be governed by the power of law and order.... And now you are teaching our young men your secret. You have thrust your hideous inventions upon us. Fools. Do you not know that we have a genius for mechanics? Do you not know that there are in this country four hundred millions of the most practical and industrious people in the world? Do you think it will take us long to learn? And what will become of your superiority when the yellow man can make as good guns as the white and fire them as straight? You have appealed to the machine-gun and by the machine-gun shall you be judged. [ There is a pause. Suddenly GEORGE gives LEE TAI a scrutinizing glance.

Lee Tai Cheng Monologue from East of Suez: A Play in Seven Scenes

Rehearse Lee Tai Cheng's monologue