Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 172, Section 171: Three Broadway Shows, Alcatraz and Al Capone

A last-minute audition for a play made the backstage area of ​​a Broadway theater crowded.

Many song and dance troupes came, hoping their shows would be seen by more people and that they would receive generous compensation.

For them, having both of these things at the same time is like heaven.

However, to be selected, they still had to compete, so while they were getting ready backstage, they were also rehearsing the script intensely.

However, Fang Wen was not the only one who selected these plays.

For Fang Wen, it was just a spectacle.

He doesn't possess the hobbies, values, or social awareness of Americans in this era.

We also cannot judge which of these shows is better based on American thinking.

Therefore, in order to select suitable plays, Fang Wen believes that more data evaluation should be taken into account.

He redesigned the selection process.

The selection panel has more members.

He, John Harvey, theater manager, Graham.

John Harvey represents the legal profession, the theater manager represents professionals, and Graham represents Wall Street.

The sample size is insufficient; more samples need to be added.

Cowboys, gangsters, housewives, ordinary office workers, and others who came to New York to make their fortune.
A selection panel of 22 people was formed. According to the requirements, Fang Wen's vote based on personal preference would be worth 2 points, the theater manager's vote based on professional qualifications would be worth 4 points, and everyone else would be worth 1 point. The total score was 26 points, and anyone who reached 20 points would be considered qualified.

This novel selection process made the performers both nervous and excited.

They felt that this selection process better reflected the general public's preference for their program.

Therefore, they performed even more energetically.

The selection process concluded in two days.

This selection process demonstrated what it means to please everyone.

Of all the plays, only three achieved a total score of 20 points.

Moreover, there are three different types of plays.

These are: classical musicals, situational musicals combined with drama, and life musicals full of comedic elements.

Moreover, it was a play that had never been performed before in history.

Fang Wen was considering whether or not to use these three plays.

He recalled the scenes from the three plays.

The first performance, "Dream of the Golden Age" - a classical musical.

Background and theme: "Dream of the Golden Age" is inspired by the myths and legends of the ancient Greek "Golden Age" (or the Minoan Age), which is an idealistic and heroic myth in which mankind lived in harmony with nature, without sorrow or aging, and in a life of abundance and peace.

The play uses a series of classic stories and characters from ancient Greek mythology, such as Zeus, Athena, Apollo, and Hercules, as well as their love, hate, and heroic deeds, to showcase humanity's yearning for and pursuit of a better era.

Performance style: Dance

Combining classical ballet with modern dance, and incorporating rope skipping, the performance showcases scenes of flight, battle, and love from mythological stories.

The music incorporates classical music elements, with original compositions presented in symphonic and choral forms, enhancing the solemnity and sacredness of the drama.

The stage effects utilize stage machinery and lighting technology to create a dreamlike stage backdrop, such as the misty Mount Olympus or the shimmering Aegean Sea.

"The Golden Age Dream" could have been kept, because the production team had limited funds and the magnificent mythological scenes could not be shown, but the performance was indeed very appealing to European Americans.

Fang Wen felt that if they had enough funds for props and costumes, they could have done even better.

The dream of the golden age has been confirmed.

The second performance: "Melody at the Street Corner" - a situational musical drama combining spoken drama and stage play.

Background and theme: "Melody at the Street Corner" is a situational musical drama reflecting the lives of citizens during the Great Depression. Through the perfect combination of drama and song and dance, it showcases the tenacious spirit of people seeking hope and dreams in adversity.

Set against the backdrop of a bustling street, the drama tells the story of how people from different professions and backgrounds support each other and face life's challenges together.

Performance format: a combination of drama and musical.

The stage play section uses a realistic approach to depict the dialogues and conflicts between characters, revealing social realities and the brilliance of human nature.

Song and dance segments: interspersed throughout the plot, using songs and dances to express the characters' inner emotions and dreams.

This play offers a unique perspective, focusing on the social tragedies of the lower and middle classes in America, which resonates with a wide range of viewers.

Although it may not leave you feeling happy, it will make you remember it.

A play that evokes empathy is one that should never be abandoned.

"Melody at the Street Corner" has been confirmed.

The third show, "Everyday Miracles," is a musical drama full of comedic elements.
Background and Theme: *Miracle in Everyday Life* is a musical drama based on ordinary family life, incorporating rich comedic elements. Through a series of seemingly mundane yet heartwarming and humorous everyday events, the play showcases the kindness, courage, and wisdom of humanity, as well as the true meaning of finding happiness in ordinary life.

Performance format: Drama + Song and Dance
It adopts a multi-act play format, with each act revolving around a family event, such as the growing pains of children, misunderstandings and reconciliations between husband and wife, etc.

Interspersed with song and dance: Carefully choreographed songs and dances are inserted at each dramatic climax, such as joyful dances to celebrate festivals together or to resolve conflicts, making the plot more vivid and interesting.

Stage design: Using a simple yet creative stage setting, various scenes of family life are simulated, such as the living room, kitchen, and bedroom, to create a warm and realistic viewing atmosphere.

This is the only comedy to be selected.

Comedy is the best form of entertainment, and the fact that it stood out from the votes of a discerning selection panel is proof of its quality.

A show that can entertain the masses may have a better effect than the previous two.

Fang Wen even had an idea to have the production team add interactive elements to the performance: set up some scenes that interact with the audience, such as spontaneously inviting audience members to come on stage and dance together, to enhance the audience's sense of participation and immersion.

That might be better.

"Miracle Everyday" has also been confirmed.

As it turns out, the public's judgment was indeed insightful, and Fang Wen accepted all three plays.

He had private conversations with the three production teams, then signed performance contracts with them, and paid a deposit in advance so that the three production teams could purchase costumes and props.

Three days later, the business in Indiana was also finished.

Indiana returned beaming, clearly having accomplished something.

He spoke with Fang Wen alone.

“I took that money and went to find someone with more power, and now all the problems are solved.”

"When will you be transferred back to China?" Fang Wen asked.

"Three months later, I can come back after I go to Tehran to complete the handover of my work. Roberto Kerr will take over my place."

Roberto Kerr was a telegraph operator in Indiana, and Fang Wen knew him. Unexpectedly, he was promoted because of this.

That's good news; at least I still have someone I know in Tehran.

Fang Wen asked curiously, "What position did you hold after you were transferred back?"

Indiana explained, "The FBI has roles such as agent, analyst, supervisor, and senior executive. It's also divided into many departments. I was originally assigned to the logistics department, but now I've been reassigned as a headquarters agent."

According to Indiana's explanation, he went to such great lengths, yet he still had to become a secret agent.

The difference is that he became a headquarters agent and will only be responsible for investigating major cases.

According to the new career planning path.

As a headquarters agent, he could choose to become an analyst, doing brain-intensive tasks, or he could accumulate merits and become a department head.

The best outcome would be to be assigned to the field office and become the field supervisor of the local branch.

After hearing about Indiana's plans for the future, Fang Wen reached out his hand.

"Congratulations, I think your wish will definitely come true."

This statement implies a willingness to continue helping Indiana in the future, reflecting a tacit understanding between the two parties.

Indiana smiled and nodded, then reached out and firmly grasped Fang Wen's hand. With the New York matter settled, D.332 returned to port.

I also gave some of the production crew's luggage a ride back.

Because these three production teams purchased various costumes, props, and equipment, a single D.332 aircraft simply couldn't transport them back, let alone with so many production team members.

Flying them to Las Vegas was too extravagant; we had to arrange for them to travel by train.

Due to the increased load, the plane made a refueling stop at San Indiana Airport and then flew back to Las Vegas in two separate flights.

Las Vegas Airport is now taking shape.

The main thing is that the runway has already been leveled by the workers.

That was a runway built by Mexican construction workers who worked overtime to produce concrete, driven by high pay.

Looking down at the runway surface, which had dried completely, Fang Wen landed the plane.

The first plane landed smoothly on the runway at Las Vegas Airport, signifying that the airport was now officially open for takeoffs and landings.

However, Fang Wen had no intention of disembarking here. He asked Zhao Jiu to take the crew's luggage back from the plane, and John Harvey also disembarked to go to Las Vegas to deal with some legal issues.

He and Indiana continued their flight to San Francisco.

San Francisco is the future San Francisco.

San Francisco is the name used by Chinese people because its original English name was San Francisco, which means San Francisco in Spanish. However, the transliteration of the name sounds similar to San Francisco, so it has been used ever since.

This also shows that there were many Chinese people here at that time.

After the plane landed at San Francisco Airport, Lin Shuiwang and his group of people came to pick him up.

“General Manager, they are from the Huaqing Gang. They will be in charge of the business in San Francisco from now on,” Lin Shuiwang explained.

San Francisco is the territory of the Chee Kung Tong, which is the Hong Men, as Fang Wen knows. It is a large and complex Chinese organization.

The Chinese gangs here are probably all related to the Chee Kung Tong.

He smiled and spoke with the group.

"I've long admired your name and hope to have a pleasant collaboration in the future."

"We apologize for not being able to entertain General Manager Fang when he came to the United States," the leader of the group replied.

"Sure, the main reason I came here is to go to Devil's Island to see someone. Do you have any connections?"

The Huaqing Gang members' expressions changed drastically when Alcatraz was mentioned.

That prison was nothing short of hell for the gangsters.

The leader of the Huaqing Gang quickly shook his head: "We can help with other things, but we can't help with that."

It seems this path is not feasible.

Fang Wen decided that Indiana should handle it.

Through connections with federal prisons in Chicago, and after several twists and turns, I finally got in touch with the warden of Alcatraz.

This gave him the opportunity to meet Al Capone.

Alcatraz Island is located in the center of San Francisco Bay.

A very small island.

This place used to be a gathering place for seabirds and pelicans. The island was covered with bird droppings. Merchants discovered the value of the bird droppings, bought the island, and built ferries to transport the bird droppings back to the mainland for sale.

Later, the bird droppings disappeared, and the place lost its value. Since the federal prison needed a prison with a high level of security, they chose that place.

The completed prison was surrounded by the sea, making it impossible for the prisoners to escape. In addition, the island was so small that even if someone was to be rescued, it would be impossible to escape the sight of the prison guards.

Over time, it became a devil's island in the eyes of lawbreakers.

The ferry service is only available at certain times each month, allowing prisoners' families and lawyers to visit them.

Fang Wen and Indiana boarded the ship at Pier 39 with this group of people.

The ship sailed to Alcatraz prison and arrived in no time.

Passengers disembarked and went to the dock, where they were checked by armed prison guards.

According to the regulations, only books and banknotes are allowed; nothing else is permitted.

Even books are flipped through one by one to check for any hidden grooves.

When it was Fang Wen and Indiana's turn, they hadn't brought anything and were only briefly checked before passing through.

Taking this opportunity, Indiana spoke with the prison guards and was then taken to the warden's office.

Fang Wenze followed his family to the visiting room.

He didn't submit a visitation request, and no one paid any attention to him; he just sat there waiting.

While waiting, family members entered to visit the prison, and noises could be heard from time to time.

This is yet another glimpse into the myriad aspects of life.

Even the most ruthless criminals can show a softer side when facing their loved ones.

However, the ways in which they are expressed are completely different.

Someone burst into tears.

Some people bowed their heads like children who had made a mistake, listening to their relatives scold them.

Someone gazed tenderly into each other's eyes and whispered, their palms pressed together through the glass.

Someone lost control and pounded on the glass window, and was forcibly taken away by prison guards.

Perhaps, only in this brief period of time will they stop hiding their suppressed emotions and release them fully.

This is probably the real reason for prison visits: to allow prisoners to vent their emotions and give them something to care about, so as to prevent prison riots caused by excessively long imprisonment.

Just then, Indiana returned.

He sat down next to Fang Wen and whispered, "The warden has agreed to your meeting with Al Capone, but he requires that a prison guard be present."

Fang Wen nodded: "When?"

“They’ve gone to fetch people; they should be here soon,” Indiana replied.

At that moment, the other side of the visiting room opened, and a prison guard said, "Fang Wen, please come with me."

Fang Wen got up and followed the prison guard through the small door, through the narrow corridor, and into a room.

There is a table and two chairs in the room.

The tall prison guard waiting inside pointed to the seat on the right: "You sit here."

Fang Wen sat down and waited. After a short while, Al Capone, who was wearing handcuffs, came over.

Taking this opportunity, Fang Wen sized up this celebrity who had unified the Chicago mafia.

It is said that he liked to use Thompson submachine guns and grenades in battles with other gangs, which earned him the nickname Scarface. Perhaps he deserves some credit for the Thompson submachine gun being called the Chicago Typewriter.

He was a remarkable figure who controlled all the Chicago Mafia gangs for five years, from 1925 to 1931, by eliminating smaller gangs and collaborating with other gangs.

She even became a character in a comic book in the future.

But when Fang Wen actually saw him up close, he had a different feeling.

He was not tall, had a kind smile on his face, and with his chubby face, he looked more like a businessman.

After he sat down, the prison guard handcuffed him to the chair to prevent him from suddenly attacking someone, and then said, "You can talk now, but the time cannot exceed half an hour. If any accidents occur, I will end the conversation."

Fang Wen nodded, opened a pack of cigarettes in front of the prison guard, took out one, and handed it to Al Capone.

With a cigarette dangling from his lips, Al Capone looked at the prison guard, who eventually relented and lit it for him.

Cigarettes are a great tool for easing tensions, and after he had smoked half a cigarette, Fang Wen finally spoke up:
"I've come to you to discuss business, not just this one transaction."

(End of this chapter)