Week 9 Story: Breaking News, Three Evils in the District

Lei buttoned her suit jacket and solemnly sat down to cover today's breaking news segment. She composes herself as the director gives her the countdown and the red light indicating they are live on air begins to shine. The teleprompter lights up blue and white text begins to show up on the screen.

"Breaking news here on DNN: The district suffers another tragedy by the hands of The Three Evils. Just last week the river was flooded by the evil dragon at the long bridge, drowning all that are were in it. A few days ago the evil tiger that dwells in the hills slaughtered a family who was on a hike. On the scene, interviewing a victim of the third evil is field reporter Xiang. Over to you Xiang."

The TV switches to Xiang, who is reporting at the local tavern.

"Yes, Lei, I'm here at the tavern with Guo Yun, owner of a fabric shop a few blocks down, whose husband has just recently gotten in a quarrel with the town's strongest man, Dschou Tschu. Do you have anything you would like to say Guo?"

Xiang gives the microphone to Guo. 

"Yes, my husband and I own a fabric shop a few blocks down. Dschou has been stealing our finest silks from our shop for his garments for weeks. It began causing a great amount of debt. My husband Tian came to the tavern today to confront him, offending Dschou Tschu, and he beat him to a pulp. Someone needs to stop this man, my husband will have to be hospitalized for months!" She says as she burst into tears. 

Xiang takes the microphone back as he comforts Guo, turning to the camera. 

"That's all on-site, Lei. Back to you"

The TV switches back to Lei in the studio. 

"District Evil, Dschou Tschu, has been causing evil in the district all of his life, but the town elders never seem to punish him. His strength causes him to have a lack of discipline and he does whatever he pleases. He is known for drinking, stealing, and causing conflict. He is a nuisance to the neighborhood!"

She turns to the B cam.

"But a new mandarin has come to town and has been listening to the complaints of the district's residents, and plans to do what the elders have been avoiding, confronting Dschou Tschu. More on that at 10."

The red light turns off as a commercial begins to play.

*Three days later*

"Lei here with DNN, joining me today is the town's mandarin, speaking on his confrontation with town evil Dschou Tschu." 

She turns to the mandarin, signaling him to begin speaking. 

"Hello. I confronted Dschou Tschu last night, informing him of the town's fear of him."

"How did that go?" asks Lei.

The mandarin looks over to her, "At first Dschou laughed in my face, telling me he did not know what I was talking about. He said the town has an abundant harvest and everyone gets on happily with their work. He even said all was quiet and peaceful. He had no self-awareness whatsoever. Well, not until I mentioned The Three Evils anyway."

"In what manner did you bring up the three evils?"  inquires Lei. 

"I mentioned the two obvious ones, the dragon and the tiger, and he seemed aware. But when I told him he was the third, he was speechless. He told me to return and he will take care of this town, and then he left. No one has seen him since."

*One week later*

"Breaking news here on DNN, today we are joined once more by the mandarin, who is here to update us on the situation of Dschou Tschu." says Lei

Lei turns to the mandarin. "Tell us, what new has happened with Dschou Tschu since we last spoke?"

The mandarine replies, "Dschou has come to me, reporting to me the death of the dragon and the tiger. He said he was shameful of his actions and wishes to rid the towns of the evils. He is to join the army and use his strength to help his country rather than harm it. He left to enlist last night, after speaking with me about his kills." 

The camera pans wide, the director indicating for Lei to speak.

"On the scene of the long bridge is our very own Xiang. Over to you."

The TV switches to Xiang.

"Yes I'm here at the long bridge where we can see the head of the evil dragon has been cut off. The town is spared from their horrors!" Exclaims Xiang. "Back to you Lei."

The TV switches back to a shot of just Lei.

"Dschou Tschu has gone from town villain to town hero! He has even rid the town of himself and has planned to enlist and fight robbers. We thank him for the good he has done for the town. Thank you Dschou Tschu!" 

The TV cuts to break. 

*Two months later*

Lei sits down at the table, sniffling as she begins the segment. She looks up and begins to read the teleprompter sympathetically. 

"Breaking news on DNN, town hero Dschou Tschu has died in combat, defending his country against robbers. He was confirmed dead at the scene at 10:52 P.M. last night. The town went on prosperously after he rid the district of The Three Evils. Crime has gone down tremendously, and the people are happier than ever. We thank Dschou Tschu for his service to the town, and it is a sad day in the district."

She goes on to talk about the redemption story of Dschou Tschu, from beginning to end. The segment has more viewers than any prior, everyone in town is tuned in tonight. 

(Chinese Dragon, Source: Wikimedia)

Authors Note:

I did a retelling of "The Three Evils" from the Chinese Fairy Tales unit. The story is exactly the same except I told the story in a breaking news format and created some new characters. The original story only had the characters of the mandarin, and Dschou Tschu. The original story explained some of the terrible things Dschou Tschu did but never engaged any of the victims. I created characters to be victims that could be interviewed by the news reporters, characters I also created. Other than these new characters and the breaking news format, the story and ending are the same. It is a story of redemption for Dschou Tschu, who went from being one of the evils of the town to a hero who reclaimed his honor. He died defending his country and exclaimed at the end "The day has come at last when I can atone for my sin with my life!" I think redemption is beautiful and is one of my favorite character arcs, thus the reason for my enjoyment of this story. I wanted to do a fun twist with the breaking news style. I hope you enjoyed my retelling!

Bibliography:
"The Three Evils"
Story source:
The Chinese Fairy Book, ed. by R. Wilhelm and translated by Frederick H. Martens (1921).