The next day, Song meets with Chin to give her information about Gallimard’s affair with Renee. During the meeting, Song demands a baby from the Communist Party. She shares the events of the night before, explaining that she used the pregnancy to make Gallimard believe that she was submitting herself to him. Chin doesn’t think that procuring a baby will serve a revolutionary purpose, but Song tries to justify it by claiming that it will help to resist the counterrevolutionary efforts of the French embassy. Chin is reluctant but decides to take it up with her superior. Before Chin leaves, Song points out that men play women’s roles in the Peking Opera because “only a man knows how a woman is supposed to act” (63).

Gallimard returns to the stage, gloating over Chin’s humiliation. He tells Song that he would take her back if she returned to him. Song tells him it’s too late since the French president has already pardoned her of treason. Gallimard wonders if Song’s feelings for him were authentic. She explains that loving him was the biggest challenge of her career. What matters is that he believed her enough to adore her, which inspired Song’s love for Gallimard. She brings the narrative back to the night before Chin’s visit, revealing what happened after Gallimard asked to marry her.

Immediately after asking for Song’s hand in marriage, Gallimard declares that he’ll divorce Helga and bring Song to France. She’s embarrassed that he’s being so generous to her, considering how she was behaving moments earlier. She initially declines his proposal, pointing out that it would ruin his career as a diplomat to leave his wife for a Chinese Communist woman. Gallimard downplays the importance of his career, but Song doesn’t believe him. (She exits the stage, after which he explains that he continued to argue with her, ultimately failing to convince her to accept his proposal.) She then leaves town for the countryside.

Several months later, Song returns with a baby she claims belongs to her and Gallimard. Gallimard accepts the child’s identity but is confused when he notices that the boy’s physical traits don’t match Song’s or his. She proposes to name their son “Peepee,” a name that Gallimard vehemently refuses. Song rejects his protests, however, because she doesn’t want their son to grow up in the West. To Gallimard’s frustration, Song says she’ll remain with their baby in China. Gallimard admits to the audience that he would have accepted anything Song wanted to do at that point.

The play jumps forward to 1966. Mao Zedong launches the Cultural Revolution, driving youth-led upheaval throughout China. Meanwhile, the US begins to question its economic commitment to the war in Vietnam. The latter development causes Toulon to order Gallimard’s reassignment back to France. When Gallimard tries to argue for staying in China, Toulon bluntly tells him that his analytical mistakes have cost him his post.

Gallimard rushes to bid Song farewell. The Red Guards, led by Chin, attack and humiliate Song. Chin accuses Song of living a life of decadence while the masses suffered. Song admits to her crimes in allowing the imperialists to corrupt her for their entertainment. Chin urges her to be more specific. Song admits that Gallimard performed anal sex on her. This disgusts the Red Guard. Chin orders Song to declare her resolution: She’ll serve the people. The Red Guard announces her rehabilitation.

The play jumps forward to 1970. After Song works in a Hunan labor camp for several years, Chin tests Song’s resolution. Chin argues that none of Song’s efforts were revolutionary. She insults Song for engaging in gay sexual activity and then insists that Song no longer exploit the people’s resources. Chin sends Song to France to take revolutionary actions in the West by seeking out Gallimard and getting him to support her financially. Song doesn’t believe that he’ll take her in, adding that Chin doesn’t understand how men think. Chin rejects this answer and insults Song, placing her confidence in the empowerment the Cultural Revolution has given her. She sends Song to France.

The play jumps back to Gallimard and Helga as they resume their lives in Paris. In 1968, Helga tells him how she got caught up in a student protest supporting the Cultural Revolution. Helga is concerned that France is falling apart. Gallimard, conversely, isn’t alarmed at all. They argue over his attachment to China. He criticizes Helga for having a superficial understanding of global politics. Finally, he declares his wish for a divorce. Helga initially tries to save the marriage, but Gallimard admits to his affair. She resents him for wanting to leave her even though he can’t be with his mistress anymore. She declares that she was happy to be treated like a diplomat’s wife in China and then leaves him forever.

Marc visits Gallimard to commiserate with him. Gallimard mourns the end of his life in China, but Marc doesn’t want to hear about it. It becomes clear that Gallimard told Marc about his affair multiple times and Marc is now annoyed by him. Marc offers to set him up on a date but then retracts that offer, fearing that Gallimard is still preoccupied with thoughts of Song.

Gallimard continues to miss Song. The play jumps forward to 1970, when Song arrives at Gallimard’s house. He initially thinks she’s a figment of his imagination. Song assures him that she’s real, making him touch her hand to convince him. He tells her that he set up a place in his house to prepare for her return. When she asks him where his wife is, Gallimard explains that she’s already with him. Gallimard is about to embrace Song, but then she sidesteps him so that she can address the audience. Gallimard is angry that she would defy him, still believing she’s a figment of his imagination. Song indicates that she never once acted according to his will. She sends him away to let her tell her story. Gallimard begs her not to change, but Song says she must do it because the truth can no longer be ignored.

Gallimard exits. Song tells the audience that she’ll take five minutes to change, so she invites them to stretch their legs and relax themselves in the meantime. The intermission takes place as she changes her clothes and washes off her makeup.