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Plot synopsis

The play was inspired by Giacomo Puccini's opera Madama Butterfly. The first act introduces the main character, Rene Gallimard, who is a civil servant attached to the French embassy in China. He falls in love with a beautiful Chinese opera diva, Song Liling, who is actually a man masquerading as a woman. In traditional Beijing opera, females were banned from the stage; all female roles (dan) were played by male performers.

Unbeknownst to Gallimard, Song is also a spy for the Chinese government and uses the relationship with Gallimard to extract vital information. Gallimard is eventually sent back to France in disgrace for his role in completely misinterpreting (thanks to Song) the native Vietnamese and Chinese in the Vietnam War. He also divorces his wife Helga because he loves Song so much. Since Gallimard has been sent back to France, Song is no longer useful to the Chinese government and is put in a reeducation camp for being an artist.

Act two begins with Song coming to France and resuming his affair with Gallimard. They stay together for 20 years until the truth is revealed, and Gallimard is convicted of treason and imprisoned. Unable to face the fact that his "perfect woman" is actually a man, he retreats deep within himself and his memories. The action of the play is depicted as his disordered, distorted recollection of the events surrounding their affair.

The third act portrays Gallimard committing seppuku (a type of Japanese suicide through self-disembowelment) while Song watches and smokes a cigarette.