Pacific Overtures1976

Shogun's Mother:
It's the day of the rat, my lord. There are four days remaining, and I see you're entertaining, but we should have a chat, my lord. To begin, if I may, my lord; I've no wish to remind you, but you'll notice just behind you there are ships in the bay, they've been sitting there all day with a letter to convey and they haven't gone away, and there's every indication that they're planning to stay my lord. Have some tea my Lord, some chrysanthemum tea, it's an herb that's superb for disturbances at sea. Is the shogun feeling better? Good, now what about this letter? Is it wise to delay my lord? With the days disappearing might we benefit from hearing what the soothsayers say, my lord?