The Prodigal Daughter of Korea
By Asa Palomera
()
About this ebook
When Mina’s father dies, she returns to Korea to visit a family she barely knows, desperately looking for some answers. But her mother is reluctant to discuss the past, especially the war, or the reasons that Mina was sent so far away as a child, to America. Her younger sister seems unable to grow up and it doesn’t help that their nosy neighbour is always on their doorstep. Secrets and lies divide them all irrevocably.
When the truth is finally revealed, it is both shocking and redemptive, allowing Mina and those around her to see themselves anew and break free from years of pain and guilt.
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The Prodigal Daughter of Korea - Asa Palomera
time.
THE PRODIGAL DAUGHTER OF KOREA
by Asa Palomera
edited and revised by David Dawkins
Cast
MINA
40s, Korean American, UN executive in Geneva, UNESCO Liaison Office.
MOTHER
60s, mother of Mina, Japanese-Korean
TERESA
30s, unmarried Korean woman, Mina’s sister, (plays violin if possible)
MRS KANG
50s, nosey neighbour, Korean
GENERAL
60s, Army General Damian Summers, ex OSS, American
MAJOR
40s, Assistant to the General, Korean or American
WOMAN
20s-30s, a petite prostitute, Korean or any.
ATTENDANT
20s, bath house attendant, (can double with Woman), Korean
UNCLE
20s, Mina’s uncle (can double with Major), Korean
FATHER
20s, Mina’s father (can double with Major/Uncle), Korean
Place
Seoul, Korea
Time
Summer of 1989
ACT I
SCENE 1
It is 1989, a blue moonlit night settles over Seoul, Korea. A middle class modern flat in Seoul, sparsely furnished except for a sofa. Mina, a forty-ish beautiful woman clad in a silk kimono comes down from her room upstairs.
MINA (looking up to the moon, through the window, sings)
Blue moon, you saw me standing alone, without a dream in my heart, without a love of my own.
(Goes to a telephone and dials)
(In a hushed tone, speaking German) Hallo? Guten Tag. Darf ich bitte mit Herr Botschafter von Schondorf sprechen? Ist… Entschuldigen Sie. Er ist nicht … oh, you speak English. Is Ambassador Schondorf not in? Not available. I see. May I leave a message, then? Please tell him that Mina, from Seoul has phoned. Where is that? It is the capital of Korea. No! South Korea. If I were calling from North Korea I would be a Mata Hari working for the greatest leader of the world. Thank you so much. Wiedersehen!
Lights come up in Mother’s room. Mina is looking up quietly.
MOTHER (sighing, in stage whisper)
Two husbands already and now she’s at it again… dirty, dirty American ways.
TERESA
Hush, Mother, she can hear you!
MOTHER
The shame she put us through. Your father almost died of shame.
TERESA
Shame never killed anybody. Besides, Father died of more earthly things, like cancer. Go to sleep, Mother.
MOTHER
I can’t believe that she is my own flesh and blood. She was always peculiar in that way.
TERESA
What way, Mother?
MINA (to herself)
What way, Mother?
MOTHER
Boys… always hanging about…
TERESA
Hush, Mother, she can hear you.
Mina reaches the top of the stairs. As she touches the doorknob to open it, lights go off inside the room. Mina stands against the door.
MINA (looking at the door of Mother and Teresa)
I very much wanted to lay down next to Mother, to be a part of them, even awake, while they’d sleep. My happiness would have been full.
Black out.
SCENE 2
Next morning, about seven a.m. Mother comes down dressed in her Sunday best, holding rosary and a hymn book.
MINA
Good morning, Mother.
MOTHER
Why are you up so early? You should sleep longer. The time change after a long trip must be tiring. Hungry?
MINA
I am always hungry.
MOTHER
When I return, we’ll go to a nice hotel for brunch. Teresa and I thought last night, why not do like Americans do in your honour? You kill two birds with one stone! (Thinking herself mighty funny) Breakfast and lunch together!
MINA
Are you going out alone? Shall I come with you?
MOTHER
Not unless you want to go to Mass.
MINA
Not really. But it is rather a long way for you to walk alone.
MOTHER
Don’t worry. Mrs Nam always waits around the corner to accompany me. I don’t really want to explain anything to her about who you are. She can be so nosy.
MINA
Explain who I am?
MOTHER (at the door)
Rest, my darling, why don’t you? You are not a young girl any longer.
MINA
Huh?
MOTHER
Are you? You are in your forties, now, you could be a grandmother in some parts of the world.
MINA
Or a nun! To be a grandmother I’d have to be a