The Prodigal Daughter of Korea

Asa Palomera, David Dawkins

• Publisher: Aurora Metro Books
• ISBN:
  9781912430024
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Drama
• Index: Literature

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.

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 mother first.

MOTHER

Precisely. (Goes out)

Mina faces the door and stands there.

TERESA (running down)

Did you sleep well? Hungry? (Yawning)

MINA

No to the first, yes to the second.

TERESA (goes to the kitchen)

Well, tough luck, you’ll have to wait. Coffee or tea? I’m sure they do toast and eggs at the hotel or would you prefer a Korean affair?

MINA

Korean affair all the way.

TERESA

Once a Korean, always a Korean.

MINA (quietly)

As far as food goes.

TERESA (she turns on the music of Schubert’s Violin concerto going into the kitchen)

You’re not the only Westernised person here. Did you miss Korea?

MINA

I missed you, and Mother and Father, not Korea. If you were not in it, it would mean nothing to me. Often, I wonder if I belong to Korea or Korea belongs to me. I am floating in a space where all belongs to me, and me to all. Yet Korea aches my heart, I don’t know why. (Teresa is curious but nonplussed) I’m glad you love classical music. I do too.

Both listen to Schubert in harmony until Teresa enters Kitchen. Teresa picks up a spoon with a heartbreaking sob.

MINA (running to the kitchen)

Teresa? What’s the matter?

TERESA (showing a tea spoon)

It was his!

Mina embraces Teresa. They stay entwined. Central light comes up as the general lights darken.

TERESA

After Father died, every afternoon I listened for him to call my name to give him a bath. I used to take him to bathe ev...

Table of contents

• The Prodigal Daughter of Korea
• Copyright
• Title
• Acknowledgements
• Production History
• The Prodigal Daughter of Korea