YOU FOR ME FOR YOU

by

Mia Chung

February 17, 2017

All rights, including but not limited to professional,

amateur, recording, motion picture, recitation, lecturing,
public reading, radio and television broadcasting, and the
rights of translation into foreign languages are expressly
reserved. Permission for which must be secured from the
author’s representative:

AO International
Antje Oegel
ph: 917 521 6640
[email protected]
For the frog in the well, the circle of sky it can see is the world, and so the world appears
to be small, round, and far away.

— Chung Hyun Shik

CAST
(3 WOMEN, 2 MEN)

in order of appearance:

JUNHEE / SOUTH KOREAN OFFICE WORKER (female, East Asian)

MINHEE (female, East Asian)

DOCTOR / SMUGGLER / ALL CITIZENS OF THE WELL (male, East Asian)

LIZ (female, any race)

MAN FROM THE SOUTH (male, black)

NOTES In the dialogue: / marks a point of overlap

// introduces the overlapping language

Korean names are pronounced with a light stress on the first

syllable. For example, Minhee is pronounced: MIN-hee.

Onni is a deferential nickname meaning “older sister.”

 1
1

A dimly lit room in North Korea. The walls are bare except for two
framed portraits: Kim Il-Sung and Kim Jong-Il.

The only furniture is a short table with just enough clearance for kneeling.
JUNHEE sets the table for one: one cup, one bowl, a pair of chopsticks,
and a spoon. She places a cushion on the floor as a seat.

MINHEE enters carrying a hotpot.

MINHEE
Clear the way.

JUNHEE attempts to take the pot.

JUNHEE
Onni, Onni.

A rapid-fire exchange:

MINHEE
I’ve got it.

JUNHEE
It’s hot. It’s hot! I’ll / take it.

MINHEE
// Move away, / Junhee.

JUNHEE
Let go. Your / hands!

MINHEE
// Careful.

JUNHEE
Let me take / it. Sit down please.

MINHEE
// Ah ah ah. I’ve got it. Stay / clear.

JUNHEE
// Why didn’t you let me

MINHEE
It was about to boil / over.
 2
JUNHEE
// I said I’d do it.

MINHEE sets the pot down on the table, shakes her hands.

MINHEE
Ooh. Hot.

Working together with the seamless fluidity of a single person, JUNHEE

and MINHEE finish setting up the spare meal: a soy sauce decanter, a
dish of kimchi, and a pot of tea. They share a casual and familiar, but
always quiet and respectful, home.

JUNHEE
Please: sit down, Onni.

MINHEE
Go ahead.

JUNHEE
I’ll finish.

MINHEE
You’ve done enough. / Sit, sit.

JUNHEE
// I’ve got the rest.

MINHEE
There’s nothing left / to do.

JUNHEE
// Sit down. Please.

MINHEE
All done.

Kneeling, JUNHEE pours tea and gently waves MINHEE to sit.

JUNHEE
May you receive great happiness and excellent health this new year, Onni.
Please sit down, rest.

MINHEE sits on the other side, where there is no place setting.

MINHEE
May your every happy wish be fulfilled this year, Junhee.
Can I have some tea?
(sips) Mmm, good.
 3

JUNHEE pushes the meal to MINHEE who slides it back.

JUNHEE
Onni, this is for you.

MINHEE
Thank you but / no, Junhee.

JUNHEE
// Please, Onni.

MINHEE
Tea is enough / for me.

JUNHEE
// You haven’t eaten all day. / Your body is weak.

MINHEE
// I have no appetite.

JUNHEE
If you don’t eat, you won’t recover.

MINHEE
Later. I’m fine for now.

JUNHEE
No. No, you must get your health back. That’s my New Year’s wish.
Please, Onni, I made this for you.

MINHEE
It’s beautiful. Please have some.

JUNHEE and MINHEE slide the hotpot back and forth between them.

JUNHEE
As I cooked, I thought about how lucky I am to have you as my older sister.
How well you’ve taken care of me.

MINHEE
…

JUNHEE
You always put others first.

MINHEE
Not always.
 4
JUNHEE
Please let me be good to you.

MINHEE
There’s no need.

JUNHEE
Please do me this favor: eat. Please.

Their struggle over the hotpot has intensified, and it nearly capsizes. They
set it securely down on the table.

MINHEE coughs, then sips tea.

MINHEE
The tea is perfect. Try it.

JUNHEE pours tea for herself.

MINHEE picks up the chopsticks, then holds a piece of kimchi at

JUNHEE’s mouth.

MINHEE
How’s the kimchi? Still good?

Mouth slightly open, JUNHEE leans toward the kimchi as if to a magnet.

She turns away suddenly, mouth firmly shut. She swallows her saliva.

JUNHEE
Okay, okay: together. We’ll eat together.

JUNHEE gets a bowl, spoon, and chopsticks for herself.

MINHEE
Hurry up! It’s getting cold!

MINHEE removes the pot’s lid. Both lean in, swallowing the aroma with
big, deep gulps.

JUNHEE and MINHEE

Ummmm. Mmmmm. Smells good. Hmmmm. Mmmmm. Delicious.

JUNHEE scoops porridge into the bowl. There is just enough for one.

JUNHEE
That’s yours.

MINHEE
Go ahead, eat.
 5

JUNHEE
Please, Onni. It’s getting cold.

They push the bowl back and forth, back and forth.

MINHEE
Eat then. Mine’s here.

JUNHEE
There’s nothing left there!

MINHEE
This is enough / for me.

JUNHEE
// Give me that.

MINHEE
Please don’t / grab.

JUNHEE
// You promised me. You promised you’d eat.

MINHEE
Smells good.

JUNHEE
It does, doesn’t it?

MINHEE
Okay, okay: here. We’ll share.

MINHEE pushes the bowl of porridge mid-way between them.

JUNHEE
After you.

MINHEE
Take a bite.

JUNHEE
Go on.

MINHEE
Try it.

JUNHEE
No. You.
 6

MINHEE holds her head in a shaky hand.

MINHEE
You’re giving me a headache.

JUNHEE
Your head aches because you’re hungry.

MINHEE
They say this tea cleans the liver and increases / energy. (coughs)

JUNHEE
// Now I have a headache.

MINHEE
I’ll eat tomorrow while you’re at work. I stay home, so—

JUNHEE
You’re home because you’re sick, and you’re sick because you don’t eat.

MINHEE
I’m fine, just getting old.

JUNHEE
And I’m younger so I’m stronger—

MINHEE
Younger and stupider.

JUNHEE
Please take this rice as an offering, wise, ancient / sister.

MINHEE
// Listen to your elders: obey me: eat.

JUNHEE
No.

MINHEE
Stubborn women like you never get a husband.

JUNHEE
It didn’t stop you.

MINHEE
Yongsup was far more stubborn than me.
 7
JUNHEE
So I’ll find one like that.

MINHEE
There aren’t anymore. The stubborn ones all ran away.

JUNHEE
Yongsup didn’t run away.

MINHEE
He blames me.

JUNHEE
He didn’t know about Jin.

MINHEE
If he knew he’d blame me.

JUNHEE
You did everything possible.

MINHEE
Did I?

JUNHEE
Let’s eat.

MINHEE
No. Not me.

JUNHEE
Onni, that won’t bring Jin back.

MINHEE
How long until Yongsup comes back to me?

JUNHEE
Onni. Your husband was taken. He was taken away. You know he will never come back. And
there’s no one to blame for that except maybe—

MINHEE
Hush!

A deafening silence falls.

JUNHEE nudges the rice porridge toward MINHEE.

JUNHEE
It’s getting cold. Please.
 8

MINHEE
I’ll believe you.
I’ll believe I did everything possible.
I’ll believe I couldn’t save Jin.
I’ll believe my husband didn’t run from me.
I’ll believe he is…
I’ll believe you
If
You take the first bite.

MINHEE holds a spoonful of porridge to JUNHEE’s mouth.

JUNHEE breathes in the aroma. Then, with one shaky hand, she takes the
spoon from MINHEE.

JUNHEE puts the porridge into her mouth, then puts the spoon down. She
chews and swallows. Slowly, she takes another spoonful, then another,
and another, and then… transformed by ravenous instinct, JUNHEE eats
and eats and eats.

MINHEE empties the dish of kimchi into the bowl of rapidly disappearing
rice porridge. She pours tea for JUNHEE who drinks blindly, madly.

MINHEE coughs. With a shaky hand, she pours herself tea.

The food is gone.

JUNHEE
Not again.

MINHEE coughs.

MINHEE
I’m fine. My stomach feels funny. I only want tea.

MINHEE coughs, sips tea, and coughs.

 9
2

A stool in a circle of sickly yellowish light: this is the Doctor’s office.

Coughing, MINHEE leans on JUNHEE as they enter the office.

JUNHEE gives an envelope of money to the DOCTOR.

JUNHEE
Thank you, Doctor.

The DOCTOR bows to the money and takes it. JUNHEE helps MINHEE
to the stool.

DOCTOR
I feel so fortunate to have the honor of obtaining the finest medical training in the world, granted
to me by Our Dear Leader.

MINHEE
I am blessed with good fortune to receive your attention and expertise, Doctor, so I may regain
my health, so I may serve the best nation in the world.

The DOCTOR walks around MINHEE, who sits on the stool.

DOCTOR
It is my great pleasure and humble duty to serve you with the best care available on earth.

The DOCTOR jots a note in his notebook.

DOCTOR
Ah, yes.

JUNHEE
Do you know what it is, Doctor?

DOCTOR
Yes, yes.

MINHEE
I feel better already, Doctor. Thank you. Thank you for all your kind attention.

The DOCTOR opens a bottle of pills, taps two into MINHEE’s hand.

DOCTOR
It is my unique and special privilege to shepherd you to robust health using the most advanced
medical solutions and technology known to mankind as provided by our remarkable nation.
 10
MINHEE
Thank you, Doctor. Thank you for helping me.

MINHEE swallows the pills. She and JUNHEE circle around the stool to
exit the office.

MINHEE
Junhee, let us thank the good doctor.

MINHEE coughs. JUNHEE offers money to the DOCTOR.

(And the cycle starts again.)

JUNHEE
Thank you, Doctor.

The DOCTOR bows and takes the money.

DOCTOR
I feel so fortunate to have the honor of obtaining the finest medical training in the world, granted
to me by Our Dear Leader.

JUNHEE helps MINHEE onto the stool. This time, however, MINHEE
hugs herself in pain.

MINHEE
I am blessed with good fortune— (coughs) to receive… (coughs). Doctor… may regain my—
(coughs) … the best nation in the world.

The DOCTOR walks around MINHEE and the stool.

DOCTOR
It is my great pleasure and humble duty to serve you with the best care available on earth.

The DOCTOR jots a note.

DOCTOR
Ah, yes.

JUNHEE
Doctor, her fingertips are swollen.

DOCTOR
Yes, yes.

MINHEE
I feel better already…. Thank you.

The DOCTOR taps two pills into MINHEE’s hands.

 11
DOCTOR
It is my unique and special privilege to shepherd you to robust health—

JUNHEE
Could we have something stronger this time? All month she was coughing up blood.
We are very grateful to you.

JUNHEE gives more money to the DOCTOR. He gives MINHEE another

pill.

DOCTOR
I feel so fortunate. It is my great pleasure.

MINHEE
Thank you, Doctor. Thank you for all your kind attention.
Junhee, let us thank the good doctor.

(Another cycle begins.)

JUNHEE
Thank you, Doctor.

DOCTOR
I feel so fortunate to have the privilege granted to me by Our Dear Leader.

Suddenly, MINHEE buckles with pain and falls to the ground. JUNHEE
rushes to her.

JUNHEE
Minhee!

DOCTOR
Yes, yes.

The DOCTOR walks around the empty stool, observing it and making
notes.

JUNHEE
Doctor, can you give us the whole bottle of pills this month?

The DOCTOR stops still.

DOCTOR
I can make the sun stop shining before I can give you more than your portion. We must be
strong and share resources as a united community, so that we may prevail for all eternity against
evil imperialist aggressors.

JUNHEE
But Doctor—
 12

MINHEE
Thank you, Doctor. Thank you for helping us.
We are very lucky. Junhee, let us thank—

JUNHEE
Onni.

MINHEE
Junhee.

JUNHEE gives MINHEE some money.

MINHEE holds her hand out for more.

JUNHEE gives her the entire wallet of money.

MINHEE offers the wallet to the DOCTOR.

MINHEE
Doctor, we wish to thank you for your kind and generous attention.

The DOCTOR takes the wallet.

DOCTOR
I feel so fortunate to have the privilege—

JUNHEE grabs the wallet of money from the DOCTOR’s hands.

MINHEE
Junhee!

JUNHEE stands still, frozen. The DOCTOR poises his pen over his
notebook.

DOCTOR
Junhee, I understand the distress you’re feeling, seeing your sister so sick for so long.
I may forgive this bizarre transgression, if you demonstrate your regret.

The DOCTOR takes an eager step toward JUNHEE.

JUNHEE steps back.

MINHEE steps between them.

MINHEE
Doctor.
 13
DOCTOR
Please step outside, Minhee. Junhee must have a fever.

Bowing repeatedly, MINHEE backs JUNHEE toward the exit.

MINHEE
Most Illustrious and Esteemed Doctor, please forgive us. We’ve gone crazy mourning so many /
deaths and—

JUNHEE
// Let’s go, Onni, let’s go.

JUNHEE grabs MINHEE. They exit.

The DOCTOR jots a note in his notebook.

 14
3

MINHEE leans on JUNHEE as they run.

MINHEE
I’ll go back and tell the Doctor you haven’t slept.

JUNHEE
How long until they come for me?

MINHEE
Call your friend, the nurse, for / advice.

JUNHEE
// I’m not going for Re-education.

MINHEE
Visit our cousin. I’ll take your place / at the factory for a few days.

JUNHEE
// Who would take care of you?

MINHEE holds her hand out for the wallet of money.

MINHEE
Give me that.

JUNHEE
Run, Onni. Let’s / run! Please!

MINHEE
// Here, quickly, right now.

JUNHEE
No.

JUNHEE puts the wallet into her underwear.

MINHEE
I know: Mayor Choo: who knows the / brother of the doctor’s wife—

JUNHEE
// Mayor Choo? He would turn me in / right away.

MINHEE
// Okay then, I’ll ask Mrs. Sim / how her daughter—
 15
JUNHEE
// No no no! Don’t be stupid. Talk to no one.

MINHEE
Have you thought how our actions may put Yongsup in danger?

JUNHEE
You can barely run.… I’ll turn myself in.

MINHEE
Yes, good: let’s turn ourselves in.

JUNHEE
No, not you!

MINHEE
Junhee, I have a persimmon for you.

JUNHEE
A persimmon! Where is it? I’m hungry.

MINHEE
It’s at home.

JUNHEE
At home?

MINHEE
A beautiful red-orange. Still firm. Shiny skin.
Junhee, we belong at home. I think if we beg, this will all fade away.

JUNHEE
Never. Come on, let’s go.

MINHEE
But where are we going?

JUNHEE
I don’t know. But let’s hurry. We’ll figure something out somewhere.

MINHEE
Somewhere? Somewhere where?

JUNHEE
Somewhere else.

MINHEE
Somewhere else? There’s nowhere else.
 16
JUNHEE
I know, I know, let’s just hurry and get there.

MINHEE
I’m not going anywhere without Yongsup.

MINHEE stumbles and falls.

JUNHEE
Yongsup’s gone forever, Onni.

MINHEE
Yes, I think he’s found someone new and has a beautiful healthy child, / and another on the way.

JUNHEE
// Have you looked at the lamps installed last summer? They still don’t have light bulbs…like
missing teeth.

MINHEE
It must be the imperialist American bastards. They blocked the shipment, or stole it.

JUNHEE
It took you forever to wear trousers. It was over a year after they became legal, wasn’t it, that
you finally wore yours in public?

MINHEE
I still haven’t gotten used to them.

JUNHEE
You love your trousers.

MINHEE
There was a reason that women weren’t allowed to wear them.

JUNHEE
And what was that?

MINHEE
I can’t remember. But there must have been some reason. Maybe Our Dear Leader was
concerned about immoral, Western influence.

JUNHEE
He doesn’t know we exist. / He only knows if we break a rule.

MINHEE
// Junhee!

JUNHEE
He wouldn’t know if we died.
 17

MINHEE
Hush!

MINHEE glances furtively around.

JUNHEE
The trees don’t have ears, Onni.

JUNHEE glances furtively around.

MINHEE
How are you so sure?

A moment of nervous silence.

JUNHEE
I’m sorry. I have no idea what I am trying to say.
I feel I can’t even be sure my thoughts are my own.*
Come. This way, Onni.

They approach a fence.

MINHEE
No, Junhee, we can’t—no, we’ll be second-class in the south.

JUNHEE
Here we’re fifth class! Below the government. Below the army. Below the city people. Below
the men.

MINHEE
But what if the ruthless Americans catch us?! They set traps in their Yankee colony.

JUNHEE
// Then we won’t go south. We’ll go west.

MINHEE
To the Chinese?! You know what happens to women there.
I’m not going anywhere without saying goodbye to my son.

JUNHEE
We don’t have time, Onni. His grave is too far away.

MINHEE
I’ll run back quickly, please? You can wait here for me.

*
This sentence was a diary entry written by Jaycee Lee Dugard while in captivity. Dugard was kidnapped at age 11
by Philip and Nancy Garrido and held captive in their home in Antioch, California—roughly two hours from
Dugard’s home—for 18 years.
 18

JUNHEE
It’s too dangerous now. I’m sorry.

MINHEE
I don’t want to leave Jin. And Mother and Father. And Yongsup will be so furious I left.

JUNHEE
They’re gone.

MINHEE
I miss them.

JUNHEE
Me too. And… I miss food. We can miss them from anywhere.
I want to miss them on a beach after a large meal.

MINHEE
Junhee, Junhee, listen: we know we’ll beg and steal and be hunted by Chinese dogs. But what
about what we don’t know? What we can’t even imagine? Junhee— (shrieks)

A MAN has appeared at the fence. This is the SMUGGLER.

MINHEE
Run, Junhee, run!

The SMUGGLER puts a knife to MINHEE’s throat and a finger to his

mouth. He scans the area.

SMUGGLER
You’re late.

JUNHEE
I’m sorry.

MINHEE
Junhee?
 19
4

The SMUGGLER releases MINHEE, then winds his watch.

SMUGGLER
Timing is critical.

JUNHEE
When do we leave?

SMUGGLER
Trains run on fuel.

JUNHEE
I have the money.

MINHEE
Junhee, don’t you dare.

JUNHEE
How long can we rest?

SMUGGLER
No one rests at the border. The Crossing doesn’t allow it. If you’re not ready…

JUNHEE
We’re ready.

The SMUGGLER puts out a hand.

SMUGGLER
The clock is ticking.

JUNHEE
Can we leave right away?

SMUGGLER
Up to you, Boss.

The SMUGGLER walks away.

JUNHEE runs after him, gives him the wallet.

JUNHEE
Okay, here. Here.

MINHEE
Junhee!
 20
JUNHEE
I’m going, Onni. Do you want to miss me too?

SMUGGLER
Okay, first: a warning: the Crossing is angry and hungry. Always.
And He’ll take much more than you expect to pay.

JUNHEE
I’ve paid what I was told.

SMUGGLER
This little snack? Trust me: you’ll pay more.

JUNHEE
We don’t have any more money.

MINHEE
My husband is a high-ranking Party Official—

SMUGGLER
Oh yeah? Let’s ask him. (to JUNHEE:) It’s not money He wants.

JUNHEE
Then what?

SMUGGLER
A sacrifice.

JUNHEE
A sacrifice?

SMUGGLER
Yes. The Crossing has a large appetite.

JUNHEE
He wants food? We have no more food.

MINHEE
Junhee, he’s insulting us.

SMUGGLER
But you have your hearing. He might take that. Or maybe your good foot. I’ve seen Him
dissolve souls like salt in water. And once… He swallowed a little boy.

MINHEE
Junhee, we aren’t dirty traitors. We don’t have to run.

SMUGGLER
Would you prefer to walk? Cross the Gobi Desert on foot?
 21

JUNHEE
Tell us the best way: the fastest, the safest… the way you would send your mother.

SMUGGLER
The best way? The 2000-mile trip to a prison in Thailand. It costs more, / but

MINHEE
// You don’t fool me for a second. Junhee, home. Come on. (coughs violently)

SMUGGLER
She’s sick!

MINHEE
I can’t stomach filth and immorality.

JUNHEE
She’s much stronger than she looks.

SMUGGLER
Better leave her behind, here in the past.

MINHEE
In the past?

SMUGGLER
Here, Time has virtually stopped. Out there, Life accelerates daily. And they don’t like the sick
and the slow.

JUNHEE
But in the South…?

SMUGGLER
Seoul is faster than most of the world now. Neck and neck with London, Hong Kong, New York
City. Across that border, years gallop by…while here, it’s barely been a day.

MINHEE
He thinks we’re gullible children—don’t you?

JUNHEE
Onni, rest—

MINHEE
Give up on telling me what to do, Junhee.
This is not me. I’m not a common criminal, a beggar.
Don’t make me turn you in.
 22
JUNHEE
!Turn me in?! After what happened to Jin?

MINHEE
Don’t you dare / say his name.

JUNHEE
// And here I’m trying to save you.

SMUGGLER
Look, we’ve / got to be quiet or—

MINHEE
// Save me? Ridiculous. Who’s saving who? You’re the most selfish girl alive.

SMUGGLER
Stop it, / both of you.

A rapidfire exchange in a tight, furious, loud whisper:

JUNHEE
// I know that’s what you think. / You’ll never forgive me for ruining those shoes. I was ten
years old!

MINHEE
// You’re scatter-brained, impatient / and dumb. You only care about how you feel.

JUNHEE
// You’re the most manipulative / person in the world.

MINHEE
// Manipulative?! How dare you.

JUNHEE
You can’t stand to hear the truth. Did you know our cousins / hated your nagging voice?

The SMUGGLER motions for silence.

MINHEE
// The truth? Here’s the truth: he took our money and will get more for turning us in. / You’re
so dumb.

JUNHEE
// Perfect! Saves you the hassle—

In the distance: a military whistle.

SMUGGLER
It’s time.
 23
5

The Crossing is the fight of your life in which Time and Space are ground
into pebbles so tiny they can slip through the cracks of an enormous fist.
 24
6

Daylight. The Chinese side of the border with North Korea.

JUNHEE is on the ground, nearly broken. She squints and shades her
eyes. For her, the daylight is painfully strong.

The SMUGGLER dusts himself off.

JUNHEE
Onni? Onni!

SMUGGLER
This is as far as I go.

JUNHEE
Where’s my sister? Where is Minhee?

SMUGGLER
If you keep moving, the Chinese won’t bother you.

JUNHEE screams at the world:

JUNHEE
!Onni!

The SMUGGLER puts a knife to JUNHEE’s neck to silence her.

JUNHEE
Where’s my sister?

SMUGGLER
There’s always a sacrifice.

JUNHEE
No no no no no no… no! How? How?

SMUGGLER
Just before we crossed the border: she tripped and fell.

JUNHEE
Why didn’t you help her?

SMUGGLER
She fell down a well.

JUNHEE
No! She can’t swim!
 25
SMUGGLER
The well is dry. I may’ve heard her calling from the bottom…

JUNHEE
You heard her?

SMUGGLER
…though it may have been a ghost.

JUNHEE
She’s not dead. Not yet.

SMUGGLER
(shrugs) Good luck to you.

JUNHEE
You have to go get her. I’ll pay you again. Whatever you want.

SMUGGLER
You have nothing.

JUNHEE
I’ll pay you double. Triple! I’ll pay you forever. But right now: please help my sister across.

SMUGGLER
No one lasts longer than a day at the border. You got off easy. Others have paid much more.

JUNHEE
Take me back. I’ll help her. Please: she’s all I have left.

SMUGGLER
Too risky. The Crossing won’t allow it.

JUNHEE
I’m going back. Right now.

SMUGGLER
You can’t just go back. This border? Nobody simply walks in.
Getting out is one thing. But going back? Impossible. You’d be killed immediately.
The only people who can walk into North Korea and survive are Americans.

JUNHEE
Americans?

SMUGGLER
And they’re crazy.

JUNHEE
If I were American I could do it?
 26
7

Light. Bright bright bright.

An immigration office in the United States of America. A collage of filing

cabinets, pamphlets, laminated signs, stacks and stacks of documents.

LIZ is a longtime civil servant at a service window labeled “P-1.” She

checks boxes on forms, types, tabs and scrolls for the right input screen,
staples, prints, and tries to write with a series of dried-out pens.

JUNHEE stands at LIZ’s service window.

(Note: Throughout the play, LIZ speaks extremely fast. Triple-time.

Translation included in italics below.)

LIZ
So,
vagaforaga tee prippippripp. Diffara tominik ayze seddy idgin saylasay gimmery dada reetoon.
Weevbanty faydy nimicky ray doray pikka dizheen. Sardan borry mellish inta theer ashy lim
namanamay? Anu kwazzy farith edger jimjim enjy pree. Kalin dimma ray torick wunna rax.
Ovada niff rashen shutty doo illjuss imin, uh kay?
(So, I’ve got your forms right here. Your preparer has signedoff, and we are setting up your asylum interview.
We’ve gotyour I-589 filed with the Immigration Court. It says here you’re unable or unwilling to return to your
country of nationality? Ah, you qualify as a refugee per Section 101(a)(42) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
This’ll just take a minute, okay?)

JUNHEE shows no sign of comprehension.

 27
8

MINHEE is at the bottom of a Well.

MINHEE
Junhee?

MINHEE groans and hits the floor. Suddenly, the WELL rumbles and
shrieks:

WELL
Worthless trash! Rotten to the core. Your base character and criminal acts / have disgraced your
noble country. Be grateful your parents died before enduring this shame.

MINHEE
// I was wrong, I was wrong, I was wrong. Forgive me, I was wrong.

WELL
You failed your son. You drove your husband away. And now you’ve let your younger sister
throw herself to the wolves. / Even the worms recoil from your immoral stench. For one so
faithless and incompetent, a quiet end is too kind. You must face the truth of your decisions...
and submit to endless trials and eternal humiliation.

MINHEE
// Junhee! I’m sorry. Please forgive me.

A FROG hops toward her and croaks.

FROG
You’ve made Him so angry.

MINHEE
I’m so sorry.

FROG
Have you seen my wife? She was just here. But now the door’s gone… scared off! It was a
good one, too. I’ll have to find a different way.

The FROG hops away. MINHEE runs her hands along the Well, finds a
small door and opens it. Light spills into the Well accompanied by a faint,
rhythmic hum.

MINHEE
Come back! I found the door! It’s open now.

MINHEE steps through the door and slips out of the Well.
 28
9

Guided by humming light, MINHEE wends through a dark passage. The

rhythmic hum grows louder and louder and becomes increasingly legible
as music.

Darkness gives way to light: MINHEE enters a space that exhales joyful,
organized sound. The space has a ghostly glow emanating from millions
and millions of tiny white grains.

MINHEE has entered a Rice Orchestra.

The orchestra swells with the unmistakable sounds of rice. As the music
builds, a RICE MUSICIAN, both performer and conductor in one, points
at a METAL POT.

It is a superlative, mystifying, gorgeous pot—so much so that you just

might believe that it can fly, sing, and offer advice… in addition to
fulfilling its primary role of cooking rice.

RICE MUSICIAN
Now! It’s time! Now, now, now!

The METAL POT is stubbornly inanimate. The RICE MUSICIAN slumps

with missed musical climax. The Rice Orchestra falls politely silent for a
moment, then disperse into loose pockets of practice and rice-tuning.

The RICE MUSICIAN attends to the METAL POT, gently encouraging in

a discreet undertone.

The METAL POT emits a loud, steamy salute. MINHEE jumps and steps
on a small bag of rice.

MINHEE
Forgive me! Sorry! I’m so sorry!

The RICE MUSICIAN shakes the rice bag: a sweet rice melody plays.

RICE MUSICIAN
Agh: no good. (tosses it away) Rice chips easily… warps the tonal quality…

MINHEE
I’m so clumsy, I… forgive me, I got dizzy… I’ve never heard anything like this—

RICE MUSICIAN
Completely enchanting, isn’t it?
 29
MINHEE
So beautiful.

RICE MUSICIAN
Nothing quite like the sound of rice.

MINHEE
It’s as if my ears have swallowed light.
Does the music make it taste better?

RICE MUSICIAN
Oh no, no, this isn’t for eating.

MINHEE
It doesn’t get eaten?

RICE MUSICIAN
Tell me: do you feel hungry?

MINHEE takes a moment to check in with herself. Then, with a strange,

sorry contentment:

MINHEE
No. I feel that eating is the last thing I want to do.

The RICE MUSICIAN nods with the same sorry contentment.

RICE MUSICIAN
Relief and disappointment and craving all mixed up, right?

MINHEE
So I’m

RICE MUSICIAN
That’s right. You’ll never have to eat again.

MINHEE touches her face and arms and stomach.

MINHEE
My body… it doesn’t feel real at all.

RICE MUSICIAN
A memory, nothing more. And memory is tricky. For instance, my mother… she doesn’t
remember what music is. After all her efforts to get me into the top conservatory!

MINHEE
In Pyongyang?
 30
RICE MUSICIAN
Yes, of course, where else?

MINHEE
My husband went to Pyongyang once. We were supposed to move there, but then…

RICE MUSICIAN
Extraordinary city, isn’t it? The paved streets and the lights and Department Store No. 1 and the
gorgeous conservatory. Mother came to every recital… but now… now she thinks music is a
kind of soap to wash your hair. Can you believe it? So I promised her a concert today—

MINHEE
Your mother? Today?

RICE MUSICIAN
I’m almost ready, just one or two hiccups…

MINHEE
My son. I want to see my son.

RICE MUSICIAN
That should be easy enough. Where would he be?

MINHEE
He… he should be at school.

RICE MUSICIAN
Hm. Okay. How old?

MINHEE
Ten.

RICE MUSICIAN
Oh. Quite young.

MINHEE
Yes. Tell me: how did you find your mother?

RICE MUSICIAN
It just… happened.

MINHEE
Just like that?

RICE MUSICIAN
Yes, like picking up a new instrument.

MINHEE
Oh. But see, I’ve never played an instrument.
 31

RICE MUSICIAN
Or like making a rice cake, you know what I mean. I’m sure there’s someone who / can

MINHEE
// Who can give me a permit, perhaps?

RICE MUSICIAN
A permit? Oh, yes, probably.

MINHEE
Where would that office be?

RICE MUSICIAN
I… I’m sorry: I have absolutely no idea. If he had been in Pyongyang, / then maybe

MINHEE
// No, you see: Jin never saw Pyongyang. He never had music lessons. And I didn’t make rice
cakes for him. We rarely had rice.

RICE MUSICIAN
Oh. I see.

The RICE MUSICIAN polishes the METAL POT with the soft cloth.

MINHEE
I don’t think he’s anywhere near here.

RICE MUSICIAN
That would be my guess.

MINHEE
I should start looking.

RICE MUSICIAN
Please don’t let me keep you.

MINHEE picks up the discarded bag of rice.

MINHEE
Um. Is this being thrown away?

RICE MUSICIAN
Yes, chipped, broken, and irregular. Unjust intonation makes me cringe.

MINHEE
My son loves music…
 32
RICE MUSICIAN
Oh! Please. Take it. As you can see, I’ve got plenty. Give it to your son if you find him. No, I
mean when. When you find him.

MINHEE
Thank you.

MINHEE exits.
 33
10

A grocery store in New York City.

On a small table with a tablecloth, there’s a portable grill, signs on tiny

easels, and small pieces of just-cooked sausage in tiny paper cups,
arrayed in neat rows on three large trays. A woman named LIZ puts
toothpicks into the sausage pieces.

JUNHEE approaches. She holds a grocery basket carrying a potato and a

small carton of milk.

LIZ
Kaitis you chai stinabul sossyfrahma lokogany far? Chicky-pull. Sweedalia. Ny pusinafay:
pysuh tybaze. Chickasaw, freefrent riateeze. Servimah pata saws. Nazoop. Azza brekamee.
Ersim Joyalo anaba!
(Can I interest you in trying a sustainable sausage from a local, organic farm? Chicken apple. Sweet Italian. And
my personal fave: Spicy Thai Basil. Chicken sausage, three different varieties. Serve ‘em with pasta sauce. In a
soup. As a breakfast meat. Or simply enjoy alone on a bun!)

LIZ points at a sign with a plastic-gloved finger. JUNHEE looks at the

sign carefully.

LIZ
Nahjefed. Orgacka fee nage. Wee thirpy serf by globama pannashit. Weemay venny airy sytee
pogess. Amaka dishush deelitta chickasidzge. Smegoo, dey? Trywa!
(Natural fed. Organic and free-range. We are third-party certified by a Global Animal Partnership. We’re making
very exciting progress. All makes for these delicious little chicken sausages! Smell good, don’t they? Try one!)

LIZ gestures to the samples. JUNHEE pulls out her wallet.

JUNHEE
How much?

LIZ
Tabuffo aka vate. Byka goo coopa fafittysafa. Eary go.
(Ten bucks for a package of eight. But I can give you a coupon for 50 cents off. Here you go.)

LIZ hands JUNHEE a coupon, and she studies it.

LIZ
Witch kydawa? Typee. Trymalan zee itch woo wha! Ahep razzy chixy missell.
(Which kind do you want? Try a piece. Try them all and see which one you want! I helped raise these chickens
myself.)

LIZ holds a Sweet Italian sausage out to JUNHEE.

 34
JUNHEE is hungry. She puts ten dollars on the table, then takes the
sausage from LIZ. LIZ eats a piece of Spicy Thai Basil. JUNHEE eats
her piece of sausage.

LIZ
Oopa ksheer, naneer. Itch kye doowa? Pie seta? Try thers!
(You pay at the cashier, not here. Which kind do you want? The Spicy Thai? Try the others!)

JUNHEE walks away, shaking her head.

JUNHEE
Thank you.

LIZ
Yoofago yunny. Itcha didawah? Zitha tit? Way, anatay tiff!
(You forgot your money. Which one did you want? Is this a tip? Wait, I don’t take tips!)

LIZ follows her with a package of sausage and the money.

 35
11

Over the course of this scene (and Scene 13), MINHEE moves through a
series of worlds and contexts—akin to a transforming mosaic, or a card
∗
stunt :

MINHEE is in a Field containing rows and rows of a red flowering plant:

the tuberous begonia known as the Kimjongilia. A FARM HAND selects
the most excellent blooms from a basket of harvested Kimjongilia and lays
the red flowers in a crate. MINHEE assists him.

FARM HAND
…so you deliver by the bushel to the Kiosk and they give you a blue ticket—

MINHEE
What do I trade the blue tickets in for?

FARM HAND
No, the blues are good service points. So depending on several undisclosed factors, He may
recognize your good service with various privileges or passes.

MINHEE
Or a permit to visit my son’s school?

FARM HAND
Yes, though you might have to get some tokens for that. One woman harvested fifteen thousand
Kimjongilia flowers and collected over fifty blue tickets just to get approval to watch some
movie called Star Wars. But she said it was worth it.

MINHEE
Does He factor in family connections? I was married to a Party Official.

FARM HAND
Oh yes, at a minimum He will give you extra good service points—

They are interrupted by a booming DISEMBODIED VOICE:

DISEMBODIED VOICE
Gentle Citizens: from this point forward, all Kimjongilia flowers must remain on their plants.

FARM HAND
Oh no, oh no, what do we do? Can we glue them back on?

∗
This stage imagery is inspired by the Arirang Mass Games in North Korea. The Mass Games are a regimented,
collective performance art—described as “a synchronized socialist-realist spectacular”—which includes a lengthy,
complex card stunt. This card stunt is an enormous, transforming mosaic created by thousands of individuals who flip
colored cards in precisely timed coordination with each other. Check it out: http://youtu.be/jxvEliWMeyI and
http://youtu.be/A4feUy9PP7I
 36

MINHEE
I could try sewing them.

DISEMBODIED VOICE
Turn blue tickets in for a maximum of ten yellow ones. To stamp out corruption, He has wiped
all service records clean.

The FARM HAND throws his hands in the air.

FARM HAND
Only five more tickets and I was to play tennis!

DISEMBODIED VOICE
If you are found with Kimjongilia flowers in your possession, you will be sent to Building 2.

A ripple of change moves through the Field of Kimjongilia, turning it into

a Junction of empty streets. There are no cars anywhere.

The FARM HAND grabs the crate and basket of flowers and runs off,
leaving behind a small pile of loose flowers.

FARM HAND
Hide them! Burn them!

MINHEE gathers the remaining flowers, throws them into her satchel.
She attempts to exit, but is blocked by a BEAR who walks in, playing an
accordion.

BEAR WITH ACCORDION

Where is your whistle?

MINHEE
Whistle? I don’t have a whistle.

BEAR WITH ACCORDION

But then how will you direct traffic?

The BEAR hands MINHEE a whistle.

MINHEE
But there aren’t any cars.

BEAR WITH ACCORDION

That doesn’t matter.

MINHEE blows the whistle and directs non-existent traffic.

 37
The BEAR removes his head, revealing a MAN IN A BEAR SUIT who is
panicked.

MAN IN A BEAR SUIT

Please. I was helping a friend, but he got caught. If you don’t help me—

The MAN IN A BEAR SUIT pulls several DVDs out of his suit. He hands
them to MINHEE.

MAN IN A BEAR SUIT

Can you hide these for me?

MINHEE
South Korean DVDs!

MAN IN A BEAR SUIT

Take them! Quickly, please! They’re going to take me away.

MINHEE takes the DVDs.

MINHEE
Okay, give them to me. You shouldn’t have these. But I’ll take care of them.

MAN IN A BEAR SUIT

If anyone asks, give a list of names.

MINHEE
Names?

MAN IN A BEAR SUIT

Give names or you’ll be reported to the Central Committee.

MINHEE
The Central Committee? Already?

The MAN IN A BEAR SUIT suddenly claps his bear head back on and
exits. MINHEE throws the DVDs into her satchel. She continues to direct
non-existent traffic.

The Junction transforms into a dark Forest of grey trees.

A DELIVERY PERSON enters and gives MINHEE a paintbrush.

MINHEE
But what do I paint?

DELIVERY PERSON
The trees. Or no, just the leaves.
 38
MINHEE
Do I paint them green?

DELIVERY PERSON
Yes, the Central Committee has invited a Delegation from Sudan to attend His birthday
celebration.

MINHEE
Oh, of course: consider it done. But I have a family obligation. I will come back and make this
the most beautiful forest in the world for Him on His birthday. But right now, I have to find my
son.

DELIVERY PERSON
Don’t look at me.

MINHEE
But wait, who has the paint? When will it be delivered? Have they ordered enough?

DELIVERY PERSON
I’ve learned to stop asking questions. You’re lucky you’re just dealing with paint. My next
delivery involves nuclear energy, which always makes me nervous.

The DELIVERY PERSON exits.

MINHEE
But when does the Sudanese Delegation arrive? Can you leave another paintbrush? Will
somebody be painting the trunks brown?
 39
12

A hospital room in NYC.

Wearing hospital scrubs and a HEPA filter mask, JUNHEE pushes a

covered tray on a rolling platform toward a bed.

Tubes, cords, and wires hook a woman named LIZ up to a fleet of beeping,
blinking machines and an IV drip. At the touch of a button, she can call
for more pain reliever or call a nurse or raise the bed to a sitting position.

She is surrounded by get-well cards, a jar of vitamins, child drawings, a

bouquet of flowers, a hairbrush, old magazines, and the white noise of
CNN.

JUNHEE organizes LIZ’s pillows and props her up.

LIZ has a terrible cough.

LIZ
Nurse, morriba pay. Westa doctor cumby? Thinkanee chaina catha. Havinaseeny view law tie.
Canavanoo magazee? I axfa nexta pill yesty busty hagotton. Izzummy beepee thashoona
beepee? Sowla summyshoona beepee, canoochet? Iztha lunch? Thakgomma starvy.
(Nurse, I’m in horrible pain. When’s the doctor coming? I think you need to change the catheter. I haven’t seen
any of you in a long time. Can I have a new magazine? I asked for an extra pillow yesterday, but I still haven’t
gotten one. Is something beeping that shouldn’t be beeping? Sounds like something shouldn’t be beeping, can you
check? Is that my lunch? Thank god, I’m starving.)

JUNHEE pushes the covered tray to LIZ.

JUNHEE
Lunch.

JUNHEE removes the tray cover.

LIZ
Whadizzat?
(What is that?)

JUNHEE
Meatloaf.

LIZ
Amapashayto, ry?
(And mashed potatos, right?)

LIZ forks food into her mouth, chews and chews, then spits it out.
 40
LIZ
Izrennasall? Hoduzzy endazo tay sliss? Dall acetazay.
(Is there any salt? How does it end up so tasteless? It all tastes the same.)

JUNHEE hands a clipboard with attached pen to LIZ.

JUNHEE
Sign here please.

LIZ has a pain spasm and groans.

LIZ
I neemor pay aleev, Nurse. Please! Giminor parralee.
(I need more pain relief, Nurse. Please! Give me more pain relief.)

LIZ’s hand searches among the bedclothes for the “pain pump.”

LIZ
Razzit?! Wrizzith?! Warizzin, Nurse? Eymmy zopapay! Ah!
(Where is it? Where is it? Where is it, Nurse? I’m in so much pain! Ah!)

JUNHEE finds the pain pump and gives it to LIZ. LIZ presses the button
several times.

LIZ
See? Zot nooey aditha.
(See? It’s not doing anything.)

JUNHEE
Sign here please.

LIZ
Tsa doony edding. Duzza work. (suddenly cajoling) You senny keggemmy orfee, dinny do?
(It’s not doing anything. It doesn’t work. (suddenly cajoling) You said you could get me morphine, didn’t you?)

JUNHEE pours a glass of water and gives it to LIZ.

JUNHEE
Water?

LIZ
No. Morfee!
(No. Morphine!)

LIZ takes a bite of mashed potato.

 41
LIZ
Hospital fooz gusty, zatch eye maka wayfrev—ah!! Ezdarry in its! Mym lactonatolera! Yooshy
no dis zissam char. Mym go to sue! You shodatna givvydih.
(Hospital food is so disgusting, That’s why they make you wait forever—agh!! There’s dairy in this! I’m lactose
intolerant! You should know this—it’s on my chart. I’m going to sue! You shouldn’t have given me this.)

LIZ pushes the tray away. JUNHEE takes the tray.

JUNHEE
Done?

LIZ
Hey, mistilleety!
(Hey, I’m still eating!)

LIZ grabs the tray back, accidentally swiping the bedside table. Get-well
cards, the hairbrush, magazines, and the jar of vitamins fall to the floor.

JUNHEE bends to pick the items up.

LIZ
Thazeen cleany bin khlorean bleetch.
(That needs to be cleaned with chlorine bleach.)

The pain relief takes effect. JUNHEE stands up, stares at LIZ.

JUNHEE
Yes?

LIZ
Jeer me? Beetch? Korean beetch?
(Did you hear me? Bleach? Chlorine bleach?)

JUNHEE
Yes, I’m Korean.

LIZ
What?! Whirryoo? Mym totty namair brut. Hospital florzo dirty…nabatocky… Dispeenlish?
(What?! What are you…? I’m talking about my hair brush. Hospital floors are so dirty. I’m not talking about…
Do you speak English?)

LIZ eats jell-o, then picks up the clipboard.

LIZ
So whaddywa? Syenee? Whadammy sigh mee?
(So, what did you want? Sign here? What am I signing?)
 42
JUNHEE
Sign here please.

LIZ
Whizza hubbin? Whyzna call? I gemmina wirt…
(Where’s my husband? Why hasn’t he called? I guess he’s at work…)

JUNHEE inspects the bag of fluid connected to the pain pump. LIZ dozes.
 43
13

MINHEE paints the leaves green in the Forest.

A GUARD/PRISONER enters with a rope around his neck. The GUARD

becomes the PRISONER when he pulls the rope taut, as if the PRISONER
is being pulled by a leash.

PRISONER
It’s a bit tight.

GUARD
That’s what happens when you lag behind.

PRISONER
You’re strangling me.

GUARD
Anything to shut you up.

PRISONER
If I can’t breathe, I can’t walk. You’ll have to carry me.

The GUARD surveys the Forest.

GUARD
This isn’t right. I’ve lost the way.

PRISONER
Let’s take a break.

The PRISONER/GUARD stops, sighs, lights a cigarette.

GUARD
I need a new job.

PRISONER
Can I have one of those?

The GUARD gives the PRISONER a cigarette.

GUARD
Have mine.

PRISONER
Ah, thank you.

The GUARD sees MINHEE.

 44

GUARD
Could I ask you a favor?

MINHEE
Me? Um, of course.

GUARD
Could you take this for a moment? (hands her the end of the rope)
I’ve got to take a look around.

MINHEE takes the rope.

GUARD
Be careful: he’s dangerous.

PRISONER
I am not.

GUARD
He was caught at the border.

PRISONER
I needed medicine and food… but I was coming back!

GUARD
I’ll bring you some water if you don’t give her any trouble.

PRISONER
Oh, yes please, that’s exactly what I need.

MINHEE and the PRISONER watch as the GUARD exits.

The PRISONER begs MINHEE.

PRISONER
Please, please. Help me. It was such a small mistake.

MINHEE
I’m sure it was, but it’s not up to me. It’s up to Him.

PRISONER
I can’t be taken away. Have you heard what happens to people who’ve been taken away?

MINHEE removes the rope from the PRISONER’s neck.

MINHEE
Okay, okay: run. I’ll figure something out. Run!
 45
PRISONER
I’ll never forget you!

The PRISONER scampers away. MINHEE tucks the rope and DVDs into
her satchel.

A NEIGHBOR approaches.

NEIGHBOR
Can I help you?

MINHEE
How kind of you. But please don’t trouble yourself.

NEIGHBOR
Forgive me, I couldn’t help but overhear: you’re looking for your son, is that right?

A Tree listens to their conversation. (It is as if it has grown a set of ears.)

MINHEE
Forgive me, I’ve been too loud. I didn’t realize… I thought I was…

NEIGHBOR
Alone? No, don’t worry, none of us are ever alone.

An additional Tree listens in.

MINHEE
Oh yes…. Yes, of course. Nonetheless, please forgive me for trespassing on the collective
peace and quiet. I’m terribly embarrassed to have made a fuss.

NEIGHBOR
No fuss at all. Please forgive me for taking liberties and intruding. I like to be helpful and offer
a willing ear—especially to diligent, obedient citizens like yourself. Please, let me help you.

MINHEE
You’re very kind, but please: don’t trouble yourself. You must be very busy. Please don’t let
me interrupt you. Forgive the trespass on your time.

NEIGHBOR
I haven’t made you feel comfortable—

Here and there, more Trees tune into the conversation.

MINHEE
No, please: it’s my fault. Forgive me. Your exceptional kindness has overwhelmed me.
 46
NEIGHBOR
I’m sorry if you’ve felt pressure, nobody likes to feel pressure, and if now you’re feeling
uncomfortable—I sense your discomfort—I want to reach out before a wall builds between us—

The Forest is an audience, listening to MINHEE and the NEIGHBOR.

MINHEE
Please don’t worry. Of course, your solicitous attention is genuine and without design. Only the
false hearts among us would question such persistent altruism.

MINHEE takes a step toward the NEIGHBOR.

MINHEE
I would never confuse such unrelenting kindness and overwhelming scrutiny with interference or
obstruction or anything unpleasant or suspect.

The NEIGHBOR takes a step back.

NEIGHBOR
My sensitive heart wrings with the fear that I may have left you with the impression that I
believe you false-hearted.

MINHEE
Your concern is understandable, though unnecessary, as we are all shielded from sham overtures
and shallow sentiment by our avowed commitment to the collective good.

MINHEE pulls out a small notepad and a pencil; she jots a note. The
NEIGHBOR recoils.

NEIGHBOR
Forgive me for being unable to linger and talk more.

The NEIGHBOR fumbles in pockets but can only find a pencil.

NEIGHBOR
Please know that my heart is open to you at your convenience. When possible, I will fly
immediately to your aid.

MINHEE
Your generous spirit is notable and beyond compare. Thank you. Please forgive me for being
unable to accept your benevolent courtesy at this time.

The Forest clears away to display a sublime vista below a windswept cliff.
MINHEE pulls a SOLDIER onto the cliff at an attractive angle.

As they converse, MINHEE arranges the SOLDIER’s stance and gun until
his posture indicates that he is prepared to defend the Motherland from
imperialist aggressors, particularly those originating from America or
Japan.
 47

SOLDIER
My feet are so cold.

MINHEE
Wear socks.

SOLDIER
I lost my socks. And I’ve been waiting and waiting for my next sock ration.

MINHEE
Some say fewer clothes thwart imperialism.

SOLDIER
A second pair of socks is very handy.

MINHEE
I only have one shirt, one pillow, one comb. And a single pair of shoes. And if then I hear the
news that cold temperatures are healthier than warm, I drop coats and sweaters forever.

SOLDIER
Socks don’t cost much.

MINHEE
It’s not the cost. It’s the missed opportunity for sacrifice for the collective good. Each material
item becomes a bid for our integrity. I never give in to such things.

SOLDIER
I don’t see how my cold feet helps the collective good. I’ll catch pneumonia!

MINHEE
…

MINHEE gives the soldier a pair of socks, then puts a finger to her lips.

MINHEE
It’s easy to think these little things mean nothing. But they are how the war will be won.

Taking position next to the SOLDIER, she holds a basket of wheat with
grace in one arm and a book in the other, then straightens her back in
such a way that expresses that she is ready to protect her gentle nation
from outside interference forever.
 48
14

JUNHEE waits at the door of the office of a mid-level hospital

administrator named LIZ.

Turned away from the door, LIZ shreds a document and speaks on the
phone.

LIZ
(to phone)
Unbelieveable insane shitty fucking waste sue out of luck. Nightmare clean idiot fifty-year old
diapers not my job everybody forget sucks!
(This is unbelievable, insane. You’ve got to be shitting me. A fucking waste of resources. If she sues, we’re out of
luck. And somehow it’s my nightmare to clean an idiot 50-year-old’s diapers, even though it’s not my job, which
everybody seems to forget, which sucks.)

LIZ shreds another document, then notices JUNHEE at her door.

LIZ
(to phone)
Call back five.
(I’ll call you back in five.)

LIZ hangs up the phone.

LIZ
Joony, right? Sit, sit.
(Junhee, right? Sit, sit.)

JUNHEE sits.

LIZ
Didn’t expect come so quickly. Off water, cough, tea?
(Didn’t expect you’d come by so quickly. Can I offer you water, coffee, tea?)

JUNHEE
No, thank you.

LIZ
Questions curious wonder ask. Okay?
(Just have a few questions that I’m curious about and wonder if I can ask you. Okay?)

JUNHEE
Okay.
 49
LIZ
Anything tell uncomfortable trouble always door open anytime help need of course questions
confidential trust ear understand need uncomfortable tell comfortable fine uncomfortable any
point.
(You know, anything you want to say, or if you’re uncomfortable, uneasy, troubled, my door is always open to you at
anytime, and if you need help, and of course your questions will remain confidential, and you can trust that you’ll
find a willing ear. Now I need to address something that may make you uncomfortable. Please tell me. I want you
to be comfortable. So it’s fine to let me know if you’re uncomfortable at any point.)

JUNHEE
Okay.

LIZ
Receive information concern action not disclose. Careful sensitive concern. None public.
Complain male staff. Complain difficult true untrue fair preliminary face.
(We’ve received information about concerns over some actions that I can’t disclose. I’m being careful to be
sensitive for all concerned. None of this is public. There’s been a complaint about a male among the staff. And this
complaint, well, it’s difficult to know whether it’s true or untrue so we have to be fair especially during this
preliminary phase.)

JUNHEE
…

LIZ
So: notice difficult workplace person words boundaries inappropriate offend thing
uncomfortable?
(So: have you noticed any difficulty in the workplace, any person whose words or sense of boundaries are
inappropriate and have offended you—really anything at all that has made you uncomfortable?)

JUNHEE
I don’t know.

LIZ
Okay.
Member situation questionable bother superior unwelcome advance, power pressure decision
unclear?
(Okay. Do you remember any situation that seemed questionable or that bothered you, or has a superior made any
unwelcome advances, or has someone with power pressured you on any decision for reasons that were unclear?)

JUNHEE
No. I don’t know. No.

LIZ
Joke touching feel close elevator strange break river request intention hostile physical stairs
alone?
(Any jokes or ambiguous touching or do you ever feel someone’s standing too close in the elevator, anything strange
on your break that you’ve observed, or a request that seems questionable or has unclear intentions, possibly even
hostile, or have you worried for your physical safety, like when taking the stairs alone?)
 50

JUNHEE
Not me… but I heard once that—

LIZ
Forgive difficult sensitive general specific: comments male superviser strange employee day
night?
(Forgive me, this is difficult and so sensitive and I’m sounding so general so let me be specific: have you heard any
comments from a male superviser that seemed strange among employees at any time, day or night?)

LIZ stares intently at JUNHEE.

JUNHEE
I haven’t had any problems…/ but

LIZ
// Relief hear, not believe flood stories movie silly horror false fire exaggerate personal guess
swallow ear credible. But you nothing all fine all good uncomfortable, right?
(That’s a relief to hear. I did not believe the flood of stories, like out of a movie, a silly horror movie, totally false
and yet starting a real fire, but are probably exaggerated—for some personal reason is my guess—but hard to
swallow, they’re so not credible. But you’ve seen nothing, you’re all fine, you’re all good, nothing uncomfortable,
right?)

JUNHEE
… Yes.

LIZ
ICU floor?
(Even on the ICU floor?)

JUNHEE
I don’t go to the ICU floor.

LIZ
Safe tell receive complain nurse. Talk warn rumor hear? Tell thing think know.
(It’s safe for you to tell me, I’ve received complaints from other nurses. Have you talked to anyone, been warned,
heard any rumors? Tell me anything you think you know.)

LIZ stares intently at JUNHEE.

JUNHEE
I don’t know.

LIZ
Problem sure nurse call issue sick quit cry rumor home drama cry help.
(There may be a problem, not sure, but a nurse has called about an issue, says it’s why she’s out sick all the time
and wants to quit and is often found crying, but some say it’s just rumors, a homespun drama, a cry for help.)
 51
JUNHEE
I don’t know.

LIZ
Transfer ICU.
(So you’re being transferred to ICU.)

JUNHEE
Me?

LIZ
Yes.

JUNHEE
Transfer to ICU?

LIZ
Yes, hospital re-structuring necessary shortage problems organization plan tighten belt.
(Yes, hospital restructuring is necessary; there’s a staff shortage and other problems; the entire organization has a
plan to tighten its belt.)

JUNHEE
I like working in Telemetry.

LIZ
Telemetry love you! But help most ICU change good better most everyone assistance better all
trust shortage end time. Necessary transfer ICU start paperwork best outcome.
(And Telemetry loves you! But the place that needs help most right now is ICU and change is good; this is better for
everyone and where you can be of most assistance, which is better all around, you can trust me on that; this
shortage will end in time. So, it’s necessary to transfer you to ICU; I’ll start the paperwork now; this is really the
best outcome.)

LIZ stares intently at JUNHEE.

LIZ
Possible make change appreciate possible offer higher pay.
(It’s possible that, for making this change, which is appreciated, it’s possible to offer you higher pay.)

JUNHEE looks at her North Korean watch. LIZ pulls out a plastic bag of
carrot sticks.

LIZ
Skip breakfast apologize starving go. Understand? Okay?
(I skipped breakfast, I apologize: I’m starving, I have to go now. So do you understand? Is everything okay?)

JUNHEE
…
Okay.
 52

LIZ
Great. Need more Joony. Never complain always help hard work easy on time focus calm just
work, just work. Like me.
(Great. I need more of you, Junhee. Never complain, always help, make hard work look easy; you’re on-time,
focused, stay calm, and just work, just work. Like me.)

LIZ
Wish could love could clone you.
(I wish I could… I mean I’d love it if I could clone you.)

JUNHEE
Clone?

LIZ
Do have sisters? Need twenty Joony.
(Do you have sisters? I need twenty Junhees.)

LIZ drinks a protein shake.

JUNHEE
Can I be fulltime?

LIZ
Mm. Mmmm time some day see time maybe how pay optimistic. Time. Hope.
(Mm. Mmmm in time, some day, we’ll see, with time maybe, you never know how, but it always pays to be
optimistic. Give it time. Let’s hope.)

JUNHEE
I like Telemetry: that’s where I did my training.

LIZ
I um well not how put, er sorry don’t check fulltime away, maybe. HR not my job.
(I, um, well, it’s not, how do I put it, er, okay sorry, I don’t, well I can check, you wouldn’t be fulltime right away,
but maybe. HR is not my job.)

JUNHEE
But I can train for ICU.

LIZ
Right exactly easy quick fit intense lake fast swim fish. Friend HR attention.
(Right, exactly. That should be easy and quick, I think you’ll fit in really well, it’s an intense lake with really fast
swimming fish. I’ll talk to my friend in HR, and see if she can give this some attention.)

JUNHEE
Nurses in ICU move up to Pay Level D, is that right?
 53
LIZ
Um well check—current level J? Possible not my department fuzzy let me back wrong
information HR piss bite head, can’t promise / any.
(Um, well, I can check—you’re currently at level J, right? It’s possible, but this isn’t my department so I’m fuzzy, so
let me get back to you. If I give you the wrong information, HR could get pissed and bite my head off, so I can’t
promise anything.)

JUNHEE
// Will I get benefits?

LIZ
…

LIZ opens another drawer, pulls out a bag of candy. She eats several
pieces. She offers JUNHEE a handful of candy.

JUNHEE
ICU is very stressful. People are very sick. You need strong nurses. Who can lift heavy
patients. Stay calm. And keep quiet. I can do that.

LIZ
Right… call proper of course; friend HR rules better call favor push probably something find
should work. Start tomorrow.
(Right… I’ll call and do this properly of course; my friend in HR knows the rules better than me, and will make the
call, but I’ll ask her as a favor to push this through and probably something will happen; I’ll find out this afternoon,
but it should work out; okay, then you start tomorrow.)

JUNHEE takes a piece of candy, unwraps it, and pops it in her mouth.
 54
15

MINHEE knocks on the window of a Kiosk. Inside, a CLERK plays cards

and drinks beer with a BEAR.

CLERK
No more transactions today.

MINHEE
Could you do one more? I have a really low number. Single digit. Which I’d like to turn in for
a permit to see my son.

MINHEE pulls out a card.

CLERK
Oh wow, you have a nine.

MINHEE
I know I could get into the negative numbers with time, / but all I really want is a permit and

CLERK
// No, no, no that was the old way. Low numbers are no good anymore.

MINHEE
No good?

CLERK
No. No, that just got changed. It’s high numbers now.

MINHEE
There must be some mistake.

CLERK
I’m afraid not. Right now, they’re giving out cards in the thousands…

MINHEE
By the new standard, I’d have a high number, you can see that. So then can I change this back?

CLERK
I’m afraid not. There’ve been some issues with how some service points got tabulated and
unfortunate confusion about adverbs, so they’ve wiped the slate clean. What were your
adjectives?

MINHEE
Obedient, precise, tidy, amenable… dexterous, sincere… efficient, magnanimous…

CLERK
“Magnanimous”! That’s rare.
 55

MINHEE
I also got “muscular” and I think “sure-footed” and “pleasant.” I’m forgetting a few, but if I
could exchange my magnanimous / for its equivalent point value

CLERK
// No, no. I’m sorry. That’s not going to work. Here. Here’s a map to a field of red Kimjongilia.

MINHEE
I’ve done that. I harvested enough Kimjongilia flowers to get more than a thousand blue tickets.
I still have fifty-two good service points / and then

CLERK
// There’s nothing more I can do.

MINHEE
My son is waiting and… actually he doesn’t know I’m here yet.

The CLERK finds a numbered card on the floor.

CLERK
Here, I’ll exchange your 9 for a 42. That will get you into a better field. I don’t have to do this,
you know…but I’ve never met a “magnanimous” before.

MINHEE
Can you go a little higher? I also have extra tokens and…

MINHEE empties her satchel. The bag of rice falls out, and plays its
melody. MINHEE offers tokens to the CLERK.

MINHEE
Here, see?

The CLERK stares at the rice bag.

CLERK
What is that?

MINHEE
This?

MINHEE shakes the rice bag: enchanting sound fills the air.

CLERK
Gorgeous. Are you authorized?

MINHEE
Authorized?
 56
CLERK
Ha, no permit, I could’ve guessed. He doesn’t give out borrowing rights for music.

MINHEE
It’s a gift for my son.

CLERK
Be careful… you wouldn’t want someone to report you.

MINHEE
Report me? Who would do that?

CLERK
Oh, I don’t know. Anyone. In fact, I myself could get in trouble for not submitting a report.
It’s probably too much trouble to have it in your possession. If you’d like, I could take it off
your hands.

The CLERK takes the bag of rice and plays it.

MINHEE
But if you had it in your possession, then wouldn’t I need to report you for having it without a
proper permit as well? As a dutiful citizen, I wouldn’t want to abdicate my duty.

CLERK
I see what you mean. So then…we’re back where we started: you’re at risk for improper
possession of His property and I’m at risk for not reporting you. Better if you store it with me,
and I bear all the jeopardy.

MINHEE
Oh, but you should have a new one… in fact, I can get you a special, limited edition that plays
itself.

CLERK
Oh yes?

MINHEE
But as you say, it’s risky.

CLERK
Well… it turns out that I’ve got access to a few high number cards. A person with one of these
cards could achieve goals or procure permits to… well, a school, for instance. But again, it
would be rather risky.

MINHEE
Oh, I’d be quite willing to take on that risk… if I knew I had a permit safely in my pocket.

The CLERK engages in a rapid, multi-step transaction with himself (e.g.,

turns the high number card in, makes a calculation, applies a sticker to
 57
the high number card, writes a receipt, puts the receipt into a drawer,
writes up a permit). He presents the permit to MINHEE.

MINHEE
Well-done!

CLERK
I’m something of an expert in these matters.

MINHEE gathers everything up. The CLERK reaches for the rice bag.

CLERK
Leave this one with me as well. If you don’t give it to me, I’ll report you.

MINHEE
That really doesn’t seem like such a good idea, does it? After all, you’ve signed this permit.

CLERK
Oh. True.

The BEAR stands up and looks over at the CLERK.

MINHEE
So if I get caught, it will be entirely clear that you knew.

CLERK
Oh.

MINHEE
You’re the expert.

MINHEE tucks the rice bag into her satchel and exits.
 58
16

A baby store in NYC catering to each of your baby’s ever-evolving

needs—real or imagined. Aids for a new parent’s every uncertainty, fear,
or aspiration are offered in multiple colors, sizes, and designs—for a
price. Everywhere you turn is an innovation in the expression of “cute.”

JUNHEE and a co-worker friend named LIZ hunt for gifts for a pregnant
co-worker.

LIZ
So a few things to remember about graveyard: Patty hates Bianca but Bianca is Gary’s favorite
so Patty will talk to Bianca through you even though you’ll have twenty patients on IV and
Bianca might be at the other end, so you’ll need to ask Grace to help cover but Grace sometimes
disappears cuz she’s sleeping with Bobby who’s married to Sabrina, so sometimes Grace just
disappears to check her voicemail or cry in the supply closet, so then you’ll have to call Ivan
who’s such a mensch and will save everything if he’s on duty that night, I love him, he’s a
mensch, but I think he just put in to transfer to Sinai, which sucks.

JUNHEE
Okay.

LIZ
I can’t believe Abby registered here. It’s so pricey.

JUNHEE
What’s a baby shower?

LIZ
A party when you’re pregnant. Abby should’ve invited you.
Which stroller does she want—the Dumpling or the Live-More?

JUNHEE checks the registry list.

JUNHEE
The Tanagram.

LIZ
Hm. Spoil the baby, spoil the man.

LIZ checks her phone, then rifles through a jungle of hooded bath wraps.

LIZ
You sure about this, Junhee? Your body will always be confused; it never really gets better. It’s
ruined marriages; you’ll have no life; your day off you’ll spend sleeping. It’s more pay, but then
you’re too tired to spend it. They don’t call it graveyard shift for nothing. Most people go the
other way, but you want every night? Are you sure? Are you crazy? Are you sure?
 59
JUNHEE
Yes.

LIZ
Okay, your choice, try it out, see how it goes.

LIZ holds a wrap with a tiger hood in one hand, mock-bites her other
hand.

LIZ
Why can’t these come in adult sizes?

LIZ checks her phone.

LIZ
When I did graveyard, I thought that was why I couldn’t meet anyone. But even with ePassion,
LoveBroker, plural.com, and IHeartYou, I still can’t find the light of my life, Prince Charming,
my soul mate, Mr. Right, my significant other, my numero uno, my first and last.

I think it’s better to have twins, don’t you? Get all the hard stuff over once. Plus, they’re
lifelong playmates and help each other with homework. Fraternal twins, that’s what I want.

I went on a date last night.

LIZ checks JUNHEE.

JUNHEE
Oh: how was it?

LIZ
Diasaster. Date from hell. Heinous snafu fiasco. A hot mess. He was late, spilled wine, called
me Gina twice, didn’t laugh at my jokes, hasn’t returned my voicemail or email or friend request
or text.

LIZ checks her phone.

JUNHEE
It was only yesterday.

LIZ
I’m really not choosy. All I want is someone nice. Who’s honest and funny, works out at least
four days a week. Someone who’s solvent, but doesn’t pinch pennies. Can make conversation.
Beautiful eyes or feet. Likes dogs not cats. Who’s handy or knows his way around a kitchen.
Reads books. Isn’t an only child. World traveler. Graduated from NYU-equivalent or better.
Who likes me.

JUNHEE
You’ll find someone.
 60
LIZ flips through a book.

LIZ
What is Abby thinking? Daphne McCoy wrote a much better book on breastfeeding. I should
let Abby know.

JUNHEE
Who’s Daphne McCoy?

LIZ
Talk show host, Penthouse centerfold, ran for senator, dated George Clooney, and wrote a book
on enhancing your breast milk.

JUNHEE
Oh. So… not a doctor.

LIZ reviews the registry list.

LIZ
There’s so much junk on her list. Abby’s such a scatterbrain. Can you believe she’s training to
be a phlebotomist? Someone find her baby a therapist now.

LIZ closes her eyes, takes a deep breath.

LIZ
(to self)
Stay positive, don’t be judge-y, step back and let go.

Seriously, who am I to talk? I’ve been feeling blocked, cluttered, constipated with stuff. So I
got a book on simple living, did a cleanse, stripped down my closet and discovered… all my
shoes are crap! I’m on my feet all day. In this city, you need good shoes. Sensible and stylish;
that feel good and last long; go with every outfit, work or play. But then what do I do with all
my crappy expensive shoes? So wasteful. So not me. Not anymore. You wonder how it all fit
in your closet, your budget, your life—am I right? Can someone find a way to recycle shoes so I
don’t have to feel so guilty?

JUNHEE
Thrift store?

LIZ
Oh, that’s right. You’re so good. When was I going to figure that out? My closets are haunted
forests of old shoes, trapping my qi. My life partner is searching for me right now: I must
clarify and breathe and open the door.

A bell chimes: the door of the store has opened. A MAN in a suit enters.

When he speaks, the words slide gracefully off a gentle, honeyed slope and
hover in the air. He is from a place where words are not in so much of a
hurry… a place like Alabama.
 61

MAN FROM THE SOUTH

I think I’m lost.

LIZ
What’re you looking for? Can I help? Where’re you going?

MAN FROM THE SOUTH

The Dudley Building on 70th. It’s a financial building, supposed to be real close to Lincoln
Square.

LIZ
Nothing you just said makes any sense. A “financial building”? That’s downtown. Maybe you
meant Washington Square? Take the 6 to Astor Place, then a three-minute / walk

JUNHEE
// Did you mean Lincoln Center? That’s on the West side, near 70th.

MAN FROM THE SOUTH

That sounds right.

LIZ
Then you’re totally in the wrong place.

MAN FROM THE SOUTH

I was afraid you’d say that.

LIZ
So here’s what you do: The crosstown bus will dump you wherever you want on 66th and then
you just walk up—

MAN FROM THE SOUTH

The bus? Does the driver take cash? Would the crosstown subway be faster?

LIZ
Mhm.
Okay, yah, gotta go. Lunch is almost over. Gotta buy this, get cash, go to the cleaners, schedule
acupuncture, and pick up a salad and a frappuccino before I go back. What time do you have?

JUNHEE covers her North Korean watch.

JUNHEE
My watch is slow.

LIZ
Whoops! Can’t be late again. (to JUNHEE:) This was fun! (to MAN:) Good luck, you’ll find
it. Bye now, see you later, gotta run!

LIZ exits.
 62

JUNHEE
The bus stop isn’t far. I’ll show you.

JUNHEE and the MAN FROM THE SOUTH exit the store.

MAN FROM THE SOUTH

Can I buy you lunch or something—do you have time?

JUNHEE
I brought my lunch. I eat at work.

MAN FROM THE SOUTH

Do you have an e-mail? I’d love to return the favor sometime.

JUNHEE considers for a moment.

JUNHEE
Can you take me to the Stock Exchange?

MAN FROM THE SOUTH

Um. Yeah. Sure.

JUNHEE
Do you play football or basketball or baseball?

MAN FROM THE SOUTH

I was varsity in all three.

JUNHEE doesn’t understand, which makes her intrigued.

JUNHEE
What do you know about guns?

MAN FROM THE SOUTH

I’ve never touched a gun in my life.

A short beat.

JUNHEE
Have you been to Walmart?

MAN FROM THE SOUTH

Are you kidding me? I just moved here from Alabama, land of the bigbox store!

JUNHEE
I really want to go to Walmart. I also want to do jury duty. And meet a paparazzi.
 63
MAN FROM THE SOUTH
I might know somebody…

JUNHEE
In case you know anyone at Google, I hope to have lunch there one day. Is a free pass to 24-
Hour Fitness really free? Have you been to the Midwest? Or Las Vegas? Or Texas? Why is it
called the World Series when they’re really only American teams?

MAN FROM THE SOUTH

That’s a really good question.

JUNHEE
I…I’d also love to taste a S’more.

The MAN FROM THE SOUTH smiles.

MAN FROM THE SOUTH

I just arrived yesterday. How long you been here?

JUNHEE
Two years.

MAN FROM THE SOUTH

Two years? You’re practically a New Yorker. Lucky for me.

JUNHEE
Also… do you understand the “100% money-back satisfaction guarantee”?
 64
17

MINHEE raps a loud, clear knock on the door of a SCHOOL.

The door opens. The sounds of children spill forth from within. A
TEACHER emerges, then shuts the door.

TEACHER
So: you’re the mother of Jin.

MINHEE
Yes. Where is he?

The TEACHER takes hold of MINHEE’s hands.

TEACHER
He remembers your beautiful, delicate hands.

MINHEE laughs.

MINHEE
I can’t wait another second. Please, tell me: is he near?

The TEACHER flips MINHEE’s hands over and examines her palms.

TEACHER
So often empty. Or closed.

With a short, uncertain laugh, MINHEE tries to pull her hands away from
the TEACHER.

TEACHER
And your puzzling laugh.

MINHEE’s smile dies.

MINHEE
Are you his teacher? Please take me to my son.

TEACHER
He’s such a serious boy.

MINHEE
Yes. Always. Like a little adult, I always said.

TEACHER
More sensitive than most. And conscientious. He has so many questions.
 65
The TEACHER releases MINHEE’s hands.

MINHEE
Questions…

TEACHER
Other children are happy to run and climb and laugh. But Jin…

MINHEE
He’s still upset.

TEACHER
He wants to understand.

MINHEE
Where is he?

TEACHER
It’s not up to me.

MINHEE
What must I do? Who do I speak to?

TEACHER
No. No, there’s nothing more you can do.

MINHEE
Please: all I want is to see my son again.

TEACHER
I will have to ask…

MINHEE pulls the permit out of her satchel and hands it to the
TEACHER. The TEACHER ignores it.

MINHEE
Can I see the school principal?

TEACHER
But you see: first I have to ask Jin…

MINHEE
…

TEACHER
I have to ask him if he wants to see you.
 66
MINHEE
…
…
Oh. Yes.
… Yes, of course.

TEACHER
He has learned to be careful.

MINHEE
I did my best. I tried to protect him. It was his father that… but we both, my husband and I, we
were blind….

TEACHER
Children like to be safe.

MINHEE
…
…
Tell him I will explain everything. As best I can.

MINHEE rummages in the satchel.

MINHEE
I have a gift for him.

MINHEE pulls out the bag of rice. She shakes it vigorously. It is silent.

MINHEE
Something’s wrong.

The TEACHER puts a hand up, steps away. MINHEE shakes the bag over
and over to no effect.

MINHEE
Wait!

The TEACHER opens the door of the SCHOOL. The sounds of children
emerge from within.

MINHEE
Please. Please tell him I’m here.

The TEACHER exits.

MINHEE slinks to the ground. She collects her belongings and puts them
back in the satchel. She picks up the Rice Bag and shakes it furiously.
Nothing.
 67
She shakes it gently and it releases the melody once again. She holds the
Rice Bag like a child, and the melody grows louder and louder. MINHEE
caresses the Rice Bag.

The door of the school opens a crack, emitting light and the sound of
children once again.

MINHEE goes still and turns slowly toward the School door.

MINHEE
Jin?

Moving carefully, as if to pet a butterfly, MINHEE takes a step toward the

door.

MINHEE
Jin, it’s Mommy. I’m here. I’m sorry, Jin. So sorry.

The door opens a little more.

MINHEE
Please forgive me. I shouldn’t have let you be sent away for Re-education. Daddy was trying to
protect you. I know that doesn’t make sense. I know you were hungry. I know you’re not a
thief. Daddy was wrong. I was wrong. We should have done better somehow. Forgive me—

A shaft of light from above: the SMUGGLER appears at the top of the
Well with a flashlight.

SMUGGLER
Hello?

MINHEE glances upward. She blinks, confused.

SMUGGLER
Are you okay?

MINHEE glances at the door of the school. The light and children’s
sounds coming from behind the door are fading.

MINHEE
No…

SMUGGLER
Your sister made it across…

MINHEE glances up at the top of the Well, then glances back at the door.

SMUGGLER
…but she’s coming back for you.
 68

MINHEE moves toward the door of the school, but she stumbles, then
holds her increasingly aching body, coughing and wheezing. Her illness
is back… worse than before.

MINHEE
No, no, no… (to SMUGGLER) No! No!

The door is closing.

SMUGGLER
Don’t worry!

MINHEE darts toward the school door.

MINHEE
!! JIN !!

Just as MINHEE reaches the door, it slams shut. She attacks the door,
tries to open it with no success.

SMUGGLER
I’ll get you out of there. Everything’s going to be okay.

MINHEE sobs.

MINHEE
Leave me alone. Let me go. Please.

SMUGGLER
I’m sorry: It was too dangerous to come back until the end of the day. You must be hungry.

In the distance, a piercing military whistle and barking dogs. The

SMUGGLER freezes, listens. Silence.

SMUGGLER
I’ll be back when it’s safe.

The SMUGGLER switches his flashlight off, and the world goes dark and
silent, as if the sun had run out of electricity.
 69
18

MINHEE is at the bottom of the Well.

JUNHEE enters.

JUNHEE
Here, every step counts. Every step is a little faster, more comfortable, more fun, more
advanced.

JUNHEE sits next to MINHEE. They react to each other, but do not
perceive each other.

MINHEE
No. No. Not yet.

JUNHEE
And then, so many accelerated footsteps later: you’re having a future.

MINHEE
No, wait. / I can’t.

JUNHEE
// Here, nobody wants to wait. For anything.

MINHEE
I’ll go back.

JUNHEE
Food has learned to sprint. Money is so fast it doesn’t wait to be printed. Gossip travels faster
than germs.

MINHEE finds the short table and sets it down. She finds a cushion and
puts it on the floor as a seat at the table.

JUNHEE
Press a button and watch a movie; click here, buy a house.

MINHEE
I’m going back.

MINHEE finds a bowl and a spoon and chopsticks, then a few small
dishes; she assembles these on the table.

JUNHEE
Tap a key and your letter is delivered to the other side of the world.
 70
MINHEE
Jin isn’t dead.

MINHEE finds a teacup and a teapot and put them on the table.
JUNHEE
Eat faster, learn faster, spend faster.

MINHEE finds a hotpot and its lid.

MINHEE
Jin isn’t dead because he didn’t get sick.

JUNHEE
Here, they’ve even figured out how to be happy faster by swallowing a pill.

JUNHEE exits.

MINHEE
Jin didn’t get sick because he wasn’t sent away because I wouldn’t let that happen.
I wouldn’t let Him send Jin away. No, I won’t let Him do that.

Behind her, a MAN enters, stamps his shoes.

MINHEE
I won’t let you do that. No, I won’t.

The MAN removes his shoes. In socked feet, he takes a few steps toward
MINHEE.

MAN
Minhee?

MINHEE drops the hotpot lid.

She covers her face for a moment, terrified.

MINHEE turns slowly to face the MAN.

She nearly faints.

The MAN smiles and opens his arms.

MINHEE
Sweetheart.

MINHEE runs into the arms of YONGSUP, her husband.

 71
19

JUNHEE and the MAN FROM THE SOUTH sit in the bleachers at Yankee
Stadium. They are in the middle of an argument.

JUNHEE
But when has it ever worked to make people support someone they didn’t choose?

MAN FROM THE SOUTH

I don’t think you understand. That’s not how it starts. That may be what ends up happening.
But that’s not always our fault.

JUNHEE
It’s easy to say that when you don’t have to live there and clean up the mess after a war.

MAN FROM THE SOUTH

I think the real problem is that we’re over-extended and do end up staying in these countries / for
too long. You don’t understand.

JUNHEE
(whispering)
// The real problem is American Imperialists are gullible. They have no idea what their
government does.

MAN FROM THE SOUTH

Why are you whispering? We’ve known each other almost a year, Junhee. You should know by
now we can talk about anything.

JUNHEE
Okay: Americans don’t know half of what the United States government does all over the
world…for power or money. Or oil, which is both.

MAN FROM THE SOUTH

You don’t have to whisper that. You could write that up in the New York Times. See, that’s
another reason this country isn’t all bad. Freedom of speech. Freedom of press. Open debate.
You can speak freely here.

JUNHEE
Do you speak freely about how America’s cotton trade affected your ancestors?

MAN FROM THE SOUTH

Now you don’t know what you’re talking about. You’re just stirring up trouble / and anxiety.

JUNHEE
I’m not stirring up trouble!

On the field, there’s a fantastic play… that the MAN FROM THE SOUTH
misses.
 72

MAN FROM THE SOUTH

Do you want to let fear run your life?

JUNHEE
I don’t do that. That’s my sister, not me. You think you know me. You don’t / know me.

MAN FROM THE SOUTH

// Your sister, what’s she afraid of?

JUNHEE
Don’t you dare talk / about my sister!

MAN FROM THE SOUTH

// I need another hot dog.

JUNHEE
I’m not afraid of anything. You don’t know me at all. You don’t understand a single—

MAN FROM THE SOUTH

Look, you’re over-reacting—

JUNHEE stands up.

JUNHEE
That’s it. / Don’t ever talk to me ever again. Ever.

MAN FROM THE SOUTH

// Oh, okay, let’s slow down and take a deep—

JUNHEE
I never want to see you again.

Abruptly, JUNHEE moves a few seats away from the MAN FROM THE
SOUTH.

A moment of stunned silence.

Abruptly, JUNHEE moves back to sit next to the MAN FROM THE
SOUTH again.

JUNHEE
Two people had freak accidents and died in the ICU yesterday. Let’s not waste time: I’m sorry
for losing my temper.

MAN FROM THE SOUTH

Oh, hey, that was no big deal. It’ll take more than that. Come here.
 73
The MAN FROM THE SOUTH puts his arm around JUNHEE’s shoulder.
JUNHEE shrugs the MAN FROM THE SOUTH’s arm off and faces him,
waiting.

JUNHEE
I’m sorry for losing my temper.

MAN FROM THE SOUTH

…

JUNHEE
…

MAN FROM THE SOUTH

Oh. Oh, right: um… I’m sorry for uh… not listening and for assuming that I know what you
think and thinking that I’m always right. And for… for being an arrogant, insufferable, heinous,
know-it-all jerk.

JUNHEE
I forgive you, Wade.

JUNHEE puts out a hand to shake on it.

WADE
I’m so glad that’s over. I’ll never bring up peanut butter again.

WADE holds JUNHEE’s hand.

A beat as each registers how soft the other person’s hand is.

The stadium erupts, loudly cheering a magnificent play. JUNHEE and

WADE leap up, clapping their hands and whistling.

They sit down. After a moment, JUNHEE and WADE hold hands again,
though keeping their eyes trained on the baseball game.

A long beat.

WADE
So… are you a Yankees fan?

JUNHEE
No. Never.

WADE
Where I come from, you always root for the team that’s playing against the Yankees.
See, we understand each other.
 74
JUNHEE
I can never be a fan of the Yankee devil.

WADE
Hey, shh, okay, okay. Not too loud, not too loud.

WADE looks around nervously.

JUNHEE
I thought I can “speak freely here.”

WADE
Yeah, but. It’s like… not here. I mean…

JUNHEE
Mhm. I understand.
 75
20

YONGSUP sits on a cushion at the table.

MINHEE performs the actions of serving a large meal (e.g., stirs

the pot, serves stew, etc). YONGSUP performs the movements
involved in consuming a large meal. However, it is simply a
ritual: the bowls and plates and spoons and cups are empty.

MINHEE “pours” tea into YONGSUP’s cup. YONGSUP “drinks”

tea.

YONGSUP
They’ve assigned three apprentices to report to me.

MINHEE
Of course they have. You always explain everything so clearly.
You could have been a distinguished teacher.

YONGSUP
If I’d been a teacher, I wouldn’t get nominated to the Central Committee.

MINHEE
The Central Committee? Already?

YONGSUP
Possibly. It was mentioned today.

MINHEE
So Jin will go to Middle School No. 1 for sure!

YONGSUP
You and every wife of a Party official think their son is right for Pyongyang.

MINHEE
Jin should attend the top middle school in the country.

YONGSUP
He’s lucky to go to any school at all.

MINHEE
He’s at the top of his class.

YONGSUP
Jin may have to go to Re-education.

A beat.
 76
MINHEE
He’s too young. It was such a small mistake.

YONGSUP
South Korean DVDs!

MINHEE
He was hungry. It was a bad group of kids.

YONGSUP
He could have avoided this if he had given them names.

MINHEE
I had him write a self-criticism. I thought you could show /it to…?

YONGSUP explodes:

YONGSUP
!! THAT MEANS NOTHING NOW !!
…
If Jin goes quietly, I think, with some careful negotiation, I could have it erased from his record.

A short beat.

MINHEE
…
And…and…perhaps it may be beneficial for Jin to be separated from this group of boys…

YONGSUP
Yes, this could be a turning point in his social education.

MINHEE
I suppose if he were to excel at Re-education, he might…

YONGSUP
Be rewarded? Of course he would.

MINHEE
…

YONGSUP
We need to prepare / him.

MINHEE
// No, no, he’s never been on his own; he doesn’t know how to fight; he’ll get eaten alive—
Sweetheart, you must do / something!

YONGSUP
// It’s been decided.
 77
YONGSUP puts a signed document on the table.

YONGSUP
Minhee, I can’t save him.

MINHEE stares blankly at the document.

MINHEE
…
…
…
No. He’s innocent and young. He’s not going to a camp of young thugs. I won’t allow it.

MINHEE tears the document up.

YONGSUP puts a signed document on the table.

YONGSUP
Minhee, I can’t save him.

MINHEE tears the document up.

MINHEE
He’s not leaving my side. I’ll tell them, if you can’t.

YONGSUP puts a signed document on the table.

YONGSUP
Minhee, I can’t save him.

MINHEE tears the document up.

MINHEE
Stay away from my boy.

YONGSUP puts a signed document on the table.

YONGSUP
Minhee, I can’t save him.

MINHEE
…
…
…
No. You can’t.
…
No. You couldn’t.
A beat.
 78
MINHEE
Jin is dead.

YONGSUP
What are you saying?

MINHEE
It was pneumonia.… It happened so fast.

YONGSUP
Minhee, was Jin hungry when he died?

A short beat. MINHEE’s head falls into her hands.

MINHEE
He was so hungry.

YONGSUP
My son starved.

MINHEE
He was a little bird by the end.

YONGSUP
(accusatory) You should have starved before he did.

MINHEE
I tried. I failed at that too.

A beat.

MINHEE
You always said we were the lucky ones. You told me you wouldn’t let us beg. Jin would go to
school in Pyongyang. You told me to be patient. My husband, the local Party official.

YONGSUP
In the end, I was grateful when they broke me into a thousand pieces.

MINHEE
No. Stop. I’m sorry. Don’t say such things.

YONGSUP
I was ground into dust and fed to pigs.

MINHEE
Forgive me and come home.

YONGSUP
I’m gone, Minhee.
 79
MINHEE
People do come back. When you’re released, if I’m not home…? Never. It doesn’t matter how
long I wait.

YONGSUP
You’d be waiting forever.

MINHEE
I will take care of you better than before. Come here and pick me up and carry me on your back.

YONGSUP
∗
The final days of my life, my back was bent and broken.

MINHEE
They need you for heavy labor. Why would they cripple you?

YONGSUP
I was forced to watch a woman drown her newborn baby.

MINHEE
Those are rumors! Terrible rumors. That doesn’t happen.

YONGSUP
I was publicly executed. Five hundred citizens came to watch.

After repeated beatings, I could no longer control my bowels. I soiled my uniform and was sent
to the Chilsong Chamber for ten days and never emerged.

I was forced to beat a child to death for stealing. An hour later, I hung myself.

YONGSUP breaks something. MINHEE cowers.

YONGSUP
I failed to memorize the President’s New Year message and was sent to the Black Angel’s
Chamber of Death. When my bent body was released, I was sent immediately to work, but I
couldn’t feel my legs. The guards said I was faking and tested me by burning my flesh with hot
stones, but I felt nothing. So they shot me.

MINHEE envelops YONGSUP’s body with hers.

YONGSUP
Desperate for the exquisite taste of raw rat, I fought a man over the rat that crawled out of the
toilet. We fought to the death. He won.

∗
YONGSUP’s litany is adapted from the testimony of Ms. Soon-Ok Lee before the U.S. Senate Committee on the
Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration for its hearing on June 21, 2002 on “Examining the Plight of Refugees: The Case
of North Korea.”
 80
YONGSUP
Guards kicked me like a soccer ball because I tore my clothes. My entire body was a sore,
oozing pus. I was food for maggots for hours before I died.

MINHEE steps away and dry-heaves. Shaking, she sinks to the ground.

YONGSUP
I caught paratyphoid and was left to die, twice. The second time, I did.

YONGSUP picks MINHEE up, holds her.

MINHEE
We were the lucky ones.

YONGSUP
Darling Minhee. Please don’t wait for me.

After a long, quiet moment:

MINHEE
Save me.
Please?

YONGSUP lets go of her, steps away. MINHEE follows him, trips and
falls.

MINHEE
Tell me this was all a test, and the future is bright.
Tell me it would be a mistake to give up on our gentle country now.
Tell me I can get you back. I’ll visit your grave everyday, your faithful widow.
Tell me Life can be cruel, but as long as I hang on, everything will work out.
Tell me you will come home and carry me.
Tell me you will, my love. Tell me!

MINHEE reaches up to him.

MINHEE
Please, please tell me. I’ll believe you. Please.

YONGSUP doesn’t respond.

MINHEE
Okay then:
On this day, my final day, I found you. I finally found you and found Jin. At last.
I took you both in my arms and chose to rest forever.
Our country held me in its belly now and forever.
Swallowed by a well, I was never seen again.
 81
YONGSUP caresses MINHEE’s cheek, then slides his hand down to her
neck. His hand rests there briefly; it is still a caress. But MINHEE has
gone very still. She is frozen.

YONGSUP braces himself, then raises his other hand to her throat and…
begins to squeeze. He is killing her, and she is dying.

Then with sudden electric instinct, MINHEE jerks this way and that and
breaks free. She breathes heavily, rubs her throat.

YONGSUP takes a step toward her. MINHEE steps back.

MINHEE
I… I must go… Junhee…she’s all alone. She might need me. Right now. I have to go find her.
I can’t lose her.

YONGSUP
Forgive me. Eventually, / please.

MINHEE nods.

MINHEE
// I forgive you already. You did the best you could. So did I.
 82
21

JUNHEE sits in the office of LIZ, a therapist. On a small table to the side
of JUNHEE’s chair is a clock facing LIZ and a box of tissue.

(Note: JUNHEE occasionally speaks quickly. Double-time.)

JUNHEE
These days, I feel like I’m hiding. And I’m tired all the time.

Nodding, LIZ makes “I understand, tell me more” sounds.

JUNHEE
I don’t know.

LIZ
Hiding from what?

LIZ gazes at JUNHEE silently to facilitate reflection.

JUNHEE gazes at LIZ silently to avoid discussion.

LIZ
Okay: what makes you tired?

JUNHEE
I’m tired of making so many meaningless choices, doing so much research. I was looking for a
dentist. So I got recommendations, called fifteen dentists, but there was a problem with each
one: wrong insurance, no new patients, have to take the crosstown bus. Really, it was too much,
overdone, completely bonkers. I feel I’m failing in some way if I don’t get the very best teeth
cleaning in the city. I don’t want to waste my dental insurance, but then I probably won’t have
time to go, not with my work schedule. Plus, I still have to fit in the gynecologist, the orthotics
guy, the annual check-up, and now you. There are so many good doctors here.

LIZ
Too much choice does create its own problems.

JUNHEE
I can’t seem to make the simplest decisions. I usually bring my lunch, but a friend wanted to go
out, and I want to be relaxed and engaged and approachable. But then the menu came and I
couldn’t decide what to order. No fish or “specials” on Mondays cuz that’s what didn’t sell over
the weekend. If I’m out, should I really be ordering something I could cook myself? Burnt food
and potato chips are carcinogenic, not all antioxidants are created equal, I think I’ve caught the
gluten allergy, sugar is suicide with a spoon! The New York Times told me that rice contains
arsenic—even brown rice!—could that possibly be true? In the end, I got a few pieces of kale
and a lentil soup and spent the rest of the day hungry. I think I’m afraid of food!
 83
LIZ
Eating disorders are linked to anxiety—the feeling of being out of control.

JUNHEE
I’m learning to stay positive, don’t be judge-y, step back and let go.

LIZ
How is that going?

JUNHEE
I take deep breaths, read Ralph Waldo Emerson on my breaks. I’ve tried four different kinds of
yoga, splurged on a massage, signed up for meditation class. But then each thing stops working.
I think I have yoga immunity! I’m always looking for the next thing. I feel empty and sad and
unhappy. And then I get unhappy that I’m unhappy.

LIZ
A very typical pattern in today’s society.

JUNHEE
But no, no, I’m really not like everyone else… not yet. I’m out-of-sync, don’t pick up social
cues, a real outsider.

LIZ
Trying to fit in makes so many feel alienated. A new study about American unhappiness comes
out every month. We’ve lost touch with community. Tell me about the people in your world
right now.

JUNHEE
My co-workers?

LIZ
Your colleagues, yes, but also your social support, your network, your team, your group.

JUNHEE
I have a friend…

LIZ
Umhm.

JUNHEE
He’s… a very good friend. We fight. But more often, we laugh. But I don’t see him a lot.

LIZ
Why?

JUNHEE
Because. I can’t. I don’t know. It’s hard to explain.
I’m just not sure… I can’t be sure… of anything.
 84
LIZ
Are you afraid of getting hurt?

JUNHEE
No. No, that’s not what I’m afraid of.

JUNHEE looks at her North Korean watch.

LIZ
Don’t worry, the first session is longer. We still have time.

JUNHEE
I’ve got to go.

JUNHEE exits.
 85
22

MINHEE sits at the bottom of the well.

She is alone.

After some time, she looks upward.

MINHEE
Junhee was right.

MINHEE covers her face. With a deeply felt groan:

MINHEE
Little sisters are never supposed to be right.

MINHEE is very weak.

She stands up, loses her balance, slides back to the ground.

MINHEE
I will grow wings and fly out of here.
I will be a worm and dig myself out.
I can find a door in solid rock and open it.
But… I’m tired. So tired.
And I need something to eat.
Because I’m hungry now. So hungry.

I’m hungry to hear Beethoven and see a windmill and learn Spanish. I want to drive a car.
I want to know what air conditioning feels like. I want to see the blue sky.

I want to put it all in my mouth, spit the seeds out, and chew.

MINHEE looks upward, then suddenly screams to the top of the well:

MINHEE
I’m hungry now! I’m so hungry! Junhee, I’m hungry, do you hear me?
Can anyone hear me?
 86
23

WADE waits with two cups of frozen yogurt.

JUNHEE enters.

JUNHEE
Wade, I have something / that I have to…

WADE holds out one of the cups of frozen yogurt.

WADE
Pistachio with shredded coconut, right?
Hurry up, it’s melting!

JUNHEE takes the frozen yogurt.

JUNHEE
…
Thank you, Wade.

JUNHEE and WADE eat frozen yogurt and stroll through every borough
of New York City.

WADE
Feel like a movie? Or there’s a new cupcake place. And then maybe chess in Washington
Square… always a good place to meet folk.

JUNHEE
I could “meet folk” there?

WADE
Well, yeah. Let’s say you do. You meet someone there.

JUNHEE
I meet someone.

WADE
Yeah, you meet someone, make each other laugh and talk and think, and afterwards: cake in a cup.

JUNHEE
And then?

WADE
Then you go on a real, unambiguous date.

JUNHEE
Sounds interesting. Then what?
 87

WADE
What if, turns out, this someone’s Just Right. With this someone, you feel more alive and see
more of the world than ever before. Just say you do.

JUNHEE
And then what happens?

WADE
Then he makes you dinner at his place. Yeah, that’s what happens. It’s a nice, big apartment,
more closet space than you can imagine. An elevator. A doorman. This someone: he makes a
solid living.

JUNHEE
Then?

WADE
Then you both discover you’re in love.

JUNHEE
Hm. And then…

WADE
You get married.

JUNHEE
Married… how does that happen?

WADE
Buy a ring. Get engaged. Meet the in-laws. Send out invites. And then maybe you go in there
and pick out the gifts you want, who knows?

JUNHEE
And then, when I’m pregnant, I register there.

WADE
Uh, yeah, wow. I mean… um—

JUNHEE
Why take the local when you can ride the express?

WADE
Absolutely: the two of you have kids. Good idea.
So then there’s birthday parties and family vacations.

JUNHEE
Drive across country?
 88
WADE
Oh definitely. Stop in every state.

JUNHEE
But then the kids have drug problems.

WADE
Send them to rehab. They’ll clean up.

JUNHEE
Just like that?

WADE
Yeah, yeah, sure, they figure it out… and then before you know it: the kids are off to college!

JUNHEE
So soon? What will I do with myself now?

WADE
A week in Paris. A Mediterranean cruise. Hike up Kilimanjaro.
We’ll go wherever you want.

JUNHEE
Do our kids go to graduate school?

WADE
They become doctors and teachers and artists.

JUNHEE
And you start your own accounting firm.

WADE
And the hospital makes you chief of staff!

WADE takes JUNHEE’s hand.

JUNHEE
Your company wipes out corruption on Wall Street.

WADE
And you develop a medical records app,

JUNHEE
and sell to Google,

WADE
and make millions—no: billions!
 89
JUNHEE
And I give it all away.

WADE
You turn to philanthropy, absolutely.
I knew that about you.

JUNHEE
Cancer research. Youth enrichment. International exchange.

WADE
We pray with the Dalai Lama—

JUNHEE
Do we meet Oprah?

WADE
We meet her people and build schools in Brazil

JUNHEE
And then we’re invited to the White House for dinner,

WADE
and the President appoints you Ambassador to Spain!

JUNHEE
where we hold summits and broker friendships,

WADE
and grow wine and eat tapas,

JUNHEE
until our youngest grandchild is kidnapped.

WADE
Hang on, really, she is?

JUNHEE
Yes. But we pay for her release—

WADE
Of course. Give up every cent. And then

JUNHEE
we start over from nothing,

WADE
just you and me.
 90
JUNHEE
I go into the kitchen… and cook

WADE
while I tend bar at our new Korean-Southern fusion

JUNHEE
bistro.

JUNHEE pulls out a spoon. WADE breathes deeply.

WADE
Mm-mm, that smells good.

JUNHEE
I’m calling it bibimashasonummy—taste.

JUNHEE carefully holds the spoon to WADE’s mouth. He tastes.

WADE
Each meal is greeted with applause.

JUNHEE
People wait in line for miles.

WADE
Three Michelin stars. A cooking show.

JUNHEE
Dumplings filled with peace, love, and understanding.

WADE
Rice and beans that repair broken souls.
Stomachs that howl when life’s too demanding

JUNHEE
find quiet joy prepared in our bowls.

WADE
All the cities we visit

JUNHEE
want to hand us their keys.

WADE
Folk songs, fan blogs,

JUNHEE
honorary degrees!
 91

WADE
You’re America’s Darling, all seek your advice.

JUNHEE
60 Minutes is calling, your time has no price.
I write a memoir, take inventory:

WADE
The ups,

JUNHEE
the turns,

WADE
the leaps,

JUNHEE
the falls.
Everyone wants to know our story.

WADE
And that’s when Steven Spielberg / calls.
At the bottom of the WELL, slumped to one
side:

MINHEE
// A bowl of rice.

JUNHEE
For your eightieth birthday, at the / villa in Spain,

MINHEE
// A piece of kimchi.

WADE
We bake thousands of cupcakes, both frosted / and plain.

MINHEE
// A bite of… persimmon? The only persimmon left / in the
whole country.

MINHEE looks at the top of the well and

reaches up with both hands.

WADE
// The local village attends, every missus and mister.
 92
MINHEE opens her eyes, teeters on her
tippy-toes. She grabs hold of the imaginary
persimmon with both hands.

MINHEE
I’ve got it!

MINHEE tugs sharply downward.

At this precise moment in NYC: a red-orange PERSIMMON falls from the

sky and lands at JUNHEE’s feet.

JUNHEE
From all over the globe, your brothers, my—

MINHEE collapses in a heap.

A frog appears, hops toward MINHEE. The

frog croaks.

JUNHEE sees the persimmon. She reaches down and picks it up.

She takes a bite.

Juice trickles down her chin. She sobs, kisses the persimmon, presses it to
her cheek.

Another frog appears. Then another.

WADE
We sing songs and drink wine, always plenty to share.
Bottle juice from the orchard—peach, apple, and pear.

JUNHEE
Yes, yes, you do.

WADE
Grandkids laugh in the sun, ride our horse here and there.

JUNHEE
And your party goes on—it’s a life-long affair.

More frogs enter the well, croaking.

MINHEE doesn’t move.

WADE
We read Tolstoy, eat prunes and then… and then… I go bald.
But: it’s my brains and my body you love—not my hair!
 93
JUNHEE
And… and then you learn the cello and form a band.

WADE
And you play the flute?

JUNHEE
No, no you play both: one in each hand.

I can taste it. It’s all happened. It’s all there. So gorgeous. So complete.
Thank you. Thank you for all of this… what a glorious life. I’ve seen and tasted so much … it’s
been a wonderful time. A delectable, nourishing, aromatic, savory feast of a time.
Thank you. For the rest of my life. Thank you.

WADE
Let’s go get dinner: steak, mashed potatoes, chocolate cake…

JUNHEE kisses WADE. Then lets him go.

JUNHEE
Thank you. I’m going home now.
Good-bye.

Hundreds of frogs scramble into the well.

The croaking is deafening.

JUNHEE walks, then runs away.

MINHEE wakes up, struggles to her feet.

Suddenly, a ground swell: water rushes in,

filling the well, swallowing MINHEE and
the frogs.
 94
24

The SMUGGLER pulls MINHEE from the WELL. He shakes her.

SMUGGLER
Wake up! It’s time to go!

The SMUGGLER gathers her body up and rushes toward the North
Korean-Chinese border.

From a distance, JUNHEE runs to meet the SMUGGLER and MINHEE.

Her breath shakes her body in huge, rattling sobs.

JUNHEE
I’m back. Oh, please please. I’m here now.

SMUGGLER
(to MINHEE) Your sister’s here.

JUNHEE
I lost track of time. Am I too late?
Onni? Onni, Onni.

MINHEE lifts her head.

MINHEE
Junhee?

From her purse, JUNHEE pulls out a water bottle and gives it to
MINHEE.

JUNHEE
Here, Onni, here.

MINHEE drinks.

MINHEE
Thank you.

JUNHEE
Onni, there are so many things for you to try:
There’s this thing called potato salad. It’s soooo good.
And frozen yogurt. I can’t wait until you try frozen yogurt.
And cupcakes and thirty different kinds of cheese.

MINHEE
What’s frozen yogurt?
 95
JUNHEE
Like ice cream, but so much better because it’s healthy.

MINHEE
I can’t wait.

JUNHEE
Onni, there’s no time to argue. Please trust me and listen.

MINHEE
Yes, Junhee?

JUNHEE
Onni, you have to make the Crossing this time.

MINHEE
I’m ready.

JUNHEE
Onni, I don’t recognize you!

A high-pitched military whistle in the distance.

SMUGGLER
It’s time.

The SMUGGLER pulls JUNHEE aside. JUNHEE hands him a wad of

cash. The SMUGGLER counts the cash.

SMUGGLER
So this is enough for—

JUNHEE
For the safest way, the best way: the 2000-mile trip to Thailand.

SMUGGLER
Yes, but remember, you’ll need to pay more.

JUNHEE
There’s enough there to take four people.

SMUGGLER
It’s not money He wants.

JUNHEE
…
Take her first.
 96
SMUGGLER
Are you sure?

JUNHEE
Yes.

The military whistle again—closer this time. The SMUGGLER quickly re-
joins MINHEE.

SMUGGLER
Time to go.

MINHEE
Yes, let’s go.

JUNHEE
Wait, Onni, this is for you.

JUNHEE removes her coat and puts it on MINHEE.

MINHEE
No, Junhee, I’m fine.

JUNHEE gives MINHEE her handbag.

JUNHEE
Take this, too.

MINHEE
That’s yours.

JUNHEE
I brought it for you.

MINHEE
I don’t need it.

JUNHEE slings the handbag across MINHEE’s body, then pulls several
plastic cards (an American ID, a few credit cards) from her pocket.

JUNHEE
If you get stopped, Onni, these will help you.

MINHEE looks at the plastic cards.

MINHEE
What about you?
 97
JUNHEE
Don’t worry about me.

MINHEE
No.

MINHEE gives the plastic cards back to her.

JUNHEE puts them in the handbag on MINHEE’s shoulder.

JUNHEE
Yes, Onni, please.

MINHEE attempts to give JUNHEE the handbag.

MINHEE
You take this. I’ll be / okay.

JUNHEE
// But you’re going first.

MINHEE
No you.

JUNHEE
Hurry, Onni, / go.

MINHEE
// Can’t we go together?

JUNHEE
First you.

MINHEE
I’d rather follow you.

JUNHEE
You might stumble and fall again. Slip into the past. Get scared and run home.

MINHEE
Not this time. I’ve left home forever.

JUNHEE
You might change your mind.

MINHEE
No, never.
 98
JUNHEE
Go ahead then.

SMUGGLER
We have to leave now.

MINHEE
No time to argue. Please: go.

JUNHEE
I’ll believe you.
I’ll believe you’re ready to go.
I’ll believe you’ve left home forever.
I’ll believe you won’t change your mind.
If
You leave first.

A military whistle, quite close. MINHEE jumps, then instinctively takes

the SMUGGLER’s outstretched hand.

SMUGGLER
Hurry now. Look forward, not back.

The SMUGGLER and MINHEE enter the Crossing.

 99
25

Daylight. The Chinese side of the border with North Korea.

MINHEE is on the ground. She has cuts and bruises; dirt covers her like
a second skin. She struggles to rise. She squints and shades her eyes.
For her, the light is painfully strong.

The SMUGGLER dusts himself off.

MINHEE
Junhee?

SMUGGLER
This is as far as I go.

MINHEE
Where is my sister? Where’s Junhee?

On the other side of the border, JUNHEE finds the Rice Bag on the
ground.

SMUGGLER
If you keep moving, the Chinese won’t bother you.

JUNHEE shakes the bag gently, releasing the melody.

MINHEE
Where is she? Is Junhee in danger? Where is she?

A loud military whistle. Dogs barking, closer and closer. JUNHEE faces
the oncoming danger.

SMUGGLER
There is always a sacrifice.

MINHEE
No! No!

A gunshot. JUNHEE crumples to the ground, dead.

The SMUGGLER walks away from MINHEE.

 100
26

Light. Bright bright bright.

An office in Seoul, the capital of South Korea.

MINHEE sits across from a Korean OFFICE WORKER seated at a desk.

The OFFICE WORKER speaks in concert with a symphony of beeps,
jingles, printer wheezings, and digital gurgles.

OFFICE WORKER
So, your numbers accelerate and spooned all things and each times for you.
This cold swipe-flash will agree yours wherever in this bright instant.
It’s really easy, I’ll just flaunt tiny burst while this moon is watering.
Then margin me with laugh-made whizzle into your heart number, okay?

MINHEE
…
…
…

The OFFICE WORKER walks over to a large poster displaying a map of

South Korea and the route between Seoul and the Anseong, Gyeonggi
Province. The OFFICE WORKER points to the map’s title ( 빠른 길 )
and place names on the map (e.g., 서울, 안성, 경기도 ) as she speaks. A
second poster shows pictures of the Hanawon Resettlement Center: 민원
상담소.

OFFICE WORKER
At each point, a coordinating warmth will shillap as you travel
to the Group New Roots Placer which is located in Gyeonggi-do,
just one hour south of here. You’ll go by zippered capsule.

The OFFICE WORKER stamps a form, puts plastic cards and papers in a
large envelope and hands this to MINHEE.

OFFICE WORKER
In this envelope, you’ll find boiled help, a cold swipe-flash,
the whizzle, and everything else you’ll need.

MINHEE takes the envelope.

The OFFICE WORKER hands MINHEE a business card.

OFFICE WORKER
You can call me on this number if you need help. Ask for Kim Yuna.
 101

MINHEE
…
Thank you.

MINHEE takes the card.

JUNHEE bows in farewell. MINHEE bows and exits.

 102
27

An apartment.

The walls are entirely bare. The only furniture is a table and two chairs.
On the table are a radio and several jars of vitamins and pills.

MINHEE enters with a small grocery bag and turns on the lights. She
removes her coat, sets down her purse, and removes a pair of
uncomfortable shoes. She puts on slippers. She puts the grocery bag on
the table and switches the radio on, scrolls through channels. Korean talk
radio breaks the silence.

She washes her hands, makes tea.

She gets a tablet from each jar of vitamins and pills, then swallows them
down with tea.

She fills a bowl with rice from a rice cooker. She sets the table with the
bowl of rice, a plate of kimchi, a pot of tea and teacup, a napkin, a spoon,
and a pair of chopsticks. From the grocery bag, she pulls a plastic
container of seasoned, dried fish.

She pulls at the lid of the container. It has a tricky catch. Abruptly, the lid
tears open and pieces of dried fish scatter across the table and floor.

She picks up every piece of fish.

She puts some fish into her rice bowl and puts the rest back in the
container. With a napkin, she wipes the floor and table where the fish
pieces fell.

She sits at the table.

She picks up a spoonful of rice.

MINHEE eats.

End of play.