The Politics Of Life

12-1-A

12-1-A g Wakako Yamauchi 46 CAST OF CHARACTERS Harry Yamane, 25, retarded Nisei Mitch (Michio Tanaka), 20, Nisei son Mrs. Tanaka, 40, Issei widow and mother Koko Tanaka, 17, Nisei daughter Yo (Yoshiko Yoshida), 25, Nisei woman Ken (Kenji Ichioka), 19, Nisei son Mrs. Ichioka, 45, Issei wife of invalid, mother of Ken Sam (Isamu), 19, Nisei Bill, 19, Nisei Mr. Endo, 45, Issei Yama (Yamasaki), 35, tall husky man Fuji-san's Daughter, 16 Issei: Immigrants from Japan Nisei: Second-generation Japanese Americans, born in America, American citizens Obasan: Lady, older woman, also aunt Act One Scene One Scene Two Scene Three Act Two Scene One Scene Two Scene Three Scene Four May 1942 A few months later September 1942 November 1942 Early December 1942 February 1943 July 1943 ACT ONE Scene One (Time: May 1942. Wind sounds. The tar-papered interior ofa barrack faces downstage. There are two workable glass-paned windows [sliding sidewaysI facing upstage. Three army cots stand in an otherwise empty room. A naked light bulb hangs from the rafter. The barrack has a double door and a small wooden porch. 12-1-A is stenciled in white. The door faces stage right. In the background the silhouette ofa guard tower looms ominously. A sentry is on duty at all times. This tower is barely visible in the first scene and grows more prominent as the play progresses. A wind blows. HARRY YAMANE, 25, walks slowly and anxiously on stage. He wears a battered felt hat and old-man clothes. He is somewhat stooped. HARRY has a twelve-year-old mentality and has spent many years working on his father's farm. He hums a tuneless rendition of HYes sir, that's my baby" when he is anxious. He is lost and bewildered . He hums as he enters from stage left. HARRY takes out a scrap of paper, looks at the number on the barrack, shakes his head as though to clear it, and takes offhis hat and spins it with his two hands. He hums louder. He sits on the porch for a while, his head down. He hears voices and steps downstage, trying to be inconspicuous. MRS. TANAKA, 40, Issei widow in traveling clothes for middle-aged women ofthe period, carries a suitcase and a cardboard carton. MITCH, 20, her Nisei son, in jeans and plaid shirt carries two duffel bags. KOKO, 17, her Nisei daughter, wearing a short dirndl skirt, white socks, and saddle shoes, carries two suitcases. They enter from stage left and walk in wordlessly-as though in a dream. MITCH leads the way. They open the barrack door, enter, and stare at each other in silence.) MITCH (tiredly): Did you see the baggage some people brought? They said only as much as your arms can carry. KOKO (sitting on her suitcase): Some people must have arms like octopuses. (MITCH opens the windows.) 47 WAKAKO YAMAUCHI KOKO (continuing): Octopi? Octopedes? MITCH: What? KOKO: That's obscure. Rarely used. MITCH: What's wrong with you, Koko? KOKO: It's an archaic form of the plural of octopus. (Outside, HARRY moves downstage and sits unseen by the family.) MITCH: Octopedes! Here we are in this goddamn place and you talking about fish! You act like nothing's happened. KOKO: I'm trying to get my bearings! MRS. TANAKA: Shhh! Don't fight. (She opens her shopping bag and brings out a tube of salami and begins slicing. MITCH takes a bowling trophy from his suitcase and sets it on a rib ofthe barrack frame. He pulls out a letter-man's sweaterand puts it on a wooden hanger and hangs it from the same frame rib.) KOKO: It's unreal. Rows and rows, miles and miles of barracks ... and people like us ... zombies in the desert ... with two duffel bags, suitcases ... cartons. (The light behind the upstage window is yellowing.) MRS. TANAKA (passing the salami as she scolds): Not fighting like you. This is not time for fighting. Time for taking care of each other. KOKO: I'm just trying to get my bearings. MITCH: I'm sorry. (looks carefully at KOKO) What's the matter? You crying? (The light grows murky and ominous. Wind sounds increase. Outside, HARRY looks at the sky and turns his hat anxiously.) KOKO: I'm not crying. The meat is ... is spicy. 48 (HARRY acts like a cornered animal as the storm...