Yamamoto’s Decision: World War II Play from Sherwood Ross

ACT ONE, SCENE SIX

Time: The same.
Setting: Yamamoto’s office.

(Yamamoto is seated behind his desk, facing audience, stage center, entering numbers on a football gambling card. He wears a dark blue naval uniform buttoned at the collar. The desk is clear and clean except for a model of the Zero fighter plane on a stand. A Japanese flag behind him and his ceremonial sword hangs on the wall. The room has one small window, rear wall right. The only other wall decoration is the famous picture of Emperor Hirohito astride a white horse. The Naval Minister barges in, followed by Yamamoto’s young aide, Fumio. The Naval Minister is in full white dress regalia. Fumio wears a blue navy uniform. There is a black patch over his right eye and the cheek below it is a mass of scar tissue from a severe burn.)

Yamamoto: Hi there! For American football Saturday, who do you like between Michigan and Notre Dame?
Naval Minister: Watch out for yourself! They’re shooting people all over Tokyo!
Yamamoto: I thought you came in for some action? My advice: Michigan and six points.
Naval Minister: Haven’t you heard there’s a revolt going on outside?
Yamamoto: We must remain calm, Minister. Should I put you down for Michigan?
Naval Minister: Yes, yes, damn it! Now you listen to me. The bastards are running wild.
Yamamoto: Which bastards? The Blood Brothers, the Holy War League, the Cherry Blossom Society, the Amur River Gang…?
Naval Minister: They are butchering all the moderates. The Imperial Way has seized the Diet. Crazy! They’ve hung out a banner that says ‘Revere the Emperor.’
Yamamoto: Hmm! So who has been shot? (He grabs pencil and makes notes on a pad.)
Naval Minister: I heard the Prime Minister is dead.
Yamamoto: You don’t sound sure.
Naval Minister: Nothing confirmed. And the Emperor’s chamberlain hit.
Yamamoto: Old Admiral Suzuki?
Naval Minister: Riddled with bullets. Left for dead.
Yamamoto: You mean he’s still alive?
Naval Minister: Barely: his family is afraid to take him to the hospital.
Yamamoto: Why don’t you send an ambulance? We can do that much for one of our own.
Naval Minister: Isoroku, the rumor is the Emperor himself wants to get rid of his pacifist ministers.
Yamamoto: Every assassin likes to hide behind the sleeve of the dragon. I don’t see Hirohito in this one. This is a challenge to his authority. If I know him, he’s furious.
Naval Minister: Is it best, then, for me to do nothing?
Yamamoto: (Reflectively, as though thinking aloud.) Why not send a cruiser into the harbor and train your guns on the Diet?
Naval Minister: Are you mad? Yes, you are mad? Why do I keep promoting you? I can’t fire on the Diet!

Yamamoto: Of course you can’t. But those insurgents inside don’t know that. Bluff ‘em! Tell them the Emperor calls on them to surrender.
Naval Minister: The Emperor’s told me no such thing! I wouldn’t dare presume to speak for him.
Yamamoto: How would they know? They’re a mob of misguided idealists in uniform. (Sound of muffled shots from outside. Yamamoto: stands.) Better think about it.
Naval Minister: Oh, one small detail: they’ve put a price of a hundred thousand yen on your head.
Yamamoto: I’m worth twice that! Now, what about Sunday’s pro game, the Philadelphia Eagles against Green Bay?
Naval Minister: You are mad. All right, put me down for Green Bay.
Fumio: I’ll take Green Bay, too.
Yamamoto: You can’t afford it. Now get an ambulance over to Suzuki’s. Better take a truckload of shore patrol with you.
Fumio: Right! (Fumio> leaves. Two shots sound at far right, answered by brief chatter of machine gun, then silence. The two men exchange glances.)
Yamamoto: In America, when the Army and Navy fight, it’s usually on the football field.
Naval Minister: Instead of rushing out to confront them, let’s turn out the lights and see if they get past the machine gun?
Yamamoto: (Removing a ceremonial sword from the wall.) Strategic thinking! If they do break in, I’ve got my Father’s sword. Can you imagine a headmaster making a beautiful weapon like this? I could slice a cherry blossom in half with this blade. I’ll give you ten to one the idiots fail.
Naval Minister: No way. But I hope your gambler’s luck holds today.
Yamamoto: (Angrily) Stop calling me a gambler! My success has to do with sweat, not luck, with long hours! (Minister laughs. Yamamoto: goes to wall and turns off light switch. Set is dark but there is enough light to make them out.) So: how about a game of chess?
Naval Minister: Now, at a time like this? In the dark?
Yamamoto: It’s like playing blindfolded. I’ll give you four to one. Trust me. Would I cheat you?
Naval Minister: Isoroku, I don’t trust you with the lights on. (Burst of machine gun fire, then silence.)
BLACKOUT

ACT TWO, SCENE ONE

Time: Evening, four days later
Setting: Geisha House, Reception Area
(At rise, there is a bench covered with padded cushions along the back wall. In the center of the room there is a small table with a “Go” board on it, two pots of black and white stones, some of them on the board as if a game has just been played. There are mats on the floor and at the right a well stocked bar on a cabinet against the wall. There is also a low table on which rest several musical stringed instruments and a flute. The main doorway is at the left; the audience cannot see anyone standing outside. We hear the clang of a heavy knocker. Tokuko enters from right, crosses over to door, and looks through a peephole.)

Tokuko: Who is it?
Fumio: (From offstage behind door.)Message from the Admiralty. I’m to wait for an answer. (Tokuko opens the door. Fumio enters and hands her an envelope. Recognizing him, she claps a hand to her cheek, and he recognizes her as well.)
Tokuko: A-i! Can it be you?
Fumio: Nagako!
Tokuko: Sh-h! Here I am known as Tokuko. What- happened to your- ?
Fumio: My face: I, uh, crashed my plane in a training accident.
Tokuko: You-
Fumio: I lost an eye. But, see, (turning the left side of his face toward her) there’s still a good side to me.
Tokuko: (Incredulous) Good side? Fumio, the way you left me like, just like that, to enlist, the morning after, and I never heard from you again.
Fumio: I was accepted in the Navy.
Tokuko: You might have told me! You must have known that before you pressed yourself on me.
Fumio: I thought if you knew I was going away the very next day that-
Tokuko: That I wouldn’t give myself to you. (Beat) I heard you joined the Navy. I waited and waited to hear from you, Fumio.
Fumio: I wrote you. I swear it.
Tokuko: When did you write? You never wrote me!
Fumio: I wrote last year but there was no reply.
Tokuko: Last year? Of course not. By then I was gone. My parents- (She chokes up) sent me away to people in Tokyo. I was a disgraced woman.
Fumio: Disgraced? How?
Tokuko: (She breaks down.) Fumio, I had your daughter.
Fumio: What? What?
Tokuko: (Hysterical) They took her from me the day she was born. We had no money to feed her —
Fumio: And?
Tokuko: They drowned her, Fumio, in the river. My parents…
Fumio: A daughter? Our child…Oh, my God!
Tokuko: She would have died anyway. The rice crop failed. They let me hold her once and then… If only you had been there, it might have been different. (He makes a move to comfort her but she makes fists and pummels his chest with both hands.) Pig! Pig! Filthy pig!
Fumio: (Anguished) What have I done?
Tokuko: (She stops hitting him, straightens herself, gets a grip on her emotions.) You knew they sold me, didn’t you? Didn’t anyone in town tell you?
Fumio: Sold?
Tokuko: You know how it’s done, Fumio. In the brothel I met other girls like myself, daughters of rice farmers. One taught me to play the samisen and one day Yoko heard me from the street and bought me. She is teaching me geisha.
Fumio: I am shocked for you, Na-
Tokuko: Tokuko. (Tokuko> daubs her eyes with handkerchief, lifts her head bravely.) So, tell me, how did a cadet like you get a high post with the great Admiral?
Fumio: I was in the hospital after my accident when Yamamoto came to see the wounded pilots from China. Since I crashed of my own mistake, I told him I wanted to die. He said, “Don’t give up. I’m looking for an aide. Come see me when you get out of here.”
Tokuko: The gods have punished us both for our indiscretions.
Fumio: People avert their eyes from me. I must wear a patch or they’ll get sick. It ‘s not pretty.
Tokuko: Our baby had your smile, Fumio. (She wipes her eyes.)
Fumio: (Looking about.) You must meet many rich and successful men.
Tokuko: Yes, all of them middle-aged. Young men don’t climb the ladder so fast to afford this place. (Yoko enters and Tokuko hands her Fumio’s note.)
Yoko: (Reads note, and tells Tokuko) They are safe. (Reading) Eight o’clock. All the good restaurants are closed. We will be hungry as bears. (Her smile changes quickly when she sees Tokoku’s face.) Why are you averting your face?
Tokuko: I cry from happiness. I know him from our village. His sister was my friend and she was sick but now she is recovered. (Beat) Ah, do you want me to tell the cook to start?
Yoko: (Not believing her.) You do that. (Tokuko exits right. Fumio turns toward the door.) Not so fast. Is there something between you and my girl?
Fumio: Oh, no, Madam.

Yoko: If there is, get it out of your head. She works for me. I do not tolerate interference or flirtations. Forbidden.
Fumio: There’s nothing. I swear it. (Beat) They will want to hear your reply.
Yoko: Tokuko appears back in the doorway right without entering, listening and looking at Fumio) Tell them we will be ready for them. (Fumio:, with a last glance at Tokuko, leaves at door left.) Come (Beat) Now. (Tokuko re-enters. Yoko takes Tokuko’s hands in her own.) We are going to entertain tonight and you are going to act very happy. Whatever it is, put it out of your head. You will play samisen and sing. Now let’s dance! Charleston! Charleston! Everybody Charleston! (Yoko tries to force Tokuko to dance but Tokuko doesn’t move. Yoko slaps her face but Tokuko doesn’t respond.) Who is that boy to you?
Tokuko: (Wailing.) He’s the father of my baby!
Yoko: (Nodding.) Oh, little one, all right. I’m so sorry. I couldn’t have guessed. (Hugs her) I lost one, too, the same as you. The very same as you. (They embrace.) Come upstairs with me and we’ll rest. (Soothing.) You tell me about it. (They start to move slowly toward door at right.) I want to hear about it. And I’ll tell you my story. And then we’ll go forward, like women must do. (Lights fade almost to blackout. Sound of wood flute heard for about 30 seconds. Lights slowly brighten.)

ACT TWO, SCENE TWO

Setting: Geisha house.
Time: Later that night.

(Same as previous scene. Knock on door left and Yoko and Tokuko enter from right, hurrying across the stage to receive their guests. Yoko looks at Tokuko and nods and Tokuko nods back. She can go through with it. Tokuko opens the door and Akio enters solemnly. He is dressed in a pinstripe suit. His wavy silver hair gives him the appearance of a matinee idol. The two geishas wear lavish kimonos.)

Akio: I have the pleasure to announce the rebellion is over, at least for this month, and maybe next. The Army rebels have politely laid down their arms and will be politely sent to China. The Emperor will politely pretend he had nothing to do with anything and the ringleaders will politely cry out “Long live the emperor!” as they are politely shot. And tomorrow all Tokyo will be politely normal once again.

(The women bow, unable to repress a smile of anticipation.)

And now, may I present one of the true patriots who helped thwart the plotters. I give you the man who helped developed the Zero fighter plane.

(The women are tittering. Akio removes a harmonica from his pocket and blows a short fanfare, da-DUM!)

I give you the clown prince of the Imperial Navy.

(Akio blows a short da-DUM fanfare on the harmonica, followed by the opening strains of the march “Entry of the Gladiators” by Fucik, popularly known as “the circus music.” Yamamoto enters in his blue working uniform walking on his hands. The women shriek with laughter.)

See him walk on his hands! See him stand on his head! See him wiggle his ears upside down! See him turn cartwheels.

(Akio blasts final fanfare and Yamamoto does cartwheel that lands him in center stage facing the women.)

The one and only: Iso-ro-ku the Magnificent!

(The women make a low bow. Yoko offers Yamamoto her hand, which he kisses.)

Yoko: My lord!
Yamamoto: My lady!
(Akio: slips harmonica into jacket pocket and takes out a flask, gulps a quick drink.)
Yoko: It seems you have set one more modern record — four days late for dinner!
Yamamoto: Forgive us — but we were so rudely interrupted by the Cherry Blossom Society. (Akio removes two small red gift boxes from his pocket and hands them to the women.)
Akio: Besides, our favorite jeweler didn’t remove his shutters until this afternoon.
Yoko: (The women open the boxes with delighted exclamations and fasten pearls to each others’ ears.) What lovely pearls!
Tokuko: Such delicate coloring!
Yoko: (Kissing Yamamoto’s lips lightly.) Isoroku, always so thoughtful. (Yoko nods to Tokuko, who opens a covered wooden bowl of hot towels. The ladies daub the faces of Yamamoto and Akio, and remove their coats and loosen their collars. Akio grabs his flask from his coat pocket, afraid to be parted from it, takes a quick swig. They seat themselves on mats around a small tile table.)

Tokuko:(To Yamamoto) I didn’t know you were such a marvelous acrobat.
Akio: And a magician. (Beat) The Army expects him to conquer the world with his fleet.
Tokuko: Of course, you could.
Yamamoto: That’s a trick even I might not be able to perform.
Yoko: Anyway, the trouble is all over for now, isn’t it?
Yamamoto: Next month, we’ll get another rising. Any minister who opposes the Army will develop, ah, health problems.
Yoko: All that matters is you’re safe. Tokuko, stand up. Turn around for Akio. Now here’s a cherry blossom to lighten your mood. Look at the color in those cheeks.
Akio: Blushing like a rose, Isoroku.
(As though on cue and from thin air Yamamoto produces a red rose and hands it to Tokuko. Akio helps her pin it on. Yamamoto produces another rose and pins it on Yoko.)
Toku
Where did you get such roses this time of year?
Yamamoto: From the little florist on the Ginza you like.
Yoko: Pearls, roses, you used to be so frugal!
Yamamoto: Let’s make the most of this occasion. (Tokuko: pours Scotch and passes glasses around.)

Akio: A drink, why, I’d love one!
Yamamoto: (Toasting) To the gambling dens of the world!
Akio: You know he wins at roulette because he always bets on the zero.
Yamamoto: (Toasting) To blackjack and poker!
Akio: What about bridge? This man once took the Lord Admiral of the British navy for all his money. That stuffed prig couldn’t believe he lost to an Oriental.
Yoko: He should have known better than to challenge a Japanese admiral on his bridge.
Akio: Oh, Yoko, here’s to your jokes!
Yamamoto: That Brit said to me, ‘How do you remember every card played?’ and I told him our language requires us to keep five thousand ideographs in our heads, so what’s fifty-two cards? (Tokuko, pouring more Scotch for Akio:, gives a little shriek.)
Tokuko: There’s a gold piece in my ear! How did you do that?
Yoko: (Feeling about her ears.) Am I in disfavor?
Yamamoto: Look in your glass. (Yoko does and extracts a gold piece from it.)
Tokuko: Show us how you do it!
Yamamoto: Military secret. (Holds up gold piece.) One summer I worked a whole day in the Mexican oil fields for less than this.
Akio: If you took the job they offered, you’d be president of Standard Oil by now.
Yamamoto: This man lies like the Devil! (Unnoticed by Akio, Yamamoto has put a cap with two devil’s horns on his head. The women giggle when they see it. Akio looks at Yamamoto, then feels the horns, and rips them off.)
Akio: See how he ridicules his boyhood friend?
Tokuko: (Putting them back on Akio’s head.) Admiral, they look very devilish on you. What cute horns!
Akio: (Showing the influence of the liquor, expansively.) What do I care? Japan’s going to hell anyway.
Yamamoto: (To Tokuko) It’s his pointed tail you’ve got to watch out for!
Akio: (Rising) A toast to the poor, crazy, deluded people of Japan. (Beat) Nobody cares to join me? Fine, I’ll drink myself. (He does. Yamamoto tugs at him and he sits heavily down.)
Yamamoto: On those cold winter nights back home we only had Sake to keep warm.
Akio: There was so much ice on the trees, snapping branches would wake you up at night.
Yamamoto: We made our own snowshoes out of straw.
Akio: (To Tokuko) So cold we stayed indoors and made love by the fire. (Tokuko looks down.)
Yoko: Oh, please, recite your poem about the moon.
Yamamoto: (He holds his glass for Tokuko to fill, which she does. He then stands and solemnly recites his poem.) Tonight, once more, the moon is pure, and clear. It calls to mind my distant home.
Yoko: Isn’t that beautiful?
Tokuko: Oh, yes, very lovely.
Yamamoto: Our schoolroom was so cold in winter our fingers turned blue.
Akio: Ah, the good old days.
Yamamoto: Right! (Laughs) Before the Russians blew two of my fingers off! (He looks down at his right hand, then involuntarily hides it for a moment behind his back, then forces himself to put it where others can see it.)
Akio: I tell you, this cheapskate would do anything to get twenty per cent off on manicures. (Yoko reaches over for Yamamoto:’s deformed hand and kisses it.)
Tokuko: How I’d love to visit the North country.
Akio: Ice cold rivers. Carp jumping into your net. In the Spring, blossoms on the trees like the lace on ladies’ dresses.
Yamamoto: Now who’s the poet?
Akio: We’d pick wild mushrooms and our mothers broil them in soya. Simple but happy then, right?
Yamamoto: Akio, you really make me long for Nagaoka. Maybe I should retire. The Army wants to liquidate me anyway.
Akio: If you quit, who’s left besides the Naval Minister to oppose Tojo? On the other hand, why risk your life to stop them?
Yamamoto: They can’t even defeat China and they’re skirmishing in Soviet Mongolia again.
Yoko: But Japan will win, no?
Yamamoto: We haven’t got one tank or a bomber as good as the Russians. For a country of paper houses, war should be a sobering thought.
Yoko: Would the Russians bomb civilians?
Yamamoto: The Germans did at Guernica. They’re erasing the line between soldiers and civilians.

Akio: The whole world has seen the newsreel of that Chinese baby, sitting on the ground bawling after we bombed Shanghai. (Yamamoto remains silent, hurt by Akio’s comments.) Isoroku, you know the Russians have five hundred bombers lined up on Siberian runways pointed right at us. If Stalin kills millions of his own, why would he spare us? They have new kinds of bombs that start fires you can’t put out with water. Fumio could tell you what kind of a fire a plane makes when it crashes and the oil and gas ignites.
Yoko: Ug-h.
Tokuko: Is that how Fumio was injured?
Yamamoto: He was the hottest pilot in training. One day he buzzed the base and couldn’t pull up. When he hit the water, he was lucky to climb out.
Tokuko: Sounds like a daredevil.
Yoko: She likes that boy.
Yamamoto: She could pick worse, even if he is reckless. Now, how about we just be frivolous?
Akio: Horror is coming to us, I can feel it.
Yamamoto: Akio, that’s not frivolous enough.
Akio: The same bastards who took away my command will bring it down on us.
Yamamoto: You may be right, but I must say bluntly, friend, it’s no excuse for this steady drinking.
Akio: Not to bombard… that wasn’t cowardice on my part.
Yamamoto: I’m tired of hearing about it! All you lost was your job. A lot of Chinamen lost a lot more. (Puts a hand up.) I’m sorry for my tone of voice.
Akio: I drink to gangrene! Not enough to kill that Socialist, they strangled his wife and son, too.
Yoko: No one is safe from them any more.
Akio: Allow me to inquire, my dear frivolous friend, how can you go on serving them?
Yamamoto: (Exasperated.) All right. Persist, damn it. I am contemplating retirement. Now, my dear pacifist friend, why did you accept the shipyard post? You’re not building fishing smacks.
Akio: Point well taken: Tomorrow I quit the shit-yard. Gonna go home and listen to the wind chimes. Gonna stuff my belly at — what was that little place with the purple lanterns?
Yamamoto: Bosatsu’s Plum.
Akio: That’s the one! And I’m gonna go to the shrine and pray my parents will forgive their disgraced son. (Tokuko, daubs Akio’s face with a warm towel. He stands up suddenly and passes hand across his belly, spilling his glass as he does.) The Army is not gonna have Akio Matsushita to kick around like a dog. I’ll take my own life first.
Yoko: Easier to quit than to die.
Yamamoto: (Tugging him back down.) Sit down, damn it! We’ve all had a few tense days.
Akio: You despise these gangsters as much as I do! When they ask you to sail the Combined Fleet into San Francisco Bay, will you bombard the city?
Yamamoto: When the American Civil War broke out, a general Lee left the Federal army to fight for his home State. He wasn’t for slavery, but he saw serving his State as his duty.
Akio: But it’s not your duty to help Tojo enslave the Orient. (Removes cap with horns from his head and fixes it on Yamamoto’s head.) You wear it. You’re the one who’s gonna do the work of the Devil. (Yamamoto smiles good-naturedly. Tokuko produces a tray of sushi.)
Yoko: Let’s eat. We’ll all feel better.
Akio: (To Tokuko) May I kiss that lovely cheek? (She turns her cheek to him and he kisses it. Akio grabs her impulsively and kisses her on the mouth. Tokuko is holding the sushi tray and cannot resist. Akio stops and looks around. They are all embarrassed.) Ol’ Admiral makin’ a fool a’ himself, right?
Yoko: No! No! Tokuko is irresistible. I like to kiss her myself.
Akio: Give her up and I’ll take her back home with me.
Yoko: (Laughs) But you’ve only just met her tonight! Besides, you’ve got a wife.
Akio: Call it a special arrangement. (To Yoko, indicating Yamamoto.) Hell, I arranged his marriage, didn’t I? He says to me, ‘Find me a sturdy woman to bear my children who is not afraid to milk cows’ so I found him a milkmaid, and he’s been happy ever since, (maliciously) haven’t you?
Yamamoto: Shut up, Aki. Since you’re going home, play us that jazz song, ‘I’m gonna move…’ You play, I’ll sing. (Akio: fumbles removing his harmonica from his pocket, drops it, picks it back up. He plays a few bars of the song. Yamamoto: sings.) I’m gonna mo-o-ve to the outskirts of town. ‘Cause I don’ wan’ nobody who-o-se always hangin’ ‘round. That’s more like it. (They all applaud.)
Akio: I want to hear Tokuko play the samisen.
Yamamoto: Right! Play ‘China Night” for Akio. (She hesitates.) That’s an order. (Tokuko picks up the musical instrument from nearby table.)
Tokuko: And you will sing please, Admiral? Ready? Tokuko plays a brief introduction and when Yamamoto sings a good mood is established.)
Yamamoto: China night, O China night:
Lights of the harbor, violet night
The sound of strings on the ship of dreams.
I can’t forget China night, night of dreams.
(Yoko: joins in singing with Yamamoto through the end of the song.)
Yamamoto: and

Yoko:China night, O China night:
The lanterns swaying in the willows by the window.
A Chinese girl with a red birdcage.
Inconsolable love song:
China Night, night of dreams. (Akio applauds)
Akio: Bravo! Bravo! Hey, let’s all go to the Ginza! We’ll make them open the night clubs!
Yamamoto: I thought you were just going to commit hara-kiri?
Akio: I wouldn’t give Tojo the satisfaction. (Stands and dances, throws punches at imaginary Army leaders.) Hey, Tojo, take that! And that! Pow! How’d you like that haymaker?
Tokuko: What is a haymaker?
Akio: ‘s a punch that puts your opponent to sleep in the hay. (Keeps jabbing the air.)
Yamamoto: I think Akio’s ready for bed. (Tokuko: takes Akio’s arm and starts to steer him toward door right.) The world will look cheerier in the morning.
Akio:I am not ready for bed! (Breaking free of her grip.) You don’t command me here. I’m gonna quit the shit-yard. You gonna quit the Navy?
Yamamoto: I said I’m considering it.
Akio: Is that all you can say, considering? (Hands Yamamoto whiskey bottle.) Drink to it, man! Seal the bargain! We quit together! (Yamamoto takes a drink.) Now say, ‘To hell with the Navy! (Yamamoto shakes his head. Akio grabs bottle back.) See? He is not sincere. Let the dirty bastards drown themselves in the Pacific, see if I care.
Yamamoto: (Angry) I have a hundred thousand sailors to protect. I don’t want even one of them to drown!
Akio: You’re going to fight Tojo’s war and you know it!
Yamamoto: (Tosses water from a glass in Akio’s face.) You’re shit-faced!
Akio: You bet I’m shit-faced. (He jabs the bottle at Yamamoto.) You should get shit-faced yourself because the honorable Japan is dead. (Looks at Tokuko) Maybe it is bed time.
Yamamoto: Yamamoto pauses, then laughs good-naturedly and salutes Akio, who returns salute.) Good night, Admiral.
Akio: (To no one in particular.) Why do I love this man even when he is sailing off course?
Yamamoto: In the morning, you’ll wake up on solid land again. Now go enjoy some wavy ups and downs.
Akio: Goodnight, Admiral.
(Tokuko: leads Akio out. Yamamoto sighs and sits down next to Yoko and puts his arm around her shoulder.)

Yoko: His drinking is out of control. (Yamamoto sighs heavily. They kiss tenderly, then passionately, then Yoko pulls out a handkerchief to dry her eyes.) I can’t complain if you go to sea. I’ve had the best of you. (Yamamototakes her hand and puts it on his knee.)
Yamamoto: You bet you have!
Yoko: Oh, I have a gift for you. (Pulls a package out from under the table and hands it to him. <Yamamoto, pleased, removes the paper. It is a work of calligraphy.)
Yamamoto: Where did you find my calligraphy?
Yoko: In a curio shop.
Yamamoto: I forgot I did this one. One thing about buying my art work, it can’t have cost you much.
Yoko: The proprietor said he only wanted to get his money back for the frame. (Pauses.) Tell me, is there going to be a war with America? The papers are cheering for it.
Yamamoto: Probably. The Emperor quotes a poem, ‘If all men are brothers, why do the waters surge and tremble?’ But he listens to the Army faction that wants to grab the Dutch East Indies and Malaya, so the Dutch, British and Americans will all unite against us.
Yoko: You could go abroad and gamble professionally. You always win. They can hardly accuse you of slight of hand. (She takes his left hand and kisses his three fingers.)
Yamamoto: (Yamamoto kisses her cheek.) I woke up this morning from a dream in which we were driving at night along a winding road on the Riviera. The stars hung down bright as lanterns and our car flew off the highway under them like a magic carpet.
Yoko: I have money, you know. Between us, we could make that dream come true. (Silence.)
Yamamoto: (Evading.) Admit it: I’m as good as any man with ten fingers!
Yoko: And you have the tool of a young man.
Yamamoto: (Sighs) Yes, although sometimes I think that’s where my brains are.
Yoko: You haven’t answered my question about us going away.
Yamamoto: You’ve worked so hard to build this place. We both know you won’t leave it.
Yoko: Maybe if you left, I’d leave, too. The Kempetai is giving me chills.
Yamamoto: I’ll rub your hands and kiss your feet.
Yoko: This isn’t going to be our last night together, is it?

Yamamoto: Not if I can help it. (He stands behind her and massages her shoulders.)
Yoko: Darling, take my hair down with your own hands. (He does so. When it falls loose, she leans her head back so that he can kiss her on the mouth.)
Blackout.

INTERMISSION

Sherwood Ross

Sherwood Ross is an award-winning reporter. He served in the U.S Air Force where he contributed to his base newspaper. He later worked for The Miami Herald and Chicago Daily News. He contributed a weekly column on working for a major wire service. He is also an editorial and book publicist. He currently resides in Florida.

ATTENTION READERS

We See The World From All Sides and Want YOU To Be Fully Informed
In fact, intentional disinformation is a disgraceful scourge in media today. So to assuage any possible errant incorrect information posted herein, we strongly encourage you to seek corroboration from other non-VT sources before forming an educated opinion.

About VT - Policies & Disclosures - Comment Policy

Due to the nature of uncensored content posted by VT's fully independent international writers, VT cannot guarantee absolute validity. All content is owned by the author exclusively. Expressed opinions are NOT necessarily the views of VT, other authors, affiliates, advertisers, sponsors, partners, or technicians. Some content may be satirical in nature. All images are the full responsibility of the article author and NOT VT.