Lesson 18

[Kenneth Johnson]

Kenneth Johnson – Act 3 Middle Scenes

What I learned has to do with having more of my characters motivations revealed in the process of telling the story. I know what my characters want to achieve and where they will end up, but the “why” of it really is becoming more and more fascinating.

Beginning: Naomi Chun, the Korean American political attache addresses the American Legion to explain how the people of South Korea revere those veterans who served in the Korean War.

Middle: Naomi meets Lee and tells him of a special program where he can come to Korea and see what his efforts allowed to be created.

End: Lee tries to decline the offer, but Naomi gets down on her knees and implores Lee to come. He grudgingly agrees. Tells how he first went into Korea.

INT. AMERICAN LEGION POST – CABARET ROOM – NIGHT

The large room is dimly lit with about 20 Legionnaires and their loved ones seated at tables finishing their dinner. NAOMI CHUN is on the stage at the head of the room standing at a lectern. She is a tall and alarmingly good-looking Korean American woman. She is standing in front of a huge movie screen that project images of what she is discussing, currently a memorial in Kansas City.

NAOMI
I’ll be honest with you, traveling across the globe to do photo ops at more than 200 Korean War memorials in every country and U.S. state where I could find them was kind of a publicity stunt. I was trying to draw attention to an important chapter in history that many refer to as the forgotten war. During the Korean War, so many gave so much and then never got the recognition given to veterans of WWII or even Vietnam. Well, I can tell you there is an entire nation that owes its very existence to these brave men and women, and it is my mission to make sure they know how much we appreciate them.

There is a round of applause. Naomi smiles and nods.

Lee enters with Cheryl and sits down at a table where Michael is seated with his friend, Kevin, and his wife. All of the men are in jackets and ties, and the ladies are in evening wear.

Michael and Kevin rise to shake hands with Lee.

MICHAEL
I was afraid you weren’t going to come.

CHERYL
It wasn’t easy. Let’s just say it was the traffic and leave it at that.

LEE
Well, I’m here. Now what.

MICHAEL
I want you to meet Naomi Chun. She’s the lady I told you about.

LEE

I still don’t see the point to all of this.

Naomi has come down from the stage and has made a bee-line to Lee. The gentlemen all stand as she approaches. All except Lee who just stares her down.

NAOMI
You must be Lee.

She sits down next to Lee and puts a hand on his and leans in close.

NAOMI
It is such an honor to meet you. Michael has told me a little about you. I’m so glad we have this chance to meet.

There is a commotion by the stage as a photographer gathers some of the vets for a photo.

NAOMI
You must come with me. We are taking pictures with some of the other veterans. But you are special. You are the only veteran of the Korean War here tonight.

Lee is spellbound and to everyone’s surprise, he willingly follows her to join the others for a picture.
KEVIN
I thought you said he didn’t like taking pictures with veterans.

MICHAEL
I guess it just takes the right motivation.

CHERYL
How are you going to get from pictures with vets to flying to Korea. He’s not going along with that.

MICHAEL
We have a plan.

When the pictures are done, Naomi waves for Michael to join them. When Michael joins them, Naomi takes both of their hands but speaks directly to Lee.

NAOMI
I heard your time in Korea was hard. Your memories are not good ones. Your whole unit was wiped-out. But because of your sacrifice we have a country. We want you to know what an honor it is simply to be in your presence.

Naomi takes a step back, lowers herself to her knees and bows to gently touch her head to the floor. She raises up, still kneeling and looks Lee in the eye.

NAOMI
We want you to come to Seoul. You will be our guest.

Flummoxed, Lee looks around the room then looks to Michael.

LEE
Well, I don’t know.

MICHAEL
Sounds like a pretty amazing opportunity.

Naomi stands.

NAOMI
There is no cost. And Michael can accompany you. Will you come?

LEE
Can I think about it?

MICHAEL
What’s to think about? It doesn’t get much better than this.

LEE
Maybe, maybe not. The last time I was in Korea things were a lot worse.

FLASH BACK

EXT. KOREAN COUNTRYSIDE – ROAD – DAY

The Black soldiers march with their weapons as big six by six trucks drive by hauling equipment with artillery pieces towed behind.

LEE
(V.O. Narration)
The first thing they told us was we had to walk into battle. Trucks are for equipment. And talking about equipment, everything we had was surplus left over from WWII.

EXT. KOREAN COUNTRYSIDE – CAMP – TWILIGHT

Lee cleans his old M1 Carbine rifle. Another soldier opens canned meat that looks like dog food.

LEE
(V.O. Narration)
Our weapons, our uniforms, even our field rations. Some of the stuff we had was close to ten years old.

EXT. KOREAN COUNTRYSIDE – NIGHT

Lee and three other soldiers move warily through the underbrush with four more soldiers not far behind. All have their rifles at the ready.

LEE
(V.O. Narration)
The toughest part was our assigned duty. Our job was to go out at night to where HQ thought the enemy might be.

Their Sergeant holds up a fist and they all stop. Then they all drop down. He pulls out a map and a small red flashlight. He taps Lee on the shoulder and points. Lee levels his weapon and fires one shot. Suddenly, the night is filled with gunfire. The Sergeant is handed a phone and he calls in the coordinates. He then orders a headlong retreat.

LEE
(V.O. Narration)
We were to trigger an ambush, call in an artillery mission on our own position, and then run like hell. That was our job. Night after night: live bait.

Artillery shells arrive to devastate the area where they had been crouching.

END FLASH BACK

LEE
I guess I could go back.

Naomi gives Michael a not sure kind of look before confidently speaking to Lee.

NAOMI
This will be something special.