Lesson 19

[Kenneth Johnson]

Kenneth Johnson – Act 3 Turning Point

I learned that a scene has a way of building itself to the necessary specifications, sort of like the room of requirement in the Harry Potter series.

Beginning: Lee and Michael clear customs at Inchon Airport and are greeted by their hosts.

Middle: Through the introductions, the photos and the gold neckerchiefs of honor, Lee sees some of the Korean War vets and he is uncomfortable, lets Michael do the talking.

End: They ride into Seoul on luxuriously appointed coach and stop at an expensive restaurant for a lavish banquet. Lee won’t touch the Korean food. Instead he pulls out packets of cheese and crackers that he brought from home.

INT. INCHON AIRPORT – LOBBY – DAY

Lee and Michael come out of customs into the brightly lit cavernous lobby of the airport. They are met with two young Korean PHOTOGRAPHERS, a man and a woman, both spotting long dreadlocks and smiling warmly as they click away.

An impeccably dressed Korean MAN and WOMAN approach Lee and Michael. This is PASTOR CHUN and KAREN PARK, elders with the local Christian mega church that is hosting the veterans on behalf of the South Korean government.

PASTOR CHUN
Are you Lee Jones and Michael Jones.

The Church Elder extends his hand. Lee just looks at him. Michael steps between them and shakes hands.

MICHAEL
Yes, this is Lee and I am Michael, his son.

He looks deeply into Lee’s eye, almost as if he is bearing his soul.

PASTOR CHUN
It is my honor to greet you as you return to this land for which you sacrifice so much.

The other church elder has an arm full of long yellow scarves held with a single golden ring. She opens a scarf wide between her hands and places it over Lee’s head and onto his shoulders. She does the same for Michael.

MICHAEL
Oh wait, I’m not a vet.

KAREN
You are his son. You do him honor by being here. So we are happy to honor you as well.

Michael is touched.

MICHAEL
I really wasn’t expecting that.

Karen has a clipboard which she marks off as she move Lee and Michael to join the rest of the group.

Lee leans over to Michael and says very quietly.

LEE
I don’t see any other Black people here.

MICHAEL
Don’t worry about it, Dad. I’m sure there will be some other folks along.

Lee sees some of the other veterans are there wearing their Korean War uniforms. This makes Lee very uncomfortable.

Karen and Pastor Chun herd everyone together for a group picture.

LEE
Don’t make me pose with them.

MICHAEL
We’ll just go on this side. OK?

Michael moves Lee away from the uniformed vets.

The two dreadlocked photographers snap away as Lee tries to blend in with the wallpaper.

EXT. INCHON AIRPORT BUS LOADING ZONE— DAY

The group of about 40 veterans and their families board three luxuriously appointed coaches for the trip into Seoul.

EXT. SOUTH KOREAN HIGHWAY – DAY

The coach cruise along immaculately clean highways with no trash and no graffiti.

INT. LUXURY COACH – DAY

Michael and Lee relax in the finely stitched white leather seats and take in the view of the countryside and small towns along the way. Lee still looks like a fish out of water.

EXT. RESTAURANT A – DAY

The very well dressed Korean church members guide their guests off of the coaches and into the restaurant.

INT. RESTAURANT A – DINING ROOM – DAY

Everyone finds seats around a huge circular table. Pastor Chun and several other local and national dignitaries get up to make speeches as sumptuous meal of Korean delicacies is laid out before them.

Lee won’t touch it. Instead he pulls out packets of cheese and crackers that he brought from home. Michael sees this and is not please. He speaks quickly in hushed tones.

MICHAEL
Is this some kind of protest?

LEE
I don’t know what that is.

MICHAEL
This is obviously a very expensive meal. Would you at least try some of the beef? You like beef, right?

LEE
No.

Lee gets up and walks into the bar.

INT. RESTAURANT A – BAR – DAY

The bar is empty. Lee sits on a bar stool. Michael just stands there looking at him.

MICHAEL
What are you doing, Dad?

LEE
I don’t like it here. I don’t like this. I want to go home.

MICHAEL
We just got here. Can you give it a chance?

LEE
It was bad when I was here before. Seemed like every time I turned around somebody was shootin’ at us. But I suppose there were good day, too.

FLASH BACK

EXT. KOREAN VILLAGE – DAY

Lee and seven other Black soldier on patrol move through a village. A couple of the kids have a ball made from a goat bladder and they are kicking it around. Lee slings his rifle and joins in. More kids come to watch and play.

LEE
(V.O. Narration)
The best part for me was dealing with the locals. They seemed to like us OK. I mean they weren’t shootin’ at us and they weren’t tellin’ on us. At least I don’t think they were.

Sitting down, Lee gives a couple of the kid some of his Hershey bar. The kids are fascinated and the parents are curious.

LEE
(V.O. Narration)
When I figured out they had never had chocolate before, I got my buddies to give up their Hershey bars, too.

Other members of the patrol pull out their Hershey bars and share.

LEE
(V.O. Narration)
The kid’s parents got a kick out of the whole thing. That was a good day. Nobody died.

The adults in the village offer tea and share their food with the Lee and his patrol.

END FLASH BACK

INT. RESTAURANT A – BAR – DAY

Lee goes back to the dining room to listen to the speeches. Michael follows not sure what to make of any of this.