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Transcript of TWO BROTHERS
TWO BROTHERS
GRACE ANDREACCHI
The right of Grace Andreacchi to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. This is a work of fiction. Any similarity of persons, places or events depicted herein to actual persons, places or events is purely coincidental. This play first appeared in Horizon Review. Copyright © 2009 by Grace Andreacchi . All rights reserved ISBN 978-1-4092-3672-6 Published by Andromache Books, London Cover image: Swallows Diving, Totoya Hokkei
by the same author
For the theatre
AGNES
LAWRENCE
RAPHAEL AND TOBIAS
Fiction
SCARABOCCHIO
POETRY AND FEAR
GIVE MY HEART EASE
MUSIC FOR GLASS ORCHESTRA
Poetry
ELYSIAN SONNETS AND OTHER POEMS
TWO BROTHERS
GRACE ANDREACCHI
Andromache Books
Acknowledgements
This play is based on the traditional Korean tale ‘Heungbu and Nolbu’, with additional material adapted from classical and folk Korean poetry.
TWO BROTHERS
2
CAST OF CHARACTERS
SONHWA, the Narrator.
Gentle goddess of the pumpkin, her name means 'Fairy Flower'. She wears a traditional high-waisted Korean dress in shimmering white, bound with a blue and orange sash, and an elaborate orange head-dress that represents the pumpkin.
HEUNGBU
NOLBU, older brother to Heungbu
BO BAE, or 'Treasure', wife to Heungbu
TAEKWON, or 'Sour Pickle', wife to Nolbu
JOO EUN, or 'Silver Pearl', Heungbu's baby daughter
1st SWALLOW
2nd SWALLOW
SWALLOW KING
SWALLOW COURTIERS, MAID SERVANTS & CHILDREN
A SERPENT
TWO SMALL BOYS
TWO MOON MAIDENS
TWO GOBLINS
A SWALLOW PUPPET
3
NOTE: Downstage right is a small tree, about 5 feet in height, which occupies the
same place throughout and indicates the change of seasons. In spring it is covered in
white blossoms - it is a plum tree. In winter it is a snow-covered pine. In autumn it
is a maple covered in bright red leaves.
1. PROLOGUE
[The story takes place in a small Korean village, long ago. Centre stage is a snug
and comfortable house set in a garden. Downstage right the plum tree. Rosy dawn
light and the morning chorus of birds. Enter Sonhwa.]
SONHWA I am Sonhwa, the Flower Fairy of the
Pumpkin
Every spring I bear a white blossom
Every fall I yield a big bright pumpkin
Tasty to eat, also useful for drinking
gourds
or fine hat!
[Taps her head-dress.]
In this house live two brothers
Their names are Heungbu and Nolbu.
Nolbu is the older brother.
I'm afraid to tell you about him -
You won't like hearing it. He's not a nice
man at all.
What's he like? Well!
Eats a lot, drinks a lot, curses a lot
Beats people up a lot
Has his own way a lot
Slaps his own wife a lot
Slaps crippled man, pinches baby
4
Speaks rough words to father and mother
Pulls a dog's tail
Drowns a cat
Spits in the rice pot
And rubs pepper in people's eyes just for
fun.
His heart is crooked like a kudzu vine,
grown all in a tangle.
His wife Taekwon is named after the sour yellow
pickle which she resembles very much. She's so
greedy she wants the best of everything for herself. If
she went to the market and saw some fine new thing
for sale, she'd fall down in a faint if she couldn't have
it, and wouldn't get up for maybe one hundred days.
Now Heungbu is not like that at all. Heungbu, the
younger brother, is good-natured and loyal. His heart
is straight as a flying arrow. He loves his wicked
brother Nolbu, and sighs to see him do wickedness
every day. Still, he says nothing, he bites his lips.
Even when Nolbu beats him he tries to bear it
without complaining. His wife Bo Bae is named after
a treasure, but she's only a poor farmer's daughter.
Still, she's a simple, good-hearted girl. Whether she
will be a treasure to Heungbu we must wait and see.
Now father and mother have died, and the house,
and the rice fields, and the horses, and the cattle and
the money all belong to Nolbu. I wish he would
share a little of this wealth with his brother! Are they
not sons of the same mother? But no, Nolbu has told
his brother to leave the house where he was born,
immediately - right now - this very morning.
5
Surely in the western paradise she weeps
To see such cruelty from brother to
brother.
How can you put him out of the house?
Are you not both children of mine?
See in the garden these tears of dew
A mother is weeping for her children.
One for his wicked heart
The other for his sorrow.
The little leaves are wet with mother's
tears
The morning sky is wet with her tears.
[Exit Sonhwa]
2.
[Now it is bright morning. The house door flies open and Heungbu and his wife,
Bo Bae, tumble out, propelled by heavy blows from Nolbu. They lie on the ground,
dazed and shaken. Nolbu stands in the doorway and behind his back we see his
wife Taekwon, who shakes her fist at them.]
NOLBU [Shakes his fist at them.]
You good-for-nothing!
Now get out of my house and don't show
your ugly face again.
Don't think you can live off me. What's
mine is mine.
You and your lazy wife clear off, double
quick!
6
TAEKWON Yeah, that's right - clear off!
No more getting fat on my rice!
Greedy little brother.
No more dressing up in my clothes!
Ugly sister-in-law.
NOLBU Wife, shut up - I'll do the talking.
Now the two of you get out of here.
HEUNGBU Brother, don't talk like that!
Brothers are like hands and feet
If we two brothers part
Won't we stumble on the road of life?
Won't we miss one another's helping
hand?
NOLBU [grinning]
I think I'll manage all right without you
And your free-loading wife.
Now shut your mouth and clear off!
[He goes into the house and slams the door. Heungbu gets up and helps Bo Bae to
her feet. They brush themselves off and straighten their clothes.]
BO BAE [Gently arranging his clothes for him, brushing the dust from
his hair.]
Never mind, my husband
If your brother says 'go', let us go.
HEUNGBU [dazed]
But where shall we go? Where?
We have no home now.
7
Nowhere to go.
Nolbu has given us nothing
Not even a water gourd, not even a shirt,
Not even a pair of straw sandals. Nothing.
BO BAE The swallows have their nests
And the foxes their holes.
We too can build a house for ourselves.
Let's go up into the green mountains
There we can cut reeds enough
to make a small house.
3.
[Heungbu and his wife begin to walk. Behind them the scene changes to a rugged
mountain landscape. Enter Sonhwa]
SONHWA They walked and walked till they came to a bare
place under a mountain, that nobody wanted. There
they cut reeds and, working all day, soon built a
house for themselves.
[Light comes up on a tiny reed hut. Inside are Heungbu and Bo Bae.]
SONHWA But it was not much of a house.
That house was so small, when they lay
down to sleep
Their feet stuck out of the door.
[Heungbu and Bo Bae's feet appear under the door.]
That house was so small, when they got
up in the morning
Their heads poked right through the roof!
8
[Heungbu and Bo Bae now stand and their heads appear, poking through the
roof.]
At night they could see the stars shining
over their heads.
When it rained the rain came in
And rained right into the house.
When the north wind blew it blew right
through the walls
Right into the house
Where Heungbu and his wife shivered
and shivered
And shivered with cold.
[Heungbu and Bo Bae shiver, clasping one another, and collapse onto the floor of
the hut.]
What to do?
Hold tight, keep warm together
Soon they get a baby like that.
[Sound of a baby crying inside the hut. Now the tree is changed to the snow-covered
pine.]
4.
SONHWA They call that baby Joo Eun, after the silver pearl,
hoping she will bring good fortune to her parents.
Poor Joo Eun! How should a baby bring good
fortune? No sooner born, she is hungry and cold.
Daughter of a poor man, she cries all day and all
night. Heungbu works hard, ploughing in winter,
planting in spring, still the rice pot is empty most
9
nights. Bo Bae works hard, sewing clothes for rich
ladies, pounding grain, picking herbs in spring, still
too many nights the pot is empty, the chipped bowls
stand upside down on the shelf. Poor Bo Bae! Wife
of a poor man, her tears fall into the thin broth she is
stirring, hoping to make it grow thicker. But stirring
alone won't thicken soup, and her tears only make it
salty.
See them now, dressed in old rags, sitting in their ice-
cold hut with nothing but broth for supper.
[Inside the hut. Heungbu and Bo Bae are seated on the floor at a low table. Bo
Bae holds the child in her lap. Before them are two small bowls of broth. Bo Bae is
trying to feed some broth to the child.]
BO BAE Come, Joo Eun, come my little silver pearl, just one
mouthful. Oh! She only spits it out.
HEUNGBU No wonder. This broth tastes of nothing but salt.
Pah!
[spitting it out]
Nobody can eat this stuff.
BO BAE [to the child]
Come, my sweet girl, come now, my precious jewel,
open your mouth... Oh! She simply won't eat it.
[Begins to cry softly]
What are we to do? I've no more milk to give her,
and she won't eat the broth. Look how thin she is,
poor little thing!
[The baby begins to cry piteously. Bo Bae croons to her, rocking her in her arms.]
10
Hush, my baby, don't cry!
Will you have sweets?
Will you have rice?
Mama has no more milk for you
It's all gone dry -
Hush, oh hush, don't cry!
Hush, my baby, don't cry!
I don't want sweets!
I don't want rice!
Papa shall fetch a bucket of milk
From the Milky Way in the sky -
Hush, my baby, don't cry!
There, she's sleeping now. But I'm afraid hunger will
soon wake her.
[She lays the child on a pile of rags in the corner, covers her with her own shawl.]
BO BAE [Turns to Heungbu.]
Something must be done. The child is starving.
HEUNGBU Let us pray once more to Heaven...
BO BAE No, Heungbu! Listen to me - Are you the father of
this child or not? All your prayers aren't enough to
fill her tiny stomach even once. Go to the house of
your rich brother and tell him how it is with us.
Surely he'll let you have something, if only a little rice,
if only a handful of barley, to tide us over until
spring,
HEUNGBU My brother? The only thing I'll get from him is a
knock on the head for my trouble.
11
BO BAE You could at least try, if only for the sake of our
child. He is your brother, after all.
HEUNGBU Yes, he's my brother. Very well, if you insist, I'll go.
Only please don't expect too much. You know what
he's like.
5.
[Outside Nolbu's house. The snow lies thick. Downstage right the snow-covered
pine, downstage left, a wooden shelter filled with sacks of grain.]
SONHWA With a heavy heart Heungbu set out for the house of
his brother Nolbu. Look at him - what a shame! With
his patched coat, ragged trousers, his hat with a hole
in it, and on his feet old straw sandals that are falling
to pieces in the snow.
[Heungbu appears, approaching the house.]
Slowly, slowly, he draws close to the
house
Slowly he circles it, afraid to speak to his
own brother.
Tired and hungry, eaten up with fear
Perhaps it would be better, he thinks
To lie down in the thick snow and die.
But he remembers Bo Bae
Waiting patiently for his return.
He remembers Joo Eun, his tiny silver
pearl,
12
Waiting for her father to bring her a
bucket of milk
From the river in the sky.
He can't fly up to that river of stars
And fetch down milk for his child
But he can at least try his luck
Here, with his older brother.
[Heungbu notices the pile of sacks under the wooden shelter. Cautiously he
approaches and peeks into one of the sacks.]
HEUNGBU What's this piled up
Sack upon sack in the courtyard?
Sack upon sack of rice!
Sack upon sack of barley!
What happiness for Heungbu -
My brother has so much grain
Surely he can spare one sack for Joo Eun.
[Meanwhile Nolbu is seen peering out the window at Heungbu. Heungbu goes up
to the door and knocks, then steps back and bows very low. Nolbu opens the
door.]
HEUNGBU [Bowed almost to the ground]
Most honoured older brother! I come to inquire
about your health. Are you quite well, sir?
NOLBU Who are you?
HEUNGBU Who... am I? Why, I'm Heungbu.
NOLBU Heungbu? Who is 'Heungbu'? I don't
know anybody by that name.
13
HEUNGBU Oh, brother, how can you say such a thing? Don't
speak to me like that, brother, please don't. I've come
to your house, a shameless beggar, it's true. I bow
before you, here in the snow, and ask only a little
rice, not for myself but for my hungry child.
Please, my brother
For the sake of love between brothers
Let me have just one sack of rice
for my baby girl.
I swear to you we are starving
There's not a bite of food in the house.
If the child doesn't eat something soon
She will die
and her tiny bones will scatter on the
wind,
Her small spirit will soar away to heaven
Leaving her parents alone and desolate.
Pray, my brother
Let me have just one sack -
I'll work hard on your farm when the
spring comes
I'll plough acres of fields for just one bag of rice.
Please, my brother
Remember the love between brothers
And let my child live.
NOLBU You shameless fellow!
If it's heaven's will to give me something
And you nothing - is that my fault?
HEUNGBU The fault is all mine, brother
I am truly shameless.
14
I stoop to beg for the sake of my child.
If you won't give a sack
Give only one cupful -
A cup of rice that my child may live
If only for a day.
NOLBU Listen, whatever-your-name-is -
Why should I open my rice sacks for your
sake?
Why should I rob even my dog of his
dinner
to feed your ugly brat?
Why should my pigs go hungry
So your little pig of a daughter
Can get fat at my expense?
Aren't you selfish, coming here
To rob me of what's mine?
HEUNGBU Even if it be so, spare me, brother.
NOLBU [Motions Heungbu to follow him and walks to the wooden
shelter where the sacks are stored.]
Come here, brother, right over here -
Maybe I've got something for you after all.
[Heungbu follows him eagerly. Nolbu reaches behind the sacks and takes out an
axe-handle. He wheels round and beats Heungbu with it mercilessly.]
HEUNGBU Oh, brother, stop!
Don't beat me, brother, don't!
You're worse than a roaring dragon!
15
You're worse than a greedy carp!
Why do you treat me like this, why?
If you don't want to give, don't give -
But why do you beat me?
Oh, if our mother could see you now
What would she say?
Will you beat me to death, brother?
[Nolbu, exhausted with beating him, throws down the axe-handle and stands
there, panting heavily, looking down at Heungbu, who lies on the ground, badly
hurt.]
NOLBU That's my answer. Now get out of here,
you good-for-nothing.
[Nolbu goes into the house and slams the door behind him. Slowly Heungbu gets
to his feet, rubs himself all over, examines his many wounds,]
SONHWA Now Heungbu's heart was so heavy within him, his
only wish was to return home. But first he must say
good-bye to his brother's wife. And who knows?
Perhaps she, being a woman, would prove to have a
softer heart than her husband.
[Light comes up on Taekwon in the kitchen, stirring a pot of rice with a large
ladle. Heungbu approaches her, limping badly.]
HEUNGBU [bowing deeply]
Most honoured sister-in-law!
My best wishes for your honourable
health!
[Taekwon turns around from the stove, pretends to be astonished to see him there.]
16
TAEKWON What, you? What do you want?
HEUNGBU Only a handful of rice,
Dear sister-in-law,
Only one spoonful of rice
For my baby girl -
Joo-Eun, the silver pearl,
Beloved child of most unworthy parents.
[Overcome with desire, Heungbu approaches the rice pot. Taekwon hits him across
the cheek with the ladle.]
TAEKWON How dare you come in here! You want to rob us?
Help, husband! Help! It's that brother of yours again!
[Heungbu rubbing his cheek finds a few grains of rice have stuck there. Unable to
control his hunger, he swallows them.]
HEUNGBU Ah, generous sister-in-law,
Hit me again, please -
Here, on the other cheek!
Let me have just a few more grains of rice
To take home with me...
TAEKWON I'll let you have something, all right!
[She puts down the ladle and takes up the poker from the kitchen fire and hits
him with that. Heungbu retreats under her blows. He collapses in a heap under the
snowy pine tree.]
17
6.
[Night has fallen. Heungbu comes to himself again under the pine tree. A bright
moon has risen. He sits up and looks around him.]
HEUNGBU Now the bright moon shines on the world
below
A Palace of Broad Cold everywhere
glittering.
Snowy treasures, free for the taking
Property of everyone.
How can my heart be sad
in such a place as this?
Surely the simple life is best.
Poor and foolish me!
May I live like a bird
Trusting all to heaven.
Good fortune and bad
Let them come as they will
Truly a man's path is not his own.
[Heungbu gets to hit feet, brushes the snow from his clothes, and begins the journey
home, limping painfully.]
18
7.
SONGHWA Meanwhile, in the little hut, Bo Bae is waiting
anxiously for her husband's return. As the thirsty
earth waits for rain in a long drought, as the prisoner
deep under ground waits for the day he will see the
sun again, as the motherless child waits with a heart
full of pain for the one who has gone away, so she
waits for her beloved husband.
[Inside the hut. By the light of a single lamp, Bo Bae is working at a spinning
wheel; her child lies in a heap of rags at her feet.]
BO BAE [sings]
O, my jewel! O my pearl!
In heaven, on earth
The best little girl!
Tiny gem under my jacket
Like a green leaf my daughter came.
If I had gold, if I had silver
I'd give it all for this child of mine.
Round my heart the rain clouds gather
Spin by moonlight the moonlight silk.
Mama shall make you a moonlight jacket
Moonlight jacket white as milk.
You are a fairy bright as a moonbeam
You are a Princess come down from the sky.
If I had coral, pearls and amber
Still this child I never could buy.
19
[She pauses for a moment to listen for the sound of Heungbu returning, but hears
nothing.]
BO BAE [to herself]
So late! And still no sign of him. How can people say
'time flies'? Tonight it seems to stand still, just as if
the cold had frozen it.
[Resumes her spinning and singing.]
Round my heart the darkness gathers
Snow is falling round the house.
Round and round the wheel is spinning -
Bring some rice for my little mouse!
[Again she leaves off spinning. This time she has heard someone at the door. It is
Heungbu. She goes quietly to the door.]
BO BAE [Speaking softly so as not to wake the baby.]
There you are at last, my husband!
Come in, come in, and show me what
you've got.
[Heungbu staggers into the house and collapses onto the floor.]
BO BAE I see the wine was good at your brother's house. A
few fine toasts to brotherly love, that's all very well.
But where is the rice for Joo Eun?
HEUNGBU Listen, my dear little wife, it happened like
this:
[He motions to her and she kneels down beside him to listen.]
20
When I got to my brother's house
The two of them, Nolbu and his dear wife
Came running out to greet me.
Laughing with joy, they brought me into
their house.
'Brother, why don't we see you more
often?' they cried.
They served up the best of the wine
And a huge lunch of steamed rice and
juicy meat dumplings.
Then they gave me a heavy sack of rice
And another, just as heavy, of red beans.
'Take this home for your dear wife and
little Joo Eun,' they said,
'And be sure to visit us again soon.'
They even offered me one of their servant
boys
to carry the sacks. But I,
Shamed by their generous nature said,
'No, it is enough, Brother!'
I put the sacks on my back and started for
home.
Only listen what happened next!
I was nearly home,
Just crossing that narrow pass where the kites nest -
There I met a robber
He knocked me down in the snow
and took all I had -
I've come home empty-handed.
Not my brother's fault!
All my fault -
Poor and foolish Heungbu.
21
[He covers his face with his hands.]
BO BAE [speaking softly]
That's enough! I see how it is.
One heavy sack of rice
One big sack of red beans -
All lies!
Oh husband of mine, why do you lie to me
like this?
Don't I know your brother Nolbu?
Don't I know his wife?
[Gently she pulls his hands away from his face - they are covered in blood.]
What's this? Blood on your hands?
Blood on your face?
[She examines him more closely.]
Cuts and bruises everywhere!
Don't tell me - there was never any robber.
Your own brother has done this to you.
Oh, my poor husband!
And it was I who made you go to him!
[She fetches a basin of water and gently washes his wounds.]
Oh, my husband, my heart!
You said that you hated to go
You said it was no use asking him
But I, foolish wife - I insisted!
You, kind and gentle, wouldn't say 'no' to
me.
22
Now you're bruised all over like a rotten
peach!
Poor dear husband!
How could your brother beat you like that
And send you away without even
a single grain of rice?
Wicked Nolbu! Wicked and cruel!
To treat a brother like that.
HEUNGBU Bo Bae, my sweet little wife
You are better to me than any treasure.
Never mind my brother -
They say even a king in his castle
Can't feed all his hungry people.
How then should my brother
fare any better?
Let's not be afraid of our poverty -
There's no shame in a humble life.
We'll work harder than ever.
With so many chores in the village -
With ploughing and sowing
Spinning and weaving
Matting and thatching
Fetching and carrying
We'll manage somehow until spring.
If we skip a few meals, what does it
matter?
We'll give what we have to Joo Eun
And our hearts will grow fat, watching her
eat.
Good times, bad times - neither lasts
forever.
23
Winter soon will pass and spring -
The lovely spring will come
Like an emerald wave rushing over the
whole earth
Filling every corner with sparkling green.
Let's live in peace with our poverty -
Honesty and good faith are treasures too.
[Bo Bae helps him to the mat and they lie down together in one another's arms.]
8.
[The scene changes to early spring. Downstage right the blossoming plum tree. The
sound of gentle birdsong is heard. Heungbu comes out of the house carrying a spade
and a rough plank of wood. He fixes the plank to the outside wall of the house; it
is a hand-lettered sign that reads: 'WELCOME SPRING'. Then he takes up
the spade and begins to dig in the garden. Enter Sonhwa.]
SONHWA Now the lovely Maid of Spring
comes stepping on her tiny feet
up to the poor man's gate.
Now peach and plum blossoms gather
outside his door
Waving their silken sleeves in greeting.
The grass grows thick in the fields
The willows droop their feathered heads
over the misty stream.
Already the wild geese have flown
And out of the deep blue sky
The light-winged swallow comes
swooping and fluttering.
24
[As she speaks these words the silhouettes of wild geese are seen flying away over
the mountains. We hear their parting cries. A swallow (puppet) comes swooping
and twittering around Heungbu's house. Heungbu leaves off digging for a moment
to regard the swallow.]
HEUNGBU Hey there, pretty fellow! Looking for a place to build
your nest? I wouldn't stop here if I were you. This
little house of mine's liable to tumble down with the
first big rainfall!
[The swallow perches on the roof of the hut, and sings to him, a long trill.]
HEUNGBU Oh, so you like it here, do you? A quiet spot pleases
you best, far from the dust of the busy world. It's
true - we're at peace here, alone with the clear moon
and bright sun. But listen to me, little one, though
you're only a bird, surely you want the best for your
children too. Fly down to the village yonder, and
choose a rich man's house. Build your nest under the
shadow of his sturdy wooden eaves, and raise your
children there in safety.
[The bird shakes its head, utters a loud trill, then begins to build a nest under the
eaves of Heungbu's hut. Bo Bae comes out of the house, carrying a basket of food
and Joo Eun on her arm. She pauses to watch the swallow at work.]
BO BAE Look, Joo Eun! See the pretty bird! Aren't we the
lucky ones, to have such a fine fellow for company.
We must take care to put out a few crumbs for him
every day. You'll see - soon he too will have hungry
babies to feed. Pretty little babies - just like my Joo
Eun!
25
[She carries the basket to Heungbu. They sit down together on the ground and she
unpacks a very small lunch.]
BO BAE [Offering the food to Heungbu]
Eat, my husband, eat! How hungry you must be,
working all morning long in the garden.
HEUNGBU And you, little wife? Aren't you hungry yourself?
Working all morning with needle and thread? I'm
afraid my little wife is too thin... [He takes her hand.]
Look at these poor little hands - thin as grasshoppers!
BO BAE [Laughing, pulls away her hand.]
No! How can you say such things? I'm fat as a duck,
as you know very well! It's just that I don't need as
much food as you. Besides, Joo Eun and I have
already eaten.
[The swallow pauses on the roof for a moment to sing.]
Just look at him! He's so full of joy, he can't help
singing. And I feel just the same! Just think, soon the
whole garden will be bursting with fine fat vegetables!
HEUNGBU Bursting?
BO BAE Exploding! Cabbages as big as cartwheels! Peapods
the size of pumpkins! Pumpkins the size of... Joo
Eun!
[Heungbu has finished eating. He rises, sprinkles a few crumbs of food for the
swallow, bowing comically to the bird as he does so.]
26
HEUNGBU Here you are, sir! Please help yourself, honoured
guest! [to Bo Bae] I told him not to stop here,
but he wouldn't listen. Well, we must do what we can
for him! I'm off to see about those rice fields now.
How happy I am today! It's true what they say:
Neither good fortune nor bad lasts forever!
Gentle spring returns, filling all creatures
with pure joy.
One single spirit sings from the heart of
things
A thousand voices, one lovely song -
Welcome Spring!
[Heungbu shoulders his spade and goes off. Bo Bae gathers up the remains of the
meal and goes into the house.]
9.
[A few weeks later. The same scene, by night. A full moon is shining in the sky.
Enter Sonhwa.]
SONHWA Soon the nest is filled with new life.
All day long the swallow and his mate
Hurry back and forth with food for their
children.
By night they huddle in their home under
the eaves
Warming the little ones with their feathers.
[As Sonhwa speaks the following, the Serpent enters and performs the actions as
she relates them.]
27
Until the night the serpent comes
slithering into the garden.
The swallows in their nest
think themselves safe - but no!
Silently the footless beast glides on its
belly
right up to the nest
Seizes them one by one in its mouth
and devours them.
Only one young swallow escaped.
It fell into the long grass -
The serpent didn't see it hiding there!
When it was gone, the swallow began to
cry.
[The piteous cries of the swallow are heard as the day breaks. Bo Bae comes out of
the house with a watering pot and begins to water the garden. She hears the cries,
finds the swallow in the grass. She takes it up gently in her hands.]
BO BAE Poor little thing! Did you fall out of the nest? How
did it happen? Weren't mother and father watching
over you? [She peeks into the nest.] All gone! All ruined!
[The swallow continues to cry.] And your leg's broken as
well. Heungbu, come quickly! Heungbu, something's
happened to the swallow family!
[Heungbu comes out of the house, only half-dressed.]
HEUNGBU What's all the fuss? [Looks at the crying bird.] What's
wrong with the little fellow?
BO BAE I found him just over there in the grass. I think his
leg is broken. And what's more - the nest is empty!
The swallows are gone - every one!
28
HEUNGBU Gone! [He examines the nest.] Look at that - it's been
smashed. A serpent has done this thing.
No other creature
would attack these gentle harmless birds
No other creature
would gobble down these innocent young
Before they've even had time to learn to
fly!
Look here, where he slid on his evil belly in the grass
-
Vicious beast! Even its shape is evil!
Where is it? I'll make it pay for its crime!
[Heungbu seizes the garden spade and searches in the grass for the serpent.]
Beast! Cruel beast! Come out and let me smash your
head for you!
[The swallow cries louder then ever. Bo Bae tries to soothe it.]
BO BAE There, there, don't cry - We'll be your parents now.
[to Heungbu] It's too late. I'm sure the serpents' gone
back to his lair. We'd better see what we can do
about this little one.
[Heungbu puts down the spade and approaches her.]
HEUNGBU It seems you're right - there's no sign of the monster.
[He takes the wounded swallow from Bo Bae.] Poor little
fellow! His leg is broken. Bring me a bit of fine silk
thread and I'll bind it up properly.
29
[Bo Bae goes into the house.]
HEUNGBU [to the swallow]
Never mind, young sir - We'll look after
you now!
When I remember how proud your father
was of his family
It makes my heart ache.
How wrong to hurt the pretty swallow
Who does no harm to anyone
Who eats no grain nor seed of ours
Who flies in and out before the King of
Heaven
cutting the sky with graceful, fluttering
wings...
[Bo Bae returns.]
BO BAE I've brought a bit of red silk thread - I took it from
my wedding dress.
HEUNGBU Now you just hold him carefully while I
tie his leg.
BO BAE How he's trembling!
HEUNGBU Steady... There we are! That should hold till the leg
has time to heal itself. [The swallow has stopped its crying.
Now it utters a soft trill. Heungbu strokes its feathers.]
There you are, young sir. That's better, isn't it? Now
we need a nest for him. Line a basket with leaves still
wet with morning dew - that will make a soft bed.
We'll keep him inside till he's strong enough to fly.
30
[Bo Bae goes into the house, comes back with a small straw basket. She plucks a
few broad leaves from the garden and arranges them into a nest. Heungbu places
the wounded bird in the basket and together they go into the house.]
10.
[Now the tree is changed to the red maple. Enter Sonhwa.]
SONHWA That swallow lived in Heungbu's house for a long
time. Heungbu and Bo Bae caught many bugs in the
garden, made sure their swallow had plenty to eat.
Then one day the swallow's leg was healed.
[ The swallow puppet comes fluttering out of the house, swoops through the air,
chirping loudly. Heungbu and Bo Bae, with Joo Eun in her arms, follow it out of
the house, clapping their hands for joy.]
HEUNGBU Bravo! Well done, young sir!
BO BAE Look, Joo Eun - our swallow is well again!
Bravo!
SONHWA Before the swallow left that place to go in search of
his fellows, he paused to say something of great
importance to Heungbu and his wife. But alas! Those
two did not understand the swallow language, and so
had no idea what he wished to say to them. They
thought he was only singing a song of health and
good fortune.
[Now the swallow perches on the roof of the house and sings a long, pretty series of
chirps and trills, while Sonhwa interprets for us.]
31
SONHWA This is what he said:
In days of old King Hungdok
Kept a pair of green parrots
Harmonious in a golden cage.
One parrot died and the other, broken-
hearted
Cried all night for its vanished mate.
Cry, cry, oh bird!
Sleep to wake and cry!
Moved to compassion, the King
took pity on the bird,
Set a mirror in its cage
Hoping to deceive away sorrow.
Happy at first, it pecked at the glass
But in the end it cried again -
Cry, cry, oh bird!
Sleep to wake and cry!
In the days of old, Minister Chung
Saw a wounded pheasant in a well.
Struggling for life, she spread her wings
Dappling the water with her blood
She tried to shield her little ones.
Moved to compassion at the sight
The Minister refused to kill the bird.
A temple was built at the well
in memory of a pheasant's sorrow.
Cry, cry, oh bird!
32
Sleep to wake and cry!
In days of old a magpie
Brought news to a desperate prisoner.
In days of a old a sparrow's song
Set an innocent captive free.
Swallow though I be,
Can I forget your kindness?
Trifle though I be,
Can I forget your care?
Though today I leave you
Look for me when spring returns
Once more to the green mountains.
[With this the swallow flies off. Heungbu and Bo Bae watch the path of its flight.]
HEUNGBU & BO BAE [together]
Away on the autumn wind
I see the swallow passing
I see him passing, passing
Beyond the green mountains.
We shall live in winter cold
We shall live in the green mountains.
We shall eat wild grapes and berries
Here in the green mountains.
Cry, cry, oh bird!
Sleep to wake and cry!
With more cares than ever you had
I sleep to wake and cry!
33
11. At the Court of the Swallow King
[In this scene all the characters are swallows played by human actors. Let the
costumes suggest in subtle manner that they are swallows and not men. They should
wear head-dresses and masks that give a bird-like appearance. Their movements
likewise should be quick and agile, like those of a swallow.
The Swallow King sits on a throne and wears a golden crown on his head. He is
surrounded by his courtiers. A pair of young lady swallows are gently fanning him
with enormous paper fans.
A young swallow child enters with a sign board and stands downstage centre. The
sign board reads: 'THE COURT OF THE SWALLOW KING'. Swallow
child exits. Enter a courtier with a message.]
COURTIER [Bows low before the swallow King.]
Your Majesty!
A young swallow has just arrived
from beyond the green mountains.
He wishes to speak to you
on a matter of the greatest importance.
KING Let him come in.
[Enter Swallow, limping.]
SWALLOW [Bows low.]
May Your Majesty live a
thousand years!
KING Why do you limp like that, young fellow?
Has something happened to your leg?
34
SWALLOW Ah! Your Majesty has seen right to the
heart of things.
That's just what I've come to see you
about.
Listen, all of you! Just listen what's
happened to me:
My parents raised me at the house of
Heungbu -
A poor man, he lives far to the north
beyond the green mountains.
One night a serpent came and destroyed
our home
Devouring father and mother, sisters and
brothers.
I fell from the nest into the grass
The serpent didn't see me hiding there
But my leg was broken -
I was sure to die soon.
Then Heungbu and his wife took pity on
me
They took me into their house
and nursed me back to health.
They cared for me as if I were their own
child -
How can I ever repay such kindness?
His house is a grass hut full of holes
His baby girl has barely enough to eat
He and his wife will be hungry and cold
When the snow once more covers the
green mountains.
Great King! Father of all the Swallow
people -
35
Won't you do something to help his
poverty?
And so repay, if just a little,
such kindness shown to a poor swallow.
KING [nodding thoughtfully]
Hm, hmm! Yes, yes!
This Heungbu has a good and generous
nature.
Clearly it is our duty to reward him.
How could we ever think to be ungrateful?
How neglect one who has shown such
love
to a poor swallow child?
[He motions to his courtiers. They all put their heads together with the King and
confer.]
KING [Waving away his courtiers.]
We cannot give a life for a life
This lies beyond our power.
But take with you this pumpkin seed -
Let him plant it when spring returns
Once more to the green mountains.
[The Swallow, bowing low, takes the pumpkin seed.]
SWALLOW I thank Your Majesty -
It shall be done.
36
12. The Flight of the Swallow
[Downstage right, the plum tree in bloom. Sonhwa will now relate the story of the
swallow's journey. As she recites she dances round and round, opening and closing
a fan, to illustrate the bird's actions.]
SONHWA When spring came again to the beautiful land, all the
dear swallows flew off to visit new places. The young
swallow would have to travel a long journey alone, to
seek out the house of Heungbu. After bidding
farewell to the King, he took up the pumpkin seed
firmly in his beak and set off for the north country.
Right up into the blue sky
Beating small wings with all his might
Up into the air he flew with the pumpkin
seed
Holding it tightly -
Careful not to let it drop!
Into the soft spring wind he flew
Away over the great wall Malli-jang-seong
That winds like a white snake along the
green valley
Away over Striped Toad River
And far up to the top of Pheasant
Mountain.
Here he stopped to rest
Looking down upon a busy town
Upon rows and rows of red-tiled rooftops
Winding in narrow lanes
Upon men and women, busy as ants,
Passing to and fro in the marketplace.
37
Some came to sell, and some to buy
So many people, like crawling ants
in the valley far below.
When the moon rose he soared
Once again into the wind
Carried on the fragrant breath of spring.
Under him dark valleys fast asleep
Above him steep rocky hillsides
Reaching almost to heaven.
He saw the moon, a single white blossom
at the bottom of Flower River
Suddenly break and scatter
Crushed by a dragon's curling tail.
Up, up he flew towards the green
mountains
Peaks, like incense burners, veiled in blue
mist,
Rising on every side.
Onward he flew, touching the edge of
heaven
with weary wings, grazing the Milky Way.
Shall I visit Weaver Girl and Herd Boy? he
thought,
Eager to see that famous pair
Who dwell among the stars.
But no, he must return to the house of
Heungbu
Must find again that small hut
And the man who has been his saviour.
Now, in early morning mist,
38
He came to rest at True Light Temple
Perching on a great bell
He watches while a lone monk
Sweeps the dust from the temple path.
Behind him a five-colour sky
The sun rises over the mountains
Now every peak is pure white jade.
Up he flew again into the clear air
On and on he flew.
Now he has crossed the green mountains -
Not much further to go!
But which house is Heungbu's?
In all these flowering valleys
How to find one small grass hut?
Unsure of the way
He flutters from branch to branch
of a young plum tree.
It is here Bo Bae is walking
Come to pluck a branch of white blossoms
To welcome spring.
13.
[Outside Heungbu's house. Downstage right, the plum tree. Enter Bo Bae, a sprig
of flowering plum in her hand. The swallow puppet is right behind her.]
BO BAE Where are you now
You harsh and bitter Old Man Winter?
Where are you now
You nasty winds that bite?
Welcome back, gentle spring,
Lovely upon a thousand hills!
39
[The swallow comes to rest upon the roof of the hut.]
BO BAE Hello there, pretty one!
Have you too come to welcome the
spring?
[The swallow flies right up to her, fluttering wildly.]
BO BAE What's all this? She looks closely at the swallow.] Why, it's
you! Our own little swallow child - you've come back!
Heungbu - come and see! Heungbu, look who's here
- You won't believe it - Our swallow's come back,
and he's got something in his beak!
[Heungbu comes out of the house. The swallow flies at him, drops the pumpkin
seed at his feet, and chatters loudly. Heungbu picks up the seed.]
BO BAE Just look at his leg - He's still wearing that bit of red
thread we used to tie it up. I can't believe he's come
back. So even a bird can have a thankful heart.
HEUNGBU Why not? Are they not living creatures, as well as we?
Hello, little fellow! Nice of you to remember us.
[The swallow, settled once again on the roof, chatters happily. Now he makes a
circle overhead, and flies away.]
BO BAE He's off! He'll be looking for a wife, now he's grown.
What's that he was carrying in his beak? Let me see...
[Heungbu holds out his hand, the seed resting on his palm.]
40
HEUNGBU I'm not sure what it is. What does it look
like to you?
BO BAE It's yellow like gold... Do you think it
might be gold?
HEUNGBU No, no - it can't be gold. A long time ago, when the
world was young, a greedy old man stole all the gold
and locked it away in a cave deep under the Diamond
Mountains. Now there's no more gold left in the
world.
BO BAE Now I look at it again, it seems to me to be blue -
clear blue as the sky. Maybe it's a piece of sky blue
amber?
HEUNGBU No, no - it can't be a piece of sky blue amber. A long
time ago, when the world was young, the Dragon
King took all the amber to make for himself a
drinking goblet. He drinks from it every night in his
palace under the waves. So there's no more amber
left in the whole world.
BO BAE But now that I look at it again, I think it must be red.
Maybe it's a precious jewel?
HEUNGBU Impossible. All the jewels are gone too.
BO BAE Go on - what happened then?
HEUNGBU A long time ago, when the world was young, Crystal
Mountain caught fire
All the jewels were melted but one, and an old monk
took that one away. Out of that jewel he carved a
41
flute for himself. When he played on that flute, the
people's hearts all turned to stone for sorrow. So he
threw that flute down a well that hasn't any bottom.
There are no more jewels left in the world.
BO BAE
[Looks carefully at the seed, pokes it with her finger.]
Though it sparkles like a jewel
Though it turns five colours before my
eyes
It has a shape like a seed.
Then surely it must be a seed?
HEUNGBU Look! There's writing on it too!
BO BAE What does it say?
HEUNGBU [Reads.]
'Seed rewarding kindness.' So it is a seed! I'd say by
the shape of it, it's a pumpkin seed. It must be some
special kind of pumpkin that they grow down south.
The little swallow's brought it all that long way, only
to show his thankfulness. Well - a gift from a
swallow's a rare thing. Who ever heard of it? I'd say
it's as good as any gold or jewel or even your sky blue
amber. I'll plant it in the sunniest part of the garden.
We're sure to get some fine fat pumpkins out of it.
[Heungbu plants the seed and Bo Bae waters it. Together they go into the house.]
42
14.
[It is night in the garden. A full moon rises, and immediately the pumpkin begins
to grow. First green tendrils appear, then three large white blossoms, and finally
three enormous striped pumpkins - one yellow, one blue, and one red. While the
pumpkins are growing, Sonhwa steps into the garden and speaks the following.]
SONHWA Bo Bae looked after that pumpkin as if it were a
child. She tended it with love, and how it grew!
First a green leaf, then another
Then three more.
Now three white blossoms
as big as temple bells.
At last three pumpkins appear on the vine:
One is yellow as gold
One is blue as sky blue amber
One is red as a precious jewel.
These are no ordinary pumpkins! On a fine fall day,
Heungbu and Bo Bae decide to harvest them.
[Morning light. Downstage right the red-leafed maple tree. Heungbu and Bo Bae
cut the pumpkins from the vine and carry them into the hut.]
15.
[Inside the hut. The three pumpkins sit in the centre of the room. They are
enormous. Joo Eun is playing with them, tapping them with her little hand. Bo
Bae enters and kneels to play with her.]
43
BO BAE Oh, what pretty pumpkins! Look, Joo Eun, this blue
one will make such a fine blue bowl. Do you know
what we're going to put in it?
[sings]
Pumpkin soup! Pumpkin soup!
Lots of tasty pumpkin soup -
Hot and tasty pumpkin soup
Pumpkin soup for my little pearl...
[Enter Heungbu with a large two-handled saw.]
HEUNGBU Have a look at this! Big enough to do the
job, hm?
BO BAE Where did you get it?
HEUNGBU Borrowed it from Mr. Kim. I told him I needed it to
cut down an old tree. So, are we ready?
BO BAE [Jumps to her feet.] Ready! [She settles Joo Eun on a pile of
rags in the corner.] Sit tight, baby - don't move. Watch
while we saw the pumpkins.
[Heungbu takes the yellow pumpkin and marks its middle with a knife. Then
each takes hold of his end of the saw and they begin to cut. As they cut, they sing.]
44
HEUNGBU
& BO BAE
Song of the Pumpkin-Sawing
Back and forth!
Back and forth!
Little teeth cut fat pumpkin!
Swallow brought it
Heungbu planted it -
Little teeth cut fat pumpkin!
Don't worry poor man!
Don't worry poor child!
Little teeth cut fat pumpkin!
Bo Bae watered it
Joo Eun shall eat it -
Little teeth cut fat pumpkin!
[At this the pumpkin springs open, a cloud of bright gold dust bursts forth from it.
Heungbu and Bo Bae tumble backwards. As the dust clears, the two halves of the
pumpkin lie revealed, filled with glittering gold coins that spill out onto the floor.
Slowly, Heungbu and Bo Bae get to their feet. Cautiously they approach the split
pumpkin. Joo Eun runs up, delighted, and begins to play with the gold coins.]
BO BAE
[Slowly kneeling beside the child, she puts one arm around
her, with her other hand she reaches out to touch the gold.
She speaks softly, wonderingly.]
45
All this gold - for us? Now we can buy rice for my
baby girl. No more hungry little stomach, ever again...
Heungbu? Let's see what's in the other two.
[Again they begin to saw, this time the blue pumpkin.]
HEUNGBU
& BO BAE
Back and forth!
Back and forth!
Little teeth cut fat pumpkin!
No more sorrow
No more care -
Little teeth cut fat pumpkin!
Back and forth!
Back and forth..!
[The blue pumpkin splits open in a cloud of blue dust. Out of it spring two small
boys dressed in bright blue-striped clothes and carrying building tools.]
HEUNGBU Oh, no! I knew it was too good to be true. Now we'll
have two more hungry mouths to feed.
[The boys set to work and in no time at all they transform the hut into a beautiful,
well-furnished house. Heungbu and Bo Bae look on in amazement, while Joo Eun
claps her hands in delight. When the house is complete, the boys bow to the three of
them and vanish in a cloud of blue dust. Heungbu and Bo Bae regard one another
in silent wonder. Joo Eun climbs onto a pile of soft, bright silk cushions and curls
up.]
HEUNGBU There's still one pumpkin left...
46
BO BAE I'm afraid even to touch it - It must be a dream.
Surely all these things will vanish in a moment?
HEUNGBU Come on, little wife - don't be so timid! Take your
end of the saw and help me to cut.
[They begin to saw the red pumpkin.]
HEUNGBU
& BO BAE
Back and forth!
Back and forth!
Little teeth cut red pumpkin!
No more leaky roof
No more freezing nights...
BO BAE Wait!
HEUNGBU What is it, then?
BO BAE What if all this gold,
And what if this fine house
Don't belong to us?
What if the master comes soon
to throw us out?
We'll have nowhere to go -
We'll be out once more in the cold.
Oh husband! Where's the little house
We built with our own hands, in days of
sorrow?
HEUNGBU Hush, little wife - don't be so timid!
47
Truly all this is ours.
Remember the words on the seed?
'Rewarding kindness'.
The swallow was grateful -
We'll show ourselves grateful in turn
And share our good fortune
Not keep it all to ourselves.
Now, come on!
HEUNGBU
& BO BAE [sawing]
Back and forth!
Back and forth!
Little teeth cut... !
[The red pumpkin bursts open in a cloud of red dust. Out of it step two lovely little
girls - the Moon Maidens, elegantly dressed in red-striped robes and golden moon
head-dresses. They are carrying golden plates piled high with food, which they place
on the shining new table. Out of the pumpkin they take red lacquer bowls full of
steaming rice, red glass goblets, flacons of wine, and ever more plates of food. When
the table is fully laden they bow low to the family, and vanish in a red cloud. Bo
Bae takes Joo Eun in her arms. Together the three of them approach the table.]
HEUNGBU
[Takes up a glass of wine in his hand and bows in the four directions.]
Thanks be to the spirit of gentleness
Who has had such pity on a poor man.
Though poor, we lived always in
harmony.
In riches, may we grow richer in virtue.
I offer this cup at the Gate of Heaven
48
The more I gaze up at goodness
The higher it seems
Beyond the reach of my poor eyes.
A man with an ungrateful heart
Is worse than birds or beasts.
A man without love for his brother
Is like a stray goose, crying aloud.
Let me send for my brother Nolbu
And ask him to the feast.
Good fortune shared
Is good fortune doubled.
16.
[Lights are partially dimmed. Sonhwa appears beside the maple tree.]
SONHWA When Nolbu heard of his brother's good fortune, he
turned bright red with rage, and stamped his foot so
hard he nearly broke it. Then he ran over to
Heungbu's house as fast as his legs would carry him.
[Lights come up inside Heungbu's new house. Heungbu, Bo Bae and Joo Eun are
now dressed in fine silk clothing. Nolbu stands outside, banging on the door.]
NOLBU Hey, you - Heungbu! Lousy little brother of mine!
Why do you keep me standing out here in the cold?
Too fine to open up to your older brother?
[Bo Bae goes and opens the door, bows low. Nolbu steps inside, looks her up and
down, looks all around at the house, trying to conceal his admiration. Then he
looks again at Bo Bae.]
49
NOLBU Look at you, all dolled up like a good-time
girl ... very nice!
BO BAE [bows again]
I hope you have been well,
brother-in-law.
NOLBU And what if I've not been well? What if I've been at
death's door? What difference would it make to you
two selfish good-for-nothings?
HEUNGBU [bows]
Brother, how can you say such things? Welcome to
our house. How are you?
[He wipes away tears.]
NOLBU What a face! What are you snivelling for? Has
somebody died? Already you're boasting about your
big house - eh?
BO BAE Please, take a seat, brother.
[She places a silk cushion for him at the table. Reluctantly, Nolbu sits, then
Heungbu and Bo Bae, with Joo Eun beside her, follow suit. Nolbu gets up,
examines the cushion, takes out a pocket knife and slits it, shakes it so that
feathers fly around the room, then sits down on it again. Bo Bae serves from
various dishes; they begin to eat.]
NOLBU [to Heungbu]
Sooo... I guess you got a good drenching from the
night dew. What a haul!
HEUNGBU Night dew? What are you talking about?
50
NOLBU How many guys did you rob to get your hands on all
this? Waiting for them out there in the dark, you
must've got soaked through with the night dew more
than once! It's a wonder you didn't catch a cold and
die.
HEUNGBU Brother, how can you think that of me? I'm no thief!
All this was a gift from the Swallow King of the
South.
One young swallow made a nest
Just under the eaves of our house
Raised a family, wife and children there.
One night a wicked serpent ransacked the
nest -
Only one poor swallow was left
and that one's leg was broken.
We took care of him
Tied up his leg with a bit of thread
Nursed him till he was strong enough to fly
away.
In the spring he came back
Bringing a seed in his beak.
We planted it and soon we had three fat
pumpkins.
Inside the pumpkins was all this treasure -
A magic seed has brought us this good
fortune.
NOLBU Sooo... a magic seed, you say? I'll have to get hold of
one of those. Meanwhile, you'd better give me
something to tide me over, if you know what's good
for you.
51
HEUNGBU Please, help yourself - take whatever you like! I only
want to share my good fortune with you, brother.
NOLBU [spitting out food]
Pah! This rice is disgusting!
[Picks up the bowl.]
How much did you pay for this bowl? I don't like it -
it's too small!
[He throws in on the ground.]
How much for this plate? I don't like it either - it's
too big!
[He throws a whole platter of food against the wall. Joo Eun
begins to cry. Bo Bae gets to her feet.]
BO BAE Brother, please don't smash the plates! They were
gifts from the Moon Maidens!
[She gathers up the fragments, crying.]
Why do have to spoil everything?
How can you throw precious rice at the
wall?
When every night people sit down to
empty bowls
in so many houses!
[She takes the crying Joo Eun in her arms. Nolbu gets up, overturns the table, and
kicks out at various objects. His eyes light on a large chest.]
NOLBU What's in that chest?
HEUNGBU I've no idea. We haven't even opened it
yet.
52
NOLBU I'll take that.
[He hoists it onto his back - it is very heavy.]
HEUNGBU Wait, brother - let me help you...
NOLBU Get away! I can carry it home myself.
[He staggers towards the door.]
Did the Moon Maidens bring this chest
too?
HEUNGBU No, the Blue Amber Boys brought it.
NOLBU Hm. 'Blue Amber Boys' - what's that? Who ever
heard of it? I don't believe you! 'Blue Amber Boys' -
what nonsense...
[He goes out, grumbling to himself.]
17.
[At Nolbu's house. Nolbu and his wife sit disconsolately on the ground. Between
them is the open chest, its contents strewn about the room: bolts of silk cloth and
brocade, bags of money, a pile of jewels.]
TAEKWON So that's all we get -
One tiny little chest
and practically empty!
Meanwhile that good-for-nothing brother
of yours
Lives in a big house,
And that little yellow wife of his
Dresses up every day like a queen.
Husband, I feel sick!
53
I feel very faint, I think I might even die...
Just the thought of those two
Counting their money
Makes my heart burn so hot
I think it might kill me!
NOLBU I know...
TAEKWON You know, you know...! So what are you
going to do about it?
NOLBU What do you expect me to do? Go catch a swallow
with a broken leg?
TAEKWON Now, that's an idea... Why shouldn't the Swallow
King reward us as well? Oh oh! I can hardly wait
until spring! Then we're sure to get our hands on one
of those dumb birds.
18.
SONHWA From that day on, Nolbu and his wife thought of
nothing but the swallow that was to make them rich.
All winter long they watched the sky, but not so
much as a crow came to stay in their garden. At last it
was spring time again, and the swallows came
flocking back from the south land.
[The flowering plum tree is again in place. Nolbu comes out of the house, carrying
a net. Several swallow puppets flutter onto the scene.]
54
SONHWA Nolbu ran after them - tried to catch one - but the
swallows were afraid of him. They flew away when
they saw him coming.
[Nolbu chases the swallows with his net, but is unable to catch one.]
NOLBU Hey, come here you bastards! Hey, where do you
think you're going? Stop! Come to my house - I'll
give you a big reward! Hey! Hold on a minute!
[All the swallows fly away. Nolbu shakes his fist at them.]
NOLBU Dumb birds!
[He trudges back into the house.]
SONHWA But it wasn't long before one poor swallow
One poor ill-fated swallow!
Came to Nolbu's house
and made his nest under the eaves.
Soon the mother swallow laid her eggs
Soon she was sitting on them.
Nolbu and his wife watched those eggs
with eyes like a pair of serpents
Waiting for them to hatch.
Soon they hatched
Soon the young birds grew strong and
learned to fly
But still no serpent came to disturb the
nest.
Nolbu and his wife grew tired of waiting
Day and night for a serpent that never
appeared.
Taekwon lay down on the bed
55
and refused to get up till a serpent came.
So Nolbu thought he'd better go out
And look for one.
19.
[A nest full of swallows can be seen under the eaves of Nolbu's house; they are
twittering happily. Nolbu comes out of the house carrying a long stick and a sack.
He stops to look at the swallows, whom he regards with a calculating air.]
NOLBU Hello, dear swallows!
[the swallows fall silent.]
What's the matter? Don't you even say 'hello' to your
friend Nolbu?
[He smiles exaggeratedly.]
Dear little swallows - very nice! I love you very
much!
[He turns away from the nest.]
Dumb birds! Where on earth am I supposed to get a
serpent anyway? Whoever heard of such a thing? 'Go
get a serpent' she says to me - as if they were just
lying around waiting for me to help myself.
[He begins to search along the wayside. A huge serpent comes
gliding up to him.]
Ah! What a huge beast! What's it doing?
Trying to eat me?
[He pokes it with the stick.]
Hey - you, you! Hey listen- here's the deal:
You come over to my house -
56
There's a whole nest full of swallows there.
I want you to knock them about a bit,
Eat one or two of them
Break a few bones -that sort of thing.
Then soon I'll be a millionaire
And you can have a big reward.
So, what do you say?
Let's go - huh?
[The serpent bites Nolbu on the toe.]
NOLBU Augh! What are you doing?
Help ! Help! It bit me! The bastard bit me!
He bit me on the toe!
[He hops around in pain. The serpent slithers away. Nolbu sits down and
examines his foot.]
Augh - that hurts pretty bad... I guess I was lucky this
time. That serpent tried to kill me! No use asking him
for help. I'll just have to become a serpent myself.
20.
[Night time. Nolbu and his wife come silently out of the house. She is carrying a
lantern. They sneak up on the nest.]
NOLBU Ssh! Don't make so much noise! Do you
want to wake them up?
TAEKWON I didn't say anything. It's you doing all the
talking.
57
NOLBU Your feet are too noisy. Here, hold that lantern up
close to the nest. Closer!
TAEKWON [Holds up the lantern.]
You'll see - the light will wake them up for sure.
NOLBU Ssh! Will you just hold that lantern and
keep your mouth shut!
[He reaches into the nest, takes out a swallow, and deliberately breaks its leg, then
returns it to the nest. The swallow begins to cry piteously.]
NOLBU Help, help! A serpent! A huge, gigantic serpent!
[Pretends to search.]
Which way did he go? Poor little swallow! Sooo, a
bad serpent came and broke your leg, huh? What bad
luck!
[He takes the wounded swallow up in his hand. All the other
swallows awaken and begin to cry.]
Look at this, wife - the poor little swallow's leg is
broken. Maybe you've got a piece of thread?
TAEKWON [Holds out a ball of thick twine.]
Here you are!
NOLBU What's that then?
TAEKWON Fishing line! Much better than thread.
[She ties it around the swallow's leg, while it continues to cry.]
58
NOLBU Tighter! Tie it really tight. Make sure it
can't come off.
TAEKWON Don't worry, I'm tying it plenty tight. This won't
come off in a hurry.
[Nolbu puts the bird back into the nest.]
NOLBU [to swallow]
There you are - practically as good as new. Now
don't forget who fixed your leg for you - huh? It's
me, Nolbu. Remember that next time you see that
King of yours.
[Nolbu and Taekwon go into the house. The swallow continues to cry softly. The
moon rises, and lights up the garden. Enter Sonhwa. She stands in a ray of
moonlight.]
SONHWA Heartless Nolbu!
To break a poor swallow's leg like that!
All night long the little one cried!
All night long the cruel twine, so tightly
bound,
cut into his flesh.
Barely, barely did he live until morning
Slowly, slowly he began to heal
But his poor leg was ruined forever.
59
21.
[Downstage right the red maple tree again. Bright morning light.]
SONHWA When the night frost returns again to the
garden
And red leaves shake in autumn wind
It's time for the swallows to leave for the
south land.
But first the wounded bird
Has something to say to Nolbu.
[A group of swallows wheels overhead, chattering loudly. Nolbu comes out of the
house, and looks up at them, a large grin on his face. Taekwon appears, peering
over his shoulder.]
NOLBU They're off!
TAEKWON He's still got that piece of fishing line, all right. I tied
it good and tight.
[The swallow alights on the roof of Nolbu's house and begins to chatter loudly.]
NOLBU Hey, he's talking to us! I guess he's grateful for that
good deed of mine.
SONHWA Stupid Nolbu! Who would be grateful to have his leg
broken? Here's what the swallow really said:
Nolbu, my enemy!
Wicked Nolbu!
I'll be back next year
To repay you for your cruelty!
No evil deed remains unpunished -
60
Take care - Nolbu!
And with that, away he flew on the wings of the
wind.
[The swallow flies off.]
Cry, cry, oh bird!
Sleep to wake and cry!
With more cares than ever you'll know
I sleep to wake and cry.
22.
[At the court of the Swallow King, as in Scene 11. The Swallow King is once
again seated on his throne, surrounded by courtiers and maid-servants. Two of his
children, mere infant swallows, are seated nearby on the floor, playing a board
game. Enter a Courtier.]
COURTIER [bows low]
Your Majesty! A young swallow has just arrived
from beyond the green mountains. He's in great
distress, and begs to speak to you urgently - most
urgently!
KING Let him come in.
[Enter the young swallow, crying piteously and limping very badly, dragging his
hurt leg behind him. All stop what they are doing to stare at him, aghast. The
children begin to cry in sympathy.]
KING My child! Why do you weep so loudly?
Why do limp so badly?
61
SWALLOW [bows deeply]
Your Majesty!
Perhaps you remember Heungbu,
The good man who cared for a wounded
swallow?
Last year you sent him a magic pumpkin
seed
And now he's a very rich fellow.
His brother Nolbu heard about it
And wanted a magic seed of his own
So he got hold of me
And broke my leg on purpose
Then tied it so tight with this twine
I shall never walk upon that leg again.
Though he and his wife live in plenty
They want still more
Nor do they share so much
As a single grain of rice with anybody.
All they think about is more riches
And they don't care how they get it
Even to breaking my leg.
Great King, and loving Father to the
Swallow people -
Won't you do something to avenge this
wrong?
And repay him, if only a little, for his
cruelty!
KING [to the maid-servants]
Ladies! Do something about this poor fellow's
wounds. Take that nasty twine off his leg! And
somebody call the doctor - immediately!
62
[The maid-servants rush to help the swallow - lead him to a pile of soft cushions,
where they untie the twine and massage his leg.]
KING [to the swallow]
I know all about this Nolbu -
He's an unnatural monster
Who'd let his own brother starve
Though they grew from a single stem.
An evil man, whose face is set against
heaven.
How can such deeds go unpunished?
How ignore one who has shown
Such cruelty to a poor swallow?
He too shall have a pumpkin seed
from the royal treasury.
Let him plant it when spring returns
Once more to the green mountains.
[All applaud.]
Now, won't someone fetch the doctor!
23.
[Nolbu's house. Downstage right, the flowering plum tree. Nolbu sits in the
garden, sipping tea and eating cakes. Enter Sonhwa.]
SONHWA Soon it was spring again.
The swallow set out for the green
mountains
Holding that pumpkin seed tightly in his beak
Careful not to drop it
Up into the blue sky he flew
Beating small wings with all his might
Day and night he flew
63
Till he came to the house of Nolbu.
[Exit Sonhwa. The swallow flutters into view, holding the seed in its beak, and
approaches Nolbu. Nolbu jumps to his feet, spilling his tea and cakes on the
ground.]
NOLBU Hey you, swallow! Where've you been all this time?
I've been waiting for you, you lazy guy! Well, you're
here now. Let's see what you've got. Give me that
seed - give it here!
[He runs after the swallow, his hands outstretched greedily. The swallow flutters
here and there, causing Nolbu to follow him. At last he drops the seed to the
ground - Nolbu seizes it.]
NOLBU Got it! Hey, wife! I've got the seed! Hey - wait till you
see this! Now we'll be as rich as that stupid brother
of mine! [He rushes into the house.]
[Sonhwa again steps forward.]
SONHWA Now Nolbu and his wife were two very ignorant
people. They didn't even bother to look carefully at
that seed. If they had, they would have seen the
writing on it, for in tiny golden letters were the
words, 'Seed Rewarding Cruelty'. But they never
thought to look. They were in such a hurry to get
rich, they planted that seed right away, that minute,
and all summer long they tended it and watched it
grow.
Soon a huge vine grew out of the ground, and in no
time at all there were three great fat pumpkins ready
to be plucked - one yellow, one blue and one red.
64
Nolbu and his wife brought the pumpkins into the
house. They locked all the doors and windows and
got ready to cut open the pumpkins. They waited till
it was dark to be sure nobody would know what they
were up to, for they didn't want to have to share any
of that treasure with anybody at all..
24.
[Night. Downstage right the maple tree. Inside Nolbu's house - a single lamp
burns on a stand. Nolbu and Taekwon are kneeling on the floor, surrounded by
three enormous pumpkins.]
NOLBU [Just finishing to sharpen a large saw.]
This fellow's teeth are sharp enough. Let's
get going.
[He walks over to the yellow pumpkin, sets the saw in place.]
[to Taekwon] Take hold of the other end.
[Together they begin to saw.]
NOLBU Not like that!
[He goes round to her side and hits her, straightens the saw.]
Like this, stupid!
TAEKWON Who are you calling stupid? I'm the one who told you
how to get that magic seed in the first place. You're
too dumb to think of anything.
NOLBU Shut up and do as I say. Now - saw!
65
[As they saw they sing together the following]
NOLBU &
TAEKWON
Back and forth!
Back and forth!
Sharp teeth cut fat pumpkin!
Don't worry, rich man!
Don't worry, rich wife
Plenty of gold in the pumpkin!
[The pumpkin bursts open in a shower of golden sparks. Inside are piles of
rubbish, now strewn all over the floor.]
NOLBU What the ...? Where's my gold? There's nothing here
but a load of trash! Hey you, swallow - what's the big
idea? Come back here and let me break your other
leg for you!
TAEKWON Stop your shouting - he can't hear you. He's far away
by now. Come and give me a hand with this blue
pumpkin. May be this is the one with the treasure
inside.
[They begin to saw open the blue pumpkin.]
NOLBU &
TAEKWON
Back and forth!
Back and forth!
Sharp teeth cut fat pumpkin!
No more rubbish
66
No more trash
Plenty of gold in the - !
[The pumpkin bursts open in a flash of blue light. Out of it spring two small boys
dressed in bright blue-striped suits and brandishing large sticks. The boys run
amok in the house, smashing everything in sight with the sticks. They even break
down the walls of the house. When the destruction is complete, they bow to the
audience, then vanish in a puff of blue smoke. Nolbu and Taekwon regard one
another in dismay.]
TAEKWON It's all your fault. Why did you have to copy that
stupid brother of yours?
NOLBU Hey, listen, wife - There's still one pumpkin left.
That's sure to be the one with the treasure.
TAEKWON I'm afraid even to touch it. Who knows
what will happen next.
NOLBU Come on - do as I say.
[They begin to saw open the red pumpkin.]
NOLBU &
TAEKWON
Back and forth!
Back and forth!
Sharp teeth cut fat pumpkin!
No more trouble
No more trash -
TAEKWON Wait!
67
NOLBU What is it then?
TAEKWON Something bad is going to happen. I can
feel it...
NOLBU [Goes over and hits her.] Can you feel that?
Now, do as I say.
NOLBU &
TAEKWON
Back and forth!
Back and forth!
Sharp teeth cut -!
[The pumpkin bursts open in a shower of red sparks. Out of it spring two hideous
red goblins, brandishing enormous clubs. They beat Nolbu and his wife without
mercy. The two of them cry out, but to no avail.]
NOLBU &
TAEKWON
Stop! No! No! Stop! Ow! Stop, please stop! No more!
Ow! Oooow! (etc.)
[When the goblins have beaten them thoroughly, they bow to the audience, then
vanish in a puff of red smoke.]
25. EPILOGUE
[Enter Sonhwa, alone on stage.]
SONHWA Now Nolbu and his wife had nowhere to go.
Sorrowful and bewildered, they wandered arm in arm
through the village. Though they were poor and
hungry, no one took pity on them, no one offered
68
them so much as a mouthful of rice. Though they
were homeless and freezing to death, no one offered
them a place to lay their heads, not even so much as a
woodshed. They were reaping the rewards of their
selfishness.
But soon Heungbu heard about what had happened.
Quickly he harnessed his best cart and came to the
place where his brother stood, hanging his head in
the rain.
'Oh, my poor brother!
How can you stand there -
Is not my house your house?
Was not my mother your mother?
Was not my father your father?
Come home with me now, brother
And sister-in-law too.'
So Heungbu brought his brother home,
And Bo Bae prepared a room for them
The best room in the house
And the two of them stayed there.
Heungbu served his brother Nolbu
with all his heart
And comforted him daily.
And Nolbu was ashamed
And learned to love his brother, Heungbu.
[Now Heungbu and Nolbu appear together centre stage, with them to left and
right are Bo Bae with Joo Eun, and Taekwon. They all join hands and speak the
following.]
69
HEUNGBU When brothers are born
They are like two berries
Grown on a single stem.
They are like fingers
On a single hand.
Love your brother
As you love yourself.
NOLBU To quarrel with a brother
Is nothing but foolishness.
You may buy fields and paddies
You may buy a good horse or a fine house -
But where can you buy
for yourself a brother?
BO BAE Far better to live together in harmony!
Love your brother with all your heart
Share your coat with him
Share your last bowl of rice with him
Love him till his hair turns white
And you barely know one another's face.
TAEKWON Love between brothers
Has no inside and no outside.
Love your brother your whole life long!
Then you'll never be a stray goose
Old and wandering the earth alone.
[At this the first swallow puppet enters and flutters over them. It settles on Joo
Eun's hand, and she holds it up for all to see. It sings a last, delicious trill.]
THE END
70
Grace Andreacchi was born and raised in New York City but has lived on the far side of the great ocean for many years - sometimes in Paris, sometimes Berlin, and nowadays in London. Works include the novels Scarabocchio and Poetry and Fear (Andromache Books), Give my Heart Ease, which received the New American Writing Award, and Music for Glass Orchestra. Stories and poetry appear in both on-line and print journals. Her work can be viewed at graceandreacchi.com.
BY THE SAME AUTHOR
Poetry and Fear by Grace Andreacchi A short novel written in poetic and elliptical prose, rich in emotion, sometimes playful, sometimes tragic. Set in the opera world of Berlin just after the fall of the Wall, 'Poetry and Fear' is a gripping tale of spiritual love and pain and the whole damn thing. Orpheus singing in the Underworld. The melancholy Queen of Spain. For everyone who's ever been there, or wants to be.... Scarabocchio by Grace Andreacchi To jump into a coach in the depths of the night, to run away from the oppression of one's delightful and highly-placed friends, one's work, fame, fortune, obligations and plunge headlong into the great adventure, careering over the Alps, aiming for the bright golden heart of civilisation, the only baggage one's poetical discontent... Add to this the Goldberg Variations of J.S. Bach, a fascination with murderous Sicilian puppets, a runaway diva, Beethoven's other nephew (the one who also shot himself in the head but, unlike Carl, appears, at least partially, to have survived), a catalogue of child murders and possible murderers, a treatise on the beauty of imaginary architecture and the golden section and you begin to get some idea of Scarabocchio. A piece of dizzying metafiction, a whirlwind journey through Sicily with an iconic German poet, a Canadan Bach specialist, a runaway diva and many others...
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