Missing Henry

Don Kim is a 38-year-old father who doesn’t care that his son hasn’t come home for a couple of days. He makes no attempt to see if his son is okay.

Tim  is an American who hears about the protest.

Henry is the son of Don Kim. He participates in the protest.

           
                                        Act 1 Scene 1

(Tim is 63 and he lives alone.  He wife died 15 years ago because she was robbed at gun pont and had a heart attack.  Tim also lives in the United States and he heard about the Tiananmen Square Protest. Tim is sitting on his port rocking in his chair talking to his friend John a week after the protest.)


You hear about that protest in China?… Wasn’t it crazy?... Makes you proud to be an American… I feel bad for countries dat don’t have what we have… All they wanted was democracy but the Chinese government wasn’t tryin to hear all dat nonsense… Yup they sure did starve themselves… I hear dat I aint starvin myself for nutin… Accordin to da paper dey let this protest go on for a whole month before doin something…. I don’t know why dey let it go on dat long… Yea dey prolli should have nipped it in the bud from da beginning… What you mean dey shouldn’t have protested from  da beginning… It’s what they believe in, so you telling me you wouldn’t stand up for what you believe in… Yea you right it was kinda pointless sense nutin changed… Yea da paper say dey came in wit tanks and soldiers had guns.  Some of dem didn’t move and dey got run over by tanks… Yea yea soldiers was shootin and killin people… It prolli wasn’t worth dyin for but people do crazy things for things dey want... See dats why I love America, what I got to say get heard...

                                                Act 1 Scene 2

(Henry goes to med school and is for democracy so he participates in the Tienanmen Square protest.)
Alright guys we’ve been doing this for weeks now.We’ve starved ourselves, made signs, and spread the word of what we were doing. I CAN FEEL IT TODAY IS THE DAY THAT THE GOVERNMENT GIVES IN TO US. (Nearby people cheering) It’s true we are going to get democracy for this country, it’s time we get a say in what’s going on in our country. No mater what don’t move. Let them know that we are serious about this. Okay guys here they come don’t budge. Excuse me sir we aren’t bothering anybody... Public disturbance, I’m not disturbing anybody... If we don’t disperse we’re getting arrested, you can’t arrest all of us...We have the right to protest. Come On guys don’t let these soldiers scare you, they not even armed. Look they’re going away. I guess we won this round. Like I said TODAY IS THE DAY... Yeah I think they’ll come back, but we just have to stay strong and not give up...There back already?...With tanks...What do you mean you don’t know if it’s worth it now? We’ve made it this far...Arrested after all this all can you can about is being arrested... What about democracy... Come guys don’t leave... At least all of you didn’t leave. Let’s stay strong...No there aren’t gonna shoot. What are you guys doing... Protecting yourself against what?...The soldiers aren’t gonna shoot. ( Someone torches a bus) What the hell are you guys doing. This is suppose to be a peaceful protest. STOP STOP... (Soldiers start shooting) Oh no, I have to get out of here... What do you mean where am I going, this has turned into a disaster. Buses are on fire and people are fleeing for their lives! Democracy isn’t worth the lives of this many people. Can’t to my father’s house that entire section is blocked off. What am I going to do?

                                                Act 1 Scene 3

(Don Kim is 38 years old and his son is in college. He lives 5 blocks from Tiananmen Square, he was home the day that the Chinese military came to break up the protest)

Whoa! What was that? I think those are gunshots. I think I should call the cops. (Dials the police) I here gunshots... What do you mean there’s nothing that you can do?!... You’re the authority and I heard gunshots… No I don’t want to be arrested…  (Hangs up and Grabs the remote) Let me see what’s on the news… OH MY GOD, THAT’S TIENANMEN SQUARE! (Phone rings, walks over to it) Hello… Yes I’m watching the news... I know mom this is barbaric… Yes mom I’m looking at the same thing as you… Look I don’t have time for this; Henry is participating in that protest… He said it was for democracy.… According to him there wasn’t going to be any violence… Yes I see the soldiers in the tanks, are you listening to what I’m saying...I’m sure Henry is fine he’s a man now he can handle himself… I’m not going out there, why should I put my life on the line as well... I know that he’s my son but some choices you have to live with…I know that I’m his father, Henry’s a good boy he has a good head on his shoulders... If things got hairy I’m sure that he would’ve left... Look mom I’ll call him tomorrow to see if he’s okay...Mom please give me a break, I’m on vacation I just want to relax work has been really stressful...Okay I’ll call him tomorrow...Bye talk to you later...I swear all that lady does is nag

                                                Act 1 Scene 4

(Don Kim is home sitting on the couch watching television and enjoying his week off from work.)
Look at this a Golden Partners re-run. I haven’t watched this show in the longest time. The last time I watched this was with...Henry. Oh right I was suppose to call to make sure that he’s okay. I’m sure he’s fine, if he’s in trouble he’ll call. Maybe I should call, no no I’m sure he’s fine; Besides I haven’t seen the Golden Partners in a while and Wo cai Wo cai Wo cai cai cai comes on next. (Phone rings) Hello...Who’s this...Hi Michelle how have you been...I’m on vacation now, work has been kicking my butt...Well it’s not easy being a real estate agent, I got a raise since I became salesman of the quarter...How’s Jack... Congratulations I know that you always wanted to have kids every since we were kids...You used to dress your toys up and play house...Sometimes I wish I could go back to those days, I remember when my biggest problem was eating vegetables...Henry? Umm he’s good...Let me guess Mom told you that...Of course I care about Henry but he’s  my son, but he’s also a man now... I will never stop caring for him, but a man must learn from his mistakes... Yeah I know about what happened last night... Like I told mom, I’m not worried because he has a good head on his shoulders...If you know then why are you pestering me about him... Well if you’re worried about him then why won’t you talk to him about it...Oh you tried?...You couldn't get in contact with him?...Well he’s probably crashing at a friends house...I got to go, Wo cai Wo cai Wo cai cai cai  is about to come on...Michelle listen, Henry is fine, I raised him myself... Okay you and mom raised him, but that’s only because I was focused on my career... You’re not going to give me this, you took care and I thank you but don’t give me grief about it...(Don hangs up the phone because he doesn’t want to listen to Michelle talk about how she raised Henry) Who does she think she is. I had to focus on my career. I did the right thing for the both of us. If I would’ve taken care of Henry then we wouldn’t have this nice house or all these nice things. I’m not worried, because what I did was right. Now I’m just gonna enjoy my vacation.

                                                Act 1 Scene 5

( Don is sleeping in his bed is is awaken by the sound of the phone ringing.)
Why is the phone always ringing. I bet it’s Michelle calling back to scold me, no worst I bet it’s my mother calling to nag me. I’ll just ignore it, it can be that important. (Phone continues to ring) Why don’t people understand that I just want to be left alone on my vacation. I don’t get very many you know, but when I do get one I don’t want to be bothered. (Gets to the phone and it stops ringing) Really you just stop ringing when I get to you. You think this is a game, well I’m not up for it. (Don rips the phone from the wall) See that game over, I win and you lose. (He sits on the couch and turns on the television) I hope Golden Partners is on (Someone knocks at the door and Don goes to answer it) Michelle what are you doing here?... I didn’t answer my phone because it’s malfunctioning see? (points over at the phone) No I haven’t heard from Henry yet!...I don’t have any idea where he might be, I am not his keeper!... Is that all you and mom know how to say is “He’s your son” I know that he my son I was there in the delivery room when he was born... Why don’t I care, What makes you think that I don’t care?... Just because I’m not running around frantically trying to find him that doesn’t mean that I don’t care... You want to know why I haven’t tried to look for him? I didn’t try to look for him because I’m afraid I might not find him. I’m afraid of losing him just like I lost his mother. I did everything I could to find her and you know what he was dead. I don’t what to find out the same thing about Henry. You don’t know how it feels to lose your spouse...(Starts to cry) I just want him to be okay, I want my boy.