This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:24] Iyvon Edebiri: Hello, hello.

[0:26] Iyvon Edebiri: Hello, everyone.

[0:28] Iyvon Edebiri: Welcome to the Parsnip Ship.

[0:35] Iyvon Edebiri: My name is Iyvon Edebiri, and tonight is a very exciting night.

[0:41] Iyvon Edebiri: We are kicking off our sixth season.

[0:45] Iyvon Edebiri: Yeah.

[0:46] Iyvon Edebiri: This season was supposed to begin in fall twenty twenty, and we all know what happened.

[0:46] Iyvon Edebiri: We all know what happened.

[0:55] Iyvon Edebiri: Crazy things happened.

[0:57] Iyvon Edebiri: What happened?

[0:58] Iyvon Edebiri: Terrible.

[0:58] Iyvon Edebiri: Um, terrible things.

[1:01] Iyvon Edebiri: No.

[1:06] Iyvon Edebiri: Um, so we're here two and a half years later, top of twenty twenty-three to kick off our sixth season, which is featuring plays only by queer playwrights this season, and bringing, I know, yes, yes, yes.

[1:21] Iyvon Edebiri: We are bringing their dynamic, colorful, all around universal stories to you all.

[1:26] Iyvon Edebiri: We are recording tonight's reading at the Mark O'Donnell Theater at the Entertainment Community Fund Art Center in downtown Brooklyn.

[1:35] Iyvon Edebiri: Thank you for hosting us and supporting the Parsnip Ship.

[1:50] Iyvon Edebiri: American Spies by Sam Hamashima.

[2:00] Iyvon Edebiri: Directed by Gregory Keng Strasser.

[2:05] Iyvon Edebiri: And our musician tonight is actor and vocalist Lauryn Alexandria.

[2:14] Iyvon Edebiri: All right.

[2:15] Iyvon Edebiri: We have Sam with us tonight to get us started.

[2:20] Iyvon Edebiri: So if you are new to the Parsnip Ship, we'd like to begin our night by asking our playwrights one question before hearing the first song and the play.

[2:29] Iyvon Edebiri: So, Sam, what would the world be missing if it didn't have this play?

[2:35] Sam Hamashima: I feel like I'm on a game show or something.

[2:43] Sam Hamashima: Um, so I was thinking about this question for a long time because everyone's given such good answers and varied answers.

[2:50] Sam Hamashima: So I've had to think about this.

[2:52] Sam Hamashima: I want to say weaponizing the BFA, but I'm not gonna say that.

[2:57] Sam Hamashima: Um, what I am gonna say is this is cross-generational therapy.

[3:01] Sam Hamashima: This is trauma being unpacked here.

[3:04] Sam Hamashima: Um, and this is that beauty through pain.

[3:06] Sam Hamashima: I think it's an antidote for the dystopia we're in today.

[3:13] Iyvon Edebiri: All right, that was a really good answer.

[3:17] Iyvon Edebiri: Yes, crafting stuff, you playwright you.

[3:21] Iyvon Edebiri: Um also, so we're gonna get to our first song of the evening by our wonderful musician Lauryn Alexandria.

[3:30] Iyvon Edebiri: Take it away.

[4:07] ♪ Musical number: "Song Title" — performed by Lauryn Alexandria ♪

[4:07] Grace Hamashima: I'm Grace Hamashima, and I will be playing Mineki Neko and Miss Nakayama.

[5:23] Grace Hamashima: This is my sister, also, by the way.

[5:28] Sam Hamashima: I'm Sam Hamashima, and I'm playing George.

[5:33] Ako: My name is Ako.

[5:36] Ako: I play Crane.

[5:39] Marina Kondo: My name is Marina Kondo, and I play Natsuko.

[5:42] Jo Ellen Pellman: My name is Jo Ellen Pellman, and I played Diane the Impersonator and the Officer.

[5:48] Roger Yeh: I'm Roger Yeh, and I'm playing Tamije.

[5:53] Sam Hamashima: American Spies.

[5:55] Sam Hamashima: By Sam Hamashima.

[5:57] Sam Hamashima: One.

[5:58] Sam Hamashima: Overture.

[5:59] Sam Hamashima: A house in California.

[6:01] Sam Hamashima: George sits on the sofa writing kanji.

[6:04] Sam Hamashima: A paper crane and a porcelain Maneki Neko watch.

[6:08] Sam Hamashima: Ichi.

[6:09] Sam Hamashima: Ni.

[6:10] Sam Hamashima: Son.

[6:11] Sam Hamashima: Si.

[6:12] Sam Hamashima: Time has a funny way of breaking rules when disaster circles from above.

[6:16] Sam Hamashima: A second can feel like a minute.

[6:19] Sam Hamashima: A minute can feel like an hour.

[6:21] Sam Hamashima: And the beat of the wing can take longer than the brush of two star-crossed hands.

[6:29] Sam Hamashima: An hour can shrink to a hopscotch step.

[6:33] Sam Hamashima: Or unfold slowly like a tightly sealed correspondence.

[6:38] Sam Hamashima: Counting to 10 may take the time of 20.

[6:41] Sam Hamashima: News travels across the Pacific.

[6:45] Sam Hamashima: Some messages take a light swim.

[6:47] Sam Hamashima: Others take the butterfly stroke.

[6:50] Sam Hamashima: But one rule stays the same.

[6:53] Sam Hamashima: Time always moves forward.

[6:57] Sam Hamashima: December 7th, 1941.

[7:02] Sam Hamashima: Morning.

[7:03] Sam Hamashima: Paper crane with a swish of her wing flicks the radio to a Tonko Bushi.

[7:08] Sam Hamashima: George.

[7:11] Sam Hamashima: George Mineki, watch Paper crane, who is enthusiastically performing.

[7:16] Sam Hamashima: Remember, three claps.

[7:19] Sam Hamashima: Here we go.

[7:22] Sam Hamashima: Dick the call.

[7:24] Sam Hamashima: Dick the cold.

[7:26] Sam Hamashima: Throw the coal.

[7:28] Sam Hamashima: Throw the coal.

[7:30] Sam Hamashima: Very good, Josie.

[7:32] Sam Hamashima: Wipe the brow.

[7:33] Sam Hamashima: Wipe the brow and push the coal.

[7:33] Sam Hamashima: Push the coal.

[7:39] Sam Hamashima: A good day's work.

[7:42] Sam Hamashima: Sigoi, su go yet.

[7:46] Sam Hamashima: That was so fun.

[7:47] Sam Hamashima: George, can't you try it by yourself?

[7:50] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: Please, no.

[7:51] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: I I'm not ready yet.

[7:52] Paper Crane: Oh, it is not so hard.

[7:55] Paper Crane: I'll help you.

[7:56] Paper Crane: Come on.

[7:57] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: No, no.

[7:57] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: I I think I need to watch you a bit more, Tsuru.

[8:00] Paper Crane: I'm going tired.

[8:02] Paper Crane: Well, how about Neko Chan?

[8:03] Shh.

[8:04] Paper Crane: Why doesn't she try it?

[8:05] Neko Chan: Oh, these claws are made for fighting.

[8:08] Neko Chan: Money choppoo, people punch, lucky blasu dong!

[8:13] Sam Hamashima: A burst of spirit energy.

[8:16] Sam Hamashima: Fizzles.

[8:18] Sam Hamashima: Oh, rats.

[8:20] Paper Crane: You're still learning.

[8:21] Paper Crane: It will come with practice.

[8:22] Neko Chan: If you practice.

[8:24] Neko Chan: When I practice.

[8:25] Paper Crane: You talk about your training, and yet I haven't seen any substantial practice.

[8:31] Neko Chan: I'm more active at night when you're asleep, bird brain.

[8:34] Paper Crane: Hey, hey, how about that?

[8:35] Paper Crane: Tonko Bushi.

[8:38] Paper Crane: Come on, Neko Chan.

[8:40] Paper Crane: Why don't you take a job at it?

[8:42] Paper Crane: Teach the boy.

[8:45] Neko Chan: Oh, on your mark, Neko Chan.

[8:49] Neko Chan: Very good, Neko Chan.

[8:52] Neko Chan: Flick the wrist right there.

[8:55] Neko Chan: See?

[8:56] Neko Chan: Oh, you make such all so proud.

[9:01] Neko Chan: I remember the first time I danced the Tanko Bushi.

[9:05] Neko Chan: It was a lovely summer.

[9:07] Neko Chan: Ew and full of music and dancing and food.

[9:12] Neko Chan: Stop looking at me.

[9:13] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: Why?

[9:14] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: I need to learn.

[9:15] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: I'm going to steal all your snacks from the pantry.

[9:18] Neko Chan: Make sure to smile.

[9:20] Neko Chan: No one likes an ugly dancer.

[9:23] Neko Chan: Even your trinket smiley, it's a grimace.

[9:27] Shh.

[9:28] All together now.

[9:32] Neko Chan: Round two begins.

[9:34] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: My arms hurt.

[9:37] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: I feel stupid.

[9:38] Paper Crane: Hush!

[9:39] Paper Crane: Taco is the big summer dance for you and your family.

[9:44] Paper Crane: It is something your parents did and something their parents did.

[9:49] Paper Crane: And theirs and on and on he gets it.

[9:52] Paper Crane: Final round.

[9:53] Sam Hamashima: The three do the dance joyfully in a circle.

[9:56] Sam Hamashima: The fun stops as a big box tumbles down the staircase, spilling paper along the way.

[10:03] Sam Hamashima: Maneki Neko bumps the table with the porcelain cat.

[10:07] Sam Hamashima: Ooh, close one.

[10:09] Sam Hamashima: You've got to be more careful.

[10:11] Sam Hamashima: This figure breaks and you may lose your arm.

[10:14] Neko Chan: Drama Queen.

[10:16] Neko Chan: What happens if they break?

[10:17] Sam Hamashima: We will just go up in the ether.

[10:22] Sam Hamashima: No touchstone in the family means we are guarding anymore.

[10:26] Sam Hamashima: Maneki Neko sits in the box.

[10:29] Sam Hamashima: I have claimed this.

[10:30] Iyvon Edebiri: George, why don't you get to see if your mother needs any help?

[10:35] Sam Hamashima: George goes to find Natsuko.

[10:37] Paper Crane: Maneki Neko shoes out.

[10:39] Paper Crane: They look inside.

[10:44] Sam Hamashima: A few letters from Natsuko's family.

[10:47] Sam Hamashima: Some from Tommy Hayes.

[10:48] Sam Hamashima: Letters from the past.

[10:50] Sam Hamashima: Why stuff them in a box?

[10:52] Sam Hamashima: Some of those documents are precious.

[10:55] Sam Hamashima: Look see.

[10:58] Sam Hamashima: Japanese history is boxed away.

[11:01] Sam Hamashima: Letters left unanswered.

[11:03] Sam Hamashima: Hmm.

[11:04] Sam Hamashima: From your dearest sister Aiko.

[11:07] Sam Hamashima: Dad's still sick.

[11:10] Sam Hamashima: Japanese books thrown away.

[11:12] Sam Hamashima: Ooh, recipe for Mochi.

[11:15] Sam Hamashima: Sticky rice.

[11:16] Sam Hamashima: What's the danger?

[11:19] Sam Hamashima: Uh Sudusan, your brow is wrinkling.

[11:19] Sam Hamashima: Maneki Neko digs in the box.

[11:25] Sam Hamashima: Mmm.

[11:27] Sam Hamashima: A letter from Otosama.

[11:31] Sam Hamashima: Otosama.

[11:37] Sam Hamashima: I better get ready, Tonko Bushi.

[11:39] Sam Hamashima: Perfect for Otosama.

[11:41] Neko Chan: No fair.

[11:42] Neko Chan: I will have the prettiest cold dance of them all.

[11:45] Neko Chan: I can just see him now.

[11:48] Neko Chan: His beautiful smile.

[11:50] Neko Chan: He'll tell me how great a dancer I am.

[11:53] Neko Chan: Maybe he will give me words of affirmation and ask me for tips of his own cold dancing.

[12:02] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: Gee, eh?

[12:02] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: He wouldn't ask a stiffy like you.

[12:04] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: He'll ask for my help because I have the talent.

[12:07] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: He always told me how wild he thought you were.

[12:11] Neko Chan: Oh, well, excuse me, he was a wild one as far as I remember.

[12:14] Neko Chan: He liked a girl who could have fun.

[12:16] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: Don't you talk about Otosama in that manner?

[12:19] Neko Chan: What are you doing?

[12:20] Neko Chan: Acting like children.

[12:22] Neko Chan: I've already got one of those.

[12:23] Iyvon Edebiri: Natsuko and George, enter.

[12:24] Natsuko: Mom, I'm a teenager.

[12:26] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: In this house, you're a child.

[12:30] Natsuko: It's a Tanko Bushi.

[12:32] Natsuko: We don't teach that anymore.

[12:34] Iyvon Edebiri: Oh no, it was merely a rehearsal in the art of choreography.

[12:51] Natsuko: Go scratch your pose.

[12:52] Manekineko: Ah, Kachan. Do you have any more uh boxes I can sit in?

[13:01] Natsuko: I've got it. It's in my body now. I don't mean to get you in trouble. It's my responsibility to make sure you.

[13:10] Natsuko: I don't mind. I like it. Mom and dad have secrets. We can have our own too.

[13:18] Natsuko: These boxes need sorting through. This box is for under the house. I'm sure we can fit a box or two in the upstairs uh closet.

[13:26] Natsuko: What's happening? Everything else is for the trash.

[13:30] Natsuko: Fables in the garbage. What's the purge for?

[13:33] Paper Crane: Nothing that concerns us.

[13:39] Natsuko: Kachan, this isn't just early spring cleaning, is it? Tell us what's going on, please.

[13:45] Natsuko: We must know.

[13:49] Natsuko: Japan has attacked American.

[13:53] Natsuko: Three.

[13:57] Natsuko: An hour or so later. Grab that box there.

[14:01] Natsuko: Are it. Sore. Kore?

[14:09] Natsuko: Komenasai. Sore. So it that. If it's close to you.

[14:15] Natsuko: Kore this. If it's closer to me, the speaker. Adit that over there, if it's far from both of us.

[14:23] Natsuko: George looks.

[14:29] Natsuko: Ma, stop. Stop.

[14:31] Natsuko: I saw sorry. I don't speak English.

[14:37] Natsuko: Mate, mate! There we go.

[14:48] Natsuko: Sorry.

[14:57] Natsuko: The first buzzard arrives unseen.

[15:01] Natsuko: I think it's best you don't go to school tomorrow.

[15:03] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: Ma, I can defend myself.

[15:05] Natsuko: And risk getting another black eye, or worse.

[15:07] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: That was one time. All because you read too much and speak too softly.

[15:11] Natsuko: What do they do after Hawaii?

[15:13] Natsuko: Another buzzard circles in. Stay at home.

[15:17] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: For me.

[15:18] Natsuko: I'll think about it.

[15:20] Natsuko: There was no warning. No warning from Aiko, Masaru, Otosu. They had no way of knowing.

[15:26] Natsuko: Another buzzer finds its way.

[15:33] Paper Crane: Natsuko, this is your last correspondence with Onisan.

[15:37] Natsuko: Put it in the box. He asked for a little back.

[15:40] Natsuko: A letter back immediate. No more letters there.

[15:44] Natsuko: No more letters here. We can't send anything over anymore.

[15:51] Natsuko: It'll be flagged for spyware. We could get locked up.

[15:54] Natsuko: Maybe they'll come for us. See the little eyes we have and think, oh no, spies right in our neighborhood.

[16:00] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: General Toshio's soldiers.

[16:03] Natsuko: Stop. You'll scare them.

[16:04] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: Like we aren't scared already.

[16:05] Natsuko: I left some boxes upstairs. I'm going to grab them.

[16:09] Natsuko: No more talk. Want this birthday card?

[16:15] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: Yeah.

[16:19] Natsuko: Four.

[16:22] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: Ma, the door. Quick! You know the drill. Kitchen.

[16:26] Natsuko: Paper crane and Manekineko fly to the kitchen.

[16:32] Natsuko: She steps on the note and picks it up. Georgie.

[16:36] Natsuko: Is this some of your schoolwork?

[16:39] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: No, doesn't look like it.

[16:40] Natsuko: Neighbors poof in.

[16:42] Neighbors: We always knew you were out to get us. Couldn't be trusted for sure.

[16:47] Neighbors: Always felt weird when you asked to borrow a cup of sugar. What we're trying to say is move out.

[16:49] Neighbors: Move out. Move out.

[16:57] Natsuko: They want us to go? Where are we supposed to go?

[17:00] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: Nowhere. Not going anywhere. Just storing our stuff for a little hiding.

[17:04] Natsuko: Hiding? In case they poke around here.

[17:07] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: They. Police. Looking for clues.

[17:10] Neighbors: Your joke wasn't funny.

[17:13] Neighbors: A note from Diane slipped under our door this morning.

[17:16] Neighbors: The weirdo down the street.

[17:17] Natsuko: Yes. Ma, her husband's in government.

[17:20] Neighbors: Her letter said there might be snooping. Told us to get ready.

[17:25] Neighbors: We may be seen as threats.

[17:27] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: I'm a student. Dad takes care of tomatoes. You play bridge.

[17:30] Natsuko: I win, Bridge.

[17:34] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: You win, Bridge. With the women down the street like anyone else.

[17:38] Natsuko: Just because we look like them.

[17:40] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: Are them.

[17:42] Natsuko: I don't know. So Auntie Iko and family in Japan, are they now the enemy?

[17:48] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: I don't know, George.

[17:54] Natsuko: I have some cards from cousins in my dresser. They've got some kanji on them. We could throw those away.

[18:00] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: Thank you.

[18:07] Paper Crane: Mmm. The Ohagi is conquered.

[18:10] Natsuko: She cleaned out the fridge too. Put that box on the couch.

[18:15] Tommy Hei: Okay, Kamihe Sama.

[18:20] Natsuko: Dad. Anata. Hide them. Hide somewhere.

[18:24] Natsuko: Haikaku.

[18:28] Natsuko: Awatar.

[18:30] Natsuko: Nani? Kitsura. Teruraito.

[18:34] Natsuko: Teruraito? Nanika. Sagatate.

[18:38] Natsuko: What are you talking about? What's going on?

[18:42] Natsuko: Hello, uh officer. Saw this man driving into the neighborhood.

[18:47] Natsuko: Tail light was out and in a neighborhood with kids. There could have been an accident.

[18:52] Natsuko: I felt I should escort him home.

[18:54] Officer: How responsible of you. Just doing my job.

[18:57] Officer: How about that water?

[19:00] Natsuko: Coming right up.

[19:01] Officer: No, no, it's fine. Which way is the kitchen?

[19:04] Natsuko: I could get it for you. It's a mess right now.

[19:07] Officer: I'd really like to get it myself, if you don't mind.

[19:10] Natsuko: Of course. That way, officer.

[19:20] Officer: There we go. Refreshing.

[19:24] Officer: Why don't you go start some lunch in the kitchen, George?

[19:30] Officer: Mind if I grab your first and last name?

[19:33] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: Why?

[19:34] Officer: For the report.

[19:35] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: What report?

[19:36] Officer: Your tail light was out.

[19:40] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: Tamije Ishi.

[19:42] Officer: Can you say that one more time?

[19:45] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: Tamih.

[19:47] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: Tony High.

[19:51] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: Ishi.

[19:53] Officer: Eee. Well, Tony Hi EC, Mrs. EC, a pleasure.

[19:59] Officer: Take care. Don't go looking for trouble.

[20:02] Officer: Oh, you should get someone to look at that squirrel problem.

[20:02] Officer: Squirrel problem.

[20:06] Natsuko: Yeah, that hole in the kitchen wall. Perfect for a squirrel to nest in or a raccoon.

[20:12] Natsuko: I tried getting a look in myself, but the damn thing swiped at me. Would have been crazy to get closer.

[20:17] Officer: Yes, officer, weeble check it out.

[20:20] Officer: Well, if you need anything, we'll be close by.

[20:28] Natsuko: Squirrel problem.

[20:30] Natsuko: Unsen.

[20:37] Natsuko: I haven't folded myself up like that since the disarits came over.

[20:43] Natsuko: My nails, my poor feral nails. It's gonna take hours to get the creases out.

[20:50] Natsuko: I had to bite the hakujin so blind.

[20:52] Natsuko: George, take the spirits up to your room.

[20:54] Natsuko: Hi, go meanesai. Nekochan.

[20:56] Natsuko: Hi. Try not to make a hole in the wall.

[21:00] Natsuko: Hi.

[21:01] Natsuko: The spirits in George trudge up the stairs.

[21:04] Natsuko: You didn't have to be so hard on her.

[21:06] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: Don't tell me how to talk.

[21:07] Natsuko: She had no way of knowing he'd come to the kitchen.

[21:10] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: Doesn't matter. She should be prepared for the worst.

[21:12] Natsuko: A lucky cat. Defective.

[21:14] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: Don't you say that. You know she's insecure.

[21:17] Natsuko: Insecure about her malfunction.

[21:19] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: Stop that. She should be ashamed.

[21:21] Natsuko: Some lucky cat she is. Police visit and a house gutting in one day.

[21:26] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: Would you ever talk to George like this?

[21:27] Natsuko: Yes.

[21:28] Natsuko: It would make him stronger.

[21:29] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: Listen to yourself. What do you expect us to be like?

[21:32] Natsuko: Some heartless family? Always ready for an attack?

[21:34] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: We need to be on guard. They're coming after community leaders.

[21:38] Natsuko: That visit we just had. Not for a busted-out tail light.

[21:42] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: It's my position in the farming community.

[21:44] Natsuko: Farming's no threat.

[21:46] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: I'm in charge of many that write to Japan weekly. Workers sending money back.

[21:51] Natsuko: They're looking for reasons to watch us. Or worse, put me away.

[21:56] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: He approaches the boxes.

[21:59] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: I kept a little.

[22:01] Natsuko: That's good. I started sorting them.

[22:04] Natsuko: Anything we might keep in these boxes here.

[22:07] Natsuko: I was thinking we could hide them in the crawl space for a few days.

[22:11] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: Crawl space. Just under the house.

[22:13] Natsuko: It's a tight fit, but I'm sure we can squeeze a box or two in.

[22:17] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: I'd like to keep my letters from Otosa. His illness is getting worse. It's important that I keep in contact.

[22:24] Natsuko: What? Crawl space two out in the open? They'll search everywhere.

[22:30] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: Well, then I can tuck them under the mattress or behind a toilet or hidden in the chimney.

[22:35] Natsuko: They will find whatever we keep. Even the spirits.

[22:41] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: You don't mean.

[22:42] Natsuko: I don't see another way.

[22:44] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: No, no, no, no, no. How will we tell them? Where will they go?

[22:48] Natsuko: Thrown on into some garbage heap? We need to cut them loose.

[22:52] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: They can survive on their own.

[22:54] Natsuko: We don't need to throw them away.

[22:56] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: No, we just need to abandon our responsibility.

[22:59] Natsuko: We don't need to think about this right now.

[23:01] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: No, you brought it up, so I like to talk about it.

[23:03] Natsuko: Would you throw out George too if it meant our safety?

[23:05] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: He is my son, our son. Everything I do is for you and for him.

[23:12] Natsuko: I'm trying to protect our family.

[23:14] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: Three-fifths of the family.

[23:16] Natsuko: Enough. We're having a burning tonight.

[23:19] Natsuko: Show neighbors where we stand on this. Nakayama san's idea.

[23:23] Natsuko: Said if we have nothing to hide, then we've nothing to find.

[23:27] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: A burning.

[23:29] Natsuko: We start over. Clean slate.

[23:32] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: But there's just so much to keep.

[23:36] Natsuko: You can keep one book.

[23:38] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: We have to be careful about this.

[23:40] Natsuko: Write it all in here. One book is easy to hide.

[23:47] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: I'm headed to Nakiyama san's. See the progress she's making.

[23:51] Natsuko: We have until sundown. Be safe.

[23:57] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: Why burn it all if nothing we have is grounds for imprisonment?

[24:01] Natsuko: They will not look thoroughly to distinguish.

[24:04] Natsuko: A wrestle in the buzzards. Keep the door locked.

[24:09] Tommy Hay: puts on his jacket and leaves.

[24:13] Natsuko: Secret love.

[24:16] Natsuko: George's bedroom.

[24:17] Maneki Neko: tosses a ball of yarn into the air.

[24:20] Paper Crane: looks out the window.

[24:23] Natsuko: Nothing happens out there.

[24:27] Natsuko: Wonder if they'll be patrolling in the street tonight.

[24:33] Natsuko: Maybe they'll make a curfew.

[24:36] Natsuko: I should go ask Natsuko.

[24:38] Maneki Neko: You should pick up a book and shut your yap, eh?

[24:41] Natsuko: Some of us care about the end of the world.

[24:44] Maneki Neko: You're being a drama queen.

[24:46] Natsuko: Hey, you behave now.

[24:48] Natsuko: What are you studying tonight, huh?

[24:50] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: Arithmetic.

[24:52] Natsuko: Addition? Subtraction? Long division?

[24:54] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: This look like arithmetic.

[24:57] Natsuko: Nikko sneaky steel.

[24:59] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: Hey, give that back.

[25:01] Natsuko: Ooh, no numbers on it. Don't look like math to me.

[25:03] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: I said give it back.

[25:05] Natsuko: Practicing your Japanese, neh?

[25:09] Natsuko: On this day.

[25:10] Natsuko: Chigao, y'all. So then what is it, huh?

[25:14] Natsuko: A correspondence?

[25:17] Natsuko: Love letters.

[25:18] Ako: Oh, how can we?

[25:20] Natsuko: No.

[25:20] Ako: Actually?

[25:21] Natsuko: Yes.

[25:23] Ako: Care to explain yourself.

[25:26] Natsuko: Oh, Nichon, you know we can keep secrets.

[25:30] Ako: I know. We've kept secrets for a long time.

[25:33] Natsuko: I bet we've got dirt that could bury your father.

[25:37] Ako: You have to tell me.

[25:39] Natsuko: Love!

[25:42] Ako: 1,000.

[25:44] Natsuko: Oh, come on.

[25:48] Ako: 1000%.

[25:51] Natsuko: We are confident.

[25:53] Ako: Secret telling is specifically not allowed.

[25:56] Natsuko: So tell us anything.

[25:58] Ako: Everything.

[25:59] Natsuko: Gossip with ears that won't tell.

[26:02] Ako: Please.

[26:05] Natsuko: It's another student.

[26:06] Ako: We've been passing notes for a while.

[26:08] Natsuko: We write to each other in Japanese in case anyone finds them. It's kind of like our secret language.

[26:13] Ako: Oh, so Ros.

[26:15] Natsuko: Who did you meet?

[26:16] Ako: In English.

[26:16] Natsuko: We had some assignments together.

[26:18] Ako: Have you kissed, Neh?

[26:20] Natsuko: Hush.

[26:22] Ako: What assignments?

[26:25] Natsuko: Analysis on the great Gatsby.

[26:27] Ako: Oh, skip the boring stuff. Have you kissed?

[26:31] Natsuko: It's Joel.

[26:32] Ako: Gatsby?

[26:33] Natsuko: Not he gatsubi.

[26:35] Ako: We did an analysis on Myrtle together.

[26:38] Natsuko: Did you kiss?

[26:39] Ako: Did you kiss?

[26:40] Natsuko: Did you see that?

[26:41] Ako: Shut up.

[26:42] Natsuko: You're running the expedition.

[26:44] Ako: Paper Crane holds Mendecine Echo down.

[26:48] Natsuko: Myrtle.

[26:49] Ako: Good character.

[26:50] Natsuko: Feisty.

[26:52] Ako: We were discussing the book.

[26:55] Natsuko: We kissed.

[27:00] Ako: But but oh she's moving away.

[27:03] Natsuko: She's got a boyfriend.

[27:05] Ako: Two Starcross lovers, what are some gone.

[27:11] Natsuko: You're sure I can tell you anything.

[27:14] Ako: Promise.

[27:15] Natsuko: You're safe here.

[27:17] Ako: What do you want to say?

[27:21] Natsuko: His name is Kenji.

[27:27] Ako: Nicocha.

[27:29] Natsuko: Wait in the hallway.

[27:33] Ako: At least they are Japanese, meh.

[27:38] Natsuko: Oh, Josie, Josie.

[27:40] Ako: I've been alive a long time.

[27:44] Natsuko: And in that long time, I've seen words won, words lost, people loved and missed the connections.

[27:52] Ako: This?

[27:53] Natsuko: I am unfazed.

[27:55] Ako: Paper crane gives him the biggest hug in the world.

[27:57] Natsuko: Congratulations!

[27:59] Ako: You're not mad?

[28:01] Natsuko: No.

[28:02] Ako: Absolutely not.

[28:03] Natsuko: But it's unnatural.

[28:05] Ako: You remember Tsurunyobo?

[28:09] Natsuko: No.

[28:10] Ako: An old story. There was a crane caught in a trap.

[28:15] Natsuko: Feathers battered by the winds and rain. Should have been eaten after the first day.

[28:22] Ako: Should have starved to death after the second.

[28:26] Natsuko: A woodcutter crossed paths with the crane and feeling bad for it, set it free.

[28:34] Ako: Upon its freedom, the crane flew off, promising to return to him.

[28:42] Natsuko: Next day, the crane showed up at his doorstep, asking for marriage.

[28:52] Ako: Feathers covered her. They fell in love.

[28:56] Natsuko: They married. If a man can fall in love with a crane, then why can't a man fall in love with a man?

[29:05] Ako: Josie, I don't care.

[29:09] Natsuko: Doesn't change you or my family.

[29:12] Ako: No change at all.

[29:15] Natsuko: Thank you.

[29:17] Ako: Carl Carnel.

[29:21] Natsuko: Yes.

[29:23] Ako: Min have been kissing Min forever.

[29:27] Natsuko: No problem.

[29:28] Ako: We love and accept you.

[29:31] Natsuko: We got it, Neko Chan. Put your claws down.

[29:35] Ako: Oh.

[29:35] Natsuko: Thanks, Neko.

[29:36] Ako: The three have the biggest hug in the universe.

[29:40] Natsuko: Promise you won't tell anyone.

[29:43] Ako: Bit today, Yaru.

[29:45] Natsuko: One thousand percent oh.

[29:49] Ako: Josie, if we couldn't keep secrets, there's no way in hell we'd still be around.

[29:57] Natsuko: Everyone needs a special friend to whisper with 1940s or 1620s.

[30:02] Ako: And believe me, the 1620s. Crazy.

[30:09] Natsuko: Now let's write the best letter you've ever said.

[30:14] Ako: Yes, I'll draw him a picture.

[30:16] Natsuko: Poetry straight from the heart.

[30:18] Ako: I'd love to use more Japanese.

[30:20] Natsuko: I can help you with that.

[30:21] Ako: Can I draw him a cat?

[30:24] Natsuko: Absolutely. You could write him a story.

[30:27] Ako: Aye!

[30:28] Natsuko: No playing around. Operation Star Cross Love is a go!

[30:32] Ako: Let's start all!

[30:35] Natsuko: Hi!

[30:35] Ako: Let's start all!

[30:38] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: George, come see if you want to keep this.

[30:40] Natsuko: Hi, Okasan. Gotta go. I'll be right back.

[30:43] Ako: He runs off with a hopscotch step.

[30:48] Natsuko: Uh the things we do to protect.

[30:52] Ako: It's why we're around.

[30:56] Natsuko: I lied to him.

[30:59] Ako: Nanny.

[31:01] Natsuko: I twisted it.

[31:03] Ako: The crane wife.

[31:05] Natsuko: The real story is she disguised herself as a human.

[31:11] Ako: Lived in fear to be with who she loved.

[31:15] Natsuko: Pretended to be normal so she could live in society.

[31:21] Ako: Pretended to be a normal human.

[31:25] Natsuko: When the woodcutter found out who she really was, he drove her out.

[31:31] Ako: He could not accept her.

[31:33] Natsuko: Why would you lie to him?

[31:35] Ako: Now he will go and tell everyone.

[31:38] Natsuko: You underestimate.

[31:40] Ako: You underestimate the decision to tell a secret.

[31:44] Natsuko: But he just did to us.

[31:46] Ako: To spirit.

[31:48] Natsuko: We promised.

[31:50] Ako: Yeah.

[31:51] Natsuko: 1000%.

[31:54] Ako: Humans have so much to learn.

[31:59] Natsuko: We have lapped them in knowledge twofold.

[32:04] Ako: He will not come out.

[32:07] Natsuko: This I am certain of.

[32:10] Ako: It is not the time.

[32:12] Natsuko: It is not the time for that.

[32:14] Ako: The family will live on.

[32:17] Natsuko: He will have a child.

[32:19] Ako: And that child will have a child.

[32:21] Natsuko: And the family continues, and humans catch up.

[32:26] Ako: And then only then can are you a spirit or a demon?

[32:31] Natsuko: Did you see how he left us in this room? His two confidants?

[32:34] Ako: Think of how happy it would be to have an entire world of confidants. All in on the same secret.

[32:42] Natsuko: You tricked him.

[32:43] Ako: I tricked him to protect him.

[32:47] Natsuko: Understanding is difficult, but this is the way things are meant to be.

[32:54] Ako: Do you really think there have not been others like him?

[33:00] Natsuko: I know, I know there have been others like him, and there will be more, but it's not up to us to break a family.

[33:10] Ako: It is up to us to keep a secret.

[33:14] Natsuko: This is our job. Our duty.

[33:18] Ako: On today, especially today, the gift I can give him is to feel normal.

[33:28] Natsuko: And that's the last time we discussed this.

[33:33] Ako: Six.

[33:34] Natsuko: The first visit.

[33:35] Ako: Living room.

[33:36] Natsuko: Natsuko is intently finding passages to transcribe when suddenly.

[33:43] Officer: FBI.

[33:45] Natsuko: Hello?

[33:46] Officer: F-B-I, please open the door.

[33:48] Natsuko: Yes, officer.

[33:49] Natsuko: She opens the door. Standing in the doorway is Miss Nakayama.

[33:52] Officer: Freeze! Where is he? Where's Adof?

[33:55] Natsuko: Hadaki Mussolini. Scare me half to death.

[33:57] Miss Nakayama: Oh, you've gotta take a Joe every now and then, Natsuko san.

[34:03] Natsuko: I wanted to drop by and see how the prep was coming along here for the covert operation.

[34:08] Miss Nakayama: You silly woman. Still archiving?

[34:11] Natsuko: Hi. There's too much here.

[34:14] Miss Nakayama: Because you throw nothing away.

[34:17] Natsuko: Here, let me help.

[34:20] Miss Nakayama: Arigato. Anything that seems family related, just stick in that box here. Everything else is for the fire.

[34:29] Natsuko: Tommy Hay is keeping his cool, it seems.

[34:32] Miss Nakayama: He's fine. I think it's all a load of fear-filled bullshit. Nothing's gonna happen to us.

[34:36] Natsuko: Today we're the enemy.

[34:40] Miss Nakayama: The fire will fix everything.

[34:42] Natsuko: You really think so?

[34:43] Miss Nakayama: Of course. This will all blow over.

[34:46] Natsuko: Go up in smoke, more like.

[34:49] Miss Nakayama: Buzzard's approach.

[34:51] Natsuko: Eh? What's this note?

[34:53] Miss Nakayama: I cannot wait till our lips meet again under Eccleberg eyes. Signed your green light.

[35:01] Natsuko: Poetic. And in kanji.

[35:01] Natsuko: Natsuko and Miss Nakayama share a mischievous look.

[35:07] Miss Nakayama: Joy!

[35:08] Natsuko: Crushed!

[35:10] Miss Nakayama: Konichiwa Nakayama sa.

[35:12] Natsuko: Hello, Joji Chan.

[35:13] Miss Nakayama: Ne?

[35:14] Natsuko: Oka sang. Is this yours?

[35:20] Miss Nakayama: Arigato! Good to see you, Nakayama sa!

[35:25] Natsuko: Passing notes in class.

[35:27] Miss Nakayama: Just a passage from a book we were reading in class. It's my favorite line.

[35:31] Natsuko: Huh.

[35:32] Miss Nakayama: I see.

[35:34] Natsuko: I got to uh go. Uh get more papers for the fire.

[35:39] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: George clumsily exits.

[35:42] Miss Nakayama: Reading erotica in school, ne?

[35:47] Natsuko: I don't understand American literature.

[35:49] Miss Nakayama: You know he's lying.

[35:50] Natsuko: Of course he's lying.

[35:52] Miss Nakayama: Oh, his first crush. It's so exciting. He's always been so quiet about these things.

[35:56] Natsuko: He's a teenager.

[35:57] Miss Nakayama: I know, but sometimes I wish he'd share with me.

[36:00] Natsuko: Now he's just locked up in that room of his again.

[36:03] Miss Nakayama: Oh, he's embarrassed. I wouldn't ask him about it.

[36:06] Natsuko: Let him write love letters. You know, better than sneaking out.

[36:12] Miss Nakayama: The note! There was kanji on the note.

[36:15] Natsuko: She met a nice Japanese girl.

[36:18] Miss Nakayama: Oh lovely! Pretty soon you'll have grandbabies to play with and cheeks to pinch.

[36:24] Natsuko: You better do good with that little book. He's got a lot to learn before he can pass anything down.

[36:29] Miss Nakayama: You're right.

[36:31] Natsuko: Buzzard's approach. Everything alright?

[36:35] Miss Nakayama: Tammy Hei says we need to burn Papa's crane and the white cat guarding the house.

[36:40] Natsuko: The trinkets? The crane is my father's parting gift to me when we left home.

[36:44] Miss Nakayama: Kat was with us from the beginning, so so dumb at first, but now I can't imagine life without it.

[36:53] Natsuko: Sentimental value can't be transcribed into a journal.

[36:57] Miss Nakayama: Hide them if they're that important to you.

[36:59] Natsuko: A piece of paper and a porcelain trinket? Nothing to worry about.

[37:03] Miss Nakayama: If those toys are considered contraband, then we don't say it.

[37:09] Natsuko: We start the fire at dark.

[37:13] Miss Nakayama: I've got a few more hours.

[37:24] Natsuko: George's bedroom. He works feverishly on a new letter to Kenji.

[37:30] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: Ichi ni san. Tomorrow is Monday. No one likes Mondays.

[37:37] Natsuko: A new start. More good days work. Another week long purpose. An inconvenience.

[37:44] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: How do you say good morning?

[37:46] Natsuko: Oh Ichi Ni San She.

[37:52] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: Writing in a trance. For Monday's correspondence.

[37:56] Neko Chan: Much to discuss. Much to keep hidden. Ni. How do you say after school? Hold on. Ah. Ichi ni. In draft one, he asked him about the weather. Hachi. Q. Draft two ni. Typo. San. Draft three. He wrote. I hope to see you soon. Hachi. I spilled a snack on draft four. Goman. Ichi. Ni. Sun. She draft five was just sloppy penmanship. Q. Draft six six was Ah it's no good. Nah. Are you talking about my drawing?

[38:47] Maneki Neko: Minakineko holds up the incredible picture. No, no, your picture is feral. Ah! My Japanese. It's no good. Elementary. You can only speak what you know. No shame in that. Too formal. I sound like I learned from a dictionary or a Taurus book for visitors. He's gonna laugh at this.

[39:10] Neko Chan: Nonsense. You've been writing to each other since when? A bit. How much is a bit? Since mid-October. Over a month? That's like ten years in spirit time. But you have to remember, we've only been alone in libraries, the hallways. Letters started out of necessity. English for a long time. And then he started writing bits of Japanese for like effect. I think it's cute, and he knows that, so we fallen into using it. Bits and pieces of the secret language.

[39:42] Ako: Did you tell him your parents don't teach you?

[39:46] Neko Chan: No.

[39:47] Ako: Why not?

[39:48] Neko Chan: You feel defective too. What if I just wasn't Japanese enough anymore?

[39:56] Ako: Not Japanese enough. You have a family trying to protect you.

[40:01] Neko Chan: What? The way they don't teach you? The deliberate phasing out of the language.

[40:06] Ako: I think protection is a bit out of the equation.

[40:08] Neko Chan: And why do you think Tomheisama got followed by the police then?

[40:12] Ako: Because his taillight was out?

[40:13] Neko Chan: Don't scare the boy.

[40:18] Ako: Yeah, yay. They came after him because he can speak. Because he speaks not only to the Japanese, but to the American and to the Chinese. He knows too many languages to just be a citizen.

[40:30] Neko Chan: I want the choice. I want to choose how much I know. He stole that from me, and now it may be the one thing separating me and Kenji. My foolish attempts at serenading him in a language I can't understand. And it may be the one thing separating you from a most wanted list.

[40:49] Neko Chan: How do you write love in kanji?

[40:51] Natsuko: Back into the living room.

[40:55] Natsuko: Eight. The second visit. Hello? It's Gaion from two houses down.

[41:01] Natsuko: Oh, there's my cue. Can I come on? Just a second.

[41:06] Natsuko: Natsuko rushes to put her shoes on. She picks Miss Nakiyama's shoes up, too. Put these on.

[41:12] Miss Nakayama: Eh?

[41:12] Natsuko: Put them on, or Diane will freak.

[41:15] Natsuko: Hello. Why do you care so much about what the Haku Jin thinks?

[41:20] Miss Nakayama: Her husband is in government. Along with that, uh I trust her.

[41:24] Natsuko: Oh, you trust the Haku-jin? Man oh man. I thought this day couldn't get any weirder.

[41:29] Miss Nakayama: I brought something for you.

[41:31] Natsuko: I think she wants to help us.

[41:32] Miss Nakayama: Oh, said the shark to the seal. You've gone bananas. Just put these on.

[41:37] Natsuko: She had good intentions. She just doesn't care for feet. I'm begging you.

[41:41] Natsuko: Do I hear someone else, sir? First it was no more get togethers in my house. Then it was no more a born festival. Now this aunt day of all days, you're gonna pick this fight.

[41:51] Miss Nakayama: I am not wearing shoes in your house. That's ridiculous.

[41:54] Natsuko: I'll come back another time if that's better for you.

[41:58] Miss Nakayama: It's not that bad, eh? Shoes on!

[42:01] Natsuko: Yeah! I shouldn't have to sacrifice.

[42:04] Miss Nakayama: Says the woman making a burning!

[42:06] Natsuko: Paper is one thing. Shoes, another. A custom lives on. Respect the house with barren feet.

[42:12] Miss Nakayama: They're just shoes.

[42:13] Natsuko: They're just toys. They're getting cold.

[42:17] Natsuko: It's open.

[42:21] Natsuko: Oh, hello, Miss Yakawawa.

[42:25] Miss Nakayama: Diane, it's always a pleasure. Leaving so soon.

[42:30] Natsuko: Yeah, so just two ships passing in the night, I'm afraid.

[42:34] Miss Nakayama: Oh, I see. Well, it was good to see you, even if but for a moment.

[42:41] Miss Nakayama: You're forgetting your shoes.

[42:44] Natsuko: I'm not forgetting anything. Take care, Natsu.

[42:47] Natsuko: Oh. May the grandest, kindest, fattest Buddha protect us. And may we lay charms and spells of the magic koi fish.

[42:57] Natsuko: Magic fish. Magic fish. Magic fish.

[43:04] Natsuko: Natsuko walks back to Diane.

[43:06] Natsuko: The door cracks open slightly. A silly buzzard waddles in.

[43:10] Buzzard: I brought Christmas cookies.

[43:13] Natsuko: Oh, wonderful.

[43:15] Diane: You um celebrate Christmas.

[43:18] Natsuko: Yes. Yes.

[43:19] Diane: Oh my how progressive of you. You are doing so well.

[43:24] Natsuko: Thank you. Uh, care for milk or a drink of water with it?

[43:30] Diane: You got my note this morning.

[43:31] Natsuko: Ah, yes, yes. Thank you. Of course.

[43:34] Natsuko: I uh I just wanted to make this smoother for you.

[43:41] Buzzard: The searching?

[43:42] Natsuko: More or less. I I don't know too much. It's just I had my suspicions, is all.

[43:51] Diane: You know, I'd actually love a glass of water if you don't mind.

[43:55] Natsuko: Sure thing.

[43:56] Natsuko heads off stage to the kitchen.

[43:58] Buzzards: file in.

[43:59] Diane: starts inspecting furniture pieces, curtains.

[44:03] Diane: She looks at the rug, sees a potential stain, crouches to the ground and wipes it to see if it can be removed.

[44:09] Natsuko: enters.

[44:11] Natsuko: Diane.

[44:13] Diane: Oh, I'm sorry.

[44:15] Diane: I was just admiring your rug.

[44:18] Natsuko: So close to the ground. Couldn't tell what fabric it was.

[44:22] Diane: Silk on silk.

[44:25] Natsuko: Goodness. It's high value.

[44:28] Diane: Yes. Never know when you might want to sell it.

[44:31] Buzzard: Another buzzard swoops in.

[44:33] Diane: I doubt we'll be getting rid of it anytime soon. Got it from a family friend when we move from abroad.

[44:40] Natsuko: Story makes it special.

[44:43] Diane: Special. Dangerous.

[44:49] Natsuko: I'm sure a rug won't make a fuss.

[44:52] Diane: You're in quite the predicament.

[44:55] Natsuko: You know me, Diane. I would never wish that a happen on anyone.

[44:59] Diane: Oh, I do know you. And I also know where you're from and how your people are.

[45:07] Natsuko: Diane.

[45:09] Natsuko: What are you doing here?

[45:10] Diane: Your note this morning. You were trying to help us?

[45:13] Natsuko: I'll say it again. I'm I want to make the process smoother.

[45:18] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: enters with paper crane and listens intently.

[45:21] Natsuko: Process. We don't hate you, Natsuko, for something you've done. You're just in a great position to be hated.

[45:29] Diane: To take the spots of groups before you. I mean, look at me. I cleaned up my act, even if it wasn't mine to clean.

[45:36] Diane: I cleaned it up. The Irish, you know, they steal. They're cruel and bloody, full of revenge and murderers of children.

[45:45] Diane: Now, full disclosure, I have never murdered a child, but that didn't stop the lingering eyes over my maiden name, Maguire.

[45:53] Natsuko: What an incredible thing this is. You coming in on the West Coast. Me from the East Coast.

[46:02] Diane: We found each other. I am your American mentor. So let's talk. From one immigrant to another.

[46:12] Natsuko: This isn't your fault.

[46:15] Diane: But the consequences of a people are felt by all.

[46:19] Natsuko: You say you aren't part of the Nihon anymore.

[46:22] Diane: It's hard to know. You have an uncanny resemblance to them.

[46:28] Natsuko: So welcome to American.

[46:31] Diane: I couldn't be prouder of you.

[46:35] Natsuko: Bob told me what might happen to you people.

[46:39] Diane: The Japs.

[46:49] Natsuko: You're going away. All of you are going away.

[46:54] Diane: No, you don't know that, Diane. That's not true.

[46:57] Natsuko: Well, I don't know what Roosevelt is thinking, but there are whispers of your removal for your protection.

[47:03] Diane: When?

[47:04] Natsuko: I don't know, Nasu. But as far as I do know, very few are aware of this.

[47:10] Diane: We keep this between us, yeah? I'm here to make a deal with you.

[47:15] Natsuko: I want the rug. I want the sofa, and maybe the curtains, but it depends on how you press them.

[47:21] Natsuko: I'm not selling you anything.

[47:23] Diane: Nasu, I am your neighbor. Your fellow woman. Sell to me. Wouldn't you rather sell to me?

[47:31] Diane: I'll give you a nice fair price for it. Give you some money for wherever, wherever you're going.

[47:40] Natsuko: I'm not selling my house.

[47:42] Diane: We aren't going anywhere.

[47:44] Natsuko: Boxes say otherwise.

[47:46] Diane: moves to the door.

[47:50] Diane: Just think about it. Not sure if anyone else will give you the time of the day.

[47:57] Natsuko: Someone can always take it after you're removed.

[48:02] Diane: You are wrong.

[48:04] Natsuko: We're going to fix this.

[48:06] Diane: Fix any ideas the majority has of us.

[48:09] Natsuko: We're burning it tonight.

[48:11] Natsuko: All of it tonight. And you know whose idea it was? Miss Nakayama's.

[48:16] Natsuko: The one all you Hakujin think is kooky. It's all in the fire.

[48:21] Natsuko: We're going to burn all our kanji, all our books and letters to prove to you that we want to be here, and you can't stop us from being American.

[48:28] Natsuko: No one can stop us from being American.

[48:30] Neko Chan: A feather from paper crane falls from the stair ledge.

[48:35] Neko Chan: She's going to then in the flames.

[48:39] Neko Chan: More buzzards fly in and take their place with the rest.

[48:43] Neko Chan: It is all in the fire.

[48:45] Neko Chan: This is true.

[48:48] Diane: You know, I wonder, what will it look like to American when smoke billows from our neighborhood?

[48:56] Natsuko: Why destroy when you lack any evidence of the enemy?

[48:59] Diane: I must say, when does the fire start?

[49:03] Diane: And more importantly, when does it end? Because I know more than a few who would be excited to explore the burnt remains.

[49:12] Neko Chan: Diane's skin begins to bubble and blister.

[49:16] Natsuko: Diane?

[49:17] Ako: Mate! Don't touch her.

[49:20] Neko Chan: Take a cover. We are dealing with the dark magic here.

[49:25] Natsuko: No, no! Everybody! Run!

[49:28] Neko Chan: Diane is shed like snakeskin, revealing she is the final buzzard.

[49:36] Neko Chan: Nine. Carry on.

[49:38] Neko Chan: The buzzards attack the home.

[49:40] Ako: Neko!

[49:42] Neko Chan: Nani!

[49:43] Ako: Sudasan! Help me!

[49:45] Neko Chan: But but but I I haven't practiced!

[49:48] Ako: Quickly! Harry!

[49:49] Neko Chan: Harry!

[49:50] Neko Chan: Three claps!

[49:53] Neko Chan: Maneki Neko undergoes her transformation and evolves into Manekineko!

[50:02] Neko Chan: Money or chop!

[50:05] Neko Chan: Many of the buzzards wilt!

[50:07] Neko Chan: Yes! People punch!

[50:11] Neko Chan: Many of the buzzards wilt!

[50:13] Neko Chan: Finish them!

[50:16] Neko Chan: Love you!

[50:21] Neko Chan: The buzzards are gone.

[50:25] Neko Chan: Mom, die jobbu!

[50:28] Neko Chan: Ma!

[50:29] Neko Chan: Oh, please! Please wake up! Please, Neko Chan!

[50:36] Neko Chan: I smell Hakuji!

[50:40] Neko Chan: That Hakujin bitch come in here?

[50:43] Neko Chan: Average!

[50:44] Neko Chan: Can you walk?

[50:45] Neko Chan: Oh, Choto.

[50:46] Neko Chan: I haven't been this sore in a while.

[50:48] Paper Crane: *helps Minekineko limp to Natsuko.*

[50:51] Neko Chan: My turn.

[50:52] Paper Crane: *drapes a wing over Natsuko.*

[50:55] Neko Chan: A good day's work.

[50:56] Natsuko: *inhales.*

[50:58] Natsuko: Ma.

[51:01] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: Diane, she told me they're taking us away.

[51:05] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: Told me they're gonna take us away.

[51:07] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: We don't know, but for sure, eh?

[51:09] Natsuko: Could be stirring up trouble.

[51:11] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: No, she knew this.

[51:13] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: She had conviction.

[51:14] Natsuko: People lie with conviction all the time.

[51:17] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: I lie with conviction all the time.

[51:21] Paper Crane: *thwacks Mineki Neko over the head.*

[51:24] Neko Chan: I'm so sorry, Mama.

[51:25] Neko Chan: I'm so so sorry.

[51:26] Neko Chan: Wait, Diane, she bubbled up, she changed what happened?

[51:30] Natsuko: Sneaky like devils.

[51:32] Neko Chan: What were those?

[51:33] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: The buzzards.

[51:35] Natsuko: Buzzards?

[51:36] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: You've seen this before.

[51:37] Natsuko: I've only seen them in picture books.

[51:39] Natsuko: Never in real life.

[51:40] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: The buzzards smooth your impending sacrifice.

[51:45] Natsuko: They must have collected through the day.

[51:48] Natsuko: We can't see them until their queen joins the flock.

[51:53] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: Your friend Diane was the perfect one to impersonate.

[51:59] Natsuko: You invited her in.

[52:01] Natsuko: A monster disguised as your neighbor.

[52:04] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: Did you kill them?

[52:05] Natsuko: Whatever I did, I'm really feeling it now.

[52:10] Natsuko: No, not dead.

[52:12] Natsuko: They're just inconvenienced.

[52:15] Natsuko: They're still hungry.

[52:17] Natsuko: They've never stopped being hungry.

[52:19] Natsuko: And they won't be finished with this meal until the fire is ready.

[52:24] Natsuko: What happened here?

[52:25] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: Tommy Hei Sama.

[52:27] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: A run-in with magic.

[52:28] Neko Chan: Your lucky cat saved us all from disaster.

[52:32] Neko Chan: Hi.

[52:36] Neko Chan: Thank you.

[52:37] Neko Chan: Thank you so much.

[52:39] Neko Chan: You have made me and all the Ishii family so proud.

[52:45] Natsuko: *Orange light glows from outside.*

[52:48] Natsuko: The fire is ready.

[52:50] Natsuko: George, will you please start grabbing boxes?

[52:57] Natsuko: 11.

[52:59] Natsuko: Patriotism.

[53:00] Paper Crane, Minekineko, and Natsuko: *start to carry boxes as well.*

[53:05] Natsuko: The door is revolving.

[53:07] Natsuko: *The crackling of flames can be heard from the outside.*

[53:10] Natsuko: *comes back on for the final box.*

[53:14] Natsuko: *Out rolls a small paper crane and a little Minekineko.*

[53:19] Natsuko: She puts them in her pockets.

[53:29] Neko Chan: No.

[53:30] Neko Chan: No, we can hide you.

[53:31] Neko Chan: We can try.

[53:32] Neko Chan: I love you too much.

[53:34] Neko Chan: It could be a secret.

[53:36] Natsuko: Yeah.

[53:37] Natsuko: Unfortunately, this lab puts family in danger.

[53:42] Neko Chan: Give me the crane.

[53:44] Neko Chan: Hi.

[53:45] Neko Chan: And the cat too.

[53:47] Natsuko: No.

[53:48] Natsuko: No.

[53:49] Natsuko: Please, I need you.

[53:51] Neko Chan: You have to teach me the Tonko Bushi, the O Bone Festival.

[53:54] Neko Chan: Sushi Rolling.

[53:56] Neko Chan: Like I always said, who knows what may happen today or tomorrow.

[54:01] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: Georgie, unfortunately, we cannot go back in time.

[54:06] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: You must hold on to what you know now.

[54:08] Neko Chan: No, I can't see you die.

[54:11] Natsuko: Then don't watch.

[54:13] Natsuko: We know what we have to do.

[54:15] Natsuko: Please.

[54:16] Natsuko: It's our duty to protect you.

[54:20] George, Paper Crane, and Mineki Neko: *embrace.*

[54:24] Neko Chan: Last call.

[54:26] Neko Chan: Oh.

[54:27] Neko Chan: *Minekineko pulls out a colorful drawing from her pocket.*

[54:32] Neko Chan: For you know who.

[54:34] Neko Chan: Gamam.

[54:35] Neko Chan: Ichi family.

[54:37] Neko Chan: One last dance.

[54:41] Neko Chan: Ready?

[54:43] Neko Chan: Ikimasu.

[54:46] Neko Chan: Remember.

[54:47] Neko Chan: Three claps.

[54:48] Neko Chan: Here we go.

[54:56] Neko Chan: Throw the coal.

[54:58] Neko Chan: Throw the coal.

[55:00] Neko Chan: Very good, Joji.

[55:01] Neko Chan: Wipe the brow.

[55:04] Neko Chan: Wipe the brow and push the coal.

[55:11] Neko Chan: A good day's work.

[55:15] Neko Chan: Time slows down to a hopscotch step.

[55:19] Neko Chan: *Maneki Neko and Paper Crane dance in their own circle.*

[55:23] Neko Chan: *They circle each other out the door and are swallowed by the flames.*

[55:31] Neko Chan: Twelve.

[55:36] Neko Chan: Ichi Ni.

[55:39] Neko Chan: Son.

[55:41] Neko Chan: We burned everything.

[55:43] Neko Chan: Books from Nihon.

[55:44] Neko Chan: Letters from Nihon.

[55:46] Neko Chan: Everything that traced back to home.

[55:48] Neko Chan: My Japanese school homework.

[55:50] Neko Chan: Ichi.

[55:51] Neko Chan: Ni.

[55:52] Neko Chan: We looked thoroughly enough to distinguish.

[55:54] Neko Chan: See.

[55:55] Neko Chan: Go.

[55:56] Neko Chan: Letters from Iiko about Dad's fever.

[55:59] Neko Chan: Hachi.

[56:00] Neko Chan: Cute.

[56:00] Neko Chan: American mentors look thoroughly from windows.

[56:04] Neko Chan: Nothing more than us.

[56:05] Neko Chan: Signs of protest.

[56:07] Neko Chan: Signs that we can forget.

[56:08] Neko Chan: Signs of rejection.

[56:10] Neko Chan: A decree that American is in this household.

[56:13] Neko Chan: A way to show our alliance.

[56:15] Neko Chan: So that maybe the violence won't be so bad.

[56:18] Neko Chan: So the whites peeking out their windows will understand, won't be afraid.

[56:23] Neko Chan: Maybe they'll see our patriotism.

[56:25] Neko Chan: Probably thought it was a shitle ritual.

[56:27] Neko Chan: Shi.

[56:28] Neko Chan: Go.

[56:32] Neko Chan: Ichi.

[56:34] Neko Chan: Nicht.

[56:37] Neko Chan: Not so sure it'll work.

[56:39] Neko Chan: Son.

[56:39] Neko Chan: Buying American from now.

[56:43] Neko Chan: A new wreath for the door.

[56:45] Neko Chan: Nice patriotic bow for the door.

[56:48] Neko Chan: Sun.

[56:51] Neko Chan: Forgetting four and five.

[56:57] Neko Chan: Yesterday, December seventh, nineteen forty-one, a day which will live in infamy.

[57:05] Neko Chan: The United States of American was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

[57:14] Neko Chan: The United States was at peace with that nation, and at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its government and its emperor, looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.

[57:28] Neko Chan: Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in the American island of Oahu, the Japanese ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to our Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message.

[57:45] Neko Chan: And while this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or of armed attack.

[57:57] Neko Chan: It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago.

[58:08] Neko Chan: During the intervening time, the Japanese government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

[58:20] Neko Chan: The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces.

[58:27] Neko Chan: I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost.

[58:34] Neko Chan: In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.

[58:43] Neko Chan: Yesterday, the Japanese government also launched an attack against Malay.

[58:50] Neko Chan: Last night, Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.

[58:55] Neko Chan: Last night, Japanese forces attacked Guam.

[58:59] Neko Chan: Last night, Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands.

[59:05] Neko Chan: Last night, the Japanese attacked Wake Island.

[59:10] Neko Chan: And this morning, the Japanese attacked Midway Island.

[59:16] Neko Chan: Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area.

[59:24] Neko Chan: The facts of yesterday and today speak for themselves.

[59:29] Neko Chan: The people of the United States have already formed their opinion and will understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.

[59:39] Neko Chan: As commander-in-chief of the army and navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense.

[59:48] Neko Chan: But always will our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us.

[59:57] Congress: *applauds.*

[59:59] *The applause is accompanied by applause from our characters.*

[1:00:04] *They clap.*

[1:00:07] Neko Chan: After all, they're American too.

[1:00:49] Iyvon Edebiri: Okay, so before we get into our interview with our dope playwright, we're gonna give another round of applause to our wonderful cast.

[1:01:17] Cast: I feel awesome!

[1:01:19] Cast: I feel so good.

[1:01:21] Cast: I feel really good.

[1:01:22] Iyvon Edebiri: That's amazing.

[1:01:24] Iyvon Edebiri: Okay, so let's get into it.

[1:01:27] Iyvon Edebiri: So, what inspired you to write this beautiful, beautiful play?

[1:01:32] Sam Hamashima: Yeah.

[1:01:33] Sam Hamashima: Um, so this is taken directly from like my grandmother's life.

[1:01:37] Sam Hamashima: Um, so it started off. I was in like seventh grade, and I was starting to speak Japanese.

[1:01:43] Sam Hamashima: Um, I went to Japanese school because I loved anime, and for some reason I was like, let's go.

[1:01:49] Sam Hamashima: So, um, it was the North Carolina Japan Center, so it was really good training.

[1:01:54] Sam Hamashima: Um, say I love you.

[1:01:59] Sam Hamashima: Um, but so my grandmother, my Grammy was like, oh my gosh, I used to have this textbook, and I was like, no way, Kodomo no ni hongo, and she was like, Yes.

[1:01:59] Sam Hamashima: And I was like, where is it? I want to see it.

[1:01:59] Sam Hamashima: And she was like, Oh, we just burned it.

[1:02:12] Sam Hamashima: We just burned a girl, and I was like, not, you know.

[1:02:16] Sam Hamashima: She was just like, we burned it.

[1:02:18] Sam Hamashima: And I was like, what are you talking about?

[1:02:20] Sam Hamashima: And um, I come to find out that the day of Pearl Harbor, her whole neighborhood had burned all of their stuff that had any tracings back to Japan.

[1:02:30] Sam Hamashima: Um, and this I began researching when I was in seventh grade, and I started really unpacking the whole story about what my family went through and what my community went through.

[1:02:41] Sam Hamashima: Um, my dad didn't find out until he was 23.

[1:02:44] Sam Hamashima: So, like for me, finding out at seventh grade, it was a mistake.

[1:02:47] Sam Hamashima: Um, but I just got very curious and it started making sense why me, a Japanese Americans person was in North Carolina when I was started connecting all these dots about displacement, you know.

[1:03:00] Sam Hamashima: Um, so this show came from that experience of interviews with her, and just thinking about what was it like to see your neighbors going into your house as you're leaving.

[1:03:13] Sam Hamashima: You know, this is that's happen that happened to her. Um, the burning, you know, and for me, I was like, we have to write a show about this. There has to be something out there that represents, you know, what people lost in that purge. You know, purges happen everywhere, you know, across the nation, across the globe, and there's so much in those books and in those things that are thrown away for safety. Right. Um, and so I really wanted to show this first day where the Japanese Americans experience just completely went in a different direction.

[1:03:51] Iyvon Edebiri: Yeah.

[1:03:52] Sam Hamashima: And then where does uh American spies come from that?

[1:03:56] Iyvon Edebiri: What do you mean?

[1:03:57] Sam Hamashima: The title itself.

[1:03:58] Iyvon Edebiri: It's instead of the city.

[1:03:59] Sam Hamashima: Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, you forgot the name of the play.

[1:04:01] Iyvon Edebiri: Oh my gosh.

[1:04:03] Sam Hamashima: Um, what is that? It's like that sounds cool. Um, I mean, for me, so every people thought that everyone who was of Japanese descent on the West Coast was a spy. And so the day this happened, the day the declaration of war happened, the FBI went to several people's homes, including my family's, took people who just could speak it, or had a samurai sword in their house, and like they were like, You're dangerous. So for me, I was like, okay, American spies. Like, and we have this very normal family besides the whole magic thing. But you know, besides that. But besides that, but we have a very normal family, and this is what really happened. They were seen as spies. Um, research was done afterwards, and it this shouldn't even matter. Like I shouldn't have to say this, but zero percent of the people who were detained were spies.

[1:04:57] Iyvon Edebiri: Right.

[1:04:57] Sam Hamashima: And and uh I'm interested in how did you approach um the reconciliation between what is kept and what is left behind in a family's memories and their legacy? You know, as I started writing this um in like two that 2017, 16 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Hey y'all, I see you. Thank you for coming. Um, and for me, the decision to share things about family history is something I'm really interested in focusing on. It is deliberate, right? Um, and so you know, you see in this play the deliberate phasing out of language, right? The deliberate phasing out of certain customs and the clinging on to others. Right. And I think you know, when you're being assimilated into the United States, especially, there are these choices we make to either play against or or play with, right? Go against or wait, go you know what I'm trying to say. Go with the go against the grain, kind of yeah, that's it. Podcast people, let us know what you think I'm trying to say there.

[1:06:09] Sam Hamashima: Um, but I mean, for me, I was like, I need to completely anthropomorphize culture. I need to, you know, put this, and these items are no longer with us, but what do we tell each other, right? What do we pass down? Right. Um spirits, spirits, spirits play a big role in this spirits.

[1:06:33] Iyvon Edebiri: Describe your spirits.

[1:06:35] Sam Hamashima: Who are your spirits?

[1:06:36] Iyvon Edebiri: My spirits, yeah. Describe who your spirits.

[1:06:38] Sam Hamashima: Who you people.

[1:06:39] Iyvon Edebiri: So I've got a whole family behind me, right?

[1:06:41] Sam Hamashima: Yes, full-on ancestors.

[1:06:43] Iyvon Edebiri: Yes, yeah, no, I mean, my spirits, they range from like the yokai that like I've grown to love and like used to be my like imaginary friends, you know. So like they've always been with me. But I'm getting to know my family more and more through this experience, through with the research and through the writing. It is very cathartic. I feel like there is somewhat of like a summoning that happens when you're writing things close to you, close to your family. Um, and so for me, you know, I've got my relatives, Grammy and Papa, they're they're no longer with us, but they they are they're right, you know, they're somewhere over there.

[1:07:17] Iyvon Edebiri: Yeah.

[1:07:18] Sam Hamashima: Um so it's it's all the family, you know.

[1:07:22] Iyvon Edebiri: Yeah, they're in the corner standing room.

[1:07:23] Sam Hamashima: Yeah.

[1:07:24] Iyvon Edebiri: All the seats are taken, so they're probably are doing standing room.

[1:07:27] Sam Hamashima: They're complaining.

[1:07:28] Iyvon Edebiri: Yes.

[1:07:29] Sam Hamashima: Okay, so we're gonna start to wrap up, and um for each season of the Parsnip Ship, we ask our playwrights um a qu you know, one one standard question at the end on top of the what would the world be missing without this play? And so for season six, um, the the question we we have landed on, which we think is like you know, simple but nuanced and important and really speaks to what this uh sixth season is about.

[1:08:01] Iyvon Edebiri: Okay, okay.

[1:08:02] Sam Hamashima: I'm I know you're gonna be excited for this one.

[1:08:04] Iyvon Edebiri: Um we're gonna give you some time.

[1:08:06] Sam Hamashima: Um, but don't make it like an essay.

[1:08:09] Iyvon Edebiri: Okay.

[1:08:10] Sam Hamashima: I won't.

[1:08:10] Iyvon Edebiri: Because I just know you know me.

[1:08:10] Sam Hamashima: You know me.

[1:08:13] Iyvon Edebiri: Excited.

[1:08:14] Sam Hamashima: Okay, okay, okay, okay, go yourself.

[1:08:17] Iyvon Edebiri: Hold on.

[1:08:18] Iyvon Edebiri: Okay.

[1:08:19] Iyvon Edebiri: So, Sam.

[1:08:21] Sam Hamashima: Yes, Ivan.

[1:08:23] Iyvon Edebiri: What does queerness mean to you?

[1:08:27] Sam Hamashima: Personally, artistically, privately, publicly, however, you want to take that question and go.

[1:08:38] Sam Hamashima: Wow, Ivan. What does queerness mean to me? Queerness to me is resiliency. It is community. It's the intertwining of hands that weren't always meant to be together but are made of the same things. It's where we're going. It's where we've always been. It's the ocean rising. It's inevitable.

[1:09:10] Iyvon Edebiri: Yeah.

[1:09:11] Sam Hamashima: And we're gonna sink in it, honey.

[1:09:16] Iyvon Edebiri: That's an answer to start off the season.

[1:09:20] Iyvon Edebiri: Look at that.

[1:09:25] Iyvon Edebiri: That was woo, Sam.

[1:09:27] Sam Hamashima: Yes.

[1:09:27] Iyvon Edebiri: Feel the water.

[1:09:29] Sam Hamashima: Yes.

[1:09:30] Iyvon Edebiri: It is going to kill us.

[1:09:32] Sam Hamashima: Okay.

[1:09:33] Iyvon Edebiri: With a cue. Last question before we we uh do some closing thank yous and our last song of the evening. What did you have for breakfast this morning?

[1:09:48] Sam Hamashima: Oh my gosh.

[1:09:49] Sam Hamashima: Okay, so I only had coffee. I was like really stressed.

[1:09:54] Iyvon Edebiri: I knew I was gonna ask that coffee.

[1:09:56] Sam Hamashima: I know, I know, I know.

[1:10:03] Iyvon Edebiri: Yeah.

[1:10:04] Sam Hamashima: I But you had a New Yorker breakfast.

[1:10:06] Iyvon Edebiri: Yeah.

[1:10:07] Sam Hamashima: You you had a New Yorker breakfast.

[1:10:08] Iyvon Edebiri: I had a New York breakfast.

[1:10:09] Sam Hamashima: Yeah.

[1:10:10] Iyvon Edebiri: That's real.

[1:10:11] Sam Hamashima: Everyone felt that when you said just coffee.

[1:10:13] Iyvon Edebiri: Just coffee.

[1:10:14] Sam Hamashima: I just had an ice latte for my new at home espresso machine.

[1:10:21] Iyvon Edebiri: Which it was expensive, but it has saved me actually a lot of money.

[1:10:24] Sam Hamashima: Look at that.

[1:10:25] Iyvon Edebiri: In the long run.

[1:10:26] Sam Hamashima: It does save you money.

[1:10:26] Iyvon Edebiri: It does.

[1:10:27] Sam Hamashima: Yes.

[1:10:28] Iyvon Edebiri: That New York, that New York breakfast.

[1:10:30] Sam Hamashima: Yeah.

[1:10:31] Iyvon Edebiri: Filling.

[1:10:34] Sam Hamashima: Um.

[1:10:37] Iyvon Edebiri: So we're gonna wrap up our episode for tonight, and we just have some thank yous for all of the artistic collaborators who are part of this episode. So we want to share and give them some love tonight.

[1:10:49] Iyvon Edebiri: So to our cast tonight.

[1:10:53] Iyvon Edebiri: Marina Kondo, Grace Hamashima, Ako, Jo Ellen Pellman, and Roger Yeh.

[1:11:01] Iyvon Edebiri: And Sam Hamashima.

[1:11:10] Iyvon Edebiri: Directed by Gregory Keng Strasser.

[1:11:15] Iyvon Edebiri: And our musician tonight is Lauryn Alexandria.

[1:11:20] Iyvon Edebiri: Woo!

[1:11:21] Iyvon Edebiri: American Spies was written by Sam Hamashima.

[1:11:28] Iyvon Edebiri: Thank you to our sound engineer and editor, Luke De Cola.

[1:11:33] Iyvon Edebiri: And a thank you to our TPS team and producer, Business Lunch Productions.

[1:11:39] Iyvon Edebiri: BLP is a leading creative agency based in New York City, working with creatives all over the world.

[1:11:46] Iyvon Edebiri: And thank you to the Mark O'Donnell Theater at the Entertainment Community Fund Arts Center for having us in their space in downtown Brooklyn.

[1:11:55] Iyvon Edebiri: Woo!

[1:11:58] Iyvon Edebiri: And before we get to our last song from Lauryn to close the night, we want to say please follow us on Facebook and Instagram at the Parsnipship NY.

[1:12:07] Iyvon Edebiri: If you would like to help support the Parsnipship, please help us grow and reach new audiences by sharing your experience and episodes across social networks.

[1:12:16] Iyvon Edebiri: You can listen to all of our past episodes on iTunes, Spotify, Broadway Podcast Network, and anywhere you hear your podcasts.

[1:12:24] Iyvon Edebiri: Our final episodes of season five will be available over the next month.

[1:12:29] Iyvon Edebiri: February is a special month.

[1:12:31] Iyvon Edebiri: We will have two live episode recordings here.

[1:12:34] Iyvon Edebiri: First up is Monday, February 13th for And the Answer Is by Gina Femia, a new commissioned radio play from the Parsnipship's Radio Roots Writers Group.

[1:12:45] Iyvon Edebiri: And second, Are You There Truman by Garrett David Kim on Monday, February 27th.

[1:12:52] Iyvon Edebiri: This episode was produced by the Parsnipship and Business Lunch Productions.

[1:12:57] Iyvon Edebiri: New plays, new music, this is how we hear theater.

[1:13:01] Iyvon Edebiri: And for our last song of the night, here is Lauryn Alexandria.

[1:13:07] Iyvon Edebiri: Thank you all for joining us tonight.

[1:13:09] Sam Hamashima: Yes, the iPod.

[1:13:16] Iyvon Edebiri: Can we give it up one more time for Sam in the cast?

[1:13:19] Sam Hamashima: I mean, I mean.

[1:13:24] Lauryn Alexandria: I would just like to say thank you to y'all for having me and Sam for inviting me on tonight. This is truly an honor. Me and Sam were roommates in college, for people who don't know. And I'm also a filthy weeb, and I study Japanese also starting in seventh grade. Um, yeah, yeah. Um, and so they asked me to do a traditional song, and I was like, uh, well, you know, I don't really know any traditional songs. Like, I really only know like anime openings, pop songs. Uh, I don't want to offend anybody. Uh so I did have this one song that I learned with in seventh grade in Japanese school, and it's a popular Japanese rakugo, which means fallen words, and it's basically a tongue twister. And so I'm gonna leave that with you all tonight, uh, and tell you a little bit of backstory.

So basically, the story is called Juge Mu. And in it, a father goes to a temple, and he's like, Ah, I don't know what to name my son. I want my son to like be wealthy, live a long life. And so the father goes to the priest and is like, what should I name this kid? And the priest is like, how about jugemu? It means limitless life. And the father's like, not bad, but like any more suggestions. So then the priest is like, sure, goko no sure kid, which is from a story of a heavenly maiden brushing a rock with her garment. Some math happens, and it equals 20 billion years. Okay. And so on and so on. And eventually, he stops pestering the poor priest and comes up with the name, which is every single suggestion that the priest had combined. And so this next song is actually from the the uh uh the poem, not poem, the fallen words, but it's from an anime because like I said, I'm a filthy weeb.

[1:15:08] Lauryn Alexandria: So that's a signal.

[1:15:27] Lauryn Alexandria: Bible, Bible, Bible shooting matu my matu kuna toconocle. Yaboda coaching a brocoji Pipo Pipo Pipo no shooting gun pew shooting gun good in dye good in dying pompo and that's his name. Thanks for having me.