SCENE II: The National Assembly Building Park in Yeouido1
CHARACTERS
SHE: Television Writer. Middle-aged. Married, with a Daughter. She is a “wild goose mom.” “Wild goose daddy (Gireogi appa)” refers to a father who works in Korea while sending his wife and children to an English-speaking country for the children’s education. This play reverses the gender roles.
FRIEND: Female. Television Producer. Middle-aged.
Note on the punctuation: The translation follows the original text’s punctuation as much as possible in order to reflect the original language’s pacing and the author’s intention. The ellipses “······”, “···”, and “–” appear in the Korean text.
Sound of birds.
SHE is describing to her FRIEND the plot of her soap.
FRIEND
What’s the age difference?
SHE
Twenty years. ······. Is it too shocking that he could be her son?
FRIEND
Another writer did that already. Mi-Kyung Choi had a hit with it. One show like that is enough.
SHE
A soap requires adultery and revenge. You said you needed a hit.
FRIEND
It still has to be acceptable. But she is twenty years older? Viewers don’t get tired of the opposite. That’s the way it is in real life.
SHE
So?
FRIEND
It doesn’t work the other way. They like it the first time. Because it looks fresh and subversive. It’s finally okay to portray the suppressed desire of women. But they’re already fed up the second time around. You like a steak once in a while, right? But try it for lunch and then again for dinner. You get tired of it.
SHE
I’m not talking about desire. I’m talking about love.
FRIEND (sighs)
Talking about love at your age. Is she his stepmother, by any chance? Like in Phaedra? Even in a soap, our viewers expect a certain quality.
SHE
He’s a photographer.
FRIEND
Who is?
SHE
The main character. She does an interview for a magazine, and he later takes her around town taking photographs. It suddenly pours, and they run out of the palace, under one umbrella. Sounds good, right? They take shelter under the leaves, their eyes meet, and they feel awkward. They go out for dinner, get drunk, and have sex that night.
FRIEND
What does she do?
SHE
She’s married. A writer. No, that’s not fun. I don’t know yet. I didn’t get that far.
FRIEND
The main character’s profession makes or breaks the soap. Let’s make her a doctor or a lawyer. Actors get pretentious when they play a writer or an artist.
SHE
You’re the queen of finding fault.
FRIEND
So a one night stand, drunk on rain. Then love?
SHE
Can it work like that?
FRIEND
Maybe for him, but what about her?
SHE
Well. (fanning herself) She senses that her life took a wrong turn at some point. Like when you start with the wrong button on your shirt, everything falls apart. Now she feels the emptiness, the loss, that she’s not young anymore and has lived her life the wrong way.
FRIEND
That’s not love.
SHE
······.
FRIEND
A middle-aged woman feels empty. And she desires a young man. That’s yearning for the return of spring. Love takes more than that. A love that’s like destiny, that pierces the soul, that’s what gets the viewers’ attention. Falling passionately in love at first sight. Or intense craving. But what would you know about love?
SHE
Hey. Why wouldn’t she, at age fifty?
FRIEND
That’s not enough. Add some ingredients.
SHE
Like what?
FRIEND
Like ties to social issues. If you can’t change her, change him. That’s it. Most young people take up unstable freelancing nowadays. They have to earn a living. Men tend to have stronger survival instincts than women. The woman craves sex because she’s not getting any from her husband, and the man’s in need of a stepping stone. He should have lots of credit card debt. He threatens to tell her husband and demands money.
SHE (sighs)
Here she goes again. Why does she always add and calculate and make it vulgar? She’s been nagging me like this since we teamed up at the college broadcasting station. Dear Lord, why are you doing this to me? I already have a husband.
FRIEND
Do you know what your problem is? You don’t get what it’s like in reality. Have you been involved with anyone else besides your husband? Imagine you are your heroine. Can you spend a night with a random young man? And would he fall for you and keep seeing you? You say he’s twenty years younger.
SHE
Is it impossible?
FRIEND
For me, no. But absolutely for a prude like you.
SHE
······. Are you saying a prude can’t love? It may start with craving but can slowly heat up into love. They keep seeing each other. She can’t stop calling him. She believes it’s just a one-night thing at first. She thinks she had fun. But she’s going crazy yearning for him. Where she used to feel emptiness, there’s love. She’s burning with passion, and it totally messes her up. Wouldn’t the viewers accept that?
FRIEND
I doubt it.
SHE
Everyone falls in love. But there’s no such thing as endless love. She felt it briefly in her 20s, but that was it. Her husband is self-absorbed. It’s not that there is no love between them. But her husband loves like a cookie-cutter, always the same, no more excitement. Since she falls in love again, she becomes more exciting and vibrant –.
FRIEND
I get that’s what happens to her. But can a Korean man love a woman twenty years older? In the Republic of Korea?
SHE
Well ··· I’m not quite sure about that, either. She feels that way for him. But why would he like her? It’s hot. (SHE fans herself with her hand.) The weather’s insane these days. Why so hot? Summer’s still far away. Why are there so many tourists? I couldn’t even enjoy the cherry blossoms without bumping into them.
FRIEND
You know the cherry blossoms bring the crowds to Yeouido. Is it that hot?
SHE casts a side glance at her friend and stops the fanning.
FRIEND
Isn’t it quieter here? Many people know the National Assembly Building but not many know about this park.
SHE
······.
FRIEND
Are you upset? I didn’t mean to find fault with your story. But you know this business lives and dies with ratings. Frankly, the ratings for your last show were dismal. We’re renewing your contract because we trust you. But the burden’s on me as the director of programming. The failure of this one will put me in a difficult position. It’ll need to get at least average ratings, if not more.
SHE
I didn’t say anything. (SHE’s hot again. SHE fans herself.)
FRIEND
Are you having your period regularly?
SHE
What are you talking about, all of a sudden?
FRIEND
Is it happening regularly, without too much or too little bleeding?
SHE
I guess it is.
FRIEND
Are you getting hot and then cold, with a burning sensation in your face? You keep fanning yourself. I don’t feel that hot.
SHE
······.
FRIEND
It must be menopause. My older sister has similar symptoms. Now women in their mid-forties have menopause. There’s too much stress. That’s you right now. Your husband and daughter are in the U.S. And it’s still not good with your husband?
SHE
We’ll have been married for twenty years next year. Affection’s been out of the picture for a while.
FRIEND
Is he making any money nowadays?
SHE
He’s abroad with the kid, so how can he!
FRIEND
You don’t have to yell, geez.
SHE
Drafting my show’s been stressing me out. I couldn’t sleep last night.
SHE suddenly gets up and looks down at Yoon-Joong-Ro.2
Sound of birds.
Change in lighting.
SHE
What a sight. An avalanche of people, an avalanche of flowers. Once it rains, they’ll all be gone. What were the cherry blossoms thinking, blooming so outrageously?
FRIEND
She’s gained weight. She used to be so thin and plain. It’s menopause. Her outburst is so intense now. She was manic before, but not like that.
SHE
How can I excuse myself from this meeting? She’s so lucky. No human being in the history of the world has uttered everything that comes to her mind just like that. Then she’ll act all nice and sweet, offering to buy me lunch or giving me a present from abroad. She’ll definitely offer to buy me lunch today. What can I tell her? I’ll get indigestion. Would she be upset if I tell her I have another meeting?
FRIEND
She’s become so bitter since her husband’s business collapsed. With her life hitting rock bottom, looking at me must be a blow to her self-esteem. How can I comfort her? We already have a contract, so I can’t let her go. But will she give me what I need? She wrote period pieces before, but this is her first soap.
SHE
It’s an inferiority complex. She didn’t grow up in a normal household and had a miserable childhood. Her parents got divorced, her husband’s cheating on her, and she’s got nothing going on but her job. And I don’t get what it’s like in reality? That’s fatal for a writer. Did I lose my sense of reality, writing period pieces all this time?
Sound of birds.
The lighting changes again.
FRIEND
Let’s get lunch and celebrate our contract.
SHE
Huh? I actually ···. Ok, let’s. The contract’s signed, so it’s my treat.
FRIEND
Let me. My husband got a promotion.
SHE
Really? ··· Congratulations.
FRIEND
What are you in the mood for? I’ll treat you to whatever you’re craving.
SHE
Well?
FRIEND
How about webfoot octopus?3 They’re in season. I know a good place nearby.
SHE
Webfoot octopus?
FRIEND
You haven’t heard, “webfoot octopus for spring, baby octopus for fall”? Webfoot octopus is the best now. It’s loaded and so scrumptious.
SHE
It feels wrong to eat something that’s pregnant.
FRIEND
Life is cruel by nature. So you never tried it? The male has ink, and the female has tiny white eggs stuffed up in her head, which pop when you bite into it. It’s marvelous. The spring weather’s exhausting us, so let’s have some webfoot octopus and get our strength back. And have soju.4 My mouth is watering just thinking about it. Let’s go.
FRIEND drags her out.
A few cherry blossom leaves float around.
Blackout.
Notes:
1 The park by the National Assembly Building, which houses Korea’s legislative branch of government. Yeouido is also known for its Cherry Blossom Festival, which usually takes place in early April. Yeouido Park is a popular recreational area, especially for bicycle riding, near the National Assembly Building. But the park SHE and FRIEND are at is a less frequented park right next to the building.
2 Yoon-Joong-Ro: The road around the National Assembly Building. The main walking course for the Cherry Blossom Festival.
3 Jjuggumi (webfoot octopus): A Korean spring delicacy, usually stir-fried with vegetables and marinated in spicy sauce.
4 Soju: A clear and distilled Korean alcohol, with alcohol content about 17%. Because of its clear taste and reasonable price, it is the most popular alcoholic beverage alongside Korean food.
바람의 욕망
2. 여의도의 국회의사당 공원
새소리.
그녀는 친구에게 자신이 구상하는 드라마에 대해 이야기 중이다.
친구
둘이 몇 살 차이야?
그녀
20년. ······. 아들뻘이라고 시청자들이 놀랄까.
친구
이미 다른 작가가 썼어, 최미경이가 그걸로 히트 쳤지. 한 번 성공한 거 또 하면 식상해
그녀
막장드라마의 공식이 불륜과 복수야. 성공해야 한다면서.
친구
그건 통념이 작동할 때고, 넌 여자가 스무 살 연상이라면서? 보통 그 반대는 아무리 보여줘도 안 질리거든. 다들 그렇게 살고 있으니까.
그녀
그런데?
친구
그 반대는 예외잖아. 물론 처음엔 먹히지. 신선하고 파격적으로 보여. 이제 여자들의 은밀한 욕망을 보여 줘도 될 시대가 온 것 같아. 그런데 그걸 또 써먹으면 질리거든. 너 만날 밥 먹다가 스테이크 먹음 맛있지? 그걸 점심때 먹고 저녁때 또 먹어 봐라, 질려서 못 먹어.
그녀
욕망이 아니라 사랑에 대해 이야기할거야.
친구
(한숨) 넌 나이가 몇 살인데 아직도 사랑 타령이니. 계모랑 아들은 아니지? 페드라도 아니고 아무리 방송 드라마래지만 이젠 시청자들도 기본 수준이 있어.
그녀
사진 찍는 애야.
친구
누구?
그녀
그 남자 애. 잡지사에서 인터뷰를 하고, 뒤늦게 그 애가 나타나서 도시를 여기저기 돌아다니면서 사진을 찍지. 갑자기 비가 쏟아져서 우산 하나에 의지해서 둘이 고궁을 달음질치듯 빠져나가고, 그림 괜찮지? 처마 밑에서 비를 피해 서 있다가 마주 보고 기분이 이상해지는 거지. 결국 밥을 먹고 술을 마시고 그러곤 그날 밤에 같이 자는 거야.
친구
여자는 뭐하는 사람인데?
그녀
유부녀야. 직업은 작가, 아니 그건 재미없겠다. 아직 잘 모르겠어. 거기까지는 안 갔어.
친구
주인공 직업 잘못 설정하면 드라마 망하는데. 의사나 변호사 같은 걸로 바꾸자. 작가나 예술간 연기자들이 젠체 하느라 연기를 못해요.
그녀
트집 대마왕 납셨네.
친구
결국 비에 취해서 원나잇스탠드한 거네. 그러곤 사랑이야?
그녀
그런가?
친구
남자앤 그렇다 치고 그 여자의 마음은 뭐야?
그녀
글쎄. (손부채질) 언제부턴가 인생이 잘못되었다고 느끼는 거지. 첫 단추를 잘못 채운 것처럼 인생의 모든 것이 어긋나고, 이제 더 이상 젊지도 않고, 인생을 잘못 산 것 같은 공허 아니면 상실감 같은 거?
친구
야 그게 무슨 사랑이니.
그녀
······.
친구
나이 든 여자가 인생이 공허해. 그래서 젊은 남자를 탐해. 그건 회춘에 대한 욕망이야. 사랑을 그리려면 그 정도론 곤란하지. 시청자들을 사로잡으려면 영혼이 쿵하고 울리는 운명적인 사랑, 그 정도는 그려야지. 첫눈에 반하는 열정. 아님 애틋한 정념. 하긴 네가 사랑에 대해 뭘 알겠냐.
그녀
얘, 이 여잔 이제 오십이야.
친구
그걸론 곤란해. 뭘 더 집어넣어.
그녀
뭘?
친구
사회적 이슈가 될 만한 거. 여자가 뭐하면 남자앨 바꾸든가. 그래, 요새 젊은 애들 다 비정규직 아니냐. 걔네들 먹고살아야 하거든. 남자애들은 여자애들보다 생존 본능이 더 센 법이야. 여자는 남편하고 사이가 좋지 않아 섹스에 굶주렸고, 남자앤 자신을 성공시켜 줄 징검다리가 필요한 거지. 걔가 카드 빚이 많으면 좋겠다. 남자애가 남편에게 알리겠다면서 돈을 요구하는 거야.
그녀
(한숨) 또 시작이다. 왜 얘랑 이야기하면 언제나 뭘 더 집어넣고 계산하고 이렇게 속물로 흘러가지? 대학 방송반 시절부터 파트너로 벌써 몇 년째야. 하나님, 저한테 왜 이러세요. 남편 한 명으로 충분하거든요.
친구
네 문제가 뭔지 알아? 현실 감각이 없다는 거야. 너 남편 말고 연애해 본 적 없지? 네가 작품 속의 그 여자라고 생각해 봐, 오다 가다 젊은 남자애랑 만나서 원나잇이 가능해? 그리고 걔가 너한테 반해서 계속 만나잘 것 같아? 스무 살 아래라면서.
그녀
불가능할 것 같아?
친구
나라면 몰라도 너 같은 숙맥은 아니야.
그녀
······. 숙맥은 사랑도 못하냐. 욕망으로 시작해도 천천히 뜨겁게 사랑이 생겨날 수도 있는 거야. 둘이 계속 만나. 그녀가 참지 못하고 연락하거든. 이 여자도 처음엔 그냥 하룻밤 열기려니 해. 나중엔 재미려니 하지. 그런데 자꾸 열망하고 미칠 것 같고 이상해지는 거야. 자기 안의 공허는 사라지고 사랑 말이야. 그게 주체할 수 없을 정도로 강렬하게 자기 안의 공허를 채우고, 그러면서 모든 게 혼란스러워지는 거지. 그럼 시청자도 납득하지 않을까.
친구
글쎄.
그녀
누구나 사랑을 하잖아. 그렇지만 영원한 사랑은 없지. 그 여자도 이십대에 잠깐 느껴 보곤 그게 다였어. 남편은 자기밖에 모르고. 아니, 사랑이 없는 건 아니야. 다만 남편은 리어카에서 풀빵 찍어내듯 언제나 같은 방식으로만 사랑하고 이제 더 이상 흥분을 못 시키지. 다시 사랑에 빠진 뒤로 그 여자는 수다스러워지고 활발해지고-.
친구
여자는 그렇다 치고 한국 남자가 20년 연상의 여자를 사랑할 수 있나. 여긴 대한민국 아니니.
그녀
하긴 ··· 나도 그게 확신이 안 서. 여잔 그렇다 치고 남자는 그 여잘 왜 만나지? 덥네. (그녀가 손부채질을 한다.) 아무튼 요즘은 날씨가 미쳤어. 왜 이렇게 덥니. 여름 아직 멀었잖아. 사람은 또 왜 이렇게 많아. 저 밑에선 꽃구경이 아니라 밟혀 죽을 지경이더라.
친구
벚꽃 필 때 여의도가 그렇지 뭐. 그렇게 더워?
그녀
(그녀가 친구를 흘깃 보고 부채질을 멈춘다.)
친구
여긴 조용하지? 사람들이 국회의사당은 알아도 공원이 있는 줄을 잘 모르더라고.
그녀
······.
친구
너 화났니? 내가 트집을 잡는 게 아니라, 여기가 시청률로 일희일비하는 동네잖아. 솔직히 지난번 시청률은 너무 형편없었지. 그래도 널 믿으니까 재계약하지만, 나도 제작부장 체면이 있지. 연달아 실패하면 계속 네 편 들어 주기 힘들어. 성공작은 아니래도 평균치는 나와야지.
그녀
누가 뭐래니. (다시 덥다. 손부채질을 한다.)
친구
너 생리는 제대로 하니?
그녀
무슨 소리야, 갑자기?
친구
규칙적으로 생리 하냐고. 양이 많거나 적거나 그렇지 않아?
그녀
그렇지 뭐.
친구
덥다가 춥다가, 얼굴 화끈화끈하고? 너 지금 계속 부채질하잖아. 난 별로 안 더워.
그녀
······.
친구
갱년기 같다. 우리 언니랑 증상이 비슷하네. 요샌 사십대 중반에도 폐경 온다더라, 스트레스 많이 받으니까. 너 요새 그렇잖아. 남편이랑 애는 미국 가 있고, 남편하고도 여전히 그런 사이지?
그녀
내년이면 결혼 20주년이야. 남편이 애틋하면 그게 비정상이지.
친구
너희 신랑, 요새도 돈 안 버니?
그녀
애들 때문에 미국 가 있는데 돈을 어떻게 벌겠니!
친구
얘가 갑자기 왜 이렇게 소리를 지르니.
그녀
요새 작품 구상하느라고 좀 예민해. 어제 잠을 못 잤어.
그녀가 갑자기 벌떡 일어나 발치 아래의 윤중로를 내려다본다.
새소리.
조명이 바뀐다.
그녀
사태 났네. 사람 사태 꽃 사태. 비 한 번만 내리면 다 질 텐데, 어쩌자고 벚꽃이 저렇게 미친 듯이 피었을까.
친구
저 애, 제법 살이 쪘네. 예전엔 깡말라서 볼품없었는데. 갱년기 확실해. 히스테리도 더 심해졌잖아. 원래 히스테리가 있는 애였지만, 저 정도는 아니었지.
그녀
얘랑 어떻게 헤어지지? 운도 좋지. 한평생 저렇게 하고 싶은 말을 다 지껄이고 사는 애도 없을 거야. 저래 놓곤 또 밥 사 준다 외국에서 사 온 선물이다 선심 쓰면서 착한 척은 혼자 하겠지. 오늘도 점심 먹자 그럴 거야. 뭐라 그러지? 밥 먹다 체할 것 같은데. 선약 있다고 말하면 기분 나빠 할까.
친구
남편 사업 실패한 뒤로 이상하게 비딱해졌어. 지 인생이 수틀리니 날 보고 있으면 자존심도 상하겠지. 그런데 어떻게 마음을 풀어 주지. 계약은 이미 했으니 무르자 그럴 수도 없고, 작품은 제대로 써 올까. 역사물이나 써 봤지 연애물은 안 써 본 앤데.
그녀
열등감 때문이야. 정상적인 집안에서 성장한 것도 아니고 어릴 때부터 꼬일 대로 꼬였지. 부모는 이혼했고, 결혼한 뒤에도 남편은 바람이나 피우고. 직장 운 하날 빼곤 장점이라곤 없는 애지. 그런데 현실 감각이 없다고? 그럼 작가로 끝이잖아. 역사물만 썼더니 정말 그 감각이 없어졌나.
새소리.
다시 조명이 바뀐다.
친구
점심 먹자. 오늘 계약도 했는데 축하해야지.
그녀
어? 나 실은 ···.아니야, 먹자. 오늘 계약도 성사되었는데 내가 살게.
친구
내가 살게. 우리 남편 승진했어.
그녀
그래? ··· 축하한다.
친구
뭐 먹고 싶니? 너 먹고 싶은 걸로 내가 한턱낼게.
그녀
글쎄?
친구
주꾸미 먹을까. 요새 주꾸미 한참 맛있을 땐데. 이 근처에 잘하는 집 있어.
그녀
주꾸미?
친구
봄철 주꾸미 가을 낙지 몰라? 요샌 주꾸미가 제철이야. 알이 꽉 박혀서 고소해.
그녀
알배고 있는 거 먹는 건 좀 그렇다.
친구
인생이 원래 잔인한 거야. 너 한 번도 안 먹어 봤구나. 먹물 든 건 숫놈이고 암컷 머리엔 좁쌀같이 하얀 알들이 꽉 차서 입안에서 터지는 맛이 제법이야. 봄날이어서 나른한데 주꾸미 먹고 기운이나 차리자. 소주도 한 잔 마시고. 말만 해도 입안에 군침 돈다. 가자.
친구가 그녀를 끌고 퇴장한다.
벚꽃 몇 잎 날리고.
암전.
✶✶✶✶
Myung-Wha Kim is an acclaimed Korean playwright, critic, and director. She made her debut as a playwright with Birds Do Not Cross the Crosswalk, which won the Samsung Literary Award for Best Play in 1997. Her plays include First Birthday, Café Shinpa, The Sound of the Moon, Oedipus: The Fate of the Story, The Wind’s Desire, Redolence, and Yi Kwang-Su’s Dream, and Flower. She won numerous awards including the Cha Beom-Seok Theater Award, Daesan Literary Award, Dong-A Theater Award, and Yeo Seok-Gi Theater Criticism Award. With her company The Nanhee, founded in 2018, she wrote and directed Cold Noodles and three pieces exploring the origin of theatre, Hamlet: the Dead Man Tells No Tales, Dionysus Under the Magnolia, and Mimaji!.
✶
Walter Byongsok Chon is a dramaturg, critic, translator, and theatre scholar from South Korea. He is an Assistant Professor of Dramaturgy and Theatre Studies at Ithaca College. He served as dramaturg at the Yale Rep, Yale School of Drama, O’Neill Center, Great Plains Theater Conference, Hangar Theatre, Civic Ensemble, and New York Musical Festival. His writings are published in Theater, Praxis, The Korean National Theatre Magazine, The Mercurian, the volumes, The Routledge Companion to Dramaturgy and Diversity, Inclusion, and Representation in Contemporary Dramaturgy, and the online magazine The Theatre Times, for which he serves as a co-managing editor for South Korea. His produced theatrical translations include Inching Towards Yeolha (Korean to English) and Charles Mee’s True Love (English to Korean). D.F.A.: Yale School of Drama.
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