MASTERPIECE THEATRE: THE GINGER TREE {EPISODE 2} (TV)
Summary
One in this ongoing series of dramas presented under the umbrella of "Masterpiece Theatre." This program presents part two of a four-part adaptation of Oswald Wynd's novel about a Scottish woman who marries a British military attache in 1903 and tries to carve out a life for herself over several decades in an oppressive Asian society. First, Alistair Cooke introduces the presentation. This part begins with Richard returning home, stunned to find Mary pregnant, immediately knowing the baby is not his. However, Mary refuses to reveal the father's name. Richard wants her out of the house that night, telling her he'll send her to London. He also reveals that her mother paid him to marry her. At the train station, one of Count Kentaro Kurihama's men intercepts Mary, giving her a ticket for passage to Japan via Thailand. Once in Thailand, Mary drops her Collingsworth surname, and finds herself sharing a train car with Baroness Aiko Onnodera, a friend of Kentaro's. Aiko surprises Mary by revealing that she was just released from jail for agitating for Japanese women's suffrage. Mary also learns that Kentaro is already married, with four children. Kentaro sets Mary up in a house in Tokyo, where she discovers that she is technically considered a concubine. The next day, Aiko takes Mary to Dr. Ikeda, who urges her to get plenty of rest at home. Later, a Christian missionary, Alicia Bassett-Hill, comes by, leaving her card. Eventually, Mary gives birth and a baby boy, Taro, is born. Alicia, on the doctor's orders, is soon taking care of Mary, informing her that there were complications during the pregnancy which rendered Mary unable to have more children. Soon, Mary is dreaming of going to America, having struggled with her adjustment to Japanese living. One night, Aiko encourages Mary to attend the Festival of the Dead ceremony with her. Later, Kentaro finally visits Mary -- and, more importantly for him, his son. Kentaro spends that night with Mary, revealing his sorrow in hearing that she can no longer have babies. The next day, Mary and Aiko attempt to purchase bicycle-riding bloomers but find Japanese fashion woefully out of date. Meanwhile, Mary struggles to fully accept her relationship with Kentaro, even as he urges her to "live the moment." After Kentaro has shipped off to Korea, Mary's maid Misao takes Taro for a walk, never returning. Mary and Alicia soon learn that, under Japanese law, Kentaro was within his rights to take Taro and have him adopted by a Japanese couple. Eventually, Mary tracks down old acquaintance Claude MacDonald, trying to get his help in finding Taro, but he states that nothing can be done. He also tells Mary of his "great disappointment" in her. Now, Mary decides she must emancipate herself from Kentaro and figure out a way to make a living.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: October 21, 1990 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:54:50
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:30020
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1971-
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Rebecca Eaton … Executive Producer
- Marilyn Hall … Executive Producer
- Naonori Kawamura … Executive Producer
- Alan Shallcross … Executive Producer
- Juliet Gitterman … Co-Executive Producer
- Tim Ironside Wood … Producer
- Nick Hawkins … Associate Producer
- Anthony Garner … Director
- Christopher Hampton … Writer
- Oswald Wynd … Based upon the novel by
- Dominic Muldowney … Music by
- Samantha Bond … Cast, Mary Mackenzie
- Adrian Rawlins … Cast, Richard Collingsworth
- Togo Igawa … Cast, Yoshio Nomura
- Yoshinori Yamamoto … Cast, Japanese Soldier
- Fumi Dan … Cast, Baroness Aiko Onnodera
- Noriko Aida … Cast, Misao
- Toshie Ogura … Cast, Fukuda
- Hiroshi Iyo … Cast, Dr. Ikeda
- Joanna McCallum … Cast, Alicia Bassett-Hill
- Shikan Nakamura … Cast, Shigenoi (Kabuki Mother)
- Kantaro Nakamura … Cast, Sankichi (Kabuki Child)
- Iya Ihibangase … Cast, Taro (as a baby)
- Wataru Sakamoto … Cast, Taro (3 months old)
- Hironori Wada … Cast, Taro (3 months old)
- Daisuke Ryu … Cast, Count Kentaro Kurihama
- Chisato Matsuoka … Cast, Store Attendant
- Harry Burton … Cast, First Secretary British Embassy
- Nicholas le Provost … Cast, Sir Claude MacDonald