MASTERPIECE THEATRE: THE GINGER TREE {EPISODE 4} (TV)
Summary
One in this ongoing series of dramas presented under the umbrella of "Masterpiece Theatre." This program presents part four 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 a quarter century after the previous part, in 1935, as Japanese troops head off to Manchuria. Mary Mackenzie observes the adorned troops marching, thinking they look ridiculous. She meets up with old friend Isabelle de Chamonpierre, taking her back to her house to discuss the death of Isabelle's husband and to point out her estate's "resilient foreigner," a ginger tree. Later, Mary takes Isabelle to her clothing office at the Imperial Hotel, which had survived the 1923 earthquake thanks to Frank Lloyd Wright's design. Then, they visit Mary's country villa, where Isabelle tries to persuade Mary to return to Europe, thinking it safer than the current war-torn Asia. Mary refuses, having too many "important" things keeping her in the region. She also reveals her efforts to find Taro over the years, and how she has finally given up on ever finding him. She furthers reveals that she still has a relationship with Kentaro. One night, samurai sword-wielding men try to attack Kentaro while he sleeps next to Mary, but he escapes unscathed and the men are killed. Kentaro reveals that they are young war soldiers, trying to eliminate the "old men." Some time later, Baroness Aiko Onnodera reveals to Mary that Countess Kurihama has died after a long sickness. Kentaro visits Mary and encourages her to come with him on a holiday. Mary wonders if Kentaro will be sent back to China for the war, but he assures her that his campaigning days are over. Mary thinks Japan has gone "insane," not understanding why Kentaro remains so dedicated to it. Later, Kentaro asks Mary to marry him. She refuses when realizing it will make no difference in her ability to see Taro. Soon, Mary begins to feel unsafe in Japan, realizing she may be interned if war should break out. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Alicia Bassett-Hill leaves the country, but Mary refuses to abandon her adopted land. Mary gives her house to Aiko, worried that it will be confiscated otherwise. One day, while Mary and Aiko take tea, soldiers arrive, telling Mary she has to sail back to London within the hour. Before she leaves, Kentaro intercepts her at the station to say goodbye. Mary insists that she will be back in Japan as soon as possible, but Kentaro thinks this will be their last meeting. While at sea, a Japanese occupation authority delegate boards the ship to speak with Mary, revealing that Kentaro has sent him. Meanwhile, unable to accept the changes in his country, Kentaro performs his own tragic ritual. Back on ship, the man reveals himself to Mary: He is Taro, now known as Captain Nobushige Ozaki. Mary ruefully learns of his upbringing in Nagoya. Taro also tells Mary that, as a pilot, he will likely be killed in the war -- prompting the pair to say their final farewell.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: November 4, 1990 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:54:49
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:30022
- 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
- Sakae Koike … Cast, Komoro
- Cecile Paoli … Cast, Isabelle de Chamonpierre
- Natsue Ichkawa … Cast, Toba
- Shigeru Murol … Cast, Minagawa
- Fumi Dan … Cast, Baroness Aiko Onnodera
- Satoru Saito … Cast, Katsugi
- Daisuke Ryu … Cast, Count Kentaro Kurihama
- Eiji Kusuhura … Cast, Takashi Maruyama
- Joanna McCallum … Cast, Alicia Bassett-Hill
- Mari Shirato … Cast, Countess Kurihama
- Noriko Aida … Cast, Misao
- Takeshi Oubayashi … Cast, Takashi Okamoto
- Ryota Sakanishi … Cast, First Deportation Officer
- Eddie Yeoh … Cast, Second Deportation Officer
- Michael Godley … Cast, Purser
- Kenichi Yajima … Cast, Captain Nobushige Ozaki