- [first lines]
- Older Mini McGann: Why are we so early?
- Lily Yuriko Kawamura: It's good to be early.
- Older Mini McGann: Do you ever worry that you won't recognize him, Mama?
- Lily Yuriko Kawamura: You recognize me, don't you?
- Older Mini McGann: Well, he might have grown a beard or a moustache or something. And I was so little. I only think I remember him. Do you think he'll remember me?
- Lily Yuriko Kawamura: Well, he has all your photographs and all the letters you wrote him, and he has all your school reports
- Older Mini McGann: You sent him my school reports?
- Lily Yuriko Kawamura: Of course I did. I wanted to let him know how well you were doing. Come on, now. I got some tea and rice cakes here. We'll have a nice talk while we're walking, okay? Let's go.
- Older Mini McGann: How far do we have to walk?
- Lily Yuriko Kawamura: Not far.
- Older Mini McGann: If we have so much time, then why are you walking so fast? I shouldn't have worn these new shoes. I think I have a blister. Mama!
- [speaks in Japanese]
- Lily Yuriko Kawamura: [replies in Japanese] Try not to think about it. You want to look pretty, don't you?
- Older Mini McGann: Can we talk about Papa?
- Lily Yuriko Kawamura: Okay.
- Jack McGurn: [after eyeing Lily] Hey, who was that?
- Charlie Kawamura: No one worth knowing.
- Jack McGurn: What, are you kidding?
- Charlie Kawamura: She's not your type.
- Jack McGurn: Oh, is she your girlfriend or something?
- Charlie Kawamura: No, no, no. Just a girl.
- Jack McGurn: Just a girl? She's beautiful.
- Charlie Kawamura: She's my sister.
- Jack McGurn: You told me your sister had a face like a plate of steamed dumplings.
- Charlie Kawamura: You should see her without makeup.
- Jack McGurn: You told me she was 4 feet tall and squat.
- Charlie Kawamura: Hey, I've got lots of sisters.
- Jack McGurn: Um, hi. I'm Jack. I work with your brother Charlie. Are you Dulcie?
- Charlie Kawamura: Lily. Dulcie's my other sister.
- Jack McGurn: Hi, Lily.
- [shakes her hand]
- Lily Yuriko Kawamura: [smiles] Hello.
- Jack McGurn: We were just wondering if you would like to join us for lunch.
- Charlie Kawamura: HE was wondering.
- Lily Yuriko Kawamura: [speaking to Charlie in Japanese] What?
- Charlie Kawamura: [in Japanese] Don't come with us.
- [to Jack, in English]
- Charlie Kawamura: Look, I'm in a hurry. She's busy. Let's go.
- [leaves the store]
- Lily Yuriko Kawamura: I can have lunch.
- [asks her employers in Japanese, and they reply]
- Lily Yuriko Kawamura: I can.
- Jack McGurn: Great.
- Fumiko: [eyeing Lily suspiciously] Don't do anything I wouldn't do...
- Lily Yuriko Kawamura: [in Japanese] You have a big mouth, Fumiko.
- [smiles]
- Jack McGurn: [after entering a local restaurant] So what are we going to order?
- [grabs menu]
- Jack McGurn: Can you read that?
- Jack McGurn: Yeah. My Japanese is getting better every day.
- Lily Yuriko Kawamura: Actually, it's in Chinese. It might help you if you turn your menu up the other way.
- Jack McGurn: [smiles] Maybe YOU oughta order, I guess.
- Dulcie Kawamura: You let him kiss you just like that? In a Chop Suey restaurant? Are you going to tell Mama?
- Lily Yuriko Kawamura: No. And neither are you.
- Dulcie Kawamura: You going to go dancing?
- Lily Yuriko Kawamura: Mm-hmm. Maybe.
- Dulcie Kawamura: You going to kiss him again?
- Lily Yuriko Kawamura: [chuckles] Maybe.
- Dulcie Kawamura: You going to do... it?
- Lily Yuriko Kawamura: Do what?
- Dulcie Kawamura: You know... IT.
- Lily Yuriko Kawamura: Dulcie, I just met him.
- Dulcie Kawamura: You kissed him in the chop suey restaurant, for goodness sake.
- Lily Yuriko Kawamura: Well, if I did, I certainly wouldn't tell YOU.
- Dulcie Kawamura: I guess this means you're not going to marry Mr. Fujioka
- Lily Yuriko Kawamura: [in a sing-song voice] No, I'm not.
- [tosses powder in Dulcie's face]
- Dulcie Kawamura: [spitting out powder] Papa's going to kill you if he finds out.
- Older Mini McGann: Did you have a big wedding with Mama and Papa Kawamura? And Dulcie and Frankie and...
- Lily Yuriko Kawamura: No. No, we couldn't.
- Older Mini McGann: Why?
- Lily Yuriko Kawamura: Well, for a start, Japanese aren't allowed to marry non-Japanese in the state of California.
- Older Mini McGann: Why?
- Lily Yuriko Kawamura: Because it was against the California laws.
- Older Mini McGann: So where did you go?
- Lily Yuriko Kawamura: Seattle.
- Older Mini McGann: Why did you go to Seattle?
- Lily Yuriko Kawamura: 'Cause it's not California. We could get married there.
- Older Mini McGann: What did you wear? Were you pretty?
- Lily Yuriko Kawamura: Oh, I had a beautiful dress with a lace collar and cuffs. And I wore my hair special, with a bow just like yours.
- [kisses Mini lightly on her head]
- Lily Yuriko Kawamura: It was a beautiful day. It was the best wedding anyone had ever had. We had flowers. We had champagne. It was the best day of my life.
- Older Mini McGann: What about me?
- Lily Yuriko Kawamura: You were born on Christmas Day, 1937. And we called you Minia after Mama Kawamura's sister.
- Jack McGurn: I agree to hand out a bundle of leaflets, and you act as if I'm going out to kill someone.
- Lily Yuriko Kawamura: Because you know one thing will lead to another, and it'll make you crazy. You can't spit against Heaven, Jack!
- Jack McGurn: Oh, don't give me that Japanese SHIT!
- Lily Yuriko Kawamura: [stares at Jack briefly, then silently walks away]
- Lily Yuriko Kawamura: I don't why I left your papa that day, but sometimes you get pushed and pulled without ever knowing the reasons why. But I knew I couldn't stay. I had to be with Mama and Papa Kawamura.
- Eddie: Do you have a history of labor union business, M-McGann, is it?
- Jack McGurn: Yeah. McGann. No, no I don't. I work at the cannery. I'm a fish masher.
- Eddie: You people caused quite a stir.
- Jack McGurn: It was a legal demonstration, sir. Perfectly within the Constitution.
- Eddie: Well, all that striking stuff is over now, mister. When Japs step on the beach, you think they'll take any notice of your banners? They'll stick a bayonet in your belly, grievance or no grievance. This is America, pal, so remember you're an American. We're at war now.
- Jack McGurn: What are you talking about?
- Eddie: Ain't you heard? The Japs just bombed Pearl Harbor.
- Lily Yuriko Kawamura: Mr. Fujioka? But he's old and he's sleazy. Papa, are you serious?
- Hiroshi Kawamura: Hai!