Pacific Overtures1976

Reciter:
No one knows what was said behind the shutters of the Treaty House. The Shogun's councilors kept their story secret, and though the westerners have their own official version, I would not believe a word of it. What a shame there is no authentic Japanese account of what took place on that historic day.

Old Man:
Pardon me, I was there.

Reciter:
You were where?

Old Man:
At the treaty house.

Reciter:
At the treaty house.

Old Man:
There was a tree...

Reciter:
Which was were?

Old Man:
Over here. Maybe over there, but there were trees then everywhere... may I show you?

Reciter:
If you please.

Old Man:
There were trees then everywhere!

Reciter:
But you were there?

Old Man:
And I was there! May I show you?

Reciter:
If you please.

Old Man:
I was younger then... I was good at climbing trees... I was younger then... I saw everything! I was hidden all the time... it was easier to climb. I was younger then. I saw everything - where they came, and where they went; I was part of the event; I was someone in a tree. I was younger then...

Boy:
[the tree appears, and the Old Man's younger self runs on]

Boy:
Tell him what I see!