The Americanization of Machiko

The Americanization of Machiko
Season	2x2x03
Episode No.	12
Episode Information
Original Broadcast Date	Oct. 11, 1989
Written by	Charlie Coffey
Directed by	Gilbert Shilton
Leap Information
Leap Date	Aug. 4, 1953
Leapee	Tom MacBride
Chronological Information
Preceded by	Disco Inferno
Followed by	What Price Gloria?

Summary

August 4, 1953: Sam leaps into Charlie MacKenzie, a U.S Navy officer who returns home with his Japanese wife, Machiko. Sam must ensure that Charlie's mother accepts his new bride, as well as warding off the affections of Charlie's conniving ex-girlfriend and protecting Machiko from the racial predjudices of an embittered WW2 veteran.

Plot

Sam leaps in, while stepping off a bus and wearing a sailor's outfit. Sam discovers that he has leaped into a young Navy officer named Charlie McKenzie and deduces that he has just returned home after serving in the Far East. Charlie's father, Henry, appears to welcome him home and give him a hug. The two get into Henry's truck and drive off. As they do so, a young Japanese woman named Machiko steps off the bus and calls after them, but neither hear or see her.

As Sam and Henry return back to their farm house, they are greeted by Charlie's mother, Lanore, and Charlie's former sweetheart, Naomi. Naomi says she has waited two years for Charlie to come home, though Lanore points out that Naomi still had relationships with other men in that time. Naomi now believes that the two of them will get married. However, Al appears to tell Sam that he is here to stop Charlie and Naomi from getting married, as they end up having a miserable life together.

Sam's mission soon becomes complicated as the local policeman, Herman, arrives with Machiko, having been approached by her in the street. He says that Machiko is Charlie's new bride. Lanore, Henry and Naomi are shocked, while Sam simply tells everyone "surprise!"

Sam and Machiko are in the living room with Henry and Lanore, becoming acquainted. Though Henry is open-minded and friendly toward Machiko, Lanore remains hostile and uninviting toward her. Al says that Lanore never accepted Machiko and, as a result, Machiko was forced to return to Japan alone and heartbroken.

The next morning, Machiko attempts to please Lanore by cleaning the floor and cooking rice for breakfast. However, Lanore rudely dismisses her efforts and insults her Japanese customs. Machiko leaves the room, upset. Sam goes out to comfort her. He says that Lanore will eventually accept her in time. He also tells Machiko that in America, men and women have equal rights and that, as his wife, she is his partner, not his servant. With that, Machiko tells Sam she would like him to take her into town to buy new clothes. Machiko also insists that he teach her to drive his car. Though Sam is keen to teach Machiko American customs and values, he also hopes Machiko will retain her unique Japanese heritage at the same time.

As they arrive in town, a bitter, World War Two veteran named Rusty, deliberately bumps into Sam on the street and verbally harrasses the two of them. Sam ignores him and takes Machiko into the local clothing store. After they leave, with Machiko now wearing American clothing, they find Sam's truck has been graffited with the words "Go home, Jap". Sam eyes Rusty suspiciously and drives back home with Machiko.

While Henry and Lanore are returning home from church along with the Reverand, Earl, and his wife, Betty, Sam and Machiko are back on the farm performing chores. Machiko is out in the yard, putting clothes on the line, topless, while Sam is sorting through bails of hay in the barn. Naomi approaches him flirtatiously and makes a pass at him. Despite trying to ward her off, the two fall from the pile of hay, on to the ground. Machiko arrives to see if they are okay. At the same time, Henry, Lanore, Earl and Betty arrive at the farm. Machiko turns around to face them, exposing her naked chest, prompting Betty to faint and Lanore to respond with outrage and humiliation.

Sam explains that Japanese women often perform chores topless in hot weather and tells them she did not mean to offend anyone. Earl says they are not offended, and leaves with Betty, encouraging everyone to attend the church picnic the following day. Lanore is not so forgiving. She is so humiliated that she refuses to go to the church picnic where she will be gawked at, just like her late daughter, Eileen, was ostracised before she died.

Naomi explains that she was the only one of Eileen's friends who stood by her when she was ostracised by the town for getting pregnant out of wedlock. Nonetheless, Eileen committed suicide by driving her car off a cliff. Sam thanks Naomi for being supportive of Eileen, but tells her that he is married now and their relationship together is over.

Naomi takes the rejection hard and chooses to enact her revenge upon Machiko. At the church picnic the next day, she tricks Machiko into calling the local Mayor and his wife "fat". Realising that her comments have offended them, Machiko runs off upset, and tells Naomi she is not a good person.

Machiko approaches Sam and says she has shamed him. Sam tells her she could never shame him, and invites her to watch a game of baseball to cheer her up. As Sam steps up to bat, Rusty, who is an expert baseball player, throws two difficult pitches, one of which nearly hits Sam in the head. The Ref tells Rusty to play fair. Sam manages to hit the ball on the third swing while Rusty, intent on revenge, attempts to tackle Sam while he is running to third base. Sam asks what his problem is, while Rusty responds that he hates Japanese. The two prepare to lunge at each other but are held back by the surrounding townsfolk.

As Sam, Henry and Machiko return home, a windy storm gathers overhead. Sam and Henry go to clear the animals into the barn, while Machiko joins Lanore in the storm cellar. Lanore recieves a phone call from one of the townsfolk, informing her of Machiko's insulting comment to the Mayor. Lanore is outraged and tells Machiko she never wants to see her again. Devastated, Machiko runs off and soon finds herself alone on an isolated road where Rusty, who happens to be driving by, offers her a ride.

Upon realising that Machiko has run off, Sam sets out to look for her. Al tells him she is with Rusty and Sam drives to Rusty's home. Rusty has stopped the car outside his house and bitterly recalls how his career as a baseball player was destroyed after he was injured in the war by the Japanese. Rusty produces a knife and prepares to cut off Machiko's arm as a form of vengeance. Sam arrives and pushes Rusty away from Machiko. Rusty throws a rock in Sam's direction which hits Machiko through the front windscreen of the car and knocks her unconscious. Sam and Rusty end up in a violent confrontation, with Sam ultimately beating Rusty until he collapses.

Sam, Henry and Lanore wait outside while Machiko remains in critical condition at the hospital. Sam tells Lanore to go in to the room and offer Machiko support. However, Lanore cannot bring herself to do so; Eileen was brought into the same room the night she died. She tried to reach out to Eileen, but she did not hear her, and died soon after. Since she was unable to reach her own daughter, Lanore cannot reach out to Machiko. Henry reveals that Lanore is not so much angry at Machiko, but angry at herself for failing to prevent Eileen's suicide.

Days later, Machiko is fully recovered, and Sam is awaiting her arrival at the church, where the two of them are to be re-married in America. Sam is nervous that he will be forced to make a vow of marriage to Machiko before leaping, but Al tells him he will leap as soon as Lanore finally accepts Machiko. As Machiko arrives at the altar, with the Reverand about to commence the wedding ceremony, Lanore suddenly enters the church, dressed in Japanese garb in an attempt to show acceptance toward Machiko. Lanore gives Machiko a bow of respect, which Machiko reciprocates, while Sam smiles and leaps...