The Lotus is a Flower

A dog-tired, stressed-out US soldier, on R&R leave from Vietnam in 1960s Singapore, seeks a measure of comfort from a mature Chinese prostitute who will change his life forever. Two people of different ages and different worlds spend the night in a motel room sitting crosslegged on the floor, among other things.

SYNOPSIS:

The Lotus is a Flower is a short film in the writing stage about a Vietnam-War soldier in 1967 who takes a 5-day R&R (rest and recuperation leave) in Singapore after nearly 9 months in "Indian Country" in the Central Highlands of South Vietnam. Adam is 21 years old and he had just gotten married and become a new father when he was sent to Vietnam. He is tired, emotionally numb, wishing he could go home, and dreading having to go back to the war.

His first encounter in Singapore is with the hotel's Concierge who repeatedly offers to provide Adam with "whatever he desires," implying he could get drugs, women or "whatever." Adam wants rest and recuperation. He wants to write home to his wife. He wants to visit cultural sites, public gardens, and to eat food that is orders of magnitude above Army rations.

On his second evening at the hotel, the Concierge introduces him to Charles and two other "chaps," who are all British R.A.F. troops stationed locally. He promises Adam that these fellows can help him find the best that Singapore has to offer. Adam agrees to meet up the following evening for a "special adventure" with the chaps. They pick him up in a taxi and then tell him they are off for an evening of "brothel hopping" in some upscale dens of iniquity along Singapore's notorious Geylang Road. Adam tries to back out, but Charles assures him they are only going for the free "appetizers," and not for "the main course."

The adventure becomes more adventurous than intended and, in order to avoid a "sound thrashing" by four large brothel bouncers, Adam agrees to take an ethnic Chinese woman, nearly 20 years his senior, back to his hotel for the night. Once they are in his room, Adam is nervous, shy, resistant. Mei, however, is a consummate professional, and she takes charge of the situation. Later that night she seats them both, fully naked, on folded bath towels, cross-legged on the floor. She lights a joss stick of incense and instructs Adam how to sit and relax in a meditative pose. The night passes and both awaken in the morning, still seated on the floor. Mei again takes charge, and the business Adam had paid for is conducted gently but enthusiastically and successfully. Mei leaves Adam with a sisterly kiss on the cheek, a small but special souvenir, and her confident assurance that he will be "okay." Her gifts change Adam's life forever.