MADAM BUTTERFLY

Main Characters: Supporting and Extra Characters:

Lieutenant Benjamin Franklin Pinkerton Sharpless, American consul
Cio-Cio-San, aka Madam Butterfly The Bonze, Butterfly’s uncle, priest
Suzuki, servant girl
Goro, marriage broker
Prince Yamadori, wealthy suitor
Kate, Pinkerton’s new wife

Narrator: In Japan, at the turn of the 20 th century, Lieutenant Benjamin Franklin Pinkerton of the
US Navy inspects a house that was leased by Goro, a marriage broker. The house comes
with three servants and a geisha wife named Cio-Cio-San, known as Madam Butterfly.
The American consul Sharpless, breathless from climbing the hill, arrives for the
wedding ceremony and Pinkerton describes to him his philosophy of the fearless Yankee
roaming the world in search of experience and pleasure.
Sharpless: Lieutenant, do you have feelings for the girl?
Lieutenant: I am not sure whether my feelings for her are love or simply a whim. But nevertheless, I
still intend to go through the marriage ceremony.
Sharpless: Still, I have to warn you that she may view her marriage with you differently.
Lieutenant: [shrugs shoulders] Don’t fret about such concerns. Someday, I will take a real, American
wife.
Narrator: Lieutenant Pinkerton offers the consul some whiskey and proposes a toast. Soon after,
Cio-Cio-San arrives with her friends for the ceremony. After she and the Lieutenant
finished the formal introduction, they had a casual conversation.
Butterfly: I am only a 15-year-old girl. My family was once prominent but lost its position, and I
now am a geisha in order to earn a living.
Narrator: While they were having their conversation, Cio-Cio-San’s relatives arrive and begin to
chatter about the marriage between the Lieutenant and Cio-Cio-San. While they were
talking, Cio-Cio-San was showing Lieutenant Pinkerton few of her possessions.
Butterfly: [in a quiet voice] I have been to the different Christian missions and I am willing to
embrace your religion.
Narrator: Lieutenant Pinkerton was just quietly listening to Cio-Cio-San when the Imperial
Commissioner arrived. He began to read the marriage agreement, and the relatives
 congratulated the couple. Suddenly, a threatening voice was heard from afar. It was the
Bonze, Ciao-Ciao-San’s uncle, a priest.
The Bonze: [in a loud and angry voice, points to Butterfly] How dare you?! You are a disgrace for
going to that Christian mission and rejecting your ancestral religion!
Lieutenant: [in an authoritative voice, points to an open door] I am ordering you to leave!
Narrator: As they were leaving, the Bonze and the shocked relatives denounced Cio-Cio-San.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Pinkerton tries to comfort Cio-Cio-San.
Lieutenant: [in a quiet voice, console Butterfly with sweet words]
Narrator: When Lieutenant Pinkerton successfully comforted Cio-Cio-San, Suzuki helps Cio-Cio-
San into her wedding kimono before the couple would meet in the garden.

[AFTER 3 YEARS]

Narrator: Three years have passed, and Cio-Cio-San awaits her husband’s return at her home.
Suzuki: [prays to the gods for help]
Butterfly: Oh, stop it! Why are you praying and believing in those lazy gods rather than my
husband’s promise to return one day?
Narrator: While the two were talking, Sharpless appears with a letter from Pinkerton but before he
could read it, Goro arrives with Cio-Cio-San’s latest suitor, the wealthy Prince Yamadori.
Butterfly: [to Suzuki] Serve our dear guests some tea.
Narrator: When the guests were served with their teas, they proposed to Cio-Cio-San another offer
for marriage.
Butterfly: I appreciate your offers and proposals but I am not available for any other marriage. My
husband has not deserted me. You both are dismissed.

[Goro and Prince Yamadori leaves]

Narrator: Sharpless attempts to read a part of Lieutenant Pinkerton’s letter to Cio-Cio-San.

Sharpless: I suggest that you should perhaps reconsider the proposals and offers made by Prince
Yamadori.
Narrator: In response to this, Cio-Cio-San calls over a young boy over.
Butterfly: This young boy is a child I had with him. His name is Sorrow, but when his father
returns, he shall be called Joy.
Narrator: After hearing this, Sharpless became too upset to read more of the contents of the
Lieutenant’s letter.
Sharpless: [in a reluctant way] I promise to inform the Lieutenant about the child.

[Sharpless takes his leave]

Narrator: A canon was shot in the harbor announcing the arrival of a ship. Cio-Cio-San and Suzuki
take a telescope to the terrace to read the name of the vessel. It was Lieutenant
Pinkerton’s vessel! Overjoyed, Cio-Cio-San joins Suzuki in decorating the house with
flowers taken from the garden. When evening came, Cic-Cio-San, Suzuki and the child
settle into a vigil to watch over the harbor.

[At dawn]

Suzuki: Madam, I insist that you get some sleep.

Butterfly: [nods slowly, carries the child] I shall head to the house.
Narrator: When Cio-Cio-San and the child took their leave, Sharpless appears with Lieutenant
Pinkerton and an American woman named Kate, the Lieutenant’s new wife.
Suzuki: [gasps] I will break this news to the Madam.
Narrator: Pinkerton felt uneasy with his feeling of guilt and ran from the scene, pausing to
remember his days in the little house. Meanwhile, Cio-Cio-San rushes in, hoping to find
the Lieutenant but saw Kate instead.
Butterfly: [in a flat voice and blank expression] I will agree to giving up my son. But I have to insist
that my husband returns for him.
[takes a breath] Everyone is dismissed.
Narrator: When everyone left, Cio-Cio-San took out the dagger with which her father used to
commit suicide.
Butterfly: [looks at dagger] I would rather choose to die with honor than spend the rest of my life
living in shame!
Narrator: As soon as she held the dagger, she was interrupted momentarily when the child, her son,
came inside the room.
Butterfly: [blindfolds the child] Goodbye, my dear child…
Narrator: Cio-Cio-San raised the dagger and stabbed herself as Lieutenant arrives, calling for her.
Lieutenant: [in a loud and shouting manner] Cio-Cio-San!
Butterfly: [stabs herself]