Stage Play / All the Bright Company of Heaven

Black Stage (spotlight on Jimmy on a cot writing):

Jimmy Stands up…

Jimmy:  Dear Dad, I’m writing this letter on only a few hours sleep, so forgive me for the spelling errors, I remember when I was a kid you used to always get on me about my homework and the things I wrote…I  am probably most thankful for this now that I’m older.  You know I’m thankful for the way you always got on me.  I can’t thank you enough for being the father you were.

Light up the background.  Two kids (Jimmy age 13) and (Tonya age 10)

Jimmy:  Come on Tonya I want to use it

Tonya:  It’s my turn!

Jimmy:  You’re hogging it!

Tonya:  (Screams as Jimmy grabs her hair)

Father walks into the room in an antiquated Army uniform

Jimmy’s Dad:  What’s going on in here

Tonya:  Jimmy pulled my hair (Jimmy interrupts)

Jimmy:  But Tonya was hogging the….

Dad:   Enough!  Tonya go to your room.  Jimmy you stay.

Jimmy:  How come she doesn’t have to stay?

Dad:  You don’t worry about what she has to do!  

Jimmy:  Why should I listen to you, you’re not Mommy, and you’re never around…

Dad:  What did you just say to me?!?

Jimmy gets quiet

Dad:  No, say it!  You’ve got something to say, say it!  You think you’re man enough to say it in the first place…say it!

Jimmy (whispers):  You’re not my Mommy and you’re never around.

Dad:  You’re right, I’m not your Mommy, I’m your father and if you ever talk to me like that again, I’ll show you what Father’s can do, you understand me boy?

Jimmy:  Yes Daddy.
Dad:  I’m not around because I can’t be, I have a job to do.

Jimmy:  Yes Daddy

Dad:  Do you understand me!

Jimmy:  Yes Daddy

Dad:  You need to understand something real young boy…as a man, you can’t pick on those smaller than you….  you can’t be beating people up just because your stronger, and you can’t prove your point by muscling things through!

Jimmy:  But I’m older Daddy

Dad:  It takes more than telling people what to do to lead boy….you don’t understand that now, but you will.  You’re right about one thing though.  I’m not your Mother.  If I did the cooking in this place we’d all be fighting about something—(he winks at his son)  

Jimmy smiles.

Dark background—Light back on Jimmy

Jimmy:  Today was a tough day and everybody seemed real on edge after what happened to Coop and Private Thompson.  I often wonder how I am supposed to lead them, when I feel the same exact way they do.  I’m frustrated and scared half the time, but I can’t show it to them.  Like earlier today two of my Marines were arguing about….

Jimmy’s attention is taken away as he is speaking.  Voices are arguing in the background…

Lights up in the background.  Sergeant Cortez is standing alone, having an obvious argument with a marine off stage.

Sergeant Cortez:  Are you fucking serious, you really think Curt Schilling is better than Nolan Ryan? (pause)  A god?  Yeah a god to a bunch of drunk Irish boys, that’s all.  (pause)  Yeah you heard me…Irish boys!  I said all Irish boys are drunks and they fuck their mothers!  (pause)  What are you going to do about it O’Donnell?  (pause)

Jimmy enters, hears the marines fighting.

Jimmy:   What the hell is going on here?

Cortez:   That Boston faggot started the whole dam thing!

Jimmy:  Corporal O’Donnell, get your ass over to your tent.  Cortez you stand here.

Cortez kind of pouts.

Jimmy:  Stand-at-fucking attention when I speak to you Marine.

Cortez pops tall

Jimmy:  You’re a Sergeant, don’t you understand that?

Cortez:  Yes Sir!

Jimmy:  These men depend on you!  You understand that?

Cortez:  Yes Sir!

Jimmy:  It takes more than what you wear on your sleeve to be a leader, you understand that?

Cortez:  Yes Sir!

Jimmy:  Good, now get to your tent and try to keep your head on straight.

Cortez begins to walk away.

Jimmy:  Oh and Sergeant…

Cortez turns around.

Jimmy:  We all know Curt Schilling sucks now anyways…

Jimmy winks, Cortez smiles.

Spotlight goes on Jimmy.

Jimmy:  I don’t know what to do.  I feel like if I tell them it’s ok to be frustrated, and that I understand how upset they all are about Coop and Private Thompson that it’ll just enable them to act even more out of line.  Sometimes I feel like I’m going to break down myself.

Lights in the background….funeral services for the two marines… Marines standing around two pairs of boots with helmets standing up on rifles.

Jimmy:  I know it can be hard out here.  It’s so dam hot.  We’re so dam busy I feel like a moron trying to sandpaper a bobcat’s ass in a phone booth.  

(Marines Laugh)

Jimmy:  Sorry about cursing Chaplain.  But today was just  a dam shame.  Private Thompson had been in the sandbox like what, two weeks?   And Coop we all loved him.  What was that he always said….

Cortez:  Fuck a Duck

(Marines Laugh)

Jimmy:  Yeah, Fuck a Duck

Cortez:  Dam a Bear

(Marines Laugh)

Jimmy:  Yeah, Dam a Bear, sometimes I think that Coop spent too much time on the farm back home in West Virginia…

(Marines Laugh)

Jimmy:  But I got to tell you guys something….(Jimmy gets teary)  I loved Coop…he wasn’t just the squad Sergeant….he was our friend…he was funny and he made it seem less hot, and whenever we got too busy he reminded us it to stop for a second… appreciate things, he did it by just being himself.

Jimmy begins walking away from the crowd.

Jimmy:  I loved Coop. I didn’t know Private Thompson for long, but he was one of mine, one of ours, and I love all of you like you were my brothers.

Fade to Black in background

Jimmy on the spot light

Jimmy:  I don’t know how I’m supposed to be a leader when all I can think about is how I could’ve made a decision differently, and then, who knows maybe Coop and Thompson would still be here, going home at some point…instead I’m here, they’re not, and I’m writing you a letter.

Black Stage (spotlight on Jimmy on a cot writing):

Lights fade on Jimmy and come up on Mom.  She is digging though the mail.  Dad is sitting at the table eating his dinner.

Mom: Bill, bill…God damn it Jim!  

Dad: For Christ’s sake Fran, not now.  Let me eat my dinner.  It’s been a long day.
Mom: Cable and electric, same friggin’ day.  It’s like they plan it that way, you know Jim…sons of bitches.  

Dad: The world’s out to get you Frannie.

Mom:  Nothin’ from Jimmy either.  

Silence.

Dad robotically eats his dinner.  Mom stands motionless at his side with the mail in her hands.

Mom:  It’s been almost a month Jim, ya know?  

Dad: Of course I know, what the hell do you think?  You think I don’t pay attention.  You think I don’t know?

Dad slams his fists on the table, gets up and grabs his plate.

Mom:  It’ll come tomorrow.  I have a feeling.  

Dad doesn’t acknowledge.

Mom: Jim, you don’t think…

Dad: Francesca, it’s not my job to think.  

Dad kisses Mom as he walks past her.

Dad exits.

Lights on just Mom.

Jimmy (16) stumbles into the light.  

Mom:  Do you know what time it is Jimmy?  

Jimmy: (slurring) I have no idea Mom, 12 noon?

Jimmy laughs and falls into the table off balance.  

Mom grabs Jimmy and holds his chin.  She gets close enough to smell his breath.  

Mom:  You’re drunk.

She smacks him in the back of the head.  He laughs again and topples over, falling over his feet.

Jimmy:  No I’m not Mom, I just had too much to drink.

Mom: What the hell am I going to do with you Jim?  Unbelievable.

Mom stares at Jimmy, his eyes are half open and he’s slumped over.
Dad screams in from off stage.

Dad: Francesca!  

Mom nervously helps Jimmy stand up and pushes him to exit.

Mom:  You better get to bed before your father sees you.  Go.  
I’ll make you a cup of tea.  It’ll sober you up.  

Jimmy is stumbling around.

Mom: Get the hell out of here Jim…

She pushes Jimmy off scene.  Mom grabs the tea pot.  Dad enters.

Dad:  What the hell are you doing?  It’s 3am.

Mom:  I couldn’t sleep.  I’m making myself a cup of tea…you want a cup?

Lights go out on Mom and Dad and come up on Jimmy sitting on his cot, writing.

Jimmy:  On that note, I’m sorry it’s been so long since I’ve written.  Things have been complicated over here and I just didn’t know how to really articulate it to you.  But Dad, as I think about it, I think maybe you’re the only one that can truly understand….

Light goes up in the background—(Dad’s retirement Ceremony from the Army)

Dad shaking hands with people…”thank you”

Jimmy walks over to him (he has long hair and a Ty-Dye Shirt)

Jimmy:  Congratulations Pop, 30 years of service.  Wow, that means a lot!

Dad:  Thanks Jimmy, It was a long career.

Jimmy:  You ready for the change?

Dad:   It’s just gonna be weird not being called Master Sergeant anymore.  
(He looks off laughs to himself and says) Master Sergeant Niedermeyer

Jimmy:  Well how does Lieutenant Nidermeyer sound?

Dad:  I never wanted to take the officer route….

Jimmy:  No Dad, I just joined the Marines, I leave for OCS next week.

Dad:  You what?

Jimmy:  I leave for OCS next week!

Dad:  Son, I didn’t want this life for you…
Jimmy:  But Dad I wanted it, I want you to be proud of me.

Dad:  Oh but Jimmy, I’m so proud of you already.

Jimmy:  I know, but it’s important to me to show you what I’m made of.

Dad stands looks off to the side.

Jimmy:  I just want to do my part.

Dad:  I’ve done enough for two lifetimes Jimmy.  I missed your birth because I was away, I missed Tonya’s because I was away.  Your mother almost left me, did you know that?

Jimmy:  No I didn’t Dad.

Dad:  I can’t say that I’m mad at you.  It’s more like I’m nervous.  It’s a tough world out there son.

Jimmy:  I’m ready to take it on.

Dad:  An Officer?

Jimmy:  Yup

Dad:  A Marine?

Jimmy:  Yup

Dad:  Next thing you’re gonna tell me is you’re a Redsox fan now right?

Jimmy:  Nope

Dad smiles and puts his arm around his son.

Dad:  Well at least you didn’t join the Air Force…

Dad:  Hey Everybody -- My son is gonna be an Officer in the Marine Corps!  I guess he couldn’t hack it in the Army like his old man, but I guess being a Jarhead can be respectable….  (He raises his glass)  Here’s to my Son -- Second Lieutenant Niedermeyer!

Cheers from the background

Jimmy:  (Raises his glass) Here’s to my Dad -- the meanest Master Sergeant in the Army -- oh sorry -- the meanest retired Master Sergeant in the Army -- Mr. Niedermeyer!

Cheers from the background

Dad whispers into Jimmy’s ear:  I love you son.

Jimmy:  Awe shucks Dad (being sarcastic)

Dad:  You take care of yourself boy.  You be safe.

Jimmy:  I know Dad, I will be.

Black Stage—

Spotlight on Jimmy

Jimmy:  Like last week I was talking to one of my Marines…He was scared, wasn’t sure he wanted to do it any more.

Spotlight on Private Thompson

Thompson:  Sir?  You’ve got a minute.

Light up stage in a makeshift office.

Jimmy:   Yeah, what’s up?

Thompson:  I’m a little nervous about being here.

Jimmy:  What’s on your mind?

Thompson:  My wife and little girl.

Jimmy:  Jesus man.  How old are you?

Thompson: 19

Jimmy:  Why did you join the Corps?

Thompson:  Wanted to provide for my family, and well, my Dad was in the Navy…

Jimmy:  Yeah , I know how you feel, my Dad was in the Army.

Thompson:  I’m a little scared that something might happen to me out here.

Jimmy:  Well, you know what you signed up for didn’t you?

Thompson:  I didn’t think they’d send me over to Afghanistan, I though I’d get a nice job someplace State Side.

Jimmy:  Well it’s a side of something.

Thompson:  It’s a side order of shit.

Jimmy:  Be careful Marine…we’re here to do a job.
Thompson:  I’m sorry Sir, but… I don’t know if I believe in this war at all anymore.  I just want to be home, with my wife and my kids.

Jimmy:  What are they like?

Thompson:  My wife is beautiful…she’s got short black hair and my daughter, Ariel (Shows Jimmy a picture of his family)

Jimmy:  She’s a cutie, cute kid too. You’re a lucky guy.

Thompson:  I am Sir, very lucky.

Jimmy:  Ever think maybe you made the wrong decision….

Thompson:  Yes Sir, I do.

Jimmy:  You want to go home?

Thompson:  I don’t know sir, I just don’t want to get killed for something I just don’t believe anymore.

Jimmy:  What is it that you believe in then?

Thompson:  I’m not sure anymore.

Jimmy:  Let me tell you what I believe in ok?

Thompson gestures

Jimmy:  I don’t know about the politics anymore.  I don’t have the luxury to make that decision, but I do believe in my sense of duty.  The word duty, it means something you know, it means service… it means to do something without fully understanding it, it means to make sacrifices all along not getting any special credit for it…that’s what it means to be a Marine Thompson.  It means to do it no matter how you feel about it, it means to be a part of a machine.  An integral cog in the machine of national will.  Do you understand…

Thompson:  Yes Sir, I understand.

Jimmy:  It’s ok to be afraid Thompson, we all are…but me, I fear letting down my family more then I fear then dying.  Hoorah?

Thompson:  Hoorah!

Jimmy:  You see Dad, at this point, and looking in retrospect, I’m sure I don’t want to do it anymore…and it’s not because I don’t believe in the country, you raised me better then that.  It’s because I’m tired.  It’s been six years and I’ve already been in two wars.  No matter how much you tried to warn me about it, I didn’t listen, I had to be pig-headed like I always am.

Open up background—Father is on a chair in BDU pants, blouse undone, waiting at a chair….

Jimmy (17) sneaks into the house… Lights get turned on.

Dad:  Good morning Sparkle boy!

Jimmy just freezes.

Dad:  You know nothing good happens after 3am?

Jimmy:  Yes sir.

Dad:  Where ya been?

Jimmy:  Out with my friends Sir.

Dad:  Which friends?

Jimmy:  A couple of the guys.

Dad:  You’ve been drinking?

Jimmy:  No sir.

Dad:  Which friends?

Jimmy:  Brian, Ray and Tommy….

Dad:  Are you lying to me boy?

Jimmy:  No sir.

Dad:  What are the core rules I have for you boy?

Jimmy:  Awe Dad, C’mon it’s 3 in the morning, I’ve got to work at the Pizzeria in 6 hours….I’m not 12 anymore.

Dad:  Tell me the rules boy.

Jimmy:  Treat others the way you want to be treated, stand up for what you believe in, never do heroine, and aw…c’mon Pop just yell at me, smack me around a little bit and send me on my way…

Dad:  I just want to hear you say it.

Jimmy:  Fine, never lie, you happy it’s never lie….

Dad:  ’cause I was wondering about the “Brian, Ray and Tommy” story, I saw them at the movie theatre with your mother about an hour after you left.   They said they didn’t know where you were…but I had an inclination that they were lying too.

Jimmy:  You’re good like that aren’t you Pop?
Dad:  That’s why the Army pays me more money for—it’s my judge of character.  So tell me boy, what’s the story next…

Jimmy:  Ok Dad, I’ll tell ya…but leave me alone on this one ok?

Dad:  Depends

Jimmy:  Depends on what?

Dad:  Depends if it’s gonna hurt you.

Jimmy:  Whatever, listen I took Darla out and then we went to a parking lot and talked for a few hours to talk.

Dad:  To talk huh?

Jimmy:  Yeah, to talk.

Dad:  I don’t like that girl Jimmy…she’s got a mean spirit about her.

Jimmy:  Yeah, well I love her!

Dad:  You would.

Jimmy:  What’s that supposed to mean?

Dad:  It means you don’t know what love is yet…you think the first girl you get to screw is the girl you’ll end up with… it doesn’t work like that.

Jimmy:  You done lecturing me Dad?

Dad:  Oh Mr. Independent now, got himself a girl and he thinks he’s invincible….mark my words boy, a good woman is more than just a cute ass, and flattering attention.

Jimmy:  You don’t know what it’s like Dad.

Dad:   To hell I don’t!  You think I was born yesterday….I’ve been around boy, seen things, you’ll hopefully never have to understand, and I’ve seen women cut deeper into a man’s heart then any bullet….

Jimmy:  Oh so you’re a philosopher now?

Dad:  Mind your tongue boy.  I am your father and lately it seems I have to remind you of that.  Check yourself….look in the mirror, you’re grades are slipping, you sleep all day…you…

Jimmy:  Bet you think I’m on drugs too huh?

Dad:  No, I think you’re thinking like a 17 year old boy….

Jimmy:  I don’t want your life Dad.  It’s not for me.  I don’t ever want to be like you!
Dad:  I don’t want you to be like me either.  One day, you’ll wake up, look in the mirror and see me.  Maybe it’ll be in your chin, or on your face or your ears, but you’ll see me….

Jimmy:  Well then I’d cut off my ears and wear a mask!

Dad:  Mark my words again boy, this girl Darla will hurt you…and that’s all I want to avoid.  

Spotlight on Jimmy background black

Jimmy gets a mail call at some training facility, Cadence in the background….

Voice overture….

Darla:  Dear James, since you’ve been gone a lot has changed.  I don’t think I want to marry you anymore.  It’s not that I don’t love you, I do, but somehow I’m not in love with you anymore.   Tommy says it’s only natural to feel this way, but I get so confused.  I am going to school to get my Master’s degree and the way I understand it, I’m not ready to be a Marine’s wife.  I want more.  I will always care for you.  I wish you only the best.
With love—Darla

Jimmy begins to cry and runs out of the spotlight.

Spotlight Jimmy

Jimmy:  But I’m here in greater greater Afghanistan trying to make sense out of war.  I think about home a lot.  I think about Mom’s Chicken Parm.  I think about the dog and cutting the grass and I think about baseball practice and wearing my letterman jacket.  How is Tonya?  I write her letters as much as possible.  But I figure she’s off to school probably participating in some kind of protest.  It’s funny to think that she’s doing things that I used to not more than 7 years ago.  She probably falls asleep to the hooting and hollering of college kids… (loud explosive noises, Jimmy grabs his helmet)... while I’m falling asleep to the sounds of Mortars….

Grady rushes in a little disheveled.

Grady:  Captain Neidermeyer, mortars have hit the supply tent…

Jimmy:   Anybody in there?

Grady:  No Sir.

Jimmy:  Do we have an idea where it came from?

Grady:  Yes Sir, the western blue zone.

Jimmy:  Send out a skirmish group, tell Jackson, Bauer, Wilson and Suarez to suit up…no wait…send Coop to lead the group and have him report to me when he makes contact.

Grady:  Aye Sir.

Spotlight out.

Machine gunfire in the background.

Voices “I’m hit, Doc!”  ”I’m hit”

Light on

Marines taking defensive positions.

Jimmy walks up to the crowd.

Cortez is working on two separate Marines.

Jimmy:  Who’s hit?

Cortez:  Coop and Thompson, Sir.

Jimmy:  How bad?

Cortez:  Thompson’s dead Sir.

Jimmy:  and Coop?

Spotlight on Jimmy, background freezes and goes black.

Jimmy:  When Coop and Thompson… I had to go out and check on some firing positions.  They went out on a skirmish group to investigate with a few other marines.  By the time I got there, it was mess.  Thompson was dead, and Coop had been shot up pretty bad.  What they do is, they freeze the mortars, and wait for the sun and heat to thaw it out.  When the ice is fully melted it shoots off and they just wait, they wait for us to send an investigation group out and they ambush them a couple of clicks away from the firing sight.  Clever bastards.  Meanwhile I’m sending my men out to a meat grinder.
The irony of it all is that I was just talking to Thompson and Coop the other day….

Lights on.

Coop:  Dam a Bear Thompson, that wife of yours sure is pretty!

Thompson:  I know this.

Coop:  Nah man, if that was me, I’d never leave her.

Thompson:  I shouldn’t have.

Jimmy walks up.

Jimmy:  What are you boys talking about?
Thompson:  Nothing Sir.

Coop:  Aw hell Sir, we were just talking about Thompson’s fine ass wife!

Thompson:  Sarge, could you please stop it.

Jimmy:  Easy Coop, he’s still green from boot camp.

Coop:  Shit Sir, If I had a women like that, I’d never leave…my old lady is ugly enough to gag a maggot!

Laughter amongst the men.

Jimmy:  How could you leave her? (Sarcasm)

Coop:  When you’re women is ugly enough to knock a buzzard off a shit cart, well sir, you’d join the Marines just to see prettier faces….like this one right here.  (he rubs Thompson head)

Jimmy laughs.

Coop:  Now Sir, Thompson’s women, she’d about as fine as frog hair split four ways.

Jimmy:  Settle Down Marine.

Coop:  What Sir?  I’m just messing with the new guy…not to say if I had a woman like that I’d be on it, like white on rice, in a glass of milk in the middle of a blizzard, outside an igloo in the middle of the Antarctic!

Jimmy:  Enough…. leave him be.

Thompson:  Where do you come up with this stuff?

Coop:  Ten years of honorable service in the United State Marine Corps—Hoorah?

Jimmy (smiling, shaking his head):  Hoorah.

Coop playfully smacks Thompson in the back of the head and the Marines begin to play fight.

Fade to black—Radio Noise.

Jimmy (talking into a radio):  I need a MEDEVAC ASAP Blue Zone,  Hotel, Echo, Lima, Papa over.

Radio Noise…helicopter noise.

Jimmy:  Hang on Coop, they’ll be here soon.

Fade to Black

Jimmy:  You see Dad, the way I see it I considered Coop to be my friend.  We talked alot about the men, about growing up…I know he was a Sergeant and everything, but he had more time in than I had, was about 4 years older than me.  He fought bravely and he always kept a positive attitude.  He was up for promotion next month and I wanted to give him another stripe.
It’s all I can give these guys out here.  Maybe a little time off, some more money….whatever, I try to keep them safe mostly, like they were my little brothers.  I’m sure you felt that way about your men.  But it’s different with me.  
I’m different than you are.  Although I wake up some mornings put on my uniform, look in the mirror and I see, you….maybe your chin, or the way I laugh, or how I feel when I yell at someone.   I swear I can hear your voice inside my own.  Sometimes it makes me shiver.

Background Light Up.

Dad:  Jimmy!  What happened to my Car!!!!!

Jimmy:  I scratched it, Sir.

Dad:  You what?

Jimmy:  I scratched it.

Dad:  Doing What?

Jimmy:  Dropping Tonya off at the mall.

Dad:  Who said you could you use my car

Jimmy:  Mom

Dad:  Franny!!!!!!!

Dad Storms Off Stage….

Jimmy takes a deep breath

Lights out on Dad, Spot Up on Jimmy sitting on his cot.

Jimmy:  And I think about Mom all the time too. Make sure you tell her that.  I know she worries.  How is she Dad?  Still driving you crazy I’m sure.  You know, I really admire your relationship.

As Jimmy is speaking lights up on Mom. She enters the kitchen, with a mop and bucket, exhausted and begins mopping the floor.

Jimmy:  You two have a great understanding.  I only wish that one day, when I’m out of here, when I’m home again, I can make that kind of life for myself.  

Dad enters the kitchen.

Mom:  Ahh…take your shoes off Jimmy.  Can’t you see I’m mopping the floor?

Dad:  For God’s sake Francesca…I’m not even in the damn door.

Jimmy:  I think about that all the time too.  When am I going to finally be able to settle down?  Start my own family?  You know, it’s not exactly easy to meet women over here.  I want a hometown girl, a woman like Mom.  

Mom:  Have a good day Jim?  How’d everything go at the shop?

Dad: Everything went fine.  Just another day.

Mom:  Dinner’ll be ready in a few minutes.  Why don’t you go get washed up.  

Mom continues to scrub the floor.  Dad exits.

Jimmy:  Someone that keeps a good house.  Raises good children.

Mom grabs plates off the counter and sets the table for four.  

Mom: Tonya, Jimmy.  Dinner.  Jim.

Tonya (10) comes running into the kitchen.

Tonya:  Smells delicious mommy.

Mom kisses the top of Tonya’s head.

Mom: Go call your father and brother sweetheart.  Tell them dinner’s on the table.  

Tonya runs off, exits.

Jimmy:  I hope she knows how much I have always appreciated her.  I never really told her this but when I was a younger I used to watch her make dinner through the laundry room door.  She was always smiling and humming, and dancing around.  She was beautiful to watch.  I miss her dad.  I miss both of you.  

Mom is sitting at the kitchen table.  Dad enters.  Sits down.

Mom:  It’s probably ice cold.  I called you fifteen minutes ago.  

Dad forks through his plate of food and puts a forkful in his mouth.  

Dad:  God damn it Frannie-

Mom:  God damn it Frannie?  What the hell were you doing while your potatoes got cold, huh Jim?  God damn it Frannie? You’ve got some nerve.

Dad:  I’m sorry sweetheart.  It’s been a long day.
Could you heat it up for me?

Mom sighs and grabs his plate from in front of him.  She walks across the kitchen with it.  Half way across she screams…

Mom:  Jimmy, Tonya.  It’s gonna get cold.

Tonya 10 and Jimmy 13 come running into the kitchen.

Tonya:  Sorry Mommy, we were playing hide and seek and I hid so good that Jimmy couldn’t find me…huh Jim, isn’t that right.  

Jimmy: (sarcastically) Yeah Ton, really good spot.

Mom:  Well wash up and take a seat.  

Dad:  There’s my girl!  

Tonya runs to Dad and gives him a big hug.  

Dad:  How ya doing sweetheart?  How was school today?

Tonya:  It was great Daddy, I won the jump rope contest in gym class and they gave me a medal and everything.  

Jimmy:  Everyone gets a medal.  That doesn’t mean you won, stupid.

Dad turns and looks at Jimmy sharply.

Dad:  Boy.

Mom: C’mon let’s dig in.

Mom starts scooping out dinner.

Jimmy nervously backs away from the table.

Dad: What did you just say?

Tonya:  I’m not stupid Jimmy, you are.

Mom:  The only thing stupid in this house is the cold lasagna sitting on your plates.  Let’s eat huh…c’mon drop it.  

Dad looks sharply at Jimmy.

Dad:  Curb your tongue Son, or you’ll regret it.

Jimmy:  Yes Daddy.

Dad:  What have I said to you?  Your sister looks up to you, admires you.  Respect that.  Making fun of her just makes her feel bad…don’t be a jerk!

Jimmy:  Yes Daddy.

Lights out on Dad, up on Jimmy sitting on his cot.  

Jimmy:  I respect how you raised me.  Everything that makes me a man today is because of the things I learned from you.  You and Mom always had a long term consideration when it came to Tonya and I.  Even when you were tough on us I know it was for the better cause.  I try to explain that to my men all the time.  I say ‘I’m teaching you how to grow, not how to run.  How to fight, not how to wander.  To be men, not boys.’ You made me the man that I am Dad.  I love you for that.  I am so lucky to have you.

Jimmy gets distracted by a shuffle of footsteps.  Coop comes running in.  

Coop:  It’s about time you congratulate me Captain!

Jimmy:  What for Sergeant?

Coop:  Lacey just had me another son!

Jimmy:  Well fuck a duck.  What’s the little man’s name?

Coop:  James Peter Cooper.  

Jimmy stares wide eyed at Coop.

Coop:  We named him after you Captain.  Figured it’s only right.
It’s because of you I was able to go home and see the child born. We’re proud to call him James.  It’s a strong name.  One day he’ll know who he was named after and appreciate the honor.

Jimmy grabs Coop.  Hugs him thankfully.

Jimmy:  He’ll be as strong a man as his father one day.  You’re a good man Coop.  God Bless you.

Lights out on Jimmy and Coop.  Gunfire in the background.  Lights up on Jimmy holding Coop, half-alive, in his arms.

Jimmy: Hold on Sergeant.  

Coop: (through painful breaths) I’ve let you down Sir.

Jimmy:  You’re going to be fine Coop.  

Coop:  Make sure they know I died standing up, I died fighting.

Jimmy: Who?

Coop:  My family, Lacey and the boys?

Jimmy:  They’ll be damn proud Coop, damn proud.

Coop:  You’ll tell Lacey, won’t ya Jim?  Don’t let her get one of those visits from the chaplain…you call, it’ll be easier hearing it from you.

Jimmy:  I’m not going to have to call Sergeant…

Coop: Don’t fuck with me Cap…say you’ll call.

Jimmy: I’ll call.

Lights out on Jimmy and Coop.  Phone RINGS.  Lights up on Jimmy, 13, sitting at the table doing his homework, Mom washing dishes.

Mom:  Could you grab that for me Jim?

Jimmy puts down his pencil and grabs the phone.

Jimmy:  Hello…Sure, hold on please.  Mom…it’s for you.

Mom walks over to the phone as she is drying a plate in her hands.

Mom:  Who is it Jimmy?

Jimmy:  I don’t know, I didn’t ask.

Mom:  What’d I tell you…always ask who it is.  Those damn bill collectors call at all hours of the night…bastards.  

Mom grabs the phone.

Mom:  Hello…this is her.  Yes…

Mom drops the plate to the ground, it SMASHES, breaks.  Jimmy looks up at Mom from his homework.  

Mom:  Where is he?... What hospital?... I’ll be right there!

Mom nervously hangs up the phone, half in shock half in tears, she takes off her apron and rushes around the kitchen.

Jimmy: (nervously) What happened Mom?    

Mom:  You’re father’s been in a car accident.  

Jimmy:  Is he alright?  Where is he?

Mom: I’m gonna go meet the ambulance at Mercy.  

Jimmy:  Let’s go.  

Jimmy is about to get up.  Mom walks over to him.

Mom:  No Jimmy, I need you to stay home.  Keep an eye on Tonya.  Don’t tell her what happened.  Wait till I get home.  
Jimmy:  But I need to do something Mom, I need to help Dad.

Mom:  Say a prayer for your father Jim.
I’ll call your Aunt, she’ll be here soon.  

Mom kisses Jimmy on the top of his head, Jimmy latches on to her as she rushes out of the house.  She prys Jimmy off of her as she exits.  He is crying.  

Jimmy looks around the kitchen.  Wiping the tears and trying to pull himself together he notices the mess on the floor and kneels down to clean up the broken pieces of the plate off the floor.  

Jimmy:  Our father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name, they kingdom come, thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread…

Lights up on Jimmy and Coop.  Jimmy 13 and Jimmy recite harmoniously.

Jimmy (both): …And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those that trespass against us.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  For thine is the kingdom, the power, the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Jimmy holds Coop dead in his arms.  He cries at his side.  Jimmy, 13 cries as he picks us the last of the broken plate.  Jimmy lays Coop flat against the ground and stands above him.  Jimmy, 13, stands up.  

Jimmy (both):  I love you.

Lights out on Jimmy, 13, and Coop.  Up on Jimmy walking over to his cot.

Jimmy:  Dad, I think a lot about things out here.  You know things that are important in life.  Sergeant Cooper and Private Thompson fought bravely to the very end.  Coop was important to me, and it was honor to call him my friend.  By all accounts he killed five the enemy before they finally got him and I like to think that because my friend was so courageous, that maybe just by his association, I would have fought as bravely had it in been me leading the skirmish group.  I loved him Dad.  He was one of the closest friends I had ever had.  
        I think about you a lot Dad.  I don’t know if it’s because of everything that has happened to me out here, but I think about everything I’ve been through and I look back and realize that maybe you were have been the closest person to me in my life.  I know I’ve given you a hard time growing up.  But the boy you raised, is now a man, and I love you.

  

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