ACT I
PRELUDE
About 15 minutes before the play
begins, people begin to arrive for
VERNON's farewell party. There should
be music playing as well as food being
served and dancing. The mood is
festive. (Author suggests:NOLA, SHIM-
ME-SHA-WABBLE, LET ME CALL YOU
SWEETHEART, I WISH I COULD SHIMMY LIKE
MY SISTER KATE, MEET ME TONIGHT IN
DREAMLAND,SMILES, TIGER RAG and TILL
WE MEET AGAIN) When the entire cast is
assembled and the final song is
playing, OLD HELEN makes her way
unseen through the crowd.
SCENE 1: FAREWELL
OLD HELEN
There's going to be a party here tonight. You see my
brother's joined the Marines and he's off to camp at midnight
and then across to France to fight the Huns. That's him
dancing over there with Grace Hering. My older sister Dofe -
nobody's called her Dorothy since she was born - well Dofe
says Vernon and Grace are practically engaged. But Ethel says
there's been no ring exchanged and without a ring it can
never be a real engagement. Ethel might be our oldest sister -
twenty-five - and the smartest, but to tell the truth, it's
been more than six years since a boy came to see her alone.
My Mother calls our brother Vernon to keep from mixing him up
with our father, Charles, Sr.- but the rest of us call him
Chas. That's my father over there now serving punch, though
don't expect to find a drop of liquor in it. No, Dad's been
temperance since he was a glassblower back East in New
Jersey. There wasn't enough money to feed a family of six
blowing glass bowls and pitchers, so he came here to
Massillon Ohio back 1906 to work in the steel mills -- and
we've never looked back East since. My mother Lena is the one
passing out the cookies. She always says that tasting is her
only vice, and you can probably take that as the complete and
honest truth. Mother is a card carrying Methodist with no
room in her life for lies or common household dirt. She's
been baking, tasting and cleaning for days since this is the
biggest party we've ever had. Our social life usually
revolves around the Wesley Methodist Church - which isn't all
that exciting when you're young. But Mother believes anyone
can benefit from the Wesley which is why she takes everyone,
including little Henry Jones and his family every Sunday,
rain or shine. The nervous looking boy in the corner, that's
Chester Potts -- Chet to his friends. Chet was all fired up to
join the Marines, and it looks like he finally got his best
friend to go with him. He and Vernon joined up early last
week -- though Chas overslept and had to take the streetcar
up to Cleveland by himself. If the train wasn't leaving at
midnight he would probably oversleep again. But Chet will
be there to make sure there's the two of them on that
train this time. Now the wildest boy here has got to be Ralph
Bowers. That' him doing card tricks in the corner, though
Helen Scott certainly seems to find him amusing. And the
sweetest boy would have to be Roy Hartung. He's over there
playing checkers with little Henry Jones. Roy's going to be
teaching Manual Training at the high school this fall. He
loves dogs, cats and all creatures great and small.
(CHARLES kisses GRACE)
Oh my! I guess even the best Methodist would have allowed at
least one farewell kiss on such a warm and beautiful April
night. I almost forgot, the young girl with the braids who's
watching that kiss - well, that's me, Helen Brown. They'll
say I'm the baby of the family, but tonight I'm a full
fifteen and three-quarters!
RALPH
A toast to the handsome and brave young Charles Vernon Brown.
(Leads the others in singing.)
ALL
FOR HE'S A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW. FOR HE'S A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW.
FOR HE'S A JOLLY GOOD FELLLLLL-OOOOOWWWW
RALPH
Who's gonna be the best darn Marine in old Massillon town?
HENRY
(jumping up excitedly)
Vernon Brown! Vernon Brown!
ALL
Aaahhhhhhh.
RALPH BOWERS
You're damn right!
ALL
Ohhhhh.
VERNON
Excuse my friend's language ladies.
CHESTER
But now you see why Mr. Ralph Bowers is not gonna be a
Marine!
RALPH
Not yet, Pottsy, but you just keep looking over your
shoulder.
ALL
Whooooa.
(Author suggests a ragtime music selection like
HOLD THAT TIGER RAG plays as the young folks
dance and the older ones watch. A train whistle
is heard in the distance as the music stops.)
RALPH BOWERS
Three cheers for the handsome and brave Charles Vernon Brown.
VERNON
Come on Ralph.
HENRY JONES
Hip, Hip.
ALL
HOORAY!
HENRY JONES
Hip, Hip.
ALL
HOORAY!
HENRY JONES
Hip, Hip.
VERNON
No, no, Henry, we'll save that last one 'til we're all back
home again.
HENRY JONES
Hooray!
(There is general laughter. Then the music begins
again and remains low under speaking.)
GRACE
I promise to write. Everyday.
VERNON
I'll be back before you've had time to miss me.
GRACE
Did I say I'd miss you?
RALPH
I'll make sure she doesn't get too lonely.
VERNON
I don't think so Mr. Bowers.
RALPH
Don't look so sad, Grace, you know nothing's going to happen
to this boy - he owes me ten bucks!
VERNON
And I promise the Kaiser's ears to you.
RALPH
Forget the ears, Brownie, just save a few of those beautiful
French girls for me.
(TRAIN whistle is now very close.)
CHET POTTS
Train's coming, Chas. We can't miss this one.
VERNON
Just a minute more Pottsy.
(VERNON takes HELEN aside)
Now do your studying Helen, or you'll have me to answer to.
(Embraces sisters.)
ETHEL
Here's some extra cookies, Chas.
DOROTHY
And I'll make some of that candy you like.
CHET POTTS
(running in breathless)
We've got to go now Chas, no kidding this time.
MOTHER
We're be looking for your letters, son. (kisses him warmly)
VERNON
Promise you won't worry.
MOTHER
I know everything will be just fine.
FATHER
Here, son, just in case you need a little something extra.
(Shakes VERNON's hand and slips him two one
dollar bills.)
VERNON
Thanks and I promise I'll write just as often as I can.
FATHER
And I promise to read just as often as I can, but you're
mother's the letter writer, right Lena?
CHET POTTS
Now!
VERNON
Good-bye everyone, and thanks for the cookies. (exits)
MOTHER
Good-bye son.
(The train whistle fades as the music ends.)
SCENE 2: TRAINING
DOROTHY runs in waving some letters.
DOROTHY
Look, everybody - mail!
MOTHER
Run and get your father.
HELEN
Dad, come quick, it's mail from Chas.
(The family moves around the kitchen table as
they read Vernon's letters. This will often be
the place where letters are read.)
MOTHER
April 26, 1918, Dear Mother and All, arrived in Atlanta
Georgia safely after some ride on the train all night. Leave
tomorrow morning at 6:30 AM. Your son, C.V.Brown.
(Girls applaud)
ETHEL
April 27, ready to leave again. This B&O is not so bad - but
not like home at all.
DOROTHY
April 28, Am settled in now, so here's the cook's tour of
Paris Island. This is the boat that brought us over from Port
Royal and here's the dock we landed on.
HELEN
(Taking the post card excitedly)
This is the center of our camp, or what you might call our
square. And this is the east wing,
HELEN/VERNON
(TOGETHER)
I live on the west wing. That's the new side.
(VERNON is in his soldier's uniform and overlaps
speaking with HELEN as he points out "sites" as
if he is talking directly with his family)
VERNON
We have two YMCA's here, but they both look just the same.
The mess hall's on the right and those are our bunk houses'
over there on the left. Here's the place we went to after
leaving the applicants camp, and I've marked our company
street with a big "X". Those shanties you see are gone now,
and that other long building is the Main barracks Hospital.
(Soldiers take turns at target practice)
MOM
Dear Vernon, we're so glad you arrived safely. It seems so
long since you've left already. Ethel has started to work at
the Brewster office doing clerical and though we're not
exactly sure just what her salary will be.
HELEN
Dad says it won't be under $65
FATHER
And it may be as much as $71.50.
(ETHEL, the family artist, sets up her easel and
begins to sketch. She will often return to her
sketching or painting, sitting or standing,
throughout the play)
MOTHER
We all hope the latter. Ethel says the work isn't so hard and
though she still hasn't given up the idea of teaching art
again, she's seems happy to be close to home this winter
HELEN
This shows some fellows shooting from the...the...
(stumbling over words)
MOTHER
Prone position.
HELEN
Prone position and those fellows sitting on stools are the
coaches.
DOROTHY
Let me see that letter, Helen.
HELEN
There's only one more line left anyway, Dofe, and it's not my
fault I can't read his handwriting!
(HELEN starts to run out and FATHER stops her)
FATHER
Your brother writes just like me, Helen. That's why I let
your mother and you girls do the writing.
MOTHER
More like chicken scratches your grandmother used to say.
FATHER
-- and that's nothing to be proud of, but believe me, you
mustn't be angry with your sister for trying to help. We all
miss your brother in our own ways.
DOROTHY
Here, Helen, you read it.
HELEN
Each man shooting has his own coach and you'd be surprised
how much this can help a fellow.
VERNON
Here we've got to learn as much as we can, as fast as we can.
And, of course, if we're gonna give those Huns the devil and
march'em straight back to Germany where they belong, well,
then we've got to be better than good. And I'll tell you, I
see a Hun's face on each little bulls eye I hit!
MOM
Shirley Smith has left the Central Steel and is down at the
Brewster in the drafting department. She's been giving Ethel
a ride to work every day now and it sure makes it easier on
all of us.
VERNON
Well Mother, I'm sending home my suit case today. Today --
April 30th, I'm a Marine now and I'm feeling just fine.
(FATHER brings in a map of EUROPE and puts it up
so that he can follow the war.)
MOTHER
Sometimes I think I should learn to drive. But honestly,
Vernon, with no car here, and Dad so busy, well son, I think
I'll just wait for you to come home and teach me yourself.
HELEN
My friends all loved your post cards. Will you send some
more?
GRACE
I received your letter this morning Charles, and what do you
suppose? You had my address as 402 Duncan. I guess in all
your hurry you didn't notice. It did look funny though for
the Post Office had written " No Such Number ' across the
envelope. I guess I shouldn't worry because it's here
now...in my hands... (holds it tenderly)
VERNON
(VERNON and DOFE stand in tandem to one another)
So my Dofe wants a pin, too. Sorry I haven't written more,
but we just moved over to the main training camp and we've
been busy unpacking and drilling - we drill all the time
now... Except when it rains...
(Thunder claps.)
It's raining now so we got to come inside and get dry. It's
really hot here and wet even when there's no rain at all! We
get better eats here and we don't live in tents anymore.
We're in bunk houses now... and have electric lights and
other things that make it more like home. Well - almost like
home. The rain has stopped now and I should get to my wash.
So you tell everyone I'm feeling fine and hope you all write
soon. P.S. That candy just touched the spot and you can send
more of it any time you wish.
DOROTHY
Here's hoping you wish to often.
VERNON
By the way Dofe? There's this fellow from New York who wanted
your address. He's one of my bunkies and a real fine chap.
(Pause) So? What do you think?
DOROTHY
I think Chas...(Pause) YES! You may give him my address!
(This next section is overlaps as a duet)
VERNON
As a token from me, I ask you to wear,
DOROTHY
This small service emblem, please guard it with care.
VERNON
It will remind you and others that I am away,
DOROTHY
Just doing my bit,
VERNON
For the old USA.
DOROTHY
Your brother, C.V. BROWN
(VERNON joins rifle drill; SOPRANO sings a
popular military song. Author suggests OH HOW I
HATE TO GET UP IN THE MORNING. Instrumental
continues under VERNON)
VERNON
I received the box you sent last night, Mom, and it was all
OK, except the watch, which is now broken. I'm sorry to say I
wore it out to the shooting range this morning and I guess
the jar of the gun was a little too much. It broke the face
right open. I didn't mean to wear it, honest, I just forgot
to take it off. I was hoping Dad could find a way to fix it
up, and maybe when it's done you could send it wherever I'm
sent. So - what do you think?
MOTHER
Papa?
(FATHER is taking the watch out of the mail)
FATHER
It's broken all right. But it's nothing that can't be fixed.
I'll get my tools.
VERNON
And just so you understand -- (Pause) I didn't try to get to
be an officer since I'm just trying to be the best darn
Marine I can.
(Vernon marches off. Music fades into shooting
and gun-fire)
Script created with Final Draft
© 1998 Halem Studios
Last updated September 1998
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