INT: HIGH SCHOOL GYM DANCE – NIGHT
AMERICAN HERO
A Screenplay
By
Gregory Walker
First Draft Gregory Walker
October 1, 2007 807 Bonnie View rd
Dallas, Texas 75203
832-528-9930
FADE IN:
EXT: HIGH SCHOOL – EVENING
A MASTER SERGEANT, gray mixed in with his black hair, which is low cut, in army green uniform, his shoes are shine, with 6 rows of ribbons on his chest, walks up the school door with a briefcase in his hand and opens it then enters.
INT: HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM – LATER
He STANDS in front of the high school seniors onstage with a microphone in his hand
SERGEANT
The Army has a lot of educational opportunities and
programs to enhance your future, and you get to travel
to places that most ordinary people will never get a
chance to see. If you choose to make it a career, you
retire after serving 20 years, you get 30 days of leave
or vacation, you don’t pay for housing or food, it’s all
free. You get insurance from 25,000 to 100,000 dollars
to your spouse or parents if an accident.
INT: HIGH SCHOOL GYM DANCE – NIGHT
High school seniors are DANCING to, “ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN,” dressed in 1950’s attire.
INT: CLASSROOM – NEXT DAY
QUIET fills the air as they take their final exams. The teacher monitors to make sure no one is cheating. The chalkboard reads, “CHEATING EQUAL AUTOMATIC FAILURE.”
The BELL RINGS
EXT: SCHOOL CAMPUS
Kids are CATCHING rides, some got their own cars as NANCY LONGBOW, 17 year old, beautiful, shapely blond with a quick smile, warm and pleasant demeanor walks home wearing a printed dress with her books in hand. MARK GREEN, 17 Year old, handsome white man, with a quiet, easygoing demeanor runs up to her wearing blue jeans and a short sleeve shirt.
MARK
Hey!
Nancy stops and smiles at him
MARK (cont-)
Why didn’t you wait for me?
They begin to walk together
NANCY
(smiles)
Women don’t wait on men…
MARK
Not even for your future husband?
NANCY
Well, maybe…sometimes
MARK
I hope I passed Mr. Scott’s final
(pause)
It was hard as hell
NANCY
Should have came over and studied with me
MARK
You know your mom don’t like me
NANCY
Well, we could have made other arrangements
They come upon a basketball courts where boys are shooting around
BOY #1
Hey, Mark!
He throws him the basketball and Mark shots from far out and makes it then SMILES
The boy jumps up and down
BOY #1
Damn!
NANCY
Lucky shot!
MARK
I was lucky when I got you
They hold hand then embrace and kiss
INT: NANCY’S MOTHER HOUSE – KITCHEN – LATER
Nancy’s MOTHER (JACKIE), A brazen, bitter lady in her early 30’s with a slender build, blond hair and sharp tongue is cooking dinner.
EXT: TRAILER PARK – SAME TIME
Nancy waves goodbye to Mark
MARK
See ya tomorrow!
Nancy waves and enters
INT: NANCY’S MOTHER HOUSE – LIVINGROOM
She closes the door and throws her books on the couch
MOTHER
Is that you, hone?
NANCY
What’s to eat?
MOTHER
Never you mind. (pause) Go wash up for supper!
Nancy walks towards the bathroom then stops
MOTHER (cont-)
That boy walk you home again?
NANCY
He’s nice, real nice!
MOTHER
A pretty girl like you can get any man she wants…
NANCY
(interrupts)
I like him…
MOTHER
But he’s poor. (pause) He couldn’t provide for a
family!
NANCY
He’s joining the Army after we graduate
MOTHER
Oh, my God
She pats her feet on the floor then sits at the table with her arms crossed
NANCY
Mother, it’ll be okay
MOTHER
I, I just want the best for ya, hone
INT: SCHOOL AUDITORIUM – 1 WEEK LATER
All the kids are in caps and gowns for the graduation ceremony
(V.O.)
Mark Green!
Mark stands up smiling walking up to the stage
EXT: STREET – DOWNTOWN – NIGHT
Mark and Nancy are walking down the sidewalk
MARK
I’m so glad we finished school
NANCY
So, when are you joining the Army?
MARK
In 2 or 3 months
NANCY
We’re still at war with Iraq
MARK
I’ll be OK (pause) I wanted to ask you something
NANCY
What?
They walk over to a water fountain and sit then Mark looks deep into her eyes
MARK
Will you marry me?
She hugs him and WHISPERS in his ear
NANCY
Yes
MARK
I’ll make you the happiest woman in the world
They kiss
INT: MARK’S HOUSE – LIVINGROOM – LATER
They are sitting on the couch kissing and caressing each other. The scene intensifies then Nancy stands and starts unbuttoning her shirt
NANCY
(whispers, wantonly)
Help me take this off and… take me
Mark stands up and slowly takes her shirt off and begins to undo her bra kissing her neck
INT: BEDROOM – MINUTES LATER
They kiss and make love under the sheets caressing and fondling each other
Later, they lied next to one another with smiling
MARK
This your first time?
NANCY
Yes
MARK
Me, too
NANCY
(smiling)
I can’t tell
MARK
How can you?
NANCY
(laughs)
I don’t know
MARK
We don’t know if we were good or bad in bed or
whatever…
NANCY
(interrupts)
It was good, real good
MARK
(smiles)
Thanks (pause) Do you know Paul?
NANCY
Who?
MARK
Paul, the black guy I talk to sometimes?
NANCY
Oh, yea.
She LAUGHS
MARK
He says he gets laid all the time
Nancy looks up at the clock and it’s 3:45am. She jumps up.
NANCY
I got to get home! Mother going to kill me!
MARK
Oh, I forgot the time
EXT: TRAILER PARK – MINUTES LATER
Nancy walks up the steps and Mother is peeping out the window then opens the door. Nancy is buttoning her shirt as Mother stares at her in disgust.
MOTHER
(angry)
Where you been?
NANCY
With Mark
MOTHER
(screams)
It’s late! Did you get lost along the way?
NANCY
We are going to get married
MOTHER
From the way your clothes look (pause) Looks like
he already gave you a trial run!
Nancy run to her bedroom and SLAMS the door
MOTHER (cont-)
(yells)
Why didn’t you just stay over there? Goddamnit!
Mark is a loser! His daddy was a loser too, all the
Green’s are losers!
INT: NANCY’S BEDROOM
Nancy pulls out her cellphone as she lies on the bed
MARK (O.S.)
Hello!
NANCY
Mama’s giving me a hard time
MARK (O.S.)
I’m sorry about that
NANCY
She’s just rambling on and on…
MARK (O.S.)
What do she have against me anyway? I mean she
looks at me funny all the time.
NANCY
She hates you because you are poor. (pause) Money
doesn’t matter to me
MARK (O.S.)
Do you want to come over and stay?
NANCY
No, (pause) no, I think it will be OK. She’ll get over
it…eventually
MARK (O.S.)
Well, if you change your mind
NANCY
OK
MARK (O.S.)
Love you…
NANCY
I love you, too. No matter what.
MARK (O.S.)
Bye
Nancy puts her cellphone on the nightstand then looks up at the ceiling
Mother opens the door
MOTHER
(angry)
Get up and take a shower! I can smell his germs all
over you!
She throws a towel in Nancy face and SLAMS the door
EXT: PARK – TWO WEEKS LATER – DAY
Mark and Nancy sits on a park bench holding hands
NANCY
My mom hates you. What are we going to do?
MARK
We are going to get married. I’ll get stationed overseas somewheres and you can come with me.
NANCY
My mom would never approve
MARK
Let’s elope right now, and do it at the courthouse!
NANCY
(laughs)
Are you serious?
He stands and beckons
MARK
Come on, the courthouse is just down the street
He put his hand in his pocket and pulls out 2 hundred-dollar bills. Nancy hesitates for a second.
NANCY
OK, but my mother is gonna be real mad
MARK
It’s your life but if you don’t want to be with me,
I understand
NANCY
I love you
MARK
Come on…let’s get it done!
She stands and they walk down the street with his arm around her shoulder
Later, they walk up the courthouse steps
NANCY
I’m scared
MARK
It’s all right, don’t worry
Mark opens the door and they enter
INT: COURT HOUSE – LATER
The JUSTICE of the PEACE stands in front of them as the stand side by side handing hands looking into each other’s eyes
JUSTICE
Do you take this man to be your lawful wedded
husband?
NANCY
I do
JUSTICE
Do you take this woman to be your lawful wedded
wife?
MARK
I do
JUSTICE
I now pronounce you, man and wife. (pause) You
may kiss the bride
They kiss
EXT: STREET – LATER
Nancy and Mark walk down the sidewalk
NANCY
Now what?
MARK
You move in with me
NANCY
Then what?
MARK
When I join the Army, I’ll send you money home
NANCY
OK
MARK
I’ll go with you to tell your mom
NANCY
She’s not going to like it at all
EXT: TRAILER PARK – LATER
Nancy and Mark walk up Mother’s steps then Mark KNOCKS on the door
Mother peeps out the window
MOTHER
It’s poor boy and my silly girl
She opens the door
MARK
Miss Longbow, me and Nancy (pause) well ah, we
just got married at the courthouse
MOTHER
(shouts)
What? You stupid girl! I told you over and over
again!
She pushes Mark to the side and grabs Nancy arm
NANCY
Mom…
MOTHER
You’re not going with him!
Nancy pushes her back gently, crossing her arms in a defensive posture
NANCY
Don’t you care about how I feel or what I think?
This is who I love!
MOTHER
(screams)
You’re too young to know anything about love
MARK
Miss…
Mother points at Mark
MOTHER
(interrupts)
You shut up! Girl, you get out of my house… just go!
Get, get, get outta my sight!
They walk away
EXT: ARMY BASE – DRILL FIELD – TWO MONTHS LATER
Mark is marching with his company with a rifle over his shoulder as the drill sergeant calls out cadence.
INT: MARK’S HOUSE – BATHROOM – SAME TIME
Nancy’s THROWING up in the toilet. Late, she walks out of the bathroom and calls her mother on the telephone.
NANCY
Mama
MOTHER (O.S.)
What?
NANCY
(whines)
I’m sick. I’m throwing up everything I eat
MOTHER (O.S.)
You’re pregnant, I told ya! You’re too young. When
that boy comes back crazy or missing a leg, you’ll see!
That’s if he comes back at all!
Mother SLAMS down the phone
Nancy WEEPS and goes into the bedroom
EXT: ARMY BASE – FIRING RANGE – LATER
Mark is shooting his rifle at a target while sitting, he shoots dead center of the target.
The DRILL SERGENT walks up to him
SERGEANT
Where you learn to shoot like that?
MARK
My daddy used to take me hunting
SERGEANT
My dad used to take me hunting for deer too
MARK
No sir, we hunted for squirrels and black birds
Sergeant nods his head then walks away
SERGEANT
Keep up the good work, son!
EXT: ARMY BASE – COMBAT TRAINING GROUND – LATER
Mark crawls under the barbed-wire, runs and climbs up a rope, runs then scales a wall then sprints and jumps over a pool of water.
INT: DEPARTMENT STORE – EVENING
Nancy is shopping, walking down the aisle where there is baby clothing and she stops.
She picks up a little pajama top
NANCY
(smiles)
These are so cute!
A STORE CLERK comes up to her
CLERK
May I help you?
NANCY
I’m just looking around
The clerk sees she’s pregnant
CLERK
How many months are you?
NANCY
(smiling)
Two
INT: MOTHER’S HOUSE – LIVINGROOM – SAME TIME
The mother is sitting on the couch flicking through the television channels with remote in hand.
MOTHER
I miss my baby girl. Why she have to go marry that Po’ boy
She picks up the phone and dials
NANCY (O.S.)
Hello!
MOTHER
This is your mother… (pause) let’s talk
NANCY
OK
MOTHER
Come on over…
She hangs up the phone
Later, there’s a KNOCK on the door, mother runs to the door, opens it and hugs Nancy
MOTHER
Oh hone, I’m so sorry
Nancy begins to CRY
NANCY
I miss you
They sit on the couch side by side
MOTHER
I see you’re coming along
She points to Nancy’s stomach
NANCY
(laughs, nervously)
Two months, we’re hoping for a boy
MOTHER
I may not agree with you for marrying him, but you’re
still my daughter. I’ll probably never like him (pause)
but I’ll try to get along…
NANCY
(interrupts)
He’s nice
MOTHER
(interrupts)
Nice don’t pay bills or buy diapers
NANCY
Mom, mom…
MOTHER
OK, OK
Mother begins to CRY and stands walking to the window looking out
MOTHER
I made a mistake once. Your dad, I said the he ran
off (pause) he’s still alive and he a heroin addict living
on the streets in San Francisco. I met him at a bar…
you know, I was trying to be a grown woman and after
a few beers, I found myself in bed with him the next
morning. I was nude and couldn’t remember what
happened. All I know is I had a headache and 9 months
MOTHER (cont-)
later, I had you.
NANCY
Dad is still alive?
MOTHER
(disgusted)
He don’t care about you! All I was to him was a
fresh piece of booty. You don’t understand men,
hone
NANCY
But, mom…
MOTHER
I can’t stop you if ya want to look him up. He’s in the
San Francis shelter.
NANCY
I might just do that!
MOTHER
Don’t be mad at me, hone. I did it for both our
own good
Mother walks over and hugs her
MOTHER (cont-)
Fighting is pretty bad in Iraq, I hope your husband
don’t get himself killed
NANCY
Mark is strong, he’ll make it, we got to make it!
MOTHER
Yea.
EXT: ARMY BASE – DRILL FIELD – TWO MONTHS LATER – MORNING
Mark’s company is marching in fatigues
DRILL SERGEANT
Column left, March!
The company turns with precision to left in perfect rhythm.
DRILL SERGEANT (cont-)
Eyes, Right!
DRILL SERGEANT (cont-)
Present, Arms! (pause) Ready, two! Mark time,
Mark! (pause 5 seconds) Forward, March!
INT: BARRACKS – NIGHT
Mark is sitting on his bunk shining his shoes. PETE JONES walks up to him, a young white guy, tall and slender with black hair. He supports him leaning on Mark’s bunk.
PETE
Man, Sarg marched the hell out of us today.
Mark looks up at him smiling
MARK
Oh, I don’t mind, I signed up to do my 20.
PETE
You ain’t gonna have no feet left in 20 years. My feet
are killing me!
MARK
You’ll make it!
PETE
I know because Sarg will kick my butt if I slow up
They LAUGH
MARK
I haven’t heard from my wife in a week
PETE
Yea, that’s not a good sign
MARK
She’s pregnant. I just hope she’s alright
Mark pulls his wallet out of his drawer and takes out Nancy’s picture and shows to Pete
PETE
She’s gorgeous! Oh, man! How did you get this girl?
MARK
We grew up in the same neighborhood
PETE
Must have been great!
MIKE ANDREWS walks over to them, a young, black guy with a deep, manly voice, muscle bound. He looks over Pete’s shoulder viewing the picture.
MIKE
She is pretty
Mike points at Mark
MIKE (cont-)
This your girl?
Mark nods his head
MARK
We’re married…
MIKE
(laughs)
No shit?
PETE
(smiles)
He’s a lucky dog
The Drill Sergeant walks in
(V.O.)
Attention on deck!
Everyone stands up at attention
DRILL SERGEANT
As you were, knuckleheads! You got one week left
before graduation. Some of you will no doubtedly be
going to Iraq…
EXT: GREYHOUND BUS – MOVING – STREET – 3 DAYS LATER
The bus pulls into the station and Nancy gets off wearing jeans with a maternity dress, she carrying a backpack on her back. She walks down the sidewalk.
NANCY
I’m gonna go see daddy. Mama said, he only thing
he was good for was sweat on his forehead when
they laid together to have me
People are looking strangely at her as they pass by her. She walks up closer to a building
that have a lot of men in dirty clothes standing in a line waiting to go inside
She walks up even closer and begins to see other dirty men drinking whiskey in the alley,
she sees shopping carts filled with some of their personal belongings, some of these men
are CURSING and pushing each other in their drunken state
She looks up at the sign and it reads, SAN FRANCIS shelter. She looks at the men for a
moment then tries to push her way through the dirty men. They look at her strangely,
smiling at each other
NANCY
Excuse me! Excuse me!
One of the men fondles her buttocks, she turns around and pushes him down
NANCY (cont-)
Nasty old man!
The other dirty men LAUGH, the CASEWORKER at the door steps outside to investigate
CASEWORKER
This shelter is for men only!
NANCY
I’m looking for my dad!
CASEWORKER
Who’s your dad?
DIRTY MAN #1
I’ll be your daddy, come sit on my lap!
The dirty men LAUGH and the Caseworker points at him
CASEWORKER
You’re out for the night!
NANCY
My dad is Don Haslett
They dirty men LAUGH
DIRTY MAN #2
Has been Haslett! Never was anything
CASEWORKER
I know him
He takes her inside
INT: SHELTER
Men are sitting around on old church benches watching TV. Some are sitting at tables playing cards or talking. One guy is standing alone talking to himself then bursts out with loud laughter.
CASEWORKER
You have nothing to worry about
NANCY
I just want to see my dad…
Caseworker points at DON HASLETT, a slender, tall, mid-40’s white man, clean shaven with long, blond hair, tattoos on his arms, dressed in jeans and a t-shirt sitting all alone
She walks over to him and he glances up in a drunken stupor.
NANCY
Dad!
DON
What?
NANCY
I’m your daughter, Nancy!
DON
My daughter?
(shouts)
Jackie! Yea, yea, I remember now.
He looks at her closely in the face for a moment then smiles, she smiles back at him
NANCY
Dad…
She bends down and hugs him
DON
Why you come here? I’m a nobody. A loser,
never was nothing
NANCY
You’re my dad!
DON
I’m lucky your mom’s people never called the law on
me, if they did, I’d be in jail. (pause) What’s all this
about anyway? You see me! I’m nothing (pause)
Why don’t you go and enjoy your life?… and who
you pregnant by anyhow?
NANCY
My husband, his name is Mark. He’s a real nice guy,
he’s in the army.
DON
Army! Army!
NANCY
What’s wrong with the Army?
DON
I’m a Navy man, 20 years and retired
NANCY
Why you living here?
She grabs his arm and helps him get up
DON
Hey, those bones are like they used to be
NANCY
Let’s get you outta here!
DON
Where can I go?
NANCY
With me, come on…
They walk towards the exit
INT: ARMY BASE – PAYPHONE – SAME TIME
Mark is dialing home but no one answers
MARK
Damn, where the hell is she at?
He SLAMS the phone down, and stands there for a moment, then paces back and forth and then sits. Pete comes over to him
PETE
Are you OK?
MARK
It’s my wife. Don’t know where she is.
MARK (cont-)
I’ve written her, called her, everthing!
PETE
She’s pregnant, right?
MARK
Well, yea
PETE
She’s probably got a good excuse
MARK
I don’t know… maybe
EXT: MARK’S HOUSE – 3 DAYS LATER – DAY
Nancy is at the door fumbling with her key to open the door as Don watches. He reaches for the key.
DON
Let me try, dear
He put the key in and opens the door. They enter
INT: LIVINGROOM
Don looks around
DON
Nice place
NANCY
I’ll go make some coffee
Don sits on the couch and picks up a magazine
NANCY
You need a shave and a bath
DON
OK, OK
Don stands and Nancy walks into the bathroom. He places the magazine down and picks up the remote to the television and turns it on. Nancy returns with a towel and a robe
NANCY
Here, daddy!
DON
(smiling)
Thank you, babygirl!
He takes it and heads towards the bathroom
DON (cont-)
Gonna smell sweet for my babygirl!
She LAUGHS and there’s a knocking at the door
NANCY
Oh, no. I hope that’s not mom
She peeps out the window and her mother is standing on the porch with her hands on her hips. Nancy cracks the door open
MOTHER
You hiding something?
NANCY
(nervous smile)
Oh, no. Come in!
Mother enters then looks around
MOTHER
Mark called me last night and told me he
hasn’t heard from you.
NANCY
I just got back from California
MOTHER
Yea
NANCY
Just yea? Aren’t you gonna to ask about
dad?
MOTHER
Don’t care! Never did really, and it’s best you
leave him alone
Don walks into the living room in the robe still drying his hair. He and mother make eye contact
DON
Babe!
MOTHER
(yells)
Oh, my God!
She runs out of the door, CRYING
NANCY
Mom! Mom!
EXT: TRAILER PARK
Mother is running and Nancy is chasing behind her
MOTHER
(cries)
Get away from me!
NANCY
Everything will be all right! Mom! Mom!
Nancy stops as her mother enters her home then slams the door. Nancy turns around with her head down walking home.
INT: MARK’S HOUSE – LIVINGROOM
Don’s pacing back and forth CURSING under his breath
DON
Goddam! We have a kid together and she
won’t even talk to me!
Nancy enters and sits in a chair
DON (cont-)
Babygirl, don’t let this tear you up. Things
aren’t always perfect in life!
NANCY
I just want everything to be OK
INT: ARMY BASE – PHONE BOOTH – LATER – NIGHT
Mark is inside the phone booth dial the phone
NANCY (O.S.)
Hello!
MARK
Where have you been? I’ve been worried sick
about you. I don’t know what I would do if I lose
you, I’d be lost forever
NANCY (O.S.)
I went to California to get my dad
MARK
I never heard you mention anything up about
you dad. What’s going on?
MARK (cont-)
You know I graduate boot camp in three days,
are you coming?
NANCY (O.S.)
I’ll be there and I’m bringing dad
MARK
This really mean a lot to me… to see you in the
stands when I march by, then maybe afterwards
we can go get something to eat….how’s our baby?
NANCY (O.S.)
Coming along fine
MARK
I only have a few minutes to talk
NANCY (O.S.)
I love you
MARK
I love you, too. Goodbye, see ya soon
He hangs up the phone
INT: MARK’S HOUSE – LIVINGROOM – LATER
Nancy is in the bedroom in pajamas, lying on her back with the lamp on
Don enters and stands looking at her
DON
So your husband graduates in 3 days?
NANCY
Yea, he wants to retire in the Army and make
it a career
DON
I know that line well, he must be a fine kid?
NANCY
He’s very nice, that’s why I married him
INT: MOTHER’S HOUSE – LIVINGROOM – SAME TIME
She sits alone in a chair in a dim light and a bottle of whiskey on the table which is half empty. She’s drunk.
MOTHER
(shouts)
Goddam poor boys, trash and losers! What
the hell is going on here?
She stands and walks over to a mirror looking at herself
MOTHER (cont-)
(whispers)
I was so pretty when I was young, too. (pause)
Just like Nancy
She runs her hand through her hair
MOTHER (cont-)
Why did she have to go and dig up that loser,
Don has been Haslett? Why? Why? Why? I
hate him forever!
EXT: ARMY BASE – DRILL FIELD – GRADUATION DAY – NOON
All the recruits are in dress uniform standing at parade rest.
The MUSIC STARTS PLAYING
(V.O.)
Graduating companies, attent hut!
(They come to attention), Right, Face! (They turn right)
(V.O.)
Forward, March!
They began to march and we see Mark as Nancy and Don watches from the stands
NANCY
(smiling)
Mark looks so cute in uniform
DON
I wasn’t so bad looking in my days, besides,
Anchors Away was a better song
He smiles
(V.O.)
Present, Arms!
The companies present arms with their rifles as the General stands
GENERAL
What a bunch of fine looking recruits?
(V.O.)
Eyes, Right!
The General salutes them
(V.O.)
Ready, Two!
EXT: ARMY BASE – DRILL FIELD – AFTER GRADUATION – LATER
Mark, Nancy and Don are standing as is other recruits, talking to family members, wives, and kids. Don shakes Mark’s hand
DON
I’m proud of you, son!
Nancy hugs Mark and kisses him (smiling)
NANCY
This is my dad!
MARK
Glad to meet ya!
DON
I did twenty years in the Navy!
He shows him tattoos on his forearms
MARK
Don’t think I’ll be getting any of those souvenirs
They LAUGH
NANCY
Let’s go get something to eat
MARK
Sounds like a good idea to me…
DON
Well, lets get out of here!
They start walking as Mark has his arm around Nancy’s shoulder. In the background Mother walks up watching them from a distance
MOTHER
(shouts)
Has been, Nancy! Wait!
They turn around and see her
NANCY
Mom!
INT: MEXICAN RESTAURANT – LATER – SAME DAY
They are all sitting at a table with eating and drinking. Nancy and Mark are sitting close to each other. Don is nervous and Mother is feeling uneasy
MOTHER (to Don)
How you been?
DON
Never felt better
MOTHER
This is not easy for me
MARK
(interrupts)
I have three days leave then I get my orders
DON
Where you going?
MARK
They said, I most likely will be going to Iraq
but for one tour
Nancy plays with the buttons on his uniform
NANCY
You will be home just in time to see our
baby
She kisses him on the cheek and they smile at each other
MOTHER
I can’t take anymore of this!
She stands up and walks away
NANCY
(shouts)
Mom! Mom! Where are you going?
MOTHER
(shouts)
Home! I need to get out of here!
DON
(laughs)
She always had a temper
MARK
(whispers)
She doesn’t like me either…
Nancy playfully hits Mark on the arm
NANCY
Mark, Mark?
MARK
What?
NANCY
(smiles, annoyed)
Don’t talk about my mother
MARK
OK, but you know I’m not lying
DON
I don’t know ‘bout you kids but I’m ready
to go!
He stands and Mark looks at his watch
MARK
It’s only 8 o’clock
DON
You’re in the Army now, that’s 2000 hours!
Nancy LAUGHS
MARK
(smiles)
Man, I’m with you guys right now…so it’s
8 o’clock
Nancy and Mark get up and they all head for the door
EXT: STREET – LATER
They are walking down the sidewalk then Don sees a bench
DON
I’m gonna sit here for a while (pause) I’ll
leave you two alone
He sits down
NANCY
Dad…
DON
(interrupts)
Scoot, scoot, scoot!
He motions with his hands for them to get out of his sight
DON (cont-)
I’ll be here when you get back
MARK
We’ll be back soon
They walk down the sidewalk arms around each other
NANCY
Now, since we’re finally alone
They stop and embrace and look each other in the eyes
MARK
I missed you so much
He gives her a deep soulful kiss. (a beat) He touches her big stomach
NANCY
Can you feel the baby moving?
MARK
No, but I’m so happy
They began to walk again holding hands
NANCY
What do you want, boy or girl?
MARK
We’ll see when I get back in six months
NANCY
That’s not an answer
MARK
Well, a boy would be nice but a girl is OK
too.
NANCY
(smiles)
I hope it’s a boy. And I hope he’s just like you
She kisses him on the cheek and he smiles
MARK
I love you
NANCY
I love you, too
Later, they return to the bench where Don is sitting and he’s sleep
NANCY
Dad!
He jumps up (startled)
DON
(groggy)
For a minute I thought you was the police
MARK
Let’s go to the hotel
DON
All I need is a beer…well, a couple of beers
would be nice
Mark LAUGHS and they all start walking
DON
Well, it was a good idea, right son?
MARK
I guess…
Don smiles and pats him on the back
DON
We need to sit down and talk sometimes,
get to know each other better
MARK
I would be enlightened and thrill
Nancy smiles then looks at Mark
NANCY
Leave my dad alone
MARK
I haven’t did nothing!
DON
I’ll get a room to myself so you two can, ah
He motions with his hands
DON (cont-)
Whatever you two, ah. You know what I’m
trying to say.
INT: HEADQUARTER – BAGHDAD, IRAQ – 3 DAYS LATER
Captain Nelson sits at his desk writing and there’s a knock on his door.
CAPTAIN
Enter!
Mark enters and walks up to the CAPTAIN and salutes
MARK
Private Green, reporting for duty, Sir!
CAPTAIN
At ease. (pause) I’ve been looking at you
record. Outstanding scores with an M16…an
expert.
MARK
Yes, Sir!
CAPTAIN
Married with a kid on the way. I got to get you
back home in one piece so your kid will have a
father.
He stands and walks to the window looking outside
CAPTAIN
Why did you join the Army?
MARK
I want to make it a career, Sir!
CAPTAIN
I’ll assign you to guard duty and from there
we’ll see.
MARK
Yes, Sir… but …
CAPTAIN
Yes?
MARK
I would like to see some of the action, Sir!
Captain gazes at him strangely
CAPTAIN
Well, how about 1st HumVee Division?
MARK
(smiling)
Yes, Sir! Thank you, Sir!
CAPTAIN
Dismiss and report to 1st Sergeant Davis for
assignment!
Mark salutes and does an About, Face and exits
CAPTAIN (cont-)
Didn’t know they made young men like him
anymore
EXT: MOTOR POOL – LATER
Sergeant Davis is standing outside watching the HumVees refueling to go on patrol from a distance when Mark walks up to him.
MARK
Private Green, reporting as ordered!
Sergeant Davis looks at him up and down then frowns
SERGEANT DAVIS
So, you’re the latest mode of a soldier? We’ll
have see what you’re made of… this is the real
thing out here not a drill, remember that your
life will depend on it… and your fellow soldiers
too.
MARK
Yes, sergeant
SERGEANT DAVIS
Go get your rifle and report back here in 15
minutes, and don’t forget to drink plenty of
water!
Mark runs to get his rifle as a HumVee pulls up. Pete and Mike are in the back. The Sergeant walk up to the driver.
SERGEANT DAVIS (cont-)
I have one more for you, a newbie fresh out
of boot camp!
Mark returns wearing his helmet with his rifle and the sergeant points towards the HumVee
SERGEANT DAVIS (cont-)
Get in, Green! They’ll indoctrinate ya!
He gets in and sees Pete and Mike then smiles
INT: HUMVEE
MARK
Hey!
PETE
Look what we have here?
MIKE
The man with the pretty wife!
MARK
What’s going on?
The HumVee drives off
PETE
It ain’t no joke out here, we’ve been here 2 days.
Got into a little action yesterday.
MARK
What?
MIKE
That’s right, we fought over 2 hours, bullets flying
everywhere, man! I’m lucky I still have my jewels,
I wanna have some kids some day….
Mike LAUGHS
MARK
Were you scared?
PETE
You don’t have time… just aim and start shooting.
If we didn’t get support from Black Hawk choppers,
ain’t no telling what would have happened.
EXT: HUMVEE – MOVING
The HumVee pulls into the gas station then stops
EXT: STATION
They all get out except the driver
MIKE
We’re going to Samarra on patrol today
MARK
Yea…
PETE
It gets so damn hot in the back of this can!
He opens his canteen and pours water on the top of his head. Mike gets his rifle out of the truck and checks it.
MIKE
We also have a TOW missile launcher HumVee
patrolling with us and another HumVee like our
with the .105 caliber mounted on top. That TOW
sure comes in handy.
PETE
You’ll get used to it!
INT: MARK’S HOUSE – LIVINGROOM – NIGHT
Nancy is standing looking out the window as rain pour down. Don is sitting on the couch sipping coffee.
DON
Babygirl, you look worried
NANCY
I worry everyday that this war is going on
DON
Mark will be OK, a lot of things in combat is
just common sense – well, most times.
NANCY
I’m carrying his baby and I just want everything
to work out right
Don stands and hugs her
DON
(assuredly)
Everything will work out
EXT: ROAD – HUMVEES – MOVING – NOON – 2 MONTHS LATER
A TOW HumVee and two .105 caliber mounted HumVees moves down the dusty road
INT: HUMVEE – MOVING
PETE
We been lucky so far, haven’t had a fight since
our 2nd day here.
MIKE
I don’t care if we ever do, I want to get home
in one piece!
Mark silently reads a letter from Nancy, Pete nudges Mark with the butt of his rifle.
PETE
Any good news?
MARK
My wife is fine, it’s just my mother-in-law
who hates me and the whole world
MIKE
Let me guess… its money, with women it’s
always about money!
A BOMB goes off BOOM and BULLETS starts flying everywhere
PETE
It’s that time again!
EXT: ROAD – HUMVEE – SECONDS LATER
Mike is on the .105 caliber machine gun, Mark and Pete are firing their M16’s from behind the HumVee.
Behind some rocks are insurgents firing as bullets spray across the battlefield, Mark and Pete returning fire and Mike sprays rounds at the opposition as the other two HumVees on patrol also engage
The TOW HumVee launches a rocket but badly misses its target
Mark aims and shoots an enemy and he falls then another and another, he get one behind the rocks and he also falls.
The TOW HumVee launches another rocket that hits center of the insurgents and the men’s bodies flies up in the air.
The assault continues for a couple of minutes then a Black Hawk helicopter comes in and fires multiples rockets into the insurgents and then there is a silence.
Mike gazes at the opposition at the ready to fire more rounds from the .105 gun
PETE
(yells)
I think it’s over
Mark surveys the insurgents with rifle still ready, Pete pats him on the back
PETE (cont-)
Let’s get back in the truck
Bullets fire that barely misses him as a single, wounded insurgent fire, Mark spots him then shoots him and he rolls over dies.
MARK
Now, let’s go!
INT: HUMVEE – MOVING – LATER
They all are sitting and Mike is still trying to catch his breath. Pete wipes the sweat from his forehead and Mark sits staring straight ahead. Mark laughs
MARK
So, that’s what it’s like?
PETE
You got it!
MIKE
Oh, that was light! Man, you ain’t seen nothing
yet. We fought 2 hours our 2nd day here and
we lost 9 men.
PETE
Yea, we were kinda lucky today with only
one wounded.
EXT: ROAD – HUMVEE – MOVING
The other two HumVees behind them stops – then Mark’s HumVee stops.
MIKE
Hey, what’s going on?
A soldier run up and takes a first aid kit from the driver.
PETE
That’s for our hurt soldier. I thought he got
it in the hand?
INT: MOTHER’S HOUSE – LIVINGROOM – NIGHT – A MONTH LATER
Mother is sitting on the couch pouring a glass of wine as she is already drunk
MOTHER
My girl goes to San Francisco and brings back
her no good dad, fine with me!
She waves her hand through the air
MOTHER (cont-)
As long as he stays over there with her
(hiccups)
I’m fine.
She drinks from the glass then stands and turns on the music and starts to dance
MOTHER (cont-)
(screams)
Forget all those losers!
She laughs madly then falls on her knees and cries out loud as tears trickle down her face
MOTHER (cont-)
My whole life is ruined!
INT: MARK’S BEDROOM – SAME TIME
Nancy is in bed staring up at the ceiling, unable to sleep. She picks up the telephone and dials her mother.
MOTHER (O.S.)
Hello!
NANCY
Mom, it’s me!
MOTHER (O.S.)
(crying)
Why did you have to bring you dad back here?
Why did you have to go and sneak behind my
back and marry a loser?
NANCY
What about me? Have you ever thought about
how I felt?
MOTHER (O.S.)
Why can’t you just trust me? Why? Why?
NANCY
Mother, I…
We hear a CLICK then a dial tone
NANCY
(shouts)
Mom, mom! It’s not fair…
She starts to CRY
EXT: ROAD – HUMVEE – MOVING – EVENING – WEEK LATER
INT: HUMVEE – MOVING
Pete, Mike and Mark are sitting
PETE
It’s been kinda quiet last couple of days
MIKE
Oh, they’re out there somewhere, they might
be watching us right now, just waiting for the
right time.
MARK
Ain’t that what you would do?
PETE
I don’t know, I’m not them. Hot as this place is,
I’d be somewhere drinking a beer with a fine lady
under my arm.
MIKE
The smell under your arm would kill ‘em!
They all LAUGH
PETE
Just wait ‘til I get back to the States, I’m going
to Las Vegas! Bunny Ranch, Showgirls, cold
beer and pina coladas.
MARK
I’m going home to my wife.
MIKE
Listen to the married man, here!
MARK
Why not? I got a baby on the way.
PETE
By the most beautiful girl I ever seen
Mark smiles then Mike gives him a friendly tap on the arm
EXT: AUTO DEALERSHIP – NOON – 2 MONTHS LATER
Don is walking around with a salesman looking at a used truck
DON
I think I’m gonna need a car instead
SALESMAN
This is a nice truck, only one owner, low miles
DON
You see, my daughter’s having a baby next
month
SALESMAN
Maybe a station wagon would be better or a van?
They walk over to the station wagons
DON
Perhaps
SALESMAN
Is she married?
DON
Yea, her husband is in Iraq fighting!
SALESMAN
I have a son over there, I wanted him to go
to college.
Don opens the door to a station wagon and cranks it up, he puts his feet on the gas
DON
It sounds good!
SALESMAN
I’ll write you up a 90 day guarantee
DON
I’ll take it!
EXT: STREET – STATION WAGON – MOVING – LATER
He drives into the trailer park
EXT: ROAD – HUMVEE – MOVING – 1PM – NEXT DAY
A MORTAR shell BLOWS UP in front of Mark’s HumVee and they hurry out and take cover.
Pete’s mans the .105 caliber and starts to shot as gunfire fills the air. Mark and Mike fire their rifles at the insurgents as they hide behind the rocks.
MIKE
Why do they always hide behind those damn
rocks?
EXT: BEHIND THE ROCKS
The insurgents are firing their rifles and launching mortar shells.
EXT: HUMVEE
Mike and Mark are firing their rifles when the TOW HumVee launches a missile. The insurgents launches another mortar shell that tears into the other HumVee with the .105 caliber mount and it explodes and burst into flames.
A soldier runs out into the open and is shot many times by the insurgents.
The TOW HumVee launches another rocket and it hits directly in the center of the insurgents and bodies dead flies in the air.
Pete continues to fire the .105 gun as Mark and Mike also return fire.
The TOW HumVee fires another rocket which lands as a near miss.
MIKE
(shouts)
Damn, where in the hell is Black Hawk support?
Mark reloads his rifle
MARK
We need Black Hawk here, fast!
Mark aims his rifle and starts shooting again. Two more truck loads of insurgents pull up behind the rocks firing rifles and take positions to fight.
MIKE
(shouts)
I can’t believe this!
MARK
(shouts)
Just keep shooting!
Mark shoots one insurgent and he falls, then another and another as they jump off the trucks.
The TOW HumVee launches a rocket at the trucks and it blow up and burst into flames just as the last insurgent jumps off.
Pete shoots the .105 gun at the insurgents trying to take cover and guns down 5 or 6. The driver reloads his pistol and a bullet enters his chest. Mark sees him as he exhale his last breath.
MARK
He never said a single word
Three Black Hawk helicopters arrive and starts firing missiles and machine gun fire on the insurgents.
INT: HUMVEE – MOVING – NIGHT – LATER
Mark is driving while Pete and Mike relax in the back
MIKE
That was one hell of a fight!
PETE
Where are we headed?
MARK
Tikrit!
MIKE
We drive this route every night
PETE
My mind ain’t straight after all that
MARK
Mine ain’t either
MIKE
Well, I’m alright, in the hood it’s rougher than
that!
PETE
What hood is that?
MIKE
My neighborhood back in Detroit
Pete looks at Mark through the mirror of the HumVee
PETE
Are you OK? I mean really OK?
MARK
I feel good enough, I guess. A good, hot meal
would be nice.
MIKE
I think we've going to get a medal for that one
PETE
(smiling)
I just go for a metal can of beer and a woman
EXT: TRAILER PARK – MARK’S HOUSE – 3 WEEK LATER
Don drives up and parks, he get out, walks up to the door and knocks. Nancy opens the door.
INT: MARK’S LIVINGROOM
Don walks in
DON
Fighting getting kinda rough in Samarra, I
heard on the news.
He sits in a chair, when Nancy grabs her stomach going into labor and falls. Don jumps up and helps her.
DON (cont-)
I think it’s time to pop, babygirl!
EXT: TRAILER PARK
Don helps her into the car
NANCY
(moans)
Oh, daddy
He gets in and they drive off and Mother sees it peeping out the window
MOTHER
It must be time…
INT: HOSPITAL – HOURS LATER
Nancy is lying in bed (Smiling) cuddling a new born baby boy as Don sits beside her.
NANCY
Isn’t he beautiful?
DON
Yea, but he’s bold. All the Hasletts are born
with hair
NANCY
(laughs)
He’s still cute
Mother walks in with her arms crossed but when she sees the baby, she smiles and walks up to Nancy and reaches out to hold the new born.
When she cradle him in her arms, her smile widens as she plays with the baby making sounds
DON
First time we been in the same room and you
smiled, you still look pretty when you smile.
She ignores him
MOTHER
What are you going to name him?
NANCY
I don’t know yet
MOTHER
Name him after a winner not a loser!
Mother looks at Don then laughs
DON
Got a good sense of humor too, I like that
Nancy LAUGHS, looking at Don
NANCY
Mark is going to be so proud
MOTHER
I bet he is…
DON
What about me? I’m proud too, hell I’m a
grandfather!
NANCY
I guess this will bring us all together?
MOTHER
I’ll give it a shot
Mother stares at Don and he smiles
MOTHER (cont-)
But it’s gonna be hard. The last time I held a
baby, well, it was you and he looks so much
like you!
Mother smiles then kisses the baby
EXT: ROAD – HUMVEE – MOVING –TIKRIT – 2PM – 2 DAYS LATER
Pete, Mike and Mark are sitting around on a break. Mark opens a message in an envelope from headquarters then reads it.
He jumps up in the air laughing and filled with joy
MARK
I’m a daddy! It’s a boy!
PETE
(smiling)
Congratulations!
MIKE
Man, you’re lucky cause them girls are some-
thing else!
PETE
(jokes)
Especially where you come from!
MIKE
Don’t be talking about my hometown…
PETE
This is all nice but fellas, we got to get
moving in 15 minutes to pick up the new
driver!
They all stand knocking the dust from their fatigues
MIKE
Damn!
EXT: ROAD – HUMVEE – MOVING
The HumVee goes down the dusty desert road
INT: HUMVEE – MOVING
Mark is driving
MARK
I’m gonna ask the captain if I can call home
when we get to Baghdad. What do you think
he’ll say?
MIKE
(jokes)
Go back out and fight my war!
They LAUGH
PETE
He might say yea, if you shine his boots then
lick ‘em!
MIKE
He might tell you that he’s the baby’s daddy!
MARK
Come on you guys….this ain’t the Jerry
Springer show!
They LAUGH
PETE
Listen to daddy, Mike or he won’t give you
a quarter
MARK
Mike is from Detroit, so I make exception to
him… but for you, Pete…
MIKE
(interrupts)
Hey, what’s wrong with Detroit?
MARK
Just forget it, OK?
EXT: ROAD – HUMVEE – MOVING
The front tire hits a roadside BOMB, BOOM! BOOM!
And the men are thrown out from the vehicle but Mike is trapped inside as it burst into flames. Mark’s left arm is bloodied as he lies unconscious.
Pete stands up wobble legged watching the HumVee burning.
PETE
Oh, Mike… Damn! (pause) Damn!
He looks down at Mark and sees his arm and notices most of it has been blown off.
He tears off his shirt and makes a tourniquet and applies to Mark’s elbow.
PETE (cont-)
Need to get you to the hospital, fast!
He looks down the road and sees the TOW HumVee coming.
INT: ARMY HOSPITAL – NEXT DAY
Mark lies in bed with bandages around his head and his left arm that is now gone from the elbow to hand still unconscious.
INT: MOTHER’S HOUSE – LIVINGROOM – SAME TIME
Nancy is holding the baby as she sits on the couch beside mother.
NANCY
I’m going to name him, Joseph!
MOTHER
Why, Joseph?
NANCY
Joseph, in the bible. The one who was sold to
Egypt and then rose to power and saved the
land from famine.
MOTHER
I can go with that!
There is a KNOCKING at the door
MOTHER (cont-)
Wonder who this is?
She gets up walking towards the door, smiling back at the baby then opens it and Don is standing there with a bag in his hand. Her smile disappears.
MOTHER (cont-)
Come in…
Don enters
DON
I brought some baby food for baby boy!
NANCY
You didn’t have to…
MOTHER
Put it in the kitchen
She points and he goes and places it on the table and then quickly returns.
DON (to baby)
How you doing, champ?
MOTHER
She named him, Joseph!
DON
Joseph? What type of name is that?
He looks at them astounded
MOTHER
From the bible, something you wouldn’t…
NANCY
(interrupts)
You promised not to fight!
MOTHER
OK, dear. I’ll hold my peace.
She smiles gritting her teeth and sits beside Nancy
NANCY
Take a seat, Dad!
Don looks at Mother unsure, then sits in a chair as Mother eyes stares at him
MOTHER
You can sit down but don’t get too comfortable
INT: HOSPITAL – ONE WEEK LATER
Mark is still unconscious lying in bed. Pete enters then takes off his hat looking down at him.
PETE
Mark, old buddy (pause) you been asleep for
a while now.
Mark begins to move a little when his eyes opens, blinking at the lights in the room
MARK
(groggy)
Where am I?
PETE
We had an accident…
MARK
An accident?
Mark tries to reach out to him then realizes his arm is gone
MARK (cont-)
(cries out loud)
My arm!
Tears begin to trickle down his face as he cries uncontrollably
EXT: MARK’S HOUSE – SAME TIME
An Army Officer is on the porch knocking at the door when Don opens it
DON
May I help you?
ARMY OFFICER
Is Mrs. Green here?
DON
Yea…
ARMY OFFICER
I need to talk to her
Don opens the door wider
DON
Come on in!
He enters the living room
DON (cont-)
Have a seat!
ARMY OFFICER
No, thank you!
Nancy enters the living room
NANCY
(whispers)
The baby’s sleeping
ARMY OFFICER
Mrs. Green, I’m afraid I have some terrible
news for you
Nancy and Don stand waiting with full attention
NANCY
Yes?
ARMY OFFICER
Your husband, Mark has been in an accident
NANCY
(sad)
Is he?
ARMY OFFICER
He’s OK, he’s in the hospital at Bethesda and
he should be home soon!
DON
Well, that’s not too bad
NANCY
What happened?
ARMY OFFICER
When his HumVee unit patrol was returning
to Samarra, they hit a roadside bomb. He’s a
ARMY OFFICER (cont-)
very lucky man and a fine soldier.
INT: AIRPORT – MARYLAND – MONTH LATER
Mark is pacing back and forth waiting on his flight, dressed in Army uniform when Pete walks up to him
MARK
What are you doing here?
PETE
They gave me a couple days of leave while
I’m waiting for reassignment.
He put his arm around Mark’s shoulder
PETE (cont-)
(smiles)
Let’s go have a couple of beers!
INT: BAR – MINUTES LATER
Pete and Mark are sitting at a table sipping beer
MARK
I still don’t remember what happened that day
PETE
My ears are still ringing from that blast and poor
Mike couldn’t get out. I don’t know if he died on
impact or if he was trapped in the fire. I was out
of it for a while then I saw you lying next to me.
MARK
Mike was a nice guy
PETE
(smiles)
From Detroit, I’m going to miss him and I’ll never
forget that scene
MARK
That’s horrible
PETE
How’s your wife? Have you talked to her?
Mark shakes his head and shallows a long drink of beer
MARK
I’m going to surprise her
PETE
You think…ah, you think…
MARK
(interrupts)
She’ll have a problem with my left arm
gone?
PETE
Well, yea
MARK
I doubt it, we love each other
PETE
Oh
MARK
I should be getting full disability in a month
or two
PETE
I heard that’s 2 or 3 thousand dollars
INT: MOTHER’S HOUSE – LIVINGROOM – 10AM – NEXT DAY
Mother and Nancy is watching the news on television
(V.O.)
Hometown boy, Mark Green arrived this
morning from Iraq, he the recipient of numerous
medals and the purple heart, credited with 23
confirmed kills.
NANCY
Mark is coming home!
MOTHER
Yea, yea.
NANCY
I better get home and get dad to get some pizza,
beer and wine! Oh, I’m so happy!
She stands smiling
NANCY (cont-)
Oh, Oh, Oh! What do I do now? Let me get the
baby! Are you coming over, Mom?
MOTHER
I guess, if you pull yourself together first
EXT: MARK’S HOUSE – LATER – SAME DAY
A taxi pulls up and Mark gets out with his sea bag. He walks up the porch then knocks on the door.
Nancy opens the door and he enters.
INT: LIVINGROOM
(COLLECTIVELY)
Surprise?
Mark walks in smiling as everyone notices his arm is missing and a silence fills the room
MOTHER
My goodness!
NANCY
Mark, what happened to your arm?
MARK
I lost it in an accident
He hugs her and kisses her on the cheek but she’s kind of cold and half-hearted
MARK
Where’s my son?
Mother points to the crib
MOTHER
He’s over there but I doubt if you can hold
him
DON
The boy’s fine, lots of vets lost limbs in the
military
Mark walks over to the crib and kneels down watching the baby
MOTHER
I’m going home, Nancy
She exits the front door without looking back
INT: MOTHER’S HOUSE – BEDROOM – LATER
Mother lies in bed weeping, crying and moaning loud
MOTHER
Why does this always happen to me?
INT: MARK’S HOUSE – LIVINGROOM – SAME TIME
Don and Mark are drinking beer and eating pizza
DON
Where did babygirl go?
MARK
She said, she was tired so I guess she’s
sleep
Don leans close to Mark’s ear
DON
(smiling)
She went to sleep early to keep you up all
night long
Don laughs then pats Mark on the back
DON (cont-)
How long has it been?
MARK
For what?
DON
Since you, ah…
MARK
Last time I slept with Nancy?
DON
What? You didn’t get any Iraq stuff?
MARK
I’m not gonna cheat on her (pause) I love
your daughter with all my heart
DON
Well, that’s good…
Don nods his head then finishes his beer, stands and then opens the refrigerator.
DON (cont-)
You want another beer?
MARK
Yea
Mark turns his beer up and finishes it and Don pops a beer open the put it in front of Mark and pops one open for himself as he sits.
MARK
I wanted to stay in 20 years, travel and see
the world and let my kids and Nancy enjoy
living overseas and enjoy different cultures.
DON
It’s OK, you’ll be just fine
Don sips some beer and Mark does the same
MARK
I’ll be getting full disability in a month or two
and I can buy stuff from the PX.
DON
We’ll have to go to the club some time on base
MARK
Perhaps, but right now I just want to settle in
and enjoy my son
INT: BEDROOM – LATER
Nancy is sleeping as Mark enters and begins to unbutton his shirt, which looks kind of awkward. Nancy rolls over and watches him
NANCY
Need any help?
MARK
(smiles)
I need help but not pulling off my clothes
He throws the shirt down and unbuckles his pants
NANCY
How long has it been?
He pulls his pants off and lies beside her
MARK
What do you mean?
NANCY
Since you last had sex?
MARK
You sound like your dad. You were the last
woman I had sex with
He sit up on the bed and raises her with his one arm and he gives her a deep soulful kiss, she runs her hand down his left arm and a creepy feeling runs through her as she feel his deformity
NANCY
Are you OK?
MARK
I want you
NANCY
You sure?
MARK
(whispers)
Yes
He kisses her on the neck then goes down under the sheet and her faces is full of pleasure and ecstasy
Later, they are lying next to each other
MARK
You still love me?
NANCY
Yes, but it feels so different. It feels strange.
MARK
What do you mean? Oh, I get it, it’s because
I have one arm?
NANCY
I’m not trying to be mean, you know that…
MARK
(shouts)
I fought my tail off in Iraq for this country?
Now it’s strange and I’m weird!
He gets out of bed, Nancy sits up
NANCY
It’s just going to take time to get use too
MARK
(angry)
My arm? I’m getting 100 percent disability
and that’s more then enough money!
NANCY
It’s not about the money!
Mark picks up a vase and throws it at the mirror and glass flies everywhere. Don, shortly comes and opens the door
DON
What’s going on?
MARK
She has a problem with my arm!
Don grabs a hold of Mark
DON
(quietly)
Now, settle down and relax, son
Nancy gets out of bed then gets the baby and leaves in her pajamas
EXT: TRAILER PARK – MARK’S HOUSE
Nancy closes the door and walks down to Mother’s house crying with the baby in her arms
EXT: MOTHER’S HOUSE
Nancy knocks on the door then Mother opens the door
MOTHER
Come on in, I knew something was bound
to happen
Nancy enters to
INT: LIVINGROOM
Mother closes the door and locks it. The baby starts to cry
NANCY
Mark got angry at me!
MOTHER
What brought that on?
NANCY
We were talking about his arm
Mother reaches for the baby
MOTHER
Here, let me put him to sleep
She takes the baby to her bedroom and then returns
NANCY
It’s felt so funny and yucky when he touched
me, I know he’s getting prosthetics but what
good is a rubber arm?
MOTHER
I told you about poor boys and look what
happened!
NANCY
I love him but I’m confused. I just need
some time to think about it.
MOTHER
That’s your problem, I’m going to put the
baby to sleep and lay down. See ya in the
morning.
Mother exits to her bedroom as Nancy sits on the couch
INT: MARK’S HOUSE – LIVINGROOM – SAME TIME
Mark sits in a chair crying as Don stands over him
MARK
I’m still the same man I always was! I, I wish
had died!
DON
Then your son wouldn’t have a fine young man
like you for a father. Nancy will come around
sooner or later.
Later, Mark picks up the telephone and dials Nancy’s number
MOTHER (O.S.)
Hello!
MARK
(quietly)
May I speak to my wife?
MOTHER (O.S.)
Wait a minute
NANCY (O.S.)
Hello!
MARK
Baby, I’m so sorry
NANCY (O.S.)
(interrupts)
I need some space to think this out!
MARK
Don’t you want me anymore?
NANCY (O.S.)
I didn’t say that!
MARK
(shouts)
Then what!
He hears a dial tone cause she has hung up. He dials her again
MOTHER (O.S.)
Hello!
MARK
May I speak to Nancy?
MOTHER (O.S.)
She said, she needs some time to think, so
don’t call back here tonight! We’re all trying
to get some sleep over here!
MARK
OK
He hears the dial tone again
EXT: STREET – 8PM – A WEEK LATER
Nancy is dressed in a sexy, black mini skirt, high heels and a red top as she walks down the sidewalk. Men take a second look as she passes by them. She sees a bar, “THE GOLDEN PEARL” and enters.
INT: GOLDEN PEARL
She looks around and walks up to the bar then sits. Men are shooting pool, drinking beer and there’s a band playing 80’s R & B music as people dance on the dance floor. The bartender walks over then smiles.
BARTENDER
May I help you?
NANCY
Yea, give me a glass of red wine!
He gets the wine and a glass and returns then pours the wine in her glass
BARTENDER
(smiles)
I can do more than this, I can really lay it
down…
NANCY
What do you mean?
He puts the glass in front of her looking up and down her body
BARTENDER
What do you think?
NANCY
No thanks, I’m married
BARTENDER
Then, what you doing in here?
NANCY
I just need to get out once in a while
BARTENDER
I never saw you in here before, I’d remember!
A MAN comes up to her
MAN #A
You want to dance?
NANCY
Sure!
She takes a swallow of wine then follows the man to the dance floor
BARTENDER
Don’t take her too long, we were talking!
Shortly, after they start dancing on the dance floor
MAN #A
So, what’s your name?
NANCY
Nancy!
He looks at her up and down as they dance
MAN #A
You really look nice!
NANCY
Thank you!
MAN #A
Haven’t ever seen you in here before!
NANCY
Oh, I’ve been around
MAN #A
Good, good. I have a couple of movies over
my place and some gin, if you know what I
mean?
She stops dancing then frowns at him in disgust then returns to the bar
BARTENDER
Back so soon?
NANCY
Is that all men want in here is sex?
BARTENDER
This is a pick up bar, what do you expect and
why come here looking so sexy? Why your
man let you out the bag?
NANCY
We’re separated
BARTENDER
Oh, one of them, huh?
NANCY
I love him but he lost an arm in Iraq. I am not
used to him like that so I needed some time
away to think about it
BARTENDER
That’s easy, either go back to him or leave, it’s
your choice!
NANCY
It’s not that easy, we have a baby together
BARTENDER
There’s lots of single mothers out there doing
their thing
NANCY
I know, my mother was one and it ain’t as easy
as you think!
BARTENDER
I’m not a woman so I don’t really know…
INT: MARK’S HOUSE – LIVINGROOM – SAME TIME
Mark is standing looking out the window when Don enters
DON
It ain’t gonna make it any better to mope
around looking like somebody stole your lunch.
Mark turns around looking at him, Don motions with his hand heading towards the door
DON (cont-)
Let’s go take a ride around town and get out
for a minute. What do you say?
MARK
Yea, alright…
INT: BAR – LATER
Nancy has had a few drinks now and is tipsy as she sits at the bar eyes barely open
BARTENDER
This is number 7
He pours wine in her glass then gazes at her
BARTENDER (cont-)
You not driving are ya?
NANCY
No, if I was I’d be in Las Vegas by now!
INT: DON’S CAR – MOVING – SAME TIME
You see, Nancy’s mother and I met in a bar, we both had a few to drink. We, we woke up the next morning and she was lying next to me, naked. Well, I was naked too.
A couple of months pass by and I find out she’s pregnant and that didn’t go down too good with her folks.
MARK
Why didn’t you try to work it out?
DON
Well, she was only 14 at the time so I had to
skip town
MARK
I see
DON
Jackie’s been hating me ever since but I did
mail her money whenever I could, I’m retired
navy vet.
MARK
My mother and father died two years ago in a
car accident and I’ve been on my own ever since.
It was hard at first then I met Nancy and she’s
brought so much happiness in my life and a baby
son.
DON
Life is never perfect and plans never seem to work
out right…
MARK
Tell me about it…
Don passes by a liquor store
DON
Hey, want some beer?
MARK
Sure, I’ll drink my problems away and maybe
when I wake up my left arm will be back
DON
You seemed to be OK ‘til Nancy started acting
a bitch!
Don pulls into turns into a liquor store and they get out
EXT: PARKING LOT
They get out the car and walk up to the store
INT: BAR – LATER
Nancy is drunk but still sitting at the bar
BARTENDER
Look Miss, I get off in 10 minutes and I’ll drive
you home if you like?
NANCY
(slurs)
OK, I’m with you
INT: DON’S CAR – MOVING – SAME TIME
Mark pop’s open a beer and takes a swallow, Don looks at him
DON
Open me up a can, too!
Mark opens another can then hands it to him with his beer between in legs. Don takes a swallow.
DON (cont-)
Turn up the music!
Mark turns up the music as it blasts louder
MARK
I think we better find a place to drink this
before you get a DUI
DON
Yea, I guess you’re right but first let’s cruise
by The Golden Pearl, check out some of the
ladies
MARK
(laughs)
Why not?
Don giggles looking at him
DON
You know what?
MARK
What?
Mark takes a swallow of beer finishing it
DON
(laughs)
You’re not so bad after all!
Mark opens another can of beer
MARK
Right!
They come close to a street corner where there’s a lot of women dressed in revealing clothes, vinyl, latex and lace and one lady is wearing a leather outfit. Don points at them
DON
That’s where all the hookers hang out! You
can get whatever you’re look for.
Mark gazes at them as Don slows down and a woman approaches the car and he stops
EXT: CAR
MARK
You’re not going to pick her up?
DON
Shoot, no! Just teasing that’s all!
The lady in red lace comes up to the car and lean towards the window on Don’s side
DON
How much?
HOOKER
$80 or $200 for a girlfriend experience
DON
That’s too much!
He burns rubber taking off as the hooker steps back
INT: DON’S CAR – MOVING
They laugh
DON
(smiling)
We used to do this all the time in the Navy.
Fat, ugly whores used to always try to trick
a sailor.
MARK
HA! HA!
Mark takes another swallow of beer and Don gazes at him
DON
Open me another can before you drink it all up
MARK
You just got to catch up!
DON
Hell, I’m a sailor!
Don takes a big swallow of beer
DON (cont-)
I was doing this before you were born!
Don burps and Mark chuckles
MARK
I’m catching up to ya, fast!
DON
I can drink you under the table!
MARK
I thought we were going to The Golden
Pearl?
DON
I’m headed there now! Just leave the driving
to me!
Don turns right at the red and flashing neon signs are on almost every building. There’s clubs, pools halls, restaurants, and music emanating out of some.
MARK
I’ve never been one to party much, I like to
stay at home and watch TV.
DON
You ain’t missing nothing!
Don drives down to the end of the street and neon signs flashes, “Golden Pearl”
EXT: BAR
Bartender and Nancy walk outside and he has his arm around her waist to help her walk.
INT: DON’S CAR – MOVING SLOW
As they come closer, Mark sees her walking out of the club
MARK
Hey, that’s Nancy!
DON
Where?
Bartender walks her to his car then opens the door
MARK
Stop the car! Stop the car!
Nancy gets in as the Bartender helps her
EXT: BAR
Mark hurries out of the car and runs up to Nancy and she’s in the car out of it
BARTENDER
What the hell are you doing?
MARK
(shouts)
Nancy! So, this is what’s going on?
BARTENDER
What the hell?
The Bartender runs up to him face to face
MARK
(screams)
That’s my wife!
BARTENDER
I don’t give a damn! She’s coming with me!
The Bartender gets in his car and drives off burning rubber
MARK
Nancy!
DON
Come on and let’s get outta here!
MARK
No, no, I need to take a long walk
EXT: MOTHER’S HOUSE – LATER
The Bartender drives up and then he gets out and opens Nancy’s car door
BARTENDER
Hey! Hey! Time to wake up!
He gently touches her on the shoulder
BARTENDER (cont-)
Come on now, time to go to bed!
NANCY
(groggy)
What! What! What!
She wakes up and gets out of the car. Mother is peeping out the window
BARTENDER
You’re home!
NANCY
OK, thanks
Nancy staggers walking up to the porch, the Bartender gets in his car then drives away.
Mother opens the door and helps her in
INT: LIVINGROOM
Nancy falls down on the couch in a sitting position as Mother angrily looks at her with her arms crossed
MOTHER
Where the hell have you been?
NANCY
Out!
MOTHER
I saw the car you got out of, who was that
man? You got a baby here who needs you!
NANCY
I just got a lot of things on my mind
MOTHER
So, you’re going out drinking and sleeping
around? That’s not the answer!
NANCY
I’m just so confused…
She gets up and staggers to her bedroom
MOTHER
(yells)
I thought I’d never say it, but you’re better off
with Mark Green!
EXT: STREET – 3AM
Mark is sitting on a bench with a bottle of cheap wine
MARK
She don’t love me
He takes a drink from the bottle as a dirty wino walks up to him
WINO
I know that look, she left you, huh? Mine
left me 10 years ago
Mark ignores him and takes another drinking from the bottle
WINO (cont-)
Mind sharing a drink, I’m awful thirsty?
Mark takes a long drink and hands they Wino the bottle then he stands and staggers away
WINO (cont-)
Thank you, Sir!
MARK
(whispers)
I’m not going to end up like you
INT: MOTHER’S HOUSE – LIVINGROOM – 10AM – NEXT DAY
Don, Nancy and Mother are sitting around
DON
Mark saw you last night with that guy, you
so drunk I doubt if you remember
MOTHER
I saw you too, he let you out right in front
of my door!
DON
He acted like he was going to kill Mark! Poor
kid didn’t do nothing! What wrong you anyhow?
NANCY
I’m sorry, I, I don’t know anything, anymore!
MOTHER
Mark is poor but everybody knows that, but at
lease he’s decent
DON
It’s embarrassing to me that you’re sleeping around,
you better get yourself together! Mark hasn’t came
home yet, I hope he hasn’t hurt himself
EXT: TRAILER PARK – SAME TIME
Mark is walking towards his house
INT: MOTHER’S HOUSE – LIVINGROOM
MOTHER
You need to call him and talk before you lose
him!
DON
Yea, your son needs a dad!
NANCY
I love him but I can’t get over his arm missing
and all knobby. It feels so creepy when I’m with
him
DON
That ain’t nother! He’s still the same man you
fell in love with! It don’t make him no less of a
man just because he’s missing an arm, a leg or
even a tooth!
NANCY
I know, daddy
The baby starts to cry
MOTHER
You need to take care of your son!
Nancy gets up and exits
DON
Damn woman! Makes it hard on a decent guy
now days!
Mother stares at Don
MOTHER
Like you said, hard on decent men…
DON
What does that mean?
MOTHER
If you can’t figure it out, think about it later or
ask somebody
EXT: TRAILER PARK – NOON – SAME DAY
Pete is in army uniform walking with a cane, there’s a cast on his right leg. He walks up to Mark’s porch then knocks on the door.
INT: MARK’S HOUSE – LIVINGROOM
Mark opens the door and see Pete
PETE
(smiling)
Don’t just stand there, let me in!
MARK
Of, course!
Pete enters and Mark closes the door
PETE
Why you looking so glum?
Mark looks down at his leg
PETE (cont-)
Oh, I got it in the leg, I should be OK in a
couple of weeks
Mark sits down
MARK
Have a sit down
Pete sits in a chair and puts his hands behind his head then leans back
PETE
Where’s the baby?
MARK
My wife and I are separated
PETE
What?
MARK
She couldn’t take it, me missing an arm
and all
PETE
That’s too bad, what you gonna do?
MARK
Divorce, I caught her coming out the bar with
another man and he drove off with her when I
was trying to talk to her. You should have seen
the way he reacted to me, it was if though it was
his wife instead of mine.
PETE
That’s women for ya
MARK
(chuckles)
I miss those patrols, the HumVees and I think
about Mike, sometimes
PETE
Yea (pause) let’s go shoot some pool later!
MARK
One arm makes that really hard…
PETE
I saw a karaoke bar up the street
Mark nods his head
MARK
OK, let’s go!
PETE
Have a few beers, women. You know me…
Mark laughs
MARK
(smiling)
Yea, I do!
EXT: PARK – 7PM
Nancy’s walking in the park and comes up to a pond with ducks swimming and she watches them.
NANCY
Your lives are easy, you just swim and enjoy
the sun, lay eggs and go south in the winter,
NANCY (cont-)
the life of a human is hard sometimes and we
never know from one day to the next.
Nancy looks up when she sees Mark and Pete walking and runs up to them frantically.
NANCY (cont-)
Mark! Mark!
Mark stops and sees her coming and he rolls his eyes. Pete stops as Nancy stands in front of them
MARK
What do you want?
NANCY
I’m sorry for the way I’ve treated you!
PETE
You must be Nancy?
She nods her head
MARK
I see why last night when you got in the car
with that guy!
NANCY
I don’t even know him!
MARK
That’s even worse! Go ahead and do whatever
you want, I want a divorce!
NANCY
Please listen to me, please!
Mark walks away but Pete looks at her
MARK
(shouts)
Go to hell!
He clenches his fists in anger eyes full of rage
PETE
I was with him in Iraq and all he talked about
was you, day and night. He deserves better
than this! You oughtta be ashame of yourself!
Nancy watches Mark walking away then she looks at Pete
NANCY
I love him!
PETE
Then grow up and act like it and stop torturing
him because he lost his arm! You should be
proud he served his country!
NANCY
I am, oh, my God, What have I done?
PETE
Not what you supposed to have obviously!
Mark stops and she looks at him in dismay
NANCY
(shouts)
Mark, I love you!
PETE
Do you think he believes you after all he’s
been through? You hurt him deeper than you
could ever know!
Nancy falls down to her knees, sobbing and crying loud
MARK
Come on man, let’s go!
Pete looks at Mark, then at Nancy sobbing
PETE
You’re pathetic and shallow! I hope no man
ever pays attention to you again!
Pete walks up to Mark and they walk away. Nancy stands up, wiping away tears then returns to the park and sits on a bench crying.
MARK
What was you telling her?
PETE
I was just telling her about herself. Do you
want her back?
MARK
No way, after last night. I’m getting rid of her
soon as possible. I don’t like this, I can’t do it.
I got drunk with the winos last night thinking
bout her.
PETE
I don’t blame you, pretty as she is!
They LAUGH
Nancy walks home CRYING
INT: MOTHER’S HOUSE – LIVINGROOM – LATER
There’s a knock on the door and Mother gets up to answer. She opens the door then sees Nancy crying.
MOTHER
Honey, what’s wrong?
Nancy enters and paces back and forth upset
NANCY
Mark wants a divorce! He wouldn’t even
talk to me!
MOTHER
You need to apologize to him and really mean
it! If you really do?
NANCY
I tried but he wouldn’t even listen then his friend
yelled at me.
MOTHER
You married him against my wishes, had a baby
and you should try to work this out!
NANCY
What do I do?
MOTHER
Make him listen!
NANCY
I don’t know how!
MOTHER
Yes, you do! Think!
The baby starts crying and Mother lifts the baby from the crib
MOTHER (cont-)
Your baby boy needs a father
She kisses the baby
MOTHER (cont-)
He’s so cute.
She looks at Nancy
MOTHER (cont-)
I’m done, work your problems out and get
your life right!
Nancy walks to the upright piano and sits. She lifts up the cover then presses a key. Mother gazes at her as she rocks the baby in her arms
MOTHER (cont-)
I remember when you was a little girl, you
used to play that piano and sing and you were
so happy. Why did you stop?
NANCY
I don’t know. I wrote songs and play.
She begins to play a song and starts smiling remembering
MOTHER
You still got it! Well, I’m taking myself and
the baby to bed!
NANCY
Good night, Mom!
Mother exits
NANCY
I’ll write him a song
Nancy pulls out her cellphone then dial the Golden Pearl club.
BARTENDER (O.S.)
Hello!
NANCY
This is Nancy, I need a couple of favors!
BARTENDER (O.S.)
Within reason…
NANCY
I’d like to perform at the Pearl tomorrow night!
BARTENDER (O.S.)
(chuckles)
What can you do? Or should I say, what all do
you do (pause) sexually?
NANCY
My husband saw me with you the other night
and my mom and dad. You didn’t do anything,
did you?
BARTENDER (O.S.)
I don’t do drunk women…
NANCY
I want to sing and play the piano
BARTENDER (O.S.)
I’ll give you an hour, if you’re good…
NANCY
(excited)
Oh, thank you, thank you! I want you to clear
up things with my husband
BARTENDER (O.S.)
OK, but I was hoping for a chance
NANCY
No!
BARTENDER (O.S.)
Alright…
She closes her cellphone then stands and lifts up the piano seat and gets a pencil and music paper out. She sits and begins to hum while writing occasionally pressing keys on the piano.
EXT: STREET – SAME TIME
Mark and Pete are walking then sees a liquor store ahead. Mark looks at Pete.
MARK
Man, I’d rather just get something to drink
from the liquor store
PETE
We’ll be missing all those beautiful women
MARK
I ain’t thinking about no woman!
PETE
OK, we can get some beer…
MARK
We’ll go to Wino’s corner where I was last
night
PETE
Is it healthy to be around those guys? They
have anti-social behavior.
MARK
I’m just going through some things emotionally,
in other words… right now my head is screwed up.
They enter the liquor store
INT: MOTHER’S HOUSE – LIVINGROOM – 12AM
Mother walks through the living room to see Nancy’s still awake
MOTHER
You ain’t been to sleep? What you writing?
Nancy looks at her then starts back writing
NANCY
I’m performing at the Golden Pearl tomorrow
night and I want you, daddy and Mark to come.
MOTHER
Oh dear, what do you expect to accomplish?
NANCY
The truth, the plain and simple truth!
EXT: PARK – 1AM
Mark and Pete is sitting on a bench drinking a case of beer
PETE
You sure it’s cool to drink beer here?
MARK
Police never ever comes around here!
He points at the other people drinking in the park
MARK (cont-)
They would need a bus to pick us all up!
Pete laughs
PETE
I guess you’re right! All we need is some
music and a couple of girls.
INT: MOTHER’S HOUSE – LIVINGROOM – SAME TIME
Nancy plays the piano and sings, Mother enters grumpy
MOTHER
Girl, you’re going to wake up the baby!
Nancy looks up at her with sleepy eyes the Mother sits beside her
NANCY
Sorry
MOTHER
That song was beautiful, dear
Mother stands as Nancy thinks
MOTHER (cont-)
Go on! Just don’t wake up the baby.
Mother smiles at her then exits
EXT: TRAILER PARK – 6AM – NEXT DAY
Mark and Pete are walking home
MARK
We’ll wait ‘til the liquor store opens and do it
all again!
PETE
Hey, man! I need a woman bad, real bad! I need
to get laid like last week!
Mark laughs
MARK
OK, OK, I know where to get you a girl if you
got $80 dollars
PETE
(smiling)
Where?
MARK
I’ll show you later tonight!
They walk up on the porch and Mark looks in the mailbox and pulls out a letter
MARK (cont-)
Hey, it’s my check!
INT: MOTHER’S HOUSE – LIVINGROOM – SAME TIME
Nancy is asleep on the couch with music paper scattered on the carpet
INT: MARK’S HOUSE – LIVINGROOM – LATER
Mark and Pete are sitting, Mark is waving his hand holding his check
MARK
I’ve been waiting to get my first check!
PETE
How much is it for?
MARK
$1700 dollars
PETE
Can you loan me $80 dollars?
They laugh as Don enters
DON
Hey, Mark! I see you been out with a buddy?
Don shakes Pete’s hand
PETE
I’m Pete, we were in the same Unit in Iraq!
DON
Good, good…
The phone rings and Don look at it
DON (cont-)
I’ll get it!
He walks over and answers
DON (cont-)
Hello! Yea, (pause) yea, Ok, I’ll be there…
that’s at the Golden Pearl? Alright, bye!
He puts the phone down and walks over to Mark
MARK
What?
DON
Nancy’s performing tonight at the Golden
Pearl
MARK
Performing what?
DON
My baby can sing, boy and she wants to talk
to you and straighten everything out!
Mark is thinking
PETE
You should give her a chance, at lease listen
MARK
Yea, I guess you’re right! What time?
DON
Around 8 or 9 o’clock, can’t wait to hear my
babygirl sing.
INT: BEAUTY SHOP – 2PM – SAME DAY
Nancy is getting her hair done as she looks through the mirror
INT: NANCY’S BEDROOM – LATER
She searches through the closet and lays out the clothes she’s going to wear – a black velvet dress. Then she gathers her music off the desk and looks at it flipping through the pages.
INT: DON’S CAR – MOVING – 8:45PM
Pete and Mother are in the back seat, Don’s driving and Mark is on the passenger side.
MOTHER (to Don)
I’ve been thinking a lot here lately…
DON
You think all the time
MOTHER
I’m sorry Don for the way I’ve behaved towards
you, you’ve been so responsible since you came
back.. I hope you will forgive me.
DON
I hold no grudges, Jackie!
MOTHER
Mark, I also want to say, I feel so ashamed of the
way I’ve treated you, I’m sorry
MARK
I forgive you…
DON
Are you OK, Jackie?
MOTHER
I’m fine, Don and I promise not to call you has
been Haslett in the San Francisco shelter.
They all laugh except Don whose face turns red
DON
That’s fair
PETE (to Don)
How did you end up in a shelter?
DON
It’s a long, long story…
INT: GOLDEN PEARL – 8:55PM
Don, Mother, Mark and Pete enters and looks around, it’s almost full as Nancy walks up to them and greets them
NANCY
Hello, everybody!
They all say hello, as she leads them to a table in the front of the stage. They all sit as she takes Mark’s hand and lead him up to the bar. The Bartender comes over and Nancy looks at him
NANCY
Tell him the truth about the other night!
BARTENDER
OK, but you’re on in 15 minutes!
NANCY
Just start explaining to my husband!
She walks away onto the stage
BARTENDER
Look, I didn’t do anything with your wife, she
had a little too many glasses of wine
MARK
Why did you act so crazy when I told you she
was my wife?
BARTENDER
Anybody could have said that, then took her off
somewhere and had their way with her…besides
people saw me leave out with her and I would
have had a problem explaining that one to the boys
in blue.
Mark looks at the Bartender without blinking
MARK
Are you sure, positive?
BARTENDER
Look kid, messing around with a drunk woman
is like fondling a stiff.
Mark walks away looking back at him
BARTENDER (cont-)
Two minutes, Nancy!
Mother, Don and Pete looks at Mark as he sits down
PETE
What happened?
MARK
He said, he didn’t touch her
The lights come on and the stage is lit as Nancy grabs the microphone.
NANCY
Hello, everybody! How is everybody doing?
The crowd cheers as Marks eyes are fixed on her
NANCY
I would like to dedicate tonight to my husband,
Mark Green who recently returned home from
Iraq. A young girl can make mistakes sometimes
and hurt those they really love.
She walks over to the piano and sits and PLAYS intro and SINGS
Things ain’t been the same
Since you went to war boy
And you came home a warrior man
You’re an American hero
Don’t care what the world thinks
Still have you in my heart
Won’t turn my back on you
You’re an American hero
You are a hero
Because you have the heart of a lion
And the walk of a king
Fought in the heat of the battle
To keep your country free
And that’s all that really matters to me,
To me
Tasted the grit of the sand
In a hot and dirty desert
In a foreign land
Everyone is talking but they don’t
Understand
You’re an American hero
An American hero, a war boy
And came home a warrior man__.
Some lost limb and life
In the heat of the battle
But never lost the will to fight
You shine in the light
Tasted the grit of the sand
In a hot and dirty desert
In a foreign land
You’re an America hero
American hero, American hero
The crowd CLAPS
NANCY
I love you, Mark
Mark wipes a tear from his eye and she starts singing again
NANCY (sings)
In the interest of the American way,
The U.S. Army makes this country what it is today
That’s the Army, Navy and Marines, sharply dressed
to impress, shoes shines and clean
Let them hold the honors of the flag,
let the stars and stripes fly free
For the bold men who fight for country
who love this land of liberty
Oh, when they sing, when they sing,
let the chatter of their marching boots ring
Freedom rings in the chattering of their boots,
airmen, private, seaman recruit
They are the brave men who love the home of the free
The crowd roars with cheer and clapping
NANCY
Bring all the troops home!
She starts to play again and sings
NANCY (sings)
Is it really necessary
That we went to war
It it really necessary
That we went this far
What would it mean
If we had our reservations
Who knows the outcome
Of two fighting nations
With brave men dying
At their battle stations
Let tomorrow’s war die
And peace on the way
A smile on the world’s face
To enjoy a happy day
Let tomorrow’s dreams live
In the heart of men
Stray away from evil deeds
And moral sin
Let all fighting in the world
Come to an end
Come to an end
Is it really necessary
That we went to war
To take the lives of many
In a self-serving war
If we had reservation
To never start the fight
So many people dying
Is it right?
Let tomorrow be peaceful
And a better day
We can all come together
Because Jesus on the way
Because Jesus is on the way
The crowd gives her a standing ovation as she gets off stage and walks towards Mark’s table.
DON
(smiling)
Babygirl tore it up!
PETE
Yea, she’s real, real good!
MOTHER
That’s my Nancy!
Nancy gets on her knees in front of Mark as tears trickle down his face and she looks him deep in his eyes
NANCY
I love you
MARK
I love you, too
He stands and she gets up, they embrace and kiss
DON
I think they’re back together again
Mother smiles at Don and holds his hand
MOTHER
They don’t have to be the only ones
Don looks at Mother then smiles
DON
Yea!
PETE
I’m always left out!
Mark and Nancy walks out the door
EXT: STREET – SIDEWALK
They walk down the sidewalk arms around each other in a black silhouette, they kiss
The End
Fade Out
................
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