GENERAL STRATTON'S MEMOIRS

__________________________

A new full-length play

By Tom Attea

Contact:

Tom Attea

Phone: 917.647.4321 tattea@gmail.com

(c)2014 Tom Attea

CAST OF CHARACTERS

GENERAL ERIC STRATTON, a retired general

MARION STRATTON, his wife

JILL THORTON, his collaborator

FREDERICK STRATTON, General Stratton's father

WILLIAM STRATTON, General Stratton's son

SAM LANGHORNE, father of Private Langhorne

MITZI LANGHORNE, mother of Private Langhorne

CHARLOTTE EVANS, wife of Lieutenant Eddie Evans

THE DEAD

PRIVATE RONNIE LANGHORNE

PRIVATE DANNY DONOVAN

LIEUTENANT CHRIS JEFFRIES

PRIVATE ANNIE BLISS

PRIVATE JOE WILLIS

CORPORAL CHUCK ROSA

LIEUTENANT EDDIE EVANS

CAPTAIN JACK REILLY

TIME

The present, in a a semi-fictional America

SETTINGS

STRATTON FOYER, STUDY, AND BEDROOM, A GRAVEYARD

ii.

ACT I

SCENE 1

General Stratton’s study. He is

staring out the window. A glass

of Jack Daniels in his hand. He

takes a sip. Marion, his wife,

enters.

MARION

So early, darling?

GENERAL STRATTON

Fortifying myself.

MARION

I don’t know why you agreed to do it.

GENERAL STRATTON

Vanity, I suppose. Maybe the possible healing powers of

catharsis. Might even be able to say something of value.

Doorbell rings.

MARION

I’ll get it.

GENERAL STRATTON

Thanks, Marion.

MARION

(goes to him)

If you decide you can’t do it, promise me you’ll tell her.

GENERAL STRATTON

I’ll do my best. Can’t do more. Never could do less.

MARION

(kisses his cheek)

I love you, Eric. I’m worried about -

GENERAL STRATTON

- Don’t be. I’m still quite a guy.

MARION

All right. I still don’t know why they had to choose a woman

to work with you. I’m jealous.

GENERAL STRATTON

No need for that. I’m already taken. Have been for thirty-

seven years now.

MARION

And don’t forget it.

GENERAL STRATTON

Never have. Never will.

(raises his glass)

Make war, not love. That’s my slogan. Except when it comes to

you.

Doorbell rings again.

GENERAL STRATTON (CONT’D)

Please, let her in.

MARION

All right. I’ll be home this afternoon, if you need me for

anything.

GENERAL STRATTON

I can handle it.

MARION

You think you can handle anything, but -

GENERAL STRATTON

- I don’t want to talk about it. Not now.

MARION

OK. Steel yourself.

GENERAL STRATTON

I’ve already got enough shrapnel in me.

2.

She exits the study and crosses the

living room to the front door, as

he takes another sip of whiskey and

starts to slip into his army

uniform, which is adorned with many

ribbons. Marion opens door. We see

Jill, an attractive woman with an

attache case.

MARION

Welcome. I’m Marion Stratton.

JILL

Jill Thorton.

(puts out hand)

A pleasure to meet you.

MARION

Thank you.

(shakes hands with her)

Very nice meeting you. Please, come in.

Jill enters, and Marion closes the

door.

MARION (CONT’D)

Do you mind if I have a few words with you before you get

started?

JILL

Not at all.

MARION

You know about my husband’s condition? Let’s just say,

despite his manly bluster, he’s quite fragile.

JILL

I understand. He’s been through things that would break most

of us.

3.

MARION

Yes, he has. So, if he has difficulty talking about things,

please, don’t press him too hard. Maybe take a break until

the next day. He’s still adjusting to what happened.

JILL

I’m known for my ability to get at the truth as thoughtfully

as possible. That’s one reason the publisher chose me to

collaborate with him.

MARION

Good. Then let me take you to him.

(as they go)

By the way, I volunteered to go through the family albums and

select photographs for the book. He insists on doing the

press clippings himself.

JILL

Excellent. I’ll look forward to seeing them.

She leads her into the study.

General Stratton sees the empty

glass and slips it into a desk

drawer. As the women enter, he

crosses to them.

GENERAL STRATTON

Welcome, Jill. Thanks, Marion.

(extends hand to Jill; they

shake)

Appreciate you agreed to take on the assignment. I can’t say

it will be the easiest one you ever had.

JILL

Delightful to meet you, General Stratton.

(puts out her hand; they

shake hands)

MARION

I’ll leave you two alone now. Have fun.

4.

GENERAL STRATTON

We’ll be fine. Marion. Just fine.

(to Jill, as he gestures to

one of the two chairs in

front of his desk)

Have a seat.

JILL

Thank you.

GENERAL STRATTON

I suppose you’ll need a place to type, though.

JILL

No, I can do that later. I’d just like to record our

conversations. Then I can sit quietly with them and,

hopefully, do justice to your distinguished career.

GENERAL STRATTON

Well, I’m not sure how distinguished, given recent events. Be

that as it may, I trust you’ll do a great job. Your bio

preceded you. Very impressive. Extraordinary, I’d say, given

that you won a Pulitzer for the book you did with your last

victim.

JILL

Victim?

GENERAL STRATTON

And my favorite nemesis.

JILL

That I can well understand. But I don’t think I’ve ever had

one of my collaborators refer to themselves as a victim.

President Rodgers and I actually had an enjoyable time

working together.

GENERAL STRATTON

I read the book. You deserved the Pulitzer for it. Actually

made that masterpiece of misjudgment appear cogent. Quite a

triumph.

5.

JILL

Thank you.

GENERAL STRATTON

Kind of odd they’d pick you to work with me.

JILL

They felt I’d know both sides.

GENERAL STRATTON

In the present case, there is only one side. Mine. Be that as

it may, let’s hope you can do as much for me.

JILL

Do you think you made a misjudgment?

GENERAL STRATTON

Not at all.

JILL

Regardless of the consequences?

GENERAL STRATTON

I knew the risks when I did it. I might have hoped for a

better outcome, though.

JILL

I assume so. Don’t tell me you never make misjudgments.

GENERAL STRATTON

I’m far from perfect. But there’s no way I make them with the

regularity he does. In fact, I’ve managed to get a great many

things right.

JILL

Obviously. You’re one of America’s most highly decorated

generals.

GENERAL STRATTON

(points to ribbons on

uniform)

Oh, I didn’t earn these. My troops did. Many valiant ...

(chokes up a bit)

6.

... young warriors. Damn proud of them. Proud of every last

one of them. Their service and their sacrifices. A general is

luckier. He gets to retire, usually in one piece. Or, in my

case, he gets the Presidential boot.

JILL

Given the publicity, I don’t know that he had a choice.

GENERAL STRATTON

You’d think it’s the most significant thing I ever did. Forty

years of achievement, eclipsed by a comment.

JILL

I’m looking forward to working with you.

GENERAL STRATTON

Very kind of you to say that. I hope you still feel that way

a week from now. I can be a pretty tough customer.

JILL

So I gather. I can’t believe you told the President of the

United States to go to hell.

GENERAL STRATTON

Somebody had to say it. Nothing is more deserving -- and more

dangerous -- than a jackass in power. Paid for it, though,

didn’t I? Well, I’ve made peace with it. You can’t argue

with the White House. Anyway, tact has never been my strong

suit.

JILL

We’re going to have a lot of fun.

GENERAL STRATTON

I’m glad you think so. Frankly, I’d rather be surrounded by

the Taliban and running out of ammmo than to retell the hell

on earth I’ve been through. It’s a grievous thing, you know,

to sit back and think of all the fine young men -- and these

days, the fine young women, too -- who have put their lives

on the line in the service of our country in a series of wars

that, for the most part, have been unnecessary or of

questionable wisdom.

7.

I reached the point where I couldn’t remain silent. I mean,

somebody in power has to speak out. Well, I did it, and I

don’t regret it for a minute. Sorry to go on like this. But I

get riled up. The only thing wrong with America is that

lately we seem to have an unusually hard time finding leaders

who are worthy of its principles and its promise.

JILL

It’s all good. Do you mind if I turn on my tape recorder?

GENERAL STRATTON

Go right ahead. That’s what you’re here for, isn’t it?

JILL

(getting out her tape

recorder)

Of course. I thought today would just be a meet and greet.

I wasn’t expecting such fireworks.

GENERAL STRATTON

Well, you know what they say. The truth shall make you free.

What they don’t say is that it can also get you tossed into

the brig. Thankfully, I escaped that fate.

JILL

(holds out mike)

Can you just talk a little while I get a level?

GENERAL STRATTON

You mean you didn’t get one yet? I’d call that dereliction of

duty. Anything special you want me to talk about?

JILL

Everything you say will be special to me. Just talk at your

normal level.

GENERAL STRATTON

I don’t know that I have one.

JILL

What you’re doing is just fine.

8.

GENERAL STRATTON

Good. Well, if the truth be known, I don’t even know why the

hell I agreed to do this.

JILL

(adjusting dial)

You don’t?

GENERAL STRATTON

Worse than that, I don’t even know if I can make it through

it all. Not getting bounced. That’s nothing. I mean, the

painful remembrances.

JILL

I understand. I’ll make it as painless as possible. I’m easy.

GENERAL STRATTON

(flirtatiously)

In what way?

JILL

Cute. I meant as a collaborator.

(beat)

I think we are going to have fun.

GENERAL STRATTON

You do?

JILL

Of course. And it will show in the book. Now, let’s begin at

the beginning. Tell me about your childhood.

GENERAL STRATTON

Happy to. Always glad to talk about my uneventful youth. Most

people seem to have parents they complain about. Maybe it’s

just a fashion of the times. Not me. My mother was all heart.

Spent a lot of time taking care of my older sister and me

while my father was on duty overseas. If you’ve done your

homework, you know my dad, Frederick Stratton, was a first-

rate general. Good fighting man -- and a good man all around.

So was my granddad, Lawrence Stratton. Outstanding military

men. The service has been a proud family tradition.

9.

I’ll show you a couple of my family heirlooms.

(gets up and goes to cabinet;

opens it. Takes out a sword)

This is a sword a Japanese officer surrendered to my father

at Iwo. Beautiful piece, called a shin gunto. Hand forged.

(puts it back; takes out

Lugar)

Here’s a German Lugar from way back. World War I. My

grandfather took it off a dead German officer at the Battle

of Verdun. Very functional product. So much so it was also

standard issue in World War II.

(puts it back; takes out

bullet)

Still have the ammo it was loaded with. Probably still live.

Bullets last longer than we do.

(puts it back; takes out a

couple of medals)

Remarkable collection of medals and ribbons. Distinguished

Service Cross my father earned. Silver Star awarded to my

grandfather.

(puts them back; points to

cabinet)

Lots more we can get to as we go along.

(closes cabinet)

JILL

I’ll look forward to it.

GENERAL STRATTON

(crosses back to chair)

I don’t suppose my dad or granddad would have been proud of

me for what I did. To them it was always duty first. But they

were both strong-willed men themselves.

JILL

Oh, I’m sure. As we work through things, you’ll have time to

reflect on such things.

GENERAL STRATTON

Is that good or bad?

10.

JILL

We’re going to find out. Tell me about your earliest

childhood memories.

GENERAL STRATTON

Glad to reflect on that. Days of innocence, when life seemed

to have infinite horizons; that is, before the things we

don’t have much control over impact our lives. No cynicism

learned at the hard edge of necessity, where international

relations usually occur. No torment brought on by thoughts of

the dedicated young people who died under my command. One of

my earliest memories is of my father back home on leave,

putting his arm around me and telling me one day I was going

to be a great military man, too. Probably had something to do

with how much I liked playin’ with the toy soldiers he bought

me. Still have some photos of my childhood I’ll share with

you. One doozy is when I walked out the back door of our

house into the yard and my diaper fell down. You may not want

to see that one. Used to have a lot more. But after my sister

was killed in a car accident, my mother spent so much time

looking at the family album and crying that one day my Aunt

Gretta threw it out. Thought she was doing the right thing,

improbable as that seems. Hard to forgive a person for doing

something as reckless as that. Broke my mother’s heart even

more. I still can’t get over all that was lost.

JILL

That’s awful. Terribly sorry about your sister.

GENERAL STRATTON

Thanks. Shattered my family, like a diamond hit the wrong

way. My father suffered silently but deeply. Finally got

Parkinson’s, partly, I suppose, from the trauma. Mary Jo was

just sixteen and one of those very special people who achieve

in everything. Was the valedictorian of her class, as well as

the head cheerleader, and used to play Chopin at high school

events. I can still picture her class entering the auditorium

while she sat at the school’s baby grand and played the

Military Polonaise or some such piece.

11.

JILL

How did it happen?

GENERAL STRATTON

She was out on a date one night with her boyfriend. The high

school basketball star. They were going to see his sister’s

new baby. Somehow, he plowed into the back of flatbed truck.

The impact broke a rib or two of hers. But then he did the

dumbest damn thing. He dragged her out of the car. A broken

rib pierced her lung and she bled to death in the emergency

room of the local hospital. He should’ve known better. He was

an Eagle scout. As damn near everybody knows, you never move

a person who’s been injured like that. And talk about

remorse. Later in life I told a doc at Walter Reed about it.

He said there was no reason for her to bleed to death. They

should have been able to open her up and stop the bleeding.

Guess there wasn’t anyone on duty who was capable of that.

JILL

How very tragic!

GENERAL STRATTON

You can say that again. Just over 9,000 people in the town

where I grew up. Over 3,000 came to the funeral, including

her boyfriend. All he had was a broken jaw. I was only eleven

at the time, but I could’ve clocked him. The lummox. I guess

he was just confused that night. No other explanation. They

were just a couple of kids whose luck went south. Want to

hear a real irony? His nickname was Spike. Still blows my

mind.

JILL

It would blow mine, too. Go on, if you’re up to it.

GENERAL STRATTON

Well, here’s an even greater irony and the honest-to-God’s

truth. His father was the superintendant of the local

graveyard. He and his men no doubt had to dig the hole they

lowered her into.

JILL

Dear me.

12.

GENERAL STRATTON

Somewhat worse than “dear me.” It’s the disaster that

brought my happy family life and my innocence to a crashing

halt.

(clears throat)

You don’t mind if we stop now, do you? I think I’ve had it

for today.

JILL

Not at all. We covered far more ground that I expected to.

(begins to put her recorder

away)

You know how to speak from the heart. It’s a good sign.

GENERAL STRATTON

Thanks. It’s not always easy. I can tell ya that much.

JILL

I know. Shall we get together again tomorrow, same time?

GENERAL STRATTON

Sounds good. I’ll think over things so I’m prepared. Try not

to make your job too damn difficult.

JILL

(packing recoder)

Don’t worry about that. We’re going to create a beautiful

book together.

(rises)

GENERAL STRATTON

I’ll give it my best. That’s the only respectful way to do

it. Let me show you out.

JILL

Thank you.

13.

GENERAL STRATTON

(as they cross the study)

I tell you, if I had known back before I went to West Point

how many questionable wars I’d be sent to command, I might

have done something other than follow in my father’s and

grandfather’s footsteps.

As they go, lights come up on the

living room. Marion is on her cell

phone.

MARION

Yes, they’re together right now.... Of course, I would have

preferred if the publisher had selected a man. The last thing

the US military needs is another scandal, as if my Eric would

ever allow such a thing to happen.... I just hope he can get

through it all without anymore mental upsets.

The door to the study opens.

MARION

(startled)

Gotta go now, Gloria. Talk later.

(hangs up)

General Stratton and Jill enter.

GENERAL STRATTON

Hi, sweetheart.

MARION

Hi, dear. How did you two do?

GENERAL STRATTON

Great. She took it kind of easy on me today.

Jill and Marion look at each other,

as the lights fade down.

END OF ACT I

SCENE 1

14.

ACT I

SCENE 2

The bedroom. General Stratton and

Marion are asleep. He stirs a bit.

Makes sounds, as if he’s having a

bad dream. Starts to stab his arms

into the air and mumble

incoherently. Marion wakes up. Sits

up, frightened.

MARION

Eric! Wake up!

GENERAL STRATTON

(coming out of it; groggily)

What?

MARION

You were dreaming.

GENERAL STRATTON

Oh, sorry. Just getting a little late-night workout.

MARION

What were you dreaming about?

GENERAL STRATTON

Oh, just something that happened in Viet Nam. The battalion I

was commanding was surrounded by the Viet Cong. They were

closing in on a soldier who had been hit in the gut with

shrapnel from an RPG. He was lying on the ground, screaming

in agony. I ran over to provide cover for him and quiet him

down. In real life, I had plenty of ammo. In my dream, I was

out of it. So I grabbed his rifle, which was also out of

ammo, but had a fixed bayonet. And I started fighting off the

enemy with it. Strange how the mind switches things around.

Maybe it was just trying to wake me up for a physical

emergency. Excuse me. I have to go to the bathroom.

(gets up)

15.

MARION

That was a terrible dream. I was afraid that working on the

book would stir things up.

GENERAL STRATTON

I’m sure it will. But I didn’t talk about Nam yet. Just my

childhood.

MARION

I’m very concerned, Eric.

GENERAL STRATTON

Don’t be. The truth of what happened is the least I owe my

troops and their parents.

MARION

Come right back.

GENERAL STRATTON

Might do a little reading first. I’m wide awake now.

MARION

All right. Call if you need me.

GENERAL STRATTON

Oh, don’t worry about me. I’ll be back before you know it.

(putting on bathrobe)

When something like this happens -- I mean, looney thoughts --

I wonder how strong the wall in the mind is between sane and

crazy behavior. Well, no need to worry about that. I have the

perfect fail-safe system. I decided if I ever decide to do

something crazy, I’d do it to myself first. Too bad mass

murderers haven’t figured that one out. What they ought to do

is kill themselves first. Same result for them. Dead in the

end. Only all the people they would’ve killed would still be

alive. Why, hell, takin’ his own life first would damn near

make a would-be mass murderer a hero.

MARION

Eric, dear, what are you thinking of?

16.

GENERAL STRATTON

Oh, don’t pay any attention. Just runnin’ on now. You get

some sleep, sweetheart.

MARION

Come back soon.

GENERAL STRATTON

I will.

He exits the bedroom and crosses

the living room. Goes into his

study and goes to the bookcase.

Takes down a book. Has second

thoughts and puts it back. Selects

an album of news clippings. Sits in

chair in front of desk and starts

to go through them. Can’t take it.

Puts his hand up over his eyes and

starts to weep.

Private Langhorne, a young soldier

in his combat uniform, enters

slowly. Stands before General

Stratton. Salutes.

PRIVATE LANGHORNE

Good evening, sir.

GENERAL STRATTON

(startled; lowers hand)

Good evening, son.

(stares at him)

Private Langhorne? Is that you?

PRIVATE LANGHORNE

Yes, sir. None other.

GENERAL STRATTON

But I thought you died of your wounds. At least, that’s the

report I got.

17.

PRIVATE LANGHORNE

I did, sir. But, thanks to you, I’m still alive.

GENERAL STRATTON

How’s that?

PRIVATE LANGHORNE

You’ve kept me alive in your memories. When you think of me,

I exist, in a way. I mean, it’s not like actually being alive

again. But, at least, it’s something. When everybody

completely forgets about you, that’s when you really cease to

exist.

GENERAL STRATTON

Well, I think that may be true, son. Kind of a fitting way to

go on. In the minds of the people who cared about you.

PRIVATE LANGHORNE

I think so. I wouldn’t want to trouble anybody else. The

world can’t stop for every single person who dies. Or when

would there ever be time for anybody to be happy?

GENERAL STRATTON

Never thought of that, soldier. Well, I’m not about to forget

you. In fact, I was dreaming about you earlier this evening.

PRIVATE LANGHORNE

You were?

GENERAL STRATTON

Yes, I was. I was very sorry to learn you died.

PRIVATE LANGHORNE

Trust me. So was I. I didn’t know about it when it happened,

though. It was just lights out.

GENERAL STRATTON

Tell me, Private, what can I do for you?

18.

PRIVATE LANGHORNE

Oh, nothing much, sir. I just want to tell you that I was

grateful you tried to save me the day I got hit with

shrapnel. It was real courageous of you to fight your way

over and shield me with your own body. So, at least, I got to

die in the field hospital, instead of at the hands of the

Viet Cong.

GENERAL STRATTON

I just did what any good officer would do. I always put the

lives of the troops under my command first. You know that,

don’t you?

PRIVATE LANGHORNE

Yes, I do, sir. I also want to thank you for coming to visit

me at the hospital. I must’ve been a sorry sight. Bandages

from my shoulders clear down to my butt.

GENERAL STRATTON

I would rather it had been me, lying there. When I learned

about your death, I wrote your parents a letter to tell them

how bravely you distinguished yourself that day.

PRIVATE LANGHORNE

Thank you, sir. I know you did.

GENERAL STRATTON

How’s that?

PRIVATE LANGHORNE

I live on in their thoughts, too. They always wanted to meet

you.

GENERAL STRATTON

They did?

PRIVATE LANGHORNE

Yes, sir. They’re old now. But they always wanted to hear

from you what happened.

GENERAL STRATTON

I’d tell them if I could.

19.

PRIVATE LANGHORNE

That’s mighty nice of you. Do you mind if they join us?

GENERAL STRATTON

They can do that?

PRIVATE LANGHORNE

Yes, sir. Only because you looked at a picture of them when

you wrote the note. Do you still remember what they looked

like?

GENERAL STRATTON

It’s a long way back, son.

PRIVATE LANGHORNE

I understand, sir. They buried me with a picture of them in

my hands.

(takes picture from pocket)

If you just take a look at it and think about them, they can

join us.

GENERAL STRATTON

They can?

PRIVATE LANGHORNE

Yes, sir. They’ll be as young as they are in the picture,

too. Be fun to see them that way again. I’d do it, but I

can’t make them appear, because I’m officially dead.

GENERAL STRATTON

Be a privilege to meet them, son.

Takes photo and looks at it; then

looks around. Private Langhorne’s

parents appear and walk slowly

toward them.

PRIVATE LANGHORNE

Hi, Mom. Hi, Dad. This is General Stratton.

GENERAL STRATTON

A pleasure to meet you.

20.

MR. LANGHORNE

Thank you, General. Sam Langhorne and my wife, Mitzi. The way

we looked some years ago.

MRS. LANGHORNE

We’ve wanted to meet you for so long. Your letter meant a

great deal to us.

MR. LANGHORNE

Yes, it did, General. But ...

(can’t go on)

MRS. LANGHORNE

... it couldn’t bring our son back.

MR. LANGHORNE

Nothing could. He was gone, except, of course, for the way he

lives on in our minds. Not as much of a consolation as I wish

it was.

MRS. LANGHORNE

Not much at all. I still miss him so much. He was our only

child.

MR. LANGHORNE

Taken from us. And in a goddam war that still doesn’t make

sense to me.

MRS. LANGHORNE

There was our precious son, risking his life, when people

back home just wanted the war to be over.

MR. LANGHORNE

It pains me to admit it, but the people I used to scoff at --

the hippies -- were right. It was a stupid war.

MRS. LANGHORNE

We trusted our son to you and the United States Government.

And you betrayed that trust.

MR. LANGHORNE

Why did we have to fight that war, General? We’d feel better

if we understood.

21.

GENERAL STRATTON

In retrospect --

MR. LANGHORNE

-- retrospect?

GENERAL STRATTON

It’s taken me a while to see the event clearly. We should’ve

gone by geography. That’s where the real lines should be

drawn. What the hell were we doing fighting a war in one of

the countries in Southeast Asia that’s like a finger hanging

down from mainland China? What were we doing in Korea, for

that matter. Same strategic problem. My dad fought in that

war.

MR. LANGHORNE

Did he raise any objections?

GENERAL STRATTON

Not publicly. But he knew we had made a poor strategic choice

of where to draw the battle line. But there we at least have

a free South Korea to show for it.

MRS. LANGHORNE

But what about Viet Nam, the war where our son died?

GENERAL STRATTON

Not as much to show for it as I’d like.

MR. LANGHORNE

The only honorable thing I see that came out of it is the

sacrifice our son and thousands of other young men like him

made. And then later, dammit, we had to read about us getting

chummy with the Vietnamese, north and south.

GENERAL STRATTON

I regret the same things you do. But, hard as it is to come

to terms with, time marches on. Today, we’re friends with the

Germans, the Japanese, and the Italians -- the axis forces my

father went to war against. And my grandfather fought the

Germans in World War I. As you may know, I come from a

military family.

22.

MR. LANGHORNE

Those wars were different. We had to fight ‘em. Freedom was

threatened. Civilization was. I fought in World War II

myself.

GENERAL STRATTON

You did?

MR. LANGHORNE

A marine. Semper Fi! Was one of the first out of my landing

craft when we hit the beaches at Normandy. Somehow, made it

through alive. I was proud of my service. We kicked Hitler’s

butt because we had to. And when we got shot up or killed, we

knew it was the price of freedom.

MRS. LANGHORNE

We just can’t understand why our son had to die.

PRIVATE LANGHORNE

That’s OK, Mom. He’s not to blame. He was just like me. Doing

his duty.

GENERAL STRATTON

Yes, I was. I was a brigadier general then. Right at the

front with my troops. Back then I supported the war. I felt I

had to. It was my duty. I believed in going into Iraq the

first time, too, when Saddam invaded Kuwait. But the second

time -- I felt it was imprudent. More frankly, I considered

it calculated imbecility!

MR. LANGHORNE

Did you raise an objection?

GENERAL STRATTON

I still did what I felt was my duty. My breaking point didn’t

come until Afghanistan. And you know how it came? I was

visiting a war memorial stateside. In the middle of a grassy

field, the town had erected a tall gray monument with all the

wars this country has fought carved into it, along with the

years in which they occurred. The list began with the

Revolutionary War and came clear up to the present. Looking

down the list, I noticed how many of the wars were recent.

23.

Then it came to me that our leadership had jumped the tracks.

We’ve been fighting wars that have nothing or little to do

with our national security.

SAM LANGHORNE

If you don’t mind my saying so, it’s about time you woke up.

GENERAL STRATTON

Sorry. The transition hasn’t been an easy one. I had to

understand many things.

(becomes philosophical)

The operations of empire don’t come easily to America. How do

you balance belief in freedom with the conquest of others?

Belief in “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” with

intervention to remove malefactors who threaten the Pax

Americana, even when they’re a blight on their own people?

Idealistically, you can’t. But reality is another matter.

(takes the bottle of Jack

Daniels from his drawer;

pours a glass)

GENERAL STRATTON

Like some?

PRIVATE LANGHORNE

I think we could all use some, sir.

MR.LANGHORNE

Yes, we could. Right, Mitzi?

MRS.LANGHORNE

Just a little. Whiskey is too strong for my taste.

GENERAL STRATTON

Good.

(gets up and crosses to

armoire; as he takes out

more glasses)

24.

I tremble to think what this country could’ve been if we

hadn’t wasted the lives of our young warriors and our

national treasury in wars that were unnecessary for us to

participate in, but instead had invested them in making this

nation an unprecedented example to the rest of the world

about the benefits of freedom.

(comes back and pours in

other glasses)

My, oh, my, how much more we might have changed the world by

example! But that’s another matter.

(passes out the drinks)

I have now absented myself from discussions at the top about

the course this country should take. Or rather I have been

absented from them. I am now officially recognized as a loose

cannon. Sorry to go on like this, but thinking about the ill-

advised wars America has involved itself in rips my guts

apart.

MR. LANGHORNE

(takes a shot of whiskey)

Not as much as our son’s were torn apart.

Private Langhorne and Mrs.

Langhorne also drink)

GENERAL STRATTON

I’m sorry. Truly sorry.

MR. LANGHORNE

(puts down glass and start to

back away)

But how many more young men and how many more parents have to

go through the loss we did before there’s a change?

MRS. LANGHORNE

(puts down her glass and

backs away, too)

How many more?

The parents back away until they

disappear. General Stratton is in

anguish.

25.

Private Langhorne goes to him,

glass in hand, and puts his hand on

his shoulder.

PRIVATE LANGHORNE

I’m glad they got to meet you, sir. Sorry if they got upset.

My death was really hard on them. I know you did your best.

GENERAL STRATTON

You do, son?

PRIVATE LANGHORNE

Yes, sir.

(takes last drink and puts

glass down)

The best you could. We all did.

General Stratton puts his hand on

Private Langhorne’s hand. Breaks

down. Sound of explosions.

GENERAL STRATTON

(eyes open widely; shouts)

Incoming, private. Hit the ground!

(pulls him down to floor with

him)

Viet Cong everywhere!

(pulls out imaginary pistol;

begins to shoot)

Stay down! Fire at will!

PRIVATE LANGHORNE

(points imaginary rifle)

Yes, sir.

(starts firing)

GENERAL STRATTON

Look! They’re breaking through on our left flank.

PRIVATE LANGHORNE

Can’t let that happen, sir.

(struggles to get up)

26.

GENERAL STRATTON

Stay down!

PRIVATE LANGHORNE

I’ll be right back. Gotta help my buddies.

(frees himself and runs

forward, shooting)

Die, you rotten motherfuckers! Die!

Explosion. He falls to the ground,

wounded}

I’m hit! Dammit!

(wails with agony)

GENERAL STRATTON

Don’t shout! You’re calling attention to yourself!

(gets up; runs over and

throws himself on him)

Quiet, private! You’ll be all right. Don’t worry. Medic!

Medic! I need a medic over here!

Lights fade down. Come up shortly.

General Stratton is lying on the

floor of his study, asleep. Private

Langhorne is gone. General Stratton

opens his eyes. Looks around. Gets

his bearings and heads back to the

bedroom. Enters.

MARION

(from bed)

Is everything all right, Eric?

GENERAL STRATTON

Yes, dear. I was just doing a little reading.

She looks at him, unconvinced.

BLACKOUT

END OF ACT I

SCENE 2

27.

ACT I

SCENE 3

The study. General Stratton and

Jill. She has her recorder on the

edge of the desk.

JILL

As you know, you’ve often been called the greatest American

general since Eisenhower.

GENERAL STRATTON

Very flattering indeed. Ike’s one of my heroes. He was the

right man at the right time. I’m sure even his name scared

the pants off Hitler. I mean, think of the wonderful

coincidence. Eisenhower, “Eisenpower.” Just the thing to send

a chill down the spine of a power-crazed Nazi. Hitler ended

up like he should have.

(mimics actions; points

pistol)

Sorry, Fraulein Eva. But we must call it quitsies forever.

Blam! Sorry for you, too, Herr Hitler. But anything is better

than being captured alive by the Allies. So gote nacht.

(points imaginary pistol at

own head)

Blam! Most fitting instance of natural justice I can think

of. You become what you do. Your choices define your destiny.

You behave like a rat-bastard, you end up like a rat-bastard.

Think of Mussolini, shot by his own countrymen and hung

upside down in Milan for the public to mock.

JILL

Yikes! How can whole nations go nuts from time to time? But

back to Ike. What do you think is the principal difference

between you and Dwight Eisenhower?

GENERAL STRATTON

He went on to become the President, and I went on to

involuntary retirement, sort of like MacArthur getting the

boot from Truman. Remember MacArthur’s famous speech at the

time: “Old soldiers never die;

28.

they just fade away.” Well, just for the record, fading away

can a lot tougher than dying.

JILL

Oh, no need for you to fade away. You could probably have a

political career if you want one. Have you considered the

possibility?

GENERAL STRATTON

Only if I could run against the nincompoop who fired me and

beat his arrogant ass. What glorious justice that would be!

JILL

Then you would consider the prospect?

GENERAL STRATTON

Only if I had an open invitation. Not if I had to do all the

glad-handing that a candidate is required to do today. I’m

just not up to it. Come to think of it, I don’t think I’m up

to the pressures of the presidency at all. I’ve been walking

around with shrapnel and bullets in me since I was a

brigadier general in Viet Nam. Got metal in my back and my

right leg. Worst of all, I have way too many holes shot

through my spirit. I need to relax and get some distance on

the wars I’ve been through. The gunfire and bombs, at least.

But never, I suppose, the site of dead American warriors and

the screams of the wounded. The troops who’ve served under my

command. Helluva responsibility.

JILL

You served them well. You’re known for the victories you won.

GENERAL STRATTON

As Napoleon said, “Soldiers generally win battles; generals

get the credit.” What can I say? It’s time for me to heal, to

the extent I can. Time to hear things like birds singing in

the morning. Also time for an occasional shot of Jack

Daniels.

(stands)

Mind if I have a little of that magic elixir?

29.

JILL

Not at all.

GENERAL STRATTON

Think of it! We evolved in a world where we can wake up to

the chirping of birds, and we’ve turned it into a world where

we wake up to bombs exploding. Less than an optimal

contribution, to say the least.

(holds up bottle)

Like some?

JILL

Thanks but I seldom drink before dinner. At lunch, once in a

while. But when I do, I’m useless for the rest of the day.

GENERAL STRATTON

Calms me down. Can’t say it puts me to sleep, though. It’s

not that damn good. If you know any booze that can do that

for a shell-shocked brain, let me know. I’ll buy a barrel.

JILL

Red wine puts me to sleep.

GENERAL STRATTON

(as he pours some whiskey)

Wish I could drink enough of it for that to happen. But have

to go a little light on the volume. Too much sugar. I’ve been

diagnosed as prediabetic. Probably ought to dump a few

pounds.

(takes a sip)

Maybe I’ll be able to after the book is behind us.

(returns)

JILL

Let me change the subject. How have your children reacted to

what’s happened?

GENERAL STRATTON

Well, at first my son was quite upset. He’s about to graduate

from West Point and went there with the intention of

following in his father’s glorious footsteps, that is, until

I blew up at the President.

30.

Not as proud of me as he used to be, I can tell you that.

Says he takes a lot of flack from his fellow cadets. Expect

he’ll cool down eventually. Some of the faculty have told me

I did something that’s been long overdue. Confidentially, of

course.

JILL

What about your daughter?

GENERAL STRATTON

Oh, she couldn’t be happier about what happened. Called right

away to congratulate me. She and I have gone at it in the

past, because she’s a total peacenik. Even strums a guitar

and sings about the usual lovey-dovey nonsense. Doesn’t seem

to understand the impracticality of singing about peace and

love to somebody who’s determined to blow your brains out. I

told her there are wars that have to be fought for

commendable reasons, like the Revolutionary War and World War

II. But she doesn’t want to consider the possibility. In

other words, she’s the kind of person who needs a first-rate

military to protect her.

JILL

Do you see her often?

GENERAL STRATTON

No. She’s in California. Has a couple of kids now. Marion and

I plan to visit her in the winter and have some fun with our

grandchildren. Been a long time between visits.

JILL

It’s good you have a support system in place.

GENERAL STRATTON

You bet. Marion is a good 90% of it. Wonderful woman. I was

so lucky the day I met her I think maybe what happened is

that I used up most of the luck I was ever going to have.

JILL

Well, I don’t know about that. You’ve had a certain amount of

luck in your career. And, of course, you met me.

31.

GENERAL STRATTON

That I did. And glad of it.

JILL

Thank you. Happy about it myself.

GENERAL STRATTON

You married?

JILL

Divorced.

GENERAL STRATTON

Sorry to hear that.

JILL

Don’t be. Divorce isn’t a problem. It’s the answer when a

relationship isn’t good.

GENERAL STRATTON

How long ago did it happen?

JILL

Three years ago.

GENERAL STRATTON

It must be especially tough when it happens later in life.

JILL

I guess. It’s difficult to find people who are still capable

of love. Most of the men I meet just seem to be looking for a

bandage to put on their wounds, and they’re quite willing to

peel it off when they feel like it. But enough about me.

(reconstitutes herself)

Actually, in addition to your wife and children, you’ve had

quite a lot of other good fortune. You don’t get to be the

head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff without some.

32.

GENERAL STRATTON

I can tell you this. At times when I was in a meeting and had

to cast my vote about whether or not to commit our troops

somewhere in this half-backward world and generally

unappreciative world, I felt like one of the unluckiest

bastards on the planet. Toward the end, I’d be sitting there

thinking, where in the hell is the wisdom of our founding

fathers? Avoid foreign entanglements. We’ve got a great ocean

that divides us from the old world. Where is that wisdom

today? Countries want to misbehave, let them. They want to

cooperate with us, invite them. Let’s be the successful

country we can be. Nothing is more reformative than envy.

JILL

Many people think isolationism would be the end of America as

a world power?

GENERAL STRATTON

A good dose of isolationism is just what the doctor ordered.

Help balance the last sixty or so years of foreign

misadventures. Let’s protect our friends but let our enemies

drown in their own venom. Anybody who hates this country is a

lunatic. Think about this. It’s the only country in history

that really could conquer the world, but we decline to do it.

Our principles forbid it. And you’re not gonna love a country

like that?

JILL

Maybe we also know we can’t afford the upkeep. As Coolidge

said, “The business of America is business.”

GENERAL STRATTON

The business of America is much bigger than that. We’re

freedom’s greatest hope. What we’ve failed to do is make

part of our operational guidance the fact that different

parts of the world are living in different historical times.

We can’t lead them into the modern world. They have to grow

into it by seeing examples of its benefits. When we lose

ourselves in the deserts of their backwardness, we reduce our

ability to improve the conditions of life and brutalize our

spirits. Take the Middle East.

33.

Did the people there experience the Renaissance? Did they go

through the Enlightenment? No. Those were Western phenomenon.

They’re still mentally in the Middle Ages. Listen to their

references to us as crusaders.

JILL

Let me ask you a sensitive question? What do you think of

Muslim behavior?

GENERAL STRATTON

I’ll tell you what I it is. It’s how Muslims behave. They

define it. Just as our behavior defines us. There’s no escape

from that. It’s just as I said before. You become what you

do.

JILL

I think that’s a usable definition. Moving right along, what

do you think is required to make a good war?

GENERAL STRATTON

One thing. A son-of-a-bitch of a leader who’s attacking

innocent people. Only today we can fight smarter. We didn’t

have to invade Iraq once we had Saddam out of Kuwait. We just

had to target him as the supremely deserving son of a bitch

he was.

JILL

What about the sovereignty of other nations?

GENERAL STRATTON

They want to protect a rat bastard, they don’t deserve the

protections of sovereignty. Not from the good guys. Like it

or not, this is the American empire -- and they just better

be thankful it’s not nation with the usual thirst for

dominion.

JILL

OK. What do you think about Afghanistan?

GENERAL STRATTON

You know what I think. My comment to the president made into

more than enough headlines.

34.

We didn’t have to send over tens of thousands of troops and

tons of armor to get rid of Osama. We could have waited to do

what we finally did: a surgical removal.

JILL

What do you think about the Navy Seal operation that got him?

GENERAL STRATTON

Exactly what I’m talking about. Precision strikes. Seals.

Drones. Not flat-footed invasions. It’s all we ever have to

do. You take that reckless young jackass in North Korea. He

gets too out of hand, we do a precision strike. Sorry, kid.

Your ass is grass.

JILL

Is that moral?

GENERAL STRATTON

Let me put it this way. It’s my preferred morality.

JILL

You know I’m not going to accept that, don’t you?

GENERAL STRATTON

OK. Let’s try this. It’s a lot more moral than sending

American troops in there to die by the thousands and killing

their own people by the thousands. Tough choices, but real.

As real as blood and guts.

JILL

How do you think the Chinese would react?

GENERAL STRATTON

They know what side their economy is buttered on. Best policy

decision we made in decades was to encourage economic

development there. It’s a revolution in progress and Mao’s

worst nightmare. Frankly, I’m surprised they don’t move into

North Korea and get the country on the road to development

themselves.

JILL

That sounds a bit altruistic.

35.

GENERAL STRATTON

Think of it this way. It’s a whole new source of cheap labor

for them, which they’re running short of. So the rest of

Eastern Asia is starting to kick their economic butt. After

all, one rubber sandal is as good as the next.

JILL

We will not include that last comment in the book. Let’s move

on. What about nuclear weapons?

GENERAL STRATTON

What about them?

JILL

What’s you position on their use?

GENERAL STRATTON

If we didn’t use them in Korea, Viet Nam, Iraq, or

Afghanistan, do you think they remain a viable option? The

world should be damn grateful for our restraint. The only

reason we’d ever need to use them is if someone was about to

use them on us. We have to be first. The cost of being second

is unacceptable. You agree with that?

JILL

It’s a horrific prospect.

GENERAL STRATTON

I’m not asking about prospects. I’m asking about reality and

the tough choices that go with it. And the only thing that

makes them tough is consideration for the other guy. We do

that. We don’t have many enemies who do.

JILL

And the nuclear armaments of other nations?

GENERAL STRATTON

Our enemies would blow us away in an instant if they thought

they could get away with it. But they can’t. That’s one of

things I realized that made me set aside my fragile

restraint. Once the United States of American became a major

nuclear power, we never had to fight another war.

36.

Think about that. Never another war! Who was going to conquer

us? The only possible justification for another war is if

some belligerent jackass goes after one of our true allies.

Now you think of that and you think of how far we’ve strayed.

It’s a goddam tragic disgrace -- that’s what it is.

JILL

When you put it that way, you do wonder what we’ve been

doing. Mad, mad, mad as it sounds, I do feel safer under a

nuclear umbrella.

GENERAL STRATTON

You should. We’re safe from outside invaders. How many

nations could say that in the entire history of the world?

The Greeks? The Romans? Nobody. We’re the first.

JILL

Do you ever think there will be a time when we can get rid of

nuclear weapons?

GENERAL STRATTON

Yeah, when every last warlike leader on earth has been

transformed into an angel of peace, pretty white wings

flapping on their backs and harps in their hands, singing

about peace on earth and joy to the world. Until then, we

better have nukes, because other people are going to get

them. What we don’t need is nearly as many as we or other

countries have.

JILL

Then you’re for reducing the number of our warheads?

GENERAL STRATTON

Along with other nuclear-armed countries, yes. But I am not

for their elimination. Terrible as it may sound, the angel of

massive death, as represented by nuclear weapons, is the

greatest peacekeeper the world has ever known. The major

powers can’t even begin to think about attacking one another.

First time in history there’s been a situation like that. The

Pax Nuclearis, if you will. The threat of a conflagration

worse than any hell the human race ever imagined.

37.

And with that realistic invitation to moral outrage, do you

mind if we bring today’s session to a close?

JILL

If you insist. Hot session, General.

GENERAL STRATTON

Yeah, well, what can I tell you? I’m a hot guy. Just kidding.

I mean when it comes to the things that matter to me. My dad

knew how to get riled up. It seems I do, too.

JILL

I won’t disagree.

GENERAL STRATTON

Divorced, hunh?

JILL

I knew when I was walking down the aisle that I was making a

mistake. Not very bright, I admit, but what can I say?

GENERAL STRATTON

I’m sure you’ll meet the right guy someday.

JILL

Let’s hope so. I finally put up a profile on Match. Took me a

long time to overcome my pride. But I’m too busy to spend a

lot of time looking.

GENERAL STRATTON

I don’t know much about that.

JILL

You don’t have to.

GENERAL STRATTON

No. I don’t. Maybe I still have a little luck left after all.

BLACKOUT

END OF ACT I

SCENE 3

38.

ACT I

SCENE 4

General Stratton is in his study, a

glass of Jack Daniels in hand, with

a bottle of it nearby that is

nearly empty. He’s troubled and a

bit soused. His father, Frederick

Stratton, appears and walks toward

him. He is dressed as a highly

decorated general.

FREDERICK STRATTON

Good evening, Son.

GENERAL STRATTON

Dad?

FREDERICK STRATTON

Still remember what I look like, huh?

GENERAL STRATTON

Of course, I do.

(reaches for picture of him

on desk; holds it up)

You’re still my hero.

FREDERICK STRATTON

Thanks. Once you were mine.

GENERAL STRATTON

Once?

FREDERICK STRATTON

Until you forgot what I taught you about duty.

GENERAL STRATTON

Sorry, I let you down.

FREDERICK STRATTON

You let the whole US military down.

39.

GENERAL STRATTON

If you say so.

(points to Jim Bean)

Want some?

FREDERICK STRATTON

Love some but not just now.

GENERAL STRATTON

Why not? Remember when you used to give me a little sip from

time to time?

FREDERICK STRATTON

Just on special occasions. What are you doing, getting

soused?

GENERAL STRATTON

Drowning my troubles, I guess. You’re still the finest and

wisest man I ever met.

FREDERICK STRATTON

Thanks. Dammit, Son! What a letdown! From head of the Joint

Chiefs of Staff to a disgraced retirement. And no going back,

either.

GENERAL STRATTON

Don’t want to go back.

FREDERICK STRATTON

Why not?

GENERAL STRATTON

Somebody had to say it. What war are you prouder of fighting?

World War II or Korea?

FREDERICK STRATTON

World War II.

GENERAL STRATTON

Why?

FREDERICK STRATTON

Had to be fought.

40.

GENERAL STRATTON

How about Korea?

FREDERICK STRATTON

Proud of it, too. South Korea is free and prosperous.

GENERAL STRATTON

Was the result worth over 50,000 young American lives?

FREDERICK STRATTON

That’s a tough question.

GENERAL STRATTON

Well, all of my questions are tough. I wish I could say the

loss of life in the wars I’ve fought - from Nam to

Afghanistan - has been commensurate with the result. But I

can’t.

(takes another shot of Jack

Daniels)

I only wish I had opened my big mouth sooner.

FREDERICK STRATTON

Did your breach of discipline achieve anything, other than

terminate your distinguished career?

GENERAL STRATTON

Not yet. But I’m doing a book now that may rectify the

situation. This country has got to learn how to defend the

free world with greater dexterity than massive military

intervention.

FREDERICK STRATTON

You think that’s possible?

GENERAL STRATTON

It better be. Or we’re gonna suffer the usual fate of empires

of the past. Overextension and collapse from within. Rot from

the inside out. I’m damn proud I took a stand.

FREDERICK STRATTON

Proud? Then I suppose continuing the family tradition now

depends on William.

41.

(gestures to the side;

General Stratton’s son,

William, enters)

Our next military hero. Your son and my grandson.

GENERAL STRATTON

You, too? How can you be here? You’re supposed to be at West

Point.

WILLIAM STRATTON

Just dropped in, Dad, when he brought me up and you thought

about me.

FREDERICK STRATTON

How’s it going at the Point, William?

WILLIAM STRATTON

Top of my class, Granddad, at least, till this happened. Glad

I’ll graduate soon.

(to General Stratton)

How could you forget, Dad? The American military is

subordinate to the civilian government and the President is

the Commander in Chief, period.

FREDERICK STRATTON

Good for you, William!

(to General Stratton)

Behold! The savior of the family’s proud military history.

GENERAL STRATTON

I’m explaining myself in my memoirs.

He gets up, a bit unsteadily, and

motions for them to follow him.

GENERAL STRATTON (CONT’D)

Come with me. I want to show you something.

When they reach the back of the

stage, the lights come up. We see

rows of tombstones, with a soldier

standing behind each one, saluting.

42.

GENERAL STRATTON (CONT’D)

These are some of the dead who didn’t have to die. The dead

I commanded in wars that were not necessary. The dead from

Arlington to community graveyards all across this valiant but

misled nation.

(looks at son)

Maybe one day you’ll understand the burdens of serving under

ineptitude.

(looks at father)

Maybe even you will, Dad.

He leaves them and walks in among

the tombstones.

GENERAL STRATTON

(to soldier)

Tell me a little about yourself, Son.

PRIVATE DONALDSON

Private First Class Stephen Donaldson, sir. 21 years old,

from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Deployed to Afghanistan twice.

GENERAL STRATTON

What happened?

PRIVATE DONALDSON

I was training Afghan soldiers when I was shot in the back by

a Taliban sympathizer.

GENERAL STRATTON

(puts hand on soldier’s

shoulder)

I’m sorry, Son.

(goes to next soldier)

LIEUTENANT JEFFRIES

Lieutenant Chris Jeffries. I hail from Tampa, Florida. 24

years old. Deployed to Iraq three times. Riding in a Humvee

when a roadside bomb went off.

43.

GENERAL STRATTON

(chokes up; shakes his hand)

Sorry, Chris.

(goes to next one; a female

soldier)

PRIVATE ANNIE BLISS

Private Annie Bliss. From Roanoke, Virginia. 22 years of age.

Serving in Afghanistan when the Apache helicopter I was

riding in was brought down by machine-gun fire. The crash was

unsurvivable.

GENERAL STRATTON

You’re a brave woman, Annie. You break my heart.

(shakes her hand and moves

on)

PRIVATE WILLIS

Private Joe Willis, Bronx, New York. Deployed to Viet Nam. 18

years old. Killed in an ambush by the Viet Cong.

GENERAL STRATTON

I spent a lot of time at the front. Tough going, I know.

(salutes him back; moves on)

CORPORAL ROSA

Corporal Chuck Rosa. Age 32. Deployed to Afghanistan. The

outpost I was visiting was overrun. All my men were killed or

wounded. I was wounded by fire from an AK-47. Back in the

states, I couldn’t deal with my memories. I shot myself in

the face. I’m sorry, sir. But dead is dead. No more memories.

GENERAL STRATTON

Sorry it came to that, corporal. I know what it’s like to

lose your men. Tougher than we can ever explain.

He moves to the next tombstone, as

a young woman shows up in civilian

dress

GENERAL STRATTON

You related to one of these soldiers?

44.

CHARLOTTE EVANS

Yes. I’m Charlotte Evans. I come here to visit the grave of

my husband.

(she takes the hand of

Lieutenant Evans)

Sometimes I bring our two children.

GENERAL STRATTON

(to her husband)

What war did you fight in, Lieutenant?

LIEUTENANT EVANS

Two of them, sir. Iraq and Afghanistan.

GENERAL STRATTON

Tell me what happened?

LIEUTENANT EVANS

I was at an outpost in Helmand province. A suicide bomber

crashed through the entrance in a truck and detonated it. I

ran out to see what happened. My men were lying there, dead

and wounded. Just then the Taliban opened fire from the

hillside. An RPG came in and landed next to me. That’s the

last thing I knew, except the way I live on in my wife’s

memory and the memory of daughter. My son, Danny, was born

after I was dead.

CHARLOTTE EVANS

I tell him about his father all the time.

GENERAL STRATTON

I’m sorry about what happened. Oh, Jesus Christ, how can one

dumb, sentimental bastard like me bear it all? I wish there

was something I could do. I wish the hell there was

something.

(puts his head on Lieutenant

Evans’ shoulder and begins

to weep; lights fade down)

END OF ACT I

SCENE 4

45.

ACT I

SCENE 5

Study. Morning. General Stratton is

asleep on the floor, with a glass

still in his hand and a mostly

empty bottle of Jack Daniels

nearby. Marion enters. Sees him and

rushes to him. Kneels beside him

and touches him.

MARION

Eric! Sweetheart, are you all right?

GENERAL STRATTON

(stirs; moans; opens eyes)

Good morning, Marion.

MARION

You drank too much.

GENERAL STRATTON

(sits up)

Apparently.

MARION

(helping him up)

Why would you do that to yourself?

GENERAL STRATTON

No sense going into it.

MARION

(indicates chair)

Come over here and sit down. I’ll get you some coffee.

GENERAL STRATTON

Not just yet, dear. I don’t want to be that sober.

(sits with her help)

46.

MARION

That’s not like you. You were getting better. Doing this book

is stirring up too many memories.

GENERAL STRATTON

No choice. I have to do it.

MARION

Why? You’ve already given most of your life to the army.

GENERAL STRATTON

A lot of men under my command went through more than I did.

They need me to give voice to their sacrifice and wrest

whatever benefit I can from it. I’ve talked to enough

parents. They want to know what happened to their sons and

daughters. And the soldiers who are having the same kind of

problems I am -- they need to know they’re not alone.

MARION

(kneels at his feet)

But what about us? This is supposed to be our time together.

You promised.

GENERAL STRATTON

I know. I’ll be done soon enough. I’ll try to go lighter on

the booze. Damn stuff promises to relax you and gives you

nightmares.

MARION

I think it’s all too much for you.

GENERAL STRATTON

If I decide I can’t manage it, I’ll let Jill know. It may

sound grandiose, but I think America needs to hear what I

have to say. I could use some of that coffee now.

MARION

All right. Would you like me to make breakfast?

GENERAL STRATTON

Not just yet.

47.

MARION

(as he struggles to his feet)

You’re all I’ve got left, Eric. The kids are grown and gone.

I want us to be healthy and happy together.

(kisses his forehead)

I love you.

GENERAL STRATTON

Love you, too. Now go get that coffee.

MARION

Be back in a minute.

She exits the study. He stare ahead

for a few seconds. Then he gets up

and goes to the armoire. Opens the

door. Takes out the Lugar. Points

it. Looks back in the armoire and

takes out a bullet. Examines it.

The lights fade down.

END OF ACT I

48.

ACT II

SCENE 1

General Stratton’s study. He is at

his desk, sipping coffee, Luger in

his other hand. Sergeant Danny

Donovan is in a wheelchair, facing

the audience.

SERGEANT DONOVAN

Are you going to put the Luger back in the cabinet?

GENERAL STRATTON

I’m thinking about it.

SERGEANT DONOVAN

You have no right to take your own life. You haven’t suffered

enough.

GENERAL STRATTON

Maybe not. Seems to be the way the mind works, though. You

can think of possibilities. Then you make a choice.

SERGEANT DONOVAN

So make one. You didn’t know me from Adam, did you?

GENERAL STRATTON

(takes note from memento

folder)

Not until I got this letter from your brother, Jimmy.

SERGEANT DONOVAN

Good kid. Glad he’s overweight. Couldn’t get in the military

if he wanted to.

GENERAL STRATTON

When I got it, I called you.

SERGEANT DONOVAN

I heard the phone ring. Sorry there wasn’t anybody there to

pick it up.

49.

GENERAL STRATTON

Jimmy asked me to try to stop you.

SERGEANT DONOVAN

I had a right.

GENERAL STRATTON

To kill yourself?

SERGEANT DONOVAN

To be free. I was an athlete, you know. Baseball. First base.

Thought one day I might make the majors. But one bullet in my

spinal cord and that was that. Couldn’t move anything from

the neck down. Helpless. Couldn’t even shoot myself. Even had

a hard time takin’ enough sleeping pills to do the job. I was

frickin’ helpless. It was time to check out.

GENERAL STRATTON

Your brother didn’t think so. He loved you. Said your parents

were dead.

SERGEANT DONOVAN

Yeah. Plane crash, when I was nineteen. It’s one reason I

enlisted. Wouldn’t have done it if I knew what would happen.

I was helping to train the Afghan army, if you can call it

that. One their soldiers turned on me and shot me from

behind. Right in the neck. That’s the thing that gets me the

most. I lost everything in a place where what we’re doing

isn’t appreciated. No appreciation. No goddam appreciation.

GENERAL STRATTON

I know, son. I honor your sacrifice. It’s one of the reasons

I’m sitting here with this.

(holds up Lugar)

SERGEANT DONOVAN

Why don’t you try to do something about it? I can’t. I want

you to tell my brother something for me. Tell him I miss him.

Tell him, tell him I just couldn’t go on anymore. Whole body

useless and wasting away. Bed sores, infected ones. No hope

for the usual things. Told my girlfriend to leave me.

50.

Find a guy she deserves. Fuckin’ useless. I was useless to

her. Will you tell him?

GENERAL STRATTON

Yes, I will.

SERGEANT DONOVAN

You can’t blame me for what I did to myself.

GENERAL STRATTON

I blame myself, son. I blame myself for not being able to

keep you out of the way of the bullet that did it.

SERGEANT DONOVAN

So do I. I blame everybody who let it happen. But that

doesn’t mean you have a right to kill yourself. That’s why

the guys sent me.

GENERAL STRATTON

The other soldiers?

SERGEANT DONOVAN

Who else? They thought you might listen. Well?

GENERAL STRATTON

Well, what?

SERGEANT DONOVAN

Either use the fuckin’ gun or put it away.

GENERAL STRATTON

(looks at gun, considering

what to do; rises)

OK. You win.

SERGEANT DONOVAN

Win? What the hell is left for me to win?

GENERAL STRATTON

(unloads gun; gets up and

goes to armoire; puts gun

and bullets back)

The argument. Done.

51.

(goes to him)

Thank you, Sergeant. Thank you for your help. And thank you

for your goddam sacrifice.

Lights fade down,

END OF ACT II

SCENE 1

52.

ACT II

SCENE 2

Foyer. Doorbell rings. Marion

enters. Opens door. Jill is there.

JILL

Good morning!

MARION

Good morning, Jill. Please, come in.

JILL

Thank you.

MARION

(closing door)

Do you mind if I share something with you?

JILL

Of course, not.

MARION

Doing the book is taking a terrible toll on my husband. His

nightmares have come back. I’m not sure he can go on.

JILL

How does he feel about it?

MARION

That he has to do it. Please, take it easy on him. He puts on

a good front. But he’s actually very fragile just now.

JILL

I understand. But once the book comes out, I think he’ll be

very proud of it. I think you will be, too.

MARION

I’ll have to trust your judgement. Let me take you to him

now.

(leads her across the foyer

to the study.

53.

Lights come up on study.

General Stratton is at his

desk, looking over paper

clippings)

MARION

(to both)

Have fun. But not too much fun.

JILL

Good morning!

GENERAL STRATTON

Good morning, Jill. Good to see you again.

(holds up stack of press

clippings)

Just reading up on my own life. Want to do justice to what

happened. Have a seat.

JILL

Thank you. We both have the same goal.

(sits)

I hope I’m not being too hard on you.

GENERAL STRATTON

Not at all. You’re a pussycat.

JILL

(taking out her recording

device)

I don’t think I’ve ever been called that before. It’s a bit

sexist.

GENERAL STRATTON

Sorry about that. Actually, I’m a great respecter of women’s

rights and their contributions. Didn’t start out that way,

though. Happened over time, as more and more women joined the

service. I saw how capable and dedicated they can be. Good

thing I caught on. My wife has changed over the years, too.

Become somewhat of a women’s libber. So my reformation helps

make for domestic felicity. I offered to make breakfast this

morning.

54.

JILL

You did?

GENERAL STRATTON

Yeah. Equality. Except she takes two eggs in her omelet and I

take three. What would you like to cover today?

JILL

Earlier in your career, you were on the front lines. Later,

you were way up the chain of command. Talk a little about the

effect casualties had on you in both circumstances? What was

the difference?

GENERAL STRATTON

I thought you were going to take it easy on me.

JILL

We can go on to something else if you prefer.

GENERAL STRATTON

No, that’s OK. It’s a good question. Not as much of a

difference as you might think. When you’re at the front, your

own life is in danger, along with the lives of your troops.

That adds a certain amount of immediacy. But casualties? They

hurt almost as much when you read about them in reports.

JILL

It’s good you so much value the lives of your troops.

GENERAL STRATTON

Now you’re talking about my religion.

JILL

But doesn’t actually being present when someone is injured or

killed affect you more?

GENERAL STRATTON

No one’s ever developed armor for that.

JILL

Go on.

55.

GENERAL STRATTON

What you finally learn is the most important thing you’ve

been put in charge of is the lives of the men and women under

your command. Their safety is the preeminent consideration in

any battle plan. As the ancient Chinese general Sun Tzu said,

“What the ancients called a clever fighter is one who not

only wins, but excels in winning with ease.”

JILL

Sounds like your battle plan.

GENERAL STRATTON

When you go into a battle, you don’t go in to fight with the

enemy. You go in to destroy it. I think one thing that has

been characteristic of great leaders is that they’ve had an

exceptional capacity for fellow-feeling but, once the

evidence is in, they’ve had the mental toughness to be

decisive. Mind if we move on?

JILL

Can I just stay with the subject a little longer? When you

look back on the different wars you’ve fought, do they affect

your attitude toward the loss of life differently? For

instance, how did the loss of life affect you in Viet Nam,

compared to Iraq and then Afghanistan?

GENERAL STRATTON

I think I’ve indicated that before. The more necessary a war

is, the more you can come to terms with the loss of life.

JILL

And the less necessary it is --

GENERAL STRATTON

-- you finally get to the breaking point, as I famously did.

Damn, doing this book is even more painful than being wounded

while you wait for a medic to arrive. You don’t happen to

have any anesthesia for this process, do you?

JILL

The best anesthesia is getting it done.

56.

GENERAL STRATTON

You’re right.

(pours himself some Jack

Daniels)

It’s especially important now. As you know, my son recently

graduated from West Point. We just learned that he’s going to

be deployed to Afghanistan.

(holds up glass)

Want a shot?

JILL

No, thanks.

GENERAL STRATTON

Just guarantee me one thing. If I have a heart attack during

the process, just tell everyone I did my best to get it done.

JILL

Don’t be silly. I’m not making it that difficult, am I?

GENERAL STRATTON

No. It’s just difficult terrain.

(takes another shot of

whiskey; looks at her)

Let’s keep going.

JILL

Let me go easy on you for a bit. Tell me about your life with

Marion.

GENERAL STRATTON

What can I say? Great wife. My best friend, too.

JILL

Have you always been faithful? Just trying to add a little

sexual interest. You don’t have to answer.

GENERAL STRATTON

Bad news. Yes, I have. Of course, that doesn’t mean I haven’t

been tempted. How about you? I mean, when you were married.

Were you always faithful?

57.

JILL

The book isn’t about me.

GENERAL STRATTON

No, it isn’t. So, were you?

JILL

What do you think? I wasn’t as happy as you seem to be.

BLACKOUT

END OF ACT II

SCENE 2

58.

ACT II

SCENE 3

Foyer. Marion is on her cell phone.

MARION

I know all about duty, Billy. I’ve lived with it all my life.

Just come back alive and in one piece.... Would you like to

speak with your father?... All right. I love you, William.

Please, stay in touch. Bye, now.

(hangs up, as General

Stratton enters)

That was Billy. He said to say hello.

GENERAL STRATTON

He did? Well, that’s at least something.

MARION

I’m worried sick about him. He’s our little boy.

GENERAL STRATTON

He’s a man now, Marion. An officer in the United States army.

I’m sure he’ll serve with distinction.

MARION

That’s not what I’m worried about.

GENERAL STRATTON

(puts arm around her)

I’m sure he’ll be fine, dear. He damn well better be.

Lights fade down.

END OF ACT II

SCENE 3

59.

ACT II

SCENE 4

Sounds of battle. Flashes and roar

of cannon fire. General Stratton

enters his study in his bathrobe,

blinded and deafened by it. He has

Jill by the hand and he’s leading

her along.

GENERAL STRATTON

Come with me, Jill. It’s military history the way I know it.

There’s Pericles, delivering his Funeral Oration, as reported

by Thucydides.

Lights come up on Pericles on a

podium, wearing his battle helmet.

PERICLES

"So died these men as became Athenians.... For this offering

of their lives made in common by them all they each of them

individually received that renown which never grows old, and

for a sepulchre, not so much that in which their bones have

been deposited, but that noblest of shrines wherein their

glory is laid up to be eternally remembered upon every

occasion on which deed or story shall call for its

commemoration. For heroes have the whole earth for their

tomb; and in lands far from their own, where the column with

its epitaph declares it, there is enshrined in every breast a

record unwritten with no tablet to preserve it, except that

of the heart.”

More cannon flashes and thunder.

Lights go down on Pericles and pick

up Alexander the Great, lying in

the desert with a fever. Four

generals look on.

GENERAL STRATTON

Recognize that guy? Alexander the Great, dying of a fever in

the desert.

60.

ALEXANDER THE GREAT

I regret only that there are no other worlds to conquer!

GENERAL

Yes, Alexander. To whom do you leave your empire?

ALEXANDER THE GREAT

To the strongest!

Generals look at each other, as if

wondering which of them might be.

Lights go down on them. More cannon

flashes and thunder. Lights come up

on Julius Caesar.

GENERAL STRATTON

One of my all-time heroes. Caesar. Always outnumbered by the

barbarians, sometimes ten or more to one, but consistently

victorious.

JULIUS CAESAR

(vehemently, pumping fist up

on each word)

Veni! Vidi! Vici!

(grabs his stomach)

Tu quoque, fili?

(falls to the ground)

Cannon flashes and thunder. Lights

go down on Julius Caesar and come

up on Napoleon, standing with his

hand in his jacket.

GENERAL STRATTON

You know who that is. He famously said, “Never interrupt your

enemy when he is making a mistake.” Too bad somebody didn’t

interrupt him on the way to Moscow.

NAPOLEON

(cockily)

You must not fear death, my lads; defy him and you drive him

into the enemy’s ranks....

61.

A soldier will fight long and hard for a bit of colored

ribbon.... Glory is fleeing, but obscurity is forever.

Cannon flashes and thunder. Lights

go down on Napoleon and come up on

Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce.

GENERAL STRATTON

Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce Indians. His surrender speech.

A favorite of the peaceniks. Didn’t think much of it till

lately.

CHIEF JOSEPH

“Tell General Howard I know his heart. What he told me

before, I have it in my heart. I am tired of fighting. Our

chiefs are killed; Looking Glass is dead; Too-Hul-Hul-Sote is

dead. The old men are all dead. It is the young men who say

yes or no. He who led on the young men is dead. It is cold,

and we have no blankets; the little children are freezing to

death. My people, some of them, have run away to the hills

and have no blankets, no food. No one knows where they are.

Perhaps they are freezing to death. I want to have time to

look for my children and see how many of them I can find.

Maybe I shall find them among the dead. Hear me, my chiefs! I

am tired; my heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now

stands, I will fight no more forever.”

Lights fade down on him. Cannon

flashes and thunder. Come up on

Dwight Eisenhower.

GENERAL STRATTON

(to Jill)

Look, Ike! A great hero of mine, as you know, and not just

for his brilliant generalship.

GENERAL EISENHOWER

“Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket

fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who

hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and not clothed.

This world in arms is not spending money alone.

62.

It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its

scientists, the hopes of its children. This is not a way of

life at all in any true sense. Under the cloud of threatening

war, it is humanity hanging from a cross of iron.”

Lights fade down. Cannon flashes

and thunder. General Stratton falls

onto the floor. Jill retreats.

Blackout.

END OF ACT II

SCENE 4

63.

ACT II

SCENE 5

General Stratton’s study. He and

Jill are seated.

GENERAL STRATTON

I had a dream the other night -- and you were in it.

JILL

I was? I hope it was a happy dream?

GENERAL STRATTON

Oh, just a brief guided tour of military leadership. Quite an

adventure.

JILL

Well, I’m delighted we both survived. As we wind down the

book, I’d like you to talk a bit about your future. What are

your plans?

GENERAL STRATTON

Oh, probably just take life easy. Travel a bit with Marion. I

like working with kids. Might coach a little football. Maybe

find a way to do some charitable work.

JILL

But many people still think of you as a very significant

public figure. Let’s suppose -- and I believe it’s quite

possible -- that the book is a resounding success and new

opportunities open up for you. Would you welcome them?

GENERAL STRATTON

I don’t know what they’d be, given my current situation. Has

there ever been another American general so generally

denounced?

JILL

There’s another presidential election coming up. Would you

consider running?

64.

GENERAL STRATTON

For the presidency? Heavens no! Anyway, I’m a realist. That

sort of possibility is way beyond my job description.

JILL

But if you were the president, you’d be in an ideal position

to move your new agenda ahead.

GENERAL STRATTON

Wishful thinking, indeed. Well, vanity, even among the Gods.

As I noted some time ago, if one of the parties presented me

with the opportunity, I might consider a run. But, trust me,

the possibility is more remote than Pluto.

JILL

Well, then, let’s lower our sights a bit. Say a new president

is elected and he has a far higher opinion of you and, in

fact, would like to nominate you for, say, secretary of

defense. How would you respond?

GENERAL STRATTON

It would depend on how high my opinion was of him. But I’d

still be reluctant. I’ve given my entire adult life to

military service. I promised Marion I’d take time for the two

of us now. Cripes, from what the publisher has lined up for

me, I’ll be busy enough just promoting this damn book.

JILL

But that will taper off. Then the big question will be, what

will you do for the rest of your life? You don’t strike me as

the sort of person who will be happy sipping Mai Tais on the

beach.

GENERAL STRATTON

Talk to me after I’ve spent a few years in the backyard,

swinging in the hammock. Do you think you pretty much have

what you need by now?

JILL

Yes, I think so. Superb material, as expected. If I need to

fill in some information here or there, I’ll be in touch.

65.

GENERAL STRATTON

Great! Never thought I’d make it. But somehow I did.

JILL

Somehow, we both did. I’ll send you a draft to look over and

make notes.

GENERAL STRATTON

Thanks for everything, Jill.

JILL

You’re welcome. We should have a drink to celebrate. My

treat.

GENERAL STRATTON

No, my treat. You earned it. Just let me know when.

They get up. They’re standing

close.

JILL

In another life, we might’ve been an item.

GENERAL STRATTON

I would’ve made sure of that.

They kiss somewhat passionately.

Then pull back. Both remain a bit

emotional.

JILL

Yes, definitely an item.

GENERAL STRATTON

No doubt about it. Sorry about what just happened.

JILL

Don’t be. I loved it. I’ll get you back the draft asap.

GENERAL STRATTON

I’ll look forward to seeing it. Let me show you out.

66.

JILL

Please, do.

He motions toward the door. Lights

fade down. Blackout.

END OF ACT II

SCENE 5

67.

ACT II

SCENE 6

Stratton living room. Front door

opens and General Stratton and

Marion enter. General Stratton has

a suitcase and a cloth bag with

copies of his book in it.

GENERAL STRATTON

Home, at last.

MARION

I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted.

GENERAL STRATTON

Bit tired myself. Glad we took the train. That Acela really

barrels along. Much easier way to get to New York than

flying.

MARION

I agree.

(kisses him)

I’m so proud of you, Eric. You said you wanted to do the book

and you stuck with it.

GENERAL STRATTON

Thanks, dear. I owed it to our warriors. Maybe the book will

even improve our son’s opinion of me.

MARION

I’m sure it will, dear.

GENERAL STRATTON

Hope so. But I think the experience of being in Afghanistan

is more likely to do that. Just hope he completes his tour

safely.

MARION

Don’t even bring up the subject.

68.

GENERAL STRATTON

Sorry, sweetheart. I’m sure he’ll be fine and serve with

honor.

(holds up cloth bag; takes

out book)

I didn’t realize that agreeing to get my thoughts on paper

was just the beginning.

MARION

It was a very beautiful book-launch party. I was so proud,

watching you read from it. And with so many important people

there. The publisher did a great job setting it up.

GENERAL STRATTON

Yep. So good I’m booked solid for the foreseeable future. Oh,

well, I said I wanted the story told right. And nice to have

a platform to go around the country and get my message out.

Gotta be grateful for that.

MARION

If it becomes too much, you’ll just have to slow down. I want

you to live for a very long time.

(yawns)

Dear me, I’m ready for bed. How about you?

GENERAL STRATTON

I think I’ll just have a nightcap first. Want one?

MARION

No, thanks. I had enough to drink at the party. Don’t stay up

too late.

GENERAL STRATTON

I won’t.

(gives her a kiss)

Good night, sweetheart.

MARION

Good night.

She exits toward the bedroom. He

pauses to think a moment.

69.

Then he goes to the study. Puts

down the bag of books and pours

himself a Jack Daniels. Then slumps

into his desk chair. Savors the

whiskey. Opens the book and admires

it a bit. Closes his eyes. His

father appears in military dress.

FREDERICK STRATTON

Good evening, Eric.

GENERAL STRATTON

(opens eyes)

Oh, hi, Dad.

FREDERICK STRATTON

So you managed to finish the book.

GENERAL STRATTON

Yes, I did.

FREDERICK STRATTON

Proud of yourself, I suppose.

GENERAL STRATTON

Proud of the people whose stories I got to tell.

FREDERICK STRATTON

I was listening to you go on. Let’s hope it does something to

resuscitate your reputation. Think the men who served under

you will be proud of what you put in it?

GENERAL STRATTON

Hope so.

FREDERICK STRATTON

What about the ones who died or were maimed in the wars you

call unnecessary?

GENERAL STRATTON

I hope I served them well. I respect their sacrifice. The

point is, they didn’t have to die or be maimed.

70.

FREDERICK STRATTON

You fight where you’re sent. It’s your duty -- and to hell

with the rest.

GENERAL STRATTON

What can I do to make you proud of me again? What if the book

helps prevent even one future war?

FREDERICK STRATTON

Who’s going to listen to you, now that you’ve disgraced

yourself?

GENERAL STRATTON

Well, I guess we’re about to find out.

FREDERICK STRATTON

I’ll be watching.

(goes to him and puts his arm

around his shoulder)

And hoping for the best. I would like to be proud of you

again.

(starts to back away)

Make me proud of you again, Son.

Frederick disappears into the

darkness. General Stratton crosses

his arms on the desk and puts his

head on them. Momentarily, Private

Langhorne appears behind him and

puts his arm on General Stratton’s

shoulder. General Stratton looks up

and behind himself.

PRIVATE LANGHORNE

Hi, General Stratton.

GENERAL STRATTON

(reaches up and puts his hand

on Private Langhorne’s hand)

Good evening, Private. I finished the book.

71.

PRIVATE LANGHORNE

I know, sir. I think that’s great.

GENERAL STRATTON

You do?

PRIVATE LANGHORNE

Yes, sir. I wouldn’t know how to write a book.

GENERAL STRATTON

I don’t know how to, either. Thank my lucky stars and stripes

for Jill, my collaborator. I just told our story.

(indicates both of them)

She’s the one who wrote it down.

PRIVATE LANGHORNE

What would she write about without you?

GENERAL STRATTON

Maybe you have something there, Private.

PRIVATE LANGHORNE

(coming around to face him)

I understand you have a lot on your schedule now. We’re

depending on you. All of us are. We’re hoping what happened

to us gives you the ammo you need to change things.

GENERAL STRATTON

I’ll give it everything I’ve got, Private. That you can count

on.

(gets up from desk and comes

round; puts out arms Private

Langhorne)

Give me a hug, Son. I love you, you know that? Love you and

every other damn one of you.

Lights fade down.

END OF ACT II

SCENE 6

72.

ACT II

SCENE 7

General Stratton’s study. Marion is

straightening up his desk. General

Stratton enters.

GENERAL STRATTON

Good morning, Marion.

MARION

Good morning, sweetheart.

(points to empty bottle)

You’ve been drinking much too much.

GENERAL STRATTON

Don’t worry. It’s not shortening my life. It’s making it

possible.

MARION

Now, you sound like a true alcoholic.

GENERAL STRATTON

I’ll start to cut back when I get past the aftermath of the

book.

MARION

I certainly hope so. I’m worried about you.

GENERAL STRATTON

Don’t be. I’m feeling pretty positive about things.

MARION

You should. How many people have a book on the New York Times

Best Seller List?

Phone on desk rings. She picks it

up and hands the receiver to him.

MARION

Here, dear. It’s for you.

73.

GENERAL STRATTON

Thank you.

(on phone)

Good morning, Greg. How are you?

(to Marion)

It’s the new President’s Chief of Staff.

(back into phone)

I can’t tell you how happy I am his idiot predecessor is out

of the White House. What’s up?... Really?... Well, what can I

say? I am, to say the least, surprised. He’s a good man.

(to Marion)

Apparently, I’m no longer an outcast. The new president wants

to nominate me for Secretary of Defense.

MARION

That’s wonderful, dear.

GENERAL STRATTON

Is it?

(into phone)

Do you think I could get past the nominating process?...

Well, I’m pleased and flattered as hell. Do you suppose I

could think about it for a day or two? Well, today’s Tuesday.

What if I get back to you no later than Thursday?... Great.

Thank you. Please, tell the President I feel extremely

honored. Talk soon.

(hangs up; to Marion)

Well, what the hell do you think of that? Resuscitated, at

last!

MARION

Here we go again.

GENERAL STRATTON

I didn’t say I’d accept the nomination, yet. I’d want your

approval. I’ll tell you, that Jill really knows her stuff.

MARION

In what way?

74.

GENERAL STRATTON

When we were working on the book, she said something like

this might happen. I’ll have to let her know.

Phone rings again.

GENERAL STRATTON

Oh, come on. He can’t be calling back already.

MARION

What if it’s the President?

GENERAL STRATTON

I give up predicting the future. I’m just trying to adjust to

it.

(picks up phone)

Good morning, Ed.

(to Marion)

It’s my old West Point buddy, General Daly.

MARION

What on earth does he want?

GENERAL STRATTON

(shrugs as he listens)

Oh, just enjoying my self-inflicted retirement. What’s up?

(shocked but calm)

How did it happen? ... Dammit!... OK, OK, Ed. Thanks for the

courtesy. Much appreciated. Yeah, yeah, I’ll be OK.

(hangs up slowly)

MARION

(fearfully)

What’s wrong?

GENERAL STRATTON

I don’t know how to say it.

MARION

What?

GENERAL STRATTON

William was killed yesterday.

75.

She cries out in agony. He takes

her in his arms.

GENERAL STRATTON (CONT’D)

He was heading for a mission in Helmand Province and the

Taliban shot down the copter he was riding in. There were no

survivors. I’m sorry, dear.

(holds her and wails)

Goddam, Goddam, Goddam, Goddam useless fucking war!

Blackout.

END OF ACT II

SCENE 7

76.

ACT II

SCENE 8

General Stratton is at his desk. He

takes a shot of Jack Daniels. Then

he picks up the folded flag that

would have draped his son’s coffin.

He rises, crosses the room, and

places it in the armoire. Then he

takes out the Luger and loads it.

Returns to his desk and takes

another shot of Jack Daniels. Picks

up the gun. His son enters.

WILLIAM STRATTON

Hi, Dad.

GENERAL STRATTON

Billy, is that you?

WILLIAM STRATTON

Yes. I’m with the others now.

Points. Lights come up on

tombstones with soldiers standing

behind them. They salute.

GENERAL STRATTON

(salutes the other men; gets

up, puts down gun and goes

to his son)

I’m sorry, Billy. Sorry I encouraged you to follow in my

footsteps. Or you’d still be alive.

WILLIAM STRATTON

I’m proud of my service, Dad.

GENERAL STRATTON

So am I. That doesn’t mean I don’t miss you.

WILLIAM STRATTON

I miss you, too, Dad. How’s Mom?

77.

GENERAL STRATTON

She’s taking it very hard, as I am. Can’t get her to come out

of the bedroom. Just lies in there, crying her heart out,

crying day and night.

WILLIAM STRATTON

I’m sorry, Dad. Tell her I love her. I love you, too, Dad.

GENERAL STRATTON

Still?

WILLIAM STRATTON

Yeah. Always. What were you doing with the Luger?

GENERAL STRATTON

Thinking I just might join you.

WILLIAM STRATTON

That’s what we thought. We want to talk with you.

(holds out hand)

Come on, Dad. It’s important.

GENERAL STRATTON

(takes his son’s hand)

All right, Son.

They walk into the tombstones

together.

GENERAL STRATTON

Good evening, men.

(salutes; sees Private Bliss)

And women.

DEAD SOLDIERS

(salute)

Good evening, sir.

GENERAL STRATTON

(to soldier, who’s wearing a

pilot’s helmet)

I don’t remember seeing you here before. What’s your name?

78.

CAPTAIN REILLY

Jack Reilly, sir. Captain Jack Reilly.

WILLIAM STRATTON

He was the pilot of the helicopter I was riding in.

CAPTAIN REILLY

I did my best, sir. We were going in for a landing when the

Taliban opened fire. They shot up the rear of the copter

pretty bad and I couldn’t control it.

(holds out arms; struggles as

if to control the

helicopter)

I tried everything. But we went into a spin and were losing

altitude fast. I saw the ground coming up at us, and then I

knew we were all going to die. I heard the crash for a split

second. Then everything went black.

GENERAL STRATTON

I’m sure you did all you could, Captain.

WILLIAM STRATTON

He did, Dad. With the fire that copter took, there was no way

to keep it airborne.

GENERAL STRATTON

Is there anything I can do for you?

CAPTAIN REILLY

Yes, sir.

GENERAL STRATTON

Name it.

CAPTAIN REILLY

Live.

GENERAL STRATTON

Well, to tell you the truth, I’m not sure I’m up to it

anymore. I feel hollowed out since my son was killed. Seems

relatively peaceful here.

79.

WILLIAM STRATTON

We don’t want you with us yet.

GENERAL STRATTON

Why not, Son?

WILLIAM STRATTON

Because we all know you’re right.

GENERAL STRATTON

You do?

WILLIAM STRATTON

I know now. We died in a war this country never had to fight.

We need you to live and make that point.

CAPTAIN REILLY

Make it to as many people as you can, sir. Not just for us,

but for all the other good men and women who could end up

like us.

WILLIAM STRATTON

You’re the only one who can influence things.

CAPTAIN REILLY

A voice at top.

GENERAL STRATTON

You mean, the nomination?

CAPTAIN REILLY

Yes, sir. We heard about it.

WILLIAM STRATTON

I can’t tell you how proud I’d be of you if you take it, Dad.

GENERAL STRATTON

Thank you, Son. That means the world to me. I just don’t know

that I’m up to it. I’m one battle-scarred old son of a bitch.

How much more do I have left to give?

WILLIAM STRATTON

The same that we gave, Dad.

80.

CAPTAIN REILLY

Everything.

PRIVATE LANGHORNE

And proudly, sir.

GENERAL STRATTON

I don’t know that I can get by Congress. A lot of the members

are still miffed that I told the previous president where to

go.

WILLIAM STRATTON

You’re a hero to millions of Americans now. They like what

you said in the book. You have a chance to be a hero to all

of us.

PRIVATE LANGHORNE

Not wading into wars, as flat-footed as Frankenstein.

(imitates gait of

Frankenstein)

CAPTAIN REILLY

But holding back.

WILLIAM STRATTON

And putting our own country first for a change --

CAPTAIN REILLY

-- but when we have to --

PRIVATE LANGHORNE

-- doing what we have to nimbly.

GENERAL STRATTON

The price of empire, like it or not. Or, in our case,

leadership of the free world. We didn’t ask for it. It just

ended up that way.

CAPTAIN REILLY

Then you’ll make the right call?

WILLIAM STRATTON

First thing in the morning?

81.

GENERAL STRATTON

You don’t seem to be giving me much of a choice.

WILLIAM STRATTON

And the Luger?

GENERAL STRATTON

Back in the cabinet for keeps.

(puts his arms around his son

and Captain Reilly)

Well, what do you know? Maybe we can get this thing done

after all.

Lights fade down.

END OF ACT II

SCENE 8

82.

ACT II

SCENE 9

Bedroom. Morning. He’s sitting

beside the bed where his wife is

lying. Looks over at her.

GENERAL STRATTON

Marion?

MARION

Yes, dear?

GENERAL STRATTON

You know, I’m not as young as I was yesterday. But I’m

younger than I’ll be tomorrow.

MARION

(sits up)

That’s a nice way to look at things. What are you trying to

say?

GENERAL STRATTON

After a great deal of thought, I’ve decided it might be

correct for me to accept the nomination.

MARION

You have?

GENERAL STRATTON

Well, look at it this way. I won’t be serving overseas. We’ll

still be together. Just back in Washington.

MARION

I guess.

GENERAL STRATTON

Then you’re OK with it?

MARION

I don’t know that I’ll ever be OK with anything we lost

Billy. But I know where you heart is.

83.

So, all right, as long as we’re together.

(breaks down)

I miss Billy so much.

GENERAL STRATTON

I know, dear. So do I. And all the more reason to go for the

job.

Gives her a kiss. Picks up phone on

night table. Dials. Takes her hand.

GENERAL STRATTON

Good morning, Greg. General Stratton.... Yep.... Please, let

the President know I accept the nomination. Accept it

gratefully and very proudly.

(takes her hand)

BLACKOUT

END OF THE PLAY

84.