Tales of a Poor Poge by Richard Palmer - HTML preview

Coming Home

 

The stage is dark. In the darkness is heard the sound of rapid and agitated breathing. A series of low moans are heard, slowly building in intensity.

 

BOBBY

No…..

 

BOBBY

(Louder) Nooo....

 

BOBBY

(Screaming) Nooooooo.......

 

His weeping mounts in intensity but after it reaches a climax begins to diminish in intensity trailing off into silence.  The lights then come up. The scene opens in the living room of a lower middle class immigrant American home, the BRENNAR' S. The room's furnishings are shabby, but conventional. Two doors are on the set: One leading to the street and the other to the kitchen. An 8/10" black and white picture of BOBBY BRENNAR hangs on the rear wall of the room. Over the picture hangs a "U.S. ARMY" banner. Beneath the picture hangs a small American flag. As the lights come up, MR. STANLEY BRENNAR is discovered watching television and drinking a beer. MRS. OLIVIA BRENNAR enters through the street door.

 

STAN

 

What took you so long?

 

OLIVIA

The roads are still bad from last night. The buses were running real late.

 

STAN

I wish that you had gotten home earlier.

 

OLIVIA

What's wrong?

 

STAN

It's Bobby again! He hasn't been sleeping well. I could hear him screaming all afternoon.

 

OLIVIA goes over to a chair and seats herself wearily. She appears very worried.

 

OLIVIA

What are we going to do?

 

STAN

I'll tell you what I'm going to do! I'm going to the club after dinner and have a few beers.

 

OLIVIA

I thank the Lord that he made one of us strong!

 

STAN

 (Abrupt) What do you mean by that?

 

OLIVIA A

How many nights have you been home this month? Home with me and our son?

 

STAN

I said shut up. Nag. Nag. Nag. That’s all you women know how to do.

 

OLIVIA

Don't go to the club tonight! Stay home with me, and Bobby.

 

STAN

I'm just going to have a few beers! I'll be home in an hour.

 

OLIVIA

An hour? Every night this month it's been ten, eleven, twelve o'clock. Its not fair! Not with Bobby...

 

STAN

A man needs some time.

 

OLIVIA

What about me Stan? What about me? Don't you think I need some time?

 

BOBBY enters through the kitchen door. He appears depressed, withdrawn, brooding, angry.

 

STAN

(Affected calm) How are you, son?

 

BOBBY does not answer his father. He walks past him and seats himself in front of the television.

 

STAN

Feel like a beer?

 

BOBBY

(Forced) Yeah.

 

STAN

I'll get us a few cold ones.

 

BOBBY

Okay.

 

STAN rises and goes into the kitchen.

 

OLIVIA

Did you see Janet today?

 

BOBBY

I saw her this morning.

 

OLIVIA

How is she?

BOBBY

I didn't have much time to talk. The place was too busy. She said that she would drop by after work.

 

OLIVIA

She's such a nice girl! You and her should get married real soon!

 

BOBBY

(Uncaring) Why get married, mother? It doesn't mean anything! Nothing means anything in this world waiting to die.

 

OLIVIA

(Not comprehending) What, Bobby?

 

BOBBY

Nothing, mother. Nothing.

 

(He begins to pound the chair arms)

 

BOBBY

Wow! Why does life have to be such a bummer?

 

STAN enters with the beer. He hands one to BOBBY.

 

STAN

Here, son.

 

BOBBY takes the beer, but does not reply. He stares at his father icily. STAN nervously goes over to adjust the volume on the television.

 

STAN

It's sure been an exciting series, hasn't it?

 

BOBBY

Who cares?

 

STAN

(Trying to make conversation) I really think we have a chance at the pennant this year, don't you?

 

BOBBY

What ever you say, man. Whatever you say.

 

OLIVIA

(Cautiously) Did you get to see the minister today, Bobby?

 

BOBBY

(Tersely) Yes, I did.

 

OLIVIA

How long did you talk to him?

 

BOBBY (Becoming angry) For about an hour.

 

OLIVIA

Did he help you?

 

BOBBY

Hell, no! He failed me just like he and the rest of his breed are failing everybody else!

 

OLIVIA

Bobby! You musn't talk like that!

 

BOBBY

(Mocking) And why shouldn't I talk like that?

 

OLIVIA

He's a man of God!

 

BOBBY

Man of God, my ass! He's just like the chaplains I met in the army! They're so neurotic they can't even help themselves. How can they even begin to help me?

 

OLIVIA

(Becoming more upset) Bobby, please don't talk about men of god like that! You know how it upsets me!

 

BOBBY

I'll talk any way that I want to about those worthless bastards. I'm not living to please you! I don't have to say what you or anybody else wants to hear!

 

STAN

Don't upset your mother, son!

 

BOBBY

I'm not upsetting her, dad! She's upsetting herself! I've got a right to my own opinions!

 

STAN

Sure you do, Bobby, but don't let such little things upset you so much. Try and relax! You've only been out of the Army for a couple of months.

 

BOBBY

I've been out for six month's already, and I havn't been able to accomplish a goddamn thing!

 

STAN

But things will get better. They have too!

 

BOBBY

What do you mean things will get better? I've looked and looked but I still can't find a decent job!

 

STAN

Just keep looking, son. You'll find one, eventually.

 

BOBBY

And what if I don't? This house is driving me crazy!

 

OLIVIA

Don't you like your home, Bobby?

 

BOBBY

It's not that, mother! Why won't you understand? I'm too old to be living at home! I need a place of my own!

 

OLIVIA

Trust in God, Bobby! He'll find a way!

 

BOBBY

God and religion! God and religion! That's all I ever hear from you!

 

OLIVIA A

But you need God, Bobby!

 

BOBBY

Why doesn't God make my nightmares go away? If I wake up screaming again, I'll lose my mind!

 

STAN

Don't your pills help you sleep?

 

BOBBY

Hell, no! Every night I'm back in the goddamn jungle!

 

STAN

Try not to think about the war, Bobby. It's bad for you!

 

BOBBY

(Becoming agitated) Goddamnit! I can't help thinking about it! It never goes away! Why can't you understand that?

 

OLIVIA

Bobby, go and get yourself something to eat! You'll feel better!

 

BOBBY

Mother, I'm not your little boy anymore! You can't give me orders!

 

OLIVIA

Your father and I are just trying to help you!

 

BOBBY

Help me? Why didn't you help me stay out of the army?

 

STAN

(Authoritive) Calm down, son! Don't upset your mother!

 

BOBBY moves to a position where he can regard both his parents.

 

BOBBY

Shit! What can you understand? You're blind. Blind! The world is dying....(He shakes his head in disgust) You'll never understand! Never!

 

BOBBY exits angrily into the kitchen. STAN and OLIVIA exchange a worried look.

 

STAN

(Softly) Did you get to see his doctor, yet?

 

OLIVIA

I stopped by yesterday.

 

STAN

What did he have to say?

 

OLIVIA

He gave me a prescription for more tranquilizers, and told me to be sure that he takes them.

 

STAN

But will they help him?

 

OLIVIA

The doctor said that they would - if he doesn't stop taking them like he did the last time.

 

STAN

If it wasn’t for the VA medical care he's getting, I don't know what we would do. We can't afford private treatments

 

OLIVIA

I just don't understand what's wrong with him. He's out of the army now. Why isn't he all right?

 

STAN

Don't you ask the doctor about it?

 

OLIVIA

I've asked him several times to explain it to me. He keeps saying something about trauma.

 

STAN

What does that mean?

 

OLIVIA

I don’t know.

 

STAN

Have you ever asked him to explain it to you?

 

OLIVIA

The doctor is always very busy, Stan. He never has much time to talk.

 

STAN

I wish that I could understand what's wrong with him! Every time he goes back into the hospital, I'm afraid that he'll never come back out.

 

OLIVIA

All we can do is pray that it doesn't happen again.

 

STAN

But if it does, what are we going to do?

 

OLIVIA

I don't want to think about it.

 

STAN

But we have to think about it! He's our son!

 

OLIVIA

I just don't want to think about it! He's been taking his medicine. He'll be all right!

 

STAN

When is he scheduled to see the doctor again?

 

OLIVIA

Sometime next week.

 

STAN

(Very concerned) Make sure that he remembers the appointment!

 

OLIVIA

I'll try and remind him, dear, but you know how upset he gets if he thinks were are interfering in his affairs.

 

STAN

Just make sure that he remembers the appointment!

 

OLIVIA

I will, dear. 0 Stan, maybe we should have helped him stay out of the army!

 

STAN

(Very abrupt) He had to do his time, just like me!

 

There is a knock at the door.

 

OLIVIA

That's probably Janet.

 

STAN

I'll let her in.

 

STAN goes over to open the door. JANET enters.

 

OLIVIA

Come in Janet.

 

STAN

Just make yourself at home. Bobby is in the kitchen. JANET goes to seat herself. STAN walks over to the kitchen door.

 

STAN

Bobby. Janet's here.

 

OLIVIA

How are you, Janet?

 

JANET

Pretty good. Just a little tired, that's all.

 

OLIVIA

Did you have a hard day?

 

JANET

I sure did! (She glances at the kitchen door, then softly to OLIVIA) How is he?

 

OLIVIA

0, he's a little moody, but otherwise he seems to be all right.

 

JANET

Did you get to see his doctor?

 

OLIVIA

I went by yesterday. He gave me another prescription.

 

JANET

I wish they could do more for him. If he goes back into the hospital, I don't know what I'll do!

 

OLIVIA

Try not to worry about it, honey. Once you and Bobby get married, everything will be all right!

 

JANET

I hope so!

 

BOBBY enters from the kitchen.

 

BOBBY

Hi.

 

He kisses her.

 

BOBBY

You look tired!

 

JANET

It was real busy today at the bank. I've never seen so many people come in on one day.

 

BOBBY sits beside JANET and puts his arm around her.

 

OLIVIA

 Do you feel better now, Bobby?

 

BOBBY

A little bit.

 

JANET

The girls at the office are throwing a bridle shower for me next week!

 

BOBBY

That's great!

 

STAN

When are they going to have it?

 

JANET

Thursday.

STAN

The Mrs. and I were going to order the invitations next week. Everything is just about set!

 

OLI VI A

Stan, why don't you and I go into the other room and let Janet alone with each other for awhile. With the wedding so close, I'm sure that they have a lot to talk about.

 

STAN nods agreement. Both rise and go into the kitchen.

 

JANET

I missed you!

 

They embrace.

 

JANET

How was your day?

 

BOBBY

(Disgusted with himself) I gave into mother's bitching and went to see the minister!

 

JANET

What did he have to say?

BOBBY

What do any of those people ever have to say? They hand you a couple of stale lines about duty, patriotism and the rest of that bullshit.  To hell with them! What do they know?

 

JANET

Please, Bobby. You're home now. Forget about Vietnam!

 

BOBBY

Janet, I'm trying to forget, but I can't! I just can't!

 

BOBBY suddenly becomes agitated.

 

BOBBY

Goddamn baseball! Is that all the sheep of this country do is watch baseball? Cowards! Why don't they tune in the war and find out what life is really about.

 

He rises and goes over to the television. He kneels in front of the set and plays with the tuner in a very agitated manner. He stops on one channel and watches the program for several seconds.

 

BOBBY

(Extreme disgust) Televangelists, yuk. Just another den of thieves!

 

JANET

Honey, things will be better after we are married.

 

BOBBY stops his agitated channel switching and regards her.

 

BOBBY

Janet, how can we get married if I don't have a decent job?

JANET

 

Don't worry darling, we'll make it - if we love each other!

 

BOBBY

(Hesitant, Indecisive) Janet I've been thinking about the wedding, and, and, I just don't know if we should get married right now.

 

JANET

(Very worried) What do you mean, honey?

 

BOBBY

We are both so young, and I'm so confused. Maybe we should wait a little while longer.

 

JANET rises and goes over to him.

 

JANET

(Hurt) Don't you love me, Bobby?

 

BOBBY

It's not that, Janet. It's just me. I'm too confused!

 

JANET

(Imperative, pushy) But Bobby, we have to get married. We have to!

 

BOBBY backs away from her.

 

BOBBY

(Cynical) Yeah, we have to get married and get into the system. Get into car payments and mortgages and bills to worry about for the rest of our lives!

 

JANET

Bobby, why are you acting like this? (Deep worry enters her voice) Have you been taking your pills?

 

BOBBY

Pills! Pills! Take your pills! You're as bad as my mother!

 

JANET

(Very upset) But you have to take your medicine, honey. I don't want you to go back into the hospital. Not again!

 

BOBBY

(Suddenly icily detached, backing away from her) Stranger!

 

JANET

What, Bobby?

 

BOBBY

(Cold) Stranger to me!

 

JANET

0 God, Bobby! What's wrong?

 

JANET walks over to him and places her hands affectionately on his face.

 

JANET

Bobby, please, do it for me!

 

BOBBY coldly shrugs off her embrace.

 

BOBBY

(Rational, but angry) I will not take another one of those goddamn pills! They're killing my mind!

 

JANET

(Pleading) Please, honey. Please! For my sake. For the sake of your mother and father. We can't take anymore!

 

BOBBY

Leave me alone!

 

JANET

But, honey.......

 

BOBBY

(Becoming violently angry) I said leave me alone! I don't want to hear another word about it!

 

JANET begins to cry. BOBBY seats himself and begins to brood.

 

After a period of strained silence:

 

JANET

(Hesitant) Bobby?

 

BOBBY

What?

 

JANET

I’m sorry!

JANET

Are we going to get married, Bobby?

 

BOBBY

Why don’t we live together for a few months before we get married? It would be better for me.

 

JANET

(Shocked) I couldn't do that! What would my parents say?

 

BOBBY

Who cares what they would say? You're old enough to think for yourself!

 

JANET

(Pushy) I want to get married, honey. Married! I want a nice home, and a family!

 

BOBBY

Security for pussy. What a messed up equation!

 

JANET

(Shocked) Bobby!

 

BOBBY

(Becoming severely depressed) Leave me alone!

 

JANET rises.

 

JANET

I'll come back when you're in a better mood. BOBBY maintains a depressed, brooding silence. JANET walks to the door. She turns to regard BOBBY.

 

JANET

(Pleading) Please, honey. Please! I just can't take anymore!

BOBBY

(Depressed, desperate) What about me, Janet? What about me? How do you think I feel being doped up all the time? I can't even tell what's real anymore!

 

JANET

Please, Bobby!

 

BOBBY

Leave me alone, you stupid bitch!

 

He turns from her. JANET begins to cry and exits through the street door. BOBBY regards her exit in silence. He clenches his fists and begins to pound the chair arms. This scene is held for ten seconds. Then OLIVIA enters from the kitchen.

 

OLIVIA

Did you and Janet have a fight?

 

BOBBY

There you go again, mother, nebbing into my affairs! Can't you learn to mind your own business?

 

OLIVIA

But Bobby, she's such a nice girl!

 

BOBBY

Yeah. I've had a lot nicer, a lot cheaper. Mortgage your soul for a fuck! What a crock of shit!

 

BOBBY again falls into an angry, brooding silence. OLIVIA walks to the kitchen door.

 

OLIVIA

Stan. Come out here for a minute!

After several seconds, STAN enters.

 

STAN

What's wrong?

 

OLIVIA

(Very worried) Bobby isn't feeling well.

 

STAN walks over to BOBBY.

 

STAN

What's wrong, son?

 

BOBBY

Nothing. Just leave me alone!

 

STAN

But son....

 

BOBBY

(Hostile) Leave me alone!

 

STAN gives his wife a worried look. He backs away from BOBBY.

 

OLIVIA

Bobby, did you take your medicine this morning?

 

BOBBY

There you go again. Just like a broken record!

 

OLIVIA

(Very upset) But you must take your medicine! You must! Remember what happened the last time you stopped. Your father and I could never go through that again!

 

BOBBY

(Hostile) I will not take anymore of those goddamn pills!

 

STAN

But the doctors know best, son.

 

BOBBY

Damn those doctors! What do they care about me? To them, I'm just another piece of meat.

 

OLIVIA

Please, Bobby!

 

BOBBY

(Bitter) Pills! Pills! Can't this country give me anything more than pills?

 

STAN (TO OLIVIA)

 

STAN

Go and get his medicine!

 

OLIVIA exits into the kitchen.

 

STAN

Son, if you love your mother and I.....

 

BOBBY

(Angry) Why won't you understand, father? Why won't you understand? I come back to this country and they give me pills. No job. No help. Only pills. Lies and pills!

 

STAN

Try and relax, Bobby. You're home now.

 

BOBBY

(Suddenly melancholy) I'm home. I'm home.

 

STAN

That's right, son. You're home.

 

BOBBY begins to shake his head from side to side.

 

BOBBY

(Irrationality entering his voice) Confused. So confused. Don't know, Just don't know.

 

OLIVIA enters with a medicine bottle. She walks over to BOBBY.

 

OLIVIA

Bobby, please. If you love us....

 

BOBBY rises from the chair. He furiously knocks the bottle from his mother's hands.

 

BOBBY

I do not want another one of those goddamn pills!

 

OLIVIA backs away from her son.

 

STAN

You have to take them, Bobby. Your mother and I just can't take anymore.

 

STAN goes to retrieve the bottle.

 

OLIVIA

Please, Bobby. Please! For our sake!

 

BOBBY

(A note of hysteria in his voice) I come back to my country and nobody cares. Nobody cares! I've been used. Used!

 

STAN

Please son, for the sake of your mother and I….

 

BOBBY

(Violently) No!

 

BOBBY knocks a lamp off of a table. He stands facing his parents, fists clenched and trembling with rage. He appears on the edge of violence.

 

OLIVIA

0 Stan!

 

BOBBY

(Raging) Pills! Pills! Feed me lies and pills! I've been used! Used!

 

BOBBY turns to regard his picture.

 

BOBBY

Look at me! Just look at me! One each grunt! One each killer!

 

STAN

But it's over, son. It's over! You're home now!

 

BOBBY buries his face in his hands.

 

BOBBY

Its not over. Not for me. Not for me!

 

BOBBY again regards his picture.

 

BOBBY

I was a grunt! A killer! I slaughtered men by the hundreds! Killed them as they screamed in fear!

 

BOBBY begins to cry.

 

STAN

Bobby. Bobby.

 

BOBBY

Why was I a killer? Why was I a butcher for a country that doesn't care? A country that never cared!

 

OLIVIA

0, Bobby!

 

BOBBY

Why? Why?

 

STAN

Take it easy, son. Everything will be all right!

 

BOBBY

Why was I a killer for a country that doesn't care? A country that never cared?

 

In a sudden burst of violent rage BOBBY rips his picture from the wall. He begins to smash it against a chair.

 

BOBBY

(As he smashes the chair) Why? Why? Why? Why?

 

OLIVIA begins to cry.

 

OLIVIA

0 God, 0 God!

 

BOBBY stands with the shattered picture frame in his hands.

 

BOBBY

(Raging and crying violently) Kill! Kill! Thou shalt not kill! Thou shalt not kill!

 

BOBBY goes amok and begins to tear up the room. STAN moves to stop him.

 

STAN

Stop it, Bobby!

 

BOBBY pushes him away. He continues to tear up the room, screaming: "Kill! Kill! Thou shalt not kill! Thou shalt not kill!" STAN again trys to restrai