Warrior Wives Widows

Episode One
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WARRIORS WIVES & WIDOWS

Thou Shalt Not Kill

...Until...

By the Invisible Veteran

(Voice Actor’s Cut)

A Podcast Play
(A Rhode Island State Council of the Arts Development project)

invisibleveteran@gmail.com​ Minimum 10 Episodes

1 888 813 9991 Dramaturg:
Production:
Platform: Libsyn
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CHARACTERS in ALL EPISODES

Patrick Joseph Bannister:​ Navy Captain USS Rickets

Joe Bannister: ​Vice-Admiral retired. Father of Patrick. Son of Admiral
Stephanie Pereira/Bannister​:​22-44,​. Bride. nursing student. Film
Intern, Theater major, wife, widow, single mom, Grad School journalism student,
Foreign Correspondent.
Roscoe​ “ROSS” Joseph Bannister​: 21-24, ​Naif, ​ Groom,
Athlete, Draftee, Helicopter Pilot, Jackass, Hero, Legend
Buster Bannister, ​24, ​son​ of Ross and Stephanie. Veterans service officer.
Siobhan Bannister​: Wife of Patrick, Homemaker, Immigrant from Ireland
Mark Abreu​: Father of the Bride, High School Coach, Infantry
Peter Wexler
CHORUS: Acapella​ ​All other voices

CHARACTERS IN EPISODE ONE

Stephanie Pereira/Bannister: ​22-44, Bride, Widow,

Student, Mother, Film Crew, Journalist, Fogo Cape Verde
Roscoe “Ross” Joseph Bannister. ​22, Groom, Jock,
Pilot, Jackass, Hero, Legend, Statue.
Buster Bannister: ​24, Son,
Chorus/Acapella: ​All other voices
______________________________________________

Original Score: Thousand Mile Stare, crossfade under

SFX and playwright.
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SFX: helicopter gunship, 60 caliber gunfire, screaming

voices, CRASH

Playwright: ​Warriors...remember. Remember the Wretched Sounds.

Wives...standby….as the Warrior remembers...the Wretched Sounds.
It was never about the whole War...never...it was always about the
terror of a single battle. One moment. One Battle.

SFX: Sound of Battle

Warriors clench your teeth. It’s okay. You are listening to someone
else’s Terror...not your own. Not your personal nightmare. Someone
else’s. Let your Wife hug you. Relax. Unclench your Mind.

SFX: War sounds fade down

Wives hold him. Say nothing. Just listen. Listen. He has the Thousand
Mile Stare. He’s back Then. Not next to you... right There. There... is
the remembered racket... run riot...silencing his soul. And he’s afraid
that you are afraid to understand. Take his hand and walk with
him...to where he’s trying to comprehend.

/I am the Invisible Veteran. With the Wounds of War no one can see. I am
also We. And We can’t speak outloud. We can merely marinate in our
minds. We... like the guys in that helicopter gunship that you hear. It’s
1968. Vietnam. Just another war. Just another Battle.Young Guys ripped
apart in yet another ambush. Who grew up... to suddenly not grow up.

And while they dance with death...Back in the States. Thousands of Miles
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away. There is a witless world.

SFX: Gomer Pyle, McHales Navy, Batman, (domestic TV montage)

Caution To the Others who don’t’ Want to hear about ....The Violence...just
the Comedy of Policy and War. The Others are the Civilians. The Wives
who don’t know...that at that very moment...they are Widows. That very
second… Widows as they peacefully pace the shopping basket at the local
grocery store.

MUSIC: THOSE WERE THE DAYS MY FRIEND by MARY HOPKINS

1966

Those were the days my friend

We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we choose
We'd fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way
La la la la la la
La la la la la la
La la la la La la la la la la

And there you have it. The Military/Civilian Divide.

So. Take a deep breath...Warriors, Wives and Widows. This is a Story...not

your Story maybe...but a story you can talk to each other about...and
maybe...just maybe….begin the road to Empathy. To healing. Let’s try to
mediate War and Peace. Then hopefully you can deal with the moment...
When a jagged piece of war... lands on your lounge chair..
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First. Please jot down this Phone Number--1 800 827 1000. Just write it
down for now. It might prove important to you. I will explain throughout the
story.

But first, I invite Veterans and their Spouses to talk about the start of our
story... how a single Mom in 1988...twenty years later... explains to her
Son….how she had trouble talking about ...what I call...the eleventh
commandment. Thou Shall not Kill….UNTIL.

EPISODE ONE
Act One

Stephanie: / ​Buster ! Hurry it up. We’ll be late for the ceremony.

Buster: ​Ok. Ok. I’m just looking at these old pictures of

Dad. I don’t really remember him. My memory of him is ---

Stephanie: ​Well, honey- you were just two years old when he

went missing. I was younger than you back then. Twenty-one.

Buster: ​Yeah, but how come I don’t know more about him? Why don’t

I know more about His family?

Stephanie: ​Honey, I know. I know. But that’s why I sent you to D.C. to

hang out with your Dad’s father for the Summer. Grampy was helping the
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Pentagon with the planning for the memorial.

The locals here in Rhode Island Need federal money to complete the

project.

Buster: ​Yeah, but it’s been over twenty years since he

Went M-I-A in Vietnam...and I’m just now finding out stuff about him?

Stephanie: ​I didn’t want to bring that stuff up while you were growing

Up. Actually I really didn’t know how to talk about it. Never seemed the right

Time. I mean...was he dead. Was he alive. Should I hope, Should I cry ?

Should I tough it out for our son when all I wanted to do was hide.

Buster: ​I always felt you were holding something back. If I’m gonna go

To his Memorial Service you can at least tell me something about him.

I mean it’s not every day a son’s dad gets the Medal of Honor and has

A statue carved of him. With benches to sit on in a park for all my friends to

see.

Stephanie​: Look, young man. Let me sleep on it a bit. Wait for after the

Ceremony. You are certainly old enough to know, I guess.

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I can’t believe I’m 45 and You’re 24.

I’ll talk about it. But let me sleep on it. Tomorrow I’ll start from the

Beginning. It seems so long ago. I’ll start when we were about to get

Married in my home town of Kansas City.

ACAPELLA (Two voices): HELLO DARKNESS MY OLD FRIEND.

I’VE COME TO TALK WITH YOU AGAIN. BECAUSE A VISION

SOFTLY CREEPING. LEFT IT’S SEED WHILE I WAS SLEEPING.

AND THE VISION THAT WAS PLANTED IN MY BRAIN.

STILL REMAINS.

WITHIN THE SOUND OF SILENCE. --Paul Simon. 1966

Playwright: ​I am Invisible and cannot see. The pain and suffering I bring
To Thee. And Those. And Them. But it started so innocently
We were Raised so Religiously. The Ceremonies
Of Salvation did not prepare us … for the Sounds of Sin. Thou shall not
Ever Kill….Until.
So...I do see young Ross and Stephanie...in a hotel room back...then.

SFX: BLANKET RUSTLING

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STEPHANIE: /​Ross, Baby. Why are you wide awake? It’s three A-M.

For god’s sake... Turn off the TV. The last program went off three hours

ago. All you’re staring at is that Test pattern...that Indian Chief test pattern

...why aren’t you sleeping? You’ve got that Blank Look again. Are

you over-thinking again? You’re starting to worry me.

ROSCOE: / ​Wha...What ?!? I’m sorry Baby. I was lost in… ​ thought​.

My mind is stuffed... seeing things.

STEPHANIE: ​That’s just what I mean. What are you thinking about?

What Are you seeing?

ROSCOE: ​Steph. ​ ​I don’t ​really ​know. ​Haven’t worked it out ye​t.

I can’t get over that show I was watching while you napped--The

Twentieth Century with Walter Cronkite. Talking about Vietnam.

I didn’t know anything about Ho Chi Minh...and here it is 1966.

Insert: Direct quote--Go to YouTube--the Twentieth Century Walter

Cronkite 1966.
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Ho Chi Minh is nothing like I thought. It’s almost like he’s the good guy…

And we are the Bad Guys. Heck, I don’t even know where Vietnam is…

ACAPELLA: BECAUSE A VISION SOFTLY CREEPING. LEFT IT’S

SEED WHILE I WAS SLEEPING. AND THE VISION THAT WAS

PLANTED IN MY BRAIN. STILL REMAINS.

STEPHANIE: /​Jesus, Mary and Joseph!. Roscoe Joseph Bannister.

Didn’t we promise to always share All our thoughts ? Especially now.

Especially before tomorrow.

Baby, If we’re going to share our Lives together...we have to talk out

our thoughts... Together. I have to know what’s on your mind. And you

Have To know what’s in mine. Remember our promise. No Secrets.

Nothing Hidden between us. Now. Stop staring at the tube. Turn on

the lamp and say something to me.

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ROSCOE: ​/Uhh ! Well. I was just…. Baby. You go first. Okay? You go

First. I gotta catch up to what’s in my head. Everything’s all tangled up.

STEPHANIE: ​Alright...but you promise to talk next...right ?

ROSCOE: ​Okay. Okay. But you’re better with all that touchy-feely stuff.

But I promise. I’ll go next.

ACAPELLA; IN RESTLESS DREAMS I WALKED ALONE. NARROW

STREETS OF COBBLESTONE. ‘NEATH THE HALO OF A STREET

LAMP. I TURNED MY COLLAR TO THE COLD AND DAMP.

STEPHANIE: ​/​ ​Okay. But turn up the thermostat a little..

let’s cuddle up again to keep warm. I want to snuggle again.

I Want us to hold each other tight. I want my hair to tickle you nose so

You’ll have to protest. Or sneeze. Just don’t take flight. Turn off the light.

Pull over the covers. I want to lie on your chest.

ACAPELLA; WHEN MY EYES WERE STABBED BY THE FLASH OF A

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NEON LIGHT. THAT SPLIT THE NIGHT.AND TOUCHED THE SOUND

OF SILENCE

Playwright: ​We were so Visible then.​ ​My Wife and I thought We had a

Forever Future. Not a short afterlife. A luxurious rehearsal to life.. Not

a Savage reversal.

We were Simpletons Who cuddled and cooed and hid under blankets like

kids.

SFX: Blanket rustling

STEPHANIE AND ROSCOE: ​(Cuddly/Snuggly cooing)

EPISODE ONE
Act Two
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ORIGINAL SCORE: The Thousand Mile Stare

PlayWright: It’s me, the Invisible Veteran again, Did you write down 1
800 827 1000 ? That number is the National VA hotline. It could really
help. if you are a veteran, the spouse of a veteran, the child of a

veteran or the parent of a veteran. I will walk you through how to ask
for things when you Call 1 800 827 1000... later in this episode.

ACAPELLA; BABY EVERYTHING IS ALRIGHT. UPTIGHT. OUT OF

SIGHT. BABY EVERYTHING IS ALRIGHT. UPTIGHT. OUT OF SIGHT.

--Stevie Wonder 1966

STEPHANIE: ​/Well. Here goes. I was deathly afraid today that my

girlfriends wouldn’t fit into their dresses. We had to rush the fittings

because they flew in from all over the place. That was just crazy. Like

herding cats. Kicking and Screaming about this and that.

Ross... you just don’t know. (SIGH)

/Then the Rehearsal at the Church. I didn’t think your Daddy would get

here in Time. Plus he was in a surly mood. I’d never met the man.
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What was his problem anyway ? Nothing like his wife and his father.

ROSCOE: ​Steph, that probably didn’t have anything to do with you.

He just left a combat zone. Probably worried about his crew overseas.

Here. Let me pull a blanket over you. Calm down. I’m here to protect

You from my crazy family.

STEPHANIE: ​/That may be … but it felt like something else. Is there

Something I need to know about your Dad? I couldn’t put my finger on it.

It was almost like what Mom use to warn me about. She used to tell

Me...when I was a Kid….that there will Always be some people who won’t

Like me... the moment they see me. Then there are a few who will Like

me Because they see me. Rarely will they like me...because I’m Me.

ROSCOE: ​Well. I see you. I not only like you. You’re my best

Friend. I love you. Because you’re You.

ACAPELLA; BUT I’M THE ENVY OF EVERY SINGLE GUY. WHEN WE

GO OUT STEPPING ON THE TOWN. FOR WHILE MY MONEY’S LOW

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AND MY SUITS OUT OF STYLE. BUT IT’S ALRIGHT BECAUSE IF MY

CLOTHES AREN’T NEW. OUT OF SIGHT BECAUSE MY HEART IS

TRUE. SHE SAYS BABY EVERYTHING IS ALRIGHT. UPTIGHT. OUT

OF SIGHT. Stevie Wonder.

STEPHANIE: ​Mmmmm. That makes me feel better. Now isn’t that better?

Sharing makes us both feel better.

Anyway, finally. My daddy shows up.

It’s only been a year since Mommy left us. I could tell he was still feeling a

little weird not having her here for my wedding. I feel very Weird myself.

(Two beat Pause). Dad hugged me tightly. Then my Cousins came over

And suddenly it was a group Hug. The musicians stopped playing.

My Jack and Jill girlfriends came over...and just like that...in the middle of

The Sacristy...we were all hugging...and crying...and remembering

Mommy.

Sigh. Alright. Your turn. What are you worried about?

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ROSCOE: ​Well, I dunno. I guess​ ​I’m worried about… S-E-X.

STEPHANIE: ​ (Stunned). What !!! We’re about to get married Tomorrow.

We have a baby in the oven. We haven’t told anybody yet.

Plus you’re Leaving me to go off to War….and all you can think about is

...Sex! You can’t even say the word.

ROSCOE: ​That’s what I mean. Will it be different after we’re Married?

Will it be different when the Baby comes. How will you deal with delaying

A semester and taking care of the kids alone. What if I die in Combat !!!

What if I have to Kill somebody ?

Who will take care of you? I don’t want to be anything like Daddy. Always

Gone. I Hated that. I tried never to be a problem for Mother. Always Polite.

Never drank like Daddy, Never cursed. Did everything

By the book. Baltimore Catechism book. Even when I was shooting hoops

with the guys I’d Stop in the middle of practice and head home to babysit
my

little sister Just to give Mom a break. I always struggled in school. My

only way out was Basketball. That and leaving the East and coming out
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to the Midwest...to go to Rockhurst. Get away from my military family.

Did you know... I didn’t even date until I met you. And that

was blind luck. I saw you in your candy striper uniform at the hospital

one morning. All tall and all. Rushing around. Talking to everyone. That

bright smile. You even smiled at me when you passed by me. I thought I

was struck by lightning.

Usually girls make me speechless. Not usually. Always. But your smile

seemed like a pass from my point guard...and I was suddenly wide open...

ready to take a Shot. I said Hi. And you stopped. Stopped to Talk to me.

So friendly that before you know it I was asking you to join me for

breakfast. After I finished altar boying the early Mass in the chapel

and you were on break. We went to the cafeteria downstairs at St. Joseph

Hospital. You were Someone I could talk to when I couldn’t talk to any

girl. Sure I can trash talk any guy on the court...but girls. I freeze.

But you. You were so different. You were so Smart, smarter than me.

Scholarship to St. Teresa’s College. So darn pretty. Prettier than anyone I’d
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ever Seen. Green eyes. Perfect skin. And legs for days. Cheerleader in

High School. Cheerful. and...Somehow...someway...you liked being with

….Me of all people. A sweaty jock.

STEPHANIE: ​Shhh. Baby. I get it. You’re six feet four yet sometimes

You are just like a little baby. It’s okay. Whatever happens after tomorrow

we will have have our Love Lock. The Love Lock we promised each

Other for Life.

/You know what I think this is all about? It’s all about that stuff we read

together last semester. The Greek Play I had to read for Class. You

helped me Remember? That play made me change my major. I dropped

nursing and started taking theater. You read the Warrior part and I read

the Wife. We got so Wrapped up in it when we read it.

It haunted you then. And I think it haunts you now. Here’s the book on my

night stand. I highlighted the part. And you said it reminded you of your

Dad. Here it is...highlighted in yellow marker. When I read the part of

Tecmessa talking about her husband, Ajax to his war buddies...you

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stopped me. Said you’d Seen that strange look in your Dad’s eyes.

--Oh you salt of the earth

You who serve Ajax
Those of us who care for the House of Telamon
Will soon Wail
For our fierce Hero
Sits shell shocked in his tent
Glazed over into Oblivion
​He has the thousand yard stare

ROSCOE: ​Yes I remember. You got an A in that class. I did worry about it

a little. I didn’t realize all those Greek guys were once Soldiers and

Sailors. I even understand Beetle Bailey better. I never really enjoyed

that comic strip until it looked like I was going into the military.

I could even find a way to joke around with Pop whenever he came back

from maneuvers... and that was special.

When we checked out war movies together. I know he thought I was

going To join the Navy like him And Grandpa. I wanted no part of it.
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Now I have no choice. I mean

everything was so simple then. Even TV. I remember Batman reading a

memo from President Johnson urging fans to buy savings bonds to help

our troops in Vietnam. Even the hit songs were to support the troops.

ACAPELLA; FIGHTING SOLDIERS FROM THE SKY. FEARLESS MEN

WHO JUMP AND DIE. MEN WHO MEAN JUST WHAT THEY SAY. THE

BRAVE MEN OF THE GREEN BERET. --Barry Sadler 1966

Playwrite: You know...I’m not really sure if the VA Hotline existed

back in 1966. Anyone who finds out and can prove it...i’ll put it in the
Comments section below. Record your comment and if you are
right...will put the audio in this story. Also If you talk to your spouse
about your Vietnam War days...record it on your cell phone and email
it to the i​ nvisibleveteran@gmail.com.​ Include your phone number.
Now a days...if you call 1 800 827 1000...you just need to be patient as
the automated system prompts you to a Real Person. If you get lost,
hang up and try it again. It’s really going to be worth it. Be sure to
have the veteran’s social number handy. The next thing to do...is what
I call...Spill your Guts.
Explain your problem. Then ask if you are eligible for VA benefits. If
you are...tell them to send you the applications form(s). Finally...as
the person you are talking to….to give their Name and Code. Now
back to our Story. The nervous Groom.
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... I can’t help feeling I’ve let you down.

Lost my basketball scholarship, flunked out of school. Got my

Draft notice. Now I am headed off to who knows where or when I’ll

Get back. (TWO BEAT PAUSE). Then Daddy told me what happened

Before he left the Boat a couple days ago. There’s more going on in

Vietnam than what they are reporting on the News.

Original Score: Thousand Yard Stare ​fade under

NEWS MONTAGE:

Newscaster 1: ​...and that’s the way it is. January Sixth, 1966. I’m Walter Cronkite, CBS

News. (crossfade)

Newscaster 2: ​The 37-day ceasefire has ended...Rolling Thunder is underway with a

Vengeance. We have several reports...first from our colleague ABC’s Charles Burke in Hue

(WAY) from the Northern Coast of South Vietnam (cross fade)

Newscaster 3: ​NBC has learned that the Buddhist Uprising is still going strong and a military

Outpost near the Ho Chi Minh Trail is under heavy enemy artillery fire. Dozens of Navy Jets

from Aircraft Carrier groups off the coast are lending aerial support to Khe Sanh. (cross fade)
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Newscaster 4: ​It’s five minutes past the hour...and weather in Kansas City is calm.

Cool... 50 degrees... a lot of Sunshine today. I’m Pam Whiting, KCMO Radio. Yet another

homicide this weekend…The Fifteenth and we haven’t reached the half year mark.

That tops our news in Kansas City. But the big story is halfway around the world in

the fighting in Vietnam.

It’s what some are describing as a riot aboard the Destroyer USS-Rickets.

Off the northern Coast of Vietnam. ……...Reports of casualties....

The President notified. Don’t know if the Navy Captain of that ship is going to be able to

make It to the wedding of his son here in Kansas City.

We’ll have more on this developing story ...(audio fades out)

Playwright: Location. Location. Location. It’s all about location. What if we transport a
character or two two thousand miles away? Get rid of the grocery store and slap in some
jungle. Heck it’s just as different in the jungle in the interior as it is on a destroyer a few
hundred miles off the coast of Vietnam. All that in our next episode. Plus we’ll learn a
little more about veterans benefits that will help all the charaters both military and
civilian.
Till next ________ I am the Invisible Veteran

END OF EPISODE ONE

#########

____________________________________________________________________________
_
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EPISODE ONE ????
Act Three

SFX: DESTROYER SOUND

NARRATOR STEWARD: ​ ​Here you go Skipper ! As the ship’s steward

I burnt my hands whipping up this Manicotti. Just like you like it.

Perfect for yer Body.

...Oops...didn’t mean to step all over this new equipment strung out all

over the place. Your quarters are too cramped for this.. Oops... again...I

Keep stepping on stuff. I see you’re on that new fangled comlink.

CAPTAIN PATRICK: ​ Hello, Daddy ! Can you hear me? The signals a little

spotty. (DELAY). How the hell did ya’ get this Super-Secret

ship-to-shore satellite shit...on My boat. This is just crazy. Can you

Hear me okay at the Pentagon? Waters a little choppy here.

(DELAY)

Good. Good.

Here...let me crank it up A bit.

(DELAY)
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Aye Aye ! Are ya’ still headin’ to the weddin’ ?

ADMIRAL JOE: ​(heavy European accent). Yeah Boyo. Just wish your

mother was still alive to see the ceremony.

(DELAY)

Captain: ​Yeah, I miss her terribly. Da... I was wondering. What dya’

think about wearing your Dress Whites to my son’s wedding? He’s

Gettin’ into the military... finally. Even though he was drafted.

I still don’t know why he didn’t join the Navy like the

Rest of us. Still, it might do him some good to see his family in

our work outfits..

(DELAY)

ADMIRAL: ​Oh yes. No question about it. I wore mine at the War College

Graduation. Actually sat next to the assistant Secretary of Defense as one

of the Emeritus folks. He’s spouting the party line that he can see the light

at the end of the tunnel of this War. What a bore.

(PAUSE)
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CAPTAIN: ​Wow. You sat next to Rickets! My destroyer is named after

his grandpa. Mom would have been so proud. Especially since you made

Vice-Admiral before they retired you.

(PAUSE)

ADMIRAL: ​I’m just happy I am still around long enough to see you

promoted to Captain...with your own command. Got you out of desk duty

in DC. I see from the carrier group report you guys are flying a lot of

sorties to fight the Buddhist uprising. What’s that malarkey all about ?

When are you going to have time to leave the​ ​Boat to come stateside?

(PAUSE)

(PAUSE)

(PAUSE)

CAPTAIN: ​/​ ​We had a little situation yesterday. Have to set up a Captain’s

Mast. Disciplinary shit. But I should be out of ‘Nam tomorrow. Pack my

dress whites. Catch a chopper from the Carrier. I’ll probably fly out of Tan

San Nhut...Pan Am. Siobhan is already in Kansas City.

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ADMIRAL: ​So. Are you going to tell me what happened aboard ship? It’s

making the news here.

(PAUSE)

(PAUSE)

(PAUSE)

CAPTAIN: /​A little race thing. The cooks got into it... with artillery guys in

the Galley.

ADMIRAL: ​That’s starting to happen a lot. I hear back from my former

students who are in command jobs...this whole military deseg thing is still

a mess.

CAPTAIN: ​This whole damn war is turning into a Mess. I’ve gotta figure

out who started the fight. Then send a report to Navy JAG. Probably was

the Negroes. I tell you dad...sometimes I just don’t know what they want !

(PAUSE)

(PAUSE)

(PAUSE)
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ADMIRAL: ​Look son. I used to think that way. But once I began

teaching...I saw another side to this new breed of sailor.

CAPTAIN: ​Whatever. I’ll talk about this when we get together in

Kansas City. I remember you were at the Pentagon when Truman issued

that damned executive order ...desegregating the armed forces.

Hey...wasn’t he from Kansas City. Must be a shithole. That was weird

enough.Then he ordered the desegregation of the entire federal

government.

Now White guys getting out of combat are losing jobs to Negroes.

(PAUSE)

ADMIRAL: ​(sighs...change of subject). How’s​ your little woman​? Why

hasn’t she sent pictures of the Bride. I have no idea what she looks like.

CAPTAIN: ​You and me both. Guess I have to find out when I get there. I

did talk to the girl on the phone. Sounded nice enough. I chatted with her

dad. He was a grunt during Korea. That weird unit SCARWAF. Wounded

at Pork Chop Hill. He has some kind of accent I couldn’t figure out.
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Portuguese or something.

ADMIRAL: ​Alright my boy. Better let you get a move on it. Those officer

quarters on the new destroyers can be quite tight. I know you will need a

lot of time to get ready. See you in a couple days. Son.

CAPTAIN: ​Okay. Da. See ya. But. I still can’t believe my son’s getting

married. Seems like yesterday I was the one getting hitched for life.

ADMIRAL: ​Okay son. But one thing I have always told you. I warn you

really. I always say, “Yesterday...I was twenty-five. What the Hell

Happened !!!”

(Copied below to Episode Two)

SFX: MOTORCYCLE

CHORUS: ​Dispatch. This is Police Motorcycle Alpha. We’ve just

arrived at St. Francis Xavier Church. Escort Duty.

Sorry, we were a little late. 10-50 J-2 At the Plaza. One

injury and an ambulance. Looks like the motorcade is about to form. I see
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the Bride and Groom coming down the aisle and down the steps.

MUSIC: WEDDING PROCESSION fade up and under

Bride Stephanie​: /Be careful darling. Don’t trip walking down the aisle.

I’m a Wife now. I didn’t do all this wedding planning for my new husband

To go splat all over the carpet. Now... duck, don’t Hit your head on the

door. I swear, I knew I loved you when you were the

Only one tall enough to sweep me off my feet and spin me around. But

sometimes... you’re just Dangerous.

Groom Roscoe: ​ I always stumble at times like this. I get overwhelmed.

I tripped when we first met...remember. I mean I couldn’t believe you were

Looking at ME! I feel like Dick Van Dyke tripping over himself when he

Sees MaryTyler Moore. You simply are the Most Beautiful Bride ever !!!

Stephanie: ​Here Goofball. Let me give you another kiss. Make it better.

Roscoe: ​ I still can’t believe a girl like you would marry a guy like me.
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Stephanie: ​ Don’t be silly. My bridesmaids are falling all over you.

Roscoe:​ Yeah...but you’re stunning and Smart. Still thinking a bout Grad

School? Journalism. Full . You know what you want in life. I mean who

turns down Harvard to go to the Midwest to college?

Stephanie: ​ So what…you had a shot at Notre Dame. Basketball. Full

ride. And you chose Rockhurst to be near me.

You take me on Dates in a Cessna!!! Who does that. You’re My superstar.

Roscoe: ​Well. (BEAT) I was. (voice trails away). Maybe I was.

(BEAT) Uh oh. Here’s your Pop. He always makes me nervous.

Stephanie:​ Daddy. Daddy. There you are. Why are you in the back of

the reception line? I saw you in the front row inside. Well, What did you

think?

DAD: ​Best Bride I’ve ever seen! Mother would have been so proud...God

rest her soul. (BEAT) We’re ready to get out to the cars... into the

motorcade.

l
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MUSIC: WEDDING

SFX: PLANE SOUND

Corus/TRAFFIC REPORTER: ​This is Sky Spy ... 61-Country ... with the

latest traffic report. A few hiccups in the downtown area...no backup to

worry about yet. I’m gonna fly Out over the Plaza area...where there’s a

snarl developing. Looks like a Wedding motorcade or something.

Congrats newly weds...but you gotta put that Bullhorn away,

Buster...whoever you are. That’s right folks...the lead driver has a

bullhorn. (BEAT) What a world!!!

SFX: BEEPING HORNS

Bull Horn on the Lead Vehicle​: Hey. Get out the Way. Newlyweds

coming through.

Hah ! Scared you didn’t I. You better move over. Haven’t you ever heard
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of a talking car before?

Roscoe​: Pete ! I know I agreed to let you drive your souped-up Car...but

I never told you to use that bullhorn on the Window. You’re scaring the

hell out of the Country Club set. Knock it off !

Stephanie​: Ohmigod...thank you Baby! Peter, that goes double for me.

You know this is my first time. (BEAT). Why are you looking At me that

way ?

Get your drunk mind out of the gutter. (BEAT). I meant it’s the first time

I’ve ever been to the Plaza. (BEAT)

Roscoe why are you looking at me that way?

Roscoe​: Wait a minute, Baby ! You’ve got to be kidding. This IS your

hometown.

Stephanie​: Doesn’t matter. Daddy would never let me come here. Don’t

really know why.

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He grew up here too. He just always says...we don’t go anyplace we

don’t feel comfortable.

(BEAT).

/Wow, look at all those fountains. This place is beautiful.

/Look back at the car behind us. Your father, the Navy Captain, seems

shocked.

SFX: MOTOR VEHICLE cross fade

NAVY CAPTAINS WIFE:

Paddy, why are you so quiet ? You still upset about our talk this

Morning at the Hotel. Paddy. (BEAT) Paddy ! Well, don’t say anything

then.

I’m not gonna say a word either...until you stop thinking about this

morning !!!

SFX: SHOWER
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MUSIC: GOODBYE MARIA--crossfade

Lyrics:
For now it's Good-bye Maria, I'm off to Korea
Far across the sea
It's the same old story, it's up to Old Glory
To win another fight for liberty

CAPTAIN: ​/(singing in shower)

/Goodbye Maria….I’m off to Korea...far... across the sea…..

WIFE: ​Paddy ! Saints alive ! Stop yer catter walling !

{The} weddin’s in an hour.

CAPTAIN: ​Don’t get your panties in a bunch. We’ve got plenty of

Time.

WIFE: ​Paddy! Don’t talk to me like that ! { I } don’t like it !

Every time you get off duty...you always lolly gag around. Get a move on
!

CAPTAIN: ​/Alright...alright ! I’m outta the shower. (BEAT).

Finally ! There’s the newspaper’s on the bed.

This... blasted hotel ! This hole-in-the wall town.

I swear on my Irish mother’s grave this whole town sucks.

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WIFE: ​(heavy Irish accent)​ ​What’s wrong darlin’. We’ve got a

lovely view of the pool downstairs. Except I gotta stand on my tippy toes

To see over the railing.

CAPTAIN: ​The Front Desk took forever just to bring up

the morning rag. And it isn’t the New York Times. Something called the

Kansas City Times. Then there’s nuthin’ in it about the Wedding. All

this garbage about some Vietnam War protest. ​Feckin’ Hippies.

CAPTAIN’S WIFE Siobhan Bannister:

Dets {That’s} not true. You just got in last night. Oyv

{ I’ve } Been Here three days.

There were announcements every single day.

(SFX: Newspaper Rustling)

NAVY CAPTAIN: /​Announcements...sha-nouncements. No pictures !

The son of a Navy Captain … the grandson of a Navy Vice-Admiral …

getting married and ...and... there ain’t any ​feckin’​ pictures !!!

WIFE: ​(agitated). Patrick Joseph Bannister !!!

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I won’t have you talking like that around me.

(BEAT) I can always tell when you’re just back from the ship !!!

CAPTAIN: ​/And why in God’s good name didn’t you tell me Joseph was

Dating a Negro ! You said nothing in your letters about him dating

A Colored Girl !

WIFE: ​I didn’t know. Only met the father a couple of times. And

He’s White. Or at least I {thought} he was {white}. Never met the

Mum. She’d passed away.

CAPTAIN: ​But you finally met Her! You met the daughter.

Why in the hell... didn’t you say somethin’ !

Now he’s marrying her. He has no idea how that will affect his military

Career once he joins. (BEAT)

/That ‘s why there are no damn photos in this damn paper.

WIFE: ​Such a Potty Mouth. Won’t have it. I don’t care if I’ve waited six
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months to see ya’.

NAVY CAPTAIN: /​Now you know how it feels. I waited three

Years for you to get off the boat. Come to me from Ireland.

WIFE: ​...and it was worth every second of it. I cleaned out

Your mouth…stopped the drinking...and set you straight. My

Mother warned me about marrying a Protestant.

NAVY CAPTAIN: /​Well... anyway. Didja read the front page !?!

this ​Feckin’ rag.​ All these wicked long-haired hippies plastered in pictures

all over the place. This is exactly what we went through at home

...during Korea.

Next thing you know… the United Nations gives up. War over (BEAT)

War lost ! (muttered Expletive despite Wife).

WIFE: ​Oy don’t care ! I hated the Korean War.

You were always working. You were always away.

Oy never saw you. I had to raise the children all by myself.

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Then I was always afraid to tell you what was going on at home…

NAVY CAPTAIN: ​And look at this willya !!! Buried on

Page three, Helicopter crash near The northern coast of “Nam.

It’s near where my Boat is. This paper thinks these beatniks are

More important than the War.

MUSIC: THOSE WERE THE DAYS MY FRIEND by MARY HOPKINS

Those were the days my friend

We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we choose
We'd fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way
La la la la la la
La la la la la la
La la la la La la la la la la

EPISODE ONE
Act Four
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SFX: MOTORCAR SOUNDS up and under and out

Navy Captain: ​Look at them back there. My rear view mirror.

The father looks White, his family all Mixed from Black to White. And on

top of that... the Bride has green eyes. What is THAT all about?

SFX: MOTORCAR SOUNDS

Daddy Pereira: ​Look at those Jokers up there ! Acting all high and

Mighty … like they own the place. What the hell kind of car are they

driving?

I’ve never seen anything like it. Has a “B” on the grill. What the Hell?

“B”? That’s definitely not a Buick. Wonder if that’s a Bentley like I saw

down in Orlando awhile Ago. Who drives a Bentley anyway. That can’t be

out of military pay.

That gotta be old money.

I’m telling you guys, my daughter is marrying Into trouble. I know what
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type of guy Navy Captains are. They think they walk on water.

There... on the passenger side is HIS father. Both duded up in their

uniforms.

I think his father is a retired Vice-admiral. Bet he got his son That gig at

the Pentagon.

Safe from all the Combat in Korea. Damn I hate those eggheads !!!

My guys did all the fightin’ and dyin’ while They shuffle papers and drink

cocktails.

Now I’m sick. I betcha it was all that crap I got in Korea. Suddenly I’m

getting diabetes, Cancer and a whole buncha other stuff. Damn it. I called

the VA Hotline last week.

They said it isn’t service connected. I’m gonna call them back again. Spill

my guts.

I’ve called them so many times...I have their number memorized.

1 800-827-1000.

National VA Hotline. 1-800-827-1000. I know it backwards and forwards.

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1 800-827-1000!

This time I’m gonna get the name and code of whoever I talk to.

Then I’m gonna call my Congressman...give him the name and chew him

out. Mess with me.

I know my rights. I’m a Korean War combat Vet goddammit. Bet they don’t

mess with those Officers up there.

At least the son seems okay. Weird how he kinda has a black accent. I

gotta give it to him credit...Dropping out of school to join the War.

Daddy Pereira: ​Kids..I don’t want you joining that War. It’s just like

Korea.

No one in it...to win it. Another Chopper and Jet down today

...and for what? To make somebody rich that’s what it’s all about.

To make someone rich. Who knows where Indo-China is anyway !!!

(PAUSE)

(PAUSE)
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Daddy Pereira: /​ I’m just glad Stephanie got in safely from the film set

In California. After the Honey Moon she’s gotta head back back to

College. I’m so proud of her. I don’t know How she handles all that.

She’s so smart as well as beautiful, If I do say so myself.

Juggling School and Career.

Glad her Jack and Jill debutante girlfriends came to see her off. Last time

I saw them all was at the debutante’s ball. They flew in from all over the

country

For the wedding. There’s young Rocoe’s best man, Peter and his

groomsmen,

Morris, Keith and the other Roscoe. What a crew. Best Wedding I’ve

ever seen !

/ Alright, guys. We’re almost there. Swope Park. Watermelon

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Hill. Bet no one ever seen White People on Watermelon

Hill before.

MUSIC: THOSE WHERE THE DAYS MY FRIEND last Stanza

Then the busy years went rushing by us

We lost our starry notions on the way

If by chance I'd see you in the tavern

We'd smile at one another and we'd say

Those were the days my friend

We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we choose
We'd fight and never lose

###############
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