Very inspiring, great theme!
Scene:
In the spotlight of the stage, stands alone table. On each side of the table are two chairs. The background consists of props that make it look like an old American bar, streamlined to reflect the era. But the sound and ambiance of the theater makes it sound as if the setting is on the corner of an inner-city bar during the mid-20th century, with the rain pouring down, old radio static in the air, and Ford Model T’s rolling down the road.
A guest walks in from the left side, shaking the rain off of his clothes and decides to sit at a table. He loses himself in thought as the lights slowly dim, shading the background props in darkness. A waiter dressed in all white clothing walks onto the stage from the right side. On his jacket pocket is a peculiar pin shaped like an angel’s wings. The Waiter is rolling a Food Cart with very peculiar items on it; including a white tablecloth, a red rose in a small vase, a red ribbon wrapped around it, two inverted glasses, and an unlit candle. As the two converse, the Waiter places each item on the table.
Waiter: Ah, you’ve made it.
Young Man: The traffic was heavy tonight. I thought I wouldn’t make it before the day was out.
Waiter: Better late than never my friend. He pulls out his pocket watch. And not a moment too soon. The guest of honor has been waiting for you.
Young Man: Really? Dare I ask how long?
Old Man: Long enough. The Old Man walks onto the stage from the right side and smiles. He is dressed in an old-fashioned military uniform.
Young Man: It’s great to see you, old man.
Old Man: You too Sport.
Waiter: Please, have a seat. I will be here with the main course shortly.
The Waiter walks off stage right as the Young Man and the Old Man sit down.
Young Man: How have things been for you?
Old Man: Could be better. Every day it feels like the weather’s getting colder. Food is getting scarce, and we haven't had a care package for weeks. My neighbor’s got a case of frostbite on his left toe and black lung disease.
Young Man: Yikes.
Old Man: Could be worse.
Young Man: How can that be so?
Old Man: If you’ve read the same stories I’ve had when I was your age, you’d realize the trouble others before my time have undergone, sport. It’s a nasty thing.
Young Man: Still, that doesn’t make your situation that much better.
Old Man: As long as we have each other. Nothing is worse than suffering alone. How about you, sport?
Young Man: Got rejected from university. So I’m going to have to take up a job as a janitor at The Derry Daily.
Old Man: Still trying to make it into the world of journalism?
Young Man: Someone has to be willing to tell your stories. They have to know what goes on over there away from home.
Old Man: You’ve always been a good writer. I remember when you aced the spelling bee in second grade.
The Waiter walks back and holds two plates. One with a small pile of salt, and the other with a slice of lemon. He places the pile of salt on the side of the Young Man, and the slice of Lemon on the side of the Old Man. He takes out a match and lights the candle.
The Waiter: Enjoy.
The Young and Old Man take a look at their foodstuff, but neither of them eat it.
Old Man: Something’s missing. Did the Waiter forget-?
Young Man: Oh! Right, he didn’t. I almost forgot.
The Young Man pulls out a Bible from his back and places it on the table.
Old Man: You still carry that thing around?
Young Man: It still gives me hope that one day we might see you again.
Old Man: How’s your mother doing?
Young Man: Not well. She’s been hitting the sauce.
Old Man: Again? How?
Young Man: Her probation officer decided to have an extended vacation down in Cuba.
Old Man: Damn fuzz.
Young Man: So right now my uncle is helping take care of her.”
Old Man: You’re all still worried about me?
Young Man: How could we not be? No one has heard from you in a long time.
Old Man: You’ve got enough problems to worry about back home sport. You shouldn’t have to go out of your way just to find out what happened to me.
Young Man: But they must know. They can’t just…sit and do nothing about it while you’re forced to sit and waste your life away.
Old Man: They’re not. These people you talk about…they have families of their own. The most important thing you folks can do is care for one another and keep fighting the good fight.
Young Man: So what should I tell them?
Old Man: Only this; the grass always looks greener from the other side.
Young Man: And what about those still missing?
Old Man: As long as you have a brother or sister in arms, do not lose hope.
The Waiter walks back onto the stage from the right, standing right behind the old man, carrying with him a small American flag which he places in the flower vase.
Waiter: It’s closing time. We must go sir.
The Waiter assists the Old Man standing up. He puts on his military cap and they both begin to exit stage right.
Young Man: Wait…
The Old Man and Waiter pause.
Young Man: Will I see you again dad?
Old Man: When it’s your time son. You’ll make it. I have faith in you.
Young Man: Thanks, pa.
Old Man: Here’s looking at you, kid. Keep our sons and daughters home.
The lights slowly glow back on again, illuminating the background. The Young Man exits stage left, while the Old Man and the Angelic Waiter exit stage right. The military bugle song, TAPS, plays in the background in remembrance, as the stage light slowly fades to black.
Author’s Note:
It all started with a simple question, if P.O.W.s were here today, what would they say? I was inspired to write this script by observing the usual layout of a dining table reserved for the P.O.W.’s, as they were made in remembrance of their absence; those who could not be with us today. For this ambiance, the atmosphere, I made it feel as if it was after wartime, more particularly the late 1940’s, after the second world war, in which many soldiers were kept as prisoners of war, and some weren’t able to make it out alive. I chose a minimalist setting, as the focus of the play isn’t the setting itself, but rather the two characters, each of their own generation, which has a story to tell to each other. And I began to wonder, if a P.O.W. could be sitting at the dining chair prepared for them, what would they say to us? Would they encourage us to go and look for them? Or would they encourage us to not unquestioningly send ourselves into war out of concern?