Cool Writer's Group

I am now a "founding" member (Claire is the founding Founder) of the new Cool Writer's Group! I now have an integrated consortium of web thingers to work on my writing. Is this Nirvana, or what?!

My websites:

http://www.ncswede.com

http://www.steesehighway.com
http://www.steesehighway.com/review.html

My blogs:

http://www.ncswede.blogspot.com
http://www.coolwritersgroup.blogspot.com

& my group:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/coolwritersgroup/

(Note: the group is a "member by invitation only" group. You can check us out at our blog listed above.)

This'll keep me busy in my old age!

Gus aka NC Swede

Musings about an internet writers group

      I joined an internet writers group this month.
      I quit it today.
      Everything was going along fine--or so I thought--when out of the blue came all this negative stuff about people worrying if their work would be stolen or misused or ...
      What were they doing in an internet writers group with that level of paranoia?
      There were some good writers in that group, too.
      I simply am NOT interested in having that level of negativity in my life ... not about my writing.
      And I was actually looking forward to getting up early each morning and spending some time on what we were doing in the group ... then wham! bam! thank you, ma'am! and the whole synergy evaporated in an explosion of fear and paranoia ... "You know you got trouble, right here in River City, that starts with 'T' which rhymes with 'P' and that stands for Pool ... "
      Kind of irritating ... so I'm applying a little therapy and getting it off my chest here.
      What the heck, gives me more time to work on this blog where I have all these unfinished threads.
      So, like I used to sign off on my posts during my erstwhile membership in the group:

Cheers!
S.H. Gus
aka Steese Highway Gus

Letter to the New York Times Editor

Dear Editor:



Decades ago in the midst of the Vietnam War, Robert

Ardrey wrote this in his bestseller, THE SOCIAL

CONTRACT (my Fontana Library paperback edition was

first issued in 1972):



"I was writing early in 1966, when escalation of

American power in Vietnam was less than a year old and

American optimism was still a native resource.

Applying the territorial principle, I published my

conclusion that the war was unwinnable. A powerful

intruder, uninhibited by world censure, may with a

single blow annihilate a territorial defender. But an

effort to escape moral obloquy through gradual

escalation of force gives the weakest defender

opportunity to escalate his own quite incalculable

biological resources. Incapable of playing the Hitler,

we played instead evolution's fool."



We haven't learned a thing, have we. Once again we are

fighting human nature with the fervor kindled by a

religious belief. We are attacking our own mirror

image!



Think for a moment of how we would rally to the

barricades if we were attacked! Is it so strange that

the Sunni's are doing the same thing?



Ten, twenty years from now even children will wonder

how supposedly smart leaders could have been so dumb.



Regards,

N.C. Swede



Other books of interest on the subject of the biological

basis of human society are:



African Genesis

The Territorial Imperative

The Social Contract

Previous | Next | Back to Messages

A Modern Fable, Part I

A ship’s captain, newly elevated to command of a large ocean going-vessel, has made his mark in the speedy delivery of local passengers and cargo with smaller ships with the substantial assistance of a cadre of long-time subordinates (COLTS). And yes, the captain is the scion of the family that owns the shipping company, and the COLTS long ago hitched their wagons to his rising start.

The new captain decides he wants to make his mark on his very first ocean-going voyage by setting the speed record for delivery of maximum cargo tonnage—crude oil—on the route. His COLTS choose a passage that cuts the time significantly but is full of shoals and hidden reefs. They made their decision after consulting with the local shipping experts (LSEs) using the passage. And yes, this has been easy to do because the LSEs want the help of the ocean-going shipping company to get more local shipping business.

The father of the captain reminds his son that he avoided this passage when he set the record on the route several years earlier. The chief engineer, one of the COLTS, tells the newly elevated captain that he can lighten the ship speed and lessen the ship's draught, the depth of the hull in the water, so not to worry. The chief engineer then chooses a single hull ship for the voyage and gets rid of enough life boats to meet his requirements. And yes, when questioned, he simply asserts, "We're not going to run into anything."

The new captain announces his plans to all the people in the company who need to know, some of whom are not COLTS. The need to know others (NTKOs) include individuals with long experience in sailing the waters of this route. And yes, they express serious concerns about the shoals and hidden reefs in this particular passage which they know are there—but not exactly where because not all of them are adequately marked on the route’s charts. And yes, they also wonder about using a single hull ship and not having enough lifeboats.

The COLTS poo-poo the cautionary advice of the NTKOs by pointing to the assertions of the LSEs. These experts say they know where all the shoals and reefs are, and will guide the large ocean-going vessel along its route. Besides, the weather forecast is perfect for the length of the voyage. The newly elevated captain believes his COLTS and the LSEs rather than the NTKOs. And why not? The COLTS have made him what he is.

The ship sails, loaded with cargo, and attempts the passage full of shoals and hidden reefs. And yes, it runs aground. But it doesn’t sink—not yet.

Not to worry! The new captain justifies his attempt to sail through the passage by stating that the LSEs said they could guide the ship around the shoals and hidden reefs. So it’s not HIS fault. And yes, because the ship doesn’t sink right away, the captain continues on course … in part because the ship can’t turn around or back up without sinking on the spot—or so the COLTS say. The NTKOs are not so sure. The LSEs pursue contracts to shift the cargo and lighten the ship.

And no, running the ship aground is not enough to remove the captain from his post—if the captain is the offspring of the owners of the shipping company AND has an excuse. Even the NTKOs know this.

But what if the ship sinks? Will the captain go down with his ship?

Then the weather forecast changes ... a storm approaches ... the grounded vessel starts taking the pounding of the storm's fury ... the captain exhorts his crew to hang on ... from the shore ...

Part II coming up ... The slipping state of the ship.

Raking leaves ...

I raked leaves with a Toro electric blower this past weekend.

I played little games,
first making rows,
moving leaves around in small swirling maelstroms of wind,
the leaves floating and fluttering and drifting along.
Then I herded the rows into piles.

At my age nothing is more important than this,
being active doing what needs to be done,
without a sense of obligation to anything
beyond what is in front of me.

And I thought about it.

Reality is like a huge ocean,
extending forever in time and space.
The horizon is always beyond my reach,
except through the ripples and waves I create where I am.

I can move in harmony with others,
amplifying our efforts,
or I can splash around.

Sometimes it is necessary to be disruptive.
Other times it is better to move in harmony.
Knowing when to do what,
is wisdom.
Doing it,
is courage.

I thought about these things as I raked the leaves
and changed the universe.

Like a butterfly moving its wings.

Hunting the Road Kill Moose, Act II, Scene 1

ACT II

SCENE 1

The Mission kitchen. A counter with moose meat is in the center. DICK is at the counter cutting the meat from the road kill into stew meat. JAKE enters.

DICK

Hey, m’man. How goes it?

JAKE goes over to the refrigerator and gets out a half-gallon of orange juice and fills a glass he takes from a cabinet. He takes a big drink from the o.j. before he talks to DICK.

JAKE

All right. How much meat did we get out of that moose?

DICK

Seven hundred pounds or so with the bones.

JAKE

Pretty good, do you think?

DICK

Pretty darn good.

DICK laughs.

DICK

(Continues)

I would have said pretty damn good, but seeing’s how you’ve moved up in the world and got religion, I’ll bridle my tongue as the good book suggests.

JAKE laughs and walks over and pats DICK on the back and then leaves his arm draped around DICK’s shoulders.

JAKE

(Continues)

Don’t go getting goofy on me now, buddy. We bunked together long enough before I took this job on.

DICK jabs JAKE playfully in the ribs with his elbow. JAKE drops his arm off DICK’s shoulders as he bends over I mock pain.

DICK

Yah, well, I know my place and it ain’t in Mission management. But I gotta hand it to you, ol’ buddy, it seems to sit well on you.

A pause

DICK

(Continues)

Seems you made quite an impression on our boy Peter.

JAKE

When did you talk with him?

DICK

He came around here just now. Said you’d turned his life around.

JAKE

He did, did he?

DICK

Yessiree, Jake, those were his exact words, Getting to know Jake has turned my life around.

JAKE

I think God had a lot to do with it, and Chaplain Stokes.

DICK

Don’t go getting modest on me. Nurturing young’uns can be pretty satisfying.

JAKE

Yes, well, I feel good about setting a good example and having a positive influence fro a change, and being part of spreading the Gospel and sinners, especially young ones, getting saved.

DICK

When you’ve been around missions as long as I have, from my end of things, let’s say I’m a wee bit more skeptical about Peter’s getting religion than you seem to be. But maybe I’m jealous. I like the kid, that’s for sure.

A pause

DICK

(Continues)

Hell, I don’t know, Jake. He’s all happy to be saved. Kinda like you were, when was it? August? Now Peter’s after me to get saved like you were. I’d like to see ‘em walk the walk a ways down the road before I put too much into their talking the talk.

A pause

DICK

(Continues)

You know, like you’ve done.

A pause

DICK

(Continues)

Oh yah, Peter was pretty excited about meeting Sarah. She’ll sure enough test his religion.

DICK shakes his head a couple of times.

DICK

(Continues)

That she will.

DICK sighs.

DICK

(Continues)

Don’t get me wrong. Sarah’s good people and Ann’s a saint in my book. Sarah’s maybe had a little too much freedom, but then she hasn’t had a father around. Who knows?

A pause

DICK

(Continues)

Christ, I’m getting old.

DICK chuckles.

DICK

(Continues)

Maybe it’s time to cover my bets and get religion.

JAKE

It’s never too late.

DICK

So if it’s never too late, maybe it’s always too early.

JAKE laughs.

JAKE

You’re not as old as me and I thank you for your insights, my friend. But you have to admit, God provided a lot of meat for the Mission.

DICK

Yah, well, you think He could of done it without killing the old couple.

I just finished reading The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff.

I recommend reading it.

Some information about the book and Taoism:

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

The Tao of Pooh

The Tao of Pooh is the title of a book by Benjamin Hoff (Penguin Books, New York: 1982, ISBN 0140067477) which is a elementary but entertaining introduction to Taoism, using the fictional character of Winnie the Pooh. Hoff has also written The Te of Piglet.

Taoism

For other uses of the words "tao" and "dao", see Tao (disambiguation) and Dao (disambiguation).

Names
Chinese:	道教
Pinyin:	Dàojiào
Wade-Giles:	Tao-chiao
The Yin-Yang or Taiji diagram, often used to symbolize Taoism.

Taoism or Daoism is usually described as an Asian philosophy and religion, although it is also said to be neither but rather an aspect of Chinese wisdom.

The Tao of Taoism

In Taoist context, the Tao (道) is the indivisible and indescribable unifying principle of the universe, from which all flows; the ever-lasting essential and fundamental force that runs through all matters in the universe, living or not. As a descriptive term, it can be taken to refer to the actual world in history — sometimes distinguished as "great Dao" — or prescriptively, as an order that should unfold — i.e., the moral way of Confucius or Lao Zi or Christ, etc. A theme in early Chinese thought is Tian-dao or 'way of nature' (also translated as 'heaven', 'sky' and sometimes 'God'). This would correspond roughly to the order of things according to natural law. Both 'nature's way' and 'great way' can inspire the stereotypical Taoist detachment from moral or normative doctrines. Thus, thought of as the course by which everything comes to be what it is (the "Mother of everything") it seems hard to imagine that we have to select among any accounts of its normative content — it therefore can be seen as an efficient principle of "emptiness" that reliably underlies the operation of the universe.

Taoism is a tradition that has, with its traditional counterpart Confucianism, shaped Chinese life for more than 2,000 years. Taoism places emphasis upon spontaneity and teaches that natural kinds follow ways appropriate to themselves. As humans are a natural kind, Taoism emphasises natural societies with no artificial institutions. Often skeptical and being ironic on human values as morality, benevolence and proper behavior, Taoist writers don't share the Confucian belief in civilization as a way to build a better society; they rather share the will to live alone in mountains with wild animals, or as simple peasants in small autarchic villages.

For many Chinese educated people (the Literati), life was split into a social part, where Confucian doctrine prevailed, and a private part, with Taoist aspirations. Home, night-time, exile or retirement were good occasions to cultivate Taoism and, say, re-read Lao Zi's and Zhuang Zi's books. This part of life was often dedicated to arts like calligraphy, painting, poetry or personal researches on antiquities, medicine, folklore and so on.

Sources of Taoism

Traditionally, Taoism has been attributed to three sources:

• The oldest, the mythical "Yellow Emperor";
• the most famous, the book of mystical aphorisms, the Dao De Jing (Tao Te Ching), said to be written by Lao Zi (Lao Tse), who, according to legend, was an older contemporary of Confucius;
• and the third, the works of the philosopher Zhuang Zi (Chuang Tse).
• Other books have developed Taoism, as the True Classic of Perfect Emptiness, from Lie Zi; and the Huainanzi compilation.
• Additionally, an original source of Taoism is often said to be the ancient I Ching, The Book Of Changes or related divinatory practises of prehistoric China.

The Dao De Jing

Main article: Dao De Jing

The Dao De Jing (or Tao Te Ching, The Book of the Way and its Power) was written in a time of seemingly endless feudal warfare and constant conflict. According to tradition (largely rejected by modern scholars), the book's author, Lao Zi, was a minor court official for an emperor of the Zhou dynasty. He became disgusted with the petty intrigues of court life, and set off alone to travel the vast western wastelands. As he was about to pass through the gate at the last western outpost, a guard, having heard of his wisdom, asked Lao Zi to write down his philosophy, and the Dao De Jing was the result. Lao Zi was reflecting on a way for humanity to follow which would put an end to conflicts and strife. This is the original book of Taoism. The scholarly evidence (buttressed by a cluster of recent archeological finds of versions of the text) was that the text was taking shape over a long period of time in pre-Han China and circulated in many versions and edited collections until standardized shortly after the Han.

Taoist philosophy

• From the Way arises one (that which is aware), from which awareness in turn arises the concept of two (yin and yang), from which the number three is implied (heaven, earth and humanity); finally producing by extension the entirety of the world as we know it, the myriad things, through the harmony of the Wuxing. The Way as it cycles through the five elements of the Wuxing is also said to be circular, acting upon itself through change to affect a cycle of life and death in the ten thousand things of the phenomenal universe.
• Act in accordance with nature, and with finesse rather than force.
• The correct perspective should be found for one's mental activities until a deeper source is found for guiding one's interaction with the universe (see 'wu wei' below). Desire hinders one's ability to understand The Way (see also karma), and tempering desire breeds contentment. Taoists believe that when one desire is satisfied, another, more ambitious desire will simply spring up to replace it. In essence, most Taoists feel that life should be appreciated as it is, rather than forced to be something it is not. Ideally, one should not desire anything, not even non-desire.
• Oneness: By realizing that all things (including ourselves) are interdependent and constantly redefined as circumstances change, we come to see all things as they are, and ourselves as a simple part of the current moment. This understanding of oneness leads us to an appreciation of life's events and our place within them as simple miraculous moments which "simply are".
• Dualism, the opposition and combination of the Universe's two basic principles of Yin and Yang is a large part of the basic philosophy. Some of the common associations with Yang and Yin, respectively, are: male and female, light and dark, active and passive, motion and stillness. Taoists believe that neither side is more important or better than the other; indeed, neither can exist without the other, as they are equal aspects of the whole. They are ultimately an artificial distinction based on our perceptions of the ten thousand things, so it is only our perception of them that really changes. See taiji.

Wu Wei

Much of the essence of Tao is in the art of wu wei (action through inaction; the uncarved block). However, this does not mean, "sit doing nothing and wait for everything to fall into your lap". It describes a practice of accomplishing things through minimal action. By studying the nature of life, you can affect it in the easiest and least disruptive way (using finesse rather than force). The practice of working with the stream rather than against it is an illustration; one progresses the most not by struggling against the stream and thrashing about, but by remaining still and letting the stream do all the work.

Wu Wei works once we trust our human "design," which is perfectly suited for our place within nature. In other words, by trusting our nature rather than our mental contrivances, we can find contentment without a life of constant striving against forces real and imagined.

One could apply this to political activism. Rather than appeal to others to take action for a certain cause--regardless of its importance or validity--one would instead understand that simply by believing in the cause, and letting their belief manifest itself in their actions, one is bearing their share of the burden of their social movement. Going with the flow, so to speak, with the river (which in this case is a societal mindset).

Biological basis for humanity, 1

We are life-forms with several interactive histories.

"We" are human beings as in "Homo sapiens (Latin for knowing man), a primate species of mammal with a highly developed brain. (Note: homo sapiens is singular.)"

We have our individual history, and our family history, and our community/nation/civilization history ... and we have our biological history.

I believe we can learn a great deal from our biological history. Some species of vertebrates form flocks and head north for the summer, returning south for the winter. Some species of mammals form herds. Some species of monkeys come to the boundary of their territory and scream at intruders in an offensive defense against threats from other monkeys from other groups of the same species. Chimpanzees commit murder. It's all VERY interesting and sheds light on ourselves ... and our fascination with the iconic fetish we call "God".

I would like to start my discussion of the biological basis for humanity by inquiring about the roots of community in our biological history. That will be the focus of this series for the near future.

I will interweave the several series:

The Sacred Elders
Whose God Is It?
Biological Basis for Humanity

as I complete the posting of:

Hunting the Road Kill Moose

Hunting the Road Kill Moose, Act I

HUNTING THE ROAD KILL MOOSE

A play in three acts

By Hilding Lindquist

Copyright 2003, 2004 by Hilding Lindquist

Note: If you want to use this play in a public presentation, please contact me. –NC Swede

CAST

Jake Celsius: Male, late fifties, attractive older man, Facilities Supervisor at the Fairbanks Rescue Mission.

Dick Harding: Male, early fifties, weathered, worn, and wrinkled, head cook at the Fairbanks Rescue Mission.

Debbie Jenkins: Female, mid-thirties, average, a nurse at the Fairbanks Hospital.

Ann Reilly: Female, late forties, attractive, Social Worker at Fairbanks Hospital, Jake’s significant other.

Sarah Reilly: Female, early twenties, attractive, six months pregnant, Ann’s daughter.

Ralph Stokes: Male, mid-thirties, average, Chaplain at the Fairbanks Rescue Mission.

Peter Strand: Male, early twenties, attractive, resident client at the Fairbanks Rescue Mission.

ACT I

SCENE 1

JAKE CELSIUS' bedroom on the second floor of the Fairbanks Rescue Mission, Fairbanks, Alaska. It's night and the room is dark. The bedroom is small and sparsely furnished. JAKE is sleeping on his side in a twin-sized bed facing the near wall. A nightstand with a lamp, telephone, and small digital clock-radio sits at the head of the bed on the right. There is a door at the foot-end. A simple straight-backed chair with JAKE's robe draped over the back is against the rear wall between the bed and the door.

There's a knock at the door. JAKE turns over in bed. He reaches out and turns on the lamp on the nightstand, raises himself slightly resting on his elbow. He looks at the clock, shakes his head, and looks at the door.

JAKE

Who is it?

PETER
(Calls out O.S.)

Peter Strand, Mr. Celsius.

JAKE gets out of bed, puts on his robe, and goes to the door. His hair is tousled from sleeping. He is obviously tired as he finishes tying his robe and rubs his eyes. He opens the door for PETER STRAND.

JAKE

What is it, Peter?

PETER

You have to get a road kill moose. Chaplain Stokes just called.

A pause

PETER

(Continues)

He said you don't have to hurry because the troopers still have to clear the accident off the highway.

JAKE stretches and yawns.

JAKE

O.K.

PETER

Two people were killed, an old couple.

JAKE

That's too bad.

JAKE looks over at the clock beside his bed, then stretches and yawns again.

JAKE

(Continues)

Two A.M.

PETER shines his flashlight on his wristwatch.

PETER

Five after two, to be exact

JAKE

Whatever.

A pause

JAKE

(Continues)

I'll need someone to go with me.

JAKE Stretches and yawns again and then gestures for PETER to enter the room. PETER enters. JAKE leaves the door open behind him.

JAKE

Who got to bed early? Of the men in the New Life Program.

PETER

I'll go.

JAKE

Aren't you on the front desk?

PETER

At two in the morning it will be easier to get someone to man the desk than go hunting road kill. I'm already dressed. Well, mostly.

JAKE

You're probably right, but you're not officially on the program yet.

PETER

I've been thinking about it. Dick Harding is down there now until I get back. I could ask him to watch the desk for me.

JAKE

What's Dick doing up?

PETER

He was starting to get breakfast ready. Said he couldn't sleep.

A pause

PETER

(Continues)

Is it all right if I call Chaplain Stokes and ask him?

JAKE

Yah, sure, but I don't think he'll O.K. it. I'll be down in a couple of minutes to check.

JAKE Moves back to the open door, takes the door knob and stands there, indicating for PETER to leave. JAKE starts to close the door as PETER leaves, then JAKE stops and speaks to PETER.

JAKE

Would you send Dick up?

PETER

Sure.

JAKE closes the door, then busies himself getting dressed. There's a knock on the door.

JAKE

(Calls out)

Come on in, the door's unlocked.

DICK HARDING enters.

JAKE

Peter told you about the moose?

DICK

Yup.

JAKE

Can you help load up the pickup?

DICK

Yup.

JAKE's phone rings.

JAKE

I bet this is Stokes or Peter calling me about going to get the moose.

JAKE walks over to the nightstand and presses the button to put it on speakerphone.

JAKE

This is Jake.

RALPH STOKES answers over the speakerphone.

RALPH

(Off stage: O.S.)

Peter called me back just now. He wants to go and help pick up the moose. It's all right with me. What do you think?

JAKE

I told him if it's all right with you, it's all right with me.

RALPH

(O.S.)

Terrific. I think he's going to fit into our program really well. He's the future of what we're trying to do here.

JAKE

Sure thing. See you at the road kill. Bye.

RALPH

(O.S.)

Right on, bye.

JAKE presses the speakerphone button again, turning it off. He turns back to DICK.

JAKE

Well that's a new one. Both Stokes and the Director told me that I was only to use men on the New Life Program for this. But Peter shouldn't be on the desk either when he isn't on the program, and they had me do that too. Something's going on.

DICK

Yah, well, they're the bosses, and you know what the Bible says about that.

JAKE

Enlighten me.

DICK laughs.

DICK

What the Bible says, my friend, is that leaders are placed in authority by God Himself, and the rest of us are to obey them, no questions asked. Well, not so it causes any trouble. At least that is what the dear Chaplain points out when I stir things up a mite that he or the Director don't like. And now that you've become the houseman, it looks like you're another one of 'em that I have to obey. Ain't that a hoot? Hell, I was here when you came in like a half-drowned alley cat creeping over the doorstep, looking for a place to dry out and hide.

JAKE

I won't hold my breath.


SCENE 2

JAKE and PETER are seated in the front seat of pickup cab facing forward. They are dressed warmly in Alaska-style outdoor gear with gloves and baseball caps.

JAKE

So tell me, why did you want to come along?

PETER

I thought it would be something different. One of those Alaska experiences, hunting road kill.

JAKE laughs.

JAKE

Well, you it’s not really a hunt. For one thing, we’re basically guaranteed the moose. It ain’t going nowhere, most likely. It’s like the way God works in our lives. He knows what we need and has it waiting for us, if we follow his will.

A pause

JAKE

(Continues)

God provides for the mission in many ways.

PETER

When do we cut up the moose?

JAKE looks quickly at PETER and frowns.

JAKE

We drain the blood and cut it into quarters at the road site, then take it back to the walk-in cooler and hang it for a couple of days. After it has cured a bit, we cut it up for stew meat. With any luck we’ll get a few hundred pounds out of it. Moose stew is great if cooked right, and Dick cooks it right.

PETER

God will provide a moose.

JAKE

That’s good, like in the Bible when Abraham said to Isaac, “God will provide himself a lamb.” That’s very good. You’re learning the Bible.

A pause

JAKE
(Continues)

How long have you been at the mission, a couple of weeks?

PETER

Yes sir.

PETER looks at his wristwatch.

PETER
(Continues)

Two weeks exactly at nine A.M.

A pause

JAKE

Yah, I talked to Stokes about his putting you on the desk overnight so soon. You got it after a few days, right?

PETER

Yes sir.

JAKE

Jake is fine. You don’t have to call me sir.

A pause

JAKE
(Continues)

Do you go by Pete or Peter?

PETER

Lately I’ve been answering to “Hey you!”

JAKE laughs.

PETER

I prefer Peter.

A pause

JAKE

Where are you from?

PETER

Most recently or originally?

JAKE

Either or both, if you don’t mind.

PETER

Originally from Southern California. Most recently from API.

JAKE

Alaska Psychiatric Institute?

PETER

Yup, I asked for a ticket to Fairbanks when I was released.

JAKE

Versus?

PETER

Huh?

JAKE

What were your choices, where could you go?

PETER

Anywhere in the good ol’ USA, I guess.

JAKE

And you chose Fairbanks, Alaska?

PETER

I think you Alaskans call it going to the end-of-the-road.

JAKE laughs.

JAKE

I’m not that Alaskan, but I think I have a dose of that end-of-the-road stuff myself.

A pause

JAKE

(Continues)

I just came up here last year in September. Drove a friend’s car up from Seattle. Was only going to stay a month. I’m still here.

A pause

JAKE

(Continues)

Fairbanks is not quite the end-of-the-road and I’m pretty much still a chechako.

PETER

That means newcomer, right?

JAKE

Uh huh. And I am a newcomer. I still go around with my wide-eyed glassy tourist stare. Alaska is some kind of place.

PETER

Fairbanks may not be the end-of-the-road, but I’m definitely getting closer.

JAKE laughs.

JAKE

That is true.

A pause

JAKE

(Continues)

So why the mission?

PETER

It’s a halfway house for me. The State of Alaska pays for me to be here. That’s why I don’t have to be in the New Life Program. I can join if I want to, but I don’t have to because it’s religious.

JAKE

That explains a lot.

A pause

PETER

You’re the Mission houseman?

JAKE

Uh huh, formal title is Facility Supervisor.

PETER

Dick told me you just got the job.

JAKE

Three weeks ago.

A pause

JAKE

(Continues)

Dick and I go back a ways.

A pause

JAKE

(Continues)

I like Dick. He’s a good man.

PETER

You were on the Mission’s New Life program?

JAKE

Uh huh, for six months.

PETER

Really, why?

A pause

PETER

(Continues)

You don’t mind me asking, do you?

JAKE

No, it’s OK.

JAKE laughs.

JAKE

(Continues)

I don’t have any secrets at the Mission. I’m a recovering alcoholic, been in AA fro two-and-a-half years.

PETER nods his head.

PETER

Yeah, I’m VERY familiar with twelve-step programs. I take Prozac.

JAKE looks at PETER then turns back to the road ahead.

A pause

JAKE

Here at the Mission I’ve reached back to the faith of my childhood. I had a strong faith then. I wanted to get it back.

PETER

Did you?

JAKE

Yes.

PETER

At the Mission?

JAKE

In part. It began with AA. Then coming to the Mission and going through the New Life program sort of cemented it in place.

A pause

PETER

What about Chaplain Stokes? Did he, does he help you?

JAKE

Ralph’s OK. He seems to understand us old farts. I’m fifty-eight, six years older than Dick. Stokes is thirty-five or thereabouts.

PETER

You don’t look older than Dick.

JAKE laughs.

JAKE

Don’t tell him that.

A pause

JAKE

(Continues)

I’m a product of good, clean living.

A pause

PETER

Can I help cut up the moose?

JAKE

Sure, that’s what you’re here for, to help.

A pause

JAKE

(Continues)

Are you born again, Peter?

A pause

JAKE

(Continues)

If you don’t mind my asking.

PETER

No, I don’t mind. I don’t think so. I've been talking with Chaplain Stokes about it.

JAKE

You'd know if your were. Stokes ought to be pretty good at talking about it. He had quite a conversion when he got saved, the way he tells it. His life really turned around.

PETER

He told me he was eating out of dumpsters, sleeping under the Chena River bridges.

JAKE

His Higher Power got him off alcohol and the rest is history. This God stuff works, Peter.

PETER

That what he says.

A pause

PETER

(Continues)

What do you know about him?

JAKE

Like I said, he’s younger than me, but he’s been through a lot. He understands the effects of alcohol firsthand. He’s and ordained minister through a local Baptist Church though he never went to college for it. Ralph makes and excellent Mission Chaplain, I think. He’s learned from reality.

A pause

JAKE

(Continues)

You know, if I would’ve met a man like him when I was your age, I might not have had to go through thirty odd years of reality therapy, pure misery, getting here. And he really knows the Bible. He’s who I need right now in my life, spiritually, to teach me what the Bible says.

A light comes on showing a bloated moose carcass on the side of the road with pieces of wreckage around it.

JAKE

(Continues)

That’s the moose. See how faith works.

A pause

JAKE

(Continues)

Looks like there was quite an accident.

JAKE stops the pickup and looks intently at PETER.

JAKE

(Continues)

If you ever want to talk about finding a Higher Power, becoming a born-again Christian, my door is always open. So is Ralph’s.

PETER

Thanks.

A pause

JAKE

God has provided a moose. It’s a big cow.

PETER

How do you know it’s a cow from here?

JAKE

No rack. It doesn’t have moose antlers.


SCENE 3

JAKE and PETER have gotten out of the pickup and are standing by the moose. JAKE pulls a large Bowie knife out of its scabbard on his belt.

JAKE

This one’s been dead long enough to start bloating. I’ll Let off the pressure.

JAKE starts to lean over the moose then stands up and looks at PETER, offering PETER the knife.

JAKE

You wanna do it?

PETER

(Eagerly)

Sure, what do I do?

JAKE looks at PETER with a brief frown.

JAKE

Just stick it in the top of its belly and let the gas out.

JAKE hands PETER the knife. PETER sticks the knife into the moose’s gut. Gas escapes with a woosh and the belly deflates slightly. PETER looks at JAKE and laughs. JAKE nods his approval with another brief frown. They go back to the pickup truck and lean back against it, side by side, waiting for CHAPLAIN RALPH STOKES to arrive.

JAKE

Now we wait for Stokes.

PETER

(Eagerly)

Can’t we cut it up? I can help. We have all the tools, right?

JAKE

I don’t know how to do it. Do you?

PETER

Nope, but I thought you did it before?

JAKE

I only helped once before. I watched while Stokes cut it into quarters. That does not make me an expert at carving up dead moose.

A pause

JAKE

(Continues)

Besides, Stokes will be here soon enough. You can offer to help him.

PETER walks over to the rear end of the female moose and looks at it.

PETER

Did you ever fuck an animal?

JAKE coughs and turns to look at PETER.

JAKE

What do you mean?

PETER

Did you ever fuck an animal?

JAKE gives a short, nervous laugh and a half cough.

JAKE

Not that I recall.

PETER

Ever want to?

JAKE clears his throat and puts a gloved fist to his mouth as if to suppress another cough.

JAKE

Not that I recall.

PETER

Did you ever get a hard-on watching animals fuck?

JAKE

I’d get embarrassed if someone caught me watching, so I didn’t watch much.

Two headlights come on behind them and their pickup. JAKE and PETER turn toward the lights.

JAKE

Ah good, Chaplain Stokes is here.

JAKE and PETER walk toward the lights. The lights are shining on the moose. RALPH comes out of the darkness behind the lights meets up with JAKE and PETER. PETER speaks first.

PETER

(Eagerly)

Can I help cut up the moose, Chaplain Stokes?

RALPH looks at JAKE. JAKE shrugs his shoulders. RALPH turns back to PETER.

RALPH

That’s what you’re here for, to help.

PETER still has JAKE’s bowie knife in his hand. He quickly turns and heads toward the moose. RALPH calls after him.

RALPH

Wait!

PETER stops and looks back at RALPH. RALPH turns to JAKE.

RALPH

Does he know what to do?

JAKE

I don’t think so.

RALPH walks toward PETER while pulling his own bowie knife out of its scabbard on his belt.

RALPH

Here, let me show you what to do.

RALPH and PETER walk over to the moose together.

SCENE 4

PETER and RALPH are riding back to the Mission together in RALPH’s pickup.

RALPH

You did pretty good back there, cutting up the moose.

PETER

Thank you.

RALPH

I’m glad you’re riding back with me.

PETER

Oh?

RALPH

I’ve been wanting to talk with you.

A pause

RALPH

(Continues)

You’re doing a good job at the Mission. I’d like you to think about coming into our New Life Program. You don’t have to join, but I’d like you to at least think about it.

PETER

O.K. I know a little bit about it.

RALPH

It’s a six month program of Bible study, prayer, and service in the Mission. You live at the Mission and are subject to all the Mission rules, curfew, no drinking or drugging, regular daily attendance at the religious services, plus having personal hygiene inspections. You have to stay clean, well groomed and suitably dressed.

PETER

I’m already doing that now.

RALPH

I know. That’s why I think you are ready to make the commitment. You’ve come up to speed in a hurry. I’ve already talked with the Director. We’d like to have you aboard.

PETER

O.K. I can give it a try.

RALPH

You have to be willing to give it more than a try, Peter. We ask you to commit to at three months at a time, which means if you don’t complete the three months satisfactorily it goes on your record, unless you have an emergency or something, of course. I don’t want to mislead you. You may be better off not making the commitment, but if the first three months work out for you, you can commit to another three months.

PETER

Can I think about it?

RALPH

Sure, we want you to be sure about this. It’s a big commitment for a young man.

PETER

Do I have to be saved?

RALPH

Hopefully we’ll get to that. I won’t fool you. That’s what this is all about. The only thing that matters in an individual’s life is accepting Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. Everything else is secondary. But you don’t have to be born again to start. On the other hand you most likely will be if you successfully complete the six months. We haven’t missed yet. Everyone has either dropped out or been saved.

A pause

RALPH

(Continues)

Being born again got me off alcohol I believe it can do the same for you and Prozac.

PETER

We’ll see. I’ll let you know after I sleep on it.

RALPH

Fine.

A pause

PETER

That was a big moose.

RALPH

Medium. We’ll get maybe five, six hundred pounds of stew-meat out of her.

A pause

PETER

What do you think about the couple that was killed.

RALPH

God works in mysterious ways. I don’t try to understand everything He does. I just know that everything works together for good for those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose. The Bible promises that.


SCENE 5

It is CHAPLAIN STOKES office. There is a desk and with a chair behind it and a side chair. RALPH is sitting behind his desk going over some papers. It is Tuesday afternoon of the week following their picking up the road-kill moose. There is a knock on the door. RALPH looks up.

RALPH

Come in.

JAKE enters. RALPH stands up and reaches across the desk as JAKE comes forward. They shake hands.

RALPH

Good to see you. Sit down.

JAKE and RALPH sit down. RALPH looks at his wristwatch.

RALPH

You are right on the button. What’s on your mind today?

A pause

JAKE

I’m thinking about asking Ann Reilly to marry me.

A pause

RALPH

How long have you been thinking about it?

JAKE

Not too long, maybe a couple weeks now that I have a steady job. We’ve been seeing each other for a couple of months.

RALPH

When you say “seeing each other,” what do you mean?

JAKE

We get together a few times a week. Go to AA meetings together. I met her here at the Mission’s Tuesday night meeting, the one we have tonight. She’ll be here.

RALPH

Anything else?

JAKE

I go over to her place usually a couple of times a week in the evening for a couple of hours. At least I try to.

RALPH

This sounds fairly serious. Is she born-again?

JAKE

I don’t think so.

RALPH

Hmmm, this relationship might not be so wise for you. The Bible teaches us that we shouldn’t be unequally yoked with unbelievers. “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” Second Corinthians 6:14. We should separate ourselves from the ungodly. “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,” Second Corinthians 5:17.

A pause

RALPH

(Continues)

How do you plan to fit a marriage in with your being the Facility Supervisor?

JAKE

You’re married. The director is married. I figured it would work out.

A pause

JAKE

(Continues)

I’m hoping to be a witness to her for Christ, leading her to salvation. One thing I do know is that I love her very much. I’m going on God’s promise the all things work together for good for those who love the Lord, and I do love the Lord.

RALPH

And are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28.

A pause

RALPH

(Continues)

Do you mind if I ask you something personal?

JAKE

No, go ahead.

RALPH

Have you been having sexual intercourse with Ann?

JAKE is obviously uncomfortable with the questions and shifts around in his chair. He looks down intently at his hands, turning them over and flexing his fingers before answering.

JAKE

Yes.

RALPH

The Bible is clear, very clear about that. Sex outside the sanctity of marriage is sin.

JAKE

But I love her. I’ going to ask her to marry me.

RALPH

That’s beside the point, Jake. You are letting Jesus down. You’re not honoring your commitment to Him. Here, let me read you what the Bible says.

RALPH picks up his Bible and turns to the passge he is going to read. As he reads he follows the words with his pointed index finger.

RALPH

(Continues)

Here, First Thessalonians 4:3. “For this is the will of God, even in your sanctification, that ye abstain from fornication.”

RALPH punctuates the end of verse by stabbing at it with his index finger. JAKE shrinks. slouching down into his chair. RALPH continues to turn in his Bible to other passages and reading them as he explains them.

RALPH

(Continues)

Jesus taught us in the Sermon on the Mount, “I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after hath committed adultery with her already in her heart.” Listen to this, “And if they right EYE offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee; for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cas into hell.”

A pause

RALPH

(Continues)

That is heavy-duty. Sex outside of marriage is a sin, even sexual lust outside of marriage. Just thinking about it is sin.

A pause

RALPH

(Continues)

The Bible is very clear on that, Jake. Sex outside the sanctity of marriage--when it’s not between husband and wife--is sin. It’s fornication and God has told us not to fornicate. If one of the persons fornicating is married to someone else, then it’s adultery.

RALPH turns to another passage in his Bible and reads.

RALPH

(Continues)

The Bible says, “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication.” First Thessalonians 4:3.

RALPH turns to another passage in his Bible and reads.

RALPH

(Continues)

The Bible also says in First Corinthians 6: 9 to 10, “Know you not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”

A pause

RALPH

(Continues)

Fornication is first on the list, Jake.

JAKE is hesitant as he speaks up, trying to find a defense in the face of the overwhelming condemnation of his behavior.

JAKE

Uh, are you sure? It seems like we’ve changed our views on this.

RALPH

The Bible is clear about sex outside of marriage. Having sex with Ann outside of marriage is sin. There are no if’s, and’s, or but’s about it. If we are born-again Christians we will want to follow God’s Word. It’s that simple.

A pause

RALPH

(Continues)

Let’s assess where you are in this relationship. OK?

JAKE

OK.

RALPH

Have you asked Ann to marry you?

JAKE

Not formally, but she knows I want to.

RALPH

You told her that?

JAKE

Not in so many words.

RALPH sighs deeply.

JAKE

(Continues)

She knows I love her. I’ve told her that. And I’ve told her that I want her in my life forever. I’m sure she knows I want to marry her.

RALPH

I don’t want to disappoint you, but from my experience, a man saying he loves a woman and wants her in his life forever does not necessarily mean he is asking her to marry him.

A pause

RALPH

(Continues)

I counsel a lot of women here at the mission, pregnant, heartbroken, and crying, telling me, “But he said he loved me. He said he wanted me in his life forever.” I ask them, “Did he ever ask you to marry him, specifically?” For these women there answer is usually, “No, he didn’t, but he said he loved me. He made love to me. Did I do something wrong?” I have to tell them that yes, they have sinned, and now that the man has gotten what he wanted, he’s probably gone on to someone new.

JAKE

But I do love her and I do want to marry her.

RALPH

Of course you think you do. For now. The point is, what kind of commitment are you will to make to Ann because you love God?

A pause

RALPH

(Continues)

You’re the man in this relationship. You are the one who is responsible to God for what goes on between you and Ann. She’s the woman, you’re the man. You re responsible to God for leadership in the relationship.

RALPH turns to another passage in his Bible and reads.

RALPH

(Continues)

“Wives, submit yourselves unto your husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.” Ephesians 5:22 to 24.

JAKE

The Bible says that?

RALPH

Yes.

A pause

RALPH

(Continues)

You know you are doing the right thing in God’s eyes by coming to me and talking with me about this.

RALPH turns to another passage in his Bible and reads.

RALPH

(Continues)

“Confess your faults one to another, and pray for one another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:16.

RALPH turns to another passage in his Bible and reads.

RALPH

(Continues)

Listen to this, First John, chapter one, verses four through nine, I love this passage of scripture, “And these things I write unto you, that your joy may be full.
“This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
“If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Isn’t that wonderful? “And these things I write unto you, that your joy may be full.” And then, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

JAKE

I hope this works. I don’t feel very joyful right now. I feel like I’ve been letting everyone down, God, Ann, you.

RALPH

That’s good! You’re repenting. God wants you to confess your sins and repent, so He can forgive you and bring you back in to a full relationship with Him.

A pause

RALPH

(Continues)

You have to be strong. As the husband you are the head of the family. You have to set the example.

JAKE

What about Ann?

RALPH

If she loves you and comes to love the Lord, she’ll agree. I’m assuming from your saying that you’re hoping to be a witness to her for Christ that’s Ann is not born-again. But all that is her spiritual responsibility. Your responsibility to God is to be firm in the example you set.

A pause

RALPH

(Continues)

Born-again women know that the man is the head of the family. The Holy Spirit guides them in this.

A pause

RALPH

(Continues)

The Bible teaches all of us to be obedient to the spiritual authority that God has placed over us. Think about Daniel in the Old Testament and Peter in the New. Following God’s word is not for weaklings, Jake. We are in a battle with Satan’s forces.

RALPH turns to another passage in his Bible and reads.

RALPH

(Continues)

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
“Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Ephesians 6:10 to 13.

A pause

RALPH

(Continues)

Satan is not going to give you up easily. There’s a battle going on. Satan will use your sexual desire to pull you away from God. Right now God is winning in your life. You’ve turned to God’s ordained authority for help and guidance. God wants you to win. I want you to win. God will help you win. I will help you win.

A pause

RALPH

(Continues)

You know, you are doing a great job for God at the Mission. The example you are setting for the young men in the program is inspirational to all of us. Peter accepted Jesus as his personal savior at the Mission service Sunday evening.

JAKE

Yes, Yes, he did. I was impressed with him, taking that step.

RALPH

I think you had a direct role in his decision for Christ.

JAKE

I’ve invited him to the AA meeting tonight. He says he’s not an alcoholic, just curious. It’s an open meeting.

RALPH gets up and walks around his desk to stand beside JAKE. RALPH puts his hand on JAKES’s shoulder as he speaks.

RALPH

See, you are a wonderful mentor for the men. Many have never had a strong, loving father, or older male in their lives, someone to look up to who believes in the tough love of Jesus Christ.

RALPH starts roaming the stage as if he's a television evangelist giving an oration.

RALPH

(Continues)

You know, doing what God wants us to do is not easy. The Bible tells us that God told Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. Abraham was willing to do what God asked. Only at the last moment did God intervene and provide a lamb for the sacrifice.

A pause

RALPH

(Continues)

God made the ultimate personal sacrifice in sending his Son Jesus to die on Calvary’s cross fro our sins, to save us from eternal damnation and separation from His holy love.

A pause

RALPH

(Continues)

Follow God’s word, Jake, and he will reward you. President Bush and Condoleeza Ricea are born-again Christians. Look what God has done for them.

A pause

RALPH

(Continues)

There’s tremendous joy and personal satisfaction in being a Godly leader, setting the example for others. Following God’s path has made this nation great and we are now truly blessed by Him for acknowledging His leadership and the leadership of the authorities He has placed over us.

A pause

RALPH

(Continues)

Abraham became the father of God’s chosen people, the Jews. You can win young men to Jesus, changing their lives forever.

A pause

RALPH

(Continues)

We are once again seeing the rise of the nation of Israel as God prepares the world for the triumphant return of His Son. Think of it, the Second Coming of Jesus Christ could happen in our lifetime. I believe it will. God promised my father in a vision that his children would witness the Second Coming of CHirist.

A pause

RALPH

(Continues)

It’s an exciting time to be in God’s hands. You’re there, in His hands, spreading the gospel of Jesus love to downtrodden in our midst. This is God’s highest calling.

RALPH goes back behind his desk and sits down. He turns to another passage in his Bible and reads.

RALPH

(Continues)

Matthew 25:34 to 40. Jesus taught, “The King shall say unto them on his right hand, Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
“For I was an hungered, and ye gave meat: I was thirsty, and you gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
“Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
“Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? Or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
“When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
“Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
“And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

A pause

RALPH

(Continues)

Does Ann attend church?

JAKE

I don’t think so.

RALPH

Hmmm. I think I heard somewhere that she has a grown daughter.

JAKE

Yes, Sarah. She’s from Ann’s first marriage.

RALPH

And you are divorced?

JAKE

Yes.

RALPH

You had two marriages, each ending in divorce? Ann has had one?

JAKE

Yes.

RALPH

And I think I heard something about her daughter being pregnant?

JAKE

Yes, she is.

RALPH

And unmarried?

JAKE

Yes.

A pause

RALPH

There are many reasons why you as a born-again Christian should go slow in the relationship. There’s the potential for a whole slew of problems here down the road.

A pause

RALPH

(Continues)

You are making something of yourself here at the Mission which could lead to a lot of good things in your life. God has real rewards for those who follow the path He’s laid out for us in the Bible.

JAKE

I’m beginning to understand. I’ve been following Ann’s lead instead of being the leader.

RALPH

Wome will do that if you let them. Remember the Garden of Eden. Eve led Adam to disobey God. And the Bible later tells us that Delilah got Samson to cut off his hair and lose the strength that God had blessed him with. There is real danger when Godly men become entangled with ungodly women, letting them take the lead.

JAKE

Not that I but up much resistance.

RALPH leans forward across his desk heightening the intimacy of the moment in his body language and tone of voice.

RALPH

Jake, if you are going to marry this woman who has a unwed pregnant daughter then you are going to have to bring strength and stability to your relationship with her. Ann needs that from you. Good requires it from you. If you truly love Ann, that’s the kind of man you will be for her.

JAKE

I will. I’ll start right now. I’ll talk to her tonight. I can do this.


SCENE 6

Meeting room at the Mission. It is Tuesday evening. An AA meeting has just broken up. JAKE, ANN REILLY, and SARAH REILLY are standing at center stage talking. There are folding chairs arranged in front of a folding card table with another folding chair behind it. A large white sign saying “REBOS AA GROUP” in large black letters is hanging on the back wall. PETER is folding and then stacking the chairs off to one side.

JAKE

That was a good meeting.

ANN

It was. I’ve always liked these Tuesday evening First Step meetings with newcomers. They remind me what it was like when I got here.

SARAH

Oh Mother, you sound like a broken record whenever we talk about alcohol. BORE-ing! Do you always have to drag me along to these AA meetings?

ANN

That’s exactly what I want to sound like, young lady, a broken record, repeating over and over again, I am an alcoholic, I am an alcoholic. I don’t ever want to forget and you ever forget it either. I am and alcoholic, and there is some heredity at work in this disease.

SARAH

I’m not the alcoholic here, mommy dearest, and in my condition.
SARAH rubs her obviously pregnant belly.

SARAH

(Continues)

I won’t be drinking anyway.

JAKE catches PETER’s eye and motions him over to where he, ANN, and SARAH are standing talking.

JAKE

Peter, come over here. I want you to meet these two lovely women.

PETER walks over to them.

JAKE

(Continues)

Ann, Sarah, I’d like you to meet Peter Strand. Ann and Sarah Reilly, mother and daughter. Peter.

ANN reaches out and shakes PETER’s hand.

ANN

Hello, Peter.

PETER

Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Reilly.

ANN

I prefer Ms. Reilly, Peter. And this is my daughter.

SARAH reaches out and shakes PETER’s hand.

SARAH

I’m Ms. Reilly, too, but call me Sarah, please.

PETER grins broadly as he speaks.

PETER

Sure, Sarah.

JAKE turns to ANN.

JAKE

Is it OK if Peter entertains Sarah for a few minutes so we can talk?

ANN

That’s up to Sarah.

JAKE turns to SARAH.

JAKE

Would you help Peter with the chairs for a couple of minutes?

SARAH

Sure, if Peter will let me. I wouldn’t want to slow him down.

PETER

You won’t slow me down. You can sit over there.

PETER points to a chair not to far from where he was working.

PETER

(Continues)

I’ll work around you.

SARAH

I’m not an invalid. I’ll help.

PETER and SARAH go over to the chairs and start folding and stacking them from where PETER left off.

ANN

So what’s up, lover?

JAKE

Shh, don’t call me that here.

ANN laughs.

ANN

Nobody heard me.

JAKE

You never know.

ANN smiles and speaks teasingly.

ANN

Ashamed of me?

A pause

JAKE

You know that’s not true.

A pause

JAKE

(Continues)

I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately, soul-searching lately. Reading the Bible and praying.

ANN

And?

ANN looks at her wristwatch.

ANN

(Continues)

We’re wasting valuable time if you have to back here by ten.

JAKE

That’s what I wand to talk to you about. I’m not coming over tonight because we can’t make love anymore, and if I come over now that’s what we’ll do.

ANN looks at JAKE in amazement and studies his face for a moment.

ANN

You’re serious, aren’t you?

JAKE

Yes.

ANN

Then there’s no way you’re not coming home with me tonight. I need an explanation.

A pause

ANN

(Continues)

Don’t I have a say in this?

JAKE

Of course you do.

ANN

You are so right, this is NOT the place to talk about this.

JAKE

OK, OK, I’ll come over, but only to talk.

ANN and JAKE walk over to PETER and SARAH. ANN speaks to SARAH.

ANN

If you’re coming with me, we’re leaving.

SARAH looks at ANN then at PETER.

PETER

I can drive you home. If that’s all right, that is.

PETER looks at JAKE.

PETER

(Continues)

Dick let me borrow his car. I was going to run to the store before curfew. I have time to drive her home.

SARAH

It’s fine with me.

ANN
Well, I don’t know.

ANN turns to JAKE.

ANN

(Continues)

What do you think?

JAKE

It’s all right with me.

JAKE turns to PETER.

JAKE

(Continues)

Do you mind if I let them know about Sunday evening?

PETER

It’s OK with me.

JAKE

Peter came forward and accepted Jesus as his personal Savior at the Mission service Sunday evening. He’s born-again.

ANN

That’s nice. I’m sure he’s a fine young man, Jake.

ANN turns to SARAH.

ANN

(Continues)

Just remember, Sarah, Peter has to be back at the Mission by ten.

SARAH grimaces at her mother's back as ANN turns back to JAKE.

ANN

(Continues)

That’s right isn’t it?

JAKE

That’s right, we both do.

JAKE and ANN exit. SARAH watches them leave.

SARAH

That’s a bummer.

SARAH turns back to PETER.

SARAH

What does being born-again mean?

PETER

I’m a Christian, I’ve given my life to Jesus, and I follow the teachings in the Bible which is the Word of God.

SARAH

Well, at least it seemed to give you a seal of approval with my mother, thank god.

SARAH points to her pregnant stomach.

SARAH

It’s pretty obvious what I’ve been up to. I hope I don’t scare you away before we even get to know each other.


SCENE 7

ANN’s apartment. There is a stuffed couch with a matching chair to one side. ANN and JAKE enter, take off their shoes and coats and leave them in the entry alcove, then JAKE follows ANN over to the couch.

ANN

Sit down.

ANN points to the couch. JAKE sits down on it at one end. ANN heads to the kitchen door.

ANN
(Continues)

I’ll turn on the coffee. It’s ready to go.

JAKE

Great.

ANN exits and then after a brief pause, returns. She walks over to the couch and sits at the other end, away from JAKE.

ANN

There, that’ll only take a couple minutes.

A pause

ANN

(Continues)

Now just what is it you have to tell me?

JAKE nervously sits forward on the couch and examines his hands before he begins. This is obviously not going to be easy for him.

JAKE

I’ve been taking to Chaplain Stokes about us?

ANN

And what does Chaplain Stokes have to say about “us”?

JAKE

He pointed out to me that the Bible teaches that sex outside of marriage is sin.

ANN

It’s too soon to talk about marriage. We don’t know each other that well yet.

JAKE

That’s what Ralph said too.

ANN

Ralph?

JAKE

Chaplain Stokes.

ANN

And what did you say?

JAKE

That you turn me on.

ANN laughs.

JAKE

(Continues)

I didn’t really tell him that.

ANN

You didn’t? I take it as a compliment.

JAKE

That’s not the point. I shouldn’t have said that.

ANN

Oh, I don’t turn you on?

JAKE

Of course you turn me on, but I’m trying to have a serious discussion here.

ANN

Turning you on isn’t serious? OK, discuss away. I’m not stopping you, but you’re going to run out of time at this rate.

JAKE

It’s not that you’re some kind of evil person.

ANN

Gee, thanks for letting me know how you think.

JAKE

That didn’t come out right. It’s that the Bible teaches that sex outside of marriage is sin.

ANN

You’ve already covered that. But let’s take a closer look at where that leaves us. Am I the temptress leading the man of God astray?

JAKE

No, no. If I have sex with you then I am the one who makes us sinners because I am the one who is supposed to set the example. The Bible is clear about my responsibilities as the man in our relationship. I am the one responsible to God. I must set the example as a born-again Christian.

ANN

But I like to have sex with you. If I persist and lead you quote-unquote astray, does that make me the evil woman? Eve in the Garden of Eden?

JAKE

This is getting all mixed up. I want you to be my wife. I want to be a Christian husband for you.

ANN

Listen to me, Jake. I know what I want, too. I know exactly what I am doing. I HAVE been finding out whether I want to marry you or not, if it ever gets to that point. Right now, I’m not at all sure about anything other than we have great sex together. We really do turn each other on. I feel it.

A pause

ANN

(Continues)

I want to find out if we can be friends besides being lovers. Up to right about now I had high hopes.

A pause

ANN

(Continues)

Ain’t life a bitch? There are so many uncertainties, so many choices that we have to make. We can’t give up our right to choose without giving up our right to freedom. But that’s what I love about my life, here and now, as a liberated woman. I can my own choices about my own life, and watch the consequences unfold, working my way through the maze.

JAKE

The Bible teaches that it works out best if I show my commitment by marrying you first and having sex with you afterward.

ANN

The Bible has been teaching a lot of wrong things for a long time, like putting witches to death. You want to talk about the Fundamentalist Christian religion, Jake?

A pause

ANN

(Continues)

Do you?

A pause

ANN

(Continues)

Those people still believe what the Bible teaches about sexual lust being the result of the Devil working his will in their minds and bodies. A real live being named Satan. How long have the Kinsey reports been around? All your so-called sacred elders masturbating behind closed doors pretending nothing was going on. Give me a break.

A pause

ANN

(Continues)

For a long time sex outside of some legal or binding commitment, quote-unquote, marriage, used to be one helluva problem for a woman, especially if she was some young, naïve, trusting young thing hopelessly romantically in love with that man of hers. Then if she surrendered to his promises of loving her which were meant to overcome her objections to him fucking her and she fucked him, well, too often he would consider it proof that she was a whore. Heaven help her if she acted like she enjoyed it! She was no longer fit to be his wife, unless of course her daddy had a shot gun. If in the process she became pregnant and her father didn’t have a big enough shotgun or for whatever reason couldn’t or wouldn’t help her, she could kiss the rest of her life goodbye.

A pause

ANN

(Continues)

I don’t have to worry about that shit anymore. I can get an abortion if I want to, which I might not, but the choice is mine. I’m not at the mercy of some hypocritical self-righteous bastard. The thing about the Bible was that if a woman kept her legs together, the man had to make a commitment to get any nooky. It worked for that reason.

A pause

ANN

(Continues)

We had the Church to protect us from abandonment. In turn women had to be subject to the authority of fathers and husbands. Talk about a recipe for abuse. But it had its positive side sometimes, I’m sure. Real love and caring is hard to suppress entirely. Anyway, I don’t need religion to protect me anymore. I have birth control. I’m free to enjoy sex. Do you know men used to question whether a woman could have an orgasm? I don’t have to buy into the male-dominance bullshit that I need to be “owned” by a man in order to have sex with him.

A pause

ANN

(Continues)

You made love to me just two days ago, Sunday after church. In between the morning and evening services. Don’t you remember?

JAKE

Of course I do.

ANN

Are you changing your mind on how good it was? Do you want to take it back?

JAKE

Yes ... no ... I don’t know. All I know is that I love you and we can’t have any more sex before we get married because I am a born-again Christian and I want God to rule my life.

JAKE takes a deep breath.

JAKE

(Continues)

I choose to follow God and the Bible.


ACT II


***UNDER CONSTRUCTION***


ACT III


***UNDER CONSTRUCTION***