Exceptional The Soldier and the Citizen discuss war. Freedom's Last Breath by jackiesmuse      Contest Winner  Two character stage play

Category:  War and History Script   Posted:  April 20, 2007      Views: 1282

JACKIESMUSE  IN PRINT   ABOUT JACKIESMUSE  Jackiesmuse is a published writer, playwright, and composer. She co-wrote, designed and edited a history book, which is used as a supplemental text in colleges and universities. Jackie represented the United States in Sydney, Australia, where she sang her original songs in concert at the Sydney Domain. Her songs have won recognition in song competitions, and have received radio air play. Jackie's music is also used in video presentations, and can be found in libraries throughout the USA. Her stage plays have won recognition, and have been produced across the USA. Her one act play, Gray Lady's Angel Baby was chosen by the Dramatists Guild of America for a June, 2009 staged reading. TickTock, was chosen by the Guild for a June, 2008 staged reading. Her short play,'Freedom's Last Breath', was also chosen by the Guild for a June, 2007 staged reading. Jackie's play, 'One Flew into the Cuckoo's Nest', has won contest recognition. Her ten-minute play,'Brother Can You Spare Me?' was used by a high school for its state drama competitions in 2005 and 2006, as was her short play, 'The Nest', which was entered in 2007. She directed her short play, 'Gray Lady's Angel Baby' in a university setting (ASU West) in 2001, and was chosen (Fall, 2007-Phoenix College production) as musical director for the Readers Theatre play, "Memorial" by Charles Laborde. Jackie's non-fiction has been published in various publications. Her short story, 'Time Traveling in Pink Chenille' was chosen for inclusion in a national magazine. One of Jackie's musical dramas (Rocket City!) has enjoyed productions in Illinois, Texas and Arizona, and is under consideration for a Broadway staged reading in the near future. Other books by jackiesmuse coming soon... She has won several contests. The contest submission The Beldons, Alone Again was the first place winner in the contest Flash Fiction. Madam Kuro was the first place winner in the contest Strong Character. Freedom's Last Breath was the first place winner in the contest Strong Character. Portfolio | Become A Fan This is a play script, intended for performance. Please take that into consideration as you read it. The director and actors interpret the script, find the subtext, and add the dynamics for the theatre experience. Thank you.  Note: (beat): a division in the play by subject/topic/emotion SYNOPSIS: When war threatens, SOLDIER readies his weapon, and CITIZEN draws the rhetorical line in the sand, in protest; Freedom's Last Breath studies the societal conflict between SOLDIER and CITIZEN. CHARACTERS SOLDIER,    a uniformed combatant taking a military stance; his emotions bubble under the surface. CITIZEN,     an agitated citizen, in sandals and casual clothes; he wears his emotions on his sleeve.  SCENE:   The Future. Two black chairs face each other, on either side of an imaginary line in the sand. A protest sign (with the visible word killer printed in blood red) leans against the chair.  CITIZEN is in line with, and DS of this chair. The other chair holds a folded American flag (or flag of another free nation). SOLDIER stands at parade rest in line with, and DS of this chair. AT RISE:  CITIZEN and SOLDIER are mid-conversation about the unpopular ‘war' that is raging on foreign soil. SOLDIER:  United we stand, divided we fall. CITIZEN:  (stepping hard on "divided" ) I will not abandon you. SOLDIER:  When the battle is over, and flowers once again bloom in the bloody fields... CITIZEN:  I will be there for you. SOLDIER:  As you were in the past. CITIZEN:  Of course.  But, I cannot support  this war. SOLDIER:  Or my involvement in it. CITIZEN:  I am torn. You are the Soldier. SOLDIER:  (motioning with his eyes toward the sign)  Killer? CITIZEN:  This war is not just. SOLDIER:  Not Defender?  Or Protector?  Or Noble Combatant? CITIZEN:  In past wars, yes. SOLDIER:  But, not in this war. CITIZEN:  No, not in this one. SOLDIER:  I do not choose my battles. (beat ) At the Normandy beachhead was I a killer? Your eloquent  word dripping in angry red! As I inflicted death and destruction, spilling blood ... CITIZEN:  ( on "blood" )   No, you weren't. Not in that one. SOLDIER: ... to protect your freedoms. My words. CITIZEN:  I said no! SOLDIER:  In the Argonne Forest? ( waiting)  On Heartbreak Ridge?  CITIZEN:  No, not then. SOLDIER:  Saigon? Da Nang? CITIZEN:  (sarcastically ) You protected my freedoms.  Your words. SOLDIER:  In bloody Baghdad? Kandahar? CITIZEN:  ( immediate )   Those who fail to learn the lessons of history are destined to repeat them. SOLDIER:  ( stepping hard on "repeat them" ) Hiroshima, Nagasaki? CITIZEN:  History has absolved you. SOLDIER:  ( immediate )  I do not choose where or when to offer up my life ... or when to take someone's   last   breath. CITIZEN:  And,  if  the cause is unjust? SOLDIER:  I take an oath to support and defend ... freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion ... CITIZEN:  You take an oath that decimates humanity! SOLDIER:  Your thoughts, your words!   Openly voiced ... in a free society. CITIZEN:  And, what of your deeds. . Long beat. . SOLDIER:   Do you know your purpose on this earth? CITIZEN:   To live a long and fruitful life, I suppose. Just like everybody else. SOLDIER:  And, my purpose is to guarantee that life for you and everybody else, at whatever the cost to me. CITIZEN:  The price is too high ... this time. Is it not? SOLDIER:  I take the oath freely-- CITIZEN:  ( stepping on "freely" )    While you goose-step to their collective cadence. SOLDIER:  Politicians are fallible men and women--with  their own agendas. CITIZEN:  What possesses you, then--if not their whispers in your ear? SOLDIER:  ( after a thoughtful pause )  Can you not taste the sweetness of your freedoms? CITIZEN:  I've never tried.  (inhaling)  Yes, I guess I can.  ( pause ) Delicious. SOLDIER:  Can you feel the warm, scented breezes of your blessings caressing your skin?   CITIZEN drinks in the warm, sweet air.  SOLDIER ( Cont'd ) :   Freedom is never free. There's always a price. CITIZEN:  ( stopping )  Like this war. SOLDIER:  Yes! Like this war. Sometimes, wars must be waged. CITIZEN:  No. No! NO.  Not this time.  ( drawing a line with his toe )  I draw the line! SOLDIER: You draw the line? CITIZEN: It is a free country. SOLDIER:  Do you think that line will stop power-hungry dictators? CITIZEN:  Ours or theirs? SOLDIER:  Or that your sign will stop bullets and bombs?  CITIZEN:  Look, if the cycle can be broken-- SOLDIER:  ( immediate )  And, if it cannot? CITIZEN:  Then we can resume the war games--with you as lead  pawn, if that is your wish.  Cross my heart. Beat. . SOLDIER:  Why do you insult my sacrifice? CITIZEN:  Without your sacrifice, the bloodshed cannot continue. SOLDIER:  ( acknowledging the sign, as before )   Killer. CITIZEN:  I must try to stop this war somehow! SOLDIER:  And, I must continue to fight it!  And, you will not abandon me if I do. Your words. ( pause )  When the battle is over and flowers once again bloom in the bloody fields... CITIZEN:  I will be there for you. SOLDIER:  As you were in the past. CITIZEN:  Of course. SOLDIER:  You will remember my sacrifice. CITIZEN:  You are the Soldier. SOLDIER:  And, as the soldier, my job is to fight this war whether you support it or not...  CITIZEN turns away, picks up the sign and faces SOLDIER, as SOLDIER continues. SOLDIER (Cont'd ) : My job is to stop this war before it reaches our shores, ( deliberately )   and to keep it from fouling your air.   ( embracing the folded flag )  And, with my very last breath, I will do just that. ( inhaling deeply )   With my very last breath. . SOLDIER lets out an audible breath.  . BLACKOUT. . END OF PLAY .                 © 2007 Freedom's Last Breath, Jackie Marx Contest Winner Recognized Share your own writing! - Information on our membership for writers. Author Notes Freedom is never free... Pays one point and 2 member cents.

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