THE SET-UP
This is the first time these three characters appear onstage together, in a scene immediately following Anne’s monologue which opens the play, available here online under the title
Graveside Thoughts
Seth is a young Marine serving during wartime. Nicholas is his civilian longtime companion who waits back home. In addition to the strain on their relationship caused by distance and absence, they must hide their love for one another behind code words and secret identities because of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy barring gays and lesbians from serving openly in the United States military. Seth’s mother Anne assists them by providing the cover of a woman’s handwriting for Nicholas’ daily letters, but Nicholas and Seth’s resolve is starting to weaken.
“Dogs are cursed with longing.”
NICHOLAS Draper, a man in his late 20s/early 30s, appears out of another part of the dark.
He is writing a letter.
NICHOLAS finishes his letter.
He carries it over to —
ANNE, a woman in her 50s. She takes the letter from him and begins to copy the note from Nicholas into her own handwriting, comparing the two as she goes.
Meanwhile, NICHOLAS returns to his own space, separate from her, and opens a photo album.
Out of another part of the dark appears SETH Lundy, a Marine, late 20s/early 30s. Desert duty.
ANNE is working on recopying the coded version of Nicholas’ letter to Seth.
Both NICHOLAS and SETH know what it means. Though they can’t see each other, and they can’t connect, they try to carry on the conversation of their letters.
Perhaps NICHOLAS touches a picture of Seth in the album. Perhaps SETH tries to find a way to look out in the direction of home.
ANNE
Another year.
NICHOLAS
Happy Anniversary, Seth.
ANNE
Your puppy’s birthday.
NICHOLAS
The first time you kissed me.
ANNE
I took your puppy for a run along the river. A bright summer day. Not as hot as where you’re stationed these days. But a lot like that first day you brought the puppy home.
NICHOLAS
You and I, scrambling around in the woods down by the river. That day so long ago.
SETH
I remember that day. Damn, it was humid.
ANNE
Your puppy made that same move, like the day you chose him. Stopping suddenly, catching his breath, staring me down.
NICHOLAS
Both of us panting, winded. I was squatting. You were standing, hunched over, your hands on your knees, looking at me.
SETH
Even though we barely knew each other yet, I knew how to handle that dog.
ANNE
You stared him down that first day. The puppy didn’t move. He stood there, waiting. He knew you’d come and get him.
NICHOLAS
The way you were looking at me, I knew you were going to kiss me. Part of me was terrified. But the way you looked at me, I knew I’d let you do anything you wanted.
SETH
Of course, I lost my balance and just fell on the puppy.
ANNE
You and that dog, rolling around in the grass. It seemed like the happiest thing in the world.
NICHOLAS
You landed on top of me. That’s all that matters.
SETH
It’s a wonder I didn’t crush the poor thing.
ANNE
Do you remember how long it took to get that puppy to do anything but roll around on the floor?
NICHOLAS
Do you remember how long we kissed, just kissed? Before…
SETH and NICHOLAS (cont’d)
Three weeks, five and a half days.
ANNE
It felt longer, though.
NICHOLAS
I thought I was going to explode.
SETH
That extra half day.
ANNE
After lunch, it was like the whole world shifted. Your puppy finally learned something new.
NICHOLAS
We had soft pretzels. Your mouth tasted salty. And you still had mustard on your hands.
ANNE
When we’re down by the river together, your puppy looks around, as if you’re still here, somewhere, about to pop over the rise of the next hill, ‘round the next bend in the stream.
NICHOLAS
Even though you’re half a world away, I look for you everywhere.
ANNE
He doesn’t smell you anywhere any more, not like right after you were gone. He’d burrow his nose into the oddest things, if there was even a whiff of you left.
NICHOLAS
Those T-shirts you left behind torture me. I still keep a bottle of your shampoo handy. And your soap. And your deodorant.
ANNE
Dogs are cursed with longing.
But they’re also blessed with joy.
The minute you walk through that door again, all the lonely waiting vanishes. He’ll leap on you, and lick you. He won’t let you out of his sight.
NICHOLAS
The things I’m gonna do to you when you get home…
ANNE
Til then, we’ll mark the days together. Stay safe. Love you,
Nikki.
NICHOLAS
Love you,
Nicholas.
ANNE recedes into the darkness.
SETH
Thanks for keeping up with the letters. It means a lot to hear from you, Nikki. Thanks for the update on my puppy. Give him a kiss for me.
Take care.
And keep writing.
Love you,
Seth.
(photo: (left to right) Jack C. Kloppenborg as Nicholas, Tina Sigel as Anne and Ryan Henderson as Seth in the 2011 production of “Leave” by Urban Samurai Productions; photography by Ron Ravensborg; scenic design by Erica Zaffarano)
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