THE SET-UP
This is the first scene in which Jonas appears. It follows Anne’s speech which opens the play, and the two scenes which follow – one with Anne, Seth and Nicholas; and one with Nicholas and Tyson. All are available here online under the titles
Graveside Thoughts
Letters to the Battlefield
Crossword
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. Jonas, another young gay Marine in Seth’s unit just coming to terms with his identity, forms an intense bond with Seth overseas. This is the scene where they first “properly” meet.
“Because I’m willing to talk. To help. Just not here. In the middle of a gay porn scenario.”
Emphasis shifts to —
Military base. Desert duty.
The showers.
JONAS Fishman, another Marine, late 20s/early 30s, appears, toweling himself off. Slowly.
SETH steps out of the showers.
They’re alone.
They hold each other’s gaze.
A moment passes.
No one moves.
JONAS
What are you lookin’ at? Faggot.
SETH
Could ask you the same thing, couldn’t I?
JONAS
You stay over there.
SETH
But you can get a better look at me up close.
JONAS
You keep away from me.
SETH
You got out of the shower five minutes ago. Don’t you have somewhere to be? Don’t you have any clothes? Why are you still toweling yourself off?
JONAS
None of your business.
SETH
Took a nice long time in the shower, too, when you saw me come in. Looked like you were gonna scrub away three extra layers of skin before you were done.
JONAS
So you were looking at me, too, then, huh?
SETH
Someone’s staring you down, always best to keep an eye out.
JONAS
Well, keep your eyes to yourself.
SETH
I will if you will.
JONAS
Back. Off.
SETH
Want to invite the other boys in? Have us an audience?
JONAS
They might be interested in your showering activities.
SETH
This is your first tour, isn’t it?
JONAS
Yeah.
SETH
Probably haven’t even fired your rifle yet, have you?
JONAS
What’s that have to do with — ?
SETH
They don’t know you.
I mean, you’re a Marine, but other than that, why should they trust you?
If I knew you better, “faggot” might be a term of endearment. But it just sounds nasty when you say it.
JONAS
It is nasty.
SETH
Don’t start something you can’t finish.
JONAS
I can finish this.
SETH
Really? Say the boys catch us throwing accusations around and decide to do a little investigating? I’ve got a box full of letters from a girl waiting for me back home to back me up. What have you got?
JONAS is silent.
SETH (cont’d)
What? No girlfriend? No letters?
JONAS is silent.
SETH (cont’d)
Don’t think so hard. Smoke’s starting to come out of your ears.
JONAS is silent.
SETH (cont’d)
And put some clothes on, why don’t you? I am.
JONAS starts to get dressed.
SETH holds out his hand.
SETH (cont’d)
Lundy. Seth.
JONAS
Fishman. Jonas.
SETH
See? That wasn’t so hard, now was it?
JONAS
No.
SETH
Don’t draw attention to yourself.
It’s the first law of survival.
Do you hear what I’m saying to you?
JONAS
Yeah.
SETH
Because I’m willing to talk.
To help.
Just not here.
In the middle of a gay porn scenario.
JONAS
Yeah.
SETH
I mean, choose your moments wisely, Fish.
JONAS
What would you suggest?
SETH
I know a place. A private place. Where we could…
JONAS
… talk.
SETH
Yeah.
JONAS
Now?
SETH
Later.
JONAS
Soon?
SETH
Yes.
JONAS
Thanks.
SETH
Don’t thank me yet.
JONAS
Do you really have a girl back home?
SETH
Later, Fish.
JONAS
Right.
SETH
I’m not the enemy.
We can’t be the enemy.
The enemy needs to be out there.
If we’re the enemy, then what’s the point?
(photo: (left to right) James Doyle as Jonas 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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