THE SET-UP
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. Tyson, a former Army soldier who got fed up with “don’t ask, don’t tell” and didn’t reenlist, now works alongside Nicholas, providing temptation as well as a reality check. When Seth returns home for an unexpected leave, with Jonas at his side, and post-traumatic stress following him from the battlefield, old relationships are tested, and new ones bloom.
Previous scenes for Tyson and Jonas and their newly discovered connection are also available here online under the titles:
Arriving Home Early
Sex in the Closet
The kind of interaction Jonas is referencing at the end of this scene can be found in another scene available here online under the title:
Seth and Jonas Alone
“Stick with me, kid, I’ll teach you ways to violate the Uniform Code of Military Justice you never even dreamed of.”
Emphasis shifts as
JONAS and TYSON appear out of the dark, shrugging on their clothes, to-go coffee cups in their hands.
JONAS
I like it here.
TYSON and JONAS continue to speak while they find a table and sit as
JONAS (cont’d)
Coffee places over there, it’s not quite the same.
Also the uniform makes it kind of hard to mingle with the locals.
TYSON
Just be careful, OK? Keep your guard up.
JONAS
Always do.
TYSON
Not just with the military but with the locals. You think we’ve got hardline fundamentalist nutjobs in this country; they got nothin’ on the homegrown variety in some of those countries you’re in now. Just ‘cause you know who you are now, doesn’t mean everybody else is gonna be thrilled with the news.
JONAS
Are you saying you’re worried about me?
TYSON
It’s not worry. Just, you know, advice, one military guy to another, that’s all.
JONAS
I like it here.
TYSON
You said that.
JONAS
I don’t just mean the coffee shop. I mean this town.
TYSON
It’s nice, as towns go.
JONAS
I could see myself maybe coming back here, when I’m done.
TYSON
Never hurts to have another gay boy in town.
JONAS
That’s good to hear.
JONAS puts his hand on TYSON’s.
TYSON withdraws his hand without thinking, a reflex.
JONAS (cont’d)
Sorry.
TYSON
No.
TYSON takes JONAS’ hand.
TYSON (cont’d)
I’m sorry.
You just surprised me, that’s all.
I mean, is this OK? In public?
JONAS
Probably not. But I’ll take my chances.
Pause.
JONAS (cont’d)
I’m not gonna say I love you, cause that’d be stupid, right?
TYSON
I don’t know, I’ve fallen in love a lot faster for a lot less. So no, it’s not stupid. But we don’t need to label it. We can just *be* for now. Whatever you need.
Pause.
They just sit there, holding hands for a moment.
JONAS
Don’t you miss it?
TYSON
What?
JONAS
The army.
TYSON
Every day.
JONAS
So why don’t you go back?
TYSON
I’d reenlist in a red hot minute.
But first, they’ve gotta tell me they want me.
Problem is, they don’t.
That’s why I spend most of my free time fighting this law. For people like you. To be able to serve alongside people like you.
JONAS
Have to join the Marines first.
TYSON
Ha ha. You sayin’ an Army guy’s not good enough for you?
JONAS
Oh you’re good enough.
TYSON
Stick with me, kid, I’ll teach you ways to violate the Uniform Code of Military Justice you never even dreamed of. Or maybe you have.
JONAS
Don’t tease me.
TYSON squeezes JONAS’ hand, continues to hold it, gently, coaxing him.
TYSON
I’m not teasing. You can tell me, you know.
JONAS
Tell you what?
TYSON
You’re a quick learner, but no one’s that quick.
JONAS
I never…
TYSON
I know. We covered that. But you’ve been doing something. A little Marine action.
JONAS
Tyson…
TYSON
Your own little Desert Storm.
JONAS
Now you’re teasing me.
TYSON
A little Enduring Freedom.
JONAS
Cut it out. It wasn’t…
TYSON
Wasn’t…?
JONAS
Nothing very…
TYSON
Nothing very what?
JONAS
No big deal, just…
TYSON
Just…?
JONAS
Touching.
TYSON
Male bonding, camaraderie touching or… touching touching?
JONAS
Touching touching.
TYSON
Kissing?
JONAS
No.
TYSON
So I…?
JONAS
My first kiss. Yeah.
That means a little more to TYSON than he thought it would.
TYSON
Wow.
Pause.
TYSON (cont’d)
Touching what?
JONAS
Nothing all that…
TYSON
No big deal?
JONAS
Waist up – chest, arms.
TYSON
Hands, face?
JONAS
Yeah.
TYSON
Hair?
JONAS
Yeah.
TYSON
Hot.
So why didn’t you go home on leave with *him*?
Silence.
TYSON (cont’d)
Son of a bitch.
JONAS
Nothing. We haven’t done anything. Since I met you.
TYSON
What is it with this guy?
JONAS
You can’t tell.
TYSON
Oh, I’m not going to tell. You are.
(photo: (left to right) Derek Ewing as Tyson and James Doyle as Jonas in the 2011 Minneapolis production of “Leave” by Urban Samurai Productions; photography by Ron Ravensborg)
Leave a Reply