17 Aug 2015

PROMPT:  Write a scene where adults behave literally as children

Marisela Treviño Orta, playwright

Corporal Stanley Richardson, 25, stands in front of a simple wooden box on a table in front of him.  He pries off the lid and looks inside.  He reaches in a pulls out a rubber chicken.  He smiles.
Sergeant Edward Russell, 45, enters and goes and stands next to Corporal Richardson.
SERGEANT
You doing okay today, Corporal?
CORPORAL
(stiffening slightly)
Just fine, Sergeant.
Sergeant Russell, looks into the box and pulls out a yo-yo.
SERGEANT
Camp clown.
Corporal reaches in and takes out a can of nuts with a screw on lid.
CORPORAL
Nut?
Corporal hands the can to the Sergeant, who unscrews the lid.  Snakes jump out of the can.  Neither man moves.
SERGEANT
Bet the boys at Ramstein wet their pants.  You have to stay alert, Corporal.  Some of ‘em are booby-trapped.
CORPORAL
Yes, Sergeant.
Corporal reaches in and takes out a deck of cards and a plastic lapel flower attached to a pocket squirter.
CORPORAL
He must have been very popular.
SERGEANT
Like a case of the clap.
The Sergeant looks at the Corporal who looks a little surprised by the remark.
SERGEANT
Sorry.  Sometimes I forget... It’s not forgetting... it’s... it’s...
Silence.
CORPORAL
How long have you been doing this, Sergeant?
SERGEANT
(slowly)
Four years.
CORPORAL
Doesn’t it get to ya?
SERGEANT
Sometimes... yea.
Silence.
Corporal reaches in and pulls out a gun.  He points it at the Sergeant.  When the Corporal pulls the trigger, water squirts out.
CORPORAL
Can’t believe there’s still water in it.
SERGEANT
Ramstein probably filled it up before they sent it on...  Wanted it to be the way they found it.  The way he left it.  Make sure it’s refilled before you put it back in.
Silence.
CORPORAL
What’s the weirdest thing you ever found in one of these?
SERGEANT
A finger.
CORPORAL
(surprised)
A real finger?
SERGEANT
Wasn’t much left but a little leathery flesh and bones.
CORPORAL
That’s kind sick.
Silence.
SERGEANT
You serve in Iraq?
CORPORAL
No, Sergeant.
SERGEANT
(struggling)
It... it...
(stops, then starts again, almost an explosion)
You don’t know who the enemy is until they start shooting, or a car blows up.  Could be anybody on the street, man, woman, child.  When you’re out on patrol your finger is always on the trigger waiting, watching.  Then when you get to base, you gotta let out the stress.  You act stupid, you do stupid things.  There were days, I swear to God, when we had a day off that I felt like a five year old.  Runnin’ around, rough housing, playing stupid games and stupid jokes...
The Corporal is a bit stunned by the revelation.  The Sergeant seems hyper and a little embarrassed by his outburst.  The Corporal doesn’t know what to do.  Finally, he looks in the box and pulls out a whoopie cushion.  The Corporal squeeze it and it makes a loud farting sound.
SERGEANT
Treat everything in these boxes with respect, Corporal.
CORPORAL
Yes, Sergeant.
SERGEANT
(looking in the box)
You can ditch the girlie magazines.  His mother or wife doesn’t need to find those.
CORPORAL
Yes, Sergeant.
The Sergeant reaches into the box and takes out the dog tags.
SERGEANT
(reading the dog tags)
Private Rudolfo Rodriquez... Rest in peace, Private Rodriquez.  Rest in peace.
The Sergeant sets the tags down and puts a hand on the Corporal shoulder.
SERGEANT
Keep up the good work, Corporal.
CORPORAL
Yes, Sergeant.
The Sergeant exits.  The Corporal looks in the box.
End of play.