"PATRIOTS"

                                                   by Charles Deemer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                            Place

                                             Archie and Claire's home

 

                                                              Set

                                                   A phone, a chair.

 

                                                            Time

                                                       The present

 

                                                        Characters

                                                        Claire, 20s

                                                        Archie, 20s


 

 

 

                                                           (AT RISE: CLAIRE, 20s, is on the phone. She is

                                                           dressed for a funeral, in black or dark clothes.)

 

                                                           CLAIRE

These things are never easy. It's really hard for Archie. He and his mother were very

close....His sister is hosting a reception after the funeral. We were just going out the

door....No, he has to go back right away....In two days....I know....I will. Thanks for

calling, Diane.

 

                                                           (During the phone call, ARCHIE, 20s, has entered.

                                                           He, too, is dressed for a funeral. He stands watching

                                                           her, hiding something behind his back.)

 

                                                           (Claire hangs up and notices Archie.)

 

                                                           CLAIRE

Diane sends her blessings.

 

                                                           ARCHIE

Diane...?

 

                                                           CLAIRE

From school.

 

                                                           ARCHIE

A colleague?

 

                                                           CLAIRE

Yes. She teaches history.

 

                                                           ARCHIE

Have I met her?

 

                                                           CLAIRE

Several times. You talked her ear off a year ago at the faculty picnic. I thought you were

flirting with her.

 

                                                           ARCHIE

You'd think I'd remember. She teaches history? Does that make her one of those pacifists?

 

                                                           CLAIRE

Archie?

 

                                                           (He reveals what he has been hiding. He holds up a

                                                           placard, a protest sign that reads "Bring the Troops

                                                           Home Now!")

 

                                                           ARCHIE

What the hell is this?

 

                                                           CLAIRE

Oh my God ...


                                                                                                                                              2.

 

 

                                                           ARCHIE

I was in the garage looking for my trophy from high school, when we won State. I thought

Dad would like to have it. I found all these political things. What's going on, Claire?

 

                                                           CLAIRE

I didn't think this was a good time to bring it up.

 

                                                           ARCHIE

What is going on, Claire!?

 

                                                           (Claire can't find the words.)

 

                                                           ARCHIE

What do you think I'm doing over there? Why do you think I put my life on the line every

day? What do you think the country's doing over there, Claire?

 

                                                           CLAIRE

I guess that's the point. I don't know any more.

 

                                                           ARCHIE

I don't believe this. I thought I had your support. I thought you believed in this country as

much as I do.

 

                                                           CLAIRE

I do believe in this country.

 

                                                           ARCHIE

Then support the troops who are fighting for your freedom!

 

                                                           CLAIRE

I don't think that's what's happening over there.

 

                                                           ARCHIE

So now you're suddenly an expert on Iraq? Claire, the farthest you've ever been from

Portland is Seattle.

 

                                                           CLAIRE

I've been doing a lot of reading and--

 

                                                           ARCHIE

--and suddenly you know the situation better than I do, better than the majority of people

in this country -- who happen to understand and appreciate why we're over there.

 

                                                           CLAIRE

Public opinion is beginning to turn around on that.

 

                                                           ARCHIE

Thanks to you, is that what you're saying? Thanks to you and your peacenik friends who

abandon your husbands and boyfriends and brothers and neighbors -- everyone who's

putting their lives on the line over there. Is that it? Thanks to your little peace marches,

making the world a nicer place, or whatever it is you think you're doing -- is that what

you're saying?


                                                                                                                                              3.

 

 

                                                           CLAIRE

We want you, the troops, home where they belong.

 

                                                           ARCHIE

You live in a dream world, honey.

 

                                                           CLAIRE

Don't patronize me.

 

                                                           ARCHIE

Well, excuse me. Let me rephrase that. Apparently you think the way to change the opinion

of a suicide bomber, someone who's willing to blow themselves to smithereens as long as

they can take a few Americans, or anybody who works with Americans, with them,

someone who thinks they're going to be rewarded in the next life with fifteen virgins if they

kill themselves for the cause, you think you can enlighten such a person by reasoning with

them, by treating them with dignity and understanding, by saying No, no, that's not nice!

Well, it doesn't happen like that in the real world, Claire. Those people will kill you as soon

as spit.

 

                                                           CLAIRE

I'm not denying there's a problem but--

 

                                                           ARCHIE

A problem? Is that what you call it? What do you call 9/11? Another problem? An

inconvenience, all that rubble to clean up, all those bodies to bury? Talk to me, Claire.

 

                                                           CLAIRE

You seem to be doing all the talking.

 

                                                           ARCHIE

Fine, I'll shut up. Your turn. Tell me what you think you're doing.

 

                                                           CLAIRE

I don't think this is the way to fight terrorism. We were supposed to be going over there to

stop Saddam Hussein from using weapons of mass destruction. So where are they? Face it,

Archie, we were lied to, all of us. We went over there for the oil.

 

                                                           ARCHIE

So you wish Saddam Hussein was still in power?

 

                                                           CLAIRE

That's not what I said.

 

                                                           ARCHIE

Oh? Tell me again, Claire.

 

                                                           CLAIRE

I don't think being in Iraq is the best way to fight terrorism.

 

                                                           ARCHIE

You'd rather wait till they bring their suicide bombers over here.

 

                                                           CLAIRE

Quit putting words in my mouth.


                                                                                                                                              4.

 

 

                                                           ARCHIE

How long has this been going on, Claire? How many marches have you been on?

 

                                                           CLAIRE

Archie, I knew you'd be hurt if you found out about this. This is why I didn't tell you before.

Do you think deciding to do this was easy for me?

 

                                                           ARCHIE

As a matter of fact, I do. I think it's easier than putting your life on the line.

 

                                                           CLAIRE

I'm protesting this war as an act of conscience! This is no small thing.

 

                                                           ARCHIE

Beats being shot at.

 

                                                           CLAIRE

Sometimes on a march we get clubbed by the police, Archie.

 

                                                           ARCHIE

Poor baby! Listen ... I don't think I can stay here tonight.

 

                                                           CLAIRE

I wish you wouldn't say that.

 

                                                           ARCHIE

Look at us, Claire. I happen to be acting on my conscience, too. You ever think of that? I

think we belong over there. I think we are morally obligated to be over there. I think we

take the fight to the enemy or they are going to bring the fight to us. I also happen to be a

soldier now. Not a National Guardsman, a soldier. I follow the orders of my Commander

in Chief. And in this case, I'm damn happy to follow them.

 

                                                           CLAIRE

Can't we peacefully coexist for a few days?

 

                                                           (No reply.)

 

                                                           CLAIRE

I do love you, Archie.

 

                                                           ARCHIE

I'm going to spend the night with Dad. I think he can use the company.

 

                                                           CLAIRE

If you think you must ...

 

                                                           ARCHIE

I think you should drive yourself to the funeral.

 

                                                           CLAIRE

Archie, please ...

 

                                                           ARCHIE

This is not the time for a scene.


                                                                                                                                              5.

 

 

                                                           (The phone rings. Archie answers it.)

 

                                                           ARCHIE

Hello?...Who's calling, please?...Just a minute.

 

                                                           (He puts down the phone.)

 

                                                           ARCHIE

It's for you. The Committee for Peace and Social Justice.

 

                                                           CLAIRE

It's probably Mary from church.

 

                                                           ARCHIE

It's a guy.

 

                                                           CLAIRE

David, then.

 

                                                           ARCHIE

You and he march together?

 

                                                           CLAIRE

Don't do this, Archie.

 

                                                           ARCHIE

Am I doing something? Other than fighting for your freedom -- since you appear to be too

chickenshit to fight for it yourself.

 

                                                           CLAIRE

Let's not do this to one another.

 

                                                           ARCHIE

You're right. Take care of your peace march business and I'll see you at church. Just don't

get too close to me, Claire. Just give me some space.

 

                                                           (He leaves. Claire is stunned for a moment. Then she

                                                           goes to the phone and hangs it up.)

 

                                                           (She sits down. A beat. The phone rings. Claire

                                                           stares at it. The phone rings. And rings. The play is

                                                           over.)