A Parody Outline of History Part 11

CHAPTER NINE

"FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE WORLD"

A DRAMA OF THE GREAT WAR

Act I: In the Manner of Mary Raymond s.h.i.+pman Andrews

Act 2: In the Manner of Eugene O'Neill

ACT ONE

(Mary Raymond s.h.i.+pman Andrews)

SCENE I

A princ.i.p.al street of an American city in the spring of 1918.

At the rear of the stage, representing the opposite sidewalk of the street, are gathered many people come to bid farewell to the boys of the Blankth regiment who are soon to march past on their way to France.

Extending across the "street", from footlights to "sidewalk", is a large white plaster arch, gayly decorated with the Allied colors.

On this arch is the inscription "For the Freedom of the World."

At the rising of the curtain, distant march music is heard (off stage, right); this constantly grows louder during the ensuing dialogue which takes place between three elderly women crowded together at the edge of the sidewalk. These women, although, before the war, of different stations in social rank, are now united, as are all mothers in the Allied countries, by the glorious badge which each proudly wears pinned over her heart--the service star.

The Professor's Wife--I hear them coming.

The Street-cleaner's Wife--So do I. I hope my boy Pat sees me.

The p.a.w.nbroker's Wife--I told my Jean where to look.

The approaching music and the cheering of the spectators drowns out further conversation.

Enter (right) the regimental band playing the "Stars and Stripes Forever." They march through the arch and exit left. Following them comes the flag, at the sight of which all the male spectators (young boys and men too old to fight) remove their hats. After the colors come the troops, splendid clean faced fellows, in whose eyes s.h.i.+nes the light of civilization's ideals, in whose ears rings the never forgettable cry of heroic France and brave little Belgium. The boys are marching four abreast, with a firm determined step; it is as though each man were saying to himself "They shall not pa.s.s."

After the first few squads have marched through the arch and off left, the command is issued off-stage "Company--HALT." A young lieutenant repeats this order to his men, and the column comes to a stop. The men stand at attention until given the command "Rest", when they relax and a murmur of conversation arises from the ranks, in which characteristic sentences "German ideals are not our ideals" and "Suppose it was your own sister" show only too well what the boys are thinking of day and night.

As the column halts, the three service star mothers rush out from the curb and embrace their sons who happen to be in this company. At the same time a very attractive girl runs up to the young lieutenant.

The Lieutenant--Ellen!

His Fiancee--John!

The Professor's Son} The Streetcleaner's Son } Mother!

The p.a.w.nbroker's Son }

The Professor's Wife } The Streetcleaner's Wife } My Boy!

The p.a.w.nbroker's Wife } Voice off stage--Company--Atten SHUN!

The farewells are said, the men come to attention.

Voice off stage--Forward--MARCH

The Lieutenant--(Pointing with his sword to the inscription on the arch)--Forward for the Freedom of the World--MARCH.

The men's teeth click together, their heads are thrown back, and with a light in their eyes that somehow suggests Joan of Arc the Crusaders move on.

SCENE 2

Three months later.

A section of an American front line trench now occupied by the Blankth regiment.

It is early morning and the three soldiers mentioned in Scene 1 are conversing together for perhaps the last time, for soon they are to be given the chance which every American man desires more than anything in the world--the opportunity to go "over the top".

The Professor's Son--Well fellows, in a few minutes we shall be able to show the people at home that their boys are not cowards when the fate of civilization is at stake.

The p.a.w.nbroker's Son--Here's a newspaper clipping mother sent me. It's from a speech made the other day in Congress. (He reads) "And we and our children--and our children's children will never forget the debt we owe those brave boys who are now in France."

The Streetcleaner's Son--That makes a fellow feel pretty good inside, doesn't it? It makes me glad I'm doing my bit--and after the war I hope the ideals which have inspired us all will make us better citizens in a better world.

The Professor's Son--Not only will we be better citizens--not only will the torch of liberty s.h.i.+ne more brightly--but also each one of us will go back to his job with a deeper vision.

The p.a.w.nbroker's Son--That's right I am a musician--a pianist, you know--and I hope that after the war I shall be able to tell America, through my music, of the glory of this holy cause.

The Professor's Son--I didn't know you were a pianist.

The p.a.w.nbroker's Son--Yes--ever since I was a boy--I have had no other interest. My father tried to make me go into his shop but I couldn't stand it. He got angry and refused to support me; I had a hard time until I won a scholars.h.i.+p at a New York musical college. Just before the war I had a chance to play the Schumann concerto with the Philharmonic; the critics all said that in another year I would be--but fellows--you must think me frightfully conceited to talk so, and besides what matters my musical career in comparison with the sacrifice which everyone is making?

The Streetcleaner's Son--And gladly making, too, for it is easy to give up all, as did Joan of Arc, for France. Attention, men! here comes one of our officers.

The three stand at attention.

Enter the Lieutenant.

The Lieutenant--Well, men, do you feel ready?

The Three--More than ready, sir--eager.

The Lieutenant--Brave men! (To the Professor's Son) Come here a minute, Keating. I have something to ask you before we go over the top.

The Professor's Son and the Lieutenant go to one side.

The Lieutenant--(To the other two in a kindly manner)--At ease!

The Streetcleaner's Son--Thank you, sir.

They relax from their rigid posture of "attention".

The Lieutenant--(To the Professor's Son)--Keating, when we "go over", we--may--never come back, you know. And I want to ask a favor of you.