1
ACT I
Scene 1
You see a group of 6 people on stage left including a
Counselor who is holding a clipboard. They are all
sitting in a half circle on the stage. Kyle is in the
center of the half circle in a wheelchair.
The counselor turns towards one of the group members.
COUNSELOR
Thanks Troy for that story you shared, I don't know about
the group, but it sure did open my eyes to your dramatic
experience at war.
The Counselor looks down at his clipboard and mumbles
to himself.
COUNSELOR
Who's next?
Counselor turns towards Kyle.
COUNSELOR
Ahhh yes. Kyle Boulder, you have been quiet throughout our
meetings. Why don't you tell us your story and how you
ended up coming to these meetings?
Kyle looks straight towards the counselor with a
nervous look on his face. He hesitates before he
speaks.
KYLE
No no, its okay. I don't need to share my story. I don't
want to.
Counselor leans towards Kyle talking to him in a
softer voice.
COUNSELOR
Kyle, it's your turn to share. I think it would be good for
you. You should tell us about your journeys throughout the
War.
Kyle adjusts himself in his wheelchair.
KYLE
Well......
Kyle sat still for a second without knowing how to
start.
KYLE
2
I was eighteen, life was great...
Scene 1 fades out stage left.
Flashback 1 begins.
3
ACT 1
Scene 2
Lights go up on stage right.
Setting : 1965
You see Kyle's mother cooking dinner in the kitchen of
their home in Colorado. Thomas and Megan are sitting
at the dinner table.
Kyle enters stage left with his football bags on his
shoulders and in his football uniform.
KYLE
Mom, I'm off to my game.
CARRIE
Oh, good luck honey! Hope you guys win!
THOMAS
Hey bud, aren't you playing your school's rival team
tonight? I know you'll have some competition, but you're
the best quarterback I know...Go get em' son.
KYLE
Thanks pop. We beat them last season so they have nothing
on us.
Carrie looks towards Megan.
CARRIE
Megan, sit up straight in your chair. You know mommy
doesn't like slouching.
MEGAN
Okay okay.
Megan sits up straight as Kyle grabs an apple from a
bowl of fruit on the counter while walking toward the
door.
CARRIE
Oh Kyle! I forgot to mention - not to make you nervous but the college scouts; including some from Colorado State
are coming to tonight's game!
KYLE
What!? Are you serious? Why didn't you tell me this earlier
mom? Now I don't feel ready.
CARRIE
Well I found out late, I'm telling you now, you'll do fine.
Now hurry up, your gonna be late. Good luck!
4
Kyle sighs and cracks his knuckles.
KYLE
Alright, I'll be back later, don't wait up.
MEGAN
Good Luck Kyle!
KYLE
Later sis.
Kyle walks out the door while the rest of his family
all sit down at the table to eat dinner.
Scene 2 fades out Stage right.
5
ACT 1
Scene 3
Flashback 2 begins.
You see Kyle at his High School the Monday morning
after the Friday football game. He is surrounded by
his friends standing next to the lockers.
FRIEND ONE
Kyle that game on Friday was so awesome, you showed South
who was boss!
FRIEND TWO
Yah! You made so many good passes! That one you made to
Tony was un-be-lievable!
FRIEND THREE
I bet those scouts have your name written on a Colorado
State jersey already, I've never seen you play that well.
KYLE
Pshh hopefully, it's been my dream to play at CSU ever
since I was able to pick up a football. My dads been
pushing me forever, if I don't make it, I don't know what
I'll do.
Kevin enters stage left with a football in his hand
pretending to throw it to Kyle.
KEVIN
Hey Kyle! CATCH!
Kevin runs up to Kyle and gives him a high five.
KEVIN
Way to go! That was a swell game with all of your insane
passes. I'm sure you made your dad proud.
Kyle laughs with
a cocky smile.
KYLE
Alright alright, stop giving me all the attention guys.
From stage right, two girls enter and walk towards
Kyle and his group. They twirl their hair and act
flirtatious while they talk.
GIRL ONE
Hey Kyle! Your looking handsome today. That game on Friday
was sooo groovy.
GIRL TWO
Yah totally! You played so well, the game was pretty
6
neat-o!
Kyle smiles.
KYLE
Thanks, you gals are sweet.
Kyle smiles as the two girls giggle.
GIRL ONE
Well we'll see you later guys.
The girls blow kisses while walking away.
KEVIN
Later ladies.
The loud bell rings implying for the next class to
start. All actors exit stage right.
Scene 3 fades out stage right.
Flashback ends.
7
ACT 1
Scene 4
Lights go up on stage left.
You see Kyle in the group counsel meeting.
KYLE
Life was easy. I was on top of the world all the time, I
never had worries. If I did, it was only about getting a
football scholarship to Colorado State. That's all I wanted
in life, nothing else. I never imagined anything that would
bring me down in my future.I had it all, lots of friends,
all the girls, a good family, and a promising future in
football. Until that one day that changed my entire life.
Scene 4 fades out on stage left.
8
ACT 1
Scene 5
Lights go up on stage right.
Flashback 3 begins.
You see Kyle's mother sitting at the kitchen table at
their house with a paper crumbled in her hand. Her
hand is over her face and she is crying.
Kyle enters through the door after getting home from
school and spots his mother crying at the kitchen
table.
Kyle walks towards the table with a curious facial
expression.
KYLE
Mom? Whats going on? Are you okay?...
Kyle mother's stays silent and does not reply.
KYLE
Mom?
Carrie looks into Kyle's eyes full of tears and hands
him the paper. Kyle reads the letter silently to
himself as he mumbles part of the letter.
KYLE
"..drafted to the war...54 days.."
Kyle looks towards his mother and drops his jaw in
shock. He puts his hands on his head and sits still
for a few moments.
KYLE
Mom, what is this? This CAN NOT be happening.
CARRIE
Kyle, I know, but you have to go. Your ordered to go. If
you don't, you will go to jail.
Carrie starts to cry again and shake her head in
disappointment.
KYLE
Mom, I have my whole life ahead of me, it will RUIN
everything, I cant go. What about my future?
CARRIE
I know sweetie, but this is your future for now, at least
for one year. As devastating as it sounds, and how horrible
9
it is for our family, you have to go.
Kyle looks up to think of how to respond. He is so
overwhelmed with the situation.
KYLE
Mom, go to war? Go to Vietnam? This is crazy! I go, this
isn't for me. I mean I am proud to serve for my country,
but I never thought it would be in the way of my future!
CARRIE
You know I support you in everything you do, but in this
situation your dream is going to have to wait. If it were
my decision I would not have you go but its not my
decision, you have to go whether you like it or not Kyle.
Kyle looks up and swallows. He then punches the table
with his hand which frightens Carrie.
KYLE
GOD DAMMIT!
Carrie looks up at kyle, there is a moment of silence.
Thomas walks through the door with a smile on his
face. He is holding a letter in his hand, he knows
that his wife and son are at the table but has not
looked up at them yet.
THOMAS
Kyle! Look what came in the mail! A letter stating that CSU
wants to meet with you about a football scholarship. I knew
they were keeping an eye on you! This is going to be good
son, I can feel it!
Thomas looks at Carrie and Kyle and becomes confused.
Kyle sits silently in shock while breathing heavily
and intensely thinking. After a long moment of
silence, Kyle speaks.
KYLE
Why is this happening to me? This is not supposed to happen
to my life!
Thomas walks closer to the table with a confused look
on his face.
THOMAS
What...Whats going on? Why are you upset? Aren't you happy?
CSU wants to meet with you son!
Kyle has an angry look on his face and stands up from
the table shoving the letter into his father's hands.
In an angry voice Kyle yells.
10
KYLE
Just read it.
Thomas looks at the letter and skims it quietly and
then looks up at Kyle and then at Carrie, then yells
with a very angry loud voice.
THOMAS
Are you kidding me? Is this a damn joke?! After all the
hard work you've put into getting so good at football, CSU
recognized you, you now have to be shipped off to Vietnam?
I cannot believe this shit!
Carrie looks towards Thomas with a worried expression
on her face. She raises her hands as she speaks.
CARRIE
Thomas, please, calm down.
Thomas points at Kyle while he is talking to Carrie.
THOMAS
How am I supposed to be calm when I just found out that my
son is being drafted to war when he should be starting his
career playing football!?
KYLE
Dad! Stop, please just stop!
CARRIE
Thomas, he has to go.
KYLE
Dad, it's true, there's no way of getting around it!
Obviously I don't want to go, but it's not my damn choice!
Megan enters stage left. She has a confused and
innocent look on her face. She walks towards her
father.
MEGAN
Dad? Mom? What's going on? Why you guys yelling? Kyle,
where are you going?
Kyle, Carrie, and Thomas all look down and put their
hand on their forehead while sighing.
Flashback ends.
Scene 5 fades out on stage right.
11
ACT 1
Scene 6
Lights go up on stage left.
You see Kyle in the counsel meeting while others are
looking at him in shock.
KYLE
I wish that letter had never came. It ruined my life by
changing my life. I didn’t know what I was supposed to
expect or what to do and I was honestly scared for my life.
This was the last thing that I could imagine happening to
me and there was no way out of it. To this day, I still can
not believe how much that one afternoon affected my future.
I Knew that this was going to affect my family also. It was
devastating to look at my mom. She was crying for the rest
of that day and many others. But she had to face the fact
that I was leaving to go fight in a War.
Scene 6 fades out on stage left.
Flashback begins.
12
ACT 1
Scene 7
Lights go up on stage right.
You see Kyle with bags in his hands at the train stop.
His family and Kevin are standing with him.
KYLE
The train is almost here.
Carrie is crying while she kisses Kyle on the
forehead.
CARRIE
Honey, please come back safely. I know it's very
unpredictable over there, but you need to be strong.
KYLE
I know mom, I will be.
Kevin's hand are in his pockets while he is swaying
back and forth with an awkward smile.
KEVIN
Stay safe. I'll see you soon bud. The team and I will miss
you.
Kyle's father Pulls him in and hugs him while patting
him on the back.
THOMAS
Kyle this is only temporary, you'll get through it alright.
Your going to come back home and your going to continue
where you left off.
Kyle squats to Megan's height and puts his hand on her
shoulder.
MEGAN
Kyle, I don't want you to leave. Please don't go... Who's
going to teach me how to play football?
Megan pouts and quivers her lip.
KYLE
Megan don't you worry. I'm going to be back sooner than you
realize and I - your big brother - am going to teach you
how to play football. Now I need you to do something for
me, okay?
MEGAN
What?
KYLE
13
I need you to keep mom and dad happy and you better keep
out of trouble. I love you.
MEGAN
Okay I'll do my best, I love you too.
Kyle stands up and gives his mother one last hug while
she is still crying.
The sounds of the train's whistle goes off and Kyle
exits stage right while his family sadly watches him
leave.
Flashback ends.
Scene 7 fades out on stage right.
14
ACT 1
Scene 8
Lights go up on stage left.
You see Kyle in the counsel group.
KYLE
It was so difficult for me to say goodbye to my family and
leave my life behind to go fight, but I knew I didn't have
a choice. Seeing my mother cry like that caused me to feel
even more miserable about what I was leaving behind. When I
arrived in Vietnam, it was like nothing I had never seen
before, being a Paratrooper was the most intense experience
of my life. But after 8 months everything changed.
Scene 8 fades out stage left.
15
ACT 1
Scene 9
Lights go up on stage right.
The scene starts in a medical tent in Vietnam. Kyle is
laying on a bed sleeping. He wakes up and struggles to
talk and move. A doctor enters from stage right and
notices that Kyle is awake.
Kyle is out of it and speaks very weakly in this
scene. He is only half awake.
KYLE
Whats going on? Why
I move? Where am I?
DOCTOR ADAMS
Kyle, your awake. You were out fighting in combat and...
Kyle interrupts.
Kyle reply's in a worried but angry tone.
KYLE
Just tell me whats happening.
DOCTOR ADAMS
Your legs...
KYLE
What about them?
DOCTOR ADAMS
Well...we tried very hard to remove the bullets bits from
your spine, but the nerves were severely damaged. It caused
both of your legs to be paralyzed, there was nothing more
that we could do, I am so sorry Kyle.
Kyle's reaction happens fast, he begins to break down
and cry with his face in his hands.
Kyle's yells. He breaks down and cries.
DOCTOR ADAMS
We really did try Kyle, I'm sorry. I'll leave you alone for
a while. I have other patients that I need to tend.
Doctor Adams exits stage right.
Flashback ends.
Scene 8 fades out on stage right.
16
ACT 1
Scene 10
Lights go up on stage left.
You see Kyle in the counsel group and Kyle talks with
a sad low voice.
KYLE
At that moment, I didn't know what to think. I felt like
there was nothing to live for anymore. What was I going to
do? What was my family going to think? How was I supposed
to live without the two things that I needed. I was in
shock and I blanked. I had never felt anything like it. It
felt like the end, but it was only the beginning of my new
life style.
Lights fade out on stage left.
Flashback starts.
Lights go up on stage right.
Kyle is laying in his bed at home after coming back
from Vietnam. He has a miserable and annoyed look in
his face.
Carrie knocks on his bedroom door and speaks from the
hallway.
CARRIE
Kyle, can you please get up?..you have been in your bed for
six days straight.
KYLE
Mom, please, I don't need you to tell me what to do. I'm
fine.
Kyle's mother bursts open the door to Kyle's room.
CARRIE
Kyle! You need to get up and do something. This is not like
you.
Kyle replies in a sorrow tone.
KYLE
This is me now mom. I have nothing to live for since the
war.
Carrie replies while shaking her head.
CARRIE
Ugggh, I don't like seeing you like this, it breaks my
heart Kyle.
17
KYLE
Do you not think it breaks my heart also? What am I
supposed to do? Get up and go out into the world so people
can stare at me and question why I'm like this? I don't
deserve that.
CARRIE
Honey, I know you don't deserve that, but you shouldn't be
afraid of being judged. You are the same person that you
were before.
Kyle replies in an angry tone with a sorrow look on
his face.
KYLE
Well I am afraid, and I change that. I don't want people
to see me like this. I'm weak and the people that I have
known forever are going to look at me differently and act
different around me just because I walk. I'm going to be
judged everyday of my life, I've lost what I had.
CARRIE
Well you
Kyle..
stay in your room for the rest of your life
KYLE
Well, maybe I just should.
Carrie replies with a encouraging but stubborn tone.
CARRIE
Kyle, please!...
There is a moment of silence.
CARRIE
Kevin called earlier while you were asleep.
Kyle has a surprised look on his face.
KYLE
What did he want?
CARRIE
He invited you to go to the CSU football game, his father
got some tickets.
Kyle replies with an attitude.
KYLE
Are you serious mom? I'm not going. I'm not going to go and
watch my dream crumble in front of my eyes.
CARRIE
Well I think it would be good for you to go out and see
your friends.
18
Kyle yells at his mother.
KYLE
MOM! THERE IS NO POINT! I'M NOT GOING TO BE ACCEPTED BY
THEM ANYMORE AND I'M NOT GOING TO GO WATCH THE TEAM THAT I
WAS GOING TO PLAY FOOTBALL WITH. I don't know if you
understand, but my whole life is gone!
Kyle's mother tries to hold back her tears as she
speaks.
CARRIE
Kyle, I'm just trying to help, I wish you could see that. I
want you to be happy, and who cares what people think of
you. Be that one person that stands up for themselves
because they are disabled!
Kyle is upset because she mentioned the word disabled.
KYLE
Well you telling me what to do isn't helping at all, so
just don't try.
CARRIE
Kyle, I'll leave you alone, but I just hope you can
eventually see what I see.
Carrie Leaves through the door on stage right and
closes it behind her.
Scene 10 fades out.
Flashback ends.
19
ACT 1
Scene 11
Lights go up on stage left.
You see Kyle in the counseling group while most of the
other patients have engaging looks on their face.
Kyle speaks with a serious and mellow tone.
KYLE
Going from popular and having nothing to worry about
(pause) to having to live my everyday life with caution, I
never saw it coming.I've lived everyday since I got back
from Vietnam with anxiety and concerns about all the
choices I make. When I go out in public, adults and
children are constantly staring at me. Before this happened
to me, I enjoyed all the attention, but now I hate it
because it is a different kind of attention. I am tired of
living my life with regret and shame. I still beat myself
up about the fact that I play football any more. My dreams
were crushed as soon as that letter was received in the
mail.
Many of the group patients are starting to tear. The
Counselor sits forward in his seat.
COUNSELOR
Kyle, I'm so sorry, but I think something that will help is
setting new goals for yourself and moving forward.
Kyle speaks with confidence and in a strong tone.
KYLE
I know. Now that I'm 22 years old, it seems realistic to
not throw my life away and have something new to live for.
I am not going to let society stop me from doing what I
want. These days I can't stand watching or hearing about
football, but that was my past, this is now. Ever since my
accident, I have had trouble being accepted into society,
it has been harder to be looked at as normal, everywhere I
turn people are looking at me and making me feel like I am
not a true part of society. But thinking about all this, it
is the only thing that has been stopping me from moving
forward. Now that I realize that I am not as different as
other people may think, I am not going to let that hold me
back. I am going to show others that I am just as normal as
them, I am sick of moping around and feeling sorry for
myself. I'm done with it, I want to begin a new life.
The counselor seems anxious and puts on a small smile.
COUNSELOR
Kyle, I am extremely proud of you and very glad I'm hearing
20
this. You have opened yourself up and told your story.
KYLE
Thank you. I just want to live for something new and that's
my new goal to figure out. Sharing what I shared today
after holding it in so long, it opened my eyes to see that
there is still more to life even though I face struggles
daily. In order for people to accept me, I have to accept
myself.