Dreamers Often Lie, Rob Cardazone, 15 pg sample, 7.8.14 Dreamers Often Lie
a full length play by
Rob Cardazone
Copyright © 2013
Rob Cardazone
552 Driggs Ave. #11
Brooklyn, NY 11211
646-352-3332
[email protected]
Dreamers Often Lie, Rob Cardazone, 15 pg sample, 7.8.14 Characters –
Thomas (Tommy) Lockheed – 17. Very handsome, if not pretty. (Son of the
manufacturer of the P38, WWII fighter plane.)
Samuel (Sammy)– 17, Tommy’s friend. A little slow on the uptake. He’s like a big, loyal
puppy dog.
Gregory (Greg) – 17, Tommy’s friend. Defined by his neatness and his glasses. More of
a gentleman than a nerd.
Julian, Tommy’s 12 year old cousin, a boy soprano. Innocent, sensitive, angelic. (Not
necessarily a singing role.)
Marcus Curtiss – 17. Very handsome; snobbish, quirky with an edge, masculine but plays
the fop. (Son of the manufacturer of the P40, WWII fighter plane.)
Reginald (Reggie)– 17, Marcus’ friend. Very attractive. A dreamer. Head in the clouds.
Benjamin (Benny)– 17, Marcus’ friend. Boyish, like a puppy, very enthusiastic.
Setting – An all boys prep school in New England.
Time – Spring then Summer then Fall, 1944.
ACT I
Sc 1 – An open lawn on the school campus. Mid June.
Sc 2 – Two separate studies. August.
Sc 3 – The campus lawn. September.
Sc 4 – Tommy and Gregory’s room on campus.
Sc 5 – Two separate compartments on a train.
Sc 6 – In the ballroom of the Lockheed estate.
Sc 7 – The west terrace of the Lockheed estate.
Sc 8 – Tommy’s room.
Sc 9 – The west terrace.
ACT II
Sc 1 – The west terrace.
Sc 2 – Tommy’s room.
Sc 3 – The school. Marcus and Reggie’s dorm room.
Sc 4 – Tommy’s and Greg’s dorm room.
Sc 5 – Marcus and Reggie’s dorm room.
Sc 6 – The Commons.
Sc 7 – A funeral parlor.
Dreamers Often Lie, Rob Cardazone, 15 pg sample, 7.8.14 ACT II, Scene 4
(TOMMY’s and GREG’s dorm room.
GREG is looking through some photos.
SAMMY enters.)
SAMMY
What’cha doin’?
GREG
Oh. I’m just…
SAMMY
What are those?
GREG
Photos.
(GREG starts to put the photos away.)
SAMMY
Well, I know that.
(looking over at the photos.)
Hey, those are of Tommy.
GREG
Yeah. He’s not back yet, is he?
SAMMY
No.
(pause)
Those are like, Tommy’s photos… Holidays… His family.
GREG
Yeah.
SAMMY
This one’s of us. There’s him and Marcus…
GREG
None of me.
SAMMY
What? Sure there is. There you are in this one.
Dreamers Often Lie, Rob Cardazone, 15 pg sample, 7.8.14 GREG
Group shots.
(pause)
Here’s one of Julian.
SAMMY
Yeah. Aw Greg, what’s a fella to do?
GREG
I just took a call for him. Tommy.
SAMMY
I wish there was a way that I could get out of it.
GREG
The phone rang- I ran down the hall- I picked it up- it was Mr. Lockheed.
SAMMY
They’re set up in the commons, like they have been every year since we started high
school.
GREG
I’ve never spoken more than five words to Mr. Lockheed.
SAMMY
Marcus said that his father might be able to get him out of the draft. Tommy too. But,
nobody else. Even Mr. Curtiss’ power is limited.
GREG
He kept asking for Thomas.
SAMMY
He was pretty drunk when he told me, but…
GREG
I told him that he hadn’t gotten back yet.
SAMMY
My family doesn’t have those kinds of connections. I’ve been trying to imagine what it
might be like to kill someone. I just can’t see it. I close my eyes and I try to imagine a
Gerry standing there in front of me. Somehow… he looks like… just like someone from
school! He stands there pointing his gun at me. And, the metal of the gun sort’a catches
the light, and… I don’t know. I don’t know if I could pull the trigger.
GREG
Sammy, listen to me for a minute. Mr. Lockheed… He…
Dreamers Often Lie, Rob Cardazone, 15 pg sample, 7.8.14 SAMMY
What.
GREG
Julian’s dead.
SAMMY
What?
GREG
That’s what he said. Tommy’s cousin is… He died after Tommy got on the train this
morning. But, he’s not back yet. So, he doesn’t know. They found Julian in his bed.
Mr. Lockheed sounded- like he might cry- but, more than that- like he snapped. He
laughed, I think. It actually sounded like he laughed.
SAMMY
How did he die?
GREG
Mr. Lockheed said they found bits of this plant in Julian’s bed. This little plant, he kept
saying.
SAMMY
Oh, man.
(TOMMY enters.)
TOMMY
Hello, jackoffs!
(BLACKOUT.)
ACT II, SCENE 5
(MARCUS’s dorm room. TOMMY appears
the open doorway holding a gift-wrapped
box.)
MARCUS
Thomas!
(Silence.)
Come in.
(Silence.)
What do you have there?
(TOMMY hands MARCUS the package.)
Dreamers Often Lie, Rob Cardazone, 15 pg sample, 7.8.14 MARCUS
Are you trying to show me what an appropriate present might look like?
TOMMY
I was cruel to you last night. I didn’t mean it.
MARCUS
May I?
TOMMY
Please, do.
(MARCUS opens the present. It’s a little
car that was carved out of wood and hand
painted. It is very well done and sleek in
design – futuristic looking.)
MARCUS
(laughing)
What is this?
TOMMY
You know what is.
MARCUS
God! The pinewood derby! Feels like a million years ago!
TOMMY
Six.
MARCUS
Is that all? When everybody got along! Our fathers. I can’t believe you still have this.
TOMMY
I wasn’t going to throw it away.
MARCUS
It looks like something out of Buck Rogers! You’ve been holding on to this a little
longer than we agreed. Well, I guess we both broke the swear.
TOMMY
It just… became less important as we grew up. But… Anyway, you have the trophy,
right?
MARCUS
Of course! Are we-? Are we swapping now? I mean, it’s a little overdue, but-
Dreamers Often Lie, Rob Cardazone, 15 pg sample, 7.8.14 TOMMY
No, that’s not necessaryMARCUS
I’ve got it right here.
(MARCUS pulls the trophy out of the box,
from under the bed, and hands it to
TOMMY.)
TOMMY
You do have it!
MARCUS
I told you I did. So… You know how it goes… I, Marcus Curtiss…
TOMMY
Just take it.
MARCUS
Thomas! Say it! I, Thomas…
TOMMY
I, Thomas Lockheed…
MARCUS
Do solemnly swear to hold on to this completely amazing pinewood derby racer- Tommy
you’re not-!
TOMMY
Do solemnly swear to hold on to this completely amazing pinewood derby… trophyMARCUS
For the next year, until we swap again!
TOMMY
Next year this time we may be flying over Europe.
MARCUS
Thomas!
TOMMY
For the next year, until we swap again.
BOTH
This here I swear!
Dreamers Often Lie, Rob Cardazone, 15 pg sample, 7.8.14 MARCUS
(Examining the car)
That was rather clever of our dads.
TOMMY
What.
MARCUS
Having us make this together. We were getting very competitive at that age.
TOMMY
Is that what it was about?
MARCUS
Of course.
TOMMY
I just thought it was because we were friends and they knew we’d make a good team.
MARCUS
Isn’t that sweet.
TOMMY
What?
MARCUS
I thought they were trying to prevent us from killing each other.
TOMMY
No! Why do you want to make everything so ugly?
MARCUS
Sometimes things are ugly, Thomas.
TOMMY
They don’t have to be. Not… between us…
MARCUS
Well, I didn’t start it.
TOMMY
Start what?
MARCUS
Making things ugly.
Dreamers Often Lie, Rob Cardazone, 15 pg sample, 7.8.14 TOMMY
I’ve tried to apologize to you. Every time I try, you’ve got some jackass prank that
you’ve planned and… If I have to, I’ll apologize again. I’m sorry. I can’t explain why I
couldn’t- why I couldn’t go to you over the summer.
MARCUS
I don’t want to know anymore.
TOMMY
I couldn’t- see you hurt like that. I couldn’t stand the idea of seeing you in… Just- Just
shake my hand. Let’s be done with it.
MARCUS
That’s why you didn’t come? Because my pain would have inconvenienced you?
TOMMY
It’s more complicated than that! I need to know that when we go- when we go off to
war- that you’ll still be myMARCUS
No!
TOMMY
What do you mean, no?!
MARCUS
If I shake your hand, then that seals the deal! Then it’s over! I thought my father was
going to be able to get me out of it! Us! Out of the draft! He knows a senator. But, he
doesn’t think he’ll do it now! I’ll accept your apology when we get back- When we both
get back, safe and sound!
TOMMY
That might not happen, Marcus! If we’re going- we’re going! Shake my hand, Marcus!
(TOMMY forcefully takes hold of
MARCUS’ hand. MARCUS pulls away.
TOMMY grabs him by both arms.)
MARCUS
What are you doing?
TOMMY
Look at me, Marcus!
(TOMMY grabs the back of MARCUS’
neck and turns his face toward him.)
Dreamers Often Lie, Rob Cardazone, 15 pg sample, 7.8.14 TOMMY
I’m sorry!
MARCUS
Stop it…!
(breaks free)
TOMMY
(grabbing him by the shoulders.)
This war’s gonna happen, Marcus!
MARCUS
It’s already happening!
(breaks free)
TOMMY
(He grabs MARCUS again.)
Listen to me! You’ve gotta stop doing all this stuff! All this awful stuff!
MARCUS
Let go!
TOMMY
Trying to make me sorry?! I am sorry!
(He wraps his arm around the back of
MARCUS’ neck.)
TOMMY (cont’d)
I’m sorry, Marcus!
MARCUS
Let go of me!
TOMMY
Whatever happens next year- that’s next year! But, this is now!
(hushed)
I need you… You’re my best buddy. Please, you have toMARCUS
Okay. I accept your apology. Just let go of me!
TOMMY
(hushed)
Promise you’ll stop punishing me.
Dreamers Often Lie, Rob Cardazone, 15 pg sample, 7.8.14 MARCUS
(hushed)
Let go!
TOMMY
(hushed)
Promise!
(MARCUS struggles. TOMMY pulls him
closer and suddenly kisses him. MARCUS
fights it at first, but returns the kiss. The
intensity grows between them. In the hall
we see REGGIE, GREG, BENNY and
SAMMY.)
REGGIE
Maybe he’s in my room with Marcus.
GREG
Well, we’ve got to find him.
(GREG opens the door. He, alone, sees the
kiss. MARCUS breaks free. TOMMY sees
GREG and then punches MARCUS.)
GREG
Jesus!
(REGGIE, BENNY and SAMMY enter
behind GREG. BENNY right behind
GREG, has seen the punch.)
BENNY
Marcus! Are you okay?!
MARCUS
Well, I didn’t expect that!
BENNY
What happened?
GREG
What were you-?!
TOMMY
He’s just being a jackass again!
Dreamers Often Lie, Rob Cardazone, 15 pg sample, 7.8.14 (The phone rings down the hall. REGGIE
exits to answer it.)
GREG
We just wanted to make sure you were all right, Tommy.
TOMMY
I’m fine!
MARCUS
Well, I’m not.
TOMMY
You’re fine!
MARCUS
I guess I’m fine!
(TOMMY runs out of the room.)
GREG
(to MARCUS)
Is he okay?
MARCUS
I wouldn’t say, okay. I wouldn’t even say he’s his usual self!
GREG
But, I mean, he told you about Julian, right?
MARCUS
What? What are you talking about?
BENNY
Tell him, Greg.
(REGGIE re-enters.)
REGGIE
Marcus, your father called.
(MARCUS heads to the door.)
REGGIE
I told him you weren’t here.
Dreamers Often Lie, Rob Cardazone, 15 pg sample, 7.8.14 MARCUS
What did you do that for?
REGGIE
Well…
BENNY
He doesn’t know.
MARCUS
He doesn’t know what? Did you take a message, Reginald?
REGGIE
He said he got the Senator to change his mind.
MARCUS
Really?
REGGIE
I don’t know what he meant.
MARCUS
I do. (pause) So, what is this about Julian?
SAMMY
He killed himself.
MARCUS
Shut up, Sammy!
(Silence. MARCUS looks around at all the
boys, and realizes they’re serious. He runs
out after TOMMY. Blackout.)
ACT II, Scene 6
(The Commons. There’s a table set up with
recruiting posters hanging down the front.
On top there is a stack of papers. A rock
keeps the wind from blowing the papers
away. The area is dappled with early
afternoon light shining down through the
trees. This is a place between heaven and
hell. TOMMY sits in front of the table on
the ground, reading a form that he’s taken
from the stack. MARCUS runs in, but then
Dreamers Often Lie, Rob Cardazone, 15 pg sample, 7.8.14 slows down when he sees TOMMY sitting
there.)
MARCUS
I just heard…
(pause.)
Greg told me…
(pause.)
About your cousin.
TOMMY
(quietly)
We’re all going to die sooner or later.
MARCUS
Tommy…
(Silence.)
What are you doing?
TOMMY
Reading.
MARCUS
Put that back.
TOMMY
It’s interesting.
MARCUS
What could be so interesting?
TOMMY
Name of registrant. Age. Birth date. Birthplace. Residence.
MARCUS
That’s not very interesting.
TOMMY
Sure it is. Considering I have no idea who the fuck I am.
MARCUS
What are you talking about? You know who you are. You’re Thomas Lockheed. And,
that’s a lot more than a lot of people can say.
TOMMY
You might as well string together: baseball, fence post, umbrella; and call it a sentence.
Dreamers Often Lie, Rob Cardazone, 15 pg sample, 7.8.14 MARCUS
I’m saying, you don’t have to go. So, put that back.
(TOMMY gets up as if to put the form back,
but takes a pen off the table and starts to fill
out instead.)
MARCUS
What are you doing?
TOMMY
Filling it out.
MARCUS
Give me that!
TOMMY
Maybe I’ll learn something about myself.
MARCUS
Thomas. Don’t be stupid… Is this about your cousin?
TOMMY
Well, it’s my fault, isn’t it?
MARCUS
Thomas…
TOMMY
It’s not about my cousin. I really don’t know what to think about it, but… I think I get it,
though. Why he did it. He had no reason to stick around. That’s why I’m gonna sign up.
It’s the same thing.
MARCUS
Where are they?
TOMMY
Who?
MARCUS
The recruiters.
TOMMY
Lunch, I guess.
Dreamers Often Lie, Rob Cardazone, 15 pg sample, 7.8.14 MARCUS
Listen. My fatherTOMMY
They’ll probably be back any minute.
MARCUS
You don’t have to do this, Thomas. He didn’t think he could make it happen, but my
father got the Senator to… pull some strings. So, we don’t have toTOMMY
Then what?
MARCUS
What do you mean?
TOMMY
Then what? Will we…? We…? We won’t ever have to …?
MARCUS
Yeah! We don’t ever have to go!
TOMMY
No! That’s not what I mean. We won’t ever have to… be…
MARCUS
Put that pen down. You’re making me nervous.
TOMMY
Apart?
MARCUS
(throwing the forms in the air.)
What? What are all these forms?!
TOMMY
Apart! We’ll never have to be apart!
MARCUS
I don’t know! I guess one could put it that way! I may have other plans occasionally!
What are all these fucking forms?!
TOMMY
Marcus, answer me. Is that…?
Dreamers Often Lie, Rob Cardazone, 15 pg sample, 7.8.14 MARCUS
Fuck these forms!
(MARCUS throws more and more of the
application forms in the air. They rain down
on them like propaganda leaflets.)
TOMMY
Do you really want to get out of it, while- while everybody else goes?
MARCUS
Well… yes!
(MARCUS continues throwing the forms in
the air.)
MARCUS
Woooooooo!
TOMMY
How will we have each other’s backs if we don’t go? We always said that we would
have each other’s backs!
MARCUS
I said that I would always have your back!
(MARCUS continues throwing the forms in
the air.)
TOMMY
Stop it!
MARCUS
I don’t care about the others!
[continues…]