Under Honorable Conditions
By: Gerry Young
(© 2014 by the Author)
The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent.
Many thanks to MORRIS HENDERSON for his input and sharp attention to my typing
and grammatical errors EDITING, in other words.
(A one-man, one-act drama)
(Originally written in August, 1960, soon after it all happened)
[ PRELIMINARY NOTES: ]
(Since this story is written as a play script, some theatre terminology is used throughout. The stage is universally known to have Nine Playing Areas, named from the actor's perspective, facing the audience, and here is an explanatory diagram:
(The
action takes place on a simple unit set with various playing areas. Far Upstage
Center (USC) is a wall-mounted pay-phone. Up Center Stage Right (CSR) are three
folding chairs side-by-side, slightly angled toward USC. Just to the left of
the chairs is a usable water-cooler with paper cups and trash receptacle. At
Center Stage Left (CSL) is a small table with a pitcher of water and a supply of
disposable cups or glasses. A waste basket can be to the right of the table.
Down Stage Left (DSL), is a military-like or Boy Scout cot, slightly angled
toward USC. Down Center (DSC), away from the edge of the stage, is a Basic,
unadorned straight-back chair.
[ OTHER OPENING NOTES: ]
(GERALD ALEXANDER YOUNGQUEST is written as a young white man between eighteen and twenty-one years old. He has been raised in Kentucky, Louisiana, and Oklahoma in what he has considered to be a good Christian family. He was never allowed to go to either of his Junior-Senior Proms, nor on the Senior Trip to New York City because "Lots of those whoring young girls come back pregnant." However, he WAS allowed to represent his high school as a participant for a full week in Boys State at the State Capitol between his Junior and Senior years. AND, it took an act of the Board of Elders in their Presbyterian Church, for his grandmother to allow him to join the Boy Scouts, which, weekly, met in the basement of the Church. And OHHHHH, the arguments between her and the Church's Board to allow Gerry to attend two weeks of Boy Scout Camp! He was so very innocent and naοve in the ways of the world. Yes, he was gay. And again yes; the term was in common use in the underworld and in prisons, to mean "homosexual", from 1935, from which time it spread into the street vernacular.
(From the author's date of writing, the reader should recognize that the occurrence of the telling of this story, based on fact, happened BEFORE "Don't ask; don't tell." It's the way things USED to be.
(The five dots [ .. ] used in this script, indicates that Gerry is "listening" to someone who is talking to him, asking questions, or making comments.)
UNDER HONORABLE CONDITIONS
GERRY
(At Lights Up, Gerry [in sailor's "Whites"] is discovered standing USC, talking on phone. He is a little nervous, but his mood is forcibly "UP")
Hi, Grandmama. Boy! What a surprise you calling me HERE! Ya know, all morning I've been thinking about calling you with some uh what to me is uh good news, though uh
.. Excuse me for interrupting, Grandmama, but I just gotta tell you what's happened. (Now feigning sincerity) Ya know that I applied for my Security Clearance five weeks ago? Well, it finally came through yesterday afternoon and along with it my uh ORDERS!
.. Yes, Ma'am, my orders. Now uh here comes what might not be such good news I uh I got Classification Three Clearance and uh (Trying to be serious and convincing) I'm being transferred over-seas.
.. That's right transferred! Somewhere in Europe.
.. I'm sorry, Grandmama, but I just can't tell you where. I don't know exactly where, myself, and WON'T know until I get there!
.. (His mood just dropped a little) Yes, Ma'am, I'm telling you the truth; don't you believe me?
.. (Now, sick to his stomach) (Shocked!) You did what?
.. You called who? The Department of the Navy? The Department of Defense? Senator Graham? Congressman Whitehead? Why? What did they tell you?
(He has been found out. Now, remorse starts to take over)
.. They told you THAT?
.. Yes, Ma'am.
.. I didn't want to hurt you. I didn't want to embarrass you. I didn't want you to think that I'm some kind of pervert or something.
.. Why did I lie about going to Europe? 'Cause I felt that uh I could disappear for about three years the time for my enlistment term to run out, and I wouldn't have to tell you or anybody else in the family about my discharge for a while.
.. What am I gonna do? I don't know for sure. I don't even know how long these discharge procedures are gonna take! Or even how long I'm gonna be here at NavRecSta
.. "NavRecSta". That's Navy shorthand for "Naval Receiving Station."
.. A couple of my friends and I are gonna
.. Yeah, they're getting out for the same reason, too.
We've all decided to move out to San Francisco and start a new life out there. I hear we'll have a gay ol' time whatever that means.
.. No, Ma'am, they're not throwing me in the brig it's not a "CRIMINAL" offense just a (SARCASTICALLY) "POSSIBLE SECURITY OFFENSE!"
.. Yeah, Grandmama. I'll call you when it's all over. (Swallowing tears)
.. I love ya, too, Grandmama. Bye, bye.
(Hangs receiver on phone. After a few seconds of introspection and composing himself, he wanders back and forth across the stage as if going down hallways to chair at DSR.
VOICE-OVER
(His own voice "speaking" his own thoughts as he wanders the hallways)
God, I wish I hadn't lied to HER anybody but her anybody but Grandmama. She KNEW I was lying and just wanted to see how far I would carry it She knows me too well She should! She's been like a mother to me She's raised me since I was a child.
She couldn't really afford all that money she spent on all those long-distance calls, and God only knows how many others just to find out what's going on.
GERRY
(Stops walking, stares out over audience, with cracking voice)
I'm sorry I lied to you Grandmama. (Great sigh)
(Still walking, almost to chair. Stops abruptly and turns to Wave Nurse)
Ma'am? Yes, Ma'am, that's me I'm Gerald Youngquest.
.. Something's wrong with my urine sample, Ma'am? What? Oh, I bet I know too much albumin; right? Yeah. I mean, yes, Ma'am.
.. I had a kidney infection when I was a little boy, and every time I've given samples since then, I've had too much albumin in my urine.
.. Oh, no, Ma'am it's never given me any problems. I guess I should've told the pecker che . uhhhhh 'scuse me, Ma'am the uhh CORPSMAN when I gave him the sample, so nobody would be uhh ... alarmed.
.. My papers can't be processed until it's cleared up? GOOD! I hope it's never cleared up at least not for another twenty years Sorry for raising my voice, Ma'am.
.. 'Cause, Ma'am, I love the Navy. I was planning on being a career-man. Twenty or thirty years.
.. Yes, Ma'am. I know I made a mistake.
.. Two hours? Yes, Ma'am; I think I can give a clear sample by then.
.. Alright, Ma'am, I'll be here er right down the hall where else could I go?
.. Yes, Ma'am, I will.
(Turns back to continue walking. Stops at water-cooler to Drink three cups of water. Continues DSR and sits in the Center chair. "Ed" is to his left; "Frank" is to his right.)
That was my Grandmother on the phone.
.. No, Ed, I don't know how she found out I'm here, except she said she's been calling every official she could. Even our Senator I made up some cock-and-bull story to her right after we were transferred over here to NavRecSta, and
.. That's right, Frank, right after the first interrogation. Ya know this is the first time they've allowed us to be together for any length of time UNSUPERVISED! Ever since THAT day! I couldn't believe it I had to sit in that chair for four hours while they questioned me about every
.. (Smartly looks left at "Ed") Fourteen hours!? (Then right, to "Frank") Nine hours??
Why so long, Frank? Ed?
.. (Long pause, looking back and forth looking at and listening to his "friends") They FINALLY BROKE you down, and THEN you told'em the truth?
.. You assholes!
..Nooooo, they didn't break me down. I figured Intelligence is smart enough that if they knew the right questions to ask, they'd already done their homework and knew the answers, so why try to lie my way out of an impossible situation, when the truth would eventually come out, anyway!
.. (Looking at "Ed") They didn't let you go to the head, at all, for those fourteen hours? Wha'd you do pee in your
.. (Jumps to attention) .. (Then, to his "friends") More questions! See you guys later, I hope. (Quickly walks to chair and stops, clicks his heels together, and turns sharply to Face Out [toward audience which is the Interrogating Officer. He does not sit, but stands erect.)
.. (To a "shrink") Yes, Sir; they think I've got a problem with Uremic Albumin.
.. (Nodding "yes") Since I was a kid.
.. (Shaking head "no") No, Sir. Everybody else gets concerned about it, but it's never been a problem to me. I'm just trying to drink enough water this morning, to flush it outta my system so I can get the hell outta here
.. Sorry, Sir. Could I have a glass of water?
.. Thank you, Sir.
(Takes a couple of steps CSL, pours glass of water from pitcher, drinks, then pours another and drinks it while "listening to the "shrink". Then he returns to his place in front of the Center chair, stiffly standing erect, facing out.)
Excuse me, Sir, but I've already answered that question to the Interrogation Officer two weeks ago
(A sigh of relief with attitude of resignation and defeat. He sounds like a forced, disinterested recitation in school.)
My first experience was here at NavRecSta just two months ago
.. When did I first find out that I was ?
.. That's right. My mother has told me that when I was a baby, even as an infant I refused to breast-feed, and would cry and push away from any female who held me, but that I would laugh and smile and cling to any man who held me. She even told me that I came out of the womb being gay.
..... I don't know, Sir. I DO remember I don't know exactly when it was one of my first memories is that of being in bed with my mother. On warm summer nights, she would lie in bed with her legs spread apart. She would then lay me between her legs with my head laying (Disgusted and somewhat embarrassed) you-know-where. That scent of a woman, I'm sure, is another thing that made me the way I am.
.. Well, the next uh SEXUAL thing I remember is uh after Mom remarried. His name was Roland. He had a brother Karl who was about fifteen. I was seven at the time.
.. We moved to Roland's family's small cattle farm in Louisiana, and Karl sorta became like an older brother to me. I really looked up to him.
(Now looking out and slightly up and to the right, Gerry fondly begins to remember the experience)
One afternoon, after we'd finished our chores around the farm, Karl and I went up into the hayloft above the cow's stalls in the barn, and pitched down some hay to them. When we finished that, there was nothing else left to do that day, so Karl took off his shirt and lay down on a pile of hay, with the afternoon rays of the sun shining down on him through the window-like opening on the front of the barn. I sat down not far from him, and we talked for a while about I don't know what. He was chewing on a piece of straw, and I was copying him my big brother that I never had.
The straw was dry and tasted dusty, so I started twisting it in my fingers. I noticed Karl's eyes were closed, so, with it, I made light little strokes across his chest. His hand shooed-away what I guess he thought was a bug. I laughed, and he opened his eyes and saw me about to do it again, and he said, "Stop that." He closed his eyes again.
He didn't sound mad or angry, so I continued. Then he pretended to be angry, pushed me over onto the pile of hay and threw himself on top of me. With one hand he mussed up my hair and said, "I told you not to do that anymore." Then he lay back down again.
I asked him if he was mad at me, and he told me that he wasn't. So I picked up another piece of straw and started making very light strokes across his stomach just above his belt. He didn't say or do anything, so I continued. He just opened his eyes and raised up on his elbows, watching the straw stroke his tummy. After a short time, I noticed the bulge in his pants started to get bigger.
(He looks to his right, just like he had been when sitting to Karl's left in the loft) "What's wrong?" I asked; "what's happening down there?"
(Looking left, indicating Karl's movement) "Nothing," he said. But the more I toyed with the straw, the bigger the bulge became.
"Uncle Karl," I said, "I've never seen a 'necked' man before. You care if I see what you look like without your pants on?"
He looked at me sorta funny, and then said, "Okay." He undid his buckle, unzipped his pants, and slid them and his jockey-shorts down below his butt, and then he lay back on the hay.
I held his "thing" in my hand, and when I touched him, it tightened-up. I pulled it to one side, released it, and it sprang back to its upright position. I pushed it to the other side, released it, and it sprang back to its position again. This was fun! Suddenly, outta no-where, 'cause I didn't really know where it came from, I saw a picture in my head and said, "Uncle Karl "
(Now animating from left to right ) "Yes?"
"You know how to kiss it?"
"What?"
"You know how to kiss it?"
"Nooooooo," he answered, drawing out the word.
"Like this." (Then looking back up and right, visualizing what had really happened ) I kissed the head of his penis with my lips, then ran my tongue around the head and neck of it. Each time I did something else, it would give a little jerk. I heard him making funny, soft little sounds. I raised my head and looked at him. His eyes were closed again and he had just a hint of a smile on his face.
I opened my mouth as wide as I could and put him inside, letting my lips slide down his length as far as I could. Then I began doing an up and down motion with my head.
His sounds got louder and louder until, suddenly, he yanked my head off of him, jumped up, and hurried to the back of the hayloft. On his way back there, he told me to stay where I was. I did what Uncle Karl told me to do, but soon, I could see him, with his back to me, slightly bent over, and I thought he was hitting himself in his stomach.
Now that I'm older, I guess he was masturbating to climax what I had started. But I DO know that at that age just seven years old I knew instinctively how to perform oral sex on a man.
.. No, I'd never seen it done, before.
.. No, he didn't urge me on; he didn't tell me HOW or WHAT to do. I just DID it. I just did what came naturally! I enjoyed doing it, and HE certainly seemed to enjoy it for as long as he let me, anyway!
(PLEADINGLY returning to the here and now) Excuse me, Sir; may I use YOUR head? (After a short pause, and while gesturing USL) I mean, can I use THE head?
.. No, I'm not going to jack-off! I gotta go pee get rid of all this water I've been Drinking, ya know? Thanks.
.. (While walking and looking back toward the "shrink") Leave the door OPEN? Ya wanna watch? Or come in and hold it for me? (He exits USL. Then from off-stage, we hear ) Just joking, Sir. .. Yes, Sir, I understand. (Audible sigh of relief) Ahhh, what a relief it is!
(Re-enters from USL, zipping-up pants. Takes a few steps toward chair, then stops abruptly)
Could I have some more, Sir? (Gerry gestures left toward water pitcher. After a short pause, he pours a glass of water and drinks it.)
Thanks. (He pours another and drinks it. He sets the glass down, and returns to stand behind chair)
.. Sure, I like girls, but the way I was raised, it's a sin to have anything uh SEXUAL to do with them until after you're married.
.. (Shaking head, "no") Not really, Sir. Oh, there was one girl our minister's daughter
.. Yes, Sir, our minister's daughter Annie (Smiling in remembrance) I really liked her. We were only eight or nine at the time.
..Yes, I was very active in Church. Everybody thought Annie and I were so CUTE together
.. One Sunday, after Church Service was over (Here, he moves from standing behind the chair, to sitting in the chair), Annie and I were sitting together on the Church steps just talking, and I reached over and (Pantomiming) patted her on the knee. She SLAPPED me. And I got a WHOOPIN' when I got home just for patting her on the knee.
(Perturbed, he begins to show some anger, and continues without a pause) Yeah, it was all right for Granddaddy and the Reverend to shower together at our Church's Summer-camp, and scrub each other's backs NAKED but it was sinful for me to pat a girl's knee!
.. No, I wasn't there. Granddaddy mentioned it in passing, to Grandmama when he was telling her about a conversation that he and the Reverend had at camp.
.. Oh, I guess I was about twelve.
.. Oh, yeah, and another thing you know how everybody swims naked at the YMCA? Well, it was all right for the instructor to have all us guys line up, front-to-back, like sardines, waiting for each of us to dive into the pool and swim across, before the next one dived in. Boy! That sure was uncomfortable embarrassing to be standing there, skin-to-skin! Most of us were (Cupping his hands to cover crotch) trying to hide ourselves from the next guy in front.
The instructor told us not to let anything "come up between us". He had a silly smile on his face. He was sitting on the edge of the pool, splashing water up on his uhhh (Saying nervously) ... COCK and it was uhhh ,,, starting to get uhhh hard and uhhh ERECT and uhhh he was getting bigger than Uncle Karl Boy! Did I ever want to kiss THAT thing! Anyway, he wasn't really watching the guys swim across the pool he was watching himself; then he saw me looking at him, and he quickly jumped down into the water I REALLY wanted to jump into that COLD water, too, but I had to wait my turn And just then I felt something poke me from behind I thought it was (Thumbing over shoulder) that guy's finger.
.. No way! No! I did NOT like it.
.. Yeah, it was okay the things that went on at the "Y", like the swimming matches, followed by the showers, and running around the track upstairs, followed by showers, and the basketball on the ground-floor court, which was also followed by showers, and all that kinda stuff. But it was wrong for me to pat a girl's knee.
(Shakes head and exhales in confused disbelief. Then, long pause after sitting)
.. The first time I ever came? Ohhh, yes! I was twelve years old. In the hospital.
.. That's right in the hospital. (Adjusts sitting position, so he's not sitting on his genitals.) Ya see, they were building a new cafeteria building at school, and during lunch-hour one day, after I finished eating, I put a concrete block on the ground, then a two-by-four across it like a teeter-board then I put a brick on one end of the board, and then jumped on the other end of the board so that the brick would fly over my head, but instead it hit me in the eye. The next thing I knew I woke up in the hospital with a bandage over my right eye.
There was a guy, Granville, in the other bed it must have been a semi-private room, now that I think about it. Anyway, he was two years older than me. He had done the same, identical thing, at a different school, three hours before my accident. Only, it was his left eye, and mine was my right eye.
We both had concussions; we were told NOT to turn over in the bed, NOT to sit up, NOT to get up to go to the bathroom we had to use urinals and bed-pans! Ugh! And we were to stay flat on our backs until the doctor said it was okay to get up.
.. It ended up being two weeks, then four weeks on our backs at home and the only times we could get up was to eat or go to the bathroom.
Well, anyway, one evening when we didn't have any visitors, I saw him making like Omar-the-tent-maker under his sheets. I didn't know what he was doing except that it did sorta remind me of Uncle Karl in the hayloft. So I asked him, and he uhh uhhhhh he explained the facts of life to me.
While he was explaining things to me, I noticed some uhh things uhh happening to myself, so I started to take matters into my own hands, if you know what I mean.
.. Yeah, it really felt good, but it sure was messy afterwards.
Anyway Granville that sure is a strange name, isn't it? then Granville told me that the next time, I should use a handkerchief, some Kleenex, a dirty ol' sock or somethin' else.
I asked him if HE knew how to kiss it he didn't know what I was talking about I told him about Uncle Karl, and he said that anybody who got that stuff in their mouth would die 'cause it's POISON! He didn't know any better; I didn't either, so I believed him he was older than me he SHOULD know what he was talking about! He also told me about how that stuff makes babies. ..
(Stands, stretches crosses DSL, and after an anguished moment of realization, sits on cot, burying his head in his hands)
I just remembered something that happened when we were living down in Oklahoma.
.. Yes, Sir, Oklahoma.
.. A few months after Mother and Roland were married, we all moved to Tulsa. Roland got a job as an oil rigger.
I was eight, or seven no, I was eight.
.. That's right, I was eight years old. (Smart-alecky) "Ate" before I was seven. Ha ha. Don't I wish!
.. Sorry. No. Just joking. One day when Roland was at work, and Mother and I were in the house alone, she had just finished dressing after taking a bath, and I said, "I bet you wouldn't let ME see YOU without any clothes on.
.. Why did I ask that? Because she always closed the bathroom door when she took a bath, but I had to leave the door open when I took one.
Well, she went into the bedroom, took all of her clothes back off, and lay down on the bed. Then she called me in and told me to take off my clothes and get up on the bed with her.
.. Sir she was my mother, and I did what she told me to.
Well, it seemed like fun for a while. I felt her body all over with my hands, my tongue and my nose there was that "scent of a woman" again. UGH!
(Gerry immediately stands, crosses to DSL corner of stage, faces out left, as if embarrassed at what he has just revealed.)
.. (Still facing away) Oh, yes, Sir, there've been other girls.
.. (Turning to face his "inquisitor") Oh, yes. The kissing, necking, petting are all fine and even very STIMUSLATING but at the "moment of truth" uhhh I can't perform I lose my hard-on
.. Because (Angrily, crossing to DSC) at that moment, my MOTHER's face is right there in front of my MEMORY's eye!
.. (Slowly, irritatingly pacing R) Yes, Sir, I know you're not supposed to talk about your mother this way, but (Sharply turning around and pointing to "inquisitor") let me tell you this, Sir ANY woman well NEARLY any woman can bring a child into the world, but that doesn't make her a mother NO SIR-E-E-E, BOB!!! I need some more water, Sir. May I?
.. Thank you.
(Crosses USL, pours a glass, drinks slowly, and after a moment, crosses and sits in DSC chair, looking downcast)
I guess in her own way she was trying to teach me the facts of life the best she knew how!
.. Let's talk about something else, shall we? This is really very uncomfortable and uh embarrassing to talk about my mother this way.
.. Yes, Sir. I guess I don't know I I guess I feel this way because of my religious background and things I learned in Church.
.. (Chuckling belligerently) Oh, yes, I was very active in Church VERY active I remember when I was about thirteen years old I was taking piano lessons. We were so dirt poor, Grandmama and Granddaddy couldn't afford to buy me a practice piano, but because Granddaddy was an Elder, I was allowed to practice on one of the Church pianos Well, one day, Grandmama dropped me off to practice while she went shopping or something and I was there all alone. Well, I had to use the restroom, and while I was standing there, I started playing with myself. Then I realized that I was IN THE CHURCH BUILDING! How SACRILEGIOUS! But it really felt good! I looked up and said, "God, if this is wrong, go ahead and strike me dead right here and now. At least I can die with a smile on my face! (Chuckles again) I'm still here. But I felt a little guilty after finishing uhh you know.
.. Sir, as I told you earlier, my first experience was two months ago here at
.. That's right, Sir.
.. No, Sir; I had never done anything uhh sexual WITH another man SINCE becoming an adult until
.. No, Sir; I had NO sexual contact with anyone in Boot Camp in San Diego although I did a lot of looking in the showers!
.. There was this one guy we called "Tex" even though he was from Arkansas
.. Why? 'Cause everything in Texas is BIG! He had the biggest piece of (Blushing. Then flatly factual) He was built larger than anyone I'd ever seen before Well anyway, one night, right after lights-out, I was almost asleep when I heard "Tex" or somebody it sure sounded like him yelling (Now with a Southe'n accent), "Ride'em cowboy! I'm shootin' a load tonight! Oh OH OHHHHH! One torpedo away." His bunk springs were squeaking all the time he was yelling, and several guys were laughing, and some others were encouraging him on "Two torpedoes away."
.. I don't know, Sir, but I do remember hearing several other bunks squeaking for a while, but that was all.
.. Yes, Sir. I tried for a while, but couldn't even get it up. I sorta guessed that it was true what a lotta people had been talking about that they put Saltpeter in the food in Boot Camp so that you can't get sexually excited. But what about "Tex"? I don't know May I uhh (Gestures USL) Thanks. My back teeth are floating. All this water's really starting to go through me. (Crosses USL) Leave the door open I know. (Exits)
(After a pause, off-stage) Yes, Sir. I was the first one in my Company to learn the Semaphore Code. Then the Company Commander singled me out and told me it was my job to teach these other "cocksuckers" that was HIS word the Semaphore Code.
(Re-entering and demonstrating the flags' positions while crossing DSC and calling out the names of the letters)
Sierra Echo Mike Alpha Papa Hotel Oscar Romeo Echo. "Semaphore". And then he told me that if I said that someone knew the Code then, and ONLY then, could THAT sailor go on liberty pass. BUT that if HE, the Company Commander, found out later that SOME man did NOT know it and I let him go on liberty, that he would throw MY ass in the brig
.. Yes, Sir, they all learned it all eighty-eight of us before I let ANY of them go on liberty!
.. NO SIR, I DID NOT TAKE ANY SEXUAL FAVORS FROM ANY OF THEM. (Then, as an aside) I didn't even GET any offers! (He sits in the chair at DSC)
.. What did I enjoy about Boot Camp? Just about everything, I guess. I enjoyed the regimentation, the Chain-of-Command, the discipline, the Code-of-Honor, the Patriotism, the camaraderie, and the uniforms I LOVE the dress uniforms.
.. Oh, yes, and the precision of the Drill Teams. Does it say there in my records that I was in the Drill Team?
.. Well, I was! Sort of As ya know, the height requirement is five-foot-ten to get IN the Drill Team, and I'm only five-foot-nine-and-a-half, so I had to wear lifts in my shoes. I JUST made it! I guess that's why I was never allowed to perform in Dress. I was sorta like a stand-in whenever somebody couldn't make it in practice but I loved being part of the team part of the quick precision movements with a "piece" (Quickly stands at Attention, then his right hand pantomimes shouldering a rifle, then flipping it and catching it. He then sits again) a "piece" with a razor-sharp bayonet the danger, the challenge, if someone, ANYONE, did a wrong move or something and the rapid, synchronized, quick-changing marching steps I really loved being part of the Drill Team.
.. And I really enjoyed the training in Fire Fighting going inside the burning ship even though it was permanently "beached" , learning the different chemicals for putting out different types of fires, climbing those tall ladders, learning resuscitation and First Aid and I was good at it, too.
.. Oh, the Company Commander was a real bastard excuse me, Sir but he WAS a real bastard on the Drill Field and in the class rooms, but he taught me a lot and on a one-to-one basis, we got along great!
..Let's see oh, yes. Just before graduation, we took aptitude tests to determine our preferences for types of training schools. My first choice was for Chaplain's Assistant oh, by the way in my senior year, our Class Prophet predicted in the Year Book that I would become "Chaplain Of The Navy" ha, ha! Rots-o'-ruck! My second choice was for Corpsman since nearly everyone in my family in involved in medicine one way or another and my third was for Fire Fighting.
.. No, Sir. I guess the tests showed that I was more suited for clerical duty I was transferred to Yeoman School there in Great Lakes.
(Long pause. Stands and crosses L to behind cot)
.. It was okay, I guess. I did learn how to type, finally, and I tested out at seventy-two words a minute.
.. That's in my records, too, huh?
..Yeah, I uhh fell asleep one night standing guard duty in a totally empty barracks! Thank God, I won't have to do that, anymore.
.. I know, Sir. I know.
(Crosses to in front of, and sits on cot)
.. Yes, Sir. (He now chuckles) I don't really believe I did that not now, anyway. Thank God, the Shore Patrol who found me, didn't report me to the higher ups, ONLY because it was an empty barracks, it was my first offence, and it was during peace time.
.. Did I have a best buddy? Well, Sir, there was this one guy Kyle Bryan Alfred Darling. (Starting to laugh) That was his full name. (Laughing harder) But using his middle initials was a hoot: Kyle B. A. Darling. (Abruptly stops laughing) God! How could anyone give a kid a name like that? (Short, uncontrollable laughing again. Then ) Well, anyway, Kyle and I became shall we say GOOD friends. He reminded me of a tall, lanky, skinny male version of Carol Burnett. (Short Laugh again; then ) But I liked him! He was from California He had been raised in a somewhat religious family and he loved to play the piano. He had never taken any lessons, but he could play anything you wanted by ear! We spent a lot of time together in the Rec Hall on base him, playing, and me, listening.
Just before ending our duty at Great Lakes, I figured I would probably never see Kyle after being transferred somewhere else, and I wanted something REAL to remember him by.
He arranged with the Base Chaplain to use the Steinway Grand Piano in the chapel for us to tape-record some music. I wrote a script which I read between different pieces of music that he played. It was called, "Around the World On 88 Keys".
.. Yes, Sir. (In a more somber mood) That's true One day, in Typing Class, I noticed that Kyle wasn't there. A lotta people were worried, concerned, about him was he sick? Had he been in an accident? Nobody knew. During lunch break, I asked about him, and was told that Kyle was in the brig but that was all I was told. It wasn't until after class was over that I heard rumors that Kyle was in the brig because of being queer a fagot! I couldn't believe it!
I marched my li'l ol' self over to the Base Commander's Office, stormed up to his Yeoman, and demanded to see the Commander.
I guess I caused such a ruckus, that the Commander came out of his office. I told him that I had heard that Kyle was in the brig. He confirmed it. Then I told him the rumor that was going around. He confirmed that, too. Then he ushered me into his office and closed the door. He asked me how well I knew Kyle. I told him that I knew Kyle probably better than anybody on Base that we spent a lotta time together that he'd never made any advances toward me, and that and this is a quote! "He's no more queer than I am." (Then, as an aside) Little did I know, at the time!
(Then, back to the story)
Anyway after chow that evening, I went back to the barracks, feeling really down, but Kyle was there lying on his bunk an upper bunk. Boy! Was I ever happy to see him. I climbed up and sat on the edge of his bunk. That, in itself, was against the rules, but I didn't care about that at the time. A friend of mine was no longer in the brig, and maybe, just maybe, I had had something to do with getting him released.
He turned away, and TOLD me to get down that I SHOULDN'T BE SEEN with a FAGOT! I told him I didn't CARE what other people might say about me that I knew HE wasn't queer that I still liked him. He still didn't want to talk to me.
Well, it took a while, but after about a week of my constantly insisting that we still be friends, he uhh gave in and our relationship was like it had been before. Times in the Rec Hall, times in the chapel, times working on the script. It was like old times! I have to say, Sir, that uhh I uhh I guess I uhh I guess I loved Kyle like a brother like the REAL brother that I never had, and that uhh I've never regretted defending him. I just wish that I'd known then, what I know now. Maybe I COULD have had a different kind of relationship with him. MAYbe.
(Standing and crossing to back of DSC chair)
.. No, Sir. Kyle and I never had any physical contact other than shaking hands (Demonstrating) a pat on the back, an arm around his shoulders, a friendly punch in the gut you know "good ol' boy", man-to-man stuff like that.
.. We DID hug each other at the train station when we were leaving Great Lakes for the last time him, being transferred to Egypt, and me, being transferred here to D.C.
.. Yeah, we hugged each other good-bye, but (Leaning forward) we DIDN'T kiss. Okay???
(After a pause, crosses to in front of chair and sits)
.. What duty did I request before leaving Great Lakes? My first choice was uhhh (A smile and a chuckle) Submarine duty anywhere; my second aboard an aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean; and my third here at the Pentagon.
.. Why did I want to work at the Pentagon? Sir, from the time we got our first television when I was about twelve, I think I've watched every episode of "Men Of Annapolis", "Men Of West Point", and every military movie I could find on TV. As I told you before, I love the Service. The Pentagon, to me, is the very center of military life here in the good ol' U.S. of A. It was a dream I'd had for years to work in the Pentagon, even if it WAS just for a short time. I had pictures of the Pentagon tacked up on the walls in my room at home. Aircraft carriers. And subs, too even an autographed photo from Walt Disney, himself, in 1954, of the Nautilus in "20,000 Leagues Under The Sea". May I?
(Gestures USL, stands, crosses to pour and drink more water. Then, while crossing back ) Well, after Great Lakes, I was on leave for two weeks back home and then I came here to NavRecSta two months ago, and was assigned to Barrack "3-East" just down the hall where
(Quickly stops talking and looks USR)
Is it that time, already?
..Yes, Ma'am, I can give you another specimen.
(Looks DSC with questioning look while gesturing USL, then nods "Thanks" and crosses USL, pantomiming closing door. Pauses, then pantomimes opening it. Looks DSC questioningly)
Door open, Sir?
(Looks USR, shrugs his shoulders, looks DSC, nods "Okay")
I understand.
Exits. After a moment, he enters, crosses to Nurse at DSC)
I used one of the little bottles and left it in there.
.. You're welcome, Ma'am.
(For a moment, he stands silently still, facing three-quarters DSC. He slowly turns with that far-away look in his eyes, slowly crosses DSL and sits on cot) I don't wanna go through this uhh this getting kicked-out, Sir. (Almost on the verge of tears, his voice starts to crack) I really don't. I want to stay. I want to belong! (Re-gaining control) I know the Navy has its regulations, but (pleadingly, urgently) what if I promise NEVER TO DO IT AGAIN?
.. Subject to BLACKmail? The way I blurted it out to Interrogation? The way I'm blurting it out to you right now? I don't care who knows. And if I don't care who knows, how the hell can I be subject to blackmail? That's a bunch of bull-shit!
.. (Sarcastically) Regulations! I mean, you've got guys who'd give their left nuts to get outta here. Guys who don't give a hill-of-beans for Patriotism or serving their country. Guys who go out and screw every cunt they can get their hands on. Guys who enlisted in the Navy only to avoid the Draft into the Army or who weren't "MAN" enough to join the Marines. And I go and make one li'l ol' REGULATORY mistake AND YOU DON'T WANT ME ANYMORE!
.. I know it's not you, Sir. At least I HOPE it's not you I'm becoming quite comfortable with you. No, THEY don't want me anymore!
(Taking a deep breath and settling down again) Yeah, yeah, yeah.
.. No, I don't mind going on telling you the story of my life my SHORT life in the Navy.
.. Okay. Well, after Interrogation, I was sent over here and was assigned to Barrack "3-East" just down the hall (Points DSR) in this monster of a building. You know how the barracks are set up (Gesturing throughout this speech) you walk through the doors and there's this long aisle-way lined with bunk beds, facing inward, ALL the way down. Behind and between the bunks are lockers every other one opening next to the double bunks lining the OTHER side, facing OUT.
Well, when I brought my gear into the barrack, I found out that every one of the bunks in the middle were already taken, but not one of the outer bunks was assigned to ANYone. I had my pick! I could choose any one I wanted, so, I picked an upper one, about half-way down, on the right.
That very first night, after chow, I showered, and after a little TV, I bedded down just after Lights-out.
I was almost asleep when I heard somebody whisper, "You asleep?" I could feel his breath on my face, he was so close. "Not anymore," I whispered back. "What's wrong?" "Nothing's wrong." Well, we talked for a while. He said he was on Guard Duty just then. He told me he had seen me bring my gear in, had seen me at chow, and had seen me taking a shower, and that he wanted to get to know me better. It was then that I felt his hand on top of the blanket on my leg.
I jerked my leg back, and he asked if I MINDED if he had his hand on my leg. A thought flew through my mind I had patted Annie on the knee, she got upset, and I got punished. This guy seemed friendly enough, and I certainly didn't want to get somebody on Guard Duty in trouble, so I said in a whisper, "No, it's okay," and moved my leg back to the edge of the bunk. Then I felt his hand on my thigh, UNDER the blanket. 'Oh, well,' I thought.
We kept on talking for a while, and pretty soon, his hand was rubbing the inside of my leg, brushing up against my uhhh crotch!
.. Yes, Sir. I WAS getting excited AND VERY hard. Nobody had ever done that to me before, and it felt good. Pretty soon he reached inside my skivvies and was rubbing my uhhh he was rubbing me up and down, and I told him he'd better stop before it got messy, and he told me to slide over to the edge of the bunk, and I did, and he pushed the blanket back, and then started to do to me what I had done to Uncle Karl.
I didn't want to do anything in his mouth because of what Granville had told me, but it felt so good that I didn't want him to stop, and I didn't want to PUSH him away, and I knew that once I started to uhhh CLIMAX I couldn't stop myself, so I just lay there and enjoyed it and thought to myself that if this guy wanted that uhhh poison in his mouth HE COULD HAVE IT! And he did! I've never felt anything so fantastic in all my life! And it DIDN'T kill him or even make him sick.
Then, afterwards, he asked me to join him in the shower-room. I figured he wanted me to do the same to him or something else but I wasn't sure I really wanted to do that, so after his repeated urgings and my repeated refusals, I told him I was too tired and just wanted to go to sleep. He was very nice about the whole thing, and said he'd catch up with me, later.
.. No, Sir. We never got together after that. A few days la
.. No, Sir. He didn't tell me his name, but as he was walking away that night, there was JUST enough light coming into the barracks, that I could faintly see his name stenciled on his fatigues (Pats himself on the back).
.. Zed. Z-E-D
.. Yes, Sir; I figured it was a nickname for "Zedekiah", and I figured, too, that he must come from a good Christian family, 'cause who ELSE would name their child "Zedekiah", after one of the kings of Judah, in the Old Testament?
.. No, Sir. I don't think he's been transferred at all. I just saw him a while ago, here in this building just down the hall (Thumbs to the right) polishing the floor with (Pantomimes) one of those electric buffers.
.. No, Sir. I couldn't've recognized his face, but I recognized his name on the back of his shirt.
.. No, I don't think he recognized me, either.
(Long pause as he "watches interrogator" call in someone else, who then enters, has a short discussion, then leaves)
(Looking worried, and thumbing over left shoulder) You mean I'm gonna hafta IDENTIFY him? (Sarcastically): Whoopee! (Softly): Awww shit! (Taken aback at himself): Excuse me, Sir. (Again softly): God! Me and my big fffff mouth!
.. Now HE's gonna be in trouble. God!
.. Yeah I know.
..I wish we could get those lab results back, so I could get outta here.
(Stands, and begins pacing back and forth across stage)
.. Well, a couple of days later, I got my orders and was transferred over to Quarters "K" for duty at the Pentagon I found an empty bunk, and as I was stowing my gear away, the guy in the next bunk came in and introduced himself that was Ed.
.. That's right Ed Hadley. (Then, thumbing right): He and Frank Harbinger are out in the hall now waiting. Their papers haven't come through yet, either.
.. Well, as I said, I was putting my gear away, and Ed began changing into his civies before going out on the town that night. I told him I was new in D.C. and didn't know where to go or what to do around town, and he asked if I wanted to go on liberty with him he would show me around. I told him I didn't have any civies with me; that during Boot Camp and Yeoman School, we weren't allowed to have any civies on base. I figured it was the same here, and that's why I didn't bring any with me from home.
Then, he offered to let me wear some of his clothes until I could arrange for mine to be sent we're about the same size. I thought that was awfully nice of him, so I said, "Okay." He loaned me a pair of red slacks BRIGHT red that were skin tight. I was a little embarrassed to wear them, but I DID want to go out on liberty with him, and I didn't want to wear my uniform with him in civies.
Up to this time, I had never had a drink in my life no beer, no liquor, not even a small glass of wine with supper it was against my religion, so I didn't really want to go to a bar. He said that was okay, so we went sight-seeing. We went over to the Washington Monument and the Tidal Basin. It was really beautiful.
The cherry trees around the basin were in full bloom, and spot lights were on all the trees, which were reflected in the still water. There was a full moon out. Then all of a sudden wouldn't you know it?! one of the spot lights that was panning around, hit the red pants, moved on, then quickly came back to me, and no matter where I went that damned spot light followed me and people out for an evening walk saw the light following me and started laughing and pointing fingers at me. Boy! I was REALLY embarrassed, THEN! It wasn't long before I talked Ed into leaving that place.
We went back to the base, and Ed talked me into going to the E.M. Club. I had my first drink there, that night
.. Just a beer. Can't remember what kind.
.. No, I didn't care for it much.
.. After I finished my uhhh BEER I felt very uncomfortable there everybody looking at me in those RED pants I told Ed I was going back to the barracks and hit the sack. He stayed; I went. I was glad to get outta those things, but then, after I got in the bunk, I started thinking about Ed. Here is this guy a total stranger seems nice enough uhhh AND he offers ME somebody he didn't know a hole-in-the-ground about the use of some of his clothes until I can get mine sent here. That was real friendly of him.
.. During the next few weeks, I was getting acquainted with the miles of corridors in the Pentagon its tunnels, rings, courtyards, offices, and everything else. As you can see in my records, I was working for two Captains and two Commanders Captain Reynolds and Collins, and Commanders Butt and Strangelove (Raises eyes upward and chuckles).
.. Sorry, I was just thinking that I could never address Commander BUTT with a straight face.
It reminds me of a story my grandmother used to tell me that when she was a young girl in school, she knew a brother and sister whose last name was "Butt". His name was "Harry" and her name was "Ophelia" Harry Butt and "O-feel-ya" Butt. I don't know how people can give their kids names like that, do you? (Chuckles again)
.. And Commander Strangelove! (Shakes his head in disbelief)
.. Anyway! They were all, nice people nice officers. I soon realized that the higher the rank the nicer the person, and I really enjoyed working for them.
.. Yes, Sir. Ed and I became real good friends very quickly, and we spent most of our free time together.
.. (Mood change) Sir I already answered that in Interrogation. Do I have to go through it again?
.. All right, Sir.
(After big sigh) One night I don't remember the exact date maybe a week after I got to Quarters "K" Ed and I were in the Rec Room watching TV
.. No, Sir. Nobody else was in the room oh, there HAD been others, but they had all left either to hit the sack, go on liberty or or whatever. But the incident I'm talking about there was just Ed and me. I don't even remember what show we were watching.
It was getting late, and we were
.. No, Sir, this was just shortly before "Lights Out". We were sitting next to each other you know how those folding chairs are set-up next to each other in the TV lounge. We were getting very relaxed slouching in the chairs.
I don't know if my knee touched his or if his touched mine. You know how it often happens in a movie theater? Well it was like that just as simple and innocent as that at first! Well, I moved my knee away. He moved his away. I relaxed a little more. He relaxed a little more. Our knees touched again, only, this time, we didn't move them away from each other.
After a little bit, he moved his knee up and down just once then I moved mine up and down, sorta pretending to re-adjust the position of my leg, and then we started playing "kneesies", I guess you'd call it.
Soon, I noticed that he was uhh ever so slightly, rubbing his crotch, and when he took his hand away, it was uhh obvious that he was uhh EXCITED!
Trying not to be obvious, I had been watching his hand and then his growing bulge, and I felt my own growing excitement getting bigger.
Nervously, I squirmed in my seat, looked around the now-empty room, and noticed the closed door. I was remembering what had happened right here that first night in D.C. how good it had felt, and wondering what it would be like to be on the other end. It hadn't killed Zed like Uncle Karl had said it would, and I really wanted to "do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
I leaned over and softly asked, "You want me to take care of that for you?"
.. Well, to make a long story short 'cause I gotta go pee again he looked at me with a kinda shocked expression. I reached over and gave his growing bulge a little rub. He smiled, looked down at himself, moved my hand away, and unzipped his pants. And that was the beginning of a wonderful friendship!
(Stands, starts to go USL but stops abruptly, then, after a pause addresses his interrogator)
Yeah, we did it I mean, I did it. I went down on him. And you wanna know something else? I REALLY ENJOYED IT!
.. Yeah, that's right. Right there in the TV room. Nobody else was around, and I uh I guess uh (Blurting it out!) I GUESS I JUST GOT CAUGHT UP IN THE MOMENT!
.. Who gives the better bl.. ? I don't know he hasn't reciprocated yet I keep hoping, and he keeps promising. I think it's gonna be great when we can do it together at the same time! (A big smile) I can just imagine!
.. Oh, is that what you call it? Do you and your wife ever do that together?
.. (With a very gay smirky smile and a forward movement of the right shoulder) Sorry; just curious! (Then hurriedly, nervously thumbing USL) Can I? uh May I? I really gotta go again bad!
.. (As he crosses USL, with his back to the audience, he speaks over his shoulder then exits USL and talks from Off-Stage) No, that wasn't the only time. There've been lots of them.
.. Oh uhh let's see his bunk in Quarters "K"; under the Arlington Bridge; in the restroom of a movie theater across the Potomac in town.
.. No, not once, but he keeps telling me he's going to.
.. Yeah, I believe him. Why shouldn't I? Boy! This feels good!
.. NO! I'M PEEING! (Heavy sigh)
.. (Begrudgingly) No sir, I don't want to go through it all again, but if you say I have to, then I have to. (Another heavy sigh) I don't know if it's there in my record or not, but I'd applied for Level Three Security Clearance. The C.O.'s I worked for said there was no reason I shouldn't get it.
(Re-enters, zipping up his pants, he turns and takes a couple of steps down toward CS. He becomes somber. Right arm across chest. Left elbow resting on top of right hand. Left hand toying with chin. He stops. During the following, he looks at floor, off to the sides, up and out over audience anywhere to avoid eye contact with Interrogator.)
One morning, about a week after I inner-officed the clearance forms to Security, I got a call at my desk in the Pentagon. It was Security. They told me to go down to the Mall Entrance, and that I would be met by a Security Officer.
When I asked if this was about my Security Clearance, all they said was that they couldn't answer that. I was so excited about the possibility of getting my clearance that no other reason came to mind.
(Still in the same basic posture, he slowly walks to Center Stage [CS] At this point, his face is hit with a tiny, pale, cold-blue follow-spot so imperceptible that the audience is not even aware of the spot. During the following, the general lighting ever-so-slowly begins to fade while the cold-blue spot ever-so-slowly begins to increase)
I went down to the Mall Entrance like they told me. Stood there for about half an hour. (Now freeing up a little but with no change in lighting) Oh, I gotta tell you something that really impressed me. While I was standing there, I saw an Army General, another officer, and several aides get out of a limousine and start up the steps toward where I was standing.
I came to an immediate "Attention". I didn't think I was standing in their way, so I stayed where I was.
As the General was passing me while he was talking to the other officer his elbow lightly tapped mine. Now this is what was so strange and nice. NICE because HE apologized to ME for hitting MY arm. That was really SOMETHING!
He told the others to go on inside. Then his concern for my well-being was was just over-whelming! He talked to me like a warm, caring human being not like a cold, rigid officer!
(After a moment of fond remembrance, he resumes the now-basic posture and avoidance)
Several minutes later, one of those gray military cars pulled up and stopped at the bottom of the steps. Two Shore Patrolmen got out. One stayed by the car, while the other one came up the steps toward me. He asked if I was "Gerald Youngquest", and I said "Yes." Then he said, "Follow me," as he led the way back down to the car.
The other Shore Patrolman opened the rear door. As I was about to get in, one of them PUSHED me against the car and said, "SPREAD'EM!"
(Here, he quickly assumes an up-right "spread-eagle" posture and with his hands and arms spread across the top of the "invisible" car. The general lights are now barely up at all)
One of them frisked me from head to toe. I don't remember what I said, or what I asked. I was panicky. I was scared. I didn't know what was happening. I didn't know what was going on. All they said was that it was for "Security Purposes."
Then one of them grabbed my wrists and pulled then behind my back and put handcuffs on me. While he was doing that, the other one put a blindfold on me.
(At "blindfold", all general lighting is gone with only the tiny, cold-blue follow spot at high intensity, on his face. His eyes are now closed and as he continues talking, the tiny light expands to cover his entire body)
Then they eased me into the back seat of the car. I was firing questions, one after the other what was this all about? where were they taking me? was this about my getting my Security Clearance? what was going on?
One of them told me to "Shut up," to stop asking questions. He said that they couldn't answer them anyway, that they weren't permitted to answer any of my questions.
They were taking me somewhere. Where? I didn't know. I was petrified. What were they going to do to me?
I felt the Sun coming in from the left side of the car. I know enough about science to know that, as it was still morning, and the warmth of the Sun was coming through the left side window, we were going south. I needed to know where we were going. Desperately, I drew on my knowledge of streets in D.C., Arlington, and Bethesda. I guess they tried to confuse me with all their left turns and right turns and all that, but I tried to draw or at least follow a map in my mind.
Soon, the busy street noises were left behind and we were on a smooth, straight Expressway. I knew it was an Expressway by the sound of the engine and the feel of the speed we were going. I could hear the wind whistling past the car. The Sun was now steadily on the left side, so we were still heading South. But where?
God! Where are they taking me? What are they going to do to me? What is this all about?
After what seemed like an eternity though I guess it was only about forty-five minutes or maybe an hour I knew we HAD to be in Virginia by THEN! We pulled off the Expressway and headed west the Sun was coming in the rear window, now. We were on a surface road it was bumpier and twistier.
One of the Shore Patrolmen lit a cigarette I heard the familiar click of a Zippo lighter it sounded just like mine and then I could smell the smoke. I asked if I could have a drag. He told me to open my mouth. I didn't know if he was going to put the lighted end inside my mouth or not, but I was willing to chance it. I took a DEEP drag (sucks in air slowly). Held it. Then slowly exhaled. It seemed to relax me a little bit.
Soon, we turned left going south again onto a dirt road. We were going very slowly, now, and I could hear bits of gravel hitting the underside of the car.
After a few more minutes, we turned right again and then stopped. They turned off the ignition, got out, and one of them opened my door. They helped me out of the car not gently, not roughly just HELPED me out of the car. They led me a few steps away from the car and one of them said, "Watch your step here," as if I could "watch" anything with the blindfold on.
I stepped onto a wooden surface, and from the sound of it, we had all three entered a very small enclosure. Anyway, I didn't feel the Sun shining on me anymore.
(Now begins dialogue between "Gerry" and AUDIO-TAPED "Voice-Over" which is his own voice "speaking" his own thoughts)
VOICE-OVER
What's that? Sounds like an electric door closing. (Gerry "jerks", remembering the floor suddenly starting to descend. Voice-Over continues:) An elevator. I must be in an elevator. Going down. Down. Down. What is this place? Where are they taking me? What are they going to do to me?
Down. Going down. We're going down faster, now. How much further? God, who ARE these people? They LOOKED like Shore Patrol. Why won't he talk to me?
Ahhh slowing down. How far down have we come? Five hundred a thousand feet more? (Gerry "jerks" as before, as Voice-Over continues again:) Stopped good finally, the door's opening ahhh it's cool down here, wherever we are.
(His elbows are "yanked" out to the sides. He begins an unsteady walk toward DSL)
VOICE-OVER
They're taking me down a hallway sounds like a hallway like a corridor in the Pentagon. Wait! Maybe this IS the underground Pentagon I've heard rumored about an exact duplicate of the one in D.C. (Gerry stops. And listens.) He's opening a door.
(Being "yanked" right and "forced" to stop. "Handcuffs" come off and he rubs his wrists. As "blindfold" comes off, cold-blue light changes into cold-hard-bright white light. He shakes his head and squints, trying to adjust to the harsh light.)
VOICE-OVER
It's so bright in here.
(Quickly darts eyes around the room. Then, he is "thrown" into chair at DCS. Watches as wrist-and-ankle-"restraints" are being applied")
GERRY
What the f ? What is this an electric chair?
VOICE-OVER
(Quick short breaths between phrases)
No it can't be! Damn! That's tight! I applied for my Security Clearance three weeks ago Is this what I have to go through to get it? No, no, NO!
GERRY
Sir may I asssss (Head jerks back as "restraint" across brow is being "applied") may I may I ask a question?
.. What is this all about?
VOICE-OVER
He's my interrogation officer. I just know he is. He's going to give me a lie detector test.
GERRY
Is this about my Security Clearance?
VOICE-OVER
I'm not to ask any questions, he says. Just relax and breathe normally for an accurate reading. Oh, sure, ha, ha! God, that's tight! My fingers are tingling.
GERRY
Youngquest, Gerald Alexander; Yeoman, Seaman Apprentice, E-2; Serial Number 552-02-10; Sir!
VOICE-OVER
"Don't call me "Sir," he says. He's not a military officer, but he IS a civilian psychiatrist working for the military.
GERRY
I'm from Virginia, originally, then Oklahoma and Louisiana, Sir
.. Sorry. I have two half-brothers and one half-sister all younger than I am.
.. Yes, sir, I was in the top ten per cent of my graduating class of 365 students
.. (Chuckling) Yes, sir. Three hundred sixty-five. I like to think of it as one for each day of the year.
.. I was taking college prep subjects. I wanted to go to Annapolis, but my family didn't have the right connections.
.. What's that, sir?
VOICE-OVER
Have I ever engaged in any homosexual activity? Oh, shit. I knew I heard someone outside the Rec Room door. Oh, fuck! He already knows, or I wouldn't be here. Damn! WHAT HAVE I DONE? I should've been more careful yeah, right "woulda, shoulda, coulda" doesn't help one iota, now. Oh, well (Big sigh) Granddaddy always said the truth never hurt anybody BUT
GERRY
Before I answer that, sir what is your definition of homosexual activity?
VOICE-OVER
Have I ever performed oral sex on another man?
GERRY
(In resignation) Yes, sir, I have.
(Pause. "Head-restraint" is "removed". He rolls his head back and forth. "Wrist- and ankle-restraints" are "removed". He rubs his wrists and then his ankles.)
GERRY
Thank you, sir.
(General lighting comes up once again.)
(After a moment of recovering from the remembrance, still rubbing his wrists, he "looks across the desk" at interrogator, and in the following, his anger builds to a wild patriotic frenzy)
You're SORRY I had to go through that? You're not the only one!
.. The possibility of black-mail? That's the only reason I'm being kicked out?
.. What the hell? Here I am totally GUNG-HO about the Navy and the military in general, and just because I like to have sex with another guy, the Navy wants to kick me out? How can I be subject to black-mail if I'm so willing to blurt it out, all over the place? I just told my grandmother on the phone a little while ago. I'm not ashamed of who I am or what I am, so how can I be subject to black-mail? It doesn't make any sense! I guess if I'd been a little more careful and secretive, the Navy would have preferred to have an untruthful liar in its ranks rather than someone dedicated to serving his country and willing to put up with all the bull-shit from Chief Petty Officers and Company Commanders who make an enlisted man feel lower than the scum of the earth. They'd rather have a lying son-of-a-bitch who goes home to beat up the little woman and then goes out and screws every whore he can get his grimy little hands on. They'd rather have a "REAL MAN" who goes out and re-populates the world with illegitimate kids popping up all over Europe and Asia and the South Pacific, and even right here in our own country! I'm mad! I'm mad as hell! And I was ready and willing to give my life for this country! This BIGOTED country of ours. (Pause, as he calms down) But I still love it. It's the best place on Earth, and I
(He is interrupted by the "Nurse bringing in the test results")
(Big sigh) So that's it. Clear piss, and I can leave. (He gives a sarcastic chuckle) That says a lot, doesn't it? (Shakes his head in disbelief) Well, I thank God for one thing I never had to kill anyone. At least THAT's not on my conscience.
.. Yeah. Maybe. Maybe so. Maybe someday things will change. I hope so. I surrrrre hope so. For their sakes. For the country's sake. For God's sake.
.. (He stands) Thank you, sir.
(He walks downstage to the very front of the stage, and stands and addresses the audience)
On Monday, April First, 1963, "All Fools Day," some would say, four sailors and one hundred fifty-three REAL MEN, Marines all, were discharged from military service for being homosexual. Their names were listed in the barracks of the U.S. Naval Receiving Station, Washington, D.C. Of those one hundred fifty-seven men, all were discharged "UNDER OTHER THAN HONORABLE CONDITIONS" except for one, Youngquest, Gerald Alexander, Yeoman Seaman Apprentice, E-2, Serial Number 552-02-10, who was discharged "UNDER HONORABLE CONDITIONS".
When he asked Lieutenant Manley Cox the reason for the difference, he was told that during the entire interrogation, the lie detector test showed that he never lied to protect himself.
Oh, another thing you remember his telephone conversation with his grandmother a little while ago? You know what else she said? She said, "Honey " she always called him "Honey." She said, "Honey no matter what you've done, no matter what you are I've always loved you. And just remember this (Tears now well-up in his eyes, and his voice cracks with emotion) I always will." (Looking up and to the right)
(He finally shows that he, the actor, IS the character he has just portrayed) I love you, too, Grandmama. (Now regaining control and then looking out over the audience) (And as the actor, he says:) Now if you'll excuse me I gotta go pee. (Exits USR that's Up Stage Right)
Black-out
And House Lights Come Up
Thank you for attending this performance.
Posted: 09/05/14