What was lost has now been found
Each one stand and freely say
What you love the most to day
About your brother dear
‍
right here

SIBLINGS:

(Kids sheepishly search for words to express their love and concern for Alden)

SCOTTY: Well I like his shoes

DEB: And I like his hair

JESS: I cried outside of his room
Nights he wasn’t there

(As the family continues to share their appreciation for him, Alden drifts off,
thinking about this picture of himself,
and a reality that he rarely sees anymore)

(Alden writes this poem about himself)

ALDEN:

Whose eyes are these?

As free as you please
A portrait of a child
praying to find
‍
The child
well protected from the windy days

And when I look back now
I see those eyes were mine

But the small smile
visible in his eyes
Has been dis placed
even erased
‍
from a portrait of a child

(This poem would eventually appear on Alden’s grave marker)

ENSEMBLE:

Oohh, oohh, oohh
Oohh, oohh, oohh
Oohh, oohh, oohh
Oohh, oohh, oohh

(The family enjoys one last night of peace and happiness together)

(Marcella brings out a dessert for everyone)

(Alden’s in a rare good state of mind as they play games and talk into the night)

and I can’t believe
he’d go and sneak out again
doing who knows what
since who even knows when
‍
And if I’m honest
I want to make him rot in that cell
at least for tonight
in his own little hell!

I’m so tired!
So tired I can’t think right
not again tonight!
Not tonight!

DOYLE:

Go back to bed
I’ll go get him
You're much too stressed now and
I don’t want to let him
get away this time
thinking all is fine
high as a kite and
completely out of his mind

No son of mine’s getting off this easy
like we’re cheap door mats
He thinks he never needs a reason
for his lying and cheating
all night and all day
well I guaran-damn-tee
this time he is going to
pay
for his stupid ways!
His stupid ways

(This is the last straw. Doyle is ready to "bring the hammer down" to stop this insanity)

Come what may

(Doyle stops at the door and looks back at Marcella)

he’s going to pay

(Doyle closes the door behind him)

Come what may

And I won’t be told to cut my hair
Oh, you think you can keep me locked up without a real cause!?
I’ll take you all on by myself if you dare!

(Outside Doyle and Marcella have called a meeting with some neighbors seeking help)

(Constance, Prudence, Verity, and their husbands are all too ready to offer their guidance)

(The neighbors convince Doyle and Marcella that Alden needs to be taught a lesson with an “INTERVENTION”)

(They enter the home and head up to Alden’s room)

(But now Marcella has second thoughts and gets cold feet)

(This is too much for Constance, Prudence, and Verity who are so close to their prize)

CONSTANCE CAGE:

Well if that boy was my kid!

PRUDENCE:

Never would I be so stupid!

VERITY:

And I’d show him right now
who is the Dad

THE WHOLE MOB (w/ HUSBANDS):

in this place and he’d know it’s my house!

CONSTANCE CAGE:

Those rules would be enforced now!

PRUDENCE:

that boy would change

THE WHOLE MOB:

For good!
Don’t care how!

VERITY:

Finally! (he’d be a)
A decent looking lad!

THE WHOLE MOB:

In his place and quiet as a mouse!

(Marcella finally consents)

Grab the boy!

(The male neighbors storm the room and grab Alden)

And hold him tight!

(Alden fights back but he’s nearly suffocated)

And bind his hands!

Now get the shears
and shave him down right!

(Constance hands Marcella the hair clippers)

(But Marcella can’t do it)

(Marcella looks at Doyle)

DOYLE:

You know we swore by God that day

DOYLE (and MARCELLA nodding):

That we would do what ever it takes

MARCELLA:

If it was all up to me

DOYLE and MARCELLA:

You know what kind of boy he’d be

THE WHOLE MOB:

Clean cut!
Patriotic damn sure
and drug free!

(It’s military style boot camp time)

And home by nine!
Every night!
For the rest of his life!

(The clippers, now with Doyle, turn on and everything slows down)

(Doyle approaches Alden who is struggling under the weight of the older men holding him down)

(For Alden, this feels like demons, grabbing, binding, oppressing)

(For a brief moment, Alden sees the ragdoll, trying desparately to detach and make this pain go way)

(But, it doesn't last. The pain, anger, sadness, and despair are suffocating)

(Doyle begins to shave Alden's head)

(Time loses its normal flow)

ALDEN:

A long time ago
somewhere far away

God made this soul
and placed me in the middle of a
game I don’t know how to play
like a cruel kind of Calvinist
this child’s fate is certainly sealed
when it depends on this
need to choose
but I ain’t even got my own will

(Alden looks up at his dad and their eyes lock)

Ohh dad!
Look at your boy!

I grew in size!

Got my own two hands

Fists clenched tight in a fight for my life!

(They finish the job and leave)

(Doyle and Marcella look at each other with a feeling of dread wondering if they’ve done the right thing)

And I wish I almost didn’t know

(Alden scrambles to the mirror)

what I might have been or done
or shown you all ‘cause

(Now alone in front of the mirror seeing himself with a shaved head)

If it was all up to me
Who could even dream what I’d be
But I know that I’d be out there on my own
with hands untied
living the most normal life

(Tears stream as Alden surrenders to the shame)

(She opens Alden’s door)

(Marcella drops the basket and screams, running into Alden’s room)

BISHOP:

(In a separate time (flash forward) - begins a eulogy)

When The Lord Comes Down
He will end all tears

(Doyle and the kids come running in response to Marcella's scream, but the Doyle grabs the younger kids to shield them from seeing inside Alden's room)

And release the bound
from their sins and fears

He will lift the maimed
and their limbs make whole

(One by one, neighbors pick up their phones as word spreads)

And then remove the shame
of every broken soul

(The Bishop picks up his phone and collapses in his chair under the weight of the news)

(The sky darkens and rain starts to drizzle over the town)

When The Lord Comes Down
When The Lord Comes Down

(Long lines of caring people file into the church dressed in black)

When The Lord
our God

comes back down!

He will touch the eyes
of the blind and they’ll see

And with tongues untied
the deaf will hear and sing

He will then destroy
every sword and stone
And every soldier boy
will come marching home

(In the front row, Constance Cage and her husband can be seen holding a picture of their oldest son who died in Vietnam)

(In the back is Davey Cage)

(Staring at the same picture Connie and her husband are holding)

(Lance Corporal Mike W. Cage)

(The dog tags Davey wears match that of Michael W. Cage in the photo)

When The Lord Comes Down
When The Lord Comes Down
When The Lord
our God
comes back down!

BISHOP, CHOIR and CONGREGATION:

Halle lu… jah!

Halle lu… jah!

Halle lu… jah!

Halle lu… jah!

(As Doyle and Marcella take their seats at the grave site, the Bishop looks at them and offers hope of seeing their son again when Jesus comes back)

BISHOP:

Then that day will bring
every trump to sound
And every angel will sing
and every drum will pound

Then the earth will shake
beneath the quaking ground
And every grave will break

and yield forth their bound!

When The Lord Comes Down
When The Lord Comes Down
When The Lord, our God, comes back down!

(The casket begins to be lowered and Marcella collapses reaching for it but is held back by Doyle and others)

CHARACTER:BISHOP, CHOIR and CONGREGATION:

Halle lu… jah!
Halle lu… jah!
Halle lu… jah!
Halleluyah… jah!

(People start making their way home)

VERITY SHAME:

And then the kids!
What do you tell them?
Or pretend to believe
until they’re older when they’re
going to have more questions
and they learn for themselves
where the soul of their brother must be?!

CONSTANCE CAGE:

You say creation and final destination
is part of our own making!
We’ve all been given agency! See?!

PRUDENCE, VERITY, CONSTANCE CAGE, HUSBANDS, OTHERS:

Our agency’s free!
Our agency’s free!
so in the end
we’ll all see
what you’ll be!
‍
(What you’ll be)

PRUDENCE PETTY:

Because we love her
we have got to tell the mother

and his sisters and his brothers
and all the other “others” out there
Can you imagine?
They must not be led to choose the same way!

(Constance pulls out conveniently ready extra copies of the book they are referencing)

CONSTANCE CAGE, CONGREGATION MEMBERS, NEIGHBORS:

Well I don’t want to have to
say it to her face but if she’s
not put in her place then we must
say it just in case! ‘cause when the
prophets have been clear about
something like this we obey!

VERITY SHAME, CONGREGATION MEMBERS, NEIGHBORS:

(Enroute to the Barrett’s)

Don’t want to hurt her
but suicide is murder!
The prophets say self-murderers
guarantee a murderer’s fate!

PRUDENCE, VERITY, CONSTANCE CAGE, CONGREGATION MEMBERS, NEIGHBORS:

A murderer’s fate!
A murderer’s fate!
It’s a shame!
All the same,
it’s that way!

(They mark the selected passages and leave the book on the Barrett’s doorstep and leave)

That’s his fate!
It’s a shame!
It’s that way!

(Doyle opens the door as if to leave and sees the book)

(He picks one up and looks around for who might have left it)

(He knows this book well)

(Doyle puts it under his jacket and sets out for the church)

(Doyle doesn’t even notice him)

(The Bishop is not at the church as Doyle had hoped so he goes inside alone)

DOYLE:

(With the doctrine book still in his hands)

I don't care about the doctrine

I still pray Jesus saves
All the prodigals who stray from the Church
and fall from Grace into graves

Forgive me cursing Lord
His name every time I got mad
He nearly drove me to drink
he pushed us right to the brink
Oh my God! I’m so sad!
‍
So come on Lord!
Things just got real!
Us sinners down here
need to be healed!

Jesus don’t tell me his fate
had a chance of none!
Please leave the ninety and nine
and go find my son!
‍
Do I have to accept this?
With the faith of a child?

From the heads of church
with no grace and all works
I gotta let this sit for a while

(He sets the book aside on the pew)

Cause if he ain't in heaven

(He pulls out a picture of Alden and the family from his wallet)

It won’t be heaven to me

But he’s gotta get to heaven
and we’ve gotta get there too
Lord help Thou mine unbelief!

(Again, he looks back at the stained-glass picture of Jesus)

So come on Lord!
Things just got real!
We prayed every night for our son
but he never was healed!

Jesus don’t tell me his time
is past and gone
Please turn back the clock cause you’re God
and go save my son!

(The disconnect between the “doctrine” and Christ’s message in the window becomes crystal clear to Doyle)

(He understands he must choose)

So screw all these preachers
and teachers whose homes
never shook with a reason to grieve
‍
Condemning the lepers
and most broken sinners
who struggle so hard just to breathe

(He goes to the image of Jesus)

And though I have doubts
I still pray Jesus Please!
If Your own Father raised you back up

(Begging for a miracle of miracles)

Then give me the power
of faith in this hour

you're making me drink from your cup!
‍
Now Lord
it's time for the real thing
Not just for me but for
every wretched being!

Jesus the hour
surely has more than come
‍
Please leave your ninety and nine
and go save this one!

(Doyle raises himself back to his feet
and heads out into the night for his home)

(But as he passes the bar this time, he sees Seamus Sones)

(Doyle wonders how he missed him the first time around)

(He’s given Seamus his change many times before)

(But tonight Seamus looks different)

(The whole world seems different)

(Doyle empties his wallet and pockets for him before returning home)

MARCELLA:

Doyle, how can he be dead? And how long can the pain
linger on?

(Alden’s spirit enters the room)

ALDEN:

Mom, I’m sorry

Dad, I’m so sorry

(Doyle and Marcella feel his presence, they look at each other not sure what to say but both remain silent)

I didn’t mean to leave
‍
What did I leave?
‍
Ahhh! Ahhh! Ahhh!

Ahhh!

MARCELLA:

(Instantly up and aware that Alden is present)

Doyle!
Can you hear this?
Can you hear him?
Can you feel him!?

DOYLE:

It’s my boy!
I know he’s here!
I know he’s near!
I almost see him!

MARCELLA:

Could it be
he's reaching out from the other side?

DOYLE:

It’s gotta be!
I can feel him gripping us tight!

DOYLE and MARCELLA:

It’s almost like somehow
there could be an end to this night
‘cause finally in this darkness
there’s some light!

(Marcella goes to where Alden is trying to break through to them and reaches out)

(She holds her hands out still to let him “take hold” for a moment)

(Now Doyle puts his hand into the void and “feels” Alden’s hand)

(Doyle and Marcella are finally feeling some sense of comfort)

(Alden steps back)

(Doyle in inspired by the peace they feel!)

DOYLE:

You and I
should write a story
about that boy!

DOYLE and MARCELLA:

For all the world a story
about our boy!
About our boy!

DOYLE:

We could tell of his life
We’re could tell of his struggles

MARCELLA:

Show the world all the good
He was good
He was so good
‍
Tell the truth, warts and all, how he’d try to rise each time that he’d fall!

DOYLE and MARCELLA:

And maybe there will
be an end to this night ‘cause
finally in this darkness
there’s some light

MARCELLA:

Yes maybe there will
be an end to this night ‘cause

DOYLE and MARCELLA:

finally in this darkness
there’s some light

(Doyle and Marcella embrace and the room is filled with warm light like a huge breakthrough has come from all this sorrow)

(On the opposite side of the room, Alden remains, blue light isolating him from the warmth surrounding his parents)

(But sets it aside as if he already knows the contents)

(Alden observes them closely)

(He sees the color and life in their hands and bodies and the absence in his own)

ALDEN:

An inescapable truth still lies before me
The pain didn’t leave when the deed was done
But maybe this book is the answer I still need

(Alden moves towards his Parents and the now closed journal)

And maybe when it’s done…

(Somehow Alden is able to open the journal back and shove it towards Doyle)

my light can come

(He turns to a new page Doyle didn’t see, and taps on the journal as hard as he can)

(Doyle “hears” or “senses” the tap and looks at the journal as he begins reading Alden’s words)

DOYLE:

(Singing Alden’s words back to himself)

“Hello World it’s just me

And I wanted to tell you a story
I think I’ll write it down”

Cella! Come check this out

DOYLE and MARCELLA:

It’s like an unfinished book
in his own words
Did he ever tell you?

MARCELLA:

He never told me not out loud

DOYLE:

but look what he wrote down

MARCELLA:

in that journal he carried ’round

MARCELLA and DOYLE:

“And maybe someday
someone will write a book about me”
‍
(wow)

MARCELLA:

I wonder if he knew that that

MARCELLA and DOYLE:

someone might be you and me

MARCELLA:

I know it’s crazy

DOYLE:

It sounds crazy

MARCELLA:

It sounds crazy

MARCELLA and DOYLE:

Maybe? But he went and wrote it down.

‍

(Alden can’t believe it!)

(He actually ‘helped’ them find his original story)

MARCELLA:

I wonder if he’s here
I wonder if he sees

MARCELLA and DOYLE:

I wonder if he’s helping you and me!

Ohhh Ohhhh Ohhh Ahhhh

(Alden keeps egging them on as if playing charades without them know it)

DOYLE:

I wonder if he knows

MARCELLA:

I wonder if he’ll show himself to us
Like how he always loved to

MARCELLA and DOYLE:

run and dance and sing
‍
(gasp)

MARCELLA:

If we could just see him again it’d be an

MARCELLA and DOYLE:

un...believable thing!

MARCELLA:

To see my baby

(Alden aggressively nods in affirmation)

DOYLE:

Our little baby

MARCELLA:

Our little baby

MARCELLA and DOYLE:

Baby we just gotta get this out!
Ohhh Ohhhh Ohhh Ahhhh
Ohhh Ohhhh Ohhh Ahhhh

(Doyle and Marcella start laying out pictures, pouring through the journal, and cranking out things on a typewriter)

(Alden clearly knows his new mission...)

(...to help them write this book because it can “help other people”)

(It seems clear to Alden this could “make things right” again)