(As she begins to read, she walks downstairs to where Doyle is)

MARCELLA:

Honey, could it be our son is “different”?
Or is it just me?

DOYLE:

Maybe. I’m a doctor shouldn’t I know
what kind of signs to see?

MARCELLA:

Well then see
how he fights
when writes
and how he laughs and cries in the same lines
at the same time

Or just read
here how he thinks
he’s on the brink
with every thing he sees in his own mind
and it’s all the time

On and on and on and on
and on and on it goes
‍
And where or when
it’s gonna end
I couldn’t say!
Does no one know?
‍
So on and on and on and on
and on and on it goes

(Unbeknownst to Doyle and Marcella, Alden has woken up and is now listening in)

ALDEN:

(Clearly embarrassed by his recent behavior)

I’m sorry
‍
You wouldn’t know it but I’m feeling
pretty stupid now
But believe me no more bouncing off the ceilings
though I don’t know how

(The other siblings enter cautiously)

ALDEN:

So hear me when I say
that who I am is who I
may not want to be
though it might seem true
‍
And when I
do those things I do
then who I am is who I’ll
ever get to be
to the rest of you

But of course you’re never ever gonna
hear me say I’m sorry because you
never ever ever ever do!

And you never ever
want to tell me
when I’m doing good, you only
want to tell me when I’m failing you!

And you never, ever, ever see
the good things that I do!

And so I guess
I’ll never be
good enough for you!

(Doyle and Marcella know something is wrong but they don’t know what)

(They take Alden to see a “specialist”)

(The doctor orders all kinds of test to be run on Alden)

(Marcella watches on from outside)

(Alden sees his parents trying to catch a view of what’s happening)

ALDEN:

But of course you’re never ever gonna
hear me say I’m sorry because you
never ever ever ever do!

(Doyle and Marcella await the results)

And you never ever
want to tell me
when I’m doing good, you only
want to tell me when I’m failing you!

(The doctor comes out and gives a very analytical report)

DOCTOR:

Your boy here makes
no sense at all
With this IQ he’d
seem completely free
of any need for therapy

On the other hand
in many ways
I’m not so sure
that he can even see
or comprehend reality

(Marcella can’t accept such an indefinite answer)

(Marcella again makes her plea, whilst the Doctor reiterates)

DOCTOR:

(repeats)

MARCELLA:

But just see
how he fights
when writes
and how he laughs and cries in the same lines
at the same times
‍
Or just read
here how he thinks
he’s on the brink
with every thing he sees in his own mind
and it’s all the time

(The doctors don’t take her seriously)

(They give one final shrug and leave)

(Alden begins to imagine all the ways he is sure to die in Vietnam)

ALDEN:

Sharp sticks in hidden pits
“whoops,” in you go!

A little gift from the Viet Cong
means you won’t make it home
‍
You’ll never get home
So why would you go?

If you never come home why would you go?
‍
Through my heart up to my head
The trail of bullets show

The commie’s not the one who’s red
I'm bloodied head to toe
‍
with nowhere to go And if my bones stay cold
when the plane takes them home Then why would I go?

(His Commanding Officer and other U.S. troops enter looking for him)

(Alden hides in the closet)

I've gotta run and hide AWOL
I'm terrified of it all,
But there’s nowhere to go

(Alden is discovered and dragged into a mock trial for deserters)

When Uncle Sam calls
and my number’s read!
Until the North falls
I’m as good as dead!

(Breaking loose, he tries to crawl under the bed)

I’ve gotta get down and stay low
Underground where the cowards go
But there's fire in this hole!

(They firebomb his bed and force him out)

So my CO sends me
to the front lines
And says we need to
test the ground for some land mines!
‍
And I can still hear it blow!

(A land mine blows Alden to pieces)

(He pulls out a small red box he’s hidden under his bed and sets it on his desk)

(He opens it up)

(He takes out a small square of blotter paper - dipped in acid - and “drops” it on his tongue)

(The mood changes drastically as the effects start to kick in)

(He sits up on the edge of his bed)

(But he’s not in his bed now)

(He’s in a helicopter flying over the mountains of North Vietnam)

(Alden is no longer afraid)

(He sees a group of Vietcong on the horizon and motions for the pilot to go after them)

ALDEN:

Take it down low
You know I’m coming in hot
And I don’t need no scope
To take out a lot
(“the whole lot”)

(Vietcong can be seen running for cover)

(Alden spots them)

I’m locked and loaded
you know that they’re
going to get shot!

Cause all these Ho Chi Men...
commie bastards are gonna get a taste of
everything I’ve got

Ohhhh cause I’m coming in hot!

(Unbeknownst to Alden, Doyle and Marcella have found him in his hallucinatory state)

(Marcells sees something is “off” but doesn’t know what)

(But Doyle is a doctor…)

(Alden stares back)

(He can see other figures coming into the room as well)

(They begin to gather closer)

(Doyle and Marcella leave and Alden is left alone with the looming figures)

(He struggles to grasp what’s in front of him)

And only the shameful brings the shame
that’s why you feel this shame inside

(Alden is overcome with dread. He begins to hate himself like he’s never hated himself before)

And though you wish you could die you can’t deny
this pain tonight is justified
‍
Cause God brings the wicked to their knees
and makes them claim that He is right

(The demons start encircling him)

Oooooohhhhhh, Ahh Ahh!
Oooooohhhhhh, Ahh Ahh!

(As the tension builds to a crescendo, Alden breaks free and runs for it)

We’re coming for your soul
like the looney in the tombs

always crying in the night and
cutting himself with stones!

But Jesus isn’t hearing
and the pigs are getting nearer

but we’re never leaving here
cause your body is our only home!
‍
We’re the reason
Legion, we are Many!
Oooooohhhhhh, Ahh Ahh!

There’s no reason for hope
You don’t have any!
‍
Oooooohhhhhh, Ahh Ahh!
‍
Ahh Ahh!
Ahh Ahh!

(The demons corner him)

(There’s nowhere for him to go)

(They bind him up with invisible “strings”)

(Alden can’t tell the difference between the pigs and demons)

(He sees no escape)

(They make him hit himself)

(They set him in front of the mirror and make him loathe himself)

LEAD DEMON:

And now at last we’re here
You have every thing to fear
Cause your carcass is our home
And you’ll never be alone

You’re not your own

(Alden, at what feels like rock bottom, sitting at his writing desk, begins to write to his parents)

ALDEN:

Mother my heart
is so tight I wouldn't feel anything
were it not for the pain
‍
from you…
‍
and dad, the doctor, and God
I don't know who to blame
‍
I’ll blame you

What I'm trying to say to you
today in this letter with words
are words that won’t do
what I want them to do
‍
Cause I want to be cruel to you
and feel your love too

And dad, where were you!?
You just sat there like a bump on a log
while I wasted away...
‍
from you
‍
The clouds were cold and gray
and through the rain
‍
I lost you
‍
What I’m dying to say to you
today in this letter no words
are needed to prove what I already knew
‍
If you ever had love for me
‍
it never came through

(Alden grabs his backpack and climbs out the window)

DOYLE:

(Upon discovering Alden’s letter)

‘Cella come quickly
Alden left a letter
Just as we were thinking
he was getting better
what I can’t believe
is that he’d do this to us again!

MARCELLA:

No No! Not again.
Not more of this again.
‍
Everytime we turn around he’s running off again
‍
I can’t believe, that he’d do this to us again

DOYLE:

Yes he’s done it again
‍
I can’t believe
‍
He’d do this to us again

DOYLE:

What have we done wrong?
‍
Why must this road be so long?
‍
Where did we go so wrong? So wrong
‍
So Long

MARCELLA:

Are we not loving him?
‍
Were we not loving him?
‍
Are we not loving him
‍
So long

(NEW SCENE: Alden is riding shotgun with the Revolutionaries)

(They don’t ask him any questions)

(They take Alden to the greyhound bus stop on the edge of the town)

(and see him off)

(NEW SCENE: Somewhere hundreds of miles away from Pleasant Grove, Alden offers a rather unconventional prayer)

ALDEN:

Jesus, can you even hear me at all?

I know I don’t pray much
Do you even hear such
Prayers like mine or do you hate me at all?
‍
I really don't know Lord
I really don't know, but I know…

That what I need right now
‍
When all I feel right now
‍
When what I need right now
Oh it’s what I need it’s what I need it’s what I need right now

VOICES IN ALDEN'S HEAD:

Is someone loving me
‍
Is no one loving me
‍
Is someone loving me...
‍
right now

(NEW SCENE: The news that something terrible might have happened to Alden spreads)

(The Bishop asks for members of the congregation to help find him)

BISHOP:

Everybody
At the ready
A family’s pleading
And truly needing

Are we hearing
Are we seeing
For all a calling
God is speaking

(Almost everyone who hears the call jumps in and helps)

THE CONGREGATION:

Now, right now, He’s calling
He needing us now
‍
Now, right now, He’s waiting
He’s needing us right now

DOYLE:

‘Cella come quickly
everyone is helping
Bishop went and called ‘em

and we weren’t even asking
oh I can’t believe that
they’d do this for us again!

Oh they’re helping again
I can’t believe
They’re so willing!

(But not everyone is so “willing”)

CONSTANCE, PRUDENCE, VERITY:

Here we go again! It's always him,
Out running from his sins
Out running from the fold
It's getting old, you know

and we’re the ones who are praying
for these blessing coming in
Even though its for his sins
Always first out in the cold
Don’t you know it takes a toll

To keep the fold intact,
safe from the cold,
and from straying?

BISHOP :

(breaks out)

Are you listening
God is speaking

CONSTANCE CAGE:

All of these ingrates
they want something for nothing
they want a piece of the pie that
they won’t lift a finger to make!

And if you ask them for a minor contribution?
Well, you know what they’ll say?
They’ll just throw it right back in your face!

CONSTANCE, PRUDENCE, VERITY, and the HUSBANDS:

All across the nation
are moral degradations

the Moral Preservation Society
is here to re-claim!

MORAL PRESERVATIONISTS:

By taking down names!
We’ll put them to shame!

Who’s to blame?
Who’s to blame?
What’s their name?

(The Police, teachers, and many others enter the group as clear sympathizers)

VERITY SHAME:

(Pointing to the Barrett home on a map)

In every home could lurk
another ne'er-do-well
who’s there to lead us down to hell if you’re wise
you’ll see the games that they play!

(Verity’s husband connects Alden’s behavior to Alice’s, and holds up a copy of “Go Ask Alice”)

VERITY’S HUSBAND:

Well “Go Ask Alice”
She’s got something to say

Every time she gets high
well, you called it
She just runs away

(Again, nods in the Barrett’s direction)

CONSTANCE, PRUDENCE, VERITY, and MORAL PRESERVATIONISTS:

Our destination is
moral preservation

patrolling every station
for every accusation we claim!

(They interrogate anyone they see not abiding by their standards)

What's their names?!
What's their names?!

CONSTANCE CAGE:

Who’s to blame?
Who’s to blame?
What’s their name?

(Seamus Sonnes, the town drunk, is a convenient first target)

(He’s berated as lazy and cleared off the sidewalk under threat of violence)

(Kem Lewis is caught and cuffed and thrown in jail as one of the ‘lead’ hippies)

(Anyone who doesn’t fit the mold is treated with suspicion and hostility)

(The Moral Preservation Society has officially formalized)

(Alden tries to fit in and act natural but is visibly scared)

(He tries to navigate a tough street but no one’s fooled)

(Everywhere he goes people are staring at him)

(The street ladies heckle him as fresh meat)

(Alden is suddenly blocked and surrounded)

HIPPIE #1:

Welcome to the city boy and
don’t expect no pity when you’re
nowhere near as gritty as a
bonafide hippie

HIPPIE #2:

Jumping Jack flash kid
Open up your stash

Give us all your hash
and all your loose cash

HIPPIE #3:

(Forcefully tries to pull the backpack off Alden)

Don’t play coy.
You think we don’t know every ploy?
You didn’t get here on joy for free
You came with coin

HIPPIES:

So give us what we need
Free money and weed
good God you’re so clean
it makes us want to get mean

Ahhh!

(They tear open his backpack and throw his few belongings everywhere but keep his small stash of money and wallet)

Ahhh! Ahhh!
Ahhh! Ahhh!
Ahhh!

(Bruised but mostly just afraid, Alden struggles to gather his stuff)

(Now the street whores move in on him)

STREET PROSTITUTE (GISELLE):

Where is the pain that you feel babe
cause I got the cure

(Alden has no idea how to react to a woman talking to him like this)

I’m not quite a doctor or nurse
but I’ll treat you for sure

Just give me some money and honey

I’ll show you some more
I need sugar from daddy

before I can do all my chores

(they grab his backpack just like the hippies)

WHORES:

Ahhh!

(Alden turns out his pockets to show them he’s really got nothing)

(They find only a measly nickel and Giselle wants answers)

Ahhh!

MORAL PRESERVATION SOCIETY (MPS - SAN FRANCISCO CHAPTER):

(Bursting onto the scene)

Call the cops! Lock ‘em up!
If they run? Billy clubs!
Anything but kid gloves!
What they need is tough love!

MPS LEADER:

All of these vagrants want to
flaunt their own rejection
of God and His directions
these vagabond's affections are
sin...ful to me

I hope they’re sin-ful to you
and everyone who loves the truth

MORAL PRESERVATION SOCIETY LEADER:

And when the masses
rise up against the crassness
we’ll give the people matches
to burn down those free passes

To sin before God!

Before the law!
Now get a job you dirty slobs! And off the

MORAL PRESERVATION SOCIETY:

Street whores
how conveniently ”poor!”

(Rolling their eyes as if the street whores actually want this kind of lifestyle)

These vagabond's affections are sin!

(A couple of the street whores are rounded up but Giselle escapes)

(Continuing their outrage and directing (cheering) the cops as they clear "undesireables" from the street)

And when the masses
rise up against the crassness
We'll give the people matches
to burn down the free passes
to sin!

(Alden sees Giselle hiding, seemingly as scared as he is)

(he 'sees' the humanity in her)

(Giselle sees Alden looking on, their eyes meet briefly)

Before God! Before the Law!
Now get a job you dirty slobs
and off the...

Street Whores
how conveniently "poor!"

(In a flash, the cops violently grab Giselle...Alden watches on in horror as she is thrashed around and smashed against the paddy wagon)

GISELLE:

How long... will you refuse to know? (CONTINUED in 19)

GISELLE:

(CONTINUED from 18) ...How long will you refuse to know?

(Alden watches in horror as Giselle’s beautiful face is beaten)

(Suddenly everything goes into extreme slow motion)

(Giselle calmly sings to the cop)

GISELLE:

You don't know where I come from
If my daddy was a doctor or a bum
You don't know
What you don't know

(Her “resistance” makes the cops hate her even more)

You don't know if my mom
was just a whore like me
‍
You don't know if there's more pain
for you in store just like me
‍
Cause you don't know

(Alden realizes Giselle isn’t really singing to the cops)

what you don't know

(“Giselle” has somehow emerged from the brutal scene and is now singing to anyone who will hear her)

You don't know what would bring me
to live in the streets
‍
You can't assume I enjoy
turning tricks for these creeps
‍
Cause you don't know

what you don't know

(Now singing to the crowd gathering around the cops)

And you don't know where I am
emotionally
‍
And you've never been where I am
financially  
‍
So don’t try to pretend you can
analyze me
‍
And you sure as hell can't speak for me
spiritually - as if God told you
what you won't know!

(Singing towards heaven)

Cause if Jesus before your very eyes
should make me whole

and take me home

(Still, no one but Alden sees her)

You still wouldn't know!

(Now Alden can’t see her either)

(Giselle’s body folds under the pressure of the cops force against her neck)

(The crowd and other cops all look on with indifference)

(Giselle’s limp body is loaded into the paddy wagon and hauled away...like an ordinary day at the office)

(The crowd disperses)

(Except for Alden, who has nowhere to go)

(Lighting flashes, and rain begins to pour)

(He curls up next to the phone booth, resisting the urge to seek shelter, needing to feel the full fury of the storm)

ALDEN:

Isn’t it funny
how you gotta call collect
the moment you know
‍
You’ve got no money
like a total reject
forced to phone home
‍
Like me?
Today

ALDEN, VOICES:

I feel so dense

(The voices in his head berate him)

(Alden hangs his head and shakes it with his eyes closed)

ALDEN, VOICES:

And isn’t it silly
how the prodigal son
would have just got down
‍
and fain have filled his belly
with the food for the pigs
rather than call home
‍
Like me?
Today
‍
That story makes sense!

(A light goes on in his head and the voices leave)

(Alden crawls into the phone booth)

ALDEN:

But I don’t care
how many words I have to eat
‍
I don’t even care who sees me cry

(He picks up the phone)

Right now I’m willing to kiss
anyone’s feet
If it gets me home tonight

(Phone rings inside the Barrett home)