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THE SPARTA GENE

(OPEN ON THE LIVING ROOM OF THE PINE FAMILY. Ben Pine, 17 years old, is seated on a chair in stage center in a spotlight, as if he was undergoing a third degree interrogation, which, in a sense, he is. Other family members: his father, DAvid, about 55 yrs old; mother, Lois, 53; brother, Steve, 30, and sister, Carol Pine-Simpson, 24, encircle him. All, except Ben, are all dressed in military uniforms. There is a large American flag unfurled in the background. Military weapons, guns and swords are arranged on the rear wall flanking the flag. The year is 2030)

DAVID

Extraordinary events require extraordinary actions, Ben.

BEN

Is that what you call this -- an extraordinary action?

STEVE

What would you call it?

BEN

Evidence of mass hysterical insanity.

LOIS

Oh, Ben...

CAROL

We could say the same about you.

DAVID

Carol... no antagonisms please..

BEN

I'm not hysterical..

LOIS

We are just trying to help you, because we love you.

DAVID

We all love you, David.

BEN

You can't help me. I don't want to be helped.

DAVID

Son, that's the purpose of this intervention. To help you. To show what effect your actions have been having on us -- and on yourself.

BEN

Your idea, Dad?

DAVID

What difference does it make who's idea it was?

CAROL

Well, it wasn't my idea.

BEN

Mom, what about you?

LOIS

It wasn't my idea...

BEN

But everybody went along with it, regardless.

DAVID

The important thing is we are having it. That's what the important thing is.

BEN

You're the ones who need interventions, not me.

DAVID

Well, if you have that attitude, it will just make our job harder.

BEN

It's not my job to make your "job" -- as you put it -- easier. Why should it be your "job" in the first place. I am what I am..and that is that.

DAVID

You're saying you were born this way.. I can't believe that.

BEN

Hey, if Americans have a special gene -- the Sparta Gene - as government scientists say -- then I can have the forbidden gene. People have been known to have it. Maybe in your DNA, you've got the dreaded gene too, huh, Dad? I had to get it from someplace. Then, they are gonna come and take away your toy sword, break it in two... rip off your epaulets... drum you out of the corps..And what about you, Steve... could it be that somewhere lurking in that macho, gung ho bowl of mush you call a brain, there is an equally aberrant gene?

STEVE

Not bloody likely, mate.

BEN

"Not bloody likely, mate." Spoken like a true Spartan.

DAVID

Don't make things difficult. We want to show you respect. And you might try to show some respect to your father and your brother.

BEN

I have respect. But I wouldn't do this to you.

STEVE

There is more to it than just us.

BEN

Oh, is there? You're all so concerned that I will bring you down.. disgrace you.

CAROL

Ben, try to understand our position.... We all love you... we are your family...but you have placed us all in a terrible fix...

LOIS

We don't want to see you make a mistake that will ruin your life.

DAVID

You face the draft soon...

BEN

I won't go...

STEVE

Everybody has to go... it's the law for men and women..

BEN

Three years at the age of 17. Lifetime reserve after that. No thanks.

STEVE

Not so bad. Sharing common goals in a great cause.

CAROL

I enjoyed it. And my kids will too.

STEVE

Mine too.

BEN

Sure. You've already got them in boot camps that pass for schools these days.

(DAvid and Lois look dismayed. Ben notices.)

BEN (Continued)

Oh, come on, Mom and DAd... you've got that "Where Did I Go Wrong" expression on your faces. You did everything the National Liberty and Freedom DEpartment of YOuth TRaining wanted you to do. It just didn't take with me. Blame my renegade gene.

DAVID

I just refuse to believe you are...

BEN

Inferior...?

DAVID

No.. No.. never -- different, that's all.

BEN

But I am...

CAROL

It can be fixed... All you have to do is be drafted... Everything will be forgotten... Dad used his clout to fix it.

BEN

Just put on the uniform and go out and kill a lot of people.

DAVID

You wouldn't have to kill people...You can be a chaplain's assistant.

BEN

Yeah, encourage other guys to kill in the name of God.

STEVE

We can put you on the burial detail, how's that? Get 'em on the other end.

DAVID

Steve -- you're not helping. If you can't be constructive...then leave.

STEVE

Sorry...

BEN

It's just his Sparta gene talking... He's got his brains in his balls.

CAROL

Where are your brains? You're not thinking of us, are you?

LOIS

And Ben, if you resist -- you could be placed in a rehabilitation camp.. or worse...

BEN

I can't help the way I am...

STEVE

It's not natural...against God's law...

BEN

That was before you guys rewrote the bible.. the Koran... slipped a cog in a prayer wheel... The version I like is where it says -- love thy neighbor..the meek shall inherit the earth...

DAVID

That's what we are trying to do -- make the world safe for peace loving peoples.

BEN

Yeah, we're fighting evil. The evil empire. Right out of the comic books.

STEVE

A comic book, huh.. You're the God-damn comic book... The whole country is wrong, but you're right...

DAVID

Steve, stop it...

BEN

I don't like gladiator matches..or starting wars... or bombing people.

STEVE

They're bombing us...killing us..

BEN

Because we bomb them...kill them.. it never ends..

STEVE

They started it first...

BEN

I don't think so...

(He starts to rise, but is pushed down by Steve.)

STEVE

Oh, no... you're staying put..

LOIS

Steve, stop!

(To David)

LOIS (Continued)

This is not going well.

(To Steve)

LOIS (Continued)

Steve, if you can't control yourself, we will put you out.. .

STEVE

I'm sorry..I lost it, sorry.

BEN

I feel like I've been sandbagged... Like I'm trapped here.

CAROL

Do you realize what you're doing to this family?

LOIS

Your father is a colonel in the civilian freedom defense corps..Your brother is a captain...I'm a major in the women's auxiliary of the Mothers of Liberty...Your sister is commander of our chapter for Women for Democracy...

CAROL

And my husband is a flight leader of the Colonial Wings Over America reserve.. And he could lose his job at Global Technologies over you... Do you realize what you're doing to us? We were planning a furlough to Bermuda with the kids as soon as they got out of the Scout Pioneers Youth training program... but now we may lose that... You're bringing disgrace on all of us..

DAVID

What you're doing is wrong, son... It's just a matter of will power...It always has been...

CAROL

We think you can change if you want to...

DAVID

What you have is curable..

STEVE

Next to the crime of homosexuality is pacifism...We don't except it as a genetic failing..

BEN

I'm not homosexual. I like girls. I've got a girlfriend... She feels the same as I do...

LOIS

She faces sterilization... So do you.

BEN

Oh, come on. What the hell happened to the Bill of Rights? Freedom of Speech.

STEVE

Don't you understand that since 2003 -- we have been under martial law?. We are in a state of emergency.

BEN

A state of emergency that began before I was born.

DAVID

It's what the people of this country want. The normal people.

CAROL

We're at war.

BEN

We're always at war.

STEVE

Yeah.. It's like the President said: We are the Warriors of God with the flaming sword of freedom. It's in our blood...

BEN

Yeah, which we are spilling all over the world. I can't agree with that.

STEVE

You see! You see! You said you don't agree. You just admitted its not genetic. It's political.

DAVID

Don't you know what happened to the Coles on Johnson Street... Their daughter came out of the closet...an inherent, natural pacifist.. lacking those genes that made her a red-blooded soldier of Democracy..

LOIS

They're all in Creedmoor now son... tubes tied...

STEVE

Emasculated...

CAROL

Lobotomized.

LOIS

Do you want that to happen to us?

(She begins to cry. Her husband puts his arm around her.)

BEN

Oh, Mom....

CAROL

We don't ask much...just meet us half-way.

STEVE

Be drafted and stay in the closet....

CAROL

Don't ask... don't tell.

LOIS

But do it for yourself, not just for us...please...

BEN

Mom...

LOIS

Please, son...

BEN

I'll go to Canada... how's that?

STEVE

That's a definite way to for us to be noticed. Just be drafted... be drafted... do your duty...

BEN

I can't.

DAVID

You can't or you won't?

BEN

I can't and I won't. That's my final word.

LOIS

Oh, son...

BEN

I'm sorry...

LOIS

I can't go on with this... I can't let them take you... you're my baby... I can't let them..

(She goes to his side)

LOIS (Continued)

I'll stand by you... I don't care.

DAVID

Lois!

LOIS

David, he's my son. I'm sorry. He's my son... and he may be a peace lover, but he's mine..And I love him.. I'll never desert him.. I can't... I can't.. no matter what you say.

DAVID

Lois, please...

LOIS

I'm sorry, David...

DAVID

You can't do this..

LOIS

I have to...They can arrest me and throw me into Creedmoor..

DAVID

I can't let you do this...

LOIS

You can't stop me.

BEN

Mom..

STEVE

You see what you've done, Ben...

CAROL

Oh, Ben...

(David crosses to Lois' side)

DAVID

I'll be with you, then, Lois...

LOIS

Oh, David...

(They hug)

STEVE

Do you know what you're doing Dad -- Mom!?

DAVID

I'm not going to desert her. I believe in our country. In its mission to defend the world from terrorism and the enemies of liberty and dignity. But I love my wife and I'll stand by her..

LOIS

And we love our son... say it, dad..

DAVID

I...

LOIS

Say it, daddy.

DAVID

I... I... He's my son.. and I love him.

CAROL

Oh, Ben... don't let them do this...

STEVE

They're willing to sacrifice everything for you...and you won't do it for them...

LOIS

We love you, Ben...

BEN

Mom, Dad... I love you too...

STEVE

Then show it.. be drafted.

BEN

What you're doing to me is terrible.

STEVE

What you are doing to this family is terrible.

BEN

I won't have to kill anybody?

DAVID

No...

BEN

You're sure?

DAVID

I'll do everything I can to see you don't.

BEN

Wait a second... then you are not sure, are you?

STEVE

Look, Ben, you can never say never.

DAVID

If you don't want to go, son -- don't. We'll stand by you, no matter what happens.

STEVE

You gonna let them suffer, Ben?

BEN

I...

STEVE

ARe you?!!

BEN

No...I'll go...

LOIS

Oh, David... I knew you'd do the right thing.. And make us proud.

STEVE

Hey, you'll find out that killing can be fun.

(He laughs and slaps Ben on the back.))

BEN

Fuck you...

(To Lois, after he realized he cursed.)

BEN (Continued)

Sorry, mom..

(Steve begins to sing the "The Marine Hymn.")

STEVE

From the halls of Montezuma.. to the Shores of Tripoli...

(To Ben)

STEVE (Continued)

Join me, Ben.. Everybody..

LOIS

Ben, you've made us so happy...

(Carol begins to sing... Then DAvid and Lois..)

ALL

We shall fight our country's battles over land and over sea...

(They form a circle around Ben and hold hands...DAvid and Lois take his hands. The circle tightens....They switch to the Caisson Song...)

ALL (Continued)

Over hill over dale... we shall hit the dusty trail.. as those caisson's roll along...Hi, hi, hee.. we shall fight the enemy...

(Ben begins to sing, half-heartedly.)

(THEY FORM A TIGHT GROUP AS THEIR VOICES RISE AND THE STAGE GOES TO BLACK...)

ALL (Continued)

(In the darkness)

As those caissons go rolling along.

THE PLAYLET IS ENDED.