ACT I
Scene 7
SETTING: Chicago, Illinois train
station, about noon that day.
AT RISE: PAUL SHANNON, Pfc., discharged from the army, is wearing HIS dress
uniform, holding HIS duffel bag, and is getting ready to board the train (Burlington Zephyr) for home. There are civilians there as well. Another soldier, an officer,
strides up to PAUL. Immediately upon recognition, PAUL snaps to attention.
CAPTAIN
Where ya headed,
soldier?
(Returns PAUL'S salute)
Rest easy.
PAUL
(Salutes and relaxes)
I'm going home,
sir.
CAPTAIN
That's wonderful. What’s your name? Where ya from?
PAUL
Private Paul
Shannon, sir, from Dubuque.
CAPTAIN
Dubuque… Where
the hell is that?
(A shared joke, they both smile and nod)
What outfit you
from?
PAUL
The Fifth Army,
sir.
CAPTAIN
The Fifth?
PAUL
Yes sir.
CAPTAIN
That's quite
a group.
PAUL
Yes sir.
CAPTAIN
North
Africa, Sicily, and now
you're shovin' it right down their throats in Italy. You have a lot to be proud of, soldier. Good
luck to you.
(They shake hands, salute, and the CAPTAIN exits. MUSIC
starts)
