Lesson 15

[Kenneth Johnson]

Kenneth Johnson – Act 2 TP – The Midpoint
I learned that the shift in the focus of the journey adds intensity and interest to the story.

Beginning: Michael does some research on his computer about the 24th Infantry Regiment in Korea. Among the archival photos and Army reports Michael find s a recently published book about the 24th and contacts the author.

Middle: Michael meets with the author in his home in Los Angeles and he tells about how the 24th was treated .

End: The book’s author suggests to Michael why Lee might not want to talk about the 24th Infantry Regiment.

INT. MICHAEL’S HOUSE – STUDY – NIGHT

Michael sits a bit dejectedly at his computer. He does searches on the 24th Infantry Regiment of the 25th Division. Lots of black and white photos come up. The photos show Black soldiers firing weapons, manning machine-gun nests, and loading artillery. Michael also finds battlefield reports with words like ILL-EQUIPPED, INEPT, AND DEFICIENT. Then he sees the word STRAGGLING in almost every document.

In his search, Michael comes across a recently published book about the 24th. In the bio he finds that the author is a veteran of the 24th from the same time that Lee was there. Michael dashes off an email asking to talk.

Cheryl slips into the room and from behind she wraps her arms around Michael’s shoulders and gives him a squeeze.

MICHAEL
I had no idea there was so much negative stuff written about Dad’s regiment. I mean official reports that are just full of stereotypical, bigoted descriptions of these Black soldiers in combat.

CHERYL
Maybe that’s why your dinner idea tanked so hard.

MICHAEL
Maybe Dad’s right. Maybe I don’t really know him. At least not as well as I think.

CHERYL
So, you’re still trying to write this thing?

MICHAEL
I don’t have a choice.

Cheryl leans back hands Michael a BROCHURE with and attached APPLICATION. It is for a senior transportation company.

CHERYL
I know you said you flat out did not want to do the ride hailing thing. But this is a reputable company with set hours and a regular salary.

MICHAEL
Look Cheryl, I need time to get this done.

CHERYL
And I need another paycheck coming in here. We’re already doing triage on what gets paid and what doesn’t. It looks like your father has no plans to even talk to you anymore, let alone tell you his war stories!

There is the PING of a new incoming email. It’s from MELVIN JAKES, the author of the book about the 24th. It says he’s happy to talk and there is a phone number.

MICHAEL
I’ll look it over.

Michael gets up and hustles out the door.

CHERYL
You better do more than look it over!

EXT. MELVIN JAKES’ HOUSE – DAY

Michael walks up the steps and knocks on the door of a classic 1940s Spanish style bungalow with a red tile roof.

The door opens behind a security screen and a tiny, hunched-over, white-hair Black man answers the door.

MICHAEL
Mr. Jakes?

MELVIN
You must be Jones. Come in.

INT. MELVIN JAKES’ HOUSE – LIVING ROOM – DAY

Lightly touching the carpet with his cane, Melvin picks his way carefully to an overstuffed chair with a depression that is perfectly fitted to his small frame.

MELVIN
Take a load off. The wife made a pitcher of Tom Collins. I will admit to a bit of a sweet tooth.

Michael sits on the nearby couch as Melvin hands him a drink from a platter on the end table between them.

MICHAEL
Thank you Mr. Jakes.

MELVIN
Melvin’s good. So, you want to talk to me about the war?

MICHAEL
Well sir, I’m working on a screenplay about my father’s experience during the Korean. The problem is he doesn’t want to talk about it.

MELVIN
He was with the 24th was he?

MICHAEL
Yes, sir.

MELVIN
Well I can understand the man’s reluctance. The 24th had a bad reputation. You have not read my book?

MICHAEL
No, I haven’t. Can you tell me what straggling is?

Melvin pulls out a copy of his book, produces a black sharpie and begins to write on the fly page as he speaks.

MELVIN
The Uniform Code of Military Justice describes it as “A service member who becomes separated from his organizational unit during a march, a training exercise, or military maneuver,” that man is straggling. But for us, it was a nice way of saying you deserted your post, or never showed up to that post. There was some of that going on, but it got magnified in the reports.

MICHAEL
What was the problem with the 24th?

MELVIN
We were Black. They put white officers in charge of us. Those officers consider the assignment to be a punishment. Hell, when we were set to ship out of Okinawa to the Korean theater of war, our Executive Officer faked a heart attack just to avoid leading a bunch of colored boys into battle.

MICHAEL
But you saw combat. The 24th saw combat, right?

MELVIN
We saw combat. We were under fire most of the time we were in country. We did our part. But that’s not what the reports said.

MICHAEL
What did the reports say?

MELVIN
They said we were cowards.

Melvin hands the signed book to Michael.

MELVIN
I know of someone who can maybe help you.

[Jan Lloyd]

I am trying to get all my work done in Fianl Draft and learning it at the same time. The work is getting done, and I will get it posted here at some point.