Lesson 17

[Kenneth Johnson]

Kenneth Johnson – Act 3 Reaction to Midpoint

What I learned this time is simply to keep making time to write. It is easy to let my responsibilities overwhelm the time I have set aside to write. Need to work on this everyday come heck or high-water!

Beginning: Over dinner, Michael tells Lee about his meeting with Melvin and feels they should talk.

Middle: He also shares that Melvin connected hime with a veteran’s advocate who wants to honor all living Korean War veterans.

End: Lee explains that he doesn’t want to be honored. Tells the story of shipping out from San Francisco and arriving in Okinawa, Japan to join the 24th Infantry Regiment as a new recruit.

INT. LOCAL DINER – WINDOW BOOTH – NIGHT

Lee and Michael are looking at their menus. Lee is squinting and trying to run his finger under the words. Michael notices.

MICHAEL
Dad, it would be easier if you use your glasses.

LEE
Oh, it’s just dark in here.

MICHAEL
Dad…

LEE
Oh, all right.

Lee pulls out a pair of prescription sunglasses that he holds in front of the menu rather than putting them on. Michael starts to say something but thinks better of it.

An older waitress arrives at the table. She has a warm smile and has clearly served them before.

WAITRESS
Well hey you two. How have you been?

MICHAEL
Just fine, Sally. How about you?

SALLY
Keeping the masses fed. Are you ready to order?

LEE
Oh, I don’t know…

MICHAEL
We both know you’re going to have the Yankee Pot Roast and I’m going to have the California Club sandwich. You’re going to have an iced tea and I’m going to have a hot tea. Sound about right?

LEE
Oh… I guess.

Lee an Michael hand over their menus and the waitress takes them, beaming a motherly smile. She turns to leave.

WAITRESS
I’ll be back with those drinks.

After a pregnant pause.

LEE
So, what’s going on?

Michael pulls out Melvin’s BOOK.

MICHAEL
I found this book.

Lee take sees the book and turns away.

LEE
You’re still on about this?

MICHAEL
Wait, Dad, I met the author. He served in the 24th Infantry, too. He was there about the time you were. He’d like to talk to you.

Michael opens the book to the fly page where there is a note to Lee. Lee takes the book, scans the note and closes the book on the table.

LEE
I don’t need anymore friends.

MICHAEL
There’s one more thing, Dad. Melvin put me in touch with a woman from the U.S. State Department who is on a mission to honor every living Korean War veteran she can find.

LEE
Why would she do that?

MICHAEL
She’s Korean. There’s a meeting at the American Legion Post tomorrow and she’s going to be there. Will you come?

LEE
You talked to this woman already, right? What did you tell her?

MICHAEL
I told her what I know. I told her that you don’t sleep at night. I told her that you still wake up calling for your friends. She thinks she can help.

LEE
Nobody can help. She probably thinks telling my story will ease my mind or some such non-sense. My story is like so many others.

FLASH BACK

EXT. TROOP SHIP – SAN FRANCISCO BAY – DAY

A WWII liberty ship sails out past the Golden Gate Bridge loaded with troops.

EXT. TROOP SHIP – SIDE RAILING – DAY

Lee and his friends are all in their uniforms, laughing, pointing and punching each other in the shoulder.
LEE
(V.O. Narration)
We were young and stupid. In basic training they tried to warn us about what we were going into, but we thought we were invincible. What did we know? Most of us had never been more than 50 miles from where we were born.

EXT. TROOP SHIP – OKINAWA DOCK

Troops unload from the ship onto the dock.

LEE
(V.O. Narration)
It took us just over two weeks to sail to Okinawa.

EXT. U.S. ARMY CAMP – TRAINING GROUND – DAY

Lee and his fellow Black troops are lined up at attention with all of their gear, while each in turn presents his orders as the officer who steps in front of them.

LEE
(V.O. Narration)
When we got there, a white Lieutenant accepted our orders and introduced us to the 24th Infantry Regiment.

INT. U.S. ARMY CAMP – BARRACKS – DAY

Lee and his friends enter the barracks. The place is a mess. Guys are playing cards, drinking, and shooting craps.

LEE
(V.O. Narration)
There was a lot of smoking, drinking, and drug use, but I focused on the training.

EXT. U.S. ARMY CAMP – TRAINING GROUND – DAY

Lee and his friends negotiate an obstacle course as a team of four with their weapons. They also climb ropes, and practice combat with fixed bayonets.

Taking a break, Lee relaxes with a cigarette as others in the background run laps.

LEE
(V.O. Narration)
I did start smoking because anyone who wasn’t part of a smoke break had to run laps while the rest of us lit up.

EXT. U.S. ARMY CAMP – RIFLE RANGE – DAY

Laying in the prone position, Lee shoots his M1 Carbine rifle. The INSTRUCTOR, who is on a knee next him, pats Lee on the shoulder with a smile.
LEE
(V.O. Narration)
The Sergeants were really happy with the way I handled a rifle. They made me a marksmanship instructor.

END FLASH BACK

The waitress is standing there holding a tray with their food, and she is completely engrossed in Lee’s story, as are the people at the two closest tables.

LEE
Three weeks later, we got our orders to go into combat. When we got those orders, the scuttlebutt had it that or Executive Officer faked a heart attack so he wouldn’t have to lead a bunch of colored boys into battle. True or not, he did not go into combat with us.

Lee looks around. The waitress sets their plates down, smiles uncomfortably and quickly leaves. The folks at the other tables go back to their own business.

MICHAEL
This is exactly the kind of stuff we need to know.

LEE
I’m telling you, nobody needs this.

MICHAEL
This is history. Bob Marley sang about the Buffalo Soldier, and nobody around here knows that YOU were a Buffalo Soldier. You are the real thing. Please come to the meeting.

LEE
It only gets worse.