I.C SARA

I.C.Sara by Richard Howe

Interior mid afternoon school bus. (Music, while events unfold- Lithium by Amy Lee)
Rainy day grammar school kids playing and laughing. 1975, Bus driver opens door and kids start walking in. Woman gets out of car with a toddler boy, walks up to a young girl. Kisses the girl and gives her a hug. Grabs her young boy’s hand and leads him to the car. He waves back at the girl.... Students get on the bus. They all find seats, and the bus starts up. He picks up speaker to tell the kids to calm down. Lightning flashes!
JERRY REYNOLDS (Bus driver)
Kids please quiet down for a minute. I am having a hard time seeing the road! This is terrible weather so please keep yourselves in your seats, and try and keep your voices down.
Big Lightning strike hits rocks near the bus, causing a landslide. Bus crashes off cliff and into the ocean. Kids screaming and you see the kids sliding out of back of bus as water rushes in. Driver slumps forward onto the big steering wheel. His jacket string wraps around the cushioned seat as the seat floats out of bus and up onto the surface of the ocean, and it ends up keeping him above the water level. Show all of the kids struggling as the water sucks them out and drowns them. Show images of all kids floating dead in the water. Driver is on his back as the clouds clear and the sun rises. He is on a beach in Northern California. A Labrador retriever comes up and licks Jerry in the face.
JERRY (Looks around, unties himself)
Hello little buddy, where am I? What the hell happened? Oh no, what is my Jessie going to say?
He brushes the dog away and see’s a big man dressed in soldiers clothes come walking towards him. Jerry pulls himself up and runs up the side of the cliff and runs into the small tree lined hill side. He stops at a payphone to catch his breath. He looks into his pocket’s and notices his change bag and wallet are still secured in a small plastic shielded wallet. He takes out his wallet and grabs a card. He calls the number!
JERRY
Sergeant, yes this is Staff Sergeant Reynolds from the 23rd infantry. I served with you on the Task Force Oregon in Southern Vietnam! Yes Sergeant, I need your help. Are you still living in Bodega Bay? Sir I need to come see you.
Is it possible you can arrange a secured cabin for my wife and young son? Yes, I am ok; I just need a fresh start Sergeant! I do have a couple hundred dollars I can pay you as a down payment. Yes I can make it out there in the next two or three days. Thank you Sergeant I sincerely appreciate this.
He hangs up the phone and dials another number!
JERRY
Honey, I am OK, yes, No, just listen! I need you to stay there and sell the house! Put the house up for sale! Yes I said sell the house! Please don’t talk, let me finish! You can’t tell anyone that I am alive! No, you can’t! Look sell the house, then I want you to meet me at the next location I call you from. I will be looking for a job down south, and will call you once I have secured a house for us and financial stability! I have been gone how long? One week? Yes I know the town and the police have questions, but they can’t be told that I am alive. Look we do this my way do you understand? My way or the high way Jessie! You choose! It doesn’t matter if it wasn’t my fault I was driving! Those parents will never forgive us! I don’t want to talk about that anymore! I will call you in a month. The town folk and the police will understand you wanting to sell the house and move. It is a perfect excuse. Now I have to go. I love you and I am so sorry dear. I promise to make it up to you every day you are with me!
Black Man in Soldiers clothes catches up to Jerry! Dog is barking at Jerry!
SAM CARTER
Morning Soldier! I notice you have that tattoo of the 23rd Oregon. My Drill Sergeant Jon Forte always bragged how great that infantry was! Sam Carter is my name! Just went out to jog my dog Fred here, and guess he has a way of scaring people and all. I know he slobbers and it just scares people! He is a lover not a fighter. What’s your name Sir?
JERRY
Look Mr. Carter, I don’t want any problems with you!
SAM(Shows him the collar on his neck)
How can you get into any trouble by telling me your name? How about you not worry about that right now! I am the new parish pastor here in Pt Arena. I promise if you tell me something I wouldn’t be able to tell anyone your secrets anyway! How about I buy you some breakfast?
JERRY
You know Sergeant Forte?
SAM
Well hell yes Sir, he is the one who recommend me for the Pastor Job down here!
JERRY
Small world, why yes sir, Pt Arena, so that is where I ended up! I can use some breakfast, but first can I ask a big favor, do you have a change of clothes? Maybe a place I can take a hot shower and brush my teeth?
SAM
Yes sir, come on with us. My church is only a short walk from here! How long you been on the run Sir?
JERRY
I am not on the run Sir, I am just on a temporary off ramp, and I thought you wouldn’t ask too many questions?
SAM
Well I do have a few, but I guess that can wait.
JERRY
Please wait until after I have had a shower and a change of clothes. I will fill you in if you show me a picture that you know Sergeant Forte!
SAM
Well we have a deal then. Here is my church, come on in Mr. and make yourself at home.
EXTERIOR BAPTIST CHURCH IN NORTHWEST
Sam holds door open for Jerry. Jerry looks at Sam Shakes his hand.
JERRY
Thank you Pastor! This is a religious experience I never saw coming.
SAM
Well God always has a lifesaver handy! We never know when we have to throw it out to save someone! Shower is first door on left, clothes will be outside the door. What size are you anyway?
JERRY
34 waist, 38 inseam and 16 shirt. Thanks it doesn’t matter if it is too long. I can pin them up and make do! Show me that picture first of Sergeant Forte and I can take a shower in peace knowing you are a man of your word, not just a man of God!
SAM (Pulls out his wallet, there is his military graduating class)
He is on the far left, the one with the perfect salute!
Jerry
Yep, ok now I know you are a man of your word! Thank you Pastor. I will be ready for breakfast in just a few minutes. I sincerely thank you!
SAM
We are all God’s children Sir. We are all Forte’s soldiers!
JERRY
I have faith in Forte’s soldiers, but I am beginning to see divine intervention at play!
SAM
God works in hilarious ways!
JERRY
I thought that it was mysterious ways?
SAM (Hands Jerry the clothes)
Same thing, do hurry up, breakfast ends at 10:30 am! My mother closes the kitchen and she is the best cook on the west coast!
JERRY
Thank you Pastor! I will do my best to wash away my sins! God I can’t do that with just one 10 minute shower.
SAM
Don’t worry I am still working on mine! Rest your spirit for awhile. Don’t think too much, just clean up. I will be in that door under the staircase helping my mother cook. Don’t worry about introductions. My mother is very sociable, and will do all the talking!

JERRY (Closing door)
Well OK then!
SAM(Walking into the other room)
Ma, we got another one of my Vietnam friends who are going to be hanging out with us for a little while!
JERRY turns on the shower. He takes off his shirt and notices the cut marks from the string. He hears the water rushing down. He sees the kids rushing out of the bus. He sits down in the shower and begins to cry
SONG- Natural Blues Moby-shower scene-
SONG-
Oh, Lordy, troubles so hard
Oh, Lordy, troubles so hard
Don't nobody know my troubles but God
Don't nobody know my troubles but God
Oh, Lordy, troubles so hard
Oh, Lordy, troubles so hard
Don't nobody know my troubles but God
Don't nobody know my troubles but God
Oh, Lordy, troubles so hard
Oh, Lordy, troubles so hard
Don't nobody know my troubles but God
Don't nobody know my troubles but God

Went down the hill, the other day
My soul got happy and stayed all day
Went down the hill, the other day
My soul got happy and stayed all day

Oh, Lordy, troubles so hard
Oh, Lordy, troubles so hard
Don't nobody know my troubles but God
Don't nobody know my troubles but God
Oh, Lordy, troubles so hard.
JERRY turns off the shower. He takes the new clothes and puts them on. He kneels down on the floor and begins to pray!
JERRY
Dear God, I haven’t done this in along long time. I need you right now! I have a wife and a young son, and they need me! Please forgive me for what I’ve done! I know I can never offer those parents justice for what I have done to their little ones. Hell my Sara was one of them! Please God, if you do exist, please hear my prayer!
Sam’s mother knocks on the door!
ELISA CARTER (Beautiful old black lady in her 50’s)
Young man, God hears your prayers and he says I have to feed you first and then we can go on abouts finding your soul forgiveness. Come out here Son and let me take a good look at the man my boy brought home!
JERRY(Wiping his face clean, makes a cross Opens the door)
Now that was the quickest answer to a prayer I have ever received! Good morning Ma’am. My name is Jerry! I would like to thank you for allowing me into your fine home!
ELISA
This ain’t my home son, this is the Lords! Now let me take a look at ya! Oh such soft blue eyes, but filled with so many hurts! Tell ya what Jerry, you come with me. Here give me your hand, now you close your eyes and you walk with me and tell me what do you smell?
JERRY
Bacon and eggs, and coffee brewing.
ELISA
Nope son, you think too much. What you are smelling right now is love. Love for you and for what you need. Now you open your eyes and you sit on down here in this chair. It is my job to help you see what love really looks like.
SAM
Told you she was the social one!
JERRY(Overwhelmed and begins to cry)
How come church only made me see the sin and not this lady?

SAM
Because this lady is not of the church but a part of the spirit! They are not the same thing anymore! Don’t you cry at the breakfast table! I will have to tell Sergeant Forte we have a sissy on our team.
ELISA
Don’t be minding my army brat! Tough guys need a few tear drops to cleanse their souls just like everyone else. Here now you eat this and then we can talk about how we can get your soul back walking upright and filled with God’s grace!
JERRY
Wow this is excellent.
ELISA
Yeah God’s love is! It makes everything taste a little bit better now, doesn’t it?
SAM
You know mother I am the Pastor?
ELISA
You might be the voice of the church but everyone knows that women are the foundation and the ones who truly believe in the message!
JERRY
Well said Ma’am!
SAM
Don’t be taking her side just because she cooks a great meal!
JERRY
No I am not taking her side. I just cannot believe in my darkest hour, God sent me the two of you to help me breathe when all I wanted to do is die!
ELISA
How the heck can anyone want to die? Trouble is and will always be boy! Don’t you sell God short on how he can fix your troubles? You can’t wanna die? How could you throw away such a beautiful present that God gave you. Life is a gift son, you can breathe clean air. You can smell the fog roll into the bay.
You get to watch a sun rise and set over the water and see the reflections and the beautiful clouds in the sky. God is the artist and we are his portrait. How can you say you want to kill his vision that is not yet finished! You never stopped Louis Armstrong from finishing “What a Wonderful World” did you? No one ever turned off that song when it comes on the radio! No one!
JERRY
How come every time she talks I can breathe just a little bit easier?
ELISA
Because you have a full belly and some hope again in your soul! That is the only fuel the body and soul need. Hope and southern cooking!
SAM
Now do you need to see a doctor or anything? Can I find you some work? I do have some repairs needed a round here!
JERRY
Tell you what let’s forget the doctor and you tell me what needs to be done. I do need a job, and after I repay your hospitality maybe I can hitch a ride with you to Bodega Bay to see Sergeant Forte.
ELISA
He never said you have to repay our hospitality son. He is offering you a job. That means we are paying if you are working!
SAM
Jerry, look, you can come clean today or 50 years from now, I don’t care! That is not how I was raised as you can see! We have needs and you have needs. I need that backyard plowed, and I need help building that fence to keep the critters out of our vegetable garden. I have a leaky roof, and our church sure could use some painting. Now if you can help I will pay you 4.75 an hour. I will call Sergeant Forte and have him drive over to see us. He usually checks in on our Sunday services, so he will be here this Sunday. It is Friday today! Do you think you can get this church painted and help me fix this thing in two days?
JERRY
I certainly could give it my best army training shot!
ELISA
See, now that is what I am talkin about! God sent us a worker and we found God a new soul to work on! I would call this a wonderful day for a new beginning!