I Forgive You, Ronald Reagan by John S Anastasi
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This Play is the copyright of the Author and must not be Performed or Copied without the Author's prior consentCHARACTERS
RAY DELUSO - At the start of the play, the character is a vibrant
thirty-seven year old air traffic controller. In scene two and for
the remainder of the play he is a sixty-year-old contractor, worn down
by life.
JANE DELUSO - Attractive, early thirties at the start of the play,
progressing to late fifties by scene two. Elementary school teacher.
Wife of Ray.
TESS DELUSO - Twenty-six-year old daughter of Jane and Ray.
BUZZ ADAMS - Friend of the Deluso's. Well built and attractive.
Thirty-six in the first scene. In scene two and for the remainder of
the play, late fifties.
OFF STAGE VOICES - Pilots in Ray's mind.
TIME AND PLACE
With the exception of the first scene, the story is portrayed over
several weeks in June 2004. The action takes place in three rooms in
the home of Ray and Jane Deluso on Long Island, New York.
The home is primarily one level with a single set of stairs leading to
an unfinished attic.
Act I Scene I Deluso home, August 4, 1981.
Act I Scene II Deluso Home, June 5 2004.
Act I Scene III Same, two weeks later.
Act I Scene IV Same, five weeks later.
Act II Scene I Same, the next day.
Act II Scene II Deluso Home, a few days later.
ACT I - SCENE I
(As the house lights dim to black, the
date, August 3, 1981 is projected.
Then, a 1981 ABC News program is seen.)
ANNOUNCER (V.O.)
"From ABC this is World News Tonight…"
SAM DONALDSON (PROJECTED)
"Four hours after the strike began, President Reagan,
described by aides as very angry and very determined, served
notice on the air traffic controllers that they had better
return to work quickly or else."
RONALD REAGAN (PROJECTED)
"Congress passed a law forbidding strikes by government
employees against the public safety. It is for this reason
that I must tell those who fail to report for duty this
morning they are in violation of the law and if they do not
report for work within forty-eight hours they have forfeited
their jobs and will be terminated."
Projection of August 4, 1981
(The lights come up on the
conservatively decorated, modest home
of the Deluso's. Displayed in a
prominent position is a framed Medal of
Honor. On the mantle are several framed
photographs of the Deluso family
including: engagement, wedding, and
Tess as a child among others.
Children's toys and playpen are
evident.
RAY DELUSO and BUZZ ADAMS stand in the
living room with P.A.T.C.O.
(Professional Air Traffic Controller
Organization) picket signs in hand.
Stacks of flyers, and strike
paraphernalia lie around the room.)
RAY
I'm going to have a fucking stroke!
BUZZ
Ray, relax!
RAY
I can't. Can you believe that some of the same guys we've
worked with for fifteen years are talking about crossing that
line. They're turning against us.
BUZZ
You could cut the tension with a knife out there.
RAY
We got to stay together. You know what it means if we don't!
One guy crosses we suffer. A hundred go back and we lose!
BUZZ
(overlapping)
Half of them have their mortgages tied to federal loans. They
could lose their homes.
RAY
(overlapping)
Not gonna happen!
BUZZ
(overlapping)
And we're not just talking fired; the government is
threatening jail sentences.
RAY
(overlapping)
No one's going to jail.
(Ray works on pamphlets and picket
signs)
BUZZ
You don't know that.
RAY
I got the whole thing figured out. We will win this!
BUZZ
I don't know. Everybody's looking at each other, wondering
who's going to stay out…who's crossing that line tomorrow.
RAY
I know who the scabs are. I can see it in their eyes.
(JANE DELUSO enters)
JANE
Ray, did you start the barbecue? (beat) Hi Buzz.
RAY
Just walked in one minute ago.
JANE
The other strikers will be here in a half hour. They've been
out there all day. They'll be hungry and—
“I Forgive You, Ronald Reagan” 2.
RAY
(overlapping)
Food is the last thing on their minds. It's the cause they're
fighting—
JANE
(overlapping)
Ray!
RAY
Honey, the grill will be ready and the damn burgers burnt
before they turn in the driveway. (To Buzz) We can't
lose!(Including Jane) We'll be all right. Just stay off that
phone!
(Ray exits.)
JANE
(humorously stating the
obvious)
He's just a little tense.
BUZZ
We're all on edge.
JANE
Ray's way beyond the edge! It's not blood that flows through
his veins, it's jet fuel!
(Buzz gets a beer from the fridge.)
BUZZ
How you holding up? You got a lot riding on the next twenty
four hours too.
JANE
I'm excited and freaked at the same time. Once this is over,
I'll finally be out of the classroom! More time with Tess.
And Ray. More money to remodel this kitchen. Have another
baby. Maybe two babies. I'm running out of time.
(Ray enters)
RAY
Coals are lit!
JANE
Ray, don't forget about Friday afternoon.
RAY
What's Friday?
“I Forgive You, Ronald Reagan” 3.
JANE
Happy hour after work. Everyone is bringing their mates. I
want to show off my husband.
RAY
You know how I love when you show me off.
(Jane exits with barbecue utensils and
food. Buzz crosses to the window and
stares out.)
RAY (cont'd)
You look like you lost your best friend.
BUZZ
I can't get tomorrow morning off my mind.
RAY
Reagan's not going to fire thirteen thousand controllers.
Besides, we got every union in the country backing us.
BUZZ
You mean watching us, don't you?
RAY
What are you talking about?
BUZZ
When push comes to shove are they still going to support us?
Reagan is saying he'll replace us.
RAY
With who? You know it will take years to train them. And what
kind of guys you think they're going to get? Mistakes are
going to happen if Reagan gets his way. Hey, look at me.
You've known me all your life. I've never steered you wrong.
We're looking at a couple of tough days, but then it will be
business as usual except it's going to be much better for
you, for me, for all of us.
BUZZ
You know what? My best friend is right here.
(They hug. Jane enters and opens
refrigerator.)
JANE
Do you think you two lovers can break it up long enough to
help me with the food?
(Buzz runs over and helps Jane.)
BUZZ
Anything for the lady of the house.
“I Forgive You, Ronald Reagan” 4.
JANE
My knight in shining armor….thank you, Buzzy.
(The phone rings. Ray races for it.
Jane picks it up.)
JANE (cont'd)
(on phone)
Hello? Hi Dad.
RAY
(overlapping)
Tell him to keep off the line. The union could be—
JANE
(overlapping)
Is Tess okay? Please don't let her eat a lot of ice cream.
Yes, Ray saw it. We're not worried. The President is just
trying to scare us.
RAY
God! He doesn't get it. (to Jane) Tell him to bug off. It's
none of his damn business.
JANE
(on phone)
Dad, Ray says he really appreciates your concern - but in his
heart he knows he's doing the right thing—
RAY
He is so dense—
JANE
(on phone)
Yes. I recorded it. Yes, I'll make him watch it again.
Okay. Bye, Dad.
RAY
Jesus, he's unrelenting.
JANE
And you're not? God, I married my father!
RAY
When Reagan was trying to get elected, he swore he would back
us. Now he's done a complete one-eighty.
BUZZ
Our union screwed up. We never should have backed a damn
Republican candidate.
RAY
He's a fucking hypocrite. When he was President of the Screen
Actors Guild he led that union in it's first strike ever.
“I Forgive You, Ronald Reagan” 5.
RAY (cont'd)
Actors he supports, guys that keep the country flying he
wants to flush down the toilet.
BUZZ
(after a beat)
I better go and help Mary bring the desserts over. She should
be done with them by now.
RAY
Take my car, buddy.
BUZZ
No, I want to walk.
RAY
Buzz, take the damn car!
BUZZ
I'll be fine!
RAY
Buzz—
BUZZ
I need to walk!! Is that okay? I just want to walk!
(Buzz exits.)
JANE
He's scared. Are you sure you're doing the right thing?
RAY
I believe the union.
JANE
They could be wrong. You signed a contract you wouldn't
strike.
RAY
The union has attorneys. Smart guys. They know what's legal
and what's not.
JANE
(overlapping)
But Reagan says—
RAY
Who are you going to believe? The best lawyers in the country
or a B actor who took second billing to a monkey?
JANE
Dad says you'll be banned from any federal job for life. You
could lose the pension—
“I Forgive You, Ronald Reagan” 6.
RAY
Jane, this is not the time to do this. I need you today!
JANE
I know you do but this job has never been just about a
paycheck. Why risk losing it?
RAY
There's too much at stake. The lives of everyone that walks
down the jetway into those planes. They deserve to have
competent people protecting them, as if they were our own
families up there. Not guys so burned out that they're
dangerous on the job or killing themselves. No! It stops now!
(Jane kisses him.)
JANE
I'm so proud of you.
RAY
Thank you.
(Ray gently holds her. He hums "Once
Upon A Time")
JANE
I'm going to finish setting the table. You better get out
there and flip those burgers before they do burn.
(Jane exits. Ray turns on the TV/VCR.)
RONALD REAGAN (V.O.)
...if they do not report for work within forty-eight hours
they have forfeited their jobs and will be terminated."
(Ray rewinds the VCR.)
RONALD REAGAN (cont'd)
...if they do not report for work within forty-eight hours
they have forfeited their jobs and will be terminated."
(The lights fade to black. The sound of
a tape fast forwarding is heard
followed by a projection: 23 years
later. Then June 5, 2004 is projected.
A projection of a CBS News broadcast is
seen.)
DAN RATHER (PROJECTION)
"Ronald Reagan, the cold war crusader, whose sunny optimism
made a nation believe it was “Morning in America”, dies at
93. The nation prepares to honor and remember the fortieth
President of the United States of America. Good evening.
“I Forgive You, Ronald Reagan” 7.
DAN RATHER (PROJECTION)
(cont'd)
Former president Ronald Reagan died of pneumonia this
afternoon at his home in California. His death brings to a
close a remarkable life that bridged the worlds of
entertainment, politics and statesmanship. We begin our
coverage tonight with correspondent Jerry Bowen in Los
Angeles."
JERRY BOWEN (PROJECTION)
"Word of Mr. Reagan's rapidly failing health had been rumored
for several days and as reporters stood vigil at the gates of
the Reagan home in Los Angeles it was confirmed the fortieth
President of the United States had died after a nearly decade
long battle with Alzheimer's disease."
Projection: June 6, 2004.
“I Forgive You, Ronald Reagan” 8.
ACT I SCENE II
Setting: The Deluso home. Twenty three years later. Little
has changed in the placement of furniture, but everything is
faded, and or covered. On the mantle are photographs of Ray
as a young man, engagement and wedding picture, Jane's
mother, and an 8 x 10 head shot of Tess at eighteen. Late
morning. June 6, 2004.
(As the lights come up Ray enters the
front door on crutches. He looks older
than his stated age of sixty and wears
a brace on his leg. He waves the June
5, 2004 copy of USA Today.)
RAY
(loudly)
Burn in hell you son-of-a-bitch!
(Jane enters the house with a little
less spring in her walk, some gray hair
but still very attractive.)
JANE
Lower your voice! The whole neighborhood can hear you.
RAY
Let them hear! The only one that'll care is "Bonzo the
Chimp".
JANE
Can you make it to the couch?
RAY
Just call me "FDR".
(Ray lands on the couch. Jane adjusts
his pillows.)
RAY (cont'd)
Jane, honey. Do we need all these lights on?
(Jane turns off the overhead light and
puts on the small table lamp.)
RAY (cont'd)
Can you believe those idiot reporters?
JANE
Just because they have a different opinion than you, doesn't
make them idiots.
“I Forgive You, Ronald Reagan” 9.
RAY
You bet it does. Believe me, Ronald Reagan, the "Great
Communicator", was a great fraud. It's been twenty-four hours
since that S.O.B. died and they're actually considering
putting his face on the twenty dollar bill. Reagan's face
belongs on food stamps. Not money!
[end of extract]
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