ScenesfromRocketCity

Rocket City! The Musical Revue

ACT I

Scene 10

Song: AFTER THIS FIREFIGHT

SCENE:

The 71st Evacuation Hospital, Pleiku

AT RISE: LIGHTS UP on FLETCHER (The grandpa, WWI Spirit-Soldier) and BAILEY (his

grandson). BAILEY gears up for his first battle while FLETCHER observes.

BAILEY

I don't want to die.

FLETCHER

His first battle.

BAILEY

What if I mess up and get one of my buddies killed?

FLETCHER

(Remembering back to the morning of his own demise in the

Argonne Forest in the winter of 1918)

The virgin day dawns icy

Blustery winds harangue

Glacial bullets find their mark

Aiming piecemeal at the trench line

As soldiers gone before me

I start from sleep's cocoon

Helmet, weapon, Holy Bible

Crunchy footfalls o'er my head

BAILEY

These aren't birds and squirrels we're talking about here.

(Pause)

And I'm scared.

FLETCHER

Hail Mary, 'Goodbye Mother'

Trusty bayonet in place

I find purchase on the icy edge

Rushing headlong into Hell

(BROWN ENTERS on introduction. BAILEY and short-timer BROWN sing AFTER THIS FIREFIGHT,while FLETCHER observes)

Who will I be? What will I feel after this firefight?

I learned how to kill, if I have to I will but it's such a quiet night

Will I make it back? I don't want to die

Will I have to kill to keep myself alive

After This Firefight, will I be a man?

After This Firefight, will I be older than I am?

After This Firefight

Somebody's gonna die! Can you tell me why on such a quiet night?

Will I lose this game to a bullet with my name before the morning light?

Or will I make it back to the safety zone to find out my buddies are dead and gone?

After This Firefight, will I be a man?

After This Firefight, will I be older than I am?

After this Firefight

Who will I be? What will I feel after this firefight?

Somebody's gonna die! Can you tell me why?

After This Firefight

(Songs ends. BAILEY picks up his weapon and helmet and approaches BROWN)

BAILEY

Where we off to Brown?

BROWN

(Carrying his weapon)

We're gonna meet up with General Custer at the Little Big Horn.

(Pause)

Where in the hell do you think we're goin' man? Out in the bush, so you can kick some butt, John!

(To the others)

SADDLE UP PEOPLE! LOCK AND LOAD!

(FADE TO BLACK as the patrol EXITS)

END of Scene 10

The same basic elements are found in Rocket City! and Rocket City! The Musical Revue the abridged adaptation of the musical drama. Check back often for more scenes from the play.

ACT I, Scene 10

ACT I, Scene 11

from Rocket City! The Musical Revu

Rocket City! The Musical Revue

ACT I

Scene 11

Song: In The Name Of War (MP3 coming soon)

SCENE:

The jungle, somewhere near Pleiku

AT RISE: LIGHTS UP on BAILEY, FLETCHER observes.

BAILEY

Came out of nowhere, firin' his AK at me. Stupid kid! I had to nail him. It was his ass or mine. Kept mumblin' somethin'. (Pause) Somethin',somethin' Momma san (Pause) or somethin'...

FLETCHER

(Paralleling his memories with his grandson's once again)

Bullets flying, sabers flashing

Bombs bursting, blinding light

I fall back upon my feather bed

My beloved's arms around me

BAILEY

Somethin', somethin' Momma san. (Pause) Stupid kid!

FLETCHER

Crimson patches mark the trench line

Brother's blood flows down like wine

The winter moon--the shepherd Lord

Peaceful 'meadow-dreams' at last

(BAILEY sings In the Name of War with ALL joining in at the bridge)

BAILEY

I killed this man, I watched him die

From a mother's womb to a battle cry

For freedom's sake he is no more

I killed this man In The Name of War

We own the day, it's the dead of night

It was him or me, I was in his site

One man is dead, one barely alive

Thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not kill

But you will if you want to survive

ALL

Momma, can you understand?

Daddy, will you shake my hand?

I killed this man, that little boy died

A mother's son, a father's pride

For freedom's sake, he is no more

I killed this man

BAILEY

In the Name of War

(Spoken)

I killed this man...

(As In The Name of War ends. LIGHTS FADE on a shattered BAILEY. WAR SOUNDS

INTENSIFY. NOTE: This section must move quickly and fiercely)

FLETCHER

(IN TOTAL DARKNESS, in a urgent, quickened pace)

The winter winds of war--cold blooded, unforgiving

Icy fingers slash and sting--brutal, unrelenting

Savaging the innocence, breaking Father's heart

Racing through the poppy fields, tearing worlds apart

(IN DARKNESS, we hear WEAPONS FIRE. WAR SIGHTS and SOUNDS continue as BAILEY falls to the ground, grabbing his shattered shoulder. He calls out to BROWN)

BAILEY

Oh, God. I'm hit! I'm hit! Oh God! Brown! Help me!

BROWN

(Shouting)

Hang on kid! I'm comin'! (Beat) MEDIC UP! MEDIC UP!

(LOUD EXPLOSION, then SILENCE in the DARKNESS)

END of Scene 11

An Original Drama With Music

Music, Lyrics, Book by Jackie Marx

Rocket City! a Metaphor for War

Fletcher T. Bailey, the Spirit of a World War I soldier, bypasses the confines of time and space; he takes us on a journey into the vortex of the circle of war while watching over his grandson during the Vietnam War. The main action takes place in Pleiku, 1967-68. The play encompasses all wars: from the Revolutionary War to Iraq and Afghanistan....

MORE SCENES COMING. PLEASE BOOKMARK AND VISIT AGAIN.

..I listened to Jackie's songs and found them well-crafted and delightfully sung...

Mary Travers, Peter, Paul & Mary

"Jackie's work is a powerful echo of the conditions we encountered interviewing the survivors of a combat infantry company. The veterans will recognize something of their own experience in her songs."

Peter Goldman, Senior Editor, Newsweek (1980s)

"Your songs always seem to bring new meaning to issues, and compel those listening to reaffirm their dedication to the solution of the issues of which you sing..."

Allen Lynch,

Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient

Jackie: You've added the melody some thought was lost...

Rick Eilert, author "For Self and Country"

If you are interested in performing any of the songs in Rocket City!, or mounting a production of Rocket City! or Rocket City! The Musical Revue, please contact Visions Unlimited for performance arrangements. All rights reserved on all intellectual property at this site. Used with permission only