James Olm continues his story about Thomas, Bean, and the mulberry tree. Lessons are learned and a mission is undertaken.
You can read the introduction and first scene here if you haven’t already.
Scene 2. Immediately following. Bean is up in the Mulberry tree and Thomas is down below.
Thomas
Hello Bean.
Bean
I don’t want to talk to you.
Thomas
Aw c’mon, Bean. It hasn’t been that long.
Bean
A hundred years.
Thomas
You’re exaggerating again.
Bean
Am not.
Thomas
Are to! You’re always exaggerating. It’s your way of making a point.
Bean
No way. I haven’t zaggerated in a gazillion years.
Thomas stares at him – making his point.
Yeah? So what?
Thomas
So, I’d like you to talk to me.
Bean
What for? You’ll just leave again anyways.
Thomas
I had to leave.
Bean
No ya didn’t.
Thomas
Aw c’mon. You were there. You saw what happened. Think about it.
Bean
Mom cried a lot when you left.
Thomas
I know.
Bean
Things got a lot worse after that.
Thomas
I just couldn’t take it anymore. Will you forgive me?
Bean – satisfied
Want a mulberry?
Thomas
It’s been a gazillion years since I’ve had one of those.
Bean
You’re funny.
Bean pulls one off the tree and drops it to Thomas. He catches it and eats it. He’s startled by its intense flavor.
Thomas
Hmmm. I’ve forgotten so much.
Bean
Want another one?
Thomas
Yeah.
Bean starts gathering and throwing down mulberries faster than Thomas can catch them.
Whoa, whoa. Slow down. I can’t catch them all. They’re falling on the ground.
Bean goes faster and faster, and laughs as he does it. Thomas tries to keep up but can’t.
Stop! They’re falling on the ground and getting dirty.
Bean – stopping
You sound like Mom.
Thomas
What?
Bean
You know, worrying about them getting dirty. It’s just dirt. You haven’t turned into a parent, have you?
Thomas
Gosh, I hope not.
Bean
Good. After all, birds coulda’ pooped on those berries anyways right up in the tree. So they’re never really totally safe.
Thomas
Good point.
Thomas picks up a mulberry from the ground and plops it into his mouth.
There!
He grins. Bean laughs.
Bean
Are you sad?
Thomas
Oh, it just feels like I have this big hole in my gut.
Bean
Huh? Are you bleeding?
Thomas
No. It’s just a figure of speech. I’ve lost something somewhere in my life.
Bean
Whad ‘ya lose?
Thomas
Not sure.
Bean
Where’d ‘ya leave it?
Thomas
I’m thinking somewhere here with you.
Bean checks his pockets.
Bean
All I got is this civil war man – his head is kinda worn off though. I wore it down by spinning my bike tire on it. Let’s see, I also have my jack-knife, and a whole bunch of old candy wrappers.
Thomas
Milky Ways, I suppose.
Bean – counting his wrappers
One… two… three of ‘em. It mighta’ been four, but they went through the wash so I can’t tell.
Thomas
Is that Grandpa’s old jack-knife?
Bean
Yup. ‘Ya wanna’ see it?
Bean climbs down a bit, reaches down, and hands the knife to Thomas. Thomas starts to open it up. Enter Grandpa Miller, an old, retired, German farmer. He has a thick German accent.
Bean and Grandpa
Be careful opening the/da blade, or it’ll cut ‘ya.
Light change. Bean falls to the background, watching.
Thomas
Hey Grandpa.
Grandpa
So vhat do you tink?
Thomas
It’s beautiful.
Grandpa
Dhat jack-knife used to cut open da’ beer barrel corks, ‘ya know.
Thomas
Yeah, I know.
Grandpa
Jah. Dhat und a lot of summer sausage unt cheese.
Thomas
I never could stomach that for breakfast.
Grandpa – laughing
You boys always fought against ze gute German traditions. More so den your fahder.
Thomas
Hard to keep ‘em when all of your friends were eating Frosted Flakes and Wheaties.
Grandpa
Jah. Dhose Tony Tiger flakes are pretty gute. But Thomas, you listen to Grandpa. Don’t forget about your roots. Dere gute too. Jah?
Thomas lowers his head. Grandpa notices.
Here, take dis stick.
Grandpa breaks off a small branch from the mulberry tree.
Now start vhittlin’.
Thomas
Why?
Grandpa
Jus do it. Don’t be bullhead.
Thomas
Whittle what?
Notches Of Life:
Grandpa
Cut by cut,
Chaving by chaving,
Da’ jack knife carves out da dream.
You don’t know vhat it vill be,
Or how it vill look,
Let da feel take you dere.
Thomas starts to whittle.
Stroke by stroke,
Sliver by sliver,
Da’ jack knife carves out da dream.
Slowly it changes its form,
Into something unique
Like da clouds dat float in da air.
Thomas
I need an idea.
What will it be?
Grandpa
Just wait, my boy,
Unt you will see.
Each slice gets you closer and closer
Grandpa and Thomas
And closer and closer.
Grandpa
Patience, my boy,
Is da key.
Cut by cut,
Chaving by chaving,
Da’ jack knife carves out da dream.
But each vhittle you make
Is a part of da journey.
Dere’s so much at stake
Vhen you trust in da journey.
Gott vill be avake
Vhen you’re living da’ journey.
Each cut is a notch of your life.
Grandpa puts his hand on Thomas’s shoulder.
Each cut is a notch of your life.
Grandpa pats Thomas on the shoulder and exits. Thomas closes the jack knife. He hands Bean the branch he carved.
Thomas
Here. I made this for you.
Bean
Aw, cool! I can put a string on it and make it into a little bow!
Thomas
It’s got notches on each end…
Bean
Thanks! You can keep the knife if ya want.
Thomas – handing it back to him
Thanks, but I already have one. (takes one out of his pocket) See?
Bean – climbing high
Good ole’ Gramps. Hey, Thomas, come on up.
Thomas
Way up there?
Bean
Yeah. Where I am.
Thomas
Oh, I don’t know. I’ve got my good clothes on.
Bean
So? What good are …
Bean and Thomas
…clothes if you can’t get ‘em dirty?
Thomas
Yeah, I know, I know.
Bean
So c’mon up.
Bean breaks off a branch and opens up his pocket knife. Thomas climbs the tree and joins Bean. Thomas opens up his knife and both start whittling. We watch them swaying in the wind for a moment. They stop whittling, and look out at the view, beholding the beautiful world – catching the wonderful moment of freedom in the wind.
Thomas
I’ve forgotten how beautiful the view is up here.
Bean
Yup. Can I help ‘ya find that thing ya lost?
Thomas
Yeah. I’d appreciate that.
Bean
It’s getting dark. Mom’s gonna’ wonder where I am.
Thomas
Just a couple more minutes, ok?
Bean looks over to Thomas and smiles. They lay back in their tree spots and gaze out into the night-arriving sky, whittling intermittently. They begin to whistle the melody to Notches of Life.
Fade to dark, with cicadas and crickets chirping in the background.
♦◊♦
Scene 3. Crickets and cicadas are chirping and buzzing, and an occasional frog is croaking. Mick and Bean are climbing out of their second floor bedroom window. Mick leads the way. They have to hang out the window, and with their feet, feel for the meter post and meter box on the side of the house. From the meter box, down a ways further, a stone window ledge that’s under the first floor window, and then it’s a jump to the ground. They speak in hushed tones.
Mick – hanging from the box
See. There’s nothing to it. Just dangle your feet, slide down the post and land right on the box. From there the window ledge and then it’s an easy jump down to the ground.
Bean
I don’t know.
Mick
Just get your butt out the window.
C’mon, Bean.
You can do it.
Bean starts dangling out the window. Mick makes his jump to the ground.
Bean
I can’t feel the box! I can’t feel the box!
Mick
Slide down the post, stupid.
You’ll get through it
If you do it.
Bean starts to cautiously slide down, finds the box and takes a big sigh.
Bean
I got it!
Mick
Shhh, ya idiot! ‘Ya wanna’ wake mom and dad?
Now jump to the ground.
C’mon, Bean,
Don’t play around.
Hurry up, Bean.
Bean
Are you sure?
Mick
Just do it!
Bean
Ok ok.
Bean jumps fearfully, and lands in a heap on the ground.
Mick
Good job, Bean.
He puts out his hand for the ritual brother’s handshake. They shake.
Both
Brothers unite!
Brothers Unite:
Mick
We’ve got apples to eat.
We’ve got places to see.
We’ve got everythin’ and anythin’ that
Brothers can be.
And now you’re runnin’ with me.
As long as you can keep up!
It’s time for us
To climb up Strakken’s apple tree!
It’s time for us
To climb up Strakken’s apple tree!
As they start running across the yard, Thomas appears, leaning against the Mulberry tree, waiting for them. They stop in their tracks.
Thomas
Hi boys.
Bean
Oh oh.
Mick
We’re dead.
Thomas
Where’re you going?
Mick
Nowhere.
Thomas
In the middle of the night?
Bean
We’re goin’ to Strakken’s apple tree!
Mick
Shut up! You want to get us into more trouble?
Thomas
Hey, I’m your brother.
Mick
Yeah, but you’ve been gone a long time. How can we trust you?
Bean
He still eats Mulberries off the ground!
Thomas picks up a Mulberry from the ground and eats it.
Mick
Not good enough. I need real proof.
Thomas
I haven’t forgotten, Mick.
Thomas walks over to Mick and starts the Brothers Unite handshake. Mick joins in. Bean laughs!
Thomas
Can I tag along?
Mick – smiling
Yeah.
Bean
Yippee Skippy!
Off they run, alongside the cornfield, as they head toward Strakken’s house.
Thomas
Brothers unite!
Brothers we are!
We’re the best of friends
And best of buds in the world by far.
Brothers unite.
Bean
Friends ‘til the end!
Mick
Let the darkness come and dare us.
Let the scary danger scare us.
This adventure’s to prepare us.
Tonight!
‘Cuz brothers
All three
We unite!
Mick
There’s her house!
Bean
It’s even spookier at night than it is during the day.
Mick
Yeah. Cool, isn’t it?
Thomas
How many times have you done this, Mick?
Mick
Oh, twenty times, I suppose.
Bean
Wow, you’re brave.
Mick
You can be too, Bean.
They come up to Strakken’s picket fence.
Bean
Are you sure we should do this?
Mick
Getting scared?
Bean
No. But what if she hears us? She’s a witch, ya know.
Mick
We run like hell.
We’ve got apples to eat.
We’ve got places to see.
We’ve got everythin’ and anythin’ that
Brothers can be.
We just lift up the latch
And we’re in home free!
As Mick has lifts the latch and starts opening the gate door, it squeaks loudly.
Bean
SHHHHHH!
He opens the gate the rest of the way.
Mick
It’s time for us
To climb up Strakken’s apple tree!
It’s time for us
To climb up Strakken’s apple tree!
Mick
Presto.
Bean
I’m gonna have a heart attack…
Mick
Shh. C’mon.
They sneak over to the tree. It’s a huge tree. The lowest branches are above their heads.
Bean– looking up
Wow. The tree is as high as the stars.
Thomas
It’s bigger than I remember.
Mick
She’s the biggest tree in the whole world. Ok, Bean, you first.
Bean
Me first? But how do I get up there?
Mick
The Gemini launch, what else?
Mick cups his hands and Bean puts his foot in them. Mick then counts quietly.
Three, two, one, liftoff!
Mick lifts up Bean, who grabs the lowest branch, and starts climbing up.
Mick and Bean
Brothers unite!
Brothers we are!
Bean
We’re the best of friends
Mick
And best of buds in the world by far.
Mick starts to climb up the tree. Thomas follows.
Bean
Look at me!
Bean
Brothers unite!
Friends ‘til the end!
Mick
Let the darkness come and dare us.
Bean
Let the scary danger scare us.
Mick
This adventure’s to prepare us.
Tonight!
‘Cuz brothers
Mick and Bean
We unite!
Mick and Bean have worked their way to the top of the tree. They sit and perch. Thomas stays a little lower, more by himself, not to bother the other two.
Bean
Wow. What a view! This is even better than Mulberry’s.
Thomas
This is amazing.
Mick
Yup. Pretty impressive, if I do say so myself.
Bean
You can see the railroad station lights from here.
Thomas
Even the red water tower light.
Mick
Look the other way. In the day, you can see the crick cutting through the woods and then Schmidt’s farm.
Bean
I can even see their John Deere under the barn light!
Mick
She’s sweet, ain’t she?
Mick reaches out and picks an apple. He shines it up on his shirt, and gives it to Bean.
Mick
Here ya’ go, Bean. Your reward. The best apple in all of Walworth County.
As Bean takes his first bite, Mick throws one down to Thomas, and then grabs one for himself. Bean is struck by the wonderfully, full-bodied taste of the apple.
Bean
Gosh. This tastes ten times better than the ones at the Piggly Wiggly.
Mick
What did I tell ya’? What do ya think, Thomas?
Thomas bites into his. He groans and rolls his eyes in ecstasy. Mick smiles proudly and then bites into his. They just sit and eat, enjoying the moment.
Bean
Mick…
Mick
Yeah?
Bean
You scared about the war?
Mick
What made you think of that?
Bean
I don’t know. Where is Vietnam anyways?
Mick
It’s way far away from here.
Bean
You think the communists will attack us?
Mick
Pa says if they did, they’d be real sorry. And he knows – he was in the big war.
Bean
Yeah.
They sit again in silence, enjoying the moment.
Bean
Mick?
Mick
Yeah?
Bean
Do you ever think about girls?
Mick
The war, girls? Ask Thomas.
Thomas
I’m out of this conversation. You’re on your own.
Bean
No, really Mick.
Mick
I don’t know. I guess everybody thinks about girls.
Bean
How do you know if a girl likes you?
Mick
You just do, I guess.
Bean
How do you know when to kiss her?
Mick
How am I supposed to know?
Bean
I gotta ask you. You’re older than I am and you know everythin’.
Mick
Would you just shut up already?
They eat their apples some more.
Bean
Have you ever kissed a girl?
Mick
Ok, that’s it. My fist is going to meet your face.
Bean
Mick!
Mick
Just shut up!
Bean
But Mick…
Mick
You hear me? I said SHUT UP! NOW! Sorry. I didn’t mean to yell at ‘ya like that.
Suddenly a light goes on.
Damn! Old witch Strakken is upstairs. Don’t move. Be really still.
Bean
Did she hear us?
Mick
Relax. Just don’t move. We’re in the shadows enough.
Bean – getting a bit too loud
But Mick, her window is right across from us! We’re sittin’ ducks.
Mick
Shh! Quiet down you idiot! You want us to get caught!
Bean
She’s opening the window!
Mick
Just to get fresh air! Settle down and stay put.
Bean
Mick, she’s gonna see us!
Mick
Shut-up!
We hear the window open, and then some old time music playing from the room. Mick whispers.
See? She didn’t see us. Now just stay put. We’re stuck here until she leaves the room.
Thomas
Now things are getting exciting.
Bean
She’s going to catch us and boil us into soup.
Mick
Shhhh!
Suddenly, we hear Bean’s branch crack.
Oh crap!
Bean
Mick!
Bean starts to fall, but catches himself, dangling on a nearby branch by his hands.
Mick
Hold on Bean!
Thomas
I can’t reach ya.
Strakken – Off stage
Who’s that up in my tree?
Mick
Oh crap, it’s Strakken!
Bean
Help me, Mick!
Strakken
I’m going to call the sheriff!
Mick climbs over toward Bean and holds out his hand. Thomas starts to climb up.
Mick
C’mon Bean, grab my hand!
Bean
I can’t! I can’t!
Mick
Grab my hand now, Bean!
Bean
I’ll fall!
Strakken
I’m coming down with my shotgun!
Bean
Miiiiiiick! Help me!
Mick gets a bit closer and leans over on his stomach above Bean. He puts out his hand again.
Mick
Now grab my hand!
Bean
I’m scared!
Mick
Listen you chicken! Grab my hand now or I’ll come down there and kick your butt so hard your head’ll be inbetween your two butt-cheeks!
Bean looks up and grabs Mick’s hand. Mick swings him to the next branch down. Thomas is right below.
Thomas
Now put your foot on that next branch.
Bean
I’m tryin’! I’m tryin’! I’ve got it!
Mick
Now climb down and run like hell!
They climb down as fast as they can. Bean gets to the bottom first with Thomas’ help.
Strakken
You’re trespassing on private property! I’m coming out with my shotgun!
They all get down and start running, through the gate and toward home just as we hear…
Strakken
And you stay off of my property, you hooligans! Next time you won’t be so lucky!
When at a safe distance, and all out of breath, they stop to rest by a row of corn. They all start laughing.
Thomas
Boy oh boy, that was a close one!
Mick
I thought we were goners for sure.
Bean
Yeah. Did you see how yellow her teeth were? Probably from eating kids.
Thomas
Well, just between you and me, I’ve had enough excitement for one evening. I’m heading out. Thanks for including me.
Mick
Thanks for helpin’ out.
Thomas
You two be quiet now when you get back home. No falling from the meter box!
Bean
Promise.
Thomas exits.
Mick
What a night.
Bean
Sure was.
Mick
We almost got caught by old lady Strakken.
Bean
So? It was worth it.
Mick
Yeah?
Bean
Yeah. For a first time, you treated me like a man, Mick. Thanks.
Mick looks at him and then puts out his hand. Bean joins him with their secret handshake.
Brother’s Unite – Reprise #1:
Bean
Brothers unite.
Friends ‘til the end!
Let the darkness come and dare us.
They start walking towards home.
Mick
Let the scary danger scare us.
Bean
This adventure’s to prepare us,
Tonight!
‘Cuz brothers
Bean and Mick
We unite!
Mick, stops and looks proudly at Bean.
Mick
Cool.
Mick puts his arm around Bean and they start for home. As they walk, a single porch light slowly comes up at the house. We see Gus standing on the porch under the light, arms crossed, waiting for them to come home.
♦◊♦
Photo by Shutterstock
Some really good stuff here. I can’t wait to read more.
Thanks for reading this Darrell! The next scene really gets into the real conflict of the show – between the father-Gus, and his son, Mick. It’s up on this website for reading now!