scene i: the kingdom Elm trees. Deep in the woods a house. BEN, a ranger in full gear. Walks on dead leaves. She sits on the porch. She lights a cigarette. BEN I live in the Kingdom of Ghosts. I used to live here. I used to live in this house. In that room (a light goes on in the window behind her) I used to sit on this porch. . here is a place called Piedmont. Here. Is a copse of trees. They told us. When I was younger they told us. No elms could grow here. They all got sick and died and now no elms could grow. But here they are. All around us. Elms. And I wonder. Are they really here? Am I really here? But I can’t remember any more. I can’t remember if there were trees around my house. (the light in the window flickers) a child grows up and goes to war. I have said: I know how we go to war and I have said: Now I want to learn what it means to come home. I’ve said over and over and over again I’ve said-‐ -‐ and I’ve heard the people I love the most asking how? I don’t know. Even though you come from a small town the sky still it stretches out out and over your head (it does) I can’t count how many stars (the Perseids streak) the Perseids (she says with longing) August. August and the living is. . Harder if you live in the Kingdom of Ghosts. The house wakes up. Lights in every window. A baby begins to cry In the kitchen a gas stove is lit and a pan clatters onto the range.
1