VOLUNTEERS: The Face of the Enemy Dialogue Sample #3</header>
SCENE: After receiving a "radical" tranfusion of blood from a Confederate soldier, SERGEANT O'NEILL offers the visiting CHAPLAIN GLENN a piece of his past.
O’Neill clams up. He knows Glenn has picked up on something he’d rather not discuss. But Glenn won’t let it be.
O’NEILL
I heard that about you. That you can almost read minds.
GLENN
It’s not so much the minds I can read, it’s the faces. And ever since you came to the 25th, I’ve seen the many years of pain that are painted on yours. Now, I won’t pry into all of them. But if what’s on your mind now will help you purge any other demons later on, I’ll take it as a victory.
O’Neill is silent a moment — gathering his thoughts. Finally, he begins.
O’NEILL
Strictly in confidence, you understand? Like a confession?
Glenn nods comprehendingly.
O’NEILL
It all has to with a girl named Anna. Annabelle O’Neill, my sister. My youngest sister. You know I never really had a very good relationship with anybody in my family, but Annabelle... She was the most beautiful, most perfect, happiest child that ever walked the face of God’s green earth. No matter what happened to me, no matter trying things in my life would get, I could always count on her to brighten my day. She had a laugh that could just make all the troubles of the world melt away.
GLENN
Sounds like you loved her very much.
O’NEILL
I did. In fact, I’d dare say that if there ever was an angel who set foot in this world, it was Annabelle. We were nearly a decade apart in age, but as close to one another as if we’d shared the same womb.
GLENN
So, what became of her?
O’NEILL
When she was 12, she took ill with a severe case of pneumonia. I could see her growing weaker and weaker, her body withering away with each passing day. There was really nothing anyone could do for her. I knew it. She knew it. Only our parents didn’t understand. They wouldn’t let her go.
GLENN
Wouldn’t let her go?
O’NEILL
They kept calling in doctor after doctor. Each one of them promising that they could make her well, when they knew damned well there wasn’t anything that could be done. I’ve never really been a religious man, but I began to pray then. I prayed that one night, while she was sleeping, the good Lord would just come take her away and end her suffering. But he never did. I tried to convince my father that she just needed to go peacefully, but he wouldn’t hear of it. He said I wasn’t old enough to know what was best for her. And she stayed laid up in that bed of hers for nearly eight months! Until one morning, she was just gone...
O’Neill pauses as the memories form a small lump in his throat, which he clears.
GLENN
Is that what’s been eating away at you all this time? The fact that you were permitted no say in Anna’s fate?
O’NEILL
They ignored anything I had to say about it. I was the one who knew her best. Noon understood her suffering better than me and yet... because of them, I didn’t even get to say good-bye to her.
GLENN
Can you at least take comfort in knowing that you were with her until the end? I’m sure your presence alone was enough to make her passing easier.
O’Neill shakes his head uncertainly.
O’NEILL
Maybe...
GLENN
You must learn to be more charitable, Michael. Not only to those around you, but also to yourself.
