Monday, February 26, 2007
Seminar reflection
I thought the Seminar on the Christmas truce went pretty well. We discusses a lot about War, governments demonizing the enemy and issues about World War I. I liked this Seminar because Hitler and the Holocaust was not mention as much as it usually is in Seminars. When anyone talks about War or genocide they automatically start talking about Hitler and Nazi Germany. It is true that the Holocaust is the most famous genocide that has ever happened but it gets me angry that there have been so many genocides and everyone can only compare genocides today to the Holocaust. The Seminar went pretty well that I finally got to explain this in the seminar. One of the key thing we discussed in the Seminar was how there probably wouldn’t be able to have another truce like the Christmas truce because of technology, language, religion and gorilla tactics.
Friday, February 23, 2007
post on novel question
One of the images of the book that lingers in my mind is the hospital part of the book. I remember this part because of how the doctors and surgeons there think as the troops as lab rats that they can experiment with. I think that this shows more of the humanity of Paul his friend and the other people in the room when one gets sent to the dieing room. People die and their beds are replaced by strangers in this part of the book. This part is one of the saddest parts of the book but I think it is also one of the most interesting parts.
One of the things that came up in my discussion was about the part of the book when Paul decides not to kill a French man because he knows that he has a family and a life. We discussed this because this shows how Paul’s humanity has not quite disappeared. One of the other key points in our discussion was about the hospital part of the book and how people just disappeared and were replaced by strangers. This discussion was very good and brought up concepts I did not think about.
One of the things that came up in my discussion was about the part of the book when Paul decides not to kill a French man because he knows that he has a family and a life. We discussed this because this shows how Paul’s humanity has not quite disappeared. One of the other key points in our discussion was about the hospital part of the book and how people just disappeared and were replaced by strangers. This discussion was very good and brought up concepts I did not think about.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
All quiet on the western front quotes 1-2
Part 1 quote journal
One quote in the first part of the book is “ He is annoyed. “If you don’t think so, then why do you ask?” I press a few more cigarettes in hid hand. “Do us the favor”. This quote is very important because it shows that Paul will resort to corruption to help his friend. I thought this was interesting because he bribed the guy with cigarettes to have morphine given to his friend. This shows that he cares very much about his friends witch is later seen in the book when Kat dies and Paul wants to die and go with him.
Part 2 quote journal
One quote in part two that interested me was “We march up, moody or good-tempered soldiers—we reach the zone where the front begins and become on the instant human animals”. This quote is important because it is one of the most memorable quotes in the book. This quote interests me because Paul states that he and his friends are losing their humanity. He compares them and himself to animals because he is in a kill or be killed environment. I thought this was interesting and a true statement. I think that Paul his friends and all soldiers that are forced to fight are like attack dogs trained and forced to obey orders.
One quote in the first part of the book is “ He is annoyed. “If you don’t think so, then why do you ask?” I press a few more cigarettes in hid hand. “Do us the favor”. This quote is very important because it shows that Paul will resort to corruption to help his friend. I thought this was interesting because he bribed the guy with cigarettes to have morphine given to his friend. This shows that he cares very much about his friends witch is later seen in the book when Kat dies and Paul wants to die and go with him.
Part 2 quote journal
One quote in part two that interested me was “We march up, moody or good-tempered soldiers—we reach the zone where the front begins and become on the instant human animals”. This quote is important because it is one of the most memorable quotes in the book. This quote interests me because Paul states that he and his friends are losing their humanity. He compares them and himself to animals because he is in a kill or be killed environment. I thought this was interesting and a true statement. I think that Paul his friends and all soldiers that are forced to fight are like attack dogs trained and forced to obey orders.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Ending journel on All quiet on the western front
One of the quotes I thought was interesting was “Iam very quiet. Let the months and years come, they can take nothing from me, they can take nothing more”. This quote comes from the ending of the book and is very import because it shows that Paul believes he has nothing left to live for. All his friends are dead and he believes his family to not understand him or the horrors of war. I think this is interesting because Iam confused that Paul doesn’t think about his sister at all near the end. I thought that he had a reason to live and that reason was to raise his sister because his Mom is dieing and his father’s off socializing and doesn’t have his priorities straight.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
(Rough Draft of Play) Between you and me
Nelson Galán & Lucien Tully & Mark Young
P4-5
February 13, 2007
WWI Scene Abstract Description
New Character Names: Ivan Smirnoff, Yussef Popovich, Natasha Popovich, and Officer Igor Wyborowa
The play is centered on two main characters, Yussef Popovich, and Ivan Smirnoff. Yussef is a man that has been in the army for two years and one and a half of those he spent on the frontline. His wife (Natasha) died and he’s sent back to the training grounds, where he meets a young patriotic kid (Ivan) who thinks that Yussef should be more grateful about helping his country. Yussef on the other hand convinces Ivan that war is about saving your ass and that he should not allow Officer Igor Wyborowa (secondary character) take advantage of his loyalty. After Ivan finally disobeyed Officer Wyborowa; they were both sent to the frontline where they will have to fight alongside each other to survive. The story concludes after Yussef risks his life to save Ivan (who was captured), but only one returns.
All right… so the main characters are: Yussef Popovich and Ivan Smirnoff. The Play starts by giving some background info of Yussef.
BETWEEN YOU AND ME
Scene 1
(Yussef and Natasha Popovich are in their pub in a little Russian town, cleaning dishes and the floor respectively)
NATASHA: Wow, we might actually be able to move on with our lives after you lost your job to that machine at that factory!
YUSSEF: Guess you’re right, after all this little business isn’t that bad eh? I mean we’re making money
NATASHA: (reluctantly) Yes dear… you’re right… money
(A knock on the door is heard)
YUSSEF: Who is it? … We’re closed!
(The door opens, several men from the army enter)
ARMY OFFICER: Mr. and Mrs. Popovich, I am sorry to inform you, that this pub is no longer yours and it will be temporarily occupied by the army
NATASHA: (worried) Will we ever have the pub back?
ARMY OFFICER: (sarcastically) Of course (laughs)
(Light fades and the curtains are closed)
Scene 2
(Yussef is sitting in a sofa alongside Natasha)
YUSSEF: (frustrated) It’s no use… nobody will ever let me work for them without my goddamn right hand
NATASHA: Don’t worry; I’m sure there’s somebody out there who can make use of someone like you
YUSSEF: (sobbing) Like me what… A wretch!!
NATASHA: (sympathetically) No… not a wretch at all… a dignified and honest man who will work with incredible strength looking for a better life (pats his cheek)
YUSSEF: (now calmer) Oh Natasha, why would such a beautiful woman spend her life with someone like me when there are so much chances for her outside… you know that our only chance to keep the house is if I join the army in the upcoming war and even so I might not even last… DON’T YOU SEE I’M A FAILURE!
NATASHA: (now she holds Yussef’s hand) I stay because I love you………and I’m sure there’s much more for someone like you out there, and if there’s not I will remain by your side… now and always
(Now Yussef cries, and they hug) (The scene is over)
(Natasha now steps up and states that Yussef has departed to war)
Scene 3
(There is a cheerful seventeen-year-old kid in soldier uniform scrubbing the floor with a toothbrush, while a man gives him orders)
IGOR: (imposing) Come on Smirnoff… don’t tell me your rich ass has never cleaned a floor before… there …you missed a spot
IVAN: Sir yes sir
IGOR: So… Smirnoff, where do you come from eh?
IVAN: (continues to scrub the floor) I am from a middle class family sir… I enlisted to the army because it is the noblest thing for my country we fight against tyrants in a righteous way may we slay all the Germans
IGOR: Ha, ha, ha that’s what I like to hear… What the hell are you doing! (takes the toothbrush and slaps the kid in the head, then takes mud and throws it on the floor) now do it good…or else
IVAN: (still in a cheerful manner) Sir it is my pleasure, sir
(Igor becomes frustrated and leaves) (end of scene)
Scene 4
(Ivan returns to his tent in the training grounds, there is a drunken man inside)
YUSSEF: (delirating) Natasha… my God it’s been so long since I saw you baby
(tries to hug Ivan, but is pushed away, loses balance, falls and starts to cry)
IVAN: What the hell are you thinking? … For God’s sake look at you you’re a wreck, I am embarrassed to think that you were even part of the Russian frontline
YUSSEF: (sips more vodka) You do not know anything, you’re too young (starts to cry)
IVAN: At least we can tell the difference between us of who would crap his pants up there and who wouldn’t
YUSSEF: (laughing) Are you insinuating that your mom still wipes your rich ass… where do you hide her, she might be good company (keeps laughing)
IVAN: (punches Yussef in the face) DON’T YOU EVER TALK LIKE THAT ABOUT MY MOM!!! (kicks him in the gut)
(Yussef gets up and applies a hammerlock to Ivan, but Ivan gets out, and takes Yussef down again)
IVAN: You’re so drunk you would not beat my five-year-old nephew (spits, then he reflects about what happened and asks) Who is Natasha anyways?
YUSSEF: (barks) None of your business!!!
IVAN: My bad… sorry for trying to start a conversation (rolls eyes)
YUSSEF: When I was your age I fell in love… her name was Natasha. She was the most beautiful girl in the world… only one problem, her family was rich and her father wouldn’t give her up to me, and rightfully so for I was nothing but a god forsaken poor devil.
IVAN: (very interested) What happened?
YUSSEF: She escaped with me, but my job as a farmer barely got me any money to sustain myself even less a family, so I took another job in a factory
IVAN: (remarks) Decent job
YUSSEF: Or at least that’s what they say… believe me it’s not pretty in there. But nonetheless what happened is that after a year of working there, my loyalty ended up in being replaced by a machine and lost my job, then a younger more energetic kid replaced me in the farm. My wife had the idea to open a pub and even though it wasn’t the greatest job, ‘since I don’t like fights’… there was nothing better at the time. After two months, only one fight with all damages paid, the all-powerful and righteous army came and said… (Imitates voice) excuse me Mr. and Mrs. Popovich, I am sorry to inform you, that this pub is no longer yours and it will be temporarily occupied by the army, have a nice day
IVAN: (maddened) Don’t talk like that about the army, where is your sense of patriotism? look at what they do for YOUR country, you should be proud that you had the chance to serve in such way, any day I would happily agree to give ALL of my properties to the army for the good of our country
YUSSEF: Is that so?
(no answer, Ivan had realized he was talking nonsense)
YUSSEF: Anyways, after the pub my only choice to sustain Natasha was to join the army, which I reluctantly did… after that my life has just broken into pieces. Six months after recruitment I was sent to the eastern front. Six months after that my wife contracted ammonia. A year later she died. Three months later I became an alcoholic. A month after that I feel like an old man telling tales of his youth to a kid, to you.
(Ivan gulps) (he realizes that offending somebody without knowing about them is a great crime)
IVAN: Forgive me for insulting you
(Yussef nods and starts crying, takes another gulp of vodka and hugs Ivan)
Scene 5
(Ivan is arriving at his tent again where he finds Yussef who is no longer drunk and is playing solitaire and smoking a cig)
IVAN: (surprised) Hey, you’re not drunk anymore
YUSSEF: Yeah… I realized that my wife is death and nothing I do will change that, so I just stopped drinking ‘cause there’s no point in that……… Damn… I didn’t know they kept recruits so much time in the training grounds, what happened?
IVAN: I had to run two extra miles for having my elbow bend at the time to salute Officer Igor Wyborowa, then I had to clean the bathrooms again as is my duty, I like it I think it builds toughness in the heart of a soldier
YUSSEF: You wanna play?
IVAN: What?
YUSSEF: Poker
IVAN: I suppose so
YUSSEF: Why do you take all that #### from Wyborowa?
IVAN: It might sound unfair at first, but it helps build toughness and discipline and that is exactly what I need if I am to go to the front
(Yussef laughs)
IVAN: What’s the matter?
YUSSEF: It’s just weird… how do you think that you will need to be disciplined at all in the front?
IVAN: (confidently) It will give me the security to follow orders
YUSSEF: Considering the state in which you met me it might be hard for you to believe this, but as you know I spent a year and a half at the front under constant bombardments and believe me, once you’re up there you don’t think you act. You don’t even know how, but you do, it is like a primal instinct, one that has been buried under our minds for a very long time, and rises to take control of you… in the front you’re not yourself… you are a beast
IVAN: How does that apply here?
YUSSEF: Wyborowa is just taking advantage of you… cleaning the bathrooms is probably HIS job and he makes YOU do it for him… pretty smart huh? To take advantage of a new recruit… because that is what he sees you like… a recruit not a comrade
IVAN: Oh really? … And what do you expect ME to do about it
YUSSEF: Disobey
IVAN: What?!?! … I’ll get my ass kicked by the Officer Igor Wyborowa!!!
YUSSEF: You said you wanted to toughen up, didn’t you? He dislikes you for being fragile, and besides you beat me remember?
IVAN: (jumps up startled) YES, BUT YOU WERE DRUNK!!!
YUSSEF: (looks up) I got three aces
IVAN: (yells) SEE!!! That’s what is so wrong with you… you never take anything seriously!
YUSSEF: All I know of war is what I learned up there and believe me war is not about being disciplined, it is about saving your ass! Next thing you’ll know is that Wyborowa is gonna say “shield me” and you’ll find yourself jumping in front of a bullet… exchanging a kids life for that of a grown man.
(Scene ends)
Scene 6
[Yussef enters from stage right and keeps walking across stage]
[Ivan enters from stage left caring bucket of hot water and bumps into Yussef]
[water falls on ground enter Comrade Officer Igor stage left]
IGOR: What is going on here? I needed that water for my coffee. Another mistake like this and I’ll make sure you get sent to one of the most dangerous parts of the front!
IVAN: (salutes Igor) I…. (Interrupted by Yussef)
YUSSEF: Don’t scold him Comrade Igor Wyborowa, I am to blame it was my fault.
IGOR: Why you a respectable veteran stick up for this piece of garbage I don’t know. But (looks at Ivan), that won’t save YOU… now go do three laps around the camp, and afterwards you’ll have to make me another coffee, and clean my underwear.
[Igor angrily starts to leaves]
IVAN: NO!!!
IGOR: (startled) What?
IVAN: I will not let you keep taking advantage of me!
(Yussef taps Ivan’s shoulder)
IGOR: (glances toward Yussef, and then Ivan, and salutes) I salute you… the newest additions to the eastern front (leaves laughing)
(After a second Ivan falls to his knees, and Yussef lifts his chin in adversity)
(Curtains close)
Scene 7
(Ivan is angered at Yussef and explodes at him)
IVAN: (angered) What’s your problem? I can’t believe that I actually looked up to you!!!
YUSSEF: (puzzled) What do you mean looked up to me? You’ve always criticized me about being undeserving to be Russian, about being a drunkard, and now you look up to me?
IVAN: Yeah… ever since you where here you’ve made me believe more and more of myself… You even got me to defy a sergeant and look at what happened, you were and will always be a crazy drunkard.
YUSSEF: I would never imagine you seeing me as a role model, but there is nothing we can do about this now
(Ivan angered, punches Yussef in the face)
IVAN: What do you mean there is nothing to do about it? Because of you I have disappointed my country, I have disappointed myself, and the only thing that awaits me here is death
YUSSEF: (still on the ground sarcastically) I thought you would do anything for your country
(Ivan holds Yussef by the neck of his shirt and lifts him)
IVAN: Is this all a joke to you?
(Yussef reverses Ivan’s hold and pushes him to the ground to forces him to listen)
YUSSEF: You did the right thing not taking crap from Wyborowa… do you have no pride?
(Yussef lets go of the hold, and Ivan stumbles in the floor to sit)
IVAN: To hell with pride… don’t you see I’m scared? … I should’ve never stood up to Wyborowa!!!
YUSSEF: (remarks) You weren’t afraid at first
IVAN: I ignored the risks… now I’ve heard your stories
(Ivan starts to cry and Yussef hugs him to comfort him)
(Curtains close end of Scene)
Scene 8
(Scene starts, only Ivan is on stage, he is writing a diary)
IVAN: (writing in a scared tone) Two days have passed since I was sent to war, but this is the only break that we’ve had from the goddamn shell bombing. Yussef left little time after the bombings, and said he’d be back. More and more rumors have been spreading about Russia leaving the war… but how I see things, if it DOES happen… it’ll be too late for most of us here. The trenches are filled with blood, Yussef and I are the only one’s left on our trench. We were four at first, but one went crazy and escaped… this morning we found him laying outside dying… he had no legs. The other one was just unlucky… The trench fell on him when a shellfire fell near us. My eyes are still stained with all the casualties I’ve witnessed. I can’t take this any longer… (drops down diary and stops writing) maybe if I hadn’t listened to Yussef… no… it would’ve meant no difference, there’s no other choice… even drill sergeants are being sent over here as reinforcements… the other day I saw Wyborowa, all I want is to stay away from him
(Yussef enters stage right)
YUSSEF: Hey baby, did you miss me?
IVAN: Where were you?
YUSSEF: Taking a crap (points to stage right)
(Ivan laughs)
YUSSEF: I didn’t know you were writing a diary
IVAN: Me neither
YUSSEF: (looks at Ivan and loses his sense of humor) Are you worried?
IVAN: (looks down) Yes…
YUSSEF: (pats Ivan’s shoulder) Don’t be… I’m here to protect you
(A voice is heard)
ARMY COMMANDER: Alright boys… let’s make a lookout for injured comrades…
(Both Yussef and Ivan get up and start walking)
IVAN: What is that sound?
YUSSEF: (alarmed) MORTARS!!!
(They both throw themselves to the floor and little explosions are heard)
IVAN: (looking around) Wait! (now looks at Yussef) Those weren’t mortars
YUSSEF: (looks back and alarmed) IT’S GAS!!! (puts on mask, and looks at Ivan) What the hell are you doing… PUT ON YOUR MASK!!!
(After some seconds in the floor)
IVAN: (takes off mask) I can’t breath!!
YUSSEF: Are you stupid or something? (puts Ivan his mask on again) You’ll die if you take it off!!!
IVAN: Goddamn it!!! I just #### my pants! (starts to laugh)
YUSSEF: (takes off mask) Alright it’s clear… RUN!!!
(They both run off stage right)
(Scene ends)
Scene 9
(Curtains open, there’s a lot of people are dressed as soldiers at stage right, an Army Commander speaks)
ARMY COMMANDER: Alright boys… this is what it all comes down to. One last charge, and we’ll defeat the Germans, one last charge and the war for us will be over… only one last charge, to unleash hell and kill them all
(A roar from the soldiers is heard)
ARMY COMMANDER: Yes that’s right… LET ME FEEL THE WRATH OF THE RUSSIANS!!!
(An even higher roar is heard, then everything is quiet and the only two who move are Yussef and Ivan)
IVAN: (enthusiastic) Did you hear that? One charge and it’ll all be over, the war will be over… WILL BE VICTORIUS!
YUSSEF: (concerned) One last charge and the war will be over, but the Russians won’t win… enjoy because this is our Last Ride…
(Ivan’s face is visibly concerned, then he looks at the Commander and everybody recovers their life)
ARMY COMMANDER: Yes… YES… KILL THEM ALL!!! DON’T LEAVE ONE ALIVE!!! … But this I will tell you, you will charge with no compassion, and if you hesitate at the least (makes a gesture of shooting a gun) I’ll be the one who puts a bullet on your head
(Everyone’s quiet, then Ivan looks at Yussef and everybody loses their life again)
IVAN: (concerned) He’s not serious is he?
YUSSEF: (shrugs off) Don’t know, but wouldn’t like to find out
(Everybody returns to life)
ARMY COMMANDER: ATTAAAAAAACK!!!!!
(The army roars, and runs out to stage left, including Yussef and Ivan… the roar continues and they return in five seconds, the Germans are overwhelmed them.)
YUSSEF: Quick to the trench!
(Both jump to a trench. Five Russians drop dead, three Germans drop; two are death dead and the other one is dragged off by two comrades. Both armies retreat. Two Germans come in from stage left)
SOLDIER 1: Come on Franz… there’s nothing here
FRANZ: No… come on Kai you have to believe me… I swear I saw someone jump to a trench
(Upon hearing this Yussef holds Ivan’s mouth, and Ivan closes his eyes)
KAI: (desperate) I’m telling you… you’re gonna get us ki…(gets shut up by Franz)
(Kai counts with his finger to three and they catch Yussef and Ivan. Kai caught Ivan while Franz caught Yussef. Yussef takes his knife and kills Franz. Then starts running stage right but is shot by Kai.)
KAI: (throws Ivan to the floor and bends his knees to cry for Franz) WHYYYYY!!!!!
(Franz tries to tell something to Kai, but he is unable to decipher Franz’ gurgles, at the same time Ivan tries to escape but is caught by Kai who takes him out stage left. After they’re out you can see that Yussef has started to drag himself off to stage right.)
Scene 10
(Curtains open, and you can see Yussef discussing with the Army Commander.)
YUSSEF: (notably maddened) WHAT DO YOU MEAN NO!!!
ARMY COMMANDER: (calmer) Comrade Popovich, how many times do I have to tell you… Russia has suffered way too many losses; I cannot help you… We will leave the front tomorrow
YUSSEF: YOU CAN’T DO THAT!!! Ivan is still over there, he was caught… the poor kid is seventeen years old, unlike us he still has a life in front of him! We cannot leave them to the mercy of the Germans!
ARMY COMMANDER: (losing his patience) Comrade Smirnoff is death!
YUSSEF: NO HE’S NOT!!!
ARMY COMMANDER: (losing his cool) MUST I REPEAT MYSELF… HE’S DEATH!!!
YUSSEF: NOOOO!!! (stares to the floor) We can still save him… there’s still chance
ARMY COMMANDER: I will not give you MY men to accomplish YOUR little crusade to save ONE man (looks around maddened) IT’S SUICIDAL!!!
YUSSEF: You didn’t care about suicidal when WE had to accomplish YOUR little “Unleash Hell” campaign
(At this remark the Commander takes no more, and hits Yussef on the stomach and then hits a forearm to his back. After this he grabs Yussef by the hair and remarks.)
ARMY COMMANDER: Go to hell Popovich… but don’t take Russia with you (then he slams Yussef to the floor)
(The Commander leaves to stage right, and leaves Yussef alone on stage)
YUSSEF: (gets on his knees for the first time) Why? WHYYYYY!!!!! How come everybody I come to love dies? How come I have to be the one who has to leave on? (looks up) WHY DO YOU PUNISH ME SO!!! (looks down and starts crying) First my dad and older brother, I was only eleven-years-old, and all of a sudden my dad and brother don’t come back from the factory. Then my mom… cancer, all of a sudden I was fifteen and alone in this wrecked world. When I was seventeen, I met my new reason to live … Natasha… but now she’s dead due to ammonia. Then I met Ivan (struggles for a while, but then looks to the crowd and says)… I may not love him… but I promised him that I would protect him… I promised that he would return to Russia, and I must keep my word
(Curtains close, scene is over)
Scene 11
(Curtains open, a drunken Kai and another German are keeping watch over Ivan who is tied up in a cross)
KAI: (crying) Why? Just tell me why Hansel? I can’t believe it. I dragged my little brother to war, and then I dragged him to the place where he would be killed. How could I be so stupid?
HANSEL: Come on Kai, you can’t blame everything to yourself… it’s not your fault
KAI: Don’t you see I took him directly to his death, and his little face, and how he squealed when he tried to talk to me… will I never forget this?
HANSEL: (pats Kai on the shoulder) Look… why don’t you go for something to eat and then we’ll talk about it.
KAI: Alright (gets up and leaves to stage left)
(Hansel picks up the Kirsch bottle that Kai left on the floor and drinks)
IVAN: Hey… could I have some?
HANSEL: What? Kirsch? (lifts the bottle so Ivan may see it)
(Ivan nods, at this gesture Hansel laughs and gets up)
HANSEL: So you want some Kirsch eh? (drinks some and then spits it at Ivan’s face and starts laughing)
(After that Ivan loses his cool and spits at Hansel’s face, who in turn hits him on the stomach and the ribs, after this he sends an uppercut to Ivan’s chin who spits out blood, and starts to cry)
HANSEL: Aw… is the little baby crying? (but Ivan’s cries turn to a laugh, which freaks Hansel up) What the hell?
IVAN: You don’t know what’s coming to you… My countrymen will save me
HANSEL: Yeah… I think I hit you too hard because your countrymen are retreating… they probably think you’re dead OR (Hansel grins) they just don’t care about you
(At this Ivan starts to cry again, but all of a sudden Hansel drops death, and from behind Ivan, Yussef appears covering Ivan’s mouth and untying him)
IVAN: (excited) I knew you’d come (eyes water)
YUSSEF: There’s no time to get too happy we might not be able to get out of here alive (looks concerned)
IVAN: But if you were able to come in you must be able to come out? …
YUSSEF: This is the plan… you see over there (points at stage right) if we get there undetected, we’ll get to no man’s land without been seen and then it’s a run-for-it
IVAN: (sarcastically) I love your plans
YUSSEF: Can you think of anything better?
IVAN: Nah
YUSSEF: OK let’s go
(They both crawl a little bit, but Kai arrives at that time)
KAI: Hey Hansel you want beef, or Frankfurters… (Glances at Hansel on the floor death, and then at Yussef and Ivan who are escaping) What the hell?
YUSSEF: RUN!!!
(Both get up, but Kai is fast and takes out a gun with which he shoots Yussef on the leg, at this Ivan stops and waits for Yussef to get up)
YUSSEF: RUN!!! (Ivan is hesitant) I said run and don’t look back!!! AGHHH (he screams in pain)
(Ivan quickly glances at Kai who is pointing his gun at him, and runs… Kai shoots but misses… he is noticeably shocked, in the meantime Yussef is still crawling, but is stopped by Kai, and they stare at each other for 5 seconds)
KAI: (shocked) YOU?!?!?! You killed my brother…you killed Hansel… and now you’re under my mercy… isn’t life an ass?
(Yussef is still crawling out of sheer instinct)
KAI: It’s time to finish this… (after stating this he shoots Yussef on the face, then under his misery goes on his knees and beats Yussef’s death body up)
(Curtains close and the last thing seen is the middle of the stage where Kai is crying on his knees over Yussef)
Scene 12
(Curtains open one last time, Ivan is now an old man sitting on a chair and there’s a little kid sitting on the floor listening to him)
IVAN: The End… Did you like the story Yussef?
YUSSEF: Why is the guy in your story named like me, grandpa?
IVAN: That’s because you’re named after him
YUSSEF: Why?
IVAN: Because I wanted Yussef’s memory to stay alive through you
(A woman comes in through stage left)
WOMAN: Hey dad
IVAN: Hey Natasha… how are you?
NATASHA: Good… are you telling little Yussef your stories again?
YUSSEF: Hey Grandpa what happened when you where with the Germans?
NATASHA: No time sweetie… you have to sleep
YUSSEF: But mommy
IVAN: That’s another story for another time Yussef… now go to sleep
(Yussef gets up and runs out to stage right)
NATASHA: (talking to Ivan) Would you like some coffee?
IVAN: Please
(Ivan struggles to get up, but Natasha holds his arm and helps him go out to stage right)
(Curtains close… End of the Play)
P4-5
February 13, 2007
WWI Scene Abstract Description
New Character Names: Ivan Smirnoff, Yussef Popovich, Natasha Popovich, and Officer Igor Wyborowa
The play is centered on two main characters, Yussef Popovich, and Ivan Smirnoff. Yussef is a man that has been in the army for two years and one and a half of those he spent on the frontline. His wife (Natasha) died and he’s sent back to the training grounds, where he meets a young patriotic kid (Ivan) who thinks that Yussef should be more grateful about helping his country. Yussef on the other hand convinces Ivan that war is about saving your ass and that he should not allow Officer Igor Wyborowa (secondary character) take advantage of his loyalty. After Ivan finally disobeyed Officer Wyborowa; they were both sent to the frontline where they will have to fight alongside each other to survive. The story concludes after Yussef risks his life to save Ivan (who was captured), but only one returns.
All right… so the main characters are: Yussef Popovich and Ivan Smirnoff. The Play starts by giving some background info of Yussef.
BETWEEN YOU AND ME
Scene 1
(Yussef and Natasha Popovich are in their pub in a little Russian town, cleaning dishes and the floor respectively)
NATASHA: Wow, we might actually be able to move on with our lives after you lost your job to that machine at that factory!
YUSSEF: Guess you’re right, after all this little business isn’t that bad eh? I mean we’re making money
NATASHA: (reluctantly) Yes dear… you’re right… money
(A knock on the door is heard)
YUSSEF: Who is it? … We’re closed!
(The door opens, several men from the army enter)
ARMY OFFICER: Mr. and Mrs. Popovich, I am sorry to inform you, that this pub is no longer yours and it will be temporarily occupied by the army
NATASHA: (worried) Will we ever have the pub back?
ARMY OFFICER: (sarcastically) Of course (laughs)
(Light fades and the curtains are closed)
Scene 2
(Yussef is sitting in a sofa alongside Natasha)
YUSSEF: (frustrated) It’s no use… nobody will ever let me work for them without my goddamn right hand
NATASHA: Don’t worry; I’m sure there’s somebody out there who can make use of someone like you
YUSSEF: (sobbing) Like me what… A wretch!!
NATASHA: (sympathetically) No… not a wretch at all… a dignified and honest man who will work with incredible strength looking for a better life (pats his cheek)
YUSSEF: (now calmer) Oh Natasha, why would such a beautiful woman spend her life with someone like me when there are so much chances for her outside… you know that our only chance to keep the house is if I join the army in the upcoming war and even so I might not even last… DON’T YOU SEE I’M A FAILURE!
NATASHA: (now she holds Yussef’s hand) I stay because I love you………and I’m sure there’s much more for someone like you out there, and if there’s not I will remain by your side… now and always
(Now Yussef cries, and they hug) (The scene is over)
(Natasha now steps up and states that Yussef has departed to war)
Scene 3
(There is a cheerful seventeen-year-old kid in soldier uniform scrubbing the floor with a toothbrush, while a man gives him orders)
IGOR: (imposing) Come on Smirnoff… don’t tell me your rich ass has never cleaned a floor before… there …you missed a spot
IVAN: Sir yes sir
IGOR: So… Smirnoff, where do you come from eh?
IVAN: (continues to scrub the floor) I am from a middle class family sir… I enlisted to the army because it is the noblest thing for my country we fight against tyrants in a righteous way may we slay all the Germans
IGOR: Ha, ha, ha that’s what I like to hear… What the hell are you doing! (takes the toothbrush and slaps the kid in the head, then takes mud and throws it on the floor) now do it good…or else
IVAN: (still in a cheerful manner) Sir it is my pleasure, sir
(Igor becomes frustrated and leaves) (end of scene)
Scene 4
(Ivan returns to his tent in the training grounds, there is a drunken man inside)
YUSSEF: (delirating) Natasha… my God it’s been so long since I saw you baby
(tries to hug Ivan, but is pushed away, loses balance, falls and starts to cry)
IVAN: What the hell are you thinking? … For God’s sake look at you you’re a wreck, I am embarrassed to think that you were even part of the Russian frontline
YUSSEF: (sips more vodka) You do not know anything, you’re too young (starts to cry)
IVAN: At least we can tell the difference between us of who would crap his pants up there and who wouldn’t
YUSSEF: (laughing) Are you insinuating that your mom still wipes your rich ass… where do you hide her, she might be good company (keeps laughing)
IVAN: (punches Yussef in the face) DON’T YOU EVER TALK LIKE THAT ABOUT MY MOM!!! (kicks him in the gut)
(Yussef gets up and applies a hammerlock to Ivan, but Ivan gets out, and takes Yussef down again)
IVAN: You’re so drunk you would not beat my five-year-old nephew (spits, then he reflects about what happened and asks) Who is Natasha anyways?
YUSSEF: (barks) None of your business!!!
IVAN: My bad… sorry for trying to start a conversation (rolls eyes)
YUSSEF: When I was your age I fell in love… her name was Natasha. She was the most beautiful girl in the world… only one problem, her family was rich and her father wouldn’t give her up to me, and rightfully so for I was nothing but a god forsaken poor devil.
IVAN: (very interested) What happened?
YUSSEF: She escaped with me, but my job as a farmer barely got me any money to sustain myself even less a family, so I took another job in a factory
IVAN: (remarks) Decent job
YUSSEF: Or at least that’s what they say… believe me it’s not pretty in there. But nonetheless what happened is that after a year of working there, my loyalty ended up in being replaced by a machine and lost my job, then a younger more energetic kid replaced me in the farm. My wife had the idea to open a pub and even though it wasn’t the greatest job, ‘since I don’t like fights’… there was nothing better at the time. After two months, only one fight with all damages paid, the all-powerful and righteous army came and said… (Imitates voice) excuse me Mr. and Mrs. Popovich, I am sorry to inform you, that this pub is no longer yours and it will be temporarily occupied by the army, have a nice day
IVAN: (maddened) Don’t talk like that about the army, where is your sense of patriotism? look at what they do for YOUR country, you should be proud that you had the chance to serve in such way, any day I would happily agree to give ALL of my properties to the army for the good of our country
YUSSEF: Is that so?
(no answer, Ivan had realized he was talking nonsense)
YUSSEF: Anyways, after the pub my only choice to sustain Natasha was to join the army, which I reluctantly did… after that my life has just broken into pieces. Six months after recruitment I was sent to the eastern front. Six months after that my wife contracted ammonia. A year later she died. Three months later I became an alcoholic. A month after that I feel like an old man telling tales of his youth to a kid, to you.
(Ivan gulps) (he realizes that offending somebody without knowing about them is a great crime)
IVAN: Forgive me for insulting you
(Yussef nods and starts crying, takes another gulp of vodka and hugs Ivan)
Scene 5
(Ivan is arriving at his tent again where he finds Yussef who is no longer drunk and is playing solitaire and smoking a cig)
IVAN: (surprised) Hey, you’re not drunk anymore
YUSSEF: Yeah… I realized that my wife is death and nothing I do will change that, so I just stopped drinking ‘cause there’s no point in that……… Damn… I didn’t know they kept recruits so much time in the training grounds, what happened?
IVAN: I had to run two extra miles for having my elbow bend at the time to salute Officer Igor Wyborowa, then I had to clean the bathrooms again as is my duty, I like it I think it builds toughness in the heart of a soldier
YUSSEF: You wanna play?
IVAN: What?
YUSSEF: Poker
IVAN: I suppose so
YUSSEF: Why do you take all that #### from Wyborowa?
IVAN: It might sound unfair at first, but it helps build toughness and discipline and that is exactly what I need if I am to go to the front
(Yussef laughs)
IVAN: What’s the matter?
YUSSEF: It’s just weird… how do you think that you will need to be disciplined at all in the front?
IVAN: (confidently) It will give me the security to follow orders
YUSSEF: Considering the state in which you met me it might be hard for you to believe this, but as you know I spent a year and a half at the front under constant bombardments and believe me, once you’re up there you don’t think you act. You don’t even know how, but you do, it is like a primal instinct, one that has been buried under our minds for a very long time, and rises to take control of you… in the front you’re not yourself… you are a beast
IVAN: How does that apply here?
YUSSEF: Wyborowa is just taking advantage of you… cleaning the bathrooms is probably HIS job and he makes YOU do it for him… pretty smart huh? To take advantage of a new recruit… because that is what he sees you like… a recruit not a comrade
IVAN: Oh really? … And what do you expect ME to do about it
YUSSEF: Disobey
IVAN: What?!?! … I’ll get my ass kicked by the Officer Igor Wyborowa!!!
YUSSEF: You said you wanted to toughen up, didn’t you? He dislikes you for being fragile, and besides you beat me remember?
IVAN: (jumps up startled) YES, BUT YOU WERE DRUNK!!!
YUSSEF: (looks up) I got three aces
IVAN: (yells) SEE!!! That’s what is so wrong with you… you never take anything seriously!
YUSSEF: All I know of war is what I learned up there and believe me war is not about being disciplined, it is about saving your ass! Next thing you’ll know is that Wyborowa is gonna say “shield me” and you’ll find yourself jumping in front of a bullet… exchanging a kids life for that of a grown man.
(Scene ends)
Scene 6
[Yussef enters from stage right and keeps walking across stage]
[Ivan enters from stage left caring bucket of hot water and bumps into Yussef]
[water falls on ground enter Comrade Officer Igor stage left]
IGOR: What is going on here? I needed that water for my coffee. Another mistake like this and I’ll make sure you get sent to one of the most dangerous parts of the front!
IVAN: (salutes Igor) I…. (Interrupted by Yussef)
YUSSEF: Don’t scold him Comrade Igor Wyborowa, I am to blame it was my fault.
IGOR: Why you a respectable veteran stick up for this piece of garbage I don’t know. But (looks at Ivan), that won’t save YOU… now go do three laps around the camp, and afterwards you’ll have to make me another coffee, and clean my underwear.
[Igor angrily starts to leaves]
IVAN: NO!!!
IGOR: (startled) What?
IVAN: I will not let you keep taking advantage of me!
(Yussef taps Ivan’s shoulder)
IGOR: (glances toward Yussef, and then Ivan, and salutes) I salute you… the newest additions to the eastern front (leaves laughing)
(After a second Ivan falls to his knees, and Yussef lifts his chin in adversity)
(Curtains close)
Scene 7
(Ivan is angered at Yussef and explodes at him)
IVAN: (angered) What’s your problem? I can’t believe that I actually looked up to you!!!
YUSSEF: (puzzled) What do you mean looked up to me? You’ve always criticized me about being undeserving to be Russian, about being a drunkard, and now you look up to me?
IVAN: Yeah… ever since you where here you’ve made me believe more and more of myself… You even got me to defy a sergeant and look at what happened, you were and will always be a crazy drunkard.
YUSSEF: I would never imagine you seeing me as a role model, but there is nothing we can do about this now
(Ivan angered, punches Yussef in the face)
IVAN: What do you mean there is nothing to do about it? Because of you I have disappointed my country, I have disappointed myself, and the only thing that awaits me here is death
YUSSEF: (still on the ground sarcastically) I thought you would do anything for your country
(Ivan holds Yussef by the neck of his shirt and lifts him)
IVAN: Is this all a joke to you?
(Yussef reverses Ivan’s hold and pushes him to the ground to forces him to listen)
YUSSEF: You did the right thing not taking crap from Wyborowa… do you have no pride?
(Yussef lets go of the hold, and Ivan stumbles in the floor to sit)
IVAN: To hell with pride… don’t you see I’m scared? … I should’ve never stood up to Wyborowa!!!
YUSSEF: (remarks) You weren’t afraid at first
IVAN: I ignored the risks… now I’ve heard your stories
(Ivan starts to cry and Yussef hugs him to comfort him)
(Curtains close end of Scene)
Scene 8
(Scene starts, only Ivan is on stage, he is writing a diary)
IVAN: (writing in a scared tone) Two days have passed since I was sent to war, but this is the only break that we’ve had from the goddamn shell bombing. Yussef left little time after the bombings, and said he’d be back. More and more rumors have been spreading about Russia leaving the war… but how I see things, if it DOES happen… it’ll be too late for most of us here. The trenches are filled with blood, Yussef and I are the only one’s left on our trench. We were four at first, but one went crazy and escaped… this morning we found him laying outside dying… he had no legs. The other one was just unlucky… The trench fell on him when a shellfire fell near us. My eyes are still stained with all the casualties I’ve witnessed. I can’t take this any longer… (drops down diary and stops writing) maybe if I hadn’t listened to Yussef… no… it would’ve meant no difference, there’s no other choice… even drill sergeants are being sent over here as reinforcements… the other day I saw Wyborowa, all I want is to stay away from him
(Yussef enters stage right)
YUSSEF: Hey baby, did you miss me?
IVAN: Where were you?
YUSSEF: Taking a crap (points to stage right)
(Ivan laughs)
YUSSEF: I didn’t know you were writing a diary
IVAN: Me neither
YUSSEF: (looks at Ivan and loses his sense of humor) Are you worried?
IVAN: (looks down) Yes…
YUSSEF: (pats Ivan’s shoulder) Don’t be… I’m here to protect you
(A voice is heard)
ARMY COMMANDER: Alright boys… let’s make a lookout for injured comrades…
(Both Yussef and Ivan get up and start walking)
IVAN: What is that sound?
YUSSEF: (alarmed) MORTARS!!!
(They both throw themselves to the floor and little explosions are heard)
IVAN: (looking around) Wait! (now looks at Yussef) Those weren’t mortars
YUSSEF: (looks back and alarmed) IT’S GAS!!! (puts on mask, and looks at Ivan) What the hell are you doing… PUT ON YOUR MASK!!!
(After some seconds in the floor)
IVAN: (takes off mask) I can’t breath!!
YUSSEF: Are you stupid or something? (puts Ivan his mask on again) You’ll die if you take it off!!!
IVAN: Goddamn it!!! I just #### my pants! (starts to laugh)
YUSSEF: (takes off mask) Alright it’s clear… RUN!!!
(They both run off stage right)
(Scene ends)
Scene 9
(Curtains open, there’s a lot of people are dressed as soldiers at stage right, an Army Commander speaks)
ARMY COMMANDER: Alright boys… this is what it all comes down to. One last charge, and we’ll defeat the Germans, one last charge and the war for us will be over… only one last charge, to unleash hell and kill them all
(A roar from the soldiers is heard)
ARMY COMMANDER: Yes that’s right… LET ME FEEL THE WRATH OF THE RUSSIANS!!!
(An even higher roar is heard, then everything is quiet and the only two who move are Yussef and Ivan)
IVAN: (enthusiastic) Did you hear that? One charge and it’ll all be over, the war will be over… WILL BE VICTORIUS!
YUSSEF: (concerned) One last charge and the war will be over, but the Russians won’t win… enjoy because this is our Last Ride…
(Ivan’s face is visibly concerned, then he looks at the Commander and everybody recovers their life)
ARMY COMMANDER: Yes… YES… KILL THEM ALL!!! DON’T LEAVE ONE ALIVE!!! … But this I will tell you, you will charge with no compassion, and if you hesitate at the least (makes a gesture of shooting a gun) I’ll be the one who puts a bullet on your head
(Everyone’s quiet, then Ivan looks at Yussef and everybody loses their life again)
IVAN: (concerned) He’s not serious is he?
YUSSEF: (shrugs off) Don’t know, but wouldn’t like to find out
(Everybody returns to life)
ARMY COMMANDER: ATTAAAAAAACK!!!!!
(The army roars, and runs out to stage left, including Yussef and Ivan… the roar continues and they return in five seconds, the Germans are overwhelmed them.)
YUSSEF: Quick to the trench!
(Both jump to a trench. Five Russians drop dead, three Germans drop; two are death dead and the other one is dragged off by two comrades. Both armies retreat. Two Germans come in from stage left)
SOLDIER 1: Come on Franz… there’s nothing here
FRANZ: No… come on Kai you have to believe me… I swear I saw someone jump to a trench
(Upon hearing this Yussef holds Ivan’s mouth, and Ivan closes his eyes)
KAI: (desperate) I’m telling you… you’re gonna get us ki…(gets shut up by Franz)
(Kai counts with his finger to three and they catch Yussef and Ivan. Kai caught Ivan while Franz caught Yussef. Yussef takes his knife and kills Franz. Then starts running stage right but is shot by Kai.)
KAI: (throws Ivan to the floor and bends his knees to cry for Franz) WHYYYYY!!!!!
(Franz tries to tell something to Kai, but he is unable to decipher Franz’ gurgles, at the same time Ivan tries to escape but is caught by Kai who takes him out stage left. After they’re out you can see that Yussef has started to drag himself off to stage right.)
Scene 10
(Curtains open, and you can see Yussef discussing with the Army Commander.)
YUSSEF: (notably maddened) WHAT DO YOU MEAN NO!!!
ARMY COMMANDER: (calmer) Comrade Popovich, how many times do I have to tell you… Russia has suffered way too many losses; I cannot help you… We will leave the front tomorrow
YUSSEF: YOU CAN’T DO THAT!!! Ivan is still over there, he was caught… the poor kid is seventeen years old, unlike us he still has a life in front of him! We cannot leave them to the mercy of the Germans!
ARMY COMMANDER: (losing his patience) Comrade Smirnoff is death!
YUSSEF: NO HE’S NOT!!!
ARMY COMMANDER: (losing his cool) MUST I REPEAT MYSELF… HE’S DEATH!!!
YUSSEF: NOOOO!!! (stares to the floor) We can still save him… there’s still chance
ARMY COMMANDER: I will not give you MY men to accomplish YOUR little crusade to save ONE man (looks around maddened) IT’S SUICIDAL!!!
YUSSEF: You didn’t care about suicidal when WE had to accomplish YOUR little “Unleash Hell” campaign
(At this remark the Commander takes no more, and hits Yussef on the stomach and then hits a forearm to his back. After this he grabs Yussef by the hair and remarks.)
ARMY COMMANDER: Go to hell Popovich… but don’t take Russia with you (then he slams Yussef to the floor)
(The Commander leaves to stage right, and leaves Yussef alone on stage)
YUSSEF: (gets on his knees for the first time) Why? WHYYYYY!!!!! How come everybody I come to love dies? How come I have to be the one who has to leave on? (looks up) WHY DO YOU PUNISH ME SO!!! (looks down and starts crying) First my dad and older brother, I was only eleven-years-old, and all of a sudden my dad and brother don’t come back from the factory. Then my mom… cancer, all of a sudden I was fifteen and alone in this wrecked world. When I was seventeen, I met my new reason to live … Natasha… but now she’s dead due to ammonia. Then I met Ivan (struggles for a while, but then looks to the crowd and says)… I may not love him… but I promised him that I would protect him… I promised that he would return to Russia, and I must keep my word
(Curtains close, scene is over)
Scene 11
(Curtains open, a drunken Kai and another German are keeping watch over Ivan who is tied up in a cross)
KAI: (crying) Why? Just tell me why Hansel? I can’t believe it. I dragged my little brother to war, and then I dragged him to the place where he would be killed. How could I be so stupid?
HANSEL: Come on Kai, you can’t blame everything to yourself… it’s not your fault
KAI: Don’t you see I took him directly to his death, and his little face, and how he squealed when he tried to talk to me… will I never forget this?
HANSEL: (pats Kai on the shoulder) Look… why don’t you go for something to eat and then we’ll talk about it.
KAI: Alright (gets up and leaves to stage left)
(Hansel picks up the Kirsch bottle that Kai left on the floor and drinks)
IVAN: Hey… could I have some?
HANSEL: What? Kirsch? (lifts the bottle so Ivan may see it)
(Ivan nods, at this gesture Hansel laughs and gets up)
HANSEL: So you want some Kirsch eh? (drinks some and then spits it at Ivan’s face and starts laughing)
(After that Ivan loses his cool and spits at Hansel’s face, who in turn hits him on the stomach and the ribs, after this he sends an uppercut to Ivan’s chin who spits out blood, and starts to cry)
HANSEL: Aw… is the little baby crying? (but Ivan’s cries turn to a laugh, which freaks Hansel up) What the hell?
IVAN: You don’t know what’s coming to you… My countrymen will save me
HANSEL: Yeah… I think I hit you too hard because your countrymen are retreating… they probably think you’re dead OR (Hansel grins) they just don’t care about you
(At this Ivan starts to cry again, but all of a sudden Hansel drops death, and from behind Ivan, Yussef appears covering Ivan’s mouth and untying him)
IVAN: (excited) I knew you’d come (eyes water)
YUSSEF: There’s no time to get too happy we might not be able to get out of here alive (looks concerned)
IVAN: But if you were able to come in you must be able to come out? …
YUSSEF: This is the plan… you see over there (points at stage right) if we get there undetected, we’ll get to no man’s land without been seen and then it’s a run-for-it
IVAN: (sarcastically) I love your plans
YUSSEF: Can you think of anything better?
IVAN: Nah
YUSSEF: OK let’s go
(They both crawl a little bit, but Kai arrives at that time)
KAI: Hey Hansel you want beef, or Frankfurters… (Glances at Hansel on the floor death, and then at Yussef and Ivan who are escaping) What the hell?
YUSSEF: RUN!!!
(Both get up, but Kai is fast and takes out a gun with which he shoots Yussef on the leg, at this Ivan stops and waits for Yussef to get up)
YUSSEF: RUN!!! (Ivan is hesitant) I said run and don’t look back!!! AGHHH (he screams in pain)
(Ivan quickly glances at Kai who is pointing his gun at him, and runs… Kai shoots but misses… he is noticeably shocked, in the meantime Yussef is still crawling, but is stopped by Kai, and they stare at each other for 5 seconds)
KAI: (shocked) YOU?!?!?! You killed my brother…you killed Hansel… and now you’re under my mercy… isn’t life an ass?
(Yussef is still crawling out of sheer instinct)
KAI: It’s time to finish this… (after stating this he shoots Yussef on the face, then under his misery goes on his knees and beats Yussef’s death body up)
(Curtains close and the last thing seen is the middle of the stage where Kai is crying on his knees over Yussef)
Scene 12
(Curtains open one last time, Ivan is now an old man sitting on a chair and there’s a little kid sitting on the floor listening to him)
IVAN: The End… Did you like the story Yussef?
YUSSEF: Why is the guy in your story named like me, grandpa?
IVAN: That’s because you’re named after him
YUSSEF: Why?
IVAN: Because I wanted Yussef’s memory to stay alive through you
(A woman comes in through stage left)
WOMAN: Hey dad
IVAN: Hey Natasha… how are you?
NATASHA: Good… are you telling little Yussef your stories again?
YUSSEF: Hey Grandpa what happened when you where with the Germans?
NATASHA: No time sweetie… you have to sleep
YUSSEF: But mommy
IVAN: That’s another story for another time Yussef… now go to sleep
(Yussef gets up and runs out to stage right)
NATASHA: (talking to Ivan) Would you like some coffee?
IVAN: Please
(Ivan struggles to get up, but Natasha holds his arm and helps him go out to stage right)
(Curtains close… End of the Play)
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Character bios for scene on WWI
Main Characters:
KURT POPOVISCH – Was against the war and has been fighting for 2 years. Twenty-eight years old. When the war started, his business (restaurant) was ransacked by the government in order to make weapons out of his silverware and other metals. Therefore his only way to keep earning a living was to join the army, and he reluctantly did so. After a year of fighting on the eastern front, his wife contracted ammonia, and a year later she died… he got the news three months later at the front. Therefore he was sent to the training grounds to recover, where he met Ivan Sirvanski…
IVAN SIRVANSKI – Was a young lad with a brave heart and when he enlisted he thought that he was doing it for the best of his country, and himself. He was of the middle class, and his parents were very proud of his braveness. When he was sent to the army, two years had transpired, and he was sent to the training grounds. On the training grounds he would be pushed around by a cruel officer, Imar. Later he met Kurt Popovisch
Lesser Characters:
NATASHA POPOVISCH – Kurt’s wife. Died of ammonia two years after his husband was sent to war.
COMRADE OFFICER IMAR – Pushed Ivan around. Had fame to be extremely cruel to recruits. Imar would take advantage of Ivan’s loyalty despite the fact that Ivan would follow all of Imar’s orders.
KURT POPOVISCH – Was against the war and has been fighting for 2 years. Twenty-eight years old. When the war started, his business (restaurant) was ransacked by the government in order to make weapons out of his silverware and other metals. Therefore his only way to keep earning a living was to join the army, and he reluctantly did so. After a year of fighting on the eastern front, his wife contracted ammonia, and a year later she died… he got the news three months later at the front. Therefore he was sent to the training grounds to recover, where he met Ivan Sirvanski…
IVAN SIRVANSKI – Was a young lad with a brave heart and when he enlisted he thought that he was doing it for the best of his country, and himself. He was of the middle class, and his parents were very proud of his braveness. When he was sent to the army, two years had transpired, and he was sent to the training grounds. On the training grounds he would be pushed around by a cruel officer, Imar. Later he met Kurt Popovisch
Lesser Characters:
NATASHA POPOVISCH – Kurt’s wife. Died of ammonia two years after his husband was sent to war.
COMRADE OFFICER IMAR – Pushed Ivan around. Had fame to be extremely cruel to recruits. Imar would take advantage of Ivan’s loyalty despite the fact that Ivan would follow all of Imar’s orders.
Monday, February 12, 2007
All Quiet on the Western Front monolog
Paul thinking to himself in a trench
Why are we fighting?
I think about it all day long.
I know we are not fighting for the ruler of our country
for who we haven’t even met.
If we are fighting to get home why do we march forward
away from our home?
Then I know why we fight for the right to live we
kill to have the right tolive.
I know were fighting men the same age who are probably just like us
Who have mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers
But we are no longer men we are man animals and we will kill to survive
Why are we fighting?
I think about it all day long.
I know we are not fighting for the ruler of our country
for who we haven’t even met.
If we are fighting to get home why do we march forward
away from our home?
Then I know why we fight for the right to live we
kill to have the right tolive.
I know were fighting men the same age who are probably just like us
Who have mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers
But we are no longer men we are man animals and we will kill to survive
Friday, February 9, 2007
Human Animals?
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Man Animals forced to fight
Thursday, February 8, 2007
Forced to fight
Feb. 8-07"At the sound of the first droning of the shells we rush back, in one part of our being, a thousand years. By the animal instinct that is awakened in us we are led and protected. It is not conscious; it is far quicker, much more sure, less fallible, than consciousness. . . . It is this other, this second sight in us, that has thrown us to the ground and saved us, without our knowing how. . . . We march up, moody or good-tempered soldiers—we reach the zone where the front begins and become on the instant human animals."Why would Paul characterize himself and his comrades as "human animals"?In the book Paul says something to that he beliefs that leaders of countries that have differences instead of having a war should just fight in an area and whoever wins his country wins the war. Paul refers to him and his comrades as animals because they are forced to go to war and die with out any choice. It is obvious that Paul thinks that soldiers are like attack dogs of their country unable to make any choices. This point is further proven due to time this book takes place. During World War One you fought from trench to trench and some soldiers who didn’t advance were shot by their commanders witch makes there no way out for Paul. Paul and his friends are under a large amount of stress because he said that he would go though forty cigarettes a day. Paul and his friends also face unsanitary living conditions such as eating food from a pot that they have to use as a toilet. Paul also was excited when they got a coffee ration. Something witch he probably had every day and took for granted was now something he almost never has and looks forward to having. Paul hates war and wants nothing to do with the war but he is trapped.A thanks goes out to Nelson Galán who brought up one of the main points of this blog in a discussion we had today.
Man Animals forced to fight
Thursday, February 8, 2007
Forced to fight
Feb. 8-07"At the sound of the first droning of the shells we rush back, in one part of our being, a thousand years. By the animal instinct that is awakened in us we are led and protected. It is not conscious; it is far quicker, much more sure, less fallible, than consciousness. . . . It is this other, this second sight in us, that has thrown us to the ground and saved us, without our knowing how. . . . We march up, moody or good-tempered soldiers—we reach the zone where the front begins and become on the instant human animals."Why would Paul characterize himself and his comrades as "human animals"?In the book Paul says something to that he beliefs that leaders of countries that have differences instead of having a war should just fight in an area and whoever wins his country wins the war. Paul refers to him and his comrades as animals because they are forced to go to war and die with out any choice. It is obvious that Paul thinks that soldiers are like attack dogs of their country unable to make any choices. This point is further proven due to time this book takes place. During World War One you fought from trench to trench and some soldiers who didn’t advance were shot by their commanders witch makes there no way out for Paul. Paul and his friends are under a large amount of stress because he said that he would go though forty cigarettes a day. Paul and his friends also face unsanitary living conditions such as eating food from a pot that they have to use as a toilet. Paul also was excited when they got a coffee ration. Something witch he probably had every day and took for granted was now something he almost never has and looks forward to having. Paul hates war and wants nothing to do with the war but he is trapped.A thanks goes out to Nelson Galán who brought up one of the main points of this blog in a discussion we had today.
French Revolution
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A Tyrant
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
The French Revolution Failure or lesson
After Napoleon abdicates in 1814, the revolution is officially over, and Louis XVIII is crowned King of France. Can you believe it? The monarchy returns!!! In light of our investigation of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic era, evaluate the legacy of the French Revolution. Do you believe it was a success or a failure? Your response should be atleast 150 words.I believe that the French revolution was neither a success or a failure but the starting of democracy becoming the form of government in France. Even though Monarchy returned to France after Napoleon about thirty years later democracy resumed in France. This means that the people of France remember that taking part in their government and selecting democracy was a better form of government than monarchy. The third estate of France wanted equality and to take part in their government. When the third estate rebelled it showed the people of France that the government has to serve the people not the government controlling the people. These ideas set forth by the third estate made democracy resurface later on. The Monarchy didn’t survive long at all because it was inevitable that people would reject the monarchy that had oppressed them before. The French Revolution was a necessity but many may look upon it as just a slaughter it had to happen.
A Tyrant
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
The French Revolution Failure or lesson
After Napoleon abdicates in 1814, the revolution is officially over, and Louis XVIII is crowned King of France. Can you believe it? The monarchy returns!!! In light of our investigation of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic era, evaluate the legacy of the French Revolution. Do you believe it was a success or a failure? Your response should be atleast 150 words.I believe that the French revolution was neither a success or a failure but the starting of democracy becoming the form of government in France. Even though Monarchy returned to France after Napoleon about thirty years later democracy resumed in France. This means that the people of France remember that taking part in their government and selecting democracy was a better form of government than monarchy. The third estate of France wanted equality and to take part in their government. When the third estate rebelled it showed the people of France that the government has to serve the people not the government controlling the people. These ideas set forth by the third estate made democracy resurface later on. The Monarchy didn’t survive long at all because it was inevitable that people would reject the monarchy that had oppressed them before. The French Revolution was a necessity but many may look upon it as just a slaughter it had to happen.
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