A HEALING OF WAR

The Writings of Michael Stephen Myers

Click on link (Biography) to page 2 (Coming Home) for a moving war video and Michael's own personal story - Coming Home.
The musical selection you are now hearing is dedicated to the thousands of innocent people who lost their lives at The World Trade Center.

 

*A FATHER'S LEGACY

CAM RANH BAY
  
BADGES OF HONOR 

COMING HOME

*A HEALING OF WAR
                 
THE RETURN 

*THE BUNGALOW AT THE BEACH

THINK TWICE

**BILLIE AND THE ONE-ARMED BANDIT

**SING A SONG TO JENNY NEXT

*Award Winning Plays
**Screenplay

 
2008

A Healing of War was presented at the Silver Spring Stage One-Act Play Festival and was held over for a second weekend.

A Healing of War won six awards at the Smithfield Virginia One-Act Play Festival Competition for 2008 to include Best Play and Audience Choice - Best Play.

2009 

A Father's Legacy and The Bungalow at the Beach won a total of seven awards at the Smithfield, Virginia One-Act Play Festival.

2011

Think Twice was performed on the 20th of April 2011 in Durban, South Africa
Produced by Sthabile Mkhwanazi and the Durban University of Technology, South Africa.
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COMING SOON
A Healing of War and A Father's Legacy are in pre-production with the Vietnam National War Museum for 2012 productions in Mineral Wells, Wetherford and Fort Worth, Texas.

Colorado Springs in discussion.

On a more personal note I am very excited to join Amy Waters-Yarsinske on a new screenplay adaptation of the book, Sing a Song to Jenny Next. 

EXCERPT:

THE MISSION


EXT.OCEAN.MOONLIT


A United States Navy Submarine somewhere in the Yellow Sea off the coast of China.

The submarine forcefully breaches the surface of the water causing white water swells. It settles and the bridge hatch opens. The Captain, the XO and a radioman appear on the bridge. The Captain scans the moonlit horizon for any movement. When he sees that all is clear he issues a command to the XO.


CAPTAIN

Send them over.


XO

Aye Sir.


The XO relays the command to the radio operator.


XO

GO


The radio operator speaks into his headset.


RADIO OPERATOR

GO

While the Captain is scanning the horizon a second hatch opens on the deck just below the bridge. Gardella, Gunny, the LT and three other marines climb out of the hatch. All are dressed in black with black knit caps. Their faces are painted dark and each man has a back pack filled with explosives and gear. On their person you see hand grenades and ammo packs. They each carry an M1A1 Thompson Sub Machine Gun. Gunny is the only one carrying the smaller M3 Grease Gun. All of the weapons are heavy .45 Calibre WW2 type. The men move with silent precision as they inflate a raft and lower it into the sea.


Each man in turn climbs down the side of the sub and into the raft. The LT is the last man to go over the side and just before he does so he looks up toward the Captain of the Sub. The Captain stands at attention and gives the LT a thumbs up and a salute. In turn the LT snaps to attention and salutes back. He returns the thumbs-up sign and then lowers himself over the side and onto the raft.


Using small oars the men quickly cast off and start rowing their way toward the distant shoreline. The Submarine Captain and his crew watch intently until the boat is out of sight. The Captain then turns to his XO and issues a command.


CAPTAIN

Let's go home XO.


XO

Aye Sir, dive


RADIO OPERATOR

Dive, dive, dive.

The Submarine noses down and begins a gradual and precision slide back into the sea. The XO and Radioman quickly disappear below while the Captain hesitates and looks toward the shore.


CAPTAIN

God be with you Marines. God be with you.


The Captain then goes below and the hatch is secured just as the submarine submerges into the sea.


The men watch as the submarine disappears from sight. It is quiet and they are suddenly feeling very alone in the dark choppy sea. No words are spoken and they are tense. They row with precision all the while scanning the water for any activity.

 

EXCERPT FROM THE NEW SCREENPLAY BILLIE & THE ONE-ARMED BANDIT


FADE IN

EXT.BEACH.DAY


It is a sunny day at a deserted beach in northern California. A man (Michael), his wife (Billie), 4 year old daughter (Sarah) and their Golden Retriever (Boy) are walking along the ocean. The man is tossing a stick into the water for their dog to run and retrieve. He does this a few times while the mother and daughter enjoy the surf on their feet. 

MICHAEL
Fetch Boy!

He makes another toss and the dog runs after the stick. He picks it up and quickly returns for the next toss. He drops the stick at the man's feet.

BILLIE
Why don't you give him a rest Michael. The water looks too rough and he looks exhausted.

MICHAEL
You need a rest boy?

The dog looks up at Michael anticipating the next toss. Sarah has moved closer to the water searching for shells.


BILLIE
Don't get too close to the water Sarah.


Sarah pulls back from the water's edge.

SARAH
Okay Mommy.

The family continues their afternoon stroll along the ocean when suddenly Boy takes off at a full run until he is almost out of sight.

MICHAEL

Now what the hell? Boy, come back here! Boy!

He pauses and waits a minute squinting to see what the dog has found. Then he hollers again.


Boy! Come back here Boy!

Boy has found something lying on the beach and does not return. The family continues strolling toward the location.

Billie also squints to see. Sarah runs forward.


BILLIE
What is that?

MICHAEL

I'm not sure. It looks like seaweed or something.

FADE OUT

EXT.BEACH.THE DEAD SEAL


They are all looking downward and the camera pans to a dead seal entangled in a fishing net.

 

 

SARAH
What is it Mommy?


BILLIE
It is a seal honey.


SARAH
What happened to it?


MICHAEL
It looks like it got caught in a fishing net sweetheart.


Sarah kneels and looks closely.


SARAH

Is it dead?

BILLIE

Yes honey, I am afraid it has gone to heaven.

Sarah is crying for the seal. Billie comforts her. Boy licks her face.

BILLIE

It's okay honey. Sometimes things like this happen. Boy is worried about you

.

Sarah hugs Boy close and Boy slobbers on her face even more.


SARAH

Yuck, stop kissing me.

Boy continues licking her face until everyone smiles.

MICHAEL

You guys go ahead and I will catch up. I want to bury the little guy.


BILLIE

Okay honey let's go ahead and let Daddy take care of her.


SARAH

Did she really go to heaven Mommy?


BILLIE
Yes honey, she really went to heaven so she will be okay now.

FADE OUT

EXT.BEACH.FRESH GRAVE


Michael is putting shells around the shallow sandy grave and then stands and makes the symbol of a cross on his chest.


MICHAEL

Okay little guy. At least the seagulls won't eat you now.
(Michael rejoins his family and they continue their walk)



SARAH

I wonder if the Seal's family will miss her?


MICHAEL

I am sure of it sweetie.


BILLIE

I think maybe we should start heading back now. I am tired and Sarah needs to take a nap.


Sarah snatches her hand away from Billie and does a little fit.


SARAH
No I don't mommy. I don't want to take a nap.


BILLIE

I know honey bun. But I am tired.


SARAH

Can we go into the water again?


Sarah runs a few feet toward the water but turns to see if she has approval before going further.

BILLIE

Just our feet okay?


SARAH

Okay mommy.

Boy has found another stick and brings it to Michael placing it at his feet. Boy looks up at Michael wagging his tail.


MICHAEL

Another toss is it then?


Michael reaches down and picks up the stick. Boy starts jumping around with excitement and anticipation. Michael throws the stick just a bit further into the water than he intended. A crab has momentarily caught Boy's attention so he doesn't take off after the stick. The stick drifts with a wave. Seeing this Sarah starts to go after the stick. When Boy sees Sarah running he charges after her.

SARAH

I'll get it Daddy!


BILLIE

Sarah! No!

Billie is alarmed but it is too late as Sarah has already reached the stick.


FADE OUT

EXT.DAY.SURF


A wind has picked up and the waves are crashing close to shore. Just as Sarah reaches the stick a huge wave crashes over her and she disappears into the water. There is a strong riptide and quickly she is dragged out to sea. Her head bobs to the surface once, twice and then she is gone. Boy charges after her and swims in circles where she was last seen.

 

 

BILLIE

Sarah! Sarah! Oh God, God, God! Sarah! Michael! Michael! Do something!


MICHAEL

Sarah! No,No Sarah! Sarah!


Michael runs and dives into the water fully clothed and also gets caught in the riptide. He dips into the water a few times frantically searching for his daughter. Billie stands on the edge of the water with a horrified look on her face. Michael searches until he is exhausted and cold. He returns to shore shivering with shock. Boy is the last to return and sits at their feet looking out toward the water. Billie and Michael stand, staring out at the water in a complete state of shock. Billie falls to her knees in agony.


DISSOLVE TO:

INT.CAR.DAY

Billie is driving on a long and barren freeway somewhere in the great northwest. 
Lt Myers - Purple Heart
We who have seen war, will never stop seeing it.
 In the silence of the night, we will always hear the screams.

Joseph Galloway
We Were Soldiers Once and Young
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