ACT ONE
Skipper looked at the young Private.
“You don’t have to tell them about this if you don’t want to.”
Private looked at his family – Kowalski, Rico, Marlene, and the lemurs
“I have to, Skipper. I can’t keep secrets like you.” Private sat down, and skipper headed to the back of the crowd The stars hung high in the sky, illuminating the city as Private began his tale.
SCENE ONE
South America, 1994. Norma and Oswald are cooing over their new-hatched son, Elijah. Elijah hugged them repeatedly. His memories of this time were blurry, as were all animals at new-birth.
New Blood Joins this Earth
And quickly he’s subdued
He had been taught at an early age that the military was a good place to go for the future, instead of hanging out in the cold and snow. So, when he was about four (the penguin coming – of – age) he put in an application. He was picked up in less than a week.
He was taught to be ruthless. It wasn’t a part of who he was, and he struggled with the wrath of war. He was punished if he showed any mercy.
Through constant Pained disgrace
The young boy learns the rules
He did his best. With time, he got better. He found himself relishing in the smells.
With time the child draws in
This whipping boy done wrong
Then, he met Judi. She was his first love, and it almost cost him. Love was not a thing they allowed at camp. Judi told him about the outside world, how there was more to life than killing. Private’s widened view of the world changed everything. Unfortunately, Judi found someone else to take care of her. someone more compassionate than he was at the time. So he went back to the field.
Deprived of all his thoughts
The young man struggles on and on
Oh, a vow unto his own
That never from this day
He vowed to himself to be kinder to his enemies – he would try to keep it painless as possible. But this wasn’t enough for him. He needed to see justice done, but at what cost?
His will they take away
What I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never be
Never see
Won't see what might have been
The fire crackled. Rico had started a fire to keep them warm as Private told them the Truth.
“I had no Idea.” Marlene said softly
“Most People don’t. My cute and cuddliness is a blessing and a curse, come with high costs.” Private responded
“So, what happened? How did you get out?”
Private took a breath, and continued his tale.
What I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never free
Never me
So I dub thee unforgiven
SCENE TWO
They dedicate their lives
To running all of his
He tries to please them all
This bitter man he is
Private Elijah tried to stay in line, do his duty. But there were time when he head to back out, when it was getting too bloody. The smell was beginning to make him sick. Blood, like salted rust, made his throat wet with the stench.
Throughout his life the same
He's battled constantly
This fight he cannot win
A tired man they see no longer cares
He went through many more battles, hanging out but not doing much. Hiding from his superiors. One day, the blood made him so sick that he retched up his own. The smell of that made him throw up again – and again – and again. He felt like dying by the time a medic came around.
The old man then prepares
To die regretfully
“That old man here is me”
Private said. Symbollically, he was very old. He had been through war, maybe more so than Skipper. And still he retained his cuddleness. That feat in itself was worthy of recognition.
I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never free
Never me
So I dub thee unforgiven
What I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never be
Never see
Won't see what might have been
What I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never free
Never me
So I dub thee unforgiven
A bird flapped its wings overhead. The silence was almost eerie, settling into spookiness. Eventually Private said
“A lot of what I’m saying here I have no emotion for. No sadness, no grief, no anger, no joy. Absolutely nothing. Which scares me, because it means my days in the field still impact me emotionally.” He had started crying now, tears down his face.
“I – I’m sorry. I’ll have to continue this tomorrow night.” And with that, he lumbered off in to his bunk, leaving the rest of the animals concerned.
Never free
Never me
So I dub thee unforgiven
You labelled me
I'll label you
So I dub thee unforgiven
Never free
Never me
So I dub thee unforgiven
You labelled me
I'll label you
So I dub thee unforgiven
Never free
Never me
So I dub thee unforgiven
Skipper looked at the young Private.
“You don’t have to tell them about this if you don’t want to.”
Private looked at his family – Kowalski, Rico, Marlene, and the lemurs
“I have to, Skipper. I can’t keep secrets like you.” Private sat down, and skipper headed to the back of the crowd The stars hung high in the sky, illuminating the city as Private began his tale.
SCENE ONE
South America, 1994. Norma and Oswald are cooing over their new-hatched son, Elijah. Elijah hugged them repeatedly. His memories of this time were blurry, as were all animals at new-birth.
New Blood Joins this Earth
And quickly he’s subdued
He had been taught at an early age that the military was a good place to go for the future, instead of hanging out in the cold and snow. So, when he was about four (the penguin coming – of – age) he put in an application. He was picked up in less than a week.
He was taught to be ruthless. It wasn’t a part of who he was, and he struggled with the wrath of war. He was punished if he showed any mercy.
Through constant Pained disgrace
The young boy learns the rules
He did his best. With time, he got better. He found himself relishing in the smells.
With time the child draws in
This whipping boy done wrong
Then, he met Judi. She was his first love, and it almost cost him. Love was not a thing they allowed at camp. Judi told him about the outside world, how there was more to life than killing. Private’s widened view of the world changed everything. Unfortunately, Judi found someone else to take care of her. someone more compassionate than he was at the time. So he went back to the field.
Deprived of all his thoughts
The young man struggles on and on
Oh, a vow unto his own
That never from this day
He vowed to himself to be kinder to his enemies – he would try to keep it painless as possible. But this wasn’t enough for him. He needed to see justice done, but at what cost?
His will they take away
What I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never be
Never see
Won't see what might have been
The fire crackled. Rico had started a fire to keep them warm as Private told them the Truth.
“I had no Idea.” Marlene said softly
“Most People don’t. My cute and cuddliness is a blessing and a curse, come with high costs.” Private responded
“So, what happened? How did you get out?”
Private took a breath, and continued his tale.
What I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never free
Never me
So I dub thee unforgiven
SCENE TWO
They dedicate their lives
To running all of his
He tries to please them all
This bitter man he is
Private Elijah tried to stay in line, do his duty. But there were time when he head to back out, when it was getting too bloody. The smell was beginning to make him sick. Blood, like salted rust, made his throat wet with the stench.
Throughout his life the same
He's battled constantly
This fight he cannot win
A tired man they see no longer cares
He went through many more battles, hanging out but not doing much. Hiding from his superiors. One day, the blood made him so sick that he retched up his own. The smell of that made him throw up again – and again – and again. He felt like dying by the time a medic came around.
The old man then prepares
To die regretfully
“That old man here is me”
Private said. Symbollically, he was very old. He had been through war, maybe more so than Skipper. And still he retained his cuddleness. That feat in itself was worthy of recognition.
I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never free
Never me
So I dub thee unforgiven
What I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never be
Never see
Won't see what might have been
What I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never free
Never me
So I dub thee unforgiven
A bird flapped its wings overhead. The silence was almost eerie, settling into spookiness. Eventually Private said
“A lot of what I’m saying here I have no emotion for. No sadness, no grief, no anger, no joy. Absolutely nothing. Which scares me, because it means my days in the field still impact me emotionally.” He had started crying now, tears down his face.
“I – I’m sorry. I’ll have to continue this tomorrow night.” And with that, he lumbered off in to his bunk, leaving the rest of the animals concerned.
Never free
Never me
So I dub thee unforgiven
You labelled me
I'll label you
So I dub thee unforgiven
Never free
Never me
So I dub thee unforgiven
You labelled me
I'll label you
So I dub thee unforgiven
Never free
Never me
So I dub thee unforgiven
