Journey of the Wise lines for Thomas Clark

Frederic calling and then he hurries after he says crap

Bump into him and fall over, search for the stick

FREDERIC OWSTON (He helps him up and starts to hand him his cane): Oh sorry, I didn’t see you there.

It’s okay, me neither (laugh)

FREDERIC OWSTON: Well then, if you’re good to go…

(He walks past the blind man in a hurry to continue on to work) 

You know, for a senior citizen, you sure are moving in a hurry.

FREDERIC OWSTON: What are you talking about? I’m not-, how do you even know my age? You can’t even… 

See you? There are just some things that you don’t need eyes to see.

FREDERIC OWSTON: Ok I think you may have hit your head a little too hard on that fall.

The strenuous groan you had when struggling to get back up, your bones creaking from such a light fall, you almost took longer to recover than me…and I had to find my cane.

FREDERIC OWSTON: I’m not old, I’m not fragile, I’m not broken like you are. I’m strong.

Woah calm it down man, I can feel the steam coming out of your ears. I never said being old was a bad thing. Hell, I'm 80 and look like I could be your son. 

FREDERIC OWSTON (starting to exit the scene again): I’m done with this conversation.

Wait. I’m just saying that being old, losing your senses, it’s not as bad as you think it is.

FREDERIC OWSTON: I never said it was, and I’m a long way from being in your situation.

You didn’t have to man, I can see it in your eyes. My point is that you don't have to be scared. I get this feeling coming off of you, you’re nervous about the latter years of your life, about all the hardships that come with old age. Growing old isn't something easy, but it's not something you should dread either, it's a journey for the wise.

FREDERICK OWSTON: Listen, I get you're trying to be helpful, and I bet you’ve made due with the…disabilities that you have to deal with. But I don't even know who you are and you surely don't know who I am. Why should I even be listening to you? 

I was like you once, young, afraid of what the future held, but a wise man, who fought a war his whole life, showed me the potential of taking advantage of what you don't have to make the most out of what you do. 

After the cut to black

 I can’t believe this, this is so unfair, this can't be real. What did I do to deserve this? I never even saw this coming… No one was even here to hear that great pun…no one-

Walk into John Taylor.

JOHN TAYLOR: Damn it, boy! Watch where the hell you’re walking. I swear I’ll take this cane and shove it so far up where the sun don't shine that you’ll see it coming out the other end. I’m a 90 year old, US of A veteran, fought in WWII, Vietnam, and I survived 9/11. I’m not going to let no damn youngster take me out without a fight!

(An awkward silence fills the stage)\

JOHN TAYLOR: Well are you going to say something back or just stand there like a sissy.

I… I don’t even..

JOHN TAYLOR: Well spit it out already, I know Civil War veterans who talk better than you. 

It’s just, I just found out I have Stargardt's disease. It's an eye condition tha-

JOHN TAYLOR: I know damn well what startacks disease is, I got it before you were peeking out of your mother’s womb.

Ok good, so you know that it leads to whoever has it eventually loses their sight, with no cure being discovered. I don’t know what I’m going to do without being able to see the world, being able to see my mother, father, brother. How am I going to be able to look at my bell bottoms for the last time, how I’m-

JOHN TAYLOR: Alright I’ve heard enough of all this damn sissy talk and malarky. Are you able to see right now?

(Awkward silence

JOHN TAYLOR: I ASKED YOU A QUESTION!

Yes sir.

JOHN TAYLOR: Can you see what's on my face, covering my eyes?

Oh I’m so sorry, I didn’t even see that you were blind too. I guess I won't be seeing anything here soon…

JOHN TAYLOR: I went blind after I served in Vietnam. Damn grenade shrapnel landed in both corneas, took out my sight in both immediately. Now you don't see me bumping into strangers and whining about not being able to see some jeans. I push through. That's all you can do.

But how can-

JOHN TAYLOR: I WASN’T FINISHED DAMN IT. I know you just got hit with some hard news, I can sympathize with that. I was just like you finding out I got drafted. But you need to know this ain’t the end of the world. You have plenty of potential in you, don't let this bring you down. If I can survive 3 wars you can survive with this. I see the greatness in you. 

Thanks sir, I appreciate it. I…I really needed to hear that.

(Both men give a nod of acknowledgement, then YOUNG THOMAS continues on his way. After a moment, he stops and looks back towards JOHN TAYLOR)

Wait sir, I never caught your name. What is it?

JOHN TAYLOR: Taylor, John Taylor.

(Cut to black. Lights come back up with current THOMAS CLARK and FREDERICK OWSTON continuing their conversation)

FREDERIC OWSTON: Wow, I don't even know what to say, he was a little extreme wasn't he?

Oh yeah, but that conversation there changed how I saw being blind completely, and I’m hoping to do the same with you. I know you’re not blind, but you’re getting older, more fragile, and you need to be able to accept that. Live with it. You need to be able to fight through it without being in denial.