Well, the much awaited Scene 4! Sorry about the delay with this. Things have been so hectic lately but now that it's all been resolved, the rest of the scenes will be coming shortly. I'm working on editing all of the Journey and making little corrections and so forth. It's a lot better. Right now I've gone up to Act 1, Scene 6. I reccomend that you check it out! ^^ Thank you so much for your support, everyone. Please, remember to review!

Act 2, Scene 4

Exterior-Afternoon-Makeshift Campsite

(In the semi-crisis situation, the pieced together bits of the squad have set up a makeshift campsite and have settled so that Jackson can process the news and the other three can mourn. It's obviously Upham that has been hit the hardest.)

(His emotional response, self blame, withdrawal. Physically, nausea, vomiting—twice, since the event---loss of appetite. He hasn't eaten in a good twelve hours, and, when combined with vomiting, this has led to discomfort on his part. He occasionally leans against a tree as he does now, sinking his nails into the bark.)

(Jackson, Mellish, and Reiben have come to the unspoken decision that right now it's best to leave Upham alone. Jackson is still in shock, thus, is not fully grieving. Reiben has seemed off, more defensive and hostile than usual. Mellish realizes that this is dangerous, and tries his best to keep peace. Reiben hardly seems to realize that Mellish is mourning just as much as he is.)

(They've all been standing around each other, watching Upham without really realizing what they're doing. All of them are concerned for him, and almost view him as a child. They aren't certain of how he's going to react.)

(It is Reiben's reaction, however, that is the most interesting; he watches like a caged lion, wanting to help, but knowing that he won't be accepted. He is genuinely worried, but also fears that he will only hurt Upham further in an attempt to help him.)

(Jackson is the first one to speak after about two hours of this watching.)

Jackson: Lord, this is fubar. (Mellish sighs and nods.)

Mellish: He'll need time to get over it.

Reiben: (Darkly. He doesn't fully have the skills to maintain a conversation like this one.) Yeah, from what I get. No shit. But wallowing in pity won't do a damn thing for--- (Jackson's head abruptly turns and he cuts him off with a hostile but frigid glare. He isn't in the mood for Reiben's temperament, even though they could be considered friends.)

Jackson: (Coldly.) Maybe you shut the hell up, Brooklyn. I don't think you understand this. I don't think you understand anybody but yourself. (Reiben turns to face him, bristling at the remark even though it is, to some degree, the truth. He wishes that he could talk to Upham, and the fact that he can't is an open wound. A snarl of hostility crosses his face.)

Reiben: Don't tell me what to do. (He starts towards Jackson, squaring his shoulders.)

(Mellish steps between them and puts a hand on each of their chests, extending his arms to prevent a fight. He's trying his hardest to keep some level of peace, but it's obvious that he is stuggling at doing so...)

Mellish: Stop it, both of you.

(Mellish has essentially stepped right into the line of fire. Reiben's anger channels towards him now, but, his fury at its height, the New Yorker turns sharply on his heel and stalks off, wanting to be alone so that he can deal with his anger. Jackson looks over towards Upham.)

Jackson: I'm goin' to go talk to him, Mellish.

(Jackson leaves Mellish standing there, watching the breakdown of the team. Reiben has been cast as Judas once more, the one that has been exiled, condemned. It is in the end he and Reiben that are left without the support of others, he because of the lack of Miller, Reiben, because he is not in a position to listen.)

(Mellish watches Jackson walk up to Upham. The latter only lifts his head about a centimeter---it feels as heavy as lead and he has a bad headache, more than likely from his sharp decline in the amount of food that he eats in his state of grief. He sees that the corporal has been crying again, and looks away. A sharp look of pain crosses his face. Mellish starts towards a rock at the edge of the camp and sits down with his back to them.)

(He sighs wearily and leans forward with his elbows on his knees. Everything's collapsing and as one man he's powerless to stop it. Suffering from a bad headache, he pinches the bridge of his nose and shakes his head. He sees that there's nothing he is capable of doing to fix this by himself.)

(The camera moves to Jackson and Upham. Jackson watches him, keeping his relative distance but staying just close enough.)

Jackson: Upham.

(Upham doesn't turn his head or even aknowledge that Jackson has said something. It sort of seems like he wants Jackson to go away, but the other doesn't leave because he knows that Upham needs human comfort more than any other member of the squad simply because of the way that he ticks. His words seem to have fallen on deaf ears. When Upham finally speaks, about ten minutes later and without any prompt, his voice shakes terribly. It's about to break, and he's choking back tears as he makes the statement seemingly out of the blue.)

Upham: You know, maybe Reiben was right. Maybe I... killed Wade. I knew how much he hurt but..Upchuck the Coward couldn't even tell anyone that...his best friend was dying...

(Jackson quickly realizes where this is going and tries his hardest to prevent the spiral from occurring. He responds rapidly and firmly.)

Jackson: No. No you didn't.

Upham: (Without really listening to what Jackson is saying.) I killed him, I---

Jackson: (Cutting Upham off, for lack of anything to do.) You were the best friend that he could have ever had. Even if everyone knew, there was nothin' you could have done for him 'cept what you did do. I reckon that it meant a lot to Wade to have you there if he knew he was dyin'. You were a comfort to him in his last hours. The Lord's kind folk, Upham. Wade ain't feeling any pain now that he's up there in Heaven. He was a good God fearin' man. The Good Lord in Heaven is goin' to reward him for his bravery. Ain't a lot of men I know that could do what Wade did, bein' quiet like that when they were dyin' and they knew they were dyin'. He did that for you, you know. For you an' Reiben. The Lord will reward him for doin' that, too. (Jackson's voice ends on a calm, sure note. Upham's just listening.)

End scene 4, fade to black.