Maycomb County Revisited: Ad Astra Per Aspera

Maycomb County Revisited: Ad Astra Per Aspera

Setting: Maycomb Alabama, 1952. SCOUT has returned home from New York City, where she has been studying. JEM, on the other hand, has remained in Maycomb with their father ATTICUS. Atticus and Jem are expecting Scout to return home at any moment and wait with anticipation. Right now, Scout's cab pulls into the driveway of the Finch household. Scout steps out, picks up her baggage, and walks to the door.

Scout: Things sure have changed around here. (A handsome man opens the door; he looks like a very young Atticus. It is Jem, now 26. He invites her in.)

Jem: He-y, Scout. You sure did grow up on us in New York. (Scout blushes and looks down.) You got modest, too.

Scout: (Changing the subject) How's Atticus? Is he still here?

Jem: He could be better. Over the telephone, did he tell you what happened to Mayella Ewell?

Scout: No. What happened to her? Is she working at the O.K. Café? (Both laugh for a moment, remembering old Mrs. Dubose.)

Jem: Nah, nah. She's-you'll never believe it Scout; it all makes sense now-she's…

Atticus: (As though from far off) Jem? Who's here son? Is it Scout?

Scout: (Setting down her bags and running to Atticus in the living room.) Atticus! I missed you!

Atticus: Ah, the prodigial daughter returns! I missed you too, Scout. How was New York?

Scout: Oh, bigger than anything I ever saw! It's got big streets and all kinds of cars, noise, smog…but it wasn't my kind of place.

Atticus: Montgomery is usually big enough for me.

Jem: Tell her what happened to Mayella, Atticus.

Atticus: She's insane, Scout. The court sent her to the state asylum. Taking care of all those children after Arthur Radley got her father that night drove her out of her mind. Doctors say that she might have been that way since birth.

Scout: So Tom Robinson was just a toy to her.

Atticus: (With a gleam in his eye) Enough about Mayella. Jem, tell Scout the good news.

Jem: (With pride) You are looking at the resident attorneys-at-law of Finch and Finch, Esq.

Scout: You passed the bar, Jem? Finally?

Jem: (Blushing) Well, I almost had to limbo it, but yeah, I'm state certified now.

Atticus: He'll be taking over soon. I'm getting too old to argue. If I wish to argue, I'll have to confine it to arguing with Alexandria or Cal.

Scout: Aunt Alexandria still lives here? (Jem and Atticus both interrupt each other; Jem with a stern "Scout!" and Atticus with a weary "Yes.")

Jem: (Sighing as though exhausted) So, what are you going to do now, Scout?

Scout: (Precisely, as though she has rehearsed this in her head before) Go visit Mississippi.

Jem: What's in Mississippi?

Scout: (Innocently) A lot of things.

Jem: (Catching on) Ohhhh. Ohhhhh.

Atticus: What are you two talking about?

Jem: (Bluntly) She wants to go to Mississippi to see Dill.

Atticus: You mean Rachel's nephew? He usually spends summer with his aunt. (Scout smiles broadly)

Jem: (Forgetting about Scout and snorting loudly) Yeah. With his wife. (Noticing Scout.) Oh Scout. I'm sorry, I forgot.

Atticus: I told you to let her know gently, Jem.

Scout: Oh. Then… I guess I'll go back to the city and skip Mississippi.

Jem: But you'll stay here first, right Scout?

Scout: (Hugging Jem) Of course. (Aunt Alexandra enters)

Alexandra: Scout! You're home!

Scout: (A little uncertainly) Aunt Alexandra!

Alexandra: (Embracing her wholeheartedly) I see you grew up to be a lady. And what a lovely dress!

Scout: (Smiling broadly) Yes'm.

That Night

Setting: The Finches' yard. Jem and Scout are looking up at the stars and reminiscing.

Jem: Sure is pretty, isn't it?

Scout: Yeah. Just like when we were kids…

Jem: 13 years…

Scout: Where has the time gone?

Jem: One thing hasn't changed, though.

Scout: What's that?

Jem: The lady. The lady in the moon is still there. I think she looks like our mother.

Scout: (Bantering) Our mother is a giant mass of craters on the moon? (Jem gives her The Look.)

Jem: Y'know what I mean. (Pauses, waits for a reply that isn't coming.) Scout, I haven't told this to Atticus, but I… (His words come out in a blind rush) I'm going to join the Army and fight in Korea. (Scout sits shocked for a moment)

Scout: But Jem, you've got it so good here. You've got a promising job, and Atticus will help you out, and…

Jem: I know, but I don't feel like I'm doing enough. I need to do something for my country besides put people in its prisons.

Scout: How will Atticus react?

Jem: I don't know, but I'm going to Montgomery in the morning to sign up. (Seeing his sister) Aw, cheer up, Scout! I'll come back home and start practicing law again. This war can't last too long. The Commies are a real threat, but it'll be won easily.

Scout: If you have to, Jem.

Jem: Trust me on this, Scout. I know what I want to do. (Jem exits and Scout stares up at the stars.

Scout: (Crying suddenly and sniffling every once in a while) There's Cassiopeia, Hercules, Orion, Andromeda… what did Mrs. Merriweather call her play? Ad Astra Per Aspera? 'To the stars through difficulties.' (She stands and moves to go inside. A few feet from the house, she stops suddenly and looks back up.) And then there's Perseus, the hero.