Long Day's Journey Into Night

Leo wasn't exactly sure what woke him, but then he heard it . . . there were voices downstairs. Loud voices. His Mom? And Dad . . . He turned on the light and looked at the clock on the night stand. What are they talking about at two in the morning? Mom's yelling. Oh God, Dad's drunk. Leo grabbed his jeans off the floor, then crossed to the door and opened it. Josie was standing in her doorway looking out. "Get back in your room and shut the door," he ordered. She gave him a long look, but knew better than to argue with her brother tonight.

As she closed the door, Leo pulled his jeans on, then moved closer to the stairs and listened. "All he wanted was to be with you tonight, Thomas, and you couldn't even make it home in time to share his birthday cake!"

"He understands, Kate," came the answer.

"No, he doesn't! Your son had been looking forward to this day for over a year. You knew that!" Leo began to get scared. He had never heard his mother this angry.

"I had to meet Johnny," Thomas lied.

"You need to apologize."

"Fine. So I'm sorry," he walked away.

"I'm not the one you need to apologize to, Thomas."

Now it was his turn to be angry. "Leo's not a little kid anymore, Kate! He's gotta get used to disappointment and heartache in life."

"He's already had too much practice there, hasn't he?" she sniped.

"I work long hours everyday, five, six, seven days a week. I bring home a check that provides for you and your kids. What more do you want of me?" he questioned.

"I want you to be a husband and father!" There was no holding back now. "Do you know who tucked your children into bed tonight? Your son, Leo. He carried Maureen, Elizabeth, and Scotty upstairs, got them into their pajamas, and put them to bed. Do you have any idea how many nights he's done that? Do you know how many times he has been their only father?" Her words hung in the air, cold and hard. "You can't do this to them anymore, Thomas. You can't do it to him. He needs you!"

Thomas stared at his wife but said nothing. Kathryn continued, "A man called here today. He said he worked for the Boston Globe. He said you were on the take, and were responsible for the McFarland verdict being overturned. He also said that you were forced into it because you were being blackmailed for having an affair with McFarland's daughter. Is it true? Is it, Thomas?" His silence was damning, but she wasn't finished with him yet. "He said you threatened a guy on McFarland's behalf because he owed him money, and that you told him if he didn't give it up he'd be sorry. Is that where you got all that extra cash? Is that why you're never home? Is that what you were doing tonight? Who was it, Thomas?"

He looked away, not wanting her to see the truth. "Be quiet about that, Kate," he warned.

"What have you done, Thomas?" she questioned.

"I said be quiet!" he yelled.

"Thomas! Tell me!" Kathryn McGarry had never been this angry at her husband.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"What does that mean?" She studied her husband – he was lying. "You know, Thomas, I think you know exactly what I'm talking about."

Finally, unable to hold back, Thomas cried, "I had to do it!"

Kathryn shook her head slowly as she realized that after all these years, after all they had been through together, she didn't know him anymore. "Are you telling me . . ." she paused. "Are you telling me that you've been having an affair, and on top of it, you're guilty of taking bribes, and perjuring yourself?" Slowly, she recognized the true impact of his admission. "Thomas, if they find out, if they prove it, you'll go to jail and they'll take everything we own! Are you out of your mind? How could you possibly do that to us?" she screamed.

Leo's eyes grew wide with fear. No one had ever talked to his father like this, certainly not his mother. He held his breath. Suddenly, there was a sound that he had never heard before in their house. Leo's stomach dropped: Thomas McGarry had slapped his wife.

Immediately, Leo bounded down the stairs and flew into the kitchen. There, his father was standing over his mother, hand drawn back ready to strike again. Without thinking, Leo sprang at his father, and caught him off-guard. They tumbled to the floor, son on top of father. The adrenaline that coursed through his body made Leo's movements quicker than normal, but he still had to fight hard to pin his dad's arms.

"Let me up, Leo!" Thomas bellowed as he struggled against his son's hold.

Leo could smell the mix of Scotch and cigarettes on his father's breath. He knew his father was drunk, but still, he refused to let go. "No, Dad! I'm not going to let you hit Mom again!"

The fifteen year-old was definitely scrappy, but Thomas out-weighed his son by fifty pounds. His years on the police force and a tour of duty in the Marines had taught him more than a few things about self-defense. As drunk as he was, instinct kicked in. In a move so quick Leo couldn't react, Thomas flipped his son onto his back, knocking the wind out of him. As he straddled his son's chest, pinning Leo's arms with his knees in the process, Thomas McGarry drew his fist back. Kathryn screamed in horror, "Thomas, stop!"

"No, Dad!" Leo tried desperately to block what he knew was coming, but couldn't free his arms. There was a sickening thud as the force of Thomas' punch connected with his son's jaw, snapping his head back violently against the floor. Leo fought hard to stay conscious, to lift his head, but the effort was too great. He watched helplessly as his father drew back once more. It would be the last thing Leo saw before his father's fist headed toward him again . . . with one final blow, Leo McGarry's world went black.