A/N: I wrote this with two other people as an assignment for All My Sons by Arthur Miller. Pretty rough and still needs to be edited for flow, but I like the general topic.
ALL MY SONS - ACT IV
(Six o'Clock the same morning at the Kellers' Backyard. Chris and Kate are gathered around Joe's body, which has been moved from the front. Jim kneels with a stethoscope. Ann has gone with Frank to the station in an attempt to persuade him from leaving)
JIM: I'm afraid he's gone. There's nothing more that I can do for him.
(A solemn pause as they stare at Joe's body)
KATE: (voice breaking) You're sure? You're completely sure?
JIM: The shot severed a major artery. I'm sorry, Kate.
(Kate starts to sob)
CHRIS: (comforting Kate) It'll all be alright, Mother. It was his choice to do it.
KATE: (indignant) He wasn't in the right state of mind, dear! What are you saying!?
CHRIS: It was his own will! He could have chosen to go to jail, and he made a choice to do this.
KATE: Who would've taken him? You!?
CHRIS: Yes! I should've done it as soon as I found out. I still can't believe he did it!
KATE: (furious) He's your father, Chris! He raised you!
(Kate approaches Chris, hand raised)
JIM: Kate, don't!
KATE: (Kate halts.) Why? Why should I?
CHRIS: (Goading) Go on. Do it. You were too much of a coward to do it to Joe, after all.
JIM: (Taken aback) Chris, you too!
CHRIS: It's for the truth, Jim. She has to accept it.
KATE: Chris, my Chris. Dear, dear, dear. Why do you think I never accepted Larry? God does not let a son be killed by his father! And there is still God in this World!
CHRIS: (almost whispering) God wouldn't let eighty men kill themselves for each other.
KATE: What are you saying? Chris?
CHRIS: Mother, have you seen the world? God died a long, long time ago.
KATE: Chris, no! I didn't raise you to be this way!
(KATE looks at CHRIS, as if seeing him for the first time)
KATE: What have you done, Chris? What have you done?
ANN: (from offstage) Chris?
CHRIS: Ann?
(Ann enters with George and Frank from R., behind Kate)
JIM: (furtively) Now isn't a good time.
(Kate looks towards Jim, seeing Ann and George)
KATE: (Shouting, almost incoherent) You! Come back to gloat? Got what you wanted?
GEORGE: What-
FRANK: (stepping out from behind the pair) Kate, still staying up?
KATE: (faltering, hesitant) Why, yes, Frank. Yes I am.
FRANK: You should sleep, Kate. It's not good for you to stay up under the stars.
KATE: And it's good for you to do so? Besides, isn't Lydia waiting for you?
FRANK: Of course it is. You should sleep, Kate.
KATE: Alright Frank. Alright.
FRANK: (Guiding Kate towards the house) Come on Kate, it's getting late. You'll always have time tomorrow.
(Frank and Kate disappear into the house)
GEORGE: (to Chris) I didn't mean for all of this to go this far and for that I apologise. I really do.
CHRIS: Thank you George. My father's actions were his alone and it would be prudent of us not to dwell on it. I harbor no ill-will towards you. If I were in your place, I'm not sure what I would've done. Perhaps we should start our relationship anew, or go back to what it was like… like before our fathers' actions. (offering out his hand)
GEORGE: (pauses, then takes shakes Chris's hand) I appreciate it.
(A slight smile graces the visages of both men)
CHRIS: George… I have a proposition for you. I don't want anything to do with my late father's business. Too much bad blood for me to deal with. I would like to offer you my share.
GEORGE: (speechless) I…
CHRIS: Take it as repayment to Steve for Joe's actions. Hold it for him until he's free.
GEORGE: (graciously) If you put it that way… I'll draw up the papers for it tomorrow. Afterall I am the resident lawyer.
(The two laugh at George's crack at a joke. George starts making his way towards R. Seeing Ann, Chris hesitates to address her.)
ANN: Chris, let's go.
CHRIS: (solemnly and carefully) Ann, I can't.
ANN: What? Chris…
CHRIS: Ann, this is too much. Between my father and my mother and the letter and Larry, I need some time to comprehend it.
ANN: I'll help you…
CHRIS: No, Ann, I need some time, alone, to comprehend it and care for mother.
ANN: (gently) Okay then, well, when you're ready, send me a letter.
(Ann leaves with George while Chris pensively stares at Larry's tree stump, deep in thought. Chris notices a few seeds scattered around the stump, and picks one up. He examines it for a few seconds, before getting on his knees and burying it within the ground, planting a second tree in honor of Larry. Chris, somewhat more content with his situation than before, turns around and walks back into the house.)
Curtain Falls