Act I Summary
Opening Scene
Sticks and Bones begins with a nostalgic cascade of family snapshots, their vibrant colors and fading edges projected in a slideshow. An unseen adult couple tenderly narrates, identifying the figures in the images for the curious voices of children.
The Return Home
The scene shifts to a household led by Ozzie and Harriet, an archetype of suburban serenity. A phone call shatters their routine as Ozzie learns that their eldest son, David, is being sent back from the Vietnam War by the government. Anticipation tinged with unease fills the air as Ozzie and Harriet reminisce about David, sifting through memories both sweet and sour. Ozzie recounts his own tales from World War II, defending his non-combat role to his younger son, Rick. Though a soldier he was not, Ozzie takes pride in his contributions, crafting the very vehicles that rumbled to the front lines.
David's Homecoming
A Sergeant Major arrives, escorting the now-blind David into the heart of his family. A palpable tension lingers as they grapple with David’s altered state, his blindness a stark testament to his trials. David, too, feels the dissonance and yearns to escape. The Sergeant, bound by duty, refuses to take David along, his mission not yet complete. With the sergeant's departure, David's anxiety mounts. As his parents frantically seek ways to soothe him, an enigmatic Asian Girl materializes at the threshold. Invisible to Harriet, she shuts the door, obliviously sealing her out.
Nightly Visitations
Later, the Asian Girl emerges again when Ozzie opens the door to investigate a mysterious noise, yet she remains unseen by him. Harriet visits David's room, thinking he called out to her. She talks at him, her words a one-way stream that leaves no space for his voice. Once she exits, the Asian Girl enters, her presence a whisper David can feel.
Afternoon Tensions
In the afternoon, Ozzie attempts to lose himself in television, but the silence of a malfunctioning sound system thwarts him. Harriet interrupts, her worry over David's withdrawn demeanor bubbling to the surface. David joins them, introducing Hank Grenweller, a name from Ozzie's past. As they recount stories, David challenges Ozzie's recollections. Harriet, sensing tension, deftly changes the topic. She and Ozzie probe David about his nocturnal murmurings. David reveals he wasn’t dreaming but conversing with an unseen presence. Ozzie's temper flares at the mention of the Asian Girl, cruel words flung in her direction. In a bid to comfort ailing Harriet, Ozzie suggests David request her to prepare food, but David retreats to his room at the mere thought of church.
A Family Divided
Harriet, undeterred by Ozzie's objections, enlists Father Donald to counsel David about the Asian Girl. Rick returns home, and his arrival brightens the atmosphere, the family's conversation growing shallow yet lively. As Rick grows restless waiting for Harriet's meal, Ozzie's irritation deepens—both at David's connection with the Asian Girl and his lament for his vanished youth. Ozzie shares tales of his past prowess in running, only for David to remind him of their irretrievable passage.
Evening Revelations
As night falls, the family gathers to watch home movies captured by David. Before the film rolls, Rick serenades them with a song, strumming his ever-present guitar. David longs to join in, but his parents silenced his aspirations, reserving the spotlight for Rick. In frustration, David lunges for the guitar, wrestling it from Rick’s grasp. The scene culminates in parental dismay over David's defiance.
Once composed, the projector whirs to life. The screen flickers, showcasing a haunting montage from David's Vietnam days, his narrative heavy with unsettling memories. Harriet, unable to endure, pulls...
(This entire section contains 794 words.)
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the plug. Anguish seizes David, who lashes out with his cane, upsetting the room's order. As he strums the guitar, an epiphany dawns upon him, leading him to retire to bed, the Asian Girl shadowing him. Harriet, striving to steer her conversation with Ozzie toward trivialities, succumbs to anger and storms out. Ozzie, a tempest of emotions, resorts to calling the police, masking his voice to report bizarre happenings. His monologue betrays a deep-seated discontent with the course of his life.
Fractured Relationships
In a quiet moment, Ozzie dozes on the couch. David, stirred by inner turmoil, whispers to him about fleeting glimpses of the Asian Girl. When Rick appears, David's animosity erupts, expressing a visceral wish for his demise. Harriet's return rouses Ozzie, who recounts a nightmarish vision where David whispered to him. David denies such actions, the conversation veering into mundane territory until Ozzie's facade cracks once more. His anger erupts, forbidding David from ever mentioning the Asian Girl again. The confrontation crescendos with Ozzie's slap, a catalyst that allows David to finally see the Asian Girl, grasping her hand as if to anchor her in his reality.