Act II Summary
Act Opening
The curtain rises to reveal a fleeting slideshow of images, spotlighting Father Donald as offstage whispers fill the air with tales of his deeds.
Inside Ozzie and Harriet's Home
In the familiar warmth of Ozzie and Harriet's living room, Father Donald reassures them of his ability to aid David. As he excuses himself to the bathroom, Harriet shares a startling visit from the police with Ozzie. Accusations fly as Ozzie suspects his sons of summoning the authorities. Stealthily, Father Donald ventures to David's room, offering words of comfort. In a sudden turn, David lashes out, wielding his cane in defiance. Undeterred, Father Donald attempts to bless him, only to be met with a flurry of blows that sends him fleeing to the safety of the bathroom. Concealing the ordeal, he departs in silence.
Nighttime Confessions
Under the cover of night, Ozzie slips into David's room, grappling to voice his inner turmoil. Their conversation takes a tense turn as David speaks of the Asian Girl, leaving Ozzie visibly unsettled. David exits, leaving Ozzie to relay the troubling exchange to Harriet. As realization dawns, Harriet uncovers Ozzie's secret call to the police, and revulsion tinges her response to his confession.
A Tense Afternoon
As afternoon sunlight gleams through, Harriet busies herself with cleaning when a frazzled Ozzie storms in, the victim of an egg flung from a passing car. Intent on sharing the incident with David, Ozzie finds his absence and instead bends Rick’s ear with tales of bygone athletic feats, leaving Rick unimpressed. David's return sparks accusations of mischief and, as tensions rise, he retreats once more, while Harriet offers solace to Ozzie, promising the family will unite once again.
Mysteries of the Night
In the stillness of midnight, Harriet enters David’s sanctuary, broaching the subject of their hopes for him. David’s mind drifts to visions of Vietnam, tales Harriet stubbornly denies. Her prejudiced utterances against the Vietnamese provoke David, who menaces her with his cane. Harriet flees, calling out David’s intentions to harm them and lamenting his transformation into a stranger. As Harriet departs, David communes with the Asian Girl.
Ozzie's Reckoning
Returning home, Ozzie embarks on a soliloquy, assigning familial roles to the living room furniture and appraising their worth. In the culmination of his speech, he glimpses the Asian Girl. Harriet enters, her heart heavy with worry over David. Together, they pray, only to be interrupted by Rick’s entrance, his anger at the scene palpable. He blames David for driving their parents to madness, yearning for the veterans' truck to whisk him away. Despite knocking at the door, it remains unanswered as the television crackles back to life.
Violence and Tragedy
Rick confronts David with venomous words, brutally smashing his guitar across David’s head, leaving him unconscious. The Asian Girl’s voice finally pierces the air, only for Ozzie to silence her in a deadly embrace, her body hidden from sight. Conversations among Rick, Ozzie, and Harriet return to trivial matters. Upon regaining consciousness, a shattered David faces Rick’s sinister suggestion of self-harm. With a razor offered and words of encouragement from his family, the tragic implication of their actions rings clear, signaling a grim conclusion with Rick’s aid.
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