On Abbott Avenue

Part Six

EXT. FIELD - RANCH- DAWN

Rick stands over the freshly-covered grave of his brother, looking down at the stone planted above his head, reading:

'Paul Forester

2003 - 2031

An American Hero and Amazing Man'.

RICK

Paul, I don't think you realize how incredible of a fucking person you were.

(A beat)

Your bravery, your resilience, your motivation to do good, it- I- I don't even know what to-

(A beat)

What to say now that you're... Now that you're not here, I- The way that you inspired everyone around you.

(Rick wipes his eyes on his sleeve)

Y'know, growing up, you were my role model more than Mom and Dad. It was you that I looked up to every day, and I wouldn't be half the man I am now, were it not for you.

(A beat)

And when you went off to the war... I couldn't... I didn't know what to do with myself. Every night, I would lay in my bed and think, why Paul? Why is he the one that has to leave? Why is it him that has to put his life on the line? Why Paul instead of me? Why is he gone and I'm laying here safe in the comfort of my home? Why did it have to be you?

(A beat)

And I had to tell myself every night over and over and over; it's not my fault, it's not my fault, it isn't my fault that Paul is fighting for us. It isn't my fault that Paul is fighting for me- for our country.

(A beat)

I told myself this for weeks, and they say that if you repeat a lie long enough and loud enough, you'll start believing it. But I didn't. I could not accept the fact that you were gone, that I would never see you again. That you might- that you might die away from our family and in a completely different part of the country, shot in the back by some faceless, heartless soldier of another land. Someone who cares nothing for love, for family, for friendship at all. A coward who only worships a horrible leader that doesn't care for anyone but himself. I couldn't let that happen to you. And I didn't know what else to do, I knew that whatever might happen to you, I would have no control over. In life, God's plan for us is not really something we have any control over. I hated admitting that to myself but it was true. I had no impact on your fate.

(A beat)

I knew that, but I wanted to be there with you. I wanted to see you fall and be right there by your side when it happened.

(A beat)

So I left. I joined the military for you, Paul. I knew it was a mistake at the time. I wasn't even capable of saying in my head on the flight to Boot Camp that I could fight for our country. And maybe it was selfish of me to stand on the front lines next to you and the other men and women who gave everything for the chance to save our nation and win the war for us. But I had to be there. That's just how pathetic I am.