The Comet Night

By William Kritlow

The Comet Night (a play in two acts)
“Will they ever know the truth about the Comet Night?
That night that shattered their lives.”
John Sagamore was a devout Christian, a successful attorney, and lived with his family in an old Victorian home on several acres in the country - a very lonely estate. He had a wife and four children and they were very happy. When the oldest, a boy, was about 14, John’s wife died and he was left to raise the kids on his own. Although being single parent with a demanding job was difficult, he always treated his family with love and respect. Until the night the comet illuminated the dark, starry sky. The oldest son was 17 then, and John came within a couple blows of beating his son to death. Battered and angry, the 17-year old boy leaves the next morning, never to return. The other kids, a girl 15, a boy 13, and a girl 10, have no idea what’s happened. But they roll out of bed to plunge into the worst kind of uncertain future.
They, of course, want to know why it happened, but neither their father nor their old brother will tell them. Now alone with a father who might explode the same way at them, the three kids settle into the terrifying life of wondering if, or when, it will happen to them. As it turns out, it never does, but each escapes from the house and their father at the soonest possible moment. But even so, the emotionally scars run deep. As the curtain rises, their father has died and they’re gathering at the house to read the will. If the older brother shows, they may finally get their questions answered. But will He? And if he does will he tell them what happened that comet night so many years before? And if he does tell them, will it be the truth?
Will they ever know what happened that night, that night the comet illuminated the heavens; that night that shattered their lives?

• Language: English
• Publisher: William Kritlow
• Release date: Oct 5, 2011
• ISBN: 9781452460277

William Kritlow

Indiana born, California raised, a Christian at 9, a returning prodigal at 37, I published my first books with Thomas Nelson Publishing Company when I was 50 and now have 7 novels in print, and a number of non-fiction books, some with, some without my name on them. I'm currently pioneering a Theater Arts Program for adults and children in Fountain Valley, CA. God is working faithfully in His children's lives. My passion is to explore His love and grace.

Book preview

The Comet Night

a play in two acts

by William Kritlow

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 1999 William Kritlow

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Further permissions: if you purchase a copy of this play for each cast member, you are authorized to present this play three times. Additional performances require additional permission. For that permission or to negotiate any other arrangements, or to just give me a holler, email: mailto:[e-mail]

Cover art by Sally Truong - visit her website - http://www.inkit-printing.com

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Table of Contents

Brief Synopsis

Cast List

Act One: Scene One

Act One: Scene Two

Act Two: Scene One

Act Two: Scene Two

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Brief Synopsis

The Comet Night (a play in two acts)

"Will they ever know the truth about the Comet Night?

That night that shattered their lives."

John Sagamore was a devout Christian, a successful attorney, and lived with his family in an old Victorian home on several acres in the country - a very lonely, but happy estate - that is while his wife was alive and John, she and the four children were a family. Even after his wife died, John was able to combine demanding career and fatherhood and raise up his children for the next three years with love and respect. All that ended, though, the Comet Night. That night, when many were out in surrounding fields watching a comet streak the black sky, the oldest child, now a boy of 17, came home late. The other children were in bed when John met his son at the door and didn't hear as their father came within a few blows of beating his son to death. The other kids, a girl 15, a boy 13, and a girl 10, wake to see their brother, bloodied and bandaged, leave for good. They have no idea what happened. All they know is that their loving, respected father, has cruelly attacked their brother. They also know that neither father nor brother will tell them why. They roll out of bed that morning to be plunged into the worst kind of uncertainty.

Now alone with a father who might explode the same way at them, the three kids settle into the terrifying life of wondering when it will happen to them. It never does, but each escapes from the house and their father at the soonest possible moment. But even so, the emotionally scars run deep. As the curtain rises, their father has died and they’re gathering at the house to read the will. If the older brother shows, they may finally get their questions answered. But will He come? And if he does will he tell them what happened that comet night so many years before? And if he does tell them, will it be the truth?

Will they ever know what happened that night, that night the comet illuminated the heavens; that night that shattered their lives?

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Cast:

Tom Sagamore - Oldest of the Sagamore kids

Ron Sagamore - 3rd oldest

Beverly Sagamore - 2nd oldest

Wilma Sagamore - Youngest

Larry - Wilma's age

Christine - 60s

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Act One: Scene One

Set: This is where the kids grew up until they were 18. Each then left and seldom has returned. It's a man's home. Few knickknacks, very little lace. The furniture is functional and things are a little messy but not overly so. JOHN SAGAMORE, the deceased, was a man who wanted things neat but seldom had the time to make them so. Along the back wall there's an extensive bookshelf lined with books, there's a desk center stage, the book cases built around it. The knickknacks are from the kid's childhood, a cheap china doll rests on the bookshelf near the desk along with family pictures, a soccer ball signed by RON's team is on stand on desk. A story with cardboard covers written by WILMA also stands on the desk -- Smoky and Little Wil. An aluminum bat rests against the desk. Furniture includes a sofa, a recliner, a comfortable chair and one not so comfortable. A phone on an end table by the recline and reading lamp. It is obvious that the recliner is where JOHN (the father) sat to read. There is no television.

At Rise: The stage is void of life. There's an overnight bag and thick ski jacket hastily thrown on the floor s.r. (side of front door) We become aware of the sound of someone rifling through things upstairs. The sound stops and then there's the sound of someone going rapidly downstairs. RONALD (RON) TANDY SAGAMORE, the youngest brother, enters s.r.. Dressed in jeans and long sleeve turtleneck, he carries his late father's journal, a photo album, and a ragged old Bible. He places them down on the desk and frantically rifles through it. Finding nothing more, he looks at his watch. He must make a phone call. He stares at the phone near the recliner and rubs his chin nervously. Looks at his watch again, then runs his hand across his face as if trying to erase himself. Taking a deep breath, he steps over to the phone, picks up the receiver -- has second thoughts and puts it back down. Then rethinks and picks it up again. Taking a slip of paper from his shirt pocket, he reads off a number as he punches it in.

RON: Theo there? -- Theo, this is RON - SAGAMORE -- I know, but I thought I'd better -- yeah, I know talks over but I think you'll be interested in -- yeah, it's about the money. My dad croaked -- Well, actually, it was about time. And though he didn't have a lot of money, my share'll be enough to pay you back the 10 grand. -- Eleven? But it was ten -- That fast? Don't you think a grand a day is -- But I can't earn it without my legs -- well, yeah, I don't need my thumbs quite so much, unless I need to hitchhike and that Beamer I’ve got's liable to quit on me any minute -- Yeah, I know I babble sometimes -- Sure a grand a day's reasonable -- sure, reasonable as all get-out. Great talking to you, too, there Theo. Of course we'll talk later. Wouldn't miss it for the world -- right, later.

RON slams phone down. Continues the search.

AFTER a beat or two, there's the sound of someone coming through the front door (off stage) s.r. and WILMA GRACE SAGAMORE enters. She carries a backpack. Wears a ski jacket over a warmish pullover, jeans and tennies. The instant she enters RON ceases his search.

WILMA: Ron.

RON: Wil.

WILMA: That's quite a little ding in your Beamer out front.

RON: Hit a light pole -- cut a corner a little tight. Used the insurance money for something else.

WILMA: (staring at his bags) Typical RON mess. At least it's in a bag this time. Hard to play kickball with that. BEV and I preferred you underwear. Could get some good distance on it.

RON: Yeah, but why'd you have to kick it into the girl's locker room at school. JEAN CARPENTER never looked at me the same way again.

WILMA: It wasn't the underwear, per se. It was little cowboys on 'em. Bucking broncos and Yippee-Ky-Yai printed across the bottom.

RON: I was a late bloomer.

WILMA: You were a no-bloomer. Did you go to the funeral?

RON: Since you're the youngest BEV and I voted you to represent us.

WILMA: Nobody told me.

RON: Since you're the youngest we don't talk to you.

WILMA: Well, it's a cinch TOM didn't go. So -- none of us went. I started to feel guilty about half way here. When all is said and done, he was our father. (removes jacket and back pack after looking for place to hang it drops it on top of his bags)

RON: Hey! Careful. I got some good stuff in there.

WILMA: Stuff? Oh, Geez -- coke? Didn't rehab clean you up. If they catch you with that stuff won't you go away for a while?

RON: I got bigger problems than that. Anyway, I need that which is stronger than booze to get through this weekend.

WILMA: You wouldn't find booze in this house, anyway. Dad never allowed it.

RON: Amazing the staying power of a hypocrite.

WILMA: About the same as for an addict.

RON: