BROTHER WALT

By: John Maczak

Scene—Any warehouse or storage area.

Characters

Walt: A kindly, rather elderly looking individual. A foreman.

Mike: A new hire.

Jeff: A mill veteran, not ancient, but knowledgeable as to what’s going on.

Walking to the jobsite or driving to it in a truck, etc.

Jeff

Oh man, we’re doomed---I knew I shouldn’t have hit that snooze button the third time.

Mike

What’re you talking about Jeff?

Jeff

Whatcha mean?

A pause then a thoughtful look.

Oh, yeah that’s right, you’ve never had the pleasure of “working” for Brother Walt before. Have you?

Mike

Well no. Why? Is he a bear to work for?

Jeff

Laughing.

Oh no! On the contrary, Walt’s got to be one of the easiest foremen to work for. I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone ever say anything, bad about Walt.

Mike

So, then, what’s the deal?

Jeff

Laughing again.

Don’t worry, but just mind your P’s and Q’s

Mike

What’s that supposed to mean?

Jeff

Lets just say that Walt is …..rather on the “Christian” side of things. He’s a bit different than most of the guys out here. Not bad, mind you, but……. Look he doesn’t care for “mill talk”. Or anything like that. And he’s kinda peculiar in the way he sees things.

By this point Mike and Jeff have reached the worksite. Walt is waiting for them.

Walt

Well, good morning boys. Here’s what we’ve got to do today.

Walt proceeds to give directions of what the day is going to bring, then takes off. Later Mike and Jeff sit and drink coffee.

Mike

Hey Jeff, so what’s the story? I mean with Walt? He seemed, pretty decent.

Jeff

I know that’s what he seemed, but let me tell you…

At this moment Walt walks onto the scene.

Walt

Hi guys! Everything going ok? Oh, listen Jeff, we need some stuff for this job, and it’s back at the satellite shop. Since Mike here doesn’t know how to get there yet, would you take the truck and go get it? Just ask Charlie, he’s got it.

Jeff

Sure, ok Walt. I’ll be back in a minuet.

After Jeff leaves, Walt sits down next to Mike. Mike gets up as if to start working again.

Walt

No, just sit down Mike; we really can’t do anything till Jeff gets back here with the stuff from Charlie. Let’s just talk.

Mike

Ok, talk about what?

Walt

How about baseball? You like baseball, don’t you? 

Mike

Well sure I do.

At this point Walt walks over to behind a stack of material and pulls out a podium. It’s complete with bible and reading stand.

Mike

What the hell, I mean what’s that Walt?

Walt

You see Mike, sometimes when pressure or the events of life and the world get to be too much for me. I just come here to think and reflect. This Mike is like baseball. A thinking mans game.

Mike looks uncomfortable.

Mike

I, I’m not sure I understand you Walt.

Walt

Well, look Mike, life is like a baseball game really I mean everyone wants to make a hit and get home. You believe in Jesus our Lord don’t you?

Mike

Yeah

Walt

Chuckling

Well, praise Jesus, you see what you’ve done? You’ve hit the ball Mike, and it’s in the air. That’s first base, believing in Jesus. You believe in doing good and not evil, right?

Mike

Hesitating

Yeah, I don’t condone evil.

Walt

Of course you don’t, that proves the ball is still in the air. You’re past second base and running for third. Now you believe in the hereafter don’t you? Paradise and glory for all who honor our God, Jesus and eternal damnation for the sinners who don’t. Don’t you?

Mike

Looking to both sides and obviously uncomfortable. 

I, I guess I do.

Walt

Hallelujah, you’ve past third. Son let me show how to get home.

Walt grabs the bible, from the podium and falls to his knees.

Lets go home son, home to Jesus.

Voice getting louder all the time.

Let us pray.

At this point Jeff comes back with some material. Walt no longer dreamy-eyed quickly gets to his feet. Puts the bible back in the podium, and puts the podium back in its hiding spot.

Jeff

Ahh ok Walt. I got back as soon as I could.

Walt

Thanks Jeff I guess I’ll take the truck and go on the rest of my rounds now.

Walt leaves

Mike

Man, Jeff you’ll never believe what happened.

Jeff

I’ll bet I would.

Mike

You mean, you knew what’d happen?

Jeff

Pretty much, Walt checks out all the new guys. Did he try and talk baseball to you?

Mike

Yeah he did.

Jeff

You didn’t get “home” did you?

Mike

A nervous laugh.

No!

Jeff

Good, a couple of guys did, but they quit. 

Thinks a bit.

They still go to Walts church though.

Mike

Obviously relieved

Well thank God I didn’t

Jeff

Slight grin

Yeah, thank God.