Prologue

LIGHTS UP ON OMAHA BEACH, FRANCE. EARLY SPRING 2007. A LIGHT FOG SITS ON THE HORIZON, AND THE SKY IS OVERCAST. LIGHT SOUNDS OF THE OCEAN, COMING IN FROM LOW TIDE, FILL THE SCENE. A FRENCH COUPLE WALK HAND IN HAND ALONG THE BEACH. FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STAGE, ANDREW HARKNESS ENTERS, WALKING ALONG THE BEACH. HE IS A BIT WORSE FOR WEAR, AFTER HIKING ALONG THE BEACH ALL DAY AND HE IS DRESSED FOR THE COLD, AND HIS BAG IS STUFFED WITH EXTRA LAYERS, FOOD AND WATER. AS HE APPROACHES THE COUPLE, HE STOPS TO ASK A QUESTION.

ANDREW
M’excuser…ummmm, where is the… (flips through translation book) transporter…la station?

THE COUPLE SPOUTS OFF A FEW SENTENCES OF RAPID FIRE FRENCH AT ANDREW. IT SOUNDS ANNOYED AND CONDESCENDING. THE FEMALE IN THE COUPLE TAKES A SNIFF OF THE AIR, GIVING ANDREW A LOOK OF DISGUST AS THEY WALK OFF.

ANDREW
Um, thank you I think. (sniffs himself) Oh.

ANDREW SITS DOWN ON THE GROUND, TIRED. HE STARES OUT AT THE OCEAN, TAKING IN THE HISTORY OF THE AREA. HE TAKES OUT HIS CELL PHONE, AND DIALS.

ANDREW
Hello?…Hey dad! How are you?…Yeah, I’m fine, I’m just sitting on Omaha Beach and thought of calling you…Hey, I was looking at some of the memorials here, and saw Harkness on one of them. Was your grandpa, or one of your uncles or something in the war?…No?…Oh, ok. Well, I better go, I’m running out of minutes…Ok, I will…I love you too Dad. Say hi to mom for me…Bye.

ANDREW HANGS UP THE PHONE, STUFFING IT BACK IN HIS BAG. HE STRETCHES OUT ON THE BEACH AND CHECKS HIS WALLET…BARELY ENOUGH MONEY FOR A RIDE BACK. AS HE PUTS HIS WALLET BACK, HE NOTICES TWO OLD PATCHES IN THE SAND. HE DIGS THEM UP AND INSPECTS THEM. WHEN HE DOES, A VERY FAINT HUMAN SIGH, BARELY DISTINGUISHABLE FROM THE WIND, FLOATS OVER THE SCENE.

ANDREW
“Kovacs” and– “Harkness”? Holy shit, I can’t believe this is here! I wonder if it’s real? (sniffs it) Ok, so maybe it is. Wow, I found an actual WWII patch from D-Day. I should take this home to show Dad and Pop-Pop. Well…

ANDREW FREEZES IN TIME, AND THE LIGHTS FADE. SLOWLY, THE SOUNDS OF A PEACEFUL BEACH IN NORTHERN FRANCE ARE DROWNED OUT BY GUNFIRE.

END PROLOGUE