FREE
EXT. DAWN – ON A MARINE BASE IN YUMA
A lone woman exits a dilapitated barracks room. She pauses a minute to watch the sun rise. She walks with a spring in her step and stops infront of an almost pristine white building. She wants to sing and dance but she composes herself. She quickly walks inside. She sees a bored and tired looking Marine sitting behind a desk.
LADY LEATHERNECK
Good morning! Is this where I receive my discharge
paperwork?
BORED LANCE CORPORAL
Yes, can I see your ID?
He receives her ID and sees her rank.
I will be right back, Corporal.
The woman waits patiently but the wide smile on her face doesn’t falter. A few minutes pass and she fills out paperwork. It feels very clinical. Her smile disappears and her face becomes neutral. After a few moments, an Officer appraoches her.
OFFICER
(Curiously)
Why is that when you Marines leave, you always either look
elated or sad?
She looks at him and smiles.
LADY LEATHERNECK
I suppose it’s because we’re used to so much pageantry and
fanfare and yet when we’re finally released from service (
(sighs) - we don’t get anything. This is the happiest day of
my life and yet it feels like I’m at the DMV.
The Officer nods in understanding before checking over the paperwork. He hands her the DD214 - the discharge paperwork - and shakes her hand. She walks outside slower, no more pep in her step. She stands outside and put her shades on. At that moment she witnesses a grown man yelling at another grown man for having his hands in the pockets of his uniform. Now, she smiles. She realizes she is free. She enver has to endure a grown person belittling her like a child.
END
#dd214