Man-In-Sea

Epilogue

LINK

I built the first sub, Deep Diver, down in the cargo hold of my ship. It took some time before I found my sea-legs, and some days I was so violently sick, just sitting in dock, that I’d have to keep a coffee can on a string around my neck to vomit in while I worked. That’s how I was the day Clayton came into the bay covering his eye.

CLAY

Dad!

ED

What’s the matter?

CLAY

A bug or something flew in my eye. I think it’s still there.

ED

Did you tell your mother?

CLAY

She went into town to find a doctor.

ED

Come on, let me see it.

CLAY

No, Dad, leave it alone.

ED

You want to wait all day for a doctor? Come on, I can get this... He’s a big sucker, isn’t he?

CLAY

Can you get it out?

ED

Let me find a pair of tweezers. My God, does everything in this place have grease on it? All right, open up. Stop struggling. If you don’t sit still, I’ll poke your eye out. There!

CLAY

That hurt!

ED

Let me look with the magnifying glass to make sure I got it all.

CLAY

I’m fine, Dad.

ED

Damn it.

CLAY

What are you laughing at?

ED

You and your bum luck.

CLAY

What’s wrong?

ED

I think it laid eggs.

CLAY

What?

ED

The damn thing laid eggs before it died!

CLAY

Oh, Jeez! Get me to the doctor!

ED

Come on. I can get them. Let’s go to your bunk. I can get them.

CLAY

Dad, please, leave it for the doctor.

LINK

I’m not letting one of these quacks touch you. I can take care of my own family, now come with me.

END

MAN-IN-SEA

by Paul Juser

Available in print:

Cast of Characters:

LINK

An inventor. Also, Ed’s father.

ED

As Link remembers himself.

MARION

Ed’s wife.

CLAY

Ed and Marion’s second son.

Man-In-Sea

Scene 33

MARION

Clayton, wait! Just you wait! Someone else is on the way. It won’t be long at all.

ED

Marion, please, come with me. Come up to the deck. Let’s go.

MARION

No, you’ve got to get down there, Ed. Please! Go! Stop sitting here and go down there with him.

ED

Everyone is doing everything they can. Marion, please, just come up to the deck.

MARION

There’s still time, Ed.

ED

I know, so come on. We gotta go. Just let me get something... an extra tank.  Go up and wait for me by Reef Diver.

MARION

Okay. Okay.

ED

Clayton, can you hear me?

CLAY

I couldn’t hear you.

ED

What are you doing here? How did you get back?

CLAY

I couldn’t hear you. We never spoke.

ED

This isn’t how it happened.

CLAY

None of this is. I didn’t hear a word you said on the radio.

ED

No, it was. I heard you talking. I heard your voice.

CLAY

No, Dad.

ED

I spoke to you. Your mother spoke to you.

CLAY

You didn’t. You couldn’t, there was no radio in the chamber, Dad. You couldn’t hear anyone but Jock.

ED

But I did hear you. I remember it. They had you on the intercom. It was faint. Everyone was weak. I don't know, it may have been too late for Al already. But I heard you talking.

LINK

You sent your son down there with nothing.

ED

You said, 'I remember the cabin, Dad.'

LINK

No suits, no extra air, down into the cold in a tiny aluminum box.

ED

'I remember the cabin, Dad.' I didn’t hear anything else.

LINK

What did you expect to happen?

ED

I didn’t know.

LINK

What about his wife? What about his son?

ED

I didn’t know... How could I know?

LINK

All those years playing around in the water like a child in the tub. That’s just like you, never a thought to the people around you. Had to see it all, didn’t you? Couldn’t let it rest. Got your mind wrapped up in all these wild fantasies, like you’re in one of those adventure movies. You told him it was okay to do these things, okay to put your life on the line, okay to put your family at stake... As long as there was a camera in your face.

CLAY

That’s what they were watching when they dreamed up religion.

ED

I’m sorry, Clayton.

CLAY

It’s not your fault.

ED

I should have never let you go.

LINK

You should have locked him in his room, slipped food under the door, keep him from ever knowing what kind of danger was outside. You should have protected him. He should have never been down in that sub.

ED

I never should have let you do any of it.

CLAY

I should have never collected pottery from Greek ports, never should have seen the bottom of the ocean. Never should have laid my hands on an anchor from the Santa Maria.

LINK

Never should have let him go. Where were you when he needed you most?

ED

Clayton, I didn’t know...

CLAY

I knew what could happen down there. I knew every risk, and we took every precaution against it. I knew what I was doing down there. You showed me.

LINK

You killed your own son.

ED

It wasn’t supposed to happen...

CLAY

But it did. You’re no more guilty than I am. What if you did this? What if you did that? We could spend eternity debating it. I wanted it just as bad. You showed me the things other kids only read about. None of those kids will ever listen to the bugs in the middle of the Canadian wilderness, or stand on the walls of a Crusader city. I didn’t learn about history, I helped you make it. You gave me that, Dad. You didn’t do anything wrong. Thank you. Happy Father’s Day.

LINK

Ed, come with me. I’ve got something to show you.

ED

What is it, Daddy?

LINK

We’re going on a train.

ED

A big one? Like in my book?

LINK

Just like in your book. Your mother is going to get you ready to go. Come on. Come down to the parlor.

ED

Where are we going, Daddy?

LINK

A little place in the woods. They want us to make pianos.

ED

Will we be near the Ocean?

LINK

Close enough, I suppose.

ED

Can we see the Ocean?

LINK

Oh, sure, I suppose we’ll see it every weekend

ED

Some day, I’m going to have a house on the bottom of the Ocean, where no one can find me, so I can just sit and watch the fish go by.

MAN-IN-SEA

Cast of Characters:

LINK

An inventor. Also, Ed’s father.

ED

As Link remembers himself.

MARION

Ed’s wife.

CLAY

Ed and Marion’s second son.

Man-In-Sea

Scene 32

LINK

Clay and I flew there while Bill and Marion brought the car. Clay told Bill not to get lost with our food, and Bill punched Clayton in the arm. I had no idea what the state of the place would be, I wasn’t even sure how long I’d left it. I’d been paying caretakers for a while, but even that seemed nonsense eventually.

CLAY

Jeez! I don’t think I’ve seen this place since I was sixteen.

ED

I wanted to sell it a few years back, but your mother just about took my head off.

CLAY

Maybe you shouldn’t have let them come with Bill. It’ll be days before he can find his way here.

ED

You shouldn’t make jokes. I’ve never been so scared as those nights your brother was lost.

CLAY

I wasn’t scared at all.

ED

Of course not, you got to sleep in your brother’s bunk for three days.

CLAY

I knew you’d never let anything happen to Bill. I knew you’d save him.

ED

He found his own way home.

CLAY

I know, but...

ED

I didn’t save him.

CLAY

It’s okay, Dad. It’s okay. Just forget about it.

ED

That whole time I was flying, I kept thinking to myself, “What if I don’t find him? What will I tell Clay?”

CLAY

I bet you could have gotten half of Canada out here to help...

ED

I couldn’t even save my own son.

CLAY

That’s ridiculous.

ED

It’s not! I read all the time how many lives I’ve saved, but when the cards were down, I couldn’t even save my own son.

MAN-IN-SEA

Cast of Characters:

LINK

An inventor. Also, Ed’s father.

ED

As Link remembers himself.

MARION

Ed’s wife.

CLAY

Ed and Marion’s second son.

Man-In-Sea

Scene 31

LINK

That boy couldn’t be on time to save his life.

ED

Sorry, Dad!

LINK

I told you to be here ten minutes ago.

ED

I know, I know, I didn’t mean to be late.

LINK

How do you expect to accomplish anything if you can’t even keep an appointment?

ED

It’s just that... well... I was over at the airfield...

LINK

I don’t care about your excuses! If I tell you I want you home at five, you’d damn well better be home at five! We were supposed to be at the Forum by now. I sent your brother to get the car to at least save a little time.

ED

I’m sorry!

LINK

I certainly hope so.

CLAY

Hey Dad?

ED

What?!

CLAY

N... Nothing... Mom is taking me to the airport. I just wanted to see you before I left.

ED

Oh... sorry, I didn’t mean to snap. It’s just...

CLAY

It’s okay, Dad.

ED

I was down here thinking, is all.

LINK

Always down there thinking. Got your head in the clouds.

ED

I guess I’ve just got my head in the clouds.

CLAY

Don’t worry about it. Listen... I... I just wanted...

LINK

You’ll never get anywhere in life if you just sit around daydreaming all the time.

CLAY

Those things I said yesterday... about you finding a place I can’t bother you...

ED

No, Clayton, it’s okay. Don’t...

CLAY

No, Dad, just let me talk.

ED

Clayton, please.

LINK

Do you think anyone will pay you a decent wage if you can’t even finish high school.

CLAY

I didn’t mean it, Dad.

ED

I know, I know. Stop, please stop.

LINK

You’ll spend your life digging ditches. You can’t raise a family like that.

CLAY

I’m sorry, Dad.

LINK

Your mother has no idea how much damage she’s doing.

CLAY

I know that ain’t true, I was just real upset is all.

LINK

I won’t be here to bail you out forever.

ED

Please! Just leave me alone!

CLAY

Mom says you will be back in Binghamton by the time I leave Germany. I guess I’ll see you then... Bye, Dad.

ED

Bye.

LINK

Am I wrong? Is that what the men in the shop tell you? Look who signs their paychecks. Tell me how much smarter than me they are?

ED

Leave me alone! Just leave me the hell alone!

LINK

Don’t you dare talk to me like that! Now look, there’s your brother. Let’s go.

MARION

Ed!

ED

You’ve got to hang in tight, Clayton, just hang on, okay? They have to be careful in that current, but they are coming for you. Hang tight.

MARION

Ed!

ED

What’s wrong?

MARION

The divers were pulled down on the wrong side of the ship!

LINK

I told them to compensate for current! It was tearing through that day.

MARION

By the time they figured it out, they needed to come back up for air.

ED

We’ll never get another one down there in time! Come on!

CLAY

I remember the cabin, Dad.

MAN-IN-SEA

Cast of Characters:

LINK

An inventor. Also, Ed’s father.

ED

As Link remembers himself.

MARION

Ed’s wife.

CLAY

Ed and Marion’s second son.

Man-In-Sea

Scene 30

LINK

I let him talk first. I wanted to know what he thought of it.

CLAY

Pretty cool, Dad.

ED

Your mother is going to hate it.

CLAY

How much did you buy?

ED

For what I paid, I’d better have gotten half of Canada.

CLAY

Mom doesn’t know?

ED

I told her I was investing in some commercial property.

CLAY

She’s going to flip her lid.

ED

I was looking for slightly bigger lodgings, but at least this one has rooms for each of us.

CLAY

Mom won’t leave New York for good.

ED

No, but the lake is big enough for me to land and take off the plane, so I can still take her every so often. I mean I’ll still have to oversee the occasional function of the company... at least until I can sell all my shares.

CLAY

What are we going to do out here, Dad?

ED

I don’t know, probably a lot of hiking. Maybe some canoeing.

CLAY

Cool.

ED

I think I hear your brother shouting.

CLAY

They’re here! Come on, let’s help them bring in the food. I’m starved!

MAN-IN-SEA

Cast of Characters:

LINK

An inventor. Also, Ed’s father.

ED

As Link remembers himself.

MARION

Ed’s wife.

CLAY

Ed and Marion’s second son.

Man-In-Sea

Scene 29 

MARION

The divers reached the bottom!

ED

Already?

MARION

They are on the wreck and should reach our sub any minute!

ED

Clayton! Clayton, come in please! Can you hear me? Navy divers reached the bottom. Hang tight, Clayton, you’re almost home.

CLAY

I knew you’d save me, Dad. I knew you would.

ED

Now, I want you guys to be ready, okay? When they cut you loose, I want you coming right to the surface. We are right above you.

CLAY

I can’t wait to see you, Dad.

ED

Oh, Clayton. You’re going to have the biggest dinner you’ve ever seen waiting for you.

CLAY

We can’t hold on, Dad.

ED

Think of the cabin, Clayton.

CLAY

Bill was lost in the rain.

ED

Before that. You and me, we flew in there, over those orange trees, middle of nowhere. Think of the Cabin, Clayton.

CLAY

The day we first went there.

MAN-IN-SEA

Cast of Characters:

LINK

An inventor. Also, Ed’s father.

ED

As Link remembers himself.

MARION

Ed’s wife.

CLAY

Ed and Marion’s second son.

Man-In-Sea

Scene 28

LINK

I’d been thinking for a long time.

MARION

Why the sourpuss?

ED

I’m done! I’ve done nothing but sit up here for the last month and sign papers. I don’t want to do it any more.

MARION

I’m sure we can get an assistant to take care of a lot of this stuff if you want...

ED

No, I don’t want any of this any more. I look out the window onto the factory floor and it just makes me want to scream.

MARION

Look, Ed, why don’t you come home for the afternoon? I’ll make you a nice lunch.

ED

I already had something down at the cafeteria.

MARION

I’d hardly call that fulfilling, now come with me.

ED

I don’t want lunch.

MARION

What’s wrong with you?

ED

An army of killers streaking across the sky, all trained on the Link Blue Box! I built that thing to save lives, not end them more efficiently.

MARION

It does save lives, and the war is over now...

ED

So what good will a state-of-the-art flight simulator be? Until we start gearing up for the next Great War.

MARION

You made something important...

LINK

“The Luftwaffe met its Waterloo on all the training fields of the free world where there was a battery of Link Trainers!”

ED

I just wanted kids to stop crashing! You ever seen someone broken up in an airplane crash? I didn’t want to make a killer!

MARION

What did you think would happen when you signed with the Army?

ED

I have to close the plant in Canada.

MARION

Why?

ED

The RAF canceled their orders. However, they promised to utilize Link technology in the development of simulators for a number of bombers and jets currently being designed.

MARION

You said you could switch the plant to manufacture the Link-anoe?

ED

How many people are going to buy a folding canoe? We can’t employ a factory with that!

MARION

It’s something...

ED

It’s nothing! Even if I did convert the factory, I’d still have to lay off three quarters of the workers. They’re better off all going. Then they can start coming to terms with what I made them do.

MARION

Ed! Calm down, catch your breath!

ED

I’ve built up this juggernaut that smashes everything  in its path, and I’m here chained to my desk, unable to do anything but sign papers. I’m done! Do you understand me? I don’t want this business anymore!

MARION

Look, why don’t you come home, take the afternoon off and get it out of our head.

ED

Yeah, okay... I’ve... I’ve got some things I need to take care of here. I’ll meet you back at the house, okay?

MARION

Home in an hour.

ED

I promise.

MAN-IN-SEA

Cast of Characters:

LINK

An inventor. Also, Ed’s father.

ED

As Link remembers himself.

MARION

Ed’s wife.

CLAY

Ed and Marion’s second son.

Man-In-Sea

Scene 27

MARION

Clayton?

CLAY

That you, Mom?

MARION

Yeah, honey. How are you doing down there?

CLAY

Scared.

MARION

The Navy is almost down there. You just hang in there, okay? It won’t be much longer.

CLAY

Sure thing, Mom. We’ll be fine. Where’s Dad?

MARION

He’s over on the Tringa making sure everything gets done right.

CLAY

Why?

MARION

I don’t know why.

CLAY

Why...? Why?

MARION

I don’t know why.

CLAY

Why?

MARION

I love you, Clayton.

CLAY

Why...? Why?

MARION

Your father loves you too. We both love you very much, and we’re very proud of you.

CLAY

Why?

MARION

And Bill loves you. And Maurine loves you. And Aunt Marilyn loves you. And Uncle Theron loves you. And Grandpa loves you.

CLAY

Why? Why? Why?

MARION

I don’t know why. It’s not fair.

MAN-IN-SEA

Cast of Characters:

LINK

An inventor. Also, Ed’s father.

ED

As Link remembers himself.

MARION

Ed’s wife.

CLAY

Ed and Marion’s second son.

Man-In-Sea

LINK

She had me in her sights.

ED

You’re right. If anything I’m happy to get my mind off this Man-in-Sea mess. If it wasn’t for that damned Cousteau. I mean come on! An underwater house? From what he’s telling me, he doesn’t plan to send his men down more than fifty feet! What’s that going to prove? Our people will be the ones working at substantial depths...

MARION

Read this.

ED

What is it?

MARION

It’s a contract. My publisher wants me to do another book.

ED

That’s wonderful!

MARION

I told them about Man-in-Sea a few months back, before Cousteau announced his project. They think his underwater house is nothing but a publicity stunt, and want me to tell the exclusive story on Man-In-Sea.

ED

Why didn’t you tell me?

MARION

I wanted it to be a surprise. But, first you have to give me a story worth writing about. This mess is finally winding down. Most of the officers seem to have gotten tired with it. I doubt they’ll bother us much longer, and it’s only a matter of time before your appeal goes through and the conviction is overturned. I’m not going to have you stomping around here yelling at everyone on the ship any more. Do you hear me?

ED

Yeah, yeah, I’m sorry.

MARION

I’m not the one you should be apologizing to. Now go find Clayton.

ED

Yes, dear.

MAN-IN-SEA

Cast of Characters:

LINK

An inventor. Also, Ed’s father.

ED

As Link remembers himself.

MARION

Ed’s wife.

CLAY

Ed and Marion’s second son.

Man-In-Sea

ED

They’ve got a confession.

CLAY

What?

ED

A free and voluntary admission of guilt from one of our own crew.

CLAY

Who?

ED

You.

CLAY

Me?

ED

It doesn’t ring a bell? You were going to grab the first thing you could find and hide it in the belly of the ship.

CLAY

I never told them that.

ED

Well, that’s what this girl you were seeing is going around telling them. No matter how many times I tried to champion your innocence, they still believe me to be a pirate, and therefore not a credible character witness.

CLAY

Dad...

ED

And you wanted to marry this girl? No wonder she liked you so much, she was probably hoping to collect a reward.

MARION

What are you yelling about?

ED

That little tramp that was following him around is the one that turned us in!

MARION

Aphrodite?

ED

She says Clayton admitted he was going to take something out of the country.

CLAY

I did.

ED

What?

CLAY

I told her that. I was drunk, I was angry, I didn’t know what I was talking about.

ED

How can you be so stupid? She bats those big brown eyes and you march your father off to jail for her?

CLAY

I didn’t mean it!

ED

Think, Clayton, think! You knew they’ve been out to get us since we started.

MARION

Ed, relax.

ED

Hell, the police probably set her up to it. Go in and find out what they are doing wrong, we’ll make it worth your while.

MARION

Ed!

ED

And you were more than happy to give it to them. I hope you at least got what you were looking for.

MARION

ED!

CLAY

I’m sorry.

ED

They arrested me, Clayton! Sorry doesn’t cut it!

MARION

Ed, he didn’t know.

ED

Do I need to have a background check on all your girlfriends now? What’s next, a Russian spy?

CLAY

I said I was sorry!

MARION

Who do you think  you are talking to my son like that?

ED

We’ve gone through hell the last couple weeks, and it was all because he wanted to impress a girl?

MARION

Will you give it a rest? Did you get beat up? Did you spend more than one night in an uncomfortable bed? What have you been forced to do worse than sign papers and repeat your stories over and over? Don’t tell me you’ve stopped enjoying the sound of your own voice in the last month.

MAN-IN-SEA

Cast of Characters:

LINK

An inventor. Also, Ed’s father.

ED

As Link remembers himself.

MARION

Ed’s wife.

CLAY

Ed and Marion’s second son.

Man-In-Sea

CLAY

What happened today?

MARION

They still want us to dive on Navarino, and a few of them are interested in reading my book.

CLAY

They’re calling Dad a thief, but they still want him to work for them?

MARION

The committees that want him to dive have different policies than those that want him in jail.

CLAY

Mom, I’ve got something to tell you.

MARION

What’s up?

CLAY

This is all my fault.

MARION

Clayton, what are you talking about?

CLAY

I did this. I caused all this.

MARION

This isn’t anybody’s fault. These people are just uptight. Once we get this straightened out, we’ll be able to forget all about it.

CLAY

No, Mom, listen, I think I caused this.

MARION

Clayton, stop.

CLAY

Mom, listen. I did. I told Aphrodite I was going to take something.

MARION

What were you going to take?

CLAY

I don’t know, anything, nothing, I wasn’t serious!

MARION

Clayton, relax, just tell me what happened.

CLAY

The night before... this... we were out at a bar, just talking. I said if I found anything, I wasn’t giving it up, I wasn’t going to tell anyone, just hide it away until we got back home.

MARION

Did you take anything?

CLAY

No! It was just talk, I didn’t mean anything. Somebody must have heard me. Dad is going to kill me!

MARION

Clayton, it’s not like that at all. These people have just been burned before. I found out yesterday that Peter Throckmorton was here a couple years ago with an American yachtsman who was stealing artifacts. Now Peter’s here on our ship, so of course they’re suspicious. I wish I knew about that beforehand. John Maytag thinks it’s that Dolphin movie with Sophia Lauren. It just got released here, so everyone is imagining American thieves at every dock. This isn’t anybody’s fault, Clayton, don’t worry. This can’t take much longer. The people at the Smithsonian have been calling every day to vouch for us. Somebody’s got to believe us eventually.

CLAY

But what if it is my fault?

MARION

They’re lucky they got my husband, if these people think they’re taking my son to jail, they’re going to have a fight on their hands.

CLAY

Thanks, Mom.

MARION

What did Didy have to say about all this?

CLAY

I haven’t talked to her. I went to her apartment a couple times, but nobody answered the door.

MARION

I suppose you can’t blame her. If she sticks with you through this, I’ll be willing to reconsider your marriage.

CLAY

Don’t worry about that, I was just being stupid.

MARION

You’re not stupid, you’re 18. You just need to keep in mind that your father and I were there once too.

CLAY

Yeah, Mom. Thanks.

MARION

All right,  your father should be asleep by now, I’m going to lie next to him until dawn and try to convince myself this will be over soon.

CLAY

Night Mom.

MARION

Night.

CLAY

We didn’t have anyone on our side but our cook, John the Greek. When he  signed on that summer, I’m sure he didn’t expect to find himself employed as an advisor, translator, and lawyer as well. Say what you will about his law-schooling, but it was nice to have a friend. He stayed on with us to Italy, and after that just remained the Sea Diver’s full-time cook. He always said he didn’t want to go back home after he saw what happened to us, but I have a feeling he was worried about the trouble he’d made for himself. On more than one occasion, court proceedings turned into a yelling match between John and the Judge. They ignored his repeated offers to lead them through Sea Diver and search every chamber for stolen goods. He knew as well as any of there was nothing incriminating. We’d logged, photographed, and turned over every artifact we brought to the surface. The only amphorae on board had been given to Dad by the government as a souvenir, but they still demanded we show them our stamped and sealed permission to keep it time and time again. On a brighter note, they all loved Mom’s book. It took almost a month before the police played their trump card.

MAN-IN-SEA

Cast of Characters:

LINK

An inventor. Also, Ed’s father.

ED

As Link remembers himself.

MARION

Ed’s wife.

CLAY

Ed and Marion’s second son.

Man-In-Sea

LINK

Day after day, it dragged on. There were times I really thought I would be thrown in prison for doing exactly what the Greeks asked us to do there. Even more heavy on my mind were the upcoming projects in France and Italy I was planning. I'd just started working with Cousteau and I thought for sure the negative press would kill the partnership. Kind of funny to think it was my successes, not my failures that drove off Cousteau.

MARION

Ed, what are you still doing up? Get some rest!

ED

Let’s just go. I’m sick of this. I’ve had enough, let’s just leave for Italy right now.

MARION

We’re not leaving.

ED

Why? What’s stopping us? John the Greek is the only native left on board, and he’s already signed on to come with us.

MARION

Picking up anchor  in the middle of the night and racing for International waters won’t help convince them of your innocence.

ED

You’re right, I’m sure the Navy is looking for any chance they can to blow us out of the water.

MARION

So go get some sleep, I want to be at Papadimitrio’s office first thing in the morning and see if he’s made any headway.

ED

Optimist. Fine, fine, I’m going, don’t push!

MAN-IN-SEA

Cast of Characters:

LINK

An inventor. Also, Ed’s father.

ED

As Link remembers himself.

MARION

Ed’s wife.

CLAY

Ed and Marion’s second son.

Man-In-Sea

CLAY

Progress is a word the Greeks don’t know much about. Dad was arrested on Wednesday, tried on Thursday, convicted of stealing artifacts, and spent the weekend in jail. Mom spent most of that time running from office to office, delivering and redelivering letters granting us permission to be there, and explaining our case to anyone that would listen. There were new laws, contradicting policies between islands, and nobody was willing to stand up and say, “Yes, these people have done what they need to, and are not stealing our treasures.” On the ship, I got to play captain. Mom was busy running around trying to find scissors big enough to cut through the red tape, the scandal was keeping Bill from entering the country, and even after they let Dad out, he still had to spend all his time in the Government offices telling his stories over and over again as the officials struggled to find holes. The Sea Diver crew saw me as the de facto captain, and they came to me for everything. I should have felt like a king, but I was getting eaten up inside.

MARION

Oh, what an evil day! Are you okay? Do you need anything? Has anyone told you anything?

ED

It’s all Greek to me.

MARION

Well, I’ve got half the country on the phone with people back home. If they don’t believe you’re for real in a few hours, they never will.

ED

Thanks, Marion. Thank you, I’m glad you’re here with me. How are things on the ship? How’s Clayton?

MARION

He’s keeping them in line.

ED

Good boy.

MARION

He’ll make a good captain some day.

ED

Some day. He’s got a lot to learn though. He’s too rash, too quick to jump into things.

MARION

Like the young man I knew who flew to New Jersey at night in the fog just to sell his trainer to the army?

ED

They bought it, didn’t they?

MARION

I wish you had put a little more thought into what you were doing to the people you left behind.

ED

I was making sure they could while away their days playing in the ocean and writing books. I never would have taken that flight if I didn’t know damn well I’d be landing it. Clayton is going to be great at whatever he puts his hands on some day. In the mean time, he needs to learn how to focus.

MARION

I know, but some times you could go a little easier on him too. Like this girl...

ED

I’m not letting him stay in Greece to marry some girl he doesn’t even know.

MARION

And in another week or two, he would have realized that too. By the time it came for him to get on the plane without him, it wouldn’t matter what you said to him either way. He’s full of piss and vinegar, and he’s not about to let anyone talk him out of anything.

ED

I know what he’s full of.

MARION

I’m going to see if there’s been any kind of progress. Just sit tight.

ED

Sure. Okay. Good luck.

MAN-IN-SEA

Cast of Characters:

LINK

An inventor. Also, Ed’s father.

ED

As Link remembers himself.

MARION

Ed’s wife.

CLAY

Ed and Marion’s second son.

Man-In-Sea

LINK

I didn’t tell him he was too young, not like in Greece.

CLAY

I’m not!

MARION

Clayton, what do you even know about this girl?

CLAY

I know all I need to know. I want to stay here in Greece and marry Aphrodite.

MARION

Clayton, this girl seems very nice, but you’re only 18 years old, I’m not going to let you just drop everything and stay in a foreign country.

ED

Haven’t you learned anything? The Greek police would probably have you locked away for plundering their treasures!

CLAY

Dad, it’s...

LINK

That’s when we heard the commotion upstairs. I muttered, “What now?” and turned back to browbeating my son. John the Greek was yelling, “Mr. Link! Mr. Link!” I tried to ignore it. Where do these people get off telling me what to do on my ship?

ED

Don’t go thinking you’ve ducked the ax here, I’m not done.

LINK

Then I went topside to see what everyone was yelling about.

MARION

Clayton, Didy is a wonderful girl, it was nice having her over for dinner, and I’m glad you met her, but you’ve known her a week. You can’t run off and get married to someone so soon. She barely even speaks English, and you don’t know a word of Greek.

CLAY

I can learn! I’m telling you, Mom, she’s perfect! I love her, we were meant to be together!

MARION

Then stay in touch with her. After what we’ve brought up on this expedition, the Greek government is going to be begging your father to come back. If you were meant to be together, it will work out.

CLAY

This is right, Mom. I know it’s right, and I wish you would support me.

MARION

Your father and I do support you, we support everything you do, but... well... You’re like your father, Clay. Sometimes he’s so focused on his projects that he can’t see all the details. Sometimes he needs someone to point them out for him. Most of the time he figures out a way around it, but sometimes he has to admit that he just can’t top it and give up. And you know how much your father likes to give up.

CLAY

Yeah, but Mom... You don’t know. This is special.

MARION

I’ve been married for 30 years, Clayton. Maybe you’re right. Maybe it is special. When I met your father, I knew he was the one. I had you and your brother planned out by the end of the afternoon... what your names were going to be, where you were going to school, what you would be after you got out of college. When it’s right, it’s right. Sometimes it’s not though, and you’ve got to be prepared for that. Bill ended up being a boy, the house is a lot bigger and harder to keep clean than I expected, and I couldn’t tell you the last time I went shopping in Times Square, but you learn to roll with the punches. You’ve turned out pretty much how I hoped, so at least I’ve got that.

ED

It’s the police. They’re placing me under arrest.

MAN-IN-SEA

Cast of Characters:

LINK

An inventor. Also, Ed’s father.

ED

As Link remembers himself.

MARION

Ed’s wife.

CLAY

Ed and Marion’s second son.