CARRIE'S TREASURE

John Jack Cunningham

CARRIE'S TREASURE

COPYRIGHTED

FADE IN:
EXT. FOREST ACRES VIRGINIA -- DAY
It is early morning in late summer. Forest Acres is a small town in Virginia that is encircled by the forest and rolling hills of the state park. Deer, raccoons, skunks, and black bears roam the open back yards of the homes that border the forest. A mother duck and her ducklings float across a small pond.
Forest Acres is a town that spans the ages of American history. A restored log cabin serves as the town's museum from it's frontier days. A street plaque describes its place in history. A Civil War monument with two soldiers, one for the north and one for the south, represents the pasts split political views of the border line states.
A supermarket and its mini-mall of stores represents Forest Acres' position in the present day
EXT. WILSON HOUSE -- DAY
The house is a pre-Civil War Victorian. It looks like someone has not lived in it for many years. There is no paint on the wooden boards, the windows have been broken, there are holes in the roof, and the shutters are hanging off. The property outside is overgrown with grass and shrubbery.
Two twelve year old boys, CALVIN and JACK, are standing on the front grass of the house next door looking up at the attic. Jack turns towards Calvin.
JACK
Do ya think they're really up there?
CALVIN
Mary Sue said she saw one walking around the house with a candle.
JACK
You can't believe her, she's your sister.
CALVIN
If she says they're in there, then they're in there.
A large water balloon hits the ground between them. They look at each other with their eyes wide.
INT. MRS. BERGER'S HOUSE -- DAY
In the well kept Victorian home next door, MRS BERGER, 60, a gray haired, chubby, eccentric, nosey-body, yells out of her window.
MRS BERGER
Hey you brats, get off of my grass!
The two boys take off running.
INT. APARTMENT -- DAY
It's moving day. There are neatly stacked boxes all around the living room. Each box is labeled, indicating what is enclosed; Carrie's Personal Things, Tommy's Personal Things, Mom's Personal Things, Books, Paintings, Mom's Job, Family Room Things, etc.
CARRIE SULLIVAN, 11, tomboy, clad in a New York Giant's shirt, makes her way through the maze of boxes until she comes up her own. She opens it takes out her football. TOMMY SULLIVAN, 13, glasses, nerd, clad in a Batman T-shirt and Batman cap takes a book 'The American Civil War' from his own box, and closes the box very carefully.
INT. ELEVATOR -- DAY
Tommy and Carrie are in the elevator with a BOY, Tommy's size. As the elevator drops through the floors, the boy intentionally knocks Tommy's cap off, and laughs. Carrie glances back at the boy. Tommy leans over to get his cap just as the door opens in the lobby. The boy kicks Tommy's rear, sending him flying out of the elevator. Carrie presses the 'door hold' button and turns towards the laughing boy. He YELLS IN PAIN. Carrie runs out of the elevator LAUGHING as she tosses the football to herself. The boy exits the elevator holding his nose. He looks at his hands and screams.
BOY
You little freak. You made my nose bleed.
Carrie spins around to look at him, smiles, then exits the building.
EXT. APARTMENT -- DAY
There is a large interstate moving van directly in front of the building. DONNA SULLIVAN, 33, attractive, red hair, blue eyes, soft spoken, is waving the DRIVER to come to her.
DONNA
Are you sure you know where Forest Acres is? I don't want any problems.
DRIVER
Lady, you asked me that over the phone, three times in two days. I know where it is. It's in the middle of the state forest.
A cab arrives for the children.
CARRIE
Mom, the cab's here!
DONNA
Okay kids!
Donna helps the CAB DRIVER put the luggage into the trunk. She hugs the children.
DONNA
Have a good time with your Dad. I'll see you in a week.
Tommy kisses his mother and jumps into the back seat. Carrie hugs her mother around the waist.
CARRIE
I'm not gonna like this trip Mom. You know I don't get along with Brenda.
Donna brushes Carrie's hair back with her hand.
DONNA
It's only for a week, Carrie. Do it for your Dad.
DRIVER
Lady, this is costing you money.
Donna motions to him for one more minute. She pulls Carrie close and hugs her, then she looks into the back seat.
DONNA
(To Tommy)
I want you to take care of your sister while you're on vacation.
Tommy rolls his eyes.
DONNA
(To Carrie)
No match making, young lady. Promise?
Carrie smiles.
INT. CAB -- DAY
The cab takes Carrie and Tommy over a bridge into Manhattan. Carrie has the football on her lap. Tommy's reading his book. The driver has the radio on.
RADIO ANNOUNCER
That's our program for today. I hope you enjoyed our musical trip down the yellow brick road.
There's background music from "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." Two dialogue clips come on.
DOROTHY
Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore.
LION
I do believe in spooks...I do believe in spooks...I do...I do...I do believe in spooks.
EXT. HI-RISE APARTMENT -- DAY
The cab pulls up in front of the Eastside building. The black doorman, TOM, opens the cab door and Carrie jumps out. They 'slit each other five.'
CARRIE
How ya doin' Tom?
TOM
I'm doing fine Carrie. How are you doing?
Carrie tosses him the football.
CARRIE
I got the football I wanted.
JEFF SULLIVAN, 34, handsome, blonde hair, blue eyes, exits the lobby with his girlfriend. BRENDA STOREWELL, 29, beautiful, short black hair, dark eyes, shapely. The children run up and hug their father.
TOMMY
Hi Dad!
JEFF
Hi kids, we have to leave right away. We have a 12:30 flight to Orlando.
The cab driver and doorman place the luggage in the cab trunk. Carrie gives Brenda a dirty look, then waves good-bye to Tom as she is getting into the cab.
CARRIE
Tom, say hi to your daughter for me.
TOM
I will. You write and tell me about the new house. Don't forget.
Once everyone is in the cab Carrie taps her father on his shoulder.
CARRIE
Do ya got it, Dad?
Jeff smiles at his daughter, reaches into his pocket and hands her an Ipod. Carrie quickly puts the head phones on.' Brenda glances at Jeff.
JEFF
She likes my Eric Clapton music.
EXT. CANDY STORE -- DAY
In Forest Acres a small candy store is wedged between the town's lone real estate office and the supermarket. Customers are rushing in and out for their morning papers and coffee, greeting each other by their first names, AD LIB.
BEN HILL, 30, a dark skinned, burly, black park ranger rushes from his ranger car and holds the door to the candy store for a woman who has just exited the real estate office. CHARLOTTE GRACE, 36, short brown hair and brown eyes, clad in a business suit, smiles and bows slightly to Ben.
BEN HILL
Good morning Charlotte, you're here early.
Charlotte enters the store and turns around to Ben.
CHARLOTTE
I have a woman flying in from New York City this morning. She's renting the old Wilson place.
Ben stops short in his tracks. He has to move away to let a man out, and apologizes, AD LIB. Ben's eyes are wide open.
BEN HILL
You've gotta be kidding me. Why would anyone rent that place?
Charlotte picks up a newspaper, grabs a bag of M&M's, and turns towards Ben.
CHARLOTTE
She needs a place right away and it's the only thing in her price range. She just got a job down here and she starts a week from Monday.
Ben shakes his head in disbelief and chuckles.
BEN HILL
Yeah, but the Wilson place?
Charlotte holds her hand up to cut Ben's word off.
CHARLOTTE
Don't believe everything you hear, Ben. No one ever proved any of those stories about that house. It's old and it needs work, that's all.
Again, Ben chuckles and shakes his head.
BEN HILL
I usually don't believe in ghosts, but there are so many stories about the Wilson house, I just don't know what to believe.
EXT. AIRPORT PARKING LOT -- DAY
Charlotte is walking to her car with Donna Sullivan, who's clad in a business suit.
DONNA
It's really very nice of you to pick me up at the airport like this.
CHARLOTTE
Don't mention it. I know what it's like to be a single parent. Having to do everything for your children.
DONNA
It's almost impossible. I never seem to have enough time to do anything for myself. I really appreciate this.
Again, Charlotte smiles.
EXT. WINDING ROAD -- DAY
The car passes through the state park. Charlotte glances over to Donna.
CHARLOTTE
What's your children's names again?
Donna smiles with pride.
DONNA
Carrie and Tommy.
Suddenly, Charlotte has to stop short when she notices a mother black bear and her cub crossing the road right in front of them.
DONNA
Wow! I haven't seen a bear so close since I moved from Pine Grove.
CHARLOTTE
Pine Grove, Virginia?
Donna gives a proud, sweet smile.
DONNA
That's where I was born. I moved to New York when Jeff and I married after college.
(pause)
I couldn't afford moving back there with the kids. The housing is so expensive now.
The car begins moving along the road. Deer stand at the edge of the road and dash into the woods as the car passes them.
CHARLOTTE
Don't you have family there?
DONNA
They all offered, but I want to try and do things on my own.
EXT. FOREST ACRES -- DAY
As the two women drive through the picturesque community, children of all ages are walking toward their school. The women see the school bully, MOOSE, 13, pushing a boy, 11, to the ground. Charlotte rolls down her window and yells.
CHARLOTTE
Leave the boy alone, Moose! You're much bigger than him.
(To Donna)
That kid is always beating up on someone.
DONNA
We have a few of those bullies in our old neighborhood. You get them all over, no matter where you live.

EXT. CANDY STORE -- DAY

Charlotte pulls in front of the store and stops.

CHARLOTTE
It sure is nice that your children's father took them to Florida so you can get the house set up.

DONNA
Yes, he's like that. It's just that with his manager's job in computers, he doesn't find that much time for them. We never got to see him much.
(pause)
The only time I get to talk to him, is when we're arguing about the children.

Charlotte opens the car door.

CHARLOTTE
I'll be right out. I just have to get a bag of M&M's. I think I have an addiction to them.

Both women LAUGH.

EXT. STREET IN FRONT OF THE WILSON HOUSE -- DAY

Donna's eyes are wide open as she stares in disbelief.

CHARLOTTE
I know what you're thinking. With paint and a few new pieces of glass, this old place will look great.

DONNA
Come on, Charlotte. The only thing this place can use is a bolt of lightening.

Slowly, Donna exits the car. Charlotte runs around, place her arm around her new friend. It appears she supplies some encouragement. Donna is speechless as she inches forward. Jack and Calvin walk up, bound for school. They stop and watch as the women move closer to the porch. Just as Donna is about to touch the door knob, Calvin calls out.

CALVIN
I wouldn't go in that Wilson house, it's haunted.

Donna turns to Charlotte, her eyes are open even wider.

CHARLOTTE
There's no such thing as ghosts. This house is old, and needs work, but that's all.

Jack moves closer.

JACK
Everyone in town knows that it's haunted.

Donna's finger touches the door knob and suddenly the door falls off of its hinges and crashes to the floor in a cloud of dust. Charlotte and Donna jump back expecting the worst.

JACK
You'll see. This place is haunted.

INT. MRS. BERGER'S HOUSE -- DAY

The nosey-body peers through her blinds to watch what is going on next door. She turns toward her pet parrot, CHARLES, as she fingers her hair bun.

MRS BERGER
Brats! All I need is my prize flowers destroyed.

Mrs. Berger notices the two women leaving the Wilson house. She opens the front window a little.

MRS BERGER
Maybe you can hear them talking, Charles.

EXT. WILSON HOUSE -- DAY

Front yard, Donna back peddles as she looks towards the Wilson house. She shakes her head.

DONNA
I don't know about this place. Are you sure this is the only place in my price range. There has to be something better then this. Maybe a tent or something.

CHARLOTTE
I have a couple of days vacation coming. I can help you get it ready for the kids.

The old, worn curtains at the attic window move away as if someone was looking down at the two women below.

EXT. DISNEY WORLD -- DAY

The amusement park is crowded with young families. Carrie, clad in a Dallas Cowboy's shirt, and her brother, Tommy, clad in a Mickey Mouse shirt, are racing to the Small World amusement line. Carrie wins but Tommy sneaks ahead of her. Carrie pushes him. Tommy fixes his glasses and smiles. Their father and his girlfriend, Brenda, are coming in behind them. Carrie and Tommy are pushing each other.

JEFF
I told you two before to cut it out. If you don't stop, you won't get any ice cream later.

The children stop. Carrie looks around at all the families walking by. She turns towards Tommy, speaking loud enough for her father and Brenda to hear.

CARRIE
I wish Mom was here instead of Brenda.

Her father and Tommy are aghast that she said it so Brenda could hear it. Brenda shakes her head and a slight smile breaks her lips.

JEFF
Carrie! Apologize to Brenda right now!

Carrie steps back slightly.

BRENDA
It's okay, Jeff.

CARRIE
Apologize? You told us we were allowed to say anything to each other as long as it wasn't insulting or mean. Besides, I wasn't talking to Brenda. I was talking to Tommy. It's not my fault she heard me.

JEFF
I said to apologize.

CARRIE
It's not fair. I didn't do anything wrong.

JEFF
I told you to do something, Carrie. I'm not telling you again.

Brenda holds Jeff's arm.

BRENDA
Don't worry about it sweetheart. I understand. Carrie just misses her mother.

Jeff gives his daughter a dirty look.

CARRIE
(fast)
I'm sorry.

JEFF
Say it nicely.

CARRIE
Fine. I'm sorry Brenda.

INT. SMALL WORLD -- DAY

Carrie and Tommy get into the car and the vehicle pulls away.

TOMMY
I worry about you, Carrie. I'm much older then you, I can see more. You have to give Brenda a chance.

CARRIE
Not! You're only 13 and I'm 11. Besides, I'll never give her a chance. She's not good enough for Dad! Plus I don't trust her. She's up to somethin'.

TOMMY
Don't tell me you're still trying to get Mom and Dad back together.

CARRIE
I'll never give up. They still love each other. They're just to stubborn to show it.

TOMMY
You're the stubborn one.

In the next car, Jeff and Brenda are sitting with their arms around each other.

JEFF
I'm sorry Carrie said those things to you. Sometimes, I just don't understand her.

BRENDA
It's hard for her to accept the divorce.
(pause)
So, when are you going to tell her and Tommy we plan on getting married on Thanksgiving?

JEFF
I don't know yet. Tommy shouldn't be a problem. I know he can adjust. But Carrie, she's gonna be tough.

Brenda leans over and kisses Jeff on the cheek.

BRENDA
You better do it soon, sweetheart. I don't want any trouble with her the day of the wedding. I want my wedding day to be perfect.

EXT. DISNEY WORLD -- DAY

Together, Tommy and Carrie go on the different amusements. Jeff and Brenda are close by, holding hands. The children continue to push each other. Carrie gets angry from one push, and punches Tommy in the arm.

TOMMY
(rubbing his arm)
Why'd you have to do that? We were just playing.

CARRIE
Yeah, but you didn't have to push so hard.

Carrie turns to Brenda and gives her a dirty look, and at one point sticks her tongue out. Tommy catches her.

TOMMY
Don't let Dad catch you doin' that.

Angry, Carrie shakes her fist at Tommy.

CARRIE
Why don't you mind your own business and leave me alone. You're just mad because I punched you.

Tommy follows his father and Brenda, who are walking to a food booth. A ten year old boy, who is eating an ice cream cone, mimics Carrie's fist shaking. Moments later, Carrie's LAUGHING as she runs to catch up to Tommy. The boy is CRYING as his ice cream cone is now sticking from his forehead.

INT. HOTEL ROOM -- NIGHT

Jeff and the children have a two bedroom suite, with Brenda's room right next door. Jeff pours Brenda a glass of wine. Brenda takes a sip of the wine and lays her glass down.

BRENDA
Well, did you get a chance to tell the children we're getting married?

Jeff fingers the rim of his glass.

JEFF
No, I want to do it tomorrow at breakfast while you're out shopping.

Brenda takes a potato chip from a bowl in front of her and holds it to her lips.

BRENDA
I want this wedding to be the year's best social event on the eastside. I don't want Carrie causing a scene on our day, sweetheart.

The children's bedroom door is slightly open. Tommy, who has been listening, glances over towards his sleeping sister.

EXT. WILSON HOUSE -- DAY

It is early morning. Donna and Charlotte are in front of the house, ready to go in and start the cleaning and repair work. Donna looks discouraged. A tool box and cleaning materials are at their sides. Three car loads of YOUNG ADULTS and TEENAGERS arrive at the curb, followed by two pickup trucks loaded with supplies of wood, glass, and paint. Donna is astonished, and glances toward Charlotte for an answer. Charlotte smiles and holds Donna's hand.

CHARLOTTE
The Church just started up a youth group and I volunteered to be the director, so I thought this would be a good first service project for them. I hope you don't mind.

Donna smiles.

DONNA
I'd be crazy to mind.

The teenagers GREET THE WOMEN, AD LIB, as they pass them on their way into the house. Once the volunteers are inside, the two women follow them in.

SERIES OF SHOTS:

HIGHLIGHT THE CONDITION OF THE HOUSE, REPAIR AND CLEANING PROCESS. SOME SHOTS ARE COMIC WITH CLOUDS OF DUST ENGULFING EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE.

INT. HOTEL RESTAURANT -- DAY

Breakfast is half eaten when Carrie pushes her plate away.

CARRIE
How could you, Dad?! I don't believe you could do this to Mom.

Jeff goes to hold her hand across the table and Carrie quickly pulls it away.

JEFF
Your mother and I are divorced, Honey. I have to live my life and she'll live hers. Brenda will be like your second mother.

Carrie pushes her chair back and stands up. Her eyes highlight that she can not believe what she just heard.

CARRIE
Brenda will never be my mother! I hate her!

Carrie runs out of the room and into the lobby. Jeff and Tommy glance around at all the staring families. Tommy decides to go after her and finds her sitting on the sofa.

INT. LOBBY -- DAY

He sits down next to her on the sofa.

TOMMY
Carrie it might be fun. Look at all our friends who have two mothers. They seem happy. Yeah, look at Charlie Gallo, he loves his stepmother, and still loves his real Mom.

CARRIE
I'm not going to love her and she's not going to love me, or Dad. She's two faced.

INT. JET PLANE -- DAY

Flying over the ocean, Jeff is working with his lap top computer as his children are asleep next to him. Carrie's wallet drops to the floor and spills out it contents. Jeff picks them up and notices his wedding picture with Donna. He looks at it and releases a slight SIGH. Trying to act as if she is asleep, Carrie watches him with one eye. She motions as if she is waking up and her father quickly shoves the picture back into the wallet.

INT. WASHINGTON D.C. AIRPORT TERMINAL -- DAY

Jeff and the children exit the plane gate and look around the crowd for Donna. Tommy notices her and points.

TOMMY
There's Mom! Over there by the pay phones.

Jeff hugs Tommy and shakes his hand.

JEFF
Remember to listen to your Mother, and don't give her a hard time about moving to Virginia. You're gonna like living there. I did when I was in college.

Jeff goes to say good-bye to Carrie, but she walks away.

JEFF
You're still not talking to me, Carrie? You're not even gonna say good-bye?

Ten feet away, Carrie turns toward her father, but walks backward toward her mother.

JEFF
Good-bye Carrie. I'll call you.

Carrie dashes back to her father grabs hold of him. Tears are rolling down her cheek.

CARRIE
I love you, Daddy. I love you so much.

Jeff pushes her away slightly so that he can see her face.

JEFF
I love you too. I don't want you to be angry with me over this wedding. I want you to be happy.

CARRIE
I can't stay mad at you, Dad.

Jeff smiles

JEFF
You never give up. You better go to your mother. She'll think you got lost in the crowd.

As Carrie makes her way through, Jeff eyes Donna, who looks very attractive in her business suit. Their eyes meet. As Donna and the children walk through the terminal, Jeff watches them. His New York connection is announced, AD LIB. As his plane lifts off, Donna watches.

INT. SULLIVAN CAR -- DAY

Before the car starts, Carrie leans over the seat and gives Donna a hug and kiss on the cheek.

CARRIE
You look so pretty today, Mom. Are you going somewhere?

DONNA
Yes honey. I've got to go to work. But first, I have to drop you and your brother off at home with the babysitter.

CARRIE
Babysitter! I was hoping you would stay home today. Please Mom stay home. Your boss won't miss you one day.

DONNA
I can't honey. It's my first day at the new job. I want to make a good first impression. Besides, we can really use the money. I've asked the boss if I could go in late tomorrow, so that I can take you and Tommy to school in the morning.

CARRIE
Why can't we stay home the rest of the week?

Donna puts her seatbelt on and glances back to make sure the children have theirs on.

CARRIE
Come on Mom, can we stay home tomorrow? You can show us Forest Acres.

TOMMY
I don't wanna stay home. I wanna get started as soon as possible. They've got a really cool computer department.

DONNA
Your brother's right, honey.

Carrie shakes her fist at him, Tommy smiles.

EXT. WILSON HOUSE -- DAY

The children stand next to each other, looking at the house. It has a completely different look, with its new paint job, fixed shutters, and window panes. Donna is very proud.

DONNA
So, what do you think? It's beautiful isn't it?

CARRIE
I'll tell you one thing, it's big.

TOMMY
It's old. The architecture looks like it was built before the Civil War.

Donna places her hands on his shoulders.

DONNA
I don't know when it was built. It could have been built last year for all I know. Let's go inside, I want you to see your rooms.

As they walk on the porch's wooden floor, Donna's foot breaks through the plank. She rolls her eyes.

INT. WILSON HOUSE -- DAY

At the attic window, the old curtains close. Downstairs in the hallway, MRS ANDERSON, the babysitter, middle aged woman, built like a Marine drill instructor, and facial expression to match, meets the Sullivans. Carrie rolls her eyes at Tommy.

DONNA
Hi, Mrs. Anderson. I was just going to show the kids their new rooms.

Mrs. Anderson pulls Carrie by the shoulder.

MRS ANDERSON
That's alright, Mrs. Sullivan, I'll take the children around the place, you just go off to work.

DONNA
Are you sure?

MRS ANDERSON
Handling kids is my specialty.

Carrie turns her back on her.

CARRIE
(sotto)
This is one kid she's not gonna handle.

Donna takes Tommy to the side. She brushes his hair back with her hand.

DONNA
I want you to keep an eye on your sister. Try and play with her as much as possible over the next few weeks.

Tommy rolls his eyes.

TOMMY
Come on, Mom. You know how she is.

DONNA
At least keep an eye on her until she gets some new friends.

TOMMY
Alright.

DONNA
I knew I could count on you.

Donna says good-bye to Tommy and Carrie, AD LIB, then leaves. Mrs. Anderson watches Donna pull away in the car, then turns around toward Tommy and Carrie.

MRS ANDERSON
I'm gonna tell you both once, and only once, I'm not here to be your maid, I'm only here to make sure you do the right thing.

MRS ANDERSON
No rough housing, no raiding the refrigerator, no television, and no playing music. I like it quiet when I'm watching my soaps.

She points to the children's luggage.

MRS ANDERSON
Now get those bags upstairs before I make you do fifty. Now! Get moving!

In the family room, Mrs. Anderson is setting up a lunch tray in front of the television. In the kitchen, unknown to the woman, Carrie is putting something into Mrs. Anderson's sandwich. The babysitter takes her lunch to the television. As Carrie watches, Mrs. Anderson looks at her watch, then turns on the television to a soap opera. The woman unwittingly puts her sandwich close to her mouth. A worm sticks its head from between the bread slices. The sandwich is only an inch away from Mrs. Anderson's mouth as she continues to stare at the television. Carrie takes something from a bag in the hallway. Mrs. Anderson pulls her sandwich away from her mouth in reaction to something on the soap. She takes a big bite out of it, and MAKES A SOUND that she likes it. Carrie's laughing to herself. Mrs. Anderson's about to take another bite when half of a worm falls on her tray. She jumps up SCREAMING, and runs into the hallway. Carrie shoves a snake into her face. The woman locks herself in the bathroom. When Donna arrives home, Mrs. Anderson rushes past her out the door.

MRS ANDERSON
Let me out of this house!

DONNA
What about tomorrow?

Mrs. Anderson's in a trot down the street.

MRS ANDERSON
You don't need a babysitter! You need a zoo keeper!

Donna turns toward a LAUGHING Carrie.

DONNA
What'd you do to that poor woman? Now she's doesn't want to come back.

Donna turns her back and watches Mrs. Anderson. Carrie does a slight victory dance, and Donna catches her.

DONNA
Go to your room.

CARRIE
It's not fair. I didn't tell her to leave like that.

DONNA
Get!

INT. GRAMMAR SCHOOL -- DAY

Beginning of the school day. The hallway is crowded with children, parents, and teachers. Dressed for work, Donna kisses Carrie and Tommy good-bye and exits the school building. Moose, the school bully, and his friend, BILLY, are watching the scene. Billy pushes Tommy into Moose. Moose grabs Tommy by the collar, knocking his glasses to the floor.

MOOSE
Who do you think you are pushing into me?

TOMMY
(nervous)
I...I didn't do it on purpose. Someone banged into me.

BILLY
Ya gonna take that from a nerd?

Billy shakes his head.

BILLY
This is not like you Moose.

Moose pulls Tommy close and lifts him off the floor.

MOOSE
You talk funny. Where ya from, nerd?

Carrie moves through the crowd and pulls her brother from Moose, then hands Tommy back his glasses.

CARRIE
Leave my brother alone! He didn't do anything to you.

Billy's eyes go wide.

BILLY
You know who you're talking to, girl?

Moose goes to grab Tommy's collar and Carrie SLAPS his hand. A HUSH sweeps the hallway.

CARRIE
I don't care who I'm talking to. You don't mess with my brother.

Moose LAUGHS. Billy follows suit. Carrie holds her ground and Tommy hides behind her.

CARRIE
Go start with someone else.

MOOSE
Don't this beat it all. This four eyed clown has to be protected by his little sister.

BILLY
Break his face for him.

Moose raises his hand to cut off Billy from talking. He points at Tommy.

MOOSE
Listen ya little mouse turd! Your mother and little sister ain't gonna be around all the time to help ya.

Moose then points to Carrie. Carrie SLAPS his hand away.

CARRIE
Develop some manners.

Moose smiles and shakes his head in disbelief.

MOOSE
Listen, sweetheart. You're lucky you're a girl. But next time, I won't be so nice. I don't like people making a fool out of me in front of my friends.

CARRIE
Don't blame that on me. You were a fool before I met you. I'm sure your friends know that.

Billy CHUCKLES and Moose gives him a dirty look. He starts to walk away, then turns around to Carrie and Tommy.

MOOSE
I'm gonna be looking for you two.

Carrie shakes her whole body as if she is afraid.

BILLY
Why'd ya let that girl do that, Moose? Everyone's gonna talk how you backed down from a girl.

Moose smiles at Billy.

MOOSE
This is just the beginning between us. I'm gonna have them beggin' for mercy.

BILLY
I think ya shoulda done it when everyone was looking. This is not good for our rep.

Moose shoves Billy against the wall, and walks away alone.

INT. MARINO BUSINESS SYSTEMS -- DAY

It is a modern computer office. Terminals are set up in the many office cubicles. Donna Sullivan is hard at work at her terminal. Piles of computer manuals are on the desk next to her along with a case of beautiful flowers. Pictures of Tommy and Carrie are near by. She leans over to smell the flowers then gets back to work. ROBERT FOX, 60, black, bald with neatly trimmed hair on the sides, thin mustache, clad in a business suit, passes by Donna's cubicle. Donna notices him and calls him over.

DONNA
Mr. Fox.

He enters with a big smile and points at the flowers.

FOX
I can see you received our welcoming gift. I hope you like them.

Donna smells then again and fingers a flower.

DONNA
I love them. They're so beautiful.

FOX
I'm glad you like em'.

Mr. Fox sits on the edge of the desk.

FOX
I just got off the phone with your former boss, Mr. Stewart. He said nothing but great things about you and your work.

Fox CHUCKLES.

FOX
In fact, he said he did everything in his power to keep you there.

DONNA
Yes, Mr. Stewart was a great boss. I couldn't have been happier there.

Donna presses the enter key on her computer.

DONNA
I was happy there, but I wanted to move back to Virginia.

FOX
The way you've been pounding out on that terminal of yours, I can see New York lost a great resource.

DONNA
Thank you.

Donna smells her flowers.

INT. WILSON HOUSE -- DAY

CARRIE BRINGS A FIELD MOUSE INTO THE HOUSE IN A SHOE BOX, AND SHOWS THE NEW BABYSITTER. THE WOMAN JUMPS ON THE KITCHEN TABLE TO GET AWAY FROM IT. CARRIE PICKS UP THE SMALL ANIMAL BY THE TAIL AND BRINGS IT CLOSE TO THE WOMAN. WHEN DONNA RETURNS FROM WORK, THE BABYSITTER RUNS OUT. CARRIE DOES HER VICTORY DANCE AND IS SENT TO HER ROOM. ANOTHER BABYSITTER, WHO LOOKS LIKE A WITCH, CHASES CARRIE WITH A BROOM. THEY GO OFF THE SCENE AND RETURN WITH CARRIE CHASING THE BABYSITTER WITH THE BROOM.

The fourth babysitter, PAM, a teenage high school girl, is talking on the phone in the family room. Carrie enters the room in a panic.

CARRIE
Come quick! Come quick!

The girl puts the phone down and runs out into the hallway. Tommy is watching from the kitchen. Carrie sneaks back into the family room and sticks a huge wad of gum on the ear piece of the phone. Pam reenters as Carrie hides behind the sofa.

PAM
I don't know what...

She pulls the phone away and the gum is attached to her hair. She SCREAMS. Donna returns home and Pam shoves ten dollars into Donna's hand.

PAM
Take this money and please don't ever call me again.

Pam runs out the door. Donna CALLS OUT.

DONNA
Carrie, get to your room.

Tommy meets Carrie at the top of the stairs.

TOMMY
I know what you're trying to do, and so does Mom.

Carrie makes a face and moves her head from side to side.

TOMMY
Well, it's not going to work. Mom has a plan.

Carrie pushes him as she enters her room.

INT. WILSON HOUSE -- DAY

The large country kitchen is done in with simple but quaint furnishings. The PHONE RINGS and Carrie and Tommy race from the family room to get it. Tommy trips and his glasses fall to the floor. As he picks them up, Carrie answers the phone.

CARRIE
Sullivan's truck stop. You got the money, we got the mush.

JEFF
Carrie honey, can you hold on?

Carrie covers the mouth piece and turns towards Tommy.

CARRIE
It's Dad!

INT. JEFF'S WORK OFFICE -- DAY

Jeff's office is neat, yet there are stacks of papers and computer listings everywhere. Jeff's sitting at the desk holding the phone with one hand and an office memo in the other. An EMPLOYEE enters, and hands Jeff a report.

EMPLOYEE
Can you sign this report for me, Jeff. Mr. Cunningham's waiting for it.

Jeff flips a few pages then signs it.

JEFF
Did you fix those spelling words?

The employee smiles and closes the door as he leaves.

JEFF
Thank you for waiting Carrie. I'm very busy today. I've been working very hard.

Jeff takes a sip from his coffee mug, labeled 'World's Best Dad.'

JEFF
I have to talk to you about something very important, honey. Let me say everything before you cut in.

INT. WILSON HOUSE -- DAY

Carrie's smile turns to a frown as she listens to her father over the phone. She sits down.

CARRIE
You've moved the wedding day to Columbus Day! Why? You can't do that. Columbus Day is only a month away.

Carrie's eyes begin to fill with tears.

CARRIE
Dad, why are you letting Brenda do this? Don't you have a say in this? What, are you afraid of her?

She snaps a pencil that was laying on the table.

CARRIE
I want to see you before then. Can you come visit us this weekend? Please!

JEFF
I can't, honey. Not this weekend.

CARRIE
Then can Tommy and me go up to visit you in New York? We won't be any trouble. You won't even know we're there.

JEFF
Brenda and I will be very busy.

CARRIE
What do you mean you're going to be busy with Brenda? We're you're children. I don't believe you, Dad!

Carrie throws the phone, runs out the back door, and into the yard. Tommy picks up the phone.

TOMMY
Dad...Dad? Are you still there?

EXT. WILSON HOUSE -- DAY

The Wilson backyard borders the state park. Carrie walks behind the old carriage house and sees a young deer. She inches toward the animal.

INT. WILSON HOUSE -- DAY

The old worn curtains move away as if someone is looking down at her.

EXT. WILSON HOUSE -- DAY

CARRIE
Are you lost little deer? I'll help you find your parents.

The deer runs off into the woods and Carrie follows. She tries to keep up, but slips while crossing the stream and falls into the mud.

INT. WILSON HOUSE -- DAY

In the family room Tommy is changing the channels on the television when he comes to a channel showing black bears. There's an interview with Ben Hill.

BEN HILL
During the summer months, park bears develop some bad habits with the help of our tourists, maybe even some of our own town's people.
(pause)
People spoil the animals by feeding them scrapes from the table or picnic baskets. Now the bears want more and they won't take no for an answer. They'll do anything to get it. Even steal from garbage cans.

INTERVIEWER
Ben, are these bears dangerous to the public? Are they something we should be afraid of?

BEN HILL
Normally, bears are more afraid of people, then you are afraid of them. They won't bother you unless they feel threatened or think their young are threatened. They're extremely protective of their young.

Donna comes in from work. As the television interview continues. Tommy speaks to his mother. The television shows garbage left on a picnic table and a bear rummaging through it. A cub is at it's side.

TOMMY
Did you ask your boss about your plan?

Donna lays her briefcse down, and Tommy turns the television low.

DONNA
He likes the idea. He said he was going to recommend it himself.

Donna kicks off her shoes and rubs her feet.

DONNA
Where's Carrie? Is she out playing?

TOMMY
She went out back, about two hours ago. Dad and her had a disagreement. It really upset her.

DONNA
Two hours? She could be lost in those woods!

Tommy glances at the television which is still showing the bears.

EXT. WILSON HOUSE -- DAY

Near the face of the woods, Donna and Tommy are CALLING OUT TO CARRIE, AD LIB. Mrs. Berger sticks her head out from her back window.

MRS BERGER
Stop the yelling before I call the police.

Carrie exits the woods, covered in mud.

INT. WILSON HOUSE -- DAY

In the kitchen Donna is on the phone, arguing with Jeff.

DONNA
Why can't you see past your own nose? You know how this child feels about your relationship with Brenda!

JEFF
My getting married is not selfish. Getting remarried happens everyday.

DONNA
You know I'm not talking about you getting remarried. It's your lack of understanding about how she feels. She's just a kid!

Up at the top of the stairs, Carrie is listening to her parents argue about who's fault everything is, AD LIB. The young girl hates to hear her parents argue and you can see it on her face. She hears her mother hang up the phone. When she thinks her mother is coming up the stairs, Carrie backs up into a door, and a skeleton key falls from a door ledge. After realizing that no one is coming up the stairs, she tries the key on the door, and finds it to be an empty closet. she tries another door, and finds the stairs to the attic. She climbs slowly through the layers of cob webs. She sees a spider and tries to pick it up, but the insect runs into a hole.

INT. WILSON HOUSE -- DAY

In the kitchen, Donna is sitting on a chair when Tommy comes up behind her and hugs her.

TOMMY
It's okay, Mom. Things will settle down with Dad once the wedding's over.

Donna hugs Tommy's hand and pulls him in front of her.

DONNA
I have a surprise for you, young man. I can tell you my plan.
(pause)
We're getting a computer installed tomorrow in the family room.

Tommy's face turns to all smiles.

DONNA
My boss is giving me one at home, so I can do a lot of my work here. This way I can be home with you and Carrie more.

TOMMY
I can use it right?!

DONNA
Only if I'm not using it for work.

INT. WILSON ATTIC -- DAY

Carrie is walking around the attic which is filled with antique furniture and novelties. She is sad. She picks up a porcelain doll, and hugs it.

CARRIE
I wish you were a real friend. Then at least I would have a friend.

She brushes the dust off the dress.

CARRIE
We could talk. Tell each other our problems.

She wipes a smudge from the doll's face.

CARRIE
I wish you could understand about parents and divorce. About brothers, and school, and things like that.
(pause)
It so hard being a kid. No one really understands you.

She takes the doll and walks around looking around at everything. She hears a noise downstairs, lays the doll on a chair and walks to the top of the stairs and looks down. Suddenly, she hears her NAME BEING CALLED, AD LIB, from a corner of the attic. She walks over to where the elderly voice came from. She is standing before an old painting of two elderly men, and a small black and white spotted dog, sitting on a 19th century sofa. Confused, she walks back to the stairs. Again her NAME IS CALLED, AD LIB. She returns to the painting. Suddenly, the dog BARKS and wags its tail. Carrie jumps back and falls into a chair. GEORGE WILSON, grey hair and long mustache, stands up in front of their sofa.

GEORGE
Don't be afraid. We're here to help you. I'm George Wilson and this is my brother Ulysses.

He opens his hand toward ULYSSES, a tall, lanky, bald man, with a long beard. Carrie pinches herself repeatedly. Her eyes are open as wide as they go.

CARRIE
(sotto)
This can't be happening. This isn't real.

GEORGE
We're ghosts, but we're not here to scare you, Carrie. We want to be your friend.

Carrie shakes her head as Ulysses pulls on his beard. The dog continues to wag her tail. She BARKS, and Carrie jumps back in her seat

GEORGE
Oh, I'm sorry. This is our dog, Happy. She's the brains of this outfit, and the one who keeps us in line.

Carrie slowly inches forward on her chair.

CARRIE
Wilson. You're the people this house was named after.

George gives a warm smile.

GEORGE
Yes, that's us. Our father built this place in 1845, with the help of his family.

Ulysses is silent, but continues to pull of his long beard. Happy continues to wag her tail.

CARRIE
I can't believe this is happening. I must be dreaming.

George CHUCKLES.

GEORGE
It's true. We're ghosts
(pause)
We're stuck in this house.

Carrie stands up and moves closer to the painting.

CARRIE
Why are you talking to me and not the rest of my family.

GEORGE
We want to help you. Your parents.

Carrie makes a facial expression like she is shocked.

CARRIE
How do you know what's going on?

GEORGE
We saw and heard everything. Our father made a strong house, but he didn't make the walls too thick. He always wanted to hear if our ma was calling for him.

Downstairs, Donna CALLS UP TO CARRIE, AD LIB.

CARRIE
I can't stay. My turn for the television is now. My mother's probably wondering what I'm up to.

Moments later, Carrie's smiling, as she runs downstairs, holding a small wooden box in her hands.

THE END OF ACT I
(29 printed pages up to this point)

Jack's Email: ProudCapMarine@earthlink.net

On a recent road trip to New Orleans, on the return trip to New Jersey, John "Jack" Cunningham and his wife, Joan took a detour into Georgia to visit the grave of Jack's Marine buddy who was killed in Vietnam War. As Jack paid his respects to his Vietnam War buddy, Joan cleaned 47 years of mold that had covered the honorable veteran's headstone. Below is the 'before and after' pictures of Joan's care. Please reach out and do the same to forgotten veterans' graves. They deserve to be remembered...

...............................................

The Tree With My Name On It
ATTACK ON CAP 2-9-2 The DUC DUC REFUGEE VILLAGE
May 21, 1970 A communist terrorist RPG that was meant for me hit this tree. I was thrown about 20 feet and almost fell into a village well. Immediately after the tree was hit, the area was sprayed by the terrorists with their machine-gun and AK 47 rifles' fire. I was 20 feet away. The explosion saved my life...

Please Press The Picture For A Bigger Copy

PTSD Vets Are Fighters And Surviviors...
At Times, However, We Can Use Some Extra Support From Those Who Really Care, And Who Are Thankful For Our Sacrifices, And Service For America.

Three Brothers: The Oldest Served In The Army, The Next Served In The Navy, The Youngest Served In The Marine Corps

This is an act by the State of New Jersey Supreme and Superior Courts to deceive, an act of fraud, an act to manipulate due process. Statute of limitations issue is bogus here… fraud has no limitation in federal court, and Statute of limitations runs from the time the fraud is found…                                                               Comments of a Constitutional Attorney, his full comments are below.

A Proud Veteran's Struggle For Justice
by Will Wagner

John "Jack" Cunningham always wanted to volunteer in the Marines and volunteer he did; one month after he graduated from famous Power Memorial Academy. He grew up watching patriotic films on television about the heroism of America's overall military in World War II and Korea; his older brothers served in the military: one in the US Army, the other in the Navy. A brother-in-law, who Jack was close to, served in the Marines during the Korean War in the 1st Marine Division at the Chosin Reservoir.

Eventually, Jack's dream of serving in the Marines came true and he went to boot camp at Parris Island (famous for its depiction in Kubrick's take on Vietnam Full Metal Jacket). After his training, at the age of nineteen Jack was sent to California where he received orders from the Combined Action Program (CAP): he was to go to special training school in Da Nang. Jack had watched war movies when he was younger but this wasn't a movie on tv; this was Vietnam.   A life long of never-to-forget memories jammed into one short year. But he wanted to serve for America like so many brave and honorable Americans before him. Like all Marines, he was extremely proud of his Marine uniform picture that he earned while in Parris Island Marine Boot Camp.

Please Press The Picture For A Bigger Copy

Although at 19 years old, the skinny New York City boy thought, he knew so much. His high school, Power Memorial had boys from around the city and from around the world. He was about to learn so much more. Jack knew the battle was going to be intense, with many hardships and violence, but he didn't know it was going to be as intense, rewardless, and somewhat disgraceful when he came home. For this was a different, and especially unique time for America's fighting men and women. The parades of honor and respect were no more. This type of negative attitude toward our military would last for many decades... And Jack, like so many other Vietnam Era vets, were about to fully learn it the hard way. They were about to fight this war alone.

The small CAP units served round the clock in Vietnamese villages where they defended the villagers from various levels of terrorist attacks. The young American Marines used their weapons of war, but they also used friendship and kindness just as much and at times, even more.  The warriors treated the people using basic average human instinct and character.  They were nicknamed "the Peace Corps volunteers with rifles." The goal of these American Marines were to teach the peasants a better way to fish and farm, not hand them fish and rice.  This truth was the complete opposite image of our military, what the American news media was highlighting every night.

But the truth about the Marine Corps' Combined Action Program was far more ominous: many times, CAPs were killed almost as soon as they were replaced. The tiny units consisted of only a handful of Marines and a U.S. Navy Corpsman per village and attacks were often.

The U.S. Navy Corpsman were special and unique. They were there for caring for the Marines, but also the daily, long line of Vietnamese villagers needing regular health care. The Marines, including Jack, helped with bandaids and giving babies soapy baths. Any complex health condition, the villager would be sent to a Marine base by helicopter or Jeep. Regardless of the health condition, payment was always just a smile.
For the young, Americans supplying the health care, it was like a new TV episode of Mash everyday. No Vietnamese peasant was ever turned away without health care. Many friendships on both sides were created. United States Navy Corpsmen became popular village celebrities.  Jack heard years after the war that one Navy CAP Corpsman, Doc O'Brien even personally paid for his village's school to be built.

At first the CAPs consisted of Marines who volunteered for the units, but as more and more horrifying stories of violence, brutal conflict, and high casualties began to spread, Marines had to be assigned. For some CAP Teams, they were known as Suicide Squads. The only thing for most CAP units, they did not even have a squad of Marines living in their village.   Only on paper, the teams were a little more than a fortified squad.

Jack was assigned to the Duc Duc resettlement village where conflict almost immediately greeted him. There were many times where death was certain- times that many of us who have never been in the heat of battle could never understand. There is no question of Jack's and the other CAPs bravery. Like in all wars, for most Americans in Vietnam bravery was routine. Unfortunately, stories of Cap units stretched far too thin beating the odds and saving the lives of villagers are hardly told. Far more people know of the tragedies like the massacre of My Lai village where it was the atrocities of Americans rather than the many stories of those like Jack's. The American News Media and Hollywood became extremely rich from pushing fake news stories and lies. Most American people would believe what ever the news media and Hollywood would put out. Why would they lie...

Viet Cong terrorists loved using the tools of violent death on innocent village people. To the communists everything was terrorism. The more vicious, random and heartless the attacks were on innocent people, the more control they had over the families of the village. But small American Marine CAP Teams stood in their way.

The Duc Duc Resettlement (Refugee) Village that Jack's CAP 2-9-2 unit defended had a population in the thousands while, with the exception of a handful of villagers who fought alongside the Americans, there were just on average of eight marines and as few as four at any given time. Four teenage Americans in a Vietnamese peasant-farming village of thousands. There were no 'safe-places' for these American college-age kids. But the Marines were not looking for any safe places. They were there to help and protect innocent people like American service men and women did throughout our country's history.

The confusion of which villagers were sympathetic to the US forces and which were sympathetic to the Communists created a situation rife with paranoia. There were constant rumors of communists infiltrating the village. Communications between the CAPs and the villagers was often mangled by language barriers. Enemy propaganda circulated constantly exploiting the CAPs obvious vulnerabilities, especially the size of the units. Threats of the units to be wiped out were almost daily. Intelligent reports of hundreds of communists coming to attack the Marines and village kept everyone on extreme edge. Regardless of the bigger odds facing them, the village-Americans were their to protect the innocent people.  Semper Fi - Always Faithful was in their blood.

Jack was wounded three different times in and around his village of Duc Duc. He received one Purple Heart, because the other two wounds were minor. During one of his units daily patrol's, he stepped on a large booby trap that never exploded. During one intense combat action outside the village, Jack's buddy George Dros of Burlington Flats, NY credited Jack with saving his life and that of two other Marines, when Jack intentionally made himself a target for Viet Cong terrorists in order to save his three buddies.

Many times, Jack's worst moments weren't during heat of battle but the rare times of calm when he could actually process what was going on: the fear of attacks at any moment and the paranoia that the enemy might be hiding amongst the same people he was trying to protect. Beyond that was the bigger picture: he didn't know who he was fighting or why he was fighting. His generation was divided between those who had their doubts but didn't voice disrespect and those who protested violently. In May 1970, the shooting deaths of four anti-war protesting students at Kent State made this same mental conflict even worse as the line between countrymen and enemies blurred even further.

This extreme stress and pressure at such a vulnerable time left a permanent impression on Jack. The fact that the local communists had a bounty on each of the Americans heads. The uncertainty of enemy attacks, the frustration with the treatment of his own countrymen, and- most importantly- the confusion over what the ultimate goal was with the war created the perfect storm in his head. Added to this, Jack's unit was shocked to find a Viet Cong tunnel that contained, $5,000 in American green currency, $3,000 in military currency, and- most painful of all- boxes of clothing donated by students from the Berkley University in California. Students the same age as Jack were protesting and supporting the very enemy killing off marines and Vietnamese peasants left and right. As small a gesture as the clothing was, it was the worst stab in the back Jack could have ever gotten from his peers back home in America. He felt that his buddies and him were being betrayed by those who should have been supporting them. Jack felt very a lone.   He wondered how World War II veterans felt, when they were battling in their war.

On July 17, 1970, Jack was part of a five Marine patrol outside his village that got pinned down and surrounded for hours. Another CAP Team from another village had to come to their rescue. However, it too got pinned down. Marine helicopter gunships and two Navy F-4 fighter jets came and bailed out both CAP Teams.

In August 1970, an event would occur that would never leave him the same again. After switching patrols one evening with another marine, a surprise attack would result in his replacement losing his legs then dying from the blood loss. The tragic death would be one that stood out amongst the many other bloody incidents during Jack's time in Vietnam. In his mind, he was at fault rather than the enemy. If he hadn't switched patrols, the other man would be alive. Jack would remain haunted by the death long after he was safe from the daily horrors of the war. Around the time of the death, Jack would receive news and clippings that the Vietnam War memorial in his hometown had been vandalized twice by protesters. The anti-military protesters attacked by night like communist, Viet Cong terrorists the names of the town's eight Vietnam War dead with tar and black paint. Already bitter, this information served to only rub more salt in Jack's wounds. Many of today's patriots would almost feel the pain, he was under. WHY...   Jack felt extremely alone. But he knew he still had to do his job.

Conditions worsened when word began to spread that the CAPs were going to pull out of the area. The villagers felt betrayed and their relations with the Marines cooled considerably. Night watches consisted of constant wakefulness leaving Jack and his Marine buddies perpetually exhausted. Any wrong move meant death; any wrong action meant further ostracizing from the villagers. His very sanity became a delicate tightrope as the extreme conditions weighed down everyone around him. Finally, President Nixon announced the withdrawals of the troops freeing Jack from his torment. He left in February 1971 but leaving the battlegrounds would be bittersweet. A few months later in March and April, successive Viet Cong attacks destroyed to complete ashes the Duc Duc resettlement village killing hundreds of the same villagers Jack had previously been tasked to protect.

Jack returned to the United States with the memories of the war, and stupid questions of how many babies he was forced to kill and did he ever have to burn his village down, but as time went on, they seemed to fade away. There were some events in the future that would create even more emotional turmoil: the fall of Saigon in 1975 would be especially painful as he recounts how he felt when he learned the news: "A lot of sadness and a lot of anger, even rage. I felt everything was a pure waste." To put the 1975 fall of Vietnam into perspective, just thirty years before America was celebrating the triumphant victory of the Allied forces against the Axis. Now, nearly forty years after the fall, many veterans of the Iraq War know a similar bitterness when the country they fought to liberate fell into the hands of ISIS.

Life began to slowly go back to normal. Jack settled on Long Island and eventually in northwestern New Jersey, started a family, and began a career running computer systems at Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield in Manhattan. His experience with the military proved to be useful for him as he became increasingly more successful. By the 1980s, life was good for Jack. He was thought highly of by his supervisors, senior management, his peers and was responsible for up to 17 employees. Although he had more employees on his computer staff than in his CAP Team, Jack begun to think of his team of computer programmers and analysts as his own CAP Team. His Subscriber Data Processing Team were now his buddies. The job was somewhat stressful but he handled it well before things began to change unexpectedly in 1985. Stress from the job were starting to trigger some intense memories of the village.

In 1980, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder was added to the DSM-III by the American Psychiatric Association. PTSD has since become closely associated with veterans from Vietnam and for good reason: 31% are believed to suffer from it. While the severity of the condition can vary from patient to patient, it can be debilitating for those who have it worst. PTSD can manifest itself in minor ways for years as anxiety or intrusive flashbacks with very little effect on a patient's day to day life. Sometimes, years can pass before it causes serious issues as was the case with Jack, who began to experience serious problems around 1985 but managed to keep working for sometime while his condition slowly deteriorated.

At the time, like many other Vietnam vets, Jack kept his thoughts, memories and feelings to himself. Socially, he started to isolate.   Since he was having memories of the war almost everyday, Jack started writing down his experiences from serving in the Combined Action Program (CAP). In a short period of time, he ended up writing 8 short stories of his village life.

Breaking through the stigma of PTSD was extremely hard. Besides, no one really wanted to talk to Vietnam vets about the war. And Vietnam vets did not want to talk to people who could not understand or relate.  Thanks to Hollywood, certain news-hound-celebrities, the news media and even some politicians, the image of PTSD Vietnam vets scared many in the general public. The caricature of Vietnam veterans as lunatic baby-killers and village-burners was still fresh in many Americans' minds. Jack's feelings of battling alone became stronger. To fight the negative feelings and images, Jack started letting family and friends at work read his short stories.   To his utter amazement people liked them and found them extremely interesting. Many people asked to read all 8 stories. Based on the feedback from readers, he started to think that maybe he could help change the negative image of Vietnam vets. Jack wanted to fight back. He didn't think that he was a hero, but he strongly felt that he served with heroes. There were two million real heroes that served in Vietnam. Besides, having people read the experiences and stories was much easier than talking about them.

With the grace of God and prayer, Jack finally reached out to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Using federal Veterans Administration's (VA) medications and therapy to cope, Jack carried on with life as usual, but with each year his memories weighed him down further. Finally, in 1989, he was no longer able to work. It is common with many who suffer from PTSD- like sufferers from severe forms of anxiety or depression- to become chronically unemployed due to the difficulties their condition imposes on them. In this day and age, there is far more leeway for someone with a mental illness to get help and recognition. In 1989, however, many people's knowledge of PTSD came from movies like First Blood where the main character John Rambo suffers from a psychotic break due to his experiences in Vietnam. PTSD veterans had been stereotyped as crazy and able to snap at any time. This belief caused many of sufferers to remain in the shadows because of the fear of being ostracized for their shortcomings. Far to often, brave and honorable veterans with PTSD were judged for the false and weak images of the stigma of PTSD. Many people say that tens-of-thousands took their own lives, because of it.

While Jack did seek help, he didn't get better. However, he continued his writing about his Vietnamese village life.   He felt that Hollywood needed to tell the truth about Vietnam veterans.  He started to write to Hollywood movers and shakers. Although he received a number of autograph pictures from stars, he did receive two very promising responses from two of his heroes: Actor Jimmy Stewart and Movie Director John Huston.

Twice Jack would be hospitalized at VA facilities in 1986 and 1987 for PTSD; both times, he was sent gifts and support by his employees and friends. He seemed to have good support but in 1989, the memories of friends' deaths during the war created intense survivor's guilt. This, along with life's stresses, created the perfect storm. Oftentimes, those with PTSD will not experience worrisome symptoms until they've gone through an extended illness like pneumonia or influenza; others won't have symptoms until they enter a period of extreme stress like having issues at work or with family. With Jack, his own thoughts became his worst enemy. As the good memories started flooding back into Jack's head, the bad memories came just as fast. He had no switch or filters to regulate his thoughts. He could no longer function.

Jack would continue in this way until 1996 around the time of the birth of his fifth child. He had to be again hospitalized in a VA hospital for nearly four months because of PTSD which obviously caused problems in his personal life. The loss of two older sisters each to cancer within two years did not help. As his mental state tore him apart, his domestic life caused him further pain. In 1999, Jack's wife filed for divorce. The divorce suit would be only the beginning of Jack Cunningham's struggle for justice as lawsuit after lawsuit exposed the corruption of the New Jersey justice system.

Since the 9-11 terrorist attacks, most of America's hearts and minds were open to the sacrifices and truths of America's Vietnam Veterans. Jack's writing goal of trying to improve the image of Vietnam vets was no longer necessary.   The truth was coming out on its own. But Jack still wanted to follow through.

Now, he was facing a new battle with the New Jersey courts as a plaintiff.   A battle even more intense than he ever fought in. In the end, Jack would want federal criminal corruption and fraud charges against a number of high level New Jersey Supreme Court lawyers for protecting one of their own.
*

To handle his divorce suit, Jack hired a locally, well-known, law firm out of Morristown, New Jersey, Maynard & Truland, LLC. He paid them a retainer check, which they cashed within two days and expected a routine handling of his case, but things only fell apart from there. It was as if his lawyer and law firm didn't care he had PTSD. Sometimes, it felt like that they were even trying to take advantage of his veteran disability.

Deadlines were missed and Jack's needs were ignored. Jack's lawyer was not even returning his phone calls. For whatever reason, the firm was grossly inadequate in their handling of the divorce suit even allowing for it to enter into default; a fact they neglected to tell Jack until it was too late. On the way out the door to visit his older sister in a NYC hospital, who was getting a major operation for lung cancer, the third to have cancer, he was notified by mail from family court that he was now in divorce default for no activity on the case. The misrepresentation given by the firm was so poor that Jack's own ex-wife wrote to the courts complaining about their woeful behavior saying that Jack was, for all intents and purposes, representing himself. All that the firm managed to do was overcharge him an extra $25.00 an hour over the contracted rate that they had agreed on. What made it ever more disgracefully, interesting was that right in the Maynard & Truland law firm's own printed Invoice was that they were billing Jack for their own Divorce Default removal. The Maynard & Truland law firm was completely acting without attorney ethics. To Jack, he felt that they were acting above the law. He could not understand why they were doing this. Again, he even thought that they might be taking advantage of his PTSD disability. He could not understand it. This was his own law firm that he already had paid. His stress was building. It had nothing to do with the divorce. It all had to do with his own law firm's unprofessionalism.  But he wanted to fight back. PTSD vets were not there to be taken advantage of. Just like he fought to save the innocent people of the Duc Duc Refugee Village, Jack felt he was battling to save future PTSD vets and even average New Jersey citizens from discrimination and fraud. No one should be above our laws.

Jack was rightfully angry over how he had been treated and took his case to the New Jersey Supreme Court local, State Attorney Ethics Committee. This would lead to even further problems for Jack since a partner of Maynard & Trudell actually served on the Ethics board: Robert Correale. This Robert Correale was the same lawyer who was supposed to serve on Jack's behalf in court but never once spoke and was obviously unprepared. Cunningham soon faced an enemy far more stealthy and far more cruel than that of the Viet Cong decades before. He was now going to take on the cold, faceless courts of New Jersey and, later, the Federal justice system.

The first response Jack received from the State Ethics Committee was one that simply stated he should get a different attorney. This, of course, was far from satisfactory: what about the horrible representation Jack received by the law firm and, by extension, Robert Correale? A document, sent by Correale to the same Ethics committee that he was on the board of, defended his law firm. The ethics violations that Jack alleged were to be investigated by- of all people- Robert Correale and the other lawyers on the committee, who Correale supervised!

In any other setting, this would be considered an extreme violation of the legal system, a major Conflict of Interest in the very least. However, it was permitted. A series of questionable events would occur which illustrates the grave injustices that Jack has faced for over 17 years. Correale would use his influence on the Ethics committee to remove himself from blame and, later, court recordings related to a future law suit (mentioned below) "disappeared" before they could be officially transcribed. Finally, if that weren't enough, Correale mocked Jack's struggle with PTSD and brought a lawsuit claiming that he owed his law firm an additional $2,000.

The judge handling the law suit threw the suit out but not before adding that Jack had gathered enough evidence to warrant another lawsuit. These remarks could not be recovered when Jack was preparing for his counter suit. How all of this occurred seems like a wild conspiracy that could only be pure fiction but it's all true and it plagued Jack daily. His PTSD was going through the roof and Jack's VA doctors wanted to hospitalize him for the exacerbation. Already reeling from a divorce and his ongoing struggles with PTSD, he had to deal with the bureaucratic nightmare of the New Jersey legal system. He had to continue fighting. He was all alone in this fight just like so many times thirty years before in his CAP unit in Vietnam.

Soon, though, Jack wouldn't be alone. Many are familiar with the Marine Corps motto: "Semper Fi" which stands for "Semper Fidelis" a Latin term meaning "always faithful". Indeed, the Marines were always faithful to Jack as a number of the Marines he served with in the past- and a number of other vets who learned of his struggle- reassured him that he was NOT alone in his fight. For thirteen years, Jack led a letter writing campaign that went all the way up to then-governor James Mcgreevey who had the Office of Attorney Ethics to state that if Robert Correale were to use his position on the State Ethics board to investigate Jack's case it would be a major Conflict of Interest and ethics violation. After months of writing and Ccing everyone in the New Jersey State Government, Jack finally received a letter from New Jersey's Supreme Court Director of Attorney Ethics that they realize there is a Conflict of Interest, if Robert Correale own attorney ethics committee investigated him and his Maynard & Truland law firm. This was a small victory for Jack but he went on. The investigation was moved to another nearby ethics committee and a few of the involved lawyers were told to write up sworn certifications of what was their version of Jack Cunningham's charges against them. One of the law firm's partners, Joe Truland was strangely excused from writing up his own sworn certification.

In about two weeks, the Maynard and Truland sworn certifications were released to the NJ Supreme Court Office of Attorney Ethics, along with copies to Jack. These Certifications were filled with perjuries, vague, misleading and contradicting statements. Robert Correale had the most detailed certification, which was filled with the most perjury, vague and misleading statements. Being a NJ Supreme Court Attorney Ethics committee member himself, he was probably used as the biggest liar for a reason. In two areas of his sworn certification, Correale even openly mocked Jack's PTSD.   Nothing was questioned. Strangely, the certifications were accepted by the committee supervisors without question with no supporting documentation and evidence as well.    What made it even more stranger was the fact that Jack himself supplied detailed evidence and documents:   the law firm's own contract, invoices, court filed letters, court filed documents, and even official-federal Veterans Affairs Medical Records that highlighted the impact the corruption and fraud was having on Jack's PTSD. All the committee supervisors had to do was review Jack's evidence and compare it to the certifications. The committee sat on their decision for months.

Jack's letter writing campaign did not die down but he continued for justice. He would write to Governors Richard Codey, Jon Corzine, and the current Governor Chris Christie but there has still not been Justice. Codey, Jon Corzine and Chris Christie never even returned a letter to Jack. Yet before news cameras, each of these New Jersey governors praised veterans and highlighted the importance of giving veterans respect and benefits that they earned.

*

To handle his divorce suit, Jack hired Maynard & Truland, LLC and informed them in detail that he was PTSD disabled from heavy combat in the Vietnam War. He signed their contact, paid them a agreed upon retainer check that the law firm cashed within three days and expected a routine handling of his case, but things only fell apart from there. Because of no of action from the law firm, deadlines were missed and Jack's needs were ignored. For whatever reason, the firm was grossly inadequate in their handling of the divorce suit even allowing for it to enter into default; a fact they neglected to tell Jack until it was too late. The representation given by the firm was so poor that Jack's own ex-wife wrote to the courts complaining about their woeful behavior saying that Jack was, for all intents and purposes, representing himself. All that the firm managed to do was charge him an extra $25.00 an hour that they had agreed on.
Jack was rightfully angry over how he had been treated and took his case to the local, New Jersey State Supreme Court Attorney Ethics Committee. This would lead to even further problems for Jack since a partner of Maynard & Trudell actually served on the same Attorney Ethics committee: Robert Correale. Robert Correale's law firm's website listed Correale as not only being on the same committee, but listed Correale as their Vice-Chairman. This Robert Correale was the same lawyer who was supposed to serve on Jack's behalf in court but never once spoke and was obviously unprepared. Cunningham soon faced an enemy far more stealthy and far more cruel than that of the Viet Cong decades before. He was now going to take on the cold, faceless courts of New Jersey and, later, the Federal justice system.

The first response Jack received from the State Ethics Committee was one that simply stated that he should get a different law firm. This, of course, was far from satisfactory: what about the horrible representation Jack received by his law firm and, by extension, Robert Correale? A document, sent by Correale to the same Ethics committee that he was on the board of, defended his law firm. The ethics violations that Jack alleged were to be investigated by- of all people- Robert Correale!

In any other setting, this would be considered an extreme violation of the legal system. However, it was permitted. A series of questionable events would occur which illustrates the grave injustices that Jack has faced for over a decade. Correale would use his influence on the Ethics committee to remove himself and his law firm, Maynard & Truland from blame and, later, many court recordings related to a future law suit (mentioned below) "disappeared" before they could be officially transcribed. Finally, if that weren't enough, Correale mocked Jack's struggle with PTSD and brought up a lawsuit claiming that he owed his law firm a further $2,000.

The judge handling the law suit threw the suit out but not before adding that Jack gathered enough evidence to warrant another lawsuit for Legal Malpractice. These remarks could not be recovered when Jack was preparing for his counter suit. How all of this occurred seems like a wild conspiracy that could only be pure fiction but it's all true and it plagued Jack daily. Already reeling from a divorce and his ongoing struggles with PTSD, he had to deal with the bureaucratic nightmare of the New Jersey legal system. He was all alone in this fight just like so many times thirty years before in his CAP unit in Vietnam.

Soon, though, Jack wouldn't be alone. Many are familiar with the Marine Corps motto: "Semper Fi" which stands for "Semper Fidelis" which is Latin for "always faithful". Indeed, the Marines were always faithful to Jack. A number of the Marines he served with in the past- and a number of other vets who learned of his struggle- reassured him that he was NOT alone in his fight. For thirteen years, Jack led a letter writing campaign that went all the way up to then-governor James Mcgreevey who had the Office of Attorney Ethics to state that if Robert Correale were to use his position on the State Ethics board to investigate Jack's case it would be an ethics violation. This was a small victory for Jack but he went on. His letter writing campaign did not die down but he continued for justice. He would write to Governors Richard Codey, Jon Corzine, and the current Governor Chris Christie but there has still not been justice. Recently, in an even more bizarre twist, Robert Correale was cleared of any wrongdoing despite obvious perjury and malpractice although the case is now being taken to federal courts.

Jack's life has not been all bad, though. He remarried and has been with his wife Joan for fourteen years. He and his ex-wife Alice- who herself recognized the overwhelming odds Jack is up against- remain on friendly terms. As strange as it may sound to many, Jack and Joan have even been on a number of family vacations with his adult kids, their children and with his ex-wife. They all even spend holidays with his ex-wife throughout the year. He now resides in Sussex, New Jersey and is something of a local and internet celebrity, because of all of his successful veteran advocacy causes. He uses his data processing skills. One he is especially proud of is helping to save the USS ARIZONA Marine Remembrance Memorial at Pearl Harbor. (See Below)

His family only grew both in strength and in numbers during Jack's legal battles: he has five children and three step-children along with nine grandchildren. He continues his therapy for PTSD and has managed to keep ahead of his mental struggles. In February of this year, Jack finally received even more support for his efforts when a veterans foundation agreed to connect him to a team of pro bono lawyers for his future federal court case.

There is no argument about Jack's heroic military service. His actions were above and beyond the line of duty and he should be recognized for it rather than discredited as a crazy old man. The VA's motto comes from the words of Abraham Lincoln: "To care for him who shall have borne the battle" and these words should influence all of our attitudes to the soldiers who have returned home with even greater personal struggles in their future. Should our government- who swore to take on the responsibility of caring for every last soldier living or dead- be allowed to throw Jack to the curb? His story is just one of many other struggles that veterans have been forced to face , and it's a grave injustice that we can allow this to happen in this great country. So ask yourself this Veteran's Day: Should outrages like these be covered up and forgotten, or should they be used to open our country's eyes so our country's finest can be helped in the future?

John "Jack" Cunningham's case against the State of New Jersey is interesting.
Statute of limitations issue is bogus… fraud has no limitation in federal court, and Statute of limitations runs from the time the fraud is found… It is an act to deceive, an act of fraud, an act to manipulate due process, - sanctions should be implemented – One of many cases spell this out… Referring both to the objective and subjective elements, we have held that qualified immunity would be defeated if an official "knew or reasonably should have known that the action he took within his sphere of official responsibility would violate the constitutional rights of the [plaintiff], or if he took the action with the malicious intention to cause a deprivation of constitutional rights or other injury." Harlow et al v. Fitzgerald, 457 U.S. 800; 102 S. Ct. 2727; 73 L. Ed. 2d 396; (1982). (Emphasis added)
File a civil suit in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey (federal court) - file this Civil Complaint under U.S.C. 28 §1331, federal question, civil actions arising under the Constitution, under U.S.C. 42 §1983, a civil action for deprivation of rights, and U.S.C. 42 §1985 a civil action for Conspiracy to interfere with civil rights against all Defendant’s you can list (growing list below)… you can do it pro se and file an application to proceed indigent… all documents are on the District of New Jersey (federal court)’s web site…
State courts have concurring jurisdiction over this type of civil suit, it can be filed in state court BUT Federal Courts are more easygoing with Pro Se writings, minor errors in format and rules etc… And if a state attorney represented anyone, the challenge here would be if he was authorized to do so… i.e. an application filed for their service, defendant within the scope of employment… etc… if not.. it was fraud…
Check out the principles of the Noerr-Pennington Doctrine… first Amendment Rights… you may have further elements to build your case…
Void Judgments, move to vacate previous judgments for harmful errors, constitutional violations, fraud… etc… all forms and docs you need are on the court web sites.

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USS ARIZONA Marine Remembrance Memorial at Pearl Harbor
Band of Marine Brothers,

One of our own needs your help. He has mine.

As you obviously know if you are reading this, Jack Cunningham's "Proud CAP Marine" blog and e-info efforts reach a great number of Marines, friends and families of Marines as well many active duty Marines from the past. I've found it to be a powerful tool.

A couple of years ago, I was the Operations Officer for the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, on the waterfront between the USS ARIZONA and the USS BOWFIN. The Commandant of the Marine Corps was the featured speaker at the dedication of the USS ARIZONA Marine Remembrance, 10 November 2006. The National Park Service, which administers the USS ARIZONA Memorial is renovating all of Halawa Landing, the site of the Marine Remembrance. The Regional Director of the Natl Park Service Western Region, Jon Jarvis, stated on the local TV news that the Marine Remembrance would be removed. I challenged him on that statement and convinced him that would not happen without a fight. I passed the word to Jack, who in turn asked his readership to email Jarvis that the entire USMC would make every effort to have him relieved of his duties if he moved that monument. I was copied on many of the emails to him from Marines, their friends and their families that it nearly fried my computer. And...it worked. In order to save his job, Jarvis backed down. The Remembrance now belongs to the USMC and has its' rightful place in direct view of the USS ARIZONA.

That campaign showed me the power of the internet when focused on a meaningful issue. As I'm sure you also know, Jack has had an ongoing battle with the State of New Jersey regarding the way he was treated by corrupt politicians. We can help him. Marines take care of Marines. I ask you to join me in a vigorous e-mail campaign (And phone call campaign) to Congressman Scott Garrett as well as Gov Jon Corzine (And now Governor Chris Christie) to demand an investigation. The contact addresses are listed below. We never leave a Marine on the battlefield - lets not leave one to the criminal politicians. Join me in protest.

Semper Fidelis,
Colonel John R. Bates USMC (ret)
jrbatesusmc@aol.com

John "Jack" Cunningham Asks YOU To Join His over 33,000 Total Supporters https://www.causes.com/campaigns/39358-vietnam-vet-asks-you-to-join-his-nearing-30-000-supporters

Please Sign John "Jack" Cunningham Petition To: All Honorable NJ Legislators: https://www.causes.com/actions/1746185-american-war-veterans-petition-to-governor-chris-christie (Nearing 30,000 have already signed)

click here to download file for Movie Script "SO ALONE"