Long Island War Memorial
Astoria Park
New York
Sunday 30 July 2017
9:05am



Jack Cain has been sitting in front of the Memorial for the last three hours. He flew back from Universal studios as soon as Savage concluded. Robbie Bourbon had wanted him to stay for some drinks, to celebrate the newest member of the Motherfuckers, Jerkbeast, being unveiled to the world.

But Jack had somewhere to be.

The memorial reflects the beating sunshine harshly against Cain's eyes, but he doesn't squint. Not even with his bloody and bruised brow. He forces himself to keep them open and read the words carved into the front of the 20 foot wide granite in front of him.


Tomorrow would mark the 100th Anniversary of the Battle of Passchendale - one of the bloodiest of the First World War. The memorial was built in 1926 to remind people of the sacrifices made by people in that conflict - and half a million were killed or wounded in that battle alone.

It's important to remember that, he thinks.

He'd read about the battle in school. It didn't seem real. Tales of men struggling through mud, fighting, with their bare hands once they ran out of ammunition, drowning in the quagmire in which they stood. Great swathes of friends cut down by machine gun fire. Fathers and sons lying side-by side, sleeping forever more.

It's important to remember that, he thinks.

There were other memorials, but this was the quietest, and Jack wanted quiet.
He'd lost again, this time to James Raven, who he respected, but he'd desperately wanted to beat. But now wasn't the time to wallow in self pity.

Now was the time to reflect.

So Cain waits.

---

10:47am

Anyone sittin' here son?

The man takes Cain by surprise as he's drifted away into thought for over an hour and a half. He's thought about lots of things - his life, his work, his family, what's left. None of it much appealed to him. So he did what he always did when faced with a problem: sat down and deconstructed it. That worked with a carbine - not so much with your life. So Cain welcomes the distraction.

No sir.

Thanks

A silence falls.

You serve?

Bosnia. Afghanistan. Iraq. Lucky to come outta all three. You?

France. Germany. Lucky there too. Left a part of me there.

I know that feelin'

No, I mean I left a part of me there for real.

The man taps his right leg - a hollow clicking noise sounds strange in amongst the quiet morning.

Mine?

Grenade. Took it off from the hip down. Lucky I didn't bleed out. Still can't piss straight.

Army?

5th Ranger Battalion. Omaha Beach. Pointe Du Hoc. Marines?

How'd ya guess?

You got that sneaky look about you.

Sneaky?

Well, let's put it this way, I wouldn't wanna play cards against you.

Cain laughs.

1st Marine Recon. Helmand. Trek Nawa. Black Diamonds they called us.

How so?

Bastards said our night vision goggles looked like diamonds, so it stuck. They were more sneaky than us though. Lost a lotta good people.

Cain extends his hand.

Jack.

The veteran responds in kind.

Frank.

Why'd ya come here Frank?

Dad fought in the First. Made it through, wasn't at Ypres, but this is the nearest place I can come to now. Ain't as spry as I used to be.

I know that feelin' too.

Told me I should never forget to respect those who came before. Should always remember those who walked the road you did before you. If they hadn't gone first, you might not have the freedom to do the same.

More silence.

I come here to remember too Frank. I come here to remember the guys I fought with who didn't come home when I did. And y'know somethin'? There ain't a day goes by when I don't wish I could trade places with 'em. You can't help thinkin' that you're only here because they're not, y'know?

I know that feeling.

It's about respect. It's important. There ain't enough of it now. We live in a world where the achievements of the people who went by don't get the recognition they deserve. No one remembers because it's so long ago - and it's got easy not to pay attention to it while you play your video games or stare at a Goddamned tablet or somethin'.

Something's eating at you Jack.

It's just this kid where I work. Sense of entitlement I think they call it these days. Walks in, shoots his mouth off, badmouths guys who've paid their dues, chats up women who ain't got no interest in him, acts like he owns the place.

And you spoke up?

Damned right I did. Just got to me y'know? Maybe it's cause I'm gettin' older. Maybe it's cos I've seen stuff that'd make him cry and he don't even know it. I just wanna shut him up.

Let me give you some advice Jack. From one old soldier to another.

Shoot.

You want to start a war with his kid, because he's a snot nosed brat who doesn't know respect. But those who start the war normally end up the losers Jack. That;s because they lack conviction. He talks big, but that's because he isn't worth anything. Anyone that small has to shout loud, because otherwise he wouldn't be noticed. He's insignificant. A sore on the ass of humanity. An irritant that is only a problem if people take notice of him. Is anyone taking notice of him?

Not really - but it's what he says that gets to me.

Then he's your problem Jack, but you're making him a problem. His meaning, his definition - it's all down to you. He's absolutely nothing unless you validate him. He's like free parking at a strip mall - it only means something if you spend ten dollars.

It ain't that easy to walk away.

I'm not talking about walking away Jack, I'm talking about removing his reason for existing. He's only shouting loud so you hear him, so you take notice of him. This is the biggest thing in his life right now - is he the biggest thing in yours?

Hell no.

Then treat him as such. Wars escalate because people don't want to back down Jack. The First World War could have been over in 1916 after The Somme, because people didn't want to fight anymore, but nobody wanted the sacrifices so far to have been in vain. That's why Passchendale happened a year later. Nobody wanted to forget those who had gone before.

Maybe shuttin' him up means I won't forget either.

Swift, decisive action is how you win Jack. Make this kid a nobody before he even gets to write the "s" on the word "somebody". Because it's important to be the man who ends the war - for all those yet to come - rather than be the one who starts it.

Nearly 11.

Yes, it is, isn't it? Time to remember, Jack.

Time to remember, Frank.

A distant church bell - possibly St. Joseph's - chimes the hour. Frank extends his hand again. Cain takes it and shakes.

The Fallen.

The Fallen.

The camera fades out on the two of them regarding the memorial as the camera fades to black.