05 - What Is There

Scene Five

(Later that night)

DOCK WORKER
(spoken)
And by the time you try to pull the weeds out, it's too late. They've taken root all over the garden.

JOHN.
What is there that’s calling?
Whispering through the night
Telling me some secret
That I've kept locked inside

Do I feel the need to go?
Do I feel the pull from far?
What is there that's calling me to where you are.

What is there so tempting?
A beacon through the clouds
A thing I wasn't searching for
Longing to be found

Do I dream of salty air?
Do I dream of opened sea?
What is there so tempting just for me.

What is there that beckons?
Like mystery in the dark
Things I feared forbidden
Tugging at my heart

Stay I hear your calling
In my candle's tiny flame
I won't ignore your calling
You speak to me by name
You speak to me by name

Will you understand, my love?
Will you wait here as you swore?
I can't ignore your calling any more.

(John leaves Anna alone in bed. Packs his things.)

(He goes.)

JOHN
When the first green leaves of Spring come through
I'll be back upon the tide.
When the first green leaves of Spring come through
I'll return to you, my bride.

The end will justify the means
A better life for me and you
You're strong enough for a few short months
Until the leaves of Spring come through

A better life for me and you
I'll be back
Before the first green leaves of Spring come through.

04 - Isn't It Enough

Scene Four

(JOHN and ANNA are working on their home-stead. The dock workers are still telling the tale.)

DOCK WORKER
(spoken)
Such an idea is like a weed, once planted it grows and grows...

ANNA
John, you already watered those.

JOHN
I'm sorry.

ANNA
It's ok. John, you already planted there.

JOHN
I'm sorry.

ANNA
It's OK.
So... down the list.
And on we go.

The beets will be up by the end of the month
We can plant the spinach by the bunch
We'll have rhubarb here and radishes
Turnips, peas and cabbages
And that will do for vegetables
So down the list.

JOHN
So down the list.

ANNA.
And on we go.

JOHN.
And on we go.
Wait! What about the Turnips?

ANNA
John, the Turnips go right here.

JOHN.
And did we mention fava beans?

ANNA
We're not planting those this year.

JOHN
I'm sorry.

ANNA.
You're distracted

JOHN.
I'm sorry.

ANNA.
John, what's wrong?
We've talked about this garden for so long.

JOHN
What if this little hole I feel can easily be filled?

ANNA
I'm sorry?

JOHN
What if we had the means to fix this home that we rebuild?
Just think of Andrew's offer, and by the time the cold winds blow
Imagine all that money, the luxury we'd know...

JOHN
(spoken)
It's a fair offer.

ANNA
(spoken)
Not again, John.

ANNA

We have a nice little house

With a nice little yard

Why this need to roam?

So the roof might leak

And the floor boards creak

Its our home

It's our home

Isn't it enough we have each other?

Isn't it enough our simple life?

Isn't it enough our little homestead

And your deeply loving wife?

It's all we ever wanted, we two

Isn't it enough for you?

JOHN

(spoken)

With that kind of money we could have the house fixed for us. Just enjoy our days...

ANNA

(spoken)

Aren't you enjoying our days?

We've been doing the work

We've been making repairs

It gets better every day

We have wood for our heat

All the food we can eat

We're OK

We're OK

Do you feel the need to leave me?

Do you feel the need to go?

We've been building this life together

And been happy doing so

Suddenly you don't want to see it through?

John, what changed in you?

There's nothing you'll say

To make me OK

With you leaving for months on the sea

I don't want to stay with you gone

Just to work all alone

Are you not happy here with me?

I was so happy that I found you

I was so happy when we wed

And I'm happy every morning

For the days we have ahead

JOHN

(spoken)

You're right, my love. I'm sorry.

03 - Andrew's Return

Scene Three

(JOHN and ANNA are working on their homestead, when ANDREW arrives unannounced.)

ANDREW

Who's this?

This man, who has flourished on his own?

Can this be my little brother? Has he fin'ly up and grown?

Who's this?

And has it really been so long?

Can this be my own dear brother, John!

JOHN.
(spoken)
Andrew! You're back!  

ANDREW.
(spoken)
Hello brother!

JOHN.
(spoken)
Andrew, this is-

ANDREW.

Who's this?

This face? So pretty... can it be

The girl from all the letters that I've read across the sea?

Who's this?

This lovely mademoiselle?

Can this be your lovely Annabelle?

ANNA.

So this is he?

The captain? It's a pleasure, I've heard tales

Of your advent'rous exploits my husband so regales.

JOHN.

I can't believe it!

ANNA.

You'll sup with us tonight?

ANDREW.

It would be a pleasure and delight!

(ANNA goes inside, leaving JOHN and ANDREW.)

The Brothers Catch Up

JOHN.

(spoken)

How long are you back?

ANDREW.

(spoken)

Only a few days. I have a room in town while we resupply.

JOHN.

(spoken)

Has it been a good season?

ANDREW.

We were hours through the midnight moon

When the storm had given way,

To the calmest seas you've ever seen

North of glacier bay.

We thought our lines were goners,

That the whales had stole our catch,

And when we tried to wheel 'em in

We thought we met our match!

The load tipped the boat so low

We nearly bought the farm.

But every last cod we reeled on board

Was bigger than my arm!

The payout was crazy, I wish you were there!

Dad would'a been proud, we would make quite a pair!

Oh, Johnny come back.

Come back to the sea.

Oh Johnny, dear Johnny,

Come back with me.

Come sail with your brother,

What a pair we'd be!

Think of the fun and tons of mon-ey!

Oh, Johnny come back with me!

JOHN.
(spoken)

It sounds like fun, Andrew. But my life is here.

ANDREW.

We had barely dropped our anchor

By a tiny Russian town,

Full of sprawling golden towers,

And so much liquor you could drown!

I met two lovely ladies...

Both masseuses, so they'd tell,

Neither could take their eyes off me

And both were named Michelle!

We hit it off and hit it hard

Best weekend of my life.

We shipped away, I said farewell,

And went home to my wife.

The girls were amazing, I wish you'da seen it.

Just come back one season, they'll love you, I mean it!

Oh, Johnny come back.

Come back to the sea.

Oh Johnny, dear Johnny,

Come back with me.

Come sail with your brother,

What a pair we'd be!

Think of the fun and tons of mon-ey!

Oh, Johnny come back with me!

JOHN.
(spoken)

What of my wife? My house? 

ANDREW.

You're right!

Forgive me... look at the life you made! 

I bet it's exciting,

Forgive me... you've no use getting paid...

Chopping wood, 

Planting onions,

Fixing your roof...

Such thrills on land

I can't understand

Forgive me if I'm aloof.

Just think on it, Johnny.

Think on the sea.

Oh Johnny, dear Johnny.

One season with me.

Just think what you'd do

If you had the mon-ey

To fix up your home and your garden stress free.

Just think on it Johnny, for me?

ANDREW.

(spoken)

We'll be in port til Thursday. It's been great seeing you again Johnny!

JOHN.

(spoken)

You too, Andrew.

ANDREW.

(spoken)

Give the missus my love. 

Andrew returned to town.