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Colophon

I’ve never done a lot of things this thing demands of me. Briefly, no longer trapped in a pleasant dream, I can work a little more towards making it reality.

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Afterword

It’s not about quality. It’s when the pieces falling into place are all lateral moves; that’s when I know the end is near. And then when I compare what is there with what was upstairs, despair. It’s not good enough. Not by a long shot. The poem is…

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If This Stands

Preamble Part I Part II Part III Part IV Part V Finale Preamble Gather ’round children, here’s what’s in store, Two-fifty years of history about a special Door, It’s a Freedom Door for a Freedom Nation, And we vow to hold it, for the next…

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End Credits (tt - ch 19)

[Slow panning away from a domestic kitchen setting. Sounds of sizzling food in the background. Focus on a MAN at a table writing in a journal. His lips don’t move, but you hear his narration.] “As I sit here preparing a familiar dish…” He shakes his…

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Goodbyes (tt - ch 18)

The camera quality is now much improved, and the characters on screen are A-list actors and actresses. Perhaps the blonde woman is played by Christina Applegate—this author’s favorite actress—but he would be delighted to have Reese Witherspoon or…

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Vows (tt - ch 17)

CAMERAMAN enters the frame for a moment. Camera pans horizontally on a perfect, flat tracking shot. The crowd briefly comes into focus before the shot settles on the front of the amphitheater where there are risers and a flower arch centered on the…

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The Invitation (tt - ch 15)

Most days, my aunt stayed indoors in her south-facing sunroom with golden oak floors and wainscot paneling. She had a Bible beside her lounge chair and blankets so that even on the warmest spring days she could cover her legs. She had good days and…

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Writing Vows (tt - ch 14)

That night, I spent another seemingly fruitless evening working on my vows. Who knew marriage vows could be so complicated? There were about ten lines, give or take, and I could change them how I wanted—that would be basically a twist on the…

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Therapy (tt - ch 13)

“And when your parents said that, how did you react?” “Not well,” I said. “And this was after my grandmother said her piece. So I was feeling really alone.” “I can imagine that must have been stressful for you.” The therapist jotted some notes on…

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Radical Transparency (tt - ch 12)

He found me in the bathroom in an uncharacteristically bad mood. Picking up on that, he slowly wrapped his arms around me while leaning his chin on my shoulder. It’s one of the best things about having a partner: when you’re feeling alone, he’s…

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Tough Nut to Crack (tt - ch 11)

Establishing shot of YOUNG MAN in a now familiar kitchen, staring at his hands. Zoom in until shaky. CAMERAMAN: “What are you doing?” YOUNG MAN, jumps : “What?” CAMERAMAN: “What are you thinking about? You’re in deep.” YOUNG MAN, smiling under the…

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Revelation (tt - ch 9)

Camera is slightly out of focus in a well-kept living room. YOUNG MAN with brown hair is out of center of the frame. YOUNG MAN begins a monologue by settling back into the seat and then staring straight into the camera: “When you see this, I’m so…