Good Dog by Erin Browne

Good Dog was written for Flux's New World Iliads that is running in conjunction with their production of Ajax in Iraq by Ellen McLaughlin. It had a staged reading at the lovely Maritime Hotel roof space La Botega. All the writers involved were asked to respond to a work of art by Frances Jetter that had originally appeared in Carrier Pigeon and also in Jetter's book. So needless to say, there were a lot of amazing artists involved, and there are lovely photos on the Flux blog. 

It was a great way to see some of my favorite actors, who I have the chance to work with often including Brian Pracht, Rachael Hip-Flores, and Matthew Murumba, as well as meet some new actors. The whole evening was directed by the amazing Kelly O'Donnell. 

Good Dog was based on Frances' artwork but also on my own recent work with several Police and SWAT dog teams in my day-job-life. Working dogs have always fascinated me, as I think they do many people. With the news of Osama Bin Laden's death and the rumors that the dogs working with SEAL Team six had titanium fangs, the situation grew only more interesting to me. 

Hope you enjoy - any questions or comments please email me. 

“Good Dog”

Dogs:

Leader

Skippy

Bounder

Shredder

Jerry

Five dogs sit around in a circle of chairs.

LEADER

Welcome friends, shall we start with our mantra?

ALL

But Skippy

I am a good dog, I have done my job, now I am home, I am a good dog.

LEADER

We have a new dog in group today. Can we all welcome Skippy, please.

ALL

but Skippy

Welcome home, Skippy.

SKIPPY

Thank you. I’ve never been to anything like this before but um, thank you…

LEADER

It’s alright Skippy. We have all been new to the group.

                                                            BOUNDER

We’re here for you Brother.

                                                            JERRY

It takes some getting used to.

                                                            LEADER

But I think we’ve all benefited. I was even new to group once, after Desert Storm.

                                                            SKIPPY

Wow.

                                                            LEADER

But now I’m just a house dog like all of us.

                                                            BOUNDER

Retired.

                                                            LEADER

So, as to not put Skippy on the spot, Shredder – do you have anything you’d like to share this week?

                                                            SHREDDER

Not really.

                                                            BOUNDER

Come on, Shredder.

                                                            LEADER

Bounder, please let Shredder take her own time.

                                                            SHREDDER

I guess I’ve still been working on dealing with my at-home-name. Getting adjusted to my new family, and the name they’ve given me.

                                                            JERRY

It’s a tough transition.

                                                            SHREDDER

Yeah, but Jerry – your name maybe stupid but-

                                                            LEADER

Shredder….

                                                            SHREDDER

Sorry – Jerry, you’re name may be less tough than your combat name-

                                                            JERRY

Might I remind you, I used to be Gangsta before my family started calling me Jerry.

                                                            SHREDDER

Yes, I know – but I have been Shredder for so long that to start to respond to Pe 

(coughs, can’t spit it out)

                                                            LEADER

Petunia.

                                                            SHREDDER

Yes, what you said. It’s just hard. Not only does it make me feel ridiculous and laughable, not only does it undermine all of the bomb sniffing work I did in Iraq, but it’s a total genderfuck. I mean, I know I’m a girl dog, I know – but I was never treated differently in Iraq by the other dogs in my unit. You know, my handler may have had a softer hand at first and the other guys there may have sniffed around me at first – but after I helped find my first couple of IEDs  - I was just one of the guys. I felt respected, appreciated. But now, with a name like Pet-u-nia, it’s like how can I even look at myself in the mirror. None of the other dogs at the dog park take me seriously and they are just house dogs… I mean, house dogs are laughing at me.

                                                            LEADER

Have you expressed to your new family that you are dissatisfied with the name?

                                                            SHREDDER

I mean, I don’t answer to it. When they say it, I try to grumble, but I also like the family and don’t want to scare the little girls I live with. I want to be a good dog.

                                                            LEADER

You are a good dog, Shredder.

                                                            ALL

                                                            But Shredder

You are a good dog.

                                                            LEADER

It just takes time to let go of old associations. And hopefully your people will come up with some sort of name closer to your true identity. It just takes time for all of us to adjust, even if we are placed with military families, we all have the same or similar concerns. Similar difficulties.

                                                            SHREDDER

 I know. So, that’s what I’m working on.

                                                            LEADER

Thank you for sharing Shredder.

                                                            ALL

                                                            But Shredder

Thank you Shredder.

                                                            LEADER

How about you, Bounder?

                                                            BOUNDER

Well you know, bad dreams. Still trying to deal with the bad dreams.

                                                            LEADER

Have you tried embracing them? Tried to change them from within?

                                                            BOUNDER

I have tried, but every time I become aware in my dream that I’m dreaming and think I’m gonna change this – we’re entering the bombed building and looking around – I’m thinking, I know there is another bomb here – a dirty bomb and I gotta save my guys. I start to shout but nothing comes out and then mayhem and light and crashes and and and…. 

                                                            JERRY

We know, Bounder.

                                                            SHREDDER

Yeah, we’ve all been there.

                                                            BOUNDER

And the whimpering of dogs in trouble. And I’m fine, but all the guys I work with they’re gone. My handler, gone. Glass and nails in my vest, cuts, scrapes but I don’t feel any pain. And then next thing I know, I’m here living with my handler’s parents who have requested me especially to come live with them and they are calling me Bounder after their son’s first dog, and they are showing me pictures of him – of Sergeant Randall but they call him Terry. And I spend every night living that day over and over again – no matter how soft my new L.L. Bean dog bed is or how many Beggin Strips the parents give me. And I’m thinking, why me, why me.

                                                            SHREDDER

It takes time.

                                                            LEADER

The more you are aware of the dream, the more you can seek to change it – change the action of the dream, change your feelings of guilt and lack of control within it.

                                                            JERRY

I had that drowning dream everyday and night for every nap when I got back, but this stuff does work eventually. It’s not my fault. I know it’s not my fault. I’m a good dog and you’re a good dog, Bounder.

                                                            BOUNDER

Thank you, Jerry.

                                                            LEADER

Everyone.

                                                            ALL

                                                            But Bounder

You’re a good dog, Bounder.

                                                            BOUNDER

Thank you. I’m trying.

                                                            LEADER

Do you have anything you would like to share, Skippy?

                                                            SKIPPY

I’m not sure.

                                                            LEADER

You don’t have to share anything.

                                                            SKIPPY

Okay.

                                                            LEADER

But it can help to talk.

                                                            BOUNDER

It does.

                                                            SKIPPY

Well, just listening to you guys talk and knowing that you are going through some of the same things is helping. I mean, I just came back, what, last week? And it just feels totally overwhelming and isolating. I’m the only one in my house who’s been to war. I’m the only one who understands. And the family I live with now – they just go to work and take me to the dog park and I sit in the car while they run errands and I just can’t seem to slow down. Nothing we do seems important. I have to run in circles just to get rid of all the energy or I’m worried I might bite someone. I miss biting people. I know I shouldn’t but when we would find some insurgents in a cave- when none of my people got hurt because I found them and bit them and dragged those assholes out before they could grab their guns – well I was doing something – I could feel my adrenaline and taste their blood in my mouth – and I’m worried it makes me a monster because sometimes I just want to bite everyone I see. Just to get back a little taste of that feeling. And I’m worried. I’m worried I’m actually going to do it, and I’m wondering where is that young puppy who once loved and cared about things and didn’t want to bite everyone all the time, didn’t want to bite anyone actually. I’m worried. I’m worried I’m broken inside. I just… I just…

                                                            LEADER

You’re a good dog, Skippy.

                                                            ALL

                                                            But Skippy

You’re a good dog, Skippy.

Skippy tries to hide some tears.

                                                            SKIPPY                                                           

I mean look at me, I’m a fucking mess.

                                                            JERRY

It gets easier Skippy.

                                                            BOUNDER

We’ve all been there.

                                                            SHREDDER

Yeah, man. It gets easier every day and you aren’t broken. You were doing your job and now the job is over and it’s time to find that puppy again.

                                                            LEADER

We are here to help you find that puppy again.

                                                            SKIPPY

Thanks guys – it’s good to be here.

                                                            LEADER

We all need help.

                                                            JERRY

We do.

                                                            LEADER

Jerry, how about you? Anything this week?

                                                            JERRY

Well, I know that you guys were talking me through embracing running again. You know, it’s been tough with this prosthetic.

                                                            SKIPPY

That’s a prosthetic?

                                                            LEADER

Skippy, please let Jerry tell the story.

                                                            JERRY

Yeah, so it’s really good right – looks so normal. But it’s not my leg. I know it’s not my leg. And well, they say it should be able to do everything. That I should be able to do everything a normal dog does, like almost back to how I was before, but I just haven’t wanted to run. I was the fastest dog in my unit. I could bite a tire on a speeding vehicle and make it stop. But you know, this thing, it just didn’t feel right, or I didn’t want to look like an idiot running all limpy and slow. But this week – I just let go. One of my new owners – this teenage boy – he’s been trying to train me to catch a Frisbee. Like I don’t already know how to catch a Frisbee.

                                                            BOUNDER

People can be so limited in their view of us.

                                                            JERRY

I know. I know how to fetch – I was born fetching. But well, I just don’t want to look like some handi-capable dog pretending to be normal.

                                                            LEADER

But you are normal, Jerry.

                                                            JERRY

I’m trying. I’m trying to wrap my head around this new normal. But anyway, the kid throws the Frisbee and starts to look all heartbroken when I don’t start running. So this time – I think, why the hell not – and get this, I’m running, and I’m running so freaking fast, and the wind is funneling through my ears making everything a whoosh and my eyes are watering I’m going so fast-

                                                            BOUNDER

Awesome!

                                                            JERRY

And I’m not even thinking about this leg this thing, I just feel like a whole dog again, a good whole dog, and I’m running and get this – I leap in the friggin air and clamp that Frisbee in my goddamned teeth and land like it’s nothing –

                                                            SHREDDER

No way.

                                                            JERRY

And trot it right on back to the kid. And the kid looks like he just saw a miracle, and I guess he kinda did. I felt pretty miraculous at that moment. And my heart is pumping – so I spend the rest of that day and all the next day tearing around that yard like my tail is on fire. It felt great.

                                                            LEADER

That is great Jerry. I’m so proud of you. I think we are all proud of you.

All nod and nudge him. Pat him on the back.                                                            

                                                            LEADER

And that seems like a good note to end our meeting on tonight. Skippy, welcome and I hope you will come back. Everyone-

                                                            ALL

I am a good dog, I have done my job, now I am home, I am a good dog.