It's a cold spring day in the countryside as two brothers ride towards home.

"Is it really necessary that we go straight home?" asks Jack.

"Yes, it is truly necessary," answers Duane, his thoughts on the past.

"I see no reason to rush home. It isn't likely we'll be enjoying our visit anyway," says Jack.

"True. But we must check upon Mother. It is a crime the way that man treats her," says Duane.

"I still say there be no need to rush. As a matter of fact I be likin' to go into town," says Jack.

"You've picked up too much of our father if you ask me," says Duane, " I know why you want to go into town; you want to drink and pick up women".

"What can I say? When you're good at somethin' you should stick with it," says Jack with fake humility; a small grin on his face .

They pull into the long driveway leading to the main house. The main house is an eighteenth-century mansion. On the far side of the house are two small cottages. One that belongs to the servants and the other that serves as the guest house.

"I wonder if Mother has fixed up our old rooms or if we'll be staying in the guest house?" wonders Duane aloud.

"I hope we stay in the guest house," says Jack.

"Me too," replies Duane.

Suzanne looks out the window as the car pulls up the driveway. Her face is blank as she watches her boys return home for the first time in years. Her eyes, however, disclose her emotions: joy and happiness circumfused with fear.

"Who's that in the driveway?!" calls out a voice from one of the far rooms.

"The boys!" she responds automatically.

The faraway look is still on her face as she opens the door to greet her two sons.

"I hear their car pullin' up," says Carolyne.

"I hear it too. I wonder how they are after all this time," says Elizabaeth.

"I don't know. They left in kind of a hurry the last time they were here," replies Carolyne.

"That was five years ago, when Jack was leaving for college. That was some argument though. It was weeks before Master Tom would even mention that he had any sons," says Elizabeth.

"It was months after that before he would even mention their names. I wonder if he's forgiven them yet?" asks Carolyne.

"I wonder if they've forgiven him?" asks Elizabeth.

"Don't know, but they're here. We better get ready. You know that our work is going to double now that the boys are back," replies Carolyne.

Elizabeth smiles, "I don't mind."

"Me neither," replies Carolyne, also smiling.

"Well look at you two," says Suzanne, the far away replaced by a motherly mask of stability and comfort.

"Hello Mother. You look well," says Duane embracing his mother in a polite but earnest embrace.

"Hi Mom," says Jack.

"Jack, Duane! I'm so glad you could make it," says Suzanne.

No one would be able to tell that she hadn't seen either of her two sons in five years according to the tone of her voice. She speaks to them as if they lived just down the road and this was just another surprise visit that they did now and then. In fact she had known about their visit for about a week. She is looking forward to it with both joy and regret. But she will not let the way she feels spoil their visit. The way she feels is not important. Making sure that the family is happy or at the very least civil is.

"Where's Dad?" asks Jack carefully.

"Oh, your father? He's around somewhere. He's been busy lately so he couldn't be here to see you when you came up' but I'm sure he'll be up soon," said Suzanne.

"Thomas O'Conner was busy. Sure. He just doesn't want to see us that's all," thought Duane, "Well that's fine. I just wanted to check on Mom that's all. I don't need to see him unless he does something to Mother or I need a good argument. Jack's asking where are going to be sleeping. In the guest house. Good."

"Well I know you boys must be hungry after that long drive. So come on in I've got dinner just about ready," says Suzanne.

"Why don't you let one of the servants cook Mother?" asks Duane.

"You know how much I like to cook. Besides your father likes it when I cook for him," responds Suzanne.

The look of tension almost doesn't make it into her voice. Almost.

They go inside of the house through the vestibule. The house is neat and airy with large rooms furnished with simple but exquisite furniture. Everything in the house has the look of good taste and wealth. It was something most people would envy, except there was one thing missing. The O'Conners could not figure out exactly what it was but anyone else who entered into the house could figure it out almost immediately; it was that feeling of "home" that it lacked.

The table was being set when they entered the dining room.

"Carolyne, there will be four of us this evening," says Suzanne.

"Yes Madam, I know," replies Carolyne.

"Elizabeth, would you please check the dinner and see if it is ready?" asks Suzanne.

"Yes madam. Should I bring it out if it is done?" says Elizabeth.

"Yes that would be nice," replied Suzanne.

The two brothers go out to the guest house. Shortly arrive Elizabeth and Caroline.

"What are you two doing here?" asks Duane.

"We just thought you two might like to get away from here for awhile," says Caroline.

"You know I be thinkin' the same thing meself," says Jack, "I know this great place in town ..."

"Forget it Jack! I'm sorry girls but I don't think we are going to be going anywhere," says Duane.

"If it's about us getting time off; don't worry. We already have the rest of the night off," says Elizabeth.

"It's not that ...", replies Duane.

"Come on Duane. You can't look over your mother for ever. She can look out for herself," says Elizabeth.

"I know! I'm just worried about her," he replies.

"Then come with us. It will get your mind off your mother. Besides we won't be gone that long. What could happen?" says Caroline.

"Okay. Okay. I'll go along. but just for a little while," says Duane.

"Great! I know .." says Jack.

" ... this great place in town. I know Jack," finishes Duane.

Duane insists on checking on his mother before they leave. Jack decides he will go with him and then they will all go into town.

Duane walks into the front door and comes face to face with his father in the vestibule.

"Hello father," he says curtly.

Tom ignores him and continues to load his shotgun.

Jack comes in behind Duane and sees his father.

"If you would excuse me, I would like to go inside," says Duane to his father.

"You speak better to me better than that boy," says Tom.

"I only speak politely to those people I respect. Why don't you just go out with your shotgun and hurt something like you always do," says Duane.

"Boy, I won't take those kind of words from you," says Tom.

"What are you going to do, beat me?" says Duane," I don't beat easily Thomas".

"You don't address me as Thomas, boy! I may not have you as a son anymore, but I will be respected in my own house!" shouts Tom angrily.

All the shouting brings Suzanne from the living room.

"Stop it you two!" she shouts angrily.

"Stay out of this Suzanne," says Tom

"Stay out of this mother," says Duane.

Suzanne walks in between the two men determined not to lose her fantasy in the first day.

"I said get out of the way," says Tom shoving her away.

"Don't you touch her you scum!" yells Duane coming towards Tom.

Tom raises the shotgun to ward off his son. Suzanne screams and grabs the gun causing it to fire into her chest.

"Murderer!" screams Duane in rage and grabs the gun.

Tom's arm goes limp, not offering any resistance. The only thing that goes through his mind is that his wife is dead; shot down by his own hands. Duane raises the shotgun at Tom and fires. Jack anticipating Duane's reaction leaps in the way, trying to knock his father out of the way, only to have the bullet intended for his father go through his back into his heart. Duane in his rage fires again. This time the bullet finds its intended target.

Tom falls backward the shock of losing his wife disappears as he finds his own life suddenly in jeopardy. Another bullet finds its way into the body of Thomas O'Conner, taking his life.

As Duane stands in the midst of bloody bodies he sees all the times his father has hit him and his mother and pulls the trigger

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