[Ted Cassidy's Voice:]... Dr. David Banner—physician, scientist...searching for a way to tap into the hidden strengths that all humans have. Then, an accidental overdose of gamma radiation alters his body chemistry. And now, when David Banner grows angry or outraged, a startling metamorphosis occurs... "Raaaaaaarh!"... The creature is driven by rage and pursued by an investigative reporter. [Dr. Banner:] "Mr. McGee, don't make me angry. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry.". . . The creature is wanted for a murder he didn't commit. . . David Banner is believed to be dead. And he must let the world think that he IS dead, until he can find a way to control the raging spirit that dwells within him... "Raaaaaaaaaarh!"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFQkQ1-D2g4
"I do not own the rights to the Incredible Hulk, nor do I own any of the characters that are associated with the television show. A lot of (not all) of the places, addresses, people, and story-line are fictional. Anything or events that are similar to stories or locations, past and present, was completely and utterly unintended or coincidental."
This episode (if aired) would have been the episode after: "Vivisepulture," and, at this point, takes place 184 days after the events on: "A Minor Problem," which aired on Wednesday, May 12, 1982. It starred: Nancy Lee Grahn as Patty Knowlton, Linden Chiles as Cunningham, Lisa Jane Persky as Rita, and Gary Vinson as Sperling.
_______________________________________________________________
Polk County
Somewhere on Tennessee State Route 68
Copperhill, Tennessee 37317
Wednesday, November 10, 1982
7:39 a.m. (EST)
It was a cold 53° morning. The sun had risen across the eastern horizon 32 minutes ago. As the sun did rise, David looked at the wild kaleidoscopic yonder; the majestic sky; the sublimity of the clouds as they moved across the horizon, and looked at with such excellence, grandeur, or beauty as it inspired great admiration or awe. David was walking with his hands in his pockets, while he carries his brown leather duffle bag on his left shoulder. He would take his right hand out of his pocket to put his thumb out as cars passed by. Then, David faintly heard a sound in the wooded area that was peculiar. The further he walked, the louder it got. Soon, David realized that it was music. It wasn't loud, but it was enough to get his attention. He ignored it as he kept walking. A minute or so later, he heard a man's voice.
Alren: "Hey there, buddy! You look lost!"
David looked and saw a man, looking to be in his mid-30's, sitting on a log by a camp. At first, he was reluctant to respond, but he didn't want to be rude.
David: "Uh, no! I'm okay!"
Arlen: "You're lookin' pretty cold there, too. Why don't you sit by the fire for a little while."
Although this man was a stranger to David, the offer to sit by the fire for a little while was quite enticing.
David: "Uh, sure. Okay."
David walked over to where the man was sitting.
Arlen: "Go on, take a load off."
David sat on the long beside the man.
"You hungry? I just fried up some eggs."
David: "Uh, sure. I'd like that."
Arlen: "Would you like some coffee? Just made a fresh pot."
David: "Oh, a hot cup of coffee would be great right now. Thank you."
Arlen: "Comin' right up."
The man poured some coffee into a metal cup and gave it to David. Then, he grabbed a metal plate with two fried eggs on it and a spoon, and sat it down beside David. David continued to sip his coffee, until he was finished. Then, he began to eat the fried eggs.
David: "Thank you so much for all of this. It really hits the spot."
Arlen: "I figured it would."
The man held out hand to shake hands with David.
"Name's Corporal Arlen James Lester. But you can just called me: Arlen."
David shook Arlen's hand.
David: "David,— Beauford."
Arlen: "Ah, judging by your last name, you're either from Louisiana or South Carolina. Which is it?"
David: "Uh, South Carolina."
Arlen: "Uh huh. I knew it was one of them... Are you a vet, David?"
David: "Uh, no. No, I'm just— traveling around right now. Judging from the crossed arrows insignia on the lapel of your Army Alpha Dress Green uniform, you're a veteran."
Arlen: "Yeah. U.S. Army. Corporal. An E-4. Belonged to the 2nd Battalion, 11th Field Artillery Regiment assigned to the 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division."
David: "So, you were in Vietnam."
Arlen: "Yep, you got it."
David points at the record player as it continuously played the song: "Hello Vietnam" by Tom T. Hall, sung by American country singer Johnny Wright, accompanied by his wife Kitty Wells.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrDrFZ8j4_M
David: "Is that your favorite song? Is that why it is set on 'repeat'?"
Arlen looked at the record player.
Arlen: "Oh, yeah, it just reminds me of better days, ya know?"
David: "Ah."
Arlen: "It reminds me of the summer before I shipped out. I had a nice car, a gorgeous girlfriend, and a promising future."
Suddenly, an awkward silence filled the air.
"Ya like some more coffee?"
David: "Sure, that'd be great."
Arlen: "Comin' right up."
Arlen poured some coffee into the metal cup and gave it to David. David, then, took a sip of coffee.
David: "Uh, do you know where the nearest town is from here?"
Arlen: "Sure. You're in the Chattanooga vicinity right now. If you were to walk south for about 2½ more miles, you'll reach the town of Copperhill. It's a small little town. I know. I grew up there."
David: "Oh. What brings you out here camping this time of year?"
Arlen: "What makes you think I'm camping?"
David: "Well, I saw the Army tent and just assumed."
Arlen: "No, no. This is my home."
David: "You mean you live out here all alone?"
Arlen: "Sure. No people, no war, right?"
David: "Uhm... Yeah, I suppose you're right."
Arlen: "Oh, don't get me wrong. I didn't always think that way. I had lots of friends during my school days. I was quite the athlete. One of the jocks. Baseball, basketball, track, and football. I could run a mile in less the 4½ minutes. I was an all-state half back in high school; I scored 15 touchdowns my senior year. My body was perfect."
David: "The Army must've saw you as an asset."
Arlen: "Oh, they did. I was an expert shot. I could hit a bulls-eye at 500 yards out. That's the length of over 5 football fields. Just over a quarter-mile."
David: "Very impressive."
Arlen: "Oh yeah. Yeah. That's why they sent me to Fort Sill, Oklahoma for over 5 weeks to train me to be a Field Artillery Soldier. Our nicknames were: King of Battle, God of War, and Red Leg. Our motto was: 'cedat fortuna peritis'."
David: "Experts yield of luck."
Arlen: "Yeah. Somethin' like that. I jumped at the chance to be deployed to Vietnam. My hero was Audie Murphy.
David: "Audie Leon Murphy?"
Arlen: "Yeah. Murphy received every U.S. military combat award for valor available from the U.S. Army for his World War II service. He was promoted from Staff Sergeant to Second Lieutenant during his service."
David: "Uh, yeah, I've heard of him."
Arlen: "Brooke and I— Brooke was my girlfriend, ya see. She and I were going to get married after I finished my tour of duty. Six months into my tour, I took my 30 days of R&R in Hawaii and she met me there... It was so nice seeing her... She was so beautiful. Just like she always was. We spent the most amazing 30 days together. After my tour was up, I guess I should've had enough. But I was a young stupid kid who wanted to be a hero, so I requested to extend my tour another six months. I got a great gift from the Army for doing that. They gave me a free 30 day vacation anywhere in the world, with all transportation provided free of charge. So, I went home to see my family and, of course, Brooke."
David: "How did Brooke take it?"
Arlen: "Oh, she wasn't thrilled with my decision. No, not thrilled at all. It almost broke us up. But Brooke didn't think it was 'proper' to leave a man who's going off to fight a war."
David: "That's honorable."
Arlen: "And I was going to be just as honorable to her. I promised her that after the six months was over, I'd return home and we'd get married. The extended tour was going to be up in June of 1967. And I had every intention of keeping that promise, too."
David: "What happened?"
Arlen: "Well... Thirty days before my extended tour was up, we were on patrol in the jungle when we were taken down by a surprise attack. They killed half the platoon, but the six of us that were still alive got it a lot worse. They captured us and we were taken to the Hỏa Lò Prison."
David: "The Hanoi Hilton?"
Alren: "You know about it?"
David: "Yes, I've read about it."
Arlen: "I wish I'd only read about it. It was the closest version of Hell I ever experienced. From the beginning, us POWs endured miserable conditions; rope bindings, irons, beatings, and prolonged solitary confinement. We had to go through the atrocities such as murder; broken bones, teeth and eardrums; dislocated limbs; starvation; and serving of food contaminated with human and animal feces; and medical neglect of infections and tropical diseases."
David began to feel sympathy for Arlen.
David: "That's terrible."
Arlen: "It was horrific. The best nutrition I got was when they'd throw down rotten rice. The only thing I'd drink there was the rainwater that would come down. I'd kill bugs, even spiders, and eat them... They turned me into an animal."
At this point, Arlen began to possess a blank stare in his eye, looking as though he was fixated on the camp fire in front of him.
"Solitary confinement wasn't the worst. At least, you weren't being tortured and abused by these trigger-happy, less-than-human tyrants you had no pity or compassion for another human being."
Arlen wiped the sweat off his brow. He began to tremble and lightly pant.
David: "Arlen?"
Arlen: "Day after day. Night after night. You never knew what was going to happen to you the next day."
David: "Arlen?"
Arlen: "Làm cho họ nói chuyện. Cho họ nỗi đau. Đau đớn hơn! Không bao giờ ngừng đau.."
David: "Arlen, can you hear me?"
Arlen quickly looked at David, wondering what David was saying.
Arlen: "What?"
David was beginning to feel uneasy at this point. He didn't know what to say to that wouldn't upset him.
"Well?"
David: "I uh— I didn't— know you could speak Vietnamese."
Arlen: "Oh... Yeah. I took a class on it a couple months before I shipped out. I picked up more of it while I was in the country for awhile."
David: "Ah, I see."
Arlen: "Yeah... I uh— I wanted to be part of a long line of brave soldiers, ya know? I wanted to do what my grandfather did in the First World War and what my father did in the Second."
David: "That's very noble."
Arlen: "Yeah... Yeah, it was... It really was."
David nodded his head in agreement.
"Yeah... Of course, not all people thought that... I rotted in that prison camp and considered M.I.A. for 3 years. Loving Brooke was what kept me alive. My friends and I were finally rescued by several Navy SEALs... I was repatriated a dozen years ago and recuperated in the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. When my grandfather and father came home, they got honor and glory. But ya know what? I didn't get that. I got no honor. I got no glory. I came home to people who were full of hate. It was like I came home to a bunch of misanthropist or something. I came home to a place full of enemies."
David: "I'm sorry."
Out of irritation, Arlen looked at David.
Arlen: "You didn't do it!!"
This created a cringeworthy moment. David didn't quite know what to say or how to say it.
David: "Yes. I know... I mean that I'm sorry that you had to endure that. I know it happened to a lot of soldiers when they came home."
Arlen goes into a blank stare into the camp fire once again.
Arlen: "It took me a year to recover in that hospital. And when I finally got home, Brooke had already married somebody else and had two children with him. He works at some bank or something. Brooke said that after some time, she just felt that M.I.A. was a euphemism for 'dead'. Another man without an ounce of patriotism in his blood got to be with the woman I loved. And it got to stay that way for him, too... I guess some guys get all the luck."
David: "Look, Arlen, I uh— "
Arlen: "He used her, ya know? He did everything he could to pressure her into convincing the Army that I was dead. He was dead set against the American war effort in Vietnam. He thought the whole thing was meaningless and thought that everyone who supported it were brainwashed morons."
Arlen, once again, began to wipe the sweat from his brow.
David: "Arlen?"
Arlen: "I don't think it's meaningless when a young man dies for freedom and for his country. That's what half of my platoon did. That's what tens-of-thousands of men did."
Arlen continued his blank stare into the camp fire.
David: "Arlen?"
Arlen: "And they weren't brainwashed. They were brave men who weren't afraid to fight for what they believed in. And yet, there's this ignorant girl-poaching banker who has the audacity to tell others that we justified, fought, and even died for a government that systematically repressed its citizens."
Arlen began to tremble and began having flashbacks.
David: "Arlen, can you hear me?"
Arlen: "Yeah, well, you know what? I happen to believe that freedom and democracy have certain advantages that communist dictatorships don't, and that was what that war was all about!"
At that point, an awkward silence filled the air. Arlen stood up and began to walk around quietly. Flashbacks of combat and being a POW kept going in and out of his mind. David slowly stood up.
David: "Arlen, are you all right?"
Arlen paced around nervously. He continued to sweat and tremble.
"Arlen? Please, talk to me."
Arlen: "We need to secure the perimeter. We did need to secure it better than we did."
David: "I'm sorry. What?"
Arlen: "The distance around the outside of us, we need to protect it against threats, to make it safe."
Arlen slowly turned his and to face David.
"Why didn't you it? Why?"
David: "It?"
Arlen: "Secure the perimeter. We're fighting against National Liberation Front, ya know."
David: "The National Liberation Front?"
Arlen: "The Việt Cộng? The North Vietnamese Army? The bad guys? The V-C! The V-C!! They are all over this area. They are all over this perimeter!!"
David: "There's no V-C out there. The war's over."
Arlen: "What are you talking about? If we all work together, we can rid ourselves of these communists! Are you trying to break the chain of command? Hmh? Are you?"
David: "Look, Arlen,— "
Arlen: "That's Corporal Lester to you, buster. And until the Lieutenant and the Sargent returns to this post, I am in charge here. Do you read me, soldier?"
David tried to play along, knowing that in Arlen's mind, he was back in Vietnam.
David: "Uh, yes. Yes, sir."
Arlen: "And don't call me 'Sir'!! I'm a Corporal, not some stinking Officer!!!!"
David: "Uh, Corporal? The uh,— the V-C have surrounded us. We have to stay here, until they get bored and realize that we are not out to hurt them."
Arlen: You haven't been in the country very long, have you? You know as well as I do that the V-C will never show us mercy... That's one of the signs, isn't it? You're a traitor, aren't you?"
David: "No, of course not."
Arlen: "It's time, David. It's tune to show what kind of traitor you really are."
At that point, Arlen grabbed David's head and slammed it on a boulder nearby. Arlen began to push David's head as hard as he could. The pain of being pushed down very hard on the boulder began to elicit his anger. David tried to explain what was going on, but Arlen was not listening. He was trying to hurt someone that he thought he was hurting back in Vietnam. Between the pain and anger he got from Arlen, his metamorphosis was triggered.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNc9XxdwqaM
David felt a chill rushing through his body. He felt a surge and fusion strength in his muscles. David's eyes became white and then a pale green. David's shirt begins to rip because he was now growing larger and larger, and his muscles begin to expand. At the same time, his skin pigmentation changed from a healthy peach color to gray and then to a full out green. The sides of his pants split partway and the shoes he was wearing ripped off of his feet. He was now the Hulk.
Arlen was unpleasantly astonished as he directly saw the metamorphosis. Arlen took his hands off of the Hulk immediately and began to back away. The Hulk stood up as growled with fury. Arlen's eyes were widened out of terror. The Hulk walked over to Arlen, then grabbed him by his shirt and coat. The Hulk looked Arlen square in the eye as he growled. Then, the Hulk threw Arlen an estimated 30 yards. The Hulk flexed his muscles and let out a loud roar. Horrified by seeing the Hulk and experienced his rage, Arlen ran deeper into the woods as fast as he could
Arlen: "Charlie ở đây! Phục kích! Phục kích! Kéo lại! Kéo lại!"
The Hulk watched Arlen run off in the distance and his growls became sporadic grunts. The Hulk walked around the woods for a couple of minutes, then the camp fire caught his eye. The Hulk slowly walked over to the camp fire. As he watched the camp fire, he began to grow tired. The Hulk around the woods one last time to make sure there was nothing dangerous around. The Hulk sat the log, still gazing into the camp fire. As he began to relax, the Hulk began the process of morphing back to human form. His face and body went from a green to an off-white, then steadily turned into a gainsboro. His muscles became smaller and smaller, and his hair went from green to a dark brown. to gray. His eyes began to go back to a pale green. His skin went from gray to a healthy peach color. His eye went from pale green, to white, and back to brown. After a minute, the morph process was over. He was back to human form. He was David again.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcltBxknkHY
David put his hands over his face and slid them down ever so softly. He, then, quickly enveloped his torso with his arms and hands due to the cold. He surveyed his surroundings and realized that he was still where the camp fire was, while the record player was still playing that same song. David unzipped his brown leather duffle bag and pulled out an extra shirt. He put the shirt on and buttoned it up. He pulled out an extra pair of shoes and tied them up. Then, he pulled out an extra jacket, put it on, and zipped it up. He turned the record player off. David didn't want to leave the camp fire unattended, so he put out the fire by a pile of dirt all of it. He zipped up his duffle bag, put it on his left shoulder, and walked out toward the road. David had to think for a second to remember what the nearest town is...
[Arlen's Voice echoing:] "If you were to walk south for about 2½ miles, you'll reach the town of Copperhill. It's a small little town. I know. I grew up there."David began to walk south down Tennessee State Route 68... It was just as Arlen said. It only took 50 minutes or so to walk there. By this time, the sun was higher and the temperature had risen to the high 50's. After walking 25 feet passed Grassy Creek Road, he saw a Dollar General to his right.
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Dollar General
171 Ocoee Street
Copperhill, Tennessee 37317
Wednesday, November 10, 1982
9:04 a.m. (EST)
David walked into the Dollar General. He walked over to the refrigerated section and took out a can of Pepsi. He walked over to the cashier and put the can of Pepsi beside the register.
Cashier: "Okay, that's one Pepsi."
The cashier rang up the price on the register.
"That'll be 71 cents."
David took a dollar out of his right pants pocket and gave to the cashier.
"Out of a dollar."
The cashier rang up the register until it opened. The cashier put the dollar in the register drawer and made change. The cashier closed the register drawer and handed the change to David.
"Twenty-nine cents is your change."
David: "Thank you. Uhm, would you happen to know where the library is located?"
Cashier: "Sure. It's 160 Main Street. It's not hard to find. It's only a 3 or 4 minute walk from here. Head east on Ocoee Street toward Jackson Street. Then, you take a left onto Grand Street. After that, you turn left onto Main Street. The library will be to your left side."
David; "Thank you."
Cashier: "Have a nice day."
David: "You, too."
David left the store with his Pepsi in hand. He was drinking his Pepsi as he walked the streets. By the time he got to the library, he had already finished his Pepsi and thew it away.
_______________________________________________________________
Copperhill City Library
160 Main Street
Copperhill, Tennessee 37317
Wednesday, November 10, 1982
1:40 p.m. (EST)
David read numerous books and a variety of magazine articles about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) for hours in an attempt to understand it more. He thought that Arlen was very likely inflicted with this bane. After that, David went to the newspaper archives. All books of archived newspaper were month and years. David looked through the April through June of 1967 articles. After some searching, he found a headline on "Saturday, May 20, 1967" caught his eye. It read:
Copperhill Native Goes M.I.A.He saw a small picture of Arlen as a younger man. David began reading the article.
"Arlen James Lester of Copperhill, 20, and the rest of his platoon have come up missing, according to the Company Captain of the U.S. Army. Captain John H. Patterson had reported that the platoon has not been seen or heard from for a total of 19 days. The Company had been searching, high and low, rain or shine. They have narrowed it down to be the platoon within the 25th Infantry Division."
David looked up and recalled what Arlen's position was in the Army.
[Arlen's voice echoing:]"Belonged to the 2nd Arlen's "Battalion, 11th Field Artillery Regiment assigned to the 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division."David looked back down to read some more of the article.
"At the close of this particular week, a record 337 Americans had been killed in battle in the Vietnam War in a single week. This marks a new milestone of 10,253 Americans slain and 61,425 wounded in the war thus far."As David was reading the article, a woman named: Brooke, a comely blonde-haired, blue-eyed lady who appeared to be in her mid-30's was slowly walking by and saw the headline on the newspaper, one that looked quite familiar to her. She walked up to the table where David was sitting and pulled out a chair.
Brooke: "Uhm, excuse me."
David looked up at Brooke.
David: "Yes?"
Brooke sat down beside David.
Brooke: "Uhm, I don't mean to pry, but I was just wondering why you're reading this article."
David: "Oh. Uhm, I knew someone in this town and thought I could get a some background on him."
Brooke: "He was M.I.A.?"
David: "Yeah."
Brooke: "My high school sweetheart was M.I.A., too. We were gonna get married after he finished he tour, but he died in the war a month before his tour was up."
David: "I'm sorry."
Brooke: "Thank you. I really miss him sometimes. A couple years after he was killed, I married a banker who was against the American war efforts in Vietnam."
David: "Did you say: 'a banker'.?"
Brooke: "A year after that, he and I had fraternal twins. A boy and girl."
David recalled Arlen mentioning that the girl he was suppose to marry was a banker.
[Arlen's Voice Echoing:] "And when I finally got home, Brooke had already married somebody else and had two children with him. He works at some bank or something."David made the connection immediately.
David: "My God. You're Brooke."
Brooke's eye widen.
Brooke: "Yes. Brooke Rose McGuire. How did you know my name?"
David: "Arlen told me all about you and your plans for when he returned for his tour."
Brooke: "Really? You knew Arlen? Were you in Vietnam with him?"
David: "Uh, no. I just met him this morning. I asked where the nearest town, and he said it was here. He mentioned he grew up here, so I got a little curious."
Brooke had a very confused look on her face.
Brooke: "This morning?... I don't understand. Arlen's alive?"
David: "Yes, he is... You didn't know that?"
Brooke: "No. Oh my God, he's alive? Fifteen years of thinking he was dead and all the while he's been alive?"
David: "Yes."
Brooke: "We're talking about Arlen James Lester, right?"
David: "That's how he introduced himself to me."
Brooke: "What ever happened to him?"
David: "Well, he told me that, a month before the end of his tour, his platoon came under a surprise attack. Half of his platoon was killed. The rest of them, including him, were captured by the V-C and they were taken to the Hỏa Lò Prison, where he was held as a POW for three years."
Brooke: "My God, that poor man. How'd he escape?"
David: "He was rescued by some Navy SEALs. He was repatriated and sent to a military hospital to recover for a year. He told me that by the time he was able to come back home, you had already married someone else and had two children by him."
Brooke: "None of this makes any sense to me. If he was repatriated in 1970, and went to a military hospital, why didn't he try to get in touch with me?"
David: "I don't know."
Brooke: "And why didn't the Army try to get in touch with me? I had to be on a Contact List or something."
David: "I don't know. Maybe they got a hold of somebody else and they never gave you the message."
Brooke: "My ex-husband. That's something he would do."
David: "Your— EX— husband?"
Brooke: "Yeah. We divorced about 4½ years ago. It took 7 or 8 years to come to my senses. I was 22 and afraid I'd never get married. This latchkey generation coming behind us are so much more independent and career-oriented."
David: "I understand. It wasn't meant-to-be."
Brooke: "Exactly... So, where is Arlen now? I mean, where does he live?"
David: "Well, he's homeless and living in seclusion."
Brooke: "Why?"
David: "He told me: 'no people, no war'. I think he had trouble re-adjusting to civilian life."
Brooke: "How could that be? He's been a civilian for most of his life."
David: "I think he may be shell-shocked from the stress from the war and prolonged torture of being a POW."
Brooke: "Oh, that poor man."
David: "I'm not a psychiatrist, but I've been reading a lot of books on this. I believe he's suffering from a neurasthenia-like condition called: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD."
Brooke: "Oh my God."
David: "He's not the only soldier who's ever suffered from this. And from what I saw this morning, he shows all the classic signs. Anger and irritability, depression, anxiety, intrusive thoughts or memories, flashbacks, nightmares, loss of concentration, increased startle, hypervigilance, isolation, apathetically demoralized, emotional numbing and lack of trust."
Brooke: "But that doesn't sound like him at all. He's always had a heart of gold and generous spirit."
David: "I saw that side of him, too. He invited me to get warm by his camp fire and for fried egg and coffee."
Brooke: "You see, that DOES sound like him."
David: "Yes, but I saw another side to him, Brooke. It was like he was in-and-out of two different worlds. He was reliving the war right in front of me, not ever realizing it. He was speaking Vietnamese off and on. There are treatments for this type of thing."
Brooke: "Really?"
David: "Oh yes. PTSD can be treated. With treatment, trauma survivors can feel safe in the world and live happy and productive lives. Effective treatments for PTSD include different types of psychotherapy or medication. But we have to get. And we have to get to him soon."
Brooke: "Do you really think he would hurt someone."
David: "Not intentionally, no. Is there a psychiatrist in this town?"
Brooke: "Doctor Lawrence Stockwell. He was in our graduating class."
David: "Do you know where his practice is?"
Brooke: "Sure. It's right on Grand Street."
David: "I think we should visit him. If we could get Arlen under a psychiatrist's care, his symptoms could diminish."
Brooke: "I couldn't agree more. He's been through enough already."
_______________________________________________________________
Stockwell Psychiatric Services
208 Grand Avenue
Copperhill, Tennessee 37317
Wednesday, November 10, 1982
2:38 p.m. (EST)
Doctor Stockwell: "It's amazing that he been able to live off the grid as long as he has. Untreated, PTSD can be very debilitating. With him being homeless, living in the woods like he does, may have retrogressed, even intensified the symptoms of his condition."
David: "I was afraid you'd say that."
Brooke: "Well, what are we suppose to do? We can't let him go on like that."
Doctor Stockwell: "This whole town would be excited to know that Arlen is still alive. But we don't want to flood him with a bunch of people. Inundating him like that could trigger a panic attack. He needs to be in an environment that is safe to him, one that poses no threat."
David: "So, having come into town would be out of the question."
Doctor Stockwell: "Oh absolutely. In this particular case, we would have to go to him."
David: "We'd need to find him first. He may still be at the site he was at this morning."
Brooke: "I could go talk to him. He wouldn't see me as a threat."
Doctor Stockwell: "As good of an idea as that sounds, I don't think we should put you in the picture quite yet. Suffering from the flashbacks, he may feel wary if he were to see you. After so many years of not seeing you, he may come to the irrational conclusion that you're a figment of his imagination. This could precipitate even more anxiety on his part."
Brooke: "But I was one of the good things in his life."
Doctor Stockwell: "Oh yes, indubitably. Still, he won't be the same Arlen you knew 15 years ago. Any reaction he has from seeing you would be unintentional, but too risky all the same."
David: "I would pose as a threat to him after what happened this morning."
Doctor Stockwell: "Not necessarily. You only posed as a threat while he was reliving the war. He was amicable to you any other time, right?"
David: "That's true, but how will I know if he's reliving the war before I get there?"
Doctor Stockwell: "You're the only one who's seen how he acts while reliving the war. You'll know, if and when, it's safe to talk with him."
Brooke: "But what about us?"
Doctor Stockwell: "We'll be at the side of the road, out of sight with the police."
Brooke: "Police? You've gotta be kidding me!"
Doctor Stockwell: "It's just a safety precaution, Brooke. It's backup just in case he gets violent. He won't even see us, unless it's necessary."
Brooke: "He doesn't belong in jail. He was already a prisoner of war for 3 years. If we go about this all wrong, we may have an unnecessary massacre on our hands. The main victim being him."
Doctor Stockwell: "We won't let that happen. Right, David?"
David nodded his head in agreement.
David: "Right."
_______________________________________________________________
Polk County
Somewhere on Tennessee State Route 68
Copperhill, Tennessee 37317
Wednesday, November 10, 1982
4:05 p.m. (EST)
The police car pulled to the side of the road once they saw that there was a camp fire deeper in the woods than the previous camp fire. Doctor Stockwell, David, and Brooke pulled over right behind the police car. The three get out of their car and walked up to the driver's side of the police car.
Doctor Stockwell: "Uh, you might want to turn off your red and blue lights. There's no need for that yet, assuming we'll ever need it."
Policeman #1: "Hey Doc, you do what you do, and we'll do what we do, okay?"
Doctor Stockwell: "If he sees these lights, he may run away and we may never see him again... Turn the lights off, please."
Policeman #1 looked at Policeman #2.
Policeman #2: "Just do it so we can get on with this."
Policeman #1 turned the lights off.
Policeman #1: "There's gonna come a time, Doc, when we stop taking orders from you."
Doctor Stockwell: "I understand."
Policeman #1: "Oh, I hope so."
Doctor Stockwell and David began to walk toward the woods.
Doctor Stockwell: "Okay, David. Remember, talk to him calmly. Try to avoid any subject having to do with the war, while simultaneously showing that he's in control of the conversation. Generally, the onset of anxiety comes from the feeling of having no control."
David: "What if he wants to talk about the war?"
Doctor Stockwell: "Let him talk about it to an extent. Just keep reminding him that there are circumstances at the present time that can help put the past behind him."
David: "Well, I'll do my best. I just hope none this drives him over the edge."
Doctor Stockwell: "Just be cordial and try to keep contempt and edginess out of your voice. If he senses perturbation of any kind, he'll get suspicious. We'll be nearby in case trouble arises."
David: "Okay. Well, here I go."
Doctor Stockwell: "Good luck to ya."
David: "Thank you."
David walked up the hill and deeper into the woods. As he walked, he was a little less sure of himself. He didn't know what to expect. He didn't know how to really help Arlen. He was a doctor and a scientist, not a psychiatrist. Psychiatry, as well as psychology, was an entirely different ballgame than he was used to playing. He didn't have a background in crisis intervention. He didn't know any methods to use to offer immediate, short-term help to individuals who were experiencing an event that produced emotional, mental, physical, and behavioral distress. He had all the experience he wanted to have that morning. The only comforting though he had was that he knew more about Arlen's condition and people were backing him up. In the back of his mind, David was hoping there would be no metamorphosis this time. He thought that if another Hulk-out happened, the whole situation would become chaotic, a wild uproar, in pandemonium. And the last thing he wanted was to have anyone hurt or killed... Then, David saw Arlen. Arlen was just sitting on a log, but there was no camp fire this time. He had no need for it yet. By this time of the day, it had reached high of 73°. David walked toward Arlen slowly and quietly so as to not startle him. Finally, David was there. There was no turning back now.
"Arlen?"
Arlen looked at David.
Arlen: "David? You disappeared hours ago. What brings you back here?"
David: "I just— wanted to make sure you're all right."
Arlen: "Oh? That's very kind of you... Yeah, I guess."
Arlen sat back down. David sat down with him.
David: "Can I talk with you for minute?"
Arlen: "Sure."
David: "Look, I happen to know that there's a town 2½ miles south of here full of people who love and care about you very much."
Arlen: "Really?"
David: "Yes, really."
Arlen: "Hmh... Is that why when I returned to the United States, there were hippies there at the airport protesting me, throwing garbage at me, spitting on me, calling me a fascist and a baby-killer and every other name under the sun?"
David: "Arlen, those people didn't know you. They did it to every soldier. And it's okay to be angry about it because they wrong. They were very wrong about what they did... But the people in your hometown don't feel that way about you."
Arlen: "Everybody in my hometown thinks I'm dead. And you know what? They're right. I am dead. I died over 9 years ago."
David: "What do you mean?"
Arlen reached in his pocket and pulled out a folded up piece of paper and gave it to David.
Arlen: "This here is my Death Certificate."
David read what the paper said, but it was not a Death Certificate.
David: "This is your Honorable Discharge from the Army."
Arlen: "That's right. My required 8 years in the U.S. Army were fulfilled. I received a rating of excellent for my service. I exceeded the required standards of duty performance and personal conduct. And I completed my tour of duty, and then some. I wanted to re-enlist. I would have gone back in as a Sergeant. Can you imagine the time it would've taken me to rise to the rank of Sergeant Major?"
David: "But you didn't re-enlist?"
Arlen chuckled.
Arlen: "I COULDN'T re-enlist. The Army didn't want me anymore. They figured after what I went through, my nerves would not be calm enough to be a Non-Commissioned Officer. We had already pulled out of Vietnam by that time. They said there were no more opportunities for me. In other words, I had been rendered expendable. I was put out to pasture because they saw me and my loyalty as minuscule significance when compared to an overall purpose. And there's the proof... I died."
David gave the paper back to Arlen.
David: "Arlen, your life's not over because of a military discharge."
Arlen: "I don't live out in the wood by myself for my health, David. I couldn't adjust to civilian life. In the Army, I could do just about any job that was demanded of me. As a civilian, I can't even hold down a minimum wage job."
David: "But it doesn't have to continue to be that way."
Arlen: "I should've died in that jungle. I never should've extended that tour. If I had just did my required year-long tour, Brooke and I would be married right now."
David: "You can reacquaint yourself with her. Arlen, I met Brooke. She's divorced now and her children are self-reliant, independent 12-years-olds."
Arlen: "You met Brooke, huh?"
David: "Yes. And she said that she doesn't believe that she ever stopped loving you."
Arlen chuckled.
Arlen: "She remembering the old me, not the broken-down mess that I am now."
David: "But you can get help, Arlen. You don't have to stay that way."
Arlen: "Past help... Past hope, past cure, past help."
David: "What are you talking about?"
Arlen: "It's Shakespeare. Romeo and Juliet, a story about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately reconcile their feuding families. Act 4, Scene 1. It's when Juliet was talking with Friar Lawrence, a Franciscan friar and Romeo's confidant. She said: 'O, shut the door! And when thou hast done so, Come weep with me, past hope, past cure, past help.' Juliet knew what a mess she was in. She was beyond hope, beyond cure, beyond help. And so am I."
David nods his head in agreement.
David: "Yes, but when Juliet said that, didn't Friar Lawrence reply: 'Ah, Juliet, I already know thy grief; It strains me past the compass of my wits. I hear thou must, and nothing may prorogue it,'."
Arlen: "Yeah."
David: "Friar Lawrence was telling Juliet that I already knew why she was so sad. He to that it was too difficult a problem for him to know how to solve. He'd heard that on the coming Thursday she must marry this count, and nothing can delay it... He was telling Juliet that he knew her pain, even though it was beyond his or her understanding. The hope, the cure, the help; they were all possible."
Arlen now had tears streaming down his face.
Arlen: "You don't get it, do you? You don't know, do you? You don't know what it's like to have some malevolent force inside of you, eating away at your soul, your sanity. It's like a poison that never leaves your body, no matter what you do. It's like a cancer, a monster. This monster comes out when he wants, whether you want it to or not."
Short pause.
David: "We all have beasts within us that we'd rather lie dormant, Arlen. And, more than you know, I understand that these torpid monsters come out and dominate us. Most times, when we least expect it."
Arlen: "I saw him this morning. I saw him in the incarnate. I saw him for what he really was."
David: "Him?"
Arlen: "Charlie. My monster. He was unnatural, grotesque, not quite human. He had a green tinge to his skin. He was unbelievably strong. And the rage I saw in his eyes? I really felt— like he was— out— to destroy me... I'm so terrified that he's gonna come back."
Arlen still had tears streaming down his face.
David: "Arlen, I can help you. I know people who can help you. Even if we can't get rid of your monster, we can do things to tame it. I have to do that with my monster all the time... Please, let me help you."
Meanwhile, on the side of the road, the policeman getting antsy. Doctor Stockwell and Brooke were beginning to worry about whether the situation was going well or not.
Brooke: "Do ya think everything's okay?"
Doctor Stockwell: "I haven't heard any ruckus. I don't want to worsen the situation by prematurely going up there."
Policeman #1: "Yeah, well, maybe we can go up there and hurry things along."
Doctor Stockwell: "You're only here if the situation becomes dangerous."
Policeman #2: "Look, we've got better things to do than sitting around here waiting for something that may or may not happen."
Policeman #1: "Yeah. So, if you don't go up there to see what's going on, then we will."
Doctor Stockwell quietly sighs.
Doctor Stockwell: "All right, I'll have a look see."
Brooke: "Can I come? Please?"
Doctor Stockwell: "Okay, but remember, we have to be very quiet about it."
Brooke and Doctor Stockwell began their walk into the woods. They walked as slowly and as quietly as they could. Meanwhile, David and Arlen are still conversing.
David: "Disturbance of sleep and constant vivid recall of your experience, with dulled responses to others is are symptoms of this. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is nothing to be ashamed of. Arlen, you've been through so much. And PTSD can be treated."
Arlen: "They'll force me to go to a psychiatric hospital, won't they?"
David: "Not necessarily. I've already talked with a psychiatrist who was in your graduating class and he is willing to put you under his care. And even if he thought that was best, if you check-in voluntarily, they can't make you stay there. If you check yourself in, you can check yourself out, even against medical advice."
Arlen: "How do you know all of this? Why do you care?"
Short pause.
David: "Because I, too, suffer from an affliction that has altered the course of my life. Only my plight cannot be relieved by a doctor."
Arlen wiped the tears from his eyes. Short pause.
Arlen: "I don't know if I can rejoin society, David."
David: "Arlen, when you went into the Army, didn't they do everything they could to strip you of your individuality and make you part of a unit, changed you from a civilian to a soldier?"
Arlen: "They sure did."
David: "It was a difficult adjustment, but you adapted to military life, right?"
Arlen: "Sure."
David: "A doctor could reverse the process, give you back your individuality. And just like military life, civilian life may be difficult to adjust to, but eventually you'll adapt to it."
Suddenly, Arlen spotted a couple of people walking slowly toward them through the trees. Arlen stood up.
Arlen: "David, there are people coming."
David looked at them and stood up.
David: "It's okay, Arlen. These are more people who care."
Brooke and Doctor Stockwell let themselves come into view with Arlen and David.
Doctor Stockwell: "It's all right, Arlen. We're here to help, not hurt you."
Arlen: "Who are you?"
Doctor Stockwell: "It's me, Larry Stockwell, from school. Remember?"
Arlen: "Larry Stockwell... Yeah, I do remember you. You're a doctor?"
Doctor Stockwell: "A psychiatrist, yes."
David: "Arlen, he can help make your transition into society go more smoothly."
Doctor Stockwell: "I brought an old friend with me. David and I figured you'd want to see her."
Brooke walked slowly over to Arlen and stopped about to two feet from him. Arlen said quietly:
Arlen: "Oh my God."
Brooke looked at him and smiles slightly.
Brooke: "It's really you. You really are alive. All these years, I've felt like I had a void in me that no one could fill."
Arlen: "Brooke?"
Tears were beginning to well up in both their eyes.
Brooke: "After all these years, I hope I'm not a disappointment."
Arlen: "No way. You're as beautiful as I remember you."
They walked over to each other and gave one another a soft embrace. David and Doctor Stockwell were touched and moved by seeing them in each others' arms. For that moment everybody had hope... Then, the voice of Policeman #1 spoke behind them.
Policeman #1: "Okay, everyone. Party's over."
All four of them looked and saw the two policeman coming out from behind the trees.
Doctor Stockwell: "It's okay, guys. We've got everything under control."
Policeman #2: "We don't know what you think YOU'RE in control of, but it's us that have the control now."
Doctor Stockwell: "No, he's under my care now. You guys are free to leave."
Policeman #1: "Wish we could say that about some of you."
Doctor Stockwell: "What are you talking about?"
Policeman #2: "We're arresting this man. What part of that don't you understand?"
Doctor Stockwell: "Arresting him? For what?"
Policeman #1: "Vagrancy. He in our jurisdiction. By law, moving about without a means to support oneself and without a permanent home constitutes vagrancy. Now, since vagrancy is a misdemeanor, if you all shut up, and he comes with us willingly and quietly, he will only get 30 days in the Copperhill City Jail. He'll have a hot meal every night and a bed to sleep in. Isn't that nice of us?"
Doctor Stockwell: "Uh, look, I don't think you're seeing the big picture here."
Policeman #2 walked up to Doctor Stockwell and punched him in the face. Doctor Stockwell fell to the ground..
David: "Hey!"
David attempted to run toward Doctor Stockwell to see if he was okay, but Policeman #1 grabbed him.
Policeman #2: "No, Doc, you're not seeing the big picture. Do not interfere with us taking this man into custody. Unless you wanna come with him."
David: "Hey, you have right or reason to resort to physical violence like that!"
As Policeman #1 held David by his arms, Policeman #2 walked up to David and punched him in the face.
Policeman #2: "We're the law, Mister Beauford. We'll resort to anything we want."
Policeman #1: "Come to think of it: you meandered into our town with nothing but a duffle bag and the clothes on your back. Even if you don't live here, you can still be charged with vagabondism if you don't leave. Unless you'd like to keep it up and we can get you on disorderly conduct."
Brooke: "Please! These are gentleman. They're not out to hurt anybody. None of us are."
Policeman #2: "Watch it, little lady. We're on the job right now. We can beat the hell out of you and no one will say a word about it."
Policeman #1 cuffed David and he exclaimed:
David: "Ouch! Ahhh!"
Arlen was not impressed with the insinuation of beating up Brooke.
Arlen; "Don't you dare lay a hand on this woman. Don't you dare."
Policeman #2: "Why, that tone of voice and that glare in his eyes constitutes a threat. And threatening a police officer is not smart thing to do."
David: "You don't even have a warrant for his arrest. You can't touch any of us."
Policeman #1 tightened the cuffs on David, as he exclaimed:
"Aaaahhhh!"
Policeman #1: "We don't NEED a warrant."
David grit his teeth from the pain of the cuffs.
David: "You do unless we're in Russia right now."
Policeman #2 glared at David and walked up to him.
Policeman #2: "Get a load on the mouth on this guy."
Policeman #2 punch David in the face, twice with his left hand and twice with his right hand. Then, he punched David in the stomach.
"Get rid of him while we take care of the others."
Policeman #1: "Did you really think you were gonna get away with giving us a lot of lip?"
Policeman #1 threw David down the hill toward the outer part of the woods. He rolled down the hill until he stopped at the bottom. Completely outraged, his metamorphosis was triggered.
David felt a chill rushing through his body. He felt a surge and fusion strength in his muscles. David's eyes became white and then a pale green.
Policeman #2: "All right, you piece of trash, let's go."
Arlen: "You guys, of all people, have no right calling me a piece of trash."
Policeman #2: "Excuse me?"
Policeman #2: "How dare you speak to us with such insolence! You have disrespected everyone who wears the badge!"
David's shirt begins to rip because he was now growing larger and larger, and his muscles begin to expand. He broke free of the cuffs with no problems. At the same time, his skin pigmentation changed from a healthy peach color to gray and then to a full out green.
Policeman #1: "May one of our guns should accidentally go off. Then we'll see how audacious he is."
Doctor Stockwell stood in front of Arlen.
Doctor Stockwell: "Don't even think about it."
The sides of his pants split partway and the shoes he was wearing ripped off of his feet. He was now the Hulk.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNc9XxdwqaM
Policeman #2: "Out of the way, Doc, before we shoot you, too."
"Rrraaaaaaaaarrh!," the Hulk roared as he stood up.
Policeman #1: "Did you hear that?"
Policeman #2: "I sure did."
The Hulk ran up the hill where everyone was, snarling all the way. When they saw the Hulk, everyone was so shocked that they were temporarily unable to react. The Hulk grabbed Policeman #1 by the shirt collar and threw him down the hill. The Hulk flexed his muscles and let out a loud roar. Policeman #2 pulled out his gun and the intent to shoot the Hulk, but the gun misfired.
"No! Damn thing's jammed!"
The Hulk walked up to Policeman #2, snarled, grabbed the gun from his hand, and threw far into the woods. Then, he grabbed Policeman #2 and thew him down the hill as well. Once again, he flexed his muscles and let out a loud roar. The Hulk turned and looked at Doctor Stockwell, Brooke, and Arlen. Slowly, with a few grunts, the Hulk began to walk over to them. They all feeling very uneasy. The Hulk walked over to where Arlen was. They stood and looked at each other for about 5 seconds. Then, the two policeman came back up the hill.
Policeman #1: "All right, hold it right there! Nobody move!"
The Hulk turned around, standing in front of Arlen, and looked toward the policeman. As the policeman walked closer, the Hulk growled louder and louder. Doctor Stockwell and Brooke quietly speak to each other.
Doctor Stockwell: "What's he doing?"
Brooke: "I think— I think he's— 'protecting' Arlen."
Policeman #1 slowly walked up to the Hulk and pulled out his gun.
Policeman #1: "Get away from him or I'll shoot."
Policeman #1 pointed his gun at the Hulk. Just before the policeman pulled the trigger, the Hulk grabbed his arm, used his other hand to pick the policeman up by his shirt collar, and threw him on top of Policeman #2. The growled and roared, letting the policemen know that he wasn't going to let them touch Arlen. Frustrated, the two policemen stood up, knowing they were never going to get anywhere.
Policeman #2: "Let's get outta here. We're wasting our time."
Policeman #1: "You said it. These troublemakers deserve each other."
Both of the policemen ran down the hill and toward the road where their car was parked. They both got in the car and wasted no time in driving away. The Hulk slowly turned around and he and Arlen stood and looked at each other. Arlen had a different feeling from the last time he saw the Hulk. As he looked into the Hulk's eyes, calming feeling came over Arlen. He could see in the Hulk's eyes that the Hulk wasn't there to hurt him. Then, the Hulk turned and ran deeper into the woods. Everybody watched as the Hulk ran further and further, until he disappeared through the trees.
_______________________________________________________________
Ocoee River Clinic
141 Ocoee Street
Copperhill, Tennessee 37317
Thursday, November 11, 1982
10:10 a.m. (EST)
Arlen was lying on his bed in the clinic. Brooke was sitting on the side of his bed. They were both enjoying each others' company, talking about old times and all. Doctor Stockwell walked into the room.
Doctor Stockwell: "Well, I can see you guys are in high spirits. How's my favorite patient doing?"
Arlen: "Oh, better than I have in years."
Doctor Stockwell: "Excellent. I'll write you out a few prescriptions and with any luck, we may be able to discharge you by day's end. What do ya think?"
Arlen: "Sounds great."
Doctor Stockwell: "I assume you have a place to stay after you get outta here."
Brooke: "Uh, yeah. He'll stay with me until he gets on his feet."
Doctor Stockwell: "That's very kind of you."
A nurse knocked on the door and opened it.
Nurse: "You guys have a visitor."
The nurse left the room. A second or two later, David walked into the room. Everyone was excited to see him.
Brooke: "David!"
Brooke got up from her seat, ran to David, and gave him a hug.
"Oh my God, we've all been so worried about you since you disappeared yesterday."
David: "Oh, I'm okay."
David and Doctor Stockwell shook hands.
Doctor Stockwell: "David."
David: "Doctor."
Doctor Stockwell: "Good to see that you're okay."
David: "Uh, thanks. How's the patient doing?"
Arlen: "I'm doing a lot better knowing your safe."
David: "Good. I see you and Brooke are getting reacquainted."
Brooke: "Yeah. We may not be able to start off where we left off, but my life is enriched having Arlen back in it."
David: "I'm sure it is."
David looked at Arlen.
"Arlen? Glad to know you're feeling better."
Arlen: "Oh, I am. You're one of the people I have to thank for that."
David: "No problem."
Arlen: "What about you, David? You have any prospects?"
David: "Uh, no. But it is time for me to move on."
Brooke: "Are you sure? I can make room for you in my place. That's where Arlen's staying."
David: "It's a kind offer, but I have my reasons."
Arlen and David shook hands.
Arlen: "Thanks for everything, David."
David: "Sure. You be good to yourself, my friend."
David went to the door, opened it up, then stopped and turned around.
"Oh and by the way... Happy Veteran's Day."
Arlen: "Thanks, man."
Then, David turned back around and left the room.
Blount County
Somewhere on U.S. Route 411 North
Maryville, Tennessee 37801
Friday, November 12, 1982
12:12 p.m. (EST)
12:12 p.m. (EST)
THE END
