Everyone sits in silence after hearing the true story. Martha is quiet and Zoe turns to her aunt.

Zoe: Did Grandpa Gerald really do that to my dad?

Annie: I was out of the house by then. I was living with relatives closer to art school. Lena and Marcus were still in primary school, so Johnny had stayed home to look out for them and Mom — your grandma.

Lena: Why didn’t you guys say anything? I thought John and Dad not talking all this time was over something stupid.

Annie: Mom made up stories to try explain him leaving. Dad told the rest of our family — friends, even the neighbours — tall tales about John. That he was some unreasonable kid who ran off and left his family to pursue some stupid dream. Johnny got thrown out because he stood up to Dad.

Martha: Johnny. Johnny was so sad.

Marcus: You’re all liars. I never saw Dad act like that.

Annie: Marcus, you were young, and we did our best to hide it.

Marcus: So, all this time you just let me talk badly about my brother?

Annie: Dad died, and Johnny came back. But Mom got sick. He didn’t want to make things more difficult.

Martha: My boy hates me.

Silence.

Martha: My poor brave boy. He always tried to be strong for me, protect me, make me laugh and tell me how much he loved me.

Annie: Those stories may be tall tales but they have truth to them. Johnny was this family’s soldier, clown and—

Lena: A big-hearted fool.

Silence.

Zoe: I’m sure he doesn’t hate you, Grandma.

Johnny and Marcy come back in.

Johnny: I don’t. Of course, I don’t. Mom, it wasn’t your fault. It was nobody’s fault but his.

Marcus: I can’t believe you never told us. All this time I’ve been on your case—

Johnny pulls his siblings into a hug.

Martha: Johnny, sweetheart will you come home now? Your dad left…he’s been gone for a while. I don’t know when he’s coming back.

Johnny: It’s OK, Mom. I’m here.

Zoe: Dad—

Johnny: Zoe, I’m sorry you had to find out about this.

Zoe: But if you told me I might have been able to understand—

Marcy: Your dad didn’t want to burden you with his upbringing.

Johnny: I didn’t want him a part of my life any more. So, when I met your mom and we had you…I wanted you to have her name. Not his.

Zoe: I’m really sorry, Dad.

They hug.

Lena: Wait, then where did you go after Dad made you leave?

Marcus: Yeah, you were gone for, like, four years before we heard from you again.

Johnny: Oh, I went to go work on an ostrich farm.

Lena and Marcus: What?

Johnny chuckles.

Johnny: True story.

Tell us: What did you think of the chattalogue?