Act 1 Summary

Sticks and Bones is the story of a family's struggle to adapt their lives upon the return of their son who was blinded in the Vietnam War. The play opens in the suburban home of Ozzie and Harriett, where slides are being projected onto a movie screen. Images of family members dressed in clothing from the 1900s appear, with faceless voices trying to determine the names of those on the screen.

Amid all the black and white images is interjected a color shot of Ozzie, Harriet, and Father Donald, who holds a basketball. A bright light that reveals the full interior of the suburban home illuminates the stage. The three characters stand in the living room just as they did in the photograph and suddenly come to life bouncing and passing the ball to each other.

The phone interrupts their play and Ozzie...