Only In America

Only In America by Andrew Garrett and Arty Finkelstein Arty works in late 1960s Liberty, NY. At his college (about to drop out), he's warned not to get drafted. Woda—married, and head of the local draft board—propositions Arty's mother Edie. She refuses. For spite, Woda pushes Arty through the draft. Arty catches a bus for Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Captain Rice takes an interest in Arty, protecting him when he can. Arty and the other draftees are processed in. A lieutenant, Sporano, harasses Arty and plays on his fears for his mom. Back home, Edie's landlords demand the rent. Arty says he'll do all he can. Arty's new friends warn him; one says Sporano killed a recruit. Out on maneuvers, Sporano throws a practice grenade at Arty's head, but misses. Sporano flees, and Captain Rice calms the troops. Edie, out babysitting, nearly has a heart attack climbing the stairs--and raids the fridge, ashamed. Captain Rice tells Arty to go AWOL. He does, but has a nightmare that Sporano has followed. Back in Liberty, Arty works to pay the landlords. Edie's well-connected friend Judith advises Arty to return to the Army within thirty days. Arty turns himself in at the Brooklyn police station. An MP sends him back to Fort Jackson and the stockade. Court-martialed, he's found not guilty and returned to duty. Arty skips out, back to Liberty. Judith calls with a scheme--though Edie frets, Arty heads to a psychiatrist, who buys Arty's tale of hallucinations and sends him to the Bellevue mental ward. Arty nearly dies from a bad drug reaction. Army MP's take him to a military hospital, but he slips away, dodging a manhunt. He meets friends at a college and recuperates. Arty fits back in at Liberty, bowling with local cop Joel Goldstein (the chief's son). The FBI comes knocking (with Joel), and Arty flees into the wintry woodlands. Caught, Arty is transported to Fort Dix, New Jersey. With help, Arty sneaks out of his holding cell but is chased down by an MP Captain. Irate MP's take Arty to a remote area. They leave him, planning to shoot him when he runs, but he waits them out. At court-martial, Arty's mother testifies how much she depends on him—he's found not guilty, but returned to duty. Arty is called to HQ, and meets General Wright, who has the authority to get Arty out. The MP's that tried to kill Arty are in the same group waiting to be discharged. Arty is summoned for final paperwork, but the deadline looms. Two higher-ups push him through, and he is officially out. One last bus home--Arty hangs up his uniform. Edie, wrung out and angry, curses Woda, though Arty warns her that her curses have worked in the past. Woda's son dies in a motorcycle crash. It rains at the funeral, and Arty ends up washing Woda's car—still cleaning up the same man's messes.