Sometimes the bond between two brothers is more like that between father and son. As is the case with Jesse and his little brother Bobby. Being 11 years apart Jesse has always seen his little brother Bobby as his son and he treated him as such. Always the protector, always the supporter, always having his little brothers back. When a series of events set in motion the arrest of Jesse for an unspeakable crime against his brother, it is unimaginable to think as Jesse did, how could this happen and how could it happen to me? Once Jesse is found guilty he must figure out how to maneuver being innocent while in prison. It takes some time but he begins to read, and write and learn the law backwards and forwards deciding if he had no power over his situation, he was going to help others. This is a story of the love and perseverance that one brother has not only to free himself from a system that until this moment he trusted, but also to make sure that he can return home so that his family and his brother knows that he did not do the things he has been accused of. So that he can have another night of walking on the lake next to his brother laughing and listening to him whistle. One of the most important gifts that we tend to take advantage of and underappreciate is the fact that every morning we wake up with our freedom. When that freedom is taken away from us to no fault of our own it is beyond heartbreaking. One innocent person being in prison for a crime they didn't commit is one too many, and this story proves that to be true.
Whistle by the Water
(Scene opens with Jesse, a young man completely enamored as he stares at the cage on the floor. He opens the gate and takes out a small puppy that makes him smile. He makes faces at it like most adults would a child.)
This is Walter. (smiles and shows the audience) Weird name I know but when I was in kindergarten there was a little boy that sat next to me who always came to school a little dirty, always seemed really tired and disconnected. But what stuck out was that he would always bring a lunch box but when he opened it there was nothing inside. As a kid I didn't understand what was happening to Walter. I didn't know if he wasn't being loved and taken care of at home or if his parents simply didn't have the money to feed him. (looks back at the dog that is playing close to him) for some reason I felt like it was my responsibility to save him. To make sure that he ate from that day forward. He became my best friend and I don't know that he ever spoke 3 words to me. (audience) When I was arrested the only thing I wanted in my cell with me was my little brother. My best friend, the only person I truly wanted to talk to. I was totally alone. But Walter, was my first experience in having a little brother, having someone to take care of. (beat, disbelief) That's what made all of it so difficult not only to understand but to live through, that people could think I would ever harm my little brother when in kindergarten I split my lunch every day with a kid named Walter who never spoke to me. Just, it just doesn't make sense.