Alamogordo.

It is a town in New Mexico and in the countryside near Alamogordo, the base is receiving a visit.  For Thaddeus Ross, it is a day this General has been dreading.  “She” is showing up today.  “She” is here with the General’s daughter, Betty.  They are together in a relationship not of his approval.  He wants to be too busy.  He wants to check in on the gamma research taking place.  He is a proud man.  He is a veteran.  The Army has been his career, his calling.  Conflict and discipline are all he knows.  Today, he will know less of the latter.

They stand before him in his office.  He is unmoved.

Betty “Dad…please.  You don’t know how much this means to me.  To us.”

His eyes shift toward his daughter.

Thaddeus “To you?  What about to your father?  Not once in this decision of lifestyle of yours have you ever considered me.  When you made the choice-”

Betty “The only choice I made was to be with Jen.”

Thaddeus “Do not…interrupt me.”

Jennifer “Mister Ross, sir…”

His eyes do not move away from his daughter.  He asks the question, but it comes off as a statement.

Thaddeus “Why did you bring her.”

Betty “She’s my fiancee, Dad.  Whether you like it or approve of it…or not…Jennifer and I are getting married.”

Thaddeus “Not in the eyes of God.”

Betty “You don’t get to choose what God approves of!”

Thaddeus stands, angry.

Thaddeus “Do not raise your voice to me!!!”

Jennifer “Mister Ross…I am talking to you now.  You need to understand…your daughter’s heart is breaking.  That’s not because of us.  That’s because of you.  You want to believe in some ideal that simply goes against your daughter’s happiness.”

Thaddeus turns his head now toward Jennifer.

Thaddeus “You wish to talk to me?”

Jennifer “Sir…General…if you’re willing to shun your daughter over who she is…you will lose her.  Is all of this hatred really worth it?”

Thaddeus “It’s not hatred.  It’s simply God’s word.  I did not raise my daughter to be…like you.  You and people of your kind are an abomination before all that is holy.  I find it shameful that I’ve had to defend people of your kind in wars.”

Betty shakes her head, looking down.