Synopsis

To the Moon

It is 1969 in a small Midwestern town. Thomas, 13, wants nothing more than to save his family from its own self-destruction. His father Frank is an alcoholic who beats his wife Helen. Frank dreams of becoming an inventor, but his inventions are hopelessly flawed as even Thomas recognizes. Helen is ashamed of the abuse, and hides the bruises with scarves and sunglasses. When his parents fight, Thomas protects his sister Dottie, 6, who copes with the violence by withdrawing into the fantasy world she creates with her dolls. The only time the family seems happy is when they watch news reports of the Apollo moon mission.

With an overdeveloped sense of responsibility, Thomas rises before dawn and delivers newspapers. He then rouses Frank who is often hungover. The household tension escalates, partly because Frank risks getting fired. One early morning, Thomas wakes to his parents’ fighting and realizes he must intervene. He calls the police, but the officer leaves calling it “a domestic affair.” The fighting continues, so Thomas calls family friend Ray who stops the fight.

Helen knows she will never be safe until she leaves, but she doesn’t know how to drive and her attempts to learn are thwarted by Frank, who resents her independence. Meanwhile, Thomas faces his own troubles. He fights with classmates and takes his father’s car out for joy rides. With his misbehavior, Thomas develops a reputation as a troubled kid and Frank threatens to send him to military school.

On the night of July 20, 1969, Helen, Thomas and Dottie gather to watch the moon landing while Frank, on a prolonged drinking binge, is at a bar. Later that night, the children are awoken by the sounds of their parents’ fighting. The undersized Thomas tries to break it up, but Frank hits him hard and gashes his face. He calls Ray to intervene, but Ray isn’t home. After several thwarted attempts, Helen, Dottie and Thomas manage to leave the house. When Frank passes out, Helen tries to drive but can’t work the gears. To his mother’s surprise, Thomas drives to the courthouse where Helen takes steps to have Frank removed from the house.

Frank is furious when he learns he must leave and vows to get even. Helen is relieved but scared of raising two children on her own. Frank tries to reconcile with the children, saying he has stopped drinking, but they are wary of his promises. Thomas realizes that getting his father out of the house was just the beginning. He must also help his family cope with his father’s absence who, for better or worse, was the family’s breadwinner. Read Excerpt...