Michael Norman Mann

Box 27 Michael Norman Mann

BOX 27 is a hard-hitting dramatization of the military's "Don't ask, don't tell" policy regarding gays. Stephen, a Marine days away from promotion, feels he's living a lie and wants to live his life with "honor, respect and duty," even if it means outing his lover, Maj. Howard Kurtis. Complicating matters, Howard is also a lifelong friend of Stephen's father, Col. Mills. In BOX 27 we witness how choosing honor and truth in the face of prejudice can come at a price. After the shock of this confession pass, the Colonel decides that Stephen is still his son, but that he cannot stay in the Marines. The Colonel confronts Howard to own up to whatever information he knows about Stephen. Howard conceals his relationship with his friend's son. The Colonel tells that he over heard a conversation between Stephen and Howard that lead him to believe that Howard was lying about his involvement. Howard is now forced to make a decision between giving his friend the truth and sticking to his falsehood.