Much later. In the wee hours.
Grace
The Book of Grace, Chapter 53: It’s Bigger Than I Thought.
Grace retires to the bedroom.
The guys come home.
Snake, with his fresh haircut, watching new video-playback on his phone.
Vet following behind.
Vet
You’re quiet.
Snake
I’m thinking about it.
Vet
Thumbs up or thumbs down. Does my speech work? Say something.
Snake
Gimmie a minute.
Vet
I showed you the Fence. I extended you a privilege. I’m not some goddamn tour guide, but there I was, acting like some goddamn tour guide, telling you the history of it.
Snake
I’m taking it all in.
Vet
You were taking pictures.
Snake
Video. Like you got. I liked it.
Vet
You liked it?
Snake
The Fence. Yeah.
Vet
Anything else?
Snake
It’s bigger than I thought.
Vet
Anything else?
Snake
You’ve got the one in China beat.
Vet
We beat China? How so.
Snake
Yours is active.
Vet
Damn right.
Snake
You beat Berlin cause yours is still standing. And you got the one in the Middle East beat cause yours is longer.
Vet
Pretty much.
Snake
See, I’m thinking about the Fence.
Vet
You—you thinking about anything else?
Snake
The Fence, it’s kind of filling up my whole mind, you know?
Vet
It grows on you.
Snake
Maybe I could work there.
Vet
Let’s wait on that.
Snake
Hurry up and wait.
Vet
Don’t get ahead of yourself, that’s all.
Snake
But, it could happen. The guys seemed to like me. I fit socially. That’s no small thing. Not everybody does, right?
Vet
Right.
Snake fiddles with his phone, looking at his footage.
Snake
Mind if I share this footage with my friends?
Vet
You’ve got friends?
Snake
I’m part of an online community.
Vet
You didn’t video anything that’s classified, so go ahead. Sure.
Snake
Gr8.
Vet
Goddamnit to hell, aren’t you going to say anything about my speech?!
Snake
Like what?
Vet
Like anything.
Snake
It’s real interesting.
Vet
“Real interesting”? You’re smug cause you took some college classes.
Snake
I’m not smug.
Vet
You’ve got the Constitution and the Declaration all memorized and you stood there spouting it off for the guys and what did I do? Did I tell you to shut up?
Snake
You let me talk.
Vet
Damn right I let you talk. On and on and on. And I even led in the goddamned applause.
Snake
Ramirez clapped first.
Vet
But I joined in, didn’t I? And I whistled hooray. I even complimented your haircut. You’re a show-off. You’re a goddamned show-off!
Snake
I’m out of here.
Snake gets his footlocker. Starts to go.
Vet
You’re staying. What’s it going to look like with you showing up and then leaving? They’d have a good time with that, I’m telling you. You’re staying. You’re staying.
Grace comes out of the bedroom, wearing her bathrobe and slip.
Grace
How’d it go?
Vet
Complete waste of time.
Snake
I liked the Fence.
Vet
I need some sleep.
Snake
And I liked your speech too, ok?
Vet
You liked my speech?
Grace
You did your speech for him?
Vet
In the truck. On the way home.
Grace
You haven’t done it for me. Say it again.
Vet
It’s still pretty rough.
Snake
I liked it.
(Rest)
I got some pointers, though. If you’re interested.
Grace
Vet
Snake
Grace
Grace
I’ll go back to bed.
She gives Vet a kiss and goes back into the bedroom.
Snake
You should say it out loud for Grace. See what she thinks.
Vet
Thinks? Jesus. She thinks I should open up. She wants me to go bleeding all over them.
Snake
I’m thinking a 180 on that.
Vet
Me too.
Snake
You need to give them something they can fix their minds to. Everything in your speech should be substantial. Like the meat and potatoes that they’ll be chewing on, something that they’ll be talking about long after you’re done talking. Not rambling. Not vague. Not poetic. Not personal. Not revealing. Something solid and commanding.
Vet
Something that’ll stick in their minds long after I’m done running my mouth.
Snake
Exactly. So that, when they look at you from here on out, they’ll be thinking of the words you said to them. You’ll be just doing your day-to-day and they’ll be running your words in their heads. And they’ll stand a little straighter in your presence. Your words’ll be like the Fence itself.
Vet
Right.
Snake
And don’t start off with “Aliens.”
Vet
It was just an idea.
Snake
Don’t have “Aliens” anywhere in it.
Vet
Right.
Snake
Makes you sound like a—a nut job.
(Rest)
Run it one more time and let’s see.
Vet
Not right now. I need to keep my own counsel with it. Maybe later.
Snake
You’ll be up there talking before you know it.
Vet
Maybe later I said.
Snake
Suit yourself.
Vet
You think you’re Border Patrol material?
Snake
Sure.
Vet
But it’s not about what you think, is it?
Snake
I guess not.
Vet
Let’s see what you’ve got.
Vet drops to the floor and starts doing push-ups.
When Snake joins him, Vet stands and talks.
Vet
Three Tonks armed to the teeth. You’ve been tracking them for days. Suddenly you find them. What do you do?
Grace
Footnote #5:
Grace, from the bedroom, eavesdropping, answering for herself.
Vet
What would you do?
Grace
((I would call for back up.))
Snake
Call for back up, right?
Vet
Back up is a long time coming.
Now, jumping jacks.
Snake
I would go in with guns blazing. Figuring my firepower will beat theirs.
Vet
Or theirs would beat yours.
Snake
So I’d—die in the line of duty. Defending our Border. That’d be good, right? Right?
Vet
That’s “brave.”
Snake
Brave is good, right?
Now, running in place.
Vet
You’re on Patrol and you catch up with another one. This time, this one’s really nice. Sneaked in all alone. Speaks good English. A sort of poetic soul. Read the stars to find his way north. All he wants is a better life for himself. He’ll get an honest job and send his earnings back home. He’s a good guy. But a Tonk. He’s got a bag of money for you if you’d look the other way. What do you do?
Grace
Footnote #6: ((I would take the money and let him slip in.))
Snake
I wouldn’t take the money.
Vet
Pesos or greenbacks?
Now, full up-down squats.
Grace
((Pesos or greenbacks?))
Snake
Money is money is money. What difference does it make?
Vet
Does he have pesos or greenbacks? Ask.
Grace
((Does he have pesos or greenbacks?))
Snake
Does he have pesos or greenbacks? Cause greenbacks’d be worth more.
Vet
Bingo. Let’s say he’s got a big bag of greenbacks.
Snake
So I would want to take the money, but I don’t take the money. Right?
Grace
((Right.))
Vet switches to sit-ups. Snake follows suit.
This time Vet keeps talking as he drills.
Vet
Say he tries to strike a bargain. The greenbacks in exchange for him to be allowed to just sneak back home.
Snake
No way, José. I’d turn him in.
Vet
And all those greenbacks he had would probably “disappear.”
Snake
Sometimes that happens.
Vet finishes his sit-ups.
Snake continues with his.
Vet
Oh, does it?
Snake
Yeah. But it wouldn’t happen with me. Not on my watch!
Grace
((Gold Star, Buddy.))
The pop quiz has concluded. Grace goes back to bed.
Snake
(Rest)
How am I doing? Did I pass?
Vet walks to the refrigerator. Snake finishes his sit-ups and stands.
Snake
Did I pass?
Vet, holding a beer, walks over to the rug.
Pretending it’s just an accident, he toes back the rug.
Snake replaces the rug. Vet notices that.
Snake
Did I pass, yes or no?
Vet
I’ll let you know, Buddy.
Snake
Snake.
Vet
Right. Snake. Have a seat.
Vet sits on the couch. Snake tentatively joins him.
Vet
Unwind. We’re just home from work. We’ve got a big day tomorrow. Now we unwind.
Snake
Right.
Vet’s relaxed. Drinking. Snake is tense.
Vet
You nervous?
Snake
Not at all.
Vet
I like to unwind with entertainment.
Snake
Watching the Fence?
Vet
Better.
Snake
Like what.
Vet goes to his footlocker.
Vet
I got hot stuff in here.
Vet unlocks his locker, showing piles of videotapes.
Vet
Your pick.
Snake
What’s on them?
Vet
Girls.
Snake
Girls?
Vet
Girls. Your pick.
Snake
The cases all look the same, no pictures or nothing. No names.
Vet
More exciting that way. Like a game of chance. Pick.
Snake chooses a tape. Vet puts it in the player, retakes his seat.
Snake
You should upgrade your technology.
Vet
The picture’s fine. Pretty girls, right?
Snake
Yeah.
The girlie-porn video plays on the tv and the light plays on their faces. The sound is barely audible.
Parts of the video are reflected on a window or a wall.
Vet
I like to just kinda sit here and let them do their thing. Kinda like background music. Kinda like ambiance. It unwinds my mind.
Snake
Right.
The 2 men sit there watching porn. They look like they’re watching paint dry.
Vet
The Ceremony’s going to be something. I’ll stand at the Fence and give my speech. Standing there getting my medal. Icing on the gravy.
(Rest)
You telling them how you’re “Snake” and how I used to be “Snake.” That went over all right.
Snake
Yeah, it did. They looked at you with respect.
Vet
Yeah. They did.
(Rest)
Your mother didn’t want to have anything to do with you. Came here trying to dump you on me. But I couldn’t take you in. You were—troubled. And I was starting fresh. It wouldn’t of been fair to Grace. You were like a whole can of worms and I was making a fresh start.
Snake
Is that an apology?
Vet
No. I’m just telling you what was going on.
(Rest)
Maybe I could get you some help. Somebody to go talk to, you know, once a week like they do.
Snake
No thanks.
(Rest)
Let’s hear it again. Your speech.
Vet
I’m working it out in my head. When I stand up there saying it, you’ll hear it fresh.
Snake
Have you written it out?
Vet
I’ve composed it. But I wouldn’t write it down.
Snake
You should totally write a book. Veteran of the Border Patrol. That would really put you out in front.
Vet
Only I don’t think much of books. Books cause a weakening of the mind. You write something down you don’t use your brain muscles to remember it. Take, for example, your Cro-Magnon man. Or your Neanderthal. Or your Australopithecus. He may have had a smaller brain than we do today, but he used it to the fullest. He had to remember where the game was and how to get home after he’d bagged it. And he didn’t have a GPS. He didn’t have advanced technology. Plus, when things are in your head, they’re safe. Less chance of theft.
He looks at Snake’s footlocker.
Vet
For the job, there’ll be a thorough background check. They’ll look through all your personals.
He examines his ring of keys, selecting one. Trying it. No luck.
He tries another. He unlocks Snake’s footlocker and is about to raise the lid before Snake stops him.
Snake
You already searched it once. What are you scared of?
Vet
Snake
(Rest)
Vet backs off.
Vet
I’ll be up there with the governor. I’ll be getting my medal.
Snake
And I’ll be wearing mine.
Vet
You’ll wear yours.
Snake
Sure.
Vet
You should just wear the bar pin. You don’t want to be too loud with it.
Snake
I lost that part so I’ll have to wear the whole medal. Right on my lapel. It’s not regulation but it’ll be all right.
Vet
You’ll want everybody to see it.
Snake
Sure. Why not.
Vet
You’ll want to show it off.
Snake
I earned it. It’s mine.
Vet
You wanna steal my thunder.
Snake
Oh, come on, Pop.
Vet
Too bad you can’t get on the job in time for the governor’s visit, right? Is that what you’re thinking?
Snake
I’m ok to meet him as just a civilian.
Vet
And flash your medal.
Snake
Sure. Plus, being your son.
Vet
Following in my footsteps.
Snake
That’s right.
Vet
Legacy.
Snake
Yeah. That’ll be something, right? Us both working Border Patrol. Side by side. I got the job, don’t I? It’s a go, right?
Vet
It’s a no. It wouldn’t work. You wouldn’t work. Not around me.
Snake
You gotta give me a hand. I’m good enough, right? I’m good enough. It’s normal to give your kid a hand, Pop.
Vet
You’ll find your feet. Just not here. Somewhere else.
Snake
Come on, Pop.
Vet
You’ll find your feet. Just not with me, just not in my footsteps. It’ll be better that way. For both of us.
Snake
Vet
Snake
It’s Strike Three. Snake flashes three fingers. Gently, defeated.
Snake
Three.
Vet
Three what?
Snake
The three of us here. You, me and Grace. That’s three.
Vet
You understand about the job, right? There’s plenty of jobs in the universe. You’ll find one somewhere out there just not here, ok?
Snake
Sure. Ok.
Vet glances at the clock. Drinks. Snake watches the tv.
Time passes. Vet eventually falls asleep on the couch.
Snake gets up, puts away the porn video, turns on the live feed and, alone, watches the Fence. After a beat, he fiddles with his phone.
Grace comes out of the bedroom.
Men on couch. Vet sleeping. Snake texting. Fence video going.
Grace
Hey.
Snake
Hey.
She lovingly helps Vet up, helping him to bed.
Then, coming out of the bedroom, she gets her Book from its hiding place under the floor.
Grace
Talking with your friends?
Snake
Texting.
Grace
In a chatroom?
Snake
Yeah.
Grace
Nice haircut.
Snake
Thanks.
She goes outside, sits on the porch, reading from her Book.
Snake comes outside to watch her.
Snake
It’s not working out.
Grace
I heard. When things are bad I read this and it helps me feel better.
Snake
It’s not getting any better with him.
Grace
Not right now, but it will. Plenty of bad things turn good in the fullness of time.
Snake
Sometimes bad things go from bad to worse.
Grace
Not always.
(Rest)
It’s bigger than I thought, the stuff between you two, right?
Snake
Yeah.
(Rest)
The things he did to me. When we were all living together. Me and him and Mom.
Grace
Like what?
Vet, in the bedroom, sits on the bed. Awake but not listening.
Snake
Unspeakable. Saying it was my fault, saying I was the bad one. And that he was just trying to keep me in line. That’s what he had to do, you know? Keep the bad one in line.
(Rest)
I just went from bad to worse.
Grace
But you were never bad.
Snake
I’m going to blow something up.
(Rest)
I’m going to blow something up. You heard me.
Grace
That’s just your mad-self talking.
(Rest)
Buddy?
Snake
Snake.
(Rest)
Can I read it?
Grace
Ok.
Snake takes her Book, choosing pages at random, reading to himself. Then aloud.
Snake
Disneyland.
(Rest)
The dog named Trouble.
(Rest)
The House of Wisdom.
Grace
No one’s ever read it but you.
(Rest)
What?
Snake
Nothing.
More pages read silently to himself. Then aloud.
Snake
“Red dress.”
Grace
Yeah. What?
Snake
Nothing.
(Rest)
He closes the Book. Hands it back to her.
Grace
Did it help?
Snake
Nope.
Grace
You can read more—
Snake
No thanks.
Grace
Maybe it takes time. To sink in. Here I am, little Miss-Wanna-Fix-It-All. Well, more like Mrs.-Wanna-Fix-It-All now.
Snake
Leave me alone, all right?
Grace
All right. Sure.
She scoots a distance away from him, then gets up, about to go.
Snake
You ever thought of leaving him?
Grace
Yeah. But your troubles follow you.
Snake
Not if you do something about it.
Grace
Maybe I should change my name.
Snake
Don’t. Grace suits you.
Grace
Snake
(Rest)
With Book in hand she goes inside, putting it away, then heading to bed.
Snake on the porch alone.
He takes out his phone. Starts making a selfie-video.
Snake
The Book of Snake, Chapter One: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men—” No—
(Rest)
The Book of Snake, Chapter One.
(Rest)
“When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for a people—”
(Rest)
For a people to what?
(Rest)
Hhhhhhh.
He quits his selfie. Just sitting on the porch as the wee hours change to dawn.
Then he exits.