Read Buried Child for Free Online Page B

I really don't get it. Maybe it's me. Maybe I forgot something.
    DODGE:
(From the sofa.)
You forgot to get me a bottle! That's what you forgot. Anybody in this house could get me a bottle. Anybody! But nobody will. Nobody understands the urgency! Peelin’ carrots is more important. Playin’ piano on your teeth! Well, I hope you all remember this when you get up in years. When you find yourself immobilized. Dependent on the whims of others, (VINCE
moves up toward
DODGE.
Pause as
VINCE
looks at him.
SHELLY
continues cutting carrots. Pause,
VINCE
moves around, stroking his hair, staring at
DODGE
and
TILDEN, VINCE
and
SHELLY
exchange glances,
DODGE
watches TV.)
    VINCE: Boy! This is amazing. This is truly amazing.
(Keeps moving around.)
What is this anyway? Am I being punishedhere or what? Is that it? Some kind of banishment? Some kind of wicked warped exile? Just tell me. I can take it. Lay it on me. What was it? Did I betray some secret ancient family taboo, way back when? Did I cross the line somehow when I wasn't looking? What exactly was it?
    SHELLY: Vince, what are you doing that for? They don't care about any of that. They just don't recognize you, that's all. They don't have a clue.
    VINCE : How could they not recognize me?! How in the hell could they not recognize me?! I'm their son! I'm their flesh and blood. Anybody can see we're related.
    DODGE:
(Watching TV)
You're no son of mine. I've had sons in my time—plenty of sons—but you're not one of ‘em. I know them by their scent.
(Long pause,
VINCE
stares at
    DODGE.)
    VINCE: All right. All right, look—I'll get you a bottle. I'll get you a goddamn bottle.
    DODGE : You will?
    VINCE: Yeah, sure, you bet. If that's what it takes, I'll get you a bottle. Then maybe you can tell me what's going on here.
    SHELLY: You're not going to leave me here alone, are you?
    VINCE:
(Moving to her.)
You suggested it! You said, “Why don't I go get him a bottle.” So I'll go get him a bottle! That's what I'll do. Maybe it'll help jar things loose.
    SHELLY: But I can't stay here by myself.
    DODGE: Don't let her talk you out of it! She's a bad influence. I could see it the minute she stepped in here.
    VINCE: Shelly I gotta go out for a while. I just gotta get outta here. Think things through by myself. I'll get a bottle and I'll come right back.
    SHELLY: I don't know if I can handle this, Vince.
    VINCE: You'll be okay. Nothing's going to happen. They're not dangerous or anything.
    SHELLY: Can't we just go?
    VINCE: NO! I gotta find out what's going on here. Something has fallen apart. This isn't how it used to be. Believe me. This is nothing like how it used to be …
    SHELLY: Look, you think you're bad off, what about me? Not only don't they recognize me but I've never seen them before in my life. I don't know who these guys are. They could be anybody!
    VINCE: They're not anybody!
    SHELLY: That's what you say.
    VINCE: They're my family for Christ's sake! I should know who my own family is! Now give me a break. It won'ttake that long. I'll just go out and I'll come right back. Nothing'll happen. I promise, (SHELLY
stares at him. Pause.)
    SHELLY: Unbelievable.
    VINCE: Nothing'll happen.
(He crosses up to
DODGE.) I'm gonna go out now, Grandpa, and I'll pick you up a bottle. Okay?
    DODGE: Persistence, see? That's what it takes. Persistence. Persistence, fortitude, and determination. Those are the three virtues. That's how the country was
founded.
You stick with those three and you can't go wrong.
(Pointing off left.)
Money's on the table. In the kitchen, (VINCE
moves toward
    SHELLY.)
    VINCE:
(To
SHELLY.) You'll be all right, Shelly. I won't be too long.
    SHELLY:
(Cutting carrots.)
I'll just keep real busy while you're gone. I love vegetables, (VINCE
exits,
TILDEN
keeps staring down at
SHELLY
‘s
HANDS.)
    VINCE:
(Reentering, to
TILDEN.) YOU want anything, Dad?
    TILDEN:
(Looks up at
VINCE.) Me?
    VINCE: Yeah, you. “Dad.” That's you. From the store? I'm gonna get