FRANK
: (
out to audience again
) It’s times like this you remember the world was perfect once. Absolutely perfect. Powder blue skies. Hawks circling over the bottom fields. The rich smell of fresh-cut alfalfa laying in lazy wind rows. The gentle bawling of spring calves calling to their mothers. I miss the Cold War so much.
WELCH
: (
to
HAYNES
) Sit!
(WELCH punches a button on the remote control and HAYNES immediately goes to his knees like a trained dog.)
Now, Frank—turn around and say hello to your old compadre.
FRANK
: (
stays standing on couch, facing audience
) He is no compadre of mine. He’s a two-faced, camel-loving—
WELCH
: Now, now—we mustn’t judge him too harshly. We’re all guilty of a little backsliding from time to time. A little left-leaning—
EMMA
: (
to
WELCH
) Could I get him some water at least?
WELCH
: Of course.
(EMMA goes to sink, gets water. HAYNES, on his knees, starts ranting as EMMA brings water back to him.)
HAYNES
: (
on knees
) This is that moment—that place in time. You remember—there were these—there are, now—history. This is it now. Where we move—where we—we must—seize the day. That’s it! We must—snap ourselves back into it. Grab ahold. Jump right in there and smash the holy shit out of them before they get any more smart-ass ideas. This is it! We must—don’t you know that? Don’t you know?
EMMA
: What in the world is he saying?
WELCH
: He’s just reprogramming, Emma. He’ll be fine. Up now, Haynes! On your feet! Front and center. Do the step. Look lively. Let’s see it. The step! The step! Do the step!
(WELCH snaps the cord. HAYNES lets out a short yell, scrambles to his feet, and starts marching in place in some weird cadenced step. EMMA backs away with the glass of water.)
Time to get down to brass tacks here. Now, explain to Frank exactly what we have in mind here, Haynes. Everything we’ve gone through down in the basement. Our little ordeal. Come on, speak up, speak up! Don’t be shy.
(HAYNES staggers forward and speaks with some difficulty. He stops marching for a second.)
Don’t give up the step, Haynes! We’ve got to maintain at all costs! The step! The step! There you go. Now tell Frank. Go ahead.
(HAYNES picks up the march again and speaks to FRANK.)
HAYNES
: (
marching
) We’re—what they want us to do—what they want is—we’re supposed to head back there. All the way back. At night—by train—(
to
WELCH
) Isn’t that it? Am I on the right track?
WELCH
: That’s it! That’s it! Keep going—keep in step! Give him a little water, Emma. Just a dribble.
FRANK
: Train? By train? What the heck is he saying?