) Nothing in here either. Not even one small token in the home. No miniature Mount Rushmore, Statue of Liberty, no weeping bald eagles clutching arrows. Nothing like that. We could be anywhere.
EMMA
: We’re not anywhere.
WELCH
: Well, you and I know that, Emma, but what about the rest of the world? What about the people driving by—the Everyday Joes? Wouldn’t they like to look up here and be reminded of their proud heritage?
EMMA
: I don’t know about the rest of the world.
WELCH
: What’s that dripping sound?
EMMA
: What?
WELCH
: That dripping.
EMMA
: Oh, I just watered the plants. They’re dripping.
WELCH
: I see. You have some sort of empathy with plants, I suppose?
EMMA
: I like them, yes. Especially through the winter.
WELCH
: I imagine it can get pretty grim out here in January.
EMMA
: You have no idea.
(WELCH goes to couch, sets his case down on it, and pops it open.)
WELCH
: Well, there are many ways to brighten a place up, Emma—we have a wide variety of patriotic paraphernalia available.
EMMA
: I wish you wouldn’t call me by my name. It’s very confusing.
WELCH
: Why is that?
EMMA
: Well, it feels as though I should know you, but I don’t know you.
WELCH
: You could know me.
EMMA
: I don’t.
WELCH
: You could get to know me.
EMMA
: I don’t want to get to know you!
WELCH
: Just take a look at what we have here, Emma.
(He pulls out an accordion string of small American flags from his case and holds it up for EMMA.)
A starter kit of your basic grassroots flag and decal ensemble. Five ninety-five for the full set of six. Then, from there, you can move right on up to the Proud Patriot package for twelve fifty, which includes banners, whistles, parade equipment, fireworks—complete with a brand-new remixed CD of Pat Boone singing the “Battle Hymn of the Republic.”
EMMA
: No! No, thank you!
WELCH
: This also qualifies you for a forty percent discount on a brand-new red, white, and blue bullhorn in three unique sizes.
EMMA