The Brave
Raphael All right.
Father Faster, Junior, faster. Faster, Junior. He’ll break his damn neck.
Raphael There you go.
Father Oh, that’s pretty as a picture. You like yeller?
Raphael Uh-uh.
Father Junior likes red.
Raphael Is that your Rita?
Father Used to be. She ran off with a brush pusher.
Raphael Do you miss her?
Father Well, it’s been thirty years. You know, they say that time heals all wounds. But, yeah, sometimes I miss her… a lot. Fucking-A.
Raphael What about Junior?
Father He don’t remember nothing. He, er… You know, he didn’t never know her really. So, er, didn’t affect him too much. Say, did you hear about that big company, S J McCreed, gonna buy out the yard?
Raphael Yeah.
Father Damn bastards. They gonna try and push us all out of here. Bulldozers. They’ll just bulldoze our world away.
Junior Holy moley.
Father You forget about holy moley, and don’t be messing around with them cats either. They’re nasty. Do you hear me? Now, go on, get back to work. So what’re we gonna do about it?
Raphael Don’t know. Thanks for the soadie-pop.
Bartender Floosies. Bitches. Whores.
Customer Whores! Whores!
Raphael How long I been sleeping?
Rita All afternoon.
Raphael Jesus. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to sleep all day.
Rita You never do. You never do, Raphael. That’s enough, kids. Go inside and get ready for a bath.
Frankie Aah!
Rita Frankie, get out clean underwear for you and your sister. No complaining. Go in.
Frankie Man, this is cruel. Why can’t she chill out?
Rita Do you think you could watch them? I need to go and get some water.
Raphael I’ll get it.
Rita You gotta go farther upstream now. Otherwise it’s too dirty.
Larry Chief, how you doing? You actually gonna drink that? No wonder you people’re on your last legs.
Raphael What do you want?
Larry Well, I ain’t exactly here on vacation. Mr McCarthy sent me out here to check on you, thought you might be getting… cold feet. My advice to you is… don’t.
Raphael I’ll be there.
Larry It’s my function to make sure you are.
Raphael I said I’ll be there.
Larry Well, that’s good. ‘Cos unless you plan on putting that pretty little Rita and kids of yours… on a plane to fucking Bora Bora. Not to mention, old gimp dad and, whoever else you may care about out here in this shit-hole. I’m gonna find ’em. Then I’m gonna kill ’em. And then I’m gonna fuck ’em. And then I’m gonna eat ’em. Come on Kercheese, one more little old scar ain’t gonna make a difference. See you in the movies, Tonto.
Rita What, que, se pasa?
Raphael You okay?
Rita Yes, we’re okay. She doesn’t want to take a bath. Did you get the water?
Raphael I dropped it.
Rita (Talks native language) What are you doing? What are you doing?
Raphael Nothing.
Rita What do you mean, nothing?
Raphael Nothing, nothing.
Rita Raphael, what’s going on?
Raphael Nothing, nothing, nothing.
Rita (Talks native language). Que se pasa?
Raphael Wake up, wake up.
Rita What’s the… what’s the matter?
Raphael Come on sweetheart. There you go.
Rita Raphael?
Raphael There you go. Come on.
Rita Raphael, are you drunk?
Raphael No, no. Get your shoes on. Come on. Come on.
Rita What are you doing? You’re scaring the kids, Raphael.
Raphael Hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry. Hurry, hurry, hurry. Close your eyes. Okay. Keep your eyes closed.
Rita Here, put his on.
Raphael Okay, now walk. Keep your eyes closed.
Marta I wanna go back inside.
Raphael Okay, okay, one second, honey. Here, watch your… okay. To your right. Keep walking. Okay.
Marta Mom, I’m gonna fall down.
Rita He’s helping us. He’s taking us.
Marta Well, who is this?
Raphael That’s your brother, honey, okay. Keep your eyes closed. One second. Stop. Stop. Keep your eyes closed. Don’t look.
Marta I wanna go to sleep.
Rita (Talks native language)
Raphael Okay. Open your eyes.
Marta Wow. Wow. So beautiful. Wow.
Rita Frankie, Marta, go and play. Go play.
Marta Come on, Frankie.
Raphael What the fuck is wrong with you?
Rita Where did you get the money for all this? Huh? What was it this time? Did you and Luis hit a liquor store? A Seven-Eleven? I hope this was a good one, Raphael. I hope… it was worth you going back inside, and never seeing me or the kids again.
Raphael I didn’t rob nobody. You can think what you want, but I know the truth. I’ve been missing for a long time, I know. Everything’s gonna be different now, I promise.
Rita We’ll see.
Raphael I wanna provide… for my family.
Rita I’ve known you for a long time. Before prison, before liquor. The kids didn’t get that from you, they only got tastes of you, between prison time and drinking binges. You want to provide for your family? You gotta love them first. Frankie was seven the last time you went in, and almost ten when you came out. Marta sleeps more than any child I have ever seen. She’s afraid to be awake. (Talks native language). I hope this money’s straight. I hope to God you’re doing the right thing.
Raphael I know.
Marta Frankie, watch this.
Raphael Frankie? Honey, have you seen your brother?
Marta Why?
Raphael I just wanted to talk to him.
Marta Why?
Raphael Because.
Marta Because why?
Raphael Because, because.
Marta Is he in trouble?
Raphael No.
Marta If I tell, will I be in trouble?
Raphael No, honey.
Marta You promise?
