Had this saved for a while, just been a-slacking.
Sally: Yes, sweetie, we’re waiting for Uncle Alex. Do you see him? Is he com- OHMYGOD. Alex, god, you should have said something.
Alex: Sorry, I always forget how quiet that is. Hey, buddy. Look at you, gettin’ all big and grown! You’re— oof! You’re like a ton of bricks!
Sally: Yea, when did you last see him? It’s been a few months—
Alex: Five months. Since your birthday.
Sally: Oh yea.
Sally: I’m glad you stopped by. He really did miss you.
Alex: Yea, I’ve been pretty busy. I keep meaning to check in on him. It’s nice to have someone who still treats me like family.
Sally: Geez, Alex, that’s not fair. We all miss you.
Alex: Everyone but Ryan.
Sally: No, him, too—
Alex: Is that why you waited to invite me until he was out of town?
Sally: We’re at the park, I thought you’d be able to relax out here.
Alex: Right.
Sally: Fine, yes. I knew you wouldn’t come if Ryan was here, and I missed you. You haven’t so much as called in months.
Alex: And what would I have said? “Sorry I haven’t come by, but I’m not allowed near the house.”
Sally: Dammit- Alex, that’s not what he said, now stop— Sweetie— no, sweetie, it’s ok, mommy’s not mad at you. Come here, mommy’s not – ok, Uncle Alex can take you for a second.
Sally: It’s just that… things have been tough this year. Nobody’s hiring, he can’t even get an interview.
Alex: And so he takes it out on me?
Sally: He’s just still trying to get back on his feet. He wanted so much to be a father, and now the only money we’re getting is from your pension, and I know he hates feeling so dependent—
Alex: The money’s not going anywhere else, I’ve told you that. I’ve told him that.
Sally: But it’s not just about the money, you know? He- he loves Will, and Will adores him, but you come around and he won’t talk about anything else. It’s like Ryan isn’t even there, and when he’s already feeling so helpless…
Alex: So it’s not that I can’t come to the house, I just can’t come to see my nephew?
Sally: Oh come on, Alex! I’m just trying to explain—
Alex: No, I know what you’re trying to explain. It wasn’t a big deal when his brother was just handing out speeding tickets.
Sally: He loved it when you were a cop, you know that. You were a hero back than, too.
Alex: Back then I just wasn’t famous, right?
Sally: Back then you took off the uniform when you got off work. Back then you walked through our front door instead of appearing out of nowhere in our living room.
Alex: How can you possibly compare this to work, Sally? This isn’t a fucking career. This is just what I am now. This is what I do. We talked about this, remember? Talked about how hard it would be… I told you there would be sacrifices, but I’m doing what I need to do—
Sally: But it’s not what we need. It’s not what he needs. He’s your brother, and he needs you to be his brother.
Alex: The tag-along slacker? The little kid he can play dad to?
Sally: Dammit, Alex, it’s like you’re trying to stay mad at him. I’m not asking you to lie about your day, just— Put on a pair of jeans, walk through the front door!
Alex: It’s not that—
Sally: You can fly from LA to Egypt in ten minutes. You can find time to change clothes. Don’t even try to tell me this is too much to ask of a superhero.
Alex: Sally, what if it is too much to ask? What if I can’t afford time to play house?
Sally: Alex—
Alex: No, Sally, listen. If this was me running some charity, then, sure, I’d let him pretend like what I’m doing is no big deal. But I’m not. Do you remember why I flew from LA to Cairo in ten minutes? Earthquakes and riots. In both cities. I’m not trying to help people. I’m trying to save lives, and this is what I’ve dedicated my life to— and not just during business hours.
Sally: But we don’t want you to—
Alex: I’m sorry. I have to go.
Sally: Alex, we miss you, don’t—
Sally: Yes, honey, Uncle Alex is going to save people. No, mommy’s fine. I’m happy, see? Do you want some ice cream? Let’s go get ice cream.
