Enter: All.
Stage:
A house party, held by Falstaff for Finch, a day before the eldest Tucker brother leaves. The humid summer feels like a holy land caving into the lungs.
FINCH
Lancaster, are you drunk? You need to withdraw, sit down.
LANCASTER
No. I might start bleeding though, the way Glendower's looking at me from across the room.
FINCH
God. We need to get you out of here before you embarrass yourself.
LANCASTER and EARL exit. FINCH and NICK stand against a wall, red solo cups in hand, inebriated and lit orange by the light of the living room.
NICK
I didn't think Lancaster had it in him. I love him like my brother.
FINCH
Because he is your brother.
NICK
Oh, right.
NICK saunters off, and DOUGLAS enters.
DOUGLAS
The Funny Brothers grow like the heads of Hydra.
FINCH
This is my party.
DOUGLAS
You bear it like a king.
FINCH
Thank you..
Outside on the back porch, NICK sprawls on a porch chair, baseball cap downward so that the cap rests on the bridge of his tanned nose. Crickets are whistling. Someone flips it up; HOTSPUR enters.
HOTSPUR
If I'm not mistaken. The second man of the District.
NICK
First, now. Speaking like I'd deny it.
HOTSPUR
My name is Harry Percy.
NICK
Hotspur. Two stars can't keep their motion in one sphere. Do you want to sit down?
HOTSPUR
What are you going to do after Finch leaves?
NICK
Find budding honors in the decaying summer. Tend to the District as best I can. A garland of accomplishments atop my head. Et al.
HOTSPUR tackles him, and the porch chair breaks. They tussle in the dead grass. FALSTAFF enters.
FALSTAFF
Well said, Hal. No boys' play here, I can tell you that!
FALSTAFF goes back inside. HOTSPUR and NICK keep fighting. NICK breaks HOTSPUR's nose, the blood on his knuckles as radiant as a star, and HOTSPUR passes out.
NICK
For worms, great Percy.
NICK turns around and sees DOUGLAS and FALSTAFF, inside, talking on the couch. FALSTAFF has passed out, but DOUGLAS keeps talking as if the other is still listening.
NICK (cont'd)
What, old acquaintance? Death hasn't struck anyone as fat as you. I'll make sure your shame is emboweled.
NICK leaves for the bathroom. FALSTAFF rises, momentarily lucid.
FALSTAFF
Emboweled? ‘Sblood!
DOUGLAS
John?
FALSTAFF
If I hadn't pretended to be asleep Nick would of paid me death as well. Counterfeit? I remember that monologue.. "To die is to be a counterfeit, for he is but the counterfeit of a man who hath not the life of a man; but to counterfeit dying when a man thereby liveth is to be no counterfeit, but the true and perfect image of life indeed. The better part of valor is discretion, in the which better part I have saved my life."