The Bootlegger Blues by Drew Hayden Taylor Read Free Book Online

should we start loading up?
    ANDREW:
    Where's the Passat?
    MARIANNE:
    Contrary to popular belief, Volkswagens cannot dogpaddle.
    ANDREW:
    Huh?
    ANGIE:
    Hey guys, who's for loading up?
    MARTHA:
    David, there's something wrong with the back end of your car, it seems awful high.
    NOBLE:
    Nice dice. I bet it will take off in a cloud of rust. The Lone Goof! Hi ho Rust, away!
    ANGIE:
    Look people, this is your beer, not mine. Somebody's got to move it, I'm willing to help but I'm not going to do it alone. (
    No reaction
) Fine, I'll do it alone. But I'll bet if there was a party going on there'd be a flaming trail to the beer.
    Angie goes to the beer.
    ANDREW:
    Mother, I don't want to do this, we shouldn't be doing this, but I don't seem to have any other choice. Just remember, Mom, I'm doing this under protest and …
    MARTHA:
    Go!
    ANDREW:
    I'm going, I'm going.
    Andrew joins Angie as they repeatedly carry beer cases out to the car. Noble tries to sneak out but finds Martha in front of him.
    NOBLE:
    Hi.
    MARTHA:
    And where do you think you're going?
    NOBLE:
    Like gall stones, time passes. I've got places to go, dances to dance.
    Noble walks up to Marianne.
    NOBLE:
    Well, I'm outta here. This is it.
    Marianne looks up. She turns to David, almost in tears. The phone rings, nobody goes to answer it. It rings again and slowly Martha backs up, not wanting to miss anything.
    MARIANNE:
    There's an escape route for every place and situation, David. Here's yours. Come with me. Let's hop in your Camaro and go to Michigan. Just say, what the hell, we're here to burn rubber and gas. Then I'll know there's something still alive in you. What happened last night shows there's still a heartbeat.
    NOBLE:
    Wait a minute …
    MARTHA:
    ( Answers phone ) Ahneen, make it quick. Two cases, got it, bye.
    She hangs up, then something occurs to her.
    MARTHA:
    Who was that?
    Andrew and Angie walk out carrying beer.
    ANDREW:
    Ever wonder who the genius was that named this stuff "light beer"?
    Everybody is quiet and Andrew notices this at the doorway.
    ANDREW:
    What happened?
    Angie bumps into him pushing him out the door.
    DAVID:
    You want me to leave? Quit work, just like that? I can't, Marianne. I have responsibilities, obligations. It's not that easy. I've got the council meeting on Wednesday, the DIA are bugging me about last month's financial reports, not to mention the housing board is planning ...
    MARIANNE:
    Never mind, David. I didn't think so. One last chance.
    NOBLE:
    Actually that's his second-last chance.
    DAVID:
    I can't ...
    Marianne starts to leave with Noble. She grabs Andrew and gives him a big bear hug.
    MARIANNE:
    Blue.
    ANDREW:
    ( Grunting ) Oh, there goes a rib.
    MARIANNE:
    Look after my garden, Blue, and don't get too cocky.
    MARTHA:
    Don't use dirty words in my house.
    MARIANNE:
    ( To Angie ) Look after him, okay?
    Marianne approaches Martha. They talk in Ojibway.
    MARIANNE:
    Gdo-zaagin, Mamaa. [I love you, Mom.]
    MARTHA:
    Baa-aang waamzin. Ndo-dawendaan ji-bi-mnogiiweyan, ndaan. [You be careful out there. I want you to come home safe and sound, daughter.]
    MARIANNE:
    ( To David, in English ) I hoped you were alive, David, but I refuse to stay here and bury you.
    DAVID:
    Marianne, don't go.
    MARIANNE:
    David, don't stay.
    She disappears out the door with Noble.
    NOBLE:
    I only wanted breakfast.
    He exits. Martha fights back tears.
    MARTHA:
    Keep the beer moving.
    Angie and Andrew leave to get more beer.
    DAVID:
    I didn't think she'd actually do it.
    MARTHA:
    In my life I've seen two kinds of Indians, those that are happy doing what they do, and those that feel they should be happy but aren't. I think it's every person's journey in life to choose which one they are.
    DAVID:
    Where do white people fit in?
    MARTHA:
    God only knows. You still got me.
    DAVID:
    I guess I do.
    Then the phone rings.
    MARTHA:
    That phone again. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. My legs are beginning to hurt and you know what they say—once the