The Buried Child Summary - Dont Dress For Dinner PDF

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Summary of the story The Buried Child...

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Dodge: 70’s. Halie: Dodge’s wife, mid 60’s. Tilden: eldest son. Bradley: next one, amputee. Vince: Tilden’s son. Shelly: Vince’s gf. Father Dewis: Protestant Minister. Act 1: Dodge has a coughing attack, Halie tells him to take a pill, even though its not Christian, asks if hes having a seizure. He coughs, takes some sips from bottle, says he wont take a pill, says hes not watching things thatll get him excited and they don’t race on Sundays on the Sabbath here at the boondocks (rural/country). Halie talks about how they used to race on new years, she went with a horse breeders, won bookoos of money, she was excorted there (either cali or FL), he mimicks her a lot. She asks if hes going out today, he says he doesn’t even go out in the sunshine. She says if he needs anything, ask tilden hell be over soon and Bradley will also be over soon to give him a haircut, he says he doesn’t need one and if Bradley tries, hell sepeate him form his manhood. Halie is meeting with Father Dewis for lunch. Dodge says she better make sure Bradley doesn’t cut his hair again while hes sleeping, Halie said Tilden will protect him, hes the eldest. Dodge says he cant even protect himself, he starts to call tilden in to stir things up. Dodge says he doesn’t enjoy anything and halie said that what brings people to an early grave. Tilden walks in with ears of corn, dodge says they haven’t had corn since 1935 and he better go put it back, he doesn’t want trouble with neighbors. Tilden dumps it on Dodge’s lap. Dodge asks if hes having trouble again, how he had trouble back in new mexico and that’s why he came back. Tilden says no, asks to bring in chair from kitchen, dodge says yes but to call it a stool. Dodge tells tilden he cant live here forever, asks what hes gonna do with himself, tilden asks for whiskey that dodge put under the sofa, he claims he doesn’t have any, tilden claims he does, dodge gets annoyed that after 20 years of not hearing/seeing him hes making accusations, halie asks if dodge is talking to himself, dodge tells tilden not to make a word, halie says: makes sure hes not drinking anything, its our responsibility, we have to stay healthy cause they have no one to take care of them, hoped tilden would look after Bradley after he lost his leg by a chain saw, no idea tilden would be so much trouble (he went to jail) ansel was the smartest but he passed away. (bookoos-money), halie walks down, doesn’t noticed 2 men, smoking, dressed in all black like mourning, pure white hair. Halie says ansel was a hero, soldier that died in motel room, used to play basketball, talked to father about putting up plaque rifle in one hand, basketball in other, wouldn’t have died if he hadn’t married into catholics, the mob, it was the honeymoon that killed him, asks whats this in my house (corn husks). (soiree is party). Halie asks if its raining, he says no not in cali or florida she says ur crazy we don’t live there, he says Illinois where we live is the only place its raining, she thinks hes been taking pills cuz hes talking crazy. Although they dk where the corn came from, tilden said he just looked up it was right there. Halie thinks he stole it, he says no I was kicked out of new mexico, I wont be kicked out og here Illinois. Halie tells them to clean up mess before Bradley comes, likes everything to be in order. Dodge says he was born in a goddamn hog wallow and that’s where he belongs. Dodge says his own flesh and blood is in the backyard. Halie leaves and tells Dodge to tell tilden not to go out back anymore cuz hell never listen to her and that hes stil a child. Tilden says he shouldn’t have told her, he shouldn’t have said it was HIS flesh and blood. Tilden says hes about to go out back, loves it in the rain. Dodge says he cant go, what if he dies, he needs him here in case he needs something. Has coughing attack, grabs pills, takes them. Tells him hell take a nap, better be there when he gets up. Dodge talks about baseball player named Pee Wee Rease. Falls asleep, tilden takes out booz from under couch, spreads corn husks over length of dodges body, finally, hes completely covered in

them. Bradley comes in, slips a little outside, comes in, brushes off corn husks from dodges baseball cap, cuts his hair.

Act 2: night, dodge sleeping, hairs cut, scalp bleeding, vince and shelly come in, shelly is surprised this is the house, cant stop laughing, they come in, shelly touches dodges head, he wakes up, shely calls for vince (vince hasn’t been here in years) shelly tells dodge they drove out from ny to visit vinces father who probs lives in new mexico and decided to stop by too, and how vince suddenly wants to reunite with family. Dodge sees vince, asked if he brought the whiskey, says this is what happens when u leave me outside, thinks its tilden. Says halie is absconded (escaped a place secretly) says hes going to see tilden in nm, dodge says hes not there. Dodge says theres something wrong btw shelly and vince, like chalk and cheese. Shelly says she doesn’t think this will work out, dodge doesn’t remember him. Dodge says halie is with her boyfriend father lewis.dodge calls shelly a smartass, beautiful, fetching. Dodge finds out shellys from la, says it’s a stupid country, theyre full of smartasses says shes insulted. Dodge tells vince not to call him grandpa, not his grandfather. Shelly thinks maybe vince has the wrong address, vince says no. dodge reaches for bottle, its not there, says they stole it, rips cushions out and stuffing out. Shelly tries to leave, vince grabs him. Dodge calls for tilden. Shelly calls him son of a bitch, says shes not his property, tilden walks in with carrots, dodge asks where he was, out back he says, he whines about wanting his bottle. Vince asks why his dad, tilden is here. Dodge wraps himself in blanket again. Tilden said he had a son once but they buried him etc. shelly asks tilden if he wants her to take carrots, she takes them, shes a vegetarian . tilden says backyard is full of corn carrots potato. Tilden ignoresd everything vince says to him, decides to cook veggies with shelly. Dodge says when he lays down shit happens, hair shaven, bottle stolen, child is murdered. Dodge keeps asking for bottle, shelly tells vince to get him one. Vince tries to get carrots out of shellys hands, says shes making shit worse this isn’t her family. Vince tries to get dodge to remember him (bending thumb behind knuckles, curls lip backs and drumming on his teeth, untuk shirt so stomach is exposed. Shelly continues cutting carrots. Vince doesn’t understand why they don’t recognize him. Dodge says vince isn’t his son, he knows sons by scents. Vince says fine dodge ill get u a bottle. Dodge says it takes persistence fortitude determination. Shelly doesn’t want to be left there alone. 2 dollars, tells him to buy whiskey. Vince leaves. Tilden and shelly talk about if he recognizes vince. Tilden asks to touch shelys rabbit coat, then to hold it. Tilden talks about when he used to drive, everywhere, it was adventure, now he cant and cant tell her why cause dodge wouldn’t let him. Says they had a little baby, it disappeared, cops csame, dodge walks over and tries to stop him from telling her but he falls, starts to cough. Tilden says dodge is the only one who knows where the child is and wont tell anyone Bradley walks in. Bradley tells shelly to take tilden back with him, used to be halfback for football. Bradley thinks shelly is with tilden. Tilden runs off stage, dodge on floor talking to someone who isn’t there, laughing. Shelly asks if theres anything they could do for tilden (runs off stage etc) bradley laughs and says shoot him and put him out of his misery. She tells him to shutup. He says don’t talk to me like tht, dodge used to talk to me like tht, not anymore. Bradley tells shelly to open mouth, he sticks her fingers in there, stands over dodge, he holds her coat up with both hands, drops coat on dodges head, keeps hands like that, smile at shelly, lights black out.

Act 3: morning, Bradley asleep on sofa, dodge still on floor, shelly comes in with broth in saucer (bef boillon) to give to dodge, calls him grandpa, dodge says vince is a thief for taking his 2 dollars and not bringing him back the bottle. Dodge says to get that shit away from him, doesn’t think vince wil come back, shelly does, he says shes full of hope. Shelly said shes no longer scared like last night of Bradley. Dodge says she would throw his leg out the door. Shelly says it feels like her house, and familiar, she slept upstairs last night in room with pix, halies room. Asks dodge if he remembers her with bright red hair next 2 apple tree. Says pix on wall isn’t him, it’s a sham, they used to have a farm, halie had wanted 2 live in city. Halie says in pic it looks like baby isn’t hallies baby. Shelly asks what tilden was trying to say last night about the baby, dodge asks where tilden is, bradle chased him out. Halie comes in, shelly promises dodge she wont leave him, halie is with father dewis, white gloves, yellow dress, theyre drunk. Halie asks father dewis if hes afraid of being punished, sees shelly, embarrassed cause dodge is on floor under blanket and Bradley is asleep on sofa and u can see his wooden leg. Bradley whines, wants his blanket back. Halie gets annoyed that shelly made shit for her own husband. (roses in deiws hands) HALIE TELLS FATHER THEYRE GETTING A FULL BRONZE STATUE for ansel, basketball rifle. Bradley says he never played basketball. Drinking whiskey. Halie talking about how now theyre barbaric basketball players, YOUTH has become monsters. Talks about how dodge is crazy, madness. Shelly says to halie DON’T u wanna no who I am, random person in ur house. Says she came with halies grandson. Forced them to stop at every football field, drive in, donut shop. Halie asks where tilden is, getting frusturated that halie doesn’t acknowledge shit. Bradley tells shelly not to yell at his mom. Halie tells dodge she told him not to let tilden out of sight, he could be anywhere now, he wanders. (dodge and Bradley fight over blanket) shelly throws cup and saucer against door, shelly says I AM HERE, im alive, do u c me. Bradley calls her a prostitute. Father says hes gonna go. Shelly says how Bradley put fingers in her mouth, he denies it. Shelly takes bradleys leg, calls her a devil, Bradley whines for his leg, halie tells him to shutup. Dewis tells shelly to have respect. Halie says they have to call the police, Bradley says no, Bradley tells shelly to stay out of their lives. Shelly starts to say she knows they have as secret , Bradley claims theres nothing wrong, theyre good people. Dodge tells the story: well established fam, farm, milk, baby boy, hurt real bad no doctors, tilden knew the most, sung to it and spent time with him, kid made everything theyd accomplished look like nothing, mistake  killed it drowned it….halie says ansel would’ve stopped him, vince comes onto porch and is drunk, singing, smashes booze bottles on floor. Dodge asks for bottle, vince pretends he doesn’t know who he is, halie says vince is tht u, vince says vince who who r u. shelley is surprised halie, at least someone, knows who vince is. Shelly drops leg, picks up saxophone case, wants to leave, vince says they wouldn’t make it theyd drive thinking theyre further away,. Vince pulls out blade, cuts screen door, comes in, dewis and halie go upstairs. Halie cant believe this, vince used to be a guardian angel, etc. dodge tells vince to take the house, proclaims last will and testament. Vince pushes wooden leg away from Bradley, picks up roses. Dodge gives house to vince, tools to tilden. Vince puts knife away. Shelly wants to leave. Vince says he wont, finally been recognized and given a house, says he was gonna run last night, saw his face dead and alive at same time, face changed and become fathers face, then grandfathers, shelly leaves. Vince makes Bradley try to grab for leg. Vince throws bradleys leg off stage, Bradley crawls after it. Dewis tells vince to go upstairs and see grandmother, shell needs someone, dewis doesn’t know what his positition here is, he leaves. Vince walks over to dodge, hes dead, covers him, puts cap on his own head, smells roses, puts them on dodges chest, lays down on sofa, stares at ceiling. Halie comes down (dodge is that u, tilden was right about the corn, carrots,

potatoes peas, paradise out there, it’s a miracle, maybe it was the rain). Tilden comes in dripped with mud, carries corpse of small child, walks up stairs, continue looking at child, lights keep fading. Hallie: cant force a thing to grow, wait til things pop up from ground, maybes it’s the sun....