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American Bomber (2013)
This is from when he was
a cub scout. All the kids loved him. And he looked so smart in his uniform. Ironed it himself every Wednesday before school. Because he'd have scouts after. He must have looked so fine. Like a saphire shining in the classroom. We moved around a lot. He never seemed to mind. Made friends quick. Always has. Certain people, special people are like that. They have a way of just attracting people to them. John Hidell? Yeah. Yeah, I vaguely remember him. We went to school like 7th, 8th grade. Most miserable kid I can remember. But he wasn't there the whole year He'd get into fights. That's kinda the way it goes. In gym class. He'd be covered in bruises, scrapes. My friends did it. He also had cigarette burns. I don't know how he got those. This is when we were living with Phil. JJ and him used to get along so well. I thought Phil was gonna adopt him. He didn't have a taste for family life. His loss. Mr. Hidell? Did I get that right? Hidell? Yes, sir. Have a seat, son. You ever work in a machine room before? I took shop classes in high school. Teacher said I did well. High school. Nothing professionally? No, sir. Any experience with hand dyes? No, not really. You're a vet? Yes, sir. Hell, son. You should've said so. If Uncle Sam thinks you're good enough to hunt Osama, you can push a broom for me. Any position you have open would be great. You see any action? There were some moments. Yeah. Where were you? Iraq? Afghanistan? I got a nephew who's a Marine over in Iraq Maybe you know him? Ben. Ben Engals? I was in the Army, sir. didn't get to meet many Marines. Stupid of me. Army and Marines being separate branches. Says here you can start ASAP? Yes, sir. Great. How does next Monday sound? That sounds wonderful. That'll give us enough time to run your piss test and background check. You won't have a problem taking a piss test, will you? I know when you guys get back you need to blow off some steam. We can push this back to a more convenient time I'm clean as a whistle. What's the background check? It's just an insurance thing. Criminal history, that sort of thing. Can't have any felons working on the floor. Nothing to worry about. Welcome to the team, John. Hidell. John W. Shows up at 10:30am ON 9/11. Didn't call his sweetheart. Didn't ask for two weeks from his job. Saw the t.v. and got his ass down here. Only asked one question wanted to get assigned the same Ranger unit as his brother. Yes, sir, Mr. Hidell. Like I have control of anything. That's Jamie. JJ's half-brother. JJ's daddy, Will, had him with Anne, this piece of white trash he was shacking up with before he met me God bless her heart. Will would pick up JJ for the weekends and take him and Jamie camping or fishing. When Will took off, Jamie had just gotten his driver's license. he'd come up all the way from Bowling Green to spend time with JJ. Hidell and I were deployed here in the same unit together. Good soldier. Except for one little bout of temper, but in this heat who could blame him? I've been here almost 10years now. I like it. It's nice. Quiet. The food's good. Hell, I even met my wife here. It's just the goddamn heat you never get used to. But that's Phoenix for you. Bunch of keepsakes from my time with Uncle Sam. I haven't looked in this box in forever. I'm not gonna be able to fit in this belt again. Ha ha. I have a shot of Hidell. Here it is. We were assigned to guard the nuke plant here in Phoenix. Hidell was pissed about it because he wanted to go to Afghanistan, I told him, better to be bored at home than dead in the ass end of nowhere. Radio Announcer: This just in: the White House is reporting that after almost 10 years Osama Bin Laden has been killed during a U.S. commando raid in Pakistan. Remains have been postively identified. Once again, Osama Bin Laden killed by U.S. forces. We send our gratitude to all troops who served abroad and made this day possible. Good work, fellas! He kept getting these Dari or Farsi or something tapes he just listen to 'em over and over. He read whatever he could anything he could find on Afghanistan. One time he rented this godawful documentary about Afghani dirt farmers. We gave him hell about that for a month. But we respected him. He wanted to be in the fight. Hardcore. We were shocked when he put Sergeant Reed in the hospital. Dear PFC Hidell. My name is Ed Martinez and I had the honor of serving with your brother. It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that your brother, Jim was killed in battle at about 0100 hours, GM on the morning of October 15 while engaged with enemy forces. he was an exemplary Ranger. He spoke of you often and fondly. Enclosed is his St. Christopher medal. I know he would want you to have it. I am sorry for your loss and my condolences go out to you and your family. Sincerely. Captain Ed Martinez, U.S. Army I don't know why he attacked Reed. It was like a switch was flipped. Shit just came outta nowhere. Reed was in the hospital for four weeks. I never saw Hidell again. After whatever happened I know that sergeant had to be outta line for JJ to have to defend himself like that I didn't hear from him for six or seven months. I thought they'd shipped him off to Iraq and he might be, you know, hurt or something. When I found out where he was, I was furious. Here we are in the middle of two wars and you've got a nice strong boy willing to fight and what do you do? Lock him in a box for six months? I was more mad about it than he was. I asked him about it and he said, It just don't matter. He said he met a man who helped him see the world different. And he told me, In the end we all end up where we belong. You can make it tighter, if you like. While you are at it, mind getting my cigarettes out of my pocket? Ta da! Sure you don't want one, Mark? Maybe later, then. Hidell. J.J. He lost his brother. It is an awful thing when your brother dies. I've had many brothers here and I have seen many of them die here. Each one is a tragedy who could know you more or love you better than your own flesh and blood? Once you lose that, what have you got left? And poor, poor JJ. He lost the only person in the world who understood him. He needed someone who could help him keep his chin above water in the sewer they call the world. Someone to protect him and teach him. Someone to show him the way. Show JJ the true nature of the rld and where he might fit into it. And now he's out there. Doing his part. We were watching this bomb maker, Andrew Hall trying to figure out where he was getting his munitions. We knew he'd been dishonorably dischargedfrom Fort Garrett, We're certain his supplier was military. We set up a surveillance team at Hidell's mother's house by the time we set up, he'd disappeared. I thought, he's a momma's boy He's gonna call her sooner or later. Plus he's on the federal watch list the minute he uses a credit card we got him. Heard you had a fire. Yeah, lightning hit my house. Sorry to hear that. It wasn't exactly Graceland. I gotta get dinner going before Ray gets home. I appreciate you stopping by and all. Anne, I came to give you this. What the hell is this? My signing bonus. I re-enlisted and I'm shipping out tomorrow. Jim would've done the same for my mom You stupid kids. What wereyou thinking, going off to war? Didn't do my Jim any good. Didn't do me any good. And going back there isn't going to do you any good. Keep your money. I don't want it. Anne, I really- I gotta get dinner going. Hi. Can I speak to Special Agent Hondo, please? Yeah. I'll hold. This is the Hidell house. He lived here for four years before he burned it down. He lived with his mother 'til the check cleared and then he disappeared. When someone's scammin' insurance, they know shit they couldn't know. I dig around and usually they fucked with the wiring Or the gas line or something There's always evidence you can find. With Hidell everything looked right. There was a thunderstorm that night There were lighting strikes to the ground There were statements from his neighbors That he was working on his car. I asked him "what happened?" "I don't know." "What do you think happened?" "I was sleeping and lightning hit the house." The fire originated in the basement His gassy clothes were next to the fuse box. A spark must've ignited his gassy clothes. And that's how the fire started. The fire marshall confirmed exactly that. I spent weeks trying to figure out what actually happened. And I couldn't. And we paid out the claim. Thanks, man. Next one's on me. Don't worry about it. Speiler says good things about you. How'd you hear from Speiler? Friends of friends of friends. How long you looking to stay in town? Couple days. Gonna do some sight seeing. 'Site seein'? That's a way of putting it. Any sites Speiler wanted you to check out? You tell me. I'm trying to be helpful. I'm just asking. Anything he wanted me to show you? No. What he tell you about me? You're a good man, despite your problem with authority. If I make my way to New York, and I have, I should look you up. I did two years in the hole, right next to him. We'd play chess all night long. No board or pieces. Just in here. Miles may have spent two years here, but he only spent two weeks in my particular neighborhood. I would say he has a good imagination, but that would imply a certain level of intelligence that the child was just just not born with. Never the less, if you believe in Intelligent Design, and I do, then you know that everyone has at least one use. So do you like living in Brooklyn? Too many lesbians with babies. How long you been here? What he'd tell you about me? What Speiler say? I told you, he said you're a good man Shit. There must've been a message or something. He wants you to put me up while I'm here. I got some money. I don't want to put you out. I can stay in a hotel or - No. He sent you to me. To me. You sure? Hell yeah. I got a spare rack. You play chess? Never learned. I'll teach you. Alright. I guess I owe you another beer. Pawn. Floor's all yours. No smoking. What? No smoking. Allergies. Fuck am I doing? You gonna sleep there, try not to piss yourself again. Pardon? You want to sleep there, fine. Just try not to piss yourself. There's a Starbucks on the corner. Go piss on their steps. I don't have to piss. Shit. Sorry. Thought you were someone else. The Pissing Doorman? There's a dude who likes to camp out here and it took about a week for the smell to go away. Which step did he piss on? That one. You just move in here? Naw. Just vistin'. Staying with Miles. Yeah. I don't know anyone who lives here. Mind if I bum one of those? Sure, darlin'. What are you from the south? No. I'm from Kentucky. Spent some time in Arizona, though. What brings you to the big, wormy apple? Never been. Just thought I'd do some sight seein'. If you find yourself at Albatross on 5th, the bartender'll buy you a drink. Yeah, why'll he do that? To thank you for the cigarette. Welcome to New York. Thanks. Hidell was on K.P detail so every day he'd bring meals down to the hole. The guard on duty noted that Hidell and Speiler started speaking in some sort of language or code. We wired the unit for sound, recorded a couple conversations. It sounded like Arabic. I put in a request for an Arabic translator, but as you can imagine the few Arabic translators in green are doing more important work elsewhere. It's two men discussing a vacation. One man advising the other on activities to engage in. Visit the famous landmarks. Pay respect to his fallen countrymen. Meet a pretty girl. Before you push the button and take them all to hell with you. Hey, bro. Wish you were making this trip with me. Place is funny. Smells rank. Garbage is piled a mile high. I don't know where those 'Sex and the City' girls hang out, but it's not where I've been walking. Everybody knows exactly where they're goin' and if you're not in the flow with them, it's like you're not even there. It's like you don't even exist. But all kinds of food everywhere. No sand, no mountains. Lord. You should see these chicks, man. Jesus. Sorry. You'd really dig it. It'd be nice if we could tear this town up together. Like two GI's on leave in some old movie. Beer in one hand, girl in the other. I guess it would've been something. It would've been nice. Well, I guess I'm gonna have to do it up for both of us. I don't know if your mom told you, but I left her some cash. It wasn't a lot, but it was the best I could do. She's still with Ray, so, you know she's doin' o.k. That's all I got for you, Jim. See you soon. What's shakin', Kentucky? Came to claim that drink. If you're still offerin'? I am. What you havin'? Beer. I think I've heard of it. Sit down. I'll be with you in a second. To your health. Go fuck yourself. The hell is this? Taste of the motherland. It's called Kentucky Tavern. Tastes more like Kentucky Latrine. Hey, man. I say it be free, doesn't mean it has to be good. I can make you a Shirley Temple, if you like. No more bumming smokes to strangers My name is Amy. John. Now we're not strangers. And now that we're not strangers can I bum another cigarette, John? Don't you have to work? No. I'm gonna go have a smoke and you're welcome to join me, if you like. Troy, can you watch the bar? You can leave that here. No one's gonna fuck with it. Yeah. How's your reign of tourism going? Went to the Statue of Liberty and then wandered around a bit. Taking photos and stuff? No camera. Do you have a camera phone? No phone. How you gonna show your sweetheart back home how big and ugly New York is? I'm ain't really aiming on going home. One day walking around and you've already decided to settle down? Home must be a real shithole. It is. A guy I knew once told me whereever you are, that's your home. Was he homeless? Not at all. He's been living in the same place for 12 years. Are you from here? From New York? No. I moved here about 10 years ago. For school. Feels like 10 million years ago. Is there anyone in New York who's actually from New York? Sure. There's a native on the corner. You didn't seem him? He'll sell you wampum for fire water and beads. Where are you from originally? I'm from PA. Some shithole town in the middle of nowhere where the pinnacle of human existence is the big football game down at the high school. But you're probably into shit like that. Never been one for sports. Big guy like you? We do got our fair share of douche bags here, But most have got the god given sense to stay in Williamsburg and leave us be. That's what I like about this city. Very little prejudice. Everyone's prejudiced against somebody. True. But New Yorkers deal with it better. Blacks, whites, gays, Hasides Hayseeds? You're a fucking hayseed. Hasides. Hasidic jews. And Muslims. And Christians and Scientologists. We all have to take the train. And there's no back of the bus since all the seats face one another, anyway. Listen, I got to get back. You mind if I ask you something? You mind if I keep bumming smokes on you? Maybe. Then maybe back at you. You always buy drinks for strangers hanging out on your stoop? Only the cute ones. God damn it. Lord hates a coward. Huh, Jim? What the fuck you staring at? Haven't figured it out yet. Fucking red neck. You want a history lesson? You know the Son of Sam? Yeah. He did his business all around here. Bernie Getz did his here. Bernie Madoff did his here and here John Lennon got shot right over here. Dylan Thomas drank himself to death right over here. Sid did Nancy here. And then also killed her. Burroughs shot his wife around here. Solanis shot Warhol right around here. Jam Master J took the loss right around there. Spaulding Gray drowned himself right around here. And Heath Ledger O.D.'d right over there. You know what's funny? No one's ever died on Staten Island. So husband's pulling up in the drive. Wex is sneaking out the bathroom window boots in hand. Ends up falling into the next door neighbor's yard. It's their 9 year old daughter's birthday party. And he's wearing nothing but his dogtags. Oh, my god. What did the family do? The father, who's like a huge Mexican dude, comes over and starts beating the shit out of him with a broomstick like he's a fucking pinata. Wex is protecting his head and his manhood. And when I could finally stop laughing I arrested him. You arrested the father? No. I arrested Wex. I told the father I was an MP and Wex was AWOL from the Army loony bin and if he kept hitting him, I'd have to arrest him. And that worked? You'd be surprised what a man in uniform can get away with. Thanks for walking me home. Hope it wasn't too far out of your way. Thanks for smoking half my cigarettes. Anytime. Huh? What took you so long? Just trying to maintain a respectful distance. Fag. Wait. What is this? You are booby trapped from head to toe. What is that? Was my brother's. St. Christopher. Not really the kind of protection I was thinking of. Speaking of protection. I wasn't really expecting to, uh Spend the night with a woman of low moral character? I know. There's a box under the bed. I lost a shoe down there last year. If you find it, let me know. Got it! You sure? I mean we just- Yes, that's exactly why I keep a box of condoms under my bed. For indecisive moments. You're not putting this off because you have whisky dick? Guess not. We do this, I get to stay the night. No kicking me out after. You want to spend the night? Yes, ma'am. They grow them big and dumb down south, I guess. You're out of cigarettes. You want me go get a pack? No. That's okay. I'm sure I have a pack around here somwhere. Do you have any plans for today? Was going to go do some more sight seeing. Where were you going to go? Don't know. Maybe Times Square. Maybe Central Park. Or the Trade Center. Why don't you go see Mamma Mia at the goddamn Winter Garden? You fucking tourist. Why the Trade Center? It changed everything. How could I not want to see it. You know anybody who died there? There? No. So you are going to go to a place where 1,000s of people were murdered some of whom still have their remains there because you saw a special on CNN? Like you would the Taj Mahal or Eiffel Tower? Do you know anybody who's been murdered before? Yes. So how would you feel if every year millions of people lined up at their grave to take photos and to gawk and to buy t-shirts? The whole experience would cheapen your friend's death, don't you think? Yeah. Yes it would. So fuck the World Trade Center and let me take you to the real New York. Don't you have to work? Not until eight o'clock. Alright. Let's do it. What are you so happy about? I've never seen the ocean before Wow. Land lubber. You know what's in that direction? No. France. And all we have to do is keep going straight. Come on. So why's Nathan's famous? You're such a fucking moron. I keep expecting to see a Chevy Impala convertible some greasers tearing through here like it was the summer of '62 The Big C.I. is definitely stuck in a time warp. Guess it's why my ex brought me here so much. The whole retro bullshit rockabilly thing. How long you been broke up? Broke up? Hell, I got divorced. You were married? Yeah. I was hymenally challenged before I met you. Is that a problem? Naw. I just can't picture you being married. Well neither can I. So, how long's it been? Two years. Two wonderful, glorious years of being who I want to be, living where I want to live and going where I want to go. What's the point of living in the best city in the world if you got a ball and chain on your ankle? That why you brought us here? Think about your ex? You're the one who brought it up. I came to eat some Nate dogs and get my feet wet a little. Just the same thanks for letting me tag along. Don't thank me yet. Date's not over. Is that what this is? A date? Better be, or you're finding your way home alone, cowboy. Alright, a date it is. What next? The Wonder Wheel. Really? Oh, yeah. Thing looks like it'd give you tetanus just looking at it. C'mon, big boy. Let's go. Comfortable? Maybe. How about now? You fucking rotten bastard! Fuck face. There are people on this planet who live their whole lives never feeling hope. But everyone feels despair at one time or another. Despair, like the speed of light or the weight of hydrogen, is a universal absolute. Where the fuck you been, soldier? Out. Not acceptable. Sorry, ma. Didn't know I had a curfew. Well, you do. A little R and R's one thing, but you've been flat out AWOL. If you're gonna act the newbie, maybe you're not the best man for this job. Maybe you'd rather spend your time boozing and balling and forget the mission. You don't even know what the damn mission is. Do you, Miles? I know more than you do. But if you like, I can radio up the chain of command that you're squandering our opportunity. 'Chain of command'? Are you kidding? Take your chain of command and cram it up your ass. I'm the one going down in history - You're a fucking grunt! Get your ass back here, Hidell. I said get your ass back here! You're one homeless looking dude. Sorry. I tried to wait up. I fell asleep. Isn't your friend wondering where you are? Yeah. Probably. No, that's okay. I owed you. We going in or camping out here all night? I can't let you in. Why not? Look. I'm not oppossed to bringing home the occaisional stray but I'm not running a kennel here I'm not looking for anything heavy, you know? This is nice. Let's not ruin it. You messing with me? I just think it be better. Not rushing into things. Hell's bells, darling. Did I do something wrong? No. Not at all. You're a dream, but I've been in this position before I like the way my life is going and I don't know you well enough to let you come in and mess things up. No offense. No. You're right. I don't want to make things messy. Stop by Albatross tomorrow. Yeah. Sure. I forgot my bag! I left it inside. Your security blanket. Right. Okay. Mind if I hit the head? No. Go ahead. Hey. Just wanted to say thanks for taking me to the ocean. Hey, cowboy, Do you have a cigarette? Well, this is me. Yes, it is. You want to come in for a drink? Naw. I think I learned my lesson. Look at you. All smart and shit. Here. For later. You got any plans for tomorrow? Don't have to be back until eight. Why? What you say I pick you up at noon and we get some breakfast? That sounds like a date. It is. I get off at four. If you want to come by. Unless you're sleeping in the gutter somewhere. It's worth waiting. Leave. You're giving the regulars bad ideas. See you tomorrow. Tomorrow. Hey, bro. Perfect timing. Grub's about done. Beer's in the fridge if you want one. Thanks. Grab a seat. Soup's on. To the land of the free and the home of whatever. You like it? It's alright. Can't have the big man hearing that I didn't take care of you. 'The big man.' I'm sure he thinks of himself that way. He's a great man. Smarter than you and me put together. You should respect that. What's he still doing inside? It's where he wants to be. It's like castling. You bury the king so no one can get at him. Maybe. So what's going on with you and that girl? Don't know. What you mean 'don't know'? It ain't like you got all the time in the world. Shit, man. This is your last supper. I don't know. I just like being around her. Maybe in another lifetime, who knows? You wanna switch? I'll leave you the apartment, my I.D., the whole thing. You give me your wallet and the bag and I'll do the job. It ain't your job to do. Come on, man. You can't have it both ways. It's the cooze or the job. Don't talk about her like that. I'm trying to help you. What's the target? Forget it. Not happening. You're forgetting it. You swore an oath, motherfucker. To defend this bitch against her enemies, foreign and domestic. Now if you're too pussystruck to do what needs doing- To hell with this. What's the target? It's the ragheads, ain't it? Speiler's always saying that we went after the wrong people. Should've gone after the Saudi's. What's the target? GET OFF ME. Now you listen to me. I'm sick and tired of your bitching and moaning. I'm in command. Now where is your bag? Uh, uh. It's at the cunt's house, isn't it? Maybe when I'm done with you, I'll go down there and give her what I got left. Maybe me and your pig sticker will have us a threesome. Maybe I'll cut her tits off like those niggers do in Africa. Maybe after I've had my fill I'll cut me some new holes to fuck. When I'm done there'll be more holes in her than you ever seen- AHH! Hi, yeah. Is Hondo there? Kentucky, you're early. Hi. FBI Special Agent Hondo. Can I come in and ask you a couple questions? Sure. God, I miss you, bro. You always had your shit together. You knew what you wanted to be and you did it. Lived your life your way. And I... no matter what I do, man nothing turns out right. I don't wanna be here. I don't wanna be anywhere. Definitely don't wanna spend the rest of my life in a cage. Feel like I spent my whole life hiding. I used to think that if people could see me, really see me for me... I don't know. I want a do-over. You know. Like when we were kids. Something foul happened you call "do over" you get to do it again. Doesn't matter. They're gonna find me sooner or later. Christ, like there's even anyone listening. You're dead. You're dead in a pit halfway across the world. And I'm just trying to make myself feel better. Look at that. All this water and not a damn drop to drink. Hey, Ames. Another drink? Hey, Sugar Tits. Another drink, please. Albatross. Where the hell are you? Yeah, no fucking shit. Screw your bag. Yeah, I know where that is. I don't know, four or five. ...yeah, whatever. Psst. Up here. Asshole. And how are you doing? Fuck you. Fair enough. What kind of bullshit did you get me into? What part of 'I don't want a mess in my life' did you not understand? And what's up with that wad of cash you stashed at my house? What was that? So you didn't have to use credit cards? So your name doesn't pop up on some government computer somewhere? And what about me? Just a free bed and a place to hide? Cover for your cheap James Bond fantasy? No. Never. I swear I would've told you everything if I could've. I didn't want you to get hurt and then things got... complicated. I I didn't expect this. I didn't expect any of this. John, your face is on every t.v. in the city. The FBI was at the building. Interviewing everybody. I don't know what you're doing here. And I don't want to know. You have your damn bag, have a nice life. Wait. What ever you think this is, it ain't. You can't hate me for this. I just need some time to figure this out. Whatever the cops, the t.v. is selling you, I'm still the same guy. I'm still the same guy you went to the ocean with. You are so full of shit. You're right. I need you to know I never lied to you. The past couple days, they were real. What ever happens. What ever I do. These past few days were the best days of my life. I know what you want me to tell you, but it's not going to happen. Here. You should go. You're not coming with me. I can't. I gotta finish this. When I'm done, when this whole thing's over with, we'll celebrate. We can go to Jamaica, Vegas, Youngstown. Wherever you want. Promise. You're right. I have to go. I love you, too, baby. People come here and they find God. But I already found God before I was sent here. In fact, seeing God for what God truly is, is what put me here. You know how farm animals are born and raised in order to be slaughtered? Well, God is a farmer. Your Christians and Jews and Arabs all grow up thinking that there's order in the universe. That there is divine intention that the organizing principle to the universe is a benevolent one. But what if it isn't benevolent? Look at our bodies, designed to feel pain in so many ways, but the ways to joy are so limited. Look at man's place in the planet. An infinite number of ways to die, but only one way to be born. And even being born can be painful, terrifying and potentially lethal. I believe in intelligent design. I believe that man was put here for a specific purpose. And that purpose is to suffer. It is what God wants. As long as there is a master in heaven, there will always be slaves on Earth. This whole world is one huge concentration camp. And we all strive under the promise that work will set us free. Why the fuck not? |
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