Work Text:
…and all of the places I ain’t ever been to, but
down in the valley with
whiskey rivers
SCENE
They sit on the hood of a beat up sedan overlooking the ocean, watching a late summer sunset and splitting a bologna and cheese sandwich and a pack of chips. The parking lot is empty except for the two boys.
TOMMY: Do you believe in reincarnation?
[ WILBUR looks over at him surprised. ]
WILBUR: [ Huffing ] That’s a big word.
TOMMY: Fuck off. I’m being serious, Wil.
[ WILBUR considers him for a moment. ]
WILBUR: Alright, alright, sorry. [ Sighing ] No, I guess not. I don’t think I believe in anything. Least not anything I can’t see in front of me.
TOMMY: Really? Nothing? [ Teasing ] What about God, Wil? What would your mama say?
WILBUR: I thought we were being serious, Tommy Innings. What happened to that?
TOMMY: No, we are. We are. Sorry. I don’t think I’ve ever met someone who didn’t say they believed in God, Wil.
[ WILBUR shrugs. ]
WILBUR: You’ve met me, haven’t you? So you have, actually. You just never asked.
TOMMY: Well, we’re not exactly s’posed to ask, are we?
WILBUR: No. We aren’t. You did, though.
TOMMY: I did.
WILBUR: Why did you ask, Tommy? Reincarnation isn’t exactly something the preacher talks about on Sunday.
TOMMY: Why don’t you believe in it, Wil?
WILBUR: Reincarnation? Well, I guess because it’s a bit too romantic.
[ TOMMY scrunches up his nose in disgust and WILBUR laughs. ]
WILBUR: Not romantic like love and marriage—romantic like the poets. It’s too perfect almost. The idea that we all get to try again and again to get it right.
TOMMY: Oh. I guess that makes sense.
[ They both lapse into silence. TOMMY finishes off his half of their sandwich and WILBUR hands him half of what he has left. After a while, TOMMY speaks again. ]
TOMMY: What if I told you I remembered a life before this one?
WILBUR: I’d believe you.
TOMMY: Even though you don’t believe in God or anything?
[ WILBUR nods. ]
WILBUR: I don’t need to believe in any of that ’cause I believe in you, Toms. If you asked me to believe in reincarnation for you, I would. I’d believe anything for you if you told me to trust you.
TOMMY: Oh. Wil, I remember my life from before this one.
WILBUR: Okay. I believe you.
TOMMY: Okay.
The scene changes and suddenly WILBUR and TOMMY are sitting on a fence overlooking a green-golden pasture. The sun is lower in the sky and they are both in different clothes, appearing to be from a different time period. WILBUR has lighter eyes and TOMMY is a couple years younger.
WILBUR: Well, what do you remember?
TOMMY: You.
these are the places you will find me hidin’
these are the places I will always go