Native Gardens 9

(enter with ice cream)

Maybe we should just cancel the party - stand down before we fall down.

What? The plants and fence go in today. My entire firm arrives tomorrow afternoon.

But Paula, I was terrible. I called Virginia names!

I’m sure she deserved it! Don’t go soft, Tania. This is not about flowers. It’s about principles. This is war.

It’s not war. Not yet. I need to go talk to her. I’ll make her understand our point of view. The pressure we are under.

I don’t think you should. In fact I say No!

No?!

Frank threatened me.

Sweet Frank? No way.

Oh. He showed some big cojones last night.

That term is ridiculous. Testicles are the most delicate part of a man. What did you say?

Nothing! All I know is he said we are wild, messy people and we should go native somewhere else.

He did not say that!

And he says he know powerful people. He says he works for the agency.

What does that mean?

In Chile it means very bad things.

Do you think Frank Butley is CIA?…

They buy phones and soap and toilet paper. Not scary.

But you said he knows powerful people. And she’s a defense contractor. What have we gotten ourselves into?

Nobody tells me what I can do or not do. Not my house. NOT IN MY BACKYARD!

Paula, are you feeling okay?

They are researching adverse possession.

Virginia and Frank Butley are invoking squatter’s rights? Do they have a case?

I told them they didn’t.

But do they?

They need to be openly and notoriously using a piece of land as would an owner for a certain number of years.

They have. Haven’t they?

My father lost a lot of land in Chile due to squatters. It was so demoralizing for him. I will not let that happen to me. Not in this way. It’s ridiculous.

I thought squatter’s rights were for poor people.

It’s a travesty of justice.

But you say they don’t have a case?

No, I didn’t say that. I told them they didn’t want to fight Smith, Krause, and Wilson.

You told them not to fight the Man?

Yes.

Because we are now: the Man?

Yes. (2)

One thing is this being between two neighbors. But now you set up that small old couple against a huge industrial law firm…and everything seems very different.

Isn’t this the American Dream?

Enabling large institutions to crush little old white people? No!

They are Republicans!

They are still people!

…being the minority because in one instance we have the upper hand.

We? Wait a second, Señorita Missy. You weren’t called a sp** in second grade or asked if you were illegal when you applied for a waitressing job. You had maids and butlers, and took cello lessons, and vacationed in Europe. You grew up with the biggest silver spoon in your mouth of anyone I know. You were never treated as inferior in Chile in any way.

And I know that we have to WANT to be that MAN or nothing will ever change.

No! It’s all this Man, Machista, Cojones talk that is the problem. I’m going to talk to Virginia, woman-to-woman. And get this resolved.

It’s nothing. He’s getting to me. But we will not be bullied and threatened into submission.

Paula, they are our friendly neighbors. We have to live next to them. Our children will have to live next to them.