A houseboat. Finegan Fine

72

What they see is a confrontation between Collins and a local survival

community. Collins is pot bellied and short, somewhat red in the face

and balding. He is standing with two other men who have guns. All three

of them have red cloth tied around their upper right arms, their

insignia. Finegan asks,

You know those men?

The sentry and oarsman look at each other, not wanting to speak at the

same time. The oarsman says,

You first.

The sentry says,

They only act loyal. Everyone is afraid to

stand up to Mr. Collins. Everyone is afraid of

being first, ya know, and thrown in the brig.

Finegans says,

Well, you’re going to be first.

The sentry gulps, then takes a deep breath, cups his hands around his

mouth and yells.

Collins! You’re not in charge anymore! No more

robbing people. You’re a fraud! You’re not the

government, never were!

The sentry is finally venting. Finegan and the oarsman look at him, a

little aghast, their mouths open.

You’re not in power, ass hole! You fat pig! Who

put you in charge, eh? You did. And you don’t

get to say, you piece of crap.

Finegan puts his hand over the man’s mouth, seeing that the rant will

never stop. Finegan says,

Tell him you’re disarming his guards and that

they should give up. They’re facing an armed

rebellion. Tell him that.

The sentry is breathing hard, but is trying to calm himself.

Here’s the deal, you piece of shit. We’re an

armed rebellion. Lay down on the ground and eat

dirt, you piece of shit. . . And you other

guys, join us or die!

Collins can be seen facing the confrontation from the bushes, fists in

a ball at his side, frowning. Finegan has his hand over his face,

peeking through his fingers at the sentry. He looks over at the

oarsman.

You try.

The oarsman says,

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You’re not in charge anymore Collins. You’re

disbanded. Turn over all the weapons. No more

tax collections.

Collins begins striding toward the bushes. His two armed guards are

smiling and bending over to put their guns on the ground. The community

he was attempting to rob had been standing as a group in the

background, but now scatters, fearing a shootout. Finegan says to the

sentry,

You dash over and collect those guns.

And then to the oarsman,

I’m going to stand out with my rifle. You go

down and make Collins drop to his knees and

hands over his head. . . Whack him if you have

to. . . But not too hard.

The sentry runs in a semi-circle around Collins. When he reaches the

other two formerly armed men, they all do high-fives and hug each

other. Collins shakes his fist at the sentry and points at him,

throwing out threats.

Arrest that man!

The oarsman steps out from behind the bushes and marches toward

Collins. He says,

They’re not even armed! Christ sakes.

Finegan steps out from behind the bushes, his rifle resting in his

arms. Collins stops his stride. The oarsman takes his club and punches

Collins in his gut, so he doubles over. Then he whacks behind his knees

so he falls on his butt.

Hands over your head. . . Hands over your head

I said!

Collins is rolling onto his knees, putting his hands up, but only part

way, sputtering objections. The oarsman whips some cord out of his

pocket and starts to tie collins’ hands together.

______________________________

The sentry is at the back of the houseboat, peddling. The oarsman is

sitting on a box near him, as they are taking turns at the pedals.

Collins and his two men are at the front, at the edge of the deck,

facing the water. Collins is still bound at the wrist, hands in front

of him. He is loudly protesting his arrest, citing statutes that he

feels authorized his presidency. He keeps this recitation up the entire

trip and can be heard in the background doing this nonstop.

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. . according to the Presidential Succession

Act of 1947 I’m in charge! . . Continuity of

government! . .

Finegan is also on the roof, his rifle resting in his arms, but he is

watching the three men at the front. The flooded city islands and

shoreline are seen in the distance, as the houseboat is heading out