A small town in the countryside of USA. September 12th, 2001.
A military jeep stops in front of a suburban house, with front lawn, no walls. From the jeep, a young blond guy leaves. He is in his early twenties, with an US Army uniform, carrying a big dark green bag.
The light of the front porch goes on. A young woman, also in her early twenties pass through the door to hold the young man. At the door, a senior man, in his fifties watch them hug.
Everybody is sit at the dinner table. The empty plates indicated that the meal had finished and that everybody is full. By far, at the kitchen, the turned on TV set doesn't stop passing news about the World Trade Center attacks in New York City that happened in the day before. Theresa, the young man's sister and his mom do the dishes. His dad and the young man are still at the table.
- Son, when I saw those planes yesterday... - The father starts the conversation - I knew you would be called, but not so fast...
- Dad, I'm in an elite troop, remember. The Rangers. We are the first to embark. We have to show them we are not defeated! - says the blond guy with anger in his voice.
- When do you go? - Asks the apprehensive father.
- Today we embark for Afghanistan. We start the recon and guerrilla ops for the regular troops that will arrive in a month or so. - he answers, proudly.
- You are going to pass for a lot of bad things, son. You need to keep your faith strong - says the father, holding the son's hands.
- I just need to be lucky. Only that - answers the son, in a very arrogant way.
- I wish all the luck in the world, but you know... - The dad, then, takes, from his pocket a pair of red dice, with white dots. The dice are beautiful, semi-transparent. - You already know my old dice, don't you?
- Yeah, Dad. I always played with them when I was a kid - answers the young man with blond hair, with a nostalgic expression in his eyes.
- What I never told you before, my son, it's that before I got married with your Mom I was a game addict... - The father exposes his past to his son with a little grieving in his voice.
- How come? What... - The young man gets surprised
- Yes, son. Meeting your Mom was one of the things that made me quit my addiction. When I met her I was in my lowest point, my life was shattered. She helped me to put my life together and after that I bought this dice. They are loaded dice, used to cheat. I kept them with me to remind me that luck in our lives is a good thing, but one day we can run out of it and then... - The dad throws the dice over the dinner table. They roll, and as they are loaded, they fall with the two number one turned up. - "Snake-Eyes".
The father, Theresa, his mom and the brother, the young man, are in the front lawn. It is late an night. The Army jeep arrives to take the soldier away. Theresa gives a strong hug to his brother and, with tear in her eyes, gives him a picture of her.
- Please, brother, I want you to return safe and sound so you can give me back this photo - Pleads Theresa.
- I will never be apart form it, Terri. You can be sure that I will give you back this photo anytime soon. - Answers the young soldier.