2

THE BASEMENT – DAWN

We hear the sounds of a garbage truck out front, we see from behind the couch- Ianto sits up. "Shit."

The garage door opens before Ianto who drags out a pair of trash cans "WAIT!" only to find himself staring off at the swiftly retreating garbage truck. Frustrated, Ianto slaps a hand down upon the trash can.

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Jogging at an impressive pace past a playground, Ianto -wearing an athletic outfit in dire need of replacement- nears the end of his run. With a final burst of energy, Ianto sprints for a bit before slowing, folding his hands over the top of his head, gasping for breath.

As trio of younger runners jog past from the opposite direction, Ianto offers them a nod, but is completely ignored. Dejected, Ianto walks over to the bus stop, reaches up, and starts doing pull-ups, one after another. As he does so, he glances over at a poster of his husband emblazoned with the words 'YOUR COUNTY'S NUMBER ONE REALTOR FOR EIGHT YEARS STRAIGHT!'

Ianto slows to a stop, hanging there for a moment, before continuing on, punishing his body.

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Alice makes a sandwich comprised of pickles, peanut butter, bacon, and capers, Blake devours a small stack of toasted bagels, the amount of cream cheese found therein more than a tad bit horrifying.

Jack pours himself a cup of coffee, emptying the pot just as Ianto -freshly showered and shaved, his suit pressed and clean, but and definitely not discount rack- was looking to get one for himself.

Blake is talking to Ianto "So, I need to do a report on a veteran for history. Can I just interview you?"

Alice climbs up onto a chair and starts sifting through the bowl resting there.

"Sure, but I was an auditor, son, and that makes for a pretty dry story." Ianto shrugs.

"Why don't you interview your Uncle Gray? He was a real soldier." Jack says, then on Ianto's look adds "I didn't mean...

"I already left him a message. I'll try again later." Blake admits.

"I can't find it." Alice whines.

"What, honey?" Ianto asks.

"My kitty-cat bracelet! I can't find it!" her face falling in shock "They wouldn't have stolen that, would they?"

"Of course not. I'm sure, it'll turn up." Jack says distractedly.

Alice sighs "Ok."

Jack says to Ianto, softly "You missed the garbage."

Ianto forced a smile "I know."

Jack hesitates, and then whispers "Sorry. I just..."

An awkward beat... and Jack notices the empty travel mug in Ianto's hand along with the empty pot nearby. "...sorry..." Jack proceeds to pour half of his coffee into Ianto's cup before calling to the kids "All right, guys! Let's move."

Jack says to Ianto without looking "Have a good day."

Ianto nods "You, too."

While Blake completely ignores Ianto, Alice gives him a big hug, closing her eyes with a smile as she leans into him. After a long moment, she pulls back to leave with the others. Ianto finds himself alone in the kitchen... where he stands for a lingering moment, lost in thought.

Or just plain lost.

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Ianto -carrying the travel mug of coffee- closes the door behind him, using his key to lock it. Turning, he sees his neighbor, Owen, pulling the tarp off of a fully-restored muscle car in his driveway. "Heard you had some excitement last night."

"Yeah, it was just…"

Owen is interrupting "Man, I wish they'd a' picked my place! (motions with weird king-fu moves) I got me an AR-15 tucked beneath my mattress. Been itchin' to see what she can do in real life, y' know?"

A beat, then Ianto motions "That's new."

"Pretty cool, huh? The old man just croaked. Didn't have much to leave, but at least I got something out of it." Owen gushes.

"Sorry for you loss."

Owen shrugs "Nothing there to mourn, man. I hope the old bitch dies soon too. Pretty slick, though, huh? She's a '72 Maserati Indy. Four-point Nine liter V-8. Zero-to-sixty in... "

As Owen continues on his audible tour of the vehicle, Ianto stops listening, staring through him.

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Allowing the others on the bus first, Ianto enters last, greeting the Driver with a nod before pausing to awkwardly tap his Metro Card against the reader. As Ianto moves his way down the aisle, he greets -and is greeted by- a number of commuters, all having become friends upon their route.

Ianto takes a seat

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Ianto takes his time as he walks, taking in the warmth of the sun. As he rounds the corner, he pauses to stare into a gun shop. After a long beat, he shifts his focus to see his own reflection in the window. He lowers his eyes, second guessing himself before turning to walk over to the Taco Truck idling by the curb with a wave and a forced smile.

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A Tool and Die shop with a commercial façade, the industrial building seems a bit out of place and out of time, but no less welcome.

Nursing a breakfast burrito, Ianto enters to find the receptionist off in the distance using a mop handle to bang up against an air vent. "What you thinkin' this time? Rats? Possum, maybe?"

Ianto is answered with a shrug as she continues on with a scowl.

As he moves on, we notice her lunch on her desk: crackers, a can of tuna, and an old school can opener. It is the same every day. Ianto walks onto the wharehouse floor as he does the rounds, checking in on his two dozen or so employees. The space is both a museum to antiquated -yet perfectly working- machinery alongside cutting edge, 3-d printers. Checking his wrist -only to realize that his watch is not there- Ianto heads upstairs and into the hallway.

Ianto walks somberly past a wall emblazoned with "EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH" but his face is nowhere to be seen with Gray Harkness –mid thirties, former military, tight-skinned beer belly, tall, thick beard, thicker head- suspiciously appearing far too many times among the shallow roster. He looks like a fat, unpleasant cheap version of Jack.

Overlooking the shop floor is Ianto's office, the space looks like something lifted from the pages of Life Magazine from the early fifties... which is just the way Ianto likes it. He sinks down into his chair and powers on his computer. He then opens a nearby folder filled with physical receipts and begins to enter the data into an EXCEL spreadsheet. As Ianto stifles a yawn.

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Ianto opens a cabinet in the break room, reaching inside for a mug.

Gray barks out of nowhere "So..."

Ianto is now fumbling with the mug- -only to effortlessly catches it behind his back without looking-before calmly placing it upon the counter.

"Mornin', Gray." as he turns to face his brother-in law, Gray who is drinking coffee from an oversized, plastic travel mug.

"...did I hear right?"

"Depends on who you talked to." Ianto replies, not sure what he is referring to.

"Blake called."

Ianto nods, mutters "Then, of course you did."

"He said you had the drop on one of 'em. Why didn't you take 'em out? Shit, I woulda'." Gray sniffs.

" just..." Ianto sighs softly " ...tried to keep the damages at a minimum."

"How'd that work out for you?" Gray sneers.

"We're all safe, so I'm thinkin'…" Ianto pauses as Gray reaches into the back of his pants and pulls free a SIG-SAUER P250, placing the barrel between Ianto's eyes. "Jesus!"

"Don't worry. Safety's on." Gray frowns "Wait."

Gray checks the weapon... and clicks the safety on. "Oops. There. See? Now... nothing turns off the lights right quick like a fuckin' bullet to the fuckin' brain, man. So, here."

Gray offers him the pistol. "Take it."

"Thanks, Gray, but -uh- I don't want it."

"It ain't a matter of want, Ianto" Gray reaches out, opens Ianto's hand, and places the gun into it. "but the principle of need. (motions) So, man the fuck up, son. You made it through boot camp back in the day! (smirks with a wink) Or did you?"

Gray turns and leaves Ianto to stare down at the pistol. A beat... and Ianto opens the freezer, reaches into the very back, and finds a half-full box of Vegan Burritos which looks not to have been touched in years. Ianto opens it, tucks the pistol inside, folds it shut, tucks the box back into the rear of the fridge, and closes the door.

As he takes his seat, he hears a knock at his door. He spins to face his father-in-law, Franklin Harkness -sixties, former boxer, thinning hair, thick glasses, white shirt, no tie, work boots, emotionless- who is wolfing down a double-sausage breakfast burrito, drowning each bite in hot sauce. "Hey."

"Hey." Ianto replies.

Silence.

"I take it he called?" Ianto sighs.

"he did." Franklin motions "And while I'm sure Gray sees differently, I'm thinkin' you did the right thing. (on his look) For you. Jack said there was a gun involved.. well, not everyone is built for that. Jack was a high end asset but you... well. He DID meet you in the office right?"

Ianto is taken aback "Oh."

"Ya know, bein' a civilian and all. I mean, you served, sure, but…"

Ianto is interrupting Franklin with annoyance "I gotcha'."

"Good." Franklin turns to leave, but then hesitates, glancing back. "Now, about that buyout offer of yours... (motions, amused) You really wanna get rid of Gray and me that bad, huh?"

"No. You're family, Franklin. I just…"

Franklin interrupts with a sheepish smile and a raised hand. "What do I keep telling you, Ianto? We are at work."

"Right." Ianto motions "Mr. Harkness. I just want you to enjoy your retirement, and Gray his...youth. I made you a fair offer."

Franklin is interrupting "But not a good one. Son, I built this company -with these hands- up from nothing. In order for me to sell it, that offer better be goddamned great, you got me?"

Ianto nods "I do."

"Why do you want this place so bad anyways?"

Ianto is unsure, uncomfortable "I dunno. I mean, I know it pretty well, and... well... I'd like to have something that's mine... y'know?"

"Oh, I do." Ianto took a beat, then nods

"You may not believe it, Ianto..." Franklin turns to leave. "...but I'm rootin' for ya'."