This is an American play written by Sam Shepard. The play seems to be more of a traditional narrative inspired by American life and culture. The play is about contention between two brothers, Lee and Austin, who get reconnected after a period of separation. The younger brother, Austin, acts as a Hollywood screenplay-writer while Lee returns home as a thief.
The return of Lee from the desert creates a hostile environment for the two, who have not seen each other for years. At this time, their mother has taken a vacation to Alaska. The play sets out at a time Austin and Lee were chatting in an attempt to release tension. While their mother is on vacation, Austin is actively trying to develop his screenplay.
However, it becomes a little more difficult for him since his brother troubles him with unproductive questions. The conflict between them is evident when Lee threatens to steal from their locality after being ordered to leave the house by Austin. Nonetheless, Austin manages to compose Lee and the argument ceases.
Austin
He is the younger of the two brothers and was left behind after Lee went into the desert to find their father. Austin is determined as he actively tries to win Saul after Lee managed to inspire him with his story. His determination is further evidenced by his willingness to take Lee back to the desert in order to convince him to forget about his screenplay.
Lee, however, describes Austin as one who does not find fun in games as he is not interested in the discussion between him and Saul. In addition, Austin is careful as he tries to prevent Lee from having close contact with Saul, with whom they are business associates.
Austin is appreciative as he receives Saul’s promise to Lee’s story happily since this would assist his brother become a responsible person. However, he acts selflessly when he argues that he has a lot of personal work to accomplish on his screenplay thus he would not afford to help Lee write his story. This makes him aggressive to the extent of threatening to vanish to the desert.
The play describes Austin as being married and thus demonstrates his determination and ambitions in self fulfillment and service for others. In addition, Austin is seen performing some studies, which he hopes to develop more in the future.
However, he seems to undermine himself by viewing himself as a simple laborer, living an uncomplicated life and having an undemanding family. Austin’s character becomes unruly after his movie deal fails to succeed. This changes him from being industrious and eventually becomes a thief and a drunkard. This was displayed when he yelled at Lee while lying down on the ground; Lee was vigorously developing his script at that moment.
Lee
He is caring and sympathetic; this is evident when he returns home after five years of life in the desert, where he had gone in search of their father. He has a convincing power as he manages to lure Austin into his trick of getting the car keys. In addition, he is cunning and nosy as he manages to cut-short the conversation between Austin and Saul in order to engage Saul in his story and golf discussion.
Lee is a drunkard and a fraudster as he comes home with a stolen television set. His aggressiveness is evidenced by how he manages to survive in the desert, a life he says Austin cannot handle, as well as how angry he becomes when on the phone and lacks a pen. He also makes the working environment for his brother difficult as he breaks the relationship between him and Saul, which prevents Austin from successfully achieving his targets.
His nagging character forced Austin to give in to his demand of being handed the car keys in order to leave the house. In addition, danger manifested itself when Lee swiftly grabs Austin in a dispute concerning their father. He is a chance taker, which is evident by how he interferes with Austin’s project and manages to induce Saul into his tricks to force Austin write his story.
He turns out to be determined when he is seen sitting next to his brother at night, alongside the typewriter in order to win his brother’s heart and learn screenwriting skills. However, Lee is comic as he notes that he did not deserve the respectable life and decides to go back to the desert. Lee humbles himself and joins Austin in the drinking table as he tries to seek assistance.
Mom
She is selfish; she went for vacation alone leaving her family behind. In addition, she is powerless and humorous as she steps out of the house when the sons start to fight and is unable to control them.
Saul Kimmer
He is clever, slick, manipulative, and selfish as he offers to buy Lee’s screenplay because he lost a bet at the disfavor of Austin’s script as a punishment for his refusal to write the story. He also plans to have lunch with Austin’s brother.
The Old man
He is influential since he is the cause of the fights and more so, much of the discussion between the brothers.