(We open on the roof of Ma's apartment building. Slip, Bobby, and Chuck sit on old wood-and-cloth deck chairs on the side of the building facing the back alley. Sach and Whitey sit in what looks like an old, patched rubber baby pool.)

Sach: Boy, this feels nice!

Whitey: It sure does!

Slip: *Shakes his head* You two wit' that pool. Ya look silly in that thing.

Sach: Yeah, but we're also cooler.

Butch: (He steps onto the roof) Hi, guys. Thanks for inviting me. We're not allowed to walk around on the roof of my parents' apartment building.

Slip: Sure, Butch! C'mon, pull up a chair or a piece-a roof.

Chuck: There's room over here.

Butch: Ok! (He takes a rickety wood-and-cloth chair and joins the others) Oooh, there's a nice breeze out here.

Sach: Ain't there? I love it. We spent a lot of the day up here.

Slip: As in anytime we're awake.

Sach: It gets so hot in our place! Half the time, there ain't even a breeze.

Bobby: We've gotta get to Coney Island more often. Provided Lucy can make it.

Slip: She's runnin' good right now, I think she'd make it a'right.

Butch: I'm glad I got home in time for this.

Sach: We are, too. They have great fireworks on the New York Harbor!

Slip: An' the noisier, the better.

Bobby: (Points as we hear a rocket in the air) Hey, I think they're starting!

Sach: (Points to the fireworks) Lookit those! I love the big yella sparkly ones.

Bobby: I like the green heart inside the red circle.

Slip: I like any wit' the loud boom.

Chuck: I like the shiny ones.

Whitey: I like the ones that leave a trail.

Butch: I like the ones that go all over the place and look like bushy flowers.

Sach: Boy, this sure is nice. I'm glad you guys could be here.

Butch: Yeah. We're all lucky.

Chuck: I'm glad we're all here. It's been years.

Sach: Yeah. I've missed this.

Bobby: Me too.

Sach: They haven't really had fireworks much for the past few years. They were worried bad guys would spot 'em. (Grins) No one's gotta worry anymore.

Whitey: Yeah, we can set off all we want now.

Sach: Let's do that tomorrow. I'm too tired to do it tonight.

Slip: What'd you do today ta make ya so tired, hmmmm?

Sach: We ate at my family's barbecue in Central Park, remember? That's enough to tire anyone out. I think by the year 1982, nine out of every ten people in the Bowery will be a member of my family.

Slip: Only 9 outa 10?

Bobby: Some of your sisters sure got cute. Shame they're all married.

Sach: They ain't cute when they're hoggin' the bathroom.

Slip: Mary was the same way.

Bobby: All my sisters are younger. I got out before they could hog the bathroom.

Butch: (Shrugs) I'm an only child. Dad did complain about Ma in the bathroom sometimes.

Slip: Then again, I remember hollerin' at Chuck fer spendin' too much time in the bathroom too, more than Mary.

Chuck: *Frowns* Well, you hogged it, too.

Butch: Now I'm glad I'm an only child.

Sach: I was lucky if I got five minutes in the bathroom!

Slip: Ya coulda used more than that, Sach.

Sach: Tell that to my sisters n' brothers.

Butch: Actually...I like the noise. I spent so much time playin' for people, I guess I never really had a family 'sides my parents n' me.

Chuck: The noise ain't so bad... *slumps down in the chair and rests his feet on the roof's ledge*

Butch: (Frowns) Are you ok, Chuckie?

Chuck: Just a little tired. That, and my butt's goin' to sleep.

Slip: He's been fine all day. No dizzy spells or headaches or nutin'. Pro'lly just tired from the barbecue.

Sach: My family would wear anyone out. They wear ME out, and I've known 'em all my life.

Bobby: Hey Slip, did your Ma go visit Mary for the holiday?

Slip: *Nods* Yeah, she did.

Sach: So that's why you guys wanted to join my family's barbecue.

Bobby: Nahh, it's because your dad makes the best ribs in the Bowery.

Whitey: I lost count-a how many I had!

Sach: I wish he'd let me help him, but he says he knows what he's doin'.

Slip: 'Sides, you'd eat 'em all on him.

Bobby: (Mutters to Slip) Sach's dad ain't as dumb as his son. If he let Sach handle the barbecue, he'd probably blow half of Central Park sky-high.

*Slip nods.*

Sach: How about you, Whitey? Did you have a good time at the barbecue? I know you ate enough ribs.

Whitey: I had a great time!

Bobby: I had three burgers. I was so stuffed, I couldn't join the watermelon seed-spitting contest.

Sach: Chiefy won that one.

Slip: *Smirks* Only ‘cuz Scruno weren't here fer it. He's the one that taught me.

Sach: Yeah. I wish he coulda come, but he said he was visitin' his wife's family in New Jersey.

*Chuck's head lolls to one side as he starts snoring faintly.*

Slip: *Shakes his head* There he goes.

Butch: Should we wake him up?

Sach: Sure! He's missin' the fireworks! (He grabs a bag next to him, blows it up, and pops it in Chuck's ear)

*Chuck hollers, flails, and falls over out of the deck chair. He glares up at Sach. Slip is grinning.*

Sach: Aw come on, Chuckie! You're missin' the fireworks!

Chuck: *Growls* Sach...

Slip: *Smirks* Nice growl, Chuckie.

Sach: See? (Points to the fireworks as they all light up the sky at once) Oooh, I think we're at the finale!

*Chuck starts reaching one hand toward Sach...*

Sach: Oop! (Ducks back into the water) I think it's time to go swimmin' again!

Chuck: I ain't done yet! *dives after Sach and land in the water*

Butch: (Laughs) I sure have missed you guys.

Slip: *Now he laughs too* This is better 'an a movie.

Sach: Oop! Now you're swimmin' too! (Splashes Chuck)

Chuck: Why you... *splashes Sach; tries to pull Sach down or pull himself up*

Sach: (Splashes back) Come on, Chuck! This is fun!

*Chuck sweeps an arm behind Sach's knees, sending him forward into the water. He climbs on his back, laughing.*

Chuck: I call that move the moss covered three handle family gredunza.

Sach: (Comes up spitting water) An' I call it wet. You've got reflexes like a cat's, Chuckie.

Chuck: Thanks, Sach.

Sach: Anytime. Don't it feel nice in here? The breeze is great.

Chuck: *Smiles* Yeah, it does. *Whitey appears behind him and dumps a bucket of water on him. He laughs* Who... *Looks behind him and grins* Whitey!

Sach: (Scrambles away as much as he can in the small pool) Hey, I don't need the shower!

Slip: That's a matter of rebate.

Butch: (Yawns and stretches) I'm gonna go downstairs and talk to Ma. She said she'd have slices of her Cherry and Blueberry Pie waiting after the fireworks.

Sach: That's right! (Scrambles out of the pool)

Whitey: More pool for me! *gets back in and lounges*

Chuck: *Climbs out out the pool, shivers a little* I think I'll go in, too. I’ll get som'en dry on first, then get some pie.

Slip: I'm stayin' here.

Bobby: I'd like some pie. (Pats Slip on the shoulder) Don't be too long, ok Slip?

Slip: Nah. I'll keep an eye on Whitey in the pool.

*Whitey waves upon hearing his name.*

Bobby: Happy Fourth of July, fellas.

Slip: Happy Fourth.

*We fade out as Slip settles into his deck chair, gazing up at the sky.*