Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk: Chapter 11 Summary & Analysis

Billy decides to give his ball away as he follows Norm and the other Bravos through the crowds. He scans the masses for a "little redneck kid" that reminds him of himself and finally spots a twitchy boy wearing only a hoodie. Billy is infuriated that the boy's parents took him to a football game instead of buying him a winter coat. When Billy approaches he boy, the boy can barely speak. Billy compliments the boy's name, gives him the ball, and walks away without looking back. Mango is shocked, but soon gives his ball to a passing child too. He notes that the ball could be worth $1000 if the Cowboys win the Super Bowl, but they decide that's not going to happen.

The Bravos have heard nothing about halftime, which riles them up. They decide to get drunk, but Billy thinks of Faison and decides to only get buzzed. Norm invites Bravo Squad to watch the kickoff from his private box, and the guests already in the box applaud when Bravo enters. Billy feels the "money vibe" as he takes in the bars, buffets, and waiters. Bravo heads for the bar as Norm gives yet another speech thanking Bravo for their service. The guests listen intently, and Billy wonders what combination of birth, education, money, and social skills allows these people to look like these do.

An old man waves Billy over and introduces himself as March Hawey. Hawey immediately begins talking about viewing the footage on the news and even asks his wife to tell Billy how affected he was by the footage. Hawey says that watching it was cathartic and a morale boost, and the gathering crowd nods in agreement. Hawey leans in and asks Billy if it's getting better in Iraq. Billy answers noncommittally, and Hawey continues. He says he fully supports the war and that President Bush (whom he's known since Bush was a boy) is a fine man, but the people around Bush are making a mess of the war.

Hawey asks Billy if he was scared, and Billy says that he was, but he didn't have time to think about it. The crowd seems to want more, so Billy repeats a Dime-ism: if you have enough ammo, you'll probably be fine. The crowd laughs, and even though Billy didn't technically lie, he feels dirty like he did. He looks around at the crowd in the box and focuses on Dime.

Billy thinks back to how Shroom spoke about Dime as being all-knowing and exceptionally smart. Dime was one for getting out and walking in Iraq for the sole purpose of gaining knowledge, even if doing so was exceptionally dangerous. One day, a group of teenage boys approached the walking soldiers and yelled, "give me my pocket." When Dime and Shroom figured out that the boys wanted money, Dime laughed and taught the boys how to properly demand money in English. The boys thanked Dime and walked away, yelling, "give me five dollars beech!"

Back in Norm's private box, Billy listens to Hawey say that he thinks it's bad to keep talking about terror on the news. One woman mentions that Cheney surely likes it, and Hawey smiles cryptically and says that he and Cheney are old friends but haven't talked in a while. Someone arrives with a Jack and Coke for Billy. He sips and thinks that everyone here is so sure of the war, and that an abyss separates these people from the actual war.

Billy listens to the conversations around him until Norm comes up and puts his massive arm around Billy's shoulder. Norm talks about the honor of having such heroes present, and remarks that it's no surprise that a Texan led the way at the Al-Ansakar Canal. Billy blushes. Others take it for modesty, but Billy is miserable as Hawey suggests that Billy will be the next Audie Murphy (a decorated WWII veteran from Texas). Norm mentions that Billy was recommended for a Medal of Honor, but someone at the Pentagon didn't agree. Billy, ashamed, hopes that no Bravos are watching, but he sees Dime and Albert watching and realizes that Dime told Albert about this.

Finally, Billy escapes to the bar for Coke, and Dime joins him. Dime admits that he told Albert about Billy's Medal, but he won't tell Billy why. Dime tells Billy that March Hawey is "Mr. Swift Boat," and Billy tries to not let on that he didn't know. Dime tells Billy to watch out for him, as men like Hawey are smart and know the true enemies are dissenters at home. He assures Billy that his medals mean nothing to these people and insists that they get to decide who's a real American. Dime leaves, and Billy feels as though his headache is getting worse.

A woman excitedly tells Billy that he's on the Jumbotron and engages him in conversation about the Victory Tour. She and her husband laugh when Billy says that the airports are the things that stand out the most. She asks about his time in Washington D.C. and is disappointed that Bravo wasn't invited to a formal state dinner. As the conversation swirls around the war and the Iraqi people, Billy mentally checks out and watches other Bravos. He begins to feel as though his headache is just psychological.

People begin shouting for silence as "The Star-Spangled Banner" begins. The Bravos snap to attention as the Cowboys' color guard brings out the flag and the national anthem begins. Billy thinks about Shroom and Lake, but his mind wanders to Faison. He picks her out in the line of cheerleaders, and he almost feels as though the anthem is a love song. Billy moans, and a woman steps towards him and puts her arm around him comfortingly. Her grasp is brittle, and Billy reasons that as a soldier, his body doesn't belong to him.

Billy observes that Americans sound like drunks at the end of the anthem. A group of older women asks Billy if he's proud, and he thinks that he sure is. However, he also wonders why they play the anthem before these games between the private, for-profit corporations that are the professional football teams.

Billy finally escapes the women and finds A-bort, Holliday, and Mango watching the field from seats at the front of the box. He joins them, ascertains that they still know nothing about the halftime plans, and watches a few plays. They wonder if they're being rude, and Mango finally declares that football is boring. As he watches, Billy thinks that Mango is right. He feels as though he's sitting in church between plays, but the four manage to order drinks, which helps.

Dime swings into a seat and snarls about there being alcohol in the Bravos' drinks, but Holliday interrupts to say that Mango thinks football is boring. Dime fixes Mango with an angry stare and nearly yells that football is the best sport, while soccer is "fruity," and if Mango wants to watch it, he can go back to Mexico. Mango reminds Dime that he was born in Tucson, but Dime continues his rant until Mango tries to insult the Texans who fought at the Alamo.

Dime asks Billy to point out Faison, and he compliments Billy on his choice. When Dime leaves, he gives Billy the binoculars. Billy trains them on Faison and feels as though he's falling deeply in love with her. Suddenly, March Hawey joins Billy and asks Billy about dove hunting around Stovall. Billy knows nothing about dove hunting and hands over the binoculars at Hawey's request. Billy asks Hawey about his businesses and says he might be interested in business after the Army, assuming he won't be bored. Hawey laughs and says that if a person wants to make money, they need to find something they like and work hard at it.

Hawey continues that business is like a puzzle with a thousand moving parts and tells Billy that a person needs to be an independent thinker and have inner peace to be a successful businessman. He lists the virtues of the capitalist system, stating that it's responsible for "tremendous human progress." Hawey says that self-interest and greed lead to generations constantly getting better and better, and Billy thinks that America has never made more sense. Hawey acts as though he's going to continue his speech but stops when he learns that Billy is only nineteen.

After a moment, Hawey asks Billy to confirm that he was denied a Medal of Honor. Hawey mentions his own brief service, and his thoughts trail off. Billy thinks that all the old men struggle to talk about their service. Hawey finally says he's proud to have met Billy and begins talking about his grandsons. Billy notices Faison on the Jumbotron and groans, and Hawey makes approving noises and comments on Norm's "show dogs."