Down Came the Rain (1st ed. - 08.09.

07) - downcametherain7jr
Copyright 2007 Burgess Clark
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4

Cast of Characters
MICHAEL, Eighteen-year-old young man. Softly rugged. Me-
dium build. A young man of simple good looks, he is
very tolerantyet can be rather cruel at times. Despite all
the turmoil he loves Brucie deeply
BRUCIE, Fourteen-year-old boy. Michaels brother. Small;
frail. Considered mentally slow since birth. He de-
pends on Michael for everything, holding simple love
and admiration for him.

Time
The present.
5
DOWN CAME THE RAIN
by Burgess Clark

(A remote campsite in fall. It is early evening. A tent dominates the
upper portion of the stage. A small circle of stones representing a fire
ring is in the lower section. Otherwise, requirements are few. Several
camping articles are scattered around the site, such as a cooler, a
spread-out sleeping bag, and so on. Small pieces of trash give a gen-
eral feeling of carelessness about the space. The lighting is soft and
subdued, representative of twilight in a small clearing at the edge of a
forest.)
(The stage is empty as the lights slowly rise. A bird calls in the far-off
distance. Crickets and other general nature noises prevail. After a
few moments, on trots MICHAEL. He is carrying a camera and can-
teen. A quiet youth of eighteen, he is dressed in heavy boots, jeans,
and a flannel shirt. In the distance, BRUCIEs voice is heard, fran-
tically calling after him.)
BRUCIE. Brother Michael! Michael! Wait!
(MICHAEL turns and looks in the direction of BRUCIEs voice.
Slowly, he takes a drink from the canteen. He giggles. Silently he
ducks behind the tent.)
Please! Brother Michael! Wait for me!
(After a few moments, on staggers BRUCIE. He is a young boy of
fourteen, dressed in baggy jeans and an oversized sweatshirt. He car-
ries a cache of different colored leaves in his hands. A stocking cap is
pulled down over his short-cropped institutional haircut. He looks
helplessly about the campsite.)
Brother Michael? Dont leave me.
(BRUCIE slides to the ground, burying his head in his knees. He be-
gins to cry. After a moment, MICHAEL pops out from behind the
tent. He grins as he slowly sneaks up behind the boy.)
MICHAEL. HEY-YA BRUCIE!
(BRUCIE screams. MICHAEL falls onto the ground laughing.
BRUCIE buries his head once again.)
Burgess Clark



6
Brucie? You okay? Whats the matter?
BRUCIE. I called, brother Michael. I called just like you said. You
just ran away.
MICHAEL. Whats the matter, Brucie? Did you get lost?
BRUCIE. I called. You just kept running.
MICHAEL. I didnt hear you.
BRUCIE. I called. You turned and saw me. You just kept running.
MICHAEL. (Noting mud on BRUCIEs pants:) Did you fall?
BRUCIE. I fell in the mud. I called you. You just kept running.
MICHAEL. I never ran once. It isnt my fault you cant keep up.
BRUCIE. Daddy told you to watch me.
MICHAEL. So what? You called. You know your way back to
camp.
BRUCIE. I fell in the mud. I slipped and you werent there. I called
for you. You just kept running.
MICHAEL. (Yelling:) I said I didnt hear you!
(BRUCIE turns away.)
Im sorry. Im sorry I didnt come back. Are you hurt?
BRUCIE. You yelled at me.
MICHAEL. Im sorry I yelled at you.
(BRUCIE sniffles. MICHAEL pulls out his handkerchief.)
Here. Wipe your nose. Now, did you hurt yourself when you fell in
the mud?
BRUCIE. (Collecting himself:) No.
MICHAEL. Are you sure?
BRUCIE. Yes.
MICHAEL. All right. Now, would you like some supper?
Down Came the Rain



7
BRUCIE. (Shrugs:) I guess so.
MICHAEL. Okay. Go into the tent and put on another pair of pants.
BRUCIE. These are okay
MICHAEL. Those are wet. Youll catch cold. Go on.
(BRUCIE exits slowly into the tent MICHAEL busies himself about
the campsite.)
How many different leaves did you find?
BRUCIE. I dont know.
MICHAEL. Why dont you bring them out here and count them.
BRUCIE. Okay.
(Pause.)
Brother Michael, I cant get my shoe off.
MICHAEL. Pull harder.
BRUCIE. I did! I cant get it off. Help me.
(BRUCIE enters from the tent with a fresh pair of pants in one hand.
He wears only one shoe.)
MICHAEL. (Pulling the shoe off:) Jesus, Brucie. Cant you do any-
thing on your own?
BRUCIE. Youre so strong, Mickey. I bet there isnt anybody as
strong as you.
MICHAEL. Dont just stand there. Go on in and change.
BRUCIE. (In tent:) I saw a big black bird on our walk today. Did
you see it?
MICHAEL. No.
BRUCIE. It was really big. As big as a house, I bet
MICHAEL. I bet
BRUCIE. What kind of bird was it?
MICHAEL. I dont know.
Burgess Clark



8
BRUCIE. Did you take a picture of it?
MICHAEL. I didnt see it.
BRUCIE. (Pause.) If you did see it, would you take a picture of it?
MICHAEL. Maybe.
BRUCIE. (Entering from tent, fly unzipped:) If you did see it, and then
you took a picture of it, we could ask Daddy what it was. Daddy
would know.
MICHAEL. Brucie
BRUCIE. (Blankly:) What?
MICHAEL. Your fly. Zip it up.
BRUCIE. (Trying:) Its stuck, brother
MICHAEL. (Zipping it up:) For Christ-sakes
BRUCIE. Thanks.
MICHAEL. Put on your shoes,
(BRUCIE looks down and laughs.)
Hurry up. And put on a jacket. Its getting cold.
BRUCIE. You sound just like Daddy.
(He plods back into the tent.)
MICHAEL. What do you want for dinner.
BRUCIE. Pizza!
MICHAEL. Fresh out. How about a sandwich?
BRUCIE. Again?
MICHAEL. Sorry
(He sets about making the sandwiches.)
BRUCIE. Why dont you cook something?
MICHAEL. Naw
BRUCIE. Daddy always does.
Down Came the Rain



9
MICHAEL. (Bitterly:) Im not Daddy.
(BRUCIE enters from the tent with a stack of worn baseball cards.)
BRUCIE. Whens Daddy going to be back?
MICHAEL. Tomorrow.
BRUCIE. One more sleep?
MICHAEL. One more sleep.
BRUCIE. (Pause:) When will he be back?.
MICHAEL. I just told you. Hell be back
BRUCIE. NO! I mean, what time?
MICHAEL. How should I know?
BRUCIE. Is Daddy far from here?
MICHAEL. Pretty far.
BRUCIE. How far is that?
MICHAEL. I dont know, Brucie. Your shoes are untied.
BRUCIE. I know.
MICHAEL. Tie them.
BRUCIE. (Ambling away:) I will
MICHAEL. Now.
BRUCIE. Will you do it lot me?
MICHAEL. No I wont. You know how to tie your shoes.
BRUCIE. I forgot.
MICHAEL. (Warning:) Brucie
BRUCIE. Where did Daddy go?
MICHAEL. To the city. Tie your shoes.
BRUCIE. How far is that?
MICHAEL. Im not going to tell you until theyre tied.
Burgess Clark



10
BRUCIE. (Taunting:) You said you didnt know!
MICHAEL. Brucie, Im not going to tell you again. Tie your shoes.
BRUCIE. Daddy would tie them for me.
MICHAEL. He would not!
BRUCIE. He did the day he left!
(MICHAEL starts menacingly towards him. BRUCIE immediately
drops to the ground.)
All right! Im tying them
(MICHAEL returns to the sandwiches. BRUCIE, carefully:)
One bunny ear two bunny ears
(MICHAEL places the sandwiches on a plate.)
How far is the city?
MICHAEL. About eighty miles.
BRUCIE. Is that far?
MICHAEL. Yes. What would you like to drink?
BRUCIE. Orange juice.
(MICHAEL extracts orange juice and a bottle of beer from the
cooler.)
Whats that?
MICHAEL. What is it?
BRUCIE. Beer.
MICHAEL. Right.
BRUCIE. Isnt that what Daddy drinks?
MICHAEL. Sometimes.
BRUCIE. Can I have some?
MICHAEL. (Laughs:) No.
BRUCIE. Please?
Down Came the Rain



11
(MICHAEL eyes BRUCIE a moment. He grins.)
All right.
(He hands it to BRUCIE.)
Here. Try it.
BRUCIE. Is it good?
MICHAEL. Its great.
(BRUCIE takes a mouthful. Almost immediately, he spits it out.
MICHAEL begins laughing.)
BRUCIE. (Sputtering:) Stop laughing at me!
(MICHAEL takes a long, spiteful swallow.)
Michael! Dont laugh at me! MICHAEL! STOP LAUGHING AT ME!
(BRUCIE runs into the tent.)
MICHAEL. (Subsiding:) Im sorry; Brucie. Its just that if you could
have seen your face!
(BRUCIE grumbles.)
Aw, come-on, Brucie. I was only having a little fun. What are you so
goddamned mad about? I let you try it, didnt I? Dad wouldnt
have let you.
BRUCIE. Im telling Daddy!
MICHAEL. (The smile vanishes:) Youre telling him what? (Under his
breath:) Shit (Viciously into the tent:) Well you can just take care of
yourself from now on you immature little bastard! I HAVE HAD
IT!
(MICHAEL moves away and sits, munching on his sandwich. After
a long pause, the tent flap opens and out steps BRUCIE. He moves
uncertainly down and sits next to MICHAEL. MICHAEL ignores
him.)
BRUCIE. Brother Michael? Brother Michael, Im sorry. (Pause.)
Im sorry I made you hate me.
MICHAEL. I do not hate you.
Burgess Clark



12
BRUCIE. (On the verge of tears:) Then why are you mad at me all the
time?
MICHAEL. Im not mad at you all the time.
BRUCIE. Yes you are. You yell at me. You hate me.
MICHAEL. I do not hate you.
BRUCIE. You do too!
MICHAEL. (Sighs:) Why do you think I hate you?
BRUCIE. Because of my problems
MICHAEL. (Softly:) Hey. You never counted your leaves. Why
dont you go get them and count them?
BRUCIE. I dont want to.
(MICHAEL rises and starts for BRUCIEs sandwich.)
Is it true Michael is it true is it true that I killed my mother?
MICHAEL. (Harshly:) What?
BRUCIE. Did I kill?
MICHAEL. Who told you that?!
BRUCIE. Aunt Trudy.
MICHAEL. When did she tell you that?
BRUCIE. I dont know. Is that why everybody hates me? Because I
killed my mother?
MICHAEL. You didnt kill her.
BRUCIE. But Aunt Trudy said I did. And so did Peter
MICHAEL. Peter told you that too?
BRUCIE. Uh huh.
MICHAEL. Mama was sick. Very sick.
BRUCIE. But Aunt Trudy said that she died when I was borned
and Peter told me I killed her.
Down Came the Rain



13
MICHAEL. Brucie, you didnt kill her. Peter made a mistake.
BRUCIE. He did?
MICHAEL. Yes. He lied.
BRUCIE. Did Aunt Trudy lie to me too?
MICHAEL. No. But you didnt kill her. Peter is a bad boy Brucie,
and I dont want you to listen to anything that he tells you any-
more, all right?
BRUCIE. Can I listen to what Aunt Trudy tells me?
MICHAEL. Maybe. (Aside:) That bitch
BRUCIE. What?
MICHAEL. Never mind. Promise me youll never listen to Peter
again, okay?
BRUCIE. Okay. (Pause.) And I didnt kill her?
MICHAEL. NO!
BRUCIE. Michael!
MICHAEL. Im sorry (Handing over the handkerchief:) Here. Blow
your nose.
(BRUCIE does. MICHAEL moves away.)
BRUCIE. Can I have some orange juice?
MICHAEL. Yeah. (MICHAEL pours a cup.) Heres your sandwich.
BRUCIE. Okay.
(BRUCIE takes it. MICHAEL begins rolling up the sleeping bag.
BRUCIE watches him admiringly.)
BRUCIE. What did she look like?
MICHAEL. Who?
BRUCIE. Our mother.
MICHAEL. (Pause.) I dont remember.
BRUCIE. How old were you when I was borned?
Burgess Clark



14
MICHAEL. Born.
BRUCIE. Borned?
MICHAEL. Born.
BRUCIE. Bor-nnnn. (Impatiently:) How old were you?
MICHAEL. Four.
BRUCIE. How old are you now?
MICHAEL. Eighteen.
BRUCIE. And how old am I?
MICHAEL. How old are you?
BRUCIE. Fourteen.
MICHAEL. Right.
BRUCIE. And she died when I was bor-nnnn?
MICHAEL. Yes.
BRUCIE. How did she die?
MICHAEL. She was sick.
BRUCIE. Sick?
MICHAEL. Yeah
BRUCIE. How sick?
MICHAEL. Do you want anything else to eat?
BRUCIE. No. How sick was she?
MICHAEL. Very sick. II dont remember
BRUCIE. Is that why I have my problems? Am I sick too?
MICHAEL. (Blankly:) MaybeNo! Thats not the type of sickness
Im talking about. Are you finished eating?
BRUCIE. Yeah.
(He discards the remainder of his sandwich, which he has dissected
more than eaten.)
Down Came the Rain



15
What kind of sick am I?
MICHAEL. Youre not SICK! (Sharply:) Forget it, Brucie.
(BRUCIE begins playing on the ground with his baseball cards. He
ad-libs comments about the various pictures. MICHAEL retrieves a
guitar from the tent and isolates himself in another corner of the
space.)
BRUCIE. Brother Michael, you know what else I saw on a tree to-
day?
MICHAEL. (Absently:) What. What else did you see.
BRUCIE. Ants. Trillions and trillions of ants.
MICHAEL. That many, huh?
BRUCIE. Yup. Trillions and trillions of ants. (Pause.) I called for you
to come and see thembut I guess you didnt hear me that time,
either.
(BRUCIE continues with his cards. MICHAEL idly strums the gui-
tar.)
Brother Michael, how far back can you remember?
MICHAEL. What?
BRUCIE. How far back can you remember.
MICHAEL. I dont remember.
(BRUCIE giggles.)
What?
BRUCIE. That was funny. (Pause.) Sing me the song.
MICHAEL. Oh no. I dont feel like it right now.
BRUCIE. Oh please
MICHAEL. No. Ill sing it later. Hey its getting darker. Do you
want me to build a fire?
BRUCIE. Sure. I like fires.
MICHAEL. Me too.
Burgess Clark



16
(MICHAEL begins to gather more wood.)
BRUCIE. (Following him:) Daddy says that fires can hurt me.
MICHAEL. Hes right. Fires can burn you, Brucie.
BRUCIE. The first day we were here, I wanted to help start one
but Daddy made me stand far away.
MICHAEL. I remember.
BRUCIE. Were you ever hurt by a fire, brother Michael?
MICHAEL. No.
BRUCIE. Then how do you know that they can hurt us?
MICHAEL. I just know, thats all.
BRUCIE. (Short pause.) I like it here, Mickey.
MICHAEL. Good. I like it too.
BRUCIE. I like it a lot. I like to be alone with you.
MICHAEL. Good.
BRUCIE. Are you smart, Mickey?
MICHAEL. (Laughs:) Sometimes.
BRUCIE. You know who I think the smartest person I know is?
MICHAEL. Who?
BRUCIE. (Giggles:) You!
MICHAEL. Me?
BRUCIE. Uh huh, Youre the smartest person I ever saw.
MICHAEL. Dad is very smart, Brucie. Hes an engineer.
BRUCIE. I know hes smart too. But youre really smart.
MICHAEL. Why do you say that?
BRUCIE. (Shrugs:) Just because.
(MICHAEL continues with the fire preparations. BRUCIE ambles
about the campsite.)
Down Came the Rain



17
I saw a big black bird on our walk today
MICHAEL. I know. You told me.
BRUCIE. Oh.
(Pause.)
Am I smart?
MICHAEL. Uh, Bruciewhy dont you go put that jacket on now.
BRUCIE. Im not cold.
MICHAEL. Go on.
BRUCIE. Do I have to?
MICHAEL. Yes.
BRUCIE. (Defiantly:) Why?
MICHAEL. Because Im bigger than you are, thats why!
(MICHAEL chases BRUCIE playfully into the tent. He then moves
down to the fire ring and stops. Thoughtfully he extracts a small pho-
tograph from his pocket. BRUCIE exits from the tent in his jacket.
He stops.)
BRUCIE. Whats that?
MICHAEL. (Quickly hiding the photo:) Nothing.
BRUCIE. Can I see it?
MICHAEL. Not now. Later. Come here.
(BRUCIE does.)
Now we have to zip this up so you wont catch cold.
BRUCIE. Arent you going to build a fire?
MICHAEL. Sure I will. (Flatly:) Will you help me?
BRUCIE. (Backing away:) Oh no
(MICHAEL gathers up matches and kindling.)
Come on. Ill teach you.
Burgess Clark



18
(MICHAEL bends down to the ring. BRUCIE hangs back.)
Well, come on.
BRUCIE. I dont want to
MICHAEL. Do you want to build a fire or dont you?
BRUCIE. I want you to.
MICHAEL. Well then you can help.
BRUCIE. But
MICHAEL. (Harshly:) But what?
BRUCIE. It can hurt me!
MICHAEL. Sure it can! But you have to be careful. Then it cant.
BRUCIE. Daddy said I shouldnt
MICHAEL. Well I dont run camp like Daddy does. You have to
pull your weight around here. Now come here and help me.
(BRUCIE walks slowly to MICHAEL.)
Now Im going to put this kindling down right here. Heres the
match.
(BRUCIE reluctantly accepts it.)
NowI want you to light the match and start the kindling on fire.
Well, hurry up. Light the match.
(BRUCIE kneels by the ring. He lightly strikes the match.)
Push harder.
(He tries again.)
Harder.
(BRUCIE tries again.)
Push harder.
(Again.)
HARDER!
Down Came the Rain



19
(BRUCIE frantically strikes the match. It lights. He screams hysteri-
cally, flinging the match and cards into the air. He grabs MICHAEL
by the legs, knocking him to the ground.)
BRUCIE. (Babbling:) Dont burn me! Dont make me make a fire!
Oh, brother Michaelplease dont make me make a fire! (Clawing at
MICHAEL:) Dont make me make a fire. Dont make me make a
fire. Help me, brother Michaelplease dont make me make a
fire!
MICHAEL. Calm down, Brucie.
BRUCIE. Help me, brother Michael! I dont want a fire!
MICHAEL. All right. We wont have a fire.
BRUCIE. Im so afraid! Dont leave me!
MICHAEL. I wont leave you. Im right here.
BRUCIE. Dont leave me!
MICHAEL. Im not going anywhere. Im right here. Im right here.
(MICHAEL strokes BRUCIEs head.)
BRUCIE. (Calming:) Dont make me make a fire. Please, brother Mi-
chaelI dont want a fire.
MICHAEL. We wont have a fire. Calm down. Im right here. Shhh.
Im right here (Quietly:) Would you like to count your leaves
now?
(BRUCIE nods vacantly.)
Im going to get them.
(MICHAEL starts to rise.)
BRUCIE. Dont leave me!
MICHAEL. Im just going into the tent. Ill be right back.
BRUCIE. Im so afraid.
MICHAEL. Ill be right back.
Burgess Clark



20
(MICHAEL exits into the tent. BRUCIE scrambles away from the
fire ring. MICHAEL returns with the handful of colored leaves.)
Are these the ones you got today?
(BRUCIE nods.)
Here. Go on and count them.
(BRUCIE takes them. Slowly, he begins to count.)
BRUCIE. One two three four five six seven eight
nine ten eleven twelve thirteen fourteen fifteen six-
teen seventeen nineteen twenty
(MICHAEL gathers up the scattered baseball cards. He eyes BRU-
CIE cautiously.)
BRUCIE. You forgot eighteen.
BRUCIE. (Continues:) Eighteen nineteen twenty. There are
twenty.
MICHAEL. Twenty-two.
BRUCIE. There are twenty-two.
MICHAEL. Thats very good, Brucie. You got some good ones.
BRUCIE. (Brightens:) I did?
MICHAEL. Yeah. I think thats your best haul yet.
BRUCIE. It is?!
MICHAEL. Yeah.
(BRUCIE thrusts the fistful of leaves at MICHAEL. Slowly MI-
CHAEL reaches out and accepts them. BRUCIE flings his arms
around him.)
BRUCIE. I love you, Mickey.
MICHAEL. Whats all this for?
BRUCIE. I love you.
MICHAEL. (Pulling away:) I know. I know.
Down Came the Rain



21
BRUCIE. Sing me a song.
MICHAEL. Oh, Brucie. Dont you ever get tired of hearing it?
BRUCIE. Huh uh.
MICHAEL. I have an idea. You sing it to me for a change. You
know the words.
BRUCIE. But I like it better when you sing it to me.
MICHAEL. Go on. You know how.
BRUCIE. Never mind. Ill sing it later.
MICHAEL. Suit yourself
(BRUCIE rises and wanders aimlessly about once again. MICHAEL
returns to his guitar.)
BRUCIE. Mickey where is God?
MICHAEL. Why?
BRUCIE. I just want to know.
MICHAEL. God is everywhere, Brucie.
BRUCIE. Everywhere?
MICHAEL. Yes.
BRUCIE. Hes with us?
MICHAEL. Yes.
BRUCIE. Why cant I see him?
MICHAEL. You can see him, Brucie.
BRUCIE. I can?
MICHAEL. Sure. Look over there.
(He points off.)
BRUCIE. I dont see anything.
MICHAEL. Keep looking.
Burgess Clark



22
BRUCIE. Brother Michael, I dont see anything. Just a bunch of
trees.
MICHAEL. There. Trees. Thats God.
BRUCIE. God is trees?
MICHAEL. Yes.
BRUCIE. Is God mad at me for taking the leaves?
MICHAEL. Probably.
BRUCIE. (Panicked:) He is?!
MICHAEL. (Laughing:) No. I was just kidding you.
BRUCIE. Oh.
(Pause.)
Did God make us?
MICHAEL. Depends on who you talk to.
BRUCIE. Huh?
MICHAEL. God made us.
BRUCIE. He made me?
MICHAEL. Yes.
BRUCIE. (After a thoughtful pause:) Did God kill my mother?
MICHAEL. No.
BRUCIE. Aunt Trudy said that my mother is with God now.
MICHAEL. Did she.
BRUCIE. Uh huh. Did she make a mistake?
MICHAEL. No.
BRUCIE. Our mother is with him?
MICHAEL. Yeah. Why the interest in your mother all of a sudden?
BRUCIE. I dont know. Nobody ever talks about her. Daddy never
even talks about her. Only Aunt Trudy and Peter.
Down Came the Rain



23
MICHAEL. What did I tell you about Peter?
BRUCIE. (Quietly:) Not to listen to him anymore.
MICHAEL. Why?
BRUCIE. Because hes a bad boy.
MICHAEL. Right. Now shut-up about it, will you?
(MICHAEL starts for the tent.)
BRUCIE. Where are you going?
MICHAEL. Ill be right back.
BRUCIE. Dont leave me.
MICHAEL. Im not going to leave you. Its getting dark. Im going
to get the lantern.
(He exits into the tent. BRUCIE follows him. MICHAEL steps from
the tent, with a kerosene lantern in hand.)
Did you see where I put the matches?
BRUCIE. I dont want a fire!
MICHAEL. I know, I know. I have to light the lantern.
BRUCIE. Please dont. I like the night.
MICHAEL. I thought you were afraid of the dark.
BRUCIE. Not when youre with me. When youre with me. Im
never afraid.
(MICHAEL sighs, depositing the lantern beside the tent. He crosses
away.)
MICHAEL. What happens when Im not with you?
BRUCIE. Huh?
MICHAEL. When Im not with you, what do you do?
BRUCIE. I think about you.
MICHAEL. You do?
Burgess Clark



24
BRUCIE. I think about you all day long when youre at school.
MICHAEL. What do you think about?
BRUCIE. Just things
MICHAEL. What kinds of things?
BRUCIE. OhI remember.
MICHAEL. Remember? Remember what?
BRUCIE. I remember you and me when we were littler. I remember
when you used to teach me things. You used to teach me lots of
things when we were littler. Do you remember?
MICHAEL. Yeah.
BRUCIE. I remember when you taught me to count. Do you re-
member that?
MICHAEL. Uh huh. You still forget eighteen.
BRUCIE. I do not.
MICHAEL. You do too.
BRUCIE. I do not!
MICHAEL. You forgot it just a few minutes ago when you were
counting your leaves!
BRUCIE. Thats different.
MICHAEL. What?
BRUCIE. I was still afraid. Im not now. I only forget eighteen when
Im afraid.
MICHAEL. Oh I see
BRUCIE. And I remember when you taught me how to ride a bicy-
cle, and when you taught me how to tie my shoes, and when you
taught me how to stand up to pee, and when
MICHAEL. Brucie!
BRUCIE. What?
Down Came the Rain



25
MICHAEL. Do you have to remember that?
BRUCIE. (Grinning:) Uh huh!
MICHAEL. Great Do you remember when I taught you how to
walk?
BRUCIE. No.
MICHAEL. God, I do. You were still crawling around the house at
five years old.
BRUCIE. And you taught me to walk?
MICHAEL. Yeah. I was so damned tired of carrying you around
everywhere.
BRUCIE. You carried me?
MICHAEL. As well as I could.
BRUCIE. Did Daddy carry me?
MICHAEL. When he was home. Mostly I carried you. Or Mrs.
Schmidt did.
BRUCIE. Mrs. Schmidts dead now, isnt she Mickey?
MICHAEL. Yeah. Shes been dead for almost six years.
BRUCIE. Was she nice?
MICHAEL. I didnt used to think so. (Laughs.) She always made me
eat sauerkraut and shampoo my hair with my bath every night.
Now that I look back on it though, she was a really great lady. She
loved us, Brucie.
BRUCIE. She loved me?
MICHAEL. She loved us both.
BRUCIE. And is she with God now too, brother Michael?
MICHAEL. Yes.
BRUCIE. Mrs. Schmidt was our housekeeper, wasnt she.
MICHAEL. Yes, she was our housekeeper.
Burgess Clark



26
BRUCIE. We dont have a housekeeper now.
MICHAEL. No. After she died, Dad said that I was old enough to
look out for you. Besides, you were at the school by then.
BRUCIE. You made a good housekeeper too, Mickey. You take
good care of me. Daddy said so.
MICHAEL. Did he.
BRUCIE. Uh huh.
MICHAEL. Right.
(The two sit for a moment.)
BRUCIE. What did Mama look like?
MICHAEL. I told you. I dont remember.
BRUCIE. You dont remember anything about her?
MICHAEL. I didnt say that.
BRUCIE. You do remember something about her?
(MICHAEL shrugs.)
Tell me, Mickey. What do you remember?
MICHAEL. (Rising:) Naw
BRUCIE. Please?
MICHAEL. Its not very much, anyway.
(Pause.)
Well, I remember when she told me that she was going to have a
baby.
BRUCIE. What baby was she going to have?
MICHAEL. You.
BRUCIE. Me?
MICHAEL. Yeah. I remember when she told me she was going to
have you. I was lying in my bed, but I wasnt asleep. It was very
dark in my room, but I could see the light in the hallway shining
Down Came the Rain



27
underneath my door. Suddenly, she came in and I remember seeing
her silhouette in the door frame. She said very softly, Are you
asleep, Michael?
(Pause.)
I said that I wasnt, so she came into my room and sat on the edge
of my bed. She felt my forehead for fever, asked me if I felt all right.
I said I was wondering what all the relatives were so excited about.
She laughed and said that she had a big surprise for me. She said,
Youre going to have a baby brother or sister to play with in a few
months She said I could help her take care of it. She said she
would really need my help. Then she bent down and kissed me and
told me to go to sleep. I was so happy. She was so happy. Every-
body was so happy
BRUCIE. Is that what you remember, brother Michael? What did
she look like?
MICHAEL. I told you. I dont know.
BRUCIE. But
MICHAEL. It was dark. All I can remember is what she said. Her
voice was so soft, Brucieso soft. She was so beautiful
(He removes the photo from his pocket.)
BRUCIE. Can I see?
MICHAEL. What?
BRUCIE. Can I see what you have?
(MICHAEL pauses uncertainly.)
Please?
MICHAEL. All right. (Handing it to BRUCIE:) Here. Be careful.
BRUCIE. Is that her?
MICHAEL. Yes, thats her.
BRUCIE. She was pretty.
MICHAEL. Yes. She was.
Burgess Clark



28
(MICHAEL goes to the cooler for another beer.)
BRUCIE. I dont remember anything at all. I guess thats because I
was so small when she died, huh?
(As MICHAELs back is turned, BRUCIE shuffles the photograph
in among his baseball cards.)
Do you remember our mothers funeral?
MICHAEL. No. I didnt go. I stayed with Aunt Trudy.
BRUCIE. Did I go?
MICHAEL. You were still in the hospital.
BRUCIE. Did our mother die in the hospital?
MICHAEL. Yes, she died the morning after you were born.
BRUCIE. But I didnt kill her.
MICHAEL. No.
BRUCIE. And she was sick.
MICHAEL. Yes. Very sick. Very, very sick
(MICHAEL turns and sees BRUCIEs treatment of the photo.)
BRUCIE!
BRUCIE. What?
MICHAEL. (Snatching the cards from him:) You never learn
BRUCIE. Hey! Those are my cards!
(MICHAEL retrieves the photo. He scatters the cards across the
ground, moving away.)
Mickey?
(There is silence. BRUCIE begins to gather up the cards.)
You know what else I think about while youre at school, brother
Michael? Do you know what else I think?
MICHAEL. No. What else do you think, Brucie.
Down Came the Rain



29
BRUCIE. I think about whats gonna happen.
MICHAEL. You do. Whats going to happen.
BRUCIE. This is afterwhat I think about. Its after.
MICHAEL. Its after what?
BRUCIE. Its after we leave Daddy.
MICHAEL. What do you mean, after we leave Daddy?
BRUCIE. When we go away. You knowwhen we go away on our
own.
MICHAEL. Go where?
BRUCIE. I dont know. But its just gonna be you and me, Mickey
just you and me. And were gonna be in a cave.
MICHAEL. A cave?!
BRUCIE. (Beaming:) Uh huh. A cave. Just like Batman and Robin.
And well have this neat car with guns and a jector seat and stuff
and and you wont have to go to school anymore, because
youll be so smart, you wont have anything else to learn. And
youll take care of meforever and ever.
MICHAEL. What about Dad?
BRUCIE. Oh. Well he can still visit. But most of the time its gonna
be just you and meall alone in the cave. And youll take care of
me
MICHAEL. And Ill take care of you
BRUCIE. forever and ever. And well be happy. Forever and
ever.
MICHAEL. Sure, Brucie.
BRUCIE. I cant wait. Itll be Christmas day for everyday, too. Well
just give each other presents.
(Pause.)
Will you sing me the song, now?
Burgess Clark



30
MICHAEL. Maybe later.
BRUCIE. And youre going to sing me the song whenever I want.
MICHAEL. Thats a real nice story, Brucie.
BRUCIE. And its gonna happen, too.
MICHAEL. How do you know?
BRUCIE. I just know, thats all. Well always be together.
(BRUCIE resumes playing about the campsite. MICHAEL remains
stationary, lost in his thoughts.)
Brother Michael, I
MICHAEL. (Snaps:) Dont call me that anymore, okay?!
BRUCIE. What.
MICHAEL. Dont call me that anymore. Brother.
BRUCIE. But, thats what you are
MICHAEL. I know. Just dont say it anymore, okay? (Pause.) Thats
kid stuff, Brucie. Thats what youve called me ever since you could
talk. My name is Michael. Just Michael. Call me Michael.
BRUCIE. (Slowly:) I do, sometimes.
MICHAEL. I know that you do. Call me that all the time front now
on.
BRUCIE. Can I still call you Mickey?
MICHAEL. Sure.
BRUCIE. (Quietly:) I love you, Mickey.
MICHAEL. Thanks, Brucie.
(There is another break in the conversation. BRUCIE watches MI-
CHAEL carefully.)
BRUCIE. (Suddenly:) Do you remember when I was homed?
MICHAEL. (Sighs:) Yes.
BRUCIE. Tell me about that please.
Down Came the Rain



31
MICHAEL. What do you mean?
BRUCIE. What did I look like?
MICHAEL. (Smiles:) Godyou were ugly.
BRUCIE. I was not!
MICHAEL. You were too! All babies are ugly when theyre first
born, no matter what anybody says. I was so disappointed.
BRUCIE. You were?
MICHAEL. (Laughing:) Yeah. I was picturing this little boy that I
could play with. You were just this scrawny, puny, bawling brat.
BRUCIE. But I grew up, huh?
MICHAEL. Yeah. You grew up.
BRUCIE. I cried a lot when I was a baby.
MICHAEL. All the time. I was the one who started to sing to you to
get you to sleep.
BRUCIE. The song?! Was it the song?!
MICHAEL. Yes, it was that goddamned song. It was the only way
to get you to shut up. Mrs. Schmidt caught me one day trying to
stuff a washcloth into your mouth just to stop your goddamned
screaming.
(They both laugh.)
BRUCIE. Really?
MICHAEL. And you wore diapers until you were almost six
(BRUCIE stops laughing.)
BRUCIE. (Indignantly:) I did not!
MICHAEL. Sorry little brother, but Im afraid you did.
BRUCIE. Thats a lie!
MICHAEL. (Playing it up:) Believe me, I wouldnt lie about a thing
like that.
Burgess Clark



32
BRUCIE. Its itsits a goddamned lie!
MICHAEL. Ask Dad if you dont believe me.
BRUCIE. I will!
MICHAEL. Fine! See what he says. Thats what Mrs. Schmidt was
there forto change your dirty diapers.
BRUCIE. No! It didnt happen!
MICHAEL. (Baiting:) I used to yell, Mrs. Schmidt! Mrs. Schmidt!
Brucie crapped his pants again!
BRUCIE. (Enraged:) YOURE A GODDAMNED LIAR!
(BRUCIE pounces on MICHAEL, beating on him. For the first few
swings, MICHAEL simply laughs. The blows get harder: MI-
CHAEL holds BRUCIE away.)
MICHAEL. Stop it! Brucie! Goddamn it! Stop it!
BRUCIE. Its a goddamned lie!
MICHAEL. Stop it, do you hear me?!
(Suddenly BRUCIE launches one well placed blow to the head. They
stop. BRUCIE backs away. MICHAEL moves towards him.)
BRUCIE. MichaelIm sorry
(MICHAEL slaps BRUCIE. BRUCIE screams in pain and begins to
cry.)
MICHAEL. Shut up, now! Shut the hell up! You deserved that, you
little retarded shit!
(BRUCIE continues to waillouder. MICHAEL grabs him by the
shoulders, shaking him.)
Shut up, Brucie! BRUCIE, STOP IT! SHUT UP!
(He strikes BRUCIE again. A frenzy begins, where MICHAEL loses
control. He knocks BRUCIE to the ground.)
STOP IT! STOP SCREAMING, BRUCIE! STOP SCREAMING!





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