Michael - Down Came the Rain

B: Is it true that I killed my mother?

(Harshly:) What?

B: Can I have some?

(Laughs:) No.

B: I fell in the mud. I slipped and you weren't there. I called for you. You just kept running.

(Yelling:) I said I didn't hear you!

B: How far is the city?

About eighty miles.

B: Please?

All right. Here. Try it.

B: Yes.

All right. Now, would you like some supper?

B: It's stuck, brother.

For Christ's sake--

B: Bor-nnnn. How old were you?

Four.

B: Pizza!

Fresh out. How about a sandwich.

B: Michael? Don't leave me.

HEY-YA BRUCIE!

B: Daddy would tie them for me.

He would not!

Brucie sniffles.

Here. Wipe your nose. Now, did you hurt yourself when you fell in the mud?

B: Because of my problems...

Hey. You never counted your leaves. Why don't you go get them and count them.

B: Okay. And I didn't kill her?

NO!

B: Why don't you cook something?

Naw...

B: What?

Never mind. Promise me you'll never listen to Peter again, okay?

B: Will you do it for me?

No I won't. You know how to tie your shoes.

B: When's Daddy going to be back?

Tomorrow.

B: No. How sick was she?

Very sick. I- I don't remember.

B: You sound just like Daddy.

What do you want for dinner?

B: Orange juice. What's that?

What is it?

B: I called, brother Michael. I called just like you said. You just ran away.

What's the matter, Brucie? Did you get lost?

B: Brother Michael, you know what else I saw on a tree today?

What. What else did you see.

B: Brother Michael, how far back can you remember?

What?

Brucie giggles.

What?

B: Aunt Trudy.

When did she tell you that?

B: Did I kill--?

Who told you that?

B: What did she look like?

Who?

B: You do too!

Why do you think I hate you?

B: I don't know.

Why don't you come out here and count them?

B: Can I have some orange juice?

Yeah. Here's your sandwich.

B: Sick?

Yeah...

B: No.

Are you sure?

Brucie grumbles.

Aw, come-on, Brucie. I was only having a little fun. What are you so godd4mn mad about? I let you try it, didn't I? Dad wouldn't have let you.

B: Borned?

Born.

B: How old were you when I was borned?

Born.

B: You said you didn't know!

Brucie, I'm not going to tell you again. Tie your shoes.

B: But Aunty Trudy said that she died when I was borned and Peter told me that I killed her.

Brucie, you didn't kill her. Peter made a mistake.

B: Daddy would know.

Brucie...

B: I forgot.

Brucie...

Brucie screams.

Brucie? You okay? What's the matter?

B: I called. You turned and saw me. You just kept running.

Did you fall?

B: How sick?

Do you want anything else to eat?

B: You're so strong, Mickey. I bet there isn't anybody as strong as you.

Don't just stand there. Go on in and change.

B: How old are you now?

Eighteen.

Brucie exits.

How many different leaves did you find?

B: And how old am I?

How old are you?

B: NO! I mean, what time?

How should I know?

(Brucie looks down and laughs.)

Hurry up. And put on a jacket. It's getting cold.

B: It was really big. As big as a house, I bet...

I bet...

B: I called. You just kept running.

I didn't hear you.

B: Did you take a picture of it?

I didn't see it.

B: Brother Michael...? Brother Michael, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I made you hate me.

I do not hate you.

B: Yes you are. You yell at me. You hate me.

I do not hate you.

B: How far is that?

I don't know, Brucie. Your shoes are untied.

B: What kind of bird what it?

I don't know.

B: How far back can you remember.

I don't remember.

B: Our mother.

I don't remember.

B: When will he be back?

I just told you. He'll be back--

B: I fell in the mud. I called you. You just kept running.

I never ran once. It isn't my fault you can't keep up.

B: Daddy always does.

I'm not Daddy.

B: How far is that?

I'm not going to tell you until they're tied.

B: Then why are you mad at me all the time?

I'm not mad at you all the time.

B: You yelled at me.

I'm sorry I yelled at you.

B: Michael...!

I'm sorry. Here. Blow your nose.

Brucie turns away.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry I didn't come back. Are you hurt?

B: MICHAEL STOP LAUGHING AT ME!

I'm sorry; Brucie. It's just that if you could have seen your face...!

B: Is it good?

It's great.

B: I did! I can't get it off. Help me.

Jesus, Brucie. Can't you do anything on your own?

B: Uh huh.

Mama was sick. Very sick.

B: If you did see it, would you take a picture of it?

Maybe.

B: Am I sick too?

Maybe... No! That's not the type of sickness I'm talking about. Are you finished eating?

B: Can I listen to what Aunt Trudy tells me?

Maybe... That b!tch...

B: I saw a big black bird on our walk today. Did you see it?

No.

B: Did Aunt Trudy lie to me too?

No. But you didn't kill her. Peter is a bad boy Brucie, and I don't want you to listen to anything that he tells you anymore, all right?

B: I will...

Now.

B: That was funny. Sing me the song.

Oh no. I don't feel like it right now.

B: I guess so.

Okay. Go into the tent and put on another pair of pants.

B: One more sleep?

One more sleep.

B: But Aunt Trudy said I did. And so did Peter...

Peter told you that too?

B: Is Daddy far from here?

Pretty far.

B: Okay. Brother Michael, I can't get my shoe off.

Pull harder.

B: Thanks.

Put on your shoes.

B: Beer.

Right.

B: Fourteen.

Right.

B: How did she die?

She was sick.

B: Daddy told you to watch me.

So what? You called. You know your way back to camp.

B: Is that what Daddy drinks?

Sometimes.

B: Again?

Sorry...

B: Ants. Trillion and Trillions of ants?

That many, huh?

B: These are okay...

Those are wet. You'll catch cold. Go on.

B: I know.

Tie them.

B: Where did Daddy go?

To the city. Tie your shoes.

B: And she died when I was bor-nnnn?

Yes.

B: He did?

Yes. He lied.

B: Is that far?

Yes. What would you like to drink?

B: Because I killed my mother?

You didn't kill her.

B: Yeah. What kind of sick am I?

You're not SICK! Forget it, Brucie.

B: I'm telling Daddy!

You're telling him what? Sh!t... Well you can just take care of yourself from now on you immature little b4stard! I HAVE HAD IT!

B: What?

Your fly. Zip it up.