A HUSH FELL OVER THE-
by: Kolin Lawler
“Cross my heart, and hope to live.”
Amongst the threat of a mighty twister, May has resigned herself to remain indoors to be swept away to a magical land far away from the ordinary, while her husband August protests, fearing for her safety.
CAST
RAINMAKER (Androgynous. Any Age): A mysterious figure cotrolling the action of the play, while leading the audience as well. Moves like Bob Fosse.
MAY (Female. 20’s) Longs for yellow brick roads and worlds of magic, she wishes to leave behind the mundanity of the modern world, ignorant to the danger around her. Wife to AUGUST.
AUGUST (Male. 20’s) Seeks to protect his wife, by leading her to the safety of the cellar. Deeply in love with MAY.
SETTING: Somewhere in Kansas, 1939.
Note: Dialogue for MAY and AUGUST was written with an exaggerated southern drawl in mind.
“A HUSH FELL OVER THE–”
MAY is sitting center in a chair, frozen, staring out the window. She is awaiting the arrival of her husband, AUGUST. There is a terrible twister on the horizon, and MAY is not stirred, not for her husband, not for herself. She is not stirred, even a bit. RAINMAKER enters, moving not unlike a snake, as if from a Fosse production. A chest is placed upstage center. They address the audience.
RAINMAKER
Men. I want you to take your hands, just like this.
They place their hands together, as if praying, rubbing them together making a faint sound.
RAINMAKER
Just like this now. Can you hear it? Keep going.
Hopefully, the men comply.
RAINMAKER
Women, I’d like for you to snap your fingers. Just like so.
They snap their fingers rhythmically, together the sound of the men and woman create the auditory illusion of rain.
RAINMAKER
And everyone else, go shhhhhhh. Shhhhhhhhhhh.
All together, we should hear the rain and the wind. It should feel eerie. After a moment, RAINMAKER implores the audience to go
silent:
RAINMAKER
NOW HUSH!
They clap their hands once, then strike a pose behind the action, in front of the chest. AUGUST enters in a hurry, bringing MAY into motion.
AUGUST
May! Thank christ. Come on, we need to get to the cellar right now!
MAY is unperturbed.
AUGUST
Listen to me May! There’s a twister brewin’! The man in the radio, said it’s gonna rip the whole damn town apart! Blow us all to bits! We need to get in the cellar. Come on!
A pregnant pause. MAY is at peace.
MAY
It’s quite alright August. I think I’ll just sit right here.
AUGUST
We’re talkin’ the whole house, blown all akimbo! May, please listen to me! It’s all gonna come crashin’ down into one mighty big mess, ya hear?
MAY
I saw the new picture in that was in town today August.
AUGUST
Now’s not the time to be talkin’ movin’ pictures, we need to get the hell out of here!
MAY
It’s was the most amazing picture I ever seen in my life, August. There was a twister in it too, an even mightier twister. All things akimbo, as you said. Only it swept this little girl away in her house. All the way to wonderland.
AUGUST softens, trying to reason with his wife.
AUGUST
I love you May, I really do. But these delusions of yours are worryin’ me plain sick! There’s not a great deal of time left the radio man said-
RAINMAKER suddenly slams upon the ground.
RAINMAKER
A boom boom-
AUGUST gasps. RAINMAKER produces a drum from the chest and slams their hands upon it.
RAINMAKER
A boom boom- CRASH!
They produce a tambourine, shaking it violently.
AUGUST
Sweet mother of god, it’s gettin’ nearer and nearer!
MAY
I really wish you wouldn’t speak like that.
AUGUST
Like what May? Panickin’, panickin’ because the love of my life, my own bleedin’ heart is just gonna sit inside and be torn to bits rather than followin’ her damn husband to safety?
She smiles at him.
MAY
I’ll be alright August, I’m bein’ swept away towards Neverland.
AUGUST
You really best be forgettin’ them pictures May!
MAY
(Blissfully) But how could I possibly ever forget when-
AUGUST
GET INSIDE THE DAMN CELLAR!
MAY
It’s when you talk and yell like this I simply can’t-
RAINMAKER begins twirling a ribbon throughout the stage, mimicking a twister, whistling to themself. They circle the couple as if preying upon them.
MAY
I can’t. I can’t-
AUGUST grabs MAY, violently pulling her towards the door.
AUGUST
RIGHT NOW MAY–
MAY
Let go of me!
AUGUST
I ain’t playin’ games with you woman!
MAY
Let go of me or, or I’ll scream!
AUGUST
Scream? Now who in the hell will be hearin’ for you screamin’?
MAY
You will!
AUGUST
(Mocking her) I will? Well of course I will!
MAY
And ain’t that enough of a reason to? Ain’t the sound of my own screamin’ enough! Damn you August!
She pulls away from him, he recoils.
MAY
How you hate the sound of me screamin’.
RAINMAKER slows down, softens, but is still making noise.
MAY
(To rainmaker) As for you–
RAINMAKER is shocked to be acknowledged.
RAINMAKER
As for me?
MAY
I need for you to be silent now. Just for one moment.
RAINMAKER strikes a pose and is silent.
MAY
I want for ruby slippers August. I want for roads made of yellow brick. Men made of tin, scarecrows and lions. Wicked witches. I want all of it August. Not this. I’ve been lonely now. Lonely now for all these years we’ve been together. It’s not enough, your company. It’s not enough. You’re not the one whose been keepin’ me warm at night. Not for a while now, at least. It’s all these dreams I’ve been havin’. Dreams of wonderland, dreams of Oz. I want that. I want that, at least. At the very least August, I want for bein’ a hero. You don’t have to be the only knight wearing silver armor no more.
Slowly, RAINMAKER begins motioning for the twister again.
AUGUST
But I want to save you May, that’s all I want.
Tenderly, she takes AUGUST’s face into her hands, and passionately kisses him.
MAY
And I’m tellin’ you, and tellin’ you right now, this moment, I don’t need to be saved.
AUGUST looks upon her, in fear and reverence.
AUGUST
You, are you sure of this May?
MAY
More sure of anythin’ else in this world–
AUGUST
You promise?
MAY
Cross my heart and hope to–
AUGUST
Live? Surely, you hope to, live?
MAY realizes in this moment, that yes, she does hope to live.
MAY
Cross my heart, and hope to live.
AUGUST begins heading for the door, RAINMAKER’s dance intensifies.
AUGUST
You promise me now–you promise me you will live? This won’t be the last of my sweet May yet?
MAY smiles at AUGUST, and waves him goodbye. Lights begin to flicker as RAINMAKER produces a small model house from the crate and begins flying it around the stage, motioning for the journey of the house as it is swept away. Unlike the twister itself, the movement of the house is far more kinetic and unpredictable. NOTE: the underline portions are to be spoken in unison.
MAY
Over brook, over dell, through forest, through fire, amongst the seagulls, bellowing higher. Splash. Choke. Chortle. Hush. Over tree, over glade, over hill, over river, amongst the seagulls, spiraling– quiver. Splash. Choke. Chortle. Hush. Hush, HUSH!
RAINMAKER
Swwwwwissssssshhhhhhhh. Swwwwwissssssshhhhhhhh.Swwwwwissssssshhhhhhhh. Phewww. Phewww. Splash. Choke. Chortle. Hush.
Swwwwwissssssshhhhhhhh. Swwwwwissssssshhhhhhhh.Swwwwwissssssshhhhhhhh.Phewww. Phewww. Splash. Choke. Chortle. Hush. Hush, HUSH!
All goes dark. When lights come up, RAINMAKER has vanished. AUGUST enters, dressed in formal attire, speaking to an invisible presence downstage. A memory of MAY’s which she is drawn to.
AUGUST
I’m feelin’ a little nervous May. Just a little bit because, ah shucks. May Louise, I’d like to take you for my wife, if you’ll have me. And I promise you, it’s nothin’ but the straight and narrow for me now.
No more hustlin’, no more runnin’ with the wrong crowds, no more gamblin’, no more cursin’. Just the straight and narrow. A good, clean, and christian home for the both of us two. Would you like that?
He gets down on one knee and proposes to the invisible presence. MAY takes the ring from him, admiring it as if it was really the day they got engaged.
Would you like that, with me? May Louise-
MAY contemplates for a moment, but eventually rejects the proposal, returning the ring to AUGUST.
MAY
I would like, I would like to go over the rainbow August.
Brushing aside this devastating blow, AUGUST is thrilled.
AUGUST
Together?
MAY is taken aback by this, not wishing to hurt him.
MAY
No August, alone.
AUGUST is crushed.
AUGUST
We aren’t meant to go about it all alone May.
MAY
Maybe we are August. (Behind tears) Just, maybe we are.
Beat.
AUGUST
Surely, this ain’t goodbye, May Louise.
MAY does not acknowledge him. Defeated at last, AUGUST exits.
RAINMAKER enters, and places MAY’s hands over her own eyes, and heads for the chest. MAY is overtaken with excitement.
RAINMAKER
(To the audience) I’d like for you all to close your eyes as well for me now. No peeking until I’m ready for you, close your eyes now. Go on.
As they do, MAY changes into ruby slippers that RAINMAKER produces from the chest.
MAY
Can they open their eyes now?
RAINMAKER
They may.
MAY is overtaken with the beauty of Oz.
MAY
I’ve never seen so much color in all my life. Over the rainbow–no, within the rainbow. Oh August, if only you could see me now, within the rainbow. Oh, how you’d adore it here if only you’d–
MAY remembers now, he’s gone for good.
MAY
You’d leave that cellar. I felt like I spent my whole life in a cellar. I was safe with you there. Safe within your arms. You were never a perfect man, no, far from it actually. Maybe you didn’t have the heart of the tin man, or the brains of the scarecrow, or the heart of the lion. But still, you were all things worth adorin’.
RAINMAKER brings AUGUST back on, dressed in black just like they are; a phantom of his former self.
AUGUST
But this is what you wanted, isn’t it?
MAY
Yes but–
AUGUST
Over the rainbow.
MAY
No, within the rainbow. I’m not there yet, there’s still time–
AUGUST
Is there?
MAY
Yes, yes there is, I’ve seen the shining lights of Oz, the emerald facade but I want more than wonderland August–I want. I want you–
AUGUST
It’s all gone now, you know.
MAY
Surely not all of it, surely there’s still room in the cellar.
AUGUST
How can you ever be so sure?
MAY
No harm can come to you there–you were safe you were safe there, that’s why you wanted me to come with you so badly–so we could both be safe so we could both-
AUGUST
Cross our hearts–
MAY
AND HOPE TO LIVE! AND HOPE TO LIVE AUGUST! I HOPE TO LIVE!
RAINMAKER takes his hand, and guides him off stage, as if the angel of death. MAY pleads with the gods.
MAY
A turn to silence,
within my bones,
bury me softly,
Reveal your tomes.
A restless reminder,
within these stones,
beneath the earth I plunder,
theres no place like–
She can’t get the words out, but she clicks her heels together regardless.
MAY
There’s no place like–
Again, she tries to no avail.
MAY
There’s no place like–shit.
She rolls to the floor, weeping. RAINMAKER emerges, and soothes her.
RAINMAKER
Shhhhhhhhhh. Shhhhhhhhh. What is it you wish for child?
MAY
I wish–I wish to scream.
RAINMAKER
Then scream.
She takes to her feet, and faces the audience.
MAY
Must I do it alone?
RAINMAKER breathes deeply, and takes the audience in, truly looking upon them.
RAINMAKER
For those of you who wish to scream, when I give the word, I invite you to scream. For those who don’t, for those who fear the sound of screaming, cover your ears now. It’s okay to scream. It’s okay not to scream. Whatever it is you need, take. Take what you need. (To MAY) Ready?
MAY
I’m ready.
RAINMAKER
(Cueing the audience and MAY) Scream.
She opens her mouth but before a sound can come out the lights drop.
END OF PLAY.
About the Author
Kolin Lawler is a Chicago based playwright, composer and illustrator, emphasizing a focus on bold new works and ideas. As a multidisciplinary artist, Kolin employs a range of artistic avenues to explore an array of themes, whether it be through musical comedy in “Friendsgiving: The Musical”, novel writing with “The Many Mysteries of Mable Reese” (an ongoing mystery web-novel), or mini-comics with the ongoing “Life in Kell: An Imperfect Memoir-Zine”.
In his playwrighting endeavors, Kolin has received recognition for his short form plays such as “Astroturf” which in 2024 won the Gary Garrison Ten-Minute Play Award from The Kennedy Center, “Everyone I Love is Turning into Soup” which has received multiple staged reading across the country as well as two audio drama adaptations, and “Friendsgiving: The Musical”, which was staged with Instrumental Theatre Company in Chicago this past spring.
Kolin Lawler is a member of The Dramatists Guild of America.