Crossing The River

Billy is slow, but he is mighty in spirit. He loves God and loves His Word. A new preacher in town comes along and befriends Billy and is able to help Billy overcome a disabling secret that was making him unnaturally fearful of the river and of the rain falling. The river and the rain are also characters in this drama that seems to be coming to a nice happy close just as the reality of death and eternity brings a surprise ending. The gospel is presented and choices are made.

10 actors (5 males – one child, and 5 females) Several extras needed. A few set changes, can be done very simply, with few props. 60-70 mins.

CAST OF CHARACTERS:

BILLY BROWN: A 17 year old boy who is slow mentally but mighty in spirit. He loves God and His Word. But he seems to have a dark secret that makes him fearful of the rain and the river. Largest part.

HARLEY SHAW: The new preacher who has come to Rain River Valley to make a difference. Large part.

AGNES POTTER: Somewhat of a busybody in the valley, yet she knows God and knows how to share the truth. Medium part.

EMILY BLANCHETT: Billy’s friend who has a bit of a mischievous streak. Medium part.

MOLLY BLANCHETT: Emily’s mother, and a woman whose faith is renewed by a miracle in her life. Medium part.

BEULAH BROWN: Billy’s sister who loves her brother, and wants to see him get over his problems. Medium part.

HESTER BROWN: Billy’s widowed mother. She is a quiet and thoughtful woman. Medium part.

DOC HANSON: Not a believer. He thinks medicine and good health are the only things that matter in life. He wants to court Widow Brown. Med part

HENRY BLANCHETT: Emily’s little brother who is dying of a fever in the first scene. Small part

FORREST BLANCHETT: Henry’s father. A quiet, thinking man of few words. Small part

BESSIE BRADLEY: Only one line as she sees her husband dying. Very small part.

MR. BRADLEY: He just moans and falls over with a heart attack and then dies. Very small part.

EXTRAS FROM THE CONGREGATION WHO SING A FEW HYMNS THROUGHOUT THE PLAY.

Excerpt:

(As the play opens… two women walk onto the stage. You can use
darkness and two spots or just have the first scene set up in the
background. The important thing is that you just see the two women
who have walked out to the edge of the stage and talk to the
audience. Many words are misspelled to help with pronouncing them
a certain way.)

MOLLY: He really made a differnce in this here valley.

AGNES: They both did.

MOLLY: But it always seemed like it was the boy. He really made
everybody in Rain River Valley sit up and think.

AGNES: He was one special kid.

MOLLY: I reckon there was never the likes of Billy afore then, and
twilt never be the likes of him agin.

AGNES: That new preacher did him a world a good.

MOLLY: And at the same time, the preacher was a better preacher cuz
o’ Billy.

AGNES: Rain River Valley was never the same.

MOLLY: Nobody knew what was the thing that was hauntin that boy.

AGNES: Folks didn’t ask such things. It was nobody’s business
anyways.
I reckon he was the only one who knew. Not even his dear mother
knew.

MOLLY: He kept it all bottled up inside, he did. We all thought
it was just the shock of his poor pa drownin in the river like that.
Nobody knew.

AGNES: He was always rather slow.

MOLLY: But he weren’t no idiot.

AGNES: No indeed! That boy knew his Bible like the back o’ his hand,
he did!

MOLLY: He was a quotin verses all the time. Nobody knew stuff about
God like Billy. ‘Cept maybe whatever preacher we was a havin.

AGNES: You always saw Billy after church talkin with the preacher.
I reckon those preachers would a been happy havin a whole church full
of Billys.

MOLLY: There was only one Billy.

AGNES: Why, you know that more than anybody, Molly. You saw with
your own eyes what Billy could do.

MOLLY: I swear I will never forget that day as long as I live.
It was a blisterin hot day. My sweet little Henry was burnin up
with a fever so high that it was suckin the life juices right out
of his little body. As the day dragged on into the night, the
thunder and lightnin came, and the sky opened up and poured out one
of those warm summer rains like you’d wish would come on a day like
that. You’d be thankful for the rain cuz you want it to cool things
off, but things never cooled off much with those kinds of rains.
Doc Hanson was there, and we sat by Henry’s bed and just waited for
a miracle. Don’t know if I even believed in miracles afore that
day. I swear… Doc Hanson wasn’t givin me much hope. And there was
Billy. Dear, sweet, Billy. His ma made some of her tasty home-made
bread, and sent Billy over with it. None of us felt much like
eatin anything. And Billy just sat there a waitin. It was like he
knew he was sposed to be there.

(The ladies each exit as the lights come up on the scene. You can
hear the sound of rain falling and you see a simple home with poor
surroundings that takes place in the 1920’s or 30’s. Period is not
so important to the story, but costumes need to reflect the time.
Billy is sitting nervously in a chair and Emily is wiping down the
table, doing domestic type chores. They seem about the same age,
late teens.

EMILY: Billy, the rain is a comin’ down powerful hard now. You
sure you wanna stay? Maybe you oughta be headin’ for home bout now.

BILLY: No, Miss Emily, I’ve a mind to stay a while…if it’s alright.

EMILY: Stay as long as you like. Maybe the doc will be out soon
to give us some news.

BILLY: I sure hope its good news, Miss Emily. I hope little Henry’s
gonna be all better real soon!

EMILY: We all hope that, Billy. (He gets up and crosses to the window
and looks out at the rain coming down) Maybe the rain will let up
soon.

BILLY: Naw. It ain’t gonna stop for a long while, I ‘spect. It’s
gonna be rainin’ hard all night long. I’ll have to go home in the
rain.

EMILY: It won’t hurt ya, you know. The rain, I mean. It’s a warm
night and all.

BILLY: I know it won’t hurt me.

EMILY: But I heard that you’s kinda scared of the rain.

BILLY: I ain’t scared. I like the rain. I can watch it come down
for hours.

EMILY: I just meant that you don’t like to be out in it….to have it
fallin’ on ya.

BILLY: I ain’t scared of the rain!

EMILY: I’m sorry, Billy. I didn’t mean to make ya mad.

BILLY: I ain’t mad.

EMILY: (changing the subject) It was awful nice of yer mom to send
over the bread and all.

BILLY: Ma makes good bread.

EMILY: It was very good. You sure you don’t want some?

BILLY: I didn’t come over here to eat your food.

EMILY: I know, but you been here a long spell, and I just thought
you might be gettin’ hungry.

BILLY: I ate before I came. I won’t be stayin’ much longer.

EMILY: Stay as long as you like, Billy. But that doctor has been
in there with Henry for hours and I don’t know when he might be comin’
out to tell us sumthin’.

BILLY: I don’t mind waitin’. Ma will want to know how he is.

EMILY: Surely. Oh, I think they might be comin’ out now. (They
both are standing at this point and looking toward the bedroom door
and the doctor and a man and woman enter. They all look very
serious and Emily and Billy just look on without saying anything.)

MOLLY: It don’t look good, Emily.

EMILY: It don’t?

MOLLY: Doc says that he can’t bring the fever down.

DOC: I’m awful sorry, Emily. Your little brother’s body just won’t
take to the medicine. I’ve tried everything humanly possible. I’m
afraid he won’t make it till morning. Perhaps you should all say
your good-bys. You want someone to call for the preacher?

MOLLY: Naw, what good would that do? He’s clear over in the next
county anyways.

EMILY: Oh, Papa. (She runs over to her father and buries her head
in his chest) Is Henry really goin’ to die?

MOLLY: It’s okay, dear. (She comes over to comfort her girl as the
dad says nothing) Maybe Henry just wasn’t meant for this world.
Maybe it’s just his time.

DOC: I’ll be goin’ now. I don’t think it will be long. (He heads
for the door and stops at Billy) Billy. How’s your ma doin’?

BILLY: She’s fine, Doc.

DOC: Tell her I said hello. (He exits. Billy stands there
watching the grieving family. Finally, they look over at him not
knowing what to say.)

MOLLY: Tell your mother that we are grateful for the bread.

BILLY: Can I see him, Miss Molly?

MOLLY: He won’t know you’re there, Billy. He’s in a coma, Doc
said.

BILLY: I would like to see him if it’s alright.

MOLLY: I know how much you loved Henry. Go ahead; I don’t see any
harm in it. (Billy exits into the bedroom) Emily, perhaps you
better wake your sisters so they can come and say good-by to their
brother.

EMILY: Oh, this is gonna be so hard. I don’t think any of them has
ever watched someone die before. And it’s our Henry! Why is God
takin’ our Henry?

MOLLY: Calm down, darlin’ and get your sisters. They should come
and see their brother.

EMILY: I can’t Mama, I just can’t.

MOLLY: You want me to go and get them? (Pa has seated himself and
seems stunned) You stay here with your pa and I’ll go and fetch ‘em.
(As she starts across the room, the door opens and Billy enters
carrying Henry in his arms)

EMILY: Billy! What are you doin? You shouldn’t be movin’ him!

BILLY: I think he wants to be out here in the light with all of you.
It’s so dark and scary in there.

MOLLY: (crossing over to him) Billy, we can all go back in there.
I don’t think he’ll be waking up again. He’s dyin’ honey. He ain’t
goin’ to live much longer.

BILLY: Did Doc pray for him?

MOLLY: Doc don’t do that. He gave him medicine and tried all he
could.

BILLY: So nobody prayed for Henry?

EMILY: We’ve been prayin’ for him, Billy! I think you should put
him back in bed and just go home!

BILLY: Can I pray for him? Since the preacher ain’t comin’.
Can I? Someone oughta do it.

MOLLY: What good would it do, Billy? The doc says we lost him, so
I don’t think…

BILLY: The doc ain’t God is he? God decides when someone dies,
not Doc! Maybe we should ask God to heal him.

MOLLY: But Billy….

FORREST: I don’t see any harm in it. Let the boy pray for him.

BILLY: Can I put him on the floor?

EMILY: Let me get his pillow! (She runs into the bedroom and
returns quickly with a pillow and a blanket and spreads it out on
the floor center stage. Billy carefully lays him down on them, then
he gets on his knees behind him and faces the audience, bows his
head and begins to pray. The others just stand there looking at him)

BILLY: Dear God. Little Henry here’s awful sick…and the doc says
that he’s gonna die. Well, I don’t know if that’s what you decided or
not. If’n it is, well then, I guess that’s the way it is and we
gotta ‘cept it. But if’n it ain’t, then we want to ask you if you
could heal him. I know you can do it, cuz you healed lots of folks
when you was here before. I read in the Bible how you’s healed folks
who had all sortsa diseases. There were other times too, when you
wasn’t here, and prophets prayed and disciples healed folks, but I
know it was still you doin’ it. Henry here has a powerful high
temper-cher, and he’s fallen asleep and can’t wake up. (He places
his hand on his forehead) He’s a burnin’ up, Lord. He’s a good
kid, too. Everybody likes him. I’m sure you like him a lot and
maybe he could be useful to you, down here. I just wanted to pray
for him. Elijah prayed for that little boy who died, and you
heard him. Please hear my prayer, Lord. (He falls over on the boy
and places his hands on each end of the child) Oh Lord God, please
hear my prayer and bring healing to little Henry in Jesus name!
(He stays on him for a bit as the others look on softly sobbing.
Billy gets up and looks around at everyone.) I ‘spect I best be
goin’. You want I should put him back in bed?

FORREST: We’ll take care of it, son. Thank you for comin.

BILLY: Thanks for lettin’ me pray over him. Least now, if he dies,
we know’d it’s what God wanted.

MOLLY: You prayed a nice prayer, Billy. I doubt the preacher could
have done better.

BILLY: Good night Miss Molly, Mr. Blanchett, Emily. See ya at school.

EMILY: See ya, Billy. (Billy heads for the door when Henry suddenly
moves a little on the floor. They all stop and look at him, all
wondering if they really saw him move. He moves again and then
moans a bit.) He’s wakin’ up Mama! He’s wakin’ up! (They all
gather around him on the floor and Molly puts her hand on his
forehead.)

MOLLY: His fever broke. His temperature is comin’ down!

FORREST: Henry? Henry, boy, can you hear us?

HENRY: Daddy? Am I on the floor?

EMILY: Billy brought you in here! How do you feel?

HENRY: I feel okay, I guess. I’m kinda hungry. Is Billy here?

BILLY: Yeah… I’m here Buddy! Are you all better now?

HENRY: I don’t know. Can I have something to eat?

BILLY: Give him some of my ma’s bread! It’s really good bread!
(Emily brings him a piece of bread and he starts eating it slowly.)

MOLLY: It’s a miracle! Oh sweet Jesus! Our boy has been healed!
(She looks at Billy) You healed our boy! It’s clearly a miracle!
(She hugs Billy)

BILLY: I didn’t do nuthin. God did it. He wanted to heal him all
the time. I think He just wanted us to ask first.

MOLLY: Billy, I think you have a gift! I always knew there was
somethin’ special bout you!

BILLY: I’m not so special. Henry’s special. God wanted to keep
him around. (pause) I better be gittin’ home… it’s powerful late!

MOLLY: Thank you so much, Billy! We can’t thank you enough! I
don’t think we could ever repay you for what you have done tonight!

BILLY: I didn’t do nuthin. G’night. G’night Henry! (He heads
for the door again.)

EMILY: Billy, the rain has stopped.

(lights)