(Scene: a large, well lived-in living room, with bookshelves, family portraits, and small trophies. There is a cozy couch sized for a small family in the center of the living room, covered with blankets and pillows. In front of it rests a hard-topped ottoman. Todd, dressed in a t-shirt and pajama pants, peers through the curtains set on a window stage left. Amanda lies on the couch, completely cocooned in blankets. She wears similar attire.)
TODD
It looks like another ice age out there, sis. We picked a rough year to house-sit for mom and dad.
AMANDA
Fretting about it won't change anything. Come wrap yourself up before you catch a cold. (Todd continues to stare out the window. After a moment, he scans the room and exits up right. Amanda sits up, and yells:) Hey! Where you goin'? (She hears some rummaging from the other room.)
TODD
(Returning, coming to the couch with a large camping lantern in hand.) I've got a bad feeling about the storm, so I grabbed Dad's lantern. (Holds it up to illustrate his point) Hopefully we won't need it, I don't know how long the charge will last.
AMANDA
(Smiling.) You big baby. Get over here. I'm cold, and you're my heater.
(Todd smiles, and Amanda takes the bait, rising to wrestle Todd onto the couch. Despite both being adults, the two are comfortable enough with each other that there's an oddly childlike nature to this play. After the two wrestle for some time, there is a loud BANG outside, followed by a large cracking sound, and a muffled WHUMPH. The lights go out. Startled, Amanda squeaks and clutches Todd, who remains collected, if a little bit nervous.)
TODD
(After the noise subsides, harmlessly teasing.) Now who's the baby? (Pauses.) Good thing I grabbed the lantern.
AMANDA
(Punches Todd, but remains nearby as he turns on the lantern. It leaves the room bright enough to see, but still shadowy and fairly dark.) This got sketchy fast.
TODD
It's just an outage. They happen in big storms like these.
AMANDA
And that noise?
TODD
Most likely a power line got knocked over. Nothing we can do about it. (Amanda hops back on the couch, pulling Todd with her. She wraps up in her own blanket, then cuddles against Todd.)
AMANDA
Geez, I can't believe how warm you are. (Closes her eyes.)
TODD
(Accepting it all in a brotherly fashion.) All for you, li'l sissy.
AMANDA
(Mumbling as she falls asleep.) Don't call me that.
(Todd just smiles at Amanda's comment and strokes her hair as her breathing evens. There is peace for a moment. Then, the doorbell rings. Amanda stirs, and mutters unintelligibly. Todd quietly hushes her and softly disengages. He goes to the door, stage left, and peers through the peephole. After a moment, he opens the door. Outside is a stranger in cold weather gear, all woolens. He is completely covered in snow.)
STRANGER
Is Mr. or Mrs. MacLeery home?
TODD
No, they're both out right now. You picked the above-all worst time to come calling, stranger.
STRANGER
(Beat.) Todd, is that you?
TODD
Now how on earth do you- (Pauses. Studying the stranger's face.) Oh my gosh, Mikey?
MICHAEL
(Very tiredly.) Hey brother. (He collapses forward onto the floor.)
TODD
(Springing into action.) Amanda, wake up! (He drags Michael out of the doorway.)
AMANDA
(Stirring.) Hmm?
TODD
(Closes the door.) I need help, now!
AMANDA
(Amanda peers over the couch and starts forcefully.) No! (She runs to Todd, and together they carry Michael's unconscious figure to the couch after brushing some snow off of him.)
TODD
I'll grab mom's heated blanket. Call 911.
(Todd dashes off stage right. Amanda frantically searches her pockets for a phone, and then the living room, with rising panic. At one point she tries the house phone, but throws it down – It's dead. Amanda "Oh!"s, but continues her manic hunt. Todd rushes into the room with the blanket, and immediately turns it on and covers Michael.)
TODD
(After the initial rush.) Thank God this thing's battery powered. (Looks at Amanda.) Where'd your phone go? Did you call already?
AMANDA
(Almost in tears.) I don't know! I can't find it! Where's yours?
TODD
It's dead. (He proceeds to vigorously rub Michael's digits and limbs.)
AMANDA
What are you doing?
TODD
You're the one with the nursing degree! If we don't warm him up, he might die!
AMANDA
(Joins Todd.) What on earth happened?
TODD
(While working.) I don't know. After you fell asleep, the doorbell rang, and I got worried. You'd have to have some heavy-duty snowmobile to get anywhere out there, but why would anyone want to risk coming here? I opened the door, and… (Todd stops rubbing, and closes his eyes.)
AMANDA
Todd?
TODD
It's Michael, sissy.
AMANDA
(Observes Michael briefly, her eyes widening. She also stops rubbing.) What? (Both freeze as Michael starts coughing weakly. Todd cups his face with both hands.)
TODD
Michael? Michael? Speak to me, Mikey!
MICHAEL
(Weakly.) Todd, it hurts… Please stop…
TODD
What hurts?
MICHAEL
(Writhing lightly.) My stomach. Guuuuhhhh…..
TODD
(Gets off of Michael. Looks at Amanda.) Tell me how I can help you.
AMANDA
What?
TODD
You're a nurse. Help him.
AMANDA
Todd! I don't practice! I don't… I can't… It was much cleaner in my textbooks than it ended up actually being!
TODD
Amanda, I think he's dying!
AMANDA
(Wavers.) Fine. Go get some gauze, and water, and… I don't know. Anything you can find. And be quick about it.
TODD
Gotcha.
(Todd dashes off stage right. Amanda takes a deep breath, and carefully begins examining Michael's body, moving with a sense of urgency. Presently, Amanda removes the blanket and what she can of Michael's upper layers without moving Michael himself. Michael moans, and occasionally his eyelids flutter, but he is primarily nonresponsive. Amanda "Oh"s softly when she finds blood on Michael's underclothes, then gasps loudly as she uncovers Michael's gut. Before her is a messy, graphic bullet wound, a gaping hole in Michael's middle. Amanda's hands flutter for a moment as she tries to think of what to do. She eventually places a small folded blanket over the wound, and covers Michael. Todd enters the room carrying armfuls of whatever he could grab.)
TODD
Where do you want these?
AMANDA
(Distant, Amanda drifts towards Todd.) He's dead. Somebody shot him, here, and he's gonna die. (Makes hand motions toward her stomach.)
TODD
(Snapping his fingers.) Amanda, stay with me! We can still help him!
AMANDA
Noooooooo, he shouldn't be alive right now. (Starts crying.) I'm so sorry Ican'tIcan'tIcan'tIcan't…
(Todd comforts Amanda, eyes never leaving Michael. He ushers Amanda out of the room, whispering to her, and then moves to Michael's side. He takes a peek at Michael's wound and visible stiffens. Todd then replaces the removed layers. Beat. He says:)
TODD
Michael? Michael, are you there? (He hears very soft breathing.) You stay with me Mikey, because eventually this storm is gonna break, and then I'm going to get you some help.
MICHAEL
Todd? 'S that you?
TODD
Michael!
MICHAEL
(Laughs weakly.) Oh, I made it. Thank goodness, I made it.
TODD
What happened to you?
MICHAEL
I escaped Todd. I made it. I'm home now. (Eyes open.) Are mom and dad here?
TODD
No, Michael. Sissy and I are housesitting.
MICHAEL
(Sighs.) A pity. I wanted to apologize.
TODD
For what?
MICHAEL
(Beat.) For everything, I suppose. I bet I've made them miserable for these past… Gad, I can't even remember how long it's been.
TODD
It's been over twenty years.
MICHAEL
You kept track? (Winces from pain.)
TODD
Every day.
MICHAEL
Geez. (Beat.) I'm sorry, Todd. (Todd doesn't respond.) Todd? I'm serious, I- Ah! (Michael tries to sit up and collapses. Todd is instantly at his side.)
TODD
Don't you dare try that again.
MICHAEL
(Grabs Todd's arm.) Tell me what happened. After I left.
TODD
You're kidding me.
MICHAEL
Todd. (Stares into Todd's eyes.) Please.
TODD
(Beat.) Ok. (Thinks and paces.) I just… where do I start, Mikey? I was devastated, obviously. You almost killed mom. In fact… (Righteous fury builds for a moment, then dies. Todd turns to Michael, his voice broken.) We love you, Michael. Mom still cries over you. I still cry over you. It still hurts.
MICHAEL
(Some labored breathing.) Did it ever get better? Easier?
TODD
(Beat.) Well shoot, Mikey. Not really. I just got to the point where I had to pick up and move on or… (Beat.) Die trying, I guess.
MICHAEL
Oh…
TODD
Why do you want to know all of this, anyway?
MICHAEL
(Weakly waves the question away.) How did you move on?
TODD
I worked. (Beat.) Gad, I lost myself. Nothing filled the hole. But… eventually I learned to outweigh the bad with a lot of good.
MICHAEL
Worked on what?
TODD
School. Sports. Extracurriculars. I graduated valedictorian, secured a full-ride scholarship to… Why am I doing this?
MICHAEL
Todd!
TODD
Why am I explaining myself to you, Michael? You left, not me.
MICHAEL
Exactly.
TODD
What?
MICHAEL
(Pain.) I don't have much… breath, Todd. My story isn't… here. But I want to know.
TODD
(Beat.) I went to college, got married, and I got a solid job afterward. I started a family. Life is much better now.
MICHAEL
And Amanda.
TODD
Amanda took it a lot harder than I did. She didn't want anyone to ever lose like she did, so she became a nurse. But, to her, you were more demon than inspiration. I think she saw you in every scared, dying patient. She couldn't handle it.
MICHAEL
Oh.
TODD
She loves harder than we do, Michael.
MICHAEL
Was I your demon, too, Todd?
TODD
Not as directly. I had a hard time letting anyone go. I was afraid they'd never come back.
MICHAEL
(Beat.) Tell me (pain) about your family.
TODD
(Smiles.) My wife's name is Amber. She has green eyes and brown hair, and her freckles looked like little specks of confetti on her skin in her wedding dress. We have a little girl. She's three, now. She has two brothers on the way. (Chokes.) I'm never, never letting them go. Never.
MICHAEL
(Crying.) Oh Todd, what have I done? (Todd doesn't know what to say.) I've lost… I've lost so much. What you have… I could… Ah! One mistake! (Convulses.)
TODD
Michael, Michael! (His hands flutter over Michael's figure, unsure of what to do.) Mikey, please!
MICHAEL
(The pain burst forth.) It hurts! It hurts! Ah, Todd, what have I lost! Aaaaah! (Still convulsing.)
TODD
No, Mikey, no! (Amanda slowly enters the room. Todd notices her.) Amanda, please! Help me!
(Amanda is frozen for a few moments, as if blanking out again. Then, a steely resolve enters her eyes. Amanda rushes to Michael's side, shooing Todd out of the way. Todd remains nearby as Amanda whispers comforting words while placing pillows under Michael's head and removing anything hard nearby that he could hit. She looks at Todd.)
AMANDA
That's all we can do. Now we wait.
MICHAEL
(Convulsions slow and die after Amanda finishes speaking, and for a moment only ragged breathing is heard. Then:) It's close now. Please, stay with me. (Todd and Amanda move closer to Michael.) Thank you. I thought- (Pain.) I was afraid I could never come back. (Todd and Amanda both don't know what to say. The lantern's light dims, beginning the slow process of dying.)
AMANDA
(Tiredly.) Oh no…
MICHAEL
(Panicking.) Todd? Todd, it's getting dark! Todd!
TODD
(Getting up.) Don't worry, Mikey, I've got this (Starts rushing around the room.)
MICHAEL
What? No, don't leave me! Ah! (Pain.)
(Michael begins convulsing more violently than before as Todd manically hunts for batteries as the lights slowly go out. Todd enters and exits the room, occasionally making frustrated or despairing, wordless sounds, as Michael convulses and gasps in pain. Amanda kneels next to Michael, ready to do whatever she can, but knowing this is the end. Her face shows a degree of acceptance… For her, a nightmare is dying. As the lights fade to black, the sounds continue for a moment, then all is silent. The room is completely lightless. Following a pregnant silence, a cursing Todd can be heard navigating the room, tripping on things and muttering phrases like, "I got you, Mikey, I got you." There's fumbling, clicking noises as Todd puts batteries in the lantern, and suddenly the room floods with light, much brighter than the lantern's previous output, banishing most shadows. Todd stands up, triumphant.)
TODD
I did it Mikey, the light, I… (He sees Michael's motionless, unbreathing figure.) I… I got you… (He collapses next to Amanda, and they hold each other for a long time, Todd crying, Amanda silent but no less powerfully grieving. Eventually:) I… I don't get it. He came home, sissy. He made it.
AMANDA
He'll always be home. We have an eternal connection. That's why he came back.
TODD
Don't you use your nursey comfort speech on me.
AMANDA
You goob.
TODD
What're we going to do?
AMANDA
Hold me, brother. And we'll wait out the storm.
(They do so, tightly, and the howling wind can be heard louder and louder as the lights dim softer and softer. The lights go out, and for a moment there is only the cutting wind. Then that, too, silences.)
Fin
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