Diviners Lines Act One

And he thinks on his Mama -Buddy

Buddy-?

Your Mama? -Luella

Buddy-?

You think a her whin you try to find water -Luella

I can’t take my eyes off you for two seconds, little brother, without you’re runnin off all over the fields.

Well, he’s playing, Jennie Mae -Buddy

And you’re supposed to be sweepin.

What’re we gonna do with that boy? He can’t do nothin right, Jennie Mae. See that broom right there? He couldn’t make it get to working. And you seen how he done with his shoes. -Buddy

Buddy.

His sister says, “Buddy you keep them shoes on your dogs. Them feet ain’t supposed to get naked.” And would you look how he does like he’s dumber than dirt? -Buddy

Don’t call yourself names.

He can’t help it he’s daffy. -Buddy

Now Bud.

Let’s get to workin. -Dewey

Let’s get your boots on.

He don’t want to wear boots. -Buddy

Buddy.

I tried this stick, Basil. I give her a shake and it’s worth next to nothin. You’re wasting your time on that hole. -Luella

Take your time with those laces.

Tied his shoes by his self! -Buddy

You’re a good boy.

He tied em! -Buddy

You sure did!

He’s sweepin and sweepin- -Buddy

Buddy, stay on the porch.

He’s cleaning his yard, Jennie Mae.

Buddy.

Hi…… -Buddy

Can I help you with somethin?

Well, to tell you the truth, Ma’am, I’m lost. -C.C

What you lookin for?

Yeah. It’s his house alright. Them’s his windows, his door, his porch. And this girl right here? She’s his sister -Buddy

Buddy.

You gonna sweet talk her Mr? You want him to maybe get lost? -Buddy

You just get back to sweepin.

You ain’t gonna wash him? -Buddy

Are you selling soap or somethin Mister?

Jennie Mae, don’t let that guy wash him! -Buddy

Now what do you want a go scarin him for? He never done nothin to you!

Now wait a minute- -C.C

You just come walking up here our of a clear blue and go teasing folks you don’t hardly know!

Now hold the boat, Ma’am! I only stopped cause I’m lookin to help folks! -C.C

Are you one a them Mormons?

To put it real plain, Ma’am — I’m in need of a job. -C.C

Well, we’re not given handouts.

Not lately, my friend…. -C.C

Maybe you better talk to my Daddy.

If it wouldn’t put you to no trouble. -C.C

S’no trouble at’all, Mister.

What’s your name, Mister? -Buddy

Daddy?

A Bible banging, Jesus Jumpin, Heaven and hellfire preacher! -Ferris

You tell Mr. Showers the truth Buddy Layman!

He ain’t done nothin wrong! -Buddy

Just you tell him.

All your clothes? -Ferris

Your blankets—

Now some things don’t irk me, Mr. Showers, but stealing clothes off the back of a preacher ain’t quite on my list a sittin still for. -Ferris

A preacher!

A marryin-buryin, readin-revivin, devil and damnation preacher, Jennie Mae. And your little brother, who somebody was supposed to be watchin, just stole everything the man owns! -Ferris

I can’t be watchin him all the time, Daddy.

I can’t be watchin him either. - Ferris

I dress him, I feed him, I walk him all over the place—

He don’t want a sit still! - Buddy

I need to spend time with my friends, damnit!

Would you knock off the cussin? He’s a preacher I told you. -Ferris

I don’t care if he preaches!

Stop screamin! -Buddy

I’m not screamin!

I come this far. I’ll get by just fine. -C.C

With no clothes?

Aw now, Bud.

He could sleep in the barn, Daddy.

I don’t mean to take offense, but my barn ought to be good enough for a good man to sleep in. -Ferris

I’ll get you some blankets.

You see all the birds? -Buddy

Yeah, I see em.

Hey Bud— -C.C

Oh, Buddy’s alright.

Bud — ? -C.C

Buddy gets in the woods he’s not about to sit still

Well…this old back a mine ain’t about to go chase him. - C.C

Oh, you’re not that old, Mr. Showers.

I been feelin it lately. -C.C

Well, come here. I’ll rub your back some.

Oh… -C.C

Now stop moaning and groaning and sit yourself down. Come on. It’ll do you some good to sit still. There you go. How’s that now? A little better maybe?

Oh… I’m dead and in Heaven. -C.C

You just been workin too hard.

Naw— -C.C

Yeah, you have.

Oh— -C.C

You’re like to work all the time, Mr. Showers.

Shit. -C.C

What?

Little work never hurt nothin. -C.C

I never heard you talk like you been today.

Use those kind a words all the time when I’m thinkin. -C.C

You think in swear words?

I think worse things’n that. -C.C

Is that why you give up on preaching?

That ain’t quite how I’d put it. -C.C

Don’t you believe in the Bible?

(A long paragraph that I’m not typing out) ……Plain forgot I was preachin. -C.C

No —

Yeah! Plum forgot where I was. Sometimes two or three minutes at once. I tell you, Miss Layman, I think too much. -C.C

Think too much?

I am all the time thinkin! And thinkin and preaching don’t mix to well, Ma’am -C.C

Well I never read too much Bible, but you surely can fire it up, Mr Showers.

i’m thirty years old, I never done nothin else! All I’m good for is talkin, Miss Layman. Runnin on at the mouth, just jawin away… -C.C

I think you talk real nice.

The whole time I was preaching you know what I felt? Nothin.

Mr Showers—

I felt nothin, you see?

You still sound awful nice?

Aw, I need to learn to shut up. Well, Damn it. -C.C

What’s a matter?

I just can’t shut up! I guess you’re just too nice to talk to. -C.C

Now don’t tease me.

Miss Layman— -C.C

You make me feel like an old maid when you call me “Miss Layman.”

Well you’re awful formal yourself, ain’t you? -C.C

I’m younger’n you. I’m suppose to.

Here we are in this day and age-with tractors and light bulbs and Singer Sewin Machines- and you’re talking like any man older’n you’s automatic a Mister right off the bat! -C.C

Now don’t be rilin me up, Mr. showers. Girls sixteen years old can’t call men by first name. Least not in Indiana they don’t.

Then let’s just pretend it’s Kentucky. -C.C

Mr. Showers, I can’t!

We’ll say that old beech tree down the way’s the door to a mine shaft, and that gulley right there’s and old coal train. -C.C

Oh, Mr showers.

Come on now. -C.C

I can’t

Sure you can. -C.C

No I can’t.

Well, I don’t see why not. -C.C

You want me too?

I want you to call me by name. Did you just feel somethin? -C.C

Yeah. Yeah, I felt somethin……

Was that a rain drop you figure? -C.C

What’s that?

Would you look at those clouds, Jennie Mae? Right up through the break in the trees there. -C.C

Oh, my Lord.

We best find your brother fore the sky splits wide open. -C.C

He’s on his way home.

Buddy—? -C.C

He’s not gonna stay in the woods if it’s stormin.

Buddy—? -C.C

C.C., come on! If he’s home alone he’ll be scared half to death!

Wooeee! Never saw such a storm! Like to split the sky open! -C.C

Buddy?

I tell you, it’s wild out there! -C.C

Buddy?

Wind’s blowin like crazy. -Ferris

Buddy, look at you. You must be scared half to death. It’s alright. We’re here now.

Hey, Bud. -Ferris

You’re fine now. We’re here.

Mama…..? -Buddy

You’re alright.

Mama…..? (2nd time) -Buddy

It’s Jennie Mae.

Just relax now. -Ferris

Go to sleep.

He’s asleep now? -C.C

He’s asleep.

Hey……he ain’t sleepin….ain’t sleepin no more, he’s itching, hey, hey he’s itchin all over. Dad? He ain’t sleepin! His foots are itchin awful! Jennie Mae? C.C? Get up! -Buddy

Hey now, Buddy.

Calm down, now. -C.C

Hush now. You’re gonna wake Daddy.

I says, One. Two. -Ferris

Come on, Little brother

Aw, he’s itchin just awful. -Buddy

Just lie yourself down.

He ain’t tired a bit -Buddy

He’s almost to ten, Bud!

Then the boy came along. -Ferris

He’s not gonna sleep, Dad.

Lay back down now and try to get some shuteye. We’ll talk in the mornin. Alright? -Ferris

Goodnight, now.

Just outside awhile. -C.C

You two be careful out there in the dark now.

Don’t I know it? -Darlene

Did you sneak out a the house?

I’m just lookin for trouble. - Darlene

At this time a night?

It’s the best time I know to find trouble. I seen the preacher man standin out here on the porch. He couldn’t be no better lookin, Jennie Mae. -Darlene

Oh, Darlene.

I’d be up all night long if that guy lived at my house. Be walking in the stars so bad I’d bump into walls. I tell you, for a preacher he sure is good lookin. -Darlene

His eyes sure are somethin. It’s like they change colors sometimes when he sees you.

Jesus. There’s just somethin about an older type man. -Darlene

Yeah, he’s pretty mature.

Not like the boys around here. -Darlene

Who you courtin, Darlene?

Just these boys around here. -Darlene

Not Melvin Wilder?

I might be. -Darlene

Dewey Maples?

I could be. Why don’t you come see? -Darlene

I’m awful tired, Darlene.

Well you don’t have to be so darn prissy about it.

I been up half the night.