SUGARBUSH – DAY
A grove of maple trees dappled with sunlight. In the center, the tallest - the BIG TREE - contains in it’s uppermost branches a CROW’S NEST construction of twigs, scraps of colored rags, newspapers, leaves and tin cans.
(Note: The CROW’S NEST ‘doubles’ as the WIDOW’S WALK on the KINGDOM HOUSE. The BIG TREE is likewise ‘built’ into this same structure.)
Crouched on the edge of it is ISAAC, age 12. He’s dressed, head-to-toe in black hip-but-discarded rags. He snaps his fingers and winks. The sound echoes throughout the immense forest.
He digs out a pair of gigantic binoculars. Focuses.
ISAAC
I gotta be good.
He peeks down at REBECCA (formerly SARAH), age 20. She wears sunglasses and an immaculate white dress. She is asleep on a blanket in the middle of the Sugarbush.
ISAAC
Shhhh.
He looks again through the binoculars. Stops.
ISAAC
Uh oh. Somebody comin’ uphill! A new dude!
He nudges a boom box into place and switches it on, dances.
MUSIC: “GOTTA BE GOOD”  (song)
He lifts off the top of a straw basket, and dumps a knotted rope over the side. The tail end jerks to a stop a few feet off the ground.
ISAAC (rapping)
NO MATTER WHAT I DO
I JUST WANNA HAVE FUN
I WANNA STAY OUTSIDE
WANNA RUN AND RUN
AND PLAY WITH THE TREES
AND DANCE WITH THE SKY

He jumps overboard.
ISAAC
AND JUST GO CRAZY
SO I DON’T HAVE TO LIE
AND I KNOW IT’S BAD

He catches the rope like an acrobat. He shinnies and dances his way down.
ISAAC
AND I GOTTA BE GOOD
AND I TRY SO HARD
T’ DO WHAT I SHOULD
WHEN I’M FIXIN’ STUFF
WHEN I’M CLEANIN’ UP
WHEN I TIE MY SHOES
WHEN I FILL MY CUP
I NEVER GET IT RIGHT
IT JUST COME OUT ALL WRONG
WHEN I HURRY IT UP
IT TAKES TOO LONG
MAN, I GOTTA BE GOOD
I GOTTA BE GREAT
OR THAT OL’ JUDGE FLINT’S
GONNA WHUP ME AT THE STAKE!
UH HUH
THAT’S RIGHT
STAY COOL

While ISAAC is singing/dancing,
ENTER
BETSY, age 13, in a prim white pinafore, arriving with a pot of blue dye and a big paintbrush for marking trees. She aims for ISAAC’S Big Tree with great concentration.
ISAAC
I GOTTA BE GOOD
BUT I WANNA BE BAD
I GOTTA BE GOOD
BUT I WANNA BE BAD
I GOTTA BE GOOD
BUT I WANNA BE BAD
I GOTTA BE GOOD
BUT I WANNA BE BAD

ISAAC, exhilarated and out of breath, is suspended, feet first, at the end of the rope, inches above BETSY’S head. She hasn’t seen him. Flailing madly, he lands on one end of a long stick. In the middle of the stick is rock. The other end is under BETSY’S starched white skirt.
The stick pops up, jerks BETSY’S skirt up with it and exposes her skinny white legs. The bucket of dye spills all over her. She screams and wakes REBECCA.
BESTY
My dress! Look at it! You ruined it!
She whips out a notebook-with-pen (which she wears like a quiver) and scribbles feverishly.
BESTY
Sin of Playing! Sin of Climbing! Sin of Scaring! One, two three!
ISAAC hides behind REBECCA.
BETSY
You’re going to get beat on for sure.
ISAAC
I didn’t do nothin' bad, honest.
REBECCA
What are you two arguing about now?
BETSY
I’m reporting him. I’m telling the Judge. I caught him fair and square, that obnoxious little brat! He was…
She begins writing again.
BESTY
…straying from the Path.
REBECCA searches in her bag for something.
REBECCA
Betsy, darling?
BETSY
Playing is bad! He’s not supposed to climb the Big Tree and you know it and he should get beat on for it. You never report him. You protect him and tell him secrets and he’s your favorite!
REBECCA
We are all equal before God, little one.
BETSY
Yeah right.
ISAAC crawls over to BETSY on hands and knees.
ISAAC
I’m sorry. I’m really, really, really, really sorry.
BETSY
Don’t butter me up, you phoney.
She begins writing again.
BETSY
Sin of Fakery!
REBECCA
Hush girl.
(singsong)
I got maple sugar candy, from the store.
BETSY
That’s so obvious.
REBECCA
Some for Isaac. Some for you.
BETSY
Drop dead.
REBECCA
I won’t have you making a federal case of yourself in front of the Judge is all.
BETSY
Now you’re going to lecture me. I hate that. Everytime you talk that way you make me cry, and I hate crying. First you screw my mind up, and then you make me cry.
REBECCA
Isaac apologized, Betsy. You heard him.
BETSY accepts the candy.
BETSY
What about my dress.
REBECCA
As long as a person doesn’t mean to do bad, it isn’t bad. Don’t you see? Isaac would never intend to hurt anybody. Even you.
We hear the pulsating bass and conga rhythm of
MUSIC: “CITY GOT A BROKEN HEART” (INTRO)   (song)
BETSY
How come the Rules come out different when you say them?
REBECCA
It’s no different really. At least I don’t think so.
BETSY plops down on the blanket. REBECCA draws her close and gives her a hug. BETSY is crying. ISAAC’S face is full of hope.
ISAAC
Why can’t now be forever?

ENTER
MEMBERS of THE KINGDOM – a religious cult, all ages, all races. They are refugees from urban life. They are living in the country, but wear city clothes, ill suited to their environment. The men and boys wear black; the women - white. Some have facial scars, some limp; others have the exhausted expressions of recovered drug addicts and alcoholics. They carry buckets, hammers and spigots. Several also carry a giant Marker (a scarecrow made of straw and dressed in a heavy black overcoat and hat.
They ‘plant’ the marker near isaac’s big tree.
ENTER
JUDGE FLINT, 45, the charismatic leader of the KINGDOM. One of his legs is slightly shorter than the other, affecting his walk. He uses a cane. He is wearing a long black greatcoat, a red silk shirt with a string tie (knotted with a Crucifix) and a wide-brimmed black hat.
(Note: The Marker is similarly dressed.)
BETSY, excited, jumps up and runs to greet him.
BETSY
Hey Judge!
MUSIC: “CITY GOT A BROKEN HEART” (SONG)
FLINT
WHY DO WE FIGHT?
WHY DO WE FIGHT?
WHY DO WE FIGHT?
WHY DO WE FIGHT?
WHY DO WE FIGHT?

FLINT is a passionate powerful singer, in total control of himself and his flock.
FLINT
CITY GOT A BROKEN HEART
CITY GOT A BROKEN HEART
CITY GOT A BROKEN HEART

KINGDOM
AY OH, AY OH, AY OH, AY OH…

ENTER
The DOE, sweaty and sobered up. She watches the proceedings from behind a tree.
FLINT
LOOK AT THE CHILDREN
LOOK AT THE BUILDINGS
LOOK AT THE FIRES BURNING
LOOK AT THE PEOPLE CRYING

KINGDOM
AY OH, AY OH, AY OH, AY OH…

BETSY takes FLINT’S hand. The MEMBERS work, drilling holes in the blue-marked Maple trees and plugging them with spigots.
ISAAC sings “GOTTA BE GOOD”. He doesn’t need the radio. The driving rhythm of “CITY GOT A BROKEN HEART” supports his rap/singing.
ISAAC
(rapping over the break before FLINT sings)
NO MATTER WHAT I DO
I JUST WANNA HAVE FUN
WANNA STAY OUTSIDE
WANNA RUN AND RUN
AND PLAY WITH THE TREES
AND DANCE WITH THE SKY
AND JUST GO CRAZY
SO I DON’T HAVE TO LIE
AND I KNOW IT’S BAD
AND I GOTTA BE GOOD
AND I TRY SO HARD
TO DO WHAT I SHOULD
WHEN I’M FIXING STUFF
WHEN I’M CLEANING UP
WHEN I TIE MY SHOES
WHEN I FILL MY CUP

During ISAAC’S rap, TOMMY, 19, belts an old man in the mouth. He seizes the guy by the throat and pins him to the ground.
BETSY
Tommy! Cut it out!
TOMMY sees BETSY and FLINT glowering at him. He lets the guy go, grabs a shovel and begins to dig furiously – a hole of no apparent use.
ENTER
BRIAN, silently at the edge of the Sugarbush. Nobody sees him.
FLINT
WHY DO WE FIGHT?
WHY DO WE FIGHT?
WHY DO WE FIGHT?
WHY DO WE FIGHT?

(Note: While FLINT sings this chorus, ISAAC sings, contrapuntally:)
ISAAC
I GOTTA BE GOOD
BUT I WANNA BE BAD
I GOTTA BE GOOD
BUT I WANNA BE BAD

FLINT
CITY GOT A BROKEN HEART
CITY GOT A BROKEN HEART
CITY GOT A BROKEN HEART
CITY GOT A BROKEN HEART


(Note: Again, while FLINT sings, ISAAC is joined by TOMMY)
ISAAC & TOMMY
WHAT I GONNA DO IF THE SKY IS FALLING?
WHAT I GONNA DO IF THE GRASS IS GREEN?

FLINT
LOOK AT THE CHILDREN
LOOK AT THE BUILDINGS
LOOK AT THE FIRES BURNING
LOOK AT THE PEOPLE CRYING

ISAAC & TOMMY
WHAT I GONNA DO IF THE VOICE IS CALLING?
WHAT I GONNA DO IF I WANNA SCREAM?

They scream and join with FLINT and the MEMBERS, infected by the excitement. The three leads, FLINT, ISAAC and TOMMY seem to enjoy each other and get off on their singing.
BRIAN, from behind a tree, enthralled, is caught up in the song, surreptitiously adding his voice.
FLINT, ISAAC, TOMMY & BRIAN
WHAT WE GONNA DO? AH!

KINGDOM
OO OO OO…!

FLINT, ISAAC, TOMMY & BRIAN
WHAT WE GONNA DO? AH!

KINGDOM
OO OO OO…!

FLINT, ISAAC, TOMMY & BRIAN
WHAT WE GONNA DO? AH!

KINGDOM
OO OO OO…!

FLINT, ISAAC, TOMMY & BRIAN
WHAT WE GONNA DO? AH!

KINGDOM
OO OO OO…!

FLINT, ISAAC, TOMMY & BRIAN
WHAT WE GONNA DO? AH AH AH!

The music stops. The congas fade.
FLINT looks at REBECCA who is babysitting the children too young to help out. One BOY with a bruise on his shoulder holds a wounded field mouse up to REBECCA’S cheek. REBECCA pats it with her thumb.
BETSY runs over and snatches it out of the BOY’S hands. She hurries it over to FLINT.
FLINT (patting her head)
A gracious offering and sacrifice, sister Betsy.
BETSY
Death gives life?
FLINT
Death…as you know…
BETSY (to herself)
My poor Mama.
He calmly breaks its neck and tosses the body casually at the foot of the new Marker.
FLINT
…is life.
He crosses himself and mutters a prayer. BETSY imitates him.
FLINT waves to SHIRRONDA, 40 years old, a former prostitute (extra jewellery and lipstick). She can’t get her tap into a tree. It is obvious that she has no idea what she is doing.
FLINT (helping her)
A firmer grip, sister, will…
(hammering it home with a grunt)
…bring your ship into port.
SHIRRONDA
Bless you, father.
FLINT, moving near REBECCA, touches her shoulder. She starts. He squats and hugs her.
BETSY watches them. She knots up her face in disgust/jealousy. She sticks her tongue out at ISAAC. ISAAC pulls the corners of his mouth with his fingers and bugs out his eyes.
FLINT (standing, arms outspread)
Let us pray.
The Kingdom drops to their knees in unison and chant. The congas rumble. Their eyes are shut, their arms upraised. FLINT takes one last look at REBECCA and bows his head. ISAAC is the first to see BRIAN.
ISAAC
Hey Mister! You’re the dude I seen! Look Judge! This guy come up on a bike! I seen him from the tree!
Everything stops. Nobody moves. Nobody speaks. They look to FLINT. BRIAN walks across to REBECCA’S blanket.
ISAAC (infatuated)
Who are you? Where do ya come from? What are you doing here? Who…?
BETSY
Shut up!
FLINT hasn’t taken his eyes off BRIAN.
BRIAN (too loud)
Anybody seen a drunk deer up this way?
He laughs, all by himself.
BRIAN
Or a small log cabin? It’s supposed to be up here somewhere, top of Maple Mountain?
FLINT
Can’t you see, young man? The girl is blind.
The MEMBERS start murmuring again. The congas start up, quietly.
BRIAN
Wow! No I…I’m sorry.
REBECCA
I’m used to it.
BRIAN
I wish I could get used to the darkness in my life.
REBECCA
Without darkness there is no light.
FLINT
Are you alone?
BRIAN
I’m always alone. Even when I’m not.
FLINT
Our Kingdom provides patience and prayer for the disappointed.
REBECCA
For those who don’t fit in anywhere else.
ALL (rote)
A PERFECT AND HOLY VISION OF THE FUTURE.
ISAAC
I know where the cabin is. But it’s weird up there. They says a crazy…
FLINT
Just follow your olfactory nerves, young man. Sniff your way up the mountain.
There is a titter of obedient laughter from the MEMBERS. BETSY laughs loudest.
BRIAN turns. His expression is dark. His head cocks towards FLINT who has a violent coughing fit.
REBECCA
Father? Are you alright?
FLINT
These trees…
(cough)
…can be your friends as they have been…
(cough)
…ours.
ISAAC
Just keep following uphill, like a coon-dog. You’ll see it, clear as water, just on top, but don’t…
REBECCA covers ISAAC’S mouth with her hand.
FLINT (still coughing)
Just follow the…
BRIAN releases his control.
BRIAN
Sounds fine to me.
He stands up, walks backwards and trips over a stump.
FLINT (recovering)
God be with you.
ISAAC
I’ll run ya up.
BETSY
Stop kissing his butt.
BRAIN looks at REBECCA. She enters a trance. He mouths the words she says just before she says them.
REBECCA (evenly)
Yes, little brother, you go ahead. It’s Christian to be neighbourly.
FLINT
Sister Rebecca!
REBECCA shakes off BRIAN’S spell.
REBECCA
Forgive me, Father.
BRIAN (under his breath)
She knows not what she does.
FLINT
What’d you say, boy?
BRIAN notices the DOE quietly moving up the path, undetected by the Kingdom. The DOE stops, winks at BRIAN, and shakes her tail.
BRIAN
What’s up with you guys? You ain’t exactly Falwell material. You seem busted up, broken in some way that…
ISAAC (happily)
We follow the Path. We follow Sweet Jesus.
ISAAC & REBECCA
We follow the Lord.
ALL (quickly)
WE LIVE IN A PERFECT AND HOLY VISION OF THE FUTURE.
BRIAN
OK.
REBECCA
It’s not merely ‘OK’. It’s a matter of life and death.
FLINT
In a world unsafe.
ALL
OUR WORLD MADE SAFE.
The DOE flies off into the deep woods. BRIAN salutes and follows after her with ISAAC at his heels.
FLINT (to BETSY)
I see you spoiled your favorite pinafore my pretty one.
BETSY
Rebecca told me not to say nothing.
FLINT
Is that so?
BETSY
He was bad and she protects him.
FLINT
I appreciate your report.
He kisses his finger and touches her forehead. She winces, then recovers with a big smile as if to say ‘oh, that funny ol’ Judge...’ He pats her fanny and laughs – his big Paul Bunyan laugh.
FLINT
My flock. Let us return to the business at hand.
ALL
AMEN.
The congas throb in earnest. The MEMBERS begin chanting and go back to work.
FLINT
He pleases you, Rebecca?
REBECCA
Not in the least.
She takes off her sunglasses and shakes out her hair. A beam of sunlight, streaming through the trees, falls directly on her face. FLINT gazes at her.
BETSY (tugging at his sleeve)
Psst! Reverend. We gotta talk. In private.
FLINT continues staring at REBECCA.
He climbed the Rope. He was Playing!
Holding up the notepad.
Everything!