DOGS RULE THE NIGHT

CHARACTER LIST

GABRIEL: Male, 19 years old.

ALEX: Male, 6 years old

JIMMY: Male, 19 years old

SETTING

Scene 1: On a porch with two chairs and a telescope. Late evening, around 11 pm

DOGS RULE THE NIGHT

SCENE 1

(GABRIEL is sitting in a chair on the porch. ALEX is standing and looking through his telescope.)

ALEX

Gaaaabe…I can’t see any stars! There’s too many clouds out tonight.

GABE

Well, kid, I don’t know what to tell you. I can’t just move them out of the way.

ALEX

(looking back at GABE)You can’t?

GABE

(laughs) Naw, no one can, especially not me. Look, here’s your astronomy book (picks up book from under his chair), why don’t you read this?

ALEX

I’ve read that book a million times! We finally got a telescope; I want to see the stars!

GABE

Alex, I can’t do everything. You’re just going to have to wait until tomorrow, alright?

(ALEX sits in the chair next to GABE)

ALEX

Fine…

(a pause)

GABE

What’s your favorite star again?

ALEX

Canis Major! You know, the Dog Star. Another name for it is Sirius. It’s the brightest star in its constellation. Did you know that?

GABE Nope. I didn’t. I forgot where it was though… ALEX

It’s right next to Orion, duh!

GABE

Oh yeah! It’s a good thing you’re here or I’d be lost.

ALEX

I know! Sometimes you can be really dumb, Gabe.

GABE

Ok, ok. I get it. I’m dumb, but did you do your homework?

ALEX

Yes.

GABE

All of it? Even the spelling?

ALEX

Yes! All of it! Geez…quit acting like you’re mom…

GABE

Well…someone has to, you know. You’ve been acting like—

(JIMMY enters, crosses to GABE while waving)

JIMMY

GABE! How’s it goin’, man?

(GABE stands)

GABE

Alex, go inside.

ALEX

What? Why?!

GABE

Just go inside for a little bit.

JIMMY

Yeah, little guy. Listen to your big brother. We have ‘grown-up’ stuff to talk about.

(JIMMY reaches to ruffle ALEX’S hair but GABE deflects it)

GABE

Don’t touch him. (looking to ALEX) Go. Inside. Alex.

ALEX

Fine. Whatever.

(ALEX stands and exits)

JIMMY

What’s with you?

GABE

What are you doing here, Jimmy. I told you I didn’t want you over here hanging around Alex.

JIMMY

God, what’s your problem, man?

GABE

YOU! You are my problem! What are you doing here? I know you’re high; I told you I didn’t want that shit over here!

JIMMY

Geez, I’ve been good, haven’t I? I haven’t even been here in more than a month.

GABE

Yeah, and the one time you come back you reek of weed and beer.

JIMMY

Hey! I have…not…smoked a joint tonight.

GABE

I figured that out. You’ve been doing heroine for a while now. I’d actually prefer if you went back to weed. That shit’s just stupid, man. I don’t even know how you got into it, none of your druggie buddies even do it.

JIMMY

Yeah, like you would know. You’re so chicken shit you wouldn’t even smoke a joint with me back in school.

GABE

God, this again? I thought you were cool with that whole thing! You even said I was making the right choice back then. Now you’ve got this whole new group of

GABE cont.

friends and suddenly I’m the worst person in the world cause I won’t go party with you.

JIMMY

Party…party…that’s what I came over for! I wanted to see if you’d come to a party with me! Ryan’s got this huge thing going over at his place.

GABE

Are you retarded? You know I have to take Alex to school in the morning.

JIMMY

Come on, just for a little while. I’ll have you back before 1, I swear!

GABE

I said no. I can’t just leave him here by himself.

JIMMY

It’s like 11 ‘o clock, he’ll be asleep. What’s going to happen?

GABE

That’s not the point, you idiot.

JIMMY

Then what is?

GABE

Do you even know the meaning of ‘responsibility?’ What if something happened and he needed me?

JIMMY

Is that all you think about? It’s a…what…one in a million shot? Nothing is gonna happen. Just come out for a while and he won’t even know you were gone.

GABE

That’s what you said last time remember?

JIMMY

You’re still blaming me for that? It was a freak accident, get over it!

GABE

Jimmy, the house almost burnt down!

JIMMY

Yeah, but how is that my fault? It was your mom who left the stove on!

GABE

You just don’t get it…if you hadn’t of forced me to go out and get drunk with you it never would have happened!

JIMMY

Yeah, but Alex was there. He took care of it. You’ve got a smart little brother.

GABE

Yeah, I know I do. Which is why I don’t want something like that to happen again.

JIMMY

Well, go check the stove and we can go then.

GABE

God, you’re a fucking idiot.

JIMMY

Look, you’re whole fuckin’ life revolves around that kid.

GABE

No it doesn’t!

JIMMY

Yes, it does. Just dump him off with the state; you don’t have to take care of him! You never hang out with me anymore; it’s always “Alex this” and “Alex that” when you should be out havin’ fun. You’re fuckin’ 19, man. You aren’t his dad.

GABE

Shut up! Did you ever think maybe the reason I don’t hang out with you anymore is because I don’t like you? Look, he’s my little brother; I’m not about to ditch him because he cuts into my social life. Just stay the fuck out of my business.

JIMMY

What do you mean, ‘you don’t like me?’

(GABE sits, sighing)

GABE

You’re a mess, Jimmy. Ever since you started college all you do is drink and do drugs. I got sick of it; I’m sick of you.

JIMMY

But…we’ve always been best friends.

GABE

Yeah. I know. I’m not denying that or anything…just…I’ve got a lot of responsibility now and all you seem to want to do is fuck that up for me.

JIMMY

That’s why you should get rid of Alex! He’s just holding you back! He’s young, I’m sure he’ll be fine in some foster home or whatever.

GABE

I know…sometimes I really wish we had some relatives that could take care of him.

JIMMY

See? You could start college and become an architect just like you’ve always wanted to! Just get rid of the little fucker.

GABE

You don’t think I’d like to?! I’d love to go to college and do whatever I wanted.

JIMMY

Then get rid of him!

GABE

I can’t! He’s my brother, I can’t just abandon him!

JIMMY

Sure you can, it’s not like it’s hard.

GABE

What the hell are you saying, man? Would you get rid of your sister if you had to take care of her?

JIMMY

Probably. I couldn’t handle shit like that.

GABE

God…you’re sick.

(ALEX enters)

ALEX

You’re getting rid of me?

(GABE stands)

GABE

Alex, what are you doing out here?! I told you to stay inside!

ALEX

I was inside. It’s not like I couldn’t hear you guys yelling.

GABE

Well, go back in. We’re still talking.

ALEX

No. I want to know why you don’t like me.

GABE

What? What are you talking about? Of course I like you.

ALEX

Well…you want to get rid of me, don’t you?

(GABE turns to JIMMY)

GABE

Now look at what you’ve done. Get outta here, man! (pushes JIMMY) GET OUT! I swear I’ll call the cops if I ever see you here again.

JIMMY

All right, fine…I’m going. It’s your life you’re wasting anyway.

(JIMMY exits)

GABE

Sit down, Alex.

(ALEX and GABE sit)

ALEX

I’m sorry.

GABE

What are you sorry for?

ALEX

I know I’m a lot of trouble. It’s ok if you want to send me to a foster home; I don’t mind.

GABE

You will. You’d hate it and so would I. You aren’t going anywhere so don’t even worry about it.

ALEX

But what about you? Don’t you want to go to college? Maybe after you’re done I can come live with you again…

GABE

Sure I want to go to college but not right now. I can wait a little while until your older. Who else would help you with your spelling?

ALEX

I could get…mom to…maybe.

GABE

I don’t think she’s any better at it than you, honestly.

ALEX

Well, spelling isn’t important anyway! You should go to college, I don’t mind.

GABE

Now don’t start saying stuff like that. I work on people’s houses and that’s close enough to what I want to do. I’m fine just being here with you for now. (smiling, he starts to tickle ALEX) I think you just want to get rid of me!

ALEX

(laughing) Stop, Gabe! Gabriel!

GABE

Well, that’s just too bad cause you’re stuck with me.

ALEX

Oh well…I guess I can live with that.

GABE

(looking up at the sky) Hey, look, the stars came out. (pointing) There’s the dog star: you’re favorite.

ALEX

(glances at the sky but looks back to GABE, glaring) You lied.

GABE

What?

ALEX

You lied to me!

GABE

What are you talking about?

ALEX

You said you couldn’t make the clouds move!

(GABE laughs)