When the Rain Stops Falling - Almeida Theatre

Night, waves on the shore and a storm on the horizon. YoungerGabrielle and Gabriel Law again. Gabrielle says she does not smoke,but likes to hold a cigarette – it reminds her of her mother. They havejust had sex – it was Gabrielle’s first time. She was glad to get rid ofher virginity, and tells him that’s all she was after. Gabriel asks herwhy her parents killed themselves. Gabrielle tells him about herbrother, who was taken as a child – they found his shoe on the beach.She is uncomfortable talking about this and changes the subject,asking Gabriel what he is doing in the Coorong. Gabriel tells her hisfather once sent a postcard from here and wanted to see it forhimself, to try and make sense of his estranged father. He tellsGabrielle that his father left the family when he was seven, and sentthe odd postcard, but that his mother will not talk about him. He isin the Coorong to try and understand why his father went away.Gabriel gives Gabrielle a piece of driftwood, a keepsake to rememberher first time.ELIZABETH LAW’S ROOMLondon, England, 1988Gabriel offers to help his mother clear the table after the meal.Elizabeth asks him if he needs to leave. Gabriel asks if this is becauseshe wants a drink; he interrogates her about her drinking habit. Hethen tells her he is going away, to visit Australia, inspired by thenewspaper clipping he had found. Elizabeth is still and silent. Hemoves to her, she rebukes his offer of contact. He leaves. Elizabethremains standing there in the presence of her younger self as we arein...Plot SummaryLeah PurcellPhoto: John HaynesSo that’s what I’m doinghere. Trying to see whatmy father saw. Trying tothink what he thought.Trying to understand whyhe went away.Gabriel LawHENRY & ELIZABETH’S ROOMLondon, England, 1965Henry enters, his face bloodied and his clothes wet. Elizabeth isshocked and moves to clean the blood from his face. Henry saysthere has been an accident and his wallet has been stolen. Elizabethsuggests calling the police, but Henry refuses to get them involved;Elizabeth cannot understand this. Henry suggests that they go away,to Australia, to start a new life: he has a yearning for more. He isfrightened of losing his son; again, Elizabeth does not understandand she exits as we see the older Elizabeth pour and drink a glass ofwine.A GRAVEYARDThe Coorong, Australia, 1988The younger Gabrielle stands before three headstones. The olderGabrielle stands some distance apart in a nightgown, watching heryounger self, lost somewhere in her memory.Henry: I have such ayearning... to be more thanI am.Elizabeth: But you’reeverything. To me you’reeverything. What morecould you be?Gabriel Law enters and joins the younger Gabrielle at the graves. Hereads the headstones of Gabrielle’s family. He notes that he was bornin the same year as her brother and asks what happened to him.Gabrielle tells him he was murdered, and that is what sent hermother over the edge. They found his clothes separate to the body.She talks of the cruelty of parents. She was not sure she could trustGabriel, but now realises that she is not alone. He asks her to comeaway with her. She is unsure. He says he will wait in the, play onesong, and leave when it is over. She can join him, or not. He leaves.Gabrielle stands there, undecided, as older Gabrielle recounts thememory of making that life-changing decision to leave, and theyounger Gabrielle runs after Gabriel. Joe enters in his underpants,and we are in…JOE & GABRIELLE’S ROOMAdelaide, Australia, 2013Joe asks Gabrielle to come back to bed. She does not seem to knowhim. She tells Joe to leave. He tells her that they are married and thatAlmeida Projects: When the Rain Stops Falling by Andrew Bovell9