Can I always be with you?

December 31, 2025 Joseph Arnone

In the scene from The Ever-Turning Wheel, Ben tries to make his brother understand why he can’t have permission to ride the Ferris wheel.

Featured Scene – The Ever-Turning Wheel

BEN: You know why it’s spinning, Billy??

BILLY: ‘Cause it f’cking works.

BEN: No, no. That’s not why, Billy, my most amazing brother I’d like to choke right now. They’re running tests! They have to spin the Ferris wheel to make sure it’s working! Alright? They can’t know that it’s fixed until they test it out.

BILLY: I see people.

BEN: Where?

BILLY: On the Ferris wheel. I see legs dangling.

BEN: You can see that far?

BILLY: I see legs, Ben!

BEN: Yeah, of course you see legs, ’cause those are the maintenance worker’s legs. They’re checking the weight before they put civilians back on the ride. That’s why they get paid lots of money, ‘cause they are brave.

BILLY: Those maintenance workers look really happy.

BEN: Well, that’s cause they’re rich.

BILLY: Rich?

BEN: Oh, yeah.

BILLY: Really?

BEN: Yeah. You wanna be a maintenance worker and get rich, too?

BILLY: Can I be that happy like they are?

BEN: …Yeah, you can.

BILLY: I wanna do maintenance for Ferris wheels.

BEN: You have to apply for the job first, but that’s after you spend some time studying for the test.

BILLY: There’s a test?

BEN: Yep.

BILLY: Why?

BEN: ‘Cause when you get tested, they will know that you are…they will know that you know how to fix the Ferris wheel and keep the people safe.

Ben steps down from the bench.

BEN: Come on, I’ll buy you the Ferris wheel book so you can learn all about Ferris wheels, and you can take the test and apply for the job, but first you have to come down off that bench and come back home with me so I can give you a bath and make you a hot drink, okay?

Billy jumps off the bench.

BILLY: You’re the best brother.

BEN: Am I?

BILLY: You’re always looking out for me, and you always know the best advice, and you really care about me, and, and, and I care about you, too.

BEN: You do?

BILLY: Yeshh.

BEN: Then where’s my bear hug?

Billy lifts Ben up into the air, squeezing him.

Okay, okay, can’t breathe.

Billy puts Ben back down.

Man, you’re strong.

Billy starts flexing his arms.

That’s good, buddy.

BILLY: Look!

BEN: Wow.

BILLY: Look!

BEN: Your muscles are expanding.

BILLY: Look!

BEN: Alright, alright, take it easy before you hurt someone.

BILLY: Look!

BEN: Amazing. Give me a Hulk.

Billy growls.

Okay, that’s great, Buddy. You’re a beast! A beast! Good job.

Billy growls.

Billy and Ben growl and flex together.

Billy gets dizzy and wobbles.

Ben grabs him and helps him to sit back on the bench.

Alright, you’re alright. You get too hyper. Here…(Ben pulls out a bottle of water, and Billy gulps it down.)

Slow! Slow! Not like a giraffe! Easy…easy…good. Breathe. Catch your breath. Good. Go slow. (pause.) You alright?