Ep 10. The Day it Rained Forever

The Ray Bradbury Theater season 4 episode 10, titled "The Day it Rained Forever," is a gripping and atmospheric tale about the consequences of human greed and ambition. Set in a small town in the American heartland, the episode opens with a drought that has brought the community to its knees. Water, the most precious resource, is scarce and the people are desperate for a solution.

The town's mayor, Harvey Gant (played by actor Jeffrey Jones), is a man with big plans and even bigger dreams. He has set his sights on transforming the town into a bustling tourist destination, and he believes that a massive investment in artificial rain would be the key to unlocking its potential. However, the cost of the project is exorbitant and the town cannot afford it.

Enter Carl Fink, a shady businessman who has a proposition for the mayor. Fink claims to have access to a technology that can produce rain on demand, and he offers to provide it to the town for a significant fee. Gant is skeptical but intrigued, and he decides to take a chance on Fink's promise.

As soon as Fink's rain-making machine is set up, the sky opens up and a deluge of rain begins to pour down on the town. At first, everyone is ecstatic. The parched land drinks up the water, the crops grow, and the people rejoice. But soon, the rain becomes a relentless downpour that shows no sign of stopping.

As the rain continues to fall, the town becomes flooded and the people start to panic. The infrastructure begins to fail, and the streets become rivers of mud and debris. Gant realizes that he has made a grave mistake, and he tries to shut down the rain machine, but it's too late. The machine has taken on a life of its own, and it's now impossible to stop.

In the midst of the chaos, Gant's daughter, Beth (played by actress Lynsey Baxter), finds herself trapped in a flooded basement. Her father races to save her, but he's unable to reach her in time. As he watches helplessly from outside, the basement collapses, and Beth is swept away by the raging waters.

As the rain shows no sign of letting up, the town is left to deal with the catastrophic consequences of its own greed. The episode ends on a haunting note, as the town is left in ruins, and Gant is faced with the unbearable guilt of having caused his own daughter's death.

"The Day it Rained Forever" is a thought-provoking cautionary tale that explores the dangers of unchecked ambition and the high price of human folly. With its vivid imagery, engaging characters, and compelling storyline, this episode is a standout in the Ray Bradbury Theater series. Fans of the show and newcomers alike will find themselves captivated by this gripping and haunting tale of hubris and its terrible consequences.