Tuesday, April 30, 2013

The Conclusion of LITTLE MARY.  A funny rehearsal memory. I originally had Lulit bring the only "evidence" of the divine birth onstage in a basin (which the audience would never see). The actors quickly realized this would be a horrible moment of theatre which would either provoke laughter or disgust from the audience, not to mention the actors, so it become something she only "talked about".


SCENE EIGHT

The cathedral in Los Angeles, a few weeks later. Organ music begins, an instrumental prelude to Easter Mass. Lights fade to spots on Christina and Jose who have entered on opposite sides of the stage. Jose is dressed for mass in a fine new suit. Christina is dressed in a beautiful white gown, very pregnant.

We are in the rear of the cathedral where the celebrants are gathering for the procession. All is still except for the soothing organ music. The scene must be played with this in mind. Jose meets Christina center stage. Christina seems distressed.

                                                JOSE
                                    You are feeling all right?

                                                CHRISTINA
                                                (she isn’t)
                                    Si.
                                               
                                                JOSE
                                    After the offering, you will approach the
alter. Cardinal Gian will introduce you to the congregation
and proclaim the presence of the Lord within you.
The major network cameras will be to your right--

                                                CHRISTINA
                                    Yo se papa. Nostros lo practicamos
                                    diez veces.
                                    I know, Father. We rehearsed it
                                    ten times.

                                                JOSE
                                    Good... English only, Christina.
                                    Don’t cast your eyes down, look at
                                    the people.
                                                (he demonstrates)
                                    I notice when you were on Fox news,
                                    you--

Jose illustrates the trajectory of her eyes downward with his hand. Christina shoots him an annoyed look. Jose stops illustrating.

                                                JOSE (cont’d)
                                    Forgive me, Holy Mother. It is not right that
                                    I instruct you anymore. But you have always
                                    been my daughter.

                                                CHRISTINA
                                    Not always.

Jose touches her hand, meaning to quiet her.

                                                JOSE
                                    You were a gift from God, Christina.

                                                CHRISTINA
                                    Was I?

Tivoli enters.

                                                TIVOLI
                                    Alleluia, He has risen.

                                                CHRISTINA
                                    Good morning, Peter.

                                                TIVOLI (pause)
                                    You don’t have to go through with this.

Jose nods offstage, as if toward an admiring crowd.

                                                JOSE
                                    The children want to meet you,
Christina. Go to them.

Christina goes. Tivoli steps up beside Jose.

                                                TIVOLI
                                    Overpowering, and yet euphoric...
                                    Frankincense.

                                                JOSE
                                    Yes.

                                                TIVOLI
                                    Cardinal Gian has saved the lives of millions,
                                    you know. The number of starving
                                    he has seen fed. The number of
                                    persecuted--... He is destined to be
                                    beatified and canonized.

                                                JOSE
                                    He is truly a great man of God.

                                                TIVOLI
                                    All of that goes on the line today.

                                                JOSE
                                    I am sorry you cannot find the faith
                                    to embrace the miracle.

                                                TIVOLI
                                    The miracle here is the irony that
                                    you’re actually profiting from this act.

                                                JOSE
                                    This act?
                                                (beat)
                                    What kind of father--

                                                TIVOLI
                                    A father driving a new SUV, making
                                    movie deals on his cell phone.

                                                JOSE
                                    Si. This is America.


                                                TIVOLI
                                    My impression’s been that you despise America.

                                                JOSE
                                    Americans. I am enjoying a prosperity
                                    they have known for decades.
                                    Now, I am the pig.

                                                TIVOLI
                                    How quickly you’ve learned the language.

                                                JOSE
                                    For you, I would not learn it.
But for the future of my family—

TIVOLI
Your family?


JOSE
Yes. For my family, I will do anything.

Jose discreetly brings something to his mouth, and tears off part of it with his teeth.

                                                TIVOLI
                                    Are you eating?

                                                JOSE
                                    Big Mac. I am hungry much lately.
                                                (re: Tivoli’s scowl)
                                    You don’t need that look.
                                    I know you hate me.
                                               
                                                TIVOLI
                                    For fifteen years, you have taken
                                    our charity, while speaking against our
                                    ideals and everything we’re trying to achieve.

                                                JOSE
                                    Why haven’t you thrown me out?

                                                TIVOLI
                                    We help the needy, Jose. Morally, you qualify.

                                                JOSE
                                    Morally, you preach love to the immigrant
                                    while trying to reduce his numbers.

                                                TIVOLI
                                    I preach against large families and
                                    genocide by propagation. Open immigration
                                    encourages that.

                                                JOSE
                                    You want to keep the status quo. Status
                                    quo is no good for us. We are poor and minority.
                                    We want to be rich and majority.
                                   
                                                TIVOLI
                                    We are all immigrants in this country.

                                                JOSE
                                    Then it’s only me you are against?


                                                TIVOLI
                                    I know you’re not the man you pretend to be.

                                                JOSE
                                    Ah! Then we are both the same. No wonder we
                                    hate each other.
                                                                       
                                                TIVOLI
                                    Christina started running away
                                    from you for some reason.

                                                JOSE
                                    Not away from me. To the chapel.

                                                TIVOLI
                                    You’re the only man who would have
                                    had the opportunity--

                                                JOSE
                                    You were there.

                                                TIVOLI
                                                (beat)
                                    If I was not a priest...

                                                JOSE
                                    That day will come, I think.
                                               
Jose sneaks another bite of his Big Mac. Christina reenters, “T.V.” lights from offstage beaming in on her. She falters and Jose goes to her.

Savici enters from the opposite side. He is not in his vestments for mass and carries a paper bag.

                                                SAVICI
                                    Alleluia! He has risen.

                                                TIVOLI
                                    Alleluia! He has risen.
                                    What’s in the bag?

                                                SAVICI
                                    Beef jerky. My attendants in Rome love it!

                                                TIVOLI
                                                (nodding at Savici’s clothes)
                                    We’ll be processing any minute.

                                                SAVICI
                                    I observed the early mass at another
                                    church. The Abbott there was clearly
                                    ecstatic.

                                                TIVOLI
                                    You won’t be here for the ceremony?

                                                SAVICI
                                    I wish I could. But I am visiting the missions
                                    along the Camino Real.

                                                TIVOLI
                                    We’re getting international television coverage.

                                                SAVICI
                                    Ah! Not even I can unring a bell.

                                                TIVOLI
                                    We owe it to Victorio Cardinal Gian to be here.

                                                            SAVICI
                                    Events in my honor have been arranged.
                                    It is the request of His Holiness, in his stead.
                                                (a small shrug)
                                    Always working.
(beat)
The issue has become… divisive. Tread
carefully, Bishop Tivoli. Some in the
Curia feel you are… needed. And please,
extend my regrets to the Cardinali.

                                                GIAN’S VOICE (offstage)
                                    Alleluia! He has risen.

                                                SAVICI
                                    Pax vobiscum. Sic sit.

Savici hurries and leaves before Gian appears. Christina returns with Lulit, as Gian enters, looking radiant. It is not just his imposing vestments, Gian’s face seems aglow.

                                                GIAN
                                    Alleluia! He has risen, Peter.
                                    Alleluia! He has risen, my children.
                                    Christina...

Gian cups Christina’s hands in his. The organist begins to play “Jesus Christ Has Risen Today”.


                                                GIAN
                                    Let us all be joyful.

                                                CHRISTINA
                                    Yes, your Eminence.

                                                GIAN
                                    Praise God.... Praise God.

Gian launches into the hymn, the other singing more quietly along with him.

                                                GIAN
                                    “Christ, the Lord, is risen today!

                                                ALL
                                    Alleluia!
                                    Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia!
                                    Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
                                    Sing, ye heavens, and earth, reply, Alleluia!

Now Jose processes, walking out through the audience or exiting.

                                                ALL
                                    Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
                                    Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!

Lulit processes.

                                    Lo! the Sun's eclipse is over, Alleluia!
                                    Lo! He sets in blood no more, Alleluia!

Gian nods gently to Christina to go.

                                    Vain the stone, the watch, the seal, Alleluia!
                                    Christ hath burst the gates of hell, Alleluia!

Gian touches Tivoli warmly on the shoulder as he processes past him, and then follows up behind.

                                                ALL (with Gian’s voice rising above them)
                                    Death in vain forbids His rise, Alleluia!
                                    Christ hath opened Paradise, Alleluia!




                                                ACT II

                                                SCENE ONE

                                   


The Chapel of St. Mary, the Mission in the Desert, three months later. As lights rise, we hear a Gospel choir singing—serenading Little Mary from outside. Christina is propped up on the bench, leaning her back against the wall, hugely pregnant and looking very pale, with dark circles under her eyes.

Tivoli and Lulit sort through a box of “filed” mail beside him.

LULIT
                                    From the Christian Community Network?
                                                (Christina frowns)
Office of the Prime Minister of Israel?

            TIVOLI
Probably not a supporter.

LULIT
Archbishop of Sao Paolo.

CHRISTINA
(nods, taking it)
He’s nice.

LULIT
Gerber’s Baby Food.

            CHRISTINA
Endorsements have to go through Papa.

TIVOLI
www.littlemary.info. They’ll sell you their web
address for 1.2 million dollars.

Christina shakes her head. The Gospel song ends.

                                                CHRISTINA
                                    They sing so great. Who are they?


                                                TIVOLI
                                    A Gospel choir from Mississippi.
                                    They saw you on one of the talk shows.

LULIT
This is fan mail. These are pleas for
your divine intervention… I threw away the
bad ones….

            CHRISTINA
Thank you, Mother Lulit.
(puts aside the letter she’s reading, rubs her eyes)
Can I read them later?

Lulit touches Christina’s hand, comfortingly.

LULIT
                                    Are you tired from your traveling?

                                                CHRISTINA
                                    I guess so…
                                                (closes her eyes)
                                    We listened to their hearts
                                    this morning. Like seven little jackhammers.

                                                LULIT
Not long now, Christina.

Christina manages a smile. Lulit takes the box of letters and leaves.

TIVOLI
Oh. Some drawings of you came from an orphanage
in Venezuela.

            CHRISTINA
Yes, please.

            TIVOLI
Good, I’ll get them.
(rises)
Tina, you haven’t been to confession in months.
Is there anything—

            CHRISTINA
I’m worried about you, Peter.


            TIVOLI
You’re worried about me?

            CHRISTINA
The light has gone out of your face.

            TIVOLI
You can understand that, I think.
Given everything that’s going on.

                                                CHRISTINA
                                    Why won’t you believe me?

                                                TIVOLI
                                                (pause)
                                    I believe you, Christina. I do.
                                    I believe you.

                                                CHRISTINA
                                                (pause)
                                    But you don’t believe me.

                                                TIVOLI
                                    No. But it was easy to say and it
                                    made me feel good. Made me feel
                                    like I wasn’t letting you and God down.
                                    Made me feel important and accepted.
                                    It just wasn’t true.

                                                CHRISTINA
                                    You think that’s what other people
                                    are doing?

                                                TIVOLI
                                    I can’t pretend, Christina.

                                                CHRISTINA
Why would you have to pretend? You believe
                                    in God, you taught me to believe in Him.


                                                TIVOLI
                                    Of course. But I do not see God here.
                                    I have sifted through so many things in my life, Christina.
                                    And one thing I have come to believe is that
God chooses not to act on Earth.  We can carry His Spirit
inside us, but we are alone here
to make our own choices and mistakes.
That’s why it’s so important what we do here.

            CHRISTINA
Maybe God knows we’ve made too many mistakes.
That we need His help.

            TIVOLI
Don’t you think He would have helped sooner?
            (beat)
And… if God could intervene down here,
don’t you think He would have… stopped this
from being done to you?

Christina gives him a look.                                               
CHRISTINA
            (beat)
Then I’m sorry, Bishop Tivoli. There
is nothing more we can do for each other.

                                                TIVOLI
                                    How sad that is.

Gian enters with the stroller, followed by Lulit.
                                               
                                                            GIAN
                                    “A wandering minstrel, I,
                                    A thing of threads and patches...”

As Gian pivots the stroller toward the audience, we see he is toting gallon water bottles-- now empty. He seems more joyous then even before, and sweats profusely, seen on his face and through his every day clergyman clothing.

                                                            GIAN
                                    Christina! Peter!
                                    I have been delivering water to the pilgrims
                                    since sunrise.

Gian takes off his head phones, placing the walkman in a pocket of the stroller. He is gauging Christina’s state of being as he speaks.

                                                GIAN
                                    A woman knew I liked
                                    Gilbert and Sullivan-- from the Internet!
                                    Ah, what an age! I feel so
                                    good.  So good to be of service to people--
                                    strangers-- again. But the heat!

                                                TIVOLI
                                    It’s a little hotter every summer, it seems.

                                                GIAN
                                    Almost over now. What a blessing are the seasons!

CHRISTINA
                                    How many  are out there?

                                                GIAN
                                    Spread further than I can walk and
                                    as far as I can see.
                                               
Christina moves to the front of the stage and steps up on a box. As she “appears” in the window, a cacaphony of cheers erupt and grow steadily louder until it is deafening. For Christina, is like beginning blown back by a hot wind. She  wobbles slightly, then steps down and out of the window. The deafening roar slowly fades. Gian helps her to a bench where she sits.           
                                               
                                                GIAN
                                    As many as I’ve witnessed
                                    in St. Peter’s Square to be blessed
                                    by His Holiness.
                                    My heart is full like
                                    the day I first accepted Christ
                                    as my  Savior. After all this time, imagine!

TIVOLI
                                    I’m happy for you, Papa.           

                                                GIAN
                                    What’s happened to your faith, Peter?

TIVOLI
What’s happened to my faith?

LULIT
                                    Proof of God is all around you.
Peter, you once led me to reject my
truth to embrace a new belief.
                                   
TIVOLI
                                    I can’t.

                                                GIAN
                                    Oh, Peter! Ever since you left Africa--…
Have you become such an American?
                                                (no answer/Gian shakes his head)
                                    I requested Rome for you, but His Holiness believed
                                    you were needed in America.

                                                TIVOLI
                                    I told His Holiness I wanted it.
                                   
                                                GIAN
                                    America?

                                                TIVOLI
                                    America is the center of the world now, Papa.
                                    Not Rome. I have a better chance of helping
                                    the people of Africa if I’m in Los Angeles.           

They react to the curious sound of a helicopter landing outside.                       
                                               
                                                GIAN
                                    You came to Los Angeles for influence and power.
Worldly interests, Peter.

                                                TIVOLI
                                    We live in the world, Papa. It is all we have
                                    in this life.
 (beat)
I’ll get the drawings.

Tivoli exits.

                                                LULIT
                                    Excuse me, Your Eminence.

Lulit follows Tivoli off. Gian now focuses on Christina.

GIAN
                                                (smiles)
                                    I leave tomorrow for Washington.
                                                (she nods)
                                    The President and I will meet.
                                    I will speak at a large gathering
                                    about the wonder that has occurred.
                                                            (beat)
                                    You look unwell.

                                                CHRISTINA
                                    I’m sorry, you Eminence.

                                                GIAN
                                    Sorry?

                                                CHRISTINA
                                    I’ve been feeling kind of miserable…

GIAN
So many babies in your little body. That’s all.

                                               
Christina nods.
                       
                                                CHRISTINA                       
                                    When you found Bishop Tivoli
                                    abandoned in the fountain, did you
                                    think it was odd?

                                                GIAN
Yes, it was. Why do you ask?

                                                CHRISTINA
                                                (a difficult confession)
                                    It happened to me, too.                                               

                                                GIAN
                                    To you?

                                                CHRISTINA
                                                (pause)
                                    My father found me abandoned in the strawberry
field that he was tending, just a little ways from this chapel.

                                                GIAN
                                    You are not... you were not born Jose’s child?

                                                CHRISTINA
                                    Families came and went from here a lot
                                    back then he says. No one knew whose I was.
                                   
                                                GIAN
                                    Found as Peter was found. Praise God.
                                    Why have you not told anyone this?

                                                CHRISTINA
                                    It didn’t seem to matter before.
                                    Now my father  thinks his enemies
will try to use it against us.

                                                GIAN
                                    I see.

                                                CHRISTINA
                                    Please don’t tell anyone, Your Eminence.

                                                GIAN
                                    Why  do you tell me?

                                                CHRISTINA
                                                (a wave of anxiety)
                                    I don’t know where I came from.
                                    You told me I might be hearing
                                    the voice of the Devil.

                                                GIAN
                                    No!... No, I am certain you are not.

                                                CHRISTINA
                                    I’m sorry, Your Eminence. I just haven’t
been sleeping. I lie down every night, but I don’t sleep.

                                                GIAN
                                    How long have you not been sleeping?

                                                CHRISTINA
                                    Don’t get mad…. Six weeks.

                                                GIAN
                                    Impossible.

                                                CHRISTINA
                                    I know. You die without sleep. You die if you don’t eat.
                                    I only eat now because everyone loses it if I don’t.
                                    I don’t think I can die, your Eminence.
                                    Not with them in me.

                                                GIAN
                                    You must do everything possible to
                                    insure their health. This means
                                    eating and sleeping.

                                                CHRISTINA
                                    They talk to me when I sleep, your Eminence.

                                                GIAN
                                    What do they say?

                                                CHRISTINA
                                    I don’t know, it’s in foreign languages I
                                    don’t understand… But I think they’re warnings.
                       
Christina’s face screws up, she touches her stomach.

                                                GIAN
                                    What’s wrong?

                                                CHRISTINA
                                    They’re kicking.

Gian’s eyes suddenly lock on her belly.

                                                GIAN
                                    May I... Pardon me... May I... listen?

Christina nods, then becomes puzzled again.

CHRISTINA
Listen?

Gian nods.  Christina nods again. He kneels down and, very gently and politely puts his ear to her belly, Gian’s eyes widen, and widen again.

Tivoli enters carrying a stack of crayon drawings. Gian gasps and recoils.

                                                CHRISTINA
                                    Your Eminence?

                                                TIVOLI
                                    Papa?

Tivoli puts down the drawings. Gian tries to rise, but stumbles, disoriented. Tivoli catches him and moves him  to a bench.

                                                TIVOLI
                                    What are you doing?

                                                GIAN
                                    Peter, I...

                                                TIVOLI
                                    Calm down, Papa. Take some breaths.
                                    You shouldn’t be carrying water
                                    to them in this heat--
                                   
                                                GIAN
                                    Peter! Listen.

Gian refers to Christina’s belly. She covers her belly defensively.


                                                TIVOLI
                                    Listen to what?

                                                GIAN
                                    Listen!

                                                CHRISTINA
                                    Why?

                                                GIAN
                                                (instructing Christina to allow it)
                                    Please.

Tivoli awkwardly puts his ear to her belly, waits, listening hard. After a moment, he lifts his head.

                                                GIAN
                                    What?… What did you hear?

TIVOLI
Nothing.

                                                CHRISTINA
                                                (to Gian)
                                    You heard them, Your Eminence?
What did they say?

                                                GIAN
                                    You heard nothing, Peter?

Tivoli, to Christina’s surprise puts his ear to her belly again. He seems desperate to hear, but again…

                                                TIVOLI
                                    Nothing.

                                                CHRISTINA
                                    What did they say, Your Eminence?

                                                GIAN
                                    “Stop the flood”.

                                                CHRISTINA
                                    The flood?

                                                GIAN
                                    Oh, dear Lord…
                                    Oh, Pietro. Dear son…. It’s not what I wanted to hear...
but it is the same voice… the same presence…
                                                (short of breath again)
                                    So much to lay at my feet.

                                                TIVOLI
                                    Papa… If you heard the babies speaking--… I know
                                    it’s a hard idea to accept, you’ve always been so vital—

                                                GIAN
                                    Do I seem feebleminded to you? In any way
                                    different from the man you have always known?
                                                (Tivoli doesn’t answer)
                                    Then why do you doubt me?

                                                TIVOLI
                                    I heard no voices, I heard nothing.

            CHRISTINA
Maybe your faith is too weak.

            TIVOLI
You are fifteen, Christina—

            CHRISTINA
So was St. Mary.

            TIVOLI
            (beat)
Maybe you are God’s chosen. Or maybe your
are a teenager in love with a fantasy.
But you have no business questioning my faith.

            GIAN
I know it’s hard to believe—

            TIVOLI
Would you believe it, Papa? If I was the one--!

            GIAN
Yes, I would have faith.
(catches his breath)
It is a mystery. A mystery. 
But I cannot deny it.
I now know “what must be done”.
                                    “Stop the flood of humanity…”

TIVOLI
What?

GIAN
We must stop the flood of humanity.

            TIVOLI
That’s what the voices said?

            GIAN
Yes. God, give me the strength
to do Thy  bidding.
(beat)
Those reports you gave me,  Peter, I threw them away.
I will need them again. I leave for Washington
tomorrow.

            TIVOLI
What is happening here? I don’t believe it!

CHRISTINA
I hear them too, Peter.

            TIVOLI
You think this will change my mind?

            CHRISTINA
What?

TIVOLI
Telling me that your mystical voices are preaching
exactly what I’ve—

GIAN
This has nothing to do with you!
Nothing less than God’s own command
would compel me--
Your work has God’s blessing. Whether you
believe it or not has no bearing—

            TIVOLI
I believe stopping the flood of humanity
is the will of God. Visions and voice,
notwithstanding. I have believed it
most of my adult life. But
I cannot accept what you’re claiming—

GIAN
Then just believe that
we believe to and help us! If for no other reason,
then to further your own cause.

Pause, Tivoli turns and paces away.

GIAN
                                    Peter?

                                                TIVOLI
                                    I’m thinking.
                                                (pause)
Papa, the Vatican is already questioning
whether you are fit to lead the church--

            GIAN
I cannot not let such worldly things concern me.
If you will not advise me—

            TIVOLI
I will advise you. I am advising you now. If you
try to further my cause by claiming
Divine guidance from her unborn—
I’m sorry, Christina-- I will have to deny it.

            GIAN
But it’s the truth.

            TIVOLI
You  must  promise, Papa,  you won’t tell them
about the babies. That you are following their voices.

            GIAN
We should deceive them?

            CHRISTINA
Just because you don’t believe us, Peter--

            TIVOLI
No one will believe you! Do you want
God’s command to have any effect?

            GIAN
I see.
            (pause)
I will do as you suggest, Peter.  But I will bring
His message to the flock.

            TIVOLI
What will you tell them?
           
                                                GIAN
                                                (pause)
                                    That the will of God has changed.           
           
Lights fade out.




Scene Two

Gian moves into a spotlight at a podium/alter.  Gian is addressing an assembly in Washington, D.C..

                                                GIAN
                                    The will of God has changed. How strange it is,
                                    even to say it. But I know deep in my soul
                                    that it’s true. I ask you, Mr. President, and
                                    all of you assembled here, to help me
                                    begin the new work. I am calling upon
                                    the Roman Catholic Church and all the nations
                                    of the world to observe one year of abstinence.

The room erupts in loud muttering, and lights fade out on Gian and he continues over the din.

                                                GIAN (continued)                                   
                                    It is with God’s blessing! We should begin
offering economic incentives for small
families, and penalties for large ones.
If that fails, imposed fertility limits for everyone,
rich or poor!           
            (another big reaction from the crowd)
It is with God’s blessing! It is with God’s blessing!           

                                                VOICE
                                    The Vatican voiced its concern over
                                    the speech made by their most senior
                                    Cardinal--                                                                                   

                                                VOICE
                                    Nigeria demanded--

                                                VOICE
                                    India vowed--

                                                VOICE
                                    The President expressed--

                                                VOICE
                                    Israel denounced--

                                                VOICE
                                    Doctors insist--

                                                VOICE
                                    Geneticists research--

                                                VOICE
                                    But detectives can’t disprove--

                                                VOICE
                                    --as a virtual “city of believers”
                                    has sprung up around the
                                    Mission in the Desert--







                                   
                                                            SCENE THREE

The Chapel, a few days later, dusk outside. Lulit sits on a bench, knitting baby booties, A Gospel choir can be heard outside singing a hymn. Gian is “nesting”, making the space comfortable. The space has become somewhat cluttered with gifts, “Christian”, “Catholic” and “baby” in theme.

Christina sits on the other side of the statue, leaning against it, too pregnant to kneel. She may be asleep, although her eyes are partially opened.  After a pause, her mouth starts to move, speaking in Latin. Lulit and Gian pause and listen.

                                                            CHRISTINA
                                    Centum cinquantis annis silvae in peninculum
                                    Vertent… Valete, silvaee

                                                            GIAN
                                    It’s Latin this time...“150 years... Temperate
                                    forests turning to scrub brush...”.


Christina trails off and is quiet again. Tivoli enters, his clothing covered in dust. He wears the turban of a nomad, with a swath of cloth across his nose and mouth.

                                                TIVOLI
                                    The Cardinal Secretary’s helicopter just landed.

Tivoli looks at the scene, starts to unravel and remove his turban.

                                                GIAN
                                    Ah. Good… Is something else troubling you?

                                                TIVOLI
                                    That’s the end of it. We’ve tried sinking three
                                    new wells this week. Nothing. The pilgrims
                                    have drained the water table completely.
Our retention pond is a cesspool.
                                    Our fallow fields are garbage dumps.
                                    They’ve eaten all the fruiting crops,
                                    and trampled the crops that weren’t.
                                    They seem to be doing everything wicked
                                    except fornicating.

                                                GIAN/LULIT
                                    Peter/Shh!

They look at Christina who seems oblivious.

CHRISTINA
                                    Oowayn il thelij you ruddee il naharrat al rabeea’?

                                                GIAN
                                                (listens again)
                                    Not Latin now...

                                                            LULIT
                                    Arabic... about snow... where is the snow to
feed the spring rivers....?

                                                TIVOLI
                                    I’m taking her back to the doctor.

GIAN
The doctor has said her health is fine.

TIVOLI
You think this is “fine”?

            LULIT
She is in Communion with God.

            GIAN
All is well, Peter.

                                                TIVOLI
No. No, all is not well. My
                                    best friends are lost to me. My prize pupil,
                                    my hope for the future, is pregnant and—
                                    I don’t know what now, catatonic.  There are
                                    almost a million people camped in my back yard
                                    wiping out everything I have worked for for fifteen years.

            GIAN
Peter--

            TIVOLI
                                    The Mission is dead, Papa.
The only choice now is to migrate.

                                                GIAN
                                    You can understand why they want to be here.

                                                TIVOLI
                                    Yes! To show each other how devout they are!

                                                LULIT
We have paid a price, Peter. But our message has reached
the world. Three more Dioceses contacted us
today, wanting start their own collectives.  Our
work will go on.

Savici  has entered behind them, unnoticed.
                                               
                                                SAVICI
                                    Will wonders never cease.
 
                                                GIAN
                                    Cardinal Savici. Welcome.

                                                TIVOLI
                                    You chartered a helicopter?

                                                SAVICI
                                    The traffic dictates. You have grown
                                    most especially popular.
                                                (re: Christina)
                                    Is she sleeping?

                                                LULIT
                                    She is in trance.

                                                SAVICI
                                    Trance?

Christina begins muttering.
                                               
CHRISTINA
In vijftig jaar, de dalingen van de
graangewassenproductie achter
de vraag permanent.

                                                SAVICI
                                    And now she is speaking in tongues?

GIAN
                                                (listens)
                                    Dutch.

CHRISTINA
De vlotter van kwallen door vensters van condominium Florida koraalertsaders.

                                                SAVICI
                                    I hear “Florida”.

                                                GIAN
                                    “Condominium coral reefs.”

Her  muttering stops.

                                                SAVICI
                                    She is very creative.... Wake her up.

                                                LULIT
                                    She cannot be.

                                                SAVICI
                                    Perhaps I could try.

Gian steps in, going to Christina and with Lulit’s help, gently raises her to her feet. Now she is on her feet in the same unresponsive state. She begins walking slowly.

                                                SAVICI
                                    I am amazed, Bishop Tivoli. Amazed what is allowed
                                    to go on. Amazed, Cardinal Gian, by you.
                                               
                                                GIAN
                                    Did His Holiness not ask me, through you, to stay here
                                    and advise the girl?

Savici pulls out his notes.
                                               
                                                SAVICI
                                    You told the President of the United States
                                    to begin rationing and making more taxes on
                                    gasoline and fresh water.

                                                GIAN
                                    Yes.

                                                SAVICI
                                    Our agenda in Washington was to
                                    voice support for the ban on homosexual
                                    marriage... You asked the members of the
                                    World Trade Organization to “abandon
                                    their unholy quest to create an open world market.”

                                                GIAN
                                    Yes.

                                                SAVICI
                                    Our agenda was to entreat Washington
                                    to reconsider prayer in schools.


                                                GIAN
                                    I didn’t have time.

                                                SAVICI.
You have called for a year of abstinence, and
                                    despite our communications, have
                                    not retracted it.

                                                GIAN
                                    Abstinence is not a sin.

                                                SAVICI
                                    Global abstinence.

                                                GIAN
                                    It is a first step.


                                                SAVICI
                                    It is-- pardon, your Eminence-- outrageous.
                                    As Pope Paul instructed-- “We must
                                    strive to multiply bread so that it suffices
                                    for the table of mankind, and not rather favor
                                    the artificial control of birth—

SAVICI                                                            TIVOLI
 In order to diminish the number                         We know the quote.
of guests at the banquet of life.”


                                                GIAN
                                    I have not yet condoned contraception.

                                                TIVOLI
                                    So take comfort, Cardinal-Secretary.                       
                                   
                                                SAVICI
                                    I take none.

                                                TIVOLI
                                    What’s wrong, are our numbers down?

                                                SAVICI
                                    Quite to the contrary. The masses seem easily led.
                                    We all know of Cardinal Gian’s popularity.


TIVOLI
                                                (encouraged)
                                    He is having some effect?

                                                SAVICI
                                    However, should a Pope ever condone contraception,
                                    he will admit Papal error at the gravest level.
                                    He will suggest that the Anglican Church was
                                    more inspired than Romanism,
                                    and that the thousands upon thousands
                                    of Catholics damned for their acts of
                                    intrinsic evil were guilty of no sin at all.
                                               
                                                GIAN
                                    The will of God has changed..

                                                SAVICI
                                    You are suggesting, under such circumstances,
                                    you might condone such a thing.

                                                GIAN
                                    If the call for abstinence goes unheeded, I will
                                    take whatever actions are necessary to
                                    bring Our Flock to follow God’s decree.

                                                SAVICI
                                    What decree do you refer to?
                                    I know of no such Gospel or doctrine
                                    in the Bible.

                                                GIAN
                                    It is the New Gospel.

                                                SAVICI
                                    It bears a strong resemblance to
                                    the doctrine-- the ravings--                       
                                    of our friend, Bishop Tivoli.


                                                TIVOLI
                                    I’m sure you imagine that I’ve hypnotized everyone.

                                                SAVICI
                                    We examined the possibility.

                                                GIAN
                                    I take full responsibility for my actions.

                                                SAVICI
                                    To what purpose, Victorio?
                                    What benefit can this all be to you?

Christina has made her way up on the box by the window. She is seen by the crowd which erupts in another cacophonous roar, startling Savici. Christina seems hardly to notice the noise.


                                                SAVICI
                                    Humph.
                                                (pause)
                                    You have been called back to Rome, Cardinal Gian.

Christina turns and slowly comes down the steps again.

                                                GIAN
                                    The birth is expected any day.

                                                SAVICI
                                    Immediately. I will conduct matters here.

                                                GIAN
                                    These are the instructions of His Holiness?


                                                SAVICI
                                    His Holiness is beyond giving instruction.
                                    Only our prayers will bring him through
                                    another week.
                                                (says a brief prayer in Latin)
                                    Domine, dones eo sanitatem.

                                                GIAN
                                    Surely we will not go into Conclave
                                    until...

                                                SAVICI
                                    You are not being called to Rome to go
                                    into Conclave. I regret it is the decision of the
                                    Curia that you be censured.

                                                LULIT
                                    No, you mustn’t!

Christina seems to awaken. She stares at them, listening.

                                                SAVICI
                                    We cannot allow you to subvert
                                    this event to your own ends.

                                                LULIT
                                    You are blind.

                                                SAVICI
                                    Many changes are coming, Mother Superior.
                                    Many.

                                                TIVOLI
                                    This is my mission.

                                                SAVICI
                                    No, it is our mission, and it is becoming a dangerous
liability.  The girl will be taken by
                                    helicopter to a Catholic hospital
                                    in the San Fernando Valley.

                                                LULIT
                                    You cannot do that!

                                                GIAN
                                    Censure me, Augustine, but I will not leave her
                                    children in your hands.

                                                SAVICI
                                    You will do as I instruct.
                                    You will be removed, the girl will come under
                                    my care, and this mission will be sold.

                                                TIVOLI
                                    You don’t have the power--!

                                                SAVICI
                                                (ferociously)
                                    I DO!....  And you will obey  me.

                                                GIAN
                                    Forgive them,  for they know not what—

Christina suddenly “awakens”.

CHRISTINA
He’s gone… He’s left us, Peter….
I’m very tired. I need to eat.
                                   
The lights suddenly go out.

                                                GIAN
                                    Christina?...
                                                (no answer)
                                    Christina?!


                                                            SCENE FOUR

Several hours later. Tivoli is alone in the candle lit chapel, seated on a bench before the statue, drinking wine from a sacramental chalice.

Jose enters. He has gained a tremendous amount of weight, his belly protrudes from his expensive, but now too small suit. His hair is frosted blonde and his skin is much lighter. He has gold and jeweled rings on most every finger. He is holding a bag filled with seven small, pristinely wrapped gifts in one hand, and a huge half eaten turkey wing in the other. His accent has all but disappeared.

                                                JOSE
                                    Where is my daughter?

Tivoli stands and turns.

                                                TIVOLI
                                                (pause)
                                    Who are you?!

                                                JOSE
                                    Are you drunk, Your Eminence?

                                                TIVOLI
                                                (in disbelief)
                                    Jose?

                                                JOSE
                                    The mission is dark. Another blackout?

                                                TIVOLI
                                    What’s happened to you?

                                                JOSE
                                    Huh? I added blonde highlights. Where is my daughter?
                                                                                   

                                                TIVOLI
                                    You mean Christina? I’ve lost her.
                                                (beat)
                                    What are you eating?

                                                JOSE
                                    Smoked turkey leg. They are selling them outside
                                    on the midway. It’s lucky they have their own generators.
                                    Funnel cakes, cheese steaks,
                                    sausage and peppers-- It was a filling walk from
                                    the north parking lot.           

Jose puts his bag of gifts on Christina’s bed.

                                                TIVOLI
                                    Are you insane?           

                                                JOSE
                                    No, I’m just hungry. I’ve been hungry since...
                                    since I signed my citizenship
                                    papers. No matter how much I eat,
                                    or what.

We hear shouts from outside.

                                                JOSE
                                    It’s reminding me of Mexico City out there.
                                    Over a million now, living
                                    in tents and lean-to’s, no running water.
                                    Dysentery and cholera.
                                               
Now we hear the sounds of violence: screams, blows, cries, bottles smashing.

                                                TIVOLI
                                    We need rain.


                                                JOSE
                                    Heavy rain. Light rain is bad. Just aggravates them.
                                    Heavy rain, their aggravation will give way
                                    to despair and they’ll shut up.

We hear two gunshots.

                                                JOSE (cont’d)
                                                (with no trace of an accent)
                                    Aey-yi-yi.  If only they could live lives of quiet
                                    desperation.

TIVOLI
                                    You couldn’t speak English six months
                                    ago. How is this possible?

                                                JOSE
                                    All part of the miracle. With God’s blessing, my ministry
                                    has already gone international over night.

                                                TIVOLI
                                    Your ministry?

JOSE
                                    The Ministry of Little Mary. We are worldwide.
                                    Already, our reach and influence has
                                    dwarved anything you and your mission have
                                    ever achieved.

                                                TIVOLI
                                    I have trouble envying you.
                                   
                                                JOSE
                                    We offer instant hope and immediate
                                    salvation. What did you offer?

                                                TIVOLI
                                    Truth.

                                                JOSE
                                    Reason and statistics.

                                                TIVOLI
                                    Challenge and sacrifice.

                                                JOSE
                                    There is enough challenge and sacrifice
                                    in living day to day. Minute to minute.
                                    You expected too much of people.
                                    Our lives are too precious to us. Our families, our
                                    fortunes, our things-- too precious to sacrifice for
                                    30 billion strangers a hundred years from now.

                                                TIVIOLI
                                    How can you be proud of all this?


                                                JOSE
                                                (a moment of fear and doubt)
                                    Because I cannot stop it.

Jose shakes off his anxiety, finding solace in his shopping bag. He sets one little package on Christina’s pillow.

                                                TIVOLI
                                    She doesn’t need more gifts.

                                                JOSE
                                    Shh. It’s a surprise. Keys to her new Hummer.
                                    She is sixteen next month. I didn’t
                                    want her brothers and sisters to be jealous,
                                    so I bought one for each of them.

                                                            TIVOLI
                                    Have you learned the phrase “counting your chickens...”

                                                JOSE
                                    No eggs will be left for those
                                    who wait til they’ve hatched.

                                                TIVOLI
                                                (pause)
                                    Are you the Devil?

                                                JOSE
                                    I don’t think so, I am a man
                                    taking advantage of his opportunities....
                                    as you are. Allowing Cardinal Gian
                                    to sacrifice himself to do your dirty work.
                                               
                                                TIVOLI
                                    Dirty work? It could be the best thing he
does for mankind in his illustrious life.
My only regret is that he’s following visions.

Tivoli stares at the statue.

                                                JOSE
                                    You sound dismissive. Visions are Biblical.

                                                TIVOLI
                                    Yes, I know.


                                                JOSE
                                    If not for Constantine’s vision, where would we
                                    be? He dreams of Peter and Paul,
                                    who tell him to stop worshiping pagan idols
                                    and turn his faith to the one true Christian God.

                                                TIVOLI
                                    That’s the church’s version. Other versions say
that Constantine butchered countless thousands.
                                    He murdered his own wife, son and
                                    eleven-year-old nephew.

                                                JOSE
                                    God is forgiving.

                                                TIVOLI
                                    It was only when Constantine was too old and sick to
                                    offend the Christian God that he allowed
                                    himself to be baptized.

                                                JOSE
                                    To find salvation.


                                                TIVOLI
                                    To play it safe. The record of Constantine’s
famous “dream” was actually
                                    a forged fabrication written by Pope Stephen III
                                    hundreds of years later. He used it
                                    to gain power superior to any secular
                                    king. That’s the other version.

                                                JOSE
                                    And you call yourself a man of God.

                                                TIVOLI
                                    I am. But you’re speaking of religion.
                                    And religion is history.

                                                JOSE
                                    You should never have become a priest.

                                                TIVOLI
                                    It’s a little too late for that.

Sirens are heard outside, followed by more screams.

                                                JOSE
Eh! Who wants to listen to this?
You can be sure conditions will improve after Phase I
                                    is completed.

                                                TIVOLI
                                    What are you talking about?

                                                JOSE
                                    I’ve bought the place. Or, I should
                                    say, the Ministry of Little Mary has acquired it
from the Catholic Church.

TIVOLI
They sold it to you?

JOSE
We’ll break ground immediately after the birth.
Made a sweet deal. Water and power will be brought
to us at government expense.
Tear down the windmills and the solar panels--
Make room for “New Jerusalem”.  What do you think?
                                                (Tivoli’s look tells him, Jose grins)
                                    Where is Christina?

                                                TIVOLI
                                    Missing.

                                                JOSE
                                    Missing?

                                                TIVOLI
                                    She’s been missing for seven hours.
                                   
Jose yanks Tivoli by his collar.

                                                JOSE
                                    What have you done!


                                                GIAN
                                    She is found.

Gian enters, helping Christina, who is wrapped in a sheet, to walk to the rocking chair.


                                                CHRISTINA
Hello, Papa.


                                                TIVOLI
                                    What happened?

                                                JOSE
                                    Are you all right?

                                                CHRISTINA
                                    Yes.

                                                TIVOLI
                                    Where did you go, Christina?

                                                CHRISTINA
                                    I don’t know. Outside.

                                                GIAN
                                    I found her hidden in the
strawberry field.

Tivoli looks at her stomach, which has receded tremendously.

                                                TIVOLI
                                    Christina….  You’re--… Did it happen?

                                                CHRISTINA
                                    What?

TIVOLI
The babies. Where are they?

            CHRISTINA
The babies?… The babies are risen.

            GIAN
Risen?

            CHRISTINA
I think so.  I remember hearing you all arguing…
Then I felt lighter,like I was being lifted--

                                                SAVICI
                                    No more stories, little girl.
                                    We need an objective description.

TIVOLI
Where are the babies?

Lulit enters with a bloody rag.


JOSE
Some were lost?

                                                LULIT
                                    There were no babies.

SAVICI
Tell them.
                                   
LULIT
                                    I searched the field. All I found is the afterbirth
with seven umbilical cords
                                    attached.

                                                GIAN
                                    Dear Lord… How your flock will weep.

                                                SAVICI
                                                (Savici looks into the bowl, winces in disgust)
                                    Who witnessed this?

                                                LULIT
                                    No one. Cardinal Gian and I found her
                                    alone and asleep.
                                               
                                                SAVICI
                                    Ah.

JOSE
¿Christina, qué usted ha hecho? ¿Qué usted ha
hecho a nosotros?
                                    Christina, what have you done? What have
                                    you done to us?

                                                CHRISTINA
                                    I did nothing, Papa!

Jose backs away from her and runs out of the room.

                                                SAVICI
                                    You must now tell us who
                                    was involved and where to find the remains.

                                                LULIT
                                    There were no remains, except what you
                                    see there.

Lulit refers to the clay bowl.           

                                                GIAN
                                    It is wondrous, still. For it is divine in its making.
                                   
                                                SAVICI
                                    It is nothing to me, but a bloody mess.

                                                CHRISTINA
                                    Have I done something wrong? Was I unworthy?

            GIAN
I don’t know. It may be punishment—
—or a warning.

            LULIT
He has sacrificed His own Children.
Why?

                                                CHRISTINA
                                    Was it part of His plan, Your Eminence?

                                                SAVICI
                                    Whose plan?

            GIAN
Stop the flood.

SAVICI
The flood?

GIAN
God needs us to find our way alone.

LULIT
You are certain?

GIAN
I am certain of nothing.  But I have faith.
Faith or proof, we could not have both.

                                                SAVICI
                                    You are all fine performers.
Perhaps, now Mother Lulit, you will tell
me the facts of this latest miracle-- this
                                    multiple murder---

                                                GIAN
                                    You are preposterous, Cardinal Savici.

                                                SAVICI
                                    I  find myself quite credible. The church has been
misled by an elaborate scheme.

GIAN
                                    You profess to understand the mystery
                                    of God’s work here?


                                                SAVICI
                                    Mystery? It is what I have suspected all
                                    along. A fraud. The guilty ones knew
their charade would be uncovered,
so they destroyed the evidence.

LULIT
The evidence?! How dare you accuse us!

Savici turns to Tivoli.

SAVICI
What do you say, Bishop Tivoli. How do you explain it?

TIVOLI
It’s a tragedy.

SAVICI
Do you believe this is the work of God?

            TIVOLI
I can’t explain it.

                                                SAVICI
You have denied the presence of God in
this matter all along.

                                                TIVOLI
                                    I  have.

                                                SAVICI
                                    Wisdom. Even though to have professed belief
                                    would have helped further your cause.
                                    That displays character.

                                                TIVOLI
                                    Why flatter me, Augustine Cardinal
                                    Machiavelli?

                                                SAVICI
                                    You believe I am not a supporter?
                                    I restored you.

                                                TIVOLI
                                    You restored me to keep my
                                    mouth shut.

                                                SAVICI
                                    Ohh, that would be quite a gift
                                    for such a small token in return.
                                    We restored you because we believed
                                    you were the most promising successor
                                    to Gian.

                                                GIAN
                                    He’s fabricating.

                                                SAVICI
                                    The day has come for me to praise you.
                                    To thank you for trying to make the
                                    Roman Catholic Church progressive.
                                   
                                                TIVOLI
                                    What do you want from me?


SAVICI
The wind, she has changed. In the wake of this new fiasco,
you as the lone dissenter, may become essential,
“Cardinal” Tivoli.

                                                GIAN
                                    Don’t be baited, Peter.

                                                TIVOLI
                                    You know what I’ll do if I’m appointed.

                                                SAVICI
                                    Of course. Change things.  Prudently and thoughtfully.

                                                GIAN
                                    Even if it’s true, Peter, what are you thinking?

The murmur of the crowd outside grows with intensity. Savici takes notice, speaks quickly.


TIVOLI
Do you understand if this is God, He  has doomed
                                    you all by this? They are waiting out there
                                    for His Children, not His dark omen.
                                   
                                                LULIT
                                    You must accept His will and choose your side.

                                                SAVICI
                                    Bishop Tivoli chose his side long ago.
The incident with the statue,
                                    how did you explain it to me?
A stroke?
            (beat)
Gian’s proclamation that she
                                    carried the Divine’s offspring--
                                    You used the word “dementia”,
                                    I recall clearly. I thought it provocative.

                                                GIAN
                                    Peter?

                                                TIVOLI
                                    I warned you this would happen, Papa.


GIAN
I have no regrets. I acted on faith.

TIVOLI
You followed voices that weren’t there.

                                                SAVICI
                                    Voices? More than one?

                                                CHRISTINA
                                    They told us--

Savici advances toward her angrily.


                                                SAVICI
                                    Silence, “Little Mary”! You are poison now!

                                                GIAN
                                    Move away from her!
                                                (to Savici)
                                    We must stop the flood of humanity.
                                    That is God’s command.

                                                SAVICI
                                    That was the Divine message from her
                                    empty belly?

                                   
Jose has re-entered, dressed in his farm worker clothes and carrying a woolen blanket. He wraps the shawl over Christina’s head. She actually looks like the Virgin Mary now.           
                                   
                                                JOSE
Come, Christina.

LULIT
                                    You cannot take her out there.

                                                JOSE
                                    We will blend into the crowd now, before
                                    they find out.

Savici steps in front of Jose.

                                                SAVICI
                                    You may not run out on your bill, Senor.

                                                JOSE
                                    I will do what I have to, to protect my daughter.
                                    Move, Your Eminence.
                                               
A beat, then Jose chucks Savici. No one has ever pushed Savici. He glares at Jose, then hears the mounting fury from outside.


                                                SAVICI
                                    Clearly you do not know your place, Senor.
                                    But you will know it soon.

                                                JOSE
                                                (goes to window)
                                    Why are they restless?

                                                SAVICI
                                    Bad news, she travels quickly.

                                                JOSE
                                    They know!

The sudden crash of rocks being hurled at the walls as the crowd grows furious.

SAVICI
We must board the helicopter, Bishop Tivoli.
           
                                                TIVOLI
                                    Come on. We all have to go while we can.

                                                SAVICI
                                    No, no, no! Space allows only myself, the pilot
                                    and two others.
                                               
                                                GIAN
                                    Then the three priests will stay, Augustine.

                                                SAVICI
                                    Your faith in the rabble surpasses my own.

                                                TIVOLI
                                    Christina, you must go with Cardinal Savici—

                                                CHRISTINA
                                    If we can’t all go, then I am not leaving.

                                                SAVICI
                                    Just so. I respect your wishes to stay.
                                    Come, Tivoli!

                                                CHRISTINA
                                    Stay, Peter. Have faith.

We hear bottles crash against the outer wall.

                                                TIVOLI
                                    Hear them? There’s your American Dream, Jose.
                                    They’re going to tear us to pieces.

JOSE
                                    I will tell them, Christina, that it was me.
                                    That I forced you to go along with it.

                                                CHRISTINA
                                    Papa, no!

Jose hugs and kisses her, then pushes her into Lulit’s arms.

                                                JOSE
                                    Take her, Mother Lulit. There is a chance that
                                    I will be enough for them.
                                               
Jose exits.

                                                CHRISTINA
                                    Papa!
                                   
                                                SAVICI
                                    Tivoli, we go now!

GIAN
                                    It is still not too late
                                    to show God your faith in Him, Peter.

A surge of sound from outside.

                                                TIVOLI
                                    Faith won’t save us, Papa.
                                    It’s not enough for them.

Tivoli suddenly hugs Gian to him.

                                                SAVICI
                                    Gian’s time is over.
It is your time, now.
                                   
Tivoli backs slowly away from Gian.

GIAN
                                    Stay and protect her.

                                                SAVICI
                                    They have brought this upon themselves.
To stay is to ally yourself with them.

TIVOLI
                                    I can’t just leave them.

            SAVICI
Then you will be disgraced with them.
(beat)
Do not turn down my gift, Cardinali.
It is a “one time offer”.                       
                                               
He looks to Christina and Lulit.

                                                TIVOLI
                                    Lulit, Christina--

                                                LULIT
                                    God will protect us.

                                                SAVICI
                                    Andiamo!

                                                TIVOLI
Forgive me. I’m sorry… There is too much left to do.

We hear a thunder clap. Savici shouts at Tivoli and slaps his shoulder. Tivoli and Gian exchange a last look and Tivoli runs. We hear (or better, see through the window), rain start to fall.  Gian takes the cross standard from its stand and steps behind Lulit and Christina.

                                                LULIT
                                    It’s raining... It has started to rain.

Now, great thunder claps and the sound of a driving, torrential rain mixes in with the din of the crowd as the lights fade out. These sound continue until the crowd noise is drowned out by that of the storm. As the sounds of the storm subsides, we hear voices.

                                                VOICE
                                    --an incident being called the greatest public
                                    fraud in modern history--

                                                VOICE
                                    --resulted in a mass riot which claimed the lives
                                    of hundreds--

                                                VOICE
                                    --trampled to death, including the body of the man
                                    who falsely claimed to be the girl’s father--

                                                VOICE
                                    --the mission buildings were torched--

                                                VOICE
                                    --if not for the sudden torrential rainstorm
                                    that doused the flames--

                                                VOICE
                                    --but investigators fear the worst, as they continue the
                                    search for the seven missing newborns--

                                                VOICE
                                    --unable to confirm the well being of the
                                    Mexican-American teenager once hailed as Little Mary--

Gracie Fields recording of “Wish Me Luck as you Wave me Goodbye” plays in the darkness.


                                                SCENE FIVE

As lights rise, the music fades, til it sounds tiny and distant. The chapel has been ransacked. Gian, in civilian clothes and walking with a cane now, pushes aside some debris with it. He bends slowly and picks up his Walkman, then shuts it off. He drops it on the bed and looks at the now headless statue of Mary.

Lulit and Christina enter, the former in traditional African dress, the latter in modern day street clothes. 

                                                LULIT
                                    Your Eminence?
                                                (he doesn’t react/louder)
                                    Your Eminence?

                                                GIAN
                                                (turns)
                                    Lulit!

                                                LULIT
                                    The police escort is here.


                                                GIAN
                                    Ah.

                                                LULIT
                                    Bishop Tivoli is with them.

                                                GIAN
                                                (beat)
                                    Christina, come to me.

Christina comes to Gian, he hugs her warmly.

                                                GIAN
                                    Just continue to tell the truth and
                                    trust in God.
                                                (she nods)
                                    Lulit and I will stay with you
                                    throughout the trial.
                                    Once it’s over and you’re free, oh,
                                    what an adventure we’ll all go on.

                                                LULIT
                                    Africa is a magical land.

                                                GIAN
                                    We’ll teach the will of God to whomever
                                    will listen.
                                               
Christina nods. Gian takes her hands in his.


                                                GIAN
                                    I am sorry that I cannot protect you better.

                                                CHRISTINA
                                    The storm drove the mob away and spared
                                    our lives.  We can be thankful  for that.

Tivoli appears in full cardinal regalia.

                                                TIVOLI
                                    Good day.

They all stare at him.



                                                GIAN
                                                (pause)
                                    I thought you would be in Rome.

                                                TIVOLI
                                    Soon. I wanted to come here first.

                                                GIAN
                                    Why?


                                                TIVOLI
                                    I wanted to be sure Christina...
                                    That she was treated properly.

                                                LULIT
                                    I will see to that.

TIVOLI
I’m so sorry about your father, Christina.

Christina doesn’t answer.

LULIT
Are you ready to go, child?

Christina nods. Tivoli puts a gentle hand on Lulit’s arm.

                                                TIVOLI
                                    Some day, I hope you’ll understand.

                                                LULIT
                                    That day has come and gone.

Lulit takes Christina’s hand and leads her past Tivoli.

                                                TIVOLI
                                    I’ll pray for you, Christina.

                                                CHRISTINA
                                                (stops, turns)
                                    And I’ll pray for you.
                                   
Christina leaves. Lulit and Tivoli exchange a final long look, then Lulit exits.



                                                TIVOLI
                                                (beat)
                                    Of course, I don’t blame them.
I’ve written a letter asking for leniency.
With no bodies, it’ll be hard to prosecute.
Especially now that the afterbirth is missing.

GIAN
Missing? Savici… So, they will explain it all away then.

Tivoli sees the statue, reacts. He finds the head and picks it up.


                                                GIAN
                                    You are to be anointed by His Holiness?

                                                TIVOLI
                                    Yes. Along with three other archbishops.
                                    Papa, I could speak with the College of Cardinals--

                                                GIAN
                                    If they hadn’t fired me, I’d have quit.

Tivoli smiles.

                                                GIAN
                                    And you? As “Cardinal” Tivoli… what will you do?

                                                TIVOLI
                                    Continue my work. Already, I have audiences
                                    scheduled with two European leaders
                                    and several important religious figure.

                                                GIAN
                                                (oddly uncommitted)
                                    That is good?

                                                TIVOLI
                                    We’ll discuss the population issue and
                                    and decide on a meaningful course of action.

                                                GIAN
                                    “Discuss the issue”? Doesn’t sound
                                    like sheer desperation.

                                                TIVOLI
                                    No... No, I realized that tact would
                                    not be effective.
                                                (beat)
                                    Gradual change is better than none.

                                                GIAN
                                    I see.

TIVOLI
                                                (beat)
                                    Do you think I’m the Devil, Papa?

                                                GIAN
                                    I don’t suppose I’ll know who the Devil
                                    is until, with God’s mercy,  I reach the gates of Heaven
and see who’s missing.           

Tivoli picks up the head of the formless statue.

            TIVOLI
                                    I’ve often wondered what our great martyrs
                                    might have done if they had lived.

                                                            GIAN
                                    To live, they  would have had to turn their backs
on God. They would be neither martyrs, nor great.
            (pause)
Did you ever believe, Peter? Did you ever believe in
Anything beyond the limits of your own mind?

TIVOLI
                                    That last night, when you brought Christina in.
                                    I knew she could never have let
any harm come to her babies.
I knew then it was God. That it must
have been God all along.

GIAN
Then how? How could do this?

TIVOLI
If  I had allied with you, I would be like you,
                                    silenced and powerless.
                                    I will be of greater benefit to mankind now.

                                                GIAN
                                    For that, you denied your faith?

                                                TIVOLI
I have faith in God, Papa. I just didn’t have
faith in mankind.  For that, I pray He
will forgive me.

            GIAN
Pray then.

TIVOLI           
You do not own the soul of God, Papa.
You cannot tell me you know better than
I His will. This outcome may be what He intended.

            GIAN
Pietro… You are lost.

            TIVOLI
I have made my choice. And I will live with it. 

He sets the head of the statue down.

                                                GIAN
                                    I know you have many things on your agenda,
                                    Peter. Attend to them.

Gian crosses past him, and kneels to pray in front of the headless statue. Tivoli stands watching him. Lights fade to a spot on the head of the statue. Then  blackout. End of play.

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