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how it all began

CHARLOTTE
You ejaculated. Congratulations.

MARCUS
Okay, I get. It get. But you came all this way. You’ve got to have questions.

CHARLOTTE
Shoot.

MARCUS
You see, Charlotte, when we started Summerhaven School, we were at the forefront of a revolution. Picture it: a "free school" devoted to the Sacred Lotus Flower method, the first of its kind in France. In the world! After only a few years we had a strong community of loyal families. But it wasn't long before the local board of education, the commission scolaire, stepped in.

(Continuing his movements, MARCUS steps toward the audience. CHARLOTTE steps back into the darkness.)

MARCUS
(in reverie, gazing out past the audience)
I remember the day everything started to go wrong. I was telling the Story of Creation. Remember it?

(As he says the line above, a crowd of CHILDREN wearing flowing white gowns, including the YOUNGER CHARLOTTE, enter from stage left and stage right, facing MARCUS and forming a group between him and the audience. MARCUS, temporarily hidden by the children, removes his long gray hair, leaving a head of medium-length greasy brown hair. The crowd of children forms into a semi-circle behind MARCUS, who is visible downstage center. They all perform synchronized movements.)

MARCUS
FROM THE BEGINNING
EVERY SINGLE THING
HAS BOWED TO THE UNIVERSE'S LAWS.
WHEN DEWDROPS GLISTEN
IF YOU LISTEN
YOU CAN HEAR THEM SAY, "I OBEY," AS THEY THAW.
WHEN AT SUNRISE,
THE SUN IS LOW IN THE SKY,
AND ITS WARM RAYS CHATTER WITH THE WAVES ON THE BEACH,
YOU CAN HEAR THEM SAY
"I OBEY,"
IN CHORUS WITH THE SEA BREEZE THAT BRUSHES YOUR CHEEK.

BIRDS ON THE WING.
CLOUDS IN THE SKY.
FALLING LEAVES.
HOVERING BUTTERFLIES.
THEY ALL COMPLY.
AND YOU CAN HEAR THEM
IF YOU GO NEAR THEM:
EVERY CREATURE, EVERY ROCK, EVERY VEGETABLE, EVERY MAN.
THEY WHISPER "I OBEY!"
THIS IS AS TRUE TODAY
AS IT HAS BEEN SINCE THE UNIVERSE BEGAN.

(The children form a circle around MARCUS, all occupy low space as they move around him. He crouches in the center. The other cast members enter, hidden at the back of the stage. All sing in a soft voice, SOPRANOS and ALTOS double the CHILDREN’s parts.)

MARCUS AND CHILDREN
IN THE BEGINNING
THERE WAS NOTHING:
BLACKNESS ON THE FACE OF THE DEEP.
AND IN THIS DARKNESS
THIS SOUP OF CHAOS,
THE TINY BABY UNIVERSE WAS FAST ASLEEP.

(Music brightens as everyone stands and raises their arms, twirling.)

ALL OF A SUDDEN
THERE WAS LIGHT!
BRIGHT AND FAST
IT CAME AT LAST
TO CAST
AWAY THE ENDLESS NIGHT.

(The CHILDREN break circle formation and start to creep around the stage, as if strands of vapor in a cloud.)

THEN A HUGE CLOUD
--NOT HUGE, ENORMOUS--
DRIFTED IN THE DARKNESS AT A SNAIL'S PACE.
IT WAS SHAPELESS,
AMORPHOUS,
JUST A TINY DROPLET IN AN OCEAN OF SPACE.

(The CHILDREN begin breaking off into small groups, forming little rotating circles.)

AND AS IT WAFTED, LITTLE DROPLETS
OF ROILING, CHURNING CONDENSATION FELL OFF IN BITES.
AND SWIMMING,
FLOATING, AND SPINNING
THEY COLLAPSED UNDER GRAVITY AND STARTED TO IGNITE.

(The CHILDREN scatter, each taking a separate place on the stage and stretching up their arms, faces open in bright smiles.)

ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WERE STARS!
HOT AND BRIGHT THEY CAME TO LIGHT
THE NIGHT AND FIGHT
THE ENDLESS DARK.
MILLIONS OF MILES APART
LIKE MASSIVE FLAMING HEARTS
THIS HOST OF FIERY FURNACES BEGAN TO BEAT.

(MARCUS fans out his arms and makes broad dance movements in the center.)

OUT OF THOSE BILLIONS, ONE,
OUR TINY YELLOW SUN,
PROVIDES THE ENERGY THAT GIVES US LIFE, LIGHT AND HEAT.
LIFE, LIGHT, AND HEAT! LIFE, LIGHT, AND HEAT! AND HEAT!

(The CHILDREN turn to face outward now, arms raised.)

HOW WOUNDROUS! HOW MARVELOUS IT IS:
THE SUN’S ALIVE. IT GIVES US LIFE AND
FROM A FORMLESS FIZZ
WE GET THE WORLD ON WHICH WE STAND!

(The CHILDREN pantomime weather and then animals as they and MARCUS sing the following simultaneously.)

MARCUS
A WORLD OF BLUE SKIES AND RAINS,
OF GRASS ON THE PLAINS,
OF LIFE THAT THRIVES IN DARK OF NIGHT AND IN LIGHT OF DAY.

CHILDREN
BLUE SKIES, RAIN, AND LIFE THAT THRIVES.

(The CHILDREN rush toward MARCUS and huddle in tight around him, forming a semi circle behind him as he dances out to upstage center. They sing the following simultaneously.)

MARCUS
AND WITH THE NEW BIRTH
OF HER DAUGHTER, THE EARTH,

CHILDREN
BRAND NEW BIRTH AND LIFE.

MARCUS
THE SUN BEAMED AND WRAPPED HER IN

MARCUS AND CHILDREN
A CLOAK OF GOLDEN RAYS.
A CLOAK OF GOLDEN RAYS.

(Lights up on ALL THE CHARACTERS, each in different places on the stage doing different things. MARCUS and the CHILDREN dance. MONSIEUR FIENNES stands behind his desk, taking out a glass and pouring himself a drink. CATHERINE fumbles with her things, getting herself ready to enter MARCUS's class. GEORGES and a reluctant OPHÉLIE stand on the steps of the school, ready to go inside. OPHÉLIE is smartly dressed in a black dress with a red scarf. She stands firm with a scowl and crossed arms. DOROTHÉE drops CHARLOTTE off at the school and then sifts through a thick stack of papers. CHARLOTTE throws on her white robe to join the class. MONSIEUR ONFRAY sits in his office in an arm chair with a large book. Everyone sings various phrases in counterpoint before singing the following tutti.)

COMPANY
(after singing various phrases in counterpoint)
IN THE BEGINNING, THE BEGINNING
LET ME TELL YOU HOW IT ALL BEGAN.

WOMEN AND CHILDREN
HERE'S HOW IT ALL BEGAN.

MEN
HERE’S HOW IT ALL BEGAN.

ALL
AT THE BEGINNING!

(Music vamps as lights go out on everyone except MARCUS and the CHILDREN, who freeze as the lights dim. Enter CATHERINE, who steps into the pool of light on MARCUS and the CHILDREN.)

(CATHERINE finds a spot and stares back and forth between MARCUS and the CHILDREN, shocked but showing composure. As soon as she finds a spot, MARCUS and the CHILDREN resume their movements, paying no attention to CATHERINE. MARCUS continues singing, so wrapped up in his story he doesn't notice her.)

MARCUS
FROM THE BEGINNING, JUST AS IT IS TODAY,
THE UNIVERSE'S LAWS ARE UNIVERSALLY OBEYED.
FOR MILLIONS OF YEARS, THOSE WHO LISTENED COULD HEAR
THE VOICES OF CREATION WHISPERING "UNIVERSE, WE..."

Word and music by Michael Johnson
© 2022, Zubsongs, Ltd.