the four kingdoms, part 2 (the one life)

CATHERINE
LIKE THE MAMMALS
AND OUR FEATHERED FRIENDS,
WHOSE LIMBS
GIVE THEM FREEDOM TO MOVE.
WE CAN UNDERSTAND
THIS KINSHIP:
MAMMALS AND BIRDS
AND ME AND YOU.

CATHERINE & CHILDREN
WHEN WE SEE
THE HUMAN BODY
WE SEE THREE
DISTINCT AND SPECIAL PARTS.
THERE’S A HEAD
A TORSO, FOUR LIMBS:
WHAT AN INCREDIBLE
WORK OF ART!

DIFFERENT SPECIES
OF THE ANIMALS
FIND IN THESE
THEIR COSMIC COUNTERPARTS.
WE ARE THREEFOLD
HUMAN BEINGS
ANIMALS, MAN:
ONE BEATING HEART.

CATHERINE
All right, everybody. To the Rest.

(CHARLOTTE approaches MARCUS as the children go about their activities.)

CHARLOTTE
Daddy...Marcus. We’re back from Mom's.

(MARCUS says nothing, absorbed in his work.)

CHARLOTTE
(looks at OPHÉLIE, smirks, then, to MARCUS)
We burned mom’s house down. They’re sticking us in juvenile detention.

MARCUS
(absently)
Hm? I'm just working through some last-minute changes, Buddy. Go get ready for the Main Lesson.

CHARLOTTE
Pff.

(The two girls go off giggling as CATHERINE approaches MARCUS.)

CATHERINE
Marcus...I need to ask you something.

MARCUS
The inspection’s this afternoon.

CATHERINE
I'll be quick.
(a beat.)
I’m sorry about before. I just...well...I'm applying to take the Sacred Lotus training. I need you to write me a recommendation.

(MARCUS hesitates.)

MARCUS
It takes a certain gift to carry off these lessons.

CATHERINE
(incensed)
Is that right? Children! Gather around now. Now!

MARCUS
It’s the Rest!

(In spite of MARCUS’s protests, the children encircle CATHERINE. Music resumes.)

CATHERINE
WITH THE RHYTHM
OF ASTRAL MOTION
NATURE BREATHES.
SEASONS SHIFT.

THE FOUR KINGDOMS
OF CREATION
INTERWEAVE;
SHARE THEIR GIFTS.