Radically Happy

Continued from G.O.D., after Lecher’s Interlude.

Prelude

At first: NOTHING.

Then: SOMETHING.

A single ray of light
Creating spacetime as it goes

Until it can’t hold the tension
Until it explodes
In a prismatic spray
Across the entire electromagnetic spectrum

Scene 1

A spotlight appears
Highlighting a man
Once known as Lecher
Now called Connection

He is searching
In the spotlight
Because that is where he can see

Even though he knows
What was lost
Is not there

Scene 2

A voice
Calling in the darkness

“Help me!”

The man
Hears the voice
But tries to ignore it
Because he fears the darkness

He used to love it
Because his deeds were evil

He does not want to go back
To what he was

Yet the only way
To earn his new birthright
Is to face his old self

He steps into the darkness
Towards the voice…

And disappears!

Scene 3

The sound of footsteps
A man
Begins to glow
Shining light
All around him
Though he cannot see it

In that light
He sees
A small figure
Crying

Scene 4

The man speaks.

Connection: Shylock? Is that you?

The figure turns away from the light.

Shylock: [sniffling] Go away!

The man stops He does not go away He does not come closer He sits down

Connection: I won’t leave you.

Shylock: [savagely] Yes you will! They all say they won’t. But always, eventually, they do. It could be a small thing. A big thing. Or nothing at all. But they always find a reason, an excuse, to reject you. Especially when they discover they can’t control you.

Connection: So that is why you leave them first.

Shylock turns away.

Shylock: Yes. So I am even worse than them. Which is why [deep breath] you will leave me too.

Connection laughs.

Shylock: [offended] Hey!

Connection: [stifling] I’m sorry. I don’t mean to make light of your pain. Or your sin. But if you think you are some sort of horrible, selfish, manipulative wretch. [slaps his forehead] Sonny, you have no idea who you are talking to.

Shylock: [turning back] Huh?

Connection: [standing up] Kid, I hate to break it to you, but your sin is basically passive. True, simple rejection violates the most fundamental principle of the universe, but at some level it is no more evil than a rock. [wanders closer] True evil beguiles, deceives, twists, and confuses.

Shylock: [stiffly] Are you trying to seduce me?

Connection: [surprised] What? Oh, whoops. [withdraws] Sorry, old mannerisms die hard. Let me put it this way. I’m not denying you have hurt people. But you took no joy in it. Me [shrugging] I abused and destroyed people for my own momentary pleasure, to fill the emptiness within. However much you want me to hate you — I have far more reason to hate myself.

Scene 5

Shylock: [fascinated] So do you?

Connection: Do what?

Shylock: [eagerly] Hate yourself?

Connection seems puzzled, and taken aback. He sits down, frowning.

Connections: Huh. That’s odd. I hadn’t noticed before. I don’t, actually.

Shylock: [intently] But why not? You just said you had ample reason to!

Connection: [nodding] That’s still true. And yet… I don’t. In fact [staring up in wonder] I think I actually love myself!

Shylock: [dumbfounded] How is that possible?

Connection: [slowly] I think… it is because… I finally met myself. My true self. The one… I had been running away from all these years. The one [deep breath] I was sure would hate me, for everything I had done to him… done to myself.

Shylock: [eyes shining] Did he?

Connection: [shaking his head] No. He… thanked me, for the burdens I bore on his behalf, however poorly. He had compassion on me. He… loved me.

Connection looks directly at Shylock.

Connection: The same way I love you, even though we never met.

Shylock: Are you… me?

Connection: [tilting his head in thought] Not exactly. I am… or at least was… the anti-you. The one who would plunge forward into unhealthy connections, rather than retreating from them. The predator to your prey.

Shylock: [suspiciously] And you came here… to hunt me?

Connection stops to think.

Connection: [looking up] That’s what I thought at first. But now, I realize I just came to deliver a message.

Shylock: [quizzical] A message? A Message! What possible good a message do? [agitated] Don’t you know where we are? Who I am? What I’ve DONE! [shouting]

Connection steps forward. He holds up a sheaf of papers.

Connection: Yes. I’ve read the entire story of your life. [lowers his voice] I know you murdered the only one who ever loved you perfectly.

Shylock: [whisper] So now you know.

Connection: [nodding slowly] Yes… now I understand… why it had to be me… to deliver the message.

Shylock: [exasperated] What message!

Connection walks over and places his hands on Shylock’s diminutive shoulders.

Connection: [with uncharacteristic authority]

• You. [a small light glows]
• Are. [it splits into bright colors]
• Forgiven! [a rainbow explodes]

And a new universe is born.

To be… concluded?