Script

SIDE 1

EVE

Father?

(silence)

Father. Speak to me once more. Just once.

(silence)

Tell me what happened to Cain. It's all I want to know. But you're not going to tell me, are you?

(silence)

No.

(...but she takes another breath and resumes her story, nonetheless)

When Abel was killed, I knew Cain had gone for good. But Adam could never believe it. Every day I'd see him searching the hills for a sign of Cain coming home. But he never came.

(her mood brightens)

We had our second chance with Seth.

(SETH enters.)

A wonderful boy. Just like Adam, naming everything in sight. At seventeen, he upped and disappeared without a word. Scared us both to death. Came back two weeks later with a girl from some tribe over the mountains.

(SETH'S WIFE enters and stands by his side.)

They had seven children in as many years.

(Several CHILDREN of various ages join SETH and SETH'S WIFE.)

I don't know how she manages... And then one winter, Adam died. Suddenly, no warning.

(The light on ADAM slowly fades... )

Just fell over in the field and didn't get up.

(...and ADAM disappears into the darkness.)

We buried him by the waterfall. Was that the right thing to do, Father? Father?

(As EVE continues to speak, more STORYTELLERS come out of the darkness, some bearing torches, some lanterns with candles burning inside them.)

Three of Seth's children are married already. I had my first great-grandchild last year. We farm the whole valley now and half the range of mountains to the south. And the whole family comes together once a year, just after harvest time. To remember Adam. And give thanks to you, Father.

 

END

 

SIDE 2

 

EVE

Tell me, Father. Is Cain alive?

FATHER

Cain is alive.

(EVE takes a deep breath and closes her eyes for a moment.)

EVE

And did he find some happiness?

FATHER

He found some happiness.

EVE

Thank you, Father.

FATHER

(softly)

No thanks to me.

EVE

Father?

FATHER

Yes, my daughter?

EVE

(almost angrily)

I've missed you!

(EVE starts to cry.)

FATHER

Don't cry, my child. You have done well. You have borne Seth. A strong new life. In Seth and his family, I place my hope.

EVE

But, Father, what if they disappoint you too? What will you do then?

FATHER

No more questions, daughter Eve. It's time to sleep.

 

END

 

SIDE 3

EVE

Knowledge?

SNAKE 1

Yesssss. Like what happens to the sssun after it setsss?

(EVE thinks for a moment, entranced by this thought.)

EVE

I don't know! What?

SNAKE 2

Where does music go after you've lissstened to it?

(Again, EVE is delighted by this question.)
EVE

Where?

SNAKE 3

What'sss beyond the garden?

EVE

Stop it!

EVE

Tell me how to find the answers.

SNAKE 4

You're absssolutely sure you want to know?

EVE

Yessss!

SNAKE 5

Then just eat one of these.

( IN PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE (PART 2) begins. The SNAKE dangles a piece of glistening fruit in front of EVE.)

EVE

Oh, no, I can't!

SNAKE 1

Why not?

EVE

We promised.

SNAKE 2

Really? You promised not to do something that would make you smarter?

SNAKE 3

Why would someone insissst on such a promise?

 

END

 

SIDE 4

FATHER

Look! It's called the Tree of Knowledge. And the fruit is very bad for you. You must never, ever, eat it. Understand?

ADAM

It's all right, Father. We won't touch it.

EVE

Why not?

FATHER

Children, if you love me, if you love this family, you will never go near that tree.

ADAM

We promise, Father.

(looks at EVE)

Eve...

EVE

(after a moment)

We promise.

FATHER

Thank you.

EVE

But, Father, if it's bad for us, why did you put it there?

FATHER

(changing the subject)

I know! Let's play a game.

( THE NAMING begins.)

END

 

SIDE 5

YOUNG CAIN

Papa?

ADAM

Yes?

YOUNG CAIN

What's beyond the waterfall?

(ADAM and EVE exchange a glance.)

ADAM

You don't need to know that, Cain.

YOUNG CAIN

Why not?

YOUNG ABEL

Cain... I don't think you should ask so many questions.

YOUNG CAIN

Why not? Papa, why won't you let us go beyond the waterfall?

EVE

Cain...

ADAM

If you love me, if you love this family, you will never go beyond the waterfall.

 

END

 

SIDE 6

NOAH

Yonah, go inside.

(YONAH goes. NOAH takes JAPHETH to one side, out of earshot of the rest of the FAMILY.)

Japheth, what you have done is very cruel to that poor girl. You know she cannot come with us.

JAPHETH

She is coming with us.

NOAH

You know Father's commandment. The race of Cain must all be destroyed.

JAPHETH

Yonah's been with us all our lives. You love her, too.

NOAH

We have no choice.

JAPHETH

There's always a choice.

(JAPHETH runs off towards the ark.)

NOAH

Japheth!

MAMA

Papa, maybe if you asked God...

NOAH

His will is clear. I don't want to discuss it anymore.

 

END

 

SIDE 7

NOAH

(looking out over the waters, quietly)

Father... Father...?

MAMA

He doesn't speak to you anymore, does he? Not since before the rain?

NOAH

No. And now I don't know what he wants. Is he asking me to sacrifice my son?

(MAMA looks back at him in silence.)

But why else has he abandoned us?

MAMA

I don't know about God. He never said anything to me anyway. But if he has abandoned us, then the whole world is just this little family adrift in a big wooden boat with a lot of animals.

(NOAH looks out over the waters.)

You must be the father now. You must decide.

 

END

 

SIDE 8

APHRA

What is it?

AYSHA

A snake!

SHEM

Stand back, everyone. I'll get an axe.

(A HEDGEHOG appears at the other side of the stage.)

HAM

Wait, Shem! Look!

SHEM

What?

APHRA

It's a hedgehog!

AYSHA

Hello, little hedgehog!

MAMA

I haven't seen one of those for...

AYSHA

Another snake!

APHRA

Where?

AYSHA

Right there!

HAM

Another hedgehog, Papa!

MAMA

Look!

( THE RETURN OF THE ANIMALS begins.)

NOAH

It's happening. It's actually happening! Snakes... hedgehogs...

 

END