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Scene Two:
Set Throws a Skin. Conflict
Begins. |
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OSIRIS is seated with ISIS and NEPHTHYS
flanking his throne, as in the last
scene. The rumbling SFX contrinue through the next speech, climaxing as SET's red KHU image first appears in the distance, then sweeps very rapidly to life size, in the Upper Space. |
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OSIRIS: |
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We have these new maps (Removes SCROLLS from case.) from places farther away on the river than our people have ever gone before. They tell of marvelous things, plants of great virtue, wonderful animals-- |
SET: |
Yeah! Like this one! |
SET KHU vanishes in a bolt of red light. The skin and horns of a gazelle drop into the Space, to the floor in front of Osiris. The animal is so freshly killed that blood can be seen on the skin. SET enters, bow in left hand. His quiver and knife hang by his side. ENSEMBLE gasps and recoils |
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SET: |
In honor of the King! It's a gazelle, to make your mind even faster. |
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OSIRIS: |
Always the artist of disgust. |
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SET: |
Hey! At least it's not
a snake. |
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OSIRIS: |
Disarm! |
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SET bristles, but complies.
OSIRIS gestures at the skin. It vanishes. |
SET: |
Hold it. That meat is mine. I took her with one shot. You never said I couldn't bring here what I harvest in the Red Land. |
OSIRIS: |
There will be within this city only such dying as still happens naturally. You are to bring no dead thing here. On the plain where you belong, you have space enough. |
SET: |
Less and less of it, now that your people plant and build everywhere. Little lines of cotton thread, now that you've shown them how to use that, with little sticks in the ground, everywhere. My horses can't see them until it's too late. They rear up and want to throw me. Your people run everywhere. I almost hit one of them yesterday who looked like a baboon. |
OSIRIS: |
Then before you shoot,
learn to see the difference between a baboon
and my people at least as well as a baboon
does. |
SET: |
Cute. Clever. Let your people learn that when the sky and the wind go red, and the earth trembles, Set is near, the hunt is on, let no one run too fast or leap too high.
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OSIRIS: |
Our people are free. They
know no fear. |
SET: |
They're about to learn. |
OSIRIS: |
They go where they choose. You do not control them. They know how life works: live in the green places where you have water, move carefully where the earth is hard and dull and red as dry blood, for you are on the killing ground. There is room enough for you. If you harm a one of my people -- |
SET: |
Yes? What? |
OSIRIS: |
We will make you slide. Play with you. Want your horses careening in mud? We can do that. |
SET: |
Nothing can contain me.
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OSIRIS: |
We'll see. |
SET: |
No matter how much spinach
you grow in your little soilets, no matter
how much more water comes-- |
OSIRIS: |
More water? (To CELEBRANTS:)
Is this true? How wonderful! |
SET: |
Don't mock me. |
OSIRIS: |
Don't threaten us. Otherwise -- amuse yourself as you can. Blow yourself up as much as you want if it makes you feel scarier, but we have no fear of you. Is there anything more you'd like to say before you leave us in peace? |
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MUSIC: "We Are All Free" melody
starts under SET's next speech, fades as he finishes. |
SET: |
Only this. There are people who do not like boundaries and limits and the world laid out in squares. We want to ride free, move like the storm and take what is there. Some of them are even in this good-looking group here. If any of you might crave a thrill and don't get sweaty-handed at the scent of a little excitement, we may get to play together before long. Think about it. (To OSIRIS) You too, King. (To NEPHTHYS) Come. |
NEPHTHYS: |
I will talk with my sister. |
SET: |
More tasty little secrets.
Enjoy yourself. (Exit SET. OFF:) Have a
saucer of milk for me. (Flash of RED LIGHT.) |
ISIS: |
Charming as always. |
OSIRIS: |
Yet he is brief. He does
not waste words. Thoth and I should express
ourselves so quickly. |
THOTH: |
(OFF:) I agree. |
OSIRIS: |
Friends, you already know
it's the birth season in Coptos, now that
nine moons have turned since Min was there. |
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WOMAN: |
When is he coming here?
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OSIRIS: |
Soon enough for you and
every other lady with a baby in mind. But
your lucky husband here certainly looks
eager enough. |
WOMAN: |
Oh, he is! |
OSIRIS: |
Then why wait for Min? |
WOMAN: |
We don't! (LAUGHTER) |
| OSIRIS: |
Good for you. Today we get to tell you that Queen Isis is going to assist the women of Coptos with their births and their new children. In a few days we'll have a feast to cheer us in her absence. |
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OSIRIS exits exits to "The Lord
of Love" MUSIC. ISIS and NEPHTHYS move away from
the throne. ENSEMBLE actors use the King's exit to seat
the CELEBRANTS around the scene that follows. Orange
and amber LIGHTS come up on ISIS and NEPHTHYS. |
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