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Scene
Thirty-Nine
Have
the Humans Actually Done It?
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The last battle has ended in an unprecedented outcome: the
Humans and Neters have melted SET's fear, and reduced
him to love. He gives up all resistance. The NETERs
are stunned.
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ISIS:
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Has it actually happened?
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RA KHU instantly appears next to THOTH KHU in Upper
Space.
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THOTH:
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Finally! This is unprecedented.
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HORUS:
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The humans have do--
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RA:
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Wait. Before we declare anything--am
I to understand that this time the love
of the humans has transmuted Set's fear
and hate, and turned them into love?
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THOTH:
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That seems to be what has happened.
Set?
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SET:
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Yes. No words.
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RA:
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This has, ah, never happened before.
What is the word for this? Thoth, would
you like to announce the outcome? What
has just happened? You are the one with
the words.
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THOTH:
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Ladies and gentlemen, please
bear with us a moment. We didn't expect
this. After all the millions of times
we've done this story, this is the first
time that you, our human friends, have
moved Set into love. We have no script
for what you've just done. Ma'at, if
you have any insights . . .
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MA'AT:
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This is new to me too. We're all
feeling our way now.
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THOTH:
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Then I think, everyone, that we
are all free. We can live with no fear,
anger, hate or any hardening, weakening
thing. If you can do it . .
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HORUS:
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Everyone can do it. You've just
proved that. You're the model.
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ISIS:
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How wonderful human beings can
become. We always knew, though we had
our doubts. We've dreamed of this moment
for so long, and now that it's here,
we're like eager young lovers before
their first kiss. Now we sing to you.
The new keepers of love.
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MA'AT and NEPHTHYS:
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(Sing:) Weep no more!
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ISIS, MA'AT and NEPHTHYS sing, at first in
unison, as they walk through CELEBRANTS:
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ISIS, MA'AT and NEPHTHYS:
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You
masters of the alchemy of love,
Please teach us now the secrets of your art
That changes stone within to clouds above
And purifies the motion of the heart.
Honor humanity. We see your glory rise
You hold the universe within your eyes
And in your loving hands, the Earth is one,
We journey in wonder to the grace of the Sun.
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MA'AT:
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We have no words to express our thanks. We've
told this story so many times to countless people,
but now, at last, we don't have to do it anymore.
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SET:
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I was even hoping Horus would kill me, just
so I could escape from this play. But now, thanks
to you. (Laughs. To HORUS:) Want to assume the position,
and show them how we used to finish this thing?
(HORUS laughs, nods. Thoth?
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ANUBIS brings in STANDARD with LOTUS and PAPYRUS
plants. HORUS and SET take their positions on either
side.
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THOTH:
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Set and Horus always used to
fight to a draw , so we always ended
with a trial scene--
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HORUS:
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Believe it or not.
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SET:
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After all these words.
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THOTH:
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I did the talking for Horus. Set
was the first person ever to argue his
own case, and have a fool for a client.
We can bid a fond farewell to all that!
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| SET:
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We always used
to wind up posing like this, symbolizing all the
usual dualities--
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| HORUS:
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Though secretly the point of all this was
to give Set a chance to fondle plants.
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| SET:
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It's true. I dreamed of bring a florist. All these years of pretending to hate beauty. You can't imagine the strain. Thank you, Horus. And thank you, everyone. You have freed us. At last. Goodnight!
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| SET moves through CELEBRANTS, looking
for NEPHTHYS. She is aside with MA'AT and ISIS.
LIGHTS down on SET, up on the three GODDESS NETERs.
Their lines are all asides.
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| ISIS:
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He does suddenly look a good deal handsomer.
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| MA'AT
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This is true.
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NEPHTHYS:
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I noticed.
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| ISIS:
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If he makes love like he used to make
war, tonight might be a ride for the memories, might it not?
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| NEPHTHYS:
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I
might intend so. Could be. It may be time to create another secret.
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| SET:
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(Approaching NEPHTHYS:) Time to hold something that makes us smile. If, that is, you will forgive me. (She nods. They exit together.) Bless you all!
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RA KHU transmutes from Eagle-Headed Man to
Golden Eagle, circles the Space.
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RA:
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Ah. The age of joy is here. Now you don't
need me to run the sun. Live in peace. (RA KHU
out.)
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| THOTH:
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(To MA'AT:) The truth is, I'd enjoy a slow circle
around the sky with you.
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MA'AT:
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Thank you, everyone. (As she and THOTH
exit through CELEBRANTS:) May your love increase the
love of truth, and the truth of love, on Earth.
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THOTH:
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(To CELEBRANTS:) Thanks, all of you, for your kind patience,
and good night. (THOTH and MA'AT exit, appear in KHUs and
fly away.) There is one more song: (He and MA'AT sing together:) In the Garden of Love.
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