Vaibu Mohan and Zachary Catron

SCENE 1

We begin with a drone. The drone feels endless. Perhaps it comes from the chorus. Perhaps it’s
on an “Om”. The first sound. The primordial signal from the universe for creation to begin.

PERFORMER 1
From a vast ocean, we emerge.

The “Om” is reiterated.

PERFORMER 1
The children of stars. The dust that fell to the Earth.

PERFORMER 2
Mother Earth buried us in pots so we could ripen in her womb.

PERFORMER 3
Gasses in the sky compressed together until they became amazingly hot and then

ALL PERFORMERS
BOOM!

The “Om” is reiterated.

PERFORMER 1
A light.

PERFORMER 2
A spark.

PERFORMER 3
A shooting star illuminating the dark sky.

PERFORMER 1
First came water

PERFORMER 2 (overlapping)
First came wind

PERFORMER 3 (overlapping)
First came rock

ALL PERFORMERS

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 Vaibu Mohan and Zachary Catron

And all the rest of creation followed. Or so I am told.

All of the performers step forward and look towards the sky. The lights shift from primordial
mess to sunrise.

SOMETHING ABOVE MADE ME.

SOMETHING GREATER GAVE ME BREATH.

IS THERE SOMEONE UP THERE?

IS THERE SOMEONE UP THERE?

Performer 1 takes the lead and breaks from the group. They go to the back of the stage and
pick up an instrument (like a paintbrush or something) and begin to paint something on the
ground. The shapes that they paint on the ground will appear as they are being painted on the
back screen. Performer 1 draws a womanly figure holding the abhaya hastam (palm open and
facing forward).

PERFORMER 1
A WOMAN WITH A VISION WHO SEES FUTURE, PRESENT AND PAST.
A WOMAN WHO KNOWS WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN OUR FIRST MOMENT AND OUR LAST.

A WOMAN WHO HAS BEAUTY BEYOND MORTAL WORDS.

A WOMAN WHO CREATED THE FISH AND THE BIRDS.

FROM HER WOMB CAME RAIN.

FROM HER WOMB CAME PAIN.
AND HER WOMB BROUGHT US EVERYTHING WE NOW SHARE.

MY MOTHER LIVES UP THERE.

Performer 2 takes the paintbrush from Performer 1 and begins adding to the picture of the figure
now called Mother.

PERFORMER 2
A SARI MADE OF STARDUST. A BORDER WOVEN FROM LEAVES.
HER HAIR AS BLACK AS THE OCEAN’S DEPTH. LIFE LIVES ON HER SLEEVES.

SHE RIDES LIKE THUNDER ON A LION’S BACK.

WITH EYES LIKE JUSTICE, READY TO ATTACK.

FROM HER WOMB CAME RAIN

FROM HER WOMB CAME PAIN.
AND HER WOMB BROUGHT US EVERYTHING OUT THERE.

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 Vaibu Mohan and Zachary Catron

A GODDESS LIVES UP THERE.

Performer 3 goes up to Performer 2 and takes the paintbrush from them. They continue to add
to the picture. They add a new figure.

PERFORMER 3
AT HER SIDE, THERE SITS A POWER BEYOND ALL COMPARE.
THE LORD OF THE CYCLE OF LIFE AND DEATH.
WHOSE MIND REACHES EVERYWHERE.

NO ONE CAN LOOK AT HIM OR ELSE IN A FLASH

HIS THIRD EYE WILL TURN THEM INTO ASH.

BUT WITH MOTHER, HE IS FATHER.

HE IS GENTLE. HE IS CALM.
SHE MAKES HIM BETTER.
LIKE A WOUND TAKES TO A BALM.

ALL PERFORMERS
TWO FORCES WITH THEIR COSMIC POWERS COMBINED
RAISED THIS WORLD FROM NOTHING. FROM DARKNESS CAME THE DIVINE.

THEY WERE THE FIRST AND WILL BE LAST.

WHEN WE ARE MEMORIES. DUST IN THE PAST.

AND FROM HER WOMB CAME RAIN.

FROM HER WOMB CAME PAIN.
AND HER WOMB GIVES US ANSWERS TO EVERY PRAYER.

OUR MOTHER LIVES UP THERE.

OUR FATHER LIVES UP THERE.
THE GODS LIVE UP THERE.
THERE IS A WHOLE WORLD UP THERE.

The performers step back and look at their creation. What is present on the back board is a
crude rendering of Sati and Shiva sitting next to each other.

PERFORMER 1
Well, now we know what is up there.

PERFORMER 2
Our creators.

PERFORMER 3

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But how shall we praise them?

ALL PERFORMERS
Yes, how shall we praise them?

PERFORMER 1
TELL THE PEOPLE OF THEIR GLORY.

PERFORMER 2
TELL THE PEOPLE THEIR STORY.

ALL PERFORMERS
TELL THE PEOPLE OF THEIR GLORY.
TELL THE PEOPLE THEIR STORY.

FULL CAST
TELL THE PEOPLE OF THEIR GLORY!
TELL THE PEOPLE THEIR STORY!

Over the following, the rest of the cast enters including a pregnant mother, ROOP’S MOTHER.
An ensemble of dancers appears as the back screen raises. They begin performing a modified
mallari, a temple dance done before the idols of deities are brought in for the temple procession.

As the dancers are doing their thing, I imagine the rest of the cast (non-dancers) are doing
some sick choral singing (harmonies out the butt). Eventually, the mallari comes to a crescendo
and SATI and SHIVA appear, larger than life. We may not even see them yet. They could also
be behind the screen and dancing in silhouette through shadow play.

When SATI and SHIVA appear, ROOP’S MOTHER begins going into labor. As SHIVA lets down
his hair and a river begins to pour from it, ROOP’S MOTHER’S water breaks. Any male
presence on stage disappears, including SHIVA, and only women are left on the stage. They
quickly turn from bystanders into midwives. The lights change color from the sunny palette to a
rolling twilight as ROOP’S MOTHER toils with her difficult labor. SATI is present in shadow for
the entirety of the labor.

WOMAN 1
EVERY WOMAN BEARS THIS BURDEN. AND NOW IT IS YOUR TIME.

ALL WOMEN
BREATHE. SQUEEZE.
IN OUT. IN OUT.

WOMAN 2
EVERY WOMAN NEEDS GUIDANCE AS THE PRESSURE CLIMBS.

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 Vaibu Mohan and Zachary Catron

ALL WOMEN
BREATHE. SQUEEZE.
IN OUT. IN OUT.

WOMAN 1 AND 2
HERE IS MY HAND. SQUEEZE HARD AND LONG.
BREATHE DEEPLY, MY DEAR. YOU MUST BE STRONG.
SOON THERE WILL BE A BABY TO FEED ON YOUR BREAST.
WARM ON YOUR CHEST.

ALL WOMEN
OUR MOTHER IS UP THERE.
SMILING DOWN ON YOU.
OUR MOTHER IS HOLDING YOUR HAND.
YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO.

BREATHE. SQUEEZE.
IN OUT. IN OUT.

BREATHE. SQUEEZE.
IN OUT. IN OUT.

PUSH. PUSH.
ONE MORE PUSH!

While ROOP’S MOTHER is pushing, SATI opens the curtains which she behind and appears.
She is still not fully lit. She begins to watch the proceedings.

WOMAN 1
The time is near!

WOMAN 2
Praise the Divine Mother!

ROOP’S MOTHER lets out an otherworldly scream. SATI winces.

ROOP’S MOTHER
I can’t! I can’t! I can’t!

WOMAN 2
Wait darling wait!

WOMAN 1

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 Vaibu Mohan and Zachary Catron

I don’t see the head.

All the women surround ROOP’S MOTHER. SATI looks down on them. The baby is a breach
and is coming out feet first.

WOMAN 2
She can’t push. She will die.

WOMAN 1
If she doesn’t, the baby will die.

ROOP’S MOTHER
I have to push! I need to push!

WOMAN 1
Hold on, dear.

WOMAN 1 looks at the women around her and motions for them to surround ROOP’S MOTHER
and begin a prayer. Over the following, SATI begins to descend from the platform and approach
the group of women. As they are praying, SATI makes a pressing motion towards ROOP’S
MOTHER’s belly which effectively gets the child out.

ALL WOMEN
FROM HER WOMB CAME RAIN
FROM HER WOMB CAME PAIN

IN HER WOMB, A GROWTH

FROM HER WOMB CAME HOPE.

OH MOTHER UP THERE
OH MOTHER UP THERE
DESCEND PUT AN END TO HER PAIN.
BRING YOUR RAIN.
BRING YOUR RAIN!

ROOP’S MOTHER gives one more bloodcurdling scream which is promptly followed by the
cries of a child. SATI kisses ROOP’S MOTHER on the forehead.

WOMAN 1
Glory to our Mother!

WOMAN 2
Praise her name!

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 Vaibu Mohan and Zachary Catron

ROOP’S MOTHER
Let me hold him. Please!
The women bring the baby up and the laughter stops. SATI looks towards the group.

ROOP’S MOTHER
What’s wrong? Is the baby alright?

The baby begins crying and all of the women stay frozen.

ROOP’S MOTHER
Give him to me. Please!

SATI reaches over into the group of women and takes the baby. The baby almost immediately
stops crying. SATI gives the baby a kiss on the forehead and hands her, ROOP, to ROOP’S
MOTHER. ROOP’S MOTHER looks at her baby and falls silent.

ROOP’S MOTHER
No. No no no no!!

As ROOP’S MOTHER falls into hysterics holding the baby, the PERFORMERS come back
onstage on the platform.

PERFORMER 1
SHE WAS BORN FROM A FLAME.

ROOP’S MOTHER
NOT ANOTHER ONE.

PERFORMER 2
A GIFT BESTOWED ON A LUCKY FATHER

ROOP’S MOTHER
ALL WE WANTED WAS A SON.

PERFORMER 3
BESTOWED UPON HER A HOLY NAME.

ROOP’S MOTHER
ALL MY PRAYERS UNANSWERED.

ALL PERFORMERS
WHAT A BLESSING. A DAUGHTER.

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 Vaibu Mohan and Zachary Catron

WOMAN
BAD LUCK. NEXT TIME. NEXT TIME.

ALL PERFORMERS
A DAUGHTER.

WOMAN
BAD LUCK. NEXT TIME. NEXT TIME.

ALL PERFORMERS
TO RAISE HER, YOU MUST PRAISE HER.

WOMAN
BAD LUCK. NEXT TIME. NEXT TIME.

ROOP’S MOTHER
BAD LUCK. NEXT TIME. NEXT TIME.

ROOP’S MOTHER hands the baby off to one of the other women and continues to lament. SATI
watches the proceedings and begins to ascend the staircase to the platform. THE
PERFORMERS converge on ROOP’S MOTHER.

ALL PERFORMERS
SOMETHING ABOVE MADE ME.
SOMETHING GREATER GAVE ME BREATH.

SOMETHING LIVES UP THERE. WATCHING.

SOMETHING OR SOMEONE WITH COSMIC STRENGTH.

ROOP’S MOTHER
IS THERE SOMEONE UP THERE?
IS THERE SOMEONE UP THERE?

ROOP begins crying off stage. ROOP’S MOTHER curls into the fetal position as SATI takes her
position back where she began.

ALL PERFORMERS
TELL THE PEOPLE OF HER STORY.

Baby ROOP begins to cry again. The lights pulse extremely bright and then dim.

END OF SCENE 1