ENOCH
© Cary Cook 2008
| CAST: | ENOCH: man, age 16 NINISHAH: woman, age 15 GOD: man (sorry), age 40 - 60 |
| SET: | blank stage |
[ENOCH & NINISHAH enter from opposite sides of the stage.]
ENOCH
Ninishah, where have you been? I have been seeking you.
NINISHAH
With my friends.
ENOCH
Am I not your friend?
NINISHAH
Surely, Enoch. I was with other girls. We went to the river.
ENOCH
To bathe?
NINISHAH
To talk… and play.
ENOCH
Were boys there?
NINISHAH
Boys are everywhere.
ENOCH
Did you play with boys?
NINISHAH
No. They did not want to.
ENOCH
But you wanted to play with them?
NINISHAH
Some of the girls did.
ENOCH
What did they do?
NINISHAH
The girls?
ENOCH
Yes.
NINISHAH
You know.
ENOCH
No, tell me.
NINISHAH
They looked at the boys, and whispered things.
ENOCH
And giggled?
NINISHAH
Some did.
ENOCH
What did you talk about?
NINISHAH
[shrugs] Boys.
ENOCH
Did you talk about me?
NINISHAH
Some.
ENOCH
What did you say?
NINISHAH
Good things.
ENOCH
What?
NINISHAH
I said you were friendly.
ENOCH
And handsome?
NINISHAH
They already know that.
ENOCH
And strong?
NINISHAH
They know that too.
ENOCH
Did they not know I am friendly?
[NINISHAH shrugs]
ENOCH
Do you wish me to be more friendly with them?
NINISHAH
No. They but wondered why you were so friendly once, and then you stopped being friendly.
ENOCH
God told me to stop.
NINISHAH
The invisible friend?
ENOCH
He said I must choose one and forsake the others.
NINISHAH
And you chose me.
ENOCH
Yes.
NINISHAH
I was not your first choice among the girls.
ENOCH
Havah wanted all men, and Tisharah was foolish.
NINISHAH
They said nothing bad of you… except for your friend.
ENOCH
The same friend who would have me choose one woman.
NINISHAH
Did he tell you to choose me?
ENOCH
No! It was my choice. Are you not happy that I chose you?.
NINISHAH
Surely I am happy. I but wonder how life will be… with the three of us.
ENOCH
Joyfull, no doubt. We will have what others want and cannot have. All of them want to talk to God like Adam did, but God hides from them.
NINISHAH
Why do you think no one sees him but you?
ENOCH
He says it is a test.
NINISHAH
What is he testing you for?
ENOCH
It is not about me. He wishes to see what happens when he appears to someone.
NINISHAH
Why does he not appear to everyone?
ENOCH
He said he already did that. And he knows what happens when he does it. Now he wishes to find out what happens when he does not appear. But he also wishes to find out what happens when he appears to only one man out of many.
NINISHAH
If God knows all things, why does he need to find out anything?
ENOCH
Ah, but he does not know all things. That is something the elders made up. If he knew all things, he would never need to create anything, because he would already know what happens when he does it.
NINISHAH
Perhaps he creates things for some other reason.
ENOCH
What?
NINISHAH
I know not. God may have many reasons.
ENOCH
Even if he does, he still does not know all things.
NINISHAH
How do you know?
ENOCH
He told me.
NINISHAH
[pause] The elders no longer smile on you as they once did. When you were little, your God-talk made them happy, but now it does not. Some say you think wrongly.
ENOCH
I care not what they say. I know what I see and hear.
NINISHAH
When a man cares not what the elders say, the elders can make that man unhappy.
ENOCH
I know. They now turn their backs on my father, and he in turn shows little kindness to me. But I will not live with him for long.
NINISHAH
Where will you live?
ENOCH
I will build my own house.
NINISHAH
Here with the people?
ENOCH
No. The good land is taken. But close enough that you can still see your family and friends.
NINISHAH
[pause] We also talked about other things at the river.
ENOCH
What? With the girls?
NINISHAH
Yes. We talked about who were the better hunters, and who might one day rule the people.
ENOCH
I can throw a spear with the best of them.
NINISHAH
Yes, but you hunt alone.
ENOCH
When have I ever come home without meat?
NINISHAH
Why do you not hunt with the others?
ENOCH
They but slow me down. I need no others.
NINISHAH
We all need others.
ENOCH
I need not even my mother and father any more. They receive more help from me than I from them.
NINISHAH
What about when you get sick?
ENOCH
Then my wife will care for me. Will you not?
NINISHAH
But who will care for your wife? Who will bring her food to cook?
ENOCH
Will not your family do that?
NINISHAH
[pause] I must go now and do some things my mother told me.
ENOCH
What?
NINISHAH
Things.
ENOCH
Can I help?
NINISHAH
No. Just girl things.
ENOCH
Eat dinner with me tonight. I have a rabbit.
NINISHAH
Thank you. But I must eat with the people.
[Exit NINISHAH]
[ENOCH sulks, paces around.]
ENOCH
[shouts] God!
[Enter GOD]
GOD
Hello, Enoch.
ENOCH
Ah, I’m so glad you come when I call.
GOD
Not a problem. When I wish to converse, I simply look up your most recent call, and pop in after it.
ENOCH
You talk so strangely.
GOD
Only because your questions require answers you find strange.
ENOCH
I marvel that I somehow understand you.
GOD
As do I, that you understand anything at all.
ENOCH
I cannot believe we talk like this.
GOD
Yes you can. You can believe anything your little emotions want to believe. I just wish you were more discerning.
ENOCH
Can you not make me as you wish me to be?
GOD
Not without first putting you through the experiences you need to be it. And that takes time.
ENOCH
Why do the elders say you can do all things?
GOD
Because they wish not to offend me, and they think flattery is the safest way to avoid it. Unfortunately they don’t see how insulting it is to think I like flattery, because they like flattery, and they think I'm just a big one of them.
ENOCH
Is that also why they say you know all things?
GOD
Yes, and it gives them a feeling of security.
ENOCH
I wish you would but pop in and tell them what you tell me, so they would not think I lie about it.
GOD
Not on my agenda. However, I can teach you how to argue with them, if you like.
ENOCH
Yes! I most truly would like that.
GOD
Very well. If I can do all things, then I can create something I don’t understand, right?
ENOCH
Uh… Yes.
GOD
And if I create something I don’t understand, then I don’t know all things, right? [pause] After I create it.
ENOCH
Right. Right.
GOD
Then either I can’t do all things, or I don’t know all things.
ENOCH
[pause] What if you can create something you don’t understand, but you choose not to do it?
GOD
Why would I not?
ENOCH
I know not. But they will say you may have other reasons.
GOD
What? Do they think I’m afraid to create something I don’t understand?
ENOCH
No.
GOD
And if they did, they would never admit it.
ENOCH
But the priests will say you may have other Goddy type reasons.
GOD
True. And they would be right - in that much. But I do yearn for the day when people no longer need priests to tell them what to think - when they have minds evolved enough to figure things out for themselves.
ENOCH
Lucky you have me, huh? [pause] Anyway, the reason I called you is that I have a complaint. I do not like the way you made women. [pause] Did you hear me? I said I
GOD
Yes, I heard you. It’s just that anything I might have said would have been anti-climactic.
ENOCH
I did what you told me. I chose one and forsook the rest. But no matter what I do, they wish me to have done something else.
GOD
[pause] Yes, I’m listening. Go on.
ENOCH
The girls here are foolish. They are bound to the thoughts of others. Can you not just make me a new one out of earth, or a rib or something?
GOD
Sorry, my friend. Not part of the program. But in fact, our little test is just about over.
ENOCH
What do you mean?
GOD
We must quit meeting like this.
ENOCH
Why?
GOD
I’ve seen what I wanted to see. Selective personal appearance makes the subject anti-social. And it becomes rather odious at puberty – as I knew it would.
ENOCH
You knew it would? You knew my life would turn out like this?
GOD
Pretty much.
ENOCH
Then all this was for nothing?
GOD
Not at all. It’s a valuable case study. Now when anybody wants to know why I don’t do this sort of thing, I’ll have something to show them.
ENOCH
But will you no longer talk to me?
GOD
Do you want me to continue to talking to you?
ENOCH
Yes!
GOD
Even if it means you will never have a wife?
ENOCH
Why must I never have a wife?
GOD
You’ve seen what happens. What do you think?
ENOCH
But if you would just appear to her, she would not think I am strange.
GOD
But then she would want me to appear to others, so they would not think her strange. And so on, until I have appeared to everyone.
ENOCH
Would that be so bad?
GOD
No, but I’ve already done it. I told you that. And I don’t need another world full of ass kissing sycophants.
ENOCH
Have you seen our priests?
GOD
Yes, and it’s even worse in heaven, believe me. No, you free willers have a potential that can’t be unlocked under tyrrany, however benevolent. I want a world that can stand alone without my supervision.
ENOCH
So then what happens to me?
GOD
I’ll give you two choices: our little conversations, or a wife.
ENOCH
What choice is that? You made me to need a wife.
GOD
Sorry.
ENOCH
What then? Shall I go home and tell them you went away, so I will not be foolish any more?
GOD
You could start over in another land – someplace where you are not known.
ENOCH
Where?
GOD
Cain started over in the land of Nod. You could go there.
ENOCH
Where is Nod?
GOD
East of Eden.
ENOCH
[shrugs] I need what I need.
[Exit ENOCH.]
GOD
Ah, the old sex drive. Perhaps I overdid that part of it. [pause] Nah! He’ll be back.
[Exit GOD. Blackout]