Epiphanic Fits: How Epiphanies are Born

Act I, Scene I
Enter Prologue and Gnosis: Gnosis walks in the background. Upset
Prologue: Here we watch a troubled young man,
Countless thoughts assault his questing mind.
His place in paradise is now a
Question he seeks answered. In Shangri-La
There is no longer blissful ignorance,
A man has come that dares to wonder and
Yearns to know. He seeks what has never been.
His mind moves him to action and his
Journey will reveal all that is to be
Learned. The world opens up before him,
Luring him with the promise of the
Struggle for life.

Exit. Leaving only Gnosis.

Gnosis: What is this strange feeling that
Continuously plagues me? I have
An unsettled mind, which confuses the heart.
‘Tis not right for a man to question
What is. I feel as if I am an
Abomination, a queer creature
That is on display in a carnival. My people
Do not understand my melancholy.
So I am watched and talked about as
If they have nothing better to do. Alas!
The root of the issue appears. I live
In paradise. Why do I feel there is more?
The people see I am no longer content,
It is palatable and disturbs them. Why
Has my mind betrayed me? I know not,
But I desire to understand. I no longer
Feel a part of this place I live in, an
Outcast in mind only, which is far lonelier
A place than cast out in truth. I can feel the
Lust for understanding in my body as if
It is a living part of me. I will think
On this torment further.

Exit.

Act I, Scene II

Enter Gnosis, Ignoro and Plumbea with attendants. (Hubert and Navia).

Ignoro: My Son, what has you so out of countenance?

Gnosis: I know not Father. ‘Tis something
I have never before experienced
Or heard tale of. A riot of thoughts
Assail me constantly.

Plumbea: My dear prince, don’t be silly.
A person is continually thinking
About something; what to eat?
What to wear? These things occupy
The mind every day.

Ignoro: Yes my wife that is quite true.
I think these very things daily
Among others, of course, I think
Continuously about your mother.
Laughs.
Son! Is this the source of your
Mood? Have you found a woman
You wish to be with and are having
Issue in the choosing of her.

Plumbea: Oh how delightful! When will
You introduce us to her? She must
Be very pretty to have caught your
Attention so thoroughly. He was ever
The serious boy---

Gnosis: No mother it’s not---

Plumbea: --- and I nearly thought
Him a lost cause. I never expected you
To find a woman.

Gnosis: No mother I have not found a
Woman and you are probably right
I will never find one that interests me.

Ignoro: Come now! Of course it is a girl.
There is no other reason to be so
Despondent. You want for nothing,
Are heir to the throne of paradise,
And always provided for. How
Could life be better?

Gnosis: I know that you can’t understand
What is afflicting me. For comprehension
Is not forthcoming for myself either.
It is not a woman. The desires of my
Heart are shared with my mind. They
Seek to know! I seek to know! My heart
Cares little for the opposite sex and my
Mind is too busy to be easily distracted with
The flesh. (Aside) Can life be better? One can
Only hope and continue on.(to others) There
Is a great deal I need to discover.
About myself mostly---

Hubert: If I may interrupt my lord?

Gnosis: Yes what is it Hubert?

Hubert: To know what?

Gnosis: To know everything! And as a part
Of everything, myself.

Navia: My lord? What could you
Possibly need to discover about
Yourself? Your temper is well known to
All in Shangri-La.

Gnosis: Navia you think that you know me,
But you, my parents and all others cannot
Know my thoughts. Therefore, you
Do not truly know my temper. My
Judgment is confused by the thoughts that
Infest my mind, so even I am a stranger
To myself.

Ignoro: If life has so confused you young one
There is naught I can do to help.
These questions that you ask are not
Our way. To wonder and seek
Explanations for what is unexplainable
Is foolishness in the extreme. I
Fear that you will find what you
Seek and it will be terrible. When
You do find it, it will destroy you.
I will be part of this heresy no longer.

Plumbea: Husband you are overreacting; this
Is a passing fancy, soon to pass and
Quickly forgotten. Gnosis has always
Been different.

Ignoro: No. I will not accept this abuse to my ears.

Exit Ignoro and Hubert. Enter Caecus.

Plumbea: He comes, the man that you so
Foolishly call friend. My son, do not
Provoke your father. He does not suffer
Discord in his kingdom. Not even from
His own flesh. I will leave now
That he has arrived. His deformity
Repulses me to the point of fainting,
And I will not sully this beautiful new
Gown. Adieu.

Exit Plumbea.

Gnosis: Adieu mother. (aside) Deformity? He
Is only blind. She acts as if he has
A malformed hand or a contagion
Like we hear of in the west. There are
No sicknesses here save what afflicts
My conscience when she speaks so.
Though no others seem so affected by
Mere words. Not even Caecus himself. (speaks to Caecus)
Hello my dear, dear Friend! How fair you
this day?

Caecus: Fairly well in this fairy land of
Eternal bliss. Though I sense the
The self same noise of discord and
Disharmony in you, dear one, that
Was not previously so strong.
Your mother was here?

Gnosis: Yes she was. How did you know?

Caecus: (laughs) So curious all of the sudden?
A question from the man that rarely
Lifts his eyes from the ground, his
Aversion to conversation is so deep.
This must be what I sensed in you
Earlier; your mother has a very
Distinct scent that I easily recognize.
Her hair always smells of lilacs and her
Perfume of coconut, which is very strange.

Gnosis: You recognize her by the scent of her
Hair and perfume? This is incredible.
I cannot believe that I have never asked
You why, being sightless, you still always
Know who is in your presence.

Caecus: I can identify her by scent but
I also hear her footsteps when she walks,
And as she is always heading far away
From me. It is once again easy to
Distinguish them from yours or your
Father’s. The loss of my sight has
Granted me more acute senses in other
Areas Gnosis. Though I am blind
I can still see a great deal and in your
Case the balance is heavy in my favor.

Gnosis: (laughs) I am sure the scales favor you
Greatly in that regard. What a strange and
Wonderful world it is. This must be part of
What I seek, but how?

Caecus: I can sense a great entanglement
In you. What is wrong?

Gnosis: Wrong you ask?
I know not my friend, but I am sure
With your help I will come to know
What it is I seek.
Exit.

Act I, Scene III

Enter Plumbea her lady-in-waiting Navia and Ignoro.

Navia: My lady, did your son, the prince,
Speak truthfully in regards to his intentions
About having a woman? It would
Be very much a waste for no
Woman to enjoy that handsome
Face and such broad shoulders.

Plumbea: Do not worry yourself with such
Thoughts. My son, will do his duty
As the prince and heir. Your affections
Will only push him further away.
Wait for him to come to you and if
He does not then it is for the best.
All that matters is his happiness; with
You or another does not matter. Accept
This now and save yourself heartache.

Ignoro: Enough of your prattling woman. There
Is something truly wrong with that boy.
I have always known it, since he came to us.
I am not so easily convinced that he will
Move past this episode in his life. We
May find him gone one day, never to return,
And as time passes forgotten all together.

(Navia breaks down in sobs)

Plumbea: I see that our son’s moods are passed
Down from the father. You chastise him
For speaking heresy when it falls from
Thine own lips. I do not think it is
Prudent for you to speak of such lofty
Things in front of so fragile a person.
I think it best that you retire to your chamber.
I am sure you will want to enjoy your pipe
And recover your mood. Please have her
Taken to her bed as well. Thank you
My lord.

Ignoro: Your words are calming and I will heed
Your advice. My pipe is always able to
Recover my mood. Come.

Exit Ignoro and Navia supported by servants.

Plumbea: Of course my words sooth you, I have
Handled you and your moods for
Many years. I am not surprised to
Find that our son is similarly affected.
However, he is right, my sweet child
Will need more than a competent wife
To alleviate his melancholy. Now that
I think of it, there is a way to help
Abate the fever that so afflicts his
Mind. It is told among certain ruffians
And vagabonds; that in the past there
Were men who did not belong and to
Calm their insanity they needed to travel
To the waterfall and sit under it for
Several days. This information will I
Pass on my son so that he may return
To normal.
Exit.

Act I, Scene IV

Enter Caecus and Gnosis. Walking in the garden behind the palace.

Gnosis: That is simply amazing! You have
Identified every one of the flowers I
Brought you. I have lived long a man
Of avoidance and inaction. Continuously
Lost in the maze of my thoughts, aloof
And unapproachable by all save you my
Friend. Ever have I found joy in your
Company. A feeling that I fail to feel
With anyone, even my Parents.

Caecus: You are very perceptive today Gnosis,
There is a change coming over you and
I can hear it in your voice. I think it true
That few people in Shangri-La would
Be willing to admit to themselves their
Own faults as you just have. I am sure
That they would not have any issue
Pointing out the faults of their neighbors
Though.

Gnosis: I take your kind words to heart and
Am overwhelmed with pride to have
So impressed you. It is a heady,
Exhilarating feeling to discover a
Part of one’s self. I wish only to continue
This journey that bears me so much fruit.

Caecus: Beware my friend. That path leads to folly.

Gnosis: How so?

Caecus: Continue to be intent on action,
For that is good and the way I
Believe you will fulfill your
Desires, but not on the fruits of
Action. Men drawn to action by
The fruits their labor will endow
Them with are pitiful men. Look
Around for that is what surrounds
You.

Gnosis: You have always known that Shangri-La
Is infested with pitiful men haven’t you?
I am astounded that you are so content
When you feel contempt for all here.

Caecus: I have known since I lost my sight.
It seems that for some it takes a
Monumental event to rock their
Foundations. You are not like that,
At least, you did not start that way
As I did, but you may need it to
Continue on your path to understanding.
You think I view all the others with
Contempt…? At one time I did view them
So but I no longer think that way.
Condescending attitudes are what
Binds all living here together, once I
Realized that, I knew I was not
Better than any of them.
In a way I was worse off because in
My understanding of this I was
Alone. An exile in my own home.

Gnosis: I do not wish to go blind. If that
Is the only way to continue my journey
I will need proof that it will work for
Me as it did for you.

Caecus: There is no need for proof---

Gnosis: ---It is a great sacrifice to lose
One’s sight. As I am sure you know
Full well. I will not blind myself intentionally.
Even based on your word.

Caecus: I desire no such thing from you,
I do not presume to know what would
Or could aid you on your journey. I am
Only offering you advise based on my
Own unique, personal experiences.

Gnosis: Forgive my hasty words, my friend.
Please. I did not mean to offend with my
Callous words.

Caecus: There is no offense taken, dear one.
I am an old man and my skin has hardened
Into the stiffest leather. I would have
Thought it obvious to you. Your mother
Is not alone in her sentiments towards
My ‘defect’. There is a reason my skin
Is as dark as fresh turned soil, long
Years of soaking up their words like
Rain in springtime.

Gnosis: (laughing) That is why your skin is
Like that old man? I had always thought
Your skin was the ‘defect’ that so terrifies
The masses. Though that may also be the reason
Why so many of them wish to talk about me
When there is a lull in the conversation.
My skin is not so wholesome a color and
Does not evoke a feeling of renewal and
Growth as yours brother. They say it is the
Brown of a river filled with silt. Dirty, undrinkable,
And of no use to anyone and home to dangerous
Animals. (laughs sardonically) though to
Me it is quite beautiful. There is no
Other in Shangri-La that has a similar shade.
The rest are as pale as the moon.

Caecus: I’m sure ‘tis beautiful. As long as you
Believe it is my friend it will be true.

Gnosis: Here is a bench. Please rest yourself
And we can return to the conversation
We were engaged in before speaking of
Our complexions.

Caecus: Thank you but I am not that old.
I would like to continue walking, it is
Less overwhelming for my senses
To keep moving. When I am still
All of the world’s information bombards
Me with sounds, feeling, smells
And it takes more of my concentration
To process the information.

Gnosis: That seems unfair. You are already
Burdened with your blindness and
Now it seems that again your
Understanding is the source of another
Burden. Will you ever be at peace?

Caecus: I am at peace. Understanding is a
Burden I gladly bear. It is an act of
Control that when combined with
Discipline has allowed me to reach
The end of my journey. Soon I am
Sure you will happen upon what is
Driving you.

Caecus turns his head as if hearing something approaching

I hear your mother’s
Shuffling footsteps. I will take my
Leave of you, I am ecstatic to have
Finally had this discourse. I see
Great things for you.

Exit Caecus. Enter Plumbea.

Plumbea: I see that disgusting creature has helped
You with what was bothering you. Your
Eyes seem brighter and your shoulders not
As stooped.

Gnosis: As a matter of fact mother I do feel better.
I have been enlightened and placed down
The path to greatness.

Plumbea: That is wonderful. I always knew you were
Destined for greatness. I do so enjoy when
I am right. Your father was so worried that
Your melancholy would remain indefinitely.
I hope that you are careful as to what you
Believe from that whoreson. He does not
Have the look of a trustworthy person.

Gnosis: His name is Caecus. I want you to call him
By his name in my presence or you will no
Longer be graced with it.

Plumbea: He indeed did something to change you
For the better. Fine for what he has done and
For you I will call him by his name. Caecus.
Do you approve?

Gnosis: Yes. Thank you mother. Now what has brought
You to me. Do you not usually go shopping at
This hour?

Plumbea: It is my usual custom to go shopping but
You are more important than any dress to
Be found, plus Navia is ill and I have no one
To carry my bags.

Gnosis: Ahh, I see. Well your instincts have sent
You to me for a reason. What do you wish
To impart on me.

Plumbea: I have come to help you with your mood.
I came across a story of a man that had
Very similar symptoms as you.

Gnosis: Indeed! Where is this man? I wish to speak
With him immediately.

Plumbea: His whereabouts are unknown to me.

Gnosis: Then why did you tell me of him?
Is there a man I can seek in regard
To discerning a way to find him?

Plumbea: I do not believe the man told of
In the story is still among us. I doubt
There is any way of finding him either.

Gnosis: Mother. Where is this going. It all
Sounds like you have elevated my hopes
Only to dash them against the flagstones.

Plumbea: I am sorry, you know how I like to prolong
The moment. (giggles) I have information on how
He cured himself. He went out to the
Waterfall and sat beneath it, among the
Waters for three days and when he
Returned he was restored to normal.

Gnosis: Normal, as in the same as everybody else.
Like you and father?

Plumbea: Well what else could I mean?

Gnosis: Right, of course. You could not mean
Anything else but normal. I have doubts
But I will try.

Plumbea: Excellent. I will see you in three days.
Do not worry I will inform your father of
Where you have gone. I am sure he will
Be thrilled to hear it. Come I will point
You in the right direction. I know you
Have no head for it.

Exit.

Act I, Scene V

Enter Caecus, Plumbea and Ignoro.

Caecus: You sent for me my lord, my lady?

Plumbea: We did.

Ignoro: Aye, we did.

Caecus: How may I be of service?

Plumbea: Our son has been lost in his thoughts
For much of his life. Always he has had
His head bowed, eyes downcast. Meek to
The point of mockery. In one conversation
You dramatically changed his attitude. I
Would first like to thank you.

Caecus: There is no need, my lady I am a
Humble servant as you well know.

Ignoro: Aye, we remember it well. You
Were the one that brought Gnosis
To us. You were the one that pulled
Him from a burning building and
Lost your sight because of it. Ever
Have you been a friend to the
Boy. We only wish to know what
You said to him. That so thoroughly
Changed him for the better.

Caecus: (aside) I doubt you will think so well
Of me after. His changes will be for the
Better, of not only himself but others. I
Know you will not be so excited when
He fulfills his destiny. (to Plumbea and Ignoro) I only told him
That his skin was beautiful and as long
As he thought it so, it would be the truth
And others would soon think the same.

Plumbea: His airs were caused by the color of his
Skin?

Ignoro: It is unique, my wife, and I am sure he
Has heard people voice their opinions
On the matter. I feel that we bear the
Brunt of the guilt for not reassuring him
More.

Plumbea: Yes, you are quite right. We are
Shameful parents to have allowed this
To continue for so long. Then all that
Emotion he showed raving about
Needing to know everything was
Only about his complexion. Is that
Right Caecus?

Caecus: Yes my lady. (aside) Shameful parents
Indeed. So willing to believe a lie because
It is safer than the truth. I have told you
What you wanted to hear and what you
Can understand. Now give me leave.

Plumbea: My esteem for you has wilted, blind
Worm. It was no great mystery to be solved
Or undertaking to be finished. He simply
Talks to you more about such things
Because you are blind and he pities you.
You will leave this place now and when
My son returns cured you will no longer
See him or talk with him. He needs to
Learn to trust people of his station.

Exit Caecus.

Ignoro: IF he returns cured and I do not think he
Will. In the event I am right. I
Would like to keep the blind man
Around; he is the only one that has
Proven to be a help to our son.
I will send Hubert to him in the
Event that Gnosis is not cured and
He will act as a concerned friend
That wishes his masters to remain
Unaware of his night time visit.
He will arrange meetings for the
Two of them. Then you will not
Have to appear the fool over this
Grey iniquity of a blind beggar, again.

Plumbea: Husband, what would I ever do
Without your cunning and wit to
Aid me. I would surely be lost.

Ignoro: Humph. Lost is not the first word that
Comes to my mind. I am sure you
Would do fairly well on your own.
Maybe not as smoothly but fine all
The same.

Exit.

Act II, Scene I

Gnosis enters, spots the waterfall and approaches.

Gnosis: This is a queer place. I feel a thickness to
The air. As if I am being squeezed from
All around. It feels like every inch of my
Skin is supporting a full grown man. I
Feel no pain at all, and even as I
Draw closer to the falls the pressure
Increases but I am lighter in body as if I
Can fly at any moment. I was lost but now
I am found. I can see all the colors of
The rainbow, the roar of the water crashing
To earth drowns out every other sound
To the point of silence. I can feel every
Droplet of water as it hits my skin. I can
Feel the warmth of the sun as it
Transforms all the water to vapor and
From there I can feel the water rise up
And reform into ice and water, I
See it floating in the sky lighter
Than air, at the mercy of currents
That traverse the breadth of the Earth.
Then I fall as rain.

Gnosis enters the water.

What an amazing vision. I did not
Know that was how we received our
Rain. How wonderful and simple.
I believe that this is the place I seek.
I will learn what is!

Sits beneath the waterfall on a boulder.

As I sit here I begin to realize that
The water is warm, to warm to
Be ordinary. Especially falling from
A waterfall, it is also light. I barely
Feel it falling onto my back. ‘Tis like
An early April rain, so fine as to be mere
Crystals of light caressing my body. I am
Engulfed in the waters. At first I fear
Drowning but like so many other
Beings the water sustains me and
Brings me life. As I begin my awakening,
My existence is multiplied countless
Times, flowing along with the river to
Be consumed by plants and animals.
I see what life IS for the life forms of Earth.
I see how everything is eaten in its turn.
The grass and plants by deer, rabbits,
And birds. Those animals are then
Preyed upon by wolves, bears and
Other birds. I sense their overwhelming
Need to reproduce and to create the
Next generation. I see so much death but
Every one of those deaths creates life.
The connections that everything shares
Are laid out before me like the threads
Of a great tapestry yet to be woven.
But in nature they are a masterpiece, free
To move about and create beauty on their own.
I am with them when they die and I see
That once again death brings life, as their
Bodies rot and fall apart they feed insects to
Small to see and the plants around them.
Completing the circle.

Enter a woman. She is tall and her skin the color of honey.
She notices Gnosis sitting beneath the waterfall. She sits
And watches him.

Gnosis: I am nothing. My body is long gone,
And my consciousness is lost in the ether.
I float free among the stars, I see that our
World is not flat as so many people
Believe. I see our moon and our sun.
I perceive some event in the future that
Will involve these heavenly bodies.
The moon shows me how the tides are
Controlled by the force it exerts on our
Planet. I am shown that it does not have
Its own light but uses the suns light as
Its own. I am not surprised to learn this
After watching the plants and animals
Of Earth. No effort in this world is lost
Or wasted, all energy is used and reused.
These same laws apply to the rest of the
Heavens as well. I travel further into
The universe and see that there are millions
Of stars such as our own and many of
Them are surrounded by planets
Similar to our own and others that are very
Different. Life abounds in all stages, from
The tiniest cells to civilizations beyond
Even the comprehension of this new
Awareness. In my journey I come
Back to Earth. I return to see all that
Has come before and all that will come.
Flying metal birds, towers of shining
Glass and metal. What marvelous things
We accomplish.

The Girl approaches the waterfall but does not feel
What Gnosis felt. She lays down on the bank and sleeps.

Gnosis: A feeling is beginning to grow in me,
I feel the quickening of life bloom in
My chest, though it is not my heart
That I feel but something new and
Wondrous, my Soul. A missing piece of
Who I am. Making me feel whole and new.
I rise slowly from darkness, bit by bit I am
Becoming aware of my body and
Having a difficult time controlling my
Limbs. It is as if I have never used them
Before. Everything is still dark, quiet
And exceptionally still. As if I am frozen
In time, at once part of the past, present and
Future. Living in each but also out of
Them. I want to open my eyes, I know I
Have eyes but they will not obey me. Behind
Lids sealed shut I begin to perceive light, first
Soft purples, then fiery reds and oranges.
I am feeling the pressure again
I am being coaxed out of my waking dream
But I do not wish to leave. It is so
Beautiful here and it all makes sense.
I can no longer fight it I am succumbing
To the pressure. I can feel hands pulling
Me. I wish to fight them but my limbs
Will not obey me. I am lost.

Exit Gnosis being dragged by woman.

Act II, Scene II

In a darkened room. The walls are made of earth and there is a small window in which the new sun is streaming through. We see Gnosis lying in a bed there is a woman at the fire tending a pot.

Gnosis: (groans) Where am I and why is it so bright?

Sophia: I am glad you have awakened,
I was beginning to think you
Would sleep there forever like
In the story of King Arthur.
Are you a King?

Gnosis: I am not a king. That would be my father.
How long was I asleep?

Sophia: A prince then. Soon to be king if you
Prefer and this is the sixth dawn
Since I found you beneath the falls.

Gnosis: Sixth! It was only supposed to take three
Days!? I must return home I am sure
My family is worrying about me.

Sophia: Before you go will you tell me what
You were doing beneath the falls?
You might as well stay for breakfast
It is almost ready and in the meantime
You can tell me the story.

Gnosis: I do not see any harm in staying.
It is the least I can do for the
Person that nurtured me back to
Health.

Looks around the sparse room and meets her eyes.

I am so rude. I have not
Asked you your name.

Sophia: Not as bad as some. I have not
Asked you your name either.
So please do not get upset.

Long Pause

Gnosis: Well are you going to tell me?

Sophia: I am still waiting for you to ask.

Gnosis: (laughing) You would like my friend
Caecus he often tortures me in similar
Fashion for being ambiguous. Please
Fair maiden impart on me the name
In which you call yourself?

Sophia: My name is Sophia.

Gnosis: Sophia. That is very beautiful.
You have been truly blessed. It
Is my pleasure to meet you dear
Sophia.

Sophia: The pleasure is mine I assure you.
Must I ask for your name as well?

Gnosis: One good turn deserves another.
So yes.

Sophia: (smiling) Will you honor me great
King with the title in which you are
Called and recorded?

Gnosis: Very eloquently asked. Very flattering
As well but I am no King.

Sophia: Thank You. I learned from you.
Now please, your name?

Gnosis: I am called Gnosis.

Sophia: Gnosis. That is a funny name!
Where are you from Gnosis?

Gnosis: (laughs) And you are a funny girl
The first I have ever met. I am from
Shangri-La. Where do you
Return to at the end of the day?

Sophia: Right here.

Gnosis: Again aye? I mean where are you
From? Which town were you born in?

Sophia: Right here.

Gnosis: How is that?

Sophia: I do not remember anything beyond three
Years ago. One day I simply woke up
Right here in this dingy old hut alone
My only belongings were an old pack
Filled with clothes and food and a
Portrait of a woman that looks like me
With the name Sophia at the bottom.

Gnosis: A very interesting tale. I am sorry
That you have lost all your memories
They are important in ways we do
Not fully comprehend. It is what we
Remember that defines us and gives
Us identity. If it is in my power I will
Help you recover your memories.

Sophia: I appreciate your sympathy. I feel
As if I have heard that same speech
Before or I knew it already. I have
Been feeling as if I have lived parts
Of my life already for as long as I remember,
But with you I feel it more powerfully.

Gnosis: That is a good sign. I would guess
The sensations you are having are your
Memories returning. I have heard
That the mind never truly forgets
Anything it has learned it only buries
It deep for us to find later when we truly
Need it. I believe this to be true.
Our mind protects us from information
We are not ready to handle. It knows
When to allow us to be aware of it
Again.

Sophia: Yes. That makes a great deal of sense.
So what were you doing beneath falls?

Gnosis: I was looking for the answer to a
Very important question. That question
Was, What is it I seek? There were
Others as well but I cannot recall them
Now. I was told to go to the falls and sit
Beneath them for three days and I would
Discover the answer to my question.

Sophia: Did you receive an answer.

Gnosis: I did.

Sophia: And what was it?

Gnosis: I seek knowledge. The answers to my
Questions, my desire to understand
Everything and to know everything.
Nothing satisfied me I was tormented
With ignorance and desperately sought
A way to escape my fortress of solitude.
The word that I did not perceive, the
Unquenchable thirst, my undying lust
Was for the acquisition of Knowledge.
How glorious it is to recognize, to understand
And to continue to question because there
Is so much more to learn.

Sophia: I understand, I think I know the feelings
That you speak of. Trapped, afraid to escape
But desperate for freedom all at once, still…
You spent three days beneath a
Waterfall to learn a single word?
I assumed you were crazy but I
Was hoping it didn’t extend to
Stupidity. There was nothing else
You learned?

Gnosis: Yes of course there was.

Sophia: Tell me please? It may return
My memories to me.

Gnosis: I learned that we are all connected, also
We are all driven by the will to survive
And multiply. I learned that there are
Countless life forms that we do not even
See or understand, and the universe wastes
Nothing. All energy that is consumed is
Replenished some other way. I have
Forgotten what I saw while I was
In the power of the water. There was
Something else that was very important,
I know it was beautiful and amazing to
Behold I know that it has affected a great
Change in me, but the memories of
What I saw are buried or lost. I did
Not think I would be needing my own
Advice so soon.

Sophia: What was the last thing you remember?

Gnosis: Walking towards the waterfall, seeing
Every color of the rainbow in the mist
And feeling as if I could fly. I remember
Seeing how clouds are formed and then
Sitting down and closing my eyes. Then
I woke up here.

Sophia: It seems like we have a great deal in
Common. Our minds seem to have
Betrayed us and are holding our memories
Hostage. I no longer trouble myself worrying.
I am sure they will return in due
Course. I believe we were destined
To meet each other. Probably for this
Very reason. Come let us eat. Then
We can get you home.

Exit.

Act II, Scene III

Enter Plumbea, Ignoro, Navia, and Hubert.

Ignoro: Woman you are to blame for the
Loss of my son! If you had told
Me of your damned idea before
Employing it I would have denied
You! Three days we waited, then a
Fourth and half of the fifth before
We sent men to try and find him.
You counseled patience, allow
Him to come to terms with being
Healed. Idiocy that only a woman
Could conceive.

Hubert: My lord, do you wish me to fetch
The blind man Caecus?

Ignoro: No, that will not be necessary
Because the queen herself will
Carry the message to him and
Deliver it on her knees. She
Has much to atone for and
A little humility is a good
Place to start. Don’t you agree
My heart?

Plumbea: I protest with all of my heart.
I am not to blame for the disappearance
Of our son. I am the only one that
Tried to help him shed his sickness
And to become the man he is supposed
To be. You were nowhere to be found
Husband, as usual you were in your
Apartments smoking your pipe and
Listening to the court minstrels. You
Have not done anything to help.
I will not be humiliated by you or
Anyone. I have raised the greatest man
In history! I would rather die than
Give a message to that blind monster!

Navia: No, my lady. You cannot possibly mean
That. It is so much better to live than die.
Death is messy and once you are dead
There is nothing left for you. It is only
Blackness for all eternity. No my lady
Do not choose death.

Ignoro: You should heed the advice of the
Wench in this matter. It would not
Bode well for our kingdom to be
Without a queen. It would be yet
Worse if I had to execute you for
Treason. I will do whatever you
Wish me too. Within the orders I
Have given. You gave me the choices
On your knees or death? What will
It be?

Hubert: My lord I do not think this is a wise
Course of action. Only terrible things
Can come of this. Please my lord, think
To former monarchs that killed their
Spouses, madness and ruin is sure to follow
Such a deed.

Navia: My Lady, Hubert speaks truthfully. It is
Not right for the royal house to war with
Each other. It is only a single message
Delivered to a man that cannot see ‘tis you.
He will not fully comprehend the import of
What you do for he is dull witted.

Plumbea: I remember that fact well. I know him
Best though I hate him so. His mind is far
Craftier than you can imagine.

Ignoro: Then you have decided to deliver the
Message as I instructed?

Plumbea: I will not! I have spent enough time
On my knees in front of pitiful, worthless
Men. I will die upright and proud. I will not
Soil myself by touching that disgusting
Creature. Take me to my death I care not.

Ignoro: Stupid Bitch. I will do as you desire
And all shall know that you had fair
Chance to decide otherwise. You have
Brought this upon yourself, I will not
Carry the guilt for this deed. Really
Plumbea he is only blind. You would
Die before humbling yourself before
Him. Do you not see how irrational that
Is?

Hubert, Navia: My lord is right!

Navia: My lady please blindness is not contagious
He cannot hurt you while you read the
Words to him. Please.

Plumbea: I will stand firm and not be wavered
In this course of action. I will not touch
An abomination such as he. Something
That has an imperfection, a defect such
As his does not belong in Shangri-La.
I do not want to live here while he still
Does. It tears my heart that all of you
Choose him over me! I hate you all and
Am glad that death is taking me away
From you forever! I will only miss my
Beautiful special son. He will not let
My death go unpunished!

Ignoro: So be it you stubborn woman. Hubert
Escort her to a cell while the altar is
Made ready.

Exit Hubert and the Queen with Navia.

Ignoro: Why is she so unyielding on this
Subject. Never before have I not
Been able to coerce her into an
Action I desired. I fear that the loss
Of our beloved son has unhinged her.
The ridiculous behavior she displayed
At the mere mention of the blind man
Was astonishing. I have never seen
Her thus incensed, an anomaly of
Character that I did not think possible.
The reason I chose her for my mate was
Because of her cold and shrewd manner.
Never allowing passions to rule her judgment
As she did just now. There must be
More to this Caecus than meets the eye.
If there is I shall ascertain it for he has
Cost me a clever and ruthless Queen.
And an attentive and caring mother. His
Demise is all but promised. First I
Shall finish this abhorrent task and
Then seek out Hubert to sound out the
Habits and routines of Caecus.

Exit.

Act II, Scene IV

Enter Executioner, Plumbea in chains, Ignoro, Caecus and Hubert. A crowd gathers to watch. Caecus is among them.

Ignoro: Plumbea you stand before us for crimes
Against the crown. You have
Been charged with high treason for
Which the punishment is death. How
Do you plead?

Plumbea: Guilty.

Crowd roars in disapproval and denial.

Caecus: (aside) Treason? What could she have
Possibly done to warrant such a charge?

Ignoro: These crimes include the disappearance
And possible death of your Son. The
Prince Gnosis. They also include
Disobeying a direct order from your
King. This death sentence is in keeping with
Your wishes is it not?

Plumbea: It is!

Crowd roars once again in denial.

Caecus: She desires death? What has happened
To him to make him not return home?
He must return here it is his destiny.
It is still not enough to warrant killing the
Queen. Ignoro must know this! It could
Destabilize the kingdom beyond repair.

Ignoro: I give you one last chance Plumbea.
Will you accept my wishes and do
As your king and lord orders you to?

Caecus: She must! She must! There is more
Than her life at stake.

The crowd chants to accept.

Enter Gnosis and Sophia. They are at the back of the crowd.

Sophia: What is going on is this some kind of festival?

Gnosis: No it is not. The nest one is not for weeks
It believe it looks like an execution
But it has been decades since we had an
Execution. I was not even born when the
Last one occurred. I believe it was the
Beheading of the king at the time. He
Had recklessly endangered Shangri-La
For the acquisition of more personal wealth.
He was the last of that line and soon after my
Father’s grandfather was elected to the throne.
Our family has been the Royal House since.

Sophia: Why is the crowd in such a frenzy over
This execution. Are they so blood thirsty?
I thought you said this was a peaceful place
And violence was practically unknown.

Gnosis: I did and I meant it. I do not know what
Could provoke them to the edge of madness.
Wait, I see my parents on the altar, but something
Is wrong my mother is in chains and my
Father just asked her to accept something.
I must get to them before it’s too late. For
She is stubborn and will never yield.

Sophia: Gnosis I don’t think you will make it.
This crowd is in a frenzy and won’t let
A fly pass through. There is no way they
Will hear us either.

Gnosis: I realize that. I must try anyways. She is
My mother and one of two people that
Truly believed in me. (Yells) MOTHER!
FATHER! YOU MUST STOP THIS!

Caecus has become completely bewildered by the energy of the crowd. He is bumped from behind by Gnosis and Sophia.

Caecus: I would know that run anywhere,
Even if he smells different it must be
Him. He has returned from his journey.
GNOSIS! GNOSIS!
Damn he cannot hear me over all the
Voices screaming along with me.
I hope he reaches her in time.

Plumbea trembles and looks as if she will fall to her knees.

Plumbea: (aside) My resolve weakens, as if
My intuition tells me to bend this once
For all will be well after. I need only
Say that I accept and will do as bidden
And all of this will be over. I know
That is the course that I should take.
Never before have I let rage determine
My path. I have hated that man ever
Since he brought us Gnosis. I have always
Been jealous that he was there first and in
His biggest time of need. I only wanted to
Dispel that debt by helping him discover
His path. Still that man beat me to it. He
Has stolen my son from me and I want him
Back. So I will not bend knees to that
Vile human being, I know what must be done
And Now is not the time to deviate
From my ways for I have ever been
Resolute and firm once I decide to
Act. I know not if my lovely son is
Still alive and that doubt is reason
Enough to go through with this, because
He was all that I lived for and I have
Lost him forever. I have nothing
Left and I am through with these mortal coils
I am here now for a reason and I will
Face what will come with head held high,
(To Ignoro) I will accept only one thing
And that is what I deserve. Death!

Ignoro: *sighs* So be it.

Ignoro waves the command for the executioner to begin.

The crowd erupts in screams denial and despair as all see the axe lifted and begin to descend. Gnosis reaches the base of the altar at the same time.

Gnosis: MOTHER NOOOO!

Plumbea sees him and begins to cry.

Plumbea: (She mouths) I love you always.

The axe falls and she dies.

Ignoro having seen his son at the same time as his wife. Desperately tries to stop the axe. But fails.

Ignoro: Son!? NO, NO, NO! Where have
You been? We thought you dead.

Gnosis: I was in the home of a friend. She took
Me from the waterfall and nursed me
Back to health. Her name is Sophia. (gestures in her general direction)
What have you done? Why was my mother
Put to death? She would never commit
Treason. I know it!

Ignoro: When you did not return we searched
For you and found nothing but your
Horse. All of your personal items were
Still in the saddlebags. I assumed that
You were kidnapped or most likely dead.
Your mother thought the same and in my
Heartache and rage I blamed her for losing
You. I tried to force her to go to Caecus and
Beg his forgiveness on her knees and
Ask him to help search for you. I know
Of his uncanny ability to recognize things
Others do not. She would not hear of it.
I had barely finished my orders for her
When she flew into a raging fit.
Spouting nonsense of how she would not
Dirty her being by touching Caecus. She
Has never been so irrational and those of
Us that were there noticed it and pleaded
With her to see reason and do as I had
Commanded. She would not do this, even
Here on the altar facing her demise she
Would not accept my authority or my
Orders. She called for her own death.
Son I entreat you to understand, I was
Mad with grief, I beg your forgiveness.

Gnosis: Your tale has the harmony of truth to it,
But that harmony was interrupted with
A discordant note, a counter melody that
Reveals your true nature. I am sure you told
Mostly the truth and in those truths your
Small lies would go unnoticed but I heard
Your falsehoods.
I will not forgive you, you are no longer my
Father. Had you been rational yourself you
Would have considered the chance that I
Was injured and slowly returning home by a
Different route. You should have understood
That her grief was equal to yours if it did not
Indeed surpass it for she told me of the falls.
There were many things that you did not
Consider and your mistakes will haunt you
Your long, lonely, unfulfilled, guilt-ridden and
Miserable life! Goodbye father, you will never
See me again. Come Sophia we must go now.
I only need to retrieve some things of mine
from my apartments. Then we will leave.

Sophia: Are you sure you want to leave? Your
Mother was murdered and you were unable
To stop it. I know you must be feeling angry,
Devastated and betrayed but maybe you
Should wait an hour, give yourself a
Chance to calm down and think clearly.
Use the knowledge that you recently
Acquired and properly address the
Situation.

Gnosis: You are right. I have a feeling I will be saying
That to you a lot in the future. I will stay for
One hour and calmly assess the situation and
Decide a proper course of action. One that will
Benefit all and not just myself.

Sophia: That is all I ask for.

They exit hand in hand. Ignoro remains, on his knees racked with sobs. The crowd has begun to disperse. There is a feel to the air, an electricity that only needs a spark to explode.

Act III, Scene I

Gnosis and Sophia enter his apartments.

Gnosis: I will destroy him, Sophia. He looked me
Right in the eye and lied, that silver-
Tongued serpent thought that he could
Plead for my forgiveness.

Sophia: He had every right to beg his son’s
Forgiveness for the slaying of his
Mother. He is your father and cares
Deeply for you.

Gnosis: He is no LONGER my father, I
Will NEVER forgive him. My heart
Breaks to hear you defend him. How
Can you believe that he cares for anyone
But himself?

Sophia: Your father is not of sound mind
Or judgment. He has become lazy
And content with stagnation. He
Does not promote growth and understanding;
For this reason he is to be pitied and
Used as an example of how an uninformed
Man is lost, faithless and filled with
Self-doubt. A soul that harbors doubt
Has no joy. He fears to sever his
Ignorant doubt with the blade of
Knowledge. He is unwilling to
Accept understanding. You must
Not become like him Gnosis.

Gnosis: I will never be as he is. I will
Never kill an innocent women
Because she refused to heed
My orders. He killed her for a
Personal insult. His pride could
Not handle her defiance and for
That reason and that reason alone
He had her murdered!

Sophia: That is the truth, dear one, and
I know it. I merely counsel you
To open your heart to forgiveness.
If you cannot do this thing you
Will become as he is. You have
Destroyed your ignorance in
A wave of self-awareness. Your
Being blazes like the sun and
Illumines the reality of truth to you.
Do not slide into darkness again
As your father has. I would not
See you lose yourself. You must
Allow your father to see that
He is wrong and accept his faults
And change them.

Gnosis: Forgiveness? What a difficult
Task you set before me, nearly
Impossible. Yet for you I would
Move mountains or fly amongst
The stars. I see that though my
Father had no cause to execute
My mother; he was not solely
Responsible. My mother was
Also guilty, her stubborn nature
And inability to see past her
Rage and disgust lead her down
The road of destruction.

Sophia: As you said, there is still so
Much to be learned. Do not
Worry Gnosis for I will be
There with you till the very
End.

Gnosis: I am comforted greatly knowing
That you will be.

Sophia: Come light of my heart, we
Must talk with your father.

Exit.

Act III, Scene II

Ignoro is still on the altar, crying inconsolably. Caecus enters and approaches him slowly.

Ignoro: I am Fortune’s fool! My folly!
My woe! My fate cries out, and
Torments me with destruction and
Chaos. In this place will I ever
Reside and watch all I have created
Rot. Paradise is but a fantasy,
An illusion that I once thought
Would live forever.

Caecus: That paradise will be realized
But not by you. You are too
Weak to create a place that is
Truly wonderful for all. You have
Only conjured a place of stagnation
And decay. There is no happiness
In this place. True paradise is
Found where happiness is not
Forced.

Ignoro: Damn you, you blind maggot-
Pie! You are at fault for all of
This. You have destabilized my
Kingdom from the very beginning.
Your blindness showed the others
That there were dark things in the
World. That all is not always
Perfect. I should have heeded my
Wife’s advice in the beginning and
Destroyed you. You are at fault for
The murder of my wife.

Caecus: Sadness fills my heart at the sight
Of you. Your bones are hollow, impiety
Has made a feast of you. You are far
Lesser of a man than you once were.

Ignoro: Through no fault of my own.

Caecus: So you say, and in so doing prove
Yourself unworthy.

Ignoro: Unworthy? This from a man who
Is deformed, less than human.

Caecus: If you spend word for word with me,
I shall make your wit bankrupt.
I care not how you view the events
Of tonight for it will no longer matter.
The time for honoring yourself will
Soon be at an end. It is time for
Another.

Ignoro: I am still King, and you would not
Kill me.

Caecus: No, you’re right, I will not kill you.
Your death is not in my power to
Achieve right now. You will lose your
Crown for this and when that happens
You will have nothing and no one to
Hide behind. Good bye.

Caecus exits.

Ignoro: I will not lose my crown. It is mine
By right, by birth there are none to
Take it from me. Save Gnosis.

Exit.

Act III, Scene III

Sophia and Gnosis return to the altar it is approaching noon and they have not found Ignoro. They see that Plumbea has been taken from the altar.

Gnosis: The royal embalmers have already
Taken my mother’s remains away.

Sophia: ‘Tis surely for the best. You would
Not have wanted to see her again in
That way.

Gnosis: Probably. I strangely do not feel
Regret. I thought I would feel at
Fault; that somehow I should have
Been here earlier, to save her, but
That would mean that I didn’t go
To the falls and that I didn’t find
The answer I needed to.

Sophia: You also would not have met me.

Gnosis: Of course, you are as important a
Discovery as Knowledge. You are
A source of much that I need to
Learn.

Sophia: And you will help me discover great
Things. We are destined to walk the
Same path, hand in hand.

Gnosis: I would have it no other way.

Caecus enters. A crowd begins to gather.

Caecus: I am surprised to find you here and
With a woman. Who is she?

Gnosis: Oh Caecus! (weeping) It is so good to
See you!

Caecus: Come now. Everything will be alright
I am fine.

Gnosis: I could not have lost you as well.

Caecus: And you haven’t dear one. Now
Tell me who this lovely lady is.

Gnosis: I am sorry for my rudeness. This
Is Sophia.

Caecus: I am pleased to meet you and to
Be doing it in the company of
Gnosis. It is a great sign that you
Are here.

Sophia: I am so happy to meet you as well
Gnosis talked of you a great deal.
You have had quite an impact on
Him.

Gnosis: (aside) A good sign? I wonder
What he could possibly know.

Caecus: I cannot wait to hear how you met
And your journey but now is not the
Time. Your father has become unhinged
And I fear he may do something rash
Again.

Gnosis: Where is he?

Caecus: He was here last I saw him.

Sophia: He is likely to see the crowd
That has gathered here and address
Them. We must find a way to make
Sure he does not further endanger
Himself.

Exit.

Act III, Scene IV

The crowd around the altar has grown enormous. The air is heavy with anticipation. They await a monumental event. The sun is burning high and bright in the sky.

Enter Ignoro, Caecus, Gnosis, and Sophia.

Gnosis: Father you will listen to me. If
You do not take responsibility for
Your actions I will have to show you
The error of your ways and you
Will not enjoy what I will do.

Ignoro: I am not in the wrong. There was
No other option for me except what
I did. Your mother asked for death.

Gnosis: I know that she asked for her own
Death. She is responsible for her fate
As much as you are. I was shown the
Right of this and have come to terms
With her decision. I will not, however,
Allow this to happen again to anyone
Else.

Ignoro: So you have forgiven me?

Gnosis: I have forgiven what you did to my
Mother. I have not forgiven what you
Are subjecting the people of this
Kingdom to.

Ignoro: You must be mad. I have done nothing
Wrong to these people. I have provided
For them and succored them. They live
In paradise.

Gnosis: This is not a paradise but a prison.
A prison that you have created, built
And fortified with unawareness. I
Always felt out of place in this world
And I discovered that my mind sought
Escape from the chains of ignorance.
Shackles of quiescence that all here
Are bound with.

Ignoro: A prison? How dare you speak such
Things to me. After all I have done
For you. You are not even my true
Son. Your mother wished to have you
After we failed to conceive. We took
You from Caecus, who rescued you
From a burning building.

Gnosis: Caecus is this true?

Caecus: It is.

Ignoro: See! You should be on your knees
Begging my forgiveness for showing
Me such disrespect and lack of
Gratitude.

Gnosis: I will do no such thing. I thank
You for raising me as your own
It had to have been hard at times.
However, my thanks is solely for
Taking care of and providing for me.
You have become mad with power.
You now expect everyone to abase
Themselves before you.

Ignoro: As is my right! I have created a
Place of magnificence that you
Ill-nurtured whoresons have sought
To undermine for years. I know of
Your designs to see me destroyed
And you king of Shangri-La.

Gnosis: You are a pathetic old man. You
Have neither heat, affection, limb,
Nor beauty to make your riches
Pleasant. I do not believe you will
Ever find understanding. I’m sorry
For what I will have to do to you.

Sophia: Gnosis, what are you going to do
To him. You are not going to kill
Him?

Gnosis: I thought that I might do such a
Thing. Now that I look upon his
Face the desire to see his life come
To an end drains from me. I can
Feel a deep peace inside me now
That I have come to this decision.

Sophia: I had hoped you would not kill
Him. What shall we do with him?

Gnosis: I care not. He is lost to me forever.

Caecus: Gnosis you would leave him upon
The throne?

Gnosis: I would. It is his by right of birth,
Though he has used his power poorly.
I have no right to take it from him and
I have no desire to.

Caecus: What about the people here? Do they
Deserve to be forced to live beneath his
Tyranny?

Sophia: They have lived beneath his tyranny for
Years and have not complained. It would
Not be wise to upset their world in such
A manner so abruptly.

Gnosis: Aye. I will leave them to their ignorance.
For they are content with it and do not
Desire our presence among them any
Longer.

Sophia: Where ignorance is bliss, ‘tis folly
To be wise, and so we will go. To find
A place where knowledge and understanding
Are treasured and sought after. Will you
Join us?

Caecus: Gnosis you would leave this place? It
Is all we have ever known?

Gnosis: Caecus this is not like you, to be
Afraid of what is unknown. Have you
Also become complacent in your
Station?

Caecus: No…I have not. I will go with you
For there is nothing for me here. I was
Simply having a moment of weakness
Thank you for helping me.

Gnosis, Caecus and Sophia prepare to leave.

Ignoro: Leaving? Where could you possibly
Go? There is nothing but pain, disease,
And war in the rest of the world.

Caecus: You are right, there are many forms
Of ignorance in the world but there
Will be somewhere we will be at
Peace.

As Gnosis, Sophia and Caecus begin to leave a shadow falls across the land. All look up to see a shadow begin to creep in front of the sun. The crowd falls to their knees in awe. Gnosis and Sophia look to the sun as well.

Ignoro: We are damned! The murder of a
Member of the Royal House has
Destroyed the world. The eyes
Are dried, the blood is drained from
The body and lungs are hushed and
Without breath. There is no longer a
World.

Ignoro falls to the ground and begins convulsing.

Caecus: What is all this commotion about?

Gnosis: There is something happening to
The sun. A giant shadow is creeping
Across it and blotting it out.

Caecus: Impossible!

Sophia: No he speaks the truth. It is an
Amazing sight.

Gnosis: I have seen this before. I knew that
This would occur. It was part of my
Vision beneath the waterfall. It is
The moon passing in front of the
Sun. It is not the end of the world.

Gnosis reaches Ignoro but is unable to reach him in time. Ignoro dies.

Gnosis: He is dead. I would weep for him
Except he would not wish it of us.

Sophia: It is a spectacular sight Caecus.
Let me describe it to you. The sun
Is going through phases much like
The moon through the month. It is
Slowly being swallowed by darkness.

Caecus: Yes I can feel the air becoming chilly
And I sense the flowers closing as if
It is night.

Gnosis: The birds return to their roosts as well.
The sky is deepening in color as if
Evening approaches.

The crowd begins to scream in terror as the sun is completely lost and a wall of shadow races towards them.

Caecus: I shiver at the sound of the crowd.
They sound as if they are dying.

Sophia: Do not worry, they are fine, only
Scared and unable to comprehend
The magnificence of what they are
Seeing. Their lives are not in danger.

Gnosis: This needs to be told to them, if not
Something terrible could happen. They
May destroy themselves in a riot.

Gnosis stands upon the altar and demands the attention of the crowd and addresses them.

Gnosis: My people I know that you are
Deathly afraid but fear not for
This event is a simple thing and
Will soon be over. Look! Even as
I speak the shadow continues across
The sun and with it the light will
Return. My people calm yourselves
And understand that it was only
The moon passing in front of the
Sun and casting a shadow upon
Us. As a man crosses before the fire
And casts his shadow upon you.

With Gnosis’ words the sun begins to shine again and light returns to the people of Shangri-La. They begin cheering and chanting Gnosis’ name as if he is their savior.

Gnosis: Sophia what should I do. I sense
A great opportunity to reveal to
These people the secret of Knowledge,
Truth, and understanding. We feared
To reveal too much at one time
Because we thought they would not
Be able to cope. Now, after witnessing
Such a cataclysmic event their minds
Are washed clean. We need not fear
Our teachings will overwhelm them
For nothing can surpass this moment.

Sophia: I believe that you are right. We must
Stay and help these people. We will
Enlighten them and in this way we
Can create a true paradise.

Caecus: You will create a paradise beyond
All others. I have seen it. You will
Live long and exceptional lives and
Your people will cherish and respect
You. My only regret is that I will not
Be there to experience it with you.

Gnosis: What are you talking about? How
Have you seen this and why will
You not be there?

Caecus: I have lived a long life and my time
In this world is over. Now I seek the
Final journey, and this place I go to
You may not follow, at least not yet.
Not until you are ready in body and
Mind.

Gnosis: What are you talking about? Are you
Dying?

Caecus: I cannot say, it is something the two
Of you must figure out on your own.
I will give you this one hint. Where I
Go is not into death as you know it now
But to a different world. I hope to see
You there in the future. Good bye
Dear one.

Caecus exits and appears to be walking with someone and discussing something of importance.

Gnosis: I have lost everything and in my pain
But in it I have also discovered a powerful
Force.

Sophia: What is that?

Gnosis: It is a force I can feel connecting me
To those people I care most about. I
Believe this feeling to be a powerful
Ally in our attempt to bring knowledge
To the world. My instincts tell me there
Is a word for it. I do not know it. Do you?

Sophia: Yes, I feel it too. I remember! I remember
Everything! My dearest friend it is called
Love. You are right it is a powerful force.
Able to change the fate of the world.

Gnosis: Love…beauty and grace immortalized
In a word. My dear Sophia I Love you.

Sophia: I Love you as well. My heart swells with
Happiness to hear those words pass your
Lips. Come let us share this blessing with
The people. No one man, woman or child
Should be denied this.

Gnosis: We have so much to show them. It will
Take a lifetime. Are you ready?

Sophia: Yes, my love.

Exit.

Act III, Scene V

Enter Prologue.

Prologue: Where there is Knowledge to be
Found always is there Love as well.
These great forces are coupled one to
The other, forever. Once one is found
The other soon follows. For Love is the
Mediator of Knowledge, Love is the shield
That saves us from being blinded by our own
Knowledge. Knowledge uses Love as a sword
Against ignorance and defends us from strife.
Our world has become a better place,
Lacking discord and prejudice. Shangri-La
Has found its greatest ruler. With the
Help of his Lady they teach all truth
And understanding. Creating a true
Paradise that lasts for eons.

The Marriage of Knowledge and Wisdom
Gnosis

Written by: Derek Green II

Dedicated to all those who pushed me when I would not push myself and forced me to accept my gift and embrace the Knowledge that would elevate me above all others.
Thank You.

Epiphanic Fits: How Epiphanies are Born

Thursday, April 29, 2010

One last thing

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

summing up the capstone.

Presentations.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

My capstone paper

Humanity is Divine

To continue on some random poetry

Poem that I said I'd post

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