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THE CALL, or OF COURSE 1 MIND
A 5 minute Reimagining of Luke 1:26-3 8; 46-48 (Commissioned by Fellowship for Performing Arts)
Amina S. McIntyre Ph.D. candidate, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
CHARACTERS
GABRIELLA Ages old woman, stylish Courier Archangel Diva
MARY Teenage Girl, activist, doing laundry
GIANNA “Gl Gl” Couriette
GENEVA “GENNY” Couriette
SETTING Comer room gathering laundry
TIME Modem day
MARY in jeans, an activist hoodie with something like ”Free Assata,” and Tims is gathering her laundry into a bag.
GIGI is standing a distance away wearing a purple and gold fringed dress similar to the Motown groups of the past.
GABRIELLA enters wearing a gold dress with purple fringe.
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GABRIELLA (GABBY) It’s time. Couriettes, we ready.
GI GI (GIANNA) I’m here. Archangel Gabriella.
GABRIELLA Where’s Geneva? This is a quick assignment. I have to deliver a message to Michael after.
GIGI (calling) Genny?
GENNY (in a flashing light off stage) Here I am.
GABRIELLA Gì Gì…
Gl Gl motions “I Got it. ”
GENNY What now?
GI GI Your human costume. You know we have too many eyes and wings and things… these humans are jumpy enough.
GENNY (glitter of heavenly music then she appears in her Purple Couriettes costumes) Ready.
GABRIELLA Remember the assignment.
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Gl Gl
Mary, big reveals, accepts Yahweh’s call, humbled, acceptance.
GENNY What if she’s like Noah?
GABRIELLA No one’s like Noah. Positions.
Trumpets sound. Fog blows. Lights flash. Gabriella approaches Mary.
MARY Oh, excuse me.
GABRIELLA Highly favored one! The Lord is with you.
MARY Who are you?
GABRIELLA Don’t fear. I’m the Courier, and these are my Couriettes,
GI GI (singing) Gi Gi…
GENNY and Genny.
MARY Nothing to fear here, thanks.
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You have found favor with God. So, as a reward you get an assignment.
MARY No, thank you.
GABRIELLA I said, you found favor with God—
MARY I heard you the first time.
GABRIELLA You don’t even want to know what it is?
MARY The track record is a little tainted. Ruth, Esther, Moses, Jeremiah…Noah.
GENNY I told you…
GIGI Shhh.
GABRIELLA None of the tasks are easy, but they are important, history altering even.
MARY That’s what everyone says.
GABRIELLA Yours is even more important.
MARY Excuse me, I’ve got to get on.
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But you’ll be carrying… GIGI and GENNY (singing in arpeggios) 0000 0000 0000
…the son of God. GIGI and GENNY AAHH!
MARY stops.
GABRIELLA You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.
Lights flash. Feels like a grand announcement. Mary is not impressed.
MARY I’m already engaged…and we haven’t known each other that way. I have life plans—
GABRIELLA Well, your course is changing by the Almighty God….
MARY Who didn’t even come and tell me themselves.
GABRIELLA I’m the right hand. Look, do you mind doing this favor?
MARY (Looking Gabriella in the eye, squaring off with no hesitation) Yes.
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What?
Yes, I mind. MARY
GABRIELLA You mind? Pop gospel music cues
MARY
OF COURSE I MIND I’M JUST A TEENAGER BETROTHER TO A CARPENTER
GABRIELLA HOW CAN YOU MIND? GIFT FROM THE MOST ON HIGH SHIFTING THE STORY FOR ALL PEOPLEKIND
MARY OF COURSE I MIND I’LL BE OSTRACIZED TAINTED THE REST OF MY LIFE GIGI and GENNY are now backing Mary up as well, which gets a look from Gabriella.
GABRIELLA I see how this is.
GABRIELLA (cont) HOW CAN YOU MIND? YOU’LL BE
MARY Excuse me.
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GENNY Looks like this will take a few more minutes.
GI GI She ain’t budging.
GABRIELLA Let’s turn up the urgency. Mary.
MARY What, Messenger?
GABRIELLA I prefer Courier Gabriella.
MARY Okay, Gabby.
GABRIELLA GIVE IT A TRY. THE STORY IS FORETOLD THERE’S NO ONE ELSE IN THIS MOLD.
MARY YOU’RE A LIE.
I KNOW HOW THIS ENDS UP. ALWAYS A TRAGEDY TOO ABRUPT.
GABRIELLA OH, GIVE IT A TRY. I CAN TESTIFY YOU’LL WIN IF YOU COMPLY.
MARY I’d prefer helping those nearby.
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But think of all the good you can do, you’d been a vessel.
MARY Then I’m already doing. Listen, I appreciate you asking for consent, but my mind is made up.
GABRIELLA Magnify your thoughts. No prophet ever knew the impact of the task when they accepted it yet they took the risk. You’ll even get confirmation within your own family. Soon.
MARY How will it happen?
GABRIELLE gives the cue. GI GI AND GENNY get into formation, more operatic music.
GABRIELLA HOLY SPIRIT COMES UPON YOU THE MOST HIGH OVERSHADOWS YOU THE HOLY ONE WILL BE CALLED SON OF GOD NOTHING WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD.
GABRIELLA What do you say?
Returns to pop gospel.
MARY IF I DON’T MIND
GI GI AND GENNY NOT SAYING YOU DO
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MARY MY SOUL GLORIFIES THE LORD AN HUMBLE SERVANT ON ACCORD
GABRIELLA IF YOU DON’T MIND
GI GI AND GENNY NOT SAYING YOU DO
GABRIELLA THE WORLD WILL CALL YOU BLESSED THEY’LL BE HONORED YOU ACQUIESCED
MARY IF I DON’T MIND GENERATIONS WILL KNOW THE STORY OF WHAT THE MIGHTY ONE HAS DONE.
What do you say?
BUT ONLY IF YOU DON’T MIND.
GABRIELLA
MARY Of course.. .1 don’t mind.
The stage celebrates.
GI GI AND GENNY SHE DOESN’T MIND.
GABRIELLA It’ll be glorious!
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Gl Gl AND GENNY SHE DOESN’T MIND!
GABRIELLA You’ll be lawded!
GI GIAND GENNY SHE DOESN’T MIND!
GABRIELLA Congratulations!!!
SHE DOESN’T MIND!
GI GI and GENNY
Anything else? A blueprint.
GI GI and GENNY exit, humming MARY
GABRIELLA You’ll know what to do. Well, off to my next assignment.
GABRIELLA leaves MARY to her laundry. MARY looks at the laundry, the emptiness of the moment, then her own body. Then she looks up.
MARY Cousin Elizabeth, I need to come for a visit. You’ll never believe what just happened to me.
Lights out.
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