ACT ONE
Scene 1- Heaven
*Gabriel sounds trumpet seven times, before reading from a scroll for roll call*
Gabriel: The Most High is requesting his divine council for an important meeting. Michael?
*Michael walks in with a grip firmly on his sword, a golden breast plate above his linen clothes*
Michael: Present! Greetings, brother.
Gabriel: Greetings. Raphael?
Raphael: I'm here. Blessed are you, Gabriel.
Gabriel: You as well. Lucifer?
Lucifer: Gabriel….
*bows his head, with a gold leaf crown on it, humbly towards Gabriel, with hands folded in prayer*
Gabriel: Uriel?
Uriel: Here…don't start without me.
Gabriel: Selaphiel?
Selaphiel: Gabriel, I arrived when you did…you've already seen me, why are you asking if I'm here?
Gabriel: Everything must be done in order and thoroughly, including roll call. Last but not least, Azrael?
*Azrael walks in without looking at or acknowledging anyone and takes his seat*
Gabriel: Good, since we are all here now…the Most High invites all other angels to sit in, in this meeting and witness a new thing he is about to do. Glory be to him. *sounds trumpet again*
Lucifer: A new thing…? *looks curiously and excitedly to Uriel*
Gabriel: ALL RISE FOR THE MOST HIGH JUDGE!
*All angels flying in to witness this new thing and the divine council stand at attention, as the bright presence of the Most High enters the council chamber, silence follows*
Most High: You may be seated. I've called you all here today to bear witness to a new creation.
Angels in disarray: New creation?..Create what?...Maybe it means more angels… Glory be to him!
Gabriel: Silence! Your Lord is speaking!
*Angels bow their heads in shame and settle down*
Most High: As I was saying… there will be a new creation, in a new realm.
*Lucifer's eyebrows raise in surprise and curiosity*
Most High: And you get to see me do so.
All angels bow: Glory be to you, Lord!
Most High: Well then, here it goes…LET THERE BE LIGHT!
All angels avert their eyes as a striking light, lights up all of heaven. Lucifer just squirms his eyes, not wanting to miss a beat.
Most High: That's too much…let's gather all this light here, call it day, and this dark side will be night. Good. Next, some water here…but that is too much on one spot, let's divide them..yes, the water below will be the seas and the waters above the skies…good.
*Angels watch in amazement and awe, seeing all these things appearing out of no where.*
Most High: Still so much water…let's put them at certain places…yes, like this…and now the earth becomes visible. EARTH, produce all kinds of plants, those that bear grain and those that bear fruit.
Angels in disarray: Goodness Gracious! Look, the earth is growing things by itself. Holy, holy, holy! How glorious is this? Look at all those colors and shapes! They smell nice…
Gabriel: Silence! The Lord's work is not done.
Most High: The night looks so dark..let's add some smaller lights here..they will be called stars…maybe a moon to control the waters, yes…all this light in one place though..let's ball it up into a sun and let it rotate..this can serve as a marker for time…yes, that's good.'
Azraelasks in an eerie voice: Time?
Most Highto Azrael directly: Yes, a marker to keep track of the progress of existence and events.
*Azrael nods and bows his head humbly. *
Most High: And now to the actual creation…
Angels in disarray: Wait, this wasn't it? What could possibly top this? This is already so amazing. Glory be to the creator!
*One look from Gabriel silences them all*
Most High: Let the water be filled with many kinds of living beings, and let the air be filled with birds.
*All attending angels gasp in awe, as they watch creation unfold*
Most High: Good. The earth shall have creatures too. Let the earth produce all kinds of animal life: domestic and wild, large and small.
Angels in disarray, one faints at the glory of God: Look at those creatures! This one is crawling! That one is swinging from trees. Wow, that spotted one surely can run fast. How can the grey one be so big while eating so little…?
*Gabriel forgets to order silence, as he himself is swept away in amazement. *
Most High: And now, for the crown of creation, let's make human beings; they will be like us and resemble us. They will have power over the fish, the birds, and all animals, domestic and wild, large and small.
Angels in awe: They look like us! But..they're not glowing or filled with glory.. They look so, what's the word I'm looking for…
Lucifer: Unaware…
Angel who spoke: Yes!
Most High: Human beings know nothing about nor can they see anything about the heavenly realm. But I will make myself known to them, care for them and share authority with them on earth…
Angels in disarray: Share authority? Why would the most high have to share anything? Those blessed creatures!
Gabriel: Silence! Order in the name of the Lord!
*Angels instantly quiet down*
Lucifer: Your Grace, if I may ask the question that is on everyone's mind…why would you want to share authority. Everything created is for you and from you, why would you need to sha-..
Most High: I don't need to share, I want to. I want them to be my equal partners.
Lucifer: Equal partners…but they look so unaware, how can they have authority over anything, let alone accomplish great works like you, oh great one…
Most High: I will govern with them and you are to rush to their aid, if they need any help.
Lucifer: WE rush to THEIR aid? It..it….I'm sorry, but it almost sounds like we are lesser than those humans.
Most High: You are lesser than humans.
*Angels in silence look at each other confused, even Lucifer is gobsmacked*
Lucifer: But…but why?
Michael in a reprimanding tone: Lucifer, you do not question the Lord in his wisdom!
Most High: It's alright. I know most of you are wondering the same. Humans are my beloved, perfect creation, my children…
Lucifer: And what are we? All this time, we've been your trustworthy, loyal and faithful-
Most High: Servants. As you were created to be.
Lucifer: Huh..of course…
Most High: Now, if you would excuse me, I would like to spend some time with my creation.
Gabriel: Glory be to the Lord. Today's meeting is adjourned. *sounds trumpet seven times*
Scene 2 - Heaven
Uriel: Lucifer, are you coming? Everyone is going to check out the new realm…it's amazing isn't it?
Lucifer: It is…you would think that we would inherit it for all that we do and not some new
creation…which can't even think for themselves…
Uriel: You sound a bit jealous, brother… *gets tense and uneasy*
Lucifer: Ah! I'm not jealous of anything…I just think it is a bit unfair, don't you..and to top it off, we are lesser than them, can you believe it? *hardens his face*
Uriel shrugging: It's the way the Most High wants things to be…we have to accept that.
Lucifer: But do we though…. *glances over the windows of heaven to the new realm, where he sees the Most High moving with a man of his new creation*
Uriel stunned: Did…did you just question the Most High?
Lucifer: Of course not…you're right, let's go check out that new realm and creation.
Scene 3 - Eden
Uriel: What did we miss, did the Most High do something?
Lesser Angel talks excitedly: He just named man Adam and is now giving him a grand tour and telling him about his responsibilities, such as feeding animals and taking care of the garden….it's amazing, Adam and the animals can't see us!
*Lucifer leaves Uriel behind and follows the Most High and the human, while other angels rush from one discovery to the next.*
The Most High pauses at a tree to speak with Adam.
Most High: You may eat the fruit of any tree in the garden, except the tree that gives knowledge of what is good and what is bad. You must not eat the fruit of that tree; if you do, you will die the same day.
*Lucifer raises his eyebrows in curiosity and confusion.*
Lucifer to himself: Why would the Most High place an object in here that would lead to a state of non-living…?
*Adam's eyes shine bright as he nods, looking ignorant and blissful.*
Lucifer: What an uncomprehending creature…
*Uriel catches up with Lucifer*
Uriel: This place is paradise, there is no other word for it, this lucky human! Oh look…the Most High made him fall asleep, why?
*The angels look on, as the Most High fashions another creature. *
Most High: It is not good for the man to live alone. I will make a suitable companion to help him.
The angels look on, as the Most High fashions another creature, like Adam but a little different, a little shorter, softer, shapelier with some body parts being different and longer hair. Lucifer audibly hears Uriel swallow and blush a little, as his eyes flutter. Lucifer curiously looks at the other angels to see if they were just as affected by the female human as Uriel was. Some were and turned their faces away in shame…others were indifferent.
Lucifer: Interesting….
Uriel *out of his spell*: What is?
Lucifer: Do you wish you had a companion like that…just for you?
Uriel: Don't be ridiculous..what do we need companions for, we have each other!
Lucifer:….so you're okay with what you have and how things are and always have been and probably always will be?
Uriel: Lucifer, what do you want from me, what do you want to hear from me?
Lucifer: Don't you just ever want something new…do what you want to do…have someone for yourself… *glances at Eve and Uriel swallows again*
Uriel: What kind of thoughts are you putting in my head? Stop talking like that, you know we don't have a choice.
Lucifer: But what if we did…. *looks at the tree of knowledge*
Uriel: What?
Lucifer: Nothing…see you in heaven.
Scene 4- Heaven – Next day/Roll call
*Gabriel sounds trumpet seven times, before reading from a scrolll*
Gabriel: Today, the Most High would like the opinions of the divine council on the new creation and realm, now that you have had time to explore it. Michael, you can begin.
Michaelstands up: Most High, your creation is fearfully and wonderfully made and all around perfect. We stand in awe of you.
All angels: Holy, Holy, Holy, Glory to the Almighty.
Raphael stands up: I'm amazed at the harmony and peace on earth, everything is perfectly in sync and balanced. A wonderful utopia. To you be the Glory.
All angels: Holy, Holy, Holy, Glory to the Almighty.
Lucifer stands up nervously: Most High, you have indeed created a beautiful realm and creation. Those humans surely love and worship you for the wonderful gift that you've given them.
All angels: Holy, Holy, Ho-
Lucifer:BUT…I can't help but think, that they don't really have a choice in loving or worshipping you, do they? Just like we don't, because as you said, you created us that way.
Michael: Lucifer, where are you going with this?
Lucifer: What I'm trying to say is…does any of us have a choice, do we get to choose, if we want to love and worship, do they? Love is only true when it is freely given.
*Angels start murmuring in hushed tones.*
Michael: Lucifer, how dare you-
Lucifer: How dare I what? Ask a simple question…that everyone here wants a real answer to.
Most High: That is true, I want all of my creation, including angels to love me out of their own free will.
Lucifer: If that is true…may I test those humans, just to see if their love for you is true enough to be obedient to you with that one command you gave them, not to eat from the tree of knowledge…
Most High: Permission granted.
Lucifer: And just to make things a bit more interesting…if..
Michael: LUCIFER! YOU DO NOT PUT YOUR LORD TO THE TEST!
Most High: It's fine. Michael, let him speak.
Lucifer: Thank you, my Lord. I just wanted to say…if they, against all odds, do choose to be disobedient to you…as a consequence, since you are just…may I then have authority over the new realm and rule it, just like you rule heaven?
An uproar rises among the angels: Wow, he is bold! How dare he try to be like the Almighty?! That Morningstar surely is something!
Michael: Your audacity! I should smite you down right here... *begins to pull out his sword*
Gabriel: ORDER. ORDER!
Most High: SILENCE
*deadly silence*
Most High: Go ahead, Morningstar..and as a consequence to their disobedience, you then shall have their realm and authority over it and them…
Lucifer: Grea-
Most High: But there will also be a consequence for you, since I'm just. If you are proven wrong, you lose your glory and are banned forever, away from my presence and from both realms, out into the darkness for your insolence and putting me to the test. So I have spoken, so will it be.
All angels look scared and worried for Lucifer.
Lucifer: Well…since there's no turning back now… I might as well get started…
-END OF ACT ONE-