Excerpts from "Testament," as written by Alix Briggs and created by Alix Briggs, Kacey Hauk, and Bill T. Jones
From Scene Three:
(GABRIEL walks to GIRL. He sits in the available chair. GIRL unfreezes.)
GIRL
I'm sorry. I lost my place.
GABRIEL
You knew you didn't believe.
GIRL
Right. You know, since then, I've only been to church once. I was staying with my friend, and I didn't want to be rude, so I went to her teen group. I felt like an imposter, as if not divulging my beliefs was equivalent to lying. They sang songs for most of the time and the songs were catchy and beautiful, but the lyrics... it was all "my God is might to save" and "He moves the mountain." They had one hand on their chests and one hand toward that sky in that Saved! sort of way. Creepy. I guess I just don't like it when people blow things up to some grandiose status. We're all capable of doing something great, you know?
Performed at Judson Memorial Church (New York, NY) starring Alix Briggs, Adam Anderson, and Steven Johnson. Dance Ensemble: Raymond Pinto, Ernest Baker, Olivia Rehrman.
Filmed for HBO's Masterclass.
CHARACTERS:
GIRL, 17
GOD, self-explanatory
GABRIEL, GOD's right-hand man, angel
SETTING:
A stage divided into two parts. GOD's office is on stage right, as represented by a single chair. The GIRL inhabits stage left. There are two chairs on stage left, in opposition. Neither the GIRL nor GOD can exit their respective playing areas. GABRIEL is the only character who can travel freely between the two. The GIRL is unaware of GOD; she is only aware of GABRIEL when he enters her realm.
From Scene One:
GIRL
I didn't grow up religious. At my school, you were either Atheist or Hindu. But my great-aunt would visit every year and she'd take me to church with her. Even though I didn't understand anything, they'd give you lollipops and sing songs and I thought it was great. So I'd pray every night, afraid that I would be smited if I didn't say specific words in an exact order.
Then came middle school. Something about the Enya my carpool played every morning made me regret every bad thing I had ever done. That song followed me everywhere, from the car to the food court to the bathroom. And every time it played, I felt nauseous. So I prayed to God every night to forgive me. Maybe if this God forgave me, I'd stop feeling sick.
I didn't, and a year and a half later, I realized I just needed to forgive myself. I was driving home from school with my dad and I shouted out everything that was on my mind. That was the end of it. I never prayed again. I was going to make my own decisions. I didn't want to be a good person just to make some mysterious God happy. I wanted to control myself.
From Scene Six:
From Scene Six:
(GABRIEL unfreezes and silently leaves GOD's office. He enters the GIRL's realm. He sits.)
GIRL
And what's even more scary and sickening is not knowing what to do. I don't know who to love, what to pursue. I don't have a purpose. I decided that I want to make my own decisions, but I can't be free if there isn't anything I want to do.
Maybe religion would be good for me. It would feel nice to be a part of something, to know that my purpose is to do God's will. But I would never be able to believe.
(escalating)
What kind of God wants you to hate because of His beliefs? What kind of God wants you to follow a set of rules and -
GABRIEL
(interrupting)
I'm sorry to interrupt, but your session is up. Will I see you next week?