A Scene

From Act III

Peter works at his painting of Maggie as Michael concludes a monologue and Elizabeth ENTERS, stands and stares at him.

MICHAEL
“ …of a common Father. What?”

LIZ
“Common?  There’s nothing common about Him.”

MICHAEL
“I know how to press your buttons, don’t I?  How to getyou back in form?”

LIZ
“Will you please get it through your head that we  are here to bring Peter and Maggie together, and that’s all. We are not here to pontificate about the universe  and the the mysteries of life — that’s not what angels do.”

Peter mouths a question and Maggie silently answers Yes.

MICHAEL
“But what about us?”

LIZ
“Us?  There is no us except in the lunacies of your imagination.”

MICHAEL
“No, no, hear me out, Kate, I mean Liz. We think we’re here  to bring Peter and Maggie together.”

Peter leaves the easel to get Maggie a bottle of water and passes between Michael and Liz as if they are the Red Sea parting.

   LIZ
“That’s what we were asked to do — by our uncommon Father.”

MICHAEL
“But what if He has other plans, a secret agenda? You know how  He never does things on one level —
    (aside to audience)
Omnipresent, omniscient… more on them later.
    (back to Liz)
And Peter and Maggie are just the earth show, and we’re the celestial show– that we have our own destinies and unseen guardians who are orchestrating all this to bring us together… as husband and wife.”

Peter returns and parts them again in a well-trimmed choreograph that ends with the water in Maggie’s hand and Peter at his easel.

LIZ
“You are deeply disturbed.”

MICHAEL
    (moves to Maggie)
“Peter and Maggie can’t see us, but we’re here.”
    (waves his hand before her)
“How do we know there aren’t others above us we can’t see who are guiding us the same way?”

LIZ
“Because we’re seraphic angels you lunatic–”

MICHAEL
“You called me a lunatic.”

LIZ
“I’m quite sorry.”

MICHAEL
    (undamaged)
“Apology accepted. But how can we know for sure? How can we know that we’re not supposed to be together–
    (beat)
and get married,
    (beat)
and Peter and Maggie are just sharing our drama?
    (beat)
Or…
    (has epiphany, looks at Peter)
…what if they’re secretly OUR guardians and are doing this for us?

Peter mouths a statement and Maggie giggles.

LIZ
“Because we’re the angels, you imbecile, and angels DON’T GET MARRIED.”