Interlude 3: Snow

Lyrics

[While everyone else is asleep, MARIANNE finds the BISHOP in a corner, nibbling on something, a lit candle by his side.] [MARIANNE, spoken] What are you eating? [BISHOP, spoken] Just a little midnight snack [MARIANNE, spoken] Popcorn? [BISHOP, spoken] No, it's paper [MARIANNE, spoken] Paper. Really... [BISHOP, spoken] Here we have this magnificent library A feast! It's good, try some It'll fool your stomach, anyway [MARIANNE tries a bit.] [MARIANNE, spoken] That's actually quite tasty [BISHOP, spoken] This is A Tale of Two Cities [MARIANNE, spoken] Oh, I love A Tale of Two Cities May I? [MARIANNE rips out a whole page and eats it.] [BISHOP, spoken] The classics Always nourishing— Now literally so [MARIANNE, spoken] Can I tell you a secret? [BISHOP, spoken] Of course [MARIANNE, spoken] It's my birthday [BISHOP, spoken] Today? [MARIANNE, spoken] Or somewhere around my birthday... [BISHOP, spoken] Mazel tov! But why is that a secret? [MARIANNE, spoken] Leo never remembers... But isn't that a sign? Father–here we are, all togеther Lots of time on our hands This should be our chancе to dig in! To talk about real things Important things! Existence! The meaning of life! Isn't that why you came to the door? To discuss just that? [BISHOP, spoken] Yes, but... The meaning of life? Not that that's not important… [MARIANNE, spoken] Okay, so maybe not the meaning of life What is… I don't know… Being, for example According to the experts? [BISHOP, spoken] Being… [MARIANNE & BISHOP, spoken] Well, philosophically Yes [BISHOP, spoken] Hmm Um [MARIANNE, spoken] What's the matter? [BISHOP, spoken] If I explain being, will you let me hold your shoes? [MARIANNE, spoken] Of course! [MARIANNE takes off her slippers and gives them to BISHOP.] There you are Go ahead, Father I'm all agog [BISHOP, spoken] Yes. Being. Well Uh, first of all— You might say— We're here Actually here On Earth Most likely Though perhaps not As are other people And also objects— Like these beautiful satin slippers [MARIANNE, spoken] Yes? And? [BISHOP, spoken] And that means something That we're here We mean something, apparently We're what you might call Matter that matters Or not, depending on who you read So, we're here for a time On, possibly, Earth With these very soft satin slippers And other people, etcetera And we live our lives And then we die And spend eternity with God— Or go to hell If there happens to be one Or else we pass into complete nothingness A total void Forever and ever That we're actually unaware of Because we're not here anymore The End [MARIANNE, spoken] I really enjoyed that What a world, hmm? With Being, and everything [BISHOP gives back MARIANNE's slippers.] [BISHOP, spoken] Thank you for these slippers Quite inspiring [It begins to snow in the room.] [MARIANNE, spoken] And look at that—snow [BISHOP, spoken] Yes, or manna [MARIANNE, spoken] Manna! Without us even having ordered it! [BISHOP, spoken] Supposedly that's how it works [BISHOP checks one on his hand.] No Definitely snow [MARIANNE, spoken] So—just to be clear— If all of that is "Being" What are we supposed to do about it? [BISHOP, spoken] I suppose— Be here Until we're not [MARIANNE, spoken] To be continued [BISHOP, spoken] Exactly! "To be"… continued Until otherwise notified [MARIANNE, spoken] No, I meant— Well, maybe I did mean that Thank you, Father Nightie-night [BISHOP sets the candle on a book like a birthday cake.] [BISHOP, spoken] Oh, Mrs. Brink... Happy birthday Make a wish [MARIANNE blows out the candle.]