The Convert

ACT TWO SCENE V

59 ACT TWO SCENE V It is afternoon. Members of the Ultimate Church of Christ are assembled as usual, but their Pastor isn’t one of them. They are just from burying Charity, whose rotting corpse was discovered by Paul’s neighbours and the Police alerted. In place of the Pastor, an Elder is standing behind a pulpit on which hangs a giant wooden Cross. He directs the proceedings. Peter slips in and sits somewhere at the back, as the Elder begins to speak. ELDER We are back from the cemetery for the homeless and the forgotten. There we went to lay to rest our sister whom we know was simply trying to be good in a world pregnant with vice. She couldn’t make it to Calvary, but we know she tried. CHORUS What is important are lessons learnt. ELDER She died in the hungry claws of a friendly devil, and was abandoned to her fate by someone in whom she trusted. CHORUS What is important are lessons learnt. ELDER 60 People come and people go. Some are buried in pomp and glory; some in coffins and graves marked with status and wealth. Others are preyed upon by birds and beasts; others left to rot unattended; and others buried with reluctance in mass graves dug in a hurry by the lords of war and strife. But the Lord we know cherishes neither the dwarfing of some among the living nor the display of difference in the dead. CHORUS What is important are lessons learnt. ELDER Our Pastor has vanished into thin air. The grapevine says he’s left for greener pastures. The message we sent him on learning of Charity’s death was returned to us with these words: ´Sorry, I’ve got a plane to catch´. CHORUS What is important are lessons learnt. ELDER Whom to turn to for pastorship? How to detect the wolves in sheepskin? How to avoid the holy devils with tongues of honey? What to do to keep hope alive? CHORUS [Prayerfully, Bibles opened to Psalm 23] The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 61 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. [KJV] [Peter, visibly moved, stands up and asks to be allowed to speak] ELDER What is your name brother? PETER Peter ELDER The Rock! CHORUS Alleluia! Jesus is great! ELDER Praise the Lord! 62 CHORUS Amen! ELDER Come forward brother. [Peter moves up to the front where the Elder is] ELDER What would you like to share with us brother? PETER A confession ELDER Praise the Lord! CHORUS Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. ELDER For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. CHORUS Amen! ELDER Your story Peter. 63 PETER I overflow with gratitude for your great deeds to my late cousin, Charity. Before I could make it to the mortuary following the radio announcement on the discovery of her corpse, you had already claimed her for burial. I was touched by your solidarity, and have come here to thank you. CHORUS Praise the Lord! PETER [With tears in his eyes] In the past I have judged and condemned you from the safe distance of ignorance and prejudice; hardly giving myself the chance to see what your reality was, or what we could have in common. But I thank God for pulling me your way this afternoon. CHORUS Praise the Lord! PETER Let’s thank the God of small people: the God of the mad, and the blind and the handicapped; the God of the suffering and the exploited; the God of the ignored and the forgotten...