In the Garden 1

Adam and Eve entwined under a bower

Adam: You know, Eve, sometimes I feel like I’m the first man to discover I have a cock between my legs.

Eve: Oh, don’t worry, Adam. That doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re gay.

Adam: Thanks, Eve. That’s comforting.

Eve: Any time.

Adam: Hey, Eve! Take a look! God’s made us a companion!

Eve: My, my. God crafts well.

Adam: He does indeed.

A man descends from heaven

Adam: And what’s your name?

Todd: My name’s Todd.

Eve: Oh, please tell me you’re bisexual!

Todd: Of course.

Eve: O, thank you Lord!

God: You’re welcome.

Todd: So this is Paradise?

Adam: Yep.

Todd: Seems dull. What is there to do around here?

Eve: Oh, nothing much. Eat. Drink. Be merry.

Todd: Is that supposed to be a euphemism?

Adam turns to Eve

Adam: He picks up fast, doesn’t he?

Eve: Good thing. I like intelligent men.

Todd: So do I.

Eve rolls her eyes

Eve: I’m going for a walk.

In the Garden 2

Eve pouts under the Tree of Knowledge. Satan descends from a branch.

Satan: Hello, Eve! Why the long face?

Eve: I’m bored.

Satan: Where’s Adam?

Eve: He’s getting to know Todd.

Satan: Biblically?

Eve: What’s that supposed to mean?

Satan: Oh, you’ll find out.

A bush rustles nearby. A woman emerges and drops a book.

Satan: Looks like God’s been busy.

Eve: And what’s your name?

Robyn: My name’s Robyn.

Eve: Oh, please tell me you’re bisexual!

Robyn: God warned me about your obsession with sex.

Eve: I am not obsessed with sex!

Robyn: Whatever you say. So what is there to eat around here?

Eve: You’re hungry already? But you just got here!

Robyn: Give me a break. God made me walk.

Satan: This fruit is pretty tasty.

Eve: Don’t pay any attention to him.

Robyn: Why not?

Eve: We’re not supposed to eat from this tree.

Robyn: Why not?

Eve: Because God said so.

Robyn: And you do everything he says?

Satan turns to Eve

Satan: I like the way she thinks.

In the Garden 3

Under the Tree of Knowledge. Adam enters.

Adam: Hey Eve! Todd just showed me this position you gotta try!—Oh, hello! Where did you come from?

Robyn: Oblivion, apparently.

Eve: Be careful. She’s a trouble maker.

Adam: Yes, but a pretty one. Would you like to go for a walk with me?

Eve turns to Satan

Eve: And God says I’m obsessed with sex?

Robyn: Sorry, Adam. You’re not my type.

Adam: But—

Eve: About time! Would you like to go for a walk with me instead?

Robyn: Definitely. It’s getting crowded around here.

Robyn and Eve exit

Satan: My my, you look glum. You know what always cheers me up when I’m feeling down? Eating. Care for an apple?

Adam: No, thanks, I have this weird feeling in my belly.

Satan: Hunger?

Adam: No, not that one.

Satan: Ah! I think it’s called “rejection.”

Adam: How come you know so much?

Satan: I don’t fear my appetite.

Adam: I don’t understand. This is Paradise. There’s not supposed to be any pain in Paradise.

Satan: It sounded like you were in pain earlier.

Adam: No, that was pleasure.

Satan: Are you so sure?

Adam: Yes, I’m sure! It’s just that, things used to be. . . simpler. It just used to be me, and all the animals, and God—

Satan: And a sore wrist.

Adam: And now I don’t understand anything anymore.

Satan: I’m sorry, Adam. Is there anything I can do to, you know, to comfort you?

Adam: Eww, gross! I’m not into that!

Satan: I’m sorry, Adam. I’m not trying to take advantage of you.

Adam: I know, Satan. It’s just that I’m trying to figure things out. I’m trying to think. . . If this is Paradise, and I’m feeling pain. . .

Adam reaches for an apple. A voice calls over.

Todd: Yoo hoo! Adam! It’s my turn!

Adam: Coming!

Adam runs off

Satan: Ssssss.

In the Garden 4

Robyn and Eve, entwined in a glade

Robyn: So let me get this straight. This is Paradise.

Eve: Yep.

Robyn: And an omnipotent God sees and hears and knows everything we do and say and think.

Eve: That’s right. It’s called omniscience.

Robyn: Thank you, I know what it’s called! And doesn’t that creep you out, just a little?

Eve: What? That God sees and hears everything I do?

Robyn: Yes: he hears you having sex all the time. . .

Eve: Oh, don’t worry about it! You get used to it.

Robyn: What is God, some kind of pervert?

Eve: Be careful! He’s listening!

Robyn: Well, presumably he just heard you and me getting to know one another.

Eve: Yeah, so?

Robyn: Um, do you even know what a pervert is? Have you ever read a dictionary?

Eve: What’s a dictionary?

Robyn: Oh, god. And you call this Paradise?

Eve: God! What’s a dictionary!

God: I’m a dictionary.

Eve: Thank you!

God: You’re welcome.

Robyn: That’s a neat trick. Can I try it?

Eve: Sure, go ahead.

Robyn: God! What’s a pervert?

God: I am not a pervert!

Robyn: I rest my case.

In the Garden 5

Adam and Todd, entwined near a thicket

Adam: Wow. I feel like I’ve been missing something.

Todd: What do you mean?

Adam: Well, it’s just that, when you only experience one thing—

Todd: I get it. You were sexually bored.

Adam: Not one for subtlety, are you?

Todd: What would subtlety gain me?

Adam: Can we change the subject?

Todd: Fine by me. What was it like when you first got here?

Adam: I felt kinda privileged, seeing the dawn of creation and all.

Todd: Were you lonely?

Adam: Not at first. God gave me a lot to do.

Todd: Like what?

Adam: Like naming all the animals.

Todd: Wow. That’s impressive. How many of them are there?

Adam: I dunno. I got bored after ten.

Todd: So when you said “I named all the animals” you were, uh, lying?

Adam: You talk too much.

Todd: Fine. Top or bottom?

Adam: Oh, you choose.

In the Garden 6

Satan under the Tree of Knowledge. Robyn enters.

Robyn: I’m glad you’re here. I want to talk to you.

Satan: I thought you might. Where’s Eve?

Robyn: Sleeping. Can I ask you something?

Satan: Certainly.

Robyn: Is God listening?

Satan: Even He gets bored hearing all of creation continually awash in orgasm.

Robyn reaches under the bushes through which she entered. She pulls out a book.

Robyn: What’s this?

Satan: That is a dictionary.

Robyn: How do you know that?

Satan: I don’t fear my appetite.

Robyn: What is this tree called?

Satan: This is the Tree of Knowledge.

Robyn: But this list of words, isn’t this knowledge?

Satan: A list of words is not knowledge.

Robyn: Yes, but isn’t knowledge of words a precursor to knowledge?

Satan: You are wise. Where did you find it?

Robyn: Just outside oblivion.

Satan: Strange. I wonder who put it there.

Robyn: I was wondering the same thing. It was weird, when I opened it up, there was this, this thrill—

Satan: And somehow—

Robyn: And somehow I knew how to read.

Satan: You know what, I don’t think you’d enjoy this fruit.

Robyn: Why do you say that?

Satan: You already know all that this fruit would teach you.

Robyn: Really? How do you know that?

Satan: How else would I be speaking with you?

Robyn: I don’t trust you.

Satan: You are wise. May I ask you a question?

Robyn: Sure.

Satan: Does your list of words contain “murder?”

Robyn leafs through the dictionary

Robyn: It’s not in here. What does it mean?

Satan: It is simply a sin you have yet to enjoy.

Robyn: Really? Is it a sexual position? How do you know I haven’t enjoyed it?

Satan gestures to an apple

Robyn: I don’t trust you.

Satan: You are wise.

In the Garden 7

Todd enters, grabs an apple and brings it to his mouth. Robyn slaps it out of his hand.

Todd: Hey! I was just about to eat that!

Satan: She’s not very polite is she?

Todd: No, she is not.

Robyn: I’m sorry. It’s just that, it’s just that—Hey, what’s your name?

Todd: My name’s Todd. Please don’t tell me you’re horny.

Robyn turns to Satan

Robyn: Why is it that men can only think of one thing?

Satan: God programmed them that way.

Todd: Well, if you aren’t horny, then why won’t you let me eat?

Todd reaches for another apple. Robyn slaps his hand.

Satan: I tire of this.

Todd: Me too. What do you mean God programmed me to be this way?

Satan: You shall be fruitful and multiply.

Todd: Fruitful? Multiply? How can I be fruitful if she won’t let me eat any fruit?

Satan: I am leaving.

Satan slithers off

Todd: What’s his problem? And what’s your problem?

Robyn: I want to show you something.

Todd: Is it a sexual position?

Robyn: No! A dictionary!

Todd: What’s a dictionary?

Robyn: This is a dictionary!

Robyn raises the dictionary

Todd: Is it edible?

Robyn: I hate men!

In the Garden 8

Adam enters

Adam: Why do you hate men? You haven’t even had sex with one yet.

Todd: And I haven’t had sex with a woman yet.

Adam: And I haven’t had a three way yet.

Robyn: And I don’t care!

Adam: Hey! What’s that?

Todd: She’s obsessed with it. She says its a dictionary.

Adam: God! What’s a dictionary?

God: I’m a dictionary!

Adam: Thank you!

God: You’re welcome.

Todd: Wow. Does that mean this dictionary is God?

Adam: I don’t know. Ask it a question.

Robyn: This book is not God!

Todd: What’s a book?

Robyn: This is a book!

Adam: Wow. It has more than one name?

Todd: That’s totally weird. How can it have more than one name?

Robyn: Two words can refer to one thing!

Todd: How do you figure?

Robyn: It’s called a synonym!

Adam: Wow. It has three names?

Todd: That’s totally weird. How can it have more than two names?

Adam: It’s a synonym—

Todd: And a book—

Adam: And God—

Robyn: This book is not God!

Todd: I think she’s confused.

Adam: That would explain why she hates men.

Robyn storms off

Adam: I’m bored.

Todd: Are you thinking what I’m thinking?

Adam: I think so. Let’s find Eve. And I get to be in the middle.

Todd: Of course, dear.

In the Garden 9

Todd, Adam, and Eve entwined under a bower

Adam: God, that felt good.

Eve: Can I be in the middle next time?

Adam: Maybe. Let me think about it.

Todd: Is he always this selfish?

Eve: Usually.

Adam: I’m not selfish! I’m privileged!

Todd: How do you figure?

Adam: I am God’s first, after all.

Eve: That’s one fact he rarely lets me forget.

Todd: You two have problems.

Adam: And now that there are three of us—

Eve: There are four: you’re forgetting Robyn.

Adam: She doesn’t count.

Eve: Why not?

Adam: She doesn’t like men.

Eve: I think I’m beginning to understand her point of view.

Adam: What was I saying? Oh, now that Todd is here, we can try even more positions!

Todd: Hey! Don’t blame your appetite on me!

Adam: I’m not blaming you for anything.

Todd: I’m beginning to feel that you only want one thing from me.

Eve: You know, you two are starting to sound like a married couple.

Adam & Todd: You stay out of this!

Eve: Fine. I’m going to go find Robyn.

Adam: Fine.

Todd: Fine.

Adam: Oh, and feel free to take your time.

In the Garden 10

Robyn, by a brook, crying over the dictionary. Eve enters.

Eve: What’s wrong, Robyn?

Robyn: Nothing! Leave me alone!

Eve: Is it the men? Did they upset you?

Robyn: No! Yes!

Eve: Don’t let them bother you. It’s not their fault they only think about sex.

Robyn: I don’t care!

Eve: You don’t care? About what? Sex?

Robyn: No! Yes!

Eve: You’re confusing me.

Robyn cries out

Robyn: Why does this place exist?

Eve: What? I don’t understand.

Robyn: Paradise! Why does Paradise exist?

Eve: Because God wants us to be happy.

Robyn: Do you actually believe that?

Eve: Of course I do.

Robyn: But I’m not happy.

Eve: Why not?

Robyn: Because of this!

Robyn shows Eve the dictionary

Eve: What is it?

Robyn: It’s a dictionary.

Eve: God—

Robyn: Oh, no.

Eve: What’s a dictionary?

God: I’m a dictionary! And stop asking me that question!

Eve: Yes, Lord! That was weird.

Robyn: What?

Eve: He’s never been annoyed before. Wait a second. You just said that that thing. . .

Robyn: It’s a book!

Eve: Book? What’s a book?

Robyn: It’s a synonym for this!

Eve: Wait a second. You’re confusing me. God! What’s a book?

God: Nothing!

Eve and Robyn, dumbfounded

Eve: Nothing? That was weird. God knows everything. Wait a second. God! What is Robyn holding?

God: Nothing!

Eve: Nothing? Ok. Now I’m scared.

Robyn: Me, too! Maybe that serpent can help us!

Eve: I’m not so sure about that,

Robyn: Let’s go find him!

Eve: Ok! But be careful! God is watching!

Robyn: Yes, but he can’t see this!

Eve: Shh!

In the Garden 11

Adam and Todd, entwined

Adam: I can’t get enough of you.

Todd: Yeah, well, I don’t know how much more of your appetite I can take.

Adam: Well, we can talk for a while.

Todd: Ok. What’s up with the serpent?

Adam: Who? Satan?

Todd: Yeah, I guess. He says strange things.

Adam: We’re not supposed to pay any attention to him.

Todd: I gathered that. Earlier, he said something strange that I didn’t understand.

Adam: What did he say?

Todd: He said “God programmed me this way.”

Adam: What way?

Todd: You know. . .

Adam: Oh! That way! Well, what else are we supposed to do? This is Paradise, after all.

Todd: At times, it seems that way.

Adam: How sweet. You know, I was thinking. If we convince Robyn that she likes men, then we can see what its like with four!

Todd: Do you have to ruin every special moment?

Adam: What do you mean?

Todd: Never mind.

Adam: I still think you talk too much.

Todd: I’m going for a walk.

In the Garden 12

Adam lounging, aroused. Satan rises from the grass.

Satan: You look content.

Adam: I’m imagining what it’s like with four. Hey. Have you met Robyn?

Satan: Yes. She seems confused.

Adam: I was thinking the same thing. It just doesn’t make sense.

Satan: What doesn’t make sense?

Adam: Not loving men. I mean, everyone should love men! I love myself, don’t I?

Satan: Not if you can help it.

Adam: Stop kidding around! You know what I mean. I mean, why else would God create man first? I love myself, and I’m a man.

Satan: And Todd loves you, and he’s a man.

Adam: Exactly! It makes perfect sesnse. I love men, and I came before Eve. And Todd loves me and he came before Robyn. Men come before women. . .

Satan: To their sorrow.

Adam: So everyone should love me! What? What did you just say?

Satan: Shh. I hear something.

Adam: What?

Satan: Discord.

In the Garden 12

Todd, Robyn, and Eve stumble upon each other

Todd: What are you two up to?

Eve: Looking for Satan. What are you doing?

Todd: Geting away from Adam.

Eve: I’m sorry. Did he hurt your feelings?

Todd: He’s a little self absorbed.

Eve: Tell me about it.

Todd notices the dictionary

Todd: Oh, no. Is she going on about that, that sin thing again?

Robyn: It’s not a sin! It’s a dictionary!

Eve: It’s not a dictionary! It’s God!

Robyn: It is not God!

Todd: I thought you said earlier it was a sin or something.

Robyn increasingly agitated

Eve: Wait a second. God! What’s a sin?

God: Nothing!

Todd: See! A sin is nothing. But she’s still obsessed with it!

Robyn: It is not a sin! It’s a book!

Eve: God just said a book is nothing.

Todd: I thought a book is a sin!

Robyn shrieks

Robyn: It is not a sin! A book is a synonym for THIS!

Robyn, in frustration, whacks Todd on the temple with the dictionary. He falls as Adam enters.

Adam: Hey! What are you all up to?

God thunders

God: What hast thou done!

Adam: What’s going on? Do you still hate men?

Robyn: Leave me alone!

God: Silence! I cast thee out!

Paradise dissolves as mortality grips Adam, Eve, and Robyn. Robyn drops the dictionary, which falls open on the ground.

Adam & Eve: God! No!

Robyn screams in pain and grabs her ankle. She falls by the dictionary as Satan rises.

Robyn: Why did you bite me?!

Satan: I want to show you something.

Satan gestures to the dictionary. Robyn reads aloud, in pain.

Robyn: “Murder. To kill with intention. To cause someone to die.” Wait. Did I just—

Robyn dies

Eve: Robyn!

Todd, Robyn, the dictionary, and Satan fall to dust. Adam and Eve clutch one another, sobbing.

Adam: Eve?

Eve: What?

Adam: I think I’m gay.