DACO
Prosper or rot.
YSIP sits down.
FIONN
Well…those are some strong laws. Eat or be eaten. I now understand why you all are comfortable with eating…your friend.
GALOS
He tastes good.
FIONN
I’m sure.
DACO
These are your laws?
FIONN
Actually, no. In fact, I don’t live by laws.
YSIP
No laws? How are you not dead?
FIONN
Because I live in a society that follows philosophies, instead.
TIGAS
What are those? Can I trade you something for those?
FIONN
You can have them for free.
DACO
No gifts before eating!
FIONN
Daco, this isn’t the gift I was talking about earlier. This is for everyone.
DACO
Oh. Okay, give it.
FIONN
I would be honored.
FIONN stands and tries to look as ceremonial as YSIP did.
Here are…the The Philosophies of Ain. The first--
GALOS
Who’s Ain?
FIONN
Well, Ain is—
DACO
[To GALOS] No talking!
Half-beat.
FIONN
Ain is the name of my species’ government. Anyway, the first philosophy of Ain: Non-voilence is the most beneficial path of life.
Beat.
TALAO
Huh?
FIONN
To harm another puts oneself in harm. But if everyone helps each other, all will survive. Each being is unique, and their loss is everyone’s loss.
Half-beat.
AGBAYANI
Too long.
YSIP
It…seems to make sense.
FIONN
The second philosophy of Ain: to improve oneself, one must improve their surroundings.
Beat.
GALOS
I don’t get it.
FIONN
When danger is non-existent, the mind is free to look inwards, for life improves overall when death is no longer a threat. Also, one’s own perspective can improve when compared to others.
ANGARA
He speaks so many beautiful words.
DACO
No death? No more death? Daco likes this very much.
FIONN
The third philosophy of Ain:--
GALOS
How many more?
FIONN
This is the last one, I promise. The third philosophy of Ain: Focus upon one’s consciousness, for it is what makes one self-aware. By being more self-aware, one is capable of true understanding. And, the only way one can repay enlightenment to others is to return it. To remain in ignorance is to deny oneself spiritual prosperity.
Beat.
That’s it. What do you think? Are the philosophies of Ain appealing to all of you?
YSIP
I prefer the laws of the Lumahan.
AGBAYANI
Too long.
TALAO
Ya’ have to remember all those yerself, do ya’?
ANGARA
Philosophies…it makes my tongue sing.
DACO
Daco likes not dying. No worries. No fighting. Just sleeping and eating. Daco likes this.
GALOS
Eh! Sounds stupid. No fighting makes us weak. Makes us food. Fionn and his words is stupid.
DACO
Daco likes Fionn’s philosophies. Daco likes Fionn. You call Daco stupid?
Beat. The LUMAHAN all know where this is going and prepare to watch the carnage.
Are you calling Daco stupid?!
GALOS doesn’t know how to respond. HE is caught between a need for self-preservation and the desire to gain social power. DACO stands up.
GALOS
I…I--
FIONN
I’m sure he didn’t mean it. After all, everyone’s entitled to their opinions aren’t they?
GALOS
I…you--
RINGOR
[To GALOS] You challenged him. You challenged Daco. Called him stupid. Don’t act like a coward.
The LUMAHAN cheer on the fight, tempting GALOS to fight. GALOS stands up and readies HIS weapon.
GALOS
Yes, I-I-I challenge you, Daco! You are stupid! Your friend Fionn is stupid! I will kill you and become the new leader of the Pangan!
DACO slowly moves towards GALOS, who backs away defensively. The LUMAHAN leave their seats and holler and shout as THEY did in the earlier fight.
FIONN
No, no more fighting, please. Haven’t you heard a word of what I said?
TIGAS
Kill him, my leader! Kill him!
TALAO
Rip his head clean off!
ANGARA
Oooh, two fights in one day. Fionn, stand close to me.
FIONN
No, I can’t allow this to happen again on my account.
FIONN moves to grab something out of HIS pocket, but AGBAYANI, expecting the use of magic again, immediately holds FIONN’s hands behind HIS back.
AGBAYANI
No magic!
FIONN
Agbayani, please stop this!
RINGOR
Fight!
GALOS swings HIS weapon in the air over and over again, getting closer and closer to DACO. DACO does not move an inch. GALOS is almost too afraid to hit DACO, for HE knows what massive strength HIS leader has.
GALOS
Boss me around…[Swings] Tell me what to do…[Swings] No more…[Swings] No mooooooore!
GALOS runs in for a powerful hit. DACO moves like lighting: SHE dodges the attack, grabs GALOS’ hands, knocks the stick out of HIS hands, spins HIM around, and then snaps HIS neck. GALOS drops to the ground dead. The LUMAHAN cheer.
TIGAS
Well done, well done, my leader!
TALAO
Killed him outright, you did!
ANGARA
See Fionn, Daco lives. There’s no need to worry.
YSIP
And so dies another weaker foe.
AGBAYANI lets go of FIONN. FIONN is less shocked and more annoyed than the last murder.
FIONN
You kill so effortlessly. Do you not mourn what has been lost? Do you not fear for your own lives? One killing another, the strong against the weak, fighting and eating each other until you’re all too full to move? Can’t you see the pain you cause yourselves? You constantly fear for your lives, but you don’t hesitate to steal what you can from the weak and dying. You can be more. Stop fighting over the base pleasures of life. Share what can be enjoyed by everyone. Protect each other. Don’t you want to become enlightened beings? Don’t you want to feel safe? Don’t you want to escape your fear of death?
DACO
Daco does.
Beat.
DACO
Daco fears for life every day. Daco is the leader. Daco is the strongest. But…Daco must kill or be killed. Daco fears for her life and for her baby’s life.
FIONN
You’re pregnant?
AGBAYANI
My child.
FIONN
And you still let her fight?
AGBAYANI
It’s our way. Eat or be eaten. There’s nothing else.
DACO
Your…philosophies. Daco wishes…Daco wishes to live by your philosophies. Daco doesn’t want to fight anymore. Help Daco and baby to live happy.
YSIP
This is sacrilege! We must live by the old stories or we die!
DACO
Be silent, or Daco will kill you next! Tigas, store Galos for meat later.
TIGAS
Yes, yes, my leader.
TIGAS first picks up GALOS’ weapon, thinki
ng it a good thing to sell or trade with later. Then, HE drags the body away and exits.
DACO
Fionn, give me your gift now. What is it?
FIONN
[Pondering over GALOS’ lifeless body] If peace is brought about by the sacrifices of a few, then I suppose it is worth it. My present to you, Daco, and to all your people, and eventually to your entire species, is this.
FIONN reaches into HIS pocket and reveals a small sphere. After a moment, it lights up, and DACO is completely mesmerized by it. ANGARA, YSIP, AGBAYANI, and TALAO move closer to it. RINGOR keeps HIS distance.
ANGARA
It shines like the sun.
YSIP
It is like no crystal or gem I have ever read about.
TALAO
Never knew ya’ had that on ya’, Fionn. I might’ve killed ya’ for it if I did. Ringor, come look closer.
RINGOR
No. I can see it from here.
TIGAS returns and is immediately mesmerized by the sphere as the others.
TIGAS
Pretty, pretty. What kind of trinket do you have? Want to trade for it?
FIONN
This is a mechanical wonder of my people. We call it the Eye of Peace. It’s capable of generating a sense of tranquility and enlightenment, more so to one being at a time. Daco, leader of the Pangan Tribe, I give this gift to you. May it help you on your path to enlightenment.
FIONN hands the sphere over to DACO, whose mind is showered with a sense of happiness never known to HER before.
TALAO
What’s it feel like, Daco?
DACO
It’s…strange. Daco feels…happy. Very happy.
TALAO
Happier than after ya’ eat?
DACO
Happier. Thoughts, thoughts Daco never thought of before.
ANGARA
DACO looks at FIONN after just realizing something.
DACO
Killing Galos was wrong. Daco understands now.
FIONN
You do?
DACO
Yes. Killing Galos robs me of Galos. His meat means nothing to his…his…his brain. No, not brain. His…
FIONN
Spirit?
DACO
Yes! Yes, his spirit! Daco misses his spirit, that’s it! Daco will miss him.
DACO’s eureka moment is overwhelming, and SHE has to sit down in HER chair.
YSIP
Galos challenged you. You had no choice but to kill him.
DACO
Daco had choice. Daco could’ve talked to him. Asked him questions. Understood him.
YSIP
Understood him?! What evil magic is this?! [To FIONN] Stop casting your spell on our leader! [To AGBAYANI] Defend Daco!
AGBAYANI
Daco is not in danger.
YSIP readies HER knife for a strike at FIONN.
DACO
Stop her!
AGBAYANI stops HER.
YSIP
What’s wrong with you, Agbayani? He poisons our leader!
AGBAYANI
He makes our leader happy. That is good magic.
AGBAYANI lets go of YSIP.
FIONN
Ysip, the Eye of Peace only shows what is possible. It does not force anyone to think anything. Daco likes my sphere, because she now understands the path of non-violence. Look at the sphere with her and you’ll see too—
YSIP
No! I will not defile my eyes with your tempting lies. I’m leaving. [Goes to leave, but looks back at FIONN] Fionn, stranger to our world, you will soon know what it means to be a Lumahan.
YSIP exits.
FIONN
I should follow her and try to convince her of my good intentions.
ANGARA
No, stay here. Stay here with me. I…want to hear more of your pretty words. Tell more things about your world. Show me more of your magics. Please?
FIONN
I…[Realizes that YSIP should be left alone.] I would be happy to.
ANGARA
Not here.
FIONN
Why not?
ANGARA
Somewhere private. Please?
FIONN
As you wish. Daco, I will return shortly.
DACO
What? Yes, yes. Do what you want.
FIONN and ANGARA exit. AGBAYANI watches them leave, making sure THEY are out of sight before talking to DACO.
AGBAYANI
Why do you protect the stranger? What do you see in light?
DACO
Daco sees many things Daco never saw before. Come. We must go.
DACO gets out of HER chair.
All of us.
TIGAS
To where, my leader?
DACO
To Galos’ body. We have to…to…mourn.
AGBAYANI
Mourn?
DACO
We have to feel sorry about killing him.
TALAO
[Laughing] Why do that?
DACO
Daco does not know yet. But Daco will soon. Come.
DACO, AGBAYANI, TALAO exit. Before TIGAS can exit too, RINGOR gets HIS attention.
RINGOR
Tigas.
TIGAS sneaks over to RINGOR.
TIGAS
These are curious, curious things, aren’t they Ringor?
RINGOR
Yes. Curious.
TIGAS
Daco likes the stranger’s toy, doesn’t she?
RINGOR
Very much.
TIGAS
Think she’ll sell it to me? Think she’ll let me have it for a weapon or more jellies?
Half-beat.
What are you thinking up, Ringor?
RINGOR
Daco ignored everyone when she looked at the stranger’s toy. She didn’t care how close others got to her. She was blind to danger.
TIGAS
I guess. Yes, she didn’t see anyone but her toy. What do you think of Fionn’s phillysophophies?
I thought they were useless.
TIGAS
Yeah…So did I, so did I. But they sounded smart, didn’t they?
RINGOR
We live and die by the laws of the Lumahan. That’s the way it’s always been, and that’s the way it’ll be forever.
TIGAS
Yes, yes. But if Fionn’s tribe lives without death or hunger, then maybe…I’m sorry. I’m sorry. They’re stupid ideas. Stupid, stupid, stupid…[Looks around for DACO; whispers] Stupid.
RINGOR
What is the third law of the Lumahans, Tigas?
TIGAS
Uhhh, find weakness and kill it.
RINGOR
What’s the fourth law?
TIGAS
Uhh…let me see…oh, fools die alone. Yes, that’s it.
RINGOR
If Fionn’s toy makes Daco weak, then we must find a new leader.
TIGAS
You mean…[Whispers] Kill Daco?
RINGOR nods.
How? I mean, she’ll deserve it, yes, yes. But…She is so strong. No one has ever hurt her. She’ll kill anyone who attacks her.
RINGOR
Not with that toy. With it, she is weak. With it, anyone can kill her.
TIGAS
Yes, very clever, very clever. [Chuckles] But what about Agbayani? He will defend her and his child, won’t he?
RINGOR
Yes. He will. But he is simple. I will think of something for him.
TIGAS
But what about Fionn, the stranger? He has strong magics. How will you stop him?
Beat.
How?
RINGOR
I don’t know! I will…wait. He must have a weakness, too. I will find it. In time.
RINGOR exits, TIGAS following.
TIGAS
Ringor, if you become new leader, you will keep Tigas as your very, very good friend, yes? Look out for him, yes? Ringor, do you like jellies and shiny things?
END ACT I, SCENE III
END ACT I
ACT II, SCENE I
Blackness.
The same dark atmosphere from before is here now. It is as if the world paid no heed to the small wave of positively-charged philosophy that has washed over the LUMAHAN.
DACO (OS)
I understand peace!
DACO enters. SHE is rounder with child, and HER eyes are wide and full of ideas and pleasant thoughts. The satisfied FIONN follows HER, being the wise teacher to the eager student. Following them enters ANGARA, TALAO, AGBAYANI, TIGAS, and RINGOR.
DACO sits flatly on the earth, and everyone follows HER example: FIONN being by HER side.
DACO
I understand it now. It’s need. It’s…purpose.
FIONN
Good. Would you please explain it to me?
TALAO
And to me. I’m not getting it.
DACO
Peace is no killing, but it’s also no need for killing. If no one kills, then no one needs to kill, and all the killing stops. If there’s no killing, there’s no death. Only life.
FIONN
Well, your species will die of natural causes until your sciences prevail, but for the most part you are correct.
AGBAYANI
We still die?
FIONN
Of natural causes, yes. Have you ever known anyone to die of old age?
Beat.
Anyone?
ANGARA
In my dreams, I have. I dream of many things
TALAO
I heard me a story ‘bout a Lumahan who lived nine times longer than any Lumahan, and then he got his head cut off.
FIONN
Then…you’d live even longer than him.
TALAO
Really? I like that a lot.
TIGAS
Me too. Me too.
TIGAS notices RINGOR’s displeasure and quiets down.
DACO
I understand thinking, too.
FIONN
Good for you, Daco.
DACO
Thinking makes you smarter. Thinking makes you understand things, make things, build things. Like, now I see why Talao is good.
TALAO
I am?
DACO
Yes, you…you are hardy.
TALAO
What’s that mean?
FIONN
Hard to kill.