Rosemary And Thyme
Episode #12 – A Family Evolves
Scene 1
(Music transitions us into the next scene)
Gabriel
That evening as they plodded on, and as the chimes of midnight struck, too tired to drive another mile and too poor to even pull into a Motel Six, Josiah simply turned left and drove out across the desert under a slice of moon and a spectacular sky and parked. It was agreed that the elders (and the youngest) would pillow down in the carriage and the others would rough it in the three sleeping bags purchased at, conveniently, Clem’s Watermelon and Convenience Store somewhere on the road across New Mexico.
I take you first, to a conversation between Jose an’ Maria inside the Periwinkle Carriage, otherwise known as the 1966 Studebaker Commodore.
Scene 2
Maria
Jose, are you comfortable back there? Do you want a window open?
Jose
Si. Voy a dormir ahora.
Maria
Jose, we must speak English now. We in America to stay. Must practice.
Jose
Si, si … Yes, yes …
Maria
Jose, my love, Disneyland … Is that what you want?
Jose
I not know.
Maria
You not know what you want?
Jose
I want English … speak better.
Maria
You can learn. Is this all you want?
Jose
All? …. As in no thing else? No.
Maria
You want Disneyland?
Jose
I not understand what that even is. A place for children?
Maria
I not sure myself. So what do you really want?
Jose
(After a pause)
You. You be all I want.
Maria
You have me. All of me. And you have Alejandro, which is even more of me.
Jose
So I have you? And you have me, and we have Alejandro.
Maria
Very good. Si. We already reach our goal. We already have what we really want. So now we go with our new amigos and go west following the sun all the way to the ocean, and when we reach the land’s end, we follow the path of the light across the water all the way to the sun.
Jose
I think I understand what you say. I love you, Maria.
Maria
And I love you, Jose.
(Music transition here)
Scene 3a
Gabriel (one liner)
And so now, let us eavesdrop into the lives of Josiah and Thyme under the moon and stars each in their newly purchased sleeping bags. Shhhh …
Thyme
(All in a whisper)
Psssst. Josiah, you awake? Psst. Josiah …
Josiah
Yeah, I’m awake. Whaja expect?
Thyme
Well, it jus’ wasn‘t our night to sleep in the car.
Josiah
Yeah, I know, an’ too cold for Alejandro. But these here sleepin’ bags don’t do much good. They’re cheap an’ cold.
(Soft, sleepy calm music plays in the silence as they lay there under the stars.)
Josiah
You OK, Thyme?
Thyme
Oh, Sweetheart, I’m justa laying’ here missing’ Mama. She’s jus’ like a empty ol’ hole in my life. I can’t believe she’s gone … jus’ like that. She always tol’ me how special I was. ‘Course I never believed her till this here baby came along. But, ooh, somehow I always thought that she knew a lot more than she was letting’ on. I’m still tryin’ ta’ figure out if she was jus’ crazy or maybe she was jus’ livin’ in another world. You know, like an alternative universe or sumthin’. An’ if so, maybe she’s jus’ gone there now. Know what I mean?
Josiah
Yes I do. Mama was a special kinda human. My mind always goes back to that time in the church when we married, when she came to you an’ talked to the child. I half expected her to name him. She kept sayin’, “I know you. I know you …”.
Thyme
Yes, I think on that too. It was like she knew sumthin’ we didn’t, an’ it was like a secret … ‘tween jus’ the two of ‘em.
Josiah
(Now a little excited at the thought)
Yeah, yeah. I do know what you mean. Holy mackerel! That was some kinda weird moment!
Thyme
Josiah, have you noticed that yer not havin’ so many a’ yer dubya problems lately? Why do ya’ think that is?
Josiah
Well now, I been workin’ on that. I can’t be havin’ ma’ own child laughin’ at his Daddy fer the way he talks now, hear? I gotta be a good example, not some kinda fool. After all, I am a minister.
Thyme
Right so, Josiah, right so.
Josiah
That is some kinda Hallelujah now, ain’t it?
Shhhhh. Don’t wake Lizzie. She’s right over there behind ya’ by that cactus. If yer cold, why doncha get in here with me in my sleepin’ bag?
Josiah
I don’t think I can fit.
Thyme
Well, let’s at least give it a try.
Josiah
OK, ya’ talked me into it.
Both
Aaarrrgg, ooooh, errrk, aaaagh, (and finally) ummmmm.
Josiah
Oh darlin’ you’re right. It’s mighty close in here. Hmmm. That’s actually much better. Why … I’m gettin’ warm already.
Thyme
Shhhhhh! Josiah, don’t wake Lizzie. She’ll wanna git in too!
Josiah
This ain’t no place for Miss Lizzie. She’s been a third wheel this whole trip an’ it’s beginnin’ to make me a mite crazy.
Thyme
I know, I know. Here we are married an’ we can’t even enjoy the fruits of our marriage. First Lizzie, then a whole other family an’ never one lick a privacy. You still attracted to me?
Josiah
Now whaddya mean by that?
Thyme
Well, this is the first time you been closer than three feet from me since we left Skedee. I sometimes wonder what’s goin’ on in your mind.
Josiah
Well, at the moment, my mind is goin’ a little nuts, if ya’ wanna know the truth. This ol’ sleepin’ bag is doin’ a great job, but I certainly don’t feel like goin’ ta’ sleep … if ya’ know what I mean.
Thyme
I know whatcha mean. (She giggles) So ya’ wanna do somethin’ about it?
Josiah
Oh Darlin’, I’m jus’ gettin’ ‘bout torn in half here. On one hand one part a’ my brain says “Go”, but the other keeps yellin’ “Stop!”
Thyme
Stop? Now why on earth is that? You’re my husband! There ain’t no wrong in that!
Josiah
But doncha see, I’m a minister, an’ you’re pregnant with the Christ Child, an’ on top a’ that, impregnated by God! That just raises a whole passel a’ issues. Sometimes I jus’ don’t know where I belong in all this.
Thyme
Oh Darlin’, you belong right where you is at. On top of me, under me, all over me. Well, maybe not on top of me with this baby in the cooker. (Giggles all around)
Scene 3b
Lizzie
(Whispering)
Hey! What you two doin’ over there? Playin’ “House?”
Josiah
Oh lord …
Thyme
Be quiet, Lizzie. None of your business! Go back to sleep.
Lizzie
Oh, all right … jus’ keep the moanin’ down over there. It’s enough to drive a single girl to drink!
(Pause — Music)
Scene 3c
Josiah
Well, if that didn’t jus’ break the mood …
Thyme
Yeah, well … it was fun while it lasted.
Josiah
I love ya’ Thyme … very much. An’ I crave ya’ near every day.
Thyme
I love you too, sweet Josiah … very much. An’ I don’t ask for much. Just a little such an’ such.
Josiah
Hmmmmmmm … I understand. Jus’ a little touch?
Thyme
Hmmmmmm …..
(A little romantic music closes out the scene.)
Scene 4
Zwei Xiang
Chinese government send Zwei to Arizona. Mission to investigate. Secret mission. Spy. Dangerous readings on Earth energy flow. Is some kind of new American weapon of destruction. I come by stealth parachute.
Scene 5
Gabriel
As an Angel visitor to Planet Earth I find myself fascinated by all these little towns across America like Apache Junction, n’ Bullhead City, Carefree ‘n Snowflake, an’ the fact that Mammoth is a small town. Surprise ‘n Tombstone. Winkleman ‘n Yuma – an’ that’s just in Arizona. New Mexico’s even worse … or better. There’s Elephant Butte ‘n Angel Fire (Now that’s one I must visit!) an’ Hope ‘n Loving, an’ Magdalena an’ one actually called Truth Or Consequences … an’ Willard. [Music] An’ a’course lastly, but not leastly, Endee. Aahh, Endee! If I weren’t an Angel, that’s where I’d like ta’ die.
Gabriel (sings)
Song For The Road
Endee
Tucumcari
Clines Corners
Tijeras
Song For The Road
Albuquerque
Bluewater
All across New Mexico
A purple Studebaker
Full of runaways
Such a happy time
On the road ahead
Song For The Road
The beauty of America
The wonder of the barren land
In a world full of plenty
Sailing along
Like a ship on the sea
Song For The Road
Finally free and on the go
Over the land of New Mexico
Sailing along
Like a ship on the sea
Over the land of New Mexico
Sailing along
Like a ship on the sea
Over the land of New Mexico
Sailing along
Like a ship on the sea
Over the land of New Mexico
(The music continues under Gabriel’s speech.)
Gabriel
Free at last. Motivated. The open road before them. The purple chariot beneath them and the wonders of California beckonin’. (Music out) What could possibly go wrong? Well … we shall see.
