INT. KENT HOME/LUMA’S BEDROOM — NIGHT
While most everyone else in the household sleeps, Luma remains wide awake. To pass the hours, she reads from the weightiest text the Kents keep around the house: the Bible. Reclining atop her bed, she holds the tome between thumb and forefinger, handling it as if it were no denser than the thinnest paperback.
Luma rises from bed. Absorbed in the text, she absentmindedly crosses the length of the room. Upon coming to the wall, she doesn’t stop. Indeed, she continues up it, against the pull of gravity. Striding the length of the wall, she continues onto the ceiling, still reading. Reaching the centre, she stops. Standing on the ceiling, suspended upside down with her hair and clothes inexplicably still in place, she turns a page. Leaving the ceiling, flipping over in mid-air, she floats down as softly as a feather back to the mattress.
INT. KENT HOME/DINING ROOM — DAY
Clark has already departed for school, leaving Jonathan, Martha, and Luma at the table. As Clark’s parents finish their coffee, Luma reads through a fashion magazine, taking particular interest in the models’ hairstyles.
LUMA
(touches hair) How wouldst you outline mine own hair?
MARTHA
Outline?
LUMA
Describe.
MARTHA
(envious) Lush … baby blond….
LUMA
You surmise not t hast poise?
MARTHA
(half-smiles) Two out of three ain’t bad.
LUMA
(shows magazine to Martha) Notwithstanding, this hairstyle wouldst not beest phenomenal on me?
MARTHA
You want a makeover.
LUMA
(hopeful) T’s viable?
MARTHA
You could do worse than a qualified hairdresser … (looks to Jonathan)
Jonathan shakes his head.
MARTHA
(cont’d) but I’m no fledgling with the scissors. I could see what I can do.
LUMA
Splendiferous, Martha. Thank you. (beat) Jonathan?
JONATHAN
Hmm?
LUMA
Your family hast alotted me bountifully this month. I’d assisteth in your errands, if’t be true you’d give license.
JONATHAN
(shrugs) Sure thing.
INT. BARN/STORAGE AREA — DAY
Jonathan and Luma enter. Crossing to a chopping block, Jonathan pulls loose an axe.
JONATHAN
(points to firewood pile) Fetch a piece, Luma, would you?
Crossing to the pile of unchopped firewood, Luma takes up a round and carries it over.
JONATHAN
(cont’d) On the block.
She sets the round down on its side. It rolls off the block.
JONATHAN
(chuckles) Upright.
She sets the round, upright, on the chopping block.
JONATHAN
Stand back.
Luma steps away. Bringing the axe down, Jonathan cleaves the round in twain.
JONATHAN
And that’s how it’s done. (beat) Another.
They continue the process, Luma gathering wood, Jonathan chopping it.
LUMA
“But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also. Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”
JONATHAN
Luke 6:27-38.
LUMA
(cont’d) “And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, ‘Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites: afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people.’ And Moses spake unto the people, saying, ‘Arm some of yourselves unto the war, and let them go against the Midianites, and avenge the Lord of Midian. Of every tribe a thousand, throughout all the tribes of Israel, shall ye send to the war.’ So there were delivered out of the thousands of Israel, a thousand of every tribe, twelve thousand armed for war. And Moses sent them to the war, a thousand of every tribe, them and Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, to the war, with the holy instruments, and the trumpets to blow in his hand. And they warred against the Midianites, as the Lord commanded Moses; and they slew all the males. And they slew the kings of Midian, beside the rest of them that were slain; namely, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian: Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword. And the children of Israel took all the women of Midian captives, and their little ones, and took the spoil of all their cattle, and all their flocks, and all their goods. And they burnt all their cities wherein they dwelt, and all their goodly castles, with fire. And they took all the spoil, and all the prey, both of men and of beasts. And they brought the captives, and the prey, and the spoil, unto Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and unto the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the camp at the plains of Moab, which are by Jordan near Jericho. And Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and all the princes of the congregation, went forth to meet them without the camp. And Moses was wroth with the officers of the host, with the captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, which came from the battle. And Moses said unto them, ‘Have ye saved all the women alive? Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord. Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him. But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.’”
JONATHAN
Numbers 31:1-18.
LUMA
The Bible impels much … ambivalence.
JONATHAN
It does at that.
LUMA
You art a votary of the Hebrew god?
JONATHAN
I don’t put too much stake in being a churchgoing sort, but I believe in Jesus.
LUMA
How doth you harmonize the charity of Christ Jesus with the vehemence of his deity?
JONATHAN
When the Lord commands Israel to do the Midianites wrong, that’s the Devil in disguise. When Jesus commands his disciples to turn the other cheek, that’s the true God breaking through the Devil’s lies. But I’m sure Pastor Nilquist would say different. (beat) How about you give it a try?
Setting down the axe, Jonathan switches places with Luma. Retrieving a round of wood, he places it on the chopping block.
JONATHAN
You don’t need the axe. (nods) Go ahead.
Clenching her fist, she brings it down on the round. Instead of splitting in two neat halves, it bursts into kindling.
JONATHAN
(smirks) Splendiferous.
INT. KENT HOME/KITCHEN — DAY
Luma sits in a chair, a towel draped around her shoulders and over her chest, looking through the same fashion magazine from before. Martha stands behind her, scissors in hand.
MARTHA
Ready?
LUMA
I am.
Taking a lock of Luma’s blond hair in hand, she takes her scissors to it. The blades snap clean off.
MARTHA
Heavens!
LUMA
(frowns) Something the matter?
MARTHA
(irate) I asked if you were ready.
LUMA
(frowns) I am.
MARTHA
(holds out broken scissors) These speak otherwise.
LUMA
(confused) I apprehend not.
MARTHA
You don’t know how to dial back your invulnerability?
LUMA
Dial back my invulnerability?
MARTHA
Clark can make it so scissors won’t break against his hair.
LUMA
Hast Clark did delineate the processth?
MARTHA
“Pulling it into himself”.
LUMA
I’ll tryeth….
Closing her eyes, Luma concentrates.
LUMA
Attempteth again.
Retrieving a new pair of scissors, Martha takes a lock of Luma’s blond hair in hand and cautiously takes her scissors to it. The blades shear through the strands effortlessly.