Drawn Up From Deep Places

She FADES into the background, pouring WATER from a pitcher.

PURL

You’re happy in the garden, then?

JACK

Very.

PURL

This recent weather must have spoiled your work somewhat.

JACK

It comes back, though. That’s what I like best about flowers.

PURL

The triumph over Death.

JACK

Facilely enough, yes. It’s what we all strive for, isn’t it? Cut and burn and inoculate as we may, eternity remains in all its vastness, uncharted: decay, rot, nothing left over. The end of all flesh.

PURL

Ah, but then we can serve as fertilizer.

JACK

I’ve had worse ambitions.

PURL is slightly taken aback by this revelation. Luckily for him, MRS. BENTHAM intrudes.

MRS. BENTHAM

(Placing the flowers on his desk)

Here we are. Very nice, aren’t they?

PURL

Indeed. I hope—

The door BANGS open. BOWKER, LEAN, POACHER and SECOND BOY enter.

PURL

Has knocking become a foreign concept, Bowker?

BOWKER

(Surly)

These men want a word, is all. They say they’ve found

something—