somewhere in Iowa, this is happening

AARON

Feel it twisting inside you? Is it a clenched fist in here? (puts his finger on her stomach)
Or is it about to beat your breasts right off your chest? (puts his finger on her heart)
Or is it where the north, south, east, and west cross? (crosses her)
You know, it really doesn’t matter much anymore, because it’s all around you.

(takes off gas mask and takes a deep breath)

All your pink is long, long gone now. And know the air is clean, crisp, and full of the reason why I’m here and you’re there. It’s one little word with a hundred big implications.

(he smiles) Are you afraid of loud noises?

TEDDIE

(shakes violently)

AARON

Good. Because that’s what I’m here to tell you. Fear (picks up an M&M), my dear little altruist (eats it), is everything. (lays down next to her)

Did you know that when babies are born, fear is about the only thing they come equipped with? You know what they are afraid of? Two things (holds up two fingers) one, two (touches each of her breasts with each finger as he counts). First is the fear of loud noises, such as a fist hitting a wall, and the second is…can you guess it?

TEDDIE

(still shaking)

AARON

(rolls his eyes)
The fear of falling. Falling Teddie.

Now, let me ask you two questions, Teddie. One, two (touches each of her eyes as he counts) I want you to think about them carefully. Okay?

Question one: Was baby Jesus afraid of loud noises?

Question two: Was baby Jesus afraid of falling?

TEDDIE

(doesn’t say anything)

AARON

No, no, no! The answer is no, no, no! Not in a million years! Jesus didn’t cry, shit his swaddling clothes, and most of all—most of all—he didn’t ever, ever, ever fear. And let me tell you why—this is why I’m here, Teddie—to tell you why. Because he has all power. Saint John almost had it right. He said, “there is no fear in love, for perfect love casteth out all fear.” What he should’ve said was, “there is no fear in power, for perfect power casteth out all fear.” God is God because he’s got all power. That’s why he calls all the shots, that’s why there’s a heaven and there’s a hell—because no one has the power to oppose him. His infinite might makes eternal right. So, Teddie, right now I AM that I AM. I am your god—god with a little “g,” of course. Right now I have all the power in Teddie’s universe. Nothing else matters at all right now. I am all your thoughts, emotions, I’m you’re everything. All because you are afraid.

TEDDIE

(starting to cry)

AARON

(he takes her arms and puts her hands together) Now pray. Pray to me. Pray to your god.

TEDDIE

(garbles, but can’t utter a word)

AARON

I don’t hear anything, Teddie…If you don’t pray, then I will send you to a Hell that you can’t even imagine, Teddie. God has all power and all knowledge, so between the two of us, we can think of ways to make your howl in pain for the rest of your pathetic, fearful life as well as the eternities!

(She begins to sob, closes her eyes) Please…stop…please don’t hurt me…

(closes his eyes and takes a deep breath) (gently opens her eyes, puts his hands over hers) Now this, Teddie, is the true order of prayer.

(moves close to her face) I’m not like the vulgar gentiles you see every day. They are all filled with fear. They are afraid of people, crowds, spiders, things that go bump in the night, going out the front door. My only fear is that you won’t understand any of this.

TEDDIE

Oh God…please…

AARON

God isn’t afraid of what might happen: trust me. He knew this was all going to happen a billion years ago. He didn’t do anything about it then, and he won’t do anything about it now. He only intervenes when he sees he’s losing his power. Right now he has you right where he wants you—praying to him.

(gets off her and stands next to the bed, puts the gas mask back on)

Scream.

TEDDIE

(screams)