Lumineers

Synopsis: From the planet Luminary, two Lumineers, Luxor and Clannad travel to Earth as enlighteners, environmentalists and fellow discoverers and pioneers. 

~*~CAST~*~

Tima:  (Luxor’s mom)

Ginto: (Luxor’s dad) 

Engra: (Clannad’s mom)

Vas:  (Clannad’s dad)  

Luxor:

Clannad: 

Ama:  (their unborn daughter)

Guru Rojal:  (Their ‘ruler’)

Jerome Cullen: (dad)

Jessica ‘Jessy’ Cullen: (mom)

Max Cullen:  (son) 

Mira Cullen: (daughter)

Marigold ‘Mary’ Cullen: (baby) 

Cora Waterson:  (Tabby’s mom) 

Tabitha ‘Tabby’ Waterson:  (Max’s best friend)

Bob ‘Punchy’ Richards: (bully #1)

Beauchamp ‘Beau the Foe’ Williams: (bully #2) 

Mrs. Ernestina Maddox:  (Junior High Teacher) 

Principal Ophelia Baker:  (Junior High Principal)

Mr. Ethan Stutz: (Elementary Teacher) 

Scene 1—The Drive to Explore

Tima:   Luxor, where are you headed ? 

Luxor:  Mom, please, don’t worry.   You’ll start to go dim if you do ! 

(She laughs) 

Ginto:   It’s so kind that you and your lovely light, Clannad, look after all of us. 
Clannad:   Since we were destined to shine together, it felt only right to expand our families.  

Vas:  And pretty soon, we can call ourselves grandparents.   Ah, I can’t wait. 

Engra:  Should you be traveling in your condition though ? 

(The duo chuckle) 

Clannad:  Mother, relax.   We’ll be fine.   Baby’s fine too.   Guru Rohal gave us permissions to leave Luminary to study, discover and enlighten Earth.  

Luxor:  We’ve always wanted to go.   It’s only been in holo-books that we’ve been perusing that we know of their culture.   Never once have we seen it in action.  

Engra:   (nodding)  We know.   Rohal was correct in letting you two have a star cruiser to begin your journey.  

(They all surround them) 

Tima:  Love and light surround you, light-bearers. 

Ginto:  Safe travels. 

Vas:  Be prosperous  ! 

Engra:   Good vibrations all around.  

Luxor:  Thank you, everyone.    (kissing them) 

(The two walk out, saying their farewells to their family, hailing their cruiser telepathically.  Over the comm, there is a hologram of their Guru.) 

Rohal:  Don’t forget to file your reports as often as you can.   I’m eager to see and hear your findings, whatever they are.  

Clannad:   Of course, Rohal.  We’ll make the Lumineers proud !  

Rohal:  (beams)  You know you will.   I couldn’t have chosen more capable candidates.   You are both experts in your field.   You know your topics.   You have just never seen them up close and personal.  

Luxor:   (bashfully)  Rohal, you flatter us too much.   We’re just learning.  It wasn’t long ago we graduated from the academy of sciences.  

Rohal:  With honors and rightfully so.   Go forth, Lumineers !   We believe in you.   Shine on.  

Clannad:  (getting a tad teary)  We will.  Clannad and Luxor out.   (closes communication)  That was awfully thoughtful of the Guru. 

Luxor:  Yes.  I sense they are all with us though, in spirit.   (holds her hand, squeezes it)   We’re not far away from our destiny now.   Any moment, we’ll be entering the stratosphere, and then the atmosphere.   Touching down shouldn’t be any challenge.  

Clannad:   Good thing we both trained in sims before our mission. 

Luxor:  Indeed, Clannad, my darling dawn.  

(Scene shift to touching down on earth and them cloaking their vessel.   They skim through their holobook on earth fashion and phase into new clothing seamlessly literally.)  

Scene 2—Field Work

(Right off the bat the two look like tourists, taking photographs and writing notes in their holo-journal.  There are a couple kids playing in the background.  One of them throws a Frisbee a bit too far…) 

Max:  Awww, nuts !  Mira, go get it ! 

Mira:   I threw it too far, Max.   Wait a minute, those nice tourists are bringing it back to us.  

Luxor:  Did you lose this ?  

Mira:  Thanks.  We were having quite the game.  Our little sister can’t play with us yet.  She hasn’t really learned to walk.  She’s tuckered out though. 

Clannad:  She is absolutely precious.  You know what ?  I’m going to be having a baby soon myself.  

Max:  Really ?  What are you going to name her ?

Luxor/Clannad:  Ama after a long lived grandmother. 

Mira:  Lovely name.   (raised eyebrow)  Do you know your skin glows ? 

(They look a bit surprised) 

Clannad:  You can see us phosphoresce ?

Max:  (nodding)  Yes, clear as day.   Look, if you’re not from Earth, we totally understand.   We know aliens are amongst us.  

Mira:  We won’t rat you out to the government.   Trust us.  

Luxor:  We were absolutely certain our disguises would fool you. 

(They go along, lugging their baby sister with them, who rides piggyback on Max’s back, completely asleep.) 

Max:  Granted the disguises were ingenious. 

Mira:   We noticed that you shine just like glow sticks.  Not to mention you have glow-in-the dark hair.   It’s really cool !   

(They look at each other and are astonished they didn’t take credence of this earlier.)   

Mira:   We’re friends, like we said.   Tell us all about yourselves. 

Max:  Whatever you say, we’ll keep it mum from our folks.  Secrets are not getting through us ! 

Mira:  That’s right.  

Luxor:  (narrating)  So we told the Earthlings all about our world and what we had learned.   Earth was far more complex than we had initially surmised.  

(Segue into next scene, where Luxor and Clannad get to know the family, but their kids keep Luxor’s and Clannad’s true identities secret.) 

Scene 3—Family Dinner

Clannad: (narrating)  We engaged in a ritual known as ‘dinner’ or ‘supper’ depending on where you grew up in Earth.   We weren’t horrified that some Earthlings weren’t vegetarians, but these Earthlings, fortunately, were.  

Jerome:  I hope everything is to your liking ! 

Jessie:  We heard about your plight and thought, why not ?    We’ve got room for 2 more in our guest room. 

Jerome: (huge smile)  We’ve been meaning to have family spend the night sometime for our next family reunion. 

Luxor:  That’s quite generous of you. 

Max:  It’s a good Samaritan thing we do.  

Clannad:  Very laudable !  

Mira:  Do you want to go with us to our classes tomorrow ?   Clannad can go with me to elementary school and Luxor can go with Max to junior high. 

Jessie:  That’s a brilliant idea, Mira.  

Jerome:   If you have any questions, feel free to ask them.  We’ll field them all.  (finishing his dinner)  What a meal !   I’m stuffed.  

Luxor:  (narrating) We soon learned being ‘stuffed’ didn’t mean getting filled with cotton and used as a comfort item during slumber.   It took us some time to get used to Terran expressions and colloquialisms but we became acclimated instantly.  

(Scene fade/shift.) 

Scene 4—Standing up to a Bully

Clannad:  (recording)  These learning establishments are extraordinary.   Are they all the same ?  

Mira:  No, they’re unique.   There are even AP classes in junior and high schools.  My brother happens to be in them and I have a lot of extra curricular activities due to my terrific grades. 

Clannad:  Yes, I can see that.  

Mira:  (acting a bit afraid all of a sudden) 

Clannad:  What’s the matter ? 

Mira:  (shudders)  Oh, it’s just Punchy Williams.  Everyone’s terrified of him.  He beats people  up and takes their lunch money.  He gives people swirlies in the bathroom.  And worse…

Clannad:  That’s horrible.   Has anyone ever stood up to this bully ?

Mira:  No !   (scoffs)  They don’t want to get a black eye. 

Clannad:  Let me talk to him. 

Mira:  Clannad, no.  He’ll just beat you up ! 

Clannad:  We’ll see about that.   (sits next to Williams) 

Punchy:  I haven’t seen you around here before.  What’s with the weird get-up ?  Did the 90’s puke you out ? 

Clannad:  (laugh)  I prefer comfort over style.   You’d be surprised how popular that trend is with the hipper people amongst us.

Punchy:  What are you tryin’ to say, you dumbass ?   I won’t let anyone speak to me in such a manner.   You wouldn’t know fashion if it bit your clit !  

Clannad:  Such language coming from a young mouth.   Do you kiss your mother with that mouth ? 

Punchy:  What if I do, you filthy bitch ? 

Clannad:  You’re just acting the way you do because you like the notoriety it gives you.  You don’t really have any friends.   They are afraid of you.  Maybe if you were nicer you’d actually have friends.   Being kind isn’t a weakness.  

Punchy:  Shut up, just…shut up !   (starts crying, which the others don’t see because their view is obscured at the moment) 

Clannad:  You do have a heart, otherwise you wouldn’t be able to cry.  Your real name isn’t Punchy either, is it ?

Punchy:  How would you know ?  You’re not my ma, she’s DEAD ! 

Clannad:  Oh…(puts her hand on his shoulder, which he recoils from angrily) I’m sorry.   I didn’t know.

Punchy:  No one does.  My dad, he’s sort of belligerent.   I’d leave, but, I have nowhere else to go.   I want to get him help but…

Clannad:  You’re afraid to ask for it. 

Punchy:  Yes.  Actually (ashamed) that’s true.   I lash out because I’m so angry.  I feel so out of control.   All because I like the power pushing people around gives me.  

Clannad:  You don’t have to do that.   I know people you can talk to.  Start with the guidance councelor.

Punchy:  Mrs. Sanchez ?   Oh, sure.  Everyone likes her, she’s super nice. 

Clannad:  There you are.   Baby steps. 

Punchy:  What’s your name ?  

Clannad:   Clannad.   I’m from out of town.  I’m only here for a short while. 

Punchy:  I’m Rob.  Wish you could stay longer, you’re alright. 

Clannad:  (laughs)  Glad you think so, Rob.

Mira: (watching Clannad walk back to her)  How did you do that ? 

Clannad:  It begins with a simple smile.  That’s your ice breaker.  Listen to those who are suffering.  Sometimes all it takes is a sounding board or listening ear to ease their pain.

Mira:  You’re so wise in your ways.   You know, my brother has a bully he’s dealing with too.  Maybe your husband is teaching him a better way to interact with others ?

Clannad: (placing her hands on her head and heart)  Yes, in fact, he is at this very moment.  

Mira:  So cool.  You have a deeper connection that a lot of humans have. 

Clannad:  I’m sure you have it with your family too, you just never noticed.  All humans do at some level or another.  They just need to learn how to reconnect on a heart level, like their ancestors before them.   Many people today live too much inside their own minds.   The mind is a wonderous realm but it needs to be coupled with the heart as well.  

Mira:  Maybe you and Luxor could teach us what you mean later tonight ?

Clannad:  We’d be pleased to.  It isn’t hard !  
Mira:  I’m open to learning new things. 

Clannad: (playfully) I know you are, I sensed it the moment I met your incredible family.  

(Scene fade) 

Scene 5—The Way of the Lumineer

Max:  (meeting Mira on the bus)  You’ll never guess what Luxor did today.  You know Beau the Foe ?

Mira:  Yes, the whole school knows him.  Kids at Starfish Elementary fear him too.  

Max:  Luxor just went up to him and started a casual chat.   Pretty soon, Beau seemed to be completely different.  It’s like a miracle. 

Luxor:  Killing them with kindness.  Agape is powerful. 

Mira:  That’s surreal.   

Luxor:  All of this has inspired me to sing a song to commemorate the event. 

Jerome:  Is that something you both do often ? 

Jenny:  (bouncing Mary up and down)  Did you hear that, Mary ?  Our friends want to sing to us !   How delightful ! 

(Mary giggles and coos with delight) 

Clannad:  Yes, music is our primary mode of expression.

(They sing ‘Shine Your Light’) 

(Everyone applauds)  

Jenny:  That was lovely.  Thank you.  

Luxor:  As usual, the dinner you’ve given us was outstanding. 

Clannad:  Yes, I must write down these recipies and take them back home with us to share.   They’re unlike anything either of us have ever had.

Jerome:  That’s my sweetie, a veritable magician in the kitchen. 

Luxor:  We’re going to teach you how to have a deeper connection with one another.  

(Jerome, Jenny and Max look at each other curiously, especially Mira.  They seem to know it was her suggestion.)  

Jerome:  Ok, how do we begin ?  

Luxor:  Follow us to the family room. 

Jenny:  (nodding)  Now what ? 

Clannad:  Take a seat, lotus position if you can. 

(They agree) 

Luxor:  Close your eyes, focus on your breathing.  Try not  to think so much of what’s happening outside you.   If you begin to see whirling colors, it’s not abnormal.   Just keep breathing. 

Clannad:  You can either use the mantra ‘Hum Sa’ or ‘Om’ or ‘Om Rittum Nama’.  

Max:  (trying to be serious, he laughs a bit)  What do all those things mean ?

Clannad:  It means ‘I am that’.  Om is the one perfect sound in the Universe, and the last is ‘I dance to the rhythm of the Cosmos.’

Jenny:  That’s profound and gorgeous. 

Luxor/Clannad:  It is. 

Clannad:   (narrating over their meditation session)  Each and every day before the contractions started, we taught our adoptive family how to be more reflective and open to the energy that surrounds us all.   

Luxor: (narrating)  We also helped those around us become more conscious of the environment and how we and all things are all connected.   Even in the most minute way, we live a symbiotic relationship.    Many that we encountered understood this already, but our family, our Earthling friends, they had learned this the quickest of all.    Sadly, we had to depart from our friends.   We didn’t want our farewell to be tearful but the tears came anyway.   The Cullen family was the only one that saw us leave and they kept our secret and still keep it to this day.   We owe them a debt we can never possibly repay, but for now, we exist, teaching Ama everything we have gleaned from our experience and the importance of faith, hope and love.   For those we have met, they have plenty of all three and it sustains us as well as them.   Of course, they all have their ups and downs but so far they are thriving.   As for us, we thrive too, basking in the fruits of our outreach.   If anything we’ve learned a smile and a gesture of kindness can extend beyond anything known or unknown in this Universe.  It is reciprocal and never ends.   So no matter who you meet, give them a smile, lend them a hug, show them a simple act of agape.  You never know how it will repay you. 

(As this is happening, we can see a sort of clip show of the family replenishing itself on Luminary and Ama being fussed about as her parents play with her and shower her in affection.  Back on earth, everyone begins to display random acts of kindness and pays it forward spontaneously.  Lesson:  Karma will pay you back, so be careful of your words and deeds.   My thanks goes to all that made this possible including the Luminaries who inspired me to write it much like Mooji and other Gurus here on Our Planet.  Your wisdom gives me courage, strength, wisdom and openness.  I ask that I can be light to all whom I touch, knowing they touch me in so many incredible ways.   I am grateful, I owe everyone immense thanks.   Namaste !)