X. Tower Tea Ceremony

[PAULA]
The Tower Tea Ceremony is a reminder to us all of the wonder of small things, the wonder of ourselves, and the wonder of others. We pour for our neighbor; we drink with attention; we journey within

(The group begins a simple tea ritual.)

[ALL]
​breathe and sing with me
​and drink your tea

​breathe in
​breathe out
​let be
​hold the cup
​sit and drink your tea

​breathe and sing with me
​and drink your tea

(Paula walks around the circle, adding something to each teacup with a dropper.)

[PAULA]
​this is how the tea feels

[ALL]
​this is how the tea smells
​this is how the tea tastes

[MARVIN]
​give yourself a little bit of time
​and a little bit of space
​only once you’re bored out of your mind
​will you see the monster’s face

(Seeing Paula doctoring the tea, Velma stops singing.)

[MARVIN]
​tiny little monster

[ALL but VELMA]
​vast and mighty monster
​lost and lonely monster

​breathe and sing with me
​and drink your tea

(They lift the cups to their mouths. Velma abruptly turns to Paula.)

[VELMA]
What’s in this?

[PAULA]
It’s a powerful group psychedelic that induces a 5-minute coma, in which your consciousness is transported back to its original, pure, pre-technological limbic state.​

[VELMA]
Oh!…Wow.​

(The ritual resumes.)

[PAULA]
​this is how the tea feels

[ALL but VELMA]
​this is how the tea smells
​this is how the tea tastes

(All but Velma drink the tea.)

​breathe and sing with me
​and drink your tea

​breathe and sing with me
​and drink your tea

​breathe and sing with me
​and drink your tea

(All but Velma lie on the floor and play a pitch pipe chorale as they drift into unconsciousness.)

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