FIRST BIRD Early Sunday morning. She enters, headed for the tomb. We hear her desolation as she responds to the early morning birdsong and the first light of day. WHAT SHOULD I HAVE DONE? Searching for answers, she blames herself for failing to save Christ from his execution. She also blames him for not preparing her, and determines to remember everything in an attempt to keep something of him alive. SEVEN MEN Drifting back in time to before their meeting, she relates the damaged childhood that led her to being "possessed by seven demons." WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT? Magdalene as prostitute, confronting a man (a potential customer?) who is not behaving normally in response to her wiles. He is simply standing, watching, and weeping for her. She moves from seduction to confusion to fury at his response, and by the end of the song, his steady gaze has reduced her to childish tears. I AM BORN AGAIN This is her healing. She is in awe at the man, who once he broke her down, stooped to kneel beside her, pray with her, touch her, bathe her, and promise her that she is beautiful in God's love. THAT'S WHO YOU ARE Time has passed and Mary has been traveling with Jesus and the disciples, listening to the sermons, watching the miracles of healing and grace. She "figures it out" -- the man who touched and healed her is the Christ, God himself. IN THE NAME OF THE LORD The triumphant entry into Jerusalem of Jesus and the disciples. Mary Magdalene is part of the parade. WHAT'S GOING ON? Thursday night. Magdalene comes upon Christ, alone, weeping in the garden. She is confused ("God can't be frightened... nothing can hurt you, no one can touch you"). The music becomes violent and insistent. Jesus has been taken prisoner. We witness her responses to his capture, the trial, his beating, and finally his crucifixion. An echo of the original birdsong brings her and us out of memory and back into Sunday morning. IT DOESN'T MATTER Magdalene tries to put an ending on the story: maybe you were God, maybe you weren't, but your love was real, and maybe that's the real message. She vows to follow in his footsteps and live the way he taught her. She continues her original walk only to be confronted with the starkness of the empty tomb. We hear the violent music of "What's Going On?" again, as she rages: "even his body's left me now!" Sudden majestic chords bring her to her knees. Following the Luke story of Magdalene at the tomb, she answers two angelic figures, explaining why she weeps. Then, seeing a gardener, she asks him if he knows where the missing body might be. The gardener calls her by name, and in an instant, she recognizes him as the risen Christ. Her horror has turned to the greatest joy: "You never left me! You kept your promise! You'll never leave!" EVEN I A direct witness to the audience: Love is alive! Alleluia!