Flamuck (personal)

From Azuwiki

This is a musical I am writing; it is the text of the script so far. Please do not use any part of this in anything else. Thank you.

j o h n n y

Dramatic Personae: [In order of appearance]

St. Jimmy – A mobster with a conscience and an obsession with disco. He takes his own hits on his enemies instead of hiring hitmen. He enjoys killing, but begins to feel guilty about it. He loves disco dancing, disco clothing, disco music, and his Luger, which he has named Betty. He wears a white disco suit, with a black disco shirt, a heavy gold cross medallion, and a white hat. Sometimes a fedora, sometimes a (bucket hat?). He has a bulletproof umbrella. He helps out homeless people and people who want his help and don’t get on his nerves. He asks a price, however.

Johnny – A young man (around 19 or so) out for vengeance. He was going to the local community college, but dropped out when his family was killed by the mob. He wore a lot of black even before his family died. His favorite color is red. He likes mushrooms and beef stew.

Ferguson – An old friend and business partner of Johnny’s father. He likes to drink and he’s a bit absentminded. He’s a relatively cautious guy, likes to mind his own business.

Jenny – A nice girl, about Johnny’s age. She likes knives. She also likes Johnny. She doesn’t like St. Jimmy.

[play Dead Man’s Party, roll credits, opening name-image]

FAMILY DEATH SCENE

[Cut to shot of white jacket, with wide lapels, open to show a black wide-lapel shirt and a big gold cross medallion on a chain. The shirt is also open a bit. A hand with a white sleeve enters from the left side of the screen and pulls a pistol (an old Luger) from the jacket.]

St. Jimmy: [singing along with the music]

[Shot of horrified family: mother, father, daughter, infant. They are standing in front of a wall in what looks to be a living room. The walls are a pale green. There is a blue couch behind them, and what looks to be a family portrait.]

[Show St. Jimmy (side camera). He busts a move, moonwalks, shoots, spins, shoots, does the “Running Man,” shoots, does the “Rocket Man,” and shoots. Does a final move, then (front camera, straight-on) stands erect and poses, hands on his hips.]

St. Jimmy: My work here is done!

[Shot of a boombox, still playing. St. Jimmy’s hand reaches down and presses “Stop.” Music stops. Side view of St. Jimmy; he picks up the boom box and walks out the door, closing it behind him.]

[Black screen, text: THREE HOURS LATER:]

JOHNNY FINDS HIS FAMILY

[knocking]

Disembodied voice: Hello? Mom? Dad? Jessie? Anybody home?

[sound of keys, show doorknob turning. Door opens, to reveal…]

[Enter Johnny, looks inside; gets a shocked look]

[shot of family portrait on the pale green wall, with blood spattered across it. It shows the family we saw earlier, plus Johnny.]

Johnny: HOLY-

THE FUNERAL I

[cut scene abruptly. Go to black. Fade in to funeral. Johnny is there, watching as the three normal coffins and one tiny coffin are buried next to each other. St. Jimmy is there too, standing a distance away from the gathering. Johnny stares at him. St. Jimmy doffs his hat, bows, replaces his hat, and walks away with a spring in his step. Johnny stares after him, hatred in his eyes. He leaves, storming off in the direction that St. Jimmy went, forcing his way through the crowd. He breaks free of the crowd- and St. Jimmy is nowhere to be seen. Johnny, feeling impotent and powerless, hangs his head and turns back to the funeral. An older gentleman, also attending the funeral, sees Johnny, and misinterpreting his mood:]

Ferguson: You know, funerals aren’t exactly my kind of thing either, Johnny.

[Johnny looks at him quizzically.]

Ferguson: My name’s Michael Ferguson. I’m an old friend of your father’s. I know you from the pictures he carried with him. He always used to talk about his family, before… well, you know. Come on, I’ll buy you a drink and we can talk about it.

[cut to bar scene. They’re both at the bar with a bottle of beer.]

JOHNNY GETS A CLUE

Johnny: I just wish I knew who did it. Then at least I could do something about it.

Ferguson: Do what? Go charging off to avenge your family? You’d probably get shot up just like them. Or worse, you wouldn’t be able to find the courage to face whoever did it, once you find out, and have to live with the shame of that. [shakes his head] Don’t bother with that. It’s a waste of time. I doubt your father would want you risking your life for some crazy idea of ‘honor.’

Johnny: Then what should I do?

Ferguson: Move on with your life. Get yourself a job, find yourself a girl, settle down somewhere, have a few kids.

[Johnny muses over this for a while.]

Johnny: There was this weird guy hanging around at the funeral. He looked like some kind of disco dancer. When he saw me looking at him, he bowed and left. Any idea who he was?

Ferguson: Hmm… He sounds like St. Jimmy. Odd character. Dangerous to people who aren’t on his good side. I’d stay away from him if I were you.

Johnny: Did he know my father?

Ferguson: Yeah… we both did. Did a little business with him. It went bad; we got out. Sent someone over with a gift and our apologies, haven’t heard from him since.

Johnny: Do you think maybe he’s the one who killed my family?

Ferguson: Well, may- [stiffens, looks at Johnny sideways.] Say, you aren’t planning on rushing off and trying to snuff him, are you? Didn’t I tell you not to try to avenge your family, that it’d be foolish, et cetera?

Johnny: [does his best to look innocent] Of course not! I just want to know more about my father’s life, that’s all. I never really knew him too well; he wasn’t home often. Was always off on ‘business.’ I want to know what kind of business he was doing that got him involved with a guy like this St. Jimmy character. Ferguson: [gives some kind of back story involving something illegal but with good intentions that I’ll make up later]

JOHNNY GETS A JOB [He tries to move on, and gets himself a job working at a bookstore. He’s still depressed, understandably.]

JOHNNY MEETS JENNY [Johnny meets Jenny at the bookstore. They start talking, and end up going out on a date.]

TALKING ‘BOUT ST. JIMMY [Johnny tells Jenny about his family while they are on a cliff overlooking the bay at night. Jenny has heard of St. Jimmy, but mostly about the good that he has done. She never did trust him. Says so. Et cetera.]

JENNY’S ENCOUNTER WI/ THE SAINT [Jenny meets St. Jimmy at the knife and gun shop. St. Jimmy is getting his Luger cleaned, fixed, etc. Something wrong with the trigger, it jams sometimes. Jenny is getting some knives. They start talking. Jenny brings up Johnny’s family, St. Jimmy doesn’t like her. He talks about business. Jenny storms out, St. Jimmy buys some ammo.]

JENNY’S DEATH [Jenny dies for saying what she said to St. Jimmy. Johnny finds her dead body, much like ha found his family. Also finds a note on a table, that Jenny had written, saying that she might be in danger, had talked to St. Jimmy, etc.]

JOHNNY MOURNS; DECIDES [Cops come, question Johnny. He mourns for Jenny. He walks away, and makes up his mind to find St. Jimmy and kill him.]

JOHNNY JOINS THE MOB [Johnny asks around and finds out where the mob can be found; where St. Jimmy helps out the homeless who want help. He goes there, finds the Saint, and offers to join him. Says he wants to help, and has a keen eye for business matters. St. Jimmy doesn’t trust him, but allows him to join. Johnny doesn’t let St. Jimmy know who he is or who his family is, gives a false identity.]

JOHNNY GETS ON THE SAINT’S GOOD SIDE [Johnny saves St. Jimmy’s life; he wants to kill him himself. St. Jimmy sees this as Johnny risking his own life to save his, and decides he can trust Johnny.]

THE FIRST JOB [Johnny goes on his first job in the employ of St. Jimmy. Does well to impress St. Jimmy and convince him that Johnny has nothing but good intentions.]

TALKING WITH SAINT JIMMY [Johnny talks with St. Jimmy. St. Jimmy likes him more and more. Johnny still hates him, but pretends to like him. The power of the mob tempts him, but he refuses. He sees the mob as small, and his family’s death and vengeance as huge. He has begun to go insane already, and begins to have delusions.]

ST. JIMMY TALKS WITH GOD [St. Jimmy is starting to feel remorse, has for a while. Talks with his God, tries to atone. Et cetera.]

JOHNNY PLANS [Johnny, in the midst of his madness, becomes more and more manipulative, and schemes and plots St. Jimmy’s demise. Finds evidence that his father was a murderer, thief, etc., and that St. Jimmy is more moral than his father, but is set on avenging his family anyways. He hears voices. They tell him to kill St. Jimmy, and how to do it.

ST. JIMMY DIES [In this scene, Johnny’s plan is about to come to fruition. He and St. Jimmy are at the edge of the bay, and St. Jimmy is talking, facing the bay. Johnny has a garrote hidden in his coat. He is not listening to St. Jimmy, he is listening to the voices in his head. As he is about to pull out the garrote and kill St. Jimmy, St. Jimmy turns, and says to Johnny: “Goodbye, Jonathan. You’ve been a good friend.” He pulls out his Luger, puts it under his jaw, and shoots himself. His brains fly out into the bay. The voices in Johnny’s head fall silent and he stands there, shocked and stunned, agape. St. Jimmy’s bodyguards rush past him to grab St. Jimmy’s dead body, a commotion ensues. Johnny leaves without saying a word.

JOHNNY WALKS AWAY [In this scene, Johnny walks through the alleyways of the city, and hears the homeless talking about St. Jimmy in glowing terms. He announces what has just happened, and keeps walking. He walks to an abandoned warehouse and hangs himself, having no purpose left.]

THE FUNERAL II [Johnny’s funeral. His friends are there. They weep for him. Denouement-type stuff. This scene not necessary, could be deleted. Could instead end with the instant of Johnny’s hanging.]

END CREDITS

Katie's Demon A screenplay by Brian Pait

Dramatic Personae:

Katie: A weird green-haired girl with no friends. She has odd interests and is lonely. Other people make fun of her or avoid her. She tries to summon a demon to be her friend.

Kent: A nyx, summoned by Katie, who takes a very long time to arrive

Rolf: An art student who Katie meets at art school.

Popular girls: Popular girls. They dress alike and make fun of Katie.

Katie’s dad: Katie’s dad. Duh.

Teacher 1: Katie’s Ancient World History teacher.

ACT I

Scene 1

School. Katie, walking. She is wearing a black shapeless hat and a faux army jacket wi/zippered pockets. The jacket is closed. She has black cargo pants on. She has hair that is naturally a rather dark brown, but it is dyed green from just above the bottom of the hat downwards. She has brown eyes and glasses with black rectangular frames. Her hair is just a bit shorter than shoulder-length and untied.

She walks into class, sits down. Nobody talks to her, or even looks at her. She looks at other students, says nothing. Gets out her supplies. Class starts.

Teacher 1: Alright class, let’s begin. Today we are continuing learning about the Sumerians. Can anybody tell me what kind of religion they had?

Katie: (hand shoots up) They had ziggurats for temples, each of which was controlled by an Ensi associated with each divinity. The various deities were part of a pantheon known as the Anunaki, which translates to “Heaven and Earth.” The main gods were An, Enlil, Enki, Ninhursag, Ashur, Ninlil, Ninurta, Marduk-

Teacher 1: (interrupting Katie) That’s enough Katie. I wasn’t looking for a lesson on theology. All I wanted was to see if you all remembered that the Sumerian religion was polytheistic.

Several students snicker; a group of like-dressed girls laugh at Katie. She slumps in her chair as the class continues, lowering her eyes to her desk. [Show desk, with paper sticking out of binder with the title Demonology: A Complete Practical Guide to (the rest is covered)].

Scene 2

Cut to scene in hall, students exiting class. Katie is shoved aside by the “popular girls,” and she drops her books. The printout on demonology falls out. A blonde girl sees it.

Blonde girl: (sarcastically/patronizing) Are you going to summon a demon to bite me, um… whatever your name is?

Other girls laugh as Katie snatches up the printout, and they continue walking as she glares at them. Nobody helps her pick up her books. Cut to Katie walking out of school, then to her on the bus, then entering her home.

Scene 3

Katie’s dad: Hi, Katie! How was school?

Katie: (irritated) Fine, Dad. I’m gonna go study in my room, okay?

Katie’s dad: Okay. Just holler if you need anything.

Katie walks into her room, tosses her bookbag onto a bed (really just a mattress, some blankets and some pillows on the floor). Shot of the demonology thing sticking out, then shot of the room. There is a poster of Anton Szandor LeVay on the wall, one of Einstein sticking his tongue out, etc. The room is messy. There is a filing cabinet, a desk with a computer, a cheir by a window, random other things. Shot of Katie from the door as she sits down at the computer and starts clicking and typing. Shot of computer screen: Shows an article on Satanic Spellcasting: Hurling Curses and Hexes For Beginners. Shot of Katie’s face from the side. She mutters to herself.

Katie: Stupid girls. They wouldn’t even know an Allu from Asag. I bet the worst thing they have to worry about is how to decide which boy to say ‘yes’ to first. Types furiously for a few more seconds, glances at bed, looks back at computer screen and looks at bed again. Shot of the demonology printout sticking out of her bookbag. Shot of Katie’s face, looking thoughtful.

Scene 4

Cut to scene of same room, but cleaned up and darkened. It is lit by a bunch of black candles and one white candle. Katie is dressed in black and holding a piece of paper with writing on it.

Katie: (in a confident, commanding voice) Ilasa micalazoda olapireta ialpereji beliore: das odo Busadire Oiad ouoaresa caosago: casaremeji Laiada eranu berinutasa cafafame das ivemeda aqoso adoho Moz, od maoffasa. Bolape como belioreta pamebeta. Zodacare od Zodameranu! Odo cicale Qaa. Zodoreje, lape zodiredo Noco Mada, hoathahe Saitan! Come forth spirit, and guide me! Aid me in my plight! Be to me as I would to you! Hail Satan! Shemhamforash!

She lights the paper with one of the black candles and drops it in a dish, then watches it burn. She waits. Nothing happens for a while. She looks around. Nothing happens.

Katie: Hello? (Pause.) Hello? Any… spirits around here? (Waits for an answer. None comes. She sighs.) Oh, well. I guess it didn’t work.

Katie blows out a candle, and scene ends abruptly.

END OF ACT I

ACT II

Scene 1

Begin with Katie going to school again. She's wearing an outfit similar to the one she wore the previous day, but the faux military shirt is a reddish color today instead of greenish. The popular girls talk in whispers, all look at Katie, and laugh. Katie glares at them and continues walking. Cut to art class. Teacher 2 is taking roll. One guy up near the front of the class [Rolf] keeps looking back at Katie. Katie begins staring at him, wondering why he keeps glancing back at her. He is looking at her when the teacher calls his name.

Teacher 2: Rolf? Rolf? (knocks on Rolf's desk; he turns with a start and looks at the teacher) Pay attention, Rolf. I almost marked you absent.

Rolf: Y-yes ma'am.

The teacher continues to take roll. Rolf glances back at Katie again, gives her a shy smile, then turns back and does not look at her again.

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Brian Pait Arthur Davis Robert Leatham Period 1 Michael Wandrey Period 3 Week 4: Script

Movie for Teachings of Great Proletariat Revolution and Failure of Soviet Russia

Dramatis Personae: Professor Hobo, Expert of Economics – Brian Pait The Last Czar, Nicholas II / Nikolay Aleksandrovich Romanov (Никола́й Алекса́ндрович Рома́нов) – Robert Leatham Peasant / Bolshevik – Brian Pait The Komrades – Various lowerclassmen Announcer Guy – Chiheng Huor Mao Tse-Tung / Zedong / Tze-Tong – Michael Wandrey Chinese Peasant – Michael Wandrey Stalin – Brian Pait Hua Guofeng – Brian McKay Deng Xiaoping – Arthur Davis American Consumer/Producer – Robert Leatham Captain Poland – Michael Piastucki Der Kaiser / Kaiser Bill – Ryan Kerfoot Gorbachev – Robert Leatham Communist Hardliner – Brian Pait

[Scene I – In an office, with a desk. Professor Hobo sits behind the desk.]

Prof. Hobo – To understand the Russian revolution and the fall of the USSR, one must understand a vital aspect of Russian culture – the importance of vodka. Vodka is an essential part of Russian tradition, and is drank at celebrations, during holidays, when something good happens, when something bad happens, and to stave off the freezing cold in the winter. It is a large part of the Russian economy due to this. Here is a clip of a Russian cosmonaut discussing Apollo XIII to illustrate this point.

[Play clip: “When we heard, that the American astronauts survived, there was a big cheer- and we went to the bar and drank vodka, as was Russian tradition.”]

Prof. Hobo – Thus, taking away vodka would rob the Russians of an extremely important and ingrained part of their heritage, and deal a significant blow to their economy. Unfortunately for the Russian royal family, the Czars underestimated the importance of vodka during World War I.

[End scene.]

[Scene II – The Czar Nicholas II sits on a throne, wearing a furry crown. He pulls Captain Poland from one side as Der Kaiser pulls Captain Poland from the other side. A sign is hung from Captain Poland’s neck that says World War I.] The Last Czar - Our soldiers are not fighting well enough against Germany, and we are not producing enough supplies. The workers, farmers, and soldiers must be drinking too much! A ban on Vodka begins immediately!

Peasant/Bolshevik – But, Czar! Vodka is an important part of our economy, and we are already poor from the heavy tax burden you have placed on us with your war! My niece is getting married on Tuesday- how will we celebrate without vodka or money?

The Last Czar – No vodka for you! Celebrations distract from your work! The more you work, the sooner we win the war! The sooner we win the war, the sooner you get money and vodka back!

Peasant/Bolshevik – I will not stand for this! Your incentives will not produce the desired results- the negative externalities are too great, and heavily outweigh the benefits! [Soviet star appears on the Peasant/Bolshevik’s furry hat.] I must revolt for the sake of my people! Revolution- for Peace, Equality, Brotherhood and Vodka! Workers of the world unite! You have nothing to lose but your chains!

The Last Czar – What?! That’s not supposed to happen! Let me see that script! [The Peasant/Bolshevik pulls a script out of his coat and hands it to The Last Czar.] What’s this? My title isn’t “The Last Czar!”

Peasant/Bolshevik – It is now! Get him, Komrades!

Komrades – [entering stage left] For Lenin! For the Communist Party! [They charge at The Last Czar.]

[Cut to black. End Scene II.]

[Scene III – Announcer Guy suddenly jumps out of stage right, smiling and holding a box of glue, paper and scissors.]

Announcer Guy – Supplies! Meanwhile, in China! [Exuent stage right.]

[Switch to Mao Zedong, in the fields of China.]

Mao – The fething Brits! They ruined our pride with their Opium Wars! The Dynasties failed. The Nationalist Republic failed. The Nationalists are backstabbing fascists. We helped win this second world war! We must rule now! Peasants, rise up and win your freedom! One Party, One Nation, One Victory! For the Party!

Peasants – Peasant Power GO!!!!! [fight Nationalists, win.]

Mao – Now, we must imitate the Russian communists with five-year plans! Make steel, now!

Chinese Peasant – We peasants are farming people, and fail at making steel. We are starving because we are spending too much time trying to meet steel quotas to grow food!

Mao – Fools! You worship me now!

Announcer Guy – [jumps to enter stage right] Meanwhile, in Russia! [jumps out stage left]

[camera shifts to the left]

Stalin – [exact same stance and speech patterns as Mao.] Fools! You worship me now!

[camera shifts back to Mao, looking uneasy.]

Mao – Do not trust the Russian Soviet moustache-man. He owe me five dollars.

[Sign obscures view: YEARS LATER]

Mao – Gua huegoo! Echlthwat!

Jiang Qing – He is crippled with illness, but I can understand him! He says I rule!

[Mao dies, topples. Other Chinese officials come in and huddle with Jiang Qing, then face the camera.]

Official 1 – We have decided. Hua Guofeng will succeed Mao.

[Enter Hua Guofeng from stage right.]

Hua Guofeng – Hi! I think we should make reforms- in agriculture, industry, science & technology, and national defence. Zhou Enlai suggested it, and it sounded like a good idea.

[Enter Deng Xiaoping stage left]

Deng Xiaopeng – I think you should let me take over.

Hua Guofeng – Okay. [exuent stage right]

Deng Xiaoping – Mao was only 70% right. I am infallible! [shifty eyes] I think we should instate re- I mean, Four Great Modernizations- in Agriculture, Industry, Science & Technology, and National Defence. Is my idea not original and incredible?!

Wei Jingsheng – What about the Fifth Modernization, Liberty?

Deng Xiaoping – Silence, underling! You are but a counterrevolutionary electrician, and know not the ways of the world! You will be purged!

Official – There is unrest in the Soviet satellite countries. Perhaps some freedom would be good?

Deng Xiaoping – Okay… Here, some freedom.

People – Yaaay! We want freedom!

Deng Xiaoping – No freedom for you. Too loud. Well, okay, here’s some freedom again…

People – Yaay!

Deng – Yoink! No freedom! Ha ha ha! Dance, monkeys, dance!

[End scene III.]

[Scene IV – Sign, saying “Russia- The 80’s.” Gorbachev stands next to it.]

Gorbachev – We need reforms! China has shown us the way. First, political. I shall instate perestroikia and glasnost- Political restructuring and openness, to rid us of corruption and secret operations! And let the satellite nations decide on their own whether to be a part of our Soviet Empire or not!

Official – [pops in] Sir, the satellite nations left us. Only the nations bound to us forcefully are remaining, and they are rioting.

Gorbachev – Send in the tanks. [Official exuent stage left] On to the next problem! Econo- umm… That can wait. Alcoholism! The Russian people drink too much. [Cue horror-movie music for a few seconds.] I will try to convince them to drink less vodka.

[Pan out to show that Gorbachev is standing on a wooden crate labeled “Russian Economy,” supported by bottles of vodka.]

Gorbachev – People of Russia! There is a problem we face- and it is called Alcoholism. You are ruining your livers with your vodka. Your drunkenness leads to lack of productivity and abusiveness. This is not good for the nation and the party! You must stop drinking so much!

[Russian peasants begin to come in and remove bottles of vodka. Gorbachev continues to speak as they do this.]

Gorbachev – We must cease our adversity with the West and work with them if we are to survive!

Communist Hardliner – [enter stage left] Blasphemy! We will not work with the Capitalist pig-dogs!

Gorbachev – Yes we will, and you’ll like it, too!

Communist Hardliner – [backs off, hurt, seems to be thinking. Gets an idea, runs to Gorbachev waving his arms around.] Military couuuuuuup! Military couuuuup! Military couuuuup!

[Gorbachev pushes Communist Hardliner.]

Communist Hardliner – [as he falls] I fail! Nooooo! Do not banish me!

Gorbachev – Banished!

[By now most of the bottles have been removed. One more is removed, and the economy crate collapses, bringing Gorbachev down with it. He looks bewildered, for a minute, then leaves. Enter American consumer/producer person.]

American: Now the Red Empire is gone, demand for the Soviet things has skyrocketed! [picks up Soviet hat] This is worth a lot now!

[End scene IV.]

[Scene V – Professor Hobo behind his desk again, with vodka.]

Prof. Hobo – So as Gorbachev lowered the demand for vodka, and worked to improve the standard of living, vodka stopped moving, both in the black market for extra vodka and through legal channels. With it, the money stopped moving, and the economy became stagnant. In short, it failed, collapsed. Russia began the slow process of returning to capitalism, and rebuilding its economy- starting by selling off its stock of Soviet weapons, uniforms, equipment, and other paraphernalia to international markets of consumers looking to get a taste of the old Soviet empire. The arms market changed swiftly as supply skyrocketed and demand did not change- prices plunged, and small, poorly funded extremist groups found that they could now arm themselves as well as their enemies. The arms business and the souvenir business put Russia back in business as best as it could, but even now Russia is a poor country, despite its dealings with India in military technology development and sales. Meanwhile, China found that demand for everything that they had was increasing as long as they could sell it, and so the economic reforms continued- until China reached its current state, which resembles fascism more than communism, despite the name. In whatever form it survived- through propaganda, economic manipulation, and the sheer amount of resources it has, China survived.

Latest Essay for Maruna:

Pait, Brian Period 3 Essay: “Holy Sonnet 5” In John Donne’s sonnet “Holy Sonnet 5,” the speaker is talking to his God, telling Him (or Her) that he has sinned, and asking for forgiveness and for the strength and zeal to repent and not sin again. In the first four lines, Donne tells his God that he has sinned, and so is condemned to Hell for all eternity. He uses a metaphor to compare himself to a planet, made “of elements, and an angelic sprite,” meaning the body and the soul. He states that “black sin hath betrayed to endless night / My world’s both parts,” illustrating his belief in a Miltonian hell of cold and dark rather than Dante’s hell of fire and various tortured, and the belief that his body and soul will go to such a hell due to his sins. Lines 5-9 acknowledge that Donne’s God is all-knowing, and describes the speaker’s immense regret that he has sinned against such a God. To describe his God’s omniscience, Donne says that God is beyond heaven, and knows of “new spheres, and of new lands.” In expressing his regret that he has sinned, Donne wishes that he could cry so much that his tears would be as an ocean to drown the world, “Or wash it if it be drowned no more.” In this, he refers to the story of Noah and his Ark, when God visited a flood upon the Earth to cleanse it of the wicked, implying that he wishes to do God’s work in cleansing the Earth of sins. After telling of his regret for his sin, the speaker states that he knows that the world is already tainted with the sins of others, and asks for forgiveness and the strength to cleanse himself and the world of sin as if with fire. He begins by exclaiming that the world “must be burnt!” He laments that it has already been burned by the fire “Of lust and envy,” which “made it fouler” rather than cleansed it. He asks God to “let their flames retire,” and instead burn Donne with the fire of faith in God and church, and adds that it heals “in eating,” referring to the ritual of Communion, in which Catholics take the wine and the holy wafer, which are supposed to transmute by miracle into the blood and flesh of Christ and cleanse the consumer of past regressions. In using these, Donne asks not only for the faith and strength to do God’s work, but also for forgiveness to do said work with a clear conscience and a pure soul.