We begin our story with Judith sitting by herself. Judith has lived a difficult life but she consoles herself with believing that someone will come and take her away.

SONG: (Judith & ?)

Waiting For Someone

Judith

Jesse appears with the promise that he is the one she has been waiting for.

SONGS: (Jesse & Judith) Wait No More; Love Will Show the Way

Judith

Jesse

After a passionate night, Judith wakes up to realize that this is not the man she wants. She orders him to leave. He does.

SONG: (Judith & Jesse) I Have Almost, Already Forgotten You

Judith

Jesse

Catherine

You would think the story would end here, but it turns out Judith is pregnant. Her daughter is Catherine.

Judith

Jesse

Catherine and Judith never get along with each other.

Judith hates the reminder of a foolish night; Catherine condemns her mother for sending away her father.

SONG: (Catherine) Daddy Is Gonna Come Back

Catherine

Judith

Jesse

Catherine grows up on the streets, barely surviving, but believing that she is meant for better things.

SONG: (Catherine) Surprised

Catherine

Judith

Jesse

Roman

Catherine’s situation changes when she is seen by Roman, the richest man in town and much her elder. He falls in love and takes her in to make her a lady and his wife.

SONG: (Roman & Catherine) In Your Eyes

Catherine

Judith

Jesse

Roman

Catherine

Judith

Jesse Plata

Roman takes Catherine to meet his parents. His mother, Plata instructs Catherine on the higher things in life. In particular she teaches that the most perfect things in life can never be seen.

SONG: (Plata & Catherine) Circle in the Sand

Catherine

Judith

Jesse Plata

Roman

WestmanRoman’s father Ari tells Catherine a different

story. The important things in life, he says, are within us and in the physical world around us. .

Saxon

SONG: (Catherine and Ari) Now and Here

Ari

Catherine

Judith

Jesse Plata

SONG: (Roman & Catherine) This Child

Roman

WestmanRoman and Catherine have a child. They sense

he will be something special. His name is Westman – the hero of our story.

Ari

Catherine

Judith

Jesse Plata

SONG: (Saxon & Roman) Everything You Have Got

Roman

Westman

Not long after Westman is born, Saxon, Roman’s stable-hand, stands up to challenge his master to a fight.

Saxon

Ari

Catherine

Judith

Jesse Plata

Roman

Westman

Saxon

Ari

Defeated, Roman says goodbye to his son and moves East close to his parents.

SONG: (Roman) When I Cannot Be With You

Catherine

Judith

Jesse Plata

Roman

WestmanSaxon takes Catherine and Westman as his

prize, assuring Catherine that, even though she

is above his station, he will cherish her.

Saxon

SONG: (Saxon & Catherine) I Will Change For You

Ari

Catherine

Judith

Jesse Plata

Roman

WestmanAt age 13, Westman’s adolescence ignites an

outpouring of art, music writing and exploring. Mother is delighted.

Saxon

SONG: (Westman) Who Knew?

Ari

Catherine

Judith

Jesse Plata

Roman

Westman

Saxon

Ari

Ready?

We are at the end of the first part of the story.It’s time to unravel the allegory.

Catherine

Judith

Jesse Plata

Roman

Westman

Saxon

Ari

Westman represents the Western mind. Our story is the genealogy of western philosophy.

the West

Catherine

Judith

Jesse Plata

Roman

Westman

Ari

Judith, the woman waiting for someone, represents Judaism.

Judaism

Jesse represents Jesus, would-be savior of the Jews.

Jesus

the WestThe maternal grandparents

Catherine

Judith

Jesse Plata

Roman

Westman

Ari

The West’s paternal grandparents are the Greek philosophers: Plato, seeing idealized truth “out there” and Aristotle, looking for truth “down here.”

Judaism Jesus Plato Aristotle

the West

Catherine

Judith

Jesse Plata

Roman

Westman

Ari

Judaic spirituality and Greek rationality meet in Westman’s parents.

Judaism Jesus Plato Aristotle

Catholic Church Roman Empire

the West

The “West” is born with the Christianization of Rome.

Catherine

Judith

Jesse Plata

Roman

Westman

Ari

Saxon, the step-father who raises Westman, represents the Germanic northern Europeans.

Judaism Jesus Plato Aristotle

Church Empire

SaxonGermanic Tribes the West

Catherine

Judith

Jesse Plata

Roman

Westman

Ari

Westman’s adolescence is the Renaissance, the west’s rebirth.

Judaism Jesus Plato Aristotle

Church Empire

SaxonGermanic Tribes the West

Catherine

Judith

Jesse Plata

Roman

Westman

Ari

The Family

Judaism Jesus Plato Aristotle

Church Empire

SaxonTribes the West

Catherine

Judith

Jesse Plata

Roman

Westman

Ari

The End of PART I

Judaism Jesus Plato Aristotle

Church Empire

VincentTribes the West