S1.E1 Fresh Meat - Scene 7

Ritual S1 - Episode 1 - Scene 7

A Performance by Lilith Levay

Characters in this Scene

Lady Gaga as Lilith Levay

Julian McMahon as Damien Sinclair

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Across town in an exclusive LA studio gallery, a presentation of performance artist Lilith Levay's Salome's Last Dance, is about to be enacted. A gaggle of chatting art patrons are ushered into a white room completely covered by sheets of paper across the floor and walls. Four men wearing loin cloths of chain mail and metal masks enter the room carrying a large bathtub on their shoulders, they resemble pallbearers carrying a coffin. The tub is filled with a dark red liquid that appears to be blood. They set it down slowly in the middle of the room, and back away. Bubbles break the surface of the bloody liquid. Mutterings and gasps can be heard from the audience as Lilith emerges slowly from the red bath like a gruesome Botticelli Venus. She steps lithely onto the papered floor. She is naked except for a skirt of chainmail, dripping scarlet blood like the rest of her body. One foot is poised in front of the other, and her arms are held in an angular pose reminiscent of the Goddess Shiva. The music starts and she begins to dance. Her movements are sensual and serpentine, the pace of her dance quickening to the beat of drumming and pan flutes. She runs and leaps, crashing violently into the walls, imprinting the shape of her body, crimson against white. She drops and rolls, using her hair as a brush along the floor, the dance creating her artwork. The crowd is mesmerised. Her arms extend and flick towards the audience, spattering them with red droplets. They are both thrilled and horrified, as on the invitation it specified that guests were to dress purely in white. They realise now that they were intended to be part of her canvas all along.

With her performance over, Lilith wanders backstage covered up in a simple kaftan, a champagne flute in hand. A few fan-boys are lying in wait near her dressing room. They hound her for an autograph or a kiss, and one asks her to carve her name on his chest with a knife. She obliges with relish. 

Alone in her room now, she disrobes and showers. Refreshed, and after drying herself she puts on a flowing purple silk robe. She twists her long red hair into a loose plait over her shoulder before sitting down at a round table of polished mahogany. On the table is a small casket, and inside a deck of tarot cards tied up in a red silk scarf. She takes the cards and begins to shuffle, closing her eyes in concentration, her brow furrowing. She places her selection face-down in front of her in a classic Celtic cross formation and turns the first one over to reveal The Magician. Behind her, a shadowy figure approaches slowly and silently. She lifts her head and smiles, acknowledging his presence. "Damien," she holds out her hand.

"Priestess," he bends to kiss it.

"Is the girl's mother still a problem?"

"Taken care of," he says flatly. From out of his jacket, he produces the contract signed by Rory McLoughlin. She raises it solemnly to her nose, and with eyes closed inhales deeply, registering a secret scent and perhaps a clue to its purpose.

"Well?" asks Damien hopefully.

"There is great strength here."

"Is it the One?"

"No, but it is one who will pave the way in readiness." She turns another card over to reveal The Hierophant. "He will be important this one. A prophet. He will cause chaos and open the bridge between worlds. He is the one who will prepare us for His coming, he will be," she raises her eyes to look intently at Damien, "just like John the Baptist."

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