SEVEN MILES FROM PARADISE

A new musical in search of the divine

Book, music and lyrics by Stephen Randoy

Dedicated to Philip Redal Randoy

Why do people feel the need to belong to something greater than themselves?

JEREMIAH a young man recently left home and school to end up homeless in Griffith Park in L.A. He is there for a display of a meteor shower and sees what might be a U.F. O. He is discovered by three women from the Fellowship who invite him back to their house to offer him food and shelter.

We meet the residents of a compound called the Fellowship. They are followers of a spiritual teacher named SAMUEL MORRIS. They engage in movement rituals and spiritual practices to attain a level of consciousness above the normal default patterns of daily life.

Introducing THE FELLOWSHIP in their spiritual dance ritual.

**WELCOME REALITY**

This is the bottom line, fellas!

The Fellowship has opened its doors to JEREMIAH and two other homeless youths, CALEB and TOMMY. SUSAN has been a member of the FELLOWSHIP since the beginning due to her relationship with SAMUEL who founded the group. She describes her struggles and how the group has helped her get through it.

The three young men are requested to give up their cell phones if they want to spend the night with the Fellowship. MAX and JESSICA explain why that would be necessary.

LUNA a member of the Fellowship narrates a story of self discovery with psychedelics. A dance breaks out.

A video version of the song

JEREMIAH, CALEB and TOMMY decide to stay the night. They are settling in upstairs when CALEB is asked to tell his story. Somewhere in the middle of his narrative the scene changes to the living room where he continues his story for the rest of the residents. As he is finishing SAMUEL gives his interpretation of what he has heard from CALEB and offers an alternative view of our relationship to God.

***SAMUEL decides it’s time to begin a serious exploration of his ideas. He asks MAX to tell the harrowing story of his escape from addictions and how the FELLOWSHIP saved him.***

JEREMIAH is asked to explain his reasons for running away and dropping out of school. He tells them his story.

SAMUEL is now ready to go deeper into his beliefs. He claims he can show them a road to higher consciousness if they will follow his direction which is contained in three words: Sacrifice, faith and surrender..

The next morning, CALEB is getting breakfast with CAT for whom he has developed a certain fondness. She is about to shock him with a sordid story of abuse and her subsequent fall into despair which she has been able to overcome by her association with SAMUEL and the Fellowship.

After a spirited discussion about belief in God and the multitude of ways people try to come to terms with what they have been taught, SAMUEL finally presents the group with the undeniable truth about God and the only factual creation story that everyone should be able to accept.

SAMUEL is arrested for tax fraud so the Fellowship must decide what to do. They decide to migrate to some land in Northern California.

TOMMY comes forward with the reason he was interested in the Fellowship. JESSICA tries to correct his belief that SAMUEL was responsible for what happened to his sister.