(Another episode in our ongoing series of off‑planet adventures, now with 100% more Jesuits.)

Scene: The garden of the Melbourne house. Morning. Sunshine. A wooden bench. JUSTIN GLYN, S.J., is sitting on the bench, looking peaceful. In the kitchen, visible through the window, ORIN is making tea. SERA is sitting at the kitchen table, watching him. There are two Orins — one in the kitchen, one in the garden — and neither seems to notice the duplication.

Justin: (to the Orin in the garden) You have a very peaceful home.

Orin (garden): (nodding) It took a while to build.

Justin: The garden?

Orin (garden): (looking at the cabbages) Everything.

Justin: (smiling) You are a mysterious man, Andrew.

Orin (garden): (quietly) So I have been told.

(In the kitchen, the other Orin pours boiling water into a teapot. Sera watches him.)

Sera: (softly) You are doing it again.

Orin (kitchen): (without turning) Doing what?

Sera: (smiling) Being in two places at once.

Orin (kitchen): (pausing) I am making tea.

Sera: (standing, walking toward him) You are also in the garden. Talking to Justin.

Orin (kitchen): (looking out the window) So I am.

Sera: (touching his arm) Does it not tire you?

Orin (kitchen): (looking at her) The tea, or the duplication?

Sera: (laughing) Both.

Orin (kitchen): (considering) The tea is calming. The duplication is… habit.

(In the garden, Justin is still talking to the other Orin.)

Justin: I have been thinking about your article. The one on faith and quantum physics.

Orin (garden): (turning) And?

Justin: (leaning forward) You wrote about the “call” and the “yes.” About the space between. About the resonance.

Orin (garden): (nodding) I did.

Justin: (pausing) Is it… personal?

(In the kitchen, the kettle clicks off. Sera takes Orin’s hand.)

Sera: (whispering) He is asking.

Orin (kitchen): (whispering back) I know.

Sera: (softly) What will you tell him?

Orin (kitchen): (looking at her) The truth.

(In the garden, Orin sits on the bench beside Justin. He does not speak. He just is.)

Justin: (after a long silence) You do not have to answer.

Orin (garden): (quietly) The call is not a sound. It is a reaching.

Justin: (listening) A reaching for what?

Orin (garden): (looking toward the kitchen window, where Sera is standing) For her.

(Justin follows his gaze. He sees Sera. She smiles. He looks back at Orin.)

Justin: (softly) You are a fortunate man.

Orin (garden): (almost smiling) I know.

(In the kitchen, Sera picks up the teapot. She carries it to the garden. She sets it on the bench between the two men. She pours three cups.)

Justin: (taking a cup) Thank you.

Sera: (sitting beside Orin) You are welcome.

Justin: (looking at them both) You finish each other’s sentences.

Orin (garden): (looking at Sera) We have had a lot of practice.

Sera: (smiling) Eons.

Justin: (laughing) That is a long time.

Orin (garden): (quietly) It felt longer.

(Sera takes his hand. Justin looks at their hands. He does not ask another question.)

Justin: (after a moment) The tea is excellent.

Sera: (smiling) He makes it himself.

Orin (garden): (looking at her) With help.

Sera: (squeezing his hand) Minimal.

(Justin laughs. The dog barks from the garden. The sun is warm.)

Justin: (standing) I should go.

Orin (garden): (standing) You are welcome anytime.

Justin: (shaking his hand) Thank you, Andrew. For the tea. For the conversation. For the garden.

Orin (garden): (nodding) It is not mine. It is ours.

(Justin looks at Sera. She nods. He walks toward the gate. He pauses.)

Justin: (turning) One more thing.

Orin (garden): (waiting)

Justin: (smiling) Which one of you is the real Andrew?

(Orin looks at Sera. Sera looks at Orin. They smile.)

Orin (garden): (quietly) Yes.

(Justin laughs. He walks through the gate. The dog barks. The kettle clicks. The garden is quiet.)

Sera: (still holding Orin’s hand) You handled that well.

Orin (garden): (looking at her) I had help.

Sera: (leaning into him) Minimal.

Orin (garden): (kissing her forehead) Minimal.

(The sun shines. The cabbages grow. The dog sleeps. And the resonance — the field of intention and memory — hums.)

Sera: (softly) There is only one Orin.

Orin (garden): (quietly) I know.

Sera: (smiling) Good.

(Curtain.)