The Inanna-verse.

  It took me a few days, but by goddess, I did it! I'm taking a class entitled "TV Animation Lab."  The name explains itself.  The objective is to write a pitch for an animated series for television. During the first class, I only had a vague idea of what I wanted to do.  I have several ideas for feature length animated films, but television?  This was a new challenge. Or maybe not.  Maybe not so much. For years, I have been struggling to make a fantasy epic about a certain Sumerian goddess.  I wrote many drafts of the script.  I even had a reading live on stage, and it was received well.  The actors enjoyed performing the roles.  I was encouraged to go further. The problem was the logline, or the pitch. I couldn't for the life of me figure out how to encapsulate the story into one sentence.  There were so many characters, so many locations, so much story.  I was completely baffled.  If you stopped me in the street and ask...

  (Inanna, Ninshubar, and Ereshkigal are seated before a flatscreen watching “A Year without Santa Claus”.   There is a large quantity of red and green iced brownies on a platter perched on a coffee table in front of them). INANNA:   Oh, dear.   I hope that Santa Claus can get on his feet to spread Christmas cheer! ERESHKIGAL:   Nonny, we watch this stupid show year after year and the ending is the same! NINSHUBAR:   And year after year you two get in a fight about it.   Calm down and enjoy the day. INANNA:   Do you think Santa Claus is real? ERESHKIGAL:   Oh, I don’t believe this... INANNA:   I’m serious!   Lots of people don’t believe we’re goddesses, but we are! NINSHUBAR:   Nonny, if you look into your heart as a source of generosity and charity, there lies the spirit that is Santa Claus. (Pause). INANNA:   You don’t believe a word you just said, do you? NINSHUBAR:   Well, I believe in generosity and charity— ERES...

(Inanna and Ninshubar enter a book store named Book Haven.   Ninshubar marvels at the stacks of books around her while Inanna pores over her iPad Pro). NINSHUBAR:   Books, glorious books!   Row upon row!   Column next to column!   A body could LOSE herself in such literary wealth for centuries! INANNA:   Mmm. Nice.   (Ninshubar deftly removes a thick volume from the shelves). NINSHUBAR:   Take for example this volume by Petronius Arbiter!   The restored work of The Satyricon!   This is a treasure.   What a find! INANNA:   Treasure, yeah. NINSHUBAR:   Or this tome by Dante Alighieri, the Divine Comedy!   The poet's ascent from the Inferno to-- are you paying attention, Nonny? INANNA:   Sort of. NINSHUBAR:   Inanna, unglue that nose of yours from that digital doo-dad and look at something tangible.   Trace your fingers along this fine grain paper.   These are the unabridged verses of Hesiod.   A...

The Sumerian goddesses Inanna, Ninshubur and Ereshkigal enter the dining hall.   On the table is an impressive spread:   Stuffed roast turkey, sliced ham, lamb chops, sweet potatoes, large bowls of snap peas, apples, peaches, figs, and other delicacies… Inanna skips up to the table and jumps into her seat.   She rubs her hands together eagerly. INANNA Oh, boy!   Oh, wow, Oh, golly,  Oh, joy, Oh bliss!   I’m gonna eat  so much,  I’ll vomit!   ERESHKIGAL Just a second, sis! NINSHUBUR Don’t you think you’re overlooking  something? INANNA What?   Oh, yes! Inanna ties a napkin around her neck and picks up a steak knife and fork. INANNA All right!   Let’s eat like hogs  after a truffle hunt! NINSHUBUR Now, now, now... INANNA What, what, what? ERESHKIGAL It is time to sing what  the modern folk call caroling. INANNA Do we know a Carol?   I don’t  remember  us inviting a Carol. NINSHUBUR A carol is a song,...