There is a brief pause, then the curtains open, revealing a portion of Armageddon's principal street. It is totally deserted and sadly run-down, but in the dazzling sunlight posses a lazy, rather Spanish charm.
There are only two buildings, one apparently a residence of sorts, with simple wooden steps leading up to a green door, which has a brass knocker. Though it is late afternoon, there is a bottle of milk and a folded newspaper on the bottom step. The effect is conservative.
The other building is a ruined temple, the plaster facade coming away at several points disclosing the brick construction. The doorway is wide, almost square, and is hung with double scarlet curtains. These are closed and set off the six bottles of milk ranged before them. There is also another newspaper. In a corner lies an untidy heap of rags, and other miscellaneous trash.
Note: The sky darkens gradually while this scene is played; the last of the "midway" sequence occurs at night.
(Enter the Minister and his wife, walking slowly, cautiously, looking up and down the street, at the buildings and at each other. They pass a smartly painted sign which reads
"Welcome to Armageddon."
The Minister brushes against it, and it promptly swings around to show the back, on which is crudely lettered
"SO LONG, SUCKER.")
MARTHA. Where could the people be?
MINISTER. I don't like it.
MARTHA. You don't suppose they could be--waiting for us?
MINISTER. Like an ambush. Nope. From what the Bishop told me privately, they're not exactly anti-religious....
MARTHA. How could they be, when they don't even know what being religious is? Probably all they need is good example.
MINISTER (gesturing to temple). Oh, they know, all right...they knew. Once. But they must have forgot. That place of worship is like a string tied around their finger--
MARTHA. A mighty dirty piece of string--it looks like a hardware store. Look--milk. And a newspaper!--(slowly)--Someone should have taken those in hours ago.
MINISTER. Another bottle over there, see?--and another paper. What could have happened?
MARTHA. It's--almost as if the Angel of the Lord had passed during the night. Edward! do we dare look inside? What if they should all be dead, or just not there?