Synopsis for Night of Pan

by
           Gail Strickland

            There is evil in the ancient world.

Those who lust for power and control of the world’s wealth spread fear like wildflower seeds knowing it will multiply and give them control of Delphi, the omphalos of the world, the umbilical cord connecting mankind to the mother goddess herself. Priests have seized the ancient power of the goddess and govern by fear and superstition, warping the natural power of the earth’s womb to control all others. Out of fear, the villagers judge and banish all who will not stay true to confining strictures. They believe this will keep them safe but instead they imprison themselves within their own narrow thoughts.

Thalea is the Pythia who will reclaim mankind’s connection with the Divine, but she does not know it, does not understand why she is different, does not understand why the villagers torment and ridicule her. She forgives and hopes, hides out of shame when her mother forsakes her own life to save Thalea, but one by one in their anger, the villagers turn against her. She is banished from all society and has no where else to turn but to the mountain, to the wild power of the crags towering over her village, to the love of an albino child who speaks no language but the songs of the birds. On the mountain with only the albino child for company, Thalea births a child, a son, but no ordinary child. He is a satyr child, a child of her seduction by the god, Pan. Thalea is terrified when she discovers her son has a tail. She abandons him, leaves him to the mountain and the gods…until she cannot. Mother’s love defeats her fear. She goes back up the mountain only to find him gone, seized by the Python, messenger of the Goddess.

 "Hestos tapped his cane onto the stone beside my firepit, subtle at first, then stronger and bolder, a staccato celebration caught up by the villagers feet, stomping in unison a rhythm beyond words, accented with claps, shouts -- cries and calls to the gods, to the winds, to the stone earth itself. They swayed from side to side with their rhythm. Did I sing?  Cry?  What is it that rips from a human soul touched by the breath of a god?"  

Night of Pan

Synopsis for Monasteries for the Mad
by
 Gail Strickland

“Entire families disappeared.”  Argentina 1976. The country is controlled by the junta, a ruthless military determined to eradicate students, journalists, anyone the generals decide is a Leftist sympathizer. Seeking respite from this “Dirty War,” Ana Slostaric, seventeen years old, attends a rock concert with her younger sister, Helena. The students are attacked by soldiers and Helena is seized.

Fearful for her own life, Ana flees to Canada to live on a farm with her Uncle Marko. Plagued with guilt that she is responsible for her sister’s kidnapping, Ana hopes to please her uncle by cooking, hauling hay, anything to help the only family left to her. But he tries to seduce Ana and once again she must run for her life, escaping his farm in the dark of night on horseback.

Ana slips illegally over the border to the United States and loses herself in the obscurity of New York City. She meets Santa, a homeless man who sees spirits hanging around her: spirits of her sister and her dead grandfather. She fears her sister is also dead.

Ana marries in New York and begins to believe she may create a new life, but her husband betrays her. There is no escape for Ana, no home. Only guilt and fear and loneliness.