Retrieve a catalog in one step. Apply it as a later step.

gistfile1.txt

[52] kylo@kylo 102118:puppetk (master) be puppet catalog download --confdir=$testdir/client/conf --vardir=$testdir/client/var --server localhost > random_catalog.json

[53] kylo@kylo 102119:puppetk (master) cat random_catalog.json
{"document_type":"Catalog","data":{"tags":["settings"],"name":"kylo","version":1378873144,"environment":"production","resources":[{"type":"Stage","title":"main","tags":["stage","main"],"exported":false},{"type":"Class","title":"Settings","tags":["class","settings"],"exported":false},{"type":"Class","title":"Main","tags":["class","main"],"exported":false,"parameters":{"name":"main"}},{"type":"File","title":"motd1","tags":["file","motd1","class"],"file":"/Users/kylo/devel/test/foo/master/conf/manifests/site.pp","line":5,"exported":false,"parameters":{"path":"/tmp/motd1","ensure":"file","content":"hello world\n"}},{"type":"File","title":"motd2","tags":["file","motd2","class"],"file":"/Users/kylo/devel/test/foo/master/conf/manifests/site.pp","line":12,"exported":false,"parameters":{"path":"/tmp/motd2","ensure":"file","require":"File[motd1]","content":"goodbye world\n"}}],"edges":[{"source":"Stage[main]","target":"Class[Settings]"},{"source":"Stage[main]","target":"Class[Main]"},{"source":"Class[Main]","target":"File[motd1]"},{"source":"Class[Main]","target":"File[motd2]"}],"classes":["settings"]},"metadata":{"api_version":1}}

[54] kylo@kylo 102119:puppetk (master) be puppet apply --catalog random_catalog.json
Notice: /Stage[main]//File[motd1]/ensure: defined content as '{md5}6f5902ac237024bdd0c176cb93063dc4'
Notice: /Stage[main]//File[motd2]/ensure: defined content as '{md5}f54a1fca2d39a6861ed89c203cbabe53'
Notice: Finished catalog run in 0.03 seconds

The first line required this patch: kylog/puppet@d2ce298