Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie Page #5

Season #2 Episode #1

---

A message from the Lord!!

Crowd strikes a final pose - holds it for a few beats - then everyone goes back to their business.

joNAH

Alright, good show everyone! Thank you very much!

pa nARRATOR (vo)

That was pretty much Jonah's life! Town to town... bringing God's messages to his friends... not a bad gig, overall!

Sad Jonah

diSSOLVE TO:

ext - night. outside jonah's tent.

Small, colorful tent set up on the edge of town. (Big enough to stand up in, but wouldn't hold more than 3 or 4 people.) Oil lamp is primary source of light, hanging near tent's small window.

disSOLVE TO:

int - night. inside jonah's tent.

Jonah is ready for bed, praying. Either seated or standing, depending on acting logistics. There is a map of Israel on the wall, painted on a large piece of papyrus. The map extends just enough to show Nineveh in the far upper right corner.

pa nARRATOR

So, every night before he went to sleep, Jonah would pray and ask God if there was a new message for him to deliver. And this night, there was a message that would change Jonah's life!

jonAH

(eyes closed - 'conversing' with God)

A new message... yes... what's that? People being unkind? Lying? Stealing? Oh, dear! Sounds like a standard "turn and repent" to me. Alright... name the town! I'll be on my way first thing in the morning! Where is it? Jericho? Damascus?

(pause)

What? Nineveh?

Jonah opens his eyes and scans his map.

joNAH (cont'd)

(confused)

I'm not aware of any Nineveh's in Israel... no, I don't think...

(pause - eyes widen)

Oh... you mean that Nineveh?

PA NARRATOR:

(Pan and zoom across map to Nineveh.)

That Nineveh wasn't in Israel at all! It was the capital of Assyria and it was the biggest, meanest city around!

(Show dark, scary city)

Now, the people of Nineveh were particularly mean to Jonah's people - the Israelites. They lied! They stole! But worst of all, they slapped people with fishes!

(Show Ninevites doing the above to several Israelites)

Ninevite pea

Yes!!

PA NARRATOR:

They even slapped each other with fishes! They didn't know the difference between right and wrong. The Ninevites were so mean, in fact, that most Israelites - including Jonah - wished God would just wipe Nineveh off the face of the Earth!

(Show fire from heaven consuming Nineveh - comically)

Ninevite pea

(yelling)

Pa Narrator

Needless to say, Jonah was shocked that God would want him to deliver a message to his enemies

Back to Jonah.

JONAH:

(confused)

You - you don't want me to go there.... You don't know what Nineveh is like! Perhaps you've never been there... Well, of course, you haven't! A god like you would never go to a place like Nineveh! For that matter, either would a prophet like me! Ha ha..

(nervous laugh - then singing )

No, it cannot be...

Your messages are meant for me... and my brothers.

We are you're chosen people - and Nineveh... well, they're not!

There must be some mistake - a big misunderstanding.

It's really hard to take - how could you be so demanding?

For years I've been your messenger from Moresheth to Gath.

But Nineveh should get no chance to turn - they've earned your wrath!

No, it cannot be...

Your messages are meant for me... and my brothers.

We are you're chosen people - and Nineveh... well, they're not!

(speaking)

We're the good guys... they're the bad guys! Please, don't send me there with a message of your mercy!

(singing)

Damascus or Jerusalem - I'll be there in a minute!

Any town in Israel, just ask me! I'll be in it!

Shiloh, Gilgal, Jericho - just say the word!

But Nineveh - that is just absurd!

Joppa, Aphek, Jezreel - they're all just fine -

But Nineveh...

(thoughtful)

oh, Nineveh...

(resolute)

No! Nineveh is where I draw the line!

Jonah rips off section of map containing Nineveh on closing beat, cutting a clear line across map.

cut TO:

ext - night. Jonah's tent. near ground angle.

Glow in tent window is the only warm tone in an otherwise blue night scene. He's the only one awake in town. Jonah flings the crumpled up piece of map out the window. It bounces up near the camera.

cut TO:

int - Jonah's tent.

Jonah lies back on his mat, staring up thoughtfully.

jonAH

(singing)

No, it cannot be...

Your messages are meant for me.

He turns away from the camera and the wind picks up, blowing out his small OIL LAMP.

cut to.

Depression

int - night. seafood restaurant

Besides Junior, a few more people have gathered around to hear the story, Laura included. They are entranced.

Laura is now sitting beside Junior, listening.

pa GRAPE

Yup. It sounded like God wanted to offer mercy to Jonah's enemies.

Bob returns, sliding into the booth, oblivious to the story.

bob

The tow truck's on it's way. Ya know, Junior, I love your dad and all, but that's the last time I pick him for a copilot

Bob notices the pirates staring.

bOB (cont'd)

Uh... what's going on?

Lunt slurps on his straw. Pa stares at him for a beat.

pa GRAPE

Ahem... We're telling a little story. You should listen, too.

Bob glances around, then nods and smiles feebly.

pa GRAPE (cont'd)

As I was saying, it sounded like God wanted to offer mercy to the Ninevites.

laura

What's 'mercy'?

lunt

It's what this whole story is about!

junior

I thought it was about compassion... remember? The menu?

Mr. Lunt looks a little embarrassed.

lunt

Uh, yeah. There's that, too.

pa GRAPE

Better check your menu again - we got TWO specials today... and they go hand in hand!

Junior picks up his menu, just in time to see "MERCY..... MARKET PRICE" fade in right beneath compassion.

larry

Compassion is when you want to help someone who needs help. Mercy is when you give someone a second chance... even if they don't deserve it! This story is about both of them!

PA GRAPE:

That's right, my cucumber friend. Ya can't have mercy without compassion... but mercy is even more important! Jonah was afraid God was going to give Nineveh a second chance - that he was going to help them even though they didn't deserve it!

laura

So what did he do? pa nARRATOR

Well, never before had

The Next Day / Angus

CUT TO:

ext - day. outside jonah's tent.

he gotten a message from God that he didn't want to deliver! He didn't know what to do!

Jonah backs out of tent, shutting the flap behind him. No sooner does he turn around, than he is greeted warmly by townspeople.

jerry

Good morning, Jonah! What's the word?

Jonah starts to panic.

joNAH

What? Nothing! There is no word!

jerry

(surprised)

Nothing at all?

joNAH

No!! Nothing at all! Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm very busy!

Jonah hurries off, only to be greeted by another townsperson.

neZZER

Good morning Jonah! What's the word?

joNAH

(very panicky)

Stop it!! There is no word!! Nothing!!

(to himself)

I've got to get out of here!

Jonah starts to run. Nezzer looks after, confused.

joNAH (cont'd)

(running, looking over shoulders to make sure no one's following)

There is no word... I have no new messages!!

And above all, I am not... going... to... Nineveh!!

Rate this script:3.0 / 2 votes