The Last Temptation of Christ Page #11

They enter the temple plaza.

Jesus enters the temple grounds with his central core of

disciples. They have come to worship.

But they are stopped cold by the sight that greets them.

Arranged all around the stairs that lead to the temple are

money-changers, merchants, beggars and whores. A tall, shiny

bronze statue of Tiberius towers over the plaza floor, which

is stained with the blood of sacrificial animals. Jesus turns

to Peter.

JESUS:

We came here to pray. What is this?

PETER:

The money-changers? Its' for the

temple tax... for the feast.

Jesus calmly addresses a money-changer.

JESUS:

How's the exchange today? Making a

good profit?

MONEY-CHANGER

Fair. Can I help you?

Jesus stares for a moment and then with one violent blow

sends the counter filled with coins sailing into the money-

changer's face.

Jesus, now enraged, strides past the booths, overturning the

tables. Scales, weights and coins from all over the world

scatter in every direction. The vendors rush to retrieve

their money.

Other vendors and customers turn on Jesus. Judas, Peter and

the others forcibly fight them off. Jesus calls out:

JESUS:

This is my Father's house. It's a

place for worship, not a bank, or a

market.

The disciples circle Jesus for his protection. The RABBI,

surrounded by SADDUCESS, steps out of the temple.

RABBI:

Nazarene, what are you doing?

JESUS:

God doesn't need a grand house. He

doesn't need cyprus and bloody

animals. He doesn't need shekels.

RABBI:

You expect people to pay the tax in

Roman coins? They have images of

false gods on them. You want pagan

gods in the temple? All foreign coins

have to be changed to shekels. That

the law.

JESUS:

I abolish the law. I give a new law

and a new hope!

RABBI:

What, did God change his mind about

the old law?

JESUS:

(exasperated)

No, no. He just thinks our hearts

are ready now to hold more.

RABBI:

(not listening)

This chaos is your new law? How can

you presume...

JESUS:

How can I presume? Because I am the

fulfillment of the old law and the

beginning of the new.

SADDUCEE:

(shocked)

Watch what you're saying.

Peter, becoming concerned with the drift of this argument,

whispers to Jesus.

PETER:

Maybe we should go...

Jesus pushes him away.

JESUS:

When I say, 'I,' Rabbi, I am saying

'God.'

RABBI:

That's blasphemy!

JESUS:

Didn't you hear? I'm the Saint of

Blasphemy. Don't make any mistakes.

I haven't come to bring peace, I've

come to bring a sword.

SADDUCEE:

Talking like that will get you killed.

JESUS:

I'm sick of all of you. This temple

will be destroyed in three days. One

stone won't be left standing on

another. You think God belongs only

to you?! He doesn't! God's an immortal

spirit and belongs to everybody --

to the whole world. You're not

special! God is not an Israelite!

Even the disciples are shocked by this heresy. They escort

Jesus out of the temple grounds for his own safety.

As they reach the bottom of the temple steps they are mobbed.

The beggars press on Jesus, pulling at his arms and legs.

MOB MEMBER #1

Magician! Heal me.

MOB MEMBER #2

Cure us. Make us rich.

MOB MEMBER #3

Heal me. Do a miracle. You want me

to enter the Kingdom of Heaven

crippled like this?

JESUS:

(pushes them away)

Get away. You sicken me. You're

selfish! You're full of hate! God

won't help you.

MOB MEMBER #1

Cure us or you won't leave this city

alive!

JESUS:

You don't demand from God!

The disciples intervene and pull Jesus away. The mob follows.

Suddenly, four Roman Calvary men stampede into the mob

whipping beggars and everyone else. Jesus and the disciples

break loose from the fray.

ROMAN OFFICER:

You, all of you stop. Which one of

you is Jesus of Nazareth?

The disciples groan.

JESUS:

I am.

ROMAN OFFICER:

Come with us. The Procurator wants

to see you.

The calvarymen lead Jesus away, leaving the disciples behind.

As they watch him go, SAUL, a Zealot, comes up behind Judas

and draws him aside.

SAUL:

We need you. What are you doing with

this magician? First you were supposed

to kill him. Now he acts like a

prophet and you follow him.

JUDAS:

What are you saying? Didn't you just

hear him?

SAUL:

I heard him. He talks about a new

law, he talks about using a sword.

But we took an oath to use the sword

against Rome. I don't see anything

against Rome here. All I see here is

Jew against Jew.

Judas walks away from him.

CUT TO:

INT. ROMAN THEATRE - DAY

The Roman soldiers escort Jesus into the open theatre.

Pilate confers with two soldiers at a table near the stage.

He watches a play in rehearsal. (See Director, Production

Designer, and Costumer for details of play.)

Pilate is informed of Jesus' presence and turns to him.

PILATE:

Are you Jesus of Nazareth, King of

the Jews?

JESUS:

I'm no king.

PILATE:

You aren't the Messiah? They say you

are. You say you are.

JESUS:

My kingdom's not on this earth.

PILATE:

Oh? Where is it then? In the air,

maybe?

JESUS:

In heaven.

PILATE:

Good. Keep it there. They tell me

you do miracles. Is this good magic

or bad magic? Can you do a trick for

us?

JESUS:

I'm not a pet. I don't do tricks.

PILATE:

That's disappointing. I was hoping

to see something.

JESUS:

The prophet Daniel had a vision. A

huge statue had a gold head, and

silver shoulders...

PILATE:

(interrupts)

Don't tell me stories. I'm not a

dumb Jew.

JESUS:

Listen. Learn.

PILATE:

(daring him)

Go ahead. Teach me something.

JESUS:

The stomach was bronze, the legs

were iron, the feet were clay. A

stone was thrown. The clay feet broke

and the statue collapsed.

PILATE:

Is that it?

JESUS:

God is the thrower. I'm the stone.

Rome is the statue.

PILATE:

Clearly. But that's how you're going

to bring down the Roman Empire? One

stone? Only you?

Jesus starts to speak, then stops.

JESUS (V.O.)

God, give me the answer. I don't

know what to say.

PILATE:

No answer?

JESUS (V.O.)

Please speak to me. I need words.

A pain suddenly surges through the back of Jesus' neck. His

knees buckle. For a moment he seems crippled.

PILATE:

You're not a stone. You're excrement.

Get him out of here.

Jesus is confused, humiliated, and in pain. Soldiers start

to lead him out.

PILATE:

And my wife dreams about you. She

should see you now.

Pilate turns back to the play.

CUT TO:

EXT. MARY AND MARTHA'S HOUSE - DAY

Lazarus, his back to us, is resting and looking out over the

valley. His hand reaches for a cup of water. The fingers are

more whole. He seems to be healing.

It is midday, Lazarus thinks he is by himself.

VOICE:

Lazarus. Lazarus.

He turns in the direction of the voice. We see Saul, the

Zealot who spoke to Judas in the temple at Jerusalem.

SAUL:

Feeling better?

LAZARUS:

I like the light.

SAUL:

What was it like? Which is better,

life or death?

LAZARUS:

Well, I was a little surprised. There

wasn't that much difference...

SAUL:

Well, let me help you make up your

mind.

Another arm comes in from behind and grabs Lazarus around

the neck. Saul pulls a sword and very professionally plunges

it into Lazarus' chest, ripping upwards towards his heart.

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