The Last Temptation of Christ Page #14

Judas exits... Peter shouts angrily after him:.

PETER:

Judas, where are you going?

(to Jesus)

Where's he going?

JESUS:

Don't get in the way. Tonight we'll

go to Gethsemane to pray.

CUT TO:

EXT. GETHSEMANE - NIGHT

As they climb the steep hills of Gethsemane, Jesus leaves

most of his group behind and proceeds with Peter, James and

John. Passing through thick, gnarled olive groves, they reach

a clearing marked by three boulders. (looks like a Henry

Moore sculpture). The leaves glisten on the trees all around

them.

JESUS:

Wait for me here.

Jesus walks alone until he finds a secluded spot. Pulling

his tunic around him, he kneels beneath an ancient tree.

JESUS:

Father, Father in heaven. Father on

earth. The world you created that we

can see is beautiful. But the world

you created that we can't see is

beautiful too. I don't know -- forgive

me -- Father, I don't know which is

the more beautiful.

Jesus scoops up a handful of soil and smells it. "What

perfume" he thinks. Then as he rubs the soil on his cheeks,

neck and lips, he speaks.

JESUS:

This is my body too. Together we

will die.

Jesus' body weakens. He starts to sweat.

JESUS:

Abba, Father, we've been together a

long time. I never asked to be chosen,

but, I always obeyed. You've done

many miracles for others. You opened

the Red Sea for Moses. You saved

Noah. You took Elijah directly to

heaven in a fiery chariot. Now you

ask me to be crucified. Can I ask

you one last time? Do I have to die?

Is there any other way? Do I have to

drink from this cup? Can't you take

it away from me?

Jesus waits for an answer that doesn't come. The wind blows

through the olive trees.

Jesus looks over, sees Peter, James and John asleep.

Now, in front of him, a GUARDIAN ANGEL in the form of one of

the sleeping disciples appears and sets a clay cup before

Jesus.

JESUS:

Is this your answer?

The Angel drinks from the cup then hands it to Jesus.

Jesus reaches for the cup, but the Angel no longer holds it.

His hand is empty. Then, slowly, the Angel's hand reaches

forward and lightly caresses the top of Jesus' head to comfort

him.

JESUS:

Your will be done. I only ask for

strength.

Jesus wipes the sweat and tears from his face and leaves.

CUT TO:

EXT. GETHSEMANE - NIGHT

At the three-point rock Jesus finds Peter, James and John

fast asleep. John's head rests peacefully on his brother's

chest. Peter lies flat with his arms outstretched. Jesus is

tempted not to wake them.

JESUS:

(softly)

Couldn't you stay awake with me for

just an hour?

Peter is the first to awake.

PETER:

I'm sorry.

Jesus hears the sound of soldiers in the distance.

JESUS:

It doesn't matter. It's too late.

Jesus hears the evening nightingale overheard. A feeling of

peace sweeps over him. He smiles at James and John as they

awaken. (moving camera here to end of scene?)

Judas and a band of Romans and armed Temple Guards carrying

long torches burst into the clearing. Peter pulls his dagger;

Jesus pushes him back. Judas greets his master.

JUDAS:

Welcome, Rabbi.

Judas kisses him fiercely on the mouth. Jesus gratefully

embraces his faithful disciple. Tears stream down Judas'

cheek.

Peter attacks and slices off one of the Temple Guard's ears.

Jesus pushes Judas unwillingly away. He turns to Peter,

touches the knife simply (36 f.p.s.).

JESUS:

No. You live by this, you die by it.

The knife falls to the ground (36 f.p.s.). Two guards grab

Peter but he wrestles them off and runs away. Jesus picks up

the severed ear (36 f.p.s.) and miraculously restores it to

the Levite (36 f.p.s.).

JESUS:

Welcome. You're the messengers of

God. Let's go.

CUT TO:

INT. ANTONIA - DAY

Jesus again stands before Pilate. He is bloody, beaten,

exhausted from lack of sleep. A clique of Temple Guards,

Pharisees and Sadducess stand in one corner of the hall.

PILATE:

You're back.

(pause)

Hello.

(pause)

So now you're a king. Is that right?

Jesus stares at the sky.

PILATE:

Don't look in the air. Look at me.

Answer me. I can crucify you. You

know that? Now... are you a king?

JESUS:

Some say so.

PILATE:

Ah yes. Well last time you took that

line with me, you fooled me. I don't

like to be fooled. What you did in

the temple makes it very clear. You're

just another of these religious

revolutionaries making difficulties.

You take the people into the desert,

you talk about God, love, mercy and

the new kingdom, but you're just the

same as the Zealots. You all promise

glory and bring death. There's a new

Messiah every week and a new one

dies every week and Rome continues.

JESUS:

Remember the statue. And the stone.

And the clay feet.

PILATE:

How could I forget. Still think your

kingdom will replace Rome?

JESUS:

No. My kingdom is not on earth.

PILATE:

No, it wouldn't be. You're a little

smarter than the others. After all,

what's a revolution on earth compared

to a revolution in people's hearts?

JESUS:

It's a revolution that will come

with love, not by the sword.

PILATE:

Either way it's dangerous. It's

against Rome. It's against the way

the world is. And either way, I don't

care. Sword or love, it's all the

same. I don't care how you want to

change things. We don't want them

changed. So you know what has to

happen. We have a small space for

you up on Golgotha. Right next to

the bones of your predecessors. Three

thousand skulls there, very likely

more by now. Maybe you people should

go out and count them sometime. Maybe

then you'd learn your lesson. But

probably not.

Pilate looks over at the Pharisees and Sadducees.

PILATE:

Do you gentlemen have anything to

add?

SADDUCEE:

We can't condone the killing of any

Jew. But everything this man does

and everything he says could lead to

revolution. We don't want revolution.

Action against a power like Rome is

hopeless. It invites reprisals that

would mean the extinction of the

Jewish people. It's the death of one

man against the death of millions.

There's no alternative for us.

PHARISEE:

Many of our own people believe this

man is being paid by Rome anyway.

PILATE:

Fine. It's agreed.

(to Jesus)

But just so people appreciate your

rank, we'll write it all out for

them. "King of the Jews."

CUT TO:

EXT. ANTONIA - DAY

Direct overhead angle: We see down a thick column. Jesus is

tied to it, naked. (obscured nudity) He is scourged.

CUT TO:

EXT. ANTONIA - LATER

Weakened, bloody, naked (obscured nudity), Jesus is being

swung by the arm like a rag doll into a solid wall (pan).

Closer, we see his face as it hits the wall, smashing his

nose.

CUT TO:

EXT. ANTONIA - LATER

Close of a crown of thorns (rather, a skullcap of them),

being hit onto his head with the broad edge of a sword.

CUT TO:

EXT. ANTONIA - LATER

In the distance, Roman soldiers lead Jesus onto the balcony

overlooking the temple plaza and present him to the awaiting

mob. His tunic is drenched with blood.

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