The Nativity Story Page #3

they will ask what I want to do.

And if I accuse you...

There is a will for this child...

greater than my fear

of what they may do.

I will make no accusation.

Without that, there can be no trial.

You have shown great mercy, Joseph.

For that I will be thankful.

Thank you.

- It is the law!

- The law!

Stone her!

- The law!

- Stone her!

- Stone her!

- Let Joseph cast the first stone!

- Joseph!

- Throw the first stone.

- She must die.

- She must die.

It is the law!

Let Joseph through!

Now, Joseph.

Joseph.

Fear not.

For that which is conceived

in Mary is of the Holy Spirit.

And she shall be...

Mary.

"And you shall call his name Jesus.

"For it is he who will save

his people from their sins."

I know.

Mary, God showed me.

An angel came to me in my dream.

You believe me.

I believe you.

Your child will need a father.

I will declare him as my own.

People, they will not look at you the same.

They will not look at us the same.

You are my wife.

I am your husband.

That is all anyone need know.

And after this...

there shall arise a star from Jacob.

And a man shall arise like the sun...

walking with the sons of men

in gentleness and righteousness.

This is the shoot of God most high.

This is the fountain of life,

of all humanity.

You see, Gaspar...

that's why we follow the star.

Rome is requesting a census.

Each man to return

to the place of his birth.

Such an order will lead to unrest.

The people whisper

of rebellion even now.

It is the will of Caesar.

My father lost his life...

because he failed to see the threat...

that was mounting against him.

From his own people.

Now, all it will take is one man.

One man to convince the people

he is their Messiah.

The prophet said this man will rise

from the house of David.

This census

would bring him back home.

Have your soldiers and your spies...

keep watch for a man

returning to Bethlehem.

A man of power.

A man the people will follow.

Town of Nazareth...

in the name of King Herod

and the almighty Caesar...

you are ordered to participate

in a census of all people.

Each man will return

to the land of his ancestors...

along with each member of his family.

And what if it's a four-day journey?

Then you would be wise to leave soon.

You have one month!

And any resistance will be dealt with.

A census can only mean one thing.

More taxes for Herod.

Does that surprise you?

I cannot register here.

The order was for each man...

to travel to the place of his ancestors.

I must go to Bethlehem.

But the journey to Bethlehem

is more than a hundred miles.

I know.

For me and for each member of my family.

They will allow her to stay.

- They cannot expect you...

- They will allow nothing.

Mother...

the days before my child comes...

are greater than those of this journey.

There is time.

That is a question

for God to decide, not you.

I'm going with my husband.

Then you must leave in the morning.

Take the animal.

No. No.

Take it, Joseph.

Thank you.

I will protect

your daughter and the child...

with all that I am, I promise you.

There is no well

before the Sea of Galilee.

Here.

Mary.

You're a strong young woman.

- Thank you, Father.

- Go.

They're going to miss us.

Yes.

Yes, come.

For you.

He's moving.

You've never really told me of your dream.

My dream?

No.

No, please.

Tell me.

The angel came to me...

and he told me the child within you...

had been conceived by the Holy Spirit.

And that I should not be afraid.

Are you afraid?

Yes. Are you?

Yes.

Do you ever wonder when we'll know?

Know? Know what?

When he's more than just a child.

Will it be something he says?

A look in his eye?

I wonder if...

I will even be able

to teach him anything.

I have a snake.

It was good we brought one more camel...

or that might be your dinner.

Perhaps we should have brought another.

The journey would be more bearable.

Tell me, Gaspar...

how many days has it been

since we departed?

One hundred and four.

And how many of those days...

have you spoken with regret

for having journeyed with us?

One hundred and five.

Huh?

I'm counting tomorrow.

Stop.

Where are you headed?

From Nazareth to Bethlehem.

Bethlehem?

Search him.

Go.

He's not the one.

Goats!

Shout in triumph,

O daughter of Judea.

Behold, your king is coming to you.

He is just and endowed with salvation...

and his dominion

will be from sea to sea...

and from the river

to the ends of the earth.

And he shall speak peace

unto the heathens.

Almonds! I have almonds!

Olives!

Yes, yes, lovely...

- For you.

- No.

No, no. For you.

For your child.

- Thank you.

- Thank you.

You carry him like a son.

To see yourself in a young face,

there is no greater joy.

Behold, your king

is coming to you. He is...

- Help, help! Soldiers!

- Soldiers!

And his dominion will be...

- From sea to sea...

- Silence!

In the name of King Herod...

And from the river

to the ends of the Earth.

I will end this threat to my rule,

as I will all threats.

Pass your sins onto the animal.

Their animal is weak.

For the first time in 3,000 years...

all 3 will appear to touch.

What? More?

No, no, no.

I am the hungry one, not you.

If I am doing your will,

I pray you'll give me a sign.

Hm. Come on.

Come.

Come on. Come.

Come on.

- Joseph!

- Mary!

Joseph!

Mary!

Joseph.

My child, you will have

a good and decent man to raise you.

A man who will give of himself

before anyone else.

Jerusalem.

The holy city.

Almonds here!

Fresh-picked almonds!

Some jewelry for your beautiful wife.

That's a good animal.

Would your husband

be willing to sell him?

No.

What belongs to us stays with us.

For sacrifice.

Doves! Golden doves!

No blemishes.

For you. Good for sacrifice.

- Herod, Herod!

- Herod's here!

It is the king!

The king. The king is here!

- Shh. It is him.

- The king.

No, no. No.

Pigeons. Pigeons for sacrifice.

Good pigeons!

- Pigeons!

- Pigeons for sacrifice.

No blemishes!

No. Enough! No.

This was meant to be a holy place.

Bethlehem. This way.

These shepherds...

they live alone most of their lives.

Your woman looks cold.

Just for a moment.

I will tell our child about you.

About your kindness.

My father told me a long time ago...

that we are all given something.

A gift.

Your gift is what you carry inside.

What was your gift?

Nothing.

Nothing but the hope of waiting for one.

We must go if we're to reach

Bethlehem by dark.

We thank you.

- Good for sacrifice.

- Good pigeons.

- Good pigeons for sacrifice.

- One half shekel.

One half shekel!

What brings you here?

We are visitors from the East.

We follow the star.

The star of the prophecy.

The prophecy of the Messiah?

- The Messiah!

- Messiah!

Come. All of you.

Magi. The wisest of the wise.

Tell me what they claim.

They believe that a new king

awaits them now in Judea.

Father, we must send

your soldiers to follow them...

until they find the man we seek.

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