The Young Messiah Page #4

(INDISTINCT SHOUTING

IN DISTANCE)

(PRAYING INDISTINCTLY)

Is that it?

Is that all you can do?

I'm watching you, angel boy.

So, go on, walk like a child,

talk like a Child,

play like a child

when I'm watching.

I may not know the future,

but I know this.

Your mother's a whore.

Your father's a liar.

And the floors of

your house are dirt.

Your cause is lost.

Every day and every hour

it's lost, and you know it.

Your little miracles can't

save these foolish people.

I tell you, chaos rules!

And I am its prince!

(CLUCKING)

What are you doing out of bed?

I'm all better.

You have to rest.

No.

I want to go to

Jerusalem for Passover.

MARY:
It's dangerous.

Herod, the Romans,

Jerusalem, the Temple.

It's been purified.

It's calm for now.

There's no time.

We haven't prepared.

We can manage it.

That's not all I mean.

I'm not prepared.

This path that he's on,

I don't know where it leads,

except that his enemies

will be there.

Such fierce enemies.

Why did God choose me?

What if I'm not strong enough?

You're the brave

and shining girl

who protected her

infant son from an army

that was dedicated

to murdering him.

It is they who should fear you.

You've taken on so much.

That you married me and took Jesus

as your son truly is a miracle.

One that only

God will ever know.

Not really,

except for me.

JOSEPH:
I thank God

for choosing me every day.

Every day.

We're going, Sarah. We're going

to Jerusalem for Passover.

(CHUCKLING)

Yes, yes, as you must.

Thank you.

Come on, brother!

Let's go! Before my naptime.

(CHUCKLES)

SEVERUS:
Was there a boy about seven

or eight years old with them?

Yes, there was.

When was this?

Just after the uprising

in Sepphoris. We were

establishing order.

It's a bloody business,

establishing order.

SQUAD LEADER:
Yes, sir.

And what of this family?

Did you establish order?

They appeared innocent.

We left them untouched.

Was that before or after

they gave you the wine?

Hmm?

Your own men

won't even lie for you.

We're going. Move!

(HORSE NEIGHING)

Back for more cakes and wine?

OPTIO:
We're looking for the family

recently arrived from Egypt.

Gone to Jerusalem for Passover.

Is the boy with them?

We have many boys in our family.

The boy born in Bethlehem.

The boy who's seven.

If my memory serves,

all the boys that age

born in Bethlehem

were slaughtered

by Herod's soldiers.

Or perhaps I'm wrong. Perhaps

they were Roman soldiers.

Perhaps they seek a boy

because they ran out of girls.

(GRUNTS)

There are plenty of girls.

Plenty.

And children die easily.

What's the name?

(CHOKING AND WHIMPERING)

What's the boy's name?

(SOBBING) Jesus bar Joseph.

Jesus bar Joseph of Nazareth.

What have I done?

(CRYING)

Who is this child?

Tell me, who is he?

JAMES:
I asked Father about going

to Jerusalem for Passover, too.

Then you ask,

and suddenly we all go.

I didn't know that.

There's plenty you don't know.

You're the only one

who really matters.

That's not true.

Everybody loves you.

I'm mean.

You're not mean to me.

Yes I am! I hated you

when you were born.

I hated you

before you were born.

Everything changed.

There were angels and three nobles.

The ones in Bethlehem.

(SHEEP BRAYING)

(SOFT CLINKING)

JAMES:
These three noblemen from

the east arrived to see you.

Everyone in Bethlehem

saw them come.

They believed in magic.

They read stars.

And they advised the kings of

Persia what they should do.

They said they followed

a great star in the heavens

to that house

where we were staying.

They called you king, and their

servants laid gifts in front of you.

Gold and other things.

I don't remember.

Looks like you two found

something to talk about.

Here. Have some water.

A little shower would

be nice to cool off.

(HORSES GALLOPING)

Come on, on your feet now.

So why did we have

to leave Bethlehem?

Don't ask me anymore.

Thanks for talking to me.

Don't make it rain.

I know you can.

I told you not to!

I didn't. I didn't!

Come on!

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

(SINGING IN HEBREW)

JAMES:
Father!

I found a cave.

Travelers!

(SINGING STOPS)

SEVERUS:
We seek a family from

Nazareth, with a boy of seven

named Jesus bar Joseph.

If you know such a family,

and you know this child,

then tell us

and Rome will reward you.

MARY:
They know who we are and where

we're from. They're offering money.

We have to turn around.

CLEOPAS:
But we can't go home.

If they don't find us in

Jerusalem, they'll go to Nazareth.

We'll live in caves.

I hate living in caves!

Shh.

She's right. We can't go.

She's just a woman.

And she's right!

Tomorrow we go back.

The Essenes will help us.

We can find a way.

CLEOPAS:
Not the Essenes.

At least the Romans are rational, you

can deal with them, but the Essenes?

They live in the wilderness

with hyenas and crazy people.

Maybe it's the water or too much

sun on their hairy heads, but...

(WIND BLOWING)

Lord Father in heaven,

guide me on this path.

Watch over my family

and calm their hearts.

When I enter your temple,

please take my questions

that I might

receive your answers.

Your will be done. Amen.

Well?

He's gone.

Gone?

Could someone have taken him?

That's impossible.

We were here.

I could've told you he'd go!

Because you decided

to turn back!

He wants answers,

and you won't give him any!

That's why he wants

to go for Passover.

We have to find him.

Mary and I will go ahead.

The rest of you

follow with the pack animals.

You there with the donkey.

Name.

Eli.

Where are you from?

ELI:
Jericho.

Your name.

Name!

(STAMMERING) He can't speak.

He's been that way since birth.

Go. Go to your temple.

You are alone?

It's all I can give you.

God be with you

and watch over you.

Thank you.

WOMAN:
This bird is no good.

I tell you, no good!

The priest won't accept it.

It's flawed.

I don't have any more money.

Please, I need to exchange it.

MAN:
Come on,

get away from here.

How can you cheat me

in the Temple in front of God?

I have to have a sacrifice!

Little boy, do you want a bird?

A flawed bird!

Huh?

Do you want it?

Yes.

Anything else?

It's no good, you know.

It can fly.

Tell it to a rabbi.

Where are they?

Over there,

in Solomon's Portico.

WOMAN:
This time I want one that

is unblemished. Do you hear me?

He's here.

He's in the Temple.

(SINGING IN HEBREW)

BLIND RABBI:
The Spirit of

the Lord will be with him

to give him understanding,

wisdom and insight.

He will be powerful.

And he will know

and honor the Lord.

His greatest joy

will be to obey the Lord.

(LAUGHING AND APPLAUDING)

Yes! We have

a real student here.

Now, isn't that wonderful!

Come. Sit.

Ah...

(COIN CLINKS)

(SIGHS)

Tell me, what does

a boy want with me?

Mmm?

Rabbi, about seven years ago...

Mmm-hmm.

A boy was born

in a stable in Bethlehem.

Three magi came from the east

and gave him gifts.

Yes, I know this tale well.

What happened to

the boy after that?

No one talks about it.

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