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Soul of the Warrior Drama Ministries |
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Who Holds the Nails Script
Lights up on stage. Woman enters with basket, walks across stage exits,
another woman walks in with amphora, man enters with friend speaking. Barrabbas
enters from the foyer down the center aisle. He screams, accosting crowd for
help: BARABBAS: Hide Me! You have to Hide Me!!
Help!! The people stand still
shocked, when they hear a commanding voice yell from the foyer JUSTUS: Find Him! An Aureus for the man who captures Bar abbas! The people rush off stage, Barabbas tries to hide onstage (location TBA) suddenly Justus and 6 Roman soldiers rush
in from the foyer to center stage, Cornelius enters from stage right upper with two soldiers, they spot Barabbas and grab
him, Barabbas fights them. Justus and troops beat him to the ground. As they are beating him Jesus and crowd enter from foyer. As
they get to stage lower center crowd must get to stage lower right, Jesus sees Barabbas being beaten and moves to stage lower
left. (note:Barabbas will be bloody when he stands- hide blood pack in his clothing) Soldiers quit beating Jesus and look toward Jesus, Justus included. The
crowd, silently fills in lower stage right, to leave the center aisle open. JUSTUS: There will be no interference from you, or you
will be next! Justus raises his Vitis to strike Barabbas again. JESUS: Shalom. Justus stops. Gestures to his men JUSTUS: Let him up.
Bind him. Take him to the city center, reassemble the cohort, and wait
for us. Barabbas stands with help and is tied up. Two soldiers hold him as
the rest form up into twos and prepare to march down the center aisle. Barabbas
is held stage center and Justus approaches. JUSTUS: Jehoshua Bar Abbas, You are found guilty of insurrection
against Soldiers begin to exit through main aisle. The crowd will have moved
to lower stage left and right to make the hole for them except for Jesus who will stand lower stage left near Center by himself. As the soldiers holding BarAbbas reach
the bottom of the stairs, Barabbas is pushed and falls. The soldiers start to
hit him again as Jesus calmly walks forward. JESUS: Shalom. Jesus reaches down and helps Barabbas to his feet. JESUS: (to Barabbas) For everything there is a purpose. Barabbas and Jesus stare at each other as soldiers push them apart and Barabbas
is led away, staring at Jesus. Jesus begins, teaching the crowd. Crowd grows silent as Christ gestures for it. JESUS: Remember this,
Everyone who heeds my words, and puts them into practice is like a wise man who builds his house on the rock, and the storm
came, and the floods rose, and the wind beat upon the house, and the house stood firm.
But those who hear these words of mine and do not put them into practice, you will be as the foolish man who built
his house upon the sand. Then the storms came, and the floods rose, and the wind
beat upon that house… and it fell… and great was the fall. Jesus and the people all exit the rear of the church and wait in the Sanctuary Foyer (SF). Cornelius starts to follow and is stopped by Justus. JUSTUS: Mi Frateri! I might have known it would be your men who would
find the zealot. One more reason to be proud of you. CORNELIUS: Ave Justus!
(briefly embraces Justus then Cornelius moves as if to follow Jesus, Justus stops him) It is my honor to serve you, my new First
Centurion. To help you complete your duties for JUSTUS: (Cornelius moves away again. Justus
stops him again) But my duties here in CORNELIUS: (stops trying to follow Jesus)
Indeed, what other duties would the prefect have me assist you with? I
have not seen you since your promotion to First Centurion! It looks good on you
I think. And it is good to see you healthy and smiling as well. It has been many years since the death of Gaius. I have
often worried your grief would shorten your life. I am sorry to remind you…
forget it. What would you have me do Centurio? JUSTUS: As you must know, my promotion has left an opening in the Second cohort.
I have your orders here. CORNELIUS: My Orders? JUSTUS: (hands Cornelius a scroll) Congratulations, you are promoted to command of the
second cohort of the Sixth Legion. CORNELIUS: I do not know what to say! This is unexpected… I did
not know I was even considered for promotion… JUSTUS: Say nothing, you will report to the 2nd Cohort in CORNELIUS: I am grateful, Justus. I take it we are to leave immediately? JUSTUS: Yes, I do not want the local zealots to have time to organize a rescue.
CORNELIUS: I shall do so, I have one stop to make, and we will go. Tell
me Justus, what duty do you have yet. Perhaps I can assist? JUSTUS: The Prefect
is throwing a party for a senatorial delegation from CORNELIUS: Indeed, she
is by far the greatest dancer this land has produced. She rivals the dancers
in JUSTUS: I remember! But I have been unable to find her! She no longer dances at the house of Abenadar, they say she just left one day and never came back. Following a Holy Man of some sort or another.
What a waste! I am sure she will still dance for Pilate! CORNELIUS: I know nothing of her Justus, perhaps she has just moved on. JUSTUS: Perhaps, but you know these Jewish women! They tend to stay
close to home. Even those that will give us a second glance get religion when
they get old and soft. Pilate will certainly be disappointed if I do not find
her, after all, it is one of my first official duties as First Centurion! What
is this duty you speak of before you leave? CORNELIUS: I am looking
for man… He has been in the city several days and I must speak with him before I leave.
I have studied the Jews, JUSTUS: (Disdainfully) Scribbles from the
mud, No. CORNELIUS: Simply fascinating! (Jesus and the Crowd reenter
the aisle from the The Sanctuary Foyer (SF) and walk toward the centurions.) They have a history before JUSTUS: That Jewish teacher? Is he a Zealot? We are wary of anyone who could rise to fill BarAbbas position of leadership! CORNELIUS: The Rabbi Jesus is no Zealot Justus! And I believe he is more
than a teacher. I look for him because Spurio is ill, and this man has a gift
of healing. JUSTUS: Spurio has always been a faithful servant to you, but tell me, are you still searching for a god? Is not the myth of Mithras good enough for you?
When will you understand there are no gods… even if there were, why would they care for us or even remember us. Did the gods help the Parthians when we overran their country? Did they save the armies of CORNELIUS: You know rising in rank has never concerned me Justus… And we escaped in JESUS: I will come and heal him. CORNELIUS: (Kneeling) Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof, but just say the word, and
my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me.
I tell this one, “go” and he goes; and that one “come” and he comes. I say to my servant, “do this” and he does it. JESUS: (Reaches down to help Cornelius to his feet. Turns, Astonished
to crowd) I tell you the truth, I
have not found anyone in CORNELIUS: Thank you
Lord! JUSTUS: Come,
Cornelius, you have made enough of a fool of yourself! Come now and I will forget
to tell the Prefect of this! (Pulling Cornelius away, Justus hustles Cornelius down the aisle) JESUS: (Loudly, with authority) Justus! JUSTUS: That is First Centurion to you! JESUS: Justus… I forgive you. JUSTUS: Forgive me (laughing)?! Enough
of this. I do not need your forgiveness!
Though I may need the Prefect’s if you do not disperse now! This
is becoming an unlawful assembly, and I order you to disperse! JESUS: We will go. (to crowd) I tell you all, each has his part to play. He knows not what he will do… but he is forgiven. Jesus turns to leave, then stops, he approaches Justus and hands him a small bag containing three large nails. He then turns to leave. He is followed
by the crowd, except for Mary Magdalene, who hangs back. As Justus and Cornelius
walk off, Justus turns and sees Mary Magdalene wearing a large pullover covering that conceals her tattoos and dancer’s
costume. JUSTUS: Wait! You! (pulling the cloak of MM
away, still holding the bag) Are you not Miriam of Midgal? Speak up woman, I have sought you all over the city.
Pilate desires you to dance! (Pause) You
say nothing? Speak! MARY MAGDALENE: That name no longer has meaning for me noble sir… my new name is Mary, whom
they call the Magdalene. JUSTUS: I doubt Pilate will care what name you use… come. We
will pay you well! MARY MAGDALENE: I cannot sir. I follow the Rabbi Jesus. He is my master now. It is through him
that I received my new name… through him I am renewed. JUSTUS: Come, come my little Jewess! (Pulling at her arm) The time to get religious is when you are old and fat! Not in your prime! MARY MAGDALENE: I cannot sir… he is the Messiah. He
is my messiah! He showed me the truth about my ways, he cast those demons out
of me, and then forgave me for allowing them in. I follow him now, and I no longer
wish to be part of my old life. I must go (Mary
pulls away, grabs her cloak). JUSTUS: Stop! You refuse to dance for the Prefect? This Jesus has some power
over you! MARY MAGDALENE: He has
power over us all First Centurion. He is the Messiah. I must go! Mary rushes after Jesus, exits thru Sanctuary Foyer. Centurions begin
walking back to the Center Stage Upper. JUSTUS: (to Cornelius, disgusted, hands on hip) Well I hope you are happy.
Your Rabbi Jesus is causing trouble for me… and for Pilate. He will
want to know why I failed to bring the woman… I will have no choice but to report this now. And I will not soon forget the name Jesus… CORNELIUS: I don’t
understand this Justus. But I know you have your part to play. Tell the Prefect what you must, I have nothing to be ashamed of. And
when the time comes… JUSTUS: What time? CORNELIUS: When the time comes, remember he has already forgiven you. (Salutes) Strength and Honor. JUSTUS: (Returns salute) Strength and honor CORNELIUS: (As he turns to
leave) Justus, what did he give you? JUSTUS: What? CORNELIUS: What is in the bag? Justus looks in the bag. JUSTUS: Nails… Why would he give me nails? Who can understand the mind of a Jew. Lights dim, Centurions exit stage upper right and upper left. (Jesus is teaching from the front of stage upper center, disciples, extras, are seated around the stage listening. Mary, Martha, and Mary Magdalene are seated near the center stage upper they are listening
to Jesus’ teachings.) JESUS: The Passover
approaches, the time has come for the lamb to return to (Disciples and extras begin to whisper among themselves, confused, not understanding, except Mary Magdalene, who
suddenly understands. She stands as if to address Jesus.) MARY MAGDALENE: My Lord,
what do you say?! JESUS: (Continues as if he has not heard, but looks directly at her as he makes this address) If any would come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For who ever wants his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. (Jesus motions for his disciples to stand they begin to exit thru stage left
and right, as Jesus reaches the edge of the scenery, he turns and says) What good is gaining the world, if you
lose your soul! (Jesus, disciples, and extras exit, Mary the mother and Martha
get up to leave, but Mary Magdalene stops them saying:) MARY MAGDALENE: Did
you hear what he said? I am concerned… the time must be soon. MARTHA: The time for
what? Do you think he will declare himself the Messiah? MARY MAGDALENE: Don’t you see? Am I the only one
to hear what he says. Destroy this temple in three days and I will rebuild it! Don’t you see Martha? Mary, surely
you see it! His own mother! It isn’t
the temple! It isn’t the building!
It is he that will be destroyed! He is the temple! MARTHA: Control yourself Mary, you are speaking rashly. You have not
followed the Rabbi long. You will learn.
All in due course. Remember, He is the Messiah. He has come to lead all MARY THE MOTHER: (very calm) All will be as the Lord
desires it to be. MARY MAGDALENE: Lead MARTHA: See what Mary Magdalene? What do you keep going on about? MARY MAGDALENE:
You are so used to the parable, looking for meaning behind his words, you must learn to listen again to what he is saying… MARTHA: You tell us to listen? MARY MAGDALENE: But he has said it! He will be … MARTHA: (Defensively and interrupting as she moves as if to leave) I see
the Dancer Miriam of Migdal speaking out of turn! You haven’t been around
long enough to understand him! He awaits the proper time is all. Do not try to foster your own understanding! Your life has
been hard, and it taints your view. Destroy the Messiah. It is ridiculous… Come Mary, we must go… MARY THE MOTHER: (crying) I don’t know Martha. Sometimes I see God’s plan so clearly, then other times I wonder.
He is my son, but he has some duty to perform for his heavenly father… Whatever happens we must remember that. Do not discount her ideas so quickly. Mary
the Magdalene could be right. (Lights drop as Mary’s last word is spoken) Scene
3: Justus Charged (Starts on the Pilates’ ”Judgement chair” set. During
the conversation, Justus and Pilate proceed down the steps and finish up near the back of JUSTUS: You summoned me Prefect? PILATE: Justus, I read your report on JUSTUS: Based on what
I saw sir, I would say he has a power only over women and the weak-minded, and of course those seeking a God to explain away
their misfortunes PILATE: (Interrupting) I doubt your friend Centurion Cornelius would agree. JUSTUS: as I was about to say Prefect, and those who seek a God. Do
not worry about Cornelius, Prefect. He is a soldier, and I have recently sent
him on a mission that will open his eyes to the fraudulence of this Jesus’ Claims.
He is watching the Nazarene… and will report any… treasonous behavior.
And as a bonus he will see this Jesus for what he is. All holy men expose
themselves eventually. No one remembers them after they fail or die. PILATE: Seeking a God has never been your failing Justus... And your
disdain for those who are believers in any God is evident. And what of you? Who do you say this rabbi is? (Pilate and Justus walk to main stage, down steps, up center aisle during remainder of the conversation.) JUSTUS: Hunh… Rabbi…I am told he has the gift of healing, but I suspect foul play. Whatever he can do, he is a man, nothing more… one with the power to cause trouble. A charlatan; his trickery will be exposed soon enough and he will be forgotton. PILATE: You did well to have him watched… One with the power
to influence a Roman Centurion could be of concern. Are you sure that your friend
Cornelius was the right man to put in charge of this? JUSTUS: We have been the Eagles together for 18 years. I know his
service. He will see the truth, as he has in the past. Cornelius longs for a god, but knows inside that they are all cruel inventions of the weak. He will remember. He will see the truth, and he will follow
my orders. PILATE: I will leave him to your judgement then. Have we a pretext
to bring this Jesus in for questioning? JUSTUS: None that I have been able to find. He walks a fine line,
but stays on the legal side of it. And my sources agree that he is a thorn in
the side of the Jewish High Priest Caiaphas. PILATE: So he is not all bad! Does he speak against Caesar or JUSTUS: I have already looked into it. He has not spoken out against
PILATE: Group? What group!? JUSTUS : He has a loyal following of a number of men and women. You
will recall that the dancer Miriam of Migdal is among them. PILATE: This following of his concerns me Justus. After the attacks
by Barabbas we cannot afford any disturbance, let alone insurrection! This is
why I planned to crucify Barabbas and his men at the Passover. The zealots are
no threat without a leader. I cannot tolerate another insurrection in JUSTUS: It shall be
done prefect. Do not worry about this man.
His name will never survive the ages. When I am finished, he will not
be remembered. Scene
4: Justus and the Sanhedrin The Sanhedrin is in session, they are talking about Jesus, NICODEMUS: It is imperative you hear him! This is utter foolishness. This man explains the Torah as
if he wrote it himself! How can such a vote be made! CAIAPHAS: You border on Blasphemy Nicodemus, long has this council
known of your secret visits to this son of a carpenter. Do not forget to whom
you speak! NICODEMUS: I do not forget High Priest, but you must understand that
I too had my doubts, that is why I sought out the Rabbi Jesus for counsel. All
my life have I served this assembly and the Lord, but all I see is the same arguments from the Pharisees and Sadducees, no
growth, no understanding. The time is ripe for the Messiah to appear… CAIAPHAS: Dare you even use such a term! NICODEMUS: My brother, can you not see past your own prejudice? Through Jesus I finally saw the truth. His
kingdom is of the spirit. We must be born into that spirit to be part of it. Born again. This is the truth of the
ages! CAIAPHAS: Blasphemy! You
will restrict your tongue Nicodemus, or you too will be denied the Paschal Lamb of Passover. NICODEMUS: Our law does not judge a man before it hears from him… if he is not of the Lord, he will pass
and be forgotton… no one will remember even his name. But if he is…
if we do this… CAIAPHAS: Silence. If you are too weak to see what must be done, then
go from us!! Justus marches in, two temple guards try to stop him, but cannot,
interrupting the assembly. The Sanhedrin murmurs, disturbed at this intrusion by CAIAPHAS: Centurion, I must protest. The Sanhedrin are in special council
now, an act protected by decree of Caesar Tiberius against interruption by JUSTUS: I am here as a friend Caiaphas… I wish to address your council on the Jesus Situation. (The Sanhedrin look shocked. Justus looks around) But it is
best for all if we agree now this meeting did not take place. CAIAPHAS: (Thinks for a moment, then shakes his head in agreement)
Scribes! Leave us, Guards, bolt the doors behind you. (Scribe and Malchus get up and leave, Caiaphas dismisses the Guards, who leave, close the Sanctuary Foyer (SF) doors
and stand guard in front of them). CAIAPHAS : There will be no record now First Centurion. JUSTUS: I have been charged to investigate this man Jesus. I must
hear what you know about him. NICODEMUS: He is the Messiah, a gift from the Lord… CAIAPHAS: (interrupting on gift) Silence Nicodemus! He is a false prophet,
and rabble rouser, nothing more. The High council has just voted to deny him
the Passover lamb. NICODEMUS: (As he leaves the assembly) I will not be
part of this Caiaphas! I will not! You
sit in judgement of one you have not even met! I remember a time when this council
did not meet in secret! Where are the devout men now? And at night! You know it is against the Torah for the
council to meet at night. I will help you no longer. (storms off stage, Exits
center aisle) CAIAPHAS: (referring to Nicodemus leaving) As you can see, His actions are
dangerous and against the temple, even some on the High Council are affected. What
is JUSTUS: Peace, Caiaphas, CAIAPHAS: (Smiling smugly) Do not worry Centurion. We will
handle this Jesus… before the Passover. JUSTUS: You have a plan? CAIAPHAS: We have been approached by one of his crowd. A follower of this, son of a carpenter. He is questioning the words of this Christ. With the proper
encouragement, we believe he will turn the blasphemer over to us. JUSTUS: And you trust him? CAIAPHAS: Of course
not, but, he came to us, and by our law, he must keep his end of a bargain, or forfeit his life. JUSTUS: A plot to ensnare this Jesus and his follower! Worthy of true
citizens of the CAIAPHAS: He is called
Judas Iscariot. Justus exits Floor Stage Right (FR), Sanhedrin follows. Lights
go down as Sanhedrin exit. (Jesus and the disciples are eating “Lunch on a hillside” in the area before the baptismal. Mary Magdalene enters from the Sanctuary Foyer (SF) carrying a jar or alabaster like container. She is distraught, crying, wearing black cloak, and wailing) Martha
enter behind her. VIDEO: For Song: Vignettes of Mary’s life, see video notes page. Out of bodysinger sings the first verse of “Mary’s
Alabaster Box” as Mary Magdalene, Judas, Peter, and Jesus act out the words during the song. Mary Magdalene completes the song by herself. The room grew still as she made her way to Jesus After the song: JUDAS: What is this waste? This could have
been sold for three hundred denarii! We could have helped many with it. JESUS: Let her alone, she has kept this for the day of my burial. She anoints my body, Judas. Later there will be no time. For the poor you will have with you always, but me you do not have always. JUDAS: Master, I do not understand. You
tell us to help the needy, yet praise this woman’s waste. You know what
type of life she led! You tell us not to judge but you are the Messiah... you will sit in judgement of all… JESUS: You
must accept that your understanding is not yet complete. The truth will be seen
shortly, and all your eyes shall be opened. JUDAS: Truth? I see the truth master, but these
things you tell us make no sense! Turn the other cheek when someone strikes us. I cannot accept that. Only an Angel could
do that… or a dog. I am neither. (Judas snorts, stomps off stage Lower Left). JESUS:
I tell you, wherever the truth is taught, what she has done will be told in memory of her. Lights drop, Mary Magdalene and Martha exit down Aisle Right to the
Sanctuary Foyer, still wailing. Jesus and Disciples exit Upper Stage Right (opposite
of Judas). Scene 6: Cornelius Reports NOTE: Set Change: A small table and stool must be set up for this
scene on the Roman set, and Pilate’s chair moved out of the scene. Justus is sitting at a table on the Roman set, working on reports. A
soldier enters from |