Behold the Man - 2003-4
Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.
[ main |
previous | bottom
]
INT. A ROOM - NIGHT
KARL has been bathed and fed. He is sleeping on a straw
filled mattress. He begins to toss and turn. And scream.
The rabbis stand by the open doorway looking in. They glance
at each other.
CUT TO:
EXT. THE ROAD TO THE LAKE OF GALILEE - ONE MONTH LATER - DAY
They follow KARL now. He is dressed in the white linen robe
the rabbis gave to him. He stops occasionally and speaks to
the crowd of followers. More join as the walk progresses.
Newcomers stop to listen � some stay. When he enters
Capernaum, there are more than 50 people following.
CUT TO:
EXT MARKETPLACE IN CAPERNAUM - DAY
KARL is speaking to the crowd. At the back, two men are
talking.
MAN IN CROWD 1
He appears to be a great leader � a
great prophet. Who is he?
MAN IN CROWD 2
He is our messiah. He has
performed many miracles. He has
cured the sick.
MAN IN CROWD 1
Where is he from?
MAN IN CROWD 2
No one knows. Many say he knows
John the Baptist � was baptized by
him.
He was said to be a magus, a
messenger from Adonai. His baptism
renewed the spirit of the Essenes.
(a beat) He is not the orator the
Baptist was, but he performs
miracles. He foretells the future.
MAN IN CROWD 1
(in awe)
No. Really?
MAN IN CROWD 2
He predicted the arrest of John the
Baptist by Herod Antipas. And soon
after, Herod imprisoned him at
Peraea.
MAN IN CROWD 1
Does he have a name?
MAN IN CROWD 2
No one knows for sure, but he is
called the Nazarene. Some say he
is related to a man named Joseph of
David's line. A carpenter in
Nazareth. Perhaps even his son.
There are some faint rumors that
his name is Jesus.
MAN IN CROWD 1
He speaks rather gently, doesn't
he? None of the fire of the
Baptist.
MAN IN CROWD 2
Aye. Like John he speaks against
the accumulation of personal
wealth, and of mankind as a
brotherhood. But it's the miracles
that are the difference. No
prophet before has healed the sick.
He seems to understand our
troubles. And he truly feels for
us.
MAN IN CROWD 1
And his message?
MAN IN CROWD 2
That's what is truly different. He
speaks of a much gentler God.
And he is a teacher � he tells
parables to demonstrate his
message.
MAN IN CROWD 1
(shaking his head)
They'll never let him go on.
CUT TO:
EXT. A HILLSIDE OUTSIDE OF CAPERNAUM - TWO WEEKS LATER - DAY
KARL sits on the hillside speaking with a small group of what
looks like intelligent, literate men. They appear more
prosperous than the usual followers. They are captivated by
him.
KARL
The time has come, my friends, to
complete our ranks. There must be
twelve. There must be a zodiac.
KARL rises and walks among them, touching one and then
another on the shoulder.
KARL (CONT'D)
You. And you. Andrew. John, to
me. Simon. James. Thomas. Is
there one here called Peter?
KARL continues to select from the group until he has 11 men.
KARL (CONT'D)
Is there one here called Judas?
Another man raises his hand.
KARL[CONT'D]
Good. Now we have the twelve.
Please, the rest of you. Leave us
for a while. I have much to discuss
with my apostles.
The rest of the group rises and leaves. KARL sits down with
the twelve.
CUT TO:
EXT. A ROAD IN GALILEE - A WEEK LATER - DAY
KARL is leading a large following. Closest to him are the
twelve educated men � his apostles. The rest of the
followers are primarily poor people.
MAN IN CROWD 3
I am hungry, and tired.
MAN IN CROWD 4
And hot. This sun is relentless.
MAN IN CROWD 5
Why don't you leave? Stop and
rest?
MAN IN CROWD 3
Are you new here? We follow the
Nazarene. Jesus. He performs
great miracles. He is our light
and our hope.
MAN IN CROWD 5
What kind of miracles?
MAN IN CROWD 4
There was one time � He was
preaching from a boat. Then when
he was done, he walked across the
surface of the water to shore.
MAN IN CROWD 6
I thought he was just walking
through the shallows.
MAN IN CROWD 4
No. No. I heard it from many
reputable people � people who were
there in the front � he walked
across the surface.
MAN IN CROWD 6
From people in the front? It must
be true. It only makes sense, with
all the other miracles, that he can
walk on water.
MAN IN CROWD 5
ALL the other miracles?
The men continue to speak. They become more and more
animated.
CUT TO:
EXT. AN ENCAMPMENT - NIGHT
KARL and the chosen twelve sit around a fire.
SIMON PETER
Jesus, please, you must be more
careful. You will be stoned. They
will kill you.
KARL
They will not stone me.
JAMES
But it is the law.
KARL
It is not my fate.
THOMAS
Do you not fear death?
KARL
It is not the greatest of my fears.
SIMON PETER
But Jesus �
KARL rises rapidly glaring at Simon Peter.
KARL
(shouting)
No! Karl Glogauer! Karl Glogauer!
JUDAS
(in awe)
Behold, he speaks with the voice of
Adonai.
KARL
Call me not by that name! Please.
Leave me!
Confused, the twelve rise and move away. KARL stands alone
looking up at the stars.
CUT TO:
INT. HOUSE OF SIMON PETER IN CAPERNAUM - WINTER
KARL and his disciples are sitting in a circle. KARL is
talking to them.
KARL
Hear me now, my dear friends. The
time is near. The Feast of
Passover is soon approaching. I
would like to share with you a
prophesy about the end.
ANDREW
The end? When we are victorious?
KARL
This is a prophesy about a
different ending. (a pause.) On
the Feast of Passover, when John
the Baptist planned to lead the
revolt against the Romans, we will
enter Jerusalem. I will ride in on
the back of a donkey. Palm
branches will be strewn before me.
The people will cheer our entrance.
But I will not leave that city.
They cry out, "No. No." and "Jesus, tell us it will not be!"
and "No, say it is not true". KARL hold up his hand for
silence. They quiet down.
KARL (CONT'D)
As I said, I will not leave the
city. One of you will betray me.
One of you will deny me � not once
but three times. The rest of you
will go into hiding. I will die,
but on the third day hence, I will
rise from the dead to sit at the
right hand of God, our Father.
Soon after, you will travel the
countryside and spread the word of
God.
The apostles are stunned. KARL rises and walks from the
room.
CUT TO:
INT. PILATE'S HEADQUARTERS IN JERUSALEM - SIMULTANEOUSLY
PONTIUS PILATE is seated. His advisor is pacing around him.
PONTIUS PILATE
I am distressed. The whole
political environment is disturbed.
All this talk of miracles and now
this prophet � what's his name?
Mark my words � I can feel it.
Something is going to happen � an
outbreak.
ADVISOR
Jesus of Nazareth.
PILATE
What?
ADVISOR
His name. You asked. Jesus of
Nazareth.
PILATE
Yes. Yes. Doesn't he seem rather
tame though? Not at all like the
Baptist. Or the Zealots. If we are
to have trouble, it needs to be on
a large scale.
ADVISOR
Yes, I agree. It would be your
vindication to Tiberius. It would
prove that he, against your advice,
was too lenient with the Jews over
the votive shields.
PILATE
My power over the Jews would be
increased and I could implement
some real policies. I need to
consolidate my position with the
Tetrarchs. And I need to do
something about that unstable fool,
Herod Antipas.
ADVISOR
There is a possibility of provoking
an incident.
PILATE
Far too risky. If Tiberius found
out �
PILATE rises and walks to the window. He sees the minarets
and spires of Jerusalem.
PILATE (CONT'D)
(deep in thought)
But maybe this Jesus �
CROSSFADE TO:
EXT. PILATE'S HEADQUARTERS - 4 WEEKS BEFORE PASSOVER - DAY
The Pharisees are walking down the street and enter PILATE's
headquarters.
CUT TO:
INT. PILATE'S HEADQUARTERS � CONTINUOUS
Two guards stand at the entrance to PILATE's office.
PHARISEE 1
(to the guard)
Pilate has sent for us.
They stand aside and let the Pharisees enter.
CUT TO:
INT. PILATE'S OFFICE � CONTINUOUS
PILATE is standing by the windows. There are several other
Roman officials subordinate to PILATE standing in various
areas. The Pharisees stand in the center of the room.
PILATE
I am so glad you could come. I
need your cooperation. Passover is
in four weeks, and I want to avoid
any 'incidents' like we've had in
the past. You remember the riots
we've had recently.
PHARISEE LEADER
We, of course, will do anything we
can to discourage this type of
behavior. However, we cannot help
it if people act foolishly.
PILATE
Of course, of course. Thank you.
The Pharisees leave. PILATE turns to his second-in-command.
PILATE (CONT'D)
You see? What can you do with
them?
The officials chuckle at PILATE's joke.
SECOND-IN-COMMAND
We'll get as many troops recalled
to Jerusalem as soon as possible.
But we're already spread a bit
thin.
PILATE
Yes, I know. Do what you can. We
can only do our best. Please, all
of you, leave me now.
The officials file out. Once they are gone, several other
men appear from a back entrance.
PILATE (CONT'D)
Ah, my agents. Tell me, what do
you think of this new prophet,
Jesus?
AGENT 1
He seems harmless enough.
PILATE
Yes. (a beat.) He might be
harmless now, but if he reaches
Jerusalem during Passover, he might
not be so harmless.
CUT TO:
EXT. MOUNT OF THE OLIVES OUTSIDE JERUSALEM - TWO DAYS BEFORE
THE FEAST OF PASSOVER - LATE AFTERNOON
KARL is sitting with the twelve under an olive tree.
KARL
The Feast of Passover is two days
hence. It is time.
JOHN
Jesus, Pilate is said to be looking
for a scapegoat.
KARL
Then he shall have one.
SIMON PETER
Is there nothing we can say to you
that will deter you from this
course of action? Pilate expects
something to happen � he is ready
for it. And he wants it. Can't we
wait?
KARL
What will occur has already been
written. There is nothing we can
do to change it.
KARL smiles at them and raises his hand in a blessing. He
beckons to JAMES.
KARL (CONT'D)
Get me a donkey. A colt. I must
fulfill the prophesy now.
ANDREW
Then all will know you are the
Messiah.
KARL
(quietly)
Yes.
CUT TO:
EXT. MOUNT OF THE OLIVES - EVENING THE SAME DAY
In the poor light, KARL looks at the men around him. Ten are
present. The other two are out looking for a donkey.
A light breeze was blowing. The men stand on the grassy
slope looking toward Jerusalem and the great Temple below.
KARL walks over to one apostle. He is tall and good-looking
with curly red hair.
KARL
Judas, I wish to speak with you.
Walk with me a bit.
They separate from the group and walk a distance away.
JUDAS
Yes, Master? What do you wish to
say to me?
KARL
I want you to help me later, when
we have entered Jerusalem. It is
very important.
JUDAS
How, Master?
KARL
I need you to take a message to the
Romans.
JUDAS
(troubled)
The Romans? Why?
KARL
It must be the Romans. It has been
foretold. (a beat.)
(preoccupied.) It can't be the
Jews. They would use stones or a
stake or an axe. (smiles at
Judas.) I'll tell you more when
the time comes. Remember - keep
your own council.
JUDAS nods and walks away. The sky is full dark and the
stars shine down on the Mount of Olives. A cold wind blows
across the slope. KARL shivers.
CUT TO:
EXT. ENTRANCE TO JERUSALEM - PASSOVER - DAY
Crowds line the streets as KARL and his followers enter the
city.
KARL is astride a donkey with SIMON PETER walking beside him.
Many of his followers have run ahead and are throwing down
palm branches in his path. The crowd is shouting "Osha'na!
Osha'na! Osha-na!" over and over.
SIMON PETER
(to KARL)
You hear them? They are shouting,
"Free us! Free us!" You are seen
as the fulfillment of the
prophesies of the ancient prophets.
They think you are on the way to
Pilate's house to confront him.
This is dangerous.
KARL
(absently)
You hear, Simon Peter? It almost
sounds like they are shouting
"Hosanna".
SIMON PETER looks at KARL, then falls back and joins the
other apostles. KARL looks around at the expectant faces. He
begins to speak, but cannot be heard over the shouts.
KARL (CONT'D)
No. No. I am the messiah. I
cannot free you. I can't �
CUT TO:
INT. PILATE'S HEADQUARTERS - SIMULTANEOUSLY
PILATE is standing by the window. He hears the shouts of the
people as KARL and his followers enter the city. An AIDE
enters.
AIDE
Excuse me, sir. There is a man
here to see you. He says he is a
follower of this Jesus fellow.
PILATE
(intrigued)
Send him in.
The AIDE leaves and a moment later, JUDAS enters. PILATE
looks disdainfully at the Jew.
PILATE (CONT'D)
You have information? We do not
pay informers for information that
proves to be false. There are
severe penalties.
JUDAS
I do not seek money, lord. I am a
loyal subject of the Emperor.
PILATE
Who is this rebel?
JUDAS
Jesus of Nazareth, lord. He is
entering the city �
PILATE
I know. I can hear it. I'm not
deaf. But I heard he preaches peace
and obedience of the law.
JUDAS
To deceive you, lord. But today he
has betrayed himself, angering the
Pharisees, speaking against the
Romans. He has revealed his true
intentions.
PILATE
Are there witnesses? And are they
reliable? Many of these people
have bad memories when called to
testify.
JUDAS
I will testify against him. I am
one of his lieutenants.
PILATE cannot believe his good fortune.
PILATE
You say he has offended the
priests?
JUDAS
He claims to be the rightful King
of the Jews, the descendant of
David. (a pause. PILATE
considers.
JUDAS presses on.) And the
Pharisees would see him dead. I
have it on good authority. Certain
of the Pharisees who disagree with
him warned him to flee the city,
but he refused.
PILATE is considering all the possibilities. Calculating the
odds of success.
JUDAS (CONT'D)
The Pharisees want him arrested.
The people flock to listen to him.
Today, many of them rioted in the
Temple. They attacked the
moneychangers.
PILATE
That was he, was it?
JUDAS
Ask those arrested who inspired
them in their crime. They were the
Nazarene's men.
PILATE begins to pace � furiously thinking.
PILATE
(to himself)
I could not make the arrest. It
must be the Pharisees. Yes, that
would focus any anger elsewhere.
(to JUDAS.) Wait here. I will
send a message to Caiaphas.
CUT TO:
EXT. GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE - NIGHT
KARL sees the mob coming in the distance. They are a mixed
group of Roman soldiers and temple guards. He looks around
at his sleeping apostles. KARL turns back toward the mob.
The light from their torches mark their approach. KARL lays
down on the hillside and closes his eyes.
CUT TO:
INT. PILATE'S HEADQUARTERS - SEVERAL DAYS LATER
PILATE and CAIAPHAS are in conference. KARL is on his knees
in the center of the room. Guards stand at the doorways.
KARL's face shows the signs of a beating. His lip is split
and one eye is swollen. He is bound at the hands.
PILATE
Then we are agreed?
CAIAPHAS
Yes. While the solution is
unsatisfying to either of us, it is
the best we can do. With all the
witnesses � even from his followers
� it was obvious he was guilty of
both rebellion AND heresy.
PILATE
And the punishment will be dictated
by Roman law?
CAIAPHAS
Yes, it is agreed. Crucifixion.
CUT TO:
EXT. THE ROAD TO GOLGOTHA. THE NEXT DAY � LATE AFTERNOON
KARL staggers behind the heavy wooden cross. It is being
carried by another. The streets are crowded, but unnaturally
silent. He is wearing a crown of thorns and bears the marks
of the ritual humiliations performed on him. His eyes do not
focus. Occasionally, he staggers off the road, but a Roman
guard nudges him back. As he travels up the stony slope, he
falls again and again. He reaches the top as the sun is
setting. He slips one final time, cutting his head on a
sharp stone. He faints.
CUT TO:
EXT. GOLGOTHA - SHORT TIME LATER
KARL is tied to the cross. A soldier throws water in his
face. He regains consciousness. KARL can hear no sound.
Deathly silent. He looks to his left and sees a large iron
peg being driven into his hand. The soldier misses several
times with his hammer. KARL's fingers are smashed and
bloody. Shortly, he is completely nailed to the rough wooden
cross. Using pulleys, the cross with KARL is hauled into
place. KARL notices that there are no others being crucified
that day. It is getting darker. KARL can see the lights of
Jerusalem in the distance. He looks down and sees a woman.
She pauses and looks up at him.
KARL
Monica?
She turns and walks away. He feels the pain increase as the
pegs rip his flesh from the weight of his body. It is full
dark. He hears whispered voices below.
KARL (CONT'D)
(with a cracked voice)
Let me down. Please. Please.
Stop it.
One of the men below looks up. He nudges the man next to
him.
MAN 1
You hear? 'Eloi, Eloi, lama
sabachthani'? 'My God, my God, why
hast thou forsaken me.'
They laugh.
CUT TO:
EXT. GOLGOTHA - IN THE HOURS BEFORE SUNRISE
There are very few spectators left. Only a couple of Roman
guards stand watch. KARL coughs.
GUARD 1
It's funny. Yesterday they were
worshipping the bastard. Today
they seemed to want to kill him �
even the ones who were closest to
him.
GUARD 2
I'll be glad when we get out of
this country.
KARL coughs one more time. His breathing is becoming more
shallow. He mutters.
KARL
It's a lie � it's a lie � it's a
lie �
With one last explosion of breath, KARL dies.
SLOW FADE OUT TO BLACK.
Graphic on screen:
Later, after his body was stolen by the servants of some
doctors who believed it might be found to have special
properties, there were rumors that he had not died. But the
corpse was already rotting in the doctor's dissecting rooms,
and would soon be destroyed.
FADE TO BLACK.
CLOSING CREDITS.
[ main |
top
| previous ]
Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.