FADE IN:

EXT. CHAPTER 26

Then cometh JESUS with them unto a place called GETHSEMANE.

JESUS

Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.

And he took with him PETER and the two sons of ZEBEDEE, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.

JESUS

My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed.

JESUS

O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep.

JESUS

What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

He went away again the second time, and prayed.

JESUS

O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. Then cometh he to his disciples.

JESUS

Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.

And while he yet spake, lo, JUDAS, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. And forthwith he came to JESUS.

JUDAS

(kissing him)

Hail, Master.

JESUS

Friend, wherefore art thou come?

Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him. And, behold, one of them which were with JESUS stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest’s, and smote off his ear.

JESUS

Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?

In that same hour said JESUS to the multitudes…

JESUS (V.O.)

Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.

But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled. And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest’s palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.

Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;

But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,

FALSE WITNESSES

This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.

And the high priest arose

HIGH PRIEST

Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?

But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered.

HIGH PRIEST

I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.

JESUS

Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

HIGH PRIEST

(renting his clothes)

He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy. What think ye?

EVERYONE ELSE

He is guilty of death.

Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands,

EVERYONE ELSE

Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?

Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him

DAMSEL

Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.

But he denied before them all

PETER

I know not what thou sayest.

And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him

MAID

This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.

PETER

I do not know the man.

And after a while came unto him they that stood by

THEY THAT STOOD BY

Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.

PETER

(cursing and swearing)

I know not the man.

COCK

Crow.

And Peter remembered the word of Jesus

JESUS (V.O.)

Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

And he went out, and wept bitterly.

EXT. CHAPTER 27

When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor. Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

JUDAS

I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood.

PRIESTS

What is that to us? see thou to that.

And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. And the chief priests took the silver pieces

PRIESTS

It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.

And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in. Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day.

Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet..

JEREMY THE PROPHET (V.O.)

And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value; And gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord appointed me.

And Jesus stood before the governor.

PONTIUS PILATE

Art thou the King of the Jews?

JESUS

Thou sayest.

And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.

PONTIUS PILATE

Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?

And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly. Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.

PONTIUS PILATE

(unto the people)

Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?

For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him,

PILATE’S WIFE

Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.

But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.

PONTIUS PILATE

Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you?

THE PEOPLE

Barabbas!

PONTIUS PILATE

What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?

THE PEOPLE

Let him be crucified.

PONTIUS PILATE

Why, what evil hath he done?

THE PEOPLE

Let him be crucified!

When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude.

PONTIUS PILATE

I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.

THE PEOPLE

His blood be on us, and on our children.

Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him

SOLDIERS

Hail, King of the Jews!

And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him. And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross. And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull, They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. And sitting down they watched him there; And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left. And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads

THIEVES

Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.

CHIEF PRIESTS

He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.

The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth. Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.

JESUS

My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

SPECTATORS

This man calleth for Elias.

And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.

THE REST

Let us see whether Elias will come to save him.

Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly.

CENTURION

Truly this was the Son of God.

The AUDIENCE sat in silenced awe for a moment, and when they spoke, they sayeth unto each other,

AUDIENCE

Jesus Christ, how could a movie that claims to be about love and hope be so entirely devoid of anything Jesus actually said, content merely to show us violent images in a pathetic attempt to make us confuse guilt with inspiration?

END