THE HOLY BIBLE
TELEPLAY EDITION
Episode 1005
“From
by
George Willson
Based on the novel by God
TEASER
SUPER: “1999 Anno Mundi”
The moon stands high above the City of
in peace.
INT. PALACE – NIMROD’S BEDROOM – NIGHT
The king of
However, as he sleeps, he becomes restless.
He appears to be
dreaming.
The great furnace stands in the square where
Abram had emerged
from it, but this furnace is huge and stands in the place of the
ruined tower. The fire from within burns brightly.
Nimrod stands
with a great army across the valley from the furnace, as if he
does not rule the city, but plans to attack it.
From the midst of the furnace steps Abram,
but he is bathed in
flames like a man of fire. In his hands he holds a sword. Nimrod
gasps as if FIRE ABRAM were right in front of him. Suddenly,
Fire Abram is right in front of Nimrod, sword
drawn, ready to
attack.
Nimrod begins to run in slow motion away from
Fire Abram. His
troops do not move, only separate to allow Nimrod passage. Fire
Abram does not move, but as Nimrod passes the
far end of his
army, Fire Abram reels back and throws an EGG at Nimrod.
The Egg hits Nimrod in the head and cracks
open spilling out
water behind him. The water turns into a great river and his
army sinks within it.
Nimrod turns around to find three other men
before him. The men
are dressed in garments of kings and have the appearance of
kings. Together, they all run from Fire Abram.
Behind them, the river turns back into an
egg. The egg hatches
and a bird flies at Nimrod and lands on his head. The bird pecks
out Nimrod’s eyes.
END DREAM SEQUENCE
INT. PALACE – NIMROD’S BEDROOM – NIGHT
Nimrod screams himself awake, sitting up in
bed.
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
Nimrod’s palace, now in the daytime, in the
city of
INT. PALACE THRONE ROOM – DAY
Nimrod sits upon his throne, waiting. He
still looks shaken from
the previous evening. In the room are his servants, Kederlaomer,
and most notably, ELIEZER, the servant Nimrod assigned to Abram.
The throne rooms doors open and a wise
servant of the king,
ANUKI, walks up to him and kneels.
ANUKI
May
the king live!
NIMROD
Rise, Anuki.
ANUKI
How
may I please the king this day?
NIMROD
Anuki, your wisdom has always guided
me in the right paths. I had a dream
last night that troubled me greatly.
ANUKI
Tell
me your dream, oh king, and I
will interpret it rightly.
NIMROD
I
stood by the king’s furnace with my
armies, and from the furnace stepped
Abram, clothed in fire. He came at me
with his sword drawn and I ran, but
as I did, he threw an egg which, when
it struck me, turned into a river
that swallowed my armies. I escaped
with three other men, who also had
the bearing of kings. The river turned
back into an egg from which a bird
hatched. It flew to me and pecked out
my eyes. What is the meaning of this,
Anuki?
ANUKI
The
king’s dream is troubling indeed.
NIMROD
Do
you know the meaning?
ANUKI
This
is nothing else but the evil of
Abram
and his seed which will spring
up against my lord and king in the
latter days.
NIMROD
How
can you be sure of this? Abram is
a friend of the Chaldeans. He is a
teacher and servant of the God of the
universe. Why would he turn against me?
ANUKI
It
is in the dream the king had.
The
day will come when Abram and his
seed and the children of his household
will war with my king, and they will
destroy all the king’s hosts and troops.
About
the three men who were like
yourself and who escaped with you: this
means that only you will escape with
three kings of the earth who will be
with you in battle. As for the river
which turned to an egg and then the
bird that plucked out your eyes:
this is nothing else but the seed of
Abram
who will slay the king in the
latter days. This is my king’s dream
and its interpretation. The dream is
true and the interpretation is right.
Nimrod walks across his throne room, looking
somewhere between
stunned and betrayed.
NIMROD
How
is this possible?
ANUKI
My
king, surely you know that it is
now fifty-two years since we saw
this at the birth of Abram, and if
my king would allow Abram to live on
the earth, it will be to the death of
my lord and king. As long as Abram
lives, neither you, nor your kingdom
will be established. This was known
at his birth. Why won’t my king kill
him so his evil can be kept from you?
NIMROD
Why
indeed? I have been warned already
and the signs have not changed.
ANUKI
Indeed,
they have not, my lord.
NIMROD
Very well. Kederlaomer. Call the
guards. Go with Anuki. Seize Abram
and
bring him before me, so he can suffer
death!
Eliezer, upon hearing this, sneaks out of the throne room.
KEDERLAOMER
Yes,
my lord.
ANUKI
At once, my lord.
EXT. ABRAM’S HOUSE - DAY
Abram and Sarai sit
at their dining room table. Sarai eats
marginally. Abram watches her, worried.
ABRAM
Sarai, what has been troubling
you?
SARAI
Hm? Oh,
it’s nothing.
ABRAM
I
am your husband. I have grown
to know you well in the past 2
years since our father gave you
to me for a wife.
SARAI
Yes,
he was quite insistent that
you not take for a wife from
anyone but our own family.
ABRAM
And rightly so. The family
line must be kept as pure as
possible without the corruptive
practices of these people.
SARAI
Yes.
ABRAM
However,
you avoided the question.
Sarai pushes her food away. She stands and walks away from the
table. Concerned, Abram walks over to her. She is crying.
ABRAM
Please,
my love, what is wrong?
SARAI
Can’t
you figure it out?
ABRAM
Not
unless you tell me.
SARAI
How
many children do you see?
ABRAM
What?
SARAI
Children, Abram, children. None!
That’s
how many.
ABRAM
Perhaps
it isn’t our time yet.
SARAI
Your
faith is admirable, but let’s
be realistic. I’m barren. I can’t
have children. I’m a disgrace to
you and to our family. You would
have been better off not marrying
me. You should find another.
ABRAM
I
will not. You are my wife, and
if God has not deemed us ready to
have children, then we will not
have them until we are.
SARAI
Just
leave me alone for a moment.
Sarai leaves in tears. Abram is powerless to stop her.
The door slams open. Eliezer
stands in the doorway.
ELIEZER
Abram!
ABRAM
Eliezer! What’s wrong?
ELIEZER
It’s
the king.
ABRAM
What
about him?
ELIEZER
He
had a dream about you. He had
Anuki interpret, and Anuki said
you and your seed will destroy
him.
ABRAM
Well,
Sarai would find the seed
part encouraging.
ELIEZER
Not
if you don’t get out of here.
The
king has called up his guards
to bring you before him to kill
you.
ABRAM
Ok,
get some things together for
me to travel with. I’ve got to
tell Sarai.
ELIEZER
Yes,
sir.
Abram walks to his bedroom. He opens the
door. Sarai sits
within, her back to him. He speaks tenderly.
ABRAM
Sarai.
SARAI
Yes?
ABRAM
Eliezer just came with news from the
palace.
SARAI
What
about it?
ABRAM
Well,
there’s no easy way to say
this... The king is threatening my
life again. His guards are on their
way here right now to take me before
him so he can kill me.
Sarai spins on him, shocked.
SARAI
What?
ABRAM
I
have to go for a while.
SARAI
Where?
ABRAM
I’ll
go stay with Noah and Shem.
This
can’t continue, though. I’ll
ask God to find out what we are to
do.
Sarai gives him a desperate hug.
SARAI
I
wish I could go with you.
Abram looks into her eyes.
ABRAM
Stay
with father. I’ll send for you
if we need to leave.
SARAI
Ok.
They kiss, briefly.
SARAI
I
love you.
ABRAM
I
love you. Go to our father’s
before they arrive.
SARAI
(nodding)
Ok.
She quickly gathers some things together.
Abram leaves the room
and meets Eliezer at the door.
ABRAM
Thank
you, Eliezer. Go help Sarai.
Stay with her. Escort her to our
father’s house.
ELIEZER
Yes,
sir.
ABRAM
Thank
you.
Abram hugs Eliezer.
ELIEZER
Be
careful.
ABRAM
I
will.
Abram exits. Eliezer
heads back for the bedroom.
EXT. ABRAM’S HOUSE – DAY
Abram looks quickly around and runs down the
street away from
the palace. He watches his house. Eliezer
escorts Sarai with
some of her things out of the house and towards Terah’s house.
As Abram runs away, the king’s guards
approach his house, led by
Kederlaomer and Anuki. They bang on the door and then bust it
in. Kederlaomer waits outside.
Abram runs down the streets away from his
house and out of town.
Anuki comes back out of the house and looks around for him.
ANUKI
Find
him! He can’t have gone far!
KEDERLAOMER
Scour
the streets. Block the gates.
Don’t
let him leave.
The guards flood the town.
Abram exits the town and runs across the
fields towards Noah’s
house.
INT. TERAH’S HOUSE – DAY
Terah is sitting peacefully with Amhelo and Kedurah. There is a
knock at the door. Kedurah gets up and
opens the door.
KEDURAH
Sarai?
Eliezer and Sarai enter.
TERAH
What’s
going on?
ELIEZER
The
king has turned on Abram again.
TERAH
Where
is he?
ELIEZER
He
has left the
returned to Noah and Shem.
EXT. NOAH’S VINEYARD – DAY
Abram walks across the vineyard toward Noah’s
house.
INT. NOAH’S HOUSE – DAY
Sedeqetelebab is serving Noah and Shem when
she looks out the
window.
SHEM
What
is it, Sedeqetelebab?
SEDEQETELEBAB
Abram’s
coming.
Noah and Shem both jump for the door.
EXT. NOAH’S HOUSE – DAY
Noah and Shem look off to find Abram walking
toward them.
NOAH
Abram!
What are you doing here?
Abram hugs Noah and then Shem.
ABRAM
History
repeats itself. The king
wants to take my life again. I
hope I can weather this storm
with you again.
NOAH
Of course.
SHEM
You’ll
just need to tell us all
about it.
ABRAM
Well,
based on what all I know,
it won’t take that long...
EXT. NOAH’S HOUSE – DAY
SUPER: “One Month Later”
Terah walks through Noah’s vineyard to the
house and knocks.
Sedeqetelebab answers.
SEDEQETELEBAB
Oh,
hello Terah. Come in.
TERAH
Is
Abram still here?
SEDEQETELEBAB
Yes,
he’s talking with Noah and
Shem.
TERAH
Thank
you.
Terah walks through the house.
EXT. NOAH’S VINEYARD – DAY
Noah, Shem, and Abram sit around a table
outside, talking.
ABRAM
How
old are you now, Noah?
NOAH
943, Abram. And Shem is...oh,
I
forget.
SHEM
441,
I believe.
ABRAM
Nimrod’s
not that old, though.
NOAH
Still a baby in his 90’s.
ABRAM
But
anymore, people don’t live
anywhere near that long. My
great-great-great-grandfather
Peleg, his son, Reu, and my
grandfather, Nahor have all
died of old age. What has
changed?
Shem and Noah look at each other for a
moment. Shem shrugs. Noah
thinks for a moment.
NOAH
My
grandfather, Methuselah, knew
Adam.
He had asked about life in
the Garden of Eden, and Adam told
him all about the Tree of Life and
of the Tree of the Knowledge of
Good
and Evil. Methuselah told me,
I
told my children and you. We
have two suspicions: Methuselah
never asked Adam if he ate the
fruit of the tree of life. We just
assumed he and Eve did. As the
generations grow further and
further from Adam, the long-life
effect of the tree of life is
just wearing off.
ABRAM
What’s
your other thought?
NOAH
My
other thought is just that man
has grown more sinful, and since
sin is death, man is dying sooner.
I
guess when man failed to take
the flood seriously, God is just
cutting back their lifespans.
SHEM
I’m
not sure which answer is
better.
NOAH
It’s
probably a combination of both.
ABRAM
Probably.
Terah walks up.
TERAH
Abram.
ABRAM
Yes,
father.
NOAH
Oh,
hello Terah.
TERAH
Hello,
Noah. Shem.
SHEM
Terah.
TERAH
Abram,
you can come back home. Nimrod
sent his troops everywhere looking
for you, but when he couldn’t find
you, he gave up. His anger has
subsided, and he’s all but forgotten
about it again.
ABRAM
He’s
forgotten about it now, but what
about next time? Or the next? Or
the
next? You know this is the third
time he has wanted to kill me. When
will it stop?
TERAH
But
it’s over for now.
ABRAM
For now, yes. But as soon as the king
has another dream or more signs are
in the heavens, he will again decide
to kill me on the advice of his
wicked counselors.
TERAH
What
do you propose to do, then?
ABRAM
Well,
what do you have here? What is
in
TERAH
What
are you asking of me?
ABRAM
Let’s
leave
us and go together to the land of
hand of Nimrod, or else you too will
perish in those latter days.
TERAH
Nimrod
has made me great.
ABRAM
Do
you think it through love that
Nimrod
gives you what he does? He
gives you honor for his own
benefit. I believe a fair amount
of your living was for my life.
Terah looks wounded.
ABRAM
And
if Nimrod bestows on you even
greater things than he has, these
things are only vanities of the
world, for wealth and riches cannot
save you in the day of wrath and
anger. So, listen to me! Let’s take
everyone and go to the land of
There,
we will serve the Lord who
created you in the earth, and it
will be well with you. Do away
with all the worthless things you
pursue now.
Terah looks at Abram with rapt indecision. He
glances to Noah
and Shem, as if asking for reassurance.
NOAH
Abram
speaks the truth.
Terah considers it further, and finally looks
at Abram.
TERAH
I
will do all that you have said,
for I believe this word is from the
Lord,
and it is to prevent your
death by the hand of the king.
EXT. VALLEY OVERLOOK – DAY
Terah stands looking down of the City of
Kedurah, Abram, Sarai,
from the city and set out across the vast plains for the
END OF ACT ONE
ACT TWO
EXT. TERAH’S LAND – DAY
SUPER: “2022 Anno Mundi”
Terah has his family on what appears to be a
large farm. A
central house is surrounded by a lot of land. There are cattle,
sheep, and goats grazing on the land.
Two men walk toward a large gathering of
people among the sheep.
Abram, now 75, stands before them, talking.
MAN
1
So
who is this man?
MAN
2
He
is Abram, son of Terah. He
came to us from
his God is with him. All of the
MAN
1
What
does he talk about?
MAN
2
Life.
The men enter the area where all the people
are and stand with
them. Abram speaks.
ABRAM
And
so it was before the flood, the
people did as they pleased. They
disgraced their marriages. They
rejected natural relations for
unnatural. They worshipped images
of stone and wood. They forgot the
God
who made them and their fathers
and their children and this earth.
So
God gave them 120 years to
repent, but they refused, so he
took one man, Noah, and his family
–
8 in all – into a great ark to
(MORE)
ABRAM (CONT’D)
preserve humanity, and in that
flood, destroyed all who rebelled
against him. We must always love
each other for we are all descended
from one man and are all of one
family. We are all the children of
Adam,
the first man, and Noah after
him. God be with you all.
The crowd disperses. Abram walks over to
Terah.
TERAH
I
appreciate that the people of the
but it upsets the sheep.
ABRAM
I
can’t just turn them away when they
want to learn.
TERAH
And
I will not stop you. God has been
gracious to us, regardless of my
former sins.
ABRAM
It
was a long time ago. I have returned
now these last five years to be with
you, but now I must consider a time
to return to
TERAH
You
were in
between Kedorlaomer and Nimrod,
where
Nimrod
was disgraced in defeat at the
hand of his prince of armies and now
rules only under the hand of Kedorlaomer.
ABRAM
God
promised to my children the land
of
though. He said my seed will be as
numerous as the stars in the heavens.
I
do not know when this promise will
take effect, though, as Sarai
remains
barren. I worry.
TERAH
What
I have learned from you, my
son, is that when God tells you
something, it will happen. You should
be patient and wait for his promises.
Abram smiles.
ABRAM
It
makes me happy to be able to
hear wisdom from my earthly father.
TERAH
I
only use your own words against
you.
ABRAM
I
need it, sometimes.
TERAH
We
all do.
Terah and Abram walk back to the house.
ABRAM
I
was hoping that when I returned, you
could come with me.
TERAH
I
can’t. Wherever God sends you, you
must go, but my journey must end here.
ABRAM
You’re
only 165.
TERAH
Yes,
but we don’t live as long as
our ancestors. My father, Nahor, died
at 119. I am beginning to feel old.
God
has called you to
will end your journey there, but mine
is done here.
ABRAM
I
understand.
TERAH
When
you leave again, you should
also take
ABRAM
TERAH
But
he is restless. He needs space
of his own, and I would feel better
about his future there.
ABRAM
Then
we will take him.
TERAH
Thank
you.
They enter the house.
EXT. TERAH’S LAND - NIGHT
Abram sits alone looking at the stars. Sarai sits next to him.
SARAI
What
are you doing?
ABRAM
Looking at the stars. They are so
numerous, one could not even count
them.
SARAI
It’s
beautiful.
ABRAM
Majestic.
They look at the stars for a moment longer.
SARAI
How
long are you going to stay
out here?
ABRAM
I’ll
be in shortly.
SARAI
All right.
She kisses him, and then goes inside. Abram
watches her and then
turns back to the heavens.
ABRAM
You
said you would multiply my
seed like the stars of the heavens,
but when?
GOD
Abram.
Abram prostrates himself.
ABRAM
Here
am I.
GOD
It
is time. Leave your country, your
people and your father’s household
and go to the land I will show you.
I
will make you into a great nation
and I will bless you; I will make
your name great, and you will be a
blessing. I will bless those who
bless you, and whoever curses you
I
will curse; and all peoples on
earth will be blessed through you.
ABRAM
All peoples on earth?
GOD
Go
to
ABRAM
Yes,
Lord.
INT. TERAH’S HOUSE – NIGHT
Abram walks in to find the whole family:
Terah, Amhelo, Kedurah,
SARAI
Is
everything all right?
ABRAM
Yes.
SARAI
What’s
going on?
ABRAM
We’re
going back to
SARAI
Ok.
EXT. WILDERNESS BETWEEN
Abram and his band of nearly 70 servants and
hosts of cattle,
sheep, and goats along with Sarai and
wilderness.
EXT. PLAIN OF MAMRE – DAY
The company has set up camp. Two distinct
camps form with Abram
on one side with his many possessions and
SARAI
Where
are we?
ABRAM
We’re
in
of the great tree of Moreh at
Shechem.
SARAI
Oh?
And what was that?
ABRAM
I
have no idea. The men we passed
back there told me what this is.
Sarai laughs.
ABRAM
It’s
good to hear you laugh. You
haven’t seemed very happy lately.
SARAI
I’m
just worried.
ABRAM
About what?
SARAI
That
maybe your blessing of
countless offspring won’t be
through me.
Abram takes her in his arms.
ABRAM
We
have been married now for 25
years. I don’t believe God would
have you with me and give me this
promise if he did not intend you
to share in it.
Sarai nods. He holds her for a moment, before they release.
SARAI
I’ll
start on some food for us.
ABRAM
Ok.
Sarai walks away.
ABRAM
Sarai.
She turns to him.
ABRAM
It’ll
be ok.
She nods and heads to their tent.
Abram looks out across the
as he can see. Settlements of the Canaanites dot the landscape.
Suddenly, a blinding light appears in front
of Abram. It has the
form of a man, but through the light, it is impossible to see
any features. Abram shields his eyes.
GOD
To
your seed, I will give this
land.
The light fades away. Abram looks out with
awe. Sarai runs up to
him.
SARAI
What
was that?
ABRAM
(wonderstruck)
I
have seen God, and I live.
SARAI
SEEN
God?
ABRAM
Prepare
a sacrifice to the Lord.
I
will prepare the altar. We must
give to him of our blessings.
Sarai runs off as Abram gathers stones.
EXT. PLAIN OF MAMRE – NIGHT
Abram stands before an altar upon which meat
burns. The flames
stretch high into the heavens and light the land for some
distance. Abram prays.
ABRAM
Oh,
God and creator of the heavens
and the earth. We thank you for
the promise you have given. And we
humbly accept the gift of this
land, not for us, but for the
offspring you will give us. Thank
you, Almighty God, we are unworthy
of your love.
The flames crackle into the night and smoke
rises into the
clouds.
END OF ACT TWO
ACT THREE
EXT. ABRAM’S CAMP – DAY
Abram’s and
eats of patches of grass. There is very little water.
INT. ABRAM’S TENT – DAY
Abram enters and sits with Sarai.
ABRAM
I
don’t know if we can stay here
much longer. The land seems to be
experiencing a famine.
SARAI
Where
are we to go? Should we
return to our father in
ABRAM
No!
us to get there without losing
everything we have to this famine.
SARAI
Then
what do we do?
We
go to
They look over to find
and we support ourselves, so we
shouldn’t have a problem.
Sarai turns to Abram, who looks worried.
SARAI
Abram?
ABRAM
Are
you certain that
be safe for us?
Why
wouldn’t it be? We are nothing
more than shepherds. We keep to
ourselves.
ABRAM
I
have heard of what happens there.
They
do not fear our God. They
worship idols and many false gods.
They
even tax the dead.
If
we stay in
Abram finally nods.
ABRAM
Ok.
We don’t have a choice. Prepare
your camp. We leave for
tomorrow.
EXT.
The great company moves across the landscape
until they arrive
at the brook Mitzraim, near the border
of
EXT. BROOK MITZRAIM – DAY
Abram stands looking over to
SARAI
So
that’s
ABRAM
Yes,
it is.
SARAI
Why
were you really so concerned
before we left?
ABRAM
God
has made you very beautiful.
Because
of this, I am afraid the
Egyptians
might kill me and take
you away, for they do not fear
God.
SARAI
What
do want to do?
ABRAM
Do
this: Say you are my sister, so
that I will be treated well for
your sake and my life will be spared
because of you.
SARAI
What
about everyone else? What if
they are questioned?
ABRAM
I
will tell everyone to do the
same. They must say you are my
sister.
SARAI
If
that’s what we have to do, I
will do it.
ABRAM
Good.
They embrace.
EXT. BROOK MITZRAIM – DAY
The company is ready to move out. Abram is
with
company.
ABRAM
When
we’re in
to tell them she is my sister.
What
if they take her for their
wife? What about her honor?
ABRAM
Why
would they take her?
Why
wouldn’t they? She’s very
beautiful.
Abram looks over the Sarai
with his half of the company. She
smiles at him.
ABRAM
Just
spread the word.
Ok.
Abram walks over to a chest in the midst of
his caravan. Sarai
looks over to him, confused. He opens the chest and shuffles the
items out of it into other containers around it.
SARAI
What
are you doing?
ABRAM
I
can’t take the risk.
SARAI
What
risk?
Abram finishes emptying the chest and
gestures her to come to
him.
ABRAM
That they will take you from me.
SARAI
Take
me from you?
ABRAM
Yes,
if you are my sister, that makes
you available. And you’re not.
SARAI
You
don’t want me to get in there.
ABRAM
Yes.
SARAI
Do
you know how hot it is?
ABRAM
Of course.
SARAI
How
long?
ABRAM
Just
until we get through town.
Sarai looks at him for moment, clearly upset by this idea. She
sighs.
SARAI
All right. If you think it’s best.
ABRAM
Thank
you.
Sarai climbs in.
ABRAM
I
love you.
SARAI
Uh-huh.
Abram closes the lid and conceals the chest
among his other
possessions. He heads out to the side again.
him, incredulous.
Did
you just put Sarai in a chest?
ABRAM
You
saw it. Why ask?
I
can’t believe you put her in a
chest.
ABRAM
Well,
I did. I’m not going to have
some Egyptian taking my wife.
You
mean your sister.
ABRAM
You
know very well what I mean.
Let’s
go.
EXT. EGYPTIAN CITY OUTSKIRTS – DAY
Abram and company walks across the
slowly-becoming-lush
countryside towards the main city through which they
must pass
in order to partake of the country.
Abram and company enter the expansive city.
They do not stop, as
if hoping to get past it to settle on the far side. Some
EGYPTIAN OFFICALS stop them.
HEAD
OFFICIAL
Stop!
ABRAM
(to the company)
Stop!
The Head Official walks up to Abram.
HEAD
OFFICIAL
Are
you the head of this company?
ABRAM
I
am.
HEAD
OFFICIAL
And your name?
ABRAM
Abram, son of Terah.
HEAD
OFFICIAL
Give
tithe to the king from what
you have, and then you may come
into the town.
ABRAM
Of course.
ABRAM
The
king requires a tithe before
we enter.
What
is the tithe?
HEAD
OFFICIAL
A
tenth of all you own.
A
tenth!?
Abram holds his hand up to calm
ABRAM
We
will provide the king with his
tithe.
The Head Official walks up and down the
caravan as the company
measures out a tenth from their possessions to other officials.
They open every chest to show the worth
within, and give a tenth
of that worth.
The Head Official notices the chest in which Sarai travels. He
also notices no one is touching it.
HEAD
OFFICIAL
Abram,
son of Terah!
Abram walks to the Head Official.
ABRAM
Yes?
HEAD
OFFICIAL
What
do you have in this chest which
we have not seen? Open it and give
the king his tithe of all of contains.
ABRAM
I
cannot open the chest, but all you
demand upon it, I will give.
HEAD
OFFICIAL
Is
it a chest of precious stones? Give
us a tenth of it.
ABRAM
All
that you desire, I will give, but
we cannot open the chest.
HEAD
OFFICIAL
You
will not enter the city until that
chest is opened and a tenth given.
ABRAM
No.
Please. I cannot.
The officials press into him. Abram tries to
hold them back, but
he is easily overpowered, and pushed to the ground. The
officials open the chest to find a most beautiful
woman within,
Sarai.
The officials stand back amazed as she rises
from the chest and
exits. She looks around.
SARAI
Abram?
Abram scrambles to his feet and runs over to
her.
HEAD
OFFICIAL
She
is most beautiful. Who is she?
ABRAM
She
is ... my sister.
HEAD
OFFICIAL
The
Pharaoh must have her.
ABRAM
No.
She has to stay with me.
HEAD
OFFICIAL
Send
word to the king. Let him know
what we have found.
Sarai leans into Abram. The officials talk amongst themselves
quickly, obviously concerning Sarai.
SARAI
(whispered; to Abram)
Don’t
let them take me. Please don’t
let them.
ABRAM
Don’t
worry.
The officials complete their discussion.
HEAD
OFFICIAL
She
is to come with us.
ABRAM
What?
HEAD
OFFICIAL
We
know the Pharaoh would be pleased
with her. She is to come with us.
SARAI
No!
ABRAM
I
will not agree to this.
HEAD
OFFICIAL
You
don’t have a choice.
SARAI
Don’t
let them take me, Abram. Please.
An official drags her away from Abram.
ABRAM
No!
The Head Official stands between Abram and Sarai.
HEAD
OFFICIAL
Stay
where you are, Abram, son of
Terah. Pharaoh will recompense you
greatly for her worth.
Without waiting for an answer, he spins and walks
away. The
other officials carry away the tithe. Abram stands behind,
powerless.
I
don’t think that went as we
intended.
Abram drops to his knees and weeps.
INT. PHARAOH’S THRONE ROOM – DAY
The officials lead Sarai
into PHARAOH, an imposing man dressed
elegantly. He stands at her entrance. Before him
stands a
MESSENGER, who had left the officials behind. The officials
leave her standing before Pharaoh.
PHARAOH
Is
this the woman of which you
spoke?
MESSENGER
She
is, my lord.
PHARAOH
You
are a fool. You far
underestimated her beauty. Even
a goddess is not so adorned.
MESSENGER
We
had to bring her to you
immediately, so others would not
take to her first.
PHARAOH
Where
did you find her?
MESSENGER
She
traveled with her brother in
a large caravan.
PHARAOH
Send
him a handsome price for his
sister. She shall make a fine addition
to my wives.
He walks up to her and touches her face. She
flinches.
PHARAOH
Oh,
don’t worry, my dear. Tonight
is our wedding night. You shall
learn to like me, then. Or at
the very least, you will know me
as I will know you.
Pharaoh gets very close to her face. She
looks away from him.
PHARAOH
Oh,
now.
Pharaoh turns her face to him.
PHARAOH
No
need to be shy.
He kisses her, and she resists...hard. She
breaks the kiss.
Pharaoh slaps her, knocking her to the
ground.
PHARAOH
Take
her to my wedding room. She
will learn how to treat her king
and husband with respect.
The officials help Sarai
up and lead her out.
INT. PHARAOH’S PALACE – WEDDING ROOM – NIGHT
The officials lead Sarai
into the room. They close the door
behind her. She drops to the ground in tears.
SARAI
O
Lord God, you told my husband
Abram
to go from his land and from
his father’s house to the land of
well with him if he would perform
your commands. We did what you told
us to do. We left our land and our
families, and we went to a strange
land and to a people whom we have
not known before. Then we came to
this land to avoid the famine, and
this evil accident has come upon
me. Please, Lord God, deliver us
and save us from the hand of this
oppressor, and help me according
to your mercy.
Sarai collapses to the ground in tears. A light appears in the
room. Sarai looks up to see a man standing
before her. He is
clothed in white and smiles at her kindly.
SARAI
Who
are you?
ANGEL
I
am an angel of the Lord Do not
be afraid, for the Lord has
heard your prayer.
Suddenly the door opens, and Pharaoh steps in, followed by a
single servant. The angel stands between Pharaoh and Sarai, but
it seems Pharaoh doesn’t see him.
PHARAOH
Who
is the man to you that brought
you here?
Sarai looks to the angel who stands silently, watching.
SARAI
(to Pharaoh)
He
is my brother.
PHARAOH
And
he is Abram, son of Terah?
SARAI
He
is.
PHARAOH
It
is important to us to make him
great, to elevate him and to do to
him all the good that is within
our power. Servant, send to Abram,
son of Terah, silver and gold and
precious stones in abundance,
together with cattle, menservants,
and maidservants. Bring him to me
to sit in the court of the king’s
house.
SERVANT
At once, my king.
The servant leaves. Pharaoh removes his cloak
and sets it aside.
PHARAOH
And
now, my new love, we have
business to attend to.
Pharaoh reaches out to touch Sarai. She tenses up. The angel
strikes Pharaoh, knocking him away from Sarai
to the ground.
Confused, he looks at her. Sarai looks at Pharaoh on the ground,
frightened. The angel stands calmly beside her.
Pharaoh gets back to his feet and moves in on
her again. The
angel, again, strikes him, knocking him to the ground. Pharaoh
makes several more attempts to reach Sarai,
but each time, he is
struck to the ground.
PHARAOH
What
is this?
Sarai doesn’t respond. In an almost “Superman” fashion, the
angel flies out of the room through the wall.
INT. PHARAOH’S PALACE – NIGHT
The angel flies through the palace, in and
out of rooms. As he
travels, wails begin to rise from within the rooms. The angel
stands in the hallway, looks around, nods, and disappears.
INT. PHARAOH’S PALACE – WEDDING ROOM – NIGHT
Pharaoh grabs his cloak and leaves the room.
INT. PHARAOH’S PALACE HALLWAY – NIGHT
Pharaoh stands in the hallway. He hears the
cries coming from
the rooms. He enters a room. The people within are stricken with
terrible boils on their skin. He exits the room and visits
several more. Everyone has boils on their skin, even guards in
the hallway.
Pharaoh considers this for only a moment
before returning to
Sarai.
INT. PHARAOH’S PALACE – WEDDING ROOM – NIGHT
He closes the door behind him, sealing out
the wails. He does
not approach her.
PHARAOH
Tell
me, again, about the man you
came here with. I want the truth.
SARAI
He
is my husband. I told you he was
my brother because we were afraid
that you would put him to death
through your wickedness.
Pharaoh looks at her for a moment.
PHARAOH
You
shall be returned to your husband
in the morning. You may rest peacefully
here tonight.
Pharaoh leaves. Sarai
collapses to the ground.
SARAI
Thank
you. Thank you. Thank you,
Lord
God, thank you.
INT. PHARAOH’S PALACE – VARIOUS LOCATIONS –
NIGHT
The boils on the skin of the Pharaoh’s people
clear up as
Pharaoh walks down the halls. As he passes by
a guard, he
watches the boils clear before his eyes. He freezes, astonished.
INT. PHARAOH’S THRONE ROOM – DAY
Pharaoh sits on his throne. The throne room
doors open. Abram is
led in. He bows to Pharaoh in respect.
ABRAM
The
Pharaoh sent for me.
PHARAOH
(angrily)
What
have you done to me?
ABRAM
I’m
sorry?
PHARAOH
Why
didn’t you tell me she was your
wife? Why did you say, “She is my
sister,” so that I took her to be
my wife? You brought a plague down
on my household!
Pharaoh gestures off to one side. Sarai is brought in. She runs
to Abram.
PHARAOH
Now,
then, here is your wife.
SARAI
Abram!
They embrace momentarily.
ABRAM
Oh,
Sarai, I’m sorry.
PHARAOH
You
shall have all you need. More
cattle, servants, silver and gold.
ABRAM
Pharaoh
is too kind.
PHARAOH
And something for Sarai.
He gestures a young woman, HAGAR, to him.
PHARAOH
This
is Hagar, daughter of one
of my concubines. She can be a
handmaid to Sarai.
HAGAR
Father,
you would send me away?
PHARAOH
(to Hagar)
It
is better for you to be a
handmaid in this man’s house
than to be mistress in mine. We
have witnessed the evil that
befell us on account of this
woman. You will
be blessed with
them.
Hagar gives her father a hug and walks over
to Sarai. She kneels
before her.
SARAI
I
am honored.
PHARAOH
Now,
take your wife her and go
from our land, before we all die
on her account.
Abram and Sarai
embrace again.
EXT. EGYPT PLAINS – DAY
Abram’s and
of
Hagar stands beside Sarai.
END OF ACT THREE
Source Material:
From the Bible:
Genesis 12:1-20
From Extra-Canonical Works:
The Book of Jashar
13:1-28, 15:1-33