THE HOLY BIBLE
TELEPLAY EDITION
Episode 1006
“Separations”
by
George Willson
Based on the novel by God
TEASER
EXT.
SUPER: “2022 Anno Mundi”
Great herds of cattle, sheep, and goats graze
upon the
vegetation. HERDSMEN watch over the flocks and herds.
Between
these herds, a great line seems to be drawn, separating them.
Several herdsmen of Abram and
ABRAM
HERDSMAN
You
cannot graze here, or the herds
will mix.
Where
are we to go, then? Our herds
and flocks will strip this area in
a day.
ABRAM
HERDSMAN
That
is for you and your master to
decide, but this area belongs to
my master, Abram, and the herds of
your master,
But
we know our herds and will
keep them apart.
ABRAM
HERDSMAN
We
cannot take that risk. Graze on
your own land.
Abram’s Herdsman walks away, leaving
All
right, men, just move the herd
eastward.
The herds and flocks of
Another Herdsman runs up to Lot Herdsman 1.
Where
are we to go?
If
we are to stay here, we have to
find out where
have his herds graze. I’ll go ask
him.
We’ll
be right here.
Lot Herdsman 1 runs across the land to where
several tents are
setup. The Herdsman approaches the closest tent.
I’m
sorry to bother you, Master Lot,
but we have a problem.
What
is it?
It’s
your livestock. We’re trying
to share with your uncle Abram’s
livestock, and it just isn’t
possible.
Isn’t
there enough room for both?
No.
If you look at the land Abram’s
herds are using, it is just enough
for them. They actually don’t have
any to spare.
So
they have enough land as we
don’t?
Well,
we have a lot of livestock.
We
all do. Look, the big problem they
have is that they don’t want the
herds to mix, right?
Yes.
So,
when their herds move over,
just move in where they left.
If
they aren’t using a piece of
land, then we can. We also have
the Canaanites’ land on our
borders. God promised the land
to Abram, so why not? All these
things are the blessings of
Abram
passed on to me through
him. The land is ours. Use it.
Is
that wise?
Do
you have a better idea?
No.
Then
do it. If Abram’s herds move,
then graze upon that land again.
If
his herds come back, move onto
the Canaanites’ land. We have to
take what we can get here. If you
have any problems, come see me.
Yes,
sir.
END TEASER
ACT ONE
EXT.
The herds graze further apart, but the one’s in the east,
are receiving a lot of grief from the inhabitants of the land.
They are chased off of plots of land.
INT. ABRAM’S TENT – DAY
Abram sits inside his tent with two Canaanites,
HAVILAH and
JAVAN. He tries to be kind and attentive to him, but they are
clearly wearing his nerves.
HAVILAH
We
thought little of your occupying
this land, but if this invasion of
our areas does not stop, we will
muster our troops and drive you out.
JAVAN
Our
lands are ours to graze on, not
yours.
HAVILAH
Well?
Are you going to do something
about this or not?
JAVAN
If
not, we will consider it a hostile
act on your part by allowing it.
ABRAM
Please,
gentlemen. I have heard you
clearly. As I understand it, these
flocks are those of my nephew,
I
have sent for him to-
JAVAN
His
or yours is irrelevant to us.
HAVILAH
We
will drive you both out. We don’t
care whose fault it is.
ABRAM
I
assure you-
HAVILAH
Just
take care of it.
Havilah and Javan exit the tent. They
violently bump into
Eliezer as he is entering.
ELIEZER
Excuse
me.
JAVAN
Who
asked you?
Eliezer enters and stands before Abram.
ABRAM
Did
you find him?
ELIEZER
Yes,
I asked
quickly as possible. He said he
would be following shortly.
ABRAM
Good.
Eliezer continues standing before Abram. Abram looks deep in
thought.
ELIEZER
Is
there anything else you need?
ABRAM
Sit
down Eliezer.
Eiezer sits.
ABRAM
You
don’t have to be so formal all
the time. We’ve known each other
for twenty-five years now.
ELIEZER
(relaxing)
Yes,
we have.
ABRAM
What
do you think of all this?
ELIEZER
All
what?
ABRAM
ELIEZER
I
will admit the prospect of
leaving
then leaving your father, Terah
behind in
on your own...well...I thought
you were out of your mind.
Abram laughs.
ABRAM
You
were probably right.
Eliezer smiles.
ELIEZER
But
the need to leave
clear. Nimrod did try and kill
you three times.
ABRAM
He
did.
Abram pauses a moment, as if to collect his
words.
ABRAM
I
want to make sure you know
something. You are not a slave to
me. You don’t have to stay. If at
some point, you wish to go, you
may do so.
ELIEZER
Really?
ABRAM
Yes.
ELIEZER
I
have been in servitude my entire
life. What would I do?
ABRAM
Whatever you want to do.
Eliezer ponders this for a moment. Finally, he looks at Abram.
ELIEZER
Abram,
my life is with you. I will
continue to give my service
willingly.
ABRAM
I
was hoping you would.
ELIEZER
Excuse
me.
ABRAM
I’ll
see you later, Eliezer.
Eliezer pauses for a moment, and looks to Abram.
ELIEZER
Yes,
you will.
Eliezer exits.
What’s
going on?
ABRAM
Many things. I hear troubling
reports from the Canaanites that
your herds are grazing on their
land.
So?
ABRAM
I
also hear that our herdsmen are
fighting amongst each other because
your livestock are grazing on the
land of mine.
I
don’t have enough land. I don’t
have any choice.
ABRAM
But
you are making me a stench to
the people of this land. Did you
order your herdsmen into the
fields of these people?
Yes.
ABRAM
people. Why would you do this?
I
told you: I have no choice.
Besides,
what about God’s promise
that this land will be yours?
ABRAM
That
will happen in God’s time,
not mine.
But what about today?
Abram thinks for a moment. Finally, he
stands.
ABRAM
Come
with me.
He leaves the tent.
EXT.
Abram and Lot stand on a small mount
overlooking
ABRAM
Let’s
not have any quarreling
between you and me, or between your
herdsmen and mine, for we are
brothers. The whole land stands
before you. If you go to the left,
I’ll
go right. If you go to the
right, I’ll go left.
You
would give me the choice of
where to go?
ABRAM
I
leave it for you.
fertile part of the country with good grazing grounds near the
city of
He looks to where they have been. While the
plains of
still fertile, they are not as choice as the plains of the
I
will take the plain of the
and leave
ABRAM
Very well. You go east, and I will
go west. Even though we are parting
company, we are still family. Don’t
be afraid to come to me for anything
you may need.
I
won’t. Thank you.
The pair embraces for a moment.
Well,
I believe I will get my family
and herdsmen and flocks together and
we will set off.
ABRAM
God
will be with you,
He
is with you, uncle.
GOD
Abram.
Abram falls to his knees and bows.
ABRAM
Yes,
Lord.
GOD
Lift
up your eyes from where you
are and look north and south, east
and west.
Abram rises and looks.
GOD
All
the land that you see I will
give to you and your seed forever.
I
will make your seed like the dust
of the earth, so that if anyone
could count the dust, then your
seed could be counted. Go, walk
through the length and breadth of
the land, for I am giving it to you.
Abram rises and walks down the hill.
EXT. ABRAM’S ENCAMPMENT – DAY
Sarai meets Abram as he enters his encampment. In the distance,
SARAI
What
happened?
ABRAM
looked over the land. I gave him
his choice of where he wished to go.
He
chose the
elsewhere.
SARAI
Where
do we plan on going next?
ABRAM
us from
Abram walks to his tent. Hagar meets him as
he comes out.
HAGAR
(apologetically)
Excuse
me, sir.
SARAI
Abram?
Sarai follows Abram to the tent. Hagar stops her.
HAGAR
Was
there anything I could do for
you, right now?
SARAI
No,
Hagar, thank you. I’ll summon
you if I need anything.
HAGAR
Yes,
ma’am.
Sarai enters the tent.
INT. ABRAM’S TENT – DAY
Abram stands in the tent, facing away from
the door.
SARAI
What
else happened up there?
Abram turns to her.
ABRAM
God
spoke to me again.
SARAI
Oh?
ABRAM
He
affirmed the ownership of this
land as ours. He said to look
in all directions and everything I
see is mine.
SARAI
Did
he say, “It belongs to Abram?”
or...
ABRAM
Ok,
he didn’t say it was mine. He
said it was for my seed again.
SARAI
Your seed. By whom?
ABRAM
Sarai, there has only ever been
you. Be faithful. The child will
be ours.
SARAI
No,
it will yours. From your body.
God
has never said it would come
from mine.
Abram looks at her, unable to answer. Sarai leaves the tent.
Abram walks out after her.
EXT. ABRAM’S ENCAMPMENT – DAY
Abram stops and looks around.
ABRAM
(calling out)
Sarai!
He looks around. Hagar is sitting under a
tree, relaxing. Abram
walks to her.
ABRAM
Hagar,
did you see where Sarai went?
Hagar points to a lone woman behind the
tents. Abram goes to
her.
ABRAM
Sarai.
SARAI
(crying)
What’s
wrong with me?
ABRAM
There
is nothing wrong with you.
SARAI
How
can you say that? I am still
barren. I am almost beyond child-
bearing years. What’s going to
happen to me when I get too old
to actually have children?
ABRAM
Nothing
is impossible with God.
You
are my wife, and it will be
through you.
SARAI
I...I
mean...you can’t...I don’t
want to talk about it right now.
Sarai gets up and walks away. Abram lets her go this time. He
walks to another tent.
ABRAM
Eliezer.
Eliezer, Abram’s servant from Nimrod, emerges from the tent.
ELIEZER
Yes,
sir.
ABRAM
Spread
the word. We’re moving.
ELIEZER
Right away.
Eliezer runs off. Abram looks after Sarai who
has stopped again.
EXT.
Abram leads his band of men, flocks, and
possessions across the
expanse of Canaan southwest to
END OF ACT ONE
ACT TWO
THREE KINGS (NIMROD of
GOIIM) walk across the courtyard into the
ornate
KEDERLAOMER.
INT. PALACE THRONE ROOM – DAY
The three kings enter the throne room and
kneel before
KEDERLAOMER, a very conceited looking man,
dressed
ostentatiously.
KEDERLAOMER
Rise, my subjects.
The three kings rise. Kederlaomer
stands over them.
KEDERLAOMER
Bera, the king of
to rebel against me, and with him
he has Birsha of Gomorrah, Shinab of
Admah, Shemeber of Zeboiim, and Bela
of Zoar. I have maintained control
over these areas as well as yours for
thirteen years. Haven’t I been good
to you?
THREE
KINGS
Yes,
my king.
KEDERLAOMER
Do
I not work to keep your lands
safe from invaders?
THREE
LANDS
Yes,
my king.
KEDERLAOMER
Now
that I have been good to you, it
is time for you to work for me. Call
up your armies so we may ride against
Bera, king of
what forces do you have?
TIDAL
I
have maintained the forces by your
law of two thousand, my lord.
He walks from Tidal to the other kings, who
bow their heads at
his approach.
KEDERLAOMER
Well
done. Arioch, king of Ellasar,
what are your forces?
ARIOCH
By
your law, oh king, I have forces
numbering two thousand at your
disposal.
KEDERLAOMER
Excellent.
Kederlaomer moves to Nimrod and looks down upon him,
haughtily.
KEDERLAOMER
And
Nimrod of Shinar of the land of
Terah, was one of your princes.
NIMROD
I
do.
KEDERLAOMER
And
now, I rule over you.
NIMROD
Yes,
my lord.
KEDERLAOMER
Nimrod,
my slave, prince of MY
hosts, what forces do the Chaldeans
have at my disposal?
NIMROD
By
your law, my lord, I have two
thousand men ready at your command.
KEDERLAOMER
Well
done, Nimrod. I shall allow you
to survive one more day.
Kederlaomer returns to his throne and sits.
KEDERLAOMER
Gather
your forces and meet my two
thousand at the
near the
Bela has drawn his battle lines
and challenged me.
THREE
KINGS
Yes,
my king.
The three kings bow and exit.
Eight thousand men stand across from each
other, ready to
attack. Holes appear to be interspersed within the ranks.
Kederlaomer walks across the forward rank of the
company. He
looks off into the distance at the armies of the five kings, led
by the king of
Tidal runs up to him.
TIDAL
My
lord, the armies are ready.
KEDERLAOMER
Are
we prepared to handle the tar
pits?
TIDAL
If
we can spot them in time, but we
lost several men to them already.
KEDERLAOMER
It
is of no consequence. We will
still outnumber them. Go to the
rear. Let’s get this over with.
TIDAL
Yes,
my lord.
Tidal runs to the rear of the formation to
where the other kings
await.
KEDERLAOMER
(calling out across the army)
It’s
time to take back what is ours.
Destroy
them all. Drive them out.
To
war!
The company responds with a cheer. Kederlaomer walks over to a
prince of the armies.
KEDERLAOMER
Take
them in.
PRINCE
Yes,
my lord.
Kederlaomer walks to the rear of the army.
PRINCE
Charge!
The armies rush through the
tar pits sporadically placed throughout the field. Some spot the
holes are navigate around them.
Bela’s armies stand ready to receive Kederlaomer’s.
The armies
clash together, but Kederlaomer’s number
far overwhelms Bela’s.
Bela’s retreat across the valley behind them, and once again,
many fall into the tar pits.
Kederlaomer’s armies cheer at the defeat of their enemies.
Kederlaomer and the Three Kings ride up into the throng.
KEDERLAOMER
We
have defeated our enemies.
Their
cities are ours for the
plunder.
The army cheers.
EXT. PLAINS OF THE JORDAN – DAY
Nestled within groves of trees on the
well-watered plain of the
Jordan river,
UNIC, a servant of Abram, walks into the
city.
EXT.
Unic walks through the city streets. Men lie on the ground,
emaciated. What appears to be a bloodied bed sits in
the city of
the town square. Unic is accosted by
several men.
MAN
1
Did
you pay the entry tax?
UNIC
What
entry tax?
MAN
2
The
tax on the entry to
mandatory for all visitors.
UNIC
I
carry nothing with me.
MAN
1
What
is this?
The man snatches Unic’s
provision bag and run off. Unic shakes
his head.
UNIC
It
was empty anyway.
Unic continues walking. The men are dissatisfied with his empty
bag and throw it at him, hitting him in the head. Unic shakes
his head again, and picks it up. He walks to a house and knocks.
Unic.
Come in.
UNIC
Gladly.
Unic enters the house.
INT.
UNIC
Thank
you.
UNIC
How
can you live here?
I
stay out of their lives. They stay
out of mine.
UNIC
But
the stories I’ve heard come out
of here...
Like
what? I’ll tell you if they’re
true.
UNIC
I
hear tales of this horrible
festival four times a year where
everyone goes down to a valley and
each man enjoys the wife of his
neighbor and virgin daughters-
Yeah,
that one’s true.
We
do not participate.
UNIC
For
that I am grateful. What of the
story of strangers coming to town
and everyone gives him silver and
gold, but then keeps him in town
until he dies of hunger. When he
is dead, not only does everyone
get back their silver and gold, but
take his clothes and possessions,
too.
Never
take anything from anyone.
sighs.
That’s
true too.
UNIC
Abram
sent me to inquire as to
your welfare.
I
am doing well.
UNIC
That’s
it?
My
flocks are doing well. We have
ample land. I have no complaints.
UNIC
No
complaints?
No.
UNIC
At all?
No.
UNIC
And
you have nothing else to add?
No.
Abram may check on me as often
as he desires, but I am doing well.
UNIC
Ok.
Unic gets up.
UNIC
May
I trouble you for some provisions
for my return trip?
Certainly.
Unic hands
it with provisions.
UNIC
Thank
you.
Give
my best to my uncle.
UNIC
I
will. Thank you.
I
would suggest running for the
edge of the city as fast as possible
so you leave with enough provision
to make it back to Abram.
UNIC
Will do.
Unic exits.
EXT.
Unic looks around. He looks to the gate. Within the city, some
men have noticed him and move in his direction. Unic
sprints for
the city gate. The men chase him. He draws closer to the gate.
The men draw closer to him.
EXT. PLAINS OF THE JORDAN – DAY
Unic bolts out the city as fast as possible and he keeps
running. The men stop at the edge of the city, and turn back.
Unic runs for some distance and stops. He turns back to find no
one chasing him anymore. He sighs in relief until he sees a
large group of men approaching the city. Unic
drops to the
ground and watches as they invade the city.
Screams permeate the air.
EXT.
The army kills at will. They raid houses.
brought out. They are led out of the city.
EXT. PLAINS OF THE JORDAN – DAY
Unic watches as
other Sodomites. He climbs to his feet and runs off.
EXT.
Abram walks through the great trees of Mamre in his camp with
Eliezer.
ABRAM
Eliezer, I’m baffled.
ELIEZER
How
so?
ABRAM
God
promised offspring to me, and
yet Sarai remains barren. At
present, you alone stand to inherit
all that I have unless she conceives.
ELIEZER
God
has been faithful to you, Abram.
I’m
sure he’ll fulfill his promise
in time.
ABRAM
I’m
beginning to wonder when...and
how.
They look up to find Unic
running towards them, completely out
of breath.
ABRAM
Unic?
What’s wrong?
UNIC
Lot...in
...as prisoner.
Unic collapses.
ABRAM
Eliezer, gather all the men together.
I’ll
try and get as much as I can
from Unic.
ELIEZER
Right away, sir.
Abram carries Unic
into his tent, nearby.
INT. ABRAM’S TENT – DAY
Abram lays Unic
down on his bed. He gets some water and gives
him a drink. Unic drinks lightly.
ABRAM
Easy, Unic. Don’t gulp.
Unic drinks and nods, indicating he is done.
ABRAM
Do
you know anything about where
they went?
UNIC
A little.
EXT. ABRAM’S TENT – DAY
Abram exits his tent and meets Eliezer at the entrance.
ELIEZER
We
have 318 men ready.
ABRAM
They
will be enough.
ELIEZER
Where
did they go?
ABRAM
Unic said they crossed the
and went north towards
ELIEZER
My home town.
ABRAM
We’re
going to have to move quickly.
They
have some time ahead of us,
but since they are leading prisoners,
they will be slowed.
ELIEZER
Then
we’d better get going.
ABRAM
Agreed.
Abram walks over to Sarai.
ABRAM
Unic came back with news of
being kidnapped. We’re going after
his capters. Unic
is asleep in
our tent.
SARAI
I’ll
take care of him.
They embrace briefly.
ABRAM
I’ll
be back soon.
SARAI
Be
careful.
ABRAM
I
will.
Abram runs over to the men. He signals them
to follow. They run
after him eastward toward the
EXT. EAST OF THE JORDAN – DAY
The men have stopped for a moment to look at
the ground. Eliezer
runs up to Abram. The other men are scoping around a large
trampled area.
ELIEZER
It
looks like they rested here for
a moment.
ABRAM
Can
you tell where they went?
ELIEZER
We’re
checking around the perimeter
of the trampled area to see where
the group may have gone to.
MAN
Here!
Abram and Eliezer
run over to where the man called out.
ELIEZER
What
is it?
MAN
The
tracks lead off in this
direction.
ABRAM
Still north.
ELIEZER
Yes,
but veering to Hobah.
ABRAM
Let’s
go.
The troop runs off again, following the
tracks.
EXT. HOBAH – NIGHT
Abram and Eliezer
look over a ridge at Kederlaomer’s encampment
of a few thousand troops. They also see the prisoners from
and the booty as well. They move back down behind the ridge.
ELIEZER
There
are more of them than there
are of us.
ABRAM
That’s
an understatement.
ELIEZER
What
are we going to do?
ABRAM
Take
half the men east, and I’ll
go west. Find the tents of the
leaders. Route them and the rest
will scatter.
ELIEZER
Yes,
sir.
EXT. KEDERLAOMER’S CAMP – NIGHT
Kederlaomer stands at his tent with Tidal and a Prince
of his
armies.
KEDERLAOMER
Have
you placed guards around the
encampment?
PRINCE
Yes,
my lord.
TIDAL
You
ordered many of the troops sent
home. Was that wise?
KEDERLAOMER
Do
not question my authority,
slave. Who would stand against us?
At this, a cry raises from one of the
borders. And then from
another.
KEDERLAOMER
What’s
going on?
A man runs up to him.
MAN
My
lord, we’re under attack!
KEDERLAOMER
Well,
fight them.
At this, the men all run in a dozen different
directions. The
prisoners sit still and watch the pandemonium. Abram
runs up to
them and spots
Abram!
ABRAM
Sorry
it took so long to reach you.
It’s
ok.
Abram runs off to join the men. Kederlaomer and the Three Kings
watch as their army falls apart around them. Abram and Eliezer
lead the men straight for the tents of the kings.
Nimrod sees Abram running toward him. His
eyes widen.
BEGIN FLASHBACK
From the king’s dream in “From Babel to
approaches Nimrod with a drawn sword. Nimrod flees
through the
line of troops. Fire Abram throws the egg which hits him in the
back of the head an turns into a river, swallowing the troops.
Nimrod flees with the other three kings.
END FLASHBACK
NIMROD
Run!
KEDERLAOMER
Yes!
Kederlaomer, Nimrod, Tidal, and Arioch
all flee with their
troops.
As the last of the troops disappear into the
night, Abram as his
men cheer.
ABRAM
Eliezer, how many did we lose?
ELIEZER
None!
ABRAM
God
delivered them into our hands.
We
couldn’t lose.
ELIEZER
Do
you think the king will reward
us?
ABRAM
In
the name of the Lord God Most High
I
will accept nothing belonging to
him, not even a thread or the thong
of a sandal, so he will not be able
to say, “I made Abram rich.”
EXT.
Abram leads his men along with all the people
and property of
Kings.
BERA
Thank
you. Thank you so very much.
We
are forever in your debt.
ABRAM
Don’t
thank me. Give your thanks
to the God of all creation who
went with us into battle.
BERA
Please,
give me the people, but keep
all the goods for yourself.
ABRAM
I
have raised my hand to the Lord, God
Most
High, Creator of heaven and earth,
and have taken an oath that I will
accept nothing belonging to you, not
even a thread or the thong of a sandal,
so that you will never be able to say,
“I
made Abram rich.” I will accept
nothing but what my men have eaten and
the share that belongs to the men who
went with me-to Aner, Eshcol and Mamre.
Let
them have their share.
BERA
As
you wish, but do not answer so
quickly. Wait until we leave, and then
decide.
ABRAM
As
you wish.
Bera moves off to greet his people. The king of
MELCHIZEDEK, walks up to Abram with
provisions of bread and
wine.
MELCHIZEDEK
God
was with you on your journey?
ABRAM
He
was.
Abram looks at Melchizedek, almost
disbelieving.
ABRAM
You
know the God of heaven? The
Lord
God who created all mankind?
MELCHIZEDEK
I
know the God of Shem, Noah, and
the God who created Adam, the first
man.
ABRAM
Who
are you?
MELCHIZEDEK
I
am the king of
and servant of God Most High.
ABRAM
May
you be forever blessed.
Melchizedek places his hand on Abram’s
shoulder.
MELCHIZEDEK
Blessed
be Abram by God Most High,
Creator of heaven and earth.
And
blessed be God Most High, who
delivered your enemies into your
hands.
ABRAM
Amen.
Abram walks over to Bera.
ABRAM
King
Bera, I have changed my mind.
BERA
Excellent. Will you take everything
I
have offered?
ABRAM
No.
Give me a tenth of everything.
BERA
It
is yours.
ABRAM
Prepare
it for departure. Send it
with Melchizedek.
BERA
Melchizedek?
Of
ABRAM
He
is a priest of God Most High.
Consider
it my gift to God for
all He has given me.
BERA
As
you wish.
Abram walks back to Melchizedek.
MELCHIZEDEK
God
will give you what he promised.
Abram is taken aback by this statement.
ABRAM
(recovering)
Go
in peace.
Abram walks to Eliezer
and his men and they depart.
END OF ACT TWO
ACT THREE
INT. ABRAM’S TENT – NIGHT
Abram sits inside his tent, head in thought. Sarai sits up in
bed.
SARAI
Are
you ok?
ABRAM
Yes.
SARAI
What
are you doing?
ABRAM
Just thinking.
He turns to her and smiles.
ABRAM
I’m
fine.
SARAI
When
are you coming to bed?
ABRAM
Soon. Go to sleep.
She lays back down
and sleeps.
ABRAM
When?
When will it happen? Will
it happen?
GOD
Do
not be afraid, Abram. I am your
shield, your very great reward.
ABRAM
O
Sovereign Lord, what can you give
me since I remain childless and the
one who will inherit my estate is
Eliezer of
me no children; so a servant in my
household will be my heir.
GOD
This
man will not be your heir, but
a son coming from your own body will
be your heir.
The tent flaps open of their own accord. Abram
rises and walks
outside.
EXT. ABRAM’S ENCAMPMENT – NIGHT
Abram stops outside his tent. The tent flaps
close.
GOD
Look
up at the heavens and count the
stars-if indeed you can count them.
So
shall your offspring be.
ABRAM
I
believe you.
GOD
I
am the Lord, who brought you out
of
the land to take possession of it.
ABRAM
O
Sovereign Lord, how can I know
that I will gain possession of it?
GOD
This
coming evening, just before the
sun sets, bring me a heifer, a goat
and a ram, each three years old,
along with a dove and a young pigeon.
Arrange
them in the custom of today
and I will pass between them
confirming my oath with you.
EXT.
Abram places halves of the heifer, goat and
ram opposite each
other on the ground. He places the dove and pigeon opposite each
other.
He stands back and waits. Vultures fly down
to the carcasses.
Abram drives them away. He stands back again.
The sun passes below the horizon. Abram
collapses into a sleep.
As Abram sleeps, God speaks to him.
GOD
Know
for certain that your descendants
will be strangers in a country not
their own, and they will be enslaved
and mistreated four hundred years.
But
I will punish the nation they serve
as slaves, and afterward they will come
out with great possessions. You,
however, will go to your fathers in
peace and be buried at a good old age.
In
the fourth generation your descendants
will come back here, for the sin of the
Amorites
has not yet reached its full
measure.
Darkness reigns as Abram wakes back up. A
smoking firepot with a
blazing torch appears on the ground. Abram watches as it passes
between the pieces.
GOD
To
your descendants I give this land,
from the
great River, the Euprates – the
land
of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites,
Hittites,
Perizzites, Rephaites,
Amorites,
Canaanites, Girgashites and
Jebusites.
Abram looks upon this display in absolute
awe.
EXT. ABRAM’S ENCAMPMENT –
SUPER: “2033 Anno Mundi”
Abram sits outside his tent. Sarai walks up behind him. She
appears to have been crying. Abram looks at her.
ABRAM
Sarai, what is it?
SARAI
Look,
I know that the Lord has
promised to give you offspring to
inherit this land.
ABRAM
He
confirmed it with me 11 years
ago by covenant.
SARAI
And
the offspring was to come from
your own body?
ABRAM
Yes.
I had feared Eliezer was to
inherit my estate, but the Lord
showed me otherwise. We are to
have children.
SARAI
No,
you are to have children.
ABRAM
What
are you saying?
SARAI
I
don’t see any other way for our
children to inherit this land-
they may not come through your
servant, but maybe they are supposed
to come through mine.
ABRAM
What?
SARAI
Hagar!
Hagar exits the tent behind him and stands
behind Abram. Abram
stands, taking all this in.
SARAI
The
Lord has kept me from having
children. Go, sleep with my
maidservant; perhaps I can build
family through her.
Abram looks from Sarai
to Hagar. Hagar doesn’t meet his gaze.
ABRAM
Hagar,
do you agree to this?
HAGAR
I
live to serve my mistress.
ABRAM
You
have been my wife for forty-
five years. My offspring should
come through you.
Sarai clearly doesn’t like what she’s saying, but
feels she has
no choice. Her voice cracks worse, and the tears flow more as
she continues.
SARAI
It’s
not going to happen, Abram!
God
has decided I am not worthy
to build a family for you. Perhaps-
Sarai pauses a moment to collect
herself.
SARAI
Perhaps,
she will be worthy and
although our children won’t come
through me, hers will count as
mine, and we will have them
finally.
ABRAM
Are
you sure?
Her face says no, but she nods. She steps
back to the tent and
opens the flap.
SARAI
Go,
now. Sleep with her so that
the promise of God may be fulfilled.
ABRAM
Very well. If that is your wish.
She nods again. Abram enters the tent with
Hagar. Sarai releases
the flap. She runs away from the tent a fair distance, collapses
to the ground, bawling.
EXT. ABRAM’S ENCAMPMENT - DAY
SUPER: “Three months later”
Activity continues in the camp as it always
has. Abram discusses
something with Eliezer. Sarai carries water from a nearby well.
INT. HAGAR’S TENT – DAY
Hagar feels of her stomach. She smiles.
HAGAR
Can
it be true? I have conceived.
Hagar steps outside the tent
EXT. ABRAM’S ENCAMPMENT - DAY
Hagar looks across the land to see Sarai carrying the water.
HAGAR
This
can only be that I am better
before God than Sarai my mistress,
for all the days that my mistress
has been with my lord, she did not
conceive, but the Lord has caused
me in so short a time to conceive
by him.
Hagar proudly struts across the camp to Abram.
He looks up at
her. She smiles. He smiles and stands. Sarai
looks over to them.
She puts down her water and walks over.
HAGAR
My
lord Abram, I have conceived.
ABRAM
Praise
the Lord. Sarai! Did you
hear, Hagar is pregnant. After
so many years, we are to have a
family.
Sarai is not as enthusiastic as Abram.
SARAI
Isn’t
that nice?
HAGAR
You
know, of course, that the
Lord
found favor with me where
he did not with you.
SARAI
Does
he?
HAGAR
He
does. I am the wife who bears
children. You are now the maid
who does the work.
SARAI
I
have been his wife for many
years. A position you will not
soon fill.
HAGAR
A
position I filled in three short
months.
Sarai is clearly angered. She leaves the scene.
HAGAR
Go
on. Be gone.
ABRAM
Hagar,
I will not have you speak
to Sarai in such a manner.
Hagar is shut down, unable to respond. Abram
follows Sarai.
Sarai stops away from Hagar. Tears flow again.
SARAI
(broken, to herself)
This
is surely nothing else but
that she must be better than I
am.
Abram approaches.
ABRAM
Sarai.
SARAI
(frustrated)
You
are responsible for the wrong
I
am suffering. When you prayed
to the Lord for children, why
didn’t you pray for me so that I
would have your children? Why did
it have to be her?
She wipes away the tears.
SARAI
Now,
when I speak to her in your
presence, she despises my words
and mocks me because she has
conceived, and you say nothing to
her!
Abram remains speechless in response.
SARAI
May
the Lord judge between you and
me for what you’ve done to me.
Sarai turns away from him, pouting. Abram takes a few moments to
collect his thoughts. Slowly, he walks to Sarai,
placing his
hands on her shoulders, lovingly.
ABRAM
Your
servant is in your hands. Do
with her whatever you think best.
Sarai smiles, almost in evil satisfaction.
EXT. ABRAM’S ENCAMPMENT – DAY
Sarai is chasing Hagar out of the camp.
SARAI
Go
on! Get out of here!
Hagar runs in fear until she stumbles to the
ground. Sarai
stands behind her.
HAGAR
Mistress,
please. You would not
throw a woman with child into the
wilderness.
SARAI
Such
is the fate of servants who
disrespect their mistresses. You
have no place here until you
learn respect.
HAGAR
I
am sorry.
SARAI
Get
out of here!
Hagar gets to her feet and runs away.
EXT. SPRING OF SHUR – DAY
Hagar runs until she reaches a well. No one
can be seen for
miles around her. She collapses to the ground, crying. She looks
back where she came from, regretfully.
A man suddenly walks up beside her. He is
clothed in white.
ANGEL
Hagar,
servant of Sarai, where have
you come from, and where are you
going?
Hagar looks up at him. Her face is a wreck of
tears and dirt.
HAGAR
I’m
running away from my mistress,
Sarai.
The angel draws water from the well and
produces a cloth. He
dips it in the water and gently cleans off her face.
ANGEL
Go
back to your mistress and submit
to her. I will so increase your
descendants that they will be too
numerous to count. You are now with
child and you shall have a son. You
will name him Ishmael for the Lord
has heard of your misery. He will be
a wild donkey of a man; his hand
will be against everyone and
everyone’s hand against him, and he
will live in hostility toward all
his brothers.
Hagar looks into the angel’s eyes.
HAGAR
You
are Lahai Roi. I have now
seen the One who sees me.
ANGEL
Go
now, and return.
Hagar nods, rises to her feet, and walks
back.
EXT. ABRAM’S ENCAMPMENT – DAY
Hagar walks humbly into the camp to Abram and
Sarai. She keeps
her head bowed, not looking into their eyes.
HAGAR
An
angel of the Lord came to me,
mistress. He told me to return and
submit to you. I am in your hands.
Sarai looks at Hagar, emotionless.
SARAI
If
the Lord told you to return, then
I
will accept you again as my servant.
Hagar nods.
HAGAR
If
it please my mistress, I have
more to tell. The Lord had much to
say about this child...
INT. HAGAR’S TENT – DAY
SUPER: “2033 Anno Mundi”
Hagar is in the throes of childbirth. Sarai works with another
maidservant in order to deliver him.
EXT. HAGAR’S TENT – DAY
Abram paces outside the tent with Eliezer. The screams of Haagr
can be clearly heard.
SARAI
(O.S.)
Come
on, Hagar! Push!
Hagar screams again.
ELIEZER
It
is times like this that I am
grateful to be a man.
ABRAM
It
certainly is the most
unpleasant part of the process.
SARAI
(O.S.)
One
more!
Hagar gives a final scream and then silence.
Abram and Eliezer
look to the tent in anticipation. A baby’s cry cuts the silence.
Sarai exits the tent with the baby in her arms, afterbirth still
on him, only just wiped off.
SARAI
Congratulations,
my husband, we
have a son.
Abram smiles. Sarai, finally,
smiles back. Abram puts out his
arms and takes the baby. Abram and Sarai
faun over him for a
moment before Abram turns to Eliezer.
ABRAM
(proudly)
Eliezer, this my son. My son,
Ishmael.
Eliezer smiles and gazes on the child.
ELIEZER
Well
hello, Ishmael.
The three gaze upon the baby as we...
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT THREE
Source Material:
From the Bible: Genesis 13:5-16:16
From Extra-Canonical Works: The Book of Jashar 15:35-16:36