THE HOLY BIBLE
TELEPLAY EDITION
Episode 1007
“
by
George Willson
Based on the novel by God
TEASER
EXT. ABRAM’S ENCAMPMENT –
SUPER: “2046 Anno Mundi”
Abram, now 99, stands watching over the men
tending his flocks
and herds. A boy of 13, ISHAMEL, runs up to him.
ISHMAEL
Father,
Eliezer sent me to tell you
that he has just left for
see about
ABRAM
God
be with him. Thank you, Ishmael.
ISHMAEL
Yes,
father.
Ishmael runs off. Abram looks after him and
smiles.
ABRAM
(to himself)
Is
he the promised one?
As God speaks his opening lines in the
familiar voice, light
gathers into a single place before Abram until it coalesces into
the form of a human. (Although we see God in human form on a few
occasions, we should never see his face). Abram drops
to the
ground in reverence.
GOD
I
am God Almighty; walk before me
and be blameless. I will confirm my
covenant between me and you and
will greatly increase your numbers.
As
for me, this is my covenant with
you: You will be the father of many
nations. No longer will you be
called Abram; your name will be
Abraham,
for I have made you the
father of many nations. I will make
you very fruitful; I will make
nations of you, and kings will come
from you. I will establish my
covenant as an everlasting covenant
between me and you and your
descendants after you for generations
to come, to be your God and the God
of your descendants after you.
The
whole
are now an alien, I will give as an
everlasting possession to you and
your descendants after you; and I
will be their God.
ABRAHAM
Thank
you, Lord. I am honored by
your blessings.
GOD
As
for you, this is my covenant with
you and your descendants after you:
Every
male among you shall be
circumcised. You are to undergo
circumcision, and it will be the sign
of the covenant between me and you.
For
the generations to come every
male among you who is eight days old
must be circumcised, including those
born in your household or bought with
money from a foreigner. Whether born
in your household or bought with your
money. My covenant in your flesh is
to be an everlasting covenant. Any
uncircumcised male in the flesh, will
be cut off from his people; he has
broken my covenant.
ABRAHAM
We
will do it at once.
GOD
As
for Sarai your wife, you are no
longer to call her Sarai; her name
will
be Sarah. I will bless her and will
surely give her a son by her. I will
bless her so that she will be the
mother of nations; kings of peoples
will come from her.
Abraham laughs.
ABRAHAM
Will
a son be born to a man a hundred
years old? Will Sarah bear a child at
the age of ninety? If only Ishmael
might live under your blessing!
GOD
Yes,
but your wife Sarah will be you
a son, and you will call him Isaac.
I
will establish my covenant with
him as an everlasting covenant for
his descendants after him. As for
Ishmael,
I have heard you. I will
surely bless him; I will make him
fruitful and will greatly increase
his numbers. He will be the father
of twelve rulers, and I will make
him into a great nation. But my
covenant I will establish with Isaac,
whom Sarah will bear to you by this
time next year.
Abraham lifts his head. He stands.
ABRAHAM
This
time next year...
Abraham runs into the camp. He finds Unic.
UNIC
Abram,
what is it?
ABRAHAM
I
have seen God. He has instructed
me on a covenant we must start
immediately.
UNIC
What
must we do?
ABRAHAM
Gather
all the men and boys eight
days old or older.
UNIC
What’s
going on?
ABRAHAM
We
must circumcise everyone.
Unic freezes and looks at Abraham, almost fearfully.
UNIC
What?
Say that again?
ABRAHAM
God
said everyone must be
circumcised as a sign of his
covenant.
UNIC
Are
we Egyptians now?
ABRAHAM
Don’t
argue. Oh, and God has given
me a new name.
UNIC
He
did?
ABRAHAM
I
am Abraham, the father of many
nations.
Abraham runs off. Unic
turns to tell the men.
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
EXT. PLAIN OF THE JORDAN – DAY
Eliezer walks down the road toward
road to find two men struggling against each other. Finally, the
THEIF prevails over the other, hitting him
over the head and
making off with his possessions. Eliezer
runs over to the POOR
MAN.
ELIEZER
Are
you ok?
The Poor Man nods and sits up. Eliezer offers some of his water.
POOR
MAN
I
am fine. Where are you headed?
ELIEZER
To
there, and he periodically inquires
as to his welfare.
POOR
MAN
Oh,
to go there? You know what happens
there?
ELIEZER
I
know many stories of the
atrocities of
POOR
MAN
Most
recently, you may or may not
have heard, that Shakra the judge
has allowed a bed to be placed in
the center of the town in order to
tie visitors to.
ELIEZER
I
have not heard this.
POOR
MAN
This
bed is six feet long. If the
man is shorter than six feet, he
is stretched to the ends of the bed.
If
he is taller than six feet, then
he is crushed to fit.
ELIEZER
(wincing)
That’s
horrible.
POOR
MAN
Indeed,
and you wish go there. You
know you are subject to the laws
of the land by doing so.
ELIEZER
I
prefer to stay clear of any
trouble.
POOR
MAN
I
suspected as much.
He hands Eliezer
back his waterskin with the free hand.
ELIEZER
Can
I help you in any other way?
POOR
MAN
I
beg of you. Please catch the man
who took my possessions. He will
have stopped only just over there
to wait for another victim.
ELIEZER
All right.
Eliezer walks around the corner, and the THEIF jumps out of the
foliage onto him. Eliezer kicks him off.
ELIEZER
I
want no quarrel with you. Why
do you act this way to the man
who visits your land?
THEIF
What?
Is this man your brother,
or have the people of
you a judge that you would speak
this way to me?
ELIEZER
It
doesn’t take a judge to find
you guilty of the theft of this man’s
possessions.
THEIF
These
possessions are mine.
ELIEZER
Then
why did you attack me?
THEIF
I
fell.
ELIEZER
Those
possessions do not belong to
you. Give them to me.
Eliezer steps forward. The Thief picks up a rock and throws it
at Eliezer. It hits him on the forehead.
Eliezer stumbles back.
Blood flows from his forehead.
The Thief grabs Eliezer
by the forearm.
ELIEZER
What
are you doing?
THIEF
Now
pay me for helping to rid you
of this bad blood that was in your
forehead. This is the custom and
law in this land.
The poor man walks around the corner.
POOR
MAN
It
is true. It is the custom that
when bad blood is released, you
should pay the man who does this
for you.
ELIEZER
(to the Thief)
You
wound me and then expect me
to pay you for it? I will not do
it.
THIEF
You
there, you saw what happened,
did you not?
POOR
MAN
I
did. All of it.
ELIEZER
But
this man attacked you. What of
your possessions?
The poor man picks up his possessions.
POOR
MAN
I
have them, and I thank you. But
you must comply with our land’s
laws and pay this man.
ELIEZER
I
will not.
THIEF
Then
we must go to the judge. He
will make you pay.
Eliezer shakes his head in disgust, but follows the Thief into
town.
INT.
The Thief and Eliezer
enter the House of Justice and walk up to
the judge in the room, SHAKRA.
SHAKRA
What
is the meaning of this?
The thief bows low before the judge. Eliezer does not.
THIEF
Judge
Shakra, I was minding my
duty on the road out of town, when
I
found this man with bad blood in
his forehead. I did my duty and
freed him of this blood with this
stone, but he refuses to pay me.
The Thief holds up the stone for the Judge to
see.
SHAKRA
Is
this true?
ELIEZER
No,
Judge Shakra, it is not true.
It
is true that this man was on
the road, but he had robbed another
man, and I was trying to help get
this other man’s possessions back.
This
Thief picked up a rock and
struck me on the forehead, wounding
me. I did not request this service.
SHAKRA
Nevertheless,
he did rid you of
the bad blood.
ELIEZER
I
have no bad blood.
THIEF
Because I freed you of it.
SHAKRA
Was
there a witness to this?
POOR
MAN
Yes,
Judge Shakra, I saw it all.
ELIEZER
I
helped you.
POOR
MAN
Not
true. I had fallen, and this
man seemed to think I had some
kind of problem. He chased my
fellow Sodomite away until he
overtook him. At that time, I saw
my countryman rid this foreigner
of his bad blood.
ELIEZER
You
have got to be kidding.
THIEF
Most
honorable judge, I did rid
this man of the bad blood, and I
am entitled to my for it. I beg
of you to make him pay me.
SHAKRA
These
men speak the truth. Give
him the pay he is entitled to
for this service, for it is the
custom in our land.
ELIEZER
Is
it?
SHAKRA
It
is.
ELIEZER
So
if one is freed of bad blood, he
is required to pay for this service.
SHAKRA
As you have heard.
ELIEZER
By your own declaration?
SHARKA
Not
by my own, but by the law of the
land.
Eliezer reaches over to the Thief and takes his stone. He throws
it at the judge, striking him on the forehead. The judge stands
in anger, bleeding from his wound.
SHAKRA
What
is the meaning of this?
ELIEZER
If
this is the custom of your
land, then give this man my pay
for my service to you. Give him
what I owe him because it is the
custom in this land. You, yourself,
just decreed it.
Eliezer leaves the House of Justice. No one stops him, as they
maintain their surprise at this turn of events.
EXT.
Eliezer walks across the town to the house of
disgust as he passes the bed in the town square. Blood stains
dot its surface. He looks at the shrunken bodies in the streets,
some are only covered in blankets, apparently naked underneath.
Eliezer knocks on
ELIEZER
I
have been sent by your uncle
Abram to inquire after your welfare.
Come
in.
Eliezer enters.
INT.
Eliezer sits at
and Lot.
ELIEZER
So,
how are things in
Getting worse.
ELIEZER
How
so?
These
people were not humbled in the
least by Abram’s rescue of them.
They
don’t care. They are, if
anything, worse than before.
ELIEZER
Where
are your daughters?
They
have married men of this town,
but I fear for their purity. They
are good girls.
Excuse
me.
follows.
PALITH
They
found out. They found out that
I
was feeding the man, and they are
calling for my life.
You
have to get out of here.
PALITH
Where
will I go?
Eliezer, would you take her to Abram?
ELIEZER
What’s
going on?
You
know of the scheme of these
people to starve strangers to death
in the streets?
ELIEZER
I
do.
PALITH
I
have been feeding a stranger and
giving him water even though these
people want him to die.
ELIEZER
Then
we will leave at once.
very hard knocks at the door. Everyone freezes. Palith
cries.
PALITH
Oh
no!
Shh!
house with his body.
Yes?
SODOMITE
Your
daughter, Palith, was caught
in the act of supporting a stranger
in the streets causing his
appearance not to change or decay
like the others.
And
this is a crime?
SODOMITE
You
live among us. You know our
laws. She must be given into our
hands.
She
is not here.
SODOMITE
You
lie. If you do not give her up,
we will take her by force.
Then
you’ll have to take her by
force because I will not give up
my daughter.
SODOMITE
Break
it down.
The door is hit with considerable force,
knocking
ground. Eliezer tries to hold it, but he,
too is thrown out of
the way. Ten men enter the dwelling. One of them points out
Palith.
PALITH’S
HUSBAND
That’s
her.
PALITH
My
husband, you would betray me?
You
are no man I would claim as
a son.
PALITH’S
HUSBAND
And
I would not claim you as a
father . And as
your daughter will
die, our union is dissolved.
men hold him. Palith’s Husband comes to
his feet and hits
the stomach, knocking him to the floor.
SODOMITE
Our
quarrel is not with you, but
your daughter. You may live in
peace.
The men leave, dragging Palith
with them.
EXT. SODOM TOWN SQUARE – DAY
The men drag Palith
to the center of town where Judge Shakra
awaits. His forehead has been bandaged. Behind him, several
Sodomites stoke a fire. The Sodomite steps
forward to accuse
her.
SODOMITE
This
woman did supply a stranger
with bread and water, causing his
appearance not to decay and him
not to die this whole time he was
among us.
SHAKRA
Where
is the stranger now?
SODOMITE
We
had sex with him, and then
killed him as he ought to have
died many days ago.
SHAKRA
Very well. What do you wish?
SODOMITE
She
must be punished according to
our law since she transgressed it.
What
is her punishment for this
act she committed?
SHAKRA
She
will be burned in the fire.
The men cheer. They tie her to a stake near
the fire. The men
start to shovel the burning kindling around her. The flames lick
the hem of her clothes. She screams.
INT.
Like a broken man,
You
can tell Abram that things
are not going well, and I regret
choosing the choice land over
what he got.
ELIEZER
I’m
sure whatever you need, he
will help you.
I
know. We will need it soon, I
feel.
A scream permeates the air again.
his cheeks.
ELIEZER
I
will report back to Abram all
that has happened.
I
would sooner mix our flocks than
live in this place my whole life.
ELIEZER
What
of your other daughters?
Some
are also married to men of this
town. Part of me will stay as long
as they do. I don’t know how willing
they will be when they hear of their
sister.
ELIEZER
How
many daughters do you have?
Several. I have two who still live
with me.
ELIEZER
Be
strong. You will have an answer
in a few days.
(nodding)
Ok.
Eliezer walks out the door. A scream sneaks in.
again.
EXT. PLAINS OF THE JORDAN – DAY
Eliezer walks away from
smoke fills the air above the city behind him.
END OF ACT ONE
ACT TWO
EXT. ROAD TO ABRAHAM’S ENCAMPMENT – DAY
SUPER: “Three Days Later”
On the road leading the Abraham’s encampment,
three lights form
into human shape. A manifestation of God walks between two
ANGELS, RAPHAEL and URIEL, towards Abraham’s
camp.
EXT. ABRAHAM’S ENCAMPMENT – DAY
Abraham exits his tent and walks to a chair
under a tree. Sarah
follows after him. As he sits, he winces. He adjusts his robe
and sits fully. He is apparently still in a little pain from the
circumcision (remember, this was done to the poor guy at
99, no
anesthetic and no Tylenol).
SARAH
Can
I get you anything?
ABRAHAM
No,
Sarah, I’m fine for the
moment, thank you.
SARAH
I’m
still getting used to my
name.
ABRAHAM
Me too. God has requested a couple
rather large changes recently, but
we must follow his word...
Abraham moves his legs and winces again.
ABRAHAM
No
matter what the pain.
Sarah laughs.
SARAH
Well,
let me know if you need
anything. You just sit there a
recover.
ABRAHAM
Thank
you.
Sarah goes back into their tent. Abraham sits
back and relaxes.
He looks off into the distance and sees God’s
Manifestation
along with his two angels walking towards him.
He pulls himself to his feet and runs to the
trio. When he
reaches them, he bows low to the ground.
ABRAHAM
If
I have found favor in your eyes,
O
Lord, do not pass your servant by.
Let
a little water be brought, and
then you may all wash your feet and
rest under this tree. Let me get you
something to eat, so you can be
refreshed and then go on your way-
now that you have come to your
servant.
RAPHAEL
Very well. Do as you say.
ABRAHAM
Thank
you.
Abraham runs, despite the pain, to his tent
and enters.
Sarah looks up, startled.
SARAH
Abraham,
what is it?
ABRAHAM
Quick,
get twenty quarts of fine
flour and knead it and bake some
bread.
SARAH
Why?
What’s going on?
ABRAHAM
The
Lord is here. Please work
quickly.
Abraham leaves the tent and runs to the
field. He selects a calf
from the herd and brings it another tent.
ABRAHAM
Eliezer!
Eliezer opens the tent. He is clearly in pain as well.
ELIEZER
Yes,
Abraham?
ABRAHAM
Quick. Prepare this calf for our
guests.
ELIEZER
Guests?
ABRAHAM
Quickly, Eliezer.
ELIEZER
Yes,
sir.
Eliezer takes the calf away. Abraham runs off.
EXT. ABRAHAM’S ENCAMPMENT – DAY
Abraham stands beside the tree watching the
three eat. We can
see the faces of the angels, but God’s remains obscured.
URIEL
Where
is your wife, Sarah?
INT. ABRAHAM’S TENT – DAY
Sarah stands inside the tent, hiding behind
the flap, as if
listening while trying not to be caught.
ABRAHAM
(O.S.)
There,
in the tent.
GOD
(O.S.)
I
will surely return to you about
this time next year, and Sarah
your wife will have a son.
At this, Sarah’s mouth drops. She laughs.
SARAH
After
I am worn out and my husband
is old, will I now have this pleasure?
She shakes her head, laughing.
ABRAHAM
(O.S.)
Sarah,
come out.
Sarah clears up her expression and solemnly
exits the tent.
EXT. ABRAHAM’S ENCAMPMENT – DAY
Sarah walks over to Abraham.
GOD
Why
did Sarah laugh and say, “Will
I
really have a child now that I
am old?” Is anything too hard for
the Lord? I will return to you
at the appointed time next year
and Sarah will have a son.
When Sarah arrives at Abraham’s side, she looks
surprised that
they heard her laugh.
SARAH
(shaking her head)
I
did not laugh.
The Angels look at her, expressionless.
GOD
Yes,
you did laugh.
The trio gets up and walks a short distance
away. The angels
look at God.
GOD
Should
I hide from Abraham what I
am about to do? Abraham will surely
become a great and powerful nation,
and all nations on earth will be
blessed through him. For I have
chosen him, so that he will direct
his children and his household
after him to keep the way of the
Lord
by doing what is right and
just so that the Lord will bring
about for Abraham what he has
promised him.
RAPHAEL
He
must be told.
GOD
Go
now. Learn the truth.
URIEL
Yes,
Lord. Your will be done
always.
God’s Manifestation turns back to Abraham as
the men continue
onward towards
GOD
The
outcry against
is so great and their sin is so
grievous that I will go down and see
if what they have done is as bad as
the outcry that has reached me. If not,
I
will know.
Abraham walks toward God and stands in front
of him.
ABRAHAM
Will
you sweep away the righteous
with the wicked? What if fifty
righteous people in the city? Will
you really sweep it away and not
spare the place for the sake of
the fifty righteous people in it?
Far
be it from me to question the
judge of the earth, for you alone
decide the fate of all mankind.
GOD
If
I find fifty righteous people
in the city of
the whole place for their sake.
ABRAHAM
Now
that I have been so bold as to
speak to the Lord, though I am
nothing but dust and ashes, what
if the number of the righteous is
five less than fifty? Will you
destroy the whole place because of
five people?
GOD
If
I find forty-five there, I will
not destroy it.
ABRAHAM
What
if only forty are found there?
GOD
For
the sake of forty, I will not
do it.
ABRAHAM
May
the Lord be not angry, but let
me speak. What if only thirty can
be found there?
GOD
I
will not do it if I find thirty
there.
ABRAHAM
Now
that I have been so bold as to
speak to the Lord, what if only
twenty can be found there?
GOD
For
the sake of twenty, I will not
destroy it.
ABRAHAM
May
the Lord not be angry, but let
me speak just once more. What if only
ten can be found there?
GOD
For
the sake of ten, I will not
destroy it.
Abraham bows low to the ground.
ABRAHAM
Oh
Lord, you are a merciful and
forgiving God.
God’s Manifestation glows a moment and flashes
out. Abraham
rises and heads back to his tent.
EXT.
evening. He sees the Angels approaching and he rises. He runs to
them and bows his face to the ground.
My
lords, please turn aside to your
servant’s house. You can wash your
feet and spend the night and then
go on your way early in the morning.
RAPHAEL
Thank
you, but no. We will spend the
night in the square.
The Angels walk past
in front of them.
Please,
my lords, you mustn’t stay
in the square. I beg of you, come
into my house so I may care for
you tonight.
URIEL
We
will be fine in the square.
I
cannot permit it. You don’t know
what it is like.
Lot looks around. Men of the city watch the
exchange between him
and the angels.
You
must spend the night in my
house. I will care for you and you
may be on your way tomorrow.
RAPHAEL
Very well. Thank you for your
kindness.
of understanding.
inside. He looks around briefly and closes his door.
INT.
The Angels sit at
URIEL
Tell
us about
neighboring cities.
I
hardly wish to. This is a
horrible place, and I plan to
leave soon. I don’t recommend
anyone living here.
RAPHAEL
Would
there be others here who
would have invited us into their
home?
Any
that might would rob you in
the night, or worse, tell you that
the possessions you brought were
part of a dream that they would
interpret and demand payment for
the service of interpretation.
URIEL
That
is unpleasant.
Yes.
I lost one of my daughters to
these heathens. I have little
sympathy for them.
Suddenly, there is a fierce knock at the
door.
scared. He closes his eyes and shakes his head in despair.
Oh,
no.
RAPHAEL
What
is it?
I
was afraid of this.
be every man in the city waiting.
the door behind him.
EXT.
if need be.
What
is the meaning of this?
SODOMITE
Where
are the men who came to you
tonight?
They
are my guests. What do you
want?
SODOMITE
They
are the most beautiful of men
we have ever seen. Bring them out to
us so we may have sex with them.
No, my friends. Don’t do this wicked
thing. Look, I have two daughters who
are virgins. Let me bring them out to
you, and you can do what you like
with them. But don’t do anything to
these men, for they have come under
the protection of my roof.
SODOMITE
Get
out of our way!
He turns to his fellows.
SODOMITE
This
fellow came here as an alien, and
now he wants to play the judge!
(to
We’ll
treat you worse than them.
The men press in on
pulling on him. He starts to lose his grip on the door.
Suddenly, the door opens and a hand pulls him
inside.
INT.
Raphael pulls Lot in and deposits him on the
ground, where
stays. His wife and daughters tend to him. The pounding on the
door continues.
Raphael and Uriel
stand up and hold their hands out to the door.
ANGELS
In
the name of the Lord, be blind!
EXT.
The men crowd round the
door, trying to force it open. A wave of
something rushes over the group. They all stop pushing
and start
panicking, running about. Some cry out that they
cannot see.
They run into each other and walls,
screaming.
INT.
Uriel pulls
URIEL
Do
you have anyone else here –
sons-in-law, sons or daughters, or
anyone else in the city who belongs
to you?
My daughters and their husbands.
URIEL
Get
them out of here, because we are
going to destroy this place.
URIEL
The
outcry to the Lord against its
people is so great that he has sent
us to destroy it.
How
long do I have to convince them?
URIEL
We
will wait until dawn.
EXT.
gets to the house of one of his daughters. He knocks
frantically.
SON-IN-LAW
1
What
is it?
Please,
you must come with me.
Out of the city. The Lord is going
to destroy this place on account
of its wickedness.
The Son-in-law laughs.
DAUGHTER 1 (O.S.)
Who
is it?
SON-IN-LAW
1
Your crazy father.
My
daughter, please, you must come
with me. God will destroy this
place in a matter of hours.
DAUGHTER
1
Father,
go home.
SON-IN-LAW
1
Yeah,
get out of here.
He closes the door.
SON-IN-LAW 1 (O.S.)
Go
home. We’re not interested.
But
you will all die!
SON-IN-LAW 1 (O.S.)
Then
we won’t see you later.
Laughing issues from within.
the town to another house. He pounds on the door.
Open
up, please! Open up!
His Daughter 2 opens the door.
DAUGHTER
2
What
is it, father?
Please,
my daughter, you must leave
town with me. The Lord is going to
destroy
wickedness.
DAUGHTER
2
I
don’t have time for this. My
husband has things to do tomorrow,
and I need to get some sleep.
You
can sleep later. We must go!
shakes free.
DAUGHTER
2
Father,
go home. This isn’t funny.
We
know how bad it is, and I’m
sorry Palith died, but we live
here, and we’re not leaving.
But
you will die.
DAUGHTER
2
Yes,
of course. I’ll check on you
tomorrow to make sure you’re ok.
But
we won’t be here tomorrow!
This
whole place will be gone!
DAUGHTER
2
Ok,
father, whatever you say. I’m
going to bed.
She walks into her house and closes the door.
knees.
(distraught)
No!
The Angels walk up behind him, accompanied by
his wife and two
younger daughters.
They
won’t come. How can we leave
without them? Please, you must
give me more time to convince them.
RAPHAEL
Noah
warned the people for one
hundred and twenty years to repent
and still no one listened. You have
done what you can.
URIEL
Hurry!
Take your wife and your two
daughters who are here, or you will
be swept away when the city is
punished.
But my other daughters...
The Angels grab the wrists of
through the city and out of it.
EXT. PLAIN OF THE JORDAN – DAWN
The Angels stop just outside the entrance to
the city.
RAPHAEL
Flee
for your lives! Don’t look back,
and don’t stop anywhere in the plain!
Flee
to the mountains or you will be
swept away!
No,
my lords, please! Your servant
found favor in your eyes, and you have
shown great kindness to me in sparing
my life. But I can’t flee to the
mountains; this disaster will overtake
me, and I’ll die.
Lot points to a small town between
Look,
here is a town near enough to
run to, and it is small. Let me flee to
it—it is very small, isn’t it? Then my
life will be spared.
Raphael and Uriel
look at each other for a moment,
expressionless.
URIEL
Very
well, I will grant this request
too; I will not overthrow the town
you speak of. But flee there quickly,
because I cannot do anything until
you reach it.
Thank
you.
the city of
EXT. ZOAR – DAY
building along with his daughters.
I
guess we made it.
Can
we see what’s going on?
No.
They told us not to look back.
EXT. PLAIN OF THE JORDAN – DAY
The Angels turn toward
their hands to the heavens and disappear. As soon as they are
gone, fire and brimstone rains onto the cities from the heavens.
not only is
and Zeboyim as well.
EXT. ZOAR – DAY
Thunder reigns across the plains to where
hiding in Zoar.
however, is overcome by curiosity and walks to the edge of the
city to view the destruction with several of the other
inhabitants.
No,
don’t look back!
As she looks, she suddenly wrenches in pain.
She transforms in a
pillar, or column, of salt.
horror.
EXT. ABRAHAM’S ENCAMPMENT – DAY
Abraham stands outside his tent, looking
towards
Sarah, Hagar, Eliezer,
and several other of his servants and
people. They all watch the destruction in wonder and horror.
END OF ACT TWO
ACT THREE
EXT.
SUPER: “2047 Anno Mundi”
Abraham leads his family and servants in
caravan west across
ABRAHAM
Sarah,
we are heading into the
by a man named Abimelech, who does
not fear God.
SARAH
What
are we to do?
ABRAHAM
As
we have done before, when we
enter the land and anyone asks,
tell them you are my sister so that
we can escape the evil of the
inhabitants of the land.
SARAH
Are
you sure that’s a good idea?
ABRAHAM
If
we tell them the truth, they
may kill me and take you for
themselves.
SARAH
Ok.
The caravan continues on its way.
EXT. ABRAHAM’S ENCAMPMENT - GERAR – DAY
Abraham has setup his camp very much as he
had it in
SERVANT OF ABIMELECH walks through the camp
to him.
SERVANT
I
come from Abimelech, the lord and
king of Gerar. We require a census
of all that you own so that a proper
tax may be assessed upon you.
ABRAHAM
Certainly,
you are free to walk
about my camp and count whatever
you feel is necessary to count.
Sarah comes out of their tent. The Servant
looks upon her with
wonder.
SERVANT
And who is she to you?
Abraham looks over to Sarah.
ABRAHAM
That
is Sarah. She is my sister.
Sarah looks over to find the servant staring
at her. She nods to
him, politely.
SERVANT
The
king will require your presence
at the palace today to bring an
accounting of who you are, where you
came from, and why you are in Gerar.
ABRAHAM
How
many does he wish to hear from?
SERVANT
You,
your sister, and your highest
ranking servants.
ABRAHAM
When?
SERVANT
You
will follow me back.
ABRAHAM
Very well.
Abraham walks over to Sarah.
ABRAHAM
We
need to go to the palace to give
an accounting of ourselves. They
you, Hagar, Eliezer, and myself.
SARAH
I
will get Hagar and Eliezer.
ABRAHAM
Ok.
Abraham turns back to the Servant.
ABRAHAM
We
will be ready in a moment.
SERVANT
Very good.
The servant leads Abraham, Sarah, Eliezer, and Hagar into the
palace.
INT. GERAR PALACE THRONE ROOM – DAY
The servant leads the four into the room and
kneels before
Abimelech. The four behind him follows suit.
SERVANT
My lord Abimelech. I bring you the
strangers from
settled in our land.
ABIMELECH
Who
are you and why have you come
to this land?
ABRAHAM
I
am Abraham, son of Terah. We come
from the
wherever we find a place. We
support ourselves and only look for
land in which to live. We will not
be a burden to you or your people
and require nothing.
ABIMELECH
And
who is this woman to you?
ABRAHAM
This
is my sister, Sarah.
ABIMELECH
Woman,
is this man your brother?
SARAH
He
is, my lord.
ABIMELECH
Then,
Abraham son of Terah, my
land is before you. You may have
any part of this land that pleases
you, and it will be our duty to
exalt and elevate you above all the
people of the land, as long as your
sister remains with me.
Abraham looks over to Sarah, who looks at him
worried. Abraham
starts to stay something, but Sarah beats him to it.
SARAH
I
would be honored to remain with
you if you honor my brother on my
account.
ABIMELECH
Excellent. Go in peace, Abraham son
of Terah. Your servant may go with
you. Your sister’s servant may stay
and attend her.
ABRAHAM
Thank
you, my king.
Abraham glances once more at Sarah and Hagar.
Hagar is very
unhappy with this development. Abraham leaves with Eliezer.
Abimelech turns to Sarah.
ABIMELECH
My
servant will show you to your
rooms.
He walks to Sarah and strokes her face,
assessing her like one
would appraise an item.
ABIMELECH
Tonight,
you will know Abimelech
as few have. I shall have you
as a wife, and you will love me.
He turns to a servant.
ABIMELECH
Take
them to their rooms.
The servant leads Sarah and Hagar out.
Abimelech returns to his throne and sits upon it. The
room is
quiet. Abimelech sits back and relaxes upon
the throne. Slowly,
sleep falls over him, and he passes out.
INT. GERAR PALACE THRONE ROOM – DREAM
SEQUENCE
Abimelech wakes up and looks before him. Walking
toward him in
his throne room is an ANGEL WITH A SWORD. Abimelech
stands at
the approaching visitor.
The Angel leaps across the room and lands on
the throne,
knocking Abimelech back. The Angel stands over
him on the arms
of the throne, sword drawn.
ABIMELECH
How
have I sinned against you that
you would wish to slay me with a
sword?
God speaks, but not through the Angel. He
remains stoic with the
drawn sword. God speaks, as usual, through voiceover.
GOD
You
are as good as dead because of
the woman you have taken, for she is
a married woman, the wife of Abraham
who came into your house.
ABIMELECH
Lord,
will you destroy an innocent
nation? Did he not say to me, “She
is my sister,” and didn’t she also
say, “He is my brother”? I have
done this with a clear conscience
and clean hands.
GOD
Yes,
I know you did this with a
clear conscience, and so I have
kept you from sinning against me.
That
is why I did not let you touch
her. Now return the man’s wife, for
he is a prophet, and he will pray
for you and you will live. But if
you do not return her, you may be
sure that you and all yours will
die.
The angel leaps off the throne and, without
wings, flies out the
door into the city of
doorway looking over the city from an impossible and almost
omniscient vantage point.
He watches as the Angel zips around the city,
killing everyone
in his path.
ABIMELECH
No!
No!
END DREAM
INT. GERAR PALACE THRONE ROOM – DAY
Abimelech jerks awake violently.
ABIMELECH
No!
He falls forward to the floor. He rises to
his feet. A servant
runs in to him.
SERVANT
My
lord, are you all right?
He allows the servant to assist him to his
feet.
ABIMELECH
I
am fine. Go, immediately, and
bring Abraham to me.
SERVANT
At once, my lord.
The servant runs out. Abimelech’s
eyes reflect the fearful sleep
he had.
INT. GERAR PALACE THRONE ROOM – DAY
Sarah and Hagar stand to one side of the
throne. Abimelech does
not look at them. Abimelech’s servant
leads Abraham in. The
servant kneels and Abraham does the same.
ABRAHAM
King
Abimelech, you have summoned
me.
ABIMELECH
Yes,
I did.
Abimelech comes down form his throne and walks up to
Abraham.
ABIMELECH
What
have you done to us?
ABRAHAM
What
do you mean? I have done
nothing?
ABIMELECH
Have
I wronged you that you have
brought such great guilt upon me
and my kingdom? You have done things
to me that should not be done.
ABRAHAM
I’m
afraid I don’t understand.
ABIMELECH
You
told me she was your sister.
What
was your reason for doing this?
ABRAHAM
When
we came into your land, I said
to myself, “There is surely no fear
of God in this place, and they will
kill me because of my wife.” Besides,
she really is my sister, the daughter
of my father though not of my mother;
and she became my wife. And when God
had me wander from my father’s
household, I said to her, “This is
how you can show your love to me:
Everywhere
we go, say of me, ‘He is
my brother.’”
Abimelech backs away from Abraham, as if the truth
were spoken,
and he did not like it. He considers Abraham’s words.
ABIMELECH
You
are correct in what you say.
You
have entered a land of sin.
Servant,
follow my commands.
SERVANT
Yes,
my lord.
ABIMELECH
Give
Abraham sheep and cattle and
male and female slaves. Return
his wife and her servant to him.
My
land remains before him. He
may live wherever he wishes.
Abimelech walks up to Sarah.
ABIMELECH
I
offer you my personal apologies.
I
am giving your brother a thousand
shekels of silver. This is to
cover the offense against you before
all who are with you; you are
completely vindicated.
SARAH
Thank
you.
Sarah runs to Abraham and jumps into his
arms. Hagar solemnly
walks over to stand by them. Abraham lowers Sarah to the floor.
ABIMELECH
Now,
Abraham, prophet of God,
because of your wife, my people
are sick with a plague. Please
pray for us that we may be healed.
Abraham kneels.
ABRAHAM
Oh,
God in heaven, thank you for
protecting Sarah in these
circumstances. Thank you for
returning her to me. Please heal
Abimelech and his people for
the sin he committed without his
knowledge has been vindicated.
Throughout the land, the people are healed of
their afflictions.
ABIMELECH
Thank
you.
EXT. ABRAHAM’S ENCAMPMENT – GERAR
SUPER: “Later that year”
Abraham and Eliezer
are once again pacing outside a tent in his
camp.
ABRAHAM
This
is it, Eliezer. The
fulfillment of the promise made
made so long ago.
ELIEZER
It
is exciting, Abraham.
ABRAHAM
I
am a hundred years old. Who
would have imagined a child at
my age?
ELIEZER
Do
you know what you will name
him?
ABRAHAM
God
gave him a name before he was
conceived.
A baby’s cry issues from within the tent.
Abraham immediately
turns to the tent impatiently. Hagar steps out of the tent and
holds the flap open.
HAGAR
You
have another son.
Abraham rushes into the tent.
INT. ABRAHAM’S TENT – DAY
Sarah lays on the bed holding the baby to
her. He smiles as he
looks at Sarah. Sarah smiles back at him, tears in her eyes.
SARAH
God
has brought me laughter, and
everyone who hears about this will
laugh with me. Who would have said
to Abraham that Sarah would nurse
children? Yet I have borne him a
son in his old age.
ABRAHAM
After
almost fifty years, God
gave us a son as he promised. God
named him before his birth. Because
I
laughed, his name is Isaac. Isaac
is the beginning of a people without
number who will inherit this land.
SARAH
Yes.
They gaze upon him for a moment. Sarah looks
to Abraham.
SARAH
I
am complete now, my husband. I
have my honor. I have borne you a
son. My disgrace is lifted. I am
happy.
ABRAHAM
I
have always loved you.
They kiss gently.
EXT. ABRAHAM’S ENCAMPMENT – DAY
Hagar closes the tent flap. She walks away
from the tent, her
arms crossed. She wipes away a tear with a sniffle. Ishmael, 14,
walks up behind her.
ISHMAEL
Mother,
what is wrong? I thought
the birth of my brother was to be
a happy occasion.
HAGAR
It
is, my son.
She turns to him, tears of sadness in her
eyes, a false smile on
her face.
HAGAR
A very happy occasion.
She hugs her son, and they walk off to their
tent.
END OF ACT THREE
Source Material:
From the Bible:
Genesis 17:1-19:28, 20:1-21:7
From Extra-Canonical Works:
The Book of Jashar
17:16-18:10, 19:1-19:35, 19:44-21:3