GEM
SCREENPLAY
BY
NATHAN ROSS FREEMAN
Adapted from the Play
“The Contract”
Written by
Nathan Ross Freeman
Copyright © 1994
DRAFT 1 WGA
(WGA under old title RAPTURE 829070)
Nathan Ross Freeman
353 Jonestown Road
#299
Winston-Salem, NC 27104
(336) 995-2119
nfreeman@msn.com
1
GEM
FADE IN:
MUSIC/SOUND EFFECTS
EXT. DESERT SURROUNDING A MOUNTAIN. TODAY. DAWN.
Some invisible form pans the desert.
WIND is strong. The sun blinds.
The HUM OF THE
After a few moments the unseen force travels fast along
the floor of the desert, rises and descends over dunes.
Suddenly a mountain appears. It blots out the sun. The
invisible form surveys the mountain from bottom to top.
The invisible form travels again, very fast just above
the floor of the desert towards the mountain, up the
mountain, to the summit where the sun is a blood red
disc, red in an eclipse.
The sun transforms into a rainbow swirl. The swirl of
colors transforms into distinct panes of stained glass
that gradually depict distinct religious figures.
Sections of the huge stained glass window depict the
Fall of Lucifer, Genesis, Eve and Adam, Lucifer and the
Tree, the Fall of Adam and Eve, Abraham about to
sacrifice his son, Moses and the Ten Commandments, and
Jesus, at the center of the paned glass on the mountain
in the desert, being tempted by the devil … The
Temptation.
On either side
is a figure of
above him, and
Mary Magdalene
of the depiction of The Temptation there
Jesus on the cross with his mother, Mary,
the other of Jesus’ Resurrection with
guarding the tomb.
2
The HUM OF THE WIND changes to the ECHO OF MANY VOICES.
The invisible form looks through the stained glass
window, into the almost cathedral size church of any
denomination, anywhere in America. The invisible form
pans the congregation that mills about below. The huge
congregation is well dressed expensive, very stoic.
A banner indicates it is the Tenth Anniversary of
Reverend Jamison as pastor.
REVEREND JAMISON (35-50) and his assistant pastor
REVEREND TODD (20’s) are at the altar receiving a line
of people who have come to congratulate Jamison on his
tenure.
Jamison’s WIFE circulates among the congregation. She
and Jamison often sneak playful, glances, that mock the
behavior of others. Jamison suddenly looks distracted,
entranced. Reverend Todd whispers to Jamison.
REV. TODD
Are you okay?
JAMISON
I’m fine.
REV. TODD
Samuels is here. They want to
give you a date for ground
breaking. Says he has the
contracts. Ready to sign and get
started.
JAMISON
Todd, for God's sake, it's Sunday.
There are times I long for the
missionary life. Times like these
I envy the homeless.
REV. TODD
He has to go overseas tomorrow.
3
The ROGETS, an apparent affluent couple, approach the
altar to offer congratulations to Jamison. MR. ROGET, a
staunch man, waddles, and MRS. ROGET, nimble, airy,
carries herself in an extraterrestrial manner.
MR. ROGET
Want to see you here for ten more,
Pastor Jamison. Congratulations on
the New Wing. Don’t forget. “Mr. And
Mrs. Roget”, bronze plague, Assembly
room.
Mr. Roget extends his hand and gives Jamison what seems
like some sort of … Handshake … some secret handshake.
Jamison tolerates this gesture. He gets a shock in his
hand. The shock causes a vision.
INT. SOME RITUAL HALL. NIGHT.
Jamison is in the center of some brotherhood initiation
ritual. Men of all religious denominations and
ethnicities dressed in ritual religious and ethnic
formal wear, hats with tassels, turbans, etc. applaud
Jamison, and whisper without sound to indicate the
passing of secrets.
INT. CHURCH. CONTINUOUS.
Jamison is brought out of this vision by a tug on the
arm by his wife. Jamison looks at his wife who laughs
mischievously at him with a glance of concern. Jamison
pats her hand. She disappears back into the
congregation. Mrs. Roget looks at Jamison’s wife as she
disappears.
MRS. ROGET
And give that wife of yours a
vacation. She works overtime on all
the committees. So dedicated. So
in love.
Jamison watches his wife.
4
INT. JAMISON’S BEDROOM. NIGHT. FLASHBACK.
Jamison and his wife prepare for bed. They stand on
opposite sides of the bed, undress down to their
underwear. They climb into bed in sync. She lies flat
on her back. He climbs in next to her. They pull the
covers up.
Jamison takes off his boxer shorts under the covers.
Neat, he places them beside the bed. She turns out the
light. He climbs on top of her. They make love, we
only hear STRONG BREATHS. They finish, he turns over,
she turns over.
INT. CHURCH. CONTINUOUS.
Mr. Roget slaps Jamison on the shoulder. Jamison stares
blankly at Mr. Roget, with an apologetic expression.
Mr. Roget tugs at Mrs. Roget’s arm, scolds her silently.
They walk up the aisle. Jamison pans the room.
JAMISON
I don't feel like it.
REV. TODD
Like what?
JAMISON
Samuels, buildings, politics, being
here, now.
A little African American boy, MATTHEW (10-12), and his
little sister, ANGELA (7-8), run up to the altar.
Matthew extends his hand to Jamison. Jamison shakes his
hand.
MATTHEW
You remember me. I’m Matthew and
this is my sister, Angela. We gonna
have a baseball field with the new
big TV church, Pastor Jamison?
5
Todd breaks in before Jamison can answer.
REV. TODD
It's a combination church, theatre
and television studio, Matthew, so
we can bring our crusade to people
who may not get a chance to go to
church, son.
No Baseball field.
MATTHEW
(Whispers to Jamison)
It's gonna be big. When they knock
this old church down it’s gonna look
like a desert.
Jamison recoils.
EXT. DESERT. DAY.
Jamison flies along the floor of a desert. He flies,
screaming, into the mountain.
INT. CHURCH SANCTUARY. NIGHT.
In some corner of his church basement personal sanctuary
lit with candles Jamison, terrified, catches a glimpse
of a hooded figure. The figure pulls back its hood,
there is a flash. Jamison gasps.
INT. CHURCH. CONTINUOUS.
Jamison stares up at the stained glass window, shields
himself from some unseen onslaught. He sees the
congregation come to a stand still. He lurches forward,
loses his balance. Todd steadies him. Jamison looks at
Matthew. Jamison’s wife runs to his side. Abrupt, he
waves away her advance. Jamison interrogates Matthew.
JAMISON
Matthew! A desert? Why a
desert?
6
The boy and his sister turn and walk away. Angela turns
her head and looks back at Jamison.
REV. TODD
What did you say? Pastor, are
you gonna make it? What is
wrong? You’re trembling.
SERAPHINA (40’s)walks up to the altar. She is an exotic
Mideastern woman. Olive skin. Feisty. Deep vocals.
Reverend Todd cringes, whispers to Jamison.
REV. TODD
Here comes our crystal ball.
up.
Palms
SERAPHINA
Jesus is gonna come, and He won’t be
crying. Not this time. We forget he
is a carpenter. Like anybody else,
he has his rights. Your … New Wing.
Serve the term loosely.
Jamison watches entranced as she sways away.
REV. TODD
Still having those dreams?
JAMISON
Dream. One dream, the same, only
more. I mean more of it. I mean more
often.
REV. TODD
More of it?
JAMISON
I'm going home. You handle Samuels.
Good fuel for your ambition.
REV. TODD
I don't know what you mean by that.
7
JAMISON
Yes you do.
REV. TODD
Don't oversleep your anniversary
dinner. Anyway, congratulations.
Years, sir, and it has been a
pleasure being your rookie.
JAMISON
All of this is
MRS. LEVOWITZ (70’s), an old Jewish woman walks up to
Jamison. Jamison tunnel focuses on her face engraved
with deep furrows.
MRS. LEVOWITZ
And more, Pastor, ah, what's
your name? See I'm Jewish but I
make a hobby outta going to
gatherings like Anniversaries,
Funerals. Weddings bore me. My
husband died on our anniversary.
was big on 'em.
He
She pulls out the news paper obituary section.
MRS. LEVOWITZ
So I just read the paper, find all
kinds of anniversaries. It's a
miracle how many anniversaries are
advertised.
EXT. ANCIENT VILLAGE IN NAZARETH. DUSK.
Jamison has another vision. Jamison hears CHORAL VOICES.
He is thrown by some invisible force into camps of
disease ridden bodies crawling over each other to get
out of mass graves.
8
INT. CHURCH. CONTINUOUS.
The Mrs. Levowitz reaches and pulls his chin to hers.
He stares into her eyes.
MRS. LEVOWITZ
They're special because
Anniversaries are a kind of
reckoning, like ya made it this far
again and again, even though you may
have had some things to mysteriously
try to stop yah. Oh, so I'm talking
too much, already
She pulls an embroidered handkerchief from her pocket
book, wipes the Pastor’s forehead, then gives the
handkerchief to him folded neatly.
MRS. LEVOWITZ
So, happy anniversary, already. Who
knows, today a Jew, tomorrow an Arab
comes to bring you a casserole. I
brought a pot of homemade soup. Get
some. Getting’ new property, eh?
And get some sleep.
Jamison nods his head to the old lady. By the time he
lifts it again she is nowhere in sight.
JAMISON
The old woman. Where'd she go?
REV. TODD”
Riddance, I hope.
JAMISON
I gotta get outta here.
see a park.
Take a nap,
Jamison, abrupt, leaves. His wife sees him rush out.
She rushes to catch up with him being cordial to
everyone on the way.
9
A group of Japanese parishioners approach Reverend Todd.
REV. TODD
Reverend Jamison had an urgency,
thank your community for the banner.
They all look up at a banner with pride. This banner
reads “We are the Wind beneath … The New Wing”
INT. JAMISON’S BEDROOM. NIGHT.
A moonlit autumn shaft of light shines through floor-toceiling shuddered windows. The curtains billow. They
are very long and sheer white curtains that flutter down
and crawl along the floor to the bed. The curtains are
throw-painted with blood in words that read “Matthew
4:11”
Jamison who startles awake. His wife continues to sleep
facing away from him.
He looks about the room only to see the pictures,
artifacts of his daily life.
Pictures of him and his
wife, the line of ministers he descended from, brothers,
sisters, aunts, uncles, all grown people. There are no
pictures, artifacts of children or childhood of either
Jamison or his wife.
Jamison puts on his black minister's shirt and suit.
The white collar hangs unbound. He ties his shoes very
methodically, picks his glasses off the table. He puts
on his over coat. He tiptoes out.
EXT. JAMISON’S CHURCH. NIGHT.
Jamison stands at the bottom of the front steps of his
church. He notes the wood framework of the new wing
under construction.
10
INT. HALLWAY IN BASEMENT OF CHURCH. NIGHT
Jamison stands in front of his personal sanctuary in the
basement of the church. He faces the door, behaves with
contemplation, hesitation and fear.
Jamison opens the door, stands in the threshold, looks
in, frozen in his stance. Jamison flicks the light
switch. It does not come on. He tries several times. It
does not light.
INT. PERSONAL SANCTUARY. NIGHT.
Jamison takes a few steps into the sanctuary. He steps a
little to the side to let some residual hallway light in
through the door. He searches the room thoroughly.
He looks carefully at his ornate desk, library, pastor's
personal kneel altar with gold plated three branch
candelabra, gold plated cross and chalice on it; a high
back oak chair embroidered in gold lace, a lectern with
a large bible, a quaint stand with matching jug and
basin, a coat and hat rack and assorted memorabilia and
diplomas that celebrate his PhD theological standing.
Jamison sneaks over to the kneel altar, gets the matches
beside the candelabras, lights the candles, turns at
every creak.
He looks up at the narrow monolith-shaped stained glass
window that lets no night light in.
He goes over to the phone, lifts it, dials it, puts it
to ear. There is no dial tone. He does not look
surprised. He kneels to pray. He startles at a noise he
thinks he hears. He calms himself.
He goes over to the door, steps out, peers up and down
the hall. He goes back to the kneel altar. Leaves the
door cracked, He prays silently.
11
There is a stir in the room. Jamison gives a mild shout,
looks around. Nothing. He prays.
JAMISON
Why the dreams, Jesus? The same
dream.
I call to you. Are you
here? I am losing my faith and I call
you.
He looks around suddenly.
Stares at the library.
JAMISON
Three nights a week I come here … I
sneak in my own church and wait. And
three thousand times a day I ask
myself how come so much study seems
to threaten rather than strengthen my
faith?
He pounds on the keel altar, growls, stands abruptly,
paces as he continues to pray, hands folded
JAMISON
I have the need to confront divinity
outside my mocking fervent faith, to
actually see you
Another noise.
earnest.
Jamison looks around.
He prays in
JAMISON
In that dream someone said, in a loud
voice, so loud like a tornado …
Jamison hears something. He turns abruptly and sees a
hooded figure, GEM (10-65), face shrouded from view,
standing by the desk, on which it has dropped a crown of
thorns. In its hands are an ancient mallet and three
crucifixion nails and a crown of thorns. Jamison starts
for the door.
12
GEM
Why do you run away now.
running away?
Are you
JAMISON
Who are you?
Jamison begins to grab his coat.
GEM
Oh, you’ll want to know.
Gem marvels at the shape and workings of her hands, feels
the marvel of a human face forming.
JAMISON
What are you doing?
GEM
I am still taking form. I am no
stranger to you. I need something
from you. I need to ask you a
rhetorical question. Question! Why
do you come here so often in
solitude?
Jamison continues to stand at the door.
JAMISON
What is your name?
GEM
I am just now thinking of what I want
you to call me. I am ready.
JAMISON
What do you mean?
Turns abrupt to Jamison as she speaks.
GEM
For you to see me.
13
Gem pulls down the hood. Gem is stately, exotic, stern.
Androgynous, she is the combined persona of the Archangels
Michael and Gabriel.
The hooded garb Gem wears is at once majestic, ancient,
something from the future, something you could see one
wear to sue for peace or a battle dress to wage war.
Jamison stands frozen and stares at Gem. He notes the
mallet, nails and thorns.
GEM
Well, how do I appear to you?
JAMISON
Do you work here?
Gem, with a gesture of appeasement, gently places the
mallet, nails and thorns on the desk.
GEM
Responsibilities? I have duties I
perform according to the word. Words
you go by.
Gem looks around the room with the wonder of a child, the
speculation of a warrior and the posture of an alien.
GEM
Say something else.
(No response)
Rhetorical Question. Why do you
come here alone some nights and
leave looking ashamed?
Cautious, Jamison begins to encircle Gem. Examines her.
JAMISON
How do you know that. No one knows I
come here
GEM
Three nights a week, when the whole
world is asleep and wait or …
14
JAMISON
That is personal. Why do you ask?
Who would you be to ask?
Gem explores her human form, touches water in the basin,
feels shapes, textures, smells everything, looks at
pictures, reads diplomas, plays at the desk, writes with
the pen, etc.
GEM
Your are a minister. What if I be
your faithful? Then what is
personal?
INT. BEDROOM. NIGHT.
The SOUND of Jamison’s car as it slips out the drive
startles his wife. She sits up abruptly, run to the
window, watches the car pull out of the driveway. She
walks back to the bed, sits on the edge of it.
INT. PERSONAL SANCTUARY. CONTINUOUS.
JAMISON
My wife doesn’t know I do this.
I come here …
GEM
You come here to tell.
know me.
That
Tell me you
JAMISON
It's time I should be getting back
GEM
Where? How will you sleep?
dream.
The
15
He turns suddenly and looks at Gem, points at her
accusingly.
JAMISON
You! Who are you?
Gem fills the basin from its matching jug of water. Speaks
without punctuation.
GEM
I am of 140 pairs of wings guardian
of paradise administrator of
vengeance death revelation dictated
the Koran to Mohammed Sura by Sura
begot Mary and came in unto her sent
Joan of Arc into battle the Cherubim
are my tears destroyer of Babylon and
Patron of your Policeman I bring the
gift of patience the angel of the
moon who brings you creatures the
gift of hope …
Gem plays in the water with her fingers.
GEM
I am Michael Raphael Uriel Gabriel
Metatron … I am an angel … an agent
sent on an appointed appointment. The
guardian of the circle and the
pyramid …
Gem bathes her face with palms of water with the gathering
of sense and emotion, marvels at the sensation.
GEM
I am here to serve you, in a way,
according to the contract set before
the existence of your kind, or so you
record.
16
Reviews herself in the mirror.
GEM
It has been centuries since I have
dressed in your humanity. So much
with you. Oh, my, so much here. No
wonder.
Jamison goes over to the nails, crown and thorn on the
desk, but dares not touch them. Gem beholds the bible on
the lectern, glares at it, hypnotized by it. Jamison
notices Gem is taken in by the sight of scriptures.
JAMISON
This could be some evil …
Gem is frozen, entranced by the bible.
GEM
If it is, you have prayed for it.
Gem glides, formal over to the bible.
GEM
So! The Good Book.
Jamison moves quicker over to the bible and takes it from
its pedestal. Gem notes the way he clutches at it.
GEM
Do you read it often?
No response.
GEM
Of course you do.
JAMISON
What do you want?
17
GEM
For you my name will be … Gem … not
the jewel, but the stone that leaves
not itself unturned until the job is
done.
Gem drifts over and sits at Jamison’s desk.
GEM
I am the Archangel who leads the
seventh to tenth legions of angels.
Gem stands abruptly, marches over to Jamison, stands face
to face with him very close, eye to eye.
GEM
I am sent in wonder at how the
history of your religions have
confounded.
(several beats)
Gem drifts over to the door. Gem closes the door.
GEM
I am your interrogator.
Gem wanders over to pick up the chalice on the altar.
GEM
Say something else.
JAMISON
Interrogation. Dreams. My courtesy.
My curiosity, maybe pity. You may be
homeless. I figure maybe that is why
we are still here. Why we remain in
this room however ridiculous this
exchange. But, however
18
Jamison walks over, opens the door.
door, slams it shut.
Gem races over to the
GEM
It will remain unlocked.
Jamison stares at Gem, both still as statues. Suddenly,
Gem scurries over to the basin, places her hand at the
bottom. It fills with water, she grabs the cloth, stoops
to wash Jamison’s feet. Jamison dodges every attempt.
Gem, frustrated continues to splash and try to wash
Jamison’s feet as she frantically implores him.
GEM
I am in your dreams places where
angels and demons hang a mirror in
your face your dreams a place where
you can't lie. Awake you live in a
place of uncertainty a place of
conscience …
Jamison charges for the door. Gem appears before him
against the door. Jamison looks around in wonder at how
she got to the door.
GEM
Yes. You will remain in this room.
A courtesy to me. For as much as I
have been sent I have been summoned
by your conscience, your faith that
is dying on you.
JAMISON
This is my prayer time, my private
needs time. The only place and time I
can hear what I have to say. Leave
me be. Please. Whoever you are or
pathology you suffer, Not here. Not
now!
Gem approaches Jamison, slow, stalking. Jamison backs
away, stumbles, straightens himself to confront Gem.
19
Gem walks again over to the door.
GEM
Why do you yell like that?
Gem cracks the door open.
GEM
Am I supposed go because you yell at
me? With words? Are you afraid I
might use language too, and yell like
you, to confuse as well as clarify?
Gem plays with the chalice.
GEM
You use language to create distance
between the knowee and the know-not?
There are some things that are
absolute. What are they, Jamison?
Jamison glides over to the door, calmly leans against the
wall, stares out through the crack.
JAMISON
Death. Cause and effect. God …
Gem drifts to the opposite side of the door,
calmly whispers to Jamison.
GEM
And oaths, vows.
Gem with chalice in hand again pounces about the room.
GEM
The distance between your pulpit and
your congregation. You keep them so
far apart.
Gem puts the chalice back and walks towards a very ornate
chair on the other side of the room.
20
GEM
You talk of love and unity and
humility, but you sit apart, far
apart on high-back oak chairs
Gem strokes the chair.
GEM
Embroidered in gold lace.
Why?
No response.
GEM
It is customary when one is being
interrogated that they sit.
Gem gestures for Jamison to sit. Jamison stands defiant.
Gem takes note of Jamison’s refusal, but declines to
respond in any way.
GEM
The pope can't leave the grounds with
out his armed escorts to guard him.
Against what?
Gem gestures for Jamison to respond. Jamison just stares
at her.
GEM
Is violence all you have to protect
such people?
No response
GEM
The contradiction is obvious.
have watch dogs?!
Do you
No Response
GEM
If I be one of your faithful, you
would answer …
21
JAMISON
What kind of question is that and who
would you be to ask?
GEM
Do you have watch dogs?!
JAMISON
No!
GEM
That chalice over there, is it made
of real gold?
JAMISON
Gold plated.
GEM
And that bible-of-the-good-book, what
edition of what version is it?
JAMISON
It’s the bible.
Gem finds Jamison's vestments, drapes it around her
shoulders, parades it around the room.
GEM
You use circles and triangles as
symbols, while they stand in straight
lines offering alms, money for the
forgiveness of their sins to you who
need it to keep your vestments in
neat elegance, your temples in repair
and your thrones to a mirror shine.
Don't you do that, Jamison?
JAMISON
Again, I ask who would you be to
criticize?
22
Gem lays the vestments on the desk like a blanket.
GEM
Do you have A watchdog?
JAMISON
I don't have A dog
GEM
Security guards
JAMISON
This is not a bank
GEM
Doors that lock
JAMISON
Of course.
GEM
What are your hours?
JAMISON
Regular!
GEM
What are your hours?
JAMISON
Nights! Mostly and day programs too,
and of course Sunday.
Gem drapes Jamison’s robe around the high back chair.
GEM
They lay down their clothes in your
collection plate. Bingo. Profit
shares. Raffles for grace? Rapture.
23
Jamison places the bible on the lectern.
JAMISON
Our rapture rises from a human need
to sing God's praises and be glad to
offer tidings in sacrifice for our
selfish ways. You call me a
Pharisee.
GEM
I call you reverend. Rhetorical
question. What do you call yourself?
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM. NIGHT. FLASHBACK.
Jamison rushes down a hospital corridor in the direction
of a WOMAN’S HORRIFIC SCREAMS. He enters to see his wife
flail and weep.
JAMISON’S WIFE
Oh! God! They took it all. All of me.
I’m sorry! I’m so sorry! No babies.
No babies.
INT. OFFICE/PERSONAL SANCTUARY. CONTINUOUS.
JAMISON
A still born father, devoted husband
citizen, a man. I live my vows. I
take no money I do not earn like any
man.
GEM
Do your vows say you can ever be like
any man?
Gem stands abruptly, offers the chair to Jamison. Jamison
still refuses to sit.
24
Gem approaches the lectern, opens the bible.
GEM
Genesis, first man, first woman,
perfection, the rib, and Lucifer, the
fall, the "apple".
(several beats)
Well?
JAMISON
It says what it says.
GEM
Their children still grope to get it
back, with you to show them how.
Gem points to the bible.
GEM
According to contract. Or Genesis
tells of an entire species ten
seconds old inside of a God that has
lived beyond forever. A species child
holding a loaded gun with bullets
that kill billions, with you to guide
them to the light …
Gem points to the bible.
GEM
According to contract.
Gem closes the bible and steps to Jamison.
GEM
Genesis and the remainder of this
bible this contract, are
interpreted often conveniently.
How do you use it, Jamison?
25
JAMISON
I do not use it all. It's purposes
are endless, so I can devise no plans
of use. I serve the words with
degrees of fallibility, trial and
error. More than it serves me, I
serve it. I am its servant
Jamison goes for his coat.
JAMISON
Now enough of this. I have to go
home. Good night!
Gem walks towards the stained glass window.
begins to put on his coat.
Jamison
GEM
Come here, Jamison.
JAMISON
Good night!
GEM
Come here, please!
MUSIC/SOUND EFFECTS.
Jamison puts his coat down, walks in a huff over to Gem.
GEM
Look!
Gem points to the stained glass window. Jamison looks up
at the stained glass window. The light from the stained
glass window refracts rainbow beams through Jamison and
onto the mirror.
The power the light and the blinding vision in the mirror
takes his breath. He is locked by the light as if it is a
wind to withstand. He is asphyxiating from the sight. All
the while Gem rants at him.
26
GEM
Look, into the heaven of your soul
beyond your miracles rituals
possession where you must return one
day and measure up against the havoc
of souls that cry to you minister …
Jamison suffocates to death.
GEM
Suppose you could only confess
your sins to yourself Jamison.
Could you live through that?!
Gem waves away the light walks over and pounds Jamison on
his chest one time.
Jamison coughs, chokes, draws in gasps of air to recover.
Gem encircles Jamison. Jamison crawls about the floor.
Gem stops briefly, looks down at him, begins to reach for
him. Gem snatches her hand back.
GEM
Did I touch you? I am not supposed
to touch you. I can be mischievous.
Don’t temp fate.
JAMISON
What have you done?
Jamison continues to Gasp for breath.
JAMISON
What have you done to me?
Jamison falls limp.
JAMISON
I saw something
27
Flashback of vision suffocates him.
JAMISON
It looked something like me.
Again caught in the vision Jamison asphyxiates. Gem waves
it away, again. Jamison falls again, gasps, chokes,
coughs.
GEM
Let's get down to the business of
this coming
Jamison forces himself out of the stupor, behaves angry,
indignant, afraid.
JAMISON
You had no right
GEM
Jesus who is the fulfillment of the
contract, who is the New Testament of
the Spirit
JAMISON
You had no right to impose on me
GEM
… had no house but every house was
his welcome
Jamison struggles over to the altar, kneels to pray in his
mania.
JAMISON
What will I do now. How shall I
think …
GEM
No belongings
28
JAMISON
If this madness is a curse derived of
GEM
No walls!
JAMISON
some misgiving
GEM
… No watch dogs
Jamison, hysterical, rants.
JAMISON
Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!
Gem is determined to get Jamison's attention and not bend
to consider his hysteria.
GEM
Jamison
JAMISON
Stop this. Stop this. Stop this
GEM
Jamison. Jamison!
Jamison cast an angry, growling glare at Gem.
to the floor, mumbles.
JAMISON
Oh, wake me, please, wake me from
this dream.
Cornered, Jamison stares up at Gem.
He slumps
29
As Gem speaks she walks over to the basin and pours water
from its jug, carries the basin of water and wash cloth to
Jamison.
GEM
Jesus went up on a mountain after
quite a fast. Forty days, as a matter
of fact. He went to confront Lucifer.
Gem begins to wash his feet.
GEM
He climbed. Dry burnt eyes,
oozing skin, knuckles bleeding,
swollen tongue thirst, wrenching
excretion, babbling mania, and a
fear of falling
Gem, ferocious, scrubs and finishes washing Jamison’s
feet.
GEM
He climbed, nevertheless, to the top,
before entering the promised land to
set the conditions on which you stand
at your pulpit.
Gem puts the basin away.
GEM
LUCIFER was there waiting for him.
Jesus set his swollen eyes on
Lucifer. Lucifer was beautiful
that day. A beauty that would burn
to cinders your little remaining
faith.
Gem, menacing, stands over Jamison and shouts in her ALIEN
VOICE.
GEM
Now, sit over there in that chair,
back away from me and listen to what
you have done!
30
Jamison hesitates. Gem gestures for Jamison to sit in the
high back chair. She speaks childlike, to soothe.
GEM
Reverend Jamison, please, indulge me.
Jamison crawls over to the high back chair.
Gem goes to the bible and flips through it as Jamison
crawls into the chair and speaks as he climbs into the
chair.
JAMISON
And we cross deserts in more than our
rituals. We have climbed mountains
that never reach an end. So why do
you
Jamison is caught for a suffocating moment, again, in the
consuming memory of the light.
JAMISON
… show me to myself …
Jamison snaps himself out of it, catches his breath.
JAMISON
and tell me this story of Jesus that
I know by heart?
Gem at lectern reads the bible.
GEM
On that mountain, Matthew 4, Verses I
through 11
EXT. TEMPTATION ON THE MOUNT. DAY.
Gem hurtles Jamison through the Temptation on the Mount.
31
Lucifer is a gentle powerful, beautiful form who changes
from one beautiful human image to another, from a 1-800
child to some ancient Greek god, some seductive vixen, to
some innocent young African boy, precocious little goldie
locks girl, luring, genuine heart warming irresistible
human beings.
Gem is servile, helpless, frightened, with
fierce warrior potential held in check. Gem is
one of Jesus’ attending angel.
INTERCUT:
Intercut between the sanctuary (Gem and
Jamison) and the mountain. During Gem’s V/O’s
and Lucifer’s dialogue we see Gem and Lucifer
on the mountain.
GEM V/O
To paraphrase what you record,
Lucifer challenged Jesus …
LUCIFER
Turn these rocks into loaves of
bread, create a miracle.
GEM V/O
The Christ said, “No.
GEM V/O
Lucifer tempted Jesus to jump down …
LUCIFER
On these rocks and call your angel to
save you, and prove to your following
that you possess mysteries beyond
their reach …
GEM
… And The Christ said,”
No."
32
GEM V/O
Lucifer tried to bribe
Jesus …
LUCIFER
Well then give me all your power and
I will give you all the kingdoms of
the world, all the property of the
world …
GEM
Jesus Christ said no, Jamison! No to
the use miracle, mystery and
property to show off the power of
god. Those were his conditions. You
were not to use them. It's right
here. I thought you said you read
this book.
After a thoughtful pause, a still recovering Jamison tries
to speak.
JAMISON
Then I should only speak with Jesus.
Yes, that would only be in order. I
still cannot respect your intentions.
How they would mean me well. I will
speak only with him.
GEM
Pastor, sir, you may talk with Jesus
as often as you wish. What do you
think he would say?
Jamison looks towards the bible, rises, creeps toward it.
Gem points to the bible.
GEM
Jamison, you wouldn’t do that?
JAMISON
Pardon me?
33
GEM
Read out of context. Pull an ace
from your trick deck of quotes.
Panic! Besides, you will have time
to quote enough. Am I not doing that
well?
JAMISON
Doing what well?
GEM
Talking like you.
Gem points to the high back chair gestures for Jamison to
sit. Jamison walks, indignant, over to the chair and
sits.
GEM
How come you have so many versions of
the same book?
JAMISON
You know the answer.
GEM
You have an endless variety like the
different models of your automobiles.
JAMISON
To be human is to be variety.
Individual. Jesus Christ comes to us
in that diversity.
GEM
The "first", the "complete", the
"most complete", "new", "newer",
"newest".
34
Gem points to the bible that Jamison still clutches.
GEM
You sell these bibles for profit, for
memberships.
JAMISON
What exactly do you want to know?
Why we confuse as well as clarify?
Jamison puts the bible down.
JAMISON
My father raised me like he was
Caesar and reared me like he was God.
Doomsday either way if I was bad.
Okay, fine, is that what this is?
Repent, repent, the sky is falling.
Okay, fine but why this
Mild flashback of stained glass vision, mild suffocation.
JAMISON
beat me, beat, me' castigation of my
person
He pushes vision away himself.
JAMISON
why me, why tonight, do you come here
to tell me the sky is falling?
GEM
What? Shall we wait till some
judgment Day? Do you rate that level
of critique? Should we wait ‘til
extinction? Your world is a repeating
of history. Old testament blues.
35
Gem deliberates without punctuation.
GEM
You are here indicted for going back
up that mountain and making manna
going back up the mountain and
casting down secrets and myths going
back up that mountain and bargaining
for a title to it a piece of the
promised land a piece of the rock
going back up that mountain to make
another deal out of contract.
Gem creates a wind in the room that blows things around.
Gem speaks in her ALIEN VOICE.
GEM
You went back up there and
deliberately accepted Lucifer's
gifts of … miracle … mystery …
property.
JAMISON
The day after Easter we were in
exile, persecuted. We were left
with parables, riddles and
catacombs. Since the beginning of
time God planned to have a son to
die, for us.
GEM
You waited until Jesus was out of
sight, snuck back up that mountain to
reverse the entire effort of the new
testament by renegotiating the terms
of redemption …
Gem subsides the wind, the room calms.
Jamison’s kneel altar.
Gem kneels at
36
JAMISON
I don't own anything. On what
grounds do I warrant this visit? I
live within the means of my
congregation. I never force a
collection nor intimidate those who
cannot afford to give.
INT. CHURCH. ANY GIVEN SUNDAY.
DAY.
A typical collection basket is passed along a pew. Folks
try to hide and/or show off their donations.
INT. SANCTUARY. CONTINUOUS.
JAMISON
We raise funds for the needy.
INT. CHURCH. ANY GIVEN SUNDAY. CONTINUOUS.
Members in church basement bringing old clothes and canned
food.
INT. SANCTUARY. CONTINUOUS.
JAMISON
My church stands in firm protest of
divine solicitors If I did succumb to
confess our short comings, the
history of our ministries, what alone
could I say? I graduate from the
seminary with nothing more than an
earnest desire to teach scripture and
to awaken others as I have been
awakened. I step out into the world
with my vows air tight and I am
confronted to join this society and
that council, sermons become PR
campaigns for building funds and …
37
INT. OLD WOMAN’S BEDROOM. FLASHBACK. NIGHT.
Jamison is at the bed side of an old woman where he rushes
to leave as the woman continues to reach out him.
JAMISON V.O.
I rush off. Snatch my hands from some
dying woman's stiff old hands so I
don't miss some eight o' clock flight
to some annual conference dying hands
laying on me. Young hands searching
for hope in my embrace. Sometimes I
see hundreds of hands touch my heart
to steal the beat so I will stay till
they see the light. I only do house
calls on Thursday.
INT. SANCTUARY. CONTINUOUS.
Jamison eases out of the chair, cautious.
Peers at Gem.
JAMISON
Am I to stand on the corner
preaching and be incarcerated for
loitering? They say I gotta join
this, raise that and sign the other
if I want to be a preacher. Even a
beggar's gotta have credentials.
Jamison strolls over to the door and faces it.
JAMISON
Am I to run haggard in the streets
yelling beatitudes? Am I to ask you
to listen to me with dried spit on a
frozen beard unshaven with humility?
Am I to be
GEM
Crucified? Is that what you are
afraid of Jamison? To follow,
religiously what you record? Do you
have any idea what your vows imply?
38
JAMISON
We save souls the best way we know
how.
GEM
This matter, the mountain, is not a
matter of the value of your efforts.
The matter that warrants you this
visit is a matter of contract.
Gem goes to the desk, picks up the nails and hammer.
GEM
You must give those three gifts back
of miracle, mystery and property or
there will be no judgment day.
Gem glides over to the high back chair, takes the robe,
carefully drapes the desk with it.
GEM
Just the anticlimactic, embarrassing
trauma of extinction.
Gem glides back to the high back chair, demolishes it with
her hands.
GEM
Extinction as unannounced as the
dinosaurs
Gem walks over to Jamison and drops the nails and hammer
at his feet. She pick up the basin and ritualistically
anoints the floor as she pours all the water out of it.
GEM
You will not leave here, hungry or
not, lonely or not, until we have
accomplished all that must be done.
39
JAMISON
My wife. She doesn’t know I've gone.
She doesn't even know I've left the
bed.
GEM
You will stay here until I return and
you will not know whether days,
months, years or moments have gone
by.
JAMISON
How can I just stay here?
Gem points to the chalice. The chalice turns upside down,
the rim melts into the desk.
GEM
You will be alone to yourself, only
to hear the cries and messages of
your own soul and prepare yourself
for your task, after your 40 day
fast.
Gem glides pensively over to the library, spreads her arms
to measure the length of wood.
GEM
Jamison. Build a cross.
Gem disappears. Jamison looks around the room, crosses to
the door with the intent to leave, stops abruptly, pauses,
turns away from the door.
TIME PASSES:
INSERT: Three Days, Months, Maybe Years
Jamison stares up at the window.
Waits.
INSERT: Six Days, Months, Maybe Years.
40
Jamison stares at the door, shivers uncontrollably. He
has a goatee. He looks at the stained glass window for a
change of light to see if it is day or night. There is no
natural light, only the steady glow of that awful light
Gem solicited. He lights all the candles, warms his hands
over them.
INSERT: Nine Days, Months, Maybe Years.
Jamison sweats profusely. He behaves with the frenzy of a
fasting recluse. He takes off a sock, dabs his face,
wrings the sweat into the basin, sips, spits it out, sits
squat.
JAMISON
(Whispers)
What’s keeping me alive?
Jamison stares rapidly from door to window.
Waits.
INSERT: Twelve Days, Months, Maybe Years.
Jamison walks over to the door. He opens it. He hears a
LITANY OF VOICES in the utter darkness, SHRILL WHISPERS.
He cups his ears, swoons, slams the door closed. He runs
to a wall with one of the candles. Carves a notch in the
wall, examines 12 notches he has carved, sits squat,
stares at the door. Waits.
INSERT: Fifteen Days, Months, Maybe Years.
Jamison is asleep on the desk wrapped in his robe, uses
the bible as a pillow. He wakes with a start, looks
around, jumps up, begins to button his shirt. He has a
beard. He can see his breath. It is cold. He mumbles
unintelligibly.
Jamison stares at library. He sprints to the library,
begins to tear at the shelves, throws planks of wood on
the floor. He finds the hammer, uses old nails from torn
planks and build a cross. He uses his robe to fasten the
cross beam. The sanctuary is a mess. Books all over the
floor.
41
He struggles over to one of the remaining shelves and gets
fresh candles. He places them in the candelabras. He
picks up the cross and leans it on the wall below the
window of the tortured light.
He walks briskly over to the altar, about to kneel, goes
to the door instead, thrust the door open. A tempest wind
gushes in with the SHRILL OF THOSE VOICES. It is all he
can do to maintain his stance against the steady gust. He
prays looking out the door.
The wind calms. Silence. Jamison grows silent.
voices become silent. The gusts of wind stop.
We hear footsteps in the utter darkness.
approach first slow then faster.
The
The foot steps
JESUS, the Nazarene carpenter, storms by Jamison. Jesus
comes to a halt when he sees the cross. Jesus stares at
the cross, walks over to it. Jamison is entranced.
Jesus runs his carpenter hands along the cross, lifts it,
shakes it, tests it for stability, strength, begins to
slap, punch, hammer it with his hands.
Jamison cautious, approaches Jesus. Jesus waves Jamison
away. Jamison retreats.
Jesus clutches the cross. Jesus lets go of the cross,
turns to Jamison, reaches his hands out to Jamison,
Jamison cautiously reaches out. Jesus lurches, grabs
Jamison's hand in a tight grasp.
MONTAGES BEGIN:
Jamison is infused with a rush of visions, a succession of
horrific renderings of paintings, photos, statues,
sculptures, stock footage of lynchings, crusades,
tortures, massacres, be-headings, burnings at the stake,
world wide wars, oppressions, ethnic cleansings,
holocausts, mass graves, Artic melts, oil slick oceans.
Each vision is preceded by paintings, sculpture renderings
of The Crucifixion.
42
MONTAGES END:
Jesus takes the cross and tears its flimsy construct
apart, strides over to the mallet and the nails Gem
brought. He takes the nails and hands the mallet to
Jamison, goes over to the wall with the nails, begins to
tear the wall apart until he finds a sturdy beam.
With Jesus’ guidance he and Jamison tear two beams from
the wall.
They find cloth and rope to fasten the beams together.
They break through the floor a hole big enough to fit the
cross in snug. They place the finished cross in the hole.
Jesus and Jamison sit quiet side by side for some while.
JAMISON
Why me?
Jesus looks at Jamison with incredulity, rises, walks to
the door exits. Jamison rises to follow Jesus. The Door
slams in his face. Gem appears at desk with bible in
hand.
GEM
Why not you?
Gem opens the bible to Matthew 4:11.
GEM
Random sampling seemed appropriate.
But you are special in one way,
Jamison. In the sampling we have two
types of hypocrites the first
hypocrite is one who does not, nor
ever really did believe in the
"stuff," but approaches the clergy as
a career, much like a business man.
43
Gem tidies the room as she continues.
GEM
This hypocrite is simply fraudulent.
Simply, I say, because this hypocrite
doesn't know much better. He, she,
really thinks this is what religion
is suppose to be, and reads the bible
after the fact.
Gem suddenly stops tidying, approaches Jamison and stands
rigid next to him.
GEM
Then there is the other type. This
hypocrite thoroughly believes and
understands the nature of what he
is doing and what religion is
supposed to be. But the pressure
of conformity, lack of guts, fear
of being crucified, this hypocrite
doesn't execute. Oh, but he does
suffer, because they know better.
Let's just call it lack of guts.
That's you. The latter, I mean. You
are from that sample.
Gem continues tidying, finishes by wiping the bible,
places the bible on the lectern.
(several beats)
That was Jesus.
He left.
JAMISON
Jesus was just here.
GEM
Rhetorical question.
have to say?
What did he
JAMISON
How do I take all of this in?
44
Jamison looks at the cross
JAMISON
Am I to be placed on it?
crucified?
Am I to be
No Response
JAMISON
What is …
GEM
You will see in time enough.
Jamison walks to the door, pounds it, bawls and bawls.
Gem, slow, goes over to Jamison, reaches to gently touch
his shoulder, suddenly draws her hand away.
Jamison.
GEM
We have to begin.
Jamison calms somewhat, cast a sudden glance at Gem, looks
at her incredulously.
JAMISON
Begin? Begin What? What have we
been doing all these days, months,
years. Begin?
Gem points to the excerpt Matthew 4:11 on the lectern,
summons Jamison to read. Jamison does not move.
JAMISON
You know, Gem, this "fast" thing is
really remarkable. I mean I feel
good! I see clear, I smell clear, my
heart beats with a more steady hum.
I said my heart thumps with a new
resounding!
GEM
Jamison!
45
JAMISON
It's like a "listening." a new set
of eyes bulging with insight. Oh, in
church we talk about fasting, but no
more than three days at a time; part
time at that. I see that clear halo
that surrounds your form.
GEM
I see what you are about to do.
JAMISON
I see the intensity with which you
could use your accursed powers to
render God’s will. Gem. I see your
heart. The one you haven't got. I
see the heart you wish you had.
GEM
Stop it!
JAMISON
I see the envy you wish you could
feel. What was it you said? Oh,
yes, "I hope to reach the status of
man," or something of the like.
Approaches Gem as close as he dare.
JAMISON
If then I am on trial, is there a
motion for an angel with ulterior
motives? You don't want me to live
through this, do you?
GEM
Are you indeed alive?
JAMISON
My failing along with all humanity
offers the only possibility for your
promotion.
46
GEM
The only one? Your humankind is so
arrogant. Do you have any idea how
many forms of life may exist in the
space you stand?
Gem approaches Jamison as close as she dare.
GEM
I could care less whether you live
through this or not. I stated a name
for you to call me for your need to
reference, categorize. Our names are
for you in your compartmentalized
imperfection.
JAMISON
Our free will is the flower of the
root of our imperfection.
GEM
I insist that we proceed.
JAMISON
Can you make a choice? can you feel?
GEM
I know what your are trying to do!
JAMISON
What is the difference between you
and Satan? Good angel and bad, both
ridden with ambition. Both who rule
through temptation. Fury. What is the
difference between you, oh good
angel, and Lucifer?
Gem, intense, levitates horizontal, keeps her face inches
from Jamison. Searches his eyes.
47
GEM
You are. You are the difference. The
only difference between heaven and
hell is earth you are Satan or can be
you are Christ-like or can be outside
of you we deities make no difference
among one another your free will your
imperfection makes us into whatever
you want us to be or whatever you
desire or are afraid to be in
yourselves so you see it's still on
you Jamison. All of it!
Gem is suddenly stands at the lectern.
passage in the bible.
Gem points to the
GEM
Can we get started? We will discuss
the indictments concerning the misuse
of Miracle, Mystery and Property, in
that order. For this visit we will
discuss miracle. The first breach of
contract as here indicted is the
acceptance of Lucifer's first offer.
The misuse of miracle. So be it.
Jamison walks over to the lectern. Gem stands to the side
to make room for Jamison at the lectern. Jesus squats in
front of the lectern. Jamison locates Matthew 4:11
JAMISON
"And when the tempter came to him he
said, 'If thou be the son of god,
command that these stones be made
bread’. But He answered and said, it
is written, man shall not live by
bread alone, but by every word that
proceedeth out of the mouth of god.'"
48
GEM
So be it. The wonders you could
perform for yourselves without your
conjurings. Seducing his faithful,
offering them instant remedies and
side-show demonstrations? Then why
would he bleed? I mean, why bother?
JAMISON
Mercy.
Gem gestures for Jamison to sit in the high back chair.
Jamison crosses to the door.
(several beats)
JAMISON
Your mercy, Lord, for those unable to
bear the unrelenting drudgeries of
this mad world without the
possibility of a miracle … It takes a
miracle or two.
Jamison sits in the high back chair.
GEM
You admit, then, that you climbed
back up that mountain, on Peter's
rock, so to speak, and seized the
first offer of the other prince.
That gift being the packaging,
marketing of miracles to spare your
congregation from coming to god
without bait!
JAMISON
No!
GEM
Aw, come on, Jamison!
49
JAMISON
Compartmentalize. What specifically
are you referring to?
GEM
Monuments, statues, prayer cloths,
bottled liquids, canned relics,
toll free petitions, post office
nickel and dime cons, incense,
Easter eggs and plush parades.
JAMISON
Jesus, what is going to happen to me?
GEM
For you is he god-man or man-god?
Is he you, inside, beneath the
flesh? Yes, I wish I had a heart so
that. Well, anyway …
Gem suddenly points to the window. Jamison look into its
light, shields his eyes and gasps for breath.
GEM
When you looked at him did you see
yourself? How you wound up? Or what
you were meant to be?
Gem encircles Jamison in the chair. She behaves like a CIA
interrogator.
GEM
Miracles, put them away. For surely
is the miracle that you can be
healed? Or is the miracle that you
can exist for so long. You want to
heal? You want to love your enemies,
ones who do not look, act or worship
like you?
50
GEM (Cont’d)
How you live with yourselves is a
miracle. For surely is the miracle
the life he came to show you capable
of or the deaths you choose in spite
of the power of his presence?
Gem a sudden interrogator’s roar and rage.
GEM
Church vs. church! catholic vs.
protestant. war! protestant vs.
Islam. war! Islam vs. catholic. war!
Zion vs. Islam. war! protestant vs.
Zion! war! Hindus vs. Buddhist. war!
Islam vs. Buddhist. war! Dutch vs.
Zulu. war! crusades. war! holy wars!
overt wars! covert wars! Israel,
Palestine, Ireland, Russia, Bosnia,
Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Mexico,
Nicaragua, China, Iraq …
Gem maneuvers over, stands face to face with Jamison.
GEM
How countless many did I yet mention,
yet on the way, Chaplain.
Gem with a gesture solicits the light from the window full
on Jamison. He writhes. In concert she slams open the
door and the crescendo of piercing whispers attack his
ears. He wrenches.
GEM
The miracle is not your freedom,
your life, your redemption. The
miracle is your suicide!
51
Gem suddenly disappears.
GEM V/O
Don't eat, drink or leave.
You have
25 more days to go. Or is it years.
You won't know.
The light dims, the voices grow quiet, Jamison
falls limp. He is out cold.
Jesus enters, gently closes the door. Jesus
blows out the candles, closes the bible. Jesus
quietly sits beside Jamison.
Jamison is stricken with fear in his
unconsciousness. He mumbles, frantic. Jesus
hums some native lullabye melody. Jamison’s
mumbles of utter fear are quelled by Jesus’
massage hums.
INT. JAMISON’S BEDROOM. NIGHT.
Jamison and his wife prepare for bed. They stand on
opposite sides of the bed, undress down to their
underwear.
EXT. AN ENDLESS GLADE. DAY.
Jamison and his wife are in a fairytale atmosphere
glade. They tear each others clothes off. They don’t
miss a bare part of body to touch, kiss along the way. .
INT. JAMISON’S BEDROOM. CONTINUOUS.
They look at each other intent but hide the exuding
passion.
EXT. AN ENDLESS GLADE. CONTINUOUS.
Totally nude, they parade around each other, show
themselves to each other the way children might explore.
52
INT. JAMISON’S BEDROOM. CONTINUOUS.
They climb into bed in sync.
EXT. AN ENDLESS GLADE. CONTINUOUS
He pulls her down to the grass.
INT. JAMISON’S BEDROOM. CONTINUOUS.
She lies flat on her back. He climbs in next to her.
They pull the covers up.
EXT. AN ENDLESS GLADE. CONTINUOUS
They tear clumps of grass and earth and cover each other
with it.
INT. JAMISON’S BEDROOM. CONTINUOUS.
Jamison takes off his boxer shorts, his wife seems to be
disrobing as well under the covers. Neat, Jamison
places his shorts beside the bed. She turns out the
light.
EXT. AN ENDLESS GLADE. CONTINUOUS.
Jamison pulls her from the shade, they run to the top of
a hill, open, bright with sunlight, they fall to the
ground, kiss passionately, work their touches, kisses
over every part of their bodies, an ever intimate pause
before penetration, eye to eye. Jamison pulls himself
into her. They are voracious.
INT. JAMISON’S BEDROOM. CONTINUOUS.
He climbs on top of her, proper. They silently make
love. They finish, he turns over, she turns the other
way.
53
INT. CHURCH SANCTUARY. TIMELESS.
Jamison awakes, abrupt, sits up. Hands on genitals.
JAMISON
Nooo!
Jamison, nude, lights the candles, storms around the room
in a growl, looks for his clothes. He puts on his pants
and his shirt, leaves the latter unbuttoned. He gnaws his
teeth, flops in the chair embroidered in gold lace,
whines, scratches, calms himself, stares out in a trance.
His behavior is that of one who has been fasting for 25
days, his body a loss of weight, though very buff,
healthy.
He sits in the interrogation chair. He fidgets as he
speaks.
JAMISON
Woman are you there do you hear me we
soul mates claim to be so clairvoyant
in our aspirations towards love when
we touch you and I when we touch
however we are so quiet lest we
disturb the spirits of blaspheme and
pleasure yet I tell you now hear me
please for no more silence in loving
you I will touch you and in the
penetration inside you when my body
is inside you I will ring and shout
god's pleasure and anoint myself with
the flavors of your skin wet and
clinging in a celebration dance that
now only brings tears to my eyes in
fantasy I fantasize about you woman
in so many acts of intimacy that I
know god's love is at the heart and
we are one with God I love you in a
place that beguiles my person I love
you with all my heart unconditionally
Be good, woman, don't wait up for me.
54
Jamison sits very still. Jamison’s eyes roam, search. He
snatches the belt from his pants. He walks to the cross.
He places his arms along the “T” pretends he is being
crucified, makes a comic dying sound with his tongue
hanging out. He continues this cartoon, tries to imitate
the proper way to place the feet.
He goes over to the desk, approaches the crown of thorns.
Just as he is about to touch it he snatches his hand away.
He looks about with paranoia.
He rushes back to the cross, loops the belt around the
cross section, buckles the belt, sticks his head through
and tries to hang himself. He yanks and pulls his weight
until he passes out. He hangs there. No air.
TIME PASSES:
Jamison still hangs from the cross. He Snores. The place
looks like a tomb. His snores awake him. Jamison is able
to see his face in the mirror. His vision is distorted.
His neck is stuck. Jamison yells while he struggles to
get his neck out of the belt. Jamison gets free.
Jamison in a rage swings the belt at the stained glass
window, roams about the room, whips the belt and throws
things around as he rants.
JAMISON
We can't stop the madness! You
couldn't in all your resplendent
glory.
We have them pay us money
when the magic isn't there to follow
your act. They enslave themselves,
willingly, gratefully, by selling
their freedom, in exchange for their
precious redemption, to us, so we
will continue to take responsibility
for their conscience, yes, by
performing miracles that we convince
them only we can perform, using your
name.
55
JAMISON (Cont’d)
It may be our sin, but we have to
save their souls; they can't do it
alone, and we can't save ours without
their salvation. We have to get them
there anyway we can
Jamison speaks to the cross.
JAMISON
And you knew it! Well, it is in our
hands. So you must grant us your
precious freedom to do your will our
way.
(several beats)
So why do you come? To hear what you
already know? You knew that they,
your flock, our herd, could not,
would never bear to walk around with
nothing to look forward to but
another day
Jamison drops the belt, wobbles over to the desk, sits.
JAMISON
Yes, yes, we make them magic, manna,
miracles. And we make it in your
name. We compromise our oaths, make
deals with governments for economic
favors to keep our temples in repair
so they can sit comfortably inside.
Or else they will not come to you!
We turned Peter's Rock into loaves of
bread and built gold temples to serve
them.
Gem appears, hovers in the air horizontal, perpendicular,
face to face with Jamison. Jamison is frozen by the sight
of this.
GEM
That's sad
56
JAMISON
Stop that. Stop that floating and
such. It’s icky. You look like a
pock. That’s not very human, Spock.
They remain moments, face to face, eye to eye. Gem
disappears and immediately re-appears at the lectern.
GEM
You have confessed to the misuse of
Miracle. Now let us talk about the
misuse of Mystery. Begin!
Jamison plays with the lamp on the desk, flicking the
switch on and off. The light does not work.
JAMISON
Touch. It's touch I want. Earthy,
smelling, imperfect touch. There is
something solemn in this much purity,
cleanliness. It has
Jamison
against
Outside
space.
glides to the door, opens it, holds his ears
the deafening wail of voices. The voices quiet.
the door is a void, absolutely devoid of light and
Jamison speaks to the void
JAMISON
Christ, look at me. Am I to be your
Judas? I have no saliva. I have
become a prayer, a silly little
prayer dwindling into a mere saying.
Jamison kneels before the open door.
JAMISON
You know Jesus, I eat dust like wise
old sayings hanging from a wall. I
bet death still smells, though. Get
me out of here.
57
GEM
It is how your death completes your
life that is important. And you
don't have much time to make yours
worth more than it is.
JAMISON
Is that why you rush me? You want me
to hurry and confess to the sins of
my kind before I create a miracle and
die in the midst of all this eternity
you bring? Is it the 25th day, year or
whatever
Jamison crawls up to the threshold of the door, wraps the
belt around his neck. You know, Jesus, I should die like
Judas hung himself.
Jamison squeezes his neck until he gasps for his breath.
Gem watches until Jamison becomes exhausted and lets
himself go.
Gem attempts to close the door. Jamison jumps to his feet
and stops her. Gem relents, carries the belt to the cross
and buckles it around the intersection of the nailed
planks. Gem puts the mirror back on the wall and points to
the bible.
GEM
In any case Judas died before the
fact and I don't care what you do but
unlike Judas if you die you'll die
climbing so cut the rhetoric wipe the
sweat of your self pity stop
eulogizing your condition and begin.
JAMISON
What do you mean, before the fact?
Judas died before the fact. What do
you mean?
58
GEM
Before the crucifixion, the signing
of the new contract of the New
Testament of the Spirit. Before the
old testament of an eye for an eye
was to be amended by the law of love,
Jamison, the new law your vows
mandate your only recourse. now,
let's begin
JAMISON
I want, I just, I just, I don't feel
up to it, Gem, no. Not now. Too
many things on my mind … touch … Come
back some other time.
Gem approached Jamison.
GEM
It seems we have reached an impasse,
as when in your societies a stronger
nation is forced to influence a
weaker nation towards a desired
behavior, by some sort of display. Do
I have to resort to such a display?
(several beats)
JAMISON
Yes! a spectacle would be nice. I am
stoned to the bone with this fasting.
I deserve some entertainment. Take
it away!
GEM
Jamison, choice demands two or more
alternatives. If you leave now you
will be left, hanging, in a world to
which you can no longer relate. To
remain without completing our task
would surely drive you insane.
59
GEM (Cont’d)
You will not commit suicide because
you believe in the trial and error of
life and faith, which is obvious
because you are still alive. You
could have easily let out your blood.
Gem strides over to Jesus and stands behind him.
GEM
To finish what we have started is
your only real alternative. You have
no choice! See! How did you like
,that display? Words! Was it enough?
Jamison gets up and walks to the door. Speaks to the
void.
JAMISON
Jesus, If I leave here now, where
will I be and when?
GEM
I think you know.
JAMISON
I want you to say it.
GEM
In bed, beside your wife.
Jamison gasps.
JAMISON
The moment I left her?
INT. JAMISON’S BEDROOM. FLASHBACK.
Jamison’s wife lays on the bed the first night of this
visitation.
60
INT. CHURCH SANCTUARY. FLASHBACK.
Jamison’s wife glances at Jamison at the Pastorate
Anniversary.
INT. JAMISON’S BEDROOM, FLASHBACK. CONTINUOUS.
Jamison and his wife stand on either side of the bed
getting dressed.
INT. HOSPITAL. FLASHBACK.
Jamison’s wife reaches out to him at the hospital. Her
sheet is blood soaked around her thighs.
EXT. GLADE. FLASHBACK.
They look into each other’s eyes before they make love on
the hill in his fantasy.
INT. JAMISON’S BEDROOM.
FLASHBACK.
CONTINUOUS.
Finally, again, Jamison’s wife lies alone in the bed the
night of the first visitation.
Jamison Reels.
JAMISON
She hasn't awakened in all this time.
She still sleeps by my side. So this
is a dream and I can't die?
No response
JAMISON
If I do die, where will I be dead?
No response
JAMISON
She will awake and find me dead.
61
GEM
Have you ever asked yourself when
somebody dies in their sleep, what
were they dreaming, what was their
last thought? If that dream, thought
may have taken their life?
Gem gracefully glides over to the door, gently closes it.
GEM
What world were they in? Did they
starve or blister before they could
awake? Crib deaths. Heart failure.
“When they went to bed they were
fine” As you well know, death can
come in any state of consciousness.
Yes, you can die right here sleep or
not.
(several beats)
JAMISON
She still sleeps by my side.
GEM
Well, now, that’s where it gets
complicated. You see, she watched you
leave. She may be dreaming of you
dreaming of me, it may be her dream
you are in, I don’t know, I don’t
know. What is a dream, anyway, but
the further truth.
Jamison has a convulsive cry. Abrupt, Jamison forces a
recovery.
JAMISON
We give, or, rather, act as mediums
through which god bestows indulgences
on our laity, invisible graces for
good deeds. Is this a good deed that
I am doing? What will be my grace?
62
Gem reassumes her position at the lectern and pages
through the bible.
GEM
The indulgence here is work. the
completion of a goal. For you to be
all that we need when we are through.
Can we get started, please, Jamison?
The second breach of contract as here
indicted is the acceptance of
Lucifer's second offer, the misuse of
mystery.
JAMISON
Sure, sure we can. What choice have
I with no alternatives. Anyway, I
lack the guts to do anything else.
Yes, let's begin.
Jamison reads from the bible.
JAMISON
"and saith unto him, 'if thou be the
son of god, cast yourself down, for
it is written he shall give his
angels charge of thee And in their
hands they shall bear thee up lest at
any time thy dash thy foot against a
stone. Jesus said unto him, 'it is
written again, thou shalt not temp
the lord thy god.’"
GEM
You solicit faith with the very
things that tempt. Secrets!
63
Gem closes the bible, gets the crown of thorns, brings it
to Jamison, holds it before him.
GEM
Secret people, places and things,
secret symbols, secret tabernacles,
secret chambers, secret titles,
sanctuaries, vaults, rituals, secret
agendas, magic words, magic sticks,
politicians tricks using his name!
Gem gestures for Jamison to sit in the high back chair.
Jamison sits, disheveled, worn.
GEM
The distance. Secret societies,
brotherhoods, sisterhoods who control
the world and use ancient symbols of
ancient people who died the same way
you all are going to die. Why do
these groups exists?
JAMISON
You know the answer.
GEM
Not rhetorical. Answer. Why the
secrets, the inner circles who hide
behind your faith, who even decide
who will run your governments?
Gem encircles Jamison in the chair.
Jamison sits braced.
GEM
Do you belong to one of these
mysterious societies?
No response. Gem gesture toward the window, pulls a ray
from the window.
64
The ray strikes Jamison on his temples.
pain.
He writhes in
JAMISON
Angel of Jesus, you would hurt me,
inflict pain.
Gem increases the ray.
Blood oozes from Jamison’s eyes.
GEM
Man of Jesus, you would step on
ants? This is not rhetorical.
Rhetoric is over.
JAMISON
Stop!
Gem waves away the ray.
Jamison recovers.
GEM
Question. Why hide the holy things
and whisper secret words?
JAMISON
To keep their meaning properly
interpreted by those responsible for
the teachings and their messages
unforesaken. To act out their need
for hierarchy, mystique, the human
need to be told but not have to know.
Safe deposit stuff.
GEM
They try to crack the safe every
chance they get.
JAMISON
Until they find what is inside, then
they slaughter us for the tasks the
scrolls demand of them.
65
GEM
How can they change these holy things
and secret words?
JAMISON
They can be changed to tear down all
that we have built and all that has
safe guarded us from self
destruction.
GEM
Now what does that mean? They
believe that crap? What can they
change, whoever they are? The relics
and words or what they represent?
Rhetorical.
JAMISON
You know the answer.
GEM
Lock a church? Angels fear to tread?
Are you afraid of god?
JAMISON
I’m afraid of you! This is the world,
not your pure law place!
Gem orates around the chair area. Pounds Jamison with her
words.
GEM
Come on, you threaten people, corner
them, make them afraid of god with
your cloak and dagger protocol. Some
of you use the power of your faith to
cross over to the dark side you chant
evil secret words confusing them
telling them that god is unreachable
and then turn around and tell them
they can be gods but not without you
who have the secret that you won't
tell them some of you with degrees
of infallibility serve the other
side.
66
JAMISON
I am hypocrite number two, remember!
Jamison runs to the door, throws it open, closes his ears
against then deafening garble. kneels on floor.
JAMISON
Jesus, you know better than that of
me.
Gem slams the door closed points to the chair for Jamison
to sit.
GEM
Sit back down!
Jamison, frantically runs and sits back in the chair.
JAMISON
I am weary of you, Gem. You dare
even chastise. Dante or Darwinian
what the matter. We are primates,
after all. Nature’s beauty is
heralded by the Venus Fly Trap.
Secrecy and deceit are the means to
find a meal, protect children. But,
no, I abide no evil thought, else you
would not be here. That much I know.
GEM
Well, as for you, hypocrite number
two, of the true faith, how then
dangerous are you that you stand by
and … If you had something. Free
will! That could last forever. Love!
That no one could harm or change or
steal, would you find it necessary to
lock it up?
JAMISON
You know the answer.
Gem strikes Jamison with a ray.
He writhes.
67
But you do.
GEM
Why?!
JAMISON
You know the answer!
Gem leans over Jamison from behind the chair.
GEM
You are known by your works alone,
did you know that?
No response
GEM
Of course you do. You teach it all
the time. When they come to you, oh,
true believer, when they come to you
with discoveries through art, you
suppress it, through science, you
call it blaspheme, through education,
you limit it. Who do you think you
are that you claim that only you can
fly? Well, let me tell you something,
sir, they can know anything they
want.
Gem sits at the desk.
GEM
Do you deny that you ministers have
cast yourself down upon the rocks to
show that you are the keepers or
removers of Christ?
JAMISON
Folks are impressed on Sunday, but I
don’t see much evidence Monday
through Saturday of anybody casting
down or anybody standing around to
see if we can fly. I deny we cast
down.
68
GEM
Jamison, if you admit that you do
cast down, then you realize you must
tell them exactly how you did it so
they can fly too?
JAMISON
I said I don't cast.
GEM
Ingenious! If the miracle manna
don't get 'em, then the awe, the
subliminal seduction will. You pass
around repent! repent! brochures, and
they gotta guess who will walk the
water this time.
Gem breathes hard with rage. She gasps. She has sudden
difficulty controlling her physical response to this rage.
She leans on the desk, tries to catch her breath. The door
swings open violently. Gem stares out into the garble
void. She nods. She speaks while she tries to recover.
GEM
Secret plots behind their backs,
talking in riddles, TV. It has to
stop, you are going to stop it. Here!
now!
(several beats)
JAMISON
Well when I wake up, I’ll look into
it, Gem if I don't oversleep.
Gem gets up from the desk, goes over to the door, stares
out.
GEM
You hate this place, don't you? Wanna
go home? Had enough of confronting
divinity outside your own fervent
faith? Wouldn't you like to tear
down all the walls, knock down that
69
GEM (Cont’d)
doors, and open, Jamison, open wide
and walk without your collar choking
your neck. Leave! Now! Go ahead.
Take your free will and go!
Gem steps away from the door.
The void is now a portal to Jamison’s bedroom.
Jamison sees a hump in the bed.
turns over in her sleep.
It is his wife.
She
Jamison sees her face. (beat) Jamison hurls himself at the
door, slams it shut.
Jamison turns away, crosses over and speaks to the cross.
JAMISON
Here is a sign, full of mystery,
Jesus. You made it, we took it, so
what do you want? This sign, like a
mother's caress, like a pain killer
in many a dark hour has stood between
the force of Satan and many a stern
person when all the laws, and
scriptures and truth itself could not
save us from him. With its mere
presence, as a medallion or good luck
charm, I have seen this sign save
sanity in an insane world where there
was no brace against the force of
Satan.
Jamison snatches a stare at Gem.
JAMISON
What did you have me build this for
if you are so against mystery and
relics?
Jamison crosses back quickly to the interrogation chair
and sits.
70
GEM
It is not the relics, or their
memory. It is how you use them to
solicit memberships, memberships, I
say, instead of souls, that proves
disgusting!
Gem points to the cross.
GEM
That's no sign. The Christ died on
it, paying for your sins in this life
before he went to the next.
Gem parades around the room, picking up books and throwing
them at Jamison’s feet.
GEM
But you tell them how they can
perform weird rituals for the
forgiveness of their sins without the
red tape of forgiving themselves or
each other.
Gem goes horizontal.
GEM
I dare you to tell them they can
only pay for their sins by paying
for them.
Jamison snatches the door open. This time
he withstands the garble of voices and
refuses to cup his ears. He speaks to the
void.
JAMISON
Let me ask you a question. Original
sin, right?
To pay! To come to god
of our own free will? You and your
apostles all dead, murdered before we
even got started. How could you
blunder like that, Jesus?
71
GEM
Jamison …
JAMISON
I didn't ask you, I asked him
GEM
That is not a rhetorical question.
Jamison, you know I answer all
questions that must be answered.
JAMISON
I don't want to hear anything from
you. I asked him! Why can't he talk
to me out of his mouth, why, Jesus,
why? What have we done to you, have
I done, that you no longer represent
yourself.
Jamison points at the stained glass window.
JAMISON
My faith is weak, but it's clean,
lord, clean you know that. Talk to
me!
No response. Gem walks over and stands beside Jamison.
(several beats)
JAMISON
What, what, what Gem, exactly what do
you want from me and what is your
position anyway, that it has to be
any of your business? Why can't you
leave us alone?
GEM
I am the tender to the throne, the
7th to 10th levels in and on which
the almighty resides
72
JAMISON
What does that mean?!
GEM
I am the angel of the burning bush,
weigher of souls, the guardian of
the circle and the pyramid, entries
to levels of heaven and hell. The
messenger to beings of trial and
error. I smote Sennacherib’s hosts
with a scythe that lay ready since
the beginning of creation …
JAMISON
Sounds like a mystery to me!
GEM
Look, you, I can carry babes on the
wings of your polluted air, I can
take their sacred breath back to the
void before they are old enough to
cry. I can stay your side and
protect you from death and life. I
could be the sword of Damocles and
smite you into pieces
Gem in a rage stalks Jamison. She solicits a ray from the
window in her hands and transforms the ray into a gleaming
iron sword, achieves a warrior’s stance, the sword
wielded, prepared to attack Jamison.
GEM
Oooh, I could smite you!
An invisible force forces the sword from Gem’s hands. The
sword, narrowly misses Jamison, hurls end over end out the
door into the void and disappears.
73
The door slowly creaks closed.
somewhere.
Gem calms. Jamison slumps
JAMISON
We made a deal with Rome and England,
and the Americas and Biafra and
Tibet, Nigeria, Russia and the whole
freakin' missionary world, all
societies, all religions, all frauds
all! So! We are here battling like
you, angel of the legions.
GEM
Are you willing to pay the price,
reverend Jamison?
Gem picks up the nails, hammer and thorns, extends them to
Jamison. Jamison stares at the artifacts.
GEM
Are you willing to pay the price,
Reverend Jamison?
JAMISON
This place, this dream, the time we
are spending. Another ritual born.
What shrine will they erect here when
you are gone. What will be the tollfree petition number.
My
crucifixion will be on the net.
Jamison takes note of the artifacts.
and speaks to it.
Walks to the cross
JAMISON
They are yours. You can keep them.
You take these and carry them for the
rest of eternity if you dare. You
gave yourself to save them, and I may
have sold my soul, but it was to help
you. We continued with what was left
anything necessary now get out.
74
Gem slams the nails and hammer on the desk. Gem
approaches Jamison eye to eye. Gem glides to the door,
opens it and leaves it wide open.
Jamison walks over to the door, hesitates, then closes the
door. Jamison walks over to the cross and sprawls face
down before it.
TIME PASSES:
Jamison Jogs around the sanctuary. Does Pushups.
Jamison cries under the lectern.
Walks on the desk with the bible open in hand, preaches
unintelligibly.
Chin-ups on the cross.
Jamison wraps himself in one of his vestments, curls up in
a fetal position on the desk, with the bible as his
pillow.
MORE TIME PASSES:
Insert: 40TH Day, maybe month or year.
Jamison lights a candle, sits squat on the floor in front
of the lit candle in front of the door. There is a knock
on the door.
Jamison walks tentatively, stern to the door. He opens
it. Jesus stands in the threshold. Jamison takes his hand
in clasp, they embrace, Jamison closes the door behind
them, they sit squat in front of the Cross.
Particles drift through the stained glass window to form
Gem. She drift to the floor lights the other candles on
the kneel altar.
GEM
Were you meditating?
75
JAMISON
No, but I’m still here. aren't you
surprised?
GEM
No.
JAMISON
Are you ready, Jesus? It's about
your family. Inheritance. The
suffering always being there. That
bible, that contract is the book of
the truth, because it tells of all
truths and all lies. It tells on
itself.
It will shine as bright and
bleed as dark as the heart that reads
it. Both blessing and curse.
Jamison imitates, but does not mock Gem as he speaks.
JAMISON
It tells a story about your family,
Jesus. It's blessings and curses
that have given heir to too many
promised lands and left you in their
wake.
Gem flips through the bible.
GEM
We are here, finally to talk about
property, the nine tenths of your
fruitless encounter with give and
take. The third breach of contract
as here indicted is the acceptance of
Lucifer’s third offer, the misuse of
property.
JAMISON
Ah, yes, you need one more
confession.
76
Jamison goes to the lectern and begins to read.
JAMISON
"The devil taketh him up to an
exceeding high mountain and showeth
him all the kingdoms of the world and
the glory of them; And saith unto
him, 'all these things will I give
thee if you will fall down and
worship me.' Then Jesus said unto
him, 'Get thee hence, Satan, for it
is written, thou shalt worship the
lord thy God and only him shalt thou
serve.' The devil leaveth him and,
behold, angels came and ministered
unto him."
Jamison slams the bible shut and walks towards Gem.
JAMISON
Yes, we will covet, slander, steal,
kill, to protect our earnings from
redemption itself with weapons that
destroy planets. How's that for a
confession to the misuse of property?
Gem gets the basin, sets the basin down by Jamison's feet.
Gem places her hand in the basin. The basin fills with
water.
Jesus crawls over, to Jamison, rips a patch of cloth from
his pants leg, puts the cloth in the basin of water, rolls
up Jamison's pants and begins to stroke his shins with the
cloth in slow powerful strokes.
Jamison seems almost to fall into a trance from the power
of the strokes. The power of the strokes increase as Gem
speaks.
GEM
It is almost morning, Jamison.
Jesus increases the intensity of his strokes.
77
GEM
You, minister, are the teacher, and
more than the wise you know the law
of giving. You have so many teachers
who know. Know of sharing a planet
that could be bountiful for all.
Jamison fights to get away from Jesus and the washing.
Jesus holds fast and continues to stroke.
GEM
Within the span of your life it is
likely the middle east will rock with
a nuclear blast that will send every
nation of your world into a
holocaust. Extinction! If you
escape that fate then there is the
ozone, oil spills, diseases of greed
in your sex drive, manufactured
genetics, You are all going to die
Gem goes eye to eye with Jamison.
GEM
What would you be willing to do,
Reverend Jamison, if the challenge be
yours, personally to have the world
make peace with the earth?
It didn't work!
didn't work?
JAMISON
The crucifixion
GEM
It's not about what worked or didn't
work.
It's about what you are
willing to do.
78
JAMISON
Then it would only be fitting that
those meant to represent you, but
instead betrayed you should swing
this time. Give me a couple of days
and maybe I can round up a couple of
bishops, a few rabbis, an imam or
two, some Brahmins and several
Buddhist monks.
We could have a
bonafied international burning at the
stake. The Krishnas would love it.
I don't know what good it would do
for world peace and the environment,
but
Jesus’ strokes get stronger.
GEM
You’ve been doing enough of that.
Mere self absorption.
JAMISON
Miracle, Mystery and Property, okay,
I take them back up the mountain, god
only knows in whatever form, fine,
then what. What is the issue?
GEM
What are you, Jamison, you, gonna do
to stop the madness?
JAMISON
I’d be willing to do every
Wrong answer.
GEM
Be specific.
JAMISON
What do you want me to say?
GEM
What you have to say.
79
JAMISON
I would say I’d give my life.
Gem looks up at the stained glass window.
GEM
There will be enough dying for your
death not to make one bit of
difference. You keep crucifying, and
crucifying, and crucifying
JAMISON
What can one person do?
GEM
And crucifying.
JAMISON
What can one person do?!
GEM
And crucifying.
Jamison snatches his foot away from Jesus’ maniacal
scrubbing.
JAMISON
Stop! Enough! Your job here is
finished. Get off my back and get on
with the finale I want to know when I
get crucified.
GEM
No more! It is almost dawn.
Gem kneels before Jesus, exasperated, exhausted, broken.
GEM
I am finished here.
I am sorry.
80
There is a moment between Jesus and Gem. Gem looks
defeated. Jesus looks at Gem with compassion.
GEM
Gem strikes a formal pose.
GEM
Today you will relive the end of
the carpenter's mission as you
have relived his crossing of the
desert. I hope you will survive
what you have cleansed yourself
to do on this the fortieth day.
That being, you must and will
fulfill the terms of the
contract and return those gifts
of Miracle, Mystery and Property
back to the evil part of
yourselves that went slithering
back up the mountain.
Gem disappears.
Jesus picks up the nails crown and thorn, looks up at the
cross, then hands the nails and hammer to Jamison. Jesus
then disrobes down to the waist, walks up to the cross,
turns and faces Jamison.
Jamison understands, suddenly, that this means that Jesus
is the one to be crucified. Jamison shakes his head in
disbelief, drops the nails, hammer and thorns.
JAMISON
Gem! Gem! Gem! Gem! Come back here!
Gem!
Jesus grabs Jamison as he flees toward the door. Jamison
tears himself away, crawls about the floor, runs about the
room as Jesus stalks him. Jamison heads for the door in
the terror that he must crucify Jesus Christ. Jesus
blocks his way, struggles to subdue Jamison. Finally they
both lay breathless on the floor.
81
Jamison jumps suddenly, lunges for the crown of thorns,
grabs them and shoves them on his head. Pain. When he
recovers he speaks in a frenzy as blood drips from his
forehead.
JAMISON
How dare you think you will make me
guilty. You who are love, and this
love that is to know no fear, terror,
and you bring these things and make
me, this room a horror, a horror.
Why?!
Jamison bolts to the cross and begins to try to tear it
apart. Jesus bolts after him, pulls him away and stands
to protect the cross. Jamison bolts for Jesus with a
growl. Jesus steps aside. Jamison rams his head into the
cross, missing Jesus. Pain. Jamison falls to the floor
unconscious.
TIME PASSES:
Jamison awakes with his head in Jesus’ lap. Jesus dabs
blood from Jamison’s head. Jamison gasps in horror as he
looks up and sees the crown of thorns on Jesus head, blood
dripping down Jesus’ face.
Jamison maniacally crawls away. Jesus stretches his
clenched hands towards Jamison, opens his clenched hands
to reveal the two nails.
Jamison bolts for the door, opens it.
opens to his bedroom.
The door
ON BEDROOM
His wife stands on her side of the bed. Her back is to
him. She stares down at the bed. She cries hysterically.
She falls to the floor and weeps. Jamison sees the bed
sheet pulled up over the face of his corpse.
Jamison slams the door, turns to Jesus in a rage.
82
Jesus pulls Jamison to the cross.
Jamison snatches away,
runs. Jesus inflicts his path with a light that shines
form the window illuminating a pure vision of Jamison’s
reflection. Jamison almost asphyxiates, but he raises his
arms with all his strength against the power of the light,
pulls the light into him with a roar. Jamison passes out.
TIME PASSES:
Jamison startles awake. Searches around the room. Jesus
has placed himself arm spread on the cross. Jesus beckons
Jamison.
JAMISON
I have yet to hear the cock crow.
Jamison struggles towards Jesus at the cross with hammer
and nails. Jamison grabs Jesus around the waist and clings
to him. Jesus takes Jamison’s hand with the nail, helps
Jamison place the nail to Jesus’ palm.
Jamison draws
back the hammer with swift power, and one last growl …
~
~
~
~
INT. JAMISON’S BEDROOM. NIGHT.
Jamison suddenly awakes, pants, breathless. His wife
awakes startled. Jamison takes note of her, feels all
over her face, kisses her feverishly. A strong and sudden
breeze comes through the window. Jamison recognizes.
WIFE
What is it?
No response.
WIFE
You had a terrible night.
and turned.
You tossed
JAMISON
I dreamt about you last night.
83
WIFE
I got tired of your flip flops and
shook you. I’ll get breakfast. Happy
Tenth Anniversary.
JAMISON
But we’re done with that.
WIFE
Don’t you wish.
JAMISON
I dreamt it was Monday.
INT. CHURCH. SAME MORNING.
We re-visit the panes of stained glass that depict
distinct religious figures.
The sections of the huge stained glass window that
depict the Fall of Lucifer, Genesis, Eve and Adam,
Lucifer and the Tree, the Fall of Adam and Eve, Abraham
about to sacrifice his son, Moses and the Ten
Commandments.
We focus on the pane of Jesus, at the center, on the
mountain in the desert, being tempted by the devil. The
Temptation.
We focus on either side of the depiction of The
Temptation on the figure of Jesus on the cross with his
mother, Mary, ascendant above him, and the other of
Jesus’ Resurrection with Mary Magdalene guarding the
tomb.
We pan the congregation that mills about below. The huge
congregation is well dressed expensive, very stoic.
A banner indicates it is the Tenth Anniversary of
Reverend Jamison as pastor.
84
Reverend Jamison and his assistant pastor Reverend Todd
are at the altar receiving a line of people who have
come to congratulate Jamison on his tenure.
Jamison’s wife circulates among the congregation. She
and Jamison often sneak playful, glances, that mock the
behavior of others. Jamison suddenly looks distracted,
entranced. Reverend Todd whispers to Jamison.
REV. TODD
Samuels is here. They want to
give you a date for ground
breaking. Says he has the
contracts. Ready to sign and
get started. He has to go
overseas tomorrow.
The Rogets, an apparent affluent couple, approach the
altar to offer congratulations to Jamison. Mr. Roget, a
staunch man, waddles, and Mrs. Roget, nimble, airy,
carries herself in an almost extraterrestrial manner..
Mr. Roget extends his hand and gives Jamison what seems
like some sort of secret handshake. Jamison dodges this
gesture by kissing Mrs. Rogets hand. Mr. Roget chuckles.
Jamison’s looks at his wife who walks about the
congregation. His wife laughs mischievously at him.
Jamison pats Mrs. Roget’s hand. Mrs. Roget holds fast
to Jamison’s hand, looks at Jamison’s wife as she
disappears. Mrs. Roget stares intent into Jamison’s
eyes, more serious than cordial as she speaks.
MRS. ROGET
And give that wife of yours a
vacation. She works overtime. So
dedicated. So … in love.
Mr. Roget tugs at Mrs. Roget’s arm, scolds her silently
as they walk up the aisle. Jamison pans the room.
The little African American boy, Matthew, extends his
hand to Jamison. Jamison shakes his hand.
85
MATTHEW
You remember me. Baseball field. Big
like a desert.
The boy let’s go of Jamison’s hand and walks away. Rev.
Todd takes note of Jamison.
REV. TODD
You are trembling. Are you going
to make it?
Seraphina walks up to the altar. The exotic Mideastern
looking woman. Olive skin. Feisty. Deep vocals. Reverend
Todd cringes, whispers to Jamison
REV. TODD
Here comes our crystal ball.
up.
Palms
SERAPHINA
Jesus has his rights too.
Jamison watches entranced as she sways away.
REV. TODD
Still having those dreams?
JAMISON
Dream, One dream, the same, only
more. I mean more of it. I mean more
often. I mean no more.
Mrs. Levowitz, the Jewish woman steps up and looks up
at the stained glass window.
Jamison follows her glance. She grabs his hand.
search each other’s eyes.
MRS. LEVOWITZ
It's a miracle how many
anniversaries.
They
86
The old woman reaches and pulls his chin to hers.
stares into her eyes.
He
MRS. LEVOWITZ
They're a kind of reckoning, like ya
made it this far again and again,
even though you may have had some
things to mysteriously try to stop
yah. Don’t let them try and stop
yah. Oh, so I'm talking too much,
already
She pulls an embroidered handkerchief from her pocket
book, wipes the Pastor’s forehead.
There is the sound of glass smashing. Three stones are
hurled through the center of the stained glass window.
Jamison, Rev. Todd and the congregation run to the
entrance of the Church to see who threw them.
EXT. CHURCH. DAY.
Jamison sees a Caucasian girl, a oriental boy, a
Mideastern girl, a Jewish boy and an African American
boy stand with blank faces, all armed, all burnt or
wounded.
REV. TODD
Well, whoever it was they’re not
here now. We’ll find them.
The children disappear before Jamison’s eyes. No one
else sees them.
87
INT. CHURCH. DAY.
Jewish woman holds fast onto Jamison’s arm as the
buzzing congregation files back in the church.
MRS. LEVOWITZ
So, happy anniversary, already.
Who knows, today a Jew, tomorrow
an Arab comes to bring you a
casserole. I brought a pot of
homemade soup. You’ll need plenty
of nourishment.
Jamison nods his head to the old lady. By the time he
lifts it again she is nowhere in sight.
Jamison looks up at the holes in the stained glass
window.
One stone has knocked out the devil in the pane with
Jesus on the mount. One stone has knocked out the tomb
in the pane with Mary Magdalene. One stone has knocked
out Jesus on the cross in the pane with Mary, mother of
Jesus.
What is left at the center of the pane is Jesus on the
mount, flanked by Mary Magdalene looking in his
direction and Mother Mary ascendant seeming to watch
over them both.
Jamison turns and leaves the rear sanctuary door to
avoid having to interact with the congregation.
Jamison’s wife stares at the door but neither proceeds
after Jamison or alerts anyone that he is gone. She
goes to Rev. Todd who searches about for Jamison. She
and Rev. Todd meet eyes. She looks back at the
sanctuary door.
Rev. Todd heads for the door. On his way to the door a
group of Japanese parishioners approach Reverend Todd.
He proceeds through the door before they get his
attention.
88
INT. CHURCH BASEMENT. DAY.
Jamison stands outside the door to his office. He is
dressed in kaki pants and white tee shirt and overcoat.
After several moments he turns the door knob and slowly
opens the door.
The door open, he continues to stand and peruse the room.
There is no cross. There are no nails or thorns.
Everything looks as if nothing happened.
He steps across the threshold. He closes the door behind
him. He almost tip toes as he strolls. Gingerly he walks
just below the stained glass window. He looks up, braced
in posture, tense, prepared for the vision. He only sees
the daylight shine through.
He goes to the mirror. It is unblemished. He goes to the
kneel altar. The wicks of the candles un-torched. He
goes to the basin and jug. They are still neat, clean,
dry.
He goes to his vestments. They are hung pressed, ready
for next Sunday. As he runs his hands along the library
it shows no signs of pillage. The wall, not a chip.
There is a knock on the door.
Jamison freezes.
He gasps.
JAMISON
Come in.
The door slowly opens.
the door behind him.
Reverend Todd slides in and closes
REV. TODD
Are you okay?!
JAMISON
Yes, Todd, I am fine. I am leaving.
REV. TODD
Well, I can cover for you till the
dinner tonight.
89
JAMISON
I am taking a sabbatical. There is
no way to explain.
REV. TODD
Where are you going?
JAMISON
Everywhere.
REV. TODD
I mean you can’t just … Has the
Bishop …
JAMISON
No. He doesn’t know. You are the
first because I am just now leaving.
I am leaving now.
REV. TODD
Papers! I need papers.
Recommendations.
JAMISON
There can be no recommendations.
Only duties. They will have no
choice but to put you in charge. But
I can only recommend that you come
with me.
Where?!
REV. TODD
To do what?
JAMISON
We will know, each place we go. I
have always wanted to imagine what it
would be like to … hike.
90
REV. TODD
You know recently, I saw something
coming. In you. I first thought
exhaustion. Hoped it might be just a
cold. I suspected, though, I may
have to advise the bishop.
JAMISON
Didn’t expect you to accept my
recommendation. It’s just the only
one I can give. Good luck. I will
have no forwarding address.
REV. TODD
Why? …
Why?
JAMISON
Rather than ask me that, raise your
hands in the air. Do it!
Todd raises his hands high above his head
JAMISON
Look around you.
Todd follows this direction.
JAMISON
And ask why. Do it!
REV. TODD
Why?
Todd shrugs. Lowers his arms to his side.
REV. TODD
And?
JAMISON
I envy you. Oh to awake and not
suddenly see the absurdity. The
clarity. The necessities. That will
be all, thank you.
91
REV. TODD
I will have to report, I mean …
JAMISON
Thank you, Todd. I will miss you.
Sorely.
Todd shuffles perplexed. He wanders over to the door in a
state of flux. Finally with one final look at back at
Jamison he drifts out the room and quietly closes the
door.
Jamison goes to the lectern, picks up the bible, looks at
it, smirks, then smiles.
As he passes by the kneel altar he stops, back steps,
stoops down, reaches under and pulls out a … sock. It is
still wet. He reverently places the sock in his coat
pocket.
INT. JAMISON’S BEDROOM. THAT NIGHT.
Jamison and his wife prepare for bed. They stand on
opposite sides of the bed, undress down to their
underwear.
JAMISON
There is this … meadow …
WIFE
I know.
JAMISON
We nee to talk.
Wife
No. We don’t. Only time for work.
Lot’s of work.
JAMISON
I have to go …
92
I know.
much.
WIFE
Doesn’t seem we will need
JAMISON
At least enough for a picnic along
the way.
JAMISON
I know this place where we can …
WIFE
Dress ourselves in grass.
I know.
EXT. AT THE BASE OF A MOUNTAIN. NOON.
We stare at the back of the head of a man shrouded to
protect him from the sun. He sits and stares at a
mountain far in the horizon. He is accompanied by a
shrouded woman. It is Jamison and his wife. They are sun
burnt, complexions are radiant, bodies strong.
After some moments they gather their back packs, makeshift belongings. Belongings borne they trek off in the
direction of the mountain.
Their packs and accessories indicate they have walk around
the world, healing.
CRAWL POEM:
CHILD V.O.
I’d like now to say who god chose
to call it wasn't the prophet, but
the sinner who saw that the
promised land holds but one kind of
man the one left behind in the
desert sand.
FADE OUT: