Forsaken [Scene 2]

A radio play written with Pasha

EXT. ANCIENT JERUSALEM - NIGHT
Fire crackling. Low murmurs. Eating sounds.

FOLLOWER #1
Here he comes. Jesus of Nazareth.

An eerie hush falls.

JESUS
Thank you, brothers and sisters, for joining us tonight. Now, is there anyone here who would ask for my help?

JEWISH WOMAN
Lord, my son is blind

JESUS
Bring him here

Baby shrieks

JESUS
(tenderly)
Calm, child.

Sound of mud being gathered from the ground. Jesus spits.

JEWISH WOMAN
(upset)
You spit in my son's eyes?

JESUS
Have faith. Bathe your child in the tub, and he shall be healed.

Splashing water. Silence for a moment.

JEWISH WOMAN
(overjoyed)
His eyes follow my hand! It is a miracle!

DOUBTER
Cheap tricks

FOLLOWER #2
It seems the blind are plentiful tonight

DOUBTER
Even if you can heal – and I’m not saying I believe it, mind - they say you’ve healed on the Sabbath. And in the synagogues, no less. Isn’t that a sin?

FOLLOWER #2
Don't you people know better than to contradict the Messiah?

JESUS
Calm, brother. It is a common enough question, and well meant. I ask you, sir, would you rescue your sheep from a ditch on the Sabbath?

DOUBTER #2
Of course. That is unavoidable.

JESUS
And would you lead it to water on the Sabbath?

DOUBTER #2
Again, that is unavoidable

JESUS
But you would deny such courtesies to this woman, a daughter of Abraham? Remember the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. Now, who else requires my services?

Silence

JESUS
Nobody? You there, come into the firelight.

VAMPIRE
Me?

JESUS
Yes, I sense great unease in you.

VAMPIRE
No, I’m fine

JESUS
Nevertheless, come into the firelight

Footsteps.

JESUS
I thought so. Tell me, what ails you?

VAMPIRE
Nothing at all. I’m quite well.

JESUS
But you came here to ask me something. What was it?

VAMPIRE
(reluctant)
Well...

JESUS
Please, you’re among friends here

VAMPIRE
Is it true you’ve performed exorcisms?

Gasps

JESUS
(Unfazed)
It is. Are you in need of one?

VAMPIRE
I believe so

JESUS
Why?

VAMPIRE
I can’t go out in sunlight. Or daylight, even. It burns my skin.

JESUS
That doesn’t sound like a possession

DOUBTER #2
Sounds like an excuse not to do any work

VAMPIRE
There’s something else. A hunger.

Baby shrieks

JESUS
What do you hunger?

VAMPIRE
Blood

Gasps.

JESUS
(matter-of-fact)
There’s nothing I can do for you

VAMPIRE
There must be!

JESUS
I’m sorry.

VAMPIRE
But they say you can help anyone. They say you’re the greatest man who ever lived.

JESUS
You are beyond help

VAMPIRE
(desperate)
Please, I need an exorcism!

JESUS
An exorcism would be of no use here. You are not merely possessed by a demon.
(beat)
You are become a demon.

Screams from crowd. Some people begin to run away.

VAMPIRE
No, I’m not a demon! I have a family!

JESUS
(calling out to the crowd)
I’m afraid this gathering must end now. Thank you for coming. I hope to see you all again soon.

VAMPIRE
Please help me! I don’t want to be like this anymore! I just want to see my family again. Ever since...I’ve been too ashamed.

JESUS
You were bitten, yes?

VAMPIRE
Yes.

Crowd sounds fading away

JESUS
You don’t belong to God anymore. You’re...something else.

VAMPIRE
What, what am I? Who do I belong to? Who can help me?

JESUS
(pouring the tub of water over the fire)
I don't know.