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| AC-11 "EYEWITNESS NEWS: CHRISTMAS"
Excerpt From the Beginning The lights come up and the Anchorman, Weather Forecaster, and Sports Director are seated at the desk. Music is played in the background, and the announcer's voice can be heard. Announcer: This is your 11:00 P.M. Eyewitness News for December 24, 07 BC. Tonight's stories will include the Roman Taxation Plan and its resulting controversy, and a stern warning given terrorists by the Governor that lethal counterattacks are inevitable. In sports, the Corinthian Games continue. On the home front, Winter Solstice revelers look forward to a New Year; and it looks like a mild night for weather here in Jerusalem. And now, John Roberts with the news. Roberts: Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Our lead story tonight concerns the logistical problems created by Emperor Augustus Caesar's new taxation plan. Not only are people angry over the injustice of the tax, but men, women, and children everywhere have been uprooted and ordered to return to the towns of their origin of birth. This mass exodus of people has created a logistical nightmare for tax collectors, road crews, the hotel/motel industry, and restaurants all over the Empire and particularly here in Judea. For a closer look at what's going on, let's go to Linda Henderson just outside of Jerusalem. Linda? (She appears in the big screen T. V.) Henderson: Good evening, John, and you are absolutely correct. The road between Jerusalem and Bethlehem has seen nothing but roadside-to-roadside traffic for the past few days. People walking or riding donkeys and camels have literally clogged up this major artery. I have here with me this evening Saul and Martha David. (They step into the picture.) Saul, where have you and your wife come from? Saul: From up north just west of Cana. Henderson: That's quite a long trip. What have the traveling conditions been like? Martha: Dreadful. It's stop and go, stop and go. The timing of the taxation couldn't have been any worse. Henderson: What do you mean? Saul: I'll tell you what she means. No one in his right mind would call for taxation of the country during the holiday season. Rooms in hotels and motels are almost impossible to find. The roads are ordinarily packed with people who are coming down south for the holidays, Chanukah and the Winter Solstice. And then they make travel even worse with this taxation decree. Henderson: Please explain for our viewers why this taxation has been such a hardship. Martha: Every man has to return to the town of his birth to pay the tax. Unfortunately, my husband was born down here, but we live up north. So, Caesar commands and we jump. (She throws her hands heavenward.) Oy veh. What a mess! Henderson: Do you folks have a place already booked for the night? Saul: No, it's strictly first come, first served. Sorry, we've got to get moving before all the rooms are gone. (They exit.) Excerpt From the Middle Party Person 2: And the Governor's Party is the best place anywhere to blow off steam. Thompson: Yes, but after the party is over, you've go to go back to the reality of everyday life. Even though the days get longer and Spring and Summer come, the cycle will start all over again next Fall. Party Person 3: Hey! Don't rain on our parade. Even if the celebration is only for a day, it still helps. Party Person 4: And even if our hope is a false one, it's still something to believe in. Party Person 2: Enough talk, it's time to Pahh-h-h--ty! (They all begin to blow their noise makers and head off the screen.) Thompson: There you have it, John. All over the city people are celebrating in many different ways. This is Corky Thompson from the Jerusalem Marriot wishing all of you a Happy Holiday. Roberts: Thank you, Corky. Ladies and gentlemen, we been handed a bulletin on a late-breaking story. We have live remotes in several places ready to bring this story to you now. Please don't worry, the Tonight Show will be shown in its entirety after the news. Earlier in our broadcast Tina talked about the great light in the night skies. Well, she has just received an update from our correspondent, Tiffany James. Tina, what's going on. Davis: Earlier, Tiffany was telling us about the star that was moving through the sky, and she did an interview with three wise men from other parts of the world. Well, just after we cut away from her, the star stopped moving and hovered over the town of Bethlehem. Let's go to Tiffany now. James: Thank you, Tina. As you said, just after I finished our live remote earlier this evening, the star stopped directly over the small town of Bethlehem. It was at that moment that the wise men felt that the end of their journey was in sight. They took off in great haste, telling me that they were on the way to worship the new born King of the Jews. Davis: Tiffany, just how sure were they? James: Tina, they were certain that what the heavens foretold was now accomplished. Roberts: This is John, Tiffany. Will you refresh our memories once again on the beliefs of those wise men and the fulfillment of those prophecies? James: Well, John, the wise men said that the merger of the two stars, Jupiter and Saturn, was an indicator that the prophecies concerning the coming Messiah, the King of the Jews, was imminent. They quoted from the Word of God about these prophecies, and when the star began to move they were sure that this was a sign from God. When the star stopped moving earlier this evening, the wise men were almost beside themselves with joy and happiness. They mounted their camels and headed for Bethlehem. Davis: Have you noticed anything else while you were out there? James: Call it coincidental, strange, funny, or whatever. But just after the wise men left, I could swear that I could hear singing coming from the hills just outside of Bethlehem. When I fed that information to our news director, he laughed, but sent a crew out there just in case. That's about it from here. Davis: Thanks, Tiffany. Well, there you have it, John. Excerpt From the End Hampton: High rollers. Three of them. Brought nice gifts, then they left. But it was funny. Richards: What was funny? Hampton: Now, I'm not a priest, mind you, but they all had the same look about them. A kind of a holy look. Like they made a pilgrimage to some holy place, or seen God, or got a glimpse of heaven. They came in here looking nervous, worried or something, but they all left with a look of, uh, uh peace. Yeah, peace, I guess. Richards: Well, thank you. And now, Steve, we're going in there to see-- Hampton: No you ain't! Richards: Ain't-- I mean, I'm not? Hampton: No, you ain't. Richards: Why not? Hampton: Hey, cut the kids a break! They're tired. Everybody and their brother been there tonight. Leave them alone. Richards: But it's the public's right to know. Hampton: (He raises his fist.) And this is my right to stop you. Richards: But-- Hampton: Look, I'll tell you what. No cameras, no microphone, nothing. You go in there, you go in alone. You take a look around. You bow down, you say a prayer, and then you come out. Got it? Richards: But-- Hampton: Do I look like I gotta sign on my back says "Fool"? Now, you go in alone, end of story. Got it? Richards: I got it. Hampton: But you better be ready. Richards: Ready for what? Hampton: To be different. Everybody that's gone in there tonight has come out different. Richards: Have you been in there? Hampton: Oh yeah. Richards: Did you come out different? Hampton: Yeah, you know, I used to be kind of blunt and unpleasant and rude, but not no more. This family, this kid, they're something special, believe me. Right from God. I'd bet my life on it! (Both men step to the side for a moment and our focus is on the holy family. The choir and congregation sing "Silent Night." Then both men walk toward the holy family as the lights go down on the nativity scene.) Roberts: Well, ladies and gentlemen, I guess there is nothing left to report here. We have brought an amazing story to you this evening. Coincidence or the hand of God? Accident or Miracle? Happenstance or part of the Divine Plan? The cynic will scoff. The believer will never doubt. We report the news, (He pauses.) and you decide. On behalf of everyone here at Eyewitness News, good night and good news. (The lights fade out.) Click Here to Order or Contact Us
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