Excerpt from the Beginning
Nicodemus: I'm going out there.

Simonson: Out where?

Nicodemus: To where he is being murdered.

Simonson: You mean, executed.

Nicodemus: No, what the Sanhedrin has done here today is murder, pure and simple. May God have mercy on our souls. (He leaves.) Well, John, there you have it. This is Leslie Simonson from the steps of the Sanhedrin. (She exits.)

Roberts: Thank you, Leslie. Ladies and gentlemen, we are now going to our reporter, James Stephenson who has an exclusive interview with King Herod. Jim, are you there? (Stephenson and Herod appear in the screen.)

Stephenson: Yes, John, I am here, and as you said, I have with me the King of Judea. Your Majesty, thank you for being with us this evening.

Herod: It is always my pleasure to meet with the working press.

Stephenson: It is now common knowledge that several hours ago you actually interrogated Jesus of Nazareth. Is that true?

Herod: Yes, I did talk to him a while ago.

Stephenson: Can you tell us how that came to be?

Herod: This fellow had been questioned by the Governor of Judea, and when Pilate could find no charges against him, he turned Jesus over to me to see if he had violated any laws of the Galilean province from which he came.

Stephenson: As you questioned him, did you discover anything at all that would lead you to believe he was guilty of any crime?

Herod: Good heavens no! He was, for the most part, very quiet. (Indicating his mind.) I wondered if the old boy was all there, you know?

Stephenson: Do you think he might have been mentally unstable?

Herod: Well, he was peculiar. Actually, I had already heard so much about him. You know, water into wine, healing cripples, feeding thousands, raising the dead.

Stephenson: Did you believe the reports that you heard concerning his alleged miracles?

Herod: Yes, and alleged is all that they were, too. I gave him every chance to do some miracle for me. Nothing big, just any little miracle, and I would have set him free in a heart beat. I gave him water, but no wine. Gave him rocks-- no bread. Took him to the reflecting pond, but would he walk across it? Nooooo! He was a phony. He was definitely not who he claimed to be.

Stephenson: Then what did you do?

Herod: I sent him back to Pilate and reaffirmed the fact that his man was guilty of nothing. Delusional maybe, but a criminal? No way. Sorry, but I must run. I tee off in less than fifteen minutes. Must get back before the Passover starts, you know. Got to keep the religious crowd happy. (He exits.)

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Excerpt from the End
Richards: Where will that burial be?

Joseph: It will be in a burial tomb that I just purchased for my family and me. But he will be the first one laid to rest there. If I could not spend more time with him in this life, I will at least get to rest with him through all eternity. This is a very dark day in the history of the world. (Shaking his head sadly) Such injustice. Such violence. (He walks away.)

Richards: As you can see, John, Joseph is deeply effected by the death of Jesus.

Roberts: Ordinarily it takes years and years for one person to build up such loyalty, but Jesus certainly seemed to do it in a relatively short period of time.

Richards: That says something about his charisma and his message.

Towne: If I may interrupt once again. I know Joseph. He is an honorable man, a man above reproach. He is a Pharisee and a wealthy man. If one looks again at Isaiah, you will read, "And his grave was made with the rich."

Roberts: Dr. Towne, are you telling us that Jesus is, uh, was the fulfillment of the prophecies of Isaiah?

Towne: I am saying that this is all much more than mere coincidence.

Richards: Excuse me, Dr. Towne, but I have the Captain of the Roman Squad who conducted the execution right here. (Man in uniform steps into the picture.) Your name please?

Galieo: Captain Marcellus Galieo.

Richards. Do you have any thoughts that you would like to share with us this afternoon?

Galieo: I've seen a lot of men die. They usually cry out for the mothers, or curse their enemies, or beg for mercy, or curse God. But this man, well he was different. The most courageous man I have ever met. Actually asked God to forgive his enemies. Can you imagine that?

Richards: No, I can't. Well, Captain, what can you say about Jesus, the man you just executed?

Galieo: There is no doubt in my mind. He is the Son of God. (He walks off.)

Richards: They are taking the body down as we speak, John. The sky is turning black, and I expect a major storm is brewing. I'm going to turn this back over to you and head for cover. This is Steve Richards, from Calvary.

Roberts: Thank you, Steve. Well, Dr. Towne, I guess there is not much more to report. Any final thoughts to share with us?

Towne: You must excuse me as I keep referring to the prophet Isaiah. But when that Captain, a gentile, said Jesus was the Son of God, it made me think of that passage in Isaiah where the prophet says, "The Messiah will be a light to all the nations...."

Roberts: Are you telling us that you believe that Jesus is the Messiah?

Towne: (He chuckles.) John, I will let you and everyone watching this telecast answer that question for himself.

Roberts: Thank you, Dr. Towne. And now for everyone here at Channel KROS Eyewitness News, we wish you a good evening. (The lights fade out.)

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