ACT III

FADE IN:

12. CARAVAN

Darren and Amanda are looking at each other intensely.

Don't incur their wrath AND Eli's for disobeying Him... PLEASE.

So I have to fear His anger if I get angry? That doesn't make any sense... I have to fight back, Amanda. I can't take this anymore.

Darren pulls himself to his feet. His fellow Elijans look at him.

We must fight back.

Amanda stands. We can see now that she's pregnant, perhaps in her sixth month.

Darren...

Blasphemer.

Maybe I am, but I'd rather die protecting my family than watch them die because I did nothing.

Eli's not coming to save us... we're too small for him to worry about. We can only save ourselves.

No! Eli will help up if we have faith. Eve said so.

Look at Eve now! Unconscious because of their brutality... Eli sure helped the Giver of His Word! Protected her from harm! Oh, I feel SO much better. NOW is the time to act!

Several of the Elijians stand and shout at Darren. The argumentative Elijian stands.

Will you listen to what you're saying?!

CUT TO

13. ANGLE ON DARIUS

Darius smiles. Gregor looks at him..

Shouldn't we do something?

No... Let them argue. It will get them nowhere. If it continues, the soldiers will handle it. Stop worrying so much.

CUT TO

14. ANGLE ON CAGE

Do you realize what you're saying, Darren?

Yes, I do!

This is against Eli's Will! You are profaning his Way!

If you were Eve, I'd be more inclined to listen... But you're NOT the Mouthpiece of Eli.

He makes eye contact with all of the Elijians, then steps into the middle of the cage and sits. Everyone around him moves away, and then he is surrounded by several supporters, both men and women. They begin to talk quietly.

DISSOLVE TO:

15. EVE'S DREAMSCAPE - DESERT

Good Callisto moves the chair to behind Eve and Livia pushes her down into it with her index finger.

Okay, that's not good.

Give her a moment, Livia.

Evil Callisto circles around behind Eve.

I can't do this... I can't fight back.

You can still have faith in Eli...

I wouldn't be able to. I would be a hypocrite... A two-faced liar if I took up the sword while preaching non-violence. I must lead by example.

From your grave?!

Eve drops her head into her hands and covers her eyes.

I can't!! I can't!

Suddenly, the light shifts and there is absolute silence. When Eve lifts her head, and we pull back, all is dark.

Callisto? Livia?

A decomposing hand comes up from behind her and grasps her shoulder, spinning her around. The hand belongs to a rotting corpse.

Do you know who I am?

No... Of course you don't. You wouldn't even remember the region my village was in... was, at least, until you and your army came through and razed it.

Another arm from behind her, except this one grabs her hand.

Eve yanks it away.

I begged for mercy, but you had none... and there was no one there to help us.

Eve backs into another corpse. Soon, they melt into view from the darkness, each with wounds of varying number and severity.

You trapped me in a burning house when I stood up to you... all because you were going to take my wife and daughter to a slave market. You taunted me as the house burned, saying that they were going to fetch a pretty dinar because they were still young...

The corpses crowd her, telling her what she did to them. She falls to her knees, crying and clutching her ears to drown out their voices. Suddenly, they all stop and the only sound that can be heard is Eve.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry...

Do you think that saying "I'm sorry" will heal all of the damage you've done?

We know you're sorry, Eve. The dead can hear the thoughts of the living.

The time for penance has passed. You must now fight for the future with the knowledge that we have forgiven you.

We forgave you long ago... It's up to you to forgive yourself.

The corpses walk backwards and melt into the darkness. Soon thereafter, the Callistos and Livia appear and walk towards her.

Eve stands and wipes her eyes. Her head is held high as she nods slightly.

What do I have to do?

Watch.

Suddenly, the scene around Eve changes to a far off land. The action around her is sped up and looks like a dust devil is swirling through.

Judea... save Him.

The vision then shows a man with kind, otherworldly blue eyes and sun-darkened skin. The vision fast forwards through many events: a stoning, a crucifixion, and blinding light.

Eli?!

The vision pulls away and to a far off pin prick of light in the far side of limbo from Eve before it goes out. Very gradually, as if waking to consciousness, the scene around her changes to the desert and the cage that she's in.

It will be hard.

Evil Callisto walks into Eve and becomes one with her.

But, we'll see it through.

Good Callisto follows, merging with Eve.

Together.

Livia smirks and then she, too, merges with Eve. Calm, and with a renewed sense of purpose in grimly determined eyes, Eve rejoins her body on the floor of the cage.

CUT TO:

16. CARAVAN

Darren and his co-conspirators stand and grab onto the bars of the cage, shaking it hard. The horses pulling the cage get scared, but their masters keep a hold of them and stop the cage.

Darius nods to Gregor, who falls back and dismounts. Darius trots ahead slightly, then turns.

Company halt!

As one, the Romans stop. Darius looks at Darren.

Empty the cage.

The door opens and Romans invade the cage to pull the Elijans out. Darren and his coconspirators fight back, but they're unsuccessful. They are all dragged out of the cage, except for Eve, who lays motionless on the floor. Romans toss two Elijans out into the arms of other Elijans, then jump out of the cage themselves.

Her, too.

Two Romans reach in and grasp Eve's arms and drag her unceremoniously out of the cage, plopping her onto the ground in front of the Elijans.

Darius kneels to look at her a little more closely.

Looks dead to me...

Darius looks up at Darren and his friends.

Where is Eli now? Where has your faith in Him gotten you? Only into more trouble than before.

Separate the faithful from the blasphemers.

The soldiers descend on the Elijans and separate them, dragging men from their rebellious wives and children from their parents.

Darius then nods and the soldiers start to beat down the faithful, excluding the children, who decide to fight back by slapping, biting and kicking the armored Romans. The rebels are held back, but not brutalized.

The soldiers push the kids away, but don't hit them.

The rebellious Elijans try to look away, but the soldiers who are holding them back force them to watch. Babies cry and bury their heads in any available person.

Darius then stands, kicks Eve in the face and walks away. As blood trickles from the corner of her mouth, her eyes snap open.

FADE TO BLACK:

END ACT III

ACT IV