“The martyrdom of St. genesis”

 “The Martyrdom of St. Genesis”

By

ALI BURDEN

Fade In:

The performance

CAMERA ZOOMS OVER EXT TERRAIN, THEN RAISING UP OVER THE WALL OF THE THEATRE TO PAN OVER A HUGE CROWD IN AN AMPHITHEATER; 

FX OF CHEERING, ROARING, ETC; SHOULD BE ABOUT EVENING. CAMERA CONTINUES TO PAN, DOWN ONTO THE STAGE, PAST PLAINLY-DRESSED PEOPLE RUSHING ABOUT, GETTING READY FOR THE PERFORMANCE. MAINTAIN CONTINUOUS SHOT, MOVING BACKSTAGE TO WHERE GENESIS AND OTHER ACTORS ARE GETTING READY. SETTLE ON MEDIUM SHOT OF GENESIS AND ANOTHER ACTOR, DRESSING.

GENESIS:

THIS IS IT. ARE YOU READY?

ACTOR 1-dramatically;

BUT OF COURSE! I SIMPLY LIVE FOR THE THE-A-TRE!

GENESIS-LAUGHS;

I CAN TELL

ACTOR 1;-NORMAL TONE

BUT IN ALL HONESTY...THIS IS, TRULY, A WORK OF ART. I’M HAPPY TO BE A PART OF IT.

GENESIS;

AND I’M LUCKY TO HAVE YOUR SKILLS TONIGHT. DID YOU SEE WHO IS OUT THERE?

/SMASH CUT TO A MED. SHOT OF A CURTAIN; BOTH GENESIS AND ACTOR 1 WHIP BACK ONE HALF OF THE CURTAIN AND LOOK OUT. /SMASH CUT TO A WEALTHY LOOKING MAN SURROUNDED BY A WELL-DRESSED COURT. WHILE EVERYONE AROUND HIM IS TALKING AND LAUGHING, HE’S SITTING STOICALLY.

/SFX: GENESIS VOICE SAYING;

 “DIOCLETIAN HIMSELF HAS GRACED OUT LITTLE SHOW.” 

/SMASH CUT BACK TO MED. SHOT OF GENESIS AND ACTOR 1, WHO SHUT THE CURTAINS. 

/SMASH CUT TO MED ANGLE SHOT OF THEM BACKSTAGE; ACTOR 1 LOOKS A BIT SHAKEN.

ACTOR 1;

BEST RALLY THE TROOPS THEN...

ACTOR 1; TURNS TO LEAVE, 

/SMASH TO MED. SHOT OF GENESIS.

GENESIS-CALLING AFTER HIM;

YOU WAIT AND SEE. IT’LL BE FINE! WHAT’S NOT TO LOVE?

/SMASH CUT TO PANNING SHOT OF THE STAGE; SFX: GRAND TRUMPETS AND DRUMS AS THE CROWD GROWS LOUDER. 

/SMASH CUT TO REAR SHOT OF GENESIS, IN COSTUME, AS THE CURTAINS OPEN BEFORE HIM, REVEALING THE HUGE CROWD—CAMERA SHOULD FOLLOW AS HE WALKS OUT ON STAGE. HE RAISES A HAND AND THE AUDIENCE FALLS SILENT. 

/SMASH CUT TO A SLOW PANNING SHOT FROM AUDIENCE POV.

GENESIS;

TONIGHT I OFFER TO YOU, MY FRIENDS, THE TALE OF CHRISTIAN SACRAMENTS...THROUGH THE EYES OF WE SANE FOLK.

/SFX LAUGHTER

GENESIS-SMIRKING

I AM VERY PROUD TO PRESENT...THE BAPTISM.

/SFX CHEERING, SMASH CUT TO WIDE AS GENESIS TURNS AND WALKS BACKSTAGE. SECONDS LATER, THE CURTAIN FLIES UP, AND A BATTERED-LOOING GENESIS SHOULD STUMBLE BACK OUT ONTO STAGE. FOLLOW NATURALLY WITH CAMERA; 

/note: DURING THIS SCENE, TO MAKE IT LONGER IF NECESSARY, SONG/AD-LIB SHOULD BE ADDED.

GENESIS-LOUDLY

WOE BE UNTO ME AGAIN AND AGAIN! FOR DISEASE HAS STRUCK ME TO THE BONE! MIGHT I FIND AID FROM MY FRIENDS? THAT THEY MAY RETURN ME HOME?

GENESIS THEN FALLS ON THE STAGE

/—ACTORS SHOULD SWARM HIM, PICKING HIM UP, COMICALLY AD-LIBBING HOW TO HEAL HIM.

ACTOR 1

AN ELIXER I HAVE FOR THEE! IT WILL RESCUE YOUR WANING SOUL!

ACTOR 1 

SHOULD THEATRICALLY FEED GENESIS A LIQUID—

GENESIS THEN SITS UP AND SPITS IT OUT IN A COMIC SPIT-TAKE.

GENESIS

GAH! IF DEATH DIDN’T WANT ME BEFORE, HE IS NOW CLOSING IN! THERE IS A PARADISE THAT I WISH FOR—FETCH ME A HOLY MAN WHO MIGHT PARDON MY SIN!

/A COMICALLY PAINTED UP AND ELABORATELY DRESSED PRIEST, OBVIOUSLY GAY, SHOULD PRANCE ONSTAGE, TWIRLING AND SINGING WITH A SILVER VESSEL OF HOLY WATER; 

/HE SLOSHES IT ABOUT ONTO THE STAGE AS HE SINGS. 

/STAGE HANDS IN THE BG PUSH PROPS TO RESEMBLE A CHURCH/BAPTISMAL ONSTAGE.

PRIEST;

YOU WISH TO SEE THE FACE OF GOD YOU SAY? YOU WISH TO ABSOLVE YOUR DEBAUCHERIES?

I CAN PARDON YOU THIS DAY,

AND MAKE YOU POSITIVELY...

/SMASH CUT TO CLOSE ON PRIEST, 

/WHO SHOULD THEN BLOW A KISS AT THE AUDIENCE AND WINK)...HEAVENLY.

/SFX: LAUGHTER. QUICK INSERT SHOT OF EMPEROR CHUCKLING.

PRIEST;

I CLEANSE YOU NOW MY CHILD!

/SMASH CUT CLOSE ON THE SILVER VESSEL, RAISED HIGH ABOVE THE PRIEST’S HEAD; 

/HALF SPEED AS WATER POURS OUT, GLINTING IN THE SUNLIGHT. 

/SMASH CUT TO GENESIS, LAYING IN HIS FRIEND’S LAP AS THE WATER HITS HIS FACE. 

/SFX: SOME MYSTICAL SOUNDING MUSIC OVER THE QUIETED LAUGHTER OF THE CROWD. 

/OTHER ACTORS SHOULD BE CHANTING/SINGING SOME BLASPHEMOUS DIDDY OR SOME SUCH. AFTER BEING DOUSED, 

/SMASH CUT TO ANGLE CLOSE ON GENESIS’ EYES—THEY OPEN IN UNISON WITH A DRUM-LIKE SFX.

ACTOR 1

AND SO IT IS, BY THIS INVISIBLE MAGIC, OUR FRIEND IS SAVED! AND EVER SO SLIGHTLY... MOISTENED...

/SMASH CUT TO WIDE SHOT AS GENESIS IS PULLED TO HIS FEET AND WRAPPED IN SEVERAL YARDS OF WHITE FABRIC UNTIL HE’S COMPLETELY ENVELOPED LIKE A FAT BURRITO.

ACTORS;

OH WE BLESS THE NAME OF THE LORD OF STRIFE...

PRIEST-INTERJECTING TO CORRECT THEM

LIFE!

ACTORS;

WHO TAKES NOW OUR FRIEND INTO HIS BOSOM...

PRIEST

KINGDOM!

ACTORS;

AND IN THE ARMS OF HIS SAVIOR, HE SHALL NEVER FLY...

PRIEST;

DIE!

/SIMILAR WORDPLAY UNTIL FINALLY GENESIS IS PUSHED FORWARD, AND THE CROWD IS CRACKING UP; 

/SMASH CUT TO GENESIS’ FACE (MOSTLY OBSCURED WITH THE FABRIC, INSERT FOCUS SHOT INDICATING THAT HE LOOKED UP AT THE EMPEROR, WHO WAS LAUGHING UNCONTROLLABLY, TEARS STREAMING DOWN HIS FACE.

GENESIS;

WAIT! WAIT...

/SMASH CUT TO THE ACTORS, WHO FALL SILENT, PUZZLED. 

/SMASH CUT TO THE CROWD, WHO BEGIN MURMURING AND LOOKING TO EACH OTHER. 

/SMASH CUT BACK TO GENESIS, WHO BEGINS SQUIRMING HIS WAY OUT OF HIS BURRITO. 

/INSERT SHOT OF THE FLOOR AT HIS FEET, WHERE THE PILE OF WHITE FABRIC FALLS. 

/SMASH CUT BACK TO MED. ANGLE ON GENESIS, PANNING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT SLOWLY AS HE CONSIDERS WHAT HE’S ABOUT TO DO.

GENESIS-LOOKING DETERMINED BUT NERVOUS.

I’VE DONE WRONG. IN ALL OF THIS I AM UTTERLY MISTAKEN...

/SFX: GASPS

GENSIS;

THERE IS A CHANGE INSIDE ME I DID NOT FORSEE...WHEN BLIND I WROTE THIS MOCKERY...AND NOW IN SIGHT I KNOW... WE RIDICULE A GREAT KING.

GENESIS BECOMES MORE EMOTIONAL AT THIS POINT, PERHAPS TEARS STREAMING DOWN HIS FACE?

GENESIS-EMOTIONAL

THERE WAS AN ANGEL...AND AS THE HEAVENS OPENED I SAW IN THE HANDS OF THE ANGEL...A BOOK. ON THOSE PAGES EVERY WRONG I’D DONE WAS WRITTEN...WHEN THE CLEANSING WATERS TOUCHED ME...THE PAGES BECAME CLEAN. I TOO...AM CLEAN.

/SMASH CUT TO THE EMPEROR, WHO RISES TO HIS FEET, GLOWERING DOWN AT GENESIS; 

/SMASH CUT TO GENESIS, LOOKING BACK AT HIM.

GENESIS;

MY FORGIVENESS COMES FROM GOD, AND HIS SON, THE CHRIST JESUS. I CAN NOT RIGHTLY GO ON LIKE THIS. NOT WHEN I’VE RECEIVED FORGIVENESS I’VE NEVER BEFORE KNOWN... SHOULD I BE PUT TO DEATH...IT WILL BE AS A FREE CHRISTIAN MAN.

/SMASH CUT TO THE ACTORS, GLANCING AT ONE ANOTHER;

 /ACTOR 1 SHOULD STAND, GAZING SADLY AT GENESIS. 

/SMASH CUT THEN TO THE EMPEROR.

EMPEROR;

I AM DISAPPOINTED IN YOU, GENESIS. A MAN OF TALENT SUCH AS YOURSELF...NOW LOST TO US ALL. SEIZE HIM.

/SMASH CUT TO SIDE SHOT; GENESIS LOOKS LEFT, AND WE FOLLOW HIS GAZE TO SEE OFFICIALS AND GUARDS RUSHING THE STAGE; 

/SMASH CUT TO MED. ANGLE; GENESIS STARES DEFIANTLY UP AT THE EMPEROR AS HE’S GRABBED BY GUARDS. FOCUS SHOT ON EMPEROR AS HE SPEAKS.

EMPEROR;

SEE FOR YOURSELVES, PEOPLE, WHAT SHALL BEFALL YOU WHEN YOU TURN TRAITOR TO YOUR KIND.

WITH A WAVE OF HIS HAND, THE EMPEROR RETURNS TO HIS SEAT. 

/THE GUARDS SHOVE GENESIS ONTO THE STAGE; 

/SMASH CUT TO AERIAL AS HIS CLOTHES ARE TORN FROM HIM, PANNING DOWN TO A GROUND-LEVEL SHOT. 

/GUARDS BEGIN BEATING HIM.

/SMASH CUT TO INT. JAIL CELL (EVERYTHING SHOULD LOOK BLUE/GRAY, LIGHTING). 

/LOOKING FROM THE FLOOR UP TOWARD THE DOOR. 

/GENESIS IS TOSSED INSIDE; DOOR IS SLAMMED SHUT BEHIDN HIM. 

/HE SIGHS, PRESSES A HAND TO HIS FACE AND WINCES, FINDING A CUT ON HIS FOREHEAD. 

/SMASH CUT TO REAR SHOT-MOONLIGHT STREAMING THROUGH THE BARRED WINDOWS ILLUMINATES HIS SHREDDED BACK; 

/GENESIS RISES TO HIS FEET; BODY LANGUAGE SHOULD PORTRAY FEAR. HE GAZES UP OUT THE BARRED WINDOW AT THE SKY.

/SMASH CUT TO EMPTY HALL BETWEEN THE CELLS; SCENE FADES TO BLACK AS THE CAMERA PULLS BACK.

/THE PUNISHMENT

SCENE CUTS IN, FOLLOWING PLAUTIAN THROUGH THE STREETS—THERE’S A LOT OF SOUND HERE, VENDORS TRYING TO SELL THEIR WARES, ETC. HE PUSHES THROUGH A WOODEN DOOR. 

/SMASH CUT TO GENESIS’ POV FROM HIS CELL AS PLAUTIAN COMES OVER AND EMPTIES A BUCKET OF WATER ONTO GENESIS, WAKING HIM UP. 

/SMASH CUT TO ABOVE SHOT AS THE WATER HITS HIM; HE SHIVERS AND SPUTTERS.

PLAUTIAN;

UP. NOW.

GENESIS;

(AD LIB SOMETHING—HE’S CONFUSED, NAKED, COLD, SORE AND NOW DEALING WITH THIS NEW PERSON. SOMETHING LIKE “WHAT’S GOING ON?” OR SOME SUCH.)

/SMASH CUT TO SHOT LOOKING UP AT PLAUTIAN, TO MAKE HIM LOOK LARGE AND MENACING.

PLAUTIAN;

I AM PLAUTIAN. PREFECT, FAITHFUL SERVANT OF EMPEROR DIOCLETIAN. HE HAS CHARGED ME TO CARRY OUT YOUR PUNISHMENT.

GENESIS;

PUNISHMENT...?

PLAUTIAN;

UNTIL SUCH A TIME AS YOU CHOOSE TO RENOUNCE YOUR NEW FAITH AND MAKE SACRIFICES OF REPENTANCE TO OUR GODS ONCE MORE, YOU ARE TO BE CORRECTED.

GENESIS;

YOUR EMPEROR IS BUT MORTAL MAN...WHOEVER DESIRES THE FAVOR OF SUCH, LET HIM SEEK IT. DO THEN THE BIDDING OF YOUR MASTER.

/INSERT MONTAGE, OUTLINING THE TORTURES GENESIS IS SUBJECTED TO; 

/FOCUS ON PLAUTIAN, WATCHING GENESIS WHO NEVER YIELDS. FINALLY, 

/DAYS LATER, PLAUTIAN COMES TO GENESIS EARLY IN THE MORNING. 

/CAMERA FOLLOWS THE CONVERSATION IN WHATEVER WAYS FEEL MOST NATURAL. GENESIS SHOULD BE SITTING WITH HIS BACK RESTING AGAINST THE CELL WALL.

PLAUTIAN;

WHY. WHY DO YOU NOT YIELD?

GENESIS-WITH A SHRUG.;

BECAUSE I CANNOT.

PLAUTIAN;

YOUR SUFFERING COULD ALL BE BEHIND YOU. YOU COULD RETURN TO YOUR HOME. YET YOU CHOOSE TO REMAIN HERE BENEATH OUR LASH. WHY? WHY NOT BEND TO THE WILL OF YOUR KING AND GET YOUR LIFE BACK.

GENESIS-QUIETLY, PATIENTLY;

HE WHO RECEIVED ME IN HOLY BAPTISM IS THE ONE TRUE KING. IT IS TO HIM I PRAY, THE IMMORTAL RULER OF HEAVEN.

PLAUTIAN;

BUT UNTIL JUST DAYS AGO, YOU MOCKED THAT KING.

GENESIS-NODDING SLOWLY;

I DID. I DID, AND DAY AND NIGHTS I FEEL NOTHING BUT SHAME FOR MY WORDS. I REPENT OF HAVING SO OFTEN...SO CARELESSLY... DERIDED AND OFFENDED HIM, THIS ONE TRUE MASTER OF MY FATE. YOUR EMPEROR DIOCLETIAN, WHOSE REIGN IS COMING TO AN END, AND WHO WILL SOON BECOME AS NAUGHT...HE DOES NOT DESERVE MY OBEDIENCE. AND I WILL NOT GIVE IT TO HIM.

PLAUTIAN-PLEADING;, GRABS THE BARS

YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS, DON’T YOU? YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT IS COMING...?

GENESIS-STRONGER;

TORTURE ME AS MUCH AS YOU LIKE. PUT ME UPON THE RACK AND BEAT AND BURN ME AS YOU PLEASE. I WILL NOT YIELD TO YOU. I WILL NOT FORSAKE MY GOD. IF YOU HAD THE POWER TO KILL ME A HUNDRED TIMES OVER, AND A HUNDRED TIMES AGAIN, STILL WOULD YOU NEVER BE ABLE TO TAKE MY GOD FROM MY HEART OR HIS WORDS FROM MY MOUTH.

/SMASH CUT TO PLAUTIAN, WHO GETS UP QUICKLY AND TURNS, DEPARTING. 

/SMASH CUT TO SIDE SHOT OF GENESIS, WHO RESTS HIS HEAD BACK AGAINST THE CELL WALL. 

/SMASH CUT TO INT. THRONE ROOM—PLAUTIAN STANDS BEFORE DIOCLETIAN, WHO LOOOKS LIVID.

EMPEROR;

HE SAID THESE THINGS?

/SMASH CUT TO PLAUTIAN, HANDS CLASPED IN FRONT OF HIM.

PLAUTIAN;

YES, MY LORD. HE IS OF STRONG SOUL...HE WILL NEVER YIELD.

/SMASH CUT BACK TO THE EMPEROR, FROM A LOW ANGLE TO MAKE HIM LOOK TALL, IMPOSING. EMPEROR PAUSES A MOMENT, CONSIDERING HIS OPTIONS.

EMPEROR;

THEN THERE IS ONLY ONE PATH FOR GENESIS. BEHEAD HIM AT DAWN. SHOW HIM WHO THE MASTER OF HIS FATE TRULY IS.

PLAUTIAN;

OF COURSE, MY KING.

/SMASH CUT TO A BRIGHT SUNRISE—PANNING FROM RIGHT TO LEFT, STOPPING ON A CLOSE UP OF GENESIS’ FACE, GAZING INTO THE LIGHT, WHICH SHOULD BE WARM AND GOLDEN. 

/SMASH CUT TO ANGLED WIDE SHOT AS HE’S FORCED TO HIS KNEES AND PLACED AT THE BLOCK. THERE’S A SMALL CROWD AROUND, WATCHING. PULL FOCUS TO ONE MAN IN PARTICULAR TOWARD THE REAR OF THE CROWD.

/SFX OF WHATEVER A DECAPITATION SOUNDS LIKE—THE MAN’S EYES NARROW.

/SMASH CUT TO A MONTAGE; THAT SAME MAN FURIOUSLY WRITING LETTERS, HORSES TEARING ACROSS DESERT AND PEOPLE RECIEIVING THE LETTERS. FOCUS ON ONE RECIPIENT IN PARTICULAR, READING THE LETTER AND THEN LOOKING TOWARD THE DISTANCE.

FADE TO BLACK, AND FINISH WITH WHITE TEXT EXPLANING HOW HE IS THE PATRON SAINT OF THEATRE.

END