Abenader [ Pilate is inside his bedroom, reading from a scroll. He is suddenly distracted by knocking at the door. As he walks to the door to open it, his wife Claudia wakes up from a nightmare. Pilate is greeted by his tribune Abenader]
Sir, there is trouble in the...
[sternly]
I thought I told you to not interrupt me in the middle of the night, Abenader!
Abenader My apologies, sir.
Abenader There is trouble brewing in the walls. Caiaphas has gathered a large crowd in the temple and he has taken a prophet under his custody.
[referring to the prophet]
Who is it?
Abenader He is a Galilean. The Pharisees seem to hate the man.
[gets up from her bed and interrupts Abenader]
A Galilean? Who is this you're talking about?
What is truth, Claudia? Do you hear it when it is spoken?
Yes, I do. You don't know it?
[bluntly]
If you do not want to hear it, no one will tell you.
Truth? You want to know my truth, Claudia? I've been putting down rebellions in this rotten outpost for eleven years. If I don't condemn this man, I know that Caiaphas will start a rebellion. If I do, then this man's followers may. Either way, there will be bloodshed. [grows agitated] Caesar has warned me, Claudia, he has warned me twice! He swore that next time, the blood would be mine! That is my truth, Claudia!
Abenader [They are interrupted by Abenader barging in]
Sir, Herod did not condemn the Galilean and he has returned him to you. We are also going to need more men.
I don't want to start an uprising, Abenader.
Abenader There is already an uprising.
[Hours have passed and the skies start darkening. The crowd and the Pharisees leave while Mary, Magdalene, and John are left behind. They pass through the guards and approach Jesus, crying] [struggles to speak]
I... thirst.
M Mary
[A sympathetic Roman guard takes a sponge from a bucket, it is soaked in vinegar. He has his fellow guard impale it on a spear and he gives the sponge to Jesus who drinks from it] [looks at Jesus with tears in her eyes]
Flesh of my flesh, heart of my heart. My son, let me die with you.
[to Mary]
Mother... Behold... your son! [turns to John] Son, behold... your mother! [John tearfully nods, assuring him his mother will be safe]
Gesmas [noticing everyone has gone and he glares at Jesus]
There is no one left! They have abandoned you, Jesus!
[with all his strength]
ELOI! ELOI! Lama Sabacthani! [turns to his friends and mother below him, softly] It is finished. [turns his head to the sky] Father... Into your hands... I give you... my spirit... [Jesus dies]
Abenader [A single raindrop, resembling a tear, drops from the heavens, triggering a powerful earthquake that shakes the whole city and damages the temple. The Roman guards guarding Jesus and the crucified criminals are ordered by Abenader to break their legs. Cassius, the sympathetic Roman guard, could not break Jesus's leg]
Cassius! Come on, do it!
Cassius [dropping his hammer]
He's dead!
Abenader [tosses his spear to him]
Make sure!
[Cassius reluctantly complies. He pierces Jesus's corpse and blood sprays out of it. Cassius's face is sprayed all over, causing him to fall to the ground, dumbstruck. Abenader and the other Roman guards are shocked, finally realizing what they have done to Jesus]
