A Annas
[looks at Jesus with contempt and disgust, but he could barely recognize him because of the scars and bruises all over his face]
Who is this man you brought to us? He's chained up like a criminal.
Temple guard He is Jesus! [pulls Jesus closer] The Nazarene troublemaker!
A Annas
You are Jesus of Nazareth?
C Caiaphas
[Jesus does not reply]
They say you are a king. Where is this kingdom of yours? From what line of kings do you descend from?
A Annas
[angrily]
Speak up!
C Caiaphas
You are just the son of some obscure carpenter, no? [the watching crowd chuckled]
A Annas
Some say you are like the prophet Elijah, but he was carried off to the heavens in a chariot!
C Caiaphas
Why won't you say something? You have been brought here as a blasphemer! What do you say to that? Defend yourself.
I have spoken openly to everyone. I have taught in the temple where we all gathered. Ask those who have heard what I have to say.
Temple Guard Is that how you address the High Priest? With arrogance? [strikes Jesus]
If I have spoken evil, tell me what evil I have said. But if not, why do you hit me?
A Annas
Yes, we will listen to those that have heard your blasphemies. Good! [sits beside Caiaphas and the other Pharisees] Let us hear them!
A1 Accuser 1
He cures the sick, with the help of devils! I have seen it. [the crowd is shocked]
A2 Accuser 2
He casts out devils, with the help of devils!
A3 Accuser 3
He calls himself the king! The King of the Jews! [the crowd begins to jeer]
A4 Accuser 4
No, he calls himself the Son of God! He said he would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days! [angrily spits at Jesus]
A5 Accuser 5
Worse! He claims he is the Bread of Life! And if we do not eat his flesh or drink his blood, we will not inherit eternal life! [the crowd throws insults on Jesus]
C Caiaphas
[stands up]
Silence! You are all under this man's spell. Either offer proof of his wrongdoing, or be quiet!
Joseph [intervening on Jesus's behalf]
This entire proceeding is an outrage! All I have heard from these "witnesses" is mindless contradiction! [the angry Pharisees proceed to kick him out, along with other Pharisees who try to defend Jesus]
C Caiaphas
[glares at Jesus]
Have you nothing to say at all? No answer to these accusations? Then, I ask you this, Jesus of Nazareth. Are you really the Messiah? Son of the living God?
[after a moment of silence, he looks at the Pharisees and the crowd]
I am. [everyone around him gasps in horror] And you will see the son of man sitting at the right hand of God, and arriving from the clouds of heaven.
C Caiaphas
[shocked]
Blasphemy! [he angrily tears his robes] You all heard him! Why bother with witnesses when he himself has blasphemed! [to the angry crowd] What is your verdict?!
C Crowd
[in unison]
DEATH!
Judas [After witnessing Jesus get beaten by the crowd, a remorseful Judas runs to the Pharisees to confront them] [to Caiaphas]
Release him! Please!
C Caiaphas
[to the Temple guard]
Let him through! He's harmless.
Judas Release him! I beg of you. [pulls out the bag of silver that was given to him] Here, take back your money, I don't need it anymore! [desperately] I have betrayed an innocent man! Please, release him!
C Caiaphas
[coldly]
If you think you have betrayed an innocent man, then that is your affair. Just take your money, and go.
C1 Child 1
[Judas is shocked and before turning his back, he rubs his face on the bag of silver and hurls it at the Pharisees' feet. Caiaphas is angered] [Outside, Judas lies on the street, all bloodied. A couple of children approaches him]
Hey, mister! Are you alright? Do you need help?
C2 Child 2
[noticing Judas's face]
Look at him! He's bleeding, he's got blood all over his face!
C1 Child 1
Yeah, you're right!
Judas [angrily]
Will you get away from me! You little Satans!
C Children
[in unison]
He's cursing at us! He's cursed!
[the children begins to jeer and point at Judas who tries to shove them away but as he stands up, the children's faces become demonic, to Judas's horror. Judas struggles to get away while the children continues to jeer at him]
[Jesus has just been returned to Pilate after King Herod finds him innocent of the Pharisees' charges. This causes an uproar across the city and Pilate sends out soldiers to pacify the growing mobs]
King Herod has found no fault in Jesus, and neither have I. [the crowd jeered in disappointment, prompting Abenader to deploy soldiers to keep them under control]
C Caiaphas
[to the crowd]
Silence! Have you no respect for our kind Roman procurator?! [the crowd laughs]
I have made it customary that every year, I release a prisoner to you, and right now, we are holding one: the murderer Barabbas!
[the Roman guards bring a filthy and bloodied Barabbas before the jeering crowd]
Now who among these two men do you want me to set free? Barabbas? Or Jesus, your "Messiah"?!
C Caiaphas
[referring to Jesus]
He is no Messiah! He's an impostor! A blasphemer! [turns to Pilate] Set Barabbas free.
C Crowd
[in a gleeful unison]
FREE BARABBAS!
[confused and appalled]
Again I ask you! Who do you want me to set free?!
[the crowd repeats the same line, and Pilate acquiesces to their demands. Barabbas is then released, much to his joy while the crowd looks at him in disgust]
What do you want me to do with Jesus?!
[looks at Claudia, who is watching the trial from the veranda nearby]
No! I will chastise him, and then I will set him free!
[the crowd is dismayed by the decision and they jeered at Jesus and the Romans] [to Abenader]
See to it that the punishment is severe, Abenader, but make sure they don't kill the man.
[After a brutal scourging, a mutilated Jesus is brought before Pilate and Abenader, the latter being horrified at what the guards did to Jesus, but Pilate is barely surprised. He carefully pulls Jesus and presents him before the jeering crowd] [in both Hebrew and Latin]
Behold the Man!
[angrily]
Is this not enough? Look at him! [the crowd continues to yell CRUCIFY HIM] You want me to crucify your king?
C Caiaphas
King?! We have no king but Caesar!
[turns to Jesus, in Latin]
Speak to me, I have the power to have you crucified, or else set you free.
[in Latin]
You have no power over me, unless it is given to you from above, but he who has delivered me to you has the greater sin.
C Caiaphas
If you release him, governor, you are no friend to Caesar!
[The jeering crowd begins to riot, provoking the Roman guards to brutally beat them back. Unwilling to cause an uprising, Pilate washes his hands and acquiesces to the crowd's demands] [to Caiaphas]
Remember that it is you who wants him dead, not I! His blood is in your hands! [turns to Abenader] Abenader, do what they want.
Gesmas [Jesus is now crucified on Calvary, in between two thieves.] [groans in pain]
If you are the son of God, why can't you save yourself? Prove to us that you are who you say you are! [the crowd laughs and the guards insult Jesus, gesturing him to come down]
C Caiaphas
[approaches Jesus]
You said you would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, but look at you. [to the crowd] If he is indeed the Messiah, I say he should come down from that cross, so that we may see and believe him!
[sobbing and in pain, he looks up at the sky to pray]
Father... forgive them, for... they know not what they do.
Dismas [to Caiaphas]
Listen, he's praying for you! [Caiaphas ignores him and leaves. Dismas then turns to Gesmas] We deserve this, Gesmas! He does not! [to Jesus, sobbing] My lord, I have sinned and I'm being punished justly. All that I ask of you is that you remember me when you enter your kingdom.
[smiles weakly]
Amen, I say to you... on this day... you will join me... in paradise...
[Dismas cries while Gesmas laughs with the crowd until a crow lands on the beam of his cross. The crow then plucks out his right eye. Gesmas lets out an agonizing scream while the guard below him scares off the crow before cringing in disgust as he looks at Gesmas's mutilated face]
