Alan
C Dougall ©1998-2001
www.startatthecross.net
Scene 1: Blasphemous mockers (Matt. 27:27-37)
A white gown lies centre stage hiding a cross with 2 extra stakes & 2 hammers/mallets underneath. This scene begins with a fast action football scene, then slows down after the game, and finally ends in slow motion as the cross is raised.
| referee | In the dying moments of a football game, the referee runs onto the scene carrying a football and blowing his whistle. He points to the middle spot where the gown is, shrieks "Penalty! Penalty!" | Start music after the loud whistle | |
| 1st & 2nd footballers | While
the referee is still pointing to the spot in the middle, two
footballers
charge on and stretcher the gown-covered
cross towards the back of the scene. Both footballers remove the two stakes & mallets from beneath the gown and each hammers a stake into the ground as goalposts at either end (in front of the gown). The 1st footballer places the football on the penalty spot while the 2nd footballer stands ready in goal. |
And did those
feet in ancient time Walk upon England's mountain green? |
The choral intro. begins loudly Fat (0:00): Les 2000 - Jerusalem |
| 1st footballer | The
1st
footballer
deliberates over the shot, and then scores. He immediately rushes around the crowd, arms in the air, cheering and blowing kisses: "Yes! Yes!" |
And was the
holy Lamb of God On England's pleasant pastures seen? |
The beat builds up in preparation for the penalty shot (0:14). |
| referee | The referee immediately blows his whistle again, this time for full-time, shouting: "Full time! It's a sudden death play off!" | And did the Countenance Divine |
The beat subsides after the shot (0:27) and the volume is decreased during the dialogue. |
| referee | The
referee replaces the ball on the spot, and
then beckons to the crowd, "Who wants to be a
winner?" Looking towards the footballers and then again to the crowd, the referee calls out: "Who do you think will score and win this spotless gown ?" |
||
| 1st footballer | While both footballers limber up for the shoot-out, they look at the gown and the 1st footballer quirps, "Not much of a bonus ball for us this time!" | Shine forth
upon those clouded hills? |
|
| 2nd footballer | "Might as well go for it then! But after this, I'm off to buy a lottery ticket...", responds the 2nd footballer humorously, " ...and be a millionaire - just maybe!" | ||
| The referee dons a pair of goalkeeper's gloves before withdrawing towards the goalposts. | |||
| man in the crowd | A man in the crowd (or sitting inconspicuously in the second row) stirs everyone to support the first footballer: "Go on! You can do it!". | And was
Jerusalem builded here |
The beat picks up again (0:41) and the volume is increased during the shoot-out. |
| 2nd footballer | The 2nd footballer lines up and shoots (and hopefully scores), and then kneels down, legs wide apart, hands outwards towards the crowd, screams distinctly: "What a goal!" | Among these
dark satanic mills? |
|
| man in the crowd | The man in the crowd yells out simultaneously, "Go.........al!" | The beat softens after the first shot (0:53). | |
| 1st footballer | The ball is again placed on the spot, and the 1st footballer lines up and plays his shot (and possibly misses), and then kneels to the ground, hands clasped across his eyes in disbelief: "I just cannot believe it!" | Bring me my bow of burning gold! Bring me my arrows of desire! Bring me my spear! O clouds, unfold! |
and then builds to a crescendo for the final tragic shot (1:03) |
| man in the crowd | Whether
or not he scores, the man in the crowd immediately cries out (looking to
the crowd for support): "It hit the
post!" Then, increasing in volume (in an attempt to gain the crowd's support), the man in the crowd drums out: "Post! Post! Post! Post!....." (and then fades). |
Bring me my chariot of fire! |
the music begins to fade after the final shot (1:21) |
| The pace of the scene slows down after the game is over. | |||
| referee | The referee bows to the pressure of the crowd and prepares to present the gown to the second footballer. "Well done! You've just won the gown!" the referee exclaims. | The pitious
music begins softly with reduced
volume (1:29): Sinead O'Connor - Scorned for His Simplicity. |
|
| The
referee picks up the gown (to
reveal the cross) and presents it deliberately to
the 2nd
footballer,
who then dons the robe, raising his arms to the crowd. The first footballer backs off to take a camera shot of the other two posing. The first footballer (as photographer) gestures for the two others to draw closer and smile for the photo shoot. |
See the child with the golden hair, yet eyes that showed the emptiness inside. |
The gentle lyrics (1:38) in the background contrast with the loud dialogue. | |
| referee | The referee drags the cross forward a few feet (possibly with the footballers' help). The referee then declares pronouncedly and sarcastically: "Oh! And, of course, you both get to tie this one up - and nail the waster as well!". This emphasises the notion that there is some "non-person" actually lying there on the cross. | Do we know? Can we understand just how he feels? Or have we really tried? |
The words (1:51) reflect the impersonal manner we tend to treat the handicapped. |
| referee | The
referee takes a swig of his cheap can
of ale before spitting it out over the cross
inhumanely, "Ugh! What foul stuff!" The referee (as the boss) then offers it to the "handicapped" person on the cross instead. On refusal, he gripes to the two footballers (as the workers): "We've got a right one here!" as he passes the can of ale on to the first footballer. |
See him now as he stands alone And watches children play a children's game? "Simple child!" - He looks almost like the others - |
The guilt-ridden question contrasts with their actions (2:02). |
| 1st footballer | Taking the can from the referee, "Ergh! What a mess He's in." responds the 1st footballer with disgust mixed with pity. In turn, he passes the can of ale on to the second footballer. | Yet they know he's not the same. |
|
| 2nd footballer | Turning to face the crowd, the 2nd footballer mischievously pours the can of ale (behind his back) over the man on the cross, and mocks: "...Poor bloke; He's wet himself!". | Scorn not his
simplicity But rather try to love him all the more |
The chorus starts as the mocking intensifies (2:27). |
| referee & man in the crowd | The referee and both footballers (and possibly the man in the crowd) laugh out loud, just as the scene freezes. | ||
| man in the crowd | The players freeze
mid-laugh. The crowd push through to peer forward - especially the man in the crowd. They begin to realise (imagine) Jesus as the "handicapped" person that is meant to be there, lying silently upon the cross. |
Scorn not his
simplicity Oh No!... |
The scene freezes with the volume increased at the mid-chorus - i.e. 2nd time of: "Scorn not His Simplicity" (2:39) |
| After the chorus begins to fade... | Oh No!... | 2nd "Oh No!" (2:47) triggers the action again as the music fades out... | |
| referee | Turning
away at the sight, the referee begins to walk away. He then
turns around to collect the ball, and then turns back
finally to the person on the cross and shouts:
"Yes,
and my name is King Jesus too!" The referee (as the boss) walks off the scene (through the back of the crowd leaving the ball at the edge of the scene), commanding: "I'm off to wash. He's all yours now!" |
||
| 1st & 2nd footballers | Both footballers (as the workers) dutifully hammer real nails in at each end of the cross (out of phase with one another). | ...to the sound of 32 metal-hammerings (2:53) | |
| The pace of the scene becomes slow motion. | The sound of
sombre "funeral" chorus begins (3:07): Allegri - Have mercy upon me… (Psalm 51) from Miserere. Music stops (3:52). |
||
| 1st & 2nd footballers | Both footballers (as the workers) then religously
tie the ends with ropes (unless already
done so, as a time gap fill!) Then, very slowly and deliberately, both footballers raise the cross into position. Both footballers crouch back to either side of the cross very slowly with a sense of "What have we done?", but inevitably turn their back to avoid the guilt. |
Have mercy upon
me. Oh God, have mercy after thy great goodness. After thy great ... After thy great goodness. |