Alan
C Dougall ©1998-2001
www.startatthecross.net
Scene 4: Grasping thieving "criminals" (Matt. 27:38,44, 46 & Luke 23:34)
This scene builds to an intense climax, where the non-silent suffering of the criminals emphasises Jesus' condition (albeit silently). Ultimately, the crowd is surprised by the one who gives Jesus respect. The background music peppers the slow pace and long reflective pauses.
| policeman | A policeman (or prison-guard) appears with a criminal that he has previously arrested and moves through the crowd to grab hold of the disruptive man in the crowd. | Thought-provoking
Christian music begins loudly Delirious: Pursuit of happiness |
|
| policeman | The
policeman bellows, "That's enough from
you, ma' lad! No more
disrupting this drama! I've caught
up with you at last." The policeman holding both criminals securely, stands them arms-outstretched on either side of the cross. |
In pusuit of
happiness all I found is sorrow |
Volume decreases as the lyrics begin (0:22) |
| man in the crowd (robber) |
"Come on!" the man in the crowd retorts meanwhile, in a common manner. "I haven't done much wrong - only taken a few things from work! And, it definitely wasn't me that downloaded those pictures on my PC." | I run around
and I confess I try again tomorrow |
(0:29) |
| policeman | The policeman concludes, "Gone are your days, mate, as leader of the gang!" and marches smartly off the scene through the back of the crowd. | Tomorrow cannot
begin again and stick with you 'til the end. |
(0:36) |
| At first, both criminals ignore Jesus and argue about how they got there and how they could possibly escape. | I know what I
have said, I know what I have done in the pusuit of happiness |
At 1st chorus: (0:44) | |
| robber | The robber (originally the man in the crowd) opens: "Trust me to open my big mouth! I should have quit when the going was good. If only you hadn't been arrested - I might still be free! But now we can only imagine what tomorrow might have brought us." | ||
| criminal | "What you've done, mate...", the aggressive criminal responds visciously, "...makes me seem like a saint! All I wanted was a bit of peace and some happiness. I didn't really mean to hurt anyone. But they wouldn't hand over the money without a fight." | Oh! How can I
be satisfied: beg steal or borrow. God knows the tears I've cried. I try again tomorrow Tomorrow cannot begin again and stick with you 'til the end. |
(0:59) |
| robber & criminal |
"Aaargh! Aaaargh!" both criminals scream loudly and repeatedly in agony for a prolonged period until the next musical extract begins. | I know what I
have said I know what I have done in the pusuit of happiness |
start of 2nd chorus: (1:21) - volume increases. |
| robber & criminal |
This is followed by more despondant self-focussed murmurings of hopelessness from both criminals for a further 30 seconds after the second musical extract begins. | Reflective music begins (1:35) Travis: Turn | |
| criminal | The criminal finally turns and lays into Jesus desperately but unhurriedly, "Well, don't just hang about there!" and antagonises Him further: "Do something if you are who some say!" and continues derisively: "What's it worth to you, anyway?" | I want to see
what people saw I want to feel like I felt before |
(1:47) - volume decreases. |
| robber | The robber (originally the man from the crowd) defends Jesus. "Hold on a minute!" he interjects, "We are only suffering for what we deserve! Everyone else..." he says, looking to the other actors and the rest of the crowd deliberately and individually. | I like to see
the kingdom come I want to feel forever young
|
(2:00) |
| The
robber repeats and emphasises slowly:"...everyone
else deserves
punishment for their part..." Turning around and looking up in awe of Jesus, the repentant robber gasps loudly: "...But this man…", and then pauses mouth-half-open for a longer-than-usual silence (during the chorus). |
I want to sing to sing my song I want to live in a world where I belong I want to live |
(2:14) | |
| The scene freezes for a prolonged period (until the soft instrumental music starts), with the robber's mouth half open to the sound of the repentant chorus. | If we turn..turn..turn..turn..turn And if we turn..turn..turn..turn Then we might learn Turn..turn..turn..turn turn..turn..turn And if we turn..turn..turn..turn Then we might learn Learn to turn. |
Start of chorus: (2:41) - volume increases. | |
| robber | "Je..sus, I must ask you one thing..." the repentant robber begins solemnly and soberly. "...just one thing. Will you.... he pleads slowly with a stutter,"...will you remember me?" | soft music begins: Enigma: Cross of Changes (3:18) - volume decreases. | |
| Voice of Jesus | After a moment of contemplative silence, the lone Voice of Jesus is heard: "Because you have acknowledged who I am, all of your sins are forgiven! Today, you will be with me in Paradise!" | ||
| As the haunting
challenging lyrics continue, both
criminals float silently away. One or more spirited dancer(s) appears before the music ends, and kneels in a ball facing the cross - but at an angle to one side (or each side). |
If you
understand or if you don't If you believe or if you doubt There's a
universal Justice |
Haunting
words begin (4:05) - volume increases.
Music stops (5:40) |
|
Finale: Ressurrection Dance
A dance is performed (by "the 4 Winds") to accompany Gabrielle's Rise (3:40). The dance is directed both towards the crowd (during the verse) and towards the cross at an angle (during the chorus). The change of focus between the verses and each chorus helps contrast the "failed promises" of others with the "bridge of hope" that Jesus offers.
This finale complements the drama in an "angelic" manner, giving a message of beginning again by "knocking on heaven's door" (opening with its familiar backing theme from Bob Dylan). The dance emphasises the keywords in movement: the initial "knocking on heaven's door", "heart" and "no longer" in despondant states; and "bridge" in reaching out, and "rise" from the floor to the air with resurrection freedom and a release of joy.
[ It may be pratical to present Rise (3:40) at the beginning to draw attention and repeat it again at the end. Alternatively, "the 4 Winds" perform a dance at the beginning as a prayer for understanding and release of God's Holy Spirit: On Earth as it is in Heaven (3:50) from The Mission (Ennio Morricone). ]