I felt a little bit of divine inspiration during church service today, and came up with a list of Bible stories I could make into stage productions. (Incidentally, the first one I came up with was David, Bathsheba and Uriah, but that’s perhaps a little PG-13 for a first attempt).
The one I ultimately decided to write first was the story of Peter denying Jesus. After four hours, I’ve got a rough draft. I’d love to hear some constructive criticism.
(I apologize in advance for the weird spacing and indenting. It looks much better in the document, which I’ve got set up in “screenplay” format. On a message board post, it’s a little more difficult to pull that off.)
“Peter Denies Jesus”
A Stage Production
Written by
ekedolphin
for
[redacted]
Based on
Mark 14:66-72
With nods to
Matthew 10:32-33
(“He who denies me before men…”)
Matthew 16:16-23
(“You are the Christ… the rock on which I will build my church… I will be killed and rise on the third day… Get thee behind me, Satan!”)
Matthew 19:24
(“It’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle…”)
Matthew 19:27-30
(“You shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel…”)
Mark 5:21-43
(Jesus brings the priest’s daughter back to life)
Matthew 14
(Death of John the Baptist; Jesus feeds the five thousand)
John 2:1-11
(Jesus turns water into wine)
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
PETER (34 years old): The first disciple called by Jesus, and "the rock upon which I will build my church".
PETER (60 years old): Peter looking back at this time in
his life. He will be the one directly speaking to the
audience, sharing what he was thinking and feeling,
through the hindsight of some 20-plus years.
ABBEY (older woman): A maid of the High Priest. She's
the first person to recognize Peter.
TALIA [TAL-yah] (younger woman, perhaps a teenager or 20- something): A maid of the High Priest. She's the second person to recognize Peter.
APPLE MERCHANT: The third person to recognize Peter.
During the scene he's occasionally selling apples, both
by the bushel and individually.
VARIOUS SUPERNUMERARIES.
PRONUNCIATION GUIDE
Galilean: gal-uh-LEE-ann
Jairus: JY-russ (first syllable rhymes with "guy")
Talia: TAL-yah
EXT. PALACE, EARLY MORNING
GOOD FRIDAY
OLDER PETER is standing stage left, at a microphone. He
will provide internal dialogue to the audience, describing
what he's thinking and feeling, and looking back on the
scene. He's 20 years older than the PETER we will see
actually taking part in the scene, and he has the benefit
of hindsight. This is one of the most pivotal moments of
his life, and he's had a lot of time to think about it.
VARIOUS SUPERNUMERARIES are already on stage, few in
number, as it's early in the morning. Unlike Peter, whom
we'll see in a little while, they are properly dressed for
the chilly air. Perhaps they're going about the business
of an early morning: Chatting, gossipping, conducting
financial transactions. Jesus may have been arrested last
night, but very few people are aware of it, as it was
done in secret. And life goes on.
Among the supernumeraries are ABBEY, TALIA and
APPLE MERCHANT. The maids are performing early-morning
tasks for the high priest. Abbey is folding clothes,
and Talia is drawing water. It's acceptable to do
these tasks with "invisible" props and let the audience's
imagination fill in the gaps.
The apple merchant is among the supernumeraries at the moment, and in contrast to Peter, is quite jovial,
laughing and smiling. He's clearly a well-liked member
of the community, and he takes pride in his work.
Right now, the Maids, Apple Merchant and Supernumeraries
have their lips moving, but nothing's coming out. They're
part of the background.
ENTER PETER, stage right. He is haggard, drawn, and
distraught. The Last Supper was the previous night, and
it has been a very trying past few hours for Peter. He
was present in Gethsemane when Jesus told him, James and
John to stand watch while he prayed. Three times, he
failed to stay awake. When Jesus was arrested, Peter
panicked and cut off the ear of one of the high priest's
servants. He was rebuked by Jesus, who healed the man
and was led away.
Peter has not gotten any sleep, whatsoever, for about a
day. He's running on fear and adrenaline, and is
borderline paranoid and delusional.
It is a cold morning, and the sun has not yet risen over
the horizon. Peter sits down, rubbing his hands together
and blowing on them, huddling and shivering.
OLDER PETER
It wasn't supposed to be this way. I was the first person to confess my belief that Jesus was the Messiah. I thought the Lord and I were going to be together for many years to come. That He was going to bring forth the Kingdom of God on this Earth. He even called me, Simon Peter, the rock on which He would build His church!
Onstage, Peter looks around, clearly nervous. He's
uncomfortable being around such a large group of people so
soon after Jesus was arrested. In his mind, everybody
knows about it, and soon they'll be coming after him.
OLDER PETER
Of course, only a moment later he predicted this
would happen. He told us that he would go to
Jerusalem, and suffer the harrassment of the
elder priests and scribes. He said he'd be
killed, and rise on the third day.
A beat.
OLDER PETER
It wasn't my place to rebuke him in public. He
was the Master, and I was His disciple. So I
took Him aside, and told Him he was being
ridiculous. "God forbid it! That will *never*
happen to you!" And I was stunned by what He
said next. "Get thee behind me, Satan!" How
I went from being called, "the rock", to being
compared to evil incarnate, I didn't know, but
He wasn't done speaking. "Don't put the
interests of man before those of God."
Peter slowly rises to his feet, still shivering and trying
to stay warm. He moves in the general direction of
everyone else, and is obviously trying, way too hard, to
act casual.
OLDER PETER
He predicted this would happen. Many times.
But I don't think I actually believed it. How
many times had he used metaphor in His stories?
Surely not everything He said was intended to be
taken literally. "A camel going through the eye
of a needle"? Or the many times He told a story
about fictional characters, and used them to
illustrate a point. The tale of the Good Samaritan. Or the one about the Prodigal Son.
Surely He was talking in parable when He said He'd be betrayed and murdered.
A beat.
OLDER PETER
Right?
Peter continues moving through the crowd, hyper-aware of
his surroundings, and very weary from the long night.
He looks ready to fight or flight at any moment.
Talia is drawing water from the well, while Abbey
folds clothes and supervises her younger charge.
ABBEY
Make sure you draw more water than usual, for
the master's having company today. And once
you've done, check with Ruth in the kitchen,
see if she needs help with the bread.
TALIA
Yes, ma'am.
Talia draws some water, struggles to lift the bucket
(it's heavy), and EXITS STAGE RIGHT. Abbey sees Peter
for the first time, and greets him.
ABBEY
(casually)
Good morning.
Peter practically jumps out of his skin, which in turn
startles Abbey. Making a visible effort to calm
himself, he clears his throat and returns the greeting.
PETER
Good morning.
ABBEY
You're rather jumpy today, good sir.
Peter forces a smile. It looks very fake.
PETER
Mmm? No, I'm fine... thanks for asking.
ABBEY
(not convinced)
As you wish.
Peter rubs his hands together and blows on them again.
With no cloak to put his hands into, or retain his body
heat, he's the only person in the scene who has to make
an effort to keep himself warm.
ABBEY
(as a mother speaking to an ignorant
child)
Do they not believe in cloaks where you come
from? If you'd brought yours, you'd not be
cold.
PETER
(a beat)
It's... been a long night.
Talia ENTERS STAGE RIGHT with an empty bucket, preparing to fill it again with water. (Again, this can be an "invisible prop".)
ABBEY
Talia, bring a cloak for this gentleman.
Peter quickly raises a hand up in protest.
PETER
No! No-- it's-- it's okay.
ABBEY
(matronly tone of voice)
Come now, you'll catch your death of cold.
If my master the high priest learned that I
let someone freeze to death on our doorstep,
he'd refuse to let me back into the house.
PETER
(more calmly now, put at ease)
Thank you.
Talia EXITS STAGE RIGHT.
ABBEY
(conversationally)
It's going to be a beautiful day.
PETER
(aside to the audience)
I seriously doubt it.
ABBEY
(as she continues folding clothes)
And how was your Passover meal?
Peter SITS DOWN again, holding his arms close to his
body.
PETER
It was... unusual.
Abbey pauses in her chores, moves a little closer to
Peter, and gets a better look at his face. Peter, who's
facing forward, doesn't notice at first, but when he does,
he looks a little alarmed.
ABBEY
Say... don't I know you?
PETER
(feeling a little dismayed, but telling
the truth-- technically)
I'm certain we've never met before.
ABBEY
True, but... I'm sure I recognize you from
somewhere. Weren't you with that man, Jesus,
who claimed to be the Son of God?
Without even thinking about it, Peter replies. He
barely misses a beat.
PETER
(casually)
I don't know *what* you're talking about.
ABBEY
(dismissively)
Eh.
Chalking it up to perhaps her imagination, she goes
back to her task of folding towels.
At this time, a ROOSTER crows in the distance. This
can be an offstage sound effect provided by someone's
voice, or a stock sound effect.
OLDER PETER
I know what you're thinking. Because after
this was all over, I was thinking the same
thing. "What a coward." Right? Well, you've
got to look at it from my position. Jesus had
been arrested only a few hours ago. I *knew*
what was going to happen to Him. He was going
to be tortured and killed in the most brutal,
sadistic fashion ever conceived by man, and
there wasn't anything anybody could do about it.
I was in the middle of a nightmare from which
I would never, ever wake up. It just seemed so
easy to say, "No, I don't know Him," and try
to get on with my life. I wasn't even thinking,
at the time, that He said it would happen.
(A beat.)
But my shame was only going to get worse. Much,
MUCH worse.
Talia ENTERS STAGE RIGHT, carrying a cloak for Peter. She
moves over towards him.
ABBEY
(stopping her folding)
Ah, good. Thank you, Talia. Place that cloak
around the man's shoulders. The cold's not
going to let up for some time, still.
TALIA
(dutifully)
Yes, Abbey.
Peter STANDS UP, and Talia moves around behind him,
draping the cloak around his shoulders.
ABBEY
(to Peter)
You can return it after you've gone home and
retrieved your own cloak. If I'm not here,
leave it with Talia.
PETER
Thank you, good lady.
Just then, Talia gets a good look at Peter. A smile
starts to spread across her face.
TALIA
Hey... *I* know you.
PETER
(warily)
*Do* you?
Unlike Abbey, Talia is far more certain that she's seen
Peter. Her memory of him is quite vivid.
TALIA
Yes!
(she turns to Abbey)
You remember my friend Rachel, the daughter
of Jairus, back in Capernaum?
ABBEY
(incredulous)
The one who *died*?
TALIA
*Yes,* ma'am! She was very sick, and I was at
her bedside, giving her water, trying
desperately to keep her alive for as long as I
could. I knew my efforts would be in vain, but
I thought, "If I could just keep her alive
*long* enough for Jesus to arrive, He could heal
her."
Peter is starting to look distinctly uncomfortable. He
remembers the occasion quite well.
ABBEY
But she died anyway, didn't she?
TALIA
Yes, ma'am. I'll never forget it. She didn't--
she *couldn't*-- say a word to me. She just
smiled at me, as if... thanking me for giving
my best effort... and she died, right there in
front of me.
Talia begins pacing lightly.
TALIA
I started shaking her. Pleading with her to
wake up. Pleading for her not to-- just give
up, with Jesus on His way. I barely remember
what happened next, but I think-- I think I
screamed for my mother to come in from the
other room. She saw Rachel, and started
crying, too. All of us, we were all crying,
completely uncontrollably. One of the men
rushed out to tell Jairus what had happened.
Peter realizes he's about to be exposed, and starts trying
to make his way towards the Apple Merchant.
PETER
Excuse me, please.
TALIA
But-- Jesus came anyway. He told us Rachel was
only sleeping, and I...
(looking ashamed)
And I *glared* at Him. I was *mad* at Him,
thinking that if He'd only been there sooner,
Rachel wouldn't have died! And didn't He think
I know a dead person when I see one?! Where was
He when I was sitting by her bedside all those
hours-- I even fell asleep in the chair once
or twice-- feeding her whatever she could
swallow, and forcing water to her lips? Who
did He think He *was*, saying that?
Abbey is enraptured by the story. She'd never heard
it told so dramatically before.
ABBEY
So what happened?
TALIA
He took her by the hand and said, in the voice
of someone whose orders are *always* obeyed:
"Little girl, I command you, get up!" And...
she opened her eyes, and rose up out of bed!
She's still alive, to this day.
(looking at Peter again, very closely)
Yes... I *know* you were there with Him. You
were His right-hand man, weren't you?
PETER
(shaking his head vehemently)
Young lady, I swear to you, I've never seen
Him before in my life. You've got me confused
for someone else.
(quickly, turning to Abbey)
Thanks for letting me borrow the cloak.
ABBEY
(suspiciously)
Don't mention it...
Abbey and Talia continue their roles in the
background, but again they talk without their lips
moving. Perhaps talking about the strange encounter
they've just had. But hey, who Peter associates with
is his business, right? They've got work to do.
OLDER PETER
She was right, of course. How could anyone
who'd witnessed that incredible, miraculous
event ever forget it as long as they lived?
It was then that I realized just how high-
profile I really was. I couldn't just slip
into the background like my brother Andrew,
or Bartholomew, or, say, Thomas. Which is
not to say that they're any less important
than me.
(a beat)
But I had been with him through thick and thin;
I'd been there during his most important
teachings, and through many of the most
fantastic, most public, miracles He'd performed.
And I, myself, had cast out demons and preached
in His name. I was a minor celebrity. And with
Jesus under arrest and on the road to being
crucified, I had a target on my back the size
of the Dead Sea.
Peter finally reaches the Apple Merchant, and for the
first time we can make out what the Apple Merchant is
saying. Abbey and Talia discreetly EXIT STAGE RIGHT
during this time.
APPLE MERCHANT
FRESH apples! Come and get them before they're
all gone! Buy 'em one at a time or the bushel!
(seeing Peter, a potential customer)
Good day, sir! You look like you've had a rough
night of it.
PETER
(warily)
You *could* say that.
APPLE MERCHANT
A little too much of the ol' Passover wine, eh?
Ah, it happens to all of us. You know, whenever
*I* feel bad, an apple always perks me right up.
PETER
(chuckles softly)
You're a good salesman, sir. I'll have one.
Peter takes out a coin and hands it to the man. It's a
bit more than the apple's worth.
APPLE MERCHANT
(with good cheer)
You're very generous, sir; thank you.
Peter nods, and takes a large bite out of the apple.
APPLE MERCHANT
It's a dark day indeed, sir. I hear that man,
Jesus--
Peter jumps when Jesus' name is mentioned, but the Apple
Merchant, apparently not noticing, goes right on through
his sentence.
APPLE MERCHANT
--they arrested Him last night. They've been
trying to get Him for some *time* now, I reckon.
Peter opens his mouth to speak, closes it, and then opens
it again.
PETER
How-- how do *you* know Jesus?
APPLE MERCHANT
Why, I was there at one of His greatest miracles, sir. We'd just gotten word that
His cousin John-- you know, John the Baptist?--
Peter nods.
APPLE MERCHANT
--had been executed. Well... murdered, really.
Never heard such a despicable story in my life.
The Apple Merchant quickly looks around to make sure he's
not being overheard by the wrong people. Satisfied for
now, he resumes his story.
APPLE MERCHANT
Herod had arrested him, see. That...
The Apple Merchant considers using a vulgar word; thinks
better of it, says instead:
APPLE MERCHANT
...*woman*, Herodias... she was married to
Herod's own brother, but Herod was sleeping with
her. Of all men around, only John had the guts
to say to him, "This is wrong." So Herod had
him clapped in irons. Anyway, awhile later,
Herodias' daughter, I hear tell, danced for
Herod's court, and she was magnificent. Herod
was so impressed that he promised her anything
she wanted. Without hesitation, she asked for
John's head! On a platter, no less! This
sweet, innocent little girl, or so everyone
thought. You ask me, Herodias put her up to it.
PETER
Perhaps.
APPLE MERCHANT
So anyway, the news gets back to us, and I was
as startled as anyone. And I knew Jesus would
be upset. I hadn't met Him before, but I'd
heard the stories, of course. Teacher, miracle-
worker. I'd had a friend who told me about that
water-into-wine thing at Cana, so I also knew
he was the life of the party.
Peter glares at the Merchant mildly. He doesn't find that
particularly funny.
APPLE MERCHANT
(clearing his throat to recover)
Anyway, I just... thought I'd offer my
condolences, you know? Let Him know He wasn't
alone. Of course, five thousand *other* people
had the same idea, and I didn't get anywhere
*near* him. By that time it was late, and I
hadn't brought any food with me, and practically nobody else had, either. It was looking like
a long, hungry walk home was ahead of me.
(chuckles)
Next thing I knew, I was being handed a large
basket of fish and bread, and being told to
take as much as I needed and pass it around.
I did as instructed, but I asked the person
next to me: "Where did this generous bounty
come from?" The man answered, with a laugh,
"You won't believe this. This is what's left
over from five loaves and two fish."
Peter has long since gotten the gist of what story the
Apple Merchant's going to tell, so he doesn't look
surprised in the least bit.
PETER
(dryly)
You don't say.
APPLE MERCHANT
Craziest thing I ever saw. There was enough
for me to have seconds, later, and from what
I hear, there were a dozen basketfuls of food
left over at the end of the day. Guess
someone's family ate quite well for awhile.
Peter takes another bite of the apple while the Merchant
speaks, and starts moving away from him as he finishes
the last line.
PETER
Yes, well... that must have been an interesting
day. Sorry I missed it.
APPLE MERCHANT
Wait, you're saying you weren't there?
PETER
(without missing a beat)
No.
Older Peter sighs softly, raising his palm to his hand.
OLDER PETER
(gently, as if saying this now will change
history)
Don't do it, Peter, you poor fool.
APPLE MERCHANT
Oh, c'mon now. My eyesight isn't as great as
it used to be, but you were standing right at
Jesus's right side the entire time, weren't you?
PETER
(angrily)
What's *with* everyone today?!
APPLE MERCHANT
(conciliatory)
Say, friend, I don't mean to upset you. But
you're telling me you weren't there? You're
not from around here, though, are you? You've
got a very Galilean accent.
PETER
(adamantly)
Look, friend. I'm telling you-- I *swear* to
you-- I don't know the man; I don't know what
you're TALKING about!
At that very moment THE ROOSTER CROWS AGAIN. Peter
immediately claps his hand over his mouth, a look of
stunned realization on his face. Without saying another
word, he dejectedly moves towards STAGE CENTER, and sits
down again.
OLDER PETER
He predicted this too, of course. "Before the
cock crows twice, you will deny Me three times."
Like before, I thought He was crazy. There was
no way in a million years I would ever, EVER
do that. Yet as soon as I heard that rooster
the second time, I knew what I'd done, and
I realized I couldn't take it back.
(a beat)
I'd *denounced* him. I'd been the first person
*ever* to call him the Christ, the Son of the
Living God... and here I was, a man fearing for
his life, saying I'd never met Him. Hadn't He
already promised me my reward in heaven? Should
I have *truly* been concerned what other men
might do to me? No. But I was concerned with
the here and now, and the certainty of being
subjected to the same agonizing death that He
was about to face. I would have done anything,
*said* anything, not to have to face that.
(a beat)
I failed, all right? For the third time that
night, I tried to do what was right, and I
failed miserably. And as I sat there, on the
stairs of that temple, all I could think about
was what He once said: "Anyone who denies me
before men, I'll deny *him* before my Father in
heaven."
PETER
(crying)
My God... *what* have I *done?*
OLDER PETER
All I could do was contemplate my fate... His
fate... and pray that God would be forgiving.
PETER EXITS STAGE RIGHT.
END OF SCENE