First two Scenes of "The Pauline Conspiracy"

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Act 1 Scene 1

Its around A.D. 42 on the outskirts of Judea. Roman soldiers are hurriedly going from house to house clearly looking for people. In one of the villagers’ houses, an ageing man, the man of the house ,is hiding a woman in her thirties, an elderly man and a nine-year-old girl. He is looking out to ensure a path to a small sailing boat is clear. When the path is clear he hastily beckons them to follow him to the boat.

The party of three do so, and make the sailing boat without a word being spoken under cover of darkness. They each carry clay pots with them. They get into the boat, store the clay pots and the two men then push it into the water before Joseph jumps in. The child begins to wake up:



Sarah:

{Child- Mixed Race} Mum- where are we going? Why are the Roman soldiers still chasing us?



Mary Magdalene:

(Golden Brown in colour

and beautiful)

Sarah-We will be safe in Egypt soon. Please try to sleep. We have a long journey ahead of us.



The girl goes back to sleep and Joseph turns to Mary Magdalene.



Joseph of

Arimathea: ( Quietly)

You know Egypt is not the safe haven it once was. We shall have to get much further away from the Romans



Mary :(Resigned) I know, but it will be good to be there again and away from here.



Joseph: (Reassuring) It will be alright Mary. I know some people in Alexandria who can help us get to Gaul. We should be safe there.



Mary does not reply but her saddened face drifts off to sleep as Joseph continues to steer the small boat.



Scene 2



Day breaks and the weather is good. Mary and Sarah are rested and look less worried. Mary brings out some food and wine and gives these to Sarah and Joseph. They eat in silence but after eating, Sarah makes her way to where Joseph is steering to help







Joseph(smiling) Keep the rudder like this. Hold it tight Sarah.



Sarah and Joseph jointly hold the rudder and when Joseph thinks she’s got the hang of it he gradually lets go.



Joseph and Mary look at the child, then each other and smile. After a silence Sarah looks at her mother



Sarah: Why were those soldiers still looking for us?

Mary looks at Joseph.



Joseph: Your going to have to tell her Mary – sooner or later. The Child deserves to know.



Mary looks back from Joseph to Sarah.



Mary: Come over here Sarah and sit with me.



The child gets up and runs to be with her mum. Joseph resumes steering the boat.





Mary: If I am going to explain this to you Sarah, then you have got to promise you will listen attentively. No interruptions. Promise?



Sarah: (coyly) I promise.

Scene 3 AD 6 Galilee.