#TheSongofDeborah by #mrfb part 8

   When I first created Deborah's assistants, I planned intrigue and betrayal. Perez turned into such a fine young man that I didn't have the heart to push his limits and turn him into a traitor. He daily faces the mundane with honor. That is something worth celebrating.

   I'd like feedback regarding King Jabin. The Bible only tells that he was king. Does his insertion into the story add or detract?

EXT. THE PALM OF DEBORAH - DAY

   Small clumps of PEOPLE sit on the ground. Tents dot the hill around the Palm of Deborah. A BABY CRIES. Flies BUZZ.

   Azubah, Tamar and Abby sit on the ground around Deborah’s table. Azubah holds a strand of her hair, twirls it, knots it, loosens it, repeats.

   Perez paces. His voice drones as he reads.

PEREZ: Docket fifteen. A moved boundary marker. Apparently the plaintiff was injured on his own property, but the defendant moved the marker before it happened.

   Tamar doodles on her tablet.

PEREZ: Sixteen. A bull gored the plaintiff’s son. The plaintiff slaughtered the bull.

   Abby buffs her nails with the edge of her sleeve, examines them.

PEREZ: Seventeen, plaintiff’s iron chariot was vandalized. Sisera seeks remuneration.

The girls sit up.

AZUBAH: What?

PEREZ: You haven’t been listening. I made up the last three.

TAMAR: That’s not fair!

PEREZ: Come on, ladies, you weren’t being fair to me and you know it.

AZUBAH: You’re right, Perez. I’m sorry.

TAMAR: Me too. 

   Abby shrugs. Tamar pokes her.

ABBY: All right, I’m sorry, too. It’s just that it hasn’t been the same without Deborah.

PEREZ: A lot of people came a long way to have their disputes settled. We owe it to them to at least be prepared for when she returns.

AZUBAH: Besides, Abby, your father makes his trade off all these people staying in his fields. At least you get paid something.

ABBY: I don’t get paid.

AZUBAH: But ENOCH does. We don’t get anything.

ABBY: Isn’t working for Deborah enough?

   Azubah stands up.

AZUBAH: You don’t know what it’s like to go hungry, do you? Do you? 

Abby tucks her knees up to her chest, hides her face.

AZUBAH: Well I do!

   Perez touches Azubah’s shoulder. She turns to him, lets him embrace her.

PEREZ: It’s okay, Zubie. Shh. (beat) Abby, you can cut the sarcasm.

Abby looks up. She is crying.

ABBY: I’m sorry, Perez. Zubie.

PEREZ: Forgiven. Zu?

Azubah sniffles, keeps her face against Perez’s chest.

PEREZ: Azubah?

AZUBAH: All right. I forgive you, Abby.

ABBY: Zubie, as long as we’re friends, you should never go hungry. Tell me next time! I can’t let my best friend go without.

   They hug each other and cry together. An image of a horse drawn wagon flickers through the heat.

TAMAR: Guys, it’s Deborah! She’s coming back.

  Perez gently turns Azubah by the shoulders.

PEREZ: Quickly, you two, go clean your faces. Let’s show her that we’ve been in good control, okay? Tamar, are you ready? Start the line up. Just the first five or six. That’s all we’ve got time for.

TAMAR: Aw, why me?

PEREZ: Because I can trust you. And because I said so.

   Tamar giggles.

TAMAR: I knew you were going to say that.

Tamar hurries toward the people. Perez’s eyes follow her.

PEREZ: A lot more I’d like to say. Wow.

   On the carriage, Bennoam and his sisters look this way and that, pointing and grinning. Deborah has her eyes closed.

   Lapidoth slows the horses.

LAPIDOTH: One would think the people could at least wait until you got home. How many are out there already?

Deborah opens her eyes, follows Lapidoth’s wide gesture.

DEBORAH: Hmm? Oh, look at them. My assistants have been faithful at their duty. I am so proud of them!

Noah leans toward Deborah.

NOAH: Is this Perez coming?

DEBORAH: Yes. And that is Tamar talking to those people.

NOAH: Where are Azubah and Abby? And how will I get them straight?

DEBORAH: Azubah is Perez’s sister. She looks a little like him.

LAPIDOTH: Except for the beard.

Stunned, Deborah gapes at Lapidoth’s humor. She covers her mouth and laughs.

DEBORAH: You’ll like them all. They are a wonderful team. They keep me young.

Lapidoth stops the horses next to Perez.

PEREZ: Shalom, Sir. Judge Deborah.

   Perez helps Deborah out of the wagon.

DEBORAH: Perez, it is good to see you. I see you have kept matters under control.

PEREZ: Thank you, ma’am. We have heard preliminaries and indexed and prioritized them for you. They shall be ready when you are.

   Perez turns to the wagon. He looks at Noah. Lingers.

DEBORAH: Perez, allow me to introduce you to Noah, Barak’s sister.

Perez finds his voice.

PEREZ: Miss Noah.

   Noah blushes, draws her veil in front of her mouth. Perez extends his hand to her. She takes it. Lingers.

NOAH: Shalom.

   She hops down. They maintain eye contact a moment longer.
   Lapidoth clears his throat.
   Deborah speaks.

DEBORAH: May I introduce the rest of Barak’s family? Attention please, ladies.

   The sisters giggle but sit up straight.

DEBORAH: Mesha, Naomi, Sarah, Evie. And of course Bennoam.

   Bennoam hops out. He bows grandly.

BENNOAM: Call me Ben.

PEREZ: Good to meet you, Ben. (to Deborah) But where is Barak?

DEBORAH: He has business in Naphtali and shall arrive in a few days. Where are Azubah and Abby?

PEREZ: I sent them on an errand.

DEBORAH: Good. That shall give Barak’s family time to settle. Perez, please beg the indulgence of the citizens for one hour more of waiting. I shall make haste to return. Come, Ben.

   Protesting mildly, Bennoam clambers back into the wagon with Deborah.

   Noah, looking briefly sad, turns to the wagon.

DEBORAH: Noah, if you wish, you may remain here with Perez and Tamar. Will you stay and meet the others?

NOAH: Thank you, yes!

PEREZ: Miss Noah, allow me to show you around.

He offers his arm. Noah accepts.

DEBORAH: I shall make haste to return.

PEREZ: (to himself) If you must.

   On the wagon, the girls chatter happily, mostly about Perez. Bennoam WHISTLES to drown them out.
   Lapidoth speaks for only Deborah to hear.

LAPIDOTH: I must take a side trip before we go home. 

DEBORAH: You must?

LAPIDOTH: Only to see Enoch. I have information about his niece Tirzah.

DEBORAH: Tirzah? What happened?

   Lapidoth shakes his head.

LAPIDOTH: I shall tell you after the children have gone to bed.

   

INT. KING JABIN’S COURT

   In Jabin’s court, the Master HORSEKEEPER, the Minister of FINANCE, PRINCE KIZAAH, Governor DESCIM and the Minister of AGRICULTURE speak in low voices.

   Off in a corner, chanting to himself, stands a PROPHET of Baal.

KIZAAH: Gentlemen.

GOVERNOR DESCIM: Your Highness. I confess that I’m not looking forward to this meeting.

KIZAAH: Patience, Governor.

MINISTER OF FINANCE: Sir, with all respect, he’s been in a foul mood all week. I’m beginning

to worry for our own safety.

KIZAAH: Take heart. I shall remember the faithful when my turn comes. With your help, that time will be very soon. Master Horsekeeper, your plan?

MASTER HORSEKEEPER: Two hundred horses are secretly stabled in Manasseh. It is all I can spare without detection. I will need your corroboration about their illness.

KIZAAH: You have done well. Let us pray my father believes the ruse.

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE: Shh, walls have ears.

Kizaah glances furtively. He nods.

KIZAAH: Quiet now. Here he comes.

   Jabin’s SECRETARY enters.

SECRETARY: Sirs, presenting King Jabin of the Thousand Victories.

   Jabin stomps to the throne. He plops down.
   Sisera coolly follows him.
   Jabin wipes his mouth with a red and white cloth.

JABIN: Be seated. Horsekeeper.

   The Horsekeeper bows.

MASTER HORSEKEEPER: Sir.

JABIN: Your report on my dying horses.

MASTER HORSEKEEPER: O King, live forever. Any horse born with four white legs or totally white is sacrificed. We believe this is the source of the weakness and premature deaths of the horses.

JABIN: You believe? I need facts, fool!

MASTER HORSEKEEPER: My King, selective breeding is still a primitive science. It will take two to three generations of horses to be certain that the defect is gone.

JABIN: (shouting) We don’t have-

   Jabin grabs at his chest, coughs. Kizaah is instantly at his side.

KIZAAH: Father!

JABIN: I’m fine. Sit down.

   Jabin coughs frothy pink sputum into the cloth. He wipes his mouth, hides the cloth.

JABIN: (to the Horsekeeper) Now get out of my sight!

   The Master Horsekeeper ducks away, knocking over a chair. He tries to right it, knocks over another.

KING JABIN: Get out!

   Jabin coughs. Sweat trickles down his temple.

JABIN: Finance, I will not hear from you. I have your report. I suppose economics is still a primitive science?

   The Minister of Finance runs a finger inside his collar, wipes his brow.

JABIN: Don’t answer that. Agriculture, I’ve heard enough from you, too. Sisera.

   Sisera bows low.

SISERA: My king.

JABIN: What is your plan about the chariots?

SISERA: Great King, may I suggest a rotation of chariots through the iron smith’s? We have seventy percent that are in accept– excellent condition.

JABIN: Sisera, I hate when you lie to me.

SISERA: Yes, my Liege. That is why I said seventy and not ninety percent.

JABIN: Very well. Prince Kizaah.

   Kizaah stands.

KIZAAH: My King and Father.

JABIN: Faced with our economic and military conditions, what would you do? Is it time to declare war and wipe Israel off the map? Or should we raise taxes instead?

KIZAAH: My King and Father, after hearing

the realities from the secular consultants, should we not also hear from the spiritual consultants?

Jabin waves his hand blandly.

JABIN: Talk to me.

KIZAAH: Whether the spirit world is real or imagined, the King rules over a religious people. What the people believe and feel cannot be ignored. If the gods are real, perhaps their succor may be obtained.

JABIN: Just tell me what you would do in my stead.

KIZAAH: I wish to hear from the Prophet.

   Jabin, eyes closed and head in one hand, waves his other hand.

JABIN: Speak, Prophet.

   The Prophet seems to come out of his trance slightly. He HUMS a moment longer, then opens his eyes.

PROPHET: I saw stars shooting across the horizon, through Orion and through the Lion. It means war and annihilation.

JABIN: Annihilation? Now what do you say, young Prince?

   Kizaah doesn’t falter.

KIZAAH: I would go to war. Wipe out the unproductive and useless sheep who call themselves Israel. Start with the north. Move the iron smith out of the sight of Israel so they don’t know our weakness. Repair the aging chariots in a rotation. Sacrifice the white horses as a symbol of purity and devotion. And as always, raise the taxes anyway.

JABIN: Very good. I would do only one thing more. Sisera.
SISERA: My King.

JABIN: Imprison my son for treason and conspiracy against the crown.
KIZAAH: Father?

JABIN: Begone! You shall never be king!

   As Jabin lumbers out, Sisera quickly subdues the Prince.

CUT TO:

EXT. LAPIDOTH’S TENT - EVENING

   Naomi, Sarah and Evie braid each other’s hair and chatter. Mesha traces words in the dirt: “Mesha + Perez.” She etches a heart, scratches everything out.

   HOOFBEATS.

SARAH: It’s Barak!

   They sprint toward him.

#TheSongofDeborah by #mrfb - part 7

   One of my challenges in writing biblical fiction is avoiding libel. Because I will one day meet some of my subjects in Heaven, I am careful to look for the best in each real person. Unless the Bible specifically calls someone evil, I give him/her the benefit of the doubt.   Mashket and Zekruph are minor inventions, but who knows? They might become as popular as Boba Fett.
   For newer readers, although this is a screenplay, this is not the Hollywood standard for screenplay formatting. This google weblog doesn't like "Final Draft." I therefore had to adapt it to make it more readable.

I/E. CANAANITE STABLE - EVENING

   Atop a Canaanite stable, the YOUNG MAN from Naphtali presses himself against the roof. He listens.

   Inside, two Canaanite servants work on a chariot. ZEKRUPH lies on his back under an axle. MASHKET polishes the top.

ZEKRUPH: Looks like this one needs help too, Mash. 

   Mashket bends down to see.

MASHKET: Where?

ZEKRUPH See? The rust looks superficial, but it’s not. Give me your knife.

   Mashket hands it down, hangs over upside down to look. Using the knife, Zekruph picks at the rust. It falls into his eyes. He SWEARS.

MASHKET: Whoa, I see.

ZEKRUPH: Good, 'cause now I can’t. Ow.

MASHKET: Don’t rub it. Here. I’ll get some water. 

   Zekruph sits up, blinks repeatedly.

ZEKRUPH: Nah, it’s gone now. There’s rust running through the bar. Just like the others.

MASHKET: That makes what, eighteen, nineteen?

ZEKRUPH: Old Heber has his work cut out for him. Let’s hope they don’t all go at once. I’d say we’ve got two years max.

MASHKET: Two years? Try six months. With this kind of rot, enough lateral motion and snap go the axles. Too bad Jabin won’t let any of the Israelites have smiths. We’d have them fixed by now.

ZEKRUPH: Don’t let anyone hear you say that. Jabin will string you up as a traitor.

MASHKET: And don’t let anyone hear you say that!

ZEKRUPH: Right. Hey. Did you hear something? Up there?

MASHKET: Probably pigeons on the roof. You hungry yet?

   On the roof, the Young Man of Naphtali lies very still, steadying his breath. He eases himself down the side of the stable to the ground.

  HISS! An arrow pierces the Young Man. He falls to the ground.

  Blood seeps into the soil. His lifeless eyes stare into the setting sun.

EXT. A NOBLEMAN’S PAVILION IN ASHER - DAY

   Standing on a pink pavilion, Barak faces the Mediterranean. He speaks with JIMNAH, the leader of Asher. Jimnah wears crisp white linen. His face is tanned, he wears no head cover.

BARAK: It’s just as beautiful as my father said.

JIMNAH: Yes, our Asher by the sea. The Great Sea gives us food, gives us joy. Jealous is she, and easily angry. She is a lover like no other.

  Barak follows Jimnah down carved stone steps to a sheltered inlet lined with pink stone. The sea laps at the steps.

   Like a tour guide, or a salesman, Jimnah continues.

JIMNAH: We do much business with Greece and Italy, even Spain. We accept all who offer us peace and trade. Marrying among the nations has given us great beauty, fair skin and dark, a rainbow among the bland of Palestine. And the gods they bring with them! Whatever your need, the people across the Sea can supply a god for it. Such modern, fetching ideas. It is a good life here. We who live here will never leave.

  Jimnah unbuckles his sandals, puts them on a step. He sits on the step, splashes his feet in the water.

  Barak follows his example. He dips in a foot, swishes it, grins.

BARAK: It’s warm!

JIMNAH: Do you swim, young Barak?

BARAK: Not really, sir. Actually, not at all.

   Jimnah’s daughter DIANA joins them. Her reddish hair peeks past her head covering, her eyes are green and her nose is daintily European.

   She bears a tray of grapes, flat bread and dipping sauces.

JIMNAH: After your quest, you must return here and remedy that situation. My daughter shall teach you.

   Diana blushes and stammers. 

DIANA: Poppa!

JIMNAH: Now, now, my sparrow, I will not make you marry him. Make love to him, yes, but you needn’t fuss about marriage.

   Now Barak blushes.

DIANA: Hi, I’m Diana.

BARAK: Shalom. I am Barak ben Abinoam. I’m pleased to meet you. 

   She holds the tray before him.

DIANA: There’s really not much to swimming, anyway. Trust the water. 

   Barak serves himself. He uses the bread to scoop up sauce.

BARAK: Trust the water. Got it.

   He smiles at her. She drops her head.

   Diana serves her father and then serves herself. She sits near them on a step.

   Barak tries the sauce. He coughs, his eyes water. He reaches for a cup.

   Diana deftly tears off bread and dips it into a fruit sauce. She gives it to Barak.

DIANA: Here, this will help.

   Barak splutters and sniffles. He chews the bread.

BARAK: Th- thank you.

   Diana offers a blue silk handkerchief to Barak. He dabs his eyes with it. He clears his throat.

   When Barak tries to return the it, Diana pats his hand.

DIANA: Please, keep it. You may need it later.

   Barak looks at her as he ties it about his neck. His new scarf has a design of hand painted Greek letters. The color compliments him well.

BARAK: Thank you, Diana.

DIANA: It’s the least we can do. (to her father) Poppa, you switched the sauce again! You shouldn’t play such tricks. He is our guest.

JIMNAH: Now, now, there is no harm. Barak has been a good guest. We shall listen to what he has to say.

   Diana’s eyes widen.

DIANA: We? I too, Poppa?

JIMNAH: Yes, you are of age. You, too.

DIANA: Thank you, Poppa!

EXT. A ROAD - LATER 

   Barak and Lapidoth ride together in the wagon.

LAPIDOTH: My contacts in Asher were not promising, either.

BARAK: I don’t get it. My father and this guy were friends. But no. He said involvement in a rebellion would be too costly for his business. His business!

LAPIDOTH: You sound bitter, boy.

BARAK: Just with myself. Am I really that naive? And I didn’t get to swim, either.

LAPIDOTH: Swim?

BARAK: Nothing. 

  Barak fingers Diana’s blue silk kerchief.

LAPIDOTH: Well then. On to Dan, if you still want to go through with this.

BARAK: On to the people of Dan.

EXT. DOCK IN DAN - LATER 

   A gull flaps across an overcast sky.

   Barak and Lapidoth stand on a weathered dock by the sea. They speak with an ELDER OF DAN. They frown, gesture, talk emphatically.

   The Elder shakes his head, gestures. Barak and Lapidoth turn away.

EXT. SHEEP FIELD IN REUBEN - LATER

   Barak and Lapidoth speak with the SHEPHERDS OF REUBEN. They frown, gesture, talk emphatically.

   The Shepherds shake their heads, gesture. Barak and Lapidoth turn away.

EXT. THE TENTS OF GILEAD - LATER

   Barak and Lapidoth meet with the ELDER OF GILEAD. They frown, gesture, talk emphatically.

The Elder shakes his head, gestures. Barak drops to his knees before the Elder.

BARAK: Please, before God. Please help your brothers.

ELDER OF GILEAD: Your God abandoned your brothers, not the people of Gilead. You must settle it yourself.

BARAK: But-

   Lapidoth puts his hand on Barak’s shoulder. Lapidoth looks into the Elder’s face.

LAPIDOTH: Thank you for your time. May your borders remain peaceful. Shalom.

   Barak and Lapidoth turn away.

INT. BARAK’S HOUSE - EVENING 

   Dinner is over.

   Deborah chats with Mesha. Lapidoth reads a map. Barak’s Sisters clear the table, fuss, giggle while they work. 

   When they are done, Evie and Sarah cajole Barak, tugging on his arms.

   Barak gives in and lies on the floor. He holds his arms straight up. The girls each hold one of his hands and lie across them the way dancers do. He uses the girls like free weights, pressing them toward the ceiling and down again.

   Noah closes the cupboard, dries her hands on a towel.

NOAH: Barak, aren’t they getting a little big for that?

BARAK: It’s only a month until the sheep tossing competition. I need practice. Come here.

NOAH: What?

EVIE: Come on over, Noah!

SARAH: Yeah, come on! Mesha!

   Lapidoth looks up from his map.

   Mesha excuses herself from Deborah. Mesha and Noah trade places with Evie and Sarah.

   Barak lifts each of them toward the ceiling. Deborah’s eyes widen at his sculpted arms.

BENNOAM: Wait for us!

   Bennoam and Naomi clamber onto Noah’s and Mesha’s backs.

BARAK: Hey, what’s this?

BENNOAM: I’m a sheep! Toss me! Baah! Baah!

BARAK: You asked for it! Ungh!

   Barak struggles to heft them upward, once, twice, throws them on the third. They tumble about him. Naomi and Mesha clunk heads but laugh anyway as one rubs her chin and one, the back of her head.

   Barak sits up, dusts himself off.

BARAK: I’ll be feeling that tomorrow. For now, it’s bed time. Good night, ladies, Ben.

   Barak pretends to be a helpless old man. His sisters tug him to his feet.

   Barak kisses each forehead and whispers something in each girl’s ear. Bennoam hides himself in a corner.

   Noah straightens her dress, her hair.

NOAH: Barak, may I stay up?

   Barak smiles.

BARAK: Tell you what. If you can find your little brother and get him off to bed, you may visit with us as long as you please.

NOAH: Really? Don’t start anything interesting without me. 

BARAK: I won’t. 

   Noah easily finds Bennoam’s hiding place.

BENNOAM Hey, that’s not fair, siccing her on me.

BARAK: Bed, little brother.

BENNOAM: All right.

   Bennoam bows before Deborah.

BENNOAM: It was nice to visit with you, ma’am. You too, Mr. Lapidoth.

LAPIDOTH: And you, too, son. Good night.

BENNOAM: Good night.

   Bennoam trots off ahead of Noah.

DEBORAH: Is he up to something? He went rather easily.

BARAK: With Ben, probably. I think all of them will be trying to listen in tonight.

(beat) 
Sometimes I wish they could remain ignorant of what is happening in the world. But that is the heart of a big brother, and not very realistic.

LAPIDOTH: It is the heart of a father, too, Barak. You have fathered them well.

   Barak blinks at the unexpected compliment. He runs his hand through his hair.

BARAK: Thank you, Sir.

   Noah returns.

NOAH: Thank you for including me, Barak. Ma’am, Sir. 

   Noah sits next to Deborah.

LAPIDOTH: Shall we summarize for Deborah and Noah?

BARAK: If we must.

   Barak ticks off on his fingers.

BARAK: Asher, no. Dan, no. Reuben, no. That one really hurts. Fellow shepherds. How they can think they’re immune is beyond me.

DEBORAH: We must not judge them, Barak. Were you in their place, you might choose the same course. Regardless, did not the LORD’s word say ten thousand of the men of Zebulun and Naphtali?

LAPIDOTH: One might wonder if we have wasted time seeking their help.

BARAK: No, it wasn’t a waste. We offered them a blessing, to give them the chance to serve with the army of the LORD. I wouldn’t retract that.

   Lapidoth raises his eyebrows.

LAPIDOTH: Well said, Barak.
(beat)

DEBORAH: Gentlemen, I wish to return to Ephraim for a while. My assistants may be of help to us there.

BARAK: You’re leaving?

DEBORAH: They hear much gossip as the people wait in line to see me. We may discover supportive hearts.

BARAK: B- but you can’t go now!

NOAH: May I go with Deborah, Barak?

  Barak frowns.

BARAK: Absolutely not.

NOAH: But-

DEBORAH: Barak, I do not wish to subvert your authority as her elder brother.

BARAK: Yet you are about to.

DEBORAH: Think this through. If we are to be at war, your family may be safer in Ephraim.

   From a corner, Bennoam pipes up.

BENNOAM: But I don’t want to go to Ephraim! I want to stay here with Barak!

BARAK: Ben!

DEBORAH: Barak?

BARAK: That settles it. I agree with your counsel, Deborah. Noah shall go with you. All of them shall go to Ephraim. You shall leave in the morning. I shall follow in a day or two, after I settle matters here. Thank you, Deborah.

NOAH: Thank you, Barak!

   Noah hugs Barak, squeezes Deborah’s arm. Deborah rubs Noah’s shoulder.

   Barak holds Noah a little longer, looks tenderly into her eyes.

BARAK: You’re almost of age, now, Noah. You are a beautiful young woman, smart and brave. I wonder how long it will be before I am no longer the only man in your life. Dare I let go of you?

NOAH: Oh, Barak, don’t get all mushy. It’s only for a visit.

  Barak smiles for her.

BARAK: You’re right. You go with my blessing. 

   Noah hugs Barak once more. She stifles a yawn.

NOAH: It’s past my bedtime. Good night.

   Barak moves to kiss Noah’s forehead, stops himself. He kisses her cheek instead.

BARAK: Wait. (beat) If this is your last night in Naphtali for a while, there is one thing we must do.
NOAH: Watch the sky?

   From the shadows, Evie and Mesha CHEER.

BARAK: Mesha, Evie, tell your sisters to go get their blankets. You too, Ben.
BENNOAM: Hooray!

EXT. BARAK’S HOUSE - NIGHT

   The moon has set, the stars are bright. A star trails across the sky. The girls point and chirp.

SARAH: Ooh! There’s another!

   Barak’s youngest sisters cuddle together under a blanket. Bennoam lies with his head resting on Barak's left arm, Noah on Barak's right.

   Deborah lies on a blanket opposite Noah. She stretches. Her hand accidentally brushes Barak's. They both startle. Deborah puts her hands under her head.

   Barak shuts his eyes. Bennoam points to a constellation.

BENNOAM: Barak, what’s that one there?

BARAK: (eyes closed) I don’t know.

BENNOAM: It looks like heaven is smiling.

   Barak looks.

BARAK: That it does. Judge Deborah, do you know what it’s called?

DEBORAH: I think it’s called “Heaven is Smiling.” 

   Another meteor crosses the sky.

DEBORAH: Look at that one!

   The children chorus, “Ooh!” 
   Noah whispers to Barak.

NOAH: Barak, why didn’t Lapidoth come out with us?

   At a window, silhouetted by lamp light, Lapidoth sips from a clay mug.

FADE TO:

EXT. FLASHBACK - A FIELD - NIGHT

   The moon has set, the stars are bright. A star trails across the sky.

Lapidoth lies on a blanket with his sons ASA and JAPETH. They point and chirp.

ASA: Ooh! There’s another!

JAPETH: Look at that!

ASA: Dad, are they angels? Adam said so.

   Lapidoth snuggles his sons.

LAPIDOTH: I don’t know, son. What do you think?

ASA: I think they are stars that got lost.

LAPIDOTH: And you, Japeth, do you think they are stars?

JAPETH: I guess. If they were angels, why don’t they ever visit us?

LAPIDOTH: They may yet, boys. They may yet.

FADE TO:
INT. BARAK’S HOUSE - FLASH FORWARD

   Lapidoth shuts the curtain, blows out a lamp. He WEEPS in the darkness.