Last week, we learned that Israel had an ally in Jabin's court. This week, we find out how Barak got those awful scars.
If you're curious, the reference to the men being ceremonially clean comes from Leviticus 15:16-18.
EXT. FIELD IN EPHRAIM - MORNING
Lapidoth and Barak practice on chariots. They ride hard, turn tight circles, change speeds, race. Barak lines his chariot up with Lapidoth’s, secures the reins so the horses keep galloping, hurls himself into Lapidoth’s chariot. Lapidoth momentarily loses control of his horses. The chariot careens on one wheel until Barak musters control.
They hit a rock, tossing Barak out of the chariot.
LAUGHING the whole while, Barak tumbles to a stop. Lapidoth brings the chariot around, slows his horses.
Barak runs, leaps into Lapidoth’s chariot once more. They wrestle for the reins.
LAPIDOTH: Oh, no! Look!
Barak looks. His team of horses runs out of control, overturning and dragging the chariot.
When Barak sees it and falters, Lapidoth catches Barak in a half Nelson.
BARAK: Hey, ow! Okay, okay. You win. Lemme go.
Lapidoth releases his hold on Barak. He urges his team up to the frightened horses. Barak hops off the chariot.
Using his horses and chariot, Lapidoth herds Barak’s horses so that they must pass by Barak.
Barak misses on the first try. On the second, he grabs the harness and swings onto a horse. He coaxes the mare into a stop. Dismounts.
Together, Barak and Lapidoth right the chariot. They wipe sweaty brows and catch their breaths.
LAPIDOTH: You are quite the horseman, Barak.
BARAK: Thanks. It’s been a while.
LAPIDOTH: What happened to make you stop?
BARAK: Sisera. And my own irresponsibility.
I/E. FLASHBACK - ABINOAM’S STABLE - NIGHT
Barak, a teenager, quietly hitches his father’s horses to a chariot and sneaks off. Half a mile away, his FRIENDS meet him.
The boys joy ride and race chariots under the moonlight. Barak is the best among them, performing dangerous stunts while he drives.
Suddenly, FRIEND 1 yells.
FRIEND 1: Fire! Over there!
Rising smoke darkens the moon. Arrows shower them. The Friends flee.
Barak drives madly through the darkness, arrows hissing past him. He sees his house engulfed in flames. He jumps off the chariot, runs into the fire.
BARAK: Mother! Father! Ben!
He pulls six year old BENNOAM out from under a table, grabs his sister NAOMI.
BARAK: Naomi! Where’s Noah? Ben! Where are the girls?
Bennoam is too frightened to speak. Barak bodily throws his brother out through a window. Naomi climbs out after him.
BARAK: Naomi! Take Ben! Run to the chariot! Stay there!
Barak finds Evie unconscious. Mesha holds her hand.
MESHA: Evie! Wake up!
Mesha can barely stand. Barak slings Evie over his shoulder.
BARAK: Mesha, hurry! Run out to the chariot!
Mesha staggers outside.
NOAH sits motionless under a table next to their MOTHER’s body.
BARAK: Noah!
NOAH: Is she dead?
BARAK: Of course not! Help me!
Barak, still carrying Evie, tugs their Mother by the arm. Noah comes to, takes her mother’s other arm.
BARAK: Wait! Take Evie. Here.
He helps Noah shoulder Evie. Noah stumbles out the door.
The fire licks closer to his Mother. Barak turns the table onto its side to protect her. He pulls her toward the door.
At the door, Noah takes her mother’s arms, gets her through.
NOAH: I’ve got her! Now get out of there!
BARAK: Where’s Sarah?
NOAH: Oh no! She’s still in there!
Barak dives into the house. He searches madly. Flame shoots from a corner, catches Barak’s robe. He tears it off.
BARAK Sarah! Sarah!
A COUGH. Barak stops, turns his head. COUGHING. In a corner of a closet, Sarah sucks her thumb and cries.
BARAK: Sarah, it’s me!
Sarah SHRIEKS.
BARAK: Sarah, it’s me, Barak. It’s me. It's me.
He hugs her to himself and draws her to the door.
A flaming timber crashes onto Barak, pins his legs to the floor.
BARAK: Sarah! Run! Grab her, Noah!
Noah catches Sarah in her arms and thrusts her out the door.
NOAH: Barak!
BARAK: Noah! Use the- pry it- ungh-
Noah grabs an iron bar from the fireplace. She YELPS, drops the bar. Her hand immediately blisters. She bites her lip, takes the bar again, uses it to lift the flaming beam.
Barak yanks his legs out. Noah helps him to his feet and they stagger through the doorway to their mother. She lies unable to move.
Barak puts his arm around her, lifting her toward his face.
BARAK: Mother! Mother, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have gone. I’m so sorry.
His Mother says something into his ear. He nods, kisses her. She dies.
Barak removes his arm from behind her, gently lays her body down.
NOAH: (hysterically) Mother! Mother!
Barak shakes Noah’s shoulders. He yells above the fire's roar.
BARAK: Noah, where is Father?
NOAH: Sisera took Daddy! Oh Barak! I saw what he did to Daddy! He kept saying, “Where are they?” He beat him and beat him! Oh Barak!
Barak wraps her in his arms.
BARAK: Shh, Noah. Get your sisters and Ben. We have to get out of here.
Noah gives her Mother’s body one last embrace. She then follows Barak.
Behind them, the house groans and collapses.
EXT. FIELD IN WILDERNESS - FLASH FORWARD
Barak buries his face in his hands. Lapidoth waits.
BARAK: We found my father, tortured and dead. After we buried our parents, I sold the horses, burned the chariot. No one ever blamed me. But it was my fault.
LAPIDOTH: Barak, look at me.
Barak raises his eyes.
LAPIDOTH: Did it never occur to you? It was exactly because you were not there that you were able to save your sisters and brother.
BARAK: What?
LAPIDOTH: Make no mistake. Sisera’s men would have killed you. Had they found you, none of you would have survived. None.
Lapidoth claps Barak’s shoulder.
LAPIDOTH: And I would have been denied the pleasure of today’s riding.
BARAK: (distantly) It was good to ride again. Thank you.
LAPIDOTH: You are welcome. I pray that soon many other men shall ride again.
Barak looks heavenward.
BARAK: Two hundred horses from the king’s master horsekeeper. For it to even be possible, God must be on our side.
LAPIDOTH: God is always on the side of freedom for the oppressed. When we ourselves have become free, we must remember this and never oppress.
BARAK: Indeed. (beat) Lapidoth, I plan to leave the day after tomorrow.
LAPIDOTH: So soon?
BARAK: So soon and so late. Should our horses be discovered, I want to be in Tabor before Sisera or Jabin figure out what’s going on. I also want to get Deborah there safely.
Lapidoth winces.
LAPIDOTH: Yes.
BARAK: I want to give our men one more night with their families. Then by evening, they will be ceremonially clean for battle. (cautiously) I can keep my sisters busy so you can have time with your wife, too.
Lapidoth suddenly laughs.
LAPIDOTH: I notice you do not promise to keep your brother busy.
BARAK: No one can promise that!
LAPIDOTH: First things first. It is time to cool down our horses.
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