#TheSong of Deborah part 14 by #mrfb

  Last time, the great battle for Israel's freedom began. Wild natural events occurred, helping the soldiers but trapping Deborah and Bennoam. Barak stuck to the battle plan, but in so doing, his father's killer Sisera has escaped.

   This week, Lapidoth will find Abby's cousin at great cost, Deborah and Bennoam must free themselves from the earthquake, Barak must use everything he knows to survive - and we see that Jael is good with a hammer. 

   I would say this section is PG-13 for violence, but I first read and marveled at the Bible's account of Sisera when I was far younger than 13. I encourage reader discretion.

EXT. MONTAGE - CONTINUOUS
1. Lapidoth’s Men battle toward Hazor.
2. Perez, Noah, Tamar, Abby and Azubah hold hands, pray.
3. A meteorite strikes Hazor, breaches its wall. Fire.

INT. A CAVE NEAR TABOR - CONTINUOUS
Deborah shoves herself past a rock, tearing the back of her dress and leaving blood on the rock.
Bennoam catches sight of her.

   BENNOAM: Deborah!

Deborah lunges forward. Water pours down the wall, eddies about Bennoam’s waist.

   DEBORAH: Ben! Are you hurt?
   BENNOAM: I’m stuck under these rocks. My foot hurts awful. But I kept the torch dry!

Bennoam waves the torch with his free hand.

   DEBORAH: Good work, Ben. Okay, let’s get you out of here.

Keeping her chin above the water, Deborah works the rocks that hold Bennoam.

   DEBORAH: Ungh!

The last rock gives way for Deborah. Bennoam pulls himself out from under it. He scrabbles to get above the water.
Deborah lifts his foot to examine it in the torchlight. It is bruised and cut but not broken.

The earth shakes again. Dirt and rocks shower Deborah and Bennoam. The torch sputters, dims.
Water gushes in from a different wall.

   BENNOAM: What do we do?

Deborah turns her face from Bennoam. She catches her breath, wipes away tears. She prays.

   DEBORAH: LORD God, You made these caves. You alone know how to get us out. Dear God, please save Ben!

Another spray of dirt and rocks fall. A stalactite CRASHES and shatters. Light filters through.

   DEBORAH: Thank You, LORD! Thank You!
   BENNOAM: How did you do that?

Deborah kneels for Bennoam to climb onto her back.

   DEBORAH: God loves to set people free. He just wants us to ask. Okay, climb up. See if you can get through that hole. It looks big enough.
   BENNOAM: What about you?
   DEBORAH: Once you are safely through, we’ll widen it for me. We’re going to be okay, Ben. We’re going to be okay.

I/E. KING JABIN’S COURT - CONTINUOUS
The meteorite that fell has burned a hole through Hazor's wall, opening the way for Lapidoth, Enoch and his MEN. They burst into Jabin’s court. Instead of a bloody battle, his Ministers allow them in and slay Jabin themselves.

Lapidoth finds Tirzah. He speaks, she nods. He puts his arm around her and races out.

Suddenly, a bleeding Soldier slams a door, barring Lapidoth from Enoch and his Men. The Soldier’s sword drips blood.

   SOLDIER: Going somewhere?

Tirzah backs against the wall.

Lapidoth lunges at the Soldier. The Soldier pushes Lapidoth against the wall, crushing with his shield. 

Lapidoth’s arm turns purple. He drops his sword. 

The Soldier slams his shield into Lapidoth’s face. The blow splits the skin of Lapidoth’s forehead. He wilts to the ground.

The Soldier draws back to finish.

Enoch bursts through the door. The Soldier looks. Lapidoth reaches his sword. Enoch swings a scythe and hamstrings the Soldier.

The Soldier drags down Enoch, pulls a short sword, opens up Enoch’s abdomen.

Tirzah SCREAMS.

Sword in hand, the Soldier crawls toward Lapidoth. 

Lapidoth blinks blood out of his eyes. He rises to his knees. He lunges, stabs downward, kills the Soldier.

   TIRZAH: Uncle Enoch!

Weeping, Tirzah cradles Enoch’s head. Enoch grasps her arm.

   ENOCH: Go with Lapidoth. He will take you home. Go.

Enoch dies.

EXT. FLOODED KISHON RIVER, JEZREEL - CONTINUOUS

Barak fights hand to hand, sword to sword. Canaanites fall before him. Arrows fly over him. Water churns past his ankles.

The rain continues. The ground RUMBLES. 

A wave of raging water knocks Barak off his feet. The current pulls him under, rolls him, pounds him into rocks.

Under the water he grabs a man’s leg. He tries to right himself, only pulls himself deeper. A ghastly bloodless face bobs in the current.

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

Barak lets go of the corpse. He tumbles in the rushing torrent. Above, greyness! He beats through the water, toward the light.

Gasping, he emerges.

I/E. JAEL’S TENT - CONTINUOUS

Sisera runs, stumbles, falls. Before him stands a small tent. He reaches out and takes hold of one of its ropes. He raises his head. Rain washes streaks through the mud on his face.
He lets go and collapses face down into the mud.

Jael appears in the tent’s door. She gasps. She lifts his face out of the mud.

   JAEL: Sisera? Sisera, what happened?

Sisera is shaking. He speaks weakly.

   SISERA: Jael. Help me. Please.

   JAEL: Don’t be afraid. They won’t look for you here. Let’s get you out of the rain.

Sisera rises on wobbling legs. He staggers with Jael into her tent. She helps him lie on her sleeping mat. She covers him with a blanket.

   SISERA: Give me, please, a little water to drink. I am so thirsty.

Jael opens a skin of milk. 

   JAEL: Here, Sisera. You need more than water.

   SISERA: (hoarsely) Thank you.

Sisera rises to accept the milk, then falls backward as he drinks. Jael supports him. When he finishes, she wipes his face with a cloth.

   JAEL: I am making dinner. The soup isn’t ready yet, but how about some fresh bread? I have cheese curds and butter. I’ll be just a minute.

She turns her back to him, gets food. Sisera dozes, wakes.

   SISERA: Stand in the door of the tent. If anyone comes and asks, “Is there any man here?” Tell him, “No.”

   JAEL: Certainly. Now rest. You are weary.

Sisera closes his eyes. He snores faintly. 

Jael steps just outside the tent into the rain. Mud forms around the tent pegs at her feet. She steps on a rope to test the tension. The peg loosens.

Jael steps inside, picks up a hammer. Outside again, she hammers the peg deeper. The peg hits a hidden rock and bounces loose. She falls backward.

The tent sags. 

Jael is muddy up to her elbows. She SWEARS. She pulls up the stake entirely, carries it into the tent.

Sisera is still asleep. She walks softly to him. 

Jael holds the peg in her left hand, the hammer in her right. She raises the peg, the point just above his temple. In one smooth motion, she slams the hammer down on the stake, ramming it through his head into the ground underneath.

Blood spurts. Sisera convulses. He lies still.

Jael rises. She pours water into a basin. She washes the mud and blood off her hands. She wets a cloth and wipes blood off her face. She ladles a bowl of broth for herself, sits next to Sisera’s body.

She slurps the broth softly.

The rain beats on the tent.

#TheSongofDeborah part 13 The Battle Begins

   In writing the battle, I departed from today's choreography for screenplays. Often you see the hero/heroine take increasingly drastic measures until s/he descends to the enemy's level. I couldn't do that with Barak. Why? Barak already won the battle the night before. It is so settled in his mind that he will even forego revenge in order to fulfill God's will.
   Meanwhile, Deborah will have her own battle. She will have to ditch the fear that has haunted her whole life in order to save Bennoam.
   Some may notice that Barak's speech to the men comes out of Moses' instructions for war. Sure, we all loved Aragorn's speech to the men of Gondor and Rohan in Return of the King, but you simply can't top this speech.

EXT. FIELD IN WILDERNESS - VERY EARLY MORNING

The sun, blood red, rises over a sleepy Canaanite camp. Two Canaanite SCOUTS whisper.

   SCOUT 1: Hey, check out the sunrise. What’s that saying? Red sun in the morning?

   SCOUT 2: We’re still in the dry season. It won’t rain for two more months.

   SCOUT 1: Still, I don’t like it.

EXT. KISHON RIVER - MORNING

Hordes of Canaanite SOLDIERS gather at the Kishon River. In orderly fashion, SISERA and his CHARIOTEERS bring their horses to the Kishon to drink, then align their chariots with thousands of Soldiers forming columns behind them.

Sisera moves his chariot into the lead.

EXT. WOODS ON TABOR - CONTINUOUS

Fully risen, the sun is now pale yellow. Wind RUSTLES in the trees. White wisps of clouds unite into thicker, darker columns.

Deborah walks among kneeling Israelite SOLDIERS. She touches each on the head in blessing and prayer.

Barak climbs into a chariot. All the Israelites stand and focus on him.

   BARAK: When you go out to battle today and see horses and chariots and a people more than you, be not afraid of them: for the LORD thy God is with you, the same God who brought us out of the land of Egypt.

Hear, O Israel, we approach this day to battle our enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be terrified because of them; for the LORD your God is he that goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you!

Barak gestures to encompass the sky and the land before them.

   BARAK: It is He who will fight for us!

The Israelite Soldiers CHEER.

Deborah joins Barak on the chariot. She speaks to him and the Men.

   DEBORAH: Up, for this is the day in which the LORD hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the LORD gone out before thee?

Barak CALLS OUT, shofars SOUND, the Israelite Soldiers rush downward.

The two ARMIES plunge into battle.

I/E. A CAVE NEAR TABOR - CONTINUOUS

Deborah climbs up the hill to the mouth of the cave.

   DEBORAH: All right, Ben, you can come out.

Bennoam emerges.

   BENNOAM: Thank you. I was getting tired of hiding.

   DEBORAH: You, Ben? Tired of hiding?

   BENNOAM: Yeah. May I watch the battle with you?

   DEBORAH: Only if you will pray with me.

   BENNOAM: Yes, ma’am. Thank you.

He takes her hand and walks with her. They sit on a rock that looks down toward the Kishon and the plain of Jezreel. From there, the war below seems blurred and imaginary.

Time passes.

   BENNOAM: Will Barak be okay?

   DEBORAH: Ben, I want you to finish up your chores in the cave. Let’s have it nice for Barak and the others when they get back.

   BENNOAM: All right. Will you come in with me?

   DEBORAH: In a little while.

   BENNOAM: You don’t like caves, do you?

   DEBORAH: No. But I will get over it.

   BENNOAM: Okay. I will see you in there.

Bennoam goes into the cave. Whistling, he takes a tool and

pitches hay.

Time passes.

   BENNOAM: (to himself) Well, at least this isn’t kitchen duty. How’d they fit all those horses in here?

Bennoam balances the pitchfork against his leg and picks at a blister.

Deep inside the cave, there is a low RUMBLE and CRACKING sound.

Bennoam puts down the pitchfork.

No one to the left.

No one to the right.

   BENNOAM: Hey!

His voice ECHOES briefly.

He takes a torch and heads deeper into the cave.

BENNOAM: Hey! Echo! Echo!

Bennoam’s shadow dances on the wall, disappears.

EXT. A CAVE NEAR TABOR - CONTINUOUS

With Bennoam out of sight, Deborah hugs herself and rubs her eyes to keep the tears from coming.

   DEBORAH: (to herself) Have faith, Deborah. Breathe.

She forces herself to watch the battle.

   DEBORAH: Sovereign LORD, please let Your word be true, Your promises sure. Lead Barak and Lapidoth to victory. Amen.

The ground RUMBLES under Deborah. She jumps to her feet, runs into the cave alone.

   DEBORAH: Ben!

EXT. MONTAGE - CONTINUOUS

1. The wilderness in Edom: the bell on a goat’s neck JINGLES. Other goats look up. Rocks slide and crash.         

2. THUNDER. Rain dots parched soil.

3. Mount Sinai: smoke and an avalanche. Shepherds look up and run.

4. The Plain of Jezreel: the battle rages. Swords pound shields. Hermes clutches at an arrow piercing his chest. He falls.

5. The wilderness in Ephraim: Lapidoth leads MEN, ambushes Jabin’s Men.

7. Rain and hail cut sideways into the faces of Canaanite Soldiers.

8. Barak drives a chariot, briefly turns his face into the rain. Beside him his archer SETH shoots, pierces Canaanite Soldiers.

9. Torrents of rain on Soldiers in ankle deep mud. Feet step over muddied bodies. 

10. North of Tabor: a dry riverbed fills with crashing white water.

INT. A CAVE NEAR TABOR - CONTINUOUS

Deborah raises a torch.

   DEBORAH: Ben?

No one to the left.

No one to the right.

Deborah kicks through the hay. She raises the torch, lowers it. Shadows lengthen and shorten.

   DEBORAH: Ben? Where are you? I – I have another chore for you.

The ground jerks. Deborah cracks her head against a stalactite. She rubs her head. Blood dots her fingertips.

She steadies the torch.

A bit of straw lies before a narrow tunnel.

   DEBORAH: Ben!

EXT. PLAIN OF JEZREEL - CONTINUOUS

The earth shakes. Horses rear and NEIGH. Men fall from horses and chariots. White foam gives way to roiling brown waters, knocking the legs out from under Canaanite FOOTMEN.

The Kishon River surges and widens. Bodies wash downstream. 

A wave knocks out a team of Canaanite horses. Their CHARIOTEER fights to free his horses. The flood pulls him under.

A flaming meteorite tears across the sky. Another and another ROAR through the air and CRASH into the Canaanite army. Hundreds collapse at the concussion.

Sisera’s group is cut off from the main army. He YELLS orders. None respond. He YELLS orders again. The Soldiers regroup.

A TROOP of Zebulun corners Sisera. 

Sisera jumps out of his chariot and flees. 

Barak’s archer SETH points.

   SETH: Barak, look! It’s Sisera!

   BARAK: Where?

Seth puts an arrow to his bow.

   SETH: Drive closer, Barak! I can reach him. The man who killed your father will be ours!

Barak quickly analyzes.

   BARAK: No, we are needed here. Sisera has killed many fathers beside my own. The chariots must be our focus!

Seth shoots at Canaanite Charioteers but keeps looking toward Sisera.

   SETH: But he’s getting away! The coward can be ours!

   BARAK: It is not your call, Seth! We drive on!

Barak drives his chariot ahead, nearly avoiding an enemy chariot. A CANAANITE lunges and grabs Seth. Barak draws his sword and slashes to free him.

Seth collapses to his knees.

CANAANITES close in on Barak. They surround and mount Barak’s horses. Barak fights, throws one to the ground, stabs another.

Seth pulls himself up with bleeding hands. He has no more arrows. He draws his sword, lashes out.

Barak’s chariot jerks wildly as several Canaanites overturn it.

INT. A CAVE NEAR TABOR - CONTINUOUS

Deborah, bleeding and dirty, squeezes through the tunnel.

   DEBORAH: Ben! Where are you?

   BENNOAM (O.S.): (weakly) Judge Deborah?

   DEBORAH: Ben! I’m coming!

   BENNOAM (O.S.): I’m sorry, Deborah. I didn’t mean to wander. I heard this noise.

   DEBORAH: Stay where you are! I’m coming!

On the other side of the wall, rocks block most of Bennoam from view. He lies under rubble. He still holds his torch.

   BENNOAM: Deborah, I’m scared. I can’t move.

   DEBORAH (O.S.): I’m coming, Ben. Can you do me a favor?

   BENNOAM: If I can, ma’am.

   DEBORAH (O.S.): Can you sing to me?
   BENNOAM: What do I sing?
   DEBORAH: Make up a song for me. Please? I need you to sing to me.

Bennoam wipes tears and dirt from his face.

   BENNOAM: Okay. 
   I had a little donkey, but Barak had to go. He said he’d get a horse for me, but now I just don’t know.

Deborah licks sweat off her lip. She inches forward on her hands and knees.

   DEBORAH: That’s good, Ben! I’m almost there!

The earth shakes violently. Deborah drops the torch. It sputters out. Darkness.

Deborah slows her breathing, whispers to herself.

   DEBORAH: LORD God, help us. Please. I can't do this without You.

A shadow on a rock shifts from a flickering light source.

   DEBORAH: Ben, is that your torch? Can you hold it high?

   BENNOAM (O.S.): Yes. How's this?

   DEBORAH: Good. Thank you, Ben. You are really helping me.

The ground surges sideways.

BENNOAM (O.S.): Deborah! Help me! Water’s coming in!

#TheSongofDeborah part 10 by #mrfb

Last week, Barak revealed the tragedy that left him orphaned and scarred. Lapidoth has almost started to open up emotionally. Will Lapidoth finally be able to reconnect with his wife the night before they go to war?
Meanwhile, Bennoam plots his own adventure and Jael and Heber try to make sense of Sisera's new orders.

EXT. LAPIDOTH’S TENT - EVENING

Lapidoth meets Deborah at the fire pit. She stirs a giant pot of soup. He removes his head covering and kisses Deborah’s cheek.

Deborah ladles soup for him and herself. Lapidoth says a short prayer and they drink quietly.

Lapidoth clears his throat.

   LAPIDOTH: Barak leaves in two days. It will ensure we have a day to be ceremonially clean before we battle.

Deborah spills soup over the edge of her cup, burns her hand. She sucks on the blister.

   DEBORAH: What battle?

   LAPIDOTH: I shall lead Ephraim into Hazor the day after tomorrow. 

Deborah spills soup again.

   DEBORAH: What?

   LAPIDOTH: While the whole of Sisera’s army gathers in Zaanaim, Hazor is unprotected. We’ll assault Hazor from the south.

   DEBORAH: You agreed to do this?

   LAPIDOTH: I volunteered.

   DEBORAH: If you were to fight at all, I thought you would go with me, up to Tabor with Barak.

   LAPIDOTH: Barak said this effort is

essential.

   DEBORAH: I hope you realize what you are doing.

Lapidoth looks at her until she looks away. He sets aside his cup.

   LAPIDOTH I am offering him my life, what is left of it.

   DEBORAH: What are you talking about?

Lapidoth SIGHS heavily.

   LAPIDOTH: Dearest Deborah, when our boys died, I died, too. I lost our business, I lost our home. I can’t even make love to you. All I do is sit out there and watch sheep. Yet, somehow, you managed to find the peace that eluded me. My life ended, but yours seemed to begin.

   DEBORAH: Lapi, I- 

Lapidoth waves his hand.

   LAPIDOTH: At first, I was angry. I knew you loved our boys, but doubt grew. I was happy to see you heal, but I faded under your success. Your beauty, your anointing, mocked everything I did, mocked everything I was. Your calling was so clear, so defined, while I stumbled in darkness.

   DEBORAH: I never meant to outshine you. I-

   LAPIDOTH: Please. I am trying to ask your forgiveness. I deeply regret that I have not given you the passion you deserve.

   DEBORAH: There is more to life than passion.

   LAPIDOTH: But you deserve more. You’ve wasted your beauty and your youth on me. I just want you to know that if there were another man, I’d understand if-

Deborah leaps to her feet.

   DEBORAH: How dare you! How could you think so little of me?

   LAPIDOTH: I would understand, that’s all.

A tear runs down Deborah’s cheek.

   DEBORAH: Of all the men in Israel, you have given me more freedom than any woman could desire. I dare not ask for more. I beg you: do not grant me permission to be unfaithful.

Deborah dries her eyes, stirs the soup.

   DEBORAH: You haven’t explained why you will fight Hazor. 

Lapidoth stares into the fire. Looks up.

   LAPIDOTH: Deborah, I want my life to be more than a sentence in history. I want to be more than just Deborah’s husband. I want my life to count for something. There has to be more than a mediocre shepherd in this weary frame. There has to be. I have to believe that somewhere inside me is a warrior who will fight for his friends.

Lapidoth slaps limply at his leg.

LAPIDOTH: That little punk might be the best thing that ever happened to me. After you, I mean. When I look at Barak, I see our boys. I see what might have been. I shouldn’t, but I do. I love him as if he were my own son. He makes me want to live again. And if living means dying, that is what I will do. Deborah, I can’t let Barak do this alone. I can’t let Sisera kill anyone else’s sons.

Deborah takes Lapidoth’s hand.

   DEBORAH: Japeth and Asa knew you loved them.

   LAPIDOTH: Did they?

   DEBORAH: It was Sisera who murdered them, not you. Not you! You sinned neither before me nor before God. That is how I have peace. Please, dear Lapidoth, find your peace.

Deborah kisses his cheek, the corner of his mouth, his mouth. Lapidoth slips his fingers between their faces, turns away.

                                                   FADE TO:


EXT. LAPIDOTH’S TENT - MORNING

Inside the tent, Deborah, Lapidoth and Barak speak in muffled voices.

Behind the tent, Bennoam furtively stuffs bread into a sack. Evie sneaks up on him.

   EVIE: Gotcha! 

Bennoam startles. He grins.

   BENNOAM: Evie! Wow, you scared me. Good one!

   EVIE: Ben, if you are running away,

you’ll need water, too. 

Evie hands Bennoam a water skin.

   BENNOAM: I’m not running away.

   EVIE: Come on, Ben. You’ve been sneaking stuff for the last two days. What gives?

   BENNOAM: Nothing.

   EVIE: Bennoam ben Abinoam, you are

planning to stow away in the cargo going to Mount Tabor.

   BENNOAM: Am not! And don’t tell on me.

   EVIE: You’ll have to pay me to cover for you.

   BENNOAM: All right, name your price.

Evie taps her lips with her fingers as she thinks.

   EVIE: My chores. For a month.

INT. THE SMITHY - DAY

Heber, his arm in a sling, leans against the door jam. He watches Jael hammering.

   HEBER: You just get more and more beautiful.

He kisses her cheek.

   JAEL: I’m glad that you are feeling better. I was scared. I was so scared.

They kiss passionately. Jael lets her hammer fall to the floor.

                                                   FADE TO:


I/E. THE SMITHY - LATER

Heber ties his belt one-handed. Jael straightens her hair and dress. She busies herself at the fire.

Outside, sound of horses, JINGLING harnesses, CREAKING of wheels.

   HEBER: It’s Jabin’s men.

   JAEL: I wish they would just bring all those chariots here. Why do they have to relocate you?

   HEBER: Secrecy. News of aging chariots might boost Israel’s morale too much. Besides, I won’t be going all the way to Hazor. Just far enough to keep the problem chariots out of sight. There I can teach Jabin’s men how to repair them on their own.

   JAEL: I suppose it is cheaper to move one human rather than nine hundred chariots.

   HEBER: You’ll need to keep up appearances.

   JAEL: Business as usual.

Heber kisses her hand. Jael smiles.

   HEBER: You sure give one terrific send-off.

   JAEL: Just make sure you come back. I’ll keep the fire going for you.

Heber goes out to meet MASHKET and ZEKRUPH who have dismounted from an iron chariot.

   HEBER Ah, gentlemen. I shall gather my things. Please, allow us to water your magnificent horses.

As the men wait, Jael pours a bucket of fresh water into a trough. The horses drink noisily.

Heber uses his free hand to toss a satchel into the chariot. Something catches his attention at the base of Mount Tabor.

In the distance, an ISRAELITE SCOUT creeps into the woods. Heber silently gets into the chariot.

#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.