| TRIAL BEFORE PILATE PILATE
And so the king is once again my guest
And why is this? Was Herod unimpressed?
CAIAPHAS
We turn to Rome to sentence Nazareth
We have no law to put a man to death
We need him crucified - it's all you have to do
We need him crucified - it's all you have to do
PILATE
Talk to me Jesus Christ
You have been brought here - manacled, beaten
By your own people - do you have the first idea why you deserve it?
Listen, King of the Jews Where is your kingdom?
Look at me - am I a Jew?
JESUS
I have no kingdom in this world - I'm through
CROWD
Talk to me Jesus Christ
JESUS
There may be a kingdom for me somewhere if you only knew
PILATE
Then you are a king?
JESUS
It's that you say I am
I look for truth and find that I get damned
PILATE
But what is truth? Is truth unchanging law?
We both have truths - are mine the same as yours?
CROWD
Crucify him! Crucify him!
PILATE
What do you mean? You'd crucify your
king?
CROWD
We have no king but Caesar!
PILATE
He's done no wrong - no not the
slightest thing
CROWD
We have no king but Caesar! Crucify him!
PILATE
Well this is new - respect for Caesar
Till now this has been noticeably lacking
Who is this Jesus? Why is he different?
You Jews produce Messiahs by the sackful
CROWD
We need him crucified
It's all you have to do
We need him crucified
It's all you have to do
PILATE
Talk to me Jesus Christ
Look at your Jesus Crist
I'll agree he's mad
Ought to be locked up
But that is not a reason to destroy him
He's a sad little man
Not a King or God
Not a thief - I need a crime
CROWD
Crucify him! Crucify him!
PILATE
Behold a man - behold your shattered king
CROWD
We have no king but Caesar
PILATE
You hypocrites - you hate us more than him!
CROWD
We have no king but Caesar! Crucify him!
PILATE
I see no reason - I find no evil
This man is harmless so why does he upset you?
He's just misguided - thinks he's important
But to keep you vultures happy I shall flog him!
CROWD
Crucify him! Crucify him!
Crucify! Crucify! Crucify! Crucify!...
(Thirty-nine lashes)
PILATE
Where are you from Jesus? What do you want Jesus? Tell me
You 've got to be careful - you could be dead soon - could well be
Why do you not speak when I hold your life in my hands?
How can you stay quiet? I don't believe you understand
JESUS
You have nothing in your hands
Any power you have comes to you from far beyond
Everything is fixed and you can't change it
PILATE
You're a fool Jesus Christ - how can I help you?
CROWD
Pilate! Crucify him! Crucify!
Remember Caesar - you have a duty
To keep the peace so crucify him!
Remember Caesar - you'll be demoted, you'll be deported
Crucify him!
Remember Caesar - you have a duty
To keep the peace so crucify him!
Remember Caesar - you'll be demoted, you'll be deported
Crucify him!
Remember Caesar - you have a duty
To keep the peace so crucify him!
Remember Caesar - you'll be demoted, you'll be deported
Crucify him!
PILATE
Don't let me stop your great
self-destruction
Die if you want to you misguided martyr
I wash my hands of your demolition
Die if you want to you innocent puppet! |
