THE HOLY BIBLE

 

TELEPLAY EDITION

 

Episode 1001

 

“In The Beginning”

 

by

 

George Willson

 

Based on the novel by God


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note: When God speaks, it is always in voiceover or off-screen. Envision a

James Earl Jones-ish voice.

 

TEASER

 

BLACK SCREEN

 

SUPER: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth...”

 

Darkness prevails for a short time until:

 

                      GOD

          Let there be light.

 

Overhead, it is as if a massive veil is lifted and light floods the surroundings.

Water stretches in every direction as far as the eye can see and it seems to

climb up to the heavens. The light has no discernable source, and the sky as we

know it is non-existent.

 

                      GOD

          Let the light be separated from

          the darkness. The light shall

          be called “day.”

 

Suddenly, like a shade blocking a window, darkness blocks out the light until

all is black again.

 

                      GOD

          And the darkness, “night.”

 

SUPER: “And there was evening and there was morning - the first day.”

 

The light fades in.

 

                      GOD

          Let there be an expanse between

          waters of the earth and the waters

          of the heavens to separate water

          from water.

 

Out of nothing, the blue of the skies emerges overhead covering the light

source with its blanket of blue.

 


                      GOD

          Let the expanse be called “sky.”

 

Darkness envelopes the earth again.

 

SUPER: “And there was evening and there was morning - the second day.”

 

The light fades in.

 

                      GOD

          Let the water under the sky

          be gathered to one place and let

          dry ground appear.

 

On command, the water rushes away and the ground appears, brown and dry. It rises

above the water. All across the earth, water falls away from bits of ground rising

out of the waters, and sometimes surrounding them.

 

                      GOD

          Let the dry ground be called “land,”

          and the gathered waters be called

          “seas.”

 

The land is dry and dusty, containing no life.

 

                      GOD

          Let the land produce vegetation:

          seed-bearing plants and trees that

          bear fruit with seed on it,

          according to their various kinds.

 

As God speaks, all across the new land, plants spring up, fully grown. Trees that

take centuries to mature grow out of the ground in seconds. Fruit bearing plants

and trees grow into maturity and produce their blossoms.

 

Darkness envelopes the earth again.

 

SUPER: “And there was evening and there was morning - the third day”

 

The light fades in. Across the land the new plants flourish. A mist rises from the

ground and waters the plants.

 


                      GOD

          Let there be lights in the expanse

          of the sky to separate the day from

          the night.

 

The light in the sky gathers into a single place and becomes the sun. Darkness

covers the land again, but in the sky light gathers into one point to become

the moon. Like a wave, stars dot the heavens creating a beautiful nighttime

array.

 

                      GOD

          Let them serve as signs to mark

          seasons and days and years, and let

          them be lights in the expanse of

          the sky to give light on the earth.

 

SUPER: “And there was evening and there was morning - the fourth day.”

 

Night turns back to day as the sun rises for the first time. Mist rises from the

ground to water the plants.

 

                      GOD

          Let the water teem with living

          creatures.

 

Sinking under the surface of the water, from the sea bed fish of all kinds, sharks,

and even whales emerge from the mud of the ground appearing fully mature and

spreading out throughout the oceans. Underwater plant-life emerges, fully mature,

on the sea bed.

 

                      GOD

          Let birds fly above the earth across

          the expanse of the sky.

 

From the dust of the ground, birds of all varieties are formed and fly into the

air. Flocks fly off in every direction.

 

                      GOD

          Be fruitful and increase in number

          and fill the water in the seas,

          and let the birds increase on the

          earth.

 

Night falls on the earth.


SUPER: “And there was evening and there was morning - the fifth day.”

 

The sun rises on a new day. Fish flourish in the seas. Birds nest in trees. Mist

covers the earth. The land appears empty although with many plants.

 

                      GOD

          Let the land produce living creatures

          according to their kinds: livestock...

 

All manner of livestock emerges from the dust of the earth.

 

                      GOD

          ...creatures that move along the

          ground...

 

Smaller mammals, insects, and rodents emerge and disperse.

 

                      GOD

          ...and wild animals, each according

          to its kind.

 

Larger wild animals emerge from the dust and spread out on the earth.

 

As God speaks, the dust of the earth in a small glade slowly forms itself into

the shape of a man. The skeleton solidifies. Organs take shape inside. Muscles

form over the frame. Skin forms over the musculature.

 

                      GOD

          Let us make man in our image, in

          our likeness, and let them rule

          over the fish of the sea and the

          birds of the air, over the

          livestock, over the wild animals,

          over all the earth, and over all

          the creatures that move along the

          ground.

 

The man’s eyes snap open.

 

END OF TEASER


ACT ONE

 

EXT. GARDEN OF EDEN - DAY

 

Four rivers flow out of a lush and beautiful garden. The man, ADAM, walks naked

toward the garden’s opening led by a man dressed in white. He is an ANGEL. The

angel stops at the entrance to the garden and allows Adam to enter.

 

INT. GARDEN OF EDEN - DAY

 

                      GOD

          You are free to eat from any tree

          in the garden; but you must not

          eat from the tree of the knowledge

          of good and evil, for when you eat

          of it you will surely die.

 

                      ADAM

          Where is this tree, Father?

 

                      GOD

          The tree is located in the center

          of the garden. My angel will guide

          you.

 

The Angel walks past Adam. Adam follows him through the garden to two trees in

the center. The angel stops in front of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and

Evil.

 

                      ANGEL

          This is the tree of which the Lord

          has spoken.

 

                      ADAM

          And I am not to eat of the fruit

          of this tree?

 

                      ANGEL

          As the Lord has spoken.

 

                      ADAM

          Why?

 


                      ANGEL

          Because the Lord has commanded it.

          And what the Lord commands, we must

          obey.

 

                      ADAM

          Of course. Without my Father, I

          would not have life, for he gave

          the breath of life to me.

 

Adam walks away from the Tree into the garden. The Angel disappears.

 

INT. GARDEN OF EDEN - LATER

 

Adam sits alone on the ground in the garden. He looks around him. He sees

many of the other animals in pairs.

 

                      GOD

          Adam.

 

Adam stands.

 

                      ADAM

          Yes, Father.

 

                      GOD

          We will find a helper suitable

          for you. It is not good for you

          to be alone.

 

                      ADAM

          Thank you.

 

At this, all of the animals that God created walks up to Adam.

 

                      GOD

          You have dominion over all the

          beasts of the earth. These are

          yours to name. Whatever you

          call it, that will be its name.

 

One by one, the creatures pass by Adam. He touches it briefly and calls it by

name.

 

Time passes as the seemingly endless line of animals pass by Adam and he names

them.


Finally, the last animal passes him.

 

                      GOD

          Did you find a suitable helper?

 

                      ADAM

          Your creations are wondrous, Father,

          but for me, none of these make a

          suitable helper. There are none like

          me.

 

                      GOD

          You are unique in all the world.

          There is no one like you for in

          my own image I created you. But

          you are right in saying none of

          these make a suitable helper.

          I will make one for you. Sleep.

 

Adam gets down on the ground and falls asleep.

 

                      GOD

          Sleep and when you wake, you will

          have a helper suitable for you.

 

As Adam sleeps, his skin bloodlessly slices open at the base of his ribs. A

rib emerges from his body and moves off to one side. No one seems to be holding

it. The slice on Adam’s skin reseals without a scar.

 

The rib remains in the air beside Adam. From the rib, the skeleton of another

human is created. Dust is not used in this creation, but the bones and organs

just seem to grow from nothing.

 

As the muscles form on the body, it becomes clear that this form is to be female.

Skin forms over the muscles, and hair streams out of her head.

 

INT. GARDEN OF EDEN - LATER

 

Adam wakes slowly. He sits up and looks off to one side. His face fills with

wonder and then delight.

 

                      GOD

          Adam. I have made for you a suitable

          helper.


                      ADAM

          Thank you, Father.

 

Adam walks over to the woman, EVE, whose hair is strategically placed over her

chest, but she is clearly naked as Adam remains. Adam takes her hands in his. She

smiles at him.

 

                      ADAM

          Where did this helper come from?

 

                      GOD

          While you slept, I took one of

          your ribs and made you this

          helper. What will you call it?

 

                      ADAM

          This is now bone of my bones, and

          flesh of my flesh; she shall be

          called “woman,” for she was taken

          out of man.

 

Adam looks into Eve’s eyes. She smiles, shyly.

 

                      ADAM

          You shall be the mother of all

          the living, so your name will

          be Eve. My name is Adam.

 

                      EVE

          Adam...

 

They kiss gently. Night falls.

 

SUPER: “And there was evening and there was morning - the sixth day.”

 

INT. GARDEN OF EDEN - DAY

 

Adam and Eve hand in hand looking into the heavens. A light issues upon them.

 


                      GOD

          Heaven and earth are completed, so

          I have finished my work. On this,

          the seventh day, I rest from all

          the work of creating I have done.

          You shall also regard this day as

          a day of rest. For six days shall

          you work in the garden, but let the

          seventh day be holy, for as I have

          rested, so shall you rest.

          Now, be fruitful and multiply; fill

          the earth and subdue it. Rule over

          the fish of the sea and the birds of

          the air and over every living creature

          that moves on the ground.

          I give you every seed-bearing plant

          on the face of the whole earth and

          every tree that has fruit with seed in

          it. They will be yours for food.

          To all the beasts of the earth and all

          the birds of the air and all the

          creatures that move on the ground -

          everything that has the breath of life

          in it - I give every green plant for

          food.

 

FADE OUT.

 

FADE IN:

 

INT. GARDEN OF EDEN - DAY

 

Adam works the ground around a small tree. He waters it and strokes the leaves,

like a father. He is still naked because their eyes have not yet been opened. Eve

walks up having gathered some green apples and grapes for them.

 

                      EVE

          How is it doing?

 

                      ADAM

          I’ve worked the soil around its

          base, and given it some extra water.

         

 

                      EVE

          You’ve worked hard today.


 

                      ADAM

          Our Father gave us this garden to

          care for and in turn it cares for

          us. We can’t take that responsibility

          lightly. What have you brought?

 

                      EVE

          Apples and grapes.

 

                      ADAM

          My favorite.

 

Adam takes an apple from Eve’s basket and eats.

 

                      ADAM

          Which part of the garden did these

          come from?

         

                      EVE

          Near the western river.

 

                      ADAM

          That area seems to have the best

          apples. When do you plan on

          gathering again?

 

                      EVE

          You were going to make sure the

          birds were not getting into the

          grain again. I thought I would

          go to the east and see what has

          grown there.

 

                      ADAM

          Sounds good.

 

She sits down to eat, and he takes another bite.

 

INT. GARDEN OF EDEN - LATER

 

Eve walks through the garden, basket on her arm, looking at the fruit on the

trees. A SERPENT, at this point resembling a long lizard, is ahead of her. He

looks up at her.

 

                      SERPENT

          Woman, where are you going?


Eve looks down at the serpent. She shows no surprise at this creature speaking.

 

                      EVE

          I am heading to the eastern river

          to gather fruit for me and my

          husband.

 

She walks onward. The serpent follows.

 

                      SERPENT

          Why do you walk so far for it?

 

                      EVE

          My husband and I eat of all the

          trees and plants in Eden. I

          gathered in the west this morning.

          I wish to gather in the east this

          evening.

 

                      SERPENT

          Why should you wish to walk so far?

 

                      EVE

          It is not far.

 

                      SERPENT

          Didn’t your Father say, “You must

          not eat from any tree in the

          garden?”

 

                      EVE

          No, we may eat from any tree in the

          Eden, but he did say, “You must not

          eat fruit from the tree that is in

          the center of the garden, and you

          must not touch it, or you will die.”

 

                      SERPENT

          He said, “You will die?”

 

                      EVE

          He did, and he does not lie.

 


                      SERPENT

          You will not die. You see, he knows

          that when you eat of its choice

          fruit, your eyes will be opened,

          you will be like Him, like your

          Father, knowing good and evil. You

          will not die, but live. Follow me.

 

The serpent skitters away. Eve looks after him, curiously. He stops and looks back

to her.

 

                      SERPENT

          Come on. You’ll never taste better

          fruit, and you will have all the

          knowledge in the world.

 

Eve follows after the serpent, warily.

 

INT. GARDEN OF EDEN - TREE OF KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL - LATER

 

The serpent approaches the tree. Even follows behind him.

 

                      SERPENT

          Watch as I touch the tree and do

          not die.

 

The serpent climbs the tree and sits atop a branch.

 

                      SERPENT

          See? See?

 

                      EVE

          Yes.

 

Eve walks up to the tree and places her hand on the bark.

 

                      SERPENT

          Look at the fruit. Have you ever

          seen anything more beautiful?

 

Eve turns her gaze to the apples hanging from the tree’s branches.

 

                      EVE

          Very beautiful.

 


                      SERPENT

          And the taste...the taste is

          unparalleled.

 

                      EVE

          It is?

 

                      SERPENT

          Where are the best apples in Eden?

 

                      EVE

          Adam likes the apples near the

          western river.

 

                      SERPENT

          Taste these. There is no comparison.

 

                      EVE
          I shouldn’t. Our Father said not to.

 

                      SERPENT

          He’s not going to know. How do you

          know he’s even here?

 

                      EVE

          He’s everywhere.

 

                      SERPENT

          No, he’s not. Do you see him?

 

                      EVE

          We’ve never seen him. But he is

          here.

 

                      SERPENT

          Come on. Just one bite. You won’t

          regret it. I promise.

 

                      EVE

          Just one...

 

Eve reaches up and takes an apple from the tree. Its skin is red and bright.

 

                      EVE

          ...one bite...


                      SERPENT

          Just one bite.

 

                      EVE

          It looks so good.

 

                      SERPENT

          Delicious beyond compare.

 

                      EVE

          It can’t hurt, I guess.

 

She takes a bite. Her expression reveals it tastes better than anything she has

ever had before.

 

                      SERPENT

          You like it?

 

                      EVE

          MmHm...

 

Eve looks down. She is suddenly embarrassed.

 

                      EVE

          I’m naked!

 

She grabs some leaves from a nearby fig tree and vines from a grapevine. She

covers herself with the hasty coverings.

 

                      EVE

          How could I have not known?

 

                      SERPENT

          Who knows? Don’t you think your

          husband would enjoy such choice

          fruit?

 

                      EVE

          I know he would. He loves apples.

 

Eve takes another apple and brings it to Adam, who is ensuring that the grain is

bird free. When he sees Eve approach in her new garments, he looks confused.

 

                      ADAM

          Eve, you’re back early. Why do

          you have leaves on your body?


                      EVE

          Don’t worry about that. Here.

          Try this.

 

                      ADAM

          Ok. Where’d it come from?

 

                      EVE

`         Just try it. It’s unbelievable.

 

                      ADAM

          All right.

 

Adam bites into the apple. The serpent peeks out from behind some bushes and

smiles. Adam looks at himself and blushes.

 

                      ADAM

          I’m naked! Eve, where did you find

          those leaves? I need some.

 

                      EVE

          I knew you were naked, so I

          brought some with me.

 

Adam sews the leaves together as they talk.

 

                      ADAM

          Where did the apple come from?

 

                      EVE

          That tree in the center of the

          garden that Father told us not to

          eat from? Well, the serpent told me

          the fruit was very good. I took

          some and ate it, and it is, and

          look, we didn’t die.

 

                      ADAM

          What have you done? You disobeyed

          our Father and caused me to do

          the same!

 

Adam suddenly looks up. It’s like he knows something unseen.

 

                      ADAM

          Our Father is here. He is walking

          in the garden. Hide!


Adam and Eve take cover in some bushes to hide themselves.

 

                      GOD

          Adam. Where are you?

 

                      ADAM

          I heard you in the garden, Father.

          I was afraid and I hid, because I

          am naked.

 

                      GOD

          Who told you that you were naked?

          Did you eat from the tree that I

          commanded you not to eat from?

 

Adam stands. He wears his fig leaf covering. He points to Eve.

 

                      ADAM

          It was this woman you put here with

          me. She gave me some of the fruit

          from the tree, and I ate it.

 

                      GOD

          Eve, why have you done this?

 

Eve stands and points to the serpent, who cowers.

 

                      EVE

          The serpent deceived me, and I

          ate.

 

                      GOD

          Because you have done this,

          Cursed are you above all the

          livestock and all the wild animals!

          You will crawl on your belly

          and you will eat dust all the

          days of your life.

 

At this the serpent sheds its skin and legs and lands on its belly. It looks

toward the heavens with Adam and Eve.

 


                      GOD

          And I will put enmity between

          you and the woman, and between

          your offspring and hers; he will

          crush your head, and you will

          strike his heel.

 

The serpent slithers away. Eve flinches as he goes away.

 

                      GOD

          Eve, I will greatly increase

          your pains in childbearing; with

          pain you will give birth to children.

          Your desire will be for your husband,

          and he will rule over you.

 

Eve bows her head, chastised.

 

                      GOD

          And you, Adam, because you listened

          to your wife and at from the tree

          about which I commanded you not eat of,

          Cursed is the ground because of you;

          through painful toil you will eat

          of it all the days of your life. It

          will produce thorns and thistles for

          you, and you will eat the plants of the

          field. By the sweat of your brow you

          will eat your food until you return

          to the ground, since from it you were

          taken; for dust you are and to dust

          you will return.

 

Adam bows his head, also chastised.

 

                      GOD

          These are garments of skin. In the

          future, you will make them yourselves

          so you will have coverings for

          yourself and your children.

 

Adam and Eve are covered in animal skin clothing.

 

                      GOD

          You are banished from my garden and

          will no longer enjoy the life I had

          given you.


Adam and Eve take each others’ hands. They walk out of the garden together.

 

INT. HEAVEN

 

In a surreal white location without walls or barriers, angels stand together

before a great throne upon which sits God, who is portrayed only as a great

light and never truly seen by us.

 

                      GOD

          The man has now become like one of

          us, knowing good and evil. He must

          not be allowed to take also from the

          tree of life and eat and live forever.

          Cherubim, go now and guard the tree.

 

Two ANGELS take up FLAMING SWORDS and disappear.

 

EXT. GARDEN OF EDEN - DAY

 

As Adam and Eve exit the boundaries of the Garden of Eden, the Cherubim appear at

the entrance to the garden. They hold their swords before them and are as tall as

trees.

 

Adam and Eve look at their former home, sadly. Hand in hand, they walk into the

wilderness together.

 

 

END OF ACT ONE


ACT TWO

 

EXT. ADAM’S HOME - DAY

 

SUPER: “130 years later”

 

Adam and Eve live in a small house in a plantation-like setting with gardens and

livestock. Their two sons, CAIN and ABEL work in the fields.

 

CAIN, the elder, tends to the gardens. He cares for and inspects the fruits

thereof.

 

ABEL, the younger, tends the livestock in the fields, which consists of sheep

and goats.

 

Adam, although older, he doesn’t look it, walks out into the garden to Cain. He

is followed by Cain and Abel’s younger sister, AWAN.

 

                      ADAM

          How’s the food supply, Cain?

 

                      CAIN

          Doing well. It’s a good crop

          this year.

 

                      ADAM

          Well done. I’m leaving Awan here

          with you to help you bring in

          our dinner.

 

                      CAIN

          Thank you, father.

 

                      ADAM

          Keep up the good work. I’m

          going to check on your

          brother, Abel.

 

Adam pats Cain on the back and moves off towards the fields. Awan carries a

basket and moves up to Cain.

 

                      AWAN

          Where shall we start?

 


                      CAIN

          Whatever you want. The field is

          yours to choose.

 

                      AWAN

          Are we not to preserve the best

          for Father God?

 

                      CAIN

          I’ve got a supply for Father God,

          but for you, I’ve reserved the best.

 

She smiles. As there are no other people on the earth, these two are to become

husband and wife, and they know it.

 

Adam walks out of the garden and into the fields where Abel tends the flocks.

 

                      ADAM

          Abel, has that ewe given birth

          yet?

 

                      ABEL

          She has. The lamb is beautiful.

 

Abel leads Adam to a young lamb. It is indeed spotless and beautiful.

 

                      ABEL

          It is the firstborn lamb of that

          ewe. It should be Father God’s.

 

                      ADAM

          Well said, my son. Next year,

          you may offer it to Him.

 

                      ABEL

          Is dinner ready?

 

                      ADAM

          Cain and Awan are gathering the

          fruit as we speak. Milk a goat

          so we may drink as well as eat.

 

                      ABEL

          Yes, father.


Abel moves off to the goats. Adam walks back to the modest house and goes inside.

 

INT. ADAM’S HOUSE - DAY

 

Eve sits in a primitive chair sewing animal skins together into a garment. She is

pregnant. Adam enters and kisses her forehead.

 

                      ADAM  

          How are you doing, my wife?

 

                      EVE

          I’m ready to bear you another

          child. When Father said it would

          be painful, I thought it would

          just apply to the end. He never

          mentioned the aches during the

          whole process.

 

Adam feels of her belly. He smiles.

 

                      ADAM

          I feel it moving. It will be

          soon, I know it.

 

                      EVE

          Is Cain coming with dinner?

 

                      ADAM

          Yes. I have Awan helping him

          gather.

 

                      EVE

          When are they to join together?

 

                      ADAM

          Whenever they are ready. Father

          God made you from me, but they

          came from us. Awan will be the

          wife of Cain. They know this.

          When they take each other, Cain

          will move on to his own land

          and his own family. The two shall

          be one flesh as we are. For

          this reason, a man will leave

          his mother and father and be

          united to his wife.


                      EVE

          When will we die as Father

          promised?

 

                      ADAM

          I don’t know. It will happen.

          Because we ate the forbidden

          fruit, someday we will die.

          Until then, we will do our

          duty to this world and our

          Father, and fill the earth.

 

                      EVE

          Yes.

 

Cain and Awan enter the house. They carry the choicest fruits in their basket

into the house and place it on a table. Adam looks in the basket.

 

                      ADAM

          This looks good, you two.

 

                      CAIN

          Thank you, father.

 

                      AWAN

          Thank you, father.

 

                      ADAM

          Cain and Awan, the time has come,

          we believe, for you to be husband

          and wife. Our Father God told us

          to multiply and cover the earth.

          It is time for you two to take up

          this responsibility as well. You

          are our firstborn son and daughter,

          and it is right that you take each

          other.

 

Cain turns to Awan. She smiles at him.

 

                      CAIN

          Awan, today you are no longer

          my sister, but my wife.

 


                      AWAN

          And you, Cain, are now my husband

          and no longer my brother.

 

                      ADAM

          Tonight, you two will be one.

 

Abel enters carrying a container of fresh goat’s milk.

 

                      ABEL

          I have the milk.

 

                      ADAM

          Abel, congratulate your brother

          and sister. They are husband and

          wife.

 

                      ABEL

          I am happy for you. May our Father

          God give continual blessings upon

          our household.

 

                      CAIN

          Thank you.

 

                      ABEL

          Father, I wish to take of the flocks

          tomorrow and make an offering of

          thanks to our Father God.

 

                      ADAM

          Of course. Take the best of the flock

          and offer it to our Father.

 

A brief silence ensues. Cain suddenly speaks up.

 

                      CAIN

          I, too, wish to make an offering to

          our Father God. An offering of the

          fields I tirelessly work in.

 

                      ADAM

          Of course. Take the best of the

          fields and offer it to our Father.

 


                      EVE

          Can we eat yet? The baby is

          starving.

 

                      ADAM

          Yes. Let’s eat.

 

                      EVE

          Thank you.

 

The family gathers around the table and partakes of their dinner.

 

EXT. ADAM’S HOUSE - DAY

 

On the following day, Abel walks through his flocks and picks up a perfect sheep.

 

Cain goes through his fields and picks over the fruit. He does not pick the best

of his fields, but those he would not eat or have some kind of problem. The type

he would not have a problem getting rid of.

 

EXT. MOUNT OF OFFERING - DAY

 

Cain and Abel build alters atop the mount. Abel builds blindly, but Cain

continually watches his brother, as if competing with him. Once the altar is

built, Abel places the meat and fat of the sheep (which he has already thankfully

taken care of) onto the altar. Cain places his fruits on his altar.

 

Abel raises his hands to the heavens and calls out:

 

                      ABEL

          Oh, Sovereign Father God, creator

          of heaven and earth! I offer you

          thanks for the wonderful bounty

          you have given to my family. Please

          accept this humble offering in

          return for all you have given me.

 

At this fire issues out of heaven and envelopes the offering, burning it up

completely. Abel is beside himself.

 

                      ABEL

          Father God accepted my offering.


Not to be outdone, Cain raises his hands to the heavens and cries out:

 

                      CAIN

          Oh, Sovereign Father God, creator

          of heaven and earth! I offer you

          thanks for the wonderful bounty

          you have given to my family. And

          also for the wife you have granted

          me to continue your will. Please

          accept this humble offering in

          return for all you have given me!

 

Cain anticipates a grand return as Abel had received. Nothing happens.

 

                      CAIN

          Oh, Sovereign Father God, creator

          of heaven and earth! I offer you

          thanks for the wonderful bounty

          you have given to my family. And

          also for the wife you have granted

          me to continue your will. Please

          accept this humble offering in

          return for all you have given me!

 

Still, nothing happens.

 

                      CAIN

                (desperately)

          Oh, Sovereign Father God, creator

          of heaven and earth! I offer you

          thanks for the wonderful bounty

          you have given to my family. And

          also for the wife you have granted

          me to continue your will. Please

          accept this humble offering like

          you accepted the offering of my

          brother Abel in return for all you

          have given me!

 

Abel places his hand on Cain’s shoulder.

 


                      ABEL

          God has not inclined to your offering,

          my brother. Perhaps if you had

          brought the choice fruits rather than

          the inferior, he would have inclined

          to yours as he inclined to mine.

 

Abel walks away. Cain is fuming. He violently kicks down his altar, throwing its

pieces and his offering all over the ground.

 

                      GOD

          Why are you so angry? Why is your

          face downcast? If you do what is

          right, will you not be accepted?

          But if you do not do what is right,

          then sin is crouching at your door.

          It desires to have you, but you must

          master it.

 

Cain turns and storms off.

 

EXT. ADAM’S LAND - DAY

 

Cain is tilling the ground, still fuming over Abel. Coming in the direction of

his land, Abel’s flock are grazing near an area he has recently tilled. he ignores

it for a moment. When he looks back up, The flocks have crossed onto the ploughed

area and are eating the grass off the ground he has turned over.

 

Angrily, he throws down his tiller and storms over to Abel.

 

                      CAIN

          What have I done to you that you

          bring your flocks onto my land

          to feed?

 

Abel is taken aback, but replies calmly.

 

                      ABEL

          What have I done to you that you

          feed on the milk of my flock and

          clothe yourself in their wool?

          If this is a problem, then remove

          the wool of my sheep that you’re

          wearing, compensate me for the

          milk you have drunk, and when this

          has been done, I will go.


Cain gets in Abel’s face.

 

                      CAIN

          Tell me something: if I kill you

          today, who will require compensation

          for your blood?

 

                      ABEL

          Our Father God who created us on

          the earth will avenge me and require

          compensation for my blood if you

          should kill me, for He is the

          judge of all men and repay you

          according to your evil. If you kill

          me today, Father God knows your

          secret ideas and will judge the evil

          you declare to me this day.

 

Abel turns away from Cain. Cain is incensed. With a mighty cry, he takes up his

tiller and beats Abel with. Abel falls to the ground. The sheep scatter. Blood

flows beneath him.

 

END OF ACT TWO


ACT THREE

 

EXT. ADAM’S LAND - DAY

 

Cain finishes digging a hole in his field. He looks around, panicked. He walks

over to Abel’s dead body. He picks it up and dumps it in the hole. He covers the

body with the dirt of the hole.

 

Once finished, he collapses to the ground in tears. His clothes and hands are

covered in Abel’s blood.

 

                      CAIN

                (weakly)

          What have I done?

 

Cain weeps for a moment before:

 

                      GOD

          Where is your brother, Abel?

 

Cain recovers himself and looks to the heavens.

 

                      CAIN

          I don’t know. Am I my brother’s

          keeper?

 

                      GOD

          What have you done? Don’t you

          know your brother’s blood cries

          out to me from the ground? Now

          you are under a curse and driven

          from the ground which opened up

          to receive your brother’s blood

          from your hand. Now when you work

          the ground, it will not yield its

          crops for you. You will be a

          restless wanderer on the earth.

 

                      CAIN

          Please, Father God, my punishment

          is more than I can bear. You are

          driving me from the land to be a

          restless wanderer on the earth. I

          will be hidden from your presence

          and whoever finds me will kill me.


                      GOD

          No. If anyone kills Cain, he will

          suffer vengeance seven times over.

 

A mark appears on Cain’s forehead.

 

                      GOD

          Take your wife and go.

 

Cain runs back to the house and bursts in.

 

INT. ADAM’S HOUSE - DAY

 

Adam, Eve, and Awan look up to see Cain standing in the doorway, looking like

a crazed madman.

 

                      ADAM

          Cain! What is going on?

 

                      CAIN

          Father, I am sorry. I have to

          leave your presence.

 

                      ADAM

          Why? What happened? Where is

          your brother?

 

Cain fights tears.

 

                      CAIN

          I’m sorry, but when Abel’s offering

          was accepted over my own, it upset

          me. I was moved to kill him, which

          I did.

 

Eve and Awan react in shock to this news. Adam is staggered. Cain struggles to

maintain his composure

 

                      CAIN

          When I saw what I’d done, I knew

          it was a sin committed against

          our Father God. He has driven from

          this land into one of my own. May

          your child be a tribute to your

          house and succeed where I have

          failed.


                      ADAM

          Cain...did Father forgive you?

 

                      CAIN

          I don’t know. I told him that

          anyone who found me would kill

          me, but he gave me this mark to

          prevent it. But I don’t know

          if that means he forgave me.

 

                      EVE

          Do you have to go? I have already

          lost one son today.

 

                      CAIN

          Father God has commanded it. I

          must not sin again by breaking it.

          Come Awan. It’s time to leave.

 

Awan stands. She kisses Adam and Eve goodbye. With a final glance, Cain and

Awan leave the presence of their parents and the Lord. Adam holds Eve, who

cries on his shoulder.

 

EXT. WILDERNESS - DAY

 

Cain and Awan travel through the wilderness of the world.

 

INT. CAVE - NIGHT

 

Cain and Awan settle for the evening in a cave near a large, open, fertile plain.

 

                      CAIN

          How are you doing?

 

                      AWAN

          Not so good. This isn’t going to

          be easy.

 

                      CAIN

          No, but we can do it. We will

          be the start of the people

          here as our parents will

          continue where they are.

 

                      AWAN

          Are you ok?


                      CAIN

          I’ll never be ok. I killed

          my brother. Abel was the first

          man to die, and it was by my

          hand. I will always be remembered

          but hated.

 

                      AWAN

          I don’t hate you.

 

                      CAIN

          I’m glad.

 

They kiss gently and lie down.

 

INT. ADAM’S HOUSE - DAY

 

Eve is straining under the throes of childbirth.

 

                      ADAM

          We’re almost there.

 

Eve strains again, screaming under the pain and pressure.

 

                      ADAM

          I’ve got a head! One more, my love,

          one more!

 

Eve gives a final push and relaxes. A cry permeates the air.

 

                      ADAM

          We have another boy!

 

He hands the child to Eve, who cradles him.

 

                      EVE

          Father has granted me another son

          in place of Abel, who Cain killed.

          He shall be called Seth.

 

                      ADAM

          He shall be a tribute to our Father

          who gave him to us.

 

Adam and Eve kiss each other and gaze upon their new son.

 


EXT. FOREST - DAY

 

SUPER:    “567 years later”

          “697 Anno Mundi”

 

A man, ENOCH, sits with paper on his lap, reading the words to children around

him. They are METHUSELAH, a boy of 10, ELISHA, a boy of 8, and MELCHA, a girl

of 6. The children are, in turn surrounded by a group of older men and women.

 

                      ENOCH

          When Adam was 130 years old, he

          and his wife Eve gave birth to

          Seth.

 

Enoch looks up at Adam and Eve, now aged somewhat to 672 years, but still looking

strong. They look over to Seth, who is now 542.

 

                      METHUSELAH

                (pointing)

          Seth!

 

                      ENOCH

          That’s right. Seth is still with

          us as are the parents of everyone,

          Adam and Eve. 697 now, right?

 

Adam nods and smiles.

 

                      ADAM

          And still young.

 

The group laughs.

 

                      ENOCH

          So, when Seth was 105 years old,

          he took Azura, his sister as a wife,

          and gave birth to Enosh.

 

Seth holds Azura, and they look over to their son, ENOSH, a strapping lad of 437,

standing with his wife, NOAM.

 

                      MELCHA

          I know Enosh and Noam. They

          give me grapes.


                      ENOSH

          Only when no one is looking.

 

They group laughs again.

 

                      ENOCH

          Now, when Enosh was 90, he and

          Noam became the father of Kenan,

          who was a kind and wise ruler

          of our people.

 

                      KENAN

          Was?

 

Everyone looks to KENAN, who is dressed elegantly at the age of 332, and standing

with his wife, MUALELETH.

 

                      ENOCH

          He also was given great wisdom by

          God and was the first to recognize

          the growing unrighteousness of men.

          God gave Kenan a message of what

          will happen to us if men continue

          to disobey God.

 

                      KENAN

          When I was 40, I said to the

          people that unless they turn back

          to God, he will destroy the world

          in a great flood.

 

                      ELISHA

          When will God do that?

 

                      KENAN

          He did not say.

 

                      ENOCH

          Now, when Kenan was 70, he and

          Mualeleth gave birth to Mahalalel.

 

MAHALALEL, who stands with the rest of the group at age 262 with his wife DINAH,

smiles at Enoch.

 


                      ENOCH

          And when Mahalalel was 65, he took

          Dinah for his wife, who gave birth

          to my father, Jared.

 

JARED, at 197, stands with his wife, BARAKA.

 

                      ENOCH

          And when Jared was 162, he gave

          birth to Enoch, and that would be

          me. I took Edna for my wife, and

          10 years ago, when I was 65, we

          gave birth to a son, Methuselah.

 

                      METHUSELAH

          That’s me!

 

                      ENOCH

          Yes, my son, that is you.

 

Enoch looks up and smiles at his wife, EDNA, who stands with the rest of the

family.

 

                      ENOCH

          And now here we are, 697 years

          since the creation of the world

          powerless to stop the decline of

          the sons of Cain. We are thankful

          always for our ancestors, who are

          still with us, but as God warned,

          will someday die. I have endeavored

          to write down the lineage of our

          fathers and what God has commanded

          us to do. It is my hope that we

          may gather together annually,

          taking only a small part of our

          year to learn from one another and

          for our fathers to pass their

          knowledge to our sons.

 

Enoch looks from Adam to little Methuselah.

 


                      MAHALALEL

          I feel like there is another

          reason we are here, Enoch. We

          know you have been spending a lot

          of time in seclusion, wrapped up

          in the knowledge and understanding

          of God.

 

                      EDNA

          Even I, your wife, see you rarely.

 

                      ENOCH

          I find I must secret myself away

          from men and their ways. I wish to

          teach my children what they need to

          know, but the more I learn of God,

          the less I find I know.

 

                      KENAN

          What is happening? Is God sending

          the flood?

 

                      ENOCH

          Not yet. Man has not yet angered

          God to that extent, however, I

          feel that God wishes to say more

          than he has to any man so far.

          I don’t wish to show myself as

          better than anyone else, for I

          am of the youngest of all of you.

         

                      JARED

          You are special, my son. God has

          already given you a great gift.

          You have recorded our family for

          generations to know where they

          came from when we do finally die.

 

                      BARAKA

          And we are equally grateful that

          you have taught these things to us.

 


                      ENOCH

          I do as God commands. But let us

          not speak of such things now. I

          find myself far too humble to be

          the subject of discussion. Let’s

          eat and save these things for

          another day.

 

As the group talks amongst themselves and moves off to the food which has been

brought, Enoch appears reflective.

 

                      ENOCH

                (to himself)

          I just don’t know what’s going

          to happen to me next.

 

INT. ENOCH’S HOUSE - DAY

 

Enoch is in a private room, kneeling in prayer to God. A voice issues from

heaven.

 

                      ANGEL

          Enoch!

 

Enoch rises.

 

                      ENOCH

          Here am I.

 

                      ANGEL

          Go from your house and show yourself

          to the sons of men, so you can teach

          them the work they must accomplish

          to enter into the way of the Father

          of all.

 

                      ENOCH

          Where shall I go?

 

                      ANGEL

          You know the way.

 

                      ENOCH

          Thank you, messenger of God.


Enoch walks from his private room into the rest of his house where Edna,

Methuselah, Elisha, Melcha are sitting as well as two more children, ELIMELECH,

a boy, and NAHMAH, a girl.

 

                      ENOCH

          God sent a messenger to tell

          me to appear before the people

          and teach them of his ways.

 

Edna walks calmly over to Enoch and takes his hands. Fear reigns in her eyes.

 

                      EDNA

          If God told you to go, then you

          must go. I won’t hide that I

          am afraid for you, because men

          do not listen to God in some places.

          If you proclaim him, and they do

          not wish to hear you, you could

          die by their hands. They are not

          afraid to do this. Cain may have

          repented, but his children are not

          so regretful.

 

                      ENOCH

          God will protect me. He has asked

          me to go, so I will go.

 

                      EDNA

          Be careful, my husband.

 

                      ENOCH

          I will.

 

Enoch hugs the children before he goes. He leaves the house.

 

EXT. CITY - DAY

 

Enoch walks boldly through the city streets. He leaps upon a pedestal and speaks

to the people passing by.

 

                      ENOCH

          Where is the man who wishes to know

          the ways of the Father God and

          good works? Let him come to Enoch.


Most people ignore him, though a few seem to be curious about this bold man.

 

                      ENOCH

          Where is the man who wishes to know

          the ways of the Father God and

          good works? Let him come to Enoch.

 

More men are intrigued by Enoch. They begin to gather around.

 

                      ENOCH

          Where is the man who wishes to know

          the ways of the Father God and

          good works? Let him come to Enoch.

 

Looking around him, Enoch finds a number have assembled.

 

                      ENOCH

          Sons of Adam, listen to me. The

          Lord spoke to me, saying,

          The Holy One will come forth from his

          dwelling, and the eternal God will

          tread upon the earth, even on Mount

          Sinai, and appear in the strength of

          His might from the heaven of heavens.

          And all shall be smitten with fear

          And the Watchers shall quake, and

          great fear and trembling shall seize

          them to the ends of the earth. And the

          high mountains shall be shaken, and

          the high hills shall be made low, and

          shall melt like wax before the flame

          and the earth shall be wholly rent in

          sunder, and all that is upon the earth

          shall perish, and there shall be a

          judgment on all men. But with the

          righteous he will make peace and will

          protect the elect, and mercy will be

          upon them. And they will all belong to

          God, and they shall be prosperous, and

          they shall all be blessed.

                      (MORE)
                      ENOCH (cont’d)

          And he will help them all, and light

          shall appear to them and He will make

          peace with them, and behold! He comes

          with ten thousands of his angels to

          execute judgment upon all, and to

          destroy the ungodly: and to convict

          all flesh of all the works of their

          ungodliness which they have ungodly

          committed, and of all the hard things

          which ungodly sinners have spoken

          against him.

 

The people are silent around him.

 

                      ENOCH

          What will you be? Do you want to

          be of the elect or the sinners?

 

The people retain their silence.

 

                      ENOCH

          For the sinner, the years of your life

          will perish, and the years of your

          destruction shall be multiplied in

          eternal execration and you will find no

          mercy. But to the elect there will be

          given wisdom and light and joy and peace,

          and you will inherit the earth. You shall

          not again transgress or will you sin

          all the days of your life, nor will you

          die of the divine anger or wrath,

          but you shall complete the number of your

          days. Your lives will be increased in

          peace, and the years of your joy will

          be multiplied, in eternal gladness and

          peace all the days of your life.

         

 

Enoch stops again and looks around.

 

                      MAN IN CROWD

          How do we find this peace?

 

                      ENOCH

          Do as God commands, and He will give you

          peace.


The crowd reaches for Enoch, all speaking at once. Enoch’s words are drowned

out in the tumult, but it is apparent, his message got through to him.

 

EXT. A GROVE - DAY

 

SUPER: “233 years later”

SUPER: “930 Anno Mundi”

 

Enoch, simply but elegantly dressed, stands with the rest of his family,

noticeably missing the likenesses of Adam and Eve. Seth stands before them next to

a freshly dug plot of ground.

 

                      SETH

          So it comes to the end of our father,

          Adam’s life after 930 years upon this

          earth. Let us never forget that he,

          like our mother, Eve, died because

          they transgressed God’s commands and

          partook of the tree of the knowledge

          of good and evil. Through them, we

          learn of the goodness and the justice

          of God, our Eternal Father. Today, we

          lay Adam to rest peacefully, his body

          returning to the dust from which God

          made him. My father, Adam, taught me

          many things of God, and I have passed

          them on the best I could. Never let

          us forget that Adam’s father is the

          Almighty God, who created everything

          around us, and that by following His

          ways, we may have a long life on the

          earth.

 

The family applauds Seth’s words. Enoch walks away from the service. His father,

Jared, approaches him.

 

                      JARED 

          Enoch.

 

Enoch turns to his father and smiles. They embrace for a moment and then they

walk away from the grave of Adam.

 

                      JARED

          I’m proud of you, son. God has placed

          you where you are needed the most:

          ruling with wisdom over mankind.


                      ENOCH

          I’m leaving my position of leadership.

 

                      JARED

          What?

 

                      ENOCH

          I am losing sight of God, father. I

          need to do as I did before. Hide

          myself away in order to serve Him.

          The affairs of the land take too much

          attention away from what really

          matters. I have given them wisdom,

          and I will continue to do so, but I

          need to give the land to someone

          else.

 

                      JARED

          How will you know who to give it to?

                     

                      ENOCH

          God will show me the way.

 

EXT. MONTAGE

 

--Enoch appoints someone else to head over the country.

--Enoch walks to his former home and into his private room where he prays again.

--Men appear at his door. He teaches them.

--Enoch teaches on many occasions to men in small and large groups. They listen

with rapt concentration.

 

EXT. REMOTE LOCATION - DAY

 

SUPER: “57 Years Later”

SUPER: “987 Anno Mundi”

 

Enoch sits upon a rock watching men approach him. They bow down upon reaching him.

 

                      MEN

          May the king live! May the king live!

 

                      ENOCH

          Rise, please. I am no longer your

          king.

 


                      KING

          But you speak with more wisdom than

          than I who reigns in your place. Your

          face shines with a Godlike awe that

          drives men to fear you.

 

                      ENOCH

          I am only a man, like you.

 

                      KING

          Teach us, so I may lead the people.

 

                      ENOCH

          Lead the people as you would, yourself,

          be led. When you judge others, do so

          without regards to who they are, but

          in the facts as you know them.

 

Suddenly, a light shines down upon Enoch. Enoch looks up curiously, and halts

the questions of the men.

 

                      ANGEL

          Enoch!

 

                      ENOCH

          Here am I.

 

                      ANGEL

          The Lord who reigns in heaven wishes

          to bring you up to heaven to rule

          over the sons of God, and you have

          reigned over the sons of men.

 

                      ENOCH

          I am ready.

 

                      ANGEL

          We will come for you.

 

The light dims out. Enoch looks over the assembly.

 


                      ENOCH

          I have been required to ascend into

          heaven, and I do not know the day of

          my going. So I will continue to teach

          you wisdom and knowledge and will give

          you instruction before I leave you:

          how to act upon earth and how you

          are to live.

 

Time lapses as Enoch teaches the men. He writes many things down and gives them

to the men. Finally, they lift up their eyes and see a horse descending from

heaven, galloping through the air. The men are stunned. Enoch looks upon it with

rapt joy.

 

                      KING

          Enoch! A horse descends from the

          heavens!

 

                      ENOCH

          It is on my account that this horse

          descends upon the earth. The time has

          come when I must go from you and I

          will no more be seen by you.

 

The horse completes its descent and stands before Enoch. Enoch calls out to the men

assembled.

 

                      ENOCH

          I have given you wisdom and knowledge

          and divine instruction. Serve the Lord

          your God and walk in all His ways all

          the days of your lives.

 

Enoch climbs upon the horse and gallops away. The men mount their horses and

follow behind him. All night into the next day, they follow Enoch on his ride.

Enoch finally stops and turns to them.

 

                      ENOCH

          Return home to your tents. Why do you

          follow?

 

Some of the caravan turns away, but many remain.

 

                      ENOCH

          You must return.


                      KING

          We will follow you to the place you are

          going. As the Lord lives, only death

          will separate us.

 

Enoch turns and gallops away again. The men follow. Enoch turns back to them.

 

                      ENOCH

                (yelling)

          Go back! You cannot follow me!

 

                      KING

                (yelling)

          Never! Only death will part us!

 

                      ENOCH

                (yelling)

          No!

 

Enoch gallops faster. They try to keep up with him.

 

Suddenly, a whirlwind rises from the ground and lifts Enoch and his horse. The

horses of the men who followed him panic and throw them to the ground.

 

Enoch’s horse changes into a fiery chariot, pulled by two fiery horses. Fire

floods the ground engulfing the men who were closest. Enoch ascends into the

heavens and is gone.

 

The men who were beyond the edge of the fire watch in awe and wonder.

 

END OF ACT THREE

 

Source Material:

 

From the Bible:

Genesis 1:1 - 5:24

 

From Extra-Canonical Works:

Book of Jasher 1:1 - 3:38

Book of the Jubilees Chapter 4

Book of Enoch Chapters 1 & 5

 

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