I guess now is a good time to share my stage play about the Apostle Peter since I mentioned him, and it, in my last blog "Can Christians Have a Sense of Humor?"
You can read more about the play HERE, and for a description of the main characters you can go HERE.
Please know that I am a creative writer, not a technical writer. This play is my personal imagination of how I see the events when I read the Bible ... it is as biblically accurate as my knowledge can ascertain, and I will reference scripture whenever it is relevant to show what biblical events I am expounding upon and fleshing out with my imaginations. My play shows these biblical characters as REAL men, with REAL lives.
We are going to take this one scene at a time ... and discuss it ... enjoy :)
You can read more about the play HERE, and for a description of the main characters you can go HERE.
Please know that I am a creative writer, not a technical writer. This play is my personal imagination of how I see the events when I read the Bible ... it is as biblically accurate as my knowledge can ascertain, and I will reference scripture whenever it is relevant to show what biblical events I am expounding upon and fleshing out with my imaginations. My play shows these biblical characters as REAL men, with REAL lives.
We are going to take this one scene at a time ... and discuss it ... enjoy :)
SCENE ONE
SCENE: A unit setting around a pivotal fire pit surrounded by various stones and tree trunks. PETER prepares to leave on a journey with his new rebel friends. Outside PETER’S beachfront home: it is morning.
AT RISE: ELISABETH kneads dough out of a large wooden bowl braced between her knees. PETER sharpens/shines his beloved Roman short sword. They are arguing.
ELISABETH
…and what am I supposed to think? Running in here without warning! Face all flushed. His eyes just shining like a demon! ‘Brother! Come on! We’ve found the
Messiah!’ And do you know what you said to him? Do you? Remember? Do you?
SIMON PETER
Don’t know, Beth.
ELISABETH
I’ll tell you exactly!
SIMON PETER
Probably something like, ‘Andrew? Been at the wineskins so early without me?’
ELISABETH
It’s not funny! You said … and I remember! (Laughs.) You said … ‘You found who!?’
SIMON PETER
Thought you said it wasn’t funny.
ELISABETH
Stop right now, Simon Peter! Now is not the time to sling dung at me! With you tramping up and down the countryside? Lord knows where! With those rebels again?
SIMON PETER
He said Capernaum area. Not very far! Maybe up to Nazareth. Should be able to stop back by to see you and the kids fairly often. Might even bring him home with me.
ELISABETH
You’ve no business picking up and leaving your family like this. And the boats! Have
you thought about the boats? Humph! Simply leaving, whenever the fancy strikes, to follow some guy with far-fetched ideas about some sort of … revolution?
SIMON PETER
Revolution is exactly--
ELISABETH
War against Rome! Ha! You know nothing about politics, religion and such! And despite all your big-talk about carving someone a new--
SIMON PETER
Elisabeth!
ELISABETH
You just better leave politics and talk of new kingdoms to the elders of the synagogue! Or to those filthy desert rabble who … who--
SIMON PETER
(Whacks sword upon a tree trunk.)
Woman! Shut your mouth!
ELISABETH
No, I will not! (Whacks cheesecloth.) Not this time! There are enough wanna-be war heroes to fill every burn pit across the nation. (PETER immerses into sword again;
deep in his own thoughts.) It doesn’t have to be you! You’re a father! And a partner in your family business! What about me, Simon? Huh?
SIMON PETER
(Almost trance-like.) Father bought this sword many years ago … from an Arabian trader … who got it from an Alexandrian … who took it off a fallen Roman … in the battle of Actium.
ELISABETH
(Exasperated.)
We all know its history, but--
SIMON PETER
No matter the sword’s history! It’s become a part of me. Me! I use it for everything. You realize that? From scraping the boats to mending the nets to butchering goats … sheep … to scaling the fish and--
ELISABETH
I know, alright? I know! But--
SIMON PETER
But! Maybe this blade’ll serve some greater purpose than mundane chores or slapping some sassy mule on its ass! Maybe this blade will serve me well in the revolution that’s talked about so much.
ELISABETH
You really trust him, don’t you.
SIMON PETER
Why not? He’s known around these parts as an honest man. He and his brothers’ll give you a fair share and hard work. Talk about excellent craft! Father knows the family, you know. He comes from good stock.
ELISABETH
But do you really believe what he says about restoring our kingdom?
SIMON PETER
Absolutely … I guess.
ELISABETH
You guess?!?
SIMON PETER
I’d like to think so, Beth. A man’s got to believe in something! The old-ones used to tell us how the kingdom of Solomon stretched from Egypt to Persia. And how his ships navigated around some far-off place called … oh, what was it …
ELISABETH
Africa. I remember the stories. They brought ivory and peacocks and--
SIMON PETER
(Back in trance-like state; thinking out loud.)
King Solomon even made a throne out of … from those gigantic thick-skinned, long-nosed animals the Greeks called …oh, what were they called?
ELISABETH
(Dull.)
Elephants.
SIMON PETER
(Sudden idea.)
Ivory’s what it was! From elephants! Did you know that?!? (Back to trance.) Wonder how many it’d take to make a throne like that?
ELISABETH
So this guy’s talking about a kingdom even greater than Solomon’s?
SIMON PETER
(Thinking out loud again.)
At least a dozen, I ‘magine ... to make a throne like that.
ELISABETH
(Losing her patience.)
Huh? Peter? Is that what you’re saying? A kingdom greater than Solomon’s?
SIMON PETER
(Snaps out of it.)
Greater than the greatness of Rome, Beth! I’ve heard rumors at the dockyards about the Romans colonizing a whole world beyond the gates of Hercules. Something’s got to be done!
ELISABETH
But how can a tiny army fight the might of Rome? What are you all think—?!
SIMON PETER
Remember your place! I don’t know what we think we’re going to do. But I’ll tell you one thing, we’re going to do it! So help me--
ELISABETH
Shhh! Thou shalt not take the Lord God’s name in vain.
SIMON PETER
Don’t you dare shush me, woman! Gets on my nerves. You know that! I don’t know
what we’re going to do! Alright? Even if I did it’s none of your--
ELISABETH
It most certainly is!
SIMON PETER
Maybe he’ll finally grow angry enough to use his … his vast powers in military action!
ELISABETH
Ha! What powers?
SIMON PETER
I told you! Pretty sure I told you. That time I drug so much fish into my boat that--
ELISABETH
Uh-huh. That fisher of men story. Humph! Time, chance and circumstance is all that
was.
SIMON PETER
But then there’s also that time me and the guys went to a large wedding feast with
him! (Awkward silence.) Don’t look at me that way.
ELISABETH
What way?
SIMON PETER
That way!
ELISABETH
Just what does wedding feasts have to do with vast powers?
SIMON PETER
Anyway. (Feeling sick to his stomach.) The wine ran out.
ELISABETH
Oh it did, did it? You want to tell me why?
SIMON PETER
It was … a party … Beth. People drink … at parties. Especially happy … parties.
And, you know, well … we sort of ... ran out of wine.
ELISABETH
And how much did you drink?
SIMON PETER
Not much.
ELISABETH
Lie! I know you, Simon Peter! Free wine! Festive music!
SIMON PETER
I didn't! Ask Andrew!
ELISABETH
(Rants over him.)
Fair maidens! Far … faraway wife!
SIMON PETER
I didn't! I swear! Ask Andrew if you don’t believe me!
ELISABETH
Like I’d really trust him! Mister We’ve-Found-the-Messiah!
SIMON PETER
Don’t roll your eyes at me, woman! (Slaps sword upon trunk again.) You haven’t seen some of the stuff we’ve seen!
ELISABETH
Uh-huh. I bet! Throngs of women supporters! Harems! (Slaps dough: sounds like slapping flesh.) Prostitutes!
SIMON PETER
Enough! I’m not even going to--
ELISABETH
Because you can’t!
SIMON PETER
All I know is! When the time’s right we’ll throw out that pompous bag of bile and
then we’ll be on to Rome!
ELISABETH
But your numbers are so--
SIMON PETER
No matter our number! I’ll slit their gentile throats with their own
sword! …Ha!
ELISABETH
(Covers dough with cheesecloth.)
And have you thought about what you’ll do when someone tries to shut your friend up?!?
SIMON PETER
I’d--
ELIZABETH
He’s bound to start attracting unwanted attention to himself. With you right in the middle of it! Humph. I can see it now!
SIMON PETER
I’d slice an ignorant head in two. That’s what I’d do! So help
me--
ELISABETH
Shhh! I shouldn’t be hearing all this blather. Why’d you start it, anyway?
SIMON PETER
I didn’t! You did! With your moody contempt for my brother!
ELISABETH
Moody?!? Who’s moo--
SIMON PETER
You want a whipping, woman? I didn’t start it, but I’ll sure settle it!
ELISABETH
I’m not scared of you! (Solemn resignation.) It’s been tried before.
SIMON PETER
(Thinks he’s been challenged.)
What!
ELISABETH
Revolutions. Who’s to say it can’t succeed this time?
SIMON PETER
Not me, that’s for sure! I’d never deny my part in this. Or my name isn’t Simon--
ELISABETH
Peter. My rock.
SIMON PETER
That’s right! Nothing can make me crumble.
ELISABETH
(Sadly supportive. Gets up to go into house.)
I know. And that’s why you’ll need your best walking boots, and your warmest cloak, and … and …
SIMON PETER
Dry those tears, woman! Come here. (Flops ELISABETH into lap.) Where’s my belt?
ELISABETH
Don’t you dare start this now! You’d better go. (Dodges kisses.) Peter! Not now! Your rebel friends are waiting. (Sad smile.) Wouldn’t want to keep them waiting. Would we? Please be careful.
SIMON PETER
You know I will.
ELISABETH
Let me know when you’ll be coming back this way. I’ll have mother come help me
prepare a nice meal for you and your … your friend.
SIMON PETER
His name is--
ELISABETH
Jesus! (Gets off of her husband. Walks toward house.) I know. Go!
(ELISABETH exits to gather his things.)
SIMON PETER
(Deep in thought.)
All my life a Messiah will come. All my life this supposed Messiah. Who he will be. Where he will come from. Wonder all my life. Some mighty warrior to lead us once again to Solomon’s glories. A Messiah will come to redeem Israel. Pained, persecuted, plundered. Israel! Dashed to the ground … but not beaten. All my life nothing but wonder. And now … and now Messiah has come! He is here! Impossible. Unthinkable! Yet … all my life … wondering who he will be. Is it he? And .....Why me?
(Lights fade to signify a setting sun.)
AT RISE: ELISABETH kneads dough out of a large wooden bowl braced between her knees. PETER sharpens/shines his beloved Roman short sword. They are arguing.
ELISABETH
…and what am I supposed to think? Running in here without warning! Face all flushed. His eyes just shining like a demon! ‘Brother! Come on! We’ve found the
Messiah!’ And do you know what you said to him? Do you? Remember? Do you?
SIMON PETER
Don’t know, Beth.
ELISABETH
I’ll tell you exactly!
SIMON PETER
Probably something like, ‘Andrew? Been at the wineskins so early without me?’
ELISABETH
It’s not funny! You said … and I remember! (Laughs.) You said … ‘You found who!?’
SIMON PETER
Thought you said it wasn’t funny.
ELISABETH
Stop right now, Simon Peter! Now is not the time to sling dung at me! With you tramping up and down the countryside? Lord knows where! With those rebels again?
SIMON PETER
He said Capernaum area. Not very far! Maybe up to Nazareth. Should be able to stop back by to see you and the kids fairly often. Might even bring him home with me.
ELISABETH
You’ve no business picking up and leaving your family like this. And the boats! Have
you thought about the boats? Humph! Simply leaving, whenever the fancy strikes, to follow some guy with far-fetched ideas about some sort of … revolution?
SIMON PETER
Revolution is exactly--
ELISABETH
War against Rome! Ha! You know nothing about politics, religion and such! And despite all your big-talk about carving someone a new--
SIMON PETER
Elisabeth!
ELISABETH
You just better leave politics and talk of new kingdoms to the elders of the synagogue! Or to those filthy desert rabble who … who--
SIMON PETER
(Whacks sword upon a tree trunk.)
Woman! Shut your mouth!
ELISABETH
No, I will not! (Whacks cheesecloth.) Not this time! There are enough wanna-be war heroes to fill every burn pit across the nation. (PETER immerses into sword again;
deep in his own thoughts.) It doesn’t have to be you! You’re a father! And a partner in your family business! What about me, Simon? Huh?
SIMON PETER
(Almost trance-like.) Father bought this sword many years ago … from an Arabian trader … who got it from an Alexandrian … who took it off a fallen Roman … in the battle of Actium.
ELISABETH
(Exasperated.)
We all know its history, but--
SIMON PETER
No matter the sword’s history! It’s become a part of me. Me! I use it for everything. You realize that? From scraping the boats to mending the nets to butchering goats … sheep … to scaling the fish and--
ELISABETH
I know, alright? I know! But--
SIMON PETER
But! Maybe this blade’ll serve some greater purpose than mundane chores or slapping some sassy mule on its ass! Maybe this blade will serve me well in the revolution that’s talked about so much.
ELISABETH
You really trust him, don’t you.
SIMON PETER
Why not? He’s known around these parts as an honest man. He and his brothers’ll give you a fair share and hard work. Talk about excellent craft! Father knows the family, you know. He comes from good stock.
ELISABETH
But do you really believe what he says about restoring our kingdom?
SIMON PETER
Absolutely … I guess.
ELISABETH
You guess?!?
SIMON PETER
I’d like to think so, Beth. A man’s got to believe in something! The old-ones used to tell us how the kingdom of Solomon stretched from Egypt to Persia. And how his ships navigated around some far-off place called … oh, what was it …
ELISABETH
Africa. I remember the stories. They brought ivory and peacocks and--
SIMON PETER
(Back in trance-like state; thinking out loud.)
King Solomon even made a throne out of … from those gigantic thick-skinned, long-nosed animals the Greeks called …oh, what were they called?
ELISABETH
(Dull.)
Elephants.
SIMON PETER
(Sudden idea.)
Ivory’s what it was! From elephants! Did you know that?!? (Back to trance.) Wonder how many it’d take to make a throne like that?
ELISABETH
So this guy’s talking about a kingdom even greater than Solomon’s?
SIMON PETER
(Thinking out loud again.)
At least a dozen, I ‘magine ... to make a throne like that.
ELISABETH
(Losing her patience.)
Huh? Peter? Is that what you’re saying? A kingdom greater than Solomon’s?
SIMON PETER
(Snaps out of it.)
Greater than the greatness of Rome, Beth! I’ve heard rumors at the dockyards about the Romans colonizing a whole world beyond the gates of Hercules. Something’s got to be done!
ELISABETH
But how can a tiny army fight the might of Rome? What are you all think—?!
SIMON PETER
Remember your place! I don’t know what we think we’re going to do. But I’ll tell you one thing, we’re going to do it! So help me--
ELISABETH
Shhh! Thou shalt not take the Lord God’s name in vain.
SIMON PETER
Don’t you dare shush me, woman! Gets on my nerves. You know that! I don’t know
what we’re going to do! Alright? Even if I did it’s none of your--
ELISABETH
It most certainly is!
SIMON PETER
Maybe he’ll finally grow angry enough to use his … his vast powers in military action!
ELISABETH
Ha! What powers?
SIMON PETER
I told you! Pretty sure I told you. That time I drug so much fish into my boat that--
ELISABETH
Uh-huh. That fisher of men story. Humph! Time, chance and circumstance is all that
was.
SIMON PETER
But then there’s also that time me and the guys went to a large wedding feast with
him! (Awkward silence.) Don’t look at me that way.
ELISABETH
What way?
SIMON PETER
That way!
ELISABETH
Just what does wedding feasts have to do with vast powers?
SIMON PETER
Anyway. (Feeling sick to his stomach.) The wine ran out.
ELISABETH
Oh it did, did it? You want to tell me why?
SIMON PETER
It was … a party … Beth. People drink … at parties. Especially happy … parties.
And, you know, well … we sort of ... ran out of wine.
ELISABETH
And how much did you drink?
SIMON PETER
Not much.
ELISABETH
Lie! I know you, Simon Peter! Free wine! Festive music!
SIMON PETER
I didn't! Ask Andrew!
ELISABETH
(Rants over him.)
Fair maidens! Far … faraway wife!
SIMON PETER
I didn't! I swear! Ask Andrew if you don’t believe me!
ELISABETH
Like I’d really trust him! Mister We’ve-Found-the-Messiah!
SIMON PETER
Don’t roll your eyes at me, woman! (Slaps sword upon trunk again.) You haven’t seen some of the stuff we’ve seen!
ELISABETH
Uh-huh. I bet! Throngs of women supporters! Harems! (Slaps dough: sounds like slapping flesh.) Prostitutes!
SIMON PETER
Enough! I’m not even going to--
ELISABETH
Because you can’t!
SIMON PETER
All I know is! When the time’s right we’ll throw out that pompous bag of bile and
then we’ll be on to Rome!
ELISABETH
But your numbers are so--
SIMON PETER
No matter our number! I’ll slit their gentile throats with their own
sword! …Ha!
ELISABETH
(Covers dough with cheesecloth.)
And have you thought about what you’ll do when someone tries to shut your friend up?!?
SIMON PETER
I’d--
ELIZABETH
He’s bound to start attracting unwanted attention to himself. With you right in the middle of it! Humph. I can see it now!
SIMON PETER
I’d slice an ignorant head in two. That’s what I’d do! So help
me--
ELISABETH
Shhh! I shouldn’t be hearing all this blather. Why’d you start it, anyway?
SIMON PETER
I didn’t! You did! With your moody contempt for my brother!
ELISABETH
Moody?!? Who’s moo--
SIMON PETER
You want a whipping, woman? I didn’t start it, but I’ll sure settle it!
ELISABETH
I’m not scared of you! (Solemn resignation.) It’s been tried before.
SIMON PETER
(Thinks he’s been challenged.)
What!
ELISABETH
Revolutions. Who’s to say it can’t succeed this time?
SIMON PETER
Not me, that’s for sure! I’d never deny my part in this. Or my name isn’t Simon--
ELISABETH
Peter. My rock.
SIMON PETER
That’s right! Nothing can make me crumble.
ELISABETH
(Sadly supportive. Gets up to go into house.)
I know. And that’s why you’ll need your best walking boots, and your warmest cloak, and … and …
SIMON PETER
Dry those tears, woman! Come here. (Flops ELISABETH into lap.) Where’s my belt?
ELISABETH
Don’t you dare start this now! You’d better go. (Dodges kisses.) Peter! Not now! Your rebel friends are waiting. (Sad smile.) Wouldn’t want to keep them waiting. Would we? Please be careful.
SIMON PETER
You know I will.
ELISABETH
Let me know when you’ll be coming back this way. I’ll have mother come help me
prepare a nice meal for you and your … your friend.
SIMON PETER
His name is--
ELISABETH
Jesus! (Gets off of her husband. Walks toward house.) I know. Go!
(ELISABETH exits to gather his things.)
SIMON PETER
(Deep in thought.)
All my life a Messiah will come. All my life this supposed Messiah. Who he will be. Where he will come from. Wonder all my life. Some mighty warrior to lead us once again to Solomon’s glories. A Messiah will come to redeem Israel. Pained, persecuted, plundered. Israel! Dashed to the ground … but not beaten. All my life nothing but wonder. And now … and now Messiah has come! He is here! Impossible. Unthinkable! Yet … all my life … wondering who he will be. Is it he? And .....Why me?
(Lights fade to signify a setting sun.)
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