Characters: Pharisee 1, Pharisee 2, Jew , Ex-Blind Man, Mother, Father.
Setting: A court room. No chairs
Script
Pharisee 1: (Bad temperedly) Well what is the problem exactly? Our time is strictly limited and we can’t be doing with niff naff and trivia.
Jew 1: It’s a matter of perjury, really. Or possible perjury. A well-known local character. We would really value your collective wisdom and discernment in the matter.
Pharisee 2: A local person, you say. Is the man within hailing distance?
Jew : Certainly. He’s just outside.
Phariseee 1: Have him come in.
Jew : I’ll fetch him. (Goes and brings him in).
Pharisee 2: Take a seat.
Ex Blind Man (EBM): I’m sorry, I don’t see one.
Pharisee 2: Sorry- no more there is.
EBM: Please don’t apologise. There was a time and not too long ago when I wouldn’t have seen a chair even if one had been there.
Pharisee 1: (Dismissively)I I don’t understand Apparently our judgement has to be made as regards your ability or otherwise of telling the truth. Are you in the habit of lying?
EBM: No, your honours, not at all.
Pharisee 2: So what is the issue?
Jew : It’s a matter of the man’s history, his fairly recent history. You may recognise this person , your honours, as a blind man.
Pharisee 2: Not as blind as all that. He’s quite capable of spotting that we are deficient in the chair department.
EBM: That’s because I’m not blind.
Pharisee 1: Oh sorry. I thought you said you were a blind man. Is this some new kind of blindness which does not involve being deprived of the ability to see? Or am I missing something here?
EBM: No I was blind. Completely. But I’m not now.
Pharisee 2: Well, I’m very pleased for you.
EBM: I wish everyone felt the same.
Pharisee 2: This is all very intriguing. How were you cured? I’ve not heard of any recent medical breakthroughs in that field.
EBM: It was because of the man. The man they call Jesus.
Pharisee 1: Oh, him.
Pharisee 2: I’ve heard about him. What did he do exactly?
EBM: He spat.
Pharisee 1: What? For a minute I thought you said spat.
EBM: I did. You know (makes the sound.) He spat. Right there on the ground.
Pharisee 1: Ugh. How common - but no great matter. A lot of people do that. Usually unsavoury types.
EBM: True enough. But not many make mud pies with it.
Pharisee 1: Disgusting!
EBM: And even less people smear it on someone’s eyes.
Pharisee 1: For goodness sake. What kind of man is this fellow?
Pharisee 2: That’s a question many seem to be asking, it seems. So this man err… what was his name again?
EBM: Jesus. I’m surprised you’ve not heard of him.
Pharisee 2: Jesus…quite so.. Jesus. He simply put mud on your eyes and you were cured. Seems a bit unlikely.
EBM: Oh no. There was more.
Pharisee 1: Thought there might be.
EBM: Yes he sent me to wash it off as well.
Pharisee 1: Oh.
Pharisee 2: And then?
EBM: I could see.
Jew: As you can see, your honours, quite ridiculous.
Pharisee 2: Preposterous. Quite unbelievable. Totally incredible.
Pharisee 1: Except he can.
Pharisee 2: Can what?
Pharisee 1: See.
Pharisee 2: Oh yes. I suppose so.
Jew: But that’s not the point. Not the point at all.
Pharisee 1: Exactly. Err…what is the point, though?
Jew: The point is that the man is a charlatan, an impostor. He can’t possibly be who he says he is.
Pharisee 1: Which is what?
Jew: I believe that he asserts he is from God, your honours.
Pharisee 2: Well there you are. Quite impossible. Got him in one. How can he possibly be from God if he works on the day of rest? He’s clearly sinful. A total and absolute sinner.
Pharisee 1: Of course, some might say it would be difficult for someone so out of favour with God to do such a miracle-curing a blind man.
Pharisee 2: I am more interested on the effect that he has had on this blind man.
EBM: Ex-blind man.
Pharisee 2: Quite so. Well what do you have to say? What do you think of this Jesus?
EBM: Well obviously he’s really special. A prophet or something like that. This is real big.
Jew: Of course we might see things from a different perspective if we were to interview his parents.
Pharisee 1; I hardly see what a poor carpenter and his wife from Nazareth would have to add to the proceedings. They weren’t even there.
Jew: No, not the parents of Jesus. This man’s parents.
Pharisee 1: Oh, I see.
Pharisee 2: Have them come before us, if they are present.
Jew: Yes, your honours.
(He goes off and ushers them in. They look scared)
Jew: Now there’s no need to be apprehensive. Just tell their honours if this is your son.
Father: Of course he is.
Jew: And was he born blind.
Mother: Certainly. I should know.
Jew: Ah! So how can he see now?
Mother: (Apprehensive) Well…some people say he is the specially chosen one, you know…from God.
Jew: Utter rubbish. He’s a sinner and that’s the short and long of it.
Mother: If you say so.
Father: Why don’t you ask him?
Jew: Fine. (Turning to EBM) That’s the case isn’t. This man is sinful. He’s up to no good
Pharisee1: Yes, he claims to hear from God. He’s no Moses. . I mean who is he? Where does he come from?
EBM: I don’t think I’m qualified to say. Certainly not compared to such illustrious company as this.
Pharisee 1: No, we can hardly ask this man to pronounce on such deeply theological matters. He knows very little of such things.
Jew: Exactly, the man is ignorant.
Pharisee 2: Very unlikely to know.
EBM: (Animated) I might not know much about theology and such deep things and compared to you I suppose I must seem a bit of a peasant. An ignoramus. But, I tell you what. There is something I really do know…
Pharisee 1: And pray tell us what is that?
EBM: I used to be blind. I’m not now. I can see.
(Freeze)
(Jesus walks on and speaks in the direction of the Jew and Pharisees:.)
Jesus: If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.
………………………………………………….
© Andy Lund, all rights reserved
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