BACK ZECHARIA 4'1m0f John the Baptist's father is speechless (phone rings, off hook) FLOYD -- (Austrian, Jewish accent) Hallo, zis is Dr Signmond Floyd. Oh, yes, you are referring to Zechariah, the priest who was found to be in a catatonic state at the temple several months ago. Just have him fill out the personal information forms and give him the battery of personality assessment tests. You've already done that. Oh, vell, then show him in and bring his file. (phone hangup, door open) Zechariah, my name is Dr Sigmond Floyd. Please lie down on the couch vhile I examine your file. Thank you, Madaline, and please hold all my calls. This is a very serious case. (door close, papers shuffle) Alright, Zechariah, let's see vhat ve have here. I see, until nine months ago, you worked as a priest at the temple. And that it vas vhile you vere burning incense in the Holy Place you became catatonic. And nine months of various treatments have been completely ineffective. Just nod your head if you agree. Uh huh. Alright. (papers shuffle) Mmmmm. Uh hummm. Your personality assessments show that you have no apparently phobias or psychoses. So, perhaps you suffered an allergic reaction to the incense. No? Well, then, just write me a message with that paper und pencil there. (pen scratching) What are you writing there? "You were visited by an angel of the Lord?" Uh huh. (aside) Verrrrry interrrresting. Delusions of grandeur. I wonder why this disorder did not show up on the assessment. (pen scratches) "The angel made... me... speechless... because... of... my... lack... of... faith." Uh huh. (aside) These religious manifestations are the worst kind to deal with. They are very slow to respond to treatment. (pen scratches) "The angel... promised... that... my... wife... would... give... birth... to a... prophet... of God... on the... order... of... Elijah." Uh huh. (aside) Verrrry Interrrresting. Delusions of grandeur and delusions of persecution in the same individual. Say, this case could make me famous. Zechariah, I don't want to alarm you, but there hasn't been a true prophet of God in 400 years since the prophet Isaiah. The likelihood that you had a true visitation from a spirit being is, to say the least, highly unlikely. (pen scratches) "The... messiah... will... be... born... just... after... my... son.... He... is... a... relative... of... mine." Uh huh. (aside) This confirms my diagnosis. Zechariah, I need to help you on the road back to reality. First of all, the messiah is a manifestation of the Lord God Almighty. He will not be born like a common man. Any idiot knows that. And second, according to your file, your wife is over sixty years old. She is well beyond the age where she could bear children. It would take a miracle for her to.... Why are you nodding your head? (pens scratches) "It... will... be... a... miracle." Zechariah, you are living in a fantasy world. Your return to reality will require slightly more stringent treatment. (velcro) Let's just fasten your wrists and ankles with these little restraints. Don't worry this treatment won't hurt... (aside) very much. (dentist drill, jack hammer, hand saw, hammer pounding, air impact wrench, bicycle horn, diesel engine, phone rings, offhook) Madaline, I thought I told you that I did not want to be disturbed. (on hook) Now, where was I? (dentist drill, jack hammer, hand saw, hammer pounding, air impact wrench, bicycle horn, diesel engine, phone rings, offhook) Madaline, please, you are trying my patience. I... Excuse me? Zechariah's wife just had a baby? Uh huh. (on hook) Well, Zechariah, I guess that's enough therapy for today. Let me just remove those little restraints off your wrists and ankles. (velcro) ZECHARIAH -- His name is John. They will call him John the Baptist. FLOYD -- Zechariah! You're talking! Well! It looks like my therapy worked! Zechariah, why are you gritting your teeth and rolling up your sleeves? Are you angry? ZECHARIAH -- Angry? Yes, you might say I'm angry. FLOYD -- Why don't you lie back down on the couch. Let's talk about your hidden hostility. ZECHARIAH -- I'll show you hostility, but it won't be hidden. (door open) FLOYD -- (afar) Madaline, cancel the rest appointments. (running footsteps) (afar) I'm gone for the day. ©2001 Bob Snook. Conditions for use: Do not sell any part of this script, even if you rewrite it. Pay no royalties, even if you make money from performances. You may reproduce and distribute this script freely, but all copies must contain this copyright statement. http://www.fea.net/bobsnook email: bobsnook@fea.net BACK |