The Gem of Paran | An Original Screenplay By @WendyyWolfe

Scene 16

EXT. SHEEP CAMP - DAY

Solomon watches Temira for the rest of the day, recognizing
her as the girl he rescued in the marketplace . Every now
and then he catches her glancing covertly at him from
beneath her lashes, but she stays near the tents the rest of
the day. Solomon is instantly smitten with her and a feeling
he has never tasted creeps lazily down his spine, settling
in his heart.

EXT. EDGE OF SHEEP CAMP - DAY

Raveed, Nuri and Japhet take out their frustrations on
Tzefan as he walks by. They rough him up, throwing him back
and forth between themselves, teasing, laughing and
intimidating him with threatening looks. He dodges their
blows but trips and tears his cloak. Temira rushes over to
help him.

TEMIRA
(lightheartedly)
Oh, you've torn it. But not to
worry, I can sew it up for you.

TZEFAN
Forget it, you don't have to cover
for them.

Tzefan tries to recover but she stands her ground and he
gives in, letting her have the cloak. They walk together to
one of the tents and disappear inside.

Solomon starts to see the difference of life in the fields
and that night as small fires dot the hillsides Solomon
approaches Temira as she watches over her little herd.
Temira pretends disinterest as he walks up.

EXT. TEMIRA'S CAMPFIRE - NIGHT

SOLOMON
(inquisitively)
Your brothers seem, very angry
with you. Do you cross them
often?

TEMIRA
(suspiciously)
If you are looking for gratitude
you won't find it here, and as for
my brother's, they have been angry
since the day I was born.

SOLOMON
(astonished)
With you?

TEMIRA
(giving him a
funny look)
Of course, not with me.
(smiles)
With our father. Our mother is a,
widow.

SOLOMON
(with compassion)
I see.

TEMIRA
And, so, they are angry because
they have to work.

SOLOMON
Interesting. And what about you?
Are you angry because you have to
work?

TEMIRA
(shrugging)
Work doesn't bother me. But the
vineyards are, too. . . lonely.

SOLOMON
(peering into the
night sky)
Now that's interesting. A woman
who isn't bothered by work. Not
something I am used to hearing.

TEMIRA
(cocking head to
one side)
Just who are you anyway? One of
the King's spies? A new hire? A
traveler?

SOLOMON
(snapping to
reality answers
mysteriously)
None...or perhaps, all. You
decide.

TEMIRA
(with a snort)
You sound like Tzefan. Full of
secrets, a man from nowhere.

Solomon instantly recognizes the name and cannot believe his
good fortune to hear so quickly something concerning Ahmed's
lost son, even as a small jolt of jealousy twinges his heart
as he realizes how much time the shepherd girl has been
spending with this Tzefan fellow. He presses her for
information.

SOLOMON
Tzefan? Strange name. And just
what is this Tzefan fellow, to
you?

TEMIRA
(casually)
Oh, no one I suppose, just one the
shepherds among us all, but he is
not well liked, at all. He is a
bit, awkward.

SOLOMON
Mmmm.

The twinge of jealousy that had sprouted, suddenly
extinguishes.

TEMIRA
But I cannot understand what makes
Tzefan so mature, so kind and
generous, for someone so,
mistreated. I don't care what any
of them say, I will be his friend.

The spark reignites and Solomon clenches his jaw.

SOLOMON
(with a slightly
strained voice)
Are you sure it's not more than
that?

TEMIRA
More? What more is there?

Temira looks at the tall stranger with eyes full of genuine
question. She has never examined her feelings for Tzefan
that closely, but her nameless rescuer awakens something
deep within her.

WHEN I FALL IN LOVE M.O. BY CELINE DION.

Solomon and Temira lock eyes and a strange, new,
overwhelming emotion grips her. The darkness is soft all
around, and evening doves quietly chirp, singing themselves
to sleep. Warm breezes envelope the night and all around,
the sounds of the herds, gentle tinkling of bells, the
muffled rustle of the leaves of juniper trees fade away
as Solomon leans close and kisses Temira.

SOLOMON
This much more, shepherd girl. Do
you like him this much more?

TEMIRA
(breathlessly)
No...never, that much more.

Satisfied that she has not known this Tzefan any closer,
Solomon smiles at her wide-eyed wonder. Taking her long
black hair in his hands, it runs like silk through his
fingers. Taking her face in his hands he kisses her
romantically, lingering just a moment, to never forget this
feeling. Solomon looks deep into her eyes.

SOLOMON
(whispering gently)
I hope it is never, that much
more.

Temira is forever changed.

WHEN I FALL IN LOVE M.O.