The Gem of Paran | An Original Screenplay By @WendyyWolfe

Scene 20

INT. SOLOMON'S QUARTERS - NIGHT

Solomon is reclining on a chaise lounge, when JEHIEL, the
tutor for King David's children enters the room and
announces Bathsheba, Solomons mother.

JEHIEL
Solomon, your mother wishes to
speak with you.

SOLOMON
Very well. Send her in and be
dismissed.

JEHIEL
Yes, my lord.

Solomon rises to greet his mother and she enters the room, a
slight smile gracing her delicate features. Her fair
elegance outshines most all the women in King David's
court, and is a stunning contrast to the dark skin of the
Shulamite girl that Solomon cannot get off his mind.

BATHSHEBA
Solomon my son,
(kissing his cheek)
do you have some time?

SOLOMON
Yes mother. What is distracting
you this evening?
(pours her a
goblet of wine)

BATHSHEBA
I'm afraid it is your father.

Solomon expels a breath of relief that she hasn't come to
discuss the very thoughts of his own distraction, Temira,
and steels himself for another conversation that brings him
equal heartache.

BATHSHEBA
He is having more trouble every
day...

SOLOMON
Mother, he managed to address the
whole nation recently, only to die
weeks later? I cannot believe his
health is faltering so quickly.

BATHSHEBA
Son, I realize it is hard for you
to accept but you must come to
reality.

Solomon pounds his fist into his hand.

SOLOMON
I wish you would cease trying to
convince me of this, this
nonsense! He will not leave me to
rule this nation alone. I won't
believe it! I refuse!

Bathsheba stares sorrowfully at her son.

BATHSHEBA
It is done Solomon. Your father
is at peace with the truth and it
is time for you to come to terms
as well. I will not address you
again. Your father is asking for
(MORE)

BATHSHEBA (cont'd)
you, every day. Soon, Israel will
be in your hands.

Bathsheba kisses the palm of Solomon's hand and leaves his
chambers.

EXT. TEMIRA'S HOUSE - DAY

Returning to Temira's house just before dawn, Solomon slips
quietly into the enclosed garden porch and sees Temira
through the latticed window sitting in her bed. The strain
has become too much and having decided to reveal his true
identity to her, he calls out sadly.

SOLOMON
Arise my darling, my beautiful
lily, and come away.

Temira, overjoyed to hear his voice, jumps up from her low
bed and runs to the window. His hand is through the opening,
she touches his fingers.

TEMIRA
Draw me after you and let us run
together!

SOLOMON
(with a love
pained groan)
Come my beloved, let us go out
into the country. We will spend
the night in the villages, and
rise early to go to the vineyards.
Let us go and see whether the vine
has budded and it's blossoms have
opened.

TEMIRA
(flirtingly)
If you will tell me my darling,
where you graze your flock, and
where you rest your sheep at
midday? Why should I be like a
veiled woman beside the flocks of
your friends?

SOLOMON
(laughing
regretfully)
If you do not know most beautiful
of women, follow the tracks of the
sheep and graze your young goats
(MORE)

SOLOMON (cont'd)
by the tents of the shepherds.

Solomon is entranced with their bantering and he soon
forgets the reason he sought her out as she joins him in the
lighthearted love play. He cannot turn back and gives in
completely to her pull on his heart.

Forgetting his former intentions, they leave the porch, mounting his horse together,
ride off into the early morning light. He is utterly amazed by
the fact that she still thinks he is only a shepherd.