The Gem of Paran | An Original Screenplay By @WendyyWolfe

Scene 30

INT. CISTERN - DAY

Sitting at the bottom of a cistern and looking pitiful,
Raveed howls like a baby. Presently the large stone door is
slowly removed.

RAVEED
(jumping up with
glee)
I am being released! Oh finally,
(sighs with relief)
I knew they would come to their
senses!

Raveed dances a little step in hopeful anticipation, but
instead of the rope ladder he was expecting, he hears loud
scuffling and amid strong threats another is dropped into
the hole. It is Jehdeiah.

With a loud thud the stone is rolled back over the opening,
and they are enclosed in semi-darkness.

RAVEED
(rolling eyes)
What are YOU doing here?

JEHDEIAH
Oh, shut up.

RAVEED
I won't shut up. This is all your
fault, you know.

JEHDEIAH
(sarcastically)
Oh yes...blame it on me. You
idiot, I should have dealt with
your brothers, they have more
brains than you.

RAVEED
(sanctimoniously)
Oh really... they'll probably give
Asef your job, since you are no
longer available.

JEHDEIAH
(pitifully)
Oh God, why me... Somebody! Oh,
Somebody, please...GET ME OUT OF
HERE!

His words ECHO through the quiet city streets.

INT. KING DAVID'S PALACE - DAY

Tzefan arrives at the palace and is escorted straight to
King Solomon's quarters. Solomon enters the room, dismisses
his servants and walks up to Tzefan. They are nearly eye
level with one another though Tzefan is younger than
Solomon, both of them discern an, unspoken if somewhat
reluctant, respect for each other.

SOLOMON
Do you know why you are here?

Tzefan takes a deep breath.

TZEFAN
I know some of the reason.

SOLOMON
Very well, follow me.

EXT. SOLOMON'S TERRACE - DAY

They walk through a narrow door at the back of the room and along a short hall out onto a terrace balcony. Solomon

points to a small, fountained courtyard below. Tzefan looks
down, and seeing his family, he clutches the iron railing,
fighting back the urge to yell.

SOLOMON
How long have you been apart from
them.

TZEFAN
(with a deep soul
groan, whispers)
I don't know, oh, too long. But
what is this all about and how
have they come to be here, in
Jerusalem?

SOLOMON
It is about many things, "Prince,"
Tzefan-Yah. You are a Prince, are
you not?

Tzefan hangs his head down.

TZEFAN
I am.
(then, looking at
Solomon)
As much so as you are a King.

SOLOMON
(with grudging
contrition)
Ah yes, that is true, but... I met
(MORE)

SOLOMON (cont'd)
your father when I was running.
Running away from myself.
(puts both hands
on Tzefan's
shoulders)
That morning I made him a promise
that I almost didn't keep when I
learned who you were because I
thought I knew how you felt.

TZEFAN
(trying to explain
his feelings)
It is hard when everyone has your
life planned out for you, and you
never get to see who you, really
are.

Solomon breathes a hard sigh, fully understanding young
Tzefan's heart. His face shows that he feels a bond with
the struggling prince.

SOLOMON
(painfully)
I have found that some of us, are
not ever meant to know, that. The
time for running is over. You
have to return home.

TZEFAN
Perhaps...but,
(boldly
confronting)
What about Temira? Do you plan to
tell her the truth?

SOLOMON
(eyes narrowed,
voice hard hiding
emotion)
What do you know about Temira and
I?

TZEFAN
(lifting his chin)
Only that, she loves you.

SOLOMON
(tilts head back
challenging)
How do you know it was I?

TZEFAN
Because I also, recognized you.

SOLOMON
(defensive)
But I kept my face covered.

TZEFAN
Not one day. One day, the wind
blew the scarf from your face. It
was then that I saw who you were.

SOLOMON
And did you. . .

TZEFAN
(interrupting)
Tell Temira?
(purposely waits a
long time)
No. I also kept your secret. But
now, YOU must tell her.

SOLOMON
I'm afraid she would be hurt worse
by the truth.

TZEFAN
(unbelieving
whisper)
So, you plan to just let Jehdeiah
have her?

SOLOMON
Jehdeiah? What are you talking
about?

TZEFAN
I am talking about the money
Jehdeiah gave Raveed for Temira.
To have her. . .
(hesitatingly)
As his bride.

SOLOMON
Are you telling me that is true?

TZEFAN
Are you telling me you didn't
believe it?

SOLOMON
I thought it was just a tale. I
thought you were just jealous for
Temira.

TZEFAN
(shaking his head)
You have met Sameh and still
believed that? You must be
joking. Sameh and I have been
betrothed since we were infants.
We were not given a choice, but,
Sameh IS everything to me.
Eventually I would have gone for
her, when I could support her.

SOLOMON
(daring Tzefan)
What makes you so sure she would
have waited for you?

TZEFAN
(urgently)
The very same thing that makes me
know, Temira will have no other.
(urgently)
You must act quickly.