MY SUBMISSION FOR CHALLENGE 13: TALL TALE CONTEST:
Mary's Answer
EXT. A WELL IN NAZARETH - MID-MORNING
Mary enters from stage left, carrying two empty jugs. Rivqah enters from stage right, carrying one jug. They meet at the well and smile brightly at each other.
RIVQAH
Shalom, Mary!
MARY
Rivqah! Shalom uvracha! I haven’t seen you in so long! How was your trip to Jerusalem?
RIVQAH
It was amazing. I’m so glad I went.
MARY
(wistful)
I can’t wait until I can see the Holy City for myself. And Jericho and Egypt and the Sea of Galilee…
Rivqah laughs and dips her jug into the well.
RIVQAH
You’ve always had such big dreams.
MARY
(slightly annoyed)
It’s not just a dream. I can make it happen. I don’t know how, but I will.
RIVQAH
I know how. It’s called getting a husband.
MARY
That can’t be the only way.
RIVQAH
You wouldn’t be safe out there on your own!
MARY
It’s not even safe here… with a husband. Ugh, what is the point of living if we’re living in fear? I want to go places, see things, and… I don’t know, live!
RIVQAH
(not convinced)
Well, good luck with that.
Rivqah picks up her full jug and walks away. She stops once, looks back, and shakes her head. She exits.
Mary fills up her own jugs, clearly frustrated. Once they are full, she sets them on the edge of the well and sighs, preparing herself to carry them home.
The angel Gabriel enters from behind her, gracefully and with a little bit of self-importance.
GABRIEL
(serene)
Mary.
Mary spins around, terrified.
MARY
Holy..!
She sees Gabriel and freezes in place.
MARY (CONT’D)
… Angel of God…
GABRIEL
Do not be afraid, Mary.
MARY
Then don’t sneak up on people.
GABRIEL
(undeterred)
I bring you good tidings of great joy.
MARY
(relaxing)
Oh, nice.
GABRIEL
The Lord God is pleased with you. He has a great plan in store for you.
MARY
(exuberant)
Yes! I knew it! I knew I could have an amazing life! Wow. This is incredible. I can’t believe this is happening.
GABRIEL
You will be blessed…
MARY
Alright.
GABRIEL
...with the most important role that any woman could ever receive throughout all of history...
MARY
So amazing. Can’t wait.
GABRIEL
...by giving birth to the Savior, the Son of God himself.
Mary’s smile disappears. She stares at him, open-mouthed, for several seconds.
MARY
Come again?
GABRIEL
(taken aback)
You…
He shakes his head a little, then tries to resume his serene persona, unsuccessfully.
GABRIEL (CONT’D)
You will bear the Son of God and call him Jesus.
MARY
Whoa! I don’t even get to name my own child?
GABRIEL
You could use Emmanuel, if you prefer.
MARY
Eh, that’s a bit long.
GABRIEL
(resuming serenity again)
He will be the greatest man who ever lived and will save the world from—
MARY
Hold on! Just… hold your horse and chariot, okay?
Silence. Gabriel looks back and forth, unsure what to do.
MARY (CONT’D)
Alright, first of all, I’m sorry, what’s your name?
GABRIEL
Gabriel.
MARY
Nice to meet you, Gabriel. I have a few questions.
GABRIEL
Of course. Anything for the most favored daughter of—
MARY
Uh-huh. So let me make sure I understand. You’re saying that the most important thing that any woman throughout all of history and anywhere in the world could ever do… is have God’s baby?
GABRIEL
Yes… It’s a huge privilege.
MARY
For who? Gabriel, I’ve watched a lot of women give birth. It’s incredibly painful. And that’s after a whole nine months of being with child, and then you have to raise the child. And you want me to raise the literal Son of God? That’s a lot of responsibility! What if I mess him up? Not to mention… Look, I’ve always worshipped God and prayed to Him and read his word and all that, but… I don’t feel comfortable with, well…
She looks down and gestures at her lower extremities.
MARY (CONT’D)
You know.
GABRIEL
Oh, no no no no no no no no no no no no no no! He can do that magically! Like a… like the snap of his fingers, and… voila! You’re pregnant!
MARY
What’s… voila?
GABRIEL
Sorry, wrong country.
Gabriel’s shoulders slump, and he loses the serene, self-important persona completely. He is literally just an ordinary guy, trying to do his job.
GABRIEL (CONT’D)
Look, my partner Michael and I have been scouring the entire planet for months now, looking for someone who’s worthy of carrying the Savior, and God picked you! You should… you should be grateful.
MARY
If you say so. But how would I even explain this to my family? I could get stoned to death for getting magically pregnant.
GABRIEL
Oh, no need to worry! We’ve got that all figured out. We picked out a husband for you! His name is Joseph—
Mary groans and puts her head in her hands.
MARY
Enough with the husband thing! I don’t want to get married or have kids. I want to see the world and have adventures.
GABRIEL
Yeah, I heard you earlier. You know, we can send you to all of those places.
MARY
No. No, that’s not the same thing. Look, I’m sorry, Gabriel. You and your partner… Michael, right? It sounds like you and Michael have been working really hard, and I appreciate the compliments, but this just isn’t for me.
GABRIEL
(defeated)
There’s really nothing I can say to persuade you?
MARY
No.
She picks up her two jugs and starts walking away.
MARY (CONT’D)
Good luck, I guess.
Mary exits.
Gabriel stands there, completely still and shocked. A second angel, Michael, comes up behind him. A beat passes.
MICHAEL
So what do we do now?
Gabriel jumps and spins around, terrified.
GABRIEL
Holy..! Oh, she was right, we have got to stop doing that!