Copyright 2001, 2009 by Ronald L. Ecker
All Rights Reserved
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FADE IN:
INT. A CATHOLIC SEMINARY CLASSROOM - DAY (THE PRESENT)
A CATHOLIC PRIEST, 50, teaches a class of SEMINARIANS. All
wear cassocks. The priest, with a pointer in hand, stands
at the blackboard, on which are three names.
PRIEST
Now the story of King David in the
Bible includes a great mystery.
According to the books of Samuel
and Kings, the mother of David's
son Solomon -
(pointing to first name)
- was "Bathsheba, the daughter of
Eliam." But according to the First
Book of Chronicles -
(pointing to second name)
- the mother was "Bathshua, the
daughter of Ammiel." It appears
to be two different women.
The priest points to the third name (Uriah's) on the board.
PRIEST (cont'd)
Bathsheba, we know, was the wife
of "Uriah the Hittite," one of
King David's warriors. But who
was Bathshua? One of King David's
wives? Was she one of his
concubines? How many know what
a concubine is?
All raise their hands. The priest points at SEMINARIAN #1.
PRIEST (cont'd)
Yes?
SEMINARIAN #1
A concubine is sort of a live-in
mistress.
PRIEST
Bingo. Collectively, a king's
concubines were known as a harem.
A eunuch would be placed in charge
of a harem, since a castrated man
wasn't likely to fool around with
the king's concubines.
SEMINARIAN #2 raises his hand.
PRIEST (cont'd)
Yes?
SEMINARIAN #2
That reminds me of a good eunuch
joke.
PRIEST
Well, don't leave us all hanging.
SEMINARIAN #2
Not everyone could be a king's
eunuch. You had to be cut out
for the job.
Some seminarians laugh, others groan.
SEMINARIAN #3
You know what they say. Once a
eunuch, always a eunuch.
SEMINARIAN #4
Do you know why eunuchs are no good
at gambling? They like to play
double or nothing.
Laughter. The priest taps on his desk with the pointer.
PRIEST
All right, that's enough about
eunuchs. Let me remind you that
everyone in this room is a eunuch
for the kingdom of heaven. If
anyone isn't, if anyone here is
unchaste, indulging in sins of
the flesh -
(raising his hand)
- raise your hand.
No hand is raised but the priest's. The seminarians snicker.
The priest lowers his hand with a bothered look.
PRIEST (cont'd)
I was demonstrating how to do it.
Now let's get back to the question.
What was it?
SEMINARIAN #5 raises his hand.
SEMINARIAN #5
Who the real mother was.
PRIEST
Bingo. It's an insolvable mystery.
The key to help solve the riddle
would be this woman Bathshua.
The priest walks over to a wall map of biblical Israel.
PRIEST (cont'd)
Who was she? What is her story?
There is no way to know. We would
have to go back to the reign of
King David.
(pointing on the map)
We would have to be in or around
the city of Jerusalem -
EXT. NEAR JERUSALEM - DAY (LATE AFTERNOON, 1000 B.C.)
The poor shepherdess BATHSHUA, 20, face unseen, herds her few
sheep homeward from the field.
PRIEST (V.O.) (cont'd)
- in the year one thousand B.C.
EXT. THE HOME OF AMMIEL - DAY (LATE AFTERNOON)
The peasant AMMIEL, 70-ish and frail-looking, sits dozing by
the door of his dirt-poor hut.
Bathshua, pretty though in rags, puts the sheep in a fold by
the hut. Also in the fold is NABAL the ass.
Bathshua goes to Ammiel and puts a hand on his shoulder.
BATHSHUA
Father . . .
Ammiel wakes up.
AMMIEL
Bathshua, has Dodo come back?
BATHSHUA
No, Father, Dodo is gone. Let's
go inside.
INT. HOME OF AMMIEL - DAY (LATE AFTERNOON)
Bathshua helps weak Ammiel sit down on his bed.
AMMIEL
How could that brother of yours
leave us and go hop a caravan?
BATHSHUA
He said something about wanting
to find himself.
AMMIEL
Find himself? How hard is that?
I'd like to find him, I'd -
BATHSHUA
You lie down and rest, Father. I'm
going to the river to bathe. Then
I'll be back and fix supper.
AMMIEL
Come here, my child.
Bathshua kneels beside her father.
AMMIEL (cont'd)
Lovely Bathshua. A beauty fit for
a king. And look what you wear.
And I can't even help with the
work.
BATHSHUA
You don't have to help, Father.
AMMIEL
Your mother was beautiful too,
bless her poor sweet nephesh.
BATHSHUA
There's something I might as well
tell you.
AMMIEL
That worthless Dodo. How could
he have come from my loins?
BATHSHUA
Father, listen to me. I -
AMMIEL
But you are a jewel. By now you
should be someone's wife, my child.
Gomer wants you, Enos wants you.
BATHSHUA
Why would I want either of them?
AMMIEL
You could have any peasant in Israel.
BATHSHUA
Who wants to marry some poor shepherd
as bad off as we are? Father, I'm
trying to tell you, I have a plan.
AMMIEL
What?
BATHSHUA
I hope to be fit for a king, as you
say.
AMMIEL
What plan?
BATHSHUA
I'm going to start bathing at the
river where it's nearest the palace,
where perhaps King David will see
me, and - you know -
AMMIEL
(reproachingly)
Bathshua!
BATHSHUA
Then perhaps I can join his harem.
What do they call them - concubines?
Or even be a wife of the king.
Then we can live in a palace and -
AMMIEL
Bathshua, what kind of woman are
you?
BATHSHUA
A dirty one, Father. I need to go
bathe.
AMMIEL
Then go where you said you were going!
Bathshua rises to go.
AMMIEL (cont'd)
But don't show too much.
EXT. THE RIVER AND PALACE - DAY (LATE AFTERNOON)
COMMON FOLK bathe in a narrow river outside Jerusalem's west
wall. Behind the wall stands the royal palace. Between the
river and wall is a narrow dirt road.
INT. THE PALACE - A CORRIDOR - DAY (LATE AFTERNOON)
Handsome KING DAVID, 40, looks at a papyrus document as he
walks with palace official HUSHAI, 38. David hands the
document to Hushai.
DAVID
Give it to J, for the royal court
history.
HUSHAI
With pleasure, my lord O king.
The 40-ish palace EUNUCH comes walking the other way.
HUSHAI (cont'd)
Here comes that new eunuch.
The eunuch bows as they stop.
EUNUCH
(falsetto)
My lord O -
The eunuch clears his throat, then speaks with a less high
pitch.
EUNUCH (cont'd)
My lord O king. Which concubine
does the king wish to have this
evening?
DAVID
Oh . . . Keturah.
The eunuch bows and starts to go.
DAVID (cont'd)
No. Milcah. No. I don't know.
Surprise me.
The eunuch leaves. The palace official IDBASH, 40, appears
and presents a scroll to David.
IDBASH
My lord O king, a message for you,
just received by the palace guard.
David opens the scroll and reads the short message. He looks
grim.
DAVID
That will be all for today, Hushai.
David walks off. Hushai turns eagerly to Idbash.
HUSHAI
What does the message say?
IDBASH
Hushai, do you think I read the
king's messages?
HUSHAI
Yes. What does it say?
IDBASH
It's from his son Prince Absalom.
He's back in Jerusalem. He's staying
at the Holy Day Inn.
HUSHAI
Just like that, eh? After murdering
his own half-brother, Prince Absalom
thinks three years of exile is
enough?
IDBASH
Yes. The prince is requesting an
audience with his father. Do you
think the king will see him?
HUSHAI
Well, blood is thicker than water.
IDBASH
It is?
EXT. THE RIVER - DAY (NEAR SUNSET)
Bathshua, with two rags for washing and drying herself, arrives
on foot at the riverbank. She looks toward the palace.
INTERCUT: EXT. THE PALACE ROOF - DAY (NEAR SUNSET)
Idbash snacks on an apple, Hushai snacks on some dates, as
they stroll toward the low wall of the west roof edge.
HUSHAI
You know, the king has been seeing
too many strange women.
IDBASH
What is strange about them?
HUSHAI
I mean women who are strangers. He
has all the concubines he needs.
He's been overextending himself.
IDBASH
I wouldn't say that. Even if David
wasn't king, he could get all the
strange women he wanted.
They stop at the roof edge.
HUSHAI
The thing is, the king could catch
some disease. There's no telling
where some of these women have
been.
IDBASH
Or who has been in them.
HUSHAI
What if the king were to die from
such illness? Would you want to
see that no-account son of his on
the throne?
IDBASH
No, that would be awful.
HUSHAI
And think about us. You and I
would be out of here, finished -
replaced by Absalom's gang.
IDBASH
Hushai, we've got to do something
about all these strange women.
HUSHAI
For the king and the kingdom.
IDBASH
And above all for us.
HUSHAI
So here's what we do. Whenever the
king sees a woman and desires her,
we should give him some reason to
believe she is someone he shouldn't
go after.
IDBASH
She's married, she's a peasant,
or something like that.
HUSHAI
Exactly.
Bathshua, with other folks bathing around her, stands bathing
in the water, not yet too revealingly. She briefly notes
Hushai and Idbash at the low wall of the roof.
David comes strolling to the roof wall to join Hushai and
Idbash.
HUSHAI (cont'd)
My lord the king.
IDBASH
It is going to be a lovely sunset,
O king.
Bathshua now sees David standing at the roof wall with Hushai
and Idbash.
Bathshua casually exposes her breasts.
David looks thoughtfully off toward the river and its bathers,
Hushai and Idbash (still eating his apple) beside him at the
wall of the roof.
HUSHAI
What seems to be troubling my lord
the king?
DAVID
The war with the Ammonites. And
that son of mine back in town. He
wants to come see me. And - my
God, do you see that young woman
bathing?
Seeing Bathshua, Hushai and Idbash glance at each other.
HUSHAI
I certainly do, O king. She
is very attractive -
(pointedly)
- considering the fact she's a
peasant.
DAVID
I want to know who she is. One of
you is going to find out and tell
me, as swiftly as eagles fly.
HUSHAI
As my lord the king wishes. Uh,
did I mention she's a peasant?
IDBASH
My lord O king, now that I look at
her face, I believe that girl is
Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam.
Hushai frowns at Idbash and shakes his head "no." Idbash
forges ahead, David's eyes remaining on Bathshua,
IDBASH (cont'd)
(pointedly)
The wife of Uriah the Hittite.
DAVID
You can tell from this far away?
IDBASH
I'm sure she's Bathsheba, my lord.
Idbash discards his apple core over the wall of the roof.
DAVID
But Uriah the Hittite's no peasant.
Why would his wife bathe here, with
common folks in the river?
Hushai and Idbash both seem at a loss for words.
IDBASH
Hushai, why do you think she would
do that?
HUSHAI
Why, uh, to let them know that she
cares?
IDBASH
Yes, that must be it.
DAVID
Uriah is away, fighting on the
Ammonite front, is he not?
HUSHAI
I am sure that he is, my lord.
DAVID
Then his wife Bathsheba is lonely.
Have her brought to my quarters
tonight. I'll give her an evening
of solace.
David turns to head for the stairs.
HUSHAI
The compassion of the king is so
boundless.
IDBASH
It is truly a blessing to Israel.
Hushai and Idbash wait till David is gone.
HUSHAI
Look what you've done.
IDBASH
I did like you said. I thought
of someone he shouldn't go after,
a married lady. I thought of
Bathsheba.
HUSHAI
Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, is
the biggest slut in Jerusalem.
IDBASH
That's why I thought of her.
HUSHAI
The king apparently knows nothing
about her. What if Uriah finds out?
IDBASH
That his wife is a slut?
HUSHAI
That his wife has supposedly slept
with the king.
IDBASH
What can he do about it?
HUSHAI
Have you seen Uriah the Hittite?
And it's not even true. It looks
like the king is going to sleep
with some peasant tonight. Who
is she?
IDBASH
How should I know?
HUSHAI
Why don't you go down and find out?
IDBASH
I could go tell the king I was
wrong, that she's not who I said.
HUSHAI
Basically admit that you lied? The
king - thanks to you - is expecting
Bathsheba tonight. You wish to
disappoint him? Idbash giveth, and
Idbash taketh away? If I were you,
I would get that peasant girl to
pretend she's Bathsheba this
evening. I am sure she wouldn't
mind. How many peasants get to
sleep with King David?
IDBASH
So much for disease control. I'll
go down and find out who she is.
Idbash turns to go.
EXT. THE ROAD BY THE RIVER - DAY (NEAR SUNSET)
Bathshua starts north toward home. Idbash approaches her.
IDBASH
Young lady!
Bathshua stops and turns as Idbash joins her. Common folks
pass or continue to bathe.
IDBASH (cont'd)
I am Idbash, from the court of King
David.
BATHSHUA
Good day, my lord. And my name is -
IDBASH
Bathsheba.
BATHSHUA
No, it's -
IDBASH
Your name is Bathsheba. Just for
tonight.
BATHSHUA
The king wishes to see me?
IDBASH
The king wishes to do more than
that. Well, what I mean is, he
wishes to show his compassion.
BATHSHUA
But I have nothing to wear.
IDBASH
Be at the palace at the seventh
hour. We will fix you up nice
for the king.
INT. A PALACE CHAMBER - NIGHT
The servant girl SHEERAH, 25, finishes primping Bathshua, dressed
in stunning robe and jewelry. Hushai and Idbash stand by.
HUSHAI
We'll bring her out in a moment,
Sheerah.
Sheerah leaves.
HUSHAI (cont'd)
Now remember, your name is Bathsheba,
and your husband is Uriah the
Hittite, who is away at the war
front.
BATHSHUA
But if I am married . . .
HUSHAI
You'll be committing adultery.
BATHSHUA
But I'll just be pretending I'm
married.
IDBASH
Then you'll just be pretending
you're committing adultery.
HUSHAI
No, she'll actually be doing it.
IDBASH
Why?
HUSHAI
Because the king is married, to
more than one woman.
IDBASH
Then it's the king who's committing
adultery, not her.
HUSHAI
But she'll be helping him do it.
BATHSHUA
What are you two talking about?
Look, if the king thinks I'm
married, I won't become part of
the harem. This is just for one
night?
IDBASH
One night with the king of Israel.
BATHSHUA
But why must I be Bathsheba? Why
can't I be me? Bathshua.
HUSHAI
Because the king has been told
you're Bathsheba. You will do
as the king has been told. No
one lies to the king.
BATHSHUA
So what you want me to do is -
HUSHAI
- lie to the king.
BATHSHUA
But . . .
HUSHAI
But what?
BATHSHUA
I'm a virgin. Does that matter?
Do you think he will notice?
HUSHAI
Tell the king that your husband is
impotent.
BATHSHUA
Tell him he's what?
IDBASH
Tell him that Uriah can't do it.
BATHSHUA
"Can't do it"? Oh, you mean, uh -
like sheep do?
IDBASH
No, don't tell him Uriah is sheep
doo. Tell him -
HUSHAI
I think she understands what we
mean. She's been around sheep all
her life.
INT. CORRIDOR OUTSIDE THE CHAMBER - NIGHT
Hushai and Idbash watch Bathshua being escorted away by Sheerah
for her visit to the king.
HUSHAI
A fine thing this is, you telling
the king that woman is Bathsheba.
IDBASH
Look, you said when the king sees
a woman who -
HUSHAI
That's not the point. You spoke
without thinking. We have to be
subtle. We must never lie to the
king. We should never lie, period.
Do you see where lying will get
you?
IDBASH
No. Where?
HUSHAI
That's right. Nowhere.
IDBASH
What?
INT. A CORRIDOR - NIGHT
Bathshua and Sheerah talk as they walk past the open door of
a chamber.
SHEERAH
Oh, the king has about twelve
concubines.
Handsome MOZA, 25, well dressed, steps out of the chamber
as if to see who he hears.
Watching the girls walk away, Moza gets only a glimpse of
Bathshua's profile as Bathshua talks with Sheerah.
Moza looks intrigued as he watches.
INT. DAVID'S QUARTERS - NIGHT
Bathshua stands radiantly before David. Sheerah, having escorted
her, leaves.
DAVID
Bathsheba.
BATHSHUA
That's what they call me, O king.
David takes her hands in his. He looks at them.
DAVID
Why does the wife of Uriah have
such hard-working hands?
BATHSHUA
Well, I was a shepherdess, before
I met, uh - who did you say?
DAVID
Uriah.
BATHSHUA
That's right - Uriah. I'm sorry,
O king, I'm overwhelmed by your
presence. I can't even say my
own name.
David gently opens her robe. She wears nothing underneath.
DAVID
I used to be a shepherd myself.
(admiring her breasts)
In the hills of Bethlehem.
INT. MOZA'S QUARTERS - NIGHT
Moza checks his appearance in a polished bronze mirror.
Liking what he sees, he turns to go.
INT. DAVID'S QUARTERS - NIGHT
David and Bathshua sit down on the edge of the bed. They
tenderly kiss. David lies her down on the bed.
INT. CORRIDOR OUTSIDE HUSHAI'S QUARTERS - NIGHT
Moza walks along expectantly, glancing about, as if on his
way to a secret rendezvous.
Moza acts casually as Idbash enters the corridor and comes
walking by.
IDBASH
Hello, Moza. Where are you headed?
MOZA
Oh, just thought I'd go stroll in
the courtyard. Say, is today the
king's birthday or something?
IDBASH
No. Why?
MOZA
That young lady I saw tonight,
being escorted his way.
IDBASH
Oh. Her name is Bathshua. But
tonight she's Bathsheba, because -
Never mind. It's all on a need-
to-know basis.
Moza nods understandingly and moves off. Idbash enters
Hushai's quarters.
INT. HUSHAI'S QUARTERS - NIGHT
Hushai worriedly paces and thinks as Idbash comes in.
IDBASH
What's the matter, Hushai?
HUSHAI
If that damsel stays with the king
too long, she might start talking.
The king might find out who she is.
Or at least who she isn't.
IDBASH
Don't worry, Hushai. They may do
no talking at all.
HUSHAI
"Don't worry"? Would you like to
be flayed by the king, for lying
about the woman he's with?
INT. DAVID'S QUARTERS - NIGHT
David and Bathshua make love.
EXT. COURTYARD - NIGHT
Moza walks along a garden, as if expecting to meet up with
someone, in the moonlit courtyard.
A pair of hungry feminine arms reach out, the hands pulling
Moza into some shrubbery. Immediate sounds of passion.
INT. HUSHAI'S QUARTERS - NIGHT
Hushai thinks, Idbash waiting.
HUSHAI
I've got it. Here's what I think
we should do.
INT. DAVID'S QUARTERS - NIGHT
David and Bathshua lie in bed.
BATHSHUA
Is it true, my lord, that as a boy,
with only a sling, you slew the
Philistine giant Goliath, who was
eight feet tall?
DAVID
No, that isn't true . . . Goliath
was nine feet tall.
Bathshua smiles. David admires her.
DAVID (cont'd)
The Lord has smiled on the king
of Israel. I feel like writing
a psalm.
INT. HUSHAI'S QUARTERS - NIGHT
Hushai pours some wine, looking relaxed now. It's Idbash,
standing by, who looks worried.
IDBASH
I'm not sure we should do this.
HUSHAI
Idbash, it will look like an
accident. Culprit unknown. No
one is going to get hurt.
IDBASH
Why don't you go do it? You thought
it up.
HUSHAI
Yes, because of your lying. I have
to get you out of trouble again,
and now me too. Why is it always
up to me? Why do I have to come
up with ideas? Why do I have to
implement them? Why do I have to
think and do, think and do? Do
you want me to get burned out?
IDBASH
No, I wouldn't want that.
HUSHAI
Then go set the fire. Just don't
burn us out.
INT. DAVID'S QUARTERS - NIGHT
David and Bathshua lie in bed as before.
DAVID
How long have you been with Uriah?
BATHSHUA
Oh, not very long.
DAVID
"He can't do it." Has he tried
love potions?
BATHSHUA
Yes, I think he's tried nine of
them.
DAVID
Nine? He might as well give up.
BATHSHUA
If only I could stay with you, O
king.
DAVID
Tell me, why would you like to do
that?
BATHSHUA
I think I love you, O king.
DAVID
Why do you think so?
BATHSHUA
What woman wouldn't love you? The
king, and so handsome, and - how
should I say it? You can do it.
DAVID
And how easily I could love you.
There's something about you,
Bathsheba. Not just your beauty.
It's who you are. Intelligent,
but with a delightful kind of
innocence. Of course, being
married to Uriah would explain
the innocence part.
EXT. THE PALACE - NIGHT
Smoke comes out of a window.
INT. DAVID'S QUARTERS - NIGHT
David lies musing. Beside him, Bathshua looks like she's
dying to tell him something.
BATHSHUA
How many wives do you have, O king,
besides all your concubines?
DAVID
Two. One is the mother of Absalom
and Tamar, the other the mother of
Amnon. Those mothers are always
fighting each other.
BATHSHUA
And the concubines?
DAVID
They fight each other too. Every
woman wants to be number one. It
all becomes tiresome. Sometimes I
wish I was the eunuch. But then
I couldn't have you.
BATHSHUA
If I were not married, could I be
wife number three? Or one of your
concubines? I would take any number.
DAVID
If I could have you as a wife,
Bathsheba, I'd feel like a new man.
With you I would have a new heir.
The heir I have now is a problem.
EXT. THE PALACE - NIGHT
PALACE GUARD #1 sees the smoking window.
GUARD #1
Fire!
INT. DAVID'S QUARTERS - NIGHT
David and Bathshua, obviously unaware of the fire, share a
passionate kiss.
BATHSHUA
My lord O king, . . . what if I
said to you -
HUSHAI (O.S.)
Fire!!
Hushai hurries in, shielding his eyes so as not to see their
nakedness. He is followed in by Palace Guard #1, who also
shields his eyes. TWO GUARDS wait outside.
HUSHAI (cont'd)
Fire, my lord, come! I will get
the lady outside. The guards will
get you to safety.
DAVID
How big is it? Where is the fire?
GUARD #1
We don't yet know. There is smoke.
You must come with us, O king.
EXT. THE FRONT ENTRANCE - NIGHT
Bathshua, still wearing the fine robe they gave her, hands
Hushai the last of the jewelry she wore as he hurriedly
shows her out.
HUSHAI
Now you go ahead home.
Sheerah hands Bathshua's ragged clothes to Hushai. He
passes them on.
HUSHAI (cont'd)
Here's your clothes.
Hushai turns to go back in.
BATHSHUA
Hushai, tell my lord the king
that I . . .
HUSHAI
Tell him what? Don't forget who
the king thinks you are.
Bathshua looks disheartened.
BATHSHUA
Tell him I had a nice time.
Bathshua turns to go.
INT. A PALACE CORRIDOR - NIGHT
Smoky. With buckets of water PALACE GUARDS #2 and #3 put out
the last of the fire on what's left of smoking window drapes.
Other guards and Idbash look on. PALACE GUARDS #4 and #5
turn to leave, as all is under control.
GUARD #4
All that smoke. Thank God it was
only drapes.
EXT. THE HORIZON - DAY (MORNING)
There's a beautiful sunrise.
INT. DAVID'S QUARTERS - DAY
David lies in bed again, staring wistfully into space.
EXT. A FIELD - DAY
Bathshua, tending her grazing sheep, looks off forlornly at
the walled city and palace.
INT. THE PALACE - J'S QUARTERS - DAY
A pretty, 30-ish woman called J sits writing on papyrus in
her document-filled room. J dresses quite sexily for a court
official - ample cleavage, bare navel, etc.
Hushai enters through the open door.
HUSHAI
Good morning, J.
J
Good morning.
Hushai leans down to her, seemingly as close as he dares, to
hand her the papyrus he has brought.
HUSHAI
The king wants this document in the
royal court history.
J looks at the document, Hushai looking at J with desire.
J
Who was that woman who slept with
the king last night?
HUSHAI
J, you're the court historian,
not some gossip-mongering -
J
The king wishes everything in the
record. He will edit out what he
doesn't want later.
HUSHAI
Hmm. Fair enough. Her name is
Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam.
You know, I really like your writing.
J
Do you?
HUSHAI
I read your account of the flood.
What a thriller. This could all
go into a great big book someday.
J
Hushai, isn't Bathsheba the wife
of Uriah the Hittite?
HUSHAI
Yes. What do you think about that?
J rises with the papyrus.
J
Keep me informed, will you? That
big book you speak of could be a
bestseller.
J walks toward a table of documents, Hushai watching her
form. She stops and looks back at him.
J (cont'd)
Is there anything else?
HUSHAI
I'll see if I can find something.
Hushai turns to go.
INT. HOME OF AMMIEL - DAY (LATE AFTERNOON)
The invalid Ammiel watches Bathshua sadly grind their grain
with a mortar and pestle.
AMMIEL
You are too righteous, Bathshua.
Go to King David and tell him the
truth. You are married to no one.
BATHSHUA
Father, his own men lied to him
yesterday - God knows why - and had
me lie too, about the wife of one
of his finest warriors. They can't
claim a mistake. It's too late.
AMMIEL
Perhaps you are right. These are
powerful men.
BATHSHUA
They're buffoons. But if I betray
them, I might not live to be
any queen. And a dead daughter
couldn't take care of you.
Ammiel seems suddenly to realize something encouraging.
AMMIEL
No, my child, you would not be
harmed. It's those men the king
would have killed.
BATHSHUA
Perhaps so. And could I live with
causing their deaths, as worthless
as they are?
AMMIEL
I don't see why not.
BATHSHUA
Father, the king might not want me
now anyway. He said he could
easily love me, but how many women
have heard similar words? He
doesn't even know who I am. It
is best to forget all about it.
Except that . . .
AMMIEL
What, my child?
Bathshua goes about her work. She whispers to herself,
BATHSHUA
He can do it.
INT. THE PALACE - THRONE ROOM - DAY (LATE AFTERNOON)
David sits solemnly playing a lyre on his throne.
Hushai enters past TWO PALACE GUARDS at the doorway. Hushai
stops several feet before David and bows.
HUSHAI
You wished to see me, O king?
DAVID
Yes. I have been told that the
fire last night involved some
window drapes.
HUSHAI
That is correct, my lord O king.
David sets aside the lyre in a seemingly calm fashion. He
rises and walks over to uneasy Hushai.
HUSHAI (cont'd)
Someone must have gotten too close
with a torch, O king. We don't yet
know who it was.
DAVID
I don't care who it was. You took
Bathsheba out of my bed, and had
guards drag me out of this palace,
over some window drapes?
HUSHAI
I was only thinking of my lord the
king's safety. At the time, my
lord, I didn't know what was on
fire in the palace.
DAVID
Well I knew what was on fire, and
it wasn't some drapery. Then you
came in like a pail of cold water.
HUSHAI
I am sorry, O king, I -
DAVID
Next time, you find something out
first, before I'm disturbed. If
you don't, do you know what will
happen?
HUSHAI
Not precisely, O king.
DAVID
If I choose to be merciful, it will
be quick and you won't feel much
pain.
HUSHAI
Your mercy is always a cause for
rejoicing, my lord O king.
DAVID
Now I want you to get out of my
sight.
HUSHAI
The king need only wish and it is
done, my lord.
Hushai bows and heads for the door.
DAVID
Hushai . . .
Hushai stops and looks back. David beckons him.
DAVID (cont'd)
Don't get out of my sight yet.
Hushai walks back to David, who puts a hand on Hushai's
shoulder.
DAVID (cont'd)
Did Bathsheba say anything when she
left last night?
HUSHAI
Yes, my lord. She said, "Tell the
king that I had a nice time."
DAVID
That's all she said?
HUSHAI
Yes, my lord. I am not the royal
counselor, but may I give my lord
the king some advice?
DAVID
Go ahead.
HUSHAI
Do not see the wife of Uriah the
Hittite again. What can it cause
for my lord the king except trouble?
A pause as David seems to take the advice to heart.
DAVID
She's different from all the women
around me. She reminds me of the
peasant girls I knew as a shepherd
boy. She's more like them than
any warrior's wife. But you're
probably right. It was not meant
to be. Now get out of my sight.
EXT. THE HOME OF URIAH - JERUSALEM - DAY
TWO MEN, one in a hooded cloak, arrive on horses. SUPERIMPOSE:
THE HOME OF URIAH THE HITTITE
INT. HOME OF URIAH - DAY
Worldly-looking BATHSHEBA, 30, eagerly lets in one of the
men. He is handsome PRINCE ABSALOM, 23, revealing his long
flowing hair as he removes his hood.
ABSALOM
Hello, Bathsheba.
Absalom and Bathsheba hungrily embrace and kiss. The other
man, 30-ish JAVAN, waits outside.
BATHSHEBA
Is it really you, Absalom? What
took you so long to come see me?
ABSALOM
I didn't know Uriah wasn't here.
BATHSHEBA
It'll be so good to have a man for
a change.
ABSALOM
Your husband isn't a man?
BATHSHEBA
He can't do it.
ABSALOM
You're kidding.
BATHSHEBA
No, I'm not. Who could make up
such a story about mighty Uriah
the Hittite?
ABSALOM
I'll come see you every day - or
you can come see me at the inn -
while your impotent warrior's away.
INT. THE PALACE - A COUNCIL CHAMBER - DAY
At a table David sits signing papyrus documents for Idbash,
while Hushai stands by. SUPERIMPOSE:
TWO MONTHS LATER
David pauses, his mind seemingly elsewhere.
DAVID
Idbash . . .
IDBASH
Yes, my lord?
DAVID
Send a man to the house of Uriah
the Hittite.
Hushai and Idbash exchange glances.
IDBASH
"The house of Uriah the Hittite."
DAVID
Have him tell Bathsheba . . .
Idbash glances again at Hushai, as if for help.
IDBASH
"Tell Bathsheba."
DAVID
Why are you repeating what I say?
IDBASH
Forgive me, my lord. When the king
speaks, it is such music to my ears
the refrain leaps forth from my lips.
DAVID
I wish to see Bathsheba again.
Tonight. For two months I've tried
to forget her, but can't.
Go to Part 2Back to beginning of script