Two brothers struggle with a Jewish tax collector over their debts to Rome; a Pharisee confronts a demon-possessed woman in the "Red Quarter" of Capernaum.
- Papa?
- You should be sleeping, little one.
- I can't sleep.
- Sit down, sit down. Is your head hurting you again?
- No.
- I know. You were thinking of the big new star. Look, it's right there, see?
- No.
- Why can't you sleep?
- I'm scared.
- Of what?
- I don't know.
- Hey, what do we do when we are scared?
- We say the words.
- Adonai's words. From the prophet...
- Isaiah.
- The prophet Isaiah, right.
"Thus says the Lord who created you, O Jacob,
"and He who formed you, O Israel:
"Fear not..."
Come now, I want to hear you say it. I want to hear your pretty voice, come.
- "Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
"I have called you by name. You are mine."
- You are mine.
That's right.
[kiss]
[awakens, panting]
MAN: Help! Somebody help me!
[panting]
[gasping]
[crying]
- She tried to kill me! She tried to kill me! Somebody... somebody!
- You filthy dog.
- Demons... live... inside her!
- Get back!
[woman vocalizing]
♪
♪ Oh, child, come on in.
♪ Jump in the water.
♪ Got no trouble with the mess you been. ♪
♪ Walk on the water.♪
♪ Walk on the water.♪
♪ Walk on the water.
♪ Oh, child, ♪Walk on the water.
♪ Got no trouble.♪
♪ Walk on the water.♪
♪ Walk on the water. ♪
[carriage wheels rumbling]
SLAVE: Stop!
[carriage stops]
- Forgive me, Rabbi.
- Can you not see what he is doing?
- But, woman... ahead.
[♪ ominous music]
[galloping horse hooves]
- Whoa!
- Why have you stopped us?
- It's not enough to say hello?
- I'm on official business.
- Only Roman business is official business. My name is Quintus. I'm the praetor of Capernaum.
- And I am...
- You are the great Nicodemus. Word travels fast.
- Are you arresting me?
[chuckles]
- No, my friend. I'm a magistrate, not a military man. I serve the will of the people... and Pilate.
- And I serve only God.
- Yes, yes. So do your enemies... the Sadducees, the Essenes, the Zealots. Rogue preachers in the wilderness raving about a coming Messiah. They're all vying for the people's affection.
- What do you want, Quintus?
- I believe taxes are going unpaid. If you help me, I will help the Pharisees continue to thrive.
- How can I? The people are already drowning in tax.
- Tell me, Nicodemus, what can be under the water and yet never drown?
- Fish?
♪
[wardrobe door squeaks]
♪
[door latch squeaks]
♪
[rats squeak]
[splat!]
[retching]
- Right here.
- Keep your voice down.
- Pardon me, Mr. Public anus. It's me that don't want to be seen with you, remember?
- It's Publi-caHness.
- I like it the other way, taxman. Hey, hey, hey! That's a month's salary for all my sons combined, right there. You just toss them out?
- These are my property, I do with them as I wish. I pay you to drive, you sift through trash on your own time.
- Driving you's a bit of both now, isn't it?
[laughs]
If any citizen ask about my cargo, I must tell the truth. It's the biggest pile of dung in all Capernaum.
[laughing]
NICODEMUS: Now, honestly, I always look forward to my annual visit to Capernaum and your magnificent sea of Galilee. It is truly the envy of the kingdom.
[applause]
Even my children are enamored of it. All day they would swim, frolic in the sand and watch the people.
Finally, one day I said, "You love it here so much, "why is it you never go to the sea when we visit your grandparents back home?"
My son, he just shrugged, and said, "But father, there's never anyone there, it's dead."
[laughter]
- And your sea boasts the most exquisite fish. How unfortunate... that those who do the actual fishing are unholy, foul mouthed, given to gambling in secret dens.
Even fishing on Shabbat. Can we eat the catch and not be stained by the sins of the catcher?
Make no mistake... it is a sin to eat fish caught on Shabbat.
What goes into the body of a man defiles him. Why are our Jewish brethren taking their boats to sea on Shabbat?
I assure you, the Messiah will not come until this wickedness is purged from our midst.
Your actions are being watched, studied.
God has entrusted you to be exemplary in every way.
Now, if your status is too great a burden, you do not deserve to bear the name of Israel.
- I want to see my reflection in it as plain as day.
The teacher has traveled all the way from Judea.
He is a member of the great Sanhedrin in Jerusalem, and I won't have him seated at a dull table. Yussif, fix your talid.
- Here he comes.
- Away, go, get the others.
-Rabbi.
- Teacher, you have moved us all.
- Shmuel.
- Will you do is the honor, Rabbi?
- If that's where you keep the white sardines.
- We certainly could get...
- It was a joke, Shmuel. A fine Torah room is the heartbeat of a worthy synagogue, Shmuel.
- Thank you, teacher of Israel; you do us a great honor.
- The honor is mine, not only for your bright students, but also for the soul of this city. You heard my address.
- Of course. Your words will resonate for generations.
- You were luminous.
- In my remarks, I asked for rhetorical purposes, "Why are Jews taking boats to sea on Shabbat?" That question was meant for you, Rabbi Shmuel. The reports are becoming too frequent to ignore.
- Of course, Rabbi, we... I will control it better. The Romans believe we do not work on Sabbath, thus they do not patrol. Greed has overcome the fisherman.
- Or they are just trying to feed their families.
- Begging your pardon, Rabbi. The centurion is here. He demands to speak with you.
- Please tell him we have an honored guest and cannot be interrupted.
- It can't wait.
- Messiah, come quickly.
[whistles]
Impressive. Looks like we're not the only ones taxing the people.
- What do you want, commander?
- I'm no commander but at least you know your place.
- This is Nicodemus, teacher of teachers. Show some respect.
- Ah, just the man I want to see. I'm here about a Hebrew woman in the Red Quarter. Let's just say she's been causing a disturbance.
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