About Judas / by Jeffrey Lo

ABOUT JUDAS BY JEFFREY LO
(DOWNLOAD PDF HERE)

SIAH

Judas...

 

                                                                        ZAC

Fuck that guy.

 

                                                                                    SIAH and ZAC share a chuckle.

                                                                                    Beat.

                                                                                    The look on SIAH’s face shifts.

 

                                                                        SIAH

But…

 

                                                                        ZAC

What?

 

                                                                        SIAH

WhyFuck Judas?

                                                            (Quick pause)

I used the wrong words. Let me rephrase that.

Why should Judas be fucked?

                                                            (Quick pause)

Still wrong.

Let me think.

What I mean is… why are we so mad at Judas?

 

                                                                        ZAC

WHY ARE WE SO MAD AT JUDAS!?

 

                                                                        SIAH

I know. IknowIknow.

I know he betrayed JC and that betrayal led to Christ man’s death and all but like…

 

                                                                                    Pause.

 

                                                                        ZAC

But like- what?

 

                                                                        SIAH

Waitwaitwait…. I’m still formulating my thought… It’s a new thought… I’m drunk… We’re drunk…

 

                                                                                    Silence.

                                                                                    Beat.

                                                                                    A light bulb look on SIAH’s face.

 

                                                                        SIAH(cont’d)

Oh…

OhWow…

 

                                                                        ZAC

What?

 

                                                                        SIAH

That actually makes a lot of sense.

 

                                                                        ZAC

What? What are you talking about?

 

                                                                        SIAH

What if Judas was doing what we’re doing?

 

                                                                        ZAC

What weare doing? What we are doing is nothing like what JUDAS DID.

                                                            (Under his breath:)

Fuck that guy…

 

                                                                        SIAH

No but…

Follow me…

What if – like us – Judas was making sure Jesus’ words came true?

 

                                                                        ZAC

What?

 

                                                                        SIAH

In his speech, Jesus said - 

I am going to Jerusalem.

I am going to be betrayed.

And I am going to be crucified.

I am going to be betrayed.

Someone had to do it.

 

                                                                                    Pause.

 

                                                                        ZAC

Are you trying to tell me that Judas betrayed Jesus forJesus?

 

                                                                        SIAH

I’m just saying it’s not out of the question…

 

                                                                                    ZAC thinks on this.

 

                                                                        SIAH(cont’d)

And if it is true.

That Judas was doing this to help Jesus out.

Heck if JesusaskedJudas to do this…

If any of that is true –

Judas must be going through hell right now.

 

                                                                        ZAC
IFany of that is true.

 

                                                                        SIAH

I know it’s an “if” but I’m just saying…

Imagine being in that position.

Everyone blaming you for all of this when you were just doing your job.

 

                                                                        ZAC

I’d want to kill myself.

 

                                                                        SIAH
Yeah, me too.

 

                                                                                    Beat.

 

                                                                        SIAH(cont’d)

But if just betrayed Jesus for selfish reasons –

 

                                                                        ZAC

Then fuck that guy….

 

SIAH and ZAC lie down on the floor on either side of Jesus in a Body Bag.