THE DIVINE COMEDY MMIX
BY Walt
ACT i
 NARRATOR
It's a beautiful day in heaven, blue skies, occasional white puffy clouds, a light breeze and of course, perfect temperature. It's an everyday in heaven!
GABRIELE enters with wings and wearing a white robe.

GOD old man in a white robe, with flowing white beard.
God is in His splendor, seated on his throne. 
GOD
"Why are you always sneaking up on me like that? Can't you flap a wing or something to let me know you're here?"
GABRIELE
"Sorry Sir! I just kinda thought that you knew I was here. You being all-knowing and such."
GOD
"That's right, I am all-knowing, but I use the all-knowing for the big stuff, like keeping the planets going the right way and the sun working; not to check out the little stuff, like you sneaking up on me all the time.
So what is it that you want?"
GABRIELE
"Well Sir, there's a lot of talk going on down there lately.
GOD
"Talk about what? Where?"
GABRIELE
"Earth, of course Sir. They’re talk about the Second Coming. The Rapture!"
GOD
"The raptors. Don't tell me that they’re extinct already? I planned on having them around for at least another hundred thousand years! What did it? That global warming thing? 
Wait till I get my hands on... 
On second thought, let me call Al Gore."
GABRIELE
"No Sir! Rapture! Not raptor!"
GOD
"Oh! Rapture! 
 God pauses and hesitates

"You know when you get to be my age, eternal that is, sometimes your hearing starts to go."
GABRIELE
"Why don't you just fix it? You could do it with a wave of your hand."
GOD
With a somber look

"When you get to be eternal, the hands don't wave so good either.
Anyway, tell me more about this Rapture thing."
GABRIELE
"Well, lots of people are saying Jesus is coming back and soon!"
GOD
"He was just there a couple thousands years ago.
What do they want? 
Do they want him to move in full time?
Isn't once in a while, like every million years or so, enough for them?
Hey, I'm like everybody else, I want some quality time with my kid too!
 I don't want him going on all these long business trips all the time. Last time he was gone thirty-three years!"
GABRIELE
"I'm just telling you what I hear and I think maybe we should pay attention this time before things get out of hand.
Remember that the Tower of Babel thing?
They were working on it for over forty years before we really took them seriously?
We don't want to go through that stuff again, do we?"
God pauses and thinks hard. He strokes His long, white beard and then runs His fingers back through His long white, hair as He thinks.
GOD
"I think you're right.
I remember, I had to go all the way down to Earth and do the many tongues to show them who was boss. It was a pain! 

I had to come up with a zillion different languages and don't think that was easy to do on the spur of the moment like that!

It was almost as bad as the Sodom and Gomora thing. It smelled like brimstone around here for weeks.

And parting the Red Sea; do you know what it’s like to pull that off without a special effects department?”

GABRIELE
"So what's the first we thing we should do for this Second Coming?"
GOD
"First of all, let's not calling it the "Second Coming" because you just know that if we do that then they'll want a "Third Coming" and the then a forth and fifth. Get what I mean? We don't want to keep encouraging sequels."
GABRIELE
"Absolutely right as usual Sir.” 
Gabrielle thinking out loud

"Let's see we can't call 'Here We Go Again'. How about 'Coming -  Phase Two", no!"
Gabrielle with a look of inspiration

"How about 'Second Coming - Smackdown II'
GOD
"'Smackdown' is already copyrighted."
GABRIELE
I got it! 'The Second Coming - This Time We're Kickin' Ass'"

GOD
"Are you kidin'? How would that make me look in the New New Testament?
GABRIELE
"What about - 'Second Coming - The Final Chapter'?"
GOD
"No, I told you I don't like that 'second' idea.
O.K.! I got it! 'The Final Rapture Chapter'. It makes it clear that this is the last time and even better it rhymes."
GABRIELE
"It's very catchy but way too first century. I think we've got to be more hip. 
How about 'Rap It Up'? It's to the point and pretty slick. Besides, if we advertise it's very little copy. It'll help to keep costs down!"

God and Gabrielle look at each other with profound satisfaction.
GABRIELE
"Well now how do we get that message out? We've got to get some good PR out in front of this thing to make it work.
Let's see. Billboards might work. 
How about TV talk shows? If we could get on Larry King?
Maybe infomercials? Like the Flowbee, the Chia Pet or the Ginsu."
GOD
"Maybe we need something really dramatic to make our presence known, like a gigantic earthquake, a huge tidal wave, a cataclysmic meteor strike or a baldness cure that really works."
GABRIELE
"I don't like the earthquake and that stuff. It would kill off a good part of the audience. I think we ought to go with some conventional advertising and if that doesn't work then we do the earthquake, tidal wave kind of stuff.
 Or maybe you could go down there on a cloud with a thunder and lightning show. The kind of thing you did with Moses that time."
GOD
"The on a cloud stuff again! No way!
If you think I'm going to go through all that, you're crazy! The staging, the special effects, the speech writing - you know how I hate public speaking - I haven't done it in centuries!

God pauses

Alright - we'll start small and see how it goes."
GABRIELE
"But, you know, before we do anything else I think we better tell Jesus about this."
GOD
"Where is he anyway? I haven't seen him lately."
GABRIELE
"Don't you remember Sir? You gave him a little vacation time after his last trip"
GOD
"Two thousand years!
A 'little vacation time'? 
Go get him and tell him I want to see him."
NARRATOR
Gabriele, as commanded goes to find Jesus. The very first place he looks is Beach Heaven. He's known to hang out there.
The sand is cloud white, the temperature is just perfect and the waves - the waves are a surfer paradise, of course!
GABRIELE
"Have you seen Jesus? His Father wants to see him."
BEACH ANGEL
"Jesus?" 
(with a faint giggle)
"He was here just a little while ago. He was some of his surfing tricks. He did a couple of perfect laybacks and a three sixty and .."
(Gabriele interrupts)

GABRIELE
"Sure, I know - I know! But where is he now?"
BEACH ANGEL
"He left about two hours I think he said he was going over to Pebble Paradise Country Club."
NARRATOR
Gabriele flies over the golf course to find Jesus. The course is perfect, of course. He finds Jesus on the eighteenth hole, a par three. Jesus is at the tee ready to tee off as Gabriele walks up.
JESUS
 "Why are you sneaking up on me like that on my back swing? Now look what you made me do!"
NARRATOR
The ball flies off towards a nearby pond. Jesus quickly waves His hand and the pond instantly freezes, the ball bounces off the ice onto the green and lands in the hole. Jesus takes out his scorecard and writes down a one.
JESUS
"Let's see. That's a nineteen today."
GABRIELE
"Nineteen? What happened?"
JESUS
"It was Satan again. He always seems to know when to call to ruin my game. He called my cell phone on fourteen just as I hit my shot. I didn't have time to do my hand wave thing and I had to take a two! And the hell of it all he really didn't have anything new to say just the same old stuff. 'Would I meet him in the desert this afternoon? Would I go for a hike with him up to the cliff overlook? Would I throw myself off the cliff and save myself?' What does he think I'm crazy? We already went through that stuff. Remember? Why does he keep calling me?
GABRIELE
"I don't know. Some guys never quit! They just can't take no for an answer. It's a personally flaw! He's just got a personally flaw."
JESUS
"So what do you want? "
GABRIELE
"Your dad wants to see you."
JESUS
"About what?"
JESUS pauses for a moment and then continues.

"I hope it's not like the last time He called me. I listened to one of His ideas and if I remember correctly, things didn't work out that good for me. But if He calls I guess I have to go."
JESUS hands His golf club to MICHEAL His caddy and GABRIELLE and He leave together to see the Father.
GOD
"My Son! How have you been? Enjoying your vacation I hope."
As he put arm around JESUS'S shoulder and huge him tightly
JESUS
"Yes Dad. I've been fine and I've had a great vacation but I have the feeling it's about to end. Am I right?"
GOD
"Now what makes you say that Son?"
JESUS
"Well, for one your halo is not quite as bright as usual as a matter of fact it's pulsating a bit. That generally means you've got something on your mind."
An angel to God’s left immediately holds up a mirror. GOD looks at his halo in the mirror.
GOD
"Omniscient as usual Jesus."
God pauses and then continues

"Here's the story. Gabrielle has told me that the multitudes on Earth are expecting you to come back, and soon."
God again pauses and looks straight at Jesus who says nothing
"We've decided to grant them their wish. We've even come up with an official title for the event -'Rap It Up'.
"Pretty MMCst century? What do you think?" 
JESUS
(with a scowl)
"What do I think? Are you kidding? Count me out! And by the way, who's the 'we' decided?"
GOD
"Well, Gabrielle and I."
GABRIELE
(Interjects quickly in a timid voice)
"I chimed in here and there but I'm not real decider. You know that only your Father can be the real decider."
JESUS
"Why would I want to do that again? Do you remember the last time?"
GOD
(smiles as he speaks)
"Because you're The Lamb of God, The Savior of Man, The King of Kings, The - "
JESUS
(Jesus interrupts)
"Oh give it up. You can't sweet-talk me again. I'm not going!
 No way!"
GOD
(with a frown and his stern voice)
"Who's the Dad and who's the Son around here.
(he pauses)

Remember that day you spent in Hell after the Resurrection. How would like a couple weeks down there to think this over?"
JESUS
(Now in a meek tone)
"But Dad, you wouldn't do that. Remember you're all loving and stuff."
GOD
"You've heard of tough love my boy? This is it!
Now let's plan this out."
JESUS
"Let's hope it's a better plan than the last time."
GOD
"First, we've got to find another virgin. We can't use Mary again. If we send her down with that costume of hers they will all think she's a Muslim! We've got to come up with someone a little more hip. Somebody more with it.
Gabriele, that's going to be your job again. 
God snaps His fingers and Gabrielle disappears
Gabrielle finds himself on Earth in his quest to find a virgin. He suddenly appears in San Francisco in the middle of the Gay Pride Parade.
PARADE MARCHER 
(Dressed in a bikini top and bottom and wearing a plumed headdress and dancing to the blaring disco music in the background)
"Hey Honey, how did you do that anyway? All of a sudden, here you are! You're a cutie too!"
 (as they continue to march)
"And where did you get that costume? Those wings, they look so real! 
What are you suppose to be - Cupid or something? But let me tell Honey you gotta fix that robe thing. You gotta get more skin going if you're going get a guy here. And where's the bow and arrow thing anyway?"
GABRIELE
"I'm here to find a virgin."
PARADE MARCHER
"Aren't we all!
 But I don't think it going to happen around here if you know what I mean."
GABRIELE
"No you don't understand. I was sent here by God to find a virgin."
PARADE MARCHER
"Hey Honey, that's a beautiful line but I really don't think it's going work. You gotta be more creative. That one has been used by more preachers and priests than you can shake a dick - I mean stick - at!"
GABRIELE
(Gabrielle stops and shouts as the Marcher turns away and continues to dance down the street with the parade leaving Gabrielle standing alone as the parade line passes) 

"No, God really sent me. I really mean it!"
PARADE MARCHER
(the Marcher shouts back)

"Sure you do. Sure you do."
NARRATOR
"What's a angel to do? It looks like the job of finding a virgin is going to be a lot harder this time around."
GABRIELE
(Muttering to himself)
"I can see already this is not going work. Let me call the Boss."
(Gabrielle encounters a second marcher)
"Is there a pay phone around here?"
MARCHER NUMBER 2
"Sure sweetie. Down the street and to the right."
(Gabrielle makes his way to the phone to find it with the hand piece cut off. A parade watcher interrupts him as he is staring at the useless pay phone)
PARADE WATCHER
(In an affected voice)
 "Need to make a call? It's not going happen on that. How about I let you use my cell?"
GABRIELE
"God bless you."
PARADE WATCHER
(as he hands the phone to Gabrielle)

"Thank you but I don't think so."
(Gabrielle dials the number G-O-D-1-A-N-D-O-N-L-Y-1)
VOICE ON THE OTHER END
"Thank you for calling GOD1ANDONLY1. Please listen to the following since our menu has changed. For the Father press 1, for Jesus, press 2 for the Holy Ghost press 3, for Saint Peter press..."
(Gabrielle presses 1)
VOICE ON THE OTHER END
"Please be advised that all calls are recorded for training purposes only."
(A busy signal comes from the phone. Gabrielle pushes the operator button)
OPERATOR
"That line is very busy. Let's see today is the Mega Ball Lottery drawing. Always lots of prayers coming in on that day.
 Would you like to leave a voice message?"
GABRIELE
"O.K."
(in a disgusted tone)
"God - this is Gabriele.
GOD
(in a loud voice)
"I know! I know who it is. You've got to remember - I know everything! I know everyone who calls - always!"
           (in a whisper)
          "I've got caller ID."
GABRIELE

“Things aren't working out that good. You gotta beam me back up. I'm here in San Fran. Exactly where I'm not sure but you can find me on the GPS."
(Gabrielle hangs up the phone and hands it back to the owner)
PARADE WATCHER
"So are you new in town?"
(suddenly Gabrielle vanishes in front of the startled Parade Watcher)

ACT II
Back in God's Palace
(Gabriele appears tired and frustrated)
GABRIELE
"Like I told you on the phone - this virgin thing -"
(Gabrielle is interrupted by JC)
JESUS
"You know, maybe we shouldn't go the same route as before anyway. The last time I was born on Christmas and then I had to kind of just hang around for thirty years until I could start to get things going. 
A lot of wasted time and very boring! 
I say this time we hit the ground running!"
GOD
"I think maybe you're right. This time we'll send you down full-grown. 
Now, let's see, last time you started at thirty. Today, from what I hear, sixty is the new fifty and fifty is the new forty and so on. So, I guess we'll make you- oh - thirty-five to be on the safe side. What do you think?"
JESUS
"Well, that sounds pretty good but I've seen some of the thirty- five year olds and a lot of them aren't too pretty. The obesity epidemic and all. I'll go for the thirty-five deal but you gotta send me down in good shape and I want a membership in New York Sport's Club included! And just in case, sign me up for Nutrisystem too!"
GOD
"I suppose you'll want a 'Life Lift' too?"
JESUS
"If it comes with the package? Then, sure, why not!"
GOD
"Ok, then it's settled. Get your stuff together and we'll set you down tomorrow."
JESUS
"What stuff. You expect me to wear that old robe and sandals that I had before - do you? As a matter of fact, I think I left all that stuff behind after the Ascension. I haven't looked at that painting of me ascending in a long time but I seem to remember that I wasn't wearing the robe and sandal set then. All I had was a loincloth. Not too hip!

I definitely need new threads. I gotta fit in so I can talk to my peeps.
How about a MasterCard?"
GOD
"Threads. Peeps. What's going on here?"
JESUS
"I've got to practice my lingo so I can fit in with the homies right from the get go. You know the old 'thees and thys stuff' are definitely really old school now."
GOD
"Okay. Okay. Be here tomorrow morning at six"
JESUS
"Come on Dad! I haven't up at six in centuries. Just because you have to be up early to make sure the sun rises and stuff doesn't mean that I should. How about ten?"
GOD
"Alright."
(muttering to himself)
"What parents won't do for their kids these days!"
(the next morning at ten o'clock in God's Palace)
GOD
"Well, are you two ready?"
JESUS
"You two?"
GOD
"You and Gab."
JESUS
"What! 
Are you sending him along to keep an eye on me?"
GOD
"Urr - Well, kinda"
JESUS
"Maybe you should have thought of that last time! 
All right! Let's go."
(Jesus motions to Gabrielle, God waves his hand and they both disappear)
(they both appear on Earth)
GABRIELE
"Where the heaven are we?"
JESUS
"I'm not really sure. With all this new technology anything can happen. You just can't trust electronics. 
The last time I sent my halo in to be fixed they sent it back and then the charger didn't work.
(with a sigh)
Then I had to resend it. It was still on warranty but the postage was killing me.

Well, I think the first thing we have to do is get a bunch of homies together - you know - disciples. 
But this time fishermen are out! Did you ever hang around with those guys?"
GABRIELE
"No, not really."
JESUS
"The smell is awful! 
And to make it worst, they're always talking about how big this fish was and that fish was and how they almost caught Jaws.
It's hard to deal with day after day after day. Frankly, it gets boring real fast!"
(Gabriele bends down and picks up a discarded newspaper from the street)
GABRIELE
"Hey! Look here.
'Unemployment Rate Reaches 8 Percent' - we should be able to round up some apostles in no time."
JESUS
"Let me see that."
(He reads the article at light speed - of course)
JESUS
"Let's get down to the Unemployment Office pronto. There's probably a zillion guys there looking for work."
GABRIELE
"How many do you think we'll need?"
JESUS
"Last time we had thirteen. I'm including Judas of course. 
Let me see - the biggest crowd we ever had was about five thousand and that was with a free meal. That was the 'Sermon on the Mount' gig.
 These days five thousand is nothing. A Jimmy Swaggart rally could draw that now.
I don't want to do those dinner- theater crowds any more. 
I'm thinking more like the Billy Graham Crusade type this time. 
I think we need more front men to get the word out and really advertise.
Let's find that office"
(Jesus walks up to a car stopped at the light and taps on the window - the driver cracks the window slightly)
JESUS
"Excuse me.."
DRIVER
"No handouts pal. 
Get a haircut and shave and job.
You bums make me sick!"
(he rolls up the window and speeds off as the light changes)
JESUS
"Well, so much for the meek inheriting the Earth. I guess that's one beatitude I'll have to change."
GABRIELE
"Hey. Wait a minute. I think I see a sign down the street by that line of people. 
'Department of Labor and Workforce Development' - that must be it."
(they walk down the street and approach several men at the end of the line)
GABRIELE
"Hi fellows. My name's Gabriele and this is the Messiah. We've just come to Earth - this is our second time here - and we're looking to hire some disciples. Are any of you guys interested?"
(there is no response and Gabriele continues)
GABRIELE
"Well, what do you say?"
FIRST MAN IN LINE
"No habla Engles"
JESUS
"Oh, he speaks Spanish. I’ll speak to him in Spanish."
GABRIELE
"I didn't know you spoke Spanish."
JESUS
"Of course! I can speak any language - well except - Ebonics always gave me a little trouble."
JESUS (IN SPANISH)
"Listen Hombres, here’s what he said - his name is Gabriele - like the Angel Gabriele and I'm the Messiah. What's your name?"
FIRST MAN IN LINE
"Jesus."
JESUS
"No. No. My name is Jesus."
JESUS (IN ENGLISH TO GABRIELE)
" I guess my Spanish needs some work. Let me try this again."
JESUS (IN SPANISH)
My name is Jesus. What is your name?"
FIRST MAN IN LINE
"Jesus."
JESUS (IN ENGLISH TO GABRIELE)
"I'm getting no where with this guy. I'll just call him 'primer hombre en la línea'. 
Hmm - That's a bit long. 
OK just 'primer hombre'."
JESUS (IN SPANISH)
"OK, Hombre Primer how would you and your amigos like a job with Gab and myself. 
You'll be kind of our Hispanic community organizer. Get the Latino crowd together. Promote our events. Hand out flyers. Make sure the sound system is working right. Hand out the free tacos at the show. Help clean up after.
You know - kind of like our roadie 
No landscaping. Promise!"
HOMBRE PRIMER
"What's the hourly?"
JESUS
"What were you making at your last job? Now, tell me the truth. Remember, I'm the Messiah. I'll know if you're lying. And even worst I'll mark it down as a mortal sin!"
HOMBRE PRIMER
"Salario mínimo - and no time and half for overtime and no bennies. 
That was under the table - no taxman."
JESUS
"I can beat that! How about eight denarius an hour?"
HOMBRE PRIMER
"Eight what?"
GABRIELE
"Master - they don't use denarius any more!"
JESUS (IN AN ANNOYED TONE)
"I knew that! I knew that!
I was just doing some arithmetic out loud.
That's about seven fifty."
JESUS (TO HOMBRE PRIMER)
"Seven fifty an hour. That's the best I can do."
HOMBRE PRIMER
"What about medical?"
JESUS
"Medical? You don't need medical. Got a problem - I'll just cure you right on the spot. I'll even give you dental and optical. 
If you don't believe me get the Bible and check me out. It's all there. I’ve done blindness, leprosy - even death. 
All that without one day in med school!"
HOMBRE PRIMER
"Sounds good - of course we'll need a demonstration healing before we sign up."
HOMBRE PRIMER (TURNS TO THE MAN NEXT TO HIM)
"What do you think Jesus?"
JESUS
"I just told you."
(Jesus realizes that the second man is named Jesus too)

"Alright! Here we go again! You'll be el hombre número dos or how about just HOMBRE DOS.

Now find me a leper and I'll show you."
HOMBRE DOS
"Why does he want a leopard?"
HOMBRE PRIMER
"No estupidez! He wants someone with leprosy!"
HOMBRE DOS
"We aint got no stinkin' lepers around here!"
JESUS
"Alright - Hombre Dos - come over here."
(Hombre Dos walks over to Jesus"
"Let me see your hand. Now watch this."
(Jesus points to a wart on the man's hand. He waves his hand slowly over the wart. The wart remains)

"Gab! Come over here and give me some help with this. I'm a little out of practice."
(Gabriele walks over and they both wave their hands over the wart. The wart disappears! The Hombres stare in amazement)
JESUS
"Pretty good huh boys? Ok that will be five dollars."
HOMBRE PRIMER
"Five dollars? Why five dollars?"
JESUS
"Didn't I tell you? The plan comes with a five-dollar copay. Five dollars for regular medical miracles and twenty five for emergency miracles."
(Hombre Dos begrudgingly hands Jesus five dollars and Jesus gives it to Gabriele)
HOMBRE PRIMER
"What about the tax deal? Under the table or what?"
JESUS
"Give unto Caesar what is Caesar's and unto me what is mine."
(Gab interrupts)
GABRIELE
"It's Uncle Sam now. That Caesar stuff was centuries ago."
JESUS
"OK! Give unto Uncle Solomon.."
GABRIELE
"No! Sam!"
JESUS
"I mean give to Uncle Sam what is Uncle Sam's and to me what is mine."
HOMBRE PRIMER
"What does that mean?"
JESUS
"You gotta pay taxes, man! Can't beat 'em except by lying or dying."
HOMBRE PRIMER
"OK. We'll be here tomorrow at nine."
(Jesus and Gabriele leave the Hombres and walk down the street)
GABRIELE
"Well Boss, that's a good start. We've got the Hispanics covered. 

Now tomorrow we have to sign up some white guys and some African Americans. Then it's on to the Asians and the Native Americans and I think we'll have them all covered. You know what I mean - the EOE thing."
JESUS
"EOE?"
GABRIELE
"Equal Opportunity Employment!"
GABRIELE
"Oh! Wait a minute. I forgot the gays. We'll some of them too!"
JESUS
"Gays?"
GABRIELE
"You know. They used to call them the Abominations. That’s kind out now with all the PC stuff. Now it's Gays."

JESUS
"OK! I get it.
Now I think we need to find a place to stay tonight.
And I'm not staying in any stable this time! 
My mother told me all about it.
She said it was terrible. She said you couldn't take a step without getting something on your sandals. 
And the smell - the smell she said was worst than the disciples."
GABRIELE
"Hey. I see a 'Vacancy' sign up head."
(Jesus and Gabriele enter the hotel and walk up to the front desk)
JESUS
"We'd like a room for the night."
HOTEL CLERK
"Yes sir. Let you take your information and we'll check you in. OK. Your name please."
JESUS
"Jesus Christ."
HOTEL CLERK
"Very good sir. And I guess your friend is the Angel Gabriele."
JESUS
"How did you know?"
HOTEL CLERK
"Ok. I can take a joke with the rest of them but now I need your name."
JESUS
"Jesus Christ."
HOTEL CLERK
"I'm going have to insist that you stop joking a give me your name or I'm going have to ask you leave."
JESUS (IN A STERN TONE)
"My name is Jesus Christ."
HOTEL CLERK
"Alright! Get out here before I call the cops."

(Jesus and Gabriele leave quietly)
GABRIELE
"I think you're going to have to change your name Boss or we'll never get a room."
JESUS
"Well when they ask me my name I can't tell a lie. You don't expect the Messiah to lie, do you?"
GABRIELE
"Urr - of course not. Never! How about we call you Isus Hristos. Issy for short."
JESUS
"Isus Hristos? What kind of name is that?"
GABRIELE
That's Romanian for Jesus Christ. Then when you tell people your name you won't be lying and we'll get a room for the night."
JESUS
"Isus Hristo. Issy.OK.
Isus sounds kind of Japanese. It will probably even help when recruit our Asian contingent. And Issy, that will be good with Jews." 
From now on - Issy it is."
(Jesus and Gabriele get a room using Jesus’ new name - Isus Hristo)
ACT III

(the next morning they meet the Hombres as scheduled)
(as they walk down the street they walk by a city park)
GABRIELE
(pointing to a group of three guys playing basketball)
 "Hey Jesus - I mean Issy - Here's our chance to pick up some black guys."
JESUS
(Jesus calls through the chain link fence)
"Hey. Any of you guys want a job?"
HEBE PRETTY(FIRST BLACK GUY)
"What's you want, Man?"
JESUS
"I said - Any of you guys want a job?"
HEBE PRETTY
"Not unless it's with the NBA!"
(they continue to play)
JESUS
"NBA? With you playin' like that! You gotta be foolin'"
(they stop playing and walk over to the fence)
NOTSO (SECOND BLACK GUY)
"You know who you're talkin' to? This is Hebe Pretty here." 
 (as he motions towards the guy next to him)

"You know what that means? It means 'He be pretty damn good'. That's what it means! Now if you boys wanta see - then get your white and Latino asses out here and we'll show you."
GABRIELE
"I think they are challenging us to some basketball Boss."
JESUS
"OK boys. Let's go."
(Jesus walks towards the open gate and waves all of them to come with him)
HOMBRE PRIMER
"But we don't know anything about basketball."
JESUS
"Don't worry! Just feed me!"
(three enter the court - Jesus, Gabrielle and Hombres Primer - the others watch - and the game begins
Jesus gets the ball from the opposite end of the court and immediately shoots the ball full court into the basket at the far end."
HEBE PRETTY
"We got a lucky white boy on our hands here."
(Notso takes the ball out and on the first dribble the ball bounces into Jesus’ hands - Jesus runs to the basket, jumps four feet into the air, hangs in mid air above the rim for a half second and dunks the ball
All the Black Guys stare in amazement. The game goes on and Jesus continues with one astonishing play after another.)
HEBE PRETTY
(out of breath and sweating profusely)
"How'd you learn to play like that?"
JESUS
"A God given talent.
If you three join us I am sure I can help you with your game. It will probably take a miracle but I think I can get you ready for the NBA after all."
(three look at each other a bit bewildered, raise their eyebrows and follow Jesus down the street)

GABRIELE (WHISPERING)
Hey, Boss we're doing great. One day and we've got the Latinos and Afros. Beautiful!
Let's see. We still need the Asians and Native Americans. 
Oh yeah, and the gays too! 
And, lastly of course, we'll need a few token whities."
(they walk passed the local college courtyard. It's a beautiful spring day and several students are there studying. On a nearby bench, three Asian students are pondering some physics problems. Jesus quietly approaches the bench and looks over the shoulder of one.)
JESUS
"Thermo? Tough stuff!"
ASIAN NUMBER ONE  
(replies with disinterest, continuing to work on the problem)
"Sure are." 
JESUS
"Maybe I can help."
ASIAN NUMBER ONE
"Help how?"
JESUS
"Let me see the problem."
(Jesus takes the book, looks at the problem and hands it back to Asian Number One)

"The answer is negative forty hundred and eighty joules and the next one, problem fifty-two is seven hundred and twenty Kelvin!"
ASIAN NUMBER TWO (IN AN INCREDULOUS TONE)
"Let me check the answers in the back."
(he turns to the answer key and peruses the list)
"Negative four eighty and seven twenty. He's right!"
ASIAN NUMBER THREE
"It's got to be a trick. Give him another one."
(ASIAN NUMBER ONE OPENS THE BOOK AT RANDOM)
ASIAN NUMBER ONE
"Here. What's the answer to number twenty?"
(he points to the problem)
JESUS
"Ah! Harmonic motion. Number twenty. It's four pi square meters per second"
(Asian number two again looks for the answer)
ASIAN NUMBER TWO
"Right again!"
ASIAN NUMBER ONE
"How did you do that?"
JESUS
"I am the Light; the person who sees by me will view all things."
ASIAN NUMBER THREE (LOOKING AT THE OTHER TWO)
 "What does that mean."
JESUS
"Follow me and I'll show you how!"
(all eleven continue down the street led my Jesus and Gabriele)
GABRIELE
"Boss - Do you think it's a good idea to keep calling these guys by names like Hombre Primer, Black Guy Number One, and Asian Guy Number Two. I don't think it really makes them feel at home, if you know what I mean."
JESUS
"You know Gab, I think you're absolutely right! I'll give them all nice friendly, common names like I did with the Apostles the last time."
GABRIELE
"What do you mean - 'Like last time'?"
JESUS
"You didn't really think that a bunch of Jewish guys from Israel had names like John and Mark and Peter did you?
Peter's real name was Hamish and John was Moshe'. I changed them all. Could you imagine, 'The Gospel According to Moshe'. How would that work?"
GABRIELE
"I see what you mean. But how come you kept your Hispanic name - Jesus?"
JESUS
"I didn't at first. I originally called myself Shlomo. And then the teasing started. 
'Slow Mo Shlomo', 'Shlomo the Schlemiel','Go low Shlomo' and so I changed my name from Shlomo to Jesus.
Jesus Christ has a much better ring to it, than Shlomo Christ anyway!"
GABRIELE
"'Jesus' doesn't exactly fit in with the others either. It's not like Tom, I mean Thomas or Jim, I mean James."
JESUS     
"That's true and I was starting to get teased about that name too! Jumpin' Jesus, Jesus H. Christ and that kind of stuff.
They were really getting on my nerves. So I finally put my foot down. I couldn't keep changing my name so I told them 'Make fun of my name one more time and I'm calling it blasphemy and this time it's a mortal sin!' 
That ended it. No more teasing and Jesus has been my name ever since."
GABRIELE (IN AMAZEMENT)
"Wow, the things I never knew!"
(Jesus halts him parade of followers)
JESUS
"Alright - Black Guy Number One. What's your real name?"
HEBE
"'Hebe'"
JESUS
"No - your real name."
HEBE
"BBWADDENE"
JESUS
"Do you know what that means?"
HEBE
"The Great One. That's what my mother told me."
JESUS (JESUS MAKES A BUZZER SOUND)
"Wrong. 
It means a large dog! 
I think we'll stick with Hebe.
And what about you Notso? And by the way what does Notso mean?"
NOTSO
"Well, when they started calling Hebe, Hebe because he be pretty damn good at hoops, they started calling me Notso, not so good at hoops."
JESUS
"I see. What's your real name?"
NOTSO
"ISOKE - my mother said it means 'Airy One - like a bird' in Zulu"
JESUS
Not so Notso! It means 'Hairy One'in Swahili. 
I think we'll keep calling you Notso."
(Jesus turns to the third Black Guy)
JESUS
"And your name?"
THIRD BLACK GUY
"TAFADZWA - my mamma said it means 'We are pissed."
JESUS
"No! No! It means 'We are pleased'in African Shona."
THIRD BLACK GUY
"No. She really meant 'We are pissed'. I was the last of ten kids."
JESUS
"Okay - TAFADZWA it is. Tafa for short.
How about you guys."
(he motions to the Asians)
ASIAN NUMBER ONE
"They call me the General."
JESUS
"Okay, General. What's your real name?"
ASIAN NUMBER ONE
"Tso Chic."
JESUS
"Oh, Like General Tso's Chicken?"
"And you?"
(he points to the other two)
ASIAN NUMBER TWO
"My name is Wai Lee. They call me The Bruce."
JESUS
"Like Bruce Lee?"
ASIAN NUMBER THREE
"No. Like Bruce Springstein. I'm a big fan."
JESUS (HE POINTS TO THE LAST ASIAN)
"How about you?"
ASIAN NUMBER THREE
"They call me Charlie."
JESUS
"Ah - Charlie Chan."
ASIAN NUMBER THREE
"No. Like Charlie Wong. That's my name."
(they continue to walk - Suddenly Hombre Primer runs up to Jesus)
HOMBRE PRIMER
"Boss! Boss! I just remembered. The boys and I gotta leave early today."
JESUS
"Gotta leave early? Why?"
HOMBRE PRIMER
"We gotta get ready to go the Hombre Dos's sister's wedding. It's tonight."
JESUS
"You guys have only been on the job one day and you're taking off early already?
(Jesus pauses to think)

Well, I guess it’s okay - but I've got to dock you."
HOMBRE DOS
"How about if you come too?"
JESUS
"All of us! Well, maybe then I could overlook that docking.
 Okay! We'll go." 
(that night - Jesus and the disciples enter the reception hall)
HOMBRE DOS
"Welcome. Let me introduce you to my sister and her new husband
Sis, this is my new boss Issy and his foreman Gab. He's the guy I've been telling you about."
(Hombre Primer calls Jesus aside for a moment)
HOMBRE DOS
"Listen Boss, did you notice my sister's upper lip?"
JESUS
"No. What do you mean?"
HOMBRE DOS
"The hair. It's very hairy! 
I told her about my wart and that maybe you could help her out with the mostacho."
JESUS
"Well, it is her wedding day. Okay!"
(Jesus walks over to Hombre Dos's sister and runs his finger over her upper lip and the hair disappears)
GABRIELE
"That will be ten dollars please!"
HOMBRE DOS
"Ten dollars? How come the wart was only five?"
GABRIELE
"Out of network!"
(the husband hands Gabrielle a ten-dollar bill)
(the party continues)
(Suddenly from the crowd)
"No más cerveza!"
GABRIELE
"What did he say?"
JESUS
"He said 'No more beer!'
The beer ran out and it looks like the crowd is starting to get rowdy."

"I feel like I've been here before. You know like deja vu and I think I know exactly what to do."
(Jesus calls over the waiter)
"Bring me ten large pitchers of water."
(the waiter rushes into the kitchen. He and an assistant return with the pitchers and place them on the tables)
JESUS (MUTTERING TO HIMSELF)
"Now let's see if I can remember how this goes."
(He closes his eyes, waves his hands right over left 
 The crowd is silent
Jesus opens his eyes and the water is unchanged)
JESUS (TO HIMSELF IN A LOW VOICE) 
"Oh, now, I remember - wine to water is right over left. Water to beer is left over right."

He closes his eyes again, and this time waves his hands left over right)
Loud applause rises from the crowd, Jesus opens his eyes and in each pitcher the water has been transformed into beer - the party continues)
(Suddenly, he doors of the kitchen spring open and the owner of the hall rushes toward Jesus carrying a sheet of paper)

      HALL OWNER
"Do you see this? This is the contract for the hall rental. What does it say right there?
(he points angrily)
'No outside alcohol'
 Now either you get rid of that beer or I'll kick you all out!"
(Jesus looks at the contract closely)
JESUS
"The man's right. That's what it says."
(Jesus closes his eyes, waves his hands in the oppose direction and the beer turns back into water.
The crowd again begins boo)
GABRIELE
"What are we going to do now?"
JESUS
"No problemo."
(He reaches into his shirt pocket and pulls out the credit card him Father had given him. He stands before the group with both arms raised, with the credit card in hand)

"Peace I say unto you. 
Look at the birds of the air, they neither toil nor reap yet their Father feeds them. 
Look at the lilies of the field, they neither sow nor spin yet their Father clothes them. 
Are you less than they in his eyes?"
(a voice from the crowd yells)
"What the hell does all that mean?"
JESUS
"It means, my son - 'Open bar' on me"
(and Jesus hands the credit card to the owner and the crowd cheers)
(the next morning Jesus and Gabrielle awake and are getting ready for the day ahead)
JESUS
"Hurray up. I want to get down to Bob's Sporting Goods Store."
GABRIELE
"Sporting Goods Store for what?"
JESUS
"Well, last night was pretty embarrassing. When I turned the water into to beer at the wedding my first try didn't work.
All because I forgot one little thing."  
GABRIELE
"What's that got to do with Sporting Goods?"
JESUS
"Well, last night, after we got back, you fell asleep. I stayed up and was watching the football game."
GABRIELE
"So?"
JESUS
"I noticed that every time they went back to the huddle, the quarterback looked at his wrist. Then the announcer said that he had the play list written there on a wristband. 
I'm going to get one of those wristbands and put all the miracles on it. 
No more embarrassing screw ups for me!"
GABRIELE
"Wow! What a great idea.
Now I see why they say that you possess all the wisdom of the universe, Boss"

(several days pass and Jesus and his followers are walking the streets continuing to search for new disciplines)
(it is late in the afternoon)

JESUS
"I don't know about you but I'm famished."
GABRIELE
"We haven't eaten since this morning and that continental breakfast at the hotel wasn't very good either."
(As they pass an alleyway a voice is heard from the shadows)
VOICE FROM THE SHADOWS
"Psst! Jesus! Over here."
GABRIELE
"Who's that?"
JESUS
"I'm not sure but the voice sure sounds familiar."
(Jesus walks over to the alley way)
JESUS
"It's you again. Don't you ever give up?"
VOICE FROM THE SHADOWS
"I heard you say you were hungry.
If you are the Son of God, tell these scrap papers on the ground in this alley to become Burger King coupons."
JESUS
"It is written: 'Man does not live on Whoppers alone."
(Jesus is then taken to the top of the tallest building in the city)
VOICE FROM THE SHADOWS
If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written:
  " 'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'"
JESUS
"Without a bungee cord! What? Are you nuts?"
(Jesus is then taken a scenic overlook. He and the Voice walk over to the binoculars and the Voice puts in a quarter)
VOICE FROM THE SHADOWS
"Here look through these. All this I will give you, if you will bow down and worship me."
JESUS
"What kind of fool do you think I am? This is the old 'I have a bridge to sell you' trick.
Away from me, Satan!"
(Jesus reappears back along side of Gabrielle)
GABRIELE
"Who was that?"
JESUS
"Satan, the Devil, Lucifer, Beelzebub, Old Scratch, The Antichrist, Evil one, The Ruler of Demons, The Tempter, The Beast, you know, same old guy."
GABRIELE

"You know, we're having some trouble rounding up a white contingent."
JESUS
"And what about women? We need women too. And native Americans?"
GABRIELE
"I know. We're working on it. And we also need some of the handicapped."
JESUS
"No.
We can't do that because everybody will say 'Why don't you heal them?' and I'd look pretty bad if I didn't. Then if they're healed we'd be back to having no handicaps.
It would be a vicious circle, so I hate to do it but I have to cut them out. 
No disabled disciplines!"
(They continue to walk and approach a group of women standing in front of a bar smoking cigarettes)
GABRIELE
"Hello girls."
GIRLS
"Who you calln' girls, Shortie?"
(Gabrielle turns to Jesus)
GABRIELE
"Am I really that short?"
JESUS
"Don't worry about it. I'll fix that later."
GABRIELE (TURNS BACK TO THE GIRLS)
"No. We're just trying to get some women to work for us."
GIRLS
"What are you? Some kind of pimp or somethin'? 
We're just out here to have smoke not to get hustled."
GABRIELE
"You don't understand. He's Jesus Christ and.."
GIRLS
"You don't understand. I'm the Virgin Mary, here's Mary Magdolin and that's Joan of Arc over there.

Now if you guys don't get out of here, I'm goin' to call Pontius Pilate over there and get your asses arrested."
(she points to a cop across the street)
(they moves on)
GABRIELE
"That didn't work out too good. I wonder why they were so mean?"
JESUS
"I think I spied a few demons back there. I probably should have done a little casting out like I did with the kid in Tyre that time. That might have helped to make them a bit nicer."
GABRIELE
"Yeah, I remember that. You really turned the kid around. 
No more tantrums, no more whining, no more pestering, no more back talk. You even got her to brush her teeth."
(Gabrielle is silent for a while)
GABRIELE
"By the way Boss, when are we going to deal with my 'short' problem?"
JESUS
"Are you pestering me already? I told you later."
(they continue to walk - GABRIELLE again silent)
GABRIELE
"When later?"
JESUS
"Oh man you don't quit! I don't want to do this on the street right here. I can't concentrate with all this noise.
 I need a nice quiet place.
Alright let's go over to the Dunkn' Donuts"
(they walk into the coffee shop)
JESUS
"Okay - we'll do it in the bathroom."
(they both enter the men's room)
(Jesus checks the miracle list on the wristband)
JESUS
"Alright, you've got to get down on your knees for this one. This is a pretty tough miracle."
(Gabrielle gets down on his knees in front of Jesus)
(suddenly the door swings open and the manager appears)
MANAGER
"I thought I heard you guys talking about doing it in the men's and I was right. 
You better get out of here right now or I'll have you arrested for public lewdness.
And don't come back!"
(Gabrielle and Jesus leave the coffee shop)
JESUS
"See that? I told you later and couldn't wait. 
You know patience is a virtue.
You know what I'm tempted to do? Make pestering a sin! And it will be all your fault. 
Every kid in the world will be piling up sins day after day after day. It will be all your on you!
 Do you want that on your conscience?"
(Gabrielle replies meekly)
GABRIELE
"No Boss."
JESUS
"Alright then, keep quiet and don't bother me again. 
And by way, don't mention any of this to the others. It's very embarrassing."
(they join the other on the sidewalk)
(as the walk they pass a group of white guys standing on the corner all dressed in athletic tee shirt with bulging biceps and tattoos)
GABRIELE
"Hey Boss. Maybe we can recruit these guys. I see one of them has a cross on his arm and the other has your picture on his shoulder."
JESUS
"I think you're right. Let's talk to them.
Hey Big Ass. We'd like to talk to you guys for a minute."
WHITE GUY ONE 
"Who you callin' me 'Big Ass'. What are you some kinda smart guy lookin' for a beatin'."
GABRIELE
"What is the matter with you? Why are you calling this guy 'Big Ass'?"
JESUS
"That's what that Chinese tattoo on his arm says. Translated it means 'Call me Big Ass' so I called him 'Big Ass'."
(the white guys take a threatening step toward Jesus)
(Jesus raises his hand points to the tattoo on WHITE GUY ONE'S arm)
JESUS
"No. It says right there on your arm 'Call me 'Big Ass'' in Chinese."
WHITE GUY ONE
"No it doesn't, it says 'Man of Steel'. The guy who put on told me that."
JESUS
"See that second symbol? He spelled it wrong. See that little loop on the end there?"
(Jesus points to the tattoo)
"That should loop up not down. Loop up means 'Man of Steel', loop down means 'Call me Big Ass'."
(Jesus calls over the Asian guys and points to the tattoo)
ASIAN NUMBER ONE
"Loop down, 'Call me Big Ass'"
(Jesus gestures to ASIAN GUY TWO)
ASIAN NUMBER TWO
"'Call me Big Ass'"
(Jesus gestures to ASIAN GUY THREE)
ASIAN NUMBER THREE
"'Call me Big Ass'"
JESUS
"There you go. Four to one. It says 'Call me Big Ass'."
WHITE GUY ONE
"What am I gonna do now? 
I got the 'Big Ass' tattoo thing down both arms and on my ass."
JESUS
"I think I can help. Come over here and roll up your sleeve."
(Jesus rubs his hand over the tattoo and it disappears)
"Now the other arm."
(Again Jesus runs his hand over the other arm and the tattoo disappears)
"Okay now pull the back of your pants down."
(Again Jesus runs his hand over the tattoo and it disappears)
(At that minute the coffee shop manager happens to walk by)
MANAGER
"Didn't I just kick you out of my shop for that stuff? Here you are doing the same thing again. I guess you gays just can't control yourselves.
'Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind'
Remember Sodom and Gomora!. 

That's from the Bible, just in case you haven't read it."
JESUS
"That was before I was born."
MANAGER
"I hate wise guy fags."
(he walks away shaking his head)
GABRIELE
"What was he talking about Sodom and Gomora?"
JESUS
"You remember. Lot, the pillar of salt all that stuff."
GABRIELE
"Oh, yes. Now I remember. That was when your Father always was in a really crabby mood. 
He was smoting people right and left. He even played nasty tricks on some of his best people like Job and Abraham. He always wanted to check to see if they really loved him. 
Insecurity I guess.
Then, I remember some of the archangels got together and suggested that he go into therapy and take some angry management classes. It really helped.
After about the fifth or sixth session he got a lot nicer."

(the group continues to walk)
GABRIELE
"What about the Indians, Boss? We've got the Latinos, the Asians, the Blacks, the Whites. We still need Indians and gays!"
(White guy 'Big Ass' over hears the conversation)
BIG ASS
"There's this Indian guy that lives next to me. He from Mumbai but I don't think you'd want him. 
He hardly speaks English and he's already got a job. He's a telephone tech support for Dell Computers."
JESUS
"No. We mean Native Americans."
BIG ASS
"Oh! You mean real Indians. Well, my bud over there is part Indian, I means Native American."
(he points to the other white guy in the group)
GABRIELE
"What do you mean, 'Part Indian'?
BIG ASS
"Well, his grandfather was Chief Thunder Thud on the Howdy Doody Show in the fifties."
GABRIELE
"Kawabonga! That means he's - let’ see - a quarter Native American. Is that okay Boss?"
JESUS
"I think so. But wait. What tribe was that?"
(Big Ass yells to the other white guy)
BIG ASS
"What tribe was your grandfather in? Was it the Tinka Tonka or the Sigafoose?"
OTHER WHITE GUY
"Princess Summerfall Winterspring was a Tinka Tonka and Buffalo Bob's grandfather was a Sigafoose. My grand pop was a Ooragnak."
JESUS
"Okay. He'll do. Check off the Native Americas. 
Oh, by the way what's your Native American name?"
WHITE GUY TWO
"Third Thud."
BIG ASS
"Listen. Didn't you say you need gays too?"
GABRIELE
"Sure we do."
BIG ASS
"Would a trany count?"
GABRIELE
"What do you think, Boss?"
JESUS
"Well, we went for a quarter Native American. I guess a transsexual could fill in for a gay.
 What's his name?"
(Big Ass points to the third white guy in the group)
BIG ASS
"They call him is Usta."
GABRIELE
"Like 'Use to be'?"
BIG ASS
"Right on, Shortie."
(they continue walk)