An imagining of the relationship between Matthew, the former tax collector, and Simon, the former zealot. Will it make it in the show? Maybe. Will it be changed? Probably. Enjoy!

Outside store- in the alley or on the roof.

MATTHEW

What are you up to, Simon?

SIMON

Excuse me, taxman?

MATTHEW

You heard me. You look like you're ready to kill.

SIMON

I’m ready for anything. Are you?

MARY MAG

Matthew-

SIMON

Baby brother’s fine, Mary. Don’t worry. You want to know what’s going on out in those streets people like you made us pave for the Romans? Take a look. How many soldiers do you see?

MATTHEW

Just one- down at the bottom of the hill.

SIMON

Well, if YOSEPH gets his way, there will be at least a dozen here tonight. Pilate’s already dispatched a team to the tomb.

MATTHEW

Why?

SIMON

Are you that oblivious? They’re telling everyone we’re stealing the body tonight, man, to claim he was raised from the dead. They will make us criminals any way they can. And not just us- anyone who believes their dear old dad was raised to life will be silenced. Is that clear enough for you?

MATTHEW

I don’t think Rome would care enough about our leaders’ squabbles to do that.

SIMON

You would think that. They’re nice enough to you when you bleed your people dry for them.

MARY MAG

Simon, please.

SIMON

They cared enough to crucify the man you said was your King. You overestimate them. You want to flip allegiances?

MATTHEW

Of course not.

SIMON

Really? Just go back to Galilee. That’s what you want, right? Use your extra funds to help your family live extra comf and hope they won’t completely hate you anymore. Meanwhile, just leave those of us who have no other way out to fend for ourselves suffocating under the knee of Rome gasping for our imas. You don’t get it, man. That’s why I’m the lookout.

MATTHEW

You left that life, Simon. And I left mine.

SIMON

And what do we do now? The only thing we had in common, taxman, is gone. I’m going to do what I think is best for my people. You can go back to doing what is best for you or you can join me. No other option is left.

MATTHEW

Look, I hate the pain I have caused, and-

SIMON

Do you really?

MATTHEW

- I live with it daily, Simon. But I have changed-

SIMON

Ha! You-

MARY MAG

Stop it. Remember what it was like, Simon, the first time you walked three miles with that Roman’s pack on your back? Look at me. What did his face look like? Come on, I know you remember; you wouldn’t shut up about it.

SIMON

Mary, this is between me and the taxman.

MARY MAG

This is a quarrel of boys, not men. Answer me. Describe his face.

SIMON

He was confused.

MARY MAG

Close. “Squinty-faced and skeptical” were your actual words.

MATTHEW

Nice alliteration. Who knew the warrior was a poet?

SIMON and MARY MAG

Shut it.

MARY MAG

“That’s the face of victory” you said. The face of victory. You were the first to expose that man’s injustice in a way he might one day understand, Simon, and you saw Yeshua’s words starting to work. That’s how we fight. With the sword of his words.

SIMON

He’s not here to wield it anymore.

MATTHEW

I thought you were an advocate of peace now.

SIMON

And I thought you had joined ranks with the common man. You want peace, you have to sacrifice for it.

MATTHEW

I have.

SIMON

Ha! You don’t even know the word.

MATTHEW

How dare you say you loved him.

SIMON

Me, traitor?

MARY MAG

Stop it! Stop it please!

The boys rough house and Mary’s breathing becomes irregular. She begins to worry she’s losing control of herself, perhaps beginning to see things. As the fight escalates, she weakens.

MATTHEW

You, traitor.

SIMON

Coward.

MARY MAG

Stop- No! Please! She collapses holding her head. They rush to her.

MATTHEW

Mary!

SIMON

What did you do?

MATTHEW

What did I do? Dude!

SIMON

Mary!

MATTHEW

Mary, are you ok?

Joanna enters hurriedly.

JOANNA

What’s going on?

MATTHEW and SIMON

Uhh…

MATTHEW

She, uh…

JOANNA

Mary. She crouches down and holds her head between her hands. Look at me. Look! They are not coming back, do you hear? They are gone, forever. Out of you, out of me, and out of Susanna. Come back now, come back. Don’t be afraid.

MARY

Joanna?

JOANNA

Yes. It’s me.

MARY

It left you, right?

JOANNA

He drove it out. For good. Not even Herodias could bring it back, and trust me, she tried. Breathe now.

Honestly, boys. I hope your spat was worth this.

SIMON

I-

MATTHEW

We-

JOANNA

Have no idea what she’s going through, apparently. Mary talk to me. What is it?

Mary looks at Joanna, her fears of returning to her old life overtaking her. She breaks down in tears. She sobs into Joanna’s arms without restraint for a few moments while Matthew and Simon stand awkwardly.

MARY MAG

He’s gone. He’s gone.

JOANNA

Shhh.

MARY MAG

What will happen to me without him? I can’t go back, I can’t go back…

Thomas enters.

THOMAS

What’s going on up- Mary?

Joanna holds out her arm- keeping him from approaching.

What did you two do to her?

MATTHEW

This isn’t about her.

THOMAS

Doesn’t look that way.

SIMON

Go away, Thomas. Matthew and I have something to resolve.

MARY MAG

It’s okay, Thomas.

MATTHEW

Oh, so it’s Matthew now?

SIMON

Don’t push it, man. Thomas, please leave.

THOMAS

Fine. I’ll be downstairs. Listening.

SIMON

Dude, go.

THOMAS

Joanna, you let me know if there’s anything I can do. He exits.

JOANNA

I should take her downstairs, too. She stands with Joanna’s help.

MARY MAG

I’m fine. I have no other option, Simon. Confound them with love. That is the way. Confound them.

She lets Joanna lead her out. Beat.

MATTHEW

So, can a former tax collector and a former zealot be brothers again?

SIMON

What do you see when you look out?

MATTHEW

Uh- That soldier’s picking his nose.

SIMON

I see the chariots of fire Elisha showed Gehazi.

MATTHEW

Oh.

SIMON

I’ve imagined them since I was a boy. Wishing they’d show up to help us fight back when our homes were attacked.

MATTHEW

You lost many people?

SIMON

It never made sense to me that Elisha let the Syrians pass right through - and with a good meal.

MATTHEW

They were blinded at the time.

SIMON

They intended to kill.

Why didn’t Yeshua blind them all? It didn’t have to go down this way.

MATTHEW

They were already blind.

SIMON

Simon sighs deeply and pulls out his black flag and looks at it. I don’t like when she’s right. He hands the flag to Matthew. Take it. Let’s confound them then.

MATTHEW

Are you sure?

SIMON

Before I change my mind.

Matthew digs out a change purse and tosses it to Simon.

I don’t want your money.

MATTHEW

Take it, before I change my mind. You probably haven’t eaten well in three days. Go, by yourself a beer or something. Simon tosses it back.

SIMON

You buy me a beer. He smiles.

MATTHEW

Look! Is that?

SIMON

Took them long enough.

MATTHEW

They’re ok! Matthew exits. Lights down.