Rev 21:2

Scene 1

(Jerusalem, 2007 AD. A market place. Gabriel and Michael walk closely together. Gabriel wears jeans and green shirt, Michael in a dark blue tank top and kaki pants. The two talk.)

Gabriel: Thanks for coming with me today, I appreciate it. (He looks around and smiles.) My how this place has changed, huh?

Michael: (Nods.) Amazing what a couple millennia can do to a place. Yet somehow, it still remains the same.

(Gabriel looks at Michael, confused.)

Gabriel: Same? Same how? The city is bigger; the population is more diverse…

Michael: But there’s still conflict in it. (He shrugs.) It seems to me that there’s always been fighting over this territory or a form of occupation. The Persians, the Romans, the Muslims and Christians…

Gabriel: (Glares.) That’s awfully pessimistic of you.

Michael: (Shrugs.) Is not. I’m simply stating the facts.

(The two continue to walk. They exit the market.)

Michael: I’m curious Gabey, what is it about this city that draws you here so often?

Gabriel: (Shrugs.) I dunno. I’m surprised you don’t spend more time down here, actually. You are supposed to be the angel that watches over Israel, and more specifically, Jerusalem.

Michael: I’m busy upstairs. (He shrugs.) I try and check in when I can, but when I do it’s nothing more than a regular city, albeit one that’s seen more than its fair share of bloodshed.

(The two walk past the temple mount. They stop and pause for a moment.)

Michael: God, I’m never gonna get used to that…

Gabriel: You really ought to get down here more often if you’re still not used to seeing this. (He shrugs.) I admit; the old temple was far more of a sight to behold…

Michael: (Laughs and grins.) Which one?

Gabriel: Both of them. Personally I liked the first one, but Herod didn’t really do that bad of a job rebuilding.

Michael: Really? I’ve always thought the second one looked better. Then again, I tend to really like Roman architecture and by God that was one gorgeous example.

Gabriel: I won’t deny you that. (He nudges Michael.) Let’s keep moving.

(They continue walking and take a turn into a narrow street.)

Michael: That still doesn’t answer my question about what draws you here.

Gabriel: Oh right. (He pauses to think.) I don’t know, really. Hope, perhaps.

Michael: Hope? For what? (He looks at Gabriel, his eyes brows raised.)

Gabriel: Peace. Mercy. It just seems to me that in a place like this, despite all the turmoil that it’s gone through, the city endures. A large part of the culture has been preserved and in many cases has become something new and absolutely incredible. Despite all the religious differences, the three Abrahamic religions consider this to be one of the most important places in the world. (He frowns.) Yeah, sometimes it’s bad and there are things like suicide bombers and murders over religious differences, but on a whole, it could be a lot worse, you know? And I think to myself “If there can be relative peace like this in Jerusalem, then there’s hope for the rest of the world.” It shows people still have a shred of the concept of mercy. And if they have that, no matter how little, they’ll try to show mercy to each other everyone once in a while. (He smiles.) That’s why.

Michael: (Nods.) Makes sense. (He smiles at Gabriel.) Wanna head over to the Holy Sepulcher?

Gabriel: I’m kinda hungry, you know. Could we eat first? Mind, I would like to see the Holy Sepulcher afterwards. It’s been a while. After that we’ll head out into Gethsemane and return home?

Michael: (Laughs.) You just like to confound the humans by ascending back home in a bright white light there…

(Gabriel’s eyes dart from left to right.)

Gabriel: Who me?

Michael: Convincing you are not. C’mon, let’s go.
(The two walk off down the street. “And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven.” 21 Rev 2)

Fin