Released over 2 years ago

	This is a screenplay I wrote based on THE DOER OF GOOD, a short story by Oscar Wilde. (And it's public domain! Yay!) Do with it what ye will ... EXT. AFFLUENT TOWN STREET - NIGHT JESUS, 30s, dressed in a robe and slippers, slowly walks to the street corner. He is weary and tired. Down the street, he hears JUBILANT MUSIC. He looks and sees a McMansion, a huge property, the source of the bacchanalia. Interested, he walks toward the mansion. EXT. MCMANSION - FRONT GATE - NIGHT Jesus approaches. He touches the bars, a bit confused. He looks and finds the buzzer. He pushes the button, and after a moment, we hear the MUSIC blast through the speaker. BEEP! The gate slowly opens. Jesus pushes it aside and starts to make his way up the driveway. As he walks, he passes a set of bushes. Behind them, we see THE FORTUNATE, a serious man, in a toga. He is curled into the fetal position. He SNORTS loudly, then whips his head back, holding his nose. EXT. MCMANSION - FRONT DOOR - NIGHT Jesus approaches. Tiki torches burn to light the way. He sees THE UNFORTUNATE, another young man, dressed like a mummy. He lies on the ground by the door, a bit of blood seeping from his mouth. Strangely, though, he is smiling. Jesus lays hands on him, shakes him. Slowly, The Unfortunate comes to, confused. Jesus smiles and nods reassuringly. Jesus walks past him and into the house. The Unfortunate looks around, realizes where he is, then sheds a tear. INT. MCMANSION - HALLWAY - NIGHT Jesus closes the door behind him and surveys the opulence. Tiki torches line the walls in here as well. Garlands hang from the staircase. He hears a COUGH from a nearby room. He walks toward the sound. INT. MCMANSION - KITCHEN - NIGHT Jesus cautiously enters, and sees food and drink covering every countertop. This place is a mess. At the end of the room, he sees THE GLUTTONOUS, a large man in a toga and roses behind his ears, lying on a purple couch. Wine is spilled on him, and an empty jug sits beside him. Jesus approaches and kneels before him. The Gluttonous recognizes him, and responds warmly. JESUS You’re drunk. The Gluttonous flashes a hammered smile at him. Jesus places his hand on his shoulder. JESUS Why do you live like this? THE GLUTTONOUS But I was a leper once, and you healed me. How else should I live? Confused, Jesus takes a moment to consider his answer. He is about to say something - When SCREAMS OF DELIGHT are heard outside. Jesus goes to the window and looks outside. He sees THE LUSTFUL, an intense man dressed as a hunter, and THE PRIDEFUL, a woman with a painted face, frolicking in the backyard. Jesus looks regrettably at The Gluttonous, then goes outside. EXT. MCMANSION - BACKYARD - NIGHT Jesus slowly walks outside and surveys the area. Signs of excess are everywhere - the pool, the wet bar, all signals of a life spent chasing material things. He watches The Lustful as he walks behind The Prideful. His eyes burn with desire. Jesus hurries behind him and touches his hand. The Lustful recognizes him, and responds warmly. JESUS You want her. The Lustful nods at him. JESUS Why do you look at her like that? THE LUSTFUL But I was blind once, and you gave me sight. What else should I look at? Jesus steps back, shrugging his shoulders, a bit depressed. He looks to The Prideful, admiring her land. He runs up to The Prideful and touches her shoulder. She recognizes him, and responds warmly. JESUS This is your home. The Prideful beams proudly. JESUS Why is it so extravagant? It’s a sin to covet material things. THE PRIDEFUL But you forgave me my sins. What else should I covet? Now visibly upset, Jesus jerks back from her. Unable to speak, he walks off, leaving the two to their frolicking. EXT. MCMANSION - FRONT DOOR - NIGHT Jesus walks around to the front of the mansion, clearly angry. He starts walking toward the gate - When he hears CRYING. He looks to the source of the sound, and he sees The Unfortunate weeping uncontrollably. Confused, his anger dissipated. Jesus gently approaches him. The Unfortunate sees him, shakes his head, and keeps crying. Jesus kneels before him. JESUS Why are you crying? THE UNFORTUNATE I was dead once, and you raised me from the dead. What else should I do but cry? Shocked, Jesus puts his hand to his mouth. The truth is revealed to him. The Unfortunate continues crying, hopeless. Not knowing what to do, Jesus backs away from the man he thought he saved. He slowly walks off, toward the gate. AT THE BUSHES Jesus, walks faster, trying to get away. But he almost trips over The Fortunate, who is lying in the street, twitching. Nervous, Jesus drops to the ground and holds him. He looks on the street. He sees a rolled up dollar bill and a mirror. He looks back to The Fortunate, who is shaking and scared. THE FORTUNATE Help me. Jesus looks him up and down. THE FORTUNATE Please. And then, in this moment, a calm comes over Jesus. He knows what to do. He places The Fortunate back down on the ground, slowly nods, and then starts to cry. This is hard for him. JESUS Okay. He gets up, turns his back on The Fortunate, and walks away, leaving him to die. The Fortunate twitches harder, and his eyes roll back. Jesus walks away from the house, shaking his head, weeping. He leaves the street, and disappears into the darkness. THE END.