Screenplay ~~- Sanctum

Princess Explains Moses' Snake-Stave Miracle

4398 Characters =~4.4Min. Reading Time
QUEEN NEFERTIRI
We've kept the Hebrews down for 400 years.

Prince Neko walks to the rear wall, flips open the lid of a treasure chest.

PRINCE NEKO
What's there to eat in Sanctum? I'm hungry!

Princess Salome looks sheepishly in the direction of Queen Nefertiri.

QUEEN NEFERTIRI
We fast until we stop the rebellion.

PRINCE NEKO
No FOOD?!

QUEEN NEFERTIRI
The gods will feed us energy through their spirits.

Princess Salome sits on the bed, draws.

PRINCE NEKO
If you're so powerful, why are we locked up hiding in Sanctum?

QUEEN NEFERTIRI
You'd know if you hadn't been out smoking hashish and bedding slaves with your β€”
(mocks)
β€” β€œadvisers!”

PRINCE NEKO
Two snakes are no national emergency!

PRINCESS SALOME
They are when uncle Moses made them from shepherds' rods!

Queen Nefertiri glares at Princess Salome:


QUEEN NEFERTIRI
(teeth clenched)
Moses is powerless.

PRINCESS SALOME
(rolls eyes to Prince)
Yes, Mother.

Queen Nefertiri advances one step toward the bed, eyes set to strike Princess Salome.

PRINCESS SALOME
(terrified, humbled)
Yes, Queen Mother; You're right my Queen, Goddess of Egypt.

Furious Queen Nefertiri, pacified for the moment, turns back to face the sacrificial altar.

QUEEN NEFERTIRI
(chants, soft)
Pestilence and plague rain rage

She motions with her hands like an orchestra conductor. Strange SOUNDS emit from the wall before the altar.

QUEEN NEFERTIRI
(chants, soft)
Lock the traitors in their cage

Impressed with the Queen's power, Prince Neko shoots a glance toward his Sister as if to say, β€œCool trick.”

PRINCE NEKO
(mocks mother)
'That wall play any GOOD songs?

The Queen (at the altar) grimaces, her back to the Prince & Princess.

On the bed, Princess Salome points Prince Neko to her drawing.
Prince Neko walks over to the Princess:

PRINCESS SALOME
(whispers to Prince)
Moses faced death to walk into our palace.

Prince Neko's raises his eyebrow in surprise.

PRINCE NEKO
(whispers to Princess)
That impudent pig.

PRINCESS SALOME
(whispers to Prince)
He issued orders to father Pharaoh!

Prince Neko peers at the drawings flowing effortlessly from Princess Salome's pen:


THEN, INSIDE THE PALACE ANIMATION IN THE DAYTIME:

PRINCESS SALOME (Unseen voice)
(whispers narration)
As Moses and Aaron enter the palace, I hear Yahweh speak to Moses and Aaron:

The rough animated DRAWING shows elderly MOSES and Aaron marching into Pharaoh's overwhelming throne room:

PRINCESS SALOME (Unseen voice)
Yahweh saysβ€”
(low-pitch)
β€”β€œPharaoh will taunt you, saying, β€˜Show me a miracle to prove yourselves.’ Then you'll say to Aaron, β€”
(mimics Moses)
β€”β€˜Take your staff. Throw it down on the marble floor before Pharaoh. It'll morph into a serpent!”

The rough animated DRAWING shows Aaron throwing down his staff in front of Pharaoh and Pharaoh's servants.

PRINCESS SALOME (Unseen voice)
They do as Yahweh commanded: Aaron throws down his staff in front of Pharaoh and Pharaoh's servants.

The rough animated DRAWING shows the staff morph into a wriggling, hissing, biting serpent!

PRINCESS SALOME (Unseen voice)
The staff morphs into a wriggling, hissing, biting, poisonous serpent!

The rough animated DRAWING shows Pharaoh comically screaming:

PRINCESS SALOME (Unseen voice)
(as Pharaoh)
Sages! Sorcerors!

The rough animated drawing shows a fat magician (JANNES) and a skinny magician (JAMBRES) run into the throne-room:

PRINCESS SALOME (Unseen voice)
Our national magicians and wise-men run into the throne-room.

The rough animated DRAWING shows the magicians (Jannes and Jambres) running into the throne-room.
They throw their staves onto the ground as wise-men look on in angst:

PRINCESS SALOME (Unseen voice)
Our magicians mimic the snake miracle, using their occult witchcraft.

The rough animated DRAWING shows Jannes' and Jambres' snakes morphing into serpents:

PRINCESS SALOME (Unseen voice)
Then each staff morphs into a serpent!

The rough animated DRAWING shows Jannes and Jambres gaping in horror as Moses' and Aaron's snakes eat the magicians' snakes.

PRINCESS SALOME (Unseen voice)
(louder)
But to our magicians' horror, Aaron's snake-rod swallows up their snake-rods!

QUEEN NEFERTIRI
(barks)
Never speak the name of Moses!