Silence stretches like a taught rope, as Judas and Jesus stand at opposite sides of the table. Irreconcilably, unrelantingly they glare at each other, holding a fight with their eyes. Pain and rage reflects in their looks as something inside them breaks. Not a reminescence of frienship, not a spark of respect remains. In icy blue eyes stares bitterness about a betrayal, noone has yet comitted, and yet it cuts with uncountable icecrystals into the heart, and forgiveness is far away. In glowing brown eyes flashes desperate agony about an existence, crushed between the mill stones of fate, a soul trapped in hopelessness revolting against the unavoidable, and hope is far away. So they stare at each other, two bitter enemies; blinded by fury and despair they face each other from opposite sides of the table, from opposite sides of the world. And as deep as their friendship once has been, as deeply also gapes the crevice. The ditch becomes an abyss, and at deceived ideals, betrayed frienship the past Judas has known is dashed to pieces. He has loved Jesus like a brother, sucked in his message of peace and love greedily, hoping they could change the world, slowly, from inside. Has this been all a lie? Has the glorious goal been nothing more than a way to fame; a road to power? Power, not to change and improve, but to manipulate and destroy? And the message of peace - did it only go for the followers, not for the leader himself? Did he have the right to take whatever he wished, and when he couldn`t take, he cut others from hope, nipped the happiness in the bud, weaving a web of intrigue that was worth a highpriest`s sick mind? Judas swallows hard. He had sensed, had sensed it even 2000 years ago. Like a shadow the doubt had been there, floating around his head like a dark cloud. But he had pushed it away, hoping he would be wrong. But now he sees Jesus as he really is. A weak selfish man who took what he wanted and destroyed what he couldn`t have. Yes, now he sees how Jesus really is, and what he sees fills him with resignation and burning rage. With a sudden movement Judas jumps onto the table blazing at the blonde man. YOU SAD PATHETIC MAN SEE WHERE YOU`VE BROUGHT US TO OUR IDEALS LIE AROUND US ALL BECAUSE OF YOU Tears glisten in his eyes. How Jesus has betrayed him! How he has done him wrong! He hurries towards Jesus, towers over him, looking down on him, and contempt and anger almost tear him apart. THE SADDEST CUT OF ALL SOMEONE HAS TO TURN YOU IN LIKE A COMMON CRIMINAL LIKE A WOUNDED ANIMAL And that`s what Jesus is, a criminal, depraving him of his belief, depraving him of the only woman he`s ever loved. The injustice, all the lost time, the lost looks he couldn´t exchange with her, the lost warmth he couldn`t find in her embrace, the lost sweetness he couldn`t feel on her lips, the lost tenderness he couldn`t touch in her soul, screams inside him. And worst of all Jesus didn`t even see his injustice, that it was him who damned them all to their personal hell. That it was him who ruined their life, who ruined their afterlife. He was a liar, a betrayer, a miserable man, who couldn`t stand the thought someone else could be loved more than he was, someone else could find a happiness he was denied. He just destroyed everything, and he didn`t care how many people he plunged into darkness as long as noone took away his toys. The betrayal burns in Judas` heart like an open wound, burns inside his soul with consuming blaze. How much he wants to hurt him now! How much he wants to see him suffer as he does! How much he wants to see the hurt about being betrayed reflecting from his eyes! How much he wants to pay back for everything he`s done. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, betrayal for betrayal. Unleashed fury devours Judas from within, cuts through even the last string of control. Shaking with rage he shoves Jesus hard to the ground, screaming at him. A JADED MANDARIN A JADED MANDARIN LIKE A JADED JADED FADED JADED JADED MANDARIN He stands on the table straigthened up, not caring for the voices and hands of the others who reproach him, scold him, insult him, calm him, try to hold him back. With a short movement he shakes them all off and stares wildly at Jesus. The blood rushes loudly inside his ears, and the adrenaline shoots through his body, shaking him vehemently, bringing him to the edge of the final break down, when no human part will remain in his soul, when there`s no mediocre way anymore, just yes or no, a decision between Jesus or him, when his soul will be the soul of a shattered angel or a vindictive demon, given over to his instincts, with no spark of reason anymore.

Jesus runs his hands through his hair, obviously undecided for a moment, but then he swirls round; jumping onto the table he points at the exit. His face is contorted with rage and something that comes very near to hate. GET OUT THEY`RE WAITING GET OUT THEY`RE WATING THEY`RE WAITING FOR YOU Both men stare at each other, blue flaring eyes boring into blazing brown, irreconcilably, unrelentingly. The same agony, the same despair, the same feeling of betrayal and loss lies in their eyes, and the same anger, the same scream of betrayed friendship, the same accusations yell in their voices. Inexorably they fight each other with the fire in their eyes, the final fight that will decide over life or death. For eternal moments the world stands still, and there`s nothing but the crackling in their looks, but then Judas lowers his head tears shooting to his eyes, and helplessly he sinks to the floor clasping Jesus`knees. EVERYTIME I LOOK AT YOU I DON`T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU LET THE THINGS YOU DID GET SO OUT OF HAND Bitter tears are flowing from his eyes, as the hate inside him breaks and only despair remains. Whatever has happened before, no matter how wrong Jesus has done him, he still doesn`t want him to die, and yet he has no choice. Looking down on the dark hair Jesus eyes fill with salty tears and he can`t suppress a sob. Slowly he moves his hand to touch Judas` head, but suddenly Judas jumps up, whirls round and goes slowly towards the exit, shoulders sagged, depraved of the fire that has blazed in his whole beeing just a few moments ago he creeps away, a broken man. Jesus follows him, it almost seems as if he wanted to stop him, to beg him to return, but then he stops. There`s nothing that can be done. The cast is die.