The smile disappears from Annas face and a slight impatient undertone grows in his voice as he approaches Pilate. I NEED HIM CRUCIFIED IT`S ALL YOU HAVE TO DO I NEED HIM CRUCIFIED IT`S ALL YOU HAVE TO DO Pilate freezes; he apruptly swings round and hurries towards Jesus, as if he wanted to have as much space as possible between him and Annas. TALK TO ME JESUS CHRIST He demands urgently, and actually Jesus gets up to look at Pilate. But when their eyes lock and Pilate sees the profound sadness behind his smile, he staggers back inhaling a sharp breath. LOOK AT YOUR JESUS CHRIST I`LL AGREE HE`S MAD He shrinks back. OUGHT TO BE LOCKED UP BUT THAT IS NOT A REASON TO DESTROY HIM He passes Jesus, leaving some space between them, as if he was scared of the fragile man before him. HE`S A SAD LITTLE MAN NOT A KING OR GOD; NOT A THIEF Pilate`s eyes flicker and his voice is brittle with desparation. I NEED A CRIME He cries out. Annas strides slowly closer, and a sly smile glides over his face as he approaches Pilate. "But you know his crime." KILL HIM HE SAIS HE`S GOD HE`S A BLASPHEMER HE`LL CONQUER YOU AND US AND EVEN CAESAR His voice is soft and holds an amused undertone, as if he was having some smalltalk at a dinnerparty, and Pilate stares unbelievingly at the pale man. CRUCIFY HIM CRUCIFY HIM Pilate breaks the eyecontact again and hurries back to Jesus grabbing his arm roughly. BEHOLD A MAN BEHOLD YOUR SHATTERED KING He looks imploringly at Annas; it almost seems as if he begs him to take the chance and give the story a different direction. But Annas only raises his eyebrow, smiling coldly. I HAVE NO KING BUT CAESAR Pilate gasps for breath, his dark eyes flash dangerously, as he glares at Annas furiously. YOU HYPOCRITE YOU HATE ME MORE THAN HIM He roars and needing to leave off steam, he pushes Jesus to the ground. Then he menacingly steps closer to Annas, who replies his glance firmly with a slightly surprise blink in his transparent eyes. WE HAVE NO KING BUT CAESAR CRUCIFY HIM While Annas` watery eyes glide into Pilate`s black, the tall Roman gets visibly smaller. The feigned threat disappears from his face giving place to the unstable expression of desperation and helplessness. I FIND NO REASON I SEE NO EVIL THIS MAN IS HARMLESS WHY DOES HE UPSET YOU? Annas looks disparagingly at the taller man and his light eyes glisten like sharp-edged jewels. "You ask too much. Just do your job." Even though his voice is calm and low, a slight flair of danger and disaster lingers in the air. HE`S JUST MISGUIDED THINKS HE`S IMPORTANT Pilate tries to stand firm the cold gaze, but again he looses the fight; swings round and hurries towards Jesus kneeling down before him, fear and confusion shining in his dark eyes. WHERE ARE YOU FROM JESUS? WHAT DO YOU WANT JESUS? Jesus looks at him thoughtfully, stroking a blonde strand out of his forehead. He can`t remember that Pilate has ever looked so concerned. TELL ME Pilate sais emphatically, when Jesus stays silent just directing his blue eyes on him. YOU`VE GOT TO BE CAREFUL He casts a meaningful glance at Annas before he looks at Jesus again. YOU COULD BE DEAD SOON; COULD WELL BE His voice is soft and fragile, and shaken by sorrow, he reaches out to touch Jesus, to maybe make him see the danger he`s in just with a touch, since he obviously doesn`t grip the sense of his words. But when Jesus doesn`t say a word, his dark brows narrow and a growling undertone creeps into his voice. WHY DO YOU NOT SPEAK WHEN I HAVE YOUR LIFE IN MY HANDS HOW CAN YOU STAY QUIET I DON`T BELIEVE YOU UNDERSTAND He gets up and apruptly turns his back on Jesus, when he feels him touch his coat. YOU HAVE NOTHING IN YOUR HANDS He turns around again and looks into two big blue strangely empty eyes, who seem to look into a past or future noone else can see. Then the glance gets firmer again and a sad melancholy smile covers Jesus` face. "It`s you who doesn`t understand." He begins quietly. "Believe me I know what´s it all about, I know the price." Pilate let`s out a sharp bitter laugh. "Believe me, you know nothing." He snarls. Jesus shakes his head slowly. ANY POWER YOU HAVE COMES TO YOU FROM FAR BEYOND EVERYTHING IS FIXED AND YOU CAN`T CHANGE IT Pilate stares silently at the kneeling man before him; an inner fight becomes visible on his features, shadows flie across his face and disappear again, his eyes flicker and his fists clench and unclench, until he suddenly screams out YOU`RE A FOOL JESUS CHRIST HOW CAN I HELP YOU? He looks deperately at Jesus. "Give me something I can work with." He sais in imploring tone. "Give me a chance to change the story. Act differently, give me the possibility to let you go free. JESUS!" Hearing this outcry, Annas strides quickly closer, an irritated expression on his face. His features, usually smooth and motionless, are tensed and redden slightly, as he grips Pilates arm, who shrinks back an expression of pure horror in his black eyes. PILATE CRUCIFY HIM CRUCIFY HIM REMEMBER CAESAR YOU HAVE A DUTY TO KEEP THE PEACE SO CRUCIFY HIM YOU HAVE A DUTY TO KEEP THE PEACE SO CRUCIFY HIM Every composure has disappeared from the highpriest`s attitude, and his cold glassy eyes flash angrily at Pilate,; and as if pierced by thousands of splinters of glass Pilate writhes and howls in pain, his face looses the last rest of colour, as if it turned to stone and his voice holds no more resemblance to a human voice; it sounds rather like an animal thrown into the coldest fire. After a few seconds Annas turns his face away and Pilate emits a sharp breath wiping away huge drops of sweat from his forehead with shaking hand. Then he turns his gaze on Jesus again, and his voice quivers with suppressed anger. DON`T LET ME STOP YOUR GREAT SELFDESTRUCTION DIE IF YOU WANT TO YOU MISGUIDED MARTYR I WASH MY HADNS OF YOUR DEMOLITION DIE IF YOU WANT TO YOU INNOCENT PUPPET And without looking at Jesus or Annas, he swings round and strides down from stage marching towards a corner in the audience, as far away from stage as possible where he stands still resembling a living statue again.