dialogue that emboldens the heart
dialogue that emboldens the heart
Embedded Files
sample the script.
Prelude
"The year is 1630. The place--London, England. As King Charles works to unify the country under one king, one church, and one God, most have submitted to the authority of the Church of England. But even in the face of punishment and persecution, some dare to oppose the king by continuing to worship Jesus Christ according to their own conscience. One such man is John Lothropp, a direct ancestor of Joseph Smith, five United States presidents, and hundreds of other notables who have made our nation great. Let us watch now as the story of the Lothropp family unfolds. This is a story of faith, pain, sorrow, and the spirit of freedom."
Scene 2: The Square
JOHN and SAM arrive at the square, where there is jeering and shouting. MOB surrounds the raised platform. In the center, GUARD #1 is punishing pilloried LEIGHTON with a whip. JOHN and SAM stand near the back.
SUPPORTER #1
What's the crime?
MOB #1
He's a Presbyterian.
GUARD #2
Everyone, stand back!
GUARD #1 brings his whip down on LEIGHTON.
SUPPORTER #2
Ye foul-smellin' butchers!
SUPPORTER #3
He's done nothing wrong!
MOB #2
He's written a petition against the king.
LEIGHTON
The bishops are anti-Christian men out for blood!
GUARD #1 puts LEIGHTON in the pillory. He takes a branding iron and brands LEIGHTON'S cheek with SS. LEIGHTON screams out in pain.
GUARD #1
That'll teach ya to speak against God's anointed, ya Son of Sedition!
GUARD #2
Everyone, get back!
GUARDS are busy controlling the MOB. JOHN and SAM cross toward center stage.
JOHN
May God comfort Leighton. This is unjust evil.
Scene 10: Bishop Laud's Office
JOHN has been transported from Newgate Prison to visit Bishop LAUD. The purpose of the meeting is to give JOHN the opportunity to rejoin the Church of England, which would result in his release.
LAUD
The Church of England has not departed from the true faith; therefore, it maintains its authority as Christ's church.
JOHN
Not all men of conscience--
LAUD
Curse the men of conscience. Even you irrational dissenters don't agree on what's what. You're like quibbling children. Christ cannot be divided against Himself! His is a house of order. As surely as there is only one God, in England there can be only one church. This is His church. The king is God's immediate lieutenant upon the earth, and my order as a bishop and my power of jurisdiction is by divine right!
JOHN
What about the divine right to pray as my conscience dictates instead of authorized prayers?
LAUD
That is at odds with our religious authorities! You had better examine your conscience.
JOHN
And you would do well to remember history. It was the 'religious authorities' who failed to discover the true identity of the carpenter from Nazareth. They accused him of villainy. It was only men of conscience who recognized Him.
LAUD
You dare compare those wicked priests with the religious authorities of today? You are a fool. They crucified Christ! We revere Him!
JOHN
If you had lived then, you would have crucified Him.
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