CHOIR
Poor old Judas
So long Judas
TRIAL BEFORE PILATE (Including the 39 lashes)
PILATE
And so he king is once again my guest
And. why is this? Was Herod unimpressed?
CAIAPHAS
We turn to Rome to sentence Nazareth
We have no law to put a man to death
We need him crucified — it’s all you have to do
We need him crucified — it’s all you have to do
PILATE
Talk to me Jesus Christ
You have been brought here–manacled, beaten
By your own people — do you have the first idea why you deserve it?
Listen King of the Jews
Where is your kingdom?
Look at me — am I a Jew?
JESUS
I have got no kingdom in this world — I’m through, through, through
MOB
Talk to me Jesus Christ
JESUS
There may be a kingdom for me somewhere — if I only knew
PILATE
Then you’re a king?
JESUS
It’s you that say I am
I look for truth and find that I get damned
PILATE
But what is truth? Is truth unchanging law?
We both have truths — are mine the same as yours?
MOB
Crucify him!
PILATE
What do you mean? You’d crucify your king?
MOB
We have no king but Cesar!
PILATE
He’s done no wrong — no not the slightest thing
MOB
We have no king but Cesar! Crucify him!
PILATE
He’s done no wrong—no not the slightest thing
MOB
We have no king but Cesar! Crucify him!
PILATE
I see no reason — I find no evil
This man is harmless so why does he upset you?
He’s just misguided–thinks he’s important
But to keep your vultures happy I shall flog him
MOB
CRUCIFY HIM!
(Thirty fine lashes)
PILATE
Where are you from Jesus? What do you want Jesus?
Tell me
You’ve got to be careful — you could be dead soon
could well be
Why do you not speak when I have your life in my hands?
How can you stay quiet? I don’t believe you understand
JESUS
You have nothing in your hands
Any power you have comes to you from far beyond
Everything is fixed and you can’t change it
