VERITAS: THE QUEST 1X08: NAME OF GOD [UNAIRED IN U.S.] TRANSCRIBED FROM MASTER DUB TAPE Written by: BRAD FALCHUK Directed by: MICHAEL NANKIN Transcript by Intrepid Courtesy of http://www.webphilia.com/~anthology/wnp.html Please do not archive this transcript without permission from the Transcriptionist RATING: TV-PG-V ========================== DISCLAIMER: ========================== "VERITAS: THE QUEST" and other related entities are owned, (TM) and (c) by Massett/Zinman Productions, Storyline Entertainment, and Touchstone Television. All Rights Reserved. This transcript was made without their permission, approval, authorization or endorsement. Any reproduction, duplication or distribution of this material in any form is expressly prohibited. It is absolutely forbidden to use it for commercial gain. CONDITION OF USE: (1) Do not alter the content of this file. (2) Leave the headers/disclaimers intact because it lists all those who have made this transcript possible for your enjoyment. (3) Provide a link back to the site where this file originated: http://www.webphilia.com/~anthology/wnp.html Contact the Transcriptionist at (intrepidly002@yahoo.com) ========================== SUMMARY: The team sets out to translate the writing on the stone relic found in Nova Scotia. ========================== VERITAS: THE QUEST 1X08: NAME OF GOD [UNAIRED] ========================== FADE IN [TITLE SCREEN] VERITAS: THE QUEST [INT. LIBRARY -- DAY] (Under the large magnifying glass is a piece of stone with ancient writing on it. This is the same stone tablet found in Nova Scotia back in 1X06: Sangraal. The TRANSLATOR studies the writing, SOLOMON stands just behind him leaning over his shoulder to see the writings.) TRANSLATOR: (impressed) There's a little aramaic thrown into it with some olds stuff I've never seen before. Wow, where did you find this? SOLOMON: Do you think you can translate? (Standing off to the side looking through an old book is VINCENT. He openly listens in on the conversation.) TRANSLATOR: Nobody can translate this. Maybe a Balshem. SOLOMON: A what? VINCENT: The Balshem. Jewish Miracle Workers. (SOLOMON turns and looks at VINCENT.) VINCENT: They were said to possess the knowledge of the Name of God. In Jewish culture, the real name of God is unpronounceable. God, Yahweh and Adonai, they're just the words used to represent God. The actual Name of God holds enormous power. (VINCENT turns the book that he's been looking through around and holds it out for SOLOMON to look at. SOLOMON walks over and takes the book to look at the story inside. The TRANSLATOR stands up as he explains.) TRANSLATOR: Legend has it that God tested Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his only son. (The camera pushes in toward the black and white picture of ABRAHAM, ISAAC and the ANGEL.) TRANSLATOR: And just before Abraham did the deed, God send down an angel to stop him. (Fade to: [HOSPITAL -- NIGHT] While an elderly man with a white beard is lying on the bed, a younger man holding a prayer book in his hand sits by the side of the bed praying.) TRANSLATOR: (v.o.) The angel put his hand on Abraham's shoulder and whispered God's true name into his ear. Abraham passed the knowledge of the name down to Isaac. And Isacc passed it down from teacher to pupils for thousands of years. (Resume to present.) VINCENT: Those pupils became the Balshem. They can supposedly use the name of god like a magic spell - to heal the sick, to destroy their enemies, make it rain. SOLOMON: Okay. Where do I find one? INTERCUT WITH: [INT. MT. HOREB JEWISH COMMUNITY HOSPITAL - PATIENT ROOM -- NIGHT] (A JEWISH MAN stands by the side of the bed praying. Outside the hospital building, MEN sit in a car and watch. One of the men in the back seat opens the car door and leaves.) TRANSLATOR: (v.o.) Poland, Germany, Holland. Anywhere there's a Jewish cemetery. They're all dead. (Inside the hospital, we see various reflections off of mirrors and metal images of a MAN in a dark coat walking inside the hospital.) TRANSLATOR: (v.o.) Hitler knew about them too. Scared the hell out of him. He hunted them all down and wiped them out. SOLOMON: (v.o.) All of them? And none survived? (The MAN in the coat takes a couple of latex gloves out of the box.) TRANSLATOR: (v.o.) There are rumours of one or two Balshem escaping and hiding somewhere in the US, but even if that's true, you'll never find them. (Inside the hospital room, the BALSHEM looks at his watch. He turns and leaves the room as if knowing that something is going to happen.) TRANSLATOR: (v.o.) The communities that follow them have always tried to keep their identities a secret for their protection. (As the BALSHEM closes the door behind him, the MAN IN THE COAT walks past the patient room window. He puts on the latex gloves.) SOLOMON: (v.o.) What about a book that describes the language? I mean, something. (Resume to present.) VINCENT: No. The Balshem tradition is passed down orally. TRANSLATOR: The angel whispered the name to Abraham. He never wrote it down. VINCENT: If there's a Balshem out there, we'd better find him soon. If we're after him, so is Dorna. (SOLOMON looks at the picture of ABRAHAM, ISAAC and THE ANGEL.) CUT TO: [INT. MT. HOREB JEWISH COMMUNITY HOSPITAL - PATIENT ROOM -- NIGHT] (The MAN IN THE COAT walks up to the patient in the room. He's wearing latex gloves and holds a small vial in his hands. He uncaps the vial and leans in close to the old man on the bed.) (The BALSHEM's mouth starts to move as he murmurs words. The MAN IN THE COAT stops what he's doing as he leans in to listen to the words. Suddenly, the BALSHEM sits up, his arm reaching out to grab the MAN IN THE COAT'S lapel in a firm grip. He continues to utter the words at him, louder.) (The MAN IN THE COAT is stunned. He backs out of the hospital room scared. The BALSHEM points an accusatory finger at him shouting the words in a loud powerful voice.) [EXT. MT. HOREB JEWISH COMMUNITY HOSPITAL - FRONT -- NIGHT] (The front doors open and the MAN IN THE COAT runs out of the hospital. The MEN sitting in the car parked across the street watch as the MAN IN THE COAT staggers out onto the street. A passing car nearly hits him, its driver beeps the horn in warning. The MAN is knocked to the road disoriented.) (He pushes himself and looks up as the AMBULANCE heads toward him, not stopping for him. The AMBULANCE runs right over the MAN IN THE ROAD, its tires screeching to a halt too late.) (The MEN sitting in the car get out of the car.) (The MAN IN THE COAT is dead in the middle of the street.) (The MEN from the car look down at the dead MAN in shock at what they see. The MAN IN THE COAT'S hair is now completely white.) DORNA MAN 1: Oh, my god. Look at his hair. DORNA MAN 2: It's turned white. (Inside the hospital, the BALSHEM has stopped muttering the words. He takes a deep breath, exhausted and lies back down on the bed.) FADE TO END OF TEASER ROLL TITLE CREDITS FADE IN. [EXT. VERITAS FOUNDATION BUILDING (STOCK) - DAY] [INT. VERITAS FOUNDATION - MAIN OFFICE -- DAY] (CALVIN sits at the desk; pieces of paper are spread out in front of him. He looks tired and explains where he is in his research to SOLOMON.) CALVIN: There are records of the Balshem dating all the way back to Abylonian times. But, as soon as you hit world war II, that's it. Nothing. I mean, it's a dead end. SOLOMON: There's no such thing as a dead end. (SOLOMON turns and walks away. CALVIN continues to explain.) CALVIN: Yeah, right. Well, that's all there is, though. Okay, you can call it whatever you want, you can call it a black hole or ... (At his words, SOLOMON stops. It's obvious he's thought of something.) CALVIN: What? (SOLOMON turns around. SOLOMON: You can't see black holes because they're devoid of light. We find them by looking for the things that are around them. We've been focused on looking for the Balshem, but they're the black hole. We need to start looking for the same things that surround them. CALVIN: (agrees at first) Right. Right. (shakes his head, confused) Yeah - no. I'm sor- SOLOMON: If the tradition of the Balshem was passed down from generation to generation, then why not the tradition of the people who worship and protect them? Find those people. And you'll find the Balshem. FADE TO: [EXT. PARK - DAY] (Three MEN from DORNA meet and discuss what to do next.) DORNA MAN 1: Nice work at the hospital. DORNA MAN 2: The Rabbi must have used the power of the Balshem on our man. DORNA MAN 3: The old guy scared him so badly, he made his hair turn white. DORNA MAN 1: We're not going to let him use his power on any more of us. Our inside man is going to have to kill the Rabbi. DORNA MAN 3: Oh, I'm not sure he's up to it. He's a little funny. DORNA MAN 1: "Funny". I am not going to let Zond translate that text. The translation will lead him to the training ground. The Ring is our birthright. We're all racing to the same goal here. Our only advantage is that Zond doesn't know that it's a race, yet. And I am not giving that up, do you understand? DORNA MAN 3: Yes, sir. DORNA MAN 2: Yeah. CUT TO: [INT. VERITAS FOUNDATION - OFFICE - DAY] (SOLOMON, CALVIN and NIKKO sit around the table. Pieces of research paper are spread out covering nearly every inch of surface.) SOLOMON: These are the eight communities where the Balshem are rumoured to have come from. Now, if we track the movements of the survivors of all those communities - all those towns, they all end up - in - Woodmere. NIKKO: Long Island? SOLOMON: Right under our noses. (He turns to look at CALVIN.) SOLOMON: Or right under your nose. CUT TO: [EXT. LONG ISLAND - WOODMERE (STOCK) - DAY] [EXT. SYNAGOGUE (STOCK) -- DAY] VINCENT: (v.o.) The Synagogue is the center of the community. If we're to find the Balshem, this is the place to start. [INT. SYNAGOGUE - DAY] (VINCENT opens the doors. He, SOLOMON and NIKKO walk into the synagogue. They look around. VINCENT hears something and heads for the back. The other follow.) [BACK ROOM] (VINCENT and NIKKO open the curtains and find the men of the congregation sitting around the tables and eating, a low murmur of conversation fills the air. Slowly, everything stops as they turn around to look at their guests.) (BEN stands up and heads over to them.) JEWISH MAN: Yes? SOLOMON: Excuse us for interrupting. We just want to speak with your Rabbi. JEWISH MAN: Some men have waited years for an audience with the Rabbi. SOLOMON: Well, we don't have that much time. (A younger man joins them.) BEN: Well, can I help? (SOLOMON takes out a photo from his jacket pocket and shows it to BEN.) SOLOMON: I need you to show this to your Rabbi, please. (BEN takes the photo. He and the other JEWISH MAN steps aside to talk it over. A low murmur rumbles through the room.) (SOLOMON watches the two men talk for a moment. We can hear bits and pieces of their conversation.) JEWISH MAN: Who are these people? BEN: I don't see how showing him a picture could hurt him. (After a short moment, SOLOMON turns to NIKKO and VINCENT.) SOLOMON: They're not going to let us talk to him. We need to make a pre- emptive strike. NIKKO: How are we supposed to tell which one's our guy? There's got to be at least ten Rabbi-looking dudes in here. And how do we know the one that we find is even the Balshem? (ESTHER leans down toward the old man with the white beard who looks like the man in the hospital bed in the teaser.) ESTHER: Are you done? (He nods and she takes his plate from him.) (VINCENT sees the exchange and gets an idea.) VINCENT: Follow the bones. (They watch as ESTHER puts the plate on the counter alone and away from everything else.) VINCENT: They believe the Balshem has God's ear. Anything he touches is blessed. Sharing from his plate is a great honor. (They watch as two other JEWISH MEN take the already eaten bones from the plate and eat the remaining scraps of meat off of them.) NIKKO: That's hard core, man. (They turn and look at the back of the OLD MAN.) (SOLOMON starts for him just as BEN and the other JEWISH MAN returns.) BEN: The Rabbi will not see you. (SOLOMON'S not listening to them. He heads for the OLD MAN. BEN tries to stop him.) JEWISH MAN: Whoa-whoa. (SOLOMON puts the piece of stone on the table in front of the BALSHEM. Other MEN stand up to stop SOLOMON.) JEWISH MAN: All right. All right. (The BALSHEM stares at the stone on the table. The JEWISH MEN push SOLOMON back toward the door as he struggles against them.) JEWISH MAN: Take it easy. Take it easy. JEWISH MAN: Careful. (The BALSHEM raises his hand. The MEN in the room notice and everyone quiets down. The BALSHEM continues to stare at the stone SOLOMON put on the table in front of him.) (He motions for SOLOMON to come to him. SOLOMON steps away from the men and stands next to the BALSHEM. The BALSHEM motions again and the JEWISH MEN and SOLOMON help him to stand up. Everyone gets to their feet in respect as he rises.) (The BALSHEM looks at SOLOMON.) BALSHEM: Come. Come. We go to my home. (He turns to leave.) [EXT. BALSHEM'S RESIDENCE - NIGHT] [INT. BALSHEM'S RESIDENCE -- LIVING ROOM - NIGHT] (ESTHER pours the BALSHEM a hot drink in a glass.) BALSHEM: (to BEN) Why don't you look after our friends. I want to talk to Dr. Zond alone. BEN: But shouldn't I stay here? BALSHEM: We can figure these things out ourselves. ESTHER: Not too long, Zayde. (ESTHER leans forward and kisses her grandfather on the cheek.) [HALLWAY] (ESTHER walks out of the room carrying the teapot. VINCENT, NIKKO and other JEWISH MEN linger out in the hallway. As she passes by him, NIKKO introduces himself to ESTHER.) NIKKO: Hi. Hey. I'm Nikko. (ESTHER doesn't say anything. She walks by him. BEN follows ESTHER and stops to talk with NIKKO.) BEN: I'm Ben. Pleasure to meet you. (They shake hands, but NIKKO'S attention is on ESTHER.) NIKKO: Nice to meet you. (BEN follows ESTHER out as NIKKO watches. NIKKO sighs. He turns around to look at VINCENT who was watching the entire exchange. He smirks at NIKKO in amusement. Putting his index finger and thumb in the shape of an "L", VINCENT places it flat against his forehead toward NIKKO.) (NIKKO smiles.) [BALSHEM'S STUDY - NIGHT -- CONTINUOUS] (The BALSHEM and SOLOMON talk.) BALSHEM: Somebody tried to kill me two days ago. It is my guess, this has something to do with it. (He points to the stone SOLOMON gave to him. SOLOMON nods.) SOLOMON: Dorna. BALSHEM: Dorna? SOLOMON: Dorna and I are both in the answer-finding business. The only difference is I look to help people, they look to help themselves. They knew I couldn't translate the text by myself, so they tried to eliminate you. BALSHEM: So, I have you to thank for all this. SOLOMON: I don't know what to say. I'm sorry. BALSHEM: Don't be. I wasn't being sarcastic. For sixty years, I've lived here - praying, advising, waiting - SOLOMON: Waiting for what? BALSHEM: Waiting for you. Waiting for this. SOLOMON: Can you translate it? BALSHEM: I can. And I will. But you must allow me to complete the job, no matter what the cost. Translating is a steel jewel and physical trial. It is a Herculean task, and while my spirit grows stronger each day, my body disappoints me. (SOLOMON smiles, appreciating the humour.) SOLOMON: I don't know, Rabbi. I don't think I want to play a part in expediting your death. BALSHEM: When you found this relic, the fabrics of our destinies became entwined and the tapestry, those threads folded can give the answers to questions men have asked for thousands of years. SOLOMON: What questions? Rabbi, what is hidden in there that is so important? BALSHEM: The Secrets of the Universe, Dr. Zond. The Secrets of the Universe. FADE OUT. FADE IN. [EXT. NEW YORK CITY SKYLINE (STOCK) - DAY] [INT. VERITAS FOUNDATION - MAIN OFFICE - DAY] (NIKKO sits in the office reading. JULIET walks into the office and sees NIKKO reading. She can't believe it.) JULIET: You're actually studying? NIKKO: Well, I thought it might be nice to learn a little about the cultures we're getting involved with. (NIKKO stands up and hands JULIET the book. She reads the cover.) JULIET: "Getting High on Hebrew" NIKKO: Yeah. JULIET: Then why haven't you read all the rest of the books I gave you about them? (NIKKO walks over to the table where he has stacked up all the books JULIET gave him. He goes through them, handing them to her one by one showing her that he already did.) NIKKO: Well, the ones about how the sect of Judaism of Woodmere follows traditions and codes that predate all known Jewish customs? Or the ones that talks about how unconventionally devoted they are to their Rabbi even under the strictest orthodox standards? Or the ones about how they've just began using modern amenities like telephones? Oh, are those the books you're talking about? (NIKKO walks past JULIET who now has a suspicious look on her face.) JULIET: What are you up to? (He walks down the steps and grabs his jacket and backpack.) NIKKO: Nothing. JULIET: Where are you going? NIKKO: Woodmere, to help dad. JULIET: (smiles) What's her name? CUT TO: [INT. WOODMERE - SYNAGOGUE - DAY] (ESTHER kneels down next to her grandfather, holds his hand and sings to him.) (The sound of the front door opening and closing is heard. The MAN at the door nods that NIKKO can go inside.) (NIKKO walks in and lingers in the hallway outside the study. Through the open door he spies ESTHER kneeling in front of her grandfather, holding his hand and singing to him to bring him comfort.) (When she finishes, her grandfather smiles down at her. She smiles back. He looks up and sees NIKKO just outside the doorway.) (He motions for NIKKO to enter. The door squeaks open. The BALSHEM taps the desk top for NIKKO to hurry up. NIKKO pushes the door open and slowly enters the room while ESTHER makes the introductions.) ESTHER: Zayde, you remember Nikko. BALSHEM: Oh, come in. Let me ask you something, young man. Do you think a wife should be allowed to file suit for divorce from her husband on the grounds of hereditary sterility? NIKKO: Hereditary sterility? That's not possible. BALSHEM: (to ESTHER) Smart boy. (to NIKKO) Jewish? NIKKO: No. BALSHEM: Nobody's Perfect. (The BALSHEM looks at ESTHER and smiles.) CUT TO: [LATER] (The BALSHEM starts praying. He uses a deep spoon to remove a tan-colored powder and spreads it out on the silver platter. He continues to pray.) (VINCENT and SOLOMON watch.) (He takes a second scoop of the same powder and spreads it out on the silver platter. He uses the back of the spoon and spreads the powder out on the silver platter. He puts the spoon aside.) (He removes the cloth from around the stone tablet to expose the writing on it. Using a thin stylus, he starts to write the words into the powder.) CUT TO: [DINING ROOM] (Looking at a framed picture, ESTHER uses the glass to look at her reflection. She removes her cap.) (NIKKO enters the room. ESTHER turns around and looks at him. He walks further into the room.) NIKKO: So, what do you guys do for fun around here? (He picks up some fruit from a bowl on the table and starts juggling.) NIKKO: I mean, you must go to movies or something, right? ESTHER: No. NIKKO: No tv either? ESTHER: No, I never really saw the point. NIKKO: Well, it's tv. There is no point. That's kinda the point. ESTHER: Well, I guess that's my problem with it. In our community, everything has a point. (ESTHER walks into the next room. NIKKO follows her.) NIKKO: All right, so fine. Everything has to have a point, but you still have to have a good time, right? ESTHER: We dance, sometimes. NIKKO: You dance. Well, have you ever been to the Sat club downtown? They have a great DJ - (She turns around to look at him and NIKKO stops talking.) I guess, that wasn't the kind of dancing you're talking about. ESTHER: No. NIKKO: Okay, so what kind of dancing are you guys into? ESTHER: Well, it's kind of hard to describe. NIKKO: Well, show me. (She hesitates.) NIKKO: Come on. Show me, please? Please? It'll be fun. I promise. ESTHER: All right. (NIKKO starts forward his hands outstretched to hold her. She stops him.) ESTHER: No touching. Just stand right over there. (She points to the far end of the room.) NIKKO: Okay. (NIKKO backs away.) ESTHER: We just kind of put your hands up - just go like that. (She raises her arms and demonstrates. After a few steps, she finds herself in front of NIKKO. Suddenly self-conscious, she looks away.) NIKKO: So, I put my hand up like this? (He tries it.) ESTHER: Yeah. (Together they dance for a moment. ESTHER smiles.) BEN: (o.s.) Esther. (They stop and look up to find BEN standing in the doorway.) ESTHER: Ben. BEN: Your grandfather is ready for his tea. (ESTHER picks up the tray from the table in front of her and walks out of the kitchen leaving BEN and NIKKO looking at each other.) CUT TO: [EXT. BALSHEM'S RESIDENCE - NIGHT] [INT. BALSHEM'S STUDY - NIGHT] (The BALSHEM struggles to climb up the stairs. He uses his hands on the railing, grips it tightly and pulls himself up the stairs. He breathes heavily with the exertion.) (After a few steps, he stops and takes a pill.) (There is someone standing in the shadows behind him nervously playing with a string from his vest. He takes out a small hand-gun. This person rounds the corner and slowly lifts the gun at the BALSHEM.) (ESTHER walks out from the room carrying an armful of linens.) (The person stands directly behind the BALSHEM and raises the gun preparing to shoot.) (ESTHER walks into the room, looks up, sees the intruder and screams.) (The intruder turns and runs without firing a shot.) (ESTHER drops the linens and runs up the stairs to check on her grandfather.) ESTHER: Zayde, are you okay? BALSHEM: Yes. Yes. I just lost my breath. CUT TO: [LATER] (While the other JEWISH MEN stand upstairs talking, SOLOMON and VINCENT confer under the stairs.) SOLOMON: We gotta up security. No one gets into the house that we don't know. VINCENT: The girl said it was too dark to get a look at the man's face, but she was sure it was one of them. SOLOMON: So, Dorna has someone on the inside. Who? VINCENT: I wouldn't discount anyone right now. (SOLOMON leaves. VINCENT walks away.) (SOLOMON climbs up the stairs and stops in front of the BALSHEM, ESTHER and two other MEN.) SOLOMON: You were very lucky. BALSHEM: Yes, perhaps. But never underestimate the power of the Balshem. (SOLOMON smiles.) BALSHEM: Ha. This is the polite smile of the non-believer. I assure you my power is real. SOLOMON: I'm sure it is. But I'm a scientist. (SOLOMON sits down on the stairs.) Scientists believe in data. Facts. BALSHEM: Data. Facts. All right. The language of the Balshem. The legend has it, it was written down only once. In the tablets of the ten commandments. But the legend appears to be wrong. The writing on your relic was written down with the same letters as well. SOLOMON: You're saying whoever wrote the text saw the tablets of the ten commandments? BALSHEM: No, whoever wrote this on the relic also wrote the ten commandments. (This news surprises SOLOMON and sounds so incredible that he rolls his eyes.) SOLOMON: You're not serious. BALSHEM: (scoffs) Oh, the scientists. SOLOMON: Don't get me wrong, I think that there is something behind all this, I'm just going to wait till all the facts come in before I decide what it's name is. BALSHEM: Call it what you will, but I warn you, once you hear the voice of God, there's no turning back. These are not secrets to be kept in a museum case, this is not a treasure hunt, this is a Call to your Destiny. [EXT. SYNAGOGUE BUILDING - NIGHT] [VARIOUS CUTS OF DIFFERENT JEWISH ARTWORK INSIDE THE SYNAGOGUE - NIGHT] (BEN stands in front of the altar. He picks up a hat and puts it on. He picks up a small mirror and looks at his reflection. He tilts the mirror to the side and finds two DORNA MEN standing behind him.) DORNA MAN 1: We thought you were going to kill him. DORNA MAN 2: Are you having second thoughts? Maybe, cause we could stop the money transfer if you've changed your mind. BEN: No. Don't do that. I'm all right now. DORNA MAN 1: You don't look all right. Does he look all right to you? DORNA MAN 2: No, he looks scared. DORNA MAN 1: Hmm. DORNA MAN 2: I think he's afraid of the power of the Balshem. BEN: There is no power of the Balshem. He just uses all that hocus pocus to keep everyone under his thumb. I-I-I've been the Rabbi's chief pupil for ten years. And all he's taught me is how many lumps he likes in his tea. DORNA MAN 2: Well, that may be true, but this community believes in all this hocus-pocus. If they discovered you're a fake, they'd be crushed. DORNA MAN 1: Devastated. DORNA MAN 2: How could they trust you as their leader after that? BEN: Look. I've never killed anyone before. DORNA MAN 1: The first one is always the hardest. (DORNA MAN 2 puts his hand firmly on BEN'S shoulder.) DORNA MAN 2: You used to be a man with a plan. Remember, when this is all's said and done, you'll have our money and the community. BEN: I have a plan and this time I won't be stopped. (He lifts his shirt and shows them the gun tucked in his waist. DORNA MAN 2 sees the gun, grabs it and pushes BEN back down until he has the gun pressed against his cheek.) DORNA MAN 2: Guns. Are messy. It has to seem natural. DORNA MAN 1: Smother him. (DORNA MAN 2 backs away from BEN.) DORNA MAN 2: Smothering's good. (He takes out a handkerchief and wipes his fingerprints off the gun.) It's clean. BEN: I can handle that. Sure. I-I can do that. (DORNA MAN 2 hands the gun back to BEN who takes it. DORNA MAN 1 clasps a hand firmly on BEN'S shoulder as they leave.) BEN: Tell me one thing, though. What's in that text that's so important? (DORNA MAN 2 stops and turns around. He says something in Jewish that BEN seems to understand immediately.) BEN: Isaiah. "And it shall come to pass in the end of days that the lord's house shall be established on top the mountains. And all nations will flow unto it." [Note: Isaiah 2:2] DORNA MAN 1: Those days are coming. And the house is ours. (The two DORNA men turn and leave.) FADE OUT. CYNTHIA MARTELLS: Veritas: The Quest will continue in a moment, here on A-B-C. FADE IN. [INT. BALSHEM'S STUDY -- DAY] (The BALSHEM is praying out loud. VINCENT, SOLOMON and BEN sit and watching him pick up the stylus and start writing in the powder.) (He gasps and staggers backward. SOLOMON and VINCENT get out of their seats and run over to him.) SOLOMON: Rabbi! (SOLOMON catches the RABBI before he falls down.) BEN: That's enough for today. Everybody out for a while. BALSHEM: No. Let me go on -- SOLOMON: Rabbi, you're too weak. BALSHEM: Then I'll be strong. Let me go on. Let's - Perhaps I will sit in my chair this time. (SOLOMON helps him stand. The BALSHEM turns and heads for his chair. SOLOMON helps him sit down.) SOLOMON: (to BEN) I think we should leave. (BEN nods.) BALSHEM: What are you trying to do? Run away with the text to keep me from translating it? You think I wouldn't come after you? (SOLOMON smiles.) CUT TO: [INT. VERITAS FOUNDATION - MAIN OFFICE - DAY] (NIKKO is at the computer downloading something. As soon as the CD ejects out of the drive, he removes it and labels it: ESTHER.) BALSHEM: (v.o.) You look like a man with something important to say. (NIKKO flips the disk over and we see his reflection on the disk.) [INT. BALSHEM'S STUDY - DAY] (SOLOMON walks into the room and sits down in the chair next to the BALSHEM.) SOLOMON: You know if we'd found this object ten years ago, it would be my wife, Haley, hounding you to translate it. BALSHEM: Ha-ley. (SOLOMON nods.) SOLOMON: This was her passion. She understood the risks as did I, but the work just seemed too important not to take risks for. Sometimes, I'm not so sure if we were right. (For a moment, SOLOMON is lost in his own thoughts.) SOLOMON: Rabbi, I would trade all the answers to all the questions in the world just to walk down a crowded street and have her hair brush by me once. Right now, what I'm asking myself is whether whatever is on that tablet is worth your people losing you over. BALSHEM: When I was a boy in Poland, the Nazi's took my parents away. I never saw them again. I was put to work in a munitions factory. One day, they caught me stealing jam from a guard's lunch pail. They beat me till I almost died. But I didn't die. I was saved that day and many days since. Not because I was better than other men, but because I must fulfill my Destiny. Our Destiny. The Universe has called to us, Solomon. They ask you to find this wonderful thing and bring it to me. We are on God's path now and you must continue to walk till you find out what's at the end. Whether I'm there to guide you or not. [KITCHEN - EVENING] (ESTHER is at the stove cooking. NIKKO appears in the doorway.) NIKKO: Zeah Mosareah Toth? (ESTHER turns around and is surprised to see him. She laughs.) NIKKO: Ah, I just didn't say it smells good, did I? ESTHER: No, you , uh, basically said it stinks. NIKKO: Oh. ESTHER: It was nice of you to try, though. NIKKO: Thank you. Anyway, Look, I-uh-brought you something. ESTHER: Oh. (He opens the CD player.) NIKKO: I wanted to show you that pop culture has a point, too. We'll start out with the classics for lieu of the hotter stuff. (NIKKO turns the CD on. Otis Redding's "Try a Little Tenderness" starts.) LYRICS: Oh, she maybe weary / them young girls they do get wearied / wearing that same old miniskirt dress / but when she gets weary / you try a little tenderness (NIKKO picks up the knife from the cutting board and uses the handle as a microphone. He lip syncs along with the music.) NIKKO: Then it kinda picks up here. LYRICS: You know she's waiting / just anticipating / the thing that you'll never, never, never, never possess yeah / but while she's there waiting / just try a little tenderness ... (ESTHER laughs as she watches NIKKO.) [INT. BALSHEM'S STUDY - NIGHT] (The door opens and BEN walks into the room. The BALSHEM is standing over the tray of powder continuing with the translation.) (BEN shuts the door behind him.) BEN: You're thinking about the outsiders. (BEN plays with the string at his vest.) BALSHEM: Good men are only outsiders amongst the evil ones. BEN: Is that why you've embraced him with such open arms? Told them all about your precious tradition. A tradition that's supposed to belong to me? (The BALSHEM turns around and places the tray of powder on the desk in front of him. He removes his glasses.) BALSHEM: The source of all sadness is pride, Ben. Proud men think they're entitled to everything. But ... Why all this jealousy? Soon the entire community will be yours. BEN: Because this doesn't make any sense to me? I mean, why choose me? Why make me your heir, then teach me nothing of value? Why hold me as your successor and look on me with disdain? BALSHEM: Look into your heart, Ben, you know the answer. BEN: No. I need to hear that from you. [KITCHEN] (NIKKO continues to lip sync to the song as ESTHER watches and laughs.) (He spins and hits the knife against the counter. The knife slips and cuts his hand. He gasps and breathes heavily as the blood drips from his palm.) ESTHER: Just Relax. (ESTHER grabs NIKKO'S hand and pulls him over to the sink. She starts singing to him.) (She looks at NIKKO, then stops singing. She drops his hand and walks over to the other end of the kitchen, her back to him.) (NIKKO turns and looks at his hand. It's completely healed.) (He walks over to her. ESTHER seems almost as shocked as NIKKO. She turns to look at his hand.) NIKKO: It's you, isn't it? You're the next Balshem? (ESTHER holds on to NIKKO'S hand.) NIKKO: I still don't understand, I mean, why you? [BALSHEM'S STUDY] BALSHEM: Because the times for elevating a man and turning him into a God. It's past. [KITCHEN] ESTHER: Grandfather believes in the tradition of the Balshem, but he hates what's become of it. [BALSHEM'S STUDY] BALSHEM: I chose you, because I knew that as soon as you become Balshem, the people would realize that their hearts can bring them closer to the truth than any man. [KITCHEN] ESTHER: He wants to set the Balshem free. So he put the treasure in the tradition in the place that no one would ever think to look. In the voice of a woman. NIKKO: And Ben? ESTHER: Ben is a figurehead. Someone to deflect attention away from me. [BALSHEM'S STUDY] BALSHEM: I chose you because you are the least good in man I know. [KITCHEN] (ESTHER turns around to look at NIKKO.) NIKKO: We've got to tell my dad. Okay? You can finish translating the writings and your grandfather can rest. ESTHER: No. No, no, no. Look, I begged my grandfather, but he doesn't want to risk my secret to anyone. If anyone in the community were to find out, they'd lock me up to protect me. It's their sworn duty. [BALSHEM'S STUDY] (BEN puts a hand on the BALSHEM'S shoulder. Then, he grabs him and puts the pillow up against the BALSHEM'S face, smothering him.) (The BALSHEM struggles. BEN pushes him down against the desk. BEN now has both hands pressed against the pillow, applying pressure to cut of the BALSHEM'S air.) (The BALSHEM reaches out and knocks the pan of powder on the floor. He tries to get BEN off of him.) (Suddenly, the BALSHEM stops struggling. BEN lets go of the pillow and takes a step back away from the body.) [KITCHEN] NIKKO: When all this is over and Ben takes over, you can do whatever you want. Right? You could leave, right? (He leans in slowly to kiss her, but stops when they hear footsteps approaching. The look up and see the back of a MAN rushing out of the kitchen and out of the house as the doors slam behind him.) [BALSHEM'S STUDY] (NIKKO enters the study and sees the BALSHEM on the floor dead.) NIKKO: Oh, god. (ESTHER rushes forward and kneels down next to her grandfather.) ESTHER: Zayde? Zayde? No, Zayde? (SOLOMON rushes into the room and kneels down next to ESTHER.) NIKKO: Dad! (SOLOMON checks for a pulse. VINCENT enters the room.) NIKKO: (softly) It was Ben. (louder) It was Ben. ESTHER: No. (NIKKO runs out of the room, the door slamming behind him. SOLOMON hears the door slam and looks up.) SOLOMON: Nikko, wait! Nikko! ESTHER: No. FADE OUT. FADE IN. [EXT. BALSHEM'S RESIDENCE -- NIGHT] (NIKKO runs out of the house to look for BEN. He finds BEN standing with a group of other JEWISH MEN. NIKKO walks up to them.) NIKKO: Ben, what happened in there? (BEN sees NIKKO. He points and shouts.) BEN: There he is! He killed the Balshem. NIKKO: (surprised) What? (NIKKO turns and runs.) (The MEN run after him.) MAN IN CROWD: Grab the boy! MAN IN CROWD: Kill the boy! (The front door opens. SOLOMON and VINCENT step outside. They see the MEN running.) MAN IN CROWD: He killed the Rabbi! MAN IN CROWD: Get him! (NIKKO turns the corner and runs. More MEN appear and block his way. Finally, he's trapped.) NIKKO: Hey! Wait. Look, I didn't do anything! It was-- (BEN steps forward.) BEN: His lies make it worse. I saw him do it. MAN IN CROWD: You saw the boy kill the Rabbi? (SOLOMON and VINCENT push their way through the crowd to get to NIKKO.) BEN: I walked in on him. (ESTHER runs forward toward the middle of the group.) ESTHER: No, he's lying. Nikko and I saw him come running out of Zayde's office. BEN: Esther, you're his accomplice! VINCENT: So, you never went into the office? BEN: No, as soon as I saw the Rabbi dead, I ran for help. VINCENT: Really? Turn around. (BEN turns around and sees the back of his jacket in the reflection of the metal container nearby. The BALSHEM'S tan powdered handprint marks aRE on the back of his black jacket.) SOLOMON: How do you explain that powder on your back and your shoes? (The crowd looks at BEN'S back and his shoes. Both are stained with the powder.) BEN: This means nothing. This means nothing. I saw him do it. VINCENT: Then why lie about going into the office? MAN IN CROWD: You couldn't have gotten that powder on your shoes or those marks on your jacket, unless you were in there with the Rabbi. (ESTHER walks forward to look at BEN.) ESTHER: How could you? (Everyone watches. Suddenly, BEN pulls out his gun and grabs ESTHER from behind. He holds the gun to her head.) BEN: Back off! Back off! SOLOMON: (quietly) Don't do this, Ben. Give me the gun. (SOLOMON holds out his hand for the gun. BEN points the gun at SOLOMON. He turns this way and that trying to look for a way out.) (From behind SOLOMON, NIKKO rushes forward and jumps BEN pushing ESTHER out of the way.) NIKKO: No! (The two struggle for a moment, then drop to the ground.) (The gun goes off.) SOLOMON: Nikko! (SOLOMON pulls NIKKO off of BEN.) VOICE IN CROWD: Ben! (There's blood on BEN'S shirt. BEN touches the shirt but SOLOMON realizes that he's not bleeding. He turns to look at NIKKO who just realizes that he's got blood on his shirt. He looks at this bloodied hands and staggers backward.) NIKKO: Dad? SOLOMON: Oh, god. No! (NIKKO falls backward to the ground. VINCENT and SOLOMON kneel down next to him.) ESTHER: Nikko! SOLOMON: (shouts to the crowd) Call an ambulance! (BEN scrambles to his feet to run away, but a MAN in the crowd punches him in the face and knocks BEN out. He falls to the ground unconscious.) SOLOMON: (shouts) Call an Ambulance!! (It starts to snow around them.) (ESTHER kneels down next to NIKKO. She puts a hand on SOLOMON'S shoulder trying to calm him down.) ESTHER: It's okay. It's okay. (SOLOMON turns and looks at ESTHER. She puts her hand on NIKKO and instructs him.) ESTHER: It's okay. Just relax. Just relax. SOLOMON: Hang on. (She takes his hand in her and starts to sing. NIKKO tries to stop her.) NIKKO: Don't. No. Stop this. Don't. They'll know. Stop. (The people in the crowd around them watching step forward. ESTHER continues to sing.) NIKKO: Esther, no. Please. (The crowd around them slowly realizes what they are seeing.) FEMALE VOICE IN THE CROWD: She's the Balshem. VOICE: (murmuring) Balshem. The Balshem. (She continues to sing.) NIKKO: (weakly) Esther, stop. No. (She finishes her song and leans in close to kiss NIKKO, but the men around her gently grab her and pull her away from him.) NIKKO: No, she doesn't want to go, no. No, she doesn't want to. (Finally, the crowd pulls her away, her hand dropping NIKKO'S hand. The crowd folds in on itself hiding her from his view.) NIKKO: (crying) She doesn't want to go, dad. SOLOMON: Stay still. It's all right. (The crowd disburses, whisking ESTHER and BEN away with them leaving SOMON, VINCENT and NIKKO out on the street. In the distance the sounds of approaching sirens get louder.) DISSOLVE TO: [INT. SYNAGOGUE - DAY] (The worship service is in progress as the leader speaks. Sitting in the congregation are SOLOMON, NIKKO, CALVIN and VINCENT.) (After the service they walk out of the room and into the hallway. The LEADER walks out after NIKKO.) LEADER: So? How are you? NIKKO: Fine. SOLOMON: It appeared to be worse than it was. The doctors said that if the bullet just grazed the major artery one millimeter to the left, then he'd be gone. LEADER: He's very lucky. SOLOMON: Perhaps. Never underestimate the power of the Balshem. (Without another word, SOLOMON walks away. VINCENT steps forward and puts an arm around the LEADER.) VINCENT: And Ben? He survived your fierce attack. (NIKKO listens with only half an ear as he looks around the place for a familiar face.) LEADER: He'll survive. Unfortunately for him, he'll probably be surviving in a jail cell for he rest of his life. (VINCENT nods, then walks away also. The LEADER notices NIKKO.) LEADER: She's not here. She's been taken to one of our sister communities for her protection. (NIKKO doesn't say anything, but turns to leave. The LEADER stops him.) LEADER: Don't bother looking. You won't find her this time. NIKKO: How can you keep her hostage like that? LEADER: She's bound to us by tradition, Nikko. A Tradition that's bigger than her. (He steps forward and lowers his voice a bit.) For what it's worth, her being the Balshem has forced some people to re-think some of that tradition. Maybe one day things can be different. Until then, she asked me to give you this. (He hands NIKKO an envelope. NIKKO takes it.) CUT TO: [INT. VERITAS FOUNDATION - DAY] (NIKKO sits on the steps and looks at the sealed envelope. SOLOMON sits down next to him.) SOLOMON: What's the note say? NIKKO: (sighs) I haven't looked yet. SOLOMON: Girl sends you a love letter and you don't even read it? (He nudges NIKKO in his side. NIKKO grimaces, but smiles a bit, too.) NIKKO: Okay. (NIKKO gets to his feet.) NIKKO: Stay there, all right? SOLOMON: Okay. (NIKKO walks over to the windows and opens the envelope. He pulls out the piece of paper and looks at it. He's surprised by what he's reading.) NIKKO: Dad. Dad. It's the text. She translated it. (He hands the paper to SOLOMON. SOLOMON reads through it as NIKKO sits back down on the steps.) SOLOMON: It's the story of the Ring of Truth. (reading) "At the dawn of creation, God wore a Ring of Truth on his finger. The ring held all of God's wisdom and thus all of his power." (CALVIN steps closer to listen.) SOLOMON: (reading) "God used the ring to create the universe and all it's wonder, but it was only when the Ring created man, that God was awed. For the ring had created man in God's image and in the best of mankind, God saw himself." (SOLOMON gets to his feet as he continues reading.) SOLOMON: (reading) "As a gift to his greatest creation, God removed the ring of truth from his finger and bent down to place it on the hand of man ... " (Behind them, VINCENT steps into the room to listen.) SOLOMON: (reading) "... to make them Gods, but the Angels begged God not to." WHITE FLASH TO: [Scene from 1X01: The Reunion] ([EXT. GRAVEYARD - DAY] The GRAY MAN, IVAN HOSSIK and other DORNA men walk through the snow-covered cemetery.) SOLOMON: (v.o.) (reading) "Man had free will. He could be fearful ... (The voice changes and the BALSHEM is now reading the translated text.) [Scene from 1X03: Skulls] (Photo of HITLER posing in his office.) BALSHEM: (v.o.) "He could be good. [Scene from 1X03: Skulls] [EXT. EXCAVATION CAMPSIDE - NIGHT] BELLA NICHOLSON kisses the crystal skull after finding it.) BALSHEM: (v.o.) "He could lie." WHITE FLASH TO: [Scene from 1X01: The Reunion] ( [INT. CAVE - DAY] HALEY reaches out to touch the wall. The center of the sun symbol starts to light up.) BALSHEM: (v.o.) "Shaken by the angels' doubt, ... [Scene from 1X02: Antarctica] [EXT. MILITARY PLANE (MOVING) - VIEW OF AREA BELOW - DAY] (The ice and snow beneath starts to break revealing the pyramid below.) BALSHEM: (v.o.) "God decided to test man, so he hurled the Ring down to earth, where it broke into many pieces - " [Scene from 1X01: The Reunion] (SOLOMON reverently touches all of HALEY CAYCE'S journals in the briefcase. He takes out a single leather-bound book with her name printed on the front in gold letters.) BALSHEM: (v.o.) " ... pieces he hoped his proud creation would seek out and find. [Scene from 1X01: The Reunion] [INT. BASEMENT - DAY] (SOLOMON pushes a stone brick aside to look at the large symbol in front of him. He lifts up the journal and compares the symbols with the drawing in HALEY'S journal.) BALSHEM: (v.o.) "Pieces that once reassembled will show mankind the ultimate Truth: [Scene from 1X06: Sangraal] [INT. ROSBURN CHAPEL - DAY] (The stone knight statues are etched into the walls of the chapel.) BALSHEM: (v.o.) "The Power of God. (Various flashes of the tunnels in Nova Scotia.) BALSHEM: (v.o.) "If they are worthy, they will place the Ring on God's finger and become Gods as well. [Scene from 1X02: Antarctica] [INT. CAVERN TOP OF PYRAMID] (The top of the pyramid is pulled and intense light and a magnetic pulse shoots out in a circular arc away from the pyramid top. The cavern starts to shake.) BALSHEM: (v.o.) "If not, they will try to wear the Ring themselves and He will destroy them forever. [Scene from 1X04: Heist] [INT. ALI HASSAN RIF'S RESIDENCE - SECURED ROOM - NIGHT] (JULIET reaches out a hand to touch the Sphere of Archimedes.) BALSHEM: (v.o.) "Finding the pieces is God's test to Man. [Scene from 1X01: The Reunion] [INT. JET (MOVING)] (SOLOMON unrolls the map of Antarctica on the table.) BALSHEM: (v.o.) "Reassembling the Ring is the path to Mankind's Destiny. [Scenes from 1X08: Name of God] (Various shots of NIKKO, "worth", and of BEN, "unworthy".) BALSHEM: (v.o.) "Worthy or Not Worthy. (Camera shot of VINCENT, "strong", and of MARSHALL FRANKLIN (from 1X02: Antarctica), "weak".) BALSHEM: (v.o.) "Strong or Weak. (Camera shot of SOLOMON, "good" and of a DORNA MAN (unknown episode, probably 1X03: Skulls), "evil", who stands above HEINRICH CORDOVA'S slumped over body.) BALSHEM: (v.o.) "Good and Evil. (Camera shot of the writing on the stone through a magnifying glass with specific emphasis on the symbol of the Grail in the center.) BALSHEM: (v.o.) "The truth becomes us all." (Having finished reading the translation, SOLOMON looks up, stunned. The other members of the team including JULIET stand around him.) NIKKO: That's a great story, but what does the Ring of Truth have to do with us? (SOLOMON turns around and sees everyone standing behind him. He doesn't know the answer to that question and remains silent.) FADE TO BLACK. ======================== THE END ======================== Courtesy of http://www.webphilia.com/~anthology/wnp.html Contact the Transcriptionist at (intrepidly002@yahoo.com) Please do not archive this transcript without permission from the Transcriptionist. ======================== BEGINNING/TITLE CREDITS ======================== VERITAS: THE QUEST 1X08: NAME OF GOD [UNAIRED IN U.S.] TRANSCRIPT FROM MASTER DUB TAPE Starring ALEX CARTER as Dr. Solomon Zond RYAN MERRIMAN as Nicholas "Nikko" Zond COBIE SMULDERS as Juliet Droil ERIC BALFOUR as Calvin Banks CYNTHIA MARTELLS as Maggie and ARNOLD VOSLOO as Vincent Siminou Created by: PATRICK MASSET & JOHN ZINMAN Guest Starring ELI WALLACH AUDREY GARDINER as Esther AIDAN DEVINE COLIN GLAZER Produced by: I.C. RAPOPORT Produced by: IAIN PATERSON Executive Producer: CRAIG ZADAN Executive Producer: NEIL MERON Executive Producer: PATRICK MASSETT Executive Producer: JOHN ZINMAN Written by: BRAD FALCHUK Directed by: MICHAEL NANKIN ======================== END CREDITS ======================== Massett/Zinman Productions Storyline Entertainment Touchstone Television Consulting Producer: BRYAN SPICER Co-Producers: GABRIELLE STANTON & HARRY WERKSMAN, JR. Directory of Photograph: DAVID MOHNESS, A.S.C. Production Designer: MICHAEL NOVOTNY Edited by: DAVID THOMPSON Production Manager: SUSAN MURDOCH First Assistant Director: MICHAEL CARN Second Assistant Director: KEVIN WALKER Casting by: TINA DERUSSI Original Casting By: SHARON DALY Music by: JOHN NORDSTROM (c) 2002 Touchstone Television. All Rights Reserved. Dated:04/17/2004~lky http://www.webphilia.com/~anthology/wnp.html