Main Character
God [VOICEOVER][SCRIPT SAMPLE] YAHWEH (VOICEOVER) ח ַו ֹּיאֶמר ְיהָוה ֶאל-ַהָּׂשָטן, ֲהַׂשְמָּת ִלְּבָך ַעל-ַעְבִּדי ִאּיֹוב: ִּכי ֵאין ָּכֹמהּו ָּבָאֶרץ, ִאיׁש ָּתם .ְוָיָׁשר ְיֵרא ֱאֹלִהים ְוָסר ֵמָרע Subtitle) Have you considered my servant, Job? For there is none like him in the earth, a blameless and an upright man, one who fears God, and turns away from evil.
Satan [VOICEOVER]Majestic, creepily confident, aggressive: [SCRIPT SAMPLE] SATAN 1:9 Does Job fear God for nothing 1:10 Haven't you made a hedge around him, and around his house, and around all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. 1:11 But put forth your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will renounce you to your face.
Job [LEAD]
Executive, destroyed, passionate, redeemed:
The greatest man among all the people of the east. (7 sons and 3 daughters). Job has a depth of integrity that unsettles his friends. He is in constant pain and his main focus is on his God. Many sections of his dialogue are prayers and he is the only character who “doesn’t give a rip” about “airs-and-graces”. Job is thoughtful of his friends and aware of when he “steps over the line”…but, because Job’s whole life is “over the line” he does not mince any words.
[SCRIPT SAMPLE]
JOB
Why is light given to him who is in misery, Life to the bitter in soul, Those who yearn for death, but it never arrives;
And dig for it more than for hidden treasures, Those who rejoice exceedingly, and are glad, When they finally unearth their grave?
Why is light given to a man whose route is blocked, Whom God has hedged in from every direction? For my moaning starts even before I eat. My groanings pour forth from me like a running tap For the very thing which I fear comes upon me, That which I’m afraid of the most approaches me. I am not at ease, Neither can I be stilled, And neither have I found the rest I’m looking for, But turmoil keeps rolling in.
Critical, accusatory, judgmental:
Act five – scene two humble, quiet endearing, loving
Act five – scene three Eliphaz has a shadow dream sequence. He then becomes offended, accusing, condemning and a “know-it-all”.
[SCRIPT SAMPLE]
ELIPHAZ
If someone ventures to talk with you, will you be grieved? But who can withhold himself from speaking? Behold, you have instructed many, you have strengthened the weak hands. Your words have supported him who was falling, You have made firm the feeble knees. But now it has come to you, and you faint. It touches you, and you are troubled. Isn't your piety your confidence? Isn't the integrity of your ways your hope? Remember, now, whoever perished, being innocent? Or where were the upright cut off? According to what I have seen, those who plow iniquity, and sow trouble, reap the same. By the breath of God they perish. By the blast of his anger are they consumed
Intellectual, aloof, Religious, small minded: A descendant (or follower) of Shuah, son of Abraham and Keturah, whose family lived in the deserts of Arabia. Act five – scene four: Sympathetic, but imploring, like an Aussie farmer. He then turns to his companions and starts to “grandstand” before them, airing his opinions. He then develops his speech into an aggressive accusation of Job with a complete disregard of Job’s suffering
[SCRIPT SAMPLE] BILDAD How long will you speak things like this? will the words of your mouth be a mighty wind? Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert righteousness? If your children have sinned against him, He has delivered them into the hand of their disobedience. If you want to seek God diligently, then make your supplication to the Almighty. If you were pure and upright, surely now he would wake up for you, and make the house of your righteousness prosper. Though your beginning was small, even still your end would greatly increase
Zophar [FEATURED LEAD]Fatherly, insulted, Angry and Arrogant: Zophar suggests that Job's suffering could be divine punishment. Zophar is found in The Old Testament in the book of Job, chapter 20. Zophar goes into great detail about the consequences of living a life of sin. Angry, arrogant and without mercy. At one point he starts crying “crocodile tears” with a hand on job’s shoulder. Approaches job boldly while he lies prostrate on the ground and shouts angry insults as he stands over him.
[SCRIPT SAMPLE] ZOPHAR Shouldn't this multitude of words be answered? Should this man full of talk be justified? Should your boasting make men keep silent? When you mock, is there no man who can make you ashamed? You say, 'My doctrine is pure. I am clean in your eyes.' But oh that God would speak!, and open his lips against you,that he would show you the secrets of wisdom! For true wisdom has two sides. Know this!, God exacts of you less than your iniquity deserves!
Elihu [FEATURED LEAD]The youngest, passionate, intense, desperate: Descended from Nahor (Job 32:2, 34:1). He is said to have descended from Buz who may be from the line of Abraham (Genesis 22:20-21 mentions Buz as a nephew of Abraham).Chapters 32 through 37 of the Book of Job consist entirely of Elihu's speech to Job. He is never mentioned again after the end of this speech. “Then Elihu lost his temper. He blazed out in anger against job for pitting his righteousness against god's. He was also angry with the three friends because they had neither come up with an answer nor proved job wrong”. Elihu had waited with job while they spoke because they were all older than he. But when he saw that the three other men had exhausted their arguments, he exploded with pent-up anger. Speaks with a boldness and authority that shame his friends into further stunned silence.
[SCRIPT SAMPLE] ELIHU I am young, and you are very old; Therefore I held back, and didn't dare show you my opinion. I said, 'Days should speak, and the multitude of years should teach wisdom.' But there is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding. It is not the great who are wise, nor the aged who understand justice. Therefore I said, 'Listen to me; I also will show my opinion.' Look, I waited for your words, and I listened for your reasoning, while you searched out what to say. Yes, I gave you my full attention, but there was no one who convinced Job, or who answered his words, among you. Beware unless you say, 'We have found wisdom, God may refute him, not man;' for he has not directed his words against me; neither will I answer him with your speeches
Job’s WifeStunning, aggressive and angry: Job’s wife is glorious in beautY and full of love for Job and her family at the start of the film, but twisted and broken by grief tells Job to “curse God and die” in one single line of dialogue packed with emotion. At the end of the film, all her makeup and trappings are removed and we see her and Job reconciled with beautiful babies. We know that she is dark skinned as her children (at the end of the ordeal) are named “Cinnamon” as a reference to skin colour.
[SCRIPT SAMPLE] JOB’S WIFE Do you still hold on to your precious integrity? Curse God, and die.