Elements of a Traitor

A look at Jesus and the disciples through the eyes of Judas. This monologue finds Judas musing about his experiences with Jesus. He felt used. He admits he had trouble believing in the work of Jesus. He said it was Jesus' fault for not recognizing his weaknesses. Judas also knew deep down that Jesus knew.

Sample of script:
Judas comes on stage, looks around

Here it is then, is it? This is where we are to eat the Passover together. Not much is it? And I wonder what exorbitant price was agreed to for these meagre quarters. Oh yes, they make the plans, but it is my money that must settle the account!

voice dripping with venom

John, the disciple whom he loves, must we now?

They and the legion of hangers-on, anxious to be at the feet of the master, but never thinking that it takes money to run an army. Oh and that is where I come in, now isn’t it?
“Judas, go pay for the food!”

I am seen as the foreigner, the one from Kerioth, always the outsider. What right that Peter, James and John get to be in the select inner circle while I am left with seeing to it that there is money to pay the bills?

“Judas, we need warm clothing for all, winter is coming!”

Meanwhile no one has so much as a thought of from whence our next morsel comes. It is just expected that Judas, he from the wilds of Kerioth, Judas, the outsider, will look after those trifling details. Yes, and so I do, so that those starry-eyes dreamers can feel free and enabled to dream their depressing dreams, think their trifling thoughts.

“Judas, do this, Judas, do that!”

Never so much as a thought of how we create our income. Example: a large crowd gathered on the hillside to hear the Nazarene preach. Thousands and thousands and thousands! And. . . get this, . . . he tells me, “Feed them.”

Feed them?

Feed the multitudes?

Does he think I have a bottomless purse?

It was fortunate that just at that moment along came Andrew. Ah yes, dear Andrew, the inviter! And whom did dear Andrew, the inviter, have in tow on this occasion? A young child, one who would, (disdainfully), according to all accounts, look after the food situation, no less! See, the child had a bounteous storehouse of provisions, enough and more to go around! Yes, right! A tiny loaf of bread and some despicable little fish!
(now uncertain)

I admit I do not know just exactly how it happened, but somehow there was, in fact, enough to feed the thousands. That and much left over.But there again it became evident the lack of common sense among these people.

See the people on the hillside were hungry and had been fed, they had received teaching, they were in . . . let’s say, liberal and giving spirits.So I say to Thomas, let us take the baskets now and gather an offering from the people, this to help defray expenses.

Thomas goes running to the Nazarene, and with only a look in my direction, that excellent opportunity was lost.

“Judas, we need money for the poor!”

And how about that addle-brained woman, Mary of Bethany, who squandered a year’s wages on expensive ointment which she used to anoint the feet of Jesus. Yes, the feet! Scandalous! And not a hand was raised to stop her. Not so much as a thought of how this utter waste could have benefited the poor and the downtrodden, had the ointment been sold and the money put in my purse.

It wasn’t always this way you know. Back when I first left home in Kerioth, off to serve the Master, a spring in my step, and fire in my heart.

What happened?

What happened?

I will tell you what happened! Jesus made me responsible for the treasury. I am the only one able, but nonetheless, it is a heavy responsibility.

The complete script, plus all 1,600+ other DramaShare scripts, is available at no charge to DramaShare members; non-members may purchase the individual script.