An imagining of the relationship between Matthew, the former tax collector, and Simon, the former zealot. Will it make it in the show? Maybe. Will it be changed? Probably. Enjoy!

Outside store- in the alley or on the roof.

MATTHEW

What are you up to, Simon?

SIMON

Excuse me, taxman?

MATTHEW

You heard me. You look like you're ready to kill.

SIMON

I’m ready for anything. Are you?

MARY MAG

Matthew-

SIMON

Baby brother’s fine, Mary. Don’t worry. You want to know what’s going on out in those streets people like you made us pave for the Romans? Take a look. How many soldiers do you see?

MATTHEW

Just one- down at the bottom of the hill.

SIMON

Well, if YOSEPH gets his way, there will be at least a dozen here tonight. Pilate’s already dispatched a team to the tomb.

MATTHEW

Why?

SIMON

Are you that oblivious? They’re telling everyone we’re stealing the body tonight, man, to claim he was raised from the dead. They will make us criminals any way they can. And not just us- anyone who believes their dear old dad was raised to life will be silenced. Is that clear enough for you?

MATTHEW

I don’t think Rome would care enough about our leaders’ squabbles to do that.

SIMON

You would think that. They’re nice enough to you when you bleed your people dry for them.

MARY MAG

Simon, please.

SIMON

They cared enough to crucify the man you said was your King. You overestimate them. You want to flip allegiances?

MATTHEW

Of course not.

SIMON

Really? Just go back to Galilee. That’s what you want, right? Use your extra funds to help your family live extra comf and hope they won’t completely hate you anymore. Meanwhile, just leave those of us who have no other way out to fend for ourselves suffocating under the knee of Rome gasping for our imas. You don’t get it, man. That’s why I’m the lookout.

MATTHEW

You left that life, Simon. And I left mine.

SIMON

And what do we do now? The only thing we had in common, taxman, is gone. I’m going to do what I think is best for my people. You can go back to doing what is best for you or you can join me. No other option is left.

MATTHEW

Look, I hate the pain I have caused, and-

SIMON

Do you really?

MATTHEW

- I live with it daily, Simon. But I have changed-

SIMON

Ha! You-

MARY MAG

Stop it. Remember what it was like, Simon, the first time you walked three miles with that Roman’s pack on your back? Look at me. What did his face look like? Come on, I know you remember; you wouldn’t shut up about it.

SIMON

Mary, this is between me and the taxman.

MARY MAG

This is a quarrel of boys, not men. Answer me. Describe his face.

SIMON

He was confused.