The Serpent Curse - Prologue
#1 of The Serpent Curse
Written in 2018-2019
FADE IN:
ADVISORY CARD:
This film is a work of fiction. The interpretations and speculations presented herein are merely a creative take on Biblical events, and is in no way intended to be substituted for Gospel Truth. Thank You.
EXT. AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK - DAY
A DUNNART scampers its way through the Australian growth.
A RUSTLE of movement in the grass to the right. Unblinking eyes. Something watches, the DISTORTED COLORS OF SNAKE VISION.
More RUSTLING, the dunnart looks in the direction of the movement. Cautiously, it steps forward.
Another RUSTLE, another STEP... The dunnart reaches the site of the rustling... And SNAP!
KIAH the Common Death Adder SPRINGS out at her prey!
EXT. PROLOGUE
Tales GHOST across the screen, the stories throughout the ages, getting older and older, NARRATORS OF ALL CULTURES TELLING TALES OF THE DARK DEEDS OF SNAKES.
Finally, we rest upon a Hebrew Old Testament scroll. It unravels and the story unfolds upon its length.
SERPENT (V.O.): In the Beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth.
The early Solar System... CRASH! BANG! Giant pieces of space rock CRASH TOGETHER, forming to create Earth.
SERPENT (V.O.): From the land to the Sea, to plants and birds and fish, to all the creatures that walk upon the Earth, God created them all.
We pan across a wide landscape, the creations of the world coming into being as they're spoken.
SERPENT (V.O.): Finally, when he saw all this was good, he created mankind.
In the Garden of Eden, Adam is formed from the dust of the Earth. Adam examines his hands in wonder, and shakily stands to his feet.
SERPENT (V.O.): Man and woman, Adam and Eve, he placed in the Garden of Eden...
Adam is joined by Eve in the Garden of Eden.
SERPENT (V.O.): ...where they were free to enjoy all it had to offer. With one exception.
We see the seedlings of the TREE OF KNOWLEDGE AND THE TREE OF LIFE sprouting from the ground, beginning to grow, their trunks spiraling around each other, STRENGTHENING as they gain height as one.
SERPENT (V.O.): They could not eat the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge.
Adam and Eve stand before the Trees, staring in awe.
SERPENT (V.O.): But then came the most crafty of the creatures God had created. The serpent.
...And among the leaves of the Tree emerges a legged Serpent, twined around the branches, facing Adam and Eve.
SERPENT (V.O.): In their innocence, Man and Woman could not discern right from the Serpent's deception...
Eve plucks a fruit from the Tree and takes a bite. She hands it over to Adam, and he takes a bite as well.
SERPENT (V.O.): ...And thus they were cursed.
Suddenly the world flashes dark around them.
SERPENT (V.O.): Immediately, they were expelled from the Garden of Eden...
The light of God FLASHES through the sky. Adam, Eve, and the Serpent flee from the Garden. And then world falls to darkness.
SERPENT (V.O.): ...And humankind was forced to live out their lives in a fallen world for the rest of all time.
Men work in a field. One man looks enviously at another, picks up his pitchfork and hurtles it at the other.
SERPENT (V.O.): But mankind wasn't the only one lost to the fall...
We move back in time to the Tree of Knowledge, the Serpent still twined around its branches.
SERPENT (V.O.): For on the serpent, God bestowed this curse:
The glory of the Lord shines upon the Serpent.
THE LORD (V.O.): Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life...
The Serpent squirms as its legs shrivel up into it's body until they are nothing more.
THE LORD (V.O.): And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.
A snake sits in wait by a desert road. A traveler passes by and the snake leaps out at it. The traveler pulls back, a fresh snake-bite at his heel. He looks at the snake in shock. Weakly, he raises his staff, and brings it down on it.
SERPENT (V.O.): And while mankind was eventually reconciled through the sacrifice of God's Son...
A Cross is risen on a hill, Jesus hanging on it.
SERPENT (V.O.): ...The serpent's tale has been left forgotten.
The screen goes dark.
SERPENT (V.O.): Or has it? Because while mankind has forgotten the Serpent Curse, the creature sentenced to crawl on its belly for eternity never will.
And out of the void of darkness the Serpent appears, eyes of hatred staring forward, awaiting the moment to strike.
TITLE CARD: THE SERPENT CURSE