A screenplay for an animated short clip.
…
Black screen.
Voice over: “Leviticus chapter 16, verses 21 and 22. Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, confess over it all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, concerning all their sins, putting them on the head of the goat, and shall send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a suitable man. The goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to an uninhabited land; and he shall release the goat in the wilderness.”
The sound of hoofs and sandals walking on sand. The screen brightens to a desert scene. A young goat is standing, looking quite lost. A pair of sandaled feet behind him. A hand stretches down from outside the screen, giving the goat a gentle push on his rump.
Man: “Go on, little fella, go take a hike in the wilderness.”
Goat thinks: “Then what?”
His question is not answered but he knows his fate is sealed. He plods away.
He is a picture of poor-thingness. His ears droopy, eyes teary, sniffling. He is much maligned and feeling very sorry for himself indeed. He walks for who knows how long, not really looking where he’s going. It’s all wilderness anyway.
Far away voice: “Hey fellas, look! Here he comes now!”
Far away voice louder now: “Yo Dude, over here!”
The goat looks around. The voice belongs to another goat perched on a rock. The goat looks around behind him. No one for miles, as far as the eyes can see. And beyond.
Goat: “Guess he must mean me.”
Goat walks over, real slow. He gets there eventually and looks up at the goat on the rock. The sun is in his eyes. He squints.
Goat on rock: “Say, are you Scapegoat 2006?”
Goat, with more than a tinge of resignation: “I guess.”
Goat on rock: “C’mon over!”
Goat walks around the big rock. Behind there, in the shade of the rocks and in the nooks and crannies is a large multitude of goats. Some are very very old, some old, some rather old, some middle-aged, some adults, some teenagers, a few youths. They are all chilling. Some lift a hoof in greeting. Some nod. The one who called him over looks just a bit older than himself.
Goat on rock: “Say, how’s the high priest doing?”
Goat: “Pretty well, I guess.”
Goat on rock: “How long’s his beard now?”
Goat: “Long.”
Goat on rock: “Perform any miracles lately?”
Goat: “Some.”
Goat on rock: “Aah… Good ol’ high priest. He’s a good bloke, the guy.”
Goat on rock sits back, crosses his front legs behind his head, closes his eyes with a contented sigh.
Goat looks around. Everyone is chilling.
Goat: “Soo… what do we do?”
Goat on rock, with eyes closed: “Nothing. Nothing much happens around here. Find a spot you like, chill. Next year, it’s your turn to look out for the newbie.”
Goat sighs.
Fade out to black.
…
