LULLABY

Description

King Saul cannot sleep. His crown sits on a pillow beside his bed. Sand is carried in by the wind through a window and sprinkles over it. Saul is tormented by an evil spirit and calls out to a guard, \"Where are they!?\". He is assured from outside that \'they\' are on their way. A young man is led in to play harp-song for the king. As he plays, Saul lies back in bed with his spear and can finally rest. Enter Saul\'s dream: Saul wanders on a peaceful woodland hilltop. Evening. Fireflies. The harp-song echos through the trees. He is unarmed and without his crown. He comes to a view and closes his eyes. All seems tranquil. The wind blows and he takes a deep inhale of breath-- Reveal an old man sitting on a rock who says, \"We are but a breath in a storm, Saul.\"He and Saul discuss the \'grand story\' their lives take place within. Saul has forgotten his place in the story. After this, Saul wanders through the woodland now covered in the red light of dusk. He is crowned and armed. Arrows fly overhead. Saul hears indecipherable whispers from three distinct directions. The harp-song rises and the whisperers cry out! Saul asks them, \"What did you say?\" muting the song. The whisperers, now audible, say: \"Another King approaches...\" \"He is close...\" \"Beware the player of the string!\" Saul wanders to a clearing. Nearby, a puddle reflects the spirit realm which reveals three cloaked Figures surrounding Saul. Their whispers intensify until Saul throws his spear off in a panic. He hears it strike and follows after it. He comes to a tree pierced by the spear, still wobbling, but impossibly facing towards him. As he touches it, it breaks in two and it is instantly morning. Sunshine. Birds singing. But more arrows fly overhead and Saul is revealed to have a mortal wound streaming from his gut. But he is totally unaware. He finds a path leading up a hill towards a shining light. The harp-song plays and Saul climbs up--Once at the top, there is another clearing. He sees a shining throne with the harp-player sitting on it, covered head to toe in blood, holding a white lamb. Peals of thunder, rushing water and choral song sound! Surrounding the throne are the cloaked Figures shrieking and signalling for him to strike the image. The Figures shout, \"Pin him to the wall!\". Saul throws his spear (intact again) at the image and just before it strikes-- Kings Bed-chamber: Saul leaps out of his bed and tries to spear the boy. He hits the wall behind him and guards come in to restrain Saul. The fight happens in the background as the crown sitting on the pillow has more sand sprinkled over it. The wind outside picking up. Storm brewing. Time running out. Cut to black. God\'s warning to the prophet Samuel appears, \"These will be the ways of the king...\"

Biblical Connection

Source: Saul\'s torment as King from 1 Samuel. Exploring a dream that he might have had to open up the world of spiritual warfare, prophecy and the familiar pattern of leaders losing their way and turning on those closest to them. The Bible is hyperlinked and every story has references to the grander narrative at play throughout the whole book. I think a dream depiction is a perfect device to explore this interlinked world of histories, prophecies and symbols that make up the overarching narrative of the Bible. King Saul is used as the archetype for earthly kings which contrasts the Bible\'s emphasis on Jesus as the ultimate king. The image Saul sees with the harp player (David) on the throne foreshadows that the \"Lamb of God\" will come through the line of David. Saul, concerned with his own kingdom, is terrified of this image and lashes out. Earlier in 1 Samuel, God warns the prophet of the way things will go with kings. Ways visible throughout the Bible, history and present day newsfeeds, making Saul\'s story both timely and timeless. I see him as both a figure of empathy and tragedy, not simply a villain, but a cautionary icon.