Torches flicker on the solid stone wall.
He knows it is morning because they just brought him bread and water.
Rats scurry on the other side of the bars.
He can hear people in the courtyard.
Voices rumble, indistinct shouts – a crowd has gathered.
It goes on for a while, then quiets down.
Silence.
The governor must be speaking, but it’s too faint to hear.
Suddenly, he hears a few voices that build to a roar.
His name.
They’re shouting his name.
BARABBAS! BARABBAS!
He freezes, motionless except for the pounding in his chest.
Why are they calling for him?
The shouts die down for another brief silence.
CRUCIFY HIM! CRUCIFY HIM!
He buries his head in his hands.
He knew it might happen, but not this way.
Not now.
Crucifixion?
Torture and death at the bloody hands of the Romans?
Footsteps fly down the stairs and approach his cell.
Guards unlock the door and grab his arms.
They push him up the stairs to the courtyard.
He blinks at the bright morning light.
The sea of people below him.
The governor looking on with disgust.
A man beside him, bound and bloodied.
CRUCIFY HIM! CRUCIFY HIM!
His arms are still gripped by the guards.
He scans at the crowd, looking for one person to have mercy on him.
His eye meets the gaze of the bloodied man.
Then the guards shove Barabbas to the ground.
They leave him and go over to the bloodied man.
They take Him away.
CRUCIFY HIM! CRUCIFY HIM!
Barabbas stands up.
A freed man.
There is no one to condemn him now.
