SHOPKEEPER:

(Yelling) Get your exquisite perfumes here, ladies. Gentlemen, impress your exquisite ladies. Only one hundred silver coins for half a litre!! Enjoy the delightful aroma of alabaster, myrrh or rose...

OFFSIDER:

(Interrupting) Hey Jacob, isn’t that him? (Points)

SHOPKEEPER:

(Looking in that direction) Who?

OFFSIDER:

The man who was...you know...(Whispers)...dead!

SHOPKEEPER:

DEAD?

OFFSIDER:

Ssssssh! You idiot. It’s him, with his sister, Mary.

SHOPKEEPER:

How can he be here if he’s dead?

OFFSIDER:

(Whispers) That teacher...Jesus...they say he brought him back to life...

SHOPKEEPER:

No!

OFFSIDER:

Yes.

SHOPKEEPER:

How can that be? Must’ve been a hoax!

OFFSIDER:

No. He was even buried for three days, in a cave tomb and all. The whole village witnessed it.

SHOPKEEPER:

Amazing! You reckon that’s him?

OFFSIDER:

Sure is. As alive as I am...Look out! Here they come! (Lazarus and Mary start walking  towards their table)

SHOPKEEPER:

Get your perfumes here. Only one hundred silver pieces for half a litre! Enjoy the delightful aroma of...(Mary and Lazarus arrive at table, Mary looks over the jars of perfume) Can I help you folks?

MARY:

Yes sir, I want the best you’ve got...

SHOPKEEPER:

(Interrupting) Oh madam, you’ve come to the right place. Some alabaster or myrrh or rose?

MARY:

Something made from nard—pure nard.

SHOPKEEPER:

Oh, well then, you’re talking money, BIG money.

MARY:

Have you got any, sir?

SHOPKEEPER:

Yes, under the table here. (Carefully gets a jar out from under the table. Mary takes it) Be careful, now. Wouldn’t want to drop it, would we? Only the very wealthy can afford this, you know. We keep it for...

MARY:

I’ll take it, thankyou.

OFFSIDER:

But madam, it’s over three hundred silver pieces! (Shopkeeper elbows him in the ribs)

MARY:

I’ll have it, thankyou.

SHOPKEEPER:

Why certainly, madam...

OFFSIDER:

(Interrupting) But that’s a year’s wages! (Shopkeeper kicks him in the shin) Ow!

SHOPKEEPER:

(Glares at offsider) I’ll just wrap it for you.

OFFSIDER:

Are you sure you can afford...(Shopkeeper pushes him away)

LAZARUS:

It certainly is.

SHOPKEEPER:

Especially after, you know...

LAZARUS:

You mean after my death?

OFFSIDER:

(Shocked and embarrassed) Oh no, he means...

LAZARUS:

Yes, I was dead, and yes, Jesus raised me to life. It was an absolute miracle. In fact, he’s coming to our place for dinner tonight. That’s why Mary wants the perfume.

MARY:

It’ll be my gift to him.

SHOPKEEPER:

(Doubtfully) Of course. (Hands Mary fully wrapped jar) Well, madam, here we are. That’ll be three hundred silver pieces, thank you.

MARY:

(Hands over large purse/bag of money) Here you are. Thank you for your time, sir.

SHOPKEEPER:

Oh, my pleasure (Looking greedily in purse/bag) I’d do business with you any day!      

OFFSIDER:

(Glares at shopkeeper) He must mean a lot to you, this Jesus?

MARY:

He certainly does.

LAZARUS:

I owe him my life.

MARY:

So do I. Good day to you, sir.

LAZARUS:

(To shopkeeper) God bless you.

SHOPKEEPER:

Er...God bless you too. Remember us next time you’re shopping for perfume! (Lazarus and Mary exit)

OFFSIDER:

(Watching them leave) I don’t think there’ll be a next time.

SHOPKEEPER:

What do you mean?

OFFSIDER:

There’s talk of Jesus’ death now.

SHOPKEEPER:

What!

OFFSIDER:

The people are all flocking to him and the chief priests aren’t too happy about it.

SHOPKEEPER:

(Sighs) Oh well, at least we had one good sale out of him.

OFFSIDER:

Wouldn’t mind meeting this Jesus though...and seeing what all the fuss is about. (Both exit)