“For if I build again the Church which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.”

The Epistle of Paul to the Galatians 2:18, Fellow’s Translation of the Holy Bible

The Dialogue

The setting is the interior of a small house in Jerusalem in the 30s/40s CE. Outside it is a hot sunny day. Inside it is shadowy and dusty. Sunlight slices through cracks in covered windows and the front doorway. These openings are covered with thick cloth. We can hear occasional ambient street noise. The furniture and supplies are minimal and crude. Just outside the front doorway, the apostle James stands guard. Inside, the apostle Paul sits cross-legged on the ground. Paul gazes into a seer stone, breathing slowly and calmly. After a few moments, the apostle Peter enters.

PETER
(standing in the doorway, looking at Paul and then out at James)
Hey, James, go pick us up some more wine.

JAMES
(whispered)
Okay, but I’m pretty sure there are eyes on us. Maybe I should stay.

PETER
Then grab Titus and Barnabus from across the street. Give ’em some money and have ’em make a run.

JAMES
Okay. Uh, how much wine?

PETER
Sufficient for tomorrow’s gathering, and for tonight.

JAMES
Okay.

PETER
(slaps James on the shoulder)
Relax, bro. Even if our illustrious guest here got made on the way in, the Romans would have drawn their swords by now if they were gonna.

JAMES
Right.

James quickly steps out into the street. Peter grimaces and gestures for him to come back.

JAMES
What?!

PETER
(tapping James’s clothes at the hip and whispering)
When you walk fast, I can see your dagger.

From his seated position, Paul looks up with concern at the two apostles in the doorway.

JAMES
(fidgeting with his clothes)
Sorry.

PETER
It’s okay. Just be careful.

JAMES
Will do.

James starts off across the street.

PETER
(loud voice, out to James)
Hey, man.

JAMES
(off-stage)
Yeah?

PETER
Tell ‘em to get new wineskins only.

JAMES
Yeah.

Peter looks at Paul, but he remains over by the door.

PETER
Sorry to interrupt.

PAUL
No apology is needed.

PETER
Much obliged for your visit. Ain’t easy to get news from outside these days.

Peter picks up a mostly empty wineskin and takes a swig. Paul settles back into gazing at his seer stone. Peter approaches him. The contrast in the men’s builds becomes apparent. Peter sports a dad bod, a scruffy beard, and his clothes are dusty. Paul is lanky and well-groomed.

PETER
(moving to a point near Paul, looking almost straight down at the stone)
You still seein’ the pussy cat?

PAUL
Please do not mock.

PETER
Ain’t mocking. Is she still curled up on a silk cushion fringed with goldleaf, in one of Father’s mansions on that starry dome above?

PAUL
She is.

PETER
(sliding down into a prone position on his side, propped up on his elbow)
You still figure this vision is of a momma cat?  
(pauses to let Paul answer, but Paul does not)
Plump cat, right? Ya think she’s preggo.

PAUL
Yes. No.

PETER
Yes, no?

PAUL
Yes, a mother cat. No, not pregnant.

Peter chuckles.

PAUL
What dost amuse thee?

PETER
You’re a special witness of the Son of God. You can have any vision you want, but the eyes of your understandin’ open to behold an eternal cat.
(laughs)
Sorry, I shouldn’t laugh. What do you see?

PAUL
Within the stone, I see her purring. She would nap, yet her eyes never fully close. Always, she hears the sound of weeping in the Heavens, and groaning in the Earth.

Peter moves closer, resting his head against Paul’s chest. He takes another swig of wine and then gazes at the stone. Paul grows more annoyed, fidgeting.

PETER
I see the same. She’s a pretty thing. Long-haired. Dark gray fur on the back, ashy gray fur coverin’ the belly.

PAUL
(looking down at Peter)
That’s right.

PETER
Yup, she’s not pregnant. Just well fed, like me on a feast day.

Peter pats his belly and sits up. He faces Paul from the side. Paul stares intently at the stone. Peter leans close enough that Paul can feel breath on his ear.

PETER
Sorry John couldn’t be here to see you off, but I had a Lord’s errand for him to run.
(waits to see if Paul reacts; he does not)
Paul, you know what else I saw in your stone just now? Lyin’ right beside that momma kitty, tucked into her fur? I saw you, ‘bout the size of a kitten. Little weepy you, sinkin’ deeper into her belly with every breath.

PAUL
Canst thou not—

PETER
There you were, curled up against that fat momma cat, cryin’ all over her belly—

PAUL
Brother.

PETER
Leavin’ snot all matted in her fur while she just waits for you to do your momma’s boy thing.

PAUL
Peter—

PETER
Benevolently lettin’ you try to nurse just one more time.

PAUL
Stop it!

James parts the curtain and peers inside. Peter waves him off with a gesture.

PETER
You know what your problem is, Paul?

PAUL
What?

PETER
It’s not your gentile fetish. It’s that you want to be rescued.

PAUL
Thou sayest.

PETER
Mark it. There is no rescue in this life, not in this dispensation anyway. There’s only workin’ and waitin’… till He comes again.

PAUL
And if the Romans come for thee as they came for Christ Jesus?

PETER
Then they come. On that score, I’ve already made up my mind. If they pull out the hammer and nails, I’m gonna one-up Jesus.

James can be heard chuckling outside the curtain.

PETER
(calling toward the doorway)
James, you still think I’m kiddin’, man?

JAMES
(off-stage)
No, man. It’ll be just like you said: upside down!

PETER
(slapping his knee and laughing)
Upside down!
(turning to Paul)
Give me a little o’ your grace, Paul. After all, I was the fella always tryin’ to one-up, Jesus. Never managed it.

PAUL
Why didst thou try to “one-up” him?

PETER
To impress him. Like you want to. Like we all want to. Y’know, to… prove me now herewith. But I always wound up feelin’ like an imposter.

PAUL
Thou art many things, Peter, but thou art no Judas.

PETER
Hmph. Maybe. I remember this one time Jesus was starin’ into his stone. All of a sudden he looked up, glared at me and said, “Peter, you’re such a Brigham.”

PAUL
What didst the Lord mean?

PETER
Dunno. He didn’t tell me, so I didn’t ask. He’d already dubbed me the rock by that point, so I wasn’t really lookin’ for another hat to wear.
(takes a thirsty swig, squeezing the wineskin tight, finally giving up and dropping it empty on the floor)
Anyhow Paul, you’re right about one thing. Jesus was a forgiving man. A true rabboni. He would have loved your letters… would have kept them in a neat stack, reread them every once in awhile on the shore of Galilee. He was always walkin’ off by himself, actin’ like he wanted to be alone, but really he just wanted to see if any of us would come after him.

PAUL
And didst thou?

PETER
Nah. That’s what John the Beloved was there for.
(singing)
“Precious memories, how they linger,
how they ever flood my soul.
In the stillness—”

Peter and Paul hear steps approaching out on the street, walking briskly. Gruff men’s voices accompany the footsteps. Peter sits perfectly still and stares at a wall, focused on the footsteps’ crescendo. Outside, the men stride past without slowing, their steps grow distant.

PETER
Look…
(standing)
If you want to preach to the uncut, preach to the uncut. We could surely use their donations. But you be honest in your accounting, or I will send the angel for you. And if the angel comes for you, Paul, there is no calling or witness you can claim that will spare you the outcome of his visitation.

PAUL
(pocketing the stone)
Thou art too much with works.

PETER
I’m just askin’ you to consider—

PAUL
(rising quickly)
Consider thyself!

PETER
I do, Paul, every time I hear a cock crow. You see, I was there.

James pokes his head in the room to see if everything is okay. The men calm down. Peter grabs a bag from a nearby table and hands it to Paul.

PETER
Provisions. For your journey.

PAUL
Thank you.

PETER
Unless you want to stay another day? We’re gatherin’ tomorrow. And our meetings have been gettin’ quite windy.

PAUL
Spare me thy tongues of fire.

PETER
Look, Paul. We mean you know offense. We just weren’t figurin’ on a Church with more than one school of thought. That leads to schism.

PAUL
We can be one in Christ through grace.

PETER
Yeah, but… in this world, we become one through works.
(placing his hands on Paul’s shoulders)
We bear His marks in our bodies. We walk according to His rule.

Peter kisses Paul gently on the cheek. Paul closes his eyes, almost like the kiss hurts.

PETER
Peace be with you, brother.

PAUL
(slinging the bag’s strap over his shoulder)
And grace be to you, Peter.

Paul moves the curtain aside and passes by James out into the street. Peter picks up the wineskin and shakes it, still hoping, stuck waiting.

End of scene.

Notes and Questions for Discussion

This piece owes a bit to the The Tragedy of Coriolanus by Shakespeare, specifically the tension between the title character and his chief antagonist—sort of an I-hate-that-I-love-you tension. Also, thanks to fellow W&T permablogger Dave B. for inspiring me to reread Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians in his post.

So, readers, what are your impressions of this dialogue? How does it compare to your sense of Peter and Paul’s relationship? Please comment below, and thanks for reading!