Solomon Tells General Joab: Absalom's Caught
OUTSIDE AT THE DOUBLE FRUIT FOREST AT NIGHT:
Solomon races to General Joab.
SOLOMON
(frantic, ecstatic)
Hey!
Solomon jumps down off his horse.
He screams, jumping up and down:
SOLOMON
I saw AbShalom hanging in an oak tree!
GENERAL JOAB
Look, if you saw AbShalom hanging helpless, why didn't you strike him to the ground? I would've given you a fortune, and a hero's belt.
SOLOMON
Even if you dump a million shekels of gold in my hand, I'd never lift my fist against King David's son!
General Joab scoffs.
SOLOMON
We all heard Daddy order you and Colonel Abishai and Ittai:
KING DAVID
(flashback)
Beware: let no one touch my young son AbShalom.
SOLOMON
If I'd pretended not to have heard the order, Dad'd have my head! Nothing can be hidden from the king. You yourself would have whipped me if I'd killed Prince Absalom.
GENERAL JOAB
I can't stay here arguing with you, boy.
General Joab grabs 3 long-spiked clubs in his hand.
He gallops his war-horse into the forest.
