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| Sampson in the Treadmill by Carl Bloch |
- Public Domain
- File:Samson hos filistrene.jpg
"Lean on Me," Per the Story of Sampson...
The setting is just after Sampson's capture, and Delilah's departure, as Sampson is just getting to know his merry captors...
Sampson, whilst being led in front of a large fireplace, disgruntled: Well, what's gonna happen?
Guard #1 (Gripping his chains): Come, come, Sampson! Aren't you being just a little paranoid?
Sampson: With reason.
Guard #1: Look, Sampson, we're all jocks here, and we're just starting to bond; consider this just a hazing ritual.
Sampson, nonplussed: Uh-huh.
Guard #2: We have a lot in common, all of us—don't be so glum!
Sampson: As one jock to another, spare me the shtick—I've given it out myself.
Guard #1: So you have, so you have. (Motions with his head back to the fireplace, and guard #3, STIRRING THE FIRE with a poker--smirking.)
Guard #2: In any case, it's best we got along—for your sake. ( He whacks him way too hard on the shoulder—making him wince.) In any case, you're our job, bringing you back to Gaza, and if you made it easier on us, you'd be making it easier on yourself.
Sampson: Hmph.
Guard #1: (Shrugs) have it your way, Sampson--you know, this experience just might be the best for you know, seeing how the other half lives—or not (he shrugs)—that sorta thing.
Sampson: Lucky me.
Guard #1: Now we're talking!
At this the music sets in and all the Philistines begin to hum as Guard #3 still stirs the fire.
Guard #3, still stirring the flame: Sometimes in our lives we all have pain
Guards as Chorus: We all have sorrow
Guard #3: But if we are wise
Sampson’s frowning POV notes them shoves a sword into the flames.
Chorus: We know that there's always tomorrow.
The sword starts to sizzle, and Guard #3 pulls the sword back, playfully pointing it his way, compelling Sampson to draw back, as Guards #1 & 2 wraps their arms around him, steadying him.
Guard #1: So lean on me
Guard #2 gives Sammy a squeeze.
Guard #2: Now you're not strong...
Sampson gives Guard #2 a dirty look.
Sampson: You know this is wrong.
Guard #1: And we'll be your friends...
Sampson now gives Guard #1 a dirty look as all the guards close in on him, with Guard #3 and his glowing sword foremost.
Chorus: We'll help you carry on!
Guard #1, to his men: Come, hold him down.
Sampson just looks on defiant.
Guard #1 to Sampson, smiling way too much: This won't take long.
Sampson simply glares back.
Guard #1, still overselling his”kindness: 'Til he’ll need…
He starts to grin evilly.
Chorus: Somebody to lean on!
All the guards start evilly grinning too whilst pressing further in on their prey, and Sampson (for the last time) simply rolls his eyes.
With his eyes now gouged and his arms shackled behind his back, Sampson is forced to stumble ahead of his captors, past a donkey’s jawbone, past the gates he ripped out, and down the hill into Gaza. He bumps his head on Gaza's new gates, pausing until they open for him, allowing his shame-march to attain its natural destination.
Now toiling away at the prison millwheel, an exhausted Sampson is offered a ladle of water from Guard #3, which he turns down with a contemptuous snort.
Guard #3: Please—swallow your pride…
Samson just turns away, and resumes grinding.
Guard #2: If you have faith, you need to use it.
Sampson: Ugh.
Guard #3: For just yourself can't fill all your needs...
Sampson again just grunts, to which Guard #3 just trips him up, leading to Sammy’s toppling.
Guard #3, standing over Sampson, hands on hips: And, if you try, you’ll simply just lose it!
Guard #2 happily walks up to Guard #3, and winks to him.
Guard #2: You just call on me brother, when you need a hand!
Guards #s 2 & 3 hi-fi, as the rest of the guards happily form a bucket line from the prison floor’s well to the fallen fool..
All the Guards, in Chorus: We all need somebody to lean on!
Guard #3 is handed a very large bucket, by which he uses by soundly splashing Sampson before starting to clap their hands.
Chorus: You just might have a problem that we’'ll understand!
All the guards form a hand-clapping circle ‘round the soaking "strong" man.
Chorus: We all need somebody to lean on…
Smirking, Guard #3 helps pull Sampson up.
Guard #3: So just lean on me, now you're not strong.
As he leads Sampson back to cell, he tapes a KICK ME sign to his rear, inciting stifled giggles from the rest of the guards.
Guard #3: And I'll be your friend..
Guard #3 shoves Sampson through his cell door.
Chorus: We’'ll help you carry on!
Sampson sulkily crawls up to the side of a wall in his cell as Guard #3 and the rest of the Guards gloat from the doorway.
Guard #3: And so, please heed this song!
Guard #2: Now that you need—
Chorus: Somebody to lean on!
Guard #3: So call me…
Guard #3 walks off.
Guard #2: So call me…
He walks off.
God (VO): Call me…
Random Guard: So call me…
He walks off.
God (VO): Call me…
Random Guard: So call me…
He walks off.
God (VO): Call me…
Random Guard: So call me…
He walks off.
God (VO): Call me…
We linger on the image of Sampson slumped over, face obscured, the light coming from the open cell door slowly being diminished as the door swings shut, before we cut abruptly to black, the only sound now that of the guards locking the door behind them.
God (VO): Call me…
There is only silence.
God (VO): Call me…
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