The Mediterranean Sea, 375 AD. Jerome's encounter with Malchus leaves a profound mark on him. Shaken and inspired by Malchus' story, Jerome leaves Aquileia, its books, arguments, and comforts, and heads for Antioch at the edge of the Syrian desert to become a monk. As Jerome sets sail, he braces for the trials ahead. The desert has ways of stripping away everything a man thinks he knows about himself. Can Jerome withstand the test? The Mediterranean Sea, 375 AD. Seer. We're getting closer to the east. Jerome? Is that really you? Lucius? Yes! Oh, I heard there was quite the commotion at dinner last night. Someone lectured you a young scribe about proper Latin syntax until midnight. I should have known it was you! That man was butchering the text. Someone had to correct him. You have been chained since our scholar days. What are you doing here? I thought you were still chasing rhetoric in Rome. Rhetoric can wait. I'm bound for Jerusalem, making pilgrimage. And you? Still dissecting the meaning of every comma and cistero? My interests have changed. I'm going to Antioch. I intend to begin a new life there. New life? Have you found the patience in the women who accompany you? No, I intend to become a monk. To dedicate myself to prayer, study, and to a life of contemplation and silence. A monk? Living in silence? Yes. Why? Forgive me, old friend, but you can't be a monk. Why not? You once argued for four straight hours about the proper pronunciation of Greek vowels. You can't be silent. Well, I wrestled with the decision, certainly. I thought, Jerome, is this truly your calling? But I met a man, Malchus, a monk who was enslaved, suffered beyond measure, and yet he found joy in God. He showed me that knowledge alone isn't enough. One must surrender. So I have. Quite admirably, I think. Ah, very humble of you. I know, I know. Humility is a new thing for me. I can't wait to get started. I'm even planning to retire into the Syrian desert. Really? Yes. But first, I'm going to stay with Bishop Polinas. A good friend from Rome insisted I visit him before venturing into the wilderness. Though I don't see why. I'm perfectly prepared for the desert. Aha, you totally are. Oh, this? It's nothing. You'd better take care of yourself, Jerome. That doesn't sound good. Don't worry, Lucius. We're only two days from Antioch. Ah. Excuse me. The house of Bishop Polinas? Just ahead, past the fountain. Just a little farther, Jerome. You can do this. It is French and cough. Yes? I seek Bishop Polinas. I am Jerome of Striden. I believe he was expecting me, eventually. Your Grace, a visitor is here for you. A man named Jerome of Striden. Jerome, welcome to Antioch. You've come at last. But you look quite unwell. The journey... it was arduous, but... I fear I may have come down with something. Come in. You must rest. I'll have someone prepare a room for you. Thank you, Polinas. Your hospitality is most welcome. It is an honor to... He's falling! Jerome! He's burning with fever. Jerome, can you hear me? Quick! Send for the physician! Lord, watch over your servant in his hour of need. He's been like this for days. The fever. It hasn't broken. The Lord has brought him here. Now we must keep him alive. His face... is contorted. He must be having a terrible dream. What could he be seeing? My scrolls... I am right. I am. No! My manuscripts! No! I have to save them! You love the sound of your own voice more than the truth. Always twisting words to suit yourself. You judge us, but who judges you? What's happening? Why is everything crumbling? Who... who are you? I am Jesus Christ. I'm Jerome. I'm your friend. I'm a Christian. You're lying. You are not a Christian. For where your treasure is, there also is your heart. I'm sorry, Lord. I'm so sorry. Daat Elohim. Daat Elohim. I don't understand. Daat Elohim? What does that mean? Please, tell me! Daat Elohim. Jerome, you're awake. Thank God. How long was I... Many days, brother. We feared for your life. Here, drink. I had a vision. Christ himself appeared to me. Tell me? He... he asked who I was. When I said I was a Christian, he called me a liar. Jerome, you were feverish. No, it... it felt real. So real. And then he spoke words I didn't understand. Daat Elohim. What does that mean? It's Hebrew, but... Hebrew? Could this be a sign? Perhaps, Jerome. But now you must regain your strength. Rest now. My dearest friend, Buenosus. After a long illness and a divine vision that shook me to my core, I'm more determined than ever to retire to the desert in Syria. I seek healing for my soul. I will put aside the classics, Virgil, Cicero, all of them. I will not read them again until... until I am certain that my soul has been healed, that my heart is truly focused on God. It is a sacrifice, but one I must make. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Pray for me, old friend. The path ahead will not be easy. Your brother in Christ, Jerome. Eusephus? Are you Eusephus? Ah, well... yes. You must be Jerome, the Roman scholar. We were expecting you. Drink, please. We have prepared a small cell further out, overlooking the dunes. I must continue to the deep desert. The deep desert? No one ventures there alone. I've read the life of St. Anthony when he lived in the desert. I know what awaits me. Brother Jerome, reading about the desert and surviving it are not the same. There are dangers. Which way lies the deepest part, where no one goes? Dewey East, but I must insist you wait until... If I need help, I'll let you know, Eusephus. Goodbye. It's not Eusephus. It's Eoseph. Another day of fasting. Another day closer to God. What's this? A book? Cicero? But I didn't bring any of the classic books with me. A snake? Yes! Old friend. You think the desert will save you, Jerome? You'll never truly be a friend of Christ. No! Get back! Your pride invites me here. Get off me! I can't breathe! You abandoned your precious books, Jerome. But your intellect, your pride, you carry them with you. They are you. Can't fight this alone, my lord. Jesus Christ, please save me! Lord, I need you. What a wonderful day. Oh no! Brother Jerome, can you hear me? He's breathing, thank God. Brother, brother, wake up! I must get you to yourself! Oh, that hurts. Oh, I'm sorry. No, please, don't be. The wounds are not deep, but they'll need time to heal. Your kindness, I don't deserve it. Every child of God deserves kindness. Thank you, Yosefus. Actually, it's Yosef, in Hebrew. Wait, are you Jewish? Converted, a monk had convert from Judaism. That's what I am. So, you know Hebrew? Of course. Da'at Elohim. Ah, you know Hebrew? I've heard these words in a vision. They've haunted me since. Da'at Elohim, it means knowledge of God. Knowledge of God? Well, you can rest now and… You must teach me Hebrew. You want to learn Hebrew? I must learn Hebrew. But Hebrew, it's not an easy language to learn. Yosef, I don't just want to learn, I want a new heart. And I need to study the scriptures. Why not study them in Greek? I know Greek, Yosef, but Christ did not appear out of nowhere. He is the fulfillment of the law and the prophets, the Messiah spoken of in Genesis, in the Psalms. He is hidden in the Old Testament. And I want to discover Him there. Not through faulty translations. I want to meet Him in the scriptures by reading them in the language that God first spoke to us in Hebrew. But Yosef, I'm begging you, teach me Hebrew. Please. The Mary Beggars is the entertainment division of relevant radio.
