Murphy's Gift

(In Development)

Sebastian Holmes is a good-natured graduate student in his mid-twenties who is on the brink of venturing off into the ‘real world’. For his practicum he is sent, unwillingly, to Youngstown Correctional Facility where he is to teach the inmates about the Apostle Paul. Nervous and unprepared he stands in front of men who have committed unspeakable acts; one of who, is Murphy. As the transformation from Saul to Paul takes place, so does Murphy’s transformation from sinner to servant of the Lord…

Cities are ravaged. Women and children are stabbed. Men are beheaded. The smell of charred bodies is in the air as flames spread from home to home. Saul’s laughter can be heard above the muffled screams as he rides off into the darkness cursing anyone who worships The Messiah. At daybreak, Saul travels on the Road to Damascus where he is suddenly knocked from his stallion and called upon by the Lord. As his eyes are blinded, his heart is opened and he becomes Paul, who to many is the founder of Christianity.

Paul’s journey from deceiver to deliverer is covered in innocent blood and murderous guilt. Paul makes it his mission to deliver those whom he had once oppressed. With the help of Barnabus and Luke, Paul makes his way to different cities to spread the word of the Lord. After an exorcism, Paul is arrested on false charges and is sent to Rome to testify to the court. Unbeknownst to Paul, Rome is in ruins as Nero has continued the Christian killing spree. As Nero stands atop of the Colosseum and watches a man and woman at the mercy of a ravenous lion, he is given the news that Paul is on his way. After deciding that he will try Paul for treason, he returns to his deadly form of entertainment and cheers as the prisoner’s helpless limbs are ripped to shreds.

Sitting in his jail cell and awaiting his execution, Paul is reunited with an old friend, Peter. Together they talk of the goodness of God and of the efforts that got them there. As Peter is nailed upside-down to a cross and a sword closes in on Paul’s head, it is certain that Paul changed many more lives for the better than he did for the worse.

Sebastian walks down a long corridor and is confronted by the warden with some troubling news. Murphy was killed witnessing to his fellow inmates. Sorrow fills Sebastian and as he stands by Murphy’s coffin; he cannot help but to be reminded of the gift that Murphy bestowed upon him. Much like Paul, Murphy was given salvation. In return, Murphy led Sebastian to his true calling in life and taught Sebastian more than any textbook ever could.