"SOLOMON"

                                                                FADE IN:

               INT. THRONE ROOM - DAY
                (FIRST WOMAN, SECOND WOMAN, SOLOMON, THIRD WOMAN, FOURTH
                WOMAN, FIFTH WOMAN, SIXTH WOMAN)

               KING SOLOMON SITS ON A THRONE, STROKING HIS THICK BEARD.  TWO
               WOMEN IN ROBES STRIDE IN, ARGUING QUIETLY OVER A BABY
               SWADDLED IN DARK CLOTH.

                                   FIRST WOMAN

                      Good king Solomon, hear my plea. 

                      Here, in my loving hands, my own baby. 

                      Borne by me and raised by me.  And

                      this woman tries to remove him from my

                      hands.

                                   SECOND WOMAN

                      No, good, wise king Solomon.  She lies

                      like a woven rug.  This baby is mine. 

                      I gave birth to it.  This woman steals

                      my own child from me!

                                   FIRST WOMAN

                      No, the baby's mine!

                                   SECOND WOMAN

                      No, the baby's mine!

                                   FIRST WOMAN

                      Mine! -- mine! -- mine!

                                   SECOND WOMAN

                      Mine! -- mine! -- mine!

               A TUGGING AND "MINE" SCREAMING MATCH ENSUES OVER THE BABY. 
               SOLOMON SUDDENLY RAISES A HAND.

                                   SOLOMON

                      SILENCE!!!

               THE WOMEN FREEZE.  SOLOMON PULLS A SWORD FROM BEHIND HIS
               THRONE AND RAISES IT ABOVE HIS HEAD.

                                   SOLOMON (CONT'D)

                      King Solomon The Wise has decided. 

                      The baby shall be cut into two equal

                      pieces.  Each of you shall receive one

                      half of this baby.

               A THIRD WOMAN RUNS IN.

                                   THIRD WOMAN

                      No, wait, good, wise King Solomon! 

                      These women lie!  For this baby you

                      see before you, in truth, it is my own

                      child, borne by me!

               SOLOMON STROKES HIS BEARD AND RAISES THE SWORD AGAIN.

                                   SOLOMON

                      King Solomon The Wise has decided. 

                      The baby shall be cut into three equal

                      pieces.  Each of you shall receive one

                      third of this baby.

               A FOURTH WOMAN RUNS IN.

                                   FOURTH WOMAN

                      Good King Solomon!  Those women have

                      taken my baby!

               SOLOMON LOOKS A LITTLE PERTURBED BUT RAISES HIS SWORD AGAIN.

                                   SOLOMON

                      King Solomon the Wise--

               A FIFTH AND A SIXTH WOMAN RUN IN.

                                   FIFTH WOMAN

                      Good King Solomon!  That is my baby!

                                   SIXTH WOMAN

                      King Solomon, my baby!

               A HUGE SCREAMING AND A "MINE" TUSSLING MATCH ENSUES.

                                   SOLOMON

                      SILENCE!!!

               COMPLETE SILENCE.  SOLOMON TAKES A CUISINART FROM BEHIND HIS
               THRONE.

                                   SOLOMON (CONT'D)

                      This baby shall be pureed on high for

                      three minutes.  Then, each of you

                      shall receive one-quarter cup of baby.

               THE SECOND WOMAN BOLTS FORWARD.

                                   SECOND WOMAN

                      No, good, wise King Solomon!  Please,

                      please do not kill my baby!  Give it

                      to them!  Give them my baby, but do

                      not kill it!

                                   SOLOMON

                      WAIT!!  That woman is the true mother

                      of this child!

               THEY HAND OVER THE BABY TO THE SECOND WOMAN.

                                   SOLOMON (CONT'D)

                      Give her an extra portion!

               A RUGBY SCRUM OCCURS OVER THE BABY.  GENERAL DISORDER.

                                                          FADE TO BLACK.