" Come on!" " Hey!" "Hey!" "Hey!" " Yah!" " Yah!" "Yah!" "Yah!" "(neighing)" " Yah!" "Yah!" " Yah!" " Yah!" " Hey!" "Hey!" "Yah!" " Yah!" "Yah!" "Yah!" "Yah!" "Hey!" "Hey!" " Messala!" " Whoa!" "Whoa!" " Messala!" "Messala!" "(snorting)" "Messala!" "(panting)" " Did I win?" " No, but you nearly killed yourself trying to." "Come on." " Is there any other way to race?" " Tell that to my mother." "(scoffs)" "One, two, three." "(panting)" " I should have a line of slaves behind me." " And one beside you whispering in your ear" "That you're a man, not a god." "Is that not the roman way, octavius messala?" "Whoa!" "Whoa!" " What happened to the other cart?" " We went over some rough ground" " They're not racing chariots, you know." " I told him that." " We'll repair it, mother." "I promise." " Where have you two been all day?" "Why didn't you take me with you?" " Because you are a child" "And not proper company for young men." "Tickle her severely, messala." "A messenger from the garrison delivered this." "It's for messala." "We always knew this would come." " But it's been 5 years, more, since his mother died." " Would you prefer his father had sent for him immediately?" " Tirzah will be most unhappy." " None of us will be happy, judah." "And simonides has arrived." "You must change your clothes before you greet him." " Yes, I forgot he was coming." "I'm sorry." "I should've been here to meet him." " Yes." "It's time for you to take up your responsibilities" "And for messala to face his." "Childhood only lasts so long." " So our childhoods end on the same day, his and mine," "And our lives go in different directions." " Different directions," "But the same journey..." "To manhood." " Wanna play stick game?" " Ok." " Go now, judah, and tell your friend playtime's over." " So it would seem." "(tirzah giggling)" "(messala talking, indistinct)" "(woman shouting in foreign language)" " What's the secret?" " You just have to be ready." "(sighing)" "(camel grunting)" " Who is it from?" " From my illustrious father, senator marcellus agrippa." "You read it." " It's a private letter, messala." " I don't think you'll be embarrassed" "By too many intimacies." "(sighing)" "Remember, the secret is to expect it" "For every single moment." " "to octavius messala." ""you will leave jerusalem" ""with the next military convoy to caesarea," ""where transportation has been arranged" ""for your journey to rome."" " Is that all?" " He's a man of few words, marcellus agrippa." "I sometimes envy you," "Having a dead father." "(camel grunting)" "(bell ringing)" " Judah!" "How good to see you." " Forgive me for not being here to meet you, sir." " It is of no matter." "You are well?" " Yes." "Yes, thank you." "And you?" "Your journey was not too tiring?" " The distance from antioch does not grow shorter," "And I do not grow younger." "(chuckles)" " Judah, I think you know that your father, of blessed memory," "Hoped that one day we would unite our families" "In more than mercantile matters." "The painter does my daughter no justice." "Esther is not simply a face," "But a mind and a spirit of rare quality." "I hope your father's and my aspirations will be fulfilled." " Yes, yes." " It has to be your wish, also." " And esther's." " Of course." "Of course." " Thank you." " No, no, it's for you," "Until you meet in person." "(horse neighing)" " Come with me." " Would that I could." "Where you're going is the centre of the world." "Things that would never be possible here" "Will come your way." " Will you write to us?" " I doubt it." "I'm no hand with a pen, but--but I'll think of you." "All of you." "And I'll miss you." "And I will come back." "(sniffling)" " Promise?" " You be safe, octavius messala." "(horse whinnying)" " We will race again." " God willing." " (soldier):" "Forward, March!" "Left, right." "This came for you." " Messala is here!" " Open it." " What does it say?" " "judah ben hur is ordered" ""to present himself to the garrison commander" ""upon receipt of this notice."" "Well, it's to the point." " Hmm!" " Probably written by a scribe." " It certainly wasn't written by a friend." "Well, you better not keep the garrison commander waiting." "(many men shouting)" " Halt." " I see you forgot nothing I taught you." "(sighing)" "You know what the emperor octavius said of rome?" "He said: "I found this city built of bricks" ""and I left it made of marble."" "That's what I intend to say of jerusalem." " Well, that is a remarkable aspiration" "For a garrison commander." " I won't always be a garrison commander," "Any more than pontius pilate will always be" "The governor of judea." "We could do great things here together, you and I." "Marcellus agrippa's got plans for me." "He spent a great deal of money and influence" "Advancing my career." " This shows his regard for you as his son." "He still hasn't given me his name." "I'm still his unacknowledged bastard." "No, my father the senator is a cruel, cunning, capricious man," "And those are some of his better qualities, but..." "He's given me this chance," "Which I'm determined to take." " (woman):" "The master likes..." " Trouble is, it's only the enmity of pontius pilate." "So I must tread carefully." "You could be of help to me, judah." " Of course." "In whatever way I can." " This festival of the passover," "Should you know of any elements that plan" "To disrupt pilate's arrival," "I'd want to know of them." "It would reflect badly on me." "You understand?" " Are you asking me to become an informer, messala?" " I'm asking you to help preserve" "The order of a roman province." "This is my career, judah!" "I can't afford mistakes." "Not now." "Not at the start." "Pilate, he-- he'd have me removed" "Or demoted, given a chance." "All I'm asking, between friends," "Is if you know or hear or suspect anything," "Just let me know." "Believe me it saves much worse" "If these things can be nipped in the bud." "Speaking of nipping in the bud," "Which of these do you prefer?" "I'll give you first choice." " If you'll excuse me." " Shouldn't have thought you'd suffer" "From the greek affliction." "Judah, may I pay my respects to your mother?" "She's well, I hope?" " She is." "She's looking forward to seeing you." " And tirzah?" "She must be married at her ripe age." " No." "Tirzah has set her standards so high," "None of her suitors can meet them." " So there's hope for me yet." " Come and eat with us." "(sighing)" " It's good to see you, judah." "We'll do great things here, you and I." " A great thing has already come to pass." "You are here with us again." " There'll be soldiers everywhere." "You start something, and there'll be a massacre." " We must be prepared to take advantage of any situation." "All of us should be armed so we must strike a blow." "(knocking)" "Leave us." "So, you came." " To warn you." " Judah, we're already warned." "Every day we see our enemy." "We know who they are." " The new garrison commander is determined" "That nothing interfere with the arrival of pontius pilate." "He will be on the alert and he will take action," "Drastic action in the event of any disturbance." " You think this is news to us?" " I know this garrison commander," "And he will not risk his reputation on such an occasion." " You know him." " Octavius messala is my friend." " That friend," "You don't want anything to spoil his big day." " I don't want to see any more men crucified" "Or sent to the galleys." " Very well." "You've done your part." "You've warned us." "Now can I have your word you will not betray us?" " Were that in my mind," "It would have been a roman who knocked at your door." " He must've changed to speak in such a way" "To you, his best friend." " Of course he has changed, tirzah." "He is a man, a soldier." "He's been to war." "(sighing)" "But he never forgot us." "That much I know." "And he is glad to be back." " What of his father?" "Did he speak of him?" " Not with any great affection, I'm afraid." "He referred to him always as marcellus agrippa" "Or the senator." " Poor boy." " And when can we expect the audience with the poor boy?" " He will dine with us in a few days." "And I hope you will manage a more welcoming manner, sister." "I've not invited him under our roof to have him mocked." "(sighing)" "Then you will see for yourself how much he's changed" "And how much he is still the same messala we knew and loved." "For we did love him, did we not?" " Yes." "Yes, we did." " Yes." "And we shall again." " Judah!" "(horse neighing)" "Here they are at last." "(goat bleating)" "(â?" "ª woman singing in foreign language â?" "ª)" "(camel grunting)" "Greetings." "Welcome." " Let me present my daughter." "Esther." " Welcome, esther," "Daughter of simonides." " It is my honour," "And my family's." "(goat bleating)" " Welcome." "(chuckling)" "Come." " I saw her face, judah." " So what?" " That she was not disappointed." " I do not like to see birds kept captive." "But my father says they are never free" "Of the chains of the sky." " Indeed." " You need not approve of my father's nonsense, judah." "Do you really think these creatures would not wish" "To fly away at this moment if I opened their cage?" " Perhaps." "Although they might not survive for long." " If I were they, I should wish to have the choice." "(sighing)" "How happy I am to see jerusalem at last." "To you it is a familiar sight, I know." " But I, too, often stand here and admire this view." "It is the city of our faith." "And while we have it, we have our centre..." "Our heart." "Forgive me." "I have a tendency to pontificate." "I do not mean to." " No, no." "Go--go on." "Please, continue." "(sighing)" " Esther," "I realize your father has certain expectations," "As did my father." "And you should know that I am not opposed to their wishes." " But you think we should make our own choice" "In a matter so important." " As you say." " Be you betrothed to me with this, my wealth?" " After the first few years I was in rome," "I didn't even see marcellus agrippa." "It was all military training." " (tirzah):" "Poor messala, learning to be a soldier." " It has its compensations." "The ladies of rome are very patriotic." " Did you teach them to catch the stick?" " Your father must be so proud of you." " No, I wouldn't go so far as to say that." "He's expectant, maybe, but..." "I'm not ungrateful." "He's given me so much." "Advice, advice which has stood the test of reality." ""he over whom you have no power" ""has power over you."" "That's his motto." " But there are powers" "Other than those marcellus agrippa speaks of," "Of faith, of family, of friends," "Of fair dealing." " In rome, no such powers prevail." "Even tiberius, our emperor, gave up his beloved wife" "And his 3 children" "To make a dynastic marriage with his brother's widow." "Everyone applauded his wisdom." " I think that not wisdom but an affront against god." " Whose god?" "Yours?" "Rome and its values are not for you, esther," "Nor my friend, your husband to be." "But they're for those" "Whose ambitions remain unchecked by conscience," "Whose loyalty can be purchased by advancement and coin." " And have you become such a one, messala?" " I have." "I--I think I have." "But such is my fate." "We're all in the hands of the gods, are we not?" " Such is our belief." " So, have you given it any thought to what I said earlier?" "Regarding provocations, disturbances and so forth?" " It is as I have told you." "I will have no hand in any demonstration against rome." " I know." "I talk of hearsay, rumour." "(scoffs)" "Nothing?" " Why do you question his word?" " He hasn't given me his word." "Have you?" "Is it so much to ask assurance of a friend?" " Come, you need only ask gaius antonius to know" "That the hur family have always cooperated with rome." " I'm asking judah." " Does one no credit to impugn a friend" "Under his own roof" "While in receipt of hospitality." " I impugn no one!" "I do as my duty requires." "Is it so much to ask for judah's word?" " I give you my word." " Thank you." " Shame on you, octavius messala," "To speak so to those who love you." " Daughter, messala is a guest" "And our friend." "Apologize to him." " No." "I should apologize." "I spoke out of turn." "Thank you, judah." "It's a great comfort to me." "To all our futures." "May they be happy and prosperous," "However brief." "She's got a mind of her own, esther." "You should have a care, judah." "When she takes the reins, she'll ride you hard." "And your sister." "(horse snorting)" "Oh, you should know," "I've contrived to have pilate's procession pass here" "In front of the house" "So you'll have a chance to see me in all my pomp." "I'll be the handsome one on the white horse." "Forgive me." "You know, half my performance is to convince myself." "(horse neighing in distance)" " Messala." "No need of forgiveness." "Go with god and be yourself tomorrow." "All will be well." " (soldier):" "Forward!" "March!" "Left, right." "Left, right." " Have a care, judah." "He could be a dangerous enemy." " And a more dangerous friend." " (soldier):" "Left, left." "Left, right, left." "Left, left." "Left, right, left..." " At the first sign of any trouble," "Any demonstration from the crowd, quell it." "Use the butt end to begin with." "But if that proves unavailing," "Give them the blade." "Is that understood?" " (all):" "Hey!" "(horse whinnying)" " We should be bringing pilate to the garrison direct." "Keep him on the main streets." "We'll have clear space on either side." "The lower city's too narrow." " You make it seem as if I was sneaking pilate" "Through the back door." "I don't think he'd appreciate the caution, gaius." "I think he might find it an affront to his vanity." " Your job is to protect, not to flatter." " There speaks a voice with no concern for politics." " And who thanks the gods for it." " (soldier):" "Make way!" " (man 1):" "Go home, romans!" " (man 2):" "Go back to where you came from!" "(woman shouting, indistinct)" " (woman):" "You have no respect!" "(man shouting, indistinct)" "(people shouting, indistinct)" " Sullen lot, these jews." " Better to be obeyed than beloved, excellency." " Drop back a length." " (woman):" "Pig roman!" "(horse snorting)" " Move!" " There's pilate at the front," "Messala does look splendid, I must say." "(all shouting)" "(shouting and whistling)" " Look out!" " Aaah!" " (gaius):" "Somebody help!" "(neighing)" " Do something!" " Cease them!" "Cease them!" " That's judah!" " (man):" "Come on and help!" " Move!" " Hah!" " It was an accident." "A tile fell from" "(groaning)" " It was an accident!" "Please!" "It was an accident!" "Judah!" "Please!" "It was an accident!" "Judah!" " In broad daylight, an attack on rome's emissary." "Tiberius will hear of this," "And of your incompetence, you replaceable fool." "I'll have you removed, do you hear?" "Sent to the furthest reaches of the empire." "(inhales sharply)" "Am I not injured enough?" "(panting)" " I could've been killed." " Those responsible are under arrest, excellency." " Crucify them." "The weapon could have pierced my skull." "Well, what are you waiting for?" "I said crucify them." " Excellency, it is the feast of the passover." " I know that!" "That's why I'm here." "To make rome's presence felt." "(scoffing)" "Who are these rebels?" " One of the foremost of the jewish families in jerusalem," "Judah ben hur and his mother and sister." " Well, make an example of them." "Crucify the man and garrotte the women." "Do you hear me?" " Oh, thank god!" "Are my mother and tirzah safe?" " You have more to concern you than their welfare." "You attempted to kill his excellency pontius pilate." " Messala, it was an accident." "A tile fell from the roof!" " When the governor of a roman province" "Is attacked in the street," "It's not an accident." "It's a rebellion against rome." " Have you gone mad?" " You gave a signal" "For the riot to begin." " You cannot believe that." "(sighing)" "My family and I are your friends!" " You and your family have destroyed me." "Do you understand that?" " Messala..." "I knew nothing." " Liar!" "You lied last night." "I saw it in your eyes." "Admit it." "(screaming in distance)" "Give me the names of the other plotters," "The ones you signalled, you and your family." " Don't threaten my family." "They are even more blameless than I." "Have me go before pilate and explain." " He wants you crucified" "And your mother and your sister" "To be executed by strangulation." " No!" "No!" " Hear me, judah!" "You've destroyed the house of hur" "And me with it." " Messala, listen to me!" " No!" "You listen to me!" "Where there's a war, someone must go to it," "And it will not be me." " Messala!" "Messala!" "Messala!" " Be assured my report will make clear that your incompetence" "Led to this insult to the emperor." " Excellency-- - silence!" "I'm dismissing you as garrison commander" "And reinstating gaius antonius." "And trust me," "Your patron, senator agrippa, will not intervene this time" "To keep you in a post" "For which you are manifestly unfit." "(sighing)" " (soldier 1):" "Whoa!" " (soldier 1):" "Keep it going!" "(groans)" " (soldier 1):" "Whoa!" " Get up!" "Up!" "Come on!" "I said get up!" "Hey!" "Get out of here, you!" " Forgive them," "For they know not what they do." " Go on!" "Bugger off." " (soldier):" "Forward!" "(screaming)" " There you go." "(screaming)" "(sobbing)" "(groaning)" " No." "No!" " Simonides!" "Simonides!" "Simonides!" "Am I not to be crucified?" " No such luck." "Your sentence has been changed." "You're for the galleys." "A year from now," "You'll be wishing they put you up on a stick." " You are now under the command of quintus arrius," "Commander of the southern fleet," "And victor of the battle of the corinth straits." "You have been chosen" "To carry his excellency" "To receive reward for his service" "From the hand of the emperor tiberius himself." "You may consider yourself honoured" "And will acquit your duty accordingly" "Or, by the gods, you will answer to me." " Honoured." "You hear?" "Aaah!" " Silence!" "Silence at the oars!" "Let every man know that any infraction" "Will be severely dealt with." " Severely dealt with, just for a change." " Prepare to increase!" "And stroke!" "And stroke!" "And stroke!" " Quintus arrius." "(chuckling)" "He is the one who cleaned out the pirates." "And honoured we are to be rowing him to rome." "You feeling honoured, number 40?" "They killed my wife..." "And my daughter..." "And my son." "They create a wilderness and call it peace." "Every night, I dream, my friend." "Then I wake up and I'm still number 41." " Go to sleep, antigua." " Dream of killing romans" "And kill one for me, number 40." "(chuckling)" "(grunting)" " They have two anklets." "Is one not enough?" " I switch the rowers from port to starboard" "On a regular basis, excellency." "Keeps them better balanced." "And it requires being able to" "Chain them at battle stations, whichever side they're rowing." " And does the result outweigh the cost for the extra anklets?" " Oh yes, sir." "They're better oarsmen for it." " Well, commendations, hortator." " Thank you, excellency." " He did not tell you it was number 40's idea." " Silence at the oars!" " And whose idea was it, number 41?" " Number 40's." " Is this true, number 40." " Would number 41 lie to quintus arrius?" " He mentioned it to me, excellency." " And you took the advice of a galley slave." "Congratulations on having an open mind." "The thing of it is," "I'm not afraid of death." "Either it will be better than this" "Or it will be nothing," "Which would be better than this." "What are you afraid of?" " Nothing." " I'm afraid of going down in the chains." "(whip cracks)" " On your feet." " We're only just off the oars." " You're wanted up top." "You're going to see his excellency." "You mind your mouth in there." "I don't want any of your smart opinions" "About how to run a galley." "Is that clear?" " Go on." " (man 1):" "Coming up!" " (man 2):" "Pull out in line." " (man 1):" "Portside." " (man 3):" "Right turn!" " (man 4):" "Go in full." " Come." " Number 40, excellency." " Mm-hmm." " Go." " I don't suppose you know much about naval strategy," "Do you, number 40?" " Mine is not the best place to learn." " Then why would you suggest the hortator" "Switch the rowers from side to side." " I believe he explained the reason." " The rowers will be better balanced." "Yes, he did." "But why would you care?" " Efficiency is better than its opposite," "Even for a galley slave." " Hmm... (grunts)" "How long have you been at the oars?" " Almost 3 years." " Hmm." "Well, you're certainly thriving on it." "(boat creaking)" "How long did you get?" " There was no limit put on my sentence." " And what did you do to deserve it?" " I was betrayed by a friend." " Ah, well, I do think here is the maximum penalty." " Are you gonna tell me now that you're entirely innocent?" " Hmm." " Well, if we lived in rome, it wouldn't be worth comment," "So commonplace it would be." " Well, that is little consolation," "When you've been wrongfully accused and convicted" "Without a hearing," "Your family destroyed," "And all on the word of one who was your friend." " Hmm..." "Ah, well, I'm surprised" "That a man with your education and intelligence" "Has lasted so long." "This work is for unthinking brutes." " I've had encouragement in that direction." " Come." "Come!" " Sir, 3 ships are sighted," "Just put off from the headwind." "They're pirates for sure." "They have the land breeze," "But they're no match for our rowers." "We can outrun them." " Outrun?" "No, no, no, no." "Outmanoeuvre," "Out-think, outfight, but not outrun," "In case news gets back to rome" "When it's converted into "running away"." "Quintus arrias does not run away." "Off you go, number 40, and, uh, take the grapes." "It'll sweeten your stroke." " (man 1):" "Hoist your weapon." " Secure, boss." " (man 2):" "We're going!" " (man 3):" "Do you want them out?" " (man 4):" "Fill it up with water." " What is that?" " A trumpet calling us to battle stations." " I was dreaming I was in a garden," "Drinking sherbet." "I can taste it." "Battle stations." " Three pirates came out to greet us." " May they capture us and kill all the romans." " May we kill those they leave behind." " (man):" "Join the call." " (guard):" "It's your lucky day, isn't it, number 40?" " Battle stations!" " Battle stations!" " (all):" "Aye!" " Oars out!" "And..." "Stroke." "And stroke." "And stroke." " Port!" "Hold!" " (hortator):" "Port oars in!" "Hold!" " (soldier 1):" "They're coming around!" " (soldier 2):" "Secure port." "(man shouting, indistinct)" " Port withdraw!" "(prisoners grunting)" "And stroke!" "And stroke!" "And stroke!" " Give me speed!" " (hortator):" "Stroke!" "And stroke!" " (soldier 1):" "Archers at the ready!" " (soldier 2):" "Ready arrows." " (soldier 1):" "Hold your position." " Starboard in!" "Release!" " (hortator):" "Oars out!" "And stroke!" "And stroke!" "And stroke!" "(screaming)" "Port in!" "Hold!" " How many?" " Two more." " Port, withdraw!" "And stroke!" "And stroke!" "And stroke!" "And..." " Ramming speed!" " Ramming speed!" "And stroke!" "And stroke!" "And stroke!" "And stroke!" "And stroke!" "And stroke!" "And stroke!" "And stroke!" "(screaming)" " (man 1):" "Oh, my back!" "(grunting)" " Back oars." "Back oars!" "Back oars!" " (man 2):" "Get it off me!" "Get off!" " (man 3):" "Help!" "(screaming)" " (number 41):" "Judah, the chains!" "(screaming)" "The chains!" "Judah!" "The chains!" "Quickly, judah." "(grunting loudly)" "(grunting)" "Judah!" "(grunting)" "(grunting loudly)" "(many men shouting)" "It's no use." "Go, number 40..." "And kill a roman for me." "Don't let me drown in these chains." " You?" "Number... 40." " Who else." " Oh!" "Are there other survivors?" " There's been no sign." "(groaning)" " This needs to come out." " Not if it's barbed." " Well, try." "One good pull." "That's an order!" "Now pull it!" " Ha, that's very clever." "Detach blade so that it stays in the body." "(chuckling)" "The great quintus arrius adrift with a slave" "In his hour of triumph." " But you're still alive." " You mean I'm not dead." "There's a difference." " I know the difference." " Well, the gods have their own sense of humour." "I trust you still believe in your god." " How can I say other when I am delivered from my chains?" " Not by a god." "Before each battle, I, um..." "Unchain one rower." " Why?" " Call it a reminder of humility," "An antidote to hubris" "Or..." "Simply habit." " Why me?" " Maybe I like the way you eat grapes." " What?" "What is it?" " A sail." " I will not be taken by pirates." "If this is a pirate's ship, you must not let them take me." " So, having saved our life, I should take it," "To save you from the oars." " If this is a roman ship," "I will not let them take you back." "You will come to rome as my slave." "This is a better form of servitude." "You have my word on it, number 40." " My name is judah ben hur." " You have my word judah ben hur." "(panting)" "(grunting)" " Hey!" "Hey!" "Hey!" "Hey!" " Their chieftain is here as you ordered." " His family?" " The women killed themselves." "He was only taken alive with great difficulty." "Cost us 3 men." "(roaring)" "Will we crucify him, sir?" " No, keep him alive." "I have a better idea." "(growling)" " My son will receive his reward at the hands of tiberius himself" "When he returns to rome." "Such are his triumphs against the thracians." "(grunts)" " Well, I'm glad that your son has finally made you proud." "You've waited a long time for a return on your investment." " Bastards got on mistresses need time to prove themselves." " At least I will have a son to carry on my name." " So, marcellus, you've seen fit to bestow it on him." " I need tiberius' approval." "Well, you know how he likes a man to die without heirs," "So that all his estates are subject to his decree." " Well, let's pray he survives you..." "To carry on your illustrious name." " Quite so." "I hope to prevail on tiberius" "To grant octavius messala the governorship of judea," "And replace that wretch who did so much" "To obstruct his advancement." " And tiberius will grant this favour?" " There are ways to influence an emperor." "My thracian will take his fancy," "And of course, athene can be most persuasive." "(burping)" "Oh gods!" "I feel the need of a little intestinal relief." "Excuse me." "(groaning)" "Ah." "(grunts)" " I can give you something to dull the pain." " And how do you feel about being on loan to our emperor?" " I am a whore." "How should I feel?" " So, which is your galley-slave-turned-gladiator?" " The blond one." "But he's no gladiator." "He's my body servant." " Skilled in arms." "What, does the victor of the corinth straits" "Fear assassination," "Where you must go guarded in the streets?" "(chuckles)" " He's beautiful, your body servant." " Indeed." "You pick well, quintus." " We chose each other." " Chose each other, did we?" "(both grunting)" " Enough, enough." "You improve day by day." "(grunts)" " A fine-looking specimen." "What say you match him against my thracian" "Before the emperor?" " There is no likelihood of that." "I value him too much to see him butchered for your amusement." " I'll give you odds." " Hmm?" " He's learning well." "And he's learning fast." "(grunts)" " Could you have killed him?" " Today?" "Only about a half-dozen times." "(chuckling)" " Hmm..." "(sighing)" " I am athene." " Judah." " So you are a jew and I'm a greek." "Both of us conquered peoples," "Subject to the will of rome" "And romans." "We should make common cause" "While we have the chance." "(sighing)" " If you'll excuse me." " Did you, um..." "The greek, did she take you to her bed?" " She's not to my taste." " Judah... (chuckling)" "No, don't make me laugh." "It hurts too much." "(coughing)" "Go to her." "(scoffs)" " You're asking me to sleep with this woman?" " No." "I'm ordering you to." "It will not be such a hardship." "(both chuckling)" " Why would you wish it?" " Because marcellus agrippa wants it." " Marcellus agrippa." " Yeah." "He uses her for his ends," "Few of which are carnal." "She will inquire of things he wants to know," "Such as what you are to me, how long I will last," "And who are my heirs." " Why does he want to know these things?" " Because in rome, knowledge is power." " And he over whom you do not have power, has power over you." " I see you've learned the ways of the imperium." " I had a good teacher." "(grunts)" "(groans, coughs)" " Your physicians have no remedy for your pain?" " No, I have had my fill with them." "When my time comes, I will take the pink bath." " The roman way." " Yeah." " Ok." "Rest now." "(grunting)" "All will be well." "(coughing)" "(sighing)" " Judah, I would have you as my heir," "To have at your disposal my estates and my name." "And to go with them, roman citizenship," "And a full pardon for all charges held against you." " What of your kin?" " I have none, saving you now..." "Sextus arrius." "Sextus was my son." "He died many years ago in a plague with his mother." " You do me honour to give me his name." " Then all I ask is you do not disgrace it." " No more than I would my own father's." " Then we are both well-placed, my son." "Come." "(grunts)" " You know I cannot rest until I have had my revenge" "Upon he who killed my mother and sister." " Octavius messala." "That pontius pilate is inept, incompetent and corrupt," "And that judea, were it administered properly," "Would contribute 5 times the sum" "You presently receive from its taxes." "Octavius messala would assure these revenues." "Indeed, I will guarantee them in advance." "Such is my confidence in his abilities." "(sighing)" " I was never handsome." "My mother said I was her least favourite child." "(sighing)" "Do me justice, but no favours." "Do you understand?" "Tell me, marcellus," "Is this not the same octavius messala who, not 4 years ago," "Was sent abroad in disgrace by pontius pilate" "For conspicuous neglect of his duties?" " Uh, a contrivance against him" "So that pilate could reinstall his own favourite." "Messala knows these jews." "He's lived amongst them." "He speaks their language, knows their customs." "He has assured" " I will consider it." " I could ask no more." " What's this I hear about some gladiator you own?" " Ah." "Yes." "My thracian." "Sent to me by messala." "Already he has 3 kills to his credit." " I should like to see him in action." " By your decree, emperor." "Um, but I-I-I'm having difficulty" "In finding him opponents." "Or perhaps I should say "victims"." "I challenged quintus arrius" "To put his young prodigy up against him," "But he prizes him too much." "I think perhaps there's more to that matter than meets the eye." " There usually is." "Well, we must find some way of having your prodigy" "Entertain us at my next gathering." " At the emperor's command..." "It shall be done." " I didnt expected virginity along with virility." "But I am honoured to receive it." "You must allow me the privilege of advancing your education." " And why would you do that?" " I might teach you to pleasure me" "As well as yourself." "And some day you might have a wife" "Who would appreciate such skills." " And it would give you time to find out" "Whatever marcellus agrippa bid you learn." " You may tell me what you please or not." "Or did not quintus arrius bid you do the same?" "(scoffs)" "We will not quarrel over this." " Marcellus agrippa..." "He has a son." " Octavius messala." "Do you know him?" "A great hero by all accounts." "No doubt I will have the chance to judge for myself." "(sighing)" "I see I have your attention again." "Mmm!" "This time, keep in mind that this is not a sprint." "(moaning)" "I would exchange it all" "To be once more on the battlefield." "Did you not find it so, quintus arrius," "That war is so much simpler than life?" " One cannot make war forever." "There comes a time when you have to put the sword down," "Especially when you can't hold it." "(coughing)" " My dear quintus, you look worse than I do." "(grunts)" "Shall I send for my physician?" "He has not killed me yet." " No, uh, I have made my own arrangements" "But I thank the emperor." "(grunts)" " Then what can I do?" " For me, nothing." "But I would have your approval of my intention" "To leave all I possess, including my name," "To someone of whom I have become fond," "To whom, indeed, I owe my life," "Or what is left of it." " This is your galley slave." "The one who marcellus speaks as your catamite." "He is my companion, nothing more." " Oh, my dear quintus, you are at liberty" "To bequeath your name and its fame and all you possess" "To whom you choose." "Your service to rome and its laws grant you that." " But in rome, the supreme law is yours." " So..." "How is it a galley slave saves the life of an admiral?" " By the will of the gods." "(laughing)" " Indeed." "We do amuse ourselves in the most peculiar fashion sometimes." "Very well," "If that is what you wish." "Then I must meet this fortunate young fellow." "Bring him to my next masque." " Well, I'm in your debt." " I may require you to acknowledge that" "Before you slip anchor." " I wouldn't delay your request long." "I wouldn't want to disappoint my emperor." "(coughing)" "May I?" " You may." "(coughing)" " Emperor." "(clears throat)" "Emperor." "I have the honour of presenting to you" "My son, sextus arrius." " Well, let me have a look at the paragon." "Take off your mask, sextus." "I hear you are no mean man at arms." " I am but an apprentice at the trade, emperor." " Well," "I hope to have some evidence of your prowess." "I woulhave your new-found heir" "Display his skills for us, quintus arrius." " In what manner?" " Well, by combat." " I hadn't thought that such a display would be necessary." " Did I not say that you were in my debt" "And did you not tell me" "That I must make haste to have it repaid?" " I am the emperor's to command." "(people murmuring)" " What of the thracian of yours?" " At the emperor's pleasure." " Emperor, this was not my understanding." " There is no understanding" "But mine, quintus arrius." "Replace your mask." " Sword against spear." "Best of all of ares." "Is it to your satisfaction?" " If they know how to use them." " Oh, I can assure you, my thracian does." " And what about your sextus?" "(grunts)" "(crowd exclaims)" "(thracian roars)" "(grunting)" "(both grunting)" "(screaming)" " Emperor, I beg you." "(women screaming)" " Kill him!" "(grunts)" " Just kill him!" "(grunting)" " Emperor!" "It seems you were right." "The gods amuse themselves in a peculiar way." " Your god, he sets his hand" "Against those who slaughter, does he not?" "Yeah." "It's hard to tell with gods," "Whether they care about our ways" "Or whether indeed they are anything but our fancies," "Written large." "(sighing)" "Do not grieve unduly." "I've had about as much life as one can live." "You have a long way to go, my son." "(sighing)" "Do not spend it all in vengeance." "Do not sour it with hatred." "Oh." "Oh." "(sighing)" "Oh." "Maybe there are no gods." "Maybe one lives on in others." "So when you eat a grape, you think of me." "(gasping)" "(crying)" "(woman crying)" "(bird chirping)" " Your grief does you credit." " Who would not grieve such a man as quintus arrius?" " There are many dry eyes, I assure you." " Oh yes." "(sniffling)" "Well... (sighing)" "Marcellus has other concerns, does he not?" "Has he managed to placate the emperor?" " We are doing our best." "He's persistent, my master." "We are headed to jerusalem to meet his son at the games." "He means to have him installed there as his new governor." " My condolences on your loss." "But you will soon feel better, sextus arrius," "Now that you have your late father's estates." "Perhaps we will meet again in more cheerful circumstances." " At your son's investiture in jerusalem?" " What would take you to that godforsaken place?" " Jerusalem is not forsaken by god, senator." " Oh, you're a jew." "Well, certainly if you come" "For the chariot race," "You will meet octavius messala." " I will live in hope." " I will miss you, judah." "(sighing)" " Farewell, quintus arrius." "I promise you..." "I will not disgrace the name you gave me." "But I will have my revenge..." "No matter the cost."