"THE SIGN OF THE CROSS Roman drama film from the days of the first persecutions of christians, ...after the well-known work by Wilson Barrett." "First part" "The tyrant Nero, emperor of Rome, the last of the Caesars" "Poppea, his wife" "Marcus Superbus, prefect of Rome" "I place Caesar's honour higher than your love." "Mercia, a youthful follower of christianity, is educated in the new faith by Favino." "Tigellinus, councillor of emperor Nero." "Marcus Superbus hail!" "The new sect of the christians ever grows." "They endanger the empire." "All followers of the new religion must be thrown into the jail under the arena." "This is my wish." "Caesar" ""Brother Favino, I am Stephanus and I bring a message from the apostle Paul of Tarsus."" ""This is the sign of the cross, by which the christians recognize each other."" ""Death to the christian!"" ""Clear the way!"" "Mercia makes a deep impression on Marcus Superbus." ""Come Marcus Superbus, what are you standing about?" "Be cheerful, and sacrifice to Bacchus with us!"" "Berenice, a rich patrician's daughter, is also in love with Marcus Superbus." ""Mercia and you Gideon, inform the members of our community that tonight, ...brother Stephanus will read to us the letter of the apostle Paul."" ""This girl belongs to the christians too!"" ""She is under my protection!"" ""See where that girl stays and try to capture the boy!"" ""Marcus Superbus, I've noticed that Tigellinus has sent out his spies." "That means that Mercia is in danger."" "END FIRST PART." "THE SIGN OF THE CROSS Second part." "End of the first part." "A short break in order to prepare the second part." ""This is Marcus Superbus, the prefect of Rome!"" ""They have captured little Gideon!"" ""I'll attempt to return the boy to your midst!"" ""Speak!" "Where is the place where the christians hold their meetings?"" ""Torture the boy, I'll force him to confession." "He must tell us where the christians meet."" "Finally the boy tortured for so long confesses." "The martyrs of the new faith, who were destined to cast a shadow on the glory of ancient Rome." ""Run!"" "The next morning." ""Berenice." "Marcus Superbus is in love with a christen girl;" "...by secretly urging with the Caesar for her arrest, you can perhaps win Superbus for you!"" ""Your place is not here, Tigellinus, you chose as task to hurt innocent boys, girls, and greybeards."" "Berenice announces to Marcus her love for him." ""I gave my heart to one who believe in the new teachings." "The belief of eternal love and salvation"" "Mercia requests to be locked up with her fellow believers." "End second part." "THE SIGN OF THE CROSS Third part." ""Search all Rome and bring the girl here!"" ""Mercia is nowhere to be found!"" ""Listen!" "That singing!" "That's her voice..." "Mercia's voice!"" "Jealousy has taken hold of Berenice and Poppea." "Both entreat Nero, to have Mercia thrown in prison as well." ""Tigellinus, I give the order to capture Mercia, ...she is to be locked up with the other christians under the arena." "Tomorrow there'll be a party in Rome."" "The party." ""Marcus Superbus, why do you not take part in the party, ...that our great Caesar has brought about in honour of the capture of the christians?"" "Marcus protects Mercia from the lechers." ""Desist from me!" "Marcus Superbus, and look up to the cross!"" "The power of the cross." ""He was born in Bethlehem's manger..."" ""..." "As a boy, He already taught the priests and scholars in the temple..."" ""..." "Dead men He awoke from their eternal sleep..."" ""..." "At the sacred supper..."" ""..." "And on the cross He died for us!"" "End third part." "THE SIGN OF THE CROSS Fourth part." ""In the name of Nero, the great Caesar, I take this girl prisoner!"" "Poppea, aided by Tigellinus, advise Caesar to have the christians thrown to the lions." ""Great Caesar!" "I've come to ask freedom for the young christian Mercia!"" ""No, no freedom for her." "Caesar has spoken!"" ""No Berenice, my heart belongs to she, for whom I begged for mercy."" "Berenice, she could not go on living without the possession of Marcus." "In the arena." ""I want to see Mercia in the arena too, Tigellinus!"" ""Marcus Superbus!" "Mercia must be thrown to the lions too."" ""Go forth and tell the Caesar that Marcus Superbus belongs to the christians too!"" ""Great Caesar!" "Marcus Superbus belongs to the christians too!"" ""To the lions with him!"" ""Today you will be in paradise with me."" ""Mercia, my bride!" "Marcus, my groom!"" "The only one left." "The little hid un- seen behind one of the columns when the wild beasts were let in the arena." "The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church." "END"