Adventure Story Page #7

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I know that all of you do.

Now that Darius is dead

and Bessus is captured

and we're all of us rich,

why can't we go home?

That's what your all asking

-when I'm not there.

-Sir...

And don't trouble to deny it, Ptolemy.

My ways of finding these things out,

I need to have.

Now, gentlemen,

I take it you've received your orders

for our march into Samarkand.

By the first days of spring,

you must be ready to cross

the mountains into India.

India? So the rumours are true.

Yes, Ptolemy, the rumours are true.

And what comments have you to make?

None, sir, none at all.

Except that I'm informed,

the Indians are rather

-numerous.

-So were the Persians.

India! Ye Gods!

Now we'll never get home.

I thought as much.

I don't know what my poor wife's

going to say.

In Samarkand, I shall have

my plan of campaign ready.

We can discuss it then.

Now, gentlemen, is there anything else?

Yes, sir.

I've had a report this morning

from Bactria. Serious, I'm afraid.

Our garrison at Herat

has been wiped out by rebels,

led by a powerful Bactrian chieftain.

-Not Oxyartes?

-Yes.

Why, the old rat!

And I negotiated terms with him!

Ptolemy, organise a punitive expedition.

In view of the march into India,

Herat must be made safe.

Yes, sir!

Is there no way of pacifying

this devil's country?

Did you not take hostages from this man?

Yes, sir, I took his daughter.

Throw him her head then as a present.

Where is she? In the camp?

Uh, yes, sir,

as a matter of fact she's...

Roxana!

I, uh, imagine, sir,

you'll be rejecting that order

you made just now.

Why should you imagine that?

Well, sir, in the circumstances...

Her father is a traitor,

her life is forfeit,

no circumstance can alter that.

You heard that, my girl?

I'm sorry,

but your father's been a wicked man.

(GIGGLING)

I doubt if she understands

Greek or Persian.

Probably only speaks

some weird mountain dialect.

It's a pretty enough face, I will say.

Well, well, this is a sad business.

The murder of my garrison

was a sad business too.

Of course it was, sir, of course it was!

But, you know, the killing of hostages

doesn't seem to do much good

in this part of country, does it?

It must be made to do much good.

What do you suggest?

That I send this girl

back to her father with my blessing?

(SIGHING) No, sir,

that would be stupid but...

Well, look at that face, sir.

It does seem a shocking waste.

We're wasting time.

You're a soft-hearted, old idiot.

Remember,

we've 3,000 miles

between us and our base.

Clemency is a luxury

we were able to afford in Babylon.

But not here,

at the eastern limits of the world.

Now, gentlemen, is there anything else?

Yes, sir, just a word.

It seems to me

that Cleitus was talking sense just now.

That'll be enough from you,

young Ptolemy.

We're all agreed the situation

needs a pretty drastic solution.

If there's a league between four or five

of these mountain chieftains

and they get across our

lines of communication,

we'll none of us

will see our homes again,

much less India.

Now that's a development

that could happen at any moment

-and we've a right to fear it.

-I never said I feared anything.

ALEXANDER:
Quiet, Cleitus. Go on.

There are two alternative policies, sir,

terrorism and conciliation.

Terrorism has failed

because we haven't enough men.

In the name of the Gods, Ptolemy,

what would you have me do?

I can't make advances

to the whole Bactrian race.

-That's exactly what you can do, sir.

-What?

Through the very

attractive person of this Bactrian lady.

If you want to pacify Bactria

in a few days, at no cost whatever

and for good, here's your way.

Ptolemy, you're surely not suggesting...

Certainly, I am.

(STAMMERING)

That Alexander should marry this girl?

Why, it doesn't have to be

a proper marriage.

At least, not according to our rites.

King of Macedon and Emperor of the World

to marry a barbarian peasant girl?

She's not a peasant girl.

She's the daughter of an important

Bactrian chieftain. A sort of

princess in her own right.

-(LAUGHING) Aren't you?

-(ROXANA LAUGHING)

Oh, it'll make Alexander

the laughing stock of the world.

I don't think somehow whatever

Alexander did he could be quite that.

Besides, we can make up

a very fine story about it,

love at first sight,

chivalrous conqueror

insisting on marriage. All that.

I'm glad you've remembered

that the prospective bridegroom

might be expected

to have some say in the matter.

(LAUGHING) Of course, sir,

naturally it's for you to decide.

And I shall, Ptolemy, thank you.

Leave me now, will you?

Have the next prisoner brought in.

-Oh, shouldn't we stay for that?

-No. I must see Philotas alone.

-Better have the sentries in.

-You insult me, Perdiccas!

Do you think I'm afraid

of an unarmed man?

-A desperate man.

-So am I a desperate man.

Yes, sir.

Think over my suggestion,

won't you, sir?

-It would be a terrible risk.

-Alexander, frightened of a risk?

Of this one, he is.

-I think I'll decide no.

-Good boy!

I mean, Your Majesty

has made a very wise decision.

Think it over, sir.

"Love at first sight.

The chivalrous conqueror."

Or?

(GIGGLING)

You'd have one valuable asset as a wife,

you can't talk.

Go away.

Go away.

-Alexander!

-Hephaestion?

Ah, thank god you're back.

When did you arrive?

About an hour ago.

Well, you look well.

Was it a troublesome journey?

It was a long one. You've covered a good

deal of ground since I saw you last.

Oh, I shall have covered a lot more

in the next few months.

Why is he wearing chains?

General Ptolemy's order sir, a week ago.

How dare he give such an order.

Philotas, you believe me when I say

I had nothing to do with this?

Yes, Alexander, I'll believe you.

How are you, Hephaestion?

You might have come to see me in prison.

Alexander did, often.

He even wept over me once.

Of course, he hasn't been this last week

to see me wearing my new decorations.

I couldn't have come,

I've been in Babylon.

In Babylon? Did you see my father?

Yes. He sent many messages.

-He doesn't know?

-No.

-Good. How is he?

-Very well.

Have these things taken off his hands.

So, it's true then?

-Didn't you get my dispatch?

-Yes, but I thought that perhaps...

-I found it hard to believe.

-Well, I had no doubt you would.

And what was it you thought, "perhaps"?

I thought perhaps you'd have him

arrested for a day or two,

to teach him a lesson.

And he'd be free by now.

Philotas was arrested two months ago.

His trial is next week.

-He is guilty then?

-Of what?

-Of plotting against your life.

-No, he is innocent of that.

Thank god.

Yes, I know of him now

to be innocent of that charge.

-There are others?

-Many.

Are they serious?

The High Council of the army

believes so.

-What do you believe?

-What I believe is not important.

-But, of course it's important.

-I shan't be at the trial.

-Have some wine.

-No.

-You saw Parmenion in Babylon?

-Yes.

You didn't mention

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