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Adventure Story Page #7
- Year:
- 1961
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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.
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
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,
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
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
-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
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?
-Alexander, frightened of a risk?
Of this one, he is.
-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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"Adventure Story" Scripts.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 29 Aug. 2024. <https://www.scripts.com/script/adventure_story_2248>.
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