Adventure Story Page #9

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he must stand alone.

(SIGHING) Leave me now.

And, for all I care,

you need never come back again.

Send in Perdiccas.

Mazeres!

You remember the night before Gaugamela?

Yes, Majesty.

That night you saw my hands shaking

with fear. Do you remember, Mazeres?

Well, Majesty!

Well, my hands are shaking now

and I have no battle to fight tomorrow.

If only I had.

Fill that, will you?

Ah, Roxana.

So, you've appointed

yourself my cup bearer.

I thank you.

What toast shall I give you?

A loyal toast?

(GIGGLING)

"Death to all the King's enemies?"

Yes, I think that will do very well.

-Here's death to all the King's enemies.

-(GIGGLING)

Which course includes your father,

doesn't it?

That's rather a pity, but then there's

nothing we can do about that, is there?

You love your father, Roxana?

Does he love you?

(GIGGLING)

I see, you find

the very idea ridiculous.

And who am I to blame you. Sit here.

Let's you and I drink to his

perdition in a loving cup.

I have many enemies to attend to,

you know that, Roxana?

The Master of the World

has many enemies.

He doesn't want to have enemies,

he wants everyone to love him.

But he also wants to remain

Master of the World.

Go away. Go away.

Roxana.

See in my hand a ring?

A very pretty ring.

It belonged to my mother.

In this hand, a dagger.

Also a very pretty one.

It belonged to my father.

Now, you and I will play a little game.

You will decide which hand.

(GIGGLING)

Now.

(LAUGHING)

Yes, Roxana.

I think you'll make a splendid wife.

You also, I see,

are blessed with the quality of luck.

-You sent for me, sir?

-Yes, Perdiccas.

You will return to Babylon

with these orders.

So, General Perdiccas,

I am your prisoner.

Oh, no, ma'am, the King has simply

expressed a wish to see you

before he leaves for India.

When a King expresses a wish

in such terms,

it is better described as a command.

And when he sends

one of his most trusted generals

and a battalion of guards

to carry it out.

Escorting you to the King

is not my only duty in Babylon, ma'am.

I...I have another.

Oh, what?

(LAUGHING) I suppose I mustn't ask.

Very well, General,

and when do we leave?

-Tomorrow.

-I see.

Your journey will be

as comfortable as I can make it.

Thank you, sir.

It would have been kinder of Alexander

to have sent Philotas on this mission.

His father is very lonely

here in Babylon

and I know would have given much

for a sight of him.

Philotas is under arrest.

-Under arrest? What is the charge?

-High treason.

I see.

Poor Alexander.

-Ma'am?

-I said, poor Alexander.

-I don't understand you, ma'am.

-I hardly thought you would, General.

I will not detain you,

I know you have other...

Duties to perform.

I have.

I shall be ready for you at dawn.

-You wanted to see me, sir?

-Ah, Hephaestion!

Yes, about the wedding ceremony.

You've read what your part in it

is to be?

Yes.

Well, there's a wedding banquet

afterwards

and I shall expect you to attend.

Very well.

And, Hephaestion,

I shall expect you

to sit at my right hand.

I see. Thank you. Is that all?

No.

I see I must humble myself.

Will you forgive me, Hephaestion?

There is nothing to forgive.

Oh, in the name of the Gods!

What do you want me to do?

Rend my clothes, pour dust on my head,

roll on the ground at your feet?

I will, if you like.

The truth is...

The truth is I am not as invincible

as I believed.

You've won. I admit defeat.

And I would like to salute my conqueror.

Sit down. No, up here.

Parmenion is dead. I heard this morning.

Philotas was executed a month ago.

Yes, I had heard that.

I know what you must be

feeling about me at this moment.

Not about you, Alexander...

For you, that's all.

Thank you.

I've needed you, you know,

these last few weeks.

I'm sorry.

Ptolemy and Cleitus can't help much

with this kind of burden.

But I am not a murderer.

-Will you believe that?

-Yes.

-Have some wine.

-No, thank you.

Come, everybody must get drunk

on my wedding night. Cleitus!

The bride is ready, sir.

She wants to show herself

to her loving spouse to be.

-May she come in?

-Yes.

Let us inspect Her Majesty.

Her Majesty?

She's not going to be that, is she?

-Just for the ceremony.

-Oh, I see.

(LAUGHING) I was going to say,

"A Persian, that would never do, eh?"

All right, my girl, you can come in now!

ALEXANDER:
Ah...

Your loving husband salutes you.

I admire your face and figure

almost as much as I do your dowry.

-HEPHAESTION:
Her dowry?

-Yes.

Thirty thousand lives

and six months campaigning,

I'd call that valuable enough,

wouldn't you?

I certainly would.

And if you've brought me six months

nearer home, my dear, I salute you too.

I must have some more wine.

It's a very complicated ceremony,

you know.

I haven't learnt my part yet

as I should.

I only wish the Queen Mother was here

to help me.

Dear Mother.

How I long to see her again.

Why do you call her

your mother, Alexander?

Your mother is a Macedonian.

The Queen Mother of Persia

is my mother, Cleitus,

-just as she is your queen.

-My queen?

(SCOFFING)

Olympus of Macedon is my queen.

-Not a wretched Persian.

-Cleitus.

Cleitus, come here.

I meant no disrespect, sir,

you know that.

But all this bowing and scraping

and kneeling to barbarians,

it makes me sick!

What's the matter

with the old man tonight?

Apart from wine?

I'm afraid I told him about

your intention to form

a core of Persian companions

for the Indian expedition.

Ah! So that's what it is, eh?

Ah, I heard you. Persian companions.

What are we fighting

this war for anyhow?

Now that's what I want to know.

(LAUGHING) Persian companions.

I suppose they'll be giving them Greek

slaves to curl their beards next.

Oh, Cleitus, come...

Oh, we'll be having

Indian companions before we know.

Hephaestion, what do you think

of my choice of bride?

Very good.

You're carrying her crown

at the procession, aren't you?

No, no.

No, it's your crown I'm carrying.

Oh, yes, of course.

Well, who's carrying hers?

-Cleitus, is it you?

-What's that?

Are you carrying Roxana's crown

in the procession?

(CHUCKLING) That's right.

I've got it all pat.

I'll walk in front of her all the way,

carrying her crown on a cushion

high in the air.

My arms will drop off before long.

And when I get to the platform,

I step aside, let her go up the steps

and sit down.

Then I go up

and I put the crown on her head.

(LAUGHING)

-Correct, sir?

-Correct, save for one thing.

-You've forgotten your obeisance.

-Obeisance? What's that?

You've to kneel down

in front of the throne,

put your head on the ground...

Oh, good heavens, man,

you've seen it done often enough.

I must have seen it done often enough

but I'm not going to do it.

-You must!

-To a Persian? Not on your life.

-Oh, Cleitus, don't be a fool.

-Fool I may be,

but I'm not chewing any dirt

in front of any little barbarian.

Cleitus, have a care.

You volunteered for the duty.

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