Barabbas Page #3

There's no truth in any of it.

I know this woman.

She doesn't know the difference

between what is real...

...and what she dreamed in her sleep.

Don't you listen to her.

She's raking up trouble.

Nothing but trouble.

Trouble for you...

...if you won't turn and listen to the sounds

that have come.

He knows but is afraid to believe it.

Look at you, Barabbas.

How can you see or hear what's to come?

It will happen,

whether you take part in it or not.

He's right. It's dangerous talk.

They'll pull down our homes, drive us out.

Better listen to this man.

-Let's hear what the prophet said.

-Don't leave. Where are you going?

To where the lepers are, to tell them

to be ready for the freedom that's coming.

-She's going among the lepers!

-Stop her!

She's going to set the lepers free.

-Don't let her go among the lepers!

-Don't let her set the lepers free!

You have no right to go among the lepers!

Look out, it's a temple guard!

We don't want the lepers to be free!

A charge has been lodged

against this woman.

-She must be questioned.

-We heard she preaches blasphemy.

Bring her to the temple

and we will judge her.

-Take your dirty hands off her.

-Don't take her! She's done no wrong.

Don't take her away.

Rachel!

For blasphemy, and spreading blasphemy,

this woman is condemned.

For stirring up evil matters

among the people...

...for misleading their minds

and denying the wisdom of authority.

For her sins, she has been condemned

to death by stoning.

Let the man who accused her

and was found just in his accusation...

...cast the first stone.

What must I do?

Take this stone.

Come on. Throw it at her.

Why should I throw?

-I've nothing against her.

-You accused her.

-The law gives you the first stone.

-It was you.

Or you'll find yourself there beside her.

Throw quickly. If you wait, I may be afraid.

You don't have to think of Barabbas

any more. He's not coming back.

And if he did,

we'd know what to do with him.

You're still afraid of him because

he used to roar at you like a brass bull.

You can't stand up to him

even when he's gone.

He's gone to the devil once and for all,

I can tell you.

He's lost his nerve.

He's creeping about the city

like a shivering priest.

Why do you think he's not come back?

Because he's afraid to stir hand or foot.

-We don't know yet, he won't come back.

-Who cares if he does?

We got a man here who can hang him

in his own guts.

He came out of that prison mad.

Acquitted but mad.

We'll soon see it then.

So, you remembered the way to get here.

Given you up this past week.

You'll find things altered.

What's over is over.

I remembered the way.

Bring them across.

God's curse on you! The money is sacred!

It belongs to the temple!

-The god of battle will destroy you!

-Blasphemy!

You hypocrites. I'll kill you both.

What are you doing?

Here's all the treasure we wanted.

Come away!

I'll kill you the way you had her killed.

It seemed to me at the time, Barabbas,

when you were given your liberty before...

...it wasn't a fortunate exchange.

They were calling for death and disorder

when they called your name.

This is what I thought

and this is what has occurred.

They put the scourge back into the fist.

By that I mean you and your life.

And many men have suffered

and died in consequence.

The other man, too.

They're dying because of that.

This is a local matter,

which I hope will soon be adjusted.

The shock and fear

of an unreasoning fanaticism will pass.

But the appetite to destroy...

...which, alas, the human being shares

with the wild beast, is always with us.

And it has rigorously to be disciplined

in the name of civilization...

-...and according to the law.

-That's what you say.

But I tell you, whichever side of the law

we're on, we're the same men.

You and your kind, and me and my kind.

How else have you lived except my way?

What we haven't got, we go out and take.

Let him speak.

How else have you lived except my way?

Whoever's against us or gets in our way,

we get rid of.

My knife may have bitten a few throats,

but what about your weapons?

They've split thousands upon thousands.

If I've taken a passing woman to myself...

...your armies have looted and raped

across continents.

And have been called

the glory of the earth for doing it.

You were born according to the law

and raised according to the law.

I was born by a girl

thrown out of a brothel...

...who gave birth and cursed me

before she died.

But I tell you, we belong to the same herd.

Unfortunately for you, Barabbas,

the law is indispensable.

The law is the pass and permit

to life in this world.

You were without it.

However, the law here tells me...

...that a man released

by the will of the people at a holy festival...

...cannot thereafter

be given a capital punishment.

You can't kill me?

Easier on you if we could.

I sentence you to transportation for life,

whatever that's worth...

...to the sulphur mines

on the island of Sicily.

I can't...

...be killed.

He meant me to live.

Deliberately he did it.

No killing Barabbas.

No death for Barabbas.

He died in my place.

The death has been paid.

He's taken my death.

That's it. He's taken my death.

That light, that wasn't light.

The dark, that wasn't dark.

That wasn't dark, that was life.

-That was life.

-Take the man away.

You'll die and rot, but I'll live forever!

I've got my life and you can't take it!

You stinking fish!

I've got my life and you can't have it!

I've got my life!

-Well, which are you?

-I'm Scorpus.

That means nothing, idiot.

What's your number?

-563.

-That's better.

-Who's the god?

-The divine Emperor Tiberius.

You have the privilege

of being his property.

Move.

Go on, move.

That's all. Move on. Next two.

Put your back to it.

Move. Get your feet on the ground.

What are they doing?

They're sending us down to the next level

to make room for you.

That's how you know

how long you've been here...

...by how deep you're down.

They break you in gradually

to get used to the dark.

Wait.

You've gotten used to the dark.

Did it take long?

Long enough.

It's got into me.

Come here.

What do you see?

You're blind.

Sulphur burns.

Dig.

Here.

You've got a partner there

that seems to know how to live forever.

Better learn from him.

How long has it been?

Who was emperor then?

Tiberius? That was long ago.

Almost in another world.

Here, I'm called Sahak.

That's mine.

Here.

Move!

You make this even a worse hell than it is.

You don't care how I got here...

...but I'll tell you.

The ship I was serving on

took on a cargo of slaves.

Some of them got free.

Slipped over the side, during my watch.

So, the captain put the chains on me.

What about your world?

What's your name?

-I asked you what your name is.

-All right.

If it's going to keep you quiet.

Barabbas.

What are you saying?

Barabbas.

What's the town you came from?

Jerusalem.

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