Ben-Hur Page #2

I'm against violence.

Everyone knows this.

I've spoken against it.

I shall do so again.

Then we're agreed!

Now, when can I come

to see your family?

-We had hoped tomorrow.

-Good.

And now for our toast.

It's dreadful wine, by the way.

It's especially fermented

for the Roman army.

You're very cruel to your conquerors.

It's an insane world.

But in it there is one sanity:

The loyalty of old friends.

Judah, we must believe in one another.

Will you drink to that?

With all my heart.

Here it is, the place I've remembered.

The court where we played

at changing the guard.

The roof where we'd throw pebbles

at people in the street and then hide.

-We were rascals, weren't we?

-No, you were good boys.

I would have that time again.

And here it is. Nothing has changed.

Except for the fountain.

-The old well would go dry, remember?

-Promptly, every summer.

A new fountain and a new Tirzah.

You've grown up.

-He hasn't changed, has he, Mother?

-No?

Of course he has. He was a boy

when he left us, now he's a man.

With great responsibilities.

Come.

The emperor builds and builds,

turning brick to marble.

Oh, I almost forgot.

I brought you this.

I've never seen anything

like this before. It's beautiful!

-Is it Roman?

-It's Libyan. I was there last year.

A tremendous campaign.

Our armies met on the coast.

After two days of fighting, they fled.

We marched on their capital.

Barbaric city, but fascinating.

Or was, till we destroyed it.

Now it's nothing but ashes.

I'm boring you with soldier stories.

Come with me, there's something

I want to show you.

Thank you for this.

I chose the right present for you.

It's a brooch for a woman.

What do you think of it?

Magnificent.

It's Arabic.

I think he has the look of the breed.

I've raised him.

Let me try him sometime.

Whenever you like. He's yours.

Do you mean you'll give me this?

Oh, Judah.

You are good. It's going

to be like old times, I know it.

Judah, tell me, did you. . .

. . .think about what I said?

Yes. Talked to a number

of people already.

Spoken against violence,

against incidents.

Most of the men agree with me.

Most? Not all?

No, not all.

Who does not agree?

Well, the resentful, the impatient.

Who are they?

Yes, Judah. Who are they?

Would I retain your friendship

if I became an informer?

Telling the names of criminals

is not informing.

They're not criminals, Messala.

They're patriots.

Patriots?!

Let me explain something to you.

Something you may not know.

The emperor is watching us.

At this moment, he watches the East.

This is my great opportunity,

and yours too.

If I bring order here,

I can have any post I want.

You'll rise with me, I promise.

And do you know where it can end?

Rome! Yes, perhaps at the side

of Caesar himself.

I mean it. It can happen

and this is the moment.

I swear, this is the time.

The emperor is watching us, judging

us. All I need do is serve him.

And all you need do

is help me serve him.

-You speak as if he were God.

-He is God. The only God.

He is power,

real power on earth, not--

Not that.

Help me, Judah.

I would do anything

for you, Messala. . .

. . .except betray my own people.

In the name of all the gods, what do

the lives of a few Jews mean to you?

If I cannot persuade them, that does

not mean I would help you murder them.

Besides, you must

understand this, Messala.

I believe in the past

and future of my people.

Future? You are a conquered people.

You may conquer the land.

You may slaughter the people.

But that is not the end.

We will rise again.

You live on dead dreams.

You live on the myths of the past.

Solomon's glory is gone.

You think it will return?

Joshua will not rise again

to save you nor David.

There is only one reality in

the world today. Look to the West.

Don't be a fool! Look to Rome!

Better a fool

than a traitor or a killer.

-I am a soldier.

-Who kills for Rome and Rome is evil.

-I warn you--

-No! I warn you.

Rome is an affront to God.

Rome is strangling my people

and my country, the whole earth!

But not forever.

And I tell you, the day Rome falls

there will be a shout of freedom. . .

. . .such as the world

has never heard before.

Either you help me or you oppose me.

You have no other choice.

You're either for me or against me.

If that is the choice. . .

. . .then I am against you.

There they are.

Where's Messala?

-Where's--?

-He's gone.

Gone?

-But why?

-He couldn't stay.

-What happened?

-A new tribune must have many duties.

Come. Let us have dinner.

Blessed art Thou, O Lord, our God,

King of the world. . .

. . .who bringeth to us

bread from the earth.

We shall never see him again, Tirzah.

He wanted to use me

to betray our people.

-Master, the caravan from Antioch.

-Yes, Amrah, I saw.

Simonides.

-Oh, welcome homecoming.

-Master.

Simonides has brought gifts, as usual.

Amber and jade for me.

Silk for Tirzah.

And for the master, lberian wine.

Not to mention the best gift of all,

your presence.

You do your servant honor.

I also bring good news from Antioch.

-Caravans from Petra.

-Have all arrived.

-Good.

-Here is the accounting.

And what of Numidia?

The trade route is ours,

guaranteed by treaty with the king.

Once a year,

you bring your accounting.

And once a year,

I find myself wealthier.

Yeah, but my greatest treasure

is my steward.

My life belongs to the House of Hur.

Nothing else exists for me,

except my daughter.

-She must be a young woman by now.

-Yes, and your property.

She was born

the daughter of your slave.

When I inherited you,

I inherited a friend, not a slave.

Still, Esther has come with me from

Antioch for your permission to marry.

It's granted. I wish you

the joy of many grandchildren.

If it is the Lord's will,

I shall rejoice.

With your permission,

Esther wishes to speak to her master.

You're eager to marry, Esther?

It is my father's wish.

Your husband will be fortunate.

What is his name?

David, son of Mathias.

Of what house?

-His own, master.

-He is a freeman.

Tell me more about him.

I have seen him only once.

He is a merchant,

well-thought-of in Antioch.

He will pay for Esther's freedom.

Her freedom will be

my wedding gift to Esther.

You are generous, master.

Do you love this man?

I will learn to love him.

You have my permission to marry.

We'll drink to your happiness.

And a safe return to Antioch.

I disturbed you.

No.

What were you thinking?

I was saying goodbye. . .

. . .to this city. . .

. . .and this house.

You've not often been here.

What do you remember of it?

My father sometimes brought me here. . .

. . .when I was little.

It was a house

where I was always happy.

Except once.

When you and your friend,

the Roman boy--

-Messala.

-Yes.

You had been out hunting. . .

. . .and they brought you home injured.

I touched your face

as you lay there. . .

. . .and prayed to God,

"Don't let this boy die. "

I can hear how you said it.

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