Ben-Hur Page #6

-Judah.

Stay alive.

Keep away from Messala.

Only if I can give up

thinking and feeling.

That time isn't yet come.

The stone that fell from this roof

so long ago is still falling.

Only this time you won't be sent

to the galleys.

This time you will be destroyed.

You'll die.

Tribune, compliments of Quintus

Arrius. He awaits your pleasure.

-Consul here?

-Quintus Arrius, the younger tribune.

Thank him. Bring him to me.

-I didn't know the consul had a son.

-He's a champion of the great circus.

Why is he presenting me with gifts?

-Perhaps he'll race against you.

-Look.

It's magnificent.

And from a man I've never met.

You're wrong, Messala.

By what magic do you bear

the name of a consul of Rome?

You were the magician, Messala.

You condemned me to the galleys.

When my ship was sunk,

I saved the consul's life.

You know his seal?

Now I have come back. . .

. . .as I swore I would.

Your gift is exquisitely

appropriate, young Arrius.

You suggest I use it on myself?

What has become of

my mother and my sister?

It is not my duty

to keep track of prisoners.

Find them, Messala.

Restore them to me,

and I'll forget what I vowed. . .

. . .with every stroke of that oar

you chained me to.

I am not the governor.

I can do nothing without approval.

Then get it.

I will come back tomorrow.

Don't disappoint me, Messala.

What became of them?

It's been almost five years.

Do you suppose they're still alive?

Go to the citadel, Drusus. Find out.

-And if they're dead?

-They're dead!

"Miriam, wife. Tirzah, daughter. "

Yes, they are the ones.

Are they alive?

E section. . .

. . .Iower level.

Cell two.

Jailer on that level will know.

Water.

Water.

Let me out!

-How long since you've seen them?

-Never.

And I've been here three years.

But they're alive all right.

The food disappears.

Lepers.

They must be taken outside the city

and released at once.

Then we'll burn out the cell.

Is someone there?

There is someone there.

Who are you?

Don't come any closer.

Who are you?

Esther.

It's Miriam.

Miriam.

Miriam?

Stay where you are.

You have come home.

Stand back, Esther.

We are lepers.

Oh, Esther.

Tirzah.

Esther. . .

. . .is Judah living?

Yes, he is alive.

He is here.

Where?

He is searching for you now.

I must find him and tell him.

-No!

-Tell my father.

No.

Tell no one.

We are going away

to the Valley of the Lepers.

We won't return.

Judah has to be told.

No.

Please.

I couldn't see his face.

Is it changed?

No, he is not changed.

He's not changed.

You love him, Esther.

Promise me. . .

. . .on your love for him. . .

. . .you will never tell him

you've seen us.

Is he never to know?

Let him remember us as we were.

Promise me.

There's nothing else I can hope for.

Only this.

I promise.

I am content.

Wait.

Messala will find out.

I am sure of that.

I pray to God they're alive

and that Messala will free them.

He'll free them.

He wants to survive.

He cannot free them, Judah.

What do you mean?

I saw them.

You saw them?

Where?

When did you see them?

They were dead.

They were dead.

When?

When? When?!

In the prison.

When I was waiting

for news of my father.

Why didn't you tell me?

I couldn't tell you.

Nor even you, Father.

I was afraid that

if you saw Messala. . . .

Judah, you have come

to the end of your search.

It's over now.

Over?

-Judah.

-Over?

Judah, forget, forget, forget Messala.

Go back to Rome.

Gentlemen.

Officers.

Defenders of great Rome's imperium. . .

. . .may I enter?

Certainly, sheik.

You do us an unexpected honor.

The noble tribune is most gracious.

And now. . .

. . .the question you're asking:

Why am I here?

As you know, I am a gambling man.

The games approach.

I am racing my whites against the

noble tribune's undefeated blacks.

I will back my own poor horses.

No limits?

-Mark me first!

-And me!

-What odds?

-A moment, please. . .

. . .my lords, protectors

of the far flung marshes.

May I first sit down?

Sit. How much will you wager?

-Yes, let's call his game.

-Give the Arab a seat.

A bench, quickly.

Thank you.

-Now.

-1 000 denarii.

-2000!

-Mark me!

Your spirit does you credit, but do

not be impatient. There is time.

First gentlemen, the odds.

The tribune has won many times. The

odds should be in the same measure.

What is your pleasure, gentlemen?

Two to one.

Noble Romans, men of the Tiber,

masters of the Earth. . .

. . .where is the courage

that made Rome master of the world?

I can get better odds

on any street market.

Three to one.

Let us not haggle. Let us be fair.

In four years, the tribune has won

four victories in the circus.

-In all truth--

-Just a moment.

We know you have good horses,

but who is your driver?

Did I not tell you?

How careless of me.

The Prince of Hur.

Judah Ben-Hur.

Prince of Hur?

-He was sent to the galleys years ago.

-He has returned.

Returned? lmpossible.

The divine Tiberius is merciful

as always.

Well?

Will no one back the noble tribune

against a Jew, a galley slave?

Perhaps I made a mistake

in coming here.

You, tribune. . .

. . .will you give me four to one?

Four to one.

Good.

Four to one, sheik. The difference

between a Roman and a Jew.

Or an Arab.

Bravely spoken.

Now we will settle the amount

of our wager. I will venture. . . .

A thousand talents?

-A thousand talents?

-Yes, a thousand talents.

Of course, if it is too much. . . .

A thousand talents it will be.

Agreed.

Treat them well.

They've earned it today.

You're good fellows.

If only men were this good.

Remember, Altair. . .

. . .nine times around the circus.

Aldebaran.

Rigel, did you hear?

Nine lives to live.

My swift fellow.

You must not win the race

the first time around.

You win the last time around.

And you cannot win alone.

You must wait for the others.

Steady Antares.

Like a rock.

You will be our anchor.

I thought they'd never love

another as they love me.

They have taken me into their family.

Rest well, my stars.

Tomorrow we go up to the city.

Then if you defeat Messala and

the new governor there to see it. . .

. . .the news will scorch the streets

of the Roman world.

Pontius Pilate here?

Yes, and ready to grind

his heel into us.

You will make him see

what men are born in this land.

I only know that

I race against Messala.

Look for the yoke.

Ease that strap.

God forgive me for seeking vengeance,

but my path is set.

Into Your hands I commit my life.

Do with me as You will.

The Star of David.

To shine out for your people

and my people together. . .

. . .and blind the eyes of Rome.

They are ready.

Easy, girl, easy.

Number five.

Where is number five?

This is the day, Judah.

It's between us now.

Yes, this is the day.

Look, he's driving a Greek chariot.

Judah, be careful.

Don't let him near you.

Hail, Jupiter. Give me victory.

Watch your line! Keep your places!

The formation is good.

A beautiful line.

Citizens. . .

. . .I welcome you to these games

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