David Page #6

- Yeah, she does.

Tamar, what are you doing?

That's servant's work.

You sometimes forget

you are the daughter of a king.

It's woman's work.

Whoever I am,

I'm still a woman, aren't I?

Bathsheba, what do you think?

Should a princess carry out

the duties of a handmaiden?

It is the privilege of a princess

to please herself.

If she enjoys woman's work,

let her enjoy it.

And remember...

... the only food I can bless

is what she serves me.

Let me go, brother.

That tickles.

David is our father...

... but our mothers were different.

You're joking, Amnon.

- I'm not.

- I think you should be.

Touch her, and the wrath of Absalom

would fall onto you like rain.

Not to mention your father's.

I've gotten around Absalom all my life.

He's easy.

Good move, Absalom.

It's all right.

That's enough, Amnon.

Don't mind losing, Absalom.

We all still love you.

It seems to me as though Amnon

is going to be the soldier.

And Absalom, the poet.

How do you both feel about that?

Whatever you say, Father.

Can't we be like you, Father?

Can't we be both?

- Tamar.

- Brother.

I rode her too hard.

Her leg is broken.

It's better she not suffer.

Have you slept with a man, Tamar?

What a strange question, brother.

I'm unmarried.

Of course I'm a virgin.

I'm not married.

I've slept with women.

You're a man.

It's expected of men.

It is a great, great pleasure...

... to lie in bed with a man

who longs to touch you.

When my husband

takes me to that bed...

... I'll find out all about it.

She's pure, Amnon.

Why does it have to be her?

You could have handmaidens

by the dozen.

I have to be with her...

... or I'll die.

Do you really mean that?

I do.

Look at you.

You're even starting to look ill.

I'm not surprised.

I feel lovesick.

- What?

- I think I have an idea.

Stay here. You're about to become

quite a bit sicker.

Jonodab, what's ailing Amnon?

He seems to have eaten some meat

with worms, my lord king.

He's taken to his bed.

Nothing serious, I hope.

He's requested a remedy.

Has he? What?

He's very fond of the honey cakes

as Tamar prepares them.

He wonders if she might

come to his room...

... and prepare some of these

in her own special way.

How is that with you, girl?

If it will help my brother

and his illness...

... I'd be glad to, Father.

I love watching you cook.

Now eat, brother. You'll feel better.

Feed me.

Let me eat from your hand.

I love you, Tamar.

As a brother should.

I want you.

As a man wants a woman.

Don't force me.

You know it is against

every law of God.

Don't worry.

I won't hurt you.

If this was right...

... you could ask Father's permission.

- Silence.

No.

Get out, will you, please?

Please...

... say a kind word to me.

I can't have whores in my room...

... after they've performed

their services.

Whores?

I thought you said you loved me.

Get out.

Tamar.

Brother. Help me. Please help me.

- Help me.

- What is it, sister?

Amnon.

Tell me.

Absalom, what is it?

You have sinned...

... against me...

... against your family...

... against God.

You have no place in my army

or my court.

You will not be in my presence

at meals or at prayers.

You are, from now on...

... in disgrace.

Take my cattle to market

at Hebron, and that's all you do...

... for this family and this nation.

Tamar's soul lies in pieces,

and Amnon still lives?

He is my son...

... and your brother.

- He raped your daughter.

We put men to death for much less.

It is my decision.

My decisions are law.

Another example of your mercy, Father?

It's part of your legend.

I must be able to forgive

my own flesh and blood.

So must you.

It's not mercy, Absalom.

It's how a family, how a nation survives.

Absalom.

If we cannot find a way...

... past the sins we commit,

we cannot live.

Now, show me that you

understand my wisdom.

Embrace me.

Cheer up, brother.

The work isn't so rough.

What have you got

to be so happ y about, brother?

It doesn't humiliate you

chasing cattle all day?

Don't worry about me.

- I won't be doing this for much longer.

- You won't?

I'll find my way back into the court.

Father will soften his judgment

against me.

Do you know why?

He'll forgive anyone just to win back

one more person's love.

Father's not satisfied with God's love.

He wants everyone else

to love him as well.

You have us all figured out, Amnon.

I know Father. That's all.

And all this...

... while my sister, Tamar...

... eats dirt and babbles

like a sick child...

... because of you.

You took her soul.

I can't believe

I'm hearing this rubbish.

She's a woman, Absalom.

Women are weak.

Women are born to suffer.

This is good.

Come on.

Come here, my pretty.

Let's dance. Come on.

Come on. Come on.

Come closer.

Oh, come on.

It's so good.

Come on. You want to play?

When the wine has weakened Amnon,

strike him and kill him.

Come back. Come back. Come here.

- Tamar.

- What is it, brother?

Amnon is dead.

I had him killed.

Report this to our father.

I have killed Amnon...

... in just judgment

for what he did to you.

Tell Father...

... I know I must be lost to him...

... for disobeying his command

and doing this.

Perhaps I shall never see him again.

Nevertheless, I still love him.

I shall love him forever.

Say goodbye to him for me...

... and to all of Jerusalem.

I will never forget

what you've given up for me.

O God, you have made the earth tremble.

You have broken it.

Heal the breaches...

... for the earth shakes beneath our feet.

You've cast us off.

You have scattered us.

Oh, please.

Turn yourself to us again.

I'm saddened for you, my lord king.

Feeling sorry for me is turning

into a full-time occupation for you.

You have given me and the nation

much reason to celebrate as well.

That's God. Not me.

Amen.

Do you think...

... that once God starts punishing a man,

he will ever stop?

Perhaps it is those

who God loves the most...

... those on whom he lavishes his gifts...

... that he punishes the most severely.

The price of God's glory.

Remember what Samuel told me

all those years ago.

"Help David.

God makes it hard to be a king. "

This is the woman in mourning

from Tekoah...

... who bids you to give her judgment.

Yes. Ask her to come in.

Help me, please...

... my lord king.

What seems to be the problem?

I am a widow.

I had two sons.

They worked the fields together.

And they quarreled.

And one killed the other.

Go on.

All the rest of my family...

... bid me to punish

my surviving son harshly.

But if I do that...

... I will have no heir.

And my husband's name

will disappear from the earth.

I will have nothing.

Whoever tries to force you

to take your remaining son's life...

... shall be brought to me,

and I will deal with them.

No one else will bother you.

Thank you, my lord king.

God will respect no man...

... unless he devises some way

for those children he has lost...

... to be brought back to him.

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