Demetrius and the Gladiators Page #6

or didn'tyou know it?

Stop there. Search her.

It pleases you to question my loyalty, sire.

I've come to give you new proof of it.

It must have been an irresistible impulse

to bring you from the seashore at this hour.

- I think you'll agree it's important.

- Speak up.

I have no secrets from your husband.

My news concerns the robe. The magic robe.

Yes, yes, I remember. Have you got it?

I know howto get it.

The man who owns it, the one who calls

himself the fisherman, is back in Rome.

Sometimes, Uncle, I think I made

a mistake not to marry her myself.

The workings of her mind appeal to me.

She leaves her warm bed in the cold dawn

to rush here full of zeal and loyalty.

Why, Messalina?

The robe, sire, holds the secret of eternal life.

Seize this fisherman. He's dangerous

to you, a threat to your power.

Dangerous to me...

...or to you?

Has this fisherman been making

trouble for you with your lover?

Of course.

You're not interested in the robe for me.

You want to get rid of the fisherman.

And you! Why didn'tyou bring me this news?

This fisherman comes and goes as he pleases

making fools of the whole Praetorian Guard.

I want the robe. And I want it today!

I'll do my best, sire,

but the Christians will protect their leader.

They'll hide him and the robe of their king.

It may take more than one day.

I didn't ask you for excuses!

Get me the robe! Take hostages! Kill them!

Torture them by the hundred till they agree

to give it up! You'll find one that will talk.

Wait.

There's one tribune who has

special qualifications for this duty,...

...who knows their leaders, their hiding places.

We'll give Demetrius an opportunity

to earn the cheers he receives.

These are my orders. Go!

Guards, forward march.

Guards, halt.

What do you want here?

- Don'tyou know me, Kaeso?

- The footsteps I heard were of a stranger.

- I want the robe. Where is it?

- I haven't seen it.

(Peter) Perhaps I can help you, Demetrius.

- What do you want with it?

- To take it to the emperor.

- Why?

- To give you a chance.

Unless he gets his hands on it,

he'll wipe you out.

You mean we can buy our lives

with our master's robe?

It's only a piece of cloth.

And you'd let a thousand people die for it?

That's whatyou want, isn't it?

You and your god,...

...who let his own son die on a cross.

Who let Stephen and James die,

Marcellus and Diana, and a hundred others.

The same god who turned his face from me

when I begged him to save an innocent girl.

- You blame God for that?

- Who else can I blame?

- Then you still believe there is a god.

- I believe in nothing.

Where's the robe?

You'll find it in there.

She's not dead.

No.

Lucia.

Ever since the night she was

so cruelly hurt she's been as you see her,...

...in some darkness where

her injured mind has crawled for refuge.

It's very strange.

No one's been able to take it from her.

It's as if, even in her darkness,

she finds some comfort in it.

- Get it from her.

- How?

How should I know?

One of your miracles. Wake her up.

Would it be kindness to bring her

backto remembrance and shame?

To learn that her sacrifice was for nothing?

That the man she worshipped

now reviles and ridicules his god?

You could do much for her.

Only you.

When she comes into the light again

she'll need infinite kindness, infinite love.

If you want the robe, pray for it.

Once you knew how.

Lucia.

Lucia.

Oh, God.

(sobs)

(Jesus) Father, forgive them,

for they know not what they do.

(crash of thunder)

Father, forgive me.

Forgive me, Father.

Demetrius, what...?

Why are you dressed like that?

Like our enemies?

I've been no one's enemy but my own.

Like you, I've been in darkness.

I... I had a terrible dream, Demetrius.

- I can't remember...

- Don't try.

Let me have the robe, Lucia.

You must take it to the emperor,

if it will save lives.

No, Demetrius.

Peter's right. There's no danger.

You'll come back.

You came backto me.

I said there was no danger,

but there is for you. Do you understand?

Make your way to the palace.

You knowthe Augustan steps?

Wait for me there.

I'll come out to you as soon as I can.

They're not cheering. Do you notice it?

Yes, sire. Your threat against them

was posted on the gate as they came in.

And they dare take offence?

I've pampered them long enough.

- Well?

- The tribune has returned, sire.

That's it?

That's the robe?

Give it to me.

Wait here.

Get out!

Kill him!

No!

Rise.

Rise!

By the power of this robe,

I command you to rise!

It's a fraud. You've cheated me.

This is whatyou asked for, sire. The robe

that Jesus of Nazareth wore to the cross.

You lied. It has no magic powers!

- No one ever said it had.

- It's a fraud, and so was Jesus.

I tried it. I had a prisoner killed.

I ordered him to rise.

- He's still dead.

- You did that?

You killed a man to test our master's robe?

Stop him! Seize him!

Threaten your emperor, will you? Christian!

Macro, get the armour and the weapons!

You shall kill him out there.

I took you out of the arena.

Now you'll go backto it...

...and die as you should have died long ago.

May God forgive you for whatyou have done.

My loyal guards,...

...by your sullen attitude you have questioned

steps that I have found it necessary to take...

...in order to preserve the imperial dignity.

Now I will show you proof

that my actions were justified,...

...that treason is everywhere,...

...that it has even shown its face among those

who are sworn to protect my person.

In your own ranks.

Let whatyou'll see now

be a lesson to all among you...

...who fail in loyalty to your emperor.

The instrument of my justice will be the

greatest gladiator who fought in the arena.

Macro.

- Put them back.

- What have you done?

- No shield.

- It's not too late. I'll go to Caligula.

Come on.

Don't let him kill you. Fight him.

We'll go away from here.

It doesn't matter you're a Christian.

I'll be a Christian too, if you say so.

Don't let him kill you, Demetrius!

(fanfare)

(cheering)

(shocked murmurs)

Watch, my loyal guards.

Watch him die.

(crowd shouting) Life! Life!

Let him live! Let him live!

- Let a traitor live?

- Sire,...

...the guards demand mercy.

They demand life.

Demand!

No one makes demands of God!

Claudius, stand clear!

No. No!

(uproar)

Hail Claudius.

(crowd) Hail Claudius! Hail Claudius!

Hail Claudius! Hail Claudius!

You have made me emperor

and I will try to serve Rome well.

I want it clearly understood

that I am not a god,...

...nor am I likely to become one.

Nor am I quite the fool that

I have pretended to be all these years,...

...in order to preserve my life.

That is ended.

You have made me Caesar,

and I will act the part.

Hail Claudius!

Messalina.

It's no secret from any of you

that I've mocked my marriage vows,...

...that I've openly disgraced

my husband and myself.

That, too, is ended.

I am Caesar's wife, and I will act the part.

Hail Caesar!

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