Exodus: Gods and Kings Page #2

- Of course. It's on record.

- So you don't mind if we check?

Of course I don't mind.

But I don't understand what's gone wrong.

Have I done something to displease you?

And if so, is there any way

I could please you?

You can stop living like a king.

You're not one.

"...and you will occupy

the land of Canaan."

- Canaan is already occupied.

- God promises we will return.

In chains or in coffins?

As free men into a land flowing

with milk and honey.

Can they at least wait outside?

We're not dangerous.

Wait by the horses.

- Do you believe in coincidence?

- As much as anything else.

- I don't think this is one.

- What isn't?

You coming to Pithom. Why did you come?

Business.

Sit.

Who's your father?

I know you don't know his name. Only that

he was a general in Pharaoh's army...

Unnamed by your mother.

I can see this is

making you uncomfortable.

This will interest you.

There was no general.

Your mother... The woman you call

your mother, has no children.

You were born a slave.

- Don't go. Don't go.

- It's better for you that I do.

I'm leaving.

If you leave now, you'll just come back

because you know something's wrong.

You've always felt it.

Please.

Everybody out.

Out.

The year of your birth,

there was a prophecy

that our leader would be born...

to liberate us from our bondage.

And so, there was an edict from Memphis

to kill every firstborn Hebrew boy.

Your parents didn't wait

for that to happen.

Any chance of your survival

was better than no chance.

They handed you to your sister.

She took you in a basket

to the banks of the river,

and she floated you to where she knew

Pharaoh Paramesse's daughter,

Bithia, bathed.

Bithia took you and your sister,

Miriam, as a maid,

and raised you as her own.

She probably even loved you,

but she never told you,

or anyone else, the truth.

You are Hebrew.

The truth?

The truth is,

it's not even that good a story.

And I thought you people were

meant to be... good storytellers.

You, slave.

You!

Do you expect a reward

for this information?

Our reward is being of service to you.

That said, if there were

some token you had in mind

beyond that...

We wouldn't refuse it.

How about this, then?

What about if I don't kill you?

That would be sufficient payment.

You people.

Please leave.

Please.

- How did it go?

- We can talk about that another time.

We can talk about it now...

If only as a respite from this army

of grim-faced physicians.

Sit.

We're taking a thorough look

at the city records,

and the man is clearly a thief.

It's one of life's

more depressing ironies...

that the men who crave power

are best fitted to acquire it,

and least fitted to exercise it.

What's wrong, Moses?

You're sick.

Something else is troubling you.

I can tell.

No, nothing else.

May you be alert,

rejuvenated and protected by the gods,

Every moment of your eternal life.

And to the left.

No, your left. More, more, more.

Good.

It is tall.

Monuments are monuments

for a reason. They inspire.

Inspire what, in this case?

In this, and in every case, power.

Say it out loud, whatever it is.

The viceroy of Pithom is outside.

He's not on the agenda.

- He can go back to Pithom until he is.

- No, we should deal with this.

Bring him in.

If you came here to beg the new king's

forgiveness, it won't work. Arrest him.

Wait, please. May I at least respond?

I beg you. It's in your interest.

- You make it short.

- I will...

to the king alone.

My advice is that he, and the other

generals, also leave the room.

Really? That's your advice?

You are not his advisor.

- That's right. You are.

- That's right.

Moses.

Moses.

Everybody but the viceroy... out.

Terrible news.

There you are.

So...

The viceroy. You didn't arrest him.

You didn't take

your chief advisor's advice.

No, he came.

He told me of an incident

involving two guards.

One of which survived the attack.

And I told him I did not care.

And then, he told me

the most unbelievable story.

Told to him, he said,

by very reliable sources.

Then, when pressed...

He admitted that they were Hebrew spies.

- You know what I'm talking about.

- Yes.

And what do you make of it?

I think it's offensive,

and I think it's ridiculous.

Yes. Yes! You, of all people, a Hebrew.

And I said,

How can I believe such a story?

Cousin...

You can't.

What if I take the chance

of not believing it, Moses?

What am I to do?

Bithia!

Mother.

The man is a thief.

My son discovers this. Not you.

And he reports it to your father,

who would have hanged this thief,

if he hadn't been dying himself.

- You believe his feeble, self-serving lies.

- All I want to know is if it is true.

I didn't ask for a tirade.

To talk about this any longer

would dignify it, and I won't do that.

- Answer the question. Yes or no?

- Was I talking to you?

Bring her in. Bring her in. Now!

Miriam! Come. Sit. Sit down.

Now, I'm going to ask you some things

that are going to seem very strange to you.

I just would like you

to answer them truthfully.

How do you know Moses?

You know how I know him...

And you. I helped raise you both.

So you are not his sister, then?

Of course not.

- And you're not a Hebrew.

- No.

Place your arm on the table.

- Ramses...

- Don't be stupid!

- Ramases!

- I am not talking to you!

I am talking to her.

Your whole arm on the table, Miriam.

Thank you.

Ramses...

- Don't take this any further.

- Don't take this any further, or what?

- Do not take this any further.

- Are you quite sure about that?

Get your hand off it, or use it, now.

Or perhaps you'd like

to answer the question?

Then I'll proceed.

Miriam, I'm going to ask you again,

and if your answer is again no,

I apologize for what happens next.

Are you his sister?

No.

Yes!

Yes!

You don't need a reason

to kill him, but you have one.

- This was treason.

- How was it treason?

- He just admitted he knew.

- That wasn't an admission!

Simply did not want her arm lopped off!

I saw it in his eyes.

He does not believe this story.

I don't want to believe it!

You want to believe it, because it's an

opportunity to be rid of him...

which you always wanted.

I didn't say "exiled," I said "dead."

That, I'm sure,

will follow where he's going.

Khyan... allow me to talk to my mother.

Yes, sir, yes.

Come, Miriam.

It isn't every man who would protect a

servant who's nothing more to him than that.

Certainly no one else in this family...

including me.

I wouldn't have said

what he wanted to hear.

And neither would she.

That's how much we love you.

"We"?

- It's not true.

- It is true.

You were wearing this

when I brought you to the river.

I took it off you for obvious reasons.

That's you.

The connection between you

and our mother.

Your sister saved your life.

Now you saved hers...

Moshe.

Miriam.

Sorry, sir.

- Moses!

- Moses!

I have nothing to steal.

My horse is dead.

We're not here for your horse, Moshe.

A little bit higher.

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote