Salome Page #3

I can no longer retreat

into the wilderness.

Next, I will preach in the city.

No. It is too dangerous.

Wait until you have

more followers.

There is no time to wait.

The kingdom of heaven

is at hand.

The people must know

that there is hope.

John, stay out of the city.

You will have no protection.

The Lord will protect me.

How? Will he send

a thousand swords

to guard you?

Claudius, in time you will learn

to put all your faith in the Lord.

I know it will come,

even as it came to you

after many years of killing

that the way of

the conqueror is wrong.

If I could reach

more Roman hearts,

if they were as open

as yours is to the horror

of slaughter and slavery...

You will reach no one

by inviting death.

And you embrace it

by speaking in the city.

When I do, do not risk

your life for me as you did today.

If Rome learns you follow me,

you will end on the rack.

You taught me a man

must serve his faith.

Yes, but there are

many ways to serve.

Never with a sword.

Now go before you are missed.

Stay.

It's deadly. Do not move.

Why are you so bitter

against all Romans?

Because I know what a Roman is.

Tell me.

A heartless shell of a man

ruled by Caesar.

You condemn every Roman

because Caesar banished you?

Do you know why he did?

No matter why.

Because I loved a Roman once.

But he chose Caesar

instead of a barbarian.

I would make no such choice.

And I would not love a Roman

ever again.

It's a Roman caravan.

Prepare to receive them.

Your Majesty,

Princess Salome

is in the caravan.

My daughter? Oh!

Make all preparations

to welcome her.

I am to attend

your needs.

Take me to your king.

I will convey

your message.

Your Majesty.

Commander, welcome back to Galilee.

I am very happy to be here.

I trust you

relaxed properly in Rome.

I shall enjoy hearing

of your conquests

as if they were my own.

You must give me an account

in detail, my dear commander.

In detail?

I have nothing to recount

that would be of interest

to Your Majesty.

You came back

with an escort befitting...

Befitting a new governor,

Pontius Pilate.

Pilate?

He is now the governor

of these provinces.

I bring you his felicitations

and his request for an audience

at your earliest convenience.

At his convenience,

no doubt.

What an undeserved honour,

Caesar sending so great

a soldier to govern

our poor provinces.

To what do we owe

this favour?

Oh, I am sure

Governor Pilate will prefer

to enlighten you himself.

He has enlightened me

regarding his taste in women.

Pilate conquers supremely.

A jewel like that. Hmm.

She's incredible.

Who is she?

Princess Salome.

My stepdaughter?

Salome.

Mother.

Oh, what

a heaven-sent surprise.

Let me look at you.

Why, just yesterday you were

the child I sent to Rome.

You are just as

I remember you, Mother.

Come. You must

be exhausted.

Why did you not dispatch word

that you were coming?

I would have sent

the palace guard to meet you.

Though your escort would

do honour to a Roman

emperor's daughter.

I knew when you came home

it would be with the best

that Rome could give.

I knew that only in Rome

would you find happiness.

No, Mother.

I made the mistake of wanting

to marry a Roman.

And Caesar banished me.

A daughter of the Herods

banished from Rome?

Oh, Mother, forgive me.

What is it?

Your Majesty, the king

requests an audience.

Tell His Majesty...

No, wait. I will tell him.

Take the princess

to her room.

I will present you

to the king later.

This is the first time in years

you have entered my chamber.

I came to welcome

your daughter.

After all, I have not seen her

since she was a child.

And you cannot wait to see

what a difference

the years have made.

I can imagine the difference,

my dear.

I know that it is useless

to assure you,

but only my sense of duty

brings me here.

Certainly not your duty

as my husband.

Where is she? I have other

matters to attend to.

She's indisposed.

Convey my regrets.

And I suggest that you

do not keep her indisposed

for the dinner tonight

in honour of

the new governor.

Your Majesty's trusted councillor.

I've just learned that Caesar

has appointed a new governor.

The king told me.

Oh?

Does it seem strange

to you that my husband

should come in here?

Why, only... I only meant that...

No need to spare me,

my dear councillor.

We have no secrets

from each other.

The king did not come

to see me, but my

beautiful daughter.

Beautiful?

Like no other.

A rare beauty in the palace?

Micha.

Your Majesty.

I wonder, should beauty

be wasted or used

for a purpose?

Strange. The identical question

crossed my mind.

Would you say that I have done

everything I could

to protect my daughter

from the king?

Well, you could do

no more.

Sending her to Rome

to keep her far from the king.

And now that she

is near him

and his appetite

has grown much keener...

Yes, much keener,

Your Majesty.

- could her return

not be used to

my advantage?

It is quite within the realm

of possibility.

Your Majesty, may I

suggest for your sake

that you lose no time

in using that advantage?

Yes, Micha.

Why is the princess not here?

Her absence is an insult.

Felicitations from Caesar Tiberius.

Your Excellency.

Your Majesty,

this is my daughter.

I remember the child.

The blossom does justice

to the bud.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Or should I say,

the radiant flower

that bloomed in Rome

beautiful beyond

my expectations.

Is Your Excellency

ready to dine?

Splendid. As tasty

as anything in Rome.

You have not eaten

anything, my dear.

You know,

I owe your mother

an enormous debt.

She sent you to Rome

when you were a child.

We shall have all the pleasure

of becoming acquainted now.

After Rome, I'm afraid,

you'll find life very dull here.

Of course, I shall do

my feeble best to amuse you.

Do you like hunting?

Boating?

I'll order a royal barge

from the Egyptians.

Your Majesty need not trouble.

I will find ways to make

the time pass.

I'll help you.

Yes, captain?

We have no secrets before

the governor. What is it?

Your Majesty,

the Baptist is in the city.

Word is about that he will speak

in the marketplace tomorrow.

The Baptist?

Was not that the rabble-rouser who

was in our way at the River Jordan?

Yes, sir.

Have you any orders, Your Majesty?

No. Let him speak.

So you allow troublemakers

to speak out?

Your Excellency,

he is a peaceful man.

He causes no trouble.

He is a menace,

Your Excellency.

He threatens...

The queen exaggerates

the importance

of a simple preacher.

He denounces the House of Herod

in the name of religion.

Your Excellency will agree.

Anyone who scorns the throne

should be silenced.

This man says nothing

against us.

He speaks against Rome.

I heard him.

Rome nails every traitor

to a cross, crucifies them

by the thousands

so that the rabble

may know their master.

And yet you let a traitor speak out.

Your Excellency,

I am king here. Thus far,

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