Salome Page #4

I have ruled without adding

to Caesar's troubles.

Where else does

sedition lead?

The Baptist is harmless.

Nobody listens to him

but a few beggars.

If I were to stop him,

the word would spread

that I interfere with religion.

That will inflame

the people.

You must allow me to

keep order in my own way.

Very well. Keep order

your way. But no one

is to speak against Rome.

That is my responsibility.

And yours alone.

Should you be unable to cope

with any disturbances,

the commander here

will report it to me.

I start early tomorrow

for Jerusalem. I must retire.

So you would even enlist

the Romans against me.

To save us both.

You mean, to save yourself.

We were speaking.

What were we speaking

about, my dear?

If Your Majesty will excuse me,

the journey was exhausting.

Remember, you march early.

Commander.

You have been here

for many years. I'm sure

nothing has escaped you.

Who is this

John the Baptist?

A prophet.

A prophet?

But why is my mother

so afraid of him?

And the king, he seems

just as terrified.

What is happening here?

Why does he denounce them?

I understand he preaches

a new religion.

My mother says

he scorns the throne.

He speaks of a different world,

founded on justice and mercy.

Justice and mercy.

Strange words from a Roman.

Those are the words

of the prophet.

As you say, nothing escapes

a man in my position.

The truth about him certainly

appears to have escaped you.

Claudius!

You were supposed to meet me

for final instructions.

Must she always

take precedence over me?

No such danger.

I shall arrange for your

departure immediately, sir.

Princess. Princess.

Princess, please do not

go to the marketplace.

It is dangerous.

Is the guide here?

He is waiting at the terrace.

Come.

Run to and fro through

the streets, search in

the great plains

for one man who seeketh

the Lord.

For verily I say unto you,

the heaven of which I speak

can be found here on earth

if we live like children

of God,

and not like beasts of prey

as those that rule you now.

People of Galilee,

Herod is an alien king.

He is descended

from a desert tribe

of heathens.

He was not born

in the faith of our fathers.

Though he may profess to believe,

he makes a mockery

of the Lord's commandments.

Rulers who do not observe

the laws of God can only bring

disaster to the people.

Pay the House of Herod

no tribute!

Do not let them proceed

to new crimes,

or misery and destruction

shall fall upon thee.

And not a stone of thy house

shall remain unmolested.

For as certainly as all rivers

rush to the ocean,

the day of justice shall come.

For the cup of despair brims over.

Iniquity sits upon the throne.

The king has forsaken the people

for wine and harlots.

And the queen lives

in sinful luxury

with no heart for the afflictions

of the poor.

Her wickedness and her evil...

You will not say that of the queen!

I will speak against sin!

She has done nothing.

She is an adulteress!

That is a lie. A lie!

She has turned from her husband

to marry his brother.

She scorns the law

that was given to us.

The law. Words.

She has harmed no one.

She has brought injury

to all the people.

By placing herself

above the law,

she has destroyed

the equality of justice!

I will have you silenced.

Daughter of Herodias!

Yes.

I am her daughter.

Heed me, Galilieans!

Do not visit the sins

of one generation upon another.

Daughter of Herodius, I know

your heart speaks for your mother.

But let it not blind you

to the evil of her ways.

Though you are

of her flesh and blood,

your soul is your own.

Abide not her wickedness.

Where have you been,

dressed like that?

At the marketplace.

I heard the Baptist speak.

Oh, how I hoped

you would never hear him.

He has made my life

a misery.

Why does the king allow him

to humiliate you?

He is afraid to stop him.

Afraid?

Why should the king be afraid of...?

Because of a prophecy

made in the time

of his father,

Herod the Great.

What prophecy?

"If a king of the House of Herod

harms the Messiah,

he will die in agony."

The king thinks

the Baptist is the Messiah.

He fears if he harms him,

he will die in terrible pain

like his father.

That a king could believe

such things and permit anyone

to speak against you.

And call for my death.

No, Mother. He did not incite

the people to harm you.

He calls me an adulteress.

There is only one punishment

for this crime:

To be stoned by the people.

Stop!

But you are innocent.

I have broken

a senseless law,

and for that they want me to die.

Oh, Mother.

Mother, leave. Leave this place.

I will go with you anywhere.

I cannot leave Galilee.

But what is to keep

you here?

The king?

Not the king. The throne.

Oh, the throne.

What does it matter when

your life is in danger?

The throne is more

than life to me.

It is the legacy I leave you,

my daughter.

You will be the next queen.

The throne will be yours,

but only if I guard it for you.

I will suffer anything

so that you may inherit it.

I will endure a loveless marriage,

humiliation by a madman,

even stoning.

Therefore Rome may expect

the following yield in taxes:

From the province...

I did not mean

to disturb you.

We will continue later.

I am sorry for

my rudeness last night.

Then you no longer hate

all Romans?

Not all Romans.

What is it?

Tell me.

How much do you love me?

What is the measure

of love?

What is asked of another,

and what is granted.

Anything.

One favour.

Anything you ask.

Is that a promise?

Yes.

Help me save my mother.

Arrest the Baptist.

That I cannot do.

Why not?

I cannot interfere.

You can stop him!

I can do nothing.

I could report it

to Pontius Pilate.

But arrest him?

I have no such authority.

You mean, you do not

want to use it.

You're late,

my dear councillor.

My daughter has already

informed me of what was said

in the marketplace.

Did she also inform you

that the Baptist will speak

again tonight?

Tonight.

Even now they are gathering

to hear him.

He'll rave until the stones

are hurled against me.

What else can happen

when the people see

he is not punished?

If no retribution comes,

the rabble can only

regard it as a token

of the king's approval.

I fear so, Your Majesty.

He must be stopped tonight.

And will your daughter

persuade the king?

She cannot be rushed

into Herod's arms.

It'll take time.

There is no time.

Micha, you will silence him.

Your Majesty,

I must remind you,

the assassination

of John the Baptist may...

The king will suspect you.

And in his anger he may...

It is a risk I must take.

The desperate can only

survive by taking

desperate measures.

Your Majesty.

The crooked paths

shall be made straight.

And the rough way

shall be made smooth

so that we shall receive

the salvation of God.

The day has come

when men must cease

to march from one evil

to another and know

not the Lord.

It is true we live

in times of violence,

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