Salome Page #5

when men are turned

against each other.

But since the same God is our father

and we have the same destiny,

we are all brothers.

And that is our great hope,

that humanity will prevail.

When men see that hatred

and fear are the mutual enemies

of mankind.

Guards!

Guards!

Guards! Guards!

An assassin tried to kill

John the Baptist!

Arrest him and take him

to the king, and he will reward you!

Speak up, wretch,

while you still have a tongue.

Your loyalty is commendable.

Place it at the service of your king,

and you will be repaid with

your life. Who hired you?

I asked you to be present

because your ear is keener

than mine

to palace intrigue.

Whom do you suspect?

Your Majesty,

I couldn't even

venture a guess.

Not one?

It must be somebody

close to the throne,

very close,

who knows what

the prophet's death must

mean to me. Do you agree?

Perhaps it was thought

a service, not an injury,

to Your Majesty.

Then help me reward

my loyal servant.

Have you no recommendation?

If I knew, I would

reward him myself.

Well, wretch, still dumb?

Perhaps the rack

will oil the hinges

of your tongue. Out with him.

It is late, and I'm tired.

If that is all...

That is not all. It was your hand

behind that dagger.

Yours and yours alone.

It appears you think I had good cause.

If you ever try to harm him again...

You threaten me?

You will learn that

I am king here.

I command who lives

and who dies. And the prophet

must live.

Why? Because you are mad?

Mad, am I?

You'll let him bring

the House of Herod

down on our heads.

I will bring it down on yours

if you do not get out of my sight.

Now get out!

She will murder him.

I know it.

She will hire assassin

after assassin until one

of them strikes him down.

You must protect him, sire.

How?

She will contrive his death.

And when the Messiah dies

at the hands of a Herod,

I will die.

What am I to do? Am I to wait

like a lamb for my own slaughter?

Why does the prophet

visit me with worse than

the tribulations of Job?

Why does he preach against me too?

What harm have I done him?

Does he not know

I want to protect him?

Wait.

Yes.

I will have him brought

before my ministers.

Would you try a holy man?

Is a prophet above the law

he upholds?

This prophet has spoken

against his sovereign.

Let him answer

for his treason.

Sire, to what end?

Would you sentence him?

Bring the prophecy to pass?

I have found a way at last

to make the prophet

come to terms with me.

To what terms can

a prophet come with a king?

You will see.

Captain! Have John the Baptist

brought before me

in the morning.

Sire, what are you doing?

What is your intention?

You will learn tomorrow.

Release the Baptist!

The Baptist has done no wrong!

He has committed no crime.

Down with the House of Herod!

Mother.

Release the Baptist. Free him.

He has committed no crime!

I cannot believe it.

Free the Baptist!

Forgive me for last night.

Forgive you?

You had him arrested.

You knew what it meant

to me. Thank you.

You have been brought here

to answer charges of treason.

Who bears witness against me?

The people of Galilee.

I see no one here of the people.

You see my ministers

who represent the people.

They accuse you

of arousing the people

to overthrow

the House of Herod.

I do not speak for violence.

Only evildoers must resort

to force.

You call for violence

by denouncing the throne.

I call upon the people

to pay no tribute

to iniquitous rulers.

Then you would have

another king in my place?

Yes.

One who would rule with godliness.

With justice and mercy.

You admit allegiance

to someone other than

His Majesty?

The one I acknowledge

is above all kings on earth.

Then he is mightier

even than Caesar?

He is the king of kings.

He will make all the Caesars

and the Herods tremble.

He will raise the yoke

from the oppressed,

right all wrongs,

bring a day of judgment

upon the evil masters

of the world.

And who is this

king of kings?

He is the Messiah.

But you are the Messiah.

You then are the king

who sets himself above me.

He does not declare himself

the Messiah.

Elder, I have never told

the people I am the Messiah.

Only that the Lord

has sent me

to awaken the conscience

of mankind to the coming

of the holy one.

Many people who hear you

denounce me say you

are the Messiah.

Then I have failed him

who follows me,

for I have not prepared the way

as I should have done.

What is your judgment?

Your Majesty,

he acknowledges a king

higher than you.

He is guilty of treason!

Treason!

He is guilty!

You are twisting his words

to suit your purpose.

What is the recommendation

of my ministers?

He must be punished

like all traitors.

He must die.

To the cross.

Stoned to death.

He must die.

Death to the traitor.

Take him to the cross.

My judges have pronounced

sentence upon you.

You pronounced it.

The guilt is yours and yours alone.

You have made a mockery of justice

by trying a righteous man.

Enough.

Hear me, your religious

counsellor, before it is too late.

You know that you

were not born in the faith

of our people.

Do not offend them

by committing sacrilege

against what they hold sacred.

You have already turned

their hearts against you

by breaking the law of Moses.

Do not turn the hand against you

by murdering a holy man.

Enough, I said.

I will pray for you.

Pray for them, elder.

For the Lord is beside me.

You have heard the judgment

of my ministers.

If you plead for mercy,

and if I grant it...

I will plead

for your soul.

Generation of vipers!

Do what you will with me.

But a day of judgment

is coming that will

swallow up all evildoers.

Vengeance will be the Lord's.

Silence him!

To the cross with him.

Clear the room.

Do not touch him. Get out.

You see how your enemies

are arrayed against you.

And the queen would

assassinate you. All in power

stand to murder you

were it not for me.

Have you tried me

to prove your friendship?

Yes. I am your only protector.

I, and I alone,

can save you now.

All I ask is that you

do not denounce me

before the people.

You cannot buy silence

with my life.

Say what you will

outside of Galilee.

Promise me never to return,

and I'll set you free.

My mission is here.

Then speak only of religion.

Leave the House of Herod to itself.

I cannot.

For it stands on a foundation of sin.

And I have been ordained

to root out sin,

offer repentance to all

who will listen.

I offer it to you now.

Return to God.

How?

Give up the throne.

No. That I cannot do.

It is my life.

I speak of a life everlasting.

Seek repentance.

I will not give up

the throne.

And I cannot allow you

to preach against me

any longer.

I will place you under guard here

in the palace where

you can do no harm.

Guards.

You will find no peace

in my imprisonment.

Only the Lord can ease

the terrible burden of evil

on your soul.

Take him.

Elder. What has happened

to our prophet?

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