Salome Page #6

What has the king

done with him?

Will he harm him?

He has imprisoned him.

We will free him!

Abide in peace.

Nothing will be gained

by violence.

But, elder... But, elder...

Your Majesty, this is more

than a suggestion.

Peace must be maintained.

I demand you release the prisoner.

This does not concern Rome.

Whatever threatens the peace

concerns Rome.

The peace is not threatened.

Every minute you keep the Baptist

increases the danger

of bloodshed and disorder.

There is less danger now.

You removed this man

from his followers.

I will treat him well.

He can have anything he desires.

Anyone can see him. Anyone.

He is still your prisoner!

The people will rise.

I will put them down.

Commander, you have

no authority to force his release.

Saddle three horses.

We leave for Jerusalem

immediately.

Claudius!

Why does the princess

call the Roman?

Where is he going?

Does that matter?

I found him more of a friend

than anyone here.

My dear, in what way

have I been remiss?

You allowed a madman to inflame

the people against my mother.

The commander

had him arrested.

Is that what he said?

The lying dog of a Roman.

Claudius wanted me to free him.

Free him?

The Roman pleaded,

ranted, threatened,

did all he could

to make me release him.

It was I who ordered

him arrested.

I am sorry

to disillusion you,

my dear.

I lost my illusions

about Romans long ago.

Splendid.

To be a realist

is the beginning

of wisdom.

And the wise know

that nothing matters except

to find pleasure

in the present.

How little I've seen of you

since your return.

I've hardly had a chance

to welcome you home.

For the homecoming

of a princess.

Your Majesty

is most generous.

Please wear this at the banquet

in the honour of my birthday.

I should be giving

His Majesty a gift,

not receiving one.

Your presence will be

the most precious gift of all.

Let's see if the artisan

has done justice

to your beauty.

No silk nor spun gold

can compare.

Your Majesty, l...

I cannot wear this.

Why not?

It is more fitting

you give it to the queen.

It is mine to give

as I wish.

Not mine to accept.

Then wear it for me.

Let it be a token

between us.

That you may know

how much...

How much you please me.

Allow the queen

to please Your Majesty.

Am I to be denied

what I want above all?

One woman with whom

I can find forgetfulness.

Your Majesty takes

much for granted,

even though he is king.

And he forgets,

the queen is my mother.

Why should you want

to interfere?

Herod has good cause

to imprison this rabble-rouser.

The arrest of John the Baptist

may have serious consequences.

It might start a rebellion that

would spread throughout

the provinces.

You must order his release.

Claudius,

as a Roman, I would expect you

to ask for his execution.

Your Excellency, we've served

together for many years.

May I speak frankly?

I've never thought

you spoke otherwise.

Rome cannot go on as it has,

ruling with a sword and a whip.

If we are to survive,

we must recognize

that a new force

is coming into the world.

New force?

The religion of this prophet.

It will bring hope

to the conquered.

It will bring peace

to all men

by teaching every man

how to live at peace

with his neighbours.

This faith will march across

the world and win men

where Rome could

only conquer them.

Caesar is the only faith

possible for a Roman.

I believe the religion of this prophet

will surge over the earth.

Become his protector,

and you would achieve immortality.

Yes, immortality.

Think of it.

Your name will be enscrolled

on the pages of history.

Your name will ring down

through the years.

Pontius Pilate:

The first champion

of a new religion.

Immortality.

In a few years from now,

we shall all be dust

and forgotten

no matter what

we do here.

The name of Caesar

will live on.

But Pontius Pilate? Never.

The God of the Baptist is eternal.

Ally yourself with him,

and your name

will never die.

A new religion that

will march across the world.

A God that is eternal.

You've been here for years.

And I, only a few weeks.

Yet already I know this country

better than you.

It's ridden with prophets.

Right here in Jerusalem

there's a carpenter that

even claims he's the son of God.

Yes. They call him

a man of miracles.

Miracles?

They say he can make

the lame walk, the blind see.

And if the rabble

in Jerusalem wish to believe

such idiotic nonsense,

let them.

But I will not tolerate

anyone denouncing Rome

under the cloak of religion.

And this your prophet does.

But, Your Excellency...

Claudius.

How can you ask for his release,

knowing that he's a traitor?

I cannot understand

a valiant soldier

and a brilliant officer

turning to treason.

I've found a greater loyalty

than Rome:

Humanity.

Were I not your friend,

had we not fought

many battles together,

shared many dangers

in the field,

were I not mindful

of how bravely you've

served me and Rome,

I would be compelled

to execute you for treason.

However, I must relieve you

of your post.

I will not place you

under arrest.

But I cannot permit you

to return to Galilee.

You'll stay here

in Jerusalem until we

have word of a galley

leaving for Rome.

Yes, Your Excellency.

Claudius.

I'm sorry, Claudius.

Claudius.

The last remains of the 9th Legion.

Come. Join us.

We are on our way

to my villa.

No. Wait. Tell me,

do you know this carpenter

who claims to be

the son of God?

You mean the man of miracles?

The great healer

who cures everything

just by touching you?

They say he turned water

into wine at a wedding

in Cana.

Imagine the money

he would save us.

Well, come with us.

Wait.

Where is he now?

Well, I heard he went to Bethany.

Why? Do you want

to see him?

Bethany.

I can see.

I can see.

I can see.

I can see.

I can see.

I can see.

I can see.

Down with the House

of Herod! The prophet is innocent!

Free the Baptist!

The Baptist has done no wrong!

Release the Baptist!

The Baptist must go free!

Down with the House of Herod!

He's innocent!

The king is a heathen!

What is it, Your Majesty?

My affectionate subjects

helping us celebrate

the event of my birth.

They seem quite threatening

in their affections,

Your Majesty.

Let us go on with the feast.

Down with the House of Herod!

Death to the queen!

The queen is an adulteress!

Death to the queen!

Your Majesty, I've never seen

the rabble in such a mood.

The stupid fools!

They will soon learn

how I reward those

who threaten...

Death to the queen!

Micha, stand back.

They'll break into the palace.

They'll stone me.

Nothing but my death

will satisfy them.

Micha, go quickly.

Try to pacify them.

Down with the House of Herod!

Careful. A stone may

strike you.

Mother, we cannot stay here.

We must stay here.

If I let that rabble

depose me,

you will be next.

Your life means more to me than...

I will not let them deprive you

of your heritage

after all I've sacrificed.

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