Samson and Delilah Page #5

And when he called upon his god,

the thunder and the whirlwind

and the lightning

were in his blows.

A hundred killed, perhaps a thousand.

There was no counting of the slain.

But what weapon had he?

More shame to us...

the jawbone of an ass.

A jester's toy?

No sword of iron ever struck such blows.

Men fell before him like wheat

before the scythe.

But had we no horses,

no chariots to rid him down?

He overturned chariots

with a single move.

He fought within a gorge so narrow,

we trampled on the dying to attack him.

And those behind pressed forward.

And those forward were forced back

upon the blades behind them.

My eyes have never seen

such a storm of death.

And now vultures circle over

Ramath-Lehi.

And Samson...

is gone unto the hills.

Take this fool and tend his wounds.

Now where is the Lord Ahtur?

l am here, mighty Saran.

Mighty?

ln what?

Certainly not my army.

Have you come to tell us

of your triumph?

Your messenger has given us

a very thorough account.

He even told us how your warrior Zamath

charged like a lion...

and only to have his skull crushed

like an egg through his helmet.

And, uh, with what,

High prince Ahtur?

Tell this council the weapon

used against you.

Well?

Tell them.

Speak.

The jawbone of an ass.

Lord Ahtur.

Military governor of Dan.

Price of Philistia.

Army of armies...

Beaten with the jawbone of an ass.

Our armies, that scattered the Hittites,

that swept the amortizes before them,

that cut through Canaan

to conquer the circle of the earth,

beaten with the jawbone of an ass.

Are you a solider

or a clown commanding fools?

What is the number of all the forces

at our command?

Of chariots, 600 heavy, 1,000 light.

without the palace guard.

spearmen of the elite.

And we're beaten by the jawbone

of an ass.

Am l, Lord of the five cities,

to be laughed at before the world?

Before my subject peoples?

Because a Danite herdsman

routs my armies?

Don't set that down, you fool.

Burns my crops, pillages caravans,

even carries away the gates of my city!

l asked for 10,000 men

to crush these Danites for all time.

lnstead, you gave me tax collectors.

Taxes delivered Samson into your hands,

didn't they?

You couldn't hold him.

This Samson has some unknown power,

some secret that gives him

superhuman strength.

No man can stand against him.

Perhaps he'll fall before a woman.

Even Samson's strength

must have a weakness.

There isn't a man in the world who would not

share his secrets with some woman.

Most of us have shared

our gold with a woman.

More men have been trapped

by smiles than by rope.

Yes, you tried ropes, Ahtur.

Perhaps you should have smiled at him.

What is your plan, Delilah?

Would you drive a tent peg through his head

like Jael, the Canaanite?

No, that was not my plan, Lord Sharif.

Delilah, do you know a woman

who could entice this barbarian?

This killer?

Yes, my Lords,

l can deliver Samson to you.

- You, Delilah?

- You capture Samson?

- This devil?

- Heaven protect her.

A dove against a bull.

Bring in a woman,

and you'll bring in trouble.

Such devotion is very touching.

What would you

gain from his capture?

My Lord's favor.

You have that.

ls that all you want?

No.

Name your price, you shall have it.

Perhaps some little bauble

in the street of jewelers?

You're very generous.

Tell me, Sohrab.

What value did you

set upon your last caravan?

Samson raided near Gath?

Here is the reckoning.

Then that is my price...

A pharaoh's ransom for a shepherd?

Betters silver than blood.

We'll pay it.

- What? What?

- Each of us?

- Stand aside, please.

- 1,100 pieces!

- l know, but this must be recorded.

- Silence!

Calm yourselves.

You drive a sharp bargain, Delilah.

From you, my Lord,

l ask only a promise.

A promise for a promise?

What is yours?

To bring you Samson bound and helpless.

Bound by these white arms?

No.

Too high a price for me to pay.

My thoughts will be only of you.

l suggest the Princess of Gaza find

some other way to capture Samson.

You've tried other ways.

When my father and sister lay dead in the

ashes of our home, because of Samson.

He laughed at my tears.

You cannot refuse me, my Lord.

What promise do you ask?

l will learn the secret of his strength.

But when he stands captive

and is weak as other men...

no drop of his blood shall be shed.

No blade shall touch his skin.

By the sacred pillars of the temple,

we demand his death!

l want his life.

Chain him in the gristmill.

Let him grind our grain like a beast.

Let the people mock him

and make sport of him

Until he draws his breath in agony and

every word he speaks is a prayer for death.

l'll pay your price, Delilah.

And l!

You'll get your silver

when we get Samson.

All Gaza will praise you.

And if you succeed,

no price will be too great.

The council is ended.

Think she can do it?

Delilah can.

Well, Delilah, you have your price

and your promise.

My Lord is the wisest of kings

and the greatest of men.

As a king, l have no choice.

As a man, l'm letting you leave

because you want to.

King of my love,

l go to destroy your enemy...and mine.

Delilah, Delilah...

My love is only for you.

A man who could stop the heart of a lion

might stir the heart of a woman.

l will deliver Samson to you

before the month of harvest.

Tab tah azi!

Looks like a rich merchant.

Looks like a Philistine plum,

ripe to pick.

Ride back.

Tell Ahtur to wait with his soldiers

by the Scorpion's Hill.

- l'll camp in the Valley of Sorek.

- Yes, mistress.

They'll camp by the pool

at the temple ruins.

Why did the soldiers leave?

Maybe they're looking for us.

Jebus will run off the camels

after dark.

While we shear the owners.

They might shear us.

You worry more than my little mother.

Come on.

Don't cry out.

l won't.

Are you afraid?

Of a woman?

Yes.

Your caravan is rich.

Even sparrows don't travel this far

from their trade routes.

Why did you?

The jewel box is in that silver chest.

Where's your husband?

l have no husband.

Then call your master.

l have no master.

The table's laid for two.

l'm expecting a caller.

Yes?

Who?

You, Samson.

You know my name?

All Gaza knows your name.

They don't like it, l'm told.

They respected it.

Before the mighty Samson

become a common robber.

And Delilah became

the great courtesan of Gaza.

l'm stupid, Samson...

...to think l could deceive you.

Steal what you like.

This is not stealing.

These are taxes.

Your Saran taxes us,

l tax the Philistines.

What pretty Danite girl

will wear these taxes?

They'll buy armor.

They'll buy armor to protect us

against Philistine spears.

You need protection?

The woman that rules

the ruler of the five cities

must have great wealth.

Where's the rest of it?

Not far away.

l will hide nothing from you.

The oldest trick in the world...

A silk trap baited with a woman.

You know a better bait, Samson?

Men always respond.

Of all the women in Gaza,

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