The Robe Page #6

I used to wonder at that myself,

until faith taught me the answer.

He could have healed my body, and it would

have been natural for me to laugh and sing.

And then I came to understand that

he had done something even better for me.

He'd chosen me for his work.

He'd left me as I am so that all others like me

might know that misfortune needn't deprive

them of happiness within his kingdom.

It's beyond reason that

anybody should think as you do.

If you had only known him,

looked into his eyes, heard him speak...

- I did.

- I don't understand.

Please. It's enough.

You're in no danger from me.

I'm leaving. Now.

- We hoped you'd stay.

- Do you want to die?

- Of course not.

- Then let me go.

No one's holding you, Marcellus.

But a man came here this morning

I wanted you to meet, the big fisherman.

- Fisherman?

- Simon the Galilean.

The one Jesus called Peter.

Did he come alone?

No, he has a companion, a Greek.

Where are they?

At Shalum's inn. It's not far from here.

Marcellus?

I don't know what's in your heart.

I've tried to tell you what's in mine.

But it's clear that you're troubled,

and I wish I could help you.

Every man must find his own way,

but sometimes it's a comfort

to know that others, too,

have felt confused and lost.

Don't lose heart, Marcellus.

The way is never easy,

but it's a path good men must take.

I hope you'll find yours.

The Greek, Demetrius. Where is he?

Up the stairs. The first door you see.

Stand up in the presence of your master.

That robe. Where is it?

The robe?

- Here.

- Keep away.

Sir, you look ill.

There. Burn it.

- Why?

- It cast a spell on me.

- It couldn't.

- I order you to burn it. Now.

Why are you afraid of it? I'm not.

It brings me close to the one who wore it.

I've ordered you to burn it.

That you will have to do yourself.

I'll have you whipped

and sold as a galley slave.

I'll teach you who's master here.

I know who my master is.

You're afraid, but you don't

really know the reason why.

You think it's his robe that made you ill.

But it's your own conscience,

your own decent shame.

Even when you crucified him you felt it.

The spell isn't in here,

it's in your heart and your mind.

Face it, Marcellus. Don't be afraid of him.

He'd understand you.

He had compassion for all men.

Marcellus.

It was for your sake that he died.

For the sake of all of us.

No. No. No.

I am not afraid.

I'm not afraid.

Until now, you only remembered

what you did to a man.

The wrong, and your shame.

But now you remember the man.

Come, let me present you.

Marcellus Gallio, tribune of Rome.

Peter, fisherman of Galilee.

A humble subject of the empire

is honoured, Tribune.

I think the honour is mine, sir.

Everybody, move closer.

Sit down, children. Closer, everybody.

Sit down. I want to talk to you.

Neighbours and friends, many of us

were privileged to know our master.

But none was as close to him

as our friend Simon of Galilee,

whom he loved as his own brother,

and whom he called Peter.

On that terrible night when he was betrayed,

when some doubted and all fled his side,

only Peter remained steadfast,

loyal to the end.

You may speak in a moment, Peter.

Now it's my turn.

And so, my neighbours, on this happy day,

I welcome you here to honour...

Stop it. Stop it!

Stop it. Stay where you are.

Advance. Advance.

Halt.

Well, Tribune. Your new command?

Centurion, by what authority

do you attack these people?

I need no authority

to clean out a nest of traitors.

- Withdraw your men.

- And your authority, Tribune?

- An imperial commission.

- I know you have it.

But it's no longer in effect.

Tiberius is dead.

Caligula is emperor.

Hits you hard, doesn't it?

- Men.

- Wait.

An imperial commission is good until it is

revoked by the emperor, whoever he may be.

- Have you new orders from Caligula?

- No, but...

Then obey mine.

Make me obey, Tribune.

No. You won't try, will you?

Brave enough with a dice, or a cup of wine.

A tribune because you bear an important

name, because you have friends at court.

Well, you outrank me, but

I earned my rank, every step of it,

in Gaul and Iberia and Africa,

against the enemies of Rome.

With this.

Make me obey you, Tribune,

if you're fool enough to try.

You are a fool.

I've split more men from head to foot

than you see in this square.

If I win, you'll keep your word?

You'll withdraw your men?

If you win, they'll be yours to command.

I'll be dead.

Well? What are you waiting for?

Finish it.

You may give that order now, Centurion.

Column! Form square!

Prepare to march.

Formation, turn.

Column forward.

Marcellus?

Demetrius and I will leave in the morning.

We go to Syria, Lebanon, then Greece,

Sicily, and finally Rome itself.

Everywhere we'll find friends.

Everywhere our movement grows.

And you, Marcellus?

I suppose I'll go back to Rome.

Demetrius and I

wondered if you'd come with us.

- You want me?

- We can always use courage and devotion.

No. No.

- It's impossible. I can never be one of you.

- Why not?

Marcellus, is there

something you want to tell me?

Yes.

Yes.

- I'll try.

- If it will make it easier,

let me tell you about the burden I carry.

You heard Justus say

I was steadfast and loyal.

He didn't know.

The night Jesus needed

me most, I denied him.

Not once, but three times.

I swore I never knew him.

Now.

I crucified him.

I know. Demetrius told me.

And you can forgive me?

He forgave you from the cross.

Can I do less?

Now, does anything stand in your way?

Can you be one of us?

From this day on,

I'm enlisted in his service.

I offer him my sword, my fortune and my life.

And this I pledge you

on my honour as a Roman.

- Will you wait for me here, please?

- Yes, my lady.

The emperor will see you now.

The lady Diana, as beautiful as ever.

- And as cold.

- You commanded my presence here, sire.

- Only because my invitations were ignored.

- I sent word that I was ill.

And you have chosen to be a guest of

Senator Gallio, who bears me no great love.

Shouldn't I consider

such behaviour an affront?

You are the emperor, sire.

It is not in my power to affront you.

Good. Good.

Tell me, what news have the Gallios had

of their precious son Marcellus?

- None, sire.

- And you.

He must have written to you.

Not for almost a year.

His last letter was from

a village in Palestine called Cana.

And nothing since then?

Nothing from Antioch,

or Ephesus, or Corinth?

You are telling the truth, aren't you?

Poor Diana. He's played

you false, like the rest of us.

- What do you mean?

- I mean he's here in Rome,

and has been for some time.

- That's impossible.

- He fooled me, too.

I thought he was only a wastrel and a clown.

He's become one of the most

dangerous men in the empire,

a traitor and a conspirator against the state.

- No. Not Marcellus.

- That's why he hasn't come to you,

or his family, or his friends.

You've heard of this new sect, these fanatics

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