The Sign of the Cross Page #5

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I know. You had such an exciting night.

There now, relax.

Caesar, if I...

How can you disturb our beloved Emperor

when he's feeling so badly?

If it's the order for the girl

you're concerned about...

I'll dictate that myself.

Beloved, there.

Marcus! Marcus,

where are you going?

Be careful, Marcus.

Ancaria won't let her go.

What ails you, Marcus? Is it

your heart or your stomach?

By Jupiter's

thunderbolt, Marcus...

you haven't finished your cup!

Something needs my attention,

something very personal.

Keep it going!

Bring her here.

What's all

this about?

Why have you left the table?

Why eat stale bread when there's

luscious food in the house?

You go on back. Go on back and

make my apologies.

Luscious food?

Oh! I see.

Yes.

Marcus.

Yeah.

I hear Christians

aren't digestible.

Never mind, never mind.

Go on, go on.

Marcus!

I intended to see you sooner.

Oh, Marcus. I couldn't understand

why you didn't.

I was called to the palace.

And then this banquet's

been raging since noon.

Marcus, I told you

last night...

my life means more now than...

I haven't forgotten that.

Suddenly everything changed.

I wanted to live.

You will, Mercia.

How can I now?

Some way, it will be done.

You belong here with me,

and you'll stay.

Oh, you don't know what I'm saying.

I can't live if the others are killed.

Something must be done for them.

No, it's impossible.

Not to you.

Isn't there something?

No. No, you'll have to

forget them.

I couldn't.

There'd be no happiness

for the rest of my life.

Oh, that's absurd.

Even with you.

Try to help them.

What do they mean to us?

I'm one of them.

Not anymore.

I don't understand you.

There's nothing to understand.

You're here, that's all.

They don't exist anymore.

Oh, wait, Marcus.

An entirely new life

begins for you.

With me. Tonight.

I see.

Oh, Mercia.

I was very simple.

I thought there'd be something

better for you and me.

Better?

It doesn't matter to you what I think

or feel, so long as I'm here.

It never did matter.

Oh, Marcus...

you never meant anything but

to make me one of your slaves.

Don't think of it that way.

I want you here.

You want to be with me, you'll have

everything with me.

No, I'd rather go back to them.

We have a right to this.

I can't see it like that,

I can't.

Well, then something has twisted

you out of all natural feeling.

Your kind of life,

your faith has done it.

I've always believed Christianity

was merely stupid...

but it's vicious

if it can do this to you.

Where is this luscious food?

Careful, Marcus.

Ancaria has blood in her eye.

If the host deserts his guests,

the guests shall find the host.

And here we are.

I hope never to rise again.

Look out, Marcus.

Here she comes.

Ancaria!

Marcus!

Without you, there's no

flavor to the feast.

Marcus...

you and I are

wasting the evening.

Why...

By the back of Venus, look!

A Christian girl!

I've heard of her.

Marcus plays host

all over the house.

A beauty, Marcus.

Why hide her, Marcus?

So this was the enchantment.

Present us, Marcus.

Or aren't we virtuous enough?

It would, perhaps, help you both

to know each other.

The lady Mercia,

this is Ancaria...

the most wicked and

talented woman in Rome.

And my friends,

who are content with life.

Come and join us.

Bring her out.

No. Leave her alone.

Let's look at

this model of purity.

She looks ripe enough

for any party.

Tell us, Marcus,

was she pleasant?

Superior to me?

Why, she's frozen with virtue.

Couldn't you warm her

into life?

No. No, I tried,

but I couldn't.

See what you can do, Ancaria.

Try one of your songs.

Yes. A song, Ancaria.

Perfect.

If that doesn't do it,

she's dead.

A love song, Ancaria...

with the pantomime.

Can you melt snow, Ancaria?

Sing. Try it.

Dance, Ancaria.

Dance the Naked Moon!

Start the music!

The last time she danced that...

Don't tell!

The moon would blush

at Ancaria's dancing.

I must have

missed that.

Play! Play the Naked Moon.

She's only got two.

Under the naked moon

I found you

We meet

I've seen you in my dreams

In dreams indiscreet

With torture so sweet

I've loved you

in dreams

Breathe upon me

Draw me

Gently touch my heart

What's that singing?

The Christians, on their way to

the arena dungeon.

I've danced to dirges,

but I couldn't dance to that.

Go on, Ancaria. Go on. Why, you haven't

even started to undress the moon.

I can't go on when

they are singing like that.

Drown them out!

A love song is stronger

than a fanatical dirge.

Keep on! Play!

Love will be warm

In the gold of your hair

Feed from your lips

Atremble with mysteries old

Persuasive, then bold

Until his madness outstrips

I breathe upon you

Draw unto you

And let love spread his wings

We have been two

We shall be one

Both throb

They're coming closer!

They're louder.

Why don't you stop them, Marcus?

Then sing louder yourself!

Play!

Oh! We have been two

We shall be one

What are you smiling at?

Why, you...

I told you to stop them!

Get out!

I told you I couldn't stand...

All of you, get out!

And leave me alone with her.

You, take her out.

Good luck, Marcus.

You'll be back with me!

Well, right now I've got better sport.

Go on, get out!

Get out!

I've heard of worse.

Stop that, Ancaria!

Remove the lights.

Close the room.

Ancaria was frightened

by the Christians' singing...

but I'm not impressed.

Please send me back to them.

No.

Not yet, at least.

Not until you live

as you were meant to live.

Marcus, listen to me.

I don't want to live like this.

I want to die with them.

You mean you'd give up

life with me...

and would rather die

for a belief, for some vague...

It isn't vague. It's certain.

One man proved it.

He changed men with it.

It's an illusion.

It's madness, I tell you.

Rome and mankind will go on

as they are forever.

Your Christianity will be stamped out

and dead within a year.

I know better.

Mercia, don't you see what

this thing has done to you?

It hasn't let you live. It's deformed you.

It's made love impossible to...

As you look at love, yes,

not as I look at it.

I've no use for your kind of happiness.

Send me back to them.

No, you're not going to die with them.

You're going to live with me.

Did you think I'd share you

with this Christ?

Let me go.

Mercia, be honest. You want

to be with me. You love me.

I want to be with them.

But with me first.

Marcus, let me go!

Excellence! Excellence!

Excellence.

What is it?

From the Emperor.

What do you want?

That girl is a

condemned Christian.

That's my concern.

Get out!

Not without her.

She goes to the arena dungeon to die

with the rest of the Christians tomorrow.

Take her.

I tell you, she's not leaving here.

No, Marcus.

It's a pity she stopped you.

I like you so little...

I wish you had called your men

and prevented my taking her.

It would have cost your life.

I hold the Emperor's order.

Face!

Forward!

Caesar, I pledge my honor...

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