The Sign of the Cross Page #6

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that she shall never

menace the people of Rome...

nor your own most sacred life.

Only let her live.

It must be love that has made Marcus

so lenient of Christians.

Yes...

I do love her.

If this one Christian life

will make our Marcus happy...

Is Nero justice in the Roman world,

or merely a puppet Emperor?

What?

If he is justice...

then not even one

Christian can be spared...

if Christians are

to be killed.

Empress, have mercy.

Poppaea is right, Marcus.

I'm afraid it's impossible.

It must be possible, Caesar.

This must be made

possible to me.

No faithful subject

would ask it.

I do ask it.

And Nero has no more

loyal subject than I.

You, Empress...

who knows better than you that I

have been faithful to the Emperor?

I have the right to ask.

I have obeyed and honored you.

I have risked my life

in your service.

And all that I shall ever ask for it,

a small thing to you...

is that you give me the life of

this one girl whom I love, Caesar.

With my whole heart,

I plead with you to spare her.

No, Marcus.

We do not want barbarians

laughing at Roman justice.

This thing I ask is justice.

To achieve it, I will take steps

to move the world of Caesar.

I demand that you

spare this girl!

Marcus!

You've gone too far.

Seize him!

Nero. Nero beloved.

Love has made him insane.

Caesar, forgive me...

but spare this girl

if you have any compassion.

Caesar is compassionate...

but he is also justice.

I must remain justice, Marcus.

If only

she weren't a Christian.

Marcus...

if she would publicly

renounce her faith...

Not even then.

If she renounced,

then justice can be merciful.

I can't stay

any longer, Marcus.

But Caesar, she will not renounce.

Then she dies.

Hear me.

Have a little consideration.

Would you have me late for the games?

Caesar.

You harlot.

I love you.

We can't see a thing

up this high.

I couldn't get anything better.

The Maiuses got better ones.

Honey! Figs!

They're in the second tier.

We won't see half what they see.

We won't smell half as much

Christian blood either.

I'll wager 500 on Merius, the Gaul.

He's unbeaten.

Well, I'll take

the Greek for 200.

Come along. You

would, of all the times!

Will they let the Christians defend

themselves this time, does anybody know?

I've got

two extra seats.

Would you like to

sit beside me?

How many chariot colors?

Blue, green and red.

Green is the favorite!

As much as I've got

on the green!

Blue to beat him.

Honey, figs.

I saw at least a thousand coffins

waiting on the other side for the dead.

Do you know, I generally sink

with the gladiators...

and revive for the Christians.

You'll miss some wonderful

things this time.

Three programs.

You needn't get one for me.

I've changed my mind.

The only red liquid

that appeals to me is wine.

Oh, let him go.

He has a heart of cheese.

Come on.

I've lost my tickets.

Well, don't you remember

the number of your seats?

I heard the lions all morning.

They're starved. All they've had

for days is the smell of bleeding meat.

Honey, figs.

It's a fine program today.

The last two were pretty tame.

Nero's said this is going to be

the best that Rome ever saw.

It's about time.

The magnificent tradition of life

and death combat is going to the dogs.

Last time they had 40 pairs of

gladiators and only seven killings.

It's warm inside.

Get a fan.

One hundred Christians.

Honey, figs.

It doesn't say how they're

to be killed, just "execution."

We'll leave that to Nero.

It will be some interesting way.

And bloody enough.

Thank you.

Blessed are

the poor in sprit...

for theirs is

the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they that mourn,

for they shall be comforted.

I believe, I believe.

But come down and save me now.

Soon we'll stand before God

to be judged...

to answer for our sin,

to stand before his wrath.

His mercy, Tyros.

There is none.

Not anymore.

Mercy has only begun.

I tell you all...

Tyros.

Blessed are the meek, for they

shall inherit the earth.

Daughter. Daughter.

Stephan.

I wonder where Bucco is.

Where will he get his dinner?

Oh, Stephan, does that mean

you're so hungry?

No.

Water.

Water.

I shall fear no evil,

for thou art with me.

Water!

No, I'll take it to him.

Blessed are ye...

when men shall revile you,

persecute you...

and shall say all manner

of evil against you falsely...

for my sake.

We've called upon him to spare us.

To protect us.

Where, where is he?

He is closer to us now

than he has ever been.

Blessed are the merciful,

for they shall obtain mercy.

Walk out upon the sand

without fear, singing.

We have sinned.

Death is not the escape.

When even the thief

upon the cross beside him...

asked him to remember,

Jesus said...

"This day shalt thou

be with me."

Blessed are we.

He threw him over his head, didn't he?

Yeah.

Oh, God.

They are beginning.

Hail, Caesar!

We who are about to die

salute thee.

I'll wager 50 pieces

on the Gaul.

I'll wager that on my Grecian.

I told you we couldn't see

anything up this high.

If it wasn't your wife you

were taking to the racecourse...

if it were some charming friend,

you'd sit down in the box seats.

But of course, anything is good

enough for your wife and child.

Well, the gallery was good enough

before we were married.

We were interested

in each other then.

The Gaul has got him!

I'll wager 300 silver...

on Demos, the Thracian.

On the Thracian?

Thracian there.

Done. I'll take the Gaul.

If I win, I'll give a feast.

You'll lose.

Mercy! Have mercy!

Mercy, Caesar.

Death! Death! Death!

Three hundred silver.

Hail, Caesar!

Hail, Caesar!

Hail, Caesar!

Hail, Caesar!

Hail, Caesar!

Come on! Come on!

Look! Look!

He's got him.

Look, he's got him.

No, please.

Empress, she will enter alone.

Christ also was raised from the dead

through the glory of the Father...

so that we also might walk

in the newness of life.

Hallowed be thy name.

In the name of the Father and

of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done...

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day

our daily bread.

Christ also was raised from the dead

through the glory of the Father.

Forgive us our trespasses.

So that we also might walk...

in the newness of life.

In the name of the Father and

the Son and the Holy Ghost.

It's our time. It's our time.

Lord! Lord!

Yes, Tyros,

but we're not afraid.

Christ also was raised from

the dead through the glory of the Father.

So that we also might walk

in the newness of life.

Stand up there!

I want to be near you, Mercia.

Come on, the rest of you.

Onto the sand!

I'm not afraid. I'm not afraid.

Come on, get off there.

Get out! Get out!

Where are we going?

We're going to your mother.

Go proudly, singing!

I can't.

I can't go on, I can't.

Titus said,

"There is no death...

"only a crossing over

to the Father."

Save us.

Are you Mercia?

Yes.

You are to wait

and go in alone.

But I want to be with them.

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