The Silver Chalice

Between Jerusalem

and the Greek city of Antioch...

...endless caravans plied their trade routes

across the desert.

By sea, ships from Rome and Athens

sailed to and from this thriving seaport...

...whence the treasures of the East,

even from far-off China...

...were shipped

to all parts of the Roman empire.

Of the people of Antioch...

...only a few would have known

what you were talking about...

...had you told them that a crucifixion

in Jerusalem only 20 years before...

...was soon to change the course

of the world they knew.

They preferred to leave politics to Rome,

religion to the gods...

...and history to historians.

Because history is what happens to others,

never to ourselves.

To the men of the first century,

as in our own century...

...it was business as usual...

...nowhere more so than in Antioch's

famous Street of the Silversmiths.

Theron, where's the boy?

Over there.

Stop that. Stop that, I say.

Get away from here.

They've broken my carving.

Why would anyone wanna do that?

Well, never mind. Never mind.

My son, this is my Lord Ignatius.

We were boys together...

...though you wouldn't believe it

to see us now.

He deserves something much better

than a stick of wood to work on.

And admirers, not tormentors.

Yes, you're right, Theron.

I am a rich man, but I'm poor

because I'm childless.

How many times have I offered you this?

Come, take it now...

...and well proceed

with the adoption tomorrow.

But you would soon tire of him.

ALL he wants is to make Little statues

from clay and wood.

He's only a dreamer.

Why does everyone belittle dreamers?

What do we get from men of action?

War, trouble, taxes.

Now, my older son, you would Like him.

While he's not exactly a dreamer,

he has a head for figures.

He would be much more suitable

in the home of a rich merchant.

My heart is set on the younger one.

Come, take the gold.

My house will be desolate without him.

Do not grieve, my old friend.

What father would deny his son

a Life of Luxury and high position?

My dear friend Theron, sit here.

Sirs.

Kester? They're here, we're ready.

Good. No more delay.

You may have time to waste,

but I, Kester, have none.

Instead of squandering hours here,

I should be at my armory...

...forging swords and spears

for the Legions of Rome.

The world will never be at peace...

...until every enemy heart

is stilled by a Roman spear.

Well, for the sake of the world...

...perhaps we should not delay

my good friend Kester.

Let us proceed.

Master Theron, in the presence

of these five witnesses of which I am one...

...do you give this son of yours

to my Lord Ignatius...

...to be the son of his house?

If you agree,

say yes each time I strike the scale.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

My boy,

pay your respects to your new father.

Ignatius, welcome your son

and Legal heir.

My son.

From now on, your name shall be Basil,

my father's name.

It's the highest honor I can pay you,

for my father was a great man.

May the gods smile on both of you.

The blessings of the gods

be on this house.

Wine, my friends.

-Have some wine.

-Theron.

Clumsy.

Marcos.

Yes, my Lord.

Why do they Let him do that?

Because I'm a slave.

Marcos often whips me.

I'm glad you're here.

I'm glad too.

You shall have

beautiful things to carve, Basil.

Marble, silver and gold,

when you have need of them.

I have always wanted a son

who will see things as I do.

We are Greeks.

We have a great heritage of art and beauty

to give the world.

-Is that the boy?

-It is, my Lord Linus.

Welcome home, my brother.

Brother, indeed.

Is it brotherly to wait

until I am away in Rome...

...to adopt this ink maker's son?

He is my son now.

Why did you find it necessary to tell him?

That was my privilege.

Forgive me, my Lord Ignatius,

but I met my Lord Linus at the ship.

And when he asked me for news, Well...

...I could not Lie to him, could I?

What difference does it make?

Are you afraid to have me know?

This is a family matter,

not to be discussed before strangers.

There's no reason

for us to quarrel, Linus.

What I have done

has made me very happy.

My happiness will be complete

if you will be friends with Basil.

Basil?

You dare give that nobody

our father's name?

He will be worthy of it, I promise you.

You have no right

to bring a stranger into our house...

...to share our name and our wealth.

I have every right

because it's my house and my wealth.

And because I've always wanted a son.

Although Basil is my heir,

you are still my brother.

You will never be neglected

now or after I die.

So please be friends

with my son and your nephew.

Nephew.

Please, Linus, as a favor to me.

Soften your heart.

Why, it's finished.

Do you think I Look Like that?

That's the way I see you.

Like a great Lady.

That's what I would Like to be,

not a slave.

When I'm with you, I feel free.

But when I return

to the house of the slaves...

...I hate it.

That's why I'm running away, tonight.

But they'll catch you.

Then I couldn't stop them

from whipping you.

I told you that when I'm master...

...the first thing I'll do

will be to make you free.

But that will be such a Long time.

Could you wait?

No.

I want you to be free.

These are pieces of silver.

You will need money.

I made this for you.

How beautiful.

It's only wood.

If I had time, I would copy it in gold.

I'll never, never part with it.

My handsome boy.

Will I ever see you again?

Oh, yes.

The gods could not be that crueI.

Helena.

Helena.

My Basil.

Always remember,

you were my first Love.

I shall never forget it.

It is as though

my dead master could speak.

There is magic in your hands,

my Lord Basil.

I hope these hands never again

have to perform such a sad duty.

There is your man.

What is the meaning of this outrage?

Leave my house at once, all of you.

Since when is a slave

master of the house in which he Lives?

Slave? What madness is this?

The only madness is yours

for deceiving yourself.

Look among the writings of Ignatius.

You will find it set down

that I am his Legally adopted son.

I have examined his documents...

...and there is nothing.

Ask him.

He was a witness to my adoption.

You wish me to tell the truth,

my Lord Linus?

Of course. Speak up, man.

Then I shall speak bravely, my Lord.

You were not adopted.

You were bought as a slave

by my Lord Ignatius.

To that, I was a witness.

And I have sworn it before Jabez,

the magistrate.

How could you, a Roman magistrate,

believe that perjurer?

A sniveling Little toady.

Look at him fawning on Linus,

waiting for his reward.

There are two sides to every question.

Even a Roman magistrate

may believe only one.

I believe that man, not you.

But there were other witnesses,

five in all.

Quite true.

But three are dead, unfortunately.

My Lord Linus has tried to find the other,

a man called Kester...

...but he is not in Antioch.

Where he is, no one knows.

He may be dead too.

We have had enough discord

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