Original subtitles

[MUSICAL OVERTURE BEGINS]

CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY WARNER BROS.

Narrator: IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD,

JUDEA, FOR NEARLY A CENTURY,

HAD LAIN UNDER THE MASTERY OF ROME.

IN THE SEVENTH YEAR

OF THE REIGN OF AUGUSTUS CAESAR,

AN IMPERIAL DECREE ORDERED EVERY JUDEAN

EACH TO RETURN TO HIS PLACE OF BIRTH

TO BE COUNTED AND TAXED.

CONVERGING WAYS OF MANY OF THEM

LED TO THE GATES OF THEIR CAPITAL, JERUSALEM,

THE TROUBLED HEART OF THEIR LAND.

THE OLD CITY WAS DOMINATED

BY THE FORTRESS OF ANTONIA,

THE SEAT OF ROMAN POWER,

AND BY THE GREAT GOLDEN TEMPLE--

THE OUTWARD SIGN

OF AN INWARD AND IMPERISHABLE FAITH.

EVEN WHILE THEY OBEYED THE WILL OF CAESAR,

THE PEOPLE CLUNG PROUDLY TO THEIR ANCIENT HERITAGE,

ALWAYS REMEMBERING THE PROMISE OF THEIR PROPHETS

THAT ONE DAY THERE WOULD BE BORN AMONG THEM

A REDEEMER TO BRING THEM

SALVATION AND PERFECT FREEDOM.

SEE YOU GET COUNTED AT HEBRON. NAME?

SAMUEL.

WHAT CITY? WHAT FAMILY?

MICHAEL OF JOPPA.

MOVE ON, MOVE ON.

YES.

NAME?

JOSEPH.

WHAT CITY?

NAZARETH.

WHAT FAMILY?

DAVID OF BETHLEHEM.

AND THE WOMAN?

MY WIFE.

MOVE ON. SEE THAT YOU'RE COUNTED IN BETHLEHEM.

COME ON, COME ON.

[DONKEY BRAYS]

[BABY CRYING]

[LAMBS BLEAT]

[DONKEY BRAYS]

[COW MOOS]

[COW MOOS]

[MOO]

[SHOFAR BLOWS]

[SHOFAR BLOWS]

WHAT VILLAGE IS THIS?

NAZARETH.

WE SHOULD ARRIVE IN JERUSALEM

TOMORROW NIGHT.

YOU'RE NOT WATCHING THE SOLDIERS, JOSEPH?

WE'VE SEEN ROMANS BEFORE.

YES, AND WE WILL SEE THEM AGAIN.

MY TABLE IS NOT FINISHED.

WHERE IS YOUR SON?

HE'S WALKING IN THE HILLS.

MM-HMM.

HE NEGLECTS HIS WORK, JOSEPH.

NO.

ONCE I REPROACHED HIM WITH FORGETTING HIS WORK.

HE SAID TO ME,

"I MUST BE ABOUT MY FATHER'S BUSINESS."

THEN WHY ISN'T HE HERE WORKING?

HE'S WORKING.

COMPANIES OF THE LEGION!

[TRUMPETERS PLAY FANFARE]

WELCOME, MESSALA.

THE COMMAND IS YOURS.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR RELIEVING ME.

DRUSUS.

WHEN I WAS A BOY,

I DREAMED OF COMMANDING

THIS GARRISON.

NOW THE WHEEL HAS TURNED.

I AM IN COMMAND.

ATTENTION!

FACE RIGHT!

FORWARD!

I'D FORGOTTEN THE HEAT.

IF IT WERE ONLY THE HEAT.

I LIVED HERE UNTIL I WAS 14.

JERUSALEM WAS MY HOME.

MY FATHER WAS HEAD--

YES, I KNOW.

YOUR FATHER IS WELL-REMEMBERED.

A FINE GOVERNOR--

IF THERE CAN BE SUCH A THING

IN THIS FORSAKEN LAND.

IF YOU WANT TO RISE, SEXTUS,

DO THE DIFFICULT.

I ASKED TO BE SENT HERE.

I THINK YOU'LL FIND

THE PEOPLE CHANGED SINCE YOU WERE A BOY.

IN WHAT WAY?

OH, WON'T PAY THEIR TAXES,

AN IRRATIONAL RESENTMENT OF ROME.

THERE'S NOTHING NEW IN ALL THAT.

AND THEN THERE'S RELIGION.

I TELL YOU, THEY'RE DRUNK WITH RELIGION.

THEY SMASH THE STATUES OF OUR GODS,

EVEN THOSE OF THE EMPEROR.

PUNISH THEM.

MMM, WE DO... WHEN WE CAN FIND THEM.

FIND THE LEADERS.

OH, YOU DON'T KNOW.

THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN PUT YOUR FINGER ON.

I TELL YOU, THERE ARE STRANGE FORCES AT WORK HERE.

FOR INSTANCE, THERE'S THIS MESSIAH BUSINESS.

I KNOW, I KNOW.

THERE WAS ONE PREDICTED WHEN I WAS A BOY.

A KING OF THE JEWS WHO WILL LEAD THEM ALL

INTO SOME SORT OF ANTI-ROMAN PARADISE.

HUH! MAKES YOUR HEAD SPIN.

AND THERE'S A WILD MAN IN THE DESERT NAMED JOHN

WHO DROWNS PEOPLE IN WATER.

THERE'S A CARPENTER'S SON

WHO GOES AROUND DOING MAGIC TRICKS.

MIRACLES, THEY CALL THEM.

THERE'S ALWAYS SOME SORT OF RABBLE-ROUSER

GOING ABOUT STIRRING UP TROUBLE.

NO, NO, NO, NO. THIS MAN IS DIFFERENT.

HE TEACHES THAT GOD IS NEAR--IN EVERY MAN.

HEH!

IT'S ACTUALLY QUITE PROFOUND, SOME OF IT.

YOU'VE BEEN TOO LONG AWAY FROM ROME.

GO BACK, SEXTUS.

GO TO CAPRI, BATHE, REST, LIE BY THE SEA.

AND FORGET THAT "GOD IS IN EVERY MAN."

THERE IS DIVINITY IN ONLY ONE MAN.

YES, I KNOW.

THE EMPEROR IS DISPLEASED.

HE WISHES JUDEA MADE INTO A MORE OBEDIENT

AND DISCIPLINED PROVINCE.

HE'S ORDERED THE NEW GOVERNOR AND ME

TO RESTORE ORDER.

I INTEND TO CARRY OUT HIS WISHES.

YES, BUT HOW, MESSALA?

OH, YOU CAN BREAK A MAN'S SKULL,

YOU CAN ARREST HIM, YOU CAN THROW HIM IN A DUNGEON,

BUT HOW DO YOU CONTROL WHAT'S UP HERE?

HOW DO YOU FIGHT AN IDEA-- ESPECIALLY A NEW IDEA?

THERE'S A JEW OUTSIDE.

HE WANTS TO SEE THE TRIBUNE MESSALA.

I ASSUME HE HAS A NAME.

HE SAYS HE'S A PRINCE.

PRINCE JUDAH BEN-HUR.

THEN TREAT HIM LIKE ONE!

TELL HIM I'LL JOIN HIM.

YES, TRIBUNE.

CENTURION!

THIS WAS HIS COUNTRY BEFORE IT WAS OURS.

DON'T FORGET THAT.

YES, TRIBUNE.

VERY WISE.

THIS BEN-HUR

IS THE RICHEST MAN IN JERUSALEM.

AND THE HEAD OF ONE

OF THE GREATEST FAMILIES IN JUDEA.

WE WERE FRIENDS AS BOYS.

WE WERE LIKE BROTHERS.

SEXTUS, YOU ASK HOW TO FIGHT AN IDEA.

I'LL TELL YOU HOW.

WITH ANOTHER IDEA.

I SAID I'D COME BACK.

I NEVER THOUGHT YOU WOULD.

I'M SO GLAD.

LOOK AT YOU.

LOOK AT YOU!

YOU'VE COME BACK A TRIBUNE.

WHEN I HEARD THAT NEWS, I DRANK A TOAST TO YOU.

WE'LL DRINK ANOTHER NOW.

YOUR SISTER AND MOTHER-- HOW ARE THEY?

THEY'RE FINE. THEY'VE TALKED OF NOTHING BUT YOU FOR DAYS

EVER SINCE WE KNEW YOU WERE COMING.

IS TIRZAH MARRIED YET?

NO. SUITORS COME AND GO, BUT SHE DREAMS.

YOU KNOW SHE'S BEEN IN LOVE WITH YOU

EVER SINCE SHE WAS 5 YEARS OLD.

I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THEM.

DO YOU STILL HUNT JACKALS AND LIONS,

OR HAVE YOU BECOME TOO DIGNIFIED?

DOWN EROS, UP MARS.

DOWN EROS, UP MARS.

WHERE THE BEAMS CROSS?

Ben-Hur: GOOD!

HA HA HA! AFTER ALL THESE YEARS...

STILL CLOSE.

IN EVERY WAY.

I HOPE SO.

I KNOW.

YOU'RE A ROMAN, AND I'M A JEW...

WHOSE LIFE YOU ONCE SAVED.

THE BEST THING I EVER DID.

JUDAH...

THIS IS GOING TO BE A VERY DIFFICULT PROVINCE TO GOVERN.

I'M GOING TO NEED HELP.

YOUR HELP, YOUR ADVICE.

YOU WANT MY ADVICE?

YES, I DO.

WITHDRAW YOUR LEGIONS.

GIVE US OUR FREEDOM.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE EMPEROR IS DEVOTED TO HIS EMPIRE.

HE'S PARTICULARLY FOND OF JUDEA.

AND JUDEA IS NOT FOND OF THE EMPEROR.

OH, IS THERE ANYTHING SO SAD AS UNREQUITED LOVE?

MY QUARTERS.

HMM...A BIT GRIM.

OH, NOT GRIM.

AUSTERE.

VIRTUOUS.

ROMAN.

JUDAH, I'M GOING TO BE SECOND IN COMMAND

TO THE NEW GOVERNOR.

VALERIUS GRATUS.

HE'S ARRIVING IN A FEW DAYS WITH TWO MORE LEGIONS.

THEN THE RUMORS ARE TRUE.

THE EMPEROR DOES NOT APPROVE OF YOUR COUNTRYMEN.

THERE IS REBELLION IN THE WIND.

IT WILL BE CRUSHED.

BUT YOU OR YOUR FAMILY NEED HAVE NO CONCERN.

I'M NEXT IN AUTHORITY TO THE GOVERNOR,

AND YOU'RE MY FRIEND.

I'M A JEW.

AH, YOU'RE LIKE A ROMAN. WHAT HAVE YOU IN COMMON

WITH THE RABBLE THAT MAKES TROUBLE HERE?

RABBLE? THEY'RE MY PEOPLE.

I'M ONE OF THEM.

BE WISE, JUDAH. IT'S A ROMAN WORLD.

IF YOU WANT TO LIVE IN IT,

YOU MUST BECOME PART OF IT.

YOU'VE CHANGED.

I'VE GROWN UP.

I'VE SEEN THE WORLD SINCE I LEFT JERUSALEM.

I'VE SEEN ROME, AND I TELL YOU, JUDAH,

IT'S NO ACCIDENT THAT ONE SMALL VILLAGE ON THE TIBER

WAS CHOSEN TO RULE THE WORLD.

YOUR LEGIONS.

IT WASN'T JUST OUR LEGIONS.

OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE ARMIES, FINE ARMIES.

I KNOW. I FOUGHT THEM.

OH, NO.

NO, IT WAS FATE THAT CHOSE US TO CIVILIZE THE WORLD.

AND WE HAVE.

OUR ROADS AND OUR SHIPS CONNECT EVERY CORNER OF THE EARTH.

ROMAN LAW, ARCHITECTURE, LITERATURE,

ARE THE GLORY OF THE HUMAN RACE.

I BELIEVE IN THE FUTURE OF MY PEOPLE.

OF COURSE YOU DO, AND YOU CAN HELP THEM.

HOW?

YOU'RE AN ARISTOCRAT.

YOUR NAME AND YOUR FAMILY'S NAME IS HONORED.

YOU'RE A PRINCE AMONG YOUR PEOPLE.

YOU'RE RICH, AND YOU'RE POWERFUL.

YOUR REPUTATION IS STAINLESS.

AND THE PEOPLE WOULD LISTEN IF YOU WERE TO SPEAK OUT

AGAINST REBELLION.

JUDAH, PERSUADE YOUR PEOPLE

THAT THEIR RESISTANCE TO ROME IS STUPID.

IT IS WORSE THAN STUPID-- FUTILE!

FOR IT CAN END IN ONLY ONE WAY--

EXTINCTION FOR YOUR PEOPLE.

I'M AGAINST VIOLENCE.

EVERYONE KNOWS THIS.

I'VE SPOKEN AGAINST IT.

I SHALL DO SO AGAIN.

THEN WE'RE AGREED.

NOW, WHEN CAN I COME TO SEE YOUR FAMILY?

WE HAD HOPED TOMORROW.

GOOD.

AND NOW FOR OUR TOAST.

IT'S DREADFUL WINE, BY THE WAY.

IT'S ESPECIALLY FERMENTED FOR THE ROMAN ARMIES.

HA HA HA! YOU'RE VERY CRUEL TO YOUR CONQUERORS.

IT'S AN INSANE WORLD.

BUT IN IT, THERE IS ONE SANITY.

THE LOYALTY OF OLD FRIENDS.

JUDAH, WE MUST BELIEVE IN ONE ANOTHER.

WILL YOU DRINK TO THAT?

WITH ALL MY HEART.

HERE IT IS...

THE PLACE I'VE REMEMBERED.

THE COURT WHERE WE PLAYED

AT CHANGING THE GUARD.

THE ROOF FROM WHERE WE USED TO STAND

AND THROW PEBBLES AT THE PEOPLE IN THE STREET

AND THEN HIDE.

OH, WE WERE RASCALS, WEREN'T WE?

NO. YOU WERE GOOD BOYS.

I WOULD HAVE THAT TIME AGAIN.

AND HERE IT IS. NOTHING HAS CHANGED.

EXCEPT FOR THE FOUNTAIN.

THE OLD WELL USED TO GO DRY SO OFTEN, REMEMBER?

PROMPTLY, EVERY SUMMER.

A NEW FOUNTAIN AND A NEW TIRZAH.

YOU'VE GROWN UP.

HE HASN'T CHANGED, HAS HE, MOTHER?

NO?

OF COURSE HE HAS.

HE WAS A BOY WHEN HE LEFT US.

NOW HE'S A MAN WITH GREAT RESPONSIBILITIES.

COME.

THE EMPEROR BUILDS AND BUILDS

TURNING BRICK TO MARBLE.

I ALMOST FORGOT.

I BROUGHT YOU THIS.

OH.

I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL. IS IT ROMAN?

NO, IT'S LIBYAN.

I WAS THERE LAST YEAR.

A TREMENDOUS CAMPAIGN.

WE MET THEIR ARMIES ON THE COAST.

AFTER TWO DAYS OF FIGHTING, THEY FLED.

THEN WE MARCHED ON THEIR CAPITAL.

BARBARIC CITY, BUT FASCINATING.

OR WAS, TILL WE DESTROYED IT.

NOW IT'S NOTHING BUT ASHES.

I'M BORING YOU WITH SOLDIER STORIES.

COME WITH ME, MESSALA.

THERE'S SOMETHING I WANT TO SHOW YOU.

THANK YOU FOR THIS.

I CHOSE THE RIGHT PRESENT FOR YOU.

IT'S A BROOCH FOR A WOMAN.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF HIM?

MAGNIFICENT.

HE'S ARABIC.

I THINK HE HAS THE LOOK OF THE BREED.

I'VE RACED HIM.

LET ME TRY HIM SOMETIME.

WHENEVER YOU LIKE. HE'S YOURS.

DO YOU MEAN YOU'LL GIVE ME THIS?

OH, JUDAH.

YOU ARE GOOD.

IT'S GOING TO BE LIKE OLD TIMES. I KNOW IT.

JUDAH...

TELL ME, DID YOU...

DID YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT I SAID YESTERDAY?

YES. I'VE TALKED TO A NUMBER OF PEOPLE ALREADY,

SPOKEN AGAINST VIOLENCE, AGAINST INCIDENTS.

MOST OF THE MEN I TALKED TO AGREE WITH ME.

MOST? NOT ALL?

NO, NOT ALL.

WHO DOES NOT AGREE?

WELL...THE RESENTFUL, THE IMPATIENT.

WHO ARE THEY?

YES, JUDAH, WHO ARE THEY?

WOULD I RETAIN YOUR FRIENDSHIP

IF I BECAME AN INFORMER?

TO TELL ME THE NAMES OF CRIMINALS

IS HARDLY INFORMING.

THEY'RE NOT CRIMINALS, MESSALA, THEY'RE PATRIOTS.

PATRIOTS?!

JUDAH...

JUDAH, LET ME EXPLAIN SOMETHING TO YOU,

SOMETHING YOU MAY NOT KNOW.

THE EMPEROR IS WATCHING US.

AT THIS MOMENT, HE WATCHES THE EAST.

THIS IS MY GREAT OPPORTUNITY, JUDAH,

AND YOURS, TOO.

IF I CAN BRING ORDER INTO JUDEA,

I CAN HAVE ANY POST I WANT.

AND YOU'LL RISE WITH ME. I PROMISE.

AND DO YOU KNOW WHERE IT CAN END? ROME!

YES, PERHAPS AT THE SIDE OF CAESAR HIMSELF.

I MEAN IT, I MEAN IT.

IT CAN HAPPEN, AND THIS IS THE MOMENT.

JUDAH, I SWEAR, THIS IS THE TIME.

THE EMPEROR IS WATCHING US, JUDGING US.

ALL I NEED DO IS SERVE HIM.

ALL YOU NEED DO IS HELP ME...SERVE HIM.

YOU SPEAK AS IF HE WERE GOD.

HE IS GOD. THE ONLY GOD.

HE IS POWER, REAL POWER ON EARTH,

NOT....

NOT THAT.

HELP ME, JUDAH.

I WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR YOU, MESSALA,

EXCEPT BETRAY MY OWN PEOPLE.

IN THE NAME OF ALL THE GODS, JUDAH,

WHAT DO THE LIVES OF A FEW JEWS MEAN TO YOU?

IF I CANNOT PERSUADE THEM,

THAT DOES NOT MEAN I WOULD HELP YOU MURDER THEM.

BESIDES--YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THIS, MESSALA--

I BELIEVE IN THE PAST OF MY PEOPLE

AND IN THEIR FUTURE.

FUTURE? YOU ARE A CONQUERED PEOPLE.

YOU MAY CONQUER THE LAND,

YOU MAY SLAUGHTER THE PEOPLE,

BUT THAT IS NOT THE END.

WE WILL RISE AGAIN.

YOU LIVE ON DEAD DREAMS.

YOU LIVE ON THE MYTHS OF THE PAST.

THE GLORY OF SOLOMON IS GONE.

DO YOU THINK IT WILL RETURN?

JOSHUA WILL NOT RISE AGAIN TO SAVE YOU

NOR DAVID.

THERE IS ONLY ONE REALITY

IN THE WORLD TODAY.

LOOK TO THE WEST, JUDAH.

DON'T BE A FOOL! LOOK TO ROME!

I WOULD RATHER BE A FOOL THAN A TRAITOR OR A KILLER.

I AM A SOLDIER.

YES, WHO KILLS FOR ROME, AND ROME IS EVIL.

I WARN YOU.

NO! I WARN YOU, ROME IS AN AFFRONT TO GOD.

ROME IS STRANGLING MY PEOPLE AND MY COUNTRY,

THE WHOLE EARTH, BUT NOT FOREVER.

AND I TELL YOU, THE DAY ROME FALLS,

THERE WILL BE A SHOUT OF FREEDOM

SUCH AS THE WORLD HAS NEVER HEARD BEFORE.

JUDAH...

EITHER YOU HELP ME OR YOU OPPOSE ME.

YOU HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE.

YOU'RE EITHER FOR ME OR AGAINST ME.

IF THAT IS THE CHOICE,

THEN I AM AGAINST YOU.

THERE THEY ARE.

WHERE'S MESSALA?

WHERE'S MESS--

HE'S GONE.

GONE?

BUT WHY?

HE COULDN'T STAY.

WHAT HAPPENED?

A NEW TRIBUNE MUST HAVE MANY DUTIES.

COME. LET US HAVE DINNER.

BLESSED ART THOU, O LORD, OUR GOD,

KING OF THE WORLD,

WHO BRINGETH TO US BREAD FROM THE EARTH.

WE SHALL NEVER SEE HIM AGAIN, TIRZAH.

HE WANTED TO USE ME TO BETRAY OUR PEOPLE.

JUDAH.

MASTER JUDAH, THE CARAVAN FROM ANTIOCH.

YES, AMRAH, I SAW.

SIMONIDES...

WELCOME.

JUDAH.

A WELCOME HOMECOMING.

MASTER.

SIMONIDES HAS BROUGHT GIFTS, AS USUAL.

AMBER AND JADE FOR ME, SILK FOR TIRZAH--

AND FOR THE MASTER, IBERIAN WINE.

NOT TO MENTION THE BEST GIFT OF ALL--

YOUR PRESENCE.

YOU DO YOUR SERVANT HONOR.

I ALSO BRING GOOD NEWS FROM ANTIOCH.

THE CARAVANS FROM PETRA?

HAVE ALL ARRIVED. HERE IS THE ACCOUNTING.

AND WHAT OF NUMIDIA?

THE TRADE ROUTE IS OURS,

GUARANTEED BY TREATY WITH THE KING.

ONCE A YEAR YOU BRING YOUR ACCOUNTING.

ONCE A YEAR I FIND MYSELF WEALTHIER.

BUT MY GREATEST TREASURE IS MY STEWARD.

MY LIFE BELONGS TO THE HOUSE OF HUR.

NOTHING ELSE EXISTS FOR ME EXCEPT MY DAUGHTER.

SHE MUST BE A YOUNG WOMAN BY NOW.

YES, AND YOUR PROPERTY,

SINCE SHE WAS BORN THE DAUGHTER OF YOUR SLAVE.

WHEN I INHERITED YOU,

I INHERITED A FRIEND, NOT A SLAVE.

STILL, ESTHER HAS COME WITH ME FROM ANTIOCH

TO ASK YOUR PERMISSION TO MARRY.

WELL, IT'S GRANTED.

I WISH YOU THE JOY OF MANY GRANDCHILDREN.

IF IT IS THE LORD'S WILL,

I SHALL REJOICE.

WITH YOUR PERMISSION,

ESTHER WISHES TO SPEAK TO HER MASTER.

YOU ARE EAGER TO MARRY, ESTHER?

IT IS MY FATHER'S WISH.

YOUR HUSBAND WILL BE FORTUNATE.

WHAT IS HIS NAME?

DAVID, SON OF MATHIAS.

OF WHAT HOUSE?

HIS OWN, MASTER.

HE IS A FREEMAN.

TELL ME MORE ABOUT HIM.

I HAVE SEEN HIM ONLY ONCE.

HE'S A MERCHANT,

WELL THOUGHT OF IN ANTIOCH.

HE WILL PAY FOR ESTHER'S FREEDOM.

HER FREEDOM WILL BE MY WEDDING GIFT TO ESTHER.

YOU ARE GENEROUS, MASTER.

DO YOU LOVE THIS MAN?

I WILL LEARN TO LOVE HIM.

YOU HAVE MY PERMISSION TO MARRY.

WE'LL DRINK TO YOUR HAPPINESS...

AND A SAFE RETURN TO ANTIOCH.

I DISTURBED YOU.

NO.

WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?

I WAS SAYING GOOD-BYE TO THIS CITY

AND THIS HOUSE.

YOU'VE NOT OFTEN BEEN HERE.

WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER OF IT?

MY FATHER SOMETIMES BROUGHT ME HERE

WHEN I WAS LITTLE.

IT WAS A HOUSE

WHERE I WAS ALWAYS HAPPY...

EXCEPT ONCE...

WHEN YOU AND YOUR FRIEND,

THE ROMAN BOY...

MESSALA.

YES.

YOU HAD BEEN OUT HUNTING,

AND THEY BROUGHT YOU HOME INJURED.

I TOUCHED YOUR FACE AS YOU LAY THERE...

AND PRAYED TO GOD, "DON'T LET THIS BOY DIE."

I CAN HEAR HOW YOU SAID IT--

GENTLY, AS YOU SAY IT NOW.

YES, MASTER.

MASTER?

I'VE GIVEN YOU YOUR FREEDOM.

IT'S STRANGE.

I HARDLY FELT A SLAVE.

AND NOW...

I HARDLY FEEL FREE.

YOU KNOW,

IN THE OLD, WISE DAYS OF SOLOMON,

IF THERE WAS AMONG HIS SLAVES A GIRL WHO...

FILLED HIS EYES.

HE COULD CHOOSE HER OUT FROM THE REST

AND TAKE HER TO HIM.

WISE DAYS OF SOLOMON.

DIFFERENT DAYS.

AND LONG AGO.

IF YOU WERE NOT A BRIDE,

I SHOULD KISS YOU GOOD-BYE.

IF I WERE NOT A BRIDE,

THERE WOULD BE NO GOOD-BYES TO BE SAID.

YOUR SLAVE RING.

FAIR EXCHANGE.

FREEDOM TO YOU, THE RING TO ME.

YOU WILL WEAR IT?

UNTIL YOU MEET THE WOMAN YOU WILL MARRY?

YES.

UNTIL THEN.

[DRUMS BEAT]

THE GODS FAVOR MY LORD GRATUS.

IF IT IS THE GOVERNOR'S PLEASURE,

THE WREATH OF OFFICE.

THANK YOU, TRIBUNE.

I SEE NO DELEGATION FROM THE CITY.

THERE WILL NOT BE ONE, SIR.

NO?

JERUSALEM'S WELCOME WILL NOT BE A WARM ONE,

BUT I PLEDGE MY LORD IT WILL BE A QUIET ONE.

LET US PROCEED.

THERE'S MESSALA.

HE SAW YOU, JUDAH.

THE NEW GOVERNOR.

[WOMEN SCREAMING]

STAND BACK!

STAND BACK!

YOU, COME!

OPEN UP IN THE NAME OF THE DIVINE EMPEROR!

INTO YOUR HOUSES, EVERYONE!

INTO YOUR HOUSES!

JUDAH! TIRZAH! WHAT IS IT? WHAT'S HAPPENED?

Soldier: OPEN UP! OPEN UP!

I WAS JUST WATCHING THE ROMANS.

ONE OF THE TILES WAS LOOSE.

IT FELL AND STRUCK THE GOVERNOR.

OH, NO! IT WASN'T MY FAULT.

JUDAH, THEY WON'T BELIEVE HER.

SHE'S NOT TO SAY ANYTHING. DO YOU HEAR?

TIRZAH, SAY NOTHING!

OPEN THE GATES!

I'LL SPEAK TO THEM.

ARREST HIM!

WAIT. LET ME TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENED.

HOLD THOSE WOMEN.

JUDAH.

IT WAS AN ACCIDENT.

AAH!

LET ME TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENED.

IT WAS AN ACCIDENT. I WAS STANDING--

THIS IS THE MAN, SIR. WE SAW HIM.

IT WAS AN ACCIDENT.

ACCIDENT?

I SWEAR IT. I PUT MY HAND ON THE LEDGE,

ONE OF THE TILES WAS LOOSE, IT GAVE WAY.

TAKE HIM. TAKE ALL OF THEM.

IT WAS ME!

LET THEM GO!

JUDAH!

ATTENTION!

Ben-Hur: MESSALA.

IN THE NAME OF GOD,

TELL THEM IT'S A MISTAKE.

I LEANED ON A TILE, AND IT BROKE LOOSE.

IT WAS AN ACCIDENT.

LET THEM GO!

THEY HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT!

MESSALA! MESSALA!

LET THE SERVANTS GO.

LET THEM GO.

RETURN TO YOUR RANKS.

COME.

WHERE?

TYRUS.

TYRUS!

BUT I'VE HAD NO TRIAL.

I'M TO DIE IN THE GALLEYS WITHOUT EVEN A TRIAL?

THERE'S NO TRUTH IN THE CHARGE.

YOU HEAR ME? NOT A WORD OF TRUTH!

WAIT. MY MOTHER, MY SISTER--

WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM? WHERE ARE THEY?

TIE HIS HANDS.

AT LEAST TELL ME IF THEY'RE SAFE.

I CAN TELL YOU NOTHING.

AAH!

GET ALONG. KEEP MOVING.

AAH!

JAILER!

GUARD!

IN THERE!

UP THE STAIRS!

JAILER!

JAILER!

TO THE RIGHT.

[GUARDS CALL OUT]

[GUARDS CALL OUT]

WAIT!

SEND THEM OUT.

SEND THEM OUT.

YOU CAN GO.

GO!

THE DOOR.

WHERE ARE MY MOTHER AND SISTER?

WHERE ARE THEY?

HERE, WITHIN THESE WALLS.

THE GOVERNOR'S RECOVERING. THEY WON'T DIE.

OF COURSE, THEY WILL BE SENTENCED.

IS IT POSSIBLE?

MESSALA...

IS IT POSSIBLE YOU COULD DO THIS TO US,

TO PEOPLE YOU'VE KNOWN,

A FAMILY YOU'VE LOVED?

YOU WILL LET THEM GO.

YOU MUST--WILL GLADLY LET THEM GO.

MESSALA!

I DIDN'T TRY TO KILL THE GOVERNOR.

YOU KNOW THAT. I'M NOT MAD!

I'M NOT A MURDERER!

I KNOW YOU'RE NOT.

YOU KNOW?

YOU ARE EVIL.

NO, JUDAH, I AM NOT EVIL.

I WANTED YOUR HELP,

NOW YOU'VE GIVEN IT TO ME.

BY MAKING THIS EXAMPLE OF YOU,

I DISCOURAGE TREASON.

BY CONDEMNING WITHOUT HESITATION AN OLD FRIEND,

I SHALL BE FEARED.

BUT NOT MY FAMILY.

LET--LET THEM GO.

PLEASE.

MESSALA, I BEG YOU--

BEG?!

DIDN'T I BEG YOU?

YOU CHOSE THIS FOR YOURSELF.

THERE'S NOTHING MORE TO BE SAID.

KILL ME, AND YOUR MOTHER AND SISTER WILL DIE TODAY,

NAILED TO CROSSES IN FRONT OF YOU.

GO ON, JUDAH.

KILL ME.

MAY GOD GRANT ME VENGEANCE.

I WILL PRAY THAT YOU LIVE TILL I RETURN.

RETURN?

TAKE HIM.

SENTRIES, SALUTE.

THE TRIBUNE WILL SEE YOU NOW.

TRIBUNE,

I'M STEWARD OF THE HOUSE OF HUR.

I REMEMBER YOU.

THIS IS MY DAUGHTER ESTHER.

WE WERE ON OUR WAY TO ANTIOCH WHEN WE HEARD WHAT HAD HAPPENED.

JUDAH BEN-HUR COULD NOT HAVE DONE THIS THING.

YOU KNEW HIM, TRIBUNE.

BETTER THAN YOU.

THEN THERE MUST BE NO DOUBT IN YOUR MIND, TRIBUNE,

THE CHARGE IS GROUNDLESS.

THE PRISONERS HAVE BEEN SENTENCED.

Esther: SENTENCED?

BUT THERE'S NO TRUTH IN IT!

THERE WAS NEVER A THREAT AGAINST THE GOVERNOR

IN JUDAH'S MIND.

SURELY YOU MUST KNOW HE NEVER WOULD HAVE DONE THIS.

IN YOUR HEART, YOU MUST KNOW IT.

DRUSUS...

THIS MAN HAD BETTER BE KEPT HERE

UNTIL WE'VE TIME TO QUESTION HIM.

Soldier: HALT!

WATER FOR THE SOLDIERS!

SOLDIERS FIRST!

WATER!

GET AWAY FROM THAT WELL. NO WATER FOR THEM!

GET THEM AWAY FROM THAT WELL!

COME ON, YOU! COME ON, YOU!

WATER FOR THE HORSES.

WATER! WATER!

SOLDIERS FIRST!

SHEMA YISRAEL, ADONAI ELOHEINU...

HERE!

WAIT!

NO WATER FOR HIM.

GOD...

HELP ME.

YOU! I SAID NO WATER FOR HIM!

ALL RIGHT, ON YOUR FEET, ALL OF YOU!

GET THEM ON THEIR FEET!

BACK IN LINE, YOU DOGS!

ON YOUR FEET!

GET THEM GOING!

YOU THERE,

BACK TO YOUR PLACE! BACK TO YOUR PLACE!

FORWARD, YOU DOGS!

[DRUM BEATS]

IN A FEW MINUTES, THE CONSUL'S BARGE

WILL BE COMING ALONGSIDE.

BE READY TO RAISE OARS.

RAISE OARS!

DOWN OARS!

[PLAYING FANFARE]

THE NEW COMMANDER, QUINTUS ARRIUS.

HOW MANY ROWERS?

200, CONSUL.

AND RELIEFS?

OF 30, EVERY HOUR.

[COUGHING]

THIS MAN IS ILL.

REPLACE HIM.

CHANGE HIM.

RIGHT, SIR.

THIS MAN HAS BEEN GIVING YOU TROUBLE?

HE'S INSUBORDINATE, CONSUL.

THAT WILL STOP.

WHAT SERVICE HAVE YOU SEEN?

41.

A MONTH LESS A DAY IN THIS SHIP.

YOU KEEP AN EXACT ACCOUNT.

AND BEFORE?

THREE YEARS...

IN OTHER SHIPS.

THREE YEARS?

AAH!

YOU HAVE THE SPIRIT TO FIGHT BACK,

BUT THE GOOD SENSE TO CONTROL IT.

YOUR EYES ARE FULL OF HATE, 41.

THAT'S GOOD.

HATE KEEPS A MAN ALIVE.

IT GIVES HIM STRENGTH.

NOW, LISTEN TO ME, ALL OF YOU.

YOU ARE ALL CONDEMNED MEN.

WE KEEP YOU ALIVE TO SERVE THIS SHIP.

SO ROW WELL...

AND LIVE.

SHIP READY, CONSUL.

STRIKE OARS.

STRIKE OARS!

[DRUM BEATS]

YOU KNOW THAT A FLEET OF MACEDONIAN GALLEYS

HAS BEEN RAIDING ROMAN COMMERCE.

THE EMPEROR HAS HONORED US WITH THE TASK

OF SEEKING OUT AND DESTROYING THEM.

BATTLE SPEED, HORTATOR.

BATTLE SPEED!

[DRUM BEATS QUICKEN]

ATTACK SPEED.

ATTACK SPEED!

RAMMING SPEED.

RAMMING SPEED!

AAH!

REST.

REST!

HALT!

REST!

[COUGHING AND GAGGING]

[SHACKLES CLANK]

WHY ARE YOU HERE?

I WAS ORDERED TO REPORT TO YOU

DURING MY RELIEF.

OH, YES.

I'D FORGOTTEN.

YOU COULD HAVE KILLED ME AS I LAY THERE.

YOU'RE A CONDEMNED MAN. WHY DIDN'T YOU?

I'M NOT READY TO DIE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL SAVE YOU?

THE GOD OF MY FATHERS.

YOUR GOD HAS FORSAKEN YOU.

HE HAS NO MORE POWER

THAN THE IMAGES I PRAY TO.

MY GODS WILL NOT HELP ME.

YOUR GOD WILL NOT HELP YOU.

I MIGHT.

DOES THAT INTEREST YOU, 41?

I CAN SEE THAT IT DOES.

I AM A FIGHTING MAN BY PROFESSION.

AND IN MY LEISURE MOMENTS,

IT AMUSES ME TO TRAIN FIGHTING MEN.

I OWN SOME OF THE BEST GLADIATORS

AND CHARIOTEERS IN ROME.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO BECOME ONE OF THEM?

TO DIE AS YOUR SLAVE?

BETTER THAN TO LIVE IN CHAINS BELOW THESE DECKS.

I WILL NOT BE HERE FOREVER.

NO?

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU ESCAPED?

TWO PEOPLE WERE CONDEMNED WITH ME--

MY MOTHER AND SISTER--

EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE INNOCENT.

I WILL NOT REST--

YOU DO NOT SAY THAT YOU WERE INNOCENT.

WOULD IT DO ANY GOOD TO SAY IT AGAIN?

NO. NOW CONSIDER MY OFFER CAREFULLY.

YOU WILL NEVER ESCAPE WHILE WE'RE VICTORIOUS.

IF WE ARE NOT, YOU'LL SINK WITH THIS SHIP

CHAINED TO YOUR OAR.

I CANNOT BELIEVE

THAT GOD HAS LET ME LIVE THESE THREE YEARS

TO DIE CHAINED TO AN OAR.

IT'S A STRANGE, STUBBORN FAITH YOU KEEP.

TO BELIEVE THAT EXISTENCE HAS A PURPOSE.

A SANE MAN WOULD HAVE LEARNED TO LOSE IT

LONG BEFORE THIS.

AS YOU HAVE.

WHAT DROVE IT OUT OF YOU?

GO BACK BACK TO YOUR OAR, 41.

CONSUL, ENEMY SIGHTED.

SIGNAL THE FLEET.

PREPARE FOR BATTLE.

CALL THE WATCH.

BATTLE POSTS.

MAKE THESE READY FOR FIRING.

HURRY! QUICK!

HURRY UP WITH THAT RESIN.

GET SOME MORE AMMUNITION.

RAISE OARS!

DOWN OARS!

CHAIN ROWERS.

GUARD.

UNLOCK 41.

Man: NO! NO! I DON'T WANT TO DIE.

I DON'T WANT TO DIE!

41, WHY DID HE DO THAT?

I DON'T KNOW.

ONCE BEFORE A MAN HELPED ME.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHY THEN.

BATTLE SPEED!

NUMBER ONE...

FLAME.

FIRE.

FIRE!

FIRE!

FIRE!

OAR WITHDRAWAL ON COMMAND.

CONSUL.

LIFT OARS! RAISE!

WITHDRAW!

STEERSMAN, RIGHT.

EXTEND OARS!

FIRE!

FIRE!

FIRE!

FIRE! FIRE!

STEERSMAN, RAM COURSE.

ORDER BELOW. RAMMING SPEED.

RAMMING SPEED!

FIRE!

CONSUL...

PIRATE ON RAMMING COURSE.

WE'RE GOING TO BE RAMMED!

WE'RE GOING TO BE RAMMED!

AAH!

AAH!

AAH!

WHY DID YOU SAVE ME?

WHY DID YOU HAVE ME UNCHAINED?

WHAT IS YOUR NAME, 41?

JUDAH BEN-HUR.

JUDAH BEN-HUR...

LET ME DIE.

WE KEEP YOU ALIVE TO SERVE THIS SHIP.

ROW WELL AND LIVE.

Arrius: IS THE SAIL SQUARE?

I CAN'T TELL.

BETTER FOR US BOTH IF IT'S THE ENEMY.

MY DEATH...

YOUR FREEDOM.

IT'S A ROMAN SAIL.

FACE REAR!

WELCOME, CONSUL.

WE HAD GIVEN UP ALL HOPE FOR YOU.

WATER!

THE FLEET--ALL LOST?

FIVE GALLEYS.

AND THE BATTLE?

THE BATTLE WAS WON.

YOU HAVE A VICTORY.

IT WAS A VICTORY?

COMPLETE.

IN HIS EAGERNESS TO SAVE YOU,

YOUR GOD HAS ALSO SAVED THE ROMAN FLEET.

HAIL, ARRIUS!

HAIL, ARRIUS!

RIGHT OARS!

[DRUM BEATING]

YOU HAVE CLEARED THE SEAWAYS

OF A GREAT DANGER, QUINTUS ARRIUS.

THIS BATON OF VICTORY HAS BEEN NOBLY WON.

THIS MAN RIDING BESIDE YOU,

WHO IS HE?

THE MAN WHO SAVED ME, DIVINE EMPEROR,

TO RETURN AND SERVE YOU.

IS THAT ALL YOU KNOW ABOUT HIM?

NO. HE WAS ACCUSED OF AN ATTACK

ON THE GOVERNOR OF JUDEA,

BUT HE WAS INNOCENT.

IF NOT, THERE'S A STRANGE INCONSISTENCY

IN THIS MAN WHO TRIES TO KILL MY GOVERNOR,

YET SAVES THE LIFE OF MY CONSUL.

COME TOMORROW.

WE'LL TALK OF HIM.

WE HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION ON THIS MAN--

A MAN OF SOME INFLUENCE IN HIS OWN COUNTRY.

HIS ATTACK UPON OUR GOVERNOR

IS AN ATTACK UPON THE SENATE AND THE PEOPLE OF ROME.

DIVINE EMPEROR, I AM CONVINCED

THAT NO SUCH ATTACK WAS INTENDED.

CONSUL, ALLOW US TO CONTINUE.

ALLOW US TO BE GENEROUS.

AS A REWARD TO YOU FOR YOUR GREAT VICTORY,

WE SHALL NOT SEND HIM BACK TO THE GALLEYS.

WE GIVE HIM TO YOU AS YOUR SLAVE

TO DO WITH HIM AS YOU LIKE.

SUCH IS THE WILL OF THE SENATE

AND THE PEOPLE OF ROME.

[MUSIC PLAYS]

NOT LONG AGO I RETURNED TO ROME

WITH A YOUNG MAN WHO HAD SAVED MY LIFE.

YOU ALL KNOW HIM AS THE FINEST CHARIOTEER IN ROME.

FIVE TIMES HE'S DRIVEN MY HORSES TO VICTORY.

I KNOW HIM AS ONE WHO STANDS IN THE PLACE

OF THE SON I LOST.

I HAVE THE LOVE AND PRIDE IN A SON'S ACHIEVEMENTS

WHICH I THOUGHT I SHOULD NEVER HAVE AGAIN.

NOTHING COULD MAKE STRONGER THE BOND BETWEEN US,

BUT TONIGHT I WISH TO SHARE IT WITH YOU ALL.

THE FORMALITIES OF ADOPTION HAVE BEEN COMPLETED.

YOUNG ARRIUS IS NOW THE LEGAL BEARER OF MY NAME

AND THE HEIR TO MY PROPERTY.

THIS RING OF MY ANCESTORS

WOULD HAVE GONE TO MY SON.

SO NOW IT IS YOURS.

IT'S A STRANGE DESTINY

THAT BROUGHT ME TO A NEW LIFE,

A NEW HOME...

A NEW FATHER.

IT BROUGHT ME HERE.

IT MAY TAKE ME AWAY.

WHEREVER I MAY BE,

I SHALL ALWAYS TRY TO WEAR THIS RING

AS A SON OF ARRIUS SHOULD--

WITH GRATITUDE AND AFFECTION...

AND WITH HONOR.

[CROWD CHEERS]

[MUSIC PLAYS]

I PRESENT MY SON TO YOU.

MY OLD FRIEND PONTIUS PILATE,

YOUNG ARRIUS.

BEFORE YOU CAME TO THIS CITY,

MY HORSES ALWAYS WON.

THEY'RE MAGNIFICENT HORSES, SIR. EXTREMELY SWIFT.

YES, BUT NOT SWIFT ENOUGH TO DEFEAT YOU.

TELL ME, YOU COME FROM JUDEA?

YES, SIR.

I HEAR THE CLIMATE IS DIFFICULT TO LIVE IN.

NOT FOR JUDEANS.

IT'S A TERRIBLE PROSPECT.

I AM TO BE MADE GOVERNOR.

OF JUDEA?

YES. I ASKED FOR ALEXANDRIA,

BUT IT SEEMS THE WILDERNESS NEEDS MY PARTICULAR TALENTS.

THE SCORPIONS AND HOLY PROPHETS CAN'T GET ON WITHOUT ME,

THERE IT IS.

LAY THE DUST OF JUDEA,

AT LEAST FOR THIS EVENING.

GOATS AND JEHOVAH.

YOU'RE LEAVING.

I MUST.

IT'S A JOURNEY I CAN'T KEEP YOU FROM.

YOUR EYES HAVE NEVER LEFT IT

ALL THROUGH THESE MONTHS.

I CAN RECOGNIZE PAIN.

BUT STILL, MY COUNSEL IS TO WAIT.

GRATUS IS TO BE REPLACED.

THE GOVERNORSHIP GOES TO PONTIUS PILATE.

WHEN?

VERY SOON.

IT'S VERY MUCH TO OUR PURPOSE.

NOTHING IS TO THE PURPOSE

IF, WHEN I COME BACK TO JUDEA,

I COME TOO LATE.

THAT IS THE THOUGHT WHICH HAS PUNISHED ME

EVERY MOMENT I'VE SPENT HERE.

WILL ROME SEE YOU AGAIN?

HERE IS A PART OF MY LIFE

WHICH YOU HAVE MADE FOR ME.

I SHALL REMEMBER IT.

WHOEVER THE GODS ARE,

THEY TAKE SMALL INTEREST IN AN OLD MAN'S HOPES.

THEY HAVE THEIR WAY.

FORGIVE ME.

YOU ARE A STRANGER HERE.

WOULD YOU BE FROM NAZARETH?

WHY DO YOU ASK?

I THOUGHT...YOU MIGHT BE THE ONE...

THE ONE THAT I HAVE

COME BACK FROM MY COUNTRY TO FIND.

HE WOULD BE ABOUT YOUR AGE.

WHO?

WHEN I FIND HIM,

I SHALL KNOW HIM.

OH, BUT FORGIVE ME,

I AM BALTHASAR OF ALEXANDRIA.

I AM THE GUEST OF SHEIK ILDERIM.

YAH! YAH! SACK OF FLESH WITHOUT BRAINS!

NO, NO! NOT THE WHIP!

THAT IS MY HOST.

GENTLY! GENTLY!

FOOL! HEADLESS TOAD!

YOU KNOW NOTHING OF HORSES!

WHIP MY CHILDREN ONCE,

AND I'LL DRAIN EVERY DROP OF YOUR BLOOD!

NOW, GENTLY AROUND THE FIRST TURN

AND LET THEM RUN! GO ON!

KEEP MY WORDS IN YOUR HEAD.

LET US SEE SOME WISDOM!

BEAUTIFUL HORSES.

NOW! NOW! THEY ARE READY!

LET THEM GO!

WATCH. THEY'LL NEVER HOLD THE TURN.

NO, NO!

ABADON! STOP HIM!

I'LL KILL HIM!

BONEHEAD, GIVE ME THOSE REINS!

YOU THINK YOU CAN TREAT MY HORSES LIKE ANIMALS?

DRIVE COWS AND GOATS.

THAT'S ALL YOU'RE FIT FOR.

GET OFF, IDIOT!

WHOA.

THAT FOOL SHOULD DRIVE GOATS, NOT HORSES!

OH, I'M DOOMED.

YOU SAW WHAT HAPPENED HERE?

THIS TRAVELER TOLD WHAT WOULD HAPPEN

BEFORE IT HAPPENED.

HUH?

YOUR HORSES ARE VERY FINE,

BUT THEY'RE NOT A TEAM.

NOT A TEAM?

ONE OF THEM HELD STEADY.

THE ONE ON THE OUTSIDE.

ANTARES.

THE SLOW ONE... UH?

I THINK HE SHOULD RUN ON THE INSIDE,

WHERE HE CAN STEADY THE OTHERS IN THE TURNS.

YOU HAVE A KEEN EYE.

WHERE DID YOU ACQUIRE IT?

IN THE CIRCUS IN ROME.

YOU HAVE DRIVEN IN THE GREAT CIRCUS?

TELL ME, MY FRIEND,

COULD YOU MAKE MY FOUR RUN AS ONE?

I'M ON MY WAY TO JERUSALEM.

BUT YOUR CARAVAN RESTS UNTIL DAYLIGHT TOMORROW.

WE HAVE TIME ENOUGH TO EAT, DRINK, AND TALK.

COME INTO MY TENT AND REFRESH YOURSELF,

AND LET ME HEAR HOW YOU RACED IN ROME.

IF I HAD A VOICE TO SING,

I WOULD SING YOU THE PSALM OF HORSES.

I TELL YOU, NO OTHER ANIMAL HAS DESCENDED SO UNSCATHED

FROM THE FIRST INNOCENT FORMING OF THE WORLD.

TOMORROW, I SHALL PUT ANTARES ON THE INSIDE.

WHEN YOU DO, SHORTEN THE YOKE.

IT'LL HELP THEM IN THE TURNS.

JUDAH BEN-HUR.

YOU'RE A JEW,

YET YOU DROVE IN THE GREAT CIRCUS.

YES.

BY A STRANGE CHOICE

AND A STRANGER FORTUNE.

AH, YOUR COMING HERE WAS SO FIT, SO RIGHT.

WE MIGHT HAVE ACHIEVED WONDERS,

YET YOU HAVE TO GO.

I HAVE TO MAKE A JOURNEY WHICH WILL NOT WAIT.

AH, WELL. THEN PERHAPS YOU WILL COME BACK.

AND WHEN YOU DO, BRING YOUR FRIENDS,

BRING YOUR WIVES.

I HAVE NO WIVES.

NO WIVES AT ALL?

OH, I HAVE SIX--

NO. SEVEN.

I'VE COUNTED EIGHT.

THAT'S BECAUSE HE'S TRAVELING.

AT HOME HE HAS MORE.

BELIEVE ME, MY FRIEND, IT IS A GREAT ADVANTAGE

TO HAVE MANY WIVES.

SOMEDAY I HOPE TO HAVE ONE.

ONE WIFE? HO HO!

ONE GOD, THAT I CAN UNDERSTAND,

BUT ONE WIFE? THAT IS NOT CIVILIZED.

IT IS NOT GENEROUS.

[BELCH]

WAS THE FOOD NOT TO YOUR LIKING?

INDEED.

[BELCH]

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

AND TAKE MY ADVICE, MY FRIEND.

BUY YOURSELF SOME WIVES.

AND NOW I MUST SAY GOOD NIGHT

TO MY BEAUTIES.

WHEN THEY'RE READY FOR SLEEP,

THEY GET IMPATIENT AND JEALOUS.

THEY WAIT TO SEE

WHICH ONE I WILL EMBRACE.

I MAKE MY FAREWELLS.

NO, NO, NO. STAY.

STAY AND SEE THEM.

COME, MY CHILDREN.

COME.

STRANGERS MAKE THEM SHY.

COME.

COME. DO NOT BE AFRAID.

COME.

AH.

THERE, MY CHILDREN.

THEY'RE DESCENDED FROM THE ARABIAN RACERS

OF THE FIRST PHARAOHS,

AND I HAVE NAMED THEM FOR THE STARS.

COME, ANTARES.

YOU ARE THE SLOWEST,

BUT YOU CAN RUN ALL DAY WITHOUT TIRING.

[NEIGH]

WHAT?

YES, YES.

YES, I LOVE YOU, TOO,

MY GOOD ANTARES.

COME, RIGEL.

WE'VE BOTH SUPPED WELL,

AND THE WORLD IS GOOD.

THERE'S MY GOOD RIGEL.

AH, YES, YOU ARE READY FOR SLEEP.

AH, THE DAY'S WORK IS DONE FOR YOU, EH?

AH, YES. WELL, YOU CAN GO TO SLEEP IN A MINUTE.

GOOD NIGHT. GOOD NIGHT, MY TREASURE.

AH! STEADY, ALDEBARAN.

I HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN YOU.

NO. YOU ARE THE SWIFTEST, BUT YOU MUST BE STEADY.

I'VE NEVER SEEN FINER HORSES,

EVEN IN ROME.

AH, YOU SHOULD SEE THEIR MOTHER MIRA.

I DARE NOT BRING HER

BECAUSE MY PEOPLE COULDN'T BEAR HER ABSENCE.

ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT.

AH!

YOU ARE THEIR FRIEND,

AND THEY DO NOT GIVE THEIR AFFECTIONS READILY.

COME, ANTARES, RIGEL.

IT IS LATE.

ATAIR, ALDEBARAN, GO TO SLEEP.

YOU MUST BE STRONG AND SWIFT.

GO, MY CHILDREN, GO.

WHEN THEY RACE AT JERUSALEM,

THEY WILL CHALLENGE THE FINEST TEAMS IN THE WORLD,

NOT TO MENTION THE CHAMPION OF THE EAST--

THE TRIBUNE MESSALA WITH HIS BLACK DEVILS.

HE STOPS AT NOTHING TO WIN.

MESSALA? IN THE CIRCUS?

YES. YOU KNEW HIM?

I KNOW HIM.

PERHAPS WITHOUT MUCH LIKING.

JUDAH BEN-HUR, MY PEOPLE ARE PRAYING FOR A MAN

WHO CAN DRIVE THEIR TEAM TO VICTORY OVER MESSALA.

YOU COULD BE THAT MAN. YOU COULD BE THE ONE

TO STAMP THIS ROMAN'S ARROGANCY INTO THE SAND OF THAT ARENA.

YOU'VE SEEN MY HORSES.

THEY NEED ONLY A DRIVER WHO IS WORTHY OF THEM,

ONE WHO WILL RULE THEM WITH LOVE AND NOT THE WHIP.

FOR SUCH A MAN, THEY WOULD OUTRACE THE WIND.

IT'S NOT POSSIBLE.

THAT IS A PITY.

THINK OF IT.

TO BREAK HIS PRIDE,

TO HUMBLE THIS TRIBUNE BEFORE THE VERY PEOPLE HE'S DEGRADED.

JUST THINK.

HIS DEFEAT AND HUMILIATION

AT THE HANDS OF A JEW!

I KNOW IT'S NOT POSSIBLE.

JUST THINK HOW IT WOULD DELIGHT YOUR IMAGINATION.

DOES IT NOT ANSWER YOUR PURPOSE?

I MUST DEAL WITH MESSALA IN MY OWN WAY.

AND YOUR WAY IS TO KILL HIM.

I SEE THIS TERRIBLE THING IN YOUR EYES,

JUDAH BEN-HUR.

BUT NO MATTER WHAT THIS MAN HAS DONE TO YOU,

YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO TAKE HIS LIFE.

HE WILL BE PUNISHED INEVITABLY.

I DON'T BELIEVE IN MIRACLES.

BUT ALL LIFE IS A MIRACLE.

WHY WILL YOU NOT ACCEPT GOD'S JUDGMENT?

YOU DO NOT BELIEVE IN MIRACLES,

YET GOD ONCE SPOKE TO ME OUT OF THE DARKNESS,

AND A STAR LED ME TO A VILLAGE CALLED BETHLEHEM,

WHERE I FOUND A NEWBORN CHILD IN A MANGER,

AND GOD LIVED IN THIS CHILD.

BY NOW HE'S A GROWN MAN

AND MUST BE READY TO BEGIN HIS WORK.

AND THAT IS WHY I'VE RETURNED HERE,

SO THAT I MAY BE AT HAND WHEN HE COMES AMONG US.

HE IS NEAR.

HE SAW THE SUNSET THIS EVENING,

AS WE DID.

PERHAPS HE'S STANDING IN A DOORWAY SOMEWHERE

OR ON A HILLTOP.

PERHAPS HE IS A SHEPHERD,

A MERCHANT, A FISHERMAN.

BUT HE LIVES,

AND ALL OUR LIVES FROM NOW ON

WILL CARRY HIS MARK.

THERE ARE MANY PATHS TO GOD, MY SON.

I HOPE YOURS WILL NOT BE TOO DIFFICULT.

AYE, I'M READY FOR SLEEP.

BALTHASAR IS A GOOD MAN,

BUT UNTIL ALL MEN ARE LIKE HIM,

WE MUST KEEP OUR SWORDS BRIGHT.

AND OUR INTENTION TRUE.

SO I MUST LEAVE YOU.

ONE LAST THOUGHT.

THERE IS NO LAW IN THE ARENA.

MANY ARE KILLED.

I HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

Man: FINE DAMASCUS SILK!

[DOOR OPENS]

ESTHER.

AH!

IT'S JUDAH.

JUDAH.

YOU ARE ALIVE.

ESTHER.

YOU ARE ALIVE.

YOU...

WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

WHAT HAS HAPPENED?

SHH.

I'M HERE.

I'M WITH YOU.

ESTHER...

WHERE'S YOUR FATHER?

THE DAY THEY TOOK YOU AWAY,

THEY IMPRISONED HIM.

THEY TORTURED HIM.

WHEN THEY WERE SURE HE WAS HIDING NOTHING,

THEY LET HIM GO.

EVER SINCE THEN,

WE'VE BEEN LIVING HERE--

YOU NEVER WENT--

IN HIDING.

YOU NEVER WENT BACK TO ANTIOCH?

NO.

THE ROMANS TOOK EVERYTHING.

THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT FOR US THERE.

ESTHER...

ESTHER, WHERE ARE MY MOTHER AND SISTER?

Simonides: ESTHER.

LET ME TELL HIM FIRST.

FATHER...

FATHER, SOMETHING WONDERFUL HAS HAPPENED.

JUDAH BEN-HUR IS ALIVE.

JUDAH?

HE HAS COME HOME.

HE IS HERE.

JUDAH...

JUDAH BEN-HUR.

MY DEAR OLD FRIEND.

LET ME LOOK AT YOU.

LET ME SEE YOU.

YES, YES.

IT IS TRUE.

PRAISE GOD FOR HIS MERCY.

WHERE ARE THEY?

SINCE THAT TERRIBLE DAY,

THERE HAS BEEN NO WORD OF THEM.

YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN LESS LOYAL.

DO NOT PITY ME, MASTER JUDAH.

IN FACT, I'M TWICE THE MAN I WAS.

THERE IS MALLUCH, MY OTHER HALF.

WE MET IN THE DUNGEONS OF THE CITADEL.

WE WERE RELEASED ON THE SAME DAY.

MALLUCH, WITHOUT A TONGUE,

AND I WITHOUT LIFE IN MY LEGS.

SINCE THEN, I HAVE BEEN HIS TONGUE,

AND HE HAS BEEN MY LEGS.

TOGETHER WE MAKE A CONSIDERABLE MAN.

OLD FRIEND.

SHE ALWAYS SAID YOU WOULD RETURN.

SHE NEVER GAVE UP HOPE.

THOUGH I HOPED IT, I DIDN'T BELIEVE IT.

I SEE THAT YOUR ONE THOUGHT

IS TO SAVE YOUR MOTHER AND SISTER.

BUT SUPPOSE THAT ISN'T POSSIBLE.

IF ONE PURPOSE FAILS, IT IS GOOD TO HAVE ANOTHER.

MUCH OF YOUR FORTUNE IS SAFE, JUDAH.

THEY COULD NOT MAKE ME TELL THEM WHERE IT IS.

IT IS THERE STILL TO PUT POWER INTO OUR HANDS

AND BUY DEATH FOR THE ROMANS.

THAT'S NOT WHY I CAME BACK.

JUDAH, THEY ARE DEAD.

FOUR YEARS...

NO ONE COULD LIVE SO LONG IN THE DUNGEONS.

WHO LIVES MORE THAN ONE YEAR IN THE GALLEYS?

AH, YES. IT IS TRUE.

JUDAH BEN-HUR.

YOU HAVE COME BACK TO US LIKE A RETURNING FAITH.

OH, JUDAH, I SHOULD LIKE TO LAUGH AGAIN.

YES, SIMONIDES.

LET US LAUGH.

WE WILL LAUGH.

THERE WILL BE JOY AGAIN IN THIS HOUSE.

WE WILL CELEBRATE AMONG THE DUST AND COBWEBS.

[SOBBING]

I WILL TAKE HIM.

WE STOOD HERE BEFORE.

A LONG WHILE AGO.

FOUR YEARS.

BUT NOW IT SEEMS AS IF...

ONLY YESTERDAY...

I WAS SAYING...

IF YOU WERE NOT A BRIDE, I SHOULD KISS YOU GOOD-BYE.

IF I WERE NOT A BRIDE,

THERE WOULD BE NO GOOD-BYES TO BE SAID.

I'M NOT A BRIDE.

WHY DID YOU NEVER MARRY?

MY FATHER NEEDED ME.

AND ALSO...

IT'S STILL ON MY FINGER.

I SAID I SHOULD WEAR IT

TILL I MET A WOMAN I WOULD MARRY.

IT'S BECOME A PART OF MY HAND.

IF MESSALA ONCE KNEW YOU WERE HERE...

AS HE MUST.

HE WILL KNOW WHERE THEY ARE.

AND IF YOU SHOULD FIND...

IF HE SHOULD TELL YOU THEY'RE DEAD--

THEN MESSALA WILL WISH THEY WERE LIVING.

I'VE SEEN TOO MUCH OF WHAT HATE CAN DO.

MY FATHER HAS BURNED UP WITH IT.

BUT I'VE HEARD OF A YOUNG RABBI

WHO SAYS THAT FORGIVENESS IS GREATER

AND LOVE MORE POWERFUL THAN HATRED.

I BELIEVE IT.

ESTHER--

JUDAH...

STAY ALIVE.

KEEP AWAY FROM MESSALA.

ONLY IF I CAN GIVE UP THINKING AND FEELING.

THAT TIME ISN'T YET COME.

THE STONE THAT FELL FROM THIS ROOF SO LONG AGO

IS STILL FALLING,

ONLY THIS TIME YOU WON'T BE SENT TO THE GALLEYS.

THIS TIME YOU WILL BE DESTROYED.

YOU WILL DIE.

Servant: FOR THE TRIBUNE,

WITH THE COMPLIMENTS OF QUINTUS ARRIUS.

HE AWAITS YOUR PLEASURE.

THE CONSUL HERE?

IT IS QUINTUS ARRIUS THE YOUNGER, TRIBUNE.

FIND HIM, BRING HIM TO ME.

I DIDN'T KNOW THE CONSUL HAD A SON.

I'VE HEARD OF YOUNG ARRIUS.

HE'S A CHAMPION OF THE GREAT CIRCUS.

WHY IS HE HERE PRESENTING ME WITH GIFTS?

PERHAPS HE WILL RACE AGAINST YOU IN THE GAMES.

LOOK.

IT'S MAGNIFICENT.

AND FROM A MAN I'VE NEVER MET.

YOU'RE WRONG, MESSALA.

JUDAH.

BY WHAT MAGIC DO YOU BEAR THE NAME

OF A CONSUL OF ROME?

YOU WERE THE MAGICIAN, MESSALA.

YOU CONDEMNED ME TO THE GALLEYS.

WHEN MY SHIP WAS SUNK, I SAVED THE CONSUL'S LIFE.

DO YOU KNOW HIS SEAL?

NOW I'VE COME BACK...

AS I SWORE I WOULD.

YOUR GIFT IS...

EXQUISITELY APPROPRIATE, YOUNG ARRIUS.

DO YOU SUGGEST I USE IT ON MYSELF?

WHAT HAS BECOME

OF MY MOTHER AND MY SISTER?

IT IS NOT MY DUTY

TO KEEP TRACK OF PRISONERS.

FIND THEM, MESSALA.

RESTORE THEM TO ME, AND I WILL FORGET

WHAT I VOWED WITH EVERY STROKE

OF THAT OAR YOU CHAINED ME TO.

I AM NOT THE GOVERNOR OF JUDEA.

I CAN DO NOTHING WITHOUT GRATUS' APPROVAL.

THEN GET IT!

I WILL COME BACK TOMORROW.

DON'T DISAPPOINT ME, MESSALA.

WHAT BECAME OF THEM?

IT'S BEEN ALMOST FIVE YEARS.

DO YOU SUPPOSE THEY'RE STILL ALIVE?

GO TO THE CITADEL, DRUSUS. FIND OUT.

AND IF THEY'RE DEAD?

THEY'RE DEAD!

MIRIAM, WIFE. TIRZAH, DAUGHTER.

YES. THEY'RE THE ONES.

ARE THEY ALIVE?

EAST SECTION.

LOWER LEVEL.

CELL TWO.

THE JAILER ON THAT LEVEL WILL KNOW.

Prisoner: WATER.

[KNOCKS ON DOOR]

WATER.

LET ME OUT OF HERE.

HEAR US! HEAR US!

LET ME OUT!

[KNOCK KNOCK]

WATER.

WATER.

[KNOCK KNOCK]

HOW LONG SINCE YOU'VE SEEN THEM?

NEVER...

AND I'VE BEEN HERE THREE YEARS.

BUT THEY'RE ALIVE, ALL RIGHT.

THE FOOD DISAPPEARS.

LEPERS.

THEY MUST BE TAKEN OUTSIDE THE CITY

AND RELEASED AT ONCE.

THEN WE'LL BURN OUT THE CELL.

[DOOR CLOSES]

[COUGH COUGH]

[RUSTLING]

IS SOMEONE THERE?

THERE IS SOMEONE THERE!

WHO ARE YOU?

Miriam: DON'T COME ANY CLOSER.

WHO ARE YOU?

ESTHER...

IT'S MIRIAM.

MIRIAM.

MIRIAM?

STAY WHERE YOU ARE.

YOU HAVE COME HOME!

STAND BACK, ESTHER!

WE ARE LEPERS.

OH, ESTHER.

TIRZAH!

ESTHER...

IS JUDAH LIVING?

YES.

HE IS ALIVE.

HE IS HERE.

WHERE?

HE--HE IS SEARCHING FOR YOU NOW.

I MUST FIND HIM AND...

AND TELL HIM.

NO!

AND TELL MY FATHER.

NO! TELL NO ONE.

WE ARE GOING AWAY.

TO THE VALLEY OF THE LEPERS.

WE WON'T RETURN.

BUT...

JUDAH HAS TO BE TOLD.

NO.

PLEASE.

I COULDN'T SEE HIS FACE.

IS IT CHANGED?

NO.

HE IS NOT CHANGED.

HE...

HE'S NOT CHANGED.

YOU LOVE HIM, ESTHER.

PROMISE ME,

ON YOUR LOVE FOR HIM,

THAT YOU WILL NEVER TELL HIM

YOU HAVE SEEN US.

HE IS NEVER TO KNOW.

LET HIM REMEMBER US AS WE WERE.

PROMISE ME.

THERE'S NOTHING ELSE I CAN HOPE FOR.

ONLY THIS.

I PROMISE.

I AM CONTENT.

WAIT.

MESSALA WILL FIND OUT.

I'M SURE OF THAT.

I PRAY TO GOD THEY'RE ALIVE

AND THAT MESSALA WILL FREE THEM.

HE'LL FREE THEM.

HE WANTS TO SURVIVE.

HE CANNOT FREE THEM, JUDAH.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

I SAW THEM.

YOU SAW THEM?

WHERE?

WHEN DID YOU SEE THEM?

THEY WERE DEAD.

THEY WERE DEAD.

WHEN?

WHEN?

WHEN?

IN THE PRISON.

WHEN I WAS WAITING FOR NEWS OF MY FATHER.

WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME?

I COULDN'T TELL YOU,

NOR EVEN YOU, FATHER.

I WAS AFRAID THAT IF YOU SAW MESSALA...

OH, JUDAH,

YOU HAVE COME TO THE END OF YOUR SEARCH.

IT'S OVER NOW.

OVER?

JUDAH.

OVER?

JUDAH, FORGET, FORGET, FORGET MESSALA.

GO BACK TO ROME.

[ENTR'ACTE MUSIC PLAYS]

GENTLEMEN, OFFICERS...

DEFENDERS OF GREAT ROME'S IMPERIUM...

MAY I ENTER?

CERTAINLY, SHEIK.

YOU DO US AN UNEXPECTED HONOR.

THE NOBLE TRIBUNE IS MOST GRACIOUS.

AND NOW, THE QUESTION YOU'RE ALL ASKING YOURSELVES--

WHY AM I HERE?

AS YOU KNOW, I AM A COARSE GAMBLING MAN.

THE GAMES APPROACH.

I'M RACING MY WHITES AGAINST THE NOBLE TRIBUNE'S

MAGNIFICENT, UNDEFEATED BLACKS,

BUT I WILL BACK MY OWN POOR HORSES.

NO LIMITS?

[CROWD MURMURS]

MARK ME FIRST, SHEIK.

AND ME.

A MOMENT, PLEASE, MY LORDS,

PROTECTORS OF THE FAR-FLUNG MARSHES.

MAY I FIRST SIT DOWN?

SIT DOWN. LIE DOWN. HOW MUCH WILL YOU WAGER?

YES. LET'S CALL HIS GAME.

GIVE THE ARAB A SEAT.

A BENCH QUICKLY.

THANK YOU.

NOW...

1,000 DINARII.

2,000!

4,000.

YOUR SPIRIT DOES YOU CREDIT, BUT DO NOT BE IMPATIENT.

THERE IS TIME AND MONEY ENOUGH FOR ALL.

FIRST, GENTLEMEN, THE ODDS.

THE TRIBUNE HAS WON MANY TIMES.

THE ODDS SHOULD BE IN THE SAME MEASURE.

NOW, WHAT IS YOUR PLEASURE, GENTLEMEN?

2-TO-1.

OH! NOBLE ROMANS, MEN OF THE TIBER,

MASTERS OF THE EARTH,

WHERE IS THE COURAGE, THE DARING

THAT MADE ROME MASTER OF THE WORLD?

I CAN GET BETTER ODDS AT ANY STREET MARKET.

3-TO-1.

LET US NOT HAGGLE. LET US BE FAIR.

IN FOUR YEARS THE TRIBUNE HAS WON

FOUR VICTORIES IN THE CIRCUS.

IN ALL TRUTH--

JUST A MOMENT.

WE KNOW YOU HAVE GOOD HORSES,

BUT WHO IS YOUR DRIVER?

OH. OH, DID I NOT TELL YOU?

HOW CARELESS OF ME.

THE PRINCE OF HUR.

JUDAH BEN-HUR.

PRINCE OF HUR?

HE WAS SENT TO THE GALLEYS YEARS AGO.

HE HAS RETURNED.

RETURNED? IMPOSSIBLE.

THE DIVINE TIBERIUS IS MERCIFUL AS ALWAYS.

WELL, WILL NO ONE BACK THE NOBLE TRIBUNE

AGAINST A JEW, A GALLEY SLAVE?

PERHAPS I MADE A MISTAKE IN COMING HERE.

YOU, TRIBUNE, WILL YOU GIVE ME 4-TO-1?

4-TO-1.

GOOD. BRAVO, MESSALA.

4-TO-1, SHEIK.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A ROMAN AND A JEW.

OR AN ARAB.

BRAVELY SPOKEN.

NOW WE WILL SETTLE THE AMOUNT OF OUR WAGER.

I WILL VENTURE...

1,000 TALENTS?

1,000 TALENTS?

YES. 1,000 TALENTS.

OF COURSE, IF IT IS TOO MUCH...

1,000 TALENTS IT WILL BE.

I AGREE.

TREAT THEM WELL. THEY'VE EARNED IT TODAY.

YOU'RE GOOD FELLOWS. IF ONLY MEN WERE AS GOOD.

HEY!

REMEMBER, ATAIR, NINE TIMES AROUND THE CIRCUS, HUH?

ALDEBARAN...

HEY, RIGEL, DID YOU HEAR?

NINE LIVES TO LIVE, HUH?

MY SWIFT FELLOW...

YOU MUST NOT WIN THE RACE THE FIRST TIME AROUND.

YOU WIN THE LAST TIME AROUND.

AND YOU CANNOT WIN ALONE.

YOU MUST WAIT FOR THE OTHERS.

STEADY ANTARES, LIKE A ROCK.

YOU WILL BE OUR ANCHOR.

I THOUGHT THEY WOULD NEVER LOVE ANOTHER

AS THEY LOVE ME.

THEY'VE TAKEN ME INTO THEIR FAMILY.

MMM.

REST WELL, MY STARS.

TOMORROW WE GO UP TO THE CITY.

AND THEN, JUDAH, THEN...

IF YOU DEFEAT MESSALA,

AND THE NEW GOVERNOR THERE TO SEE IT,

THE NEWS WILL SCORCH THE STREETS

OF THE WHOLE ROMAN WORLD.

PONTIUS PILATE HERE?

YES, AND READY TO GRIND HIS HEEL INTO US,

BUT YOU WILL MAKE HIM SEE

WHAT MEN ARE BORN IN THIS LAND.

I ONLY KNOW THAT I RACE AGAINST MESSALA.

LOOK TO THE YOKE.

GOD, FORGIVE ME FOR SEEKING VENGEANCE,

BUT MY PATH IS SET.

INTO YOUR HANDS I COMMIT MY LIFE.

DO WITH ME AS YOU WILL.

THE STAR OF DAVID--

TO SHINE OUT FOR YOUR PEOPLE

AND MY PEOPLE TOGETHER

AND BLIND THE EYES OF ROME.

[TRUMPET FANFARE]

THEY ARE READY.

READY...

OFF!

EASY, GIRL, EASY.

NUMBER FIVE.

WHERE IS NUMBER FIVE?

WHOA.

THIS IS THE DAY, JUDAH. IT'S BETWEEN US NOW.

YES. THIS IS THE DAY.

JUDAH...

LOOK, HE'S DRIVING A GREEK CHARIOT.

JUDAH, BE CAREFUL. DON'T LET HIM NEAR YOU.

[TRUMPET FANFARE]

HAIL, JUPITER.

BUT GIVE ME VICTORY.

WATCH YOUR LINE!

KEEP YOUR PLACES!

STOP, YOU FOOL!

CITIZENS, I WELCOME YOU TO THESE GAMES

IN THE NAME OF YOUR EMPEROR,

THE DIVINE TIBERIUS.

WE DEDICATE THEM TO HIS GLORY

AND TO THE GLORY OF ROME,

OF WHICH YOU ARE ALL PART.

LET US HONOR THOSE WHO RACE FOR US TODAY.

THEY COME HERE FROM ALEXANDRIA...

MESSINA...

CARTHAGE...

CYPRUS...

ROME...

CORINTH...

ATHENS...

PHRYGIA...

AND JUDEA.

TO THE BEST OF THESE, A CROWN OF VICTORY.

THE RACE BEGINS.

HAIL CAESAR!

HAIL CAESAR!

[CROWD IS SILENT]

OH, YOU DOG! BAH!

COME, MY CHILDREN! COME!

THE ROMAN PIG!

HYAH! HYAH!

HYAH!

HYAH!

AAH!

ANTARES, NOW, NOW!

SALUTE.

A GREAT VICTORY.

YOU ARE THE PEOPLE'S ONE TRUE GOD...

FOR THE TIME BEING.

PERMIT US TO WORSHIP.

I CROWN THEIR GOD.

I WILL SEND FOR YOU.

I HAVE A MESSAGE FROM ROME.

A LONG LIFE, YOUNG ARRIUS,

AND THE GOOD SENSE TO LIVE IT.

WE CANNOT WAIT, TRIBUNE.

HE WILL COME.

HE WILL--AAH!

WE CANNOT WAIT ANY LONGER, TRIBUNE.

HE WILL COME!

HE WILL COME.

I'VE SENT FOR HIM, AND HE WILL COME.

IF YOU WISH US TO KEEP YOU ALIVE,

WE HAVE TO GO TO WORK NOW, TRIBUNE.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND?

TO HACK THE LEGS OFF ME...NOT YET.

NOT TILL I'VE SEEN HIM.

I DON'T RECEIVE HIM WITH HALF A BODY.

AAH! NO!

NO! NO!

Messala: I TOLD YOU, DRUSUS.

I TOLD YOU.

THERE HE IS.

TRIUMPH COM--

TRIUMPH COMPLETE, JUDAH.

THE RACE WON. THE ENEMY DESTROYED.

I SEE NO ENEMY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU SEE,

THE SMASHED BODY OF A WRETCHED ANIMAL?

THERE'S ENOUGH OF A MAN STILL LEFT HERE

FOR YOU TO HATE.

LET ME HELP YOU.

OH!

OH!

YOU THINK THEY'RE DEAD, YOUR MOTHER AND SISTER.

DEAD... AND THE RACE OVER.

IT ISN'T OVER, JUDAH.

THEY'RE NOT DEAD.

WHERE ARE THEY?

WHERE ARE THEY?

WHERE ARE THEY?

LOOK--LOOK FOR THEM

IN THE VALLEY OF THE LEPERS...

IF YOU CAN RECOGNIZE THEM.

[SOBS]

IT GOES ON.

IT GOES ON, JUDAH.

THE RACE...

THE RACE IS NOT OVER.

IS THERE A WAY DOWN HERE?

ARE YOU A MADMAN?

KEEP WELL OUT OF THIS PLACE.

MAN.

I'M SEARCHING FOR TWO WOMEN--

A MOTHER AND DAUGHTER.

THERE--THERE ARE MANY WOMEN.

OF THE FAMILY OF HUR.

WE HAVE NO NAMES HERE.

FOR THEM?

WHY DID YOU TELL ME THEY WERE DEAD?

IT WAS WHAT THEY WANTED.

JUDAH, YOU MUST NOT BETRAY THIS FAITH.

WILL YOU DO THIS FOR THEM?

NOT TO SEE THEM?

THEY'RE COMING. JUDAH!

JUDAH, LOVE THEM IN THE WAY THEY MOST NEED TO BE LOVED--

NOT TO LOOK AT THEM.

JUDAH, LET THEM BE AS IF YOU HAD NEVER COME HERE!

PLEASE, JUDAH!

IS JUDAH WELL?

IS HE HAPPY?

Esther: YES. HE IS WELL.

YOUR MIND CAN BE AT REST FOR HIM.

HE IS WELL, MIRIAM.

GOD BE WITH YOU.

THEY HAVE GONE.

WE CAN GO BACK.

GO BACK TO WHAT?

JUDAH, THEY HAVE ONE BLESSING LEFT--

TO THINK YOU REMEMBER THEM AS THEY WERE...

AND LIVE YOUR OWN LIFE.

FORGET WHAT IS HERE.

FORGET?

IT'S AS IF THEY WERE ALIVE IN A GRAVE.

BUT WHAT CAN YOU DO?

UNDO WHAT YOU'VE DONE.

HOW COULD YOU HAVE SUFFERED THEM TO COME HERE?

I MUST SEE THEM.

NO, JUDAH! PLEASE, JUDAH!

THINK, JUDAH, THINK!

IT WILL TEAR THEM APART IF THEY SEE YOU.

JUDAH!

JUDAH, HE IS HERE.

I HAVE FOUND HIM.

THE CHILD HAS BECOME A MAN.

AND THE MAN, OH, I KNOW IT NOW--

HE'S THE SON OF GOD.

THE PROMISE IS TRUE.

HAPPY BALTHASAR.

LIFE HAS ANSWERED YOU, HAS IT?

LIFE HAS BEEN ANSWERED.

GOD HAS ANSWERED IT.

COME. COME WITH ME.

WHEN THE ROMANS WERE MARCHING ME TO THE GALLEYS,

THIRST HAD NEARLY KILLED ME.

A MAN GAVE ME WATER TO DRINK.

I WENT ON LIVING.

I SHOULD HAVE DONE BETTER

IF I'D POURED IT INTO THE SAND.

NO.

I'M THIRSTY STILL.

COME AND LISTEN.

I'VE BUSINESS WITH ROME.

YOU INSIST ON DEATH.

GOOD-BYE, JUDAH.

YOU SENT FOR ME?

I HOPE I BRING YOU

A GOOD CONCLUSION TO YOUR VICTORY.

I HAVE A MESSAGE FOR YOU FROM THE CONSUL YOUR FATHER.

I HONOR HIM.

AS YOU MAY HONOR YOURSELF.

YOU HAVE BEEN MADE A CITIZEN OF ROME.

DO YOU SAY NOTHING TO THIS?

I HAVE JUST COME FROM A VALLEY OF STONE

WHERE MY MOTHER AND SISTER

LIVE WHAT'S LEFT OF THEIR LIVES,

BY ROME'S WILL,

LEPERS, OUTCASTS WITHOUT HOPE.

I HAVE HEARD THIS.

THERE WAS GREAT BLAME THERE,

VERY DEEPLY REGRETTED.

THEIR FLESH IS MINE, MY LORD PILATE.

IT ALREADY CARRIES ROME'S MARK.

MESSALA IS DEAD.

WHAT HE DID HAS HAD ITS WAY WITH HIM.

THE DEED WAS NOT MESSALA'S.

I KNEW HIM WELL

BEFORE THE CRUELTY OF ROME SPREAD IN HIS BLOOD.

ROME DESTROYED MESSALA,

AS SURELY AS ROME HAS DESTROYED MY FAMILY.

WHERE THERE IS GREATNESS,

GREAT GOVERNMENT OR POWER,

EVEN GREAT FEELING OR COMPASSION,

ERROR ALSO IS GREAT.

WE PROGRESS AND MATURE BY FAULT.

BUT ROME HAS SAID SHE IS READY TO JOIN YOUR LIFE TO HERS

IN A GREAT FUTURE.

THERE ARE OTHER VOICES.

THE VOICE, FOR INSTANCE, OF ARRIUS,

WAITING FOR YOU IN ROME.

HE WOULD TELL YOU, IF I MAY SPEAK IN HIS PLACE,

NOT TO CRUCIFY YOURSELF ON A SHADOW

SUCH AS OLD RESENTMENT OR IMPOSSIBLE LOYALTY.

PERFECT FREEDOM HAS NO EXISTENCE.

THE GROWN MAN KNOWS THE WORLD HE LIVES IN,

AND FOR THE PRESENT, THE WORLD IS ROME.

YOUNG ARRIUS, I AM SURE, WILL CHOOSE IT.

I AM JUDAH BEN-HUR.

I CROSSED THIS FLOOR AND SPOKE IN FRIENDSHIP,

AS I WOULD SPEAK TO ARRIUS.

BUT WHEN I GO UP THOSE STAIRS, I BECOME THE HAND OF CAESAR,

READY TO CRUSH ALL THOSE WHO CHALLENGE HIS AUTHORITY.

THERE ARE TOO MANY SMALL MEN OF ENVY AND AMBITION

WHO TRY TO DISRUPT THE GOVERNMENT OF ROME.

YOU HAVE BECOME THE VICTOR AND HERO TO THESE PEOPLE.

THEY LOOK TO YOU,

THEIR ONE TRUE GOD, AS I CALLED YOU.

IF YOU STAY HERE,

YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF PART OF THIS TRAGEDY.

I AM ALREADY PART OF THIS TRAGEDY.

RETURN THIS TO ARRIUS.

I HONOR HIM TOO WELL TO WEAR IT ANY LONGER.

EVEN FOR THE SAKE OF ARRIUS,

I CANNOT PROTECT YOU FROM PERSONAL DISASTER

IF YOU STAY HERE.

YOU ARE TOO GREAT A DANGER.

LEAVE JUDEA.

YOU HAVE MY WARNING.

JUDAH.

OH, JUDAH.

I WAS AFRAID YOU WOULD NEVER COME BACK,

AFRAID OF WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO YOU.

BUT I SEE YOU AGAIN.

YOUR FATHER'S WAITING FOR ME.

WHERE IS HE?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN TO DO?

OH, JUDAH.

REST. SLEEP.

FOR A FEW HOURS OF THE NIGHT,

LET YOUR MIND BE AT PEACE.

PEACE.

LOVE AND PEACE.

DO YOU THINK I DON'T LONG FOR THEM AS MUCH AS YOU DO?

WHERE DO YOU SEE THEM?

IF YOU HAD HEARD THIS MAN FROM NAZARETH--

BALTHASAR'S WORD.

HE IS MORE THAN BALTHASAR'S WORD.

HIS VOICE TRAVELED WITH SUCH A STILL PURPOSE.

IT WAS MORE THAN A VOICE--

A MAN MORE THAN A MAN.

HE SAID, "BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL,

"FOR THEY SHALL OBTAIN MERCY.

"BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS,

FOR THEY SHALL BE CALLED THE CHILDREN OF GOD."

CHILDREN OF GOD?

IN THAT DEAD VALLEY WHERE WE LEFT THEM?

I TELL YOU, EVERY MAN IN JUDEA'S UNCLEAN

AND WILL STAY UNCLEAN

UNTIL WE'VE SCOURED OFF OUR BODIES THE CRUST AND FILTH

OF BEING AT THE MERCY OF TYRANNY.

NO OTHER LIFE IS POSSIBLE

EXCEPT TO WASH THIS LAND CLEAN.

IN BLOOD?

YES, IN BLOOD!

I KNOW THERE IS A LAW IN LIFE,

THAT BLOOD GETS MORE BLOOD

AS DOG BEGETS DOG.

DEATH GENERATES DEATH

AS THE VULTURE BREEDS THE VULTURE.

BUT THE VOICE I HEARD TODAY ON THE HILL SAID,

"LOVE YOUR ENEMY.

DO GOOD TO THOSE WHO DESPITEFULLY USE YOU."

SO ALL WHO ARE BORN IN THIS LAND HEREAFTER

CAN SUFFER AS WE HAVE DONE.

AS YOU MAKE US DO NOW!

ARE WE TO BEAR NOTHING TOGETHER?

EVEN LOVE?

I CAN HARDLY DRAW BREATH

WITHOUT FEELING YOU IN MY ARMS.

YET I KNOW

THAT EVERYTHING I DO FROM THIS MOMENT

WILL BE AS GREAT A PAIN TO YOU

AS YOU HAVE EVER SUFFERED.

IT IS BETTER NOT TO LOVE ME.

IT WAS JUDAH BEN-HUR I LOVED.

WHAT HAS BECOME OF HIM?

YOU SEEM TO BE NOW THE VERY THING

YOU SET OUT TO DESTROY--

GIVING EVIL FOR EVIL.

HATRED IS TURNING YOU TO STONE.

IT'S AS THOUGH YOU HAD BECOME MESSALA.

I'VE LOST YOU, JUDAH.

NO FURTHER.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

I WAS HERE LAST EVENING WAITING FOR YOU.

I'VE WAITED ALL NIGHT.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED?

WHERE IS TIRZAH?

LEAVE THE FOOD.

I'M COMING CLOSER.

DON'T BE AFRAID.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

DON'T BE AFRAID.

I'VE HEARD HIM AGAIN--

THE MAN FROM NAZARETH.

IF EVER WORDS WERE FROM GOD,

THEY ARE IN EVERYTHING HE SAYS.

NO FURTHER.

I CANNOT BEAR THAT YOU SHOULD NEVER HAVE KNOWN

THIS--THIS HAND OF QUIET REACHING TOWARDS US.

HE'S GOING TO JERUSALEM.

WE CAN FIND HIM THERE.

BRING TIRZAH. WE CAN GO TOGETHER TO FIND HIM.

TIRZAH IS DYING.

[FOOTSTEPS]

[SOBS] LEAVE THE FOOD AND GO.

IT'S JUDAH!

WHY DID YOU TELL HIM?

YES, JUDAH, YES!

NO NEARER, PLEASE, GOD.

NO NEARER!

MOTHER.

WAIT, MOTHER.

WAIT!

LET ME TALK WITH YOU.

OH, PLEASE.

NO, NO FURTHER. PLEASE.

DON'T, JUDAH.

SON, NO.

MOTHER, LET ME SEE TIRZAH.

TIRZAH IS DYING.

JUDAH, IF THEY WOULD SEE JESUS OF NAZARETH,

THEY WILL KNOW THAT LIFE IS EVERLASTING

AND DEATH IS NOTHING TO FEAR

IF YOU HAVE FAITH.

I WILL TAKE THEM TO HIM.

OH, NO!

ESTHER, DON'T!

NO, NO, DEAR SON.

MOTHER.

WHERE'S TIRZAH?

JUDAH, NO.

JUDAH, NO.

YOU MUST NOT GO TO HER, DEAR SON.

JUDAH, PLEASE.

DEAR SON.

Miriam: I'M AFRAID.

NO CAUSE.

THE WORLD IS MORE THAN WE KNOW.

OH, OH!

TIRZAH.

IT'S JUDAH.

NO!

NO!

DON'T, JUDAH.

NO, JUDAH, NO.

NO.

Man: ALMS FOR THE BLIND.

[BELLS ON MAN'S STAFF JINGLE]

ALMS FOR THE BLIND.

ALMS FOR THE BLIND.

ALMS FOR THE BLIND.

WHY ARE THE STREETS DESERTED?

THEY HAVE GONE TO THE TRIAL.

ALMS FOR THE BLIND.

TRIAL? WHOSE TRIAL?

THE YOUNG RABBI FROM NAZARETH.

THEY'RE WANTING HIS DEATH.

IT CANNOT BE TRUE.

ALMS?

WHAT HAS HE DONE?

NOTHING I KNOW OF.

FOR THE BLIND. FOR THE BLIND.

HELP FOR THE BLIND.

LOOK! LEPERS!

LEPERS! OH, NO!

GO AWAY! GET AWAY!

STAY AWAY!

GO AWAY!

LEPERS!

LEPERS!

HOW CAN THIS BE?

I KNOW THIS MAN.

WILL SOMEONE HELP HIM?

Tirzah: HAVE PITY ON HIM.

HAVE MERCY.

HAVE MERCY.

IN HIS PAIN...

THIS LOOK OF PEACE.

WATCH OVER THEM, ESTHER.

WE MUST GO BACK.

I BROUGHT YOU HERE TO THIS,

WHEN I HOPED...

YOU HAVEN'T FAILED, ESTHER.

HAIL, KING OF THE JEWS!

THIS IS WHERE YOUR SEARCH HAS BROUGHT YOU, BALTHASAR.

HE GAVE ME WATER...

AND A HEART TO LIVE.

WHAT HAS HE DONE TO MERIT THIS?

HE'S TAKEN THE WORLD OF OUR SINS UNTO HIMSELF.

TO THIS END, HE SAID, HE WAS BORN...

IN THAT STABLE WHERE I FIRST SAW HIM.

FOR THIS CAUSE,

HE CAME INTO THE WORLD.

FOR THIS DEATH?

THIS BEGINNING.

I HAVE LIVED TOO LONG.

[THUNDER]

[THUNDER]

AS THOUGH HE WERE CARRYING IN THAT CROSS

THE PAIN OF THE WORLD.

I WAS SO FEARFUL,

AND YET WHY IS IT I'M NOT AFRAID ANYMORE?

[THUNDER]

THE SHADOW OF THE STORM.

[THUNDER]

[RUMBLING THUNDER]

A STRANGE DARKNESS.

BUT STILL DAY.

[THUNDER]

HIS LIFE IS OVER.

[WIND HOWLS]

[THUNDER]

WHAT IS IT?

[THUNDER]

THIS TEARING HURT.

I'M IN PAIN!

I FEEL IT, TOO.

[THUNDER]

MIRIAM.

I THOUGHT I...

MIRIAM.

DO YOU SEE YOUR HAND?

TIRZAH!

MIRIAM!

TIRZAH.

TIRZAH.

ALMOST AT THE MOMENT HE DIED,

I HEARD HIM SAY, "FATHER, FORGIVE THEM,

FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO."

EVEN THEN.

EVEN THEN.

AND I FELT HIS VOICE

TAKE THE SWORD OUT OF MY HAND.

♪ ALLELUIA ♪

♪ ALLELUIA... ♪

CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY WARNER BROS.

CAPTIONED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE --www.ncicap.org--

♪ ALLELUIA ♪

♪ ALLELUIA ♪

♪ ALLELUIA ♪