Original subtitles

[MURMURING]

[MEN CHUCKLING]

SHEIK: 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 gambling man.

The games approach.

I am racing my whites against the noble tribune's undefeated blacks.

But I will back my own poor horses.

No limits?

MARIUS: Mark me first! - And me!

MATELLUS: What odds? - A moment, please...

...my lords, protectors of the far flung marshes.

May I first, uh, sit down?

MARIUS: Sit down. Lie down. How much will you wager?

-Yes, let's call his game. SPINTHO: Give the Arab a seat.

A bench, quickly.

Thank you.

- Now. - One thousand denarii.

- Two thousand! - Mark me!

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?

MARIUS: Two to one.

[SHEIK CHUCKLES]

Noble Romans, men of the Tiber, masters of the Earth...

...where is the courage that made Rome master of the world?

I can get better odds on any street market.

MARIUS: Three to one.

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.

Did I not tell you? How careless of me.

The Prince of Hur.

Judah Ben-Hur.

Prince of Hur?

[CHUCKLES]

- 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 four to one?

Four to one.

- Good. - Bravo, Messala.

Four to one, sheik. The difference between a Roman and a Jew.

Or an Arab.

[ROMANS LAUGH]

[CHUCKLES]

Bravely spoken.

Now we will settle the amount of our wager. I will venture...

A thousand talents?

- A thousand talents? - Yes, a thousand talents.

Of course, if it is too much...

A thousand talents it will be.

Agreed.

[MURMURING]

Treat them well. They've earned it today.

You're good fellows.

If only men were this good. Hey!

Remember, Altair...

...nine times around the circus, huh?

Aldebaran.

Hey, ha, ha.

Rigel, did you hear?

Nine lives to live.

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'd never love another as they love me.

They have taken me into their family.

Rest well, my stars.

Tomorrow we go up to the city.

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.

You will make him see what men are born in this land.

I only know that I race against Messala.

ATTENDANT: Look for the yoke.

Ease that strap.

BEN-HUR: 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.

[TRUMPETS PLAYING]

They are ready.

ATTENDANT: Ready, off!

MAN: Easy, girl, easy.

STARTER: Number five.

Where is number five?

Whoa.

This is the day, Judah. It's between us now.

Yes, this is the day.

SHEIK: Judah!

Look, he's driving a Greek chariot.

Judah, be careful. Don't let him near you.

[TRUMPETS PLAYING]

Hail, Jupiter. Give me victory.

[BRASS BAND PLAYING]

[CROWD CHEERING]

ATTENDANT: Watch your line! Keep your places!

MAN: The formation is good. A beautiful line.

Citizens...

...I welcome you to these games in the name of your emperor, 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.

[CROWD ROARS]

To the best of these, a crown of victory.

The race begins.

Hail, Caesar!

CROWD: Hail, Caesar!

Oh, you dog!

Come, my children, come!

The Roman pig!

Hyah! Hyah!

Hyah! Hyah!

Steady! Now, now!

[BAND PLAYING TRIUMPHANT MUSIC]

OFFICER: 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.

[HEAVY BREATHING]

We cannot wait, tribune.

MESSALA: He will come. He will...

[COUGHS AND GASPS]

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.

No. No!

[MESSALA GRUNTING]

I told you, Drusus. I told you.

Here he is.

Triumph c... 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.

[GROANS]

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 for them...

...in the Valley of the Lepers...

...if you can recognize them.

[BEN-HUR YELLS]

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.

MAN: 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.

You must not betray this faith. Would you do this for them?

Not to see them?

They are coming.

Love them in the way they must need to be loved. Not to look at them.

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.

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 though 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 would 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, I know it now, is the son of God.

The promise is true.

Happy Balthasar. Life has answered you.

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 had poured it into the sand.

No.

I am thirsty still.

Come and listen.

I have business with Rome.

You insist on death.

Goodbye, 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 the 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, 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.

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 loyalties.

Perfect freedom has no existence.

A 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 cross this floor in spoken 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 those 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 Arrius' sake, I cannot protect you...

...from personal disaster if you stay here.

You are too great a danger.

Leave Judea.

You have my word.

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 of Judea is unclean and will stay unclean...

...until we have 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 begets 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."

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 heart.

But 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.

MIRIAM: No further.

What are you doing here?

I was here last evening waiting for you.

I have waited all night. What has happened?

Where is Tirzah?

Leave the food.

I am 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.

I cannot bear that you should have never known...

...this hand of quiet reaching towards us.

He is going to Jerusalem. We can find him there.

Bring Tirzah and we can go together to find him.

[MIRIAM WHIMPERS]

Tirzah is dying.

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.

MIRIAM: Please.

No, no further. Please.

No, 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.

[MIRIAM SHRIEKS]

No!

God, no!

[MIRIAM SOBBING]

No, no, dear son.

Mother...

...where is Tirzah?

Judah, no.

Judah, no.

You must not go to her, dear son.

Please.

Dear son.

I am afraid.

ESTHER: No cause.

The world is more than we know.

[TIRZAH WHIMPERING]

Tirzah, it's Judah.

No.

No, Judah.

No, Judah. No.

[TIRZAH SOBBING]

BEGGAR: Alms for the blind?

Alms for the blind?

Alms for the blind? Alms for the blind?

BEN-HUR: Why are the streets deserted? - They have gone to the trial.

- Alms for the blind? - Trial? Whose trial?

The young rabbi from Nazareth. They are wanting his death.

- This cannot be true. - Alms?

What has he done?

Nothing I know of. For the blind, for the blind.

Help for the blind.

WOMAN: Look, lepers! GIRL: Lepers!

MAN 1: Go away! MAN 2: Get away! Stay away!

Go away!

[MURMURING]

Lepers! Lepers!

How can this be?

I know this man.

Will someone help him?

TIRZAH: Take pity on him.

WOMAN: Have mercy. Have mercy.

MIRIAM: 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.

MAN: 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 has taken the world of our sins onto 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 RUMBLING]

As though he were carrying in that cross...

...the pain of the world.

So fearful, and yet why is it...

...I'm not afraid anymore?

[THUNDER RUMBLES]

The shadow of a storm.

A strange darkness...

...but still day.

[RUMBLING INTENSIFIES]

His life is over.

[WIND HOWLING]

[THUNDER CRASHING]

TIRZAH: What is it?

This tearing.

I am in pain.

I feel it too.

Miriam.

I thought I...

Miriam.

Do you see your hand?

Tirzah.

Miriam.

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.

[English - US - SDH]