All language subtitles for The Ten Commandments 1956_track3_[eng]

(ORCHESTRAL MUSIC PLAYING)

NARRATOR: And God said,
"Let there be light."

And there was light.

And from this light,
God created life upon Earth.

And man was given
dominion

over all things
upon this earth

and the power to choose
between good and evil.

But each sought to do
his own will

because he knew not
the light of God's law.

Man took dominion
over man,

the conquered were made
to serve the conqueror,

the weak were made
to serve the strong,

and freedom
was gone from the world.

So did the Egyptians cause
the children of Israel

to serve with rigor,

and their lives
were made bitter

with hard bondage.

And their cry
came up unto God.

And God heard them

and cast into Egypt,

into the lowly hut
of Amram and Yochabel,

the seed of a man

upon whose mind and heart
would be written

God's law
and God's commandments,

one man to stand alone
against an empire.

Divine one,

last night,
our astrologers

saw an evil star

enter into
the house of Egypt.

Meaning war?

From the frontiers of
Sinai and Libya

to the cataracts
of the Nile,

what nation would dare
draw the sword against us?

The enemy to fear is
in the heart of Egypt.

What?

The Hebrew slaves
in the land of Goshen.

I number my enemies
by their swords,

not by their chains,
high priest.

Chains have been
forged into swords

before now,
divine one.

Among these slaves,

there is a prophecy
of a deliverer

who will lead them
out of bondage.

The star proclaims
his birth.

Then let
the Hebrews die!

Slaves are wealth,
commander.

The more slaves we have,
the more bricks we make.

I would still
see fewer bricks made

and fewer Hebrews
in Goshen.

It is our
eastern gate.

Since this deliverer
is among their newborn,

only their newborn
need die.

Every newborn Hebrew
man-child shall die.

So let it be written.

So let it be done.

So speaks
Rameses I.

WOMAN: No! No!

Oh, where can...
Oh, no!

Please! Please!

No!

(WOMAN SOBBING)

(BABY CRYING)

God of Abraham,

take my child
into thy hands

that he may live
to thy service.

But, Mother, we have not
even given him a name.

God will
give him a name.

Follow it, Miriam.

Watch it
from the reeds.

See where the Lord
will lead him.

Yes, Mother.

(WOMEN LAUGHING)

Why didn't you say no?

She didn't
think of it.

Here, throw.

WOMAN 1: You're getting fat.

WOMAN 2: Too many
sesame cakes.

Catch a lotus,
and you catch a wish!

What will you wish for,
gold or a man?

Gold, of course.
Then I can have any man.

Gold will never fill
an empty heart.

MEMNET: Quiet,
you chattering geese.

Oh, Memnet,
you're only happy

when you're
miserable.

You fools.

To talk
of empty hearts

before
the Pharaoh's daughter.

What is there
in her heart

but the memory
of a dead husband?

We meant
no harm, Memnet.

Look! There's
something here!

Be sure it's not
a crocodile.

Bithiah can charm tears
from a crocodile.

(SCREAMS)

(BABY COOING)

What is it, Bithiah?
What did you find?

Only a drifting basket.

Shall we come
and help you get it?

Memnet,
send the girls away.

I'd rather be alone now.

Now see what you've done.

Back to the palace,
all of you.

Come on. All of you.
Musicians, too.

Memnet, we wouldn't
hurt Bithiah.

Bithiah's tired of you,
and so am I.

Off you go.

You're tired
of everything.

Go on. Off you go.

Go on. Hurry up.

You've hurt her enough.

What have you found?

The answer
to my prayers.

You prayed
for a basket?

No.

I prayed for a son.

Your husband is in
the house of the dead.

And he has asked
the Nile God

to bring me
this beautiful boy.

Do you know the pattern
of this cloth?

If my son
is covered in it,

it is a royal robe!

Royal?

It is the Levite cloth
of a Hebrew slave!

This child
was put upon the water

to save its life
from your father's edict.

I am the Pharaoh's
daughter,

and this is my son.

He shall be reared
in my house

as the prince
of the two lands.

My mother and
her mother before her

were branded
to the Pharaoh's service.

I will not see you
make this son of slaves

a prince of Egypt.

You will see it,
Memnet.

You will see him walk
with his head
among the eagles,

and you will serve him
as you serve me.

Fill the ark with water.

Sink it into silence.

Oh...

Raise your hands,
Memnet.

What you have
buried in the Nile

shall remain buried
in your heart.

Swear it.

I will be silent.

The day you
break that oath

will be the last
your eyes shall ever see.

You will be the glory
of Egypt, my son,

mighty in words and deeds.

Kings shall bow
before you.

Your name will live
when the pyramids are dust.

And... because I drew you
from the water,

you shall be called
"Moses."

Moses!

Moses!

Moses.

CROWD: Moses! Moses!

Moses!

(PEOPLE CHEERING)

SETHI: He proclaims his
coming from afar,

does he not, my son?

Such favor with the people
can be dangerous, Great Sethi.

To whom, Rameses?
To me or to you?

It would not be
the first time

that fame
has turned a prince

against his Pharaoh.

Or that envy has turned
brother against brother.

Envy is for the weak.

And beauty
is for the strong.

That is what
you have in mind.

If you mean
Nefretiri,

yes, my father.

Is it the princess' beauty
that attracts you, Rameses,

or the fact that
she must marry

the man I choose
to follow me on the throne?

I am the son
of your body.

Who else could
be your heir?

The man
best able to rule Egypt

will follow me.

I owe that to my fathers,
not to my sons.

Then I shall follow you.

Shall you?

Do not let ambition

shave your
prince's lock.

I sent Moses
to destroy a city.

He returns in triumph.

I sent you
to build a city.

Where is it?

It will rise
when I have put fear

into the
stiff-necked
Hebrew slaves

who build it.

But this I know,
my father...

No pretended
brother

will ever have
your crown...

or Nefretiri.

Indeed.

Whoever I choose
shall have my crown...

and Nefretiri.

I think I see him, Memnet.

No.

Moses.

Yes! I can see him!

Moses! Moses!

(FANFARE PLAYING)

Listen, Memnet.
Listen.

The trumpets
tell all the world

he's come back
to me.

Hear them,

and all their shouts

are drowned
by the beating of my heart.

You hear, Memnet?

The whole city
calls his name.

I hear them,
Nefretiri.

The Lord Moses,
prince of Egypt,

son of the Pharaoh's
sister,

beloved
of the Nile God,

commander of
the southern host!

WOMAN 1: Welcome home!

MAN: Son of
the Nile God!

WOMAN 2: Prince Moses!

The blessings of the god
Amon-Ra be upon you,
Great Prince.

He has brought down
the pride of Ethiopia.

The old windbag.

I agree
with him.

May your name
be exalted

even as
the sun is exalted
in the heavens.

Welcome
to my sister's son.

We have heard
how you took Ibis
from the Nile

to destroy the
venomous serpents
used against you

when you laid siege
to the city of Saba.

May my arm stay strong
in your service, great Sethi.

Who is
this fair young god

come into the house
of Pharaoh?

No need to tell you

how I share her joy
at your return.

No need,
my brother.

Great one,
I bring you Ethiopia!

(FANFARE PLAYING)

Command them
to kneel
before Pharaoh.

Command what you have
conquered, my brother.

I bring
the Ethiopian king

and his sister
in friendship,

as an ally to guard
our southern gates.

My son has
dealt wisely

with you,
Ethiopia.

Welcome
as a friend.

Great king,

I will ask but one favor
of your friendship.

This green stone
from our mountains...

That I may give it
to your prince of Egypt,

for he is kind
as well as wise.

It pleases the gods
to see a man honored
by his enemies.

And such
a beautiful enemy.

See to their
comfort.

Divine one,

here is the full count
of Ethiopia's tribute.

Bearers!

(DRUMS BEATING)

I am sending down the Nile
20 full barges

of such wealth
as you see here,

logs of ebony,
trees of myrrh,

all for your
new treasure city.

A handsome tribute
indeed, Moses.

Unfortunately,
I have no new
treasure city.

And you will
have none.

The stiff-necked slaves
die more willingly

than bend their backs
in your service.

Why?

They believe
a deliverer has come

to lead them
from their bondage.

Deliverer?

Deliverer!

He has been
foretold by
every falling star

since
my father's time.

Now he's an excuse
for your failure
to build my city!

I am not one
to make excuses.

If you doubt me,

let Moses
build the city.

No. No.

He's just trying
to keep Moses
away from you, Sethi.

Or you, perhaps.

I think I'll lose the good
crow more softly
on another roof.

Stand before me,
both of you.

Would you please
your Pharaoh, Moses?

Your wish
is my will.

Then you build
my city.

Wise decision.

A noble task.

SETHI: Rameses.

Do you believe this
slave deliverer is a myth?

What I believe
is of no account.

What matters
is the slaves
believe in him.

Of course, of course.

Then you, too,
shall go to Goshen.

Learn if this deliverer
be a myth or man.

If a myth, bring him
to me in a bottle.

If a man... Bring him
to me in chains.

So let it
be written.

So let it be done.

Your fragrance
is like the wine
of Babylon.

I could...

but you are
the throne princess,

and by
the Pharaoh's law,

you can marry
only a Pharaoh.

I shall marry
a Pharaoh.

You.

Rameses might not
agree with that idea.

But Sethi might.

While you were gone,
I kept your name on his lips,

your praises in his ears.

But now, unless
you can succeed,

you'll be the prince
of some desert province

I'll be
Rameses' wife.

Oh, Moses,

build the city
for him,

and Sethi will
deny you nothing.

I will build the city
for love of Sethi,

not for the throne
of Egypt.

But I am Egypt.

Now the flame
you lighted

burns close
to the throne.

Your tongue will dig
your grave, Memnet.

A conqueror
already conquered?

The first face
I looked for

and the last I find.

Mother.

I was thanking the gods
for your safe return.

But I find you
in grave danger here.

An intoxicating
danger, Mother.

Marry her
if you can, my son,

but never fall
in love with her.

I'll be less
trouble to him

than the Hebrew slaves
of Goshen.

Goshen?

You've guzzled enough!

Bring those bricks up
and get on!

You, there's
other swine to water.

Get those bricks
back on.

Here! Water lily!

My name is Lilia.

To me you are a Lily,

and I want water.

Joshua.

Joshua, I thought
you'd never come down.

Water before love,
my girl.

Does it take
the whole Nile

to quench
your thirst?
(CHUCKLES)

No, just your lips.

Be careful, my love.

Dathan's eyes can
see through stone.

Dathan
is a vulture

feeding on the flesh
of his own people.

When he looks at me,
I'm afraid.

If he touches you,
I'll strangle him
with his own whip.

And bring death
to a thousand of us?

Is life in bondage
better than death?

Joshua.

We must have hope.

God will send us
the deliverer.

Hope.

On the heels of every hope
walks Dathan.

You are Dathan,
the Hebrew overseer.

Chief Hebrew overseer,
mighty one.

Baka, the master builder,

has told me
that I can rely on you.

I am warmed
by his favor.

Rely on you to sell
your own mother
for a price.

Well, who am I

to deny the word
of the master
builder?

Where is this
would-be deliverer

who would set
the Hebrews free?

Who can say,
immortal prince?

They do not
confide in me.

But it is possible
to learn.

No doubt.

You have rats' ears
and a ferret's nose.

To use in your service,
son of Pharaoh.

Add to them
the eyes of a weasel

and find me
this deliverer.

MAN: Come on, push!

Come on, push!

Over this way a little.

Lean your backs
into it!

Keep pushing!

Old woman! Old woman!

More grease
under the center stone.

Pull! Pull!

You over there,
pull!

Pull!

Yochabel!

Help me!

Stop the stone!

Man: Keep working!

Pull!

Keep pulling
up there.

Yochabel is caught!
Stop the stone!

You over there,
pull!

Pull!

Bend your backs,
you dogs. Pull!

Move it over there!

Pull! Pull!

Pull!

You'll kill her!
Stop the stone!

We don't stop
a moving block
for an old woman!

Lay on the lash!

Keep it moving!

Yochabel!
Stop the stone!

Stop the stone!

Keep moving there!
Keep...

Hold! Hold all!

Hold on all ropes!

Hold the poles!

Hold the poles!

Down!

Water!
Water!

Water!
Water!

Let the old woman loose.

She'll stay there,
and you'll die
in the lion's pit!

Joshua!

Not to Joshua.
Run to the prince
and beg mercy.

Mercy from Rameses?

No, the prince Moses,
there on the pavilion.

After her!
After her!

Stop her!

Stop that girl!

Don't let her go!
Stop her!

Stop that girl!
Stop her!

LILIA: Mercy!

Prince Moses!

Mercy,
Prince Moses!

Come here!

Mercy?
What have you done?

Not for myself,
Lord prince.

For a slave
who saved Yochabel
and me from death

between
the granite blocks.

A delicate flower to be
pressed between stone walls.

How were you saved?

A stonecutter
struck the overseer.

There can be
only one punishment
for the stonecutter.

Blood makes
poor mortar.

Come.

Prince Moses!

Get away, you.

Would you bury
the old woman alive

in a tomb of rock?

My noble one,
it caught.

I had not the strength
to free myself.

Your shoulders
should not
bear a burden,

old woman.

The Lord
has renewed my strength

and lightened my burdens.

He would
have done better
to remove them.

They use the old ones
to grease the stones,
Lord Prince.

If they are killed,
it is no loss.

Are you a master builder
or a master butcher?

If we stop for every
grease woman who falls,

the city would
never rise.

If the slaves
are not driven,
they will not work.

If their
work lags,

it is because
they're not fed.

You seem
strong enough.

I am a stonecutter.

The pharaohs
like their images
cut deep.

Hold your whip!

You know it is death
to strike an Egyptian?

I know it.

Yet you struck him. Why?

To save the old woman.

What is she to you?

An old woman.

Lord prince, send him
to his death.

The man has courage.

You do not speak
like a slave.

God made men.

Men made slaves.

Which god?

The God of Abraham.
The almighty God.

If your God is almighty,

why does he
leave you in bondage?

He will choose
the hour of our freedom

and the man
who will deliver us.

Lord prince,
this man speaks treason.

It is not treason
to want freedom.

Release him.

(MUTTERING)

Difficulty with
the slaves, my brother?

None that could not
be cured by grain

and a day of rest.

A day of rest?

When your
horses tire,
they're rested.

When they hunger,
they're fed.

Slaves draw
stone and brick.

My horses draw
the next pharaoh.

Is there any grain
stored here in Goshen?

None that you would
dare take, my brother.

The temple granaries
are full.

Bring the push-pole men

and some women
with baskets.

I will... great prince.

I warn you
Moses, the temple grain
belongs to the gods.

What the gods
can digest

will not sour
in the belly
of a slave.

Push-pole men!

Back where
you belong!

I have
the prince's orders.

One and two poles, up!

Bring a hundred women
with baskets!

Elisheba, bring
your basket women.

Push-poles,
follow me.

Out of the way.

Break open the bins.

Out of the way.

Stand back.

Aha!

Well, well.

Divine one.

Hmm?

There!

My jackals have
your hounds at bay.

Dogs at bay
are dangerous.

When they
walk upright

and feed on
temple grain.

You've been
bringing petitions

against Moses
for months.

Well, the city's
being built,

and I'm winning
this game.

So don't interrupt us
with trifles.

Before your city
is finished,

these trifles
will surprise you.

Life is full
of surprises.

And today, I have one
for you, my kitten.

Moses!

Mm-hmm.

And Rameses.

You crocodile.

There, triples!
You've lost!

I'll never let
you win again.

Aha. You thought
that by losing to me

you would win
for Moses.

Mm-hmm.

Well, you know,
crowns are sometimes lost

by smiles and dimples.

And so is patience.

Yours?

Are the plans
for my jubilee complete?

All but
your proclamation

for the marriage
of Prince Rameses
to Nefretiri.

No.

Are you quite sure
it will be Rameses?

Who else could be
your successor?

Moses, of course.

Because of Moses,
there is no wheat

in the temple
granaries.

You don't look
any leaner.

You're both generous
with advice.

Will you
take mine?

No. I will choose
my own successor.

Did you lose your head,
my sweet?

I sent you to Goshen

to bring me the head
of the jackal

who would free
the slaves.

Where is it?

The slaves do not need
a deliverer now.

They have Moses.

Is that
a riddle?

He gives them
the priests' grain

and one day in seven
to rest.

They call it
"The day of Moses."

This man makes
himself a god.

I prefer him
as a man.

You would prefer
him as Pharaoh.

Are you afraid
of Moses?

Yes, because now
he holds Ethiopia
in his left hand,

Goshen in his right,

and you, my Pharaoh,
are in-between them.

Do you imply
he would raise
the slaves against me?

I've been
his father.

Ambition
knows no father.

Moses could
no more betray you

than I could, Sethi.

He can tell me that
when he arrives.

He will not
be here, my father.

What?

I sent for both of you.

His word is that
he cannot attend you,

being pressed
by other matters.

Did you hear that?

Other matters?

(GONG)

My escort.

I will ride
with you, my son,

to see what
rears itself in Goshen...

A city or treason.

You lying adder.

You'll destroy yourself
with your own venom

if you turn Sethi
against Moses.

You would turn
Sethi against me.

Remember, my sweet,

you must be wife
to the next pharaoh.

That you are
going to be mine,

all mine, like
my dog or my horse
or my falcon.

Only I
will love you more

and trust you less.

You will never
do the things to me

you would have
done to Moses.

I know you, my sweet.

You're a sharp-clawed,

treacherous
little peacock.

But you're food
for the gods,

and I'm going to
have all of you.

None of me.

Did you think
my kiss was a promise

of what you'll have?

No, my pompous one.

It was to let you know
what you will not have.

I could never love you.

Does that matter?

You will be my wife.

You will come to me
whenever I call you,

and I will enjoy that
very much.

Whether you enjoy it or not
is your own affair...

but I think you will.

That drop puts
too much strain
on the stone.

We need more sand.

I'm going
to risk it, Baka.

There's little time
till the day of jubilee.

If the stone cracks,
you may crack with it.

Ready blue signal.

Blue pennant.

Blue pennant!

Snubbers, ready!

Snubbers ready.

Green pennant.

Mallet men, ready!

Mallet men, ready!

Green lines, stand by!

Mallet men
ready.

You are not pleased
to see me here.

I am, Great Pharaoh,

but now I have
important things to do.

Red pennant, stand by.

So Rameses
tells me.

Oh?

More important things
than obeying my orders?

You ordered me
to finish this city.

The strain on that stone
is too great.

We cannot wait.
Red pennant!

Red pennant!

Strike!

The stone will break.

There are 2,000 slaves
on the ropes.

There is the obelisk
of your jubilee.

Baka, put 1,000 slaves
to removing the sand

until the stone
settles to its base.

Pharaoh is pleased?

With the obelisk,
yes.

But not with
certain accusations
made against you.

By whom?

You raided the
temple granaries?

Yes.

You gave the grain
to the slaves?

Yes.

You gave them one day
in seven to rest.

Yes.

Did you do all this
to gain their favor?

A city is built
of brick, Pharaoh.

The strong make many,
the starving make few.

The dead make none.

So much
for accusations.

Now judge the results.

(FANFARE PLAYING)

Pylons commemorate
your victory
at Kadesh,

where you broke
the Amorites.

Are there any
higher in Egypt?

There are
none higher
in the world.

With so many slaves,
you could build...
An army.

But I have
built a city.

16 of these lions
of Pharaoh will
guard its gates.

It shall be the city
of Sethi's glory.

Hmm.

Are these slaves
loyal to Sethi's glory

or to you, Moses?

The slaves
worship their god,

and I serve
only you.

Let your own image
proclaim my loyalty
for a thousand years.

Superb!

Rameses.

And this
you call treason?

Who would take
a throne by force

that he has earned
by deeds?

For this and Ethiopia,

your name shall be carved
beside mine on every pylon.

Yours, Rameses,
will be nowhere,

for in my judgment book,

you have accused
your brother falsely.

Come.

Great Pharaoh,
he is the son
of your body.

I need no help, Moses,
to hold what is mine.

I decide what is yours.

Come with me, Moses.

Will you
lose a throne

because Moses
builds a city?

The city that he builds
shall bear my name.

The woman that he loves
shall bear my child.

So it shall be written.

So it shall be done.

NEFRETIRI: Yes.

This is for
the temple ceremony.

This?

Oh, this...

is for my wedding night.

MEMNET: You will
never wear it.

Why not?

I have brought you
a cloth more revealing.

Send them away.

Go, then,

while I hear
what this puckered
old persimmon

has to say.

Well...

What croakings of doom
have you today?

You prepare
for a marriage
that will never be.

You've been
drinking honey wine.

I shall not let the pharaoh
and Rameses be betrayed.

Why should a slave care
which pharaoh rules?

For 30 years,
I have been silent.

Now all the kings
of Egypt

cry out to me
from their tombs,

"Let no Hebrew
sit upon our throne."

what are you saying?

Rameses has the blood
of many kings.

And Moses?

He is lower
than the dust.

Not one drop
of royal blood

flows through
his veins.

He is the son
of Hebrew slaves.

I'll have you torn
into so many pieces,

even the vultures
won't find them.

Who hatched
this lie, Rameses?

Rameses
does not know... yet.

You will repeat this
to Bithiah.

It was Bithiah who
drew a slave child
from the Nile,

called him son
and Prince of Egypt,

blinding herself
to the truth,

from the pain
of an empty womb.

Were you alone
with Bithiah?

A little girl led me
to the Hebrew woman
Yochabel,

that the child
might be suckled
by his true mother.

Take care, old frog.

You croak too much
against Moses.

Would you mingle
the blood of slaves
with your own?

He will be my husband.

I shall have no other.

Then use this
to wrap your
firstborn.

Torn from
a Levite's robe.

It was Moses'
swaddling cloth.

And your shroud.

Do you think I care
whose son he is?

Rameses cares.

You won't live
to tell him.

Oh!

(GRUNTING)

Ohh...

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

MOSES: Nefretiri?

Nefretiri?

Have you closed your doors
to make a beggar of a prince?

I'm the beggar,
Moses,

begging you to hold me
in your arms.

Kiss me.
Just kiss me.

You're no beggar,
my love.

You're a conqueror,

and I am your captive
for life.

One lifetime
will not be half enough.

You will be
king of Egypt,

and I will be
your footstool.

The man stupid
enough to use you
for a footstool

would not be wise enough
to rule Egypt.

WOMAN: Princess!

Princess, the raven
has dropped
a black feather at your door!

Who...

No, Moses. Leave
the world outside.

Pardon. Pardon,
royal one.

The old nurse
Memnet...

Go away. I don't want
to hear anything.

What about Memnet?

She's dead.
She must have fallen
from the balcony.

I will not hear
unhappy things tonight.

Go away!

Old Memnet
must have walked
that balcony

a thousand times.

What is the death
of one slave to us?

She was a faithful
servant to you.

Can one so rich in love
be so poor in pity?

What kind of a woman
holds me captive?

One who loves you
and will not lose you.

One who will be
your wife.

Nothing in the world
can change that, nothing.

Neither Rameses'
princely plots

nor Memnet's
evil lies.

You've heard Memnet
grumbling all your life.

Why should it
upset you now?

Because she grumbled
against you.

Oh, let her threats
be buried with her.

Look. The night's
a crown of stars,

and the darkness
a robe of forgetfulness.

Come, love,
let's share them.

We'll use the moon
for a scepter.

Oh. A piece
of Hebrew cloth.

Memnet may have
dropped it.

Memnet was not a Hebrew.

Why would she
bring this here?

I don't know.

Yes, you do.
Tell me.

She was taking it
to Rameses

to destroy you.

How could Rameses
destroy me with
a piece of cloth?

Oh, Moses, why do
you question me?

Why do you care?
Yes! I killed her.

What does it matter?

100 slaves
die every day.

What's done
is forgotten.

It is not
forgotten.

What has this cloth
to do with me?
Tell me.

It will make
no difference between us?

How could it
make a difference?

A child
was wrapped in it.

What child?

Bithiah took him
from the river.

Memnet was with her.

Who was this child?

Memnet is dead.

No one need know
who you are.

I love you.
I killed for you.

I'll kill anyone
that comes between us.

Why did you
kill for me, Nefretiri?

If you love me,
do not lie.

Who was
the child?

Hold me in your arms.

Hold me close.

You were not born
Prince of Egypt, Moses.

You're the son
of Hebrew slaves.

You believe that?

I'll believe anything
you want me to believe.

Say you are not,
I believe you are not.

Love cannot drown
truth, Nefretiri.

You do believe it,

or you would not
have killed Memnet.

I love you.

That's the only
truth I know.

Did this child
of the Nile
have a mother?

Memnet called her
Yochabel.

I will ask Bithiah.

How could you
doubt me?

You did not doubt me
when I held you

as you took
your first step.

It's a wicked lie
spun by Rameses.

Mother, did Rameses
spin this?

The word
of your mother

against
a piece of cloth
found by Memnet?

How did you know
it was Memnet?

Who else?
Memnet nursed Rameses.

She shall pay
for spreading his lies.

She has paid.

She's dead?

At the hand
of Nefretiri.

Put away any fears
or suspicions

that may remain
with you, my son.

Why, your will
will be law in Egypt

when you are crowned
and sceptered
as her king.

Memnet spoke of
a Hebrew woman
named Yochabel.

Did you ever
know her?

No.

Yours was
the face I saw
above my cradle,

the only mother
I've ever known.

Wherever
I am led

or whatever
I must do,

I will always
love you.

(CLANGS)

My chariot!
I will drive to Goshen!

(CHARIOT APPROACHES)

A chariot
here in Goshen?

You know who I am?

It has been
many years,
great one.

Who are they?

All that remain
of my children.

I will speak
to you alone.

Why have you...

Why have you
come here?

Because Moses
will come here.

My son?

No! My son,

and that's all
that he must know.

My lips might deny him,
great one,

but my eyes
never could.

You shall leave Goshen.
You and your family tonight.

We are Levites,
appointed shepherds
of Israel.

We cannot
leave our people.

Would you take
from Moses

all that I
have given him?

Would you undo all
I have done for him?

I have put
the throne of Egypt
within his reach.

What can you
give him in its place?

I gave him life.

I gave him love!

Did your hand
dry his tears?

When he was
troubled, did your
heart ache for him?

Yes.

My heart
ached for him,

and my arms ached
to hold him,

but I dared not even touch
the hem of his garment.

His heritage from me

could only have been
misery, poverty,

and the lash.

No. I will not
take from him

the glory and riches
you have given him.

For this, you shall
be well cared for.

You and your family
shall leave Goshen
tonight.

No matter where
you send me...

if the God of Abraham
has a purpose for my son,

he will come to know it
and fulfill it.

Come! Gather
your things!

Quickly! Quickly!

I shall see you
want for nothing.

You shall be given
freedom.

MOSES:
Has my mother
forgotten?

Only the Pharaoh
can free a slave.

Moses, do not enter!

There is only
sorrow here.

Are you
comforting it,
my mother?

I followed you here
to find this woman
Yochabe...

You were the woman
who was caught
between the stones.

Until you came.

My son,
if you love me...

I love you,
my mother,

but am I
your son...

or yours?

No, you are
not my son.

If you believe

that men and
women are cattle

to be driven
under the lash,

if you can bow
before idols of stone

and golden images
of beasts,

you are not my son.

My son
would be a slave.

His hands
would be gnarled

and broken
from the brick pits,

his back scarred from
the taskmaster's whip,

but in his heart
would burn the spirit

of the living God.

Does this God
demand a scarred back
and broken hands

as the price
of his favor?

This desert God
is the hope
of the hopeless.

Your place is
in the palace
halls.

You have mounted
to the sun
on golden wings.

You belong
to me,

to Nefretiri,
to Sethi,

to all those
who love you.

Do they love less
who have no hope?

Will you swear
in the name of this God

that you are
not my mother?

We do not
even know his name.

Then look
into my eyes

and tell me you
are not my mother.

Oh, Moses, Moses,

I cannot. I cannot.

(SOBBING)

I am
your brother Aaron.

I am Miriam,
your sister.

I am your
brother Moses.

No! Get ready
to leave!

Hurry!

They're going
away, Moses.

The secret's
going with them.

No one need ever
know the shame
I brought upon you.

Shame?

What change
is there in me?

Egyptian or Hebrew,
I am still Moses.

These are the same hands,
the same arms,

same face that were mine
a moment ago.

A moment ago,
you were her son,

the strength
of Egypt.

Now you are mine,
a slave of Egypt.

You find
no shame in this?

If there is
no shame in me,

how can I feel shame
for the woman who bore me...

Or the race
that bred me?

Oh, God
of my fathers!

Moses, what
will you do?

This is
the binding tie...

and here I will stay.

Moses.

To find the meaning
of what I am...

why a Hebrew...

or any man
must be a slave.

Put back
your things.

You are
not leaving.

Moses...

has she done
more for you than I?

Will the life
she gave you

be more useful in
the black pits of slavery?

Cannot justice and truth
be served better

upon a throne,

where all men may benefit
from your goodness...

and strength?

I do not
know what power
shapes my way,

but my feet
are set upon a road

that I must follow.

Forgive me, Bithiah.

God of our fathers,

who has appointed an end
to the bondage of Israel,

blessed am I among
all mothers in the land,

for my eyes have beheld
thy deliverer.

NARRATOR: Thou shalt not
muzzle the ox

that treadeth out
the corn,

making straw
for the bricks of Egypt,

nor spare the arms

that endlessly winnow
the grain in the wind

to separate the wheat
from the chaff,

wheat borne stolidly

on the backs
of countless slaves

from the heavy-laden
Nile boats

to the teeming shore.

Endlessly they plod

beneath
the sheaves of wheat

and endlessly
return for more.

A golden harvest
to the threshers,

the grain saved
to feed the masters,

bitterness
to feed the slaves.

And to feed
the brick pits,

straw carried on
the bowed backs of women.

Down into
the never-ending valley

of toil and agony,

stretching mile after mile,

an inferno
of mud-soaked bodies,

where the treaders' feet
churn clay and straw

into the mixture
for the Pharaoh's bricks,

and everywhere the lash
of watchful taskmasters,

ready to sting
the backs of the weary.

Blades chopping straw...

mattocks chopping clay,

a ceaseless cycle
of unending drudgery.

From the mixing feet
of treaders

to the pouring hands
of brick molders

moves the constant
stream of mud,

the lowly seed
of tall cities.

Day after day,
year after year,

century after century,

bondage without rest,

toil without reward.

These are the children
of misery,

the afflicted,

the hopeless,
the oppressed.

And he went out
unto his brethren

and looked
on their burdens.

Water girl.

Here.
Here's water.

Keep in line!

That's a hard dance
you do, old man.

We've been dancing it
for 400 years...

(WHIP CRACKS)
(MAN MOANS)

To grim music.

And the only deliverer
that has come to us

is death.

(WHIP CRACKS)

Back to work,
you gray mules.

You're strange
to the pits.

Your back
is unscarred.

You bring a warm smile
with your cool water.

My smile is for
a stonecutter.

The water
is for you.

I thank you.

Your voice
is not strange.

You are...

One of many
who thirst.

BAKA: You there!

Come here!

That is Baka,
the master
builder.

Does he call me or you?

You, water girl!
I'm thirsty.

He does
not thirst
for water.

Beauty
is but a curse
to our women.

Water, noble one?

No, wine.

The wine of beauty.

What beauty
can my Lord find
in these mud pits?

A lotus flower blooms
in the Nile's gray mud.

Dathan, she will do well
as a house slave.

Do not take me
from my people.

There would
be danger.

Danger from
such lovely hands?

There are
other hands

strong enough
to kill.

Our mud flower
has a thorn.

Oh, please, Lord Baka,
I beg you.

Tears?

When you have been bathed
in scented water,

when your limbs have been
caressed by sweet oils

and your hair
combed with sandalwood,

there will be no time
for tears.

She's not
worthy of your
magnificence.

Let my eyes...

Your eyes had best
find the deliverer, Dathan,

or you will have no eyes.

Bring the girl.

May the hand of God
strike him.

Dance,
you mud turtles.

Dance!

You rot our bodies,
steal hope from our souls.

Must you also shame
and defile our women?

Dance,
you squealing goat!

We are not animals.

We are men,
made in the image of God.

This will change
your image.

Dance, you.

Get that
straw cutter.

Leave him, or you'll
be murdered with him.

I'll not leave a man
to die in the mud.

Thank you, my son...

but death is better
than bondage,

for my days are ended
and my prayer unanswered.

What prayer,
old man?

That before death
closed my eyes,

I might behold
the deliverer

who will lead all men
to freedom.

What deliverer could
break the power
of Pharaoh?

You!

Clay carriers, throw this
carrion to the vultures!

You! Take his place.

Now dance this straw
into the mud, you dogs.

Clear a path there!

Clear a path!

Stand aside, you!

Make way!

Clear a path!

Come on, get back!

Out of the way!

Keep your eyes
on the ground!

Now feel this, Hebrew.

(WHIP CRACKS)

(WOMAN LAUGHING)

I need another oarsman
for my barge,

a strong slave.

Your word
is our will.

The large one there.

You, come here!

No, not that one.

The very dirty
one there.

Yes, that one.

He may serve
my purpose.

You.

You!
Out of the pit!

Out of the way!

Back to work!

Clear a path
there!

Clear a path!

Stand aside, you!

Back to work!

Clear a path!

First friend
of the Pharaoh,

keeper of the royal seal,

prince of on,

Prince of Memphis,

Prince of Thebes,

beloved of the Nile God,

conqueror of Ethiopia,

general of generals,

commander
of the Egyptian host...

a man of mud!

Is that
what you want,

to be a slave?

Then why aren't you
kneeling at the feet
of a princess?

I am afraid
the mud pits

have stiffened
my knees, royal one.

Shall I call back
the guards?

Do you think they
could bend them?

Oh, Moses, Moses,

you stubborn,
splendid, adorable fool.

Ah!

I'm not kneeling
to a princess.

No.

You're kneeling
to a woman

who's been worried
about you

day and night
since you disappeared.

What is there
in the mud
of these slave pits

that could keep you
from my arms?

My people.

They may be your people,

but do you have to
wallow with them,

smell like them?

If they are stained,
it's with the mud
of slavery,

and if they reek,
it's with the stench
of injustice.

If you want to
help your people,

come back
to the palace.

And hide the truth
from Sethi...

That I am Hebrew
and a slave?

The truth would break
his dear old heart

and send Bithiah
into exile or death.

Think of us
stop hearing the cries
of your people.

Their god
does not hear
their cry.

Will Rameses hear it
if he is Pharaoh?

No. He would grind them
into the clay they mold,

double their labors.

What about me?

Think of me
as his wife.

Do you want to see me
in Rameses' arms?

No!

Then come back with me.

Oh, Moses,

the gods have fashioned you
for greatness.

The splendor
of your name will last
beyond the pyramids.

When you are Pharaoh,
you can free your people,

worship whatever gods
you please...

so long as
I can worship you.

I will come to you
at the palace

on the day
of Sethi's jubilee.

No. Come
with me now.

No, my love.

First I have
a call to make...

On the master
builder.

No, no, no, no.

Not red
with the Sammur gown.

My eyes can best
be used elsewhere,
Lord Baka.

Before you go,

let them look upon what
you thought unworthy.

You would let beauty
such as this go unseen.

You would let
such a flower
go ungathered.

Dathan, you can
see only mud,

so pick up her
muddy clothes and go.

Go, all of you!

Did you know,
my dear,

that this golden web
was spun from the beards
of shellfish?

Please let me
go to my home.

You are at home.

Here, taste this...

The blood
of Thracian grapes,
the wine of love.

No wine can
change my love.

Then your love
shall be my wine.

There's fire in
the chariot house!

The chariot house!

Guards! Guards!

Take water to the roof!

Dathan, take charge!

Guards, after him.

Pull it out
of the shed!

Take it clear
of the house!

No. Your wings
must not be singed,
my dove,

at least
not by that fire.

Joshua!

Run, Lilia, run!
The way is clear.

The master builder
will not follow.

Neither will you,
stonecutter.

Bind him
between the columns!

See that his arms
are tightly stretched!

You'll die
on your feet,
stonecutter.

(WHIP CRACKS)

He'll cut him
to pieces.

Now go after
the girl.

Don't come back
without her.

We'll find her.

You foolish,
stupid man.

I would have kept her
only a short while.

She would have returned
to you, shall we say,
more worthy.

Now to whom
shall I return Lilia?

You will not
be there, Joshua.

You've seen me
drive my chariot.

I can flick a fly
from my horse's ear

without
breaking the rhythm
of his stride.

You've seen me
use my whip.

You make no outcry,
Joshua,

but you will.

You will cry
for the mercy of death.

One day you will listen
to the cry of slaves.

This is not
that day, Joshua.

You hold your tongue

almost as well
as I hold my temper.

It's a pity
to kill so strong
a stonecutter.

Death will bring
death, Baka.

Who are you?

One who asks
what right you have
to kill a slave.

The right of a master
to kill any slave.

Then kill me,
master butcher.

Moses!

(CRACK)

Why have you
done this?

Where is
the girl Lilia?

Gone.

Why are you
dressed as a slave?

Why does a prince of Egypt

kill the Pharaoh's
master builder

to save a Hebrew?

I am Hebrew.

God of Abraham,
400 years we have waited.

Pharaoh's soldiers
won't wait so long.

The almighty has heard
our cries from bondage.

You are the chosen one.

I know nothing
of your God.

He knows you, Moses.

He has brought you
to us.

You cannot turn
your back upon us.

You will deliver us.

The finger of God
points the way
to you.

Where was his body found?

Buried in the sand,
royal one.

This is
Baka's knife.

But there was
no wound on the body.

Baka was a powerful man.

It would take strong hands
to break him.

The slave Joshua
is a stonecutter.

Go find me this Joshua.

Joshua's strength
didn't kill
the master builder.

Now speaks the rat
that would be my ears.

Too many ears
tie a rat's tongue.

Go, all of you.

Well...

Who killed him?

I am a poor man,
generous one.

What I bring
is worth much.

I have
paid you much,

and you have
brought me nothing.

Now I bring you the world...
true son of Pharaoh.

You offer me
the world

when you cannot
even bring me
the deliverer.

Who killed Baka?

The deliverer.

Would you play
at words with me?

No, Lord Prince.

And this murderer
has now fled to
some distant land?

No, Lord Prince.

Name him.

One who made himself
a prince and judge
over us.

If he knew I were here,
he would kill me
as he killed the Egyptian.

I will hang you myself
if you tire me further.

There are those
who would pay much

for what
my eyes have seen.

Do you haggle
like a seller of melons
in the marketplace?

No,
I will not haggle,
great prince.

Here's your money.

But for 10 talons
of fine gold,

I'll give you
the wealth of Egypt.

Give me my freedom,
and I'll give you
the scepter.

Give me the
water girl Lilia,

and I'll give you
the princess of
your heart's desire.

Give me this house
of Baka,

and I'll give you
the throne.

Give me
all that I ask...

or give me
leave to go.

I will give you
more than leave to go.

I will send you
where you belong.

I belong
in your service,
glorious one.

Very well.

I will bargain
with you.

If what you say
pleases me,

I will give you
your price, all of it.

If not,
I will give you

the point of this blade
through your lying throat.

Agreed?

Agreed.

The deliverer...

is Moses.

Draw one
more breath

to tell me why Moses
or any other Egyptian

would deliver
the Hebrews.

Moses is not
Egyptian.

He's Hebrew,
the son of slaves.

I will pay your price.

Imagine
poor Nefretiri

not knowing
in which bed
she will sleep.

I'd be happy
in either.

But where is
Prince Moses?

No Moses,
no jubilee.

I am told,
my tiger lily,

they're wagering
against me,

two golden Debens
to one.

Yes. I wagered
five myself.

You'll lose if Moses
keeps me waiting longer.

I double
the wager.

I'll watch
for Moses.

You watch
the dance.

While you wait
to honor Moses,

I will honor
Sethi's jubilee...

with a gift.

A strange gift.

You said
if the deliverer
were a myth,

to bring him
in a bottle.

The bottle
is empty.

Yes. It is empty
because he is not a myth.

You have found
such a man?

Yes, my Father. I found him
in the midst of
treachery and treason,

with the blood
of your master builder
on his hands.

Shall I summon him
to Pharaoh's justice?

Summon him.

Bring the Hebrew in.

Bring the Hebrew in!

Why it's... Moses!

Great Pharaoh...

I stand in the shadow
of your justice.

Whose work is this?

I warned you
of his treason, my father.

MAN: Treason?

Judge now
if I spoke truly.

The evil star foretold him
as the destroyer of Egypt

and deliverer of slaves.

It is not possible.

A prince of Egypt?

He is not
a prince of Egypt.

He is not the son
of your sister.

He is the son
of Hebrew slaves.

Hebrew slaves?

Incredible!

This can't be.

Speak...

my son.

I am the son
of Amram and Yochabel,

Hebrew slaves.

(MURMURING)

My brother, it was I
who deceived you,

not Moses.

He was only a child.

Leave me.

I shall not
see your face again.

Moses...

Come to me.

I do not care
who you are

or what you are
or what they may
say about you,

but I want to hear
from your own lips

that you are not
a traitor,

that you would not
lead these people

in revolt
against me.

Tell me, Moses.
I will believe you.

I am not this deliverer
you fear.

It would take
more than a man

to lead the slaves
from bondage.

It would take a god.

But if I could
free them, I would.

What has turned you
against me?

From the time
my sister brought
you to the court,

I loved you,
reared you,

set you before
my own son,

because
I saw in you

a worth
and a greatness

above other men.

No son could
have more love
for you than I.

Then why are you
forcing me
to destroy you?

What evil has
done this to you?

The evil that men should
turn their brothers

into beasts of burden,

to slave and suffer
in dumb anguish,

to be stripped of spirit
and hope and faith

only because they are
of another race,

another creed.

If there is a God,

he did not mean this
to be so.

What I have done,
I was compelled to do.

So be it.

What I do now,

I am compelled
to do.

No.

No.

Rameses...

Egypt shall be yours.

Hear what I say,
Rameses.

When I cross
the river of death,

you will be...
Pharaoh in Egypt.

Harden yourself
against
subordinates.

Put no faith
in a brother.

Have no friend.

Trust no woman.

I protected
the helpless.

I nourished
the orphan.

Great one!

But he who ate my bread
and called me father

would make rebellion
against me.

What manner
of death

do you decree
for him?

MAN: Death.

WOMAN: Death.

I cannot speak it.

Let it be
as you will.

I will not live
if you must die!

The feet
of a Hebrew slave

is not
the right place

for the next queen
of Egypt.

Take him away.

Do not look
upon him.

He is a traitor
to the Pharaoh.

Let the name of Moses

be stricken from
every book and tablet...

stricken from all pylons
and obelisks,

stricken from
every monument of Egypt.

Let the name of... Moses

be unheard and unspoken,

erased from
the memory of men...

for all time.

No, Moses.

It is I who will possess
all of her.

You think
when you are in my arms,

it will be his face
you see, not mine?

Yes.

Only
his face.

I defeated you
in life.

You shall not defeat me
by your death.

The dead are not scorched

in the desert
of desire.

They do not suffer from
the thirst of passion

or stagger blindly

toward some mirage
of lost love.

But you, Hebrew, will suffer
all these things...

by living.

You will
let him live.

I will not make him
a martyr for you to cherish.

No phantom will come between
you and me in the night.

Yes, my sweet,
I will let him live.

Dead, you alone
would possess him.

From where I send him
there is no returning,

and you will
never know

if he has found
forgetfulness

within another
woman's arms.

Now look upon each other
for the last time.

Now look for
the first time,
Abiram,

upon the governor
of Goshen.

Dathan, my brother,

you have the favor
of the Lord.

I prefer the gratitude
of the prince.

DATHAN: Nearer.

Yes, very lovely.

Not that
purplish flower.

The purity of white

will cool the blush
of your cheek.

(CHUCKLES)

Leave us,
all of you.

Yes, you, too,
my brother.

Continue your playing,
but in the house.

Yes, that's better.

A flower
behind a flower.

Dathan, if you fear God,
let me go.

I am here, girl,
because I
put no trust

in a desert god and
his mud-pit prophet.

I prospered because
I bowed lower
than my brothers

before
the Egyptians.

Now the Egyptians
bow low before me.

Joshua wanted you...

Baka wanted you...

But you
belong to me...

A gift from Rameses
to his excellency.

I will bow
before you, Dathan.

I will
work my hands
raw for you,

but please, please,
do not shame me
before my Lord.

Your Lord is
the governor of Goshen.

What difference
to my shame?

No difference to you,
my dove of Canaan,

but to a condemned slave
like Joshua,

it could make
the difference

between death
on the spikes

and life...

in the copper mines
of Sinai.

What would you do

to influence
His Excellency's clemency?

Anything, Dathan.

Anything.

Joshua will always be
grateful to you...

My little mud flower.

(SOBBING)

His fate is better

than the one
that waits for Moses.

The slave
who would be king.

Captain,
the robe of state.

His Hebrew mother
brought it to the prison

before she died.

I'd rather
this be your armor.

You will have need
of a scepter.

Give me
this binding pole.

Here is your
king's scepter,

and here
is your kingdom,

with the scorpion,
the cobra,

and the lizard
for subjects.

Free them,
if you will.

Leave the Hebrews
to me.

Give this
Prince of Israel

one day's ration
of bread and water.

One day's ration?

It will take many days
to cross this wilderness,

if he can cross at all.

I commend you
to your Hebrew God

who has no name.

If you die,
it will be by his hand,

not by mine.

Farewell,
my one-time brother.

Hyah!

NARRATOR: Into the blistering
wilderness of Shur,

the man
who walked with kings

now walks alone.

Torn from the pinnacle
of royal power,

stripped of all rank
and earthly wealth,

a forsaken man without
a country, without a hope,

his soul in turmoil

like the hot winds
and raging sands

that lash him with the fury
of a taskmaster's whip.

He is driven forward,
always forward,

by a god unknown,
toward a land unseen...

into the molten wilderness
of sin,

where granite
sentinels stand

as towers of living death
to bar his way.

Each night brings the black
embrace of loneliness.

In the mocking whisper
of the wind,

he hears the echoing
voices of the dark...

VOICES: Moses!

Moses!

Moses!

Moses!

Moses!

Moses!

His tortured mind wondering

if they call the memory
of past triumphs

or wail foreboding
of disasters yet to come

or whether the desert's
hot breath

has melted his reason
into madness.

He cannot cool the burning
kiss of thirst upon his lips

nor shade the scorching
fury of the sun.

All about is desolation.

He can neither bless
nor curse

the power that moves him,

for he does not know
from where it comes.

Learning that it can be
more terrible

to live than to die,

he is driven onward

through the burning
crucible of desert,

where holy men and prophets

are cleansed and purged
for God's great purpose,

until at last,

at the end
of human strength,

beaten into the dust
from which he came,

the metal is ready
for the maker's hand.

(BELL TINKLING)

And he found strength

from a fruit-laden
palm tree...

and life-giving water

flowing from
the well of Midian.

(SINGING)

If only
sheep were men.

Unmarried men.

Can you think
of nothing else?

I don't know.
I've never tried.

I wish sheep
could water themselves.

You needn't have
painted your nails.

There isn't a man
anywhere near here.

What do you see,
Sephora?

What are you
looking at?

A man.

A what?

A man!

A man!

Only one man?

Is he handsome?

Look at
his sandals.

Egyptian.

His robe is
not Egyptian.

Who cares?
He's a man.

He's eaten
a whole bunch
of dates.

He could
be dangerous.

Are you sure
he's alive?

Oh, I hope so.

Do you think
he's married?

Look! There's
real trouble.

Amalekites!

I'll talk
to them.

Talk to then?
Get stones!

They'll scatter
the flock!

We drew this water.

Out of the way, girl!

This is the well
of Jethro, our father.

You have no right here.

Our goats don't know
your father.

Jethro's mark
is on the well.

They can't read,
either.

Nor can we!

He is the Sheik
of Midian.

Let him breed sons
to guard it,
not daughters.

Get your hands off her!

Drive them away!

Aah!

Let them be first

whose hands
have drawn the water.

The stranger
is wise

and strong.

Drive back your goats
until the sheep are watered.

All right,
all right.

We should draw
water for you

and wash
the desert dust
from your feet.

Yes! Here's
fresh water!

I have soapweed.

Let me first
remove his sandals.

Never did a lost sheep
have so many shepherds.

We have no towels.

My veil
will serve.

Here. Let me
pour the water.

Am I to be bathed
or drowned?

I'll hold it
for you.

Is it true
that Egyptian girls
paint their eyes?

Yes, but
very few have eyes
as beautiful as yours.

And who...
Who is the brave one

who stood against
the Amalekites?

Oh, that's Sephora.
She's the oldest.

Since you
have already divided

the stranger among you,

I will ask
a welcome for him
in our father's tent.

Our father
is Jethro.

He's Sheik
of Midian.

(GIGGLING)

Strength to you,
stranger.

I am Moses,
son of Amram
and Yochabel.

Health, prosperity,
life to you,
Jethro of Midian.

Sephora has told me
of your kindness.

Let us break bread
while my daughter
brings meat.

You have come far.

From Egypt.

Across the desert
on foot?

He who has no name
surely guided
your steps.

MOSES: No name.

You Bedouins know
the God of Abraham?

Abraham is the father
of many nations.

We are the children
of Ishmael,

his firstborn.

We are
the obedient of God.

My people look to him
for deliverance...

but they are
still in bondage.

Tomorrow
we leave for
the high pastures

beneath God's
Holy Mountain.

My tent
would be favored
if you joined us.

I am a stranger
in a strange land.

I have no wealth,
no skill as a shepherd,

and it is death
to give sanctuary

to a runaway slave.

Slave?
Death?

Not among
our people.

You have wisdom.

You need
nothing more.

There are
seven here
to teach you

the tasks
of a shepherd.

Sephora is
the eldest.

You can learn
best from her.

Ohh.

I will dwell
in this land.

Today he sleeps.

Who sleeps?

He who has no name.

Does your God live
on this mountain?

Sinai is his high place,
his temple.

If this god is God,

he would live
on every mountain,
in every valley.

He would not be

only the God
of Israel
or Ishmael alone,

but of all men.

It is said
he created all men
in his image.

Then he would dwell
in every heart,

in every mind,
in every soul.

I do not know
about such things,

but I do know that
the mountain rumbles

when God is there,

and the earth
trembles,

and the cloud
is red with fire.

At such a time,

has any man ever
gone to see him
face-to-face?

No man
has ever set foot

on the forbidden
slopes of Sinai.

Why do you want
to see him, Moses?

To know that he is.

And if he is,
to know why

he has not heard
the cries of slaves
in bondage.

Moses,

it would be death
to look upon his face.

How many
of my people have died

because he has
turned away his face?

Can a man judge God?

No, Moses.

We cannot see
his whole purpose.

Even Ishmael
did not know

that God drove him
into the desert

to be the father
of a nation.

Is it not enough
to know he saved you

from
the Pharaoh's anger?

How do you know that?

You walk
like a prince,

and you fight
like a warrior.

There is word
in the caravans
of a great one

who was driven
out of Egypt.

This is not
the scepter of a prince,

but the staff
of a wanderer.

Then rest
from wandering.

My father
has many flocks

and no son
to tend them.

There would be
peace of spirit
for you, Moses,

in our tents beneath
the Holy Mountain.

You have strong faith
in this God, Sephora...

but for me, there is
no peace of spirit

until I hear
the word of God

from God himself.

Hurry. Hurry.
We haven't much time.

How do I look?

I wish every day
was a shearing festival.

I know.
And men following you
like sheep to be sheared.

One would be
enough for me.

If he were Moses.

Never before has our wool
brought so rich a payment.

Because
Moses has sold all
the tribes' shearing

of all the tribes
in one piece
at one price

to Lugal here.

His words are truth.
His trading is just.

Peace be with you,
sheiks of Sinai.

Why are you
dressed like that?

Aren't you going
to dance with us
before the sheiks?

No. I'm not going to dance
before the sheiks.

Here. And I'm not going
to be displayed

like a caravan's wares

before Moses
or any other man.

Tonight I tend
the sheep.

You needn't laugh.

Moses may not
choose you either.

Careful!

Moses shall no longer
be a stranger.

We should give him
of our flocks.

And let him
choose.

I shall
give him choice

of my seven
daughters for wife.

Seven to
choose from.
Strong son!

The shadow
of my wisdom has fled.

Can a man choose from
among the stars of the sky?

Consider them
as they dance.

Cohath,
strike your bow.

A pleasant task.

Indeed.

A bride, a shawl...
Choose one, not all!

One shawl, one wife,
your choice for life.

Pearls of
great price.

Which, Moses?

Yes, which
will it be?

Make your
choice, Moses.

It is a garden
of many flowers, Moses.

I wish you had my years
and I had your choice.

In the tent of Jethro,

there is dignity, honor,

freedom,

and beauty...

All that a man
could ask of life,

but my heart is still
a prisoner of the past.

I...I cannot choose now.

Strength to you,
sheiks of Sinai.

May God guide
your heart.

Oh, Moses!

(THUNDER)

MOSES: Tonight he is awake.

Which of my sisters
did you choose?

I made no choice,
Sephora.

She was very beautiful,
wasn't she?

This woman of Egypt,
who left her scar
upon your heart.

Her skin
was white as curd,

her eyes green
as the cedars of Lebanon,

her lips,
tamarisk honey.

Like the breast of a dove,
her arms were soft

and the wine of desire
was in her veins.

Yes.

She was beautiful...

As a jewel.

A jewel has
brilliant fire,

but it gives
no warmth.

Our hands
are not so soft,

but they can serve.

Our bodies not so white,

but they are strong.

Our lips
are not perfumed,

but they speak
the truth.

Love is not
an art to us.

It's life to us.

We are not dressed
in gold and fine linen.

Strength and honor
are our clothing.

Our tents are not
the columned halls
of Egypt,

but our children
play happily before them.

We can offer you little...

but we offer
all we have.

I have not
little, Sephora.

I have nothing.

Nothing from some...

is more
than gold from others.

You would fill
the emptiness
of my heart?

I could never fill
all of it, Moses,

but I shall not be
jealous of a memory.

(THUNDER)

May the gods
bless you,

as you go
to join them

in the land
of the dead.

The old windbag.

What an infernal fuss.

After all, dying is
only a part of living.

You won't die,
old crocodile.

You'll cheat death

the way you cheat me
at hounds and jackals.

I'm afraid he
won't let me cheat
the way you do.

You'll be Pharaoh
by sunset, Rameses.

I hope
you're content...

at last.

I am content
to be your son.

You have restored Egypt
to her greatness.

I shall make her greatness
feared among nations.

No doubt, no doubt.

You can overcome
anything

but your own
arrogance.

Don't exhaust yourself,
great one.

Dear great one.

Why not, kitten?

You are
the only thing
I regret leaving.

You have been
my joy.

And you my only love.

Aha.

Now you're cheating.

There was another.

Yes.

I know.

I loved him, too.

With my last breath,
I'll break my own law

and speak
the name of...

Moses.

Moses.

The royal falcon...

has flown into the sun.

Did the little boy
die in the desert,
my father?

No. God brought
Ishmael and Hagar
into a good land.

The same god
who lives on
the mountain?

It may be, my son.

MIRIAM: Moses!

Moses!

Your mother's calling.

Here!

Moses, there is a man
among the sheep.

You stay...

(BLOWING HORN)

You keep sounding
the alarm, Gershom,

but stay here till
your mother comes.

In the cleft.
Behind the rock.

Your eyes are sharp
as they are beautiful.

(BARKING)

Turfa!

Khataf, back!

Khataf, back!

Back, Khataf.

Come down.

Moses.

Down, Turfa.

Praise God,
I have found you.

Joshua?

We thought you dead.

In the copper mines
of Geber,

the living are dead.

Sephora!

Bring water!

How did you
find me?

A merchant
buying copper

saw you in
the tent of Jethro.

Here you, too,
will find peace.

Peace?

How can you
find peace or want it

when Rameses
builds cities

mortared with
the blood of our people?

You must lead them
out of Egypt!

God made a covenant
with Abraham

that he would
deliver the people.

Am I
the hand of God?

Sephora,
give him water.

Water. Bless you.

The desert sun
has set fire
to his mind.

His name is Joshua.

I once killed
that he might live.

They told me
you were condemned,

but I knew
that you were chosen

to take the sword of God
into your hand.

I am not the man.

I am a shepherd
with flocks.

That light in
the mountainside...

do you see
that strange fire?

A bush that burns?

It is on fire,
but the bush
does not burn.

Sephora, take him.

Serve him food
in our tent.

I will turn aside
and see this great sight.

GOD: Moses.

Moses.

I am here.

Put off thy shoes
from off thy feet,

for the place where
art thou standest
is holy ground.

I am the God
of thy father,

the God of Abraham,

the God of Isaac,

and the God
of Jacob.

Lord...

Lord, why do you
not hear the cries

of their children
in the bondage
of Egypt?

I have surely seen
the affliction
of my people

which are in Egypt,

and I have
heard their cry

by reason of
their taskmasters,

for I know
their sorrows.

Therefore,
I will send thee,
Moses, unto Pharaoh,

that thou mayest
bring my people
out of Egypt.

Who am I, Lord,

that you
should send me?

How can I
lead this people
out of bondage?

What words
can I speak
that they will heed?

I will teach thee
what thou wilt say.

When thou hast
brought forth
the people,

they shall serve me
upon this mountain.

I will put my laws
into their hearts,

and in their minds
will I write them.

Now, therefore, go,

and I will
be with thee.

But if I say
to your children

that the God
of their fathers
has sent me,

they will ask,
"What is his name?"

And how shall
I answer them?

I am that I am.

Thou shalt say,

"I am" has
sent me unto you.

Is the Holy Mountain
forbidden to men?

Yes. And I am
afraid for him.

Then he is
more than man,

for look.

Look at his face.

He has seen God.

Moses...

your hair,

your sandals.

I stood
upon holy ground.

Can you tell us,
Moses?

My eyes could not
look upon him.

Did he speak?

He revealed his word
to my mind,

and the word was God.

Did he speak
as a man?

He is not flesh,
but spirit,

the light
of eternal mind.

And I know that his light
is in every man.

Did he ask
something of you?

That I go to Egypt.

You are
God's messenger.

He has set the day
of deliverance.

I will get
water and bread

that we may leave
at once.

But Egypt holds
death for you.

If it be his will.

Where he sends you,
I shall go.

Your God is my God.

I will lead men
against the armory
at Migdol

and get swords
for the people.

It is not by the sword that
he will deliver his people,

but by the staff
of a shepherd.

(ORCHESTRAL MUSIC PLAYING)

NARRATOR: And the Lord
said unto Moses,

"Go. Return into Egypt."

And Moses took
his wife and his son,

and he returned
to the land of Egypt.

And Moses took the rod
of God in his hand.

Let the ambassador
from Priam,

King of Troy,

approach the Pharaoh.

Great Pharaoh,

the gift of Troy
is a fabulous fabric

from the Land
of the Five Rivers.

PEOPLE: Ohh.

Our thanks to Priam.

It is fabulous,
indeed.

It shimmers
like the Nile.
What is it?

How is it made?

No one knows,
Great Pharaoh.

It is spun on
the looms of the gods.

They call it silk.

The ambassador
from Jericho.

What kingdom
has sent you?

The kingdom
of the most high.

These must be
ambassadors
from Midian.

Ah, Bedouins?

What gifts
do you bring?

We bring you
the word of God.

What is this word?

Thus saith the Lord
God of Israel,

"Let my people go!"

The slaves are mine.

Their lives are mine.

All that they own
is mine.

I do not know your God,

nor will I let Israel go.

Who are you to make
their lives bitter
in hard bondage?

Man shall be
ruled by law,

not by the will
of other men.

What a fool.

Who is this God,

that I should
let your people go?

Aaron...

cast down my staff
before pharaoh

that he may see
the power of God.

In this you
shall know that
the Lord is God.

(GASPS)

Mother! Mommy!

He turned his staff
into a cobra!

Nothing of his
will harm you, my son.

The power of your God

is a cheap
magician's trick.

Jannes.

Mother, look!

Jannes,
do you see?

Moses' serpent
swallows up the others.

You gave me
this staff

to rule over scorpions
and serpents,

but God made it a rod
to rule over kings.

Hear his word,
Rameses, and obey.

Obey?

Moses, Moses.

Are there
no magicians in Egypt

that you come back to make
serpents out of sticks

or cause rabbits to appear?

I will give
your staff

a greater wonder
to perform.

Bear it before
your idle people

and bid them make
bricks without straw.

How can people
make bricks
without straw?

Let his staff
provide them with it.

Or let them glean straw
in the fields for themselves.

But their tally of bricks
shall not diminish.

So let it be written.

So let it be done.

Moses!

We are free!

Our deliverer!

Bless you, Moses!

All of us are free!

Aaron!

Aaron, when do
we leave Egypt?

We do not
leave Egypt.

But Moses promised us!

Why? Why?
How can this be?

You said
we would be free.

I have brought
more evil upon you.

God forgive my weak use
of his strength.

Weak use?

Moses, what have
you done to us?

It is
pharaoh's order

that you be
given no straw

to make your tally
of bricks.

No straw?
Impossible!

He doubles
our burden!

How can
we make bricks
without straw?

You will glean the stubble
of the fields by night.

And your women
and children, too.

Is this
the deliverer?

You've brought the wrath
of Pharaoh upon us.

You gave them
a sword to kill us!

Stone him!

Stone him!

Ready spears!

Stand aside.

File, march!

Come.

Follow.

Stand aside.
Make way!

They're taking him.

There goes your deliverer.

Now, go find your straw.

Remember, the tally
must be the same,

not one brick less.

I cursed you

each time Rameses
took me in his arms.

I cursed you, not him,

because I love you.

The Moses
who loved you
was another man.

No, he was not.

You believe
you've changed,

but you haven't.

You call yourself
a prophet,

a man of God,

but I know better.

I don't believe

that only the thunder
of a mountain

stirs your heart
as you stir mine.

Nefretiri, I have stood

in the burning light
of God's own presence.

It was not he
who saved you just now.

I did that.

Oh, Moses, Moses.

Why, of all men,
did I fall in love

with the prince
of fools?

But I believe
anything you tell me

when I'm in your arms.

Why must you deny
me and yourself?

Because
I am bound to a God

and to a people and
to a shepherd girl.

A shepherd girl.

What can she be to you?

Unless the desert sun
has dulled your senses.

Does she...

grate garlic
on her skin?

Or is it soft...

as mine?

Are her lips chafed
and dry as the desert sand,

or are they
moist and red

like a pomegranate?

Is it
the fragrance of myrrh

that scents her hair,

or is it
the odor of sheep?

There is a beauty
beyond the senses,
Nefretiri,

beauty like the quiet

of green valleys
and still waters,

beauty of the spirit

that you
cannot understand.

Perhaps not.

But beauty of the spirit
will not free your people.

You will come to me,

or they will
never leave Egypt.

The fate of Israel

is not in your hands,
Nefretiri.

Oh, isn't it?

Who else can soften
Pharaoh's heart...

or harden it?

Yes.

You may be
the lovely dust

through which God
will work his purpose.

Fill every jar in
your house with water.

Tell the others
that for seven days,

there will be
none to drink.

This well
never runs dry.

The river's high.
What does it mean?

Whose word
is that?

One who knows.

So fill your jars
or go thirsty.

Miriam
is always right.

Yes. I'm going back
for more jars.

No water
for seven days!

Yes, Joshua,

she comes
to the well every day.

Wait,
and you will see her.

It is wise of Dathan

to send you
to the well, Lilia,

or he might find
his water poisoned.

They told me
you were dead.

To all
I loved, Joshua,
I am dead.

Dathan?

Yes. Dathan.

Of your own
free will?

Of my own free will.

You are
no man's slave.

The hour
of deliverance
has come.

Not for me, Joshua.

Hail to thee,
great God of the Nile!

Thy life-giving waters
are the blood of Egypt.

Hail to thee,
maker of barley,

breeder of cattle,

carrier of ships,

praised of all the gods!

Pharaoh of Egypt,

you have not yet
obeyed the Lord.

Let my people go.

The point
of a sword shall...

Let him rave on

that men
shall know him mad.

Obey the Lord,

or he will raise his hand
against the river's waters.

I have come
to bless the waters.

You have come
to curse them.

We will learn
if a God of shepherds

is stronger than
the gods of Pharaoh.

Water of life,
give drink to the desert

and make green
the meadow.

Aaron.

Stretch out my staff
against the waters.

Look!

There, where he struck
the river, it bleeds!

The water
turns to blood!

(WOMAN SCREAMS)

Blood flows
from the God!

See how
it spreads.

It is blood!

That you may know
the power of the Lord,

for seven days,
Egypt will thirst.

Seven days
without water.

Fill every
jug and jar!

Pestilence
will be everywhere!

Were it seven times
seven days,

no magician's trick

will set
your people free.

Sacred water,
make pure the flood

from which you came.

NARRATOR:
And God smote the land

with all manner
of plagues,

but still Pharaoh's heart
was hardened.

(CRIES AND SHOUTS)

Great one, you hear
the cry of Egypt.

They would cry louder

if they had to
make the bricks.

Send them away.

The people have been
plagued by thirst,

by frogs,
by lice, by flies,
by sickness, by boils.

They can endure no more.

Why do you bring
this worker of evil
before me?

The people
desert the temples.

They turn
from the gods.

What gods?

You prophets and priests
made the gods

that you may prey
upon the fears of men.

When the Nile ran red,
I, too, was afraid,

until word came
of a mountain
beyond the cataracts

which spewed red mud
and poisoned the water.

Was it the staff I gave you
that caused all this?

Did your God
cause fish to die

and frogs
to leave the waters?

What is it a miracle
that flies and lice

should bloat
upon their carrion

and spread disease
in both man and beast?

These things were ordered
by themselves,

not by any god.

Now, go.

That you may
know these things
are done of God...

you shall see hail
fall from a clear sky

and burn as fire
upon the ground,

you shall see darkness
cover Egypt

when the sun
climbs high to noon,

and you shall know
that God is God

and bow down
to his will.

Nothing
of this earth

can make me bow
to you, Moses.

Behold, the hail comes.

When darkness has covered
Egypt for three days,

your ministers
will send for me.

(THUNDER)

For the three days
of darkness,

you have whined like
frightened children

in the night.

Moses said the sun
would shine in three days,

and it is true.

O great one,
let his people go,

or all of Egypt
will be barren...

From the cataracts
to the sea.

Will my father
free the slaves?

Can taxes be collected

from dead cattle
and blighted harvests?

Does fear
rule Egypt...

Or do I?

We fear no army
of the earth,

but can we fight
plagues with swords?

There is no
shame in this.

Even the strongest
tree bends.

It is not Pharaoh
who yields to the slave,

but his counselors.

I have summoned Moses
at your request.

People will bless you,
great one.

No other choice.

Does the world bow
to an empty throne?

Empty?

Does a Pharaoh harden
his heart against his son?

If you let
the Hebrews go,

who will build
his cities?

You told Moses
to make bricks
without straw.

Now he tells you

to make cities
without bricks.

Who is the slave,
and who is the Pharaoh?

Do you hear
laughter, Rameses?

Yes.

The laughter of kings.

In Babylon,

in Canaan,

in Troy...

as Egypt surrenders
to the God
of slaves.

Bring
the Hebrew in.

Go into the garden.

It's not good
for a son of Pharaoh

to see
his father humbled

by a son of slaves.

My son,

stand beside me.

Have the days
of darkness

made you see
the light, Rameses?

Will you now
free my people?

Great one,
bid the scribe
read the order.

Give me the writing.

Pharaoh, you cannot
resist the power
of his God.

I know not his God.

Neither will I
let his people go.

Egypt will die.

How long
will you refuse

to humble yourself
before God?

If you bring
another plague
upon us,

it is not your god but
I will turn the Nile red
with blood.

As your
father's father

turned the streets
of Goshen red

with the blood
of our male children.

If there is one more
plague on Egypt,

it is by your word
that God will bring it.

And there shall be
so great a cry
throughout the land

that you will surely
let the people go.

Come to me
no more, Moses,

for on the day
you see my face again,

you will surely die.

So let it be written.

I will give this spawn
of slaves and his God

an answer the world
will not forget.

Commander of the host,

call in the chariots
from Tanis.

There shall be
one more plague,

only it will come upon
the slaves of Goshen.

The firstborn
of each house shall die,

beginning with
the son of Moses.

(CHARIOT APPROACHES)

You're the shepherd girl
that Moses married.

The queen of Egypt
is beautiful,

as he told me.

My husband
is not here.

Is this
Moses' son?

Yes,
this is our son.

What do you
want of us?

You need have
no fear of me.

I feared only
his memory of you.

You have been able
to erase it.

He has forgotten
both of us.

You lost him

when he went
to seek his God.

I lost him when
he found his God.

At least he left you
a son to cherish.

I am here
to save his son.

From what?

From Pharaoh's decree

that the firstborn
of Israel must die.

Die?

God of Abraham...

don't let him do this.

Not to the children.

A caravan for Midian
is waiting for you
and your son.

My chariot
will bring you to it.

I'm surprised
you noticed me.

You didn't
at the palace
this morning.

Why?

Were you afraid
to look at me?

What do you want,
Nefretiri?

You, Moses.

Everything about us
is coming to an end.

You will destroy Egypt,

or Egypt
will destroy you.

I belong
to you, Moses.

She's gone
with your son
to Midian.

Why would she leave?

She knew you
would try to save
the other children

before your own son.

Save the other children?
From what?

Rameses is massing
the Libyan axmen,

the chariots, the
Sardinian swordsmen.

Why? Tell me why!

To destroy
the firstborn
of Israel.

Oh, God!

My God!

Out of his own mouth
comes thy judgment.

But I have
saved your son.

It is not my son
who will die.

It is the firstborn
of Egypt.

It is your son,
Nefretiri.

No. You would
not dare strike
Pharaoh's son!

In the hardness
of his heart,

Pharaoh
has mocked God

and brings death
to his own son.

But it is
my son, Moses.

You would not
harm my son.

By myself,
I am nothing.

The power of God
uses me to work
his will.

You would not
let him do this to me.

I saved your son.

I cannot save yours.

Your God listens
to you, Moses.

About midnight,

the destroyer will come
into the midst of Egypt,

and all the firstborn
shall die,

from the firstborn
of Pharaoh

to the firstborn
of his servants.

When you were
prince of Egypt,

you held me
in your arms.

When you were
a condemned slave,

I threw myself
at your feet

before the court
of Pharaoh,

because
I loved you, Moses.

It is the Lord who
executes judgment,
Nefretiri.

Go back to your son.

Your love for me
is stronger

than the power
of any God.

You will not
kill my son.

Turn from thy
fierce wrath, O Lord!

♪ Death cometh to me

♪ To set me free

♪ Death cometh to me ♪

No, Lilia.
Death will
not come to you.

Joshua.

Joshua, you risk
your life in coming here.

You are firstborn.

So are you.

I bring lamb's blood

to mark the doorposts...
And lintel...

that the angel of death
may pass you by.

Joshua, it is enough

that you have
come to me.

I am outcast
among our people.

Don't save me
from death, Joshua.

Save me from life.

Tomorrow will bring
a new world for us.

There will be
no new world

and no blood
on this door.

Dathan, it will
save her life.

Moses has
God's promise.

Moses has words.
Pharaoh has spears.

Remember, Joshua, of her
own free will, she's mine.

♪ And under his wings
Shalt thou trust ♪

(SCREAMS)

Though we stand
in the shadow of death,

the Lord is our God.
The Lord is one.

The Lord is our God.
The Lord is one.

♪ His truth shall be
Thy shield and buckler ♪

Shield us through
this night of terror,

O king of the universe.

(SCREAMING)

Why is
everyone afraid?

Why is this
night different
from all others?

Because this night
the Lord our God

will deliver us
from the bondage
of Egypt.

♪ Thou shalt not be afraid
For the terror by night ♪

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

Stand all!

Pharaoh's soldiers.

Or worse.

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

♪ Look for the arrow
That flyeth by day ♪

Bithiah.

In fear of your God,
they have set me free.

May a stranger enter?

There are no strangers

among those
who seek God's mercy.

My bearers?

All who thirst
for freedom may
come with us.

The darkness of death

will pass over us
tonight,

and tomorrow
the light of freedom

will shine upon us

as we go forth
from Egypt.

I shall go
with you, Moses.

A princess
of Egypt?

The house
of Pharaoh.

She follows
the gods of Egypt.

An idol
worshiper!

This woman
drew me from the Nile

and set my feet upon
the path of knowledge.

Mered, bring a chair
to our table

for the daughter
of Pharaoh.

There is a great light
that shines from
your face, Moses.

Perhaps someday I shall
come to understand it.

He is God's messenger,
princess.

(SCREAMING)

Stay back.

Don't come out.

(CRYING)

If it is
not forbidden

to look
upon the breath
of pestilence,

then see,
for it is here.

Do not look,
Eleazar.

Close the door,
Joshua,

and let
death pass.

♪ Nor for the pestilence
That walketh in darkness ♪

Will it pass,
Moses?

Will it pass?

That is
God's promise,
Elisheba.

(CRYING)

Blessed art thou,
O Lord, our God,

who bringeth
forth bread
from the earth.

Oh, no! It's coming
through the door!

Close up
the cracks!

Keep it out!

Save yourselves!
Run! Run!

There shall
no evil befall you,

nor any plagues
come near you.

♪ A thousand shall fall
At thy side ♪

Why do we eat
unleavened bread
and bitter herbs?

The herbs...

Faster! Faster!

Take the other road!

No! No, turn back!

(CRASH)

Aah!

The herbs remind us
of the bitterness

of our captivity,
Eleazar.

♪ But it shall not
Come nigh thee... ♪

This is
the bread of haste,

that you will
remember this night

from generation
to generation
forever.

Hold the baby high!

Keep him above it!

They are my people.

All are
God's people.

Death is all
around us!

But it
passes those

who have
believed the Lord.

Always remember,
Eleazar,

he passed over
your house.

(SCREAMING)

Are the captains
of Egypt afraid
of a night mist?

The death cry
is everywhere.

Some devil's curse!
Look!

(SCREAMS)

I've known battle
for 30 years, Pharaoh,

but I've not known fear
till tonight.

Aide.

Have the captains
join their men.

At the coming
of dawn,
we will strike.

No firstborn Hebrew
shall live.

(THUD)

Let the Hebrews go,
great one,

or we are
all dead men.

He was
your son?

My firstborn.

There is no
magic cure,

no spell to use.

He is the firstborn
of Pharaoh.

We have no skill
before this... pestilence.

My father.

My son.

Your own curse
is on him.

Where did you
hear this?

From Moses.

I would not
let his people go

because your
serpent's tongue
hardened my heart.

You only thought
to keep Moses here.

You cared nothing
for my throne...

or my son.

I asked Moses
for his life.

The shadow of death
is on his face.

No.

He will not die.

Captain.

Take my fastest
chariot.

Bring Moses
to me.

I will bring him,
mighty Pharaoh.

He is my only son.

You have conquered,
Moses.

The foot of a slave
is on the neck
of Egypt.

You were saved
from the Nile

to be a curse
upon me.

Your shadow
fell between me
and my father,

between me
and my fame...

between me
and my queen.

Your shadow
now fills all things
with death.

Go out
from among us,

you and your people.

I set you free.

It is not by your word
nor by my hand

that we are free, Pharaoh.

The power of God
has freed us.

Enough
of your words.

Take your people,
your cattle,

your God,
and your pestilence.

Take what spoils
from Egypt you will,
but go!

O, Lord God...

with a strong hand,

thou dost bring us
out of bitter bondage.

Tomorrow we go forth
a free nation,

where every man shall
reap what he has sown

and bow no knee
except in prayer.

We will go with our young
and with our old,

with our sons
and with our daughters.

With our flocks
and with our herds
will we go,

for I know
that the Lord is great

and that our Lord
is above all gods.

He's dead.

Sokar...

great Lord
of the lower world,

I who have denied
the gods of Egypt...

bow before you now.

Show that you have power
above the God of Moses.

Restore the life
he has taken from my son.

Guide back his soul
across the lake of death

into the place
of living men,

and I will raise
a temple to you

mightier
than the pyramids.

Hear me,
dread Lord of darkness.

(BLOWING HORN)

(BLOWING HORN)

Arise, O Israel!

Behold the dawn
of freedom!

(BLOWING HORN)

(SHEEP BLEATING)

NARRATOR:
And it came to pass...

After the stifling
night of terror

came a day such as
the world had never seen.

From east and west,
from north and south,

they came with
all they had,

driving their flocks
and their herds

and their camels
before them.

By tens, by hundreds,
by thousands,

unending streams of man
and beast and burden

and even very much cattle

poured into
the avenue of sphinxes.

Beneath the stone feet

of the four colossal
images of Rameses,

which their own
sweat and blood and sinew

had hewn from solid rock,

a nation arose,

and freedom
was born into the world.

BOY: Grandfather,
have you got
Rebecca?

No, I haven't
got Rebecca.

MAN: Here's
the kneading trough.

Sling it
on your shoulders.

This is
a blessed day.

Where's Rebecca?

Here is Rebecca.

Ben Caleb.

Yes?

Can we take
the cattle?

Moving to the gates,
horn and hoof.

Rachel, help me
with this yoke.

Benjamin, don't forget
the oil for the lamps.

You're carrying
your own load now.

Where are
we going, Naomi?

Some land flowing
with milk and honey.

I never tasted honey.
Anybody know the way?

It's away
from the whip.

Freedom won't
wet your throats
in the desert.

Fill your
water skins.

(KNOCKING AT DOOR)

This is
the governor's house.
You cannot enter.

Out!
Out, all of you!

Why do soldiers
come here?

I put no blood
on my door.

Then stone bleeds.

Your stonecutter
did this to me.

All your gold
cannot wipe that mark

from your door, Dathan,

or from my heart.

Just for that,
you'll walk
all the way to...

Where are we going?

Do you know
where we're going?

To hell, I hope!

NARRATOR:
Like Dathan,

they did not know
where they were going,

and they cared no more

than the flocks
and herds they drove.

Now they used
the brick yokes

to carry a very
different burden.

And there went forth
among them

planters of vineyards
and sowers of seeds,

each hoping to sit under
his own vine and fig tree.

Out of this
glorious chaos,

it is Joshua who
brings order and purpose.

Set the standard
of each tribe

before all the people.

Levites in the center.

Judah to the right.
Ephraim to the left. Go!

Look where
you're going!

Watch out,
you ribbon carrier!

Keep out
of my geese!

♪ His son Joseph

♪ Many colors
Was his coat

♪ Born... ♪

Aaron and the elders
carry a shrouded body,
Grandfather.

They bear Joseph's bones
to rest in his own land.

Nubians, grandfather.

(DRUMS BEATING)

Here come
treasure wagons!

The spoils of Egypt.

All who shared the toil
will share this gold.

Here, boy...

For the blind one.

It's a little
golden calf,
grandfather...

With horns.

An idol...
for idol worshipers.

Grandpa,
fire bearers.

Plant your fires
at night

beside
the tribal standards,

where all may come
to light their torches.

They'll be
burning, Joshua!

Eleazar, hang this
on the wagon.

Now the cradle.

Here, Miriam.
Here, Miriam.

Joshua!

Joshua!

Where shall we
place the wagons

for the midwives
and physicians?

5,000 cubits, One...

Where's your whip,
Dathan?

I'll pay you back
every lash
you gave me, Dathan!

Two for one!

Is this a day for us
to have hard feelings?

I felt
your whip!

Yes, every day!

Lilia is
no slave, Dathan.

You can carry
your own carcass.

Let her ride.

So now, my brother,
we have new taskmasters.

We serve
no masters now.

Yes, but not
for long.

Here, old woman.

That's it.

Joshua!

Make way
for the governor!

You know who I am.

I know who you were,
Lord governor.

I go to serve
the Pharaoh.

Tell Rameses
I'm coming back
to my house.

That rabble
may follow Moses

into the desert
today,

but when their eyes
are seared red
by the sun,

when their
cracked lips
bleed with thirst,

when their stomachs
cramp with hunger,

they will curse
the name of Moses
and his God,

then I, Dathan,
will lead them
back to Pharaoh

and the brick pits.

There are so many.

So many.

How shall I find thy road

through
the wilderness, Lord?

How shall I find water
in the desert

for this multitude?

Moses, the people
are assembled.

Then let us go forth
to the mountain
of God,

that he may write
his commandments
in our minds

and upon our hearts
forever.

We march, praising
his mighty name.

What is the word,
Joshua?

The word is given.

Let the trumpets
sound!

Hear, O Israel!

Remember this day

when the strong hand
of the Lord

leads you
out of bondage.

ALL: The Lord is our God!

The Lord is our God!

The Lord is one!

Push! Push!

Yes, you pull!

Joshua!

400 years in bondage,
and today he won't move!

Come along.

♪ The Lord is one

♪ Praise to God

♪ Thank thee, O Lord ♪

My litter
can carry him.

I am poured out
like water,

my strength dried up
into the dust of death.

We shall plant
your fig tree
in the new land.

Children shall
eat of its fruit.

(BABY CRYING)

Do you hear that?
Do you hear that?

You have
a strong
new son.

NARRATOR: And he brought
forth the people

with joy and gladness.

He bore them out of Egypt

as an eagle bears its young
upon its wings.

But again, Pharaoh's
heart was hardened.

How many more
days and nights
will you pray?

Does he hear you?

Dread Lord of darkness,

are you not greater
than the God of Moses?

I have raised
my voice to you,

yet life has not come
to the body of my son.

Hear me!

He cannot hear you.

He's nothing but
a piece of stone

with the head
of a bird.

He will hear me.

I am Egypt.

Egypt?

You are nothing.

You let Moses
kill my son.

No God can
bring him back.

What have you
done to Moses?

How did he die?

Did he cry for mercy
when you tortured him?

Bring me to his body.

I want to see it,
Rameses.

I want to see it.

This is my son.

He would have
been Pharaoh.

He would have
ruled the world.

Who mourns him now?

Not even you.

All you can
think of is Moses.

You will not
see his body.

I drove him
out of Egypt.

I cannot
fight the power
of his God.

His God?

The priests say
that Pharaoh is a God,

but you
are not a God.

You are even less
than a man.

Listen to me,
Rameses.

You thought I was evil
when I went to Moses,

and you were right.

Shall I tell you
what happened, Rameses?

He spurned me
like a strumpet
in the street.

I, Nefretiri,
Queen of Egypt.

All that you
wanted from me

he would not
even take.

Do you hear
laughter, Pharaoh?

Not the laughter
of kings,

but the laughter
of slaves on the desert.

Laughter?

Laughter?

(GONGS)

My son, I shall
build your tomb

upon their
crushed bodies.

If any escape me,

their seed shall be scattered
and accursed forever.

My armor. The war crown.

Laughter.

I will turn the laughter
of these slaves

into wails of torment.

They shall remember
the name of Moses,

only that he died
under my chariot wheels.

Kill him with
your own hands.

Let the trumpet
sound.

Alert
the watchtowers.

Assemble
all the chariots
at the city gate.

I obey.

Nura and Thebes
will draw my chariot.

I will bring you back
your temple treasure.

Bring it back to me...

Stained with his blood.

I will...

To mingle
with your own.

Whoa.

Pharaoh!

Nura! Thebes!

Guards, salute!

ALL: Hail, Pharaoh!

Hail, Pharaoh!

Remember your firstborn.

Death to the slaves!

ALL: Death to the slaves!

Death to their God!

Death to their God!

Hail, Pharaoh!

Forward!

(RUMBLING)

Do you hear
thunder...

over the sea?

No. It comes
from the desert.

That's the thunder
of horses.

Look!

Pharaoh's chariots!

We're trapped
against the sea!

Caleb, warn
the north tents.

(BLOWING HORN)

Joshua.

That's Joshua's horn.

All men to the pass!

Get carts, wagons!
Form a barrier!

What's the alarm,
Joshua?

Pharaoh's chariots.

Block the pass
with carts.

Women and children,
to the sea.

Bring shovels,
pounders, mattocks!

Hear me! Hear me!

Can mattocks
stop arrows?

Will your little carts
stop Pharaoh's chariots?

Women, do you want to
see your men killed?

Moses!
Pharaoh's chariots!

I've ordered men
to block the pass.

How can we
fight chariots?

Nothing
can stop them.

Order the men
to move back, Joshua.

Move back?
Where, into the sea?

Into the hand of God.

Deliverer?

Yes, he has
delivered you to death!

Run! Run!

Look!

Look!

Blame Moses for this!

Deliver him to peril!

Stone him!
Yes! Stone him!

The god of Moses
is a poor general

to leave him no retreat.

Ten times
you have seen

the miracles
of the Lord,

and still you
have no faith.

He's a false prophet
who delivers you to death!

Stone him!
Stone him!

Listen to Moses!
He speaks God's will!

They will stop for me.

A charging chariot
knows no rank.

Was it because there
were no graves in Egypt

that you took us to die
in the wilderness?

Fear not!

Stand still

and see
the salvation
of the Lord.

A pillar of fire!

It is the breath of God!

(NEIGHING)

Through it!

No, great one.

You cannot breach
the fire of God.

Gather your families
and your flocks.

We must go
with all speed.

Go where,
to drown
in the sea?

How long will
the fire hold
Pharaoh back?

After this day,

you shall see
his chariots no more.

No! You'll be
dead under them!

The Lord of hosts
will do battle for us.

Behold his mighty hand.

The wind
opens the sea!

God opens the sea
with the blast
of his nostrils.

Lead them
through the midst
of the waters.

His will be done.

He opens the waters
before them.

He bars our way
with fire.

Let us go
from this place.

Men cannot fight
against a God.

Better to die
battling a God

than live in shame.

Praise God
and down into it!

God has delivered us
from the sword of Pharaoh.

♪ Jacob cherished
His son Joseph

♪ Many colors
Was his coat ♪

Etam, help us!

Never mind
the wheel.

Pull!

Pull for your lives!

Is your life
worth so much?

♪ Jacob cherished
His son Joseph

♪ Many colors
Was his coat

♪ God of Abraham

♪ Isaac, Jacob

♪ Ever bless us
With thy hand ♪

Get tow lines
on the midwife's cart!

Abandon it!

Save the bread
if you can.

Ben Caleb, order
all wagons to turn clear.

Moses, stand on the rock

where the people can see
you and have hope...

Above us!

Help that wagon!

The fire dies.

Sound the pursuit.

Ho!

This is work
for a butcher,

not a Pharaoh.

Destroy them all,

but bring Moses
to me alive.

Level spears!

Forward!

Here, take him.

Wait for me!
Wait for me!

Grandfather, look!
The horses are coming!

The chariots!

Aah! Run! Run!
Run for your lives!

Better to serve
the Egyptians
than to die here.

Who shall withstand
the power of God?

Thou didst blow
with thy winds,

and the sea
covered them.

Who is like unto thee,
O Lord?

From everlasting
to everlasting,

thou art God.

ALL: The Lord is our God!

The Lord is one!

Before you strike,

show me his blood
on your sword.

You couldn't
even kill him.

His God...

is God.

NARRATOR:
And Moses led Israel
from the Red Sea

into the wilderness
of Sinai,

and they camped before
the Holy Mountain.

And when the people saw
that Moses delayed

to come down
out of the mountain,

they gathered
themselves together.

Ask Aaron.

Could anyone live
on that fiery summit

for 40 days
and 40 nights?

Yes, by the will
of God!

Who knows
the will of God?

Do you? Do I?

Or you, Sephora,

his grieving wife?

She came back
to find her husband,

but he's dead.

Even she cannot hope
that he lives.

Moses went into
the forbidden ground

to receive God's law.

Yes, but he's not
returned.

We share your pain.

We sympathize.

But will sympathy
lead us

to this land flowing
with milk and honey?

Now we have
no leader.

Don't be fooled!
Moses will return!

Aah!
Aah!

Would a God
who has shown you
such wonders

let Moses die
before his work
is done?

His mother.

So beautiful is
the hope of a mother,

but there are other
mothers among you!

What will become
of your children?

Yes!

We must have faith.

Faith in what...
You, Aaron?

Can you lead us
to this land
of promise?

Do you know
where it is?

Across
the wilderness.

Who is to lead us?

You, Dathan.

Where could I bring you
except to Egypt?

Where there
is death?

No, where there's food!

Pharaoh would
kill us all.

Not if a God of Egypt
went before us!

You could
make one, Aaron.

Aaron knows the art
of the temple.

I will not.

He will not.

He would rather
see our flesh

rot in the wilderness.

You will make
a God for us.

A God of gold.

A golden calf!

Korah shall be
the high priest.

Bring baskets,
buckets, shawls,

anything you have.

Break off your earrings,

your bracelets,
your necklaces!

We will make of them
a golden calf!

The golden spoils
we took from Egypt!

There!

Spoils from Egypt.

From the burning bush,
O Lord,

you charged me
to bring the people

to this Holy Mountain

to behold your glory
and receive your law.

What have I left undone?

GOD: I am...

I am...

I am the Lord
thy God.

Thou shalt have
no other gods before me.

Thou shalt not make
unto thee any graven image.

NARRATOR:
And they overlaid the image
with pure gold,

and Aaron fashioned it

and smoothed it
with the hammer,

ready to be graven

by cunning art
and man's device.

And he fastened it
with nails,

that it should not move.

And he
that smote the anvil

did beat the molten gold
into thin plates,

for they had gathered
their treasure

into the midst
of the furnace

and did blow the fire
upon it to melt it.

And they adorned themselves

in rich apparel
and costly array,

with veils of blue
and purple and scarlet

and fine-twined linen
wrought in Egypt.

And the women tread grapes
from Midian

into new wine.

GOD: Thou shalt not take

the name of the Lord
thy God in vain.

Remember the Sabbath day
to keep it holy.

Honor thy father
and thy mother.

Thou shalt not kill.

Hallel!

Hallel!

Hallel!

NARRATOR:
And the people
sinned a great sin,

for they had
made them a God of gold.

And they bore him upon
their shoulders and rejoiced,

saying, "This be
our God, O Israel."

Are you mourners of Moses

afraid to face
the new God of gold?

They were as children
who had lost their faith.

They were
perverse and crooked

and rebellious
against God.

They did eat
the bread of wickedness

and drank
the wine of violence,

and they did evil
in the eyes of the Lord.

And the people cried,

"The graven image
hath brought us joy."

And they worshiped
the golden calf

and sacrificed unto it.

Here is
your sacrifice!

Make way
for Dathan!

Make way
for Dathan!

Come!

Make way!

Make way for
the sacrifice!

Make way!
Out of the way!

Place the sacrifice
upon the altar!

Have you no shame?

Thou shalt not
commit adultery.

Thou shalt not steal.

Thou shalt not bear
false witness

against thy neighbor.

Thou shalt not covet

anything
that is thy neighbor's.

Written with
the finger of God.

Go, get thee down,

for thy people have
corrupted themselves.

NARRATOR:
And the people
rose up to play

and did eat and drink.

They were
as the children of fools

and cast off
their clothes.

The wicked were like
a troubled sea

whose waters cast up
mire and dirt.

They sank
from evil to evil

and were viler
than the earth.

And there was rioting
and drunkenness,

for they had become
servants of sin.

And there was manifest
all manner of ungodliness

and works of the flesh,

even adultery
and lasciviousness,

uncleanness,

idolatry and rioting,

vanity and wrath.

And they were filled
with iniquity

and vile affections.

And Aaron knew that he had
brought them to shame.

Abiram, Korah,

bind the sacrifice
with cords,

even unto the horns
of the altar!

The light of God
shines from you,
Moses.

Do not kneel
to me, Joshua.

These tablets
of stone...

the writing of God.

His Ten Commandments.

There is a noise
of war in the camp.

It is not
the noise of war.

It is the noise
of song and revelry.

(BLOWS HORN)

Moses!

Look!

Joshua!

Woe unto thee,
O Israel!

You have sinned
a great sin

in the sight of God.

You are not worthy

to receive
these Ten Commandments!

Aaron!

Moses!

We're gathered
against you, Moses.

You take too much
upon yourself.

We will not live
by your commandments.

We're free!

There is no freedom
without the law.

Whose law, Moses? Yours?

Did you carve
those tablets

to become
a prince over us?

Who is
on the Lord's side?

Let him come to me.

I am!

Lead us, Moses!

We are lost!

Dathan! Follow Dathan!

Moses!
Moses!
Moses!

Aaron, you
have cursed us.

Dathan and the people
made me do it.

Aah!

Joshua!

Dathan
brought us joy!

He showed you
no land flowing
with milk and honey.

I show you
a God of gold!

Come with me!
Follow me!

Blasphemers!
Idolaters!

For this, you shall
drink bitter waters.

God has set
before you this day

his laws
of life and good

and death and evil.

Those who will not
live by the law

shall die
by the law!

NARRATOR:
And the Lord's anger
was kindled against Israel.

And to prove

whether they would keep
his commandments or no,

he made them wander
in the wilderness 40 years,

until all the generation

that had done evil
in the sight of the Lord

was consumed.

But Moses' eye
was not dim,

nor his natural force
abated.

And he went up
from the plains of Moab

unto the mountain
of Nebo.

And the Lord showed him
all the land

that was beyond
the River Jordan.

The Lord was
angry with me

because I disobeyed him
by the waters of strife.

And he said unto me,

"Behold the new land
with thine eyes,

"for thou shalt not cross
over this river Jordan."

Then I
shall stay.

I am called by the Lord,
Sephora.

I go alone.

Look, Moses.

The people have come
to the River Jordan.

In the ark, they carry
the law you brought them.

You taught them not
to live by bread alone.

You are God's torch

that lights the way
to freedom.

I love you.

Joshua.

Joshua, I charge you
and strengthen you,

for you shall go over
Jordan to lead the people.

As for me
and my house,

we shall serve
the Lord.

Mered,
give me the books.

Eleazar,

set these five books

in the Ark
of the Covenant

by the tablets
of the Ten Commandments,

which the Lord
restored unto us.

Go,

proclaim liberty
throughout all the lands,

unto all
the inhabitants thereof!