A FILM BY JERZY KAWALEROWICZ
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SCREENPLAY BY JERZY KAWALEROWICZ
BASED ON THE NOVEL BY HENRYK SIENKIEWICZ
Marcus Vinicius
Lygia
Petronius
Nero
Chilo the Greek
WITH
MAKE UP
COSTUMES
SOUND
EDITED BY
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ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
PRODUCTION MANAGER
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
MUSIC
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During 60 A.D., the Roman Empire spread from North Africa, embracing
Mediterranean, until the tip of Brittany. The Northern region included the Rhine
and the Danube Rivers from which Lygians thrived.
Thirty years prior, Jesus Christ was crucified
Christianity was gaining steady momentum
in addition to a growing number of followers.
Nero was the current ruler of the Roman Empire
He was described as being despotic and arrogant.
In addition, Nero also sought recognition for his attempts at art
His good friend, Petronius, was a known poet, and a fashion trend-setter.
Mark Vinicius comes to visit Petronius
Vincius had just come back from war in the Asia Minor
- Greeting Petronius -Welcome to Rome
Vinicius tells him that he is in love with the girl he met at Plautius' home
where he was taken care of after falling off a horse
Lygia is the daughter of a Barbarian King, she came here as hostage
I must have her
wait in the litter
Petronius has an idea
Lygia is put into Caesar's home
in order to become Vinicius' lover
a feast at Caesar's overwhelms her
kiss me, Caesar promised you to me
When Vinicius becomes more demanding, Ursus takes her aside
I promise you that even today you will become Vinicius' slave
the following night, Christians kidnap Lygia under the command of Ursus
Where's Lygia?
whip everybody
Depressed Vinicius begins to look for Lygia
PART 2
Acte, avoid misfortune by telling the truth.
- Caesar has her? - I swear,
she is not in the Palace.
Nero is at his sick child's crib.
- So the Auluses took her back? - Lygia's will has been done.
- You knew she planned to escape? - She didn't want to be your concubine.
- As if you hadn't been one. - But I was a slave before.
Lygia is a gift from Caesar, I don't care about her past!
She will be my concubine. I'll have her flogged.
And when she bores me, I'll give her to a slave.
We met Poppaea with little Augusta carried by a Negress.
Soon the child fell ill and the nanny accused Lygia of having cast a spell.
If the child gets well, they'll forget. Otherwise...
Poppaea will accuse Lygia and no one will save her.
Perhaps she has bewitched me, too?
Marcus, don't speak of her to Caesar, until his child gets well,
or you'll bring Poppaea's vengeance upon her.
And she has shed enough tears because of you.
You love her, Acte.
I do.
Because she hasn't paid you back with hatred.
You blind fool, she loves you!
No, she doesn't. She hates me. She hates me.
May God forgive you all the wrong you've done to us.
How is the child?
- How is the little divinity? - To hell with her!
Silence! Come with me, if you want to find Lygia.
I've had my slaves guard all the city gates.
You're feverish.
I'm ill.
I don't know what a doctor would prescribe,
but I know the power of love. No woman could replace her.
Nevertheless... a lovely little slave...
No, thank you.
Your own have lost the charm of novelty.
Take a look at this one. Let her be my gift for you.
I don't need any of them. I am grateful...
but I don't accept.
Eunice, bathe, anoint yourself and go to Vinicius' house.
No, master!
I can't. Take pity, my dearest lord!
I'd rather be flogged than driven away.
- Who is Eunice's lover? - Nobody, my lord.
What do you know about her?
She spends all nights in her cubiculum.
She never stays in the baths with other slaves.
I offered her to Vinicius, but he rejected her. Stand up.
She will stay here.
Take her and give her twenty five lashes.
- Take care not to damage the skin. - Come.
Eunice knows someone who could locate Lygia.
Has that man arrived yet?
He is waiting for you. His name is Chilo Chilonides.
- Who is he? - A wise man, an astrologer,
a reader of people's fates, a teller of fortunes.
- Has he told yours? - Yes, master.
- What is in store for you? - Suffering...
and great joy.
You suffered yesterday, so joy might be near.
It's already mine, master.
- What do you mean? - I am staying here.
Hail, divine Theristes.
How are the lumps Ulysses gave you at Troy?
Oh noble lord, the wisest of the dead, Ulysses,
asks me to greet the wisest of the living,
who will cover the lumps with a new cloak.
An answer worthy of a cloak.
Do you know what we want?
Of course. Two great households
and half of Rome talk of nothing else.
A maiden called Lygia, or Callina, disappeared.
- I shall find her. - By what means?
You possess the means, I, the brains.
You'll die, if you're deceiving me for gain.
I am a philosopher, my lord, and as such cannot crave profits,
- especially such generous ones. - Which school do you represent?
I am a Cynic, for my cloak is full of holes,
a Stoic, for I accept my poverty, and a Peripatetic,
for, not having a litter, I walk from inn to inn
and teach for a full jar.
Thus becoming a Rhetor.
Heraclitus said, "Everything flows". And is wine isn't a solid, is it?
When will you start?
I already have. I am searching by answering your kind questions.
- Have you any experience? - Virtue and wisdom sell cheaply,
so philosophers seek other ways of earning a living.
Good. What do you need?
- Weapons. - Of what sort?
Times are hard...
You have asked questions, now it's my turn.
Noble tribune, have you seen any signs or charms on Lygia?
Has she drawn
any secret symbols?
Once... a fish in the sand.
A fish! A fish!
- Once or several times? - Just once.
- A fish, you say? - Yes.
What does it mean?
May the goddess Fortune bless you both
- in equal measure, kind sirs! - The cloak is yours.
Ulysses thanks you for Theristes!
what can you tell me about that old man?
if there was a kingdom of bastards, he could be the king
undoubtfully
I need to get the know him better
Now I need to refresh the room
Salve, Sporus.
Ajar of the dark one.
Sporus, I have been working with Seneca today,
and he gave me this token for good-bye.
What is it?
That's... a fish.
Which could easily survive in your watery wine. It's a symbol,
or, in philosophy, "a twist of fate"
Respect philosophy or I'll drink elsewhere. My friend Petronius
says I should.
- Whatever has happened? - The divine Augusta is dead!
Children of the Emperors are also mortal.
It's your doing! Witchcraft killed little Augusta!
You brought here the evil spirit that cast a spell on my child.
Woe to me! Woe! Woe to me!
Set Rome and the world on fire,
but spare your voice.
Our loss is irreparable,
but pray, let this treasure not perish.
You are the only one
to have thought of that... the only one, Petronius!
The only one!
Go to Antium, the place
of her birth. There you will find
joy and comfort.
I shall go.
I shall write a hymn in her honour.
And I shall compose music.
I talked the red-haired monkey to go to Antium
We could look for Lygia during this time
Did our friend come by?
your royal philosopher is scam artist
he wasn't here and probably will not show up
tell me, like a friend to a friend,
Are you also very interested in Lygia?
Atlas does not carry the world upon his shoulders, but rather the women
And she plays with it like a ball
Chilo Chilonides came and wanted to talk to you
let him in
Greetings you, your heiness. and you sir
welcome my friend
I hope your happiness is equal to your fame
what are you bringing?
Last time I brought you hope, this time I'm here to assure you of Lygia's return
that means you haven't found her
- You are sure she drew a fish? - Yes, I am
She is a Christian!
my relative promised you a lot of money
but do not try to cheat him
She is a Christian!
Say the following words in Greek: "Jesus Christ, God's Son, Saviour".
And?
Now let the first letters of each word form a new word.
"A fish".
A fish.
- You are sure she drew a fish? - If it were a bird, I'd have said so.
She is a Christian!
Lygia poisons wells, kills children, and indulges in lust?
Oh, no, no... No. Unless we are wrong about the Christians.
You speak like Socrates himself. Three years ago,
I met a certain doctor named Glaucus, a Christian,
and a good and virtuous man.
Did that virtuous man teach you the meaning of the fish emblem?
Alas, no. Someone stabbed him and his family fell victim
to slave merchants. I lost two fingers trying to defend them.
But Christians perform miracles,
so I hope they will grow back.
- You've become a Christian? - Yesterday.
I also made a vow to Mercury,
that if he leads me to the maiden, he shall get two two cows
- with gilded horns. - So, being a Christian
and a philosopher you still believe in Mercury?
I believe in what convenes me. And heifers are expensive.
- If noble Vinicius... - Not an obolus, Chilo.
His generosity will surprise you, but not before you find Lygia.
Yes, my lord. Yes.
She's not among Christians?
She is. And so is Glaucus, the doctor.
Who?
The old man whose defence cost me two fingers.
I left him dying at the inn and mourned him ever since.
Unfortunately, he is still alive.
If you protected him, he should be thankful
Even the gods are ungrateful
he should but he's not too intelligent
he's not loyal and is persuading me into talking with the rebels
I'm sure what he said is true
then you know more
that's why I don't want your reward
and I don't want to risk my life
as a philosopher, I can live without money
who told you that Glaucus will kill you before I kill you?
how do you know that we won't bury you in the garden?
I will look for her and find her
as long as Glaucus is alive, he can kill me
what are you trying to say?
Aristotle is teaching us that we should sacrifice small things for larger things
and King Priam tell us that old age is a difficult task
don't philosophize with me.
What do you want?
I'd Like Glaucus to vanish.
Hire people to kill him, I'll pay.
They'll overcharge you and they will blackmail you.
- How much do you need? - A thousand sestertii.
I must find honest ones, who won't flee with the earnest.
The man is a Christian.
Old age has clouded my memory.
One of the disciples betrayed Our Lord,
- but I forgot his name. - Judas, he hanged himself.
That's it! Judas! Thank you so much.
Here is the brother you wished to see.
May Christ's peace be with you.
this is a saint that bought me from slavery
- What do they call you, my son? - Ursus.
- Do you love Christ? - With heart and soul.
And you are familiar with the name "Judas"?
Yes. He hanged himself.
Peace be with you, oh faithful follower of the Lamb.
Judas has a worthy heir who dwells among us.
- Father, who is he? - Judas' son,
posing for a Christian. He accuses us
of poisoning waters, killing babies, not recognizing the deity of Caesar.
But no one defended Christ, and no one will punish the traitor.
I could do it, father.
Go among Christians, find Glaucus, the doctor, and kill him.
Glaucus?
- You know him? - No. But tomorrow
an Apostle will preach in Ostrianum, I could find Glaucus there.
- In Ostrianum? - Yes, father.
Killing a traitor is like killing a wolf or a bear.
But if Glaucus is slain innocently?
it'll be better elders discuss it
no, the court does not have time
because the traitor will go to Caesar
I instruct a certain maid in Christ's teachings...
Eunice serves
in the house of Petronius. I overheard Glaucus vowing
to betray all the Christians
- and promising to Vinicius... - Vinicius?
... to find a maiden...
What is it?
Nothing, father. I shall kill Glaucus.
Eureka!
- Have you seen her? - I've talked with Ursus.
- And you know where they are! - No.
But if he is in Rome, then so is your divine Lygia.
And there's a chance she'll be in Ostrianum today.
- Where is that? - Between Via Salaria and Nomentana.
And here is the sign they wouldn't let us in without.
And here are some scrupula.
When Lygia is here, you'll receive a sackful.
- Thou art Jove! - Stay here.
You'll accompany me to Ostrianum.
We'll take Croton, the gladiator.
A good thing you've found me today, tomorrow I leave for Beneventum
to wrestle the strongest of African Negroes.
The girl's guardian is a Hercules.
I can grab her with one hand
fight off seven such Lygians with the other,
- and bring her to your house. - Do not let him!
They'll start throwing stones at us.
Take her directly from the house, avoiding the risk.
- And that is how we shall do it. - You pay, I obey.
Christ's first disciple, the fisherman.
And as they were lamenting,
Mary of Magdala appeared, crying
she had seen the Lord.
There was such brightness around Him, she mistook Him for a gardener,
but then he said, "Mary!".
And she exclaimed, "Rabboni!"
and dropped at His feet.
He asked her to tell the disciples,
but the disciples refused to believe her.
And when she wept for joy, some of them
scorned her, and others thought grief had made her insane
for she claimed to have seen angels in the tomb.
And the disciples went there, and saw the tomb was empty.
When the sun had set,
Cleopas, who went with the others to Emmaus, came
and they hurried back, saying,
"The Lord has truly resurrected!"
And they discussed having shut, shut the doors out of fear of Jews,
and then He stood amongst them.
As fear filled them, He said, "Peace be with you".
And I saw Him... like all the others, and He...
He was like shining light, like the joy of our hearts,
for we finally believed in His Resurrection,
and we knew the seas should dry out, the mountains should crumble,
but His glory would never pass.
My lord... there... next to Ursus.
Let us leave... we've kept our hoods on.
No.
- They see us. - Wait.
if you can please lift me
and carry me then I could see the girl
you would be a good man
I would carry a dead and diseased sheep
but if you give me that sack, I will carry you
I hope you break your big toe
you haven't used the teachings of the apostle
don't worry, I will not become Christian, I don't want to lose my bread
but if you have any knowledge of philosophy,
you would know the gold is a waste
come to me with philosophy
and I will give you one hit in the stomach and we'll see who'll win
stop it
a cow could have said the same to Aristotle
Let us follow them, and see which house they go to.
Tomorrow you'll bring your slaves and take her away.
- No. - What do you intend to do?
We'll follow and capture her now.
- That Lygian seems very strong. - My lord, silence this old goat.
If we capture her now, we're sure to be stoned.
By Jove, Apollo, Vesta, Cybele, Isis and Chyrys,
by all the gods of the East and West, don't do it!
- Listen to me! - I'll go first.
Follow me.
That is Ursus.
What do you want?
You. Kill!
Marcus!
- Let me go! - Ursus!
"Thou shall not kill"!
wrap the bandages
Kill me...
And the wound in his head?
It's nothing, Miriam. He covered his head with his arm which broke,
saving both his head and his life.
I know your skill, so Ursus fetched you.
And to think he wanted to kill me yesterday...
I know, he told me. But I made it clear to him
who the real traitor was.
You didn't let him kill me.
May God bring you back to health.
More.
Our Lord taught us to love our enemies.
We have dressed your wounds. Leave Lygia in peace.
You're throwing me out?
We're leaving this house for fear of persecution.
You needn't worry, I shall protect you.
Send for your litter.
Your home will suit you better than our poverty.
Christians, your deeds
prove you are righteous.
Let your doctor say if it is safe to move me now,
for I won't budge, unless you carry me out...
forcedly.
We never use force.
Let me... catch my breath...
Croton was due in Beneventum today.
There were no witnesses, just a certain Greek. Find him,
and I shall silence him.
I'll write home, saying I have gone to Beneventum.
If the Greek has notified the prefect, I'll say I killed Croton myself.
Stay here at no risk.
In that case Glaucus and the widow will care for you.
Old man... do you fear
I could send for my slaves and carry Lygia off?
I do.
I shall talk to Chilo and write home in your presence.
I cannot find other messengers. Consider that.
And if Lygia leaves,
I'll pull off the dressings and shan't eat or drink...
and you'll be blamed for my death...
you and your brethren.
Crispus...
Let him stay with us,
until Christ restores his health.
Let it be so.
THE END OF PART 2