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
INTERIOR DESIGN
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
PRODUCTION MANAGER
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
MUSIC
PRODUCTION DESIGNER
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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.
Vinicius, in love with Lygia, the daughter of a barbarian king,
I must have her
the girl is to become Vinicius'
overwhelmed with her surroundings and hides among the Christians
she will be my slave, she will be whipped
While seeking Lygia, Vinicius meets with Acte
Acte admits to having known about the escape
I know what love is, but a beautiful slave...
Petronius wants to give Vinicius one of his slaves in order to make him happy
Vinicius denies it. Eunice wants to stay at Petronius' home.
Greetings Godly master
A Greek decides to seek Lygia
By interpreting a drawing of a fish drawn by Lygia
Chilo realizes that she's a Christian
He finds out where the Christians are meeting Peter the Apostle
Vinicius takes the gladiator Croton with him
he spots Lygia in the crowd
they are following them home, Croton is ordered to kill Ursus
it's Ursus who kills Croton
Lygia's cry saves Vinicius
after looking at his wounds, they want him to leave their house
Vinicius wants to stay at their home, in hopes of having Lygia take care of him
Wake up! Someone to see you, says it's urgent!
I am not at home... I don't know this good fellow.
I've told him you were sleeping, but he ordered me to wake you.
Dumb creature! I'll have you whipped!
- Chilo Chilonides! - Pax tecum! Pax! Pax!
Oh, the best of Christians! Yes! I'm Chilonides, I'm Chilo.
- But this is a misunderstanding. - Your master, Vinicius,
- summons you to go with me. - My dear fellow,
and has my noble friend sent me a letter?
- We shall walk. - And if I refuse?
- I wouldn't do it. - I shall come, because I want to,
for I am a free man and a wise one,
and I can turn offenders into trees and animals. I'm coming!
Why were you deaf to my advice?
Hush and listen.
Croton wanted to kill and rob me.
I slew him,
and they dressed my wounds.
He was a villain!
I told you not to trust him
those who cannot be honest must be bastards
Fortunately, l had my knife.
I'd advised you to go armed.
- What did you do? - Prayed for your health.
- Nothing else? - Planned to visit... but you sent him.
Deliver this slate to my house.
I wrote I'd left for Beneventum.
Is that clear? I have left for Beneventum.
You have...
of course you have, I bade you farewell in Porta Cavena,
and I've been pining for you ever since
and risk wailing myself to death.
I'll ask my servants to dry your tears.
Bring me the lamp.
Don't you recognise me, Cephas?
But I'm not... it's not me...
Glaucus?
Here is the man who betrayed and sentenced to death my wife...
...and my children.
- He wanted me to kill Glaucus! - My lord!
Help me!
Plead for me!
The letter! I shall deliver it, my lord!
Bury him in the garden... and find another messenger.
In the name of your God! I'm a Christian!
You can baptise me once again. Glaucus,
make me a slave,
bur spare my life!
I beg you, do not kill me!
And the Saviour said to us,
"If thy brother has sinned against thee, chastise him,"
"and if he is repentant, forgive him."
even if he would betray you seven times a day,
seven times you should forgive him
Chilo,
may God forgive you your offences,
as I am forgiving you.
May the Saviour be as merciful, as I am to you.
Go in peace.
The letter, my lord, the letter!
I shall deliver it.
This is the day of your greatest victory.
Peace be with you.
You... have also forgiven me?
We mustn't harbour anger in our hearts.
I have seen your soul in a dream.
Chilo!
Christ, in Christ's name, don't kill me
the Apostle told me to take you away from here
and if you don't have enough strength, I'll take you home
-don't kill me -I won't kill you
and if you grabbed you too hard, forgive me
I will go alone
-may peace be with you -and you also
why hasn't he killed me yet?
Come here, slave.
Good day and good health to you, but I am a free man.
- I serve Callina. - Where is she?
She has just left, my lord. She watched over you all night.
- Why didn't you relieve her? - She didn't wish me to.
And it was her wish that saved you.
Do you regret not having killed me?
No, Christ forbade us to kill.
- And what about Croton? - That was your fault.
You made him raise his hand against royalty.
Wait, I'll help you.
Drink.
My divine creature.
I wanted to reach you by a false way.
Go back to Pomponia Graecina.
Do not fear any more assaults.
I wish I could see her... even from afar,
but I cannot go back.
- Caesar hates her family. - Yes, I know.
But if he gave you to me first...
You want to see me on the Palatine again?
No. I speak like a fool. Never.
You are far happier than I am.
With your religion, with your Christ.
And I have only you.
Without you... I'd be like a beggar.
Now, you're talking to me... but you think of Him, don't you?
Think about me too, or else... I shall hate Him.
Because you are my deity.
I want to pray to you... worship you.
Because you don't know... how could you know...
that I... that I love you.
Because...
you are my source of life.
My only one...
Lygia...
go ask God for forgiveness
Flee, before the evil spirit makes you fall!
The Lord died on the cross for you,
but you choose the man who wants you as a concubine.
Who is that man? Antichrist's serf and ally!
His accessory in lust and crime.
Help me, father, I beg of you!
I cannot trust myself and I cannot fight love!
Crispus,
do you think Christ
who let Mary of Magdala lie at His feet
and who forgave the harlot, would turn away from this girl?
I have sinned against God's Mercy...
but I do believe that by accepting worldly love
she denies Christ.
I denied Him thrice,
- but still He forgave me. - I am Paul of Tarsus.
I persecuted and arrested our Lord's followers.
When Stephen was killed,
I kept the garments of those who stoned him.
I wanted to root out the truth from all earth, but by God's will
I spread this truth on all earth.
Until the eyes of your beloved open to the light,
try to avoid him, so he doesn't lead you to sin.
But be assured it is not wrong to love him.
-our master! -our master has returned!
on your knees...!
-Don't kill us! -Please forgive us!
Get up everyone
I forgive you
thank you, thank you
Repay me with your good deeds
I don't even know where she is now.
She left during your absence.
Crispus... He hid her away, he mistrusts me.
No, my lord. It was Lygia's own decision.
And as to Crispus, Peter scolded him
for condemning her love for you.
She told the Apostle she loved me?
Your arm has healed.
Try not to strain it.
Hail, oh divine one! Greetings, Chrysothemis!
You stroll alone... A sure sign of boredom.
Come, I'll take to a feast.
You've seduced my Chrysothemis.
you are Godly
you are also great
I'm tired of everyone
only for you
You don't love Lygia anymore
what if I didn't send the litter for you?
through slaves rumours spread rapidly
You have Chrysothemis
I am doubly grateful. You refused to take Eunice
and you freed me of Chrysothemis.
I searched far away for something that was so near.
What is the morose Christian crowd compared to this?
Once, I was fond of verbena, now I prefer violets, as she does.
My divine creature, ask them to prepare garlands and wine.
No, my friend, Lygia is not Eunice.
Love has changed your nostrils... and it has changed my soul.
To Hades with your Christians! They killed your sense of life!
Love, beauty and power, those are beneficial,
and they call them "vanity". They are not just!
If we reward the bad with good,
how shall we reward the good?
They shall be rewarded in afterlife.
We shall see. If a cadaver can see anything.
Are you planning to abduct Lygia?
I cannot pay her with evil.
Will you accept Christ's teachings?
I want to, but my nature revolts against it.
And will you be able to forget Lygia?
No.
Come to drink some wine, then. Eunice is getting impatient.
-I'm your slave, Master -I'm a slave of a slave
We'll postpone the journey to Egypt.
According to the prophecy I am to rule it anyway.
In time, we shall erect monuments that will make pyramids look tiny.
My sphinx will be seven times as gigantic as the one at Memphis.
And it will have my face.
You have reared a monument to yourself with your poems.
It saddens me to hear you postponed your departure.
The gods wanted me to do it.
Vesta herself whispered in my ear, "Do not go now".
Why do we fear Vesta more than other gods?
I would have collapsed with fear,
if someone hadn't supported me.
It was I.
You? Thank you.
Since Corbulo's service, I haven't seen you lately
How is that girl... with narrow hips?
I wager he's forgotten her.
I am tormented with boredom.
I stayed in Rome but I despise it!
I shall go to Antium. I stifle in those filthy streets and alleys.
If a furious god levelled Rome
to the ground, I'd re-create a far more magnificent city!
"If a furious god levelled it to the ground"?
- Yes! Why? - Aren't you a god?
I am leaving for Antium.
You, little people, can't understand my needs!
And you shall all accompany me there.
we are both invited we have to deal with that monkey again
it's not only an invitation, but also an order
Tigellinus, Vatinius, Sextus, Aquillinus...
What scum. And they aim to rule the world? No, I won't go.
I'm not responsible for the world's ways.
But I advise you to go, and not to jeopardise yourself and Lygia.
- I have to see her! - Where is she?
- I don't know. - Would she be wiser than you?
She wants to spare you.
I'll wait
a letter from Petronius
I'm sending you this letter from Antium, I hope you already have Lygia
we are still mourning the death of young Augusta
we listening to Caesar's godly voice
a sound so beautiful that the mermaids hide in the furthest caves
Vatineus plans great gladiator battles
look at how far the shoemaker could go
Liturus acted like Oedipus, as he is a Jew, I asked him:
are Christians and Jews one?
he said the Judiasm has always been around and Christianity is a new sect
A man was crucified and now there are more and more followers
they see him as a God, they don't want to know any of ours
Tigellinus is hiding is aversion and he still cannot win
I'm above him
He cares about his life more than I and he is a bastard
Greetings to your Christian lady, I hope she's going to be happy with you
May the gods share their power and immortality with you.
What was going on with you?
bad, I am destroyed, robbed, and my slave ran away
Who should I go to if not you, the one I risk my life for.
- What do you want? - I know Lygia's whereabouts.
Speak.
She's at Linus'... he's a priest.
Ursus works at night, the two women stay alone.
- How do you know that? - The Christians
spared my life, so my heart overflows with gratitude.
I'm worried about their fate. Though you are my main concern.
The magnanimous princess can be here tonight.
And I hope to be rewarded, my lord.
I shan't follow your advice,
though you won't leave unrewarded.
- Three hundred lashes! - Why? Oh, Persian king!
Whatever for, colossus of mercy? You are so unjust to me!
Like you to the Christians.
- Three hundred lashes! - Fifty! Not three hundred!
Fifty, a hundred, perhaps! One, not three hundred!
Take pity! In the name of Christ!
He has fainted.
Bring him back.
My lord...
you are magnanimous and powerful.
I forgive you in the name of Christ, to whom I owe my life.
I shall serve... both Him and you, my lord.
That is the house. Behind that wall.
Very well. Now forget you have ever served me.
Forget Miriam, Peter, and Glaucus.
Forget that Christians ever existed.
Once a month, my freedman will pay you two pieces of gold.
If you dare spy again, you'll be flogged to death.
I shall forget!
By Ate and the Furies, I shan't!
I shall not forget!
Vinicius is coming
I greet you in the name of Christ.
Praised be His name... for ever and ever.
Hear me out, Peter and Paul.
I know Lygia is here.
I could easily surround the house and capture her, but I shan't.
Our Lord will bless you for that.
I've come to you, as to Lygia's foster parents.
Give her to me... as a wife.
She'll be free to worship Christ.
She's as dear to me as my own eyes. I am not your or Christ's enemy.
And when I remember that she is as pure as snow...
I love her even more.
Your faith has made her so,
therefore I love your faith...
although I do not understand it.
You can see my sincerity.
Greece gave birth to wisdom and beauty.
Rome created power. What do you bring?
We bring love.
"Whoso knocketh, to him it will be opened".
I bless you, your soul and your love.
Lygia, do you love him?
I do.
Love each other,
for there is no sin in your love.
- I didn't flee from you. - Why then?
You know well.
Send Ursus to Aulus' house.
Let him bring your belongings to my place.
It's not customary in my land.
Neither it is in Rome.
But do this for me. I'll take them to my house.
They will remind me of you,
until you become my bride.
And I shall say,
"Where you are, Caius, there am I, Caia".
Peas with olive and compresses didn't help:
Bronzebeard lost his voice. He curses Rome and its air,
That's why we are leaving for Antium.
And how did the ape grow hoarse?
He acted out Leda's adventure, sweated and caught a cold.
He wants to publicly act with that pantomime
now, I'm not going to worry about my stay in Antium
let those worry that cannot live without Caesar's mercy
I don't recognize you
do you remember a girl that you once called Spring Breeze?
of course I remember, Lygia
Lygia is going to be my wife
All slaves! Stand in front of me.
Lygia will be your wife
Everyone to the atrium
I want you all to know that this is a good day for me
I want there to be joy in this home
I order to exonerate, take off the handcuffs, and feed well
everyone that served my home for ten years
tomorrow they will receive freedom
-we love you sir -thank you
luck is always where you see it
Be aware of Poppaea, she is cruel
in Antium, I'm untouchable
why are you so sure?
-Peter the Apostle told me -oh...Peter the Apostle
there is no argument
it's amazing how Christianity gets more and more followers
and how this weird sect expands
you will probably soon be part of it
There is no way I will accept that faith even if it is true
Godly as is humanly
That would require effort, and I do not like effort
I have my vases, my villa, and my Eunice
I like our gods, as rhetoric figures
and Antium to which we have to go to because
of our red-headed, thin-legged, Caesar
No one will cry, "Oh, people, fire!"
Though houses smoulder with crack and roar,
and sparks adorn the blackened walls. Who's there to shout?
The bloody corpses of those who lived here?
The town's destroyed, though greedy flames
still lick its walls.
Thy charm, oh Troy, is lost in woe,
thy end is close!
Footsteps, moans... and silence!
Troy is now a colossal torch,
a sacrificial fire, a burnt-out desert.
Verses worthy of burning.
What flaws do you find in them?
I shall be frank: they'd be worthy of a Virgil, an Ovid,
even a Homer,
but not of you! Your fire doesn't blaze enough, your flames
are not hot enough. Reject their flattery.
You are capable of creating the masterpiece of all masterpieces.
So I shall repeat: write better verse.
The gods have given me a spark of a talent
and blessed me with an expert friend who dares tell me the truth.
- Away with those! - No, no.
Don't deprive mankind.
Then you will receive them in a cylinder of my own design.
My burning Troy is not blazing enough.
You have opened my eyes. I know the reason.
When a sculptor creates a god's likeness,
he hires a model, and I've never seen a burning town,
I lack authenticity.
Tell me Petronius, are you upset that Troy has been destroyed?
Troy would not have been destroyed if Prometheus hadn't given fire
if there was no fire, there would be no Prometheus
and Homer wouldn't have written the Iliad
I prefer that Prometheus and Iliad instead of the city
probably dirty and ugly
that's what it is speaking intelligently
I'll set Antium on fire.
Or, if you want to spare it,
I'll build a town out of wood and let you ignite it.
Wooden barracks?
Your mind has dried out.
You underestimate my talent and my "Troyad".
Imagine the stench in Rome today.
THE END OF PART 3