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
PHOTOGRAPHY
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DIRECTED BY
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 is in love with Lygia, the daughter of a Barbaric king
I must have her
the girl is to become Vinicius' slave
overwhelmed, she hides among the Christians
a philosopher decides to find Lygia
he finds a sing of her among the Christians
the attempt to find Lygia ends in failure
don't kill
the wounds stay in the home of Christians he finds out that Chilo wanted to kill
Glaucos is worried about unveiling his troubled past
Lygia loves Vinicius
she can't balance her love and her faith
she flees from him
Vinicius under Lygia's influence, starts to find other meaning of life
I forgive you
using Chilo's help, he finds Lygia
he asks for her hand
Peter the Apostle blesses their love
Nero heads for Antium
he requests Petronius and Vinicius to accompany him
PART 4
for a second I thought that while you were drunk, you were cheating death
I'm happy that I won today
he will pack his poetry into cans that will be in bad taste
I tell me doctor to keep laxatives in that can
and Tigellinus lost the battle with me
I wouldn't know, but are Nero's poems that bad?
they are not worse than others
every one of his poems is derived from agony
I pity him sometimes
Caligula wasn't exactly smart, but perhaps he wasn't so bizarre
to where could his insanity take him?
nobody knows, you say I'm battling death?
yes, but it entertains me but Christianity bores me like Seneca
that's why I will never accept those teachings,
we're having a good time till the fall
something dies among us, and I agree
but we also know how to die
-I pity you, Petronius -don't pity me more than I pity myself
ever since you fell in love with that Christian, you stopped smiling
if you love each other in such a Christian way,
then I prefer my dishonest game of life
Won't they punish you for leaving Antium without Caesar's consent?
He will be composing poetry for two days.
And I couldn't live without you.
I knew you'd come.
those are the lions making noise in the cages
I turn my eyes, gazing at your shadow,
which borrows charm from your body,
it is as weightless as if born of foam.
Where'er you walk, butterflies and flowers...
I can't sit still. Petronius, Vinicius...
Though my soul is saddened,
I feel I can present this song in public.
You can perform it here, in Rome, in Achaea.
what do you think about music?
whenever I hear poetry, or see a beautiful drawing
I feel like I take in what I see
whenever I hear music, especially yours,
a beautiful new world opens its door to me
it grabs me, as do other things
in all of Rome, you are the only one who understands me
When I play and sing,
I discover delights I cannot name or understand.
I can only feel them. And though powerful and divine,
I feel as insignificant as dust.
Only the greatest artists are capable of such humbleness.
I know what they write on the walls of Rome.
"Matricide, uxoricide"... I am a monster to them.
Am I really such a tyrant?
Cruel deeds not always denote cruelty!
- They should know you like I do. - There are rumours
that Diodorus and Terpnos play the cithara better than me.
Tell me the truth, do they really?
You have the sweet touch of an artist,
they are merely skilled.
Let them live, then! You've granted them a big favour.
I am an artist in everything I touch.
I know, they call me insane. My vain search maddens me
I'm searching, searching!
This is why I had my mother and wife killed.
I hoped such sacrifice would open a gate
to something unimaginably great and fearsome.
But it was too small a sacrifice to open empyrean gates.
- What will you do? - There are two Neros.
The public figure and the artist,
known to no one but you.
Oh, how heavy is the burden of ultimate power and talent!
I pity you
and so does Vinicius, your ardent admirer.
I was fond of him, but he serves Mars, and not the Muses.
He's in love.
Let him leave, or he'll whither.
The Lygian hostage has been found.
He fell in love with her virtue.
He wants to marry, sighs, pines away...
She is a pretty girl... though too narrow in the hips.
Do you love her, like he says?
I do.
Then go to Rome, marry, and come back with a ring.
- Thank you. - It's nice
to make people happy.
I would like to do nothing else till the day I die.
Forgive me, divinity! Rome is on fire!
Gods be praised! I shall finish my "Troyad".
- Will I still manage to see it? - The city is an orgy of flames,
- death and madness! - Rome is perishing!
Vae misere mihi...
Woe to you, sacred city of Priam.
Give me a new horse!
- Where is the fire? - It began near the great circus,
- now it reached the centre! - And Trans-Tiber?
Not yet, but soon it will.
People are dying!
Lygia!
- Where is Lygia? - In Ostrianum with Ursus.
Greetings, oh king of Persia! Your house must have perished,
but you will always be as rich as king Midas himself.
And now, put this on. What a tragedy.
Christians predicted a fiery end of Rome.
- Have you seen Lygia? - I have, my lord!
Thank Christ and other gods,
for letting me bring good news to my benefactor.
But I shall pay you back... I swear!
Burning Rome is my witness.
where were you when the fire began?
at a friend's, who has a store near the circus
did you see people throwing fire into the buildings?
what haven't I seen...
-Master, I just got a great idea -speak
now that the city is burning, Christians are praying in the underground
you told me that they went to Ostrianum
they could have returned home, just as we are now
-lead me -alright
repent your sins
God has used his power the destroy the city
it is time for anger and justice
he said he will come back, but not as a peaceful sheep
but as a judge of wrongdoing, he'll bring justice
there will be no Godly love for wrongdoers
pray, on your knees
peace be with you
God punished Babylon with fire
but you baptised
and those who's sins bought the lamb's blood
they will be loved by God peace be with you
Master, master, I'm looking for Lygia, I don't know what happened to her
but I believe that you will have her return
trust me and come
-peace be with you -greetings Ursus
Praise the lord's name for the joy will you give Lygia
you first
Marcus!
I'm so happy you've come!
I shall never leave you again.
I am going to save you all. We will go to Antium,
and sail off to Sicily.
All my properties are yours.
Trust me.
Your household will be mine.
Slaves and gladiators attacked the citizens near the circus.
The measure is full...
and the calamities will come like boundless seas.
Take your betrothed and save her.
And Ursus...
Take Ursus with you.
We shan't leave without you. I can't leave you here to perish.
The Lord will bless you for your intentions.
But if you, who are not my guardian,
refuse to leave me,
how can I abandon my flock on the day of doom?
Those were words of common sense. But I know you fear no danger.
I didn't understand this and I walked in darkness.
But now I love Christ.
I want to serve Him.
And I vow not to leave you on the day of doom.
I shall never leave you.
You have seen light and shells fell from your eyes.
I baptise thee, in the name of the Father, the Son
and the Holy Ghost.
You are our brother now.
A homeless ruler of the homeless...
where shall I rest my poor head tonight?
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 blood-covered corpses
of those who lived here?
Troy has become
a colossal torch,
a sacrificial fire,
a burnt-out desert.
Down with the tyrant!
This is how the rabble appreciates me and my poetry.
Let Praetorians crush them!
Will the troops be loyal?
- Yes, divinity. - But not numerous.
Stay here, where it is safe. And this rabble must be tempered.
What a day! Fire
and a raging sea of people!
Speak to them, my lord. Make promises.
Caesar addressing scum? Who will act in my stead?
I shall.
My ever-loyal friend! Go, spare no promises!
Petronius!
Arbiter of elegance!
Citizens...
citizens...
Whoever hears my words, pass them on to those in the back.
I remind you that you are humans, not animals.
The city shall be rebuilt.
The gardens of Lucullus, Maecenas, Caesar and Agrippina will be opened.
Tomorrow, we shall start distributing wheat, wine and olive,
so that each one of you fills his belly.
Later, Caesar will organise the greatest of all games.
Feasts and gifts will follow!
The fire will make you wealthier!
we must go to Greece, Egypt, and the Asia Minor
you have been planning this trip for so long, why put it off?
there will be a lack of safety and sadness in Rome
leaving will be easy, but returning will be difficult
we return with the an Asian army
listen to me, before you leave for Ostia, there will be a civil war
it's enough that the kin of August will call himself Caesar
what'll you do if the armies are on his side?
with your help, I will eliminate August's kin
you can try, but is it only them?
Ungrateful, greedy rabble...
they have enough wheat and coal, what more do they want?
Revenge.
Hearts cry for vengeance, vengeance wants a victim!
A slate, I'll write this down.
Yes... vengeance demands a victim.
And if we accused Afer of having burned the city
- and gave him to the raging mob? - Divinity, who am I?
True, we need someone more significant. Vitelius.
The fat I carry around might restart the fire.
You burned Rome.
I did...
on your command.
Tigellinus, do you love me?
-Need you ask? -Sacrifice yourself for me.
Divinity, Roman people are revolting,
do you want the praetorians to raise against you as well?
The divine Poppaea summons Tigellinus
to question a witness.
I have reared a viper in my bosom.
Tell me, advise... I trust no one but you,
- you're the wisest. - Go to Achaea.
I expected something more on your part. Petronius,
and if sang at Campus Martius, for the people of Rome
- would I move them? - Undoubtedly.
If they'd let you start.
Let's go to Achaea.
Hear what Tigellinus has to say.
You haven't ordered me to burn Rome,
nor have I burned it.
The people demand a victim. Satisfy their anger. But not with one,
but hundreds, thousands of victims. You know about Christians.
I've told you of their crimes.
They prophecy the world will end in fire.
The people suspect you... let them blame someone else.
Zeus!
Apollo!
Athene!
Persephone!
What has the poor city done to them? Why did they destroy it?
- They hate you and all mankind. - Let justice be done.
- Punish the arsonists. - Yes!
Do justice.
What pain, what torture befit such a crime?
You have found the victims, that is good.
You have the power, the praetorians, the strength.
Let the Christians be tortured,
but have the courage to admit
that they did not burn Rome.
By the divine Clio...
no one has dared to carry out such a deed since the beginning of time.
Have the courage or the future will say,
"Nero burnt Rome",
"but being a pusillanimous ruler and poet,"
"he cowardly denied his magnificent deed"
- "and blamed the innocent." - Let me leave.
I cannot stand you being called a pusillanimous arsonist
- and a comedian. - Tigellinus,
- you are acting like a comedian now. - Because I refuse to listen?
Because you pretend to love Caesar whom you threatened a while ago.
How can you permit anyone to think such a thing,
lest utter it aloud in your presence?
Punish him.
This is how you pay me for my friendship?
- I say what my love dictates. - Punish him.
You want me to punish him?
But he is my friend,
and though he's breaking my heart,
let him know this heart
can only...
forgive.
- Have you seen Lygia today? - Yes.
The Christians will be blamed for the fire of Rome.
Take Lygia, and flee, beyond the Alps or to Africa!
Take a sack of gold, weapons and people, you might have to fight.
THE END OF PART 4