Damon and Pythias (1962) - full transcript

Pythias, a liberal Athenian who believes all men are brothers, is condemned to death by Dionysus, the tyrant of Syracuse, who finds this view dangerous. However, Dionysus allows Pythias to return to Athens to visit his ailing wife with the understanding he will then come back to face his punishment. Damon, a friend of Pythias, volunteers to be a hostage to guarantee Pythias's return. Dionysius doesn't expect Pythias to keep his end of the bargain, thus exposing the falsity of his beliefs.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-My lord Cariso, forgive

me for being late,

but the road is very steep.

-Well?

-News, Arcanos as you

wanted, the man from Athens,

I have some.

I have some.

He is in Syracuse.

-We knew that.

-But I found out

about a meeting where

he is to speak tonight, my lord.

-Where?

-That I don't know.

If I question too closely--

but they're already suspicious.

-Alert all patrols.

We'll get him tonight.

-It's not the risk, excellency.

But if the suspect me too

much I'm of no use to you.

Keep it, my lord.

Keep it.

If you're not satisfied--

I am a friend, excellency.

A friend needs no reward.

-Kill him.

-No, no, no.

-He had his uses, sir.

-When the slave can

call his master friend,

this day our world has ended.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

[HORSE NEIGHS]

[SCREAMS]

-Look.

[LAUGHING]

-Come on, come on.

Let's go.

ARCANOS: It's dangerous

for all of you.

And more dangerous for some.

I know, I know.

This is no atmosphere to

learn or teach philosophy.

I'm sorry.

The very fact that

I'm speaking to you

puts every living man in danger.

And there you must think.

Look at you.

Back tight with elbows in

each other's ribs, and one ear

cocked listening

for the next patrol.

Bear with me, coming from

the freedom of Athens,

I must seem to you to

talk a language out of key

with the troubles of your time.

Perhaps what I can tell you

just because I've taught

in an atmosphere of freedom may

help you to envision a world

you can make here in

Syracuse for your children

and your children's children.

Keep half your mind about

how dangerous it is--

[VOICE FADES]

DAMON: You down there, Styrian

guards, no luck tonight?

I can tell you where

they are meeting.

-Who's that?

Who called?

DAMON: Someone with

information to sell.

Will you pay?

-Yes, I will pay.

Stop.

All right, come down.

-I can't negotiate from here.

A gold piece will do.

-All right.

-Throw.

-Where's the meeting?

-Where's the reward?

-You have to go to the

temple of the old guard

out under the city wall.

-I know it.

We've seen your face.

You better be right.

-When you're teaching your

students or you guards,

you fellow soldiers,

remember always

that our very first principle

is the unity of all nature.

We are all one with all life.

Even your enemy is your brother.

More, he is a part of you.

If you kill him, you

yourself die a little.

-Just a moment, just

a moment, information

to sell, what's it worth?

-Give and we'll tell you.

-No, no, tell it

and I'll give it.

The guards, the guards know this

meeting and that you're here.

Get out.

-How do they know, the guards?

-I told them.

Come on.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-Our leader, our beloved

Protheus has passed on.

I tell you know his last wish

that we waste no time in tears.

Go on with our work.

-Without him, that

won't be easy.

-Who is to take his place?

-We'll see later.

-Pythias, what do you say?

-We need a decision now.

-He's right.

-Let's have it.

-We will decide.

Be patient.

-Protheus just died.

Surely, we can wait and think.

-Always wait, always think.

-Protheus has been

dying a long time.

Surely, you've given

thought to his successor.

-We are giving consideration

to Arcanos, the missionary,

a man of wisdom.

-Then let's send for Arcanos,

bring him back from Syracuse.

-We've sent him messages before.

He never received them.

-All of our beliefs,

our whole movement,

depends on a great leader.

Let us send a man of

courage to find Arcanos

and bring him back now.

-More than a man of courage,

he must have conviction.

-Very well then, let

us find a young man

able to stand hardships.

-There are many among us.

-No Pythias, only one.

Will you come up here.

Do you fully realize the

peril of this mission?

-I do.

-Then repeat after me,

I, Pythias, of Athens--

-There no, does

that make me look

matronly enough,

dignified, responsible?

MEREKA: Dreafully.

-Mother of six?

MEREKA: Well, hardly, you

haven had the first one yet.

-Oh, Mereka, is it

rather terrible?

I shall be a real matron.

I shall beginning to get old.

Do you think it would

change for Pythias?

He liked me young

and not too solid.

He must see I'm not going

to become dowdy and boring.

Come, look at me.

It's because he's just

a serious old thing

himself that he likes me.

-Silly?

-Well, a man as clever

as Pythias with a sister

as clever as you can

afford silly wife.

But anyhow, I'm not.

I enormous hidden depths.

-They don't leak out?

-That's don't, idiot.

Oh, Mereka, I do love him so.

[PYTHIAS' VOICE IN GARDEN]

Pythias.

-The beloved step,

that sacred voice.

what do you bet it's the

gardener arguing with the cook

about how fresh the

vegetables were yesterday.

-Pythias.

-What did I tell you?

The gardener and the cook.

-Then I'm in love

with the gardener.

What's wrong?

-Wrong?

-You're cold, really.

You might as well have

been the gardener.

Demetrius, greetings,

my brother.

-Darling, I've got to

tell you something.

Something's happening.

Let's sit down.

Protheus is dead.

-Poor old man, I liked him.

He was kind.

-He was more than that.

He was a great leader.

Now, there's only one man

who can take his place.

And that's Arcanos.

And Arcanos is in Syracuse.

He's working in secret

because our philosophy

is forbidden there.

We teach the brotherhood of man.

And their tyrant

Dionysius, teaches war.

Now--

-Sweetheart, not

politics, not today.

I do try to take an interest,

but it was only this morning

that the midwives said we

could be sure about the baby,

remember.

No politics today, Pythias.

-Darling, please,

you must listen.

This is very important.

-Of course, it's more important

than us, than me and my baby.

-No.

-You can't have it

both ways, Pythias.

Women have no minds, no

capacity for your philosophy.

We have no place at the feet of

your teachers or in what ideas

you spread in the world.

All right, but then

don't expect us

to take intelligent

interest, when you bring

the important nonsense

of your great schools

where we live and love

and bear your children.

Come on, Mereka.

Leave them to their philosophy.

-You'll learn how it is.

You'll have to put up with a lot

of this in the next few months.

-You've got to tell

her you're going

to Syracuse to find out Arcanos.

You've got to.

-I can't tell her.

She won't understand.

She'll plead with me to

stay and get all upset.

Demetrius, you'll have

to tell her for me.

-They sent him to

certain danger.

And you knew.

You let him go.

You, Demetrius, my own brother,

you for your game of politics.

You let them send

my husband, and you

didn't raise a

hand to stop them.

Did you?

Did you?

MEREKA: There was

nothing he could do.

-And you, are you woman at all?

Did you try to stop him?

Or to warn me?

I pray that your

husband leave you

as you've taken mine from me.

-All right, take

you grief out on me.

-Oh, heavens, he

didn't even tell.

That's what hurts.

He didn't love me

enough even to tell me.

I want to die.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-Pythias, you say.

We haven't treaty

before, have we?

-No.

-I have a piece here that

got broken on the voyage.

It's a fairly common shape.

-They shouldn't have sent you.

Not now, go back,

go back at once.

-I must get in

touch with Arcanos.

-Shh, for pity's sake,

this is Syracuse.

You can't meet him,

him of all people.

Go back.

-Protheus is dead.

I've been sent to bring

Arcanos back to replace him.

-He's disappeared, in hiding.

-Arcanos is a man we can't lose.

Now, who else would

know where he is.

-I can't help you.

Here, to show that you

have traded of this.

Go back on the ship

that brought you here.

Go back, go back.

-The arrangements were

that I was to stay here.

But I have no idea

where even to start.

-All to the good.

Go.

Go.

-That's a lot for one

man to carry, sir.

May I help you?

I assure it's no trouble at all.

Currier.

Where your manners?

-Ah, thank you, no, this

I can manage myself.

-Well, where to, sir.

-The fact is I have no idea.

Is there an inn around here?

-Oh, there's one but it's not

a place for such a merchant

as you would stay.

-For the moment it

will have to do.

-It's not far, around

the corner by the gate.

-Thank you.

-Have a long journey.

-Yes.

-From Athens?

-Yes, from Athens.

-Say, do you-- are you

sure this is the right way?

-Yes, this is the short way.

Go on.

-Help!

Help!

Guards.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-Take it then.

-What do you want of me now?

-A way out.

The guards are coming.

-Well-- well, come on,

they'll be here in a minute.

-Check in there.

-That way.

-Now.

There's our way.

Hurry.

Hurry.

Hurry.

This workmanship

isn't bad, but I've

stolen better, and

with less effort.

Well, we thieves don't live

as easy as you honest folk.

Uh, huh.

Pythagorean.

-Who?

-I can be useful to you.

A stranger with the

guards after him

will find difficulty

contacting his friends.

Now, I come and go where

I like in Syracuse.

Pythagorean from

Athens, Arcanos.

-Arcanos?

-Well, that's it, isn't it.

You'll have difficulty

contacting him.

He's been in hiding for months.

Now what's my help worth?

-Nothing but trouble, I suspect.

-Oh, I'll just keep

these pieces and pen

for what I've already done.

-Tell you what, you can

have the weight of them

and any other piece in the bag.

-These are the

only pieces I like.

-Listen, when I

contact my friends,

I'll have access to

all the money I need.

If you help me, I'll give you

half the contents of that bag.

-You come too suddenly and at

night, you'll find yourself

with a knife in your

guts like anyone else.

Who's that?

-Pythias, merchant of

Athens meet Adriana.

She's mad about me.

-Merchants are wriggling

on their bellies

like lizards along

parapet nowadays?

-Well, it's a sign of the times.

If they come from Athens and

they are Pythagoreans, they do.

Oh, don't worry.

Adriana has no

love for Dionysius.

Both her parents were

killed in one of his wars.

She'll be not danger to you.

-With the guards after us, we're

liable to be a danger to her.

Knowing Damon, it's

a danger I'm used to.

You can stay here

and I can feed you.

-I have-- I should say,

we have some silver.

You could sell some for us.

What do you say to letting

Adriana hold the silver?

-Adriana, take that and hide it.

-What are you paying Damon for?

-His help.

-Why?

-Because I have to.

-Listen, Adriana, the

pythagoreans consider

that all men are brothers,

so that makes you his sister.

And that's all right with me.

-But what help?

-Find Arcanos.

-No, Damon, no.

Stay out of this.

You don't understand, Cariso

has all the guards in Syracuse

after that man.

You keep your silver.

Damon, Damon, please,

stay out of this.

-Come, it's getting late.

We'll take this and we'll

hide it under the bed.

Let's make a pillow out of this.

And if the lumps bother

you just remember

the value of fine

Athenian silverware.

[GIGGLES]

-Oh, come in.

Make yourself comfortable.

-Ah, may I?

-Please.

Brothers and sisters, huh?

Oh, by tomorrow at dusk,

I'll have collected

a few friends that

know a thing or two.

-Pythagoreans?

-No, no, friends of mine.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

[WHISTLES]

-Damon.

-It's nice to be among villains

once again after the company

I've been keeping.

There's money in it.

[LAUGHTER] Now, the risks.

I want to find Arcanos.

[CROWDS MURMURS] Chloe,

you know something?

-What do you want him for?

-I just told you, money.

-They're a harmless lot.

-No, not to sell

him to the guards.

I want to get a message

to him from Athens.

-A man I know hit a

Pythagorean after the raid

on Malum, the carpenter.

-Who?

-Chromus, the schoolmaster.

-Chromus left

Syracuse yesterday.

-Any other leads?

[FLUTE PLAYING]

-All right, interpret that.

-Folks go to Libia,

the silversmith,

but don't buy silver.

-No good.

-Arrested this afternoon anyhow.

-All right, start looking.

Announce weight of

pure silver for a lead

that gets us anywhere.

But leave the taverns,

play in the streets.

Get the children the dancing.

When they ask for tunes,

get them to talking.

Find out who has a

stranger in his home.

Now, go to it, all of you.

Any news, you give it to

the barber on Long Street.

[DRUM BEAT]

-Throat dry suddenly?

Guilty conscience?

-You're bad for business.

-Insolence.

-You know Damon?

-Who doesn't?

-Tell him Phylemon,

street of the grains.

Phylemon, street of the grains.

Really?

Very interesting.

-Keep your head down

until after dark.

Water?

It's an oven up here by day.

I want to see you alone.

Please, leave Damon

out of this affair.

-You love him, don't you?

-No, I'm such a fool.

He's Impossible.

But in his way he

can be a friend.

Well, for your own

sake, he's rash.

He'll get you into worse danger.

He's coming.

I must get back to the market.

Please.

-Where you going?

-I must rush.

I must get back to my work.

-Well, I found out where

some of your friends

will be staying tonight.

-Good, I'll leave you at dusk.

I'll give you half

the silver now,

the other half when

I find Arcanos.

-Oh, no, we go together.

-All I need is a lead.

-You need a keeper

with your views

on no bloodshed and going

around unarmed in this town.

-You care?

-Yes, for my money.

Tell me something.

What do you get out of this?

Is Arcanos a rich

man or something?

-No, as a matter of

fact, like most teachers

he's a poor one,

except in spirit.

-Powerful?

-Not at least in

the way you mean.

-Well, he's not rich

or powerful, love?

He's got a wife, huh?

A daughter, a sister?

-Neither one.

In fact, I have

a wife of my own.

-Well, then what has

he got that you want?

-Importance to the

cause we both serve.

-Importance to the--

-All right, we'll risk

accepting what you say.

-I must see him myself.

I must talk to him.

Other messengers have

come before and failed.

-I feel sure of you, but yet--

-If you're from Cariso, very

well, I've betrayed myself,

but we cannot betray Arcanos.

-If I were from

Cariso, would I know

the sacred teachings

of Pythagoras.

-What is the world

in which we live?

-It's a sphere.

Its round like the

sun and the moon.

-Huh.

-The tetractys,

by which we swear,

the progression of numbers.

DAMON: I've always used

them just for eating.

-What music did

Pythagoras compose?

-Was found that a tuned string

clamped at half its length

will sound an octave, at three

quarters, a fourth, and at 2/3,

a fifth, showing

that everything has

its place as a

number in the hole.

And the hole is harmony--

-He's one of us.

-All right, it's a

little complicated

to explain where Arcanos is.

You take the road--

-Listen, just leave the

finding of the way to me.

There isn't a man

living who knows

Syracuse better than I do.

Just tell me where he is.

I'll find him.

-Just a moment Phylemon,

we don't know your friend.

-You don't propose

to say that you do?

-How can I?

You're not one of us.

-All right, whisper your secrets

into their shell-like ears,

I'll commune with the wine.

[FLUTE PLAYING] Listen,

stop that racket, will you?

Much problems,

lots of money, huh,

and we end up with

a few drops of wine.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-Message for you.

Interested?

From high up, way up.

Interested?

-No.

-Pity.

Nice profession mine, telling

fortunes, selling love potions,

get to know all sorts

of noblemen like you,

and scum like

officers of the guards

wanting to meet scum like you.

Cariso want to

meet scum like you.

Funny, a funny thing.

-Cariso wants to me?

Cariso arrests me.

-Not if he wants to meet

you socially, he doesn't

-In and out of troubles

since you were big enough

to run about the streets alone.

And I offer you immunity.

Living on your wits, and

I offer you security.

A marked man, and I

offer you your freedom.

Well?

-You offer me how much?

-20 gold pieces.

-You need me, sir.

Even Dionysius' first minister,

when in need, needs to pay.

For instance, you'll

have to pay me with that.

-With what?

See what it is.

-The best of your stable, sir.

-He's yours.

Now, I want Arcanos.

Where is he?

-Well, your excellency, this

will need a little secrecy.

-Agreed.

-Only one man can

lead you to Arcanos.

-Well, his name is Pythias.

-Who?

-Pythias, well,

he's an Athenian.

He's tall.

Not quite as good

looking as I am.

-I see.

You know him.

-Yes, we're friends of sorts.

We were friends.

-Stay his friend.

It will be useful.

-Well, I hear my

new friend calling.

So with your

excellency's permission.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-Well, I see you're still here.

-I was going to

leave you a message.

I'm staying elsewhere.

-Don't.

Listen, you riled me.

You know, a fellow likes to

be trusted once in awhile.

But I started with

you on this, and I'm

going to see it through.

-That's all right.

I was going to leave this

with Adriana for you.

Here, to pay for

all you've done.

And thanks.

-Oh, no, I haven't gotten

you to Arcanos yet.

-I thought I heard.

It's all right.

He's leaving.

But Damon, what's

this about a horse?

-What horse?

-The barber told

me the Pokus had

seen you riding

outside the gate.

-Oh, well, he's not mine.

A fellow let me ride him.

What a horse.

He's got grace and

is full of fire.

He gives a man dignity.

I think I'll call him--

-What?

-Well, he already has a name.

-Pokus said it had the

guard's brand on it.

Since when have you had

a friend in the guards?

-Well, of course, it had

the guards brand on it.

It's the guard's horse.

I-- I was at the

palace last night.

They picked me up.

Someone recognized me.

-Damon.

-It didn't mean anything.

I was only there a minute.

Someone must have

given them my name.

-Where you questioned?

-Now, look, they know me.

A Pythagorean, me?

No, many things, but not that.

-And the man who knew your

name and had you arrested,

didn't know you?

-You know the kind, always

trying for promotion.

The other guards

just laughed at him.

-And so they gave

you a fine horse

to ride to console

you for false arrest.

-I don't think you understand

what I've been saying.

No, not at the palace.

Like Adriana said,

out beyond the gate.

This other guard, he was thrown.

I came up--

-If I were you, I'd

call that horse Cariso.

-What do you mean?

-I mean you sold me.

You came back to get

into my confidence,

to lead them through

me to Arcanos.

-Well, that's ridiculous.

-No, Pythias, no.

-We don't kill.

-You would have killed

him, wouldn't you?

-Yes, I would.

-How is she?

-No better, the doctor

said this morning

that she could get better but

she doesn't want to. live.

Pythias must come home.

-He won't until his

mission has ended.

-You must go to Syracuse,

Demetrius, and tell him

he must.

-But, Mereka--

-No buts.

You go or your sister will die.

And you bring back Pythias,

Arcanos or no Arcanos,

or you can tell him

his wife will die.

Nerissa, Demetrius is here

and he has news for you.

-I'm going to Syracuse, Nerissa.

I'm going to find Pythias

and bring him back.

-He won't come

-He loves you.

He'll come.

-Promise me, Nerissa,

you'll do all the doctor

says until I come back.

-Just till then.

-Hey, Damon, who's face

is that you've got on?

-Leave him alone.

He's taking a philosophy

in spoiling his liver.

Huh, his Greek

friend turned out not

to have anything else to offer.

-Here, it's money, money.

That's all you think

a man is worth.

-I'd save some, Damon.

If that came from your Greek,

that's the last you'll see.

He's left Syracuse.

-What do you mean?

-Well, he went through

the gate an hour ago.

What's the matter?

Owed you more?

Well, that's a Greek for you.

-Are you hurt?

-No, pack of jackals.

-For what they are

worth, they are

the only friends you've got.

-Yes, but I could have one that

was really worth something,

first time in my

life, a man, a man

you really could

think something of.

-He wasn't your sort.

Ask me, and I don't

think he's even human.

-He made me angry.

And I went and proved

him even righter.

-Forget it.

He's gone now anyway.

-Yes, it's too late.

-Damon, Damon, be Damon again.

Today's today.

Remember?

Today we are alive.

-Well, getting

your money's worth?

-No, we're on the

trail of your Athenian.

Seems he slipped out last night.

-Where's he heading.

-Scouts ahead are

keeping him marked.

You're lathering up

that horse of yours.

-Yes, I better walk him.

Good luck.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-What do you want?

-I'm looking for a stranger.

A man--

-Pythias.

-Arcanos, thank the gods.

-In heaven's name, what

are you doing here?

-Looking for you.

You're desperately needed.

I've been sent from

Athens to bring you home.

-I can't go, but tell me.

-Now don't you be difficult.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-I hate to abandon the

work that we started here.

-I'll tell you one man who will

be happy when you do-- Cariso.

But we've got to make it for

the coast as fast as we can.

I've made arrangement

for a fishing boat--

DAMON: Hey.

-Damon.

-Listen, I come as a friend.

Cariso has been on you

track ever since Syracuse.

-That's a lie, Arcanos.

-No, Pythias, it's not a trap.

I cut that bridge

down back there.

It'll slow them down, but it

won't keep them away forever.

Don't you believe me?

They're tightening a

noose around your neck.

What-- all right, look up there.

-Come on.

Quick.

You take the cart.

Shepherd, we're leaving.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-I'm very tired.

I would like to sleep.

-We can't wait till morning.

-We're safe enough here.

Cariso will have to

wait for light too.

-You two sleep.

I'll stand guard.

-You get some sleep.

Why don't you get out

of here while you can?

-And miss all the fun?

-You don't belong

in my troubles.

-I enjoy troubles, especially

when their someone else's.

-But seriously,

Damon, I want to thank

you for what you did today.

I feel a gratitude--

-Even though I

betrayed you to Cariso?

-Why did you do that?

-For a horse, for

a marvelous horse.

That's the way I am.

And that's the way

I always will be.

Why?

Because ever since I

was five years old,

I had to fight for every

piece of bread I ever ate.

I never lived in a nice

home, had a family like you.

To me, every man's

an enemy, that's why.

-And to me, every

man's a friend.

Tell me, Damon, why

are you helping me now?

-Why do you always ask

such difficult questions?

I don't know.

It's something I

never felt before.

Go to sleep.

-All right, we'll

will split the watch.

I'll be back later.

-Pythias?

-Yes?

-Has your son been born yet?

-No, he hasn't.

-Have you thought

of a name for him?

-Not yet.

-Well, if you can't

think of a better one,

call the brat Damon, will you?

-I will.

-In your clothes.

If Cariso sees me, I'll

try to lead him off.

Damon, you now the way

Lead us to the coast.

[HORSE NEIGHING]

[TYMPANUM BEATING]

Hurry.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-They told me you

were his friend.

You are the only one

who can help him.

You must do something.

-He's in the palace prison.

What do you suppose

anyone can do?

-Can't you understand?

You are a woman.

Think of my sister.

She'll die, I tell you.

Her baby will never be born.

Three lives and you

aren't even interested.

-Do you want it

to be four lives?

Stupid fellow.

He thinks all you have to

do is walk into the palace

and ask them to let Pythias go.

-It's ridiculous.

Three days ago, at the war, we

killed hundreds and hundreds

of men with all their

problems, here in peace

I'm called to judge one

man, one poor little man

with his poor little problem.

Because he a man, he's

not a man he's an idea,

he's protected by the law.

And I am the law.

You must have something pretty

valuable to offer in exchange.

-I have, my lord.

-You must have paid in worth.

-I'm not a religious man, my

lord, and I doubt that you are.

But your people have

their superstitions.

Now the gods are supposed to

be prepared to accept what's

called sacrifice

of substitution.

So I offer you a

Damon for a Pythias.

-Idiot, that means

we've got you both.

-Yes, yes, of course,

it's interesting, however,

as an example of this

philosophy of theirs.

So all men are brothers, hm?

-Not mine, my lord.

I like to feel I

can pick and choose.

I'd hate to think I came from

the same litter as Cariso.

-Friend?

-He's my friend.

-Ridiculous, no one does such

a thing simply for a friend.

-You don't have any friends.

-But you can't really think

that you are a fair exchange

for an important

political prisoner.

-In the eyes of the gods,

insofar as they have any,

a man is a substitute for a man.

And in the eyes of your

people, and they have plenty,

certainly one man from Syracuse

is worth 10 from Athens.

-Well, the eyes of the

gods may see you both die,

but the people of

Syracuse will hear

very little about

it, my friends.

DAMON: They already

know, my lord.

By now all Syracuse

knows of the offer

that I've come to make you.

I have very useful friends when

it comes to spreading news.

CARISO: His friends

are good for nothings,

thieves, down and

outs, like himself.

-Yes, yes, women of the streets,

barbers, public entertainers,

people that talk to the

people you better fear.

-Fear the scum of Syracuse?

Take him away.

-No, no, Cariso.

Bring up this Pythias.

And-- I'll come back

and look into this.

[SWORDS CLASHING]

-Go on.

-No.

-You must not lose

your balance, sire.

Upward, thrust upward.

-Look, father, look, blood.

-Well done.

How much of this has resulted

while I've been away?

-Two hours a day,

my lord, arms drill.

Three hours, horsemanship.

And hour's gymnastics.

-That really was a thrust

wasn't it, Hermione?

Oh, Hermione, it really is deep.

I didn't mean to.

Get him seen to

quickly, won't you?

-Come here my boy.

Leave your sword.

Swords have their own places.

I want you to learn

something else this morning.

-Now I want you to stay quietly

and watch how the situation

you're good to see is happening.

-Pythias, the Athenian, my lord.

-This man has offered himself

as a sacrificial substitute

for you.

His life for yours in

the name of the gods.

-Damon, you were free.

Why are you doing this?

-It's what you would have done.

-No, you can't

force me to accept.

-Yes, I can as it happens.

But I have a more interesting

offer to make to you both.

It seems that your wife

in Athens is dying.

-My wife is what?

-Demetrius is here.

He thinks she'll die

before the baby is born.

-So you see your choice will

be between your friend's

life he offers

you and your wife.

But I told you I have a

more interesting idea.

You go free.

And Damon keeps your place here.

I give you two months.

At the sunset, two months from

today, Damon dies in your stead

unless on that day you're back.

-I'll be back.

I'm anxious to test the

power of this philosophy

of brotherhood of yours.

The whole of

Syracuse will be told

of the gamble that

has been taken.

Do you fully understand?

-Yes, I understand.

And I'll be worthy

of such a friend.

-Put him aboard a

ship for Greece.

And take him away.

In Heaven's name,

my lord, do you

want turn the whole

of your country

over to their mad philosophy.

-You see, my son,

their philosophy

is dangerous, particularly

dangerous because it makes

slaves brothers to their

masters and soldiers

brothers to their enemies.

But Pythias won't come back.

And Damon will die publicly

and their philosophy

will be utterly discredited.

-But he will come back.

He will.

-You don't know their

mad fanaticism, my lord.

He'll come back.

-I doubt it.

I doubt it, but if by any chance

he does, he will be stopped.

You see?

You have a lot to learn.

-Damon, you're not

going to be a thieve.

You're going to be a perfect man

like your father, a great man.

-Well, make the most

of your time with him.

At 6:00, we'll start him

in the Pythagorean schools.

Shall we make an

astronomer of him, Pythias?

Look how he stares

at the heavens.

Let him cry for the

moon at night, Nerissa.

You can't start his

interests too young.

-You're not going to make any

sort of philosopher out of him.

I'm going to bring him up to

be a perfect fool like me.

-Treason, at least we don't

need to watch the process.

-How does she seem to you?

-Magically strong

and well, but--

-I must leave her soon.

-Leave it as long as you can.

-As long as I dare.

-Pythias, this time

you'll tell her.

-Yes, this time I must.

-What are you

thinking lying there?

-What it would be like

if I lying on the ceiling

staring at the floor.

It would make a

difference, wouldn't it?

You know, you might tell Cariso

that I know Dionysius wants

to keep me fattened up for the

big day, but not with garbage

like this.

-You think he'll

come back, don't you?

-Well, don't they in Syracuse.

-Funny thing, quite

a lot of them do?

-Well, confidentially,

what do you believe?

Trust Pythias.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-Tell me.

-Hm?

I will but not tonight.

Tomorrow.

-Not one more hour, always

tomorrow you'll tell me

what's troubling you.

And every day I can see

it troubles you worse.

Dear heart, can't you see

how it troubles me too now?

Once before you didn't

trust me, remember?

And that hurt me

almost to death.

I'm stronger than

you think, Pythias,

so long as I'm

secure in your love.

-Darling, it's--

well, it-- it's Damon.

-Damon, yes?

Something about him haunts you.

What is it?

You have a message from him?

-No, it's-- it's not a message.

-There's some feeling of guilt.

Something you did that

you are ashamed of.

Oh, my darling, nothing

you could have done

could make me think less of you.

-It's not something I've done.

It's something I must do.

-Oh, I see.

You must go back?

Is that it?

-Yes, yes, I must.

-How great is the

danger, Pythias?

The danger-- the

danger is great.

-Last time you didn't

dare tell me in case

I should dissuade you.

Well, I mustn't.

Then I mustn't.

I won't.

I promise you.

Only tell me why.

You got Arcanos out.

Why can you possible

need to go back again.

-For Damon.

-He's in danger?

But you said he lived

and thrived by it.

-He's in danger

of death, Nerissa.

-You said you had

no message from him.

You mean he was in

danger when you left?

Then that's your guilt.

But, dearest, it's his country.

-It's because of me.

-Because you involved

him in your mission?

Oh, I see.

He's caught.

He's in prison.

-Yes, if I go back,

he will be released.

You see, it was

I who was caught.

He offered himself for me, my

substitute before the gods,

so that I could go free.

-Oh, Pythias.

-You were ill, perhaps

dying they said.

So I accepted.

But if I don't go back on

the appointed day, he'll die.

-Damon, Damon, I'm glad

we called the boy Damon.

Yes.

You must go back.

-You-- you see that I must?

-Of course, you must.

He staked his life

and your word.

But my darling, for how long?

How long will they

keep you in prison?

Well they let me

see you sometimes?

I'll send Syracuse and

bring the baby, of course.

But every day I don't see

you if so long, so long.

How long, Pythias?

Don't you know how long?

No.

No.

No.

Are you mad?

-You said yourself that I must.

To prison, yes, that's enough.

But to die, deliberately

to go back to die?

To be killed?

Free and safe and happy

to go back in cold blood

to be butchered like and animal.

-Or let Damon die and

my honor with him.

-I don't care about your honor.

He shouldn't have done it.

It's too much to ask of any man.

-If he hadn't have done it,

I would have died already.

Would you have

lived, my darling?

-I would have rather have

died than live through this.

It's his own fault.

He's playing the hero,

thinking he's safe.

Let him be a hero.

Let him die.

-Darling, I've said

that to myself.

Not only for your sake,

but for mine, to my shame.

You know I must go.

You know it.

-Your wife.

-My wife--

-You seem surprised.

-I am.

I expected her last week.

And you call

yourself a good wife.

I'll forgive you this time.

-I'm so frightened for you.

-What for?

-You haven't changed

even in these shadows.

Damon, what if he

doesn't come back?

-He will.

In time though?

-Now did you come to talk

of Pythias or to see me?

-How can you--

-Adriana, I think of

you more than ever now.

It's one of the

few luxuries they

allow me in a place like this.

-Have you thought what

will happen to you, if--

-There's no need to.

He will come back.

Now enough of Pythias.

-No.

-Well, what kind

of wife are you?

-I'm not your wife.

-Why not?

[TRUMPETS SOUNDING]

-Your pass.

-I haven't one.

I just arrived from Athens.

My name is Pythias.

-All right, you can go through.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-Hey, which way to city?

-Straight ahead past the

orange tree and to the right.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-And we didn't see him

come to the surface.

-You then descended.

Did you search the rocks?

The beach?

-We saw no need.

From the height, he

must've been killed.

-He must have been killed?

Stupid!

We can't be sure unless

we have his body.

Search!

And bring in the

body of this Pythias.

[FLUTE PLAYING]

-How long have you been here?

PYTHIAS: I don't know.

I've been so many places.

-Are you all right, now?

PYTHIAS: Yes.

-When the sun goes down,

Damon will be executed.

PYTHIAS: He won't be executed.

-A man has been drowned,

you know anything about it?

-Drowned man?

No.

-And you.

Get up.

-Nothing.

-Come on.

-Is there anything you need?

-Yes, water.

FLUTE PLAYER: This

afternoon, as agreed.

-As agreed, this afternoon.

[TRUMPETS BLARING]

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-Where are the cheers

of our loyal populace

for its beloved leader?

-My lord, Dionysius,

the fact is that we

haven't got a loyal populace.

And the one we've got

doesn't love us much.

-They make it strikingly clear.

[TRUMPETS BLARING]

[DRUM BEATS]

-Too many of your

subjects admire him.

-They've even cried his death.

But tomorrow they'll

say he was a fool.

[FLUTE PLAYING]

-Hey, you?

Where you going?

-Citizens of Syracuse, you see

before you the pathetic dupe

of a false philosophy from

which in my fatherly concern

I will protect you.

It's almost that appointed hour.

The sun sinks.

But where is the

follow Pythagoras?

His saving grace and leaves

his friend to die in his place,

so much for the

brotherhood of men.

-If Pythias is not there, it's

because he's been stopped,

stopped by this

father of his people.

So if I die, I still

have faith in my friend.

[CROWD MURMURS]

-Friendship, such

a simple emotion,

yet the king who cannot rise

above it, can be destroyed.

-What happened?

-Pythias is alive

and on his way here.

-This is your responsibility.

Finish the matter and

return immediately.

[DRUM BEAT]

[MUSIC PLAYING]

[HORSES GALLOPING]

[TYMPANUM BEATING]

-Stop!

Halt!

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-Hey.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-No, no, don't.

[SNARE DRUM]

-Kneel.

Alas, Damon, now you regret

your bargain, do you not?

-No, I do not.

SOLDIER: Ready.

-The law is the law, my son,

for him as well as for us.

[DRUM ROLL]

[CROWD ROARING]

-You killed Cariso.

-No, we killed him.

-Take him down.

Put him up.

-Father, please,

let them both live.

CROWD: Show mercy,

great Dionysius.

Show greatness.

Be wise.

Away with tyranny.

Let him live.

Let him live.

[CROWD ROARING]

-My people, I'm

but your servant.

As you wish, let them both live.

[CROWD CHEERS]

[MUSIC PLAYING]