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]
-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]