Family Theatre (1949–1958): Season 0, Episode 0 - Hill Number One: A Story of Faith and Inspiration - full transcript
A respectful interpretation of what might have happened among Jesus's followers in the three days after the Crucifixion. The story is told in the modern context of an US Army company stationed in Korea during the Korean War.
Forward 200.
Set.
Ready.
Hut.
Fire.
On targets.
Set.
Ready.
Ready on three.
Hut, fire.
Cease fire.
Yes, sir.
Yes, I have it
right, sir, thanks.
What's it look like, Sarge?
Just a temporary layoff?
Nope, but you
better place up baby.
There are infantry moving up.
They say we really
peppered that hill.
Good shooting, men.
Aw, save your metal, Sarge.
Where's that coffee
that was coming up?
I'll jack them up on it again.
Mansfield again on three.
Any sign of that
coffee you promised?
OK, thanks, sorry
I mentioned it.
He said it started
up a few minutes ago.
If everything moves
as slow as our coffee,
we'd still be back
in the States.
Or maybe still in Honolulu.
One hour to bring
coffee 500 yards.
Don't they...
Oh, Bates, cool
down so you don't
burn the coffee
when it gets here.
Besides, what's time?
You going some place?
Batesey here's got
time on the brain
ever since that last 12
hour pass to New York.
He makes a date to meet
a gal near the big clock
in Grand Central Station.
7 o'clock, he's there prompt,
all polished up like an apple.
8 o'clock, no date.
9 o'clock, no date.
10 o'clock, 11
o'clock, 12 o'clock.
No date.
Thank you.
But Bates, he's all eaten
up like an apple core.
But he's still standing there
and a hoping and a waiting.
We take him
back to the barracks.
Funny, huh?
Well, your laughing's
pretty hollow.
You're as sick as I am
about all this business,
only you don't should so loud.
Hey, Professor,
what time is it?
Finchy might have another date.
5 o'clock.
What day of the
week, anybody know?
It's Saturday, isn't it?
Ask the professor, he'll know.
No, it's Sunday,
Easter Sunday morning.
Easter's early this year.
Trust the professor.
Ask him the time, he'll tell
you how to make a watch.
Ask him the day, he'll
throw in a sermon.
Ah, who cares
whether it's Easter
Sunday, Blue Monday
or dollar day.
Out here, one day's
as good as the next,
meaning they're all bad.
Hey, here comes
the coffee, I guess.
I'm hearing the jeep.
Hey, it's the Padre.
Well, what do you
know about that?
Hello, Father.
Came by the CP, and they
had this coffee waiting.
I was coming up this way,
so I brought it along.
Well, it's about time.
Good thing you
came along, Padre.
Batesey here was about
to flip a gasket.
He's been holding a stopwatch
on that coffee for over an hour.
At least it's hot.
Eh, it don't taste no
better than the last batch.
Phil, what did you
say was eating Batesey?
Ah, the same thing
that's eating me
is eating all the
rest of them, only
they think I don't know it.
Look, I'm a spotter.
And I let it come out, so the
poison don't get in my units.
Look at the Sarge here.
He don't way nothing.
But I know how he feels.
And Wheeler, look at
him when two weeks go by
and there's no mail from home.
Or Cashman, every second or
third day he's in the dumps,
but good.
What do you think
is eating you, Bates?
Ah, it's all so useless.
I'm sick of it.
I want to get out and live
like a decent human being again
without my clothes
get stinking and wet.
I want to smell some real
air instead of gunpowder
or see a village or
a hill that hasn't
been torn up by our howitzers.
All you fellas feel the
same way Bates says you do?
How about you, Cashman?
Well, sometimes I wish I
could gripe like he does.
Maybe I'd be better for it too.
I guess I feel most when I lay
down and try to close my eyes
and have a minute to think.
When that gun's booming,
I'm too busy to think.
Is there supposed to be a
meaning to all this, Padre.
Well, there's
meaning to everything,
sometimes hidden
from us, though.
Maybe there is a meaning.
But I don't see it.
All night we've been
bombarding hill number 46.
Tomorrow, it'll
probably be hill 50.
Three days ago it was hill 39.
A month ago was hill 22.
Why don't you go back farther
than that to hill number one.
I don't remember no number one.
Maybe some other
outfit got that.
That's not what I mean.
There was a hill number one.
And it was taken
by one man alone.
Alone?
Yes, alone.
You mean Sargent York, Padre.
And he didn't take a
hill, only prisoners.
Oh, wait a minute.
There was that marine
on Guadelcanal.
What was his name?
He got killed later, I know.
They called him a one
man army and pinned
a Congressional Medal
of Honor on him.
Sargent Johnny
Basilone, wasn't it?
Yeah.
Yeah, yeah.
Professor ought to
be on a quiz show.
Might win himself an
electric washing machine.
No, it wasn't Johnny
Basilone, God rest him.
It was a friend of
his, best friend
Johnny Basilone ever had.
Yeah?
And that hill he
took was Calvary.
If you're ever looking for
the meaning of anything,
the very meaning of meaning,
there's your reference point.
You've got to go
back to Calvary.
Because if you don't, well,
you're right, Batesey.
Fighting like this
has no meaning.
It's a mess and so
is everything else.
How does that figure here?
Of course you know
today's Easter, don't you?
We didn't until the
professor told us.
And the cook didn't
send up any Easter Eggs.
And me in the same old hat.
Well, I look like a bunny.
Now, Easter's a
lot more than eggs
and more than bunnies
and Fifth Avenue parades.
And it looks like it's going
to be quiet for a while.
All you fellas are trying to
puzzle things out for yourself.
Let's go back to
hill number one.
Let's pick it up at
its darkest hour,
right after the Crucifixion
when Joseph of Arimethea
is begging Pilate for
the the body of Jesus.
Now Pontius Pilate,
as you know, was
the Roman military
governor of Judea.
And here in Jerusalem...
Then this Nazarene
is already dead?
I have had no such report.
Yes, worthy Procurator.
He was the first of
the three to die.
Did you not feel the earthquake?
Of course.
Who could not feel such
a severe earthquake?
It shook my very throne.
But what did that have
to do with his death?
It was as if he's last sigh
were taken up by the earth
and fell to its very depths.
Superstition, coincidence,
earthquakes are common here.
I don't want to discuss
such a subject further.
You come here asking for the
body of this, um, criminal.
What do you say, Flaccus?
I am against it.
The high priests
will be displeased.
I fear the disciples
of this crucified one
will steal the body.
And giving it to
Joseph if Arimethea here
is almost inviting
the theft, isn't it?
I don't say he is
not without honor
and respect among the Judeans.
He is a counselor.
But he has shown us
where his sympathies lie.
Exactly.
Where is the body of this
Nazarene to be buried?
To be thrown in a common
grave with the others.
Hm.
Why do you involve
yourself in this?
You have wealth,
position, influence.
While he lived, you were
not known as his disciple.
Now that he's dead,
why not let things
take their normal course?
Because I am convinced they
will not take a normal course.
Never did man speak
as this man spoke.
He promised...
Yes, he promised.
Must I remind you again
that he is now a corpse,
and you are here begging for his
body, the body of a criminal?
Let's have an end
to this nonsense.
Why do now call
him criminal when
it was you said you
found no cause in him.
Of what do you now accuse him?
Oh, make no mistake.
It was not I who accused him.
I was but judge.
I had no personal feelings
against this Jesus.
He seemed gentle
and harmless enough.
I had the misfortune
the be the Procurator.
But all that is finished now.
Permit me, worthy Pilate.
I am too old a man to want
to gain anything for myself
by deceit.
I do not call myself
a great scholar.
But of one thing I am sure.
The wine of history is born out
of the ferment in men's hearts.
To have seen such ferment,
you should been on Golgotha
this afternoon or come
through the streets
as I did this very hour.
Your palace walls closed out
much you should have seen.
Is it true, Flaccus?
Are other people as much
disturbed as he says?
I'm afraid he's right.
But perhaps it will not last.
Latest reports are
that the streets
are now almost deserted.
Never have I known it so quiet.
Isn't that because of
this Paschal season,
as they call it.
Oh, I wish I could so report.
But I'm told the people are
in wonderment and terror.
The people, there's
no pleasing them.
One moment they're acclaiming
this Nazarene a king.
The next, they're yelling
for his crucifixion.
Such a noise, it's still
ringing in my ears.
Yet so much seems to have
happened this day that it's
hard to believe it
was only this morning.
Oh, if I had a
stronger garrison,
I wouldn't have bent to them.
But then you
would probably have
had a tax revolt on your hands.
What if Herod had reported
these things to Tiberius Caesar
I know.
I know.
Let's get to the
business at hand.
Flaccus, do you
still oppose giving
the body to this
Joseph of Arimathea
I do.
Don't forget this
Nazarene boasted
he would rise again
on the third day.
What's to prevent his followers
from stealing the body
and claiming he did rise?
Hm, I am afraid I will
have to deny your request.
If you throw the body
in the common grave,
aren't you inviting its theft?
I am willing to put
the body of Jesus
in the sepulcher I have
prepared for myself.
It is in my own garden,
not far from Golgotha.
It is hewn out of solid rock
and has but one entrance.
It would be
impossible for anyone
to steal a body
from such a vault.
Caiaphas and Annas will
not be happy about such
an arrangement.
Caiaphas and
Annas, but for them,
this problem will
not have arisen.
They're spoiled my day.
Let them worry a bit.
Joseph of Arimathea,
your persistence has won.
Scribe, make out an
order permitting this man
to take down the
body of the Nazarene
and give it burial
as he described.
Hm, I thought this Jesus had
friends only among the poor.
I must proceed more cautiously.
I'm going to enjoy the
faces of the Pharisees
when I tell them my decision.
Wonder why no word from Claudia?
Well, Cassius will know.
Uh, send out word
that I must see
Cassius as soon as he arrives.
I'm glad you waited, Nicodemus.
I have good tidings.
He consented, then?
Good.
If I ever I needed
your able tongue,
it was when I saw in his
eyes that it was hopeless.
I wish I might have rested.
What made him change his mind?
His unsettled state.
I think he fears that putting
Jesus to death was a mistake.
You were just in time.
There goes Caiaphas
and his group now.
We have work to do.
First, we'll get the oils
and spices for the anointing.
Then we'll get ladders and
sheets to take the body down.
We are the only ones to do it.
What happened to
all those others
who followed the crucified one?
Most of them are in hiding, all
except the one they call John.
I would have thought
he'd the most timid.
I admire the way
he stood his ground.
I don't know what the women
would have done without him.
Come.
I think this is the home
of Mara, the spice woman.
I'm sure of it.
Careful what you say.
Her trade is gossip
as much as spices.
Yes, yes, I'm coming.
Who... who is it?
We've come to buy
spices and herbs.
Who is it?
Joseph of Arimathea.
This is Nicodemus.
We don't mean to frighten you.
We're sorry to call
on you like this.
Had we known our needs, we'd
have come to the marketplace
this afternoon.
It would have done you no good.
This afternoon, I was up at
the hill with all the others.
The marketplace was deserted.
Heavens knows.
I need the money, but
there was no business.
Were... were you at the hill.
Did you see?
Yes, we were there.
Is... is he dead?
Did you not wait?
Oh, I wanted to see everything.
But the soldiers just
kept shoving us back.
I knew one of them.
And he let me get close.
When I saw them
driving those nails,
all those terrible nails.
Did they have to use nails?
I had to go home.
Woman, we have a
night's work before us.
Do you have spices and embalming
unction as they say you have?
Yes, all you need.
Is it for Jesus you wish it?
Yes.
He's... he's dead then.
Was it at the time
of the earthquake?
It was then.
Oh, I... I thought it must be.
Strange, strange.
I'll get you the
spices and herbs.
Come in.
Come in.
Take care of him.
I may need him again later.
Cassius, Cassius,
the Procurator
has been asking for you
every two or three minutes.
Where have you been?
I have just come from Golgotha.
I must see him at once.
Oh, now, Cassius, be careful
what you say to the Procurator.
He's had a bad day.
Besides, his wife
hasn't returned yet.
Have you seen her?
Claudia?
Where did she go?
We don't know.
Sure, she wasn't at the hill.
No, she wasn't.
But I must see him.
Now, don't say
anything to disturb him.
He trusts you, Cassius.
If you have bad news,
save it for tomorrow.
Caiaphas and Annas
have just left.
And I warn you,
Pilate is irritated.
You've never seen him so angry.
Wait until he hears
what I have to tell him.
What are you going to tell him?
Come and hear for yourself.
Come in, Cassius.
Forget the formalities
for the moment.
Where have you been?
Why have you kept me
waiting for your report?
Your instructions,
worthy Procurator,
were to bring you
the full report.
Out with it, then.
Worthy Procurator...
Yes, yes?
This Jesus we crucified
was the Son of God.
You infernal idiot.
How dare you?
Surely, Cassius is mistaken.
With your permission, I
will continue with my report.
I want facts, not
opinions.
I'm a soldier,
worthy Procurator.
What's more, a
soldier over soldiers.
I serve you best when I
bring you all the facts.
Well, proceed.
I have seen men die before.
I have put them to death myself
on the battlefield many times.
They were enemies, but
they bore an honest sword.
And I have carried out
the penalty of death
here in Jerusalem before.
But I have never seen
a man die as this man.
Why do you talk this way?
I have seen men die
with hate in their eyes,
uncertainty, wonderment, fear.
But never before
have I seen a man die
loving those who
put him to death.
Is not this the look that
comes into the eyes of a dog
when you've beat
him into submission?
How little you seem
to understand my words.
This Jesus was not a weak man.
Gentle, yes, but not weak.
Yes, he was strong.
I remember when he
stood before me.
And I reminded him
that I had the power
to crucify him or release him.
He told me that I would have
no power at all over him,
we're it not given
me from above.
For a moment, from the
quiet strength of him,
I could believe him a king.
This man died loving us.
I don't know exactly
how to tell you this.
Many times, I've seen this Jesus
blessing the throngs whenever
he preached to them
with his arms upraised.
On the cross, all I could
think of as I watched
was that he was
blessing us, still.
Come, come, Cassius.
You're dealing in sentiments.
I want facts.
How did he die and when?
You will recall that I
visited you when Jesus had been
on the cross some
time, told you there
would be no need
to break his legs.
Well, go on.
When I returned,
Jesus was almost dead.
At the instant of his death,
there was a great earthquake.
Surely, you felt it.
Hm.
It's true, then.
The same instance, you say?
The very instant.
The archers came up
to his legs to make
certain he was dead
before the Sabbath.
I had ridden up to
the middle cross.
To show them that Jesus
was already dead I...
You what?
I drove my lance, this
lance, into his side and...
And what?
Have you not noticed?
Nor you, Flaccus?
Noticed what?
Finish your story.
Look at my eyes.
Yes, you used to squint.
Your eyelids trembled nervously.
I... what are you
trying to tell us?
Yes, what is this?
From childhood, I suffered
this defect, this disfigurement.
This afternoon, it left me.
This afternoon?
When this afternoon, when?
As I withdrew my lance,
blood and water from his side
flowed over my face and body.
At that instant,
my eyes were cured.
But you said this
Jesus was already dead.
He was.
But more than my
eyes were cured.
I felt a new
excitement in my heart.
At this instant I knew
he was the Son of God.
I came down and knelt among
the women and adored him.
But you're a Roman.
What about the household gods?
There's only one
God and this is He.
Ridiculous.
You must have made
yourself ridiculous.
Didn't the other soldiers laugh?
I saw laughter on
nearly everyone's face
early this afternoon.
But in the darkness of the
earthquake, no one laughed.
If I know my soldiers,
there were some who laughed.
You must have been ridiculous
at the foot of that cross,
like a silly woman.
I swear to you that
there were curses
and shouts, sobs and
tears and trembling.
But there was no laughter.
What were the
other soldiers doing
at these moments you describe?
Abenadar the Centurion I put
in charge, what was he doing?
He was beside me in
the mud on his knees.
I heard him cry out, truly
this man the Son of God.
Once I washed my hands of this
matter, I thought it finished.
I'm twice the fool because
Claudia warned me that I should
have nothing to do
with this just man.
If I hadn't done
as I did, I might
have had worse trouble,
insurrection perhaps.
Have you seen Claudia, Cassius?
No, Procurator, I have not.
She's not in her chambers.
She hasn't been
seen for many hours.
The servants don't
know where she is.
If you see her, let
me know at once.
At once.
And one more
mission, the Pharisees
are displeased that
I committed the body
to fall into the hands
of Joseph of Arimathea.
As fantastic as your story is
of this afternoon's events,
I... I can think
of no other person
I can trust with
this new commission.
You will take charge of
the soldiers at the grave.
Flaccus will give you a
written order of command.
Yes, worthy Procurator.
You are to be my
personal representative.
I will hold you responsible.
You will report to me
everything that happens.
And keep your wits about you.
And don't come back with
another idle tale of nonsense.
Have the soldiers
been assigned?
Yes, they proceeded.
You will relieve
Gallicus in command.
Stay a moment, Flaccus.
Yes, worthy Procurator.
What do you make of
the tale Cassius tells?
Fantastic, but many
fantastic things
must have happened to have
sobered the people this way.
The people, the people,
forget the people.
They're like weeks, blowing in
the wind, this way and that.
True, but Cassius' eyes,
certainly enough, are cured.
Miracles from the
dead man, these things
will bear watching.
Yes, I fear our troubles
are not yet ended.
I am to be called for every
report from my officers.
Do you hear?
Come, Nicodemus,
we've still work to do.
You've stared at that site
long enough, as if transfixed.
Yes, but it burns itself
into my very senses.
It seems to remind
me of Abrams' altar
when he offered
up his son, Isaac.
Perhaps it is meant to
be a sign such as that.
But Nicodemus, our task
is with the living.
I fear for Mary, his mother.
The sadness in her
eyes tears my heart.
She asked me to gather these,
had me search out every one.
For what purpose, I do not know.
All signs of defeat.
She seems not to see the utter
defeat in all that's happened.
I have noticed that.
Sorrow, yes, I've
never seen such sorrow.
But defeat?
Not a sign of defeat.
In that, she was
like the son, himself.
He seemed to turn
death into victory.
On the cross, he seemed not
to pity himself, but us.
Did you hear him say
Father forgive them.
They know not what they do.
Yes, my heart was
wrenched when I heard it.
And again, a short time ago when
she held his body in her lap,
as if she would
never part from it.
She held his arms
outstretched, as
if she were a living
cross, herself.
Here Chicago comes.
These are some thorns that
were lodged in his brow.
I'll put them with the others.
Nothing must be lost.
Good woman, must you torment
yourself with these memories,
these instruments, these thorns?
Were it not better
to forget them all?
Surely, they are but
signs of cruelty, of hate.
Oh, no, Nicodemus, these
thorns were his crown.
We must keep them
because they were his.
But Mary.
Do you remember when he fed
the multitudes by the sea,
multiplying the
loaves and fishes?
Yes, I was there.
And I.
And John, here,
was among therm.
Yes, I was there.
And later on, gathered the
fragments left by the 5,000.
Yes, there was a great throng.
And they wanted to take him
by force and crown him king.
But he always knew he
was the King of Sorrows.
And he preferred this crown
and accepted it out of love.
But it was given in hate.
But taken in love.
Love will always conquer hatred.
Love is strength.
Hatred is weakness.
Is that not what
he always taught.
Yes, that is true.
He did teach us that.
The soldiers return.
That means trouble again.
Wait, I will see.
Disperse.
Go to your homes.
Who is the leader, here?
You may address you as
Gallicus temporary command
until Cassius arrives.
Why do your soldier
drive us away?
I have permission here from
the Procurator, from Pilate.
We are about our business.
And we.
What are you to do?
We must seal the
tomb and guard it.
But we have not
finished the anointing.
Must this be done at once?
Immediately, this minute.
I will attend to the seal
once I have satisfied myself
that the body of the
crucified is within.
I assure you that it is.
I shall see for myself.
Close the tomb and seal it.
Aren't you Mary, the one
they call the Magdalene?
I am Mary of Magdalen, yes.
I am honored to place
you under the protection
of the Roman legions.
I am Gallicus, second core.
My men and I...
I need no protection
from Romans.
An uncivil tongue
in so fair a woman.
Have you not heard that we
have conquered the world?
Would you rebuke to mighty
Caesar as your king?
My king lies there.
Yous king?
Nothing but a carpenters son.
He's dead.
Bury not your heart
in graves, fair one.
He will rise again,
as he has promised.
So he will rise again.
Well, Pilate has other ideas.
We will camp here and
see that he doesn't.
And then, woman of Magdalen,
Romans make sport
of the helpless.
Back you Judean dogs before
my sword divides each of you
like common apple.
Leave us be.
Must you annoy us.
Haven't you had
enough.
Such valor would make Caesar
proud of you, Gallicus.
I was only about...
It's obvious you
were outnumbered
by helpless women an old men.
My apologies for the
rudeness of my men.
They will not trouble you again.
I assure you.
Thank you, Roman.
- You have paid us a kindness.
- This man will help us.
Help us.
The Procurator has posted
a watch at this tomb.
I must carry out his orders.
But I assure you.
No harm will come to the body
during the term of my watch.
That is very
kind of you.
Your words and manner
are those of kindness.
In the darkness, you perhaps
do not recognize my face.
I saw him at the
cross on his knees.
Yes, he was there.
I saw him.
Good woman, I was
the soldier who
drove a lance in the
side of your son.
Yes.
Yes, he was.
He was already dead.
But it seemed a heaven-sent
impulse to do as I did.
Suddenly, I felt the
need of preventing
further desecration of his body.
I had to show the archers
he was truly dead,
so his legs would not be broken.
Have no fear.
God reads hearts.
You fulfilled a prophecy.
Not a bone of him
shall ye break.
But I drove a lance
through his heart.
And through mine.
You opened his heart, and
he wonderfully opened yours.
He has opened my heart
as he opened my eyes.
If you're tired of
the watch, ,
come warm yourself.
Sir, I will.
Cassius is communing
with himself.
I wish her were
in a better mood.
I'd like to ask
him some questions.
What, for example?
About Claudia, of course.
Claudia Procles, the
Procurator's wife?
What about her?
Before coming on watch,
I meant Quinticus.
He has one of the
palace assignments.
You notice the way he's
put on weight since he's
had access to the
palace kitchens?
Forget Quinticus.
What about Claudia.
Well, Qunticus
says that he palace
gossip is that
Claudia is missing.
Pilate's in a frenzy.
You know what a temper he has.
Claudia missing?
That's strange.
Seems that Pilate
and Claudia had
some disagreement
about this Nazarene.
She told him to have nothing
to do with him at the trial.
He promised her he wouldn't
and broke his pledge.
She's gone.
What makes you think
Cassius can tell us?
Well, he could if anyone could.
He's one of Pilate's
inner circle, isn't he?
I wonder if that's
what he's pondering now.
I don't think he's
worrying about Claudia.
Looks like he's involved
in deeper mysteries.
Joseph.
Joseph.
Joseph,
Joseph of Arimathea,
but for your kindness,
I know not where
we'd have found refuge
amid such trouble.
It is wise for you to remain
here in my supper room.
Your appearance on the streets
now would only cause commotion
and could bring you harm.
Stay here as long as you wish.
Thank you, Joseph.
We must take counsel
together to decide
what is the wisest course.
All we all here?
Yes, all but Matthew.
Let them in, Stephen.
Matthew.
Matthew.
Hail, Peter.
Hail, Matthew.
Hail, Thomas.
Peter.
I think we're all here now.
We are.
We are gathered
here by agreement
to keep the eve of the Sabbath.
But first, I want
to address you.
Peter?
Yes, Thomas?
Is it wise to meet here
in our accustomed place?
I think not.
Will not Judas betray us
too, as he did the Master?
He knew we would
meet the Sabbath eve.
Have you not heard, Thomas?
No, I have not.
He paid the
Master with a kiss.
That traitor.
Judas was twice a traitor,
first to the Master
and then to himself.
He hanged himself.
I don't believe it.
Judas was too crafty.
Besides, he has
our common purse.
It's probably some trick.
do not
always doubt, Thomas.
I have seen his wretched
body, and so, I believe,
have several of the others.
I have seen it.
Yes, Judas is dead, Thomas.
That such perfectly could
come from our very ranks
shakes me to my heart's core.
It shows how weak we all
are without the Master.
Not one of us is without
brain, save John here,
who would have followed the
Master's very footsteps.
And I praise him, although
he seeks no praise.
I'm not worthy to
be your leader.
And why such a one weak
as I was appointed,
I have never ceased to wonder.
Perhaps Jesus is teaching
us still that we are weak,
but we may be strong,
like the seed growing
secretly Of which
the Master stroke.
Yesterday's events
I've watched from afar,
having already denied the Lord.
But John was strong, as
was Mary, his mother.
And from them, I borrowed
strength that is not my own.
We must counsel
together what to do.
Peter?
Yes, my brother Andrew.
Before we followed the
Master, we were fisherman.
In three years, we have
not lost our skill.
We're like rusty anchors,
perhaps, too long out of water
and too much in
the sun, but easily
fitted again for service.
I suggest we leave
these precincts
and go back to Galilee
where we belong.
Good suggestion, Andrew.
Well-spoken Andrew.
Now that's wisdom.
Surely, we did not spend
three years following
the Master to return
again to our nets.
Was it for this the Master
set us out to cure the sick,
cast out devils?
Must I remind you,
John, the Master is dead,
with Roman soldiers
pacing at his grave.
And from what I hear, a
monstrous rock sealing it.
Aye, the Master is dead.
What are we to do?
I speak only for myself, but I
long for the hard pull of oars
again in my hand and the sound
of wind snapping in the sails.
I was cut out to be a fisherman.
For that, I have the arms.
I don't have the language
for anything else.
I used to admire the
way the Master held
the throng spellbound
with his words,
as if he spoke to every heart.
There's not one of us
here who could do that.
Yes, it's true.
We're fishermen.
Unlike most of you,
I was not a fisherman,
but a publican, a tax collector.
I was Levi then.
But when our Lord said follow
me, I was named Matthew.
In this group, I do
not hold the post,
but by training, I
might have done so.
I still have that training.
I still can make an
accounting, write a bond,
or strike a balance.
I ask you now to
strike this balance.
Christ is lost to us, but
his holy Mother is still
here among us, a
veritable apostle,
an apostle of apostles.
Do we not remember the Master's
parable of the talents?
Are we too like the
slothful servant?
Oh, no.
While Christ himself is
put away into the earth,
let us avail ourselves
of his gifts.
Let us make place here among
us for Mary, his holy mother.
Well said.
That's true wisdom.
Wisdom, indeed.
Matthew is wise
to have said this.
How have we
overlooked this?
God has favored your tongue
with wisdom, Matthew.
How blind our hearts.
How blind our eyes.
Our words, our disputings make
more sorrowful the very mother
of sorrows Let us give
her rightful place
here among us to counsel us.
We are like little children,
holy mother of the crucified,
wanting to run and not
knowing the direction.
Wanting to hide and
not knowing cover.
Your words shall counsel
us in these dark hours.
Jesus taught us
to pray, telling us
our Father knows our
needs before we ever ask.
It is true.
He does, indeed.
It is so.
We need only but to ask him.
Let us ask his help.
Will you lead us holy mother
is some familiar prayer
from the temple
that we all know?
Let us pray for strength,
strength for ourselves
and to forgive our enemies.
Jesus taught us a new prayer.
Forgive our enemies?
Why, every hand
is set against us.
Dare we adventure
into the streets.
The soldiers or the
Pharisees might seize us.
How can we forgive
yesterday's crime?
Forgive Judas?
And Pilate?
And Caiaphas?
My betrayal?
Forgive Golgotha?
The whips, the
thorns, the scourges?
Jesus who bore the ,
Thomas, Peter, all of you.
He forgave everyone.
From his own lip I heard
him say Father forgive them.
They know not what they do.
He taught us this same prayer
on the mountainside once.
Our Father who are in
heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done on
earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day
our daily bread.
And forgive us our
trespasses, as we
forgive those who
trespass against us.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil, Amen.
I've sent for your centurion
to hear from your won lips
the details of the search.
Flaccus tells me you
and your men were not
successful in learning
of Claudia's whereabouts.
True, worthy Procurator,
but I have patrol
still searching even
at this late hour.
Good, did you
search the temple?
Those places that could be
searched without being profane.
You and your men did not
penetrate the Holy of Holies?
Would anyone dare?
There was no need even
if it were possible.
The veil was torn from top
to bottom by the earthquake.
The temple was a shambles.
Be sure she is not there.
Have you searched all
the public buildings?
We have.
The estates of her friends?
We have.
Is she in hiding?
Would anyone dare to hide
the Procurator's wife?
It seems unbelievable.
The people are terrified enough.
Are you certain she was not all
on Golgatha, at that spectacle?
The whole city was
there, it seems.
But I did not see Claudia.
Your own conduct,
centurion, I'm told
was not above reproach.
In what regard?
You worship this Nazarene,
crying out he was a Son of God.
I did only as the
clods and stones.
You what?
Worthy Procurator,
this very week,
Jesus rode into Jerusalem
on an asses' colt.
The people spread their
cloaks and branches and palms
before him,
proclaiming him a King,
come in the name of the Lord.
The Pharisees
asked him to rebuke
his disciples for
their praise of him.
But he told them... I heard
him myself... I tell you
that if these keep silence,
the very stones will cry out.
Come.
Come.
Is this a parable?
When Jesus died on
Golgotha, the earth quaked,
and the very stones did cry out.
My own heart, itself
a stone before,
was rent for very need
of worshipping him.
It was then I cried, truly,
this man was the Son of God.
Who is it?
Messenger with food.
Do you have a sign?
Manna in the desert.
Yes, those are the words.
You are from Nazareth.
Come in.
Hi, I'm Stephen,
disciple of Jesus.
Even if I did not
know in advance,
I would recognize
you as Claudia.
I've seen you, of
course, at the Gabitha.
But even your garments and
manner of dress tell me
you're not one of us.
Later, you must bring
me other garments.
I dare not send for them now.
Whatever mission you wish
me to perform, I am ready.
Is there some message?
None at present.
Are the soldiers still
searching for me?
Yes, everywhere.
I fear they may come here.
They'll not think to look
for me here in Lazarus' home.
It's otherwise empty.
And there's a secure
hiding place above.
They'll not think I'd seek
shelter among Christians.
Why did you come here?
You were not a follower
of the crucified one.
You did not even know him.
No, but I knew that
Jesus was a just man.
I warned my husband I'd
suffered many things
in a dream because of him.
Then why did he condemn him?
He promised he would not.
He said he could
find no crime in him.
Twice, he pledged me
he would release him.
But he did not.
Because he was weak, and
he had the power of might,
Caesar's might.
When Jesus had been whipped
and scourged and beaten,
he too was weak.
But he had the power
of truth, his own.
God, now, has
giving me the wisdom
and courage to see a difference.
Stephen, you know the
things that Jesus taught.
Teach me the truth
that I may have light.
But you are a Roman, the
Procurator's wife, born free,
not a subject, like
we Judeans are.
The truth, Stephen,
it sets men free.
Is this not the
teaching of Jesus?
Yes, You will not
return, then, to Pilate.
No, Stephen.
Some words of the
Master's come to my mind
with new enlightenment.
Once I heard him say he had not
come to send peace upon earth,
but to bring a sword, not peace.
I remember he said for I have
come to set a man at variance
with his father and a
daughter with her mother.
And a man's enemies will be
those of his own household.
He who loves Father or Mother
more than me is not with of me.
I never thought this sword would
cleave Pilate's very household.
What a waste of manpower.
One of us legionaries
could guard
this spot as well as an army.
All right.
I thought we'd have a
crowd of sightseers.
Certainly was a big crowd
on the hill yesterday.
Today's the Sabbath, Decius.
How long have you been in
Jerusalem not to know things
are at a standstill
on the Sabbath.
You're right above the
crowd, though, certainly big.
It certainly was.
The way they were
yelling reminded me
of the chariot races
at the Flaminius
at Rome, as if one
of the chariots
had suddenly overturned
in the home stretch.
They do get excited over
an execution, these people,
don't they?
What do you make of the
way it ended, strange, huh?
Strange is not the word for it.
Of course I think it was a
coincidence, that earthquake.
People always think
when one event follows
another like that that
they're connected.
Not me.
I am not superstitious.
Cassius must be
superstitious, then.
Talked with him about
it during the watch
last night, claims
it was nothing
less than an act of God.
Eh, I think the whole thing
will be forgotten they way
they forget the chariot races.
One day, it's
terribly important.
The next, you can't remember
the name of the winning driver
or whether it was three
or four horses he drive.
Right.
I wish Cassius would relent
and let us ease up a bit.
I feel lucky today.
Like to throw you a
few games of dice.
Throw dice in the graveyard?
Not me.
Oh-ho, I thought you
weren't superstitious.
Here comes the centurion.
Can you leave your
post for a while?
I'd like to talk to you
while your men can't hear us.
Certainly, Gallicus, take over.
Come.
I didn't want to
talk over there,
but I want to go
over plans with you.
I understand.
First, does your guard
need to be reinforced?
Pilate's worried,
wants your opinion.
I see no need of that.
The watch has been
quiet, no problem.
Good, he'll be
pleased to hear that.
Every extra soldier is
searching for Claudia.
But he wants everyone at hand,
lest there by an insurrection.
Any signs of that?
None that I can see, only
fear, wonderment, uncertainty.
Most of the people are
locked in their houses.
Some went to the
temple, but it's a ruin.
So I hear.
Pilate regrets the
day he let this happen.
But somehow, I think great
good will come of it.
During the long
hours of my watch
that has been very thought.
Well, any report for Pilate?
Tell him all is well.
Matthew, Matthew,
our group is ready
now to leave for the tomb.
Unbar the door.
I must have dozed
since Thomas left
and since the other
two went to Amaeus.
Is it daybreak?
Not yet, but we are ready.
Does Peter know?
Does he approve of
such an early start?
I'll tell him, then.
Peter, awaken, Peter.
Peter, we are leaving now
to go to the sepulcher.
Only you women?
Have you no escort?
It is better this way.
I am not afraid.
No harm will come to us.
We have a lantern.
Can not one of us?
Oh no, Peter.
You are too well
known in the streets.
That would only
create attention.
You could not risk it.
Godspeed you, then.
Let them go, Matthew.
God go with you.
What is it, Cassius?
Has Claudia been found?
An insurrection?
He is risen.
He is risen.
Jesus is risen.
More idle nonsense,
have you lost your wits?
Have you, too,
deserted your post?
The Nazarene has risen.
Truth is for those
who will hear it.
Who is it?
Mary of Magdalen.
Peter.
What is it, Mary?
What is it?
What has frightened you?
Peter, the tomb is empty.
What?
The stone has been rolled
back, and the body is gone.
They have taken him away,
and I know not where.
Where are the other?
In the garden.
Where are you going?
Back to the tomb.
Come, John.
We must see what has happened.
He is risen, John.
This is the veil that was
wrapped around his sacred head.
Yet I do not understand.
He will enlighten us, Peter.
Come, we must spread these
good tidings quickly.
Rejoice, Claudia.
Rejoice.
He is risen.
Christ is risen.
Andrew, rejoice.
He has risen as he promised.
He has risen, and
I have seen him.
The soldiers say the one
they crucified is risen.
He's risen.
I've just heard the news.
The crucified one is come
forth from the grave.
He is risen?
Yes.
Rejoice, centurion.
Christ has risen.
Holy Mother, Jesus, your son,
has risen and appeared to me.
And to me, Peter, my son.
He has forgiven me,
my doubt, my weakness,
my betrayal, everything.
Seeing his cross and knowing
that he came back to us,
can you still not understand
the depths of his love?
But I denied him.
He chose me leader, and
three times I denied him.
When he needed me,
I ran from him.
And yet, his love pursued
you and always will.
This is why he came back.
When you understand
Golgotha, you
will understand Bethlehem
and the Eucharist.
Jesus forgives much
because he loves
much, that you may love him.
Did he not tell you to forgive
your brother seven times
was not enough.
Yes, nor 70 times 7, he said.
I heard him then with my ears.
I hear him now with my heart.
Yes, Peter.
Oh, great is my joy
after these dark hours.
He has given us a great victory.
No longer do I despair.
Again, I have faith.
He has restored my hope.
Rather speak in loving
charity, Peter, my son.
He has given his victory, not
to us alone, but to all men.
For they are your brothers.
Well, fellas, that's the
story of hill number one.
Peter, you asked what's
the meaning of all this.
Well, if you look
on hill number 46
in the light of hill number
one, hardship, suffering,
self-sacrifice is
never without meaning.
Out of these things,
many virtues are born,
courage, heroism, love.
When good men everywhere
so fervently want peace,
war is a crucifixion.
It shake the earth,
darkens the sun,
and makes man search for
faith and meaning and right,
as you're doing by asking
what's it all about.
And right's worth defending.
The first victory you achieve
is always one of faith,
You got to have faith in God.
I think Mary would
tell you that.
She told the apostles
before the Resurrection.
And I think Mary would tell all
of us to pray, to pray always.
That's quite a story when
you come to think about it.
That's what I want you
to do, think about it.
It's all right
here in the Rosary.
Of course, beads
don't tell it to me.
I tell it to the beads.
That's what meditation is.
That's what prayer is.
Yeah, Mansfield.
Say, we've taken that hill.
Sure, it's Easter morning.
In the name of the Father and of
the Son and of the Holy Ghost,
Amen.
Dear mother and
father and child,
may God help me now to bring
home to you what the Rosary can
do to your family to
enable you to fulfill well
the last wish of our Redeemer,
the last wish of your Redeemer.
When he left the supper table
to go out into the agony,
just before he went
into the garden
to pay the price for the
forgiveness of your sins
and mine, he made a
wish and a prayer.
And that wish and
prayer of our Lord
was this... unity
amongst his followers.
Dear mother, dear father,
dear son and daughter,
in our Lord's holy name and
the name of your Redeemer
who paid the price
for your redemption
and for the forgiveness
of your sins,
I ask you with all my heart
to fulfill and give to him
his last wish before he went
into the garden for his agony
for you.
Unity, unity in yourself, unity
with him, love for yourselves,
love for him, this dear
mother and father and child,
you can do, as sure
as God is alive.
If night after night
for a lifetime,
you gather to say
the Rosary together,
to let the Rosary teach you,
to let the Rosary inspire you,
to let the Rosary develop you,
In our Blessed Mother's name,
the Queen of heaven
and earth, I ask you,
dear mother and father and
child to raise your voices
with the millions of
others, to say the family
that prays together
stays together.
Set.
Ready.
Hut.
Fire.
On targets.
Set.
Ready.
Ready on three.
Hut, fire.
Cease fire.
Yes, sir.
Yes, I have it
right, sir, thanks.
What's it look like, Sarge?
Just a temporary layoff?
Nope, but you
better place up baby.
There are infantry moving up.
They say we really
peppered that hill.
Good shooting, men.
Aw, save your metal, Sarge.
Where's that coffee
that was coming up?
I'll jack them up on it again.
Mansfield again on three.
Any sign of that
coffee you promised?
OK, thanks, sorry
I mentioned it.
He said it started
up a few minutes ago.
If everything moves
as slow as our coffee,
we'd still be back
in the States.
Or maybe still in Honolulu.
One hour to bring
coffee 500 yards.
Don't they...
Oh, Bates, cool
down so you don't
burn the coffee
when it gets here.
Besides, what's time?
You going some place?
Batesey here's got
time on the brain
ever since that last 12
hour pass to New York.
He makes a date to meet
a gal near the big clock
in Grand Central Station.
7 o'clock, he's there prompt,
all polished up like an apple.
8 o'clock, no date.
9 o'clock, no date.
10 o'clock, 11
o'clock, 12 o'clock.
No date.
Thank you.
But Bates, he's all eaten
up like an apple core.
But he's still standing there
and a hoping and a waiting.
We take him
back to the barracks.
Funny, huh?
Well, your laughing's
pretty hollow.
You're as sick as I am
about all this business,
only you don't should so loud.
Hey, Professor,
what time is it?
Finchy might have another date.
5 o'clock.
What day of the
week, anybody know?
It's Saturday, isn't it?
Ask the professor, he'll know.
No, it's Sunday,
Easter Sunday morning.
Easter's early this year.
Trust the professor.
Ask him the time, he'll tell
you how to make a watch.
Ask him the day, he'll
throw in a sermon.
Ah, who cares
whether it's Easter
Sunday, Blue Monday
or dollar day.
Out here, one day's
as good as the next,
meaning they're all bad.
Hey, here comes
the coffee, I guess.
I'm hearing the jeep.
Hey, it's the Padre.
Well, what do you
know about that?
Hello, Father.
Came by the CP, and they
had this coffee waiting.
I was coming up this way,
so I brought it along.
Well, it's about time.
Good thing you
came along, Padre.
Batesey here was about
to flip a gasket.
He's been holding a stopwatch
on that coffee for over an hour.
At least it's hot.
Eh, it don't taste no
better than the last batch.
Phil, what did you
say was eating Batesey?
Ah, the same thing
that's eating me
is eating all the
rest of them, only
they think I don't know it.
Look, I'm a spotter.
And I let it come out, so the
poison don't get in my units.
Look at the Sarge here.
He don't way nothing.
But I know how he feels.
And Wheeler, look at
him when two weeks go by
and there's no mail from home.
Or Cashman, every second or
third day he's in the dumps,
but good.
What do you think
is eating you, Bates?
Ah, it's all so useless.
I'm sick of it.
I want to get out and live
like a decent human being again
without my clothes
get stinking and wet.
I want to smell some real
air instead of gunpowder
or see a village or
a hill that hasn't
been torn up by our howitzers.
All you fellas feel the
same way Bates says you do?
How about you, Cashman?
Well, sometimes I wish I
could gripe like he does.
Maybe I'd be better for it too.
I guess I feel most when I lay
down and try to close my eyes
and have a minute to think.
When that gun's booming,
I'm too busy to think.
Is there supposed to be a
meaning to all this, Padre.
Well, there's
meaning to everything,
sometimes hidden
from us, though.
Maybe there is a meaning.
But I don't see it.
All night we've been
bombarding hill number 46.
Tomorrow, it'll
probably be hill 50.
Three days ago it was hill 39.
A month ago was hill 22.
Why don't you go back farther
than that to hill number one.
I don't remember no number one.
Maybe some other
outfit got that.
That's not what I mean.
There was a hill number one.
And it was taken
by one man alone.
Alone?
Yes, alone.
You mean Sargent York, Padre.
And he didn't take a
hill, only prisoners.
Oh, wait a minute.
There was that marine
on Guadelcanal.
What was his name?
He got killed later, I know.
They called him a one
man army and pinned
a Congressional Medal
of Honor on him.
Sargent Johnny
Basilone, wasn't it?
Yeah.
Yeah, yeah.
Professor ought to
be on a quiz show.
Might win himself an
electric washing machine.
No, it wasn't Johnny
Basilone, God rest him.
It was a friend of
his, best friend
Johnny Basilone ever had.
Yeah?
And that hill he
took was Calvary.
If you're ever looking for
the meaning of anything,
the very meaning of meaning,
there's your reference point.
You've got to go
back to Calvary.
Because if you don't, well,
you're right, Batesey.
Fighting like this
has no meaning.
It's a mess and so
is everything else.
How does that figure here?
Of course you know
today's Easter, don't you?
We didn't until the
professor told us.
And the cook didn't
send up any Easter Eggs.
And me in the same old hat.
Well, I look like a bunny.
Now, Easter's a
lot more than eggs
and more than bunnies
and Fifth Avenue parades.
And it looks like it's going
to be quiet for a while.
All you fellas are trying to
puzzle things out for yourself.
Let's go back to
hill number one.
Let's pick it up at
its darkest hour,
right after the Crucifixion
when Joseph of Arimethea
is begging Pilate for
the the body of Jesus.
Now Pontius Pilate,
as you know, was
the Roman military
governor of Judea.
And here in Jerusalem...
Then this Nazarene
is already dead?
I have had no such report.
Yes, worthy Procurator.
He was the first of
the three to die.
Did you not feel the earthquake?
Of course.
Who could not feel such
a severe earthquake?
It shook my very throne.
But what did that have
to do with his death?
It was as if he's last sigh
were taken up by the earth
and fell to its very depths.
Superstition, coincidence,
earthquakes are common here.
I don't want to discuss
such a subject further.
You come here asking for the
body of this, um, criminal.
What do you say, Flaccus?
I am against it.
The high priests
will be displeased.
I fear the disciples
of this crucified one
will steal the body.
And giving it to
Joseph if Arimethea here
is almost inviting
the theft, isn't it?
I don't say he is
not without honor
and respect among the Judeans.
He is a counselor.
But he has shown us
where his sympathies lie.
Exactly.
Where is the body of this
Nazarene to be buried?
To be thrown in a common
grave with the others.
Hm.
Why do you involve
yourself in this?
You have wealth,
position, influence.
While he lived, you were
not known as his disciple.
Now that he's dead,
why not let things
take their normal course?
Because I am convinced they
will not take a normal course.
Never did man speak
as this man spoke.
He promised...
Yes, he promised.
Must I remind you again
that he is now a corpse,
and you are here begging for his
body, the body of a criminal?
Let's have an end
to this nonsense.
Why do now call
him criminal when
it was you said you
found no cause in him.
Of what do you now accuse him?
Oh, make no mistake.
It was not I who accused him.
I was but judge.
I had no personal feelings
against this Jesus.
He seemed gentle
and harmless enough.
I had the misfortune
the be the Procurator.
But all that is finished now.
Permit me, worthy Pilate.
I am too old a man to want
to gain anything for myself
by deceit.
I do not call myself
a great scholar.
But of one thing I am sure.
The wine of history is born out
of the ferment in men's hearts.
To have seen such ferment,
you should been on Golgotha
this afternoon or come
through the streets
as I did this very hour.
Your palace walls closed out
much you should have seen.
Is it true, Flaccus?
Are other people as much
disturbed as he says?
I'm afraid he's right.
But perhaps it will not last.
Latest reports are
that the streets
are now almost deserted.
Never have I known it so quiet.
Isn't that because of
this Paschal season,
as they call it.
Oh, I wish I could so report.
But I'm told the people are
in wonderment and terror.
The people, there's
no pleasing them.
One moment they're acclaiming
this Nazarene a king.
The next, they're yelling
for his crucifixion.
Such a noise, it's still
ringing in my ears.
Yet so much seems to have
happened this day that it's
hard to believe it
was only this morning.
Oh, if I had a
stronger garrison,
I wouldn't have bent to them.
But then you
would probably have
had a tax revolt on your hands.
What if Herod had reported
these things to Tiberius Caesar
I know.
I know.
Let's get to the
business at hand.
Flaccus, do you
still oppose giving
the body to this
Joseph of Arimathea
I do.
Don't forget this
Nazarene boasted
he would rise again
on the third day.
What's to prevent his followers
from stealing the body
and claiming he did rise?
Hm, I am afraid I will
have to deny your request.
If you throw the body
in the common grave,
aren't you inviting its theft?
I am willing to put
the body of Jesus
in the sepulcher I have
prepared for myself.
It is in my own garden,
not far from Golgotha.
It is hewn out of solid rock
and has but one entrance.
It would be
impossible for anyone
to steal a body
from such a vault.
Caiaphas and Annas will
not be happy about such
an arrangement.
Caiaphas and
Annas, but for them,
this problem will
not have arisen.
They're spoiled my day.
Let them worry a bit.
Joseph of Arimathea,
your persistence has won.
Scribe, make out an
order permitting this man
to take down the
body of the Nazarene
and give it burial
as he described.
Hm, I thought this Jesus had
friends only among the poor.
I must proceed more cautiously.
I'm going to enjoy the
faces of the Pharisees
when I tell them my decision.
Wonder why no word from Claudia?
Well, Cassius will know.
Uh, send out word
that I must see
Cassius as soon as he arrives.
I'm glad you waited, Nicodemus.
I have good tidings.
He consented, then?
Good.
If I ever I needed
your able tongue,
it was when I saw in his
eyes that it was hopeless.
I wish I might have rested.
What made him change his mind?
His unsettled state.
I think he fears that putting
Jesus to death was a mistake.
You were just in time.
There goes Caiaphas
and his group now.
We have work to do.
First, we'll get the oils
and spices for the anointing.
Then we'll get ladders and
sheets to take the body down.
We are the only ones to do it.
What happened to
all those others
who followed the crucified one?
Most of them are in hiding, all
except the one they call John.
I would have thought
he'd the most timid.
I admire the way
he stood his ground.
I don't know what the women
would have done without him.
Come.
I think this is the home
of Mara, the spice woman.
I'm sure of it.
Careful what you say.
Her trade is gossip
as much as spices.
Yes, yes, I'm coming.
Who... who is it?
We've come to buy
spices and herbs.
Who is it?
Joseph of Arimathea.
This is Nicodemus.
We don't mean to frighten you.
We're sorry to call
on you like this.
Had we known our needs, we'd
have come to the marketplace
this afternoon.
It would have done you no good.
This afternoon, I was up at
the hill with all the others.
The marketplace was deserted.
Heavens knows.
I need the money, but
there was no business.
Were... were you at the hill.
Did you see?
Yes, we were there.
Is... is he dead?
Did you not wait?
Oh, I wanted to see everything.
But the soldiers just
kept shoving us back.
I knew one of them.
And he let me get close.
When I saw them
driving those nails,
all those terrible nails.
Did they have to use nails?
I had to go home.
Woman, we have a
night's work before us.
Do you have spices and embalming
unction as they say you have?
Yes, all you need.
Is it for Jesus you wish it?
Yes.
He's... he's dead then.
Was it at the time
of the earthquake?
It was then.
Oh, I... I thought it must be.
Strange, strange.
I'll get you the
spices and herbs.
Come in.
Come in.
Take care of him.
I may need him again later.
Cassius, Cassius,
the Procurator
has been asking for you
every two or three minutes.
Where have you been?
I have just come from Golgotha.
I must see him at once.
Oh, now, Cassius, be careful
what you say to the Procurator.
He's had a bad day.
Besides, his wife
hasn't returned yet.
Have you seen her?
Claudia?
Where did she go?
We don't know.
Sure, she wasn't at the hill.
No, she wasn't.
But I must see him.
Now, don't say
anything to disturb him.
He trusts you, Cassius.
If you have bad news,
save it for tomorrow.
Caiaphas and Annas
have just left.
And I warn you,
Pilate is irritated.
You've never seen him so angry.
Wait until he hears
what I have to tell him.
What are you going to tell him?
Come and hear for yourself.
Come in, Cassius.
Forget the formalities
for the moment.
Where have you been?
Why have you kept me
waiting for your report?
Your instructions,
worthy Procurator,
were to bring you
the full report.
Out with it, then.
Worthy Procurator...
Yes, yes?
This Jesus we crucified
was the Son of God.
You infernal idiot.
How dare you?
Surely, Cassius is mistaken.
With your permission, I
will continue with my report.
I want facts, not
opinions.
I'm a soldier,
worthy Procurator.
What's more, a
soldier over soldiers.
I serve you best when I
bring you all the facts.
Well, proceed.
I have seen men die before.
I have put them to death myself
on the battlefield many times.
They were enemies, but
they bore an honest sword.
And I have carried out
the penalty of death
here in Jerusalem before.
But I have never seen
a man die as this man.
Why do you talk this way?
I have seen men die
with hate in their eyes,
uncertainty, wonderment, fear.
But never before
have I seen a man die
loving those who
put him to death.
Is not this the look that
comes into the eyes of a dog
when you've beat
him into submission?
How little you seem
to understand my words.
This Jesus was not a weak man.
Gentle, yes, but not weak.
Yes, he was strong.
I remember when he
stood before me.
And I reminded him
that I had the power
to crucify him or release him.
He told me that I would have
no power at all over him,
we're it not given
me from above.
For a moment, from the
quiet strength of him,
I could believe him a king.
This man died loving us.
I don't know exactly
how to tell you this.
Many times, I've seen this Jesus
blessing the throngs whenever
he preached to them
with his arms upraised.
On the cross, all I could
think of as I watched
was that he was
blessing us, still.
Come, come, Cassius.
You're dealing in sentiments.
I want facts.
How did he die and when?
You will recall that I
visited you when Jesus had been
on the cross some
time, told you there
would be no need
to break his legs.
Well, go on.
When I returned,
Jesus was almost dead.
At the instant of his death,
there was a great earthquake.
Surely, you felt it.
Hm.
It's true, then.
The same instance, you say?
The very instant.
The archers came up
to his legs to make
certain he was dead
before the Sabbath.
I had ridden up to
the middle cross.
To show them that Jesus
was already dead I...
You what?
I drove my lance, this
lance, into his side and...
And what?
Have you not noticed?
Nor you, Flaccus?
Noticed what?
Finish your story.
Look at my eyes.
Yes, you used to squint.
Your eyelids trembled nervously.
I... what are you
trying to tell us?
Yes, what is this?
From childhood, I suffered
this defect, this disfigurement.
This afternoon, it left me.
This afternoon?
When this afternoon, when?
As I withdrew my lance,
blood and water from his side
flowed over my face and body.
At that instant,
my eyes were cured.
But you said this
Jesus was already dead.
He was.
But more than my
eyes were cured.
I felt a new
excitement in my heart.
At this instant I knew
he was the Son of God.
I came down and knelt among
the women and adored him.
But you're a Roman.
What about the household gods?
There's only one
God and this is He.
Ridiculous.
You must have made
yourself ridiculous.
Didn't the other soldiers laugh?
I saw laughter on
nearly everyone's face
early this afternoon.
But in the darkness of the
earthquake, no one laughed.
If I know my soldiers,
there were some who laughed.
You must have been ridiculous
at the foot of that cross,
like a silly woman.
I swear to you that
there were curses
and shouts, sobs and
tears and trembling.
But there was no laughter.
What were the
other soldiers doing
at these moments you describe?
Abenadar the Centurion I put
in charge, what was he doing?
He was beside me in
the mud on his knees.
I heard him cry out, truly
this man the Son of God.
Once I washed my hands of this
matter, I thought it finished.
I'm twice the fool because
Claudia warned me that I should
have nothing to do
with this just man.
If I hadn't done
as I did, I might
have had worse trouble,
insurrection perhaps.
Have you seen Claudia, Cassius?
No, Procurator, I have not.
She's not in her chambers.
She hasn't been
seen for many hours.
The servants don't
know where she is.
If you see her, let
me know at once.
At once.
And one more
mission, the Pharisees
are displeased that
I committed the body
to fall into the hands
of Joseph of Arimathea.
As fantastic as your story is
of this afternoon's events,
I... I can think
of no other person
I can trust with
this new commission.
You will take charge of
the soldiers at the grave.
Flaccus will give you a
written order of command.
Yes, worthy Procurator.
You are to be my
personal representative.
I will hold you responsible.
You will report to me
everything that happens.
And keep your wits about you.
And don't come back with
another idle tale of nonsense.
Have the soldiers
been assigned?
Yes, they proceeded.
You will relieve
Gallicus in command.
Stay a moment, Flaccus.
Yes, worthy Procurator.
What do you make of
the tale Cassius tells?
Fantastic, but many
fantastic things
must have happened to have
sobered the people this way.
The people, the people,
forget the people.
They're like weeks, blowing in
the wind, this way and that.
True, but Cassius' eyes,
certainly enough, are cured.
Miracles from the
dead man, these things
will bear watching.
Yes, I fear our troubles
are not yet ended.
I am to be called for every
report from my officers.
Do you hear?
Come, Nicodemus,
we've still work to do.
You've stared at that site
long enough, as if transfixed.
Yes, but it burns itself
into my very senses.
It seems to remind
me of Abrams' altar
when he offered
up his son, Isaac.
Perhaps it is meant to
be a sign such as that.
But Nicodemus, our task
is with the living.
I fear for Mary, his mother.
The sadness in her
eyes tears my heart.
She asked me to gather these,
had me search out every one.
For what purpose, I do not know.
All signs of defeat.
She seems not to see the utter
defeat in all that's happened.
I have noticed that.
Sorrow, yes, I've
never seen such sorrow.
But defeat?
Not a sign of defeat.
In that, she was
like the son, himself.
He seemed to turn
death into victory.
On the cross, he seemed not
to pity himself, but us.
Did you hear him say
Father forgive them.
They know not what they do.
Yes, my heart was
wrenched when I heard it.
And again, a short time ago when
she held his body in her lap,
as if she would
never part from it.
She held his arms
outstretched, as
if she were a living
cross, herself.
Here Chicago comes.
These are some thorns that
were lodged in his brow.
I'll put them with the others.
Nothing must be lost.
Good woman, must you torment
yourself with these memories,
these instruments, these thorns?
Were it not better
to forget them all?
Surely, they are but
signs of cruelty, of hate.
Oh, no, Nicodemus, these
thorns were his crown.
We must keep them
because they were his.
But Mary.
Do you remember when he fed
the multitudes by the sea,
multiplying the
loaves and fishes?
Yes, I was there.
And I.
And John, here,
was among therm.
Yes, I was there.
And later on, gathered the
fragments left by the 5,000.
Yes, there was a great throng.
And they wanted to take him
by force and crown him king.
But he always knew he
was the King of Sorrows.
And he preferred this crown
and accepted it out of love.
But it was given in hate.
But taken in love.
Love will always conquer hatred.
Love is strength.
Hatred is weakness.
Is that not what
he always taught.
Yes, that is true.
He did teach us that.
The soldiers return.
That means trouble again.
Wait, I will see.
Disperse.
Go to your homes.
Who is the leader, here?
You may address you as
Gallicus temporary command
until Cassius arrives.
Why do your soldier
drive us away?
I have permission here from
the Procurator, from Pilate.
We are about our business.
And we.
What are you to do?
We must seal the
tomb and guard it.
But we have not
finished the anointing.
Must this be done at once?
Immediately, this minute.
I will attend to the seal
once I have satisfied myself
that the body of the
crucified is within.
I assure you that it is.
I shall see for myself.
Close the tomb and seal it.
Aren't you Mary, the one
they call the Magdalene?
I am Mary of Magdalen, yes.
I am honored to place
you under the protection
of the Roman legions.
I am Gallicus, second core.
My men and I...
I need no protection
from Romans.
An uncivil tongue
in so fair a woman.
Have you not heard that we
have conquered the world?
Would you rebuke to mighty
Caesar as your king?
My king lies there.
Yous king?
Nothing but a carpenters son.
He's dead.
Bury not your heart
in graves, fair one.
He will rise again,
as he has promised.
So he will rise again.
Well, Pilate has other ideas.
We will camp here and
see that he doesn't.
And then, woman of Magdalen,
Romans make sport
of the helpless.
Back you Judean dogs before
my sword divides each of you
like common apple.
Leave us be.
Must you annoy us.
Haven't you had
enough.
Such valor would make Caesar
proud of you, Gallicus.
I was only about...
It's obvious you
were outnumbered
by helpless women an old men.
My apologies for the
rudeness of my men.
They will not trouble you again.
I assure you.
Thank you, Roman.
- You have paid us a kindness.
- This man will help us.
Help us.
The Procurator has posted
a watch at this tomb.
I must carry out his orders.
But I assure you.
No harm will come to the body
during the term of my watch.
That is very
kind of you.
Your words and manner
are those of kindness.
In the darkness, you perhaps
do not recognize my face.
I saw him at the
cross on his knees.
Yes, he was there.
I saw him.
Good woman, I was
the soldier who
drove a lance in the
side of your son.
Yes.
Yes, he was.
He was already dead.
But it seemed a heaven-sent
impulse to do as I did.
Suddenly, I felt the
need of preventing
further desecration of his body.
I had to show the archers
he was truly dead,
so his legs would not be broken.
Have no fear.
God reads hearts.
You fulfilled a prophecy.
Not a bone of him
shall ye break.
But I drove a lance
through his heart.
And through mine.
You opened his heart, and
he wonderfully opened yours.
He has opened my heart
as he opened my eyes.
If you're tired of
the watch, ,
come warm yourself.
Sir, I will.
Cassius is communing
with himself.
I wish her were
in a better mood.
I'd like to ask
him some questions.
What, for example?
About Claudia, of course.
Claudia Procles, the
Procurator's wife?
What about her?
Before coming on watch,
I meant Quinticus.
He has one of the
palace assignments.
You notice the way he's
put on weight since he's
had access to the
palace kitchens?
Forget Quinticus.
What about Claudia.
Well, Qunticus
says that he palace
gossip is that
Claudia is missing.
Pilate's in a frenzy.
You know what a temper he has.
Claudia missing?
That's strange.
Seems that Pilate
and Claudia had
some disagreement
about this Nazarene.
She told him to have nothing
to do with him at the trial.
He promised her he wouldn't
and broke his pledge.
She's gone.
What makes you think
Cassius can tell us?
Well, he could if anyone could.
He's one of Pilate's
inner circle, isn't he?
I wonder if that's
what he's pondering now.
I don't think he's
worrying about Claudia.
Looks like he's involved
in deeper mysteries.
Joseph.
Joseph.
Joseph,
Joseph of Arimathea,
but for your kindness,
I know not where
we'd have found refuge
amid such trouble.
It is wise for you to remain
here in my supper room.
Your appearance on the streets
now would only cause commotion
and could bring you harm.
Stay here as long as you wish.
Thank you, Joseph.
We must take counsel
together to decide
what is the wisest course.
All we all here?
Yes, all but Matthew.
Let them in, Stephen.
Matthew.
Matthew.
Hail, Peter.
Hail, Matthew.
Hail, Thomas.
Peter.
I think we're all here now.
We are.
We are gathered
here by agreement
to keep the eve of the Sabbath.
But first, I want
to address you.
Peter?
Yes, Thomas?
Is it wise to meet here
in our accustomed place?
I think not.
Will not Judas betray us
too, as he did the Master?
He knew we would
meet the Sabbath eve.
Have you not heard, Thomas?
No, I have not.
He paid the
Master with a kiss.
That traitor.
Judas was twice a traitor,
first to the Master
and then to himself.
He hanged himself.
I don't believe it.
Judas was too crafty.
Besides, he has
our common purse.
It's probably some trick.
do not
always doubt, Thomas.
I have seen his wretched
body, and so, I believe,
have several of the others.
I have seen it.
Yes, Judas is dead, Thomas.
That such perfectly could
come from our very ranks
shakes me to my heart's core.
It shows how weak we all
are without the Master.
Not one of us is without
brain, save John here,
who would have followed the
Master's very footsteps.
And I praise him, although
he seeks no praise.
I'm not worthy to
be your leader.
And why such a one weak
as I was appointed,
I have never ceased to wonder.
Perhaps Jesus is teaching
us still that we are weak,
but we may be strong,
like the seed growing
secretly Of which
the Master stroke.
Yesterday's events
I've watched from afar,
having already denied the Lord.
But John was strong, as
was Mary, his mother.
And from them, I borrowed
strength that is not my own.
We must counsel
together what to do.
Peter?
Yes, my brother Andrew.
Before we followed the
Master, we were fisherman.
In three years, we have
not lost our skill.
We're like rusty anchors,
perhaps, too long out of water
and too much in
the sun, but easily
fitted again for service.
I suggest we leave
these precincts
and go back to Galilee
where we belong.
Good suggestion, Andrew.
Well-spoken Andrew.
Now that's wisdom.
Surely, we did not spend
three years following
the Master to return
again to our nets.
Was it for this the Master
set us out to cure the sick,
cast out devils?
Must I remind you,
John, the Master is dead,
with Roman soldiers
pacing at his grave.
And from what I hear, a
monstrous rock sealing it.
Aye, the Master is dead.
What are we to do?
I speak only for myself, but I
long for the hard pull of oars
again in my hand and the sound
of wind snapping in the sails.
I was cut out to be a fisherman.
For that, I have the arms.
I don't have the language
for anything else.
I used to admire the
way the Master held
the throng spellbound
with his words,
as if he spoke to every heart.
There's not one of us
here who could do that.
Yes, it's true.
We're fishermen.
Unlike most of you,
I was not a fisherman,
but a publican, a tax collector.
I was Levi then.
But when our Lord said follow
me, I was named Matthew.
In this group, I do
not hold the post,
but by training, I
might have done so.
I still have that training.
I still can make an
accounting, write a bond,
or strike a balance.
I ask you now to
strike this balance.
Christ is lost to us, but
his holy Mother is still
here among us, a
veritable apostle,
an apostle of apostles.
Do we not remember the Master's
parable of the talents?
Are we too like the
slothful servant?
Oh, no.
While Christ himself is
put away into the earth,
let us avail ourselves
of his gifts.
Let us make place here among
us for Mary, his holy mother.
Well said.
That's true wisdom.
Wisdom, indeed.
Matthew is wise
to have said this.
How have we
overlooked this?
God has favored your tongue
with wisdom, Matthew.
How blind our hearts.
How blind our eyes.
Our words, our disputings make
more sorrowful the very mother
of sorrows Let us give
her rightful place
here among us to counsel us.
We are like little children,
holy mother of the crucified,
wanting to run and not
knowing the direction.
Wanting to hide and
not knowing cover.
Your words shall counsel
us in these dark hours.
Jesus taught us
to pray, telling us
our Father knows our
needs before we ever ask.
It is true.
He does, indeed.
It is so.
We need only but to ask him.
Let us ask his help.
Will you lead us holy mother
is some familiar prayer
from the temple
that we all know?
Let us pray for strength,
strength for ourselves
and to forgive our enemies.
Jesus taught us a new prayer.
Forgive our enemies?
Why, every hand
is set against us.
Dare we adventure
into the streets.
The soldiers or the
Pharisees might seize us.
How can we forgive
yesterday's crime?
Forgive Judas?
And Pilate?
And Caiaphas?
My betrayal?
Forgive Golgotha?
The whips, the
thorns, the scourges?
Jesus who bore the ,
Thomas, Peter, all of you.
He forgave everyone.
From his own lip I heard
him say Father forgive them.
They know not what they do.
He taught us this same prayer
on the mountainside once.
Our Father who are in
heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done on
earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day
our daily bread.
And forgive us our
trespasses, as we
forgive those who
trespass against us.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil, Amen.
I've sent for your centurion
to hear from your won lips
the details of the search.
Flaccus tells me you
and your men were not
successful in learning
of Claudia's whereabouts.
True, worthy Procurator,
but I have patrol
still searching even
at this late hour.
Good, did you
search the temple?
Those places that could be
searched without being profane.
You and your men did not
penetrate the Holy of Holies?
Would anyone dare?
There was no need even
if it were possible.
The veil was torn from top
to bottom by the earthquake.
The temple was a shambles.
Be sure she is not there.
Have you searched all
the public buildings?
We have.
The estates of her friends?
We have.
Is she in hiding?
Would anyone dare to hide
the Procurator's wife?
It seems unbelievable.
The people are terrified enough.
Are you certain she was not all
on Golgatha, at that spectacle?
The whole city was
there, it seems.
But I did not see Claudia.
Your own conduct,
centurion, I'm told
was not above reproach.
In what regard?
You worship this Nazarene,
crying out he was a Son of God.
I did only as the
clods and stones.
You what?
Worthy Procurator,
this very week,
Jesus rode into Jerusalem
on an asses' colt.
The people spread their
cloaks and branches and palms
before him,
proclaiming him a King,
come in the name of the Lord.
The Pharisees
asked him to rebuke
his disciples for
their praise of him.
But he told them... I heard
him myself... I tell you
that if these keep silence,
the very stones will cry out.
Come.
Come.
Is this a parable?
When Jesus died on
Golgotha, the earth quaked,
and the very stones did cry out.
My own heart, itself
a stone before,
was rent for very need
of worshipping him.
It was then I cried, truly,
this man was the Son of God.
Who is it?
Messenger with food.
Do you have a sign?
Manna in the desert.
Yes, those are the words.
You are from Nazareth.
Come in.
Hi, I'm Stephen,
disciple of Jesus.
Even if I did not
know in advance,
I would recognize
you as Claudia.
I've seen you, of
course, at the Gabitha.
But even your garments and
manner of dress tell me
you're not one of us.
Later, you must bring
me other garments.
I dare not send for them now.
Whatever mission you wish
me to perform, I am ready.
Is there some message?
None at present.
Are the soldiers still
searching for me?
Yes, everywhere.
I fear they may come here.
They'll not think to look
for me here in Lazarus' home.
It's otherwise empty.
And there's a secure
hiding place above.
They'll not think I'd seek
shelter among Christians.
Why did you come here?
You were not a follower
of the crucified one.
You did not even know him.
No, but I knew that
Jesus was a just man.
I warned my husband I'd
suffered many things
in a dream because of him.
Then why did he condemn him?
He promised he would not.
He said he could
find no crime in him.
Twice, he pledged me
he would release him.
But he did not.
Because he was weak, and
he had the power of might,
Caesar's might.
When Jesus had been whipped
and scourged and beaten,
he too was weak.
But he had the power
of truth, his own.
God, now, has
giving me the wisdom
and courage to see a difference.
Stephen, you know the
things that Jesus taught.
Teach me the truth
that I may have light.
But you are a Roman, the
Procurator's wife, born free,
not a subject, like
we Judeans are.
The truth, Stephen,
it sets men free.
Is this not the
teaching of Jesus?
Yes, You will not
return, then, to Pilate.
No, Stephen.
Some words of the
Master's come to my mind
with new enlightenment.
Once I heard him say he had not
come to send peace upon earth,
but to bring a sword, not peace.
I remember he said for I have
come to set a man at variance
with his father and a
daughter with her mother.
And a man's enemies will be
those of his own household.
He who loves Father or Mother
more than me is not with of me.
I never thought this sword would
cleave Pilate's very household.
What a waste of manpower.
One of us legionaries
could guard
this spot as well as an army.
All right.
I thought we'd have a
crowd of sightseers.
Certainly was a big crowd
on the hill yesterday.
Today's the Sabbath, Decius.
How long have you been in
Jerusalem not to know things
are at a standstill
on the Sabbath.
You're right above the
crowd, though, certainly big.
It certainly was.
The way they were
yelling reminded me
of the chariot races
at the Flaminius
at Rome, as if one
of the chariots
had suddenly overturned
in the home stretch.
They do get excited over
an execution, these people,
don't they?
What do you make of the
way it ended, strange, huh?
Strange is not the word for it.
Of course I think it was a
coincidence, that earthquake.
People always think
when one event follows
another like that that
they're connected.
Not me.
I am not superstitious.
Cassius must be
superstitious, then.
Talked with him about
it during the watch
last night, claims
it was nothing
less than an act of God.
Eh, I think the whole thing
will be forgotten they way
they forget the chariot races.
One day, it's
terribly important.
The next, you can't remember
the name of the winning driver
or whether it was three
or four horses he drive.
Right.
I wish Cassius would relent
and let us ease up a bit.
I feel lucky today.
Like to throw you a
few games of dice.
Throw dice in the graveyard?
Not me.
Oh-ho, I thought you
weren't superstitious.
Here comes the centurion.
Can you leave your
post for a while?
I'd like to talk to you
while your men can't hear us.
Certainly, Gallicus, take over.
Come.
I didn't want to
talk over there,
but I want to go
over plans with you.
I understand.
First, does your guard
need to be reinforced?
Pilate's worried,
wants your opinion.
I see no need of that.
The watch has been
quiet, no problem.
Good, he'll be
pleased to hear that.
Every extra soldier is
searching for Claudia.
But he wants everyone at hand,
lest there by an insurrection.
Any signs of that?
None that I can see, only
fear, wonderment, uncertainty.
Most of the people are
locked in their houses.
Some went to the
temple, but it's a ruin.
So I hear.
Pilate regrets the
day he let this happen.
But somehow, I think great
good will come of it.
During the long
hours of my watch
that has been very thought.
Well, any report for Pilate?
Tell him all is well.
Matthew, Matthew,
our group is ready
now to leave for the tomb.
Unbar the door.
I must have dozed
since Thomas left
and since the other
two went to Amaeus.
Is it daybreak?
Not yet, but we are ready.
Does Peter know?
Does he approve of
such an early start?
I'll tell him, then.
Peter, awaken, Peter.
Peter, we are leaving now
to go to the sepulcher.
Only you women?
Have you no escort?
It is better this way.
I am not afraid.
No harm will come to us.
We have a lantern.
Can not one of us?
Oh no, Peter.
You are too well
known in the streets.
That would only
create attention.
You could not risk it.
Godspeed you, then.
Let them go, Matthew.
God go with you.
What is it, Cassius?
Has Claudia been found?
An insurrection?
He is risen.
He is risen.
Jesus is risen.
More idle nonsense,
have you lost your wits?
Have you, too,
deserted your post?
The Nazarene has risen.
Truth is for those
who will hear it.
Who is it?
Mary of Magdalen.
Peter.
What is it, Mary?
What is it?
What has frightened you?
Peter, the tomb is empty.
What?
The stone has been rolled
back, and the body is gone.
They have taken him away,
and I know not where.
Where are the other?
In the garden.
Where are you going?
Back to the tomb.
Come, John.
We must see what has happened.
He is risen, John.
This is the veil that was
wrapped around his sacred head.
Yet I do not understand.
He will enlighten us, Peter.
Come, we must spread these
good tidings quickly.
Rejoice, Claudia.
Rejoice.
He is risen.
Christ is risen.
Andrew, rejoice.
He has risen as he promised.
He has risen, and
I have seen him.
The soldiers say the one
they crucified is risen.
He's risen.
I've just heard the news.
The crucified one is come
forth from the grave.
He is risen?
Yes.
Rejoice, centurion.
Christ has risen.
Holy Mother, Jesus, your son,
has risen and appeared to me.
And to me, Peter, my son.
He has forgiven me,
my doubt, my weakness,
my betrayal, everything.
Seeing his cross and knowing
that he came back to us,
can you still not understand
the depths of his love?
But I denied him.
He chose me leader, and
three times I denied him.
When he needed me,
I ran from him.
And yet, his love pursued
you and always will.
This is why he came back.
When you understand
Golgotha, you
will understand Bethlehem
and the Eucharist.
Jesus forgives much
because he loves
much, that you may love him.
Did he not tell you to forgive
your brother seven times
was not enough.
Yes, nor 70 times 7, he said.
I heard him then with my ears.
I hear him now with my heart.
Yes, Peter.
Oh, great is my joy
after these dark hours.
He has given us a great victory.
No longer do I despair.
Again, I have faith.
He has restored my hope.
Rather speak in loving
charity, Peter, my son.
He has given his victory, not
to us alone, but to all men.
For they are your brothers.
Well, fellas, that's the
story of hill number one.
Peter, you asked what's
the meaning of all this.
Well, if you look
on hill number 46
in the light of hill number
one, hardship, suffering,
self-sacrifice is
never without meaning.
Out of these things,
many virtues are born,
courage, heroism, love.
When good men everywhere
so fervently want peace,
war is a crucifixion.
It shake the earth,
darkens the sun,
and makes man search for
faith and meaning and right,
as you're doing by asking
what's it all about.
And right's worth defending.
The first victory you achieve
is always one of faith,
You got to have faith in God.
I think Mary would
tell you that.
She told the apostles
before the Resurrection.
And I think Mary would tell all
of us to pray, to pray always.
That's quite a story when
you come to think about it.
That's what I want you
to do, think about it.
It's all right
here in the Rosary.
Of course, beads
don't tell it to me.
I tell it to the beads.
That's what meditation is.
That's what prayer is.
Yeah, Mansfield.
Say, we've taken that hill.
Sure, it's Easter morning.
In the name of the Father and of
the Son and of the Holy Ghost,
Amen.
Dear mother and
father and child,
may God help me now to bring
home to you what the Rosary can
do to your family to
enable you to fulfill well
the last wish of our Redeemer,
the last wish of your Redeemer.
When he left the supper table
to go out into the agony,
just before he went
into the garden
to pay the price for the
forgiveness of your sins
and mine, he made a
wish and a prayer.
And that wish and
prayer of our Lord
was this... unity
amongst his followers.
Dear mother, dear father,
dear son and daughter,
in our Lord's holy name and
the name of your Redeemer
who paid the price
for your redemption
and for the forgiveness
of your sins,
I ask you with all my heart
to fulfill and give to him
his last wish before he went
into the garden for his agony
for you.
Unity, unity in yourself, unity
with him, love for yourselves,
love for him, this dear
mother and father and child,
you can do, as sure
as God is alive.
If night after night
for a lifetime,
you gather to say
the Rosary together,
to let the Rosary teach you,
to let the Rosary inspire you,
to let the Rosary develop you,
In our Blessed Mother's name,
the Queen of heaven
and earth, I ask you,
dear mother and father and
child to raise your voices
with the millions of
others, to say the family
that prays together
stays together.