Judah Ben-Hur:
You sent for me?
Pontius Pilate:
I hope I bring you a good conclusion to your victory. I have a message for you from the consul, your father.
Judah Ben-Hur:
I honor him.
Pontius Pilate:
As you may honor yourself. You have been made a citizen of Rome.
[pause]
Pontius Pilate:
Do you say nothing to this?
Judah Ben-Hur:
I have just come from the Valley of Stone where my mother and my sister live what's left of their lives. By Rome's will, lepers; outcasts without hope!
Pontius Pilate:
I have heard this. There was great blame there, very deeply regretted.
Judah Ben-Hur:
Their flesh is mine, m'lord Pilate. It already carries Rome's mark.
Pontius Pilate:
Messala is dead. What he did has had its way with him.
Judah Ben-Hur:
The deed was not Messala's. I knew him, well, before the cruelty of Rome spread in his blood. Rome destroyed Messala as surely as Rome has destroyed my family.
Pontius Pilate:
Where there is greatness, great government or power, even great feeling or compassion, error also is great. We progress and mature by fault. But Rome has said she is ready to join your life to hers in a great future.
Judah Ben-Hur:
There are other voices.
Pontius Pilate:
The voice for instance of Arrius, waiting for you in Rome. He would tell you, if I may speak in his place, not to crucify yourself on a shadow such as old resentment or impossible loyalties. Perfect freedom has no existence. A grown man knows the world he lives in, and for the present, the world is Rome. Young Arrius, I am sure, will choose it.
Judah Ben-Hur:
I am Judah Ben-Hur.
[long pause; Pilate turns and walks away a few steps, then gestures]
Pontius Pilate:
I crossed this floor in spoken friendship, as I would speak to Arrius. But when I go up those stairs I become the hand of Caesar, ready to crush all those who challenge his authority. There are too many small men of envy and ambition who try to disrupt the government of Rome. You have become the victor and hero to these people. They look to you, their one true god as I called you. If you stay here, you will find yourself part of this tragedy.
Judah Ben-Hur:
I am already part of this tragedy.
[Judah Ben-Hur takes off Arrius' ring]
Judah Ben-Hur:
Return this to Arrius. I honor him too well to wear it any longer.
Pontius Pilate:
[taking the ring]
Even for the sake of Arrius, I cannot protect you from personal disaster if you stay here. You are too great a danger.
[he turns away and walks up the stairs to the governor's throne]
Pontius Pilate:
Leave Judea. You have my warning.
[Judah Ben-Hur then exits Pilate's palace]
