Pilate: Well, wife, that was becoming behavior!
Claudia:
Pilate: He was a guest of Pontius Pilate!
Claudia:
Pilate: Your great wisdom in the matter of politics tires me, Claudia.
Claudia:
Pilate: (To Joanna) Well? What are you waiting for? Out!
Joanna:
Pilate: You may find it was a mistake.
Claudia:
Pilate: Jerusalem is quite today, is it not?
Where are the threatened riots? Answer me.
I have averted the riots, haven't I?
Claudia:
Pilate: Always a helpful bit of encouragement for your husband, haven't you?
Claudia:
Pilate: Done what?
Claudia:
Pilate: Bah! Another stupid Jew!
Claudia:
Pilate: The Jews are wise, are they?
Claudia:
Pilate: I despise them.
Claudia:
Pilate: They tried to force my hand again last night.
Claudia:
Pilate: They did not.
Claudia:
Pilate: I have a sixth sense for these things. I could smell trouble.
Claudia:
Pilate: I tried him fairly.
Claudia:
Pilate: You presume, wife. You seem to forget that --
Claudia:
Pilate: The gods are angry that a wife should upbraid a husband!
Claudia:
Pilate: Rot! It is going to rain, that is all.
Claudia:
Pilate: What?
Claudia:
Pilate: It would be now in process. Some two or three hours ago it began.
Claudia:
Pilate: Would you rather have entire city shaken with riot, or have one man die?
Claudia:
Pilate: Where is the incense? Joanna!
Claudia:
Pilate: You are mad Claudia. I am not on trial for what I did with Jesus.
Claudia:
Joanna:
Pilate: Incense! Mars and Jupiter are angry! Quickly, fool!
Joanna:
Claudia:
Pilate: Your fantasies no longer amuse me.
Your dreams no longer irritate me!
It is not enough that you send me a message in the middle of the trail --
Claudia:
Joanna:
Pilate: Great Mars, god of war:
Hymn Lyrics
Mighty Zeus, god of blood;
accept the worship of this humble slave and hear his fervent petition.
Cease thy rumblings
end thy war fare;
still the quaking earth!
on your knees, fools! Kneel!
Claudia:
Pilate: On your knees! Your knees!
Claudia:
Pilate: Down, down!
Claudia:
Pilate: I washed my hands of him! I said it was their affair.
Claudia:
Pilate: They sentenced him, not I. I called him King! I wrote it at his head.
Claudia:
Pilate: (Quite shaken; as in a dream, he crosses to a basin, and dips his hands in)
I am innocent of the blood of this righteous man!
Claudia:
Pilate: I am innocent of the blood of this righteous man.
Claudia:
Narrator: