Adventure Story By Terrence Rattigan

Oldtuberadio

Adventure Story The play focuses on the transformation of Alexander the Great after his conquest of Persia from a military adventurist to an uncompromising despot with a grand vision of a world empire which estranges him from his erstwhile friends. Driven by a deep-felt insecurity, he starts to kill people close to him including the father figure Cleitus. He tries to justify his actions in the name of his dreams of the world empire, but is haunted by loneliness in the end. Alexander the Great .... Paul Daneman The Queen Mother of Persia .... Margaret Rawlings Hephaestion, a Macedonian officer .... David Brierley Alexander .... Paul Daneman A sculptor .... Michael Harbour Philip of Macedon Alexander's father .... John Wyse General Parmenion .... David March Philotas his son .... Nigel Graham The Pythia Priestess of Delphi .... Margaret Robertson The Queen Mother of Persia .... Margaret Rawlings Darius, King of Persia .... John Justin Queen Statira .... Barbara Mitchell Prince Bessus Satrap of Bactria .... Anthony Jackson Princess Statira .... Sian Davies Mazares, servant to Darius .... Harold Kasket Cleitus, a Macedonian officer .... Francis de Wolff Macedonian officer - Ptolemy .... Michael Harbour Macedonian officer - Perdicoas .... Christopher Bidmead Roxana .... Margaret Robertson Adapted by Peter Watts Produced by John Powell First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 1967  Do you enjoy the variety on Oldtuberadio? Like, Share and Subscribe to be notified of our new shows #radio #crime #thriller #drama To Support this channel please visit https://www.buymeacoffee.com/oldtuberadio https://ko-fi.com/oldtuberadio98 https://www.patreon.com/oldtuberadio https://locals.com/Oldtuberadio

Transcript

00:00:00Adventure Story

00:00:20A play by Terence Rattigan

00:00:26Adapted for radio by Peter Watts

00:00:29Paul Damon plays Alexander of Macedon

00:00:34and Margaret Rawlings, the Queen Mother of Persia

00:00:39Adventure Story

00:00:42When did it first start to go wrong?

00:00:53Surely there was no cloud on the horizon in those early days in Bella

00:00:58I sat in the little sculptor's workshop

00:01:04watching the marble likeness of the prince take shape under the chisel

00:01:08Well, Edithian, will it flatter me?

00:01:13It's too early to say, but I expect so

00:01:16Sir, the chin a little this way

00:01:18What is this?

00:01:21Master, the king, on his way here

00:01:24I was in the marketplace

00:01:25The king rode by with the guards

00:01:27That young captain who comes here sometimes

00:01:29Philotus, yes

00:01:30He saw me and roared into the crowd pretending he was pushing me back

00:01:33He whispered, the king's search in Bella for Prince Alexander

00:01:37Run home and warn your master

00:01:39Well, I have done nothing wrong

00:01:41I am a free citizen of Macedon

00:01:44acting under the command of the crown prince

00:01:46May the gods protect me

00:01:50Stay here

00:01:51That's right

00:01:52You're your father

00:01:53Go on with your work

00:01:54Yes, sir

00:01:56Sir King

00:02:02Get out

00:02:04And you

00:02:06No, Edithian

00:02:07You want your minion to stay

00:02:10I want Edithian to stay

00:02:13Yes

00:02:14Why weren't you at the ceremony this morning?

00:02:17I was engaged on more important business

00:02:18Having a portrait done

00:02:19Yes

00:02:20For the twentieth time

00:02:21I must admit that the interest that the sculptor seemed to show in me is very flattering

00:02:24You knew how your absence would be construed

00:02:28That I hate weddings

00:02:29And that I loathe my uncle

00:02:31And that you have chosen this moment

00:02:33Publicly to insult your king

00:02:35You are under arrest

00:02:38Oh?

00:02:39Not because of the insult

00:02:41To resent an insult

00:02:43One must have some respect for the insulter

00:02:46Your arrest is protective

00:02:48Of you or me?

00:02:50Of both of us

00:02:51Indeed, why?

00:02:52Your soul, I know

00:02:54Lingers so much in the cloudy realms of art and philosophy

00:02:57And so rarely visits the earth

00:02:59That it's probable that you haven't heard of the conspiracy

00:03:03That my agent's unmasked two days ago

00:03:05My soul is visiting the earth at this moment, Father

00:03:08What conspiracy was this?

00:03:11Three of the ringleaders have already confessed

00:03:13To what?

00:03:14Plotting to murder me and make you king

00:03:18They confessed under torture

00:03:19Your sensitive spirit is revolted at the authority

00:03:23Do they say that I incited them?

00:03:25No

00:03:26Your mother

00:03:27They are lying

00:03:30Of course

00:03:31How could so loyal and gentle a creature plot against her beloved ex-husband?

00:03:38For gods know my mother has reason enough to kill you, Father

00:03:40But she has not tried to

00:03:41Nor have I

00:03:43While I still loved her as my wife

00:03:45She tried to poison me

00:03:46A lie

00:03:47Invented by you to mask your own crime against her

00:03:50Such crimes as condoning her infidelities

00:03:53And publicly acknowledging

00:03:54Another man's bastard of my hair

00:03:57No, Alexander

00:03:58Oh, you can let him go, Ephesians

00:04:01If I had a pharynxman's ten-foot pike and I were naked

00:04:05I could defend myself without your help

00:04:09Pamelion?

00:04:10Sir?

00:04:11General Pamelion

00:04:12You will remain in charge here

00:04:15And are excused from the ceremony of the assembly

00:04:18These two men are not to move from this house

00:04:22Until I decide where they are to be confined

00:04:25You should have come to the wedding, sir

00:04:29Why do you do these things when you know how much they enrage him?

00:04:33I suppose for that reason

00:04:34It'll all blow over in a day or two, I expect

00:04:36What this time?

00:04:37I'll do my best

00:04:38I know you will, Pamelion

00:04:39This conspiracy, it is an invention, isn't it?

00:04:44No, sir

00:04:44I see

00:04:46Set up my sculptor, would you?

00:04:49You'll find him hiding in his cellar, I expect

00:04:51Do you want me to rescue you?

00:04:53How?

00:04:54Oh, we'll make for Athens

00:04:55We'd raise an army in no time

00:04:57March on Macedon, turn Philip out and make you king

00:04:59Oh, but I mean

00:05:00Alexander, listen to me, please

00:05:01To be great in this life, you have to take your chances when they come

00:05:04Possibly, but you must also know when those chances are good

00:05:07Any chance that the last a man will get must be good

00:05:10Live in exile in Athens if you like

00:05:11But don't let yourself be tamely beaten by Philip

00:05:14Let me at least have a try to rescue

00:05:17You needn't be involved yourself

00:05:18What's that noise?

00:05:21It's my father's entrance into the assembly, I expect

00:05:23The usual spontaneous acclamation

00:05:25Doesn't sound like acclamation, more like anger

00:05:27Anger?

00:05:29Anger at King Philip, the saviour of our country, my dear, my lotus

00:05:32Then they have word about your arrest

00:05:34Yeah, well, they'd be cheering all the louder if they had

00:05:36Oh, damn all my gods

00:05:37Here comes that tough people of mine back again

00:05:39Look, they haven't spotted my absence

00:05:40I'll see what he wants

00:05:41Why do they hate me so much, Vistu?

00:05:45I try to make them like me

00:05:46How?

00:05:47The only way I know

00:05:48By being myself

00:05:49Perhaps they don't understand yourself

00:05:51Is there so much to understand?

00:05:54Not to me

00:05:54Only to others

00:05:55Take even Philotus, for instance

00:05:58Alexander, I mean

00:05:58You knew it, didn't you?

00:06:01Knew what?

00:06:03When you refused to escape just now, you had a reason

00:06:05Yes, I gave it to you

00:06:06No other?

00:06:08No other?

00:06:10You have the luck of a god

00:06:12And by all the gods in heaven, you'll need it now

00:06:14Philip has been killed

00:06:16Ah

00:06:16On his way into the assembly

00:06:18A man called Pausanius struck a Celtic dagger right into his heart

00:06:20It was well planned

00:06:22He got himself among the distinguished guests

00:06:25And he couldn't have done that without influence, sir

00:06:28What's happening at the assembly, Philip?

00:06:30My friend didn't stay more than a second

00:06:31But, sir, he did hear your uncle shouting that it was a known conspiracy

00:06:38And the work of other people

00:06:40What other people?

00:06:42Well?

00:06:45Alexander's mother and Alexander himself

00:06:47Sir, you must act at once

00:06:50You must leave Pella this minute with your escort and go up into the mountains

00:06:53Where is Parmenion now?

00:06:55Shedding a couple of tears somewhere down below, I expect, poor old man

00:06:57He and Philip were like brothers, you know

00:06:59Sir, you must hurry

00:07:00Your uncle knows where you are

00:07:02My son has told you, sir

00:07:09Yes, Parmenion

00:07:11I blame myself

00:07:13We should have guarded him more closely

00:07:15What is one to believe?

00:07:20Alexander, it looks as if my father needs to be reassured that you had no hand

00:07:24In King Philip's murder

00:07:26I had no hand in his murder

00:07:29Swear by the gods

00:07:31I swear by the gods

00:07:33Yeah

00:07:33But I murdered him

00:07:36Sir

00:07:36I murdered him in my thoughts

00:07:38But a day has passed, but I wished him dead

00:07:40Now he's dead

00:07:41I would not wish him alive

00:07:43You were his friend, Parmenion

00:07:46It is best you should know that before you decide what you should do

00:07:48But myself

00:07:50I am going back to the assembly

00:07:51The assembly?

00:07:53Your uncle is in command there and you haven't enough troops

00:07:55I'm going unescorted and unarmed

00:07:57What?

00:07:58You are all welcome to come with me if you like

00:08:00But if you do

00:08:00I must ask you to leave your swords behind

00:08:03But Sir

00:08:03Evistion

00:08:04Are you coming?

00:08:06Yes, of course

00:08:07It's madness

00:08:10Go, Al

00:08:12There's my sword

00:08:13And mine

00:08:17When did it begin to go wrong?

00:08:35Not, I think, with his blasphemy at Delphi that day

00:08:39Apollo could afford to smile at that

00:08:43It was only twelve short years ago

00:08:47I, the Pythia

00:08:50The prophetess of the god

00:08:52Was that prayer in my upper room

00:08:55About the great statue of Apollo

00:08:57Uh, madam

00:09:12You have no right in this place, sir

00:09:16This is forbidden ground

00:09:17I am here under orders

00:09:19No one gives orders in Delphi

00:09:22Say the god Apollo

00:09:23Through his chosen mouthpiece myself

00:09:25My master has come to Delphi

00:09:26To consult the oracle

00:09:27And must leave tonight

00:09:29He demands an audience with you at once

00:09:31A mystery of the oracle

00:09:32Is a holy boon

00:09:33To be craved of god

00:09:34Not demanded

00:09:35From a hired fortune teller

00:09:36Evistion

00:09:37Evistion

00:09:40Who's to be late?

00:09:41I told you to stay outside, Philotus

00:09:43Yes, I know

00:09:43Go

00:09:44Oh, this isn't the holiest spot in Greece, is it?

00:09:48It's rather impressive, I must admit

00:09:50Reminds me of all my unrepentant things

00:09:52Are you this man's master?

00:09:54In some things, not in all

00:09:56He beats me in wrestling

00:09:57But if you mean am I King Alexander

00:09:59I am not

00:10:00As you've no doubt recognised from our armour

00:10:02We're officers of His Majesty's personal bodyguard

00:10:05The Companion Cavalry

00:10:06Your armour, sir, is unknown to me

00:10:08But your manners are unmistakably Macedonian

00:10:10This king you speak of

00:10:13Is therefore the new king of Macedon

00:10:14And captain general of all Greece

00:10:16An imposing title for so young a man

00:10:20Wasn't it his father's?

00:10:22I didn't realise it had become hereditary

00:10:24That insinuation is little unworthy of a woman of God

00:10:28King Alexander was freely elected captain general a week ago

00:10:32However, don't let's waste time

00:10:34King Alexander is waiting

00:10:35I have already given my answer to King Alexander's request, sir

00:10:39I think we'd better go, Hobbitian

00:10:41Tell your master I shall bolt and bar the door

00:10:46I heard all that, you know

00:10:56It isn't true

00:10:57At least I hope it isn't

00:10:59How did you care?

00:11:00I've always been rather good at climbing

00:11:01And Apollo helped me

00:11:03Apollo?

00:11:04The statue down there has got some very convenient footholds

00:11:06Sir, your presence desecrates this holy place

00:11:09As you have already desecrated the gods in me

00:11:11No, no, listen

00:11:12I'm unarmed

00:11:13I am Alexander of Macedon

00:11:17I had guessed that

00:11:18Oh

00:11:19King Alexander, I must ask you to leave this place at once

00:11:24They told me I have to submit my question in writing

00:11:26So I've stippled it out for you

00:11:27There

00:11:27Is this seriously the question you wish to put to the god of Pover?

00:11:35Yes, why?

00:11:38Very well, I shall put this before the council

00:11:40Well, why can't you answer it now?

00:11:42Because it's impossible

00:11:43I once asked my tutor how a man could become a god

00:11:46And he answered

00:11:47By doing what is impossible for a man to do

00:11:50Please, please

00:11:53Answer my question now, will you?

00:11:54If I did, Alexander

00:11:56It would be my answer, not the god

00:11:58Thus then I suppose I shall have to take that risk

00:12:00Apollo!

00:12:02Well, please listen to my question and forgive my lack of formality

00:12:05But I'm in a hurry

00:12:06My question is

00:12:08Shall I succeed in founding the ideal state?

00:12:13Well

00:12:13Do you feel Apollo answering?

00:12:16No

00:12:17Why are you smiling?

00:12:20Won't it be necessary first to find out what the ideal state is?

00:12:24I found that out

00:12:25Beyond any doubt

00:12:26Now, look, don't make fun of me, Pythia

00:12:27For ten years I've worked on this problem

00:12:30Your ideal state is the monarchy, I assume

00:12:34Oh, yes, it has to be

00:12:36Democracy has been proved a failure

00:12:38I mean, look at that

00:12:39I'm swayed by every demagogue

00:12:41A leader's terrified to take any action that may be unpopular

00:12:43What a spectacle

00:12:44Oh, no democracy for me

00:12:47Oligarchy is as bad

00:12:49I mean, rule by committee

00:12:50It's helpless

00:12:51You see, Pythia

00:12:52A ruler must be a dedicated being

00:12:54Dedicated in mind, body, and soul

00:12:56To the ultimate good of the people he is ruling

00:12:57Above all such human emotions as hatred or love or greed

00:13:01A sort of

00:13:02Well, a sort of man-god, really

00:13:05That's Aristotle's phrase

00:13:07And

00:13:07I ask you

00:13:09Where can you find twenty or thirty dedicated man-gods in one state?

00:13:13I don't know

00:13:13But you seem confident of having found at least one in Macedon

00:13:18Well, you're making fun of me again

00:13:20I'm not claiming even a shred of divinity, Pythia

00:13:23That's an Asiatic idea

00:13:25It's grotesque and dangerous

00:13:26No

00:13:26By a man-god, I mean

00:13:28A man who must train himself to act, think, and feel like a god

00:13:32I hope I live to see this earthly paradise in Macedon

00:13:36Why, you don't think I've been talking only of Macedon, do you?

00:13:39How magnificent that sounds

00:13:41But how bare the reality will be, Alexander

00:13:44A few paltry contingents meet state in the Macedonian army

00:13:49At most, thirty thousand men

00:13:52Thirty-five, with luck

00:13:53And the great king of Persia

00:13:56Do you know how many men he has?

00:13:59I think so

00:13:59Let's see if our figures agree

00:14:01Two million

00:14:02Oh, an exaggeration

00:14:04At most a million and a half

00:14:05And to raise such an army will take time

00:14:07And time I don't intend to give him

00:14:09The most he can bring against me in Asia Minor will be, ooh, two hundred thousand

00:14:12An army six times the size of yours

00:14:15Won't that be enough?

00:14:16I don't think so

00:14:17Oh

00:14:18Why must you do this madness, Alexander?

00:14:22I must make good my boast

00:14:23What boast?

00:14:25At the wedding banquet when my father married again

00:14:27After divorcing my mother

00:14:29He made me attend, of course

00:14:31He wouldn't miss a chance like that

00:14:32His new father-in-law made a speech

00:14:35Saying that now all King Philip's loyal subjects

00:14:37Could at last hope for an heir to the throne

00:14:39I stood up and said

00:14:41Indeed?

00:14:42And what does that make me?

00:14:42A bastard?

00:14:43And then I threw my wine in his face

00:14:45I was rather astir at that

00:14:47I should imagine there would be

00:14:48And then my father got to his feet

00:14:49He was drunk, of course

00:14:51He drew his sword quite slowly

00:14:53No one stopping him

00:14:54Everyone silent watching him

00:14:55And then

00:14:57He started to come at me

00:14:59I didn't draw my sword

00:15:00I just stood there waiting

00:15:01And then

00:15:02His foot slipped in the spilt vine

00:15:05And he crashed between two couches

00:15:07Completely disappearing from view

00:15:08Except for one leg stuck up in the air

00:15:10His stiff leg

00:15:11No one laughed except me

00:15:13I said

00:15:14Look, ladies and gentlemen

00:15:16The man who is about to pass from Europe into Asia

00:15:19Can't even pass from one end of a table to another

00:15:21Perhaps Greece will rejoice

00:15:23When the captaincy general passes to his legitimate heir

00:15:26Then I walked past all the goggling courtiers

00:15:29And I went out

00:15:30That was very brave of him

00:15:31Well, I didn't think of it as brave

00:15:33I thought it was rather witchy

00:15:34But I made the boast

00:15:36And

00:15:37Now I must fulfill it

00:15:40But your father is dead

00:15:42I must fulfill it

00:15:44So I want the answer to my question

00:15:47Let's see if you can get Apollo to speak, Pythia

00:15:50No, Alexander

00:15:51Pythia

00:15:52If you get the God to answer my question

00:15:54I shall remember you in my prayers forever

00:15:56I promise

00:15:57I shall lead the virtuous life

00:15:58I shall sacrifice to Apollo every night

00:16:00Please, Pythia

00:16:02Please

00:16:02Oh, Alexander

00:16:04You're invincible

00:16:06I shall pray to the God to let me give you his answer

00:16:11Thank you, but

00:16:12There's no need now

00:16:14But

00:16:15The Oracle has already spoken

00:16:18Invincible

00:16:22Goodbye, Pythia

00:16:24That wasn't the God

00:16:26The God spoke

00:16:27Alexander, come back

00:16:28I don't know if it was the God who spoke

00:16:29Well

00:16:30That we shall

00:16:31Both of us have to find out

00:16:33One day

00:16:33Won't we, Pythia

00:16:35My son, I only know this

00:16:39There is one conquest you must make first

00:16:44What's that?

00:16:46Yourself

00:16:47Know thyself, Alexander

00:16:51I've trained myself to look deep into my heart

00:16:54And what do you see there?

00:16:57Love or hatred?

00:16:58Neither the one nor the other

00:17:00A man-God must be above all human emotions

00:17:03Beware, Alexander

00:17:04The gods may grow angry if you try to make yourself one of them

00:17:07Let them

00:17:07Do you hear that, Apollo?

00:17:10A little mortal down here is defying you

00:17:12He's not only going to tread on your nose again

00:17:15But he's going to try and join you on Olympus

00:17:17Well

00:17:18Well, where's that thunderbolt?

00:17:23Is he?

00:17:26Goodbye, Pythia

00:17:26And thank you

00:17:28Remember, Alexander

00:17:32There's always the last battle

00:17:34I shall win it

00:17:35I am invincible

00:17:37Goodbye, Pythia

00:17:39Goodbye

00:17:41And it hadn't started to go wrong, I think

00:17:56Not for Alexander

00:17:58That day when we and Persia first began to take him seriously

00:18:03We were in Babylon

00:18:05Sitting in a corner of the Hanging Gardens

00:18:08That was my son Darius' favourite resting place in the heat of the day

00:18:13His wife, Queen Statira

00:18:16And the little princess

00:18:17Were smiling at the way the Bactrian general, Prince Bessus

00:18:21Was nodding off to sleep in the heat

00:18:24Darius was reading a dispatch

00:18:27You know, Statira, this boy Alexander

00:18:35Has the most wonderful insolence

00:18:37I begin to admire him

00:18:39Listen, Mother

00:18:41This dispatch comes from a spy in Gordium

00:18:44Bessus

00:18:46Wake up and listen to this

00:18:48He says

00:18:50There is a local superstition concerning the ancient farm wagon

00:18:54Preserved in the Gordium Citadel

00:18:56According to this legend

00:18:58The empire of the world will go to anyone who can untie the knot

00:19:02Which binds the ox yoke to the pole

00:19:04Alexander decided to attempt the puzzle

00:19:07To prevent trickery of any kind

00:19:09And I arranged that he should be followed by a large crowd of townspeople

00:19:13Clever

00:19:13A little too clever, I'm afraid

00:19:16Listen

00:19:16After inspecting the knot for a few seconds

00:19:19Alexander treacherously severed it with his sword

00:19:24Well

00:19:25Isn't there an element of old-world bravado about that gesture that rather pleases you?

00:19:31The sort of madmen are the most dangerous, Majesty

00:19:33Dangerous?

00:19:34Yes, at the head of an army

00:19:36And hardly at the head of a skirmishing force

00:19:38And what has he had in the way of reinforcements since the Battle of Granica, sir?

00:19:43He's already defeated a Persian army

00:19:45That clever general, Caridemus, had the best idea

00:19:48Just leave the boy to rot in Phrygia

00:19:50He can't get through the Cilician gate

00:19:52What are they, Father?

00:19:54A very narrow pass in the north

00:19:56Only three men abreast can march through it

00:19:58It is impregnable

00:19:59A hundred men can hold it

00:20:01What shall I do with Alexander when I've caught him?

00:20:06My child, hmm?

00:20:07Put him

00:20:08In a cage with Marduk

00:20:10Who is Marduk?

00:20:13Her pet lion cub

00:20:14Are you taking Marduk with you?

00:20:17Yes

00:20:17No, Dorian

00:20:18I told her she can't

00:20:19I don't see why not

00:20:21I'm certainly not having him in my quarters

00:20:23I didn't realise you were taking a family, sir

00:20:25Oh, didn't you, Bessus?

00:20:26You should know I wouldn't be parted from them

00:20:28Even for three months

00:20:29But as your majesty, quite sure

00:20:31After all, accidents can happen

00:20:33Nonsense, Bessus

00:20:35I rather enjoy these outings

00:20:36Mother

00:20:37What would you have me do with the captive Alexander?

00:20:43Kill him, of course

00:20:44A dispatch address to his imperial majesty

00:20:49Your majesty

00:20:54What is it, Dorian?

00:20:59He's broken through the Silesian gates

00:21:02What?

00:21:03What?

00:21:03How?

00:21:04How did he do it?

00:21:06A surprise attack

00:21:07He covered 70 miles in two days

00:21:10Impossible, isn't it?

00:21:13Impossible

00:21:13You know, I'm looking for

00:21:15The End

00:21:45We captured that gorgeous pavilion of yours, more like a throne room than a tent.

00:21:52Was that where?

00:21:55No, it can't have been.

00:21:59Clytus, wasn't it, reached the tent first?

00:22:01I can picture old father Clytus, the best phalanx man in our army,

00:22:05still muddy and sweaty from the battle, lying on your divan like a Persian prince,

00:22:10waited on by your servant, gorging himself with your food and wine.

00:22:15More wine, master?

00:22:17Ah, you speak Greek, do you?

00:22:19What's your name?

00:22:21Masaris.

00:22:22What outlandish names you barbarians do have.

00:22:26Clytus!

00:22:27Sir?

00:22:28What are you doing here?

00:22:29Guarding the tent.

00:22:32Look, Philotus, guards.

00:22:35These were Darius' own quarters, I suppose.

00:22:38God, but Darius knew how to live.

00:22:40Father, have you ever seen anything like this in all your life?

00:22:42Not exactly the style of living one would expect of a commander-in-chief in the field.

00:22:46I agree.

00:22:47Disgusting, I call it.

00:22:48Disgusting, I call it.

00:22:49Magnificent.

00:22:50You would, Philotus.

00:22:51Who is this man?

00:22:53Darius' personal servant, sir.

00:22:54I found him hiding under the bed, in there.

00:22:57I gather there were a score or so of others, but some of the men got here first.

00:23:01Killed?

00:23:01Yeah.

00:23:02Ah, pity.

00:23:03They'd have been useful for interrogation.

00:23:05You, what's in that chest over there?

00:23:07Here is the key, master.

00:23:09Open it, Philotus.

00:23:10Yes.

00:23:11And you, wait in there till we call for you.

00:23:13Master.

00:23:17Gee.

00:23:17Ah.

00:23:18Well, gentlemen.

00:23:20It looks as if there'll be a chance at last to settle some arrears of pain.

00:23:24Ah, the wealth of these barbarians.

00:23:27Oh, it makes one vomit.

00:23:28Oh, not me, it doesn't.

00:23:29What do you suppose these things were for?

00:23:32Perhaps decorations for gallantry.

00:23:34Sure.

00:23:34But then how'd they be needed today?

00:23:36Oh, I don't know.

00:23:37They didn't fight too badly.

00:23:39They insinuated the phallics ran a...

00:23:40You only see what's happening on your own sector.

00:23:43It was a beautiful plan of battle.

00:23:45And unlike most plans of battle, it worked perfectly in practice.

00:23:48You see, we happen to have the honor of serving under the military genius.

00:23:52Genius, father?

00:23:54My estimate of Alexander as a commander-in-chief is that he's a goodish cavalry captain with the devil's own luck.

00:23:59Sir, are you going to allow him to insult the king?

00:24:02Insult the king?

00:24:02You old blockhead as if I would.

00:24:04I'm far closer to him than you are.

00:24:05That's a lie.

00:24:06Oh, yes, I know.

00:24:07You carried him in your arms as a child and saved his life at the Granicus, and he loves you as a father.

00:24:12I suppose we're going to hear all that again.

00:24:13Sir, I must answer this.

00:24:14Don't be a fool, Clytus.

00:24:16Oh, very well.

00:24:18Why, Lotus, that tongue of yours will get you into trouble one of these days.

00:24:22A truthful tongue often does.

00:24:23I have a good mind to order you to be confined to your quarters.

00:24:26I wish you would, father.

00:24:28What?

00:24:28You don't know what's waiting for me in my quarters.

00:24:31A little package I had sent there half an hour ago.

00:24:33A live package, I suppose.

00:24:35Oh, I've half a mind to order all the men back to our camp at once.

00:24:39If you did, you'd have a mutiny.

00:24:41Ask Clytus.

00:24:42What do you mean by that?

00:24:43I saw you, you wicked old man.

00:24:45And what's more, I saw where you put them.

00:24:46Them.

00:24:47Three.

00:24:49Clytus.

00:24:49An attempt out there, guarded by his own phalanxmen, which reminds me, Clytus, you'd

00:24:54better watch out.

00:24:54You know what your phalanxmen are.

00:24:55Sir, the females to whom your son is referring happen to be three rather important prisoners

00:25:01whom I thought it best to have guarded until the king can see them himself.

00:25:05Reserved for our ascetic monarch?

00:25:08You might have thought up something better than that.

00:25:10Who are these prisoners, Clytus?

00:25:12Your permission, sir.

00:25:13I'd rather tell his majesty of that myself.

00:25:15Quite so.

00:25:15Well, as we're here, let's celebrate our Greek victory in some Persian wine.

00:25:22It's not at all bad, as a matter of fact.

00:25:24Oh?

00:25:24And while waiting, I did allow myself a sip.

00:25:27Of course, Clytus.

00:25:28You must have been so hot from your exertions in the battle.

00:25:31What, sir?

00:25:31Gentlemen.

00:25:33The king.

00:25:34The king.

00:25:38Now I'll give you one.

00:25:39Ourselves.

00:25:43After all, it's not every day that one helps you.

00:25:45Let's conquer half the world.

00:25:47Darius still lives.

00:25:49Unless Alexander caught him up.

00:25:51He hadn't a chance.

00:25:52Darius had a clear start.

00:25:53No human being could have ridden through that mess.

00:25:56Alexander might.

00:25:58The god Alexander?

00:26:00No.

00:26:00Just Alexander.

00:26:02Thank heaven.

00:26:03That sounds as if he's back.

00:26:10Here they are, he's here.

00:26:12Ah.

00:26:13So.

00:26:15This is what it is to be a king.

00:26:20Ah.

00:26:21Parmalion.

00:26:21Philotus, you first called me, I see.

00:26:23You did wonders, both of you.

00:26:26Father Clytus.

00:26:27You're safe, thank God.

00:26:29It was a rumor you'd been killed.

00:26:30It'd take more than a rumor to kill me.

00:26:32Even the Persians wouldn't have the heart to take Father Clytus from me.

00:26:35Alexander.

00:26:35Let's see that wolf.

00:26:36Oh, don't fuss, Father Clytus.

00:26:38Evitian.

00:26:39Show them what you've got.

00:26:41Gentlemen.

00:26:42You are looking at the bow and the mantle of the rice.

00:26:45I've got him?

00:26:46No.

00:26:47No.

00:26:47I found his chariot in a ditch.

00:26:49He must have got away on horseback.

00:26:51I need to think of the mantle.

00:26:52Try it on.

00:26:53How does it suit me?

00:26:56It might have been made for you.

00:26:59Now, Alexander, I've got a little surprise for you.

00:27:03What is it?

00:27:03You'll see.

00:27:04In a minute.

00:27:05What's the surprise?

00:27:07I gather it's a special reserve of female captives.

00:27:10Oh, God, isn't that typical of Father Clytus?

00:27:14Why do so many of my men expect me to behave like an animal?

00:27:17You know, Parmalion, sex and sleep are the two things in this world that make me most conscious of my mortality.

00:27:22Is that why you so persistently avoid both?

00:27:27I suppose so.

00:27:29At least you'll sleep tonight.

00:27:31Perhaps.

00:27:33Parmalion, from the bottom of my heart, I thank you.

00:27:37Thank me, sir?

00:27:38What for?

00:27:39For winning my battle for me.

00:27:40Thank the God, sir, not me.

00:27:42I thank both.

00:27:44Parmalion, did my father ever thank you after his battles?

00:27:48Yes, sir.

00:27:50Sometimes.

00:27:50Well, he wasn't too drunk to remember, I suppose.

00:27:54What do you think he'd have felt if he'd been here today?

00:27:56Very proud of his son.

00:27:59This medallion belonged to him.

00:28:03Take it as a reward for today.

00:28:05He would have liked you to have it, I know.

00:28:08I'm most honoured and grateful, sir.

00:28:10Go and stop Clytus making a fool of himself, will you?

00:28:12You and for Lotus?

00:28:12Yes, sir.

00:28:13And then come back to dinner.

00:28:17Oh, gods, if there's any justice in heaven, let my father know what I've done today.

00:28:22Let him see me now in Darius's tent, wearing Darius's mantle.

00:28:27And let his eyes burn with a sight.

00:28:33Christian, do you ever think I'm mad?

00:28:36Yes, Alexander, sometimes.

00:28:39So do I, sometimes.

00:28:43Give me some wine.

00:28:45A rare request from you.

00:28:47I'm thirsty.

00:28:52I don't know how people can drink it.

00:28:57I suppose that was Darius's throne.

00:29:03Yes.

00:29:04Imposing, isn't it?

00:29:05Very.

00:29:06Strange object to bring on active service.

00:29:09The master of the world must keep his state.

00:29:13I wonder where he is now.

00:29:15The master of the world?

00:29:16Hiding in a ditch somewhere, I expect.

00:29:18How can a man become a god?

00:29:22Do you remember Aristotle's answer?

00:29:23By doing what is impossible for a man to do.

00:29:26To lead 35,000 against a quarter of a million and win.

00:29:32Have I done the impossible, Ephesians?

00:29:34Your divinity is assured.

00:29:37I only hope you don't find it too cold on Olympus.

00:29:40Cold and lonely, perhaps?

00:29:41Surely not lonely.

00:29:42On Olympus?

00:29:43On Earth, I meant.

00:29:45That throne must be a very lonely place.

00:29:50If today I had killed Darius,

00:29:53How near did we come?

00:29:56Oh, about 20 paces.

00:29:5920 paces from the empire of the world.

00:30:04Well, well, well.

00:30:07Next time, let's pray for better luck.

00:30:10Go and inspect the rest of our loot.

00:30:12Let's see what's in here.

00:30:15Come on.

00:30:16This way.

00:30:17In here.

00:30:18That's right.

00:30:19Oh, stop wailing, you brat,

00:30:21or I'll give you something to wail about.

00:30:23All right, now.

00:30:25Kneel down, all three of you.

00:30:28That's right.

00:30:30Magic tape.

00:30:31Yes, what is it?

00:30:35Critus, you clown.

00:30:37How do you like them, eh?

00:30:38Very much, but please take them away.

00:30:40Don't you want to ask them their names?

00:30:42I don't want to know their names.

00:30:44Please, O'Neil, stand up.

00:30:45Mother, he's wearing Father's cloak.

00:30:50Critus, you're under arrest.

00:30:51Sure.

00:30:51How dare you do this?

00:30:53I thought you'd be pleased.

00:30:54Get out, you barbarian,

00:30:56and count yourself lucky to leave this tent alive.

00:30:58Yes.

00:31:00Madame, if there's anything in the world I can do

00:31:02to wipe out this insult, it shall be done.

00:31:04There is no insult.

00:31:06We are your prisoners,

00:31:07and you may do to ourselves you please.

00:31:09You are the Queen Mother of Persia.

00:31:12I am.

00:31:14Your son is not dead.

00:31:16He fought as bravely as a man can fight.

00:31:19The gods were not on his side, that is all.

00:31:21Oh, he's safe, then.

00:31:23Yes, Madame.

00:31:25Your husband lives to fight again.

00:31:28If he's sin, I'm placing these ladies in your charge.

00:31:30Put a guard of honour on duty

00:31:31and see that they are given every comfort.

00:31:32Yes, sir.

00:31:33You can go with him with an easy heart, Madame.

00:31:36He is my closest friend and wisest counsellor.

00:31:38We thank you, sir.

00:31:41Good night, then.

00:31:43With your permission, I shall call upon you tomorrow

00:31:45to see that you're comfortable.

00:31:46Thank you, sir.

00:31:49Your Majesty.

00:31:51In case you feel cold in the night,

00:31:55this mental...

00:31:56Oh.

00:31:59Good night, Madame.

00:32:01Good night.

00:32:06Here.

00:32:06You're in there.

00:32:08Get that bath ready for me.

00:32:10Yes, Master.

00:32:14It is an impressive throne.

00:32:17I wonder how it feels.

00:32:19Yes, Master.

00:32:34All is in readiness for your imperial majesty.

00:32:41Ephesian?

00:32:42Yes, Alexandre.

00:32:43What are you staring at?

00:32:52Come on, Ephesian.

00:32:53Come and watch me take my imperial bath.

00:33:08Begin to go wrong.

00:33:09It was wrong enough when he sent his envoy,

00:33:13Philotus,

00:33:14to King Darius in Babylon.

00:33:20You shouldn't receive him here.

00:33:22You should receive him in the throne room in state.

00:33:25I'm tired of state.

00:33:27Well, at least, Majesty,

00:33:28you should have had yourself announced by your titles.

00:33:31My titles, Vessus,

00:33:32are not very likely to impress the envoy of the man

00:33:34who is already usurping most of them.

00:33:36All no more reason to give yourself your rightful style.

00:33:38Is Master of the World still my rightful style?

00:33:42Certainly.

00:33:43With my wife, my daughter,

00:33:45and my mother in another's power.

00:33:46They...

00:33:47They will be returned to you, sir.

00:33:49Yes.

00:33:50At the price of nearly half that world of which you say,

00:33:53I am still the Master.

00:33:55The offer was for out your generous majesty.

00:33:57If you remember,

00:33:57I spoke against it in the council.

00:33:58Yes.

00:34:00Vessus,

00:34:01you did.

00:34:03But then, you see,

00:34:08it is not your family who is captive.

00:34:13The envoy, Majesty.

00:34:20You are welcome to Babylon, sir.

00:34:23You had, I trust, a pleasant journey.

00:34:25No doubt before our conference tomorrow,

00:34:27you have many matters to talk over with your staff.

00:34:29I haven't any staff.

00:34:30You are alone.

00:34:36But these negotiations may be very complicated.

00:34:38Are you sure?

00:34:39I don't think the negotiations will turn out

00:34:41to be nearly as complicated as you think.

00:34:44I see.

00:34:45King Alexander replies to your tenders of peace

00:34:47in the following way.

00:34:48Regarding the ransom of 10,000 talents

00:34:50which you offer for your family,

00:34:51he says that he is in no immediate need of money,

00:34:54and if he were,

00:34:55he would find other means of acquiring it.

00:34:57By robbery?

00:34:58By conquest.

00:34:58Go on.

00:35:01Regarding your offer of Egypt, Asia Minor,

00:35:03and the lands west of the Euphrates,

00:35:04he thanks you again,

00:35:05but finds it hard to understand

00:35:06why you should offer him what is already his.

00:35:09Should you, on the other hand,

00:35:11wish to give him the lands of the Persian Empire

00:35:13east of the Euphrates,

00:35:15he will accept.

00:35:18He is demanding that I surrender my empire

00:35:21without condition?

00:35:22The condition is that you yourself

00:35:24will come to no harm.

00:35:25Go to that parapet, sir.

00:35:28Look down at the plain.

00:35:32What do you see?

00:35:33An army camp.

00:35:35The size of it doesn't impress you?

00:35:38Mere size really does.

00:35:39I have over half a million men under arms.

00:35:42Does your king really believe

00:35:44that if he crosses the Euphrates,

00:35:46he would have more than one chance

00:35:47in a million of getting back to Greece alive?

00:35:49Evidently, he must.

00:35:51What message shall I take back to him?

00:35:54You may tell him this.

00:35:57My offer to him was fair and generous.

00:36:00I made it because he holds in his possession

00:36:02the three people who are dearest to me

00:36:04in all the world.

00:36:04For their sake,

00:36:06I was prepared to make a dishonorable peace.

00:36:08Now he has relieved me of the choice

00:36:12and I feel strangely glad

00:36:14I shall fight Alexander

00:36:15without mercy for him

00:36:16or for thought of my family.

00:36:20And of course,

00:36:21I shall win.

00:36:24My chamberlain will escort you back to your quarters.

00:36:27One moment, sir, before I leave.

00:36:28Yes?

00:36:30I have a very painful duty to perform.

00:36:33Your wife.

00:36:34You had heard she wasn't well.

00:36:35Well...

00:36:36Yes.

00:36:39I had heard.

00:36:40I'm afraid she...

00:36:43Well,

00:36:43everything that could possibly be done for her

00:36:46was done,

00:36:46but she didn't seem to recover as she should.

00:36:49It's just a fever, that's all.

00:36:51It wasn't the doctor's fault.

00:36:53I see.

00:36:57Sorry.

00:36:59I should have broken the news less clumsily.

00:37:02I'm not really used to these diplomatic missions.

00:37:06You must thank His Majesty for me.

00:37:10I will.

00:37:12Well.

00:37:16I need hardly tell you, Majesty,

00:37:17what I feel for you at this moment.

00:37:19Thank you, Bessis.

00:37:21I shall decree general mobilization?

00:37:23Yes, sir.

00:37:24This time we will take no chances.

00:37:26Alexander must be killed.

00:37:28Yes.

00:37:30We need that head to decorate your palace gate.

00:37:33I'll summon the Council of War.

00:37:41No, I'm sure it had not gone wrong

00:37:43two years later at Gorgamela.

00:37:47He'd called us together,

00:37:49Parmenion,

00:37:49Clytus,

00:37:50Ptolemy,

00:37:51and myself,

00:37:52Perdiccas,

00:37:53and gave his orders for the morrow's battle.

00:37:55Darius would hardly have recognized his tent

00:37:59with all the decorations gone

00:38:01and a long,

00:38:03bare table down the middle.

00:38:06Are there any comments?

00:38:07Might I speak, sir?

00:38:09Of course, Parmenion.

00:38:10I am not going to criticize your plan

00:38:12against an enemy outnumbering us

00:38:14by more than ten to one.

00:38:16It is, I think,

00:38:17the best that can be devised.

00:38:19But I should like to suggest another.

00:38:22It's a prize attack by night.

00:38:24I will not steal a victory.

00:38:29This is our last battle.

00:38:31If we win it,

00:38:33the world is ours.

00:38:35If we lose it,

00:38:37we are dead.

00:38:40Good night.

00:38:41Good night, sir.

00:38:42Good night, sir.

00:38:46Why do my hands shake?

00:38:51God.

00:38:52God.

00:38:54God, take this fear from me.

00:38:58What is it I fear?

00:39:00Is it wounding,

00:39:01capture,

00:39:02pain,

00:39:04death?

00:39:07Tomorrow,

00:39:08I am master of the world,

00:39:10the mortal partner of the gods.

00:39:13Or I am dead.

00:39:16Either way,

00:39:17there is nothing to fear,

00:39:18so...

00:39:19don't take this hackency from me.

00:39:25Look down at me now,

00:39:26Father Philip,

00:39:27and sneer.

00:39:29Say,

00:39:30see what a weak, effeminate coward

00:39:33I am for a son.

00:39:34You used to say it often enough

00:39:36in your lifetime.

00:39:36Say it now and help me.

00:39:39For only anger can conquer fear.

00:39:41You see?

00:39:49My hands are not shaking now.

00:39:55Dear Father,

00:39:57I am grateful.

00:39:59Sir,

00:40:00come in and I gave orders

00:40:01I was not to be disturbed.

00:40:02I am serious, sir.

00:40:03A plot on your life.

00:40:06Go on.

00:40:06A person we caught yesterday

00:40:08has confessed under torture

00:40:09that his mission

00:40:10was to secure your death

00:40:11by poison.

00:40:12How is he going to do that?

00:40:13Through an agent.

00:40:14What agent?

00:40:15The Queen Mother of Persia.

00:40:19Poor man,

00:40:20a forlorn mission.

00:40:21His mission was successful, sir.

00:40:23The Queen Mother

00:40:23had promised to do

00:40:24what he asked.

00:40:26How was it to be done?

00:40:28I understand

00:40:28she is in the habit

00:40:29of mixing you

00:40:30some kind of drink

00:40:31every evening.

00:40:32You may have noticed

00:40:33she has not done so tonight.

00:40:35You haven't?

00:40:35Oh, no, sir.

00:40:36I have left her

00:40:37for you to deal with.

00:40:39Have you said anything

00:40:39to her at all?

00:40:40No, sir.

00:40:41I merely had a sentry prevent her

00:40:42from bringing you

00:40:42the drink a few minutes ago.

00:40:43She was angry,

00:40:45I may say.

00:40:46She said it would get cold.

00:40:47Mazaris!

00:40:48Master?

00:40:49Tell the Queen Mother

00:40:49that I am now ready

00:40:50for my drink.

00:40:51Yes, master?

00:40:52Here is an account

00:40:53of the interrogation

00:40:54if you wish to confront her with it.

00:40:55Put it on the table.

00:40:56Now go.

00:40:57Good night, Parminian.

00:40:59Until dawn.

00:41:00Until dawn.

00:41:01Good night, sir.

00:41:10I have brought your drink.

00:41:12I kept it warm.

00:41:15Parminian gave this to me

00:41:16a moment ago.

00:41:18Read it to yourself

00:41:20while I drink this.

00:41:23Alexander,

00:41:28that was a very foolish thing to do.

00:41:31What?

00:41:32This report might have been true.

00:41:35Why didn't you kill me?

00:41:37Tomorrow I'm going to try

00:41:38to kill your son.

00:41:39Oh, Alexander.

00:41:41Oh, don't cry.

00:41:42Please don't cry.

00:41:43Poor dear mother.

00:41:48A counsellor of the army

00:41:49thinks it's wrong

00:41:50for me to call you that.

00:41:52They're right.

00:41:53My own mother

00:41:54is 2,000 miles away.

00:41:56I know.

00:41:58While my own son

00:41:59is less than a mile.

00:42:00You want to go to him,

00:42:02don't you?

00:42:02Yes.

00:42:03But you know, too,

00:42:04that I can't allow you to.

00:42:05I could offer him peace.

00:42:07I'd be a fool to accept it.

00:42:09You must believe

00:42:09he has me here

00:42:10on this plane

00:42:11at his mercy.

00:42:11He's a gentle man

00:42:14like you.

00:42:17What harm

00:42:18has he ever done you?

00:42:20None.

00:42:21Then why do you hate him?

00:42:24If he's anything like you,

00:42:26I think I might love him.

00:42:28And you must try

00:42:29to kill him.

00:42:30Oh, Alexander.

00:42:32Don't cry.

00:42:33Please don't.

00:42:35Have you sent a message

00:42:36to your mother today?

00:42:37I didn't have time.

00:42:40But I shall send her one

00:42:41after tomorrow.

00:42:44After tomorrow.

00:42:46Try to get some rest now.

00:42:51Good night.

00:42:53Mother.

00:42:54Good night, my son.

00:42:57After tomorrow.

00:43:11the night.

00:43:13The night zij.

00:43:18Mother.

00:43:23The night Settings.

00:43:25After Gorgamela, our mighty Persian army melted like snow.

00:43:48Then the long flight with King Darius to reach my land of Bactria and safety.

00:43:53Until that morning on the barren Parthian plains, when I came to wake him from the first hour's sleep he'd had in three days.

00:44:01The master of the world, sleeping in a farm cart.

00:44:07Darius! Darius, wake up!

00:44:11For heaven's sake, we must start at once.

00:44:15Water.

00:44:17Oh, yes, sip. It's precious.

00:44:19Here.

00:44:21That's enough.

00:44:22Oh, no.

00:44:24Please, no.

00:44:26Where's he start?

00:44:28Prince?

00:44:29Yes, yes, I command you. Water.

00:44:31No.

00:44:32I tell you there's only an hour that you'll be hiding.

00:44:36Majesty, did you hear what I said?

00:44:38Oh, yes, I heard.

00:44:40I've just had word he's writing straight for us.

00:44:43A short way through the open desert.

00:44:44Let me be, let me be.

00:44:47Majesty, your men are waiting for your orders.

00:44:49Oh, how many men have I this morning?

00:44:54Three hundred.

00:44:55No more desertions?

00:44:58Three hundred.

00:45:00There's a large army.

00:45:01With it I could conquer the world.

00:45:04If I were Alexander, reach back to you.

00:45:09And you can have an army of many, many thousands.

00:45:11Less than a mile away.

00:45:13Fighting straight for us.

00:45:14How many?

00:45:15About fifty.

00:45:15Is Alexander with him?

00:45:17A white horse and a red cloak.

00:45:18Oh, the gods have delivered him into our hands.

00:45:21Fifty against three hundred.

00:45:23No.

00:45:24Get the many to battle formation.

00:45:25No.

00:45:26Out of hands, sir.

00:45:27Some have ridden off.

00:45:28The others want to surrender.

00:45:29Doliath.

00:45:30Doliath.

00:45:31Doliath.

00:45:31There you went to fight.

00:45:32Set from here, if you like.

00:45:33Soldiers of Persia.

00:45:37Here you came, Doliath.

00:45:43Soldiers of Persia.

00:45:45I, Darius.

00:45:47Darius.

00:45:47Great king of Persia and Lord of Asia.

00:45:50Lord of Asia.

00:45:52Command you to lay down your arms and surrender yourselves to Alexander.

00:45:59No.

00:45:59You've killed the king.

00:46:03I am your king.

00:46:04Leave it to my horse.

00:46:05Set him down, soldier.

00:46:14Bessis.

00:46:16Bessis.

00:46:18Why am I alone?

00:46:21Come quickly, someone.

00:46:24The master of the world.

00:46:27He's dying.

00:46:29And he must name his successor.

00:46:36Is it nothing to any of you to whom I bequeath my empire?

00:46:45Come to some.

00:46:52Who are you?

00:46:55The enemy.

00:46:57Come here.

00:46:58Come, my friend.

00:46:59Come here.

00:47:02I am dying.

00:47:05You must listen.

00:47:10To what I have to say.

00:47:12Oh, I'm listening?

00:47:14I.

00:47:15Darius.

00:47:17Great king of Persia.

00:47:19Darius?

00:47:20Do you still hear me, Greek?

00:47:25Yes.

00:47:26You hear?

00:47:27I do hereby name as my lawful successor, Alexander of Macedon.

00:47:36And I do solemnly.

00:47:39Sir.

00:47:40Ah.

00:47:46Sir.

00:47:47Sir.

00:47:48He named you his successor.

00:47:50I swear it.

00:47:56Mr. Rice.

00:47:57Well, what are you all staring at?

00:48:00Have none of you ever seen a dead person before?

00:48:03Epistian, stay with me.

00:48:05The rest of you, please go.

00:48:11It wasn't you, Darius, that I fought.

00:48:15Try to believe that what I have done, I had to do.

00:48:22Don't make a story of this, Epistian.

00:48:24Don't say that Alexander, when he saw the dead, Darius,

00:48:32begged his forgiveness and wept.

00:48:36I shall say nothing, Alexander.

00:48:40We shall send him to Persepolis.

00:48:43He shall be buried in the tomb of the kings beside his wife.

00:48:48You must go to Babylon, have you sinned, to break the news to his mother?

00:48:54I never thought it would be like this, in a farm cart.

00:48:59Do you remember Gordium?

00:49:00Gordium?

00:49:01The wagon in the citadel, hmm?

00:49:03The empire of the world in a farm cart.

00:49:06There it is.

00:49:09There it is.

00:49:12I took your mantle once, Darius.

00:49:15Now you can take mine.

00:49:16And after all, Epistian, I never did solve that puzzle, did I?

00:49:25How can one solve a puzzle with a sword?

00:49:29And from then on, things were as they should be.

00:49:36By the time we reached Bactria, the silks and ornaments had reappeared in the royal tent.

00:49:42And Alexander, my master, in the robes and crown of Persia,

00:49:46sat on the royal throne as a great king should do.

00:49:49Alexander, king of Macedon, captain general of Greece, pharaoh of Egypt, king of Babylonia,

00:50:06lord of the lands, great king of Persia, and master of the world,

00:50:12does hereby pronounce that you, Bessus, former satrap and prince of Bactria,

00:50:18have been found guilty of all the crimes of which you have been accused before him.

00:50:25He does now sentence you to be taken from here to the city of Ekbatana,

00:50:30and there to be put to death in whatever manner the high council of Medes and Persians shall devise.

00:50:37Have you anything to say against this sentence?

00:50:39I have a favor to ask.

00:50:44Ask it.

00:50:45I am a soldier.

00:50:47All that I have done, even the killing of Darius,

00:50:50has been done in fighting for my country,

00:50:52against my country's invader.

00:50:55I am ready now to meet my death.

00:50:58But I should like to meet it as a soldier, not as a felon.

00:51:02I ask to be allowed a military execution.

00:51:08The favor is refused.

00:51:10Take him away.

00:51:12Oh!

00:51:18Well, so much for King Artaxess is the fourth.

00:51:22May the gods help him.

00:51:23I think you might have granted his request.

00:51:26It wasn't unreasonable.

00:51:27It was unreasonable.

00:51:28He killed Darius.

00:51:29Well?

00:51:29Well, I am the rightful great king of Persia in the true line of succession.

00:51:35And so that the world should know that,

00:51:38I have today decreed the punishment of my royal predecessor's murderer.

00:51:42Are you on set, Clytus?

00:51:43Well, it was only that I felt sorry for him.

00:51:45You think I didn't?

00:51:47I'm sorry.

00:51:48I'm a tackless old fool, as you said.

00:51:50Your father, Cytus,

00:51:52and I wouldn't have you changed.

00:51:55Now, gentlemen, I'll march into Sogliana.

00:51:56Are there any comments?

00:51:58The date you've given for the junction of the four columns at Samarkand.

00:52:01Isn't it too soon, sir?

00:52:03The date stands, Ferdicast.

00:52:04By the first days of spring, we must be ready to cross the mountains into India.

00:52:07India?

00:52:08So the rumors are true?

00:52:09Yes, Tullaby, what comments have you to make?

00:52:11Well, none, sir, none.

00:52:13Except that I'm told the Indians are rather numerous.

00:52:16So were the Persians.

00:52:21Is there anything else?

00:52:22Now, I've had a report this morning from Herat.

00:52:25Our garrison there has been wiped out by some local chieftain called, uh, let me see, Obziates.

00:52:31Ah!

00:52:31Is there no way of pacifying this devil's country?

00:52:35Cytus, didn't you take hostages from this man?

00:52:37Yes, sir.

00:52:37I took his daughter.

00:52:38Throw him her head as a present.

00:52:41Where is she, in the camp?

00:52:42Yes, sir.

00:52:42In fact, sir, I think you know her.

00:52:45I know her.

00:52:46I, uh, sent her into the other night with one or two other captains in the depth.

00:52:50Well?

00:52:51She was the one who stayed.

00:52:54Oh.

00:52:56Roxanna!

00:53:00Is this the girl, you mean?

00:53:03I imagine, sir, you'll be retracting that order you gave just now.

00:53:06Why?

00:53:06Well, sir, I thought under the circumstances...

00:53:08Her father is a traitor and her life is forfeit.

00:53:10You hear that, my girl?

00:53:12She only speaks some weird mountain dialect.

00:53:14Pretty enough little face.

00:53:17Well, well.

00:53:18This is a sad business.

00:53:19The murder of my garrison was a sad business, too.

00:53:21And you're a soft-hearted old idiot, Cytus.

00:53:23Just a minute, sir.

00:53:24It seems to me that Cytus, for once, was talking sense just now.

00:53:27That'll be enough from you, young colonel.

00:53:28We're all agreed it needs a pretty drastic solution.

00:53:31If there's ever a league between four or five of these mountain chiefs and they get across our lines of communication,

00:53:36will none of us see our homes again?

00:53:38Much less India.

00:53:39Go on.

00:53:39There are two alternative policies.

00:53:43Terrorism and conciliation.

00:53:44I can't make advances to the whole Bactrian race.

00:53:47But that's exactly what you can do, sir.

00:53:50Hmm?

00:53:50Through the very attractive person of this Bactrian lady.

00:53:53If you want to pacify Bactria in a few days, at no cost whatever, and for good, there, sir, stands your way.

00:54:02Tony, you're surely not suggesting that Alexander should marry this girl?

00:54:06No, it doesn't have to be a proper marriage.

00:54:08I mean, not according to our rights.

00:54:10The king of Macedon, an emperor of the world, marrying a barbarian peasant girl?

00:54:15She's the daughter of an important Bactrian chieftain.

00:54:19Aren't you my girl?

00:54:20Oh, you don't make Alexander the laughing stock of the world.

00:54:24I don't think somehow whatever Alexander did, he could be quite that.

00:54:27Besides, we can make up a fine story about it.

00:54:30Love at first sight.

00:54:31The chivalrous conqueror insisting on marriage and all that.

00:54:34A prospective bridegroom might have something to say of the matter.

00:54:37Of course, sir.

00:54:38It's for you to decide.

00:54:39Thank you, Ptolemy.

00:54:40I shall.

00:54:42Leave me now, will you?

00:54:44I have Philotus being brought in in a moment.

00:54:47I think it over, sir.

00:54:50Come here.

00:54:57Love at first sight, the chivalrous conqueror, hmm?

00:55:00Or...

00:55:01At least you'd have one valuable asset as a wife.

00:55:07You can't talk.

00:55:09Alexander!

00:55:10The feastian!

00:55:12Go away now, Roxanna.

00:55:13Thank God you're back.

00:55:17Was it a troublesome journey?

00:55:18It was a long one.

00:55:19You've covered a good deal of ground since I saw you last.

00:55:21I shall have covered a lot more in a few months.

00:55:22Tomorrow we march on Samarkand.

00:55:24Ah.

00:55:24And then on to the last river.

00:55:26There I intend to found another city.

00:55:28I shall call it Alexandria at the end of the world.

00:55:32How do you like the rain?

00:55:32Oh, it sounds a little sad.

00:55:34Does it?

00:55:34To me, it sounds magnificent.

00:55:37Have some wine.

00:55:41To another world beyond this one.

00:55:43A world of ghosts?

00:55:44Oh.

00:55:45No, a world of men.

00:55:47You can't fight ghosts.

00:55:47You can't conquer them.

00:55:48You saw Parmenion in Babylon?

00:55:52Yes.

00:55:53And the Queen Mother is still resolved to punish me for the death of Darius?

00:55:57I am to tell you that her feelings for you have not changed.

00:56:00But will never see me, or speak to me, or write to me again.

00:56:05Has she forgotten that I can command her to do all these things?

00:56:08She is the mother of Darius.

00:56:11Perhaps I had better teach her who I am.

00:56:14The prisoner for Lotus.

00:56:16Bring him in.

00:56:19Sit down, Philotus.

00:56:21Oh, my dear, well, some of your interrogations have been a little severe.

00:56:25You're in the hands of the High Council of the Army.

00:56:26I have nothing to do with it.

00:56:28Haven't you?

00:56:29I know you don't believe it, Philotus, but I want to help you.

00:56:32Help me then.

00:56:33Give me back my command and punish my accusers.

00:56:36You are your own chief accuser.

00:56:38Shall I read to you some of the things that you are reported to have said?

00:56:41If you must.

00:56:43Can I pour myself a cup of wine, meanwhile?

00:56:45I'd better make the best for these few minutes.

00:56:46The greatness of a man is to be measured not by what he does, but by what he is.

00:56:52On that premise, Alexander is about as great as my little finger.

00:56:56Remember when I said that?

00:56:58I was drunk.

00:56:58Not too drunk to remember having said it.

00:57:00Surely the place for a god is on Olympus, not on the throne of Asia.

00:57:05An unexceptionable sentiment, I should have thought, from an atheist.

00:57:08The council may not find it so.

00:57:10Is it a crime to make a joke?

00:57:11Was it a joke?

00:57:12As much of a joke as people saying you're a god.

00:57:16Mm-hmm.

00:57:18We began as the companions of a Macedonian adventurer.

00:57:20We've ended as the slaves of an Oriental despot.

00:57:23Was that true, Joe?

00:57:24No.

00:57:26I think that was true.

00:57:28You see, Epistian, what can I do?

00:57:31Well, Lotus, it is you who are making an Oriental despot of me.

00:57:35How can you think that this is what I want to be?

00:57:37I am still your friend.

00:57:39And determined, if I can, to save you from yourself.

00:57:41What I've done, I shall not allow to be destroyed.

00:57:45Either by the actions of my enemies or the taunts and cheers of my friends.

00:57:51Which is why in a few days' time, you, my dear friend, may have to die.

00:57:59For this document will be your death warrant if I give it to the council.

00:58:02Then why give it to them?

00:58:03I shall burn it if you fulfill one small condition.

00:58:07That I fall down in public and worship you as a god.

00:58:10That at your trial you retract every word you said against me.

00:58:12And that you swear to me now that you will never say another as long as you live.

00:58:17That's just what I said.

00:58:18That I fall down and worship you as a god.

00:58:22Thank you for the wine, Alexander.

00:58:24God, take the assassin back to his jail.

00:58:27By Lotus!

00:58:30I beg of you.

00:58:32Think before you do this.

00:58:33I've thought, Alexander.

00:58:36I shouldn't have had that drink.

00:58:38It was a mistake on an empty stomach.

00:58:40Goodbye.

00:58:41I've enjoyed the adventure.

00:58:43I wish I could have seen how it ended.

00:58:46Goodbye, Hephaestion.

00:58:47My Lotus!

00:58:48Do what Alexander are.

00:58:49I'm not Alexander.

00:58:51I can't do the impossible.

00:58:53Come on, my friend.

00:58:54Forward, March.

00:59:01Hephaestion.

00:59:02I am giving you an order.

00:59:06There is no one else I can ask it of.

00:59:08I'm glad of that.

00:59:09You must return to Babylon at once.

00:59:10Take a battalion of foot guards and put Parmenion under arrest.

00:59:13Parmenion?

00:59:14He controls the heart of my empire.

00:59:16What makes you think...

00:59:17Oh, God, but you enraged me, Hephaestion, sometimes.

00:59:19Sorry.

00:59:21You will go to Babylon and send a message to Parmenion requiring his presence at the palace.

00:59:25You'd better say that you're ill and you can't go to him yourself.

00:59:28Afterwards, you must read a proclamation to the troops and it will have my signature and seal on it.

00:59:31I shall declare that I have incontrovertible proof that Parmenion, like his son, had been plotting against me.

00:59:37Had been?

00:59:37He must die resisting arrest.

00:59:39No.

00:59:40There is no other way.

00:59:41No, Alexander.

00:59:42Do you think I'd like to give you that order?

00:59:44There's any possible thing to do.

00:59:45Then you must find someone else to do it.

00:59:48You're the only one I can trust.

00:59:49In this, you can't trust me.

00:59:51If I went to Babylon, I should betray you.

00:59:52You disobey an order?

00:59:54You could order me now to follow my sword.

00:59:55That I should obey.

00:59:56Even for you, I won't commit murder.

01:00:01This is the moment that Alexander first discovered that he had no friend in all the world.

01:00:07And that from now on, he must stand alone.

01:00:16Leave me now.

01:00:18And for all I care, you need never come back again.

01:00:25Send in Pernicus!

01:00:29Madaris!

01:00:30More wine!

01:00:33Alexander?

01:00:35Hmm?

01:00:35Oh, Roxanne, I'd forgotten you'd have pointed yourself my cup there.

01:00:41Yes, thank you.

01:00:46What toast shall I give you, eh?

01:00:49Death to all the king's enemies, eh?

01:00:52Oh.

01:00:54That includes, of course, your father, which is rather a pity.

01:00:58Do you love your father, Roxanne?

01:01:00Does he love you?

01:01:02Well, you find the very idea ridiculous.

01:01:06And who am I to blame you?

01:01:08Here.

01:01:10Drink to his perdition in a loving cup.

01:01:14Good.

01:01:16Here.

01:01:17Wait a minute, Roxanne.

01:01:20You see...

01:01:21In one hand, a ring.

01:01:25A very pretty ring.

01:01:26It belonged to my mother.

01:01:29And in the other hand, a dagger.

01:01:31Also a very pretty one.

01:01:32That belonged to my father.

01:01:36Now, let's play a little game.

01:01:38You must choose which hand.

01:01:41The right or the left.

01:01:45Now, choose.

01:01:46Understand?

01:01:52Here it is.

01:01:55I think you'll make a good wife, Roxanne.

01:01:58I see you also have the quality of luck.

01:02:01But when Perdiccas came to me here in Babylon

01:02:25to say that Alexander wished to see me before he left for India,

01:02:29I began to fear for him.

01:02:32And when I heard that Philotus had been arrested,

01:02:36then I knew.

01:02:39Poor Alexander.

01:02:42After Perdiccas had left me to prepare for my journey

01:02:45to Alexandria at the end of the world,

01:02:49I sat thinking for a long time.

01:02:55Grandmother, look who I found walking in the garden.

01:02:58Oh, General Parmenion, how good of you to come and see us.

01:03:01I'm afraid it isn't pleasure that's brought me to the palace today, ma'am.

01:03:04Oh.

01:03:05It's duty.

01:03:06I have to see Perdiccas.

01:03:07You'll find him in the palace.

01:03:08I understood.

01:03:09He was ill in bed.

01:03:10He left me here a minute ago.

01:03:12As for being ill, he may be.

01:03:14But he was concealing it very well.

01:03:16Oh, strange.

01:03:17Oh, grandmother, that's Alexander's writing.

01:03:19Let me see.

01:03:20No, dear.

01:03:21He sends you his love.

01:03:22Oh.

01:03:23He wants me to go and see him.

01:03:25Darling, I'm afraid I shall have to leave you here alone for a few months.

01:03:28Will you mind?

01:03:29Oh, grandmother, you swore you'd never speak to him again.

01:03:32I've changed my mind.

01:03:34Then you must act as my courier to Alexander, ma'am.

01:03:37I'll give you many messages for you.

01:03:38I shall be glad to take them.

01:03:40And, of course, to my son.

01:03:41Yes, of course.

01:03:43There's a rumor the young scamp's in trouble.

01:03:45Been cheeking Alexander again, I expect.

01:03:47Look, grandmother.

01:03:48Where are some of Alexander's own foot guards?

01:03:51I expect they're guarding General Perdiccas.

01:03:53Oh.

01:03:54Is he very important?

01:03:55Very important.

01:03:56Perdiccas, important.

01:03:58First I've heard of it.

01:04:00General Parmenion, which gate did you use?

01:04:02I took the liberty of coming through your private apartments.

01:04:05I hope you don't mind.

01:04:06Did anyone see you?

01:04:07No.

01:04:08Will you go back at once to your own headquarters using the same gate?

01:04:11But, ma'am.

01:04:12And send down a message to Perdiccas saying that you are ill and that he must come to you.

01:04:17But I'm not ill.

01:04:17Neither is Perdiccas.

01:04:23No.

01:04:24No more years.

01:04:26Please, General.

01:04:27Please do what I ask.

01:04:28Grandmother, is there anything wrong?

01:04:30No, dear.

01:04:31General, I know you understand me.

01:04:34Why, I wonder.

01:04:36Why?

01:04:37General, this may be all my imagination.

01:04:38Is my son dead?

01:04:40No, General.

01:04:41I don't think so.

01:04:42I believe he is.

01:04:42But try not to think of him at the moment.

01:04:45Think of yourself.

01:04:46Yes, I must, mustn't I?

01:04:50When you see Alexander, give him this medallion for me, will you?

01:04:55He gave it to me after Isis.

01:04:58He might like to have it back.

01:05:01Goodbye, ma'am.

01:05:02And thank you for being a very true friend.

01:05:06Goodbye, my little lady.

01:05:07Take care of yourself.

01:05:08Goodbye.

01:05:09If I may leave this.

01:05:11To this.

01:05:12Your sword, General.

01:05:13You're not going to...

01:05:13I'm going to see Perdiccas.

01:05:15He has a message for me from Alexander.

01:05:18So, of course, I shan't need my sword.

01:05:21Oh.

01:05:22Goodbye.

01:05:33By the time we reached Alexandria at the end of the world,

01:05:38the silken divans were back in the tent.

01:05:42Alexander would lie down now to drink his wine.

01:05:47You ask to see me, sir.

01:05:49Yes, Evestian.

01:05:51About the wedding ceremony, there's a banquet afterwards.

01:05:53I shall expect you to be present.

01:05:54Very well, sir.

01:05:55And Evestian?

01:05:56Yes, sir?

01:05:57I shall expect you to sit at my right hand.

01:06:01Is that all?

01:06:02Well, I see.

01:06:04I must humble myself.

01:06:06Will you forgive me, Evestian?

01:06:08There's nothing to forgive, sir.

01:06:09Oh, for the love of God!

01:06:11What do you want me to do?

01:06:13Bend my clothes and bore dust on my head.

01:06:15I'll do it if you like.

01:06:16The truth is, Evestian, I'm not as invincible as I believed.

01:06:24I admit defeat, and I would like to salute my conqueror.

01:06:31Alexander.

01:06:32Alexander.

01:06:33Sit here.

01:06:36I've needed you, you know, these last few weeks.

01:06:38I'm sorry.

01:06:40Arminian is dead.

01:06:42Pradega sent a courier on ahead.

01:06:44I noticed it was executed a month ago.

01:06:46Yes, I heard that.

01:06:47I know what you're feeling about me at this moment.

01:06:49Not about you, Alexander.

01:06:51For you, that's all.

01:06:52I'm not a murderer.

01:06:53Will you believe that?

01:06:53Yes.

01:06:55Despot I am, because I must be, but I...

01:06:57I still have that ideal, that ideal that began this adventure.

01:07:01The world state, no more war, no more oppression.

01:07:03A universal peace blessed by the almighty gods.

01:07:08It's not an unworthy vision, is it?

01:07:09No, Alexander, it isn't.

01:07:10And if I fail, who else will succeed?

01:07:12No one.

01:07:12So I mustn't fail, hmm?

01:07:15How easy to have pardoned Philotas,

01:07:18to have taken the risk over Parmenian,

01:07:19to have gained for myself the title of Alexander the Kind,

01:07:22and Alexander the Merciful.

01:07:24In other words, for Alexander the Weak, the Defeated.

01:07:27And Alexander mustn't be defeated,

01:07:28or he'll betray both himself and his vision.

01:07:31Hmm?

01:07:34Have some wine.

01:07:35No, thank you.

01:07:36Oh, come on, come on.

01:07:37I've never before you was getting drunk on my wedding night.

01:07:42You, uh, you must forgive my lecture on political science.

01:07:46Did I sound like Aristotle?

01:07:47A little.

01:07:48The bride wants to show herself to her loving spouse,

01:07:51to be, may she come up?

01:07:53Yes, let us inspect her majesty.

01:07:56Her majesty?

01:07:58She's not going to be there, is she?

01:07:59Just for today, at the ceremony.

01:08:02What's she going to say?

01:08:03I mean, a Persian?

01:08:04Oh, that would never do.

01:08:06All right, my girl.

01:08:08Bring her in, come on.

01:08:12Your loving husband salutes you.

01:08:14I admire your face and figure almost as much as I do your dowry.

01:08:19A dowry?

01:08:20Roughly 30,000 lives and six months campaigning.

01:08:23I call that valuable enough, don't you?

01:08:25I certainly do.

01:08:26If you brought me six months nearer home, I salute you too, my dear.

01:08:31Do you approve of my choice of bride, if he's still?

01:08:33Most emphatically.

01:08:35You're carrying her crown in the procession this evening, aren't you?

01:08:37No, it's yours I'm carrying.

01:08:38Hmm?

01:08:39Hmm.

01:08:39Oh, yes.

01:08:40Yes, of course.

01:08:41Well, who's carrying hers?

01:08:42Titus, is it you?

01:08:43What's that?

01:08:44Hmm?

01:08:46You're carrying Roxana's crown in the procession.

01:08:48Yes, that's right.

01:08:49I walk ahead of her all the way, holding the cushion in the air.

01:08:54And then I climb the stairs and sit down, and then I go up and put the crown on my head.

01:09:00Correct, sir?

01:09:00Correct.

01:09:01Say for one thing, you've forgotten the obeisance.

01:09:04The what?

01:09:05You're going to kneel down at the foot of the throne and place your head to the ground.

01:09:08I'm not going to do it.

01:09:09Oh, don't be a fool, Clytus.

01:09:10Oh, I may be, but I'm not chewing dirt in front of any little barbarian.

01:09:14Clytus?

01:09:15If I'd known there was going to be all this mumbo-jumbo, I...

01:09:18The great king of Persia is taking a wife and the ceremony must be carried out according

01:09:21to the rites and usages of his Persian ancestors.

01:09:24His Persian ancestors?

01:09:25Holy gods of fuck.

01:09:27Get him out of here.

01:09:28Clytus, come away.

01:09:29It's a pity a Persian ancestor's lost the battle of Marathon, isn't it?

01:09:33Then they might have saved us all this fighting we've been doing these last eight years.

01:09:37Stop it, Clytus.

01:09:38Let's let me take his part in the ceremony and he can take mine.

01:09:41All right, all right.

01:09:42But get him out of here.

01:09:43His boorishness offends me.

01:09:45Yes, great king and master of the world.

01:09:48I'll go.

01:09:49And I'll carry a crown for you this evening.

01:09:52But by God, I won't kneel in the mud in front of you either.

01:09:56I'm a freeborn Macedonian and I'd sooner die.

01:09:59And that may not be so difficult to arrange.

01:10:01Oh, yes, you can have me murdered as you had, Parminian.

01:10:04Take him out or I'll kill him.

01:10:06Come on, Clytus.

01:10:07Thank God that he isn't alive today to see the shame of his son.

01:10:11You dare!

01:10:12Alexander, let me go!

01:10:15Unlike you, son.

01:10:17Get it, but at least, towards a man.

01:10:20God!

01:10:22My majesty, give me your spear.

01:10:25No!

01:10:25Alexander!

01:10:27You just...

01:10:28Alexander!

01:10:29Alexander!

01:10:30Don't do that, I've rather drunk.

01:10:33You'll shut him up!

01:10:35Oh!

01:10:37Oh!

01:10:41I killed my father.

01:10:44I wished him dead.

01:10:46And he did die.

01:10:48And now I've killed him again.

01:10:50Glyphus!

01:10:54Father Glyphus!

01:10:58Parasite!

01:11:00Parasite!

01:11:01Must die!

01:11:02Yes!

01:11:04Go!

01:11:09Ptolemy.

01:11:12Help me to carry him.

01:11:14Yes, it had gone wrong by then.

01:11:31It was ten days later when I arrived

01:11:34to find Hephaestian supervising the dismantling of the tent.

01:11:39Perticus, thank God you're back.

01:11:42I thought you were going to miss us.

01:11:44What's going on?

01:11:44Why are you breaking camp?

01:11:46India.

01:11:47But that's madness!

01:11:48It's far too early in the year.

01:11:50Even the foothills will be snowed up.

01:11:51We must hope the gods are kind.

01:11:54What's made him change his mind like this?

01:11:56Plytus?

01:11:56You heard about that?

01:11:57Yes, we've caught a couple of deserters.

01:12:00Was Alexander going to move off without waiting for us, then?

01:12:03Yes, you're three days late.

01:12:05What's going to happen to the Queen Mother?

01:12:06Are we supposed to leave her in this place?

01:12:08Miss Alexander at the End of the World, or whatever it's called?

01:12:10She's to follow the march to India.

01:12:12She'll never survive that.

01:12:14I've told him so many times.

01:12:15What's the matter with him?

01:12:16Gone off his head or something?

01:12:18How was your commission?

01:12:19Pretty horrible.

01:12:21Necessary, of course.

01:12:23Still, I can't say I enjoyed it.

01:12:25Perticus?

01:12:25Yes, sir.

01:12:26I just have a court-martial by a matter of hours.

01:12:28I'm sorry, sir.

01:12:29The rivers are influbbed,

01:12:30and I didn't care to take risks with the Queen Mother.

01:12:32Where is she?

01:12:32I arranged her old accommodation.

01:12:34Bring her here.

01:12:34She might be asleep, sir.

01:12:35So might I, but I'm not.

01:12:37Bring her home.

01:12:38Yes, sir.

01:12:44How long did dawn, ladies and gentlemen?

01:12:45About two hours.

01:12:46Oh, God, but this night is endless.

01:12:49Do you know the order of march?

01:12:50Yes, sir.

01:12:50I've been over it many times.

01:12:51I shall ride Bucephalus tomorrow,

01:12:53as if I were going into battle.

01:12:54Yes, sir.

01:12:55Poor old Bucephalus.

01:12:57Yes, sir.

01:12:57The Queen Mother.

01:12:59All right.

01:13:00Leave me.

01:13:00See that they're not disturbed.

01:13:01Yes, sir.

01:13:06They're not at court.

01:13:07You're in my tent alone,

01:13:08and there's no one watching this.

01:13:11Get down.

01:13:12You look ridiculous.

01:13:13I apologize for the discomforts of the journey.

01:13:20I see you're going to keep your vow.

01:13:23Very well, as you please.

01:13:25I've no doubt that there will be moments on the march through the Himalayas to India

01:13:29when you may feel inclined to break your decorous silence.

01:13:33Yes, madam.

01:13:34India.

01:13:35You don't suppose that I'd be fool enough to leave an avowed enemy behind me in Babylon?

01:13:40I'm not as mad as that.

01:13:44Some wine?

01:13:46Well, perhaps you'll forgive me if I do.

01:13:48I've no doubt in Babylon you've been hearing rumors that I've become a drunkard.

01:13:52But wine?

01:13:53Oh.

01:13:55It doesn't make me drunk.

01:13:56It makes me more clear-headed.

01:13:59What's left in your hand?

01:14:01A medallion?

01:14:02For me?

01:14:07I recognize this.

01:14:10It belonged to my father.

01:14:12I remember now.

01:14:16It's dangerous to do such things to me in my present mood.

01:14:20I killed a man the other day.

01:14:22With my own hands for less.

01:14:26Well, you'd better go.

01:14:28No, no.

01:14:28Don't pick it up, Lizzie.

01:14:29Lie there and rot.

01:14:31Like its master's body.

01:14:34Gone.

01:14:35Go.

01:14:36Be ready to start in two hours.

01:14:39Mother!

01:14:42Mother, turn around.

01:14:46Look at me, Mother.

01:14:49Please look at me.

01:14:52You are my prisoner and I command you!

01:14:54Lift your eyes and look at me.

01:15:02What do you see?

01:15:03Tell me.

01:15:05Am I so very changed?

01:15:06What has happened to me?

01:15:07What has happened to me?

01:15:11Only what had to happen to any man who makes himself a god.

01:15:17Thank you at least for speaking to me.

01:15:21Should I not have tried at all?

01:15:23How can I say?

01:15:24You have changed the face of the world and the world may one day be grateful for your sacrifice.

01:15:32Why did no one warn me of the misery and self-hatred of Godhead?

01:15:35I warned you.

01:15:36Ah, but then I had begun the adventure.

01:15:39I couldn't turn back.

01:15:40The priestess in Delphi warned you.

01:15:42She said, know yourself.

01:15:44But I did know myself then.

01:15:46Is that true, Alexander?

01:15:48Isn't the true reason for your despair at this moment that only now, at last, are you beginning to know yourself?

01:15:58Am I as vile as that?

01:16:00It's not you who are vile.

01:16:02It's what is in you.

01:16:04My devil?

01:16:04Yes.

01:16:05And my devil is hatred.

01:16:07Of a man who is dead.

01:16:10And all I have done adds up to no more than the antics of a little boy who has tried to show his father that he, too, can be a man.

01:16:22And has succeeded so well that now he has ceased to be a little boy and become his own father.

01:16:33Ghost in heaven!

01:16:35What a revenge!

01:16:37Do you hear that, Father Philip?

01:16:39Ah, there's a joke for you to relish.

01:16:44Philip!

01:16:45Drinks to Philip!

01:16:47Drunken to drunken!

01:16:49Despot to despot!

01:16:51Murderer to murderer!

01:16:57Has my vision, then, always been false?

01:17:01No, Alexander, not your vision.

01:17:04Only what gave it birth.

01:17:07I know.

01:17:09And must I still go on?

01:17:11Until the end.

01:17:12It'll be hard to bear.

01:17:13You will bear it.

01:17:15The world is so small!

01:17:18Why isn't there another world to conquer?

01:17:20It's only when I have action that I can forget who I am and what I have become.

01:17:27May the gods yet grant me an early death in battle.

01:17:31In India?

01:17:32Perhaps.

01:17:33Perhaps.

01:17:34But whatever the gods may grant you, you must accept and endure without complaint.

01:17:39That is the price you have to pay for making yourself one of them.

01:17:47Oh, thank you for coming back to me.

01:17:51And don't leave me alone in the dark.

01:17:54Again, my son.

01:17:57I, uh, I humbly beg pardon, sir, but I've been asked to present a petition to you from the second division of Thessalonian Horse.

01:18:07And they beg to be allowed the honor of leading the march on India.

01:18:11Their request is granted.

01:18:12Yes, sir.

01:18:13And, Verikas, you will join us in India at the earliest opportunity.

01:18:16Join you?

01:18:17Yes.

01:18:17From Babylon.

01:18:18But I, I've just come from Babylon.

01:18:20And you're going back there tomorrow.

01:18:23You're to escort the Queen Mother.

01:18:24God's above, it's all of a thousand.

01:18:26All right, Perdiccas.

01:18:29Yes, sir.

01:18:30I shall come to your tent to say goodbye.

01:18:33And to thank you.

01:18:35For what?

01:18:37For breaking your vow.

01:18:39I'd forgotten my vow.

01:18:41Hmm.

01:18:42Another conquest for Alec Byrne.

01:18:46The greatest he will ever make.

01:18:49By far.

01:18:53Good night, brother.

01:19:02Ephesians!

01:19:05I have some new orders for you.

01:19:07Yes, sir?

01:19:08And don't call me sir.

01:19:09You know it annoys me from you.

01:19:10I've noticed the men have accumulated far too much baggage.

01:19:13Yes, I've spoken to the under-officers about it.

01:19:15But they say that if Alexander has twenty cartlers, why shouldn't they have one?

01:19:18Yes, well, I'll tell you what we'll do.

01:19:19You and I will go out now and we'll make an enormous bonfire.

01:19:22Like the bonfires we used to make as boys.

01:19:24And on top of it all, I shall put that throne.

01:19:27Yes.

01:19:28I should like to see that throne on a bonfire.

01:19:30I have, but will it burn, do you think?

01:19:32I pray to the gods it will.

01:19:34And so do I, Ephesians.

01:19:36So do I.

01:19:37But it didn't burn, did it, Alexander?

01:19:47And the gods must have looked down and laughed at us.

01:19:52They must have known that though the wood might blaze and the gold and silver melt,

01:19:57the throne would remain untouched and terrible,

01:20:01and that it would destroy you.

01:20:02Oh, no.

01:20:04The throne of the world is where Alexander sits.

01:20:07Oh, no, no.

01:20:09Sorry, sir.

01:20:10How long will it be?

01:20:12Will this delirium go on till the end?

01:20:14Master, who can say?

01:20:17You must be made to understand.

01:20:19Sir, the time has come for you to name your successor.

01:20:23Sir, this is Ptolemy.

01:20:26Am I to succeed you?

01:20:28Make a sign.

01:20:31Perdiccas, then.

01:20:32Your child to me.

01:20:35Ephesians.

01:20:38Ephesians.

01:20:39Yes.

01:20:39Ephesians is dead, Alexander.

01:20:41He died a year ago.

01:20:43Why did you die, Ephesians?

01:20:46I put the whole empire in mourning for you.

01:20:49Did you know that?

01:20:51And I killed a doctor who failed to save your life.

01:20:55How could he have saved you when you didn't want to live?

01:21:01Why didn't you want to live?

01:21:03You know why.

01:21:05But on the march to India, we laughed together.

01:21:08And we were one again.

01:21:11When we sailed down the Indus,

01:21:14side by side, crowned with the laurels of victory,

01:21:19we were happy then, too, weren't we?

01:21:21No, Alexander.

01:21:24The shadow of the throne was still between us.

01:21:27The throne.

01:21:29The throne.

01:21:30Yes, sir.

01:21:31The throne.

01:21:32To whom do you bequeath the throne?

01:21:35I caught a little fever swimming.

01:21:38Now they tell me I'm dying.

01:21:40Your successor.

01:21:41I must name my successor now.

01:21:47Who shall it be?

01:21:50Whom shall I condemn to death?

01:21:56What other friend shall I murder?

01:21:59Sir, your successor.

01:22:01We must know your successor.

01:22:02Sir, your successor.

01:22:08Zeus.

01:22:10Zeus is on Olympus.

01:22:13He is my successor.

01:22:15Let the father of all the gods

01:22:17carry the burden from now on.

01:22:21Mother.

01:22:25I'm here, Alexander.

01:22:28Let me sleep.

01:22:30You shall sleep.

01:22:31The adventure is over now, isn't it?

01:22:38Yes.

01:22:39It's over now.

01:22:42What a pity.

01:22:46I've shown him, though.

01:22:48Haven't I, Mother?

01:22:51I've shown him.

01:22:53Yes, my son.

01:22:55You've shown him.

01:22:56No.

01:23:01Adventure Story by Terence Rattigan

01:23:17was adapted for radio by Peter Watts.

01:23:20Paul Daneman played Alexander the Great

01:23:22and Margaret Rawlings,

01:23:24the Queen Mother of Persia.

01:23:26The part of General Parmenion

01:23:28was played by David March,

01:23:30Cleitus by Francis de Wolfe

01:23:32and Philotus by Nigel Graham.

01:23:35Hephaestian was played by David Briarley,

01:23:38Darius, King of Persia, by John Justin

01:23:40and Philip of Macedon by John Wise.

01:23:42Prince Bessus was Anthony Jackson,

01:23:46Perdiccas, Christopher Bidmead,

01:23:48Ptolemy, Michael Harbour

01:23:49and Mazzari's Harold Cascott.

01:23:53The Pithia of Delphi

01:23:54was played by Margaret Robertson,

01:23:56Queen's Tartyra by Barbara Mitchell

01:23:58and Princess Tartyra by Sean Davis.

01:24:02Other parts were played by Alexander John,

01:24:04Christopher Bidmead,

01:24:06Michael Harbour

01:24:06and Margaret Robertson.

01:24:08The play was produced by John Powell.

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