The Ten Commandments (1956)
Cedric Hardwicke: Sethi
Photos
Quotes
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Moses : [to Sethi, after Sethi came to see Moses completing the city to be built] Pharoah is pleased?
Sethi : With the obelisk, yes. But not with certain accusations made against you.
Moses : By whom?
Sethi : You raided the temple granaries?
Moses : Yes.
[Rameses puts first weight on scale. The other scale dish holds a heavier weight, which keeps that dish on the table]
Sethi : You gave the grain to the slaves?
Moses : Yes.
[Rameses puts second weight on scale, which causes opposite scale dish to bounce, but it still rests on the table]
Rameses : You gave them one day in seven to rest.
Moses : Yes.
[Rameses puts third weight on scale. It's now heavier than its opposite dish, which is yanked up off the table]
Sethi : Did you do all this to gain their favor?
Moses : [Moses puts a brick on the dish that was yanked off the table. It's now heavier than Rameses' weights and crashes to the table with a bang! Moses has defeated his accusers] A city is built of brick, Pharoah. The strong make many, the starving make few. The dead make none. So much for accusations.
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Nefretiri : Don't exhaust yourself, Great One. Dear Great One.
Sethi : [on his deathbed] Why not, kitten? You are the only thing I regret leaving. You have been my joy.
Nefretiri : And you my only love.
Sethi : Aha. Now you're cheating. There was another. I know. I loved him, too. With my last breath, I'll break my own law and speak the name of... Moses.
[3 seconds]
Sethi : Moses.
[Sethi's last words, were spoken slowly, as he said Moses' name twice]
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Sethi : Let the name of Moses be stricken from every book and tablet, stricken from all pylons and obelisks, stricken from every monument of Egypt. Let the name of Moses be unheard and unspoken, erased from the memory of men for all time.
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Moses : No son could have more love for you than I.
Sethi : Then why are you forcing me to destroy you? What evil has done this to you?
Moses : The evil that men should turn their brothers into beasts of burden, to be stripped of spirit, and hope, and strength - only because they are of another race, another creed. If there is a god, he did not mean this to be so.
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Rameses : [to Nefretiri] Did you lose your head, my sweet?
Sethi : [to Rameses] I sent you to Goshen to bring me the head of the jackal who would free the slaves. Where is it?
Rameses : The slaves do not need a deliver now. They have Moses.
Nefretiri : Is that a riddle?
Rameses : [to Sethi] He gives them the priests' grain and one day in seven to rest. They call it "The Day of Moses."
[as if it is a holiday]
Jannes : This man makes himself a god.
Nefretiri : I prefer him as a man.
Rameses : You would prefer him as Pharaoh.
Nefretiri : Are you afraid of Moses?
Rameses : Yes, because now he holds Ethiopia in his left hand, Goshen in right, and you, my Pharaoh, are in-between them.
Sethi : Do you imply that he would raise the slaves against me? I've been his father.
Jannes : Ambition knows no father.
Nefretiri : Moses could no more betray you than I could, Sethi.
Sethi : He can tell me that when he arrives.
Rameses : He will not be here, my father.
Sethi : What? I sent for both of you.
Rameses : His word is that he cannot attend you, being pressed by other matters.
Sethi : [to Nefretiri] Did you hear that? Other matters?
[Sethi spoke as in an a shout of anger, or shock]
Sethi : [Sethi then gets up and clangs a gong, for an Egyptian servant, immediately a servent appears] My escort. I will ride with you, my son, to see what rears itself in Goshen... a city or treason.
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Sethi : The man best able to rule Egypt will follow me. I owe that to my fathers, not to my sons.
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Sethi : Harden yourself against subordinates. Have no friend. Trust no woman.
