Ben-Hur (1959)
Martha Scott: Miriam
Photos
Quotes
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Miriam : [speaking of Christ] As though he were carrying that cross the pain of the world.
[she whispers]
Miriam : So fearful.
Tirzah : And yet why is it... I'm not afraid anymore?
[thunder rumbles]
Esther : The shadow of a storm.
[they go inside a nearby cave; the sky goes dark outside]
Esther : A strange darkness, but still day.
[a violent storm begins]
Miriam : His life is over.
[lightning cracks]
Tirzah : He's here. It's tearing... I feel the pain!
Miriam : I feel it too.
[They seem to faint]
Esther : [concerned] Miriam?
[Miriam presses Esther's hand]
Esther : I thought that... Miriam! Do you see your hand?
[They look; Tirzah sits up, healed]
Esther : Tirzah! Miriam!
[They touch each other's faces, feel their hands, embrace as they realize they've been healed]
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[Christ passes, bearing the cross]
Esther : How can this be?
Judah Ben-Hur : [shocked] I *know* this man!
[Jesus stumbles and is whipped by the centurions]
Miriam : [pleading] Won't someone help him?
[Jesus is whipped again]
Tirzah : Pity on him!
Miriam : [wonderingly] In his pain... there's a look of peace.
Judah Ben-Hur : Watch over them, Esther.
[he goes after Jesus]
Miriam : We must go back.
Esther : [sadly] I brought you here to this... when I hoped...
Miriam : [looking after Christ] You haven't failed, Esther.
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[Judah confronts Esther and Malluch in the Valley of the Lepers]
Judah Ben-Hur : [angrily, to Esther] Why did you tell me they were dead?
Esther : It was what they wanted. Judah, I must not betray this faith. Will you do this for them?
Judah Ben-Hur : Not to see them?
Esther : [seeing Miriam and Tirzah approach] They are coming... Judah! Judah, love them in the way they most need to be loved: not to look at them! Judah, let it be as though you had never come here. Please, Judah!
[Judah hides behind a boulder as Esther goes to meet Miriam]
Miriam : Is Judah well? Is he happy?
[Judah's face twists in anguish]
Esther : Yes. He is well. Your mind can be at rest for him. He is well, Miriam.
Miriam : [taking the basket of food] God be with you.
[Miriam and Tirzah go back into their cave]
Esther : [going back to Judah] They are gone. We can go back.
Judah Ben-Hur : [bitterly] Go back... to what?
Esther : Judah, they have one blessing left: to think you remember them as they were. Live your own life. Forget what is here.
Judah Ben-Hur : Forget? It's as if they were alive in a grave!
Esther : But what can you do?
Judah Ben-Hur : Undo what you've done! How could you have suffered them to come here? I must see them!
Esther : No Judah, please! Judah!
[Judah starts toward the cave but is stopped by Malluch]
Esther : Oh, think, Judah, *think*! It will tear them apart if they see you!
